◈ Episode 440. Hypocrite (2)
If it was an ill-fated connection, then an ill-fated connection it was.
That was not a compliment.
Granfel’s head was, quite literally, a flower garden. Thanks to that, Granfel did not easily abandon his expectations toward humans. A human worthy of being called an ill-fated connection by him? It meant they were no different from a demon.
The Spacetime Social Hall.
In that place, I encountered a human no different from a demon.
Luo Junchun.
To be precise, Luo Junchun’s head, lying on the floor.
Needless to say, I wasn’t surprised.
Because I had heard the news of Luo Junchun’s death from Argentress.
And through Yong Seong-rak. ‘Just as he said.’ Formerly of World Unification.
Yong Seong-rak said he had not let his guard down until the very end.
If it was the Luo Junchun he knew, he judged that the man might use some filthy method and struggle even after death. He said he had finished even the cleanup process, cruel as it may have been.
Yong Seong-rak’s solemn voice was still vivid in my ears.
—“Because that was all I learned from him.”
He had said he buried Luo Junchun’s head deep underground……
I looked at the mound of dirt that had fallen onto the floor of the social hall. ‘Someone dug up Luo Junchun’s buried head.’ Who was it?
For now, it wasn’t an ordinary figure.
Because this place was the [Spacetime Social Hall].
‘What’s certain is that they’re a Transcendent.’ A Transcendent, huh. It was already getting tough.
The vast Arcana Continent.
And on that Arcana Continent, the Magic Tower was officially treated as the greatest armed organization. Yet even in that Magic Tower, those who had formed a circle and grasped the qualifications of a Transcendent were extremely few throughout history.
Not only the Senior Mages. ‘Even Marcelo isn’t a Transcendent.’ That hateful cat…… ‘No, I suppose I should call him the pointed hat now.’ Even the former Tower Master had not managed to form a complete circle.
So I had no choice but to become serious.
Just what kind of bastard was it? ‘What scheme led them to commit such bizarre behavior?’ My lips parted.
“I knew it would be so.”
……
Don’t talk as if you had guessed it, Granfel.
“There was a reason my feet felt so heavy.”
You just hated entering the social hall in the first place……!
He was nothing more than a corpse now.
But I was well aware of the atrocities Luo Junchun had committed.
There was no way pretty words would come out.
“A social hall, for the likes of you? Hell is where you belong.”
Pray for his soul, my ass.
It wouldn’t be strange if an even harsher insult came flying out.
However, my loose tongue stopped there. ‘The important thing isn’t Luo Junchun.’ The problem was which Transcendent, and for what reason.
Had dragged Luo Junchun’s head,
which had been buried in the ground,
back out into the world.
I drew up my mana.
A message flickered.
[Acts of violence are prohibited in this location.]
I know.
Seeing the message brought the memory back vividly.
It was my first meeting with the Sword Saint, Shegwin. ‘I trusted only that message and ran my mouth without fear.’ I’ve said it before, but you never know what will happen in life.
Good grief.
Who would have thought I’d end up having a senior-junior relationship with Shegwin?
And that I would be the absurdly senior Demon Hunter, at that. ‘In any case.’ As expected, that wasn’t the important part.
I interfered with the mana.
I began searching the memories woven into the social hall. It felt a little embarrassing, as if I were praising myself, but…… this was the manifestation of magic made possible because, upon ascending to the Ten Thrones, I had awakened mana that surpassed even the mana of twilight.
Ssssss.
Mana particles of a different “class” scattered through the air.
Soon, the mana particles began transforming into human shapes.
They started moving as if reenacting what had happened in the social hall. ‘They’re only forms, so I can’t make out their faces.’ I couldn’t even hear their voices, but from the play acted out by the mana particles alone, I could infer the situation.
So, that was what happened?
The unnamed Transcendent’s two hands reached toward Luo Junchun’s severed head. They stroked the area near the crown of his head. Then those hands moved again, this time toward the Transcendent’s own head.
I understood the meaning of the action at once.
“How foolish.”
They had stolen it. Luo Junchun’s crown.
“To covet such a paltry throne.”
Luo Junchun’s class, [Monarch]. Through the past connected to the Four Houses and the imperial family Seric Rose,
I had learned what monarchs were on the Arcana Continent.
A monarch was, literally, a vessel capable of reigning.
Those not born with the qualities of a monarch could not be called kings, regardless of their strength. I did not know whether that setting was the aftermath of the [Monarch] class setting from the days when Arcana was nothing more than a game, but…… ‘What hasn’t changed is that, like the other settings, it has been realized.’ That’s right.
The Transcendent had used some method to usurp Luo Junchun’s [Monarch] class. They had obtained the vessel required to reign as a monarch. There was no mirror, so I couldn’t check my expression.
But I could guarantee it.
I was probably showing my displeasure openly.
After all, this was Lord Granfel, who treated wealth and glory as mere “trifles.”
And recently, even. ‘He refused the throne of the empire.’ Because of that, the venom continued.
“I find myself curious about that foolish face.”
Contrary to that confident declaration,
I, Lee Hoyeol, had no choice but to be tense.
Because the human shapes that had appeared were not just one. ‘Excluding him, there are six.’ Aside from the Transcendent who had placed the crown on their own head.
Three on each side of him.
There were people lined up.
This was the Spacetime Social Hall.
Which meant they, too, were Transcendents.
Let’s see, an alliance of seven Transcendents.
If they stepped forward to claim royal authority,
by now…… ‘A connected World Quest must have appeared.’ And Luo Junchun’s crown was no ordinary crown.
Information I had likewise obtained through Yong Seong-rak.
Luo Junchun had completed his class advancement into a [Tyrant].
‘Under its influence, they may run wild like Luo Junchun did.’ Seven Transcendents.
The strong of the continent had allied themselves and were walking the path of a tyrant.
If it had been me in the past, I might have been horrified.
However. ‘Well, compared to a high-ranking Demon King, they’re cute.’ Compared to the days when I trembled before Shegwin,
I had grown incomparably stronger too.
I could show proof of that as much as needed.
Clack.
I moved my feet.
Aside from me,
there wasn’t so much as the shadow of another Transcendent in sight as I crossed the social hall.
I stepped toward the stairs.
Once again, a message flickered.
[Entering the upper floor of the Spacetime Social Hall.]
The Transcendents who could enter the upper floor could be counted on one hand. The heads of the Four Houses.
And Mary, who had been called the Witch of the Southern Sea.
Clack.
But I climbed the stairs again.
[Entering the top floor of the Spacetime Social Hall.]
The only one who could enter the top floor was me.
If someone asked whether there was a reason to climb all the way to the top floor and tire my legs out,
when there were more than just one or two stairs,
then according to Granfel’s standards, the lower floor of the social hall, where Luo Junchun’s head—no different from trash—was rolling around, was a place he did not wish to remain in for even a moment. It was a strong expression of that intention.
“I have no intention of breathing foul air.”
Yes, that’s a reason very much like you, Granfel.
In any case, I had not forgotten my original goal. The reason I entered the Spacetime Social Hall was to activate [Understanding of Darkness]. Fortunately, my struggling proved effective.
[Entering the curse, “Understanding of Darkness.”]
My vision slowly began to darken.
Ting.
I flicked one [Spacetime Gold Coin] into the air.
A glass of water appeared on the table right away.
I had ordered Water of Life from the Spacetime Shop.
Riiip.
Then, with hand movements that could only be familiar, I tore open the wrapper.
I took out the tea bag inside and steeped it in the glass.
I murmured calmly.
“I shall return before the tea cools.”
If you ask what I’m talking about when it’s cold water to begin with…… let’s call it Granfel’s way of saying he would no longer be swayed by the [Understanding of Darkness] penalty of time difference.
Still, you really never let anything slide, Granfel. ‘Seeing you brew cold-water green tea even in this situation.’ I really can’t stop you.
I swallowed a hollow laugh for only a moment.
A message appeared before my eyes.
A familiar one.
[Entering the Demon Hunter’s Holy Land, “Akshan.”]
“……!”
Along with a distant landscape.
*
Rustle.
The pointed hat on her head spoke.
—You could be a little happier, you know.
The Arcana Continent.
Antonium, the capital of the empire.
Looking around, Jesse answered.
“I’m already plenty happy!”
The pointed hat swayed.
It was as if a cat were waving its tail.
The pointed hat pressed her more specifically.
—Yes, it is quite fortunate that the empire is intact. But I am not talking about how you feel after returning to Antonium. Did you not surpass me, whom you found so terribly bothersome?
Jesse had surpassed the former Tower Master?
In some ways that was true, and in some ways it was not. But Jesse understood her master’s meaning at once. She withdrew her gaze from the streets and checked her skill window.
[Spacetime Socializing: Ritual, enter the Spacetime Social Hall.]
Having been reborn as a complete [Archmage], Jesse had reached the ranks of the Transcendents.
—I want to show this sight to those old codgers who said there was no disciple better than their master. Did I not tell you again and again? You are a child who does well when you try. So take an interest in magic.
The pointed hat had hounded Jesse since the days when she did not know the difference between [Skills] and 『Magic』.
It was upsetting that Jesse’s iron-walled stubbornness had flipped over like the palm of a hand because of that man, Chief Lee, but……
For the sake of witnessing her disciple’s remarkable growth, she would let it pass.
Of course, Mary’s education could not be overlooked either. Considering she had spent a considerable amount of time with Jesse, the two had not grown especially close, but that, too, was Chief Lee’s responsibility.
—In any case, I am truly proud of you.
However, the Tower Master had questions too. All the more so because she herself had once reached the threshold of Transcendence in the past. She recalled the conditions for entering the Spacetime Social Hall.
To be recognized as a Transcendent and enter the Spacetime Social Hall, one had to obtain a majority of votes in favor from the Transcendents. Why had those prideful people……
Cast their votes in favor of Jesse? She still could not understand it. Jesse’s exploits in the adventurers’ world should not have resounded all the way to the Arcana Continent.
It would be nice if it were merely a master’s needless worry.
But ominous premonitions never missed.
Something flickered before Jesse’s eyes.
A message had appeared.
The Spacetime Social Hall.
In the words of the players,
a community for old-timers.
A whisper system faithfully implemented as a community function. Translated into the language of the Arcana Continent, a telepathy that only Transcendents could hear and respond to had arrived.
—“Adventurer and Archmage, Jesse Heinness. Do not be startled. I will understand even if you cannot answer. The power of a Transcendent must still be unfamiliar to you.”
Jesse answered.
—“Who are you?”
How could it possibly be unfamiliar?
For a player, using the whisper system was as easy as pie.
But the other party let out a sigh.
—“Good grief. Even though the authority of resurrection has vanished, does the continent’s favoritism toward adventurers remain? To think you can freely use telepathy the moment you become a Transcendent. If anything, this will save me effort.” ……
Somehow, it felt like she was being overestimated.
Jesse closed her mouth.
Sometimes silence itself was a virtue.
It was because she recalled what Hoyeol had told her in the past, when she had gone to his office to resolve a question about magic. And as expected, Hoyeol’s teaching did not go astray.
—“You must have sensed it, Jesse Heinness. The fact that the achievements you have accomplished are absurdly meager for you to be called a Transcendent. Even so, you received a majority of the votes and came to be called a Transcendent. Do you know why?”
A meaningful voice continued into her mind.
—“Because we seven Transcendents voted in favor.”
There was much information to be gained from that number, seven.
Seven meant more than half of the existing Transcendents.
At least seven Transcendents were of one mind.
And among those seven…… ‘Chief Lee is not included.’ The reason she could be absolutely certain?
It was simple.
The most thorough distinction between public and private.
Chief Lee was more faithful to principles and discipline than to any other reason. Regardless of the reason, it was impossible that he would cast a vote in favor of her when she had not met the qualifications.
So Jesse became wary.
She recalled Hoyeol’s words once more.
Everything involved give and take.
Indeed, that teaching also was not wrong.
—“Jesse Heinness, will you not join us?”
The Transcendent’s voice revealed its true colors.
—“No, you must join us. We will establish a new order on the new Arcana Continent. Not a lowly order whose authority has fallen to the very bottom. A new order established solely from the perspective of Transcendents.”
What the order of Transcendents meant,
Jesse did not know.
Of course, she had no intention of quietly listening either.
They would establish a new order?
When they themselves had violated the perfectly fine order
of the Spacetime Social Hall.
What a joke.
If Chief Lee had heard this, he would have given them a lecture.
—“You people are not Transcendents……”
Surely, like this.
—“You’re hypocrites!”...
[Immortal Being, Urs, has completed entry.]
[Archmage, Jesse Heinness, has completed entry.]
[Soon, the Spacetime Duel will begin.]