◈ Episode 448. It Is Not to My Taste (1)
The Corridor of Shadows.
The appearance message had been output across the continent.
Its presence was overwhelming.
The imperial capital, Antonium.
The southern imperial territory, Heshia City.
The eastern imperial territory, Polestar.
And beyond them, every corner of the Arcana Continent.
An unidentified structure floated in the sky.
“W-Wait, is that a castle in the sky?”
“Is that the Corridor of Shadows the message was talking about……?”
“The Corridor of Shadows? What are you talking about?”
A message consisting of only a single line.
“That’s the appearance message. No, it’s a long story if I try to explain!”
Even so, they were still better off than the Arcanians, who knew nothing at all. Just as the players were explaining the Corridor of Shadows to the Arcanians.
At the same time.
Under the command of the Holy War Alliance, the Great Alliance came to a halt.
“What do you think that is, Snake Eyes?”
“I’m not sure. I have nothing to say.”
“What the hell is that now?”
Nam Taemin, Hisagi, and Leoni.
The three guild masters of the Great Alliance.
On top of that, Skal and Second Sun’s Shraig.
Even those who had firmly maintained their positions as rankers since the days when Arcana was nothing more than a game could not guess its identity. Shraig trailed off.
“It doesn’t look like we can enter it……?”
“That’s what it looks like to anyone.”
“No, is that thing even real in the first place? Isn’t it an illusion?!”
It was only natural for them to react that way.
Like a mirage in the desert.
The Corridor of Shadows appeared in the same form throughout the entire Arcana Continent. Its shape even seemed as though it were hanging upside down from the sky.
Clop, clop.
They had been staring at the corridor with grave expressions.
Before long, the scouting party returned.
However, there had been no results.
The guild members who dismounted wore bewildered expressions.
“No matter how far we went, we couldn’t get any closer!”
“We can’t set teleportation coordinates either.”
“Damn it, so no matter what we try, we can’t get closer?”
Amid all the questions.
A sigh of relief instinctively escaped them.
Shraig spoke cautiously.
“Still, at least something like that didn’t appear in reality, right?”
Just thinking about the London dungeon still gave him chills.
However, that relief did not last long.
Hisagi, the Sage of Tokyo, pointed out reality.
“We cannot rest easy forever. As long as rifts exist. As long as the Arcana Continent and reality are connected. There is no guarantee that the Corridor of Shadows will not be updated into reality as well.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s true.”
No matter how they thought about it, the best solution was to clear it.
They had learned that clearing unstable rifts on the Arcana Continent could also suppress the creation of rifts in reality.
Leoni subtly asked Skal.
“Hey. Can’t you ask that Ice Dragon to give us a ride? If it’s a dragon, shouldn’t it be able to fly close enough to tell whether that’s real or an illusion?”
She had a point.
Whether the hidden piece, the Corridor of Shadows, was merely a mirage.
Or whether it was a new field.
If not that, whether it was a dungeon that absolutely had to be conquered.
It was impossible to determine all that from a single line of text.
However, Skal chewed on his lip.
“……
It is not within my domain.”
In truth, the one most frustrated of all was Skal.
An Ice Dragon, who ought to overflow with dignity.
An Ice Dragon, who ought to display pride higher than anyone else’s…….
—“I am a chick. A mere fledgling chick.”
Why in the world had it claimed to be a chick!
The words of the Black Dark Dragon were involved in that.
But Skal had no way of knowing that truth.
Leoni looked at Skal with pity in her eyes.
“Are you really a dragon knight?”
In the end, no solution emerged.
In the end, they had no choice but to think of him once again.
Looking up at the Corridor of Shadows, Nam Taemin murmured.
“Mr. Hoyeol. No, I wonder if the Commander-in-Chief knows something?”
*
The Arcana Continent is in complete chaos.
The Claudi Territory.
Beneath the pouring night sky.
I lifted my teacup.
Even while being madly obsessed with green tea.
Was this not Lord Grandfell, who also took terrifyingly good care of his health?
“It is a late hour.”
Common health knowledge from reality came to mind.
The caffeine in green tea consumed at night interferes with sleep.
The reason I picked up the teacup despite knowing that was simple.
“Today, there is a justifiable reason.”
That was right.
Had I not sentenced the Shadow Mercenary Corps to Akshan……. No, had I not put on airs to have them transfer to Akshan? It meant I had desperately restrained myself, lest the dangling green tea bag ruin the mood.
A late-night tea time to fulfill my green tea quota.
“Even so, I am not satisfied.”
Clack.
Under normal circumstances, it would not have been strange for an exclamation of admiration to burst out.
I can sympathize with how you feel a hundred percent, Grandfell.
Even I, who have no aesthetic eye, thought that was a bit much.
The night sky of the Arcana Continent.
The Demonic Eyes floating here and there were already unpleasant enough to look at.
But as if that were not enough, the Corridor of Shadows was floating there too. “It certainly lives up to its name.” Should I call it a building that roughly resembles a coiled snake?
To call it a castle, its appearance was far removed from one.
It was difficult to describe, but what was certain was that it was excessively black.
The roof, the outer walls, the windows, even the flags hanging from it.
On top of that, that black and gloomy thing was hanging upside down in the sky.
And they said it was being witnessed across the entire Arcana Continent like a mirage…….
Naturally, there was no way kind words would come out.
“There was a reason it chose the bottom as its holy ground.”
By the bottom, he meant the 『Valley of the Forgotten』. From the moment we first stepped into the valley, he had found it displeasing, and now Lord Grandfell was bringing it up again without fail.
“Its aesthetic sensibilities are consistently dreadful.”
Someone might ask.
Don’t you have debts to settle? Are you not being too leisurely?
They would be right.
With Grandfell’s usual temperament, he would have long since entered that hidden piece or whatever it was called, the Corridor of Shadows.
However.
Slide.
His gaze shifted from the night sky to the black parchment on the table.
If there was a proper procedure.
Wasn’t stubbornly following it also our Lord Grandfell’s way?
[Invitation to the Corridor of Shadows]
[Grade: Epic]
[Requirement: None]
[Effect: Allows entry into the hidden piece, Corridor of Shadows.]
[Description: An invitation from the Shadow God. The holder can reach the Corridor of Shadows. Where there is light, and even where only darkness is full, shadows exist. Thus, the invitation of shadow cannot be ignored.
Time remaining until the corridor opens: 2 days 12 hours 32 minutes]
I guarantee it……. “If the invitation had been even slightly aesthetically shabby.” Grandfell would have ignored it with ease.
However, the invitation looked extraordinary at a glance.
Just as it had been written in the [Expose the Black Curtain] quest. “Even if it lacks dignity, is half of it still a god?” Rustle, rustle.
Ornaments rippling like shadows. It was an invitation decorated with aesthetic elements that could not be found on the Arcana Continent. Even its contents were quite unexpected.
Especially that final sentence. 『Please, do not be angered.』 I spoke generously.
“I am not inclined, but I shall answer.”
The Shadow God seemed to be pretending to be exceedingly courteous. But unlike Grandfell, who would at least exchange a few words even with a demon if it observed formality.
I, Lee Hoyeol, am strict in such matters. “Because it is plainly visible to my eyes.” One line that would not change no matter what honeyed words were offered.
[Your favorability with the Shadow God has reached the lowest value.]
Just as the maximum value carries great meaning.
Wouldn’t the lowest value carry great meaning as well?
To put it bluntly, the moment I enter that place called the Corridor of Shadows.
A swarm of the Shadow God’s apostles might come pouring out.
As long as I knew that fact. “There are about two days until the corridor opens.” I could not waste the remaining time.
At present, there was no way to approach the Corridor of Shadows.
Which meant I had to prepare for every possibility before the corridor opened. “First, let’s return to reality.” Whether it was two days in Arcana Continent time, two days in reality’s time,
Or whether the remaining time on the invitation changed according to the time difference.
I needed to confirm it clearly. “I should stop by the Magic Tower as well.” I would have to search the Emerald Hall to see if there were any books related to gods.
Summoning the AAU branch heads was also part of the scheduled procedure.
Even if the gods of Arcana were settings from the days when it was merely a game.
It had been confirmed through countless precedents that their influence was valid to a certain extent, so if there was anything to make use of, I had to make use of it.
“It would be best to refrain from causing a commotion.”
There was no need to attract unnecessary attention.
Portals that crossed dimensions were quite conspicuous.
Yes, I had that damned “Heavenly Demon Sovereign Step.”
With nothing more than a single step forward.
Click.
Before I knew it, I had arrived at the Magic Tower.
Thanks to that, I was able to sense the unusual atmosphere of the Magic Tower at once.
The Chief’s office.
I checked the line of writing left on the parchment.
It was the familiar handwriting of Bellier of Healing Magic.
──────Request for emergency healing authorization for the archmage, Jesse Heinness.──────
*
Jesse and Urus.
The Duel of Spacetime.
The whole world watched its beginning and end.
Their impressions?
Some cheered.
-Is that really the Jesse Heinness I know, the one who used to look so timid??? What’s with that way of talking, did she learn it from Lee Hoyeol??? And what are those spells she’s pouring out? My heart is seriously swelling
-Isn’t that the first among players at that level??
-What are you talking about, Lee Hoyeol exists
Archmages who had pursued the truth for an eternity.
Jesse, who had come to fully utilize their knowledge and visions, displayed strength on an entirely different level.
-No, Lee Hoyeol is beyond standards, so of course he’s excluded lol
Though she could not be compared to Hoyeol.
It meant she had revealed the majesty of a “transcendent” clearly distinguished from other players.
That was enough to make someone clench their fist.
“Jongjin, are you watching properly? Jesse Heinness might become the first runner. The first runner who can properly share Lee Hoyeol’s burden!”
At the same time, someone else despaired.
-I get that Jesse is amazing……. But what is that?
-Can’t you tell by looking? It says Urus, the creature of eternal life
-That’s what I’m asking, where did this nobody creature of eternal life even come from, and how is it on par with Jesse Heinness, the archmage who’s humanity’s secret weapon after Lee Hoyeol?!
-Holy shit, thinking about it that way gives me chills again
Urus, the creature of eternal life.
It was not a name widely known across the Arcana Continent like the Magic Tower, the Lionheart Knights, or the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
Such an unheard-of existence stood equally against Jesse, who was displaying power second only to Lee Hoyeol among players.
No, if one analyzed the result more coolly.
“If the duel had continued, Miss Jesse would certainly have lost.”
A draw due to the time limit.
Humanity had to be immensely grateful for that result.
However, the Duel of Spacetime was not over.
“And this is news brought by the players who filled the audience seats in the Duel Arena of Spacetime. Exactly one day, twenty-four hours later, the Duel of Spacetime will resume……!”
Jesse was currently receiving treatment at the Magic Tower.
Her exact condition was unknown, but……. The last sight captured was of Jesse collapsed in Antonium, supported by Camilla, an executive of Shining who was acquainted with her, as she transported Jesse to the Magic Tower.
Thanks to that, anyone could guess.
“A rematch after a day? Why is it so soon?”
“If she’s in that serious a condition, even waking Jesse up would be…….”
“No, from what I saw, Urus looked perfectly fine…….”
If Jesse could not participate in the Duel of Spacetime rematch.
What would happen to the outcome of the match?
Furthermore, if Jesse were to lose.
“Could it be a battle that only ends when one side reaches the end, like with the Sword Saint?”
Because everyone had watched the situation unfold.
It was only natural that everyone sank into deep anxiety.
However, to state the result of their concerns first.
“……
But hasn’t a day already passed?”
The Duel of Spacetime rematch did not proceed.
“Huh? It says it’s ca-canceled?!”...
The world still did not know.
That everything had begun from the Social Hall of Spacetime.
To be exact, it had begun because of the distinguished personages who had visited the lower floor of the social hall.
Those from the upper floor of the social hall.
Of the four families, excluding the Golden Ignite Maxima, the three family heads.
And the one who had long since obtained the qualifications to enter the upper floor.
The Witch of the Southern Sea, Mary.
They entered the Social Hall of Spacetime.
Toward the lower-floor denizens of the seven social halls, they declared.
To be exact, they delivered.
“From now on, no one may enter the social hall without my permission.”
“Nor may anyone leave.”
“Nor may anyone bring in hideous trash.”
The message Hoyeol had sent.
“This is the new rule of the social hall presented by the highest floor.”
“……!!!”