◈ Episode 462. Not Late, Simply Waiting for the Right Pretext
“It feels like we’ve been beating them down for quite a while.”
“But they’re still swarming, aren’t they?”
“At least they’re just imps, seriously.”
Quite some time had passed since the portal connecting reality to the Arcana continent opened.
The allied forces that had seen a massive influx of players possessed a variety of classes.
Even the Demon Hunter, once called the most obsolete class under heaven, had its time to shine now.
“Your class is [Appraiser]?”
Non-combat classes were not unconditionally discriminated against.
However, a non-combat class was still a non-combat class.
She pulled out a magnifying glass.
Pushed her glasses up.
A suspicious question was thrown at her.
“So, do you actually see anything?”
“You’re doubting me right now, aren’t you?”
“No, it’s not that I doubt you. It’s just that neither I nor my friends have ever met an [Appraiser] since back when Arcana was just a game.”
Class, [Appraiser].
It was one of the most marginalized classes even among unpopular non-combat classes.
Because beyond its simple abilities, it was difficult to feel the necessity of an Appraiser.
“Honestly, appraisals for demon items and most ordinary items can be done at the Magic Tower, right? And if the tower fees are too expensive, you can just go to the Explorer’s League….”
“To so openly mention a rival company is rather hurtful.”
“No, that’s not what I meant….”
“It’s fine. It’s all true.”
Yume, the Appraiser, let out a chuckle.
It was all true.
Before the ancient kingdom Yusra had risen.
A suitable confidence seeped from Yume’s actions.
“But after the ancient kingdom Yusra appeared and I began appraising items pouring out from Treasure Island, I was able to raise my Appraiser skill proficiency. And in that process…!”
Swoosh.
Ash scattered across the battlefield.
When she held the magnifying glass to the ash, her vision sparkled. [Skill, ‘Appraisal’ is gathering information left in traces.]
“This kind of skill application became possible too.”
Yume captured the information burrowing into her head with the skill, [Transcription].
Yume’s hand moved so fast it was invisible to the eye.
Still, the gazes of doubt didn’t fade, but.
Thud, thud.
A man with sharp features approached Yume’s side.
The players surrounding Yume as if a spectacle had broken out flinched.
“So, can you even earn a proper living anywhere….”
“Hey, hey!”
“What, why the sudden fuss…?! Huhk.”
Snake eyes.
Excluding Hoyeol, who was on a different level.
It was Hisagi, the Demonic Spearman who ranked second among players after Nam Tae-min. The appearance of a big shot who could make ordinary players flinch with his presence alone.
But the Appraiser they had been ignoring until just now was looking at Hisagi and….
“Ah, Guild Master!”
Calling him Guild Master?
“Appraiser-nim? You were with Inazuma, no, the Grand Alliance?!”
“Goodness, you should have said something.”
“Ugh, what did I just say. So embarrassing….”
Naturally, the flustered players were outside Hisagi’s interest. He received the [Appraisal Record: Behemoth’s Jaw] that Yume handed over.
“Please look at this first, Guild Master.”
“You’ve worked hard, Yume.”
Hisagi looked at the battlefield and thought.
Haiel had relayed the Commander-in-chief’s verbal order.
Following that order and advancing to the battlefield, there was no noble Paimon to be found, let alone any threatening demons. It was simply overflowing with imps busy fleeing toward Behemoth’s Jaw at the sight of them. ‘What in the world…’ What had happened between the Commander-in-chief and Paimon?
“Ah, you’re here.”
“Commander Harkon, here is the appraisal record.”
“The adventurer’s supernatural power you mentioned. Thank you, Hisagi.”
“So you can’t even hear me now, is that it?”
Leaving the fuming Nam Tae-min behind.
The Holy War Allied Forces’ executives read the appraisal record simultaneously.
The Imperial Court Magician who had led the Imperial Army.
Nash William’s magic had done its part.
“Wouldn’t it be a bit easier to see like this?”
Float.
The letters of the appraisal record floated up into the air.
Before long, shock began to settle on the faces of those carefully reading the sentences.
The first to open his mouth was Nam Tae-min.
“…So this kind of potential existed within an Appraiser?”
So there had been a reason he consistently supported non-combat classes.
He didn’t want to admit it, but he had taken a page out of Hisagi’s book.
Of course, the appraisal record had merely recorded the facts of what had occurred at that location.
They couldn’t know the detailed circumstances.
“But what is this? This content…?”
But even that was shocking enough.
──────
1. Traces of conversation (Uninterpretable in high-dimensional language)
2. Footprints of demons retreating to Behemoth’s Jaw (Intent unclear)
3. Demon army neutralized in an instant (Cause unclear)
──────
If it were any other time, they might have questioned the words “unclear” and “uninterpretable.”
But had they not already experienced it once on the battlefield?
The high-dimensional language that had buzzed in their minds.
Nash, who had quickly come to understand thanks to that, summarized the situation.
“So… are you saying the Commander-in-chief sent Paimon, the Demon King of the Ninth Throne, back to the demon realm with a simple voice, and neutralized that enormous army?”
The most bewildered was the dwarf, Chainwalker.
“Even granting a hundred concessions, it is not strange for a Demon King to flee. Do demons have camaraderie? If there is no chance of victory, he can abandon his troops and flee. But do you think what followed makes sense? Their equipment was comparable to ours!”
Dwarven armor’s performance? It reflects most magic and boasts several times the resistance to physical impact. There were countless instances where enemy weapons were shattered to pieces.
“But all of it disappeared like an illusion. Without a trace. No matter how I think about it, there is only one possibility. In the end, the Commander-in-chief has accomplished something absurd once again.”
In the past, he would have vaguely rejoiced.
But he could not.
Because he had witnessed it as well.
“….”
The current of annihilation flowing across the battlefield.
However, Harkon, who had been the first to catch that scent, smiled.
The reason he could do so was simple.
The message Haiel had conveyed.
-“I believe in you all.”
That was the Commander-in-chief he knew.
Proof that it was undoubtedly Hoyeol’s doing.
He vowed to believe, even if it was unbelievable.
Of course, the person in question thought differently.
It was an instant.
Clip-clop.
With the sound of footsteps, Hoyeol revealed himself.
“……!!!”
Without heeding the bewildered crowd, Hoyeol spoke.
“I have grave matters to convey to you all.”
To hide nothing, in accordance with that noble pride.
*That’s right. Even you must think it was overboard, don’t you, Geurangpel?*
‘Because you absolutely wreaked havoc.’
Having no shame and having no conscience are subtly different.
This time, it is a situation that cannot simply be glossed over with pride, is it not?
So I intended to confess honestly.
‘It is not even a difficult thing to say.’
I had awakened a new ability called [The Sole Existence Under Heaven].
There had been immaturity in the process of handling that ability.
But there is no need to worry.
This temper….
No, if it is a talent, I shall use it proficiently before long.
That is right.
‘Just as it is.’
If I am honest.
Who here could possibly say anything to me?
Frankly, with all that Geurangpel and I have accomplished until now.
But I could intuit.
“As you all know.”
…There will never be a day without my big mouth running wild in the future, either!
“My darkness ran rampant.”
W-what?
Darkness ran rampaaaaant?!
Even when the same words are said in this world.
How can you make it so cringe-inducing?!
More than anything, look at those expressions.
They all look incredibly startled by the word choice, do they not?
But when has Geurangpel-style speech ever considered the listener?
“Darkness, the darkness that only I could control.”
And has it ever considered me, the speaker…!
‘Damn it.’
It was a mistake to even come here from the start.
To fully control [The Sole Existence Under Heaven], countless struggles are necessary. In that process, I might have to step away for a moment. Judging that it would be better to speak face-to-face this time was a mistake.
It was the arrogance of me, Hoyeol…!
But despite my desperate inner plea.
My runaway mouth.
“Perhaps because the night was especially deep.”
…He absolutely chose today of all days!
‘But it is not entirely wrong, either.’
If I liken an especially deep night to a shitty situation….
It naturally connects to the reason I could not control the darkness.
But.
‘Who else would understand that?’
It is not like solving a CSAT literature question!
It was Geurangpel-style speech that even I, who suffer from it all day, cannot understand at times. But perhaps a blessing in disguise. Somehow, everyone’s expressions are gradually relaxing…?
Harkon muttered quietly.
“It was needless worry. There is nothing different about you from your usual self.”
No different from usual?
Commander Harkon.
Surely you are not insulting me in Geurangpel-style speech, are you?
I wanted to ask so badly, but I kept my mouth firmly shut.
‘If I said something unnecessary here.’
The Black Dark Dragon ran rampant, bottomless darkness surged forth, or whatever….
I felt like I might spout even worse things.
And I did not have the leisure for that, either.
I shifted my gaze from those present to my inventory.
I checked the information of an item sparkling conspicuously.
At the same time, a chilling message flickered.
[Shadow Corridor Invitation]
[Grade: Epic]
[Restrictions: None]
[Effect: Hidden Piece, can enter the Shadow Corridor]
[Description: It is an invitation from the Shadow God. The bearer can reach the Shadow Corridor. For where there is light, and where darkness alone fills, shadow exists. One cannot ignore the invitation of shadow.
Until the corridor opens: Deadline expired.]
To be honest.
‘No, I did not know time had come to this, either.’
From the moment Jessie Haines had collapsed after fighting Urus in a spacetime duel until now, I had been busy without a moment’s rest. I had no leisure to think of the Shadow God’s invitation.
Moreover, at the very end.
‘I was not in my right mind, either.’
Even with real-world time slower than Arcana’s, I had far exceeded the deadline.
[The Hidden Piece, ‘Shadow Corridor’ is still waiting for you.]
Because of that, the message saying it was still waiting was inevitably concerning. After all, had I not already confirmed through the message what the Shadow God who sent the invitation thought of me?
[Your favorability with the Shadow God has reached the lowest point.]
It was already an opponent who did not look upon me kindly, and now I had broken the time promise too… No doubt he is furious. To be honest.
‘What luxury am I enjoying.’
Would I enter the Shadow Corridor floating ominously in that sky? But setting aside Geurangpel’s temperament that would cause a natural disaster if spoken… ‘……Might not be so bad?’
A pretty decent assessment came out.
Why, in the past I might not have known if there was anything to gain from the Shadow Corridor, but now it was different. Yes, because I had to fully control the rampage of [The Sole Existence Under Heaven].
‘No one could approach the Shadow Corridor.’
Meaning a place completely cut off from the outside.
In other words, even if I failed to control [The Sole Existence Under Heaven] and ran rampant, there was no risk of that influence spreading to the Arcana continent or reality.
Once my thoughts reached that far.
There was no hesitation.
I immediately moved my feet.
“As I said, I shall leave the stragglers to you.”
“We will answer that trust.”
“We will not let anyone escape, Commander-in-chief.”
Leaving behind the Holy War Allied Forces who bowed their heads to see me off.
I stepped upon the Heavenly Demon’s Sovereign Step.
With a single step, the scenery changed, and the Shadow Corridor came into sight.
I opened my mouth calmly.
“The architectural style is still atrocious.”
As expected of the founder of architectural magic, you start with a poisoned remark…
[The Shadow Corridor Invitation has been accepted.]
As the message appeared, finally.
The form of the Shadow Corridor, previously hazy like a mirage, began to appear.
And.
[Hidden Piece: Shadow Corridor]
[Collapse Rate: 100%]
[Recommended Level: 2,000~3,000]
I regretted it once again.
Th-that recommended level is two to three thousand?
I dare say.
In this world, there cannot be anyone else—across the Arcana continent and reality combined—who would enter a Hidden Piece with a recommended level of two to three thousand just to practice skills, no one but me with guts spilling out of their belly…!
Of course, despite my shock, my feet moved.
Click—