◈ Episode 476. A Monarch? More Than That (3)
I had studied diligently on that subject as well. ‘No less than the magic tomes of the Magic Tower.’ Ironically, what Player Lee Hoyeol lacked was common sense as a player. Of course. The last time I had played Arcana Continent Chronicle was well over ten years ago. ‘And on top of that.’ My dark history... No, because I had been utterly immersed in some rather unfortunate tastes, I hadn’t been able to enjoy Arcana Continent Chronicle’s proper content like everyone else. ‘Because I was holed up in Akshan, obviously.’ Thanks to that, after awakening, I had worked hard to catch up on Arcana’s common knowledge, as if I were some late-blooming student.
Of course, the process had not been easy. ‘Though I did have a brilliant talent.’ Naturally, Grandfell’s head was not at fault.
A mind that could learn even the highest-level magic merely by witnessing it.
Would it have failed at simple memorization? ‘The real problem was that loose mouth.’ As the chief of the AAU Yusra Branch,
I had the authority to browse information related to Arcana Continent Chronicle.
And in the process, I had heard all sorts of things.
-“Surely, you’re not planning to look through even this early-stage database?”
-“As expected of the chief...”
-“We’ll work harder too, Chief. If there’s any information you’d like to review again, please let us know. The Korean branch will provide full support without reservation...!”...
It really hadn’t been easy to listen to those words with a shameless expression.
Even as I recalled those burdensome remarks,
as expected, this damned mouth of mine refused to stay still.
“Is this the end?”
In truth, I had cleared labyrinth rifts only enough times to count on one hand.
When it came to gaining that sort of experience,
the Hundred Thousand Caves of the Zero Mountains had been useful. ‘I had quite a hard time back then, though.’ But now, I wore the throne of an upper demon king, and as if that were not enough, even the legacy of Eunaxus. Thanks to that, conquering a labyrinth was not an issue. As you can see, all I had to do was collapse the labyrinth rift itself.
However, everything had also been helped by the circumstances aligning just right.
[Prototype Rift]
Because it was an incomplete rift created according to Raymon Sean’s intent.
Because the system’s rules,
which neither I nor Raymon Sean could defy,
did not apply.
Setting that fact aside, I recited.
“A mere labyrinth like this cannot beguile me.”
The scenery changed once more as I spoke grandly.
[You have entered the Prototype Rift, ‘Dungeon.’]
Again, it went without saying, but I had no intention of leisurely exploring a dungeon whose length I could not even gauge. Even at this very moment, while I was caught up in the Prototype Rift. ‘The Arcana Continent is vast, after all.’ Who knew what great beast might advance toward Antonium, where the imperial throne was located? Even considering the existence of the Holy War Alliance,
Even if players, including rankers, and the Arcana Continent’s finest forces were gathered together, ‘Only I can do this sort of thing.’ Crash.
As my lips parted, the scenery of the Prototype Rift began to shatter.
Would this keep repeating from now on? Every time I cleared a single concept, would I have to spit out arrogant barbs like this? At this rate, wouldn’t Grandfell’s patience, which had been painstakingly displayed, run out?
That was the moment I was worrying about it.
“!”
For an instant, I froze.
Because in the next rift,
a sight that should not have appeared was visible.
Tall buildings.
Signs decorating the outer walls of those buildings.
This was unmistakably a scene from reality.
Of course, my iron mask did not reveal my confusion.
“I see.”
First, I uttered a single line, then quickly set my mind to work.
Could it be that this incomplete...
Prototype Rift had the possibility of appearing in reality? ‘No, rather than that.’
Reality and the Arcana Continent.
It would be more accurate to say the boundary between the two had grown faint.
As I said, because I was the chief of the AAU Yusra Branch, there was information I could access. One example was access authority to the Another Space, a vessel observing Earth from outer space.
What did Earth look like when viewed through cutting-edge equipment?
If I were being honest,
it was not much different from the Arcana Continent.
Demonic Eyes floating not only in the sky, but even through space. Rifts appearing and collapsing in real time all across Earth. It was an unreal sight that would not have seemed strange even if it were called the Arcana Continent.
Tap.
I did not immediately shatter the rift and instead looked around.
Cars, traffic lights, crosswalks...
At this point, I could be certain.
This was the adventurers’ world.
My reality.
“There are two possibilities.”
My mind, working without pause, produced an answer.
“A simple imitation, or the collapse of the boundary.”
A ‘reality’ concept had appeared in the Prototype Rift.
Then was the scenery projected into the rift an imitation of reality?
Or was it truly reality? ‘The worst case is the latter.’
That would mean the boundary between reality and the Arcana Continent had already collapsed to a considerable degree. In the past, perhaps I would not have paid much attention to it. However. ‘You see as much as you know.’
As I said, through seeing, hearing, and even experiencing it, I had felt reality becoming more and more similar to the Arcana Continent. And so I could be certain.
“I understand.”
Grandfell’s chilling manner of speech continued.
“So this was the anomaly you sought, Raymon Sean.”
That’s right.
Raymon Sean.
You were not simply trying to destroy reality.
The collapse of the boundary between the Arcana Continent and reality.
In other words, you were moving for the sake of
the [“Anomaly”]
that would merge two completely different worlds into one.
The questions in my head began to unravel.
-No, if he wants Earth destroyed, why is he giving out rewards???
-That doesn’t mean he’s on our side, that’s going too far. Look at the update history.
-Fr, I can’t get even the slightest read on what he’s thinking;;;;;
Once I thought of all his actions so far as an attempt to fuse reality and the Arcana Continent into a single world, those contradictory behaviors began to make sense.
But, you see.
“However, you are wrong.”
Who am I?
Starting from the very bottom, knowing absolutely nothing,
and climbing all the way here, I am an expert in anomalies who has even obtained the title [Great Master of Anomaly].
From that position, I delivered my assessment.
“Your premise was flawed from the beginning. Anomaly is not something that can be handled with shallow understanding. It means you must be accompanied by broad and profound knowledge of the subject.”
Swoosh.
I prepared a demonstration to support my argument. Yes, even shattering an incomplete rift, which might look easy at first glance, was an intricately interwoven anomaly.
I continued.
“Do you believe you have perfectly understood the Arcana Continent? Furthermore, do you believe you have perfectly grasped reality as well?”
Someone would probably answer my question.
Isn’t that possible if it’s Raymon Sean?
Well, perhaps one could think so.
The CEO of Cosmo, the developer of Arcana Continent Chronicle. Not only would he have information about the Arcana Continent, but he would also have knowledge of reality acquired while reigning as the greatest businessman in history.
However.
There is something even you do not know.
I continued.
“If so, how unfortunate.”
That’s right.
Something neither you,
nor anyone in the world,
could ever know,
even unto death.
My and Grandfell’s colossal dark history...!
“I have no intention of granting you permission.”
As I have said countless times,
I can no longer be certain
whether Claudi came first,
or whether my dark-history notebook came first.
But one thing is certain.
The great family, Claudi.
From the past until the day of its destruction, the Claudi family had left a mark across the history of the Arcana Continent. Of course, even now, it was continuing to do so in real time... ‘In any case.’
The Dark Dragon that observed the Arcana Continent from behind the scenes.
Even I did not know everything about that Claudi family.
Raymon Sean, who knew nothing at all.
How could the anomaly you seek possibly be realized?
At that point, I spoke with conviction.
“As expected, you fail.”
Crash.
The scenery of the reality rift shattered.
Now that I had finally learned Raymon Sean’s goal, I had no reason to keep playing along with his little tricks. The rifts that had blocked me in layer upon layer continued to break apart.
Clatter.
As the incomplete rift shattered, fragments of dimension scattered in every direction, shining with light. But I had no time to be distracted by their beauty. A great road had appeared in my vision for the first time in a while.
[Aesthetic Sense: High]
Because I had detected the ‘Path of Aesthetics.’
I could intuitively tell where the end of this road led.
After all, I had experienced it before.
One of the Hundred Thousand Caves of the Zero Mountains, the [Sea of Lava].
Through the Path of Aesthetics, I had saved the monster, the Siren, from the Sea of Lava. Thanks to that, I could be certain. It was useless to try to disturb my sight with such petty tricks, Raymon Sean.
Tap.
I moved forward, following only the Path of Aesthetics.
And at last, I was able to arrive.
I was able to face it once more.
[You have cleared the Prototype Rift.]
The scenery of the Arcana Continent.
Wooooo.
Because I had been caught in the rift, they must have been pressing their attack even more fiercely. Under the hatchlings’ attacks, the three great beasts let out pained cries.
The Path of Aesthetics, gradually fading, was telling me.
The great beasts had little life force remaining. In my head, Lee Hoyeol’s head, I calculated an estimate. If the great beasts were killed like this, what could I obtain? ‘What do you mean, what? Not a damn thing!’
Just as I had picked up my spoon and tried to set it on the rice bowl,
I had been caught in Raymon Sean’s damned scheme.
Of course, it was not as if I had gained nothing.
No, in fact, I had gained something more valuable than anything else. ‘I learned Raymon Sean’s goal.’
But the problem was that time had been wasted in the process.
In the end, until the three great beasts were driven to the brink of death,
I had been left doing nothing but sucking my fingers...!
The materialized legend, the Dark Dragon.
Whether it knew what was going on inside me or not,
it greeted me.
“I have not forgotten your Dragon Word.”
Aha. So while I was away, you were faithfully carrying out my command, Dark Dragon? In the process, the legendary status of ‘Dragon Lord, Dark Dragon Lee Hoyeol’ must have risen even higher, huh?
But. ‘That experience must not be small change.’
Their levels were 1,500, 1,300, and 1,400 respectively. Even if the required experience for leveling up had surged after breaking through level 1,000, I would have risen by at least several dozen levels. ‘What’s the use? That ship’s already sailed.’
Then let’s choose the next best option, Hoyeol.
Just this once, let’s emulate Grandfell’s integrity,
which does not cling to mere numbers. ‘Raymon Sean, that useless bastard...’
I swallowed down the injustice that welled up inside me and spoke.
【This is sufficient.】
The Dark Dragon responded to my Dragon Word.
At the Dark Dragon’s will, the hatchlings stopped their attacks.
By the way, is that damned discipline still not over, Grandfell?
【The king of all creation does not cut down the neck of a foe who has submitted.】
You’re not afraid of being stabbed in the back?
Truly.
You say that because you do not understand Grandfell’s pride.
【One who fears future consequences cannot be called the true king of all creation.】
You really are striking every pose there is...!
Even so, this was the best option at the moment. Even if I ended the great beasts’ lives here, I would be in a situation where I could only suck my fingers. Not only the spoils, but the experience as well, would vanish.
So I advanced along the unfolded ‘Path of Aesthetics.’
The great beasts, driven to the brink of death, offered no resistance at all.
Was that why?
[Quest: Master of the Great Beasts]
I could see it clearly.
The shackles fastened around their necks.
That must be the leash held by the tyrant, Oxidin.
No words or hesitation were needed.
Crunch.
When I lightly clenched my fist in the air,
the leash constricting the great beasts was crushed as it was.
At the same time, my vision flickered.
[You have met the conditions.]
[You have succeeded in the quest.]
[Your relationship with the great beast, ‘Ten-Thousand-Jin Turtle,’ has greatly increased.]
[Your relationship with the great beast, ‘Mythic Wooden Horse,’ has greatly increased.]
[Your relationship with the great beast, ‘Sunrise Viper,’ has greatly increased.]
Yes, you somehow managed to accomplish something again, Hoyeol.
Bzzzz.
No sooner had I felt relieved than, suddenly, I felt a vibration.
What was it? I reached into my inner pocket.
While deliberately ignoring the green tea bag, I checked the vibrating smartphone.
And then I flinched.
Wait a minute, my dear Holy War Alliance people.
W-what are you all doing right now...?!
“You pass.”
Regardless of my bewilderment, Grandfell’s evaluation fell.
“You have not been negligent in your exploration of anomaly.”
...
[Breaking News: The largest allied operation since the Cataclysm has begun.]
[Breaking News: AAU, “We are currently exchanging real-time information actively with players.”]
[Breaking News: AAU, “Player Lee Hoyeol’s whereabouts remain unknown.”]
(omitted)
[Breaking News: The only message currently received is from ‘Dragon Lord, Dark Dragon Lee Hoyeol’...!]