◈ Episode 506. What Remains After the Past (2)
Swish, swish. ‘What is he writing so much about?’ A scroll stretched down to touch the floor.
Lorentz hadn’t put down the quill even after entering the office, and it piqued my, I Hoyeol’s, curiosity. What could that gentleman be writing so passionately?
“Mhm.”
He strokes his chin with a serious expression and lets out sighs mixed with worry. However, because his appearance looked far too young, the weight of his anguish didn’t easily resonate. ‘He’s just like an elementary schooler doing his vacation homework……’……
Our Arang is probably doing well in kindergarten too, right?
Anyway, it wasn’t particularly bothersome.
No, rather, it was good.
As I said, there were things I needed to check as well.
First, I check my status window. ‘The stats…… They hurt my heart, so I’ll skip them.’ Death on the Arcana Continent.
The penalty from it.
Even if I gained more than I lost, seeing the dropped numbers still stung. What I deliberately turned a blind eye to before inspecting were the numerous titles, and among them, [Grand Master of Mystery].
It was. ‘I finally know the exact effect.’ [Grand Master of Mystery: An existence not born of Mystery has awakened to Mystery. The teachings of this pioneer shall lead many to the realm of Mystery.]
At first, I wondered what kind of effect this even was. Because unlike [Last Adventurer], it wasn’t simple and clear. But I suppose it’s the effect of repeated learning. ‘It definitely changed after acquiring the title, right?’ Whether I like it or not.
I have no choice but to maintain my usual attitude.
It’s not that Grangpel and I have changed.
My surroundings, that is, the Holy War Allied Forces. ‘And on top of that, even Rox.’ I’m talking about their dazzling changes.
‘Honestly, when it came to Nam Taemin, Hisagi, and Leoni……’ I was half-convinced, half-doubtful.
-“It’s not empty words—the Commander-in-chief’s Illusion right before my eyes……!”
-“No. It wasn’t my life flashing before my eyes, nor an illusion. I saw it clearly.”
-“……Damn, how am I saying this with my own mouth.”
I couldn’t hear a concrete testimony from Leoni, but since he eventually nodded reluctantly, it meant that ‘I’ was the one who guided those three to the realm of Mystery. ‘And with Rox, a message even popped up.’
It was my [Grand Master of Mystery] that led Rox to the [Wandering Knight] class. At first, I thought what kind of title is this, with no concrete effect and only a grandiose description.
Not from the narrow perspective of I Hoyeol.
But from one who bears a heavy responsibility.
Now, looking from the viewpoint of the Commander-in-chief of the Holy War Allied Forces. ‘Not bad. No, honestly, it’s beyond that level.’ This, perhaps, might be an incredible effect.
I came to such a realization.
Because the realm of Mystery isn’t somewhere just anyone can step into! ‘A buff that massively increases allied strength.’ A buff that goes beyond even that and raises their ‘rank.’
Thinking like that, I put even more strength into my already proudly puffed chest. Of course, I have no intention of attributing everything to my own virtue or merit. ‘Everyone who entered the realm of Mystery.’ In the end, they said they realized my teachings only when they approached the line of death.
If such efforts hadn’t been there.
It means no buff could have brought about change.
Though I still don’t know what exactly they learned from me. ‘Well, still, I definitely taught them manners, at least.’
After a brief rationalization, my gaze shifts. [Light of All: Thy light shall lead all.]
In that sense, couldn’t the legend I acquired this time also be expected to have a similar effect? By the way, Light of All. Surely the system message isn’t making a pun about my incomparably brilliant self-luminous Dawn set, is it……?
It was the moment I flinched, feeling unnecessarily guilty.
Lorentz, who had been engrossed in writing, opened his mouth.
“Do you know? The streets are now filled with stories of you, Commander-in-chief of the Holy War Allied Forces. I am certain that if this place were the Arcana Continent, your ‘Karma’ would have grown even thicker from that recent episode.”
……Karma? ‘Wait, that.’ The Corridor of Shadows.
That is, the currency unit used in the New World.
Honestly, I couldn’t tell exactly what Karma meant. ‘Did I possess roughly about one thousand?’ Compared to others.
I didn’t even know the reason I possessed such Karma.
But as expected of the Romantic Explorer, Lorentz.
You, you know something about Karma, don’t you? ‘My mouth is already itching with curiosity.’
But who is our Grangpel-nim?
One who does not reveal a pitiful situation to anyone.
A possessor of an incomparably proud personality.
“Karma, let us talk about that gradually.”
Hold it in, Hoyeol. ‘You’re going to be sticking with Lorentz a lot anyway.’
The Romantic Explorer, Lorentz. Why would the Grangpel of the world not say anything special to Lorentz, who had entered the office without making any fuss?
‘Because we’re companions who will go together. To the very bottom of hell.’
Though the incident had been settled, I had no intention of hesitating.
Honestly, with Grangpel’s temperament.
Finding the demon realm where Paimon is would be the priority rather than hell.
‘Please endure just this once, Grangpel, for my sake somehow.’
Meet with the seniors of hell.
Because there must surely be a reward at the end of the class quest. If I can seize that reward, wouldn’t I be able to follow even a little of the strength of the seniors who perfectly suppressed even Paimon?
‘Let’s get insurance before going to the demon realm.’
Swish.
By that point, I too put down the quill.
Because I had finally finished organizing the backlogged documents.
Shall I properly hear about the method to head to hell? ‘But……’
By this point, I had grown even more curious.
That he was still writing.
The expression of serious anguish made even his youthful face look quite serious.
Fortunately, Lorentz didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding it.
“Good, I suppose this much is enough.”
Lorentz let out a satisfied smile.
Then he approached me.
And held out a parchment scroll.
“These are lines written for you, Commander.”
……Lines for me?
Why did I sense an ominous premonition even before checking? However, I had witnessed with my own two eyes that Lorentz was more focused than anyone. And it was Grangpel-nim’s pride that could not ignore such sincerity.
Swish.
I read the lines of the scroll without missing a single one.
And then didn’t utter a word.
To be precise…….
I lost my words! ‘Good heavens.’
Hey there, Mr. Lorentz.
I don’t know how it was on the Arcana Continent, but…… if you spread something like this in reality, I’d be arrested with charges to spare for spreading false information, false advertising—no, as a pseudo-religious cult leader!!
Through the approaching dizziness, lines briefly visible. 『Even if you cannot believe, believe. For it is truly the only light in the darkness, the true path. Those who follow that light shall not lose their way even in any trial and suffering……』
I inwardly suspected Lorentz. ‘It was you who spread that nonsense about the Light of All too?!’
However, our shameless Grangpel-nim.
“Truly a beautiful cadence.”
……Grangpel, did that really come out of your mouth as ‘truly beautiful’?
This is narcissism beyond shamelessness.
When it goes too far, it becomes bad luck, you know?
“To the point I wish to possess it.”
I wish to possess it.
Of course.
This was a word urgently spat out by my, I Hoyeol’s, will.
Was it because I liked the embarrassing hymn?
No, I must be crazy.
Lorentz asks back in bewilderment.
“Wish to possess it? This hymn is a masterpiece that cannot be easily found even among all the writings I have penned until now. That is precisely why it must absolutely be spread widely throughout the world……”
Your intentions are impure, Lorentz! ‘I couldn’t bear to see such a sight even if I died.’
Perhaps my inner thoughts were conveyed; soon Lorentz nodded his head.
“Nevertheless, if that is the Commander’s will, it cannot be helped. I, Lorentz, shall gladly dedicate this hymn to the Commander-in-chief of the Holy War Allied Forces. However, I do hope this hymn may resound, if only within the Magic Tower.”
Is that the condition for handing over the scroll? ‘That much isn’t difficult.’
Players who had set foot in the Magic Tower as apprentice mages, unlike in the past. If even one of them witnessed this embarrassing hymn, word of it would spread quickly by word of mouth.
However. ‘I’m still the Chief of the Magic Tower, after all.’
Meaning I could freely use not only spaces that apprentice mages couldn’t even enter in every corner of the Magic Tower, but also anywhere I wished to safely hide this hymn.
‘I must bury it deep where no one will know.’
I wanted to throw it into the Abyss with all my heart, but that was something my pride would not permit. Anyway, for now, I put the scroll into my inventory and focused on the next topic.
Lorentz opened his mouth.
“Then we must properly establish a plan for the hell exploration!”
Good, Lorentz.
So.
How do we get to hell where the seniors are?
*Thud.
Mathis Din Karl, Senior of Black Magic Studies. Though he had obtained the freedom to leave the tower earlier than others as a senior mage, he did not rashly step outside the Magic Tower. Because he was on guard.
“This.”
The compatible mana undulating in Seoul. Everyone, even Tower Master Marcello, believed that they had overcome this crisis without much danger.
But Mathis knew. ‘His Excellency has endured desperately this time as well.’
That an incomparably vast amount of compatible mana had settled at the bottom of Seoul. Therefore, Mathis could not step even a single foot away from the Magic Tower until that compatible mana dissipated naturally.
Blackening.
Without being swallowed by this Chief’s compatible mana.
He had no confidence in suppressing the Blackening.
Mathis touched his ring to compose his mind.
But his mind did not easily settle.
It couldn’t be helped.
Mathis had recently witnessed the potential of adventurers.
Mathis was contemplating his own usefulness. ‘What can I do for this Chief……’
In order to calm his uneasy heart.
As he was strolling around the Magic Tower like a park.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar sign stimulated his extremely sharpened senses. ‘Something has changed.’
A sensation that couldn’t be felt in the Magic Tower during normal times.
The place where Mathis stopped was a hidden annex of the Magic Tower. It was ‘Amethyst Hall.’
Among the countless doors filling the hall.
An unusual energy was felt from beyond one door.
It was natural.
If Mathis had possessed an adventurer’s perspective. [You have discovered a Hidden Piece.]
Such a message would undoubtedly have appeared before his eyes……
Click.
But Mathis could not see it.
Therefore, he couldn’t guess even after seeing it.
Only one thing in an empty space where nothing existed.
A bundle of scrolls floating in the air.
Mathis muttered.
“My current actions do not violate the Magic Tower’s rules.”
Amethyst Hall is a space permitted to mages of senior rank or higher.
Senior mages could freely enter and exit the side rooms of the hall.
There were no restrictions on actions exploring its interior either……
Swish.
However, Mathis hadn’t realized until the moment he reached for the scroll. How painstakingly the characters upon that scroll had been engraved.
The Romantic Explorer, Lorentz.
Everything he sings becomes legend. Just as the fire of hell he brought became a torch that never goes out, and the journal he left behind became a signpost leading adventurers.
It was a masterpiece penned by such a Lorentz.
The Romantic Explorer who weaves legends.
Lines written after witnessing a living legend.
That very thing was a ‘something’ that surpasses legends.
Even if one were unable to witness it. [Hidden Piece, you have discovered the ‘Scripture After the Upheaval.’]
It was a greatness that could not help but be felt.
Mathis Din Karl.
One of the Three of the Magic Tower after the Great Upheaval.
He let out an exclamation.
One that some would be unable to contain their shock upon hearing.
“……Homen.”
In a single word.