◈ Chapter 52. Frost (3) AAU.
They were no less shocked than the players.
Groans burst out from branches all over the world.
To think Frost had fallen.
It was something they had never even imagined.
“Let’s think calmly for now. This much has become certain. Just as time passes in reality, time is also passing on the Arcana World side.”
In other words.
It meant acknowledging that Arcana was not simply a game.
No, even if it had been a game in the past.
It had now become another world.
“We’d already suspected that before. But this is…! The speed is too fast. Everyone knows what kind of city Frost is, don’t you?”
“……
A siege difficulty on par with the imperial capital.”
“Exactly! That’s what I don’t understand. How on earth did those demon bastards capture Frost? Even considering the flow of time, physically…?”
Wait, the flow of time?
Damn it.
Why had they assumed the flow of time was the same?
A setting suddenly came to mind.
“The flow of time is different……!!”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Damn it, I’d completely forgotten. One day in reality is four days in Arcana!”
24 hours in reality. = 96 hours in Arcana.
That was from the days when Arcana was a game.
A setting that remained.
Was that why?
They had overlooked that simple setting.
“……
Time flows four times faster than in reality? Then it adds up.”
“So it wasn’t that the demon bastards suddenly got stronger?”
“Damn it, then Frost falling isn’t strange at all, is it?”
Everyone listening arrived, for a moment,
At a terrible possibility.
“……
Then at this point, what on earth is happening to the Arcana World?”
Even Frost, which boasted towering walls, had collapsed.
As for small villages and cities……?
There was no need to say it aloud.
Groans leaked out from everywhere.
“What counterattack of humanity? What the hell……!”
The Arcana World was being trampled by demons.
And most important of all.
Those demons were not content with the Arcana World and were being updated into reality as well.
AAU coldly ran the numbers.
“What do you all think the odds are that the players can recapture Frost after it’s fallen to demons?”
“……
Impossible.”
“We estimated the minimum at level 600. I mean the point when ranker players could start eyeing the position of Frost’s lord.”
The fact that such a Frost had collapsed miserably meant
The demons that had captured Frost were level 600.
That they possessed strength beyond that.
Players at the current point in time defeating monsters of the demon race like that?
“Damn it……!”
No matter how they thought about it, it was impossible.
That was the conclusion AAU reached.
“……
Wait a minute.”
Until Hoyeol appeared.
The situation room.
Hoyeol’s figure appeared on the monitors that filled the wall.
Hair the same color as the falling snow.
This time too, a suit and dress shoes.
That immaculate attire.
His appearance had been consistent ever since his first appearance.
So that alone did not surprise them.
Yes, the reason AAU was surprised was the NPCs following behind Hoyeol.
No, the Arcanians.
“No way.”
It was the Lionheart Knights again.
Given the setting of knights who swore loyalty to their lord,
No matter how much affinity one built, it shouldn’t be possible to lead a knight order……?
How could Hoyeol, who was nothing more than a player, appear leading the Lionheart Knights not once, but repeatedly?
That alone was astonishing enough.
“……
Th-the Shadow Mercenary Corps!”
The Shadow Mercenary Corps.
Even they had appeared together with Hoyeol.
“He built affinity with those masterminds too……?”
Masterminds.
The reason the Shadow Mercenary Corps was called that was simple.
Until now, they had been hidden behind a black curtain.
But they were beings who could exert considerable influence even in the latter half of the story. Yes, if one had to compare them, they occupied a position similar to the Magic Tower.
“……
They don’t step to the forefront, but their influence.”
“It was set to be enough to shake the continent beyond the empire, right?”
“It would be hard for a player to recognize their true value at this point……? Of course, they might be able to guess to some extent because of their absurdly expensive commission fees.”
“Haha…….”
For a moment, hollow laughter burst out.
“The Magic Tower, Lionheart, and now even the Shadow Mercenary Corps?”
It was simply impossible to believe.
But the fact that they could at least let out hollow laughter.
That was no different from being able to breathe again.
Yes, it meant it was too early to be discouraged.
With Hoyeol’s appearance.
AAU.
It was the moment their conclusion changed.
“For now, let’s watch calmly. Lee Hoyeol’s next move……!”
*Everything has its circumstances.
“Ugh, it’s cold.”
“Do not say such weak things, Miss Kichi. Remember that we have the mission of recapturing Frost.”
“Yees~ I understand. But can’t I even say it’s cold when it’s cold? Ugh, the Yusra Kingdom was warm and got plenty of sunlight, so it was perfect…….”
There were circumstances behind my appearing in Frost together with the Lionheart Knights.
And the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
Everything had its circumstances....
‘To think there were such circumstances.’
I had a conversation with Harkon about Frost.
The strongest knight order in the empire, Lionheart.
And Harkon was the captain of that knight order, wasn’t he?
Naturally, he would have plenty of experience with sieges.
I’d thought I might at least get some rough siege tips.
But Harkon’s reaction was unexpected.
“……
Frost has fallen? Sir, is that true!”
At the time Harkon was updated into reality.
Apparently, that was the very moment he had been on an expedition to a village not far from Frost.
Even the mighty Harkon ground his teeth, unable to contain his anger.
“Sir, does that not mean this disaster happened because I failed to deal with that demon corps commander! If only I had at least properly carried out His Majesty’s final order……! Frost would……!”
A demon corps commander.
‘I don’t know the Demon King’s army’s organizational chart, but.’
It was definitely a class quest.
Just from that name alone, I could strongly feel that it was related to the Demon King subjugation.
If this went well, I might be able to get an easy win. I quietly looked forward to it.
‘If I can learn information about that demon corps commander…….’
I could prepare in advance.
Why, even now, there was a lot to prepare.
Most of all, I would need to purchase a demon’s item to activate [Exorcism Ritual].
Since I had saved on expenses at the Magic Tower, thorough preparation would be possible.
It felt rewarding to have lived with integrity.
However.
“Sir. Our Lionheart Knights will join you.”
……
The words that came back far exceeded my expectations.
Harkon’s eyes were resolute.
“His Majesty’s final order was to subjugate the demon corps commander. Until His Majesty withdraws that order. We intend to subjugate the demon corps commander of this world—no, the demons.”
Harkon continued.
“That means your will and ours are aligned, Sir.”
……
From my perspective, there was no reason to refuse.
What was my will?
Clearing the class quest, of course.
‘Isn’t this saying they’ll help with the quest? And continuously, at that!’
Could there be any more reliable support than this?
In case his mind changed.
I immediately replied to Harkon.
“I respect your pride, Sir Harkon.”
...
That was the circumstance that led to the Lionheart Knights joining me.
The circumstance of the Shadow Mercenary Corps?
There wasn’t much to say about that.
‘If they’re told to do it, they’ll have to do it.’
Me and the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
From the very beginning, our relationship had been thoroughly that of superior and subordinate.
My first meeting with their leader, Kichi, remained vivid in my memory.
“Hic—”
“Is something the matter?”
“N-no. I just felt guilty for no reason……. No, I mean, I was startled.”
Why, she had started hiccuping as soon as she saw me.
While listening to Kichi’s self-introduction, I spoke coldly.
“Are you saying you wish to make a fresh start here in Yusra?”
The Shadow Mercenary Corps.
They had done any sort of work as long as it made them money.
That was how Kichi defended themselves.
“……
Haha, that’s right. You’ve seen right through us. Hic.”
Those words were true.
I could tell just by searching without having to ask around.
They were a mercenary corps with insanely expensive commission fees.
They were strong enough to handle any commission.
However, their cost-effectiveness was so terrible that no one would want to entrust them with any commission.
“However, that is unfortunate.”
It was not because they were unknown, nor because they had a bad reputation.
They moved solely for money?
“I dislike people such as you.”
Integrity itself.
To Granfell, there were no people more lacking in pride.
I felt like I understood why Hakuna had asked him to judge them.
“……
Hic!”
No misunderstandings.
That was not a sob but a hiccup.
Her shoulders shaking was because of the hiccups too.
Of course, even if she had shown tears,
Granfell was not the sort of great man to be swayed by them.
However.
“But I will trust in that resolve.”
“Hic? Pardon?! Resolve?”
“The desire to abandon your past and make a fresh start.”
Swish—!
I signed their documents without hesitation.
“I will watch to see whether you can find your pride.”
At that time, Kichi was visibly moved.
Of course, that emotion probably didn’t last long.
Before long, I declared to the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
“This is your chance to prove your resolve.”
Yes, the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
I had half-forcibly dragged them into the Demon King subjugation.
Everything involved give and take.
The Yusra Kingdom was a place I had risked my life to protect.
‘If you want to leech off it, prove your worth.’
Kichi trailed off.
“It’s a commission that doesn’t pay and is only dangerous……?”
It must have been a proposal unimaginable in the past.
But they had said they would abandon that past.
In the end, for a fresh start.
“……
I’ll still do it. No, I have to. No, I will. No, just leave it to me. Hic!”
If told to do it, they had no choice but to do it.
I was rather adept at organizational society, after all....
The Lionheart Knights joined voluntarily.
The Shadow Mercenary Corps, including Kichi, joined half-forcibly.
That was how I came to appear in Frost with them.
However, there was one circumstance I had overlooked.
‘Why does it have to be……!’
Why was it Hokkaido, right on Russia’s doorstep, again?
Forget a padded jacket.
My attire didn’t even include a single coat.
I could only resent the local circumstances……....
However, the bone-deep cold did not last long.
Hell manifested in reality.
Frost, with flames soaring.
The surrounding area was filled not with cold, but with heat.
Harkon was clearly suppressing his emotions.
“……
We will reclaim it without fail, Your Majesty.”
Even I, who had no significant connection to Frost,
Felt an indescribable emotion.
The feelings of the Lionheart Knights must have been no small matter.
However, they were the finest knight order of the empire.
They were not people who would be swayed by emotion
While facing the enemy.
“Sir, there must be survivors there as well, correct?”
Chivalry.
When there was something to protect, they became even stronger.
Thump, thump—!
The lion’s heart began to beat fiercely.
“Today, we reclaim Frost from evil!”
Morale surged with the roar.
‘……
Those Lionheart Knights will be helping with my class quest from now on too, right?’
There probably wasn’t anyone with stronger backing than me.
Those brave knights with lion hearts did not hesitate.
Harkon got to the point.
“Sir. Above all, entering Frost is our top priority.”
I agreed as well.
[Class Quest: Demon King Subjugation]
The king of demons.
Their evil hands have begun to reach out.
Last Demon Hunter.
Bring down the throne of evil.
─Train your weakened body. (Repeat)
─Investigate the northern city of Frost. (In Progress)
The top priority of the quest was also the investigation of Frost.
First, the order of business was to open Frost’s tightly shut gate.
If not that, then to bring down the walls.
Thinking about it that way…….
‘……
This is pretty bleak, isn’t it?’
Wasn’t this exactly what a siege was?
And a real siege, one that couldn’t even be compared to the time with Count Askura!
It was common sense that the defending side had the advantage in a siege.
‘In the end, they could only capture it because they were demons.’
Because demons had status abnormalities.
There was no way they had captured Frost through a fair and square siege.
They must have used some underhanded trick.
Despite that.
They were keeping the gates tightly shut for themselves.
“How exceedingly insolent.”
It was only natural that I could not stand by and watch such a sight.
In a siege.
What was needed to attack a gate or a wall was siege weaponry.
If the only goal had been to blow Frost away.
In truth, deploying bombers would be the most effective.
‘It’s not as if we can’t approach it like a rift.’
This was the power of modern civilization.
How about that, you demon bastards?
I could even feel a little smug.
But I couldn’t do that.
“……
There are survivors!”
“What, really? Let me see.”
“……
It looks like they’re being dragged somewhere? No, are they already dead?”
“What are those demon bastards scheming?”
The footage taken by drones in the sky.
According to the players, there were definitely NPCs inside.
No, Arcanians.
Though I could not know whether they were alive or dead.
I could not let them be caught in an explosion.
Then there was only one way.
‘Something with power comparable to a missile.’
Yet something that could delicately control that power.
Naturally, that something could only be 『magic』.
I checked the message that appeared.
[Skill, ‘Natural Enemy,’ has been activated.]
The Demon King.
The evil energy flowing out from Frost
Was enough to affect me outside the walls.
I raised my mana.
Search, interference, manifestation.
A series of processes carried out swiftly.
Toward the tightly shut gate,
I manifested magic.
Then a message appeared.
“……!!!”
Before the eyes of every player present, including me.