◈ Episode 538. Reversal upon Reversal (2)
When I manifested reversal magic, a reversal unfolded. ‘I don’t know why, since you’ve clammed up and all.’ Regardless of Grandfell’s silence, a change appeared in the vengeful spirits who had rushed at me with murderous intent. Clatter, clatter. Each of them dropped the blades they had been clutching onto the floor.
“Huuuuugh.”
And then, not with laughter full of rapture.
But as though steeped in deep sorrow.
They trailed off in voices like that.
“Our poor young Family Head……”
At those words, I unknowingly felt a weight lift from my chest. ‘Of course.’ The rampage of [Throughout Heaven and Earth, I Alone Am Supreme].
And [Darkening]. Through those experiences, I had inwardly thought that Grandfell might not be as merciful as the settings in my dark history notebook made him out to be. ‘Grandfell.’ So I had wondered, just in case.
The countless [Spider Lilies Grown from Blood] blooming in Claudi Territory.
Whether there might have been a few among them that Grandfell had caused to sprout.
However. ‘There’s no way you would have done that.’ It seemed not.
The vengeful spirits who had swung their daggers at me writhed in guilt.
All while addressing me as the young Family Head each and every time.
Soon, their screams turned into pleas.
“Young Family Head, please do not try to shoulder the great sin of House Claudi yourself. You, at least…… Even if you bear Claudi blood, you at least…… We simply cannot……!!”
Grandfell had closed his mouth, but I could guess. ‘So that’s what it was.’ Grandfell.
You were someone even those who had fallen into hell bearing grudges against House Claudi couldn’t hate. I recalled the image of young Grandfell that I had witnessed in the spacetime quest. ‘Well, who could hate you?’
With those tiny little hands.
Aside from caring far too much about how your clothes looked.
Even back then, you were well-mannered, cute, clever……
In any case, for someone like you to be hated by others.
That would be impossible. ‘Now I understand why the vengeful spirits knelt.’
Wasn’t that why they were all pleading with you?
“Even if you are the head of House Claudi…… there is no need for you, young Family Head, to bear Claudi’s sins. No, you must not walk that path. We do not wish for you to suffer such trials……!”
They were telling me to leave this hell at once. ‘When you scare me that much.’
I, Lee Hoyeol.
Even if it meant giving up on meeting the Akshan seniors for my class quest.
I could feel the desire to escape hell welling up in me. ‘You’re really laying the fear on thick right now, aren’t you?’
In truth, if that was all, I wouldn’t have complained.
What had allowed me to brazenly act out in the face of countless trials until now? The [First World Tree’s Blessing] buff, with its fraudulent effects, had played an enormous role. ‘But instead of a buff, I’ve been hit with a nerf.’
However, even [First World Tree’s Blessing].
Could not offset the curse of House Claudi that was active in hell.
An expedition into hell when the thing I trusted had disappeared.
Forget the royal palace, would I even be able to break through the next gate?
It meant my confidence had dropped.
However.
“I have a request to make of you.”
You know it too, don’t you? Our Lord Grandfell’s temperament.
How, once he takes on a burden.
He never puts it down with his own hands.
And on top of that, Claudi blood.
The seat of Family Head.
Was not a burden he had taken on, but a mission he had been born with.
At last, I opened my mouth.
“Guide me to the tail.”
I hadn’t forgotten the quest objective.
-Survive the festival of Hell Village. (In progress)
●Become “it” and take part in the game of tag. (In progress)
1. Kill all participants. (Optional)
2. Die. (Optional)
3. Survive and cut off the tail. (Optional)
The head of House Claudi.
Following Lord Grandfell’s stubbornness.
In order to proceed to the next gate.
I had to find and cut off something called the “tail” in Hell Village.
The vengeful spirits of Hell Village sank into even deeper sorrow.
Even so, they couldn’t defy him.
“We will obey the young Family Head’s command.”
They staggered to their feet and guided me somewhere.
By the way.
I’d felt this ever since I first set foot in the social hall of spacetime…… ‘We seem to have a talent for throwing cold water on things, don’t we?’
How was it that whenever we appeared.
A festive atmosphere turned into the atmosphere of a funeral hall?
As I walked on, feeling a self-reproach that wasn’t quite self-reproach……
Suddenly, a question occurred to me. ‘The vengeful spirits remember the Grandfell I know.’
The Grandfell I knew here.
Naturally meant the Grandfell from my dark history notebook. The one who was utterly shameless yet noble, and yet merciful…… In any case, that Grandfell who was hard to explain in words. ‘……Then what was Grandfell at the moment he darkened?’
So much so that even I felt he was unfamiliar.
So much so that there was no distinction between enemy and ally.
The Grandfell who hadn’t shown even the slightest trace of mercy. ‘Was it the influence of suitable magic power?’
It felt too unsettling to simply chalk it up to the influence of [Darkening].
After all, being swayed by darkening was only.
A matter of when one couldn’t control suitable magic power. ‘I might be like that, but you aren’t, Grandfell.’
Then.
Was there some “trigger” that had caused such a side to exist in Grandfell?
Was that trigger in the thirty percent I still didn’t know about? ‘You really are like an onion, you man……’
The moment I swallowed a sigh inwardly.
“Our poor Lord Grandfell……”
The vengeful spirits came to a stop.
[Second Gate
-Sealed]
I see, so that was what they meant by the tail?
A gate large enough for two or three adults to pass through.
A straw rope was tied across its entrance. That straw rope must be the “tail” the quest referred to. The third option—cutting the straw rope and entering the Second Gate—was before my eyes. ‘The other two options might as well not exist.’
There was no need to hesitate before my only choice.……
Grip.
Just as I thought that, someone grabbed the hem of my clothes.
“You must not go……! Beyond that door, even more painful trials and truths will be waiting for you, young Family Head!”
If it had been the usual Grandfell, that is.……
Slide.
He would have spat out sharp words just because someone had grabbed the hem of his clothes.
But not now.
The Grandfell I knew was not so coldhearted as to spit out icy words at vassals who were sincerely worried about him. ‘He isn’t that heartless.’
“Even so, there is no need for concern.”
“……?”
“You may trust me.”
“……!!!”
Though the vengeful spirits had no facial features except mouths, I felt as if their emotions reached me. How should I put it? They seemed moved by words overflowing not only with responsibility, but even confidence.
Of course, I, Lee Hoyeol, felt no particular emotion. ‘How many times has this been already in hell, acting all cool?’
Trust me.
You may trust me.
I am the protagonist.
In any case, he really knew how to strike a pose.……
Slip.
Since the Family Head had gone that far, the vengeful spirit that had grabbed my clothes also relaxed its grip. The vengeful spirit’s shoulders trembled, as if trying to suppress the emotion welling up inside.
Rustle.
But old habits die hard.
Grandfell’s gaze turned toward the now-wrinkled Jacket of Dawn.
Whether they knew his inner thoughts or not, the vengeful spirits continued.
“If that is truly the young Family Head’s will, then we will no longer dissuade you.”
Yes, good thinking. ‘His stubbornness is no ordinary thing.’
If you’d kept holding on, you might have ended up arguing with him forever.
The moment I inwardly felt relieved.
Thoom.
All of a sudden.
A noise pierced my eardrums.
The festival opened in Hell Village. ‘……That’s a flower palanquin, isn’t it?’
At the center of the festival procession was a flower palanquin, and the vengeful spirits had set that palanquin down on the ground. I tried to fit the situation together with my experiences thus far. ‘Usually, in this kind of flow……’
Something so shameful happens that I end up cursing my own fate……?
Then, don’t tell me……!
Were they planning to make me ride that gaudy flower palanquin? ‘I absolutely refuse, seriously!’
Even if I didn’t throw a fit, Grandfell probably thought the same.
Fortunately, however, my worries were nothing but an overreaction.
Even when the vengeful spirits opened a path toward the flower palanquin.
I had still wondered if perhaps, but soon, I flinched.
Click.
With the sound of something fitting together, the door of the flower palanquin began to open.
There was no one riding inside.
The vengeful spirits opened their mouths.
“Even at the moment we fell into hell, even at the moment we burned in fire, even now, when we have become mixed with all manner of vengeful spirits and only thoughts remain, we never let this go from our hands. However……”
What could be seen through the open door of the flower palanquin was a jewel box.
“If it is for the young Family Head, we will gladly offer it.”
A vengeful spirit took the jewel box and approached me.
When the jewel box opened, my vision flickered.
I swallowed an exclamation inwardly. ‘……You know? Sorry for making you go through all that pointless trouble, D-End.’
It was an item fragment that was more than familiar to me.
[The Hexagram Brooch is shining.]
Three pieces of the Hexagram Brooch.
[Hexagram Brooch 3/6]
[Hexagram Brooch 4/6]
[Hexagram Brooch 5/6]
Because it was in hell.
Even after searching every corner of the Arcana Continent.
That was why they couldn’t find a single one!!
*
Marcelo faced Hakuna, king of Yusra.
“You have grown, Your Majesty.”
“Nonsense.”
“You know, do you not? I am not the sort to offer empty praise.”
Marcelo’s assessment was accurate.
Even by the sharp discernment of the Tower Master, Hakuna had achieved dazzling growth.
In terms of martial strength as well. ‘Growth potential to a degree that makes it hard to believe he is an Arcanian. Enough that he does not fall behind compared to adventurers…… No, perhaps even beyond adventurers.’
And in the complete opposite regard as well. ‘And on top of that, his ability to break through the chaotic political situation.’
Marcelo surveyed the view of Yusra from the Golden Palace. Even taking into account the fact that Sir Hoyeol had handled a considerable amount of administrative work in the Yusra Kingdom, the kingdom’s development was dazzling. ‘What is most surprising of all……’
Even considering the fact that Seoul had become a land of strangeness.
An unmistakably unusual wind was blowing into the Magic Tower.
Yet the Yusra Kingdom was still peaceful.
Unchanging, just as it had been in the past.
For a moment, Marcelo sank into anguish. ‘……He is different from me, who has run up against a limit.’
How had Hakuna achieved such remarkable growth?
No matter how much he thought about it, there was only one answer.
It had to be none other than [『Strangeness』]. ‘How was he able to reach Strangeness?’
Insight worthy of the father of theoretical magic.
Marcelo, about to sink into deep thought.
Hakuna’s voice pulled him back to reality.
“Dazzling growth, you say. Perhaps it is because I was born again.”
Born again.
At those words, Marcelo suddenly.
Thought of “someone.”
Now that he thought about it, “she” too had been achieving dazzling growth. ‘……Could there be a connection?’
For an instant, Marcelo’s expression hardened.
But it was only for a brief moment.
Yes, rather than a thought that was still nothing more than conjecture.
A definite change was unfolding before his eyes.
Gleam.
Brilliant plate armor tickled his vision.
A great army entering the Golden Palace.
They were the paladins of the Goddess Church who followed Tallim.
Hakuna opened his mouth.
“With this, the Goddess Church has been completely split in two. Our Holy War Alliance has decided to support Tallim Eber’s faction among the Goddess Church……”
The voice that followed at the end was bitter to the core.
“To think that, in a situation like this, the whereabouts of my benefactor remain unknown.”
Marcelo was keeping his words to himself.
Because Hakuna shared a deep bond with Hoyeol, if he learned what situation Hoyeol had found himself in…… Marcelo himself could not easily predict what kind of sorrow he would fall into, or what action he would take.
But a well-intentioned secret did not last long.
“Y-Your Majesty!!”
A man came running in urgently.
He was one of the former Inazuma Guild members who had defected to the Yusra Kingdom. For some reason, upon seeing Marcelo, the player let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank goodness. Chief Marcelo, you’re here as well!!”
“What has happened?”
“Th-that is, from the holy land of Muon……!!”
Muon, the holy land of the Goddess Church.
『Saintess Freyja, who came into conflict with Tallim.
Withdraws from the Holy War Alliance.
Adventurers forming an ominous current with the Goddess Church…….』
News that put an end to every question had arrived.
“The Goddess Church and Bohemian, they have declared a true holy war!!”
“……A true holy war?”
“A war against the infinitely deep darkness. In other words, against the Commander-in-Chief!!”
It was a flow they had already predicted.
And yet, at those words, Marcelo and Hakuna.
The gazes of the two men sank colder than ever.
“U-um. Did I say something wrong……?”
Cold enough to make the player break out in a cold sweat....
[Class Quest: Paladin, Illuminate the Darkness.]