◈ Chapter 553. It’s a Promise, Gwicheol.
I’m not just saying this because it’s my sword—it really isn’t an ordinary weapon. Maybe it’s because it was born from a cold mineral in the first place. Unlike Hiel or Diend, it had a rather cool-headed side.
And Gwicheol’s wish?
The sword path (劍路).
To reach its end.
In other words, to see the end of the sword.
In that sense, the master Gwicheol served wasn’t me, Lee Hoyeol, but the exceptionally talented Lord Granfel. Granfel, you might not know this, but from the receiving end, I could feel the difference. ‘Not that I’m hurt by it.’ More than I go around telling others to know their place.
Knowing my place is my specialty, after all. I, Lee Hoyeol.
So I wasn’t wounded by Gwicheol’s preferential treatment.
Above all, I was the one who would lose out. ‘What good would come from bickering?’ As I watched the messages about Gwicheol flicker.
Memories suddenly came to mind.
Let’s see, if Gwicheol hadn’t been there, there were more than a few times I would have had a rough time. ‘It’d be great if not for that damn naming sense.’ Imagine Breaker, Shadow Slayer.
Even while it continued changing forms to resist the sacred relic, the names that came to mind—whoever it had learned them from—were enough to make me sigh nonstop.
Gwicheol’s voice rang out.
—So that is how it is. This much is not enough……!
Far from being discouraged, it seemed visibly excited at the thought of pitting its own body, its blade (劍身), against the sacred relic. So what name are you going to come up with this time, Granfel?
It was when I asked that in advance to brace myself.
“That is enough.”
Granfel opened his mouth.
At first, I thought Gwicheol had finally found an appropriate form……
No, something was different from usual.
The reason I could be certain was simple. ‘Gwicheol……?’ Because Gwicheol’s voice had stopped.
As if to explain the situation.
The space before my eyes was flickering.
[The Hexagram Brooch emits light.]
That’s right.
Gwicheol’s current form was not one it had judged and changed into on its own. It was not my intent either, Lee Hoyeol’s. Gwicheol had changed into a form that absorbed the ability of the [Hexagram Brooch] solely by Granfel’s intent.
As if confirming the answer, a message appeared.
[Demonic Sword: Sword of Covenant]
[Grade: Mythic]
[Restriction: Unknown]
[Effect: Acquires six unique skills.]
[Description: Unknown]
Demonic Sword.
‘Sword of Covenant……?’
The name that followed was far too plain to be like Gwicheol.
The grade was the same.
Gwicheol’s grade was [Legendary].
Every form it had changed into so far had also been [Legendary] grade.
But this time, it was [Mythic] grade.
Once again, I could be certain.
‘……I must not use it.’
The Hexagram Brooch.
This item is beyond the level I can understand.
It is undoubtedly an item I cannot handle as I am now.
However, regardless of my intent, Granfel moved.
Come to think of it, this hadn’t happened only once or twice. Your sharp tongue, your feet heading off as they pleased, and your posture that never lost its uprightness—you had always done it all according to your own stubbornness.
But you know.
The reason I got swept along with it.
Was because I had at least a speck of the same thought in me.
‘No matter how I think about it, this isn’t right, Granfel.’
But perhaps because I now understood about seventy percent of Granfel.
Because Granfel’s personality had grown even more distinct.
Despite my attempt to dissuade him, Granfel did not stop.
Clack.
The shape of a massive sword.
Toward the charging Gaiber.
Holding not Gwicheol or anything of the sort, but a demonic sword, he advanced.
Swoosh.
Then he swung it lightly.
The moment myth clashed against myth.
For an instant, my consciousness grew distant.
[Two myths collide.]
[Consciousness is entering the “Vortex of Chaos.”]
[Due to the influence of consciousness, space-time is severed.]
I looked at the messages and tried to infer the situation.
‘……Severed space-time.’
Does that mean those outside this space of consciousness can neither see nor hear Gaiber and me? I was in the middle of grasping the situation when I heard a voice breathing roughly.
“Haaah……”
A terrible scream followed.
“Aaaaaargh……!!”
It was Gaiber’s voice.
*
Severed space-time.
The God of War.
It was thanks to his influence growing faint.
At last, my vision fully returned.
“U-uaaaah……”
The memories covered in madness returned as well.
What, what, what have I done……?
I was drenched in blood, but I felt no pain.
“H-Hameddddd……!!”
I killed Hamed with my own hands.
That alone was horrifying enough.
But the justification was heresy judgment?
And I had proudly blabbered about it?
Disgusting.
“Ugh, uweeek.”
A dry heave surged up from his throat.
It was the moment Gaiber curled in on himself.
The sound of shoes reached his ears.
It was Lee Hoyeol.
Lee Hoyeol was approaching him.
Tremble, tremble.
The senses madness had made him forget returned vividly.
His hands and feet shook on their own.
His mind, which had barely regained its senses, turned blank once again.
‘I, I did that to Lee Hoyeol.’
Had he charged at him?
If he were alone, he would not have been surprised.
From the moment he killed Hamed with his own hands.
He had been someone with no worth in living.
What shocked him most of all was the fact that he had nearly driven every member of the Bohemian Guild.
To their deaths.
‘……No, I don’t even have the right to grieve.’
Gaiber gritted his teeth.
‘I won’t beg for my life so pathetically, Hamed.’
Lee Hoyeol.
He knew well about him.
Lee Hoyeol had shown mercy to countless enemies until now.
If it were Lee Hoyeol……
If he begged for forgiveness, he might show mercy once again.
However.
‘I have no meaning left in living anymore.’
I’ll die like this.
It was the moment Gaiber slowly closed his eyes.
A message flickered.
One that did not vanish even when his eyes were closed.
……
Wait.
●A calamity that will lead all worlds to destruction.
An infinitely deep darkness.
Eliminate Granfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo. (In Progress)
If it wasn’t Lee Hoyeol……?
‘Granfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo.’
It was clearly the sound of Lee Hoyeol’s shoes.
Click.
The closer the sound drew.
The more intensely the name written in the system message shone.
It still was not Lee Hoyeol.
Gaiber guessed.
‘Is his ID different from his real name?’
For example, like [Golden Flash].
There were players like that.
However, at least among named players who could be called rankers.
There were not many.
Even back when it was nothing more than a game, fame in Arcana Continent Chronicles was the same as fame in reality. It meant there were not many who would give up wealth and glory for anonymity.
That was not his only question.
‘……Claudi?’
Claudi. He had heard it somewhere before.
His memory was hazy.
But he was sure he remembered the people of Arcana trembling at that name……
‘No, that makes no sense.’
Back when Arcana was nothing more than a game.
A player could not have achieved that level of fame.
Because the environment to do so had not existed.
Hadn’t the AAU announced it in the past?
—The content currently appearing is already beyond end content.
Because of the Cataclysm and the rifts.
The players’ growth had accelerated severalfold.
They said they could no longer predict the future.
Because Gaiber himself was a ranker.
—“That’s awfully honest of you, AAU?”
He understood what those words meant.
‘Then, could it be?’
Are Lee Hoyeol and Granfel different people?
If that was the case, everything began to make sense.
Why the system message that did not lie.
“A calamity that will lead all worlds to destruction……”
Click.
Had evaluated Lee Hoyeol, who had shown actions that could no longer be called merciful, in that way. That’s right. Because it was a system message that did not lie, it had seen through it.
‘The dangerous one wasn’t Lee Hoyeol.’
It was Granfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo.
……
Gulp.
Gaiber reached toward the sword that had fallen to the floor.
[Sacred Relic: Heavenly Sword Excalibur]
[Grade: Mythic]
[Restriction: ???]
[Effect: Dominates all arms of enemies and allies.]
[Description: A sacred relic that has been stored in the Pantheon’s treasury.]
At last, the sword’s value came into view.
Its grade was none other than [Mythic].
Was this really an item a player like him could obtain?
‘No, that can’t be.’
It was truly an endgame-level weapon.
To say he had met the qualifications to obtain such a weapon.
He had done nothing.
Then there was only one possibility left.
‘Does it mean he’s that dangerous?’
That person called Granfel?
‘Dangerous enough that he must be killed while skipping the entire process?’
For a fleeting moment, Gaiber fell into anguish.
He had thought he would gladly die.
If it was by Lee Hoyeol’s hand.
Because that man, Lee Hoyeol, had the right to do so.
But not Granfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo.
Not someone whose very name was difficult to remember.
So……
Shing.
Gaiber gripped Excalibur in his hand and opened his mouth.
“Lee Hoyeol.”
To discern the identity of the man before him.
“Do you…… think I can be forgiven?”
Gaiber stammered without realizing it.
‘……Damn it.’
What answer was I hoping for when I asked this?
Because I thought Lee Hoyeol might forgive my sins?
Because I was expecting such an answer?
Gaiber reproached himself.
No, even if it was Lee Hoyeol.
‘He won’t be able to show me mercy.’
With the question he had just asked, he could not distinguish whether that man was Lee Hoyeol.
Or Granfel.
In the end, Gaiber shook his head.
“No, my words came out wrong. What I meant to say was……”
It was the moment he was about to ask again.
“That is correct.”
“……What?”
An answer returned.
“You still have a chance to atone.”
“……!!!”
Clang.
At that moment, Gaiber dropped the Mythic-grade item and sacred relic, Excalibur, from his hand. Because the strength had left his grip without him realizing it.
‘……I’m truly sorry, Hamed.’
If I think of you, someone like me shouldn’t receive even the slightest comfort or understanding. In that moment, Gaiber shed tears without realizing it.
He suppressed the overwhelming emotion and parted his lips.
“Lee Hoyeol……?!”
Thud.
It was then.
Gaiber’s heart was pierced.
Gaiber’s head slowly lowered toward his chest.
“……Ha.”
It was the same sight.
“Hamed……”
It’s exactly the same as when I stabbed you from behind.
The Heavenly Sword, Excalibur, had flown on its own and pierced Gaiber’s heart. Thud. Gaiber collapsed where he was. A faint voice flowed out.
“……So this is what it felt like for you.”
Was it fortunate that he realized it even now?
[※Warning: Vitality is too low.]
The flickering message informed him that death was near.
His eyes slowly began to close.
He still had not even thanked Lee Hoyeol.
He could not close his eyes like this.
And he must not close his eyes like this.
‘Even if I can’t be saved.’
Bohemian, those guys had merely been swept along by me.
So that they might be spared punishment.
He had to take responsibility for everything himself.
It was the moment Gaiber squeezed out his remaining strength.
The space before his eyes flickered again.
It was still the class quest message.
●A calamity that will lead all worlds to destruction.
An infinitely deep darkness.
Eliminate Granfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo. (In Progress)
It shone clearly, like a constellation pointing the way.
Paladin, you must not be deceived.
It seemed to be whispering endlessly.
……
Grind.
But Gaiber gritted his teeth.
“……Lee Hoyeol.”
Then he called his name.
“I am listening.”
An answer returned.
“I have no shame asking this, but please, I beg you to take care of Bohemian……”
It was an answer that could not have been more merciful.
“Of course.”
It could not have been more merciful.
The reason for expressing it that way was simple.
Lee Hoyeol.
No, Granfel.
Answered even the question Gaiber had not asked.
Even if.
“I promise that I will ensure their safety.”
The man who had already breathed his last could no longer hear it.
“Until the day all worlds head toward destruction.”