◈ Episode 58. Our Pride Aligns (2)
Continuous teleportation.
A large pointed hat appeared on a rooftop, then vanished, over and over again.
The mana consumed by activating the skill in succession was considerable, but Jesse didn’t care.
—Lee Hoyeol. They concentrated their forces that way.
Because this is an emergency.
Jesse tightened her grip on her staff.
‘I haven’t even asked a single proper question yet!’
Did something called “magic” truly exist?
Thanks to Hoyeol, Jesse had cast aside her doubts.
And thanks to that, there had been progress in the class quest that had been moving sluggishly.
The new questions that had arisen in the process.
And even the carefully considered questions she hadn’t been able to ask because Hoyeol had fallen asleep.
There was a reason all those exclamation marks had appeared in Jesse’s pupils.
The pointed hat lamented.
—Even if this master were in danger, you wouldn’t rush out with such passion…… How unfair, my disciple. After all I’ve taught you, I feel hurt!
Naturally, no answer came back.
But the pointed hat no longer prattled on.
Jesse was currently in a state of “obsession.”
When she discovered new magic.
Or when she opened an interesting book of magic.
It was a state in which she didn’t want anyone to disturb her, and had no intention of yielding what was in her hands to anyone.
Yes, if there was one difference……
This time, the object of that obsession was not simple magic.
It was only that it was “Hoyeol’s magic.”
That was why the pointed hat let out a sigh.
—……
I suppose even I must keep my eyes wide open.
Though he had seemed bloodless and tearless.
The man had, uncharacteristically, fallen into a nap.
Wasn’t it the pointed hat, an avatar imbued with the consciousness of an archmage?
An eye for people as great as the years it had lived.
No, when it came to an eye for mages, at least.
The pointed hat was brimming with pride.
That was why it had decided to watch Hoyeol again.
—His talent did seem outstanding, but……
Hoyeol, an adventurer who had become a co-researcher of a chief mage.
But as much as his talent.
His arrogance, high enough to pierce the sky, weighed on its mind.
The pointed hat knew.
—That will surely become poison one day.
For Hoyeol himself.
Or perhaps for its own disciple.
It could say that because it, too, had suffered such hardships.
It was then.
“!”
Whoooosh—!
A fierce wind swept through.
Thanks to it, the acrid smoke began to clear.
A gigantic Hellbird
revealed itself.
The pointed hat warned Jesse.
—My disciple. That is no ordinary one.
But Jesse had already activated her skill.
Because what the Hellbird was aiming for was none other than Hoyeol.
Vast mana rippled from Jesse’s body.
It was mana so abundant that it overflowed.
“Heavenly Punishment.”
An obsession that would yield to no one.
Even if the opponent was a Hellbird, there were no exceptions.
As if proving that.
Crackle—!
Lightning formed from condensed mana struck down onto the Hellbird’s head.
A message appeared before Jesse.
[Demon Legion Commander, Kupikan, is inflicted with “Stiffness.”]
It was an attack poured out with Jesse’s vast mana.
Yet it was only “Stiffness,” not even “Stun.”
Jesse’s intuition told her.
‘At least level 500……!’
Her current level was only 401.
Rattle—
The Hellbird, Kupikan’s pupils stared piercingly at Jesse.
You are next.
As if warning her.
But taking its eyes off the target.
That was an unmistakable mistake.
Pabababat—!
A flash of light shot up from below.
In that instant.
Slice—!
It sent the head of Demon Legion Commander Kupikan flying.
“……
What was that!”
Jesse did not notice, but the pointed hat did.
The staircase embroidered in the air.
The flash had clearly stepped on those stairs and soared into the sky.
And it also realized who had manifested that magic.
—……
It was nothing but needless worry.
People might lie, but magic never did.
Yes, that was not arrogance at all.
Could a mage drowning in arrogance ever lay down stairs for another person?
The pointed hat knew better than anyone that mages were no such breed.
—It was simply pride so lofty that it could be mistaken for arrogance.
The pointed hat alternated its gaze between the neatly gathered corpses and Hoyeol, then continued.
—I think I understand your heart a little, my disciple.
It had thought it could see straight through the breed called mages.
—The more I watch him, the stranger a man he is.
The exploration of the unknown.
It was fresh enough to revive the desire of a mage that it had forgotten.
But the unknown.
Was truly impossible to grasp.
As soon as Hoyeol saw Jesse, he declared in a cold voice.
“You fail. Jesse Heinness.”
*
I thought to myself.
……
What am I supposed to do about this damned loose mouth of mine?
There really was no hesitation in my words or actions.
“An unnecessarily forceful manifestation. Unlike usual, it contained excessive superfluity.”
Still, listening quietly, I could understand it.
“Furthermore, it was a manifestation that gave no consideration whatsoever to the surrounding environment.”
Wasn’t this a city district?
One wrong move and survivors who might be hiding could have been caught up in the skill’s aftermath.
Though Jesse herself seemed unaware of the survivors’ existence.
“That’s true…… I still have a lot I’m lacking in!”
I could only be grateful that she understood.
A celebrity from back when Arcana was nothing more than a game.
Indeed, Jesse was treated differently from me.
She was the one called the Chosen Mage.
Harkon recognized Jesse and greeted her with delight.
“To think I would meet Miss Jesse here again.”
“It’s the first time since the Imperial Palace, Commander Harkon!”
“……
Jesse? Don’t tell me, that Jesse Heinness?”
The Shadow Mercenary Corps was sensitive to rumors.
They, too, seemed well aware of Jesse.
Yes, even the strong of Arcana knew the name Jesse.
‘And the moment I saw her, I said what? You fail?!’
Yet shamelessly.
Not even the slightest twitch appeared on my face.
Well, as if this loose mouth had ever discriminated between people before prattling.
I finally realized it.
‘……
The more it’s like this, the more shameless I have to be.’
What’s scarier than a bad guy is a crazy guy.
That was something I had realized while living in society, too.
Yes, if I couldn’t avoid it.
Wouldn’t it be better to become the crazy guy instead?
Just like now.
So that not a single person could even think of harboring doubt.
That much, I was confident I could do well.
While I was mentally consoling myself to avoid self-loathing.
“I heard the monsters had gathered this way! I thought perhaps you might need help! But it looks like I was worried for nothing!”
Exclamation marks floated in her pupils.
Jesse spoke as the exclamation marks sparkled.
‘I thought there were way too many of them somehow.’
But in a way, it wasn’t a bad situation.
A message had appeared just moments ago.
[Your contribution to the elimination of Demon Legion Commander Kupikan has been recognized.]
I would not let even a single fallen crumb slip away.
I swiftly manifested stairs.
I had assisted Harkon and gotten my contribution to the kill recognized.
Through that, my level had also risen by one.
I checked my status window.
[Name: Granfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo]
[Class: Demon Hunter]
[Level: 250]
[Stats]
Strength: 38 / Agility: 42 / Mana: 186 / Luck: 5 / Aesthetic: Low
[Unallocated Points: 12]
At last, level 250.
For now, I invested all my available points into mana.
Strength and agility could be raised through the class quest.
Even if my body had to suffer, it was right to invest the precious level-up points into mana.
‘If I’m being honest, I want to go all-in on luck……’
But luck was an uncertain stat.
Like alms given when I was truly desperate, just like now.
It would be right to invest only one point at a time.
‘If you wish for a fluke, you’ll be punished……’
Steeling myself that way, I moved my feet.
“According to Miss Jesse, there is no need for us to go out searching for the Demon Legion Commander bastards.”
Harkon spoke in a chilling voice as he collected the spoils.
Even if Jesse and I had contributed to hunting Kupikan.
There was no way we could catch up to Harkon’s contribution.
It was only natural that ownership of the spoils belonged to Harkon.
“Sir. And Miss Jesse. My apologies, but would it be all right if I secure these spoils? I would like to keep them as proof that I successfully carried out His Majesty’s command.”
Harkon held out a large feather.
……
That thing should be rare grade at the very least, right?
“What did I even do!”
Unlike Jesse, who answered immediately.
I did feel the urge to at least check the item information.
But damned incorruptibility.
Wasn’t I someone who could not covet another’s belongings?
“Of course, I respect your wishes, Sir Harkon.”
Let’s not cling to it.
Besides, it was too early to feel regret.
There were still nine Demon Legion Commanders left.
I estimated the level of the Demon Legion Commander, Kupikan.
‘It’s probably around level 500.’
The amount of experience obtained.
And seeing it fall to Harkon’s single strike, that seemed about right.
‘Nine named monsters at level 500, huh.’
But I wasn’t worried.
Click—
This confident stride was not mere bluff.
‘On top of that, there’s even a possibility they’ll all come at once?’
Even in the worst situation, my confidence overflowed.
The basis for that confidence.
Was, naturally, my allies.
And on top of that, the mana I had saved.
There was no reason to be anxious, even while collecting the corpses.
“Is that question still valid?”
The incident at the Magic Tower.
I asked Jesse, who was helping with the cleanup.
Even after saying it, I thought, damn it.
How can I sound this shameless even when saying the same thing!
“Yes! Since you gave me time to deliberate carefully!”
……
For a moment, I wondered if she was taking a roundabout jab at me.
But judging from her sparkling pupils, I saw no such malice.
Even if she were, considering what I had done, I could understand.
‘There has to be give and take.’
Since I had already said it.
I answered magnanimously.
“I see. Then I shall have to leave time open.”
“Ah! Would it not be better for me to match your schedule!”
“If that is more comfortable for you, do so.”
“Yes! That is only proper etiquette!”
For a brief moment, I unconsciously felt satisfied at Jesse’s formality.
Then I added one more thing.
“This time, I will serve you tea properly.”
I would serve tea.
What did those words mean?
It meant that, at last, rocket delivery was available to the Magic Tower.
It meant that if I so much as flicked a finger, the goods I ordered would arrive in front of the Magic Tower……!
After convincing the senior mages and formally obtaining the position of co-researcher.
The first thing I proceeded with was applying for rocket delivery.
Power was this sweet.
‘Well, even if I say tea, it’s only green tea.’
Written as incorruptibility, read as poverty.
It meant I had frugally found and ordered the lowest-priced one.
As we walked the streets, having such a conversation, I suddenly sensed a presence.
“?”
Familiar faces appeared from the alley.
Harkon spoke first.
“Miss Leoni? What brings you all here?”
Leoni and the Berserker Guild.
And those people behind them……
They were Gaon’s guild members.
But somehow, Nam Taemin was nowhere to be seen.
I asked Leoni.
“Has something happened?”
Judging by that serious expression.
It looked like something had indeed happened.
But Leoni was mumbling words whose meaning I could not grasp.
“……T-tea? He’s going to serve tea? P-properly, at that?”
However, I could no longer ask for the reason.
Whoooooosh—!
Because just as expected, the Demon Legion Commanders were swarming toward us.
A raging gust of wind.
Within the clearing smoke, their figures were revealed.
At least their concept was consistent. This time, too, they were birds.
However, their forms were different.
Demon Legion Commander, Kupikan.
If that one had been a gigantic bird, then among them were half-human, half-bird creatures.
It wouldn’t be strange to call them birdmen.
To be precise, they weren’t mixed with humans, but with demons.
Clang—!
At their appearance, Harkon raised his sword.
“I do not know which of them is the Demon Legion Commander His Majesty spoke of, but that is of no matter. All that needs to be done is to eliminate every last one without exception.”
Harkon had eliminated Kupikan in a single strike.
Was it because I had witnessed that scene?
‘That isn’t just talk.’
Truly, those were words that could chill one to the bone.
Which meant I couldn’t just stand still either.
‘……
Because it looks like I won’t get any spoils, let alone experience or contribution.’
That wasn’t humility. Objectively speaking, it was true.
The Lionheart Knights.
The Shadow Mercenary Corps.
Jesse Heinness.
And finally, Berserker and the Gaon Guild, who had joined last.
Among those whales.
There I was, a mere level 250.
Yet there was no way the lofty pride in my heart would be cowed.
Besides, as I said, it was because I had realized it.
‘……
If I was going to be shameless, I had to be shameless properly.’
Shameless in the truest sense, I opened my mouth.
“I shall take command of you.”
As if the Lionheart Knights and the Shadow Mercenary Corps weren’t enough.
Now I was saying I would even command the top rankers.
‘Am I not doing something even an emperor would struggle to do?’
But this was no time to worry about that.
Even at this very moment, experience points and contribution were pouring onto the battlefield.
As I watched the state of the battle and manifested magic for a moment,
I did not forget another important task I had to perform.
“Not a bad movement, Leonie.”
“……?”
Her joining us was more than welcome.
Personal morale-boosting was also part of a commander’s role.
*Dududududu—
A helicopter flew through the sky overhead.
Choking repeatedly on the acrid smoke, the reporter shouted.
“Cough, cough. We’re beginning to see some kind of enormous shadow……!”
In that instant, the helicopter lurched.
The pilot hurriedly raised the altitude.
The reporter conveyed the urgency of the scene.
“As I speak, it appears that flying monsters have appeared!”
Because of the increased altitude,
the camera hastily zoomed in.
And then an image that could only make one flinch appeared on the monitor.
In the studio,
the cast members watching hurriedly straightened in their seats.
“……
Wh-what is that?”
“A beak and wings. It looks like a bird, doesn’t it? But what kind of bird is that huge?!”
“Wait, there isn’t just one or two of them!!”
The skies above Frost.
Thanks to the flapping wings of the enormous creatures, the smoke was rapidly clearing.
Then their forms were fully revealed.
The state of the battle in Frost also came into view at a glance.
A script was urgently delivered.
After checking it, the anchor’s eyes widened.
“According to the additional update details, it seems those enormous birds are Demon Corps Commanders! They are named monsters of a staggering level 500……!”
But wait.
For some reason,
those dangerous creatures were flying toward one place.
The angle shifted hurriedly.
It was to capture the place they were heading.
But it wasn’t only the Demon Corps Commanders.
“Wh-what is with that number?!”
“The Demon King’s Army’s procession isn’t stopping……?”
“It looks like they’re marching toward the same place, too.”
The Demon King’s Army on the ground.
That large-scale force was the same.
They were all swarming toward one place.
It was at that very moment
that, in keeping with the program’s purpose, the camera captured Hoyeol.
It was the moment suspicion turned into certainty.
“……
Wait. Don’t tell me, are they all swarming toward Player Lee Hoyeol?!”
No matter how exceptional Lee Hoyeol was, wasn’t this too much?
It was as if they had no concern for the other large guilds at all.
As if saying that the only ones who posed a threat to them were Lee Hoyeol and his party. The Demon King’s Army was concentrating all its forces on Lee Hoyeol’s side.
The cast members spoke urgently.
“This means Player Lee Hoyeol is buying precious time!”
“Please, the other guilds have to pull through…….”
“Even if it’s Lee Hoyeol, there’s a limit to how long he can hold out!”
However, the tide of battle did not flow as expected.
‘……
Come to think of it.’
They had forgotten for a moment.
“……
E-expert? What exactly are we looking at right now?!”
That a commander existed on that battlefield.
“The Lionheart Knights, the Shadow Mercenary Corps……. Gaon and Berserker. And even Jesse Heinness……?!”
And an exceptionally capable one at that!