◈ Episode 63. That Difficult Thing (2)
Buzzing—a smartphone vibrating noisily.
Hisagi Kazuma checked the caller.
It was them, as expected.
The buzz-cut man beside him asked cautiously.
"Kazuma. Are you really okay?"
"About what?"
"We'll always follow you. But can you handle it?"
To I Hoyeol, a Player of the Republic of Korea.
Inazuma, the pride and symbol of Japan, had bowed its head.
That scene was broadcast live by Players to the entire world.
"We are deeply indebted. Thank you very much."
There had been no order from the Japanese government for that action.
That was correct. It was a decision Hisagi had made alone.
Hisagi opened his eyes narrowly.
"Well. What do you all think?"
"...Us? We'd think the same as you."
"After what we saw, isn't it obvious?"
A woman with dark tanned skin cut in, clicking her tongue.
"Those shitty bastards. Talking like they know anything."
Frost.
In the same space.
Because they had watched from the same Player's perspective.
The Inazuma guild members could bow their heads to I Hoyeol with all their hearts.
If I Hoyeol had not been there, Hokkaido would have by now…….
"Hundreds of thousands. No, millions of citizens' lives were saved by that man, and we can't even express our gratitude? Just because he's Korean? I've thought this for a while, but those bastards at the top……!"
"Don't get angry. It'll only hurt you."
"...Hoo. So, are you going, Kazuma?"
The buzz-cut man asked in a tone ill-matching his rough impression.
Hisagi's serpent eyes flashed.
"Yes, I have to show those old geezers reality."…
Screech—Hisagi knelt.
Surrounding him were the ministers of the Japanese government.
They began spewing venom at Hisagi.
"Don't you think it's due to a lack of ability, Hisagi?"
"Bowing to a Joseon person? You fool……!"
"Now that Gaon has surpassed Inazuma. Don't you know how much meaning your actions carry!"
Hiss—Should I kill them?
Hisagi moistened his dry lips and seriously contemplated.
Skewering those greasy bodies like kebabs.
It would not even take a few seconds.
But he had to endure.
Even if not for himself.
For the comrades riding on his shoulders.
'I was a fool.'
In Frost, Hisagi realized.
That he had been under a great delusion until now.
[Recapture of Frost].
Thanks to the quest that suddenly popped up, he had forgotten.
Blinded by contribution points, he had forgotten that Frost, the location where the Demon revealed itself, was Hokkaido.
He realized that fact after facing I Hoyeol.
'Thinking about it again, I have nothing to say.'
To be precise, after witnessing I Hoyeol rescuing survivors.
Not only rescuing survivors.
But also tidying up scattered corpses.
Hisagi felt his mind reel for a moment.……
If I Hoyeol had been even a little later.
'Hokkaido's residents…….'
Could have ended up like them.
Thinking so, he felt like an idiot.
'What was I doing that for.'
However, the one who gained this realization was only Hisagi.
Because these top bastards were the same.
"To put national interest first is not even enough. Tsk."
"Indeed. Did I not say to delay their entry a bit more!"
"You're right. If dozens of Hokkaido civilians had been caught up in it, and if we had used that as a pretext to launch missiles. It would have been much better than the current situation."
For their own benefit.
Those who treat others' lives like rags.
Once the delusion shattered, reality began to enter his eyes.
'In the end, I'll be used and discarded too.'
Of course, Hisagi had no intention of taking it quietly.
Such a Hisagi rose from his seat.
Those sipping sake flinched and asked.
"What are you doing, Hisagi?"
"Our conversation isn't over yet!"
"Now, now. Sit down!"
They must be deluded.
Instead of answering, Hisagi emitted killing intent.
Class, Demonic Spearman.
Player Ranking 6th.
His epithet was the Spear of Lightning.
The killing intent he unleashed with determination was thicker than a serpent's venom.
"Hi, Hisagi!"
"There seems to be some misunderstanding in our words……"
"Th-that's not what we meant."
Clatter—a trembling hand.
The sake cup they dropped broke.
Their crotches were soaked with what might have been sake or something else.
Hisagi answered.
"From now on, Inazuma will not cooperate with the government."
"...Wh-what?! What do you mean!"
"Do as you please regarding the punishment for that."
Hisagi's eyes flashed.
"If you can still draw breath after that, that is."
At those words, the ministers realized reality.
"……!"
The position of Hisagi they had held and shaken……!
A Player who ranks within the world's top ten in terms of strength.
That meant ordinary bodyguards were meaningless before Hisagi.
To stop Hisagi, they would have to call a Player at least on the level of Nam Tae-min.
But.
'Is that even possible……?'
Players of that caliber do not move for personal requests.
Or for money.
Hisagi's words were no bluff.
'We'll really die……!'
Frozen ministers.
Leaving them behind.
"Well then, this serpent shall take his leave. Enjoy yourselves comfortably."
Hisagi bowed his head and exited the room.
I did it in the end.
Hisagi shrugged his shoulders.
"I might not be able to live in my homeland anymore?"
For now, anyway.
They would not leave a serpent that escaped the jar alone.
Hisagi contemplated seriously.
"Well, exile wouldn't be bad either."
His homeland was unnecessarily a powerful nation.
Considering the complex entanglements of national interests.
There would not be many countries willing to accept him.
But there was one who would not care about Japan.
No, one who would not even regard it.
Hisagi knew one such person.
The Inazuma members with bowed heads.
The vessel that accepted that respectful greeting as if it were natural.
The dignity flowing from that action.
Hisagi folded his fingers and counted his remaining balance.
"……How much would investment immigration to the Yusra Kingdom require?"
*The taste of this world's alcohol had gradually suited his palate too.
"Kyaa. I really like this green bottle~"
"Your cheap taste hasn't changed, Captain."
"Cheap?! You're looking down on me because I'm from the slums, aren't you?"
"……Wow. The captain's already drunk. What a mess."
The sister who doesn't touch alcohol.
The brat who hates troublesome things.
The old man who uses his age to get out of things.
Except for those few.
The Shadow Mercenary Corps held a drinking party under the guise of a regular meeting.
Kichi hiccuped—then shouted.
"Hey, fatty! Keep it down!!"
"Damn, wait a minute. I'm gonna come out. Right here."
"A mess and a complete mess. Sheesh."
Loud TV noises.
Fatty, Rockide, was sitting right in front of the TV.
A lump of muscle that made even a 100-inch TV look small.
Contrary to that intimidation, Rockide's eyes were sparkling.
"Wow. Those bastards were keeping this good thing to themselves."
He thought it was just a frame.
But when he touched something, a picture appeared.
And moving pictures at that.
On the Arcana Continent, this was something you couldn't buy even with billions of gold.
Just that alone was amazing enough to make his eyes widen.
Rockide focused on the flowing news.
—Many reactions toward Inazuma's actions are favorable. What do you think, expert? Do their actions represent the Japanese government's stance?
—I don't think so. According to a Japanese government official, Inazuma's actions this time do not align with the government's opinion at all…….
During the uninterested, unamusing conversation.
Constantly appearing footage.
There was a familiar face, I Hoyeol.
"And so. Next. I am."
Yeah, I Hoyeol.
Rockide understood generously.
'Well, that guy did do some active work.'
But this Rockide-nim had also performed great exploits.
Just as he praised I Hoyeol, they should be praising this Rockide-nim too.
"……So how long are they going to keep showing the same face?"
However, making that wait futile.
No matter how long he waited, no matter how many channels he flipped.
It was all I Hoyeol stories.
"……Front and back the same what?! Suddenly. What. Is this."
When the breaking news ended just like that.
And annoying commercials popped out.
It was natural for Rockide's patience to explode.
Glug glug—gasping as he approached, Rockide guzzled liquor like water.
After emptying three bottles of whiskey befitting his size, Rockide asked with an aggrieved face.
"What am I worse at than that I Hoyeol?"
It starts again.
The usual trivial whining from the lowest seat that could be easily ignored.
The only one who reacted was the Captain, Kichi, who was getting drunk.
Kichi smirked and said.
"……You can't use magic. You can't fight."
"Magic, fine, but what fight?! What mage goes around fighting……"
"Tsk tsk tsk. You don't know anything, Rockide. Hic."
That monster.
Freely controlling even sword aura…….
"Hic—"
He had a lot he wanted to say.
But his body, his tongue wouldn't obey.
Still, he felt he had to say this much.
Kichi drove the nail into Rockide.
"And above all……"
"……What. What kind of drunk talk now."
"I Hoyeol is much more handsome than you."
"Wh-what did you say?!"
He could endure everything else, but not that!
Rockide's face turned bright red.
To such a Rockide, Kichi added sincerely.
"Hic— Anyway, don't touch him. Unless you want to die."
Rockide had noticed too.
'The old man and even the Captain?'
Following Alkari, even Kichi.
They held I Hoyeol in extremely high regard.
There must be a reason for that.
Rockide had no objection regarding that either.
'……That one magic of his was no ordinary thing.'
So Rockide could only scream.
"Then where am I supposed to vent my frustration?!"
As expected, only the drunkard Kichi answered.
"I Hoyeol? He's probably at the Magic Tower right now."
Rockide clicked his tongue inwardly.
There's a limit to being diligent too.
He had felt it since watching in the Yusra Kingdom.
There was no one who lived as tiresomely as I Hoyeol.
'His strength is understandable.'
By the way.
"……But you told me not to touch him. Why are you telling me that?"
"Because it's too noisy. Thought you might quiet down if you got beat up a bit."
"I have no intention of going to get beaten. And what? Magic Tower? What's so good about a place crawling with monsters that you'd go there again? Am I crazy?!"
*Drip drip.
Pouring beads of sweat.
A message appeared.
[You have met the condition.]
[Rewards will be granted.]
I caught my breath and spoke.
"Easy enough."
This damned bastard's bravado.
A class quest that raises strength and agility.
I repeated aerobic and anaerobic exercises every day.
Since I digested such an enormous amount of exercise.
It was natural for my base stamina to increase aside from stats.
"Tea after exercise isn't bad either."
Clack—enjoying teatime while suffering from thirst.
I asked as always.
'……Am I really going to die like this?'
He said I'd drown in pride and dignity and die.
But I was feeling it with my body.
Perhaps because I had floundered so much.
Now I couldn't sink even if I wanted to……!
"I'm getting used to this too."
Yes, humans are animals of adaptation.
Thanks to enhanced stamina, no matter how grueling the daily routine.
It meant vitality remained in my body.
It truly could not be anything but a troubling matter.
Why, even now it was like that.
In the past, I could take legal breaks using physical fatigue as an excuse.
But because my stamina had increased.
To Grandfell's endless talk of dignity that knows no end.
I had no choice but to match the rhythm.
Defeating the Demon King and returning immediately to the Magic Tower.
And a laboratory at that.
But what good would whining do anymore.
'……Forget it.'
Because I knew this pride would absolutely not break.
I abandoned my lingering attachments and checked my quest window.
"So it's Akshan. A nostalgic name."
[Class Quest: The Legacy of Akshan]
The beacon of survival has been properly delivered.
Last Demon Hunter.
Recover your legacy lost to evil.
─Train your weakened body. (Repeatable)
As expected.
The smoke rising from the Demon's remains was indeed the beacon.
Since it said the beacon of survival has been properly delivered.
Though I could not know the specific circumstances.
I must have met the quest conditions while slaying Decarabia.
'I have no choice but to wait until the next goal appears.'
The legacy of Akshan.
Let's think about this logically.
'There's a high chance it's in the Akshan stronghold. Probably.'
The problem was that the Akshan stronghold had vanished from Arcana overnight.
In the past, Players had thought it no big deal.
—Isn't it because it's a failed class so they just deleted the region??
—For real, it's probably not in the update notes because there isn't a single Demon Hunter Player.
—Content that only takes up space should be deleted. They're right lolol
Well, I probably thought so too.
If Arcana had been an ordinary game.
But through experience, I learned.
That Arcana was not an ordinary game.
Even on Yusra Island, which I thought was simply a treasure island.
There was a story of an ancient kingdom and a great evil.
There was a high probability that there was a backstory connected to the Akshan stronghold as well.
'And that appeared as a class quest…….'
I roughly get it.
I opened my mouth.
"I look forward to the day I reunite with you all."
Unable to remember even a single face or name.
Truly shameless.
'The quest objective will appear on its own when the time comes.'
So for now, it is right to faithfully focus on the given daily routine.
Organizing my thoughts.
As soon as I sat upright in my chair.
Sssshk—letters appeared on parchment.
Checking the sender, it was the Chief Mage, Marcelo.
Clack—I calmly tilted my teacup.
I read the appearing text.
'……What's this?'
But the content was unexpected.
And significantly so.