Chapter 103 – The Path to Take

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Elder Mage.

Senios of Eternal Snow.

Killed in action during the process of disposing the grave criminal, Karimzeva.

His memorial was held secretly.

“……Damn it.”

Someone ground their teeth while saying so.

An Elder Mage of the Mage Tower was killed in action.

Even holding a grand funeral would have been insufficient.

But a mere twenty or so people mourning him was everything.

The internal circumstances of the Mage Tower.

The ones who knew the truth of it were only the mages at the level of Senior Mage and above. They were the only ones who knew of Senios’s death as well. Although they knew it couldn’t be helped…….

“……I am sorry. Lord Senios.”

In the mourning mixed with complicated emotions.

Marcelo looked at the frozen Senios.

‘You are smiling.’

Inside the eternal snow that would never melt.

Senios was smiling.

As if he had lived a life without regrets.

‘However, those left behind probably cannot smile like that.’

But Marcelo kept it in mind.

That the reason Senios closed his eyes was demons.

And because of demon worshippers.

Therefore, the moment the mourning for Senios ended.

Marcelo opened his mouth.

“With this, the Mage Tower has suffered damage to the extent that it is hard to reverse.”

Senios’s death.

Now, the Elder Mage remaining in the Mage Tower is only one person.

However, Senios’s sacrifice was never in vain.

“But with this, we have come to know for certain.”

Emotion was loaded in Marcelo’s voice.

“Who the enemies of our Mage Tower are.”

That emotion was clear anger.

The Mage Tower that finally started moving after severing the fetters of contradiction.

Senios’s sacrifice was no different from presenting a destination to such a Mage Tower.

The calm before the storm.

Quietly flowing silence.

Even without speaking, the Senior Mages could know.

Did they not witness it in the rift they first entered?

The sight of pouring demons.

Because of that, they came to know the fact that demons were extending their evil hands to this world, as if the Arcana continent was not enough. It was natural that a change in heart occurred.

Since the goal called demons had arisen.

They must not hesitate but.

‘……I.’

Bangrit could not easily look at Senios.

He felt like a fool for clinging to useless things.

As if that wasn’t enough, even being deceived by a demon worshipper.

If I had noticed the signs…….

If I had informed the Mage Tower of that fact without being deceived…….

Lord Senios wouldn’t have ended up like this either…….

Bangrit lowered his head.

For a long while.

What awakened Bangrit, who was hanging his head, was a noble voice.

“Raise your head, Senior Mage Bangrit Tom.”

“……!”

“Excessive silent tribute is also an act contrary to formality.”

It was Ho-yeol’s voice.

“……Ch-Chief Lee Ho-yeol.”

Bangrit raised his head and looked at Ho-yeol.

Gazes concentrating on Ho-yeol.

Ho-yeol had gone through more hardships than any mage in this place.

As if facing Karimzeva wasn’t enough.

Demons called Legion Commanders had all poured into the rift that Ho-yeol and Senios entered.

Moreover, Ho-yeol even witnessed Senios’s end.

‘His mental shock would be greater than anyone else’s.’

‘Just dealing with demons would have devastated his mind.’

‘If it were me, I wouldn’t even be able to stand properly…….’

It was natural to worry about Ho-yeol but.

Making such worries pointless.

Ho-yeol was no different from usual.

He was just looking at Senios with a straight posture.

There was no deviation in his mourning.

According to formality and procedure.

Ho-yeol finished his mourning for Senios without wavering.

Those who were watching thought.

‘He must be desperately holding back his emotions.’

Ho-yeol was the Chief of the Mage Tower no matter what.

Now that a void had appeared in the Mage Tower.

He himself knew that he must not be shaken.

Right, just like how Marcelo did not fall into sorrow.

And immediately presented the direction the Mage Tower should take.

Bangrit came to his senses after seeing such Ho-yeol.

‘Even Chief Lee Ho-yeol is enduring it…….’

To think someone like me would make a fuss.

Bangrit hurriedly stepped forward in front of Senios.

He firmly closed his mouth and mourned Senios according to procedure.

“…….”

In truth, the person in question hadn’t said a word but.

After Ho-yeol’s appearance.

The Senior Mages of the Mage Tower came to feel a heavy sense of responsibility.

.

.

.

I could not be sad.

Putting aside how long I had known Senios.

Our acquaintanceship.

And humanly being sad and whatnot.

Because I witnessed his end.

Because my damn pride.

Was telling me that there was absolutely no reason to be sad.

Because Senios ultimately proved his pride and died in action.

I remembered Senios’s expression. That was truly a face with no lingering attachments left. It was an end that contrasted with Karimzeva, who froze with an ugly appearance.

I looked at Senios once again.

The last words he said came to mind.

-“The final lecture of my life was wonderfully excellent.”

I do not think that expression without regrets was thanks to me.

Because I knew it.

That Senios, that man was a rotten mage.

‘Considering that personality…….’

At his final moment.

He was probably most happy about having defeated Karimzeva with Ice Magic.

But my mourning for him was wonderfully sincere.

Unable to perform actions that weren’t from the heart even if I died.

Because I was also a rotten fellow.

“You must lack the time to pull your emotions together, I am sorry. Sir.”

Marcelo bowed his head to me like that.

No, I’m saying there’s no need to apologize so politely.

Didn’t I just tell you?

I’m a fellow who cannot do it unless I feel like it.

So I replied calmly.

“Do not mind it.”

Step

The place I headed straight to with my steps was simple.

The lobby of the Mage Tower.

I briefly checked the internet, and the world’s interest regarding this incident was really no joke.

Indeed, it would be natural to not be able to understand it logically.

Wouldn’t everyone have guessed from the name?

Recommended Level 900, [Broken Dimensional Crack] rift.

It was a situation where 11 rifts featuring the same name as that time were generated.

But it meant that all the rifts were cleared in less than a few hours.

‘Even though the players couldn’t even step forward, that is.’

The reason the players couldn’t step forward?

It’s simple.

Because I stopped the manifestation of the Mage Tower’s portals. In any case, these current [Broken Dimensional Crack] rifts were generated in relation to the Mage Tower’s internal circumstances.

That the players figuring it out wouldn’t result in anything good was the reason.

‘So in the end.’

It must mean that everyone had no choice but to be mistaken.

The Senior Mages of the Mage Tower.

No, as if they weren’t enough.

They probably couldn’t even imagine that even Elder Mages entered the rifts.

So naturally, attention had no choice but to be directed to me.

‘They think I cleared all the rifts.’

There really is no overestimation like this overestimation……!

No, logically, does that make sense. That!

Would it be possible to clear rifts alone in that short time, and 11 of them at that?

If only this wasn’t the Mage Tower’s internal circumstances, really……!

However, I knew this damn pride.

『To Granfel, the emotion called humility did not exist. For underestimation, proof was provided. Overestimation was inevitably turned into reality.』

Someone like me would be able to babble without changing my complexion.

But in accordance with this exhausting pride.

I couldn’t make up words that weren’t true either.

In front of the numerous crowds gathered at the Mage Tower.

Amidst the pouring flashes.

I had no choice but to open my mouth like this.

“I will only answer matters I can answer.”

Even I thought it was incredibly shameless.

“If you are dissatisfied, refrain from asking questions.”

*

Breaking news poured out at every single word from Ho-yeol.

──────

[Breaking] Lee Ho-yeol, “I entered the rifts.”

[Breaking] Lee Ho-yeol, “I stopped the Mage Tower’s portals.”

[Breaking] Lee Ho-yeol, “I cleared the rifts.”

──────

To think Lee Ho-yeol would agree to an interview!

A windfall they hadn’t even expected as the press crew was pouring down. Lee Ho-yeol is different from usual today. Wouldn’t he answer any question?

With such thoughts, there were also reporters who threw sensitive questions.

“May I ask what happened inside the rifts?”

Of course, the answer that returned was cold but.

──────

[Breaking] Lee Ho-yeol, “What happened inside the rifts? I will not answer.”

──────

However, was it because they hadn’t even expected it?

Ho-yeol’s attitude did not become a problem.

The reactions of the world watching the situation weren’t vastly different.

-Crazy lol Playing hard to get is insane

-Still, his interview attitude got a lot better

-For real lol Since he didn’t even let them talk to him before

-But aren’t the reporters the ones whose attitude got better? I’m seeing such orderly reporters for the first time really

-Indeed lol Lee Ho-yeol’s attitude is consistently unyielding

Since it was an opportunity that didn’t come easily.

The reporters were persistent.

Among the questions they threw, there were also those stimulating the public’s curiosity.

“How was the clear difficulty of the rifts?”

If they couldn’t know what happened inside the rifts.

They would ask in a roundabout way like this.

It was a question containing such intentions.

──────

[Breaking] Lee Ho-yeol, “To me, any rift is the same.”

──────

In any rift.

Also in front of any demon.

Ho-yeol’s unchanging attitude.

It was an answer with such a meaning.

Since listeners couldn’t know Ho-yeol’s inner circumstances.

-Look at that confidence lolllllll

-Lee Ho-yeol definitely has the qualifications to say that lol

-He showed it with actions rather than words again this time for real

It merely appeared as an expression of ultimate confidence.

Comments updating in real-time.

Looking on, Leoni said quietly.

-But aren’t they going to ask that???

“……So what was his reason for stopping the portals.”

Regardless of other players.

To Leoni and those gathered here, Nam Tae-min, Hisagi, and Jesse, it was an incredibly important question.

Right, just as the comments said, Ho-yeol showed with actions rather than words.

‘……Does it mean someone like me wouldn’t even be of help?’

Why was it.

Jesse didn’t want to hear Ho-yeol’s answer to that question.

Because she had agonized over it seriously during this incident.

Perhaps her help for Ho-yeol.

Had lost its meaning anymore.

‘Otherwise, he wouldn’t have a reason to stop the portals.’

Actions rather than words.

As if implying that she didn’t need to chase after him, the portals had stopped their operation. Jesse could guess.

If Ho-yeol stopped the operation of the portals with such a meaning…….

‘He would answer without hesitation, right……?’

A line would be drawn between her and Ho-yeol.

Because she couldn’t become an obstacle to Ho-yeol, let alone a help.

That wasn’t just Jesse’s thought alone.

Everyone gathered in the place was harboring the same thought.

Amidst the tension, the question was finally thrown.

-“Could it be you had a separate reason for stopping the operation of the portals?”

And a hesitation-less answer followed.

-“I will not answer.”

“……!!!”

Because Ho-yeol did not answer.

The reason remained unknown.

However, at least it was a sufficient answer for those who had been resigning themselves.

‘Does it mean it is on hold for now.’

‘It means Mr. Ho-yeol will be watching us.’

‘……I will seriously catch up right away.’

The line had not been drawn yet.

Depending on what we do.

We could advance with Ho-yeol, or we might not be able to.

Upon realizing that fact, they began to understand.

Nam Tae-min, Leoni, and Hisagi looked at each other and said.

“……Wait, did he group us together because of this?”

“Hey, damn.”

“No, it’s not something you can just pass over.”

……No matter what, isn’t that a bit of an excessive interpretation?

Leoni had such a thought but.

She couldn’t erase the slight possibility.

Why, didn’t someone say it?

That Ho-yeol shows with actions rather than words.

So Jesse also did not stay still.

Short-Distance Teleport.

Jesse, who had unnoticeably left her seat, lifted the brim of the cone hat she wore.

Then she declared towards the cone hat. No, her master. It didn’t matter what kind of quest objective it became.

“I will work hard!”

In order to stand on the same line as Ho-yeol.

Just like what was written in the Class Quest.

She felt like she really had to become at least an [Archmage].

Is this also thanks to Ho-yeol?

Similar to the Mage Tower.

Those who established a new goal.

And.

What was waiting for those players was Thursday.

Arcana’s regular update.

.

.

.

『A new region comes to your side.

New region, ‘Goddess Order Holy Land, Muon’ is added.』…….

*

Goddess Order.

The Goddess Order was the most influential religion among the religions existing on the Arcana continent.

To the extent that there was an expression in the Empire, ‘If three gather, one of them is inevitably a boring fellow.’

A boring fellow.

That referred to the believers of the Goddess Order.

The doctrines of the Goddess Order are famous for being strict.

At the same time, the ‘one out of three’.

Was also an expression that showed the staggering number of followers of the Goddess Order.

The Holy Land of that Goddess Order, Muon, had revealed its appearance in reality!

Before Ho-yeol’s exploits could even cool down.

At the continuously appearing update logs, the community had no choice but to heat up once again.

-If it’s the Goddess Order, quests will definitely pour out lolol

-Religions have been a lump of quests since the old days for real lol

-Still, the players must have taken a weight off their minds T_T

During the days when it was merely a game.

The role of religion in the Arcana continent was considerable.

Players, in particular, received a lot of help from the Order.

Including basic buffs, treating abnormal status, up to advancing to a healer-type class.

It wasn’t a strange thing for players to swell with anticipation.

“Doesn’t it feel like the assortment is fitting together?”

“Right. Mage Tower. Yusra Kingdom, Frost. Even Muon.”

“It’s an elite few but well, it has everything it needs!”

Right, what’s strange is.

Even after checking such update logs.

It would refer to a person with no particular reaction.

For example.

Clack

Like Ho-yeol leisurely setting down his teacup.

.

.

.

I checked the update logs.

Goddess Order’s Holy Land, Muon, is it…….

Even if there had been a gap of over ten years, there was no way I wouldn’t know the Goddess Order. Because the Goddess Order was the religion with the largest power even since Arcana started its service.

But you see.

It’s a strange thing.

That the great Goddess Order.

‘Why.’

I stared at the blinking message.

To be exact, the quest window.

[Class Quest : Extermination of Akshan]

The extermination of Akshan and Demon Hunters.

The final Demon Hunter.

Uncover the truth intertwined with the Holy War.

─Train your weakened physical body. (Repeat)

─Verify the factions that participated in the Holy War. (In progress)

●Encounter the Saint of the Goddess Order. (In progress)

Are they intertwined with the quest called [Extermination of Akshan]?

As I said.

I have a gap that well exceeds 10 years.

So what the Holy War is.

What the truth intertwined with it is.

And why the Goddess Order appeared in the quest objectives, I do not know.

However, it isn’t a problem.

Clack

I set down my teacup.

“I just need to resolve it according to procedure.”

Right, now that the Class Quest has popped up.

I just need to find out everything gradually.

Just to where the quest objectives point to.

Well, in that process, perhaps.

I might have to dig into the Goddess Order.

‘That would be absolute blasphemy.’

But it didn’t matter.

Because there is one of the very few common grounds between me and Granfel.

“I do not believe in gods.”

Of course, even if I don’t believe in gods, I do believe in levels.

I checked the status window.

Because this time, there are quite a lot of points to allocate.