Chapter 109 – Do You Have No Regrets

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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AAU.

A branch meeting conducted via video call.

Yet no matter how hard they put their heads together, they couldn’t get a handle on things.

The starting point of it all was, unsurprisingly, Ho-yeol.

“Things have been chaotic ever since player Lee Ho-yeol showed up. Truly chaotic.”

The emergency update.

Immediately following it, eleven [Broken Dimensional Cracks] had appeared simultaneously. Just how had Ho-yeol been able to clear those rifts in such a short span of time?

Just tracking his movements alone was an overwhelming task.

“How is it that the situation in Muon is still at a standstill?”

The very next day.

A bombshell had gone off in the regular update.

Arcana residents showing hostile attitudes toward humanity.

The AAU had no choice but to be on edge.

“When observed from the outside, no significant changes are visible. But the hostility toward humanity inside Muon has only grown, if anything. It hasn’t decreased. Just seeing the drones hovering overhead would be enough to make their skin crawl.”

The Holy City of the Goddess Church, Muon.

Given that Muon was showing hostility, it was only natural for the world to be wary of Muon. However, the matter of greatest concern was something else entirely. It was the existence of Freya, the Saintess of the Goddess Church.

“Freya. Just what could that NPC actually be……”

Freya, who had existed since before Arcana was merely a game.

That was why she was so puzzling.

If she was the Saintess of the Goddess Church, she was clearly an NPC of considerable importance.

She wouldn’t be some NPC randomly churned out by AI like a village resident…… yet even after circulating official notices to all AAU employees, there was no one who knew anything about Freya.

“In the end, there can only be one of two answers.”

“If it isn’t Raymond Sean’s involvement……”

“Then she would be a truly unknown existence that even we have no knowledge of. Like the Great Evil that appeared in the Yusra Kingdom.”

“Either way, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s giving us splitting headaches. Truly.”

The world was changing at a rapid pace.

“Jesse Heinness’s withdrawal from Shining Guild. And due to World Unification’s aggressive rift clearing, the guild rankings have finally changed. For the first time since rankings were tracked, World Unification has risen to 1st place.”

The order of power was shaken along with it.

“Gaon, Inazuma, and Berserker haven’t made any official announcements, but it’s accurate to say they’ve effectively formed a large coalition. That faction is expected to be no less formidable than World Unification and Shining.”

There was no shortage of concerns on all fronts.

“The large coalition is one thing, but of all guilds, it had to be World Unification……”

Indeed.

China was standing firmly behind World Unification.

China, which had zero exchanges with the AAU and was the only nation in the entire world to have built an independent path.

Now that World Unification’s influence had grown even stronger, the variable that was China inevitably loomed larger.

“Perhaps we’ve already reached our limits.”

After the Cataclysm.

The AAU had attempted to anticipate countless variables and counter Arcana’s encroachment.

However, the recent trends in updates were completely beyond prediction. They had no choice but to acknowledge their own limitations.

If only even one of these tangled threads could be unraveled.

Silence.

Within that heavy atmosphere, someone opened their mouth.

“……Come to think of it, this is quite a coincidence.”

“What do you mean?”

“Doesn’t it seem like all these tangled threads are pointing toward one person?”

“……Pardon?”

“The [Broken Dimensional Cracks] created by the emergency update. The last movements Jesse Heinness showed before withdrawing from Shining Guild. And even the massive guild coalition of Gaon, Inazuma, and Berserker. Isn’t player Lee Ho-yeol involved in all of it?”

“……!”

“Perhaps…… player Lee Ho-yeol knows something about Muon, a situation we can’t even get a grasp on. And about Freya as well. What do you all think?”

At that question, someone reacted with unusually strong emotion.

“……Hold on, what’s with those looks, everyone?”

It was Park Min-jae, the AAU Korea Branch Manager.

He shook his head back and forth as he pleaded.

“You all seem to be expecting something from me. Please abandon those thoughts immediately. You all talk about having no connection to player Lee Ho-yeol as if it’s someone else’s problem. Didn’t you see the interviews? Even those persistent reporters, and even the net-tubers, all tremble before player Lee Ho-yeol. How could I possibly dare to……”

*

The churning guild rankings.

Gyber, the Guild Master of Bohemian, ranked 4th in the guild rankings.

He was seething.

“Of all the wretched ways for things to get tangled up……”

He had thought there would be a chance for a great reversal in Muon.

The Muon he had thought would be a jackpot wasn’t even giving him a chance to scratch a lottery ticket, let alone win one.

Lost were yesterday and today, which they had wasted.

World Unification cleared a new rift.

And had finally risen to 1st in the guild rankings.

“Damn it.”

Of course, World Unification wasn’t the only one to have cleared new rifts.

Ho-yeol had been there as well.

According to player testimonies.

The time World Unification cleared [Mantra Mines – Sector 2] and the time Ho-yeol cleared [Mantra Mines – Sector 1] appeared to be similar.

– No, Ho-yeol was a little faster. I saw it myself, swear

– Are you seriously saying he beat World Unification solo???

– He wasn’t alone. There was someone next to him wearing a robe

– What, a robe means a mage right??? Don’t tell me it was a Mage Tower mage??

– No lol, rein in the speculation;; The facts alone are enough of a bombshell

– Fr, no matter how Ho-yeol is the Chief Mage, moving a Mage Tower mage around freely would be a bit much;; Think about how the Mage Tower had been keeping to itself until now

Ho-yeol.

Rumors and speculation swarming wherever he appeared was nothing new at this point, not after a day or two.

Gyber felt neither jealousy nor anger.

Just one thing.

‘Why did it have to be Gaon, Inazuma, and Berserker of all guilds!’

Guild ranking 3rd, Gaon.

5th, Inazuma.

At a time when the 4th place position was already shaky.

His two rivals from above and below had formed a coalition with each other.

And on top of that, Berserker, which belonged to the same EU bloc…!

‘Not just the guild ranking, but even the title of EU’s strongest.’

This couldn’t continue as it was.

Gyber, growing anxious, could not stay still.

He wanted to rush toward a new rift immediately…… but as he had said, the two rifts of [Mantra Mines] had already been cleared by Ho-yeol and World Unification.

Formidable competitors existed for the remaining rifts as well.

What was left for Gyber was this thought:

‘A decision must be made.’

After all, it could only be Muon.

Knowing that fact was precisely why he had set up a base camp right in front of Muon, the kind normally installed near rifts. The gates of Muon, still firmly shut. Gyber racked his brain.

‘No matter how desperate, I can’t ignore their rules.’

No matter how stern a warning had been issued.

The holy knights of Muon who served the Goddess.

Gyber was also a holy knight, though he served a different faith.

As such, he was fully aware of the strict codes of holy knights.

“A holy knight cannot attack civilians first.”

“So you’re going to approach Muon no matter what?”

“Nothing changes just from watching.”

Setting down his weapons and approaching Muon.

He would try to have a conversation with them.

Gyber did not hesitate.

Thump, thump.

As he advanced toward Muon, his heart pounded with tension. It was a heartbeat mixed with a touch of anticipation. Because enormous attention was currently being poured onto Muon.

If, by chance, the conversation went well.

And Muon changed their hostile attitude.

If they even opened their gates?

Not only Bohemian, but Gyber’s own stock would soar.

However, no such thing came to pass.

“!”

Because the common sense of holy knight Gyber crumbled.

Gyber was also one of the top ranker players.

In that instant, his finely honed senses sent him a warning.

A presence felt from atop the castle walls.

Creeeak!

That was the sound of a bowstring being drawn.

Swish!

Swish swish!

While having set down his weapons and raised both hands.

Gyber had been approaching Muon.

A rain of arrows came pouring down upon the defenseless Gyber.

It was not a threat.

It was a genuine preemptive attack aimed at his life.

“Those insane bastards, seriously……!!”

Arrows piercing through Gyber’s body all over.

If the Bohemian guild members hadn’t stepped forward to deflect the arrows.

He wouldn’t have been able to breathe like this right now.

Realizing that fact, Gyber barely managed to open his mouth.

“……Neither Muon nor the Goddess Church are the people I knew.”

And all of this was broadcast to the world.

The one most furious was the EU.

They immediately released an official statement.

– We will absolutely not overlook Muon’s hostile actions.

It was no different from a declaration of war against Muon.

The reactions of other nations were not much different.

No, there were even those who said it was something that had been bound to explode eventually.

“If this were back when it was only a handful of NPCs, perhaps things might be different…… But this was a situation that has been concerning us with each region and city-level update. It was a misjudgment from the start to assume that Arcana residents would be friendly toward us humans.”

If it were back when it was merely a game.

A reason for them to be friendly toward humanity?

Honestly, it was difficult to name even a single one.

“Perhaps the cases of the Yusra Kingdom and Frost were the exceptions.”

The breaking news ended and the regular program resumed.

Yet the shocking footage kept playing on repeat.

The anchors with grim expressions persisted.

On top of that, as if they didn’t care in the slightest about any of those reactions.

Even the firmly shut gates of Muon.

“If Muon continues to show hostile behavior, it becomes an enormous variable for humanity. In the worst case, we may truly have to blow Muon away entirely……”

What should be done about Muon?

For now, it seemed like no answer was in sight.

That is, until one man made his appearance at Muon.

“……That crazy someone? Who is that!”

The camera filming the exterior of Muon hurriedly zoomed in on the screen.

A man approaching Muon without a shred of fear.

For now……

It was not Ho-yeol. Then again, if Ho-yeol had appeared, his phone would have been vibrating nonstop all this time.

Headquarters would have issued thunderous orders not to miss even the slightest movement from Ho-yeol.

“Even if net-tubers push past the line, to go this far……?”

Someone simply thought he was a net-tuber mad for attention.

However, something was off.

For a net-tuber.

Because there wasn’t a single piece of filming equipment visible on the man.

On top of that, his attire was unusual as well.

A dignified, old-fashioned uniform.

Looking at it, closer to fantasy than reality.

It certainly looked like he was a player.

“Anyone come to mind?”

“With a build like that, he seems to have quite a distinctive appearance?”

“……Hmm?”

That observation was not wrong.

An exceptionally tall height.

Straight, extended arms and legs.

Even down to his gauntly thin frame.

It was a figure that, once seen, would be impossible to forget easily.

“……Was there a player like that?”

No one among the players came to mind.

However, unlike the press corps falling into confusion, in the Bohemian Guild base camp that was likewise watching the scene, there were those who recognized the man’s identity.

That’s right, it was the mages.

“What, what is this? Why?”

To be precise, mages possessing the skill to attend the regular academic conference.

“Marcelo, the Chief Mage, has appeared at Muon?!”

*

The news of Muon had been shaking the world for several days now.

It was only natural that the Mage Tower would come to hear that news.

Marcelo let out a small smile.

“Sir. My turn has finally come.”

From the research concerning [『Anomaly』].

To the handling of the demon worshippers.

He had done nothing but accumulate debts to Ho-yeol all this time.

“I am mindful that all things involve a give and take.”

All he had done was receive.

Only now had the opportunity come to repay that debt to Ho-yeol.

However.

“I also know this is not something I should rush into on my own.”

With Muon involved, it was not a simple matter.

Indeed, the Goddess Church and Akshan.

And even the Mage Tower.

A ‘Holy War’ was intertwined between them all. Having made up his mind, Marcelo did not hesitate. He went straight to Ho-yeol. And laid everything bare.

Click.

Naturally, Ho-yeol showed no reaction.

His expression and behavior, no different from usual.

Marcelo could intuit it.

‘……As expected, Sir, you already knew everything.’

It was a reaction that could only be interpreted that way.

That was precisely why his conviction grew even firmer.

Marcelo continued speaking.

“Sir, would you please entrust this matter to me?”

Marcelo knew.

That even if Sir Ho-yeol knew.

Even if he chose not to show it.

It did not make the past that had happened disappear.

That the Mage Tower’s transgression being the fault of the Elder Mages.

No, even if it were the fault of the demon worshippers.

That was not something that could become an excuse or an absolution.

Moreover, had Sir Ho-yeol himself not said as much?

“So that the Mage Tower may show ‘proper decorum’ toward you, Sir, and toward Akshan.”

.

.

.

Players would often say.

“The Mage Tower? Honestly, isn’t it all just smoke?”

“No, they don’t show any tangible results.”

“All flash with no results, yet the title attached to it is so grandiose.”

From back when Arcana was merely a game up until now.

The ones who reacted most fiercely to such disparagement were the Arcana residents.

To be precise, the Arcana residents who had witnessed the Mage Tower’s past actions firsthand.

“You haven’t seen it, that’s why you say that.”

“The mages of the Mage Tower are not human.”

“Please, do not provoke the Mage Tower. I have no desire to get caught in the crossfire.”

But at this moment.

No further lengthy explanations were needed.

Because Marcelo, the Chief Mage of the Mage Tower, had made his appearance at Muon.

There could be no greater opportunity for proof than this.

“Just watch and you’ll find out. Whether it’s all hype or not.”

“Since Ho-yeol and him are both Chief Mages. They’re probably roughly on a similar level, right?”

“If things go well, will we be able to get a grasp on Ho-yeol’s combat power too?”

The Mage Tower, unrivaled under the heavens.

Just how would its Chief Mage block Muon’s attack? The closer he drew to Muon, the more those watching couldn’t help but anticipate.

However.

“……?”

That anticipation too was something that would not become reality.

Because unlike in Gyber’s case, a rain of arrows didn’t come pouring down.

Instead.

Rumble!

The firmly shut gates opened as if it were a lie.

A single holy knight walked out from between the opened gates.

– “Everything is the Saintess’s arrangement. We have no need of help from anyone.”

– “Anyone who approaches Muon.”

– “We shall strike them down in the name of the Goddess.”

It was the very man who had been spouting hostile words toward humanity.

That alone was enough to cause astonishment.

But soon, those watching came to realize.

Why the Mage Tower had been called the mightiest military force on the Arcana Continent. And why even the emperors of the Empire had paid tribute, tribute in all but name, to avoid going against the Mage Tower’s wishes.

“……!!!”

As though willing to risk even death.

The holy knight, who had appeared to fear nothing whatsoever.

Had gone pale as a sheet and bowed at the waist toward Marcelo.

Shock.

Someone quietly opened their mouth.

“So you’re saying…… Ho-yeol is on the same level as someone like that?”