Chapter 133 – Tantrum (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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AAU.

Branch managers from various branches around the world moved busily.

Their faces surfacing on the screen one by one.

Someone examining their faces opened their mouth.

“The United Kingdom. And the South Korea Branch Manager is not here yet?”

Simultaneously with the question being thrown.

Pop

Park Min-jae’s face popping up urgently.

Park Min-jae exchanged greetings urgently.

“Phew, I’m sorry for being late.”

“No. We should be the ones understanding Mr. Park.”

“Because you’re extremely busy, after all.”

Park Min-jae, the reason he was busy was only one.

Needless to ask, it was because of Lee Ho-yeol.

Because just until right before this, he was practically running around the AAU South Korea Branch building busily.

Park Min-jae adjusted his panting breath and opened his mouth.

“I’ve practically been living while spitting out the same words like a tape recorder for the past few days. Anyway, once they bite, they just don’t let go, South Korea’s media outlets. The existence of his class? We want to know too, please. Even if I say it while making such a frustrated expression……!”

“Oh, Branch Manager-nim. Your face is too close to the screen.”

“Is that why you couldn’t wash either? Your appearance is a mess!”

“……Yes? I went to the sauna this morning and washed up nicely, though.”

……That is?

Those words rose to everyone’s throats but.

For now, they had to fold them away.

“Anyway, thank you for understanding.”

“Ahem. That aside, the United Kingdom side is late.”

“His absences have been frequent lately?”

“……Weren’t rift generations also infrequent on the United Kingdom side for a while?”

“Well. Can’t be helped. It’s not a situation where we can wait, let’s begin.”

An unscheduled emergency meeting.

The reason the AAU branch managers gathered was simple.

A data screen surfacing.

“So what do you think that guy’s true identity is?”

Deep sector of the Tepheran Labyrinth.

The massive pupil occupying the wall.

It wasn’t that difficult to open their mouths.

“Just by looking at the pupil and its size, and the details of its skin tissue. It’s definitely a dragon-race monster. However, doesn’t everyone know? Dragons in the Arcana continent…….”

That was common sense no Arcana developer could possibly not know.

“They only stay near the [Zero Mountains].”

“Couldn’t there be a probability that the setting was changed?”

“Actually, the possibility of that is high too. Currently. Setting that is, since the appearance of demons, the Arcana continent is probably not the Arcana continent we knew. But…….”

The words that followed were also common sense.

“This is a different story. A dragon buried deep underground! When it wouldn’t be enough even for dragons to fly in the sky commanding the Arcana World?”

Therefore, there was only one possibility.

Park Min-jae opened his mouth.

“If it’s something similar to a dragon…….”

“Yes? Something similar? Is there something you have in mind?”

“There is. In the East, you see. You know of it, right? Mr. Okazaki.”

……Nod.

At Park Min-jae’s question, AAU Tokyo Branch Manager, Okazaki reacted.

“Imugi. An existence that yearns to become a dragon.”

“……Imugi?”

“According to Eastern legends, it is an existence that endures an eternity of time in order to become a dragon. Actually, I was somewhat guessing it. Because if it was a giant reptile discovered underground, only that guy came to mind.”

Park Min-jae chimed in.

“However, we just pondered whether that guy would exist in Arcana.”

Silence flowing.

If it were the times when Arcana was merely a game, it would be an opinion not worth considering. That a monster they hadn’t even designed, let alone updated, was appearing.

However, Arcana was no longer a game, but another world.

“To think about it, even the Great Evil was a monster we didn’t know. No, an existence we didn’t know.”

Moreover, hadn’t they already experienced this kind of situation once before?

So it was words they couldn’t just casually gloss over.

Questions poured towards Park Min-jae and Okazaki.

“Is the guy called Imugi strong? Is it similar to a dragon?”

I understand your feelings, but everyone’s personalities are quite hasty.

Park Min-jae shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s not certain yet, so we have nothing particular to say. Even if it is an Imugi, we can’t guess how the guy will be portrayed either. However, one thing that is certain is…….”

Whether it’s an Imugi or whatever, if it’s a guy similar to a dragon.

That alone was definitely a situation worth worrying over.

The AAU cool-headedly ran the calculations.

“Then simply put, let’s assume it’s a degraded version of a dragon. Including Lee Ho-yeol, will the players currently entered in the Tepheran Labyrinth rift be able to defeat that guy?”

An answer didn’t come out easily.

“Lee Ho-yeol, I think everything depends on his active performance.”

It was a different story from the [Rift of the Broken Dimension] or [Demon King’s Castle] rifts.

Back then, Ho-yeol carried out joint operations with the top-tier martial groups of Arcana, including the Mage Tower.

Because everyone knew that fact.

Small clicks of the tongue could be heard.

“Even if it’s the legendary explorer Fabian, he’s an explorer in the end. Due to the limits of his class, it will be hard to expect significant help in combat…….”

It was a moment when negative concerns were surfacing.

Click

Someone opened their mouth in an urgent voice.

“Wait a minute, additional update details have been posted!”

“Honestly, Raymond! Would it hurt you to post announcements all at once?”

“Could you share the details?”

“Yes, hold on a moment!”

Click

Soon after, the update details were shared with all attendees.

──────

New rift, ‘Labyrinth of Tepheran’ is added.

New monsters are added.

‘Tepheran Contractor of Black’: Lv.450

New boss monster is added.

‘Existence that must not be awakened’…….

──────

Existence that must not be awakened……!

At that name, everyone’s eyes widened.

Imugi, in order to become a dragon.

Did they say it was an existence that patiently endures an eternity of time curled up?

“By the looks of it, it seems the South Korean and Japanese Branch Managers’ guesses are correct?”

Because there probably wouldn’t be a name that suits the guy better than that.

However, that wasn’t the only reason they were surprised.

“That guy’s, level is……?!”

─────

‘Existence that must not be awakened’: Lv.900

─────

Level 900.

The highest among all monsters that had appeared to date.

It was a whopping 50 levels higher than the Demon King, Flauros.

The developers of Arcana.

Because of that, they were the ones who knew better than anyone else that as you reach higher levels, the gap of 1 level becomes increasingly severe.

“As if that wasn’t enough, it’s a boss monster and a dragon-race too?”

They could guarantee it.

That guy is stronger than the Demon King, Flauros.

It was when worries drifted onto the Branch Manager’s face.

“……Hold on a minute. Is everyone watching?”

An urgent voice continued again.

“Watching, what are you talking about?”

“Park Hwi-gang. I mean the stream of the NetTuber who entered the labyrinth!”

“Streaming?”

“Could you please share the link? Screen sharing would be even better.”

……Something huge had happened.

The streaming screen surfacing amidst the tension.

The scenery of the Tepheran Labyrinth surfacing.

There, an unbelievable sight was unfolding.

“Wait, those black figures……? They’re Tepheran Contractors of Black.”

[Tepheran Contractor of Black].

Just as specified in the update details.

Ordinary monsters appearing in the Tepheran Labyrinth rift.

According to Arcana’s system, they could be said to be monsters subordinated to the boss monster, ‘Existence that must not be awakened’.

But why were those guys…….

Park Min-jae muttered quietly.

“……Why are they lunging at the Imugi?”

Ordinary monsters breaking away from the boss monster’s control?

It was a sight impossible to understand with the common sense of a developer.

However, understanding an unbelievable situation wasn’t that difficult. Because they could guess through experience.

‘……It’s Lee Ho-yeol.’

Whatever trick he used.

Whether it’s thanks to his class ability.

Or an aspect of the quest.

Although they couldn’t guess the specific information in the slightest.

They could be certain.

That this time as well, it was Lee Ho-yeol.

“Haha…….”

Park Min-jae let out a hollow laugh.

He proves his abilities in whatever adversity.

At this level, isn’t it on a level where they should just blindly believe?

“There was a reason everyone goes Homen, Ho-yeol-nim for no reason. Right?”

*

[You have acquired command over the Tepheran Contractors of Black.]

[Tepheran’s 10,890 Contractors of Black]

[Current Status: Awaiting orders]

It was a familiar message.

Since I have experience after all.

Saying I’ve somewhat led the Goddess Religion Holy Knights.

‘Actually, if it were up to my heart…….’

I wanted to issue an attack command immediately.

[Fear is generated in the ‘existence that must not be awakened’.]

The 『Black Coffin』 that deprived the guy of its five senses.

Thanks to adding suitable magic power to that, [Fear], which belongs to the highest tier of abnormalities even among status abnormalities, was generated. Because there was information heard in such a situation.

“An emergency update came out? Yes?! Level is nine hundred?!”

What, Level 900?

I did say the scale was massive……!

Beyond the level of whining, it was genuinely a situation where my lifeline was at risk.

Especially since I had just been running my mouth until just now.

‘Sleep-tantrum? If I entertain that, I might end up sleeping eternally.’

So the desire to end it with a swift battle was ahead.

As mentioned, [Fear] is the highest tier status abnormality.

──────

Fear: Collapses the target physically and mentally.

──────

Because it was one of the reasons players feared demon-race monsters, and also one of the bases that allowed me, who had nothing, to stand upright in front of demons.

‘Fear is a status abnormality to the extent it made a Demon King scream.’

Meaning right now, with Fear generated, is the golden opportunity to defeat the guy.

However, because of this blasted pride……!

I spoke calmly in the midst of an urgent situation.

“Although you have all already paid a sufficient sacrifice.”

While looking at the Contractors of Black, the citizens of Tepheran, that is.

“Do you still wish to correct your mistake despite that?”

That was the case.

Even though I obtained command over the [Tepheran Contractors of Black], not even for a single moment did I control the citizens of Tepheran.

Because my heavy and complex pride, to the point it wouldn’t be strange no matter when my heart sinks, couldn’t possibly tolerate such behavior.

However, there was no need to be impatient.

“!!!”

The effects of fear revealing themselves immediately.

The massive pupil where agitation clearly showed.

More than that, is it perhaps thrashing around with its oversized physique.

Rumble rumble rumble rumble!

The labyrinth began to vibrate even more violently than before.

“Ha-ssi, aren’t we supposed to attack at times like this?”

“You crazy bastard. How are we supposed to lunge at that!!”

“I can’t do reactions for this no matter how much you sponsor. Sincerely.”

A truly overwhelming force.

There wouldn’t be anyone who could act rashly in front of that.

The legendary explorer Fabian, who would have experienced all sorts of hardships.

“Huu.”

Because even he was collecting his breath from the tension.

However, for those wishing to correct their mistake, there was no hesitation.

Swish

Even without me ordering them.

The Contractors of Black lunged at the twitching guy.

Because to the 『Contract of Black』, only resentment remains.

Because of that, specific actions are impossible.

“?!”

Merely clinging onto the existence that must not be awakened and holding on tight.

“……Being allies is great and all, but.”

“Are they really being helpful?”

“They’re hugging it, right? What kind of damage can they do doing that?”

To some, that sight might look funny.

Or it might look helpless.

However, to me it was not.

Even if others cannot know.

I am telling you I know.

The meaning contained in that action.

Swish

The Contractors of Black tightly attached to the guy were dyed in an even deeper darkness.

Releasing suitable magic power, they disappeared into the empty air.

Essentially, pure crystals of suitable magic power.

For the citizens of Tepheran, who only had their resentment remaining, what they could do was.

Only to oxidize and inflict damage on the guy.

Along with a Black Magicology-perspective.

“Is that so. I have understood your pride.”

Down to my specialized field, a Prideology-perspective.

Therefore, my point is I cannot just stand by and watch.

Flutter

The Outer Wings of a Hundred Colors fluttering in the empty air.

I drew up magic power.

Interference and manifestation as natural as breathing.

Like feathers falling out from wings.

The attribute magics stored in the outer wings spewed out one by one.

The sound of players whispering reached my ears.

“……What is that?”

“I-Is it a skill?”

“A skill? From where to where is it a skill. From those wings?”

However, I don’t pay attention to their murmurs.

No, I don’t have the mental capacity to pay attention.

The citizens of Tepheran were burning their final pride.

Because I couldn’t take my eyes off the burning final flames for even a moment.

Yes, this is what they call the weight I carry in my heart.

The one hundred attribute magics manifested from the outer wings.

The one to open the barrage was [『Absolute Zero』].

[『Anomaly』], and an anomaly manifested by mimicking Senios’s stage at that.

Naturally, the power is overwhelming even among the magics I can manifest.

Of course, its magic power consumption is not at a level I, still merely in the Level 400s, can endure.

[Effect: When equipped, stores attribute magic continuously manifested by the user. The number of magic that can be stored is proportional to the color of the outer wings, and when manifesting stored magic, magic power consumption decreases by 30 percent. – Number of currently stored attribute magic: 100]

Even if I reduced the magic power consumption amount by storing it in the outer wings.

[Magic power regeneration rate slightly increases for 6 hours.]

Even if I added the effect of elixirs.

It was an unendurable level of magic power consumption.

However, in this moment, there was no magic power exhaustion for me.

[Skill, ‘Natural Enemy’ is activated.]

Because [Natural Enemy] activated.

Even without trying to figure out the reason, the senses of a demon hunter that reached a high point were telling me.

That a demon was mixed among the players who entered the labyrinth’s deep sector, the rift.

‘If it were normal times.’

Granfel’s temper, unable to stand by if it’s a demon.

It wouldn’t have been strange even if he stepped forward to hunt the demon before the existence that must not be awakened.

However, as I said, the citizens of Tepheran were here.

“This is not a place for inferior kin to dare interject.”

Everything follows procedures.

Priorities exist in that.

Hunting the demon comes after defeating the guy.

……Anyway, it was extremely fortunate for me.

Thanks to [Natural Enemy] activating, I was able to slam [『Absolute Zero』] in from the start. And even after doing that, I was able to pull out the stored attribute magics without staggering from magic power exhaustion.

[Frostbite occurs entirely on the ‘existence that must not be awakened’.]

[Bleeding occurs on the ‘existence that must not be awakened’.]

[Paralysis occurs on the ‘existence that must not be awakened’.]…….

A level 900 boss monster.

However, the guy is not in a normal state.

Thanks to carrying all sorts of debuffs, it’s sufficiently doable.

No, I have no choice but to defeat the guy.

Because I wasn’t alone.

[Tepheran’s 10,890 Contractors of Black]

[Tepheran’s 9,754 Contractors of Black]

[Tepheran’s 7,551 Contractors of Black]…….

The citizens of Tepheran sacrificing themselves until the very end.

Hiel and the darkness spirit.

And Fabian’s party.

“Sir, we will also participate in the battle. Though even if we participate, our combat power might not be much to look at……. Thanks to Sir advising us to make thorough preparations, there are magic tools we brought along.”

Lastly, even the players.

“Is everyone really just going to watch?”

“I thought you guys said you wanted to fight alongside Ho-yeol-nim earlier?”

“Fuck, gotta do something. It’s embarrassing to just keep watching!”

Existence that must not be awakened.

Numerous joint attacks began to pour towards the guy.

Rumble rumble rumble!!

Perhaps regaining its senses slightly due to the pain.

“!!!”

The guy began to writhe even more violently.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!!

The labyrinth, the rock walls completely collapsed and the guy’s body began to reveal itself.

Indeed, the pupil was merely a miniscule fraction. Sharp fangs and claws revealed themselves one after another.

“Crazy, don’t tell me that’s a dragon?!”

“Its appearance is unmistakably from that side!”

“If I had been just a little late, I’d have been under those claws…….”

Surprised players reflexively stepped backwards.

However, standing upright, I did not step back.

Didn’t I say it?

That I have no choice but to defeat the guy.

That my pride is telling me to do so.

Therefore, you too.

You’d better not expect to be able to slip away.

[Pentagram of Pure Knowledge]

[Rank: Epic]

[Restriction: None]

[Effect: Upon equipping, acquire knowledge of all minerals and all plants of the Arcana continent.]

[Description: A magic tool containing an immeasurably vast amount of knowledge.]

Underground.

Rock walls.

As long as minerals exist.

Because you won’t be able to move even a single scale as you please.

“The act of kicking away the bedding will not be considered a sleep-tantrum.”

“……?”

“Keep your formality.”

“……!”

Crack crack crack!