Chapter 139 – Arcana (1)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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[World Quest: Evil Dragon Hunter]

He who hunted the evil dragon’s kin.

The legend of the mountain range is calling you.

─Reach the summit of the Zero Mountains. (In Progress)

Existence that must not be awakened.

The World Quest that began with eliminating that guy.

I was the only one who knew about that existence. Though the players who contributed to the kill also received a quest, it was nothing more than a normal quest. In a word, the ‘class’ of the quest was different.

But calling me the Evil Dragon Hunter!

The circumstances of how Skal found out my alias?

I genuinely didn’t want to think about it but. Naturally, the flow of consciousness continued. Let’s see, because it was a World Quest that could affect the entire Arcana world.

‘It must be a message.’

You know, during the [Seed of the World Tree] quest, a message popped up for all players. Class, Dragon Knight. A message related to the Evil Dragon Hunter must have popped up only for Skal.

‘Is this a fortune amidst misfortune.’

Yes, thinking about that, let’s consider it a genuine fortune. Of course, it became meaningless the moment Skal blabbed my name in front of the cameras but.

‘This is not enough even with paying a visit three times to request earnestly, Skal.’

Chewing on my lingering grudge, I moved my steps.

I headed towards the portal.

Because as I said, I had no time.

However.

Buzz buzz

The sound of reporters chattering away from behind made me stop my steps.

“Did what he just said mean rejecting Skal’s request?”

“Isn’t this going to crumple Skal’s pride a lot?”

“Beyond rejecting, didn’t he seem extremely angry?”

“Right! Treating meeting Skal like a waste of time……!”

The lobby of the Mage Tower.

A space open to anyone as much as there’s a portal present.

As the Joint Chief of the Mage Tower, I knew that fact better than anyone else.

Am I not Granfel, who values procedures as much as valuing formality? It’s not my house’s master bedroom, and I have no intention of saying anything about them having a conversation.

However, today is a different story.

It’s deeply offensive.

I stopped my steps and turned my body.

I looked at the crowd.

Even though I hadn’t opened my mouth to say anything yet.

“……Hup!”

Silence that visited immediately

I opened my mouth within that silence.

It wasn’t an order, but a strict request.

“Also, I would appreciate it if you kept quiet inside the Mage Tower for the time being.”

Because absolute rest is essential for a patient!

.

.

.

Marcelo collapsed.

Mage Tower’s Healing School separate room.

The Skilled Mages, including Klee, could not let go of their tension.

“What exactly should we do, Klee?”

“First of all, let’s calm down. Everyone.”

“……I expected it, but I didn’t know it would be this sudden.”

The curse of the Simuard family.

Even if they try to keep it down, word travels fast.

Moreover, because the person in question of the curse had no intention of hiding that fact.

Marcelo gasping for breath on the bed.

Velliere watched Marcelo from his side.

Seeing him with his eyes closed was the first time since their childhood.

“……He looks the same.”

Even his sleeping figure.

Even his foolishly honest personality is the same.

The Senior Mages, including Velliere, had received Marcelo’s will.

The contents were as honest as himself. There was no story regarding his own life, but a will solely thinking about the Mage Tower.

“Damn it. I knew it, but. Even if it’s a curse, it’s merciless.”

Benshi’s voice coming from beyond the door of the separate room.

Several Senior Mages had come seeking Marcelo.

However, a meeting was impossible.

Soon, Velliere’s gaze stared into the air.

Specifically, at the ‘curse’s mark’ floating in the air.

From the moment Marcelo collapsed until now.

The curse’s mark was gradually becoming darker.

As if, it was absorbing Marcelo’s life force.

Knock knock

At the knock, Velliere answered.

“You may enter. Senior Matisse.”

As the door opened, Benshi’s face was briefly seen through the gap.

It was a gaze filled with the desire to enter, but in the current situation, Benshi making a fuss wouldn’t be of much help.

“That……!!”

There was no need for Velliere to open her mouth and say anything.

Natural enemy relationship.

Thud

Because Matisse immediately shut the door firmly.

And then he looked at the curse’s mark floating in the air.

“Magic power cannot be felt.”

“Correct. Its appearance isn’t the structure of a magic circle either.”

“…….”

Staring blankly.

Matisse looked at his ring.

As expected, the color didn’t change.

Heterogeneous magic, black magic.

The structure of a black magic circle is also heterogeneous and each is different.

The curse’s mark wasn’t even black magic.

Just in case, thinking what if.

Velliere smiled bitterly.

“It is neither magic nor black magic. In the end, our prediction hit the mark.”

“How is Chief Marcelo’s condition?”

“As I told you. I am forcefully breathing life force into him.”

A state of merely maintaining physical functions through healing magic.

Matisse’s eyebrows twitched.

Because maintaining that level of healing magic would require an enormous amount of magic power.

However, Velliere showed no signs of exhaustion.

‘Is she maintaining the magic by alternating with the Skilled Mages?’

No, it seemed even the Skilled Mages of the Healing School weren’t free to enter and exit this place.

Even if her limit of magic power had come, it should have arrived a long time ago……. Matisse’s worried gaze soon headed towards Velliere’s attire, which was different from usual.

Wait, looking at it now, wasn’t it a priest’s clothes instead of a robe?

Noticing his gaze, Velliere stroked her sleeve.

“Chief Lee Ho-yeol handed it to me saying it would be of help.”

“……Chief Lee did?”

“Looking at the emblem, it seems to be a magic tool of the Goddess Church. Wait no, the Church would call it a holy relic instead of a magic tool, wouldn’t they? Whatever the name may be, it is thanks to the effect of the holy relic.”

The holy relic handed over by Chief Lee Ho-yeol.

Thanks to that, she was able to guard Marcelo’s side.

Matisse swallowed a groan.

‘He was delicate in unimaginative places.’

It was Ho-yeol who had saved the holy land of the Goddess Church, Muon.

Even if Ho-yeol possessed a holy relic of the Goddess Church, it wouldn’t be strange. The Goddess Church, they surely would have repaid him in some way if they harbored pride.

As his thoughts ended, Velliere opened her mouth.

“Ultimately, we have no choice but to wait. For Chief Lee Ho-yeol’s return.”

“…….”

What could be heard was only Marcelo’s sound of breathing.

A gloomy atmosphere is not good.

Velliere opened her mouth to turn the atmosphere around.

“Ah right. The Mage Tower, how is the atmosphere among the Seniors?”

“They are worrying over the Chief’s vacancy.”

“Because they wouldn’t know. The reason Chief Lee headed to Arcana…….”

What Chief Lee Ho-yeol revealed was merely a plan to enter the Arcana continent.

He hadn’t revealed the purpose.

To think Ho-yeol headed to the Arcana continent now when Marcelo collapsed.

Because it was no different from a threat suddenly arising in the personal safety of the two Chiefs.

However.

-“The time my seat is empty will not be long. Therefore, I’d appreciate it if you could refrain from requests related to me, including applications to leave the tower, for a few days. I ask for your understanding.”

-“Because the Simuard family is there.”

-“Nevertheless, trust me.”

Velliere, Matisse.

At least the two Seniors had trust.

So they could force themselves to open their mouths.

“Worrying our hearts from time to time for a few days should be alright.”

However, the change came much earlier than they thought.

“……?”

……Because the curse’s mark was fluctuating differently from before.

“!”

If until before it merely stopped at gradually becoming clearer, now it was repeating becoming clear and then dark.

That frivolous luminescence felt as if it was shivering in fear.

Flustered, Velliere looked out the window.

“……The sun hasn’t even set yet?”

Chief Lee Ho-yeol.

It hadn’t even been half a day since he left the Mage Tower.

As if it wasn’t enough that he had already stepped foot on the Arcana continent.

Does it mean he has already found a clue to undoing the curse of numbered days?

*

[Crossroads Bathed in Sunset]

[Recommended Level: Lv.380]

[Collapse Progress: 0.6%]

I entered the rift generated closest to the Mage Tower.

The reason is simple.

Because I wasn’t confident.

‘……Will I have enough magic power left to manifest a portal after returning to reality.’

Confident in returning to the Mage Tower.

The destination was the Arcana continent, not the rift.

The method to return to reality?

I only know of one.

Activating the effect of [The Last Adventurer].

It means I have to die once in the Arcana continent to activate the effect.

But could I, Granfel, quietly close my eyes? In the Arcana continent swarming with demons?

I could guarantee it.

Not to mention magic power exhaustion.

I would hunt demons until my body was tattered.

‘So that’s why I chose the closest rift.’

Because if push comes to shove, I’d have to call a taxi to return to the Mage Tower.

Whoosh

Soon, the rift’s scenery revealing itself within the sunset.

However, today of all days, I had no leisure to appreciate it comfortably.

I immediately opened my inventory.

[Map Connecting to All Things]

[Rank: Epic]

[Restriction: None]

[Effect: Can know the location of something hidden by someone, lost by someone, or secreted away somewhere. Also, can teleport to the location of ‘something’ exactly once.

However, upon activating the teleportation effect, all effects are immediately lost.]

[Description: A magic tool with endless possibilities depending on how it’s used.]

A Demon King’s spoil.

Before immediately activating its effect, I ruminated over it once again.

Settings of Arcana that I had forgotten.

Back when Arcana was merely a game, the flow of time in Arcana was 4 times faster than reality.

It meant one day in reality was four days in Arcana. That the setting remained valid even after the Cataclysm was verified through Frost.

‘It depends on how you think about it.’

Thanks to that, you could think there’s more leeway than expected.

Still, you could also think time is pressing.

Of course, those are my inner thoughts.

“Even the flow of time poses no problem to me.”

……Yes, my muzzle should be like this. My loose muzzle.

There was no hesitation.

Just like manifesting a portal, I pictured the coordinates in my head.

-“Simuard family. The location is the eastern part of the Imperial Capital. Near Nania Lake.”

Woooong

Light spewed out from the [Map Connecting to All Things].

The energy of the Demon King was purified through the exorcism ritual.

The only thing to worry about was the item’s effect.

A message floated up amidst the pouring light.

[You have entered the Arcana continent, which is heading towards destruction.]

.

.

.

The image of Arcana seen in various advertisements comes to mind.

There would be no need to mention the Zero Mountains, which always appeared without fail.

What appeared as frequently as the Zero Mountains was the night view of Arcana.

Dozens of stars embroidering the night sky.

Because stars larger than the moon in reality filled the night sky of Arcana.

Right, me opening my eyes in the Arcana continent. What I witnessed following the message was the night sky of Arcana.

Blink

A massive pupil embedded in the sky.

A gaze looking down as if surveilling the Arcana continent.

I realized.

No, as a Demon Hunter, I felt it instinctively.

[Skill, ‘Natural Enemy Relationship’ activates.]

It was so.

Instead of stars, what embroidered the night sky of Arcana was a demon’s eye.

I spat out my impression.

“It severely ruins the aesthetics.”

Malice surging in the Arcana continent.

The pride in my chest reacted more intensely than ever.

Because it’s Granfel who cannot even tolerate breathing the same breath as a demon. Really, I might have wildly fired magic toward the pupil in the night sky right this instant.

However, there was a procedure as important as pride.

I mean there’s a reason I entered the Arcana continent!

I checked the quest window.

[Quest: Request of the Simuard Family]

Magic Family Simuard.

The curse of numbered days passed down to them.

They wish to dig out the source of that curse.

─Visit the Simuard Mansion. (Success)

─Face the Countess Simuard. (In Progress)

In order to dig out the curse of numbered days intertwined with the Simuard family.

So I moved my heavy steps.

Indeed, a magic family counted among the continent’s elite.

The size of the mansion was so large it couldn’t be taken in at a glance.

Above all, the exterior was perfectly intact.

‘Even Frost, the largest city in the north, fell at this point.’

[Natural Enemy Relationship] becoming sharper and more extensive by the day.

The senses of a Demon Hunter were feeling it.

That a demon existed inside the Simuard mansion.

Pinpointing its identity wasn’t difficult.

As specified in the quest objective, that demon likely had a high probability of being the Countess Simuard. I recalled the information concerning Countess Simuard I heard through Velliere.

-“Godmother, Yulla Simuard. She was practically no different from the head of the Simuard family.”

Countess Simuard, who had taken on the role of family head in place of the short-lived Simuard family. Velliere, while recalling memories about her, had pressed her temple.

-“However, I apologize. Nothing comes to mind regarding her. Strangely, the image of Marcelo I saw on the same day, at the same time, is clear in my memory. As if only the afterimage of Countess Simuard was uniquely cut out…….”

It might sound unlucky, but the mages of the Mage Tower are smart.

Even just an apprentice mage, the majority were those who heard embarrassing words like pride of the family, embodiment of talent.

Velliere is a Senior Mage who cannot even be compared to such apprentices. For her to say ‘it’s clear in my memory’. It means it’s genuinely as clear as if she just saw it.

‘It definitely smelled fishy.’

So.

I had half-guessed it there.

Wondering if that might be a demon’s status abnormality.

And at this moment, in front of the mansion, it became a certainty.

The demon that.

Swallowed the Simuard family with the curse of numbered days.

Is wearing the mask of the Countess.

Reminding me anew.

Demons are truly fearless, aren’t they?

To mess with a magic family.

Well, there was also a demon that tried to strike an Elder Mage, a demigod, in the back of the head.

I feel anew that they’re acting like demons.

Trudge trudge

Suddenly, a presence felt from beyond the darkness.

A man dressed up in a tuxedo.

Holding a magic lamp in his hand, he struck up a conversation towards me.

“It has been a long time since we had a guest. Though I do not know what business brings you here.”

Creak

Opening the door, he welcomed me politely.

“I am the Chief Butler of the Simuard family, Seo Hatif. Our Simuard family is open to anyone. Would you like to rest before you go?”

Right, putting a human who knows nothing in front like this is also like a demon. Anyway, befitting a butler of a Count family, his manners are flawlessly polite. To the point where I couldn’t possibly refuse.

“Thank you.”

I followed the Chief Butler, Seo, and entered the Simuard family.

Someone might ask if I was crazy.

Even to me, it did seem crazy.

However, this too is my heavy pride.

In my heart, I wanted to blow away the entire mansion where a demon was breathing alive. But this was Marcelo’s main family, the Simuard family. Consideration towards Marcelo, who would be fighting a desperate struggle against the curse.

“Since you all have no sins.”

Simultaneously, Noblesse Oblige.

Consideration towards the retainers serving the Simuard family is also included.

Moreover.

“I apologize, but what did you just say?”

I didn’t answer and looked up at the sky.

There wasn’t just a demon’s pupil in the night sky.

My ‘arrangements’ were also on standby inside the clouds since earlier.

[Flying Machinery Castle, Iron Castle: Awaiting Orders]

Therefore.

I confidently headed into the Simuard mansion.

Into the jaws of a demon.