Chapter 167 – Left Something Precious (3)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Lansha couldn’t close her mouth.

“……Huh?”

Darkness swallowed the demon.

There was no sound or disturbance there.

“Gardner, is something the matter?”

To the point where those who woke up couldn’t even understand the situation.

“It is nothing, elder.”

There would be no need to inform them of the situation exactly as it is.

Even the appearance of a demon was something to be freaked out about.

It was a situation where that demon was swallowed by an unidentified darkness.

“Just what……?”

Gardner looked at the darkness again.

Back in the days when he wandered the continent as a mercenary.

Gardner had witnessed mages and magic but.

A black ‘something’ speaking human words.

He had never seen such a thing.

Suddenly, Lansha muttered.

“……The End Chrysiad Eternal Darkness.”

“Hm? What did you just say, Lansha.”

“It seemed it said its name!”

“N, name you say?”

Isn’t it extremely long for a name?

Like the name of a noble from a great family.

Lansha continued speaking.

“And Liege, following the endlessly deep darkness…….”

Endlessly deep darkness?

Gardner frowned and frantically recalled his memories.

But it has already been decades since he retired from being a mercenary. Too much wine had been consumed during that time to recall the countless aliases wandering the continent.

However, what importance does a name or affiliation have?

“It definitely said it would save Dreadsen!”

As mentioned, Dreadsen was a very small village.

A frontier even in the Empire’s territory.

Even the high-ups who like to be treated well turn away from Dreadsen. Because even if they paid attention and made efforts to whip it, nothing came out.

“This is an incomprehensible matter.”

Gardner’s eyes narrowed.

He didn’t want to go as far as saying this but…….

“Why would a bigshot capable of being called a Liege care about things like us?”

He couldn’t understand it at all.

It wasn’t just Dreadsen that was in a crisis.

All nearby villages, cities, and even the Imperial Capital.

Arcana, a situation where everything is collapsing at the hands of demons.

Among those, they’re saving us who have nothing?

However, the doubt didn’t last long.

The darkness, The End, opened its mouth anew.

“Because you have not lost the pride in your chests.”

“……Pride?”

“Like that man who did not submit to a demon until the end.”

“……!!!”

Everyone could understand.

That man definitely meant Mateh.

Squeeze

At that moment, strength entered Lansha’s grasp holding the sword.

Pride out of nowhere.

It would be strange to understand it at once.

Lansha opened her mouth.

“……How do you know Mateh’s end?”

Until then, the doubt remained.

Dreadsen is a mountain village.

Literally unless looking down from the sky, there would be no way to know what happened in the village……. But at that moment, a loud noise was heard from the sky.

Tududu

“?!”

Lansha, Gardner, and the others looked up at the sky and freaked out.

A night sky glaring with Demonic Eyes.

A massive shape revealed its appearance without caring about the gazes of those Demonic Eyes.

That was definitely a ‘ship’.

“What’s that!”

“M, Mr. Gardner?!”

“L, Lansha! Even if you ask me, I don’t know. A ship flying in the sky!”

To the astonished people, The End continued its words.

“Even if the world turned a blind eye to you.”

“……?”

“My liege does not turn a blind eye to you.”

For some reason, that voice was boundlessly generous.

“Just as I too was saved by my liege.”

*

Mage Tower.

While climbing the stairs, I endlessly repeated it in my mind.

……Though I wanted to turn a blind eye, this day has come at last.

‘My muzzle finally caused an incident.’

It’s none other than the Spirit of ‘Darkness’.

It means I guessed my damn naming sense would manifest in this way.

Just like with Hiel……!

The first name, generously speaking, was passable.

‘The End.’

But as expected, the back was the problem.

[The End Chrysiad Eternal Darkness].

Everything should be done in moderation, seriously!

Eternal Darkness.

To think it’s eternal darkness.

Truly, every time I recall it, my heart springs with a sense of shame enough to make me want to close my eyes and bury myself in eternal darkness……. But this is also a weight I must bear.

Yes, since the spirits increased to two, it naturally means it’s heavy.

‘Though I’m grateful for that since before.’

The Spirit Studies Senior Mage, Feiyan, delivered a letter through parchment.

That a {Unique Spirit} is an existence that transcends rank and even spirit contracts. Therefore, the existing contract is nullified.

‘Because, even when Hiel used natural abilities.’

There was no change in my amount of magic power.

Unique spirits are indeed somewhat special, I guessed as much.

But to think a new contract with a new spirit was possible.

Naturally, I did not hesitate.

The Spirit of Darkness.

Its momentum alone was enough to make Feiyan’s contract spirit and superior spirit, Fire Drake, tense.

Moreover, I was the one who confirmed the ability of the Spirit of Darkness in the Tetfern Labyrinth.

[The Spirit King of Darkness, Arcane blesses the contract.]

I formed a contract, and since I formed it, I gave it a name too.

The problem was that the name was boundlessly bizarre…….

However, there are no regrets.

‘Hiel and The End are different.’

Awakening as a unique spirit.

Though Hiel grew further under the influence of [Sublime], there is such a thing as innate nature in the first place. Hiel is a forest spirit, meaning she’s not a spirit specialized in combat.

Well, I don’t know who she resembles but…….

‘She fights rather well for that.’

She made stems spring up and disappear, dealing with monsters tactfully.

But it cannot compare to the Spirit of Darkness.

Therefore, I entrusted Dreadsen to The End.

[Quest: The Awakened Decisive Battle Weapon’s Request]

Akshan’s Decisive Battle Weapon, Quernberg Machine Tower.

What it chose instead of an answer to its doubt was pride.

The memory of the mechanical device wishes to protect the remaining survivors.

─Save the survivors of Dreadsen Village. (Success)

The result appeared as a message.

Indeed, it was worth bearing the shame and calling it.

I knew you would succeed as if showing off, The End.

‘The magic power consumption was also quite alright.’

Right now, the [Blessing of the First World Tree] is constantly active.

Meaning I’m not the me of the past who was flustered at the magic power consumption.

It meant it was fine if by any chance The End faced a strong enemy and used my magic power. Well, seeing my magic power perfectly fine, it seemed there was no such occasion.

Tap

I arrived at the Crystal Hall.

The round-table conference.

Is it the first round-table conference since players entered the Mage Tower?

Somehow, signs of tension were evident on everyone.

Of course, there is nothing for me to do.

Because I knew myself, specifically my loose muzzle, very well.

‘It’s obvious I’ll just pour out venomous remarks.’

Forgetting the times when the frog was a tadpole.

To not even know exploration, interference, or manifestation.

I clearly saw the future of pouring out nagging.

So let’s stay still with my mouth tightly shut today.

Let’s just attend the meeting as a figurehead Chief.

While resolving myself, someone spoke to me.

“It has been a while, Chief Lee.”

It was Bellier.

At the greeting, I lightly nodded my head.

What is formality?

Responding sincerely to a polite greeting.

Is it because the worry about Marcelo was relieved.

Her face looks much brighter than before.

It was the moment I tried to reply.

“……Oh?”

Suddenly Bellier’s gaze headed toward my chest.

To be exact, the brochure on the lapel.

Bellier’s pupils widened.

“Your brooches have increased by one, Chief? But somehow it suits you well as if it’s one with the brooch you originally wore! No, stepping away from that, it’s beautiful.”

Not only the quick-wittedness to notice a small change.

Her aesthetic perspective is also not lacking.

It’s a pass, Senior Bellier.

To say nothing of Granfel, I too ended up gloating slightly.

‘I’m not disappointed that she recognized it.’

[Name: Granfel Cloudie Arpheus Romeo]

[Title: The Last Adventurer, Sublime]

[Class: Demon Hunter]

[Level: 544]

[Stats]

Strength: 90 / Agility: 100 / Magic Power: 423 / Luck: 10 / Aesthetics: Mid

[Available Points: 50]

The experience points accumulated in the Quernberg Machine Tower were as expected.

Because it increased the maximum limit, 50 levels, at once.

Thanks to that, I lightly surpassed level 500.

Meaning I could wear the second Pentagram Brooch.

[Pentagram Brooch 2/6]

[Grade: Unique]

[Restriction: Lv.500]

[Effect: All physical attack damage increases by 10%.]

[Description: It’s part of the brooches where six gather to become one. Since it’s only a very small part, its effect has been considerably lost.]

Without the magic tools borrowed from the Mage Tower, [Aesthetics] also rose to [Mid].

So no matter how much I try not to show it, my heart can’t help but swell.

Because I merely broke just one installment savings account now.

‘Let’s see, how many Machine Towers are there on the Arcana continent?’

There would be at least one hundred.

Numbers floated around in my head.

Somehow, I had no shame as there were many things I asked for recently.

‘Even so, I entrust this to you, Iron Castle.’

It doesn’t matter if it’s smashed to pieces.

Please, I hope you find as many remains of the Machine Towers as possible. Of course, there was no way my complicated and secular inner thoughts would be revealed on the outside.

I replied concisely.

“Thank you, Senior Bellier.”

Clatter

Suddenly, a face got closer along with a loud noise.

It was the Flame Magic Studies Senior, Bensch William.

“Just as well, I was about to mention it too!”

Mention what?

An objection regarding the exit application form?

I stared intently at Bensch.

“As expected, the new brooch suits you well too!”

Was it about that?

There is no person in the world who dislikes compliments.

Moreover, the new Pentagram Brooch was like a medal proving my efforts. Meaning there was no reason to feel bad.

However, I ended up replying coldly.

“Refrain from unnecessary conversation, Senior Bensch William.”

“……Yes? Yeeess?”

Bensch looking alternately at me and Bellier.

It seems he feels extremely wronged.

Honestly, I do resent Bensch.

That damn exit application form!

If he’s going to write and submit it like that, why write it every single day?

But such personal feelings do not exist for the fair and just Granfel.

It was so.

Everything was simply according to procedures.

Because Marcelo had just stepped onto the podium.

“Chatting during a meeting is forbidden.”

“……!!!”

Look at the Crystal Hall, Bensch.

Even the players who don’t know well what kind of place the Mage Tower is yet are quietly maintaining silence, right? Even though no one nagged at them.

‘I didn’t want to go as far as saying this but…….’

Bensch William.

You lack tact way too much.

I noticed it ever since you wrote the exit application form like that.

Really.

.

.

.

“I really thought I would suffocate to death in case even my breathing sound was heard!”

“If it’s Bensch William……. Isn’t he the Flame Magic Studies Senior Mage?”

“He said that to a Senior? He’s really scary, Lee Ho-yeol!”

“But doesn’t it make sense?”

“……Huh? What?”

“No, entering the Arcana continent wasn’t enough, he said he hunted millions of demons and returned? And not only that, there wasn’t a single injury……!”

*

After the round-table conference ended, I entered a rift.

[Griffin’s Cliff]

[Recommended Level: Lv.500]

[Collapse Progress: 14.7%]

Right now, having well surpassed level 500.

The recommended level of an average rift had no meaning to me.

Rather than it not being dangerous, it meant no matter which rift I hunted in, leveling up was unreasonable. As I said last time, the efficiency against time dropped.

The reason I entered the rift knowing that fact?

Well, there are several reasons.

First of all, according to pride.

‘I should first check if the residents of Dreadsen are safe.’

In that process, I have to brave the shame and summon The End, and also find out the situation of the Iron Castle through Hiel. Let’s casually ask about the progress of the ego equipment concurrently.

But before that…….

The scenery reversed in an instant.

Up on the telephone pole, somehow an eagle’s head.

There was a Griffin with a beast’s torso.

[Sharp-clawed Griffin: Lv.500]

Did it notice my presence.

Kkieeek!

As it shrieked noisily, griffins flocked from all over the rift.

The number is roughly over a dozen.

I opened my mouth.

“Unnecessary disruption.”

But well, it’s not bad.

‘I was just curious anyway.’

Applicants whether birds, beasts, or whatever are, are welcomed.

I tidied my attire.

“Even wagging tails and acting obediently is insufficient. Spreading wings, standing claws, and making noisy clamor. You only resemble the bad points of beast and bird.”

I especially aligned the direction of the Pentagram Brooch with care.

“However regrettably, the discipline for today just ended at the round-table conference.”

It was so.

Right now.

Was the opportunity to check the set effect of the Pentagram Brooch.