Chapter 172 – It is Nothing But a Childish Play

===================

Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

Thursday.

The regular update log that popped up.

──────

The new World Event, ‘Demon King Continental Clash’ is beginning.

──────

The contents were truly shocking.

To a degree incomparable to before.

──────

A new rift, ‘69th Throne’ is added.

New named monsters are added.

The Phantom of the Demon Realm, Phadondon: Lv.777

The Red-haired Demonic Human, Jurbal: Lv.800…….

──────

New rifts and new named monsters.

It wasn’t because of their levels that people were surprised.

Around level 800.

Of course, that in itself was a high level. But in the [Crack of the Shattered Dimension] and [Demon King’s Castle] rifts, boss monsters of higher levels had appeared.

What was incomparable to before was the number.

──────

A new rift, ‘64th Throne’ is added.

New named monsters are added…….

──────

A new rift, ‘72nd Throne’ is added.

New named monsters are added…….

──────

A new rift, ‘45th Throne’ is added.

New named monsters are added…….

──────

A new rift, ‘24th Throne’ is added.

New named monsters are added…….

──────

A total of 12 rifts.

The number of named monsters appearing depending on the rift is several times that.

The normal monsters appearing below the named monsters are several hundred times that.

Therefore, one could guarantee.

“It is a great disaster incomparable to the Demon King’s Castle rift.”

The moment the regular update log popped up.

It wouldn’t be strange for the world to fall into a panic.

Because 12 rifts that far surpassed the players’ level were generated simultaneously.

“It’s a bit much to say this but……. If the rifts collapse, humanity might suffer damage beyond the early days of the Cataclysm.”

It means it is an update log that shocking.

So a sense of incongruity couldn’t help but be felt.

Isn’t it excessively quiet?

To express it differently, the world was excessively peaceful.

Even the AAU, which should have declared a state of emergency long ago.

UK, AAU London Branch.

Baker looked out the window.

The miracle of London.

Its symbol, the Aquariu Oak Trees, are shining radiantly in the sunlight. The waves of golden leaves swaying whenever the wind blew were dazzling enough.

Baker opened his mouth.

“Are you saying it is alright for us to enjoy this? This peacefulness.”

From the early days of the Cataclysm until now.

AAU’s policy had been consistent.

Always assume the worst.

It might be cold words to some.

But only then could humanity step forward again by using the smaller-than-expected damage as consolation.

“……Because they are weak. The animal called human.”

It was natural to be worried.

Lee Ho-yeol.

Are you saying you can handle this peace?

Even a small ripple grows larger in calm waters.

It means the more peaceful it is, the more one can’t help but stagger even at slight damage.

Are you saying you have the confidence not to stagger at all?

With Baker’s common sense, it was an incomprehensible matter.

“For me, it is something I dare not even guess.”

The weight and burden he must be carrying.

However, Baker didn’t doubt anymore.

Instead, he looked at the screen displayed on the branch manager’s office monitor.

The panoramic view of the Yusra Kingdom being broadcasted in real-time.

Baker recited.

“Please lighten his burden, Shureig.”

*

The locations of the rifts hadn’t been captured yet.

But there were remaining materials.

Comparing and considering the regular update upload times and rift generation times so far…….

“It will be generated within a few tens of minutes at the latest, right?”

The Yusra Kingdom was full of players.

Everyone was a player who participated in the [Unfinished Holy War].

World Event, [Demon King Continental Clash].

Though they couldn’t know exactly what it meant.

One thing was certain.

“The update log is full of demons, isn’t it?”

“Right. It’s obviously an extension of the holy war.”

“So, what is everyone going to do?”

A man who suddenly cut into the conversation.

Stinging glares poured upon him.

The man quickly waved his hands.

“No, I’m not picking a fight, I’m purely curious! Honestly, it’s unreasonable with our level. Taking on these nonsensical named monsters, that is!”

Was he trying to deflect the intense gazes.

What the man thrust out was a smartphone.

It was the regular update log.

From a minimum of level 700 to a maximum of level 850.

The man’s words were not wrong.

Even though the majority of players gathered here were called veterans, that was always based on player standards.

At most they were only in their mid-to-late 300s, and starting from level 400 they were enough to be called rankers.

“And they’re demon-type monsters on top of that. No matter how much we cover ourselves in buffs, would our mental fortitude remain intact? Let alone hunting named monsters, we’ll probably struggle against mob monsters?”

Even the top-tier players.

It meant the risk of entering such a rift was considerable.

However, what returned was neither an answer nor a refutation, but a laugh.

Sproing!

A woman snorted and pulled the bowstring towards the man.

“Haven’t we finished such worries in the first place?”

“……Yes?”

“I’m saying, didn’t we finish that kind of self-reflection before participating in the holy war. Could you even say you’ve proved your pride acting like that. No wait. Did you even achieve the quest objective in the first place?”

……No, can archers see other people’s quest windows too?

How did she know?

The man hid his flustered expression and shook his head.

“O-of course! Though I can’t really show you…….”

Even while making excuses, he couldn’t understand it at all.

Just what is pride, that they can even bet their lives on it?

Eventually, the man asked straightforwardly.

“But it’s not anything else, it’s my life on the line here! From Lee Ho-yeol on down, you all spoke grandiosely. But frankly speaking, there are 12 rifts, and while we enter one side, a disaster could happen in another rift……!”

Thump!

“Ouch!! You scared me!!”

A large shield slammed down on the ground.

A middle-aged man with grayish hair.

He spoke in a low voice.

“Because there is something more precious than my life here in reality.”

“……Yes?”

“Because I want my wife and children to be peaceful in reality.”

“!”

“Because I have no intention of showing a hideous sight to my rabbit-like wife and children even if I die. Isn’t that reason enough? Or what, do you need another reason?”

Just because they awakened as a player doesn’t mean their way of thinking changes.

Where in the world is a person who wants to die?

But everyone knew.

If you avoid it because you’re scared, you have no choice but to continue avoiding it.

And if you avoid it, the rift will return as an even bigger boomerang.

And the one figure, Ho-yeol, who uniquely stepped forward back in the days when they themselves couldn’t even realize that simple fact.

Clank

The middle-aged man picked up his shield and stood up from his seat.

He placed a hand on the whining player’s shoulder.

“If you are afraid, you can just take a step back and watch.”

“……?”

“Why, wasn’t it written on the quest window that popped up before your eyes as well? There are no rewards, no spoils. What’s left will only be the pride in your chest. So…….”

The middle-aged man continued.

“Meaning, no one forced you, or us. So there is no one who will criticize you.”

Everything was a personal choice.

So you take responsibility for it yourself as well.

All the players knew that fact.

“Just the help we received from the Mage Tower alone is how much.”

“I also never knew in my destiny I’d be receiving training together with the Lionheart Knights. Of course, the knights suffered a bit because of us though…….”

“Being a nuisance, shouldn’t we end it at training?”

Preparing for the holy war, they received a lot of help from the Arcana people.

To wish for their help even inside the rift?

If they had a conscience, it would be an unimaginable matter.

“Because they are people who will do bigger things than us.”

Objectively, the level of the Arcana people was higher than the players.

Significantly so.

Why, even just the tens of thousands of Muon’s paladins, their level was higher or similar compared to quite a few rankers.

Needless to say for the Lionheart Knights, Shadow Mercenaries, and the Mage Tower.

“To use that precious combat power to protect us makes no sense.”

“Right. It’s more beneficial to catch one more demon in that time.”

“Let’s fight well among ourselves. Everyone.”

It was when the players who thought so were finishing their last preparations.

Flash

The quest window blinked.

A new quest objective had been updated.

[Quest: Unfinished Holy War]

From the Arcana continent to reality.

The holy war with demons is not over yet.

At the end of this war, neither rewards nor spoils exist.

Only pride remains.

Prove your own pride.

─Prove your worth in the corresponding area. (Success)

─Join your main force in the corresponding area. (In Progress)

“……Huh?”

The corresponding area varied from player to player, such as Yusra, Frost, Muon, and the Mage Tower.

More than that, main force?

The meaning that word implied was simple.

“……We have an affiliation?”

Because they judged for themselves.

The ones responsible for their own lives are themselves.

That’s why the players were firming their resolves.

The quest objective to join the main force couldn’t help but feel questionable.

But the doubt didn’t last long.

Going through the Mage Tower’s portals.

What awaited those who headed to their respective destinations was.

“Commander Harkon……. Lionheart Knights?”

“Chief Mage Marcelo-nim?”

“Talim, and the Priests?”

Participating in the holy war, until the Demon King Continental Clash began.

A time that was short if short, and long if long.

The Arcana people who had been together with them.

“Adventurers. We were waiting for you.”

At Harkon’s voice, the players flinched.

……Waiting for us, why?

Someone muttered.

“……We’ll only become luggage.”

Pessimistic words, but no one could refute them.

Because it was a fact.

The level gap was at least double.

They knew that even if they played an active role in the rifts where such demon-type named monsters ran wild, their contribution would be negligible. As if pointing out that fact, Harkon continued speaking.

“We who trained you know your level better than anyone else. It would be impossible for you to stand equally against the demons who drove the Arcana continent to ruin.”

Harkon was smiling.

But it wasn’t a sneer.

It was a more benevolent smile than ever.

“So, lean on us in this battle.”

“……!!!”

“Trust and rely on us.”

……Just what am I hearing right now?

It was a declaration enough to doubt their perfectly fine hearing.

Depend on them, rely on them, thinking objectively.

“……What on earth does that mean?”

To say they’ll carry incompetent us.

Because they couldn’t understand it at all.

However, it wasn’t just Harkon.

Mage Tower, Marcelo continues.

“For you taking your first steps, merely watching is enough. Because the experience in the Demon King Continental Clash will become an unparalleled nourishment for you.”

Muon, Talim shouts.

“The blessing of the Goddess, the shield of the paladins will protect you.”

As if there’s no need to doubt those words.

Even a message popped up.

─Join your main force in the corresponding area. (Success)

Unimagined in the slightest.

At the unexpected development, the players, everyone froze.

The rankers who had gone through all sorts of hardships were no exception there.

Shining.

Camilla raised the corners of her mouth brightly.

“I think it’s the first time seeing such a sight~”

“……Were Arcana people originally that kind of character? No, yielding a hundred times, even if we assume the others could be like that. Why is the Mage Tower acting like that?!”

“Why~ People can change their minds. You know it seeing Jessie, mages’ whims are no joke~ Isn’t that right, Rox?”

Rox was silent.

He scoured through all his Arcana experience and knowledge.

However, there wasn’t a single time Arcana people volunteered to sacrifice for the sake of players.

‘Then does this mean it’s also a new change?’

Lee Ho-yeol.

At least level 900.

Fame transcending imagination.

Does it mean it’s a change brought upon by the interlocking of relationships built with numerous factions and his influence? No, this was impossible even with those factors.

Because this was literally a change transcending the system of Arcana.

Ultimately, Rox let out a hollow laugh.

“Well. No matter how much I think, I don’t know.”

.

.

.

It is simple.

Just as the players realized pride.

Pride existed within the chests of the Arcana people as well.

Yes, everything according to pride.

I too.

Swayed by the heavy pride in my chest, I opened my mouth.

“There is no sacrifice for us to bear for a childish king play.”

A Demon King Continental Clash to Granfel’s pride?

A playing house of demons wouldn’t even be counted as a holy war.

It means the sacrifice of allies for such a playing house is also unacceptable.

Whether it be Arcana people, or players.

Not even the sacrifice of a single person.

If someone asks if that is a possible matter.

I will answer.

“The Demon King Continental Clash will merely become nourishment for us.”

I don’t know about me.

But for our Great Granfel, words once spat out.

Are a ‘setting’ that must be realized.

“It is time to pay the price of arrogance. Foolish demons.”