Chapter 177 – Circle

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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I realized the whole story of the incident.

You finally caused trouble, Etiquette……!!

Not even sleeping while standing, to think I stood upright while fainted!

Truly, I am feeling properly what it means for my dark history to dominate my body.

It’s shameful, but let’s think positively.

‘Still, it’s fortunate.’

Let’s assume I fainted and just collapsed on the floor.

Click

I casually dropped a remark while putting down my teacup.

“I almost ruined my attire.”

……Yes, my damn attire would have been disheveled too, of course.

But what came to mind first was still my family.

‘Because it’s scoop material.’

If they saw their son collapsed in a breaking news report, my parents, especially Mrs. Choi, would not have been able to sleep well at night out of worry for me. My sisters are the same.

Even now, they just don’t show it much.

They’ve been asking about my well-being every time I entered a rift.

‘In that sense, I’m relieved but…….’

Clang

……The problem is what is the true identity of this metallic sound!

Is there a problem with my heart perhaps.

Did I get an artificial heart replacement or something, I thought.

‘Nah, even so, that shouldn’t be it.’

Since it was only a few hours at most that I laid on the bed unconscious. Besides, for a major problem to have occurred in my body, my condition was excessively good.

And above all, I saw a message.

[Your achievements echo across time and space.]

[The existences of time and space discuss your qualifications.]

[You have acquired the title, ‘Transcendent’.]

I chewed on it slowly and read it.

And then checked the status window.

First of all, my level is 550, meaning it rose by 6 levels.

[Name: Granfel Cloudie Arpheus Romeo]

[Title: The Last Adventurer, Sublime, Transcendent]

[Class: Demon Hunter]

[Level: 550]

[Stats]

Strength: 110 / Agility: 120 / Magic Power: 461 / Luck: 12 / Aesthetics: Mid

[Held Points: 6]

Where did I acquire this experience from.

It wasn’t hard to guess.

It must be experience points acquired thanks to the [Will of Akshan].

Because it was the Demon Hunters of Hell who hunted three level 900-range, true-name demons. Even if I just count the contribution of activating [Will of Akshan], it’s reasonable for my level to go up by about 6.

‘Even though I didn’t do anything, I’ll consider it something to be thankful for first.’

So.

What happened to the Demon King of the 4th Throne, Gamigin?

One thing is certain.

Gamigin, that guy definitely fell to Hell.

Therefore, whether it’s on the Arcana continent.

Or in reality, it means he can never show himself again.

However, strictly speaking, I wasn’t the one who hunted Gamigin.

So I can accept not acquiring his kill experience.

Sigh, the term sour grapes comes to mind.

‘It might have rather been unfair if I did.’

Due to Arcana’s system, the limit for level up is 50 levels.

A Superior Demon King whose level cannot even be guessed.

If I caught Gamigin and only gained a 50 level increase, I might still be lying on the bed kicking my blankets and floundering in resentment…….

‘Ah, damn etiquette.’

Internally only though.

For that reason, my eyes moved to the reward acquired instead of experience points.

This was my third title, so I should be getting used to it by now.

……Why is it so unfamiliar?

The place where my achievements echoed was not the Arcana continent, but ‘time and space’?

I don’t even know where that is, but the next message is even more ridiculous.

“The existences of time and space discuss my qualifications…….”

By qualifications, does it mean the qualifications for the title ‘Transcendent’?

I don’t even know what time and space are, how would I know who the existences of time and space are.

But guessing through intuition.

‘Even roughly looking at it, they must be amazing people, right?’

Still, seeing that I acquired the Transcendent title, it seems the discussion about me ended warmly. I don’t know who they are, but they might be people to be thankful for.

A momentary pause after finishing my thoughts, I opened my mouth.

“Discussing my qualifications? That is something I cannot tolerate.”

Of course, independent of my thoughts.

Granfel’s noble pride wouldn’t acknowledge the evaluation of others.

I know you’re stubborn, but let’s let it slide this time, Granfel.

A title acquired by essentially shoving a Superior Demon King into Hell.

Shouldn’t it be somewhat worth looking forward to……?

Holding appropriate expectations, I checked the title’s effect.

And I was appalled.

[Transcendent: The effect is sealed as conditions are not met.]

……Because I felt like my bottomless pit finally caused a trouble.

*

I rested until the next day and returned to my daily routine.

To me like that, Marcelo offered congratulations.

“To reach the level of a Circle, congratulations.”

『Circle』.

How many magic books have I perused in the Mage Tower. How could I not know that concept. To put it simply, a Circle was the ultimate level every mage wishes to reach.

『The Ring of the Heart makes the circulation of magic flow faster and purer. There is a considerable gap in efficiency and output between pure magic power and impure magic power…….』

To explain it simply using an example, it was easy.

“Looking at you, Sir, makes me realize my shortcomings.”

That was right.

Even Marcelo, the genuine Chief of the Mage Tower, hasn’t formed a Circle.

So I had no choice but to be self-aware.

Clang

Meaning I realized the cause of the metallic sound heard instead of a heartbeat.

Let’s skip the process and look only at the result.

I achieved the massive feat of killing a Superior Demon King, qualified for Transcendent, and thus opened a Circle.

But.

‘I guess I can’t keep freeloading with tricks forever.’

Level 550.

Because my vessel was laughably lacking to be called a Transcendent, the Ring of the Heart, the Circle, couldn’t circulate properly.

The clanking.

The raspy metallic sound was also heard because of that!

“It is not something to be congratulated about.”

What congratulations for a Circle that I can’t even use properly.

I spoke calmly though.

Looking at his expression, he’s misunderstanding on his own again, Marcelo.

“That is true. To you, Sir, even a Circle would be merely a passing stage.”

No, that kind of overestimation is what makes me grit my teeth and struggle?! Out of frustration, I wanted to shove my chest out and let him hear my clanking heartbeat.

Would this damn mouth of mine speak the truth?

“A level beyond the Circle, I am intrigued.”

……I can clearly see your intention to change the topic, Granfel.

Anyway.

Trick or whatever, I shoved a Superior Demon King into Hell.

But to say the effect is sealed.

I can’t accept it, even just out of resentment.

‘I have to fulfill those conditions somehow.’

It’s probably not simply because my level is lacking. If it were, it would have popped up in a system message. Anyway, how am I supposed to find out those conditions…….

If I could, I’d want to grab the existences of time and space and ask them.

‘Should I flip through the magic books first.’

I feel like I can already hear the sound of my brain squeaking.

It was when I was sluggishly trying to come up with a method.

Marcelo opened his mouth.

“As expected, I thought you would be looking at a further future, Sir.”

What are you talking about again.

I haven’t even solved the Circle right now, what future?

However, no doubt showed on my face.

Marcelo continued his words.

“At this present time when the Tower Master is absent, the only person in the Mage Tower who knows about the Circle, and the levels beyond it, is Elder Mage Yugweed-nim. If you had a conversation with her regarding that…….”

……Oops.

Wait, I forgot.

Just like Akshan, there was a senior in the Mage Tower too, wasn’t there?

*

The Mage Tower’s Round Table Meeting.

Unique enough, not only the mages of the Mage Tower attended.

Because the figures who were supposed to gather at the Golden Palace of Yusra were gathered at the Crystal Hall.

The reason was simple.

“You shouldn’t overexert yourself.”

It was for Ho-yeol who had collapsed.

Hisagi glared at Nam Tae-min with his snake eyes.

“You seem excited for that being the case.”

“…….”

Let’s endure it.

Nam Tae-min didn’t retort.

Hisagi’s class was a Magic Spearman, skilled in magic as much as physical combat.

It meant that when the Mage Tower participated in the holy war, Hisagi was also included among the players accepted as apprentices.

“I just feel comfortable like it’s my own home.”

To think he’s receiving training properly under Harkon, and even improving his magic in the Mage Tower. It’s cheating, this is! I’m jealous. That was exactly the reason Nam Tae-min gritted his teeth and ignored Hisagi.

“Well, it can be dazzling if it’s your first time. Because it’s definitely beautiful, the panoramic view of the Crystal Hall. Isn’t that right, Leonie-ssi?”

I sat far away because I was embarrassed, why the hell are you pretending to know me?

Leonie kept her mouth shut because she didn’t want to get involved.

This time Nam Tae-min turned his head towards her.

“As expected, you were having the same thought as me too, huh?”

Who the hell are you now?

“Snake-eyes, isn’t he really unlucky?”

We really don’t mesh, Giant Alliance.

As Leonie shook her head side to side, Kichi slyly started a conversation.

Because it was boring just sitting quietly and reading the room in the Mage Tower, where I have many sins.

“The three of you have a good relationship, are you friends?”

“……?”

Glare

‘Ah, I messed with them for no reason.’

I should’ve recognized it from the spiky hair.

She’s practically a hedgehog, isn’t she?

At the prickly reaction, Kichi swallowed a sigh, realizing she couldn’t even get her money’s worth.

‘……No, still we are on the same side.’

However, soon Leonie relaxed the strength in her eyes.

Yes, the sin lies with those two chunks over there.

Leonie tempered her temper and replied.

“It’s just a business relationship.”

“Then, we’re exactly same!”

“Shadow Mercenaries, Commander Kichi, right?”

“That’s right, but drop the Commander. Just speak comfortably.”

“Should I?”

……Wait, you’re dropping honorifics right away?

‘Anyone can see I’m the older one?!’

Only then did Kichi remember Leonie’s rough way of speaking.

Did I tell her to speak comfortably for no reason.

I felt slightly regretful, but there was no taking it back.

And more importantly…….

“We will commence the Round Table Meeting.”

At the words of Chief Mage Marcelo, silence descended.

Because it would be tactless to continue chatting anymore.

Kichi examined the atmosphere of the Crystal Hall.

‘Why is it so intense?’

The Mage Tower.

She had heard enough rumors to know that the rules were strict.

But still, really.

There are this many people gathered here.

Yet not a single sound other than breathing can be heard?

‘It’s almost scary, really.’

This too was Ho-yeol.

Exactly, a change brought about by Ho-yeol’s etiquette.

It was natural that Kichi couldn’t recognize it.

‘……I guess there’s a reason it’s the Mage Tower?’

The moment Kichi admired the dignity of the Mage Tower anew.

Marcelo brought up the main topic.

“In the Demon King Continental Clash, we were victorious. We surpassed a simple victory and achieved our planned goal. We succeeded in taking down a Superior Demon King.”

As the calm victory declaration fell, the silence was shattered.

Because the ones who knew about the plan were merely a very small minority.

“Wait. Superior Demon King?”

“The Demon King appearance message, was that real?”

“As I thought, it wasn’t a misunderstanding!”

“……But they already took down a Demon King?”

Buzzing buzzing

No matter how much they thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

The appearance message definitely popped up at the moment the rift was cleared and collapsing.

Who on earth could defeat a Superior Demon King that casts an appearance message in a rift with a recommended level of 800-900 in that brief moment?

As if answering the doubts, Marcelo said.

“As planned, Chief Lee Ho-yeol succeeded in doing it.”

“……!!!”

……Lee Ho-yeol did?

Everyone knew.

Up to the fact that he entered the [20th Throne] rift alone.

They checked it through the update details.

And what kind of monsters appeared in that rift.

“There were two level 900s and one level 920. Not to mention taking them down alone……. He even defeated a Superior Demon King at the moment the rift was being cleared?”

Nonsense.

The murmuring players of the Mage Tower.

At their reaction, Jibril snorted.

“What is nonsensical about it.”

“Miss Jibril, they’ll hear you!”

“What if they do. I’m an Experienced Mage, you know? Everyone is seriously lacking in faith.”

Is it because words without legs sprout wings and glide down? (Bad news travels fast)

There was no agitation among the mages of the Mage Tower, excluding the players.

However, the commotion didn’t last long.

“But, what brings it. Chief Lee-nim is nowhere to be seen?”

“?”

At Jibril’s words, Klet looked around the Crystal Hall.

She had guessed since Chief Marcelo went up to the podium.

Ho-yeol really wasn’t in sight.

He’s not the type to skip a meeting……?

It was the moment Klet tilted her head.

“And I have one piece of news.”

Marcelo continued his words.

It was something no one expected.

“Also, for the time being, Chief Lee Ho-yeol will step down from all duties as Chief and take a period of rest. Starting from now, I will act as a substitute for all duties Chief Lee Ho-yeol was in charge of, including leaving the tower.”

What did you say?

“The Lee Ho-yeol of the world taking a rest?”

“……Ho-yeol-ssi?”

“!!!”

Taking a rest.

It was definitely an unusual matter.

.

.

.

The highest floor of the Mage Tower.

Clang

Even in this moment coming out after a conversation with Yugweed.

My heart was squeaking while letting out metallic noises.

Thanks to it, I feel it so damn realistically.

To summarize Yugweed’s words in one line, it was simple.

If I cannot digest the power of this Transcendent, I will die.

To reduce the line into a single phrase, it’s Qi Deviation (주화입마).

Therefore, I made an extreme decision, beyond a resolution.

Scribble scribble

I scribbled with a quill pen on the parchment.

『Leave of Absence Request

Applicant: Lee Ho-yeol

Affiliation: Executive Branch

Position: Chief…….』

“Sometimes, one also needs time to look back on oneself.”

……Everything is good, but could you please not write your soliloquys in the reason section, Granfel?