Chapter 178 – Everything Ripens (1)

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

Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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

Thinking about it, it was truly days without a moment to rest.

For a start, starting from the damn infinitely repeating Class Quests. If I defeat a Great Evil, a Demon King pops out. If I defeat a Demon King, a demon worshipper pops out. If I defeat that…….

‘In the end, I even sprinted all the way to a Superior Demon King, Gamigin.’

One must not reveal one’s bottom before an enemy.

By filling water scooped from a dug well into a bottomless pit, that is.

But it seems from the ‘Level’ [경지 – realm/level of a circle], a hole is unacceptable.

Click

“Early morning tea isn’t bad either.”

9:00 AM.

Originally, it is the time when I would be in the middle of performing the duties of the Chief at the Mage Tower. Let’s see, about now would be the timing to mercilessly scribble a fail on Bensch’s tower leave application?

Chirp chirp

The sound of birds chirping.

However, I was in an office of the Yusra Kingdom, leaning my teacup while looking out the window. Because the submitted annual leave, no, leave of absence was approved without issue.

To put it bluntly, how long has it been since I had a proper rest?

It’s just that I didn’t show it.

If I had shown it, you know.

What do you mean all day long.

I was confident I could whine for a whole week.

Because it had been really exhausting to death all this time!

No, towards the end, if I didn’t have the [Blessing of the First World Tree], I might have closed my eyes from death by overwork.

Reality was not enough.

Because after acquiring the [Telescope of the Demonic Eye], I had to rack my brain considering even the situation on the Arcana continent.

But would this mouth tolerate complaining?

“I will return to you all soon.”

Don’t speak so cooly, Granfel.

This isn’t the time to act cool.

Even in this moment, the ring of the Circle was constricting my heart.

I recalled Yugweed’s words.

-“To think you formed a Circle. It’s an achievement that even makes me feel ashamed of myself, Chief Lee Ho-yeol. At this rate, even if I don’t get treated like an elder by Chief Lee, I won’t be qualified to feel sad?”

You spat out words full of grudges with an amiable face, Yugweed.

As expected, they are scary, the kind called mages……!

Still, Yugweed explained about the Circle with all her heart.

-“Simply put, a Circle is like the reins of a horse. If Chief Lee grips the ring and shakes it roughly, the magic power will run wild like an angry horse.”

The magic of a mage who formed a Circle,

Overwhelms the magic of a mage who couldn’t.

If you express the power of magic before and after forming a Circle in numbers, there is a gap of at least a few times to ten times.

-“However, just like reins, delicate control is required to handle a Circle. Because as Chief Lee also knows, a Circle is formed in the heart.”

That was right.

It meant that to handle a Circle, one needs corresponding ability.

Perhaps relying on the body is faster than words.

I slowly raised my magic power.

Float

A sphere of magic power floating in the air, Light.

Since it’s a basic magic I’ve used so much, I lightly skipped the search and interference process.

I carefully examined the light of the Light…….

As expected, there is no change in output.

Clank

Of course, there is no feeling of my heart constricting yet either.

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

Judging by that message, the Circle was only formed but not operating. In that sense, should I be thankful that the title’s effect was sealed?

When I haven’t even created the ability, the vessel.

If I gripped the ring of the Circle and shook it without warning…….

What do you mean fainting while standing.

I might have crossed the river to the netherworld from a heart attack while standing upright.

-“Above all, it’s news that the Tower Master will be delighted about. Because he often lamented. About the fact that there are no mages in the Mage Tower to share magical insights with him.”

At Yugweed’s words, I could realize.

Arcana continent’s strongest armed group, the Mage Tower.

The fact that even in that great Mage Tower under the heavens, the only mage who formed a Circle was the Tower Master. So it felt real. I really skipped the middle process ridiculously……!

So getting Qi Deviation (주화입마) is also understandable.

My magic power, giving it a good score, would be on par with an Experienced Mage.

And I’ve essentially clamped a ring called a Circle onto that magic power.

Far from being reins I can grab and shake, it has no choice but to be a heavy shackle.

Clank

“It runs wild restlessly.”

But where would this damn pride easily acknowledge my own shortcomings?

Pop

Soon, the magic power sphere scattering into the air.

I blathered calmly.

“It has been a while since I handled such a rough wild horse.”

……That statement means the Circle is a wild horse, right?

Are you even using metaphors now, Granfel.

There is a limit to being shameless, seriously!

While being appalled, I actually felt relieved on the other hand.

If I had completely been Lee Ho-yeol.

Right about now, wouldn’t I be acting pitiful saying I caught an incurable disease? But thanks to our high and mighty Granfel-nim. I was preparing early on.

“That wild nature, I will personally subjugate it.”

Clank

Qi Deviation.

The power of a Transcendent dwelling in my heart.

A struggle to make the Circle my own!

*

Rustle.

Marcelo’s office.

A pile of books and letters were stacked on the desk.

Marcelo realized anew.

To think he didn’t notice it because of his weakened body.

A small laugh came out.

“I had been greatly indebted without even knowing it.”

What kind of people are mages?

They are people who want to explore when they see something new, like craving the truth. It was natural that they’d have many questions not only about rifts but also about the world of adventurers.

Just the tower leave applications alone were a considerable amount.

“As the Sir said, everything is according to procedures…….”

The purpose of leaving the tower that must be examined strictly.

As he approved the leave applications like that, time just flew by.

Marcelo tilted his head.

At this rate…….

“……Indeed, a day wouldn’t have been enough for you.”

Himself, who stayed in the Mage Tower and exclusively managed only the Mage Tower, and Ho-yeol were different.

From the Yusra Kingdom, Frost, and even the world of adventurers here.

Because the weight of the burden Ho-yeol took on was hard to even guess.

“You made a good decision during a crucial period.”

Now that he formed a Circle.

The Sir would also need time to adapt to the Circle.

In that sense, there was no better time than now.

The Demon King Continental Clash that returned to nothingness.

On top of that, with the Superior Demon King, Gamigin, falling to Hell now.

The activities of demons on the Arcana continent had just quieted down.

It wasn’t a misunderstanding like during the Demon King’s Castle rift.

Because unlike then, he could check the state of the Arcana continent through the [Telescope of the Demonic Eye]. It means he witnessed the sight of demons whose morale had been completely broken.

“I will do my best to fill your empty space, Sir.”

Marcelo’s quill pen scratched as he muttered so.

“Senior Bensch William will have to try a little harder.”

『Fail』.

*

The world was peaceful.

Because there were heroes who cleared twelve rifts without a single casualty. It wasn’t strange that heroic sagas were heard from all over the rifts.

[Lionheart Knights, defeat Named Monster!]

[Senior Mages, and about the strength of the Mage Tower.]

[The ultimate shield, Holy Knights of the Goddess Cult.]

[The final boss of small elites, outstanding performance of the Shadow Mercenaries.]

Those receiving huge attention were, of course, the Arcana people predicting outstanding performances. Because they proved their overwhelming martial prowess in front of countless players and camera lenses.

“Kuahaha!”

Golden Calf Tavern.

A laugh that wasn’t missed at all could be heard.

Rockeed opened a second barrel of alcohol from broad daylight.

“Final boss……. I don’t know exactly what that means but if it’s a boss, it must be good, right? The damn world is finally recognizing the true value of this Rockeed-nim!”

The defeat he suffered from Elsidore was still bitter but…….

Well, he said our employer-nim would handle that side.

So I probably wouldn’t need to care.

More than that, I wanted to enjoy this moment right now.

“Now, let’s see what they’re blabbering about.”

Rockeed pressed the remote control with his thick fingers.

Bbeep

Soon the picture starts moving.

“Now, it’s time for my axe that butchered demons to appear.”

However…….

No matter how much he waited and how many barrels of alcohol he emptied, Rockeed’s figure didn’t appear. They just kept blabbing about the exact same person all day long.

Employer, Lee Ho-yeol!

“Ahem.”

Considering the help he received during Elsidore…….

His remaining conscience pricked at resenting Ho-yeol.

But even so, he felt unfair just letting it slide.

In the end, Rockeed just continuously drank innocent alcohol.

Bang!

“What do you have so much to say that you’re blabbing all day?!”

Even if Rockeed couldn’t understand, the players hiding their breaths in the tavern could understand. Ho-yeol had never hid his footsteps since he first revealed his existence.

“When it was bad, paparazzi were sticking to him, right?”

You know, pla-parazzi.

There was a time when even notorious guys among players stuck to Ho-yeol to dig up info.

“No one in the world is perfect. That’s definitely a concept act. They swore to uncover his true colors. Everyone swallowed their saliva saying they’d sit on a pile of money if they just revealed it.”

Of course, not long after, all of them.

Clicked their tongues and ended up disappearing.

It was literally a hamster wheel.

Mage Tower, rift, Mage Tower, Yusra Kingdom…….

Let alone deviation.

Is he really a human with desires?

Because Ho-yeol repeated such a regular routine that it raised doubts. What drove the final wedge was when Myth’s Guild Master, Baek Yi-seol, approached Ho-yeol.

“How many consecutively was it? 10 consecutive rejections? Anyway, seeing him turn her away at the door, the pla-parazzi didn’t even think about pointing a camera towards Lee Ho-yeol either.”

While repeating such a routine.

Lee Ho-yeol had cleared countless rifts.

They say such a Ho-yeol is laying down his burden and taking a rest period.

It was natural for the world’s attention to be focused on that first vacation.

“In the player community, theories are already rolling like crazy! Some speculate he might have received some incredible quest……!!”

.

.

.

The thing that increases when you have time is internet surfing time.

Isn’t it against pride?

Of course not.

“Even if it’s urgent, one cannot neglect observing Marvels.”

At this point, isn’t it rationalization transcending pride?

I had doubts, but this wasn’t a pride that could be resisted by tackling it.

More than that.

‘Why are they so interested in my vacation?’

Because the news about the leave of absence was announced at the Round Table Meeting through Marcelo.

I expected it to be known to the world through the players.

So I was prepared in my own way, but beyond expectations.

It can’t help but be quite a burdensome attention.

-FR isn’t this a World Quest? A Superior Demon King was involved?

-Honestly, would it just be a World Quest? I predict Main

-What is a Main Quest u otaku

-Does a Main Quest even exist in the first place?

-Actually I don’t know either sry lol

-The bait is a bait, seriously crazy aggro;;

What the, what kind of misunderstanding is everyone having?

It was true that I accomplished a feat greater than succeeding a World Quest but.

What good is that?

I can’t even digest that reward properly!

It’s not something grand, it’s similar to closed-door training.

“Your imagination is lacking.”

……The lacking one is your conscience, Granfel.

Please, let’s stop saying things that might become a seed (jinxing it).

Especially right now, it makes me even more embarrassed.

I shifted my gaze while wishing desperately.

The reason I said I was embarrassed is right before my eyes.

The first day I submitted my leave of absence.

I was not at the location of a World Quest, nor a Main Quest.

I was in the Yusra Kingdom.

More precisely, I stood upright in the vegetable garden of the Yusra Kingdom’s separate room.

Unwavering posture.

Accurate arm angle.

I scattered water from a watering can onto the vegetable garden with an appearance full of etiquette.

And blathered plausibly.

“There are various methods for taming too.”

That’s right.

A guy who’s tried struggling is the one who struggles.

How many wells have I dug up until now.

Shouldn’t I try everything I can even just out of regret?

『How to cultivate secret herbs』.

Qi Deviation.

If I can’t overcome it with a secret herb.

How about an elixir that a secret herb grew into.