Chapter 180 – Everything Ripens (3)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Elf.

Elsidore did not move.

To be exact, he could not move.

Because he couldn’t go against the [Hierarchy of Blessing].

Elsidore emitted killing intent as if taking out his anger.

“A-Aargh!!”

If he had his way, he wanted to butcher the two whining bugs, but his body didn’t listen. He had no choice but to quietly watch them retreating while on the verge of tears.

“I-I won’t come near here ever again!!”

“I-If you only show mercy this once……!!”

“…….”

“Hiiiik!!”

A silence that came a long time later.

After shedding tears and snot, and eventually crawling on all fours.

The surroundings only became quiet after the two bugs scrammed.

Even so, Elsidore couldn’t easily retract his killing intent.

Why must I, an elf.

Be swayed by mere humans and suffer such humiliation?

‘……Telling me to grow these kinds of flowers?’

I will definitely kill him, Lee Ho-yeol.

Elsidore recited curses inwardly, going beyond the level of grumbling.

However, contrary to his resolution, magic power flowed out from his body.

Because he wasn’t human, it was an amount of magic power that transcended the human level.

Twinkle

The secret herbs that absorbed Elsidore’s magic power showed off their fresh presence even in the dark.

Elsidore recalled Ho-yeol’s voice.

-“In this world, there is such a saying.”

-“……?”

-“He who does not work, neither shall he eat.”

-“……!”

Since that day he fell to reality, Elsidore.

He couldn’t leave the Golden Palace’s separate room.

Did he receive severe maltreatment because of that?

If anyone asked, he couldn’t completely nod his head either.

-“I will grant you limited freedom.”

In the Yusra Kingdom, you may wander anywhere.

However, causing harm to others is strictly prohibited.

Naturally, to Elsidore, it was a freedom that didn’t matter whether he had it or not.

Even if I wander outside, all I see are bug-like humans.

My chest only felt suffocated at the fact that I couldn’t kill them.

-“It is your meal.”

Elsidore racked his brain while holed up in the separate room.

What must I do to escape this situation, the [Hierarchy of Blessing]?

However, no matter how much he squeezed his brain, he couldn’t come up with a method.

“……My damn mother.”

Because the blessing of the World Tree that brought them the power of eternal life was something like that.

What’s more, Elsidore came to a realization.

“Isn’t there a limit to favoritism.”

Even the fact that that great mother’s blessing was dwelling within a single human, Ho-yeol.

As long as he was caught by such a guy, it was safe to say the option of running away was gone.

However.

“……Who says I am running away.”

Until he regained the blessing.

Elsidore had no intention of lowering his tail.

So he couldn’t just let Ho-yeol’s words pass by from his ears.

He definitely said so.

-“If you want it, why don’t you try to take it?”

Try to take it if you can.

-“It means you too must prove your pride before the World Tree.”

Elsidore’s worries had no choice but to point towards ‘pride’.

While doing so, Ho-yeol came to find him.

And now.

“……He who does not work, neither shall he eat?”

That was right.

Elsidore was doing his meal’s worth right now.

No one in the Golden Palace ate for free, so Elsidore was no exception.

Elsidore looked at the flowers in the flower garden.

Such things couldn’t even be compared.

Beautiful flowers and grasses were abundant in the land of elves, Sicily.

To think he’s tenderly growing such flowers.

“Hmph.”

He scoffed because it was trivial and funny.

He felt like he had won against Ho-yeol for the first time.

Soon, Elsidore muttered resolutely.

“However, this humiliation will also end once I regain my so-called pride.”

A resolute declaration.

Thanks to it, Elsidore blew magic power into the flower garden with a lighter heart.

A shining magic circle, recovery magic illuminated the flower garden of secret herbs all night long…….

*

Even a slug has the talent of rolling.

I entrusted the management of the flower garden to Elsidore.

Actually, if I, Lee Ho-yeol, had my way.

I wanted to work Elsidore a little more intensely.

Because some of us were dying of exhaustion, and it was annoying seeing him eat and play.

Should I just make him participate in the Demon King Continental Clash?

I even seriously contemplated it.

You see, as long as the [Hierarchy of Blessing] existed.

Elsidore couldn’t do anything foolish.

‘The strongest force.’

Including me.

Across the Yusra Kingdom and the Mage Tower, there was no one who could confidently say they were stronger than Elsidore. Well, unless it was the Tower Master floating inside the magic power sphere…….

But would Granfel’s pride agree to my petty trick.

“Regrettably.”

The Demon King Continental Clash was also part of the holy war.

To participate in the holy war, there was a condition.

Namely, proving one’s own pride.

“I have no intention of giving the honor of participating in the holy war to someone who has not realized their pride.”

……To call the holy war, a quest full of nothing but extreme hardships, an honor!

Honestly.

I think I finally know the reason why I suffer like a dog every day, Granfel.

[Oasis of the Yurihara Desert]

[Recommended Level: Lv.150]

[Collapse Degree: 0.7%]

Entering the portal.

My vision changed in an instant.

A rift generated by the seaside.

Because of it, it looked like a sandy beach was floating on the sea.

It really is a spectacular sight.

To be honest, I even took a leave of absence anyway.

I wanted to throw off this damn jacket and shirt and enjoy sunbathing.

“Hiel.”

Vacation my foot.

Unlike my relaxed outward appearance.

My insides were clanking, no, making metallic noises.

Soon, Hiel revealed himself.

“Hiel, responding to your call.”

You are excessively elegant whenever I see you, Hiel.

I conversed with Hiel, who was politely bowing his head while holding the hem of his clothes with both hands.

First, let’s start with the situation on the Arcana continent.

“No movements on the scale of a force have been witnessed.”

Naturally.

Because the demons who participated in the Demon King Continental Clash were guys with forces capable of coveting the throne. With such powerhouses cleanly disappearing from the Arcana continent now.

The remaining forces would only be the existing Demon Kings.

“Did they finally realize their place.”

The reason why even the activities of such Demon Kings died down?

Wouldn’t they know better than anyone since they are fellow Demon Kings.

What kind of existences Superior Demon Kings are.

An evil of a different echelon to the point where even language can’t communicate.

That Gamigin of the 4th Throne was shoved into Hell.

Since Gamigin’s eyes looked exactly like the Demonic Eye.

Perhaps the Demon Kings also shared that vision.

If so, I can definitely understand.

-“Tremble in fear. Akshan has returned.”

That Akshan had returned.

I clearly declared it in front of Gamigin.

……Wait a minute, I didn’t think much of it at the time.

But thinking about it now, that was well done, my mouth.

‘It seems the bluff really worked, doesn’t it?’

Now that the gates of Hell are closed.

On the Arcana continent, neither Akshan nor Demon Hunters exist.

But I’m the only one who knows that fact, right?

Besides, if they’re around the level of a Demon King, they’ll definitely remember.

The fact that I died on the Arcana continent.

Let’s think about it from the other side?

‘To the demons, it’s really the ultimate terror.’

I, who died without leaving a corpse.

Appeared leading the Demon Hunters who were exterminated in the holy war.

And declared that Akshan had returned, right?

Hiel bowed his head once again.

“I, Hiel, am truly sorry I could not accompany you on that journey.”

To think Hiel, who always overestimates me, would show such a reaction.

Iron Castle.

I could guess the dwarves’ reaction without even asking.

Wouldn’t it be an almost festive atmosphere seeing the intimidated demons?

Of course, unlike my overwhelming inner thoughts, I spoke normally.

“Such a thing is neither a journey, a hardship, nor a trial. It is merely a passing gentle breeze. So raise your head, Hiel.”

“!”

You just benefited from your seniors, you could have just said the truth.

Gentle breeze this and that.

Your ability to eloquently package things is improving day by day, Granfel.

You don’t need to be sorry either, Hiel.

“Because this is a moment when I need your ability.”

Even during his days as a nameless lesser spirit, Hiel’s {Nature} ability had a considerable effect. Its current effect now that his rank has risen to a unique spirit is difficult even for me to guess.

Just looking at London, it was like that.

I thought it was just a flashy Aquariu Oak Tree superficially, but it had a vitality recovery effect. Meaning, my plan to cultivate secret herbs into elixirs…….

‘Might not just be a pipe dream.’

If I just succeed.

Wouldn’t it be a greater achievement than turning stones into gold?

Considering the effects and rarity of elixirs passed down through texts…….

What do you mean [Unique], it’ll definitely be around the [Epic] rank.

‘Endlessly farming epic rank items!’

For a moment, I was swollen with golden dreams.

But I erased the thought from my head before my mouth could rain on it.

Yes, yes.

I know even without you saying it, Granfel.

That because of your damn integrity, you can’t pursue a materialistic life.

“I am delighted that you still require my ability.”

You don’t need to be so happy, Hiel.

Because I’ll probably need to continue needing it in the future.

Soon, Hiel’s blessing dwelled in the oasis.

‘Alright.’

Moving blessed water out of the rift is not difficult.

Because I have magic, not a skill.

Let’s see, if I cast the 『Spatial Expansion』 magic on an appropriate water bottle like this…….

Sss

As you can see, water gets endlessly sucked into the water bottle.

Anyway, calling this an appropriate water bottle is a stretch.

‘……Anyway, as long as it’s for teatime.’

The necessity of teatime, a teapot.

While elegantly scooping water from the oasis for a moment.

‘This should be enough.’

As I was putting the teapot into the inventory.

Hiel handed me something.

“And another pride has been recovered.”

……Regained pride?

What is that sound that makes me tired just by hearing it!

My heart unconsciously clanked.

But looking closely, it was the remnants of the Quernberg Machine Tower.

‘Right, level is important too, of course.’

As you can see just from me entering a recommended level 150 rift.

Currently, it was difficult for me to raise my level through normal rift clearing.

‘Unless demon race monsters overflow again.’

Now that the demons’ activities have slowed down.

It would be hard to expect leveling up in the next regular update rifts. In that sense, the experience points accumulated in the Quernberg Machine Tower were like sweet rain during a drought, and even more.

“May you be full of peace. My Liege.”

Ending with an excessively loyal greeting, Hiel returned to the Arcana continent.

I too immediately exited the rift and manifested a portal leading to the Yusra Kingdom.

One gets a lesson from experience.

It swallowed quite a lot of magic power considering it was manifesting Reversal Magic, that remnant of the machine tower. A state where a shackle that isn’t a shackle called a Circle is clamped on me. I needed to manifest the Reversal Magic in a state as comfortable as possible.

Click

“Indeed, I am made to realize that the sun has set.”

……You speak of tea tasting good quite grandly.

Anyway.

Nothing gives you as much peace of mind as a tea bag of green tea, Granfel.

I let it be and slowly raised my magic power.

Gooo

I find myself thankful to the title system once again.

If the Circle hadn’t been sealed by the effect of [Transcendent].

I probably wouldn’t have been able to manifest magic like this right now.

This is why they say precedent learning is useless.

Clunk

The gears beginning to interlock and turn.

The magic stone regaining its light again.

A massive aura spewed out from the mechanical device.

This was already the second time.

Yet the momentum was to the point where it wasn’t easy to adapt to……!

An impact that mercilessly scatters hair and messes up a neatly organized desk.

To express it in Granfel’s way.

Yes.

The pride of the machine tower began to seep into my body.

Messages popped up dizzily.

[You acquire the experience points accumulated in the Decisive Battle Weapon, Quernberg Machine Tower.]

[You acquire the reputation accumulated in the Decisive Battle Weapon, Quernberg Machine Tower.]

[Level has increased.]

[Level has increased.]

[Level has increased.]…….

Will I be able to aim for the limit, 50 levels, this time too.

I won’t know until I open the status window.

‘But before that.’

There was something I had to check first.

Namely, witnessing the final moments of the member of Akshan, the Quernberg Machine Tower.

[You acquire the memories accumulated in the Quernberg Machine Tower.]

Soon, the memories of the machine tower unfolding before my eyes.

“……!”

However, it was strange.

A blank period of ten years plus several more existing in me.

Just like the Dreadsen Village I witnessed in the previous memory was unfamiliar.

Most of Arcana’s cities and villages couldn’t be familiar to me.

In this moment, the scenery that appeared before my eyes was strangely familiar.

Grand city walls.

The emblem on the fluttering flags.

Even the face of the solitary man on top of the city walls.

It was familiar enough to give me a sense of dj vu.

I could soon realize the reason.

“I see, so you were thirsty for the throne too?”

That was right.

The clash was not a story applicable only to demons.

The Empire.

Capital City, Antonium.

The man on the wall, the blade of rebellion aimed at the Emperor’s neck.

At that moment, a message popped up before my eyes.

[Main Quest: Age of Warring States (戰國時代)]

“……!”