Chapter 190 – How One Finishes Things Matters

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The Zero Mountain Range is tremendously massive.

Looking down from this altitude and it is a size that does not fit in one’s field of vision at all.

In that sense, the Mage Tower is truly something.

‘It’s calm, so calm.’

The amount of magic power consumed depends on how complex an interference process is added.

For example…

‘It wasn’t for nothing that I made such a fuss about [Aesthetics].’

If one were to add interference to produce a similar effect without activating [Aesthetics].

The magic power consumed in the manifestation would increase by a minimum of several times, or a maximum of several tens of times.

Calming the sea did not require complex interference processes.

Meaning that the magic power of the Mage Tower mages, born as geniuses, is being used with maximum efficiency.

‘It seems like I didn’t even need to come.’

But all things have their procedures.

Having shown my face, I should at least exchange pleasantries.

I approached Yugweed and Marcelo by walking through the sky.

Naturally, walking through thin air.

Tap

There would be no sound.

It was only after I spoke that the two recognized me.

“Lord?”

…why are you coming from there?

Marcelo, your face is exactly saying that.

For now, let me start with a warm greeting.

“Everyone has worked hard.”

Right after offering a warmer greeting than my usual loose lips.

Marcelo urgently opened his mouth.

“Pardon the interruption, but are you not in your leave of absence period, Lord? Given how much you have overexerted yourself until now, I was trying to handle this so that the Lord would not need to step forward this time……”

No need to be sorry, Marcelo.

I can’t help it that this is just how my lot in life is shaped.

And honestly, I was a little nostalgic for the weight of being Chief Mage.

The old saying is never wrong.

They say it is hardship once you leave home.

‘Akshan is worse than the Mage Tower.’

In the end there was training that transcended limits, and all that.

I genuinely was about to be crushed by dignity.

The days when I was scrawling rejections on Banshee’s leave-of-absence applications came to mind so vividly.

So.

“Do not be troubled, Marcelo.”

Even had the Zero Mountain Range not appeared.

“I also hereby return to the duties of Chief Mage.”

That was what it meant.

By the way, Elder Mage Yugweed’s expression looked serious.

After listening to the general gist, the situation was serious enough to warrant that expression.

“A magic circle from the era of the Dragon-Demon Great War, you say.”

The Dragon-Mage Tower war.

How it came to be a fight was something I myself could not know.

But the Mage Tower had clearly been properly traumatized by that defeat.

‘Given that even the all-powerful Mage Tower left behind magic circles.’

Magic circles just to not awaken a dragon’s sleep.

The Mage Tower’s face must have been utterly wrecked at the time.

But enduring such humiliation.

They judged that dragons were beings that must not be provoked.

‘But who on earth went and provoked that?!’

I.

Honestly, I had already broken out in cold sweat internally.

Because with the Zero Mountain Range updated into reality.

Dragons were no longer someone else’s story.

Imagine if something like the [Being That Should Not Be Awakened] in Tepheran woke up.

‘I really don’t want to imagine it, truly.’

In that sense, there was no time to delay.

The earthquakes and tsunamis created by the Zero Mountain Range, the Mage Tower mages were sufficiently suppressing those.

What I had to do was ensure the dragons coiled at the summit did not wake.

By restoring that ancient magic circle.

“I will take charge of restoring the magic circle.”

Even if it is an ancient magic circle.

Granfel’s innate talent.

Plus the trump card of 『Reversal Magic』.

And the Circle that would amplify manifestation power, now that I had reached that realm.

There was no reason for me to hesitate.

“It is not following it and manifesting anew.”

“……?”

“Because one only needs to reverse it.”

“……!!”

“As if reviving a dignity.”

……please do not package Reversal Magic so grandiosely, Granfel.

I hoped Yugweed and Marcelo had not cringed inwardly.

While thinking that, the magic circle had returned to its original form.

Whoosh

Then from the summit of the Zero Mountain Range that had been revealed, a thick fog began to rise once again. As if to hide the nest where the dragons were asleep.

Crackling

Even in the middle of all this, the Zero Mountain Range was being updated at a rapid pace.

Granfel did not look up at anything.

I turned my gaze the moment the mountain range rose higher than eye level.

And then Yugweed’s face entered my field of view.

Hm, for some reason she appears to be in high spirits.

“One week. No, how many days has it been? To think you have become so accustomed to wielding the Circle freely in such a short rest period! The pulse of magic power resonating from your heart is also incomparably clearer than before!”

The pulse of magic power…

Could that be referring to that tzling sound from the heart?

Right now thanks to the elixirs the Circle and pulse have returned to normal, but. At the time, the conditions for [Transcendent] had not been met. And the effect of the Circle was also in a sealed state.

“I’ve heard that even the Tower Master underwent countless crises to fully wield the Circle. In that sense, Chief Mage Ho-yeol is truly remarkable!”

It was merely that the effect was sealed and his life was preserved.

I, Granfel, was silent.

In truth there is nothing wrong with what she said.

Thinking about it, I did face crises.

Because of that blasted teatime habit.

Almost freezing to death, collapsing, and well…

‘…now that it is past, I can at least say it.’

For the great Granfel to drop and shatter a teacup.

One could say I faced the many crises the Tower Master allegedly endured in a short period, all at once.

Just as I was about to nod, a presence was felt.

“Huh!”

Banshee William.

He saw me and hastily covered his mouth.

From the embarrassed expression of Bangrit beside him, it was clear they had been talking about me. I wanted to say one word about how even a rejected leave-of-absence application I found nostalgic, but I had no time for that.

Slide

Because Matis had given me a light bow of acknowledgment upon seeing me.

Bellier gave a light wave of her hand, and Feyan was chewing something hurriedly before swallowing and bowing her head. Let me see, Senior Kiko’s dark circles beneath her eyes were also unchanged, so everyone seems the same as before.

The entire Mage Tower, leaving the tower.

From an outside perspective.

There could not be a more dignified scene than this moment.

But to me it was the same scenery as always.

Anew, Lee Ho-yeol.

I feel like I have genuinely grown a great deal.

Simultaneously, responsibility was felt.

Now that the Zero Mountain Range had revealed itself in reality.

I had a quest that I could not look away from.

[World Quest: Evil Dragon Hunter]

You who have hunted the evil dragon’s kin.

The legend of the mountain range is calling to you.

─Reach the summit of the Zero Mountain Range. (In Progress)

The Zero Mountain Range fully revealed.

Its height was enough to block out the sun in the sky.

The surfacing message was enough to make anyone shudder.

[Zero Mountain Range]

[Recommended Level: Recommended to no one]

[Collapse Progress: 100%]

From when Arcana was nothing but a game until now.

At least the phrase written for the Recommended Level is the same.

That was right.

I had to reach the summit of the Zero Mountain Range, which is recommended to no one.

Beyond the World Quest. I would need to attain the ability to reach the summit, otherwise I would not be able to keep pace with Granfel’s heavy dignity.

I gazed at the mountain range and murmured softly.

“The mountain range and dignity. At last I can compete to see which stands taller.”

……while sincerely praying that no one heard that.

*

When the Mage Tower stepped forward, the world was half-believing, half-doubting.

-Can even the Mage Tower manage this?

-Let’s just shut up and watch for now

-You can’t just run on wishful thinking though

-Why are you so negative?? Are you a demon??

-fr no dignity

As someone said.

When hopes were high, disappointment could only be proportionally great.

But making a mockery of such mindsets.

The Mage Tower suppressed the great disaster as promised.

No, calling it suppression would be an understatement.

-wait, there’s not even a ripple?!

-Science people step forward is this physically possible???

-you idiot it’s magic, what’s a science person gonna do

-then call a player, a mage!!

As expected, was this truly the most powerful military force on the Arcana continent?

They merely looked down at the calmed sea as if it were only natural.

The faces of those before the camera showed not a trace of tension.

-military deployment but no players visible?

-there’s no player who can cast spells at this level yet

-fr they’ve probably just grasped the concept of magic

-wait, there is one actually?!!

Among them, the only player.

Ho-yeol revealed himself.

Then the expressions of several Senior Mages changed dramatically.

Among them, Banshee William made an expression close to astonishment.

-looking at the senior mages’ faces it seems the Mage Tower didn’t expect it either?

-don’t tell me he came to work during vacation???

-no way, showing up during vacation?

-that’s not something a human being does!!

-sacrificing his vacation for humanity…… such a Homen

But what drew the most attention was the scene of Ho-yeol and Marcelo.

And what appeared to be an Elder Mage conversing with them.

The studio’s experts also analyzed that scene by pulling it apart.

Pause

“Now, you can see here that player Lee Ho-yeol is manifesting magic toward the Zero Mountain Range summit, right? We cannot tell what magic was manifested but……”

But not knowing about magic.

There was no way to recognize the ancient magic circle and Reversal Magic.

Even so, inference was possible.

“You can tell from the expressions of the two.”

“Their expressions?”

“If you zoom in you can see, but they both have quite astonished expressions, do they not? Player Lee Ho-yeol has manifested magic of a considerably high level. That is my prediction.”

To the point where even the great Mage Tower’s elder and chief mage would be surprised?

There was no way content creators would miss such tempting bait.

[Lee Ho-yeol, what is the identity of the magic manifested at the Zero Mountain Range?!]

[After magic manifestation, the fog at the summit has thickened!!]

[Wait, dragons live at the top of the Zero Mountain Range?!]

Speculations chasing each other’s tails.

Compiling all information, this was the conclusion.

“……to summarize, it appears clear that Ho-yeol-nim sealed the dragons at the Zero Mountain Range’s summit so they would not be released into reality!”

Lee Ho-yeol.

He had sealed the dragons at the Zero Mountain Range’s summit, apparently.

Players could not help but be astonished once again.

The might of dragons had been well-known since Arcana was nothing but a game.

“Dragons are basically the final boss, right?”

“He’s strong enough to seal such dragons?”

“He, probably? Looking at the expressions of the elder mage and chief mage being so shocked……. it doesn’t seem like baseless speculation, does it?”

Yusra Kingdom.

Conversation being exchanged at the Golden Calf Tavern.

Rakkid, for once, drank his alcohol without making a scene.

“I’ll straightforwardly acknowledge this one, Commander-in-Chief.”

Gulp

Sealing dragons.

Damn, that is something I could never do.

As they say, a rumor with no legs travels faster than a horse.

Flower Garden of Dignity at the Golden Palace.

“To think you have grown no more than this despite having the honor of my interest and care? If you do not wish to be uprooted, you would do well to grow larger and more magnificent.”

Perk

Even into Elsidore’s large ears, as he was threatening the elixir herbs.

Rumors about Ho-yeol reached him.

Lee Ho-yeol, that arrogant human, had sealed dragons?

Elsidore snorted.

“Pfft, how amusing.”

It was a snort of a different meaning.

“Of course it is, having monopolized Mother’s blessing.”

Elves.

The only beings one could consider on par with dragons, and the only ones with the right to call them lizards.

From an elf like Elsidore’s perspective, the humans making such a fuss over something like this were incomprehensible.

“In the first place, that one made even myself submit.”

Sealing dragons at the Zero Mountain Range would be no difficult matter for him. If he had failed to seal them, I would not have forgiven him myself.

“Because that would mean I, who am superior to mere lizards, am inferior.”

The heated response ablaze in the community.

And even Elsidore’s monologue drifting in from outside the window.

Ho-yeol took all of that in.

Sitting in the Yusra Kingdom office.

Click

Leisurely tilting his teacup as always.

.

.

.

Truly, when will I be free from this overestimation?

I simply restored a magic circle that had been passed down since the Dragon-Demon Great War era using Reversal Magic. Yet I am being treated as if I were a hero from a legend who sealed a dragon…!

“The praise is excessive.”

Even as you say that, why are you pulling your shoulders back?

Anyway, truly, the last day of vacation is dynamic.

In truth, Granfel’s dignity had been intending to return to the Mage Tower right away.

But there was Marcelo’s dissuasion.

-“I humbly ask that today, at least. Please allow us, the Mage Tower and the Arcana continent, to repay the salvation we have received from you and the adventurers.”

When he put it that way.

Even Granfel could not insist stubbornly.

Of course, resting was not resting.

With the whole world spouting overestimates of me.

How could my mind possibly be at ease?!

On top of that, I knew.

Whatever overestimate it may be.

Granfel would make it into reality without fail.

‘…from tomorrow, the hardships begin.’

Click

Perhaps because of that.

Cherishing teatime.

I think I understand Granfel’s heart a little better.

“As expected, the taste and fragrance are beyond reproach.”

Of course, the excessive praise directed at the teabag green tea.

I still cannot relate to it.

Still, let me enjoy the last moment of leisure.

Buzz-buzz-buzz

Buzz-buzz

Buzz

“?”

While making that resolve, the smartphone vibrated repeatedly.

What arrived were messages.

Checking the contents, I soon changed my mind.

It seemed those hardships had started from right now.

-hey

-hey hey

-hey hey hey

-Lee Ho-yeol

-what kind of person are you, on vacation yet

-Mom Dad your sister

-no wait

-you’re not sis laughing getting one visit from your siblings???

……please calm down, my sworn nemesis!