Chapter 192 – Gift (2)

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

Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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

I had heard about the Ghost Iron forging.

‘But armor was being made for me too?’

Hiel had conveyed the dwarves’ words regarding it.

“They were concerned about the master of the mountain range.”

So to put it simply.

The dwarves knew the dragons’ strength.

Meaning they were saying they would forge equipment so I would not die a meaningless death against dragons.

‘To be honest…’

My gaze that falls naturally on my attire.

Equipment that satisfies Granfel’s fastidious eye for beauty while also being outstanding in performance did not exist.

So I had been working with just formally enchanted suits up until now…

‘I am fully grateful!’

Dwarf armor.

That is equipment you cannot buy even with money!

Above all else, there was no need to worry about the eye for beauty.

The one inspecting the equipment is Hiel.

With an exterior that is the spitting image of Granfel, as though Hiel could be called a double.

And that fashion sense.

‘…fashion sense.’

Rivaling even the Spirit King.

In some ways, it was attire even more extreme than Granfel’s.

The dwarves forged it, so no worries on quality.

The only remaining problem.

‘Level restriction.’

Thinking of it that way, I am grateful for the Zero Mountain Range’s appearance.

[Recommended Level: Recommended to no one]

In the Zero Mountain Range, experience points can be obtained according to ability. Of course, the fact that I do not know my exact ability level was a problem.

I feel it again, the harmful effects of advanced study…!

The entirely skipped intermediate process.

Because of that, I did not know the exact limits of either Sword Force or the Circle.

At least the Circle’s effects were made known through the system.

But Sword Force was difficult to estimate exactly.

‘Ultimately, Granfel’s words come true again.’

Dignity and the Zero Mountain Range.

He had said, let us compete to see which stands taller.

Perhaps it truly has come time to understand my limits by throwing myself against them, and to raise my level.

I will need to devote myself to hunting like Nam Taemin, Hisagi, and Leoni.

“As a final matter, news about Ghost Iron.”

In that sense, Ghost Iron.

I pray you do not betray my expectations.

But the words that followed from Hiel’s mouth.

Were enough to astonish me.

Truly!

How can everyone have such personalities.

You all…?

Dwarf’s greatest blacksmith.

Still in a standoff with Wallsweil.

Is this not precisely why they are an Ego Equipment?

If Hiel took after Granfel’s exterior and eye for beauty.

D.End took after the dark history.

Ghost Iron seems to have taken after Granfel’s stubbornness.

In an instant, I was overcome with emotion.

‘You hopeless trio.’

But since the three of them combined were me.

‘…ultimately, it’s spitting in my own face.’

Let us drop the subject.

By the way, what did you just say, Hiel?

Hiel mimicked Ghost Iron’s voice as it continued.

“Must become sharper. Must cut down the Demon Eye hanging in the sky. The continental whetstone is insufficient. Must be sharpened on the whetstone fallen from the sky, the ‘Milky Way Whetstone’……”

The Milky Way Whetstone?

I knew I’d heard it somewhere.

Wasn’t that the magic tool Shegwin was looking for?

He had lent his strength to the rebels in exchange for receiving the Milky Way Whetstone from Antonium’s vault, apparently. Shegwin had confessed everything with his own mouth.

‘What is it, Ghost Iron.’

…how do you know about such a high-level magic tool?

Well, I’ll ask about that later.

From this point on, anyone with even a shred of perceptiveness could see it.

The Milky Way Whetstone.

It is clearly not a magic tool Shegwin targeted for nothing, given how extraordinary it seems. According to Hiel, even the dwarves appeared to know about the Milky Way Whetstone.

Hiel’s face grew shadowed.

“Requesting a legendary magic tool makes even Wallsweil seem flustered. If you give the command, Master, I will attempt to persuade Ghost Iron through D.End. What does Master think?”

D, D.End persuading someone?!

I do not want that at all.

No, I’m afraid Ghost Iron will get influenced by it.

Please tell that thing not to get involved, Hiel.

But I did not reveal my staggering inner thoughts.

I merely blurted out shamelessly.

“There is no need for worry, Hiel.”

“…Master?”

“The whereabouts of the Milky Way Whetstone, I already know of it.”

“…Master!”

Do not send me a gaze full of admiration and faith as if you knew it would be thus, Hiel.

Still, it is a relief that I talked big and can actually resolve it.

Because my influence and connections in Antonium had reached their maximum after all.

Borrowing a magic tool the same way as with the Mage Tower would surely not be a difficult matter.

I said to Hiel.

“Inform Antonium.”

“Hiel will follow your command.”

Formally requesting the loan of the Milky Way Whetstone.

Soon, Hiel gave a polite bow and returned to the Arcana continent.

Well then, I cannot be sitting idle either.

‘I must raise it as high as possible.’

So that new equipment does not become a picture drawn on rice cake, one needs to build a worthy vessel larger than the equipment’s level. The optimal place for that had appeared.

“The Zero Mountain Range.”

The Zero Mountain Range’s size is similar to Australia.

Its height comfortably pierces the stratosphere. Something like that suddenly rising up, it now truly hits home what was said, that without the Mage Tower stepping in, 80 percent of the Earth would have been submerged.

“Such is the height and breadth of the stage.”

In that sense, it may have become quite an exhausting affair.

Upon entering the Zero Mountain Range.

Immediately starting to hunt monsters in a head-on clash is, you see.

Because I am different from other players.

‘A gap of more than ten years is not something that can be ignored.’

The Last Demon Hunter.

Thanks to that, my knowledge about demons was extensive, but.

The truth was I was lacking in knowledge about ordinary monsters.

“An appropriate lesson may be necessary.”

…while Granfel was casually talking about monsters as if training animals to be disciplined. The monsters of the Zero Mountain Range are absolutely not pushover.

Even the Explorer Alliance adventurers, they say, gave up on the Zero Mountain Range before ever setting foot on the midway point.

That says it all.

But I am not who I was before.

Lee Ho-yeol who would search the internet and whine at the search results. That’s not me anymore. As AAU Yusra Branch General Director, the weight I carry has led to knowledge I have gained from it.

“Hundred Thousand Caves.”

Ten thousand caves, literally.

Given that its setting made it a stage that could remain active until the very end of the Arcana continent’s chronicles. Even the amount of content planned for development was apparently enormous.

‘Ten thousand caves.’

[Dungeon], [Battleground], [Labyrinth], [Colosseum] and so on.

Each cave was said to have special attributes.

I would say it is fair to consider it ten thousand pieces of content.

Of course, the Cataclysm had hit before development was complete.

The information on Hundred Thousand Caves in the AAU was only an extremely small part.

‘Even if it is only an extremely small part, how much better is that.’

On top of that, unlike in the past, I have allies knotted together by dignity.

Just as I had led them in the face of demons.

In the face of ordinary monsters, I can bring up the rear and follow their lead.

That’s right, Granfel.

That give and take you are so fond of.

This is called mutual cooperation.

But.

“[AAU’s information]. And the realized 『Zero Mountain Range』.”

Granfel’s significance was a step ahead of mine.

If it were wrong I would argue back, but.

It is just too grandiose.

That was the problem.

And again, it was annoyingly right.

“In the end, this too is the Anomaly.”

Right, this time too it means the Anomaly.

And this time too, dignity.

I immediately manifested a portal.

The coordinates were the Zero Mountain Range that appeared overnight.

I stepped into the portal and murmured.

“There is none who can advance ahead of me regarding the Anomaly.”

Tap

“I will light the way, so feel free to follow.”

*

Roar-roar-roar

Empire’s highest-ranking mage, Nash William.

When Nash manifested his magic power, the firmly closed imperial vault opened.

Imperial knights swiftly entered the vault.

“Hmm.”

Bite

Nash chewed his nails.

How on earth did he know this?

‘The existence of a Milky Way Whetstone that even I did not know of……’

As you can see, the imperial vault was full of treasures.

Even the Emperor himself did not properly know what era’s treasures from what era were sleeping in the vault.

Nash stared at the vault’s sealing magic circle.

‘Could there be, by any chance, a clairvoyance cast through that magic circle…?’

Then shook his head side to side.

‘No, that cannot be.’

It is a magic circle manifested by none other than a ‘Grand Mage’.

From the time the Empire was founded to now.

A magic that had never once been seen through, one which could be said with certainty that even if the Empire were to fall, the vault alone could not be opened, to that degree a high-level magic.

‘Even I can only interfere with the magic circle because I have sworn a pact with the Empire……’

Nash’s eyes, who had been deliberating, shone with resolve.

‘Banshee, brother. It seems I too cannot hide my true nature as a mage.’

A surging desire to explore the unknown.

Nash made up his mind.

‘I must ask.’

The infinitely deep darkness, apparently named Lee Ho-yeol.

And on top of that, is he not an adventurer?

The time spent on the Arcana continent would also be short.

‘The fact that he knew even about the Milky Way Whetstone.’

That alone was an astonishing thing.

Clunk

When the imperial knights brought out the Milky Way Whetstone, Nash re-sealed the vault. Then he had an audience with the Emperor. Nash carefully opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty, I have something to report.”

“Speak, Nash.”

“It is not something else……”

Slide

Nash’s gaze turned toward outside the palace.

Precisely toward the skies above Antonium.

A massive ship floating through the sky.

The dwarves’ Iron Castle could be seen.

Nash continued.

“I wish to receive Your Majesty’s permission to leave the palace.”

Nash had encountered information about Ho-yeol through the spirit Hiel. But that alone was insufficient.

Someone might ask.

Was there any more certain proof than the dwarves coming to Antonium? That’s right, there was no more certain proof of the heroic tales than that. Nash had no choice but to acknowledge it.

‘But I want to confirm it directly.’

Yes, this was a mage’s desire to explore.

Above all, how Ho-yeol knew of the Milky Way Whetstone’s existence.

Why he needed it.

It felt as though the dwarves would know the reason.

Soon, the Emperor’s lips parted.

“Nash.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I will not grant that request.”

“…W, what? Your Majesty?!”

But the position of Empire’s highest-ranking mage was a weighty thing.

It was a position that could not be vacated according to desire.

The Emperor continued.

“Nash, are you not someone whose very existence is a comfort to Antonium’s citizens? It would be best to hold your post for the time being.”

An impeccable answer, Your Majesty……!

In the end, Nash could only lament inwardly.

Brother, it seems I am still insufficient.

‘…If you were Banshee, brother, you would certainly be able to make the citizens and Your Majesty feel at ease while also going in and out freely, wouldn’t you?’

Compared to you, this younger brother still has a long way to go.

.

.

.

Mage Tower.

Floating Garden.

Banshee sat alongside Bangrit exchanging small talk.

The topic was naturally about the Zero Mountain Range.

The corners of Banshee’s mouth twisted.

“You seem quite pleased with yourself, Senior Bangrit?”

“Not at all. Ha-ha.”

“Would it not be better to wipe that smile from your face before speaking?”

Banshee William, chin resting in hand, fingers tapping.

He brooded to himself.

The world is so unfair.

Bangrit, this scatterbrained fellow. How can he be so fortunate?

‘His connection with Chief Mage Ho-yeol was special from the start.’

…if things were going to turn out this way.

I should have let myself be won over by Karimzeva.

Banshee grumbled, unable to comprehend it.

“What is so appealing about such a trivial leave purpose……”

A grand and impressive purpose for leaving the tower!

To depart from the great Mage Tower, one needs a great objective. Which is why every time a rejection was stamped on his leave-of-absence application, Banshee inflated the purpose ever more.

『Borrowing a high-level magic tool, to burn down demons.』

『Borrowing a high-level magic tool, to burn down demons and their strongholds.』

『Borrowing a high-level magic tool, to burn down every rift.』……

As you can see, the direction was going gravely wrong.

“If you insist, shall I take a look at it?”

“What? No thank you, Senior Bangrit.”

“If you dislike it that much, then it cannot be helped.”

Banshee’s soaring pride could not possibly show a rejected leave-of-absence application to someone else.

In the end, this time was the same.

Banshee wrote up a leave-of-absence application after much deliberation and submitted it.

『Borrowing a high-level magic tool, to set the Zero Mountain Range ablaze.』

The saving grace was that his expression was bright.

“Your showing off in front of me also ends today, Senior Bangrit. Because this time my leave-of-absence application is certain to pass.”

The appearance of the Zero Mountain Range.

That meant the Mage Tower’s role had expanded.

Why, at the very summit of the mountain range was the Mage Tower’s sworn enemy.

Dragons were asleep there.

If by any chance those sleeping dragons were to awaken.

There was nothing other than the Mage Tower that could handle the fallout.

Hold

Banshee, who had unknowingly folded his arms, continued.

“There could be no more fitting stage for Banshee William.”

Fire against fire.

And as the Mage Tower’s role had expanded.

The number of personnel leaving the tower had also increased.

Banshee was overflowing with genuine confidence.

Right up until he checked the parchment.

“…wh, why?!”

──────

Even if the Mage Tower’s role is important in the Zero Mountain Range. Not all seniors can be absent from the Mage Tower. Accordingly, Banshee William, your leave-of-absence application is hereby rejected.

──────

Banshee screamed.

“Why, of all people, does it have to be me who stays?! Chief Mage Ho-yeol!!”

*

Zero Mountain Range.

The first to set foot on the mountain range will be us.

Tianxiatong Guild Master.

Liu Ojunchun clenched his fist.

“Finally, my time has come.”

Shining and the grand coalition, the greatest stumbling block.

When they were colliding with the absurdly high wall called the Demon King Succession Battle, Tianxiatong focused on building its foundation. Both in terms of playing the game and in terms of reality.

A question commonly floating around the internet.

If a player with superhuman abilities held a grievance.

And opposed a nation, what would happen?

Liu Ojunchun had presented an answer to that question.

Click

Those saluting toward Liu Ojunchun.

“We await Master’s safe return.”

That was right.

In his secluded homeland, Liu Ojunchun had seized all real power.

Whether it was rule through fear or whatever, it mattered nothing.

The [Sovereign] class’s abilities did not distinguish such things.

A red fleet carving through the Pacific.

Liu Ojunchun looked at the Zero Mountain Range that had risen.

And smiled.

“Enjoy the praise to your heart’s content, Lee Ho-yeol.”

Now that this great stage called the Zero Mountain Range has unfolded.

Now that you spent time leisurely watering your flower garden.

It is only a matter of time before I catch up to you.

With that resolve, Liu Ojunchun entered the Zero Mountain Range.

“……!”

And felt something off.

Flash

Spheres of light radiating in the air.

Magic someone had manifested.

Light was brightly illuminating the darkness of the Zero Mountain Range.

What that implied was simple.

Someone had come to the Zero Mountain Range before them.

“…who is it?”

Liu Ojunchun’s face distorted.

.

.

.

It has to be me.

-“I will light the way, so feel free to follow.”

To live up to those words spoken.

Someone willing to suffer this much.

At least the system recognized this misery.

I checked the message.

As I thought, being first is always better, right?