Chapter 195 – Can You Keep Up (3)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Light illuminating the darkness of the Zero Mountain Range.

“It is not the situation to say this, but it is beautiful.”

“I wasn’t the only one thinking that.”

“It’s sparkling so much that I’m losing all strength. It’s pretty….”

Spheres of light that were so bright that you could even feel warmth.

That was for various complex reasons.

To the point that Dmitri, who would frown just hearing Ho-yeol’s name, trailed off.

“….What kind of stunt is this?”

Even when entering the portal, he was thoroughly tense.

He didn’t show it for fear of Camilla teasing him.

There is no battlefield as threatening to a tanker as a forest covered in darkness.

Because you can’t know what kind of monster will pop out from where in a dense forest.

Furthermore, how could this forest be an ordinary forest?

It was the Zero Mountain Range.

Back when Arcana was just a game.

Not the low-level area they experienced.

But near the mid-slope that they hadn’t even been able to get a look at.

“Dmitri, it’s coming.”

Suddenly, Rox’s voice heard.

As he collected his senses, he saw a rabbit rushing in.

Dmitri raised his shield.

“Okay!”

Thump!

Guard raised tightly.

Yet Dmitri continued his thoughts.

If the Light hadn’t illuminated the darkness….

Bang!

“Ugh….!!”

Would I have been able to block that single strike just now?

On the outside, it looked no different from an ordinary rabbit.

But it was only a rabbit.

He could tell just by the fact that it initiated the attack on players.

The fact that you shouldn’t let your guard down due to its cute appearance.

Creak

The bowstring getting pulled.

Camilla said with an arrow in her mouth.

“Hoo muf good hwuff dih heh eat? (How much good stuff did these eat?)”

Surviving in the environment of the mid-slope of the Zero Mountain Range.

That alone would be evidence that they are not ordinary rabbits.

But as stated, there was ‘light’.

“Maintain formation. Even if their level is high, they are normal monsters. The pattern is obvious.”

Under Rox’s command, Shining skillfully dealt with the rabbits’ surprise attacks.

Is it thanks to the extreme experience they had dealing with the demon race in the rupture in the meantime?

If not, is it thanks to the Light illuminating the darkness?

Swoosh

Camilla brushed up her red hair.

“The welcome greeting seems to be roughly over~”

“….”

Thump.

Only then did Dmitri silently put down his shield.

….There is no way this guy is this quiet?

Camilla, noticing the signs, initiated conversation.

“What’s with your reaction? So unlike our youngest.”

“….I can’t understand it.”

“Huh? What? Why again~”

“What do you think is the reason he is going this far?”

Point

What Dmitri’s thick finger pointed at was the sphere of light.

Oh, that?

Camilla smiled radiantly.

“Well, if I knew that, wouldn’t I have also run away from Shining?”

Like our Jesse.

“Camilla, I’m listening.”

“Gasp. Look at you getting serious. It’s a joke. It’s a joke, Rox.”

Camilla laughed heartily and continued speaking.

“Actually, what does the reason matter?”

“?”

“It’s not a new occurrence, right? Our Commander-in-Chief acting like this is not just once or twice. How many times do you think he has stepped up so cumbersomely and troublesomely? You don’t think this is the first time, do you, Dmitri?”

Dmitri kept his mouth shut and traced his memories.

‘At least level 900….’

Furthermore, that was a figure predicted quite a while ago.

Dmitri was also a ranker, so he knew it well.

That immense effort is required to maintain the position.

‘At a time when pouring all time into leveling up wouldn’t be enough.’

What kind of actions did Lee Ho-yeol show?

He did his best even in ruptures that would only be boring to him.

Existences that would be a threat to humanity even a little, including the Demon King?

He trampled them from the bud.

Yet he was not arrogant or conceited.

He even moved the Arcana force he built to help the growth of players who were lagging behind.

He did.

[Quest: The Unfinished Holy War]

The quest that appeared before his eyes was exactly the evidence of that consistency.

Shake

Soon, Dmitri shook his head.

“….Have I been looking at the trees instead of the forest.”

To look at such a man with simple eyes of jealousy.

“Pretending to have realized it only now? Even so, you’re uncool~”

Just for today, it was well deserved for Dmitri to hear such things from Camilla.

Slap!

Dmitri roughly patted his cheeks with both hands.

“Alright, from now on, I should get a bit more serious.”

Seeing Dmitri’s resolution, Rox smiled bitterly.

‘By now, it would be strange not to acknowledge it.’

Jesse wasn’t enough.

To think he even changed Dmitri’s free-spirited personality.

I have completely lost to Lee Ho-yeol.

Rox looked at the path of light embroidering the mountain range.

Then he raised his sword and shield.

“If I feel wronged, I have no choice but to diligently chase after him.”

“….What did you say, Rox?”

“No, I didn’t say anything.”

Yes, I am the underdog.

Even if I try hard to pose, I am fundamentally a dog.

I am a hound fully experienced in chasing after someone.

Rox commanded the support team.

“Let’s set the base camp at the closest place to the portal. Since we cleared the monsters in the area, here shouldn’t be bad either. Then, please take care of it, everyone.”

“Already finished? Aww, that can’t be, Rox?”

“Right, a man’s passion has just been ignited!”

“Of course, looking at his sincerity, we should go further.”

It was the moment that Shining was about to take a step.

Float

“?”

Spheres of light suddenly floating up into the air.

“Wow, what’s that. It’s super pretty?”

The surprise at that spectacle was brief.

Swoooosh

The Light became a single ray of light and crossed the Zero Mountain Range.

“….!!!”

It wasn’t just Shining.

Everyone in the Zero Mountain Range could guess.

That Ho-yeol was at the end of that ray of light.

Vision expansion skill, [Eagle Eye].

Camilla, who surveyed the Zero Mountain Range with an eagle’s eyes.

She stuttered, unlike her usual self.

“….W-Wait, exactly how high did it go?”

To the point of not even reaching the vision of [Eagle Eye].

Just as seen.

The ray of light was stretching towards the peak of the mountain range.

Surprise soon turned into shock.

Because of the sound coming from a far, far away place.

Ruuuuuumble

Just how big of a roar was it.

For the sound to be transmitted to a place this far away?

What on earth is happening up above….?

Dmitri said with a voice of perhaps.

“….Wait, near the peak means it’s around the dragon’s nest, doesn’t it?”

*

[Baton of Rhythm]

[Grade: Epic]

[Restriction: None]

[Effect: Upon equipping, acquires vast musical knowledge and grants buffs with effects befitting that musical knowledge to everything under the wearer’s control.]

[Description: A magic tool with an elegant effect as elegant as its appearance.]

It was.

Along with [Map Associating with All Things] and [Demonic Eye’s Telescope], the Demon King’s spoils acquired during the suppression of the Demon King’s Castle. Was it thanks to that effect. I could spit out musical terms adeptly.

Point

“Vivace.” – Splendidly and rapidly.

But of all things, what do you mean vivace, vivace!

Something like getting faster.

Or wouldn’t just ‘rapidly’ have been enough?

Did you have to attach ‘splendidly’ in a place like this, Grandfell?

I want to ask if you lost your sense of direction after riding the portal. Because if you raise your head slightly, what you see is precisely the dragon’s nest….!

Baaaaaaang

I am.

Loudly pouring out magic like that under the dragon’s nest.

I am truly worried.

Isn’t the dragon going to wake up from its sleep while I’m making a ruckus like this.

‘How severe is the stress from noise between floors.’

If it wakes up, it would be natural for that anger to be directed at me.

It’s overwhelming fighting Shegwin right in front of my eyes, but a dragon.

I absolutely want to avoid that much.

‘To do that.’

There is no other way but to settle the match as quickly as possible.

It means I have to pour in all my power.

Shegwin’s movements that were hard to even follow with the eyes.

But from the moment I raised [Baton of Rhythm], I was the one conducting the battlefield.

Yes, it’s thanks to that damn vivace. Of course, the baton couldn’t elevate my physical abilities.

‘If it did, it would have been an item beyond Epic.’

But that alone is sufficient.

Lights moving rapidly according to my conducting.

My equally rapid search, interference, and manifestation.

The Lights, spheres of magic power, manifested into different magics respectively and started to pressure Shegwin. Flames, frost, and even hallucination magic that disrupts vision.

The number of magics pouring out was hard for even me to count.

‘Is this what a Circle is.’

It was not a transcendent state reached honestly.

But I could experience it just from the current effect.

Why the Elder, Yugweed, was excited as if it was her own business.

However.

‘It doesn’t feel overwhelming at all.’

It should definitely be an undeserved Circle for me.

Yet I was utilizing the effect of the Circle freely.

No, beyond that.

I felt like I was finally pouring out my ‘full power’.

『His innate magical talent was to the extent that he could mimic most magic just by looking at it.』

Yes, only now, having formed a Circle.

I feel like Grandfell’s setting is showing its proper might.

Swoosh

I looked at the baton being swung indifferently.

….At this rate, I feel like I really became a conductor or something.

Sword Saint and the continent’s only Grand Sword Master.

Shegwin is busy dodging the pouring magic.

Because his appearance was like an orchestra member creaking at the pouring musical notes.

What was it I said.

Did I say a duet of rough heartbeats and screams.

Really, you achieve whatever you spit out. Grandfell.

But it shouldn’t be overlooked.

Likewise.

No, unlike me who took a shortcut.

Shegwin was a transcendent who reached the state through his own power.

As if responding to my assumption.

Swooooosh

Soon, a strong wind pressure deflected the pouring musical notes of magic.

“What a damn magic tool.”

Rustle

Dust rising in the mountain range.

Shegwin revealing his appearance in the midst of it.

His pupils revealed in the clearing dust.

“And it’s a damn feeling.”

Pupils dyed black.

It was telling me that Shegwin had really fallen into a demon.

But those pupils were trembling roughly.

To be precise, he couldn’t meet my eyes.

‘There’s no way he’s intimidated by military power among fellow transcendents.’

Then the reason is one.

As a Demon Hunter versus a demon.

It means Shegwin and I don’t match in weight class.

‘A demon with a true name, Shegwin. Not a Demon King.’

You have to be at least a Demon King.

Even among Demon Kings, only if you have experience fighting Demon Hunters.

To put it a bit more simply, only if you have overcome the Natural Enemy Relationship.

Can you not be agitated even in front of a natural enemy.

‘It’s probably a similar case to Greed.’

The Seven Deadly Sins Greed, who ended his own life and was born anew.

Even though that guy was a Great Evil, he didn’t have resistance against Demon Hunters. He was shoved into Hell without being able to put up any significant resistance against me from the past, who was much weaker than now.

It’s the same case with Shegwin.

‘Because it hasn’t been long since he fell into a demon.’

The fact that he has no resistance to the natural enemy.

The fact that he smells like an immature demon.

As expected, it was good news for me.

That’s why I could babble confidently like this.

“That appearance is ugly as expected.”

The corners of Shegwin’s mouth went up crookedly.

“I felt it at the Sociality, but you have quite a habit of speaking. That gaze looking down on the world is also arrogant and presumptuous.”

To flare up at informal speech.

Even if you regained your youth, you can’t fool your age, huh?

Anyway, I knew you would hear a bitter word at least once, Grandfell.

‘I recognized it from the point you kept using informal speech to Senios until the end.’

Of course, that doesn’t mean Shegwin.

It doesn’t mean you have the right to be spoken to politely.

I retorted.

“You are mistaken.”

“….?”

“To lay out a conversation that humans to humans would share.”

“….!”

“By any chance, do you still mistakenly think you are a human?”

Grind

Shegwin’s face distorted.

At that point, I could be certain.

‘It seems you really didn’t intend to fall into a demon.’

But nothing changes.

No, it’s actually more vicious.

You just made a deal with a demon simply to regain your youth.

Even if you were tricked by a demon, the nature of the crime is different.

Shegwin also didn’t seem to have any intention of refuting.

“I have no misunderstandings or regrets. Because my ears still clearly hear the sounds of humans wailing. But what is so wrong?”

Madness rather shone in the black pupils.

“They were lives that would have been trampled on by demons anyway. I just offered those people as sacrifices. What is wrong with that? The damn demon bastards are enough to insult me. Shut your mouth!”

Surging demonic energy.

I could consider the meaning of Shegwin’s words.

In reality, the Arcana Continent was trampled by demons.

But to me, to Grandfell, they were words not even worth listening to.

A cold voice flowed from my lips.

“No, you merely looked away.”

“….Looked away, you say?”

“You merely turned your head to achieve an ugly goal.”

I have no intention of preaching, but I have even less intention of listening to rationalizations.

And above all, I, Grandfell, have the right to say something like this.

Struggling desperately to bring even a moment of.

Peace to the Arcana Continent was us.

We at least have the right to babble.

I slowly opened my mouth.

“But if those trivial excuses are the pride you have pierced through with.”

Then, I slowly lowered the baton.

“I will break it with true pride.”

That’s right.

This is exactly.

Grandfell’s disposition delivered to Shegwin.

I continued speaking.

“I convey to the Sociality of Space-Time.”

“….?”

“I challenge the transcendent, Shegwin, to a duel of space-time.”

“!”

Then the vision inverted.

“Raise your sword. I too shall raise a sword.”

Yes, the ‘new sword’, that is.