Chapter 199 – The Transmitted News of Victory

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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A bomb suddenly dropped on AAU.

“S-So you’re saying to believe that right now? Again?”

Branch managers video conference.

Korea Branch Manager, Park Min-jae, was not the only one.

Branch managers who heard the news late.

Everyone pressed their temples firmly as if they had planned it.

Their heads were throbbing so much they couldn’t stand it!

“A duel observation message floated so they accepted….”

“Then their vision suddenly changed.”

“Opened their eyes and a grand Colosseum appeared….?”

“No, how are we supposed to believe that.”

The one to spill the last lament was Park Min-jae.

“At times like this I really want to become a player for even just a day. Really, our player-nims wouldn’t have any reason to lie about something like this….”

London Branch Manager, Baker Chat.

He let out a hearty laugh as if it was interesting.

“According to Shraeig’s words, it’s the first time he’s seen such a splendid Colosseum? Counting from the days when Arcana was just a game!”

“A Colosseum built with jewels and gold….”

“Isn’t there none? Even in the Arcana Continent.”

Even reliving his developer days and digging through memories and databases.

There was no Colosseum matching the players’ testimonies.

No, isn’t the entry method itself ridiculous in the first place?

“It’s not like they entered a rupture or a portal.”

“Exactly! They just closed their eyes and opened them!”

“The speed at which time flows is different too.”

US West Branch Manager.

Joshua had conversation regarding that with Rox’s party.

He said a duel took place in the Colosseum for at least tens of minutes, but when checking the time upon returning to reality, not even tens of seconds had passed.

“….Just where on earth did they all visit in a group?”

Anyway, damn Arcana!

If you learn one thing, things you don’t know pour out in droves.

Park Min-jae dropped his head in frustration.

Thanks to that, he missed the gazes of the branch managers pouring down on the crown of his head.

“But, Manager Park.”

“Listening. I’m not sleeping, I’m thinking.”

“Isn’t there a person who would know?”

“….Pardon?”

Subtle voices making Park Min-jae raise his head.

What’s pouring down on him was.

The expectant gazes of the branch managers.

He could perceive it directly.

“….Don’t tell me, you are talking about General Manager Yusra?”

A player and Yusra Branch General Manager.

At the same time.

The sole existence who can solve the pouring questions.

Lee Ho-yeol.

‘That’s a bit.’

However, facing such Ho-yeol alone.

It was an burdensome matter even for Park Min-jae.

So Park Min-jae hastily changed the subject.

“Right. Speaking of which, isn’t it amazing? The Sword Saint, Shegwin, was defeated with a sword! Totally daebak event!!”

Maybe it was the effect of forcing himself to borrow words of the youth.

The branch managers nodded their heads one by one.

“Shegwin, honestly, he isn’t an NPC designed for players to defeat or antagonize. He’s an NPC created to be an unapproachable mountain to players.”

That’s right.

In a way, it was the same as the Mage Tower.

Sword Saint.

Literally the pinnacle of the sword.

Because he was too strong, he couldn’t be designed to influence the Arcana Continent.

Adding the single-minded setting of only caring for swords was also due to that reason.

“Considering his age in the setting…. He is a character who should have died of natural causes long ago too.”

“Regarding that part, I think we have to hear players’ stories more. There are parts that are hard to understand for now.”

Shegwin who regained his youth.

Just that alone was a surprising matter.

But to hear that after being defeated in the duel with Ho-yeol, he became an old man again.

And then disappeared together with the sword enveloped in green flames….

It’s a good thing there were more than one or two witnesses.

“….By the way, won’t this be a hard story to believe even if it gets known?”

No matter how many players witnessed it.

It was to the point of wondering if they witnessed a mass hallucination.

Isn’t the story too absurd from a human perspective?

Especially.

“No matter if it’s General Manager Lee Ho-yeol….”

To have defeated the Sword Saint with a sword.

As said before, Shegwin is not an existence designed to be defeated by players.

He possessed cheat-like stats and unique skills that would make players gasp in shock if they found out.

Because of this, there were also talks regarding that.

“Well. Wouldn’t there be some kind of mistake?”

“A mistake?”

“As you know, the Sword Saint is a character designed as the pinnacle. It means he was made so that he can’t be defeated with swords. So he was a figure meant to naturally exit as an old man as Arcana’s story progressed.”

“….That’s true.”

“Wouldn’t it be a situation where players couldn’t make normal judgments? Why, can’t we also tell from the players’ testimonies? Not to mention the luxurious Colosseum, Shegwin, who had regained his youth, supposedly turned into an old man again and was engulfed in green flames.”

….This, it’s a relief the topic shifted, but.

Listening to it quietly gets me heated again.

Park Min-jae leaked a rotten smile.

Joshua, how dare you doubt our General Manager?

When did he flatter him in front of his face.

Anyway, it’s ugly.

Some people hold not an ounce of pride.

“Huuha”

The moment Park Min-jae’s true nature, which had headbutted Raymond Sean, was about to pop out.

Urgent news was transmitted to each branch manager.

“?”

Nothing other than news of an update to the Arcana official homepage.

Someone shouted as if screaming.

“It’s not even Thursday today? Don’t tell me it’s an emergency update?!”

Fortunately, it wasn’t the worst.

Because what popped up wasn’t update notes.

Yes, what popped up on the homepage was a single video.

“….Arcana official account? This is uploaded by Raymond Sean? Wait, Raymond uploaded a video? Isn’t this the first time a post other than update notes was uploaded?!”

“Calm down. First, let’s play it.”

Soon, the video shared in the branch managers’ chat room.

“….!!!”

Joshua, who was unusually talkative, shut his mouth.

What floated in the played video was the Colosseum.

The figure of Ho-yeol facing the Sword Saint.

And the end of the splendid offense and defense.

Because Ho-yeol, who defeated the Sword Saint, stood upright.

*

Yes, there’s no way it wouldn’t become a hot topic.

‘Because even I was surprised seeing it.’

The duel with Shegwin stuffed on the Arcana official homepage.

It wasn’t filmed from a player’s perspective.

Angles as if cameras were shoved from all directions.

And even editing comparable to a blockbuster movie.

The only person who can pull such a stunt would be one.

‘Raymond Sean.’

Thanks to you literally filming it like an action movie, the communities are in an uproar.

When exchanging clashes with Shegwin, he even put a slow motion. Not stopping at packaging, he even plastered it with gold leaf.

-Is this for real lol He looks more like a Sword Saint than the Sword Saint

-Eyes can’t follow even with slow-mo put on fr

-I already recognized it since he fought with an umbrella lol his swordsmanship skill

Naturally, I can’t feel at ease.

Because those movements didn’t originate from my swordsmanship.

Everything is due to the ego sword.

[Legend] grade item.

Because it was thanks to Gwicheol…!

‘Anyway, thick-skinned.’

However, on my face.

Because that truth would never be revealed.

There’s a reason I say even I was surprised looking at it.

Even knowing it, the expression is so serious that you’d be fooled.

As expected, it is good enough to be regarded as a duel for the position of the Sword Saint.

Click

What is put down is the teacup with a tea bag submerged.

But even if I understand.

There is no way Grandfell’s temper could tolerate it.

I opened my mouth lowly.

“Raymond Sean, you do not have the qualification.”

The last moment.

The bluer-than-anything sword aura Shegwin emitted.

Whether it was thanks to him regaining his pride.

Or if it wasn’t, because of the effect of the title [Sublime].

It’s a matter I have no way of knowing.

However, one thing is certain.

“The qualification to make his end into a spectacle.”

I am not rebuking those who cheer for victory.

They don’t know what kind of circumstances were between Shegwin and me, do they? They wouldn’t even know why the flames of Hell swallowed Shegwin at the last moment. They wouldn’t even know what the fire of Hell is for that matter.

But.

Your side knows everything, Raymond Sean.

Doing so while knowing everything is.

Something the pride of Grandfell absolutely cannot tolerate.

“I will look forward to the day we finally meet.”

I don’t know when it’ll be.

But I’m looking forward to it too?

You’re the source of all these incidents, Raymond.

I mean I’ve got something to pay back too.

‘If it wasn’t for you.’

I wouldn’t have to worry about dying of embarrassment!

Forget it, let’s stop lamenting my lot that the person involved won’t even hear.

Besides, there was something to check right now.

Victory in the duel of space-time.

Rewards given for victory.

That was gold coins.

Exactly one hundred (100) of them.

“Gold coins, huh….”

That damn uprightness and integrity.

I know well enough that you don’t obsess over wealth and honors, Grandfell.

But it’s not just any gold coin, so please have some patience and take a look.

[Gold Coin of Space-Time]

[Grade: Epic]

[Restriction: Transcendent]

[Effect: Can be used as currency in space-time.]

[Description: The gold coin used as currency in the transcendent’s realm, space-time.]

Gold Coin of Space-Time.

In a word, it was the money used in the [Skilled Players’ Community], 『Space-Time』.

Its detailed uses could only be guessed for now.

There was info passed over from AAU, but I would only know how it would be implemented through direct experience. Just like the duel of space-time was.

Still, I already know how to use it in the Sociality.

“Hmm.”

Look at this.

Saying I need it to order tea, he just lets it go.

How much do you value tea time anyway?

Of course, the victory reward didn’t end with gold coins.

The duel video has just been uploaded to the Arcana official homepage.

The resulting revenue would drop for me.

It was true wealth, so it was a useless reward to me.

‘….Let’s consider it an installment savings.’

If I save it all, there’ll be a use for it in old age anyway.

Anyway, formal victory rewards end there.

Actually, from now on is the real reward.

I checked the title.

[Transcendent: Your transcendent state is sufficient to be called a transcendent. – Current Achievements: Circle (Overall magic manifestation ability increased by 1,000%) / Uncompleted Fast Swordsmanship / None / None….]

Uncompleted Fast Swordsmanship newly appearing in achievements.

That’s right.

This was also Grandfell’s talent.

Just as he manifested magic just by observing it.

Even Shegwin’s fast swordsmanship was witnessed while exchanging clashes.

And ultimately acquired.

‘Although it’s not specified yet because it’s uncompleted….’

If I polish it.

Wouldn’t a proper effect appear like Circle?

For me, it was a yield that touched me much more than gold coins or money.

Not anyone else’s swordsmanship, but the Sword Saint’s.

It meant I had acquired Shegwin’s swordsmanship.

I chanted.

“Your sword path, I shall continue to walk it.”

You have a very elegant way of putting things, Grandfell.

“To seize true victory.”

And you can hold a grudge like no other, Grandfell.

What is true victory?

Demon-concluding setup.

Naturally, you are talking about victory in the Holy War.

Although Shegwin fell to temptation, he regained his pride at the final moment. And above all, what was evil was the demon that dug into Shegwin’s frailty and deceived him.

‘To pile pride onto pride like this again….’

What’s the point of struggling all day and night?

When I can barely endure, someone else’s pride gets added.

But as I said, all of this is my karma.

Still, let’s look at the bright side.

‘….Right, isn’t it a relief that it wasn’t stuffed on the homepage?’

A name embarrassing to show anywhere.

[Name: Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo]

I’m truly glad I set my personal information to private….

.

.

.

The Sociality of Space-Time.

All that could be seen was a woman sprawled over a table.

….Since when has that person been like that?

The man entering the Sociality clicked his tongue.

“Witch-nim, do you spend all the gold coins you earn on cigarettes?”

“Why don’t you shut your trap.”

“….Tsk, she’s so scary I can’t even talk to her.”

Warrior of Sunrise.

The short black-haired man sat down.

Jingle

He took out a gold coin and put it on the table.

Immediately, a cup filled with water appeared in the air.

“Keu.”

One gold coin 『Purification Water of the Moon』.

The moment he swallowed it, physical fatigue washed away completely.

The man surveyed the Sociality.

“….Witch-nim, I feel this every time, but. Is it not overconsumption to always have cigarettes made of precious elixirs in your mouth no matter how many gold coins you have? Well, it’s not like you’re boasting about having a lot of gold coins.”

Cigarettes worth ten gold coins a piece.

Like always with that precious thing.

Aside from the ‘Witch of the Southern Sea’ who puffed away.

The figures of other transcendents were not seen.

The man shrugged his shoulders.

“It seems everyone is busy in many ways.”

Looking at the situation in the Arcana Continent, it makes sense.

Right now must be the time for transcendents.

The time for each to unfold their will.

In that sense, it was unexpected.

“It’s rare not to see the old man.”

Shegwin.

Unlike other transcendents.

The old man pursuing only his sword path.

“I had something to ask.”

Whether Shegwin regained his youth or whatever.

It wasn’t an important matter to the man.

Since they had no interest in each other outside of discourse on swords anyway.

Suddenly, a parchment caught the man’s eye.

Glance

The man glared at the woman sprawled from the effect of the cigarette.

“You haven’t checked this either. Shall I open it?”

It wasn’t common for new news to arrive at the Sociality.

Unable to even answer, that’s a total addiction, an addiction.

The man shook his head and unrolled the parchment.

Agitation showed on such an man’s face.

“….Death in a duel of space-time?”

….Shegwin, that old man?

Because he had conversed with him a few times, he could know.

That Shegwin was a swordsman of considerable skill.

Wasn’t he a transcendent like himself in the first place?

“….What kind of guy is it?”

The man checked the name of the opponent.

And flinched.

It was a name he had never heard of before.

Thus, he could deduce only one person.

“Is it a rookie.”

It was.

The name of the man that hadn’t been revealed during the achievement evaluation.

It was written on the parchment.

The man chanted that name.

“Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo.”

“….?!”

It was then.

Thump!

The witch who was sprawled out on the next seat sat straight up.

Opening her fierce eyes even sharper.

She said to the man.

“Say it again.”

“….What are you suddenly saying?”

“That name, I told you to say it again.”

….The name?

Was it too long for her to hear properly.

The man muttered once more.

“Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo.”

Then the witch repeated.

“Grandfell…. Claudi….? C-Claudi family…?!”