Chapter 204 – This Is My Path

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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No wonder.

I thought the magma frozen in absolute zero was excessively pure.

It was just hard to express it in words.

The red magma that was surging like the sea retained its color.

The scenery was frozen just like that.

So to express it the Grandfell way…

It was like a sea of rubies.

I got the feeling without even opening my status window to check.

Click, clack

It was no different from walking on ice.

With the sound of my dress shoes ringing even more clearly.

I crossed the frozen magma.

By the way, you really have a lot of nerve, Grandfell.

‘Aren’t you scared at all?’

Because I knew better than anyone that Absolute Zero was a mystery.

Even though I knew it would never melt.

Walking on top of it was a different matter.

This was a different kind of fear from the Mage Tower’s stairs.

‘First, I have to walk until I can see something.’

To manifest Teleportation or a portal, I needed the coordinates of my destination.

But there was no end in sight for the sea of magma.

Meaning I couldn’t manifest a portal right now.

Was it because I kept looking down that it was scarier?

First of all, let’s shift my gaze.

There was a message that popped up at just the right time.

[Aesthetics: High]

I opened the status window to check.

Aesthetics had definitely risen.

Even though I was wearing the Dawn Set, which had an extraordinary name.

Even if I was just wearing a jacket without putting it on properly.

It wouldn’t be unreasonable for Aesthetics to rise.

[The effect of Aesthetics reaching High is manifested.]

But I never imagined there would be an additional effect for hitting High.

Above all, I didn’t manifest Aesthetics.

The effect was manifested on its own.

‘Could it be that a passive effect was added?’

So what exactly was that effect?

Forgetting my fear of the bright red magma, I widened my eyes and looked around, but… Aside from it being beautiful, it didn’t seem like anything had changed?

I recalled the effect of Aesthetics once again.

In magic, Aesthetics was like a copy-and-paste technique.

The complex interference process that devoured an enormous amount of magic power.

Could be replaced with a minuscule amount of magic power.

‘In fact, that was why my frequency of using it had dropped recently.’

I was different now from in the past when I struggled with magic power.

In terms of stats alone, I would still fall behind Marcelo, of course.

I would probably fall behind in magic power compared to most senior mages as well.

‘Elixirs weren’t enough, so I oiled myself up with panaceas.’

Crucially.

Wasn’t I the one who essentially had the monstrous buff [The Blessing of the First World Tree] constantly active?

Thanks to that, I reached the level of a circle and, even when manifesting high-ranking magic, I wouldn’t have to struggle with magic power.

‘I didn’t necessarily need to manifest Aesthetics.’

Because the time of struggling with magic power had passed.

So I expected a little from the unlocking of the additional effect.

Somehow…

‘I can’t get a grasp on it at all.’

Fortunately, my doubt did not last long.

Even if my eyes had missed it.

There were reliable alter egos on both shoulders to act as my eyes.

“My Lord, I can see a path.”

…You can see a path?

The Path of Pride.

If you spout that kind of nonsense, I’ll really unsummon you, The End. You.

I swallowed my grumbling and shifted my gaze.

Then, I really saw a path.

In a form that I couldn’t help but be surprised by.

“To manifest such an elegant path in an instant. Compared to my Lord, I, Hiel, feel my aesthetics are still far lacking.”

What is that extravagant road?!

The soaring form of the magma looked just like a sculpture.

If I were to compare it, it would be like a triumphal arch?

Right, complex magic being manifested like a sculpture.

That was one of the characteristics of Aesthetics.

But the problem was its scale.

‘It’s huge.’

As expected, it was ridiculously magnificent.

Even considering the excellent magic power efficiency of [Aesthetics] added to [The Blessing of the First World Tree].

Wouldn’t an enormous amount of magic power be drained?

Enough to make me suspicious.

However.

‘…There’s no additional magic power consumption?’

It remained the same.

There was no additional magic power consumed other than the magic power consumed when manifesting Mystery, Absolute Zero. So unlike The End who was chattering loudly…

“This is exactly the path that my Lord has opened…!!”

It wasn’t a path that I manifested through my own will.

If so, there was only one possibility.

Opening a ‘path’ that leads somewhere.

Was that the effect of Aesthetics reaching High?

*

Yusra Kingdom.

Explorer Federation’s main unit.

The Federation explorers were in the middle of their final preparations.

“The competition is finally going to start in earnest, Aaron.”

“Me competing with you? Know your place, Rhombus.”

“Well, it is true that my position is more elegant than yours.”

The veteran explorers Aaron and Rhombus, of course.

Even Fabien, the Federation Leader who had returned as an active explorer.

There was no need to distinguish between players or Arcanians.

Because everyone was preparing themselves nervously.

Park Hwigang was also among them.

“The time has finally come for us explorers to earn our keep!”

The Hundred Thousand Caves of the Zero Mountain Range.

The optimal place for explorers to show off their pride.

The lively atmosphere after a long time also made Fabien a little heated.

“Strictly speaking, it’s not the first step after my return.”

The Tetterun Labyrinth rift.

Recalling his memories from back then made Fabien feel ashamed to face Hoyeol.

He was confident, thinking it was just a labyrinth.

But if it hadn’t been for Hoyeol, let alone clearing it.

They wouldn’t have been able to even escape the labyrinth.

“Is that why it feels like my first step?”

But it had to be different in the Zero Mountain Range.

After all, the Hundred Thousand Caves of the Zero Mountain Range was not an unknown forbidden area like the Tetterun Labyrinth. Didn’t Fabien himself clear over a dozen caves?

Fabien shrugged his shoulders.

“Although they are probably all submerged in the sea by now.”

Even to the legendary explorer, Fabien, the middle of the Zero Mountain Range was a place he had never set foot on. However, while exploring the caves in the lowlands of the mountain range, he had grasped their characteristics in his own way.

Fabien stood in front of the explorers.

“Before our expedition to the Zero Mountain Range, I will tell you this.”

The explorers’ gazes focused on that voice.

“As you all know, each of the Hundred Thousand Caves has its own unique rules. In the language of adventurers, it means the field types are different. What do you think, am I right?”

Park Hwigang promptly answered Fabien’s question.

“Yes, you are exactly right!”

Fabien nodded and continued speaking.

“Dungeons, labyrinths, battlefields… Without entering, it is impossible to know what rules exist in which cave. Although that anticipation is considered the charm of exploration, we explorers can no longer cling to exploration solely for its charm.”

Everyone nodded their heads.

The tragic determination spreading across their faces was a bonus.

Reality and the Arcana continent.

They realized that their respective worlds were on the verge of extinction, and they also participated in the Holy War.

However, it was nearly impossible for non-combat class explorers to take an active part in an all-out war. Because of that, weren’t the explorers swallowing their regrets?

‘It’s different from an unfamiliar rift.’

‘Dungeons are my field of expertise.’

‘I am the person who gathered 200,000 subscribers with labyrinth clearing content.’

An opportunity had come to quench their thirst.

Fabien felt the same way as everyone else.

A chuckle slipped from the corners of his mouth.

“As explorers, it must be the moment to deal a blow to prejudices. That’s why I’ve decided to do something that is not like myself for the first time in my life. So, everyone, keep my words in mind from now on.”

As could be seen from Aaron and Rhombus, who were enemies.

Explorers were competitors to each other.

Even though the Arcana continent was vast.

In the end, exploration sites were finite.

Because of that, they did not babble about their exploration tricks to other explorers.

Even in the Federation established for the coexistence of explorers, talk of that sort was tacitly non-existent.

It was a kind of taboo.

“First, there are unknown paths on the field.”

However, as the Federation Leader, Fabien broke the taboo.

“…!!!”

He paid no mind to the explorers’ shock.

As a legendary explorer, Fabien began to list the experiences he had accumulated. It was a new concept that even Aaron and Rhombus, who were listening quietly, flinched at.

“What do you mean by an unknown path…?”

“There are countless crossroads in dungeons and labyrinths, but… Isn’t it common knowledge in exploration that there’s only one path leading to the end?”

“Right. That is the common knowledge.”

An unknown path.

It was natural to be flustered.

Even for someone who had cleared countless fields.

Because he had only witnessed an unknown path once.

Park Hwigang asked carefully.

“…Then wouldn’t that place just be special?”

“No.”

“!”

What a resolute answer.

A gasp naturally slipped from Park Hwigang’s mouth.

“The reason I only witnessed it once? I can firmly say it was simply due to my lack of ability. However, the reward was certain. Because at the end of that path, I seized a spoil more valuable than anything.”

…A spoil more valuable than anything?

“It was the truth.”

Even having said that much, the explorers still couldn’t get a feel for it.

Fabien felt relieved once again.

As expected, it was a good thing I returned to active duty.

I couldn’t just leave everything to these fledglings.

And then he asked generously.

“Has everyone thought about it?”

“About what, Federation Leader Fabien?”

“Aaron, Rhombus. Have you two never thought about it either?”

“??”

“The existence in the Tetterun Labyrinth that must not be awakened.”

Aaron and Rhombus exchanged glances.

How could they forget it?

That giant pupil.

However, the two explorers flinched at the ensuing words.

“The reason why that guy was buried inside the rock wall of the labyrinth.”

“!!!”

Only then could they guess what the truth Fabien mentioned was.

Dungeons, labyrinths, all sorts of fields had monsters.

Through repeated clears, Fabien had been feeling a sense of incongruity.

Why were there always monsters at the heart of them.

‘Of course, since it’s a game…’

“…!!!”

The players who were thinking flinched.

No, Arcana was no longer a game.

Park Hwigang gulped down dry saliva.

“Are you saying there’s a reason for everything, Federation Leader?”

Tetterun Labyrinth.

Park Hwigang was also there at the time.

That meant he had also witnessed everything.

[The Tetterun Black Contractor].

What kind of actions they showed.

Them and the existence that must not be awakened.

He had expected that there might be a story intertwined with Tetterun, but…

“You’re right, adventurer. I’m someone who has cleared numerous dungeons, labyrinths, and all kinds of fields so far. But the exploration where I could solve that question was only once.”

“…Could it be, by that ‘once’?”

“Your guess is correct. The truth lay at the end of the unknown path.”

The truth, you say.

What on earth did Fabien witness?

Amidst the pouring glances.

Fabien’s eyes shined.

“That means I had reached a clear in the truest sense of the word.”

*

Siren.

To when did it trace back?

The worn-out memories of the mermaid always pointed towards the blue ocean.

An ocean she had never seen even once.

It was really a funny thing, wasn’t it?

Bubble, bubble.

She looked at the red magma from atop the soaring rock wall.

In the memory that basically shouldn’t exist.

The siren thought of the sea.

The sea wasn’t this hot, right?

It also wasn’t pointlessly vast.

In the real sea, not the sea of magma.

Other living creatures besides herself used to swim around.

In a space where nothing but magma could be seen, her sense of time had long disappeared. The only fortunate thing was that she felt at peace just by imagining the sea.

“!”

However, that peace was sometimes broken.

To be precise.

The moment someone set foot in the sea of magma.

For some reason.

The siren would unknowingly become ferocious.

Why could it be?

Why on earth am I.

Desperately trying to protect this space that is nothing but hot.

It was like a curse.

The siren sincerely wished.

Anyone would be fine.

For anyone to cut off her breathing, as she lived on without being able to die.

At that moment, a sound reached such a siren’s ears.

Click, clack

The sound of something stepping firmly.

It’s strange.

Even in the sea she had never been to.

It was an unfamiliar sound she hadn’t heard even in the magma.

Because whether it was the sea or magma, there was nowhere to step on alike.

It really is an odd thing.

A figure approaching from a distance.

Yet the man was definitely walking on the magma.

Splash

Regardless of her true feelings, the siren threw her body from the rock wall into the magma.

There was only one mission engraved in her head.

That she had to protect the sea of magma.

That she had to run even more wildly.

Only then would someone be able to free her from the curse.

That was all.

But, it was really weird, wasn’t it?

“…?”

The magma, which should have been hot enough to burn her skin and scales.

Was not hot.

No, beyond not being hot, it was freezing cold.

“…!”

Just as she had desired in her imagination.

To the point where she would get the illusion.

That she was swimming in the sea.

.

.

.

Aesthetics.

To examine.

Beauty.

It means to look for and find beauty.

Whether the path leading to beauty is lavish, rough, or complicated doesn’t matter.

Because Grandfell would reach it somehow.

Just like now.

[Quest: The Siren of Magma]

Out of thousands of crossroads.

Oh, the one who has witnessed the one and only path.

Only you can save the siren.

─ Encounter the Siren of Magma. (Success)

─ Kill the Siren of Magma. (Failure)

─ Fulfill the Siren of Magma’s wish. (In Progress)

Of course, I, who has to deal with that stubbornness, would be quite annoyed.

Even so, I have no choice but to go forward.

Even if I have to forcefully cool the magma down like seawater.

─ Fulfill the Siren of Magma’s wish. (Success)

[You have fulfilled the conditions.]

[Rewards are given.]

.

.

.

The peak of the Zero Mountain Range, the Dragon’s Nest.

“…”

The Old Dragon slowly lifted its eyelids.

A beautiful singing voice chiming from the heart of the mountain range.

It’s the siren.

“…”

The Old Dragon chewed on its thoughts.

Indeed, my mother.

Oh, World Tree, your choice was not wrong.

Soon, the old dragon raised its massive body and spoke.

“Awaken from eternal slumber, my kin.”

The time has finally come.

“The dawn has arrived.”