Chapter 228 – Didn’t I Say So

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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[Class Quest : All Dragon Convocation]

An old dragon shouted.

That the ‘Great House’ has returned to the Arcana Continent.

All dragons wish to grasp the truth of the incident.

-Witness the dragons gathering on the continent. (Optional)

Skal’s Dragon Knight Class Quest.

There was definitely a very uncomfortable phrase written there.

‘Great House’.

When I learned of that fact, I desperately denied it.

As if there would be only one Great House on the Arcana Continent. Saying there was no way the Claudi House actually existed. Even thinking about it now, it was a perfectly common-sense reaction.

However.

‘Crazy.’

The sliver of possibility I desperately denied.

Seemed to be reality after all.

Because the only moment that comes to mind was back then.

That very day.

‘The transcendent riding a broom.’

Assuming she brought up the name Claudi.

The entire situation makes sense.

The reason Yunakersus abruptly mentioned the Great House out of nowhere.

The reason Gluttony brought up the name Claudi.

And lastly.

‘The reason that messy situation was sorted out.’

…I respect you, chuunibyou-phase Ho-yeol.

Just what kind of imaginations did you have while living your life?

Just what kind of setting did you paste on.

‘To think the news of Claudi’s return made all the dragons assemble for a meeting, made not just a Demon King but a great evil move, and made elves and transcendents turn their steps back…!!’

A common drama story comes to mind.

A story of being revealed as a hidden child of a conglomerate family and becoming an heir.

Looking at it broadly, aren’t I in a similar situation?

By the way, I wasn’t happy at all sincerely.

Because inwardly I was busy sweating profusely.

‘Even Granfel alone is too much to handle…’

What happens to me if the Claudi House actually exists?

Just looking at right now, the pride of the last survivor of Akshan, the pride of the Chief Mage of the Mage Tower, the pride of the General Manager of the Yusra Branch, the pride of the youngest son of a family rich in daughters… Anyway, I’m someone plagued by all sorts of pride.

On top of that.

The pride of the collapsed Claudi House Head is added?

Seriously let’s shoulder things in moderation, Granfel!

‘Please stop with the dark history…’

Still, should I call it a fortune amidst misfortune.

It seemed my feelings connected with Granfel on that point.

“Indeed, foolish.”

Those words weren’t aimed at the Demon King, Andras.

They were words aimed at Gluttony, who grasped and shook the Demon King.

I coldly continued my words.

“Did you try to peek into the past with a shallow trick.”

Gluttony was clever, as expected of a great evil.

However, because I am a demon hunter, it is a demon’s nature I know better than anyone.

Gluttony, that bastard must not have trusted anyone.

Because demons are a clan inherently unable to trust others.

‘He wouldn’t have believed the words that Claudi returned either.’

That’s why he put the Demon King forward.

And made him blabber the name Claudi.

Simply put, it meant he threw a bait.

However.

“It is not a past an inferior clan can peek into.”

Do you think I’ll meekly acknowledge my past, my dark history?

Do you think I’d show even a little bit?

Besides, Granfel is someone who unconditionally keeps the words he spits out once.

He had declared it with that Granfel’s mouth.

-“I will not believe it until I confirm it with my two eyes.”

With my two eyes.

Until I witness the evidence that the Claudi House actually exists.

Even if dragons make a fuss.

Even if elves, transcendents, and even great evils make an uproar.

I would absolutely not believe it.

Andras opens his beak.

“I am, I am, I am merely…”

Inside the Exorcism Ritual, a demon’s senses are not whole.

It means they see even a trivial magic as something terribly grand.

In that sense, how must Andras be viewing me right now.

‘For reference, I am in a quite angry state.’

This time as well, Granfel’s homeostasis (恒常心) naturally couldn’t help but be even more razor-sharp. It goes without saying. The Claudi House, regardless of its truth or existence.

『He was the heir of a Great House, but that House collapsed to demons. The sole survivor of the House, Granfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo, hereafter Granfel, is…』

It was a story that should absolutely not be brought up lightly.

“Shut up.”

Even if it doesn’t show outwardly.

If you look at the heterogeneous magic power wildly surging more than usual.

It meant one could tell Granfel’s feelings.

So it’s regrettable, Andras.

Demon King.

A whopping level 888 demon clan boss monster.

However, there is no need to stain Ghost Iron with blood.

Or go through the trouble of manifesting grandiose magic either.

Because just with heterogeneous magic power alone, enough to suffocate Andras.

I have grown.

Maybe you forgot because it’s a reunion after a long time.

A natural enemy relationship is like that.

[Demon King, ‘Instant Death’ occurs to Andras.]

I coldly said.

“Beg for forgiveness in hell.”

Of course, I’m not telling him to beg to me.

I’m telling him to beg to the lives of the Arcana Continent that he has trampled on.

Well, I don’t know if our Akshan seniors will leave him alone quietly.

[Your level has risen.]

[Your level has risen.]

[Your level has risen.]…

*

Demon King, into a situation where Andras was eliminated early on.

The moment the Holy War Allied Forces took care of the last remnants of the Demon King’s army.

A message also popped up in the players’ vision.

[You have cleared the Demon King’s Castle of Conflict.]

Clear message.

What those words meant was simple.

With his berserk released and regaining his reason, Nam Tae-min said.

“As expected, he finished it first.”

It wasn’t something to be surprised about.

Considering the appropriate levels of the monsters Ho-yeol had defeated and the rifts he cleared so far, Andras didn’t belong to a formidable enemy. However at the same time, they couldn’t help but feel a chill.

‘…Mr. Ho-yeol, his presence was different from usual.’

A wildness severe enough that it wouldn’t be strange to call him a beast.

Thanks to that, Nam Tae-min realized it.

In any situation.

Ho-yeol’s unwavering emotions had become slightly rough.

Of course, saying it became rough didn’t mean it was bad.

Scratching his head.

“Because among us barbarians, it’s a compliment…”

Anyway, questions naturally followed.

‘In this kind of battle out of all places?’

As mentioned earlier.

Ho-yeol had faced enemies and situations worse than Andras.

Even just in the Frost Recapture Battle, he witnessed countless Frost residents who lost their lives. He even collected their corpses.

Agonizing over it, Nam Tae-min muttered.

“…Did they say Claudi?”

In the end, that was the only thing different from usual.

An incomprehensible word the demons were shouting.

Perhaps Mr. Ho-yeol knows the meaning of that word.

He might have circumstances to inevitably be sensitive to that word.

Nam Tae-min gritted his teeth.

“Damn it.”

When he was happy to be recognized as a comrade by Ho-yeol.

He was just being indebted every time.

In truth, he had never given help to Ho-yeol.

“What do you mean give and take, seriously.”

What kind of comrade is this.

I’m just baggage.

Nam Tae-min’s drooping shoulders.

To such Nam Tae-min, Hisagi opened his mouth.

“I don’t think it’s the time to pretend to be pitiful.”

“…What did you say?”

“Have you forgotten those words?”

Hisagi stopped the bleeding of the wound on his cheek and continued.

“If you realize your shortcomings, you just have to overcome them.”

“…!”

“Weren’t we hard-pressed for time to overcome them?”

“Strongly agree.”

As expected of a berserker, Leonie cut in covered in blood.

Then she scanned Nam Tae-min with a displeased gaze before adding her words.

“Tch, if I had that size, I would have already reached level 700.”

“What are you saying, out of nowhere?”

“I mean don’t drop your shoulders already.”

Flick-

Leonie lifts her head.

Following that gaze, at the place she lifted her head towards, a helicopter and cameras were illuminating them. Only then realizing it, Nam Tae-min hastily pulled himself together. And spoke through ventriloquism.

“You, when did you mature?”

“Whatever. Shut up.”

“Anyway, the more I see, the more amazing he feels, Mr. Ho-yeol.”

Even just himself.

He sometimes felt burdened by the pouring attention.

The burden pouring onto Ho-yeol was to an unimaginable extent.

Realizing it anew, he muttered.

“…Thinking about it like that, he seems a bit more human now.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“There’s someone.”

“Ah geez, acting all cool by yourself again.”

“Hmph. I’m talking about Mr. Ho-yeol. Happy now?”

“Ah…”

He could feel it without a complex explanation.

The three people who fell into silence looking around the Demon King’s Castle swept by Ho-yeol.

A cautious voice was heard by them.

-…Um, I’m sorry for interrupting your touching conversation.

It was the voice of the Giant Alliance’s analyst, Nam Chul-min.

“Uh, Hyung. I’m listening. What is it?”

-It’s a story about Mr. Ho-yeol…

“Mr. Ho-yeol?! So where is Mr. Ho-yeol right now?!”

Even if he still lacked the ability to directly help him.

He could gladly volunteer to play the role of a conversational partner to share his worries anytime.

Whatever story might be intertwined with Claudi.

It meant he was confident in listening attentively and empathizing as much as needed.

Of course, making that resolve pointless.

-Mr. Ho-yeol, they said he just returned to the Mage Tower?

“W-Whattt?!”

-Yeah, they said he’s uprightly wrapping up his conference presentation like always.

‘…Did I overreact for nothing?’

‘Ha geez, am I really just terrible at guessing?’

‘Are you saying it was entirely a presumptuous delusion?’

A moment.

The three people at a loss for words.

Nam Chul-min quietly opened his mouth.

“…I take back the words that he’s human.”

It was just Ho-men…

*

As expected, showing it once is better than explaining it a hundred times.

A flashing message.

[Quest : Founding a School]

You who have achieved a noble magical accomplishment.

Prove your accomplishment at the regular academic conference.

And announce the founding of a new magic.

-Present ‘Reversal Magic’ at the regular academic conference. (Success)

I successfully finished the regular academic conference and returned to the office.

When did I return to the Mage Tower?

Surprisingly right after taking care of Andras.

Yeah, it means I’m a compulsive workaholic.

[The conditions have been met.]

[Rewards will be provided.]

[Your relationship with the Mage Tower has increased.]

[Your influence in the Mage Tower has increased.]

“I believed you all would understand.”

As expected, not an easy pushover, Mage Tower.

It seems the activation of the [Authority] function in the Mage Tower is not yet ready.

Although I have no interest in the Tower Master’s seat.

‘I should have qualified for the Tower Master seat with this presentation.’

It must mean that even a Tower Master cannot knead the Mage Tower as they please.

Come to think of it, even that cat isn’t free from the Mage Tower’s rules either.

Since it was brought up, I will resolve myself once again.

Later on.

Even if I become able to knead the Mage Tower as I please.

I absolutely have no intention of taking on the Tower Master seat.

‘It’s seriously overwhelming. Now.’

Until now, I could still handle it.

But the moment I faced Claudi, my mind went white.

I thought I could endure everything else with pride.

[Name : Granfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo]

That damned name…!

Because it felt like it would be impossible to handle the reality of it being blabbered out to the world.

In that sense, I pray that day does not come.

‘With my two eyes.’

It means I pray the day I confirm the evidence of Claudi does not come.

Yeah, if that day comes.

There would be no more justification left to stop Granfel’s loose lips.

‘…Still, should I call it fortunate?’

Because right about now, rumors about Claudi must be circulating in the Arcana Continent. This is the first time I’m grateful for the situation where reality and the Arcana Continent are disconnected.

‘News crossing over to reality is.”

Just like taking care of Demon King Andras.

It was a matter of desperately blocking it.

Of course, it did bother me that the dragons had all assembled because of Claudi. I had no way of knowing whether they would be favorable or hostile towards me though.

Anyway.

‘Clashing with dragons is a bit, right…?’

If I ever end up facing the dragons, let’s try to persuade them well by bringing up that I’m the youngest of the World Tree family tree.

I’m also used to acting as the youngest, you know.

While I brought up the status window, I also checked the results of clearing the Demon King’s Castle.

[Level: 621]

[Stats]

Strength : 142 / Agility : 139 / Magic : 517 / Luck : 12 / Aesthetics : High / Tenacity : 2

[Available Points : 20]

Still, a boss monster lives up to its level’s worth.

It seemed there was a good reason why he spoke straight even in front of me.

To think my level rose by 20 at once even considering the wall of level 600.

“There is no need to rejoice over mere numbers.”

Yes yes, as you wish.

‘You should just be glad you didn’t die of embarrassment, Granfel.’

Even if I realized the importance of fundamental stats.

It wasn’t like levels weren’t important either.

More than anything, I need to reach level 700.

‘This damned jacket.’

This thing fluttering over my shoulders.

No matter what, shouldn’t I try putting my arms through it?

Only then would I be able to check the effects of the luxurious Dawn Set as well.

By the way.

『Because you persistently made it to reality in the end.』

According to the setting.

He gathers back every single word he blabbered out without fail.

Why, that day when heavenly luck followed thanks to the siren’s blessing.

I blabbered like that.

-“I do not believe in such things as luck.”

Despite overcoming the crisis without even knowing why thanks to the increased luck.

Unbelievably shameless.

I was the one tackling Granfel.

But.

Under the name Claudi.

If it’s true that he sorted out that mess…

-“Luck and destiny are things one paves through on their own.”

Because that wasn’t nonsense anymore.

…In that sense, I’d better be a bit careful with my words from now on.

I reached for the teacup where the green tea bag was submerged.

Clink-

Maybe it’s because I suffered no small amount of mental shock.

The preciousness of teatime resonates with me exceptionally today.

However, right as I swallowed a sip of green tea.

This damned snout spits out words.

“However, it must be something that should not be overlooked.”

…No, overlook it.

I’m telling you to think a bit before spitting it out?!

If you don’t even want doing that, at least catch your breath before speaking!

However, making the plea pointless, I ended up blabbering.

“Everyone, wait.”

Seriously.

“I shall return to the continent.”

I won’t be able to live out my full lifespan…!