Chapter 249 – Something Happened (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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To think the vacancy of just one person.

Would be this great.

Nobody thought so until Lee Ho-yeol disappeared.

Rather, those who did not know the detailed circumstances did not worry.

“Is the Commander-in-Chief in a position to be worried about?”

“Exactly. Worry about ourselves during the time you’re worrying about him.”

“Just look at the state of our levels, really.”

As exchanged in their conversations.

Ho-yeol was not an existence to receive the concerns of others.

Even without proving anything, they could tell just by his track record.

The times his active role turned worries into unnecessary fears alone.

Were they not uncountable?

Furthermore.

In any kind of situation.

Ho-yeol’s uprightness never once broke down.

“Yes, no one seems particularly worried. Chief Lee.”

Swish

The top floor of the Mage Tower.

The Tower Master lay sprawled on his back and flicked his tail.

However, unlike usual, the movement of his tail was subtly on edge; naturally, the reason was Ho-yeol.

“The price of the spectacle is quite expensive, I see.”

A fortnight ago.

The day Ho-yeol headed to the Arcana Continent.

If he had just comfortably dozed off like usual…

No, it would have been good if he solely devoted himself to recovery.

“To think it’s a portal leading to the Arcana Continent. Could I possibly turn a blind eye to it, meow…”

The problem was his instinct as a mage being stimulated.

He could somewhat pretend not to notice for a day or two.

But around the time a week passed.

He was bothered so much that he couldn’t even properly stamp his footprints on parchment.

Suddenly, Marcelo’s voice was heard.

“Are you neglecting your duties and lying down again?”

“Little Chief. I am currently in a serious situation.”

“Being serious and duties are separate matters.”

“How impudent. Do not talk back.”

“You are noisy. Please stay still.”

Grab

Marcelo grabbed the scruff of the Tower Master lying on the floor and hoisted him up.

Then he moved the Tower Master to an appropriate seat of honor.

Just like an object.

A very displeased gaze followed the Tower Master.

“Soon, the Seniors will visit the top floor.”

“The Seniors? To the top floor? Why?”

“What do you think is the reason?”

The Tower Master flinched.

…Could it be, did they notice he stamped his footprints half-heartedly.

Did they flock here as a group to raise an objection.

Meow-science… No, his conscience was pricked.

However, fortunately, there was another reason.

“It must be due to concerns regarding Chief Lee.”

The Mage Tower.

The Senior Mages, including the leadership, knew with what kind of conviction Ho-yeol entered the Arcana Continent.

Though Ho-yeol did not state his conviction with his own mouth, they could tell from his actions.

The Tower Master grumbled for no reason.

“Exactly, for what purpose did he even pack decisive-battle magic tools…”

The grumbling ended there.

Soon, the twenty Senior Mages.

All of them stepped foot onto the top floor of the Mage Tower.

Behind them, an Elder Mage.

Yugweed squeezed out awkwardly.

“I have explained sufficiently to the Seniors, didn’t I, Tower Master? That we have nothing to hide from our leadership. That even we do not know all of Chief Lee’s intentions either.”

The representative figure of the Senior Mages.

The Black Magic Senior, Matis Dean Karl.

He opened his mouth.

“We did not come to ask about Chief Lee’s intentions.”

Yugweed turned her head and asked back.

“Then what is your business here, Senior Matis?”

The business.

Was simple and concise.

They could not just wait forever.

That was the business.

“Please permit the use of the magic tool, the Connector.”

The implication of borrowing not just ten but twelve decisive-battle magic tools is clear.

Chief Lee must have entered the Arcana Continent with the conviction to face enemies they could not even imagine.

And the fact that such Chief Lee had not returned to the Mage Tower even after a fortnight passed meant…

“Without a doubt, Chief Lee has encountered a situation where he requires assistance.”

A solemn atmosphere lingered on the top floor of the Mage Tower.

The Tower Master’s tail flicked but.

As expected, his fur bristled up wildly.

“If such a thing was possible.”

“…?”

“Even before granting you permission to use those magic tools. I would have been the first to use that strange magic tool called the Connector. It wouldn’t necessarily have to be me though…”

The Tower Master looked at Marcelo.

Marcelo nodded as if he wouldn’t argue.

Because he also had the same thought.

Whether it was the Tower Master or the Seniors.

“However, I regret to say, Matis. You cannot do so.”

Even passing a fortnight.

Even if for several months.

Chief Lee Ho-yeol did not return to the Mage Tower.

Entering Arcana through the Connector could not be permitted.

The reason was simple of course.

“Did the stickler for rules, Chief Lee, not declare so?”

“…!!!”

“That he would definitely use it according to its proper procedures.”

It wasn’t that the leadership hadn’t thought about entering the Arcana Continent. It was simply because of the words Ho-yeol left behind. They just erased the option called the Connector from their minds.

‘For Sir Ho-yeol would not desire aid that violates procedures.’

Marcelo added.

“Moreover, if it is the Chief Lee I know, he will definitely return to the Mage Tower if only to uphold those procedures. No, I do not doubt that he will do so.”

All Seniors.

“You are correct. Of course.”

Among them, Banshee William, who had suffered terribly from following procedures, nodded his head exceptionally vigorously. The sudden meeting was about to wrap up just like that.

Whoosh

At that moment, the Tower Master’s fur stood on end.

It wasn’t simply a presence that only the Tower Master felt.

The Elders, Chiefs, and Seniors.

Even down to the Skilled and Novice Mages below the top floor as well.

“…What is this?”

Because they intuitively felt the unfathomably massive presence.

Craaaack-boooom!

The sky that was covered in darkness in an instant.

The pouring rain.

Lightning.

Records of the Great Dragon-Demon War surfacing overlapping with that scenery.

That’s right.

No matter how you look at it, this was an omen predicting the appearance of dragons.

Though their objective was unknown, the Tower Master responded swiftly.

“As of this moment, I permit all members of the Mage Tower to exit.”

The lesson from the Great Dragon-Demon War?

Because it’s simple, they don’t forget it.

Do not dare to oppose dragons.

“Tch.”

However, if they do not oppose them.

What becomes of the adventurers’ world?

The Mage Tower knew the level of the players and adventurers well.

Excluding a few like Ho-yeol, they were beings weaker than even Novice Mages.

Yet it was a world where such people were revered as heroes.

“A 2nd Great Dragon-Demon War with incomplete forces, you say.”

That was why they had no choice but to step forward even knowing they couldn’t oppose them.

To think the Mage Tower would prepare for sacrifice for the sake of others.

Even looking back at themselves, it was laughable.

However, at the same time, it couldn’t be helped.

“Somehow the vacancy of Chief Lee feels greater than the vacancy of the Tower Master.”

Now that Chief Ho-yeol left his seat.

The one to bear the heavy burden he carried instead.

It must be the Mage Tower including himself.

Because that was the Mage Tower’s procedure.

“How were you bearing such a heavy burden all by yourself, Chief Lee?”

.

.

.

The ones who moved swiftly weren’t just the Mage Tower.

The Zero Mountain Range.

Because the players in the midst of hunting also sensed the change.

“Everyone stop.”

“What is going on…?”

“The sun was shining brightly until just now, what’s with the sudden rain?”

Dismissing it simply as a passing shower was an excess.

It was as if a hole had appeared in the sky.

Rain began pouring out from the sky.

“Why is this damn weather forecast never right, honestly.”

“…Wait a minute.”

“Why? Did the rainy season start or something? Or a typhoon?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Things completely incomprehensible to common sense began to occur.

“Uh, I’m a humanities major so I have to ask… Is it possible for rain to pour all over the world simultaneously? Like, sci-scientifically…?!”

It was literal.

Swoooosh

Deserts where not a single drop of rain falls throughout the year.

Even the polar regions where it should snow, it was raining.

It was such a questionable event that they lost their words, yet.

As expected, the doubt didn’t last long.

Because it was heard.

Kroaaroaraa!

“…!!!”

Because it surged up.

[Warning: Mental strength is significantly low.]

The aftermath of a formidable Dragon Fear.

“D- dragons…!”

Even the highest-tier players called Rankers did not dare to resist the abnormal status effect. General players naturally go without saying, and even ordinary people were helpless against the Fear.

However, everything so far was literally merely a prelude.

“It’s not just one. Three, no, five… Six…!”

Seven, eight, nine…

A total of a dozen dragons tore through dimensions and appeared.

And began gliding through skies all over the earth.

The one most plunged into panic was AAU.

The South Korea branch.

“Haha…”

Park Min-jae let out a hollow laugh.

Because they knew very well what kind of existence dragons were.

Just how desperate the current situation was.

They could realize it immediately.

A trembling voice was heard.

“…Right! Senior, we have Skal!”

Is it better to not know?

Amidst a situation where it wouldn’t be strange to fall into panic.

Sung Hyun-joon grabbed Yoon Soo-gyeom and continued speaking.

“Wouldn’t the Dragon Knight class have a way to break through this situation? No, if it’s Skal… He might have already initiated action!”

If it had been an ordinary situation.

He would have patted his shoulder saying it’s a good mindset taking his tenure into account.

However, the states of the dragons appearing on the monitor were the problem.

Park Min-jae quietly opened his mouth.

“Nevermind Skal, no one will be able to approach them.”

The torrential rain pouring down across the earth.

Summarized in a word, those were dragon tears.

It’s not a figurative expression.

Why, because the dragons flying the sky were, for some reason, truly shedding tears. Weren’t they also saying it with their Dragon Speech, Dragon Fear?

“They won’t try to listen to anyone’s words, nor will they stop.”

“…Branch Manager.”

“Until they find that thing called the Dark Dragon.”

Due to that fact, an emergency was declared across all AAU branches. An emergency order stating that the identity of the Dark Dragon the dragons were looking for must be pinpointed no matter how.

However, no matter what databases they searched.

“…We could not find it.”

There was no information related to the Dark Dragon.

“Ah? I thought as much.”

Park Min-jae flashed a bitter smile.

“Dark Dragon, there’s no way I’d forget such a name if I heard it.”

Then as expected, the one who knows about this incident is Raymond Sean.

It could only be that bastard.

No, Ho-yeol might know something as well, but…

‘…We cannot rely on the Commander-in-Chief.’

Ho-yeol was in a state where he left his seat.

Moreover, they couldn’t just keep receiving indefinitely.

Let’s regain our conscience, Park Min-jae.

Rub rub

Park Min-jae composed his mind by dryly washing his face with his hands.

And then he opened his mouth heavily.

“As expected, providing information to the Mage Tower side would be the best.”

Currently, with Ho-yeol absent.

The strongest force for mankind was undoubtedly the Mage Tower.

At the very least, the Mage Tower, the moment dragons appeared.

Every single member stepped out of the Mage Tower to deal with the dragons.

It meant they were definite allies.

“Of course, we must deliver information to the Holy War Allied Forces as well.”

The Holy War Allied Forces consisting of Yusra, Frost, and the Holy Land Mu-on was a force that couldn’t be overlooked either. Simply, the targets of comparison were dragons. The problem was that it wasn’t just one or two, though…

‘I do not expect us to win.’

He just simply wished they wouldn’t clash.

Apart from winning and losing, the damages that would ensue.

It would be on a level entirely incomparable to anything previously.

So.

“I am sorry…”

Park Min-jae had no choice but to clench his fists and pray desperately.

Not to God, not to Buddha, not to Allah.

Shamelessly, once again.

“…Commander-in-Chief.”

.

.

.

The mages of the Mage Tower.

The Holy War Allied Forces.

And the players looked up at the sky.

“It makes our resolve seem pointless.”

Harkon mumbled calmly.

The dragons from legends.

A situation where a dozen of those living legends revealed their forms.

They had sworn to throw away their lives, yet.

Somehow it felt like they couldn’t be able to call this place a battlefield.

“Why are they crying like that.”

“Exactly.”

“Man, making even me feel depressed…”

Nam Tae-min and Leonie trailed off.

Hisagi wiped the rainwater gathering on his chin and spoke.

“Their emotions are being transmitted.”

There was no need to express what feeling that was.

Because the pouring rain was speaking for their feelings.

The Mage Tower was equally surprised as well.

Banshee whispered to Bangrit.

“Somewhat, it seems different from the dragons of the Great Dragon-Demon War that I know of.”

“Indeed. I recall reading that they were quite violent.”

“Right? I didn’t misread it, did I, Senior Bangrit! I definitely recall reading that they giggled leisurely while witnessing high-tier magic pouring out…!”

Was this really the arrogant dragon recorded in the Great Dragon-Demon War?

Even while watching, it was to the point of raising doubts.

Concurrently, a question arose.

“Just who on earth is that Dark Dragon to them…?”

The Kings of All Creation.

For dragons to be sorrowful, longing, and bellowing so helplessly.

While looking for him?

Of course, that question did not last long.

Because soon, the person in question revealed himself.

Clack

.

.

.

Damn it.

These damn shoes’ sound always draws attention.

I cross gazes with the people looking back.

Marcelo, Harkon, Nam Tae-min… even that hateful cat.

It feels like we met just a few hours ago at most but.

In real life time, a fortnight had passed, right?

Then I can understand those beaming expressions.

…But, not you guys, right?

I looked up at the sky.

And my eyes met.

With an exceptionally sparkling dragon.

“…!”

Also known as the Ice Dragon, Froznax.

‘This is my assumption but…’

It’s certain that extreme cold negatively impacts the tempers of both people and dragons indiscriminately. Without assuming so, Seninos and Froznax’s violently fluctuating emotional changes couldn’t be explained.

‘They charged in as if to kill, and now they’re crying…?’

It was utterly preposterous but.

I can’t show it, yeah.

I merely opened my mouth like usual.

“Did I not say so.”

“…!”

“Even to you all.”

I continued speaking, shifting my gaze a moment.

“And to you guys as well, that there is no need to worry.”

Yeah, now that you’ve seen me alive like this.

It’s settled, right?

Especially you dragons, I’m talking to you guys…!

‘Seriously…!’

Because I, who you thought was dead, am alive.

You might be surprised, sure.

I’ll generously understand those feelings.

But just in case.

Don’t even think about calling out my name out of joy, okay?

Don’t even think about calling out the moniker either.

‘Lee Ho-yeol Claudi, Dark Dragon… Whatever it is, absolutely not!’

Rather than blabbing the dark past to the whole world.

It would be better to be misunderstood as a touching reunion.

There’s no other way, just keep crying like you are now…!!