Chapter 279 – Starting from Zero (3)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Inazuma.

Tomoyo, who is now a guild member of the Massive Alliance, gripped her staff firmly.

Now that they entered the mouse-hole-like cave and set up the base camp.

There was nowhere left to retreat to.

“Huuu─”

Taking a deep breath, she tries to steady her mind.

Excluding Captain Hisagi and General Commander Lee Ho-yeol…….

The expressions of the other guild members were no different from hers.

A whopping recommended level of 850.

“It won’t be easy as always. Right, Tomoyo?”

“Haha…….”

At the man’s words, Tomoyo merely laughed.

She didn’t even have the mental capacity to exchange jokes.

Tomoyo’s class is [Battlemage]. Because of the class’s characteristic of having to engage in close combat despite being a mage-type class, the burden Tomoyo felt was not small.

“Will you be alright?”

“Yes?”

“You don’t have to overexert yourself too much.”

The alias of a Battlemage?

Its representation is a commoner character, having the exact opposite meaning of a noble character.

Compared to being treated as a commoner, the nickname ‘glass cannon’ is something to be immensely grateful for.

Because above all, it was an understandable nickname.

The man continues speaking.

“Can I speak honestly? The attack power of a Battlemage? It’s considerable. Because in terms of destructive power, they can accurately smash in magic-type skills that don’t fall behind, from a close distance. But think about the gap in levels.”

Tomoyo’s level is 475.

Even if it’s Tomoyo who boasts outstanding attack power within the same level range.

Would she be able to land effective hits on the giant mice well over level 800?

No, before that, would she even be able to approach them?

“Even if you land a skill directly, it won’t be able to inflict major damage. Then what about the opposite case? Objectively speaking, how many times do you think you can withstand attacks?”

At the question hitting the mark, Tomoyo looked at her own equipment. The cloth armor for mages intended to supplement the [Magic Power] stat and [Magic Power Regeneration] was incredibly thin.

“Well. Two times if lucky……?”

Just as the man said, it’s a fatal wound the moment it grazes.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be strange to just close her eyes at the first hit.

Tomoyo continued speaking awkwardly.

“I will keep the advice you gave in mind.”

She said that, but she knows.

At this moment.

In this place.

There was no one who hadn’t staked their life.

“Damn it, if only I could have equipped new equipment.”

“Ahem, a craftsman does not blame their tools.”

“No, I’m saying it’s not an excuse?!”

There would be no one without circumstances.

And it means it’s a battlefield where such people leaned their backs against each other for one another’s sake.

She had no intention of stepping back, if only to not cause harm to others.

‘In the end, because it’s the path I chose.’

Have I ever regretted choosing my class?

‘Really honestly…….’

Every time she entered a rift and faced monsters, she regretted it. Blaming herself every day that close combat didn’t fit her aptitude, looking back, she merely ended up coming up to this position.

Someone would say like the man.

“I think you have done plenty well up until now, Tomoyo. To reach such a level with the class called Battlemage. I genuinely respect it. It’s a tremendous talent.”

Tomoyo did not answer.

To say it’s thanks to tremendous talent.

If she admits it, it’s like denying her own dog-like hardships and struggles.

“Actually, if only it wasn’t the class called Battlemage. Tomoyo, you would be right about now…….”

Because it was simultaneously denying her own choices.

Clatter─

Every time that happened, Tomoyo gripped her staff firmly.

Even while regretting.

She had advanced forward in order to not regret.

However.

“Fucking hell……!!”

For the first time, it felt like that stubbornness would be broken.

[Sentinel Mouse Guarding the Sanctuary : Lv.800]

Mice the size of three or four people swarmed from everywhere.

A whopping level 800.

No matter if they are ordinary monsters.

How many people would have to cling on just to kill one.

It couldn’t even be gauged.

Thick fur.

Hide as thick as their size.

The moment they faced them, doubt sprouted.

Would monsters like that even flinch at my skills?

In the midst of the chaos, a voice was heard.

“Concentrated breakthrough!”

Captain Hisagi’s order.

The ones carrying out the concentrated breakthrough order are the close combat-type players.

They must take the vanguard, draw aggro, and pioneer a path of survival through that.

‘…….I have to follow behind.’

It was the moment Tomoyo was about to step forward.

Grab─

The man grabbed Tomoyo’s wrist and shook his head.

“It’s dangerous.”

“I know. But…….”

“You are special, aren’t you, Tomoyo.”

Special?

It’s not wrong words.

Thanks to the uncommon class called Battlemage, Tomoyo could freely perform the roles of vanguard and rearguard depending on the situation.

“Think objectively.”

Meaning she could act according to her own judgment rather than orders.

‘Even without you saying it, I am plenty objective.’

Battlemage is an ambiguous class.

Saying it nicely, it’s special treatment.

Since she received ambiguous treatment in both the vanguard and rearguard.

Due to that, she’d have no choice but to regret no matter what choice she made.

‘If so.’

She wouldn’t break her stubbornness even if out of spite.

“From the rearguard, together with me…….”

“Thank you, but I will decline.”

“……What?”

“Because I’m already used to regretting.”

Tomoyo dashed out to the vanguard.

Even at the moment of running, her hands are trembling.

As always, her head is full of regrets.

But she didn’t want to admit it.

If she submits to something like the cataclysm and ends up denying even her past choices.

Because not a single bit of her life prior to the cataclysm remained.

Someone might call it reckless stubbornness.

“I will open a path together with you, Captain Hisagi.”

“Welcome to hell, Tomoyo.”

“……Your tone of voice changed, didn’t it?”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“……Is this a compliment?”

But simultaneously.

Another ‘someone’ who knows the sorrow of the commoner class.

Will probably say.

That that is precisely the pride that deserved to be responded to.

Response, indeed.

Where in the world is an existence capable of responding to the desperate struggles of a human. Unless it’s a God, could anyone notice it and respond to it. It’s a statement perfectly suited to hear sarcasm.

Those words were correct.

“……Huh?”

Because Tomoyo was looking at a God.

The oath of class advancement brushing through her head.

The verse she had murmured without much thought comes to mind.

──────

On the Arcana Continent, there shall be no place the Goddess’s gaze does not reach. Even if that place is inside a mouse cave, even if it is hell, the Goddess shall not turn away from those who earnestly seek.

──────

Thinking it was a dream, she opens her mouth.

“……Captain Hisagi, are you seeing this?”

Nod─

Hisagi nods his head.

Still unable to believe it, she asks anew.

“It’s not that I’m seeing illusions as a result of suffering from extreme stress, right?”

Nod nod─

Only after Hisagi continuously nodded his head did she admit it. The fact that her eyes were not wrong. Tomoyo stared blankly at the massive Goddess that appeared in midair.

Squeak squeak squeak!

She is large enough to make even the giant mice bewildered.

Because of that, she cannot confirm the face or detailed form.

However, she could feel it even without confirming.

Warmth.

That aura looking down upon everyone on the Arcana Continent.

Was so gentle that it couldn’t be emitted unless it was the Goddess.

Simultaneously omnipotent.

Are there no clearer proofs than words?

There is, because that wasn’t the end of it.

Messages pop up before her eyes.

[The First World Tree’s Blessing fills the area.]

[Health Regeneration rate increases vastly.]

[Magic Power Regeneration rate increases vastly.]

What the word ‘vastly’ signifies in the Arcana system is considerable.

Meaning it’s enough to bring astonishment to the players’ faces.

“What is this buff suddenly?”

“Nonsense……. Downright better effects than an intermediate potion?!”

“Captain Hisagi! With a buff like this……!!”

Hisagi nodded his head.

“I retract the concentrated breakthrough order. From now on, everyone.”

“……!”

“Plunge into individual combat.”

A whopping level 800.

Meaning it’s an effect possessing enough odds of winning even engaging in a melee against a horde of monsters.

The basis for judging so was clear.

“Until the Goddess looks down upon us!”

Did they say [The First World Tree’s Blessing].

Because the effect of the fraudulent buff will continue until the Goddess disappears.

Was it because of the warm warmth.

Tomoyo’s arms and legs no longer trembled.

Instead, a doubt arose.

‘Why now of all times……?’

Actually, facing adversity wasn’t the first time now.

But, why did the Goddess reveal her figure at this moment?

It didn’t take a long time to reach a conclusion.

Only one thing had changed.

“……Don’t tell me.”

General Commander.

Because there was only the existence of Ho-yeol.

Tomoyo’s gaze headed towards Ho-yeol.

It wasn’t an expression of surprise or bewilderment.

Not shrinking back the slightest bit even in front of the appearance of the great Goddess.

Just a consistent appearance.

Tomoyo swallowed her astonishment.

……Are you truly related to the Goddess-nim?!

*

Why, although I did declare I would return to my original intentions.

Hiel, is it really necessary for you to step up too.

And chase after my original intentions as well?

‘……Say something at least.’

As an honest impression.

I do feel that players mistaking Hiel for a Goddess isn’t a strange reaction either. Even when she was a small spirit, Hiel was one who’d get misunderstood as the Spirit King because of her trailing outfit.

‘And why is the halo so bright again.’

On top of her massive build, she is self-luminescent.

Because it looked incomparably holy.

As the culmination, even the elegant actions that are the spitting image of Granfel.

‘……Yeah, what can I say.’

Parents are the mirrors of their children.

It’s all my fault, and I just have to move on.

Only then did Hiel’s voice ring in my head.

-“I have no face to dare look down upon the Lord. As long as it brings no harm to the Lord……. I feel like making my voice heard and formally giving my greetings to the Lord right this moment.”

Hiel’s presence in the mouse cave was considerable.

‘I wouldn’t be able to know why she isn’t affected, though.’

Whether it’s simply because she’s an {Inherent Spirit} transcending a contract spirit. Or if not, whether Hiel had become an existence unable to be contained in the cave before I knew it.

There’s no way for me to know, but.

“There is no need for that.”

I wish you’d refrain from the incomparably burdensome greetings this time. Especially now when the huge misunderstanding of being a Goddess has been overlaid on Hiel, even more so.

[The First World Tree’s Blessing fills the area.]

By the way, the buff’s performance is definitely guaranteed.

With Hisagi at the lead.

The players of the Massive Alliance faced against the giant mice.

‘I’ll guarantee the effects.’

Although it might not compare to the original source, the health and magic power regeneration enhancement buff will be more effective than gulping down a decent potion. Thanks to that, they would be able to concentrate solely on the battle without having to worry about their lives or injuries.

“They will be able to awaken to it on their own.”

I mean the method to catch that darn fish.

During the days when Arcana was merely a game.

The reason players could succeed in raids and quests thought to be impossible is simple. Because they could resurrect even if they died. Meaning they could challenge it without fearing death.

‘Even if not to the extent of back then.’

The players were slowly awakening to it, albeit sluggishly.

“So what if it’s level 800? Its patterns are obvious!”

“Fatal wound if grazed? Then we just have to not get hit.”

“Nice, that’s one!”

I was looking at that sight as if I truly became the General Commander.

Watching with satisfaction.

General Commander, indeed.

‘It’s a heavy position.’

But, the source of my dark past.

In a situation where even the Claudie family acknowledged it, what’s so great about the General Commander position?

Above all, since I ended up shouldering it.

I know better than anyone that I can’t do it halfheartedly.

So just as I resolved myself.

Let’s do it right.

Pace adjustment.

Swish swoosh!

Unlike the players whose entire attention was focused on the battle before their eyes.

I had luxury.

Meaning I could notice the changing flow of air.

I opened my mouth towards the direction where a presence was felt.

“Regrettable.”

Looking at the emitted force, it seems like a named monster easily surpassing level 800, you see. As I said, even if you appeared coolly, I don’t have the luxury to face you with sincerity.

“It is also the role of the General Commander to watch over the growth of allies. Therefore, I cannot just stand by and watch you run wild as you please. Delicate wild beasts of the mountain range.”

To call those monsters delicate.

Flinching at Granfel’s way of speaking was only brief.

I drew up my magic power.

[Magic Power : 585]

Considering the recommended level of the cave, it might be a meager figure.

However, to me who had entered the realm of [『Bizarre』] on top of 『Transcendent』.

The magic power stat was merely a number just as Granfel said.

I opened my mouth.

“However, if I have awoken you from an sweet slumber, I shall compensate you appropriately.”

…….Squeak squeak?

Formality and dignity that made even mice bewildered.

“Choose the compensation plan you desire between the two.”

And thrusting forward options tainted with my dark past.

“Discipline regarding an eternal night or waking grumpiness.”

I truly properly found my original intentions again……!!