Chapter 304 – Go Against (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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South Korea’s head, Jung Han-taek.

“Sseup.”

He smacked his lips bitterly.

After the Cataclysm, knowledge regarding Arcana became common sense.

It is a natural thing that more profound common sense is required for the President who will lead the nation. However, there is a clear difference between knowing through studying and learning by directly facing it.

Jung Han-taek looked into the report and raised his head.

Among the staff members with serious faces.

He asks the Director of National Security, who is relatively an expert.

“So what you mean is that the regular update……. Originally it was like an event that occurred regularly every Thursday, wasn’t it, Director of National Security?”

“That is correct, Mr. President.”

“However, after the Zero Mountain Range appeared, it became infrequent?”

“You are exactly right, Mr. President.”

“But a problem has arisen with the update after a long while……?”

The updated patch details.

“Hmm…….”

Jung Han-taek found it hard to understand the world’s reaction toward it. With player Lee Ho-yeol at the lead, hasn’t the level of players from countries all over the world become much higher than before?

Jung Han-taek continues his words.

“Including our Giant Alliance. I heard that players are growing steeply actively utilizing the Zero Mountain Range. Let’s look at it statistically as well. They said collapse cases due to rift clear failures have also dropped sharply. Didn’t you report to me just yesterday?”

“That is correct. Mr. President.”

Jung Han-taek looked at the patch details again.

And then he frowned.

“As expected, it looks like good news no matter how I see it.”

At Jung Han-taek’s soliloquy, some staff members nodded their heads.

“It is understandable that you would think so. Mr. President.”

The Director of National Security catches his breath inwardly.

First of all, because it seemed it would be a story that isn’t easy. Thankfully, Jung Han-taek, the President, was ready to accept the explanation with an open attitude.

He continues his words.

“Let us trace back to before the Cataclysm for a moment, Mr. President.”

“Let’s do that.”

“As you know, before the Cataclysm. The one managing Arcana was AAU’s predecessor, Cosmo. Tuning Arcana was their task. However, after the Cataclysm, they lost such an ability.”

Jung Han-taek nodded his head.

It was not difficult to understand up to that point.

Wasn’t Arcana realized as another world beyond a game? The ability to tune reality did not exist for Cosmo’s employees, who were merely ordinary humans.

“In the international trials spanning several years, the innocence of Cosmo employees was revealed. Of course, excluding the CEO, Raymond Sean.”

Literally.

They searched the earth thoroughly.

Despite that, they could not secure Raymond Sean’s person.

“This matter has clearly gone against it.”

“……Gone against it suddenly? Against what, Director of National Security?”

“Raymond Sean, who can be called the sole manager of Arcana now. The trust that had been continuing between him and the players. It has started to shake with this update announced by Raymond Sean.”

“The foundation of trust is shaking?”

Even among players.

Even among nations.

The evaluation toward Raymond Sean was sharply divided.

The opinion of the side defending Raymond Sean was simple.

If he wanted to drive reality into destruction, what is the reason for paying massive rift clear reward money, and what is the reason for sharing update details with players.

“Mmm.”

Jung Han-taek’s stance was neutral.

So he had no choice but to ask back.

Jung Han-taek’s brow furrows a little.

“With just one update like this? It’s not like he said he wouldn’t pay rift clear rewards, and unlike during the Great Evil, didn’t he also properly share the update details?”

The Director of National Security’s answer was concise.

“The players’ stance is different. They must have believed it. That even if it’s Raymond Sean who was called Arcana’s CEO, he could not directly interfere with Arcana.”

“……!”

At those words, Jung Han-taek suddenly realized.

Gently pressing his temples, time out.

He asked for their understanding and continued his words after a moment.

“I think I might understand those feelings.”

Facing against rifts, the erosion of Arcana, players are engaging in a life-risking struggle. However, what if such an Arcana continent was a world that could be tuned according to Raymond Sean’s intentions?

“It would be a situation where one really loses their appetite.”

“Whether the update details are favorable news for humanity or not is not very important. The important thing is that Raymond Sean can directly tune the Arcana continent. Now that that fact has been proven…….”

“So that’s why it went against them. Whether it became a taboo or their feelings.”

Now realizing the seriousness of the situation.

‘Think, Jung Han-taek.’

Jung Han-taek had no choice but to worry deeply about the nation’s future. He couldn’t act hastily according to the AAU agreement. Leaders of other countries must be having a headache just like him.

‘Compared to them, I…….’

Still have slightly better circumstances.

Jung Han-taek oddly felt relieved.

He couldn’t help it.

‘To think he would have predicted even this.’

Raymond Sean, whose evaluations were mixed.

‘Player Lee Ho-yeol.’

Because the existence who consistently showed a hostile attitude toward him was none other than Ho-yeol. Of course, he had no thought of relying on Ho-yeol and letting go of his hands.

Jung Han-taek swiftly gave instructions to the staff members.

“Now that players have fallen into chaos. Won’t the loaches who can’t hide their true nature start to run wild? That is the only thing we have to do. To pull out the weeds and cut off the yellow sprouts.”

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Yusra Kingdom, Golden Palace.

“It has been a while, Sir Harkan.”

“Oho, those eyes have become even more resolute.”

“Is it noticeable? We crossed over it in our own way. A battlefield of life and death.”

“Is that so? Seeing you speak so confidently, it makes me want to confirm with my own two eyes how deep your sword energy has become. Regretfully, there will be no time to do so today but.”

Stride stride.

While exchanging greetings, Harkan and the Giant Alliance’s three Guild Masters don’t stop their steps. Leonie, who was struggling to keep pace at the end, opened her mouth.

“Have you heard the news?”

“Of course. It is a truly unexpected situation.”

“That bastard, doing something he totally didn’t do before.”

Nam Tae-min was dissatisfied with the situation.

“What, a balance patch?”

Even back when Arcana was a game, balance patches were uncommon.

No, it was safe to say there were none.

Even if elements that harmed the balance were found in Arcana.

Cosmo judged even that closely as a single natural flow and event.

‘Tuning the balance by inducing players to remove the elements through new quests. If that is unfeasible, NPCs stepping forward directly to remove it. If not even that, putting it away without anyone knowing when it was forgotten from memories.’

Because they tuned the balance within boundaries that did not harm the players’ sense of immersion.

Come to think of it…….

The person who would have carried out that role as an NPC, Harkan, was right next to them.

Right, in reality, not the Arcana continent.

Nam Tae-min smack! hits his palm with his fist.

“……Wait! Could this be because there are no figures to tune the balance on the Arcana continent? Since folks like Master are all here. Could that be why that bastard Raymond Sean forcefully intervened?”

“Nam Tae-min kun.”

The one who spoke coldly was Hisagi.

The snake-like eyes glaring up.

Hisagi shakes his head.

“Would it have come to this situation if he had the thought to tune the balance? From the very beginning, the direction of the updates was always self-indulgent without any consideration for the players. And finally.”

A sharp point in many ways follows.

“Isn’t the General Commander on the Arcana continent?”

“……Hah jeez, I can’t even say anything in front of this.”

“You will have to pull your pride together, Nam Tae-min kun.”

The war of nerves going back and forth between the two.

“What are you two same kinds doing every day, seriously?”

The moment Leonie clicked her tongue, tsk.

The four reached the Round Table of the Golden Palace.

The Holy War Allied Forces’ meeting, many personnel were already gathered at that location.

The King of Yusra, Hakuna, observed the attendees before opening his mouth.

“It seems everyone has gathered.”

He’s entering the Arcana continent.

Since Ho-yeol had submitted a letter of reason to the Mage Tower and the Yusra Kingdom and emptied his seat. Marcelo, who was attending the meeting, suddenly recalled Ho-yeol’s letter of reason.

‘Personal affairs.’

He had no thought of daring to guess Sir Ho-yeol’s personal affairs.

He was just concerned for Ho-yeol who wouldn’t be able to encounter such a crucial fact in real-time.

The exploration of The Strange.

The urgent news he checked with the smartphone Ho-yeol handed to him.

Because the update details would have a massive impact on the Arcana continent.

‘It is unknown when he will return but.’

At least in the world of adventurers.

He wanted to relieve the worries in reality.

It is not a thought unique to himself.

At least everyone in this place must have attended the meeting for him.

Reality and the Arcana continent.

A situation where Ho-yeol, who has mastered The Strange to the point of perfectly crossing back and forth between the two worlds, has emptied his seat.

‘We would not be able to perfectly fill his empty seat.’

However, in this place, there are adventurers.

And Arcanians like himself exist.

Marcelo laughed softly.

‘Even so, we will try cooperating according to his will.’

A meeting that started simultaneously with Marcelo’s resolution.

A parchment floats up with magic.

On it, the regular update details were engraved.

──────

Arcana Continent Biography: Regular Update (Including Balance Patch)

※Major Balance Tuning Targets

●Demon Race Boss Monster, Demon King.

All Demon Kings, excluding the top 10 Demon Kings in rank, will be deleted. It is a judgment made as the existence of unnecessary Demon Kings could cause a negative influence, so we ask for the broad understanding of all players.

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──────

*

Witch of the Southern Sea.

She looked at the Southern Sea from the coast.

Looking at the wind direction, scent, and the quiet ears…….

Puu─

She spits out a sigh along with smoke.

“Looks like you’re going to somehow pass by quietly today?”

One day, two days, three days…….

The Omen of Ill Fortune, who hadn’t gone a single day without chattering, had been quiet for the past few days. From when she noticed that guy’s existence until now. It was an uncommon few days even for the witch who had watched that guy.

“Thanks to that, I earned some gold coins to buy cigarettes.”

Gold coins supplied through 『Space-Time Quests』.

Even among Transcendants, those who can access the upper floors are in the extreme minority.

Since the witch possessed that qualification, unlike the majority of Transcendants who are strapped for Space-Time gold coins, it wasn’t a big problem even if she squandered gold coins on cigarettes.

Of course.

“Cough cough.”

Her body rotting away due to strong cigarettes was a problem but.

“……I can’t do this shit anymore.”

Her gaze heading toward the sea again.

Those few who knew about the relationship between her and the Omen of Ill Fortune.

They used to ask unanimously.

-“I thought you said it’s an Omen of Ill Fortune you don’t even want to look at? What is the reason you’re just staring at the sea day in and day out with a dying body when you don’t even have a particular way to stop it?”

The witch answered.

“……That thing talks to me.”

Because if even she didn’t listen to its curses, the Omen of Ill Fortune, it felt like that guy would run wild again. It felt like it would open its maw toward the continent. So the witch had no choice but to look at the damn sea.

“I really am a crazy bitch.”

The Omen of Ill Fortune had swallowed even the witch’s mind long ago.

However, making the witch’s efforts seem pointless.

“……?”

The change started from a few lines of text that floated up in a world completely different from the Arcana continent, not the Arcana continent. It was natural that she couldn’t notice the precursor.

“……!”

Creeping─

A giant shadow soaring beyond the horizon.

The witch finally ended up noticing it.

“W, Why……?”

The fact that the Omen of Ill Fortune had manifested on the continent.

*

There really is no end to the things to do.

Somehow I finished restoring Claudi’s mansion, and now the devastated territory was a problem. However, let’s think about how to restore the territory later.

“It flows as fast as an afternoon teatime.”

Since another day has passed in real time, I have to pick up the quill pen.

If you ask why a quill pen all of a sudden.

Why are you asking anew.

‘I have to submit it. A daily greeting memorial.’

Even while suffering from Granfel’s filial piety, I suddenly became amazed.

Just how is he able to write letters of thousands of characters every single day?

Of course, it’s obvious the answer will be a filial son’s pride, so I won’t bother asking.

Scribble─

I put down the quill pen and opened my mouth.

“I request you.”

In reality, if I simply manifested magic, the letter would grow wings and fly to my parents’ house on its own but. Since this is the Arcana continent, an additional interference process is needed right.

“Deliver the news, and bring news back.”

Wooooosh─

Soon, the letter transmitted by tearing through dimensions.

‘It is incredible filial piety, truly.’

There will be no one else in the world who consumes this much magic power just for a morning greeting. Since there’s a time difference, it’ll take some time for the reply to arrive.

‘I should take a look around in the meantime.’

At Claudi’s mansion.

Since I restored it with inversion magic, I might be able to salvage some of the settings of the Claudi mansion. Like, there might be things I can use just like how the stone statues of the 4 families revived, you know.

‘The more lacking I am, the more I have to scrape up.’

It was the moment I was making a resolution with the stern expression of a family head.

Wooooosh─

……The reply is faster than expected?

It’s my parents who would send a long reply not losing to my daily greeting memorial. No matter how much time difference there is, isn’t it too fast. Wondering if maybe they wrote it down beforehand was brief.

I unfolded the letter.

From my mouth.

A cold voice pops out.

“There is no pride to be found.”

What was enclosed was an A4 paper with the regular update details printed.

Right, it was still Thursday over there.

It seems a new regular update popped up after a long while.

Of all times, when I entered the Arcana continent.

Wow, if anything went wrong I would have almost missed it without even knowing why?

In that sense.

“I will not forget this grace, Father and Mother.”

This time I really benefited from extreme filial piety.

Let’s see.

‘Deleting Demon Kings, you say.’

I don’t know what for the balance tuning patch is but.

What’s certain is that it’s bad news for me.

Actually going beyond that, it’s on the level of sniping me, Lee Ho-yeol.

‘How much EXP and loot does a Demon King drop.’

You’re going to act this petty?

Indeed, Granfel didn’t say there is no pride for nothing.

However, Raymond Sean.

You made a big mistake, a huge mistake.

‘The Omen of Ill Fortune is moving.’

Demon King deletion.

So basically you’re going to give the Demon Kings as prey for the Omen of Ill Fortune, you know.

Truly.

‘You’re overlooking it, huh?’

Who is inside the belly of that Omen of Ill Fortune.

I opened my mouth resolutely.

“I shall omit the cumbersome process.”

As if waiting for my words, the quest objective flickers.

Sssss─

The cumbersome quest objective is erased and a new objective is updated.

“Oh Akshan.”

●Hunt the Omen of Ill Fortune. (In Progress)

An irresistible natural enemy relationship.

The moment a Demon Hunter faces a demon.

The power of the skill [Natural Enemy Relationship] that activates……!

“The hunt begins.”