Chapter 70 – I Cannot Stand By and Watch (1)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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[Quest : Marcelo’s Research]

What blinked first was the Mage Tower, Marcelo’s quest.

─Approach to Phenomena (Ongoing) ▲

●Clear the rift. (Repeat)

●Witness the Arcana continent. (Success)

Clear the rift.

The new quest objective that popped up below it.

The word [Success] was telling me again.

Quernberg Mechanical Tower.

That the place visible outside is the real Arcana continent.

The appearance of the Arcana continent in my memory was a whopping 12 years ago.

It was back when Arcana was merely a game.

Right, it’s natural that if mountains and rivers change it would have changed a few times.

‘But.’

This isn’t at the level of mountains and rivers changing, is it?

Burning forests and lands.

Smoke covering the whole area.

Villages trampled without a trace.

The terribly collapsed castle walls.

Were telling me that the situation in the cities wouldn’t be any different.

But more than anything.

‘Wherever my sight reaches, there are demons.’

I was anticipating it to some extent.

In a short time.

When thinking about the influence demon race monsters showed reality.

The situation in the Arcana continent would be worse, not better than reality.

‘Even so, this seems like a somewhat serious situation…….’

The exact circumstances of the Arcana continent?

Of course, there was no way for me to know.

Why, because the scenery of the Arcana continent I’m watching right now would also only be reflecting the area around the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.

But that alone was enough to realize the seriousness of the situation.

‘Think calmly.’

Although I was surprised by the unexpected sight.

This time too, I benefited from Granfel’s setting of not being easily swayed by joy or sorrow.

I was able to think rationally without being agitated.

‘What’s important till the end is reality.’

[『Phenomenon』], itself.

Connecting the Arcana continent and reality.

As long as the rift exists.

The crisis of the Arcana continent is right away.

No different from a crisis that will strike reality.

‘From now on, I cannot rely on the update history.’

It didn’t mean I distrusted the update history entirely.

In the first place, the update history itself is for helping Players.

Everything was because of demons, leading back to demons.

Because it was highly likely that those guys, hiding their true identities.

While possessing ‘something’.

Would overflow into reality through the rift.

“It is deeply cowardly.”

Now that I know that fact.

Granfel’s pride cannot stand by and watch that sight.

Monsters aside, the sight of demons strutting around reality?

It means it’s an impossible thing in Granfel’s dictionary.

‘I have no choice but to be more serious about clearing rifts.’

Because it means they touched upon his pride on top of the exploration of phenomena.

Ultimately, the ones dying will be me and my struggling legs……!

It wouldn’t have been weird to organize my thoughts around there but.

“I cannot tolerate this scenery either.”

I continued my words like that.

Right, for me.

No, for Granfel, there was work remaining.

As I said, the sight of demons strutting around?

Now that I’ve witnessed it, it means I can’t leave it be.

Even if that is something happening on the Arcana continent!

Interfering with the Arcana continent from reality is impossible.

But what if it’s in the space of [『Phenomenon』], the rift?

‘I might be able to interfere with the Arcana continent.’

As if proving that possibility.

Another quest was blinking.

[Class Quest : Akshan’s Legacy]

The beacon of survival has been definitively relayed.

The last Demon Hunter.

Reclaim your legacies lost by evil.

─Train your weakened physical body. (Repeat)

─Investigate the final battle weapon, the Quernberg Mechanical Tower. (Success)

─Operate the final battle weapon, the Quernberg Mechanical Tower. (Ongoing)

Operate the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.

At the same time as confirming the new objective.

Clank!

Shoooook!

The mechanical device I was riding on slowly came to a stop.

Soon, a magnificent sight spread out in my vision.

A massive cogwheel and mechanical device were meshed together.

Having explored the [Quernberg Ascent Lever].

I was one who thought I roughly grasped the structure of the Mechanical Tower.

That massive device was designed with complex circuits incomparable to the lever or such.

“It is exactly like a heart.”

The exclamation let out.

Simultaneously, a message popped up.

[You have entered the Quernberg Mechanical Tower – Top Floor.]

This place is exactly the top floor of the Mechanical Tower.

Anyone with wits would notice.

That the operation of the final battle weapon Quernberg Mechanical Tower is exactly here.

That it will be done on the top floor.

I didn’t hesitate.

Tap

I approached the massive mechanical heart.

If someone saw, they would ask with worry.

Whether it’s okay to touch it carelessly.

Whether it wouldn’t break down by touching it like that.

It’s a fully acceptable concern.

As I just said, the mechanical heart was composed of pedantic and complex structures to an extent that it couldn’t be grasped right away even with Granfel’s talent.

However.

“What is needed to hunt demons is not knowledge.”

Right.

Whether it’s complex, an aggregate of immense technological capability, or whatever.

Ultimately, the Quernberg Mechanical Tower is Akshan’s legacy.

It means it’s a final battle weapon for hunting demons.

“A ritual might be a different story.”

So I didn’t hesitate.

I placed my hand on the mechanical heart.

Began the ritual unique to Demon Hunters.

[‘Quernberg Mechanical Tower’ has been chosen as the sacrifice.]

[Skill, ‘Exorcism Ritual’ is activated.]

Clank!

The mechanical heart starting to pulsate.

Screech!

Tssssss!

The massive mechanical devices meshing together, the entire Mechanical Tower began to vibrate.

The exorcism ritual to slay demons.

The Quernberg Mechanical Tower is its sacrifice.

The Mechanical Tower offered as a sacrifice, until it stops operating.

Will hunt the demons running rampant on the Arcana continent.

[Quernberg Mechanical Tower begins operation.]

Ruuuumble!

The vibration and shaking gradually worsening.

Amidst the shaking vision, messages popped up.

[You have cleared the Quernberg Mechanical Tower Rift.]

Clear.

Soon the space of [『Phenomenon』], the rift will close.

When my vision returns, I’ll open my eyes in reality.

But I know.

“Legacy of Akshan.”

No, I don’t doubt it.

“Fully perform your pride as a final battle weapon.”

That the Quernberg Mechanical Tower until the very, very end.

Will hunt the demons of the Arcana continent.

As if saying that belief wasn’t wrong.

In my blurring vision.

Messages popped up in succession.

─Operate the final battle weapon, the Quernberg Mechanical Tower. (Success)

[You have fulfilled the conditions.]

[You have uncovered the secret of the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.]

[The final battle weapon, the Quernberg Mechanical Tower, begins its counterattack.]

[Experience points are accumulated in the final battle weapon, the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.]

[Reputation is accumulated in the final battle weapon, the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.]

[Regarding the accumulated experience points and reputation…….]

.

.

.

[You have cleared the Quernberg Mechanical Tower Rift.]

……It’s Ho-yeol.

In the end, Lee Ho-yeol cleared the rift.

That message popped up for all Players in the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.

A performance making one click their tongue once again. Above all, this was an unimaginable clear speed.

“No, how did he fill 30 points at once?”

“When I last checked it was definitely 21 points though?”

“By-By the way, why is this thing like this?!”

Ruuuummmmble!

Isn’t this going to collapse?!

The Mechanical Tower was shaking so violently that it made them make a fuss.

The question and curiosity couldn’t help but grow even bigger.

“What on earth happened on the upper floor?”

“Seeing how he cleared the rift right away, was there less than expected?”

“Even so, it’s not something like a self-destruct device, right?”

“Ah, it’s frustrating! Doesn’t Lee Ho-yeol have any intention of streaming or something?!”

Curious to the point of wanting to throw a ridiculous tantrum!

But that atmosphere didn’t last long.

Because soon, messages popped up for the Players as well.

[Someone has uncovered the secret of the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.]

[The final battle weapon, the Quernberg Mechanical Tower, begins its counterattack.]

“!!!”

This time they could know right away.

That that someone is exactly Lee Ho-yeol!

Ho-yeol, really, had uncovered the secret of the Quernberg Mechanical Tower in this short time.

But wait a minute, a final battle weapon you say?

The expressions of the Players gradually began to change.

“……Begins its counterattack? Counterattack? What counterattack?”

“Then this shaking right now is? Not it collapsing?”

“Don’t tell me, it was something like a transforming robot?! This?!”

Astonishment and more astonishment

Literally a succession of astonishment

But they couldn’t stay surprised forever.

Rift cleared.

Just like the system message that popped up.

When they opened their eyes again, the scenery of reality was welcoming them.

In this dumbfounded moment.

The rift generated in the Yusra Kingdom.

The Players who entered the Mechanical Tower through it thought.

‘……Ah right, Lee Ho-yeol!’

‘Where is Lee Ho-yeol?’

‘……If we catch even a single word, it’s a jackpot, this!’

They looked around.

They made up their minds to grab onto even Ho-yeol’s ankles and hang on.

Really, the messages that popped up like a storm.

What on earth happened on the upper floor?

What is the secret of the Quernberg Mechanical Tower again?

Saying counterattack begins, whose counterattack is it about?

What kind of foreshadowing is final battle weapon again?

Thanks to that, the questions that popped up were a truckload.

The viewers watching, no, the whole world would be the same.

If they could catch an answer regarding that, even just one.

“……Alright.”

For the world’s right to know, I will step forward.

The Players hardening their resolute determination.

Finding Ho-yeol among the crowd?

That wasn’t particularly difficult.

Starting from that silver hair.

Ho-yeol’s presence coming from his appearance couldn’t be buried even if one tried to.

Not stopping there, this time muscle mass Nam Tae-min was beside him too.

But.

“……Heok.”

Right to know, resolute determination, and what not.

The moment they faced Ho-yeol.

Their lips froze and wouldn’t part.

Trying to ask, it had come up.

The cold attitude Ho-yeol had shown to the public all this time.

-No what are you doing??? Forgot the question??

-Fr make me press subscribe twice

-Just ask anything please!! Or are you collecting money?!

That was something more frightening than the viewers’ angry chat.

Weren’t they Players after all?

Like in the Quernberg Mechanical Tower Rift.

There was no law saying they wouldn’t encounter Ho-yeol again.

But, if they were to get on Ho-yeol’s bad side……?

‘……Oh, crazy.’

Suddenly, Ho-yeol’s performance in the Mechanical Tower brushing past.

The sight of passing through traps overflowing with dignity.

10 consecutive wins in an instant in a Tournament where it’s arduous to get even 1 win.

Because they had watched that sight directly.

‘I must be crazy!!’

Like reporters who don’t know anything.

They couldn’t approach Ho-yeol.

Right, one sees as much as one knows.

Because the Players knew Ho-yeol.

They couldn’t possibly grab his ankles and hang on.

“I will go first.”

The crowd parting at that one word from Ho-yeol.

So Ho-yeol, amidst that countless crowd.

Left the spot without getting a single wrinkle or speck of dust on his clothes.

“……Huu.”

Only then popping out an exhalation.

An excuse popped out from the left behind Players.

“No, there was nothing we could do, you see?”

“You saw that cold expression, right? Knowing it really wasn’t his business……!”

“Cancel subscription? Do it. No, do it as much as you want!! Views, comments, dislike terrorism, or whatever. Lee Ho-yeol is way more frightening than that stuff!!”

*

I headed straight to the portal.

Arrived at the Mage Tower.

Climbed the stairs and opened the laboratory door.

Click

It was only after closing that door that it felt real.

……No matter how I think about it, I think I hit the jackpot.

Quernberg Mechanical Tower top floor.

The last message I witnessed there.

[Experience points are accumulated in the final battle weapon, the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.]

[Reputation is accumulated in the final battle weapon, the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.]

[You acquire acquisition authority over the accumulated experience points and reputation.]

Acquisition authority over experience points and reputation, it says!

It wasn’t anything else, it was the experience points and reputation acquired by the Quernberg Mechanical Tower. It means it’s an object with the grand modifier of ‘final battle weapon’ attached to it.

Moreover, I directly with these two eyes.

Confirmed the technological capability of the Mechanical Tower.

……Perhaps I don’t have to blame my level anymore?

It is the final battle weapon, the Quernberg Mechanical Tower, that began its counterattack.

Hunting the demons of the Arcana continent, it will naturally accumulate experience points,

Playing an active role naturally, it will accumulate reputation.

‘And it means I get to swallow that whole…….’

It wouldn’t be weird if my heart beat as if it would burst from that anticipation but.

As expected, beyond being nonchalant, I was shameless.

Clink

Before I knew it, I was tilting a teacup.

“With great power comes great responsibility.”

It’s a personality that makes it hard to even set the mood once. Really.

Of course, thinking calmly, it was too early to be happy.

It’s just acquiring the ‘acquisition authority’ untill the end.

‘It doesn’t mean I acquired it.’

So whether it’s the experience points or reputation accumulated in the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.

It meant that I had to ‘acquire’ it anyway for it to become mine.

There would be no way to know that method for now.

Because the Quernberg Mechanical Tower existed on the Arcana continent.

Clink

So it would be right to calm this flutter right now.

Right, let’s think of it as an installment savings and live forgetting about it.

So that I can become someone who can be confident in front of levels.

In order to not be pathetic anymore.

It’s an installment savings accumulated for the future.

Scritch, scratch

Of course, my hand didn’t care about mental victories and such.

It had been moving busily for a while.

Letters engraved onto the parchment with a quill pen.

Its recipient was naturally the Chief Mage, Marcelo.

[Marcelo’s Research], achieved that quest objective.

I also learned new facts in the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.

‘I should converse with Marcelo regarding that.’

The situation in the Arcana continent witnessed in the rift.

The possibility of interfering with the Arcana continent.

Even the identity of the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.

Since I had found out many things in my own way, I had a lot to say.

Shssh

Soon, Marcelo’s reply rising on the parchment.

I definitely said I had a lot to say but.

“……!”

At the first sentence that popped up, I unwittingly lost my words.

Quernberg Mechanical Tower.

I did think that technological capability was unusual but.

……To think that ‘race’ comes out here?!