Chapter 71 – I Cannot Stand By and Watch (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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This wasn’t a conversation to exchange via parchment.

Clink

“I missed this scent.”

Even so, it wasn’t a relaxing conversation to the point of sitting face-to-face exchanging teacups either. Formality and etiquette are this important. Marcelo savored the tea and continued speaking.

“As you might have guessed, the Quernberg Mechanical Tower is indeed a building of the dwarves.”

……To say such an important story as if it were natural!

That was right, the brilliant technological capability melted into the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.

That was exactly the touch of the dwarves.

‘……Is this real life.’

Dwarves.

From the time Arcana was merely a game until now.

They were no different from existences in legends.

If nothing else, elves at least had eyewitness accounts.

Because information regarding dwarves truly didn’t show even the tip of its nose.

-Isn’t it just that they appear later because of balance??

-Fr if things like dwarven weapons pour out from the start lol

-Considering the legends it might not exactly be wrong???

Right, what was conveyed.

Was about to the extent of legends passed down by word of mouth.

That the equipment of dwarves was difficult to obtain even with hundreds of millions of gold.

That the brilliant technological capability of dwarves was to the extent of being comparable to magic.

That therefore they became victims of the balance patch.

……Thinking about it now, there wasn’t anything wrong in those words, right?

‘The technological capability of the Mechanical Tower was to the extent of being compared to the Mage Tower.’

On top of that, there’s no way Marcelo would say something trivial.

It seemed the Quernberg Mechanical Tower was indeed a dwarven building.

“Indeed, such technological capability is not common.”

Let alone guessing.

Although I was surprised by the sudden emergence of the dwarf race.

Naturally, I didn’t show it.

Marcelo nodded his head and added to my words.

“The technological capability of the dwarves that has reached its extreme is to the extent of being compared to magic. The direction is merely different from the Mage Tower. Their sentiment of craving and refining their techniques is also understandable.”

If there are themselves who explore magic for truth.

Does it mean there are also dwarves who pursue techniques.

Marcelo’s words that seemed to suggest there was something connecting them also lasted only a moment.

“So may I ask what happened in the Quernberg Mechanical Tower?”

A polite question equipped with formality followed.

At that satisfying attitude, I replied.

Its beginning was the story about the rift.

Meaning, starting from the story about the quest.

“In the space of phenomena, the rift, I witnessed the Arcana continent.”

“……!”

“As you also guessed, demons were strutting around.”

“Such a……!”

A reaction that the worry became reality.

Marcelo let out an exclamation.

Then he painstakingly continued his words.

“I cannot lift my head. To think I can do nothing.”

The Mage Tower, the concealed story behind it.

Although I still didn’t know the exact circumstances.

With the reaction just now, I could be more certain.

‘It’s certain that even if they want to interfere, they cannot.’

That circumstance must be definitely serious.

Because even the powerhouse of the Mage Tower.

The Chief Mage Marcelo had his hands tied.

So motivation surged once again.

Whether it’s through a quest, or whatever.

If I can just solve the Mage Tower’s story……!

‘I’ll gain a massive ally called the Mage Tower.’

That means it’s a truly incalculable reward.

So there’s no way I can solve it right now.

Didn’t I say it?

Because that was a circumstance that even Marcelo couldn’t even voice out, let alone solve.

I, as I always did.

Will just generously wait for the time.

Clink

I put down the teacup and continued my words.

“But I also witnessed a possibility.”

Self-blaming Marcelo.

Because there was also something that would be definitive comfort to him.

Anticipation showed through Marcelo’s parched face.

“……If you say possibility?”

“It means I interfered with the Arcana continent through the rift.”

“……!!”

Of course, there was no law saying I would witness the Arcana continent in the next rift too.

And that I would be able to interfere.

Well, it wasn’t a wrong statement anyway.

I didn’t forget the concrete story regarding that either.

“The Quernberg Mechanical Tower, as Akshan’s final battle weapon, will hunt demons until its pride is exhausted. As much as recognizing the technological capability of the dwarves. Marcelo, it would be good for you to relieve your guilt even a little.”

The story about Akshan had no choice but to come out naturally.

‘Because there’s no particular reason to hide it.’

And even if I wanted to hide it, could I hide it.

An unhonorable act does not exist in Granfel’s dictionary.

Marcelo seemed to need time to think.

“……Thank you for the good words.”

Indeed, I had poured out so many stories.

Looking at it now, preparing the tea was an excellent choice.

Otherwise my throat would have burned from talking.

“My.”

Clink

As if feeling the same way.

Marcelo lifted his empty teacup, then went ‘ah’ and put it down.

I spoke generously.

“Will you have another cup?”

“No, I couldn’t possibly cause further inconvenience…….”

“From green tea to Solomon’s seal tea. What do you think.”

A tea bag collection neatly organized on the table.

Put differently, sale items filled with an upright and clean taste.

Marcelo rolled his large eyes and then opened his mouth.

“……Then I’ll have barley tea.”

“An excellent choice.”

“Thank you.”

“Take this tea with you as well. Its scent wasn’t bad.”

“My, I have no shame. You clearly informed me about the existence of Rocket Delivery last time. Yet I was not ready to accept new knowledge.”

Readiness to accept new knowledge, he says.

At most, how to use a smartphone.

A method to shop with a smartphone would probably be needed.

“Is that so. If you have any questions regarding it, ask anytime.”

But what, acting as if it’s something grand.

Telling him to ask as much as he wants.

No matter how I think about it.

As time goes by, his shamelessness crosses the line, really…….

.

.

.

The office.

Marcelo paced around the office for a long time.

His head was complex.

He couldn’t easily sit down.

Marcelo dropped his head.

“Tower Master, what should I do?”

Although he knew an answer wouldn’t return.

His head was so complex that he felt his head would burst if he didn’t at least talk to himself.

The situation of the Arcana continent?

Because it was what he had guessed.

The shock wasn’t big.

The sense of helplessness of not being able to step forward?

Because that also wasn’t just a day or two.

He could bear it.

Moreover, because there was a possibility.

A possibility to save the Arcana continent.

Didn’t Ho-yeol witness it?

Right, the reason his head was complex wasn’t because of that.

“……Akshan, you say.”

Right.

That name that popped out from Ho-yeol’s mouth, Akshan.

Complex thoughts started to bite onto each other’s tails.

‘The Quernberg Mechanical Tower was Akshan’s final battle weapon. It means it was the weapon of the Demon Hunters. Sir Ho-yeol operated that final battle weapon to save Arcana…….’

The thoughts barely organized.

What those words meant was simple.

That Ho-yeol is a Demon Hunter.

Marcelo smiled bitterly.

“……Why are you making us owe you a debt once again?”

Akshan.

And Demon Hunters.

To them, the Mage Tower had a debt they couldn’t repay.

Marcelo let out a moan.

“Without even knowing that, I……!”

Completely ignorant of the existence of that debt.

He ended up owing Ho-yeol a favor once again.

Like his heart was tearing.

An emotion definitively different from a sense of helplessness was felt.

Right, this was true guilt.

Grind

Marcelo gritted his teeth.

“No, I don’t even have the qualification to feel pity…….”

Akshan.

Demon Hunter.

And the Holy War.

If he thinks about the trials Ho-yeol would have experienced in the history of the past, he wouldn’t dare……. In that sense, Marcelo ended up admiring him once again.

“How can you be so composed?”

How could Ho-yeol possibly not be agitated?

Even if he swapped their situations, it was to the extent he couldn’t understand.

Marcelo looked at the tea bag held in his hand.

-Take this tea with you as well. Its scent wasn’t bad.

And thought.

‘……If I had been you, sir.’

Could I have bestowed such mercy.

Marcelo had no confidence.

He couldn’t even fathom the size of Ho-yeol’s vessel.

But one thing was certain.

“I can no longer endure this, Tower Master.”

That he couldn’t end up owing Ho-yeol a debt anymore.

Even though he couldn’t hear the Tower Master’s answer, Marcelo was certain.

“Now that we know his origin. Tower Master, you would have made the same decision as me.”

So he had no intention of hesitating.

The Round Table Conference scheduled to resume.

Marcelo was planning to detonate a bomb in that conference.

The justification is sufficient.

Why, didn’t they witness the possibility of the rift thanks to Ho-yeol?

Slide

Marcelo opened the drawer.

“Right now, I don’t even have the qualification to accept mercy.”

He placed the tea bag inside the drawer which didn’t even have a speck of dust, let alone any items.

He didn’t know when the time to open this drawer again would be but.

One thing was certain.

That a flow different from until now would unfold in the Mage Tower.

Marcelo murmured lowly.

“The elders had better prepare themselves as well.”

*

Quernberg Mechanical Tower Rift!

From its beginning to its clear.

It flowed in a direction no one had expected.

When saying no one, it meant AAU was also included.

“Sunbae, I think I’ll just write a resignation letter.”

“Resignation letter? Why a resignation letter all of a sudden?”

“There has to be a limit to being harassed for real!”

Sung Hyun-joon felt it was unfair.

There was nothing that grand just because they were AAU.

That was the same even during the days when Arcana was just a game,

And when he was a developer of Arcana.

“No, could we possibly know many things with common sense!”

Arcana made money since it was merely a game.

It’s a natural story that information regarding Arcana becomes money.

So security regarding content was bound to be thorough.

It means even developers couldn’t know all information.

It might be a different story for the missing CEO Raymond Sean…….

Anyway, even though everyone clearly knew that.

“Why do they keep asking! Me, an innocent person!!”

Scratch, scratch

Sung Hyun-joon scratched his head.

Because he himself was also experiencing the pain of misery loving company.

Yoon Soo-gyeom nonchalantly retorted.

“Everyone must be doing that because they’re frustrated. How curious must they be?”

“I don’t know either! I’m dying of frustration too! No matter how many times I say it, calling from dawn…….”

“Then quit. You won’t have freedom anyway though.”

“You’re too cold, sunbae. This is sad. Sad.”

“If you have time to lament your circumstances, take a look at this.”

“What is it, again.”

“What else, it’s Lee Ho-yeol.”

“Ah, seriously! Even you, sunbae?”

Lee Ho-yeol.

It was a name he felt he heard more than his own three-letter name.

Screeech

Sung Hyun-joon pulled his chair while grumbling.

Then he saw Ho-yeol’s appearance displayed on the monitor.

“What’s this, you subscribed to Park Hwi-gang too, sunbae?”

“He makes Lee Ho-yeol fan movies amazingly well. Anyway.”

The important thing wasn’t something like that.

It was precisely the Quernberg Mechanical Tower which became the background.

The mouse cursor flickered and pointed at the background.

“You know right away by looking at it, right?”

“I know. Quernberg Mechanical Tower. Though I don’t know what it is.”

“That’s an accurate expression. That.”

It was exactly as Sung Hyun-joon said.

He knew it, but exactly what it is, he didn’t know.

Because that was the limit of AAU’s information gathering ability.

Even if they looked incompetent, there was nothing they could do.

“That was something we were going to use much later. Originally.”

“Right. Though we didn’t know how we were going to use it either.”

“Raymond, that damn bastard probably knew, didn’t he? That evil……!”

“Anyway, there’s testimony from Players regarding it.”

Testimony from Players.

That was exactly the moment the rift was cleared.

The message that popped up.

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

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

Sung Hyun-joon flared up in an instant.

“Right! Because of that I thought I was going to die, I tell you? It’s naturally Lee Ho-yeol. Since they asked I kindly answered them. And they said they know that much too. No, then why did they call? In the world?!”

Why did they call, indeed.

Yoon Soo-gyeom moved the mouse.

The mouse cursor pointed to the second line.

Sung Hyun-joon poured out a heated speech again.

“That’s what I’m saying, I’m curious too you know? We don’t even know what the Quernberg Mechanical Tower is. How are we supposed to know what kind of final battle weapon it is for. You know how I feel, sunbae, right? Right?”

“No, not there.”

“Yes? Not the final battle weapon part?”

Looking again, what the cursor pointed to was the back part.

“……Begins its counterattack?”

Yoon Soo-gyeom spoke meaningfully.

“System messages don’t lie. That is a promise.”

“That is true, right?”

“So that message must undoubtedly be a fact too.”

Begins its counterattack.

Sung Hyun-joon read that message over and over again and then flinched.

“……Hold on, sunbae. If it says a counterattack begins?”

“Right. It means a counterattack started not in the reality we’re in, but on the Arcana continent where the Quernberg Mechanical Tower exists. Hyun-joon-ah, you know what that means, right?”

“N-Naturally!!”

The situation of the Arcana continent?

Even if they couldn’t witness it, they could predict it.

That the flow of time is 4 times faster than reality.

Because that meant the growth speed and influence of demon race monsters were also faster than the flow of time.

Just looking at the fallen Frost, one could tell that hypothesis wasn’t wrong.

So.

Sung Hyun-joon cautiously opened his mouth.

“If the system message wasn’t wrong…….”

“On the Arcana continent which must be close to a living hell. A meaningful counterattack that even the system couldn’t help but acknowledge has begun. Someone in the message. Right, thanks to Lee Ho-yeol uncovering the secret of the Quernberg Mechanical Tower.”

“……Sunbae. Isn’t this an extraordinary matter?!”

“Right, it’s not an ordinary matter.”

Perhaps what Ho-yeol achieved right now is exactly.

“Because it will be humanity’s first counterattack against this fucked up situation.”

And considering both reality and the Arcana continent.

It would be the first counterattack throughout both worlds.

Even if the world might not know that fact yet.

The person involved, Ho-yeol, would definitely know it.

In that sense, the two had no choice but to admire him.

“Seriously if it were me I’d be telling everyone everywhere…….”

Shaking head.

“No, telling everyone everywhere isn’t enough. I would have bragged about it to the world! Really, Lee Ho-yeol’s character is truly unrivaled, isn’t it? Sometimes he seems like an attention seeker, and then other times…….”

“Hyun-joon-ah. I saw people calling things like that blasphemy on the internet.”

“……Yes? Blasphemy, even?!”

“Yeah, do you think the word ‘Homen’ came out for no reason?”

“Man, I really can’t even make jokes about Lee Ho-yeol-ssi properly anymore. Seriously.”

Sung Hyun-joon lamented, then glared at Yoon Soo-gyeom.

“……Don’t tell me, sunbae, you’re not doing something like that too, right?”

Yoon Soo-gyeom raised the end of his sentence playfully.

“Homen?”

“Ah, sunbaaaae!!”

*

……My ears are severely itchy.

If I could have my way I would want to pick my ears but.

I couldn’t do that.

Tap

The formality that knows how to distinguish time and place.

Because I had just stepped foot into the main castle of Frost right now.

Right, the relationship degree and influence that reached the maximum value even in Frost.

It was to check the [Authority] function that got activated thanks to that.