Chapter 79 – Dignity of the Chief (3)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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[Crack of Broken Dimension].

Fitting its name, the scenery of the rift was out of the ordinary.

Although a rift originally boasts a bizarre scenery too.

This has gone beyond the level of bizarre here.

‘It’s roughly similar to when graphics are broken.’

Above all, reality and Arcana.

The scenery of neither of the two worlds was clearly visible.

I don’t know if this expression is appropriate but.

Should I say it’s a sight like a rift was forcibly opened…….

‘Wait.’

Come to think of it, a thought that suddenly popped up.

Today wasn’t Thursday.

New update.

It was not the day a new rift appeared.

If so, it means the [Crack of Broken Dimension] is not a scheduled rift.

My impression that it looks like a forcibly opened rift wouldn’t be nonsense either.

“Do all rifts look like this?”

“No. The space of a phenomenon is not this terrible.”

“Then it is a relief.”

Indeed, it was Marcelo.

It should be his first time entering a rift.

To immediately notice a suspicious sign.

Marcelo continued.

“As you said. It wouldn’t be good for internal matters to be known to the outside.”

It was a matter involving no one else but the Mage Tower’s higher-ups.

As if a senior mage going missing wasn’t enough, what if news spread that his disappearance was connected to the Mage Tower’s higher-ups? The ripple effect would be no joke.

“I will finish it swiftly.”

Marcelo’s declaration.

I say it again.

It couldn’t be this reassuring. Truly.

From such Marcelo’s body, mana swayed.

Because I had watched it once, I recognized that tracking process as soon as I saw it.

It was tracing magic.

Soon, Marcelo’s sunken eyes flashed.

“I have captured Bangrit’s mana. I will open a portal.”

Immediately manifesting a portal.

……For me, a third of my mana would have flown away with the two manifestations just now.

There seemed to be no mana consumption at all for Marcelo.

Once again, I come to grasp my standing.

I still have a long, long way to go.

However, as for my presence.

It absolutely did not fall behind others.

Clack

“……Who is it!”

Everything is probably because of this damn sound of formal shoes.

It’s impossible to hide one’s presence with Granfel’s personality.

His stride is always overflowing with vigor.

“M-Sir Marcelo? Even Chief Co-researcher Lee Ho-yeol?”

Thanks to that, I could face Bangrit, whose face had turned pale white. Dishevelled brown curly hair. At that severely flustered reaction, I first swallowed a sigh of relief.

‘It doesn’t seem like he’s hostile.’

The one who spoke before me was Marcelo.

“Bangrit. I can guess what kind of circumstances there are.”

“……Chief Marcelo. I, I.”

“We did not come all the way here to interrogate you.”

“……!”

Bangrit dropped his head.

I think again that it is a relief.

What if I had entered this rift alone.

‘I would have been spouting venomous remarks right from the start.’

Well, saying I recognized it from when you tried to bribe me.

Or that because of you the conference I hosted was ruined.

I realize this anew too.

‘There is a saying that a single word repays a thousand-nyang debt for a reason, right?’

By the way, it seems like a situation where persuading with words is impossible.

Because mana was swaying from Bangrit’s body.

“……I already know that you are not such a person, Chief Marcelo. But I apologize. I cannot miss this opportunity!”

Pure Magic.

An inefficient tracking process does not exist.

A magic that takes only pure mana as its weapon, so its destructive power doesn’t fall behind any magic. Bangrit Tom, who is called the pinnacle of such Pure Magic.

Gooooo

He manifested magic.

“Please forgive my discourtesy.”

Suooooo!

I could figure it out as soon as I saw it.

A beam of condensed mana.

The structure of the magic was clear and simple without needing to analyze it.

The target of exploration is purely massive mana.

Interference that maximized only destructive power.

And an incomparably swift manifestation.

“!”

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!

That destructive power truly exceeded imagination.

Chi-ji-ji-jick!

The earth was pulverized and the atmosphere shook.

Even the rising dust evaporated without a trace.

……Is this real.

What’s even more terrifying is that there was no killing intent in Bangrit’s magic. Bangrit only intended to blow us far away. The missed trajectory of the magic was the proof.

But even with the destructive power of a missed magic.

To have this level of power.

Is this a senior mage of the Mage Tower?

It wasn’t for nothing that the Mage Tower was called the strongest armed group on the Arcana continent……! Marcelo manifested a barrier, offsetting the aftereffects.

Seriously, it’s a self-defense method possible because mana is overflowing.

‘I am going crazy with jealousy.’

Naturally, I am in a position where I have to reserve mana as much as possible.

Wretchedly as always.

I had no choice but to use everything, whether I had it or not.

The target of exploration is the pure mana overflowing in this space.

To be exact, it was Bangrit’s mana.

I explored the storming aftereffects of the mana.

And manifested magic by interfering with it.

Naturally, complex interference is impossible.

Like I said, the power of it wasn’t a joke.

To avoid getting swept away, the interference process had to be simplified.

Of course, it wasn’t necessary either.

The target of exploration is just pure mana.

How I should interfere and manifest with this pure mana.

I had just acquired it through experience.

Floating

Hundreds of mana spheres floating in the void.

Right, it was Light.

The basic magic of Pure Magic, Light.

“……!!”

At that moment, prickly gazes that could be felt.

Somehow Marcelo and Bangrit looked as if they had seen something they shouldn’t have seen.

In this place where all sorts of high-tier magic are flying around.

They probably couldn’t even imagine seeing such a trivial basic magic.

But this is my best and my method.

With a trivial stat of level 296.

It means it’s my struggle to survive in a level 900 rift.

Even if you look at me with those eyes, it can’t be helped.

I spoke shamelessly.

“For a welcoming greeting, it’s low grade. Senior Mage Bangrit Tom.”

Despite talking back wretchedly, only my mouth is alive.

Bangrit shouted.

“Damn it, please just leave me alone!”

Around this point, I could be sure.

……Perhaps shutting up and staying still is helping.

Suooooo!

Because it made Bangrit start launching magic indiscriminately again.

However, this time Marcelo didn’t just watch either.

Likewise, a swift manifestation.

Kwa-kwa-kwang!

A scene where massive manas collide.

The winner of that seemed clear.

Marcelo opened his mouth.

“I do not want this meaningless action. Bangrit.”

That is exactly the reason Marcelo took the position of the Chief.

Right, it was Marcelo who succeeded in establishing the majority of existing magic into theory.

That meant there was no mage who knew the magic affinities that bite and get bitten better than Marcelo.

“Damn it!”

In the end, the one who stepped back was Bangrit.

Short-distance teleport.

Bangrit urgently dodged.

……I’m thankful that the battlefield is inside a rift.

Imagine causing this uproar in reality.

It was a scale where it wouldn’t be strange if dozens of buildings had already flown away and mountains collapsed. However, the ending of this match seemed obvious.

Chief and Senior.

Because that difference seemed clear.

Did Bangrit realize that fact too.

He couldn’t rashly manifest magic.

Such Bangrit grinded his teeth. Bbaddeuk, and then said.

“……Do you know?”

“About what?”

“This was exactly the reason. The reason I sought this place.”

Bangrit glared at Marcelo.

“Born into the bloodline of a magical family with high fame even in the Empire, with a great talent, Chief Marcelo will never understand my feelings for my whole life.”

Marcelo, his family background was incredibly good.

But why is he suddenly looking at me.

“It is the same for you. Chief Co-researcher Lee Ho-yeol.”

I unnecessarily flinched like a thief with a guilty conscience.

……Don’t tell me he found out about my dark history?

The successor of the great Claudi family, and

even that I am an owner of an embarrassingly tremendous talent?!

But.

Naturally, that setting is a secret only for me.

“To have the leisure to strike back my magic with Pure Magic in a split second. If I had a talent like yours……! There would have been no reason for me to seek this place.”

As you can see.

He was simply talking about my talent.

But it feeling unfair is the same.

Bangrit needed to look beneath the surface.

He needs to check how much I am struggling.

To not be able to spout such comfortable words.

It seemed Marcelo also agreed with my boomer-like thoughts.

“Bangrit. You are having a great misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding……?”

“My life is not great enough to incur your Jealousy.”

“……What does that mean. Chief Marcelo?”

“You will understand before long.”

Was it simple words intended to comfort him.

There was no way such words would enter Bangrit’s ears.

Bangrit clenched his teeth again and shouted.

“No, before asking for understanding, how about you understand me, Chief Marcelo? I have no bloodline, nor talent! Doesn’t the Chief know it well too? That the standing of Pure Magic is plummeting because of a bastard like me……!”

Suddenly, words Marcelo had said came to mind.

Did he say his self-esteem is terrible compared to his skills.

There couldn’t be a more appropriate phrase to describe Bangrit than that.

I could guess what kind of expression other mages of the Mage Tower would make if they heard those words.

I don’t know well about Bangrit’s unfortunate family background, but if his words are all true…….

‘Doesn’t that mean he entered the Mage Tower without such a halo?’

As if that wasn’t enough, he became a senior mage.

In the end, it means he is bragging about himself.

So there was no reason to listen anymore.

No, it would be meaningless to listen to begin with.

I opened my mouth.

“The complaining ends there. Bangrit Tom.”

“……Did you say complaining?”

“I am not curious about your bloodline, nor your talent.”

Evaluating someone just by bloodline and innate talent?

There’s no way Granfel’s pride could tolerate such an action.

Of course, hearing his specific circumstances wouldn’t change my pride.

Right, at this moment.

What my damn pride desires is only one thing.

“Keep in mind that the conference is not over yet.”

The last presenter of the regular academic conference.

It was to stand Bangrit Tom in the Crystal Hall.

“What I am curious about from you is only your research.”

“……!”

“Not family, bloodline, or talent.”

At my words, Bangrit mumbled to himself.

“C-Conference! I prepared with my best effort, but to completely forget it.”

It’s a reaction that seems like he’s finally come to his senses a bit now.

Only then did Marcelo let out a sigh.

But it wasn’t over yet.

Because my pride was not satisfied yet.

“But before that.”

“?”

“I will question and hold you responsible regarding the current situation.”

Right, I should make everything clear before moving on.

The reason he hurriedly sought out a rift to the extent of completely forgetting even the conference he prepared with his best effort.

The reason he discussed the difference in bloodline and talent in such a rift.

And lastly, even what kind of conversation he had with the Mage Tower’s higher-ups.

He will have to submit a reason that my pride judges as reasonable.

Only then will he be able to present his research at the regular academic conference.

Bangrit grabbed his head.

“……During the regular academic conference, I received a summons from an Elder Mage.”

Marcelo nodded.

“I had guessed so. What exact conversation did you have?”

“It was a story regarding this rift.”

“Indeed.”

I had expected that much.

I asked.

“There must be a reason you considered this kind of rift more important than the conference.”

“Th-That is. Thinking about it now, I do not know well.”

“What does that mean?”

Bangrit truly seemed confused.

“The Elder clearly said that truth lies in this rift.”

“Truth lies in a rift? Are you saying an Elder said such words?”

“I am certain. That the truth you seek will be inside the rift. If you grasp that truth, no one will look down on you…….”

Marcelo’s expression became serious.

That reason was simple.

“Do you not know, Bangrit. That truth is not something that can be grasped so easily. Because it cannot be easily grasped. That is even why it is called a truth.”

“I also know that! That is why I am confused. Why my judgment became clouded by such words…….”

“I have understood enough. You do not need to push yourself to try and remember. Let us have a conversation about that after we return. Would that be alright?”

I nodded to Marcelo asking for understanding.

It wasn’t that my pride is convinced.

It was because I just realized it.

‘To have had that kind of suspicious conversation.’

Means the Elder Mage had no intention of letting Bangrit live.

Thinking that way, the question grew even bigger.

Why.

Why would the Elder Mage, who can be called the higher-up of the Mage Tower, try to harm the Senior Mage Bangrit Tom?

And what is the reason he lured Bangrit to a rift bringing up truth?

It’s complicated.

Why in the world are the internal matters so complicated.

My head feels like it will break just by thinking about it.

However, the intertwined questions.

Were easily unraveled not long after.

Kwack!

“!!!”

A roar echoing inside the rift.

A scenery like broken graphics comes crashing down.

From that broken crack, a giant hand popped out.

Kwa-ji-jick!

A dark and atrocious hand snatched the space.

Kwa-ji-ji-jick!

It started tearing the space apart.

“What in the world is that……?”

At that sight, not just Bangrit, even Marcelo couldn’t continue his words.

However, I realized it.

Why Bangrit was fooled by such an obvious lie.

Why he lured him to this kind of rift of all places.

And also what the true identity of that giant hand is.

Everything was thanks to the message that popped up in front of my eyes.

[Skill, ‘Natural Enemy’ is activated.]

The sharpened senses of a Demon Hunter.

Did my sense of smell develop too.

Somehow I thought it smelled foul right from the start.

“Foolish.”

I took out a sacrifice from the inventory.

[Pentagram of Impure Knowledge]

[Rank : Epic]

[Limit : None]

[Effect : Sealed]

[Description : A demon’s curse dwells in it, so its effect is sealed. To know its proper effect, it must absolutely be purified.]

“You are hastening your death. Inferior race.”

[‘Pentagram of Impure Knowledge’ is selected as a sacrifice.]

[Skill, ‘Exorcism Ritual’ is activated.]

[Inviting ‘???’ to the ‘Ritual’.]

It’s probably because it hasn’t revealed its appearance completely yet.

Question marks, I couldn’t know the demon’s name.

But so what if it’s a demon whose name is unknown.

Granfel cannot hesitate in front of a demon.

Me, Lee Ho-yeol, am the same.

‘If it were normally.’

Right now, by my sides are the Chief and Senior of the Mage Tower.

Because there were Marcelo and Bangrit.

So, I don’t know who it is, but they picked the wrong targets.

Even if it’s a Demon King. Or a great evil.

Because it means at this moment, it’s nothing more than experience points.