Novel Will Be Taken Down on 17 May or Earlier Chapter 103 - The Way to Go

◈ Episode 103. The Way to Go

 

Elder mage.

 

Senios of Eternal Snow.

 

Killed in action while disposing of Karimjeva, the criminal of high treason.

 

His memorial service was held in secret.

 

“…Damn it.”

 

Someone said so and clenched their teeth.

 

The elder mage of the Mage tower was killed in action.

 

Even if they held a grand funeral, that wouldn’t be enough.

 

Only about 20 people were there to mourn him.

 

The internal circumstances of the Mage Tower.

 

Only senior mages and elder mages knew the truth. They were the only ones who knew about Senios’ death. They knew it couldn’t be helped, but….

 

“…I’m sorry. Senios-nim.”

 

In the midst of a mixture of emotions.

 

Marcelo looked at the frozen Senios.

 

‘He’s smiling.’

 

In the eternal ice cap.

 

Senios was smiling.

 

As if he had lived a life without regrets.

 

‘But those who are left behind can’t smile like that.’

 

But Marcelo was mindful.

 

The one that Senios closed his eyes to was the demons.

 

And it happened because of the demon worshipers.

 

So as soon as the mourning for Senios was over.

 

Marcelo opened his mouth.

 

“This has caused irreversible damage to the Mage Tower.”

 

Death of Senios.

 

Now there was only one elder mage left in the Mage Tower.

 

But Senios’ sacrifice was not in vain.

 

“But this has made it clear.”

 

Marcelo’s voice was full of emotion.

 

“Our, Mage Tower’s, enemy.”

 

That emotion was obvious anger.

 

Mage Tower finally began to move after breaking the cycle of contradictions.

 

Senios’ sacrifice was tantamount to offering a destination to the Mage Tower.

 

Before the storm.

 

A still calmness.

 

Senior mages could tell without having to say anything.

 

Hadn’t they seen it in the first rupture they entered?

 

The images of the demons pouring down.

 

As a result, they learned that the demons were extending their power not only to the Arcana continent but also to this world. It was natural for their feelings to change.

 

Now that they had a target, the demons.

 

They shouldn’t hesitate.

 

‘…I.’

 

Banglet couldn’t easily look at Senios.

 

He felt like an idiot who clung to useless things.

 

As if that wasn’t enough, he got tricked by the demon worshipers.

 

If only he had noticed something…

 

If he hadn’t been deceived and told the Mage Tower…

 

This wouldn’t happen to Senios…

 

Banglet lowered his head.

 

For a long time.

 

It was a noble voice that awakened Banglet, who was dropping his head.

 

“Raise your head, Senior Mage Banglet Tom.”

 

“…!”

 

“Excessive silence is also an act that goes against formality.”

 

It was Hoyeol’s voice.

 

“…C-Chief Lee Hoyeol.”

 

Banglet raised his head and looked at Hoyeol.

 

His gaze focused on Hoyeol.

 

Hoyeol had gone through more hardships than any other mage.

 

Not only he had dealt with Karimjeva.

 

All the demons called the army commanders had poured into the rupture where Hoyeol and Senios entered.

 

Moreover, it was Hoyeol who witnessed Senios’ end.

 

‘He must be traumatized more than anyone else.’

 

‘He must have been exhausted just by dealing with the demons.’

 

‘If I were him, I wouldn’t be able to stand properly…’

 

It was only natural to worry about Hoyeol.

 

Such worries were meaningless.

 

Hoyeol was the same as usual.

 

He was just standing upright and looking at Senios.

 

There was no deviation in his mourning.

 

Following the formality and procedures.

 

Hoyeol finished his mourning for Senios, unperturbed.

 

Those who watched thought.

 

‘He must be desperately holding back his emotions.’

 

Hoyeol was chief of the Mage Tower.

 

Now that there was a void in the Magic Tower.

 

He knew he shouldn’t be shaken.

 

Yes, just like how Marcelo immediately suggested the direction for the Mage Tower to move forward.

 

Without falling into sorrow.

 

Banglet came to his senses when he saw Hoyeol.

 

‘Chief Lee Hoyeol is also holding it in…’

 

To think that he was being ridiculous like this.

 

Banglet hurriedly walked toward Senios.

 

He kept his mouth shut and mourned for Senios following the procedure.

 

“…”

 

Actually, the person concerned didn’t say anything.

 

After the emergence of Hoyeol.

 

The senior mages of the Mage tower felt a great sense of responsibility.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

I couldn’t be sad.

 

How long had I known Senios?

 

Apart from our friendship.

 

And feeling sad as a human being and yada-yada.

 

I had witnessed his end.

 

My damn pride.

 

It was telling me that I had no reason to be sad.

 

Senios ultimately proved his pride and died in battle.

 

I remembered the look on Senios’ face. It was a face with no regrets. It was a good end compared to Karimjeva, who was frozen with an ugly look.

 

I looked at Senios again.

 

I recalled the last thing he said.

 

– “The last lecture of my life was absolutely wonderful.”

 

I didn’t think it was because of me that he had an expression of no regrets.

 

Because I knew.

 

Senios, that guy was a dirty mage.

 

‘Considering his personality…’

 

At the last minute.

 

He was probably most pleased about defeating Karimjeva using ice magic.

 

But my condolences to him were sincere.

 

I couldn’t do anything I didn’t want to do.

 

Because I, too, was a jerkass.

 

“I’m sorry, Sir Hoyeol, you probably don’t have enough time to get your feelings together.”

 

Marcelo bowed to me.

 

No, you don’t have to apologize so politely.

 

Didn’t I just say that?

 

I couldn’t do things I didn’t want to do.

 

So I replied nonchalantly.

 

“Don’t mind it.”

 

Tap tap–

 

I walked straight ahead and the direction I was heading to was simple.

 

The lobby of the Mage Tower.

 

I checked the internet, and at a glance, the public interest in this incident was really no joke.

 

Well, it was only natural that it couldn’t be understood by common sense.

 

Hadn’t they all guessed it from the name?

 

Recommended Level 900, [Cracked Dimension Gap] rupture.

 

There were 11 cracks that had the same name as that rupture.

 

But in less than a few hours, all the ruptures were cleared.

 

‘The players couldn’t even come forward.’

 

Why the players couldn’t come forward?

 

It was simple.

 

Because I stopped the manifestation of the tower’s portal. In any case, this [Cracked Dimension Gap] rupture was created in relation to the internal circumstances of the Mage Tower.

 

There was nothing good about the players knowing about it.

 

‘So in the end.’

 

I supposed it couldn’t be helped that everyone misunderstood.

 

The senior mages of the Mage Tower.

 

No, not only that.

 

An elder mage of the Mage Tower entering the rupture, it was hard to imagine.

 

Naturally, attention couldn’t help but be directed toward me.

 

‘They think I cleared all the ruptures.’

 

The overestimation is crazy, seriously.…!

 

No, it didn’t make sense. Come on!

 

Is it possible to clear 11 cracks by myself in that short time?

 

If only it weren’t for the internal circumstances of the Mage Tower…!

 

But I knew this guy’s pride.

 

『For Grandfel, the feeling of humility doesn’t exist. If he’s underestimated, he can prove himself to them. Because he’s the one who ends up making the overestimation a reality.』

 

I could talk without changing my facial expression one bit.

 

But following this tiring pride.

 

I couldn’t make up words that didn’t exist.

 

In front of the large crowd at the Mage Tower.

 

In the pouring flash.

 

I had no choice but to open my mouth like this.

 

“I will answer only what I can answer.”

 

Even more shamelessly than possible.

 

“If you have any complaints, refrain from asking questions.”

 

*

Breaking news poured in with every word Hoyeol said.

 

──────

 

[Breaking News] Lee Hoyeol, “I entered the rupture.”

 

[Breaking News] Lee Hoyeol, “I stopped the portal of the Mage Tower.”

 

[Breaking News] Lee Hoyeol, “I cleared the rupture.”

 

──────

 

They never thought Lee Hoyeol would agree to an interview!

 

A windfall that reporters hadn’t expected was pouring in. Today, Lee Hoyeol was different from usual. Wouldn’t he answer any questions?

 

With that thought, there was a reporter who asked a sensitive question.

 

“May I ask what happened in the rupture?”

 

Of course, the answer that came back was cold.

 

──────

 

[Breaking News] Lee Hoyeol, “What happened in the rupture? I won’t answer.”

 

──────

 

However, perhaps because they hadn’t expected it.

 

They didn’t mind Hoyeol’s attitude.

 

The public reaction to the situation was not much different.

 

-ㅁㅊㅋㅋ He’s playing hard to get

 

– But he’s gotten a lot better at the interview

 

– ㄹㅇㅋㅋHe wouldn’t let them talk at some point

 

– But aren’t reporters the ones whose attitude has improved? I’ve never seen reporters being so orderly

 

-Butㅋㅋ Lee Hoyeol’s attitude is always upright.

 

Since it was an opportunity that didn’t come easily.

 

The reporters were persistent.

 

Among the questions they asked, there were some that stimulated the public’s curiosity.

 

“What was the difficulty level of the rupture?”

 

If they couldn’t know what happened inside the crack.

 

They would ask around it like this.

 

That question was asked with that intention.

 

──────

 

[Breaking News] Lee Hoyeol, “Any rupture is the same for me.”

 

──────

 

In any rupture.

 

In front of any demon.

 

Hoyeol’s attitude wouldn’t change.

 

That’s what he meant.

 

It was impossible for the listeners to know Hoyeol’s inner circumstances.

 

– Look at his confidenceㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

 

– Lee Hoyeol is qualified to say things like thatㅋㅋㅋ

 

– This time again, he’ll show you with action rather than wordsㄹㅇ

 

It was just an expression of great confidence.

 

The comments were updated in real-time.

 

Leonie, who was watching, said quietly.

 

– But aren’t you going to ask that???

 

“…So why did he stop the portal?”

 

It might be different for other players.

 

But for Leonie, Nam Taemin, and Hisagi, who gathered here. And for Jessie as well, it was a very important question.

 

Yes, as the comments said, he showed it with actions rather than words.

 

‘…Can’t I be of any help?’

 

Well.

 

Jessie didn’t want to hear Hoyeol’s answer to that question.

 

It was because she was seriously concerned about this situation.

 

Maybe her help for Hoyeol.

 

It no longer had any meaning.

 

‘Otherwise, he would have no reason to stop the portal.’

 

Actions speak louder than words.

 

The portal stopped working as if chasing after him was unnecessary. Jessie could guess.

 

If that was the reason the portal stopped working…

 

‘He’ll answer without hesitation…?’

 

It would be like drawing a line between her and Hoyeol.

 

Let alone helping him, she would just be a hindrance.

 

Jessie wasn’t the only one who thought like that.

 

Everyone gathered at the meeting had the same thought.

 

In the midst of tension, a question was soon asked.

 

– “Is there a reason why you stopped the portal?”

 

Then came the answer without hesitation.

 

– “I won’t answer.”

 

“…!!!”

 

Since Hoyeol didn’t answer.

 

The reason was still unknown.

 

But at least it was a sufficient answer for those who were giving up.

 

‘Are you saying it’s on hold for now?’

 

‘Hoyeol-ssi is going to be watching.’

 

‘…I’ll catch up really soon.’

 

There was no line drawn yet.

 

Depending on what they did.

 

They might or might not be able to move forward with Hoyeol.

 

When they realized that, they began to understand.

 

Nam Taemin, Leonie, and Hisagi looked at each other and said.

 

“…No way, is this why he brought us together?”

 

“Hey, man.”

 

“No, I mean it.”

 

…Isn’t that interpretation too much?

 

That’s what Leonie thought, but.

 

She couldn’t shake the thought of what-if.

 

Why didn’t he tell her?

 

Hoyeol showed through action rather than words.

 

So Jessie didn’t stay still either.

 

A short-distance teleportation.

 

Jessie, who had already left, lifted the brim of the pointed hat she had been wearing.

 

And then to the pointed hat. No, to her teacher, she declared. It didn’t matter what quest goal it was.

 

“I’ll do my best!”

 

To be on the same line as Hoyeol.

 

As shown in the class quest.

 

She really felt like she needed to be at the level of an [archmage].

 

Is this also due to Hoyeol?

 

Just like the Mage Tower.

 

Those who set new goals.

 

And.

 

What awaited such players was Thursday.

 

The regular update of Arcana.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

『A new area will come to you.

 

A new area, ‘Holy Land of Goddess Church, Muon’ will be added.』…

 

*

 

Goddess Church.

 

The Goddess Church was the most influential religion among the religions that existed on the Arcana continent.

 

In the Empire, there was a saying, ‘When three people come together, one of them must be a dull fellow’.

 

A dull fellow.

 

It was referring to a believer of the Goddess Church.

 

Goddess Church’s doctrine was famous for its rigidity.

 

At the same time, one of the three people.

 

Those words referred to the enormous number of believers in the Goddess church.

 

The Holy Land of Goddess Church, Muon had appeared in reality!

 

It hadn’t been long since Hoyeol’s performance.

 

The community couldn’t help but get excited again due to the updates that came up one after another.

 

– If it’s Goddess Church, quests will pour outㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

 

– Religion has been a mass of quests since a long time agoㄹㅇㅋㅋ

 

– The players must be relievedㅜㅜ

 

Back when it was just a game.

 

The role of religion on the Arcana continent was significant.

 

In particular, the players received a lot of help from the church.

 

From basic buffs, status abnormality treatments, to transfer to healer class.

 

It was only natural that the players were excited.

 

“Don’t you think they all somehow fit together?”

 

“Right. The Mage Tower. Frost, Yusra Kingdom. Even Muon.”

 

“They’re elite minorities, but they have everything!”

 

Yeah, the weird thing was.

 

Even after checking the update history.

 

He was a man of few reactions.

 

For example.

 

Clink–

 

Like the heat of putting down a cup of tea.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

I checked the update history.

 

The Holy Land of the Goddess Church, Muon…

 

Even if I had a gap of 10 years and a few, I couldn’t not know the Goddess church. Goddess Church was the religion that had the greatest influence even when Arcana just started its service.

 

By the way.

 

It was a strange thing.

 

The great Goddess church.

 

‘How come?’

 

I looked at the flashing message.

 

To be exact, at the quest window.

 

[Class quest: Akshan’s Annihilation]

 

Extinction of Akshan and the demon hunters.

 

The last demon hunter.

 

Dig up the truth about the temple.

 

– Train your weakened body. (Repeat)

 

– Identify the forces involved in the Holy War. (In Progress)

 

• Encounter the Saint of the Goddess Church. (In Progress)

 

It was related to the quest [Akshan’s Annihilation]?

 

Like I said.

 

I had a gap of well over a decade.

 

So what was the Holy War?

 

And what was the truth behind it?

 

I don’t even know why the Goddess Church came up in quest goal.

 

But it didn’t matter.

 

Clink–

 

I put down the teacup.

 

“It’s something that can be resolved according to procedures.”

 

Yeah, since the class quest appeared.

 

I just had to learn about everything gradually.

 

Just where the quest goal was headed.

 

Well, maybe in the process.

 

I should dig up the Goddess Church.

 

‘That must be a total blasphemy.’

 

But it didn’t matter.

 

There was one of the few things I and Grandfel had in common.

 

“I don’t believe in God.”

 

Of course, even if I didn’t believe in God, I still believe in level.

 

I checked the status window.

 

I had a lot of points to distribute this time.