Novel Will Be Taken Down on 17 May or Earlier Chapter 127 - Indefinitely Deep Darkness (3)

League of Explorers.

 

Their high reputation and status came from the Arcana continent.

 

After the Cataclysm, it was still in effect to this day.

 

AAU had a big influence on their high reputation.

 

“Knowing information about Arcana doesn’t solve the problem. We need to predict variables through that information. In that respect, the League of Explorers are the experts. The fact that they appeared in reality may be a great blessing for humanity.”

 

Indeed, the League of Explorers had provided a lot of cooperation to humanity, including the AAU.

 

They delivered information about the Arcana continent that only they knew to humanity.

 

Of course, it wasn’t for free.

 

Even if they said they were crazy about exploration.

 

They were very thorough when it came to their interests.

 

They received a lot of things in return.

 

Thanks to this, their notoriety was bound to spread among the players.

 

“Explorer? Of course, it would be nice to have one. However, ambiguous explorers are only a hindrance, and it can work only if they are a high-ranking explorer of the league… But they’re worth a fortune, aren’t they?”

 

Even rankers who spent money lavishly shuddered!

 

Thanks to this, top guilds looked for players with the explorer class, and some even fostered them later.

 

Because they were estimated to have cheaper costs.

 

In that sense, this incident was bound to become a hot topic.

 

[League of Explorers, “All we want is to explore Thefern… No compensation is needed.”]

 

The League of Explorers declared to have no pay.

 

[President of the League of Explorers, Fabian Delon, “I want to be helpful to player Lee Hoyeol.”]

 

Not only that, he also stepped forward in a very polite manner.

 

The people who were more shocked than anyone else were the ranked players who had contact with the League of Explorers.

 

Players made vague expressions.

 

“S-Should I say this is exhilarating? Or should I say it’s bitter?”

 

Wasn’t this attitude too different!

 

President of the League, Fabian Delon.

 

To think that arrogant, curly-haired bitchy guy knew how to say such polite things! However, they felt bad for feeling bitter about it.

 

Because the person Fabian dealt with was Hoyeol.

 

– Honestly, I kind of understand why Fabian did that ㅇㅇ

 

– So the reputation you’ve built up has to be on a different level.

 

– You can get an estimate just by looking at what Lee Hoyeol has doneㅋㅋㅋㅋ

 

– ㄹㅇㅋㅋTo put it bluntly, now that Lee Hoyeol has received the Thefern quest, this is probably a golden opportunity for the League of the Explorers?? That’s why they’re being submissiveㅋㅋㅋ

 

– …So are they doing that just to get on the bus ^[1] Get on the bus here means getting carried as in the gaming term. ???

 

At that time, the Yusra Kingdom.

 

Headquarters of the League of Explorers.

 

High-ranking explorers of the league were seated.

 

A subtle battle of nerves flowed through the exchange of glances.

 

‘I will be the one taking part in the exploration of the Thefern’s labyrinth.’

 

‘Of course, they will try to keep me in check.’

 

“Even if I don’t gain anything, I need to achieve results.”

 

President of the League, Fabian, recognized the intention contained in those eyes.

 

‘Everyone has a plan. Among them, there are those who are aiming for my position.’

 

The election for the next head of the league was just around the corner.

 

Although he wasn’t the type of person to cling to high status.

 

Fabian didn’t intend to hand over his position easily.

 

Because Fabian was confident.

 

Turn–

 

Fabian turned his head lightly.

 

“For your information, I also plan to participate in the exploration of the Thefern Labyrinth.”

 

“…!!!”

 

The explorers’ eyes widened at Fabian’s declaration.

 

It was understandable.

 

It had been a while since Fabian was involved in outside activities.

 

Someone said sarcastically.

 

“You seem to be anxious since the election season is approaching.”

 

It was a clear provocation.

 

But Fabian shrugged lightly.

 

“Not at all. Even after taking a few years off, I’m still confident that I’m the best explorer. However, those who hold the votes may have different opinions. I just thought it was a good opportunity to prove my health.”

 

Gulp–

 

The explorers swallowed their dry saliva.

 

‘He’s not bluffing.’

 

Although Fabian was past middle age, his appearance and body were still at their prime.

 

The muscles that were revealed when he lightly did a warm-up was the proof.

 

“Also, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the honor of the league is at stake in the exploration of Thefern Labyrinth. The Mage Tower, the Knights of Lionheart, and even Muon. Just as they showed that they were alive and well. The League of Explorers also needs to step up.”

 

Silence flowed.

 

It was because everyone understood the meaning of Fabian’s words.

 

Some players bit their lips.

 

‘You’re saying you’re going to be the best choice, aren’t you?’

 

‘I don’t think we’ll ever get our turn.’

 

‘…Damn it, I thought I might try riding on Lee Hoyeol’s bus.’

 

‘This damn level.’

 

The meeting ended with his declaration of participation in the war.

 

Fabian, who was left alone at the round table, shrugged.

 

“Rookies these days have no ambition. Ambition.”

 

He murmured playfully.

 

“Since when did the explorers depend on the league?”

 

Fabian had faith.

 

Since ancient times, explorers had to be stubborn.

 

A stubbornness that wouldn’t bend to anyone.

 

In that aspect.

 

Those who attended today’s meeting didn’t show that conviction.

 

“This is why I end up doing something I’m not suited for again.”

 

If this was the Arcana continent.

 

Fabian would have given up his position as the president of the league without any regret.

 

But this was the world of adventurers.

 

He couldn’t leave the future of the league to those whom he couldn’t trust.

 

“By the way, he’s amazing.”

 

Adventurer Lee Hoyeol.

 

Did they say that he found out that a labyrinth existed in Thefern through a dark spirit?

 

Because it was a labyrinth, it might be insignificant information to some people, but to Fabian, it was extremely important information.

 

There were hundreds of labyrinths conquered on the Arcana continent alone.

 

Fabian had enough experience to be called an expert in labyrinth.

 

Besides, who was Lee Hoyeol?

 

“At least I don’t have to worry about this old man’s life.”

 

The man who oppressed the demon kings, kings of demons.

 

At the same time, he was the chief mage of the Mage Tower and a powerful figure in the Yusra Kingdom. Not only that, he was the savior of the Holy Land, Muon, and sprouted the seed of the World Tree…

 

“…Lastly, there is also his nickname, Infinitely Deep Darkness.”

 

All of this was really accomplished by one person?

 

Fabian unconsciously smacked his lips.

 

“There isn’t any other Top 10 Wonders like this.”

 

So, on the other hand, he looked forward to it.

 

What kind of guy was Lee Hoyeol?

 

But Fabian’s expectation.

 

“President Fabian. The reply has arrived.”

 

“What reply?”

 

“This is a letter from Sir Lee Hoyeol.”

 

“Oh, thank you.”

 

It collapsed the moment he received the letter back from Hoyeol.

 

Paper with dazzling gold leaf decoration.

 

This was the letter Fabian had sent.

 

“…Huh?”

 

The letter he had sent was returned?

 

He had ominous feeling.

 

Fabian was shocked as he opened the letter.

 

“!”

 

A fine handwriting.

 

Under the letter he sent.

 

There was a reply from Hoyeol.

 

──────

 

Present a more detailed purpose according to the procedure.

 

──────

 

“…Procedure.”

 

Just one line.

 

No, it was only two lines, including the P.S.

 

──────

 

P.S. Unnecessary luxury is not good.

 

──────

 

“L-Luxury?”

 

Hoyeol placed great importance on formality.

 

Fabian chose expensive gold leaf paper to suit that taste.

 

He didn’t expect to be criticized for luxury.

 

No, more than that, what was the specific purpose?

 

Fabian muttered in bewilderment.

 

“…It’s already not easy.”

 

For the first time in a while, he felt nervous.

 

Without even knowing it.

 

Cold sweat dripped from Fabian’s forehead.

 

*

 

“It’s a failure. The purpose is unclear.”

 

In fact, I could guess the reason.

 

Now, other Arcana forces, including Mage Tower, were active.

 

The League of Explorers felt that they had to do something. [Thefern Labyrinth] might suit them, so they probably decided that it was a suitable opportunity.

 

But everything followed the procedures.

 

You had to be sure of everything.

 

So that they couldn’t say something else later.

 

At the very least, the purpose of the application to exit the tower had to be clear.

 

“Bensch William. You must be not tired of it.”

 

A failure.

 

I thought about throwing away Bensch’s application form.

 

Still, if the purpose was presented properly…

 

‘As expected, it would be better to review it positively.’

 

Labyrinth.

 

Content that had been notorious since the days when Arcana was just a game.

 

Of course, it had all kinds of vicious traps.

 

Monsters that appeared there were also tricky because they were named monsters.

 

In some cases, I could say that the difficulty level was more intense than a [dungeon] of a similar recommended level…

 

‘Naturally, I need professional help.’

 

Now that the demons’ activities had decreased.

 

[Natural Enemy Relationship] was less likely to be activated.

 

‘I’m not confident. By myself.’

 

In that regard, there was no better supporter than the League of Explorers.

 

Of course, if I dragged the mages of the Mage Tower to join together.

 

I would be able to conquer the labyrinth somehow.

 

“It’s enough alone.”

 

…It was enough. As long as I kept my mouth open.

 

Anyway, as you could see.

 

There was no way this high pride could allow the mages of the Mage Tower to be moved for personal purposes.

 

For now, I put the thoughts of Thefern and the League of Explorers aside.

 

‘There’s no point in contemplating anymore.’

 

I had already sent a reply to the League of Explorers.

 

The rupture hadn’t appeared yet.

 

Right now.

 

– Chief’s weight (repeated) ▼

 

Let’s stick to the weight I carried.

 

I checked the quest goal.

 

A new goal among many goals.

 

• Conduct the roundtable meeting successfully. (In Progress)

 

Roundtable meeting

 

The Tower Master and the elder mage.

 

This was not the roundtable meeting of the past, attended only by the chief mage.

 

In the first place, even if I wanted to open a meeting like in the past, I couldn’t.

 

The Tower Master was absent due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

There was only one elder mage left.

 

Indeed.

 

Not a roundtable meeting of the past.

 

It was a new roundtable meeting.

 

A change for the Mage Tower to not repeat past mistakes.

 

I stood up and recited.

 

“Time is like afternoon tea.”

 

To put it simply, time is money…

 

…To put it in a normal way, it was like a waste.

 

Anyway, there was no such thing as tardiness in my dictionary.

 

I tidied up my clothes and walked away.

 

Towards the Crystal Hall, where the roundtable meeting was held.

 

*

 

Bustle–

 

The Crystal Hall was filled with commotion.

 

This kind of event was the first time for everyone.

 

The young chicks of the Mage Tower, apprentice mages.

 

They looked around incessantly, like a real chick looking around.

 

Although they were here on behalf of the apprentice mages. They couldn’t maintain what little face they had.

 

“…Wow, that’s Senior Mage Belliere!”

 

“It’s my first time. Seeing the senior mages in one place!”

 

“All of them are so cool!”

 

Twenty senior mages.

 

All of them were sitting in the Crystal Hall.

 

This was a sight that you couldn’t easily find even at regular conferences.

 

“I’m sure the other kids are really jealous, right?”

 

“They must be!”

 

“What’s there to be jealous of? They can attend the next meeting.”

 

“Ah, that’s right! I can’t get used to it easily.”

 

The new roundtable meeting would include apprentice mages, skilled mages, senior mages, elder mages, and the chiefs.

 

All the mages of the Mage Tower could attend, regardless of rank.

 

Unlike apprentice mages.

 

Skilled mages had a little more experience in the Mage Tower.

 

Squint.

 

Jibril opened her mouth as she examined the air of the Crystal Hall.

 

“What do you think?”

 

Some skilled mages answered the question.

 

“Certainly, you’re beautiful again today. Miss Jibril…”

 

“No, enough with the flatteries. About the roundtable meeting.”

 

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

 

A meeting where all the mages of the Mage Tower gathered in one place.

 

A symbol of closure.

 

Something that would have been unthinkable in the past was happening.

 

Jibril’s eyes shone keenly.

 

“…The same goes for the tower. The Mage Tower is definitely changing.”

 

Of course, she welcomed it.

 

It was definitely not something she disliked.

 

She was just curious about the momentum of this change.

 

Jibril poked the forearm of Klee, who had been silent.

 

Poke.

 

“J-Jibril?”

 

“As expected, this is also his influence, right? Miss Klee?”

 

“Haha, I guess so?”

 

“It’s certainly unusual.”

 

Well, there was no need to look far back.

 

Even just what happened at the Mage Tower just before.

 

It was enough to shake the tower.

 

“The dark spirit obeyed him.”

 

Senior Peiyan.

 

The senior of spirit school and her apprentice mages worked as a group in the Mage Tower.

 

Since mages of various ranks had exited the tower.

 

The incident that took place that day at [Thefern Fence] was bound to be known to everyone in the Mage Tower.

 

Bustle–

 

So in the midst of a commotion.

 

“Infinitely Deep Darkness…”

 

“Isn’t it amazing that the spirit called him that?”

 

“Infinitely Deep Darkness… It suits him somehow. right?”

 

“I heard that he was even good at swordsmanship.”

 

Infinitely Deep Darkness.

 

In a way, it was natural that Hoyeol’s name continued to be mentioned.

 

Senior mages were no exception. The senior mages each looked at Peiyan and gave a word.

 

“Not only you were the first among senior mages to exit the tower, but you also got to watch a good view, Senior Peiyan.”

 

“In addition to achieving your goal, you’ve also obtained information about the dark spirit. You must be relieved of your worries about the next regular conference. I envy you.”

 

She benefited greatly from Chief Lee in many ways.

 

Peiyan mumbled and laughed awkwardly.

 

“Well, you’re not wrong. Haha.”

 

Senior mage of fire magic, Bensch William.

 

He begged with a desperate look.

 

“How did you fill out the purpose of the tower’s exit, Senior Peiyan? Actually, I am a little frustrated. Is there anyone else who wants to exit the tower more earnestly than I do? Look, I’ve already filled out dozens of applications…!”

 

Of course, his chatter didn’t last long.

 

It was because Matis, his natural enemy, opened his mouth.

 

“Bensch William, you need to learn silence.”

 

“….”

 

Bench’s lamentation that rarely stopped once triggered quietened down.

 

Peiyan gave Matis a grateful look.

 

Matis nodded lightly and thought.

 

‘The dark spirit’

 

The only intersection of black magic and spirtology.

 

But just like Peiyan.

 

Even Matis, who had established the black magic school, didn’t have much knowledge of the dark spirit.

 

However, he could guess why Hoyeol was able to make it obey.

 

‘…Darkness is encroached by deeper darkness.’

 

They had talked about the nature of black magic.

 

Maybe the chief remembered that conversation.

 

In a way, it was only natural.

 

Chief Lee Hoyeol’s potential in black magic was immeasurable

 

Amount of ‘right mana’ that was beyond imagination.

 

What kind of past did he have.

 

That he could possess such right mana?

 

Matis was once concerned about that.

 

As he said.

 

Darkness was encroached by deeper darkness

 

Matis knew about the nature of black magic better than anyone else.

 

‘…Blackening.’

 

If Hoyeol’s right mana went out of control…

 

He didn’t want to imagine the aftermath.

 

But for Matis, those concerns had disappeared.

 

Hadn’t he witnessed it?

 

– “Elder Mage Senios….”

 

『Where the Eternal Snow Sleeps』.

 

The image of Hoyeol mourning Senios there.

 

Yes, Chief Lee Hoyeol was holding on to the weight better than anyone else.

 

His unwavering attitude was the proof.

 

The moment Matis finished thinking.

 

Tap tap–

 

The sound of elegant shoes echoed in the Crystal Hall.

 

Hoyeol and Marcelo.

 

Finally, the two chiefs attended the roundtable meeting.

 

The commotion subsided just by their appearance.

 

All eyes were on those two.

 

…Gulp–

 

But for some reason.

 

Hoyeol’s eyes were much more sunken than usual.

 

To the point that it went beyond being calm and looked cold.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

…There’s no use being quiet now.

 

I’ve heard everything from the outside.

 

You’ve been whispering that I’m the ‘Infinitely Deep Darkness’!

 

I was seriously concerned.

 

Wouldn’t it be embarrassing to live up to that name?

 

Fortunately, my true feelings were not revealed.

 

I spoke calmly to Marcelo and moved on.

 

“Let’s begin.”

 

Calling it amazing.

 

The title ‘Infinitely Deep Darkness’ was too much for me.

 

If I couldn’t avoid it or enjoy it, let’s end it as quickly as possible…

• 1. Get on the bus here means getting carried as in the gaming term.