Novel Will Be Taken Down on 17 May or Earlier Chapter 139 - Arcana (1)

[World quest: Evil Dragon Hunter]

 

You who hunted a clan of evil dragons.

 

The legend of the mountain is calling you.

 

– Reach the summit of the Zero Mountain. (In progress)

 

Being That Should Not Be Awakened.

 

This world quest started when I got rid of that monster.

 

I was the only one who knew of its existence. Players who contributed to the disposal also received a quest, but only the regular quest. In short, the ‘grade’ of the quest was different.

 

But he called me an evil dragon hunter!

 

How did Skal find out that alias?

 

I honestly didn’t want to think about it. But the train of thought naturally continued. This was a world quest that could have an impact on the entire Arcana World.

 

‘It must be the message.’

 

During the [Seed of the World Tree] quest, a message appeared to all players. Hidden class, dragon knight. The message related to the evil dragon hunter must have appeared only to Skal.

 

‘Is it a good thing among the misfortunes?’

 

Yes, thinking about it, let’s consider it as a good thing. Of course, it became meaningless from the moment Skal shouted my name in front of the camera.

 

‘Even three visits to the cottage won’t be enough, Skal.’

 

I walked on, brooding over it.

 

I headed to the portal.

 

Like I said, I didn’t have time.

 

However.

 

Whisper–

 

The sound of reporters talking in the back made me stop in my tracks.

 

“Did he just reject Skal’s request?”

 

“Isn’t this going to take a toll on Skal’s pride?”

 

“More than rejecting it, didn’t he seem really angry?”

 

“Exactly! It’s like meeting Skal would be a waste of time…!”

 

Mage Tower’s lobby.

 

Since the portal was there, that space was open to anyone.

 

As the co-chief of the Mage Tower, I knew that fact better than anyone else.

 

Grandfel valued formalities and procedures. This place was not my living room, and I had no intention of saying anything or having a conversation.

 

But today was different.

 

It was very annoying.

 

I stopped walking and turned.

 

I looked at the crowd.

 

I hadn’t even said anything yet.

 

“…Gasp!”

 

Silence came immediately–

 

I opened my mouth amidst the silence.

 

It was a stern request, not an order.

 

“Also, I would like you to remain quiet inside the Mage Tower for the time being.”

 

Absolute stability was essential for patients.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

Marcelo collapsed.

 

In a separate room at the Magic Tower’s healing school.

 

Skilled mages, including Klee, couldn’t let down their guard.

 

“What should we do, Klee?”

 

“For now, let’s calm down. Everyone.”

 

“…I expected it, but I didn’t expect it to be this sudden.”

 

The curse of the Simuard’s family.

 

Even if they covered it up, word of mouth spreads quickly.

 

Moreover, the person who was cursed had no intention of hiding it.

 

Marcelo breathed heavily on the bed.

 

Belliere watched Marcelo from next to him.

 

It was the first time since childhood that she saw his eyes closed.

 

“…You’re the same.”

 

Even the way he slept.

 

He still had the same stupidly honest personality.

 

The senior mages, including Belliere, received Marcelo’s will.

 

The content was as honest as he was. It was a will that did not talk about his life and only thought about the Mage Tower.

 

“Damn it. Although I knew it. Even if it’s a curse, it’s still awful.”

 

Bensch’s voice came from beyond the door of the separate room.

 

Several senior mages had come to visit Marcelo.

 

But meeting him was impossible.

 

Belliere’s gaze stared at the air.

 

To be precise, at the ‘curse symbol’ floating in the air.

 

From the moment Marcelo collapsed until now.

 

The curse pattern was gradually becoming darker.

 

As if absorbing Marcelo’s life.

 

Knock.

 

Belliere replied to the knock.

 

“You may come in. Senior Matis.”

 

When the door opened, she could see Bensch’s face through the gap.

 

His eyes were full of desire to enter, but in the current situation, Bensch’s fuss wouldn’t be of much help.

 

“Hey…!!”

 

Beliere didn’t have to open her mouth.

 

His natural enemy.

 

Tak–

 

Matis closed the door firmly.

 

Then he looked at the pattern of curses that floated in the air.

 

“I don’t feel any magic.”

 

“That’s right. It doesn’t look like a magic circle either.”

 

“…”

 

Stare.

 

Matis looked at his ring.

 

As expected, the ring’s color hadn’t changed.

 

Miscellaneous magic, black magic.

 

The structure of the black magic circle was also miscellaneous and different.

 

The symbol of the curse was not even black magic.

 

Just in case, he thought of one thing.

 

Belliere laughed bitterly.

 

“It’s neither magic nor black magic. In the end, our predictions were right.”

 

“How is Chief Marcelo?”

 

“Like I told you. I’m forcing him to live.”

 

A state in which only the functions of the body were maintained through healing magic.

 

Matis’ brow flinched.

 

It would take a lot of mana to maintain that level of healing magic.

 

But Belliere showed no signs of exhaustion.

 

‘Is she taking turns maintaining magic with the skilled mages?’

 

No, even skilled mages of the healing school did not seem to have free access to this place.

 

If the limit of the magic power had been reached, she should have reached it a long time ago… Matis’ concerned gaze soon turned to Belliere’s outfit, which was different from usual.

 

Wait, it was a priest’s dress, not a robe?

 

Noticing his gaze, Belliere smoothed her sleeve.

 

“Chief Lee Hoyeol told me that this would help me.”

 

“…Chief Lee?”

 

“Looking at the pattern, it was a magic tool belonging to the Goddess Church. No, the Church calls it a holy relic, not a magic tool. Whatever the name, it’s all thanks to the effect of the holy relic.”

 

A holy relic given by Chief Lee Hoyeol.

 

Thanks to this, she was able to stay by Marcelo’s side.

 

Matis swallowed heavily.

 

‘He’s meticulous in unexpected areas.’

 

It was Hoyeol who had saved Muon, the Holy Land of the Goddess Church.

 

It wouldn’t be strange if Hoyeol had the holy relic of the Goddess Church. If Goddess Church had pride, they would have repaid his favor in some way.

 

As soon as he finished thinking, Belliere opened her mouth.

 

“In the end, I guess I’ll have no choice but to wait. For Chief Lee Hoyeol’s return.”

 

“….”

 

All that could be heard was Marcelo’s breathing.

 

This gloomy mood wasn’t good.

 

Belliere opened her mouth to refresh the atmosphere.

 

“How is the mood of the seniors?”

 

“They are concerned about the absence of the chief.”

 

“Because there is no way they could know. The reason why Chief Lee headed to Arcana…”

 

Chief Lee Hoyeol only announced his plan to enter the Arcana continent.

 

He didn’t disclose his purpose.

 

Now Marcelo had fallen and Hoyeol had headed to the Arcana continent.

 

It was as if a threat had suddenly arisen to the two chiefs’ safety.

 

However.

 

– “The time away will not be long. So I would like you to refrain from making requests related to me, including the application for the tower’s exit, for a few days. I ask for your understanding.”

 

– “Because the Simuard family is there.”

 

– “Still, trust me.”

 

Belliere, Matis.

 

At least, the two seniors had faith in him.

 

That’s why they were able to open their mouth.

 

“It might be okay to be nervous once in a while for a few days.”

 

But the change came much earlier than they thought.

 

“…?”

 

…The symbol of the curse was fluctuating differently than before.

 

“!”

 

Before, it had just gradually become clearer, but now it was repeating the process of becoming clearer and then darker.

 

The frivolous glow felt as if though were terrorizing them.

 

Frustrated, Belliere looked out the window.

 

“…The sun hasn’t set yet.”

 

Chief Lee Hoyeol.

 

It hadn’t even been half a day since he left the Mage Tower.

 

It wasn’t enough time to set foot on the Arcana continent.

 

Had he found a clue about the curse of the terminal illness?

 

*

 

[Crossroads in the Sunset]

 

[Recommended level: Lv.380]

 

[Collapse progress: 0.6%]

 

I entered the rupture that was created closest to the Mage Tower.

 

My reason was simple.

 

I wasn’t confident.

 

‘…Will I have any mana left to manifest a portal when returning to the reality?’

 

I was certain that I would return to the Mage Tower.

 

My destination was not the rupture but the Arcana continent.

 

How would I return to reality?

 

I only knew one way.

 

By activating the effect of [The Last Adventurer].

 

It meant that I had to die once in the Arcana Continent to trigger the effect.

 

But could I, Grandfel, quietly close my eyes? On the Arcana Continent filled with demons?

 

I could guarantee.

 

Not only I would hunt the demons until I ran out of mana.

 

I would hunt until my body was in tatters.

 

‘That’s why I chose the closest rupture.’

 

If I had to, I would call a taxi and go back to the Mage Tower.

 

Swaa–

 

Soon, the landscape of rupture appeared in the sunset.

 

But I couldn’t afford to enjoy it today.

 

I opened the inventory straight away.

 

[Map That Connects All Things]

 

[Grade: Epic]

 

[Restriction: None]

 

[Effect: You can find out the location of something that someone secretly hid, someone lost, or something hidden somewhere. You can also teleport to the location of that object just once.

 

However, when the teleportation effect is activated, all effects are lost immediately.]

 

[Description: A magic tool with infinite possibilities depending on how you use it.]

 

The demon king’s loot.

 

I thought about it again before immediately activating the effect.

 

I had forgotten the setting of the Arcana.

 

When Arcana was just a game, the flow of time in Arcana was four times faster than in reality.

 

One day in reality was four days in Arcana. It was confirmed through Frost that this setting was still in effect even after the Cataclysm.

 

‘It depends on how you think about it.’

 

Thanks to this, I probably could afford to relax a little.

 

Still, I might think that time was running out.

 

Of course, it was I only thought of this inwardly.

 

“Even the passage of time is not a problem for me.”

 

…Yeah, this was how I talked. This big mouth.

 

I didn’t hesitate.

 

I recalled the coordinates in my head as if I were manifesting a portal.

 

– “Simuard. The location is in the eastern part of the Imperial Capital City. Near Lake Narnia.”

 

Goo–

 

Light came out from the [Map That Connects All Things].

 

The demon king’s energy had been purified through the exorcism.

 

The only thing to worry about was the effect of the item.

 

A message emerged in the pouring light.

 

[You have entered the Arcana Continent that is heading towards destruction.]

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

It reminded me of the Arcana I saw in various advertisements.

 

Needless to say, Zero Mountain always appeared.

 

The night view of Arcana appeared as often as the Zero Mountain.

 

Dozens of stars embroidered in the night sky.

 

The night sky of Arcana was filled with stars larger than the real moon. Yes, I had opened my eyes in the Arcana continent. The next thing I witnessed after the message was the night sky in Arcana.

 

Doom–

 

There was a huge pupil in the sky.

 

A gaze was looking down on the Arcana Continent of Arcana as if watching.

 

I noticed.

 

No, I, a demon hunter, felt it instinctively.

 

[Skill ‘Natural Enemy Relationship’ is activated.]

 

Indeed.

 

Instead of stars, the eyes of the demons embroidered the night sky of Arcana.

 

I spat out my sentiment.

 

“It’s a terrible sight.”

 

Malice was spilling all over the Arcana Continent.

 

The pride in my heart reacted more intensely than ever.

 

Grandfel couldn’t even tolerate breathing the same air as demons. Really, he probably would have fired magic at the eyes of the night sky at any moment now.

 

However, there was a procedure that was just as important as pride.

 

I had a reason to enter the Arcana Continent.

 

I checked the quest window.

 

[Quest: Request from the Simuard family]

 

The mage family Simuard.

 

They have a curse of terminal illness imposed on them.

 

Dig into the root of the curse.

 

– Visit Simuard Mansion. (Successful)

 

– Face Countess Simuard. (In Progress)

 

In order to uncover the curse of terminal illness entangled in the Simuard family.

 

I took a heavy step.

 

As expected of one of the most powerful magic families on the continent.

 

The size of the mansion couldn’t be captured with just one glance.

 

Above all, the exterior was fine.

 

‘At this point in time, even the northern largest city, Frost, has fallen.’

 

[Natural Enemy Relationship] became sharper and more extensive day by day.

 

My demon hunter sense was feeling it.

 

There was a demon inside Simuard’s mansion.

 

It was not difficult to discern their identity.

 

As stated in quest’s goal, the demon was likely to be Countess Simuard. I recalled information about Mrs. Simuard that I had heard through Belliere.

 

– “Godmother, Yula Simuard. She is practically the head of the Simuard family.”

 

Countess Simuard had been acting as the housekeeper on behalf of the short-lived Simuard family. Belliere, recalling her memories, touched her temple.

 

– “But I’m sorry. Nothing comes to mind about her. Strangely, the image of Marcelo that I saw on the same day and at the same time is vivid in my memory. As if only the afterimage of Madam Simuard had been cut out…”

 

It might sound unfortunate, but the mages of Mage Tower were smart.

 

Apprentice mages were the pride of their families, completely talented, and most of them were embarrassed to hear that.

 

Belliere was a senior mage who couldn’t be compared to them. When she said it was ‘clear in memory’. It really meant it was clear as if she just saw it.

 

‘It’s definitely fishy.’

 

So.

 

I half-guessed it from there.

 

It might be the demon’s status abnormality.

 

And at this moment, in front of the mansion, I was convinced.

 

Simuard.

 

The demon entangled with the curse of the terminal illness.

 

She wore a mask of the countess.

 

I felt it once again.

 

Demons were so fearless.

 

She was messing with a mage family.

 

Well, I had seen a demon who had tried to betray an elder mage, a demigod.

 

Once again, it was as expected of demons.

 

Thrud–

 

Suddenly, I felt a presence from beyond the darkness.

 

A man dressed in a tuxedo.

 

He held a magic lamp in his hand and spoke to me.

 

“It’s been a while since I had a guest. Although I don’t know what kind of business you have.”

 

Creak–

 

He opened the door and greeted me politely.

 

“I am Seo Hatif, butler of the Simuard family. Our Simuard house is open to anyone. Would you like to rest?”

 

Yes, it was very demon-like to put an innocent person like this at the forefront. Anyway, as befitting of a count’s butler, he was impeccably polite. To the point that I couldn’t refuse.

 

“Thank you.”

 

I followed the butler, Seo, into Simuard mansion.

 

Someone would ask if I had gone crazy.

 

Even to me, it seemed crazy.

 

But this was also my heavy pride.

 

In my heart, I wanted to blow up the entire mansion where the demon resided. This was the Simuard family, Marcelo’s home. I was being considerate of Marcelo, who was struggling with curses.

 

“You are innocent.”

 

At the same time.

 

Nobless Oblige also included being considerate of the vassals who served Simuard.

 

In addition.

 

“I’m sorry, but what did you just say?”

 

I looked up at the sky without answering.

 

It wasn’t just the eyes of the demons in the night sky.

 

My ‘arrangement’ had been waiting in the clouds since a while ago.

 

[Flying machine, Iron Castle: Waiting for command]

 

Therefore.

 

I confidently stood at the Simuard mansion.

 

Heading to the demon’s mouth.