Novel Will Be Taken Down on 17 May or Earlier Chapter 185 - Appreciate the procedure

The air froze in an instant.

 

I had felt it at the Mage Tower and in the AAU conference room, but it was clear that my mouth was equipped with a cooling function.

 

How could the atmosphere become cold just because of my words?!

 

But since I had spoken out.

 

Retreating was not an option either.

 

‘I have nothing to bow down to.’

 

One rule for the social gathering of time and space.

 

All hostile acts between each other were prohibited.

 

Of course, there was no rule that business in a social setting could only be done in a social setting.

 

I might end up paying a price for my mouth outside of the social circle.

 

But that didn’t matter to me.

 

Why?

 

I was different from other transcendents.

 

I was in the reality, not the Arcana Continent!

 

I couldn’t go to the Arcana Continent even if I wanted to.

 

‘I don’t have to worry about handling this right now.’

 

So, even if you glare at me like that, you’re not scary at all, Shegwin.

 

“…”

 

Shegwin, whom I had called out, made no reply.

 

I suddenly asked him if he knew his sins.

 

In fact, he might be wondering what the hell was going on.

 

However, since I was already committed to it, I couldn’t back down either.

 

I just made up my mind.

 

‘The business here will end here for sure.’

 

Yes, no matter how it went.

 

The cost of this big mouth must end here.

 

Even if the Arcana Continent was disconnected from reality, there was a variable called the rupture.

 

Just imagine Shegwin appearing from rupture with some resentment left.

 

‘…I don’t even want to imagine it.’

 

With such complicated circumstances, I continued.

 

“I will allow you to sit across from me.”

 

“…!”

 

Please don’t over-exaggerate your words, Grandfel.

 

I will dissect it kindly.

 

The social venue is so large and grand that it will be difficult to have a proper conversation from such a distance.

 

So why don’t we sit face to face and talk?

 

You could have said it in a nice way, really.

 

However, it was too late to regret it.

 

Thrud–

 

Shegwin started walking towards me.

 

I realized it once again.

 

The atmosphere exuded by a transcendent was no joke.

 

Not just Shegwin, but everyone in the hall was the same way.

 

First of all, their appearances were extraordinary. If I were to express it in words from the time when Arcana was just a game, I would say it was like a named NPC that was created with great care.

 

Of course, the same was true of their action.

 

Thud–

 

Shegwin put his sword down on the table.

 

At times like this, I was dumbfounded as I recognized the luxury goods.

 

I resented Grandfel’s aesthetics.

 

‘It’s at least a unique grade, isn’t it?’

 

From the splendid design on the scabbard, it screamed, ‘I am not an ordinary sword.’

 

Well, it was a sword used by the Sword Saint and the only Grand Sword Master on the continent, so it was only natural that it was great.

 

Of course, I knew he didn’t put the sword on the table to show off.

 

It was probably an action of discomfort. But I was also uncomfortable with it over here.

 

I recited, looking at the sword.

 

“Is this the sword?”

 

“…?”

 

“The one that cut down the Qirnberg Machine Tower?”

 

Flinch!

 

Shegwin’s eyebrows twitched.

 

He seemed to be asking how did I know that.

 

First of all, just listen.

 

“Do you know? The Qirnberg Machine Tower you destroyed had been hunting tens of thousands of demons until just before. Also, it would hunt demons until its pride was exhausted.”

 

Shegwin, you smashed that machine tower.

 

Thanks to this, tens of thousands of demons in the Arcana Continent survived.

 

I lost five levels.

 

Indeed.

 

Antonium was important, too.

 

But before that, I needed to hear about this.

 

[Quest: Useless Act]

 

Shegwin regarded the demon hunt as useless.

 

Talk to Shegwin,

 

Get to know the truth of his actions.

 

– Encounter Shegwin. (In Progress)

 

As I said.

 

Depending on his authenticity.

 

My–Grandfel’s–disposition would be different.

 

I said, looking into Shegwin’s eyes.

 

“Why?”

 

“…?”

 

“Why did you cut down the machine tower that I activated?”

 

“!!!”

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

Thud–

 

Shegwin placed his symbolic sword in front of his opponent.

 

It was to get a look at the man. It was a technique often used to gauge the opponent’s skills in social settings where annoying rules existed. It’s also a tactic he had been subjected to.

 

‘Show your teeth.’

 

There was a lot of information you could find out just by throwing bait.

 

If the other person’s facial expression revealed hostility.

 

That meant he was ignorant of the rules in the social gathering.

 

But if he kept remaining expressionless as he did now… 

 

‘He must have known the rules.’

 

He didn’t know how the man knew the rules of the social gathering when this was his first time gathering.

 

But it wasn’t surprising.

 

The man hadn’t taken the bait yet.

 

Soon, the man’s gaze turned towards the sword.

 

Shegwin felt puzzled by that gaze.

 

‘…He didn’t recognize me by the sword.’

 

Quicksword, Atlas.

 

The sword was like Shegwin’s alter ego.

 

That was why when he thrust the Atlas Sword.

 

The other person would react like this.

 

– “…Who are you?”

 

– “Shegwin, to such a kid…?”

 

– “I didn’t hear that Shegwin had a child.”

 

Rejuvenation.

 

Shegwin.

 

There were only a very small number of people, including transcendents, who knew that he had regained his youth. That was why he put his sword up and met the man face-to-face.

 

Since he had regained his youth, the man couldn’t possibly guess he was Shegwin.

 

But what was this? Where was the interest?

 

“Is this the sword? The one that cut down the Qirnberg Machine Tower.”

 

…How did the man even know that fact?

 

Was he around at that time?

 

That thought crossed his mind, but he shook it off.

 

‘No, there’s no way I wouldn’t feel it.’

 

Currently, he had regained his body from its prime.

 

His senses were more sensitive than ever.

 

Moreover, the strong recognized the strong.

 

There was no way he wouldn’t recognize a transcendent of this level…

 

‘…Wait a minute.’

 

Shegwin, mulling over his memory, paused.

 

He recalled the high-ranking demon king.

 

It was a being of such a different rank that they couldn’t even dare to fathom it.

 

This man was the person who brought that high-ranking demon king to hell.

 

If he considered that the man had the same status as the high-ranking demon king.

 

‘Could it be that he has a force  that I cannot fathom?’

 

Hoyeol continued.

 

But Shegwin didn’t hear his words properly.

 

Because another possibility popped into his head.

 

‘There is only one place he could watch from.’

 

The towering capital city, Antonium.

 

This person looked down on everything from Antonium…!

 

In a split second, Shegwin made a decision.

 

‘It was a mistake.’

 

There was a reason why Antonium didn’t collapse despite the attacks of demons and demon kings.

 

It was because of this man. He had a status that even Shegwin couldn’t fathom…!

 

As if acknowledging that fact.

 

The man asked calmly.

 

“Why? Why did you cut down the machine tower I activated?”

 

“…?!”

 

The Qirnberg Machine Tower was currently operating on the Arcana Continent.

 

Its existence was implausible even among the transcendents.

 

The dwarves were the ones who built the Qirnberg Machine Tower.

 

Only someone who had built a close relationship with the dwarves could possibly move the machine tower.

 

But weren’t the dwarves disappeared from the Arcana Continent because they hated humans?

 

The answer to the question that had been nagging him was right in front of him.

 

‘Everything finally makes sense.’

 

‘He was controlling the continent.’

 

‘Heh. You got caught wrong, old man Sword Saint.’

 

Shegwin swallowed dryly.

 

If he answered that it was because he hated loud noise like he did back then.

 

– “Your disposition will be decided based on your answer.”

 

He didn’t know what the other person would do.

 

But one thing was clear.

 

The man was already putting up with him enough.

 

This was evident from the fact that he didn’t immediately appear in the siege of Antonium.

 

‘I don’t know his reason, but I welcome it.’

 

Shegwin already made his decision.

 

He would retreat from Antonium.

 

The trust with numerous feudal lords?

 

Compared to turning them into enemies.

 

Turning this man into an enemy would be more dangerous.

 

So Shegwin gritted his teeth.

 

‘It is time for me to be patient, just as I have been.’

 

Shegwin finally opened his mouth.

 

“I didn’t know. I will admit my mistake.”

 

How long had it been since he said this?

 

It was enough to make Shegwin feel distant.

 

He himself had risked a lot during this siege of Antonium. It was especially painful to lose the magic tool, the ‘Milky Way Whetstone’, which was sleeping in the palace’s warehouse.

 

However.

 

“Also I will step away from Antonium.”

 

He couldn’t risk his life just to get a magic tool.

 

Above all, he didn’t want to overwork his body.

 

Shegwin thought to himself.

 

‘I admit it. You are strong now.’

 

But he had regained his youth.

 

Even if it was youth that he obtained in an ugly way.

 

In the end, time was on his side.

 

Sk–

 

The moment Shegwin reached for his sword to leave his seat.

 

He heard a voice.

 

“Wasn’t your goal the throne?”

 

Hm, Shegwin snorted.

 

Transcendent.

 

Even though the man was a transcendent of a different rank, he asked such a question.

 

The man was asking him to spit out his true purpose.

 

There was no reason he couldn’t tell him since the plan had gone astray.

 

“It’s none of my business who wears the crown. I only lent my power to the feudal lords to obtain the magic tool, the Milky Way Whetstone.”

 

Milky Way Whetstone.

 

When he revealed that specific purpose, the man said.

 

“I will take your word for it.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Then next question.”

 

“…?”

 

Shegwin clenched his fists at the man’s words.

 

‘…Are you saying that this humiliation is not enough?’

 

For a moment, he was filled with anger.

 

But Shegwin didn’t express it.

 

For now, his top priority was to safely retreat from Antonium without aggravating the man.

 

Shegwin nodded, and the next question followed immediately.

 

“Shergwin, why do you…”

 

That was a completely unexpected question.

 

“Why do you smell like an ugly demon?”

 

“?!”

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

I didn’t know anything else.

 

I could smell just the demon’s scent.

 

– Encounter Shegwin. (Successful)

 

– Find the link between Shegwin and the demons. (In Progress)

 

I was certain.

 

Shegwin smelled like a demon.

 

I stared straight at Shegwin.

 

Indeed, that expression was truly worth seeing.

 

The Sword Saint and the only Grand Sword Master on the continent.

 

Shegwin replied, glaring at me.

 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

 

It would be a mistake to think that kind of evasiveness would work on a demon hunter.

 

Most of all, I knew. Time, which was fair to everyone, flowed faster on the Arcana continent.

 

Harcon had spoken of his impression of Shegwin.

 

– “Sword Saint, the word ‘prime’ was meaningless to him.”

 

That was where a question came in.

 

The Shegwin I saw was a blue-haired young man.

 

Why did he sound like someone that had already past his prime?

 

I thought I was mistaken.

 

But seeing each other face to face.

 

I finally realized.

 

I opened my mouth.

 

“What did you trade for that youth?”

 

Demon worshippers were ashamed of their interaction with the demons.

 

That was what Karimjeva used to be like.

 

His purpose was the ‘true truth’.

 

He said he was just using the demons.

 

If I didn’t have that experience.

 

I probably wouldn’t have easily noticed it.

 

A link between Shegwin and the demon.

 

But I had the experience, so I knew.

 

What was eternal life on the Arcana Continent?

 

It was a power that could be obtained by those who received the [Blessing of the First World Tree].

 

The elf had proved that, didn’t he? The proof was that they immediately appeared on a continent where they never showed themselves before in order to get the blessing back from me.

 

“…I didn’t trade it. It’s the effect of elixir.”

 

It seemed the only thing he could think of was the elixir.

 

Unfortunately.

 

No such elixir existed in the Arcana Continent.

 

Tap tap–

 

I got up from my seat.

 

Shegwin, what had he changed from his youth?

 

I didn’t know.

 

But it didn’t matter.

 

“Every human being lives one day and dies one day.”

 

The quest goal flashed.

 

– Encounter Shegwin. (Successful)

 

– Find the link between Shegwin and the demons. (Successful)

 

I didn’t know if he was aware of it.

 

– Hunt the demon of true name, Shegwin (In Progress)

 

Shegwin, you’re not human anymore.

 

As if to prove that fact, a message appeared before my eyes.

 

[Skill, ‘Natural Enemy Relationship’ is activated.]

 

“You’d better appreciate the procedure of the social gathering.”

 

This was not a bluff.

 

Currently, I had opened the circle, the state of transcendent.

 

With the effect of [Natural Enemy Relationship], it wouldn’t be unreasonable to fight against Shegwin. No, regardless of the group, Grandfel’s pride grew higher in the presence of a powerful demon.

 

I exhaled coldly.

 

“I’m desperately patient right now.”

 

“!!!”

 

“Sword Saint. No, you are a swordsman who is uglier than the demon.”

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

Antonium.

 

A never-ending siege.

 

The exhausted soldiers looked at the night sky.

 

The damn evil eyes were looking down on them.

 

“…Still, I saw hope.”

 

How.

 

In this situation.

 

When the continent was on the brink of extinction.

 

How could they stab a sword to the back of their allies?

 

In the end, the soldier, unable to hold back his anger, shouted to outside the castle walls.

 

“You bastards are worse than the demons!!”

 

That madman!

 

A barrage of arrows would immediately pour down.

 

The moment the soldiers quickly raised their shields.

 

“….”

 

Unlike their resolve, nothing happened.

 

The soldiers peeked their heads out from between the shields.

 

Clip clop–

 

For some reason.

 

Clip clop–

 

The sound of horses’ hooves was getting further and further away.

 

Soon, they heard unbelievable words.

 

From the madman who had shouted that their enemies were worse than the demons.

 

“Th-They retreating!”

 

“…?!”

 

“The troops are retreatiiing!!”

 

The unbelievable news was also delivered to the Emperor on the castle walls.

 

The Emperor looked at the battlefield.

 

Indeed, the enemies were retreating.

 

In Antonium which was about to fall.

 

They were retreating as if they were giving up.

 

Was it a strategic retreat?

 

Was it a clever ploy?

 

The Emperor thought of all the possibilities.

 

But the words that came out of his mouth…

 

“…Am I dreaming now?”

 

It was only natural.

 

Suddenly, in the sky.

 

He saw a lion.

 

To be exact.

 

“Your Majesty! That symbol…!!”

 

A symbol of the order of the Lionheart.

 

A flag emblazoned with a lion.

 

A spirit was coming down, waving that flag.