Novel Will Be Taken Down on 17 May or Earlier Chapter 272 - Promise (2)

A day.

 

Time was relative.

 

The vice leader of the Shadow Mercenary Corps.

 

Wolf sat on the workbench.

 

In the past, he would have been drunk and rolling around on the bed.

 

Clang–

 

Wolf cleaned up his crossbow.

 

He didn’t know how long it had been since the last time he cleaned up his gear.

 

He suddenly became aware of how dull his senses had been.

 

“Did you carry out the request in this condition, bastard?”

 

He was disqualified from being the vice leader.

 

Thanks to his natural talent, both his enemies and colleagues didn’t notice Wolf’s dulled senses, but he knew it himself. Perhaps his current strength was more negligible than when he was in his prime time.

 

“I’m glad my colleagues are merciful.”

 

He was just grateful that they didn’t covet the vice-leader position in the meantime.

 

Moreover, there was someone who alerted him of how dull he had become.

 

Yes, it was none other than Hoyeol.

 

He never thought the day would come when he would receive help from his employer.

 

“And this kind of help, at that.”

 

If you asked him if he received direct help.

 

That was not the case at all.

 

In terms of material, it was actually a loss. Wolf gave Hoyeol his favorite crossbow in the past. What Wolf received from Hoyeol was a strong emotion.

 

“…To be precise, it’s a feeling of being chased.”

 

If he kept his hands still.

 

He felt like even the shot he was confident in would be caught in the back by Hoyeol. Even thinking about it again, Hoyeol’s talent was unbelievable.

 

Swordsmanship.

 

Magic.

 

And shooting.

 

Hoyeol had the talent to reach the peak in many fields. The only difference was the time it took for that talent to blossom.

 

Wolf could guarantee.

 

“Someday he’ll jump over me.”

 

Greater than Wolf.

 

Perhaps he would be recorded as the best marksman in the history of the Arcana Continent. When he thought about the future… Just by being able to give even a small teaching to Hoyeol, he might feel satisfied.

 

“Even so…”

 

No matter how talented Hoyeol was.

 

He couldn’t surpass their leader in that regard.

 

The current leader of the Shadow Mercenary Corps.

 

Basically.

 

Kitch was the strongest leader in the history of the Shadow Mercenary Corps.

 

“Of course, there shouldn’t be a clash between the two of them.”

 

Huft– Wolf blew out the dust.

 

“Anyway, may they both return safely.”

 

As expected, the day wasn’t long.

 

Did they say that one day here was four days in the Arcana Continent?

 

Wolf sighed as he folded his fingers.

 

“Then it will be noisy for at least three days, our leader.”

 

However, predictions were always just predictions.

 

“…?”

 

Flare–

 

In an instant, a burning sensation enveloped his entire body.

 

“!”

 

Wolf quickly came to his senses.

 

He looked through the door, window frame, and outside the window with keen eyes.

 

Mana or poisonous venom might have flowed through the gap.

 

‘No.’

 

No strange smell was detected.

 

In that case.

 

What was the meaning of this pain that felt like his skin was being cut up by thorns?

 

Without hesitation, Wolf took off his top.

 

And he noticed.

 

Crackle–!

 

It wasn’t an ‘illusion’.

 

His skin was really burning.

 

It was a huge burn that covered his upper body.

 

“…!”

 

Wolf’s pupils, which were usually languid, trembled.

 

This definitely.

 

This was the『Shadow God’s Stigma』.

 

It was the symbol of the leader of the Shadow Mercenary Corps.

 

The leader’s symbol had been handed over to him.

 

What it meant was simple.

 

…Something had gone wrong with Kitch’s life.

 

*

 

As for the results, Kitch didn’t keep her promise.

 

Flap–

 

A crow showed up at the appointment instead of her.

 

If it had been in the past.

 

I would have been completely fooled, wondering what kind of crow it was.

 

‘This is why people have to experience things first.’

 

Akshan’s guardian spirit.

 

Akshan’s wolf.

 

Thanks to seeing Tempest with my own eyes, I could recognize it. Just like how Akshan had Akshan’s wolf, it seemed the Shadow Mercenary Corps also had a crow that served a similar role.

 

Stare–

 

When I looked into the crow’s red eyes, it was like telepathy.

 

Kitch’s voice rang in my head.

 

It wasn’t a long story that needed a summary.

 

– I am sorry that I failed to keep my promise. As the head of the Shadow Mercenary Corps, I will bear the responsibility for that and the responsibility for the previous events.

 

Bear the responsibility.

 

I wouldn’t refute it.

 

No, I couldn’t.

 

‘It’s a bit abrupt.’

 

Grandfel didn’t have meetings without prior arrangements.

 

So let’s think the other way around.

 

When the other party one-sidedly canceled a meeting that was promised in advance.

 

How resentful Grandfel must be…!

 

‘If it were me, I would have apologized right away.’

 

However, there were words added that I couldn’t understand.

 

‘Responsibility for previous event.’

 

I had been thinking about it since the first time I met Kitch…

 

No matter how I thought about it, both Kitch and the Shadow Mercenary Corps didn’t do anything wrong to be held accountable. Of course, there must be a good reason why Kitch conveyed that message.

 

‘It’s not like she’s a lost child…’

 

Going all out to find her would be excessive.

 

Above all, Kitch was no ordinary person.

 

She was the leader of the Shadow Mercenary Corps.

 

‘It could be that she didn’t find the ledger.’

 

Now that I had discovered Claudie’s estate.

 

In the future, I had no choice but to enter the Arcana Continent more frequently. If I encountered Kitch at any time, I could hold her accountable and return to reality if necessary.

 

Thinking nothing of it, I opened a portal and returned to reality.

 

And now.

 

An uninvited guest came to the Mage Tower.

 

The identity of the unwelcome guest was the Shadow Mercenary Corps.

 

Since it seemed like they were my guest.

 

I spoke in a hurry.

 

I asked Yugwid for her understanding.

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

First of all, the uninvited guest and I were acquaintances.

 

No, more than acquaintances, it could be said to be a teacher-student relationship.

 

Vice leader, Wolf.

 

I received shooting lessons and a crossbow from him as a gift.

 

But even if we were familiar with each other.

 

There was no way Grandfel would skip the procedure.

 

Underground of the Mage Tower, Mugan.

 

It applied to the Arcana Continent.

 

It applied to the reality too.

 

‘…I feel like I often go to the underground.’

 

I couldn’t help it.

 

Regardless of the reason, Wolf was an uninvited guest at the Mage Tower.

 

He couldn’t get out of Mugan unless he told the reason.

 

Let’s finish it as soon as possible.

 

I could roughly guess the reason.

 

“I understand your situation.”

 

“…I’m just grateful that you said that.”

 

“However, this is also a procedure, so I hope you understand.”

 

“Absolutely. I am grateful that I am not dead.”

 

By the way…

 

As expected of the Shadow Mercenary Corps.

 

To think that he succeeded in breaking through the skilled mages’ siege magic and getting close to the Crystal Hall. How many people could do something like that, not only in reality but also on the Arcana Continent?

 

‘They definitely live up to their name.’

 

From the days when it was just a game.

 

Because of the hiatus of well over ten years that lasted until recently.

 

I didn’t have much information about the Shadow Mercenary Corps.

 

But I had AAU.

 

Thanks to this, I had looked into the settings of the Shadow Mercenary Corps.

 

‘They have an impact until the end of the story.’

 

If Arcana Continent Record was properly serviced as a game. Shadow Mercenaries would have influenced the Arcana Continent until the Arcana story reached its end.

 

‘Commonly known as the Black Curtain of the Arcana Continent.’

 

However, the problem was that no one knew how that influence would be materialized. Well, it might not be a bad idea to take this opportunity to find out.

 

Slouch–

 

Wolf looked at me with difficulty.

 

Thanks to my unwavering spirit, I was fine even in Mugan, but other people were not. At this moment, you could tell just by hearing the sound coming from the corner.

 

“Ugh…”

 

It was evident from the fact that the demon worshipers who were once elder mages, those who were praised as demigods, had completely lost their minds.

 

Wolf also seemed to understand the special nature of Mugan.

 

He didn’t waste his time and explained honestly.

 

He told the whole story.

 

“…To tell you the truth, I needed to act as the vice leader. As you know… This is because the members realized that there was a threat to Leader Kitch’s personal safety.”

 

Still, I was good at reading people.

 

As expected, Wolf was not a man who took rash actions. No matter how urgent it was, he didn’t act emotionally without reason.

 

“So I ended up unintentionally storming the Mage Tower. But if I hadn’t come forward… Those guys would have done something stupid.”

 

In short, you take the bullet for them, Wolf.

 

As someone who had been in all sorts of positions.

 

I could generously understand such grievances.

 

But there was one thing I didn’t understand.

 

What do you mean there’s a threat to Kitch’s safety…?

 

It seemed we needed to match each other’s stories about this.

 

“Kitch sent a message through a crow.”

 

“A crow….”

 

Wolf continued speaking with difficulty.

 

“The leader must have reached the hideout safely.”

 

The crow must be a guardian spirit that could only be summoned from the hideout.

 

Sk–

 

Wolf slowly rolled up his top.

 

Soon the burn covering the upper body was revealed.

 

“Then… my questions grow bigger. Why did the symbol of the Shadow Mercenary Corps’ leader, 『Shadow God’s Stigma』 come to me?”

 

There was such a setting.

 

It seemed it was not for no reason that he noticed there was something wrong with Kitch before I could, even though I was in Arcana Continent like her. But there was something I needed to make sure. I’m asking just in case…

 

Is the Shadow Mercenary Corps an organization where you can voluntarily leave?

 

Wolf was silent for a moment and then answered my question.

 

“There are no specific rules regarding withdrawal and disposition.”

 

Even if he didn’t tell the reason, I could guess.

 

Even if they could freely withdraw.

 

Would the Shadow Mercenary Corps just let it happen?

 

Wolf added.

 

“But that won’t happen. Because the shadow is safest when it is buried in the shadow. Even though there have been people who get kicked out, I have never heard of anyone who left the Shadow Mercenary Corps on their own.”

 

Furthermore, Kitch was the leader.

 

If there was an element in the Shadow Mercenary Corps that she didn’t like.

 

She could just rip it off and fix it herself.

 

Therefore, the words left by Kitsch inevitably sounded more meaningful.

 

Just then, Wolf asked.

 

“May I know what message the Leader left?”

 

I answered without adding or subtracting anything.

 

“I will take responsibility for today and the past, that’s what Kitch said.”

 

No matter how long I held a grudge. I wouldn’t put so much pressure on Kitch to the point that she would have to resign from her position as the leader just because she couldn’t keep one appointment.

 

Then, that naturally meant…

 

‘Responsibility for a past I don’t know about.’

 

To take responsibility for the past.

 

Kitch resigned from her position as the leader and disappeared.

 

Then I needed to know what happened in the past.

 

I thought Wolf, the vice leader, would know…

 

“Responsibility for the past…”

 

Even Wolf seemed to have no idea.

 

The vice leader, Wolf, didn’t know.

 

I couldn’t expect other members to know what it meant.

 

“I’m afraid there’s an error in the procedure.”

 

I don’t know what it is, but you’re going to take responsibility for it?

 

It’s a great act of pride.

 

But you have to tell me what it is before you disappear!

 

Even I thought.

 

Dip out without telling your colleagues was too much.

 

Wolf tried to smile.

 

“That’s right. In this case… I guess I’ll have to ask the Leader directly. That is also the rule of our Shadow Mercenary Corps.”

 

Let me see…

 

Even without the connector.

 

At least one more person.

 

He would be able to enter the Arcana Continent through the portal I manifested. It was Grandfel’s talent, not just anyone else’. Even if my mana didn’t grow, the skill level was accumulating at a tremendous rate.

 

“If you need help with that, you can come to me.”

 

You’re always welcome.

 

The fact that he didn’t have to make an appointment in advance.

 

It was a great deal of consideration on Grandfel’s part.

 

But Wolf shook his head.

 

“No. I believe in Leader’s judgment.”

 

Wolf’s voice was extremely serious.

 

Eyes full of determination stared at me.

 

“There must be a reason why she made that decision. I don’t know enough… There may be ‘something’ between the Shadow Mercenary Corps and the Commander-in-Chief. That’s why I can’t receive your help.”

 

…Is that so?

 

In fact, even if there was ‘something’ in the past, it would only be about the dark history. Since Wolf had said that much, there was no way I could keep insisting on it with this personality.

 

In that case, let’s release you according to the procedures, Wolf.

 

*

 

The community heated up.

 

– No, what’s with the Mage Tower??? Is it the Mage Tower I knew?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

 

– I thought they would take over the Shadow Mercenary Corpsㅋㅋㅋㅋ

 

– Why did someone get into an accident? It must be the lowest kid Lakid, right?

 

– No, it’s Wolf

 

– Huh…? Not the bastard Lakid?

 

– You call him a bastard, did you get beaten up by Lakid?

 

– …Who are you? How did you know?!

 

Unlike before, there were a lot of eyes in the Mage Tower.

 

Wolf’s unexpected behavior was relayed to the public in real time over the airwaves.

 

There was bound to be a lot of speculation.

 

However, the topic didn’t last long.

 

It was all about timing.

 

AAU.

 

Another Space Lake.

 

A giant energy reaction was captured again in just one day.

 

“H-Hey, it’s the Mage Tower again!”

 

Indeed.

 

The moment Hoyeol returned to reality.

 

A dimensional gap floated above the Mage Tower.

 

It came to the players who witnessed that scene.

 

[Achievement: Witness the return of the Dark Dragon]

 

“…The return of the Dark Dragon?”

 

“Then, that thing floating on the Mage Tower is the Dark Dragon…?”

 

“W-Wait a minute. Then, don’t tell me, the Dark Dragon is…?!”

 

It was a message that led to guess the identity of the Dark Dragon.