Chapter 22

◈ Chapter 22. New Update

1.1 trillion won.

No matter how many times I recounted, it was certain.

That astronomical figure.

It was the amount of money that would be deposited into my account if I just applied for the deposit.

...For the first time in my life, I'm starting to fear money.

1.1 trillion won.

How many times would you have to win the lottery to get that kind of money?

But what's even more terrifying is...

That I take it for granted.

The salary that wasn't bad for living alone.

Even then, I shed tears of blood over various living expenses in the past.

Those hot and cold days when I was obsessed with the operating times of the air conditioner and boiler.

Imagine if I had been given 1.1 trillion won back then.

First of all, insomnia would be a certainty.

Every night, I would worry if a burglar would break into my house. If my colleagues or boss would notice if I suddenly quit my job. What if the bank teller embezzled the money.

I would have lost sleep over such pointless worries.

In that sense, it was fortunate.

『He, who was born as the successor of a great family and tasted the pinnacle of abundance.』

This extraordinary financial sense.

Perhaps it's thanks to that setting.

My mind didn't just go blank; it began to spin even faster.

"The most urgent thing is to arm myself."

Yeah, it is urgent.

From level 55 to level 134.

Most importantly, my level has risen significantly and rapidly.

The equipment items I currently use are practically useless.

In front of high-level monsters, wearing a long coat wouldn't be much different.

'I need to think carefully...'

But, that was the problem.

Let's say I matched my items to my rapidly rising level.

What would I do when I level up next?

Of course, there's no guarantee that I'll level up so quickly in the next rift.

But let's look at it objectively.

Even if it rose, it's just level 134.

At my level, killing a low-level demon, an imp, is enough to level up.

'Is it a good idea to get items that match my current level?'

For as little as tens of millions or as much as hundreds of millions?

Absolutely not.

Then, a natural question follows.

So, are you saying you won't match your items?

When you don't know when you'll have to enter a life-threatening rift again?

No, that's absolutely not it.

I have my own thoughts.

'Items whose effects are genuine, not just their stats.'

Why, items that have high value due to their effects, rather than absolute stats like attack or defense.

'Items that have good effects regardless of level restrictions.'

What I need right now are such items.

Especially...

'If only my mana regeneration was a bit better...'

Mana regeneration items!

I realized the importance of mana in the Ascura Count rift.

Even aside from the moments when I was in crisis due to mana depletion, how many times have I regretted not having enough mana?

In that sense, if I could supplement my mana regeneration...

'I might be able to hold on until I get decent high-level equipment.'

Of course, it would be expensive...

In the days when Arcana was just a game.

Mages were treated like nobility.

Not just because they looked cool.

But because the amount of money invested in their development was as impressive as their performance.

For such mages, mana regeneration items were essential.

Now that Arcana has become reality.

Their value must have increased even more.

...It might really be in the billions.

Billions for a single item!

I, who would be buying such an item, not selling it.

It was something I couldn't even imagine.

But my emotions were unshaken.

Sitting at the table.

An upright posture, leaning back against the chair.

Occasionally sipping the tea.

Even if it's an item worth billions, or more.

It won't shake Granfel's resolve.

Even if I receive 1.1 trillion won.

Even if the whole world focuses on me.

There's no unnecessary worry.

Rustle, rustle—

Filling out the A4 paper again.

—Train your weakened body. (Repeat) ▲

●20KM run (in progress)

●1,000 push-ups (success)

●500 pull-ups (in progress)

●300 burpees (success)

Filling out the repeat quest similarly.

The actions are no different from usual.

Truly, a stubborn way of life.

Suddenly, I thought.

...Was I really like this in middle school?

But such thoughts were quickly dismissed.

Today's humiliation is more than enough, just from being grilled by my only nephew, Arang.

*

Sometimes, things are more valuable for not being revealed.

"What is his true identity?"

Ho Yeol's current situation is exactly that.

The Ascura Count raid with Jesse Hennessey.

But the truth of the incident has not been clearly revealed.

Ho Yeol and Jesse.

The parties involved are as tight-lipped as if they had made a pact.

"Let's start with the video."

Boom!

From the stone pillars rising from the ground.

To the moving statues crumbling in front of Ho Yeol.

Those trying to identify Ho Yeol's identity, or at least his class, are not few.

But it's not a simple matter.

The more they examine the video, the more the mystery around Ho Yeol grows.

"First, it's definitely alchemy."

"Alchemy?"

"Yes. If you look closely here... Can you see it clearly? The ruins turning into stone pillars. This is undoubtedly alchemy... But the problem is the amount of mana consumed by alchemy... Damn, how high must his mana be..."

"Excuse me, expert?"

Former Arcana administrators.

There's not much difference from AAU.

AAU Korea branch.

Recently, Seong Hyun-joon feels like he's going to get an earful.

Thud—

Sitting at his desk, he said to his senior.

"Senior, I'm really going to die."

"Why again?"

"Everywhere I go, it's all about Ho Yeol. Ho Yeol. It's just chaos...!"

Friends, cousins, even his parents.

Inquiries about Ho Yeol are overwhelming.

He can understand.

How long has it been since a star player like this appeared?

Since Nam Tae-min in Gaon, no one has shown such prowess in Korea.

Why, even if you win a medal at the Olympics, the talk will be all about it for a while.

Ho Yeol is not just a medal, but a real hero who handled the collapsed rift, a major disaster.

"There's nothing you can do. I also have chaos at home. My kids keep asking me to tell them just a little. They say they don't talk about it at school."

"That's driving me crazy."

"Exactly. You have to know something to tell them!"

They both looked at Ho Yeol in the monitor.

What is this?

What skill is this?

What is this that felled the Ascura Count!

Even the former Arcana administrators couldn't guess Ho Yeol's level, let alone his class.

Seong Hyun-joon shook his head.

"The bigger problem is that it will be tiring from now on."

If you answer kindly, it would be better, right?

After all, the root of all evil is Ho Yeol's interview.

His prickly interview is as big a topic as his prowess.

- Haha, the concept is great

- Can you see his expression? Just overflowing with confidence

- He looks like he's on a runway, not a rift

- Isn't that a concept? Can you even think that he's putting on a show in front of the gathered rankers? That's the real deal

"We're just as curious, but we can't honestly say anything..."

Since the days of being Arcana administrators.

Even now as AAU employees.

Their essential virtue is keeping secrets.

Pretending not to know even if they do, pretending to know even if they don't.

As the saying goes, half of it is just being quiet.

To avoid causing unnecessary confusion in society.

Fortunately,

"This is the first time I'm looking forward to Thursday."

Today is Thursday.

There might be a new update.

If the new update details are announced, interest in Ho Yeol might decrease a bit.

Then, maybe my hearing will be protected.

Seong Hyun-joon couldn't help but look forward to it.

"Come on. Come on...!"

Perhaps due to his earnest prayer.

A new update was announced on the Arcana homepage.

"It's out!"

The AAU employees checked the update details in unison.

Seong Hyun-joon also checked the details and sighed in relief.

'...I shouldn't be happy, but I have to live too!'

The rift is always a time bomb.

But the sudden appearance of Ho Yeol.

It was a disaster for his hearing and mental health.

Click—

Seong Hyun-joon scrolled the mouse wheel and smiled.

It was long.

Not just a simple rift update.

A substantial update.

'With an update of this scale...'

Interest in Ho Yeol might wane a bit, right?

That's what Seong Hyun-joon thought.

But unfortunately, it was just an illusion.

At the same time.

Players also checked the new update details.

"Wait, is this real? Is this really out?!"

"...If this happens, we'll have to meet again, won't we?"

"Really, just endure until this update, okay?"

"Damn. Another competitor has appeared."

Competitor.

Of course, it was about Ho Yeol.

This update is a large-scale one.

No, for those who have played Arcana in the past, just checking the details would be thrilling.

『A new area is coming to you.

The new area, 'Yusra Islands,' has been added...』

Yusra Islands!

In the days when Arcana was a game.

It was an island that was widely rumored in Arcana.

Quests, treasure maps, and even NPCs.

It was referred to as a 'treasure island' because everything that grew there was said to be incomparably valuable.

So, players who obtained this information searched the continent to find the treasure island.

But until Arcana became reality, the Yusra Islands were never discovered.

So, it was thought to be a legendary, mythical island...

"Is this giving medicine with the disease?"

After the Ascura Count.

The Yusra Islands were the next update.

"Every monster will gather there. Really."

Would high-level players, including rankers, leave such a treasure island alone?

Among them, the most prominent recently has been Ho Yeol.

So, interest in Ho Yeol will only grow, not diminish.

"This time, I'll really do it properly...!"

Whether it's in a good or bad sense.

"A great nation's unification is shameful enough with one failure."

Yusra Islands.

Ho Yeol, who receives as much attention as the treasure island.

But, as if the attention and checks don't matter.

Ho Yeol is the same as always.

Yusra Islands.

Even while checking the update details.

"..."

His arrogant expression remained unchanged.

.

.

.

Yusra Islands?

What's this?

I checked the update details and sipped my tea.

'Recently, I've been feeling...'

A 10-year gap is indeed serious.

Why, just recently.

That cap...

No, not recognizing Jesse Hennessey, for example.

The [Heavenly Punishment] that turned the Ascura Count into ashes.

I thought it was impressive.

But to find out she was the 4th-ranked player.

'I was telling such a person to be polite...'

To say that being polite is a basic human trait.

I was unexpectedly lecturing.

And I ended up receiving a very polite self-introduction.

That misconduct came to mind again.

I said shamelessly,

"The new tea isn't bad either."

Of course.

It's a 200 won green tea bag!

...Enough.

Let's stop thinking about it.

After all, this personality won't change just by worrying.

Even if I found out Jesse was a ranker.

My attitude towards her wouldn't change.

Of course, being able to remain calm even after seeing the update details.

It's not just because of my personality.

10-year gap?

That's the ingenuity of civilization.

It can be overcome with internet searches.

'Yusra Islands.'

Judging by the volume.

This update's core is clear.

I immediately opened a green window and typed into the search bar...

"?"

Just as I was about to type "Yusra Islands."

I hesitated.

At the very end of the update details.

"...This is?"

A single line of text caught my eye.