Chapter 41

◈ Chapter 41. It's Been a While, Black (1)

I even sent a welcoming note.

...Why is it so quiet?

I looked at the hastily scribbled words on the parchment.

'I even delivered the apple properly.'

Do I need more time before the next proof?

Well, it doesn't matter.

Even without this, I have more than enough to do.

My schedule is tight.

I closed the magic book I was reading.

'Time to go.'

To the Kingdom of Yusra.

In the media and on the internet.

Interest in the Kingdom of Yusra never waned.

The media in the Republic of Korea must be thrilled.

Gaon and Berserker.

The Yusra Kingdom Reconstruction Quest, which only these two guilds are undertaking.

──────

[Exclusive] Expert 日, “Gaon and Inazuma's rankings are expected to change... Entering the top 3 is not a dream.”

[This Moment in the National Assembly] “Dreaming of a future led by Gaon and supported by a myth...” Self-praise continues, claiming this achievement is the result of a national project...

[Exclusive Interview] Nam Taemin refuses interview, “I have nothing to say. I will do my best.”

──────

Reading such articles,

I realize that not just anyone can be a player, really.

Just imagining it is exhausting.

Even a single word can trigger a flood of commentary.

Continuous speculation.

Interview requests.

'In that sense, I can only be grateful.'

With this prickly personality.

-Get out of the way. My patience has its limits.

-There's no formality to be found.

-Therefore, I will not answer any questions.

The words I spouted without a filter in front of the camera.

...Really, even thinking about it again makes me cringe.

But thanks to that?

Reporters didn't approach me recklessly.

No, not just reporters.

It was the same with players.

In the lobby of the Magic Tower.

Many players gathered around the portal.

"Hey, why don't we just go through the rift at that time...?"

"Whoa. It's Lee Ho-yul. Lee Ho-yul!"

"Shh! First, everyone, close your mouths."

Silence—

The noisy place suddenly became quiet.

If I were my past self, I would have been fidgeting.

These guys are ignoring me.

I would have been imagining all sorts of things.

But humans are definitely adaptable creatures.

I was gradually getting used to this reaction.

In my head and in my heart.

I found this silence satisfying.

Then, suddenly, a similar scene came to mind.

'...Well.'

This attitude was the same even in front of the top players.

Even in front of the senior mages of the Magic Tower, it was no different.

So, this is just...

Daily life.

Click—

I entered the portal, thinking.

How do you get more shameless, Ho-yul?

.

.

.

The reason I came to the Kingdom of Yusra is simple.

'I need to meet Harcon.'

I need to ask him about the 'sword qi.'

But before that, I need to check something.

It's foolish not to use what I gained through unscrupulous means.

'Yeah, that's right.'

The reward I obtained by successfully completing the hidden quest.

My relationship and influence with the Kingdom of Yusra have reached their maximum.

As a result, the [Authority] function in the Kingdom of Yusra has been activated.

'I need to understand it properly.'

I intended to accurately grasp this authority function.

Actually, I could guess to some extent.

Why, there's quite a bit of talk about it on the internet.

-Isn't Gaon and Berserker blessed?

-If you stack relationships and influence through quests, you can get titles when the kingdom reconstruction is complete, right? 😮

-Shining and Skull must be so frustrated 😂😂😂 In the Kingdom of Yusra, they might have to use honorifics with Leon and Nam Taemin 😂😂😂

Relationships and influence.

The possibility of obtaining titles as a result.

This is common knowledge from the days when Arcana was a game.

That's why players are obsessed with relationships and influence.

'Of course, the importance varies depending on the scale.'

Influence in a small village.

Influence in a country.

It's impossible to compare them on the same level.

'Why, a village chief can't grant titles.'

In that sense, the value of relationships and influence in the Kingdom of Yusra is so high it hurts to talk about it.

After all, the Yusra system is the first nation of Arcana to appear in reality.

-It's just insane!!

-It's not just any place, it's a legendary treasure island 😂

-Even just the ownership of a mine is worth it 😂

Most importantly, the potential for development!

The Kingdom of Yusra, already rich in resources.

Now, with the opportunity to fully utilize those resources as the first nation to appear.

Players' expectations are also growing.

-First, the fact that monsters respawn around the kingdom is huge.

-You can level up by going back and forth between the kingdom and the hunting grounds.

-Later, maybe an auction house or shops will appear?

-Really, what do you think about joining Gaon or Berserker as a low-ranking member right now, everyone??

-Who would accept you? 😂😂😂

So.

Humanly speaking.

My expectations can't help but grow as well...!

'Especially since it's at the maximum.'

...Maybe, even a small crumb will fall my way?

But what's moving me this time is.

The pride in my heart.

"I need to make a wise decision."

Huge influence.

The responsibility that comes with that influence.

Noblesse oblige, indeed.

I sighed inwardly.

'...What's the point of this?'

After all, you have to take care of your own share.

If you don't speak up, no one will take care of it for you.

That's the truth I learned from rolling in the jungle of society as a working adult.

'...Oh?'

But my self-pity didn't last long.

The maximum relationships and influence.

I soon realized that.

'Maybe I don't need to go out of my way to take care of it?'

The golden palace in the distance.

A man approaching me quickly, with the palace as the backdrop.

The man is none other than the King of Yusra, Hakuna.

"Have you arrived, my benefactor!"

Seeing Hakuna's bright smile, I thought.

'Seeing the king come to greet me barefoot and thinking it's natural. Maybe this isn't getting more shameless...?'

Is my shamelessness already at its maximum?

*

"One, two!"

A loud battle cry rings in my ears.

The Lion Heart Knights.

The Grandmaster, Harcon Kingsguard, smiled.

How long has it been since I felt this peace?

"Your voice is too low. Again!"

For some reason, my mind was calm.

Since being summoned to the world of adventurers.

Not a single day passed without a restless night.

But last night, I fell into a deep sleep without tossing and turning once.

Harcon looked around.

There were no buildings called skyscrapers by adventurers.

No noisy iron carriages in sight.

Is it because the environment of the Kingdom of Yusra is similar to my hometown?

'No.'

Harcon shook his head.

He already knew it wasn't that.

What was tormenting him was impatience.

「Is His Majesty the Emperor safe?

What am I doing here now?

Is it okay for me to sleep soundly?」

But that hasty worry has now disappeared.

'All thanks to Sir Ho-yul.'

Yes, everything is thanks to Ho-yul.

Harcon learned a lot from being with Ho-yul.

'Sir Ho-yul must have been just as flustered.'

Their homeland and the world of adventurers.

The great upheaval where the two worlds mixed.

The adventurers were confused.

Ho-yul must have been the same.

And the appearance of demons.

There was plenty of reason for them to be disheartened.

Harcon marveled again.

'How could Sir Ho-yul remain so calm?'

There was no sign of even a small disturbance in Ho-yul.

Even in the battle against the Seven Deadly Sins' Greed.

A great evil that even made him tremble with fear.

There was no grand resolution or sacrifice in Ho-yul's actions.

It was as if it was just something he had to do.

There was only a calm Ho-yul advancing towards the great evil.

This greatly influenced Harcon's mind.

'That resolution must have been just as natural to Sir Ho-yul.'

What a man with a great capacity.

He must emulate such a Ho-yul.

'Of course, it's not something you can follow just by trying.'

But one thing is clear.

"......I must do what I have to do."

Thump—

That simple statement.

It restarted the lion's heart that had stopped.

So the Lion Heart Knights began training again.

Clang—!

The knights' swords clashing.

Harcon enthusiastically raised the spirits of the knights.

"Sharpen your blades! Adjust your stances!"

This is what we can do now.

"How can we defeat the demons of this world if we can't even defeat the demons of our homeland!"

This is what we must do now.

Clang, clang, clang—!

Seeing the knights gritting their teeth, Harcon thought.

'I have no more regrets.'

The contact with the Magic Tower through Ho-yul.

Harcon also abandoned that plan.

It was a mistake made out of impatience to return to his homeland as soon as possible.

Now that he has gained enlightenment, he cannot afford to repeat the mistake.

"I have received another favor from Sir."

Although he is participating in the reconstruction of the Kingdom of Yusra.

It is essentially an extension of training.

The role of the knights is to deal with monsters or enemies that threaten the kingdom.

Harcon closed his eyes tightly.

The battle cries in his ears.

The calm in his mind.

Perhaps there will be nothing to worry about for a while...

But Harcon's prediction was off.

"Wh-What did you just say? Sir Ho-yul?"

It was because of Ho-yul again.

The flustered Harcon repeated.

"Are you saying you want to learn swordsmanship...?!"

.

.

.

"Huff—"

With a sigh, Jessica took off her helmet.

Her short, dark brown hair, damp with sweat, swayed.

Her narrowed eyes looked at Harcon...

No, more accurately, at the silver-haired man by Harcon's side.

Ho-yul.

'Mage.'

A mage associated with the Magic Tower.

Jessica knew well what kind of people the mages of the Magic Tower were.

She had witnessed them.

The single goal of pursuing truth.

Their actions towards that goal.

'...Madmen.'

It was 'extermination.'

Because they were obstacles.

For that single reason, everything in the area vanished in half a day.

Jessica had been dispatched to clean up the aftermath.

But there was nothing left to clean up.

It was impossible to even confirm if anyone had been caught in it.

Nothing was left.

Not even a blade of grass.

But Ho-yul was different.

Is he really a mage associated with the Magic Tower?

The doubt was strong.

Most of all, the image of Ho-yul when he was standing on the stone steps and cleaving through the lava was vivid.

But Jessica shook her head.

Shake, shake—

The prejudice was as vivid as the memory.

'...I still don't know.'

Is he really different from other Magic Tower mages?

But the conversation that followed.

It was enough to widen Jessica's skeptical eyes.

"Sir Harcon. Does sword qi (劍氣) really exist?"

...Sword qi?

Hold on, how does a mage know about sword qi!

It's natural for the Grandmaster to be surprised, just like me.

After all, sword qi is...

"Sir Ho-yul, what do you mean by that?"

"Sword qi. I'm talking about the light that flickered on your sword."

"......You can't be serious, Sir Ho-yul. You saw that light?!"

It's not something anyone can see!

Innate talent and relentless training.

Only when these two are combined can one barely witness sword qi.

So it was natural to be surprised.

But the surprise didn't end there.

"If that's the case, then I can use sword qi too."

Ho-yul declared he would use sword qi.

Enoch, who had been listening silently, muttered.

"......What are you saying, Mr. Mage?"

Jessica felt the same way, though she didn't respond.

'It's already surprising that he noticed. But?'

Using sword qi is a whole different matter!

In the Lion Heart Knights, only the Grandmaster, herself, and Enoch could use sword qi. Besides, isn't Ho-yul a mage?

Jessica was honestly flabbergasted.

"Can you even hold a sword properly first?"

Harcon handed a sword to Ho-yul.

'I don't know what the Grandmaster is thinking...'

Jessica thought it was a waste of time.

After all, a mage's body is weak.

Mages spend their days at desks with books.

How can such frail arms swing a sword...

"......?!"

But Jessica's prejudice.

Swish—

"......What is it, Mr. Mage?"

The moment Ho-yul took off his jacket.

It was completely shattered.

The muscles revealed under the white shirt.

They were so solid that it was hard to believe they belonged to a mage.

'...Is it just the pale skin? No, that's not it!'

Before Jessica could even swallow her dry mouth.

Ho-yul took the sword from Harcon.

And the moment he raised the sword.

"!!!"

Everyone was shocked—