Chapter 51

◈ Chapter 51. Frost (2)

How much time has passed, I wonder.

Even if they bring the 'Demon King.'

I thought my resolute attitude would not waver in the slightest.

I was sure of that.

...Really, not only words, but even thoughts are taking root.

[Class Quest: Demon King (魔王) Elimination]

The king of demons.

Their influence is beginning to spread.

O final demon hunter.

Destroy the throne.

─Strengthen your weakened body. (Repeat)

─Investigate the northern city of Frost. (In progress)

I stared at the flashing quest window.

The king of demons.

It seems to be the Demon King I know.

‘Cold water, no, this is more like ice water.’

No matter how much I love twists, this is going too far.

This update has crossed the line since the Yusra Archipelago, really.

Leaving that aside, I wanted to ask.

Can you handle the current situation?

-It's been a while since I've seen NPCs, I'm excited hahaha

-Mascot Malon appears hahaha

-Malon? Who's that?

-Don't you know Malon? There's a tsundere blacksmith

-His nickname was the Generous Tree, right? Probably hahaha

Frost appears.

The community was buzzing with excitement over this fact.

But I could roughly guess from the quest content.

Frost is not a normal situation as players think.

‘Especially since it's related to the Demon King.’

Demon King (魔王).

They could be described as both close and distant to me.

After all, Arcana is just a virtual reality game.

When I was in the second year of middle school.

The demon hunter NPCs in Akkshan always said this.

-The Demon Kings are our archenemies.

Perhaps because I heard it so often.

The information about the Demon King is still etched in my memory.

I picked up the quill pen.

“I will consider it an honor to know what I remember.”

If the Demon King were to hear this.

It would be a line that would make them laugh.

I moved the pen to organize my thoughts.

──────

1. The Demon King is incomparably stronger than ordinary demons.

2. The Demon King is not just one or two.

3. There is a hierarchy even among the Demon Kings...

──────

I wrote more, but...

Summarized in three lines, this would be appropriate.

Looking at what I wrote again, I felt even more at a loss.

‘It’s not that the counterattack has begun.’

Isn’t this the start of a truly arduous journey?

In short, the Demon King is the boss monster of the demon race.

So, let's think about the level.

First, the level of the Ascuran Count would be different from the start.

‘Then...’

The comparison would have to be with the Great Evil, Greed of the Seven Sins.

But even that couldn't be a proper estimate.

That was something I realized through the instincts of a demon hunter.

‘Greed of the Seven Sins, he wasn't in a proper state.’

The young demon's appearance I saw from him.

Even if I don't know the reason, it was clear that he wasn't in a complete state. It was different from what I heard from the Akkshan demon hunters.

According to my memory.

The Great Evils were of a higher rank than the Demon Kings.

I, for one,

Wasn't just making a fuss about defeating a Great Evil...

After much deliberation, I came to a conclusion.

Swish─

An additional line of evaluation for the Demon King.

──────

However, to me, they are merely trivial demons.

──────

That's right.

Whether they are high-ranking demons or Demon Kings, it doesn't matter.

‘...Actually, if the Great Evil dropped any loot.’

The Great Evil, who is said to be stronger than the Demon King.

The level of the loot would be unimaginable.

No, even if it's not the loot of the Great Evil.

At least, if the class quest gave some reward...

‘Well, it would have given me a bit more confidence.’

But my confidence.

Compared to Granfel's pride, it was nothing.

I stood up and said,

“I believe the one who calls himself a king will not hide in a despicable manner.”

It was a warning.

“Do not disappoint me, Demon King.”

In the end, my task is simple.

It's just a matter of struggling not to drown under the heavy weight of pride.

Please, let me keep my word.

I prayed earnestly and opened my status window.

[Luck: 3]

With that wish in mind.

I was about to invest one point in luck but ended up using more.

[Luck: 5]

Even if it's a superstition.

The number 4 was ominous when facing the Demon King...

...

...

My 2 points, like blood and flesh...

It's worth two levels.

Did my desperate struggle reach someone?

Luck did not betray me this time.

In the research lab of the magic tower.

I checked the magical items and items that were teleported onto the desk.

──────

[Vampire Count's Orb] - Loan

[Pure Emerald Crystal] - Jewelry Making

[Island Treasure, Silk Carp Scales Silk] - Handkerchief Making

──────

Except for the orb that was approved for loan.

Two items were neatly placed on the desk.

I had requested them to be made into jewelry.

Indeed, they were as requested.

I picked up the ring adorned with an emerald.

[Pure Emerald Ring]

[Grade: Unique]

[Limit: Lv.200]

[Effect: Health recovery when hit.]

[Description: A ring made with a special manufacturing method. Even a renowned blacksmith could not extract the emerald's effects any better.]

Special manufacturing method.

That's because there were no blacksmiths in the magic tower.

From smelting, processing, to assembly.

All processes were carried out with delicate magic.

Thanks to this, the best effects could be achieved.

‘...Wait, this is not ordinary, is it?’

A short line of effect.

But, in other words, it means there are no specific conditions attached.

In other words, it recovers health whenever you are hit.

Of course, I don't know how much health it will recover until I get hit.

‘Anyway, it's like constantly drinking potions.’

...This is better than expected.

As I thought this, my gaze naturally shifted.

I picked up the neatly folded handkerchief.

[Island Treasure, Silk Carp Scales Silk] made handkerchief.

Indeed, its appearance was extraordinary.

A faint yet brilliant light.

Just by looking at it, you can tell it's a precious item.

“Indeed, excellent.”

Before even checking the information.

It was good enough to pass.

But unlike Granfel, what was important to me was its effect.

Especially since I was facing a massive class quest, the 'Demon King Elimination.'

Soon, the handkerchief's information appeared.

[Masterpiece - Silk Carp Scales Silk Handkerchief]

[Grade: Unique]

[Limit: Lv.200]

[Effect: When worn, increases affinity to fire attribute / increases evasion chance for all attacks / unlocks Aesthetics stat]

[Description: Made with an extremely rare material and a special manufacturing method. Its value is beyond anyone's ability to evaluate. It is worthy of the title 'Masterpiece.']

...Wait, a masterpiece!

A masterpiece, just the title alone.

Its value is indescribable.

After all, Masterpiece items are hard to come by even in Arcana.

‘Blacksmiths might make one in a lifetime, if at all.’

Why, the rumor goes that just putting a Masterpiece item up for auction can maximize the relationship and influence with that auction house.

Of course, what's more important is the immediate performance.

The other effects were as I had checked beforehand.

What remained was the effect of the [Aesthetics] stat, which even the magic tower couldn't determine.

I didn't hesitate.

I immediately tucked the handkerchief into the pocket of my jacket.

Then a message appeared.

[Aesthetics stat is unlocked.]

“!”

At the same time.

Knowledge about [Aesthetics] flooded my mind...

I looked at the newly updated status window and thought.

[Stats]

Strength: 38 / Agility: 42 / Magic: 186 / Luck: 5 / Aesthetics: 下

[Available Points: 0]

Indeed, it's expressed in a different way.

‘It's divided into upper, middle, and lower.’

Considering the effect of Aesthetics, this is a reasonable expression.

I wanted to check the effect with my own eyes right away.

But the research lab of the magic tower was not an appropriate place.

And there were calculations to finish before that.

‘Scary, so scary.’

Didn't I say I wanted the best results regardless of the cost?

Integrity be damned.

‘Granfel, you fool!’

But it's too late now.

What's the point of regretting my past self?

Moreover, you need to spend money to make money.

Besides, I still had the reward from the Yusra Kingdom to confirm.

So I didn't show it and checked the...

No, the parchment.

Even if it's tens or hundreds of billions, I won't be surprised.

While making this resolution.

I realized again.

──────

P.S.

The magic tower does not charge a commission to magicians with the authority of a chief magician or higher. For the sake of reaching the truth. We ask you to repay us with more in-depth research.

──────

Indeed, the 2 points I invested in luck were not wasted at all!

*

The new update that has captured the attention of the world.

The northern city of Frost has finally revealed itself.

The moment its location was detected.

Inazuma's guild master.

Hishagi Kazuma clenched his fist.

“...It's done!”

Frost appeared near the northern coast of Japan.

Hokkaido, to be precise.

Finally, the opportunity has come.

The chance to turn everything around!

Hishagi trembled.

How much humiliation had he endured?

“Guild ranking 5th. Hishagi, this is a disgrace. A disgrace!”

Yes, the guild ranking changes frequently.

If it was just a drop in rank, he could understand.

But above Inazuma.

Two ranks higher.

“...Those ignorant Gaon bastards!”

The existence of Gaon from South Korea was hard to accept.

But now, the opportunity to turn the tables has come again.

Vroom─!

A private jet heading to Hokkaido.

Hishagi checked his email on his smartphone.

Everything was going according to plan.

‘Everything is in our favor, Inazuma.’

After all, Frost appeared in Japan, Hokkaido.

Just like him.

The Japanese government also bet everything on this opportunity.

The moment Frost was detected in Hokkaido.

They launched a meticulous operation.

They put up cumbersome procedures to prevent guilds from other countries from approaching Frost first.

‘Of course, it's a violation of the AAU agreement.’

According to the AAU agreement.

The Japanese government has no right to block players.

But they were willing to endure the social criticism that would follow.

To give Inazuma the first opportunity.

‘I will definitely repay my country.’

The private jet landed secretly in Hokkaido.

The fierce northern wind.

Hishagi led the Inazuma guild members.

“Ugh, it's cold. This is why I hate Hokkaido.”

“You, that's a regional insult, right? This is why Kyoto people are...”

“...What? The regional insult was yours, wasn't it?!”

“Everyone, be quiet. We move as discreetly as possible.”

The fact that Inazuma was entering Frost alone.

And the Japanese government blocking other players.

It was all possible because there were no dangerous elements in Frost.

But the government's interference wouldn't last long.

“We have at most a couple of hours.”

Other countries would know the value of Frost.

“During this time, we will quickly secure Frost's influence and relationships.”

So, we need to move quickly.

Most importantly, we need to get ahead of Gaon and those guys.

Hishagi recalled the information he had gathered in advance.

‘Nam Taemin is one of the players with the highest influence in Frost.’

Nam Taemin's class is Barbarian.

The Barbarian class can be obtained in the forest near Frost.

Nam Taemin is the top-ranked Barbarian.

‘He must have completed many quests in Frost.’

Individually, I can't catch up to Nam Taemin.

But from a guild perspective, it's different.

Hishagi was confident.

‘Moreover, Gaon has invested a lot in the Yusra Kingdom.’

It's natural that they can't pay excessive attention and investment to Frost.

Thinking about it again, it's a golden opportunity.

Hishagi's snake-like eyes gleamed.

‘We will rise above Gaon again!’

But that resolve crumbled immediately.

“...W-What is that?”

The towering walls of Frost.

Something visible on top of those walls.

One of the guild members activated the skill,千里眼 (Thousand Mile Eye), and was shocked.

“It's... It's human heads! Those...!!”

“What are there so many of them?”

“Wait. That beard is Malon...?”

“Malon, the blacksmith? That... That Malon is dead?!”

Indeed, it wasn't just Malon.

Dozens, hundreds of heads were displayed on the walls.

Whoosh─!

At that moment, flames rose from inside the walls of Frost.

A chill ran down Hishagi's spine.

Gulp─

Hishagi swallowed hard and immediately shouted.

“Contact them immediately! Tell them to stop grabbing players like idiots!!”

...

...

The shock was as great as the expectations.

It was natural for everyone to fall into panic.

“...How are we supposed to enter a place like that?”

“The demon that can bring down Frost...”

“Not only that, it's a real siege. This...”

“Raymond Shen, that bastard! He's tricked us again!”

Shining and Heaven Unification.

Even these giant guilds couldn't enter Frost.

It was a perfect twist.

So, to turn this gloomy atmosphere around.

A shock of equal magnitude is needed.

For example.

“...It's Ihoyul.”

Right now.

“No, wait. It's not just Ihoyul?”

That's right.

Ihoyul wasn't alone.

Soon, the players' faces turned to shock.

“It's Harcon.”

“What? The Lionheart Knights are involved again?”

“Well, even if that's the case. But, are those Kitch and the Shadow Mercenaries? Why are those monsters with Ihoyul...? Could it be that even the Lionheart Knights weren't enough...?!”