Chapter 58

◈ Chapter 58. Our Pride Aligns (2)

Continuous teleportation.

The large wizard hat appeared and disappeared repeatedly on the roof.

The mana consumed by the continuous skill activation was considerable, but Jesse didn't mind.

- Lee Ho-yul. You're concentrating your forces there.

It's an emergency now.

Jesse gripped his staff tightly.

‘I haven’t even managed to ask a single proper question yet!’

Does magic really exist?

Thanks to Ho-yul, Jesse had discarded his doubts.

As a result, there was progress in the class quest that had been moving slowly.

However, new questions arose.

And there were also the thoughtful questions Jesse couldn't ask because Ho-yul had fallen asleep.

There was a reason why exclamation marks appeared in Jesse's pupils.

The wizard hat lamented.

- Even when this master is in danger, you don't show such enthusiasm... It's unfair, disciple. I've taught you so much, and it's disappointing!

Naturally, there was no response.

But the wizard hat didn't continue to rant.

Jesse was currently in a 'fixation' state.

When he discovered a new spell.

Or when he opened an interesting magic book.

It was a state where he didn't want to be disturbed by anyone and didn't want to share what he held with anyone.

Yes, there was one difference this time...

The object of his fixation was not just any magic.

It was 'Ho-yul's magic.'

That was why the wizard hat sighed.

- ...I guess I need to open my eyes too.

Even though he seemed to lack blood and tears.

The man who had fallen into a nap so uncharacteristically.

Wasn't he the avatar of the great mage's consciousness, the wizard hat?

With eyes to judge people as old as his years.

Or rather, with eyes to judge mages.

The wizard hat was full of pride.

That's why he wanted to observe Ho-yul again.

- His talent was outstanding...

Ho-yul, who became a co-researcher of the chief mage as an adventurer.

But his pride was as high as the sky.

The wizard hat knew.

- That will surely become a poison in the future.

To Ho-yul himself.

Or to his disciple.

He could say this because he had experienced the same pain.

Then.

“!”

Whoosh─!

A fierce wind.

Thanks to it, the thick smoke began to clear.

A giant hellbird revealed itself.

The wizard hat warned Jesse.

- Disciple, this is no ordinary creature.

But Jesse had already activated his skill.

The hellbird was targeting none other than Ho-yul.

A vast amount of mana surged from Jesse's body.

It was a mana so abundant that it overflowed.

“Divine Punishment.”

The fixation that he wouldn't share with anyone.

Even if it were a hellbird, there would be no exception.

As if to prove it.

Crackle─!

A condensed lightning bolt struck the hellbird's head.

A message appeared to Jesse.

[The Demon Legion Commander, Kupikan, has been inflicted with 'Stiffness'.]

Jesse poured his vast mana into the attack.

But it was only 'stiffness,' not 'unconsciousness.'

Jesse's intuition told him.

‘At least level 500...!’

His current level was only 401.

Thud─

Kupikan's pupils stared at Jesse intently.

Your turn next.

As if warning.

But it was a clear mistake to let his guard down.

Flash─!

A flash of light rose from below.

In that instant.

Crack─!

It decapitated the Demon Legion Commander, Kupikan.

“...What the...!”

Jesse didn't notice, but the wizard hat did.

A staircase embroidered in the air.

The flash of light had clearly stepped on that staircase and flown into the sky.

And the wizard hat also recognized the caster of that magic.

- ...It was just a misunderstanding.

People may lie, but magic does not.

Yes, it wasn't just arrogance.

Would an arrogant mage lay a staircase for someone else?

The wizard hat, who knew better than anyone that mages are not such creatures.

- It was just a pride so high that it was mistaken for arrogance.

The wizard hat alternated his gaze between the neatly collected corpse and Ho-yul and continued.

- I understand your heart a little, disciple.

I thought I had thoroughly understood the nature of mages.

- The more I observe, the more unusual you seem.

The exploration of the unknown.

It was so fresh that it could revive the desire of a mage that had been forgotten.

But the unknown.

Was truly unpredictable.

Ho-yul declared coldly as soon as he saw Jesse.

"Failed. Jesse Hennes."

*

I thought to myself.

...What can I do about this guy's mouth?

There's no hesitation in his words or actions, really.

"Unnecessary force in the manifestation. There was an excessive and unnecessary element that wasn't usual."

Still, I could understand as I listened.

"Furthermore, the manifestation didn't consider the surrounding environment at all."

This wasn't a residential area.

If something went wrong, survivors hiding nearby might be caught in the backlash of the skill.

Jesse, the actual person involved, seemed unaware of the existence of survivors.

"That's true... I still have a lot to improve!"

I was just grateful for his understanding.

A famous figure since the days when Arcana was just a game.

Indeed, the treatment of Jesse was different from mine.

She was called a chosen mage.

Harkan recognized Jesse and was pleased.

"To meet Miss Jesse here again."

"Nice to see you again, Sir Harkan!"

"...Jesse? Could it be, that Jesse Hennes?"

The Shadow Mercenary Corps, sensitive to rumors.

They also seemed to know about Jesse.

Yes, Jesse, whose name even the strong in Arcana knew.

‘But to declare a failure right away?!’

Yet, shamelessly.

There was no flicker of emotion on my face.

After all, does this guy pick and choose who he talks to?

I finally realized.

‘...The more shameless you are, the better in situations like this.’

A bad guy is scary, but a crazy guy is even scarier.

This is something I realized even in social life.

Yes, if you can't avoid it.

Why not just be a crazy guy?

Like now.

No one would even think to doubt.

And I'm good at that.

While trying to console myself to avoid self-loathing.

"Monsters are gathering this way! I thought you might need help! But it was unnecessary worry!"

Exclamation marks appeared in her pupils.

Jesse said with sparkling exclamation marks.

‘I thought there were too many of them.’

But in a way, it wasn't a bad situation.

The message that appeared earlier.

[Your contribution to the defeat of the Demon Legion Commander, Kupikan, is recognized.]

I wouldn't miss a single crumb of the reward.

I quickly manifested a staircase.

I was helping Harkan to get the contribution recognized.

Through him, I also gained a level.

I checked my status window.

[Name: Grangfell Claudius Arpeus Romeo]

[Class: Demon Hunter]

[Level: 250]

[Stats]

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

[Available Points: 12]

Finally, level 250.

For now, I invested all available points into mana.

Strength and agility could be increased through class quests.

Even if my body suffered, it was right to invest precious level-up points into mana.

‘Honestly, I want to go all in on luck...’

But luck is an uncertain stat.

It's right to invest just one point at a time, like a charity.

‘You get punished for hoping for a stroke of luck...’

I composed myself and moved on.

"According to Miss Jesse, there's no need to go out of our way to find the Demon Legion Commanders."

Harkan said coldly while collecting the spoils.

Even if Jesse and I contributed to the hunt for Kupikan.

We couldn't catch up to Harkan's contribution.

It was natural for the spoils to belong to Harkan.

"Sir, and Miss Jesse. I'm sorry, but can I secure these spoils? I want to keep them as proof of successfully carrying out the king's order."

Harkan extended a large feather.

...This is at least a rare item, right?

"But what did I do?!"

Unlike Jesse, who immediately responded.

I wanted to check the item information.

But damn integrity.

I couldn't covet others' things.

"Of course, I respect your decision, Sir Harkan."

Don't have any lingering thoughts.

Besides, it's too early to be disappointed.

There were still nine Demon Legion Commanders left.

I gauged the level of the Demon Legion Commander, Kupikan.

‘About level 500, I guess.’

The amount of experience gained.

And the way he fell to Harkan's single strike.

‘Nine named monsters at level 500.’

But I wasn't worried.

Clack─

This confident step isn't just for show.

‘And the possibility that they might all attack at once?’

Confidence even in the worst-case scenario.

The basis for that confidence.

Naturally, it was the allies.

And the saved mana.

There was no reason to be anxious even while collecting the bodies.

"Do you still have that question?"

The incident at the magic tower.

I asked Jesse, who was helping with the collection.

I regretted it as soon as I said it.

How can someone be so shameless even when saying the same thing!

"Yes! I appreciate the time to think about it!"

...I thought she was dodging the question.

But her sparkling pupils showed no malice.

Even if she was, I could understand given what I did.

‘There must be a give and take.’

Since I said it.

I replied magnanimously.

"Is that so? Then I'll make time."

"Ah! It would be better if I adjust my schedule!"

"If that's more convenient, then do so."

"Yes! It's the proper thing to do!"

I was unconsciously satisfied with Jesse's formality.

I added a word.

"I'll properly serve tea this time."

Serving tea.

What else could it mean?

It finally means rocket delivery to the magic tower.

It means that the items I ordered would arrive in front of the magic tower with just a finger snap...

After convincing the senior mages and officially becoming a co-researcher.

The first thing I did was apply for rocket delivery.

Power is so sweet.

‘Well, it's just green tea, after all.’

Integrity in writing, but a trick in reading.

It means I ordered the cheapest option.

While having such a conversation, we walked down the street, and suddenly, I sensed something.

“?”

Familiar faces appeared from the alley.

Harkan spoke first.

"Miss Leonie? What brings you here?"

Leonie and the Berserker Guild.

And behind them...

They were Gaon's guild members.

But Nam Tae-min wasn't there.

I asked Leonie.

"Is something wrong?"

Given her serious expression.

It seemed like something was wrong.

But Leonie was muttering incomprehensibly.

"…T, tea? A, and properly?"

But I couldn't ask for more reasons.

Whoosh─!

As expected, the Demon Legion Commanders were approaching.

A fierce wind.

Their forms were revealed as the smoke cleared.

The concept is consistent, it's birds again this time.

Just the form was different.

The Demon Legion Commander, Kupikan.

If he was a large bird, these were half-human, half-bird.

Or rather, they were demons mixed with human forms.

Clang─!

Harkan raised his sword at the appearance of the creatures.

"I don't know what kind of creatures the Demon Legion Commanders are, but it doesn't matter. We just need to exterminate every last one of them."

Harkan, who had defeated Kupikan with a single strike.

Perhaps because he had seen it.

‘He's not just saying it, is he.’

It was a statement that couldn't help but chill the heart.

So I couldn't just stand by.

‘...Not to mention, I won't even get experience or contribution points.’

Objectively, even without modesty, that was the case.

The Ryan Heart Knights.

The Shadow Mercenary Corps.

Jesse Hennes.

And finally, the Berserker and Gaon Guilds joining.

Among these whales.

I was just a mere level 250.

But the noble pride in my heart wouldn't be intimidated.

Besides, as I said, I had realized.

‘...If you're going to be shameless, be thoroughly shameless.’

I opened my mouth shamelessly.

"I'll take command of you all."

Not just the Ryan Heart Knights and the Shadow Mercenary Corps.

Now, I was going to command the top-ranked players.

‘Am I doing something even an emperor would find hard to do?’

But it wasn't the time to think about that.

Experience and contribution points were pouring out on the battlefield at this moment.

I cast a spell while observing the battle.

I didn't forget my important task.

"Good movement. Leonie."

"…?"

It was a welcome addition.

Boosting morale privately is also a commander's role.

*

Thud-thud-thud─

A helicopter flying overhead.

The reporter, coughing due to the thick smoke, shouted.

"Cough, cough. Something huge is starting to appear...!"

The helicopter wobbled.

The pilot urgently increased the altitude.

The reporter conveyed the urgent scene.

"As I speak, flying monsters are appearing!"

Due to the increased altitude.

The camera quickly zoomed in.

A scene that made one flinch appeared on the monitor.

In the studio.

The cast members hastily adjusted their postures.

"…W, what is that?"

"Beak and wings. It's a bird, but what kind of bird is that big?!"

"Wait, there's not just one or two of them!!"

Over Frost.

The thick smoke was quickly clearing due to the flapping of the giant creatures.

Then their forms were fully revealed.

The situation in Frost was also clear at a glance.

The script was urgently passed.

The anchor's eyes widened upon checking the script.

"According to the update, those huge birds seem to be the Demon Legion Commanders! They are named monsters at level 500...!"

But wait.

For some reason.

The dangerous creatures were flying towards one place.

The camera angle moved urgently.

To capture where they were heading.

But it wasn't just the Demon Legion Commanders.

"What, what are there so many of them?!"

"The army of the Demon King is endless...?"

"They seem to be marching to the same place, right?"

The army of the Demon King on the ground.

The large-scale forces were also.

Heading towards one place.

Right then.

The camera captured Ho-yul, fitting the program's purpose.

The moment suspicion turned to certainty.

"…Wait. Could they be heading towards the player Lee Ho-yul?!"

Even if it's Lee Ho-yul, isn't this too much!

It was as if they didn't care about other large guilds.

It was as if they were saying that the only threat to them was Lee Ho-yul and his party. The Demon King's army was concentrating all its forces on Lee Ho-yul's side.

The cast members spoke urgently.

"This is buying valuable time for the player Lee Ho-yul!"

"Please, other guilds need to step up..."

"Even if it's Lee Ho-yul, there's a limit to how much he can endure!"

But the situation didn't go as expected.

‘…Now that I think about it.’

I had momentarily forgotten.

"…E, expert? What are we looking at?!"

The fact that there was a commander on that battlefield.

"Ryan Heart, Shadow Mercenary Corps... Gaon and Berserker. And Jesse Hennes...?!"

And he was more capable than anyone else!