Chapter 68

◈ Chapter 68. Acrshan's Legacy (2)

Back when Arcana was a game.

Traps were a familiar presence to players.

"Finally, the treasure...!"

"Hey, hold on. Don't touch that box!!"

"Aaah! What, what is it?! The box is moving?!"

"That idiot!! It's a mimic!!"

From the monster mimics disguised as treasure chests.

To the perilous traps lurking throughout the dungeons.

There were even explorer classes with skills to disarm such traps, and net streamers who made trap-solving their content.

"Ugh? Just that? That's way too easy for me~"

So when.

Traps sprang out in the Quirnberg Machine Tower.

Trap-solving experts among net streamers rushed to start their broadcasts.

"I wish I could rush over right away. It's a shame. Really."

But on the surface, they were pretending to be disappointed.

This was a good opportunity to attract viewers.

After all, just by relaying the live broadcast, they were already breaking even, if not making a profit.

However.

The level of traps in the Quirnberg Machine Tower was not ordinary.

Especially that pattern.

The complexity was on a different level from any traps they had seen before.

"Jump here and it's easy...?"

"No, arrows fly from all directions at this timing?"

"...Guys, I'm sorry, but I can't solve that one either?"

The technology of the machine tower seemed to have been integrated into the traps.

They were so intricate that they felt almost malicious.

As a result, players were falling to the traps one after another.

"Ah, if you hesitate here!"

"That's right. You end up looking like a hedgehog."

"The record is ruined."

"At least it's fortunate. There doesn't seem to be any major damage."

Fortunately.

Regardless of the difficulty, the traps didn't seem to have much killing power.

Thanks to the traps being made entirely of silver.

"This confirms it. It's a competitive content."

The Quirnberg Machine Tower wasn't designed to take players' lives.

As the quest objectives suggested.

It was clearly a competitive content to pit players against each other and reward them accordingly.

"This is like they've set up a stage for us."

"Showing off your abilities to the players!"

"Let's see who will set the first record!"

With that certainty.

Interest in the Quirnberg Machine Tower could only grow.

In that massive wave of interest.

Finally, Ho Yeol began to move.

And the shock began—

"What, what is this?"

"What is this? What am I seeing?"

"Is, is the trap broken?"

Didn't I just say?

The traps in the machine tower were so intricate that they had never been seen before.

There was no way they could suddenly break down...

Yet, an incomprehensible scene unfolded before their eyes.

Swoosh—!

The trap missed.

Swoosh—!

Ho Yeol didn't dodge it.

Swoosh—!

Ho Yeol was just walking calmly.

That's right.

The traps were dodging Ho Yeol!

As if a protective barrier had been created around Ho Yeol.

All the traps aimed at him were deflected.

Such an astonishing sight naturally required commentary.

The chat window exploded with messages.

But, after all, they were not trap experts.

Commentary on such an unprecedented scene was impossible.

"I, I've never seen this kind of strategy before!"

"...Just walking through the traps like that."

"Guys, what have I been doing all this time?"

"...I suddenly feel like retiring."

Is this a skill too?

If it's a skill, where in the world does such a skill exist?

What class uses such a skill?

In the end, only questions followed Ho Yeol, as always.

Amidst the shock.

Ho Yeol reached the portal on the opposite side.

The time taken was just about a minute.

He achieved this record by walking confidently, without running.

The chat window exploded again.

Just, Homen...!

*

Exploration, Interference, Manifestation.

Among these three stages.

The most challenging was undoubtedly Exploration.

Exploration was the first button of magic.

If you got it wrong, you couldn't even move on to the next stage.

Even if you did, the efficiency of the magic would be extremely poor.

'It's obvious.'

Why, even Marcello, the chief magician of the magic tower.

Couldn't filter out the excess during the exploration process.

But for me.

Or rather, for Granfel, this didn't apply.

『Innate magical talent was so great that he could mimic most magic just by looking at it.』

Whoever came up with this setting.

It was truly a talent that made one blush.

Thanks to this, I could walk through the traps.

'Of course, it was possible because they were all made of silver.'

I could skip the most important exploration process.

That's why it was possible.

Even with Granfel's talent.

Exploring unfamiliar subjects, especially multiple ones simultaneously, was still a stretch. If the traps were made of materials other than silver...

'I would have to run to break through them.'

One I would let pass.

The other I would dodge like other players.

Anyway, the result wasn't bad.

─Current Rank

●1st: 1 minute 01 seconds

●2nd: 4 minutes 41 seconds

●3rd: 4 minutes 50 seconds

I didn't expect to be 1st.

The difference in records with 2nd place was significant.

It must be due to the high level of the traps.

"Wow, these traps are no joke, Mr. Ho Yeol?"

Nam Taemin arrived, panting heavily.

The record wasn't broken.

It seems he didn't make it into the top 3.

Nam Taemin wiped the sweat from his forehead and said.

"Damn, just 10 seconds short."

Even Nam Taemin, who was known for his difficulty, found it challenging.

Indeed, the technology was impressive.

So it's even more unbelievable.

'...Is this really Acrshan's decisive weapon?'

I can't believe it even when I check the quest window again.

The Acrshan base I know.

It had nothing except for providing three meals of rye bread.

For Acrshan to have set up such high-level decisive weapons all over the continent...

'I have to find out, no matter what. I will.'

To find out, I have to progress the quest.

That's why I looked at the portal.

A portal manifested through a mechanical item.

This was also an incredible technology that couldn't be seen in Acrshan.

One step.

As I approached, a message appeared before my eyes.

[Quirnberg Machine Tower - Core]

[Recommended Level: Lv.450]

[Collapse Progress: 0.1%]

The first thing that appeared was the recommended level.

A whopping 450 levels.

But I wasn't worried like before.

'The recommended level isn't based on players.'

Yes, the Quirnberg Machine Tower is always a decisive weapon for demon hunters.

A tower built to fight demons.

Even the current traps were a testament to that.

"Occasionally, a break like this isn't bad."

It was natural to think like Nam Taemin.

The damage from the traps was minimal.

Even players who couldn't avoid the traps didn't suffer significant damage.

So everyone probably thought it was a simple break, a simple competitive quest.

But I know.

It's serious.

I can't give in...!

'What fool would give up their legacy?'

I didn't expect much.

But I don't want it to be taken by others.

Of course, that includes the quest rewards.

So I quietly headed towards the portal.

"I'll go first."

"Huh? Ah, I'll go with you!"

Nam Taemin followed me urgently.

As we passed through the portal, a message appeared before my eyes.

[You have met the conditions.]

[Your reward has been granted.]

[Your team member is assigned based on your rank.]

...Wait, a team battle after the traps?

Startled, more messages appeared.

[You have set a '1st' record.]

[You have broken the record overwhelmingly.]

[Your team member based on your rank and record is '1'.]

[Currently searching for an appropriate opposing team...]

"!"

No, wait a moment.

The moment I confirmed the message, a sense of injustice surged.

A team battle, and I'm alone...?!

It's definitely because I set a record far ahead of others.

But still, what kind of rule is this?!

Actually, I was secretly relieved about the team battle.

Nam Taemin was by my side.

But the moment we passed through the portal.

Our positions were mixed up.

Nam Taemin was nowhere to be seen.

Clank—

The mechanical device started to operate.

The platform shook as steam was released.

Regardless of my sense of injustice.

My body, accustomed to formality and procedure, understood the situation.

"If that's the procedure, I have no choice but to follow it."

...Don't accept such a ridiculous rule, Granfel.

Yes, what can I do?

I can't reverse the message that appeared.

I checked the quest window.

[Quest: Tournament]

A platform that moves based on the outcome of the match.

Win 30 points to reach the upper level first.

─Current Points (Win: +3p / Loss: -2p)

●1st: None

●2nd: None

●3rd: None

Clank—

There was a reason the platform moved with a loud noise.

If you win, it moves up.

If you lose, it moves down.

By the way.

'You have to earn 30 points?'

1 win gives 3 points...

That means I need 10 wins.

If I lose in the middle, I'll lose the points I've earned.

Most importantly, I'm alone in this team battle.

...How lonely.

The only sound I hear is the mechanical gears meshing.

I miss the chatty Nam Taemin...

'If I had known, I would have taken it easy on the quest rewards...'

...Right!

Quest rewards!

Suddenly, I thought about the rewards.

Maybe they could help in the battle.

I opened my inventory to check the rewards.

'...What is this?'

*

The broadcasting station, which excels at drawing in viewers.

Recording was already in full swing in the studio.

"A tournament? Whoever designed this machine tower, I want to praise them. Where else could you see players competing against each other like this?"

"That's right. In the days when Arcana was a game, you could only see such scenes in the Colosseum, thanks to the Quirnberg Machine Tower."

"Speaking of which... Look, the opposing team is appearing!"

Clank—

The mechanical device moved with a loud noise.

The players on it faced each other.

The host said excitedly.

"It seems all the players who passed through the portal have moved to one place. As you can see, players who entered through different rifts are now on the same team."

"This is another interesting system!"

"First, the teams are 3 vs 3. The event is...!"

The mechanical devices on which the teams stood.

A large gear appeared in the center.

If you were observant, you could guess.

"Is it about capturing that gear?"

"It seems the condition for victory is to capture the gear before the opposing team and attach it to your own mechanical device!"

"Attaching the gear makes the mechanical device move up. It's quite a dramatic setup."

"Speaking of which, it seems the tension between the teams has already started?"

As the cast predicted.

There was a strange tension between the two mechanical devices.

It couldn't be helped.

"The average level of the players seems similar."

After searching for appropriate opponents, the two teams met.

Their average levels were exactly the same.

So it was natural not to move rashly.

"...Hey, hold on."

Beep—

Sudden sound muting.

The cast members were taken aback.

What is this at such a crucial moment?

"Turn up the TV volume! You crazy bastard!"

"No, listen. It's really important."

"What is it? This guy is making a fuss again."

"No! It's not a fuss, it's Ho Yeol!!"

"Ho Yeol? Why Ho Yeol all of a sudden?"

In the tournament quest.

Teams meet opponents of similar levels.

If we consider the average level of the opposing team that meets Ho Yeol...

"We might be able to figure out Ho Yeol's level!"

...Ho Yeol's level?

That's a topic that could draw the attention of players, no, the whole world.

Realizing this, the viewers could only wait with bated breath for Ho Yeol's appearance.

-LOL So when is Ho Yeol coming out? Haha

-Yeah, I'm waiting to see when Ho Yeol appears

-Is there no word on who Ho Yeol's team is??

-I checked all the net streams, but there's nothing except for the hype yeah;;

Of course, the players inside the machine tower were the same.

Clank—

The mechanical device rose as the gear was attached.

The guild master of Shining.

Roks checked the quest window.

─Current Points (Win: +3p / Loss: -2p)

●1st: 15p

●1st: 15p

●3rd: 13p

Five consecutive wins.

15 points earned.

Thanks to this, he was tied for 1st place.

As you can see, another team had already reached 15 points.

Roks had a good idea who it was.

'Ho Yeol.'

Ho Yeol, who set an overwhelming record in breaking the traps.

It was natural for him to lead in this quest.

But Roks was confident.

'This is a team battle, not a solo one, Ho Yeol.'

Especially a team battle with a balance system.

The higher Ho Yeol's level,

The lower the level of his teammates had to be.

Roks planned to exploit this weakness.

'We will meet eventually.'

Only two teams had earned 15 points.

So a direct confrontation was inevitable.

Clank—!

The mechanical device slowly stopped.

'Come on.'

The opposing team appeared on the mechanical device.

Immediately, Roks's face turned to shock.

"..."

Unfortunately.

Roks's prediction was only half right.

Five consecutive wins.

15 points.

Ho Yeol was there, but he was alone.

So the confidence that had been overflowing from Roks.

'...He achieved five consecutive wins alone?'

Turned into unease.

'It's impossible! How could he do it alone?'

It was truly an unbelievable feat!

*

Really, it was an unbelievable stroke of luck.

Clank—

The mechanical device approached.

A message appeared.

[Currently searching for an appropriate opposing team...]

I thought to myself.

'This is the end of the free wins.'

My level is only 295.

Not only that, I was alone.

There was no way to find an appropriate opponent for my level.

In other words.

To the teams with the same points, I was an inappropriate opponent.

Thanks to this, I was excluded from competing with other teams.

I achieved five consecutive wins through default wins.

[There is '1' team with the same points.]

But now, I couldn't avoid it.

I was the only one who had earned 15 points besides me.

So from now on, I had to.

'Face three players.'

Players who were much higher in level than me.

But it was worth a try.

The other team was already tired from continuous battles.

Plus, I had the 'quest reward.'

But this was still a team battle.

Not a life-or-death duel.

To maintain the proper form.

I gave a light greeting.

"I have been waiting for you."

"......!!!"

...Did I say something I shouldn't have?

Why are their expressions like that?