Chapter 70

◈ Chapter 70. I Can't Just Stand By (1)

[Quest: Marcello's Research]

First to flicker was the magic tower, Marcello's quest.

─Approach the Oddity (In Progress) ▲

●Conquer the Rift (Repeat)

●Witness the Arcana Continent (Success)

Conquer the Rift.

A new quest objective appeared below.

The word [Success] was telling me again.

The Qyrburg Machine Tower.

The view outside was the real Arcana Continent.

The Arcana Continent in my memory was from 12 years ago.

When Arcana was just a game.

Of course, it would have changed several times, even if the landscape had changed.

'But.'

This isn't just a change in the landscape, is it?

Burning forests and earth.

Smoke covering the area.

Villages trampled to nothing.

The walls of the city, collapsed in ruins.

The state of the city was no different.

But more than anything.

'There are demons everywhere I can see.'

I had some idea, of course.

In a short time.

Considering the influence the demonic monsters had in reality.

The situation in the Arcana Continent would be no better, if not worse, than in reality.

'Even so, this is a rather serious situation...'

The exact state of the Arcana Continent?

Of course, I couldn't know.

Because the scenery of the Arcana Continent I was seeing now only showed the area around the Qyrburg Machine Tower.

But that was enough to realize the severity of the situation.

'Think rationally.'

I was surprised by the unexpected scene.

But thanks to Granfel's setting of not getting overly excited, I could think rationally without being shaken.

'What's always important is reality.'

[The Oddity] itself.

Connecting the Arcana Continent and reality.

As long as the rift exists.

The crisis in the Arcana Continent will soon be.

A crisis that will come to reality.

'From now on, I can't rely on update logs.'

It wasn't that I would distrust all the update logs.

After all, update logs are there to help players.

Everything was because of the demons.

They hid their true nature.

Possessed by 'something'.

The possibility of them flooding into reality through the rift had increased.

"Very cowardly."

Now that I knew this fact.

Granfel's pride couldn't just stand by and watch.

Monsters might be one thing, but demons walking around in reality?

That's something that can't happen in the Granfel dictionary.

'I have to be more serious about conquering the rift.'

Because not only the investigation of the Oddity but also my pride has been touched.

In the end, the one who will die and struggle will be me and my legs...!

It wouldn't have been strange to sort out my thoughts at this point.

"I can't tolerate this scenery either."

I continued speaking.

Yes, I had.

No, Granfel had work to do.

As I said, demons walking around?

If I saw them, I couldn't just leave them be.

Even if it was happening in the Arcana Continent!

Interfering with the Arcana Continent from reality is impossible.

But in the space of [The Oddity], the rift?

'I might be able to interfere with the Arcana Continent.'

As if to prove that possibility.

Another quest was flickering.

[Class Quest: Arkshan's Legacy]

The beacon of survival was clearly conveyed.

O last demon hunter.

Retrieve your legacy lost to evil.

─Strengthen your weakened body. (Repeat)

─Investigate the final weapon, the Qyrburg Machine Tower. (Success)

─Activate the final weapon, the Qyrburg Machine Tower. (In Progress)

Activate the Qyrburg Machine Tower.

As soon as I confirmed the new objective.

Click─!

Sssss─!

The mechanical device I rode slowly came to a stop.

The grand scene that unfolded before my eyes.

Huge gears and mechanical devices were interlocked.

[Qyrburg Ascending Lever] explored.

I thought I had a rough understanding of the structure of the machine tower.

But that huge device was designed with a circuit so complex that it couldn't be compared to a lever.

"It's like a heart."

The exclamation.

At the same time, a message appeared.

[You have entered the top floor of the Qyrburg Machine Tower.]

This is the top floor of the machine tower.

If you have a sharp eye, you would have noticed.

The activation of the final weapon, the Qyrburg Machine Tower, takes place here.

On the top floor.

I didn't hesitate.

Click─

I approached the massive mechanical heart.

If someone saw, they would worry and ask.

Can you just touch it?

Won't it break if you touch it like that?

It's a reasonable concern.

As I said, the mechanical heart was so esoteric and complex that even Granfel's talent couldn't grasp it immediately.

However.

"Knowledge is not what you need to hunt demons."

Yes.

No matter how complex, no matter how much it's a culmination of advanced technology, anything.

In the end, the Qyrburg Machine Tower is Arkshan's legacy.

A final weapon to hunt demons.

"Unless it's a ritual."

So I didn't hesitate.

I placed my hand on the mechanical heart.

I started the demon hunter's ritual.

['Qyrburg Machine Tower' has been chosen as the offering.]

[The skill 'Exorcism Ritual' has been activated.]

Click─!

The mechanical heart began to pulse.

Creak─!

Sssss─!

The massive mechanical device began to vibrate as the gears interlocked.

The exorcism ritual to slay demons.

The Qyrburg Machine Tower is the offering.

The machine tower, offered as a sacrifice, will hunt demons roaming the Arcana Continent until it stops.

[The Qyrburg Machine Tower has started activation.]

Rumble─!

The vibration and shaking gradually intensified.

In the shaking field of view, a message appeared.

[You have cleared the Qyrburg Machine Tower rift.]

Clear.

Soon, the space of [The Oddity], the rift, will close.

When my vision returns, I will open my eyes in reality.

But I know.

"O legacy of Arkshan."

No, I believe without a doubt.

"Show your pride as a final weapon."

The Qyrburg Machine Tower will hunt demons in the Arcana Continent until the very end.

As if to prove that my belief was not wrong.

In the fading field of view.

Messages appeared one after another.

─Activate the final weapon, the Qyrburg Machine Tower. (Success)

[Conditions have been met.]

[The secret of the Qyrburg Machine Tower has been revealed.]

[The final weapon, the Qyrburg Machine Tower, has begun its counterattack.]

[Experience has been accumulated in the final weapon, the Qyrburg Machine Tower.]

[Reputation has been accumulated in the final weapon, the Qyrburg Machine Tower.]

[Regarding the accumulated experience and reputation...]

.

.

.

[You have cleared the Qyrburg Machine Tower rift.]

...Ho Yeol.

In the end, it was Yi Ho Yeol who cleared the rift.

The message appeared to all players, including the Qyrburg Machine Tower.

This time, his performance was so outstanding that it left everyone speechless. Most of all, the speed of his conquest was unimaginable.

"How did he fill 30 points in one go?"

"The last time I checked, it was definitely 21 points."

"Wh-What is this?!"

Rumble─!

Is this thing collapsing?!

The machine tower was shaking so much that it caused a commotion.

The questions and curiosity only grew.

"What happened up there?"

"Since he cleared the rift so quickly, was there nothing there?"

"No matter what, it's not like a self-destruct mechanism, right?"

"Ah, frustrating! Yi Ho Yeol said he won't do any streaming?!"

I'm so curious, I want to vent my frustration!

But the atmosphere didn't last long.

Soon, a message appeared to the players.

[Someone has revealed the secret of the Qyrburg Machine Tower.]

[The final weapon, the Qyrburg Machine Tower, has begun its counterattack.]

"!!!"

This time, it was immediately clear.

That someone was Yi Ho Yeol!

Ho Yeol really revealed the secret of the Qyrburg Machine Tower in this short time.

But wait, a final weapon?

The players' faces began to change.

"Counterattack? What counterattack?"

"Then, is this shaking not collapsing?"

"Could it be, some kind of transforming robot?!"

Shock after shock─

It was a continuous series of shocks─

But they couldn't be surprised forever.

Rift cleared.

As the system message said.

When I opened my eyes again, the scenery of reality greeted me.

In this stunned moment.

The rift that had been created in the Yusra Kingdom.

The players who had entered the machine tower through it thought.

"...Oops, Yi Ho Yeol!"

"Where is Yi Ho Yeol?"

"...If I can get even a word, it would be a big deal, this!"

They looked around.

They decided to grab and cling to Yi Ho Yeol's ankle.

The messages that appeared like a storm.

What happened up there?

What is the secret of the Qyrburg Machine Tower?

Counterattack against whom?

What is this final weapon?

Thanks to this, the questions that arose were a truckload.

The viewers, no, the whole world, would be the same.

So, if they could get an answer to that.

"...Alright."

For the right to know of the whole world, I will step forward.

The determined players.

Finding Ho Yeol in the crowd?

It wasn't that difficult.

From his silver hair.

The presence of Ho Yeol, emanating from his appearance, couldn't be hidden.

Not to mention, this time, there was even Nam Tae Min, a hunk of muscle, by his side.

But.

"...Huh."

The right to know, the determined resolve, everything.

The moment I faced Ho Yeol.

My lips froze and wouldn't move.

When I thought about it, I remembered.

The cold attitude Ho Yeol had shown to the public.

-What the heck??? Forgot the question??

-Really makes you want to hit the subscribe button twice

-Just ask something, please!! Or are you collecting money?!

It was more terrifying than the angry chat from the viewers.

After all, they were not players, right?

Just like in the Qyrburg Machine Tower rift.

There was no guarantee that they wouldn't meet Ho Yeol again.

But, if they were to get on Ho Yeol's bad side...

"...Damn it."

Suddenly, the scenes of Ho Yeol's performance passing by the machine tower.

Elegantly passing through the traps.

Winning 10 consecutive matches in a tournament where even one win was a challenge.

Because I had seen it with my own eyes.

"I must be crazy!!"

Like the ignorant reporters.

I couldn't confront Ho Yeol.

Yes, because the players knew Ho Yeol.

They couldn't bring themselves to grab and cling to his ankle.

"I'll go first."

With those words from Ho Yeol, the crowd parted.

So, Ho Yeol left the crowd.

Without a wrinkle or a speck of dust on his clothes.

"...Phew."

Finally, a sigh escaped.

Excuses flew from the remaining players.

"It couldn't be helped, you know?"

"You saw that cold expression, right? It was like it wasn't his business..."

"Unsubscribe? Go ahead. No, do it!! Views, comments, dislikes, whatever. That's nothing compared to Yi Ho Yeol!!"

*

I headed straight for the portal.

Arrived at the magic tower.

Climbed the stairs and opened the door to the laboratory.

Thud─

Only after closing that door did I realize.

...No matter how I think about it, I seem to have hit a big jackpot.

The top floor of the Qyrburg Machine Tower.

The last message I saw there.

[Experience has been accumulated in the final weapon, the Qyrburg Machine Tower.]

[Reputation has been accumulated in the final weapon, the Qyrburg Machine Tower.]

[You have obtained the right to acquire the accumulated experience and reputation.]

The right to acquire experience and reputation!

Not just any, but the experience and reputation gained by the Qyrburg Machine Tower, a final weapon.

Moreover, I had seen with my own eyes.

The technological prowess of the machine tower.

...Maybe I don't have to blame my level anymore?

The final weapon, the Qyrburg Machine Tower, has started its counterattack.

Hunting demons in the Arcana Continent, gaining experience,

Naturally, it will accumulate reputation while performing.

'And I will swallow it all...'

The excitement made my heart race as if it would burst.

Of course, I was not just calm but shameless.

Click─

I was already tilting my teacup.

"Great power comes with great responsibility."

He's a character who can't even create an atmosphere. Really.

Of course, if I think calmly, it's too early to be happy.

After all, I've only obtained the 'right to acquire'.

'Not that I've acquired it.'

So, whether it's the experience or the reputation accumulated in the Qyrburg Machine Tower.

In any case, I have to 'acquire' it to make it mine.

There's no way to know how to do it right now.

The Qyrburg Machine Tower exists in the Arcana Continent.

Click─

So, it's right to calm this excitement now.

Yes, think of it as a savings account and forget about it.

To become someone who can be confident in front of levels.

To no longer be petty.

It's like saving for the future.

Swoosh─

Of course, my hand, regardless of any mental victory.

Had been busy all along.

The characters carved into the parchment with a quill pen.

The recipient, of course, was the chief mage, Marcello.

[Marcello's Research], the quest objective achieved.

I also learned new facts from the Qyrburg Machine Tower.

'I should talk to Marcello about it.'

The situation of the Arcana Continent I saw in the rift.

The possibility of interfering with the Arcana Continent.

The true nature of the Qyrburg Machine Tower.

I had a lot to say because I had found out a lot.

Swoosh─

Soon, Marcello's reply appeared on the parchment.

Despite saying I had a lot to say.

"...!"

I lost my words at the first sentence that appeared.

The Qyrburg Machine Tower.

I thought its technology was not ordinary.

...But for that 'race' to appear here?!