Chapter 71

◈ Chapter 71. I Can't Just Stand By (2)

This was not a story to be told on parchment.

Click—

"This scent has been long missed."

Yet, it was not a story so peaceful that we could sit and exchange cups of tea. Marcello savored the tea and continued.

"As you might have guessed, the Quirnberg Machine Tower is indeed a dwarf's construction."

...To casually bring up such an important matter!

Indeed, the brilliant technology embedded in the Quirnberg Machine Tower.

It was the work of the dwarves.

'...Is this for real?'

Dwarves.

From the time Arcana was just a game to the present.

They were no different from legendary beings.

Even elves had some sightings.

But there was no trace of information about dwarves.

-Is it just for balance, and they'll appear later??

-If dwarf weapons start pouring in now, lol.

-Considering the legends, it doesn't seem too far-fetched???

Indeed, what was passed down.

Legends passed down by word of mouth.

Dwarven equipment was said to be impossible to obtain even for a fortune.

Dwarven technology was said to rival magic.

And so, they became the sacrificial lambs for balance patches.

...Now that I think about it, none of it was wrong, was it?

'The technology of the Machine Tower was comparable to that of the Magic Tower.'

Marcello wouldn't say something trivial.

It seems the Quirnberg Machine Tower is indeed a dwarf's construction.

"Indeed, such technology is rare."

I was surprised by the sudden appearance of the dwarves, a race I had never expected.

But of course, I didn't show it.

Marcello nodded and added to my words.

"The extreme technology of the dwarves can be compared to magic. It's just that the direction is different from the Magic Tower. I can understand their passion for pursuing and refining technology."

Just as we study magic for the sake of truth.

There are dwarves who pursue technology.

Marcello's words seemed to imply a connection.

"May I ask what happened at the Quirnberg Machine Tower?"

A formal and courteous question followed.

I responded to his satisfied attitude.

The beginning was a story about the rift.

That is, the story of the quest.

"I witnessed the Arcana continent through the rift of the strange space."

"…!"

"As you might have guessed, demons were rampant."

"Such…!"

The reaction that the worry had become reality.

Marcello sighed.

Then he struggled to continue.

"I cannot raise my head. I cannot do anything."

The hidden story behind the Magic Tower.

I still didn't know the exact details.

But I was more certain now.

'It's clear that even if I want to intervene, I can't.'

The situation must be serious.

The real power of the Magic Tower.

Even the Chief Mage, Marcello, was tied down.

So, my motivation renewed.

Through the quest, or whatever.

If I can solve the Magic Tower's story…!

'An incredible ally, the Magic Tower, will be born.'

It's an enormous reward.

So, it can't be solved right now.

Didn't I say so?

Not even Marcello could solve it.

It was a situation he couldn't even speak of.

I, as always.

Just waited patiently for the right time.

Click—

I put down the teacup and continued.

"But I also witnessed a possibility."

Marcello, who was blaming himself.

There was something that could provide him with definite comfort.

Hope appeared on Marcello's dry face.

"…A possibility?"

"Interference with the Arcana continent through the rift."

"…!!"

Of course, there was no guarantee that the next rift would allow me to witness the Arcana continent or interfere with it.

But it wasn't a wrong statement.

I didn't forget to mention the specifics.

"The Quirnberg Machine Tower, as a decisive weapon of the Akshan, will hunt demons to the end. Recognizing the technology of the dwarves. Marcello, it would be good for you to alleviate your guilt a little."

The mention of Akshan was inevitable.

'There's no reason to hide it.'

And even if I wanted to hide it, could I?

In the dictionary of Grandville, there is no such thing as an unrighteous act.

Marcello seemed to need time to think.

"…Thank you for your kind words."

Given the amount of information I had just shared.

Now I see, preparing the tea was a wise choice.

If not, my throat would have been dry from talking.

"Ah."

Click—

As if sharing the same sentiment.

Marcello picked up the empty teacup and then put it down with a start.

I said generously.

"Would you like another cup?"

"No, I can't impose any more…"

"From green tea to chamomile. How about it?"

The neatly arranged collection of tea bags on the table.

In other words, a selection of items reflecting a clean and honest taste.

Marcello rolled his large eyes and spoke.

"…Then I'll have barley tea."

"An excellent choice."

"Thank you."

"Take this tea with you. The scent was not bad."

"Ah, I'm ashamed. You even told me about the existence of rocket delivery last time. I wasn't prepared to accept new knowledge."

Accepting new knowledge.

At best, it would be the use of a smartphone.

And the ability to shop with a smartphone.

"Is that so? If you have any questions, feel free to ask."

But it's as if it's something grand.

Feel free to ask.

No matter how I think about it.

The audacity is getting out of hand, really…

.

.

.

Office.

Marcello paced the office for a long time.

His mind was in turmoil.

He couldn't sit down easily.

Marcello bowed his head.

"Master, what should I do?"

He knew there would be no answer.

His mind was so chaotic that he felt he would burst if he didn't speak to himself.

The situation of the Arcana continent?

As he had guessed.

The shock was not great.

The feeling of helplessness at not being able to act?

It was not a new feeling.

He could handle it.

Besides, there was a possibility.

The possibility of saving the Arcana continent.

Horyeol had witnessed it, hadn't he?

Yes, the reason his mind was in turmoil was not because of that.

"…Akshan."

Yes.

The name Akshan, which had burst from Horyeol's mouth.

His thoughts began to tangle.

'The Quirnberg Machine Tower was a decisive weapon of the Akshan. It was the weapon of demon hunters. The decisive weapon, activated by Sir Horyeol to save Arcana…'

His thoughts, finally organized.

The meaning was simple.

Horyeol was a demon hunter.

Marcello laughed bitterly.

"…Why do you make me incur another debt?"

Akshan.

And demon hunters.

They owed the Magic Tower a debt that could never be repaid.

Marcello groaned.

"I didn't even know…!"

Without knowing the existence of the debt.

He had incurred another favor from Horyeol.

A feeling different from helplessness, as if his heart was being torn.

This was true guilt.

Click—

Marcello gritted his teeth.

"No, I don't even have the right to feel sorry…"

Akshan.

Demon hunters.

And the Holy War.

Thinking about the trials Horyeol must have faced in the past, he could only marvel.

"…How can you remain so calm?"

How could Horyeol not be shaken?

Even if he put himself in Horyeol's shoes, he couldn't understand.

Marcello looked at the tea bag in his hand.

-And take this tea with you. The scent was not bad.

And he thought.

'…If I were Sir.'

Could I have shown such mercy?

Marcello was unsure.

He couldn't even fathom the depth of Horyeol's character.

But there was one thing he was certain of.

"I can no longer endure, Master."

He couldn't incur another debt to Horyeol.

He couldn't hear the Master's response, but Marcello was sure.

"Now that I know Sir's background. The Master would have made the same decision as me."

So, he had no intention of hesitating.

The Round Table meeting, scheduled to resume.

Marcello intended to drop a bomb at the meeting.

The justification was sufficient.

Why? Because thanks to Horyeol, he had witnessed the possibility of the rift.

Click—

Marcello opened the drawer.

"I don't even have the right to accept mercy now."

The drawer, empty of even a speck of dust, held the tea bag.

When he would open this drawer again, he didn't know.

But one thing was certain.

A new trend would unfold in the Magic Tower.

Marcello murmured softly.

"The elders should prepare themselves."

*

Quirnberg Machine Tower Rift!

From the beginning to the clear.

It unfolded in a way no one could have predicted.

Including AAU.

"Senior, I'm thinking of writing a resignation letter."

"Resignation? Why a resignation letter all of a sudden?"

"Really, there's a limit to how much one can take!"

Seong Hyunjun was indignant.

AAU, for all its grandeur, was nothing special.

It was the same even when Arcana was just a game,

and he was part of the development team.

"Of course, we can't know everything!"

Arcana had been profitable since it was just a game.

It was natural that information about Arcana was valuable.

So, the security of content had to be tight.

Even the development team didn't have all the information.

Unless it was the missing CEO Raymond Shen….

Anyway, everyone knew this.

"Why do you keep asking? Me of all people!!"

Scratch—

Seong Hyunjun scratched his head.

He, too, was suffering from the same pain.

Yoon Sukgyeom replied indifferently.

"Everyone is frustrated. How curious they must be?"

"I don't know either! I'm so frustrated! I've been getting calls since dawn…"

"Then quit. You won't be free, but…"

"You're too cold, Senior. I'm heartbroken. Heartbroken."

"If you have time to complain, look at this."

"What is it, again?"

"What else, Horyeol."

"Ah, really! Even you, Senior?"

Horyeol.

A name he heard more often than his own.

Click—

Seong Hyunjun grumbled as he pulled the chair.

Then Horyeol's image appeared on the monitor.

"What is it, Senior, you're subscribed to Park Hwi-gang too?"

"Horyeol's fan videos are amazing. Anyway."

The important thing wasn't that.

It was the Quirnberg Machine Tower, the background.

The mouse cursor pointed to the background.

"Can't you see it?"

"I can. The Quirnberg Machine Tower. I don't know what it is, though."

"Exactly. That's it."

As Seong Hyunjun said.

He knew, but didn't know exactly what it was.

That was the limit of AAU's information.

It was a helpless situation.

"Originally, we were going to use it much later."

"True. We didn't know how to use it either."

"Raymond, that damn guy, must have known. That bastard…!"

"Anyway, there are player testimonies about it."

Player testimonies.

They were the messages that appeared when the rift was cleared.

[Someone has uncovered the secret of the Quirnberg Machine Tower.]

[The decisive weapon, the Quirnberg Machine Tower, has begun its counterattack.]

Seong Hyunjun flared up.

"Right! I almost died because of that! Of course, it was Horyeol. When I asked, he kindly answered. He said he knew about it too. So, why did you call? What for?!"

Why did he call?

Yoon Sukgyeom moved the mouse.

The mouse cursor pointed to the second line.

Seong Hyunjun burst into another tirade.

"So, I'm curious too! I don't even know what the Quirnberg Machine Tower is. How can I know what it's a decisive weapon for? Senior, you know how I feel, right? Right?"

"No, not that part."

"Huh? Not the decisive weapon part?"

Looking again, the cursor pointed to the back.

"…Begun its counterattack?"

Yoon Sukgyeom said meaningfully.

"The system message doesn't lie. It's a promise."

"That's true, right?"

"So, this message is definitely true."

Begun its counterattack.

Seong Hyunjun read the message several times and was startled.

"…Wait, Senior. If it means the counterattack has begun?"

"Right. Not in our reality, but in the Arcana continent where the Quirnberg Machine Tower exists, the counterattack has begun. Hyunjun, do you know what that means?"

"Of course I do!!"

The situation of the Arcana continent?

Even if he couldn't witness it, he could guess.

The flow of time was four times faster than in reality.

That meant the growth rate and power of the demon monsters were also four times faster.

The fall of Frost proved that the hypothesis was correct.

So.

Seong Hyunjun spoke cautiously.

"If the system message is correct…"

"In the hellish Arcana continent. A significant counterattack, recognized even by the system, has begun. Thanks to the message, someone—yes, Horyeol—uncovering the secret of the Quirnberg Machine Tower."

"…Senior, this is not a normal situation, right?!"

"Right, it's not a normal situation."

Perhaps what Horyeol had