Chapter 83

◈ Chapter 83. Finally Moving (2)

The official meeting of the AAU.

The branch managers from each region began to log into the video chat one by one.

The faces that appeared were so haggard that they could hardly be called presentable.

It was hard to blame the camera for their appearance.

Not a single one of them had a good complexion.

"Everyone, thank you for your hard work."

The reason was simple.

They had just gone through a week that was like a storm.

However, they couldn't afford to complain.

"Hard work? The one who really worked hard is someone else."

Someone who had worked harder than themselves.

No, there was one player.

It was impossible to measure the weight of their efforts, but he could guarantee it.

Even if all the efforts of the staff from each regional AAU were combined, they couldn't match the burden carried by that one person.

"Wasn't it a terrible week?"

"It's still a bit dizzying. Really, just dizzying."

"My heart sank when I first heard the news."

The senior mage of the Magic Tower had gone missing.

It was a state of utmost emergency.

As emphasized many times, the mages of the Magic Tower were incredibly powerful.

They were beings that had to be bound to the Magic Tower.

A senior mage, one of the strongest in the Magic Tower, had gone missing.

If he were to show hostility towards the players...

"It could have been a disaster. A major disaster."

"Our Korean branch manager, you could tell just by looking at his face."

"Maybe it's because it's all over now. I can finally sigh in relief."

The Magic Tower was located in South Korea, Seoul.

South Korea, which had achieved brilliant economic growth thanks to the Magic Tower's effects.

However, it was also the country with the highest probability of having a senior mage.

"Seoul could have disappeared from the face of the earth!"

Thinking about it again, it was still dizzying.

If Seoul had become a battlefield, the damage would have been immeasurable.

However,

"In the end, we owed it to Player Lee Ho-yul again."

That's right.

In South Korea, in Seoul, in the Magic Tower.

There was a player who had worked harder than themselves.

Lee Ho-yul.

His performance was nothing short of stellar.

Even the AAU executives, experts in the Arcana world, couldn't fully understand the extent of Ho-yul's contributions.

"To be honest, I had my doubts at first. He's great, but a senior mage? No matter how good Player Lee Ho-yul is, isn't the position of a senior mage in the Magic Tower a bit too much?"

"But, it turned out to be an unnecessary doubt."

"Right. To clear a rift that was practically a bug..."

The [Rift of Broken Dimensions].

Appropriate level: 900~1,000.

Ho-yul cleared the rift, which was practically a bug, as if it were nothing.

"He returned as if nothing had happened!"

"I'm still curious about what happened inside. I'd grab his pants and ask if I could."

"Well, that wouldn't work, would it?"

Interviews were difficult.

Internal matters.

Begging wouldn't change Ho-yul's firm stance.

However, one thing remained unchanged.

"So what if he doesn't give a few interviews? What if he says everything he can and can't say? It's Lee Ho-yul, after all. This is the umpteenth time, isn't it?"

Yes, Ho-yul had every right to do so.

He was fundamentally different from other players who, caught up in stardom, couldn't control their words and actions.

Why? Because from his first appearance to the present, Ho-yul had consistently shown the same attitude.

"His popularity has reached a level of almost religious devotion. The public's reaction is incredible."

Everyone wasn't just muttering his name for no reason.

The branch managers, with their ashen faces, could smile thanks to Ho-yul. However, the AAU knew. No, they had to be concerned.

"But, excluding Player Lee Ho-yul..."

If Ho-yul hadn't been there,

Could humanity, could the players, have resolved this situation?

The answer was obviously 'No'.

"To be honest, the gap is too wide."

"Who can clear a 900~1,000 level rift? Even with a senior mage, it was Player Lee Ho-yul's ability that moved the senior mage. And it was his personal ability."

"The conclusion is that other players need to step up their game."

The players must have felt their own powerlessness through this incident.

In that sense, the new update was good news.

The only way to overcome powerlessness is through levels.

And to increase levels, you need experience.

In the new update, it seemed that at least experience could be gained properly.

"It's been a while since we had a [Predator] content."

"This will be a fierce competition among top-tier players, won't it?"

"In the Predator zone, a bit of tension is considered good. Really."

...

...

...

──────

A new rift, 'The Swamp of Predators,' has been added.

New monsters have been added.

'Frenzied Wolf' : Lv.450

'Berserker Blood Goblin' : Lv.460

'Sky Blade' : Lv.500

'Rag Warrior' : Lv.520...

──────

Thursday.

A real new update, not a bug.

The update details caused a commotion in the community.

- The appropriate level is insane, right???

- Everyone except Ho-yul should be on high alert, right? Haha

- But isn't something a bit off?? The monsters lack consistency;;

Since the days when Arcana was a game until now,

The monsters that appeared had consistency.

If it was a [Goblin Habitat], only goblins would appear.

In that sense, this rift was a bit strange.

[The Swamp of Predators].

Given the name, one would expect alligators or lizardmen to appear.

However, the monsters that appeared lacked consistency in both species and habitat, as some comments pointed out.

If one had to find a common point,

It was the level.

However, what you see depends on what you know.

"It's the first time these monsters are appearing in a rift, right? Predator zone."

"Right. If they had appeared before, the comments wouldn't be like this."

"It appeared at just the right time."

The Nam brothers, who were having a conversation, were naturally in the know.

Nam Taemin smiled.

"Finally, we can fight to our heart's content. Don't you think, brother?"

Predator zone.

To explain it simply, it was a zone where predators gathered.

The reason the monsters lacked consistency was because of this.

It was a place where predators from nearby areas had gathered.

To be more precise, the reason they gathered was...

"They fight each other over the loot in the swamp."

Hisa told his guild members.

Yes, that much was understandable.

The loot in the swamp.

Strong monsters gathered to claim this loot.

That was the Predator zone.

This new rift, [The Swamp of Predators].

However, there was one question.

"Does that mean the monsters fight each other?"

"Hey, you! Is this your first time in the Predator zone?"

"Yes, it is..."

"Really, your first time?!"

Well, it would be strange if it wasn't.

The bald man seemed to feel bad for his sudden outburst and cleared his throat before continuing.

"Yes, in the Predator zone, monsters fight each other. They don't just fight; they kill each other. I told you, they come from different regions. There's no room for kinship or regional ties."

That's right.

The Predator zone was a place where battles never ceased.

Naturally, the level of the monsters that appeared was beyond just their level.

Appearing in the Predator zone meant they had survived the continuous battles.

"Got you, you little predators."

"...Yeah, we got you. But, you know, sister."

"What?"

"Are you really okay?"

"Shut up. I've told you a million times, I'm fine."

No, she wasn't fine.

She was incredibly angry.

Leoni's pouting lips spoke volumes.

The reason was obvious to everyone.

"Sister, if we had gone to bed early as usual..."

Appropriate level 1,000.

Ho-yul had entered such an impossible rift?

'Even if I had known, it wouldn't have changed anything...'

If I had joined, I would have been a burden rather than a help.

But knowing the fact and waking up from a deep sleep to find out were worlds apart...

'I really feel like an idiot.'

It was hard to explain...

What was it?

A feeling different from powerlessness.

A sense of self-loathing that surpassed powerlessness.

But she knew exactly what she had to do.

"Just shut up. From now on, I'll sleep when I'm dead."

In the Swamp of Predators.

She would level up as much as possible in the new rift.

A Predator zone where battles never ceased?

There was no better hunting ground for a berserker who grew stronger with each battle.

Of course, she wasn't the only one with such thoughts.

"First goal, just 10 levels."

"Our top priority is the loot in the swamp."

"There will be a lot of Netube here, right?"

Even if their goals were different,

If you were a predator,

If you were a strong player, you had to gather in [The Swamp of Predators].

Yes, because they knew this fact.

Even if their thoughts were different,

They all thought of the same person.

Yes, Ho-yul.

"Even if catching up to Ho-yul is impossible, we need to step up our game."

"To repay the debt to Hokkaido."

"...Surely, Lee Ho-yul won't appear, right? I mean, he cleared a 1,000-level rift. Isn't it too much to expect him to tackle this one too?!"

*

Wow.

This new rift is intense?

The monsters that appear are at least level 450.

Most importantly, it's a Predator zone.

In other words, it's a Colosseum where battle-crazed monsters gather.

I tilted my teacup and spoke.

"It will be very chaotic."

No, it's more than chaotic. It's too harsh for me!

My level was only 296.

Most importantly, a rift where battles never cease.

'My mana won't last.'

Thanks to the effects of the Hexagram Brooch and the Duke Swarlin's prized possession, my mana regeneration had improved, but my absolute mana pool was still lacking due to my low level.

'I am not a predator.'

The interrogation of the demon worshippers wasn't even over.

Honestly,

I wanted to ignore this ominous rift.

─Approach to the Ki (In Progress) ▲

●Clear the rift. (Repeat)

●Witness the Arcana continent. (Success)

Not only the repeated quest to clear the rift,

But I had also learned that the rift was connected to the Arcana continent.

Furthermore, I had learned that demons were rampant on the Arcana continent.

My pride wouldn't allow me to sit idly by.

"Perhaps some education is needed."

...Yes, my formal and rigid personality wouldn't allow it either.

In that sense, it was fortunate that I had prepared multiple options. Even if my mana ran out during continuous battles,

'I have quite a few tricks up my sleeve.'

First, there was black magic.

I had trained in swordsmanship, though I hadn't had the chance to use it.

Even though the training period was short, I had received excellent instruction from Harcon, the Grandmaster of the Lionheart Knights, thanks to Granfel's talent.

"Bittersweet, but refreshing."

And the tea made from medicinal herbs I had been sipping.

'The taste is not great, but...'

It was rewarding to have studied books on medicinal herbs while preparing for the regular academic conference. Just drinking the tea provided significant benefits.

[Your health regeneration rate increases slightly for 3 hours.]

And finally,

There was one more thing to check.

I opened my inventory.

I took out a small pentagram fragment.

It was the [Impure Knowledge Pentagram] that I had purified through an exorcism ritual.

Yes, it was time to test my hypothesis.

I didn't hesitate.

I immediately checked the item's information.

[Pure Knowledge Pentagram]

[Grade: Epic]

[Restriction: None]

[Effect: When worn, you gain knowledge of all minerals and all plants on the Arcana continent.]

[Description: A magical tool containing immeasurable knowledge.]

...Yes, I had a feeling.

Sure enough, an Epic-grade item!

Its effects were overwhelming.

Gaining knowledge of all minerals and plants on the Arcana continent!

I had expected it, but I hadn't dared to hope.

'This is beyond my expectations.'

Other players might not understand,

But for me,

There was no better effect.

Gaining knowledge of all minerals?

It meant the efficiency of mineral-detecting magic would increase.

Gaining knowledge of all plants?

It included knowledge of medicinal herbs, of course.

So what if the Predator zone, where battles never ceased, was a challenge?

I had the [Pure Knowledge Pentagram]...

My confidence soared, ready to rush into the rift.

However, everything has a procedure.

I stood up.

Yes.

Even if I entered the rift,

I had to wrap things up first.

─The Weight of the Chief (Repeat)▲

●Conduct verification at the Topaz Hall. (Success)

●Successfully conduct the regular academic conference. (In Progress)...

I straightened my disheveled clothes.

This was the pride of the regular academic conference organizer.

...

...

Two elder mages.

And the Chief Mage, Marcello.

They looked down at the Crystal Hall.

More precisely, at Ho-yul, who was listening to Bangrit's presentation.

Marcello spoke.

"A decision is needed. This is an opportunity to correct everything at once. The unforgivable sins committed by the Akshans and the demon hunters against the Magic Tower. And to take the first step in repaying the debt to Sir Lee Ho-yul."

The elder mage, who had been listening silently, sighed.

"Surely the Tower Master shares your thoughts."

He nodded.

"I will accept your proposal, Marcello."

"..."