Chapter 98

◈ Chapter 98. Top Secret (1)

AAU North America Branch.

The lights in the building never went out, even at night.

A rift was expected, but it was a threat that could not be prevented.

It was always necessary to respond quickly.

“Creak─!”

The sound of stretching echoed through the control room.

Despite the fatigue, this week had been lucky.

“Still, Wednesday isn’t bad, right? Don’t you think?”

“Don’t know. I’m busy.”

“What are you doing, tapping away on a good day?”

Tomorrow is Thursday.

The day when new updates are released.

Even a dedicated AAU employee couldn’t look forward to working on Thursday.

Situational awareness, briefings to the higher-ups, and more. On Thursdays, there was really no time to catch your breath.

“Be more diligent. Are you already writing a report?”

“I don’t want to waste precious time like someone else.”

“Whatever, take it easy. You’re too passionate.”

So, what are you writing?

Sneak─

Glancing at the laptop screen, it seemed clear.

“Yggdrasil? Are you digging into that plot point?”

The predator’s swamp.

The Yggdrasil that bloomed from that rift.

It was one of the hottest research subjects at AAU.

Of course, no information had been discovered despite the efforts.

“Effort is good, but what will change by tapping away at it? Only Raymond Shen knows the real information about Yggdrasil.”

“I know. I’m just organizing it.”

Tap-tap-tap─

Even as she spoke,

Katrina’s fingers didn’t stop.

“Well, even if it’s not useful now, it might be later.”

Useful later?

The man, who had been glancing at the content, said,

“Still, it just looks like a tribute to Lee Ho-yul.”

From beginning to end.

Every sentence mentions Lee Ho-yul, doesn’t it?

Still, there was nothing to say.

After all, it was Lee Ho-yul who discovered the seed of Yggdrasil.

And it was Lee Ho-yul who made it sprout.

“Are you planning to write a biography of Lee Ho-yul or something?”

“What are you talking about? If I post a video on NetTube, who would watch it these days?”

“...You’ve already thought about posting a video, haven’t you?”

Shake-shake─

There’s a follower of the Ho-yul faith here too.

Katrina replied to the man who was shaking his head.

“And it’s a kind of occupational hazard.”

Occupational hazard?

The man realized.

“Oh! You said you were in the quest department when you worked at Cosmo, right?”

“Okay.”

“Then it’s true. No, I shouldn’t interfere anymore.”

Quest department.

In the days when Arcana was a game.

The department that composed the large and small quest lines of Arcana.

The man closed his mouth and thought.

In the days when Arcana was a game.

By now, on the Arcana continent, a player who had achieved great feats.

Lee Ho-yul’s name would be echoing throughout.

“A new hero is born. With just one event, there are countless quests that can be linked. And this involves Yggdrasil. Could you have meant to use it later?”

After all, every quest has a story.

Organizing Lee Ho-yul’s story and the inspiration that came from it.

And using her occupational hazard...

“Of course, you’re trying to predict the next quest, right?”

Tap-tap-tap─

Katrina shrugged as she typed.

“Well, the probability of the prediction coming true is less than 1%.”

But if it can help even a little, it’s worth a try.

Unlike players who risk their lives entering rifts at every moment,

AAU didn’t have many options.

‘Time is still passing.’

The Arcana continent is another reality, another world.

It might not be exactly the same as when it was a game, but considering the level of what Lee Ho-yul has done, it’s certain that his achievements have shaken the entire continent.

‘Moreover, time on the Arcana continent is faster than in reality. By now, Lee Ho-yul’s achievements must have spread throughout the continent and more.’

Indeed, what changes has Lee Ho-yul’s actions brought to the Arcana continent?

That’s why she kept typing without rest, to gauge the possibilities.

“Phew. I’m craving something sweet.”

Of course, it wasn’t easy, to the point of making her head hurt.

The Arcana continent must be in chaos now.

It would be completely different from what she knew.

To consider all these variables and predict the flow of the continent?

It’s an impossible task.

Still, there was one thing she could guarantee.

‘The ‘race’ related to Yggdrasil will move somehow.’

Elves.

Of course, she didn’t know when that would happen.

But she was certain.

Their appearance would inevitably turn the world upside down.

“Huh?”

“?”

“Damn. What is it now? Really...!!”

But before that.

The world was turned upside down.

Beep-beep-beep─

The alarm sounded throughout the control room, no, the entire AAU branch.

The man pulled his hair.

“No, a Wednesday emergency update is really crossing the line!!”

Even as he vented his frustration, his response was swift.

Checking the update details.

Immediately...

Immediately...

Immediately, they had to move on to the next action.

“Damn.”

There was no one to blame as the two people stopped simultaneously.

“This is the rift from back then.”

That rift.

Indeed.

[The Broken Dimensional Rift].

The rift that was created with an emergency update, just like now.

The emergency update details that appeared.

It read [The Broken Dimensional Rift] just like before.

However, the length of the update details was alarming.

──────

A new rift, ‘The Broken Dimensional Rift : ה’ has been added.

A new rift, ‘The Broken Dimensional Rift : מ’ has been added.

A new rift, ‘The Broken Dimensional Rift : ל’ has been added.

A new rift, ‘The Broken Dimensional Rift : ש’ has been added...

──────

The hands that were typing and the mouths that were chatting stopped.

They realized the severity of the situation.

The appropriate level was not specified, but it was easy to guess.

After all, [The Broken Dimensional Rift] was not the first.

It meant they could predict the appropriate level.

[Appropriate Level: Lv.900]

They had the knowledge from experience.

But the shock couldn’t be shaken off.

Even if the appropriate level wasn’t exactly 900,

The number of rifts created was too many.

Moreover, they knew from experience that the appropriate level of the rifts could increase.

The man muttered.

“...This is not a problem we can handle.”

Not just the branch...

But it was a problem beyond the scope of AAU.

This was a catastrophic event that required global consensus.

The news spread quickly.

Some even suggested extreme solutions early on.

“Are you saying we should just let the rifts collapse?”

“Is there a way? This is a disaster that would be better to sweep away with missiles. For the sake of the world, we must accept small sacrifices.”

“Shouldn’t you refrain from such talk when the location of the rifts is not yet determined?”

“No. The location is not an issue. Even if a rift appears in the heart of my country, my capital, my decision will not change. It’s inevitable, isn’t it?”

Under normal circumstances,

Such extreme measures would not even be discussed.

But everyone knew.

“This is not something players can handle, right?”

The emergency update on Arcana’s homepage.

Not only players but also civilians could access the details.

So, the atmosphere in any community was not much different.

-Didn’t you see the top players in [Predator’s Swamp]?

-They were sweating blood in a level 500 rift, everyone.

-This update really crossed the line...

-And it’s not just one rift this time...

But the players were the ones who understood the severity of the situation the most.

Unification of the World.

The guild master, Liu Ojun Chun, had already lost interest in the current rift.

“This is not our job.”

He didn’t care about the civilians.

He had no intention of foolishly risking his life.

Whether they bombed the collapsed rift with missiles or nuclear bombs,

It was not their concern.

“Really ruthless.”

“Is this Raymond Shen’s doing?”

“It’s an emergency update, so it wasn’t planned, right?”

The Kingdom of Yusra.

And Frost.

Players staying there also received the update details.

No matter how much they thirsted for levels and fame,

Entering this rift would be suicidal.

But as they knew from experience,

There was one player who had cleared such an impossible rift.

“Is it only Lee Ho-yul again this time?”

Indeed.

Level 900~1,000.

Lee Ho-yul, who cleared [The Broken Dimensional Rift].

Because they knew this,

Some players had to move.

The place they met was, of course, the Magic Tower.

“...What are you doing here? Again.”

“You too. Really, don’t talk to me. I don’t want to be misunderstood.”

“You sure know how to say unpleasant things.”

Leoni.

Nam Taemin.

And Hisagi.

The three glared at each other with displeasure.

The uneasy alliance that started in [Predator’s Swamp].

How many questions, interviews, and media attention did they suffer because of it?

“If it wasn’t for Lee Ho-yul, really. Huh?”

Nam Taemin still shuddered at the thought.

Especially with Hisagi, he preferred the days when they would growl at each other.

At least they could vent their stress by insulting each other.

But it was Lee Ho-yul who brought them together.

He didn’t know what Lee Ho-yul was thinking when he united them, but it was impossible to immediately reject his decision.

In the end, no comment on the alliance.

Silence was as good as agreement these days.

The result was the present.

Leoni looked at the two men with a sidelong glance.

“Do you understand the severity of the situation?”

“I know, that’s why I’m here. We need to help.”

“We have to repay what we’ve received.”

Leoni glanced behind the two men.

Like her, there were no guild members in sight.

Well, they do understand the severity.

‘It’s practically a suicide mission.’

A reckless decision.

She had no intention of involving her guild members in such stubbornness.

But it wasn’t just them being stubborn.

“I found you, fools like me!”

A sly voice.

Camilla, a high-ranking member of Shining and a top-tier player, appeared.

Behind her, familiar faces were visible.

“...Are you crazy?”

Members of Gaon, Inazuma, and Berserker’s guilds.

Not all members, but dozens of players had followed their guild masters.

“Nam Taemin. I knew you’d be here.”

“Sis, you’re not the only one being stubborn.”

“Who are you calling a snake? I barely found you.”

Camilla shuddered.

“Is this the unbreakable bond of death? How touching.”

Of course, she didn’t envy their emotional reunion.

‘My situation isn’t any different.’

Camilla remembered Jesse’s eyes that day.

So, with the reappearance of [The Broken Dimensional Rift],

“I guess it’s what I expected.”

She knew what judgment Jesse would make without asking.

Of course, she didn’t know how much help they could be in such an impossible rift.

“Let’s do it our way~”

Is a princess a princess for nothing?

It’s because it takes a lot of effort.

Looking around, Jesse was nowhere to be seen.

“...She must have already gone. I rushed here, you know.”

Camilla hurriedly entered the Magic Tower.

And she witnessed.

Jesse Haines standing still.

“Jesse?”

With her heightened senses, Camilla could detect even the slightest breath.

Jesse’s breathing was clearly different from usual.

“Jesse. What’s wrong? What happened?”

Camilla embraced Jesse from behind.

Others who followed her also saw the scene.

More precisely, the changed scenery of the Magic Tower’s lobby.

“...The portal is gone?”

There was no trace of it.

The portal that always guarded the Magic Tower’s lobby was nowhere to be seen.

The implication was simple.

For the players gathered here, in the Magic Tower...

“With so many rifts created, how can we get there without a portal...?”

There was no way to reach the rifts in a short time.

Soon, Camilla realized why Jesse had stiffened.

Camilla bit her lip.

The reason the portal was gone?

She couldn’t be sure.

There must be a reason.

But she could guess who had the authority to make the portal disappear.

Well, even a senior mage would find this difficult. At least, it had to be someone at the chief level to make such a decision.

“...I need to give a stern word.”

Only then did everyone realize.

Lee Ho-yul had stopped the portal’s operation.

“...Why?”

Unlike them,

They knew Lee Ho-yul was looking far away.

There must be a reason for this action.

Perhaps, to them and other players,

He thought this rift was overwhelming.

Still.

Still...

This was too harsh.

“Damn. Can’t we do anything?”

For them,

“With so many rifts, what can he do alone...!”

For Lee Ho-yul himself.

Because he was always confident.

And consistent.

They hadn’t thought about it.

What was Lee Ho-yul thinking when he stopped the portal’s operation?

And what was he feeling, going to the rift alone?

And why are they only thinking about this now?

Lee Ho-yul had carried such burdens before.

An indescribable feeling overwhelmed them.

In the silence.

Snap─

A thin sound was heard.

“No matter what, this is too much. Doing everything alone, alone...!”

*

You can’t involve outsiders in internal matters.

‘Especially in such group actions.’

Senior mages of the Magic Tower are all mobilized.

Even if the specific circumstances are not mentioned,

If you have a good sense, you can tell something is happening at the Magic Tower.

‘I want to avoid reprimand.’

I want to let it pass as quietly as possible.

When something happens, the parachute is the one who takes responsibility and steps down.

I knew this from common social experience.

So,

As quickly as possible.

As secretly as possible.

The best way is to resolve internal matters.

A total of 11 rifts were created.

Identifying the locations of the rifts was not difficult.

‘Even if you didn’t know at first.’

[The Broken Dimensional Rift].

The characteristics of this incomplete rift were understood through experience.

It’s a matter of tracking the magical traces of Karimzeva, who planned this situation.

Of course, I don’t