Arte's Aspiration (2)

A new story—what is it?

It's the exclusive domain of those who accomplish what others cannot, brilliantly advancing the narrative.

They earn exponentially greater rewards.

But in exchange, they must overcome trials that are far more grueling.

Hyun-soo had triumphed over countless new stories, and just recently, he'd cleared one crafted specifically for you.

That story for you ranked a tier above a standard new story.

Which made it correspondingly more arduous.

And then the notification rang out.

Hyun-soo could tell this was that "next story" from Arte's behavior.

A linked quest chain that erupted after crossing multiple mountains, much like scaling a new story.

Arte's tale began.

"I've been trapped inside the Sage's Tower in the Beres Mountains for 300 years."

Everyone knew that much.

"But there's one secret no one else knows: I'm imprisoned here."

"Imprisoned?"

"The Blood Demon Grout."

The world of Ares was vast.

And demons dwelling in the demon realm existed too.

"He sealed me in this place."

Sadness clouded Arte's eyes.

"300 years ago, I was extraordinary. Emperors of empires, saintesses, popes, legends—they all longed to meet me. Then one day, a man came calling."

"That was Grout, wasn't it."

Arte nodded gravely.

"He appeared as an ordinary human and challenged me outright: 'Let's pit our knowledge against each other.'"

Arte gave a bitter smile.

"He was impressive. I thought, 'To think someone in this world knows such secrets and wields such intellect.' But he was no match for me. That's when he revealed his true form."

His expression betrayed how teeth-grittingly vivid that memory remained.

"I knew demons sometimes descend in human guise. He said to me, 'You, whose knowledge far surpasses mine—you must be punished.'"

"……."

Hyun-soo gazed at Arte's sorrowful eyes.

Tales of demons toying with humans for sport.

And now Arte was ensnared in one.

"He's also called the Demon of Knowledge. He envied me. Win or lose, he would've imprisoned me anyway. And so I ended up confined in these Beres Mountains."

Hyun-soo voiced his curiosity.

"What happens if you get out?"

"The Beres Mountains teem with monsters. The moment I leave, they'll all swarm me."

Hyun-soo realized this was no simple task.

All the monsters here charging at Arte to kill him...

A chill ran through him.

300 years.

Locked inside all that time, unable to see the world...?

The mere thought was horrifying. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠And it bred disgust toward demons who toyed with humans for amusement.

"Do you know of beautiful birds?"

Arte's voice trembled.

"People adored beautiful birds. One day, wanting to see them up close, they captured one and locked it in a cage."

"Blind to how the bird suffered and ached, unable to fly, they cooed, 'What a beautiful bird.' 'Seeing it lifts my spirits.'"

Yes—that was Arte now. Trapped in a cage.

"And I had family too. Just my mother, though I know she's long passed."

Hyun-soo suddenly thought of his own father.

He empathized with the grief of longing for someone you could never see.

"Will you free me from this cage?"

The quest was ranked S.

And a skill created just for him? Irresistibly tempting.

A skill made solely for me.

"I'll do everything I can."

"Thank you. Now, let's find a way out of this tower together..."

Right then.

The window flew open on its own, and a black arrow shot from outside, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠striking Arte dead-center.

The arrow didn't pierce or embed—it seeped straight into his body.

Arte, struck by it, let out a scream.

"Grrraaah! Urghhh! Kraaaah!"

Hyun-soo couldn't hide his shock.

"Uwaaaah! Kraaaah!"

Then came a voice utterly inhuman.

***

The Blood Demon Grout.

Also known as the Demon of Knowledge.

Long ago, Grout descended to the world in human form and listened to human tales.

Tales of a human who knew everything in existence.

A mere human bearing such a title?

Grout sought him out at once and proposed a contest of knowledge.

The result: utter defeat.

Grout envied Arte.

A demon who'd lived over a millennium.

Outdone in knowledge by a puny human.

Seething with jealousy, Grout imprisoned him.

And decided to toy with him for eternity.

Why?

Simple amusement. Retribution for a worm daring to surpass him.

Locked in a cage forever, tormented endlessly.

And Grout was a vicious demon.

He knew Arte would harbor hope.

Hope of eventual escape.

Truth be told, Grout's seal wasn't flawless.

Demonic descent to the mortal plane incurred massive penalties and power loss.

Arte, with his sage's mind, had deduced as much.

That Grout could no longer hold him once he left the Beres Mountains.

But it didn't matter.

That hope Arte clung to!

Grout crushed it repeatedly.

Whenever thoughts of escape stirred, he'd reach into the cage, poking and prodding.

The bird would thrash; Grout would laugh.

"Blasphemous. Arte, I've made you the world's noblest, most beautiful being out of mercy."

Grout had built the Sage's Tower.

"Ponder it in your agony: nobility isn't so bad after all..."

Then.

"...I'll return this arrow."

Grout heard the voice echoing from within the tower.

Hoo?

While surveilling them, Grout learned the one Arte recruited for escape was merely a blacksmith.

He understood why Arte chose him.

Legends, facing mortal peril, wouldn't dare fight a demon.

But this outsider could revive endlessly upon death—Arte's sole glimmer of hope.

Grout smirked with intrigue.

Two horns.

Black skin, yet an endlessly handsome face.

Sharp, upturned eyes slit long.

A razor-straight nose and smooth jawline that drew awe.

Demons were strong.

Thus, he exuded his characteristic leisure.

Arms crossed, Grout chuckled.

An arrow shot by a blacksmith? Absurd. Is this human hubris?

Humans were laughable.

Blinded by emotion, blind to the obvious.

"I'll be waiting."

Grout laughed.

***

Arte writhed in eye-rolling agony, unable to regain his senses.

Hyun-soo scooped him up and carried him to the wall.

Even amid the torment, Arte felt deep shame at his state.

"It's happened... ngh, before. Whenever I try to leave, he punishes me like this."

Hyun-soo said nothing.

He gently set Arte down against the wall.

Then, with parched lips, he spoke his first words.

"...It's happened many times before."

"Yes, so don't worry too much. I knew Grout was watching, but not to this extent."

Arte, sweating coldly yet growing accustomed to the pain, managed a smile.

"How do we stop the agony?"

"...Descent burdens even him. He manifests through fragments he's scattered. Destroy that fragment, and it stops."

Arte knew full well.

Even a mere fragment, even weakened, Grout was overwhelmingly strong.

"You should go. Don't draw the demon's ire needlessly."

In that moment, Arte worried for Hyun-soo.

"Pretend our deal never happened."

"Heh, don't worry about me. I've grown used to it over 300 years."

Arte flashed the widest smile he could muster.

Their time together had been brief.

"Come back when you're stronger."

He even patted Hyun-soo's shoulder reassuringly.

"I'm fine."

Then their eyes met.

Those sucking-black eyes.

The bittersweet smile tugging at his lips.

"Are you really okay?"

"……."

Arte could no longer contain his emotions.

They burst forth.

"Khuhhk... Of course not...!"

300 years—an eternity. Arte had languished in this tower all that time.

Gazing out the window dozens of times a day, yearning for the outside world.

"...I believe in you, Arte. I know you'll create the perfect skill for me."

Hyun-soo offered a small smile.

With Arte behind him, he strode to the window. His voice calm and steady.

"...I'll return this arrow."

Two artifact fabrications became possible, dictated by probability.

"Wh-what... You mean to take on that demon now...?"

Arte watched.

Minerals and wooden vines surged upward.

Hyun-soo gripped the bow formed from one vine.

Hyun-soo raised his right arm, donning the completed gauntlet.

Clank—

Another surge of power.

God's Emergency Forge.

Soaring wooden vines and the premium Oliharukon leftover from before.

They coalesced into a single arrow.

This arrow drew inspiration from the Supreme Sword.

Like the Supreme Sword's rampage, its black probability dictated 15 seconds of damage—from 200% to as high as 600% attack power.

Arte couldn't fathom the power radiating from him.

He nocked the Baby Arrow to the bowstring.

The secret of Jumong's Composite ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Bow.

The secret of Power Gauntlet.

The secret of the seventh legend.

Arte stared, entranced.

Hyun-soo in his brown coat, drawing the bowstring with all his might, Baby Arrow nocked.

Arte heard it then.

Kreeee—

The sound of a long-shut cage door creaking open.

The one who'd opened it spoke softly.

"Let's go."

The moment he released the string.

At last, a single arrow flew.