Chapter 263: A Boss Right from the Start?
Chapter 263: A Boss Right from the Start?
〈Reminiscence〉
“Soohyun.”
“……”
“Why is your face all puffy again?”
“It’s not puffy.”
I tried my best to sound composed, but even I could hear the unconcealable sulkiness in my voice. My brother, whom I had been dying to see, had finally come to visit. Yet, I deliberately kept my head turned away. As if he knew what was bothering me, a sigh that I presumed was his drifted to my ears from the doorway.
“Sigh. Are you angry because I didn’t take you on this expedition? It was a really dangerous one, so I had no choice.”
“It’s not just this expedition. And am I the only one in danger? What about you and the other clan members? It’s just as dangerous for everyone.”
“I told you. It’s okay if I’m in danger. But you can’t be.”
“What kind of logic is that? You have no idea. Do you even know how the other hyungs, noonas, and dongsaengs look at me? They see me as a coward who’s always trembling under your shadow! A freeloader who does nothing but eat and sleep.”
“No one thinks that.”
He must have gotten closer at some point, because I felt a gentle hand stroking my hair. I considered turning my head, but I decided to hold out a little longer. This time, I was determined to get a promise from him that I could join the next expedition, no matter what.
“What do you mean, you do nothing? Who said that? You just don’t go on expeditions. You’re practically in charge of everything else. Everyone knows you as an amazing homemaker. Haha.”
“They probably only say that because you’re around. And do you think I like doing that stuff? I do it because there’s nothing else for me to do, nothing else!”
His calm voice, like he was soothing a child, reached my ears. For a moment, my resolve wavered, but I quickly hardened it again. How many times had I been through this? If I gave in now, all those days I’d spent longing and grinding my teeth in frustration would be for nothing. But…
“Here, this is a present.”
“What is it?”
“An expedition report. It’s not just about our clan’s expedition. Apparently, the folks next door discovered some ruins in the Canyon of Illusions and successfully explored them. This is a record of the whole process. You wanted to read it, right?”
“H-Hmph. D-Don’t be so smug. That information would have been released eventually anyway.”
At the sight of the stack of papers my brother held out, I whipped my head around. I hesitated for a second, realizing my mistake, but our eyes had already met. Seeing his grinning face annoyed me, and I snatched the report from his hand like a hawk snatching its prey.
“The Canyon of Illusions, the ancient Magic City Magia…? A magic city?”
“Ah, it’s explained on the next page. They say it’s a city similar to the Magic Tower that was built in the distant past. They call it a Magic Tower for short, right? Anyway, you can think of it as a city-sized version of that.”
“Oh.”
“But you know what’s really interesting? The boss of those ruins is…”
Since I couldn’t participate in large-scale expeditions, one of my few pleasures was reading the reports. I was just about to ask him to be quiet so I could start reading. But as if he wanted to spoil my fun, my brother’s lips parted before I could even get a word out.
“They say he’s an ancient mage who was active at least a few hundred years ago.”
“……”
“And he must have been incredibly powerful. The famous Istantel Low Clan led the expedition, and they failed once, so that says it all. So this time, they got serious and formed something close to a subjugation force and… Soohyun? Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Why would you tell me that ahead of time…!”
*
〈Resident Status〉
1. Name: Mavolo de Ailight + Magia
2. Class: Mage (Normal, Mage, Master)
3. Nation: -
4. Clan: -
5. True Name · Nationality: Traitor Who Dreams of Being a False God · Arsilion (A fallen nation.)
6. Sex: Male (276)
7. Height · Weight: 187.6cm · 67.2kg
8. Alignment: Lunatic · Perversion
[Strength 56] [Durability 48] [Agility 52] [Stamina 40] [Magic Power 100] [Luck 92]
(He has absorbed the essence of Magia, the magic city that stood at the pinnacle of all magic in the Hall Plain 300 years ago. His power is so immense that it can temporarily defy the laws of nature. Having abandoned his humanity, he is no different from a magic city itself. However, while he may have temporarily defied the laws of nature, he ultimately cannot escape the limits of being human.)
〈Unique Ability (1/1)〉
1. Ancient Magic City Magia (Rank: S Zero)
〈Special Ability (1/1)〉
1. Mind Manipulation (Rank: A Plus Plus Plus)
〈Latent Abilities (3/3)〉
1. Ancient Magic (Rank: EX)
2. Inextinguishable Light of Wisdom (Rank: S Zero)
3. Silent Casting (Rank: S Zero)
So this was the guy.
As I blankly read the Player Status, a dry laugh escaped me. The great archmage of the ancient Hall Plain. The one who reached the pinnacle of magic, Mavolo de Ailight. The city name appended to his name, his True Name, and his Alignment were unsettling, but the information itself was impeccable.
“What is this? I suddenly have a very unpleasant feeling.”
Mavolo muttered, frowning. Seeing him wave his hands, I figured he had sensed me reading him with my Third Eye. Even if it was in the past, the title of ‘hero’ wasn’t something he had earned by playing children’s games. The thought that this boss fight wouldn’t be as easy as the ones before crossed my mind.
Despite his apology and polite invitation, Sun and Moon Divine Sword remained pointed at him. Seeing this, he raised an eyebrow and spoke.
“Put that dreadful thing away. Before I snap it in two.”
“……”
“What a difficult guest. Fine, I understand. There’s no need to go all the way to the castle, I suppose.”
Snap!
With a look of resignation, Mavolo snapped his fingers again. I felt the air around us tremble faintly. As I calmly read the flow of energy, I could tell that the faint vibrations were spreading out in a circle with Mavolo at the center.
“Then allow me, the master of this city, to welcome you once more.”
Mavolo said gently, his expression as pleasant as ever. Just then, the scenery around us began to change, starting from where the vibrations were spreading. The square stones we were standing on began to melt one by one, turning into liquid before transforming into soft, light-brown soil. Soon, swaying blades of grass sprouted from the new earthen ground, and beautiful flowers and trees began to form here and there.
I took a deep breath, and the refreshing scent I’d only ever smelled on the Plateau of Delusion cleared my head. Slightly surprised, I looked forward and saw Mavolo, who was now sitting leisurely in a wooden chair, watching me. He took a sip of tea from the cup in his right hand and spoke in a soft voice.
“Welcome to the Magic City Magia, Users. I am Mavolo de Ailight, the master of this city. …Hmm. I believe this is a sufficient welcome for my guests. Now, would you please take a seat in the chair before you?”
“This is…”
“It is nothing but a simple trick. Come now, have a seat. We can fight anytime, can we not? I, for one, would like to face you in your best condition, so please do not refuse my offer.”
He really is a lunatic.
His last words carried a rather profound meaning. As a chair slid smoothly toward me, I fell into thought for a moment.
*
The situation was certainly ambiguous. There were only two chairs, placed facing each other. According to Mavolo, “Where do mere underlings dare to intrude when the leaders of each faction are speaking?” In the end, I was the only one who sat down. My original plan was to start fighting immediately without any discussion, but now, I thought it might not be a bad idea to hear him out.
“Finally, you’re seated. Well then, let’s get right to our discussion. I am full of questions about you.”
“I have a few questions of my own, so I’ll go first.”
“Ah, is that so? Tsk. What was it you people say? Do they not teach you how to attack your elders in your original country?”
“Attack? I know how. I can show you.”
I lightly stomped my foot on the ground, sending out a wave of energy. Mavolo raised his hand with a displeased look and just as casually canceled out my wave.
“Insolent brat. That was a slip of the tongue.”
“I don’t want to waste time. Let’s get straight to the questions. Where did you learn about the User settings?”
“Tch. So impatient. Well, there were others who stumbled upon this place by chance, Users like yourself. By dealing with them, I was able to learn the details about you all.”
“‘Dealing with them’?”
“Showing you once is better than telling you a hundred times. If you’ll excuse me for a moment.”
Fwing!
The moment Mavolo finished speaking, the sound of something slicing through the air zipped past me, followed by a faint scream from behind.
“Kyah!”
“There we go. Would you mind turning around for a moment?”
The voice belonged to Kim Hanbyul. And just as he said, when I turned my head, I witnessed a peculiar sight. Kim Hanbyul had both her arms raised to the sky, her hands coming together above her head in a curve to form a heart shape. She was even bending her knees slightly. It was an adorable pose she would never have struck in a million years. Of course, her face was a mask of pure bewilderment.
“Wh-What? Huh?”
“Hoho. How lovely. This is the first stage of one of my abilities, Mind Manipulation. And the second stage is… Hmm?”
Bang!
As I heard another sound cutting through the air, I swung my sword without hesitation from my seated position. A sound like a firecracker exploding echoed in the empty air, and Kim Hanbyul, who had just been dancing, staggered and regained her posture like a puppet whose strings had been cut. Mavolo stared at me, a look of genuine surprise on his face.
“What… what was that just now? How did you do that? Did you make it explode? Ah, or should I say you cut it?”
“I cut it. If you must know, you can understand it as one of the User settings. And if you want to show off, do it on your own underlings. Don’t mess with my comrades for no reason.”
As I snapped at him, Mavolo smacked his lips and lowered his hand. In any case, the ability he had just demonstrated gave me a degree of certainty. The User (or Vagabond) who had given him information about the settings must have been affected by his Mind Manipulation and spilled everything they knew.
“Ah, now that I think of it, they did say that some Users appear with exceptional classes. Good. I believe I’ve received a sufficient answer to my question. Now, it’s your turn again.”
We were taking turns asking questions. Though nothing was said, it was happening as if by an unspoken agreement. Amidst the leisurely yet subtly murderous atmosphere flowing around us, I felt a sense of familiarity. It was the kind of composure that could only come from being absolutely confident in oneself. Looking at the expression on his face, I got the feeling he was thoroughly enjoying this situation.
“There were Users who entered this place not long ago. In two separate waves.”
“Indeed, there were. Time is meaningless to me, so I don’t know the exact moment, but it is certain they came in two groups.”
“Where are they now?”
“Hmm. Some of them are locked up in my castle.”
Some. It was a clear answer, but it also meant that some of the 10 from the riverside group and the 14 from the first rescue team were already dead. I nodded once or twice and gave Mavolo a slight tip of my head. It was now his turn to ask a question.
“……”
However, Mavolo didn’t speak right away. The intrigued light in his eyes as he stared at me grew stronger and stronger. After a short while, just as I was beginning to wonder if the old man had heatstroke, I saw his lips slowly part.
“Strange, very strange. You’re certainly different from the others.”
“Are you not going to ask your question?”
“I was debating whether to ask, but my curiosity got the better of me. Tell me, are you not curious about who I am?”
“……”
“Most humans, upon setting foot in this place and seeing me for the first time, always say the same thing. It varies slightly, but the essence is always, ‘Who are you?’ But you… you don’t seem curious about me at all. Even though I just told you that time is meaningless to me, you show no interest whatsoever. Yes… it feels as if you already know who I am.”
Hearing Mavolo’s words, I felt a prickle of unease. But I maintained a nonchalant expression, took out a cigarette, and lit it. For a moment, I felt grateful to Ahn Hyun.
Tssss, tsssssk.
“I have a rough idea of who you are. Mavolo de Ailight, the great archmage of the ancient Hall Plain.”
The moment I said his name, I saw Mavolo’s face stiffen slightly. Ignoring it, I continued in a leisurely tone.
“A hero who defeated the forces of evil, but became a traitor who kidnapped the Elf Queen and the Hero out of his love for her… or so the records say.”
“A traitor… A traitor… I see. The records. Then it’s not entirely wrong, is it? Kehkeh. Still, you must have some questions left, no? For example, how I am still alive, and so on.”
“Users aren’t interested in such trivial details. To us, you’re nothing more and nothing less than the master of these ruins. In other words, since our goal is the ruin itself, you are simply one of the targets we must defeat.”
“I see. So you’re telling me to stop the nonsense and get to the point.”
Mavolo seemed to mull over my words for a moment before nodding with a faint laugh. Then he let out a deep sigh and spoke quietly.
“To be honest, I wasn’t very interested in you people either. I had already achieved my original goal here, so all I had to do was enjoy it. But recently, a problem has arisen.”
“……”
“You said you didn’t want to know, but I am this city itself. Magia is where all the magical technology of the ancient Hall Plain is concentrated. I took its essence into my body and obtained power like that of a god.”
A half-assed god, more like.
“That’s impossible. Is such a thing even possible?”
While I was scoffing internally, the response came from behind me. Kim Hanbyul, who seemed quite displeased about having her body forcibly controlled earlier, maintained a cold expression.
However, Mavolo, clearly annoyed by the intruder interrupting his conversation with me, scowled and rolled up one of his sleeves.
“That is.”
His arm was densely engraved with all sorts of mystical patterns. The rest was covered by his robe, but it seemed the patterns didn’t just end on his arm; they continued inward.
“User. I hear you are granted settings by beings called angels and use their power. In a way, I’m envious. Seeing you use your powers so easily.”
“…But.”
“But? Child. I, and the other Residents, are different. We build up our magic power little by little through painstaking effort from a young age, read magic books until our heads feel like they’ll explode, and practice casting spells until our fingers break. So, you who can use your powers after some pathetic excuse for training, do not dare to doubt our achievements. In any case, my answer is that it is possible. So, child.”
“……”
“I came here to converse with your master, not to waste words with the likes of you. If you dare run that mouth of yours so carelessly one more time, I will personally spread your thighs and rip you in half, starting from your crotch.”
His tone was still gentle. His expression was soft, and he wasn’t emitting any killing intent. But his words were filled with sincerity. Kim Hanbyul must have sensed some of that sincerity, as she said no more, only letting out a sharp exhale through her nose.
“Hmph. My apologies. I can be quite generous to those who are worthy of my attention, but I tend to see those who are not as insects. She may be your subordinate, but this is one of my life’s principles, so I would appreciate it if you respected it.”
“That’s none of my business. Are you done with your questions?”
“Such an impatient fellow. Well, you seem to want to get this over with quickly, and I’m not in the best of moods either, so shall we move things along a bit? Let’s each ask one last question and be done with it. I’ll go first this time. You, what was the true nature of the power you used to tear through the barrier I set up?”
“Fire.”
A very simple answer. Naturally, he didn’t like my response. He frowned and asked again.
“A little more detail. That is not a barrier that can be opened by the power of a mere individual. The previous ones were only able to pass because I deliberately opened it for them, but for you, I was concentrating on keeping it closed. Yet you broke through it with such ease. This is the real reason I became curious about you.”
“You could say this is also part of the User settings. But, to elaborate a little more, let’s just say it’s a power obtained through a legitimate deal with an angel.”
He said he deliberately let them in. And that a problem had recently arisen. From this, I could infer that there was a way to solve that problem, and that way was Users. To be precise, sacrifices in the form of people. Racking my memories of the first playthrough, I could get a rough idea of what that ‘problem’ was.
While I was lost in thought, he seemed to conclude that I wouldn’t answer any further, his displeased expression remaining. In any case, it was my turn to ask a question again. I wondered what to ask, then chose a thought that came to mind and opened my mouth.
“Come to think of it, what happened to that Hero and the Elf Queen?”
“Lloyd and Margarita? They both reached the realm of superhumans, but a lot of time has passed. Lloyd has been dead for quite a while now. I never intended to let him live in the first place.”
“Then what about the Elf Queen?”
“Margarita is…”
In the first playthrough, I remembered that she was also found as a corpse. But I also remembered reading that the body was in relatively pristine condition, indicating she hadn’t been dead for long. If that was the case, there was a chance she was still alive right now. As I waited for his answer with curiosity, Mavolo showed a sinister smile for the first time. He pulled the corners of his mouth up to his earlobes and answered in a cackling voice.
“Well now. What do you think happened to her?”
“…Let’s just drop it.”
“Don’t take it personally. You only gave me about that much of an answer yourself. Did I not at least answer half of it?”
“It’s fine. I was planning on ending this whole ‘respect for your elders’ thing around now anyway.”
“Is that so? A bit of a shame. A power received from an angel should be one that humans cannot handle. I thought there might be some common ground between those who possess power beyond the standard.”
“All units, prepare for battle.”
“Do you truly believe you can defeat me? Me, who is no different from a god within this city?”
Mavolo’s confident voice rang out, but I didn’t answer, instead sheathing Sun and Moon Divine Sword. I gripped the hilt of Formless Sword hanging next to it, stared at him with my Third Eye, and said:
“I don’t know. All my eyes see is a city in ruins and a half-assed god.”