Ego (2)
A hazy remnant of that 'realm's' scenery lingered in my mind. Recalling the sensation, I manifested Senior Mage Senios's ice magic.
It was mere drops in the bucket compared to the original, but I could mimic it somewhat.
Crack-crack-crack-CRACK!!
[Moss Pike Mercenary's Grudge: Lv.560]
Stiffness occurs on the Moss Pike Mercenary's Grudge.
Stiffness occurs on the Moss Pike Mercenary's Grudge.
……
The sheer power was tremendous. To think a Lv.560 monster would freeze solid, utterly helpless.
Suddenly, memories of that brutal fight in the [Predator's Swamp] rift flooded back.
Yeah, back then, how pathetic was I? 'Magic wasn't enough, so I even had to resort to swordsmanship...'
It wasn't even for unleashing sword aura. Purely to protect my frail body.
I'd mimicked Harcon Kingsguard's stance back then. Compared to that, this was a monumental leap forward.
Now.
'Of course.'
Not just any high-rank magic, but realm-level magic manifested.
Unlike with Karim Jeba, I hadn't overdone the preparations or doped myself with elixirs.
Mana consumption was extreme. My eyelids twitched, but I didn't let it show.
"To unleash ice magic of this caliber in one go...!"
I addressed Kley, who was breathing frosty clouds.
"Those eyeing the ghost resurrection herb aren't just the living."
"Ah, right!"
"Keep that in mind. I'll leave the cleanup to you."
This was the privilege of being chief.
I shamelessly delegated the finishing blow.
It was a monster practically gift-wrapped. I had no desire to split the experience points anyway.
'Gotta conserve mana.'
Ghost iron.
Now that I knew ghost iron was buried in the Mantra Mine...!
"Yes, sir!"
Kley looked a bit surprised at my words but swiftly handled the frozen grudges.
Yes, this was organized society for you. When the higher-up says jump, you jump.
Who knew I'd wield rank so effectively?
'As expected of the Mage Tower.'
Kley Odia. She was a skilled healing mage from the healing school.
But for hunting monsters of this level, school knowledge wasn't necessary.
She cast basic magic and dispatched the grudges in seconds.
'No wonder Jessie Haynes gets treated like an apprentice.'
I flinched for a moment.
No matter what, my contribution was greater, so of course I'd get the lion's share.
Couldn't be more reliable—the Mage Tower's backup.
Not that it'd ever happen, but just in case my dark intentions slipped... I stayed cautious.
"Whoa, so this is ghost resurrection herb."
Kley was already fixated on the ghost resurrection herbs.
Yeah, time for me to wrap up and harvest some elixirs too.
They might not be immediately useful, but stockpiling pays off eventually.
"If you need my blessing, just say the word."
The nymph, who'd been silent, spoke up.
Wasn't this the same nymph who'd aided the pale mistletoe's growth?
Her specialty, no doubt.
But as I said, ghost resurrection herbs had no immediate use.
Plus, the nymph's {Nature} blessing consumed my mana.
At least until I acquired the ghost iron. Blessing sealed.
With the elixirs harvested, I checked my inventory.
Digging all those wells had paid off handsomely.
The item from [Predator's Swamp]: [Shoddy Storage Belt].
Extracted its inventory expansion effect and imbued it into my clothes.
Plenty of inventory space now.
Which meant one simple thing.
Ghost resurrection herbs, ghost iron, experience points—whatever.
'Stuff it to the brim before leaving.'
It might look greedy, but it wasn't greed.
What greed for the incarnation of integrity?
Yeah. This was just the desperate thrashing of someone with a goal, determined not to miss a single opportunity on the path to becoming a big shot.
*
Glance— Kley peeked at Hoyeol from under her upturned robe.
'...Why did he do that?'
To think he'd leave the incapacitated grudges to her.
Hoyeol's actions were incomprehensible to Kley.
She was a Mage Tower skilled mage, after all.
'It felt so... unfamiliar.'
Hoyeol's behavior differed from the typical Mage Tower mages she'd known.
Kley knew mages well.
Mages obsessed over magic, but others? Largely irrelevant.
'Myself included...'
Knowing that, she'd steeled herself before leaving the tower.
Even with Hoyeol as leader, she'd protect herself.
But this was unexpected.
'Yeah.'
Generously speaking—
—"Kley Odia."
—"There are procedures even for harvesting elixirs."
—"Look around."
She could accept his warning and freezing the grudges with ice magic.
He was the leader, after all. He didn't want issues on an expedition.
'But why leave the finish to me...?'
Even as she dispatched the grudges, question marks filled her mind.
Was it because she was merely skilled, unable to grasp the chief's intent?
Senior Bellie would have figured it out instantly.
'Hmm...'
She just couldn't get a read.
So Kley had been stealing glances at Hoyeol, hoping for a hint in his expression.
'I don't get it, Senior Bellie!'
His usual posture. The same impassive face.
Of course, that was impossible, but—
A voice reached the inwardly screaming Kley.
"Do you wonder why?"
...Gasp.
Kley clamped her mouth shut again.
Was he using mind-reading magic now too? Her feet tingled unnecessarily as Hoyeol continued.
"It's about the ghost resurrection herb."
...Phew, that kind of talk.
"Yes. I don't know much about its connection to the mine..."
But she trailed off anyway.
Arcana Continent had hundreds of thousands of elixir herbs alone.
Mastering each effect and trait was impossible, naturally...
"Ghost iron."
"...Pardon?"
"Ghost resurrection herbs grow only where ghost iron is buried."
"!"
...She should've known?
'How does Chief Lee Hoyeol have such profound knowledge of elixirs? I couldn't even find this in the Mage Tower's books...'
And why share such valuable info?
'So casually?'
No matter how she thought about it, Hoyeol didn't act like a mage.
...No, was he even a mage?
Such absurd thoughts crossed her mind.
But Hoyeol's words didn't end there.
"Knowing the environments where elixirs grow is useless trivia if you only use them. But since I'm pondering your research—elixir cultivation methods—I've shared this."
"...!"
Pondering her research?
The regular conference ended ages ago.
Still thinking about it?
'...Why?'
Reason unknown, but as expected of the chief.
From conference to now, never stopping work thoughts.
Kley could only admire him again.
'I could never do that, even if ordered, Chief!'
*
The mine, tangled with skyscrapers, more labyrinthine than ever.
Our guide? The nymph.
"This way."
She could converse with trees and plants.
Asked the ghost resurrection herbs where the ghost iron lay, pinpointed the spot.
'Total shortcut.'
[Mantra Mine - Sector 1].
Shortest route to the rift's boss monster, [Iron Noble].
I'd checked [Iron Noble] in the update logs.
[Iron Noble: Lv.650]
Just a Lv.650 monster, huh. Sounds tough. Be careful.
That was my take back then.
But knowing it's tied to ghost iron? Name suddenly fits perfectly.
And most fortunate:
'This massive mine wasn't just sealed for nothing.'
With my knowledge of all minerals, absent prior ghost iron info...
I'd have struggled hard against [Iron Noble].
Soon, the nymph's wings fluttered to a halt ahead.
"Here it is."
I told Kley:
"Kley Odia, stand by here."
Ignorance was one thing.
Now I knew, so no need for her support.
Clank—
Greeting me: a massive iron giant.
At least three meters tall, clad head to toe in seamless armor.
Lv.650? Overwhelming presence inevitable.
But.
"That form is the very image of a warrior."
I couldn't shrink back.
Beyond Grandfell's pride—I knew.
That hulking body was mere illusion.
Yes, [Iron Noble] was ghost iron's phantasm.
"But it can't fool my eyes."
Ghost iron.
True to its name—possessed iron, sly as hell.
[Iron Noble] screamed warrior. Begging for a sword clash.
But as said, fake conjured by ghost iron.
Like the grudges: ghost immune to physical attacks.
"Such tricks won't work on me."
So what I needed now: not sword, but mana.
Yes, the mana stockpiled to acquire ghost iron.
Rooooar—
I immediately drew up my mana.
[Predator-Prey Relationship] didn't trigger.
But level ups boosted mana too, I suppose.
I felt the changed mana flow myself.
"You saw through it at once. No dull fool, then."
A grating, metal-scraping voice from [Iron Noble].
Ghost iron's voice, surely.
Iron talking? Past me would've freaked.
But I knew all about ghost iron now.
'Of course it speaks.'
Yes. Ghost iron earned legendary mineral status for a reason.
It was ego sword material.
Ego Sword.
Sword with a will.
Teased endlessly since Arcana was just a game.
Yet no player or Arcana native known to possess one.
That rare.
Reason obvious.
'Finding ghost iron is step one—and a problem.'
Ghost iron: rare ore baseline.
Plus, willful. No—stubborn.
That thing.
Grating screech again.
"Mage. Think I'll submit to you?"
Simply: won't come easy.
Hence the illusion.
I recalled ghost iron mining method.
'Earn recognition or force submission—either way.'
Not easy either.
That's why mercenaries chasing rumors ended as grudges.
But.
'My stubbornness is no joke.'
No—beyond stubbornness, I had pride.
I manifested magic at the charging [Iron Noble].
Armor mere facade. Knowing it's a ghost...
Pure magic chosen.
Whoosh—!
Pure mana senior, Banggrit Tom.
I replicated his mana beam—downgraded.
Power gap from mana difference? Compensate with [Aesthetics] stat somehow...!
Shwoooaa—!
Dunno effectiveness.
But flashy? Nailed it.
"...You're no ordinary mage."
Zigzag.
Mana beam bent dazzlingly—briefly.
Shwick—!
Shwoaak—!
Piercing [Iron Noble] every which way.
Watching, I felt it again.
Me.
No empty boast calling [『Strange』] realm-like.
"But you can't subdue me either."
Yet its core: ghost iron.
[Iron Noble] rose again.
Hence the hassle.
'Can't break ghost iron's stubbornness?'
Then destroy the ghost iron.
Only way to escape endless resurrections.
Checked mana reserves.
About 70% left.
'Can I break its stubbornness before mana runs out?'
No "can"—
'Must.'
From thrashing to not sink.
To advance, thrash forward—resolved.
Ghost iron: opportunity I can't miss.
No teeth? Use gums.
No mana?
Drag something anyway.
That's what my wells were for.
Ongoing clash with [Iron Noble].
Mage vs. ghost matchup favored me—I dominated.
But mana drain severe.
Of course, befitting rarity, ghost iron's stubbornness unbent.
'Gotta pull next card.'
Magic, now black magic.
No mana, but 'fitting mana' plentiful.
However.
"I never submit... Mage...!!"
I paused at the screaming ghost iron voice.
"Better destroyed by my own hand than submit. Only a swordsman with strength I can serve can subdue me...!"
You've got some stubbornness too.
Stubbornness transcended—pride level.
Words I couldn't ignore.
I'm no mage, after all.
Clink—
I calmly raised my sword.
Regulated breathing.
Sword blade rippled with sword aura.
My once-pathetic level.
—"On life-or-death battlefields, sword aura thickens further, taking on its unique hue."
Every rift battle a razor-edge survival for me.
My sword aura: incomparably denser than before.
Unwavering.
Emitting noble, inherent light.
Suddenly, awed ghost iron voice.
"Sword aura...! You are the one I've awaited!"