Grasping the Situation (2)
Muon's situation was broadcast live in real time. And no one was more on edge about the news than the AAU.
It didn't matter which branch. Everyone had grasped the uncertainty of this incident.
"……Should we really just leave the players alone?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"That variable called Freyja is too big."
The unidentified existence, Freyja. At this moment, she was the one moving Muon.
If only Muon had kept its gates firmly shut, they wouldn't be agonizing like this…….
"Do you think our players' words carry any weight with them?"
"Yeah, you're right……."
"Of course, I fully understand your concerns. But let's watch and see. Above all, Muon's attitude changed right after the Mage Tower—Marcelo—made their move."
A brief silence fell as they stared at the monitors—
"In the end, we have no choice but to rely on Lee Hoyeol again."
Because it was Lee Hoyeol who had mobilized the Mage Tower.
And this time too, Lee Hoyeol did not betray expectations.
He had appeared in Muon.
In his usual attire.
But his actions were even more radical than ever.
To the point that those watching flinched.
"……Wait, what the hell is going on here?"
Lee Hoyeol. A holy knight knelt before him……!
The most shocked were the AAU. No matter who Freyja was, they knew the holy knights' lore better than anyone.
"A holy knight kneeling…… to a player?"
"How sky-high must his reputation be?"
"No, that's not something reputation alone can achieve."
Right. It wasn't just reputation.
For a holy knight—no, the captain of the holy knights—to kneel.
That meant Lee Hoyeol wielded significant influence over the Goddess Church.
"Did he clear quests from the Goddess Church?"
"Did those even get implemented in the first place?"
"Just how much does Lee Hoyeol know……?"
But the shock didn't end there.
Muon's ramparts crumbling in an instant!
A mass of tentacles revealed simultaneously.
"M-Muon has a monster? What the hell is that thing?"
A monster not in the database.
Just like Freyja, who hadn't existed either.
Sighs of realization erupted from the AAU.
"So that'sFreyja's true form……!!"
They couldn't even identify the monster's true nature.
They had no idea if it was strong or weak.
But one thing was clear: it wasn't ordinary.
Otherwise, it couldn't have survived impersonating the saintess in Muon until now.
"Quick! Contact the players!"
An unknown entity.
Its danger was beyond imagination.
Everyone needed to hold back from rash actions.
But they had momentarily forgotten amid the sudden crisis.
"……Did he predict this too?"
Lee Hoyeol's presence.
As if he had anticipated the tentacle mass's existence as well.
There was no disruption in his stance.
His expression and gaze were the same as always.
And beside such a Lee Hoyeol stood a holy knight.
Exorcism Ritual
Shing—
"In the name of the Goddess. Draw your swords, holy knights of Muon!"
Not just one.
Tens of thousands of holy knights drew their blades toward the massive tentacle mass.
At that sight, the AAU had no choice but to admit it.
Park Minjae, AAU Korea branch chief.
In the presence of all branch members, he spoke.
"At this rate, who even knows what AAU stands for anymore."
Damn it. Anti-Arcana? Arcana was encroaching on reality, and the only one responding was Lee Hoyeol.
Even more astonishing was that despite achieving such feats, Lee Hoyeol showed not a hint of it.
"……Hyunjun, do you think you could pull that off?"
Yoon Sugyeom asked Seong Hyunjun.
Even assuming he knew about the tentacle mass in Muon.
Muon was practically the monster's maw.
Lee Hoyeol had leaped right into it.
"This isn't a game—it's reality. Lives are on the line."
No matter the level.
I couldn't do it.
Seong Hyunjun shook his head.
But Lee Hoyeol was doing it.
No—he'd done it countless times already.
Without ever bragging.
There was only one word to describe such a Lee Hoyeol.
"Is that 'nobility' what made even the holy knights follow him?"
Tens of thousands of holy knights moving at Lee Hoyeol's gesture.
Goddess Church holy knights obeying an outsider—a player, no less.
According to Arcana's lore, it was utterly impossible.
But…….
"Lee Hoyeol really is an unbelievable player……!"
Yes. This too was reality.
*
Reality.
[Current Status: Awaiting Orders]
Tens of thousands of holy knights stood behind me.
I'm no guild master of a massive guild like Nam Taemin or Hisagi Kazuma.
Not a [Monarch] class either. When have I ever led so many troops?
It was certainly a situation that warranted pressure.
"Tarim Eber. I accept your will."
Yet I brazenly seized command of Muon's holy knights.
Wielding tens of thousands of troops? Even with Grandfell's lore, there were limits.
During my wild, tempestuous phase when I fancied myself extraordinary, I never dreamed of commanding that many soldiers.
Besides, back then I was all about being a lone wolf—Dokgodai was cool, after all…….
'From now on, this is my domain.'
In the end, it all came down to me.
I had no choice but to face it my way.
Yes, Lee Hoyeol's way.
I was used to it by now. Pulling in everything available—or not.
Muon's ramparts crumbling under tentacles.
Even that was familiar as a mineral—prime for exploration.
Skipping exploration and interference, manifesting directly.
Reversal Magic
Crackle-crackle—snap-snap-crackle—whoosh—
Muon's crumbling ramparts rebuilt themselves.
Like scattered puzzle pieces snapping together on their own.
Even the resolute holy knights were left speechless.
"What is this?"
"The buildings are rebuilding……?!"
"……G-Goddess."
Yeah, even I had to admit it was spectacular.
Magic really was impressive? To the unaware, it looked like a miracle from the Goddess.
But the truth was simple.
'Reversal Magic.'
Just on a massive scale.
Reversal Magic's mana efficiency was excellent.
Plus, [Natural Enemy] activated.
Minerals were my most familiar exploration targets.
I restored ruined Muon to its original state with barely any mana spent.
"Aesthetic value of this caliber is rare. It must be preserved."
The reason was simple.
Purely aesthetic manifestation.
No issues there.
Tarim spoke to me in a voice filled with reverence.
"Thank you. For protecting Muon."
My true intentions wouldn't be revealed.
And that was enough.
To probe the tentacle mass's nature too.
"Insolent. Utterly insolent. You dare face I, Nepthys and still glance around? The height of arrogance. Yet familiar. You lot never knew your place."
You lot.
Referring to Akshan's demon hunters, no doubt.
What I felt anew was this:
Demons sure could talk.
"That is why. Recall your fates? Let me see. Your disgrace in the Holy War lingers in my memory. Fools. Believing my words without ever facing me, charging to your deaths."
So that's why it took Muon.
The holy knights reacted to its words.
Slash—
Tarim severed an incoming tentacle and looked at me.
"The Holy War……? Surely you're not……?"
A demon hunter? His eyes asked.
Yes, I am a demon hunter.
The last one, at that.
I wanted to declare it boldly.
But Grandfell's stubbornness was unbreakable.
"Not worth discussing before meager prey."
One iron rule.
No needless words with prey.
Roooar—
Instead of replying, I surged my mana.
The utterly ignored tentacle mass writhed grotesquely.
Exorcism Ritual
Invited into my consciousness.
It could hear my voice amid the chaos.
Soon, a drooping laugh echoed.
"You are the most arrogant of the lot. Thus, unforgivable. What do you take me, Nepthys, for?"
What do I take you for?
Fake saintess.
Of course, don't feel bad. To Grandfell, demons like you aren't worth the thought.
"The weak demons hiding in the Giant Evil's shadow are gone. I am me! An existence even inept demons can't touch—that is I, Nepthys! My power rivals the upper demon kings!"
Hundreds—no, thousands of tentacles erupting!
Toward me and the holy knights.
An attack pattern as vast as its bulk.
Someone was bound to take damage.
But with me here, it was different.
Everything. And nothing. With me committed to the petty.
I lifted the ground.
Precisely, Muon's rock-composed surface.
Immense power, yet aesthetically flawless.
A satisfying weapon for me to wield.
Whiiiiiish—!
Shaped like a disc.
I manipulated Muon's floating surface.
To slice the incoming tentacles.
Telekinesis's mana efficiency wasn't great.
But this was no mere telekinesis.
I'd added a clear concept.
'Magic', distinct from telekinesis.
A wholly new concept.
[Skill], Simultaneous Shot.
Yes. The 'Strange'.
Simultaneous Shot
Swoooosh—!
Dozens of discs slicing tentacles.
Power beyond 'Magic' or [Skill] alone.
What that implied.
Thud-thud—
Its tentacles fell to the ground.
[Severance occurs on the True Named Demon, Nepthys.]
"!!!"
The holy knights.
Nepthys too froze for a moment.
Clack—
Only my footsteps moved.
I spoke.
"Your delusions run deep."
Iron rule: no words with prey.
But I can't let falsehoods slide—tiresome temperament.
This wasn't conversation.
A one-sided declaration.
"To claim upper demon king with such trifles."
I couldn't just listen.
Upper demon king revival.
To stop it, the Mage Tower and I acted ceaselessly.
Clashed with Karimjeva.
Great elder mage Senior fell.
The upper demon king revival that even the Mage Tower sacrificed for to halt.
Thus, I intoned coldly.
"Do not belittle that sacrifice."
True Named Demon, Nepthys.
As expected, it was strong.
Surrounded by tens of thousands of holy knights in the Exorcism Ritual and unscathed.
The message called it a named monster.
But demon monsters grew like players.
Like the succubus that possessed Baek Isul.
Living as saintess Freyja, it had grown incomparably stronger.
But I knew.
True upper demon kings were beyond even those at Karimjeva's realm.
Untouchable.
And you rival them?
Stuck in Muon, out of touch with reality…….
A phrase perfect for you.
"Foolish frog in the well."
I snapped and manifested magic.
"……Insolent!"
Deny it time to reply, and it's no conversation.
The magic I manifested was simple.
If you claim upper demon king beyond saintess.
Then endure this realm first.
Absolute Zero
Senior's secret magic.
Arguably mimicking a realm, not true.
But still 'Strange'.
'A fake needs only a fake.'
Shiver-shiver—whoosh—
Even I, under [Warmth] buff, felt the chill enveloping Nepthys.
"!!!"
The writhing tentacles froze solid.
[Freezing occurs on the True Named Demon, Nepthys.]
[Frostbite occurs on the True Named Demon, Nepthys.]
……
How's that? The harsh reality outside your well.
……
'……Impossible!'
Frozen Nepthys couldn't accept it.
How many humans had it deceived?
How vast the negative emotions absorbed?
Through them, it had grown strong.
'How could he…… to this body?'
But what of that demon hunter?
From the moment it was invited to his consciousness.
Even when it revealed its true form.
No emotions from him.
'Impossible. How, a mere human……!!'
Unease flooded it.
To draw negative emotions from him, it mentioned his comrades.
Even then, same.
'How can you remain so calm?'
Mentioned the Holy War, demon hunters'惨 end.
Not a flicker of agitation.
Always that gaze looking down.
'Arrogant.'
Thus, delight.
Toppling from on high was sweetest.
But it couldn't topple him.
A mere human completely overwhelming I, Nepthys.
'Not arrogance…….'
Then, Nepthys recalled.
A distant past.
The Giant Evil who took it in.
—"Akshan's disposal is yours."
—"Am I worthy of such honor……?"
—"Do as you will. All is bothersome to me."
Sloth of the Seven Deadly Sins.
It deemed her a foolish old-era demon.
Fearing humans as natural enemies? Disgraceful.
Even as Giant Evil.
But when Akshan was exterminated as planned.
Nepthys thanked her.
—"Foolish. Handing me such a seat!"
Thanks to her, seizing Muon, it grew faster than any demon.
Daily strengthening.
Confidence soared.
—"I may surpass demon king, become true Giant Evil."
Greater than foolish Sloth. A true Giant Evil.
Nepthys truly believed so.
Until facing its natural enemy.
'……Move! I must move!'
Cold.
Its massive body immobile.
Unbearable chill.
Time itself freezing.
'Stop! I am the saintess. I am Freyja!'
Amid it, holy knights approached.
Weak humans once toys in its palm.
Now carving its flesh.
And watching that scene.
A man with unwavering gaze.
For the first time, Nepthys felt terror.
'Will I, Nepthys, die so pathetically?'
Finally, it understood.
Why Giant Evils and demon kings feared Akshan so.
Why they bothered with disguises to exterminate them.
In the end, Nepthys could only beg.
'Giant Evil! My lord, Sloth! Save me!'
But no reply came.
The reason was simple.
Wasn't she the root of sloth?
She neither sought nor punished repeated rebels.
Sloth itself.
Salvation from her? Naturally nonexistent.
'Daaaamn it……!!'
……
The dissipating tentacle mass.
Ignore the dizzying messages for now.
Hunt over. Confirm thoroughly.
I asked Tarim approaching me.
"I shall ask the Goddess Church about the Holy War."
This guy's speech habits.
Even the same words sound arrogant.
But no reason not to hear the answer just because.
I'd just confirmed via message.
[Affinity with holy site, Muon, greatly increased.]
[Influence in holy site, Muon, greatly increased.]
[Friendship with religion, Goddess Church, reached maximum.]
Besides, I was duly qualified.
No need to explain the qualification.
Goddess Church holy knight captain, Tarim.
Thud—
He formally knelt before me, head bowed.
"I shall take full responsibility. Even if it be 'Judgment.'"
……Wait, I didn't mean that kind of judgment.
No time to correct the misunderstanding.
Too many watching eyes.
"J-Just now! The G-Goddess Church taking responsibility……?"
"Responsibility for what?"
"Judgment……? Lee Hoyeol judging the Goddess Church?!"
First, relocate.
"This is no place for conversation."
"……Ah, I shall guide you."
"Somewhere suitable for tea and quiet talk would be ideal."
"……?"
Post-battle.
Mana replenishment was crucial for me…….