History Being Overwritten (1)
◈ Restriction: None
◈ Effect: Sealed
◈ Description: Imbued with a demon's curse, its effects are sealed. It must be purified to reveal its true power.
Ranked 67th, Andrasius. The trophy he dropped was a baton carved from what looked like a beast's horn.
A baton, of all things.
No level restriction means its effects aren't ordinary.
“Not bad taste for an inferior breed.”
For starters, it passes Grandfell's aesthetic judgment.
Well, it's Epic grade from the get-go.
I can look forward to its effects a bit.
◈ Restriction: None
◈ Effect: Sealed
◈ Description: Imbued with a demon's curse, its effects are sealed. It must be purified to reveal its true power.
Ranked 66th, Kimaris. He seems to have spat out a map.
A map—naturally, treasure map comes to mind first.
But like the baton, hard to guess its effects until purified.
Still...
...is it okay for me to take these?
Epic grade items, no less.
As I explained so dramatically, the grade alone marks them as precious.
And I know the effects of Pure Knowledge's Pentagram all too well.
This is basically getting free scam-tier items of the same caliber.
I didn't defeat Andrasius or Kimaris.
These trophies were acquired by senior mages who entered Castle of Rhythm Demon King and Castle of Indulgence Demon King.
Yes, the Mage Tower handed these trophies to me.
The reason was simple.
—“Chief Lee Hoyeol will know best how to make use of them.”
If these were ordinary items...
My incorruptibly upright nature would never have let me accept them.
But these are demon items.
Demon king trophies, at that.
Reeking of the utmost impurity.
Meaning they must be purified via Exorcism Ritual.
“I shall reward your expectations.”
Indeed.
The greater cause.
Compared to Grandfell's greater cause, my greed is but a speck before a mountain.
So I accepted them shamelessly.
Yes, ignoring their goodwill would be improper, wouldn't it?
Of course.
◈ Restriction: None
◈ Effect: Sealed
◈ Description: Imbued with a demon's curse, its effects are sealed. It must be purified to reveal its true power.
Ranked 64th, Flauros. This trophy from defeating him was truly won by my own power.
So I can look at this one with a bit of pride, right?
“Visually hideous. Utterly deplorable.”
...Undoing my own thoughts with my mouth.
As the name suggests, it looks just like an eyeball.
No wonder aesthetics rejects it outright.
I stowed the trophies in my inventory and shifted my gaze.
To the status window.
Available Points:35
Name: Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo
Title: The Last Adventurer
Class: Demon Hunter
Level: 425
Unequipping my worn items dropped aesthetics lower.
Defeating Demon King Flauros raised my level by 35.
A massive jump, but I still feel a bit disappointed.
Flauros was a whopping Lv.850 boss monster.
Feels like walls every 100 levels.
I feel it daily.
Experience requirements spike dramatically.
Felt it going from 200s to 300s.
Now in 400s, the level gains have shrunk big time.
If rankers around my level heard this...
They'd call me ungrateful, never satisfied.
Put yourself in my shoes. Do I look like I'd complain otherwise?
Even top ranker-equivalent levels aren't enough for me.
Still a long way to turn the hype into reality.
In that sense, good news.
“At last, you grasp your place.”
Demons have gone quiet.
Of course, as a demon hunter.
I know how cunning demons are.
They're just biding their time.
They could strike anytime.
“Prostrating suits you vermin well.”
So I must make full use of this brief peace.
Until now, just plugging leaks desperately.
Now time to properly fix the bottom.
In short, shore up my foundations.
Still...
Leaks everywhere—where to start?
But as they say, starting is half the battle.
The first step matters most.
Clack—
Knowing that.
I headed where pride led.
If asked where, when the road is long.
Not leaving Mage Tower anyway, no big issue...
Bubble bubble.
I murmured watching the boiling water.
“Return before it cools.”
*
Garnet Hall.
Returning the top-grade magic tools was swift.
Some senior mages smacked their lips in regret.
Especially flame mage Bensy William.
“It ended too quick.”
“Isn't that for the best?”
“True, but it leaves this nagging regret...”
Smack.
Bensy eyed the departing Miniature Mana Sun.
Even for senior mage requests, top-grade tools aren't loaned lightly.
Armed senior mages alone could worry everyone outside the tower.
Bensy handling such tools was a first too.
“...Felt like a true fire dragon.”
Bensy licked his lips at the tease.
But the regret didn't last.
His natural predator—not quite—Matis appeared in Garnet Hall.
And Matis had sharp ears.
“Regrettable then, Senior Bensy William.”
“...Y-yes?”
“I grind my teeth at fire dragons.”
“No, I didn't mean... Not Karimgjeba!”
“Enough. We'll discuss later in private.”
“...La-later? Private meeting?!”
A meeting with Senior Matis!
Just imagining it churned his stomach.
Dodge first, think later.
As Bensy fled pale-faced.
Marcelo and healing senior Bellie crossed paths.
“Your face is pale. Something wrong?”
Bellie asked warmly; Bensy forced a smile.
“...My heart'll be bad soon. Haha.”
“?”
...What?
Marcelo and Bellie exchanged glances briefly.
Then spotted Matis.
Bellie greeted first.
“Long time. Well?”
“No issues.”
“You both worked hard in the Demon King Castle rifts. Senior Matis, Senior Bellie. Sorry to burden you.”
Hoyeol and Marcelo entered the same rift unintentionally.
Leaving Matis and Bellie for the other two.
Matis shook his head.
“Chief Lee Hoyeol bears the hardship.”
Mage Tower hears worldly news.
Just lobby adventurer chats reveal the world's spin.
“Thanks.”
Bellie returned her loaned tools and turned.
Her jade eyes widened in surprise.
“I never paid attention, but this world's folk care so much about others? Lee Hoyeol talk nonstop...”
This Demon King Castle rift, Mage Tower moved officially.
Drawing attention to them too.
Bellie rubbed her goosebumped arms.
“This attention burdens me already.”
How does Chief Lee Hoyeol endure that position, that weight?
Beyond curiosity—admiration.
Thud.
The three left Garnet Hall, climbing stairs.
Marcelo continued the topic.
“I somewhat grasp that weight. Wanted to share the load, even a bit. But he wouldn't easily allow it.”
“Not because you're lacking, Chief Marcelo.”
“His standards are firm.”
Hoyeol's unique standards.
Unknown precisely.
But ignores all gazes, judgments—clear.
“Brought fresh winds to the tower. Multiple times.”
No need to explain—regular conferences, pre-validations.
Hoyeol rejected seniors, schools without regard for face.
Matis and Bellie praised him; Marcelo smiled faintly.
“Hearing that reassures me.”
To third parties, mere courtesy.
But Matis and Bellie couldn't ignore.
“...”
They knew the meaning.
Matis eyed Marcelo's back ahead.
Thinner than before.
Many thoughts, but Matis shook them off.
Changed topic casually.
“Coincidentally, we're all headed the same way.”
Not planned.
Yet the three climbed toward the same place.
Soon arriving.
Marcelo spoke.
“I know eternal memory, being remembered forever, is impossible. Must forget to advance. But this time, I wanted to pay respects.”
A place unknown to mages below expert rank.
Where Eternal Snow Slumbers.
Before it, Marcelo continued calmly.
“Our first counterattack, after all.”
Just three Demon Kings felled.
Meager revenge for Mage Tower toyed by demons.
But a true first step.
“...Shall we enter?”
Silent Bellie asked.
The three entered Where Eternal Snow Slumbers.
And faced.
“...!!!”
Someone utterly unexpected here.
.
Black history clings, unforgettable.
Thus I recall Grandfell's settings vividly.
Their impact on me too.
So why pride led to Where Senior Slumbers.
I can guess.
The great family's heir, but demons toppled it. Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo, sole Claudy survivor, became a demon hunter for revenge.
Grandfell is alone.
Sole Claudy survivor.
Akshan's last demon hunter.
Mage Tower—his new home.
Yet member Senior died to demons.
Senior's desired death or prideful end.
Demon-related.
As tower elder.
Not light for Grandfell.
Yes.
Demon King crushing included mourning Senior.
First lesson as heir: No joy or sorrow over trifles. Claudy head's seat allows no tremor.
How much Grandfell's mourning conveys—unknown.
But this is my best.
“Senior Mage Senior...”
Damn, “sir” won't come out despite efforts.
I gazed at Senior's coffin, then turned.
And met.
...What're those looks.
Marcelo, Matis, Bellie.
For some reason.
Staring sentimentally.
*
Tap.
“...?”
Enemies are enemies for a reason.
No. 3, Lee Yerim woke to the presence.
Tap tap.
Something knocking the window.
Now she knew without checking.
“For real...”
Grope grope.
Yerim barely opened her eyes, grabbed her smartphone.
Sunday. 5:50 AM.
She buried her face in the pillow, groaning.
“Lee Hoyeol, my one brother. Don't you sleep...?”
Not even spam this persistent.
Daily morning letters to parents.
Making her feel like the negligent daughter.
Even Mom said Player Hoyeol worries less than her single life.
Whoosh—!
So Yerim kicked off the blanket, yelling.
“Can't you just text?!”
Slide—!
Opening the window, a letter flew in.
Smack—right on her face.
Yerim seethed, patience fraying.
“Youuuu... Magic too?!”
Age, maturity—whatever.
Enemy's enemy.
“...Still, you worked hard. Sis forgives you, punk.”
Family's family.