Endlessly Deep Darkness (2)
Arcana Continent, one of the Ten Great Wonders. Everyone knew what each of those wonders was. Even I, with over ten years of hiatus, knew them all.
But a [Ten Great Wonders Quest]?
I’ve never heard of this.
It wasn’t because of my hiatus. Just moments ago, when the [Tempest Fence] popped up, it was the same.
That was it. The Ten Great Wonders were treated as endgame content among players. It made sense.
Like Tempest, the wonders were unknown territories even on the Arcana Continent.
No doubt about it. I was certain. This was definitely a major quest…!
A massive quest that would thrill any player.
Of course, to me—to Grandfell—there was no room for joy or sorrow.
I read the quest window with unwavering focus.
[Ten Great Wonders Quest: Tempest's Labyrinth]
Arcana Continent's Ten Great Wonders: Tempest.
Crack open Tempest's Labyrinth.
Reveal the truth of Tempest to the world.
Wonders Revealed So Far: 0 / 10
📍 Witness Tempest's Labyrinth. (In Progress)
As expected, a linked quest. In terms of scale, it rivaled a world quest.
But I couldn’t just celebrate. Anyone could see it screamed insane difficulty.
It’s not a quest meant to be cleared at this point anyway.
Just looking at how the quest appeared made that clear.
The source was the shadow spirit. And that spirit had appeared through a chain of coincidences.
Like the [World Quest: World Tree's Seed], it had skipped the preliminaries and jumped straight in.
Can I even progress this at my level?
Such thoughts arose. But as expected, my weary personality wouldn’t allow it.
A lack of ability? That phrase didn’t exist in my vocabulary.
I brazenly opened my mouth.
“I have understood thy will.”
“…Is that truly so?”
“Yet all things have their proper time.”
It wasn’t an excuse for lacking skill. At least quests had their timings.
This is still the [Tempest Fence] rift, after all.
The outermost edge. Of course Tempest's Labyrinth wouldn’t exist here.
The shadow spirit seemed confused, naturally—it wouldn’t even know what a rift was.
“Yet something of Tempest's landscape…”
Trailing off wasn’t strange. I chided the worried spirit reassuringly.
“Thou needst not worry.”
“…?”
“For I know the appointed time.”
“…!”
“When the moment comes, I shall seek thee.”
Grand words, but really just what I’d been thinking.
I couldn’t do anything until a quest objective or even a [Tempest's Labyrinth] rift appeared.
But perhaps because my parting words were so lofty, the response was anything but ordinary.
“Thou shalt seek one such as I…? Is that thy meaning? Then I understand.”
A voice tinged with agitation. But then, truly ominous words followed.
“O endlessly deep darkness. I shall await thy call.”
…For real.
That title was no joke. In this moment, I was grateful for Grandfell’s settings.
Without them, I might’ve exploded from sheer embarrassment, cheeks burning red.
Anyway, I need to lock this down.
I’d traded my dignity for the [Ten Great Wonders Quest]. Difficulty be damned, I wasn’t letting it slip.
First priority: lay the groundwork for reuniting with the shadow spirit.
“High El.”
I had my mirror—nay, High El—to fulfill that role faithfully.
I sent telepathy to High El.
High El immediately bowed its head.
“As you command.”
The shadow spirit’s alien aura had even fellow spirits on edge. Just look at the contracted spirits of the mages.
Except Payan Lot’s superior spirit, Fire Drake…
They were all visibly cowed.
In contrast, High El stood unfazed. Beyond unfazed—its elegant form showed not the slightest tremor.
Impressive, even as a {unique spirit}.
Brazen… no, reliable, High El.
I added one final instruction.
“Let unnecessary commotion end here.”
Grasping my intent at once, the shadow spirit replied.
“I shall obey thy words.”
And with that.
Whoosh—
The shadow spirit began dissipating like a lie.
Commotion erupted from the onlookers.
“I-It’s vanishing?!”
“…What the hell just happened?”
“I kinda overheard. Definitely something about Tempest's Labyrinth!”
“A quest, maybe?”
Amid the uproar, the shadow spirit called to me one last time.
“And I shall wait. O endlessly deep darkness.”
…Why did I have to hear that, seriously.
Suddenly, all eyes locked on me.
Seeing the murmuring crowd made it real.
Endlessly deep darkness. And the whole world heard it.
Forget thick skin—even Lee Hoyeol’s mental fortitude couldn’t take more.
I looked to Payan and said,
“We’re heading back.”
“P-Pardon? Ah, yes! Chief Lee Hoyeol!”
Payan replied in a tense voice.
Stepping out of the rift, I thought sincerely.
Times of mana exhaustion were far better.
*
[Tempest Fence]. Who could’ve predicted it?
A rift at recommended level 450—ordinary enough—would spark such a frenzy.
The most explosive reactions were on NetTube.
Whoosh—
The shadow spirit manifesting from thin air. Its form alone cowed viewers, amplified by the video’s frantic narration recreating the tension.
—“E-Emergency appearance message! It’s a shadow spirit!”
Soon, as the spirit fully materialized.
Hoyeol stood before it.
From Cheonha Tongil to Shining, even the Mage Tower mages who’d entered with him.
The spirit had everyone in the rift on edge.
—“W-Wait, isn’t that too close?!”
Yet Hoyeol didn’t flinch before it.
Same posture as always. Back straight, facing the shadow spirit squarely.
And from that moment.
The line that set the world ablaze.
—“I submit to thee. O endlessly deep darkness.”
Not content with subjugating the spirit—it bestowed that title too.
The world, naturally, lost its mind.
Seizing on the title like a major clue, media outlets gathered experts for debates.
“So you’re saying ‘endlessly deep darkness’ might be a class-related title?”
“Exactly. Until now, there’s been no solid proof—just community speculation and wild guesses.”
“Expert, please refrain from nonstandard terms…”
“This isn’t the time! We’ve got a clue on Lee Hoyeol’s class of all things!”
Seeing the spirit subdued confirmed a black magic-related class, some guessed.
“I think it’s a class.”
“A class?”
“Yes. Limiting it to black magic doesn’t fit the skills Lee Hoyeol has shown. He’s even displayed masterful swordsmanship.”
“True, against the Tempest scarecrow, he used diverse skills fluidly.”
“So here’s my take.”
Class: Endlessly Deep Darkness. That might be Hoyeol’s class.
Shining’s base camp. TV blaring noisily.
Dmitri shouted even louder.
“That’s too much, even for him!”
Subjugating the spirit wasn’t enough. A class? Named Endlessly Deep Darkness?
“So cool it’s almost annoying, and he hogs it all…!!”
Dmitri wasn’t alone in his frustration.
Yusra Kingdom. Golden Calf Tavern.
“Grrrraaah! Damn it!”
Gulp gulp—
Endless drinking. Rackid, who rarely got drunk, was staggering.
Slurring, he whined.
“Guuh. Endwesswly deep darknuss?”
Rackid’s drunken rant had backstory.
Before joining Shadow Mercenary.
Whether fame or infamy, he’d made a name.
Titles that once followed him surfaced.
Colosseum’s Lawless.
Fine, that was okay.
But for a musclehead, later: Ogre in Human Skin.
Of course, no one dared utter those now.
He’d forced their silence—or made them forget.
So Rackid was jealous.
“What’s with that badass title. Guh. That annoying little…”
…Thud!
Only after blackout-drunk Rackid faceplanted on the table did peace return.
Snore—
As he started snoring, others finally spoke.
“Who’d have thought such a huge incident in Tempest.”
Explorers’ Federation explorers.
Park Hwigang among them.
He cautiously opened.
“The Federation hasn’t uncovered much on Tempest, right?”
“Yeah. Circling the fence was it. Things inside are no joke—scarecrows aren’t even comparable.”
“No wonder it’s one of the Ten Great Wonders!”
NetTuber’s first virtue: reading the room.
Park Hwigang chimed in tactfully.
Such chances were rare.
Top Explorers’ Federation elites…!
Renowned explorers, player or Arcana native.
Hard to gather normally.
And thanks to Hoyeol, really.
Park hadn’t forgotten his debt to Hoyeol.
His NetTuber career started broadcasting Hoyeol first—that achievement.
Park wouldn’t miss this chance.
Tempest's Labyrinth, right…? Definitely a Tempest-related quest.
He trusted Hoyeol’s abilities. Any quest, cleared effortlessly—like crushing demon kings.
But Tempest, the Ten Great Wonders—different league.
Explorers continued.
“Wonders aren’t wonders for nothing.”
“Too many dangers.”
“Even the shadow spirit—without Hoyeol…”
“If there were solid rewards like Yusra Islands’ treasure isle. But who knows what uncovering a wonder yields.”
Especially a labyrinth. Traps, complex layouts.
Federation couldn’t crack it for reason.
Entering Tempest's Labyrinth solo? Exhausting, ability aside.
The explorers knew, so mood soured.
But Park Hwigang—stubborn as his name.
“True, wonders aren’t for nothing. But things changed. Hoyeol now has purpose in Tempest.”
“…!”
Explorers paused. Top Federation elites.
Successfully exploring a wonder like Tempest…?
High votes in next Federation leader election…!
Experience? Levels could skyrocket.
Wait—this chance doesn’t come easy!
Silent glances exchanged.
Park smirked inwardly.
“The man who crushed three demon kings. No sturdier backup.”
Final nail.
“Shouldn’t the Federation step up, at least?”
*
Yusra Kingdom. My office after ages.
A letter on the desk.
…What paper is this garish?
Gold leaf? I examined it.
“Fine quality. Yet impractical.”
Aesthetics clashed with integrity.
But inner conflict was just start.
I gaped at the first line.
─────
To the esteemed endlessly deep darkness.
─────
…Someone’s pranking me, clearly!
Sister Three, nemesis Lee Yerim? No, she’d text, not this.
Buried shame boiled over.
Wanted to shred it—but.
“!”
Sender stopped me.
─────
Explorers’ Federation Leader, Fabien Delong
─────
Explorers’ Federation. I could guess why.
So I intoned calmly.
“I shall review thy proposal per procedure.”
Of course.
Factoring in calling me endlessly deep darkness.
As impartially as possible.