A Single Ray of Light
Restoring the collapsed labyrinth? Piece of cake for me. I had Reversal Magic, after all.
Do I have the mana for something like that? More than enough—overflowing, even. With Natural Enemy activated. And as long as Pure Knowledge's Pentagram exists, the efficiency of magic interfering with minerals is abnormally enhanced.
Reversal Magic
Kurrrrunch! That's what I meant when I spoke so confidently.
“!”
The scene reversed like a tape rewinding. The being that should not be awakened began burying itself back into the labyrinth walls.
It was terrifying all over again. So that's what Grandfell meant by indulging my tantrum.
'Basically, wrapping it up tight in a blanket so it can't move an inch.'
My own words made me flinch for a moment. Then I spotted Fabian's party holding their ground.
They'd brought magic tools as per my letter instructing full preparation, right? Sure enough, even at a glance, those tools were no ordinary fare. Especially that torch Fabian wielded.
'Green flames.'
Setting aside its appearance, its power was nothing to scoff at. A torch—and considering Fabian's class, clearly not just a weapon item.
Fwoosh!Sizzle!
The trajectory of the swung torch. Everything in its path melted away in an instant. Even the tough-looking hide of that thing was no exception.
Attack successful for now. Fabian retreated hastily and declared,
“How's that? That's the fire of hell itself.”
Hellfire
Hellfire, huh. The name alone makes it sound incredibly impressive. I'll chat with Fabian about that torch later. Not out of material greed or anything—Fabian specifically said 'hell.' Demons, hell, and demon hunters. Given the connections, it's an item worth paying attention to.
Of course, idle thoughts ended there. To keep from sinking under the heavy pride in my chest, I couldn't afford to let go of this opportunity I'd seized.
Let's widen the view.
'Experience from recapturing Frost.'
Sorry to Harcon, but let's think of the players as the Lionheart Knights. They need support right now, scrambling just to dodge its attacks.
Kurrrrunch! Surging earth. Footing for the melee-class players. Even trapped under the rock blanket of walls, close-range combat carried massive risk. One twitch, and vibrations or quakes would drag them in.
But.
“……Stairs?”
“Wait, stairs?!”
“Anyway, with these, we can strike and retreat freely, right?”
As they saw. With platforms to step on and leap from, it'd help hugely with both offense and evasion.
Whoosh!Swoosh!Thud!
The being that should not be awakened. Tormented by fear and every status ailment imaginable. It twitched under attacks from players who normally couldn't even scratch it.
“Just got a message! Critical hit!”
“Nice. It's working.”
“Pile on!”
Players' voices echoed from all around—proof.
'Support like this doesn't take much mana or focus.'
Of course, what made it possible was thanks to the white outer wings. Feathers fluttering, manifesting a hundred attribute magics. Since it deploys pre-stored spells, it skips the casting process.
Plus the extra damage from Vampire Count's Orbs applied to each attribute magic. But above all, Tetfern was there.
In the living past. In the current state of lingering grudge.
To protect Arcana's peace.
No one could replace Tetfern's pride holding that thing down. Setting aside Grandfell's pride, that much I could recognize.
The opponent was a Lv.900 boss monster, after all.
Without sacrifices, no way to fell it. And I wasn't the only one who realized that.
Tetfern's black contractors. Players who once dismissed them grew to recognize their sacrifices, their pride.
Ziiing! Mana pouring from its glaring eyes. Tetfern's black contractors throwing themselves to shield players nearly caught in the blasts.
“……What?”
“A monster just threw itself to save us……?”
“No idea what it is, but it's fighting by taking hits for us, everyone.”
That was enough to shift the tide. A solemn air settled over the battlefield. No more needless chatter.
Everyone here, me included, was giving their all to bring it down.
So the fight didn't drag on.
“GRRAAAAAH!”
Last words? The being that should not be awakened let out a savage scream. Then it stopped thrashing.
My vision flickered.
One of Ten Wonders Quest: Tetfern's Labyrinth
World Quest: Evil Dragon Hunter
But amid the flood of messages, only one caught my eye. Priorities, after all.
[Tetfern's 1 Black Contractor]
I gazed at the final Tetfern black contractor. Nothing left but grudge. Even its vision likely impaired. Yet it sensed my presence with fitting mana.
The black form turned toward me. And asked,
“……Have we washed away our sins?”
I answered immediately.
“Your sins were cleansed long ago.”
As I said, binding monsters like that until now more than fulfilled their duty. So I continued generously.
“Everyone here has recognized Tetfern's sacrifices and pride.”
“……!”
“Rest easy now.”
“……I see.”
Shhh!
At my words, the last Tetfern black contractor began scattering into the air. My vision flooded with light.
Tetfern's Labyrinth
'Didn't sink today either…….'
I wanted to sigh in relief. But my weary personality wouldn't show it. And it wasn't over yet.
Time for the next procedure.
I turned to the players. Folded my fluttering outer wings and stepped forward.
“There you are.”
Found you, demon who doesn't know its place.
*
Supernova's Bread couldn't hide his shock.
“……Impossible.”
Tetfern's Labyrinth. Entering the rift, he'd thought it a golden opportunity. The rift's difficulty far exceeded expectations. One wrong step into a trap, and death loomed.
'Perfect. Just perfect.'
Why rejoice at mortal peril? Obvious! To Bread—or rather, the true-name demon 'Desqui' possessing his body—players' negative emotions were pure power.
Desqui licked his lips.
'I'm no brute like the demon kings.'
Scheming cleverly.
'Target's always Lee Hoyeol.'
Until entering, his goal was mere observation. Crushing three demon kings? As a demon, pure curiosity about that strength.
'But if I play this right……?'
In a labyrinth like this, even Hoyeol might lack leisure? Chaos could let him seize the body?
“I'll join your party too.”
Acting the pathetic human, biding time. Back then, Desqui was lost in self-admiration.
'I'm a genius!'
Brash demon kings born strong. Time to show his cunning. From hijacking Supernova's body. To perfectly mimicking human for his goal.
'See? The depths are near!'
And there—Lee Hoyeol. Untouchable even by demon kings. While lesser demons cowered, he, Desqui, stood boldly before him.
'Where are you, Lee Hoyeol?'
Desqui's lips curled unpleasantly upward. Vision brightening. The moment he beheld the labyrinth depths.
Thump!
“……!”
……What? Heart pounding wildly. A first-time sensation. Desqui scanned around for the cause.
“What kind of eyes are those?!”
Like the others. Shocked by that massive pupil? No, no. So what if the snake-thing was a tough foe? His goal was solely Hoyeol. No intent to clash properly.
No reason to be startled by that……
Thump! Thump!
Heart wouldn't settle. Unpleasant throbbing.
Then his target entered view.
“……!”
Hoyeol, casually holding a teacup. Desqui forced a hollow laugh. To calm his racing heart.
'What an arrogant bastard……'
Desqui knew humans' frailty. Weak ones weak, strong ones strong—they all had mental cracks.
'How long can that arrogance last?'
Rumble!
Tetfern's labyrinth battle began. Unfolding in a way that left Desqui aghast.
He muttered again. Impossible.
“How?”
Could a frail human alone cause such change?
He'd gauged Hoyeol's strength. Having crushed three demon kings, after all.
“Don't fall back!”
“Brothers, I ain't dying embarrassingly!”
“Frontline retreat, rotate lines!”
Yes. What Desqui feared was the shift. Humans' emotions flipping from frailty.
“……Incomprehensible.”
They'd been gripped by fear. Their negativity fueling his power.
But the moment Hoyeol moved, everything changed.
Desqui muttered.
“……Worst matchup.”
Now he got it. Lee Hoyeol—untouchable. Why demon kings fell to him.
Good he'd realized now.
'Best to steer clear.'
Born a demon, Hoyeol was off-limits.
Desqui planned to warn other demons. Their lives didn't matter, but losing connections was a hassle.
“We won!”
Clear? Cheers erupted as the rift crumbled. Desqui vowed: no more overreaching.
'Contentment's not bad.'
No regrets. But why?
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Heart still racing to burst?
“……?!”
Flustered Desqui. Light in his vision. Rift-collapse glow. A shadow gazing at him, haloed in that light.
Flutter!
Now he knew why his heart raced. Misjudged those wings. Panicked needlessly……
'……No.'
No. It wasn't ending with a gaze. Why was Hoyeol approaching him?
In intensifying light, eyes met.
“!”
Icy stare locked.
'Run……!'
Somehow, Hoyeol knew his identity. Knew he was a demon.
Cleared rift. Desqui shoved through the crowd in panic.
But futile. Mana rippled at his feet.
Portal.
“!”
When Desqui came to, an antique office. Hoyeol standing rigidly, looking down.
Only a dry voice.
“You're the second demon to set foot here.”
“……W-what? Demon? What are you talking about?”
“This is the second time hearing that vile excuse.”
Second? Demon kings wouldn't come here……
Then—
'Not the first possession he's noticed?!'
Too late to grasp. No chit-chat with prey. Hoyeol's words were self-vow, not dialogue.
“But there will be no third.”
“Wh-what?”
“I shall personally dispose of you inferiors.”
“……!!”
Slash!
*
Massive uproar! Despite Tetfern's Labyrinth rift clearing, interest lingered. Thanks to streamers like Park Hwigang's live broadcasts and vivid footage?
Those with most to say: players who'd entered with Hoyeol.
“Thought we were done for at first entry.”
“Why?”
“Separated from Lee Hoyeol player? Haha, kidding.”
Broadcast interviews with players. Each had unique tales, but summed up to one.
“Without Lee Hoyeol—no, Grandfell—we'd be toast.”
“Never imagined climbing those stairs the Lionheart Knights did……!”
“Honestly moved. Didn't expect him to care for us too.”
Vivid testimonies with replay footage. Hoyeol's fierce activity.
“Viewers might not feel it, but we knew.”
“He waited for us, really. Mercy, you could say?”
“Everyone saw—teatime leisure.”
Hoyeol, calmly sipping until all entered depths. Unyielding before Lv.900 boss 'being that should not be awakened.'
Others might deny, but comrades couldn't.
“We owe him big. Huge debt.”
No denying. His consideration let them contribute to kill, gain EXP, quests.
Quest: Traces of the Dragon
No ordinary quest—dragon-related. Confirmed: the being was a dragonkin monster.
Thus, evaluations of Tetfern clear unanimous.
Crushed demon kings. Suppressed demon monsters. Now forcibly elevating players.
Time to revise Lee Hoyeol's rating. Not just strong.
“Not endless deep darkness, but……”
Current moniker unfit. Amid buried Tetfern darkness, Hoyeol shone aloof.
“A single ray of light in the endlessly deep darkness. That's what I'd call him.”
……
I'm scared. Lol, now a single ray of light in the endlessly deep darkness? How long will that damned title stretch……!
“Others' opinions matter not.”
But no time lamenting past. Levels, quests, loot. Purified demon king loot too.
“Can't neglect duties either.”
……Yeah, sure. As if.
Senior mage duties piled in a day. Mountains to check.
First, the flickering messages.