Trust Me (2)
The agenda items discussed weren't many. However, the aftermath of the Round Table Conference was in no way inferior—even compared to the first session.
After the chief and senior mages filed out of the Crystal Hall one by one, those left behind began a proper conversation.
“What on earth is the source of that confidence?”
Skilled mage Jibril. Her elaborate hairstyle made it obvious: Jibril brimmed with self-assurance in everything she did. But Lee Hoyeol's aura went beyond mere confidence—it was something else.
“Entering the Arcana Continent alone?”
No need to belabor the risks. The rifts alone made that clear. The demons weren't satisfied with conquering the Arcana Continent; they were reaching out to swallow the adventurers' world whole.
She shook her head.
“Honestly, I have no clue what he's thinking.”
Linne, the skilled mage who loved to strut her stuff, shrugged her shoulders.
“We all know the chief is incredible, but isn't this crossing the line? The Arcana Continent is way more dangerous than any rift, isn't it?”
“Linne's got a knack for saying inauspicious things, but I can't argue.”
“Right! That's what I... Wait, inauspicious?!”
Bickering ensued. Amid the squabble, Jibril rubbed her chin.
He has to know how dangerous it is.
On the contrary, Chief Lee Hoyeol knew the Arcana Continent's situation better than any of them. And unlike their middling skills, he precisely understood his own abilities and limits.
“!”
Then, surely...? Jibril's eyes sparkled.
“What if there's a reason worth that immense risk?”
The bumpkin noble this, the cultured upbringing that—Linne, deep in her childish spat, whipped her head around. She couldn't miss Jibril's words, no matter what.
“Pardon? What did you just say, Miss Jibril?”
“Never mind. Keep fighting, Linne.”
“Pardon? Miss Jibril, I think there's a misunderstanding. This isn't a fight; it's a duel to defend my family's honor...!”
Linne's excuses fell on deaf ears. Jibril, hooked on her insight, had already spotted Cley at the Crystal Hall entrance, jostled by the crowd.
She sidled up.
“Eek! Jibril?!”
Jibril linked arms with Cley and probed slyly.
“Miss Cley. Get anything useful from the conversation?”
Senior mages Bellie and Matis had arrived late to the Crystal Hall after Chief Lee Hoyeol's declaration. They must have some inkling of why.
But unlike Jibril, Cley hadn't pondered that far.
“Useful? Seriously, I know nothing!”
Why was Jibril poking her side like that?
Cley whined in protest. “Ahh, that tickles! I really have no idea what you're talking about!”
…
I have no idea. Why all of a sudden?
Bellie quickened her pace. What was so urgent? Chief Lee Hoyeol had left right after the Round Table ended. She was chasing him down.
Protocol and etiquette. He never met without prior arrangement. But Bellie had no time for formalities now.
There has to be a reason.
Was it the reason she suspected? …If so.
Bellie bit her lower lip.
I can't just stand by.
Setting aside the chief's power, it was far too dangerous. Bellie knew of the upper demon kings—even elder mages dubbed demigods had yielded before them.
Reviving an upper demon king required immense sacrifices, but the Arcana Continent was already a living hell, wasn't it? Sacrifices would overflow.
An upper demon king—or something comparable—had likely emerged there. That explained why the continent had fallen to the demons.
I doubt I'd be much help.
Against such a foe, her joining wouldn't change a thing. But this was a matter of the heart. Her head knew, but her chest wouldn't stay still.
Knock knock.
Bellie rapped on the chief's office door.
“Bellie Yusia here.”
Her eyes burned with resolve. Soon, a voice responded—calm as if denying the uproar at the Round Table ever happened.
“Enter, Senior Mage Bellie.”
Click—
As Bellie opened the door, the scene was as always: a restrained office. Hoyeol sat rigidly at his desk, posture impeccably straight.
Facing Chief Lee Hoyeol was never easy. But Bellie steeled herself. This concerned Marcelo, after all.
“I apologize for visiting without appointment.”
“I accept your apology.”
“And I seek forgiveness in advance for the impropriety of my visit. Chief Lee Hoyeol, I have one question for you.”
Hoyeol looked up. Bellie met his gaze.
No joy, no sorrow. A face betraying no emotion. Staring at it only deepened her doubts.
Is it really because of my tower-exit application...?
That he'd enter the Arcana Continent for that? She'd have dismissed it as nonsense before. But she'd seen it with her own eyes.
—“Elder Mage Senios...”
Hoyeol, mourning Senios more deeply than anyone. For a fleeting moment, she'd glimpsed his inner self.
Bellie pressed on.
“I want to know why you're entering the Arcana Continent.”
Hoyeol had shelved her application. He surely grasped her intent better than anyone.
Her guess hit the mark.
Clink—
“...?”
She expected an immediate reply. In that split-second gap, when had he picked up the teacup? Hoyeol set it down and answered.
His response was crystal clear.
“Because the Simuarde family is there.”
“...!”
Like the saying: one climbs the mountain simply because it is there.
…
Anyone else might not need the reason. But Bellie deserved to know. Without her tower-exit application, she wouldn't have learned of Marcelo's terminal curse—or accepted the related quest.
“Because the Simuarde family is there.”
……But that crooked mouth was always the problem. Even when fine, it twisted words into trouble.
He vowed again: even if there were no books in the world worth skimming...
...never touch a book of quotations.
Still, her visit saved him effort. He had questions for Bellie—about Marcelo's condition and the [Simuarde Family Request] quest.
But Bellie's reaction was off.
“...Haha.”
A soft laugh escaped her. Had she caught his shallow quote?
Before his toes could tingle in embarrassment:
“...Forgive me another apology.”
“?”
“I spoke presumptuously.”
Before he could press:
“Chief Lee Hoyeol. I'll enter the Arcana Continent with you.”
He knew nothing of Marcelo and Bellie's bond, nor cared to. But her genuine worry was plain. Her application proved it.
Fine. She comes along? No harm.
Nothing lingering for either? Perfect.
But circumstances forbade it. He couldn't explain his item effects or titles.
“Regrettably, I must decline.”
“Chief Lee Hoyeol, I...!”
“I understand your feelings, Senior Bellie.”
So he spoke in his way once more.
“Yet trust in me still.”
Of course, he still needed her help—even without her tagging along.
“And I have questions for you as well.”
“...I'll answer.”
“I require information on the Simuarde family. Their exact location, rough members. More precisely, tales of Countess Simuarde.”
“...!”
At his query, Bellie lifted her dejected head. She spilled all she knew of the Simuarde family and the terminal curse.
Only after did she realize.
“We've been close since childhood, but I might be mistaken or misinformed. Asking the source directly would be most accurate, I think.”
Pride had reacted first—before him. On learning family secrets through a third party. Unacceptable normally.
But with demons involved, it could be their scheme. Demons were like that.
If the terminal curse ties to demons...
What if Marcelo learned? His quiet rage might erupt uncontrollably.
I couldn't stop that.
Worst case, Marcelo grabs artifacts and wipes out demons—who could halt him? Such negativity only empowered demons.
He summed the tangled reasons in one word.
“No.”
“...?”
“Intense emotional shifts ill suit him.”
Bellie's pupils twitched. Like Matis. Senior mages understood quickly.
Ah, except Bensy William. His application was spammier than junk mail.
Silence flowed—
Bellie broke it after a brief pause.
“I understand your reasoning and intent. But...”
Now her worry turned to him.
“Even so, bearing that burden alone...!”
“No need for concern.”
No, he said no worries? He had the [Last Adventurer] title effect.
But characteristically:
“Life is swam through solitude by nature.”
……Please don't glamorize your dark history, Grandfell. Don't you pity me, swimming in it?
…
I, Dragon Hunter Lee Hoyeol, seek dialogue.
Skal's bombshell after ages drew massive attention. Would unofficial rank 1 Lee Hoyeol meet official rank 1 Skal?
Rankers sharpened their senses most.
“Feels like there's bad blood?”
“Dragon Hunter. How'd Skal even know it was a dragon? Lost in that labyrinth, couldn't tell lizard from dragon.”
“Given his class, probably ties to Dragoon [Class Quest].”
Shining's Rocks, Camilla, Dmitri held a rare constructive talk. They grasped the weight of a Hoyeol-Skal meeting.
Dmitri shuddered.
“Class quest, Dragoon? Chills just hearing it.”
Class: Dragoon. Skal's mystique veiled its powers. But all knew: endless potential.
“Lemme think. Nostalgic~”
When Arcana was just a game, Camilla had aimed arrows at Skal. No grudge—just quest-bound.
Skal rode a mere warhorse then.
“But not one hit? I was furious, thought I'd die for real.”
Dodging arrow barrages and spells, commanding the field. Shining concluded: if Skal truly mounted a dragon as Dragoon, no player—or guild—could rival him in Arcana.
Dmitri protested.
“Sure, rare class! Insane potential? Got it. Dragoon? How's he ride Zero Mountains dragons? I laughed behind his back. But...!”
Lee Hoyeol. The name from Skal's lips froze Dmitri.
“Hoyeol? Who knows! We can't hunt dragons, but his Tepper Labyrinth feats! What was it? A ray of light in endless darkness?!”
Camilla, who'd usually snark Dmitri, nodded gravely this time. No laughing matter.
“Suppose Hoyeol allies with Skal?”
“Dude, don't say creepy shit...!”
“And Skal escapes half-baked Dragoon status?”
“Ugh, exhausting just hearing it.”
“Shut it, Dmitri. Rocks, your take?”
Silent Rocks spoke.
“Dragoon potential rivals Grand Archmage.”
“...!”
“Rocks, shade?”
Grand Archmage—Jessie's class. Jessie Haynes, who'd left Shining.
“Not shade. Cold assessment.”
With Jessie, no worry. Now roles reversed.
Rocks continued lowly.
“We can only watch closely.”
More than the public.
…
But rankers weren't monolithic. Nam Taemin. Leoni. Hisagi. Giant Alliance's three guild masters thought instantly.
Leoni first: sheer shock.
“That lunatic! Look at him?!”
Hoyeol hated rudeness most. Mentioning him publicly like that? Skal's seclusion dulled his senses.
Dragon Hunter? Wants to meet Hoyeol? Motive unknown, but.
“That guy's done for life.”
Here I am, slaving for a single tea—and his attitude for greater aid?
“Tsk tsk.”
Leoni clucked. Hisagi nodded vigorously beside her.
“Miss Leoni's right. Poor judgment, Skal.”
Hisagi and Inazuma members knew—from near-rejection at Yusra Kingdom.
Seniors in etiquette now.
“Courtesy demands bowing headfirst before words.”
“...Well said.”
Never thought he'd agree with Hisagi ever.
Nam Taemin's thoughts aligned.
Whatever business with Hoyeol...
“Looks like he made a huge blunder.”
…
Spot on, their predictions.
Hoyeol emerged at the Mage Tower portal. Crowds swarmed him.
Gulp—
Reporters itching to shove mics and cameras, but before Hoyeol.
Swallowing dryly, they queued politely.
“Your thoughts on Player Skal's declaration?”
“Skal calling himself Dragon Hunter...”
“Does awakening a forbidden dragon entity...”
Hoyeol listened silently. No extra courtesy.
After countless questions, he spoke.
“From now, this is obstruction.”
“...!!!”
…
Plenty on my plate already. And what? Dragon Hunter? Broadcasting it everywhere?!
Our fates end before beginning, Skal.
I continued in an icier tone than usual.
“Will you not step aside? I have no time to waste.”