To Protect Our Pride (2)
Yusra Kingdom, the moment they stepped into the Golden Palace.
“You lunatic.”
Leoni spoke up. What? To protect the pride in our hearts? It gave her chills, goosebumps rising uncontrollably.
Nam Taemin felt wronged.
“Why the fuss? It’s exactly what Hoyeol said.”
“Are you insane? Exactly my ass?!”
“We’re in the same boat here, but that’s blasphemy, Nam Taemin.”
“Hey, Hisagi Kazuma. You’re the last one who should talk.”
“There is nothing more important than pride. I’ve finally realized it, even if late.”
He’d spat out words no different from mine in front of the press, and now he was playing innocent. Hisagi shook his head slowly.
“I’m sure the words alone conveyed it sufficiently.”
“What?”
“There was no need to thump your chest with your fist.”
“Huh? Why not? It’s manly and cool.”
“The original didn’t cringe like you.”
Same my foot. No point arguing further; their opinions wouldn’t budge. Fine, drop it. Something more important than petty interviews or squabbles awaited.
Prove Your Worth in This Region
📍 Status: In Progress
Proving their worth right there. Nam Taemin, Leoni, Hisagi—they realized it the instant they spotted the quest.
That’s why he…!
Why had Hoyeol united guilds with bad blood or no ties at all? For this quest. The three involved were certain.
“Imagine if we’d kept operating like before.”
One didn’t even need to imagine; he knew. Hisagi struck first.
“Inazuma and Gaon would’ve been too busy checking each other to achieve this growth.”
“Exactly what I was saying. Wait, why Inazuma and Gaon again? Order’s wrong. By ranking or alphabet, we should come first…”
“Isn’t that right, Leoni?”
“Yep. Clear as day even now.”
In the past, guild rivalries. Competing for first clears on rifts was one thing, but mind games inside them were daily. How many times had pride kept them from backing down, knowing it hurt everyone?
“You all steered clear for us.”
“No point entering rifts with us.”
“Never hunted like this even in the Arcana Continent pre-cataclysm days.”
A berserker mad for battle. The massive alliance let her indulge her occupational hazard fully. Leoni and Berserker Guild, along with Gaon and Inazuma members, gained EXP at unprecedented speeds. The results showed in their levels.
Nam Taemin, Lv. 408.
Hisagi Kazuma, Lv. 405.
Leoni, Lv. 399.
Not just alliance buffs. The real boost came from conquering the Demon King’s Castle rift. After the so-called “Demon King Suppression,” demon monsters vanished like ghosts.
“Even roughly, rift clears take twice as long now.”
Why were demons tricky? Growth-type monsters with high levels, sure. But the real headache: status ailments. Especially “Fear”—it stalled parties inevitably.
Nam Taemin ranted.
“We all owe him—players everywhere. Think of the effort to create this. How hard Hoyeol worked.”
“No.”
“No my ass! Why do you always twist words…!”
Made him bristle again? Hisagi continued unfazed.
“A mere Demon King’s Castle rift wouldn’t tire him. At Hoyeol’s level. As you know, he cleared three in just over ten minutes.”
…Couldn’t argue that. But even truths from him sounded obnoxious! As Nam Taemin bristled again, Leoni intervened.
Flip—
Arcana official homepage. Player rankings. Leoni, scanning rankers’ levels, spoke.
“Ryu Ojuncheon hit 400 too.”
“Monarch class at 400? That guy’s a freak. Freak.”
“That’s why he leads a mega-guild like Cheonha Tongil.”
Checking others, their allies’ levels caught her eye. Leoni’s brow twitched.
…Well, well?
“But their level-ups seem to have slowed?”
“……?”
“I mean, what were you two doing while I caught up to 399? Slacking? I told you—less bickering, more hunting… Sigh, whatever.”
Nam Taemin and Hisagi exchanged wronged looks.
“Miss 399, you don’t get it yet.”
“Lv. 400 is a whole new world.”
“Pfft.”
“Seriously, EXP requirements from 400 are insane. Days grinding appropriate-level mobs, and you wonder if it even moves the needle…!”
…
I checked my status window.
Didn’t I say it over and over? Damn Arcana’s level-up system. EXP needs explode geometrically from every hundred milestone.
But even that gripe felt like whining. I’d returned from the Arcana expedition having shattered the system’s cap—by a whopping 50 levels…!
Even after the death penalty.
The message as my eyes closed: [You have died.] [Death penalty applied.] [Acquired EXP reduced.]… Massive loss, yet still capped. Good thing I didn’t rashly cash in the Quirnburk Mechanical Tower savings. Numbers as proof made it real. What I’d done hit home.
Yeah, hunting the Demon King holed up in Simuarga wasn’t enough. Oxidized gloriously with millions of demons under Iron Castle Ho’s mana beam. System-glitching feat worthy of a title, for real.
“Numbers cannot measure me.”
…Okay, I’ll own this nonsense. To Grandfell, levels and enemy counts were truly just digits. That’s why he dove into millions of demons. Peak arrogant storm-and-stress era.
Anyway, distribute the 50 points. As always, I went to dump into magic—then paused.
Why? People gain epiphanies in near-death flashbacks, right? I did too.
“The demon hunter has his own way of hunting.”
From past to present, demon hunter’s trait: Useless outside demon hunts. Stats show it—split meager points across strength, agility, magic. No focus possible.
But this battle taught me: That build aided demon hunting. Strength for sword swings, agility for crossbow, magic for spells. No holds barred against demons. That’s the essence of a demon hunter.
Strength and agility deserve investment too.
Crossbow exceeded expectations. And reaching sword aura (劍罡) realm? Boosted their value massively. Class quest rewards barely covered it.
Swordsmanship and marksmanship both favor agility more.
12 to strength. 15 to agility. 20 to magic. Distribution done.
3 points left from 50. Precious blood points.
…Fine.
I squeezed my eyes shut and put 3 into luck. Why 3, not 1? Two digits look better than one.
[Luck: 10]
Honest with myself: Just this once, I hoped for fortune.
Opened inventory, pulled demon item. Exorcism Ritual-purified Demon King loot. [Map That Communes with All Things] became scrap from teleport, but two remained.
If I’d had time, I’d purify both.
Knew demons were coming, not millions. Only purified one. And the sacrifice?
“Still hideous.”
Eyeball… no, [Eye Burning with Malice] from Plauros.
Purified it first: Higher-rank drop likely better. Not just that for luck investment.
More to uncover unwillingly.
For purified loot. For [Sublime] title effect. For [Unending Holy War] quest success.
Hope the first button fits right.
Shoving aside whining, I checked info one by one. Realized:
◈ Share vision with the Demon Eye for a short time.
◈ Caution: Deeper gaze increases chance of detection.
[Demon Eye Telescope] 1 point.
[Sublime: O sublime one, Arcana remembers you.] 1 point.
1 point.
Indeed…! System, luck—never lie.
*
Mage Tower. Crystal Hall, site of roundtable conferences. Senior and apprentice mages flinched upon entry.
“…What’s going on?”
Special occasion? Senior mages already seated first. Not one missing. But Marcelo, chief mage, drew eyes.
“Chief Marcelo, thank goodness.”
“You’ve awakened safely.”
“Fully recovered?”
Murmurs rose. Marcelo ignored them. No mental bandwidth. Why? His body brimmed with vitality. He clenched and released a fist.
…No creaking?
Joints that groaned on movement were fine. Heart pains gone. Puzzled, he’d asked Bellie.
—“Senior Bellie. Did you… cast healing magic on me?”
Healing senior Bellie Yusia. Knew her talents since youth. Had she reached new healing heights unbeknownst?
But Bellie smiled and shook her head.
—“Wish it were. No.”
Matis senior gave no clear answer. Bellie wouldn’t lie. Another reason.
Then…
One possibility.
—“Chief Lee Hoyeol said: Hunted millions of demons.”
Chief Lee Hoyeol. Among millions slain on Arcana, one tied to “terminal curse”?
Not fully convinced curse gone. Simuarga mage family—even grandfather, father, inescapable. Even if improved, even cured—unreal.
Yet.
Grip—
Marcelo clenched his fist. Eyes colder than before.
If curse demon-related.
I couldn’t stay composed before demons.
In that sense, the chief is awe-inspiring again.
As Marcelo finished thinking, Hoyeol entered Crystal Hall. All eyes on him. Seniors most antsy.
Back before midday sun sets.
Hunted millions? Possible?
Hero tales at last? Should’ve applied for expedition…!
Twenty seniors. Varied thoughts, but natural curiosity. Not doubt—his actions begged questions.
“Let’s hear it. What happened?”
Rookies knew he’d entered Arcana. All awaited his words amid massive expectations.
Hoyeol began.
“Do you know?”
“……?!”
Unexpected question.
…
Proverb: Words repay a million nyang debt.
…Not me, apparently.
Stood ramrod straight. Hit with a question out of nowhere. No answer coming.
Flowing silence—tense air. I broke it after ages.
“Better one sight than hundred hearings.”
Dull buildup, just a proverb. Korean proverb to Arcana folk.
…Am I past boomer now?
But meaning landed. Some nodded—thanks, senior Banggrit Tom. I’ll repay with green tea.
Pledge brief. Pulled item from inventory fast.
Hundred hearings no match for one sight. Words couldn’t beat showing Arcana.
Held Demon King loot high like prized catch.
[Demon Eye Telescope]
[Grade: Epic]
[Restrictions: None]
[Effect: Share vision with Demon Eye briefly.]
[Description: Shares view with netherworld eyes. But beware—deeper look raises detection risk.]
Myriad demon eyes in Arcana skies. Share their view? Real-time continent check.
Proclaimed proudly.
“Behold Arcana’s state.”
…
Crystal Hall. Chiefs, seniors, skilled, apprentices—no rank mattered. All aghast, same thought.
“How…?”
Survive that hell intact?