You've Left Something Precious (3)
Lancy couldn't close her mouth.
"......Huh?"
The darkness swallowed the demon whole. There was no sound, no commotion.
"Gardner, is something wrong?"
Those roused from sleep couldn't even comprehend what had happened.
"It's nothing, elder."
No need to report the situation as it was. A demon's appearance was shocking enough on its own. But for an unknown darkness to devour it...
"What the...?"
Gardner stared at the darkness once more. Back in his days wandering the continent as a mercenary, he'd witnessed mages and magic aplenty. But a black something that spoke human words? Nothing like that.
Suddenly, Lancy muttered.
"......Diend Crecia Eternal Darkness."
"Huh? What was that, Lancy?"
"It seems like it said its own name!"
"N-name?"
For a name, it was awfully long. Like the name of a noble from some great house.
Lancy continued.
"And liege, following the endlessly deep darkness..."
Endlessly deep darkness?
Gardner furrowed his brow, desperately dredging up old memories. But it had been decades since he retired from mercenary life. Too much wine poured down his throat to recall every epithet floating around the continent.
But what did a name or affiliation matter anyway?
"It definitely said it would save Dreadsden!"
As mentioned, Dreadsden was a tiny village. On the outskirts even of imperial territory. A place haughty nobles turned their noses up at. No point investing effort when nothing came of it, no matter the whipping.
"Incomprehensible."
Gardner's eyes narrowed. He hadn't wanted to say it, but...
"Someone worthy of being called 'liege'—why would they care about the likes of us?"
It made no sense. Dreadsden wasn't the only one in crisis. Every nearby village, city—even the imperial capital. All of Arcana was crumbling under demonic hands. Out of everything, why save us, with nothing to offer?
But the doubt didn't linger long.
The darkness—Diend—spoke again.
"Because you have not lost the pride in your hearts."
"......Pride?"
"Like that man who never submitted to demons until the very end."
"......!!!"
Everyone knew. That man was Matte.
Grip—
In that instant, Lancy's hand tightened on her sword hilt.
Pride, out of nowhere. Only someone odd would grasp it immediately.
Lancy spoke up.
"......How do you know Matte's end?"
Until then, the question lingered. Dreadsden was a mountain village. Unless viewed from the sky, no one outside could know what happened there.
But in that moment, a massive rumble echoed from above.
Rooooar—
"?!"
Lancy, Gardner, and the others looked skyward—and recoiled in shock.
The pitch-black night sky, glaring with demonic eyes. Unfazed by that gaze, a colossal shape emerged.
It was unmistakably a ship.
"What is that?!"
"G-Gardner, uncle?!"
"L-Lancy! Don't ask me. A ship flying in the sky?!"
To the stunned crowd, Diend continued.
"Even if the world has turned its back on you."
"......?"
"My liege does not abandon you."
For some reason, that voice rang with infinite benevolence.
"Just as I was saved by my liege."
*
Mage Tower.
As I climbed the stairs, I repeated it endlessly in my head.
......I wanted to ignore it, but this day had to come.
'That mouth finally caused trouble.'
Not just any spirit—a spirit of darkness.
My damn naming sense manifesting like this. Just like with High El...!
Generously, the first name was forgivable.
Diend.
But the rest was the problem.
[Diend Crecia Eternal Darkness].
What the hell? Moderation exists for a reason! Eternal Darkness. Every time I recalled it, shame welled up so fiercely I wanted to shut my eyes and sink into eternal darkness...
But this was a weight I had to bear.
Yes, two spirits now—heavier, naturally.
'Grateful for that, at least.'
Spirit mage senior Payan had sent word via parchment.
{Unique spirits} transcended rank and even spirit contracts themselves. Thus, prior contracts were voided.
'Even when High El uses nature powers.'
My mana reserves showed no change.
I'd guessed unique spirits were special. But to allow a new spirit and new contract?
Of course, I didn't hesitate.
A darkness spirit. Its mere appearance tensed Payan's contracted upper spirit, Fire Drake.
Plus, I'd confirmed its power in the Teppern labyrinth.
Dark Spirit King, Arcane blesses the contract.
I formed the contract—and while at it, named it.
The name turned out ridiculously bizarre, but...
No regrets.
'High El and Diend are different.'
High El had awakened as a unique spirit. Grown further under Sublime's influence, but nature was innate.
High El was a forest spirit—not specialized for combat.
Whoever she took after...
'Fights well enough for that.'
Sprouting roots, vanishing them, deftly handling monsters.
But nothing compared to the darkness spirit.
Thus, I entrusted Dreadsden to Diend.
Request of the Awakened Ultimate Weapon
Akkshan's ultimate weapon, Quirnburk Mechanical Tower.
Chose pride over answers to questions.
The machine's memory wishes to protect the surviving residents.
📍 —Save the Dreadsden village survivors.
(Success)
Indeed, worth overcoming the shame to summon it.
Knew you'd succeed spectacularly, Diend.
'Mana consumption manageable.'
With First World Tree's Blessing active nonstop.
Not my past self fretting over mana.
Even if Diend faced a strong foe and drew on my mana, it'd be fine.
Well, mana intact, so no such issue.
Clack—
I reached the Crystal Hall.
Round table conference. First since players entered the Mage Tower?
Everyone visibly tense.
Of course, I had nothing to contribute. I knew myself—precisely, my motormouth—too well.
'Obviously spew venom.'
Tadpole days, didn't think.
Claim ignorance of exploration, interference, manifestation.
Nagging future obvious.
So today, mouth shut tight. Just attend as vice chief.
Vowing that, someone approached.
"Long time no see, Vice Master Lee."
Bellie Yusia.
I nodded lightly in greeting.
What was formality? Wholehearted reply to polite courtesy.
Marcelo less worried? Face much brighter than before.
As I opened my mouth to respond.
"......Huh?"
Suddenly, Bellie's gaze dropped to my chest. Precisely, the lapel brooch.
Her pupils widened round.
"Your brooches increased by one, Vice Master? Matches the originals so perfectly! No, beyond that—stunning."
Sharp enough to notice tiny changes. Aesthetic sense impeccable.
Pass, senior Bellie.
Grandfell needless to say—I even puffed up a bit.
'Recognized—not disappointed.'
Title: Last Adventurer, Sublime
Class: Demon Hunter
Level: 544
Quirnburk Mechanical Tower's accumulated experience was as expected. Maxed out—50 levels in one go.
Easily shattered 500. Could equip the second Hexagram Brooch.
◈ Restrict: Lv.500
◈ Effect: All physical attack damage +10%.
◈ Description: Part of the brooch where six become one. Effect greatly diminished as merely a fragment.
Without the Mage Tower's loaned magic tools, Aesthetics rose to Mid.
Impossible not to swell with pride, no matter how I tried hiding it. I'd only cracked open one piggy bank, after all.
'Now, how many mechanical towers in Arcana Continent?'
At least a hundred.
Numbers floated in my head.
Lately, too many requests—shameless, I knew.
'Still, I ask you, Iron Castle Ho.'
Shattered or not, fine. Just recover as much wreckage as possible.
Of course, my tangled, worldly inner thoughts never showed.
I replied concisely.
"Thank you, senior Bellie."
Crash—
Sudden clamor, a face thrust close. Flame magic senior Bensy William.
"I was just about to mention it myself!"
Mention what? Objection to his exit application?
I stared him down.
"The new brooch suits you perfectly!"
That.
No one hates compliments. The new Hexagram Brooch was a medal proving my efforts.
No reason for bad mood.
Yet I replied coldly.
"Refrain from unnecessary conversation, senior Bensy William."
"......Pardon? Pardaawwn?"
Bensy glanced between me and Bellie. Utterly aggrieved.
Truth be told, I resented Bensy.
That exit application of his! If scribbling it like that, why bother drafting daily?
But impartial Grandfell harbored no such petty feelings.
Yes. All strictly by procedure.
Marcelo had just ascended the podium.
"No chit-chat during the meeting."
"......!!!"
Look at the Crystal Hall, Bensy. Even players unfamiliar with the Mage Tower sat in silent awe?
No one had nagged yet.
'Didn't want to say even this...'
Bensy William. Oblivious—too oblivious.
Knew it from that exit application. For real.
......
"I swear, I held my breath so tight I thought I'd suffocate!"
"Bensy William... isn't he the flame magic senior mage?"
"You said that to a senior? Scary as hell, Lee Hoyeol!"
"But doesn't it make sense?"
"......Huh? What?"
"No, he entered Arcana Continent, hunted millions of demons, came back without a scratch...!"
*
After the round table ended, I entered a rift.
Far past Lv.500 now. Most rifts' appropriate levels meant little to me.
Not that they lacked danger—but hunting anywhere yielded no level-ups. Time efficiency tanked.
Why enter knowing that?
Various reasons. First and foremost, by pride.
'Must confirm Dreadsden residents safe first.'
That meant summoning Diend, risking shame; checking Iron Castle Ho via High El. Also inquire on ego gear progress.
But before that...
The landscape flipped in an instant. Perched on a utility pole: an eagle-headed griffin with a beast's body.
[Griffin of Sharp Talons: Lv.500]
Sensed my presence? It shrieked deafeningly—
Kieeeek—!
Griffins swarmed from everywhere in the rift.
Rough count: over a dozen.
I spoke.
"Unnecessary interference."
But not bad.
'Was curious about this anyway.'
Any would-be supporter welcome—bird, beast, whatever.
I straightened my attire.
"Even wagging your tails in meek submission would be insufficient. Yet you spread wings, bare claws, and clamor noisily. You've taken only the worst traits of beast and bird."
Especially aligning the Hexagram Brooches' direction.
"Regrettably, today's disciplining concluded at the round table."
Yes. Now was the moment.
To verify the Hexagram Brooch set effect.