Because I Exist, It's Possible (1)
“Then I'll leave you to it.”
After speaking with Jessica and Enoch, Harkon returned to the grand conference hall. Considerable time had passed, but Kichi was still holding her spot. The Lion Heart Knight Captain's eyes gleamed coldly at the sight of the Emperor's Sword.
If it were the me of the past.
He wouldn't have let go of his suspicions so easily. The Shadow Mercenaries' infamy was legendary even in the imperial palace. The crimes they'd committed under the guise of commissions had always been utterly heinous.
But Harkon knew better.
Everything has changed.
The cataclysm. In this world where adventurers had descended upon the Arcana Continent. Clinging to the past would be foolish. And hadn't he learned it through Sir Hoyeol?
Humans who are not demons can change.
Harkon himself was proof. To think he'd one day converse with adventurers who lacked even basic swordsmanship—not to mention train them. It was unimaginable in the old days.
Thus, his gaze softened.
“I didn't expect you'd be waiting here first, Captain Kichi.”
“Eh, all I do is drink anyway. Had to get here quick.”
“I've heard the news. How is Rackid's condition?”
“He's fine now. Dirty temper and all, still the same.”
“Of course. A man like him wouldn't go down so easily.”
Ordinary conversation. He'd resolved to set aside his doubts.
Yet Kichi's transformation still baffled him. In the end, Harkon cut straight to it.
“You've changed, Captain Kichi.”
“Changed? What do you mean?”
“The Shadow Mercenaries joining the Holy War wasn't enough. For you, their captain, to attend the conference itself? I never anticipated that. There must have been some catalyst.”
“Catalyst...”
Kichi trailed off.
Tch. This is why I hate dealing with you high-and-mighty empire types.
The Shadow Mercenaries' reputation was even more notorious among the elite. And how could it not be? Their commissions cost more than commoners—or even most nobles—could dream of. Their clients had always been the obscenely wealthy.
Of all people, the knight captain shows up first...!
Why had she arrived early at the meeting spot? To score points, obviously. To impress our Grand Commander Lee Hoyeol. That way, she might glean some info from that bastard Elcidoir, even if just a hint.
But.
Kids, you have no idea the headaches I live with.
Look at those lion-like eyes. One wrong word, and her materialistic motives would be exposed in a heartbeat.
For now, Kichi dodged.
“...It's all thanks to Grand Commander Lee Hoyeol, right? Haha.”
One truth she'd learned living in Yusra Kingdom: Drop Lee Hoyeol's name, and everything works out. Like how pretending to be from the Goddess Church dodged most suspicions on the Arcana Continent.
Honestly, in Yusra, Hoyeol's influence outshone even the Goddess. It was at least equal, if not greater.
Yeah, that tracks.
Arcana natives struggling to adapt to the adventurers' world. He'd normalized Yusra Kingdom, Frost, and Muon, making it easy for them to settle. No wonder.
And sure enough, the name didn't fail her this time.
Lee Hoyeol.
The moment those three syllables hit the air, Harkon's face lit up.
“I see! You've awakened to pride as well!”
“Y-Yes?!”
No, why jump straight to pride?!
“...Not quite?”
Harkon's face chilled again.
In the end, Kichi forced a grin.
She had no clue what this 'pride' nonsense was, but.
“No, spot on! Pride, haha! Hic—”
...For now, let's say she got it. Pride. The entire Shadow Mercenaries. For their comfy retirements, at least.
......
Giant Alliance.
Nam Taemin smirked.
“Now it finally feels real.”
Hoyeol called us—called me! They'd been in the same boat since jumping into the Holy War, but attending the conference hit different.
The one ruining his buzz? Hisagi, walking beside him.
“Could it be you're excited, Nam Taemin?”
“...What now? Starting something?”
“I couldn't sleep a wink from worry.”
Hisagi wore a pitiful expression. Those snake eyes made it even more pathetic—and nauseating.
Nam Taemin scowled, but Hisagi grinned slyly.
“I agonized all night if we even qualified for this meeting. Lion Heart knights, Mage Tower mages... Compared to them, we're sorely lacking.”
“...Dude, don't lump me in like that.”
“What? Being true to your emotions suits a barbarian perfectly.”
Thick builds. Matching bulk.
The bickering duo drew plenty of stares.
“Ugh, embarrassing.”
Leoni spat gruffly and fell a few steps behind. But her distancing was pointless.
The two turned in unison.
“What do you think?”
“What say you, Leoni?”
“Shut it, both of you.”
She had no idea why they fought daily. To her, they looked identical.
Anyway, settling it would end the fights. And the stares. And her embarrassment.
Leoni ground her teeth and spoke.
“What's the root of this anyway?”
“Snake-eyes hates seeing me happy.”
“My rationality can't grasp your savagery.”
“Mocking me again?”
“...Enough.”
It's not the words—it's the core issue, you meatheads!
“Listen up.”
Swoosh—they bowed their heads, even their waists.
...Are they calling me short right now?
Her gut twisted, but she held it in.
“Go back far enough, it's the full assembly and meeting, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Indeed. The modern vs. barbarian sentiments from that...”
They never shut up.
Before Nam Taemin could snap, Leoni added quickly.
“You're both feeling the same thing, ultimately.”
“...Huh? Me? With this guy?”
“You both wanna help out, don't you?”
“!!”
Pride or worry first, their hearts pointed the same way. That's why the Giant Alliance had lasted.
So why the constant punching?
“That smug realization now? Pisses me off.”
Captain Harkon, check this out. These idiots need brain training before PT.
Finally satisfied, Nam Taemin straightened proudly.
“Got it.”
“Same here.”
Their eyes met. Mouths opened in sync.
“It's pride, right.”
“Pride, indeed.”
“...?!”
No way. Why swerve into pride?!
Leoni was dumbfounded.
“Fine, truce today.”
“Agreed, Nam Taemin.”
“...You maniacs.”
Hoyeol, look what you did to them.
Udada.
Leoni hurried to the Golden Palace, leaving the two behind. Before that pride crap infected her too.
......
But entering the grand hall, Leoni froze in shock.
Not her place to say as a berserker, but...
She was dead certain.
“...They're all nuts.”
This was madness. She couldn't blame just Nam Taemin and Hisagi.
Unsettling chatter filled the air.
“Didn't expect the Explorer Federation to join.”
“The Holy War offers plenty for us explorers. Even I, the Federation leader, was surprised. I'm an explorer too, but we're not exactly united... Yet most Federation explorers aligned with the cause.”
“The pride of explorers!”
Beginning, middle, end—pride.
Who were these zealot-like folks? Not players or rankers, but Lion Heart Captain Harkon and Explorer Federation Leader Fabian.
Now her left ear caught something.
“I heard you lent the Church a holy relic. Senior Bellie asked me to pass on her thanks. I owe you greatly too.”
“No need. That relic is no longer ours. Use it as you will—no thanks required. You've gained something far more valuable: pride.”
“Indeed, I agree.”
Arcana's largest faith, the Goddess Church. Leader of tens of thousands of holy knights, Tarim Eber. Mage Tower's Chief Mage, Marcelo—titles unnecessary.
They were every bit as impressive.
Now Leoni genuinely worried.
...Wait, am I the weird one here?
Did everyone get it but her? She wanted to ask outright. What the hell is pride?!
But a player saying came to mind.
-“Asking what pride is? That's already lacking it.”
Roll—
She clamped her mouth, eyes darting. Then she locked eyes with Kichi across the table.
Like pride recognizing pride, they saw through each other.
“!!”
...You don't know either, huh?
The joy didn't last. Right on time. Footsteps echoed.
Click—
Hoyeol entered the grand hall.
......
Thanks to everyone for being punctual.
The others, fine. But Kichi? Especially grateful.
...Or it'd be a nightmare.
Lacking pride. No decorum or manners. I'd have started with a lecture.
Thanks to her, I dove right in upon sitting.
“The reason I summoned you today is simple.”
I'd said it countless times: Better seen than told.
I placed the Demon Eye Telescope on the round table.
Activating its effect, I continued.
“The Demon King Struggle has begun.”
“...!!!”
Soon, a panoramic view of the Arcana Continent floated in the air.
Everyone knew its desolation by now.
But this was on another level. Tectonic shifts—the continent was splitting.
Marcelo spoke firmly.
“That's no magic.”
“Not magic...?”
“Demons' doing, surely.”
Green flames erupted from the fissures.
...Hold on.
Fabian muttered, face dawning realization.
“Light like hellfire torches...? Don't tell me?”
Yes, that very 'don't tell me,' Fabian.
“Indeed. Hellfire.”
“Hellfire torches? Fabian, what do you mean?”
“...Unbelievable. Allow me to show you.”
Fabian produced the Hellfire Torch. It burned with the same green flames blooming across Arcana.
I'd seen it in the Tepperun Labyrinth rift, so no shock for me. Others, though.
“In the past, a Federation explorer who witnessed hell's gate left this. Never verified myself, but it's said to burn demons.”
Kichi, twirling her hair, chimed in.
“Sorry to interrupt, but isn't the Demon Realm different from hell?”
Good question, Kichi.
Demon Realm and hell were distinct. The former, demons' home. The latter—borrowing Grandfell's words—the pit where demons were cast after being hunted by demon hunters. Specifically, their afterlife post-hunt.
“Arcana's crawling with demons, so the path to the Demon Realm opened ages ago... Why bother opening hell's gate, the place they fear most?”
Why open a door to their nightmare?
We knew zilch about the Demon King Struggle's mechanics.
No wonder guesses fell short. Even I was clueless—until my vision flickered.
Gate to Hell
Now that I knew all, I stood tall as ever.
Before those shaken by the unforeseen, I spoke casually as always.
“No need for doubts or fears.”
“...?”
“Because I am here.”
“!!!”
I'm no cult leader herding fanatics.
This time, no mere bluff.
A genuine plan viable only because I survived.