I Finally Realized the Truth of the Circle Incident – You Finally Caused Trouble, Didn't You, Formality...!!

I finally pieced together the whole truth behind the Circle incident. You finally went and caused trouble, didn't you, formality...!! Not only did you stand asleep, but you stood ramrod straight while passed out! It really drives home what it means to have your body dominated by that black history.

It's embarrassing, but let's think positively. 'At least it turned out okay.'

Suppose I'd collapsed straight to the floor after blacking out.

Clink— I set down my teacup and spoke nonchalantly.

"I nearly had to discard my attire."

……Yeah, that obsessive neatness with my clothes would have been ruined too, of course. But the first thing that came to mind was my family.

'It'd be front-page news.'

If my parents—especially our Lady Choi—saw footage of their son collapsing on the news, they wouldn't have slept a wink from worry. My sisters would be the same. Even now, they just weren't showing it, but they'd checked on me every time I entered a rift.

'In that sense, it's a relief...'

Clang— ……But what's with this metallic sound?!

Did something go wrong with my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠heart? Did they swap it out for an artificial one or something?

'Nah, no way that's it.'

I'd only been unconscious and lying in bed for a few hours at most. And my condition was way too good for there to be any major physical issue. Above all, there were the messages.

I read it slowly, savoring each word. Then I checked my status window.

For starters, my level was 550—up by 6.

Where'd I get that experience from? It wasn't hard to guess.

Thanks to Akshan's Legacy. Those hellish demon hunters had taken down three true-named demons in the 900s.

Considering my contribution in activating Akshan's Legacy, a 6-level gain made sense.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

'I didn't do much, but I'll take it gratefully.'

So. What about the fourth throne's demon king, Gamigin?

One thing was certain. Gamigin had definitely been cast into hell. So it could never reappear on the Arcana Continent. Or in reality.

But strictly speaking, I hadn't hunted Gamigin myself. So it made sense I didn't get the kill experience.

Tch, sour grapes comes to mind.

'Might even feel cheated.'

In Arcana's system, the level-up cap is 50. For an upper demon king whose level was unknowable, a mere 50-level gain from killing Gamigin would've left me kicking the blankets in bed even now, indignant... (Internally, of course.)

'Ah, damn you, formality.'

For that reason, my eyes turned to the reward I'd gained instead of experience. Third title now—I should be used to it, but...

……Why does it feel so unfamiliar? My achievement echoed not in the Arcana Continent, but in 'spacetime'?

I had no idea where that was, and the next message was even wilder.

"The beings of spacetime speak of my qualifications..."

Qualifications—did that mean the qualifications for the Transcendent title? I had no clue what spacetime was, let alone who its beings were.

But judging by context...

'They must be some impressive folks.'

Since I acquired the Transcendent title, things must've turned out well for me. Whoever they were, I owed them thanks.

The thought had barely crossed my mind when I spoke.

"They debate my qualifications? An intolerable affront."

Of course, separate from my own thoughts. Grandfell's lofty pride would never accept others' judgment.

I get the stubbornness, but let this one slide, Grandfell. A title earned by hurling an upper demon king into hell. Isn't it worth a little anticipation...?

I checked the title's effects with modest expectations.

And was stunned.

……The bottomless poison finally acted up.

*

I rested until the next day and returned to routine. Marcelo offered congratulations.

"To ascend to the realm of the Circle—my felicitations."

Circle. I'd devoured stacks of magic tomes in the Mage Tower. No way I didn't know the concept.

Simply put, the Circle was the ultimate realm all mages aspired to.

"The ring of the heart allows mana to circulate faster and purer. The efficiency of pure mana creates a vast gap in output compared to impure mana..."

A simple example made it clear.

"It humbles me, revealing my own shortcomings."

Yes. Even Marcelo, the true chief mage of the tower, hadn't formed one. So I had no choice but to realize.

Clang— The source of that metallic sound instead of a heartbeat.

Skipping the process, the result was this: Through the monumental feat of slaying an upper demon king, I'd qualified as a Transcendent and thereby opened a Circle.

But.

'Can't freeload on tricks forever.'

Level 550. My vessel was far too small for a Transcendent, so the heart's ring—the Circle—couldn't circulate properly.

That grating clang was the sound of it!

"No cause for celebration."

What was there to celebrate about a Circle I couldn't even use? I spoke flatly, but judging by his expression, Marcelo was misunderstanding again.

"Indeed. For you, even the Circle is but a stepping stone."

No, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that overestimation is what's making me grit my teeth and struggle?!

I wanted to thrust my chest forward, play the clanging heart sound for him, out of sheer injustice. But this mouth of mine would never spill the truth.

"Realms beyond the Circle pique my interest."

……Your ploy to change the subject is obvious, Grandfell.

Still.

Trick or not, I'd hurled an upper demon king into hell. Sealed effects? No way I'd let that stand out of spite.

'Gotta meet those conditions somehow.'

It wasn't just low level—that would've shown in a system message.

But how to find out what they were...

I wished I could grab those spacetime beings and ask.

'Start by digging through magic tomes, I guess.'

My head was already creaking at the thought. As I racked my brain, Marcelo spoke.

"As expected of you—to foresee farther into the future."

What now? I couldn't even solve the Circle yet—what future?

But doubt didn't show on my face, so Marcelo continued.

"With the Tower Master absent, the only one in the Mage Tower who knows of the Circle—and realms beyond—is Elder Mage Yugweed. A conversation with her might..."

……Oh right. I'd forgotten. Like Akshan, the Mage Tower had seniors too.

*

The Mage Tower's roundtable conference. Unusually, it wasn't just tower mages in attendance. Figures who should have gathered in Yusra Kingdom's Golden Palace were assembled in the Crystal Hall.

The reason was simple.

"Can't overdo it."

For Hoyeol, who'd collapsed.

Hisagi shot Nam Taemin a serpentine glare.

"And yet you seem thrilled."

"……."

Hold it in. Nam Taemin didn't retort.

Hisagi's class was spearman, proficient in magic as much as close combat. With the Mage Tower joining the holy war, he'd been accepted as an apprentice player—along with others.

"Feels right at home."

Training rigorously under Harkon, honing magic in the tower. Totally unfair! Enviable.

That was why Nam Taemin gritted his teeth and ignored Hisagi.

"First time here, the view might dazzle. The Crystal Hall's scenery is stunning, right, Leoni?"

Why act chummy after slinking away embarrassed? Leoni shut her mouth to avoid entanglement, but then Nam Taemin turned.

"Knew you thought the same!"

What are you on about?

"Snake eyes are seriously annoying, huh?"

Giant Alliance really didn't mesh. Leoni shook her head, and Kichi seized the chance to chat. Bored watching the guilt-ridden tower just spy.

"You three get along—like friends?"

"……?"

Zzt— 'Ah, shouldn't have poked.'

Should've noticed those bristling hairs first. A porcupine incarnate?

Kichi swallowed a sigh at the prickly response, getting nothing in return.

'......No, we're allies at least.'

Soon Leoni relaxed her eyes. Right—the guilt lay with those two lumps.

Leoni calmed and replied.

"Just business."

"Same as me!"

"Shadow Mercenary leader Kichi, right?"

"Yeah, but drop the 'leader.' Call me casual."

"Sure?"

……No, not straight to casual?!

'I'm clearly the elder here?!'

Kichi recalled Leoni's rough speech habits. Regretted suggesting casual, but couldn't back out now. And more importantly...

"We commence the roundtable."

Silence fell at Chief Mage Marcelo's words. Too obvious to chatter on.

Kichi scanned the Crystal Hall's mood.

'Why so intense?'

Mage Tower. Strict discipline was rumored.

But still. This many people, yet only breathing?

'Scary level.'

This change came from Hoyeol. Or rather, his formality. Kichi couldn't notice naturally.

'......Not called Mage Tower for nothing.'

As Kichi admired anew, Marcelo got to the point.

"In the Demon King Struggle, we emerged victorious. Beyond mere victory, we achieved our planned objective: slaying an upper demon king."

The flat declaration shattered the silence. Only a few knew the plan.

"Wait. Upper demon king?"

"That demon king emergence message—was real?"

"Wasn't imagining it!"

"......But already slain?"

Murmurs— It made no sense.

The emergence message appeared the instant the rift cleared and collapsed. Who could fell an upper demon king—in that split second—in a level 800~900 rift?

As if answering, Marcelo said:

"As planned, Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol accomplished it."

"……!!!"

……Lee Hoyeol?

Everyone knew he'd entered the [20th Throne] rift alone. Confirmed via update notes. And the monsters inside.

"Two at 900, one at 920. Not just soloing them, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but downing an upper demon king as the rift cleared?"

Impossible. The player mages buzzed. Jibril scoffed.

"What's impossible about it."

"Jibril! We can hear you!"

"Hear me? I'm a skilled mage. With faith this lacking?"

Wingless words flew? Non-players showed no surprise.

But the commotion didn't last.

"Yet, curiously. Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol is absent."

"?"

At Jibril's words, Cley scanned the hall.

Suspected since Marcelo took the podium. Hoyeol really wasn't there. He wouldn't skip...

As Cley tilted her head:

"One more announcement."

Marcelo's continuation stunned all.

"For the time being, Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol will step back from all chief duties for rest. All tasks he handled—including tower exits—I'll proxy henceforth."

What?

"Lee Hoyeol taking a break?"

"......Hoyeol?"

"!!!"

Rest? Definitely ominous.

.

.

.

Mage Tower's top floor.

Clang— Even now, after talking with Yugweed, my heart creaked metallically.

It hit hard. Yugweed's words boiled down to: Fail to digest this Transcendent power, and I die.

One word: deviation into magic.

Thus, I made an extraordinary decision beyond mere resolve.

Scribble— Quill flew across parchment.

……Everything's fine.

Just don't write your mutterings in the reason, Grandfell?