Endings Matter: The Monstrously Vast Zero Mountains
Zero Mountains. Monstrously massive, even from this height, they refuse to fit into a single glance.
In that sense, the Mage Tower truly lives up to its name.
Calm. So calm.
Mana consumption in interference processes depends on the complexity added. For example...
So I wasn't overreacting about aesthetics for nothing.
If I didn't activate aesthetics and tried to achieve a similar effect through added interference? The mana cost for manifestation would multiply several times over, or even dozens in the worst case.
Calming the sea didn't require complex interference processes. It meant the Mage Tower mages—born geniuses—were using their mana with perfect efficiency.
I might not have even needed to come here.
But every matter has its procedures. Having shown my face, I should at least exchange greetings.
I approached Yugweed and Marcelo, walking the skies. Needless to say, there was no clack-clack of footsteps in empty air.
Only after I spoke did the two notice me.
"My lord?"
...Why that reaction?
Marcelo's face said it all.
First, a warm greeting.
"Everyone, you've worked hard."
A brief moment of uncharacteristically kind words from my usual sharp tongue.
Marcelo urgently opened his mouth.
"Forgive me for interrupting, my lord, but aren't you on leave? We've been handling things precisely so you wouldn't need to step in after all your recent hardships..."
No need to apologize, Marcelo. What can I do about my fateful luck?
Besides, I'd missed the weight of the chief mage role a bit.
Old sayings never lie. Life away from home is a dog's hardship.
Better than Akkshan, at least.
The end there was true transcendence—physical training beyond limits. I nearly sank into pride for real.
It even brought back memories of slashing reject stamps on Bensy's tower-exit applications.
So.
"No need for concern, Marcelo."
Even without Zero Mountains appearing.
"From this moment, I return to my duties as chief mage."
I'd have come back to the tower anyway.
That said, Elder Mage Yugweed's expression was grave. From what I gathered, it was a situation that warranted it.
"A magic circle from the Dragon-Mage War era."
The war between dragons and the Mage Tower. I have no idea how it started, but the tower's utter terror in defeat was clear.
Just look at them leaving a magic circle behind.
A circle merely to prevent waking a dragon's eternal slumber. Their pride must have been in tatters back then.
Yet they endured that humiliation. Dragons were beings not to be touched.
But who the hell messed with it?!
Me. Truth be told, cold sweat had already beaded inside.
With Zero Mountains updated into reality, dragons were no longer someone else's problem.
Imagine one waking like Tepperun's Being That Must Not Awaken.
I don't even want to think about it.
No time to delay. The Mage Tower mages had quelled the earthquakes and tsunamis from Zero Mountains' emergence.
My task was greater: restore the ancient magic circle to keep dragons asleep.
"Leave the circle's restoration to me."
Even an ancient one.
With Grandfell's innate genius.
Plus the cheat of Reversal Magic.
And circles now at a realm amplifying manifestation.
No reason to hesitate.
"It is not a matter of manifesting."
"...?"
"Simply one of reversal."
"...!!"
"As if reviving the abyss."
...Please don't glorify Reversal Magic so extravagantly, Grandfell.
I hope Yugweed and Marcelo weren't cringing.
Just then, the magic circle reverted to its original form as desired.
Shhh—
Thick fog began rising once more over Zero Mountains' peak, as if concealing the dragons' slumber.
Crunch-crunch—
Meanwhile, Zero Mountains continued updating at a rapid pace.
Grandfell never gazed in awe at anything, so I turned away the moment the range exceeded eye level.
Yugweed's face entered view. She looked thrilled.
"A week? No, mere days? To master circles so freely in that short rest! The mana pulse from your heart is incomparably clearer now!"
Mana pulse... that thrum of the heart?
Thanks to elixirs, circles and pulse are back to normal now. But then, I hadn't met transcendent conditions, so effects were sealed.
"Even the Tower Master endured crises to master circles fully. In that sense, Chief, you are truly remarkable!"
Merely surviving because effects were sealed.
I—Grandfell—remained silent.
Well, not wrong. I did face crises, stubbornly clinging to teatime.
Nearly froze, passed out, whatever.
...Water under the bridge.
Grandfell even dropped and shattered a teacup.
The crises the Tower Master endured? I faced them all at once, in record time.
As I nodded, presences approached.
"Gasp!"
Bensy William. He spotted me and clamped his mouth shut.
Banggrit's awkward face confirmed they'd been talking about me.
I wanted to say even lousy exit applications were missed, but no time.
Shh—
Matis spotted me and bowed lightly.
Bellie waved casually; Payan swallowed something hastily and bowed.
Look, Kiko's dark circles persist. Everyone unchanged.
Mage Tower full mobilization. To outsiders, an image of utmost dignity.
To me, the usual scenery.
Suddenly, Lee Hoyeol, you've grown so much.
With that came responsibility.
Zero Mountains fully manifest. An unavoidable quest awaited.
Dragon Hunter of Evil
Slayer of the wicked dragon kin.
The mountains' legend calls to you.
📍 Reach Zero Mountains' summit. (In Progress)
Zero Mountains fully revealed. Its height eclipses the sun.
The rising message chilled anyone.
From Arcana's game days to now, that recommended level warning unchanged.
Yes. I must reach the summit—not recommended for anyone.
Beyond the world quest. Only then could I avoid sinking under Grandfell's heavy pride.
Gazing at the range, I murmured lowly.
"Mountains and pride. At last, we shall see which stands taller."
...Please, let no one have heard that.
*
When the Mage Tower stepped up, the world watched skeptically.
But such doubts proved unfounded. The tower quelled the catastrophe spectacularly.
Not even quelled—more like erased.
Truly Arcana's strongest force. They overlooked the calmed sea casually. No tension on camera.
The sole player amid them: Hoyeol appeared.
Senior mages' faces shifted sharply. Bensy William's bordered on shock.
Hoyeol, Marcelo, and presumed elder conversing drew focus.
Studio experts dissected it.
Mage Tower elder and chief shocked? Netubers pounced.
Speculation snowballed. Summarized:
Lee Hoyeol sealed dragons at Zero summit.
Players recoiled again. Dragons' legend predated reality fusion.
Yusra Kingdom. Golden Calf pub chatter.
Rackid drank sans rant for once.
"Gotta admit it clean this time, Captain."
Gulp—
Sealing dragons. Damn, something I couldn't pull off.
Word spreads faster than winged steeds.
Golden Palace garden.
"Dare receive my care and grow this little? Bloom bigger, brighter, or I'll uproot you."
Twitch—
Elcidoir's large ears caught Hoyeol rumors mid-threat to elixir herbs.
Lee Hoyeol, that arrogant human, sealed dragons?
Elcidoir scoffed.
"Hah, ridiculous."
Not dismissive—knowing.
"Mother's blessing monopolized, naturally."
Elves. Equals to dragons, sole worthy of calling them lizards.
To Elcidoir, humans fussing over this was baffling.
"He subdued even me from the start."
Sealing dragons at Zero? Trivial.
Failure? Unforgivable.
"Implies I'm lesser than lizards."
Communities ablaze. Elcidoir's mutter outside.
Hoyeol savored it all from Yusra office.
Clink—
Sipping tea leisurely as always.
......
When will I escape overestimation?
Just restored an ancient Dragon-Mage circle with Reversal Magic.
Treated like a legendary dragon-sealing hero...!
"Excessive praise."
Says the guy flexing shoulders?
Anyway, vacation's end was dynamic.
Grandfell's pride yearned to return immediately.
Marcelo intervened.
—"Please, just today. Let the Mage Tower and Arcana repay adventurers' salvation."
Such plea, even Grandfell relented.
Rest wasn't rest. World overestimating me—how relax?
I knew: any hype, Grandfell makes real.
...Tomorrow, the grind begins.
Clink—
Thus, cherishing teatime makes sense.
"Flawless flavor and aroma."
Teabag green tea praise? Still no.
But savor last leisure.
Bzzz— Vrrr— Whirr—
"?"
Mid-vow, phone buzzed relentlessly.
Messages. Reading them, I revised plans.
The grind started now.
......Please calm down, my nemesis!