A Stroke of Good Fortune (1)

The grand, majestic triumphal arch manifested by the awakened aesthetics. At the end of the path it revealed lay the heart of the dungeon. And there, the dungeon's boss monster: the Siren of the Lava.

Up until that moment, I was purely in awe. It was no joke that this was an [Advanced]-grade additional effect.

A pathfinding service, what is this?

One hundred thousand caves. And this was merely the first one. Right from the start, it was like being adrift in a sea of lava. The hopelessness and self-loathing nearly brought on a wave of post-nut clarity. It was like rain in a drought.

If I play my cards right, does this mean I can solo from now on?

I'd been seriously contemplating whether I'd have to rely on Fabian or some explorer after all. It wasn't that I disliked Fabian, but...

From "Sir Hoyeol" to "Supreme Commander Hoyeol." The way he addressed me grated on my nerves.

High El, Diend, and even Gwi-cheol aren't enough—now Fabian too?

Listening to their chatter... I might collapse from dizziness before even clearing anything.

Grateful for aesthetics, I pressed on with much lighter steps. That's when it happened.

♪♩♬─ The Siren's clear voice echoed through the air. Diend finally fell silent. High El closed her eyes gently and poured out her appreciation.

"A song that brings happiness even to the listener."

Indeed, High El. A perfect embodiment of Grandfell in matters of culture—flawless.

Even to my ears, untutored in classical music like Lee Hoyeol's, it was sweet and soothing.

That said...

I discreetly checked my mana reserves. Half gone in one go. But it was worth it.

Precise control over something so finicky is never easy.

Blasting it with absolute zero wasn't the goal. I needed to chill the lava sea properly. So I had to opt for standard freezing magic instead.

Damn, giving in to Grandfell's stubbornness once is exhausting.

♪♩♬─

Even so, picking the lower option from the choices felt right. Once I knew her story, slaying the Siren wouldn't sit well with me.

A level 800 dungeon boss monster, no less. The experience points would be a shame to waste. But it's not like she's the only monster around.

Maybe it's the experience I've piled up, the battle-hardened instincts. Figuring out the situation wasn't hard.

Back when Arcana was just a game, monsters in dungeons were a given. So were their backstories and lore.

But now that Arcana is reality, it's beyond Cosmo and AAU's grasp. As AAU intel confirms, concepts from development stages now live and breathe on the Arcana continent. They merely emerge into our world through rifts.

Each with their own backstory and lore.

Right—that's why AAU officially declared: Arcana is no longer just a game.

The Siren had her tale too.

Instead of killing her, I'd resolved her quest.

Tough. Real tough.

I'd felt it in Teppern too. These tales never come easy.

As I grumbled, a sniffle reached my ears.

"...A song that stirs the soul, my lord."

Shared sympathy among the afflicted? Diend, heavy with gloom like a raincloud. Just like Grandfell's other half—you're a handful too.

If not me, who else will soothe you?

But first, quest rewards.

I hadn't slain the dungeon boss, the Siren. Yet the clear message popped up clear as day.

Meaning she and I were no longer enemies. Other players might see differently, but to the system, she's no monster to me.

No need for further explanation.

♪♩♬♩♪─ Unfazed by my gaze, she swims through the chilled lava. That's proof enough.

And then, messages piled on.

Hidden area. The dungeon's designation had changed entirely. Like Yusra, Frost, or Muon.

Messages ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flashing one after another. My hunch turned to certainty. Max friendship with the area meant...

I could activate authority functions here.

Hold on.

...This was no time to lament lost experience. Hadn't I just secured a foothold in the Zero Mountains?

A base for conquering the hundred thousand caves. And reaching the mountaintop.

"All begins with the first step."

This time, even I had to admit Grandfell had style.

Looking to the distant future, this reward outshone any experience points.

Right now, the demons can't gauge my position—thanks to my bubble, a most lavish one.

In the Holy War, humanity and the Arcana continent remained hopelessly outmatched.

And I'd just recruited monsters as a third force.

Of course, the Siren might be a special case.

But no risk of misjudging. I had aesthetics.

Just follow the path when it opens. The quest when it appears.

Easy, right? But as I said, it's no easy road.

Hell, even just now with the Siren.

Knowing her tale didn't make fulfilling it any easier—near impossible, really. Without my First World Tree's Blessing cheat buff, even I couldn't have.

Most would fail. In that sense... maybe I did something incredible?

"At times, the scenery of an unfamiliar path holds its own charm."

Yet Grandfell, ever prideful, would never boast of his labors. Only the system appreciates my plight.

!

Even my untrained ears found the melody enchanting—and it was a buff. A Luck stat boost, one I'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠never seen before.

Greatly increased?!

Back when Arcana was a game, Luck's role was vague. Luck, plain and simple. Small boons like crits or dodges. Big ones like successful gear upgrades. That's it.

But I knew from experience. Dumping points into Luck like charity brought fortune!

And ignoring it as superstition? Demons rained down.

Chaos ensued.

This message? Unignorable.

The buff lasts one day. Time to make it count.

I spoke.

"High El, I entrust this place to thee."

A hundred words are less efficient than our telepathy. Dungeon turned region now. A region needs foundations.

First, secure standing ground.

"This High El shall uphold my lord's will."

For the job: the Bloodya Ornamental Tree. Kin to the aqua oak that fed on vast waters, but opposite—thriving on immense heat.

Whoooosh─ High El invoked her {Nature} authority.

From the lava sea's depths, Bloodya Ornamental Trees erupted.

Fittingly ornate.

Can a cat pass a fish shop unscathed? Grandfell-speak pours forth.

"A pure heart befitting pure soil."

Translation: the trunk's transparent. Hence the blood-related name for a tree.

Lava coursing through roots, trunk, leaves—like blood in veins.

─?

Suddenly, the song stops. The Siren peeks from the lava, eyeing the growing trees.

No wonder. They're thickening visibly in real time.

Familiar to me, though.

The blessing that turns herbs to elixirs.

Bloodya Ornamentals? Child's play—they sprout like weeds.

Thicker branches now make fine footing.

Then, with peace of mind...

Time to leverage this massively boosted Luck.

First thought: hunting.

I mustn't obsess over levels—yet must level up. A contradiction.

Turning, my jacket flaps obliviously─

Level cap's far off, but...

To test Tenacity's efficiency, I need levels for stat points.

So I manifested a portal. Zero Mountains bound.

From now on, monsters without tales will tremble in fear.

"Follow, Diend."

*

The Another Space Ho. Earth's orbiting space station. Post-cataclysm, AAU's rift-response vessel.

Real-time rift detection, courtesy of Another Space.

No anomalies detected─ The middle-aged man peering at gauges sighed in relief.

Finally sinking in.

"No regular update, for real."

"Such doubt."

"Doubt? Drifting in dark space, staring at Earth—doubts creep in. I still wonder sometimes."

Zero Mountains, vivid even from orbit. Its peak feels close enough to touch.

So the summit should be crystal-clear through Another Space's lenses.

"What if it's a hidden camera? What we see manipulated footage? Clouds in space? Come on."

Mist in space. Unscientific phenomena. Magic alone explains it.

The man feigned anger playfully.

"Damn it! If I hadn't seen magic with my own eyes, I'd never accept it. Curse it, I did. A scientist believing in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠magic."

The woman shrugged at his lament.

"Still, it's refreshing to see you lively. Raymon Sean's a bastard, but he hasn't lied yet."

No update means no update. Unlisted rifts? Low-level, level 200 max. Eager players clear them quick.

"So don't sweat it on a good day."

"Ugh. What?"

"Hot pack."

"Why slap hot on my face?"

"I'll watch the gauges. Rest your eyes a bit."

He grumbled but groaned in relief. Fatigue easing, indeed.

Thus... as he unwittingly dozed briefly.

"S-Senior?"

"Hm?"

"There, that...!"

"!"

Thud─ Eyes snapped wide. Fallen hot pack. Her urgent tone screamed it.

Emergency update. Rift spawn.

Another Space Ho's role: detect and report rifts to Earth ASAP.

"Damn magic."

But science-built in space, it couldn't fully grasp Arcana concepts. No full automation.

Bridging reality and Arcana? Grind a scientist who'd witnessed magic.

"Where?"

Eyes wide as if never closed.

Gaze to gauges.

"...What?"

No anomalies detected─

...Hidden camera for real?

Then her words hit.

"Not there—there!"

Finger pointed to Earth.

Yes. Zero Mountains' summit warping.

"A black hole...?!"

Violently so. Distinct from a rift. Like space forcibly torn by power.

"...!!"

They'd witnessed something similar.

[Crack in Dimensions] Rift emergence.

"Impossible."

But different. Warped space like a black hole. Massive silhouette diving toward it.

Man radioed Earth, voice trembling.

"This is AAU Another Space Ho. Anomaly at Zero Mountains summit. Dragon tearing... no, shattering dimensions and diving in!!"

...

I was overcome with utter betrayal.

Wasn't Luck greatly increased?

Dragons, elves, transcendents, and now ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠demon kings.

Not just luck—a curse?!

What the hell is this circus?!