Not the Time for Small Talk (1)

I gazed at the landscape revealed by the Demon Eye Telescope. Then, almost without realizing it, I found myself glaring at the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠telescope itself.

……Are my eyes even open properly?

Still not trusting it fully, I checked the messages too.

The system doesn't lie.

……So I'm not seeing things.

After all the unbelievable events I've witnessed, today takes the cake. The most ridiculously dynamic day yet.

I'd sworn to myself not to make any bold predictions going forward.

Yet here I was, compelled to declare it anyway. Yunak Seus, Garok, Urs, Agentress and the elves too. Everyone on that battlefield had a reason they couldn't back down.

Right or wrong, they were all dead set on seeing it through to the end.

A being capable of stopping that fight? I declare it now. Neither in reality nor on the Arcana Continent. In all the knowledge I possess, no such existence exists.

So of course I was thrown.

Who the hell is that?

A transcendent emerging from the portal on a broomstick. No sooner had she appeared than the battle halted like a lie.

I knew it. This wasn't about raw strength.

Above all, these weren't people who would cower before a single transcendent.

So there was only one reason. That unknown transcendent had brought news that could end the fight.

No, what kind of news could it be?

My curiosity was sky-high, but unfortunately, I couldn't hear the reason.

Telepathy, huh. Right now, I resent magic.

Playing dirty.

Of course, she couldn't have noticed I was watching through the telescope. It was probably just the deafening thunder drowning everything out. No matter how loud your voice, you couldn't converse amid that roar.

I knew there was no helping it, but the regret lingered anyway.

"At last, silence reigns."

I deliberately ignored Grandfell's ever-eloquent words and pondered.

So, whatever happened……

In the end, the system didn't lie, did it?

From Yunak Seus to Garok. Everyone stopped fighting as if by magic and dispersed.

Even as they left, their eyes blazed with unresolved fury, but for now, they'd judged it wasn't time to fight.

I didn't know the reason, so it left a bitter aftertaste.

Whew—

Inside, I swallowed a sigh of relief without realizing it.

The immediate mystery was just my own curiosity, easily dismissed.

But if that broom-riding transcendent hadn't appeared……

……We nearly had an apocalyptic end on a lucky day.

At least we'd averted Earth's destruction ending.

A true benefactor, thanks to my massively boosted luck.

Any normal person would be grateful, but I spat the same line as always.

"Did I not say? Luck and fate alike must be forged."

Always has to get the last word!

Of course, it probably didn't carry to the Arcana Continent.

Out of conscience, I offered a curt apology on behalf of the immature Grandfell.

……It's complicated to explain, but sorry, he's going through puberty.

The chaos unfolding across the Arcana Continent. Now that the great incident had settled, I resolved to make the most of the remaining effect duration.

It started with doubt.

But now, with the benefactor's arrival bringing peace, the luck's effect was proven.

I flung my jacket open and eyed the forest.

Midway up the Zero Mountains. Even if their appearance resembled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ordinary beasts more than monsters, their strength was no joke.

You could tell from how most players struggled against the Zero Mountains rabbits.

Five regulars to one named.

No Predator-Prey Relationship activation. Considering the level gap, hunting without transcendent-level magic was impossible.

I'd steadily trained stats excluding magic through class quests, but they still lagged behind same-level melee players.

Even so, I murmured lowly.

"This must be harsh for you."

I gripped Guicheol.

"Thus, I shall show mercy."

Hold on, mercy on whose authority?

Even gripping the legendary item Guicheol.

Unless I entrusted everything to it, I couldn't unleash flashy moves like in my duel with Shreygwin.

Of course, with Lee Hoyeol's cunning brain.

I'd love to leave it all to Guicheol forever!

Society didn't advance through division of labor for nothing.

With so many weak points to protect already, swordsmanship was one area where I wanted to meekly follow Guicheol's lead.

In gamer terms, I just want to be a bus passenger.

However.

"Respond."

Would pride ever hand the reins to another?

Grandfell, who couldn't rest unless charging first into hardship?

In the end, the one suffering was me again……!

The battle began soon after. I felt the ego sword's presence. Guicheol's voice.

I flinched when Guicheol trailed off like that. A sword that could rebuke the Sword Saint Shreygwin. The sword itself.

Had it seen through my shallow skills?

For a moment, I felt like a thief with guilty feet.

But it was unfounded.

Unwavering mindset? Not wrong.

Thanks to the frothy bubbles from my desperate struggles.

Matching levels alone, I'd only faced rifts and monsters hundreds of levels above.

Even achieving sword aura came from dying once.

Sometimes ignorance is bliss for both sides. If you're happy, Guicheol, that's what matters.

Swoosh—I swung Guicheol, deciding good was good.

Not just swordsmanship, from black magic to archery. I had plenty of wells needing repair.

Why prioritize swordsmanship first? A clear goal.

Surpass incomplete to complete, and like the circle, new effects would unlock.

The choice promising the biggest reward for effort.

The battle with the war maniac reindeer herd. No need to explain—my victory.

Even if I wore the jacket draped rather than equipped.

Covered in epics, wielding a legendary. Level gaps like this were child's play with gear advantage.

Plus incomplete swift swordsmanship.

Three levels up to 598. Nearing 600, level-ups slowed, hitting a new wall.

Still, compared to other players, absurd growth.

They're probably hunting non-stop right now.

A single level takes a day. Sometimes days without rest.

Don't complain, Hoyeol, considering their effort.

……But seriously, this is too much.

What was wrong with me? Nothing ever came easy.

I sighed at my status window.

The new stats: aesthetics and tenacity. Aesthetics started divided into high/mid/low, so no point allocation expected or possible.

But tenacity.

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

You can't disguise as Arabic numerals like that!

Akshan giving a cheat stat? Suspicious.

Akshan valued effort above all. Demon hunters wouldn't hand out freebies.

I recalled tenacity's effect.

Whether from Grandfell's iron will, 1 point equated to roughly 50 stat points.

1 level = 50 levels efficiency ahead.

I was satisfied.

But it was all kimchi soup.

Obvious how to raise tenacity.

That endless grind!

Like when it unlocked. Transcending limits through training.

No rest ahead.

But massive luck might raise it too.

Already scheming self-inflicted hardship. Felt like Grandfell's pride infecting me……

Black history guilt can wait till tomorrow.

I checked the Siren's Blessing duration and declared.

"Time is like afternoon tea—best savored."

Why no quip today?

*

Mage Tower office.

One last bold claim. No day as grueling as today!

Already swamped, yet to recoup the massive luck investment, I'd dashed everywhere.

"Not a bad day."

If even his mouth says that, it's self-evident.

So what happened? Let's review while the tea steeps.

First, grueling training raised tenacity by 1. Joy mixed with flinch.

Massive luck, yet just 1 point from that? Normal times must be worse.

Couldn't shake the worry.

"Luck is but fleeting."

I don't like green tea steeped in cold water. Don't jinx it now, Grandfell.

But considering the effect, it was worthwhile suffering.

Push-ups blurring vision. Rising tenacity. Gained 100 strength from it.

Lifelong grind escape impossible.

Skipping process, result-wise, cheat stat indeed.

Keep fainting from training……

Of course, massive luck didn't end there.

Handling duties in Yusra Kingdom office yielded gains too.

Gladdest: News direct from King Hakuna.

—"My deepest apologies for my absence. At last, I am resolved."

Hakuna hadn't properly wielded a sword. Couldn't even look at blades.

Seeing sword, spear, shield recalled ancient kingdom subjects he failed.

—"However lacking, I shall fulfill my duty."

Hakuna ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠overcoming past. Good news all around.

Congrats on trauma, and my workload lightens.

Breathing room? Clack—lighter steps.

Back at Mage Tower, another glad tidings awaited.

Words on parchment. Marcelo's handwriting and content.

Skipping pleasantries and thanks.

Mage Tower top floor. Tower Master floating eyes closed in unknown mana sphere.

Movement detected. Just twitching finger, but.

Unprecedented.

His buoyant script showed Marcelo's excitement.

Of course, I'm glad too.

Progress on the stalled quest.

Clink—pouring hot water into teacup, I murmured.

"The finish matters most."

Yes. After such a full day, about an hour left.

Planned to use it well. Entering the Spacetime Salon.

Time to meet my lifesaver.

The broom-riding unknown awakened.

With massive luck, less chance of missing each other.

So now, I'm brewing green tea to soothe Grandfell, who dislikes salon visits.

No green tea on the menu? Rocket delivery needed.

I intoned gravely.

"The Spacetime Salon urgently needs rocket delivery too."

Grandfell's formality dominates my body. Stronger in the salon. Rigid posture, gait, speech. No room for rashness.

Yet my first words upon entering: a warning.

"Reveal thyself."

Truly. Last bold claim.

An 'impossible' figure in the Spacetime Salon.