No Time for Pleasantries (2)
Spacetime—or the Veteran Community. There had always been a disconnect between reality and the Arcana Continent. I'd already confirmed that when the setting-only Veteran Community manifested as Spacetime, certain elements were added. From the community taking form as a salon to duels unfolding in the coliseum.
Of course, amid all those changes, some principles remained unchanged. Spacetime was a realm exclusively for transcendents.
Circles, or perhaps quicksword arts. Or, like me, someone who'd shoved Gamigin straight into hell. You'd need achievements that would shock anyone who saw them. True transcendents. You had to possess the caliber worthy of being called a veteran.
Not that I particularly relished saying it myself, but... 'You have to stand out.'
I had no idea when Spacetime had existed on the Arcana Continent, but given the stringent qualification trials, the number of transcendents couldn't be large.
'I've personally witnessed only about a dozen or so.'
Considering the long history of the Arcana Continent, that meant only those who drew a line across eras could enter Spacetime.
'Feels like I'm gilding my own face.'
But what was my specialty? Proper self-awareness.
I knew it well. The reason I'd attained the caliber of a transcendent wasn't my power alone. The special circumstances of the Demon King Struggle cracking open the gates of hell. And with Akshan's Legacy, the cooperation of the Akshan seniors summoned from hell—that was what made the feat possible.
That's why I could assert it confidently. At this point in time, no player except me could enter Spacetime.
Even factoring in that levels were just numbers, or variables like class. Right now, Spacetime was a domain no player could dare trespass.
Clack—
Thus, I moved forward. Toward the salon of Spacetime, inaccessible to players. Toward the figure who had so abruptly appeared at the table: the 'pointed hat.'
A massive pointed hat. Its face was concealed, but the dangling blonde locks were unmistakable. It was Jessie Haynes.
I opened my mouth.
"Reveal your identity."
Clink—
At my words, whoever was masquerading as Jessie set down the teacup they held.
'...Hold on.'
At times like this, Grandfell's madness for tea proved useful. The aroma let me discern it was black tea.
Yes, that was it. Another reason both I and Grandfell could be certain. Because Jessie had been the only one.
—"Sorry! Tea just doesn't taste good to me!"
The one who'd left my offered green tea untouched. It wasn't because the teabag green tea was cheap. According to Jessie's excuse-not-excuse, she couldn't stomach any kind of tea, from coffee to black tea. She'd confessed it herself.
"Have you already forgotten my name?"
So such a poor act wouldn't fly. And if you're going to act, do it right. End with an exclamation mark, not a question.
"This is my final question."
"...?"
"Reveal your identity."
I noticed anew how chilling my voice sounded. Thanks to that, even Jessie... no, not Jessie. Whoever was imitating her seemed to abandon any thought of playing dumb early on.
Whoosh—
The pointed hat moved slowly. A face emerged from beneath it. An unfamiliar voice spoke.
"How did you figure it out? Nothing's changed."
Nothing unchanged, my foot. No exclamation mark in the pupils. It was obviously not Jessie.
'Could it be.'
My occupational hazard was incurable. The exterior was Jessie Haynes, but the mind was not.
The first suspicion was demon possession.
'No, no scent.'
Moreover, Predator-Prey Relationship hadn't activated. Not a demon riding the body this time, then. Which only deepened the mystery.
Who are you?
"I wasn't really trying to deceive you. Just a bit of fun. If I could pull my mind out and show you, you'd understand my playfulness right away."
Dropping the clumsy act shifted the atmosphere entirely. The languid voice carried boundless leisure. Like the seasoned timbre of someone who'd seen it all. You could tell just from the crossed legs in a situation like this.
But fortunately for me.
"Of course, it'd be hard to accept. Explaining the full story would take some time..."
It wasn't a hostile stance. Then, eyes turned to the opposite chair. Of course, I wasn't one to heed a stranger's suggestion so easily.
Ignoring the silent invitation, standing rigidly and staring, the Jessie-masked figure muttered nonchalantly.
"Oops, decorum. The most important thing, and I forgot."
Then they summoned the salon menu.
"Shall I treat you to some tea? Can we talk?"
Live by decorum, die by decorum. At the polite request, I sat in the opposite chair.
Regrettably.
'My original target was the broom-riding transcendent...'
She wasn't in the salon now. And now that I'd realized this Jessie wasn't Jessie, I couldn't just let it slide.
Because whoever had taken Jessie's body, every single one counted for us.
'Jessie Haynes is one of humanity's core forces.'
Class: Grand Archmage. I'd heard Jessie's potential had been renowned even when Arcana was just a game. NPCs ordinary players couldn't even approach had been favorable to her. She'd even been acquainted with Harcon.
So let's hear the full story.
"Black tea like mine?"
At those words, I glanced at the teacup on the table. Unfortunately, Spacetime's salon had no green tea. Knowing that, and having already doped up sufficiently on green tea beforehand, I replied without hesitation.
"Skip the chatter and get to the point."
I continued even more coldly.
"We haven't the leisure for tea time."
Simply not liking black tea. Would've guzzled green tea gladly. Don't tack on fancy excuses, Grandfell...
*
Who was the greatest mage of the era?
Before the cataclysm, such questions often floated around the Arcana Continent. Inevitably so. To ordinary folk, mages were objects of envy.
Fire Dragon, Karimjeva. Eternal Snow, Senios. Gentle Giant, Yugweed, and more...
Moreover, magic had predatory matchups like rock-paper-scissors. No definitive answer, but like the endless fun of that game, it was a great topic for idle talk.
That begs the question. If no clear strongest exists, why call it Grand Archmage?
Some mages had said it.
"Beyond ability, Grand Archmage is more like a title."
"It's a different league from regular mages."
"Can't compare them."
"How do you compare the singular to others?"
Yes, Grand Archmage wasn't a position to seize. It was simply being chosen as one.
Adventurer Jessie Haynes being selected as such was unforeseen by all. Even the empire's emperor.
"Perhaps this too is the goddess's grace."
For the empire, always wary of the Mage Tower, it was a golden opportunity. If they could win over Grand Archmage Jessie as an ally, no more trembling at the Mage Tower's uncertainty.
However.
"A variable countered by another variable."
The Mage Tower didn't sit idle. Unprecedentedly, they permitted adventurer Jessie's entry. Skipping qualification proof, granting apprentice rank outright.
Who made that bold call? Not the chief mage. Nor the elder mages.
Yes, it was all the Tower Master's will. Just before losing consciousness, floating in the mana sphere. The sole directive in the written letter concerned Jessie Haynes's disposition.
That was the public knowledge on the Grand Archmage. And the current one. Information on Jessie Haynes.
"But was that really the end of it?"
Jessie's shell twitched.
"Mages are arrogant by nature. As chief mage of the tower, you know better than anyone. No master-disciple bonds exist among mages."
Elder, chief, senior, skilled, apprentice. The Mage Tower's five ranks. But none were called master and disciple. Even the closest—senior and skilled—were mere collaborators, sometimes rivals during senior elections.
"Could a Grand Archmage suppress that nature?"
The curving eye smile reminded that this wasn't Jessie. But someone else wearing her shell.
"Master and disciple... Maybe one or two thought that way. But most of us, including me, didn't."
Tap—
A finger tapped the hat's brim.
"Get it now, after all that?"
To summarize: Past Grand Archmages dwelled in the 'pointed hat' as consciousnesses. Their goal: Witness the extremes beyond magic's zenith. The optimal path: Sole lineage succession passed down by Grand Archmages.
"Why so silent? Shocked the Grand Archmage's reality differs from your thoughts? I figured even you, as a mage, would understand."
The eyes narrowed like crescent moons.
"The flesh shackles vision. What of viewing the world through new flesh? Or through an adventurer born not in Arcana, but another world?"
Yes. That was why they'd chosen Jessie Haynes as the Grand Archmage's vessel. The decision of the Grand Archmages wearing her mask.
"Of course, only possible with her full understanding and consent. Whatever mental shift occurred, lately this girl was putting in real effort. Until she collapsed from mana exhaustion."
The Grand Archmage shrugged.
"Only when she's unconscious like now can we emerge. Whose consciousness manifests is pure luck. Lucky for me this time?"
How long since an outing? Banter aside, one Grand Archmage whispered.
"My share of gold ran out, though..."
Lifting the empty teacup.
"Mind if I get one more? No, could I?"
Finally, the silent Hoyeol spoke.
"Merely to witness magic's extremes?"
"Right. In tower terms, 'truth.' Thanks to her efforts, that truth is coming into view. Oddly, she grasped that tough concept. 'Aesthetics'."
Her magic comprehension is poor, sure. But with us, no worries.
The Grand Archmage added one last thing.
"She was the vessel from the start."
A blatant aside—and a mistake.
"Regrettable, then."
"...Regrettable?"
"The path to aesthetics."
Not arrogance or indulgence. Words only one qualified could utter.
His voice, filled with conviction, reached the Grand Archmage.
"You won't be on it."
...
I'd expected the pointed hat was no ordinary one, given the fuss. But past Grand Archmages' consciousnesses dwelling within? Beyond imagination. And not just one or two, but too many to count on fingers...!
Of course, the reason didn't faze me. Elder mage Senios of Eternal Snow had long shattered illusions about mages. I knew firsthand that mages were rotten from the start.
Plus, Jessie knew too. She was doing the Grand Archmage class quest. With the player's privilege of the system, she'd grasped via status windows what her actions led to.
Suddenly, the Grand Archmage's words resurfaced.
-"Whatever mental shift occurred, lately this girl was putting in real effort."
From the evil spirits to demon kings to the Zero Mountains. Endless situations breeding helplessness. Yet Jessie had risen above it.
Like other players seeking growth in the Zero Mountains. She'd pursued the Grand Archmage class quest for the same.
Yes, that was Jessie's pride.
But merely a vessel?
To belittle another's pride before Grandfell. Grand Archmages, you've made a grave error.
"We won't be on that path?"
They looked clueless to my meaning. Inevitable. They couldn't imagine I, the creator of aesthetics, stood closest to magic's extremes now.
"From this moment."
"...?"
Don't misunderstand.
"I, the creator of aesthetics."
"...What?"
Time to set things straight.
"Forbid your approach to aesthetics."
"!!!"