I'll Etch It Into Your Minds

The emergence of the demon king. The update details spread rapidly across the world.

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Not only the players hunting monsters in the Zero Mountains, but also the Arcana natives who hadn't stopped training in Yusra, Muon, and Frost—they all received the news.

There was no hesitation. No, it went beyond hesitation; everyone mobilized.

Yes, under the banner of the Holy War, they were one.

The battle against the demon king was the event that took absolute priority above all else. Hadn't they been repeating hunts and training precisely for this day?

In Frost, the Lion Heart Knights.

Captain Harcon pulled on his helmet and said,

"How inconvenient—right on the day of the regular conference."

If only the news didn't reach Sir Hoyeol.

"We'll have to wrap it up swiftly on our end without causing any disturbance."

In the Yusra Kingdom, the Shadow Mercenaries.

Vice-Captain Wolf looked at Kichi. Drunk since midday and now passed out, our captain.

'Annoying, but no choice.'

Wolf spoke up in front of the mercenaries.

"There's only one demon king's castle that appeared. So, including me, three of us need to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠move. Let's see—excluding our captain who's napping, looks like everyone's here…."

"Me! Me! Me!!!"

Clatter!

Charging toward Wolf with a shout was the low-rank member, Rackid.

Rackid's muscles were already bulging with excitement. Yet his face was beaming innocently.

Ninth seat, Dreshev, sneered.

"No rewards in a holy war, even if you bust your ass."

"I know."

"Then why so motivated? It's annoying me just watching."

"Heh heh heh. I heard a rumor."

"……Rumor? What rumor?"

"That if you get friendly, you can clink teacups!"

……Teacups, not even glasses? And Rackid didn't even use glasses. He'd chug entire bottles anyway.

Imagining Rackid holding a tiny teacup was hilarious, but… his expression was so serious that I held it back.

Wolf, head bowed to stifle his laugh. Rackid pleaded with him.

"Wolf. No, Vice-Captain!"

No one in the mercenaries except Kichi acknowledged Rackid. Yet he used the polite title of vice-captain. The reason was simple.

"I have to repay that big-eared bastard for the humiliation!"

It was the lingering resentment.

The elf, Elcidoir. He'd crawled out of the underworld to settle the score, but that damn guy had somehow become an ally. More than that, he was tending the garden of their lifesaver, Hoyeol.

Rackid ground his teeth.

"I'm thinking of clinking teacups to get official permission."

Yes, the one to clink teacups with was none other than Hoyeol.

"Approval for a duel with that big-eared freak!"

Hearing the specific reason, the Shadow Mercenaries had no desire to stop him. If beaten, strike back. It was one of the mercenary corps' iron rules.

Wolf continued.

"Then, we'll need one more volunteer."

A flowing silence.

Wolf scanned the members once and continued.

"Alright, Pimbi, you're up."

"……Me? Why me?!"

"Big guy with a bow. A mage would fit the last spot nicely?"

"Ugh."

Fourth seat, Pimbi grumbled but didn't rebel. With Captain Kichi absent, Vice-Captain Wolf's orders were absolute.

"Uahaha. Let's all do our best. Don't drag me down."

Rackid's boisterous voice faded into the distance.

As the three departed, silence fell over the hideout.

Breaking the silence was none other than sixth seat, Isabelmal.

The necromancer. Dealing with the dead made her more sensitive to breath than anyone.

Isabelmal looked at Kichi.

"Why pretend to sleep, Captain?"

How'd you know? Busted.

Kichi muttered softly, without her usual nonchalance.

"……Because a name I wanted to ignore came up."

*

The Holy War Alliance. Including the Giant Alliance, most guilds except Cheonha Tongil had assembled. Even the Lion Heart Knights and Muon's holy knights.

It was different from before. Unlike the past when they were helpless against demons' status ailments.

Far from cowed before demons, morale soared.

Harcon intoned gravely.

"The moment we've awaited has come."

Even a cool-headed comparison of forces showed superiority. Even without Hoyeol and the Mage Tower joining.

With current strength alone, conquering one demon king's castle was no issue.

However.

"The problem is that the demon king's castle appeared not as a rift, but as a region."

Even Nam Cheolmin, who always offered the best solutions, couldn't this time.

In the heart of the city, amid skyscrapers.

The demon king's castle had appeared out of nowhere.

Most civilians had evacuated, but some couldn't.

The aftermath of the castle that appeared as if always there.

"Simply put, the rolling demon king's castle pushed aside the building it embedded into. Plus, its territory came along, destabilizing the ground. And because of that…."

Nam Cheolmin's finger pointed to the massively tilted building. Adjacent ones showed signs of collapse.

Nam Taemin's brow furrowed.

"So… there are people inside that building?"

Hisagi Kazuma spoke.

"Rash moves could accelerate the collapse. They seem to be waiting for rescuers inside. Rescuers moved fast, but it was too late."

Harcon, grasping the situation, asked.

"If we enter, can we save the survivors?"

Hisagi narrowed his eyes.

"We can't save them all. More coldly, it could collapse the moment we enter."

From the instant the demon king's castle appeared.

The building had steeply tilted without time to escape.

They'd been watching it.

"Damn it."

Yet no solution.

Inevitable. Science builds skyscrapers but can't stop their fall.

Goddess Church holy knight captain, Tarim Eber.

He spoke with a resolute face.

"There's a way thinking after collapse."

"What do you mean, Sir Tarim?"

"The Goddess Church priests' prayers can temporarily boost life force in an area to extremes. Even fatal heart destruction would keep them breathing."

"……!!!"

An extreme choice. But in this hopeless situation, even that felt welcome.

Then, magic came to mind.

"If science and prayer fail… what about magic?"

Magic unbound by physics might solve this.

Shreyg of Second Sun shook his head.

"All Second Sun mages are at the regular conference."

"Same for Giant Alliance."

"Us too…."

Camilla of Shining raised her hand last.

"Regrettably, we're out too."

Shining wiped out too.

Yes, only one mage here: Shadow Mercenary Pimbi.

But even Pimbi shook her head.

"I could stop full collapse somehow… but protecting people inside? No magic can. Best case…."

Tap tap.

Pimbi pointed between herself and the building alternately.

"Continuous portals to evacuate them?"

Portals minimize shock for rescues.

But survivor positions unknown.

Adjusting coordinates for serial portals burdened even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Pimbi.

Moreover.

"Anyway, gonna keep watching? That…?"

Couldn't focus on the building forever.

The demonic aura from the demon king's castle grew fiercer by the moment.

A horrific wail echoed from the castle.

Leoni Bellucci grimaced.

"……What the hell's with 'Claudy'?"

"Was there a ranker player like that?"

"Not in my memory."

And 'Claudy' at that. Screaming an unknown name.

Totally backed into a corner, no advance or retreat.

A mercenary who knew gains and losses best: Wolf made the cold call.

"Pimbi, join when you can."

"Not sure how many I can save…."

"As many as you can without risking yourself."

Can't save all lives. Gains mean losses.

Hearing the talk, Nam Taemin gritted his teeth.

'In the end, compromise again?'

Always felt unfair.

"……It's bullshit."

Arcana's flood. Thought they'd started counterattacking.

Yet couldn't protect everything perfectly.

Had to weigh minimal damage sacrifices each time.

Grind—teeth aching with injustice.

Yet no hesitation.

The demon king's castle gates finally opened.

Weighing continued this instant too.

Ultimately, best defense is offense.

Must enter before demons pour out. Minimize city damage.

Nam Taemin spoke.

"Please, Ms. Pimbi."

"……Pardon?"

"Won't let a single one interfere with rescues."

"Got it, but don't expect miracles."

"Thank you."

Nam Taemin and the Holy War Alliance.

The moment they stepped toward the castle.

Flutter—something flapping sounded.

"!"

All eyes naturally turned.

A silhouette emerged from the portal's backlight.

Deep indigo uniform.

Badge gleaming against the uniform.

Silver hair.

A ray of light piercing the dilemma.

"No need for concern."

The dawn declared.

"For I have arrived."

….

Always thought so, but damn, words flow well…!

Yet the one who said it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was dying of worry.

Why? Even now.

That horrific name echoed from the demon king's castle.

'No, seriously, what?'

During the regular conference—my presentation, no less.

Yet couldn't endure without rushing here.

Claudy?! Why.

Why from demons' mouths?!

'……Do the demons know?'

My name…?

I'm a demon hunter. I know demons well.

What are demons? Loose-lipped when it suits, loosest of all.

If by any chance they truly know me as [Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo]….

'It'll spread worldwide in no time!'

A ticking bomb to my disgraceful past.

So I had to rush, even for my own skin.

What about chief mage duties, ditching the conference?

Worrying is my curse.

Who is Grandfell? No weighing scales in Grandfell's dictionary.

No sacrificing small for great.

That is Grandfell's heavy pride.

Nam Taemin speaks.

But… troubled expression.

"……Shouldn't be glad. We should've conquered a mere demon king's castle without you, Mr. Hoyeol. Honestly, I let my guard down."

"Not doubting your abilities."

"……Thank you for saying that."

No, not empty comfort.

'If not for 'Claudy'….'

I wouldn't have portaled here like this.

Who am I? The esteemed general commander, no?

I know the alliance's strength best.

"You are doing more than enough."

"……!!!"

The Holy War Alliance crushed three demon king's castles.

Everyone's grown far more since. Just one castle? Worrying would be distrust.

Hisagi added.

"More than that, the conference…."

As said. I forgo nothing.

Didn't skip the presentation.

My exit from Crystal Hall was for outdoor class aiding Reversal Magic understanding.

"No concern there either."

Yes. By now, Crystal Hall projects this scene live.

Why? I noted it carefully in the Crystal Hall lounge.

The magic structure projecting real-time images.

Simply put.

Cast magic.

Live broadcast to Crystal Hall.

Mana cost? No concern.

Just First World Tree's Blessing alone puts me on par with Marcelo or Tower Master now. (Absolute mana still lacking, but regeneration near infinite.)

And now demons too?

Simple meaning.

Holy War Alliance.

Mage Tower mages.

Cameras broadcasting worldwide.

Rooooar—amid them, I drew up mana.

Reversal Magic.

The collapsing building righted itself.

As if nothing happened.

Shattered windows.

Bent rebar.

Crumbled walls.

All reverted to original form.

Murmurs rose.

"I-impossible."

Impossible? I've struggled desperately to make the impossible real.

Is forgoing nothing, sacrificing nothing truly possible?

Incomprehensible?

Fine. Then I'll etch it into your minds so no comprehension needed.

Reversal Magic too.

"What massive mana…?"

Demon hunter vs. demon Predator-Prey Relationship too.

"Mr. Hoyeol!"

And finally, pride.

So.

Shut your mouth.

Come out while I'm asking nicely, demon king.

Yes, that damned Claudy.

Your sought Claudy is here.