Didn't I Tell You? [Class Quest: Summoning All Dragons]
Summoning All Dragons
📍 Witness the dragons assembling on the continent.
📍 (Optional) Skal's Dragon Knight class quest.
There, the words 'Great Family' were clearly written. An incredibly unsettling term.
That was what the Old Dragon had roared. That the 'Great Family' had returned to the Arcana Continent. All dragons wanted to verify the truth of the incident.
─Witness the dragons assembling on the continent. (Optional) Skal's Dragon Knight class quest. There, the words 'Great Family' were clearly written. An incredibly unsettling term.
When I learned that fact, I desperately denied it. As if there's only one Great Family on the Arcana Continent. As if the Claudy Family could possibly exist. Even thinking about it now, it was an utterly reasonable reaction.
But.
'Damn.'
The faint possibility I'd desperately denied... it seemed to have become reality.
There was only one moment that came to mind. That very day.
The 'Transcendent on the Broomstick.'
If she had uttered the name Claudy... everything made sense.
The reason Yunak Seus had suddenly mentioned the Great Family.
The reason Gluttony had brought up the name Claudy.
And finally.
'Even that mess got sorted out.'
……Impressive, middle-school chuunibyou Ho-yeol. What the hell kind of imagination were you living with? What kind of settings did you slap on?
'Dragons hold an assembly at the news of Claudy's return, not even demon kings are enough so the great evils stir, elves and transcendents turn their steps...!!'
A clichéd drama plot comes to mind. The hidden child of a chaebol family revealed as the heir. In a broad sense, wasn't I in a similar boat?
But honestly, I wasn't happy about it at all.
I was too busy sweating bullets inside.
'Grandfell alone is already overwhelming...'
If the Claudy Family really existed, what would happen to me?
Even now, I was burdened with the pride of Akkshan's last survivor, the pride of the Mage Tower's chief mage, the pride of Yusra branch leader, the pride of the youngest son in a wealthy family... anyway, all sorts of prides tormenting me.
And on top of that.
The pride of the fallen Claudy family head added?
Come on, let's keep it moderate, Grandfell!
'Please, no more black history...'
Still, a silver lining among misfortunes, I suppose. There, Grandfell and I seemed to be in sync.
"Indeed, how foolish."
Those words weren't directed at the demon king, Andras.
They were for Gluttony, who had manipulated the demon king.
I continued coldly.
"Did you think to glimpse the past with such shallow tricks?"
As expected of Gluttony, the great evil—cunning.
But as a demon hunter, I knew the nature of demons better than anyone.
Gluttony wouldn't trust anyone.
Demons, by their very birth, couldn't trust others.
'He probably didn't believe the words about Claudy's return either.'
So he pushed the demon king forward.
To make him shout the name Claudy.
In simple terms, he cast bait.
However.
"A past unfit for inferior kin to glimpse."
Did you think I'd readily admit my past, my black history?
Did you think I'd show even a glimpse?
Besides, Grandfell was the type who absolutely kept his word once spoken.
And Grandfell had declared from his own mouth.
-"I shall not believe until I confirm with mine own eyes."
With mine own eyes.
Until he witnessed proof that the Claudy Family existed.
No matter how much the dragons made a fuss.
No matter how much elves, transcendents, and great evils stirred.
He would absolutely not believe.
Andras opens his beak.
"This seat, I, we merely..."
In the exorcism ritual, a demon's senses weren't intact.
Even petty magic appeared grandiose.
In that sense, how did Andras see me now?
'For reference, I'm considerably pissed off.'
This time, Grandfell's unchanging heart would be even sharper.
It was only natural.
The Claudy Family—regardless of truth or existence.
『The heir of the great family, yet the family fell to demons. Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo, hereinafter Grandfell, the family's sole survivor...』
It was a story that must never be taken lightly.
"Silence."
It might not show on the surface.
But seeing the alien mana surging more fiercely than usual.
One could sense Grandfell's feelings.
So, unfortunate, Andras.
Demon king.
A Lv.888 demon boss monster.
No need to stain the silver chains with blood.
No need for grandiose magic manifestation.
Just this alien mana alone could suffocate Andras.
I had grown that much.
Seems he'd forgotten during our reunion after so long.
That's what the predator-prey relationship is.
Demon King Andras
I said coldly.
"Seek forgiveness in hell."
Of course, not from me.
From the lives of the Arcana Continent you've trampled.
Well, our Akkshan seniors probably won't leave you in peace anyway.
*
Demon King Andras had been dealt with early.
The moment the Holy War Alliance finished off the last remnants of the demon king's army.
A message appeared in the players' vision as well.
You have cleared Castle of Conflict Demon King.
The clear message.
What it meant was simple.
Berserk lifted, Nam Taemin regained his reason and said,
"As expected, you finished first."
It wasn't surprising.
Considering the monsters Ho-yeol had felled and the appropriate levels of rifts he'd cleared so far, Andras wasn't even a challenge.
But at the same time, it was chilling.
'...Ho-yeol, your presence felt different from usual.'
A feral intensity that could be called beastly.
Thanks to that, Nam Taemin noticed.
That in any situation.
Ho-yeol's unshakable emotions had become faintly rough.
Of course, "rough" didn't mean bad.
He scratched his head.
"Among us barbarians, it's a compliment..."
Still, questions inevitably followed.
'Of all battles, why this one?'
As mentioned earlier.
Ho-yeol had faced foes and situations tougher than Andras.
Just the Frost reclamation battle—he'd witnessed countless Frost residents lose their lives.
He'd even helped recover their bodies.
Nam Taemin, deep in thought, muttered,
"...Claudy, was it?"
In the end, the only thing different from usual was that.
The incomprehensible word the demons had shouted.
Ho-yeol probably knew its meaning.
Perhaps he had no choice but to be sensitive to that word.
Nam Taemin gritted his teeth.
"Damn."
He'd been thrilled to be acknowledged as a comrade by Ho-yeol.
Yet he was always in debt.
He'd never truly helped Ho-yeol.
"What give-and-take? Seriously."
What kind of comrade was this?
Luggage, that's what.
Nam Taemin's slumped shoulders.
To him, Hisagi spoke up.
"Doesn't seem the time to act pitiful."
"...What?"
"Have you forgotten those words?"
Hisagi continued while staunching the wound on his cheek.
"If you've realized your shortcomings, overcome them."
"...!"
"Didn't we lack even the time to overcome?"
"Hear, hear."
Leoni, blood-soaked like a true berserker, chimed in.
She scanned Nam Taemin with a dissatisfied gaze and continued.
"Tch, if I had that build, I'd be Lv.700 by now."
"What're you on about, out of nowhere?"
"Don't slump your shoulders already."
Snap—Leoni lifted her chin.
Following her gaze upward, helicopters and cameras were filming them.
Only then did Nam Taemin realize and hurriedly straightened up.
He ventriloquized,
"You, when did you grow up?"
"Shut up."
"Anyway, Ho-yeol feels more amazing by the day."
Even just for himself.
The pouring attention sometimes felt burdensome.
The burden on Ho-yeol was unimaginable.
Realizing it anew, he muttered,
"...Thinking that way, he finally seems human."
"Who do you mean?"
"You know."
"Argh, posing solo again."
"Sigh. It's Ho-yeol. Happy?"
"Ah..."
No need for complicated explanations—they could feel it.
The three fell silent, surveying the demon king's castle swept by Ho-yeol.
A cautious voice reached them.
-...Sorry to interrupt your touching conversation, but.
The voice of Giant Union's analyst, Nam Cheolmin.
"Bro. You're listening. What's up?"
-It's about Ho-yeol...
"Ho-yeol?! So where is Ho-yeol right now?!"
He might not be enough for direct help yet.
But he could be a sounding board for worries anytime.
No matter what story was tied to Claudy.
He was confident he could listen and empathize fully.
Of course, that resolve proved pointless.
-Ho-yeol just returned to the Mage Tower?
"Wh-what?!"
-Yeah, apparently wrapping up the conference as upright as ever.
'...Did I overreact for nothing?'
'Damn, am I cursed with bad intuition?'
'All of it presumptuous delusion?'
In that instant.
The three at a loss for words.
Nam Cheolmin spoke softly.
"...Cancel calling him human."
Just a homebody...
*
As expected, showing once beats explaining a hundred times.
Founding a School of Magic
📍 You who have achieved noble magical feats.
📍 Prove your achievements at the regular conference.
📍 Announce the founding of new magic.
─Present Reversal Magic at the regular conference. (Success)
I successfully concluded the regular conference and returned to my office.
When did I return to the Mage Tower? Surprisingly, right after slaying Andras.
Yes, obsessive workaholic.
Reward granted.
Relationship with Mage Tower increased.
Influence in Mage Tower increased.
"I knew you all would understand."
As expected, the Mage Tower isn't easy.
[Authority] function in the Mage Tower still not activated, I see.
I had no interest in the Tower Master's seat anyway.
'This presentation should qualify me for Tower Master.'
Even as Tower Master, I couldn't freely control the Mage Tower, it seems.
Well, even that cat isn't free from the Mage Tower's rules.
While on the topic, I'll reaffirm once more.
In the future.
Even if I could freely control the Mage Tower.
I have zero intention of taking the Tower Master seat.
'It's already overwhelming. Really.'
Until now, I'd managed somehow.
But facing Claudy head-on, my mind went blank.
I thought I could endure anything with pride.
[Name: Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo]
That damned name...!
Being broadcast to the world—I couldn't handle that reality.
In that sense, I hoped that day never came.
'With mine own eyes.'
I hoped the day confirming Claudy's proof never arrived.
Yes, if that day came.
There'd be no excuse to shut Grandfell's mouth anymore.
'...Still, a relief?'
Why, rumors about Claudy must be swirling on the Arcana Continent by now.
First time I'm grateful for the disconnection between reality and Arcana Continent.
'News leaking to reality.'
Like slaying Demon King Andras.
I could desperately block it.
Of course, the dragons assembling because of Claudy nagged at me.
I didn't know if they'd be friendly or hostile.
Anyway.
'Clashing with dragons would be awkward...?'
If I ever encountered dragons, I'd mention being the youngest of the World Tree lineage and persuade them somehow.
I'm used to acting like the baby anyway.
While the status window was open, I checked the demon king's castle clear results.
Boss monster level value does its job.
He spoke properly even before me for good reason.
Considering the Lv.600 wall, jumping 20 levels at once...
"No need to rejoice over mere numbers."
Yeah, yeah, suit yourself.
'Rejoice over not being a numberphobe, Grandfell.'
Even realizing the importance of fundamental stats.
Levels still mattered.
Above all, I needed to hit Lv.700.
'This damn jacket.'
This thing draped over my shoulders, flapping.
Shouldn't I at least sleeve it in properly?
Then I could check the luxurious Dawn Set effects.
By the way.
『He'd make it reality no matter what.』
True to the settings.
Every word spoken was faithfully collected.
Why, that day blessed by Siren's Luck.
I'd blabbered,
-"I trust not in luck."
Despite escaping crisis thanks to boosted luck, utterly shameless.
I'd nagged Grandfell.
But.
If the mess was sorted by the name Claudy...
-"Luck and fate are forged by one's own hands."
It was no longer nonsense.
...In that sense, better watch my words from now on.
I reached for the teacup with the green tea bag steeping.
Clink—
Perhaps from the considerable mental shock.
Today, teatime's preciousness hit home.
But no sooner had I sipped the green tea.
This damn mouth speaks.
"However, there is a matter we must not overlook."
……No, overlook or not.
Think before speaking!
If that's too much, at least catch your breath!
But my plea went unheeded, and I blurted,
"All, await me."
Really.
"I shall return to the continent."
I'm not living up to my name...!