Don't Make Me Repeat Myself. Let's Think Logically.

There had been plenty of clues to track down Raymon Sean's whereabouts all this time. For starters, he hadn't completely vanished from humanity. The official Arcana homepage, still running unchanged even after the cataclysm. The astronomical rewards distributed to players. And crucially, the reply he sent to Park Minjae.

Rumors even circulated in the communities.

People fell for that stuff because it was hard to understand logically why they couldn't pinpoint Raymon Sean's location despite all the clues.

But the moment I saw the scene unfolding before me, I understood.

"To think you were cowering in such a squalid place."

Visible only to a player's eyes.

A bizarre space that was neither reality nor the Arcana Continent.

A rift was there.

He'd been hiding inside the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rift all this time, evading capture. Why? Humanity's technology couldn't detect every rift in reality. Just look at players still relying on update logs.

Besides, Raymon Sean wouldn't upload the rift's info to the homepage where he'd hidden himself.

The landscape made perfect sense of why he hadn't been found despite all the clues.

'But that wasn't enough for him.'

He hid underground, too?

Thorough in every way.

The rift lay flat against the ground, mouth agape—a first for me.

Of course, I wouldn't bow my proud head just to peer into a mere rift. The info would appear as a message anyway.

Sure enough, as I approached, text flickered before my eyes.

A dungeon rift, huh.

'Well, that makes sense.'

I had no idea what complex space lay beneath the ground I stood on. Dungeon rifts could appear if conditions were met. And it wasn't my first, so no surprise there.

What startled me was the rift's name.

'CODE?'

Even a brand-new low-level player would sense something off and back away at first glance.

And it didn't end there. More rift info followed.

It screamed anything but ordinary, just like the name. The recommended level made sense—regions requiring specific conditions were common back when Arcana was just a game.

But.

'Collapse rate? What does that even mean?'

No collapse rate at all? Common knowledge dictated that as a rift's collapse rate neared 100%, its interior grew unstable. At 100%, it collapsed, spilling its contents into reality.

'That's how we even locate rifts.'

Even if we couldn't detect every rift, those on the verge of collapse emanated a massive presence. Since the early cataclysm days, we'd cleared them without major casualties by tracking that trait.

"A blatant violation of procedure."

So that's why he hadn't been caught? No collapse rate meant no detection anywhere.

I could see how, but still—what the hell?

'Because it's Raymon Sean, of all people.'

I didn't know the full extent of his abilities. But he was undoubtedly near-omnipotent to an ordinary player. Creating a rift like this in reality was proof enough.

'I've gotten bolder, huh.'

Walking into this monster's lair of my own accord!

But hey, enemies like this weren't new. Compared to my past where I freeloader without a care, this was better.

"This violation of procedure shall also be reflected in your judgment."

...At this point, even I'm getting worried.

Raymon Sean reached out because he wanted to talk. Did Grandfell want to exchange words with him?

One ironclad rule: No conversation with prey.

What if he clammed up? I was already anxious. Even if I'd lost my fear, I still valued my life.

'No easy way out, huh.'

If we couldn't chat casually, I'd just have to hope he didn't shut down.

Such was my fate.

With that in mind, think carefully from now on.

Raymon Sean.

You, yeah. You said you got more demerits than Bensy William the senior. Do you know how serious that is?!

*

Bang!

The branch chief's door flew open, and the two men scrambled back.

Park Minjae poked his head out. "Yoon Sugyeom, Seong Hyunjun. Where'd you hear it from?"

"...We weren't trying to eavesdrop."

"I know. The soundproofing sucks. Come in."

The two shuffled inside awkwardly.

Park Minjae joked, "This is why I don't stick around the branch chief's office. Worried my snoring might leak out. Transparency's key, but glass outer walls? Ridiculous."

First rule of office life: Agree with the boss.

But right now, their heads were buzzing with questions, forgetting how to walk.

Yoon Sugyeom spoke up. "Chief, is it true? That Raymon Sean contacted you first? Word's spreading through every AAU branch worldwide. Satellite photos are out too."

"Oh? What'd the photos show?"

"Nothing. Just desert."

Seong Hyunjun held out a tablet with the photo. Barren sand, no blade of grass.

As Park Minjae fell silent, Seong Hyunjun smacked his lips. "...Did we get played?"

Park Minjae shrugged, eyes off the tablet. "We might've, but the top boss didn't."

"...The top boss?"

"Can you two keep your mouths shut?"

"Huh?"

What was he about to say? They exchanged glances.

"If we couldn't shut up, we'd be crazy, Chief."

This was about Hoyeol. Imagine facing his icy glare for blabbing...

Seong Hyunjun bowed. "I'd sew my lips shut if needed."

Only then did Park Minjae get to the point. "Truth is, I'd rather not tell anyone, not even you. But he asked me to stay true to protocol. So spilling to you keeps me honest. You're my accomplices now."

The meeting between Hoyeol and Raymon Sean. What results would it bring? Park Minjae couldn't predict.

That's why he hadn't blabbed to AAU. The world knew Raymon Sean's intent, but not that Hoyeol had gone to him.

Park Minjae's lips curled. Middle-aged wisdom let him see how the world turned.

'They'll expect miracles again.'

Without lifting a finger themselves.

He was sick of the world judging Hoyeol freely. Call it his rebel streak.

"Truth is, Lee Hoyeol, Yusra's top commander, already went ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to meet that bastard Raymon. Might be talking right now."

"...What?!"

"You didn't say that!"

"Would you broadcast it?"

"Well..."

Seong Hyunjun trailed off. He could picture it clearly, like always—the world leaning on Hoyeol.

Yoon Sugyeom nodded. "That two-faced bullshit makes me sick."

"Oho, spicy words from you, Sugyeom?"

"Well done, Chief."

Yoon Sugyeom knew society wasn't full of dreams. Ungrateful forces still bit at Hoyeol for their gain.

"So what do you think it's about?"

Why did Raymon Sean seek Hoyeol? Too tough for AAU grunts.

But one thing was sure. "It won't just be talk."

"Agreed with senior."

"Yeah? Why?"

"You sense it too, right Chief?"

"Yeah, I think so."

Park Minjae's heart pounded with pride. As Arcana's former dev, he couldn't let that bastard slide.

And Hoyeol? Seong Hyunjun murmured, "Maybe... worse than demons."

Collision inevitable between Hoyeol and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Raymon Sean. The three gripped sweaty palms.

"Hard to predict."

"Like entering the tiger's den."

"But does he even have a chance?"

No matter how strong Hoyeol, the foe was Raymon Sean—knower of all cataclysm secrets, Arcana's creator.

Silence at Seong Hyunjun's words.

Did I jinx it? He panicked. "Can't you refute that?"

"Nah, spot on, Hyunjun. No counter."

"Exactly right."

"Ugh, come on...!"

But Park Minjae, from experience, pictured Raymon's moves.

"That sly fox Raymon will talk his way out before clashing. Like he did to me."

"You mean at Cosmo?"

"Yep."

He recalled charging at Raymon Sean. Perpetual smirk. Impenetrable facade. Riddles over answers. Unpleasant still.

Society crawled with two-faces, but none like him.

"Outside, ultimate CEO, praise galore. Inside? Our input on Arcana ever matter?"

"...No."

"He blocked even balance fixes. 'Arcana's perfect,' he'd rant. Me old-fashioned? Nah, he trapped us in his mold."

His voice strengthened on "old-fashioned"—a grudge.

Composing himself, "Obvious. He'll psych you out first, like before. Break your spirit, steer the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠talk his way."

"That kind of guy, huh."

"Yeah. That's why I'm expecting."

"...Huh?"

Park Minjae chuckled. "Can you imagine?"

"What?"

"Our top boss losing a psych-out."

...

I stared at the flickering message.

So that's the condition? Just this?

Weapons. Besides the ego sword at my waist, just two crossbows in inventory.

Ego sword in inventory wouldn't hurt much.

'If I'm in danger.'

It'd leap out to protect me.

Harmless condition.

But as I said?

"Do you intend to take my garments as a gesture of hospitality?"

Cold retort.

"However, I shall decline your hospitality."

I didn't seek Raymon Sean out of longing. He sought me.

No compromise.

'Especially against Raymon Sean?'

He'd pissed off me and Grandfell. Knowing that, I spoke—stoking pride, his specialty.

"I have not accepted your proposal."

Right. I came to judge Raymon Sean based on his pride.

Don't think a quest controls me.

The rift. In the [Bizarre] space.

Entering the bizarre realm let me interfere with its rifts somewhat. Not dragon-level dimension-ripping, but meddling with existing ones? Possible.

"Thus, whether the door opens is your choice."

I'll make it open now.

Mana surged earnestly. Text flickered.

Too late to grasp the gravity.

Seized the initiative? Nah. The attempt itself was the sin.

"You dared to test me."

Prepare excuses now.

"This too shall factor into your judgment."

Would Grandfell hear excuses? Dunno. But consistent even before Raymon Sean.

Meanwhile, my brain raced.

'Winnable.'

Whatever emerged from his lair, I had a new 'backup' ally. An unexpected sturdy one.