True Discipline
AAU Yusra Branch Chief. When it comes to the weight I bear, no one is more faithful than I.
Thanks to that, on the day the dragon Yunak Seus tore through dimensions and crossed into the Arcana Continent, I meticulously reviewed the AAU's records as well.
'An energy reaction beyond measurement by modern equipment.'
It made perfect sense. The moment I drew up my mana, my instincts screamed it: this is too much to manifest right now!
The access device's role was essentially no different from a portal. The key difference was that a portal's mana consumption skyrocketed exponentially the farther the destination coordinates were from the current location.
Setting coordinates from reality to the Arcana Continent naturally demanded an enormous amount of mana.
'Even in perfect condition, entering alone would be my limit.'
Right now, I was holding the rift in place with reversal magic. I was pouring every bit of regenerating mana from [Blessing of the First World Tree] into it.
In that state, could I possibly manifest a portal all the way to the Arcana Continent?!
Ssssh─
The mana being reeled in.
Despite those circumstances, my mouth brazenly declared:
"No matter how urgent—"
I had spat out that I would return to the Arcana Continent. And there was the quest too.
All-Dragon Assembly
📍 Witness dragons gathering on the continent. (Failed)
📍 Encounter the dying old dragon, Yunak Seus. (In Progress)
The old dragon had roared that the 'great lineage' had returned to the Arcana Continent. All dragons wanted to verify the truth of the incident.
It wasn't my quest—it was the dragon knight Skal's class quest. But I still needed to speak with Yunak Seus. Starting with what his mother, the World Tree's will, truly meant.
'I hate saying it with my own mouth, but...'
I needed to hear definitively about the Claudy family as well.
In that sense:
'Just wait a little longer, Yunak Seus.'
I had to wrap things up here in reality first.
Sudden cleanup? If anyone asked, I'd gladly answer.
"I cannot tolerate discipline being shaken."
As I said. With Raymon Sean marked as prey.
Thanks to that, my demon hunter eyes clearly saw through Raymon Sean's scheme, propped up by that world quest!
Now that I knew, did they think I'd sit idly by?
I withdrew the mana holding the rift.
And once more, the message appeared.
Rift, Dungeon: CODE-009 Cleared.
Paaat!
Amid the shattering scenery, I murmured:
"Know your place."
Not anyone else.
This was the discipline I had established through my struggles and suffering.
Did they think I'd just watch it crumble?
"Don't defy discipline, prey."
*
AAU branches maintained close ties with their respective national governments. After all, AAU was the organization responding to the surreal catastrophe of the Great Cataclysm.
For the safety of their citizens, governments had no choice but to cooperate with AAU.
AAU branch chiefs' meeting.
From prototype monsters to the emergence of prototype access devices, the chiefs had grasped the severity and moved in close coordination.
Just as Park Minjae had mentioned, to prevent Cheonha Tongil from pulling the trigger.
Government officials from various nations had requested cooperation from the Chinese government at AAU's behest.
However.
North American branch chief Jim Joshua opened his heavy mouth.
"Even the United States has been completely ignored."
No country had received a response from China.
Tokyo branch chief Okazaki tilted his head.
Even if China hadn't joined AAU.
"...Isn't this unprecedented?"
There had never been such uncooperative behavior in the face of the Great Cataclysm. Lives were at stake, so minimal cooperation had always been maintained.
Park Minjae nodded.
"That's why Ryu Ojuncheon and the Cheonha Tongil guild members could freely visit other countries until now. Even without international agreements, Cheonha Tongil's forces were undeniably beneficial to humanity."
But why now?
"It's making me increasingly uneasy."
London branch chief Baker swallowed a groan.
"The Head Chief's actions upon discovering the access device will have a massive impact on players. If it's the Head Chief I know, he'll head straight to the Arcana Continent without hesitation."
The Arcana Continent, turned to ruins by demons.
But put differently, as the world quest stated, it was a land of opportunity.
Park Minjae skimmed the Arcana Continent status report he'd received from Hoyeol.
'Even the capital Antonium is in peril...'
If even the empire ruling the continent was in such a state, the outskirts were beyond description.
Park Minjae judged coldly.
'But heroes are born in chaos.'
Moreover, considering Arcana's system...
'Quests and rewards won't stop coming.'
The ten adventurers, including Hoyeol, could claim rewards that would render current rankings meaningless.
No wonder players were salivating.
Of course, he didn't blame them.
'Humans are such creatures.'
That's why it felt so hopeless.
In the silence.
Joshua cautiously spoke up.
"Then let's assume."
"Assume what, Branch Chief Joshua?"
"That we never hear back from the Chinese government, regardless of reason. Cheonha Tongil will definitely act in some way. They might withdraw from the Zero Mountains right now and pour everything into finding CODE rifts."
Joshua's eyes grew serious.
"We have no justification to stop them. As long as they don't violate agreements, we can't control players clearing rifts. Right, Branch Chief Okazaki?"
"Correct."
When Frost appeared in Hokkaido, the Japanese government had controlled players in violation of agreements. The result? Massive penalties for breaching international accords.
Someone let out a hollow laugh.
"What a damnable discipline."
"Tell me about it."
"Whose discipline is it even for?"
It favored only those who ignored it.
The bigger problem was they weren't the only ones realizing this.
"But unlike governments or AAU, players won't sit and watch. They're just as unrestrained as Cheonha Tongil."
The implication was simple.
"...Large-scale player conflicts could erupt. And we can't rule out Arcana forces like the Carpen rebels getting involved."
No exaggeration—just objective analysis.
Grip─
Park Minjae clenched his fist.
'With their damn temperament...'
He wanted to smash every rule.
"Damn it."
It was frustrating. He'd thought he could lend even a little aid to Hoyeol.
But as things stood, he was useless.
Still, Park Minjae desperately suppressed his emotions.
'If it weren't for discipline, I would've...'
Yes.
Hoyeol was stricter about discipline than anyone.
If he learned Park had broken it for his sake, it might burden him instead.
"You look unusually grave, Mr. Park."
"...A bit."
"I can guess."
"...?"
...How do you know my feelings?
His unyielding rebel spirit even in this situation.
Park Minjae looked up to see:
"!"
Baker wearing an equally complicated expression.
Not just Baker.
Baker spoke.
"At least everyone gathered here shares Mr. Park's thoughts."
"...I overlooked solidarity for a moment."
Park Minjae smiled faintly.
Yes, the situation had changed from the past.
Even a blank sheet is better when held together. They could pool their heads.
"Tormenting ourselves together might yield a solution, no?"
Park Minjae spoke with renewed vigor.
"Then let's all pull an all-nighter today!"
"Mr. Park, why does it end like that...?"
"Sudden all-nighter? Such impudence."
Joshua and a few others flinched.
But he'd just spoken so coolly moments ago. And the other branches' staff didn't shudder at Park Minjae's name for nothing.
In the end, the branch chiefs nodded to his persistence.
"Whew."
With communications to China severed.
They needed a next-best option.
As Park Minjae sighed in relief.
Video Chat Alert
☐ New Message Shared
A notification pinged in the video chat room.
News shared with the branch chiefs.
Their jaws dropped.
"W-Wait a second."
"If this is true...?"
"We might not need to pull that all-nighter...?!"
Park Minjae got chills.
"...I truly cannot fathom that discipline, Head Chief!"
.
Mage Tower.
An unscheduled emergency roundtable.
Attendance wasn't mandatory.
Yet Crystal Hall was packed.
Skilled mage Linne let out an exclamation.
"Oh ho! All seniors present? Even Senior Marcelo and Elder Yugweed? And what's with that cat? I've seen it around lately... Shouldn't we shoo it away? It's shedding fur."
Jibril silenced Linne's chatter.
"Sit down before you get chased out yourself, Linne."
"...Pardon?"
"The moment you exclaimed, piercing gazes turned your way, if only for an instant. Cley saw it too, right? Especially Senior Bensy William's displeased glare."
"Gasp."
Flame magic senior Bensy William.
His prickly reputation was legendary among seniors.
Of course, to those who knew the truth, it was baffling.
"W-Why Senior Bensy of all people!"
When silent, Bensy had a noble, sharp appearance.
Of course, Bensy had no mental bandwidth for skilled mages.
He whispered to Banggrit.
"Something big has happened, Senior Banggrit!"
"...You seem rather pleased."
"No, not pleased...! Senior Banggrit, you need to be in my shoes to understand. Do you know how frustrated I am?"
Infinite rejections.
Endless returned tower-exit applications.
Bensy only left the tower during major events like crushing the Demon King's Castle or the Zero Mountains emergence.
He vented in a pleading tone.
"Do you think I want to be this pathetic?!"
In that sense, Bensy was hopeful.
It was an emergency roundtable called by none other than Hoyeol.
"Our Chief doesn't break procedure lightly."
In other words:
This was no small matter.
Maybe some exit crumbs would fall.
As Bensy anxiously awaited:
Clack─
Right on time, Hoyeol appeared.
He scanned Crystal Hall once, then spoke.
"The purpose of this emergency roundtable is simple and clear. But time is short. To aid your understanding, I shall show rather than tell."
Mana rippled in the air.
Something emerged from subspace.
Bensy narrowed his eyes.
"That's..."
...an animal egg?
The thought crossed his mind.
Hoyeol continued.
"This is the path to the Arcana Continent."
"...!!!"
Apprentices, skilled, seniors, chiefs—even Cat Tower Master.
No exceptions.
Every pupil in Crystal Hall widened in shock.
.
What is pride?
This weight in my chest is so heavy.
Explaining it verbally would take all night chattering.
But one thing is certain.
Monopolizing this access device alone?
Grandfell's pride would never allow it.
'I don't mind that much, honestly.'
Pure and incorruptible, transcending material desires—Grandfell might manage, but vulgar me, Lee Hoyeol, no.
Still, I could remain this composed for a simple reason.
As I said.
Having entered the realm of anomalies, I'd perfectly analyzed the access device's structure.
'Even without it, with enough mana...'
I could tear dimensions and enter the Arcana Continent.
That's why I could reveal everything so boldly.
Stand tall with chest puffed, as always.
I intoned:
"You all, of course—and everyone—know the purpose requiring a return to the Arcana Continent. No one can weigh that purpose's gravity. But with opportunity limited, someone must bear that role."
Daring to shatter the discipline erected by my pride, Raymon Sean.
Skilled at scams, perhaps.
But I'm seasoned in upholding discipline.
"That role and all ensuing responsibilities as well."
Experienced in shouldering them too.
"...!"
As I finished, my eyes met Marcelo's.
A mix of surprise and worry, half and half—Marcelo.
But no need for concern.
I said I'd gotten the knack, right?
This wasn't my first time.
I declared calmly:
"I shall bear them solely."
Why, the process is no different from tower-exit reviews.
So...
No reason for you to rejoice like that, Senior Bensy William?