Nothing Happened (2)
Just one person's absence.
I never imagined it would create such a massive void. Until Lee Hoyeol vanished without a trace.
Those unaware of the full context weren't worried at all.
"Would the Grand Commander ever need anyone's pity?"
"Exactly. Worry about us instead of wasting time on that."
"Look at these levels. What a joke."
As their banter suggested, Hoyeol was no one who needed anyone's concern. His past exploits spoke for themselves, without needing proof. The feats that turned worries into groundless fears—weren't they countless?
And beyond that, no matter the situation, Hoyeol had never once faltered.
"Indeed, no one seems overly concerned. Isn't that right, Chief?"
Swish—
At the pinnacle of the Mage Tower, the Tower Master lay sprawled on the floor, tail flicking lazily. But unlike usual, the tail's movements were subtly bristled. The reason was obvious: Hoyeol.
"What a pricey show this turned out to be, nya."
Two weeks ago. The day Hoyeol headed to the Arcana Continent.
If only he'd just napped as usual... no, focused solely on recovery.
"A portal to the Arcana Continent? How could I ignore that, nya...?"
The problem was her instinct as a mage kicking in. She might have ignored it for a day or two. But after a week, it gnawed at her so much she couldn't even properly stamp the parchments.
Suddenly, Marcelo's voice rang out.
"Ditching work to lounge again?"
"Little Chief. I'm in a serious predicament right now."
"Serious or not, work is work."
"Insolent. Don't talk back."
"Quiet. Stay still."
Whoosh—
Marcelo grabbed the Tower Master by the scruff as she lay on the floor and hoisted her up. He then plopped her down on a proper seat. Like an object.
His gaze was far from pleased.
"The seniors will be here soon."
"Seniors? Here? At the top floor? Why?"
"What do you think?"
The Tower Master flinched.
...Had they noticed her half-hearted stamps? Were they gathering to protest en masse?
Nya-heart... no, her conscience stung.
But fortunately, it was for another reason.
"It's concern for you, Chief."
The Mage Tower's leadership, including the senior mages, knew the resolve with which Hoyeol had entered the Arcana Continent. He hadn't stated it outright, but his actions made it clear.
The Tower Master grumbled unnecessarily.
"Why'd he have to take those ultimate magical devices...?"
Her muttering cut short.
Soon, twenty senior mages filed into the top floor. Trailing them, Elder Mage Yugweed slipped out awkwardly.
"I explained plenty to the seniors, Tower Master? That we don't hide anything from our leadership. That even we don't know the Chief's full intentions."
The lead senior mage, black magic specialist Matis Din Karl, spoke up.
"We're not here to question the Chief's intentions."
Yugweed turned, asking again.
"Then what's the purpose, Senior Matis?"
The purpose? Straightforward.
They couldn't wait forever.
That was it.
"Grant permission to use the magical devices. The accessors."
Lending out not one, but two ultimate magical devices meant one thing: The Chief had steeled himself to face an unimaginable foe before entering the Arcana Continent.
And the fact that, two weeks later, he hadn't returned...
"The Chief is clearly in a situation where he needs help."
A solemn air filled the Mage Tower's top floor.
The Tower Master's tail twitched, fur fully bristled.
"If that were possible."
"...?"
"Before permitting you all to use those devices, I would have jumped into that bizarre accessor myself. Even if not me..."
The Tower Master glanced at Marcelo.
Marcelo nodded, as if agreeing she wouldn't argue.
He shared the sentiment, as did the seniors.
"But alas, Matis. We can't allow it."
Even if two weeks turned to months. Even if Chief Lee Hoyeol never returned.
They couldn't tolerate entry via the accessors.
The reason was simple.
"Didn't the procedure fanatic Chief declare it?"
"...!!!"
"That they must be used strictly per procedure."
The leadership hadn't dismissed entering the Arcana Continent themselves. They'd simply erased the accessor option from their minds because of Hoyeol's words.
'The Chief wouldn't want help that breaks procedure.'
Marcelo added,
"Besides, knowing the Chief as I do, he'll return to the tower precisely to uphold that procedure. No, I believe it without doubt."
The seniors all nodded.
"Exactly. Of course."
Among them, Bensy William, who'd suffered greatly from procedure before, nodded especially vigorously.
The impromptu meeting was wrapping up when—
Bristle—
Suddenly, the Tower Master's fur stood on end.
It wasn't just her. Elders, chiefs, seniors. Even the proficient and apprentice mages below sensed it.
"...What is this?"
They instinctively grasped the immeasurable presence.
Rumble—!
In an instant, darkness cloaked the sky. Pouring rain. Lightning.
Memories of the Dragon-Human War overlapped with the scene.
Yes. These were unmistakable harbingers of a dragon's emergence.
Unable to fathom their intent, the Tower Master responded swiftly.
"From this moment, all Mage Tower personnel are permitted to exit the tower."
The lesson of the Dragon-Human War? Simple enough not to forget.
Dare not challenge a dragon.
"Tch."
But if they didn't...
What of the adventurers' world?
The Mage Tower knew players' and adventurers' levels well. Excluding Hoyeol and a few others, they were weaker than apprentices. A world where such folk were hailed as heroes.
"A second Dragon-Human War with incomplete forces."
Knowing they couldn't win, they had no choice but to step up.
The Mage Tower sacrificing for others? Laughable, even to themselves.
Yet unavoidable.
"The Chief's absence weighs heavier than even the Tower Master's."
With Chief Hoyeol away, the massive burden he carried fell to them—the Mage Tower.
That was the tower's procedure.
"How did he bear such a heavy load alone, Chief?"
...
The Mage Tower wasn't the only one to act swiftly.
In the Zero Mountains, players mid-hunt sensed the change.
"Everyone, stop."
"What's going on...?"
"The sun was blazing moments ago, and now this rain?"
Dismissing it as a shower was too naive. Rain poured as if the sky had a hole.
"This damn weather forecast never gets it right."
"...Hold on."
"Why? Monsoon starting? Typhoon?"
"No, not that..."
Something beyond comprehension began.
"I-I'm humanities major, but... is it possible for rain to fall simultaneously worldwide? S-scientifically...?!"
Exactly that.
Whoosh—
Deserts that never saw a drop in a year. Polar regions due for snow. Rain everywhere.
Incredibly bizarre, yet the mystery didn't last.
Because it roared.
Groooaaar—!
"...!!!"
Mental strength is too low.
The terrifying aftershock of dragon fear.
"D-Dragon...!!"
Even top rankers couldn't resist the status ailment. Regular players, let alone civilians, were helpless.
But so far, mere harbingers.
"Not one. Three—no, five... six!"
Seven, eight, nine... Over a dozen dragons tore through dimensions, soaring across Earth.
AAU was hit hardest.
Korea branch.
"Haha..."
Park Minjae let out a hollow laugh. They knew dragons well—hence grasped the despair instantly.
A trembling voice followed.
"...R-Right! Senior, we have Skal!"
Ignorance is bliss? In this panic-worthy crisis,
Seong Hyunjun clung to Yoon Sugyeom.
"A Dragon Knight class might turn this around, right? Or Skal... he's probably already acting!"
In normal times, he'd pat the junior's shoulder for good instincts.
But the monitors showed the dragons' states.
Park Minjae spoke lowly.
"Skal or whoever—no one can approach."
Torrential rain worldwide. Simply put: dragon tears.
Not metaphorical. Flying dragons wept real tears.
Their dragon tongue, dragon fear, declared it.
"They won't heed anyone or stop."
"...Branch Chief."
"Until they find that Black Dark Dragon."
Thus, all AAU branches were on high alert. Identify the Black Dark Dragon they sought, by any means.
But no database yielded—
"...Nothing found."
Any info on Black Dark Dragon.
"Figured as much."
Park Minjae smirked bitterly.
"Black Dark Dragon—I wouldn't forget a name like that."
Then, only Raymon Sean knew. That bastard alone.
Or maybe Hoyeol... but
'...Can't rely on the Grand Commander.'
Hoyeol was absent. And they couldn't keep receiving forever.
Regaining conscience, Park Minjae.
Scrub—
He dry-washed his face, rallying.
Then spoke gravely.
"Sharing intel with the Mage Tower is best."
With Hoyeol gone, humanity's strongest was the Mage Tower.
Moreover, the moment dragons appeared, all mages exited to respond. Confirmed allies.
"Of course, relay to the Holy War Alliance too."
The chain from Yusra Kingdom, Frost, holy city Muon—non-negligible force.
But opponents were dragons. Dozens, not one or two...
'Not expecting victory.'
Just no clashes. The fallout would be incomparable.
Thus,
"Sorry..."
Park Minjae clenched his fist, pleading desperately.
Not to God, Buddha, or Allah.
To the one he shouldn't beg.
Shamelessly, once more.
"...Grand Commander."
...
Mage Tower mages. Holy War Alliance. Players—all looked skyward.
"Our resolve pales."
Harcon Kingsguard murmured calmly.
Legendary dragons. A dozen living legends revealed.
He'd pledged his life, yet this scarce qualified as a battlefield.
"Why're they crying like that?"
"Beats me."
"Making me depressed too..."
Nam Taemin and Leoni Bellucci trailed off.
Hisagi Kazuma wiped rain from his jaw.
"Their emotions reach us."
No need to name them. The pouring rain spoke their hearts.
The Mage Tower was equally stunned.
Bensy whispered to Banggrit Tom.
"Doesn't match the Dragon-Human War dragons I know."
"Yeah. Records said they were savage."
"Right? I didn't misread, Senior Banggrit! They laughed maniacally amid high magic barrages...!"
Were these the arrogant dragons of legend? Doubt crept in while watching.
And a question arose.
"What is this Black Dark Dragon to them...?"
Lords of all. Dragons weeping idly, yearning, howling—for him?
Of course, the mystery didn't linger.
The subject appeared.
Clack—
...
Damn. These shoes always draw eyes.
Meeting gazes of those turning.
Marcelo, Harcon, Nam Taemin... even the smug cat.
We met hours ago, seemingly. But real time: two weeks?
So their beaming faces made sense.
...But not you lot?
I looked skyward.
And eyes met.
A particularly gleaming dragon.
"...!"
Ice Dragon Proznax, that is.
'My guess...'
Extreme cold surely sours tempers, human or dragon. Else, how explain Senios and Proznax's emotional swings?
'Charging murderously, now bawling...?'
Absurd, but no showing it.
I simply spoke, as ever.
"Did I not say?"
"...!"
"That you need not worry."
Shifting gaze once, I continued.
"Nor you all."
Yes, seeing me alive like this. Satisfied now?
Especially you dragons...!
'Seriously...!'
Me, presumed dead, alive. Shocking, sure.
I'd generously understand.
But if thinking of calling my name in joy? Don't.
Nor my epithet.
'Lee Hoyeol Claudy, Black Dark Dragon... Whatever, no!'
Better misunderstood as touching reunion than broadcasting dark history worldwide.
No choice. Keep crying like now...!!