Call Me a Legend (2)
A swan gliding across a lake is always proud. Even amid its frantic paddling beneath the surface. It never lets a hint of struggle show.
If you're wondering what brought that on... well, that's exactly how I looked right now.
Morning sunlight streamed into the office, bathing the desk. I opened my mouth with shameless composure.
Slightly later than usual.
Good lord. Who else in the world would chide the sun for laziness...?
And after pulling an all-nighter, no less. Don't pretend you rose early, Grandfell.
Clink—Starting the day with green tea, I reflected on the night before. Not a moment to catch my breath. Especially that dawn training quest. It had felt brutally punishing.
I nearly burst into tears from the misery, for real.
One point in tenacity gained. If even the system hadn't acknowledged my suffering, I might've actually shed tears.
Don't call a grown man a whiner. Try enduring it yourself, and you'd know it's no exaggeration.
They say the hardships of youth are worth seeking out. I knew all this agony was forging me into something stronger, so I could endure it. No matter how grueling.
But even I had my limits. What I couldn't stomach was...
A new day begins.
This brazen nonchalance!
Infuriating. Beyond infuriating—I wanted to demand answers. There were limits to his unshakable consistency.
Expectations are high.
A paragon of virtue, aren't you, Grandfell? Us ordinary folk will die of frustration first.
But after countless such outbursts, even my protests had grown routine.
No hesitation, then.
I'd reached resignation. Or rather... acceptance, perhaps.
Instead of hoping his stubbornness breaks.
For my own sake. Time to use my head a little.
As I'd declared, I'd crammed a fortnight's duties into one day. The [Last Adventurer] penalty had ended too. No reason to delay entering the Arcana Continent.
A new goal's emerged, after all.
This time, I planned to return to reality as swiftly as possible. Last time was an anomaly. The dimensional rift and absolute zero had overlapped, wasting a fortnight before I knew it.
Two months in Arcana time.
Considering the time flow, I'd aim to return within a real-world day at latest. I'd felt it keenly while clearing backlog duties.
For me, even an instant is regrettable.
No more absences, not even a day. Thanks a lot. I won't name names, but...
That damn pride of his. I'd taken on a mountain of responsibilities.
Especially now, burdened with access device approvals. My workload had effectively doubled.
Scrape—So I shoved back from the desk in the office. No choice.
Of course, before opening a portal to the Arcana Continent, a few loose ends needed tying. Everything by procedure.
Garnet Hall. First, return the borrowed magic tools.
Not all of them. With the class quest active, who knew what might happen in Sisli?
Some returns. Others, extensions.
Blame his finicky pride for insisting on procedure.
Did blurting the purpose first throw her? Skilled mage Laran hesitated.
Hello, Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol! We'll process the returns. But do you really need to extend the others...?
Shff—She flipped open the parchment ledger, showing my handwriting.
──────
Rental Period: Until the moment of death.
──────
Suddenly it hit me. ...Am I volunteering for hassle at this point? Stirring up misunderstandings everywhere I go.
All your fault, Grandfell.
In that sense, I felt unjust once more. But what could I do? Another youthful folly to bear.
I said casually,
Indeed. The period's expired, so extend it.
Obvious, but only I knew I'd frozen to death on the Arcana Continent. Even the dragons watching my end at the Dragon Temple didn't realize. Just a crash—and I vanished without trace.
A death unknown to dragons. Unrevealed to enemies. And now, I spoke of it calmly.
At this point, it wasn't pride—it was begging for trouble.
Pardon? What do you mean...?
She'd be flustered. I understood. But his temperament wasn't that courteous with details.
Scribble—I simply noted the new period with the quill. Behave this time, Grandfell.
One day suffices.
...Y-yes, sir!
Thus, all but one tool: returns or extensions complete. If asked what happened to the last...
I'd declare shamelessly,
The White Outer Wings follow procedure.
Ah, yes! But... this is the first lost tool on record! Procedure requires stating the reason...
No need to struggle, Laran. I planned to confess anyway. Procedure demanded it.
Procedure allows no exceptions. Fine work, Skilled Mage Laran.
Could I refuse?
Thank you for understanding!
I continued to her bowed head.
I gave the White Outer Wings to one more adept than I, one more in need.
...Pardon?
No who-what-where-why-how, Grandfell. He wrapped truth in grandeur.
Well, not wrong, technically.
Even an Enchantment Skilled Mage overstepping with the Chief...! No one in all Arcana could wield the White Outer Wings like you, sir. I heard from Chief Marcelo!
Embarrassing praise from Marcelo.
The wings suited me perfectly. But now, with less mana strain than before, I didn't need them desperately.
As I just said.
More vital to Yunak Seus, bereft of wings.
So I explained plainly.
Not wrong.
Exactly.
Yet wings hold greatest worth for the wingless.
...The wingless?
The wingless ancient dragon.
Dragon out of nowhere. Laran's eyes widened at "ancient dragon." I understood her shock.
But I pressed on brazenly.
This may resolve the Dragon-Mage War's grudges.
...!
Well said, Grandfell. This time, I praised the motormouth.
Mage Tower and dragons. Allies now—time to get along.
The wings as symbol of reconciliation. And with such justification...
...They might let it slide?
Lost tool liability waived. Words repay debts of gold, for good reason.
Sounded nobler than mere loss, too.
Even if not...
Incorruptible me. Hoarding like a dog, no spending. No worry over compensation, however pricey.
I left Garnet Hall with lighter steps.
Now, just wait for Harcon.
Why wait for Harcon Kingsguard here? The access device was in the Mage Tower's Crystal Hall.
Yes. His was the first approval I'd granted.
Lion Heart Knight Captain Harcon Kingsguard.
*
Harcon's eyes gleamed fiercely.
I understand your intent.
His kindly voice belied the beastly intensity in his gaze. Inevitable. The woman before him wasn't wholly trustworthy.
Grateful you see it.
Long black hair cascading darkly. Their eyes met briefly, then hers darted away.
Haha...
She even laughed awkwardly. An onlooker might think her cowed. But Harcon knew.
Masterful gaze control.
She was the Empire's worst criminal. Leader of the Shadow Mercenary.
Harcon silently regarded Kichi. Her neck bore a bounty to buy small kingdoms. How'd a mere mercenary captain earn that? Her rap sheet speaks volumes.
Assassinations, hits, treasure heists... mere footnotes for the Shadows. Pre-Empire unification, in the Warring States era, they ruled the underworld.
Harcon dared claim: Before demons appeared, the closest thing to them.
Their past atrocities rivaled demons. Yet here he spoke with Kichi. Simple reason.
He replayed their exchange.
−May I ask one thing?
−Of course!
−Do you regret your past?
−Suddenly? Well, if you ask...
Kichi's voice turned bitterly rueful.
−...Yes. Deeply so.
Harcon thought of Hoyeol.
Sir would surely...
Not dwell on their past. Merciless to demons, endlessly merciful to humans.
The Shadows' inclusion in the Holy War Alliance proved it. Hoyeol trusted them.
Harcon nodded.
Very well. I yield the chance to you, Kichi.
...You're serious?
Of course.
Yay!
Kichi finally met his eyes.
You worry for the Empire and His Majesty more than anyone... Sorry for the imposition, Captain Harcon!
No, I'd confirmed Antonium and His Majesty safe through Sir. Seeing for myself is mere selfishness.
For your grace, I'll reclaim it!
Simple: Kichi's goal would aid Hoyeol and the Alliance.
Harcon added,
Retrieve that ledger, if you can.
......
A clear breach of procedure.
I eyed Kichi, who appeared in Crystal Hall instead of Harcon.
Grandfell's usual temper would've sent her packing.
...I apologize for missing the deadline.
But her purpose was valid.
Access Shadow Mercenary Hideout / Acquire Request Ledger
The ledger reeked of it. A great evil's commission. Thick demonic stench.
Had procedure been followed, it'd have superseded Harcon's. Kichi explained: an ancient entry, perpetual top priority. Never succeeded, though.
Confirming that ledger promised major intel on the evil.
Plus Harcon yielded. Procedure mattered, but flexibility sometimes too, Grandfell.
I forced the words,
Cannot betray Harcon's pride.
To her deep bow,
Arcana time: four days.
24 real hours max return. Mana squeeze for a two-person portal if needed.
Raymon Sean, you black-hearted bastard.
One-way only, stingy. No logout on access devices.
Remember, Kichi. Grandfell won't wait past the hour.
Reunion: Antonium main gate.
I watched her lie in the device. Portal light bloomed; she vanished.
I wrung mana for mine.
Second time's less awkward.
Stepped through. Faced...
Messages rising from darkness.
You have entered the Arcana Continent, where legends stir.
...Entry message changed? From continent of doom to legends stirring.
Something happened while I was gone? Then realization.
The Legend System has been unlocked.
...The stirring legend was me?
You have acquired the legend: 'Black Dark Dragon Lee Hoyeol'.
What?! Black Dark Draaaagooon Lee Hoooooyeeeool?!
...Who spilled that I'm the Black Dark Dragon?!
After all my efforts, a backstab here...!! No, more importantly...
Your legend materializes.
That absurd legend materializing? What fresh nightmare is this?!