Indeed, the Chief Mage (1)

Blazing sun. Beneath it, the Yusra Archipelago gleamed radiantly. He was capturing the stunning scenery of the beautiful Yusra Archipelago on camera, yet Netuber Park Hwigang's face was filled with gloom.

"……Just a little longer, everyone."

Who was he waiting for? The answer lay in the title of Park Hwigang's livestream.

The day Lee Hoyeol crushed Count Ascura's knights. Park Hwigang had watched his every move from the rift's entrance.

In Park Hwigang's heart, Hoyeol was already a hero.

And rightly so. His viewer count alone proved it.

Park Hwigang's streams never topped 50 average viewers. But after broadcasting Hoyeol live—

Viewers flooded in. Hoyeol's endorsement had gone viral.

Beyond numbers, to Park Hwigang, Hoyeol was a hero. Utterly overwhelming. Unarmed properly, yet dominating Count Ascura's soldiers and knights.

……He looked just like a manga protagonist.

That's right. Park Hwigang came to admire him. He even edited Hoyeol's footage himself, adding music for highlight reels.

Thanks to his efforts, interest in Hoyeol on Netview never waned. It showed in Park Hwigang's viewer count—essentially Hoyeol's waiting room.

He wasn't even touring Yusra—just filming the portal. Yet the chat never stopped.

A valid concern. With spoils drawing crowds, everyone would swarm. Especially the Supernovas.

Supernovas. Not old Arcana rankers, but new powerhouses threatening the hierarchy. Players who rose post-Arcana's reality fusion.

Most knew their nature. Overtaking Arcana vets in reality wasn't easy. Plus, Supernovas were scandal magnets.

With them in Yusra, players and guilds stayed vigilant.

Of course, only against equals. Viewers had faith from Hoyeol's dominance, unshakable calm, bold demeanor, vast presence shrugging off global eyes.

Yet—

For some reason, no sign of Hoyeol. Debates raged.

Fanatic faith. Viewers spun everything positive. That's why thousands watched hours of portal footage, ignoring other live Yusra streams.

"……Have faith."

As Park Hwigang muttered—

"……?"

A familiar silhouette entered the frame. Sparkling sands. Towering palms. Suit and shoes clashing with the scene. Yet his unique aura made it natural.

Finally. Hoyeol had arrived in Yusra Archipelago.

"I never doubted, Ho-men."

*

Giant Evil. I'd doubted the quest at first. Recalled the Akkshan demon hunter's words.

—Giant Evil. Literally massive demons. I've not faced them, but they exist. Too huge to hide.

The lesson followed.

—So what exactly are these Giant Evils……

……Enough lessons. Fresh from the regular conference, brain fried. A break first.

I plunged into the portal.

"……!"

The moment my foot hit Yusra soil.

……Too massive to hide.

I understood the demon hunter. Under my shoe's sole.

……Natural Enemy activated. Demons nearby.

But I didn't panic. Demon hunter instinct. The Giant Evil pulsed beneath my feet.

'All of Yusra Archipelago is under the Giant Evil's influence.'

The quest's weight made sense now. Facing the true Giant Evil.

Beautiful on the surface. But knowing the truth beneath.

My steps held no hesitation.……No, surging confidence.

『No demon's temptation, deceit, or trial can scratch Grandfell's noble pride.』

Any demon. Giant Evil included, naturally.

Thus, I declared boldly upon entering Yusra.

To the Giant Evil underfoot, I proclaimed.

"Thy prostrate humiliation suits thee well."

. . .

New update details. Why I'd ignored Yusra.

Monsters started at Lv.400+—rift-level threats.

Lucky it was mid-Pacific.

New regions sometimes summon monsters with them. Imagine Yusra by Jeju.

'Rift collapse before we blink.'

National disaster by now. All things considered, fortunate.

Unintentionally benefiting from the Giant Evil. Grandfell's death-wish personality aside, I felt confident.

'I can at least tangle with it.'

Natural Enemy. New magic glimpsed at conference. Mana regen item from Mage Tower.

Solid basis for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠confidence.

'Emerald Tiger's a bit much though……'

Start with scorpions…….

As I strolled Yusra—

Krrrooowrl—!

……Jeez!

That roar alone was majestic. Dwarfed the blood-soaked wolf howls from the goblin den—mere whimpers.

Instinct screamed. Speak of the tiger……

"Damn it. Healer, status ailment!!"

"Recovery!"

"Fuck. That bastard sparkles too much—can't land hits!!"

Lush palm grove. Emerald Tiger rampaging below.

Movements matched its level. Gear suggested skilled players, yet the tiger hunted them.

'Obvious.'

Terrain favored the tiger. Palms and emerald—perfect camouflage. Blazing sun dazzled vision, forcing passive play.

"Fuck! Told you not to split up!"

"Eyes on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠achievements blinded you……!"

"No choice. Peel off when we can!"

Retreating wisely. Numbers win. Join allies, hunt easy.

Regrettably, no allies for me.

But—

Thud—

Detour around a mere tiger? Unthinkable.

I stepped forward.

Rustle— Palm fronds brushed my suit. Players startled.

"……What? Huh? Y-You're?!"

Ignoring them, I faced the Emerald Tiger.

"One cannot tame a beast like a dog."

『Magic』 manifested.

"Bear with its ferocity, then."

……Will I ever get used to these lines?

Thankfully, no cringe-block. Magic rose—a wall.

Rumble—!

Brain raced. Limit its movement first. My stats couldn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠track it.

Strength 27. Agility 33. Total 60.

Natural Enemy boosted beyond stats, but Lv.420? Let it roam free? Suicide.

Thus, east-west-south-north. Like caging ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a beast, stone walls rose.

Rumble—!

Worth mana investment. Manifestation swifter. Brooch helped too.

[Effect: 10% mana regen on spell use.]

10% felt huge.

'Breaking walls now? Insane.'

Previously, Reversal Magic to collapse and damage. But tiger's agility?

'Suicide too.'

Dodge shards, exploit gap, rip my throat.

So, continuous magic.

Fwoosh—!

Flames danced in my palm. Mage Tower Chief Mage Marcelo's advanced spell from conference.

'Mana plenty.'

Time to test its power.

Grew the flame larger.

'Centrifugal force.'

Interference added science.

Fwoooosh—!

A storm of fire. Even I flinched at the heat.

'……No wonder Chief Mage.'

Far better than expected……! Sorry, Marcelo. For doubting during scouting.

The fiery storm engulfed the wall-climbing Emerald Tiger.

Compared to Jessie Haynes' Heaven's Punishment? Lower tier, obviously.

'But.'

My storm persisted. Still burning post-release.

With sustained damage?

'Roughly equal.'

Confirming message.

Flickering messages amid a faint voice.

"……Ho, Ho-men!"