Claudy: A Quest Window Rises Amid the Ruins of the Fallen Mansion

Judging by the "Success" on the final quest objective, it looks like the [Tree of Good and Evil] class quest can be considered wrapped up for now. I don't know when it'll happen, but until a new quest objective pops up, I can breathe easy.

I expected this.

I never thought it'd end here. The scale was just too massive. More than anything, at my current level, achieving even half a success is something to be grateful for. Of course, this was only possible thanks to Claudy's "halo"...

Now that the interloper is gone, I finally took a proper look at Claudy's mansion.

What concerned me most wasn't my shame as Lee Hoyeol. It was Grandfell.

Claudi. That gloomy past and background provided an immeasurably vast amount of "fitting mana"—enough to call me bottomlessly deep in darkness.

Now that I've faced its source directly, fitting mana must be overflowing from my body.

"My liege...!"

It's only natural that a spirit of darkness would notice. It wouldn't be strange for Diend to trail off like that.

If the senior black mage scholar, Matis Din Karl, saw me like this, he probably would've been extremely worried.

It doesn't show, but I haven't neglected the things I resolved to make use of. The same goes for black magic. Following procedure, I've meticulously studied black magecraft texts.

That's why I know why Matis occasionally looks at me with concern. He was definitely worried.

About my body being corrupted by fitting mana—blackening.

What kind of side effect is called 'blackening,' seriously?

But right now, the name doesn't matter. What matters is that I know about it. No, even if others don't, I have to know.

That was the weight I, Lee Hoyeol, had to bear.

"There is no need for agitation."

Yes, it was all something I brought upon myself...!

My consistent ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tastes are infuriating.

It was an unforgivably regrettable black history. But since I've resolved to it, I won't turn away, right? I have to face it if I want to make use of it.

I continued to Diend. "I merely lost myself in old memories for a moment."

Old memories, indeed. The problem is that they're black history.

Still, my unwavering composure helped this time too. Thanks to it, I could rein in the surging fitting mana.

Diend's trembling voice reached me. "Forgive me, my liege. I, Diend Crisad Eternal Darkness, have remained at your side, yet I failed to fathom that you bore such a past."

No, please don't even try to fathom it. And if you're going to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ask forgiveness, maybe don't spit out the full name I gave you so proudly... How do I apologize for that...? Of course, I didn't let such pathetic sentiments show outwardly.

I spoke calmly. "Do not dwell on what has passed."

"...?"

"For the sake of those who have passed."

"...!"

"We must look ahead and advance."

Is it because we've returned to the ancestral home? Truly successor-like, profound words flowed forth effortlessly.

But I agreed with them. I really didn't want to look back...

It was at that moment.

"Awooooo!"

Tempest's howl rang out. As expected of the name I gave it—swift.

Following Tempest through the air came High El. Agentress emerged from the cluster of portal light.

High El bowed its head. "I apologize for failing to fully carry out your command, my liege."

I'd figured as much. The moment the Primordial Evil fled, its byproducts scattered across the continent vanished with it.

Of course, since the quest objective succeeded, no complaints here.

"Woo woo!"

Sniff sniff— Tempest wrinkled its nose, then drooped its tail.

Suddenly wilting like that, it seems the Primordial Evil vanished without leaving even a trace to harvest.

Demonic to the core.

It could hide its scent from the start, couldn't it?

That's when I was certain. The Primordial Evil wasn't planning to silently devour Claudy territory.

It realized too late and came running, only to plan on erasing Claudy territory right before my eyes.

Why? Probably because it wanted to see me—Grandfell—crumble.

Even if not, deception is everyday for demons.

Of course.

You never imagined I'd resolve it this easily, did you? But I told you—Claudy's halo exceeds imagination.

Even I fear it myself.

"Have you finally grasped your place, even if belatedly?"

Infuriating as it was, for now, I'd content myself with foiling its plan for the first time.

I was trying so hard to steady Grandfell when...

Suddenly, Agentress's voice came. "...May I ask one thing?"

No, what else are you curious about now?! Every time Agentress questions something, my heart sinks.

But I couldn't show it, so I nodded.

The question followed immediately. "Is this truly the Arcana Continent I know?"

I gauged the questioner's intent. First, consider the asker's nature.

Agentress, the elf residing in Sisli. As it said itself, Sisli made the Arcana Continent seem utterly insignificant by comparison.

So it's surprised. "To think Arcana held such a land..."

In Claudy territory. I've said it over and over—that me from back then attached the modifier "great" to it.

Just as I lavished Grandfell with the best, I piled every good thing onto the great Claudy territory.

It started from shallow knowledge. The Claudy territory knew no setting sun.

From the never-setting sun of the British Empire motif, it meant I attached every appealing thing that sounded good.

If such a land was realized, it was no less than...

...peace itself. Agentress looked around, unable to hide its admiration. Eventually, it even muttered to itself. "At this rate, what's the difference from Sisli?"

The highest praise possible from an elf.

Human hearts are fickle. I should be embarrassed, yet a corner of my mind felt oddly proud.

The realized Claudy territory, acknowledged as peace. Naturally, ownership of such Claudy territory would belong to Claudy's sole survivor and successor—me, Grandfell.

No need to quibble over relations or influence.

But immense authority comes with responsibility. Noblesse oblige or whatever—I used to have it on the tip of my tongue.

I gazed at the ruined mansion. It was utter wreckage. Only the foundation remained.

Yet just looking at it swelled my chest, evoking the majesty of its intact days.

But I knew who was responsible for Claudy's wretched fall.

Yes. Maybe it was me. Perhaps the past Lee Hoyeol was the culprit.

The successor of a great family, but the family fell to demons. Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo—the sole survivor of the family—took the path of the demon hunter to avenge them.

If I hadn't written that nonsense setting, Claudy might not have ended up like this.

That's why I desperately tried to ignore Claudy.

I can't be sure, but...

Really. If Claudy exists in the Arcana Continent because of me... I wouldn't be able to show my face before Grandfell.

Even so, my resolve to acknowledge it included that determination. To take responsibility for the past like an adult.

Even if my legs cramped from flailing. Even if I sank.

I'd make Claudy rise again, great once more.

...Hoo.

Of course, recalling that setting made a sigh inevitable. Compared to its brilliant past, nothing remained of Claudy now.

But don't worry, Grandfell. Thanks to whom, my flailing works wonders.

Drip— I placed my hand on the rubble strewn across the ruins.

No matter how much time passed. No matter how cruelly a demon razed it.

It didn't matter. I had reversal magic to reverse even that.

Kududuk— Mana rippled. It enveloped the rubble.

The debris reversed to its original form. Statues. Architecture befitting Grandfell's refined tastes.

Statues in the mansion, huh. Looking at the scene brought a memory to mind.

[Count Ascura's Territory]

That rift that spawned in Russia.

Back then, I was all talk with nothing to back it up.

When I had zilch, I didn't just trash the moving statues I couldn't beat without reversal magic—I spat venom right in Ascura's face, calling them subpar.

Back then, I wondered why my mouth was like that. Now I get it.

...Yes, Grandfell's aesthetic sense wasn't haughtily high for nothing.

Living with these statues daily would naturally raise one's eye and nose for quality!

Kuduk— One, two, three... Four statues rose via reversal magic.

Each one's appearance was extraordinary. They screamed "I'm no ordinary rock," from drawn swords to kneeling poses—reverent.

More impactful than description was Agentress's reaction. From the lofty elf's view, few things impress, yet it trailed off. "Truly astonishing..."

I'm astonished too. At the statues' quality? No, Grandfell's aesthetic sense isn't ordinary. I don't gush easily, only satisfied at best.

Besides, this is Claudy territory—front yard, basically?

"It has been some time."

No reason to marvel at front-yard statues anew. So what astonished me was slightly different from Agentress.

You're amazing, Hoyeol... How did you think to slap such outrageous settings even on mere statues...?

Just calling them ornate would've sufficed. Arcana's Four Families, Symbols of Loyalty? Gilding your own face much?

I can't lift my head from shame. Really!

[Spacetime Salon]

An banquet unfolded in its upper chamber. The round table brimmed with delicacies.

Only available in the Spacetime Salon—exotic flavors and effects.

The gold invested in the banquet spoke to their stature.

Slosh— Top-grade wine, fit for divine drops, overflowed throats and dribbled from lips.

No惜しむ気配. As if more could spill endlessly, they spoke with wine on lips.

"Curious, isn't it? Claudy, of all things."

The banquet's main course wasn't some rare dish. It was the ghost of the past—Claudi.

"Stuck in the lower levels chain-smoking foul cigars daily, must've rotted his brain. How else endure? Endured countless ill omens."

The Southern Sea Witch. Transcendent who brought news of Claudy's return.

Family heads used Claudy and the witch as appetizers to continue the feast. Arcana news couldn't be omitted.

"Still, seems it wasn't nonsense."

"Is that so?"

"Legends circulate, don't they? The Black Dark Dragon or whatever."

Black Dark Dragon. Fitting epithet for Claudy, even hearing it again.

But that was it. As the witch said, even if Claudy returned per legend...

"Hasn't too much time passed?"

Yes. Even if Claudy survived, the Claudy family didn't exist.

"Ancestors feared and revered Claudy, but we don't. Why fear a past ghost now?"

Clink— Family heads clinked glasses amid talk. Not spitting on their graves outright, but ancestors were overly cautious.

"Tragic, isn't it? Power to shake the continent, yet can't wield it. Who appreciates such humility?"

"Exactly! Demon scum eyeing Four Families' territories—how else if we seemed easy?"

"Lamentable."

Obviously, Four Families' territories never fell. Not to infamous demons, not even demon king assaults.

Someone might ask: So great, yet no presence till now? Why?

Wine-fueled heat. True feelings spilled.

All because of cowardly ancestors.

"Cowering over one Claudy, reduced to this."

But cowards died, Claudy's greatness a bygone tale. Even Claudy's survivor returning? Good news for family heads.

"Might be our chance to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠prove."

We're greater than Claudy. Four Families supreme.

Opponent's fallen Claudy? Easier than drinking wine.

The problem...

Was those before their eyes. Glances exchanged. Glasses clinked in subtle mind games.

Maxima's golden elite are eyesores.

Those twins still serve Yugric?

If not barbarians, Kansel would've been mine...!

Usable discard pawn—ally needed now?

Claudi absent from their mind games.

...

I stared at the fully reversed statues. Reason I called Ascura's moving ones ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠trash soon appeared.

Yes, our house statues didn't just move—they spoke...!

Rumble!

Four statues bowed toward me in unison.

Why Four Families, of all things? Simple.

A voice full of loyalty answered for them. "The Four Heavenly Kings greet the master, Claudy."

Hoyeol, the Four Heavenly Kings were genuinely cool to you, huh...?

Not enough? Master reigning over them. Truly, such hideous tastes...!