The Promise (1)
The old-fashioned space of the emperor. A teacup so ornate it was dazzling to the eyes. And a green tea teabag in the cup, utterly ruining the atmosphere.
Clink—
That said, the story was even more shocking than the sight before me. I flinched inwardly but set down the teacup without showing it. Then I opened my mouth.
“Such were the circumstances.”
Rifts. The space of anomalies. The Library of War, which held cheat-like effects akin to anomalies.
As expected, great power came with great responsibility.
The price of using the Library of War was one's lifespan.
The emperors of the empire had exchanged their lifespans in the Library of War for answers to crises, thereby protecting the empire.
“Yet I am not afraid. Nay, I must not be afraid. The moment I show even a hint of fear, I would lose the right to face my father and the emperors before him.”
The emperor apparently hadn't entered the Library of War yet.
He wouldn't know what its interior was like, even if asked.
The emperor, who smiled bitterly, added one more thing to me.
“Can you keep this secret from others?”
Everyone seemed to know about the Library of War...
But not what the price was.
That's why he could speak of it so casually.
“When the time comes, I will reveal everything myself.”
If he said that much, I had to keep the secret.
But still.
Would that day of revelation ever come?
'It was unmistakably a rift.'
Let me recall once more.
The information on the Library of War.
Recommended Level: Unmeasurable
Collapse Progress: 92.7%
For starters, the recommended level.
According to the emperor, only those with the qualities of a 'sovereign' could enter the Library of War.
Once entered, one couldn't reverse the decision or regain lost lifespan.
'He said he'd received training for it.'
Human lifespans were finite.
Meaning one couldn't ask questions multiple times.
Thus, the emperor had undergone training to extract maximum answers with minimal questions.
The oratory skills used to spread the legend of the Black Dark Dragon must have been learned then, huh?
'It reeks here too.'
That damn bean powder smell...!
No matter how much one was born wearing a crown.
Training from childhood to use lifespan efficiently? That was too much.
Even I, with my bizarre tastes back then, wouldn't have written such a setting for the Claudy family, seriously.
Anyway, not as bad as the World Tree family, but this side reeked of bean powder plenty.
And the problem wasn't just that.
We couldn't overlook that the Library of War was a rift.
'What happens if it collapses?'
Based on my accumulated player experience...
Every time they borrowed its power, the collapse progress of the Library of War increased.
At that point, I declared.
“There will be no need for me to reveal that fact.”
“I am grateful for your understanding...”
“Nor will there be need for you to reveal it.”
“...What do you mean?”
“For you shall never enter the Library of War.”
“...Pardon?”
Rifts weren't common on the Arcana Continent, so he didn't seem to know.
The moment the Library of War collapsed, no one could predict what would happen to Antonium.
'We must stop it now.'
92.7 percent.
The saying that it was too late was when it was most urgent wasn't for nothing.
Let's think positively as much as possible.
If it was never used again, it was as good as 0 percent.
Truth be told, if I could...
'Explain what rifts mean in this world.'
I wanted to explain in detail.
But I'd learned my lesson from ranting on the Mage Tower's Crystal Hall podium.
No matter how many times explained in words, no one from a completely different world could fully grasp the concept.
'It's because Grandfell is the anomaly.'
So now, I had to cite another reason.
Of course, no matter how well-intentioned this damn pride was, I couldn't spout lies.
I had no choice but to declare boldly, as always.
“No crisis of absolute peril shall befall the Arcana Continent, let alone the empire.”
“...!”
“I shall ensure it.”
My confidence was truly absurd.
The emperor reacted to my words.
...His lips curled up slyly?
'Is he mocking me?'
More embarrassing than infuriating.
Yeah, even I thought it arrogant after saying it.
How ridiculous must it sound to the emperor?
But it wasn't mockery.
“Truly a strange thing.”
Soon, a serious voice followed.
“It feels as though Your Excellency bears a burden like mine... nay, heavier than mine. Thus, your words truly touch my heart.”
Is that so?
Objectively, my burdens were excessively heavy.
He must have sensed the sincerity there.
“Thus, all your words bring me comfort.”
The emperor smiled faintly again.
But having seen the previous smile, I could distinguish.
This one was a bitter smile laced with melancholy.
'Separate from trusting me.'
As emperor, he couldn't easily set down his burdens.
Well, I wasn't in a position to get angry if he didn't trust me.
That was the emperor's pride.
But this one thing, he could trust.
Grandfell harbored no such emotion as humility. Underestimation demanded proof. Overestimation, he would inevitably make reality.
It might sound like bluff now.
But I, Grandfell, would make it reality.
Or rather, I'd struggle until I did.
So watch, Emperor.
Live long to see it, if possible.
*
The day of the promise arrived.
The top floor of the Mage Tower.
The Tower Master licked her paw with her tongue.
“Isn't it rather grandiose, Chief Mage Marcelo?”
“What do you mean, Tower Master?”
“Calling it the day of promise makes it seem like you're eagerly awaiting this moment. It's just one day. Isn't this welcome excessive?”
One day in reality's time.
Merely four days in Arcana Continent time.
Yet look at the assembly on the Mage Tower's top floor.
Tower Master, elders, chief mage, and all senior mages convened.
“Even grander than my return.”
“Are you perhaps jealous?”
“And if I am?”
“Your tail is wagging, Tower Master. As expected, you've grown clumsy at lying in that beastly body.”
“Tch. If not for this damned beastly form.”
Marcelo continued with a smile.
“Even so, it's not excessive. You've entered the Arcana Continent before, but this time there's a companion. Beyond mere celebration of safe return, we must pay attention.”
Like the entire Mage Tower mobilized.
The reason they awaited Hoyeol on the top floor was simple.
Excluding Hoyeol, it was the first.
To commemorate the round trip between reality and the Arcana Continent.
And to respond to any unforeseen incidents.
Healing magic. Pure mana. Black magic...
The twenty senior mages were experts in their fields.
Even if something arose with the companion, Kichi, while traversing between reality and Arcana, they could respond swiftly from various angles.
Senior pure mana mage, Banggrit, whispered.
“...But do we really need to be here?”
Senior flame mage, Bensy, retorted loudly, belittling the whisper.
“Again with the self-doubt?”
“No, I mean... we have the chief mage here?”
“Tsk tsk. Knowing one and not the other, Banggrit senior.”
“Pardon...?”
Bensy puffed his chest proudly, a rare sight.
He had no choice.
In such a gathering, the only one Bensy could puff his chest against was Banggrit, younger and naive in temperament.
As if teaching his brother Naysh, Bensy whispered.
“This is all about building camaraderie...!”
“...Camaraderie?”
“Exactly. Everyone here knows! If anything arises, the chief mage will handle it admirably. But more than intent, visible sincerity matters greatly.”
“Visible sincerity...?”
“You know, in noble social circles...”
Bensy trailed off, then added hastily.
“Ah, not looking down on you as a commoner, Banggrit. I swear on the proud William family. Just to aid understanding.”
“...Haha. Of course.”
Bensy was often misunderstood for his light speech and actions, but Banggrit knew his sincerity.
If he intended discrimination against commoners, he wouldn't even converse with him, Senior Bensy.
“Even seemingly unnecessary, inefficient behaviors hold meaning. For example, the utensils at banquets have a specific order!”
“Ah...!”
Banggrit understood immediately from the kind example.
“I struggled plenty since I'm not used to it.”
How much anguish after entering the tower.
Banggrit had grumbled at Mage Tower banquets on anniversaries, wondering if nobles had multiple hands, hence multiple spoons and forks.
“Similar situation, right?”
“Yes! This is formality itself!”
“Hmm...”
Banggrit trailed off.
He understood thanks to Bensy, but something felt off.
The chief mage valued formality but not empty rituals...
Why, around when Hoyeol had just been recognized as co-chief.
'I know from experience.'
To gain Hoyeol's favor, he'd visited the office and been turned away at the door.
Unaware or not of Banggrit's past, Bensy chuckled.
“So lately, I've been diligently flipping through books. You know Noble Writing? Just that page alone is thousands of sheets...”
There, Banggrit was certain.
'You're off base again, Senior Bensy.'
His tower exit applications were always rejected not for greetings.
He wanted to point out the core, but Banggrit had no leisure.
-S-Sorry...!
Suddenly, telepathy rang in his mind.
It wasn't just to Banggrit.
The senior mages flinched.
“...!”
Exchanging glances, they realized.
This telepathy was to all senior mages.
Marcelo, the elders, Yugweed, and the Tower Master noticed too.
Yugweed quipped.
“My, nothing for us, it seems.”
With all senior-and-above mages assembled on the top floor.
The sender was likely at most a skilled mage.
Seniors wouldn't dare telepath to chief, elders, or Tower Master.
The Tower Master said indifferently.
“So, what is it?”
Telepathy from inside the tower to inside. Rare.
Soon, the senior mages spoke.
So unbelievable, they trailed off uncertainly.
“...An uninvited guest has entered the Mage Tower.”
“?”
Unprecedented before or after the cataclysm.
Obviously.
Arcana's strongest force.
The Mage Tower's might was even greater in the past.
Yugweed and the Tower Master eyed each other.
“Doesn't this pique your interest, Tower Master?”
But Marcelo blocked their curiosity beforehand.
“Has the intruder's identity been identified?”
Matis bowed his head.
“I'll ask immediately.”
Until then, Marcelo didn't take it seriously.
Unlike the past, the tower was open.
Reporters with cameras lingered in the lobby, players warped ceaselessly via portals.
'Even if they reached the upper floors.'
Skilled mages could handle it.
No need to worry.
But as Matis's brow furrowed.
Marcelo intuited.
The situation was unfolding differently than expected.
Matis spoke.
“The intruder broke through the skilled mages' encirclement.”
“...!!!”
“Attempting entry to the Crystal Hall.”
Marcelo asked calmly.
“And their identity?”
“Not a player, but an Arcana native...”
Matis's eyes darkened.
“One of the Shadow Mercenary members.”
Shadow Mercenary.
At that name.
Yugweed's face hardened.
“That damned Shadow Mercenary...”
The gentle giant, Yugweed.
The giant who rarely showed emotion expressed clear discomfort.
He had no choice.
Yugweed had a minor grudge against the Shadow Mercenary.
Yugweed spoke.
“I'll handle the intruder.”
Whatever reason they approached the tower, unknowable.
But it was a clear mistake.
Yugweed murmured softly.
“I never thought it could be salvaged.”
The moment she moved to step forward.
“...?”
Whoooosh—!
Top floor.
A cluster of brilliant mana lights floating in the air.
All recognized it.
“!!!”
Not an ordinary portal.
One only the enlightened could manifest.
A portal linking dimensions.
Soon, a familiar sound from the portal's lights.
Click—
Chief Mage Hoyeol's voice came.
“Not an intruder.”
Hoyeol said so.
...What did that mean?
As all pondered his words.
“I anticipated this as well.”
...Anticipated?
How could the chief mage on the Arcana Continent foresee events here?
Before doubts deepened, the portal vanished completely, and they realized.
Via the access device.
The Shadow Mercenary leader, Kichi, who went to the Arcana Continent with Hoyeol, was missing.
Hoyeol adjusted his attire and spoke.
“Standing in for the leader who broke her promise.”
His cold voice turned to Yugweed.
“Will you yield the floor, Elder Mage Yugweed?”
“Yield, Chief...?”
“Their pride—I shall 'strictly' verify it.”