That Is Me (1)

As obvious as it was to the point of making my mouth ache just saying it, excuses like "I haven't rested a single moment on the Arcana Continent" wouldn't fly. After all, why had I so firmly declared that the time spent there amounted to just one day?

Thud.

The sight that greeted me as I closed the door.

On the desk in my office.

A mountain of work piled up in a single day.

That was it.

The day I returned to reality after half a month.

I'd been freshly reminded of just how much baggage I carried.

Me, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠once an ordinary office worker and bachelor.

Back then, I'd stuck out my tongue in disbelief at those who never put off their chores.

Are they even human?

Scribble scribble.

Yet here I was, the moment I returned to reality, twirling my quill feather pen like mad.

Probably burning the midnight oil even more than those folks...

Of course, I couldn't whine forever.

At least it's not taking a toll on my body. That's a relief.

Players are called superhumans.

Simply from their rising stats, they gain physical abilities incomparable to ordinary people.

And I had the effect of [Blessing of the First World Tree] on top of that.

It even ignores aging—what's mere fatigue to it?

Thanks to that, I could maintain this upright posture.

And process the work.

Not just my body was unscathed—my mental fortitude held strong too.

My concentration isn't dropping either. Lucky.

Lee Hoyeol's focus?

I never could have cleared this backlog at that rate.

Thanks to Grandfell, the documents vanished from the desk like green tea drained from a cup.

Still...

Now that I'd caught my breath in reality.

My thoughts turned to the Arcana Continent.

Time flowed four times faster there.

By my next entry, things might look noticeably different.

The Empire will handle itself.

Out of lingering concern, I'd say it again: I had nothing left to worry about.

If only to avoid meddling and sinking myself.

The emperor needed to rule like an emperor.

Our brief chat was all, but he seemed to have the chops for it.

"The emperor knew his pride."

In Grandfell-speak, he showed the sprouts of pride.

In that vein, what I needed to ponder about the Empire was...

Piled-up contribution points.

And the Quirnburk Mechanical Tower.

...Thinking about it again, it stings.

Swoosh—I shifted my gaze to the jacket slung over my shoulders.

Yeah, my level was still too low.

I hadn't shown it, but.

This deviated from expectations.

The byproduct of primordial evil.

That lump yielding zero experience was regrettable, sure.

But I hadn't felled the main body.

I could call it cheap, but wallowing in injustice felt off.

Besides, back then I had a reliable fallback.

The Quirnburk Mechanical Tower, my sturdy savings account!

But new info from Chainwalker was the culprit.

High El had said:

—"Just as adventurers grow by accumulating experience in battle, the Quirnburk Mechanical Tower does the same—or so Chainwalker, leader of the dwarves, relayed."

Its accumulated experience and fame wouldn't just vanish.

No matter how much I sucked with a straw.

Not a drop emerged—that was the Empire now.

If I harvested experience and fame from the Quirnburk Mechanical Tower, the Empire's watchdog?

Their forces would plummet.

Who knew I'd end up honoring those words like this.

Unaware of my feelings, my mouth spoke again.

"Until it halts, Akkshan's pride shall be upheld."

Anyway, with expectations dashed.

I needed to give my all here too.

[Appropriate Level: Not recommended for anyone].

With the Zero Mountains existing.

Effort alone would cover experience worries.

In the end.

Once again, if I just do well on my own.

Creak.

Finishing my thoughts, I manifested a portal right away.

My burdens weren't piled only at the Mage Tower.

Plus, today was the Holy War Alliance meeting.

Just one day.

What big deal could reality hold?

But skipping procedure was unthinkable for me.

I headed through the portal to the Yusra Kingdom.

...

But there was a big deal.

Tianxia Tongyi.

Couldn't you live up to your name for once...?

I murmured.

"They've declared the polar opposite."

Scrambling for access devices by any means.

They'd brazenly fallen for Raymon Sean's scheme.

It wasn't an incomprehensible choice.

Lately.

Tianxia Tongyi had seized guild ranking 1st, surpassing Shining.

They won't let their power rot, huh.

Or, put differently, they had confidence.

But understanding didn't mean condoning.

Especially since.

"Then I must personally shatter that resolve."

Raymon Sean was no different from a demon.

Both I and Grandfell had concluded as much.

Those gathered nodded at my declaration.

Apparently clashes in the Zero Mountains.

Nam Taemin and the players nodded vigorously.

Hisagi Kazuma spoke gravely.

"I was thinking their actions had gone too far anyway. Beyond common morals, they're no longer mere players or a guild. They're one with a nation."

His narrowed eyes flashed menacingly—seemed he had grudges from the Inazuma days.

Hisagi wasn't the only one fired up.

Nam Taemin, Leoni Bellucci, Shreyg—all chimed in.

But Nam Taemin added,

"...Still, the root of all conflicts is Ryu Ojuncheon. I ran into some Tianxia Tongyi members by chance. Those players didn't follow him out of joy—they seemed forced."

Yusra's king, Hakuna, bristled at the news.

"That man lacks the qualifications of a leader!"

Ryu Ojuncheon's arbitrary ways were infamous long before.

But reasons existed why guildmates couldn't resist.

From his rare [Monarch] class.

To his homeland, China—unavoidable ties.

Inscrutable interests tangled inside.

No reason to care until now.

But from this moment.

With opposition to Tianxia Tongyi formed.

I needed to know how they operated.

Unfair, right? My every move exposed to the world.

Yet I knew little of them.

Still, I said calmly,

"The Zero Mountains should bring encounters with them."

Tianxia Tongyi wouldn't neglect leveling while hunting access devices.

Active in the Zero Mountains to slip into my fluttering jacket sleeves, we'd naturally cross paths.

Or so I thought.

"...!"

At my mention of the Zero Mountains, Nam Taemin and crew's faces lit up.

Not just simple joy—something more.

Harcon Kingsguard spoke immediately.

"I was about to report to you, Grand Commander. While you diligently roamed the Arcana Continent, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the adventurers fought valiantly in the Zero Mountains and achieved results."

Total commander's position.

Thus formal speech in official settings, as Harcon vowed...

Still, honorifics from him felt odd.

Of course, I took the parchment without showing it.

The results were inscribed there.

Dismissing others' toil lightly ill befits pride.

Reading the parchment slowly, I spoke.

"Indeed, 'fought valiantly' is no exaggeration."

How many were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠there?

The Zero Mountains' 100,000 caves.

[Dungeon], [Labyrinth], [Battlefield], etc.

Not just types.

Numbers too vast to count on fingers.

Cave info densely filled the parchment.

The Lion Heart Knight Order, active alongside players there.

Thus Harcon knew why players hesitated.

"Most discovered during your half-month absence, Grand Commander. We delayed reporting for one reason: fear of stealing your time, the adventurers worried."

I swallowed a sigh of relief inwardly.

How long has it been since such consideration?

Without that goodwill working right.

Without Harcon's tact.

My pride would've added conquering 100,000 caves to the schedule pronto.

I nearly slaved even harder.

But thanks to that, efficiency reigned.

Not just one stone two birds—three birds.

I spoke magnanimously.

"No need for you to worry over me."

Damn formalities stifling honesty.

"But this time, I gladly accept the goodwill."

Forcing extra words I needn't say.

They might think me unlucky.

But their simple joy was fortunate.

Well, considering the Zero Mountains' level, it's warranted.

I rechecked the parchment's appropriate levels.

All beyond current players' solo capabilities.

But with me joining, they'd be manageable.

Time to dispel the hype bubble sometime...

I keenly felt it watching legends spread on the Arcana Continent.

Unneeded misconceptions best corrected swiftly.

No one knew how they'd boomerang.

[Level: 681]

Even with stats boosted by grindy class quests.

Overall, stronger than my level suggested.

Yet the issue: my screw-loose class, Demon Hunter.

Of course, factoring accumulated tricks and new [Legendary], [Class Unique Skill]...

Lv.800 appropriate levels? I could solo.

But I'd rather not use them.

Summoning Akshan's GuardianTempest before non-demons ill fits a Demon Hunter's pride—skip that.

Above all, no Black Dark Dragon...

More than anything, I needed the grind.

You'd ask why suddenly embrace hardship.

I've freeloader too much lately.

Fundamentals needed henceforth.

Not ditching tricks.

Tricks atop basics.

Then even tricks become trump cards.

"No reason to delay, then."

Rest never in my fate anyway.

Heading straight to the Zero Mountains wasn't bad.

As I moved to wrap the Holy War Alliance meeting.

"Wait, Mr. Hoyeol... no, Grand Commander!"

Nam Taemin spoke up.

Seemed he had more to say.

No reason not to hear.

I nodded; he continued.

But.

Unimaginable words tumbled out.

"Could we hear about the Black Dark Dragon?!"

...Black Dark Dragon?

Dizziness hit, but.

I composed myself without showing.

Maybe just curious about the dragon?

Unlike Arcana.

In reality, my identity wasn't spread.

Yeah, Hoyeol. No need to flinch guiltily.

As I brazenly steadied my mind.

Even more unbelievable words followed.

From Hisagi this time.

"To think the Grand Commander was the Black Dark Dragon. I never even imagined."

...What the hell?!

H-how do you know that?

No, more than that—why's no one shocked...?!

Players.

No, Arcana natives too.

Everyone here unfazed by me being the Black Dark Dragon.

Only then did I belatedly notice.

Bzzz—

My smartphone vibrating wildly in my inner pocket since earlier.

Seemed reality knew it all now.

Me.

The Black ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Dark Dragon dragons wailed so desperately over...