You Are Not Special (2)

What action is most familiar to me, Lee Hoyeol?

If someone asked, I could answer without hesitation: leisurely enjoying tea time and straightening my attire.

Thanks to that, slipping the Dawn Jacket over my shoulders was both perfectly natural and swift.

'Overwhelming in more ways than one.'

On my first day at work, did wearing the jacket feel like this?

How embarrassing the fluttering jacket had been—why was I comparing it to my first day at the office, Hoyeol?

The self-mockery lasted only a moment.

I gazed at the shifting scenery.

Beyond the swirl of portal light, my target coordinates appeared: [Rose Vine Citadel].

'But they're seriously misunderstanding something.'

My gaze naturally turned to Leoni.

Drenched in blood, it was certainly a state that would make Grandfell, who lives and dies by propriety, hesitate.

But pride stands above even that formality—and it's complicated.

'No way he'd furrow his brow.'

Of course, I don't know what Leoni's pride entails.

But considering the resonance of Grandfell's lofty pride, it wasn't strange to declare thus.

"It seems you've greatly misunderstood formality, Leoni. However, I shall let it pass for now. Realizing your pride is enough."

At my words, she seemed to regain some composure.

Leoni faintly opened her eyes and looked at me, then murmured softly.

"......You're sparkling especially today."

......Sparkling? Who? Me?

I thought she'd barely opened her eyes due to the blood caking her face.

Was it because I was sparkling?

More importantly, what did that even mean? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I wanted to ask, but—

"Sis!!"

Leoni lost consciousness and staggered.

The Giant Alliance and Berserker guild members rushed over in panic.

Look, manifesting the portal had consumed considerable mana, but casting healing magic was no issue.

"Potions first......?!"

The players rummaging through their inventories froze.

They knew magic and [skills] were different, yet they flinched seeing me—a mage—use healing, the healer's domain.

But it wasn't anything to be shocked about.

'This is barely mid-level at best, right?'

Even Grandfell, who grasps at anything in reach, considers efficiency.

With [First World Tree's Blessing] in existence, there was no need to delve deeply into healing magic.

'I'd pick up other spellbooks in that time.'

In short, my healing magic was merely at a cultured level.

But Grandfell's talent doesn't vanish.

Moreover, I'd just witnessed High El's wide-area buff with my own eyes.

'Good inspiration, High El.'

Mimic and incorporate it into the interference process...

"Ugh...... crazy......"

Leoni immediately cursed—no, regaining consciousness was impressive enough.

The players' faces brightened dramatically.

"What should we say? Thank you, Grand Commander......!"

"On behalf of Sis and Berserker, truly thank you!"

"We should properly face you and bow, but......"

Watching the players unable to lift their heads, I realized once more.

......This sparkling thing wasn't something to brush off lightly, huh?

I desperately wanted to check my face in a mirror or smartphone front camera right then.

But I wasn't so scatterbrained as to do that with monsters right in front of me.

So, for now, visual inspection was best.

I subtly glanced down at my attire...

Wait a second.

What the hell was this dazzling splendor?!

There's a common expression: haloed in light.

But this surpassed a halo—it was full-on self-luminescence.

No exaggeration.

Dark navy base embroidered with silver thread, each strand emitting radiant light.

Dawn. It lived up to its name perfectly!

I'd resented the fluttering jacket and rushed to level up as fast as possible.

But now, wearing it made leveling up and equipping it pointless.

Think about it: slinging the jacket over my shoulders was far less embarrassing than this.

'Like walking around with mirrors strapped to my whole body......'

No wonder the experience felt so generous!

I couldn't just rejoice like it was all blessings in disguise.

Honestly, my feelings were a tangled mess.

I desperately wanted to hurl off the jacket ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'd just equipped.

But I couldn't.

'Because it's waiting.'

The [Dimensional Gap] rift.

The question-mark demon I'd encountered there.

Recalling that day.

Only a body part visible through the torn dimensional gap, yet its extraordinariness was palpable.

So, how strong do you think it was?

Conveniently, there's a perfect comparison.

'Tearing dimensions means it's entered the realm of transcendents.'

Me. Or on par with dragons—a demon of that caliber.

The real target was someone else entirely.

'Of course, it had Karimjeva's cooperation.'

Same for me.

Without mimicking the access device's structure, I couldn't have opened a portal to the Arcana Continent this quickly.

'Plus, using Banggrit as a sacrifice.'

The implication was simple: excluding upper demon kings, it was incomparably stronger than other demon kings.

Facing such a being now, stripping off the jacket out of shame was unthinkable.

Moreover, I desperately needed it.

[Trauma of the One Who Awaits the Dawn]

[Shirt of the One Who Awaits the Dawn]

[Vest of the One Who Awaits the Dawn]

[Belt of the One Who Awaits the Dawn]

[Dawn Jacket of the One Who Awaits the Dawn]

All epic grade. Dwarven craftsmanship. The set effect of these masterpieces...

So, bear with me, everyone.

"I shall understand."

"Thank you......"

"Thus, I ask that you understand as well."

"Pardon? What do you......?"

Demon hunter.

And Grandfell's complex pride.

Paradoxically cried out.

Unable to tolerate a demon breathing in the Zero Mountains, yet unwilling to abandon plans for mere demons—such pride.

After deep deliberation, my conclusion was this.

"From this moment."

I raised my quill and continued.

"The raid is over."

......

Nam Cheolmin felt a chill run down his spine.

-"From this moment, the raid is over."

The Grand Commander wasn't one for idle words.

The raid was truly over, as declared.

Nam Cheolmin wasn't the only one flustered by the sudden turn.

"Chief Analyst?"

"Did something not meet your expectations?"

"Is it because we're not up to par......?"

Nam Cheolmin held his tongue and rapidly spun his thoughts.

'......Did I overstep?'

By rashly requesting support from the Grand Commander?

If it was his fault, that was a relief.

But if disappointed in the Giant Alliance's capabilities...

'Then we're done for.'

He could fix his own mistakes, but the alliance's shortcomings weren't short-term fixes.

Sweat beaded across his body in an instant.

"No choice but to ask directly."

Fearful, but he couldn't proceed without confirming.

"Hoo—"

As Nam Cheolmin took a deep breath, Hoyeol's voice continued.

-"Now begins the time for hunting."

"......?"

At first, he didn't grasp the meaning.

Just relieved it wasn't disappointment in the alliance.

But watching, he understood.

A hollow laugh escaped involuntarily.

"So that's what you meant by the raid ending."

Raid and hunt—the nuance difference was clear to any Arcana player.

Raids demand preparation, combat, rest—all elements.

Hunting was far simpler.

Just like what Hoyeol now demonstrated.

The analyst stammered.

"Grand Commander Lee Hoyeol entered the [Rose Vine Citadel]...... exactly 3 minutes and 30 seconds ago......!"

Incredulous, he checked the monitor again.

"And you've defeated the boss monster......!"

[Rosewood Puppet Doll: Lv.750]

Boss monster's majesty? Powerless before overwhelming force.

It crumbled to dust before unleashing its so-called phases.

"At this rate......"

At the same time, he swallowed dryly watching Nam Taemin's feed.

His brother's words resurfaced.

-"I want to share the burden Hoyeol's carrying?"

He'd brushed it off then.

But he shouldn't have.

Nam Cheolmin muttered unconsciously.

"......Gotta work much harder from now on, Taemin."

Half-hearted resolve and effort wouldn't help Hoyeol at all.

After the shock, analysts grasped the situation and spoke.

"That clears the [Rose Vine Citadel]."

"But it's way off plan? Is this okay, Chief Analyst......?"

"Maybe check what plan the Grand Commander has......?"

Right, of course confirm.

Nam Cheolmin adjusted his slipping glasses.

As he tried communicating via player—

Swipe—Hoyeol's gaze locked precisely on the camera angle.

"Eek."

Groans erupted everywhere.

Due to the intense light.

Nam Cheolmin urgently spoke.

"Light so strong the camera focus is failing......? Is the lens broken? No, we bought all new ones......?!"

A natural reaction.

Hoyeol's self-luminescence—impossible to believe it came from mere clothing.

Dawn, truly like the sun rising in darkness.

But conversely—

-"Analyst Nam Cheolmin."

Hoyeol's voice was ice-cold.

Wide-eyed, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Nam Cheolmin strained to open his eyes and replied.

"Please relay that I'm listening?"

Nod—up and down.

The player's shaky angle trembled finely.

Then Hoyeol continued.

-"Leave the subsequent situation entirely to your judgment."

"......Pardon?"

-"As I said, now is the time for hunting."

Hunting......?

The [Rose Vine Citadel] was already cleared by the Grand Commander defeating the boss.

Another cave? But—

'No.'

Nam Cheolmin soon realized.

'......That wasn't hunting for the Grand Commander.'

What just happened wasn't hunting.

A one-sided massacre.

Moreover, a mere Lv.750 boss wouldn't drop experience worth calling a hunt for him.

"Failing to understand that meaning."

I'm still far behind, Nam Cheolmin!

Then what was the Grand Commander's prey?

Could he help find it?

As Nam Cheolmin pondered—

......Chill!

His spine froze again.

Second time.

Finally, he realized.

"......Could it be?"

Hoyeol's voice confirmed it.

-"That 'thing' you're sensing is my prey."

"......!"

Nam Cheolmin was stunned again.

It meant Hoyeol had full grasp of the Zero Mountains' situation even inside the cave.

To such a Hoyeol, he had nothing truly helpful...

"Damn."

As Nam Cheolmin bowed his head—

Before analyst, as player.

A message appeared before his eyes.

"......!"

A spawn message unmistakable to any analyst.

Appropriate level: [Not Recommended for Anyone].

Such a message in the Zero Mountains?

Bug? Doubtful, but—

Nam Cheolmin didn't hesitate.

The message's 'thing' seemed deserving.

He composed himself and spoke.

"From now on, I'll relay the Zero Mountains situation to the Grand Commander!"

......

Colossal Evil. Sin of Envy.

Considering Greed, freshly revived at Lv.600.

Its level was beyond estimation.

But it didn't matter.

Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo's pride paradoxically soars highest before demons.

Colossal Evil, demon king, or lowly imp.

No demon's temptation, deception, or trial can scratch Grandfell's noble pride.

To Grandfell, all demons were the same.

Perhaps the demon hunter class isn't what demons should most fear—it's Grandfell himself.

I murmured toward the rising ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠message.

"Colossal Evil, eh. Such grand delusions."

No tension.

"You are not special in the slightest."

I spat venom.

"Prey."