It's a Living Hell...! (1)

If demons have hell, then I, Lee Hoyeol, have reality.

I seriously think that sometimes.

'At this point, wouldn't the Arcana Continent be better?'

Endless deep darkness, Black Dark Dragon, whatever... Now that almost everything's been exposed except that cumbersome full name.

For my mental health, maybe the Arcana Continent is better than reality after all.

'At least there, I don't have any sworn enemies.'

A proper thrashing.

As Nam Cheolmin said, the effect was tremendous.

After slaying the colossal Seven Deadly Sins, Envy, it was like pouring oil on the already blazing interest directed at me.

The video titled [Excalibur's Chosen, Lee Hoyeol] didn't just capture me pulling the sword.

While browsing the comments on Kiwi, a video started autoplaying, and players' voices rang out.

—"I-it's a goddess...!!"

That's right. There was High El, unaffected by the cave's peculiarities.

From the players' perspective, it really does look like...

'No wonder they thought it was a goddess.'

Just the hem of her robe was visible, huh? No matter how high they angled the camera, High El's face wasn't caught.

The comments' reactions go without saying.

And yet, as if I'd foreseen everything.

My mouth casually spouts off.

"To begin with, gods do not exist."

If you're gonna mutter that, why not say it sooner...!

Of course, complaining now won't change anything.

And I know that if you can't avoid it, you should enjoy it.

Still, watching the bubble inflate wildly fills my heart with unease.

And that bubble isn't just any bubble? It's sparkling like crazy...

Knock knock.

The knock woke me from my futile grumbling.

The ever unflappable iron mask, who never loses composure.

I answer without hiding my presence.

"Enter, Marcelo."

"I'm sorry to bother you right after your return, my lord."

"Nonsense."

Thanks to Marcelo, we achieved world unification.

Didn't we perfectly counter Ryu Ojuncheon's schemes?

Let's see what results that counterattack yielded in just a few days.

'Feels like I've pulled out a thorn in my side.'

Restoring the honor of the Claudy and Lee families.

I didn't forget to play the dutiful son role through him either.

Even by Grandfell's strict standards, Marcelo passes.

Marcelo let out a small exclamation.

"Then I'm relieved you think so. And the remaining matters? Did you handle them well? I did some exploring on Kiwi myself, but..."

And ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠what he pulls out is...

The smartphone I activated and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gifted him.

As expected of Marcelo.

Teach him one thing, and he knows ten.

He's gotten so familiar with it that he's surfing the internet on his own?

"Of course."

"That's fortunate too, my lord."

Marcelo didn't come for casual chit-chat.

Soon, he got to the point.

This time, it was truly about [Kiwi].

A grave resolve settled in Marcelo's pupils.

"There has been progress in the research on Kiwi."

At the same time, my vision flickered.

It's been a while since I've seen Marcelo's quest.

As it's been a while, the ongoing quest objective succeeded.

And a new quest objective has appeared.

Flutter.

The parchment Marcelo held floats in the air.

Filled with Marcelo's handwriting.

"Since it's an unfamiliar concept, I couldn't organize my thoughts without moving my hands. While wielding the quill, I was newly awed by you, my lord. How do you hold such vast concepts in your mind?"

Nothing to be awed about, Marcelo.

I was like that once too.

Back when I couldn't distinguish skills from magic.

I was the one staying up all night scribbling notes to understand players' skills from NetTube.

Is it experience, or talent?

Understanding Marcelo's research paper wasn't hard.

"A new approach to the Arcana Continent."

What would I do without Marcelo?

The Mage Tower's greatest talent in history.

Founder of theoretical magic.

Marcelo had perfectly articulated the interference process of the access device in writing!

As someone who mimicked the access device's manifestation to enter the Arcana Continent, I could continue.

"Infinitely superior to that trash—no comparison."

Here, "that trash" refers to the access device.

To Grandfell, Raymon Sean is no different from a demon.

An access device made by that Raymon Sean.

Of course it gets disdain from Grandfell.

'No, separately from that, impressive work, Marcelo.'

To produce this without entering the realm of Kiwi.

Above all, no unnecessary frills in the interference.

Mana consumption should be greatly reduced too.

Marcelo added an explanation.

"If we apply this concept to the Mage Tower's portals, not only Arcana natives but adventurers could enter the Arcana Continent without restrictions."

The Mage Tower's portals.

The lobby portals are special.

I don't know the exact principle, but they manifest constantly regardless of mana.

They transport players across the world.

I nodded slowly.

"Your words are wise, Marcelo."

Many hands make light work.

More reliable allies are always better.

Look at this now.

Without Marcelo,

I'd be biding my time, improving my mana to manifest a portal to the Arcana Continent.

Struggling alone to bear that impossible weight.

A moment of fresh gratitude, then I swallowed dryly.

'So what do we need for that?'

The message provided the answer.

─Progress Toward Kiwi (In Progress)

●Grasp the Mage Tower's origin. (In Progress)

The Mage Tower's origin.

As I just said, the Mage Tower is special.

Back when I was ignorant of [Magic]...

'I just thought it was possible because it's the Mage Tower.'

But now that I've earned the chief position—not by parachute—

I have more than one or two questions about the Mage Tower.

Shall I give a friendly example?

Starting with the exterior.

From outside, the Mage Tower isn't huge.

It's tall, but shorter than Seoul's skyscrapers.

But the interior?

The stairs manifesting in the air seem endless.

The internal space is the same.

Like an inventory endlessly holding items.

The Mage Tower contains vast halls and countless places.

It can't be just built with [Magic].

Even the underground, the Mu-gan, is more mysterious than anything I've seen.

More incomprehensible than rifts, pieces, or even the field altered by Seven Deadly Sins Envy.

"May I take a moment, my lord?"

Nod.

As I gestured, Marcelo approached the bookshelf.

His slender finger scanned the books.

"Without deep scrutiny, it's hard to sense the doubt. But as you suspect, my lord, the Mage Tower isn't constructed of magic. Infinite mana doesn't exist."

Rumble.

Simultaneously, the bookshelf's structure shifted.

Of course, no surprise.

'I'm the chief too.'

Never negligent.

Even as a parachuted chief, I pored over the manual meticulously.

No mana needed.

Just will alone reshapes the office as I wish.

"My apologies, my lord."

Rumble.

Marcelo restored the office.

Then continued.

"We must add the interference process to those Mage Tower portals. Per theory, exploring the Mage Tower itself comes first. I must ask for your help again."

Marcelo's eyes held no doubt.

Trusting me is good, but...

This leaves me uneasy in my own way.

'The Mage Tower's origin.'

Where to even start grasping that.

As I pondered,

Marcelo, who made the request, unusually sighed.

Then, startled, continued.

"Oh. Forgive me, my lord. Not only unable to help, but sighing too—I'm ashamed. I trust your abilities, but... No matter how I think, it seems an unreasonable request..."

Marcelo's gaze swept the office.

No, the Mage Tower at its root.

Founder of theoretical magic.

For Marcelo's personality, having to dissect a Mage Tower inexplicable by theory—

It's understandable he'd show rare emotion.

But who am I? Marcelo, Chief Mage.

Click— Listening ends.

I drain the teacup with the green tea teabag.

After swallowing the still-warm green tea, enchanted with insulation magic.

As always, I brazenly speak.

"No need for worry, Marcelo."

"...Have you grasped something?"

"Of course."

I continue especially convincingly.

"Kiwi holds the answers."

"...!"

Watching Marcelo's wide eyes, my conscience stings.

Inevitably.

The Kiwi I mean isn't anything special.

'If you're curious about the Mage Tower, just rummage through its designer.'

That's right.

Another hat after chief mage.

AAU Yusra branch director.

'The database should have the Mage Tower's settings. Let's check first.'

That's me, Lee Hoyeol.

Cheonha Tongil's Five Stars.

The five players were tense, shoulders squared.

The lord watches them.

'He trusted me.'

'I'm the true Five Star.'

'To grant such an opportunity...!'

The Five Stars and five access devices.

This moment.

The Five Stars enter the Arcana Continent via the access devices.

How much did their lord suffer to obtain them?

The self-proclaimed Five Stars glared at each other.

"Don't betray expectations."

"Hmph, says you."

"Even if the lord forgives, I won't."

For today.

They cut all worldly ties to prepare.

Under Cheonha Tongil's massive support.

New gear equipped.

A man's resolute voice echoed.

"I trust you haven't forgotten the goal. We must accurately report to the lord what's happening on the Arcana Continent."

There was Lee Hoyeol, the so-called bright pioneer, but.

How could they trust his words?

As petty rivalry brewed among them.

Beep— On the hour.

With the blaring alarm.

The Five Stars lay in the access devices.

A grave voice emanated from the devices.

"All for my lord, Ryu Ojuncheon."

...

Soon after, the Five Stars opened their eyes on the Arcana Continent.

"...!!!"

And regretted it.

A completely different world.

They screamed to their lord, Ryu Ojuncheon, in unreachable voices.

"Aaaargh!!"

It wasn't the Arcana Continent brimming with dreams and hope, my lord!!

Corpses and maggots swarming everywhere.

Constantly flashing messages before their eyes.

Even the massive demonic eyes embroidering the sky.

Trembling in fear, the Five Stars still gritted their teeth.

As expected, Lee Hoyeol was untrustworthy...!

"How many times did he enter a place like this and stay fine...?"

Impossible...!

The terrified Five Stars hurriedly opened their inventories.

As said, fully prepared.

The items they brought would recover status ailments and gather info for the lord.

"...?"

Suddenly, above their heads.

Whirr whirr whirr— A familiar sound echoed.

"W-what is that?!"

It was.

Like a helicopter spinning its rotors.

A massive flying ship soaring the skies.

Hope lit the Five Stars' faces.

"...Right! The Arcana Continent couldn't have fully perished. Lee Hoyeol must have gotten help from some new faction like that."

"And then acted all high and mighty?"

"No need to feel wronged. Now that we've obtained this info."

"Whoever's on that flying ship, they'll soon pledge loyalty to the lord."

To do that, signal the flying ship.

With [Skills] and [Items].

They signal their presence to the flying ship.

Whirr—

Did their desperation reach it?

The flying ship's propellers halted.

"I-it's looking this way!!"

Flying ship, Iron Castle Ho.

Dwarf leader Chainwalker furrowed his brow.

Then politely asked.

"...Aren't those adventurers?"

The one hearing was none other than High El.

High El's gaze turned to the five men and women stuck to the ground.

Precisely, to the red emblem embroidered on their shoulders.

'Red emblem...'

Aren't they the ones slandering my true lord?

The endless deep darkness.

The Black Dark Dragon.

"At last."

High El's loyalty to her true lord, Hoyeol, surged.