Never Left in the First Place (1)

────── A heavyweight. The continent trembles with every move they make. So what happens when two heavyweights clash? Even the continent struggles to contain them, so such encounters are rarely welcomed……

──────

The red-eyed tribe, Dune. Their leader, Shahin Dune, gazed up at the sky. His piercing red eyes, capable of seeing through to the essence of things, caught a fierce energy.

"Whoa there." Calming his rearing steed, Shahin spoke. "A dragon as our guest. No ordinary visitor, I see."

Kud Hanas, the earth dragon. Among dragons, he boasted a particularly massive frame. The king of all beasts. For any ordinary soul, simply beholding him would be enough to shrink the body in fear.

Yet Shahin threw open his chest and let out a hearty laugh. "Truly returned, are you, Claudy?!"

That attitude alone proved Shahin was a heavyweight in his own right.

If Shahin was entering Claudy territory from the west, then from the south came Gamond Phil, leader of the Diamond Merchant Guild.

"Hyah!"

There's a saying about golden caravans. A title fit for those who sway the continent itself.

But even that lavish moniker fell short for Gamond Phil. It wasn't just one or two such praises. Was this truly the barren Arcana Continent? The procession was enough to make one doubt one's own eyes.

Dozens of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wagons piled high with goods. The guild guards escorting him numbered more than ten times that. It was no exaggeration to say an entire territory was on the move.

"Let's see, time for some calculations, shall we, deputy?"

Tap, tap.

In the guild master's wagon, encrusted with diamonds. His plump fingers drummed fearlessly on the gemstones adorning the seats.

"Hmm……"

Gamond eyed the approaching Claudy territory, his mind racing. Now that Claudy had truly returned to the Arcana Continent……

He clenched his fist tightly. "As expected, to make a killing, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠we must stick with Claudy, no?"

Diamond Merchant Guild. Gamond wasn't fond of the title that surpassed gold. After all, it wasn't a moniker he'd earned through his own prowess.

Ambition gleamed in Gamond's eyes. 'Time to prove my worth, Gamond Phil.'

His late father, the previous guild master, had always said it: Even moneymaking has its seasons.

Business in peaceful times? Spices, gold mines, luxuries…… They'd brought in massive revenues, but compared to the fortune accumulated by the family, it was laughable.

At this rate, he'd never escape his father's shadow, no matter a lifetime of effort. To achieve overwhelmingly superior profits, he needed to ride the wave of a new era.

"Just like now."

Gamond judged this the perfect chance to multiply his wealth several times over. The reason was simple. A merchant's perspective differed greatly from that of ordinary folk.

Gamond addressed his deputy at his side. "Do you see it? The crumbled Arcana Continent. Hard to believe countless buildings once stood here. But everything depends on how you look at it. If it's crumbled, then rebuild it, no?"

Gamond's plan was straightforward. If Claudy had truly returned to the continent, peace would follow in due time. If he could monopolize continent-scale construction projects in the restored Arcana?

"Diamond? No, we'd rise to become a great guild beyond mere minerals! In other words……"

His eyes sparkled like jewels. "I'd become a merchant greater than Father—greater than all previous generations. None other than I myself!"

Oops, got too carried away. Gamond reined in his excitement. It wasn't time for certainty yet. He hadn't even confirmed it.

'Does the returned Claudy truly possess such power?'

Gamond hadn't lived in the same era as Claudy. Yet he knew of their fame for a simple reason: The Diamond Merchant Guild existed today thanks to Claudy.

Gamond spat it out. "Can you believe it, deputy? That stern, overconfident father of mine, who claimed every accomplishment for himself. He quaked at the mere name of Claudy."

"……The previous guild master did?"

"Yes. And it wasn't just Father."

Dozens of crises that had befallen the Diamond Guild. Father had always said Claudy led them each time.

Yet Gamond remained cautious. 'Ultimately, the judgment is mine.'

Claudi had been wiped out. Even if a survivor returned, could they reclaim their past glory overnight?

He had to judge with skepticism. 'The territory alone proves it.'

Would Claudy territory remain intact? Hardly. Thus, Gamond moved with cold calculation.

"Jumping to conclusions isn't right, deputy."

"Noted."

"And if that's not enough, we take out insurance."

The countless wagons were a form of insurance. Rebuilding House Claudy would surely require no small fortune, prowess aside. Indebted to Claudy for a mere sum like this? Not a bad deal.

"Whoa there."

Just then, the coachman's voice rang out. They'd entered Claudy territory.

Gamond opened the wagon window and peered out. "Let's see……"

And doubted his eyes.

"……?!"

What entered his view was a mansion radiating immense presence even from the horizon's edge. Gamond felt as if struck on the back of the head.

Because the mansion outshone his own? No, no mansion in Arcana outdid the Phil family seat, adorned with every gem imaginable. Unless it was the legendary treasure island……

Yet Gamond murmured unwittingly. "……Beautiful."

Flawless in aesthetics. Even without ostentatious decorations, its structure and form exuded inexpressible beauty. Like beholding a single sculpture.

But the surprise was just beginning.

"G-Guild master!!"

A shout from the lead wagon. As Gamond leaned out further, a massive statue entered his view. More precisely, a living, moving statue facing off against the guild guards.

The statue spoke. "No invitation, no entry to Claudy territory."

"……!!"

Only then did Gamond realize his misjudgment. Claudy was beyond the common sense of Arcana Continent.

Whoosh!

Gamond leaped from the wagon, pulling ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out his invitation. Success as a merchant required sharp instincts. And lightning-quick situational judgment, like flipping one's palm.

"Invitation here! Sorry for the delay. As you see, we brought endless gifts to celebrate the great House Claudy's return……!"

────── East, west, south, north. I gazed at the statues guarding the paths to the territory. Symbols of loyalty left by the four great houses for Claudy. The invitations must have reached the four houses as well.

'Of course, whether they'll accept is another matter.'

Past loyalty as employees aside, after so many years, they'd be strangers now.

More importantly, my circles ached from the mana expenditure—it had been a while.

"What matters is not the exterior, but the heart within."

Pure and incorruptible. Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo, having realized the vanity of riches and glory, wouldn't fuss much over Claudy territory's state.

But I, Lee Hoyeol, was different. First impressions matter in society, and everywhere else.

'Need to show we're still going strong.'

I'd had a goal from the start. Use Claudy's halo to recruit allies!

To do that, I needed to prove Claudy's halo still shone brilliantly. Hence the banquet Grandfell hosted reluctantly. The Claudy mansion was the same.

Interfering with minerals while fussing over mana, of all things.

I leveraged the aesthetics stat, restoring what Reversal Magic could fix and rebuilding the rest with Grandfell's aesthetic sense.

'Never thought I'd meddle with minerals while managing mana.'

Thanks to the Pure Knowledge's Five-Pointed Star effect, I skipped even exploration. It was one of the most-used spells, after all.

Even for me, who could claim to be the founder of architectural magic, restoring the Claudy mansion wasn't easy. Its sheer scale was staggering, for one.

'Practically Golden Palace level.'

And that was just the start. The interior too had to showcase Claudy's enduring strength.

Clack—

Descending the mansion stairs, my eyes fell on accessories exuding restrained opulence.

Where'd they come from? 'Where else? Treasure Island.'

Bought fair and square from Yusra Kingdom. Convert that to cash……? Hundreds of billions, easy.

'Not that it matters.'

Hundreds of billions was pocket change compared to rift clear rewards accumulated. For a humble salaryman like me, it'd be a terrifying sum just staring at the bank balance.

"Not bad at all."

Only Grandfell's vast vessel made it possible. Thanks to him, I returned to Arcana with a stuffed inventory.

And now.

I faced Kud Hanas, who bellowed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my name at the top of his lungs.

'Did you have to shout like that……?'

Infuriating, but everything has its order. Especially with patients—start with their well-being.

"Is your body intact, Kud Hanas."

"Thanks to your concern, no major changes, Dark Flame Dragon Lee Hoyeol Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo. But when did you restore the territory?"

When? The moment I tore through dimensions and set foot on Arcana, I got right to it.

But would this braggart ever admit to such hardship easily?

"I did not restore it."

"……?"

"Claudi never crumbled to begin with."

He'd float his mouth even if plunged into the underworld.

"My apologies…… I failed to grasp the profound meaning."

Kud Hanas bowed penitently. No real need, though.

What profound meaning? It was all Grandfell's lofty pride.

'Even if all Claudy had crumbled.'

Grandfell himself stood unbroken. Thus, Claudy never truly fell.

Returning to the territory and shouldering the family head's weight must be why. My already broad chest felt even more upright.

'Please let today pass without incident.'

I fretted over the loose-tongued dragon's antics from the start.

Kud Hanas continued. About his kin, the dragons.

"Yunak Seus sends his regards to the Dark Flame Dragon. He wished to attend but sends regrets due to circumstances."

I could guess the troubles without asking. Yunak Seus, elder dragon and dragon leader, must be seeking a cure for his kin who swallowed evil fruit.

'Even so, he couldn't make the banquet.'

Kud Hanas must be standing in for him. Why him, of all dragons—the loudest voice and loosest lips?

I'd resented it blindly, but understanding dawned. 'He's the only one who's lived as long as Yunak Seus.'

……Anyway, thanks for burnishing Claudy's halo. The Mage Tower in reality is tirelessly working on evil fruit countermeasures with healing mages.

He meant well sharing good news……

……Boom!

Suddenly, a massive noise echoed.

"Hmm……?"

Kud Hanas's ears twitched.

Without Natural Enemy Relationship active, pinpointing the distant noise was impossible. But if it was within my [Authority]…… No, beyond activation, this was Claudy territory.

"I have a hunch."

I understood. Heavyweights weren't heavyweights for nothing. With vast forces and bulk, clashes upon meeting were inevitable.

But as the saying goes: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

"However."

Here, Claudy was the law.

"Such disturbances will not be tolerated in my domain."

────── Red-eyed Shahin Dune.

"The merchant pig has fattened up nicely."

Diamond Merchant Guild Master Gamond Phil.

"Well, to you barbarians, it's not a bad offer, I think? Rumors say even one side is plenty…… Sell me the Dune tribe's red eyes!"

Dune warriors drawing weapons, guild guards at the ready. The two heavyweights openly bared their fangs.

But the tense standoff didn't last.

A chilling voice echoed in their minds.

-Are you certain?

"……!!"

In that instant.

-It means: Are you prepared to stir trouble in Claudy territory?

Pressure on mouths and bodies alike. It was the fabled Language Command.

Only then did the two men grasp the gravity. And realize.

'Language Command……! To wield such immense authority……!!'

No doubt. Claudy had returned to Arcana Continent.

"……No sense fighting on a fine day like this, haha."

Even heavyweights tucked tail. The great house had returned!