Even If the World Abandoned Them (5)

Middle school. I define that black history as the era when I couldn't distinguish reality from ideals. In a word, I had no common sense whatsoever. It was only natural that someone like me would be captivated by Akshan.

Let me give you an example. Just look at the demon hunter's ostentatious outfit, with its flowing cape. It looks impressive at a glance, but in terms of performance? It has nothing to boast about.

What about the weapons? A silver sword in one hand, a crossbow in the other. It seems versatile, but in reality, both are mediocre at best, hovering below average.

Demon hunting is the same. "Demon hunter" sounds like you're unearthing the hidden evils of the Arcana Continent, but all it amounted to was exorcising demons that possessed NPCs via the exorcism ritual.

A flashy but empty shell, through and through.

At that point, I should have been disappointed by Akshan's harsh reality—a far cry from my ideals, just like any other player. But back then, I couldn't make that distinction.

So I stubbornly raised the demon hunter class anyway. And I still am.

I stared at the quest objective that had popped up.

Why the hell am I going this far?

That meant sinking into the Southern Sea alongside the Omen? Me, Lee Hoyeol. Personally, I despise melodramatic tragedies. I'm a stained office worker who's grown sick of hero stories that glorify sacrifice.

Back in the day, I'd have grumbled about what kind of quest was this chuunibyou-ridden nonsense. But now that I knew more about Akshan, I couldn't just laugh it off.

And deep down, I was worried. The Omen wasn't a monster you could simply slay.

Even banking on the [Last Adventurer] effect and charging in at the risk of my life would only buy a moment's reprieve. Didn't the AAU say it too? The Omen existed to lend plausibility to [creation] and [deletion].

Even if we took it down, Raymon Sean could just tweak the code and set it in motion again.

In that sense, this might be the only way. The Omen—an entity no one could predict or handle. Akshan demon hunters with [natural enemy relationship] activated. Sealing it away with them in the depths of the Southern Sea...

But why volunteer for that yourselves?

The recovery messages that had flickered up chaotically. Akshan wasn't among them. I'd suspected as much. Probably because the diversion op wasn't over yet, I'd thought.

After the Omen hunt, I'd even gulped down kimchi soup fantasizing about the scraps Akshan would drop.

But to plan the finale of the diversion like this? I wanted to scrap the whole damn operation right now.

Yet the one who understood those wretched Akshan sentiments better than anyone was right here.

"Is that your pride?"

Yes—the ideals I'd harbored as a foolish youth. The embodiment of those ideals. Grandfell was here.

Though it grated on me from the depths of my soul, my words flowed steadily.

"I understand."

......Was this karma I'd brought on myself?

If I'd had a better plan than this half-baked diversion, I'd have pushed it from the start. But the seniors weren't seniors for nothing.

......A plan conceived by the almighty Akshan.

And at a time like this, their first-ever praise?

That's cheating, isn't it, you guys?

Shing— And now that I'd spat it out, I had no choice but to follow through. If that's your pride, then playing along is my best shot.

I raised Illusion Breaker.

"We shall proceed, Grandfell."

Mary's violet mana grew denser. Still, I didn't expect it to slay the Omen. My role was simple: shove it into the Southern Sea.

That much, I had to manage, right, Grandfell?

With that, I moved forward. Levitating through the air, I approached the colossal Omen on foot. Formality is fine, but with the seniors working so hard, could this junior stand idly by?

Swish— It had been ages since I'd run like this, beyond mere walking. Then I thrust Illusion Breaker.

Pfsh!

Releasing a sharper sword aura. I plunged Illusion Breaker into the Great Omens flesh.

A fluid manipulation of [tenacity]. Converting the entire [tenacity] stat into [strength].

My limit without [natural enemy relationship] activated. I knew full well—no one had to tell me—that a realm built on a foundation full of holes couldn't inflict major damage on the Omen.

But even if it leaked out like water from a sieve...

"Too light."

The burden I carried was heavy enough to make that leakage seem trivial by comparison. And you, Great Omen? You're laughably light for your size.

I chanted coldly, as if facing a demon.

"The weight of the Akshan you swallowed is not so featherlight."

The blade of Illusion Breaker, still gleaming even embedded in the Omen. Irritated by it, perhaps? The Great Omen began to move, shaking off an annoying fly with its massive body.

Mary warned me.

"Grandfell!"

The authority of deletion. Everything in its path was sucked into the mechanical mass. Time to pull back.

And think.

What does it want—what Raymon Sean wants?

Swish— Manifesting magic with mana stockpiled during tea time. I widened the distance in an instant and continued my thoughts.

Thanks to my ice-cold composure, it came easily.

The deleted ones have been restored.

Trace it back. Deletion wasn't the Omens power. It was Raymon Sean's, manipulating the Omen.

I don't know the scheme's purpose.

But clearly, deleting Akshan—and erasing those who poured from the Omen in Arcana—stemmed from some petty motive.

How could I be sure? Just look at the demon king deletions.

And as if confirming my hunch, the Great Omen stirred. Rumble...!

As if it didn't care if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠everyone noticed its existence—or even if it revealed itself fully—it had to swallow back what it had spat out. Dragging its colossal form, it tried to escape the Southern Sea.

Of course.

"Like creator, like creation."

I had no intention of letting you go quietly.

Fluidly shifting [tenacity] once more.

[Tenacity] converted to [Magic].

I didn't know about other stats, but [magic]—I'd steadily raised it through levels and elixirs.

Think [natural enemy relationship] not activating makes it insufficient? No, it's enough.

I'm not manifesting anything grandiose.

I poured mana steadily and thinly. A manifestation that maximized [Blessing of the First World Tree], keeping mana regen near max.

Yes—like when I'd dragged the 4th-ranked demon king Gamigin to hell with [Strange].

I scattered mana particles into the air. Adding [gravity] interference to drag the Great Omen back to the Southern Sea.

Of course, the situation differed from then.

『Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo's pride shines brightest, paradoxically, before demons.』

No demon or monster stood before me now. No hellfire like what crushed Gamigin.

Yet I harbored no doubt. It was too desperate for that. My struggles since Gamigin...

[Strange] insufficient now? Don't overlook that my growth isn't just levels and stats.

I hadn't gone all out yet.

Then, noise in my ears. Shhh—

A massive silhouette loomed, undaunted even before the Great Omen.

Mary realized what it was and spoke.

"D-Dragon...?"

The Black Rock Dragon's enormous wings flapped. Per my will, it wrapped around the Great Omen with its body, gripping with wings and tail, baring razor-sharp fangs.

For this moment, I had to be grateful.

To ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my frothing fans.

Two utterly different worlds. The Arcana Continent and reality. The Black Rock Dragon legend echoing across both.

A legend's power depends on how widely and truly it spreads—natural that the Black Rock Dragon matched the Omens bulk.

Even roughly tallying internet mentions...

No exaggeration: billions per day, easy.

With the Black Rock Dragon's aid, the Omen couldn't move freely. As expected of my legend. No escaping its grasp.

But don't overlook this now. Illusion Breaker would get jealous.

-I've been waiting, Master. Time to cleave illusions!

Ego sword. I still couldn't draw out its full potential. A legendary item on my [strength] and [agility] totaling 300? Like pearls around a pig's neck.

Entrusting everything to it is the optimal use.

Like when I beat Sword Saint Shegwin.

But Grandfell's noble pride wouldn't tolerate being wielded by it. So I'd used it suboptimally.

However.

"Rampage as you will, Illusion Breaker."

Legal now? It had left my hand, embedded in the Omen.

Krunch!

With a grinding of metal, Illusion Breaker burrowed deeper into the Omens flesh.

Illusion Breaker, living up to its name, echoed in my head.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

-Only my master can touch me and live. Illusion, dare not stand eye-to-eye with my master. I won't allow it.

Black Rock Dragon and ego sword. Two legends entwined fiercely, dragging the Omen down.

Tenacious as ever, Great Omen—and Raymon Sean.

Mary's eyes widened. "I'll lend my power too."

She's reliable enough to hand over command. But don't forget: our senior protagonists haven't even entered the stage yet.

Still, they're no slouches...

Crack—!

A noise from deep within the Omens flesh. It began to twist. Akshan was rampaging.

I spoke—not to the Omen, but to Raymon Sean watching somewhere.

"Do not presume to gauge with your dull insight."

Rumble...!!!

The Omen began sinking. Black Rock Dragon, Illusion Breaker, Mary. Akshan pressed harder.

"The sublime pride of humanity."

......Calling it sublime himself—shameless as ever.

Still.

I'd declared victory early. I'd poured out everything now. If even this couldn't sink the Omen...

It'd be quite the pickle.

That very moment, I realized anew.

Krummble...!!!

This mouth of mine doesn't spout empty words.

Flickering vision.

I gazed at the Southern Sea. As if the quest's end meant everything's end. Eerily still.

Damn it.

Soon, I opened my mouth.

"Akshan."

Whether this wretched end was Akshan's pride or acknowledged by Grandfell—it didn't matter. This was my vow, Lee Hoyeol's.

"I look forward to the day we meet again."

A vow from lips that never speak emptily.

Then.

......?

Suddenly, light surged from the Southern Sea.

......Aesthetics?

[Aesthetics] at the pinnacle of [上]. A single beam revealed by [aesthetics].

That beam rippled like waves, spreading across the entire Arcana Continent.

"......!"

It didn't take long to grasp the light's nature.

*

"What the hell just happened?"

"Damn, my head..."

"......Does everyone remember?"

It was different from before. Those returned to the Arcana Continent remembered.

"Those demons definitely... Yeah, they screamed 'Akshan!'"

"Right, Akshan...!"

"Akshan—did they save us...?"

Akshan, who sacrificed themselves from the Omens belly. Thus, Akshan would not be forgotten. From mouth to mouth. Living ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and breathing in tales across the Arcana Continent. Forever.

Yes. The world calls such stories legends.

......Wait, hold on. If I'd known we'd reunite this soon, I would've held back the tears!