Write Greatly (3)
Twenty vanguard members. Selected through a fair and rigorous procedure. The process, announced to the entire world.
Not only did the news electrify players, it was enough to excite even the Arcana natives who had descended to reality.
In the Mage Tower's floating garden.
Flame magic senior mage Bensy William drew all eyes.
"...What's going on with him?"
Thanks to his lofty position as a senior mage, the novices, apprentices, and players—who had no idea what was happening—buzzed around Bensy, drawn to his flashy, fiery appearance.
Which only embarrassed the pure mana senior mage, Banggrit Tom, sitting across from him.
His voice low, almost a whisper.
"Of course I've heard. You're talking about the vanguard, right?"
"Exactly. The time has finally come. Not that it matters saying this, but honestly, didn't it make you itch? Maybe it's because we've only gotten these half-hearted tastes of mana, but this burning in my heart...!"
Here we go—another long ramble.
Banggrit took a deep breath first.
"Phew."
Bensy was consistent, if nothing else. How did he always chatter on without missing a beat?
Banggrit nodded soullessly.
"Yes. I can relate... just a little. If tower exits had been completely banned, that'd be one thing. But this limited permission for defensive spellcasting? It's like sipping seawater one drop at a time."
For a mage—especially one who'd risen to senior rank in the Mage Tower—the thirst for magic was beyond words. Those vague manifestations only stirred up forgotten frustrations.
But there were limits.
You're going way overboard, though!
Bensy had crossed them.
Who in their right mind reached for a decisive battle magic tool just to have some fun?
Banggrit didn't know much about Bensy's personal life, but on this, he was certain.
"Bensy senior. If it's not rude... could you tell me about the William family tree? I'm guessing you're the youngest, maybe the eighth son...?"
"Why bring up family out of nowhere? And eighth son and baby of the family? I, Bensy William, am the eldest son of the William family!"
"...Pardon?"
Bensy senior, the eldest?
The William family's future looks bleak...
A commoner by birth, Banggrit worried about a noble house for the first time in his life.
But he shook it off. He couldn't say that out loud.
Unaware of his turmoil, Bensy scanned the floating garden, then whispered lower.
"More importantly, my family history isn't the point, Banggrit senior. Twenty vanguard members—that has to be the chief's arrangement for us, right?!"
"Arrangement?"
"Lower your voice first."
Not content with dropping the volume, the two seniors huddled until their heads nearly touched. The sight drew even more stares, but they pressed on oblivious.
"Why exactly twenty?"
"Because it's a vanguard. They don't need a huge group..."
"Even for a vanguard. The chief said the Arcana continent is still chaotic. More allies are always better—no downsides. So why precisely twenty? What I'm saying is!"
"Hm, there must be some unavoidable circumstances..."
"Heh. No sense at all."
Bensy clicked his tongue, lifted his head to check again, then whispered.
"It matches exactly—the number of senior mages!"
I, Bensy William. Not close to Chief Lee Hoyeol, but through endless exchanges—mostly rejected tower exit requests and access device permits—I'd learned one thing.
"The chief is straightforward yet never reveals his true intentions. Even the string of rejections he gave me must hold some deeper meaning—you know that too, Banggrit senior, don't you?"
Banggrit closed his eyes gently.
Poor Bensy senior. You're broken beyond repair.
Out of pity, he nodded.
"The number twenty hides that intent. Selecting us senior mages—the sturdiest in the tower—as the vanguard...!"
Now Banggrit understood the secrecy. Bensy believed the vanguard was already set: all senior mages. The review was just for show, to avoid disappointing others.
Classic Bensy speculation.
"Um... Bensy senior, sorry to interrupt."
"Yes, go ahead!"
"If all seniors make the vanguard, that means the chief—er, Marcelo chief—isn't included in the twenty?"
"...Pardon?"
He'd blacked out on Marcelo chief!
Bensy felt Marcelo's greatness daily through theoretical magic studies. He couldn't deny it, so he awkwardly shifted.
"Right. Regrettable, but one has to sit it out..."
"And would Elder Yugweed just sit idly?"
"Y-Yugweed?"
"Plus the Tower Master—that'd be rude to exclude. In pure magical achievement, they're leagues beyond us seniors."
"......"
One, two, three. Folding fingers, Bensy asked hopefully.
"So if those three sit out...?"
"Can't forget the pureblood magic race, Twilight descendant Mary. She wields magic beyond our sight. And the adventurer Grand Archmage, Jessie Haynes..."
"Th-that makes five?"
Way off expectations.
Cold sweat beaded on Bensy's brow.
But Banggrit continued.
"Considering ties with the Empire, Sir Harcon Kingsguard of Lionheart can't be excluded. Oh, and adventurers—they might see what we miss."
"Hoo."
Bensy's face twisted further. Unease resurfaced.
No spot for me again...
Thwack!
Bensy shot up.
"Sorry, Banggrit senior. Urgent business came up."
"Huh? Suddenly?"
"Anyway, that's that!"
Banggrit wasn't the exception. Everyone was a rival now.
I, Bensy William. I'll give my all to be one of the twenty.
Bensy bolted from the garden to his office.
Scribble—he took up a quill on parchment.
"To our Mage Tower's pride, Chief Lee Hoyeol..."
Seems like the first button's wrong again.
*
Near the Zero Mountains' summit.
I gazed at Jessie and Mary.
Grateful for the time difference between Arcana and reality, yet chills ran down my spine.
Even now, that damn procedure was followed to the letter.
Impressive, even by my standards.
Not self-praise.
I wanted to relax my shoulders, but as always, my neck stayed rigid.
Letting me spot Jessie and Mary clearly.
Even with her Grand Archmage unique skill, bridging that gap defies common sense.
Yet Jessie was growing.
Whoosh—faint purple twilight mana particles scattered from her body.
Like dandelion seeds in the wind. Pale compared to Mary—or me.
...No joke.
But I was genuinely impressed. No contrived backstory, no tricks—just wielding twilight mana.
The true lineage lived up to its name.
Of course, her mouth was as obnoxious as ever.
"Thou art progressing steadily as well."
Here, she's just a translator and observer. Stop acting like you matter, Grandfell.
Anyway.
With twilight mana added, Jessie could handle six or seven Lv.700 monsters solo.
My estimate held true.
Roar—!
Were the particles the catalyst? Flames whipped fiercer.
That's the might of a main-class path.
Not even a circle open yet, and that destructive power.
That's the protagonist class—nothing else qualifies.
Watching made me want to retract calling demon hunter the protagonist class.
No, not the time.
Seeing Jessie soar on tailwinds snapped me alert.
I had to grow my way. To not sink.
Desperately use anything usable, as always.
Swipe—my gaze went to the Dawn Jacket on my shoulder.
Precisely, the [Neutral Parasite Envy] snug on my chest.
Blackening. The fitting mana that nearly swallowed the continent.
Envy had absorbed that darkness on my command.
I checked Envy's status.
Let's see. Roughly, digestion finishes by end of today's Grand Archmage class.
Once done, Envy awakens a unique effect based on what it absorbed...
Probably black magic-related.
Whatever it is, worth anticipating. Legend-grade item, after all.
Even if the fitting mana from Grandfell's past was endlessly dark.
This time, it'll prove its rank.
Just wait patiently now.
Of course, my thoroughness wasted no second.
I pulled out my smartphone.
The excuse: not neglecting anomaly research.
But inwardly...
I'd been curious anyway.
The twenty vanguard.
Public reaction to the specific number was explosive—players and beyond.
Especially me vs. Raymon Sean and Cheonha Tongil. They seemed more thrilled than me.
Players realizing access devices were Raymon Sean's ploy.
My vanguard declaration was the final blow.
Pent-up resentment erupted.
Posts updated in real-time, scrolling too fast to read easily.
"Indeed, not to be trifled with. Anomalous."
As always. The grandiose excuse moment.
I flinched.
Oh? Tempting if true. Enemy of my enemy is friend—worth allying.
But the next comment left me reeling.
R-R-R-Romeo?!
[Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo]
Of all things, my most embarrassing shame?!
.
.
.
Arcana continent's inter-realm auction house.
Anonymity guaranteed. Sellers and buyers share only partial IDs.
Yes. The culprit: an unmasked ID's presence.
Precisely, its length.
Explorer Alliance netuber player Park Hwigang rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
◈ Seller: Hwi
"B-Bought instantly at that price?!"
Who... who is it? What noble bought this!!
Park Hwigang checked the buyer's ID.
And tilted his head.
A partial, yet striking name lingered.
"Romeo...? Naming sense for real?"