In the World I'm In (2)
Mage Tower's top floor.
"We're back!"
The site of this quest had been one of the hundred thousand caves in the Zero Mountains. It hadn't been a walk in the park. Toward the end, the cave itself had suddenly collapsed, forcing them to return via portal.
Above all, Jessie's dirt-streaked cheek spoke volumes about the difficulty.
"It's awfully quiet today...?"
Mary's gaze swept the area. Jessie's round head bobbed around curiously.
Just as Jessie said.
"A rare occurrence."
Elder mages like Yugweed or Chief Mage Marcelo could be absent anytime due to Tower business, so that wasn't unusual. In fact, they rarely showed their faces at the top floor to begin with.
But.
"No one's here. Not even the cat."
Jessie trailed off with a hum. Then—
Goooooo—
"!!"
Suddenly, mana rippled across the top floor. Mary flinched. This magic's manifestation difficulty was no joke.
...A pre-embedded portal?
Like a trap spell. One that activated upon meeting specific conditions.
To embed a high-tier spell like a portal so stealthily that even she hadn't noticed...
In Mary's knowledge, only one person in the Mage Tower possessed such manifestation prowess.
The Tower's Chief Mage. Claudy's family head. The man called Grandfell or Lee Hoyeol.
Mary said calmly,
"It seems Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol has returned."
"Ah, I see...!"
"...?"
Mary was mildly surprised by the subdued reaction.
I thought she'd be happier.
He wasn't the type to vanish for a week without a word. It surely meant some incident had occurred. Regardless of their faith in him, both she and Jessie had worried.
Proof was in how Jessie had clung to that bizarre modern relic—a smartphone—during every class break.
Jessie herself felt puzzled.
"...Something feels off."
She should be happier. But greater worries were devouring that joy.
Mary didn't ask why. They weren't close enough for that.
She simply conveyed,
"Then we'll have to step into the arrangement. It seems Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol expects something of us. Are you alright with that, Miss Jessie Haynes?"
As she spoke, Mary released twilight mana. She checked the Tower's mana reactions.
But no response came.
Simple implication: Not a single mage remained in the Mage Tower.
"Yes, I'm fine with it."
Thud—
Jessie nodded and promptly followed Mary into the portal.
Soon, the scenery shifted. What filled their view was the Zero Mountains. For some reason, reduced to a field of scorched earth.
And.
"!"
A uniform so flashy it was unforgettable. A blood-soaked cat wrapped in the Dawn Jacket.
Before Mary could identify the cat, Jessie dashed forward and scooped it up.
Sensing the warmth, the cat mewed softly.
"...Nyaang."
No, it let out a cry. The Tower Master, in her own brazen act.
She didn't want Jessie knowing her true identity.
But since when?
"...Don't say a word."
You've known all along, disciple. You'd been pretending not to.
Only then did the Tower Master speak properly.
"To deceive your master—such an insolent disciple."
"Don't say it."
"Was it so amusing to see your master perform tricks? Vile taste. I shamefully flailed my paws, fooled by your act. And now, all those tricks for treats make me..."
"I said don't say it...!"
Purple aura. Twilight mana flowed from Jessie.
Healing magic infused with twilight mana enveloped the Tower Master.
But it didn't penetrate her flesh.
The Tower Master eyed the twilight mana.
"Dazzlingly bright."
"..."
"In the end, you've achieved something remarkable, as befits my disciple."
Twilight-infused magic's manifestation was dozens of times more potent than standard spells. Jessie's beginner-level healing— not her specialty—rivaled top healer Bellie Yusia's.
"...Why?"
Yet it had no effect on the Tower Master. Jessie looked up at Mary with trembling eyes.
Mary knew. The Tower Master had already passed.
No healing could revive the dead.
But even Mary couldn't explain this.
The Tower Master, still speaking after death.
"Praise is poison to a mage. I desperately held back. Yet you force it out in this feline form. You've suffered much under this poor master, Jessie."
Intense lingering will? Or unknown magic?
Mary couldn't tell. She could only watch.
Sensing the end, Jessie hugged tighter.
And for some reason, the Tower Master smiled bitterly.
In the silence, the cat said,
"...As expected, you bear many sins, Chief."
*
Sword aura.
Ironic. The faint glow, usually barely visible, now shone brighter than anything.
He could sense it. This was the true fork between life and death.
Nam Taemin.
Excessive muscle power initiating bodily damage.
Hisagi.
Mana uncontainable by muscle power is backflowing.
And Leoni.
Vitality critically low.
Barbarian, spearman, berserker. Each received different messages. Warnings tailored to their classes.
But one commonality: All were candles flickering on the verge of extinction.
Pababak—!
Yet now, leaping onto the dragon's nape after stomping off, regret was impossible.
Of course, none harbored any.
They knew. Hoyeol's sword aura always burned brilliantly.
What battles had he fought all this time?
Only in death's shadow did they truly realize.
No shortcuts on the sword path. Only walking the razor's edge sharpened the aura.
Thus, their thoughts inevitably turned.
What path had Hoyeol walked alone?
And now, in his mysterious absence—what path did he tread solo?
Grip!
No mere distraction. Pure, intense motivation. Fuel gripping weapons tighter.
Kwang—!
The massive dragon body blocked the frontal view amid the roar. Even as the Tower Master drew aggro by sacrificing herself, Harkon, Nam Taemin, Hisagi, and Leoni couldn't grasp the full situation.
Only estimate.
It connects. To the dragon.
No matter its speed, this strike would land. Instincts honed by life-or-death sharpened beyond normal didn't lie.
Puk!
Pupuk!
Puk!
Four directions. Sword, greatsword, dual swords, spear. Four weapons pierced Yunak Seus's scales into flesh.
Dragon skin repelling all attacks, rent by mere sword aura?
No, not mere.
...Easier to cut than expected?
Weakened?
No, that's not it...!!
Magic. It's the magic.
The senior mages' bombardment—seemingly futile—had drained the dragon skin's defense to zero.
Of course, mere scratches compared to the colossal body.
But not dismissible. The Holy War Alliance's first effective hit on Yunak Seus.
Kraaaargh!
Proof: The dragon writhed.
Harkon shouted,
"My comrades. From now, I have no words for you."
In battle demanding split-second life gambles, trust only one's gut on the razor's edge. Awaiting orders was suicide.
"However."
Harkon added this one thing.
"You've endured greatly. Truly grateful you followed me."
The three recoiled instantly.
"Please don't raise death flags like that, Master...!!"
Resolved to die, yes—but not seeking it. If survival possible, survive.
Of course, Harkon hadn't meant that.
"Death flags...? What's that?"
Pure sincerity. Respect for those standing bloodied atop the mountains, landing the dragon strike.
Just the situation twisted words into flags.
Nam Taemin chuckled.
"Death flags mean... I'll tell you if we survive!"
"Mr. Nam Taemin, isn't that also a flag?"
"Ptooey. Cancel."
"Always with the words."
Soon.
Swaaaaaaaa—!
Fierce wind tearing eardrums. Yunak Seus's tail whipped like a lash.
Nam Taemin moved first. Knight, spearman, berserker. Party ignoring tank-DPS-heal balance. Only the barbarian could tank.
Berserk
Nam Taemin roared beastially.
Elder Dragon Yunak Seus, who devoured evil eyes, resists Provocation.
Lv. 2,500 vs. Lv. 600. Expected; no status ailment hopes. Draw aggro differently.
"Kruuuh."
Boiling feral instinct guided instinctively.
Puuuuk!!
Dodging insufficient. Instead, he jammed the greatsword deeper into flesh.
Even evasive Harkon froze.
"Like that...!"
Greatsword like a stake. But supremely effective.
Dragon's fear shifted subtly.
Kuwaaah!
Not reverse scale, but nerves hit. Yet for a warrior, weapon was life. Especially that massive greatsword doubling as shield.
How such judgment...?
Harkon's doubt didn't last. Sighs from beside.
Hisagi and Leoni, in unison.
"That musclehead's eyeing another weapon."
"Fitting the Giant Alliance heir."
"...!"
Yes. Berserk brought beastly proximity. To berserk Nam Taemin, greatsword?
Heavy shackle equivalent.
Pabababak!
Proving it, quadrupedal acceleration.
Thud—!
Leapt beast-like evading tail. Terrifying jump power. Feral muscles enabled.
But Nam Taemin didn't stop at evasion.
On landing, muscled, veined hand gripped scale.
Kududuk—!
Ripped it free. Sharp as sword on edge.
Blood burst from his upper body, but undeterred.
"Ururur!!"
Relentlessly tore scales.
Harkon swallowed hard.
Was I... underestimating unconsciously?
VR game, Arcana Continent chronicles. Pre-cataclysm, adventurers treated it as play. He'd nodded then.
Explaining their light attitudes.
But not these.
Who could doubt their sincerity now?
Sudden change, surely. Guiding countless Lionheart knights, Harkon knew: Train body yes, spirit no.
In that sense...
"Impressive as ever, sir."
Admiration for Hoyeol's pride anew.
Sring!
Yet action uninterrupted. All testing limits now. Couldn't waste the golden chance.
Pabat!
Harkon, Hisagi, Leoni dashed across Yunak Seus's body as battlefield.
No攻略. Dodge and slash by instinct alone!
Ugly sight. Raw desperation. Sealing watchers' mouths.
Drawing sighs from Nam Cheolmin.
"Enough already...!"
No need for analyst knowledge. Taemin slowing sharply amid cumulative damage. Three's worsening states glaring.
"...No way we beat that monster."
All watchers thought so. Same scene.
"Commencing evaluation now."
One viewing differently appeared.
"Nam Taemin, high marks for instinctual movement. But whether consistent? Must observe. Still, fine performance. Especially improvisation."
"...!"
Facing dragon. Amidst, top ranker.
"Hisagi, Leoni. Role fidelity solid. Overcoming disadvantage to reach here warrants praise."
Only one could critique Nam Taemin, Hisagi, Leoni so sharply. In reality or Arcana.
"...!!"
Yes, Lee Hoyeol.
"Finally, Harkon."
"...Sir."
"No need for your evaluation."
"Haha... I see."
"Lastly."
Hoyeol's gaze shifted slowly.
Toward the dragon gnashing teeth, unaware.
"Noisy, Yunak Seus."
Rebuked gently.
"Cease that cry first, perhaps."
Calm occurs on Elder Dragon Yunak Seus, who devoured evil eyes.
"...!!!"
Before all their eyes.