Welcome to Claudy (1)
Claudy. Speculation had run rampant about that name.
Between the Arcana Continent and reality, the information gap varied from person to person. Still, everyone had a vague hunch.
“……Isn't that Lee Hoyeol's epithet?”
It was certain. Claudy was undoubtedly one of the many epithets referring to Lee Hoyeol. The difference was its ambiguity. It wasn't like a single ray of light in endless darkness or the Black Dark Dragon—straightforward names that immediately evoked Hoyeol upon hearing them.
That's why some players and self-proclaimed experts had racked their brains. The most plausible theory among them was……
The speculation that Claudy was Hoyeol's nickname within Akshan.
But reality—or rather, the reality surrounding Hoyeol—always effortlessly surpassed imagination.
Peace, you have entered ‘Claudy Territory’.
“Peace? Peace actually exists?!”
“……Is it intact because it's Peace?”
“Claudy Territory—what kind of place is it? Does anyone know?”
Park Hwigang and a few quick-witted others caught on.
“……Well, Claudy Territory probably means Claudy's territory, right?”
Entry into the Arcana Continent. The land they set foot on first was.
“L, l, Lee Hoyeol's territory……!!”
Claudy. In other words, Hoyeol's territory.
Common sense before the cataclysm swept through. Back when the Arcana Continent era was just a game. The value of territories came to mind.
“How many players owned territories back then?”
“As far as I know, individually, just Skal.”
“Right, Skal! That's why he had guild-level influence from the start.”
Skal, who had firmly held the number one spot back then. Excluding Skal, only guilds—among them, the top ranker guilds—could own land worthy of being called a territory.
However.
“But that era was still the early days, right? Rankers were barely in the 200s! A territory they got at that level…….”
Even in the empire, it was the outskirts. No, it wasn't even part of the empire—just a small village. Cheonha Tongil at least owned [Langery], which could somewhat pass as a city…….
“But they were basically puppet lords.”
Knowing detailed past information? For players with the skill and confidence to lead the charge into the Arcana Continent, it wasn't strange at all.
The truly strange thing was something else. Park Hwigang cautiously continued.
“Wh, when did he acquire a land like this?”
Claudy Territory. It matched the afterimage they'd glimpsed entering the portal perfectly. Park Hwigang let out pure admiration.
“Anyway…… what a sight!”
Shwaaa—grass like lamb's wool stretched to the horizon, while trees clustered thickly as if guarding the territory. The sky was clear blue, and even the blowing wind was refreshingly pure. It felt utterly detached from the Arcana Continent of rumors.
But what shocked the players most was.
“……Hold on. Wh-what is that?!”
A massive mansion radiating an enormous presence even from afar.
“Gasp.”
“Th-that's basically a castle, isn't it?”
Claudy's grand mansion had firmly seized the ankles of those entering the Arcana Continent's Claudy Territory via the portal.
Park Hwigang muttered in a daze.
“So that's Hoyeol-nim's residence? Then it makes sense. Why he emphasized aesthetics so much. Of course, living in a place like that……!”
It was an eye-opening beauty that seemed to force an Aesthetic Eye to awaken.
Thus, the players could only trudge toward Claudy's mansion as if entranced.
Among them.
“……Damn, the stares we're getting are intense.”
The three guild masters of the Giant Alliance whispering furtively. And Skal was there too.
Nam Taemin, whispering to Hisagi, had a gut feeling.
“This must be what Hoyeol meant when he said it was a shame we couldn't see it…… No, the Grand Commander! Yeah, what he mentioned on the Iron Castle Ho!”
They were the advance party who had entered the Arcana Continent first. Hisagi nodded. To be precise, Hoyeol had said……
—“Forgive me for not receiving you with due splendor.”
Back then, they hadn't understood. Now it clicked. Laughter bubbled up simultaneously.
“Just watching is splendor enough.”
“……What's with the sudden muttering? Didn't you hear me?”
“Shut it, both of you. They're staring more because of you.”
Leoni ventriloquized curses with her mouth shut. The burdensome gazes pouring from the players. As Hoyeol's close allies within the Holy War Alliance, they surely believed the trio knew something about this situation.
But.
'Like hell we know anything.'
One look at Skal glancing around everywhere confirmed it.
“A mansion steeped in history and tradition.”
“Skal, how the hell would you know?”
“Did I not speak of my lineage?”
“Lineage? What're you on about. I don't care about your family. You don't care if I'm from the Nam clan of Uiryeong or Yeongyang, or what generation or branch either, right?”
“Enough, both of you. Just admire it.”
Leoni shook her head.
'……You three idiots, just walk separately, please.'
By then, the players had realized the trio knew nothing and lost interest. Unwanted attention faded, but Leoni's mind remained cluttered.
'……Isn't he trusting too much?'
Inviting them to his territory. It was as good as inviting them into his own home. And with tons of players whose pride he might not even know!
'Worst case.'
If it was to draw attention, players who wouldn't hesitate at trolling abounded. Hoyeol's territory would be prime gossip fodder for them. Of course, Hoyeol, who valued decorum, wouldn't stand for it…… But if they begged forgiveness, his magnanimous nature would embrace them. That was the problem. Leoni clicked her tongue inwardly.
'Praised as the pinnacle of saintly virtue. Geez, being too nice is a flaw too.'
Of course, Hoyeol's benevolence stemmed from confidence. But the issue was the host wasn't even in his own Claudy Territory right now.
—“Regrettably, prior commitments await.”
Considering the time difference between the Arcana Continent and reality. At least a day or two. The players might spend it in Claudy Territory. Leoni's unkind gaze turned to the portal behind.
'They'll keep mixing in during that time. Those without pride.'
A day or two was plenty for incidents. But Leoni's worries didn't last long. How far had they gone? Upon reaching the mansion's front garden.
Four statues blocked the players' path. Someone murmured.
“……Aren't the statues positioned oddly?”
The answer came from the statues' mouths.
“We are not statues.”
“Uh, uwaaah?!”
“We are the incarnations of the four families serving Claudy.”
Rumble……!
“By the family heads' command, we shall witness your pride.”
At that moment. The four statues moved with majestic roars. Leoni's lips curved into a smile at the sight. Of course. Contingencies existed everywhere. How could there be none in a territory like his own home?
Leoni glanced back.
“Gasp.”
Some looked like thieves caught red-handed, frozen stiff. They're like ice, she thought, shaking her head.
“I worry needlessly too, really.”
*
“Hm.”
The excited fresh breeze was utterly unpleasant.
“A sliver of hope amid despair?”
But not bad. No, better if they stayed that excited. Then they'd feel even greater guilt for their rash actions.
The more so, the stronger this flesh would grow.
Gluttonous Evil, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, Lust gazed at his offerings. If asked what they were for, his actions thus far would answer. Lust eyed his still-unhealed wound. Exposed ribs from the unknit gash in his side.
'I didn't share my blood and flesh with that wench for nothing.'
Demon King of the Demon Realm, Gre Mory. Lust had forcibly injected his blood and flesh into her. The result: a new evil born from the fusion of malice from the Arcana Continent and Demon Realm.
The reborn hybrid demon. Gre Mory's power exceeded expectations. Especially.
'Her seduction surpassed even mine.'
Lust had witnessed Gre Mory's rampage in the Zero Mountains from start to finish. Not content with ensnaring adventurers, she even bent the mountain beasts to her will. Lust swallowed a smile at his wound.
“Pain well worth enduring.”
Thanks to that, he devised a plan. If he, a Sin, could mix with an upper demon king's blood…… He'd seize power rivaling Akshan's last survivor, the unique Claudy.
Lust quipped.
“Ah, perhaps not so unique.”
Whatever, trivial. He'd seen Gre Mory's start and end. Witnessed Hoyeol's overwhelming prowess in slaying her. Yet Lust could afford arrogance for a simple reason. He knew the power of upper demon kings, far beyond the mongrels claiming kingship in the Demon Realm.
Demon worshippers. Among them, the Mage Tower's three. Karimjeba had evaluated upper demon kings thus:
A door to the Demon Realm. Peering through the gap, Karimjeba's eyes brimmed with madness. Truly as if glimpsing 'true truth.' Lust couldn't comprehend mages' obsession with truth, then or now.
However.
“That matters not.”
What mattered: thanks to demon worshippers, Lust had mastered the ritual to manifest an upper demon king.
'An unstable dimensional rift suffices.'
No need for two-way passage. Just connect Arcana Continent and this world. Build an altar to that upper demon king's taste. Their failure aided him. Fourth throne demon king, Gamigin. Arrogant to summon a fourth throne on first try.
Lust wouldn't repeat it.
'The lowest, tenth throne suffices.'
Lust clenched his fist.
'No, it must be the lowest.'
Hybrid ritual. Mixing blood meant accepting the upper demon king into his flesh. Of course, Lust knew how upper demon kings were treated by mongrels: witless fathers or tools. Despite vast power, devoid of will.
Armed with that knowledge, Lust resolved to mix blood. Yet.
'Can't trust mongrels' words alone.'
Demon nature bred distrust. Thus, Lust prepared the ritual. Manifest upper demon king, then hybrid ritual. Immense offerings needed. Hard even in Arcana Continent. But Lust spotted opportunity: chaos in China.
A satisfied laugh escaped.
“Hahaha.”
Offerings numbering top in this world? Though an unwanted elf breathed freely here.
'No matter. Only one can sense me.'
The demon hunter. Him alone. Knowing that, Lust chose now. Once possessing human flesh taught him adventurers' world. News repeated ad nauseam on TV and smartphones.
Yes. Now, he led adventurers to Arcana Continent. Utterly separate worlds. Even with his razor-sharp hunter senses. Detecting Lust's presence from there? Impossible. Lust wasted no time.
“No, hubris is forbidden.”
Another gleaned fact.
“Arcana Continent time flows four times faster, they say.”
The ritual began at once. Drip— A drop of blood fell at his feet. Raising the ritual's curtain. Lust envisioned his future. With upper demon king power plus player might, none could stand against him. Not dragons, not Pride, not Baal, and finally.
'Claudy, not you either.'
As Lust's lips curled wickedly.
“I am not late to our promise.”
A voice rang out. That instant. His limbs stiffened rigidly.
“……!”
Yet Lust couldn't turn. Not because the ritual forbade distraction. He wanted to flee if he could. He simply couldn't. To such Lust, a cold voice continued. Incomprehensibly archaic phrasing.
“Did I not say?”
“……?”
“That not a single breath would be permitted in this land.”
The rebuke followed.
“Thou, wretch lesser than a garden pest.”