Benefit All Widely
I'd wanted to keep it hidden as long as possible. Even if the name Claudy became known throughout the world, how many titles do I have? If I never mentioned it myself, wouldn't it naturally fade away?
'Why, just moments ago.'
Cheonoecheon (Heaven Beyond Heaven).
Thanks to my muttering under my breath, I'd gained yet another title.
To reiterate, this wasn't the kind of invitation I wanted.
Even if others didn't know, I did. I felt like dying of shame.
Who in the world wants to expose their black history to everyone?
"As the family head of Claudy, I welcome you all."
But Sir Grandfell, overflowing with pride as family head, could never tolerate otherwise.
Of course, inviting players to Claudy Territory was, in a way, the best decision.
'Things are chaotic enough as it is.'
Thanks to Omen spitting out those it had swallowed, the Arcana Continent was a tangle of mismatched timelines.
The resulting conflicts? Just as Ryu Ojuncheon thought, it was like the Warring States period all over again.
But piling players on top of that?
'Just imagining it exhausts me.'
In that sense, Claudy Territory was a kind of sanctuary. A minimal buffer between the Arcana Continent and the players—for each other's sake.
Don't trust players? Well, who knows what someone with a flower garden for a brain might think.
But people aren't easy to trust.
Is the current Arcana Continent just any continent? It's brimming with buffs that would make any player's eyes spin—several at once.
If those excited players saw them floating before their eyes?
'Even I'd want to go solo.'
But Claudy Territory was a peace zone, outside the buffs' range. No better place to calm their frenzy.
'My luck is truly rotten.'
This warm welcome stemmed from my unavoidable circumstances.
Except for Nam Taemin's group, everyone found my attitude strangely off-putting.
'Or maybe they're shocked by the family head declaration.'
Of course, to me, it was beyond strange—it was mortifying.
'Family head my ass!'
The Claudy invitation. Having been through a similar ordeal already.
Standing before those who knew me as Claudy versus those who knew me as Lee Hoyeol brought entirely different shades of shame.
'So how do I talk my way out of this?'
Full name with Romeo as the finishing dragon point? Or some bizarre fusion like Lee Hoyeol Claudy.
'...I have no idea where my motormouth will lead.'
Fortunately, no immediate decision was needed. No one asked my name.
Who'd suspect I was hiding a full name like that anyway?
'If they're curious about anything...'
As a mere player, how I owned such a territory would be the real question.
And sure enough, my prediction was spot on.
Clack—
As I descended the stairs, someone from the player crowd spoke up.
"If it's not rude, could you tell us about Claudy Territory? The 'peace' descriptor, and how you acquired such a vast, dignified domain..."
Me, Lee Hoyeol. Naturally, I didn't want to answer.
Especially since I couldn't tell the truth.
'How do I say it's because my black history actually exists?!'
But Grandfell's principle: Does it follow procedure?
The question was perfectly fitting.
'If only it hadn't praised the territory as dignified...!'
I answered readily.
"It is not newly acquired."
"...Pardon?"
"Merely hidden until now."
Of course, in Grandfell-speak.
A motormouth, once started, doesn't stop easily.
Under focused gazes, I continued.
"Thus, I hope you all refrain from losing decorum in Claudy Territory. For the laws of reality, the empire, or common sense of the Arcana Continent do not apply here."
This wasn't a threat—just facts.
My shame, my home.
The reason I could invite unspecified masses of players to Claudy Territory?
Because in Claudy Territory, as Claudy family head, Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo's commands held absolute authority.
So I concluded.
"Remember this. Here, my word is the law."
Shining mana stones.
High-level players recognize their value at a glance.
"Mana stones this size embedded throughout the territory? Even the imperial capital Antonium doesn't have these, right? Lee Hoyeol, just how much money do you have...?"
"More than that, how vast is it to manifest portals with mana stones? No wonder it has such a grandiose title like 'peace'."
"Shut up already. Shouldn't we get moving too?"
The players' biggest practical issue: lodging and meals on the Arcana Continent, solved.
Because I'd permitted them to stay in the grand mansion as long as needed.
"Worried about what those 'rules' are, but... thanks anyway!"
The players didn't know the rules.
Not knowing let them burn with pure motivation.
For now.
"How long's it been since...?"
Suddenly, a magic circle shimmered atop the mana stone, and portal light poured forth.
The players opened their eyes on the Arcana Continent.
The landscape was unexpected.
"Huh?"
From those who'd left early.
To those who'd ported just minutes ago.
All frozen in place.
"...!!!"
The reason was immediately clear.
Experience gain increased by 50%.
Item drop rate increased by 50%.
Mana manifestation power increased by 30%.
All weapon proficiency acquisition increased by 30%.
...and more unending buffs.
A shock like being clubbed over the head.
"Wh-what the hell is all this?!"
Of course, the good kind.
Each one a cheat-level buff they'd never seen.
So overwhelming they had to stand still to check.
But one thing was certain.
"...If it were me, I'd have monopolized this."
A typical player wouldn't tell a soul about these buffs.
Let alone share them.
"Obviously. That's normal. It's a chance to pull ahead."
Hoyeol had the power to do it.
Without his Dragon Heart acquisition, players couldn't even set foot here.
Yet he'd opened Claudy Territory and shared these buffs.
It gave even the hyped players pause.
"...Why go this far?"
The reason.
Weight as Holy War Alliance commander?
Or confidence that sharing them changed nothing?
No one knew.
So they pondered.
"Sharing everything with strangers like us..."
"Maybe our commander really is a god reincarnated?"
"Yeah, too noble for a mere human."
God reincarnated my ass—it's all because of my black history...!
If the man hiding his own name heard.
He'd be shocked inwardly.
And the evaluations spread among players.
Like the dawn of a new legend.
The outskirts city of Langery on the continent.
It drives it home.
Survival in this harsh world belongs to the even harsher.
Drip drip—
Blood soaks the floor.
Ryu Ojuncheon recalled memories while staring at Langery's lord's lifeless face.
Arcana time flows 4x faster than reality, right?
Indeed, true.
"Looks like the piglet inherited the sty."
Back when Arcana was just a game.
The piglet resembling its sire had grown into an adult.
Inherited the lordship, it seemed.
Should stir nostalgia.
But Ryu Ojuncheon cut the reminiscence short.
"Not a pleasant memory."
Pre-cataclysm.
Unqualified as monarch then, he'd endured endless humiliations.
Becoming Langery's lord was one such.
A scapegoat position, no different.
Treated worse than a puppet, naturally.
Ryu spat a curt sentiment at the corpse.
"But credit where due. Your sire's cruelty kept my Langery intact till now."
Shiver shiver...!
Langery's retainers trembled at Ryu Ojuncheon.
A split-second shock at the adventurer's return.
They'd leaped the castle gates effortlessly, infiltrated.
Thwack.
Casually lopped off the lord's head.
'...That's no different from a killing demon.'
Realization changed nothing.
No countermeasures possible.
Allied territories' aid? The dead lord's whimsy.
Fallen early to demons long ago.
Can't rely on the people either.
'...Damn.'
They'd cheer the tyrant's death.
No reason to risk lives for revenge.
'What a utter mess.'
Langery was family-shattered.
Yet how had it survived?
If asked, retainers couldn't answer easily.
'How could we confess the truth?!'
They were demon accomplices. Worshippers.
That's how Langery endured—could they admit it...!!
"Confess the truth."
"...?"
Ryu asks the fury-swallowing retainer.
"How did Langery survive?"
"...!!"
Ryu Ojuncheon.
'I don't know this adventurer.'
Couldn't guess his intent, despite seeming acquainted with the lord.
But demon worship wouldn't be forgiven by anyone.
"...I don't know."
So the retainer clamped his mouth shut.
'Even if it kills me...'
For family, he'd stay silent. Resolved.
But.
The Monarch.
No.
"Confess."
The Tyrant tolerated no silence.
"Unless you want your clans exterminated."
"!!!"
Retainers' mouths opened against their will.
Status ailment message floated in Ryu's vision, but retainers saw none.
"How Langery survived? The lord offered humans to demons. Practically a demon himself."
"Altar for demons underground in the castle..."
"Men, women, children—no exceptions...!"
From truth to rituals, they spilled details to Ryu.
Only then could they close their mouths.
Retainers squeezed eyes shut.
Tremble!
'It's over, all over!'
Heads could roll any second.
"?"
But against resolve, no blades fell.
...Sneakily.
Opening eyes, they saw the man's upturned lips.
Instinct hit.
'Worse than the lord, that one...!'
Ignoring shocked retainers.
Ryu pondered Langery's use.
'Here, I can build power stably.'
He admitted his weakness.
But only to one: Lee Hoyeol.
Meaning, no other players catching him.
Thus, Arcana as new battlefield.
Not bad.
Claim Langery, and he'd start light-years ahead of others, save Hoyeol.
"A fine answer."
Ryu's gaze on retainers.
Knowing Langery's survival secret.
They must keep surviving ahead.
To maintain the gap.
"I grant you the honor of serving me."
Seated in the lord's chair now.
But he didn't know.
This moment.
His and the Five Stars' visions, status windows.
Pathetically inferior to other players.
None active.
Experience gain.
Item drop rate.
Mana manifestation.
Weapon proficiency...
No cheat buffs.
Not even minor ones for Ryu and Five Stars.
Reason simple.
[All this by the Black Dark Dragon's design.]
The continent's true master forbade it.
Let's see, from when red stamps started appearing?
When worries piled up, I'd read novels.
Even frequented rental shops back then...
World's improved.
New novels daily now.
Lee Yerim muttered.
"Baked too many cookies this month..."
How immersed in reading to miss.
Daily Today Arcana live stream, even to tease Hoyeol.
Lee Yerim belatedly grabbed the remote, turned on the TV.
"Huh?"
Rubbed eyes at the screen.
...Pulled all-nighter reading novels?
Words from novels as subtitles.
"Eh?"
But no illusion.
Her tired eyes, pallid face flushed.
"Ch-Cheonoecheon?! He said it himself?!"
Her only brother writing wuxia novels in reality.