The Ancient Kingdom Yusra Emerges

Yusra Archipelago. No, the entire world. A message appeared before every player's eyes.

"!!!"

The same message appearing to all players. In other words, a world-class message. It meant an event monumental enough to etch itself into Arcana's history.

"You see? I told you it wasn't just some ordinary update!"

"A treasure island? No, an ancient kingdom..."

"That's why they kept dropping all those hints everywhere."

The first message to players quickly spread to the general public as well. Thanks to netuber players like Park Hwigang and others broadcasting the breaking news right away.

"...The ancient kingdom, Yusra Kingdom, has revealed itself!"

"Holy shit, bros. This content is stacked AF!"

"Who did it? How the hell should a lowly scrub like me know, again!!"

The viewers were just as hyped.

As an ancient kingdom, restoring it would take time and effort, but if they recaptured its past glory, Yusra Kingdom was bound to hold immense value.

And for good reason.

"Expert, if this breaking news is true, isn't this the first nation-scale update? The first time an Arcana nation has been summoned into reality?"

"Yes, exactly! It's a massive event!"

"Can you estimate its value?"

"Well, if we look at the role the Empire played in Arcana, even partial restoration would make Yusra Kingdom invaluable as the first of its kind..."

The first Arcana nation summoned into reality—Yusra Kingdom.

The emergence of a new nation, and an ancient one at that.

Even back when Arcana was just a game, this would have been a world-class event. And now it was happening in reality, as the first nation-scale update.

Thus, at this moment, the tension rippling through Yusra Kingdom, the hot potato, was beyond words.

The world's top guild, Shining.

Guild Master Rocks stood frozen mid-battle.

"...What the hell just happened?"

...Let's rewind a bit.

Skeletons at a whopping level 500. Upon entering the Golden Palace, they swarmed in hordes.

With Jessie out of commission, Shining wasn't at full strength either.

Even accounting for that, the skeleton army was too strong.

The reason they could hold out? 'Their patterns are simple compared to their stats.'

High levels. Tenacious vitality. But their attacks were straightforward. Even swinging their weapons looked clumsy.

'We can strategize around this.'

That was why Rocks didn't retreat. Sure, it'd take time, but it was worth the grind. Not just any boss, but a great evil. And considering the treasure island trait, the loot drops would be insane.

But then.

Crack-crack—

The skeletons suddenly crumbled into bones.

The implication was simple: The Golden Palace's master, the great evil, had fallen.

And with it, the message popped up.

Shining's guild members buzzed.

"...They broke through this skeleton horde and took down the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠great evil?"

"Is that even possible?"

"Who the hell? Cheonha Tongil? Nah, those losers couldn't..."

What do you mean by that? If Cheonha Tongil heard, they'd die twice of outrage.

"No doubt. It's those Shining bastards again...!"

Shining and Cheonha Tongil. Their bad blood ran deep, so they knew each other well enough to spot it.

They broke through this skeleton encirclement? Impossible.

Rocks and Ryu Ojuncheon, the two guild masters, spoke in unison.

"Not Cheonha Tongil."

"Not Shining!"

Question marks floated on their guild members' faces. Not just them—the message had appeared to every player.

Any player would wonder.

So who was this 'someone' in the message?

And the quest...! To think such a quest actually existed.

I'd been skeptical at first.

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

'No matter how much I searched, I'd never seen it.'

Back when my class quest first appeared. I'd scoured every quest in Arcana.

There were all sorts of quests, but this one? Never heard of it.

But I had a hunch.

After 12 years away from Arcana, I'd honed my instincts through thick and thin.

'...Something felt off.'

Especially the quest condition. Handing over a crown—a epic-grade item—to the king.

'No wonder the stats were trash. It all makes sense now.'

My expectations had vanished long ago. No need to invoke Grandfell's noble pride.

I handed the crown to the man—no, the king of Yusra Kingdom—without a second thought.

And now.

Messages kept flooding in.

...Relationship maxed, influence maxed, and an 'Authority' function? All unfamiliar terms to me.

'No surprise there.'

Even when Arcana was a game—or now—I'd never been in a position to build ties or influence with a specific nation.

But from the looks of it, my hunch said that had changed.

'And "maximum" is key here.'

Plus activating an 'Authority' function. I'd love to check it out right now, but there were too many other messages.

Hold off for now.

No loot drops either.

'Second time.'

Just bad luck?

'Or maybe...'

Demons possessing someone don't drop items? Too early to conclude.

But no regrets.

Your level has risen... So many lines, faster to just check the status window.

Defeated the great evil, the incarnation of Gluttony. A whopping 50 levels gained...!

It shattered my personal record—maybe the system's max single gain.

But not excessive. 'Soloing a level 650 monster, after all.'

Suddenly, a thought struck.

Have I grown that much?

Definitely different from facing Count Ascura. Back then, borrowing Jessie Haynes' power was my limit.

Of course, a lot had happened lately.

'Joined the Mage Tower conference, gained insight into magic...'

Improved my magic manifestation too. Can't forget the brooch boost.

'Lion Heart Knights, Gaon, Berserker's cooperation.'

And now, mana exhaustion. I'd poured everything into finishing the guy who couldn't counter thanks to the exorcism ritual.

But my instincts told me.

'...The incarnation of Gluttony.'

Demon hunter senses. Regardless of my growth, the guy calling himself great evil reeked of an immature demon.

'Didn't know shit about the exorcism ritual.'

Ignorance of the ritual meant ignorance of demon hunters.

'A great evil who doesn't recognize his natural enemy, a demon hunter?'

...Who knows. No explanation for now.

But one clear fact: Demons hunted by demon hunters get dragged to hell, never to return.

No exceptions, even for great evils.

Akshan demon hunter's words echoed.

—That's why demons fear us.

I looked at the incarnation of Gluttony's remains.

Whoosh— Like Count Ascura, thick smoke rose from the traces.

Footsteps approached. Harcon.

"What should I call this, Sir Hoyeol?"

I straightened my disheveled attire and replied.

"I merely did what needed doing."

Grand words, but just quest completion. Still, unsaid motives invite misunderstandings.

Harcon's eyes glistened unusually.

"I can only regret once more."

...Please don't cry, Harcon. That'd stab my conscience harder.

The man—no, now Yusra's king—lightened the mood.

"...Benefactor. May I ask your name?"

He remained kneeling. A king doing this? But with max relationship and influence, it felt natural.

I answered without hesitation.

"I am Lee Hoyeol."

......

Max relationship and influence. I was feeling their power.

Yusra's king, Hakuna. Ancient fallen kingdom or not, his status was undeniable.

Look at that intact Golden Palace. Selling just this could buy all of Seoul's skyscrapers—pure luxury.

Its owner, Yusra's king, Hakuna, asked me deferentially.

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

"What are your thoughts, Benefactor?"

Impeccable manners, no etiquette training needed. All quest rewards.

I replied shamelessly.

"Rebuilding Yusra Kingdom is the right path. What a nation needs—you know better than I, Hakuna."

He's no liege; no need to bow.

Grandfell's attitude even convinced me.

'But still...'

Look at the stunned players.

"...Taemin hyung. What am I seeing right now?"

"Sis. We were shocked he sassed the chief mage, but talking down to a king?!"

"Damn. That guy's consistently nuts."

I agreed with the last one.

Hakuna replied soon.

"Wise words, Benefactor. You urge me to hold pride despite... But I worry. Who would trust and follow a king who abandoned his people...?"

I cut in bluntly.

"Whether they trust and follow depends on you, King of Yusra. No need to fret yet—yet you still worry?"

"...Shamefully, yes."

"I see."

What pointless fretting. Yusra's value awed even me, Arcana noob.

Treasure island, right? Monsters around, resources from the land—undervalued stock primed to moon.

Hell, players and guilds would line up for free labor just to cozy up to Hakuna...!

So.

"Then, by my 'authority,' I propose."

Time to use the new 'Authority' function.

Everything's give and take.

I continued.

"For Yusra's rebuilding, I recommend the Lion Heart Knights, Gaon, and Berserker guilds present here."

"...!!!"

"King Hakuna. What say you?"

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Of course, Hakuna wouldn't refuse.

Everyone froze in shock— I gazed at them calmly.

At least in Yusra Kingdom, my authority trumps their right to refuse.

Jealous? Activate your own authority function...

*

With the great evil gone, no natural enemy effect, no Grandfell-demon narrative.

I was feeling the full backlash of pushing too hard.

Damn, hurts like hell...!

Mana exhaustion made my body tremble. Eyelids drooping.

Clack— But I ignored interview requests; my gait never faltered.

Pride's a bitch when exhausted.

I headed for the portal.

"Hoyeol, I don't know how to repay this grace! Gaon and I will give our all. Won't disappoint."

Nam Taemin's gratitude to the end? Simple: Working for the kingdom builds ties and influence—prime opportunity.

See, Hakuna? Told you they'd line up even for free.

"Thanks. I'll repay the debt later."

Leoni fidgeted, but same position.

Lion Heart Knights was my solo call.

"Sir Harcon. Did I overstep?"

"Not at all, Sir Hoyeol. Better than a strange city—this environment suits us. Grateful for the consideration."

Harcon and the knights were thrilled to hone dulled senses here. Monster levels perfect training.

'Time to head back.'

Yusra's potential swirled in my mind—what I could exploit...

I stopped thinking.

'No deep thoughts now.'

Wanna lie down. Crave early quit. Sleep.

Portal to Mage Tower. Detour to lab, appraise items via parchment, then home.

Three items for appraisal under research pretext:

Purified level 400 restricted item from exorcism, [Vampire Count's Orb].

[Pure Emerald Crystal] from Emerald Tiger.

And [Island Treasure, Silk Inkfish Scales].

But my early quit halted at the lab door.

"Ack!"

A massive pointed hat blocking the door.

Clack— It twitched at my footsteps.

Under the hat, exclamation-marked pupils sparkled.

"You're here! I was waiting! Sir Hoyeol!"

Bow— Polite head dip. Hands neatly at navel.

Overly proper.

"Sorry, but I have some magic questions!"

...Too earnest to refuse.

"I'll trust they've been well-considered during your wait."

I opened the door.

"Come in, Jessie Haynes."