As Expected, We're on the Arcana Continent.
The expressions of the Holy War Alliance were grim.
"To step into that ferocious maw."
Far below on the distant ground, a massive hole emanated an intense presence. Chainwalker gazed at Behemoth's Maw.
Lee Hoyeol had declared his intent to enter the Demon Realm and then returned to the world of adventurers—his home.
Chainwalker asked the adventurers, "What do you think?"
The answer came immediately.
"Of course we're following."
Nam Taemin spoke for the group, but the others felt the same. There was no need to reaffirm their resolve. They'd never once held back their lives while following Hoyeol.
Still, Hisagi added a harsh truth. "If we have the right to do so."
Yet they'd never advanced alongside Hoyeol, not even once. They'd only chased his footsteps—and even that had been overwhelming.
Swoosh.
Walls Whale, who had been hunching in obvious unease, straightened his back. His gruff tone was pure dwarf, but the words weren't entirely cold.
"Ha! Who could keep up with him? Even I can't. Just look at my tail right now. Walls Whale, the greatest blacksmith in dwarf history, fidgeting like this because he's terrified his work won't please the Grand Commander!"
Walls Whale's self-deprecating joke drew a small chuckle—right up until Chainwalker smacked his lips bitterly.
"Indeed, your resolve matches ours. It's comforting, in a way. But resolve alone won't conquer the reality we face. Especially not in the unknown world of the Demon Realm."
"……."
"Coldly speaking, we might just be a burden."
No one could argue. They'd felt the Demon Realm's might, if only indirectly—thanks to Discus, the entity that had burst from Behemoth's Maw.
Walls Whale recalled that fleeting battle.
Clang.
He tapped his corroded helmet with a hammer. "Adamantium's melting. Want an easy comparison? This is only the second time I've seen adamantium melt with these eyes. The first was when some dragon targeted the dwarf king's vault."
He let out a disbelieving scoff. "So, that skeleton's virulent poison matches a dragon's breath. And those things are gunning for the Grand Commander as challengers."
"That's not all," Hisagi said, holding up two fingers.
"The Grand Commander won't stop at merely proving the challenges. He'll drag even higher-ranked upper demon kings into hell, following proper procedure."
Leoni muttered quietly, "……In a situation where guarding his own body is already a struggle."
The Giant Alliance. And Skal hadn't forgotten the Yunak Seus raid.
If Hoyeol hadn't appeared. Without that aid. He would've been devoured by the fallen dragon that day—no question.
"Yeah. Adding insult to injury."
Squeeze.
Nam Taemin clenched his fist. It wasn't just frustration at his own weakness.
Know your place. That's what Hoyeol always emphasized, right?
His weakness was nothing new. No, something else gnawed at him.
……Is Hoyeol okay?
He shouldn't doubt, just like always. But Nam Taemin had witnessed it. Or rather, sensed it with his beast-like nose, sharper than any animal's.
Silver hair dragging on the ground. The scent wafting from him wasn't Hoyeol's.
And.
'It was…… him who defeated Discus.'
Not Hoyeol.
It was natural to worry. Who was he? Did Hoyeol even know? What the hell had happened to him?
Doubts piled up.
"……."
Nam Taemin's face, hiding his turmoil, was a sight to behold. Hisagi, his rival, couldn't let it slide.
"Even a puppy face won't change anything."
"……What? Puppy?"
"All we can do is what we're capable of."
With that, Hisagi excused himself to Chainwalker and took the floor.
He cut straight to it. "As mentioned, in this Demon King Struggle, the Grand Commander will face trials from both sides—as the challenged and the challenger. A tremendous burden. If we wish to share that load……."
It was a conclusion born of knowing one's place.
"We'll handle the challengers."
In the Demon King Struggle, kings would target each other's throats.
Even excluding Buer and Gami Gin, Hoyeol was aiming for eight upper demon kings. No time to get tripped up by challengers.
"A welcome plan."
The Holy War Alliance didn't hesitate. They moved to crush the challengers in advance.
It didn't matter which demon challenged the Ten Thrones.
Nam Taemin intoned gravely, like someone else. "Inferior scum can't grasp their place."
Hoyeol's teaching.
"Even imp-like trash demons will bother the Grand Commander. We can't touch those in the Demon Realm yet…… but the ones on the Arcana Continent?"
Demons still lurked on the Arcana Continent. The alliance planned to hunt them one by one.
"All good, but……."
Nam Taemin narrowed his eyes. "Why are you my partner?"
"Harmony matters."
"Harmony? You think we match?"
"It's a hassle for me too. But only my cold reason can rein in your beastly impulses. No need for thanks—I'm used to it."
"……Psycho."
Enough. Talking to this snake would just tire him out. Nam Taemin stuck out his tongue and scanned around.
Cart wheel ruts, horse hooves on the ground.
"At least there are signs of people."
To revive an Arcana Continent heading for ruin like this. Another testament to the Grand Commander's majesty in saving the Arcana natives.
Nam Taemin nodded—until Hisagi spoke coldly.
"Know your limits. Up to level 700 for demon monsters. For bosses, as agreed."
Hisagi held up a palm-sized gear.
"Got it. Beyond that, we're outmatched."
Thanks to that battle with the fallen dragon, Yunak Seus, they'd gauged their limits accurately.
Soon, the pair entered a ruined village.
"……."
The bickering duo's faces hardened.
Dried black bloodstains everywhere. The Arcana Continent wasn't safe. A scene reminding them of its collapse and ongoing reconstruction.
"Doesn't feel like someone else's problem."
If they hadn't cleared the rifts pouring in, reality would've ended up the same.
Their loosened tension snapped taut again.
Thud, thud.
"We might find demon traces here."
Hisagi scanned with his spear ready. Spearman and barbarian classes—no demon hunter senses for scents.
Scrape, scrape.
"……!!"
No need for exchanged glances. Both silenced themselves and headed toward the sound.
Swoosh.
Nam Taemin arrived first, moving stealthily yet swiftly like a feline predator. His muscles halted at a tavern, razed like the village.
……Blood smell.
But inside, distinct from the dried blood—a fresh, vivid metallic tang.
Scrape, scrape.
Something in the ruins emitting blood scent and odd metallic noise. Who else but a demon?
Bam!
Nam Taemin kicked the door and stormed the tavern. Not to be outdone, Hisagi leaped through a broken window—his snake eyes widening.
Scrape, scrape.
"Wait, this is a crucial passage."
"……?"
A young man sat at a table. Boyish features made him seem more teen than man. Up close, he scribbled passionately with an ornate quill.
Caught off guard by the composure, Nam Taemin apologized unwittingly. "……Sorry about that."
Zap.
"What?"
Hisagi glared at him with snake eyes. This wasn't the Mage Tower's Emerald Hall—what manners?
Hisagi demanded, "What are you doing in a place like this?"
"What am I doing? Can't you see? Writing a history of the Arcana Continent to echo through the ages. Don't take it personally—I'm swamped, no time for glances."
"Huh?"
They'd expected a demon cultist cursing in the ruins. Instead, history writing?
Nam Taemin whispered, "We buying this?"
Before Hisagi replied, the boy said, "Well, some who didn't trust my words or writings paid the price. You smelled their blood and came running, right? I catch it plenty. One of you reeks of a Frost barbarian."
"……!"
Nam Taemin flinched. Hisagi shot him a look.
Nam Taemin protested, "……Why stare? I showered today!"
He stared at the boy. Eyes fixed on the dancing quill. He'd ID'd him by scent alone.
'Even his origin.'
Expertise on barbarians. Thus the doubt. Arcana time flowed four times faster than reality. No way he knew of Frost barbarians.
Even more suspicious.
'How's a kid like that writing history?'
Hisagi's mind spun faster than Nam Taemin's. No trust in the boy's hole-ridden words.
Hisagi gripped his spear subtly.
'Never drop guard against demons.'
Ready to thrust anytime. As he honed his inner mana—
The boy finally set down the quill. "Good. Chapter done. Want a read? You didn't inspire it, but I owe you for waiting patiently……."
His gaze shifted, trailing off. "No way—you're adventurers?!"
Nam Taemin and Hisagi met the boy's eyes. Clear. Sparkling so purely it was unnerving.
But the boy ignored their reactions. "Adventurers from the rumors! Always wanted to meet one. Heard the tales—the miracle of resurrection, right? Show me? I can help with the dying part!"
Madness matching those innocent eyes……!
The two men backed away—when the boy startled. "Oh, right. Introductions first, duh. Join in! I'll show you my masterpiece first. You share adventurer tales in return!"
Their opinions? Irrelevant. He thrust his self-proclaimed epic Arcana history manuscript at them.
"Showing this won't make us cooperate……."
Arcana as a mere game was years ago in reality. What nonsense.
Nam Taemin opened his mouth—
"This is……?"
Hisagi paused. He'd seen it. In the boy's history—the name. Or rather, the epithet. Infinite deep darkness.
"Looks like."
Hisagi's lips curled. "Pride led us to you."
The boy—Lorentsk—reacted. "Pride leads us……."
He seized Hisagi's hand. "You're romantics!"
Back to reality after ages.
'Sparring ends, and it's right back to the grind.'
Fortune smiled—no piled-up Mage Tower work. New Tower Master Marcelo handled the chief mage duties.
Made him realize anew how much that cat had slacked.
'Next time I see Jessie, gotta nag her about that hat.'
Swoosh.
I sat in the office chair and summoned High El immediately.
Reality or not, I couldn't ignore the Arcana Continent entirely. Monitoring the Holy War Alliance constantly was the Grand Commander's role.
But.
"My lord. There is good news—plural."
Good news'es'? High El…… Why did that worry me more?
I'd braced myself, but.
'Always beyond imagination.'
Never expected to reunite like this.
Fine, happy to see you—but Lorentsk, you……!!
Who gave you permission to write that history? No, that black history?!