Our Pride Aligns (2)
Continuous teleportation. A massive pointed hat appeared on rooftops, only to vanish again and again.
The repeated skill activations consumed a tremendous amount of mana, but Jessie Haynes didn't care.
"Lee Hoyeol. They're concentrating their forces on him. It's an emergency right now."
Jessie gripped her staff tightly.
I haven't even asked a single proper question yet!
Did magic truly exist? Thanks to Hoyeol, she'd cast aside her doubts. Her class quest, which had stalled, was finally progressing. And with that came new curiosities. Plus the carefully considered questions she hadn't been able to ask because Hoyeol had fallen asleep.
There were reasons aplenty for the exclamation marks floating in Jessie's eyes.
The pointed hat sighed.
"Even if this master were in peril, you wouldn't rush in with such fervor... It's unfair, my disciple. After all I've taught you, how ungrateful!"
Naturally, no reply came.
But the hat fell silent. Jessie was currently in a state of obsession.
The kind where she discovered a new spell. Or opened a fascinating grimoire. She didn't want anyone interrupting, and she had no intention of yielding what she'd claimed.
Yes, the only difference this time...
Was that the object of her fixation wasn't just any magic.
It was Hoyeol's magic.
That was why the hat let out a sigh.
"...Even I must keep my eyes peeled, it seems. He looked heartless, without a drop of pity. A man who napped so inappropriately."
Wasn't he a clone imbued with a grand archmage's consciousness—the pointed hat itself?
With years of life experience came sharp judgment of people. No, of mages especially.
The hat brimmed with pride in that regard.
That was why it had resolved to observe Hoyeol once more.
"His talent seemed exceptional, but..."
Hoyeol, an adventurer turned co-researcher to the chief mage. But equal to that talent was his sky-high arrogance, which troubled the hat.
The hat knew.
"It will surely become poison in time. For Hoyeol himself. Or perhaps for his disciple."
These were words born from its own experience with such afflictions.
Then—
"!"
Whoosh—!
A fierce wind scattered the acrid smoke.
A colossal hellbird revealed itself.
The hat warned Jessie.
"Disciple. This is no ordinary foe."
But Jessie had already activated her skill. The hellbird's target was none other than Hoyeol.
Vast mana surged from Jessie's body. An overflow so abundant it brimmed over.
"Heaven's Punishment."
She wouldn't yield to anyone. Not even a hellbird.
As if to prove it—
Crackle—!
Condensed lightning struck the hellbird's head.
Demon Legion Commander, Kupikan, receives Stun.
The sheer voltage poured from Jessie's vast mana. Yet it only inflicted stun, not knockout.
Her instincts screamed.
At least level 500...!
Her own level was a mere 401.
Clack—
Demon Legion Commander Kupikan's pupils pierced Jessie.
Your turn next.
A warning, as if to say.
But looking away was a fatal mistake.
Flash—!
A blaze shot up from below. In that split second—
Clang—!
It cleaved the demon legion commander's head clean off.
"...What was that?!"
Jessie hadn't noticed, but the hat had.
Stairs embroidered in midair. The flash had clearly ascended them in flight.
And it recognized the magic's caster.
"...My fears were unfounded."
People could lie, but magic never did.
Yes, it wasn't arrogance.
Would a mage lost in hubris lay stairs for another's sake? The hat knew better than anyone that mages weren't that sort.
"It was simply pride so lofty it masqueraded as arrogance."
The hat glanced between the neatly arranged corpse and Hoyeol before continuing.
"I understand a little now, disciple. I thought I had mages all figured out."
"The more I watch, the stranger he seems."
Exploration of the unknown. It reignited a long-forgotten thirst as a mage—utterly refreshing.
But the unknown was truly unpredictable.
Hoyeol turned to Jessie and declared in a cold voice.
"Un合格. Jessie Haynes."
*
I thought to myself.
...What to do with this damn motormouth.
No hesitation in word or deed.
"An unnecessarily strained manifestation. Excessive flourishes unlike your usual."
Listening quietly, I had to admit it made sense.
"Moreover, no consideration for the surroundings."
This was a city. A stray shockwave could ensnare hidden survivors.
Jessie herself seemed oblivious to any survivors.
"You're right... I still have so much to learn!"
She was just grateful for the insight.
Famous even back when Arcana was just a game. As expected, her treatment differed from mine.
They called her the chosen mage.
Harcon Kingsguard recognized her and beamed.
"To meet Lady Jessie here again."
"It's been since the palace, Sir Harcon!"
"...Jessie? You don't mean that Jessie Haynes?"
The shadow mercenaries, ever attuned to rumors, knew her well too.
Yes, even Arcana's powerhouses knew the name Jessie.
Yet the first words out of his mouth? Un合格?!
But brazenly, my face showed no twitch.
As if this motormouth ever picked and chose its audience.
I finally realized.
...In times like these, I must be even more brazen.
A madman is scarier than a villain. A lesson from my office days.
Yes, if I can't avoid it.
Why not embrace madness? Like now.
Leaving no room for doubt.
Something I was confident in.
Mid mental gymnastics to stave off self-loathing.
"I heard the monsters were swarming here! Thought you might need help! But it was needless worry!"
Exclamation marks in her eyes. Jessie sparkled as she spoke.
Too many, excessively so.
But not a bad situation, all told.
The message that had just appeared.
Kill contribution for Demon Legion Commander, Kupikan, is recognized.
I wouldn't miss a single crumb. Swiftly manifesting stairs, I'd assisted Harcon and earned contribution. My level rose a step.
I checked my status window.
Finally, level 250. I invested all points into magic. Strength and agility could rise via class quests.
Even if my body suffered, level-up points were too precious for anything but magic.
Honestly, I'd love to go all-in on luck...
But luck was fickle. Best to invest sparingly, like charity when desperate.
Pray for fortune, and punishment follows...
I steeled myself and moved on.
"By Lady Jessie's account, no need to hunt the demon legion commanders anymore."
Harcon said coolly, claiming the spoils.
Even with our contributions to Kupikan, we couldn't match his. Ownership was his by right.
"Milord. And Lady Jessie. Forgive me, but may I secure these spoils? Proof of fulfilling His Majesty's command."
Harcon proffered a massive feather.
...Rare grade at least, right?
"What did I even do!" Jessie shot back instantly. Unlike her, I yearned to inspect it.
Damn incorruptibility. I couldn't covet others' things.
"Of course, Sir Harcon. I respect your will."
No lingering regrets. Too early for that. Nine legion commanders remained.
I gauged Kupikan's level.
Roughly 500.
From the experience gained and Harcon's one-shot.
Nine level 500 named monsters.
No worries, though.
Clack—
These confident steps weren't bravado.
And they might even swarm at once?
Even in the worst case, confidence overflowed. Its source?
My allies, naturally. Plus mana in reserve.
No cause for anxiety while collecting corpses.
"Is that curiosity still valid?"
The Mage Tower mishap. I asked Jessie, who was helping gather remains.
Regret hit post-utterance. How could the same words sound so brazen from me!
"Yes! Thank you for the time to deliberate!"
Is she twisting the knife?
But her sparkling eyes held no malice.
Even if so, understandable given my deeds.
Quid pro quo.
Words spoken, I replied magnanimously.
"I see. Then I'll clear my schedule."
"Ah! Wouldn't it be better if I match your time?!"
"If that's easier, so be it."
"Yes! It's only proper!"
Fleeting satisfaction at her formality.
I added,
"This time, I'll treat you to tea properly."
Treat to tea. What else could it mean?
Rocket delivery to the Mage Tower at last.
A snap of fingers, and orders arrived at the tower...
After convincing senior mages and securing co-researcher status, my first act was rocket delivery application.
Power was sweet.
Though it's just green tea.
Incorruptible meant thrifty. Lowest price ordered.
Chatting thus as we traversed streets, a presence stirred.
"?"
Familiar faces emerged from an alley.
Harcon spoke first.
"Lady Leoni? What brings you here?"
Leoni Bellucci and Berserker guild. And behind...
Gaon members. But no Nam Taemin.
I asked Leoni,
"Something the matter?"
Her grave expression suggested as much.
Yet she mumbled oddly.
"...T-, tea? P-properly?"
No time to probe further.
Whoosh—!
As expected, demon legion commanders swarmed.
Gale winds. Smoke cleared, revealing them.
Consistent concept: birds again. But forms varied.
Unlike the massive bird Kupikan, these were half-demon, half-bird. Birdmen fit.
Precisely, demons fused with human-like forms.
Clang—!
Harcon raised his sword at their arrival.
"I know not what His Majesty meant by demon legion commanders, but it matters not. Slay them all without exception."
Having witnessed his one-shot on Kupikan.
Not just talk.
Chilling words indeed. Meaning I couldn't stand idle.
...Not even for loot or experience—contribution at best.
Objectively, not humility.
Lion Heart Knights. Shadow Mercenaries. Jessie Haynes. Now Berserker and Gaon.
Amid those whales, me at level 250.
Yet this lofty pride in my chest wouldn't cower.
Plus, as said, I'd realized.
...If brazen, be thoroughly brazen.
I opened my mouth brazenly.
"I shall take command of you all."
Lion Heart, Shadow Mercenaries insufficient. Now top rankers too.
Am I doing what even an emperor struggles with?
No time for qualms. Experience and contribution poured even now.
Observing the battlefield, manifesting magic briefly.
I didn't forget my crucial duty.
"Not bad movement, Leoni."
"...?"
A most welcome addition. Petty morale boost was a commander's role too.
*
Rumble—
A helicopter flying overhead. The reporter, hacking from smoke, shouted.
"Cough cough. Massive shadows appearing...!"
The chopper lurched. The pilot hastily climbed altitude.
The reporter conveyed urgency.
"Just as I speak, flying monsters have appeared!"
Higher now. Camera zoomed frantically.
The monitor showed a startling sight.
Studio. Panelists straightened abruptly.
"...W-what is that?"
"Wings on the beak. Bird-like? But what bird's that big?!"
"Wait, not just one or two!!"
Frost skies. Their wingbeats dispersed smoke swiftly.
Forms fully revealed. Frost's battlefield laid bare.
Script update flashed. Anchor's eyes widened.
"Update: Those giant birds are the demon legion commanders! Level 500 named monsters...!"
But wait.
Why were those threats converging on one spot?
Frantic camera shift. Tracking their path.
Not just legion commanders.
"W-what's with all that?!"
"Demon army endless...?"
"All marching the same way?"
Ground demon forces. Vast troops too.
Swarming one direction.
Then—
Per program intent, camera caught Hoyeol. Suspicion confirmed.
"...Hold on. Are they swarming Lee Hoyeol?!"
Even for him, too much! Ignoring other major guilds.
As if he and his alone threatened them.
Demon army concentrated everything on Hoyeol's group.
Panelists urgently.
"Lee Hoyeol's buying precious time!"
"Other guilds must step up..."
"Even he has limits holding out!"
But the battle didn't unfold as expected.
...Come to think of it.
I'd forgotten briefly.
"...E-expert? What are we watching?!"
A commander graced that battlefield.
"Lion Heart, Shadow Mercenaries... Gaon and Berserker. Even Jessie Haynes...?!"
The most capable of all!