Akshan's Legacy (1)

Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo, in all his noble glory, would hardly deign to consider such trifling efforts or sincerity.

'No matter who it was.'

Inazuma. Though they'd now fallen under Gaon's banner, they had long held the top ranks among guilds.

Hisagi Kazuma? Player ranking a solid 6th. Even higher level than Nam Taemin standing beside me.

Back in the early days of the cataclysm. I still vividly remembered him appearing in Tokyo, spear in hand, cutting down monsters.

Everyone was shocked—yes, they looked utterly stunned by my words.

But what could I do? If I'd cared about that sort of thing...

'I wouldn't have turned away the Mage Tower's senior mages at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the gate to begin with.'

Who were the Mage Tower's seniors? Powerhouses incomparable even to Grandfell, let alone players.

And I'd made even those seniors go through three rounds of pleading...!

"My apologies for the impropriety."

As if sensing my resolve, Hisagi bowed his head once more.

"Then, tomorrow at this time—would that be acceptable?"

Tomorrow. Clearing my schedule wasn't hard.

But did I really need to meet him?

'I can more or less guess his purpose.'

Inazuma had cut ties with the Japanese government and declared their departure from Japan. Hisagi must see the Yusra Kingdom as their new home.

'If that's the goal...'

He'd be better off speaking with King Hakuna of Yusra.

I held 'authority' over the Yusra Kingdom.

Handling Inazuma's entry clearance with that authority wouldn't be an issue.

But as I said, everything has its procedures.

"Better to discuss it with King Hakuna."

Yes, Yusra was under Hakuna's rule. I'd only ever used that 'authority' when he specifically asked for aid.

Like with the Shadow Mercenaries.

"...We are grateful for your consideration."

"Thank you!"

"...Whoa, look at those manners."

Everyone bowed deeply again—the Inazuma guild members, heads low in perfect unison.

Nam Taemin stuck out his tongue in amazement. Not something you saw every day.

Of course, I took their burdensome courtesy in stride, quite satisfied.

Really, was this what it felt like to be a boss?

"Has the snake-eyes finally turned over a new leaf? How'd he end up like that?"

With Inazuma gone, Nam Taemin looked oddly pleased.

Made sense. Gaon and Inazuma. Korea and Japan. Similar guild rankings. Even their guild masters' levels.

They were fated rivals.

"If you weren't here, Hoyeol! I'd have given 'em a piece of my mind. I'm great at getting under Inazuma's skin! Ah, but if you weren't here, they wouldn't have bowed in the first place...?"

He had a lot pent up, apparently.

I let him ramble as we reached the rift.

"Is the recommended level for real?"

"Whatever it is, the EXP will be insane."

"It's a rift, so why not give it a shot?"

A crowd had gathered. Players and Arcana natives alike.

From the vibe... some players had already entered?

Very commendable, stepping up to protect Yusra Kingdom.

...But their guts were spilling out, weren't they?

The recommended level couldn't be clearer. Exactly Lv.400, no more, no less.

I was shocked enough by that alone.

Then Nam Taemin chimed in.

"Quirnburk Mechanical Tower. I wondered what it was forever. Finally get to see inside!"

Quirnburk Mechanical Tower. Towers scattered across the Arcana continent.

No NPC knew their true nature. No quests about them. Not even a way to open the sealed entrances.

So players like Nam Taemin had secretly hoped.

"Brothers. Who am I? I'll risk it all to stream the inside live. So before we go in, how about some spicy beef stew for the road...?"

Even nettubers were swarming.

Reason the rifts with the same name popped up worldwide.

But reasons didn't matter.

My shoes clicked forward unhesitatingly.

Gazes locked on the sound.

But players' attention meant nothing to me now.

Quirnburk Mechanical Tower? Whatever it was, irrelevant.

As I said.

"Unauthorized illegal structures cannot be tolerated."

If procedures weren't followed, make an example.

"...It's a ghost town."

Nam Taemin spoke up.

'Didn't expect him to tag along to the rift.'

No reason to refuse.

A Lv.400 rift was daunting without Predator-Prey Relationship active.

But we weren't partying, right?

So no debt owed.

'Just Nam Taemin following me of his own accord.'

I spoke shamelessly.

"Indeed, a most peculiar vista."

As I said—a truly ''peculiar'' sight.

Amid complex gears and machinery, glimpses of the Yusra Archipelago.

No monsters in sight, for one.

"...So this is the inside."

"But why's it so empty? Feels hollow."

"Don't let your guard down. Could pop out anytime."

Sniff sniff—Nam Taemin flared his nostrils.

Barbarian senses, probably.

He tilted his head.

"...No blood smell or anything?"

No visible entrances or exits. Not even stairs to the next floor.

'...Definitely off.'

If I sensed it, other players did too.

Then—

Tssshhh—!

Stationary gears roared to life.

Rumble—!

The floor shook. Players stumbled.

"Noisy."

I didn't budge.

Noble poise dominated my body. Ingrained decorum kept my posture straight.

Even without that, I'd climbed the Mage Tower's dizzying stairs without issue.

"Toys from the start."

Thanks to that, I stood tall, surveying.

'...Hold on.'

Observing, it clicked.

Nam Taemin flinched, scanning.

"Did those gears turn razor-sharp or something?"

Exactly. Menacing devices protruded from walls.

Players shouted.

"Traps?!"

"Insane. Never seen traps this huge!!"

"...Wait, is that a portal over there?"

Far end. Brilliant blue light surged.

'From the detection, interference, manifestation...'

Magic tool—item-made portal.

Different interference from Mage Tower portals, but same effect.

And that level rivaled the Tower's?

What was this tower?

But only I realized.

Players buzzed excitedly.

"Looks like dodge traps, reach portal?"

A quest window popped up, fanning the flames.

"H-Hoyeol! You got the quest too?!"

"Trap Breakthrough, clear as day."

"So Quirnburk's a competition concept!"

Quests and rewards always thrilled.

I got their excitement, Nam Taemin included.

But I felt it.

Quirnburk Mechanical Tower. Ominous aura in this space.

And those traps felt familiar.

Precisely—familiar enough to skip scanning.

'All made of silver.'

Razor gears. Loaded arrowheads.

All silver.

I recalled silver's traits.

Now free of durability issues thanks to Reversal Magic, but before, I'd hoarded silver weapons.

Silver's durability sucked.

'No special reason, no point using it.'

Yes, silver was special.

No reason to use otherwise.

Why did I? Demon hunter.

Silver, fatal demon weakness.

To me, those traps screamed suspicious.

'Only one reason for silver traps.'

Yes—to kill 'demons'.

The moment I realized—

Quest window flashed again.

"...!"

Class quest.

Of course!

I knew something was up!

But wait.

'...Something's off?'

Vague unease.

Quirnburk as Akshan's ultimate weapon and legacy? My memory of the Akshan base was bare bones...!

'If they had this, players wouldn't have fled!'

Akshan base had nothing but grit.

Should've shown this sooner!

Players wouldn't have deleted accounts and quit demon hunting.

'Would've been less lonely.'

So the doubt lingered.

Plus Grandfell's talent confirmed it.

Quirnburk's tech from the entrance. Divergent from Mage Tower, but comparable.

'So to resolve this...'

Only one way.

Investigate Quirnburk Mechanical Tower.

Quest progress would unravel it.

So my task now: simple.

"Proceed."

Cross the traps ahead.

Reach the opposite portal.

High rank? Bonus.

'Rewards either way.'

Suit and dress shoes. Ill-suited for traps, obviously.

Irrelevant.

As said—all machinery silver.

Familiar enough to skip scanning.

Thus.

Click—

Such traps couldn't touch a hair on my head.

*

Quirnburk Mechanical Tower.

Sudden quests and traps.

Not just Yusra's rift.

[Quirnburk Mechanical Tower rifts] worldwide.

Same quest for all entrants.

"Rewards by ranking?"

"Top 3 only? Brutal."

"Competition's gonna be fierce."

Ranking countless players 1st-3rd? Plenty of interest.

Rising viewership. Nettubers' live counts spiked.

But.

"Nah, not fair."

Some lost interest pre-start.

Outcome obvious without watching.

"Just agility stat order."

Trap methods varied by class.

But high agility favored top ranks. Obvious.

Block with shield/magic vs. dodge.

Gap inevitable.

Chats ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠already named favorites.

But chats unified quickly.

Player quest windows updated.

Just over a minute.

3 minutes 40 seconds ahead of 2nd. Overwhelming.

The record holder flooded chats.