◈ Chapter 52. Frost (3)
AAU.
They were as shocked as the players.
Sighs erupted from branches around the world.
Frost had fallen.
It was unthinkable.
“Let’s think about it calmly. It’s clear now. Just as time flows in the real world. Time is also passing in the Arcana World.”
Which means.
Arcana is not just a game.
Or even that it used to be a game.
It was an acknowledgment that it was now another world.
“I’ve always suspected that, but this……! It’s too fast. We all know what kind of city Frost is, right?”
“……… with a siege difficulty that rivals the Imperial Capital.”
“Yeah! That’s what I don’t get, how the hell did the Demon Bastards take Frost? Even considering the passage of time, it’s impossible to get there……?”
Wait, the passage of time?
Oops.
Why did I think the passage of time was the same!
Suddenly, I remembered the setting.
“The passage of time is different……!!”
“What? What does that mean?”
“Damn, I forgot, a day in real life is four days in Arcana!”
24 hours in the real world. = 96 hours in Arcana.
That was when Arcana was a game.
It was a setting that remained.
Maybe that’s why.
I had overlooked that simple setting.
“…… time passes four times faster than in real life? That makes sense.”
“So the demon spawn didn’t suddenly get stronger?”
“Sh*t, does that mean it’s no wonder Frost fell?”
A moment for everyone listening.
A terrible possibility had arrived.
“……Then what the hell is Arcana World at this point?”
Even Frost, with its high walls, had fallen.
Small towns, cities……?
I don’t think I need to mention it.
Sighs leaked out from everywhere.
“What is humanity’s counterattack, what the……!”
The Arcana World is being trampled by demons.
And most importantly.
Those demons are updating the Arcana World into the real world.
AAU calmly tapped his calculator.
“What do you think the odds are that players will be able to retake Frost from the demons?”
“……impossible.”
“I’d say at least level 600, by which time ranked players would have their eyes on the Frost’s lordship.”
And yet Frost had fallen.
That the demons that brought Frost down were level 600.
maybe it was even stronger than that.
Could current players defeat such a demonic monster?
“Damn……!”
It’s impossible, no matter how you look at it.
AAU concluded.
“……Wait.”
Until Ho Yeol showed up.
The Control Room.
Ho-Yeol’s image flashed on the monitors that filled the walls.
His hair the same color as his eyes.
Suit and shoes again.
The same impeccable attire.
He hadn’t changed since his first appearance.
That wasn’t the only surprise.
No, the reason for AAU’s surprise was not the NPCs following Ho Yeol.
No, it was the Arcane themselves.
“No way.”
It was the Lionheart Knights again.
In the setting, knights swear allegiance to their lord.
Even if I build a relationship with them, I won’t be able to lead the knights……?
How could Ho Yeol, a mere player, show up to lead the Lionheart Knights, not once, but twice in a row?
That alone should be a cause for concern.
“……That, the Shadow Mercenaries!”
The Shadow Mercenaries.
They, too, had shown up in force.
“You’ve made connections with the Black Curtain, too……?”
The Black Curtain.
The Shadow Mercenaries are called that for a simple reason.
Until now, they’ve remained hidden behind a black curtain.
They could have some influence in the latter stages of the game. Yes, if you want to make a comparison, they’re in a similar position to the Tower.
“……They may not be on the front lines, but their influence is…”
“The idea was that they could shake up empires and continents, right?”
“I don’t think the player would know how true that is at this point……? Of course, the ridiculously expensive commission fees would give you some idea.”
“Haha…….”
A moment, then a burst of laughter.
“‘The Magic Tower’, ‘Lionheart’, and now the Shadow Mercenaries?”
I couldn’t believe it.
But to be able to spit out a laugh like that.
It was like a breath of fresh air.
Yes, it was too early to be discouraged.
Ho-yeol’s arrival.
AAU.
It was the moment their conclusion changed.
“First of all, let’s stay calm and see how Lee Ho-yeol will do……!”
* https://pindangscans.com
There’s a reason for everything.
“Ugh, it’s cold.”
“Don’t sound weak, Ms. Kichi. Remember, we’re on a mission to retake Frost.”
“Yes, I understand. But can’t you say that cold is cold? Ugh, Yusra Kingdom was warm and sunny, so it was just right… … .”
I’m a Knight of the Lionheart.
And for appearing in Frost with the Shadow Mercenaries.
It’s all for a reason.
.
. https://pindangscans.com
.
“I didn’t realize there was a situation.”
I had a conversation with Harkon about Frost.
Lionheart, the most powerful knightly order in the Empire.
The leader of that order, Harkon.
Obviously, he has a lot of experience with sieges.
I thought I might get some siege tips.
Harkon’s response surprised me.
“……Frost has fallen, my lord, is that true?”
The point at which Harkon was updated to reality.
At that moment, he was on an expedition to a village not far from Frost.
Harkon gritted his teeth impatiently.
“My lord, you must realize that this whole saga has come about because I failed to deal with that Demon Legionnaire! If I had done my job, even the last one of His Majesty’s men, Frost would have been……!”
The Demon Legion Leader.
“Although I don’t even know the Demon Legion organization chart.
Definitely a class quest.
The fact that he is related to the subjugation of the demon lord is evident from his name.
I secretly hoped that if I did well, I could eat him raw.
‘Demon Legion Leader, if you have any information on him, please send it to me at…….’
I can prepare in advance.
Why, there was a lot to prepare for just now.
First of all, I need to purchase demonic items to activate the [Demon Ritual].
The money I’ve saved at the Magic Tower will allow me to prepare thoroughly.
I feel like I’ve earned my keep.
By the way.
“My lord. We, the Knights of Lionheart, will be with you.”
……These words far exceeded my expectations.
Harkon’s eyes were determined.
“His Majesty’s last command was to slay the Demon King, until he took it upon himself to do so. We intend to slay the Demon King of this world, or rather, the Devil himself.”
Harkon spoke up.
“‘This a sign that your will and ours are aligned.”
…… I have no reason to refuse.
What is my will?
The completion of the class quest.
“You’re going to help me with the quests, aren’t you? Over and over again!
I couldn’t ask for a better ally.
Just in case I change my mind.
I spoke directly to Harkon.
“I respect your pride. Lord Harkon.”
.
. https://pindangscans.com
.
Those were the circumstances that brought the Knights of the Lionheart together.
The Shadow Mercenaries?
There was nothing to say about that.
“What’s done is done.
Me and the Shadow Mercenaries.
It was an armored relationship from the start.
I remembered my first meeting with the leader, Kichi, quite clearly.
“Hmph-”
“Is there something wrong?”
“Oh, no, I didn’t mean to give you that stabbing……. No, it’s just that I’m a little startled.”
Why, she’d been hiccuping since the beginning.
I listened to Kichi introduce himself and then said coldly.
“So you want to make a fresh start here, in Yusra?”
Shadow mercenaries.
They’d do anything for money.
Kichi defended himself.
“……Haha, you’re spot on, aren’t you? You’re spot on, haha.”
It was true.
I didn’t have to ask, I just looked it up.
This is a mercenary organization that charges ridiculously high fees.
They’re strong enough to handle any job.
They’re just terrible value for money.
“Too bad.”
It’s not that they’re unknown or poorly rated.
Driven solely by money?
“I hate people like you.”
Integrity itself.
As far as Grandfell was concerned, there was no people with more pride.
He could see why Hakuna had asked him to judge them.
“……Hmph!”
Make no mistake.
That wasn’t a cry, it was a hiccup.
That shoulder shaking was a hiccup.
Unless, of course, she was showing tears.
Grandfell is not a man to be shaken by tears.
But.
“But I’ll take your word for it.”
“Hmm? What?! A resolution?”
“That I want to leave the past behind and start anew.”
Boom!
I signed their papers with a thud.
“We’ll see if you can find your pride.”
Kichi was visibly overjoyed.
Of course, it would be short-lived.
Soon enough, I declared to the Shadow Mercenaries.
“This is your chance to prove your resolve.”
Yes, Shadow Mercenaries.
Dragged into the demon slaughter by force.
There is a give and take in all things.
This was the kingdom of Yusra that I risked my life to protect.
“If you want straws, prove your worth.
Kichi snorted.
“What a penniless and risky request……?”
It’s an offer I never would have made in the past.
But he was leaving the past behind.
A fresh start, after all.
“……Yes, I’ll do it. No, I should do it. No, I will do it. No, just leave it to me. Hmph!”
I’ll take it.
I’m good at being organized.
.
. https://pindangscans.com
.
The Knights of the Lionheart are voluntary.
Kichi and the Shadow Mercenaries, semi-forced.
Those are the circumstances under which I appeared in Frost with them.
But there’s one thing I forgot to mention.
“Why would I……!
The North Sea, with Russia on the horizon again?
No packing.
My outfit without a coat.
I just blame the local conditions…….
.
.
.
But the chill in my bones didn’t last long.
Hell in the real world.
Frost in flames.
All around him was heat, not cold.
Harkon forced down his emotions.
“……We will retake it, Your Majesty.”
Not much to do with Frost.
A feeling that even I can’t describe.
I can only imagine how the Lionheart Knights feel.
But the best knights in the Empire.
With the enemy in front of them.
They would not be swayed by emotion.
“My lord, there must be survivors out there, right?”
Knighthood.
They are stronger when they have something to protect.
Pounding-!
The lion’s heart began to beat wildly.
“We will reclaim Frost from evil today!”
Morale soaring with the shout.
“……That Lionheart Knight is still going to help me with my class quests, isn’t he?
There will be no one with a stronger backing than me.
There was no hesitation from the brave Knights of the Lionheart.
Harkon cut to the chase.
“My lord. Our first priority is to get into Frost.”
I agreed.
[Class Quest: Slaying the Demon King].
Demon King.
Their numbers are starting to grow.
You are the last demon hunter.
Tear down the throne of evil.
─Train your weakened body. (Repeat)
Investigate the northern city of Frost. (Ongoing)
Investigating Frost is the first priority of this quest.
First, you must open the gates of Frost.
If not, then tear down the walls.
That’s what I thought…….
“……This is bad, but this?
Isn’t this a siege?
A real siege, not like Count Ascura’s!
It was common knowledge that Silver had the advantage in a siege.
‘After all, it’s a demon, so it should be able to capture it.
That’s because the devil had a condition.
Fair enough.
They didn’t take Frost by siege, but by dirty tricks.
On that subject.
They’re keeping their gates shut.
“How arrogant.”
No wonder I can’t stand by and watch.
In siege warfare.
All you need to attack a gate or wall whit a siege weapon.
If you just want to blow up frost.
You’d actually be better off with a bomber.
“It’s not like it’s inaccessible like a crack.
This is the power of modern civilization.
How’s that, demons?
I could have been a little smug.
But I couldn’t.
“…… There are survivors!”
“What, really? Let’s see.”
“……It looks like they’re dragging him somewhere. Or is he already dead?”
“What are you demonic bastards up to?”
Footage from a drone above.
According to the players, there are definitely NPCs inside.
No, it seems there are Arkanians inside.
We don’t know if they’re alive or dead.
They couldn’t be caught in the explosion.
There was only one way out, then.
‘It has the power of a missile.
Something that can delicately control its power.
Of course, that could only be magic.
I checked the message that popped up.
[Skill, ‘Natural Enmity’ is activated].
A demon.
The evil energy emanating from Frost was enough to affect me outside the city walls.
I drew upon my powers.
Searching, interfering, manifesting.
A quick series of steps.
I turned to the tightly closed gates.
I manifested my magic.
And a message popped up.
“……!!!”
Right here, in front of all the players, including me.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)