◈ Episode 532. I’ll Go to Hell (1)
──────
Dear Chief Lee.
I hope you can understand my feelings in writing this, as I don’t want to interrupt your short break. Do you know that I, Naslow, although I haven’t had much contact with you, have been working on…….
──────
Just Chief and Senior.
Business relationship.
Starting with seniors who were nothing more or less than that.
──────
Are you resting easy?
I’m having trouble sleeping because I’m haunted by Chief Lee’s words, so I’ve grabbed a feather pen. Chief Lee, if you ever need someone to talk to, …….
──────
Bellier and other seniors I know.
They all wrote me a long, rambling letter?!
Even the content of the letters was bizarre.
‘I woke up after a good night’s sleep, and wondered what was happening’
That’s all I can guess.
-“Soon I will fall into Hell”
Aaaah, Grandfell-style speech……!!!
In the real world and on the Arcana continent, Hell was a place for the dead. The only people who knew that you could visit Hell while still alive were the heads of the Explorer’s Federation or Lorenzik.
‘No matter how you slice it. I’m the one with the time limit, not anyone else?’
Do I want to be honest?
As long as I have the [Blessing of the First World Tree].
I don’t think there are many people in the Magic Tower who will outlive me.
“Did I unintentionally cause concern?”
Yes.
You need to set the record straight now, Grandfell. Hell is only a special field that can be entered through an item called the [Blood Grown Lycoris Flower], to be precise!
‘Lorenzik says there’s a gateway.’
As long as it’s possible to enter alive.
After all, isn’t the gateway something that can be conquered?
And the surest insurance of all.
[Class Quest: Are We Still Demons?]
I ask you, Akshan. We who became demons to hunt demons, we who fell to hell to hunt demons, we who have hunted demons since falling to hell, are we still demons?
-Encounter the demon hunters of Hell. (Hold)
●Recognize Akshan of Hell. (Choose)
●Reject Akshan of Hell. (Optional)
-Enter Hell. (in progress)
I reached into my inventory and pulled out a Lycoris Flower, as the system that doesn’t lie was printing out the quest to enter Hell.
“Knowledge you do not know.”
Yes, now is the time to be kind, not utter some bullshit.
“There is a saying that seeing is worth a thousand words.”
I was fully aware of the repercussions that the Grandfell style of speaking would bring about through previous experience. If you try to explain hell in a hundred words, you may end up creating another misunderstanding.
‘So, if you add Lycoris Flower as a reference…….’
tug.
That was the moment I dropped a Lycoris Flower on the desk.
Weeng.
A brief vibration in my jacket pocket.
The moment I checked the message.
I couldn’t help but gasp.
“!”
No, immediately.
All action halted.
I had no choice but to immediately raise my magic power.
[Hoyeol, are you busy? If you have a moment, now…….]
Don’t disturb me.
My mother, who had refrained from contacting me.
The message was for Mrs. Choi Kang-hee.
I don’t want to lose anyone anymore.
The Jeju Island crisis made me realize something.
So I didn’t want to have any regrets.
I immediately manifested a portal.
.
.
.
……I’m glad I did.
“Did you get a good look at our son today?”
The reason for Mrs. Choi’s urgent call was simple.
Just before she stamped the contract.
She informed me.
Mr. Lee shook my hand with his own.
“Thank you for your help today.”
“No, On the contrary, our Gaon has received great help, father.”
“Please tell Mr. Nam that I appreciate it.”
“I will do so, Father. Guild Master Nam Taemin and Chief Analyst Nam Cheolmin, I will tell you both that Mr. Lee Joonwook has expressed his gratitude.”
What kind of contract did we sign? If you ask me if the Gaon Group’s people came to our ‘Reconciliation Dumpling House’……. I show them Mrs. Choi Kanghee shrugging her shoulders.
“I thought it would be a pleasant surprise, but it’s a bit scary.”
Made with the blood and sweat of two people.
‘Reconciliation Dumpling’.
The shop was closed for the day.
‘That’s when I told you to rest.’
She told me she was still young, that she could do it for another 30 years, that she had no intention of giving up, and that her son would never speak to her again. ……!
Seoul, the land of anomaly.
As I said, Seoul has become a land that the whole world is looking at, so it’s no wonder that real estate is exploding. Even the Reconciliation Dumpling restaurant in Seoul was Masegwon.
What is Masegwon?
tl/n: Ma -> Magic Tower, Se -> influence/rent, Gwon -> circle
It is a new term called the influence circle of the Magic Tower.
What does it mean?
-Seoul is dangerous? Masegwon is different!
It meant that it was the safest place from the rifts and erosion of the Arcana continent, which could appear anywhere at any time. As a result, land prices exploded in Seoul.
Our president, Mr. Lee Joonwook, had sold a shoddy commercial building to the Gaon Group. When asked why he sold it to the Gaon Group.
‘But are you quick on your feet when it comes to things like this?’
It was because a special law was enacted.
-From today, foreigners are not allowed to buy real estate in Seoul.
As I said, Seoul is the center of the world’s attention, so the government had to take emergency measures to prevent foreign capital from taking over the city.
‘Well, it’s a win-win.’
In fact, there was nothing to lose for Gaon.
This is Seoul with the Arcana system on top of it.
Even a small commercial building like this would be useful.
‘For example, we could use them in sieges…….’
By the way, you’re so quiet at times like this, aren’t you?
‘Not up to your usual bullshit, Grandfell?’
The snout chuckles in response to my taunt.
“You both deserve a well-deserved break.”
……Are you a filial son?
You leave me speechless again.
I wonder if Mrs. Choi is touched by my words.
She turned and stole a glance.
“Thank you for saying that, Hoyeol.”
seueug.
My father lightly patted my shoulder.
We hadn’t talked about it, but I had an idea.
Why did they sell the store so abruptly?
‘It must be because of me.’
They were afraid it might become an obstacle for me..
It is your judgment.
So I kept silent with a heavy heart.
‘Why did I go on a rampage of blackening…….’
Grandfell, because he showed disgrace on Jeju Island.
I had nothing to say, even to this proud snout.
However, my silence was short-lived.
“I see.”
Our head, Lee Junwook, said.
“You say I should sell it right away when it goes up like this?”
He regained his old look.
“I always say, real estate is just like investing in stocks. There’s no such thing as an unbeaten run, I tell you. For every upswing, there’s a downswing, which is why Seoul real estate prices are at a high that will never be seen again in history……!”
At this point, it’s worth reminding myself.
How did my father’s business end up?
I still can’t forget the red ticket…….
Fortunately, Mrs. Choi Kang-hee felt the same way.
“You, you just keep thinking about useless things.”
“……I’m not thinking about anything.”
“Forget it, I don’t want to spoil this nice day.”
I know this from experience. When Mrs. Choi is like that, she’s really mad as hell, and you should just keep your mouth shut.
‘But…….’
I stared at the sign.
──────
Reconciliation Dumplings
──────
I didn’t bother to argue with my father’s statement that this was a high point in history that would never come again. Real estate prices in Seoul have become a land of anomalies, and the competition has caused values to skyrocket.
‘When it’s all over.’
It will indeed be a peak that will never come again.
‘I will end it all.’
It was a moment of determination.
Mrs. Choi Kang-hee said gently.
“Hoyeol, are you going to stay for dinner?”
“Yes. You should stop by after all the trouble on Jeju Island.”
“If you can, it would be better if you stay overnight…….”
One night.
‘I overslept and I’m a little busy.’
But like I said. There was no point in arguing with Mrs. Choi, who was up to her eyeballs in anger, so I bowed politely and replied.
“I will gladly do as my mother says.”
* * * *
Garnet Hall.
“Is it weird……?”
Kiko Armin, Senior Enchantment.
She squinted her droopy eyes and waited.
It was Hoyeol.
She stared at the parchment.
It was clearly written.
Kiko muttered again.
“I thought he said it was soon…….”
About the time appointment.
This was Chief Lee, who was even stricter with himself than he was with others. I’d never seen him late for a regular meeting or a roundtable, and he never made exceptions for even the smallest appointments.
But then.
“Senior Kiko, aren’t you coming in?”
“You guys go ahead.”
“Oh, well, if you’ll excuse me then,……!”
The adept mages filed out of Garnet Hall to get some sleep.
Even as they finished the senior’s backlog of work.
The senior didn’t even see his shadow.
“Hmmm.”
Anxiety began to stir inside Kiko.
‘I hope something hasn’t happened to you……?’
Normally, she would have shrugged it off as an emergency.
It’s surprising that Chief Lee didn’t keep his promise. There was a time when I myself was unable to complete Chief Lee’s request within the deadline. It would have been considered insignificant.
But this was not a normal situation.
A clear voice in her ear.
A declaration that echoed through the crystal halls.
-“Soon I will fall into Hell.”
Kiko had guessed.
Chief Lee lives a life with a set end.
Such is the price of the great power he wields.
“…….”
Kiko suddenly remembered.
“You haven’t shown yourself since you said that, have you?”
A day had passed already.
Considering Chief Lee’s usual schedule, I didn’t think he’d be asking for a break just yet. Why, he sent the note on parchment in the first place…….
“It was only a few hours ago…….”
Suddenly, an ominous thought crossed my mind. What if Chief Lee had collapsed after leaving that last note……? Kiko couldn’t help but jump to her feet.
seuseuseug.
She couldn’t help but grab her feather quill and swing it.
And now was the time.
Kiko, and Tower Master Marcelo.
They climbed the stairs of the Magic Tower.
“Sir, you have failed to fulfill your promise.”
No, not anyone else.
Just Sir Hoyeol of Heaven.
That alone was worth checking out.
Marcelo and Kichi knocked on the door of Hoyeol’s office.
But there was no answer.
“…….”
No questions were asked.
He would not answer if he could.
Then, Marcelo cautiously placed his hand on the doorknob.
And saw.
“……?”
The Oval Office.
On a desk.
A single red flower lying in a pile.
If it were normal times, I would have simply been shocked.
Someone in the Tower had given him a flower.
He would have thought nothing of it.
“……!!”
But the flower was too subtle for that. The intense red color almost felt like blood. Worse, it felt like death itself.
Kiko spoke up, her voice trembling.
“……It’s impossible, but could it be a tribute flower?”
At that moment, a scene flashed through Marcelo’s mind.
Senios, the elder mage.
Tower Master.
Elder Mage Yugweed.
To mourn their deaths.
He saw his own hands where he had placed the flowers.
Marcelo’s own hands and the red flower on his desk.
He looked back and forth between the two subjects, then opened his mouth.
“I’ll leave all possibilities open from now on, Senior Kiko.”
“……That?”
His eyes were burning quietly like never before.
“There is even a possibility that Chief Lee fell into hell.”
*
……What.
My ears suddenly itched.
But now is not the time to pick at my ears.
“Memories.”
Memories are bullshit.
You’ve never seen this place before, Grandfell.
My room.
‘Well, at least you didn’t call it shabby.’
But I don’t have time for childish bickering.
Now that I happened to be spending my last night in the main house before going to hell.
My task was simple.
I need to find, my dark history notebook……!!!