Episode 592. One-Way Streets (1)

Goosebumps.

Goosebumps sprout from his spine and spread throughout his body. No status message came to mind. No, no other abnormality could have shaken Nam Taemin’s spirit this much.

Memories flashed through his mind.

The unfamiliar smell of the Commander-in-Chief.

Every time he used black magic, his eyes became colder than usual.

Crucially, even the ruthless appearance he showed when Paimon appeared.

Stark.

Nam Taemin found himself unknowingly looking toward Hoyeol.

No, not toward Hoyeol, but toward ‘something’.

His grip on the greatsword tightened.

‘…..Am I the only one who noticed?’

In that case, the voice I heard just a moment ago must have been telepathy.

‘I wonder if there’s any way for my brother to know about this?’

Even as he thought about it, Nam Taemin blamed himself.

I should have trusted my senses a little more.

When Cheolmin told him he was being ridiculous.

I should have been more stubborn.

I should have.

‘Mr. Ho-Yeol.’

It was possible to save Mr. Hoyeol, who was being swayed by ‘something’.

In fact, I already had an estimate in my head.

There’s no way I can stand up to something that wears Hoyeol’s mask.

I realized the difference between the two as I watched from the sidelines.

But.

‘You still have to do it, Nam Taemin.’

Nam Taemin gave himself over to [Wildness] a little more.

Even if it was an enemy that could not be defeated, he could not back down.

Even more so now that I know that Hoyeol is involved.

He finally made eye contact.

“……!”

It was an encounter that made that promise become meaningless.

Someone else would say.

No different from usual.

His eyes were as calm as a still lake.

No, Nam Taemin could feel it.

“Different.”

The way the eyes were looking at him was different.

There was not even a hint of warmth.

A gaze that looked down on him as if evaluating him from on high above.

Sweat.

A cold sweat formed on Nam Taemin’s forehead from the tension.

The lips of something opened coldly.

It might be a manifestation of magic.

I must move.

It was Nam Taemin who was endlessly self-aware.

In fact, Nam Taemin couldn’t move.

“Not bad.”

Was what followed unexpected?

No, it wasn’t.

It was because of pure disparity.

It’s like being an ant in front of an elephant.

It’s like being thrown into the vast universe alone.

It was because I felt an insurmountable emotion in that moment.

‘No.’

Stark.

The greatsword was about to slip from Nam Taemin’s hand.

“I see you’re finally relaxing.”

“…..?”

“I apologize if I overdid it.”

Wait a minute, what is it?

This situation?

Nam Taemin stuttered and asked.

“Ho, Hoyeol-ssi?”

Before the answer comes, there’s a scolding.

“I’m disappointed to hear you address the Commander-in-Chief by his first name. Taemin-kun.”

“You made such a fuss out of me, what is it, you bastard?”

“I’ve never even called Chief Lee by his first name……!”

Hisagi, Leonie, and even Jesse Heinness were shooting at him.

Normally, he would have fought back.

But he didn’t have the energy for that.

The gaze.

The glare.

The light.

Because before he knew it, Hoyeol, who was not something, was in front of his eyes.

Was that it?

Nam Taemin breathed out a sigh of relief.

“Nervous……. I must have been really nervous.”

The Oak Auction was a sudden event in Seoul.

It was a slap in the face.

But if it was all because of Ulrich’s search for Claudi, he could only blame himself for not stopping him.

Nam Taemin concluded.

“I can’t believe I made such a mistake.”

He looked over at Hoyeol, who was organizing the situation as usual.

Really.

From deep within him, he muttered to himself in relief.

“I’m glad I was mistaken, Mr. Hoyeol. I really am.”

*

Huu.

‘I barely covered it.’

What’s worse than that, Grandfell?

-“Not bad.”

That was all Grandfell had to say.

After that, it was me.

It was a solution that took Lee Hoyeol’s best effort……!

‘Anyway, it’s not just the usual snout.’

I had no idea the orcs were wreaking havoc in Seoul.

Of course, I had a vague idea why.

Their suppressed wild nature was unleashed.

‘The sight of the Blood Grown Lycoris Flower.’

The deep red color of the blood must have unwittingly awakened their suppressed wild nature. Of course, Ulrich couldn’t have influenced the orcs’ rampage.

“How could he do that on the Arcana continent, much less in the Claudi territory?”

More than that, Grandfell, you know this.

I felt a pang of regret, but that’s a story for another time.

The door opened, and the orc bowed to me.

“I apologize, Claudi.”

I turned to face Oldug, the second in command of the Oak Auction, who had replaced Ulrich. He repeatedly bowed his head to me, but I had no intention of holding him responsible.

“I heard there was no major damage anyway?”

Indeed, our Holy War Alliance.

A quest for anomalies that never stops.

I watched the streaming video that was left behind, and it’s safe to say that the sum of their parts is now worthy of being called a real alliance. I wondered if I should be proud of myself for being an afterthought.

But hey, I’m the commander-in-chief.

“It’s okay, it was only a small disturbance.”

Oldug couldn’t raise his head despite my words.

Maybe he feels like a burden to me.

It was clear from his fidgeting that he wanted to ask about Ulrich.

Of course, I told it like it was.

“Uh, yeah! I know it’s an ungracious thing to say, but Mr. Ulrich hasn’t shown us the slightest inclination. It’s not that you’re wrong, Claudi, it’s just that I don’t understand……!”

The orcs disappeared all at once and Ulrich concealed the truth.

But there was another culprit behind all of this.

Yes, I told Oldug, I was going to confront the ‘culprit’.

“Nevertheless, as of this moment, you are Ulrich.”

The Oak Auction has opened in Seoul, the land of the anomaly.

[Quest: Mercy of the Oak Auction].

As I said, the Oak Auction had a role to play.

On the Arcana continent and in the real world. No matter where you looked, the Oak Auction was the only place that could increase players’ equipment in a short period of time.

‘This is not the time to judge based on personal feelings.’

As commander-in-chief, I spoke to the new Ulrich.

“If you need help, find Magic Tower.”

“The Magic Tower? More than that, I dare to take Mr. Ulrich’s empty seat….! ”

“No one is perfect from the start.”

I heard it was really bad too?

It’s been decades since I last played. I know nothing about Arcana Continent biography, and I’ve struggled since my awakening. I mean, anyone can go through that kind of shit to be believable.

“Me too.”

“……!”

I meant it purely in that way.

What is this all of a sudden, Oldug?

No, the new Ulrich’s eyes widen.

‘It’s difficult.’

You seem to be overcome with emotion in many ways.

I’m afraid this is not the time for socializing.

I know a bomb exploded at the Oak Auction, but the situation here is more serious.

“Claudi, if you leave like this……!”

Goooooo.

I manifested a portal, leaving behind Oldug, who was clutching at the hem of my robe, and returned to a familiar place. It has been a long time coming, but there is no place like home.

I, Lee Hoyeol, in my own home.

Needless to say, there was no dust. A preservation magic has been cast by someone who cannot tolerate a speck of dust. As I quietly looked into my room, I felt a new emotion.

I studied magic by watching net tube, I did a physical training quest, and I fell down on the bed as if I fainted after being tortured. When I had just realized my sword aura and wasn’t used to it, I even cut the sink with a kitchen knife because I didn’t even have a cutting board.

After the awakening.

All the memories I’d shared with Grandfell came flooding back.

So I could speak.

With my mouth, to Grandfell.

“Why.”

As I had said many times before.

I was good at identifying topics.

Isn’t insight necessary to understand such topics?

That’s right.

I know what Grandfell’s unintelligible words are leading to. Thanks to my consistent interpretation of Grandfell’s style of speech. I’ve gotten it right to the point where I feel confident to think to myself.

‘Why do you want to leave?’

Really, unless you’re an idiot, you can tell.

“Because we don’t have much time left.”

As the past flows back, Grandfell’s personality becomes deeper and deeper.

At the same time, it began to flood in.

A past that I don’t know.

I know that I may not be the vessel to hold you. Otherwise, Grandfell, there would be no reason for you to suddenly distance yourself from me.

Even if it wasn’t Ullrich, I already felt it, because I was truly disheartened when I realized that even the greenest of green tea couldn’t change your mind.

I smiled bitterly.

‘I guess it’s all because I’m not good enough.’

If it were in the past, would you have been happy?

Why, I am finally free from this damn dark history. I might have cried tears of joy that I was innocent, that I had won, that I could do whatever the fuck I wanted from now on.

But I don’t.

‘I know too much for that.’

As you know, it’s 70%, right?

“Therefore…….”

‘I don’t know what you’re thinking, Grandfell, but I, Lee Hoyeol, don’t intend to let you go quietly.

‘So I think the calculation is correct.’

Isn’t that unfair?

You’re the only one who knows my entire dark history.

That’s why I’m always with you, Grandfell.

It means that only by going through and witnessing your dark history will you be able to unravel your intuition.

Only then.

‘You.’

I can repay the debt I owe you.

Of course, I don’t have your great talents or abilities.

But there’s a saying that it’s better to have a blank sheet of paper, right?

“Whatever your past is.”

I’ll get you through it.

Needless to say, I didn’t think that I could overcome Grandfell’s stubbornness with a few words. But at the same time, I knew Grandfell’s temper better than anyone.

I was honestly confident.

…!

To me.

It was the only light, so leave if you can, Grandfell?

Where, if you can leave me with your temper!!

*

seug.

Marcelo’s quill stopped.

A handwriting rises on the parchment.

This was unmistakably Chief Lee’s handwriting.

But the content was unusual.

“!”

At that moment, Marcelo got up from his seat as if he was possessed by something and headed towards the bookshelf. He quickly pulled out a book that contained the vast rules of the Magic Tower.

seuseuseug.

Marcelo looked through the book, which he had almost memorized, and checked it. Still, he muttered. Two things were clashing in his mind.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Chief Lee?”

He was already taking on a role that went beyond human limitations.

And now.

Chief Lee announced that he would take on another burden.

Application to Establish the School of Reversal Magic

Proposal for a regular conference

A proposal to hold a special conference organized by Chief Lee Hoyeol.

The Tower Master, Marcelo, was looking for it.

Whether the Tower Master could join a certain school of magic and pursue learning. He was scrutinizing the discipline before doing something unprecedented.

“Really, I’m worried…….”

As Marcelo said that, a bright smile appeared on his lips.

The one thing he didn’t understand as a truth-seeking mage.

Here was his chance to get a lesson in Reversal Magic.

Marcelo muttered, trying hard to suppress his laughter.

“Really, two bodies wouldn’t be enough, Chief Lee……!”