◈ Episode 157. Raise Your Head

The skies above Arcana.

The dwarves aboard the Iron Castle moved diligently.

Flying at night.

Demons are more active at night because their eyes are open. Why could the Iron Castle not stop flying at night?

“Really, I don’t believe it.”

I don’t need to say more.

All thanks to Akshan’s Last Man Standing.

Adventurer, thanks to Lee Hoyeol.

“How can you get this information from another world?”

Chainwalker, leader of the dwarves, remembered Hiel’s words.

-“You said you didn’t expect to see any major movement.”

Yeah, that’s a pretty good guess, even for them. This was the Iron Castle, the ship that had wiped out millions of demons with its secret weapon.

But.

“Chainwalker, do you think that makes sense? To understand the situation of the continent more accurately than those of us who are looking down at the ground and flying in the sky!”

He was right.

Information specific enough to keep them sailing through the clouds.

Even their technology couldn’t predict this.

“And last night, too. What are the limits of that ability……!”

Chainwalker said with a smile.

“Just trust it.”

It was an unbelievable performance.

Since it is a covenant relationship, I have no choice but to trust it.

Besides, now was not the time to look for reasons.

It was hard enough to move for a favor that wasn’t a favor from Hoyeol.

-“You asked that you want to collect the remains of the battle weapon.”

The Quernberg Machine Tower, Akshan’s ultimate weapon.

At this moment, it was still hunting demons across the continent.

Not all of them were intact, as the demons had grown stronger.

As a producer, I guess… … .

at least a half-dozen of these machines had reached the end of their lifespan.

Chainwalker’s smile turned bitter.

” ……You had something in mind that even we couldn’t care less about.”

Iron is just iron.

Machines made of iron are just machines.

Ashamed of themselves for thinking so.

Hoyeol has a great deal of respect for Akshan’s legacy, for the Quernberg machine tower. That’s why he wants to clean up the mess, now that I have realized that feeling, even if it is too late.

To make amends, we must hurry and clear the ruins of the machine tower.

“Now, everyone, hurry up!”

Clack-clack!

The gears clicked together once more.

It was then.

Warmth returned to the cold Iron Castle.

“!”

Hiel appeared. She had been summoned by the call of Hoyeol, and had returned to the Iron Castle once more. Chainwalker quickly approached her.

“Hiel, did Lord Hoyeol say something to you?”

Hiel nodded gracefully.

And in his arms, he held a stone.

To be precise.

“Blacksmith, forge me into the best weapon you can.”

“……!”

Said the talking ore.

What kind of race are dwarves?

The best blacksmiths on the Arcana continent.

Their skills rival the magic of the Magic Tower. No matter how rare a mineral is, most of them have been hammered to death.

But Chainwalker’s face was colored with astonishment.

“…… This, this is noble iron? Where the hell did you find this precious stuff?”

Lee Ho-yeol, the last survivor of Akshan.

His bowl was deep, but too deep.

So deep, in fact, that it could be called infinite.

*

The office of the Kingdom of Yusra.

……Why are my ears itching so badly?

But it’s not polite to pick at my ears on my desk.

Besides, I’ve done a lot of other itchy things.

Why, starting with the umbrella fight, which is painful just to think about…….

Forget it, I’m only hurting myself by saying it.

“Still arrogant.”

……I suddenly realized he was introducing himself.

It was directed at the demons of the Arcana continent.

End of duration, I closed my eyes once again [Telescope of the Evil Eye].

The view of the Arcana Continent was exactly as I expected.

“Scramble.”

The Demon War.

The demons were slowly moving towards a civil war. Looking back, they were all worthy of challenging for the position of Demon King. Each one of them was different from ordinary demons from their appearance.

“Not only do they claim to be kings, but they also have rankings?”

Well, nothing could be more ridiculous than that for Grandfell.

“As is typical of your inferior race, you pick and choose what you do.”

Putting numbers on the same prey.

But not me, Lee Hoyeol.

The day I entered the Arcana Continent as a bloodsucker.

The day I plunged into the midst of millions of demons.

I realized something.

‘This is a scale that is incomparable to anything I’ve ever seen.’

This is a world-class event, not just a big event.

Because of that, it must be created with an update, with a rift.

It’s a reality-threatening event.

Because we know that.

It’s me, struggling in all sorts of ways, including the [Unfinished Holy War] quest. It was me, my own growth, that I must not forget.

Your gaze naturally turns to the status window.

[Level: 494].

“A number can’t measure me.”

……Consistent, really.

But it’s also not wrong.

It’s not all about level, it’s about fundamental growth.

Not just in terms of magical understanding.

Refining your sword skills to new heights.

The wells you’ve worked so hard to dig, including marksmanship.

It means you need to make sure the holes in your life aren’t clogged.

‘But levels are equally important.’

Aside from the [natural enemy], there was nothing to lose because the level was high.

It’s just that you have to take what you can get. But as I’ve lamented time and time again, leveling up to nearly 500 is a challenge.

[The Crumbling Old Tree Garden]

[Recommended Level: Lv.400~Lv.450]

[Collapse Rate : 3.1%]

[Cannibalistic Insect Habitat]

[Recommended Level : Lv.450]

[Collapse Rate : 10.1%]…….

Let’s take a look at the large rifts that have been created at this point.

Well, if you’re like most players and just hit monsters in the rifts all day long, you’ll probably see some level and experience fluctuations…….

Like I said, I don’t have time for that.

Unless you have two bodies.

That level of rifting would be less time-efficient.

In that case.

It’s finally time to break out the savings.

The time has come to break it!

[Experience accumulates in the Battlecruiser Quernberg Machine Tower].

[Prestige accumulates in the Battlecruiser Quernberg Machine Tower].

[Gain access to accumulated experience and prestige].

You mean the experience and prestige accumulated in the Quernberg Machine Tower.

Such is my grand plan.

The one you said you had delivered to Chainwalkers through Hiel.

Even if I retrieve just one of them…….

‘……wouldn’t I gain at least a few dozen levels?’

Great expectations lead to great disappointments, but this time, it’s worth it.

It’s Akshan’s ultimate weapon.

The great Akshan, who drove back the demon kings and great evil despite the holy war’s overwhelming inferiority.

“I will not forget your pride.”

Yes, I will not forget it, and I will make good use of it.

Of course, I will.

I could not share them with Chainwalkers and other dwarves, so I spoke to Hiel as simply as I could. Finally, I added the noble iron.

‘There is no reason to delay the smelting any longer.’

Noble Iron, the mineral used to make Ego equipment.

With its enormous potential, how should it be smelted?

I had a lot of questions.

First and foremost, I was concerned about the level cap.

‘It doesn’t matter how good it is if you can’t wear it.’

If you make something with level in mind, it won’t be good enough.

If we prioritized performance, the level cap would be higher.

It was a dilemma.

But again, I learned from experience.

Performance is always the priority!

Fang of the Evil Earth Dragon is a level 800 item.

I used to utilize [Magic] and [Aesthetics] on items I couldn’t even afford to equip, but thanks to my fangs, I could never ignore its power. The same goes for the ego equipment I’ll forge from noble iron.

‘……Wait, wouldn’t having an ego make me more useful?’

For a moment, a plausible possibility came to mind.

It is not too late to think about the completed EGO equipment later.

In that case, you were very wise to have the dwarves smelt the precious iron, Hoyeol.

His final words to Hiel were not so wise.

-“Tell them I will pay them for their labor.”

Anything!

I’m a nobleman, and I’m going to spend my hard-earned money like a prince.

Anyway, enough of my rambling.

I’ll just have to pray for a smelting price.

“I have faith in you.”

I slowly rose from my seat.

It was almost time for my appointment.

I have no doubt of the dwarves’ skill and pride.

It’s impossible to know what’s inside a person.

This means that you can only find out if you meet face to face.

My destination was the AAU Korea Branch.

I lightly organized my clothes.

Soon, I straightened my back and summoned my magic power.

I manifested a portal.

“As they say, time is like afternoon tea.”

Indeed.

The afternoon is a particularly precious time of the day.

Please be on time, everyone.

This is the power of my silliness not paying attention even in front of senior mages of magic tower. It’s not like I can restrain myself in front of AAU branch leaders…….

*

AAU Korea Branch.

The meeting room.

The first person to arrive was Baker Chat, the AAU London Branch Leader.

When Baker spotted Park Minjae, he smiled.

“Mr. Park, you look so much better!”

I didn’t know he was such a skinny guy.

England was a member of the AAU but was not cooperative.

Baker, the branch president, did the same.

At least in Park’s memory.

It was the first time she’d ever seen him smile.

“You’re early, Mr. Baker.”

“I really owe you one.”

“Indebted? Are you referring to player Lee Ho-yeol?”

After all, he was there for a reason, right?

No point in creating unnecessary misunderstandings when there are parties involved.

Park Minjae quickly released his shaking hand and continued.

“You won’t believe it, but today is my first time seeing you too.”

“Yes, this is the first time I’ve met Mr. Park face to face!”

“……No, I don’t mean you, I mean it’s the first time ever I’ve seen him in person.”

“Oh, I see, that’s what you meant!”

Baker suddenly realized why Park Minjae was feeling restless.

However, the greeting he had just given was not directed at Hoyeol.

“Then you don’t have to decline.”

“……?”

“I don’t intend to replace my heart with a few words, like now.”

Possessed by the demon.

That’s what Baker realized.

It was after he’d been told by Schreig.

His mental capacity was lower than that of a normal person, a player.

The demon had completely taken control of him, and he hadn’t even been conscious.

‘Lee Ho-yeol saved me.’

No, more than that, he saved London.

It would be unbecoming of a gentleman to repay a favor with a simple greeting.

He wasn’t the only one.

The same day, the Prime Minister was caught in the rift.

The queen had sent him the same message.

“Mr. Park.”

“Yes, I’m listening. Mr. Baker.”

“From now on, we, the United Kingdom, will behave.”

” ……behave?”

Are you saying that you are going to take an independent route like China?

For a moment, Park tensed.

It was only a phase.

The familiar words came out of Baker’s mouth.

“We’re going to be moved by pride.”

“……!”

The two men had just finished a meaningful conversation.

Branch leaders from around the world gathered in anticipation of the impending event.

It was as Park had predicted.

‘Everyone probably had no choice but to rush over.’

A private emergency meeting that is not known to the outside world.

Unless you were here.

There was no way to know what was said in the meeting.

Not the other players, but Lee Ho-yeol?

You never know what top-secret information you’ll miss out on.

Of course, they’d have their own agendas.

‘Especially the United States.’

The U.S. was the only country with two AAU Branches, one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast. Either one would have been fine, but the fact that both branches’ leaders had expressed interest in attending…….

I felt like I could see right through it.

Rattling.

‘I don’t blame you, but you’re getting on my nerves.’

Park Minjae’s legs trembled with nervousness.

Finally, it was time for the appointment.

At that moment, the air changed enough for everyone to notice.

goooo─!

A streak of magical light rose from thin air.

Lee Hoyeol appeared from the portal.

It wasn’t like we had guessed the words in advance.

Everyone stood up from their seats.

Starting with Baker.

Clap-clap-clap.

Applause erupted from everywhere.

It was.

Regardless of interests, Hoyeol’s performance was in line with the purpose of AAU’s founding. It was only natural to praise the emergence of a true hero.

But the applause didn’t last long.

Perhaps the sudden applause was overwhelming.

Hoyeol opened his mouth, his expression unchanged.

“In the interest of time, I’ll skip the hospitality.”

In a cold voice.

The atmosphere quickly cooled.

Hoyeol’s gaze turned to the meeting room clock, which was even colder.

Then he said something no one expected.

“Also, there is nothing to discuss with those who are not even punctual.”

“……!!!”

At the same time.

No one touched it.

The conference room door was closed tightly.

A thud!

.

.

.

Good.

There’s no way out now.

Demon, raise your head.