◈ Episode 164. Another Natural Enemy (2)
Elves.
Beings born from the World Tree.
It seems that the blessing of the World Tree was an inherently irresistible rule for them. Otherwise… … . I looked at Elsidor kneeling in front of me.
‘I can’t put up with this kind of shame because I have a cheap personality.’
No matter how much it is said to have been influenced by Grandfell.
The elf kneels before me.
I’m not seriously ill enough to speak, I assure you.
It’s just a matter of formality.
Yes, all I said to Elsidor was.
“A frog in a well needs a lesson in manners.”
… … For a moment, I thought “frog” was an insult rather than “kneel.”
Still, it can’t be wrong, right?
Maybe it’s because he’s only ever been in Sisley, the land of the elves.
Elsidor has no formality.
There was no common sense in his speech.
[Elf, a ‘hierarchy of blessings’ occurs for Elsidor].
Then again.
The message flashed.
It was now.
“……dares me.”
A whimper.
Elsidor fell to his knees.
As if that weren’t enough, he lost his sword in his hand.
Such was the effect of the [Hierarchy of Blessings].
‘You mean you can’t go against me?’
How severely the World Tree has disciplined itself!
Even I, who had a vague idea of the story, was dumbfounded, and the gazes of the observers need no explanation.
I guess it’s true what they say about being too stunned to speak.
“…….”
Perhaps that’s why the players were so quiet.
“Chief Lee. Is this……?”
The great Matisse stuttered.
I’m starting to realize what I’ve done.
Thank God, though, really.
I looked over at Rockid.
‘First of all, I’m glad you’re okay.’
If you’re a senior mage in the Magic Tower, you can manifest other types of magic up to an intermediate level. Matisse shouldn’t have any trouble with first aid.
Phew!
Did they all run to save their colleague?
The Shadow Mercenaries have finally arrived.
Wolf bowed to me on behalf of the invisible leader, Kichi.
Now that our comrades are here, we don’t have to worry about Rock Kid anymore.
If so.
“……Don’t you think you can leave me, this Elsidor, in this condition and walk away unscathed.”
I guess all that’s left is at the disposal of the nice elf.
But not this one.
I’m afraid you’re mistaken.
‘I haven’t even begun to dispose of him yet.’
Especially now that I know the effects of the Hierarchy of Blessings. My confidence is grounded. I spoke with more authority than ever.
“This is not the place for a conversation, Elsidor.”
“How dare you use my name……!”
“Perhaps you should refrain from your ignorant comments.”
“……!!!”
[Elf, a ‘hierarchy of blessings’ occurs for Elsidor].
Well, let’s just shut up and start with.
*
AAU.
For once, there were no excuses.
American Association of the West.
Jim Joshua opened his mouth heavily.
“We didn’t see this coming in the slightest.”
Back when Arcana was just a game.
Elves were unfinished content that would appear in the distant future.
The setting was only a few settings away from being finalized.
That meant we had no idea that the elves that would emerge from that setting would be so openly hostile to humanity.
The butterfly effect?
One of the few background settings.
Elves live for eons.
I never thought such a monster could be born in such a short setting.
I couldn’t imagine it.
It’s too overwhelming.
A force so overwhelming that you can’t help but fear its unknown.
It was a power unlike anything I had ever seen, including demons.
But humanity had one player.
Even in the face of demons.
In the face of unknown horrors.
There was a hero who stood firm.
“And I am once again indebted to Lee Hoyeol.”
Lee Hoyeol.
He had not only stopped the rampaging elf, but brought him to his knees.
Did he use force in the process?
No, he didn’t.
He simply exchanged a few words with the elf.
Jim Joshua bowed his head once and declared.
“From now on, the United States joins the holy war. I am withdrawing my opposition to the creation of the AAU’s Yusra Branch, and I am offering my full support to help the Yusra Branch develop…….”
Have you finally broken your stubbornness?
“I guess we’re unanimous on this one.”
Park Minjae shrugged.
Of course, I know the depths of the water, but I don’t know the people.
I don’t know if he’s acting out of pride.
Or if it was a thorough calculation.
He couldn’t tell yet.
But one thing was certain.
The video conference ended.
Park Minjae was the last to speak.
“Everything is changing, around him. Lee Hoyeol.”
The corner of his mouth lifted.
“Raymond Sean, you didn’t see this coming, did you?”
*
Kingdom of Yusra.
The Golden Palace.
I put Elsidor up in a spare room in the palace.
‘How can such a cheap thing be so pretty in this luxurious palace?’
My heart was set on the basement of the Magic Tower.
I wanted to imprison him in the Void.
The elder mage knew what Void was like.
No, I knew it well because I had seen the appearance of demon worshipers.
I still had many questions for Elsidor.
Being a dead man is a pain in the ass.
But no matter how urgent the interrogation.
There is an order and procedure to everything.
I visited the separate room only after handling the chief’s business at the Magic Tower. Guarding the entrance to the separate room were the Lion Heart Knights, Yessica and Enoch.
‘You’re working overtime because of me.’
I’m familiar with the pain of having to wear a mask.
In particular, Yessica has a lot of work clothes, even when she was facing a succubus.
I offered them both a bland consolation.
“You’ve had a lot of trouble.”
“Not really.”
“More than that, I’ve heard news of you through Captain Harkon!”
……news, what news?
I was stunned by Enoch’s words.
All sorts of things go through my head.
Had he heard of my umbrella fight?
If not, then what about the infinite darkness?
If not that, then the Evil Dragon Hunter?
More than that, Mr. Harkon, why would you spread such rumors to your subordinates!
“Once again, you’ve reached a higher level of mastery, how admirable!”
Ah, was he talking about the Sword Force?
Damn, that’s more than enough to make a break a thief’s feet beyond numbness, it’s too harsh for a black history karma……. For a moment, shame surges through me, but I remain stoic.
I blurted out shamelessly.
“At the crossroads of life and death, the sword becomes even darker.”
“……!”
“The day will come when you too will be enlightened.”
It was just the [Last Adventurer] effect.
Don’t be too mean, Grandfell.
You’re half the battle if you keep quiet.
Just shut up, please.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Don’t nod your head with a steely glare, Yessica.
Any further conversation would be nothing short of mental torture.
I went straight to the door of the spare room.
As soon as I opened it, I was met with eager stares.
Elsidor glared at me.
“□□. □□□. □□□□.”
More accurately, he pouted.
[Hierarchy of Blessings] triggered.
I have ‘ordered’ Elsidor not to leave the spare room.
And I gave an ‘order’ to be quiet.
The reason for the grandiose expression of the command was simple.
As if he would actually obey.
Elsidor couldn’t disobey me.
Enough of marveling at the effectiveness of hierarchy.
‘Elves, you say, live for eons…….’
Even if you only stayed in Sisley, there’s something called Jjambap.
Why, I’m sure he knows quite a bit about the Arcana continent, and there may be some advanced information mixed in. Let’s ask them one by one.
“From now on, I will allow you to answer questions.”
“……?”
“Are you, the elves, involved in the Holy War?”
Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is Grandfell’s pride.
Was the Elf involved in the Holy War, in the destruction of Akshan.
Depending on that, the intensity of Grandfell’s interrogation will vary.
“Why do you care so much about the affairs of worms…….”
Stop.
Look, I don’t think you’ve gotten the picture yet.
I interrupted Elsidor and said coldly.
“Yes or no.”
“……No.”
See, how nice it is to answer politely?
Suddenly─
A grinding sound.
Elsidore was obviously annoyed by the words that were coming out of my mouth.
Of course, in my eyes, there was nothing worse than that.
‘You’re much better than me.’
The black history of the past is not enough.
Compared to my situation, where I’m adding to my black history in real time, you’re a good man.
Thanks to him, I could utilize the hierarchy without conscience.
I was able to grasp the situation roughly.
“So, in the end, it was all due to the blessing of the World Tree?”
“……Yes.”
“Not the Arcana Continent, not the demons.”
“……Yes.”
Elves.
Their home, the land where the first World Tree took root.
They came from Sisley to the continent of Arcana for one reason only.
The blessing the First World Tree took from them.
To discover its whereabouts.
“Everything that got in the way of that move was trampled.”
“……Yes.”
I thought to myself.
So much for real pride, kids!
The only thing they care about is their own eternal life.
I thought it was just a big mouth, but Mr. Grandfell wasn’t wrong. I would have taken the blessing from you, I swear.
‘By the way, I didn’t realize the Blessing was originally an Elven one.’
I thought it was just a buff.
I had no idea the blessing of the first World Tree had such a backstory. Now that I know, I can see why he’s so hostile toward me.
‘They think I stole it from them.’
But there is no such illusion.
I turned to Elsidor once more and declared.
“I don’t need any blessing.”
“……No.”
…… It’s not that I don’t need it.
For a moment, I was puzzled, then I understood.
Oh, right, hierarchy.
Make no mistake about it, I’m in good shape.
“A blessing in exchange for pride.”
“……?”
“It means meaningless.”
Blessing of the First World Tree for Grandfell?
As I said, a simple buff, nothing more, nothing less.
Wasn’t I the one who coldly rejected the healers’ buffs without going far?
For religious reasons, that he didn’t believe in gods.
Of course, neither do I.
The effect of the blessing?
Enormous.
As if the battle for the Demon King wasn’t enough, it’s so great that I never want to give up when I think about the future of competing against top Demon Kings. But at the same time, it’s terrible.
‘Eternal life.’
……That means I’m going to be plagued by Grandfell for the rest of my life!
Maybe I’ll grow old and mature.
What, is the pride of Granfell a pride that will be diminished with the passage of time?
“……No!”
But Elsidor raised his voice.
The guy who took away their blessings.
He was saying he didn’t need a blessing.
‘No wonder he’s pissed.’
But it’s all good.
There’s give and take in everything.
So I’ll tell you what I need to know.
Dalkak─
I set my teacup down and continued.
“Do you want the blessing of the World Tree back?”
For a moment, Elsidor’s expression twitched.
“……Yes.”
Of course.
But even if it’s a blessing I don’t need, how do I pass it on to someone else? I’m afraid I don’t know that.
I had only been given the blessing by the First World Tree.
I mean.
“Why don’t you take it if you want?”
“……?”
“Cause I was chosen by the World Tree.”
“……!”
“You, too, must prove your worth to the World Tree.”
What I’m saying is that I have no intention of handing it over with my bare mouth.
*.
Magic Tower.
─Prove your worth in your region. (Success)
Those who have proven their worth have been given a chance.
A chance to develop their skills as an apprentice mage in Magic Tower.
Of course, it wasn’t easy to even take the first step.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
“Be careful!”
“Oh, thank you.”
Oh, my God, they call this a staircase!
A staircase that appears and disappears out of thin air.
Even before discussing adaptation, I couldn’t help but be impressed.
“……How did it go up and down so smoothly?”
A human would have tripped at least once.
But Hoyeol never faltered as he walked up and down the tower.
“It’s just Homen. Homen.”
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a player approached him.
“Whoa, what a surprise!”
“Homen. May I ask what that means?”
The pigtails waved cheerfully.
” ……yes?”
“Hmmmm, for your information, I’m Jibril, an ‘Adept’ mage.”
Confident voice.
“If you’re an adept mage, then……?”
You’re a senior.
The player, who got Jibril’s point immediately, replied.
“So Homen is player Lee Hoyeol, no, I mean Chief Lee Hoyeol…….”
Jibril listened to the story of Hoyeol and Homen for a while.
Jibril’s eyes gradually widened.
This was a mistake, wasn’t it?
“Not at the level of a great family…….”
You were in a god-like position in the world of adventurers!
I never thought I would receive such precious news from a young adventurer.
Wiping your mouth like this would be unbecoming of a noble.
Jibril said with a satisfied expression.
“Then I’m sure you have no idea what kind of a person Chief Lee Hoyeol is in the Magic Tower. In case you haven’t guessed yet. Allow me, Jibril the Adept, to introduce you to him from top to bottom.”
“Ah, yes, please.”
“First of all, Chief Lee Hoyeol killed millions of demons in two hours… … .”
“What? W-what did you just say?!”
The footless horse gained wings and began to glide.
–
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note: Jjambap(짬밥) means years of experience in a field or a person who is very experienced with their jobs.