◈ Episode 177. The Circle

I realized the full story of the incident.

You’ve finally gotten your act together, formal……!

You weren’t sleeping while standing, you were standing upright while fainting!

You really get a sense of the black history that dominates the body.

It’s shameful, but let’s look at it positively.

‘At least I’m alive.’

Let’s assume that you faint and fall to the floor.

Dahkak.

I set down my teacup and continued nonchalantly.

“I almost threw away my clothes.”

……Yes, of course his clothes would be disheveled.

But the first thing that came to mind was his family.

‘It’s a scoop.’

If the news broke and they saw their son collapsed, I’m sure my parents, especially Mrs. Choi, would have had sleepless nights worrying about me. The same goes for my sisters.

They just don’t show it now.

They ask me how I’m doing every time I enter the rift.

‘Well, that’s a relief……….’

Tsk-tsk.

……The question is, what is this screeching sound?

I wondered if he had a heart problem.

I wondered if he had an artificial heart.

‘No, I don’t think so.’

I was lying in bed unconscious for a few hours at most. Besides, I was in far too good of shape for anything to be physically wrong.

And then I saw the message.

[Your achievements echo through space and time].

[The beings of space and time speak of your qualifications].

[Acquire the title, ‘Transcendent’].

I read it slowly and thoughtfully.

Then I checked my status.

First of all, my level has increased by six levels to 550.

[Name: Grandfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo]

[Title: Last Adventurer, Sublime, Transcendent]

[Class: Demon Hunter]

[Level: 550]

[Stats]

Strength: 110 / Agility: 120 / Magic: 461 / Luck: 12 / Aesthetics: Mid]

[Possession Points: 6]

Where did I get the experience points?

It wasn’t hard to guess.

Probably from [Akshan’s Upkeep].

They were level 900 demon hunters from hell who hunted down three demons of the true origin. Even if I only account for the contribution of activating [Akshan’s Upkeep], I could have gained six levels.

‘I didn’t do anything, but let’s just say I appreciate it.’

So.

What happened to the 4th Throne Demon King, Gamigin?

One thing’s for sure.

Gamigin, he must have fallen to hell.

So, whether it’s on the Arcana Continent.

He’ll never be seen again, real or otherwise.

But technically, I didn’t hunt Gamigin.

It’s understandable that I didn’t get experience for that kill.

‘Bitter, sour grapes’ is the word that comes to mind.

‘Perhaps it was unfair.’

The limit for leveling up in the Arcana system is level 50.

You can’t even guess the level of a high ranking demon king.

If I had defeated Gamigin and only gained 50 levels, I might still be lying in bed kicking my futon in frustration…….

‘Ah, damn formality.’

Of course, only internally.

That’s why my eyes were drawn to the rewards earned instead of experience points.

This was my third title, so I should be getting used to it.

……How unfamiliar?

The place where the achievement resonated was not on the continent of Arcana, but in “space-time”?

I don’t even know where that is, but the next message is even worse.

“The beings of space and time speak of my qualifications…….”

By qualifications, do you mean titles, the qualifications of a “transcendent”?

I don’t even know what space and time are, so who are the beings of space and time?

But I have a hunch.

I’m guessing they’re pretty awesome, right?

Still, the story about me seems to have ended well, as I’ve acquired the title of Transcendent. Whoever they are, they might be grateful.

Before I could finish my thought, I opened my mouth.

“Discussing my qualifications? That’s unacceptable.”

Not that I cared, of course.

Grandfell’s lofty pride would not allow him to be judged.

‘I understand your stubbornness, but in times like these, let’s play nice, Grandfell.’

A title earned by sending a high ranking demon king to hell.

Still, it’s worth getting a little excited about, right……?

With moderate expectations, I checked the title’s effectiveness.

And I was horrified.

[Transcendent: The effect is sealed due to failure to meet the condition].

……Thinking that the poison in my veins had finally done its job.

*

I rested until the next day and returned to my daily routine.

Marcelo congratulated me.

“Congratulations on reaching the level of the Circle.”

“The Circle.”

How could I not recognize the concept, given the number of magical texts I’d devoured in the tower? In short, the Circle was the ultimate state that every mage aspired to reach.

“The Circle of the Heart allows the circulation of magic to flow faster and more purely. The efficiency of pure magic is vastly different from the power and output of pure magic……..』

It was simple enough to explain with an example.

“I look at the scriptures and realize my shortcomings.”

And so it was.

Even Marcelo, the real chief of the Magic Tower, couldn’t form a circle.

So I had no choice but to realize it.

Thud.

I realized the cause of the sound that replaced my heartbeat.

Let’s skip the process and just look at the result.

I had accomplished the great feat of defeating a high ranking demon king, qualifying as a Transcendent, and therefore opening the circle.

But.

‘I can’t eat them raw forever.’

Level 550.

A vessel not quite good enough to be called a Transcendent, the circle of the heart could not circulate properly.

A hiss.

That’s why I hear the hissing!

“This is nothing to celebrate.”

How can I be congratulated when I can’t even use a circle?

I said calmly.

By the look on your face, you’re mistaken again, Marcelo.

“Yes, indeed. For you, even the Circle would be a mere passing phase.”

No, that kind of overestimation makes me grit my teeth! I wanted to pound my chest in frustration, to hear my heart beat.

Can this damn snout tell the truth?

“Beyond the circle, I’m interested.”

… … It’s clear you’re trying to change the story, Grandfell.

By the way.

Whether it was a trick or something, the high-ranking demon king was thrown into hell.

But the effect is sealed.

I can’t complain even if it’s unfair.

I have to fulfill that condition somehow.

I don’t think it’s just a matter of not having enough levels. If it was, it would have come up as a system message. How do I find out what that condition is, anyway…….

Part of me wants to capture the beings of space and time and ask them.

‘First, I’d have to look in a magic book.’

I can already hear my brain creaking.

It was a time when I was thinking about the trick.

Marcelo spoke up.

“As expected, I thought you would be able to see further into the future.”

What the hell.

I couldn’t solve the circle right now, so what future?

But there was no doubt on my face.

Marcelo continued.

“In the absence of the Master of the Magic Tower, the only one who knows about the Circle and higher realms is Elder Mage Yugweed, if you wish to speak with her about it…….”

……Achah.

Wait, I forgot.

Like Akshan, there was a Elder in the Magic Tower, right?

*.

A roundtable in Magic Tower.

It wasn’t just the mages of Magic Tower who attended.

Those who were supposed to meet in the Golden Palace of Yusra were gathered in the Crystal Hall.

The reason was simple.

“Don’t overexert yourself.”

It was for the sake of the fainting Hoyeol.

Hisagi glared at the Nam Taemin with snake eyes.

“You seem excited about that.”

“…….”

Hold on.

Taemin didn’t argue.

Hisagi’s class was a magic spearman, and he was as good at magic as he was at hand-to-hand combat.

This meant that the Magic Tower was participating in the holy war, and among the players it accepted as an apprentice was Hisagi.

“I feel right at home here.”

Training under Harkon and improving his magic at Magic Tower. It’s cheating, this! I’m jealous. That’s why Nam Taemin gritted his teeth and ignored Hisagi.

“Well, if it’s your first time, it might be dazzling. It’s certainly beautiful, the view of the Crystal Hall, isn’t it, Leonie-san?”

She sat down away from him, embarrassed, why the fuck was he pretending to know?

Leonie kept her mouth shut, not wanting to get involved.

This time, Nam Taemin looked up.

“So, you were thinking the same thing as me, huh?”

Who the hell are you?

“Snake-eye, you’re such an asshole, aren’t you?”

It really doesn’t fit, Great Alliance.

Leonie shook her head, and Kichi spoke softly.

He was getting bored of standing around in the sinful tower.

“You three get along well, don’t you, friends?”

“……?”

Blah.

‘Oh, I touched it for no reason.’

I should have recognized the pouting head first.

There are no hedgehogs, right?

Kichi swallowed a sigh, thinking that she couldn’t even get his money’s worth at the harsh response.

‘……No, but we’re still on the same side.’

But soon Leonie’s eyes relaxed.

Yes, the fault lies with those two lumps.

Leonie responded, losing her temper.

“It’s just a business relationship.”

“Then you’re just like me!”

“You’re the leader of the Shadow Mercenaries, Kichi, right?”

“That’s right, but I don’t care what you call me, just call me Kichi.”

“Is that so?”

… … No, does that mean you immediately use informal language?

‘Anyone can tell that I’m older than you?!’

Kichi suddenly remembered Leonie’s loud mouth.

Maybe I shouldn’t have called her that.

She regretted it a little, but she couldn’t bite her tongue.

And more than that…….

“I call the roundtable to order.”

The words of the Chief Mage, Marcelo, brought silence to the hall.

I was tired of chattering any more.

Kichi surveyed the atmosphere of the Crystal Hall.

‘What’s going on?’

Magic Tower.

She knew from rumors that that the rules were strict.

Still, it was a bit much.

With this many people here.

And you can’t hear a sound except your own breathing?

‘It’s scary, really.’

This is also Hoyeol.

To be precise, it is a change brought about by the formality of Hoyeol.

Kichi couldn’t help but notice.

‘ …… Does that mean it’s not a magic tower for nothing?’

Kichi’s newfound admiration for the majesty of the tower.

Marcelo cut to the point.

“We won the battle for the demon king. Achieving the intended goal beyond simple victory. We succeeded in defeating the high-ranking demon king.”

The silence was shattered by the simple declaration of victory.

Only a few knew about the plan.

“Wait. A high ranking demon king?”

“The Demon Appearance Message, was that real?”

“I wasn’t mistaken after all!”

“……But you’ve already defeated the Demon King?”

ungseong-ungseong─

No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

The appearance message must have come at the exact moment the rift cleared and collapsed.

Who in their right mind could defeat a high ranking demon king with an appearance message in a proper level 800-900 rift at such a moment?

As if to answer the question, Marcelo said.

“Chief Lee did it, just as planned.”

“……!!!”

…… Lee Hoyeol?

Everyone knew.

That he had entered the [20th Throne] rift alone.

It was confirmed by the update history.

And what kind of monsters appeared in the rift.

“There were two level 900s and one level 920, and it wasn’t enough that he killed them all by himself……. The moment the rift cleared, he was able to defeat a high ranking demon king?”

No way.

The players of the Magic Tower roared.

Jibril snorted at the reaction.

“What doesn’t make sense?”

“Miss Jibril, I can hear you!”

“Of course I can hear you, I’m a adept mage, and I can’t believe you all have such a lack of faith.”

Is it because a horse without feet glided on wings?

There was no stir among the mages in the tower, except for the player.

But the uproar didn’t last long.

“Well, well, well. You don’t seem to be able to see him, do you?”

“?”

At Jibril’s words, Klee looked around the Crystal Hall.

She had guessed it from the moment Chief Marcelo stepped onto the podium.

There really wasn’t any Hoyeol in sight.

He’s not one to miss a conference……?

Klee scratched her head.

“And I have some news.”

Marcelo continued.

It was the last thing anyone expected.

“Also, for the time being, Chief Lee will be stepping down from all Chief duties and taking a break. I will be taking over all of his duties from now on, including the tower.”

I’m sorry?

“Heavenly Chief Lee Hoyeol is taking a break?”

“…… Lee Hoyeol?”

“!!!”

A break.

It must have been something unusual.

.

.

.

The top floor of the tower.

Tsk-tsk.

Even at this moment, after talking to Yugweed.

My heart was racing in my chest.

It was so fucking real.

If I had to summarize Yugweed’s words, they were simple.

If I cannot digest this transcendental power, I will die.

If I were to reduce one line to one word, it would be bewitched.

Therefore, I have made an extraordinary decision, one that goes beyond determination.

Scribble.

He flicked his quill across the parchment.

『Leave of Absence

Applicant: Lee Hoyeol

Affiliation: Headquarters

Position: Chief…….』

“Sometimes you need time to reflect on yourself.”

……That’s good, but don’t write down your reasons, Grandfell?