Chapter 626 – The Stormy Period (4)

Chapter 626 – The Stormy Period (4)

“Hoyeol dyed his hair?”

What kind of nonsense was that?

At Lee Yerim’s words, the sisters leaned in toward the TV,
all eyes locked on the youngest of the Lee family and his hair.

“Looks the same as usual to me, Yerim.”

“Yeah, it’s silver all the way to the roots.”

“No, that’s not it!”

Swish.

Yerim shook her own hair dramatically, her voice rising.

“The texture. Doesn’t his hair look different from usual? It used to be silky, but now, even through the screen, it looks dry… Right? Arang, you’ve tied Uncle’s hair before, so you’d know!”

Whenever Hoyeol visited home, Arang would braid his hair instead of her dolls’.

But Arang wasn’t on her younger aunt’s side.

“I don’t know.”

“What?!”

“Why is Auntie always nagging at Uncle?”

“You little—!”

In the end, Yerim’s argument was dismissed without much reaction.

Understandably so, because more important news about Hoyeol was being reported on TV.

Jiyoon stroked her chin.

“So, our Hoyeol is finally stepping up as Supreme Commander of the Holy War Alliance, huh? I knew it the moment he agreed to appear on Today Arcana. Lee Hoyeol, that guy’s finally gotten a taste of power! What if he starts getting into politics next? Ruler of Seoul, or something like that…”

“Hoyeol isn’t that shallow, okay? The real issue is the monsters that require him to step up. Aren’t their levels ridiculously high?”

“Of course, I don’t know much about Arcana, but…”

“Seriously, you two!”

Flop.

Yerim collapsed onto the couch, exasperated.

“Ugh. Whatever. Just let me die of frustration.”

Normally, she’d be just as focused on the latest updates about Hoyeol, never missing a single article.

But right now—

Arang pointed at the captions on the TV.

“Mom, what’s the Cataclysm? And what’s a Bible?”

“Arang, didn’t they teach you that in kindergarten?”

“Huh? Uh…”

“Weird. You’re six, you should know by now.”

“Jiyoon, stop teasing Arang.”

Especially that last piece of news. Under normal circumstances, she would’ve snapped a photo and sent it straight to Hoyeol.

– NetTuber Player Park Hwigang says, “The Post-Cataclysm Bible is truly a historic discovery… I remember every word of it. I plan to track down its author, Lorenzik, as well.”

A book chronicling Hoyeol’s every move. His deeds so remarkable and sacred that they became scripture. Just the thought of it made her want to tease him endlessly.

But.

‘Radiant silver hair.’

Right now, Yerim’s mind was consumed by a single thought.

‘…It’s silver, but not as radiant as before.’

More precisely, her mind was filled with the notes in Hoyeol’s notebook.

After awakening as a Player, he had told them—

His changes were nothing unusual, just the natural progression of an Arcana Continent Chronicle-type Player, so his sisters shouldn’t worry.

But Yerim, having read his notebook, knew better.

Grandfell Claudi… something. Romeo, right.

‘Radiant silver hair was part of Grandfell’s setting, not Hoyeol’s.’

Then that meant, the not-so-radiant silver hair now belonged to Hoyeol, not Grandfell.

Unconsciously, Yerim bit her lip.

‘So, has Hoyeol broken free from Grandfell’s setting?’

She wasn’t sure.

After all, Hoyeol hadn’t shown any major changes.

He still sent lengthy daily letters to their parents. He still called them “sisters” in that weirdly polite way.

‘Hoyeol, knowing you, there’s no way you’re forcing yourself to do all that.’

Yet Yerim wasn’t deceived.

‘But it’s clear. His hair is undeniable proof.’

Hoyeol has changed.

One way or another.

‘…If everything really is just an act?’

The old Yerim would have celebrated that moment. She would’ve snitched to their sisters immediately.

“Hey, Yerim, what’s with your face?”

“…Huh?”

“Why do you look so serious?”

But.

“It’s nothing. I’m just tired.”

Yerim kept silent. Because she knew—Hoyeol’s notebook contained more than just Grandfell’s setting.

Casually brushing it off, she retreated to her room.

Creak.

She opened her desk drawer, checking that Hoyeol’s black notebook was still there. Something that would have made Hoyeol panic in horror if he saw it.

But Yerim had already memorized its contents.

Rustle.

She flipped through the pages again. Thinking about the past Hoyeol who wrote them, and at the same time, trying to understand the present Hoyeol.

“Hoyeol.”

Yerim murmured softly.

“Are you really okay right now?”

*


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Brrrr.

Suddenly, a chill ran through my entire body. My hands and feet trembled slightly.
This eerie, unfamiliar sensation…

It was unmistakable.

“So, it has finally come to this.”

This was undoubtedly withdrawal symptoms…!

‘Honestly, it would be weird if I were completely fine.’

In the end, I had no choice but to boil some water and open a green tea bag.

As expected, green tea still didn’t suit my taste.

However, as I had said before, I needed to maintain optimal conditions at all times.
To ensure Grandfell could return whenever he pleased, I had to regulate even my blood-green-tea concentration.

Swish.

Even as I reluctantly tilted my teacup, my quill pen never left my grip.

After all, I had made quite the grand proclamation.

In front of the press, no less.

I recalled, once again, the Grandfell speech I had so shamelessly uttered.

– “This is an expedition.”
– “A Player’s duty.”
– “And at the same time, my way of taking responsibility.”

Words like expedition and duty could be brushed off as grand rhetoric.
But for the reporters, the phrase “taking responsibility” was something they couldn’t just ignore.

‘How could I possibly explain everything to them?’

If I had truthfully admitted that the Blessed monsters might be the result of Hiel slipping from my control, I couldn’t even begin to imagine the breaking news that would follow.

‘Grandfell, even you would have stayed silent in this situation.’

The only reason I used the phrase “taking responsibility” was to preserve Grandfell’s characteristic honesty.

In reality, keeping silent would have been the most beneficial option for me.

‘Their levels have doubled, so the impact will be significant.’

Would I feel guilty about it?

Would I feel ashamed before Grandfell?

I would answer shamelessly.

“Actions matter more than words.”

Swish.

That was why I hadn’t let go of my quill pen.

Stacked high on my office desk were data reports from AAU.

‘At the very least, I need to study the patterns.’

The newly transformed monsters, altered by the World Tree’s Blessing, had all shifted to forest attributes.

However, their designs and concepts hadn’t changed completely.

‘Familiarizing myself with them will be useful in some way.’

At the same time, I needed to assess my available resources—

From items to rare magical artifacts, even treasures I could borrow from the Magic Tower and the Empire.

‘Using relics via Karma is also an option.’

Why not?

At some point, I would have to make use of Excalibur, which I had left stuck in the Kingdom of Yusra.

There was one item I absolutely couldn’t overlook.

[Hexagram Brooch]

The final fragment of the Hexagram Brooch, left behind by Pride.

With this, I had now acquired all six pieces of the Hexagram Brooch.

I checked its information.

[Hexagram Brooch 6/6]
[Grade: Unique]
[Requirement: Lv.1]
[Effect: None]
[Description: One of six brooches that form a whole. As this is only a fraction of the full piece, its effect is significantly diminished.]

At first glance, the final piece seemed unimpressive.

Its level requirements were so insignificant compared to those of the other pieces that I wondered if it was a fake.

However—

‘Levels are just numbers.’

The true power lay in the set effect.

[Set Item Effect Activated]
[Currently Applied Set Effects: 5/6]

  1. All basic stats increase by 2 points.
  2. Damage against boss monsters increases by 10%.
  3. Damage taken from multiple enemies decreases by 10%.
  4. Upon reaching 70%, 50%, 30%, 10%, or 1% HP during combat, the “Awakening” effect is triggered.
  5. While in “Awakening” mode, magic consumption is reduced to 0 for a set duration.
  6. [Unlocks upon activation]

“…Unlocks upon activation?”

‘That’s… unsettling in more ways than one.’

I knew the secrets of the Claudi family.

The Hexagram Brooch represented the submission of the Six Deadly Sins to Pride.

Now that I knew this, I couldn’t ignore the effect labeled “Unlocks upon activation.”

So, I made a decision.

‘I’ll make sure this never activates.’

The other set effects were already overpowered enough.

More importantly, my destination this time was the Arcana Continent.

That meant—

My precious title, the one that had saved my life multiple times, was still in effect.

[The Last Adventurer: You cannot die on the Arcana Continent. If killed, you will immediately return to reality and be unable to access Arcana Continent for a set duration. – Cooldown: 24 hours]

Dalkak.

“Perfect conditions.”

For executing the most flawless Grandfell performance yet.

The perfect stage was set.

‘Hoyeol, think harder.’

‘What’s needed right now is an overwhelming victory.’

How could I appear more Grandfell than Grandfell himself?

As I scribbled with my quill, I continued to ponder.

But after a while, my eyelids grew heavy.

‘…Did I think too hard?’

With the First World Tree’s Blessing now weaker, and lacking Grandfell’s blasphemous talent, it was no surprise.

In the end, I nodded off at my desk, quill still in hand.

‘Alright, Hoyeol. Just 10 minutes.’

Even cramming at the last minute required experience.

Just as every task had its tricks, so did cramming… zzZ.

*


tl/n: [The Six Sight Brooch] -> [Hexagram Brooch]

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“Tower Master.”

Senior Dark Mage, Matisse Dean Carl, approached Marcelo, the Tower Master.

He cast an advanced application of Intermediate Dark Magic: “Black Coffin”, creating a barrier to ensure their conversation remained unheard.

Even without listening, everyone could sense what was being discussed.

Nam Taemin turned to Hisagi.

“My watch isn’t broken, right?”

Hisagi didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he glanced at his smartphone.

This wasn’t a matter of mere seconds anymore.

A full 30 minutes had passed since the scheduled time of noon.

And yet—

The Supreme Commander had not appeared.

Hisagi spoke as if it were nothing.

“The Supreme Commander is not late, Taemin.”

“What are you talking about now?”

“The second hand, the sun in the sky… they have simply moved too hastily, without decorum.”

“This guy is seriously insane.”

Leonie clicked her tongue.

That kind of phrase would sound crazy coming from anyone else—
but when it was him, it felt like something Grandfell would say.

Leonie turned slightly, her gaze shifting toward Jesse Heinness.

“Sigh.”

Jesse was shorter than Leonie, so there was no need to tilt her head to see Jesse’s face under that large, pointed hat.

‘No way am I comforting anyone.’

Leonie muttered under her breath.

“He’ll probably show up like nothing happened. Just like always.”

Unless—

Perhaps he had already crossed over to the Arcana Continent ahead of them.

Time in Arcana and the real world flowed differently, after all.

“…Wait, if that’s the case, then the time difference—”

Leonie was counting on her fingers, trying to do the math—

When suddenly—

From within the Black Coffin, Matisse spoke in a low, grave tone.

“Tower Master.”

“What is it, Senior Matisse?”

“Chief Lee Hoyeol has been found…”

It was news that no one in the Holy War Alliance had expected.

“Collapsed in his office.”

*


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