Chapter 642. What the Darkness Desires (3) #PART 2

[Evil Eye: The Source of All Evil has appeared.]

It was a world message.

Not only the players from the Great Alliance who had uncovered the details of the incident, but also those in Claudi’s Territory and Antonium—who knew nothing about it—must have all received the message.

Even the Arcanians wouldn’t be an exception.
They, too, had eyes capable of perceiving the Evil Eye.
I laid Bellier down in my office.

‘Ensuring absolute stability is the top priority.’

Although I had healed her physical wounds, her flow of mana remained unstable. Considering that a Mage’s mana flow is deeply influenced by their mental state…

‘That means she’s suffered severe shocks multiple times in a short span.’

As I walked down the corridor, closing my office door behind me—

“Oh, Claudi.”

I encountered the head of the Dune clan.
Shahin Dune stood before me and spoke without hesitation.

“Please remember that I am always by your side.”

I understood the meaning behind the burning red pupils that gazed at me. He must have sensed that Grandfell’s Evil Eye, which had suddenly appeared in the sky, was related to me.

‘At the very least, anyone who knows Claudi would understand.’

Where in this world would you find such a dazzling silver light?

“The Source of All Evil… sounds awfully grandiose.”
“Did you all check the quest?”
“Quest? What quest?”
“Just look at how it’s floating up there alone. Isn’t it obvious? This isn’t normal. That bastard Raymon Sean must be behind this. But still… something about it looks familiar. That crazy radiance, it’s just like…”

As I passed Shahin and continued down the hallway, I overheard the conversations of the players beyond the doors.

…Damn.

I instinctively softened the sound of my footsteps,
even held my breath as I checked the quest notification.

[World Quest: The Culprit]
Two worlds plunged into chaos.
There exists a culprit behind this chaos.
Arcanians, adventurers—
Pursue the existence that has thrown both worlds into turmoil.
—Track down Raymon Sean. (In progress)

Should I be grateful for this?

‘The timing of this is oddly convenient.’

The Culprit and the Source of All Evil—
From a player’s perspective, what would Grandfell’s Evil Eye seem like?
Just as I overheard, they would naturally assume it was connected to Raymon Sean.

‘Being treated like Raymon Sean… Grandfell, if you heard this, you’d lose your mind.’

Of course, I had no intention of clearing up the misunderstanding.

‘Well, you shouldn’t have done anything to be misunderstood in the first place.’

Even as I walked forward, I couldn’t understand it.

Grandfell.

You always claimed to know everything, didn’t you?

The moment Elsidor and Harkon disappeared,
the moment Bellier returned and relayed news about them—
That was precisely when Grandfell’s Evil Eye manifested.

Was it really just a coincidence?

‘Was this another one of your arrangements, Grandfell?’

I looked up at the Evil Eye as if asking for an answer.
As if responding to my silent question,
the Evil Eye pointed toward a specific location on the Arcana Continent.

That was the reason I was on the move.

“Marcelo.”
“Chief? What brings you here at this hour?”
“Bellier has returned.”

I relayed Bellier’s condition to Marcelo.

Naturally, I didn’t hold back any details regarding her injuries. I told him plainly that Bellier had paid the price for choosing me over the question posed by the World Tree.

Suppressing his rage, Marcelo replied.

“This gives the Magic Tower a reason to stand against the World Tree.”

…Man, Magic Tower mages really have one hell of a temper.

Senios, Yugweed, the former Tower Master… and now Marcelo?
Watching them all act like this really makes my head hurt.

‘Grandfell’s influence has rubbed off on them too much.’

But if anyone had been the most affected…
It would be me—
The one who had stayed closest to Grandfell.

A past Lee Hoyeol would have never uttered such words so easily.

“As the World Tree desires.”
“…?”
“It’s time to engulf the Arcana Continent.”

Whether it would be swallowed by darkness or by light—
I left it unsaid.

That way, even later on, I could push the blame onto Grandfell…!
Still, my true intentions had been conveyed clearly.

Marcelo nodded as he answered.

“I will follow you always, Chief.”

I entrusted Marcelo with command of the Holy War Alliance in preparation for any unforeseen events.
With the Great Alliance supporting them,
they would be able to overcome any strange situation that arose.

‘But the real issue starts now.’

I gathered my mana.
Immediately, I opened a portal.
Its coordinates—where Grandfell’s Evil Eye was pointing.

Truthfully, I wasn’t too worried about Elsidor.

Considering his combat prowess and bloodline,
it was unlikely he was in any serious danger.

What worried me was—

‘Harkon.’

The one who had sworn allegiance to the World Tree.
I honestly couldn’t grasp Harkon’s true intentions.

I wasn’t some all-knowing Grandfell—
How could I possibly read people’s thoughts?

But—

‘I can make an educated guess.’

The system doesn’t lie.

[Unique Spirit, ‘Hiel Chrysiad Fourseason Leaf’ has broken free from your control.]

That message had once appeared regarding Hiel.

But there had been no such message about Harkon.

Meaning—Harkon had not turned against me, nor the Holy War Alliance.

So I had no choice but to act quickly.

If the World Tree had discerned Harkon’s true intentions,
there was no telling what would happen to him.

Ttogak.

As I stepped into the portal,
my vision was filled with—

An unfamiliar plateau.

But I had no time to take in the scenery.

“!”

A bloodied Frostnax.

And Skal, cradling the dragon’s head, unconscious.

Without hesitation, I unleashed my mana.

Not just a healing spell.

Simultaneously, I raised a mana barrier to prepare for any ambush, preserving the mana traces in this space to interfere if necessary.

And then, I saw it.

‘…Harkon.’

No.

The presence occupying Harkon’s body.

Honestly, it would have been easy to mistake.

The silhouette within the mana traces looked exactly like Harkon.

But—whoever they were, they had picked the wrong opponent.

A familiar sensation stirred within me.

Not Grandfell’s—
Mine.

Lee Hoyeol’s senses.

That’s right.

It’s the ‘predator’ sense I’ve forgotten for a while.

[Skill, ‘Natural Enemy’ is activated.]

“It’s time to rip my prey apart.”

The last demon hunter spoke.

“Tempest Over the Horizon.”

*

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