Chapter 670 – Arranged World (1)

Explorer’s Federation.

“Why no recording today?”
“I have no intention of going to the abyss.”
“…The abyss?”
“You have to keep your limits in times like this.”
“Well, I guess nobody has the mindset to stare at a camera right now.”

For a moment, I was startled by Park Hwigang’s unusually serious attitude.
The entire Explorers Federation had entered the portal heading toward the Arcana Continent.

Soon, what caught their eyes was the unusual scenery of Antonium.
Murmurs.
The citizens of Antonium were sending off the Holy War Alliance.

“Make sure you all come back alive…!”

This must be what people mean by the sense of impending war.

“I guess I have to cancel saying this feels like the old days.”

Certainly, it was a scene unseen back when Arcana was just a game.
It had to be that way.
Players no longer had the miracle of resurrection.

Park Hwigang clenched his fist firmly.

“This might really be the last war.”

The complete collapse of the Demon World — perhaps the final trial.

“By the way, hasn’t the imperial army already departed?”
“Well, Hesias is far away.”
“Shouldn’t we hurry too, Fabian?”

The empire didn’t repeat past mistakes in the face of trials.

Even though the passage to the Demon World was closed, the Evil Eye disappeared, and the Ten Thrones had secluded themselves, the empire remained vigilant.
Though not at its peak, the empire had enough troops to defend Antonium.

“If it gets tough, players from the real world can provide support.”

Plus, the portal connected to Seoul couldn’t be overlooked.
Though the atmosphere was heavy, it wasn’t overwhelming — thanks to hope.

The hope that true peace might come if they win.
Because of that, Park Hwigang’s steps felt lighter.

“Then we’ll have to use the few trustworthy things we have as explorers!”
“Huh? You want to use the [Wyvern Contract] now?”
“Don’t be stingy. If you just save it, nothing will be left.”
“Hey, that’s one of our few assets as explorers! Do you know how much trouble I went through clearing that quest…? And considering the number of uses…”

The man adjusted his mustache, clearly reluctant.
His communication skills honed as a NetTuber.
If he didn’t sympathize, he’d keep whining.

Park Hwigang tried to convince him.

“What’s the point of this item? If we fail to protect the Arcana Continent and the real world, nothing will remain. And maybe the wyverns will consider the contract with some leniency?”
“…Leniency?”
“This is a continent-wide crisis, a continent-wide crisis!”

Though he said that, Park Hwigang wasn’t optimistic. After all, the wyvern’s temperament they’d encountered during the quest was no joke.
He swallowed a bitter smile inside.

“They’d probably get annoyed and irritated by this.”

Yet even Park Hwigang had overlooked something.

“…Wait a moment.”

Suddenly, the contracts fluttered in the wind.

Above the explorers holding the wyvern contracts, shadows gathered. Naturally, it was the wyvern flock. The explorers flinched at the flapping of the wyverns’ wings.

One explorer said,

“Haven’t they changed somehow?”

Wyverns that made contracts with humans.
First off, the fact they could talk meant they weren’t ordinary wyverns.
Their biggest trait? They were less aggressive than typical wyverns.
The weak wing flapping was also a notable characteristic.

Park Hwigang used his insight.

“Hmm, their wing flapping looks stronger than before.”

Soon, the adventurers understood why.

“Waaaaah!”

The wyvern flock landed in Antonium’s square.
Being non-combatant roles, the explorers didn’t receive much attention.
But the rare attention was a breath of fresh air, yet the explorers had no time to feel proud.

“Our goals align, humans.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Good thing we made contracts with you.”
“?!?”

That was it.

What awaited the explorers mounted atop the wyverns was an unexpected turn of events.
Whether it was the fleeting swift wind, or perhaps the frustration, Park Hwigang wiped his eyes and said,

“So, you mean we have to fight on the battlefield too?!”

They had overlooked this.

──────
The reclusive dragons are joining the Holy War Alliance.
──────

The fact that the kings of all creatures had returned…!

“Yes, that is the royal command.”

Their low aggression wasn’t a problem.
The kings of all creatures — dragons — commanded absolute authority over the monsters of the Arcana Continent.
The wyvern snorted.

“We must protect the skies of the Arcana Continent.”

Players, Arcanians,
even monsters.
All of Arcana would defend the Arcana Continent.

“…Fine, all good, but!!”

The intention was indeed good.
Overflowing with romance.
Enough to please the romantic explorer, Lorenzik.

“The problem is that we explorers got caught up in this!!”

If we fall?
Fragile explorers would die instantly.
Park Hwigang clung tightly to the wyvern’s back and lamented.

“I was willing to risk my life…! But that doesn’t mean I intended to be thrown around the middle of the battlefield. Didn’t the Supreme Commander say? Know your limits. I know my place well enough not to get in the way, staying safely in the rear…!”

He clasped his hands.

“Just Homen. Praying desperately has been my task all along…!”
“Homen? Is that some kind of spell?”
“Hey, that’s blasphemy.”

Park Hwigang wasn’t the only one flailing wildly.

“No, no!”
“Please save me, Fabian.”
“I’ll tear up this contract if I have to…!”

Explorers were forcibly taken to the front lines atop wyverns. Unable to jump off or change direction, time passed, and the explorers finally arrived.

And then.

“…!”

They realized.

-“We must protect the skies of the Arcana Continent.”

The true meaning behind the wyvern’s words.

A strange sound echoed beyond the dark clouds.
The Arcanians, explorers,
Mark quickly recognized the source of the noise.

“…This sounds familiar.”
“Familiar?”
“It’s a sound I’ve heard a lot during this season.”

Mark’s hometown, Ulysses, was known as one of the most fertile lands on the Arcana Continent.
A land blessed by spirits where crops could be grown year-round — known as the empire’s granary.

The explorers listened closely to Mark.

“I definitely think I heard a metallic sound.”
“Is it the sound of plows tilling the ground?”
“No, it’s sharper than that…”

It sounded like dragging sharp metal across the ground…?

Sssrrr.

Beyond the parting clouds, the source was revealed.
A massive scythe, seemingly endless.
Attached to its handle were clumps of flesh.

The players’ vision flickered.

[Parasitized Harvester Reaper : Lv.???]

Question marks.

If this had been the Arcana Continent’s earlier days, players would’ve panicked.
But the current players had experience.
Hadn’t they faced rifts with question-mark levels since the Great Cataclysm?

Park Hwigang quickly estimated.

“Let’s be thankful it’s not a mosaic message…!”

Those with question marks were entities outside the normal leveling system, and mosaic messages indicated an even higher level.
Meaning…

“We can handle this, right?”

The current players had overcome many threats from rifts with question mark levels.
Their calm composure even startled the wyverns.

“Fabian, your gaze looks different after a long time.”
“Well, many things happened in that other world.”
“Either way, it’s good news for us.”

Fabian, the Explorer’s Federation Leader, stared at the Reaper at the front.
The Reaper — an otherworldly being that harvests life with its gigantic scythe from the Demon World.

‘The master is nowhere to be seen. The scythe moves on its own.’

More precisely, the flesh attached to the handle seemed to control the scythe.
Fabian shifted his gaze to the battlefield.
The Holy War Alliance’s ground forces were fiercely battling the enemies pouring out of the collapsed Demon World near the Quernberg fortress built by dwarves.

At first glance, it looked similar to battles against the Demon King’s forces.

‘Definitely different from before.’

Unlike in the past, there was no [Fear] on this battlefield.

“Do not retreat!”
“You can do it!”
“Take this, you bastards!!”

Was it simply because the opponent wasn’t a demon controlling fear?

No, fear isn’t exclusive to demons.
Moreover, the beings flowing backward from the collapsed Demon World weren’t much different from demons — in appearance or mind.

‘After all, they are beings matured in malice inside the Demon World’s belly.’

Then?

Yes, the difference was the Holy War Alliance.
Beyond strength, they were all battle-hardened survivors of fierce holy wars.

Fabian nodded gently.

‘…Yes, that’s enough.’

Still, something made him uneasy.
He recalled their role.
Watching the Reaper’s scythe and supporting the ground forces.
Truly a fitting role for explorers.

‘But is that all there is?’

He hesitated but shook his head.

“There’s no time for such doubts.”

There was no room to be distracted in front of the collapsed Demon World’s dam.
Fabian’s gaze returned to the massive scythe covered in flesh.

“…?”

It slowly came into his view.

The sky had darkened.

A ladder-like scythe stretching between the earth and sky.
Its blade was adorned with a radiant silver Evil Eye.
Fabian’s accumulated common sense as Explorer’s Federation Leader was shaken.

‘…Now that the Demon World has collapsed.’

The Ten Thrones can no longer maintain their power.
Naturally.
For the Ten Thrones were essentially the Demon World itself.

Then who does the Evil Eye in the night sky belong to?

At least, it isn’t the Ten Thrones’ Evil Eye.
So who is it?
Who watches the Arcana Continent’s final battle with such a lofty gaze?

Suddenly, Fabian recalled a conversation in the federation office.
The romantic explorer, Lorenzik, had said.

-“Fabian, are you interested in Arcana’s history?”
-“Of course. History is a basic knowledge for explorers.”
-“Tch. Such a boring answer.”

Lorenzik frowned and added:

-“I don’t like history. Because history isn’t really the truth, is it? It’s just records left by the winners. That’s why I’m still alive.”
-“…Huh?”
-“What if others judged my life? From a stubborn old man who never grew up until just before death, to someone who’s lost his mind with age…!”

Fabian suddenly realized.

‘He was joking, so I didn’t take it seriously.’

But Lorenzik must have been certain since he started looking through unverified unofficial histories in the office.

Perhaps the Demon World now flowing backward,
the Arcana Continent,
the adventurers’ world…

‘Are only flowing according to what the final victor desires.’

It might just be a “world with a predetermined ending.”

Then suddenly a vision came.

“!”

Fabian’s vision began to overlap.
Radiant silver light.
The radiance from your hair and your Evil Eye.

Fabian muttered without realizing it.

“…This too was my ‘arrangement.’”