The Player Hides His Past - Chapter 267: This is highly valued by history (2)

[The legend, ‘Dark Dragon Lee Hoyeol’ is materialized.]

Antonium.

A dark dragon could be seen crossing the sky.

I would have to figure out the exact effects and limitations of the legend system in the future.

‘It looks flawless on the outside.’

A legend became stronger depending on how widely it resonated.

It was natural that the effect increased in the place where the legend began.

It was a legend that was recognized and spread by the Emperor’s mouth.

The power and size of the Dark Dragon inevitably increased in Antonium where the Emperor stayed. Therefore, the Dark Dragon in the sky was larger than the last time it materialized.

Especially the flapping of the exceptionally large wings…

It really felt like I was looking at this guy’s jacket draped over my shoulder, so I felt uncomfortable. If you asked me why I activated the legend, it was simple.

‘How can there be a calm arrival in Grandfel’s dictionary?’

Of course, there was another reason.

I needed to discourage the demons around me.

Moreover, the Empire couldn’t remain silent forever.

“Just lie down and don’t be a nuisance.”

How sad Harkon would feel if he saw it?

So for the sake of Harkon who would come to Antonium someday.

I needed to set the discipline of the demons in advance.

“W-Wait!”

As I approached the castle gate, the guard who was distracted by the Dark Dragon hesitated.

I understand your confusion.

For a traveler wandering the devastated Arcana Continent…

My appearance was too neat and fancy.

He seemed to think I was a noble.

Even though he was doubtful, he spoke to me respectfully.

“…Could you please reveal your affiliation and identity?”

But, don’t you think we don’t need a formal introduction between us?

Actually, rather than that.

I just hoped I didn’t have to say I was the Dark Dragon with my own mouth…

If I said this, someone curious would probably ask.

If I didn’t want to reveal my identity, shouldn’t I just open a portal inside the walls of Antonium? Really, if you asked this question, you didn’t know about Grandfel’s love for procedure.

“I generously understand.”

I had communicated with the Emperor through Haiel and Chainwalker.

But this was the first time we would actually meet face-to-face.

Besides, how could this upright pride just leave the front door and enter Antonium through the side road called a portal?

This was also something I couldn’t help with.

Had he finally realized it?

The complexion of the guard who was looking at me began to change quickly.

“I-Impossible…!”

Yeah.

It was impossible.

Still, thanks to the brilliant performance.

Fortunately, I could skip the self-introduction.

The moment I swallowed a sigh of relief.

I heard a loud shout.

“It’s the Dark Dragooooon!”

Oh, boy.

“The Dark Dragon has come to Antoniuuuuum!”

I had underestimated it.

The legend.

Just because I kept my mouth shut didn’t mean it wouldn’t spread!!

.

.

.

It was just the beginning.

[You’ve entered the capital of the Empire, Antonium.]

Even when Arcana was a game, Antonium was unfamiliar to me. There had to be a point of contact. But all I remembered from that time was being tormented by daylong quests in Akshan in the corner of the continent.

So I had underestimated it once again.

It was huge!

Since it was the capital of the Empire, it was naturally bigger than the large city of Frost, and above all, Antonium had not fallen to either demons or rebels.

It couldn’t be compared to the past.

At this moment, I felt like I was in the game.

Except for one thing.

Tap tap–

Eyes began to focus on me as I was being escorted.

Yes, because the materialization of the Dark Dragon had been lifted.

Eyes that had nowhere to go naturally turned towards me.

I heard murmurs of conversation.

“Which noble is that?”

“…He seems to be a high-ranking person.”

“Isn’t he a royal?”

“You mean the Grand Duke? But I’ve never seen a face like that…”

As expected, this guy’s outfit was a problem everywhere.

Not only a noble, I was even mistaken as a royal.

I couldn’t lift my face because I was too embarrassed.

Still, it was fortunate.

‘It doesn’t seem to have spread far.’

Even if the Empire was great, its guards couldn’t manifest telepathy. Thanks to this, even though he shouted, it seemed that the guard’s shouts were not fully conveyed to Antonium, which must have been in uproar due to the Dark Dragon.

But as I said earlier, this was just the beginning.

Drop–

Something dropped to the ground.

Roll–

I heard something rolling.

“H-Huh?”

In the direction of where the sound came from, there was someone looking directly at me. Looking at those eyes, she knew exactly who I was. If she knew me at Antonium…

As expected, she must be one of ‘them’.

Yes, Dredsen.

They must have heard enough stories about me from Haiel and Diend while staying on the Iron Castle. By the way… Those two must have described me well.

‘She recognized me as soon as she saw me.’

I opened my mouth.

“Have you gotten used to living in Antonium?”

“…?!”

“Survivor of Dredsen.”

“I-I knew it…!!!!”

After I said that, she seemed to be convinced.

Tears welled up in her eyes, she didn’t even have the presence of mind to pick up the items she dropped on the floor.

In fact, in a way, I definitely had saved Dredsen.

So that kind of reaction was understandable, but…

“Infinitely Deep Darkness!”

Of all titles, why…?

There are so many people watching and listening here…!

Although this nickname must have already spread through the Emperor.

It couldn’t be compared to the shock of hearing it firsthand.

I looked at the palace of Antonium towering in the distance.

‘Let’s see…’

Amid such enormous attention and hospitality.

I would have to walk for hours to get to the palace.

I was seriously concerned.

Would I be able to endure until then without feeling shame….?

*

Antonium was vast.

For this reason, mages belonging to the Empire were stationed at certain distances to quickly deliver news. Because telepathy was faster than a horse without legs.

But at this moment.

Imperial mages were thrown into chaos.

It was only natural.

– No, I already know?!

They had clearly seen it with their own eyes just now.

A dragon so huge that it could completely cover Antonium.

It crossed the sky and disappeared over the clouds.

So they noticed it even without telepathy.

– So a dragon like that, there’s only the Dark Dragon!

The day when heavy rain poured down on the Arcana Continent.

The mages witnessed a dozen dragons.

Because they had an object to compare it to, they could be certain.

Such a huge dragon.

It must be the Dark Dragon that the dragons cried out about.

– The Dark Dragon has appeared!

– No, I saw it, too, you know?

– Ha, I’m so frustrated I feel like I am going crazy!

– Frustrated about what? I’m more frustrated!

Everyone in Antonium must have witnessed the Dark Dragon.

His Majesty must be aware of this.

What was the point of wasting mana on news that everybody knew?

But the mage’s doubt didn’t last long.

The street suddenly became noisy.

The mage who was struggling with telepathy was shocked.

A strangely unfamiliar outfit for an Arcanain.

An overwhelming amount of mana that touched his skin.

Such a being appeared along with the Dark Dragon…?

“Wait a minute…”

So it was not referring to the Dark Dragon over there but to the Dark Dragon over here!

“No, you should have explained it properly!”

But this wasn’t the time to complain. He had to inform His Majesty of this news as soon as possible. It would be great if he could send telepathy directly to Mage Nash in the imperial palace.

“I resent my poor mana.”

The power of his manifestation was too lacking for that.

In the end, he sent a telepathy to the mage closest to the palace.

The response was a familiar question.

– What’s the point of sending such an obvious telepathy?

Indeed.

There were such unavoidable circumstances.

Because of this, Hoyeol walked through the street of Antonium, driving the crowds, receiving all kinds of hospitality, and even meeting many people, before he reached the palace…

*

Have you ever heard that sometimes extreme experiences are actually helpful?

I realized what those words mean.

No matter how shameful it gets, people don’t die from that…!

‘Thank you for making me realize this, everyone…’

Who would have thought that the few hours after setting foot in Antonium would be more draining than having to deal with primordial evil? I was prepared, but it really wasn’t an easy journey.

But it was not over yet.

This quiet big mouth reminded me of that.

“It’s harmonious.”

Don’t judge other people’s houses from the moment you enter, Grandfel.

It was the Emperor’s Imperial Palace, too!

By the way, to think a day like this would come to my life.

Even putting aside the humble class demon hunter. I didn’t have any point of contact with the Empire.

Even more so after the Cataclysm.

I had never imagined that I would be able to travel between the Arcana Continent and reality like this. I never even thought that I would save the Empire.

Thanks to this, I realized it late.

“It was true…”

The moment I saw the Emperor rising from his throne after seeing me.

A realistic problem occurred.

Yeah, other players would have thought about it here.

‘How should I say the first word?’

Well, even Jessie Heinness had said.

– “I was very self-conscious at that time too!”

She said she was worried that she might make a mistake in front of the Emperor.

Though probably not much as I was.

I felt like I knew why Jessie, who didn’t care what others thought, said that.

‘The pressure is no joke.’

Over-glamorous.

The background of the Emperor, the imperial palace, was very beautiful.

Of course, such a grandeur didn’t mean anything to me. Putting aside Grandfel’s sense of aesthetics, Yusra’s Golden Palace would have been grander than this, so it definitely wouldn’t work on me.

Therefore, my concerns were a little different from the other players.

What should I call the Emperor?

I even spoke informally to Eunaxus and Argentress, beings who were higher-ranked than the Emperor. Of course, I had no expectations that I could use polite words.

‘Above all, when I think about Claudie’s setting…’

It would be better to just keep my mouth shut.

But my worries were unfounded.

The Emperor opened his mouth first.

“It’s an honor to meet a legend.”

…The retainers looked even more surprised than I did.

I didn’t expect the Emperor to treat me this well.

It was no wonder that the retainers faltered.

But, it made sense.

Even without Claudie’s halo, the [reputation value] I accumulated would not be ordinary. If Empire had been intact, I would have been treated as a VIP no matter which city I visited.

‘…Still, I can’t help but feel conscious.’

Now was the time to appropriately demonstrate the wisdom of a member of society.

Above all, I had no intention of becoming deeply involved with the Empire.

Like I said, wasn’t I already overwhelmed enough?

‘Even just the reconstruction of Claudie’s estate is already tiring.’

Thinking of taking over the Empire?

It might sound beneficial, but that was not true at all!

Therefore, the authority of the Empire must always remain with the Emperor.

The Emperor must maintain his dignity as the emperor.

But I couldn’t break Grandfel’s pride and speak respectfully…

‘At least when we’re together.’

Let’s avoid the situation where I treated the Emperor casually.

To do that, it would be better to get straight to the point.

I was aware of the surrounding situation while crossing the Arcana Continent.

‘I have plenty of time.’

There was still time until the day I promised to meet Kitch.

So I didn’t hesitate.

I spoke straightforwardly to the Emperor.

“Let’s save the chitchat for later.”

“Is there anything urgent you have to do?”

“Don’t you know?”

Since he was the Emperor, the head of the Empire, he must be thinking about it, right?

Cities near Antonium had been recovered from the clutches of the demons.

How would they restore it?

‘Thanks to Claudie’s halo, I unintentionally can do it easily.’

I had a lot of magic left.

Besides, the target of the exploration was minerals, right?

Since the days when the castle walls were trivial matters.

I could skillfully build them right away.

So they didn’t have to worry.

Especially the person over there who seemed to be a mage.

‘How come your face is similar to someone…?’

I would take care of everything while also completing the [main quest].

Just relax for the first time in a while.

Don’t even think about moving a single step from the palace.

*

Mage Tower.

“Achoo!”

The Senior Mage of Fire Magic, Bensch William, sneezed.

…Who had been talking about him?

His ears had been itchy since a while ago.

But he should focus.

“From now on, it is a non-stop competition. A competition with the adventurers…!”

The news coming from the Mage Tower recently was unusual.