The Player Hides His Past - Chapter 268: That's too much

The world of adventurers changed rapidly.

This was thanks to the news spreading at a speed that couldn’t even be imagined on the Arcana Continent. It was only after Mage Tower accepted the players as apprentice mages that they learned about it.

Floating garden.

“Isn’t this really too much, you bastards?”

Humans were animals of adaptation.

Among them, players were exceptional.

The rupture was a place where various dangers lurked.

In order to survive there, you had to adapt quickly to unfamiliar environments.

Thanks to their adaptability, they didn’t squirm for long on the Mage Tower.

The players whispered, more discreet than the apprentice mages treated like newborn chicks.

“No, look at the interview with Liu Junchun. ‘We are the Union. We have no intention of clinging to the one and only connector. We just have to monopolize the remaining nine’. Isn’t he a real jerk?”

As expected, the main topic was Union.

When the Zero Mountain came to reality.

They began engaging in full-fledged independent activities.

This action that didn’t care about means or methods looked like a thorn in people’s eyes once again.

“Did you see the video? Has he achieved what we could just imagine?”

“What video? Am I the only one who didn’t see it?”

“What did you do other than doing other things at the regular conference?”

“Huh? What I did? I tried to understand magic.”

“Sigh. You were actually listening? Anyway, look at this.”

Doing something else during a conference?

If ‘someone’ who lived and died by discipline had heard it.

It would have elicited a cold stare.

The player’s eyes widened after checking the video.

“…Gun?”

It was not just a gun.

“…No. It’s an anti-monster weapon!”

Monsters came out of collapsed ruptures.

Human science had evolved to efficiently deal with them.

Yes, the strange thing was not the anti-monster weapon, but the person.

“They’re players, right? But why…?”

Human tools, including anti-monster weapons, were not treated as [equipment] in the Arcana system.

“It’s meaningless to hunt with something like that, right?”

“That’s right. This is especially true considering the location of the Zero Mountain. Thanks to the fact that it emerged like a new continent in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. There is no need to worry about monsters causing direct harm to humanity.”

“What’s their purpose then?”

It was not equipment, so of course it didn’t increase [skill].

You couldn’t get [experience] either because you didn’t defeat the monsters with your own ability.

For that reason, the players did not touch the tools used for monsters unless it was an extreme situation where their lives were at risk.

Shh–

He put a finger to his mouth and whispered more privately.

“But it’s helpful to one person.”

“…One person?”

“The monarch, Liu Junchun.”

“!”

The moment that name was exchanged.

The players looked around and kept up their guard. Union didn’t interact with the outside world, but despite that, Union was well-versed in information. What it meant was simple.

Walls have ears.

A spy of Union might be hiding somewhere.

At a table far away.

A cat stretched.

The Mage Tower.

Just like any other place, the manifestation of magic was prohibited in the floating garden.

Needless to say.

The cat was not a spy of Union.

He had no intention of using magic to eavesdrop on the conversation.

Just.

“What am I supposed to do after that?”

The cat’s hearing was too sensitive.

Anyway, thanks to overhearing the conversation.

The cat, the Tower Master, had something to say.

He now had an excuse to bully Marcelo.

“Look, Little Chief.”

No answer.

This little boy had become stubborn while he hadn’t been watching.

The Tower Master growled and spoke again.

“Hey, Chief Marcelo.”

“What’s the matter, Tower Master?”

“You’re becoming more obnoxious.”

“Is that so?”

“Your personality is becoming more like Chief Lee Hoyeol.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“…?”

He was trying to provoke him.

Why did the brat get so happy for no reason?

Giving up early, the Tower Master laid down on his stomach and spoke.

“It seems that among the adventurers, there is one who is particularly noisy.”

“So I heard.”

“You heard, but is it okay to be this carefree?”

Sk.

Only then did Marcelo stop scribbling with his feather pen. It was not because the Tower Master was bothering him. It was simply because the research for oddity had come to a bit of an end.

“Isn’t that why I am hanging on to my research despite the Tower Master’s intrusion? Just be quiet. Aren’t you losing your fur?”

“The way you speak is starting to resemble Chief Lee.”

“I’ll take that as an undeserved compliment, too.”

“…”

After that conversation, the two remained silent for a while.

If you were to ask him if it was because his feelings were hurt, that was not possible at all.

Since Marcelo was truly a kid, conversations like this had been a daily occurrence for those two. There was another reason for the current silence. The Tower Master’s cat whiskers shook.

“Isn’t it funny?”

“What do you mean?”

“The Tower Master and the Chief Mage are struggling with just one adventurer.”

“No. It’s not funny at all.”

“Is that so? You may still be a kid, but you’re not stupid.”

Even if they exclude Chief Lee since he had already surpassed the adventurers’ standards since long time ago.

Paying attention to one adventurer was worth the trouble.

“Monarch, I thought it was about time for that word to come out.”

For the players, [monarch] was just a class.

It was just a class with a slightly special growth method. Therefore, they didn’t know how the monarch class was implemented on the Arcana Continent. However, that was not the case for the two people, the two Arcanains.

That was why they couldn’t dismiss it.

Marcelo opened his mouth.

“In every difficult time, a 『monarch』 appeared.”

Those who called themselves monarchs had an ability.

It was not an exceptional magic power on par with mages of the Tower, and neither did it make them powerful enough to become one with the sword. Yes, they had the ability to treat humans like weapons.

The Tower Master’s tail waved.

“A group that lives with the sole goal of domination.”

What were the actions of those people who claimed to be monarchs?

There was no need to look back on them.

Just by looking at the fact that the owner of the Arcana Continent was the Emperor, you could tell the endings of the other monarchs.

However, in the past, these were things that he would not have cared about. It was none of his business to know about the authority of the continent.

However.

‘Is this also thanks to you, Chief Lee?’

He came to realize it once again.

The monarch was like a mosquito.

Monarchs lived as parasites on others and increased their power by sucking the blood of others.

In these difficult times, the monarchs were the most useless people.

The Tower Master said casually.

“So there would be no regrets if he’s erased from the world.”

It was the simplest and most mage-like solution.

The Mage Tower of the past moved forward by crushing everything that bothered it.

The creepy words made Marcelo chuckle.

“Tower Master.”

“I’m listening.”

“You’re worse at lying than before.”

“Hn, what do you mean?”

“There must be a reason why you say things you don’t really mean.”

Such actions were only done in the past.

Moreover, now that Hoyeol was in the position of chief, he kept his guard all up.

It would be impossible for the transformed Mage Tower to repeat its mistakes.

The Tower Master said indifferently.

“Can’t you see it?”

“?”

“It’s obvious that these monarchs will be a blight in the new era.”

“Hmm.”

Marcelo declined to comment.

A product of science given by Hoyeol.

Through the magic tool of this world that the adventurers called smartphones.

Marcelo used to hear news of the reality.

Like ‘someone’ said.

The grand exploration of oddity was enough.

He also received information through the Holy War Allied Force meetings at the Yusra Conference.

News about ranked players, including Nam Taemin, and AAU.

So Marcelo nodded.

“It’s certainly likely to happen.”

The Tower Master’s tail stood straight.

“I’m being serious, Chief Marcelo.”

The kid’s title, the pointed ears, and the bristling fur showed the Tower Master was sincere.

“How about we handle it between you and me?”

It was only one adventurer.

They said he was a vessel of a monarch with a lot of variables.

Now he was just a fragile thing that could be scattered like dust by magic.

The Tower Master continued.

“Isn’t it annoying enough just now? Ignoring the rules generously laid out by our Chief Lee. It’s like declaring to everyone that he will walk down the path of conflict.”

Marcelo also answered sincerely.

“I understand your feelings, but I refuse, Tower Master.”

He knew it would be like this.

The Tower Master was not too disappointed because he had no expectations.

However, he wanted to ask the reason.

“Is it because of his pride?”

Marcelo laughed again.

“Haha. It’s not just that.”

“You can’t completely refute it.”

“I just want to hear words of respect.”

In fact, Marcelo’s thoughts were not too different from the Tower Master’s.

The actions of the monarchs on the Arcana Continent were revealed in history books.

Before the Empire unified the Arcana Continent.

There was truly a constant smell of blood on the continent during the period when monarchs were rampaging. To exaggerate a bit… To some people, a monarch and a demon king would be no different.

So Hoyeol’s opinion on this was even more important.

‘The Empire is weak.’

Now that the Empire had lost its power.

The monarch vessels who were holding their breath would move.

It seemed that among the adventurers, the only person who was a monarch was Liu Junchun.

The situation on the Arcana Continent would be different.

Marcelo pictured the future.

When they won the Holy War and restored peace to the Arcana Continent, would the continent still belong to the Empire? Now that he had dedicated everything to the Mage Tower. The authority of the continent was not important to Marcelo…

He needed to know one thing for sure.

‘What kind of future are you picturing, Sir Hoyeol?’

Yeah.

Mage Tower’s response to Liu Junchun would inevitably differ depending on the future Hoyeol picture. Marcelo was planning to talk to Hoyeol about it.

‘He said he wouldn’t stay there longer than a day.’

He would be back soon.

It wouldn’t be long before Hoyeol returned to reality.

There was no reason for them to make a hasty decision or action.

Stretch–

“You’re still a boring man.”

Perhaps the Tower Master had lost interest.

Scratch–

He scratched his head with his back foot and got up from the table.

Then, in the end, he heard.

“Thank you, Tower Master.”

“A thank you all of a sudden? For what?”

“This is my teacup.”

Clink.

Marcelo held the teacup filled with a green teabag in front of the Tower Master’s nose.

Float.

There was Tower Master’s fur floating on the jade-colored tea water.

…What if this had been Chief Lee’s teacup?

Chills!

Thinking of that cold gaze, he felt like the furs on his body were standing.

But for a moment, Tower Master thought of something.

‘No way, the reason Chief Lee hates cats…’

The Tower Master licked his fluffy front paws with his tongue according to his instinct.

‘…Is it because of the fur?’

Then he shook his head.

No matter how feisty, sharp, and cold that chief was.

How could the chief hate him just because of one piece of fur?

*

I immediately ran out of the palace and out of Antonium.

I actually didn’t run out, but I just went through the portal.

Anyway, maybe because it was an uncomfortable situation.

‘My ears feel itchy…’

Thrud.

I saw people coming towards me.

They were the soldiers of the Empire who guarded the recaptured city.

They probably came after seeing the lights of the portal.

“I am carrying out His Majesty’s orders.”

They looked very nervous.

Even if they didn’t know who I was, I told them not to interfere.

But my business is similar to yours, you know?

‘Of course, I wasn’t given an order, I was asked a favor.’

I checked the quest window.

[Main quest: Warring States Period]

A time of upheaval.

Is it simple power that it is header for?

Is it the Emperor’s incompetence?

Or is it a fate that can’t be resisted?

The continent’s powerful people covet the throne.

Your choice will create a new flow.

– Defend Antonium. (Successful)

– Restore the glory of the renowned Empire. (In Progress)

• Restore the collapsed city, Machima (In Progress)

• Restore the collapsed town, Holdemwood. (In progress)

• Restore the collapsed city, Polestar. (In Progress)….

The main quest, the Warring States Period.

This was the main quest that appeared when Antonium was surrounded by Shegwin and the rebels. Since the continent’s authority was at stake, it made sense why it was labeled the main quest.

‘The story unfolds differently depending on my choice.’

Even now, the burden I had to carry was overwhelming.

To me, who refrained from having anything to do with the Empire.

I had no thought whatsoever of overthrowing the Empire and establishing a new country. But if I wanted to bring down the Empire… The main quest would really have flowed that way.

‘Because I actually had that option.’

But aside from how much of a nuisance it was.

I, Lee Hoyeol, had loyalty, too.

The Knights of Lionheart had been exploited by me…

No, Harkon had done a lot for me.

How could I stab the Empire in the back?

‘And there is no other ally like the Empire.’

I didn’t know when it would happen.

But starting with me, the players and the Arcanains in the reality would visit the Arcana Continent. If the Empire remained strong until then, we could have a synergistic effect on each other.

Naturally.

‘I have to be faithful to the quest given to me right now.’

The noble Grandfel surely would never be interested in the quest reward. But wasn’t, I, Lee Hoyeol, always in a situation full of regrets? Moreover, in this quest, I felt anticipation for the reward.

Well, just think of [Milky Way Whetstone].

It was a magic that was kept in the warehouse of the Empire.

It was the final tip that made the ethereal become a legend.

‘Something similar to the Milky Way Whetstone…’

The place where such a whetstone was stored was the Empire’s underground warehouse.

I might get items equivalent to the whetstone as a reward.

I had materialistic thoughts.

‘This is not the time to sit still, Hoyeol.’

Stop thinking useless things for a moment.

I immediately raised my mana.

Then I interfered with the ground and built a wall immediately.

Crush!

As expected, actions speak louder than words.

“…Are you a mage belonging to the Empire?”

The soldiers relaxed and asked politely.

But again.

Actions speak louder than words

In the process of interference, [aesthetic] that reached [upper] was added.

Then, the soldiers’ expressions turned into astonishment.

“T-This is not at the level of the imperial mage I know!!”

“…How can he build a castle wall in one swoop?!”

“I’m sorry, but where are you from?”

If it was the usual me.

I would have puffed up my already confident chest wider.

But I couldn’t.

I was too busy freaking out because of the message that appeared.

Was this really true…?

‘One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand…?’

No, it was good that it was handed out from the beginning, but.

At this rate…

Wouldn’t the quest reward drain the Empire’s resources?!

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– Current contribution: 24,900,000p

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Author’s Thoughts

Hi, everyone, I probably will only post two or three chapters this week, depending on how busy I would be.

Hopefully, by next week, I will be able to upload normally according to the schedule.