The Player Hides His Past - Chapter 269: Too much to refuse (1)

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

• Restore the collapsed city, Machima. (Succesful)

• Restore the collapsed town, Holdemwood. (Succesful)

• Restore the collapsed city, Polestar. (Succesful)…

Succesful.

Succesful.

A series of successes.

This arrogant mouth wouldn’t just remain quiet.

“It’s refreshing.”

Wouldn’t it look like I had done something amazing? Especially from the perspective of the imperial soldiers, they never thought there would be an archmage who suddenly jumped out of a portal.

“What should I say about this…”

Bones, a bushy-bearded Imperial officer, frowned.

Even looking at it, I was speechless.

The wall that collapsed.

In less than half a day, it rose perfectly, no, more magnificently than before.

“The magic I knew wasn’t like this…”

Yeah.

This was the Arcana Continent where magic existed, but not all magic was the same. I felt sorry for the mages of the Empire, but if I were to evaluate them based on the criteria of the Mage Tower…

‘They have to work hard to reach a skilled mage.’

No, most of them were less strong than the apprenticeship mages.

Of course, it was because the Mage Tower was the strongest armed group in the Arcana Continent. It was definitely not because there were not enough mages from the Empire.

“I don’t know how to express this grace.”

Bones and the Imperial Army continued to express their gratitude.

And in front of the survivors, I didn’t puff up.

It hurt my conscience if I puffed up my chest here…!

‘I never thought my struggle would repay me like this.’

The past where I had nothing.

I never thought the experience of building a wall to survive, knocking it down again with reversal magic, and creating stairs would be helpful. Plus, this wasn’t even the first time.

Grandfel, who could manifest perfectly after just seeing it once, manifested this magic repeatedly?

Naturally, its manifestation power…

‘I think I can create another one, called architectural magic.’

It was inevitably enormous.

I admired the magnificent walls.

It was not just built up.

There was a saying that someone who has tried meat knows how it tastes^[1]Someone who has tried meat knows how it tastes: A person who often does something can do it well. .

‘A person who has built walls can build them solidly.’

Even if a catapult fired rocks at it.

It probably would be able to survive for a few decades.

That was what I thought.

Not only that.

‘There’s also the aesthetic.’

The reason I added [aesthetic] was simple.

Hadn’t I looked around the Imperial Palace with my aesthetic sense as if evaluating it?

The castle walls were as great as the Imperial Palace.

It could be a symbol of the Empire’s territory.

To put it simply.

“Actions speak louder than words.”

It was just for Grandfel’s self-satisfaction.

‘…Yeah, who’s to blame?’

In fact, it was thanks to Claudie’s halo that I could waste my mana like this. Above all, I couldn’t be sarcastic forever. I also gained something from it.

A lot too!

──────

– Current contribution: 300,723,000p

──────

Even if you rounded it down to a hundred thousand, it was still an outrageous billion.

‘It’s more amazing than the rupture clear reward.’

I was not new to the contribution system.

I’d experienced the contribution system in the Recapture Frost quest.

However, this was the first time this kind of contribution unit was used.

If this had been back when Arcana was just a game…

‘I definitely would have thought it was a bug.’

But this was not a game.

I had to use my head.

First of all, I had to be brazen.

I mumbled to myself.

‘It’s all because I’m so great.’

Self-praise.

This was also thanks to the realization that people couldn’t die from shame alone.

Thank you again, everyone in Antonium…!

Anyway.

When I changed my perspective, it started to make sense. I said it indifferently because it wasn’t really a big deal to me, but… Looking at it objectively, at the level of the Empire.

‘This is not something that can’t be achieved with the power of the Empire alone.’

It was easy to tell just by looking at the sight in front of me.

“Goddess…”

A survivor kneeled down in front of the wall and prayed by putting his hands together. It was truly something that couldn’t be explained except by the grace of a god.

‘I am non-religious, though. Grandfel, too.’

But I was not so tactless that I would talk about atheism to the delighted survivors. The soldiers of the Empire who were watching the survivors were as delighted as they were. Bones spoke on their behalf.

“I will make sure not to disgrace the miracle you have bestowed.”

Because I was a demon hunter, I could recognize it.

Those eyes were alive.

Really, no matter what demons came their way, they wouldn’t break.

‘But.’

I replied.

“No, you have done well so far.”

“…?!”

Bones looked puzzled at my words.

He must be wondering what I was suddenly talking about.

In order for a castle wall to be a castle wall, it needed soldiers to guard it.

Bones and the soldiers must have been prepared to protect the walls even if it meant risking their lives.

So I said.

“You don’t have to risk your lives anymore.”

“!”

Bones asked with a puzzled expression.

“…Did my lord give me an order to withdraw?”

Then he looked around with a complicated expression.

The Zero Mountain.

The small city near it, Polestar.

Now that the Zero Mountain had flooded to reality.

Polestar was nothing short of being thrown into the continent.

Bones seemed to know that, too.

So, he spoke immediately and in a firm voice.

“Still, I can’t comply.”

Bow–

Soon, Bones and the soldiers of the Empire bowed their heads.

What the action meant was simple.

“If my soldiers and I withdraw from Polestar, the new wall will be meaningless. Polestar would fall right to the demons’ hands. Or it would fall to the wicked again…!”

He wasn’t wrong.

As you could see, the majority of Polestar’s survivors were old and weak.

I could understand and respect Bones’ decision to refute.

It was not just me, Grandfel understood it too.

No, it went beyond understanding.

“I knew your pride.”

“…?”

Bones’ actions.

From a positive point of view, it was correct.

So, there is no need to risk your life anymore.

“And.”

…Thump!

As I spoke, I heard a noise buzzing.

Clang!

No, it would be more correct to say that the noise resonated.

Every time I heard that loud noise, my body jolted.

‘Really, it’s hard for me to say it with my own mouth. but…’

Now that the legend of the Dark Dragon Lee Hoyeol was floating around.

A being that could move while making such loud noises.

There was only one.

I continued.

“Akshan knew your pride.”

“!”

Indeed.

Akshan’s legacy.

The Qirnberg Machine Tower.

I asked the dwarves through Haiel.

Could they identify the number of Qirnberg Machine Towers currently in operation?

They answered through Haiel.

‘The number of machine towers currently in operation is 70% of the total.’

Considering that the Arcana Continent had fallen to the demons, it was a battle achievement worthy of being called Akshan’s legacy. But after looking at the Sword Saint Shegwin, I realized something.

The Qirnberg Machine Tower was also Akshan after all!

Most of the Qirnberg Machine Tower was made up of silver.

Thanks to this, it was a natural enemy to demons; it was better than a demon hunter, but relatively weak to those other than demons.

To put it simply, it had missing screws. Like when a demon hunter dealt with enemies that weren’t demons.

‘In that case.’

Placing the Qirnberg Machine Tower in the recaptured city was the best decision. The Empire had the power to withstand any enemy other than demons, and those demons were enemies that the Qirnberg Machine Tower could greatly hunt.

‘We can make up for each other’s weaknesses.’

The only thing that mattered was the approval of the strict pride.

It was a pointless worry.

Those without pride would have abandoned the Empire a long time ago.

Still, someone might ask.

Would Akshan allow that?

“Akshan… They…?”

Bones was flustered by the name and he hesitated.

Thanks to his position, he seemed to have at least a general understanding of the situation.

The fact that the Empire was no help whatsoever when Akshan was destroyed.

That was probably why he was worried.

“…How can we, soldiers of the Empire, receive help from Akshan?”

But don’t underestimate Akshan.

Our sunbaenims don’t have such a long resentment.

In the first place, given the personalities of those people, they must have gotten rid of all those personal feelings while training their bodies. And moreover, if it meant hunting more demons, the sunbaenims would approve of anything.

With that in mind, I spoke like I usually did.

“Akshan doesn’t turn away from those who are tormented by demons.”

“…!”

“Even if it is an enemy who has let go of their hand.”

Looking at it from the perspective of Akshan’s last survivor, it was reasonable.

If they could hunt demons more efficiently.

There was no reason not to cooperate with the Empire.

[Qirnberg Machine Tower protects ‘Polestar’.]

Thump!

Like a watchman.

Starting with the machine tower that stopped in front of Polestar.

Similar messages appeared one after another before my eyes.

[Qirnberg Machine Tower protects ‘Holdemwood’.]…

‘Looks like it has arrived in another city as well.’

Finally.

The contribution point flashed again.

Let’s see, let’s make a guess before confirming it.

I earned 300 million points in architecture…

Even if I wasn’t good at it, wouldn’t I be able to get 10 million points?

I counted the chickens before they hatched.

Soon.

I checked the message again.

I was shocked.

One hundred ten…

Million…

…One hundred millioooon?!!

*

Nash placed his hand on the Empire’s magic tool, the 『Fortune Teller’s Crystal Ball』

It was to confirm the story that Hoyeol had told.

He automatically swallowed.

‘Let’s calm down.’

He was worried.

The opponent was a dark dragon and a living legend.

‘…What if I look like I doubt it?’

Perhaps, would he incur the wrath of the Dark Dragon?

If his brother at the Mage Tower heard it, he would call him a frog in the well… Still, Nash was the best mage in the Empire. Thanks to that, he could recognize it.

The pure mana flowing out of Hoyeol!

His throat still burned.

‘What’s more surprising is the regeneration power…’

It was so great that it felt like his soaring mana was infinite.

He must have declared with confidence because he had such magic power.

– “I alone am enough.”

He didn’t know about His Majesty and the others, but.

Nash was well aware of the mage’s abilities. For a mage of his caliber, rebuilding the city walls and returning in half a day was no big deal.

So he couldn’t help but resent this situation.

He could understand that it was a discipline and procedure that couldn’t be skipped.

‘But, I have to go through that procedure…!’

The problem was that it was his job.

The moment the Dark Dragon left the Imperial Palace.

His Majesty spoke.

– “Listen, ministers. What I conveyed to Sir Hoyeol was a request, not an order. Appropriate rewards must follow. I believe you feel the same way.”

His Majesty said so, and no one objected.

Moreover, everything must be rewarded appropriately.

It was like the rules of the Empire.

‘It’s a necessary procedure for compensation, so even if we can’t help…!’

It was bound to be extremely burdensome.

Fortunately.

The Dark Dragon said he understood.

He even nodded benevolently, uncharacteristic of a mage.

“If that’s the procedure, I’ll gladly follow it.”

It was only then that Nash swallowed a sigh of relief.

Then he moved his trembling hands.

He opened his mouth carefully.

“Then…! I’ll use the fortune teller’s crystal ball.”

He didn’t need to check every city.

If he looked at Polestar, the furthest away from Antonium, he would be able to guess the outline of other cities. Thinking like that, Nash’s face turned white as he looked at Polestar.

“Uh… Huh?”

Huh.

In front of the Emperor, the legend, and the ministers.

He was so shocked that he started speaking informally.

He couldn’t help it.

“T-That’s ridiculous….”

Greater than the wall of Antonium.

A tall, thick, and splendid wall surrounded Polestar perfectly. Not only that. The Qirnberg Machine Tower was standing tall as if guarding Polestar.

Nash touched the crystal ball.

“I’m sorry, I’ll check it again….!”

He thought just checking Polestar would be enough.

After checking, he became suspicious.

It would have been understandable if Hoyeol had simply built a castle wall.

But that was not a ‘simple’ wall.

Maybe he spent all his time on Polestar…

“!”

But Nash froze.

He couldn’t express his shock in words, so he looked at the Emperor.

The Emperor followed Nash and placed his hand on the crystal ball.

“Ah…”

Soon after, he sighed.

“Everyone in the palace listens.”

He shouted in a determined voice.

“Open the underground treasury of the Imperial Palace now!”

“…!!!”

.

.

.

Yes, give and take.

It would have been perfect if I had listened quietly.

But how could this guy’s pride that didn’t care about wealth and fame stay still in this situation…!

The crowd buzzed.

“I acknowledge his credit, but…!”

“You are opening the underground treasury of the Imperial Palace…?”

“Your Majesty, that judgment!”

I opened my mouth coldly.

“Do you think I only want this price in return?”

“…!!!”

Farewell, treasure of the Empire…!

The moment I resigned to this big mouth as always.

The Emperor and his subjects.

The direction of the conversation between them was unusual.

…Wait a minute.

Not just an underground treasury, but somewhere deeper?

What is the Library of War?

I think you misunderstood what I meant?!

• 1. Someone who has tried meat knows how it tastes: A person who often does something can do it well.