The Player Hides His Past - Chapter 271: Promise (1)

An old-fashioned imperial space.

A dazzlingly gorgeous teacup.

And a green tea bag in the teacup that broke the mood.

Clink–

Anyway, this story was even more shocking than the sight before my eyes.

I was shocked, but I put down the teacup without showing it.

Then I opened my mouth.

“There were such circumstances.”

A rupture.

A space of oddity.

It was a treasure trove of war with fraudulent effects like oddity.

As expected, with great power comes great responsibility.

It was a treasure trove of war, and the cost of using it was longevity. In the Library of War, the emperors of the Empire exchanged answers that could save people’s lives and overcome crises. It was for the sake of protecting the Empire.

“But I am not afraid. No, I shouldn’t do it out of fear. The moment I show even the slightest fear, I will no longer have the right to face Father and other previous emperors.”

It seemed that the Emperor had not yet entered the former emperor’s library.

Even if I asked him what it was like inside the Library of War, he wouldn’t know.

Laughing bitterly, the Emperor added.

“Can you keep this secret from others?”

Everyone seemed to know about the Library of War.

But they didn’t know what the price was.

So I was able to say it casually.

“When the time comes, I will reveal everything myself.”

Even though I said that, I had to keep it a secret.

But.

Would there ever be a day when I could reveal it?

‘It was clearly a rupture.’

Let’s think again.

The information in the Library of War.

[Library of War]

[Recommended level: Immeasurable]

[Collapse progress: 92.7%]

First of all, the recommended level.

According to the Emperor, only those with the qualities of a ‘monarch’ were allowed to enter the Library of War. It was said that the moment you entered, you couldn’t reverse your decision or reverse the loss of your life.

‘He must have received education for it.’

Human lifespan was limited.

This meant you couldn’t ask questions multiple times.

Thanks to this, the Emperor was said to have received training related to it so that he could get the maximum number of answers with the minimum number of questions. He must have learned the oratorical skills that made the legend of the Dark Dragon spread back then.

‘It smells here too.’

The sickening smell of a dysfunctional family…!

Even though he was born wearing a crown.

How could they train him to use his lifespan efficiently.

Isn’t that too much?

Even my past self who was obsessed with strange tastes wouldn’t have written down this setting in the Claudie family, really.

Anyway, even if it was not as bad as the World Tree family, it was still dysfunctional. And that was not the only problem. We shouldn’t overlook the fact that the Library of War was a rupture.

‘What happens if it collapses?’

If I were to guess based on the player’s experience accumulated over the years…

Every time you borrowed its power, the collapse rate of the [Library of War] increased.

I declared at that point.

“I won’t reveal it.”

“Thank you for your understanding…”

“You won’t have to reveal it.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Because you will never enter the Library of War.”

“…Yes.”

Ruptures were rare in the Arcana Continent, so the people here probably didn’t know much about it.

The moment the Library of War collapsed.

No one could predict what would happen to Antonium.

‘We have to stop it now.’

92.7 percent.

It was not for no reason that people said being late is better than nothing. Let’s think as positively as possible. If they never used it in the future, it would be no different from zero percent.

In fact, I felt the same way.

‘How ruptures are treated in this world.’

Although I wanted to explain in great detail.

I learned a lesson after talking on the podium of the Mage Tower’s Crystal Hall.

Even if I tried explaining it a hundred times in words.

No one would be able to completely understand the concept of another world.

‘Because Grandfel is odd.’

So I had no choice but to come up with a different reason now.

Of course, no matter how benevolent this guy’s pride was.

I couldn’t say things I didn’t want to say.

I had no choice but to confidently declare as always.

“There will no longer be a situation beyond the Empire that can be called a desperate crisis on the Arcana Continent.”

“…!”

“I will make it happen.”

Seriously, this self-confidence was truly astounding.

The Emperor reacted to my words.

…The corners of his mouth rose up slightly?

‘Are you laughing at me?’

Rather than being offended, I felt extremely embarrassed.

Yeah, even I thought it was arrogant of me to say that.

It must have sounded ridiculous to the Emperor

That was what I thought, but it seemed he wasn’t mocking me.

“How curious.”

Soon, a serious voice continued.

“It’s as if Sir Hoyeol has the same burden as me…  No, I feel like you are carrying a heavier burden than me. Thanks to you, those words truly touched my heart.”

Is that so?

Actually, objectively speaking, I was carrying too much burden.

He must have felt my sincerity from there.

“That’s why all your words bring me comfort.”

The Emperor laughed softly again.

However, perhaps because I saw him smiling just before, I could tell.

This time, it was a bitter smile filled with bitter emotions.

‘Apart from trusting me.’

He couldn’t easily put down his burden as an emperor.

Well, I was not in a position to be angry just because he didn’t believe me.

That must be the pride of the Emperor.

But you could trust this one thing.

『For Grandfel, the feeling of humility doesn’t exist. If he’s underestimated, he can prove himself to them. Because he’s the one who ends up making the overestimation a reality.』

Even though it sounded like a bluff now.

Grandfel would make it come true.

No, to be precise, I would struggle until it came true.

So you can watch, Emperor.

Live as long as possible.

*

The promised day had come.

The top floor of the Mage Tower.

The Tower Master licked his fur with his tongue.

“Isn’t it too grandiose, Chief Marcelo?”

“What do you mean, Tower Master?”

“Since it’s the promised day, you’ve been looking forward to this moment. It’s only one day. I am just wondering whether this kind of hospitality is too much.”

One day in real time.

In the Arcana Continent, it was only four days.

However, look at the number of people gathered on the top floor of the Mage Tower.

All the head mages including the Tower Master, the elder, and the chief, were all summoned.

“It’s more luxurious than when I returned.”

“Are you jealous?”

“If you say that, what should I do?”

“Your tail is swaying, Tower Master. As expected, you are not good at lying.”

“Tsk. If only it wasn’t for this damn beast’s body.”

Marcelo continued with a smile.

“Still, it’s not excessive. This is not Sir Hoyeol’s first time entering the Arcana Continent, but this is the first time he has a companion, right? More than just simply celebrating his safe return, we will need to be careful.”

As if the Mage Tower was in full force.

The reason they waited for Hoyeol on the top floor was simple.

Excluding Hoyeol, it could be said to be the first.

To commemorate the round trip between reality and the Arcana Continent.

At the same time, it was to respond to any unexpected situation.

Healing magic.

Pure magic.

Black magic…

The twenty senior mages were experts in each field.

If something went wrong with his companion, Kitch, when moving between reality and the Arcana Continent, they could respond quickly in various ways.

Senior mage of pure mana, Banglet, whined.

“…But does he really need us?”

Senior mage of fire magic, Bensch, accepted his whisper.

“Again. Are you going to say something timid?”

“That’s not it… Chief is there, right?”

“Tsk tsk. You only know one thing and don’t know about other things, Senior Banglet.”

“Yes…?”

Bensch straightened his shoulder for the first time in a while.

It was only natural.

In a situation like this, the only person Bensch could proudly show off was Banglet, who was younger than him and had a naive personality. Bensh whispered, just like when he was telling his younger brother, Nash, a move.

“This is all about promoting friendship…!”

“…Promoting friendship?”

“That’s right. In fact, everyone here knows! If there is any problem, we know that Chief Lee will solve it skillfully. However, showing sincerity is more important than intention.”

“Showing sincerity is important…?”

“Well, in the social world of nobles….”

Bensch was about to continue speaking, but he paused and added.

“Ah, Banglet, I definitely don’t look down on you just because you’re a commoner, okay? I swear by the proud family of William. It’s just to help you understand.”

“…Haha. Of course.”

Although Bensch was often misunderstood because of his rough words and actions,

Banglet knew his true feelings.

If he was planning to discriminate just because Banglet was a commoner.

Senior Bensh wouldn’t even have a conversation with him in the first place.

“Even actions that seem extremely unnecessary and inefficient have meaning. For example, there is an order of use for the tableware placed at the dinner table!”

“Ah…!”

As soon as he heard the gentle example, he understood.

“I was not used to it either, so I had a pretty hard time.”

Nobody knew how much he had suffered for a while after entering the Mage Tower.

At the Mage Tower banquet held every anniversary, Banglet complained about it and asked if the nobles used multiple spoons and forks because they had multiple hands.

“The situation is similar to that, is that what you mean?”

“That’s right! Isn’t this just formality?”

“Hmm…”

Banglet trailed off.

Thanks to Bensch, he understood it, but there was something strange about it.

Chief Lee valued formality, but he didn’t value empty ceremony…

Whell, around the time when Hoyeol was just recognized as co-chief.

‘I’ve experienced it, so I know it well.’

In order to gain Hoyeol’s favor.

Banglet went to his office and was turned away.

Regardless of whether he knew this story or not.

Bensch laughed.

“So I’m diligently looking through books these days. Do you know a book called ‘The Noble’s Writing’? There are thousands of pages alone…”

At this point, Banglet was certain.

‘You’ve got it all wrong again, Senior Bensch.’

The reason his tower exit application was always rejected was not because of the greeting. Banglet wanted to get to the point, but he couldn’t afford to do so.

– I-Iam sorry…!

At that moment, a telepathy rang in his head.

It wasn’t just passed on to Banglet.

Senior mages were shocked.

“…!”

They realized it as soon as they exchanged glances.

This was a telepathy transmitted to all senior mages.

Marcelo, Yugwid, and the Tower Master noticed.

Yugwid joked.

“Oh my, it looks like we don’t get anything.”

Now that all the senior mages had gathered on the top floor of the Mage Tower.

The one who sent telepathy must be a skilled mage at best.

A skilled mage would not dare to convey telepathy to the chief, elder, or Tower Master.

The Tower Master said indifferently.

“So what’s going on?”

A telepathy from within the Mage Tower.

It was a rare occurrence.

Soon after, the senior mages spoke.

Because it was such incredible news.

They were not sure and trailed off.

“…They said that an uninvited guest has entered the Mage Tower.”

“?”

Even before the Cataclysm.

Such an event was unprecedented.

Of course.

Arcana’s strongest armed group.

The magnificence of the Mage Tower was even greater in the past than it was now.

Yugwid and Tower Master looked at each other.

“Doesn’t this pique your interest, Tower Master?”

But Marcelo blocked their curiosity in advance.

“Has the identity of the uninvited guest been specified?”

Matis bowed his head.

“I’ll ask right away.”

Up until that point, Marcelo had not taken it seriously.

Unlike in the past, the Mage Tower was open. There were reporters with cameras stationed in the lobby, and there were also players constantly warping through portals.

‘Even if they entered the upper floor.’

Skilled mages would be able to clean up the situation.

So he wasn’t worried.

However, the moment Matis’ brow furrowed.

Marcelo had a feeling.

This situation might be going differently than he expected.

Matis opened his mouth.

“The intruder broke through the siege of skilled mages.”

“…!!!”

“They said the guest is trying to enter the Crystal Hall.”

Marcelo asked back without panicking.

“So who is it?”

“An Arcanain, not an adventurer…”

Matis’ eyes sank.

“They said it was one of the members of the Shadow Mercenary Corps.”

Shadow Mercenary Corps.

The moment that name was brought up.

Yogwid put on a serious look.

“Damn shadow mercenaries…”

Gentle Giant, Yugwid.

The giant, who rarely showed emotions, was clearly expressing her discomfort. She couldn’t help it. Yugwid had a small bad relationship with the Shadow Mercenary Corps.

Yugwid opened her mouth.

“I’ll take care of the uninvited guest.”

It was unknown for what reason they approached the Mage Tower.

But it was clearly a mistake.

Yugwid recited quietly.

“I didn’t think they could be rewritten in the first place.”

The moment she was about to take a quick stride.

“…?”

Stzss–!

The top floor.

A cluster of brilliant magic lights floated in the air.

Everyone in the room could recognize it.

“!!!”

It was no ordinary portal.

Only those who had reached the peak level could manifest it.

A portal between dimensions.

Soon, a familiar sound was heard from within the portal’s cluster of lights.

Clink–

They heard the voice of the chief mage, Hoyeol.

“Not an uninvited guest.”

Hoyeol said so.

…What did he mean by that?

As everyone pondered on his words.

“I was expecting this, too.”

…He was expecting it?

How could Chief Lee, who was on the continent of Arcana, predict the situation here? Everyone was in doubt for a moment, and it was only when the portal disappeared completely that they noticed.

Through the connector.

Kitch, the leader of the Shadow Mercenary Corps that headed to the Arcana Continent with Hoyeol, was nowhere to be seen.

Hoyeol opened his mouth while tidying up his clothes.

“Are they going to replace the leader who didn’t keep her promise?”

His cold voice turned to Yugwid.

“Would you please give that task to me, Elder Mage Yugwid?”

“What do you mean, Chief Lee…?”

“I will check their pride ‘strictly.’”