Chapter 99

◈ Chapter 99. Top Secret (2)

Magical communication.

There was no need for unnecessary conversation.

The information about the rifts flowed into my mind through telepathy.

...So much mana, really!

Not only me, but sending telepathic messages to all the senior mages.

If it were me, I would have been drained of mana by now.

For a moment, I was taken aback.

I felt a sense of familiarity from the location of the rift.

'It looks similar to Frost.'

The summoning ritual of the Demon King, Decarabia, in Frost.

That ritual required sacrifices and procedures.

'Like the magic circle drawn in blood and corpses.'

The 11 rifts that had formed.

The positions of the rifts seemed to form a specific pattern, just like back then.

Senior Mage Banggureut cautiously spoke.

"...It looks like some kind of symbol?"

If there were a constellation related to speech, it might look like that.

Now that I think about it, it does seem that way.

However, that wasn't the main point.

Considering the distance between each rift.

The scale of this summoning ritual was incomparably larger than the one in Frost.

I couldn't help but be startled.

'The amount of sacrifices needed is different, too.'

Between lower and upper Demon Kings.

There is a gap that exists between ordinary demons and Demon Kings, and beyond.

The words of Ackshan, the demon hunter, resonate with me.

'Well, that's why figures like the elder mages... '

They must be causing all this commotion to summon an upper Demon King.

Of course, I didn't show any of these emotions on my face.

『No temptation, deception, or trial of any demon can even scratch the noble pride of Granfel.』

Yes.

Even in front of an upper Demon King, the heavy pride of Granfel stands firm.

Even if it sinks under the weight, it doesn't waver.

However, of course.

'I have no intention of sinking, of course.'

It's not the first time.

I know what this pride is like.

To avoid sinking.

I have been struggling tirelessly.

This time is no exception.

"The Demon King is not what you should be concerned about."

That's why I acted like this.

To stop the great summoning of the Demon King.

I continued calmly.

"Dealing with the heretic, Karimzeba. Focus on the objective."

That's right.

Ultimately, the core is Karimzeba.

'Why worry about the summoning of an upper Demon King in advance?'

We prepared and moved to prevent such a disaster from the beginning. So, stop complaining, Senior Mage Banggureut.

Even as I said this.

"However, even if the Demon King is resurrected, you have nothing to worry about."

In front of the Demon King's summoning ritual.

My damn pride only grew higher.

I had no choice but to say something I didn't mean.

"I am here."

...I did resolve to go all out if I were to go crazy.

'But I didn't expect to go this crazy!'

If I could, I would curse myself.

The people in front of me, after all.

They are not just ordinary people.

They are the real powers of the Magic Tower, the highest military force of Arcana.

'Senior, Chief, and even Elder.'

Not just in front of a caterpillar...

Even at level 333, there's nothing I can't do.

This is a different level of shame from what I used to say in front of players.

But my shameless face showed no change.

"Understood."

Nod, nod—

Marcello's response was followed by the nodding of Senior Mages, including Banggureut.

I hope they didn't take my words seriously.

While I was praying.

Marcello continued.

"Then, we will proceed according to the plan."

Roar—

It was a kind of signal.

Everyone had already grasped the information about the rifts through telepathy.

Each one manifested a portal.

Of course, I remained still.

I need to conserve my mana as much as possible.

'Even though I doped with magic herbs.'

Full preparation.

Of course, that included doping with magic herbs.

[Mana regeneration slightly increases for 6 hours.]

[Mana regeneration slightly increases for 3 hours.]

[Mana regeneration slightly increases for 1 hour.]...

Full doping.

I took everything that was good for mana regeneration, without overlapping effects.

'If I didn't have this, it would be truly terrifying.'

This is also a result of my struggle.

Thanks to the information about magic herbs I learned from the [Pentagram of Pure Knowledge], I could consume various types and effects of magic herbs.

Getting magic herbs wasn't difficult.

'They are treated as junk items in the auction house.'

The knowledge about magic herbs is vast.

It's hard for players to recognize their true value.

Even directly consuming them to test their effects has its limits.

'So, I bought every magic herb I saw.'

Among them, there were a few rare magic herbs that permanently increased stats, though not as rare as the Four-Color Wintergreen.

Even if they were auctioned, there were people who recognized their value.

Who am I?

No, who is Granfel?

The embodiment of integrity, transcending material life.

I always buy the cheapest tea bags. My astronomical bank balance remains the same. Even expensive magic herbs can be bought without hesitation.

[Name: Granfel Claudius Arpeus Romeo]

[Title: The Last Adventurer]

[Class: Demon Hunter]

[Level: 333]

[Stats]

Strength: 62 / Agility: 66 / Mana: 287 / Luck: 6 / Aesthetics: 下

[Available Points: 0]

The visible status window is the result of my struggle.

Strength and agility.

I have steadily increased them through class quests.

Considering that, I have a much higher total stat compared to other players at the same level.

Of course, such numbers mean nothing in front of Karimzeba.

"Let's go, then."

I am not alone, Karimzeba.

Clack—

Elder Mage Senios struck the ground with his staff.

A portal immediately manifested.

Is this real?

This is beyond exploration, interference, and all that!

Well, senior mages of the Magic Tower can manifest portals easily.

You might not fully appreciate the greatness of Senios.

'But this is no ordinary magic.'

Portals are high-level magic.

Among players, only a few can use the portal skill.

Its performance is embarrassingly superior.

'He manifests a portal like it's a light spell.'

Senios is with me.

Yes, for the weakest one like me, this kind of consideration is necessary for balance.

Thinking shamelessly.

Senios suddenly asked.

"Chief Lee Ho-yeol. Are you particularly sensitive to the cold?"

An unexpected question.

Well, I hate the cold.

From Russia to Hokkaido.

'Thinking about how I only wore a long coat in that cold...'

I still feel like my bones are freezing.

Unfortunately, I have had frequent encounters with cold regions.

Of course, making a fuss about the cold?

That's not something Granfel's dignity allows.

I answered calmly.

"The cold cannot stop me."

"Is that so? Then, that's fortunate."

Wait, what's fortunate?

I quickly understood the meaning of his words.

Sssss—!

...What is this cutting wind?

I could tell from the air seeping into my lungs.

This is a different level of cold.

'Thankfully, I prepared a warmth buff.'

If not for the gem box in my storage that grants a [Warmth] buff.

In my formal attire, I would have suffered from hypothermia in just a few minutes. This is!

Amidst the flying snowflakes.

What I saw was a snowy field.

And the rift.

The coordinates of the rift immediately came to mind.

I inwardly blamed Senios.

Out of all the rifts...

'Why did he choose the one in the Arctic?'

It's clear.

Senios definitely has feelings for me...

Of course, I can't say anything.

I have a conscience.

Superior treatment, casual talk, insubordination.

Considering what I've done, it would be strange if he didn't have feelings.

"I like the cold."

But Senios seemed to have other thoughts.

At that moment, his eyes were cold and calm.

The purpose of his departure, as he declared.

The execution of Karimzeba.

His eyes were focused solely on the objective.

Choosing the Arctic rift among many.

'Is this just a coincidence?'

If so, what a coincidence!

I'm not doing military service in Cheorwon.

From Russia to Hokkaido, to the Arctic.

What kind of snow viewing is this...!!

"A stronger opponent requires a favorable battlefield."

Favorable battlefield?

Senios' words reminded me of his nickname.

If Karimzeba was called the Fire Dragon.

'Senios of the Ten Thousand Year Snow.'

He was the pinnacle of ice magic.

"However, Karimzeba. That arrogant and foolish guy wouldn't even consider such a simple common sense. The probability is the same. We won't know until we check beyond it."

Senios headed straight for the rift.

"Let's see if Karimzeba is here."

I followed him, thinking.

Even with Senios by my side.

Even with full preparation.

Facing Karimzeba from the start is quite burdensome.

I hope he has some common sense, Karimzeba.

*

Still, it's a damn feeling.

"I can't get used to it."

The eleventh time.

Karimzeba shook his hand as he looked at the last rift.

Everything was just a process for the 'true truth.'

Still, working with demons felt unsettling.

"The preparations for the ritual are complete. Demon King."

Now, all that was needed was the sacrifice.

Preparing the sacrifice was the job of the demons.

Now, his job was to ensure the ritual went smoothly.

To burn any interfering intruders.

"I hope you show yourself, Akampatam."

Whether it's a demon.

Or an adventurer.

There would be no exception.

Just as Karimzeba was making this resolve.

"…!"

Karimzeba sensed it.

The mana tracking his presence.

It was clearly high-level magic.

It was natural that mere apprentice-level adventurers couldn't be considered. Even excluding adventurers, there weren't many who could use such magic.

"A mage."

Muttering, Karimzeba thought.

Who is it?

Who is tracking his mana trail?

The one who came to mind was.

"Could it be you?"

The elder mages, who had lost communication.

No, the demon worshippers.

Karimzeba sneered.

By getting too close to demons, they eventually.

"Have you become no different from demons?"

To Karimzeba, demons were merely a means to witness the 'true truth.'

But they were different.

Enchanted by the power of demons.

They had ultimately become no different from demons.

"I don't know."

Why they were chasing him now?

He couldn't understand.

But one thing was certain.

To witness the true truth.

The ritual had to be successfully completed.

Karimzeba's eyes flared up.

"!"

At that moment.

The detection magic he had set around the rift activated.

Someone was approaching the rift where the ritual was taking place.

'An adventurer?'

If it were adventurers, it didn't matter.

It would be like the sacrifices crawling in on their own.

But it wasn't.

His detection magic had been detected and destroyed.

"Of course, it's you."

Roar—

Karimzeba instantly drew up his mana.

He would immediately open a portal to the rift and burn the traitors.

But contrary to his resolve, Karimzeba couldn't move.

One.

Two.

And three.

"!"

An incomprehensible situation unfolded.

The traitors were only two.

Even if Akampatam was overestimating and interfering with the ritual...

The number of intruders should have stopped at three.

But four.

And five.

Six.

Seven.

One after another.

The detection magic of the rift was being perfectly destroyed.

An unexpected turn of events.

Karimzeba desperately thought.

And he realized.

"Could it be the Magic Tower is moving?"

Assuming the Magic Tower was moving.

The questions began to unravel one by one.

The demon worshippers, who couldn't communicate through telepathy.

Someone tracking his mana trail.

The simultaneous destruction of detection magic.

If the Magic Tower had discovered their plan.

Everything made sense.

'But how?'

Who could have discovered their plan?

The one he suspected was Chief Mage Marcello.

He was the only mage who had doubts about the elder mages. But doubts alone couldn't do anything to the elder mages.

'I don't have time to just worry.'

With the Magic Tower moving, time was short.

If it were another senior mage.

Marcello, the chief, was not an easy opponent.

But even if the Magic Tower was moving.

The plan would not change.

As he had resolved.

Even if it cost him his life.

The 'true truth' must be realized.

'Is there only one intact rift?'

Swish—

Karimzeba opened a portal to the coordinates of the rift.

He entered the rift and waited for the intruders inside.

And he encountered them.

"…!"

An intruder he had not expected at all.

"I knew this would happen, Karimzeba."

Elder Mage Senios.

He had entered the rift.

'Did Senios discover our plan?'

No, if he had noticed the signs.

He would have discovered it much earlier.

Senios' judgment had been clearly clouded by the demon's curse.

Of course, Karimzeba's question didn't last long.

Senios was not alone.

Click—

The mixed landscape of reality and the Arcana continent.

Amidst the flying snowflakes.

A silver-haired man appeared.

"!"

...Could it be?

A possibility flashed through his mind.

Joint chief, Lee Ho-yeol.

And Akampatam.

'Akampatam, he must have contacted Lee Ho-yeol to... '

Wait, if Akampatam was caught by Lee Ho-yeol?

"…That's how it happened."

Now he understood.

The mastermind behind everything.

The one who moved the Magic Tower