《I Became the Youngest Summoner in the Strongest Guild》 Prologue ProloguePrologue A massive battle event where countless monsters attack the village. Many users participate due to the great event rewards. However, the users are being pushed back due to being outnumbered. "Are you kidding me!? There are too many monsters!" "You crazy bastards! Is this balance for real?" "When are the reinforcements arriving!?" The downside of the massive battle event is that once you die, you have to watch from the waiting room. While numerous users who had lost their lives were chatting away in the waiting room, staring at their monitor screens, someone shouted. "Wh-what''s that!?" A giant shadow loomed over the village, and darkness descended. At that moment, a thunderous roar shook heaven and earth. As both humans and monsters covered their ears, something massive began to descend from the sky. It was an enormous being in the form of a dragon. Blue light began to gather in the dragon''s mouth, and that light was shot up into the sky. At that instant, an anomaly occurred in the calm sky. With a thunderous boom, countless lightning bolts struck the monsters, ending the event in victory for the player side. As the users were checking their event rewards, the giant dragon flew far away. "What was that? An event monster?" "That''s the Prey Guild''s summoned creature." "That thing is a summon!?" * * * "Unni, Oppa, I''m here!"1 "Our maknae is here!?"2 My guild''s unnies and oppas welcome me. But it''s too much. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Our maknae! This is a gift for you!" ?Necklace of the Dragon King? When equipped, greatly increases the summoned creature''s stats. A necklace that the Dragon King Ernia received as a coming-of-age gift. If Ernia discovers this necklace, your relationship will turn hostile and she will pursue you until she retrieves her necklace. If you die to Ernia while wearing the necklace, it will disappear and Ernia''s curse will decrease all your stats by 50%. "Where did you get this!?" "We accidentally entered a dragon''s lair and found it there! We swiped it thinking of our maknae!" I''ve met Ernia before. If she finds out about this, she won''t let it slide. Footnotes: 1. "Unni" is used by females to address older female friends or sisters. "Oppa" is used by females to address older male friends or brothers. 2. "Maknae" refers to the youngest member of a group. 1. Arcana Online 1. Arcana Online1. Arcana Online Parallel world. Another world said to exist in parallel with our own. In the end, it''s science fiction. I didn''t believe it. Until yesterday, that is. When I woke up, my body felt strange. My vision was lower than usual, and I had no strength in my body. I thought it was flu symptoms, but it wasn''t. The moment I checked the full-length mirror in the room, I couldn''t help but freeze. I saw a small child, about 130cm tall. Short blonde hair. Mysterious blue eyes. A face cuter than any child actor I''d seen on TV, but I had no idea what was going on. The pain I felt when I pinched my cheek. At that moment, countless memories flooded in like a tidal wave. Clutching my head in terrible pain, how much time passed? It was only about a minute, but it was the most painful time in my life. And then I realized. This world was a parallel world, not the one I had lived in. My name is Han Yuna. I''m 21 years old. I have no family. No, I did have one, but my parents and older sister died in an accident. The day of my first overseas trip. There was a plane crash. Thanks to my parents and sister shielding me with their bodies to save me, I was able to survive. Just me, alone. The reason why the room was in such a mess. The reason why I woke up with such a skinny body. I realized. That the me in this parallel world had tried to die. Or since I came to this world, did the me of this world go to the world I was in? I don''t know. I don''t know anything. My head isn''t working. I lay back down on the bed. Something bumped against me, and when I checked, it was a bankbook. Inside the bankbook was an unimaginably large amount of money¡ªinsurance money. Life insurance money from my parents and sister. The amount remained untouched, not a penny used. If I go to sleep and wake up, can I go back? I miss my family in the original world. I miss Mom. I miss Dad. I miss my sister. I want to eat the soybean paste stew Mom makes, and I want to go fishing with Dad. I even want to eat the bibim noodles my grumbling sister sometimes made while treating me like a servant. Just as I was about to close my eyes, I heard the sound of a ship''s horn. A terrible hunger came over me, as if my stomach was stuck to my back. I don''t know how many days I''ve been starving. I got up with a body completely devoid of strength, opened the door, and found the house in a mess. Garbage was strewn about, and there were shards of glass and bloodstains here and there. Tracing my memories, I went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, but immediately closed it due to the terrible smell. Rummaging through the kitchen cabinets, I fortunately found some ramen and started eating desperately. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I choked and gagged, but I kept stuffing it into my mouth. To survive. I wanted to live. I didn''t want to die. I don''t know why I, who was living normally until yesterday, am in this situation, but I want to live. After finishing the ramen, I slumped down. What should I do now? Do I have to live in this world for the rest of my life? In this world where I don''t know anyone? It''s terrible. * * * A week has passed. During that time, I focused on cleaning up the house and recovering my strength. I called a cleaning company for the housework, but the way they looked at me was strange. At the end, they tried to refuse payment, saying "hang in there," but I forced them to take the money. And I''ve been eating meals with food bought from the convenience store while checking information on my phone. Surprisingly, the parallel world had more advanced technology than the world I lived in. A virtual reality game that I could only dream of. It''s perfect for escaping and forgetting reality. I immediately ordered a game console and waited for a week. Finally, it arrived today. It looks like a small VR device¡ªcan this really take me into virtual reality? After reading the user manual, I plugged in the charger, put it on, and lay down on the bed. And when I pressed the power button, I was instantly transported to a different space. A space where nothing exists. From that space, I connected to Arcana Online, which has maintained the No. 1 ranking for a long time. At that moment, the scenery changed. [Welcome to Arcana Online.] After the welcome message, I was moved to what looked like a training ground. An angel with pure white wings standing in front of me. "Nice to meet you, traveler. I am Raphael, here to assist you on your journey." "Please take care of me." "Then, let''s start the tutorial." [Please set your nickname.] "I''ll go with Yuna." [Do you want to set your nickname as: Illgowithyuna?] "What!? No!? Yuna!" [Nickname: Yuna] [Please choose your appearance.] In this game, there wasn''t much you could change about your appearance. At best, just hair color. Deciding to just proceed, I pressed the skip button, and numerous weapons were generated. [Please select the weapon you want.] Swords, bows, staves, and then rapiers, gunlances, dual swords, crossbows, and many other weapons appeared. Among them, I chose the staff. [We recommend jobs suitable for your chosen weapon.] [Mage] [Elementalist] [Cleric] [Summoner] : : : Numerous jobs were displayed, and I chose Summoner. I don''t want to travel alone. I want to travel with someone. I''m already alone in reality; I don''t want to be alone here too. [You acquire a unique characteristic.] A slot machine was generated. The angel tells me to pull the lever. As I pull the lever, it starts spinning with a noisy sound. [You acquire the unique characteristic: Protective Instinct (±£×o±¾ÄÜ).] [Congratulations! You have acquired an EX-Rank characteristic!] Protective Instinct (±£×o±¾ÄÜ) An ability that naturally compels others to carefully watch over and protect the bearer, as if to shield them from dangers and difficulties. I acquired an interesting ability. At that moment, the angel''s gaze changed. "Ahem, I shouldn''t do this, but here, take this." He hands me a small egg. "This will be a reliable partner on your journey, traveler." "Thank you, Angel!" "T-take this too!" He gives me a bunch of things and even waves goodbye. * * * After the tutorial ended, I was transported to the starting village, ''Cradle''. I received a lot of things, but are they good? I''ve never played games in my life, so I''m not sure. More importantly, when will this hatch? I check the small egg in my hand, but no information appears. ?Egg of ???? I don''t know what it is. If you don''t know, what am I supposed to do!? With no other choice, I put the egg in my inventory and equipped the items I received from the angel. ?Summoner''s Ring? Increases bond with summoned creatures. ?Summoner''s Necklace? Increases intimacy with summoned creatures. ?Summoner''s Earrings? Increases satisfaction of summoned creatures. When I equipped the three accessories, a set option appeared. [You have equipped the Summoner''s Accessory Set.] Significantly enhances the abilities of summoned creatures. But I don''t have any summoned creatures? Just as I was about to head out to the hunting grounds, someone called out to me. "Hey, little miss, are you alone?" When I turned my head, I saw a big bear-like man gesturing for me to come over. As I approached, he handed me some bread. "You''re new to this village, right? Eat this before you go." "I''m sorry. I don''t have any money." "It''s okay, just eat it. Want another one?" After receiving two more pieces of bread and thanking him, he waved his hand. The moment I took a bite of the warm bread, I was surprised. It tasted exactly like in reality. No, it was even more delicious. ''This is the taste of the bread I ate in Daejeon, the City of Bread.'' As I savored the moist and soft taste while looking around the village, it felt like the real world. The peculiar thing about this game was that there was no indication of whether someone was an NPC or a user. A world where users and NPCs live together. It''s an interesting game. Almost like it''s real. As I was looking around to eat bread and about to leave through the city gates to the hunting grounds, I was caught!? "Little miss. Why are you trying to leave at this hour?" "I need to earn money." I need money to level up and buy items. "Th-that''s..." "Don''t you have a guardian...?" "Huh? I''m alone." At that moment, they started crying and handed me something? "Take this and stay strong." The guards on duty handed me pouches, saying "stay strong." I tried to refuse, saying it was okay, but each time I refused, another pouch was added. After receiving three, I finally thanked them and accepted. They told me not to give up no matter how hard things get, and to find Captain Charles of the guard if I ever have any troubles. I said I understood, and even as I was leaving through the city gates, they cheered me on and waved goodbye. Is this how games usually are...? It''s a game full of warmth. 2. Arcana Online 2. Arcana Online2. Arcana Online I was walking through the meadow after leaving the village. The cool breeze felt nice, and the scenery was beautiful. How wonderful it would be if this were the real world. If I could live in a world like this, I wouldn''t have any worries. Reality might be a gutter, but not here. Because romance and adventure await. "Let''s start hunting first." I almost wasted time getting lost in thought again. I remembered the guards who came after me, insisting I return before evening when monsters get stronger. ''Are they people, not NPCs?'' Following the path marked on the map, I saw numerous rabbits in the distance. [Wild Rabbit] Level 1. The weakest monster in Arcana Online. But they look so cute. If the player doesn''t attack, the rabbit won''t attack. Known as the easiest monster to catch in the game. As I approached a rabbit, they suddenly rushed at me!? B-but I thought they weren''t supposed to attack first!? Panicking, I closed my eyes tightly and was about to swing my staff when suddenly! "Kyuu!" "Kyuu?" I opened my eyes and looked ahead to find the rabbits being affectionate towards me. No, rather than affection, they were... taking care of me? Numerous rabbits were handing me carrots they had found somewhere? ?Carrot Carrot? Nutritious and good for children. "Thank you?" "Kyuu kyuu!" After I put the many carrots I received into my inventory, the rabbits waved happily. But wait, I can''t hunt like this? I have a conscience; how could I hunt rabbits that are taking care of me? With no choice, I passed by the rabbits and moved to the next hunting ground. [Slime] A level 5 monster. Fortunately, slimes have squishy bodies and no intelligence. Plus, they''re aggressive monsters. As I struck down one that was sneakily approaching to attack me with my staff, it died instantly. Along with the sound of leveling up, my level increased for the first time. But a level 5 slime dies in one hit? Did they make it weak? Well, I guess so. Hunting slimes, my level rose to 7. "I guess I''ll stop here for today." As I stretched and looked up at the sky, I saw the sunset. ''They say monsters get stronger when it gets late, so I should head back to the village soon.'' I need to check the system when I get back to the village and read the guidebook too. More importantly, my job is a summoner, but when will I be able to summon a creature? I don''t like being alone. It''s lonely. It''s desolate. It''s scary. Before my head could fill with negative thoughts, I shook it vigorously and headed towards the village. As I was about to enter the village, I saw the guard uncles with anxious faces. Upon seeing me, they relaxed and waved for me to come quickly. I waved back and told them I had returned, and they looked at me with proud eyes and handed me a pouch? "We collected this from our soldiers. Take it." "What!? It''s okay! You''ve already given me a lot earlier!" "Now, now! When an adult gives you something, it''s polite to say thank you and accept it." "Th-thank you." After thanking them and accepting the pouch they forcibly placed in my hand, they finally smiled with satisfaction and waved goodbye. Is a game usually this warm? More importantly, where did they say the lodging was? The inn recommended by Guard Captain Charles. Following the signpost to get to the Moonlight Inn, I saw an inn in the distance. Judging by the large moon painted on it, this must be it, right? As I opened the door and entered, I heard boisterous noise and saw many people eating. This atmosphere is a bit awkward, but not bad. It makes me feel like I''m part of a group. As I approached the counter, there was a pretty older sister. A blonde with clear eyes and a big heart. "Oh my, what brings a little miss like you here?" "Uncle Charles introduced me. I''m here to stay for a few days." "Little miss..." She suddenly teared up, which startled me, and then she told me to follow her. Following her to the second floor, she opened the door of the room at the very end with a key. "This room has the best view and is the cleanest. Here''s the key. Always lock it, and if there''s any problem, see this bell? Ring it hard." "Thank you." "Have you had dinner?" "No, not yet." "Then let''s go down together." Following her back to the first floor, I sat at the table next to the counter, and food suddenly appeared. But the portions are large? "It''s too much." "It''s okay! You can eat it all!" "That''s impossible!" The pretty sister told me to eat as much as I could and leave the rest, then went to take orders from other tables. Come to think of it, I didn''t ask her name. I took a spoonful of the steaming soup, and it was soft and delicious. I tore off a piece of bread next to it, dipped it in the soup, and it melted in my mouth! "Delicious." Before I knew it, I had eaten everything on the table, despite saying it was impossible earlier. As I was patting my full stomach, I heard laughter. "See? I told you you could eat it all!" "Y-yes, you''re right." I nodded with a slightly reddened face, and she patted my head, saying I was cute. How long has it been since I felt human warmth like this? "Come to think of it, we haven''t properly introduced ourselves. My name is Bell. Nice to meet you." "My name is Yuna. Nice to meet you, Bell unni." "Unni?" Ah, I made a mistake. I was a man until recently, so I couldn''t have said "unni" (older sister). "Uh, well, that is..." "You must have your reasons..." Bell unni suddenly teared up, saying it was okay and that she understood, wiping her tears with a handkerchief. And as I went up to the second floor, she waved, telling me to speak up if I ever had any trouble. What''s going on? I didn''t say anything, but since coming to this world, people seem to understand on their own. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It''s convenient, but this feeling is somewhat unsettling. I don''t know. I entered the room, closed the door, locked it, and threw myself on the bed. The soft feeling seemed real. More importantly, it''s about time I should go back. "Logout." * * * New guests entered the bustling inn. Guard Captain Charles, who keeps our village safe. "Welcome." "Did, did that little miss I talked about come?" "Yes, she came. She''s sleeping on the second floor now." "That''s a relief." I prepared Charles''s usual beer and snacks and set them on the table. He thanked me and took a drink. "By the way, she seems to have quite a story. Where did she come from?" "She looked like a traveler." "At such a young age..." Traveler. Beings known to travel numerous worlds. They''re like outsiders who come from other worlds, not born in this one. In the past, many travelers caused problems, but that''s rare these days. If such a case occurs, an execution order is issued in all villages, making it impossible for them to stay in this world anymore. "I''ve seen many travelers, but she''s different somehow. And she''s someone I want to protect. She seems to have been through a lot. She even called me ''unni,'' you know?" "C-could it be... that she''s trying to hide her gender because of past trauma...?" "This won''t do. Is there any way we can help?" "I''ll think about it. But if she''s a traveler, it''ll be tough. She''ll eventually leave this village for the wider world." It''s rare for travelers to settle in a village. Even if they do, they usually reside in big cities, not in remote places like this. "Why do they live such a hard life? It would be better if she lived in this village." "It can''t be helped. That''s the fate of a traveler." I sat across from Charles, who was drinking beer and eating snacks, and took a sip of beer myself. "Aren''t you working right now?" "Well, what''s the problem? It''s not like I''ll get drunk from one drink." "Still, isn''t it too casual for a former ''Great Mage'' to run an inn?" Guard Captain Charles stared at me as I drank beer and ate snacks. "Weren''t you a former ''Knight Commander,'' Charles? It''s a waste for you to be in such a remote place." "Let''s just toast to each other." We toasted and downed the remaining beer, and suddenly a good idea came to mind. "From the energy I sensed, she seems to be a summoner. I''ve thought of a good idea." "I''ll cooperate." The aftermath of drinking late into the night and suffering from a hangover the next day is another story. 3. Arcana Online 3. Arcana Online3. Arcana Online Logging out doesn''t make your character disappear like in other games. If you don''t log out in a safe place, you might find your character naked the next time you log in. I took off the VR device, no, the gear, and returned to the real world. A bleak reality. A world without family, friends, or anyone I know. I wanted to go back, but my stomach was screaming for food. It doesn''t make sense to be full in the real world just because you ate in the game world. I got up from the bed, went to the bathroom, then to the kitchen and opened the fridge. I took out the triangle kimbap I bought yesterday and some water, then cooked some ramen. A meal that''s warm but not warm. After finishing the meal, I wanted to return to the game world, but it was impossible. Due to the gamer protection feature, you can''t log in for a while after being connected for a certain amount of time. I went back to my room and struggled to fall asleep, tossing and turning in bed. * * * When I woke up in the morning, finished my meal, and logged into the game, it was morning in the game world too. The time in reality and the game is exactly 1:1 ratio. I stretched and got up from the inn bed, opened the door, and went down to the first floor to find Bell unni already working early in the morning. "Good morning!" "Oh my, you''re up early? Want breakfast?" "Yes!" When I answered brightly with a smile, she patted my head, saying I was cute. I missed this touch. A warm touch. When I smiled innocently, she smiled back saying I was cute and went to get the food. I sat in a chair and waited, and soon the food came out, but the amount was no joke. Food filling the entire table. Bell unni looking at me with eyes that seem to say, ''You can eat it all today too, right?'' "Thank you for the meal!" "Eat a lot." After finishing the meal, I tried to pay for the lodging, but she firmly refused. "What money from a child! Don''t worry about anything and stay comfortably." "I can''t do that!" "You can!" With those words, I was kicked out. In an instant, she picked me up, put me outside, and closed the door, telling me to go play. The inn unni is scary... So, should I head to the hunting grounds now? No. Information gathering comes first. I couldn''t check the guidebook or the system last night. Besides, my job is summoner and I''m level 7, but I can''t keep beating monsters with a staff forever. To gather information, I headed to the library in the village. To find out how a summoner can obtain a summon. Arriving at the library and reading books related to summons, my knowledge increased. [Knowledge increased by +1.] [Knowledge increased by +1.] [Knowledge increased by +1.] [Knowledge increased by +1.] Reading the books increased it quite a bit. However, the information I wanted wasn''t there. How to obtain a summon, that is. As I was sitting frustrated in a corner window seat, basking in the sunlight, a thought crossed my mind. I can check the community, can''t I? I accessed the large community existing in Arcana Online and checked the latest posts. [I''ll tell you about the time I got caught raiding the Red Dragon King''s lair.] What would you do if the cave you accidentally entered was the Red Dragon King''s lair? There were countless gold coins scattered on the ground and mythical items piled up like mountains. For a moment, I lost my mind and started scooping them into my inventory, then suddenly I felt a chill. When I turned around, a huge red dragon was staring at me? I thought I was going to wet myself. Want to know how it ended? I got stripped of everything, from the equipment I was wearing to all the items in my inventory. F**k this game, I''m quitting. Bye. [Comments] - You wrote "I''m quitting" quite elaborately lol - Just change it to "I''m quitting bye" lol - How about changing "I''m quitting bye" to "I''ll tell you about the time I got caught raiding the Red Dragon King''s lair," you jerks? [Is this what summoners were made for, you bastards?] My level is over 50 but I don''t have a summon. I''m not taking any questions, you jerks! [Comments] - This guy chose summoner out of all the many jobs lol - It''s your own fault lol - Did someone hold a knife to your throat and force you to be a summoner? lol [I started as a summoner, where do I get a summon?] I''ll give 100 points. I''ll eat the points. I''m reporting this. [Comments] - It''s not too late. Quit and do something else - Is there a summoner with a summon? Probably not? lol - What''s the use of summons being OP if you don''t know how to get them lol - How does the comment above know summons are OP? - I don''t know? - Are you crazy lol S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. - What a trash job lol After checking the general perception of summoners, I searched for ways to obtain a summon. There was nothing useful, mostly clickbait posts. One said you could get a slime summon if you killed 9,999 slimes, but it had hundreds of curse words in the comments. Then I checked the system and guidebook, but there wasn''t anything special. Unable to obtain any information, I headed to the hunting grounds. ''I should at least hunt.'' Today, it''s time to challenge goblins, which are stronger than slimes. But it''s lonely hunting alone. Does it make sense that there are no users in the #1 ranked game? I even moved to channel 1004 on purpose. The ''Angel'' channel is so pretty, right? But why is there no one here? With bitter steps, I headed to the hunting grounds while looking at the game system, and there was a streaming button. What''s this? The system says I can broadcast my screen in real time, but will this make me feel less lonely? When I tried to start streaming, there were many things to set up. Profile picture? Can I just upload my picture? After finishing some settings and pressing the streaming button, it was activated. And a small chat window was created next to me, which was interesting. [Viewers: 0] There''s no chat because no one is entering, though. Should I go see the rabbits on the way? As I entered the hunting ground full of rabbits, the rabbits that spotted me started to gather. "Kyahaha! Don''t lick! It tickles!" The rabbits come to me, licking my cheeks with their cute tongues or gifting me carrots. At that moment, a chat message appeared. [What is this? How did you do that?] "Wh-what!?" Startled, I checked the chat window and someone had entered. [Viewers: 1] [How did you do that? Rabbits aren''t aggressive monsters, but they''re not that docile either. And they''re even gifting carrots?] "Uh, hello? But isn''t this normal? It''s been like this for me from the start?" [What''s your unique characteristic?] "My unique characteristic?" At that moment, the person chatting was kicked out and a warning message appeared. [Asking about others'' unique characteristics is subject to ban. Never reveal your unique characteristic to others.] There was something more important than the warning message. My precious viewer disappeared! [Viewers: 0] I became alone again after losing my only viewer. Can''t be helped. More importantly, I learned that I shouldn''t reveal my characteristic. I learned a new fact. I waited for another viewer to enter, but no more viewers came in. This isn''t about them not coming in. They can''t come in. I pressed end broadcast and had a solo mental victory. With a gloomy heart, I arrived at the goblin hunting ground and saw names displayed in red. [Young Goblin] Are aggressive monsters displayed in red? Slimes weren''t red, what''s going on? I approached a goblin and swung my staff. With a ''Kwaek!'' sound, it fell down with a splat, then got up again? The goblin rubbed the back of its head and stared at me. ''Its eyes are scary!'' With trembling hands, I gripped the staff tightly and swung it again, hitting its head. At that moment, it collapsed and dropped an item. ?Goblin''s Necklace? Old and shabby, but seems to have a story behind it. I put the item in my inventory and as I was moving to hunt other goblins, I saw a small cave. It''s definitely a cave that didn''t exist until just now. It looked dangerous just by looking at it, but as if possessed by something, I entered the cave. Against my will, that is. As I entered the cave, I heard a sound. "Child, this way." "Who''s there?" "Come this way." Following the voice deep into the cave, I saw iron bars. But something was different. The thickness was no joke for ordinary iron bars. At least 5 times thicker and stronger, and when I touched it, the surface was smooth and gave a tingling sensation, indicating it wasn''t the steel I knew. And there was a warning message in front of the iron bars. [Turn back. If you attempt to break the seal, you will receive the red dragon''s curse.] [Warning: Breaking the seal will result in the red dragon''s curse.] [Due to the effect of the unique characteristic: Protective Instinct (±£×o±¾ÄÜ), the curse is ignored.] [Do you want to break the seal?] YES / NO The moment I broke the seal with trembling hands, something dark flew at me but disappeared with a bright light. The bright light briefly revealed something existing inside the iron bars. Something huge, that is. Thinking about it now, I think I''ve gotten into big trouble. 4. Arcana Online 4. Arcana Online4. Arcana Online I felt the huge something inside the iron bars approaching me. It was so large that it wouldn''t be strange to hear a world-shaking roar, but there was no sound at all. A shadow slowly approaching. A tense moment. Beyond the iron bars, a human figure appeared. Only then could I see with my naked eyes. A woman with long, jet-black straight hair. Snow-white skin and ruby-red eyes that shone. She wore an elegant dress and exuded a captivating aura. As I stared blankly, she smiled and waved her hand, and in that instant, the iron bars disappeared. No, they turned to dust and vanished. Surprised by this sight, I couldn''t say anything and couldn''t control my trembling body as she slowly approached and raised her hand in the same way. The moment I squeezed my eyes shut. "Child, don''t be afraid. I mean no harm." Along with a gentle voice, she patted my head with a warm touch. Only then did I open my eyes and look up to see her smiling. "Thanks to you, child, I was able to break free from the seal. Thank you. Ah, I haven''t introduced myself. I am the Dragon Queen ''Ernia''." As soon as the introduction ended, blue windows filled my vision. [You have broken the seal of Dragon Queen Ernia.] Gained 100,000 Fame points. [You are the first traveler to encounter Dragon Queen Ernia.] Gained 100,000 Fame points. Beginner Tip: The higher your Fame, the better relationships you can form with the inhabitants of this world, and you can purchase items from the Fame shop. I don''t understand any of this. But there was something I was curious about. It didn''t take long for the thought in my head to come out of my mouth. "Ernia-nim? If it''s not rude, may I ask why you were sealed?" For a moment, her expression hardened, but as if it never happened, she said she would tell me when the time comes, and then asked for my name. "Child, can you tell me your name?" "My name is Yuna." "Yuna. A name that suits you, child." Something appeared and disappeared in an instant. I saw my name in blue letters, but was it my imagination? When I turned my head for a moment and looked back at Ernia-nim, she was holding something? She handed it to me. The round object looked just like something to store an egg. ?Incubator? Can hatch any type of egg. "It''s a gift. With this, our Yuna can hatch the egg she has." "How did you know I had an egg!?" "I have my ways of knowing." Ernia-nim, who had been smiling brightly, now wore a regretful expression. "I''d like to take you with me, but you can''t leave this area, child." Beginners can''t leave the vicinity of the starting village ''Cradle'' until they reach a certain level. "When the time comes, I''ll come for you. Take care until then, my child." With those final words, a strong wind blew, and when I opened my eyes after closing them, my surroundings had changed. Just a moment ago, I was inside a cave, but in an instant, I was standing alone in a meadow. I don''t know how much time had passed, but the sun was setting. I thought I might have been dreaming, but the incubator in my hand proved it wasn''t a dream. And the notification window in front of my eyes. [You have become the first human to survive an encounter with Dragon Queen Ernia.] Gained 100,000 Fame points. [You have acquired Ernia''s Mark!] W-wait a minute, the first...? Then until now...? More importantly, what''s this mark...? I don''t understand what happened. But this comes first. Putting my thoughts aside for a moment, I looked at the incubator I was holding. She said I could hatch an egg with this, right? I took the egg out of my inventory. ?Egg of ???? I don''t know what it is. When I put the egg in the incubator, a notification window appeared. [It will hatch in 72 hours.] It takes 3 days!? That''s a long time. I was worried I might have to keep holding it, but fortunately, there was no problem putting it in my inventory. As I was about to return to the village because it was too late, I encountered a goblin. And not just one or two, but an entire tribe. A situation where dozens of goblins were staring at me. In a panic, I couldn''t even think to take out my staff and was trembling in fear when. "Kuruk! Young human! Kuruk! Follow us!" "Kuruk! Young human! Kuruk! Don''t be afraid!" Goblins that can speak human language. More importantly, they''re... reassuring me? With trembling steps, I followed the goblins and saw a small village in the distance. It looked like a village where goblins lived. B-but, surely they''re not going to do something strange to me!? I saw in comics that goblins are the incarnation of lust. Humans captured by goblins all...! "Kuruk! Young human! Kuruk! Drink this!" As soon as we entered the village, they handed me water. S-surely there''s no strange drug in this...! Ah, it''s delicious. "Kuruk! Young human! Kuruk! If you keep walking with this, you''ll see the human village!" "Kuruk! Be careful, young human! Kuruk! There are many violent creatures in the evening!" They looked at me with worried eyes and handed me an item. ?Token of the Goblin Tribe? While holding this token, you won''t be attacked by monsters for a certain period of time. "Th-thank you...?" "Kuruk! Farewell, young human! Kuruk! And we have a request!" [Quest: Find the Young Goblin Who Left Home] A young goblin has left home. Bring it back to the village or bring back its token. Reward: ??? Surely this isn''t...? With trembling hands, I took out an item from my inventory. ?Goblin''s Necklace? Old and shabby, but seems to have a story behind it. When I handed it to the goblin, it had a sad expression. "Kuruk! Has it returned to nature''s embrace!" "U-um..." "Kuruk! It''s okay, young human! Kuruk! You don''t need to comfort us, kuruk! More importantly, thank you, kuruk! Take this too!" ?Goblin''s Spellbook? You can learn a random skill. As the goblin who handed me the spellbook clicked the necklace, there was a small photo. A photo of all the goblins together. "Kuruk! This is a photo taken by a human mage of our tribe long ago!" "......" "Kuruk! If we find the being that harmed that child, we won''t forgive them!" I couldn''t say anything. I set out on my journey after being sent off by the goblins in the village. As I was fiddling with the Token of the Goblin Tribe while walking, I saw a slime in the distance. S-surely slimes don''t have families or anything like that, right? As I approached the slime, it didn''t attack me, probably because of the token, and just stared at me blankly. "Um, do you perhaps have a family too?" "......" There was no response. From now on, I should ask about family first before hunting. Passing by the slime and continuing to walk, I saw the entrance to the starting village in the distance. The entrance was full of people moving busily. What''s going on? Everyone was armed and moving in perfect unison. As I got closer, a guard uncle spotted me and immediately shouted. "She''s back here!!" At the loud shout, the people who had been moving busily all turned to look at me with relieved expressions. What''s going on? At that moment, Bell unni burst out from among the many people, but her attire wasn''t the white apron she wore at the inn, but a robe that a mage would wear. She approached me in one step and hugged me, and at that moment. Something felt strange. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bell unni looked at me with a shocked face. "Wh-what is this..." * * * Yuna hadn''t returned even at this late hour. She''s late today, I thought, when I felt an ominous energy. It seemed I wasn''t the only one who felt it, as Charles appeared, pale-faced. "D-did you just feel that!?" "I felt it. I hoped it was just my imagination, but it''s not." "I''ll declare a state of emergency. More importantly, where''s Yuna?" "She hasn''t come back yet, c-could it be." "Damn it! I''ll gather the troops and start searching as quickly as possible!" Just as we were about to set out to search in the direction of the ominous energy after mobilizing the village''s forces, we heard a loud voice. "She''s back here!!" As soon as I heard that voice, I rushed out urgently and saw Yuna. Just as I was feeling relieved at her carefree appearance as if nothing had happened, something felt off. The moment I ran and hugged her, I felt the energy of a dragon. It''s happened after all. Yuna has become the target of a dragon. Dragons who view humans as mere playthings. When their amusement ends, they erase their traces and return to their lair. There''s only one way to save Yuna. I''m sorry, Master. I promised I would never take another disciple, but it seems I can''t keep that promise. 5. Arcana Online 5. Arcana Online5. Arcana Online Bell unni, who had been looking at me with a serious expression, distanced herself from me and pulled out a staff from thin air. As she waved the staff with one hand, the world seemed to be recreated. The boundary between sky and earth disappeared, and in an instant, the scenery changed, and I was standing in a pure white space where nothing existed. In that moment of bewilderment, I heard Bell unni''s voice. "Let me introduce myself formally. I am ''Beliar'', one of the seven Great Mages existing in the Arcana continent." As the introduction ended, the scenery returned to normal as if nothing had happened. Bell unni was smiling at me, but it gave me chills. ''How much stronger is a Great Mage compared to a regular mage?'' While I was staring blankly, she made a straightforward proposal. "Become my disciple." At that moment, a blue window appeared in front of me. [A Hidden Job Change Quest has been created.] The Great Mage of Light, Beliar, has proposed that you become her 101st disciple. If you accept, you can change to the hidden job ''Mage of Light''. Do you accept? YES / NO "No, I''m fine." [The Hidden Job Change Quest has been rejected.] "...What?" "I dream of being a summoner, so I don''t want to be a mage." As I was about to pass by Bell unni, who was wearing a dumbfounded expression, and return to the village, she grabbed my clothes!? "Why did you refuse!? The opportunity to become a disciple of a Great Mage is rarer than catching a star from the sky!" "W-wait a minute, Bell unni!? Don''t pull!" After struggling for a while, Uncle Charles intervened and I was finally able to break free. "Let''s calm down and talk about this." "No, I offered to make her a disciple of a Great Mage, and she refused!? What do you mean calm down!? Do you know how many people on the continent want to be my disciple!?" After complaining for a while, Bell unni sighed. "Fine. If you don''t want to, I won''t force you. But Yuna, you''re in a very dangerous situation right now. You''ve become the target of a dragon." With those words, she waved her staff and a symbol appeared above my head. "This is the mark left by the dragon." I remembered that I had acquired Ernia''s mark before. "Ah, so this is Ernia''s mark." At that moment, Bell unni dropped the staff she was holding. And then she shook my shoulders mercilessly. "Wh-what did you just say!? Say it again!" "E-Ernia''s mark! Stop shaking me! I''m getting dizzy!" Thanks to Uncle Charles intervening again, I was able to break free. Bell unni, who had been muttering to herself, looked at me with sparkling eyes. "Sigh, I didn''t want to go this far, but I have no choice." [A Forced Quest has been accepted.] Prove your qualifications as a summoner to the Great Mage of Light, Beliar. Clear Condition: Obtain a summon within 1 week and prove it to the Great Mage of Light, Beliar. Success Reward: Great Mage Beliar''s treasure. Failure Penalty: Job change to Mage of Light. "Not a bad condition, right? In the unlikely event that you succeed, I''ll give you the ''Crystal of Light'', a treasure I''ve been saving for my own use." At that moment, the item information appeared. ?Crystal of Light? Can awaken dormant power. After looking at the item information, it was time to ask. "Why do you want me to become your disciple?" "The Great Mages and dragons have made a pact." Long ago. The Great Mages who lost their precious disciples to the tyranny of dragons gathered in one place. The seven Great Mages of the continent combined their powers and began hunting dragons. Dragons are thoroughly individualistic. They might mock their kin hunted by humans, but they never help each other. As a result, they were hunted one by one, and when the damage became uncontrollable, the Lord of the Dragon Clan stepped in. The first pact between humans and dragons. They made a pact on the condition that they would not harm the Great Mages and their disciples. Likewise, the Great Mages and their disciples could not harm the dragons. If I become a disciple of a Great Mage, Ernia can no longer touch me. The only way to protect me. "Moreover, I''m well aware of the rumors about Ernia, or rather, Dragon Queen Ernia." It''s said that due to some incident in the past, she waged war against the red dragons and was sealed due to the betrayal of the magic dragon clan. And I broke that seal. Well, I guess I brought this upon myself? But there was one problem. I couldn''t lose this bet. "Give up and become my disciple. It''s impossible to get a summon within a week." As Bell unni was explaining that time is gold, I took out the incubator from my inventory and showed it to her. "......" Bell unni froze with her mouth wide open. After being in a daze for a while, she carefully opened her mouth. "Um, can we pretend this never happened? Or I''ll give you something even better! No, more importantly, I proposed this to save Yuna! I really didn''t intend to give it away! Do you know how I obtained that item!" However, the system was different. [Quest Clear!] Reward will be given. "Oh, no!" A mage''s contract is carried out by verbal agreement. Once a contract is made, it must be kept even in death. The ?Crystal of Light? came into my possession. I thought it would only come in after 3 days, but the system was more flexible than I expected. I handed the Crystal of Light to Bell unni, who had collapsed on the ground in frustration, with a sympathetic look, but it was useless. "It''s too late. It''s recognized you as its owner, so I can''t use it." She looked at me with empty eyes, then said we should rest and continue talking tomorrow before leaving first. Was it really such a precious item...? Yawn, I''m sleepy too, so I guess I''ll rest and continue talking tomorrow. * * * A place filled with the smell of blood. The cold corpses of dragons, called calamities by humans, were scattered in several places. The last living dragon, bleeding profusely, was begging pitifully to a being in human form. "E-Ernia! You know! We were deceived too! By that wicked red dragon!" "Shh." Ernia whispered softly. It felt like she would really kill if one more word was said. In a situation where one could only hope for her mercy while sweating cold. "I don''t care about the betrayal." "Th-then is it because of the child who died!? Th-that!" Those were the last words they could utter in their lifetime. With a ''thud'' sound, the dragon slumped to the ground. "My child didn''t die." Because I just met her. Although she lost her memories due to a curse and became human, how could a mother not recognize her own child? That special feeling that can only be felt for my child. That''s why I could tell. How much she must have suffered, losing her identity among humans until now. I''m sorry you had such an incompetent mother, my child. When everything is over, I''ll come for you. Let''s live together, mom and child. Forever. Slowly moving her steps, she wiped the blood from her hands. Before that, there''s a problem to solve. For us to live happily with my child, there must be no obstacles. It''s time to eliminate the red dragon who sealed me. * * * [You have made a great contribution to eliminating the Black Dragon Clan.] Gained 100,000 Fame points. [You have made a great contribution to eliminating the Red Dragon Clan.] Gained 100,000 Fame points. When I logged in in the morning, numerous messages had arrived. Eliminate? No, more importantly, what''s the Black Dragon Clan and what''s the Red Dragon Clan!? Many incomprehensible messages had arrived, and they kindly explained how to use the Fame points that had accumulated. "Use Fame points." With those words, a blue window appeared in front of my eyes. ?Fame Point Shop? [Equipment] [Accessories] [Consumables] [Miscellaneous] I already have a staff for equipment and I''ve received accessories, so should I buy consumables? [Consumables] Potion of Strength - 1,000P Potion of Intelligence - 1,000P Potion of Luck - 1,000P Potion of Agility - 1,000P : : : Looking at the consumables, I don''t know what any of them are. Should I look at the miscellaneous items? [Miscellaneous] Random Draw - 10,000P Even I, who doesn''t know much about games, know about random draws. It gives random items, right? Should I try it once...? [You have purchased a Random Draw.] Congratulations! You have acquired a Pebble! ?Pebble? It hurts when you''re hit with it. "This thing costs ten thousand points!?" Sigh, this is clearly a loss no matter how you look at it. Even if the Fame points were gained effortlessly... Should I try one last time...? * * * [You have purchased a Random Draw.] Congratulations! You have acquired Sticky Rice Cake! ?Sticky Rice Cake? Chewy and delicious. [You have purchased a Random Draw.] Congratulations! You have acquired a Shark Plushie! ?Shark Plushie? S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Comfortable to sleep with when hugged. [You have purchased a Random Draw.] Congratulations! You have acquired Nitrogen! ?Nitrogen? The snacks in the bag are complimentary. I don''t know how many times I drew, but a pile of odds and ends had accumulated. And one last chance remained. The moment I purchased the Random Draw with the last remaining points. A small box appeared, shining with brilliant golden light and adorned with intricate patterns. With trembling hands, I opened the box to find a bead inside. ?Yeouiju? An item stolen from an imugi just before its ascension after 1,000 years of training in cold water. When consumed, one can gain powerful abilities. 6. Arcana Online 6. Arcana Online6. Arcana Online Two countries exist on the Arcana continent. The Avalon Empire, possessing ten master-level knights and formidable military power. Arcadia, home to three magic towers that produced seven Great Mages, and known as the homeland of all mages. The two countries maintain peace through cooperation, and numerous guilds operate with bases in various cities. Among them, one of the top 10 guilds, the ''Frey'' guild, has its headquarters in the central commercial city ''Thalassa''. An elite guild where all members, including the guild master, maintain high ranks. The usually quiet office was filled with loud voices, unlike usual. Sasha, a high-ranking fighter, was pestering Catlleya, the guild master of Frey guild, who was doing paperwork in the office. "Leader! We have to recruit this kid!? They show promise!" "Really? In what way?" "They received carrots as gifts from rabbits!" "And?" "That''s all!" Brushing her flowing blonde hair to the side, she answered with a bright smile. "Get out." "But it''s true!? Look at this!" A blue window appeared, and a video started playing. A young girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, surrounded by rabbits, being showered with affection. And she was gifted carrots. Carrots with an extremely low drop rate, said to appear maybe once in 10,000 kills. An ingredient used in making potions necessary for boss raids. But something felt strange. A girl who made one''s heart warm just by looking at her, someone who seemed like she needed protection. Is it because of her young appearance? It might be worth investigating. "As a leader, I''ll order this. Investigate that child in detail and report back. I''ll decide on recruitment after that." "Just trust me!" Sasha leaves, breaking the door in the process, causing a headache. This month alone, the door has been repaired 5 times already. That''s all money, why does she always leave by breaking things? At that moment, the space rippled and someone appeared. Hecate, a high-ranking mage wearing a robe and a large hat. "Really. Isn''t the leader too soft on Sasha?" "It can''t be helped. All guild members are family, right? More importantly, did you finish the quest well?" "Of course! I completed an S-rank quest and received 10,000 Fame points!" 10,000 points means 10 potions. That means Intelligence can be increased by 10. It''s extremely difficult to level up, so we''re increasing stats through Fame quests. "I almost died, it was so hard! As expected of an S-rank quest, the monsters were piled up like mountains, and the rankers who went with me were beaten to a pulp." After complaining for a while, she left the office saying she was going to drink. Peace finally arrived. It''s not bad to be busy, but the usual quiet atmosphere is the best. More importantly, I feel uneasy. A unique characteristic...? No, how could such a characteristic exist in this world. There''s no solution even if I worry about it now. Erasing the image of the young girl lingering in my mind, I started paperwork again. Most of the documents are bills sent to the guild for facilities destroyed by guild members. * * * Looking at the bead, no, the Yeouiju in my hand, I shouted. "Jackpot!!" Anyone would see this as a win, right!? Should I eat it now!? Or should I save it for later!? At that moment, my room door suddenly broke down and Bell unni barged in. "What''s going on!?" Surprised by the sudden situation, I could only stare with shocked eyes. Bell unni, who was examining me, saw the Yeouiju I was holding and her eyes widened. "Is, is that a Yeouiju!? Where did you get it!?" If I say I got it from a random draw, she wouldn''t believe me, right? "I, I just got it by chance." "You weren''t going to eat it, were you?" "Huh? Shouldn''t I eat it?" Bell unni didn''t say it, but I could hear her inner thoughts. ''No, how could you think of such a thing?'' So it''s not for eating...? "Yeouiju isn''t for humans to eat. It''s for feeding to summons." "What would have happened if I ate it?" "It might have had effects like eating a tonic?" We decided to feed it to the summon when it hatches and continue the conversation we couldn''t finish yesterday. Following Bell unni down to the first floor, I saw that the usually bustling place was empty, probably because the inn hadn''t opened yet. Sitting in a chair, she asked me to wait a moment and went to the kitchen to bring a simple breakfast. She told me to listen to her story while eating breakfast. "Well, if you don''t become a disciple, there''s one other way." "Another way?" "But there are restrictions." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She handed me a ring. [Ring of Sealing] In exchange for not being able to use mana, it nullifies all magic. Bell unni explained that the mark is ultimately magic. "If you wear this ring, it will nullify the mark placed on you by Dragon Queen Ernia. However, you won''t be able to use magic, and as soon as you take off the ring, the mark will activate again." She looked at me with sympathetic eyes, but is there a problem...? I don''t have any skills to begin with. Ah, I had that spellbook I received, right? I''ll use it later. "It''s okay. It can''t be helped." "Sob. I''m sorry..." "Wh-why are you like this!?" Suddenly showing tears, she held my hand tightly. She cried, saying she was sorry for not being able to help me. Is Bell unni really an NPC...? After comforting Bell unni for a while, she seemed embarrassed and chased me out of the inn, telling me to go play outside. Since I was chased out anyway, I headed to the hunting grounds to level up. The moment I took out the spellbook from my inventory to use it, it disappeared into light. [You have used the Goblin''s Spellbook.] You have acquired the Passive Skill: Empathy. ?Empathy? Enhances combat ability through deep empathy with summons. It''s the first skill I''ve obtained, and it''s an interesting one. Can I use this? "Empathy!" I shouted loudly, but nothing changed. With a slightly reddened face, I quickly walked towards the hunting grounds. I greeted the rabbits, and encountered passing slimes, but they just glanced at me and went on their way. Weren''t you guys aggressive monsters? Passing by the slimes and walking further, I saw a group of goblins in the distance. I waved my hand to greet them, and the goblins waved back. But if it''s like this, where should I hunt? If I can''t hunt rabbits, slimes, or goblins, what''s left? Following the path, I moved to a place far from the village for the first time, and saw something. A monster with a pig''s head and a human body, carrying a large sword in one hand. [Orc] Normally, I should have hunted goblins and leveled up sufficiently before challenging this, but I have no choice. As I approached the orc, it looked at me too. To avoid making the same mistake as last time, I spoke to the orc. "Do you perhaps have a family?" "Young human! Mentioning family at first meeting! I won''t let this slide!" With those words, the orc raised its giant sword and charged at me. I panicked for a moment and tensed up. As the orc approached and was about to swing its sword at me, I tried to block it with my staff, but my hand lost strength and I dropped it. As I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the pain, I heard a ''clang!'' sound and the sword being deflected. When I opened my eyes and looked, another orc had blocked the sword? "Swinging a sword at a young human, you''re a disgrace to the orc tribe!" "No! This young human mentioned family first!" At that moment, the orc that saved me looked at me. Seeing my eyes full of fear, I heard the sound of gritting teeth. "You even lie. Die for the honor of the tribe." With those words, as it swung its sword, a blue light shone and the orc was cut in half in an instant. The corpse disappeared into light, leaving only me and the orc looking at me with worried eyes. "Young human. My name is Bba-da! What is your name?" "M-my name is Yuna." "A good name. Now, go back along the path. It''s dangerous ahead." "Thank you, Mr. Bba-da." On the way back to the village after nearly being killed by an orc and then saved by an orc. I had a new worry. The orc I just saw was much stronger than me. Where should I level up now? The worry didn''t last long. I had forgotten, but my job is a summoner. I just need to wait until my summon hatches. Honestly, it would be a lie to say I''m not excited. What kind of summon will it be? Returning to the village with an excited heart, I remembered something I had forgotten. Something I don''t want to do but must do to survive. I need to go grocery shopping and pay the bills. How nice would it be if this world were real. My footsteps, which had been light until just now, suddenly felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. 7. Arcana Online 7. Arcana Online7. Arcana Online I woke up to the sound of my phone alarm. Checking the time, it was 8 AM. Because I didn''t go out yesterday due to laziness, I really have to go out today. If I don''t pay the utility bills at the bank, my electricity and water will be cut off. While I''m at it, I should set up automatic payments. Getting up from bed and going into the hallway, I saw the family photo hanging there. Looking at the family photo, I became curious about something. In this parallel world, my family members'' faces are the same. But why am I the only one who''s different...? No matter how much I think about it, I don''t understand. Entering the changing room, I undressed and went to the bathroom to wash. My reflection in the mirror looked awkward. A small height of about 130cm, including tiptoes, and a skinny body. There were even self-harm scars on my wrists. Because of this, I have to wear long sleeves even in summer. After washing, it takes a while to dry my hair. I considered cutting it, but I''m scared to go to the hair salon. Due to this body''s memories, I''ve even developed social anxiety. Sighing, I packed my bankbook and bills in my bag and went outside. The midsummer heat immediately made it hard to breathe. Because of my appearance, I''m wearing a hat and a hoodie even in midsummer, and it feels like I''m going to die. But if I don''t cover up like this, troublesome things happen. The distance to the bank is a whole 30 minutes. I wanted to take a taxi, but none would stop for a 5-minute car ride. After suffering for 30 minutes, I finally arrived at the bank. Standing blankly in the cool air conditioning for a while, I felt people staring at me. The people in the bank were looking at me as if I was suspicious, what''s going on? Ah, it''s because of my outfit. At that moment, a man in a suit approached me. "What brings you here today?" "I came to set up automatic payments for utility bills." Hearing my words, he drew a number ticket and handed it to me. With an alarm sound, my number appeared on the screen, and I walked to the counter and sat down. I said I came to sign up for internet banking and set up automatic payments for utility bills, handing over my bills and bankbook. When they checked my bankbook, they looked at me with surprised eyes. "I''m sorry, but could I see your ID?" "Here you go." As I handed over my ID, they looked at me with disbelieving eyes, and I couldn''t believe it either. If I told them I was 21 years old with my appearance, they''d think I was crazy. But the ID is real. Just as they were about to return my bankbook after finishing the internet banking and utility bill automatic payment setup, they spoke to me. "Customer, we have a good product, would you be interested?" They said it would be a waste to leave such a large amount in just a bankbook and that they had a good product, but I wasn''t interested in such things. Besides, the bankbook already contains enough money to live comfortably for a lifetime without working. It''s the life insurance money from my family, though. I told them it was fine, packed my bankbook, and left the bank. The sweltering heat made me want to get home as quickly as possible. Finding a path about 5 minutes faster, I entered an alley and bumped into someone coming out. "Kyaa!" I fell backwards, landing on my bottom, and my hat flew off. "S-sorry! Are you okay!?" "I''m fine." My bottom hurt, but a bigger problem had occurred. The fact that I had screamed "Kyaa!" The older sister who was helping me up, shocked by my mental state, looked at me with an apologetic expression, but something felt off. She stared at my face for a long time, what''s going on? Moreover, my sleeve had rolled up slightly, and she might have seen my wrist because her expression was strange. "Ahem." At the sound of my fake cough, she finally came to her senses and brought me my hat that had flown off. "Maybe you should go to the hospital? You might have hurt your tailbone when you fell." "I''m fine! Have a nice day!" "W-wait a moment!?" I heard her calling after me, but I ran at full speed. After passing through the alley, I ran for about a minute. I feel like I''m going to die. Breathing heavily, I walked with difficulty and saw my house in the distance. A two-story detached house with a red roof. It''s the house we moved to with my parents when I was in middle school. We sold our previous house when it became expensive due to redevelopment news and bought this one. It was so nice back then. I opened the front door, went inside, sat on the living room sofa, and exhaled roughly. After resting a bit, I took out my bankbook and phone from my bag and opened the refrigerator door, but it was empty. I should have bought something to eat at the convenience store on the way, but I forgot. My plans got messed up because I bumped into that pretty older sister on the street. ''She was really pretty.'' Is she mixed-race? Her blonde hair didn''t look dyed. Lost in thought, I opened the kitchen cabinet and took out a packet of ramen. I cooked the ramen, finished my meal, and headed to my room. Today is the day my long-awaited summon hatches. I don''t know how long I''ve been waiting for this day. I put on the gear and pressed the start button, and my vision changed. I closed my eyes and when I opened them, I was lying on the inn bed. I stretched and got up. And when I took out the incubator from my inventory, there were only a few hours left. Should I have a meal and then kill time at the library? When I went down to the first floor, it was bustling with people. Bell unni, who spotted me, waved her hand. "Did you sleep well? Want breakfast?" "Yes! But Bell unni, I have a question." "What is it?" I hesitated a bit and carefully opened my mouth. "Why do you speak to me so formally?" "Ah, this is actually a secret." Bell unni gestured for me to come closer. As I approached, she whispered softly in my ear. "I have a habit. I speak formally to people who know my true identity." She went into the kitchen, saying she''d prepare a meal if I waited a bit at the table. I sat in an empty seat and passed the time eavesdropping on other people''s conversations. "Hey, did you hear about that? Monsters attacked the neighboring village..." "Is that true? This is bad. Shouldn''t our village prepare too?" "Nah, surely nothing will happen here?" While I was focused on the quite interesting conversation, food was served on the table. "Thank you for the meal!" "If you want more after eating, just tell me." "It''s okay." It''s already a full table, there''s no way I could eat more. After finishing the meal, I went outside and headed to the library. What kind of book should I read today? "Little miss!" At that moment, a voice called out to me from somewhere. Looking in the direction of the voice, it was Uncle Charles. "Uncle Charles!" "Where is our little miss going?" "I''m going to the library to read books!" "Ho ho, books are good, but strength is important for a traveler. Shall I help you a bit?" At that moment, a message popped up. [A quest has arrived.] Train with Guard Captain Charles. Reward: Small amount of experience. "I''ll do it!" "A traveler must be quick to decide. I like that! Let''s go!" I should have run away at this point. I didn''t know he''d make me swing a sword 100 times. I told him I was a summoner, but it didn''t help at all. Only after I finished swinging 100 times was I finally released. Moreover, every time my form was wrong, he didn''t count it, so I feel like I swung it 300 times. "Good job! I''ll help you again tomorrow!" [Quest Success!] Reward will be given. Checking my experience, it had increased by about 30%. I finally found it. A way to gain experience without killing monsters. I said goodbye to Uncle Charles and headed to the inn. With trembling hands, I opened the inn door and entered, and Bell unni looked at me. When she asked what happened, I explained what happened today, and she left with a bright smile saying she''d be back soon. And not long after, I heard the sound of an explosion. I know nothing about it. More importantly, it''s time now. I went up to my room, locked the door, and took out the incubator from my inventory. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I thought it was finally hatching, but a notification window popped up. [¡ö¡ö¡ö intervenes.] [Due to the effect of the unique characteristic: Protective Instinct (±£×o±¾ÄÜ), ¡ö¡ö¡ö''s intervention is blocked.] [¡ö¡ö¡ö intervenes.] [Due to the effect of the unique characteristic: Protective Instinct (±£×o±¾ÄÜ), ¡ö¡ö¡ö''s intervention is blocked.] [¡ö¡ö¡ö''s existence becomes faint.] [Due to the effect of the unique characteristic: Protective Instinct (±£×o±¾ÄÜ), ¡ö¡ö¡ö''s malice disappears.] [The ??? egg hatches with the power of ¡ö¡ö¡ö.] Numerous notification windows appeared and disappeared repeatedly, and then the egg slowly cracked. What came out of the egg was a very tiny snake...? The snake was looking at me. "Hello?" "......" At that moment, a new notification window popped up. [Congratulations! You have successfully obtained your first summon! A reward will be sent to your inventory.] [Tutorial: First Steps of a Summoner.] Give your summon a cute name! A name... "Since it''s a snake, how about Ssam-ssam?" At that moment, I could tell even though it didn''t speak. It was cursing me with its eyes. [You have 2 chances left.] "There are chances too!?" Flustered, I racked my brain as much as I could, but no names came to mind. At that moment, a thought flashed by. "How about Yong-yong, meaning ''become a dragon''?" "......" 8. Arcana Online 8. Arcana Online8. Arcana Online The snake, no, Yong-yong, who was looking at me, shows a satisfied expression. [Tutorial Clear!] Reward will be given. "Yong-yong. Please take care of me?" "......" Can it not speak originally? Well, it just hatched, so it would be creepier if it could speak. More importantly, I should log out now. "I''m going to sleep now. See you tomorrow." I carefully moved Yong-yong to the bed, lay down next to it, and pressed the logout button. * * * [Yong-yong looks at the contractor.] [Yong-yong looks at the contractor.] [Yong-yong looks at the contractor.] [Yong-yong looks at the contractor.] I checked several times to see if my contractor, this human, had fallen asleep. I opened the human''s subspace while they were asleep and took out the ?Yeouiju? inside. An item stolen thousands of years ago. No, taken away by deceitful humans who tricked me. After spending 1,000 years in cold water, waiting only for ascension, it all became nothing in an instant. Since that day, I gave up on ascension and dreamed only of revenge against the wicked humans for a long time. But now the Yeouiju has returned to me. If I just had the Yeouiju, I could ascend... I cannot ascend. My body has become unable to ascend anymore, stained with the blood of countless humans. As I put away the Yeouiju and look at the sleeping human, something feels strange. Am I mistaken in being reminded of the human girl I met before I was called an imugi? The girl who saved me when I was dying in the mountains. Suddenly, a strange emotion wells up and my head clears. This is like the sensation I felt when I was about to ascend. That sensation led me to the subspace. And there I found it. ?Crystal of Light? With this, I can ascend. Just as I was about to swallow the Yeouiju and the Crystal of Light. I looked at the sleeping human. The human who gave me the name Yong-yong. They gave me, who couldn''t become a dragon, the name Yong-yong, meaning "become a dragon." As I stared for a long time, they overlapped with the girl from back then. A human''s lifespan is at most 100 years. ''I''ll protect them for 100 years as payment for the crystal.'' After longing for thousands of years, can''t I wait 100 more years? [Restriction: Cannot ascend while contracted with the contractor.] I placed the restriction and swallowed the crystal. At that moment, I felt the energy. I obtained the power I had dreamed of for thousands of years. Imugis no longer exist in this world. It was the moment a dragon was born. From now on, I can fulfill whatever my contractor desires. If they want a country, I''ll help them obtain one, and if they say they need a dragon''s heart, I''ll hunt a dragon and bring it to them. I can hunt any number of those lizards who can''t even ascend. As long as they''re not Dragon King level, that is. Finishing my thoughts, I entered my contractor''s embrace. The warmth I felt for the first time in thousands of years. It wasn''t bad. * * * I logged into the game early the next morning. Yong-yong was sleeping in my arms, and isn''t it too cute!? It''s a shame I don''t have a camera, I would have taken so many pictures. Sensing that I had woken up, Yong-yong also opened its eyes and looked at me. "Did you sleep well?" "......" When I carefully touched the tiny Yong-yong with my finger, its expression softened, seeming pleased. They say a snake''s expressions are all the same, but I could see Yong-yong''s emotions and expressions at a glance. Is it because I''m a summoner? After stroking Yong-yong for a while, I put it in my arms and went downstairs for breakfast. As usual, it was bustling with people, and I could see Bell unni working. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While serving for a while, she waved and greeted me, but was surprised to see the snake in my arms. "Oh my, could it be a summon?" "Yes! Isn''t it really cute!?" "A snake summon is something I haven''t seen in a while..." I looked at Bell unni with a bright smile, but her expression was somewhat strange. But Yong-yong looking at Bell unni was also strange. It was flicking its tongue, looking at her like something delicious...? "J-just wait at your seat for a moment, okay?" "Okay!" Wondering what today''s breakfast would be, I was playing with Yong-yong when Bell unni returned. Along with breakfast, she brought a bunch of beads, but what are those? "They''re magic stones. They contain magical power and are good for summons." When I handed the magic stones to Yong-yong, it ate them one by one, flicking its tongue. That sight was so cute, I desperately wished for a camera. Wait a minute. Didn''t the goblins say they took a picture before? Then there must be cameras!? "Bell unni! Do you have a camera!?" "Do you need one?" "Yes!" "Oh no, there are some in the magic tower, but I don''t have any here." The cruelest thing in the world is to give hope and then deliver despair. In a daze, I finished my meal and watched Yong-yong eating the magic stones. Feeling my gaze, Yong-yong looked at me and tilted its head. "So cute!" If it were just the size of a doll, I would hug it and rub my cheeks against it, but it was too small to do anything. I need to raise it quickly. "Eat a lot! Bell unni! Don''t you have any more of these!? I''ll buy them!" "They''re 100,000 gold each, is that okay?" The gold ratio between the real world and the game world is exactly 1:1. That means each of those tiny beads Yong-yong is eating costs 100,000 won in cash. Then how much has Yong-yong eaten so far...? All those magic stones have disappeared. Yong-yong looks satisfied with a full belly. Well, as long as it ate well, it''s fine. Should I go do a quest or something...? At that moment, Bell unni made a good suggestion. "Do you have any plans today? We have a group reservation, could you help out for a day?" [A quest has arrived.] Help innkeeper Bell with the inn work for a day. Reward: Small amount of experience, magic stones. "I''ll do it! I want to do it! I can do it for a few days, not just one!" "Huhuhu, then I''ll be counting on you." As expected, I should have run away this time too. That day, numerous people poured in, resulting in record-breaking sales. Moreover, when the guard unit heard that I was working, they even had a group dinner, and I thought I was going to die. After closing the first-floor restaurant, Bell unni patted my head saying I worked hard, and gave me experience points and magic stones. I entered my room with trembling steps and collapsed on the bed. Yong-yong was looking at me in this state. "I''ll work hard to feed you well, our Yong-yong." "......" "And this is what I got from Bell unni." When I handed the magic stones to Yong-yong, it ate them happily, and I can''t express how cute it was. Is this what it feels like to raise a child? "Yawn. I''m going to sleep first. See you tomorrow." "......" * * * I was looking at my sleeping contractor. They''re sleeping like they''re dead, why are they working so hard unnecessarily? If they just asked me, I could get them not just these magic stones, but all sorts of rare things in the world. Being bound as a summon with restrictions, I can''t take the initiative. My contractor needs to ask me first. At that moment, I felt a sensation. I opened the window and went outside to find a being with stronger power than other humans looking at me. The human who had my contractor working all day. I was going to forgive them for giving me magic stones, but they crossed the line. "What are your intentions in approaching Yuna?" "......" As they took out a staff from thin air and pointed it at me, I snorted and tried to release my power. I can use my power at will in cases of protecting my contractor. But I can''t use it? There''s only one conclusion. This human has no intention of harming my contractor even a hair. My interest waned. [Yong-yong conveys that it has no intentions towards the human.] "Pfft. Yong-yong..." At that moment, this strange human covered their mouth and choked. Why are they acting like that? [Yong-yong declares that it will return now.] "W-wait a moment! I have something to say!" The human put away the staff they were holding just now into their subspace and looked at me. "Just promise me one thing. That you won''t harm Yuna in any way. She''s a pitiful child." [Yong-yong says it has no intention of harming the contractor.] "I''ll believe you. Ah, this is an apology gift." They handed me a large pouch. The pouch was full of magic stones. [Yong-yong says it will forgive them just this once.] Leaving the strange human who was covering their mouth and choking, I came back through the window and locked the door. I climbed onto the bed and ate the magic stones in the pouch one by one while waiting. Waiting for my contractor to wake up. 9. Arcana Online 9. Arcana Online9. Arcana Online My contractor''s daily life was monotonous. Wake up in the morning, have a meal, take me along to receive sword training from an old human. No, I don''t understand why my contractor is swinging a sword. For a moment, I suspected that the staff my contractor carries might actually be a sword. After training, they eat a snack. Then they spend time leisurely reading books in a place called a library where books are kept. A week has passed since then. "Feeling cooped up staying only in the village? Let''s go out today!" Is it finally time for me to shine? I''ve been living like a parasite, just eating. I was ready to earn my keep, but what is this? My contractor surrounded by rabbits. Not being attacked, but being showered with affection. "Oh my, it tickles when you lick like that!" The rabbits are being affectionate towards my contractor while avoiding my scary gaze. What is this...? After being cuddled for a while and even receiving carrots as gifts, we moved along the path and saw slimes in the distance. I thought this time I would surely get to act, but my contractor is waving. "Hello!" "......" However, the slime just looks at my contractor once and goes on its way. While I was still trying to process the situation, we encountered a group of goblins. This time for sure... "It''s been a while!" "Kuruk! It has been a while, human." I was at a loss for words seeing them warmly greeting and chatting with the goblins. Why does this human get along well with other races when humans usually shun those even slightly different from themselves? Unable to keep up with this situation, I was in a daze in my contractor''s arms as we moved along the path. This time we encountered an orc. They''re the creatures I hate the most because of how ugly they look. I thought they were going to greet each other, but unexpected words were spoken. "Excuse me, if it''s not rude, may I ask you one thing?" "What is it, young human?" "Do you have parents?" "I won''t let this slide! Young human!" I thought we were finally going to have a proper battle, but it ended anticlimactically due to another orc appearing suddenly. The orc with a huge sword, no, the orc warrior, cut down the charging orc in an instant. "Young human. Didn''t I tell you not to come around here because it''s dangerous?" "I can protect myself now!" They strike a pose, raising one arm. They say they''ve gained muscle from sword training, but it''s just soft. The orc warrior looks at them with a dumbfounded expression. "Young human. Be careful, you might meet your ancestors in an instant if you act recklessly." "Are you worried about me!? Thank you!" The orc warrior passes by my contractor, who''s greeting him slyly, and goes on his way. As he passes by, he mutters, "These days, the shame of the tribe..." What does that mean? Judging by the magical power he emanates, he''s not an ordinary orc warrior. Is he a ''named'' monster? I thought I could finally be of use this time, but someone else took the lead. Perhaps noticing my dejected state of mind. My contractor looks at me. "What''s wrong? Are you not feeling well? Too tired from being outside for so long? Should we go back?" I shook my head to indicate no, but it was useless. Thanks to my contractor making a fuss about how cute I am, I was having another tiring day. If you ask if it''s bad, well, it''s not. These experiences aren''t bad in an otherwise monotonous daily life. If it''s just once in a while, that is. * * * After finishing the walk with Yong-yong, I returned to the village. Yong-yong, tired, was sleeping in my arms. It''s so cute I''m going crazy. To the extent that I want to tell the whole world about this cuteness. Wait a minute. There''s a way to spread the word, isn''t there? Should I stream to let everyone know about our Yong-yong''s cuteness? No, I can even record videos, right? Then I can capture our Yong-yong''s cuteness on video!? The deliberation didn''t last long. [Viewers: 0] No one had entered, but it didn''t matter. I filmed from various angles to capture our Yong-yong on screen. If I had done this earlier, I wouldn''t have needed a camera! The saying "if your head is dumb, your body suffers" wasn''t wrong. While I was focused for a while, a chat message appeared. [Finally, you''ve started streaming! What channel are you playing on that I can''t see you? I''ve changed channels hundreds of times in the beginner village!] "Huh? What do you mean? More importantly, why are you searching through channels?" [To find you! What channel are you on!?] Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine. C-could it be a stalker!? I hastily ended the broadcast. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I didn''t know there would be stalkers even in games. With an eerie feeling, I returned to the inn with Yong-yong. I entered the room, locked the door, and placed Yong-yong on the bed. Looking out the window, I couldn''t see any suspicious people. Well, I haven''t met any players so far anyway. Hmm, is it actually an unpopular game...? Well, it doesn''t matter much now. Because I have our Yong-yong. * * * "Argh! They ended the broadcast again! At least tell me what channel you''re on!" I shook my head so hard my hair got messy. My flowing brown hair fell over my shoulders. I wanted to cut it short, but I lost a bet with guild members and had to grow it out. My beast-kin ears, the mark of my race, perked up, and I noticed someone looking at me curiously. The moment I looked at that person with sharp eyes, they disappeared with quick steps. No, where on earth are you hiding!? I''ve been living in the starting village ''Cradle'' for over a week. A high-ranking fighter unable to hunt for over a week. I''ve searched through hundreds of channels in the village, but I haven''t seen even a single strand of hair. I thought about giving up midway, and worried that they might have quit the game, but today they turned on the broadcast. Thanks to that, I learned one thing. That they haven''t quit the game. Moreover, they were carrying some kind of snake, are they a summoner? Summoners are already rare, but summoners with summons are even rarer. There''s a reason people say not to become a summoner. The method of obtaining a summon differs for each player, and due to the extreme difficulty, it ranks first in population... from the bottom, in a game played by tens of millions. As expected, my instincts were right. But what''s the use of being right! Which channel are you on!? If I hadn''t approached so hastily, I could have recruited them! I should have approached more carefully, but I''ve been through so much mental stress that I rushed it. I need to return to the guild to report to the leader. I took out a scroll from my inventory and tore it in half. [Return Scroll] Allows one-time teleportation to the guild hideout. In an instant, light enveloped my body, and when I closed my eyes and opened them again, I had arrived at the guild hideout. As soon as I arrived, I opened the office door and entered. "Leader!" I came to meet the leader who was doing paperwork in the office, but she was covering her face with her hands. "What''s wrong, leader?" "......" She pointed behind me with her finger, what''s going on? When I looked back, the door was shattered. Ah, a mistake. "Sorry, sorry. I made a mistake again." "So, what''s your business?" "Well, you see! I couldn''t find them, but I got some information!" I told the leader about what had happened, and she seemed to be thinking deeply for a while. At that moment, she said something unexpected. "I can find them. I met them in real life. And I''ll recruit the girl." "Really!? What''s with the sudden change!? Well, if they already have a summon while still in the starting village, it proves their ability." But wasn''t there something strange mixed in there? "How did the leader meet that child in real life?" "We ran into each other by chance." I can''t understand the leader''s true feelings as she speaks with a smile. Well, she''s always smiling anyway. I might be the only one who''s seen the leader''s other expressions, right? That means... "I made the leader''s expression change!" "What? What are you talking about?" "I can control the leader''s emotions!" "Get out." I was kicked out of the office. Heeeng. So mean. * * * Inside the quiet office after chasing Sasha out. While sipping a cup of warm tea, I recalled that day. The young girl I encountered by chance. I was surprised when we bumped into each other in the alley, her wearing a hoodie and hat pulled down in the middle of summer. What could be the reason for bundling up like that in this hot weather? The moment I saw her face, I knew. A young girl with blonde hair like mine and blue eyes that gave a beautiful and mysterious feeling. To be precise, she was the girl from the video Sasha showed me. At first, I thought it might be because of her appearance, but I accidentally saw traces of self-harm on the girl''s wrist. I wondered what kind of story she had, so I investigated. And I learned shocking facts. She had a history of nearly having a big incident due to stalking when she was young. She lost all her family in a plane accident and was living alone. And I learned that the girl, no, she was an adult. What on earth happened to her... The more I investigated, the more I found only a gloomy past. And recently, she had her house cleaned by a cleaning company, which looked like the actions of someone preparing to leave this world. I need to act before it''s too late. I need to let her know that the world is still worth living in. It''s not that I''m helping her because I think she''s a child. Reaching out to someone who''s struggling. That''s what it means to be an adult. 10. Arcana Online 10. Arcana Online10. Arcana Online "I guess it''s time to leave the village now." About two weeks have passed since I started living in the starting village, Cradle. If I clear a few more quests, I''ll reach level 15 and be able to leave the village. Every day, I received training from Uncle Charles and helped Bell unni with the inn work. On top of that, I also accepted and cleared quests from the villagers. If I could have hunted, I would have graduated in a few days, but because I couldn''t hunt, it took ages. Well, living in the village wasn''t bad, and above all, I was happy to have Yong-yong by my side. Today too, after receiving training from Uncle Charles and helping Bell unni finish the inn work, I finally returned to my room. Lying on the bed, I was looking up at the starry night sky visible through the window. Numerous stars were shining, creating a beautiful spectacle. When was the last time I looked up at the sky? In reality, I was always too busy surviving to look up, always walking with my eyes on the ground, but now I''m living while looking at the sky. It feels strange somehow. While admiring the night sky, I looked at Yong-yong beside me. Our cute Yong-yong. It''s eating the magic stones I received as quest rewards. Is it really that delicious? "Do you like magic stones that much?" At that moment, something unexpected happened. "Kyuung." I thought I heard wrong. Yong-yong, who hadn''t said a word until now, spoke for the first time. And with such an incredibly cute sound. Thinking I must have heard wrong, I sat up abruptly and asked again. "W-what did you just say?" "Kyuung?" I felt a pain in my heart and clutched it, and Yong-yong looked at me with surprised eyes. For the first time while playing the game, I almost died. If there''s a final boss, wouldn''t it be our Yong-yong? I want to tell the whole world about this cuteness, but I couldn''t because of the stalker. It''s because of the vivid memories of the past, even though they''re not my own. When I recall those memories, my hands and feet tremble, my heart feels like it''s going to burst, and I break out in a cold sweat. Suddenly, with a warning alarm, the game shut down. [The game is forcibly terminated due to the traveler''s health abnormality.] * * * My contractor fell asleep. I was startled when they suddenly collapsed on the bed, but I was relieved to see them sleeping peacefully. Relief, huh. Have I already grown attached? Just as I was about to enter my sleeping contractor''s embrace. I turned my head and looked outside. Something was approaching. And a lot of it. How dare they. Are they trying to disturb my contractor''s peaceful sleep? At that moment, an anomaly occurred in the village. Numerous humans who didn''t exist until just now appeared. As if they had been there from the beginning. [Sudden Quest: Stop the monsters invading the village.] Numerous monsters are approaching the starting village ''Cradle''. The monsters, as if entranced by something, are attacking many villages as if looking for someone. Players and villagers are requested to join forces to protect the village. Success: Experience, magic stones, and item rewards based on contribution. Failure: The starting village ''Cradle'' turns into ruins, and the residents scatter. [Channels are integrated due to the sudden quest.] Invasion quests are very important to players, unlike regular quests. If failed, the village disappears, causing inconvenience for hunting or raiding. Moreover, if the starting village ''Cradle'' disappears, where will the fresh newbies be received? Welcoming new newbies is always a virtue of veteran players. This news spread through the community, and numerous players began flocking to the starting village. From high rankers to regular users, they were gathering one after another. Players preparing for battle in perfect order. Massive walls were erected in the previously open city, and numerous players stood guard, hiding their excitement. One large event can be the stepping stone for a semi-ranker to become a ranker. That''s how big the rewards were. And then the sound of a throbbing heartbeat. The players who climbed the walls upon hearing the heartbeat were enveloped in silence the moment they saw the approaching monsters. A monster army was approaching, enough to make one want to run away. From goblins and orcs to wyverns, drakes, golems, and undead types like ghouls, dullahans, and liches were visible. The living and the dead cannot mingle. The fact that undead monsters like ghouls, liches, and dullahans are together with living monsters doesn''t make sense. In this situation, one fact that can be inferred is that something with enormous power is controlling the monsters. Just as everyone was gripping their weapons tightly with tense hearts, preparing. A large shadow fell over the brightly lit village. As everyone looked around in confusion, alert, something huge revealed itself. From the rear. The front was arranged with tanks and DPS, while the rear was set up with mages and healers. No, more importantly, they had never seen a monster of that size before. Even high rankers who had seen dragons had never seen a monster of such enormous size. A monster in the form of a dragon that looked like it could appear in Eastern mythology was looking down at the ground from the sky. A size so vast it was impossible to gauge. Suddenly, a dignified voice was heard along with a huge roar that shook the earth. [Inferior creatures. Who dares to disturb one''s peaceful slumber.] Players and NPCs alike covered their ears, crying out in terrible pain. Just one word, and their HP had fallen below half. A desperate situation. When dying in the game, you lose experience, so a few players tried to run away, but it was useless. [Logout is impossible due to the sudden quest.] As they were looking up at the dragon with eyes full of despair, an anomaly occurred. Something began to gather in the massive mouth. A beautifully shining blue light was gathering, c-could it be a breath attack!? "Everyone who can use barrier magic, gather! Use all shield items!" "Tanks! Quickly move to the rear!" "Priests, raise buffs! Mages, prepare to attack!" Numerous players followed orders in perfect unison, preparing, but their eyes were full of despair. Can we block this? But an anomaly occurred. Along with the blue light gathering in the huge dragon''s mouth, the large breath flew not towards the village, but in the direction where the monsters were approaching. And then, a mushroom cloud blooming with a massive explosion as if a nuclear bomb had fallen. How powerful must it be for the impact to reach the village when the breath fell at such a distant location? At that moment, a message appeared. [Congratulations! You have cleared the sudden quest!] Rankings based on contribution are being measured. Please wait a moment. No.1: Yong-yong No.2: Undecided No.3: Undecided No.4: Undecided No.5: Undecided Rewards will be given based on contribution. [Channels will normalize in 1 minute after the quest ends.] People were looking at the blue window with dumbfounded faces. So the name of the dragon that just appeared is Yong-yong...? No matter how crazy one is, they wouldn''t name themselves Yong-yong. After 1 minute passed, the players scattered to their respective channels. The huge dragon also disappeared in an instant. Then there''s only one conclusion. The dragon that just appeared is someone''s summon. This news is shocking enough to cause an uproar in the community. * * * I was sitting dazed on the bed after being forcibly logged out. Just thinking about it makes my hands and feet tremble, my heart pound, and cold sweat flow. To calm myself down, I turned on a secret broadcast and played a video of Yong-yong on my phone that I had recorded. The sight of our cute Yong-yong tilting its head and looking at me. I lay down in bed while watching the video. Our lovely Yong-yong. I miss Yong-yong. [Ding ding ding! What''s for lunch! Ding ding ding! Rice rice rice rice rice...!] The alarm sound that was ringing before I knew it. I must have fallen asleep while watching Yong-yong''s video. I got up, stretching, and went down to the kitchen to fill my empty stomach. I opened the fridge to see what was inside, but it was even poorer than I thought. Only some leftover water remained, and nothing else was inside. I opened the drawer in desperation, but was dismayed to find not even a single packet of ramen in this reality. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The weather was nice today, so I didn''t want to go out. I put on a hoodie and hat and headed to the nearby convenience store. While I was choosing ramen and triangle kimbap at the convenience store, someone tapped my shoulder. Startled, I looked up to see a familiar face. "Oh my, what a coincidence? Do you remember? We bumped into each other before." "Ah, the unni I bumped into that time." "Unni? Oh, I see." The pretty unni, who was muttering to herself, said she wanted to talk for a moment. Normally, I wouldn''t follow a stranger, but somehow it felt okay. I used to criticize dramas for their lack of plausibility, but now I understood. Appearance is plausibility, trust, and credibility. After finishing the payment and leaving the convenience store, the pretty unni was waiting. I followed her and sat on a nearby park bench, wondering what this was about. "I''ve been thinking about where to start explaining, but I''ll just start from the beginning." The pretty unni introduced herself as the leader of ''Frey'' guild, one of the top 10 guilds in Arcana Online and an elite small guild. And she said that one of the guild members had accidentally seen me broadcasting. She talked about what had happened so far, how they had been searching for me in the starting village for over a week, changing channels, and so on. After 30 minutes of explanation, she made a proposal to me. "What do you think? Would you like to join our guild?" 11. Arcana Online 11. Arcana Online11. Arcana Online Inside the Frey Guild headquarters. While drinking a cup of tea in the quiet office, someone was peeking in from the doorway, looking into the office. "Leader! Where did the door go?" "I removed it. It''s not stuffy, and I like the open feeling." Sasha came into the office and sat on the guest sofa, staring intently. Her intentions were clear. "I was rejected." "Why!?" "Well, you see." After hearing my story, Sasha was devastated. "S-stalker..." "By the way, she said she plays on channel 1004." "Leader...? Is it what I think it is?" "Who knows." The trade city of Talasha gathers rare items and vast amounts of information. I also received information from guild members who participated in last night''s sudden quest. They said a huge dragon appeared and swept away the monsters, and the hypothesis that it''s a summon is strong. The dragon''s name is Yong-yong. I asked her, no, Yuna, just in case, and her summon''s name is also Yong-yong. If the summon moved on its own while Yuna was logged out last night, the summon''s name would be displayed in the rankings. There''s no physical evidence, but there''s circumstantial evidence. In this case, we have no choice but to recruit her. I won''t give up. This is the beginning of a win-win plan to show Yuna the joy of life and gain a mascot for the guild. * * * Before logging into Arcana Online, I fiddled with the business card I had received. The card said ''Catlleya, Guild Master of Frey Guild'', but does the game make that much money...? When I searched the internet, it was no joke. The top 10 guilds are called the Big 10. They say the annual salary of an executive in one of these guilds is in the hundreds of millions of won, so how much does a guild master earn? I was shocked by the fact that they earn so much money, and after spending some time in a daze, I came to my senses and logged into the game. When I opened my eyes in bed, Yong-yong was sleeping in my arms. As I got up, Yong-yong also woke up and looked at me. "Did you sleep well? Nothing happened during the night, right?" "Kyuung!" I still can''t get used to Yong-yong''s cute voice. More importantly, what''s this? [Rewards for clearing the sudden quest will be given.] [Abnormal usage has been detected, and some rewards have been adjusted.] [Adjusted rewards will be given.] Blue windows kept appearing and disappearing countless times, what''s going on? When I opened my inventory, there were various items. Among them, the most eye-catching item was a magic stone, but it was different. ?Top-Rank Magic Stone? A magic stone used in researching top-rank magic. If the magic stones Yong-yong usually eats are the size of marbles, this top-rank magic stone is the size of a bowling ball. Suddenly feeling a gaze, I looked at Yong-yong and saw it drooling. "Do you want to eat it?" "Kyuung!" "If our Yong-yong wants to eat it, of course I should give it to you!" "Kyuuung!" While watching Yong-yong happily eating the magic stone, I checked the other rewards. ?Job-specific Spellbook? You can obtain a skill suitable for your job. Am I finally getting my second skill!? Just like last time, the moment I took it out of my inventory and opened it, it disappeared into light. [You have used the Job-specific Spellbook.] You have acquired the Passive Skill: Gluttony. ?Gluttony? The more magic stones your summon eats, the stronger it becomes. [Just watching it eat makes you feel full!] At that moment, an anomaly occurred. Yong-yong''s body, which was eating the top-rank magic stone, started to glow. Yong-yong, who was shining brightly, was eating the magic stone deliciously as if nothing had happened, what''s going on? Thinking it might be a faulty skill, I checked something else, and what''s this!? When I checked my status window, my level had exceeded 20. It feels like winning the lottery overnight. At this rate, I could set out on a journey right away, couldn''t I? I felt both excitement about setting out on a journey and regret about leaving this village. Where there''s a meeting, there''s a parting. I picked up Yong-yong, who was burping after eating all the magic stones and feeling full, and went down to the first floor. Bell unni, working hard as usual today. "Are you up? Can you wait a moment?" "Bell unni. I have something to tell you." She glanced at me, told me to sit and wait for a moment, then went into the kitchen. While sitting in a chair and fiddling with Yong-yong''s cute belly, she came back with breakfast and handed me a bundle. "What''s this?" "I''ve put everything you need for your journey in there." "How did you know?" "I may not look it, but I''m a 10-year veteran innkeeper. I just know." She strokes my head with a gentle touch. Strangely, tears flowed at the warm touch. Bell unni wipes the tears flowing down my cheeks and smiles. "You should smile on a good day, right?" "Yes!" When I smile brightly, this time she teases me, saying if you laugh after crying, you''ll grow horns on your bottom. After finishing the meal, I put the bundle Bell unni prepared for me in my inventory and was about to leave the village when the villagers gathered. From the intimidating-looking uncle who always gave me bread, to Uncle Charles who guided my sword training. After receiving various items from the villagers, Uncle Charles hands me a pass. "If you ever have any problems while traveling, show this." ?Imperial Pass? A pass issued by Charles Caesar, former captain of the Avalon Empire''s Imperial Knights. Ooh, it''s full of impressive descriptions. Though I don''t know what it means. "Thank you! Well then, I''ll be going now!" "Take care! You can come back anytime!" "Wherever you go, be well!" "We''ll miss you!" I set out on my journey, receiving farewells from numerous villagers. As I followed the path, I greeted rabbits, goblins, and slimes as I passed by. I tried to greet the orcs too, but they avoided me. Why are they acting like that? Then an orc with a huge sword appeared. The orc who saved me twice. "Young human. Are you on your way to meet your ancestors?" "No!? I''m setting out on a journey! This is the last time I''ll be greeting you like this." "I pray that you don''t meet your ancestors." "Thank you! Ah, this is a token of gratitude for saving me!" I took out a magic stone from my inventory and handed it over. He looked at me with a surprised expression, then thanked me and left. I waved to the departing orc, and he disappeared with quick steps, seemingly embarrassed. After a long journey, I finally arrived at the edge of the village. It took over two weeks to get here. There was a sign there. [We wish for the traveler''s happiness and well-being.] From all the residents of Cradle Village. The moment I saw the sign, I felt a lump in my throat. I guess I''ve grown attached to this village. With a slightly melancholic heart, I followed the signpost towards the city. The first city, known for its beauty. [City of Stars] It''s said that you can see a night sky full of countless stars. As I moved along the path, I saw something in the distance. A monster with a huge body. [Warbear] A giant bear with a 3m tall body. A monster known as a newbie crusher to users who have just left the beginner village. Famous for being an aggressive monster that rushes in first and tears apart novice users with its sharp claws. The Warbear spotted me and slowly approached. I gripped my staff tightly and was on guard, but something felt strange? As it came closer, I thought it was going to attack, but it''s sniffing me. It sniffs me, sniffing around, and the moment it looks at Yong-yong. ''Thud.'' Suddenly, it shows its belly and takes a submissive posture. I look at it with a dumbfounded expression, and it acts cute with an adorable voice, what''s going on? "What''s wrong, bear?" "Groan." It turns its body again and lies face down on the ground. "You want me to ride on your back?" "Groan!" "You''ll take me to the city!? Thank you!" I climb onto the bear''s back with difficulty, and it slowly starts moving. It''s much faster than my walking speed, and the soft fur feels comfortable. As I rode on the bear''s back, enjoying the surroundings along the way, I saw a city in the distance. At that moment, with a groan, it stopped and lowered itself so I could get off easily. "You''re saying I have to walk from here?" "Groan!" "You''ll be hunted if you approach any closer? Can''t be helped. Thanks, bear! Ah, this is a gift!" ?High-Rank Magic Stone? A magic stone used in researching high-rank magic. I took out a magic stone slightly smaller than the one I gave to the orc from my inventory and handed it to the bear as payment. It happily accepted and ate it. Yong-yong looks at this scene with jealous eyes. "I''ll give our Yong-yong some in a bit!" "Kyuung." After saying goodbye and waving to the departing bear, I approached the city to enter it and saw many people. Are they all trying to enter the city? There are two entrances, but why are they only standing at one? As I was about to enter through the empty entrance, I was stopped by a guard. "Please present your pass." "Pass?" "If you don''t have one, you need to line up." Ah, so you need a pass for this entrance. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Come to think of it, didn''t I receive something from Uncle Charles earlier? The moment I presented the pass I received from Uncle Charles from my inventory, they panicked and kept apologizing. "S-sorry! I didn''t know you were such an important person! Hey! New recruit! Quickly guide our young lady!" "Yes! Understood!" A soldier wearing armor came running from the distance, which was overwhelming. "I''m fine on my own." "No! If it''s your first visit, you might get lost because the city is complicated! Our soldier will guide you to the hotel to ensure a safe and comfortable journey!" "Is that so? Then I''ll take you up on your offer." The moment I entered following the soldier. I suddenly realized that the village I was in was truly rural. * * * [Avoid the orc carrying a greatsword among the orcs appearing in Cradle Village.] I just died three times. One thing''s for sure, that bastard isn''t an orc. Isn''t it a dragon that polymorphed? [Comments] - What kind of dragon would polymorph into an orc? lol - It''s my first time seeing a user die three times to an orc lol - [Author] I''m telling you it''s real, you crazy bastard. It''s really strong! - Sure, sure, whatever you say~ [Is this the normal size for a Warbear? (photo)] I heard they were about 3m tall, but this is over 7m, what''s going on? [Comments] - Whoa, that''s scary... - How is that a Warbear? No way. - The appearance matches a Warbear, but is that size for real? - What is it? What on earth is that!? 12. Arcana Online 12. Arcana Online12. Arcana Online As I entered the City of Stars, the murmur of people was constant. When I looked up, skyscrapers soared so high they seemed to touch the sky. Flashy signs caught my eye. The streets were intertwined like a maze; I would have gotten lost if I were alone. As I walked around looking here and there like someone who had just moved from the countryside to the city, following the guard''s guidance, he quietly warned me. "When sightseeing, you must never enter the back alleys." "Why not?" "It''s very dangerous." Where there''s light, there''s darkness. On one side of the city, dark shadows were lurking. The stench of rotting garbage wafting from the back alleys stung my nose, and I felt someone''s gaze. After walking with the guard for a while, I saw a magnificent building that was incomparable to the others. Entering the building, there was a grand chandelier on the ceiling and the hotel lobby was bustling with people. "This is ''Luna'', the best hotel in the City of Stars." Passing by other people, the guard talked with an employee at the hotel desk, who then looked at me with a surprised expression. I thanked the guard who said he would return now, and he left with a smile. As I approached the desk employee, they immediately handed me a key. "How much is the hotel fee?" "For a VVIP customer like you, it''s free of charge, of course. Please feel free to use everything." "What? But still..." "Please, I insist you use it!" I thanked the employee who was almost on the verge of bowing down, and hastily moved away. This is my first time experiencing something like this, so it''s really burdensome. To go up to room 1904 written on the hotel key, I used the magic device to reach the 19th floor. As soon as I put the room key to the door, it opened with a ''click'' sound. As I entered, a room I had never seen before in my life was waiting for me. An interior even grander than a suite room. Antique design and luxurious interior decorations. The huge bed was big enough for me to roll around on, and as the window blinds automatically opened, I could see the entire city at a glance. Looking down from the high floor, I could see a beautiful neighborhood. They said the night sky was pretty, right? More importantly, I''m hungry. Rummaging through the drawers for something to eat, I found a familiar refrigerator, and it was full of food. As I was eating a sandwich I took out and admiring the cityscape, I heard a cute sound from beside me. "Kyuung." "Oh right. Wait a moment." I took out a magic stone and gave it to Yong-yong, who happily ate it deliciously. That sight was so cute that I stared blankly, then checked the remaining magic stones in my inventory, but there weren''t many left. I need to get more magic stones soon. To do that, I need to do quests, right? Earlier, they said not to go to the back alleys, but something smells fishy. I read in novels before that back alleys are full of event quests. Plus, there''s assassination guilds, information guilds, and even black markets. With so many events, how can they expect me to resist? I absolutely can''t resist. I''m tired today, so I''ll visit tomorrow. I sat in a chair right in front of the window, blankly looking up at the sky. The sky with the setting sun quickly changed to a dark night sky, and numerous stars began to appear. As I was immersed in the emotions while looking at the beautiful night sky, I heard a cute sound. "Kyuung." "Did you finish already?" I took out more magic stones from my inventory and gave them to Yong-yong, who ate them happily. I need to work hard, if only to feed our Yong-yong. Starting tomorrow. * * * Logging into the game early in the morning and getting up from the hotel bed, Yong-yong demanded breakfast with a cute voice. As it ate the magic stones I took out from my inventory deliciously, we were really in trouble. There were no magic stones left now. "Yong-yong. Daddy will work hard and feed you plenty." "Kyuung?" "Huh? You''re asking if I''m not mom? Well, there''s a bit of a situation..." "Kyuuung?" "I''ll tell you later. Let''s go out for now." To earn money for Yong-yong''s food expenses, I left the hotel and headed to the back alleys. As soon as I entered the back alley, I felt a terrible stench and gazes watching me. Just as I was about to go deeper inside, someone spoke to me. "Go back." Looking in the direction of the voice, I saw an old man crouching down and holding a sword, looking at me. "Are you worried about me?" "It''s not too late. Hurry and go back." With those words, he stood up and chased away a thug who was trying to approach me from behind. At that moment, he coughed, and blood came out mixed in. "Are you not feeling well!?" "I''ve lived long enough. Don''t worry about me, worry about yourself." As the old man finished speaking and was about to move, I grabbed his sleeve, and he turned his head to look at me. I took out a potion I received as a quest reward from my inventory. ?Elixir? Has the effect of curing various diseases and abnormal states. "Drink this. It''s good for you." "Th-this is..." "It''s a thank you for saving me! Take care!" I put the potion in his hand, bowed my head, and then moved on. * * * The red potion that the young girl put in my hand. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It''s the elixir I''ve been searching for so long. It was said to be made from dragon''s blood, but that wasn''t true. I had given up, frustrated, but... ''It seems the goddess of fate still needs me.'' As soon as I opened the elixir cap and drank it, changes appeared in my body. The core that had been hardened due to the curse began to move. As the core moved, magic power spread throughout my body, and a new world unfolded. The wall that had been blocking me at the master level crumbled, and I could feel numerous things I couldn''t feel before. At that moment, one of the gangs that had been dominating the back alleys appeared. Trash who mainly deal in human trafficking. "Hey, old geezer. I heard you interfered with our business?" As they threatened me by pointing their swords at me, I drew my sword that I hadn''t been able to draw for a long time. ?Durandal? A sword that judges evil ones with light. The trash around me turned to dust and scattered. "I''ve received a favor that I can''t repay even if I spend my whole life." I took out a crystal from my bosom and crushed it. In the back alley where there was no one except for the scattering trash, numerous knights appeared, fluttering black cloaks symbolizing the Black Knight Order. A knight order with one of the most formidable military powers in the Avalon Empire. The knights knelt on one knee and pledged loyalty to their master. "The Black Knight Order greets Duke Adonis Ether!" As I put Durandal back in its scabbard, I looked in the direction where the girl had disappeared and opened my mouth. "Let''s return." "Yes, sir!" Called the First Sword of the Avalon Empire and one of the ten masters. It''s the moment Duke Adonis Ether, the owner of the holy sword, returns to the empire. * * * [You have bestowed a great favor upon Duke Adonis Ether!] You can receive a reward when visiting the Ether Duchy located in the capital of the Avalon Empire. [The Ether Duchy will be a strong supporter of the traveler forever.] "What''s this now?" A message that popped up while I was wandering in the back alleys. It was a message I couldn''t understand, but it''s not important right now. No matter how much I looked, I couldn''t find a red door or a blue door. Although I may not look like it, I have some experience reading novels, and in most of them, red doors or blue doors are the hideouts of information guilds. After wandering for a long time, I finally found a red door and knocked. ''Knock knock. Knock knock.'' I knocked twice quickly twice, and the door opened. "What''s your business?" "Information." With a gaze scanning me and after I said the password, the door opened, and a man with a fierce look told me to come in. As I entered through the door, he guided me to stairs going down. While going down the stairs, I thought. How is this working...? The novel I read. I just followed exactly what I saw in ''The Youngest Daughter of an Assassination Family'', but why...? Following the stairs down, there was another door. The man struggled to open the door made of thick iron. As the door opened and I went inside, I saw a pretty older sister with a voluptuous chest and a seductive aura. "What business does our little miss have?" "I need work." "Why don''t you sit down first?" As I sat in the seat across from her, warm tea and delicious-looking cookies were served. I took a sip of the tea, and it had a good aroma. [Due to the effect of the unique characteristic: Protective Instinct (±£×o±¾ÄÜ), poison is neutralized.] A message suddenly popped up. It appeared as soon as I drank the tea. Which means... "Was there something in the tea?" "Oh my, how did you know? It should be colorless and odorless?" The pretty older sister looked at me with a bright smile. Appearance is plausibility... "Ahem, I''ll forgive you this once. I''m a customer, you know, despite how I look." "Our customers don''t enter using the method for executives, you know?" "......" It seems I''ve made a big mistake. But this is how they did it in the novel!? "I''ll ask you directly. Who told you?" The face that was smiling brightly until just now was gone, and she was looking at me with a cold gaze. It feels like something big will happen if I say the wrong thing. I''m sorry, grandpa! "I heard it from the old man in the alley." "Well, that makes sense." Huh? It makes sense? 13. Arcana Online 13. Arcana Online13. Arcana Online A woman with red hair and seductive eyes, exuding an alluring atmosphere, was drinking tea. The request room was empty after the little miss had left. The black shadows rippled, and numerous assassins revealed themselves. "Shall we follow her?" "No need. We''ve already confirmed it." The words written in the communication channel: [If harm comes to the benefactor, the Ether Duke''s knight order will move.] They''re openly threatening to send the Black Knight Order. I wonder what the identity of our little miss, whom the Ether Duke is protecting, could be? An interesting being has appeared after a long time. Our little miss, who makes your heart warm just by looking at her and makes you want to protect her. "Hmm, I still can''t figure it out no matter how much I think about it. Well, we can get to know her slowly." A smile formed on her lips as she took a sip of tea. "Sweet is indeed the best." * * * Coming out through a different entrance, I was able to exit into a general store located on the main street. To think it was so blatantly there. More importantly, what should I do about this? [A quest has arrived.] Let''s retrieve an egg from the griffin''s nest in the Valley of Death. Reward: Experience, large amount of magic stones. A straightforward quest where I just need to bring back an egg. The Valley of Death was located half a day''s walk from the City of Stars. The problem is that the recommended level is 60 and above. How am I supposed to get it at level 20!? I accepted it anyway because the reward is good. But is the old man I met in the alley Duke Adonis Ether? The only old man I encountered in the alley was that one. The alarm went off not long after, so there''s only one culprit! It''s the old man. As evidence, when I made an excuse about the old man, even the pretty older sister at the information guild accepted it. He must have been a very important person. "Kyuuung." "Are you hungry?" "Kyuung!" "Then let''s go clear a quest." We have no time to waste, if only for our Yong-yong''s sake. Coming out of the city and walking along the signpost pointing towards the Valley of Death, I see a bear with a huge body in the distance? What? Why is it so big? As the bear with the huge body approaches, I''m scared, but it looks familiar? "Groan!" "Oh!? It''s you!?" "Groan!" It''s the bear that gave me a ride! Why has it grown so big!? It''s grown more than twice its size, but it approaches me and acts cute. It has a cute side that doesn''t match its size. It says it will give me a ride like last time. "Do you know the way to the Valley of Death?" "Groan!" "You''re saying I should just trust you? Then I''ll leave it to you." A distance that would take half a day to walk, we arrived near the valley in no time. I thanked it for the ride and said I''d give it more magic stones when I get them, and it said "Keep your promise" before leaving. Is it normal for every monster I meet to have such a peculiar way of speaking? When I looked at Yong-yong, it tilted its head and spoke in a cute voice. "Kyuung?" "Indeed, our Yong-yong is the cutest in the world!" I almost lost my mind for a moment, but there''s no time. I need to get the egg and return to the village before it''s too late. Then I can feed our Yong-yong. As I approached the valley, an eerie feeling and a chilly wind blew. The valley seemed to be warning me to turn back now. But I still have to go in. I slowly entered the valley. Surprisingly, there was nothing. They said there was a griffin''s nest, but is it really here? Should I go up? While I was wondering how to climb up the valley, Yong-yong cried out while looking at a corner. When I turned my gaze to look there, there were stairs. Did someone else make them? I climbed up the stairs for a long time. After climbing for over an hour, I was finally able to find the griffin''s nest. There was a large egg in the nest that looked like a griffin''s egg, but a problem arose. A griffin was flying in the sky, keeping watch with ironclad security. "H-how can I break through that and take the egg...?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Kyuung?" "Hmm? No, it''s nothing. I''ll figure something out." Yong-yong tells me to just trust it, but its heart is enough. While I was racking my brains, I felt a gaze. I looked up and saw a griffin staring at me. And then it tilted its head and spoke. "Human." "Y-yes!?" As I stared back with a bewildered expression, it slowly descended to the ground. Then it looked at me closely. "Are you lost?" "N-no, that''s not it." "Then are you a thief?" At that moment, it looked at me with a cold gaze. If I say ''yes'' here, I feel like I''ll be torn apart by those huge claws... "Well... I need an egg." "......" I answered too directly. The griffin looked at me with a dumbfounded expression. "This is the first time I''ve met such a brazen thief." "Ahaha. I''m not good at lying." Is this all that''s left for me now? Just as I was about to ask it to make it quick and painless, the griffin said "Wait a moment" and flew up into the sky. How much time has passed? The griffin that flew away earlier returned with numerous eggs. "These are children who couldn''t be born with life." When I checked closely, they were all unfertilized eggs. Unfertilized egg An egg laid without fertilization taking place. The griffin, with a sad face, said it would give them all to me without asking for anything in return. "Why are you giving these to me?" "Although they are children who couldn''t be born, if they can be of help to someone else, those children would be satisfied too." Its low whispering voice was full of sadness. I put the eggs in my inventory and said I would come back to repay this kindness, but it said there was no need and told me to return carefully before leaving. Even as I left the valley and headed towards the village, I couldn''t shake off the melancholic feeling. Is there anything I can do to repay them? I headed towards the city on the bear that appeared from somewhere, saying it would give me a ride back too. Looking at the bear that had grown more than twice its size overnight, I recalled a memory. I gave the bear a magic stone yesterday, could it be...? ?Gluttony? The more magic stones your summon eats, the stronger it becomes. [Just watching it eat makes you feel full!] "That''s it!" * * * After presenting my pass at the entrance and entering the city right away, I went into the store I had come out of before. The clerk who recognized me told me to follow and guided me. Using the back door, I entered the request room I had been in before, and the pretty older sister was waiting. "Our little miss. Are you giving up?" Hearing those words, I took out numerous eggs from my inventory and placed them on the table, surprising her. "Wh-what are all these eggs...?" "They''re griffin eggs." The pretty older sister was so surprised by the numerous eggs that she couldn''t close her mouth. [Quest Clear!] Reward will be given. At the pretty older sister''s gesture, another employee handed over a large bundle, which was full of magic stones. Enough for our Yong-yong to eat comfortably for several months. It was already drooling while looking at them, so I gave it one, and it ate it deliciously. While watching that sight, she made a proposal. "Oh? That''s a creature I''ve never seen before. How about it? I can offer you a pretty good price if you''re interested." "No!" "That''s a shame." She smiled and handed me a business card. The card had ''Erica'' written on it. "Let me introduce myself properly. I''m Erica, the head of the information guild. I''ll allow you to call me Erica unni with love and affection." "Nice to meet you. My name is Yuna. Erica unni." "Unni...?" She looked at me with a slightly dumbfounded expression, but as I put the pouch of magic stones in my inventory and stood up, she grabbed my wrist. "Do you have urgent business? If not, want to go somewhere nice with unni?" "I have something to do, so I''ll take my leave." "You''re so cold. Come play again sometime." Erica unni let go of my wrist and waved her hand. It''s time to go repay my debt to the griffins. * * * The Valley of Death had been the domain ruled by griffins since ancient times. Until their natural enemy appeared, that is. The wyvern horde that has been showing up recently. They''re like bugs that attack when there''s an opening or steal eggs. Their intensity has been increasing, and there were signs that an all-out war might break out soon. While I was keeping watch from the sky. The human who took the eggs appeared again. And upon seeing me, they were waving their hand. As I approached, they took something out from their bosom. "Why have you come back, human?" "I came to repay your kindness!" They handed me something, and when I looked closely, it was a stone containing magical power. As I swallowed it in one gulp, changes occurred in my body. Power was surging. "I brought a lot, so could you call the other griffins too?" "Very well, human." I called my kin with a loud voice, and all the griffins in the valley, except for a few guarding the nests, flew in. Their number exceeded several hundred. The human looked surprised at that sight and checked something. "Phew. That''s a relief. It should be about right. Yong-yong, I''m sorry...? I''ll earn more next time and feed you plenty." "Kyuung." I got goosebumps when I looked at the source of the sound coming from the human''s bosom. Why is such an enormous being acting cute towards a human? Just that being looking at me sent chills down my spine. I felt relieved when it quickly lost interest and started doing something else. At that moment, the human started feeding the magical stones to my kin. "Come on, will you line up in order? I''ll give you one each!" 14. Arcana Online 14. Arcana Online14. Arcana Online Numerous wyverns flying in the sky. They had gathered many of their kin to push out those chicken-heads and take over the valley. The day of the final battle. Today is the day wyverns become the rulers of the valley. But something feels off. The reconnaissance team we sent hasn''t returned. We can''t even imagine they''ve been defeated, are they slacking off somewhere? It''s not too late to purge the useless ones after we take over the valley. "Brothers, the day of the final battle has come." As numerous wyverns cut through the sky in perfect unison towards the griffins'' nest, something felt strange. The instinct I''ve relied on all my life was telling me. That if we approach, we''ll die. Trying hard to ignore it, I approached the nest, and saw the griffins, but something was off. Where were the griffins smaller than us, and why were there so many enormous griffins in sight? At that moment. I heard screams, and looking around, I saw many of our kin being hunted by the griffins. While I was dumbfounded, unable to process the situation, I heard a voice. "Welcome. You''ve come to the right place if you''re looking for your grave." Looking up at the sky, I saw a griffin with a size clearly different from the others. For a moment, I broke out in a cold sweat and was about to make an excuse when the world flipped upside down. The last thing I saw in my life was the moon, realizing it was beautiful, before the world went dark. * * * [Is the Valley of Death called that because you die if you enter?] I received a quest to steal a griffin egg, but I was torn apart as soon as I entered. What''s the recommended level? [Comments] - Around 60, isn''t it? - [Author] I''m level 60 but I was one-shot... My job is Warlord... - A Warlord got one-shot? Did you go in without equipment? I''m going to check right now, and if you''re lying, you''re dead. [Don''t even approach the Valley of Death.] Earlier, someone said a Warlord got one-shot, so I thought it was a lie and went in, but I got one-shot too. My level is over 70 and I''m a Holy Knight, is this right!? [Comments] - Did you go in without any equipment? lol - [Author] Stop talking nonsense, I went in with full buffs and still got one-shot!? - Stop lying. - [Author] You crazy bastard, go see for yourself!! [Valley of Death verification. (video)] First of all, these aren''t the griffins we know. See that huge body? They''ve grown at least twice the size we''ve seen before, and there''s one that looks like a named monster among them, don''t even get close to it. You''ll be torn apart. [Comments] - What is that? Did you enter a dragon''s nest instead of a griffin''s nest? lol - Please stop already, we''re all going to die at this rate - They say everyone really died, please take down the post lol [The Valley of Death is called that because you die when you enter and come out as a corpse?] Hmm, is that so? [Comments] - This guy''s really nailed the concept lol - You, get out, really lol - [Author] Hmm, is that so? - "Hmm, is that so?" my ass lol "Leader! Did you check the community!?" "I''m looking at it now." Information is money and power. To maintain a top 10 guild, you need to monopolize more information than others. Other guild members have gone to clear quests or party hunts, so only Sasha and I are left. I had no choice but to dispatch Sasha. "Sasha. Please go." "Heeeng. Alright." Sasha, who always grumbles but follows my orders well. As she tore the scroll taken out from her inventory, she disappeared with a bright light. ?Teleport Scroll? Can teleport to any place you''ve been to before. (Some areas excluded) While collecting other information until Sasha returns with the intel, just as I was taking a sip of tea, an alarm rang from the communication channel. The color indicating importance was displayed as red. It''s an emergency situation. "What''s going on?" "Th-this place is no joke! Kyaaak!" With a scream, the communication was cut off. Clutching my throbbing head, I took out a scroll from my inventory and tore it. In an instant, the location changed and I could see the Valley of Death. I took out a sword from my inventory. A sword I happened to obtain through a hidden quest due to my unique characteristic. The item that made me a high ranker. ?Twin Dragon Sword? Entering the valley and climbing up the stairs, I saw numerous griffins. They had grown at least twice the size of the griffins I''d seen before. Among them, I saw one particularly giant griffin. It boasted an overwhelming size even compared to the other griffins. "Is that a named monster." Sasha, who had been running away in the distance, spotted me and came running towards me!? "S-save me, Leader!" "Don''t come this way!" I was terrified as Sasha, who had drawn aggro, approached with an enormous number of griffins. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I can handle drive hunting with dozens of griffins, but hundreds are too much. Plus, that named monster. Judging by the ominous energy I feel, it''s not just any named monster. I drew my sword from its sheath and swung it. Three feet of steel swear to the heavens, mountains and rivers tremble. One sweep clears all, blood dyes mountains and rivers. At the strike I unleashed as a warning, the griffins retreated and Sasha hid behind my back. "Huff. Huff. I-I thought I was going to die." "Really. Please be more careful." At that moment. Among the hundreds of griffins, the giant griffin revealed itself. "Humans. Are you thieves who''ve come to steal eggs?" The fact that it can communicate confirms it''s a named monster. "No. We came to investigate the valley. I''m sorry, but can you tell us if anything has happened recently?" "Nothing. Go back. This is the only warning." After being thoroughly rejected, I retreated with Sasha. And I updated the information. The Valley of Death, which had a recommended level of 60, is now gone. It''s become a place that can only be hunted if numerous high-level players gather. However, griffins don''t drop any special loot. Considering the cost of potions used for hunting, it would actually be a loss. I guess it''s good news for the griffins. After leaving the valley, I gave an order to Sasha. "As the leader, I''m ordering you. Check if Yuna has ever been to the Valley of Death." "Huh? You think Yuna did this? Is that possible?" "There''s a possibility. There are only a few people who would do such an outrageous thing." "Hmm. Alright." As Sasha left for the City of Stars to investigate, I turned back and looked at the Valley of Death. A story I heard in the early days. The original name of the Valley of Death was the Griffin Valley. The entire valley was a nest where griffins lived peacefully. But when griffins were massacred by players, at some point the name changed to the Valley of Death. "Are they going to reclaim their old name?" * * * Erica unni, smiling brightly while patting my head. "What brings our pretty one here, who coldly rejected my offer?" "Well... Are there any other jobs available?" The place I''m currently at is the request room of the information guild. Due to the number of griffins being more than I expected, I used up all my magic stones and now I have to work again. While I was watching Erica unni, the head of the information guild, who was looking at me, she took out a scroll from her subspace. "This should be suitable." "Thank you!" As I unrolled the scroll, a blue window appeared. [A quest has arrived.] * * * On the way back to the hotel after leaving the information guild. A lot happened today and I received a new quest, so I should move out right away tomorrow. "Kyuung." "Are you hungry?" I took out the magic stones I got as an advance from my inventory and gave them to Yong-yong, who was delighted. Fortunately, they gave me an advance. Otherwise, I would have been in big trouble. I threw myself on the bed after returning to the hotel, and there was an unread message. [You have reached level 30 and acquired a job-specific skill.] You have acquired the Active Skill: Help! ?Help!? When the skill is used, it summons a summon. Mana used: 0 Cooldown: 72 hours I''ve always acquired passive skills, but this is the first time I''ve acquired an active skill. Moreover, if the mana used is 0, does that mean I can use it too? I''m not sure if it can be used since my mana is sealed due to the Ring of Sealing. For a moment, I thought about trying it out, but I shook my head. I remembered when I got the Empathy skill last time and shouted loudly, and it''s embarrassing. More importantly, I only have one summon, Yong-yong, right? I wondered if this was necessary, but I''m too tired for my brain to function. "Yong-yong, then I''ll see you tomorrow." "Kyuung." [Logout] I took off the gear, zoned out for a while, then got up, finished my business, took out a triangle kimbap from the fridge, and checked the community. I''ve been consistently checking for information since I got somewhat used to the game, but what''s this now? The board is filled with griffin stories. I returned to my room, turned off my phone, and lay down on the bed. ''I know nothing about this.'' 15. Arcana Online 15. Arcana Online15. Arcana Online As I got up from the bed and stretched, Yong-yong acted cute and demanded breakfast with an adorable voice. "Kyuung." I took out a magic stone and gave it to Yong-yong, and as I watched it eat, I suddenly realized it had grown. Before, it could fit in the palm of one hand, but now it had grown to the size of a small doll. Thanks to that, it''s become convenient to carry in my arms. When it gets bigger later, should I wrap it around my neck? This isn''t the time for that. I need to move quickly if I want to get to the quest location I received yesterday. I brought up the blue window and checked once more. [A quest has arrived.] Check if something has happened to the Forest Clan. Reward: Experience, large amount of magic stones. It''s a simple quest where I just need to check on the presence of the clan living in the forest where the ''World Tree'' is located, which is half a day''s walk away. There''s no need to fight, just investigate. A simple quest. But the reward is sweet. Just as I was about to leave the City of Stars with Yong-yong in my arms. "I finally found you!" I looked in the direction of the loud shout and saw an older sister with brown hair and wolf ears approaching me. Who is she? "Do you know how long I''ve been looking for you!?" "Who are you?" "Me? Your viewer!" "What!?" The older sister who revealed herself as my viewer. But I only have one viewer? Stalker. Then this older sister is...? "S-stalker!?" "Who are you calling a stalker!" She yelled angrily and raised her hand? C-could she be trying to hit me!? The moment I squeezed my eyes shut. I felt a soft touch on my head. When I opened my eyes and looked, I saw the older sister smiling. "Do you know how much I missed you!?" "Why?" "To recruit you!" Ah, that thing I refused last time. "I''m sorry. I don''t have any intention of belonging somewhere." "Then there''s nothing we can do. But, I won''t give up!" With those words, she waved goodbye saying she''d see me again, tore a scroll from her inventory, and disappeared. I stared blankly at that scene for a while, then grew curious. Did she come all this way just to say that? * * * Sasha, who returned to the Frey Guild early in the morning. "You already met her?" "I was lucky! I met her on the street this morning!" She talked about how the girl was even cuter than in the video, smiling brightly, but that''s not the story I wanted. "What about what I ordered you to do?" "What order?" "......" As I stared at her with a dumbfounded face, she seemed to finally remember and her face turned pale. "I didn''t ask." "Go back again." After telling her not to return to the guild until she found out, I kicked Sasha out. I watched her pitiful figure standing outside through the window, then lowered the blinds. * * * While walking on the road, I had a slight expectation, but the bear didn''t come. Is it busy...? With no choice, I moved on foot, and the romance of adventure was crumbling. After walking for several hours. "My legs hurt." Why did they make this damn game so realistic!? There''s even stamina, so you have to rest after moving for a certain time. I was leaning against a nearby tree, giving Yong-yong a magic stone and resting, when I was about to move again. "Peep!" I looked in the direction of the sound and saw a tiny chick looking at me and crying. It was looking at the magic stone Yong-yong was eating and even drooling, does it want to eat this? "Do you want to eat too?" "Peep!" I took out a magic stone from my inventory and gave it to the chick, which ate it deliciously, but one wasn''t enough and it looked at me asking for more. Aren''t you demanding too boldly? I chuckled at that sight and gave it one more, which it took in its mouth and disappeared somewhere. My stamina seemed to have recovered somewhat, so I started walking along the path again and saw a forest in the distance. A lush forest was formed around a giant tree, is that tree the World Tree? I arrived at the entrance of the forest and took out the compass I received from Erica unni. ?Find Compass? Guides you in the direction of the specified person. (One-time use) As I walked in the direction the compass pointed, I heard a rustling sound along with a voice. "What brings a young human here?" I looked in the direction of the voice and saw a member of the Forest Clan, no, an elf, pointing an arrow at me. Despite the blonde hair and clear eyes, the elf was looking at me with a cold expression and pointing an arrow, so I raised both hands and said. "I came because I received a request. I was told to check if something had happened to the Forest Clan." "Where''s the request form?" I took out a parchment from my inventory and showed it, and the elf gestured for me to throw it. I threw the parchment, and after checking the contents, the elf lowered their guard. "I apologize. The atmosphere has been ominous lately." "Can you tell me more about it?" "Let''s move to a different place first." I followed the older sister who introduced herself as Mellin of the Forest Clan towards the village. There were many elves in the village, but they all had gloomy expressions. The dark circles under their eyes were no joke. That''s exactly what people who haven''t slept properly look like. Mellin unni guided me through the gloomy atmosphere. "This is the house where the elder of the Forest Clan lives. Wait here for a moment." A few minutes passed. A voice from inside told us to come in. As I entered the house, I saw a simple house with only the necessities. Mellin unni cleared her throat as I was looking around. I finally came to my senses and looked at the person sitting in the chair. There was a man with an idol-like appearance that looked like a gisaeng''s younger brother. He had the kind of looks my older sister would like. "This is Elder Milene of the Forest Clan." "Nice to meet you, traveler." "Hello, Elder Milene." I bowed my head in greeting, and Elder Milene smiled and told me to sit down. As I sat down, Mellin unni served warm tea. "I''ve heard the story. You said you came because you received a request, right?" "Yes, that''s correct." "Then I''ll start from the beginning." Listening to the story, I learned that strange sounds have been coming from the World Tree recently. The sounds are getting worse day by day, but they can''t figure out the cause, so they''re very anxious. Above all, it''s so noisy that they can''t sleep at night, which is causing them great distress. At that moment, a message popped up. [A quest has arrived.] Uncover the identity of the unknown noise occurring in the World Tree. Reward: Increase in goodwill with the Forest Clan. Judging by the rather underwhelming reward, is this an easy quest? "Just trust me." "Thank you, traveler. Mellin will guide you to the World Tree." After leaving the house, I was walking along the forest path following Mellin unni when I heard a strange sound. It sounded like a scream or a groan of pain, but I couldn''t tell exactly what it was. After walking for a while, we arrived at the giant World Tree. "I''ll wait here." "Okay, I understand." As I approached the World Tree to check, I couldn''t see anything unusual. "Yong-yong, can you see anything?" "Kyuung." "Right? There''s nothing here." I investigated for a while but found nothing. Feeling dejected, I sat down with my back against the World Tree when I heard a sound from somewhere. "Peep! Peep!" "Peeep!" "Huh? What''s that?" I looked in the direction of the sound and saw the chick that had eaten the magic stone from me earlier. How did it come all the way here? And there''s not just one, but two? "Peep! Peep!" "Peeep!" S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Huh? You''ll help? How?" The two chicks confidently walked ahead, telling me to follow them. Are they magpies coming to repay a favor...? No, they''re chicks. Following the chicks to a corner of the World Tree, I found a very small hole. It was hidden so well that it was difficult to see with the naked eye. The chicks went right in, and for the first time since I changed into this body, I had a chance to use it effectively. If I were just a bit bigger, I wouldn''t have been able to enter. I crawled into the hole awkwardly and after crawling for a while, I saw light in the distance. "Peep! Peep!" "Peeep!" "J-just wait a moment! I''m coming!" These guys. They walked comfortably while I had to crawl, and now they''re urging me to hurry up. I''m really putting up with it because I''m grateful. After crawling for a long time, I finally reached the place where bright light was seeping through and saw a wide open space. There was someone there with the chicks. It was a being whose face was partially covered with black scales, but one thing was certain: it wasn''t human. Its pupils were like those of a snake, who could it be? It looked at me and smiled brightly. It wasn''t an ordinary smile, its mouth was split up to its ears. It was like a scene straight out of a horror movie. 16. Arcana Online 16. Arcana Online16. Arcana Online I had an eerie feeling and a bad thought crossed my mind. C-could it be that the chicks sold me out!? "Peep! Peep!" "Peeep!" I guess not. They''re spreading their tiny wings, threatening to protect me. "Welcome." A creepy appearance and a blunt voice. When it grinned again, the chicks got scared and hid behind my legs. Didn''t you just say you''d protect me? "Hello? Why are you here?" "It''s the will of the heavens." "What? The will of the heavens?" "That''s right." What on earth is this about? When I ask why they''re here, they answer it''s the will of the heavens, but what should I say to that? Is this some kind of cult...? "Then do you know anything about the strange sound that''s been heard?" "That too is the will of the heavens." "Huh?" "The time has come." After gesturing for me to step back, they prepared something. They took out various items from their subspace as if preparing for a ritual. When they finished preparing and knelt down, at that moment. They muttered strange words in a loud shout. "Our father who art on earth..." As I covered my ears and squeezed my eyes shut, crying out in pain from the sound loud enough to burst my eardrums. Suddenly, it became quiet. When I opened my eyes again, there was nothing left, as if a huge gust of wind had swept through. An empty clearing. Yong-yong burping. A blue window popping up. [Quest Clear!] Your goodwill with the Forest residents has increased. I stared at the blue window with a dumbfounded face, then looked at the chicks hiding behind my legs, and they were both unconscious. Hugging the two unconscious chicks, I crawled back out through the passage, and the sun was setting. It feels like I just went in. While I was dusting myself off, Mellin unni appeared. "Where have you been!?" "I just solved the noise problem and came out." "Huh? What do you mean?" I told Mellin unni about the hidden passage location, and she was surprised and said she''d report it to the village. When I said I''d tell the Elder about the noise problem, she guided me back to the village. Come to think of it, Mellin unni seems fine? "Are you okay, Mellin unni?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Once I fall asleep, I wouldn''t wake up even if someone carried me away." We arrived at the Elder''s house, and I explained what happened today. After hearing the story, the Elder thanked me. "Thank you so much. We''ve been suffering so much from not being able to sleep." "Noise from upstairs... I mean, noise problems are very stressful." "We''re a clan that lives quietly, so it was really hard for us." The Elder even showed tears while thanking me. Since it was late, they told me to stay in the village for the night, and Mellin unni guided me to the guest lodgings. Entering the lodgings, there was a bed along with necessary items. She closed the door and left, telling me to rest comfortably. I lay down on the bed that looked hard, but it was more comfortable than I thought. Suddenly, I recalled what happened earlier. What could it have been, really? * * * "It''s here, Elder." "Thank you." I guided the Elder to the place the traveler had shown us. Was it because it was such a tiny hole that we couldn''t find it until now? The Elder summoned a spirit and sent it inside, and after a while, the spirit returned from a different place. "There''s an entrance over there." Following the Elder towards the entrance, we discovered why we hadn''t found it until now. "It''s a barrier." "To think we didn''t know there was a barrier all this time..." "We could only find it because the caster has died. If they were still alive, we wouldn''t have discovered it even now." The Elder broke the barrier with their power, and following the passage inside, we found the clearing the traveler had mentioned. Just as we were about to step into the clearing. "Stop." "What''s wrong, Elder?" "It''s dangerous to go any further." Hearing those words, I looked closely at the clearing and something seemed off. The density of magical power was on a different level compared to other areas. This is like the concentration when a dragon uses its breath. And not just any dragon, but a Lord-class one at that. How on earth did they come back alive from a place like this...? We couldn''t approach any further, so we stopped the search and returned to the village. And the Elder called me quietly. "Please give ''that'' to the traveler." "Are you sure?" "Think of it as an investment for the future." "I understand, Elder." * * * When I woke up in the morning and was tidying the bed, something felt missing. What''s missing? As I checked, I couldn''t see the two chicks? I looked at Yong-yong, and it tilted its head. "You didn''t eat them, right?" "Kyuuung!?" "I''m sorry for doubting you! I know you didn''t, but snakes eat chicks too, you know?" "Kyuuung!" "I''m really sorry!" It got angry, saying it only eats magic stones, but since it was my fault, I was forgiven on the condition of giving twice as many magic stones as usual. By the way, it told me that the two chicks left at dawn. After Yong-yong finished its meal, I opened the door and went out, and Mellin unni was waiting in front of the door. "Have you been waiting until I woke up!?" "No, that''s not it. I just got here." "That''s a relief." "Three hours ago." "That''s not ''just''!?" As I stared at her with a dumbfounded look, she chuckled and handed me a box. When I asked what it was, Mellin unni told me to open it. I opened the box, and inside was a tiny seed. ?Seed of ???? I don''t know what it is. I feel like I''ve received something like this before? I asked what it was, but she didn''t answer. With an ambiguous answer that I''d know when the time comes, she said she''d guide me out of the village. Following Mellin unni towards the village exit, I saw other elves, and they all looked refreshed as if they had slept well for the first time in a long time. Mellin unni, who guided me to the village exit, waved goodbye, so I waved back and headed towards the city. On the way to the city. I saw a familiar bear running from the distance. "Groan!" "Bear! I missed you so much!" "Groan!" "You''re saying to keep my promise? O-okay." I took out a magic stone from my inventory and gave it to the bear, but its expression...? "Groan!" "A bigger one!? I don''t have any, you fool!" This guy''s quite picky. It grumbled while eating the magic stone, then told me to ride on its back. At least it''s loyal. "Groan!" "You want two more when we arrive!? Are you a thief!?" "Groan!" "You''re telling me to get off if I don''t like it!? You really are a thief!" We compromised on one, and it agreed to take me to the city. It''s quite comfortable if I think of it as a taxi. It took half a day of exhausting walking to get here, but the return trip didn''t take long at all. Near the city, I gave it one magic stone, and the bear disappeared with it in its mouth. It''s quite precise with calculations. As soon as I entered the city, I headed to the information guild to report. I entered the general store and was guided by an employee to the request room, where Erica unni was waiting. "Did our pretty one come back safely?" [Quest Clear!] Reward will be given. I only received experience points, excluding the magic stones I got as an advance. And I took out the item I received from the Forest residents. "Do you know what this is?" "Hm? Let me see." As she examined the seed, her expression was unusual. "You received this from the Forest Clan?" "Yes." After looking at it for a while, she handed it back to me. "So what is it?" "I don''t know!" "What!? Then why did you look at it so seriously!?" "To look knowledgeable!" She laughs and says how could she say she doesn''t know right away when she has an image as the head of the information guild to maintain. Just as I was about to return to the hotel. "Are you interested in the black market?" "The black market?" "They also hold auctions." "Auctions!?" Finally, a back alley event has appeared! A black market and auctions. It smells a bit illegal, but how can I resist this!? "I''ll go!" "Then take this." ?Black Market Ticket? A ticket that allows entry to the black market. "You can use both the black market and the auction with one ticket, so don''t lose it." "Thank you, Erica unni!" I thanked Erica unni and went outside to check the schedule, and it''s tomorrow. With the gold I''ve saved up, I should be able to buy at least one decent item, right? * * * I was tapping the table in the request room. Tap. Tap. I wonder what the Forest Clan was thinking when they gave it to her. Well, when have those elves ever acted according to my thoughts? It''s the first time I''ve seen someone so interesting just by watching. Moreover, judging by how interesting and event-prone she is, it seems I''ve grabbed the right string? As the head of the information guild, I always need to eliminate stagnation and grab the right lifeline. From my perspective, it''s not just a lifeline, but a golden lifeline. I organized the information while drinking a cup of sweet cocoa. "Classify all information related to Yuna as confidential." "Understood, Master." "Make sure the bugs can''t approach, please." * * * [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [CHAPTER 1: Protect the World Tree.] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 719 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] 17. Arcana Online 17. Arcana Online17. Arcana Online A quest notification window appeared for all players of Arcana Online. It was a golden window they had never seen before, not the usual blue one. [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [CHAPTER 1: Protect the World Tree.] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 719 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] This was shocking news for users who had been playing without knowing there was a main scenario quest. This news was posted on numerous community sites and achieved first place in real-time search rankings. There were players who moved quickly in response to this. The World Tree was located in the forest where the Forest Clan resided. The Forest Clan, or rather, the elves, each possessed strength greater than high-ranking players, so if you offended them, you could die from an arrow as soon as you entered the forest. Above all, fighting elves in the forest is insane. How could you possibly defeat elves flying through the treetops like flying squirrels? To participate smoothly in the main scenario, you need to build friendships with the Forest Clan in advance. However, elves are famous for being unfriendly. When numerous players visited, half were chased away, and those who resisted died. The many players who found it absurd to be chased away for such a trivial matter were completely unaware of the Forest Clan''s circumstances. They didn''t know that now that the noise problem had been solved and they were finally able to sleep comfortably, they couldn''t sleep properly because of the numerous players visiting day and night. * * * Since it only opens at night, I headed to the black market instead of returning to the hotel. The ticket in my hand. ?Black Market Ticket? You need a ticket to enter the black market. The entrance to the black market changes location every day, but the location is marked on the back of the ticket. When I arrived at the marked location, two large men were guarding the door. "Please present your ticket." "Here it is." They checked the ticket and opened the door. As I entered, an amazing sight unfolded before my eyes. Numerous stalls were doing business, and in front of them, various races were buying or looking at goods. Humans, elves, beast-kin, dwarves, and all sorts of races were gathered and visible. When I stared intently at a dwarf I was seeing for the first time, he noticed my gaze and looked at me. "What business does a little miss have staring at an old man?" "I''m sorry! It''s my first time seeing a dwarf. Your muscles are impressive." "Hahaha! You''ve got a good eye, little miss! If you come to our shop later, I''ll throw in some extra service!" I watched the back of the laughing dwarf as he left, then moved my feet to look at the stalls. As I looked around various stalls, they''re even selling magic stones? ???? Magic Stone? A magic stone of unknown rank. It''s a magic stone, but the rank isn''t shown. "Miss. Pick one. If you''re lucky, you might get a top-rank magic stone." "Is it random?" "That''s right! Only 50,000 gold per try!" The price of a lowest-rank magic stone is 1,000 gold each. The price of a low-rank magic stone is 100,000 gold each. The lowest-rank is just a pretty stone, useless for anything. When I gave Yong-yong a lowest-rank magic stone, it spat it out. Recently, it''s become picky and doesn''t even eat low-rank ones well, but should I try a few rounds for fun? Who knows? Maybe I''ll get a medium-rank or higher. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Kyuung." "You''re saying not to do it?" "Kyuuung!" "With my luck, it''s cheaper to just buy them outright!?" I took out 50,000 gold from my inventory. "Mister, one round please." "Kyuung!?" "They say to choose carefully." I chose one from among the many magic stones, and the small magic stone changed to the size of a bowling ball as information was displayed. ?Top-Rank Magic Stone? A magic stone used in researching top-rank magic. "Wh-what...?" "Wh-what!? Why is that in there!?" "Kyuuung!?" All three of us were so surprised we couldn''t close our mouths. No, wait a minute. Mister, what do you mean by that? The rules of the black market. Once an item is bought or sold, it can''t be taken back. If you break this rule, a fixer from the underworld will visit you in the middle of the night. I greeted the stall owner who was looking at me with an expression of tears of blood, and as I moved away, I heard the sound of something being struck down behind me. I didn''t hear anything. "Kyuuung?" "Oh? What did our Yong-yong say earlier? That it''s cheaper to buy outright?" "Kyuuung." "Right? You were wrong, weren''t you? So I won''t give it to you." "Kyuuung!" "It was a joke, are you getting angry?" As I looked at the sulking Yong-yong, its reactions were too funny. The pleasure of teasing Yong-yong is considerable, isn''t it? The street was crowded, so when I said I''d give it to him at the hotel, it finally smiled brightly, and it''s so cute! More importantly, does it know how much this costs when it eats it? A low-rank magic stone is 100,000. A medium-rank magic stone is 1,000,000. A high-rank magic stone is 10,000,000. For top-rank, the price is whatever you name. "Does our Yong-yong know how much this costs? It''s incredibly expensive." "Kyuung!" "You''ll pay me back later?" Our Yong-yong is quite boastful, isn''t it? It''s so cute when it confidently declares it will pay back tens, no, hundreds of times more. While chatting with Yong-yong and looking at other stalls, there''s nothing special. In novels, they used to sell holy swords or magic swords, or at least ego swords, but there''s nothing here. After wandering around for a while, I checked the time and it''s almost time for the auction to start. I moved to the auction location and showed my ticket again, and they handed me a number tag and a mask. The number tag is 44. "Please wear the mask and enter inside." "Thank you!" I didn''t really like the number, but there''s nothing I can do about it. I put on the mask and entered the auction hall, and there were many people, all wearing unique masks. Is it to prevent knowing who won the bids? I sat in an empty seat and waited, and a man who seemed to be the auctioneer came up on stage. "Thank you for waiting! We have rare and expensive items prepared that can brilliantly decorate your night, so please participate actively! Now, the first item!" You can''t check items in the auction house. You can only check with your eyes, but nothing seems appealing. Various items come out, from beads to swords, staffs, and accessories, but I don''t know what any of them are. "Now! The item I''m going to introduce next is something every summoner dreams of! It''s a spellbook!" For general job spellbooks, the price is whatever you name. But no one is bidding? Is summoner that unpopular? The auctioneer who initially called for 10 million gold is now calling for 100,000 gold. "No one for 100,000 gold!?" As soon as I raised my number tag, I won the bid. Is the auctioneer trying to pass it quickly before I change my mind? Summoner is good... After the auction ended and I received the item, I looked around the black market, but there was nothing suitable, so I returned to the hotel. As I lay feeling the soft touch of the bed, I heard a cute sound. "Kyuung kyuung." "Is our Yong-yong being affectionate!?" "Kyuuung!" "Of course I have to give it to you!" I took out the top-rank magic stone from my inventory and gave it to Yong-yong, who happily accepted and ate it. "Is it that delicious?" "Kyuung!" I don''t know whose summon it is, but isn''t it too cute!? After recording our Yong-yong eating the magic stone for a while, I lay down on the bed. "Then I''ll see you tomorrow." "Kyuung." How nice would it be if Yong-yong could go to the real world with me. * * * Sigh. Life is hard. In thousands of years of dragon life, I''ve never experienced such a shameful thing. Although I''ve only been a dragon for less than a year, I''m still a dragon, aren''t I? I looked at the sleeping contractor with mixed feelings, then gazed at the scenery outside the window. Numerous stars in the night sky. No, should I call them constellations? They''re all cunning beings targeting humans. I don''t understand why they''re making such a fuss about how pretty they are. Among them, one emitting a particularly evil energy began to watch the contractor. [Don''t set your eyes on it. It''s mine.] At that moment, the brightly shining star disappeared, and another star appeared to take its place. Beings waiting for an opportunity. I should give a warning. Looking up at the sky, I warned. [On the day I ascend. If you don''t want to face me, get lost.] At that moment, numerous stars shining in the sky all disappeared at once. In an instant, the city was enveloped in darkness, causing chaos. I entered the sleeping contractor''s embrace and settled comfortably. After sleeping in cold water for a thousand years, I thought I would never sleep again in my future life. But in the contractor''s embrace, I could sleep as much as I wanted. Is it that warm and cozy? I closed my eyes and waited. For the contractor to wake up. 18. Arcana Online 18. Arcana Online18. Arcana Online A week has passed since I started living in the City of Stars. While I was spending leisurely time receiving quests from Erica unni or going outside the city for walks, I suddenly thought of Cradle Village. It hasn''t been long since I left, but I miss Bell unni and the rabbits. They gave me carrots every day, and if you receive something, you should give back, right? I checked the number of magic stones in my inventory and also checked the newly acquired passive skill. ?Growth? Your summon grows. [Grow up well!] Does it help the summon''s growth? I came out of the city with Yong-yong, and as we walked along the path, the bear taxi appeared as if it had been waiting. "To Cradle Village, please!" "Groan!" "You need two magic stones because Cradle Village is far!? You''re really a thief! And it''s not even that far!" "Groan!" "Okay! I''ll give you two! But next time, give me a free ride!" "Groan!" "There''s no such thing as a free lunch!? That''s too much!" I grumbled as I climbed onto the bear''s back, but it was comfortable. On the way to Cradle Village at high speed on the bear''s back. I asked to be dropped off in the area where the rabbits live, and it agreed, but I didn''t expect what would happen next. The rabbits were in a panic at the bear''s appearance, either fleeing in all directions or some even fainting. I gave the bear magic stones and sent it away, then greeted the rabbits, but they were angry. "Kyuu kyuu!" "I''m sorry! I didn''t know you''d be so scared!" "Kyuu!" "I''ll be careful next time!" After apologizing to the rabbits, I took out magic stones from my inventory and gave them one by one. They looked at me with sparkling eyes as they each took one. Even though they were low-rank, it cost a fortune because there were so many of them, but I had to repay their kindness. The rabbits who received magic stones from me without exception gave me carrots in return, and I had already received over hundreds of carrots. What should I do with all these? After saying goodbye to the rabbits, I approached Cradle Village, and the guard uncles spotted me and waved. "Did you come back because you like our village so much?" "Ahaha! I came because I missed you!" After greeting them, I entered the village, and everyone welcomed me when they saw me. As I greeted the villagers and entered the Moonlight Inn, I heard a familiar voice. "Wait a moment!" Bell unni, who didn''t see me and thought a guest had come. The moment she turned her head and looked at me. "Yuna!?" "I''m back!" As I approached Bell unni, she hugged me and welcomed me back. I had missed human warmth so much during this time. Although Erica unni is in the City of Stars, she''s busy so I rarely see her and there''s little physical contact. At most, she just pats my head. Thanks to Bell unni''s generous physical affection, I feel like my empty heart is being filled. Fortunately, it was a quiet time, so she listened to my stories and responded enthusiastically, which led to hours of conversation. I arrived early in the morning, but it''s already past noon. "Has it already gotten this late? Can you wait a moment? I''ll prepare a meal." "Okay!" After eating the meal Bell unni prepared, I said I''d go out for a while and headed to Uncle Charles. I met Uncle Charles and told him about what had happened and how I received VVIP treatment when I presented the pass to enter the City of Stars, and Uncle Charles spoke as if it was natural. "Of course they should do that much for a pass issued by someone like me. No matter what anyone says, you''re my disciple!" "But I''m a summoner?" "Didn''t you learn the sword from me?" After finishing my conversation with Uncle Charles, I headed outside the village again. I''ve already met the rabbits, so let''s see. Shall I go meet the slimes and goblins too? As I walked along the path, I saw a slime in the distance. It was glancing at me. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Come here! I''ll give you something good!" When I took out a magic stone and waved it, the slime approached me. I put the magic stone into the slime''s body, and it slowly absorbed it. "Oh, that''s interesting! Well, I''ll be going now!" "......" Passing by the slime, on the way to the goblin village. As I checked the magic stones in my inventory, I realized I gave the wrong one! I meant to give a low-rank magic stone, but I gave a medium-rank one! Can''t be helped. As I approached the goblin village, a goblin standing guard spotted me. "Kuruk! Young human! Kuruk! What brings you here!?" "I came to repay the kindness you showed me before!" "Kuruk! Come in for now!" Following the guard goblin into the village, I saw other goblins too. Among them, the goblin who helped me before came out to greet me. "Kuruk! Young human! Kuruk! It''s been a while!" "It has been a while!" While chatting about various things, I gave a medium-rank magic stone to the goblin who helped me and low-rank magic stones to the other goblins. They all happily accepted and ate them, is this the joy of sharing? Now that I''ve repaid all the kindness, should I return to Cradle Village, say goodbye, and go back to the City of Stars? Or should I stay one night in Cradle Village? "Yong-yong, what should we do?" "Kyuung?" "Should we sleep in Cradle Village tonight?" "Kyuung!" "Right? Let''s stay for one night!" Our Yong-yong, saying we should stay in the nearby village because it''s troublesome. Did it say that on purpose to be considerate of me? As expected, our Yong-yong is too kind. * * * Every day, our kin were hunted in the forest. Without any power, we survived only by running away and hiding to stay alive. How pathetic I was. Then one day, a strange human appeared. When they first appeared before us, they hunted our kin like other humans. However, soon after, they started greeting us and pretending to be friendly, but I didn''t resent them. It felt like looking at one of our own. No, something even more familiar than that. Then one day. The human who hadn''t been seen for a while came to me and gave me a stone filled with enormous magical power. They said it was a gift. The moment I swallowed it before they could change their mind, I felt a change deep inside my body. Dominated by sensations I had never felt before, I hid in the bushes and fell asleep to prepare for any possible danger. How long had I slept? When I opened my eyes, I had transformed into an unfamiliar body. It has a human form, but the body is squishy like a slime. A body where everything has changed. At that moment, humans discovered me. "What''s this? A slime?" "Isn''t it a named monster!?" "Kill it quickly before someone takes it!" Humans rushing towards me. If it had been a little while ago, I would have felt the fear of death, but strangely, I wasn''t scared. It felt like flies rushing at me. The moment I swung one hand, the three humans turned to dust and disappeared. With this much power, could I protect my kin? * * * [The monsters near Cradle Village are strange!] The rabbits are walking on two legs! [Comments] - Don''t rabbits hop on four legs instead of walking on two? - [Author] No, they''re really walking on two legs!? - So you''re saying rabbits walk on two legs instead of hopping on four! - [Author] It''s true, you crazy bastard! - Why are you cursing? Blocked, bye. [Has anyone seen a named slime near Cradle Village?] It was really pretty, I can''t help it, I''m going to see noona again. [Comments] - Show us a picture! - Give us the picture! - But why is it noona? - [Author] If it''s pretty, it''s noona. [What''s wrong with the goblins appearing in Cradle Village?] They come charging while shouting "For Valhalla!" It''s really scary! Is this game always like this!? [Comments] - What? What''s that!? - What do you mean goblins are charging while shouting "For Valhalla!" lol - Why are newbies like this these days? lol - This is hilarious lol [Tour report of the trending Cradle Village (video)] When you leave Cradle Village, you first see rabbits, can you see that size? Those impressive muscles that look like they could easily handle 3 vs 500 are not the end. If you get close, they swing carrots at you, and one hit guarantees at least half your HP gone. And if you go further to the slime area, you can see a named monster, and its figure is... [Comments] - Slime noona!! - Noona!! - Going to see noona!! - But be careful, it''s really strong lol [Goblin village tour report (video)] I''ve secretly infiltrated the goblin village now. Can you see that? That bizarre sight of them performing a suspicious ritual and shouting Valhalla... Argh!! [Comments] - Didn''t you accidentally enter an orc village? How are goblins that big? - They look over 2m tall? It''s really scary when they come charging while shouting Valhalla... - Is this game balance for real? - At this point, shouldn''t we send a truck? - Do you know where the company is located? - Dunno? No information has been disclosed. 19. Arcana Online 19. Arcana Online19. Arcana Online How did it end up like this? "Is the meal to your liking?" "It''s delicious." "I think you''d fit well in our guild too." "What!?" Catlleya, the guild master of Frey Guild, smiles at me as she says it''s a joke. She told me to call her Rea unni with lots of affection, so that''s what I''ve been calling her. But how did I end up eating here? The reason is that I was kidnapped this morning. * * * I woke up at the same time as usual. In a world where I don''t know anyone, I habitually checked my phone and there was a message. I thought it was spam and was about to delete it, but when I checked... [I wanted to treat you to a meal, unni. Are you free today?] When I checked the message, I thought it was sent to the wrong person at first, but when I checked the business card I received before, the phone number written on it was the same. I was wondering how to refuse for a while when the phone rang. In my confusion, I pressed the answer button. "Hello?" "Hello...?" "I''ll be in front of your house in 30 minutes, can you come out?" "What!? 30 minutes!?" "I''ll buy you something delicious!" With those words, the call ended and I realized. It wasn''t a proposal, it was a notification. No, more importantly, how does she know my home address!? There''s no time to be confused. I quickly washed up to go out, put on a hoodie and hat, and when I went outside, there was a red sports car parked. A pretty older sister getting out of the flashy car I''ve seen on MewTube. "Hello." "It''s been a while. Have you been well?" "Yes, I''ve been doing well." "Then shall we go right away?" She opened the car door and told me to get in the passenger seat, but it''s my first time in a sports car. With trembling heart, I got in the car and everything was new. The pretty older sister even kindly fastened my seatbelt, and the car started. Where are we going? "I made a reservation at a restaurant that only operates in the morning. Unni will buy you something delicious." "Thank you." "If you''re grateful, want to join our guild?" "What!?" She says it''s a joke and smiles brightly, but it''s bad for my heart. I''m not sure about in the game, but in the real world, how should I put it. I have social anxiety, so it''s hard to deal with people. The car drove quickly, entered a quiet alley, went into a public parking lot, parked, and then we got out of the car. The pretty older sister smiles and says it''s right in front just a minute''s walk away. We entered a store that looked like an ordinary house, but the interior was decorated with ornate decorations that looked like they could be used in a royal palace. Following the staff''s guidance, we entered a room and sat down, and food started coming out one by one. Starting with appetizers, light foods that are easy to eat in the morning came out in order, and while eating, I chatted with the pretty older sister. "Do you want to call me Rea unni more intimately?" "Yes, Rea unni." Hearing my words, Rea unni stared blankly for a moment and then nodded. "You have such circumstances... I''m sorry." "What!? No! You don''t need to apologize!" She suddenly shows tears and apologizes, saying she''s sorry, and it''s driving me crazy. No, I''ve lived my whole life as a man, how can I suddenly say "unni" overnight! Even though I inherited this body''s memories, I felt mentally resistant. She wiped her tears and we spent time chatting about everyday things and game stories. "So you went back to Cradle Village?" "Yes. I''m staying there for a while because I missed the villagers." "And you gave magic stones to the monsters appearing around there?" "Yes. I owed them, so I repaid them." "As expected..." She nods as if she knew it would be like this and mumbles to herself, what''s going on? "Have you been to the Valley of Death recently?" "How did you know?" She clenches her fist and shouts "As expected!" but what''s going on? At that moment, she grabs my hand with a serious look!? Th-this is the first... no, second... third time? Such sudden progress in a relationship we''ve just started... "Do you really not want to join our guild? I promise you the best treatment." I realized what kind of delusion I just had and bowed my head deeply. I-I''m embarrassed. I came to my senses and refused the offer. I''m satisfied traveling with Yong-yong. No matter how good the offer, I have no intention of joining. "I''ll provide high-rank magic stones to top-rank magic stones every month." "......" "Unlimited low-rank and medium-rank magic stones!" "I''ll join!" It was too good an offer to refuse like that. If our Yong-yong can eat magic stones to its heart''s content, joining a guild is nothing. "You''ve made a good decision! Then I''ll send you a guild invitation! You''ve reached level 50, right!?" "I''m level 40 though?" "What?" For a moment, we looked at each other with dumbfounded expressions, why? "Guild joining is possible from level 50... No, more importantly, you''re still level 40!? Then how did you come back alive from the Valley of Death!?" "The griffins let me live and sent me back?" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "......" * * * After finishing the meal and driving me home, she sent a friend invitation first and we agreed that I would join when I reach level 50. "When you join the guild, we''ll throw you a welcome party! Our guild is a small elite guild, so there aren''t many members, but they''re all high rankers, so they can help you a lot. See you then!" Rea unni waved goodbye to me and left. After spending a hectic time, I went home and collapsed on my bed. I stared blankly at the ceiling for a while, then put on the gear and started the game. And I got scolded by Yong-yong. "Kyuung!" "I''m sorry." Yong-yong is angry because I woke up too late. Even when it''s angry, it''s cute. I was forgiven with a high-rank magic stone, and when we went down to the first floor together, Bell unni was at the counter with a troubled expression. "Bell unni, is something wrong?" "Well, we''re short on ingredients, but it''s not yet the day the merchant is supposed to come." "Then should I go get some?" "Really!? Thank you so much!" [A quest has arrived.] Gather Kuing-kuing Mushrooms growing in the Giant''s Cave. Reward: Experience, gold coins. She handed me a map and asked me to gather ''Kuing-kuing Mushrooms'' growing inside the cave. She also gave me a pouch of stones, telling me to mark the floor as I go in because the cave is twisted like a maze. "I''ll be back soon!" "Be careful!" * * * "Kyuung!!" "I''m really sorry!" I succeeded in gathering the mushrooms Bell unni asked for. But a problem occurred. We got lost. I told Yong-yong to just trust me when we entered the cave, and this is how it turned out. The path was twisted like a maze, so I should have marked it as I went, but I trusted myself too much. I heard somewhere that in a maze, you just need to follow the right wall... I apologized to the angry Yong-yong and looked for a way out, but I couldn''t think of any good method. If I had known this would happen, I should have bought at least one teleport scroll. After wandering for a while, I saw light in the distance, and when I approached, I saw numerous tombstones in a wide open space. Just as I was about to turn back due to the eerie atmosphere, I heard a voice. "Are you lost?" I flinched and turned around to see a headless knight looking at me. No, to be precise, he was holding his head under his arm. I stammered in confusion, and he calmed me down, telling me to speak slowly. "It''s dangerous for a human to be here. I may be a knight who lost his lord, but I haven''t lost my chivalry. Trust me and follow me. I''ll guide you to the exit." "Th-thank you." As I followed the headless knight, people with rotten skin or missing an arm or leg looked at me from all around. Among them, there was someone making strange noises, and another person next to them hit the back of the head of the one making noise and said something, what''s going on...? At that moment. A huge something was created with a flash of light. The headless knight guiding me panicked and tried to hide me. "Damn it! Why did it appear now of all times! Quickly, hide behind the tombstone!" "Y-yes!" As the headless knight said, I hid behind a tombstone, and he blocked my front with his massive body, hiding me. I was looking at something that looked like a huge door, and something was walking out of it. A being with a massive body wearing armor revealed itself. The body was human, but the head looked monstrous, somewhat similar to an orc. "How are the invasion preparations going?" "There are no problems." 20. Arcana Online 20. Arcana Online20. Arcana Online As I listened to the monster-like being and the headless knight talking, it seemed very suspicious. Hearing about an invasion and seeing numerous troops coming out through the gate, could this be related to the quest that appeared before? [CHAPTER 1: Protect the World Tree.] A window shining in golden light. While hiding behind a tombstone and observing the situation, I placed my hand on the tombstone and fell forward with a thud. At that moment, I felt a gaze on me. Breaking out in a cold sweat, I raised my head and looked forward to see the monster staring at me. "Hello?" "Why is a human here?" "I-I''m sorry!" The headless knight who had been trying to protect me until just now knelt on one knee and pleaded. "This is a young human who knows nothing!" "You say that, but they''ve learned of our existence." As the being tried to approach me, the headless knight blocked its way. Seeing this, the monster drew its sword from its scabbard and pointed it at the headless knight. "A knight who''s lost his lord still prattles on about chivalry?" "......" The monster sighed and put its sword away. "I don''t intend to harm them. I want to take a closer look, so step aside." "Understood." The headless knight stepped aside, and the monster came closer to look at me. I hugged Yong-yong, who was in my arms, feeling tense. "How strange. I''m looking at a human, but I feel no emotion." After staring at me curiously for a while, the monster pointed in the opposite direction with its hand. "Go." When the headless knight tried to take care of me after hearing those words, I became curious. "Excuse me!" "Are you talking to me?" The monster, who was about to turn back, stopped in place and looked at me again. "I have a question. Are you targeting the World Tree?" "How do you know that? You''re correct." "Why?" The monster looked at me with interest and opened its mouth to my question. "The world I live in, what humans call the demon realm, is currently turning into a land where nothing can live due to pollution. It''s becoming a cursed land where even the undead can''t survive." "Even the undead, who are already dead?" "That''s right." He said that to purify the world called the demon realm, which is polluted by an unknown cause, they need the World Tree. That''s why they''re targeting the World Tree and invading, but... "Can''t it be resolved peacefully?" "How do you think they would react if we asked them to hand over the World Tree?" "They''d probably fight to the death to prevent it..." Hmm, I guess that won''t work. Then, is there no good solution? At this rate, the Forest Clan will suffer great damage. The Elder who took care of me and Mellin unni would also be harmed in this situation. At that moment, I remembered the seed I received from Mellin unni. ?Seed of ???? I don''t know what it is. I took the seed out of my inventory and held it out. "Could this possibly be used for purification?" Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Th-that''s..." The monster looked at the seed with a surprised face, and then something unexpected happened. It knelt down and pleaded with me. "Please. Save the demon realm." "W-why are you suddenly doing this!? Please stand up!" At that moment, an alert popped up. [A quest has arrived.] Save the demon realm! Reward: Unknown. Forgetting my fear, I approached the monster and told it to stand up, and it finally did. "I''ll help you, so please stand up." "Thank you! Then let''s go to the demon realm right away!" "That''s not possible. I have something I need to deliver first, so I''ll come back after that." "I understand. I''ll be waiting." Passing by the monster who said it would wait until I return, I approached the headless knight. He said he would guide me to the exit and told me to follow him. And he spoke quietly. "Are you sure you''ll be alright? The demon realm is more terrible than you imagine." "In the end, it''s just a place where people live, right? I''ll be fine." Come to think of it, they''re not people...? Well, what could go wrong? I waved goodbye to the headless knight at the cave entrance, saying I''d be back soon, and headed to Cradle Village. I arrived at the village, handed the mushrooms to Bell unni, and completed the quest. "You''re back already?" "Yes! I found them quickly. And I might not be able to come for a while." "For a traveler, travel is everyday life, so it can''t be helped. Be careful on your journey." "I will!" After saying goodbye to Bell unni, I headed back to the cave. When I entered the cave entrance, the headless knight was waiting for me. Following the knight to the place we were before, I saw a huge red entrance had appeared. "Using the gate, you can move directly to the demon realm." "That''s amazing." "The environment will be very different, but don''t worry. I''ve already sent word about you, so no one will touch you." The moment I entered through the gate. [You are the first traveler to visit the demon realm.] Gained 100,000 Fame points. When I closed my eyes and opened them again, two red moons were hanging in the dark sky. The moonlight illuminated the surroundings, and everything looked strange. A tree that looked like it had been struck by lightning turned to look at me when it felt my gaze, and something that looked like a huge rock moved on its own. The monster told me to move as I was looking around. "Let''s move to the Demon King''s castle." "Castle?" "The residence of the Demon King, the ruler of the demon realm." More importantly, I can''t keep calling them "monster" or "headless knight" forever. "What''s your name?" "Name, is it." After thinking for a while, the monster said I could just call it by its race name. "Then what race are you?" "Orc." "Orc!?" It''s slightly similar, but really only slightly. When I looked at the monster-like orc with suspicious eyes, it broke out in a cold sweat. "Ahem. The orcs of the demon realm are different from those of the middle world." "Middle world?" "We call the world where humans live the middle world." As we chatted about various things, I followed the orc and the headless knight... no, the dullahan, and saw a huge castle in the distance. A castle of magnificent size at a glance. In the sky, giant birds with only bones left were flying around. "Kyuu!" "Huh? You''re saying that''s a dragon?" "Kyuuu!" The exact term is bone dragon. They say that when a dragon dies but can''t let go of its attachment to life, it turns into that. Due to the death energy, they can''t live in the middle world, so they live in the demon realm. Among the many bone dragons, a few that spotted us approached, but the moment they made eye contact with Yong-yong. "Kieeeeek!" They fled with a scream, what''s going on? "Why are they like that?" "Kyuu." Yong-yong clicked its tongue, saying if they''re going to be crazy, they should do it properly. What kind of disgrace is this after death? Following the orc and dullahan into the castle, there was a long corridor, and when we opened the huge door at the end of the corridor and entered, I saw an audience chamber. Inside the audience chamber was a giant throne, and around it were numerous monsters looking at me. Among them, the being sitting on the throne. Jet-black hair and huge horns. Red eyes and alluring lips. Wearing a black China dress, crossing one leg, and looking at me. The king of the demon realm. "A human!?" "Such insolence before the Demon King! Show some respect!" Because of the bull-headed being shouting at me, I thought I should at least kneel on one knee, but something unexpected happened. The bull-head suddenly flew far away and crashed into the wall. And the Demon King stood up from her seat. "How rude to shout at a guest. I apologize on their behalf." The Demon King even bowed her head to me, causing an uproar around us. "Demon King! You must maintain your dignity!" "That''s right! For the ruler of the demon realm, the Demon King, to a mere human..." At that moment, another one flew and crashed into the wall. When I said it was okay, she finally raised her head and looked at me. "How strange. It''s my first time seeing a human, are they all like you?" "What!? N-no, that''s not it." "I see. Then you must be special." As she slowly approached me, it felt somewhat burdensome. It''s not the Demon King that''s burdensome, but the gazes around us are too much. The surrounding gazes looking at me with expressions that say, ''How dare you, to our Demon King?'' The Demon King seemed to sense something was off and looked around, but everyone was bowing their heads as if nothing had happened. The moment she looked at me again, I felt those gazes. She suddenly raised her head and looked at me. No, why are you doing this to me!? The Demon King, who came close, introduced herself. "My name is Echidna. I am of the Demon God race. It''s a pleasure to meet you." "My name is Yuna." "Yuna. A good name." She nodded and looked at me. "I''ve heard the story. May I see the item?" I took the seed out of my inventory and showed it to her, and she looked at it with surprised eyes, muttering ''Seed of the World Tree,'' then held out her hand to me. "Please. Save the demon realm." [The quest has been updated!] Save the demon realm from pollution! Reward: A gift from Demon King Echidna. 21. Arcana Online 21. Arcana Online21. Arcana Online When I accepted the quest, she handed me a pouch. "I''ve put everything you''ll need in there." ?Subspace Pouch? Can store various items. She gave me a look telling me to open the pouch, so I checked and an item list appeared. It contained not only top-rank magic stones but also various items and even gold coins. "This is too much!" "This is for saving the demon realm. Use it freely." With those words, she pointed towards the door. She said there would be a guide waiting outside. After greeting her, I left the audience chamber and someone was waiting. Part of their face was covered with black scales, and their pupils were like those of a snake. "It''s been a while." When they smiled, their mouth split up to their ears, looking like a scene from a horror movie, but with a familiar face. It''s the cultist I saw under the World Tree. "It''s that cultist from before!" "Cultist..." They looked at me with a dumbfounded expression, but why are they here? "I was surprised when you suddenly disappeared back then, but why are you here?" "What was there was my avatar. I was surprised when it suddenly vanished." They walked ahead, saying we should talk while moving, and I followed closely behind. "Back then, we were working on creating a passage connecting to the demon realm under the World Tree, but it all came to nothing in an instant." With those words, they looked at me. "Is that so? But why are you looking at me like that?" It feels like they''re looking at me as if I''m the culprit. "Well... Never mind. Since this is the last chance if I die this time, I''ll let it go. This way." What are they muttering to themselves? I wondered where we were going, but it was closer than I thought. A place just 1km away from the castle. A huge magic circle was drawn on the ground. "Plant the World Tree seed in the center of the magic circle." "Understood." I took the seed out of my inventory and planted it in the center of the magic circle on the ground, and with a huge light, the magic circle activated. [You have used the Seed of ???.] [Due to the effect of the magic circle, the Seed of ??? germinates.] A small sprout emerged from the ground and started growing rapidly. [Due to the effect of the magic circle, it grows.] [Congratulations! You are the first traveler to successfully germinate the World Tree!] Gained 100,000 Fame points. [Due to the Passive Skill: Growth, the World Tree grows!] [Congratulations! You are the first traveler to successfully grow the World Tree!] Gained 100,000 Fame points. The World Tree, which had grown to a certain extent, stopped growing. It was much smaller than the size I saw in the middle world. [The World Tree begins to purify the pollution of the demon realm.] [Warning! Warning! The World Tree lacks the power to purify the pollution!] Red alert windows kept popping up, and it seemed like something bad would happen if I just stood still. While I was thinking about what to do, I took out all the magic stones from the subspace pouch I received earlier and scattered them on the ground, and an alert window popped up. [Using Passive Skill: Gluttony.] [Due to the effect of Gluttony, the World Tree is strengthened.] As the magic stones scattered on the ground disappeared one by one, the World Tree, which had stopped growing, gradually increased in size until it grew to about the same size as I saw in the middle world. And thanks to the alert that popped up, I could feel relieved. [The World Tree purifies the pollution of the demon realm.] [Time remaining until purification is complete: Unknown.] Green energy spreading widely around the World Tree. The pitch-black ground gradually began to take on a green hue and was being purified. While I was feeling relieved, stroking the World Tree, the cultist approached. "Good job. From now on, living beings will be able to survive in the demon realm." "That''s a relief. By the way, we haven''t properly introduced ourselves yet. My name is Yuna." "My name is Krotheirn, the high priest of the demon realm." If he''s the high priest of the demon realm, which god does he believe in? "May I ask one irreverent question?" "It would be better if you didn''t." I was flatly refused, and Krotheirn said he would guide me back to the Demon King''s castle. He told me to report to the Demon King and receive my reward, but it wasn''t over yet. Because a blue window had just appeared before my eyes. [Protect the World Tree from pollution.] Reward: Unknown. "I don''t think that''s possible." "Why?" I pointed in the direction where the window appeared, and he turned his head to look in that direction, his face turning pale. In the distance, black entities were swarming towards the World Tree. "I''ll mobilize the troops right away!" With those words, he took out a horn from his bosom and blew it. ''Pwooooooooo!'' With the sound of the horn, the bone dragons flying above the Demon King''s castle all flew in at once and engaged in a fierce battle with the black entities. And soon after, numerous troops were dispatched from the Demon King''s castle as well. As I was watching the war unfold near the World Tree, I heard a voice that sounded like a whisper. [Mother. It''s dangerous here.] "Who is it!?" As I looked around in confusion, someone tapped my shoulder. When I checked who it was, it was a tree root...? [Mother, it''s me.] "World Tree!?" The World Tree was talking to me and calling me mother!? Is this the responsibility without pleasure that I''ve only heard about!? I don''t know how to express this feeling of suddenly becoming a parent overnight. The World Tree whispered to me, telling me to evacuate because it''s dangerous here. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, I couldn''t run away. "What kind of parent would run away leaving their child behind?" [Mother...] With a touched voice, it emitted a bright light. [Using Passive Skill: Empathy.] Combat ability is enhanced due to the effect of Empathy. A huge green light from the World Tree enveloped the world, and the black entities began to disappear one by one. [The World Tree purifies the pollution of the demon realm.] [Time remaining until purification is complete: 10...] "10 days!?" [9...] [8...] [7...] [The World Tree successfully purifies the pollution of the demon realm.] As all the black entities disappeared, the demon race members who had been looking around with blank expressions let out tremendous cheers. As I watched this scene and stroked the roots of the World Tree that had been protecting me, the World Tree laughed, saying it was ticklish. After laughing for a while, the World Tree whispered softly. [It''s all thanks to you, Mother.] "But I didn''t do anything?" [No. If it weren''t for you, Mother, I wouldn''t have been born.] "R-really?" Since I''m weak to praise, a smile began to spread across my face. While talking with the World Tree, I heard someone walking towards me. When I turned my head to check, Demon King Echidna was approaching. "I came to thank you. Would it be alright if we talked in the castle?" "Yes! That''s fine!" "Then let''s go to the castle together." She held out her hand to me, and when I took it, my vision blurred for a moment and we were instantly transported to the castle. But the place was different. It wasn''t the place where I first met the Demon King. Following the Demon King down a dark staircase, there was a huge iron door. The Demon King took off the ring she was wearing and inserted it into a small hole, and the iron door began to open. A sight I''ve never seen in my life. It was filled with numerous treasures, and various weapons were displayed in glass cases. "This is the gift I promised. Choose whatever you want." [Quest Clear!] You acquire Demon King Echidna''s gift. [Select the reward you want from the treasure vault.] There were numerous weapons along with various armor hanging on the walls, and our Yong-yong was looking around curiously too. Then Yong-yong looked at a piece of armor hanging on one side of the wall. "Kyuung!" "Huh? You want me to choose that?" "Kyuung!" When I went closer to check, it looked like traditional Japanese clothing. ?Divine Dragon Shrine Maiden''s Robe? Clothes once worn by a shrine maiden who served the Divine Dragon. [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [Ability is sealed.] [Ability is sealed.] [Ability is sealed.] It had as many as four special abilities, and although three of them were sealed, it was still good enough. "I''ll take this!" "A good choice." You acquire ?Divine Dragon Shrine Maiden''s Robe?. It was time to change out of the ordinary traveler''s clothes I had been wearing since the start of the game. As soon as I pressed the equip button in my inventory, my outfit changed with a bright light. You have equipped ?Divine Dragon Shrine Maiden''s Robe?. [Greatly increases the stats of your summon.] The fluttering shrine maiden''s robe felt a bit awkward, but the Demon King complimented me, saying it suited me well. "Clothes make the man." That''s a compliment, right? 22. Arcana Online 22. Arcana Online22. Arcana Online Demon race members with high ranks appeared in the audience chamber. They all looked peculiar, but the common point was that they all looked scary. Is that why? The Demon King''s appearance stands out. The Demon King sitting on the throne with an elegant posture. She stands up and declares to the demon race members. "I will bestow the title of Duke upon Yuna, who saved the demon realm." [You have acquired a title.] Duke of the Demon Realm. [You have become the first traveler recognized by the Demon King.] Gained 100,000 Fame points. It''s my first time getting a title, is it good? Putting "Duke of the Demon Realm" in the empty title slot feels cool somehow. "If you have any wishes, speak them." Just as I was about to refuse when I heard she would give more rewards, I realized I didn''t have any magic stones left. "Could I receive some magic stones?" "Understood." [You have acquired a Magic Stone Pouch.] S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The pouch contained hundreds of top-rank magic stones and countless high-rank and medium-rank ones. While I was gaping at the enormous number, I heard a voice. "Stay comfortably in the demon realm before you return." "Yes!" After greeting her and leaving the audience chamber, I was looking around when I heard Yong-yong''s cute voice. "Kyuung kyuung!" "Yes, yes!" I handed over a magic stone and followed the long corridor outside, where bone dragons flying in the sky glanced at us. Are they envious of the magic stone Yong-yong is eating? "Come here!" When I took out a magic stone and waved it, a few flew over cautiously. Since I have many magic stones, I fed them one each, and they happily accepted them, feeling like feeding dogs. Other bone dragons watching this scene flew to me and looked at me with cute eyes. "Alright, alright. Take one each!" It should be fine to share them since I received them from the Demon King, right? After distributing one to each of the numerous bone dragons, I was walking around sightseeing when I saw demon race members. Demon race members building a village on the land restored by the World Tree. While watching this scene, someone tugged on my clothes, and when I checked, I saw a small child. A little girl with cute pigtails and one large eye. [Cyclops] "Big sister! Big sister!" "Hm? Oh, big sister...?" "Can''t you give me one too?" Her boldly demanding a magic stone was so cute that I took one out and gave it to her, and she happily ate it, but I felt gazes from around. When I raised my head and looked around, numerous demon race members were watching, or more precisely, their gazes were focused on the young girl eating the magic stone. "Shall I give one to each of you?" "Thank you, Duke!" As demon race members rushed to me and I gave out magic stones one by one, my once full pouch became slim. While I was checking the remaining number, I heard a familiar voice. "This is a rare sight in the demon realm." "Demon King!? When did you arrive!?" A gaze as if looking at a strange creature. "Won''t you give one to me as well?" "Alright..." Giving and taking back. Seeing how wicked she is, she''s definitely a demon. The Demon King received the magic stone from me and absorbed it. "Oh? It has this effect." She muttered to herself, what''s going on? "Let me make a proposal. Would you consider becoming my successor?" [A hidden job change quest has been created.] Demon King Echidna has proposed that you become her successor. If you accept, you can change to the hidden job ''Demon King''. Do you accept? YES / NO "I''m sorry." [The hidden job change quest has been rejected.] "That''s a shame. If you became my successor, you could become the ruler of the demon realm." "I appreciate the offer. But I like being a summoner." She looked at me with regretful eyes, then smirked and gestured in the air, tearing space. On the other side of the torn space, the audience chamber was visible. "I have much to do, so I''ll be going now." She crossed over through the space, and the torn space was restored. It happened in an instant, but does this make sense? "That''s amazing. Maybe I should have changed jobs." "Kyuuuu!" "Hm? It''s nothing special?" While stroking the head of the jealous Yong-yong, I continued sightseeing around the village and then headed towards the World Tree. The World Tree had grown so enormous that it could be seen from anywhere in the demon realm. Even larger than the World Tree in the middle world. As I approached, I heard a voice. [Mother. You''ve come.] "Yes! I''m here! But can''t we change how you call me ''mother''? It feels awkward." [Mother should speak comfortably too.] "Um. Then shall I call the World Tree comfortably too?" [Mom.] "......" It became even more uncomfortable. I couldn''t bring myself to tell the World Tree to call me comfortably when it insisted on calling me mother. But suddenly, I became curious about something. "Do you have to stay in the demon realm forever?" [Yes. I could cross over to the middle world, but if I did, the demon realm would suffer from pollution again.] "What exactly is this pollution?" [I want to tell you, but I lack the causality to do so. I''m sorry, Mother.] "No, no. It''s okay." I''m curious, but it can''t be helped. Then, shall I stay in the demon realm for a while and spend some time here? * * * [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [CHAPTER 1: Protect the World Tree.] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 5 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] Not much time left until the main scenario starts. Numerous players have been preparing for the main scenario quest by leveling up, changing equipment, and increasing goodwill with the Forest Clan. Even sudden quests give massive rewards that can be a stepping stone for semi-rankers to become rankers, but this is Arcana Online''s first main quest. An unimaginably huge reward will be given. But one thing that''s bothering is that no information has been released until now. "There''s less than a day left until the main scenario, and there''s no information!?" "Yes. All guild members have been active and collecting information, but we couldn''t obtain any." Currently, all guild members of the Frey Guild were gathered in one place at the guild headquarters. "Hey, Leader! Where''s the newbie!?" A muscular man with red hair, who might have exhibitionism as he walks around shirtless. Balak, with the hidden job of Berserker, was showing off his muscles. "I have to show my awesome muscles to the newbie!" "I''m curious too. They''re in a place where the messenger bird can''t reach." How far away are they that the messenger bird can''t reach them? It seems they''ve reached level 50, but we couldn''t make them join the guild because we couldn''t contact them. They''re not answering in reality either, I hope nothing''s wrong? "Let''s start moving now." "Let''s go! Let''s go!" ?Mass Teleport Scroll? Can teleport a group to any place you''ve been to before. (Some areas excluded) As I tore the scroll, our vision changed and we were teleported to the World Tree. Around the huge World Tree, numerous players had taken their positions, and this was before the channel integration. In the case of large events, thousands of channels are integrated into one, and I don''t know how much money they pour into the servers to make this possible. [Time remaining until invasion begins: 3 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 2 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 1 hour 59 minutes 59 seconds] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 0 hours 0 minutes 59 seconds] [Channels are being integrated due to the main quest.] Numerous players appeared all around the World Tree. The number was too large to count with the naked eye. [CHAPTER 1: Protect the World Tree.] Invasion begins. A tense moment with the golden alert window. Nothing happened. 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes passed without anything happening, and just as players everywhere were starting to complain... "What''s that in the sky!?" At someone''s shout, I looked up at the sky and space was being torn. The blue sky shattered and changed into a dark night sky with two red moons hanging. A being revealing itself from within. Jet-black hair and huge horns. Red eyes and alluring lips. A beautiful woman wearing a black China dress. Next to her, I saw a familiar face. Short golden hair shining brightly. Blue eyes that looked mysterious just by looking at them. A cute girl wearing a shrine maiden''s outfit I saw in Japan. "Yuna!?" Startled for a moment, I shouted loudly, and Yuna spotted me and waved with a bright smile. Why is Yuna coming out from there!? 23. Arcana Online 23. Arcana Online23. Arcana Online As I looked up at Yuna floating in the air and then at the woman beside her, my body began to tremble uncontrollably. Against my will, the shaking wouldn''t stop. [The Demon King has descended upon the mortal realm!] The notification about the Demon King was enough to shock us greatly. Even a demon with a title would have to be defeated through a raid, but the Demon King... At that moment, another message appeared. [The heavens are watching the middle world.] "How dare you gaze upon me without permission." As the Demon King waved her hand, demonic energy spread in all directions. [Due to demonic energy, all stats are decreased by 50%.] My body suddenly became powerless. Just from waving her hand once, all stats decreased by 50%!? In this absurd situation, someone shouted loudly. "You crazy bastards! How the hell are we supposed to defeat that!?" The moment the Demon King looked toward the loud shout, everyone froze. "Mind your tone." [Due to demonic energy, all stats are decreased by 80%.] "Do not raise your voice like that, human." [Due to demonic energy, you enter an immobilized state.] Countless players became unable to move even a finger. As the Demon King looked around at this unbelievable situation, she whispered something to Yuna beside her. When their conversation ended, with a wave of the Demon King''s hand, space tore open and she crossed over to the other side. The torn space returned to normal, and the Demon King disappeared. Yuna, left alone in that spot, took out a scroll from her inventory, tore it, and vanished in a bright light. In this situation where no one could move, a golden alert window appeared. [You have successfully protected the World Tree.] Rankings based on contribution are being measured. Please wait a moment. No.1: Yuna No.2: Undecided No.3: Undecided No.4: Undecided No.5: Undecided Rewards will be given based on contribution. [Channels will normalize in 1 minute after the quest ends.] For 1 minute, no one could move. When the channels normalized, all players disappeared to their original channels. It took about 30 minutes for the abnormal status to be lifted. Even the ability of Aria, the hidden class Saint, couldn''t do anything about it. I don''t know exactly what happened, but Yuna must know. The moment I tried to use a messenger bird item that can send messages: [Failed due to interference from ???.] After seeing that alert, I clutched my throbbing head. There are only a limited number of beings or groups in the Arcana continent that can block a messenger bird that can send messages to people within a certain distance. Among them, the group that Yuna is most likely to have contacted... It means the information guild is controlling the information. I''ll have to contact her in the real world. Sasha beside me looked at me and said: "What on earth is going on!?" "I''m curious too. More importantly, Yuna''s identity has been exposed." "Huh? Yuna?" * * * It had been a week since I started living in the demon realm. I was living comfortably, but there was one thing the Demon King hadn''t told me. To return to the middle world, I had to wait until a gate opened. I could return to the middle world through the main quest. In the meantime, I helped rebuild villages and raised newly born children. A race born from the World Tree''s fruit. Elves. Perhaps because of the influence of the demon realm... Unlike the white-skinned Forest Clan, they were born with tanned skin. The World Tree called them dark elves. The children born from the fruit grew to adult size in just a week. Children who were about my size at birth grew taller than me in a week, which made me feel a bit sad. I''m not growing at all... But there was an even bigger problem. "Mom!" They call me mom. "What are you saying, ugly one! She''s our mom!" "You skinny twig, how dare you talk back!?" Not only do they call me mom, they even fight among themselves over me. Numerous children. No, they all look like adults, but they''re children not even a month old. Was it wrong of me to raise them with so much affection? The day I was leaving the demon realm. It turned into a sea of tears. The dark elves clung to me, begging me not to go, to live together. I wanted to do that too, but I couldn''t. I am a traveler. An outsider. The World Tree stepped in to explain to the children. Only then did they let go, and after promising to come visit later, they finally saw me off. "If you don''t come, we''ll come find you!" "That''s right! We''ll bring the whole clan to find you! Got it!?" "Alright, kids." As if the time had come, a gate appeared before me. Just as I was about to step forward, the Demon King appeared in front of me. "I''d like to see the middle world too." "Can you go to the middle world?" "Due to restrictions I can''t stay long, but a short while is fine." She gestured at the gate and space split open. The moment we crossed over together, holding my hand... Floating in the air, I could see the enormous World Tree. Not the World Tree I raised, but the one existing in the middle world. And I could see countless players, when I heard my name called from somewhere. Looking in the direction of the voice, I saw Rea unni in the distance and waved happily, but her expression...? [The Demon King has descended upon the mortal realm!] [The heavens are watching the middle world.] Messages appearing one after another. Someone among the players shouted, and after the Demon King told them to be quiet, she said goodbye to me. "It was an enjoyable outing. Let''s meet again next time." "See you next time!" The Demon King disappeared beyond the space, and feeling awkward being left alone, I used the scroll I received before. ?Teleport Scroll? Can teleport to any place you''ve been to before. (Some areas excluded) As I tore the scroll, my vision changed and I arrived in Cradle Village. The village I returned to after a long time hadn''t changed at all. I greeted the villagers, met Uncle Charles, went to the Moonlight Inn to chat with Bell unni, and then left the village. On the way to the City of Stars along the path, when I encountered the rabbits who had turned muscular, my feelings were... "You''ve grown a lot?" "Kyuu kyuu!" They showed off their muscles while acting cute towards me, but those muscles... "Amazing! The best! How did you get such muscles!?" "Kyuu kyuu!" They said they would show me their training method and pulled out a giant carrot that had been buried in the ground. Then with a loud shout, they started muscle training. "Kyuu kyuu!" "It''s delicious, you say?" After finishing their workout, they chewed on the carrot and told me that eating is part of the training too. After saying goodbye to the rabbits and following the path, I saw a slime in the distance. Not a round slime, but one in human form. "Hello!" "......" It waved at me as it looked at me, and I could feel its emotions. There was no change in its face, but it was happy. "Have you been well? Your appearance has changed a lot!" "......" It said it''s been well, and thanked me for giving it the power to protect its kin. I can''t leave without giving something to such a kind child. "I''ll give you one more!" I took out a high-rank magic stone from the new pouch I received and handed it over. It happily accepted. After saying goodbye to the slime, I went to greet the goblin village next, but the atmosphere had changed a lot. "For Valhalla!!!!!" The goblins were performing a suspicious ritual while shouting strange things. Gone was their small stature, replaced by towering height and muscular physiques. For a moment I thought I had entered an orc village by mistake, when a goblin recognized me and approached. "Kuruk! Brother! Welcome!" "It''s been a while! Your appearance has changed a lot?" "Kuruk! It''s all thanks to you, brother!" They thanked me for showing them a new world as we greeted each other. As I followed the path towards the City of Stars, I saw the orc warrior in the distance. His skin used to be green, but now it had turned red. "It''s been a while, young one." "It has been a while! Have you been well!? Your body seems smaller than before?" "Thanks to you, I was able to refine my body. Thank you, young girl." Hmm, is that a good thing? I''m not sure, but if he''s satisfied, I guess it''s fine. After parting with the orc and walking along the path, I saw the bear taxi running from afar. How does it know to come when I didn''t even call? "Groooan!" "You were worried because you hadn''t seen me lately?" Aww, it can say touching things too? sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Groooan!" "You can''t eat magic stones without me!? Give me back my feeling of being moved!" I grumbled as I negotiated the taxi fare, then climbed on its back and it ran at high speed. It''s comfortable, but the bear taxi fare is too expensive... 24. Arcana Online 24. Arcana Online24. Arcana Online At the Frey Guild headquarters. After sending out all the other guild members, I was talking with just Sasha. "You didn''t know it was Yuna?" "No! Her face and hair color were different, weren''t they?" "What do you mean by that?" "Look at this." Sasha showed me a community post. [What was that red-haired demon next to her?] It disappeared in an instant. [Comments] - Red? Wasn''t it blue? - I saw it as green. - Wasn''t it black? - [Author] Stop joking around, you crazy bastards. [Who''s the demon next to Demon King noona? (photo)] Black hair and cute looks are my type. [Comments] - What? Why is it black here? No, more importantly, what did you just say? You trash! - Police officer!!!!!!! - You pedo! Go die. - How about trying to hold your breath for 30 minutes with your nose in a plate? [The player (presumably) next to the Demon King seems to be using a disguise item? (video)] The Demon King noona in the video looks the same, but the demon next to her is different in every video. [Comments] - I''ve never heard of such an item. - [Author] There are so many items, how could there not be a disguise item? - Is it the Demon King noona''s servant? - [Author] Servant? So jealous lol Checking the community, fortunately Yuna''s appearance was showing up differently for everyone. Did she use a disguise item? But the state of the article contents and other posts is quite a sight. [Failed main scenario quest. Are the top 10 guilds not responsible?] Today, in Arcana Online, the first scenario quest was generated, but an incident occurred where one player monopolized the rewards, drawing attention. Regarding this... [Comments] - Is this article for real? - Wow, legendary blame-shifting. - It''s easy to make money, isn''t it? Right? - Mr. Reporter, I''m unsubscribing from your articles from now on. You should just load and unload trucks. [You crazy bastards at the game company, is this right?] In a situation where we need to raid just to defeat a baron-level demon, a Demon King!? No, more than that, make an announcement!! Why aren''t you saying anything!? [Comments] - That''s right, but the Demon King noona was pretty. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. - [Author] What the hell are you talking about noona for? - Calm down, friend lol. Aren''t you too angry? - Heuheung noona lol [Forget the quest, I want to see Demon King noona!!] How do I get to the demon realm? I''m going to see Demon King noona lol [Comments] - Figure it out yourself lol - [Author] How do I go!! - Don''t know~ - Now you have to figure that out yourself lol For the first main scenario quest that appeared for the first time, the game company seems to be brushing it off with an attitude of "well, that''s how it is". They''ve never communicated with users once while providing the service, and they''ve never sold paid items, so most users just want them not to shut down the service. No one knows what money they''re operating with, or even which company is operating it. Despite this, it''s an undisputed No.1 game. Experts say there''s no better-made virtual reality game than Arcana Online, and there won''t be in the future. Thanks to that, all the attention is focused on the Demon King''s appearance. An appearance that stands out among the countless beauties I''ve seen in my life. Sighing, I closed the community and logged out of the game to return to the real world. * * * Arriving at the City of Stars, I went to the information guild to meet Erica unni after a long time. Hearing that she was away, I left the store and while walking down the street, I saw a blacksmith shop. As I was thinking about changing my staff because it didn''t match the clothes I was wearing, I decided to take a look inside the blacksmith shop and saw the dwarf I had met before. "Welcome. Oh, who is this? Isn''t it the little miss I met before?" "Hello! It''s been a while. Were you doing business here?" "That''s right. I may not look like it, but I''ve been doing business in this city for over 30 years." After chatting about various things, when I said I came to look at staffs, he looked at my attire and shook his head. "Our blacksmith shop doesn''t have any staffs suitable for a little miss like you." "What!? Then where should I go?" "How about visiting my hometown, the Village of Iron?" [Village of Iron] A village where dwarves live, with numerous blacksmith shops. He handed me a letter. "It''s a letter of recommendation. Take this and go to the Silver Blacksmith Shop located in the Village of Iron." I thanked him and left the blacksmith shop. I checked the map to see how far it was to the Village of Iron, and it would take three days on foot. Wouldn''t it be faster if I used the bear taxi? If I camp along the way... "Alright! Let''s just buy camping gear and head out right away, Yong-yong!" "Kyuung!" To buy the necessary camping gear, I entered a general store and purchased a camping set that included everything from tents to sleeping bags. [Beginner Camping Set] Contains all the equipment needed for camping that even beginners can easily use. After paying, I left the City of Stars with Yong-yong and while walking towards the Village of Iron, I saw a bear taxi running from afar. "Groooan!" "Yes, yes! This time I want to go to the Village of Iron, is that okay?" "Groan!" "How many do you want!? 15!? Isn''t that too much!?" "Groooan!" "Round-trip fare, you say!?" After negotiating down to 10, I climbed on the bear''s back and it ran at high speed. It seems faster than when I rode it last time? The scenery changed rapidly as we moved faster than I expected, but I wanted to camp for at least one night. "Bear! Let''s camp for one night on the way!" "Groooan!" "Additional fee!? That''s too much!" "Groan!" The bear said it would let me sleep in its soft embrace as a service. It''s tempting. After paying the additional fee, the bear stopped at a good spot for camping. I took out the camping set I bought from the general store from my inventory and set it up, making a decent campsite. I handed one magic stone each to Yong-yong and the bear, then lit a fire and grilled some meat, filling the air with a delicious smell. I seasoned it with salt and pepper, and when I took a bite, it was delicious! It''s not as good as the food Bell unni makes, but it''s adequately atmospheric and edible. While eating the meat, the bear that had been rolling around suddenly got up and became alert as we heard rustling sounds from the bushes. "Groooan!" "Kyaang!" At the bear''s roar, something jumped out from the bushes - a fox with a cute appearance. Looking closely, it was injured. "Are you okay!?" "Kyaang!" At first it was wary of me, but after a while it let its guard down and slowly approached. I took out a potion from my inventory and poured it on the wound, and it disappeared completely. When the wound disappeared, it looked at its body curiously and then hugged me. "Kyaang!" It acted cute with an adorable voice, and I couldn''t help but give it a magic stone. "You''re too cute!? Here, eat this!" "Kyaang!" I took out a magic stone and handed it over, and it ate it in one bite. As it looked up at me with cute eyes, its gaze met Yong-yong''s. "Kyaaang!" The fox ran away with a scream. As I stared in the direction it disappeared with a bewildered look, I turned to Yong-yong and saw it looking at me with an equally bewildered expression. "It''s not like that, right?" "Kyuung!" It claimed innocence, saying it was wronged, and it''s true. Our Yong-yong is cute-looking after all. If fate allows, we''ll meet again someday. After finishing grilling and eating the remaining meat, I patted my full stomach and leaned against the bear, feeling its soft touch. The bear hugged me. "See you tomorrow, Yong-yong, Bear." "Kyuung." "Groooan." I said goodbye in that comfortable position and logged out. After taking off the gear, I checked my phone. But something felt strange. Lately, I haven''t been receiving any messages. Usually, there should be at least a few spam messages, but there was nothing. "Is it broken?" I turned the phone off and on, and only then did the notifications sound. Among the spam messages, I saw messages from Rea unni. And there were many of them. [Is something going on these days?] [I''m worried because you''re not answering. Is everything okay?] [Are you really alright? Feel free to contact me anytime.] As I was about to reply after checking the messages, the phone rang. "Hello?" "I''m so relieved. I was worried because I couldn''t reach you. Is everything okay?" "I''m sorry. My phone was broken so I couldn''t check." We exchanged greetings and I told her about what had happened recently, including that I was currently moving to the Village of Iron. "Then you''ve reached level 50 now, right?" "Yes! I just hit level 55 after completing the quest this time!" "That''s great. Then I''ll send you a guild invitation. Let''s talk in detail when we meet later." "Okay! I''ll see you then!" Why is it that I''m fine talking on the phone, but get so nervous when meeting in person? This body is uncomfortable in many ways. As I lay down on the bed, my empty stomach protested, demanding food. I got up, went to the bathroom, then moved to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. I took out a triangle kimbap and took a bite while boiling water in the kettle. Cup noodles are easier to eat than packet ramen, so I''ve been eating like this lately. After finishing the meal, just as I was about to get up from the chair to return to my room, my head started spinning. When I regained consciousness after passing out, I found myself collapsed on the kitchen floor with no memory of what happened. Checking the clock, not even 10 minutes had passed, but why was this happening? Perhaps due to the shock of falling, my whole body ached and I felt chills and a headache. I took some cold medicine and returned to my bed with shaky steps. I barely managed to lie down on the bed and cover myself with a blanket, but why was it so cold...? With trembling hands, I took out a few hot packs that I had left in a corner and put them inside the blanket. As warm heat spread, my eyes finally closed and I fell asleep. 25. Arcana Online 25. Arcana Online25. Arcana Online When I opened my eyes, a loud bell was ringing. After sleeping, my body seemed to be fine...? I turned off the alarm and zoned out for a while, then briefly satisfied my hunger, took some medicine, and logged into the game. When I opened my eyes after logging in, the bear was hugging me and Yong-yong was in my arms. "Did you sleep well?" "Kyuung!" "Groooan!" I handed one magic stone each to Yong-yong and the bear. After packing up, I climbed onto the bear''s back, and it slowly increased its speed as it set off. The bear ran while being considerate of me. "It seems more comfortable?" "Groooan!" "Now that you''re an exemplary taxi, you''re going to charge extra!?" "Grohoho!" The bear laughed, saying it was a joke. I think it was serious, but maybe it''s just my imagination? It seems like it was trying to sneakily charge more!? I''ve never seen such a sly bear in my life. After running for a while, the bear slowed down and stopped. A village visible in the distance. "Groooan!" "Thank you." When I handed over a magic stone, it disappeared with it in its mouth, but doesn''t it usually eat it right away? It always disappears with the magic stone it receives as a taxi fare in its mouth. Should I ask about it next time? As I walked towards the village, I made eye contact with a dwarf standing guard. "What business does a little miss have in our village?" "I came to buy a staff! Here''s a letter of recommendation." When I showed the letter of recommendation to the guard, he nodded and told me to go inside the village and turn right. After greeting him, I entered the village and saw an unfamiliar scenery. There were numerous blacksmith shops and various races visible. To find the Silver Blacksmith Shop, I walked to the right and saw a huge sign in the distance. [Silver Blacksmith Shop] The second cheapest blacksmith in the village!! The owner has gone crazy!!! I saw an advertisement that I often see on mobile phone store banners, or is it just my imagination? As I entered the store, an elderly dwarf welcomed me. "Welcome! Hmm? What brings our little miss here?" "I came to buy a staff! Here''s a letter of recommendation!" "Oh? A letter of recommendation, is it." The dwarf who received the letter of recommendation from me tore it up without even reading it. Then he gestured for me to follow him. "There''s only one person in this world who would send such a letter of recommendation. My apprentice." "Apprentice!?" They looked similar in age, but they were master and apprentice. Following the dwarf inside, I saw numerous weapons hanging on the walls. The rarer ones were inside glass cases. "Choose a staff you like." "Okay!" I looked at each staff hanging on the wall or inside the glass cases, but couldn''t find one I liked. While rummaging through an oak barrel full of staffs in one corner, I saw something that caught my eye. It was an old stick with a bell attached. ???? Bell? Seems to be a tool used in rituals. My hand reached for it without thinking. "I''ll take this." "Hmm? What''s that?" When I looked at the dwarf with a bewildered face, he said he didn''t know either and told me to just take it. "Really!? Thank you!" "Sure, sure. If you''re grateful, promote our blacksmith shop a bit." "I''ll definitely do that!" I left the store and shook the newly purchased stick. ''Ding-a-ling. Ding-a-ling.'' I liked the sound, so I walked while shaking it, and a message window appeared in front of me. [Reacting with the Divine Dragon Shrine Maiden''s Robe, it reveals its true form.] [You acquire the Divine Dragon''s Bell!] ?Divine Dragon''s Bell? A bell once used by a shrine maiden who served the Divine Dragon. [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [Ability is sealed.] [Ability is sealed.] [The seal on the Divine Dragon Shrine Maiden''s Robe is released.] ?Divine Dragon Shrine Maiden''s Robe? Clothes once worn by a shrine maiden who served the Divine Dragon. [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [Ability is sealed.] [Ability is sealed.] S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a bright light, the old stick that was there until just now changed to a pure white color, and the bell sound changed. ''Ding-a-ling~ Ding-a-ling~'' A bell that makes a clear and beautiful sound. Feeling like I''d hit the jackpot, I was excitedly looking around the village when I heard a voice from somewhere. Following the voice, I moved to a dark alley where a small fox was lying collapsed and panting. Its whole body was covered in dark bruises and it was bleeding, dying. I hurriedly took out a potion from my inventory and poured it on the fox. Although the wounds healed, it still couldn''t regain consciousness. I took out a magic stone and held it close, and it was absorbed into the fox with a bright light. Only then did it open its eyes and look at me, then get up. "Are you okay, fox!?" "Kyaang!" After checking its body condition and looking at me, it bowed its head and then ran off somewhere. I got up, dusted myself off, and looked in the direction the fox had gone. I''ve already saved two foxes, is something going on? I was worried, but thinking that surely nothing could be wrong, I set out on my way. After finishing my tour of the village, I left and walked along the path when I saw a bear taxi running from afar. "Over here! Here!" "Groooan!" It stopped in front of me, but it seemed to have gotten bigger in the meantime? How long has it been since we parted, and it''s gained weight? "Bear, have you gained weight?" "Groooan!?" "It''s okay. You can just go on a diet." "Groan!" It grumbled as it gave me a ride, and its speed gradually increased. No, it became extremely fast. "W-wait a minute, Bear!? Run slowly!" "Groan!" "Safe driving! I said safe driving!" * * * Long ago, there was a village where the Silver Fox Clan lived. The foxes of the Silver Fox Clan, who loved peace, dreamed of ascending to become immortals. Through training, they could gain one tail every 100 years, and if they gained nine tails, they could ascend. One day, while the foxes were living day by day in training, goblins came to visit. A group of goblins threatening to hand over the village. When they refused the demand, they were ambushed at dawn and lost their home in a single morning. Fortunately, no foxes lost their lives, but all their efforts had gone to waste. The tails they had gained through training were all used to protect the clan, so they had to start training from the beginning again. While the clan was scattered and wandering without a destination, I was seriously injured by a monster attack and barely escaped, but due to the severity of the injury, I hid in a human village and was waiting for death in a dirty back alley when a human girl saved me. The magic stone she used to save me produced an unexpected result. The one remaining tail changed into nine tails, and the opportunity to ascend came. At that moment, I was conflicted. Is it really the right choice to ascend like this? The thought didn''t last long. When I returned to the village that had been taken away, a change had occurred. The goblins were nowhere to be found, and there was a fox with nine tails just like me. The moment I approached, it turned its head and looked at me. "Sister?" "Rang-ah." My twin younger sister had become a nine-tailed fox. My sister was just as surprised. She was looking at my tails. "Did you meet a benefactor?" "Yes. Someone who saved me when I was dying in the forest and gave me power." As I was pondering our future course of action, my sister spoke. "Shall we ask? Ask if they can share power with our clan, just like they gave us power." "Rang-ah. What comes must go. We have nothing we can do for our benefactor." "Isn''t a human''s life span at most 100 years? Let''s serve them for 100 years." Serving a human for 100 years rather than training for hundreds of years. It wasn''t bad. If our interests align, things will progress smoothly. "I''ll go meet our benefactor." "Sister, you''re not good with words. I''ll go." As my sister tried to climb on top of my head just because she got tails, I gave her a knock on the head, and only then did she quiet down. No, she''s not quiet, she''s glaring at me. "Do you want another hit?" "No violence!" We compromised to go meet our benefactor together, and started calling our clan back to the village. We combined our powers to send a signal that only our clan could hear. Soon after, many clan members returned to the village. The clan members looked at us with surprised eyes. We told them what had happened and our future plans, and the entire clan agreed. After finishing our discussion, my sister and I set out as representatives of the clan. To meet and greet our benefactor. 26. Arcana Online 26. Arcana Online26. Arcana Online Where am I? A white ceiling is visible, and the place is full of numerous patients. That''s right. This is a hospital. "Patient Han Yuna." "Yes, yes!" "Your examination is finished, and we''ll contact you on your phone when the results are out." "Thank you!" As I got up and left the waiting room, Rea unni was waiting in front of the door. "Is the health checkup all done?" "Yes! But was it really necessary?" "Of course! You need to be healthy to play games too!" I joined the Frey Guild and came early in the morning for a health checkup as part of the guild member benefits. Is it possible to get the four major insurances too...? It''s fortunate that I told Yong-yong I''d be sleeping in. Otherwise, I would have been scolded like last time. Because I couldn''t eat anything since last evening due to the health checkup, I followed Rea unni to a porridge restaurant located in the hospital basement to satisfy my hunger. After eating some porridge, I received a call that the test results were out, so I headed to the waiting room. Sitting in the waiting room, a nurse called my name. I followed the nurse into the examination room, and Rea unni came in with me. Inside the examination room, the doctor was looking at the chart with a serious face. "Patient, have you recently lost consciousness?" "How did you know?" Rea unni looked at me with surprised eyes upon hearing my words. Ah, I made a mistake. "Your numbers are very bad. There''s malnutrition too..." "Malnutrition!?" "For now, I''ll give you an IV drip and prescribe some medicine. Make sure to take it consistently, and you must eat your meals properly. If not, it could become really serious." "Yes, doctor." While I was receiving the IV drip in the infusion room, following the nurse, Rea unni was looking at me with fierce eyes beside me. "Why didn''t you tell me?" "Tell you what...?" "I clearly told you to tell me if there was anything difficult, didn''t I!?" I had no excuse. She was looking at me with tears in her eyes, and if I say anything here, I''d be trash... When I apologized, Rea unni, who had been thinking for a while, looked at me with a determined expression. "I know why you''re living in that house, so I won''t ask you to move to the house next door. Instead, I''ll move to the house next to yours." Rea unni says she''s moving to the house next door. No, more importantly, isn''t someone already living in the house next door? She made a call somewhere, and by the time I finished receiving the IV drip, a bell rang. "Yes. Good job." After finishing the call, she said the moving date was set. Already!? "I agreed to buy it at twice the market price. Including moving expenses, that is." "......" Rea unni, showing that there''s nothing money can''t do. She smiles and says if there''s anything that can''t be done, it''s because the amount is insufficient, and it''s scary. After dropping me off at my house by car, she said she''d see me next week and left. For a long time, I stared at the empty space where Rea unni had left. My heart feels full, but I don''t know how to express it. A world where I don''t know anyone. The colorless world is starting to be filled with color. * * * "Kyuung!" "I told you I''d be sleeping in today, didn''t I?" "Kyuuung!" "So you''re being this lenient?" While stroking the head of Yong-yong, who was eating a magic stone, I opened the window and looked out at the city scenery. We arrived earlier than planned due to the bear taxi''s reckless driving. It''s definitely gotten faster. Thanks to that, I experienced hell... Ugh. Just thinking about it makes me want to throw up. "Kyuung?" "I''m okay." While stroking the head of Yong-yong, who was worried about me, I packed my things and checked out at the hotel lobby. "Thank you for everything." "Not at all! It was an honor to serve you all this time!" Leaving the City of Stars. "Let''s stop by the information guild one last time before we go." "Kyuung!" "Oh, come on. That''s not right. They helped us when we had no magic stones left." "Kyuuung." While coaxing Yong-yong, who had no interest in anything but me, I headed to the information guild. I entered the general store that serves as the hideout for the information guild, and when I spoke to an employee, they guided me to the request room. Inside the request room, Erica unni was drinking tea, and when she saw me, she welcomed me with a bright smile. "Our pretty one is here?" "Hello!" I sat in the chair opposite Erica unni, and she handed me a cup of tea, which was sweet. "Did you come to say goodbye?" "Yes! It''s time for me to leave now." "Then, could you do one errand for me on your way?" She hands me a letter along with a pouch. [A quest has arrived.] Deliver mail to the information guild located in the commercial city of Thalassa. Reward: Pouch of magic stones. "I can''t send our pretty one away empty-handed." She says it''s an errand, but she''s doing this on purpose to take care of me. "Thank you." "Huhuhu. If you''re grateful, come visit again." After saying goodbye, I left the general store and went outside the city. Standing on the roadside a little away from the city, waiting for the bear taxi, I heard the sound of something running from afar. But it sounds like more than one is running? As something gets closer and closer, I see numerous Warbears running? Led by a bear with an exceptionally large body, numerous Warbears appeared. "Who are the Warbears next to you!?" "Groooan!" "They''re your family!?" The reason for taking magic stones all this time. He says he did it to feed his family and came to say hello this time. They''re all so big that it''s scary being surrounded... Curious Warbears approach me closely to sniff, but the moment they make eye contact with Yong-yong. "Groooeeng!" They show a submissive posture, just like when I first met the bear. As I look at the lying Warbears in bewilderment, the bear steps in to organize things. "Groooan!" All the Warbears retreat in an instant. The bear approaches me. It bows its head and thanks me. "Why are you being so formal between us?" "Grohoho!" It laughs and tells me to get on quickly, but it''s gotten so big that it''s difficult to climb on. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I manage to climb onto its back with effort, and as it slowly sets off, the other Warbears follow behind. Now that I''m traveling with a group of Warbears, I finally feel like a summoner, don''t I? "Let''s go!" "Groooan!" * * * The movement of the Warbear group was incredible. On the way to the commercial city of Thalassa. We encountered numerous monsters, but none of them dared to attack us. No, they ran away as soon as they made eye contact. Well, what crazy monster would dare to attack a group of large Warbears led by a giant bear over 10m tall? How long have we been traveling together, crossing mountains and swimming across rivers? Every time we took a break, I took out magic stones from the pouch and distributed them one by one. If I hadn''t received the pouch from Erica unni, it wouldn''t have been enough. After running for a long time like that, we finally saw the commercial city of Thalassa in the distance. A huge spire was located in the center of the commercial city, and numerous buildings could be seen around it. After saying goodbye to the bear group, I approached the entrance to enter the commercial city, and there were two entrances. One entrance crowded with people and one completely empty. As I was walking towards the empty entrance. "Child. You can''t go that way." "Pardon?" I turned my head towards the voice calling me and saw an old lady looking at me. "That entrance is only for nobles to use." "Nobles?" "Yes. Commoners like us have to line up here." Despite appearances, I''m a duke. I have a title in the demon realm, but... I wonder if it won''t work... Thinking it''s better not to stand out unnecessarily, I lined up behind the old lady and chatted about various things. She gave me a lot of useful information. "Child. Just because it''s a commercial city doesn''t mean all the shops are cheap." "Really? I thought it would be cheaper than other cities, but I guess not." As we were talking, it was soon our turn. We passed through the checkpoint and entered, and I saw a city bustling with numerous people. From merchants selling on the streets to carriages passing by carrying numerous loads. I said goodbye to the old lady and opened the map to head towards the guild headquarters that Rea unni had told me about. On the way to the Frey Guild headquarters. Just as I was about to enter an alley, I bumped into someone. "What the! Hey, kid. Don''t you watch where you''re going!?" "I''m sorry. I wasn''t looking ahead." Red hair and walking around shirtless... a pervert? He glares at me while checking my body, and his eyes are fierce. "If you made a mistake, you could have gotten hurt! Are you injured anywhere!?" "Huh? No, I''m not injured." "Always be careful! Even if you keep your eyes open, you can get cut in this city!" Grumbling while worrying about me... a pervert... no, a tsundere? 27. Arcana Online 27. Arcana Online27. Arcana Online Checking the map, it''s around here. "Where''s the red roof?" "Kyuung." Looking in the direction Yong-yong pointed, I saw a building with a red roof that looked like a residential house. In front of the building was the symbol of the Frey Guild, a wolf pattern. When I grabbed the doorknob, a message popped up. [Only Frey Guild members can enter.] [Welcome, Yuna.] Opening the door and entering, I saw an interior that was 180 degrees different from the exterior. It was decorated with lavish ornaments, but the strange thing was that there were many rooms but no doors at all. As I was looking at the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, I heard a voice from inside. "Oh my, who are you?" A sister with blue hair and golden eyes, wearing a mage''s robe and a large hat. "Hello! I''m Yuna, who just joined the Frey Guild!" "Kyaa! You''re the new member I''ve only heard about!? Nice to meet you! My name is Hecate!" She hugged me mercilessly with her voluptuous chest, and wow, it''s incredible. After feeling the soft sensation for a while, she let me go and told me to wait on the sofa for a moment before disappearing in an instant. While sitting on the sofa and looking around the interior, I heard Rea unni''s voice. "You''re here?" Rea unni appeared wearing silver armor. "Hello!" "Was it hard getting here?" She came close and stroked my head, and her touch was warm and soft, just like in reality. "No, it didn''t take long because I used the bear taxi." "Bear taxi?" After chatting about various things, she said they would throw a welcome party for me tonight. I told her I would clear the quest I received from Erica unni and come back, then left the guild. On the way to the information guild. As I was looking at various items on the street stalls, I saw something that caught my eye. [??? Bead] I don''t know what it is. A bead that doesn''t show any abilities. But why do I want it? "Mister! How much is this bead?" "How much were you thinking?" "Huh?" Caught off guard for a moment, I thought and then spread out three fingers, and he showed a contemplative face. "Tsk. 30,000 is a bit low, but well, since you''re cute, I''ll sell it to you." "30,000...? Th-thank you!" I paid 30,000 gold and received the bead, feeling a bit disappointed. I was thinking 300,000, but 30,000? Thanks to that, I saved money. As I was examining the bead while heading to the information guild, it reacted with a bright light. [Reacting with the Divine Dragon Shrine Maiden''s Robe and Divine Dragon''s Bell, hidden information is revealed.] [You acquire the Divine Dragon''s Bead.] ?Divine Dragon''s Bead? If it meets the Yeouiju, something special might happen? Information appeared, but what is this? No, more importantly, Yeouiju? The Yeouiju I got using hundreds of thousands of points before!? I had completely forgotten about it, what a coincidence. "I guess I''m really lucky after all! Right!?" "Kyuuung..." Strangely, Yong-yong seems to be acting cautious, what''s going on? I opened my inventory to take out the Yeouiju, but it''s not there!? "What!? Where did the Yeouiju go!?" "Kyuung!" "Forget about such trivial things!? No, where did the Crystal of Light go too!?" Maybe because I hadn''t organized my inventory in a while, there were a few items that had disappeared, but of all things, the Yeouiju was gone. As I was rummaging through my inventory with a dumbfounded face, Yong-yong urged me. Let''s go to the information guild quickly, it says. "Why is it acting like this today?" "Kyuuung!" "Alright! I''m going! I''ll go, so stop nagging!" The information guild located in the commercial city of Thalassa is disguised as an ordinary cafe. And it''s a cafe that sells popular limited-edition menu items. The method to use the information guild is simple. Enter the cafe and order an ''Iced Hot Chocolate''. "Would you like the ice separately?" "Put half in and give me half separately, please." "Understood, customer." They told me to wait for a moment, and as I was sitting in my seat, an employee said there was a problem with the menu and asked me to follow. Following the employee, we went through a secret door and down some stairs, where I saw a reception room. Inside the reception room was an elderly person. "Grandmother!? We meet here!" The grandmother I chatted with earlier is the master of the Thalassa information guild? At that moment. She changed her appearance with a bright light, and she''s an elf? A golden-haired, golden-eyed elf stood up and introduced herself, bowing her head. "I greet the benefactor who saved the World Tree." "W-wait a moment!?" Flustered, I asked her to raise her head, and only then did she look at me with a bright smile. "Thanks to you, the World Tree was able to survive. Thank you so much." "It was nothing." "How can you say it was nothing? Without the World Tree, elves cannot be born." But suddenly, I became curious about something. "If you''re born from the World Tree''s fruit, isn''t the World Tree your mother? Why don''t you call it mother?" "The World Tree itself plays the role of a mother. We do consider it a mother, but the World Tree is the World Tree." She answered with a bright smile, but I don''t understand what she means. "Unlike humans, we''re born from fruit without going through a natural birthing process..." She kept muttering something, and I just nodded and smiled, but the explanation didn''t end. "The biological parents of an apple are the crab apple tree or the golden delicious apple tree, but genetically..." I took out the mail from my inventory and handed it to her, and only then did she stop talking and receive it from me. She opened the envelope, checked the contents, and burned it on the spot. "Thank you, benefactor. If you have any inconveniences while living in the city, please contact us anytime." After saying goodbye, I left through a different entrance and came out not in a cafe, but in a general store. An employee spotted me and guided me to the exit. When I went outside, the sun was setting, and I started walking to return to the guild. I headed towards the guild''s hideout along the road. Arriving at the hideout, the moment I grabbed the doorknob and turned it, firecrackers went off. ''Pababang!'' "Welcome to the Frey Guild!" People welcoming me. Led by Rea unni, the guild master of the Frey Guild, there was stalker Sasha unni, Hecate unni, and... A pervert with red hair and exposed upper body. No, a tsundere. "Tsundere!?" I pointed at the tsundere in surprise, and he was surprised too. "You''re the kid from earlier. No, who are you calling tsundere!" He introduced himself as Balak while showing off his muscles. Balak, showing off his muscles, the symbol of manhood! I asked the question you must ask when you see someone with a good body. "How much do you lift!?" "In reality, I''ve hit 600, and in the game..." While we were chatting about muscles, a sister wearing nun''s clothing hugged me from behind, separating me from the tsundere. "Shh. It''s not good for your emotional education to talk with such a muscle maniac." "Who are you calling a muscle maniac!? You fake!" "As I''ve said before, God''s words are..." After they talked for a while, a sister with silver hair and blue eyes introduced herself as Aria. Excluding me, there are five guild members in total, is this all? "Are there only five guild members in total?" "No. There are two more, but they''re away on a mission, so unfortunately we received word that they can''t come." Then it''s seven in total. No, now it''s eight including me. It really is an elite small guild. "Well then, now that Yuna is here, shall we start the welcome party!?" With those words, I grabbed the glass in front of me. "Drink!" "Wet it!" "Pour!" Led by the stalker, no, Sasha unni and the voluptuous chest, no, Hecate unni, a drinking party began. But why do I have apple juice...? * * * S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Where are you, my child." Coming out of the dragon''s lair, I looked up at the sky and then down at the ground. The ground was full of countless monsters. An army of monsters easily exceeding hundreds of thousands. "Last time, we couldn''t find you because the numbers were insufficient, but this time will be different. Wait just a little longer, my child." With a single gesture, numerous monsters began to move. There was only one order. To find our child. What happens to other beings doesn''t matter. I left a mark, but seeing that it''s not activating, someone must have interfered. To try to take our child away. Dying a thousand times, no, ten thousand times wouldn''t be enough. We should start searching from places where many humans gather. First, yes. The city that humans call the commercial city. ''Thalassa'' [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [CHAPTER 2: Protect the commercial city of Thalassa.] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 167 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] 28. Arcana Online 28. Arcana Online28. Arcana Online [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [CHAPTER 2: Protect the commercial city of Thalassa.] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 167 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] When the golden window appeared, numerous players were once again in an uproar. There were opinions that someone might monopolize it again this time, but it was considered impossible due to the eyewitness accounts of many players. A video of an army so large it couldn''t be estimated by the naked eye marching towards Thalassa. The news spread quickly, and players began to gather in Thalassa. [Commercial City of Thalassa] In this game without an auction house, it''s a place where numerous items and information gather. Losing the commercial city would be a huge loss for players. The Frey Guild also took action to prepare for the scenario quest, and I headed to the hunting grounds to test my newly acquired weapon. Until now, I had just kept it in storage because I didn''t have a chance to use it while riding the bear taxi. Where should I go? As I was pondering, a place came to mind. A famous dungeon in Thalassa village. [Dungeon of Greed] A dungeon where you can obtain rare items and large amounts of experience. As I walked to the dungeon entrance near the village, two soldiers were guarding the entrance. I approached and handed over my pass, and they looked at me with worried eyes. "Miss, are you really going in?" "Yes!" "If it''s dangerous, run away immediately." Passing by the soldiers and entering the dungeon, a blue window popped up. [You have entered the Dungeon of Greed.] May blessings be upon you, traveler. As I went down the stairs leading underground, I encountered a wild rabbit on the first floor. But it looks a bit delinquent? [Delinquent Rabbit] A rabbit biting a branch in a delinquent manner. I took out the ?Divine Dragon''s Bell? and shook it once. ''Ding-a-ling~ Ding-a-ling~'' It dropped the branch it was biting and approached me, acting cute? "Kyung kyung!" Numerous delinquent rabbits that were hiding in the darkness approached and acted cute, and I couldn''t just ignore them. How can I resist this!? "You''re too cute!" "Kyung kyung!" I took out a magic stone from my inventory and handed it over, and they happily accepted and ate it, and even their eating appearance is cute. The way they eat magic stones is similar to the rabbits in Cradle Village. I wonder if those kids are doing well? I hope they''re exercising in moderation. After spending time with the delinquent rabbits, I said goodbye and headed to the next floor. Going down to the second floor, delinquent slimes were waiting. * * * After passing through slimes, goblins, orcs, warbears, and even griffins, I met delinquent monsters and greeted them, distributing magic stones. We became friends, so I couldn''t hunt them. They approach me and act cute whenever they hear the bell sound, what kind of effect does it have? ?Divine Dragon''s Bell? A bell once used by a shrine maiden who served the Divine Dragon. There''s no special ability or anything? Following the secret stairs the griffin showed me, I saw a huge iron door. Opening the door and going inside, there was a wide open space. I hear an unfamiliar voice in the open space. "Welcome." "Where are you?" "Here." Something appeared with the wind. It had horns on its head and had a human form, but there were no eyes on its face. An egg ghost...? "You''ve come quite far, human. My name is Baron Amon Tennis." He introduces himself as a nobleman of the demon realm with the title of baron. If the other party introduced themselves, it would be polite for me to introduce myself too, right? "Hello. My name is Yuna." "Well then, shall we begin? The festival of slaughter!" Shouting loudly, a huge sphere gathered above the demon''s head and flew towards me, but I didn''t take any damage. [The effect of the title: Duke of the Demon Realm is activated.] Ignores attacks from demons with lower titles than oneself. The demon looks at me with a bewildered face. Another message popped up. [The effect of the title: Duke of the Demon Realm is activated.] Requesting dispatch of an executioner. The entire open space vibrates and space begins to open. A skeleton appeared, waving a robe and holding a huge scythe. The executioner who revealed himself. "Demon Realm Executioner. I greet Duke Yuna." The demon is shocked by those words. "W-why is an executioner here!? No, more importantly, Duke!?" The executioner opens his mouth, looking at the demon who is backing away in shock. "According to the laws of the demon realm, Baron Amon Tennis, who committed insubordination, is stripped of his title and executed." "I-I didn''t know! I didn''t know!" With those final words, the demon was cut by the huge scythe and returned to nothingness, turning into dirt. The executioner bows to me and disappears beyond space. The title effect is good. Something shiny had fallen on the spot that turned to dirt. ?Golden Key? Can open the door to the reward room. Behind where the demon disappeared, a door appeared and began to open with an eerie sound. Entering that door, I climbed stairs designed to go up instead of down, and saw three doors shining golden. As I approached, names were displayed. [Room of Greed] [Room of Wisdom] [Room of Miserliness] "Yong-yong, which one should we enter?" "Kyuung!" "The middle one?" The moment I inserted the key I got earlier and turned it to enter the Room of Wisdom. With a bright light, I saw a library inside with numerous books on the shelves. [You have entered the Room of Wisdom. Select the skill book you want to acquire a skill.] Admiring the grand size of the library, I looked around at the books and saw various skills. ?Black Hole? Creates a gravity field that returns everything within range to nothingness. ?Inferno? Creates a huge pillar of fire that burns everything. ?Get That Bastard!? Summons chase after the target set as the mark. ?Moon Shadow? Summons the moon to increase the stats of summons. "This one seems good, right?" "Kyuung!" [You have used a skill book.] S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. You have acquired the Active Skill: Moon Shadow. ?Moon Shadow? Summons the moon to increase the stats of summons. Mana used: 1,000 Duration: 8 hours Cooldown: 24 hours It''s a good skill, but there''s one fact I overlooked. The Ring of Sealing makes it impossible to use mana. I didn''t calculate this? With a gloomy heart, I opened the newly appeared door and went outside, and was transported to the dungeon entrance. After looking at the sunset, I started walking to return to the village. To return to the guild hideout. I heard that among the guild benefits, I could use one of the spare rooms as my room without having to pay for accommodation. Opening the door and entering, the stalker, no, Sasha unni welcomed me. "Our youngest is back!?" "I''m back." Sasha unni, who calls me the youngest and takes care of me. After finishing dinner and going to my room, I lay down on the bed and took out one more magic stone for Yong-yong, who happily ate it. "Yong-yong, then I''ll see you tomorrow." "Kyuung!" * * * Returning to the real world, I took off the gear, went to the bathroom, and went down to the kitchen on the first floor where there was a lunchbox sent by Rea unni. Since the day she moved next door, she either eats dinner with me or prepares a lunchbox on busy days. Opening the lunchbox, I saw various meats, vegetables, and a heart made of beans. "I don''t like beans..." After finishing the meal, I contacted Rea unni to thank her, then went to my room and checked the bulletin board, which was a mess. [Why is the difficulty of the Dungeon of Greed like this!?] Help!! The delinquent rabbit caught me and is doing a deadlift!? [Comments] - What''s with this guy now? - What did it do? It did what? - [Author] Ahh! Help me! Ahh! It''s caught me and ahh! [Is it true that the Dungeon of Greed has changed to be like Cradle Village?] The rabbits have changed as if they could easily handle 3 vs 500, and the slime noona appears here too. I can''t take questions because I have to go see noona. [Comments] - Is this also related to the main chapter changes? - [Author] Noonaaaa!! - You crazy bastard lol [Have you been above the 3rd floor? The goblins come charging while shouting Valhalla lol] I almost died of fear lol [Comments] - For Valhalla!!! - For Valhalla!!! - [Author] Stop it, you crazy bastards lol - Valhalla!!!!!! They say the difficulty of the dungeon I visited has increased. But thinking differently, haven''t I saved the monsters that have been suffering all this time? H-honestly speaking, isn''t it the players who enter the monster areas and pick fights first? Traveling with Yong-yong, giving hope to monsters suffering from players, and further waving the red flag. I let my imagination run wild, but it''s... "Better than I thought!?" 29. Arcana Online 29. Arcana Online29. Arcana Online [CHAPTER 2: Protect the commercial city of Thalassa.] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 71 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] Only a few days left until the invasion. What should I do in the meantime? "Yong-yong, is there anything you want to do?" "Kyuung!" Our Yong-yong says it''s happy just being with me and doesn''t want anything more. Isn''t that too cute!? As I hand over a magic stone and stroke its head, for a moment its expression seemed to say ''according to plan'' with an evil look, but did I see wrong? On the way to a nearby hunting ground, taking Yong-yong out of the village. "Kyuung." "Hm? Be careful, you say?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, looking in the direction Yong-yong pointed, two young girls appeared and knelt on one knee as soon as our eyes met. "We greet the benefactor." "We greet the benefactor." Young girls kneeling and calling me benefactor. "W-wait a moment!? Who are you!?" As I was flustered, the two girls got up and introduced themselves as Rin and Rang. I closed my eyes for a moment due to a strong wind, and when I opened them, the young girls were gone and two similar-looking women had appeared. They had fox ears on their heads and nine tails on their behinds... cosplay? "I''m the fox that was dying in the village." "I''m the fox that was dying in the forest." The fox dying in the village and the fox dying in the forest...? Then I remembered. One fox I met while moving to the Village of Iron and another fox I met in the city. "Ah! I remember! Those foxes from back then!?" "That''s right, benefactor." "Really. You''re only remembering now?" In an instant, one woman''s fist flew and hit the other woman''s head, and with a scream, she sat down. "What kind of language is that to use with the benefactor." "S-sister!? We''re in front of the benefactor! No violence!!" While watching the foxes'' comedy routine, I became curious about something. "Why have you come to find me?" The fox presumed to be the older sister, who was grabbing her younger sister''s collar, let go and looked at me. "We came to greet the benefactor and make a request." "Help our clan! No, please help us!" As they explained their situation... After hearing the foxes'' story, I fell into thought. My first red flag. No, revolution. No, anyway! It''s about saving monsters in distress. The answer is already decided. "Don''t worry, I''ll help you." "Thank you, benefactor!" "Thanks! No, thank you!" The two foxes bowed their heads to me as they spoke, and it was quite burdensome. I told them I wouldn''t help if they bowed their heads one more time, and only then did they raise their heads and say they understood. More importantly, they say the fox village is far from here, but can we make it in time? "I have to protect the city in a few days, so let''s move right away." Telling me to just trust them, a huge fox suddenly appeared. I was surprised by its size, even larger than the bear taxi, when my body floated in the air and suddenly I was on the fox''s back. "Is this your first time flying, benefactor?" "Flying!? I-it is my first time..." "I will carry you safely." With each step the fox took, we gradually began to rise into the sky. It feels like we''re walking on clouds, w-what is this!? The younger fox sister, Rang, hugs me from behind and comforts me as I tremble in fear. "The benefactor is more timid than I thought?" "If you speak informally to the benefactor one more time, I won''t let it slide." At the fierce voice of the fox sister, Rin, Rang flinches and hides behind my back. Perhaps the tension was eased by the two sisters'' comedy routine. Looking down at the ground from high in the sky, I saw a beautiful landscape. Have I ever looked down at the earth from the sky before? It''s my first time. Flying through the sky feeling the wind, we soon arrived at the fox village. After landing on the ground and being lowered by magic, I looked around and saw a small village. One by one, foxes revealed themselves. Among them, a fox that looked quite elderly approached me. "Benefactor. I am the chief of the Silver Fox Clan." "Hello. I''m Yuna!" After greeting the fox who introduced himself as the chief, we went straight to the main point. "If you share your power with us, the Silver Fox Clan will serve the benefactor for a lifetime." "Hmm." The moment I thought about it, they tensed up. "I refuse." "W-why!?" The fox sisters were also surprised to hear my words. They looked at me with bewildered faces. "I''m not helping the Silver Fox Clan expecting anything in return. So I''ll just help you." "......" A moment of silence. The Silver Fox Clan said nothing. I took out numerous magic stones from my inventory and handed them out one by one to the foxes. After consuming the magic stones, the foxes began to grow tails one by one after a short time, until they all transformed into nine-tailed foxes. The foxes, who were looking at their tails in wonder, one by one transformed into human form. They changed into handsome men and beautiful women, as expected of foxes. They''re optimized for enchanting humans. The foxes bowed their heads towards me. The elder fox approached me. "Benefactor. Do you know the saying that foxes repay kindness?" "I''ve read it in a fairy tale book before." "Foxes are creatures that must repay kindness as much as they receive. If we don''t repay it, we can''t ascend and become immortals." As I was flustered by the sight of him kneeling on one knee, all the foxes around also knelt on one knee. "The Silver Fox Clan will be a strong support for the benefactor." [You have formed a friendship with the Silver Fox Clan for the first time.] Gained 100,000 Fame points. "Even if the path the benefactor walks is thorny, the Silver Fox Clan will walk together." [You have gained the absolute trust of the Silver Fox Clan.] Gained 100,000 Fame points. "The Silver Fox Clan will not spare their lives for the benefactor in any case." [You have acquired a title.] Companion of the Silver Fox Clan. * * * [Time remaining until invasion begins: 3 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 2 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 1 hour 59 minutes 59 seconds] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 0 hours 0 minutes 59 seconds] [Channels are being integrated due to the main quest.] As the channels were integrated, numerous players appeared in Thalassa village. Huge walls were erected around Thalassa village, and a powerful barrier was created by combining the strength of numerous players and NPCs. A massive spire serves as the core of the barrier, and the magic circle composed of 12 layers boasts such strength that even a dragon couldn''t easily break through. And then the sound of drums. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Players who heard the sound climbed up the walls and looked through telescopes, but their hands lost strength and they couldn''t help but drop them. A player watching from the side asked what was wrong and picked up the telescope to check beyond the horizon. An army of hundreds of thousands of monsters was marching and approaching Thalassa village. At that moment, a golden window appeared. [CHAPTER 2: Protect the commercial city of Thalassa.] Invasion begins. As all players were tense, a voice was heard. "We will protect it! With our strength! Our city!" One of the top 10 guilds. Zeus, the guild master of Olympus. As he shouted with a thunderous voice, numerous players cheered. One by one, the masters of the top 10 guilds revealed themselves. Among them, one of the top 10 guilds with the title of "Admiral Yi Sun-sin". The moment Catlleya, the master of the Frey Guild, raised her twin dragon swords, they couldn''t help but cheer again at her voice. "Activate skill: Certain Death Brings Life, Certain Life Brings Death." A huge turtle ship appeared in the sky. Three turtle ships appeared, and as their gun ports opened, the sound of loading could be heard. With a roar loud enough to cause ringing in the ears, bombs fell on the monster horde far away. Some monsters died from the explosive power, but the remaining monsters began to charge at higher speeds. To stop the army of hundreds of thousands of monsters, players capable of ranged attacks unleashed their strongest skills, but the number of monsters was so great that they kept pouring in endlessly. As they began to reach near the walls and the tension rose, the leader of the Holy Knight Order, one of the top 10 guilds, shouted. "Draw swords!" The knights drew their swords and prepared. 30. Arcana Online 30. Arcana Online30. Arcana Online The monsters attacked the barrier but it took no damage. Just as everyone was feeling relieved due to the powerful barrier, something unbelievable happened. A single strike from something that flew in among the attacking monsters shattered the barrier into pieces. Taking advantage of this opening, monsters began climbing up the walls. Numerous players on top of the walls started protecting their allies and facing off against the monsters climbing up. Due to the countless monsters, the battlefield became chaotic and the magic circle began to shake. A magic circle that applied debuffs to monsters and buffs to players. The cause was the black magic of numerous liches visible in the distance. "How can there be so many liches!?" "Kill the liches first!" To eliminate the liches, they would need to break through the monsters to approach, but it was impossible. As cracks began to form in the magic circle, the worst situation unfolded. With the broken magic circle, monsters began to rampage wildly. Players were desperately holding them back. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Countless strong players had gathered, but was there no match for sheer numbers? A similar number of players had gathered, but there was one fact they had overlooked. Undead monsters were being continuously created. Using dead players and monsters as materials, undead monsters were born, causing a numerical disadvantage in this critical moment. As the moon covered the sun, darkness fell upon the earth. In an instant, both players and monsters looked up at the sky, when a sound loud enough to split heaven and earth rang out. "I''ve found you, my child." * * * On the way back to the city from the fox village. After calculating, it seemed we would arrive just in time. While leisurely enjoying the view of the sky and earth, I saw the city in the distance. But something was different. [Channels are being integrated due to the main quest.] [CHAPTER 2: Protect the commercial city of Thalassa.] Invasion begins. Realizing I was a bit late due to the message that appeared, I tried to move quickly, but couldn''t get close. Numerous monsters were already invading the city, and Rin said we couldn''t approach any further because of the huge magic circle floating in the sky. "Benefactor. It''s dangerous to get close." "What should we do? We need to protect the city..." Although I said I would help monsters, monsters attacking the city are an exception. If you want to harm someone else''s life, you must be willing to risk your own life. While pondering, I saw the Ring of Sealing on my finger. If I take this off, Dragon King Ernia''s mark will activate and she can pinpoint my location. A brilliant idea. Wouldn''t she grant my request to get rid of those monsters? "Kyuung!" "No, don''t worry." Our Yong-yong, worrying about me even in this situation and saying to leave it to him. Our Yong-yong is too fearless. After stroking his head and saying it''s okay, I asked to be let down on a hill. With a tense heart, I took off the Ring of Sealing on a hill overlooking the entire city. [You can use mana by removing the Ring of Sealing.] I can use mana now, so shouldn''t I try it at least once? "Skill: Moon Shadow activate." The moon completely covered the sun, and darkness fell in an instant. [Due to the effect of the Moon Shadow skill, your summon''s stats are greatly increased.] I''m not sure about the effect, but I love the impact. At that moment, I heard a voice. "I''ve found you, my child." Dragon King Ernia appeared, with beautiful jet-black hair, snow-white skin, and ruby-red eyes. Wearing an elegant dress and exuding a seductive atmosphere. As she slowly approached me, Rin blocked her path. I looked at Ernia, whose expression hardened, then told Rin it was okay and made her step back before approaching. "It''s been a while! Thanks to your help last time, I was able to hatch Yong-yong safely." "Of course I had to help, it was for my child." She stroked my head with a bright smile, but why does it feel creepy? "Well then, my child. Shall we go now?" "I have a request before that." When I pointed towards the monsters, she glanced over once and waved her hand. The monsters all stopped attacking at once and began to retreat. And then a message appeared. [You have successfully protected the commercial city of Thalassa.] Rankings based on contribution are being measured. Please wait a moment. No.1: Yuna No.2: Catlleya No.3: Zeus No.4: Hecate No.5: Blinka Rewards will be given based on contribution. [Channels will normalize in 1 minute after the quest ends.] "My child is too kind-hearted, it worries mother." "Huh? Mother?" With a bright smile, a door appeared in front of me. The door slowly began to open, and she told me to enter quickly. The moment I entered the door, space shifted. An unfamiliar place. A message appeared. [You have visited Dragon King Ernia''s lair.] As I was looking around in surprise at the enormous size, Ernia embraced me with a gentle touch. "My child. Shall we look around together with mother?" At that moment, I suddenly became curious about something. "Why do you call yourself mother?" Hearing those words, she showed tears as if shocked, and I hurriedly took out a handkerchief from my inventory and handed it to her. This time she looked at me with a moved expression. "It''s alright, my child. You''ll remember everything as time passes." She whispered in a warm voice, but I really don''t understand. As I looked around following Ernia, to summarize in one word: it''s crazy. Each room was piled with gold and silver treasures, and top-rank magic stones were rolling on the floor. Our Yong-yong was drooling at the sight. Anyone would think he hadn''t eaten for three days. I took out a magic stone from my inventory and handed it over, but he compared the top-rank magic stone lying on the floor with the high-rank magic stone I gave him. When I put away the high-rank and took out a top-rank, only then did he eat it. Now he won''t even eat high-rank ones, what should I do? "That child has grown a lot too." As she spoke while looking at Yong-yong, her expression suddenly hardened. "Something wicked has attached itself." Hearing those words, Yong-yong also glared with fierce eyes. Feeling like something big was about to happen, I said I wanted to look around, and only then did she smile and move. What was that just now? * * * While stroking the head of our sleeping child, I looked at the snake. No, the dragon looking at me. "It seems you''ve been protecting our child all this time, so I won''t say anything. You''re no longer needed, so disappear from our child''s side." At that moment, the eyes looking at me were filled with immense power. To have this much power without even ascending. [I know you have no intention of harming the contractor, but don''t cross the line.] "You were making cute noises until just now, are you putting on airs?" [Stop talking nonsense. I know who you''re projecting onto our contractor. It must be the child who died in the fight between the Black Dragon Clan and the Red Dragon Clan.] "She didn''t die. She''s right in front of me, isn''t she?" [How pitiful and foolish.] I want to tear apart the dragon in front of me, but that would surprise our child. What should I do. At that moment, the dragon proposed a deal to me. [Let''s make a deal.] "Ridiculous. Deals can only be made between equals on equal terms." [I''ll bring your child from the netherworld. How about it?] "......" I don''t understand what you''re saying right now. [Decide before the effect of Moon Shadow disappears.] I don''t know, but tears are flowing from my eyes. What is this...? [The terms of the deal are simple. Keep it a secret from the contractor...] "If only... If I can only see my child, I''ll do anything..." [The deal is made.] With those words, the dragon disappeared from my sight. I don''t know how a dragon that hasn''t even ascended can do this, but the tears flowing from my eyes wouldn''t stop. I actually knew. The child sleeping in front of me, no, Yuna, is not my child. I was just running away because I couldn''t accept reality. How much time has passed. Someone wiped away the tears flowing from my eyes. The moment I turned my head, I saw the face. A girl with long, straight black hair, snow-white skin, and ruby-red eyes. The face I had only dreamed of. My only daughter. "Child." "I''m back, mom." 31. Arcana Online 31. Arcana Online31. Arcana Online When I logged in early in the morning, Yong-yong welcomed me, but half of his face was gone!? "What happened!?" "Kyuuung." "What do you mean by that!?" He says he used some power for my sake, and eats the magic stone I took out with a gaunt face, but how should I put it... it''s pitiful? After Yong-yong finished eating, I hugged him. With Ernia gone, now is our chance to escape. According to Yong-yong, the mark has been erased, so she shouldn''t be able to chase us anymore, right? I took out a ?Teleport Scroll? from my inventory and used it immediately. With a bright light, we arrived in front of the guild headquarters in the commercial city of Thalassa. When I opened the door and entered, the guild members looked at me with surprised eyes. The stalker, no, Sasha unni, grabbed my shoulders and checked my body condition, looking at me with worried eyes. "Where have you been all this time!? We were worried because we couldn''t contact you!" "Ahaha... I''m sorry. I was kidnapped by Ernia and just escaped now." "Ernia...? Who''s that?" At that moment, Rea unni dropped the cup she was holding. "Dragon King Ernia..." * * * Feeling magical power, I entered the room, but Yuna was nowhere to be found and only a neatly made bed was visible. "She escaped." "That''s a shame. I wanted to greet her..." "There will be another chance next time. Our child will like Yuna too." "Really? I''m looking forward to it." Our child smiled, but her face was full of mischief. I''m worried about where she got such a playful nature from. "Be nice to her." "Don''t worry, mom." She smiles brightly, but it makes me more worried. Well, our Yuna will handle it well on her own. * * * "Achoo!" "Kyuung!?" "No, no. I''m fine." I stroked the head of Yong-yong, who was worried about me, and said I was fine, but I''m more worried about Yong-yong than myself. Half of his face is gone, but he won''t tell me what happened, so how can I know? Hugging Yong-yong to my chest and feeling like I''ve forgotten something, I left the village and saw Ran''s face, and then I realized. "Benefactor..." "Ah..." I left Ran in the lair. How did she manage to escape...? I apologized and handed over a magic stone, and she said it was okay as she accepted it. Ran returned to her village, saying to call the clan anytime if I needed help. I waved goodbye and was heading to the hunting grounds with Yong-yong when I heard a voice calling me. "Child." "Huh? Me?" When I turned my head, there was an old lady sitting on a mat in the plain where there was nothing just a moment ago. "Would you like to have your fortune told? Only 10,000 gold." "Goodbye." As I was about to leave after greeting her, I heard a voice. "Oh dear, I''m sorry husband. We''ll have to go hungry again tonight." I turned back and approached the old lady. She frowned as she looked at my face. "Have you been having a hard time lately?" "How did you know!?" The old lady held out her hand to me. When I handed over 10,000 gold, she sighed. While stroking Yong-yong''s head, who was also sighing, I listened to the old lady''s words. "Are your parents giving you a hard time these days?" "They passed away though?" "......" She was flustered for a moment, then took out a crystal ball from her bosom and started touching it intently. "I meant, don''t you have any brothers or sisters!?" "I have an older sister." "R-right. Hasn''t your sister been giving you a hard time lately!?" "My sister also left on a long journey following our parents though?" "......" The old lady looked dumbfounded, avoiding my gaze. I told her she didn''t need to return the money and was about to leave when she grabbed me. "I didn''t want to use this, but I''m sorry, husband." She took out something else from her bosom... tarot cards? "Draw one card." I drew one card from the cards the elder spread out, and it showed a knight riding a horse. "Oh! To draw such a good card! Child, you have the number that communicates with heaven! This means fortune that connects to the sky..." "It''s a skeleton knight though?" "......" She took out glasses from her bosom and looked at the tarot card, and it was a skeleton wearing armor riding a horse. "What I meant was! Haven''t the dead returned recently? That''s what I mean!" At that moment, Yong-yong nodded and said it was correct. "Yong-yong says it''s correct." "Yong-yong...? Anyway! Since you drew such a good card, I''ll give our child a very good gift." She keeps taking things out of her bosom, does she have a subspace pouch inside? She took out a shining bead and handed it to me. ???? Treasure Map? It looks like a bead, but it''s a map. "Go to the marked location. The map will guide you on the way." I shouldn''t say "Aren''t you supposed to find the way by looking at the map?" right? I thanked her and was staring intently at the bead when suddenly... I closed my eyes tightly due to a strong wind, and when I opened them, the elder who was in front of me just a moment ago had disappeared. Was I bewitched by a ghost? "Should we have an exorcism when we get back?" "Kyuung?" While stroking Yong-yong''s head, who was asking what an exorcism is, I used the bead. With a bright light, the bead disappeared and I heard someone whispering. [Route guidance will begin.] "W-what!?" "Kyuuu!?" Yong-yong seems to hear it too and is flustered. [Turn right in 1km.] "How far do we have to go?" [Calculating estimated arrival time.] [It will take 14 days on foot.] "Are you kidding me!?" After pondering for a while upon hearing such an absurd thing, I had no choice but to whistle with two fingers. ''Pheeeee!'' Our Yong-yong felt puzzled by my action. After a little while, I heard the sound of something running from afar. It was the bear taxi! "Groooan!" "You''re charging a call fee separately!? That''s too much!" I climbed onto the bear''s back and followed the guidance of the map, no, the navigation system for several days, and finally arrived at the destination. It was a fishing village by the sea, but what kind of treasure is supposed to be here!? [You have arrived at your destination. Guidance will end.] "Are you kidding me!?" How am I supposed to find the treasure without navigation!? With a deflated heart, I handed over the taxi fare to the bear and sent it back, then entered the village. But the atmosphere is not right. It doesn''t feel like a normal village, but more like a den of criminals. While I was looking around the village, some thugs approached me. They were holding ropes in their hands. "Miss. What brings you to our village?" "I came for sightseeing!" "To such a remote village?" "Yes!" When I spoke confidently, the other party seemed at a loss for words and exchanged glances with each other. The man holding the rope turned around and said. "We may be bad guys, but we don''t lay hands on such young children, do we?" "What are you suddenly saying? Have we been in this business for just a day or two!?" "I feel the same way. Such a young child..." Except for the man who raised his voice, the others scattered. The remaining man sighed when he made eye contact with me and told me to leave the village. "This village isn''t the normal village you think it is. So get out quickly. Before you get hurt." "What kind of village is it?" "If I tell you that, I''m dead." The man who warned me disappeared, and I was left alone. I started walking around, looking here and there. Moving from shadow to shadow like an assassin! "Kyuung." "You can see everything!? No way!?" Finally giving up, I looked around and something was suspicious. It''s not just a feeling, it''s blatantly suspicious. I arrived at a place where several large carriages were gathered, and I heard some sounds from inside. It sounds like metal scratching, and also like screams, but I can''t tell for sure. Taking advantage of the moment when the men standing guard were away, I sneaked into a carriage and checked inside, and at that moment... "This has crossed the line." "Kyuung." Inside the carriage, baby monsters and even beast-kin were imprisoned in iron cages, all creatures except humans. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shackles on their wrists and ankles, like slaves. Hoping it wasn''t true, I checked other carriages too, but in numerous carriages... I want to free them, but it''s beyond my power alone. At that moment, I thought of the Silver Fox Clan. They told me to contact them when I needed help, right? So how should I request help? While I was pondering, a brilliant idea came to mind. "Help!!!" [Due to the effect of the skill: Help!, a summon is being summoned.] 32. Arcana Online 32. Arcana Online32. Arcana Online Hearing my loud cry, some rough-looking people appeared. "What''s all this commotion!?" While they were thoroughly searching the surroundings, not discovering me hidden in the carriage, I was racking my brain but couldn''t think of any good solution. No, I definitely activated the skill, but why isn''t anyone coming? "Yong-yong, what should we do? The skill seems to be faulty." "Kyuung!" Yong-yong tried to leave my arms, saying to just trust him, but I held him tightly. "Kyuung!?" "No! What if you get hurt!?" "Kyuuung!" While holding onto Yong-yong who was telling me to let go, I was hiding here and there when I felt a chill and turned around to see an expressionless man looking at me. He had a tattoo on his face, giving him a chilling impression. "Are you alone?" "I''m with Yong-yong, so I''m not alone..." His expression turned fierce and he shouted loudly. "Found one!!!" With those words, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching from all around. A group of criminals suddenly surrounded me. "Where did this little rat come from!?" "What are those security bastards doing!?" They didn''t even consider that I might have infiltrated alone. Just as people were about to search the surroundings... "Stop." People parted on both sides as a large man approached. He came close to me and looked me up and down, with an unpleasant gaze as if appraising an object. "Oh? A decent quality product." "Me?" "If you don''t resist, we won''t treat you roughly." Just as he was looking at me with a vile smile... S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Groooan!" With a loud roar, a bear appeared. The people were bewildered by its appearance. "W-what is that monster!?" "Isn''t it a Warbear!?" "No way! It''s over 10m tall!" As people were in chaos, the bear cut through them and blocked in front of me. Just as the surprised people were about to say something... A huge pillar of light descended from the sky, and monsters began to appear one by one. Giant rabbits that looked like they could easily handle 3 vs 500 appeared, each holding a huge carrot. A sexy... no, pretty slime arrived leading all of its kind, and the goblin tribe appeared shouting "For Valhalla!!" The orc warrior who helped me before appeared leading his tribe along with Warbears, showing a fierce appearance, and numerous griffins were flying in the sky surrounding the village. People collapsed in their spots due to the appearance of monsters. At that moment, with a tremendous roar, the ground split and a huge tower appeared. Monsters poured out from inside the tower. From delinquent rabbits to slimes, goblins, orcs, Warbears, and even delinquent griffins. Among the people repeatedly begging for their lives in terrified voices, one screamed. "It''s the end of the world!!! The apocalypse has come!!!" As he pointed to the sky, an anomaly occurred. The clear sky cracked, as if glass was breaking. The sky split and numerous eyeballs appeared from within the cracks. Countless eyeballs, too many to count, were looking down at the ground from the sky. Among them, a particularly alluring pair of eyes. "Demon King!?" [It''s been a while.] While the Demon King greeted me warmly and the dark elves among the numerous demon clan members were greeting me happily... [Mom!] [Kyaa! It''s our mom!] [Get out of the way, ugly one!] [Me too! Me too with our mom!] I''m glad to see them, but is this the right timing for greetings... [Successfully summoned a summon due to the effect of the skill: Help!] The Silver Fox Clan I called didn''t appear, but lots of others showed up. When I asked them to take care of the surroundings, all the monsters and other races including beast-kin in the carriages were freed, and they glared at the humans who had kidnapped and imprisoned them. "You can do as you wish with them." With my words, screams rang out. I turned my head and thanked the monsters who came to help me, handing out magic stones one by one until my pouch became thin. Yong-yong was trying to stop me, saying at least keep enough for his dinner. "Kyuuung!" "O-one night should be okay, right?" "Kyuu!!" After giving out all the magic stones except for what Yong-yong needed for dinner, the monsters were enveloped in bright light and disappeared instantly, just as they had appeared. The Demon King and demon clan members who were looking down at the ground through the crack also said goodbye. [Come visit next time.] [Mom! We''ll miss you!] [We love you, mom!] I waved goodbye, holding back tears at the pitiful situation of being called mom at my age. Among the freed other races, an elderly-looking beast-kin walked up to me and fell to his knees. "Thank you, benefactor." "I only did what had to be done." "No. Without you, we would all have lived in suffering for our entire lives." Their emaciated appearance made me want to give them something, but I had given out all the magic stones I had. No, there''s a little left, but Yong-yong is guarding it with fire in his eyes. At that moment, a message appeared. [You have dealt great damage to the secret organization Five Star.] A pouch of magic stones will be given as a reward. What a stroke of luck! When I opened the pouch received as a reward, there were numerous magic stones inside. This number should be enough. I distributed magic stones one by one to the monsters and other races who were weakened or couldn''t regain consciousness, and soon they all returned to a healthy state. The other races were happy, saying they felt full of energy, and numerous monsters had grown instantly. Among them, a race that looked human in the upper body but like a mermaid in the lower body approached me. "Thank you for saving us, benefactor." "I just did what needed to be done." "This is a small token, but it''s a treasure passed down in our clan." With those words, they handed me a shining bead. It looked exactly like the bead I received from the fortune-telling grandmother. ?Atlantis Treasure Map? It looks like a bead, but it''s a map. The item I received last time was marked as ???, but this time it''s properly displayed!? "It''s a map that can take you to Atlantis, the ancient city that is the homeland of us merfolk. It''s called a legendary city, but as the benefactor, you should be able to visit." With those final words, the monsters and other races dispersed. When I used the map I just received, I heard the same voice. [Route guidance will begin.] "Where shall we go!?" [Recalculating route due to deviation.] "Are you kidding me!?" * * * "Damn it! What the hell is going on!?" Our main hideout was destroyed overnight. I''ve heard of summoners who can handle monsters, but to command that many is insane. To report to the higher-ups as soon as possible, I barely managed to escape by sacrificing my subordinates. However, I was soon frustrated. Numerous foxes blocked my path. Foxes are known to be gentle and weak, making them prime targets for hunters, but the foxes in front of me were different. Not only did they have human forms, but they all had nine tails. I know that foxes with nine tails are supposed to ascend and become immortals, but why...? "Did you hope to survive after touching the Silver Fox Clan''s benefactor?" "I-I didn''t know! I didn''t know!" With those words, the world went dark. The fox, no, the Silver Fox Clan member remaining there moved to deal with the remaining remnants. "Sister, since we''ve come this far, shouldn''t we at least greet her?" "There are many beings left to deal with." "Heeeng. I want to see her." After dealing with the remnants who escaped with their sister, we must also erase the organization that dared to bare its teeth at our precious benefactor. At that moment, I felt a sensation. In the direction where our clan members were looking, a group of humans appeared, their black cloaks fluttering. The energy I felt from them was unusual, are they enemies? "So you''re foxes. Then you must be related to our benefactor." With those words, we let down our guard. There''s only one person that a group of humans with that level of power would call benefactor. It must be our benefactor. "Are you planning to deal with the remnants? We''ll provide information." Introducing themselves as the Black Knight Order, they threw a scroll which I caught and checked. It contained the organization''s size and hideout locations. "It''s reliable information obtained through the information guild." "We''ll repay this favor later." "No need. It''s all for the benefactor." With those words, the Black Knight Order disappeared. We took our clan and attacked all the hideouts marked on the map. So that they would never bare their teeth at the benefactor again. That night. We wiped out all the humans in the hideouts. All for our companion. 33. Arcana Online 33. Arcana Online33. Arcana Online [Don''t put in a request to the information guild about the 1st place in the scenario quest.] I''ve been killed three times so far. How can I defeat assassins coming in the middle of the night? They threatened to issue an execution order if I mention that person''s name one more time, so I erased it from my brain. [Comments] - Was the 1st place nickname in the scenario quest Yuna? - [Author] Who''s that? - He really erased it lol [So who the hell is Yuna!!] Who is she to monopolize the scenario quests!!! [Comments] - If you''re curious, put in a request to the information guild lol - [Author] I saw the post about issuing an execution order, you bastard!! - That''s too bad lol - He doesn''t fall for it lol Posts related to Yuna keep appearing quite often today. I try to throw other baits to minimize attention, but this level of influence... Well, it can''t be helped. She got 1st place twice in a row in the main scenario events. After finishing the post inspection, I headed to the information guild located in the commercial city of Thalassa. I said the password at the cafe and was guided to the request room, where an elderly lady was sitting. "I''m Catlleya, the guild master of Frey Guild." "Nice to meet you, Catlleya. What information are you curious about?" The information guild master welcomed me with a bright smile. "I have something to talk about regarding our Yuna. You know she joined the Frey Guild, right?" "I know." She handed me some tea, and I thanked her and took a sip. It was sweet. "I want to use a messenger bird item, but I know the information guild is controlling it. Please allow it for our guild members." "That''s not for you to decide." The information guild master''s appearance gradually changed, revealing her true form. A Forest Clan member with golden hair and golden eyes, an elf, looked at me. "No one can decide anything related to the benefactor on their own." "Are you saying I should get permission from Yuna first...?" She nodded affirmatively while drinking tea. "Sigh. I understand. I''ll visit next time with Yuna." "That''s a good idea." As the Frey Guild master left and I was drinking tea alone, shadows appeared. "We''ve delivered the information to the Black Knight Order." "Good work." Their movement speed was faster than expected, causing a conflict due to the late delivery of information requested by the Black Knight Order. According to the informant, it was said to be a hellish scene. I checked the documents several times, but I couldn''t believe it. Information that thousands of summons were summoned, enough to destroy a city... no, a country. And that''s just an approximate number observed from a distance because they couldn''t approach closely. Grabbing the documents with trembling hands, I made a resolution once again. We decided to resolve anything that hinders the benefactor''s path at our level. * * * "What should we do?" "Kyuuung." The navigation is pointing to the sea, is it telling me to go in? How am I supposed to breathe!? "Can you breathe underwater?" "Kyuung!" Our Yong-yong boasting that he lived underwater for 1,000 years, despite how he looks. While stroking his head, I tried to think of other options but couldn''t come up with anything. Come to think of it, what was the item I received for clearing the scenario quest last time? I opened my inventory to check the rewards and found a random box. ?Box containing something the traveler really needs? You can get an item you desperately want. When I opened the box, golden light burst out and the item that came out was a pacifier... ?Pacifier that the golden child dislikes? When equipped, allows breathing underwater. As Yong-yong was about to snicker while looking at the pacifier in my hand. "If you laugh, no dinner." "......" Our Yong-yong turned his head away, desperately trying to hold back his laughter. Sighing, I put the pacifier in my mouth and felt self-loathing. Do I really have to go to Atlantis like this? When I sighed with the pacifier in my mouth, it made a cute sound. "Zook zook zook!" Our Yong-yong finally couldn''t hold back his laughter and burst out in that situation. I took out the pacifier and said one thing to Yong-yong. "No dinner." "Kyuuung!" I put the pacifier back in my mouth and tried breathing by putting my face in the seawater, and I could really breathe. The problem is that I look like a beer bottle. As I entered the sea, a transparent membrane was created around my body. [Creating a bubble due to the effect of the treasure map.] ?Bubble? Helps you move freely underwater. Tell me about this earlier! Following the navigation''s guidance, everything underwater was mysterious. While sightseeing numerous creatures and moving forward, I spotted something in the distance. A sunken city underwater. I could see Atlantis, but the problem was a huge octopus guarding the entrance to the city. It was so huge that even with the naked eye, only part of its body was visible. [A Kraken has appeared ahead. Please drive safely.] I want to say something, but I can''t speak because of the pacifier in my mouth. As I was wondering how to sneak in, at that moment. A huge eyeball looked at me, and I got goosebumps all over my body. A voice rang in my ears. [Go back.] "Zook zook zook!" With this pacifier, all I can say is zook zook! I gestured with my hands and feet, asking to be let in, but the Kraken''s attitude was firm. [Go back.] S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As I was thinking about giving up in front of the Kraken repeating the same words, at that moment. Yong-yong raised his head and looked at the Kraken, and their eyes met. [You are...] "......" After a long silence, the Kraken slowly began to rise. [Enter. I''ll allow entry for the sake of an old friend.] An old friend... Our Yong-yong!? He was born not long ago, did the Kraken mistake him for someone else? Ah, it must be dementia. With a pitiful heart, I approached and handed over a magic stone I took out from my subspace. A huge tentacle took the magic stone from my hand and swallowed it in one bite. [I shall repay this kindness.] As I entered the city, I felt like passing through a barrier, and the bubble disappeared. I realized there was air. [You are the first to enter Atlantis.] Gained 100,000 Fame points. I took out the pacifier from my mouth and inhaled the fresh air freely for the first time in a while, looking around the city, but nothing remained. A city that had become ruins. Sighing, I touched a nearby wall, and at that moment. ''Rumble rumble.'' The bricks went in, and a passage leading underground appeared. Following the stairs down, there was a hidden place inside. [You have discovered a hidden place in Atlantis.] Gained 100,000 Fame points. [Fame points have exceeded a certain amount.] [Fame points have exceeded a certain amount.] [Fame points have exceeded a certain amount.] "Use Fame points." ?Fame Point Shop? [Equipment] [Accessories] [Consumables] [Miscellaneous] I checked the alarm to use Fame points and opened the Fame point shop, but nothing had changed from last time. There''s nothing to buy separately, should I try the random draw again this time!? [Miscellaneous] Random Draw - 10,000P "Kyuung." "Don''t worry. I trust our Yong-yong who trusts me." "Kyuuung!?" * * * [You have purchased a Random Draw.] Congratulations! You have acquired Iced Hot Chocolate! ?Iced Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate with cold ice in it. [You have purchased a Random Draw.] Congratulations! You have acquired Mint Chocolate Fish-shaped Bread! ?Mint Chocolate Fish-shaped Bread? Fish-shaped bread with mint chocolate inside. [You have purchased a Random Draw.] Congratulations! You have acquired a ??? Box! ???? Box? ??? appears randomly. A draw within a draw!? That''s too much! What I got with several hundred thousand points was a ??? Box along with numerous odds and ends. I opened the ??? Box with a desperate heart, and inside was a magic book. ?Job-specific Spellbook? You can obtain a skill suitable for your job. "I hit the jackpot!!!" "Kyuung!" Yong-yong urged me to use it quickly while I was cheering. With a nervous heart, the moment I opened the book, it disappeared into light. [You have used the Job-specific Spellbook.] You have acquired the Passive Skill: Martyrdom of Love. ?Martyrdom of Love? The more the summoner loves the summon, the more the summon loves the summoner. [I can do anything for you.] After obtaining the skill, I looked at Yong-yong, but he tilted his head. "How is it? Do you feel anything?" "Kyuung." Our Yong-yong urges me to just search quickly. Is my love lacking...? "I love you!" "Kyuung!" He says to stop talking nonsense and search quickly. "......" 34. Arcana Online 34. Arcana Online34. Arcana Online Just as I was about to move to search the hidden place, the entrance I came through closed, and I was trapped in pitch-black darkness where I couldn''t see an inch in front of me. I rummaged through my inventory for something to light up the darkness and found something good. ?Cheering Stick? Used when cheering for someone. Might have a special effect? I took out the cheering stick and pressed the button, and it shone brightly. It was a set of two, so I held one in each hand and searched the surroundings. "Eggs...?" There were countless eggs, enough to fit an adult in each one. I approached and poked one with the cheering stick, but there was no reaction. "Do you feel anything?" "Kyuung." Yong-yong said he didn''t feel anything. As I was walking and waving the cheering sticks around to search another place, a message appeared. [Activating the special effect of the Cheering Stick.] An enormous light, incomparable to before, burst out, and I felt a warm sensation. It felt like being embraced in a mother''s arms. At that moment, an anomaly occurred. From the eggs that didn''t feel anything before, I heard a sound. ''Thump. Thump. Thump.'' Along with the sound of heartbeats, numerous eggs began to shake. As I was watching them crack one by one and hatch, the first being to reveal itself was... a mermaid? The mermaids, who were disoriented at first, were suddenly looking at me. Among them, there was a special being. While all the mermaids looked like handsome men and beautiful women, there was one that exuded a unique nobility. With flowing blue hair, it approached me. "Hello?" Hearing my greeting, the mermaid bowed its head to me. Surprised by this, I saw all the other mermaids bow their heads in unison. Then I heard a beautiful voice. "It''s an honor to meet you, savior of the Sirens." "S-savior...?" "This might be a long story, would it be alright if we moved to a different place?" I nodded, and the mermaid, no, the Siren, took me somewhere. Following the Siren, there was a hidden passage inside that I hadn''t discovered. Passing through the passage and going outside, a vast underground city unfolded before my eyes. Unlike the ruins I saw when visiting Atlantis, this underground city was preserved in perfect condition. "Welcome to the city of Sirens, Savior." [You are the first to visit the city of Sirens.] Gained 100,000 Fame points. [You have acquired a title for exceeding a certain amount of Fame points.] [You have acquired a title.] Great Traveler. After checking the newly acquired title, I followed the Siren, and I heard the sound of something approaching. Looking in the direction of the footsteps, I saw an elderly man walking towards us. He had a scar on one eye and a sturdy build. The moment he approached us, he knelt on one knee towards the Siren who was guiding me. "I greet the Queen." "The Savior is present." With those words, he stood up and looked at me, and I had a strange sensation. Although I was sure I''d never seen him before, he felt familiar. He greeted Yong-yong in my arms. "I owe a great debt to an old friend." "Kyuung." "I see." The moment he looked at me, I was certain. "Are you the Kraken I met at the entrance?" "That''s right." "Sshh." "That''s correct..." He spoke informally at first, then switched to formal speech while looking at the Siren''s reaction. Ah, it was dementia. I sent a look of understanding, and he looked at me as if he couldn''t understand why, but I should be the one to understand. "You''ve worked hard protecting the city all this time." "It''s repayment for saving me when I was young. It''s also a contract, Your Majesty." To me, the Kraken looked older than the Siren, but is that not the case? I wanted to ask but held back. It''s rude to ask a woman''s age, right? The Kraken came along, and after walking for a while, we arrived at a temple. There were numerous Siren statues on display, and following the path inside, there was a huge round table with chairs prepared. I sat in a strange chair designed for Sirens to sit comfortably, and due to its large size, it wasn''t uncomfortable. The Siren took a deep breath and began to speak. "First, I will explain why we were sleeping, Savior." And then came a story like a fairy tale. The legendary city, Atlantis, was a city where numerous races lived together. One day, while living peacefully. A mysterious plague broke out, and all but the Siren race lost their lives. They hurriedly hid in the underground city, unable to even identify the disease, let alone find a cure. As time passed and they forgot about the plague, one day it broke out again. To save their kin who were falling one by one, they received an oracle from the temple. The oracle said that a savior would come down and save the Siren race. To follow the oracle, they made a contract with the Kraken living in the abyss for protection, and all Sirens entered a state of suspended animation until now. As soon as she finished speaking, the Siren coughed up blood. Surprised by this, I wondered what to do but couldn''t think of anything. All I could give was magic stones at best. I took out a magic stone from my inventory and handed it over. The Siren absorbed the magic stone, and an anomaly occurred. With a bright light, the Siren shed her skin as if molting. As the light faded, the Siren who had her eyes closed slowly opened them. She checked her body condition as if she couldn''t believe it herself, and tears flowed. "Ah, so you really are the Savior." With those words, she pleaded with me. To save the Siren race. When I agreed, the Siren Queen sang with a beautiful voice, and the melody rang out. Hearing that sound, numerous Sirens rushed to the temple. I opened the new pouch of magic stones I received for destroying the secret organization Five Star and checked the number, it seemed about right. Of course, only if Yong-yong gave up his dinner. "Kyuuung!" "J-just for one day, please!" "Kyuung!" After dramatically reaching a compromise, I handed out magic stones one by one to the Sirens rushing towards me, and they had expressions of awe as if receiving a holy relic. The Sirens who used the magic stones shed their skin one by one and were reborn anew. When the last remaining Siren used a magic stone, a message appeared. [You have saved the Siren race.] Gained 100,000 Fame points. [You have acquired a title.] Savior of the Sirens. Their behavior of treating me like a god after checking their body condition was burdensome, and even though I refused, saying please don''t do this, a grand plan was already being set up. "We must build a statue of the Savior next to the Siren statues!" "That''s right! We must erect a statue of the Savior in front of the temple!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When I begged them not to do that, they retreated with disappointed expressions. As I was sighing in relief, the Siren Queen bowed her head to me once again. "Thank you for saving our clan, Savior." "I only did what needed to be done." At that moment, I remembered the Siren I met on land. The Siren who handed me a bead. "Was the Siren you sent to land sent by you, Your Majesty?" "Sirens cannot go to land." She said they couldn''t go to land due to a curse. Then what was the Siren I saw...? She said there was something she wanted to give me and took me inside the temple. Moving inside the temple, there were stairs leading underground, and when we went down the stairs, huge statues were guarding a door. As I was looking at the statues that seemed like they could move at any moment, our eyes met!? "W-what!?" "They are guardians protecting the Siren''s treasure." She reassured me and opened the door, and inside were numerous glass cases, with a golden bead emitting light that I''d seen somewhere before displayed in a glass case at the front. "Kyuuung!?" Our Yong-yong was extremely surprised. As I approached, item information appeared. ?Golden Yeouiju? An item handed over by an imugi who gave up ascending after completing 1,000 years of training in cold water, to its lover. The information is different from the Yeouiju I saw before. A Yeouiju that says it gave up ascending for its lover. "This item was a gift from a lover I loved." "I-I can''t accept such a thing!" Is it human to just swallow an item with such a story? "The Savior will definitely need this item." She looked at me with a serious gaze. Come to think of it, didn''t the Divine Dragon''s Bead need a Yeouiju? "Ahem. If you insist, I guess I have no choice." I carefully took out the bead from the glass case, and it reacted with the ?Divine Dragon''s Bead? in my inventory. [The Divine Dragon''s Bead absorbs the Yeouiju.] [The effect of the Golden Yeouiju releases the Divine Dragon''s Bead.] [A hidden job change quest has been created.] You can change to the hidden job ''Shrine Maiden of the Divine Dragon'' due to the effect of the Divine Dragon''s Bead. Do you accept? YES / NO 35. Arcana Online 35. Arcana Online35. Arcana Online "Decline." [The hidden job change quest has been rejected.] When I rejected the quest, the bead emitted a bright light and changed its shape into a pretty hairpin. [The Divine Dragon''s Bead changes its form.] sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ?Divine Dragon''s Hairpin? A hairpin once used by a shrine maiden who served the Divine Dragon. [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [Ability is sealed.] ?Divine Dragon Shrine Maiden''s Robe? Clothes once worn by a shrine maiden who served the Divine Dragon. [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [Ability is sealed.] ?Divine Dragon''s Bell? A rod once used by a shrine maiden who served the Divine Dragon. [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [Ability is sealed.] [Set effect (3/4) unlocks special skills.] [Divine Dragon''s Blessing: Increases the abilities of summons.] [Divine Dragon''s Prayer: Restores the health of summons.] [Divine Dragon''s Cheer: Explodes the mood of summons.] One of them seems useless, doesn''t it? Still, I should try each of them at least once, right? I followed the Siren Queen outside the temple and used the skill. "Divine Dragon''s Blessing." [Special Skill: Divine Dragon''s Blessing increases the abilities of summons.] A membrane enveloped the entire city and began to shine in various colors. It created a beautiful scene like watching the aurora. The Sirens watching this scene began to sing one by one. Beautiful melodies echoed and resonated throughout the city. After appreciating it with Yong-yong, I used another skill. "Divine Dragon''s Prayer." [Special Skill: Divine Dragon''s Prayer restores the health of summons.] Yong-yong''s body began to glow. Our Yong-yong was surprised and bewildered by this sight. "Kyuuung!?" "It''s okay." As I reassured him, I looked around and saw all the Sirens'' bodies glowing, and even the Kraken grandfather in the distance started to glow. They were happy as they checked their body conditions, but there''s still one left, right? "Divine Dragon''s Cheer." [Special Skill: Divine Dragon''s Cheer explodes the mood of summons.] I regretted using this skill. Looking at the scene unfolding before my eyes. "It''s a mess." At that moment, an ominous premonition arose. "D-don''t tell me other summons too...?" I hurriedly accessed the community, and my ominous premonition was correct. [Monsters are going crazy!!] Help!! The monsters!!!! [Comments] - ???????? - ???????? - ???????? - ???????? [Was 3 vs 500 supposed to mean getting hit 3 times and paying 5 million won!?] Getting hit 3 times by a rabbit and the hospital bill alone will be 5 million won!! [Comments] - Are you talking about the muscular rabbits? - [Author] The rabbits have gone mad!!! - Aren''t rabbits these days usually crazy? - [Author] They''re charging while waving red flags!! - This is insane lol [Monsters are pouring out of the Dungeon of Greed!!] Don''t go near it!! You''ll get beaten up badly!! [Comments] - What''s this? Why is it like this today? - Is it a special event? - I''ll pass on this kind of event. - It''s forced lol [Griffins attack just by approaching the Valley of Death!!] Their gentle appearance is gone, and they attack as soon as they see you, so don''t get close!! [Comments] - Today''s a mess. - Don''t they manage the game? - When did they ever? - That''s true lol I checked numerous posts and closed the community. I can''t believe the skill I activated affected all summons. Is the demon realm okay? With an anxious heart, I entered the community again to check the posts. Posts about suddenly losing after almost winning because monsters got stronger were appearing, and posts about losing to monsters that recovered when they were almost defeated were quite frequent. And the biggest problem. Posts about monsters attacking nearby players while waving red flags were flooding the board. I closed the community and looked at the chaotic scene in the city. Well, life has its ups and downs. Sirens shouting for revolution while waving red flags they got from somewhere. "Hmm, are they influenced by me?" "Kyuuung!" I barely stopped our Yong-yong in my arms from shouting that he would plant a red flag in the center of the Arcana continent if I just allowed it. I should seal this skill from now on. After some time passed, they seemed to have calmed down. The Queen, who had been shouting for revolution while waving a red flag, blushed and apologized to me. "I''m sorry, Savior. I showed you an unsightly scene." "It''s okay. These things happen." It was a rare sight to see, but if you think about it, it was my fault, right? They said they would hold a grand banquet in the evening, so I agreed to stay for one night. While sightseeing with Yong-yong, I saw a familiar face. The Siren who gave me the Atlantis treasure map in the village. In the blink of an eye, her appearance changed. The fortune-telling grandmother I met on the way to the hunting grounds. What on earth is this. The grandmother smiled brightly at me. "Child, you''ve worked hard." "Grandmother, what exactly is your identity?" "What use would it be to know an old person''s identity?" She approached me, held my hand, and looked at me. As soon as I saw the grandmother''s face holding my hand, emotions welled up. Why am I like this...? "Child, I''m glad you''ve grown up well." Looking at the grandmother''s brightly smiling face, my tears wouldn''t stop. The grandmother wiped my tears and comforted me. "Um, why are you taking care of me like this..." "You see, this old lady loves all children, but among them, I love the brightly shining children the most." She smiled brightly at me. "You''ll face many things in the future. Just remember that our child is not alone." With those final words, she disappeared in an instant. What exactly is her identity? Our Yong-yong comforted me, licking my tear stains. I said I was fine, moved to a different spot to calm my heart, and looked around the city until evening. A beautiful city that''s hard to believe is underwater. When preparations were complete, I followed the Siren who came to fetch me, and there was an abundance of various seafood dishes. I sat in the guided seat, and as the banquet began, beautiful melodies rang out, and numerous Sirens danced to liven up the atmosphere. I chatted about various things with the Queen sitting next to me, and she told me many stories. "In the past, you know, Atlantis had numerous races..." After logging out later than usual due to the banquet that continued until late, I took off the gear and got up from the bed feeling dizzy. I took some medicine next to the bed and ate the lunchbox Rea unni made while checking my phone, which was turned off. Should I change my phone? After pressing the power button several times, the screen finally came on, and when I checked the messages, there were many from Rea unni. These days, she''s been so busy that she couldn''t see my face and always just left the lunchbox. [I''m done.] I sent a message, but there was no reply. Is she playing the game? After finishing the meal, I lay on the bed and looked at the ceiling. A blank feeling. I reached out to stroke Yong-yong, but Yong-yong wasn''t there. Ah, this is reality. "I miss Yong-yong." I fell asleep hugging the blanket. * * * Inside a huge temple, angels with pure white wings were gathered for a meeting. One of the angels sitting around the round table. An angel with eight wings pounded the table in anger. "The demon clan has started to cross the line! Are we going to leave them be like this!?" "That''s right! Not only did the Demon King cross over to the middle world, but numerous demon clan members are spying on the middle world!" "And what about the commotion they caused this time!?" They must have caused quite a disturbance for it to affect even the heavenly realm. The Archangel Michael with ten wings, who had been quietly listening to the angels shouting loudly in the conference room. She brushed her glamorous blonde hair with her fingers and smiled brightly. Seeing this, the other angels quietly bowed their heads. "Let''s end today''s meeting here." With those words, all the angels except Michael left the conference room. Left alone in the conference room, she took out a bead from her subspace and used it, and a video played. A video of a human girl with blonde hair together with the Demon King. "I believe her name was Yuna." 36. Arcana Online 36. Arcana Online36. Arcana Online I turned off the loudly ringing alarm and stayed in bed for a while, feeling dazed. It''s a problem not having energy in the morning. I wasn''t like this before, but since my body changed, I''ve been like this. Could it be low blood pressure? I struggled to get up and had breakfast with the leftover lunchbox from yesterday in the kitchen. After visiting the bathroom, I went to my room, put on the gear, and logged into Arcana Online, where Yong-yong welcomed me. "Kyuung!" "Did you sleep well?" "Kyuuung!" I took out a magic stone for him, stretched, and got up from the bed to pack my things. It''s time to leave now. I need to stop by the guild headquarters to report, and I have to do the task I was asked to do. Last night, Grandpa Kraken asked me for a favor. He was worried about his youngest daughter who left home without any news and asked me to look into it. [A quest has arrived.] Investigate the whereabouts of the runaway youngest daughter. Reward: Experience, Affinity. After finishing preparations and going outside, numerous Sirens were waiting. The Siren Queen bowed her head to me, which surprised me, and all the other Sirens bowed their heads too. "Savior, we thank you once again for saving our clan. The Siren clan will accompany you on your journey." [You have acquired a title.] Companion of the Sirens. After the greeting, she handed me a bead. ?Commercial City of Thalassa Map? It looks like a bead, but it''s a map. When I used the bead, a familiar voice flowed out. [Route guidance will begin.] * * * When I first set foot on land, I was moved. How long has it been since I''ve been on land? The emotional moment was brief. I took out a teleport scroll from my inventory and tore it, and with a bright light, I arrived in the commercial city of Thalassa. Teleport scrolls can''t be used for places you haven''t been to before, and they''re expensive, but definitely convenient. "I''m back!" I opened the headquarters door and entered, but no one was there? Only my voice echoed, and there was no one inside. Did everyone go out on quests? I threw myself onto the sofa in the living room and felt its softness. While playing and joking around with Yong-yong, the door opened and Sasha unni came in. Her beast-kin ears twitched, and I wanted to touch them just once. "Our youngest! When did you arrive!?" "I just got here." "Did you come early because you''re looking forward to the party tonight!?" "Huh? Party?" We looked at each other with surprised eyes, and Sasha unni asked if I didn''t know. What party is she talking about? "Didn''t you hear from the leader? She said she sent a message." "A message? I didn''t receive anything." After pondering for a while, Sasha unni took out a messenger bird from her inventory and used it. After waiting a bit, a reply arrived from Rea unni. "She says she sent it, so there must have been a mix-up. But it''s fine since you came back in time!" Sasha unni smiled brightly and stroked my head. Our first meeting was as a stalker, but she''s a good unni. "By the way, youngest." At that moment, Sasha unni looked at me with a serious expression. "Why don''t you call me unni?" "Uh, unni?" "Why do you call me ''nuna''!? Say ''unni''! Unni!" She forced me to say "unni," but I exercised my right to remain silent. Looking at me, she started out forceful but eventually began to plead. Just call her Sasha unni once, she said. "Sasha nuna is Sasha nuna!" "What does that even mean!?" "Explaining that itself isn''t like you, nuna!" "So what is it!?" The conversation that continued for a while only stopped when Rea unni returned. "Rea unni! Sasha nuna is bullying me!" "When did I!?" Rea unni smiled brightly and drew her twin dragon swords. Seeing that, Sasha nuna ran away in fright. "If she bullies you again, just tell me anytime." "Okay!" Is this what having a guardian is like? It feels reassuring. More importantly, didn''t you say there''s a party tonight? "What''s the party tonight about?" "It''s a regular social party." Although it''s a guild that focuses on individual activities, they gather periodically for parties to prepare for times when they need to work as a group. As we set up food bought from the market area and prepared for the party, guild members started coming in one by one. Among them, two guild members I was meeting for the first time entered the headquarters. A sister with black hair and alluring ruby-like eyes, wearing assassin''s clothing and a mask. Following her, an elderly grandfather wearing knight''s formal attire. It''s my first time seeing their faces. The masked sister who was looking at me intently suddenly picked me up. "Hello? My name is Luna. Nice to meet you." "Hello. My name is Yuna." Luna unni stared intently at me as I dangled. As I was feeling awkward, the grandfather helped me. "Isn''t the new member uncomfortable?" "Shut up, old man." "Who are you calling old man!? Is this how you treat your elders!?" "False teeth." As the two of them fought back and forth, I just wanted to be put down. The grandfather, whose face had turned red, introduced himself as Richard. "You can call me uncle comfortably." "Do you want to be called that by someone who could be your granddaughter?" "Then what should I be called!" "Clack clack dentures." Just as they were about to come to blows, Rea unni intervened and stopped the fight. "Those two are always like that, so don''t worry about it." Rea unni took me from Luna unni and put me down on the floor. "Leader, that''s mean." "Who do you think is enjoying this!? I''ve been saying this for a long time..." "Really. Are you going to keep doing this in front of the new member?" Now the three of them were fighting, and it was a mess. Still, thanks to Rea unni saving me, I was able to escape. As I entered the party room to finish the party preparations, someone was eating the food. The pervert with his upper body exposed. No, Balak oppa. "How can you eat when we''re preparing for the party!?" He glanced at me, then approached me holding a donut. What''s this? "Mmph!" "Now the youngest is an accomplice too." After forcibly putting the donut in my mouth, he whispered that I was an accomplice. A pervert, an exhibitionist, and shameless. "Mmph mmph mmph!!" "That''s right, eat a lot." I waved my arms in rebellion, saying to stop putting more in, but he kept putting more in while laughing, until he saw Rea unni''s twin dragon swords behind me and ran away. "Are you okay?" "I''m so full..." As I was rubbing my stomach, which had become bloated from the donuts, Rea unni told me to rest. As I was resting on the sofa, it seemed like it was time, and guild members started gathering one by one, starting with Sasha unni who had gone out. Guild Master Catlleya. Fighter Sasha. Mage Hecate. Berserker Balak. Nun Aria. Assassin Luna. Knight Richard. Summoner Yuna. All 8 members of the Frey Guild, consisting of a total of 8 people, gathered in one place. Starting with Rea unni''s toast, we chatted about various things. "By the way, is it forbidden to talk about unique characteristics in this game?" "That''s right! That''s why I got kicked out when I entered the youngest''s broadcast." The game company, which doesn''t interfere no matter what you do, only forbade talking about unique characteristics. They say that even if you post it on the community, it gets deleted within 1 second, so you can''t know unless you actually meet and talk. "Unique characteristics are meant to show that every human is noble and special." "That''s why there''s only one rank." "What? There''s only one rank?" Even equipment items have various ranks, but unique characteristics only have one rank? "I can say this. The rank of unique characteristics is the same for all players. EX rank." This is the first time I''ve learned about this. Listening to Rea unni''s explanation, there are many people in existence, but while there may be similar people, there are no identical people. The game company also wrote in the notice that all players, that is, travelers, are all special, noble, and have infinite potential, but why didn''t I see it? I must not have looked. "How to utilize your unique characteristic is entirely up to the player." After listening to Rea unni''s explanation, I thought about it carefully, and it makes sense. I used my unique characteristic to gain favor and used magic stones to strengthen it. Even low-rank magic stones start from 100,000 won in cash, and top-rank magic stones are priceless. If I had converted all of that to cash, it would be enough to build several buildings. But I used it all on monsters. Saving monsters living in suffering, and further creating a world where they can live peacefully. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For that, a revolution is needed. Sasha unni, smiling, asked me what my future plans were. "I''m going to wave the flag of revolution!" Hearing my words, everyone was surprised but laughed it off, thinking it was a joke. It''s not a joke though. 37. Arcana Online 37. Arcana Online37. Arcana Online Because I enjoyed the party until late last night, I overslept and got scolded by Yong-yong. I took out three top-rank magic stones for our Yong-yong, who was glaring at me saying he wouldn''t let it slide this time, and he said he''d make a special exception just this once. "Succumbing to capitalism, how disappointing!" "Kyuung!?" While teasing our Yong-yong, who was looking at me with a dumbfounded expression, I almost forgot what I had to do. The quest I received from Grandpa Kraken. I took out the compass he gave me, saying it would help find his youngest daughter. ?Golden Child Compass? Shows the location of the runaway golden child. To set out in the direction the compass was pointing, I went outside the city, whistled, and waited, and the bear taxi came running. "Have you been well?" "Groooan!" The bear greeted me cheerfully. Of course, with a capitalist smile. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now it''s time for negotiation. "I need to go straight in the direction the compass is pointing, but I don''t know how far we''ll have to go." "Groooan!" "That''s expensive! Give me a discount! I''m a regular customer!" On the way, after falling for the bear''s sob story and ultimately failing in negotiations. "Come to think of it, how is your family doing?" "Groooan!" "You''re worried because they''ve grown too big? Just earlier you said they got smaller because they were starving!" "Groan?" As he slyly changed the subject saying he didn''t know about it, this bear is truly scary. While we were chatting about various things, I felt someone''s gaze on me. It must be my imagination. As I was thinking that, I remembered a post I saw yesterday. Someone said they felt like they were being watched, so they shouted loudly, and they were really being watched. Just in case, I shouted loudly. "Come out!" Surprisingly, nothing came out. For a moment I felt embarrassed, and as I turned my head, an angel revealed itself...? "How did you know? I perfectly concealed my presence." "How interesting. There must be a reason the Archangel told us to watch over you." The two angels who appeared before me had beautiful appearances and were wearing peplos. I calmed down the bear who was wary of the angels, got off its back, and as I approached, they looked at me with interested eyes. "How strange. It feels like meeting an old acquaintance after a long time." "Indeed. It''s surprising to feel this way about a human." An angel took something out from their subspace and handed it to me. "This was sent by Archangel Michael. Please accept it." They handed me a letter. I opened and read it, and it was an invitation. An invitation inviting me to the celestial realm. "We''ll come to pick you up in 14 days." "I''ll see you in 14 days." The angels left after saying only what they wanted to say, leaving me alone. No, Yong-yong and the bear are here too. "Would it be rude to sprinkle salt?" "Kyuung?" "Groan?" With all these incidents happening lately, I really need to have an exorcism performed. How long have we been running in the direction the compass was pointing? The sun had set and the moon had risen, so I lit a campfire to camp for the night and snuggled into the bear''s embrace. In the warm and cozy embrace of the bear, there''s no need for a tent. "Groooan." "......" Our bear is asking for an additional fee for this too. If he had been born human, he would have become the owner of a huge merchant group. No matter how I think about it, he was born in the wrong body. I logged out and logged in early the next day to find the bear sleeping while hugging me. Our bear, carefully hugging me so I wouldn''t get hurt. Really, isn''t it cute? "Kyuung." "Did you sleep well?" Hearing our voices, the bear also opened its eyes and greeted us. "Groooan." "You couldn''t sleep because I was snoring, so you want an additional fee...? You bad guy!" "Grohoho!" He laughed it off saying it was a joke, but it feels fishy. I think he really meant to charge me? I handed out magic stones one by one, and as we moved following the compass, I saw something in the distance. As we approached, there were two people standing guard at the entrance of a village. "Can you wait here for a bit?" "Groan!" I left the bear waiting to enter the village, and as I approached with Yong-yong, I made eye contact with the uncles standing guard. "What brings a little miss here?" "I just stopped by while passing. What village is this?" "Hmm? You don''t know our village?" With a surprised expression, they introduced the village. "Our village is the Sage''s Village where the Sage resides." [Sage''s Village] The guard uncle explained that the Sage, who played the role of spiritual pillar for Arcadia, known as the homeland of magicians, resides in the village and gives various advice to people based on his vast knowledge, experience, and mysterious power. After finishing the explanation, I entered the village and saw many people gathered around a fountain. As I approached, an old man was sitting in the center of the fountain, and people were lined up around him. People were talking to him one by one, then thanking him with tears in their eyes. Curious, I went to the back of the line and waited for a long time until it was finally my turn. The old man looked at me intently. It felt like he was seeing through my inner self. "What brings our little miss to see this old man?" "Lately, there have been non-stop incidents." "Let me see." The old man, who was muttering to himself while looking at me, suddenly looked at me with a surprised face. "Oh my! How can such a young child..." "What''s wrong?" The surprise was brief, and with a moved expression, he held my hand tightly while shedding tears. "You are a saint who has saved so many lives that they are innumerable." "Suddenly!?" After shedding tears for a while, the old man took something out from his bosom. "This will help you save many more lives in the future." He handed me a small box. ???? Box? I don''t know what it is. "Open the box when you need help someday." "Th-thank you." As I greeted the old man and set out, many villagers were looking up at me. My face flushed, and I hurriedly left the village and whistled. After waiting a bit, the bear appeared and we started our journey again, but in the end, I didn''t hear anything. Sigh, my fate. * * * After camping for several days and moving forward, we finally reached the border of the Avalon Empire. There was a huge wall, and people were being inspected at checkpoints. To go further, we needed to pass through the inspection. It''s no problem for me, but if I bring the bear, it will surely cause a big problem. "What should we do? Looks like our journey ends here." "Groooan!" The bear said it knows a secret path and will join me later. Our bear taxi, reliable like a bowl of beef soup! The bear disappeared, saying there would be a separate danger pay for illegal entry. If he had really been born human, he would have become a great merchant. I took out the pass I received from Uncle Charles and headed to the empty checkpoint. ?Imperial Pass? A pass issued by Charles Caesar, former captain of the Avalon Empire''s Imperial Knights. When I presented the pass at the checkpoint, after verifying its authenticity, the guard respectfully escorted me. "If you need a carriage, we can provide one that will safely escort you to the capital!" "It''s okay. I''ll just accept your kind thoughts." After passing through the border and walking for a while, I heard the sound of something running from afar. The bear revealed itself. How on earth did you enter illegally!? With that size!? He laughed carefreely and told me to get on quickly, saying we need to run away, but what does he mean? At that moment, arrows came flying. "Monster! A monster has invaded!" With a loud shout, soldiers began running towards us. Now I could see how he passed through. He just blatantly passed through! "You bastard! And you want danger pay for this!?" "Groooan!" "Isn''t it dangerous enough!?" Our bear ran at full speed in the opposite direction from where the soldiers were coming. What if we get a bounty on our heads because of this!? At that moment, a message popped up. [You have a bounty placed on you in the Avalon Empire.] Name: Yuna (Summoner) Crime: Smuggling an unregistered summon Bounty: 10 million gold Special note: Possesses a Warbear over 15M tall A bounty of 10 million gold was placed on me. When you have a bounty, you can''t use normal villages or cities. And the biggest problem is that you become a target for bounty hunters. "What are we going to do about this, you bastard!?" "Grohoho!!" "We might have been born on different days, but we''ll go together!? You bad guy!!" 38. Arcana Online 38. Arcana Online38. Arcana Online After barely shaking off the guards, we headed in the direction the compass was pointing, and I saw something in the distance. A person wearing a robe and carrying a large bag on their back. The compass was pointing exactly at that person. "It''s that person!" "Groan!" The person who noticed us charging at them, no, Grandpa Kraken''s runaway youngest daughter, ran away in fright. "Kyaaah!! Don''t come!!" Why are you running away? It''s just a slightly giant bear charging at you, why are you running away in such fright? You''ll hurt our bear''s feelings! This won''t do. I need to clear up the misunderstanding. "If you stop right now, I''ll at least spare your life!" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Kyaaah!!" Even with the large bag, she''s running away so well that the distance isn''t closing. I stopped the bear and shouted loudly. "Talk! Let''s talk!" Hearing my voice, she stopped running and looked at me warily. "What''s your purpose!?" "Grandpa Kraken asked me to find his runaway youngest daughter!" "Dad did!?" Hearing my words, she lowered her guard and approached me. The girl approached, taking off the robe that was covering her entire body. Is it an item effect? She looked about 170cm tall just now, but now she looks about 130cm, similar to me, a young girl standing in front of my eyes. "You should have said so earlier! I misunderstood!" "You didn''t give me a chance to speak and just ran away!?" "How could I not run away when such a huge Warbear was charging at me!?" Come to think of it, she''s right. The bear looks about 15M tall, so if I imagine a giant robot chasing me, I''d run away too. We cleared up the misunderstanding through various conversations, and when I handed over the letter that Grandpa Kraken asked me to deliver, she read it for a while and then tore it up? "Hmph! Do you think I''ll go back to that boring sea!?" A mysterious girl who dislikes the sea despite being a Kraken. [Quest Clear!] You acquire experience and affinity. Well, I cleared the quest, so it''s fine. She''ll handle it herself. More importantly, we haven''t even introduced ourselves yet. "Nice to meet you. My name is Yuna. I''m a traveler." "Lala. As you can see, I''m a merchant." The young girl with silver hair and red eyes who introduced herself as a merchant smiled and said nice to meet you, but she''s clearly human. Polymorph must be very convenient. "By the way, can I ask you one thing?" "Sure! Anything!" "What''s in the bag you''re carrying on your back?" As if she had been waiting for this, she put down her bag and showed me various things. "It''s not every day you get a chance like this! Look at this! It''s a knife with a rose drawn on it, and it can cut anything!? If you buy it now, it''s only 1 million gold!" A peddler...? From knives to dolls, there''s nothing that isn''t in there. There are really all kinds of items, but among them, I saw something that caught my eye. ?Divine Dragon''s Choker? A choker once worn by a shrine maiden who served the Divine Dragon. The last set item I was looking for. "H-how much is this!?" Lala, who noticed that I desperately wanted it, grinned. "That, you see. It was hard to get, so it''s a bit expensive, is that okay?" "How much...?" "1 billion gold." I looked at her with surprised eyes at the jaw-dropping amount. "That''s expensive! Give me a discount!" "No negotiations." Lala said firmly. She reached out her hand, saying if I didn''t want to buy it, give it back, but I asked her to wait a moment and rummaged through my inventory. If I sell all the magic stones I have, it should be about right...? Ah, no! Our Yong-yong and the bear won''t leave me alone. As I was sighing, I noticed an item. ???? Box? I don''t know what it is. An item I received as a gift from the old man in the Sage Village. Now is exactly when I need help. I opened the box to check the contents, and there was a single note inside. [The law is far, but fists are near.] I folded the paper again, put it in my pocket, and as soon as I snapped my fingers, the bear sprang into action. It raised its huge body and instantly subdued Lala, preventing her from escaping. "W-what is this!? What are you doing!?" "Let''s start negotiating. I''ll spare your life, so give me a discount." "This is blackmail!" The negotiations that had been going off track for a while proceeded smoothly due to the bear showing its sharp claws. It''s finally paying off for all the magic stones it ate! "C-customer. How about 500 million gold as a first purchase event!?" "100 million gold." "450 million!" "100 million gold with 3 months installment." "That''s too much!" I smiled brightly and shook hands for the satisfactory deal, but Lala was glaring at me. "In my 10 years of business, this is the first time I''ve experienced such a fraudulent deal." "What goes around comes around. You''ll be blessed." "I want to receive money!" When I put on the choker I received from Lala, a message popped up. [You acquire the Divine Dragon''s Choker!] ?Divine Dragon''s Choker? A choker once worn by a shrine maiden who served the Divine Dragon. [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.] [Set effect (4/4) unlocks special skills.] [Divine Dragon''s Blessing: Increases the abilities of summons.] [Divine Dragon''s Prayer: Restores the health of summons.] [Divine Dragon''s Cheer: Explodes the mood of summons.] [Divine Dragon''s Revival: Revives the life of summons.] [You can use the power of the Divine Dragon.] [Divine Dragon Descent: Makes the Divine Dragon dwell in the body of a summon (dragon).] I acquired new skills with numerous notifications. Revival revives summons, and Descent makes the Divine Dragon dwell in the body of a summon? Looking at the character for dragon, can it only be used on dragons? Can it be used on our Yong-yong since his name has ''dragon'' in it? "Divine Dragon Descent!" [Special Skill: Divine Dragon Descent effect makes the Divine Dragon dwell in the summon (Yong-yong).] With the notification, a huge lightning bolt fell from the sky onto Yong-yong, but there was no change. "How is it? Do you feel like you''ve become a dragon?" "Kyuung?" Our Yong-yong tilted his head and burped. What? Why is there no effect at all? After waiting for a while with no change, I was disappointed and used another skill. "Divine Dragon''s Revival!" [Special Skill: Divine Dragon''s Revival effect revives summons.] However, nothing happened this time either. I got two faulty skills, but at least I got the choker, so it''s fine. "I''ll make good use of this." I comforted Lala, who was crying and sniffling, and we set out together. We agreed to travel together to the next village, but the business didn''t end. As if trying to make up for her loss, she showed me various items and said she''d sell them cheaply, but she was trying to sell a high-rank magic stone for 30 million gold. The regular price is 10 million gold, and she''s trying to make a 300% profit!? "You scammer! You''re trying to make a 300% profit!?" "Mobile sales are always more expensive!" "That''s too expensive!" * * * New information arrived at the information guild in the commercial city of Thalassa. News that Yuna had a bounty placed on her. "Is that true?" "The Warbear that the benefactor was traveling with was caught trying to enter illegally." "Sigh, if she had just presented the pass while bringing it in, there wouldn''t have been a problem." I organized my thoughts while drinking a cup of warm black tea. The benefactor isn''t someone who wouldn''t know such a fact. "It seems she has other thoughts, so leave it for now." I don''t know what the benefactor is thinking, but I need to support her as much as possible. "If any moths try to approach her aiming for the bounty, eliminate them all." "Understood, Master." With those words, the shadow disappeared. Feeling like it wasn''t sweet enough, I added more sugar and was about to take a sip when I heard urgent footsteps. "B-big news!" "What''s the commotion about?" A guild member who came in panting reported, and to summarize, monsters are coming back to life? "Th-the monsters that died are coming back to life and causing a rampage!" "Where?" Near Cradle Village, the City of Stars, and Thalassa Village, all places where the benefactor had passed through. There''s only one being in the world who could do such a thing. Only the benefactor. I organized my thoughts while tapping on the desk. "Request help from all information guilds and cover it up as much as possible. If you tell them it''s the benefactor''s doing, they''ll cooperate." "Understood, Master." There are information guilds in every village and city. And there''s no information guild that doesn''t know about the benefactor. Thinking about the benefactor who has done something spectacular again makes my head hurt, but what can we do? Really, our benefactor doesn''t have a single quiet day, does she? 39. Arcana Online 39. Arcana Online39. Arcana Online After sending the bear away, Lala tells me about her experiences during her 10 years of trading as we walk together. "Did you come to land because you were bored of the sea?" "That''s right! It''s hell there. Every day was just a waste of time, you know?" She recounts how she was scammed and went through numerous hardships when she first came to land. She then declares that someday she''ll establish a merchant group under her own name. "I''ll support Lala''s dream." "R-really?" "Yes! This is a gift of friendship." I take out a magic stone from my inventory and hand it to Lala. She stares at me blankly, then accepts the magic stone and uses it. H-honestly, I was worried she might not use it and just put it in her bag... Lala''s body glows due to the effect of my skill. As the light fades, she looks at me. "Thank you." "Friends help each other, right?" "Friends...?" She stops in her tracks and stares at me. When I ask if something''s wrong, she fidgets with her fingers and glances at me nervously. She says it''s her first time having a friend. Smiling at her behavior, I extend my hand, and she takes it. "This is my first time having a friend too." "Really!?" In this world, Lala is my first friend. As we chat about various things, I see a village in the distance, but I can''t enter. I''m wanted, so if I enter the village, I''ll be caught. I say goodbye to Lala in front of the village. "Let''s meet again next time." "If you ever need any items or help, just contact me!" Leaving Lala waving at me behind, I set out on the road. With some time left before my appointment with the angels, I''m thinking about traveling around the empire''s territory when I hear something running from afar. Thinking it might be the bear, I look up, but I see a magnificent carriage approaching. The huge carriage pulled by four black horses stops in front of me, and someone steps out. It''s the old man I saw in the alley before. "It''s the old man from the alley!" "It''s been a while." He greets me respectfully, which almost startles me. Didn''t he say he was a duke back then? "You don''t have to do this!" "This much is necessary when meeting a benefactor." He smiles brightly at me and tells me to get in the carriage. As I hesitate, the Duke laughs casually. "I know about the bounty on your head." "You knew!?" "I''ll take care of that problem for you." The Duke says with a smile. "Come to think of it, I haven''t introduced myself properly. I am Duke Adonis Ether, head of the Ether Duchy of the Avalon Empire." "I''m Yuna!" I follow the Duke into the carriage, and it slowly starts moving. As soon as I sit down, he looks at me and speaks. He says he''s here to repay the favor. "I want to repay you for saving me before." "I helped out of goodwill. I didn''t do it expecting anything in return, so it''s okay." "That won''t do." He speaks firmly, saying it''s the family law of the Ether Duchy to repay favors received a hundredfold. He says they repay grudges a thousandfold, smiling as he speaks, which is scary. [Your wanted status has been removed.] As the Duke said, the bounty on me has been lifted. "I''d like to invite you to the Ether Duchy. Do you have any other plans?" Since there''s still some time left before the angels come to pick me up, it should be fine, right? "I think it''s okay. Oh, but don''t be surprised if I suddenly disappear in the middle. I have an appointment." "It would be nice if you could at least say goodbye before leaving." "I''ll try my best." While it would take several days to travel by carriage from a village near the border to the capital, using a gate is different. [Gate] A magical device that allows instant travel between cities. The empire, with its vast capital and military power, has installed gates in all cities and even in villages near the borders. Using the gate, we instantly arrive in the empire''s capital. Thanks to the Duke''s influence, we bypass all the complicated procedures and head towards the Ether Duchy. On the way to the Ether Duchy through the massive capital, numerous soldiers walk the streets, exemplifying a military empire. Civilians frequently greet the uniformed soldiers with respect and gratitude. "The soldiers are treated well here." "There''s no country where soldiers who protect citizens'' safety aren''t respected." "Haha..." The carriage quickly passes through a huge iron gate, travels for about 5 minutes, then gradually slows down and stops in front of an enormous mansion. When the door opens and I step out with the knight''s help, I see many people standing in front of the door. Are they servants who came out to welcome the Duke? As the Duke gets out, everyone bows their heads in greeting. "We welcome the master." "It''s cold out here, let''s go inside quickly." As he ushers me into the mansion lobby, I see a grand and majestic lobby with an antique atmosphere. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following the Duke straight to the family head''s room on the second floor, I see a beautiful sword on display. "This is one of the two swords symbolizing our Ether Duchy. The demon sword Gram." "It''s amazing." "It has the exact opposite nature to the holy sword Durandal that I carry, so for generations, one of the two swords is chosen to be used." Is it okay to display such an important sword like this? "What if someone steals it if you leave it here?" "That can''t happen. Only those with Ether Duchy blood flowing through their veins can even touch it. And only those who pass the family head''s test can be chosen to use it." Usually when people say things like this, a traitor from the family ends up stealing it later... He tells me to sit comfortably on the sofa, so I take a seat. As if on cue, there''s a knock, and a servant enters to set various snacks and tea on the table. "It''s not much, but please eat comfortably." "Thank you!" The table looks like it''s about to break from all the food, yet he says it''s not much. As expected, a duchy is different. I pick up a cookie with chocolate in it from the front and take a bite. It''s different. As soon as I put it in my mouth, it''s soft and moist... "It''s, it''s so delicious!" "Eat plenty." Only after hurriedly eating the snacks do I remember where I am, and my face turns red. The Duke smiles as he watches me. "Seeing you eat so well reminds me of my granddaughter." He reminisces as if lost in memories, telling various stories. "They say old people talk a lot, and it seems to be true. Let''s rest for today and continue our talk tomorrow." With those final words, I follow a servant who says they''ll guide me to my room. Looking around the antique mansion, I enter the room under the servant''s guidance and see a room that looks like it would be used by a young girl. The walls are painted pink, and there''s a pile of dolls in one corner. Is this a room used by his daughter or granddaughter...? Sitting on the bed, I stroke Yong-yong and organize my thoughts. There are still a few days left before the appointed time with the angels, so what should I do to pass the time until then? "Is there anything you want to do?" "Kyuung!" Our Yong-yong says he wants to wave a red flag and call for revolution. Ugh, is this also an effect of my skill? Our kind and pure Yong-yong has changed. While stroking Yong-yong, I remembered something. I haven''t checked the community today. I open a blue window to access the community and check the incident board, but what''s this now? [It''s the end of the world!!! The apocalypse is coming!!!] The monster I killed came back to life and charged at me for revenge!! [Comments] - Maybe there was a necromancer nearby. - [Author] The named monster turned into a raid boss monster!! It''s the end of the world!! - Kyaaah!! It''s the apocalypse!!! - We''re all going to die!!! [Our Father in heaven,] hallowed be your name, your kingdom come... [Comments] - What''s with this guy now lol - The concept is solid lol - [Author] For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, Amen!! - Amen lol [Wait, isn''t it good if monsters come back to life?] The experience points get duplicated lol [Comments] - But the named monsters are turning into raid boss monsters when they revive? - What if they chase you all the way to the village to kill you? - [Author] Please save me please save me please save me [When monsters go wild, isn''t there only one culprit?] You know, that person whose name we know but can''t say lol [Comments] - The Information Guild is watching you. - The Information Guild is watching you. - The Information Guild is watching you. - [Author] You crazy bastards lol 40. Arcana Online 40. Arcana Online40. Arcana Online "See you tomorrow." "Kyuung!" As I''m stretching after logging out of the game, the doorbell rings. It''s Rea unni. "Hello?" "I''m in front of your house right now. Can you open the door?" "I''ll be right out!" As I''m heading to the front door, a thought suddenly occurs to me. Doesn''t Rea unni know the password to our house? When I open the door and look out, Rea unni is waiting for me in workout clothes. "Want to exercise with your unni!?" "What?" With those words, I was kidnapped. Straight to Rea unni''s house next door. I thought surely nothing much would happen, but I regretted it as soon as I entered the living room. I never imagined the living room would be turned into a gym. "Alright! From today on, you''ll exercise with your unni every evening! For our Yuna''s health!" "Every day!? That''s too much!" "Don''t worry. Your unni will take care of everything. It took some time to prepare all this." So this was the reason she couldn''t invite me to her house until now. She says it took a long time to turn the living room into a gym, smiling brightly, but it''s too scary. She says she did all this for my health, and I can''t bring myself to say anything. I change into the clothes she hands me and step on the scale. There are handles, so I stretch my arms out. After a while, the machine says it''s complete. Rea unni''s expression isn''t good as she checks the results. "I didn''t think it would be this bad..." She looks at me with a serious expression, saying I have less muscle mass than an elementary school student, and touches my body, which is soft. My body, which doesn''t seem to have even 1g of muscle. I can proudly say it''s the best among soft bodies. "Since it''s the first day, we''ll focus on stretching. You''ll have dinner at our house too, okay?" "Yes..." And then hell unfolds. It was a time when I realized how long 30 minutes can be. "P-please save me..." "......" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rea unni looks at me with a serious expression. She says she''ll get advice from experts on everything from exercise plans to diet, and then guides me to the bathroom to wash up. After sweating buckets for 30 minutes, I go straight into the bathroom to wash up and change into the clothes Rea unni prepared, but what''s this!? A yellow one-piece dress. I struggle to put on the dress, my first time wearing one in my life, pulling it over my head. When I finally get it on, it feels strange with the bottom open and breezy. As I''m hesitating due to the unfamiliar experience, I enter the kitchen and Rea unni, who''s preparing the meal, compliments me. "Oh my. It suits you so well." "R-really...?" I see Rea unni''s grinning expression, but why do I feel uneasy? After dinner, I refuse Rea unni''s offer to stay over and return home. When I lie down on my bed in my room, fatigue washes over me. Is this all because of the exercise...? * * * When I wake up in the morning, the muscle pain is no joke. I-I feel like I''m going to die. I stumble to the bathroom, eat the special lunchbox Rea unni made, put on the gear, and log into the game. As I get up, I stroke Yong-yong who welcomes me, hand him a magic stone, and stretch. Just then, I hear a knock. "Come in." The door opens and a girl who looks like a maid says she''s here to help with morning preparations. She guides me to the bathroom and fills the bathtub with warm water and bath salts. Then she approaches me to undress me, but I send her away, saying I''ll bathe alone. I take off my clothes and sink into the bathtub. It''s heaven. "This feels so good..." "Kyuu..." Yong-yong seems to like it too, floating in the bathtub. I didn''t know he''d enjoy it this much. I should do this occasionally from now on. After finishing preparations and going outside, the maid is waiting. "The Duke is waiting for you in the dining room." "I''ll go right away." Following the maid''s guidance, I enter the dining room where the Duke is waiting. "I''m sorry. Did I keep you waiting too long?" "It''s alright. As I''ve gotten older, I wake up earlier. Don''t worry about it." We chat about various things, and after spending a few comfortable days at the duchy, getting dragged to exercise with Rea unni in the evenings, the promised day arrives. The day when the angels said they would come to pick me up. I tell the Duke that I''m very grateful for his hospitality, and he tells me to come visit anytime I want. As I leave the mansion, I hear a voice as if it had been waiting. "We''ve come to escort you." One of the angels I met before has come to pick me up. "I''ll come right away." With my words, pure white stairs begin to form in front of me, stretching high into the sky. I''m startled. Surely they don''t expect me to climb these? "Isn''t there an escalator?" "What''s that?" Damn. I guess they don''t exist in this era. As I climb the stairs, panting, at some point the scenery changes. [You are the first traveler to visit the celestial realm.] Gained 100,000 Fame points. An unfamiliar yet familiar landscape. I''ve seen this scenery in a fairy tale book I read as a child. It looks exactly like the scenery from that book with the philandering god and the goddess troubled by her husband. A pure white temple unfolds before my eyes, and numerous angels are visible around it. Each angel has a different number of wings. From angels with two wings to those with four wings, I follow the angel with six wings guiding my path into the temple, where I see angels with eight wings. "Welcome, traveler. Archangel Michael is waiting inside. Please enter." Following the angel''s words, the door inside slowly opens and I hear a voice telling me to come in. Archangel Michael with ten wings. A woman with golden hair and golden eyes looks at me with a bright smile. "Welcome. Was it tiring to get here? Please, have a seat." "Y-yes!" As I sit down, the Archangel stares at me intently. Archangel Michael keeps looking at me without saying anything for a while. "Um... Why did you call for me?" "Recently, there''s been some commotion in the demon realm, and we found out that a human is at the center of it." With those words, she takes out a bead and plays a video with a bright light. It shows me with the Demon King. "I called you because I was curious. It''s the first time in demon realm history that a human received the title of duke. Wouldn''t you be curious too?" "You even knew about that?" "Hohoho. I know even more than that." Another video plays, showing me summoning monsters. "I''ve been wondering what to do with a human who has this much power." The bright smile from just a moment ago disappears like a lie, and she looks at me with an expressionless face. "Even now, looking at Yuna makes me feel emotional. So I was sure. That you have a special ability. So I want to ask you something. Are you a succubus?" "What!? No, I''m not!" As I wave my hands and answer that I''m 100% human, definitely not, a picture-perfect smile appears on her face, but it''s so different from the image I had imagined. Perhaps she saw through my thoughts. "Are you disappointed?" "A-a little..." "Aren''t you being too honest?" The Archangel, who had been laughing for a while holding her stomach, puts on a serious face saying she forgot to introduce herself, but it''s too late. My image of the Archangel has already been shattered. "Nice to meet you. I''m Michael, one of the representative Archangels of the celestial realm." "I''m Yuna. Please take care of me." Archangel Michael, who says she''ll show around the first human to visit the celestial realm, extends her hand to me. When I take her hand, her ten wings spread out and in that instant, space shifts. To the sky above the celestial realm. "How is it? It''s nice to see the entire celestial realm at once, right?" "N-no, it''s not okay!!" Just a moment ago I was standing on the ground, but now I''m standing on clouds in the sky. How could this be okay? I want to scream, but at some point, I seem to have adapted, and I can feel the texture of the clouds I''m standing on. It feels like walking on snow. It feels like it should make a crunching sound, but I don''t hear anything. As I''m looking around, fascinated by this strange experience, Yong-yong peeks his face out from my arms, and his eyes meet Archangel Michael''s. "Oh? A dragon that hasn''t even ascended..." She mutters while looking at Yong-yong with interested eyes, but what is she saying? She keeps muttering to herself for a while, staring at our Yong-yong, and I have no idea what''s going on. 41. Arcana Online 41. Arcana Online41. Arcana Online "This is the place where angels receive their education. It''s called the Academy." The first place we arrived at, after being told I''d be shown around the celestial realm, was where apprentice angels study to be appointed as official angels. In other words, a school. Angels are born with two wings and can graduate from the Academy to gain four wings. By accumulating accomplishments, they can obtain six or eight wings. And to become an Archangel, one must be chosen by God. There are only 8 Archangels so far. Would it be rude to ask an angel which god they serve? No, there isn''t just one or two gods, and even the gods I know number more than a dozen... "You''re not having impious thoughts right now, are you?" "How did you know!?" "You really were!?" We exchanged bewildered looks, and then Archangel Michael burst into laughter, holding her stomach. She allowed me to call her Michael-nim. "It''s the first time in my life that I''ve met such an interesting human as Yuna." She says she''s lived a very long life, but would it be rude to ask her age? "No, you can''t." "Huh!? What do you mean!?" She looks at me with a bright smile, but could it be that she can read my thoughts? "It''s been a while since I''ve met a human as transparent as Yuna, both inside and out." Is that... a compliment? As we enter the Academy, I can see angels receiving education in classrooms through the windows. Among the angels sitting in the back, some are dozing off. The ones in front are studying diligently. Michael-nim''s expression doesn''t look good. "May I excuse myself for a moment?" sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Huh? Sure." She knocks and enters the classroom, causing a commotion. Archangels are beings of which there are only 8 in the celestial realm. They are objects of admiration. Such an Archangel enters their classroom and heads to the back, then delivers a knuckle tap to the sleeping angel''s head with a bright smile!? "Ouch!" The angel who got hit once jumps up. Still not fully awake, with a dazed look, the moment their eyes meet Michael-nim''s. "Oh, unni!?" "Did you sleep well?" Michael-nim, who created several bumps on her sister''s head with a bright smile, apologizes and leaves the classroom. More importantly, unni... Is that angel Michael-nim''s real sister? "I''m sorry. Seeing my little sister dozing off instead of attending class, I just..." "It''s okay. These things happen." "I''ll introduce her properly later." As the bell rings and numerous angels burst out into the corridor, greeting Michael-nim and chatting about various things, an angel approaches me. Wasn''t she Michael-nim''s sister? But her eyes are fierce. "Who are you to be by our unni''s side?" "She''s an invited guest. Please treat her well, okay?" "Hmph! Do you know who our unni is to say such things?" She''s speaking irritably, but it''s clear that she likes her sister. I stare at her, finding her cute like a youngest sibling throwing a tantrum, but her gaze becomes even fiercer. "Why are you looking at me like that!?" "Because you''re cute." At my words, she stares blankly for a moment. Then, blushing, she runs far away. What was that? She''s cute. "Kyuung." "Huh? Stop seducing who?" As I pat our Yong-yong, who''s spouting nonsense, I look in Michael-nim''s direction and see she''s still surrounded by other angels. Should I go for a short walk? "Shall we go that way?" "Kyuung." Passing through the corridor and going outside, I see a quiet space. Then, a bell rings. Is it class time? As I''m wandering around, I hear Michael-nim''s voice. "There you are." "I was just looking around for a bit." "Then let''s move to the next location." We leave the Academy and head to another place, but where is it this time? "This is where angels who have graduated from the Academy and been appointed as official angels learn their first jobs." In other words, a company. When I ask what kind of work angels mainly do, she says they do all sorts of things. From defense work to protect the human realm from the demon realm, to helping the reapers of the afterlife guide souls, their roles are diverse. "Recently, the demon realm has been noisy, so an emergency order was issued for a while. And our Yuna was at the center of it." She enters with a bright smile, but what does that mean...? As we enter the building, a scene commonly seen in the real world unfolds. More precisely, a scene you might see in a game company. Angels walking around like zombies, exhausted and with sunken eyes. As I''m looking at their appearance, I make eye contact with one angel. Their eyes are filled with emptiness. And then I hear voices. "I can''t remember the last time I went home..." "I can''t remember my wife''s face..." "My daughter asked me who I was..." As I listen to their lament-filled stories, I almost shed tears. Of course, that would be if I were an F. No, couldn''t they have used video calls or had their families visit the company, or found some other way...? As I approach the exhausted angels, they look at me with expressionless faces. "Oh my, who are you?" "Isn''t that a human?" "Yeah? How are you here?" They look at me, then glance beside me. Only then do they realize who''s standing there and hurriedly bow their heads. "We, we''re sorry! We were so out of it that we didn''t notice you had arrived, Michael-nim!" "It''s okay. You''ve been busy lately, right?" "N-no, not at all!" Passing by the angels who are showing the epitome of workplace etiquette, Michael-nim guides me here and there. "This is the department in charge of the demon realm. They all have nasty personalities." She curses with a bright smile, but is this okay? As we open the door and enter, voices mixed with profanities echo from all around. "What the hell are those demon bastards up to from the morning!?" "Those bastards should be nailed to the holy cross!" "Verbal abuse and violence are the only ways to save demons!! Amen!!!" Have they lost their minds...? Michael-nim shakes her head and asks me to understand that they''re like this because it''s hard work, then heads to another department. "This time, we''ll move to the department in charge of the middle world. The angels who came to escort you belong to this department." As we open the door and enter, it''s similarly chaotic. "There''s a report that dead monsters have come back to life and are attacking humans!" "The afterlife is also demanding an explanation for what''s going on!?" "Why are they asking us!? Are they crazy!?" Listening to the conversation, it seems like it might be related to me, but that must be my imagination, right? Right, right. I know nothing about this. "Shall we move to the next department!?" "Should we? I thought you''d be curious about a lot of things since it''s the department in charge of the middle world." We need to escape quickly now. The atmosphere is too tense. "Let''s see. We''ve checked the departments in charge of the demon realm and the middle world. Shall we visit the department in charge of the afterlife next?" "Ah, before that, I have something I want to ask." When I ask about where the afterlife is and what kind of work they do, she smiles and says I''ll find out everything, extending her hand to me. The moment I take Michael-nim''s hand and enter the department in charge of the afterlife. "Sinner! We grant you a final plea!" "Damn it! I didn''t do anything wrong! Why are you making a fuss over your own mistake!?" "I''ll pass judgment! You were in charge of the final inspection, you bastard!! Death sentence!!!" Just as I was about to witness several angels surrounding someone and shouting "Holy Strike!" while beating them, the door closed. "There''s no one here. I guess they all went out on field work." "Just now, several angels were beating one person..." "You must have seen wrong. Nothing happened, okay?" Michael-nim pushes me along, saying she''ll show me other departments, practically dragging me away. What department is left now? "We''ve seen the demon realm, middle world, and afterlife departments, so shall we visit the department in charge of the celestial realm next?" "There''s a separate department for the celestial realm too?" "Of course! It''s the most important department." As I check the department name written as ''Heaven'', I wonder if we''ve come to heaven rather than the celestial realm. Opening the door and entering, I see angels leisurely having tea time. Unlike other departments that were fighting tooth and nail, seeing them drinking tea so comfortably and leisurely feels strange somehow. As soon as I hear their conversation, Michael-nim takes me outside. "Should I just reincarnate?" "You can''t. I heard they revive you and make you work even if you die." "There''s no escape even in death." The last scene I saw was the enormous pile of documents stacked behind those leisurely drinking tea. Several times more documents than in other departments, that is. 42. Arcana Online 42. Arcana Online42. Arcana Online "Oh my, is it this late already? I have meetings scheduled with the heads of each department. Would you like to come along?" "Yes!" We climbed the stairs heading to the upper floor, and upon opening the door, I saw angels with eight wings gathered inside. As soon as they saw Michael-nim, they stood up and greeted her. "Welcome, Michael-nim." "Please, sit comfortably." She smiled brightly and showed consideration, but no angel would take those words at face value. Only after Michael-nim took the seat of honor did the angels sit down. I sat in a chair in the corner, and the meeting began. "We''ll start with the report from the middle world." The content was about resurrected monsters attacking travelers. As I was sweating nervously and checking the atmosphere, Michael-nim smirked and moved on to the next topic. "The demon realm has intervened in the middle world. This is clearly a violation of the treaty!" At those words, I could only bow my head once again. Michael-nim smiled brightly and said it was okay, but it felt like sitting on pins and needles. "The afterlife is in an uproar because the number of souls doesn''t match. Moreover, a key figure from the afterlife, known as one of the Three Gods, has arbitrarily intervened in the middle world." "If it''s that person, it''s fine. Aren''t they the guardian deity of all children?" After the reports from the middle world, demon realm, and afterlife were finished, the report from the celestial realm should have followed, but it was missing...? "Where is the celestial realm representative?" "Well..." An angel who looked like an aide standing in the back whispered something in Michael-nim''s ear, and she pulverized the pen she was holding. "A department head has escaped...? Bring them back immediately." "We''ve sent a cooperation request to the afterlife. It should be handled soon." So they ended up running away after all...? * * * "Rest well tonight, and I''ll show you around other places tomorrow." "Thank you, Michael-nim." "It''s nothing. Well then, sleep tight." After Michael-nim left, I lay down on the bed in the assigned quarters. The bed, which looked like a cloud, was softer than any bed that exists in the world. Yong-yong seemed to like it too, lying on his back with his belly exposed, and isn''t it just too cute!? "Our Yong-yong likes it too!? Should we steal one?" "Kyuung!" He really seems to like it, saying we should take one. I stroked Yong-yong''s belly, said goodnight, and logged out of the game. As I took off the gear, an alarm rang. Rea unni said she always contacts me at the time I log out, but it feels like I''m being monitored... I answered the call and went next door, where Rea unni welcomed me with a bright smile. "You''re here? Then shall we start our happy exercise time today as well?" "Um, I''m not happy though...?" "It''s okay! Your unni is happy!" "What about me!?" With those words, the hellish time began. She said we''d start with stretching and then try exercises we could do with dumbbells, but she was overestimating me. She handed me a pink dumbbell, but I dropped it because it was too heavy. Rea unni was surprised by this. "This is only 2kg..." "I can''t lift anything heavier than a cup of ramen." After thinking for a moment at my confident voice, she started to correct my posture and teach me something called s, squat...? I thought it would be okay since it was a bodyweight exercise, but that was my mistake. I couldn''t get up the next morning. To be precise, I couldn''t walk. I got up from bed, crawled to the bathroom, barely made it back to my room, put on the gear, and logged into the game. As I stretched, Yong-yong, who had been sleeping face down, opened his eyes and acted cute towards me. It meant he wanted food. When I took out a high-rank magic stone from my inventory and gave it to him, he looked at me with disapproving eyes. "Kyuung!" "Even high-rank magic stones are expensive!" "Kyuuung!" He whined, saying I was the only one who was serious, but I couldn''t do anything about it. When I took out a top-rank magic stone, he finally ate happily. I''m worried he might start demanding something even better than top-rank magic stones... After Yong-yong finished his breakfast, I hugged him and left the quarters to find Michael-nim waiting in front of the door. "Were you waiting!?" "I just arrived." She smiled brightly and extended her hand to me, saying she''d show me around a different place today. As I took Michael-nim''s soft hand, her wings spread wide like when we first met, and in an instant, the scenery changed as we were transported to a place bustling with angels. "Ta-da! This is the market that the celestial realm boasts about!" Numerous angels were buying and selling goods or various foods. From items that could only be obtained in the celestial realm to strangely shaped fruits. There were all sorts of things, but suddenly Yong-yong screamed. "Kyuuung!" "Huh? What''s wrong?" Looking in the direction he was pointing, I saw an angel selling pure white magic stones. As I approached to check, I understood why Yong-yong had screamed. ?Unique-grade Magic Stone? A magic stone used in researching unique-grade magic. While holding back Yong-yong, whose eyes had rolled back at the sight of a magic stone he''d never seen before, I asked the price to buy it, and it was no joke. "Welcome, customer." "How much is this?" "It''s 1 billion gold." As I was shocked by the amount, Yong-yong said, ''Leave it to me. Just give me permission.'' I tried to stop him and negotiate the price, but it failed. "It''s a hard-to-get item, so we don''t accept haggling." As I was rummaging through my inventory to check if I had anything good, Michael-nim approached me. "This traveler is visiting the celestial realm for the first time. Could you give a little discount?" "A-Archangel Michael-nim!?" The angel was startled for a moment, then closed his eyes tightly and shouted. "I-I''ll just give it to you! Of course we should provide a good memory for a customer visiting the celestial realm for the first time!" "Oh my, really? Thank you." The angel handed the magic stone to me. His expression looked like he was about to shed tears of blood. More importantly, he gripped it so tightly that I barely received it. "Thank you." "Haveagoodday. Customer!" He spoke through gritted teeth, and the moment I handed the received magic stone to Yong-yong, he swallowed it in one bite. The angel watching this scene collapsed in his seat. "Th-that was worth so much..." While hugging our Yong-yong, who seemed satisfied and even burped, I followed Michael-nim as we set out, and I heard a scream from behind. Must be my imagination? As we looked at various items and I bought a few things that could be gifts for guild members, I found that the prices were cheaper than expected and there were plenty of good quality items. "If you go further inside, there''s a large building. The items there are good too, so let''s take a look." As we went deep inside, I saw a large building. Entering, I saw various items catch my eye. And in one corner, there were unique-grade magic stones like the one Yong-yong had eaten, spread out. The price for one was 100 million gold!? The merchant earlier tried to sell it to me for 1 billion gold!? As I was staring with a bewildered expression, Michael-nim approached me and smiled. "Even among angels, not all of them are pure and good beings." There was sadness in Michael-nim''s voice as she said those words. I sold some items from my inventory that could be worth money to buy a few, as Yong-yong asked. Items received from scenario quests or items I had collected from Atlantis before. Thanks to them buying the items, I had money to purchase magic stones, and our Yong-yong, whose eyes were shining, begged me to give them to him quickly. "No way. You already ate one, didn''t you?" "Kyuuung!" "You''re saying even humans eat three meals a day!?" Come to think of it, he''s right. Our Yong-yong''s tastes are becoming more and more picky, what should I do? Now that he''s grown to some extent, should I trust him and leave it to him next time a battle occurs? Yong-yong always asks me to leave it to him, so it''s about time he gained some real experience. "Next time a fight breaks out, I''ll leave it to our Yong-yong!" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Kyuung!" As I pat our Yong-yong, who proudly says to just trust him, and hand him the magic stone, he swallows it in one bite. He''s licking his lips while looking at the other magic stones, enjoying it so much, but absolutely not. * * * Once, I had held the position of an Archangel in the celestial realm. But after falling, I spread my ten wings that had been dyed black and looked down at numerous wraiths. Wraiths who had lost their physical bodies and were wandering the nine heavens. Dead souls are taken away by the reapers of the afterlife, but the order is determined by the depth of their sins. That doesn''t make sense from the start. If sin hadn''t been created in the first place, humans wouldn''t have committed sins. 43. Arcana Online 43. Arcana Online43. Arcana Online After buying a few magic stones and souvenirs, as I was walking around sightseeing on the street after leaving the shop, I heard the sound of someone running from somewhere. Looking in the direction of the sound, Michael-nim''s little sister, whom I met at the Academy, pounced on me!? "There you are!" "Oof!" She hugged me, ramming directly into my abdomen, and I almost said goodbye to this world. Is this what they call a direct hit from the mountains? I nearly went to heaven in the celestial realm. If there was a department for guiding people to heaven at the Academy, she''d definitely be the top student. Michael-nim tended to me as I lay collapsed, then gave her sister a knuckle tap on the head. "What are you doing to our guest!? Apologize!" "I-I''m sorry! I didn''t know humans were this weak! You really are fragile, huh?" She deserves another knuckle tap. As if on cue, Michael-nim delivered another one. Nice shot! She apologized, holding her head and crying. I wiped away the tears of Michael-nim''s crying sister and extended my hand. "Sorry for the late introduction. My name is Yuna. Nice to meet you." "My name is Miel." Michael-nim smiled brightly and asked if that was all, causing Miel to yell "Nice to meet you!" at the top of her lungs, earning her another hit. Are you rebelling against your sister? Poor little sister. More importantly, isn''t it time for her to be at the Academy? Sure enough, Michael-nim brought up the Academy. "Miel. Why are you here at this time? Shouldn''t you be in class at the Academy?" "I came to keep watch in case that human tries to seduce you like they did to me!" "......" As Yuna and Michael-nim looked at her with incredulous expressions, she stood between us, saying she''d protect her sister. What on earth is she thinking? "It''s not like that, so hurry and go to class." "I don''t believe you! I''m going to stick by your side all day and keep watch, so you better know that!" Isn''t she just doing this because she doesn''t want to go to the Academy? As I had this reasonable suspicion, Michael-nim sighed and asked me to take care of her sister. She left her sister with me and departed. I took care of Miel, who was dazed as if she couldn''t understand the situation, and headed to a nearby fountain. "W-what''s going on right now!?" "She said she had urgent business and had to go, and you appeared at just the right time." "......" Her vacant eyes were suddenly filled with tears. I took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears, and she spoke while sobbing. "I-I wanted to be with my sister." She whined in a nasal voice, complaining to me that her always-busy sister rarely comes home and they can''t spend time together. She really loves her sister, huh? I get chills just thinking about my own older sister. No, deep down, I miss her. "Should we go see Michael-nim together?" "Really?" She spoke while sniffling, and it was cute. It feels like I''ve gained a little sister. As we held hands and headed towards the temple where Michael-nim was, suddenly something appeared in front of me. * * * Once a respected figure in the celestial realm. Called Archangel Lucifer, but now known as Fallen Angel Lucifer after being exiled from the celestial realm due to a false accusation. Was it so wrong to act for the sake of humans? If that was wrong, I''ll change everything from top to bottom. I restored bodies to the wraiths and began to take action. [An urgent quest has arrived.] Save the celestial realm from danger. Reward: ??? A red window suddenly appeared. Until now, blue windows were for general quests, and golden windows were for scenario quests, but this is the first time I''ve seen a red window. On the way to the temple to inform Michael-nim of this news, bringing Miel along. Numerous angels were moving busily, and as we tried to enter the temple, we were stopped!? "Outside visitors are not allowed." "It''s important business, can''t we go in!?" Even after explaining the situation, the angel firmly stated that outside visitors were not allowed. With no choice, I used the bloodline card. I presented Miel, who was beside me, and after a moment of confusion, they recognized her and opened the door. As expected. Among school ties, regional ties, and blood ties, blood ties are the best. Entering the temple, we saw angels moving busily in a chaotic atmosphere. When we entered the room where Michael-nim was, she looked at us with surprised eyes as she was reading a report. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What''s the matter?" Just as I was about to speak, several angels appeared. "B-big trouble, Michael-nim!" An angel rushed in to report urgently. After hearing the report, Michael-nim took us to the conference hall located deep inside the temple, wearing a serious expression. As we entered the conference hall, we saw six angels with ten wings each. "So this is the human I''ve heard about." "It''s the first time I''ve felt affection for a human at first sight." "It''s been a while, Miel." Amidst the curious gazes looking at us, a solemn voice rang out. "Quiet." At those words, everyone fell silent. "Now that Michael is here too, let''s start the meeting. Human and Miel, sit on those chairs over there." "Thank you for your consideration, Gabriel-nim." Archangel Gabriel, who showed warmth with his cold tone of speech. A blue window appeared, and the video that came out of it was shocking. A video of a great army of wraiths marching towards the celestial realm. The figure standing at its center. A woman with ten black wings. "Lucifer..." The voice that came from Michael-nim''s lips. A voice filled with shock and sadness. "If you clear the way, I''ll take care of Lucifer." Michael-nim spoke with a solemn voice. All the Archangels agreed to that, and as soon as the meeting ended, we were instantly transported to the top of a massive wall. And in the distance, we could see an army approaching the wall. Among the grotesquely shaped wraiths, a being floating in the sky with pitch-black wings spread. At that moment, I heard a voice. [Save Lucifer.] [The quest has been updated.] [Save Lucifer along with the celestial realm.] Reward: ??? As I was thinking about what on earth was going on, unfamiliar memories flooded in like a tidal wave. Records of Archangel Lucifer, who was exiled for loving humans. A being who saved numerous humans, ignoring the rules set by the celestial realm and the afterlife. A being who fell into a trap set by some factions who didn''t like her actions and was exiled. By the time the truth was known, it was already too late. Those who had falsely accused her had all been exiled, and a generational change had taken place. They wanted to bring her back, but she had already fallen, so there was no way. As if reading my troubled mind, Yong-yong licked my cheek and spoke. "Kyuuung." "Huh? You''re saying to keep the promise I made before?" Our Yong-yong was telling me to trust and leave it to him. Is it okay in this situation? What if our Yong-yong gets badly hurt if something goes wrong? At that moment, the sound of a trumpet rang out. Numerous angels spread their wings and flew up into the sky, drawing bows of light. Arrows filled the sky and began to fall to the ground, and the wraiths hit by those arrows disappeared with a bright light. As the wraiths watching this scene charged towards the wall with a terrible scream. With a massive flash of light, a being stepped forward in front of the wraiths, breaking through numerous angels. Archangel Michael. As she stepped forward, spreading her ten wings, the charging wraiths flinched and retreated. Breaking through the wraiths who were retreating bit by bit while maintaining their guard, a being stepped forward, spreading ten wings. Lucifer. "It''s been a while, Michael." "It''s been a while, Lucifer-nim." Michael spoke in a sorrowful voice. "It''s not too late. Even now, please stop the war and return to the celestial realm." "It''s too late. Once an angel has fallen, they can''t be brought back." Michael closed her eyes tightly and drew out a pure white spear with a bright light. In stark contrast, Lucifer drew out a spear as dark as pitch-black darkness. A tense moment. They clashed in an instant, and all the nearby wraiths were blown away, the impact reaching even the wall. They moved at a speed invisible to the eye, and at this rate, one of them could be seriously injured or killed. I need to save Michael-nim who took care of me, and I need to save Lucifer too, if only for the quest. What should I do now!? Yong-yong looked at me as I was pondering, with a serious expression. "Kyuung!" Trust him and leave it to him, he said. Is it possible? No, it doesn''t make sense. What kind of power could our Yong-yong have? But somehow, I felt I could trust him. Maybe our Yong-yong could do it. After finishing my thoughts, I looked at our Yong-yong seriously. "You absolutely must not overdo it!?" "Kyuung!" The moment I gave permission, an anomaly occurred. A bright light burst from Yong-yong''s body, and a beam of light soared high into the sky. Yong-yong, who had been in my arms, disappeared, and huge dark clouds covered the sky. Sensing an ominous energy, both angels and wraiths looked up at the sky. Even the two Archangels who had been clashing stopped and looked up. Something huge gradually revealed itself, parting the dark clouds. Something in the shape of a dragon appeared. As I stared up blankly, I could see Yong-yong''s form reflected in that dragon''s face. "Yong-yong...?" 44. Arcana Online 44. Arcana Online44. Arcana Online I wonder if he heard my voice. I felt like he was looking at me with warm eyes. Yong-yong turned his head to look in the direction of Michael-nim and Lucifer. Blue particles began to gather around Yong-yong''s mouth. When something starts gathering around a dragon''s mouth, there''s only one thing it could be. A breath attack. "Wh-what? If he fires that at Michael-nim!?" As if shouting "first strike wins," Yong-yong''s massive breath attack was fired towards the ground, and with an explosion, a mushroom cloud rose up. The shockwave from the breath attack reached not just the nearby wraiths, but even the walls. In a situation where I couldn''t see an inch in front of me. As I squinted to look, fortunately, Michael-nim and Lucifer were safe. But something felt strange? Space was distorted, and two new beings appeared to have protected Michael-nim and Lucifer, grumbling with frowning faces. An old man wearing a black robe and an old woman appeared, with familiar faces. "Fortune-teller grandmother!?" Despite the distance, she seemed to hear my voice and waved at me. The old man, looking displeased at this sight, clicked his tongue. "Tsk! Young people these days. We elders have come, and they''re looking down on us!" Is he talking to me? No, why can I hear him so clearly when he''s speaking from so far away!? At that moment. A thunderous roar that shook heaven and earth rang out. [How dare you speak such nonsense to my contractor.] I was startled by Yong-yong''s solemn voice, which I''d never heard before. Where did our cute Yong-yong go? S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As blue particles began to gather again, I shouted in panic. "No! Come back now!" With my words, the particles dispersed, and in an instant, he returned to normal with a bright light. He was in my arms as if he''d been there from the beginning, but his face was full of dissatisfaction. "Kyuung!" "There, there. Good boy." As I comforted our Yong-yong, who was shouting that he''d make them kneel before me right now if I wanted, I was pondering how to get down from the wall when a thought crossed my mind. Couldn''t our Yong-yong do it? "Can you take me down there?" "Kyuung!" Blue particles appeared around me, and in an instant, I was moved to the bottom of the wall. I didn''t know our Yong-yong had such power. It seems amazing, and I feel proud. Is this how parents feel when raising a child? "Kyuung!" "Huh!? Ah, it''s nothing." He''s so perceptive, asking if I''m having strange thoughts. He''s really like a mind reader. Our scary Yong-yong. I''ve raised a dragon cub. I approached the fortune-teller grandmother and greeted her, saying it had been a while, and she hugged me tightly. That embrace felt like being in my parents'' arms, and tears suddenly started to flow. "Kyuung!?" "I-I''m fine." I hugged Yong-yong, who was sending fierce glares as if ready to pounce at any moment, and looked at the fortune-teller grandmother, who was gazing at me with warm eyes. "Grandmother, what''s your true identity?" "What use would it be to introduce an old person?" The old man, who had been listening to our conversation, angrily burst out. "I''m listening right here, and it''s so frustrating! Why can''t you just say you''re Samshin Halmi!?" "When you get old, you should die. That''s what the old man is saying." "What!? Who are you to talk when you''re aging together with me!?" The elders bickered and fought with each other. As I was dazed by this situation, Michael-nim approached from the side. "I greet Lord Yeomra and Lady Samshin." "It''s been a while. How''s your sister doing?" "Still a troublemaker as always." Everywhere we go, they ask about her sister. How much trouble does she cause? "The one on the right is the manager of the afterlife, Lord Yeomra, and beside him is Lady Samshin." Lord Yeomra, who''s known for frying chicken in hellfire!? Or not. "Hello!" "Yes, yes. It''s good to see such a polite child." "You old man, you never run out of unnecessary things to say." As they were bickering and fighting, a voice was heard. "Why are you stopping me!?" The meaning behind Lucifer''s shout. She was crying out about why innocent lives had to be extinguished even at this moment. However, the gaze looking at Lucifer was cold. "Every child has a predetermined fate." "Fate cannot be defied." As soon as she heard those words, Lucifer drew out her pitch-black spear and took a stance as if ready to charge in. "Now is not the time for conversation." With those words, chains appeared from thin air and bound Lucifer''s entire body. Her whole body was tightly bound by numerous chains, to the point where she couldn''t even resist. Lord Yeomra and the grandmother approached me, passing by the struggling Lucifer. "We''ll leave the rest to our child." "Stop calling a grown-up ''child''! It''s creepy." "It''s my choice." The grandfather looked at the grandmother with an incredulous expression. He turned his head to look at me, and his eyes changed. No, more importantly, are you telling me to resolve this situation!? "Well, there''s a reason for calling you a child. We''ll leave the rest to you." With those words, space opened up and numerous wraiths began to be sucked into it. Some wraiths tried to escape, but it was useless. "Don''t commit any more sins. That''s the only consideration I can give you." "Tsk! They''re all precious children. Why handle them so roughly?" "Hey! Stop chattering beside me, it''s annoying!" At that moment, Lucifer''s cry of anguish was heard. Hearing her sorrowful wailing made my heart ache. An angel who cared so much for humans had fallen and become a fallen angel. An angel who sacrificed everything for humans without expecting anything in return. As I approached Lucifer, Michael-nim blocked my way. "It''s dangerous." "It''s okay." I approached Lucifer-nim, who was crying with a sorrowful voice and tears flowing, and wiped her tears with a handkerchief. She looked at me. She stared at me with blank eyes without saying anything. "Thank you for saving so many lives until now. This time, I''ll save you, Lucifer-nim." As soon as I took out a unique-grade magic stone from my inventory, Yong-yong made a fuss and snatched one, so I took out another one and used it. The magic stone turned to powder and began to be absorbed by Lucifer-nim, and with a bright light, the chains began to disappear one by one, and her pitch-black wings started to change into pure white wings. The change didn''t end there, and two new wings appeared. For the first time in thousands of years, a being with twelve wings. A Heavenly King was born. Not realizing her own change, she looked at me with blank eyes. At that moment, Archangel Gabriel revealed himself. Following him, numerous angels approached and knelt before Lucifer-nim. Among them, the Archangels kneeling at the very front shouted. "We greet the Heavenly King." Hearing their voices, she spread her wings wide and took a step. She had asserted her innocence but was ultimately exiled. As she looked at Gabriel-nim with eyes so fierce it wouldn''t be strange if a knife fight broke out at any moment, I tensed up. "We''ll talk later." The angels tensed at her piercing gaze. Well, it''s understandable to be tense when someone who was your enemy just moments ago suddenly becomes your superior. Then she approached me and bowed her head!? "I will repay this debt of gratitude for the rest of my life." Seeing this, other angels panicked, saying she shouldn''t do this. "H-Heavenly King! This is just a human! You shouldn''t do this!" Hearing those words, she raised her head and shouted. "All life is noble and special. If you say such things again, I won''t forgive you." All angels bowed their heads, except for two. Grumbling voices could be heard. "They say position makes the person. Look at that, look at that. See how quickly she changes." "Leave her be. The child can be like that. Really, you should age gracefully." "What did you say, you old hag!?" It looked like they were about to grab each other''s collars and fight, but I wish they''d fight somewhere else. * * * A golden window appeared for all players of Arcana Online. [A new area, the Celestial Realm, has opened.] [Due to the new area opening, a 200% experience event will be held for 30 days.] The experience event was incredible, but with the new golden window that appeared, countless players couldn''t help but cheer. [You can change to the hidden job: Angel through Celestial Realm quests.] 45. Arcana Online 45. Arcana Online45. Arcana Online In the conference room where only Archangel-level and above could participate. I sat in the Heavenly King''s seat, which had been empty for a long time, and looked over the Archangels. It would be a lie to say there was no ill feeling. The angels who had falsely accused me were all exiled, but these ones had stood by and watched. They belatedly asserted my innocence, but it was already too late. However, even if I were to take revenge on them, nothing would change. No, it would probably cause more confusion. The wisest method is to bury past events in the past. It''s time to resolve the resentment that has built up over time. "From this moment on, let''s forget the past and start anew." The Archangels bowed their heads at my words. As I took out the documents I had brought from my subspace while moving to the conference room, their faces turned pale. "Let''s start discussing official matters now. Who is in charge of these documents?" It''s not because I hold a grudge that I brought these documents. Absolutely not. * * * I looked around the Heavenly King''s office, which had been empty for a long time, and sighed. Numerous documents were densely stacked inside the massive office. Even if I worked without rest, the speed at which they pile up is faster than the speed at which I can process them. Is there no way to handle this? At that moment, I heard a knock. "Heavenly King. A guest has arrived." "Come in." With those words, Yuna entered. Her cheerful greeting as she looked at me was cute. "Hello, Lucifer-nim! Oh, should I call you Heavenly King now?" "You can call me whatever you''re comfortable with." I''ve received words of gratitude and resentment while saving numerous lives. However, this is the first time I''ve been helped. The only being who has helped me over a long period of time. Is that why? I grow fonder every time I see her. I''ve always looked at all living beings with equal eyes, but this is the first time I''ve felt this way. Her panicked expression upon seeing the numerous stacked documents was cute. "Isn''t this too much work?" "I didn''t know there would be this much work." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I ended up complaining that even though I''m mobilizing angels to handle the work, the workload isn''t decreasing. To think I would show such a side of myself. As I slightly blushed, she tilted her head and casually mentioned. "Couldn''t you just recruit more angels?" The number of angels graduating from the Academy is fixed. At that moment, an idea occurred to me. Couldn''t we hire travelers who have visited from other worlds? If we pay them fair compensation, they would surely welcome it. Then, if we first open the celestial realm and hire travelers as apprentice angels to work... A scenario was drawn. The details can be adjusted through meetings. "As expected! Our Yuna is a bundle of fortune!" "W-wait a moment!? Heavenly King!?" I lifted Yuna high into the air, and her flustered face was cute. The play that continued for a while had to stop when Archangel Michael entered. It''s a bit disappointing. "I''ve come to report something." The content of the report was about the problem I had been worried about until just now. The report stated that progress wasn''t being made because the speed at which work piles up is faster than the speed at which it can be processed. When I explained the plan as advised, she lifted Yuna up! "Michael-nim!?" "A bundle of fortune has rolled into our celestial realm!" "Please put me down before I turn into a golden child!" "Kyuu!" Not only are they making a commotion in my office, but our Yuna... As the Heavenly King, I can''t just stand by. "What are you doing?" "I''m sorry, Heavenly King!" She put Yuna down and apologized, but it was too late. As I created a harsh atmosphere, our Yuna became restless. I secretly hinted at a way to resolve this situation. As I spread my arms, Yuna cautiously approached, and as I was about to lift her up, I was almost bitten by the dragon. * * * [A new area, the Celestial Realm, has opened.] [Due to the new area opening, a 200% experience event will be held for 30 days.] [You can change to the hidden job: Angel through Celestial Realm quests.] As soon as I saw the golden window, I screamed. Finally, an opportunity has come to me. When I first started Arcana Online and got an EX-grade unique characteristic, I thought my life would change. [Unique Characteristic: Virtue is never lonely and will always have neighbors (µÂ²»¹Â±ØÓÐëO)] If one has virtue, they will not be lonely and will surely have neighbors. Because virtuous people attract followers around them, they will never be alone. If only I hadn''t chosen thief as my job. I was scared because the only people I met were from the same industry. No, scars on their faces were the norm, and they were so sinister... All the quests were about thievery, so no one gathered around me. But now it''s different. Happiness begins at the end of misfortune. To change jobs to an angel and go up to the celestial realm, I used the method posted in the community. You just need to shout your job title along with a prayer. "Lord. Today, tomorrow, and the day after, please allow me to become a righteous thief... Should I ask for permission for this?" At that moment, stairs appeared in front of me. Stairs leading to the celestial realm. As I climbed the stairs, a huge electronic display greeted me. [Welcome to the Celestial Realm.] Perhaps seeing my bewildered expression at the unfamiliar sight. An angel approached and spoke to me. "Is this your first time visiting the celestial realm?" "Y-yes!" Volunteering as a guide, they took me somewhere, saying they would show me around the celestial realm. As we chatted about various things and I said I wanted to change jobs to an angel, their eyes lit up and they grabbed my hand!? When an older sister with shining golden hair and pure-looking eyes initiated skinship, I couldn''t help but weaken. "Welcome! Then shall we go write the contract right away!?" "What!? Contract!?" Following the angel into the building, they presented a contract in front of me. The angel said that the path is open to everyone, starting as an apprentice angel and potentially rising to become an Archangel. When I checked the contract, the conditions were no joke. The contract stated that even as an apprentice angel, a minimum of 3 million gold per month is guaranteed. It was written that up to 10 million gold or more is possible. As if to prove it wasn''t a lie, a blue window appeared. [A hidden job change quest has been created.] If you accept, you can change to the hidden job ''Apprentice Angel''. Do you accept? YES / NO The word ''apprentice'' bothered me a bit, but I signed the contract. [Congratulations! You have changed jobs to Apprentice Angel.] With the blue window, a change occurred. Two wings appeared on my back, and it felt real that I had obtained a hidden job. If this is the treatment for an apprentice angel, I can''t even imagine what it would be like to become an Archangel later. Am I going to be sitting on a pile of money now!? As I was having happy thoughts, the angel in front of me gathered the documents and looked at me, but their gaze changed. "You''re my junior now, so I''ll speak informally, okay?" "Huh?" The angel took me somewhere. Entering a room, there were four options. [Celestial Realm] [Demon Realm] [Afterlife] [Middle World] The angel told me to choose one of the four. Since I''m an angel, I should obviously choose the celestial realm, right? When I chose the celestial realm, the angel looked at me with sympathetic eyes. "Well, good luck. Fighting?" "F-fighting." After telling me to wait for a moment, they went outside, and soon I heard the sound of someone running from somewhere. With a bang, the door was smashed, and two angels appeared. "A newbie! We have a newbie!!" "Kidnap them!! No, they''re our newbie, so it''s not kidnapping!? Let''s quickly take them away!!" They welcomed me enthusiastically and said they would show me the facilities first, holding me on both sides as we walked, but something felt off. It felt like they were dragging me so I couldn''t escape, but was that just my imagination? They introduced various amenities, and it was amazing. Entering through a pure white door, a vast sea spread out, and parasols and beach chairs were placed here and there for relaxation, but no one was there. Moving to the next place, I saw restaurants selling numerous foods, but again, no one was there. "The facilities are so nice and spacious, but there''s no one here?" "It''s because it''s work hours..." They stammered and even glanced at me nervously, but why are they acting like this? "Now! Shall we go to our battlefield... I mean, our office!?" Passing through a long corridor and opening a door in one corner, I saw angels leisurely drinking tea. Behind them, documents were piled up like mountains. Something is wrong. Even as a newcomer to society, I can tell as an office worker. The celestial realm department is a bomb. And it has the power of a nuclear bomb. Just as my body was about to move before my head, the door closed. "Welcome once again, newbie. Shall we start work now?" No matter how much I do, the work never ends. After saying I''d go out for some fresh air, I ran away. While hiding in a nearby warehouse and pondering what to do, I heard footsteps. "Where could our youngest be~?" As I heard the sound approaching me, I covered my mouth and crouched in the corner, trembling in fear, when I heard the sound of a door closing. Just as I was breathing a sigh of relief. "There you are~?" "Kyaaah!!" 46. Arcana Online 46. Arcana Online46. Arcana Online [Benefits of changing to the hidden job Angel in the celestial realm!] 1. Anyone can immediately change to the h.i.d.d.e.n. job [Angel]. 2. Minimum 3 million gold guaranteed. Some even take home 10 million gold. 3. Systematic training allows anyone to start work immediately. 4. Choose the celestial realm department and write [Elfi] as your referrer for a chance to win a gift. You want me to write that? [Comments] - What is this? An advertisement? - What''s with that last line lol - Even job scam ads are more realistic than this lol - Is this a pyramid scheme? lol [Introducing the hidden job Angel.] Hello. I''m player [Anonymous] who recently changed to the hidden job Angel. Through a successful job change, I accumulated 5 billion gold in assets and achieved financial freedom. The Angel job I changed to guarantees high income. And I solemnly promise. Change to an Angel. Without any cost, even a Seoul Han River view apartment isn''t just a dream. If you just write [Anonymous] as your referrer, I''ll help you sincerely from start to finish. Thank you. [Comments] - You crazy fool lol - This guy''s insane lol - The Angel job was only released yesterday, and you made 5 billion gold overnight? lol - You scammer lol [But isn''t something strange?] All these guys recommending the hidden job Angel are asking for referrals, is there something going on? [Comments] - Dunno? - [Author] If you don''t know, find out! - If you don''t know, does your military service end? lol - It''s over, you bastard!!! Checking the community, something felt off. My instincts were telling me. Changing to an Angel would be big trouble. It seems like all the players who changed to Angels have used the "Confidentiality Agreement" item. ?Confidentiality Agreement? A document containing a promise not to disclose confidential information. To use the community, you must use your own account. There are many communities for virtual reality games, but the security of the Arcana Online community, which is the most special among them, is no joke. You can only access it with an account linked to the in-game account. There''s an urban legend that if you talk about Arcana Online on other communities, that site will crash and you''ll suffer a mysterious accident... What kind of game company can do this level of things? "I guess I have no choice. I should ask Yuna." She definitely said she was in the celestial realm before. As it was time for our appointment, I logged out of the game and went to the front door to find Yuna standing there. "You''re here? Come on in." "Okay." After another happy muscle growth... no, exercise session for Yuna''s health, we had dinner together and I asked about the Angels. "Oh, that? The celestial realm is short on staff, so they''re hiring players to work!" "......" "The treatment is good, and above all, they give a lot of gold. Plus, if you bring in new players using the referral system, they even reduce your contract period!" "I-isn''t that a pyramid scheme...?" Yuna confidently explained that while pyramid schemes don''t give money and are scams, the celestial realm guarantees high amounts of gold. Something''s wrong. And it''s very, very wrong. * * * While I was looking around and seeing the celestial realm bustling with numerous players, a golden window appeared. [Quest Clear!] Reward will be given. I opened my inventory to check the item, and there was a paper-shaped item. ?Wish Ticket? Write down your desired wish. It might be granted? Why do the items I always receive as quest rewards end with a question mark? More importantly, a wish. "What kind of wish would be good?" "Kyuuung! Kyuung! Kyuuung!" "Write it in magic stones!? That''s too wasteful!" "Kyuuung!!" I had already decided what to write on the wish ticket, but I asked just in case, and as expected. Our Yong-yong said he wanted to swim in a bathtub filled with magic stones, even if just once. When I said high-rank was possible, he said he didn''t want anything less than unique-grade. His standards have become very high. As I wrote the wish on the wish ticket, it disappeared with a bright light and a message appeared. [You have used the Wish Ticket.] [It is a possible wish.] [Would you like to move right away?] Yes / No "Later! I haven''t even said goodbye yet!" [You will be automatically moved in 05:59:59.] Six hours of grace time is enough. Then let''s first say goodbye to Michael-nim and go find the Heavenly King. I looked around for Michael-nim, but she wasn''t anywhere. She wasn''t in her office or the conference room, so I went to her house and knocked, and Miel opened the door. "What''s a Casanova doing at our house?" "Who are you calling a Casanova!? More importantly, is Michael-nim home?" "Yes! Come in." She told me with a smile on her face that Michael-nim had promised to spend time at home playing with her once a year for her sake. How much does she love Michael-nim? When we entered the kitchen, Michael-nim was there wearing an apron, apparently preparing a meal. "Unni! The Casanova is here!" "Who''s a Casanova!" "Oh my, Yuna, you''re here?" Our Michael-nim welcomed me warmly and gave Miel a knuckle tap on the head. As Miel grumbled that her head was bad because her sister hit her, Michael-nim now gave her a forehead flick. The saying "if you stay still, you''ll at least be in the middle" isn''t for nothing. She told me to wait a little while and sit at the dining table, so I sat in a chair and watched Michael-nim cooking. "Does Michael-nim always cook?" "Of course! I don''t know how!" Miel said proudly. Feeling a sense of kinship, I looked at her, and we exchanged glances and clasped hands, forming a bond of friendship. "What are you two doing...?" When we said we were best friends from today, she looked at us with a bewildered expression. After finishing the meal and having tea together, I brought up the topic. "I came to say goodbye." "I see." "......" Michael-nim seemed to have expected this, while Miel was shocked. Miel held onto me, asking if I really had to go, but I couldn''t stay. Because I''m a traveler. Michael-nim asked me to wait a moment and went into her room, then came out with something. "It''s a gift. When you have time to visit again, I''ll have more saved up for you." She handed me a jewelry box. Inside were many unique-grade magic stones. I barely managed to hold back our Yong-yong, who was about to pounce on it. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It''s too much!" "It''s not too much. Compared to what Yuna has done for us. When you go to the Heavenly King, she''ll give you an even better gift." She hugged me once with a bright smile, and I said goodbye to Miel, who was in tears beside her. "I''ll come visit again later." "Really? If you break your promise, I won''t let you off easy! Got it!?" "Alright, alright." After saying goodbye to Michael-nim and Miel, I headed towards the temple where the Heavenly King was. As I was walking down an alley, a trash can moved. Curious, I approached and opened the trash can, and there was a person inside!? Why was a pretty older sister with black hair and cold-looking eyes in a trash can? As soon as our eyes met, she flinched and lowered her head. "I-I''m sorry! I won''t run away! I''ll work diligently!" "Huh? What do you mean?" At that moment, I heard a voice. "Hide and seek. Where could our youngest be?" A voice coming from beyond the alley. As I heard the sound of several people approaching while singing, she frantically pulled me to hide in the trash can!? Before I knew it, I ended up hiding in the trash can with the pretty older sister, and as I was about to ask what was going on, she covered my mouth!? "Mmph mmph!!" "Sh-shh! Be quiet! We''ll be caught if you make noise!" At that moment, the trash can lid opened, and numerous angels were looking at us. "There you are~" "Our youngest likes trash cans, huh?" "Should we install one in the office?" As she turned pale and was caught by the angels, one of the angels recognized me. "I-isn''t this Yuna-nim!?" "You''re from the celestial realm department, right?" "It''s an honor that you remember me!" She quickly ran and hid behind my back, avoiding the other angels'' gazes. "To think our youngest had such a lifeline..." "Oh no! We finally got a new youngest after so long..." Seeing her hide behind my back without even introducing herself, I immediately understood the situation. Despite appearances, I''m quite perceptive. I donated the remaining 2 points for humanity''s sake. "You were slacking off because you didn''t want to work, right? But you still have to." "Th-that''s not it! Actually..." As the older sister was about to say something, I handed her over to the angels, and she looked at me with a bewildered expression. "Fighting for today too! Well then, I''ll be going now." As soon as they heard my words, the angels exchanged glances, then quickly gathered up the older sister and ran away while saying goodbye. They must be busy. I turned around and headed towards the temple where the Heavenly King was. 47. Arcana Online 47. Arcana Online47. Arcana Online As I entered the Heavenly King''s office, she welcomed me with a bright smile. "Thanks to Yuna''s idea, our work processing speed has improved. Thank you so much." She took out a book from her subspace and handed it to me. "This is something I happened to obtain, and it will be of great help to you." ?Book of Hope? It allows you to view infinite possibilities with a positive outlook. As I opened the book with its golden cover, there were no words written inside. But something felt strange. Just by opening the book, I felt like I could do anything. The Heavenly King was staring at me intently. She looked at me with golden eyes shining like gold, and I felt like she was seeing right through me. "I know what dream Yuna has. You want to create a world where beings called monsters by travelers and demons by humans can live comfortable lives. As the Heavenly King, and as an angel, I''ll support that dream." She hugged me tightly as she said this. Had I been crying without realizing it? Yong-yong licked away my tears. "Thank you. I''ll definitely achieve my dream." "If you need help, contact me anytime." After saying goodbye to the Heavenly King and while I was packing my things, a system window appeared. It was time. [Would you like to move now?] Yes / No "I''ll move." With a bright light, the location changed instantly. I opened my eyes amidst dense foliage and looked around, unsure if I had come to the right place. Then I felt a sensation. Something was approaching. And a lot of it. As Yong-yong raised his head and looked around, monsters appeared as if they had been waiting. They all looked grotesque. From a wolf with three heads to one with a lion''s head and a snake''s tail. Each one approached me with a threatening expression. "Please." "Kyuung!" Blue particles gathered and shot a breath attack into the sky. As soon as they saw this, all the monsters lay down on their backs. "Now! Shall we start our conversation?" Whether they''d become my friends or be buried in the ground. Numerous monsters received magic stones from me and grew even larger. They acted cute towards me in a way that didn''t match their size, and our Yong-yong looked at this scene with displeasure. "Kyuuung!" "You know that you''re still my favorite, right?" "Kyuung!" As I handed him a magic stone and spoke, our Yong-yong swallowed it in one bite, saying he knew. As I stroked Yong-yong''s head, he asked what wish I had written. "Kyuung!" "Oh, that? It''s nothing special." [I want to create a world where monsters can live peacefully.] That was the content of my wish. And the reward I received was this. ?Magic Realm Teleport Scroll? A scroll that can move you to the 7 Magic Realms (6 uses remaining) When I first received the scroll, I realized. The fact that peace comes from overwhelming force. If there''s overwhelming force, no one would dare touch the monsters. After that, I''ll need to build a village too. A village where monsters can live peacefully. To do that, I''ll need to persuade the upper echelons of the Avalon Empire and Arcadia, which is why overwhelming force is necessary. To let them know that there will be big trouble if they mess with us. I plan to build the village in one of the 7 Magic Realms, ''Eldorado''. I''ll need to move diligently. "I''ll call you later, so help me then!" Leaving behind numerous monsters nodding their heads at my words, I used the scroll. To head to the next Magic Realm. I need to move quickly as I have six more places to visit. The end of happiness and the beginning of hardship, huh. * * * In the conference room where the upper echelons of the Avalon Empire had gathered, only tension filled the air. Including the Emperor sitting on the imperial throne, everyone was sweating nervously. In this situation, someone opened the door and appeared, causing everyone to breathe a sigh of relief. Known as the First Sword of the Avalon Empire and one of the ten masters. Duke Adonis Ether, owner of the holy sword, entered the conference room and paid his respects to the Emperor. "The owner of the Avalon Empire and the Sun''s..." The Emperor held out his hand to stop him. "Let''s skip that for now. How did it go?" "According to the Black Knight Order''s confirmation... it''s true." At those words, everyone in the conference room turned pale. "Is it... really true?" He took out a bead from his bosom and used it, and with a huge light, a video played. A video that the Black Knight Order had risked their lives to obtain by approaching nearby. The monsters that should exist in the 7 Magic Realms were gathered in one place. Although it seemed fewer in number compared to when the commercial city of Thalassa was attacked, the monsters were on a different level compared to then. The monsters existing in the Magic Realms can only be hunted with the cooperation of knights and mages. The reason why such dangerous monsters hadn''t been a concern until now. Due to the barrier placed on the Magic Realms, the monsters couldn''t come out. But not only had they come out into the world, they were also gathering in one place. "How could monsters existing in the Magic Realms come out into the world!" "This must be someone''s plot! C-could it be those crazy mages in Arcadia...?" "That''s not it." With a bright light from the communication channel, a human girl appeared among the monsters. A young girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing exotic clothes. A video of her stroking the heads of the monsters. The Emperor looked with a puzzled expression at Duke Adonis Ether, who had his eyes tightly shut and blood flowing from his hand. "What''s wrong?" "I''ll show you the data..." He took out a document from his subspace and handed it over. The Emperor''s face turned pale as he checked the document with a puzzled expression. "The monsters you''re seeing now are just the tip of the iceberg." From the nine-tailed fox known to have destroyed kingdoms to Lord-class dragons with the power to destroy empires. Beings that could cause astronomical damage even if just one attacked, numbering in the thousands... no, perhaps even more. According to the report, she, or rather Yuna, might have been up to something during the periods when they lost track of her. At that moment, a retainer burst in without knocking, practically breaking down the door. "What''s all this commotion!" "B-big trouble! At, at the city gates!" Pushing aside the retainer who was speaking while out of breath, they went outside. The imperial capital was visible at a glance, and in the distance, near the city walls, something huge was approaching. Is there something wrong with my eyes? "B-bring a telescope!" At those words, a retainer ran frantically to bring a telescope, which was almost snatched away as they checked. "A K-Kraken...? H-how could a Kraken appear on land!" According to documents, it''s a legendary monster known to have destroyed naval fleets and coastal villages, causing astronomical damage with just one. But it was even larger than the size described in the documents. Incomparably so. A Kraken so large it could cover the entire imperial capital. Looking closely, it was floating in the air with water all around it. Emergency horns sounded, and six of the ten masters known as the Empire''s Ten Swords gathered, but victory couldn''t be guaranteed. As they were about to draw their swords to protect the empire with tense hearts and activate barriers, they heard a voice. [I have no intention of waging war against you. I''ve come merely to deliver a letter from a friend.] Due to the voice that seemed to whisper in their ears, Duke Adonis Ether, who had volunteered to go out, leaped in an instant. As he approached the Kraken, a scroll descended from the sky. After receiving the scroll, the Kraken disappeared in an instant, saying its job was done. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. How is this possible? The fact that a being with such power can freely traverse space means it could turn the empire into a sea of blood at any time. With trembling hands, he received the letter from Duke Adonis Ether and checked it. "I-is this really true...?" He dropped the letter, and Duke Adonis Ether picked it up and checked its contents, which were shocking. What on earth is Yuna thinking? Looking up at the blue sky, he finished his thoughts. It seems the time has come to act personally. If negotiations break down, even if she is a benefactor... 48. Arcana Online 48. Arcana Online48. Arcana Online S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One of the places called the 7 Magic Realms. Delegations from the Avalon Empire and Arcadia arrived at Eldorado, the City of Gold. True to its nickname, the entire city was made of gold, rich in resources, and located between the Avalon Empire and Arcadia. Because of this, neither side could touch it, like the commercial city of Thalassa, but due to an uninvited guest, it was now in danger of being taken away in an instant. The master of numerous magical beasts and a being with power too great for an individual to possess. The traveler, Yuna. The delegations that arrived in Eldorado were guided by the Silver Fox Clan to the conference room. The story of a single nine-tailed fox destroying a kingdom is very famous. Dozens of such nine-tailed foxes were visible in all directions, and it felt like this wasn''t even all of them. With tense hearts, they entered the conference room to find the traveler Yuna sitting in a chair. Numerous magical beasts were glaring at them from around, but with a raise of her hand, they all bowed their heads. One by one, these magical beasts that could threaten humanity were so obedient. Could she be a Demon King...? "Welcome, delegates from the Avalon Empire and Arcadia." She stood up, welcomed them with a bright smile, and for some reason, smiles appeared on their faces. Was it just their imagination that they were reminded of their daughters waiting at home? They sat down, managed their expressions, and proceeded with the negotiations. The conditions proposed by the traveler Yuna: Neither the Avalon Empire nor Arcadia would interfere in any way with the City of Gold, Eldorado. Furthermore, she wanted an alliance. Not only was she threatening them with magical beasts, but she also wanted an alliance. She was trying to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Empire, which had ten master-level knights and formidable military power, and Arcadia, which had produced seven great mages and possessed three magic towers. This was nonsense. He slammed the table and stood up. "Stop this nonsense! How dare a mere traveler to the military empire..." The moment the snake on the traveler Yuna''s shoulder raised its head and looked at him. His legs gave out and he collapsed, with the aide beside him helping him up. Cold sweat flowed and his hands and feet trembled, unable to do anything. He had seen many magical beasts, including dragons, but this was on a different level. Such a being couldn''t be turned into an enemy. "A-an alliance..." "Ah, just a moment." Not only did she interrupt his words by raising her hand, but she also took something out from her bosom. A magic stone...? As he watched her feed it to the snake, curiosity overwhelmed him. "What is that?" "It''s a magic stone. I got it from the celestial realm, and it''s more effective than top-grade magic stones." What did she just say? Celestial realm...? "W-what did you just..." "There wasn''t anything like this in the demon realm, but the celestial realm was amazing!" Now the demon realm came up too. Her true intentions were revealed indirectly. It was a threat saying that the celestial and demon realms were behind her, so they should make their decision wisely. Come to think of it, during the investigation, there were reports of her being with angels or possessing items from demon clans. As he was trying to use tactics to negotiate as advantageously as possible while sweating nervously, someone entered. "Benefactor." A nine-tailed fox approached the traveler Yuna and whispered in her ear. Hearing those words, her expression hardened. "According to information that just came in, it seems armies are approaching. What''s going on?" "Th-that can''t be! P-please give us a moment!" "It can''t be from our side either!" While the Avalon Empire and Arcadia delegations were insisting it wasn''t them, people bearing the Avalon Empire''s flag and wearing blue robes symbolizing Arcadia''s magic tower were approaching. Just as they were about to contact the upper echelons to find out what was going on, an urgent communication came through. [Stall for time as much as possible.] After checking the communication content, they could only despair. They had moved the army while stalling for time through negotiations. The traveler Yuna stood up. "As expected, dialogue without power is useless. I hope next time we can resolve this peacefully." With those words, blue particles shone from her body and she instantly moved through space. She moved to where the army was marching, and knights who recognized them approached. "Why are you here!? We clearly ordered you to stall for time!" "Th-that''s not the issue! Why are you trying to start a war!?" "It''s His Majesty the Emperor''s will." The frightened Emperor and Arcadia''s upper echelons had launched a surprise attack taking advantage of the meeting. Just as numerous troops were about to pour into the City of Gold, Eldorado, the atmosphere shook and an anomaly occurred. Huge dark clouds covered the sky, and a being revealed itself from within. A dragon so large that only part of its body was visible was looking down at them. "Q-quickly activate the barrier magic!" "W-what are you doing!?" "Magic won''t activate!" A huge veil spread around them, and no one could move their magical power. Blue light gathered in the mouth of the dragon looking down at them from the sky. As they collapsed in despair, the dragon''s breath didn''t aim at them but struck the distant mountain known as the Mountain of Death, where no living beings existed, and a huge explosion was heard. When they came to their senses and looked at the Mountain of Death, nothing remained. [There will be only one warning.] With those words, the dragon disappeared. The traveler Yuna approached them along with numerous magical beasts. "I tried to negotiate on equal terms earlier, but not anymore. What will you pay in exchange for your lives?" Was it an illusion that a reaper holding a huge scythe appeared behind the traveler who spoke with a bright smile? * * * "Kyuuung!" "Our Yong-yong is the best! I''ll give you a bath in magic stones!" "Kyuuuung!" I received an enormous amount of gold from the upper echelons of the Avalon Empire and Arcadia under the name of reparations. The amount was so substantial that I immediately contacted the celestial realm to purchase a large quantity of unique-grade magic stones. I filled a bathtub for our Yong-yong, and he''s now diving in and enjoying his happiness. It''s so cute. And as I check the document containing the newly concluded treaty, a smile appears on my face. [The 7 Magic Realms. The City of Gold, Eldorado, is designated as the personal area of the traveler Yuna, and no interference or invasion will be made.] There were various other clauses written, but this is the most important content. From now on, invading Eldorado is clearly illegal under international law. I can''t help the monsters that exist outside, but if they come into my arms, I''ll protect them. More importantly, should I start making calls now? A new skill obtained after reaching level 100. [You have acquired a job-specific skill for reaching level 100.] You have acquired the Active Skill: Hello? It''s me, your master. ?Hello? It''s me, your master.? When the skill is used, you can contact summons that are far away. Mana used: 0 Cooldown: None. When I used the skill, a phone appeared in my hand...? When I pressed 1, the number 1 was displayed on the screen, and along with the call button, I heard Yong-yong''s voice? "Kyuung?" [Kyuung?] Does it connect to the summons I''ve obtained starting from number 1? When I pressed 2, I heard the orc''s voice. [Young human. What''s the matter?] After I explained the situation, he readily accepted. [If the young human wishes, that would be fine.] And so, starting with the orc, I contacted numerous summons. Most readily accepted, but there were some that didn''t. The monsters living in the Dungeon of Greed refused to relocate, saying they were satisfied with their home. There were also summons, no, friends who refused for other reasons. [I''m busy with business, man!] [But... I want to spend time with my friend?] [I-if you put it that way, I guess I have no choice. I''ll drop by sometime when I have time.] How naive. After contacting everyone, I looked at the magical beasts organizing the city. Many monsters will be moving to the city from now on. They''ll need various goods and tools for a comfortable life. To do that, I first need to establish a merchant group to procure necessary supplies... Wait a minute... merchant group...? I hurriedly called Lala again. [I said I''m busy, man!] As she was about to hang up, I shouted urgently. [Merchant group! It''s about a merchant group!] [Tell me more...] 49. Arcana Online 49. Arcana Online49. Arcana Online My friend who ran away from home... no, came up from the sea to land. Kraken Lala. After hearing about the merchant group, she came running and was now eating snacks in front of me. If she could come running so quickly, she couldn''t have been that busy, right? "Is it just my imagination, or is your gaze strange right now?" "The snacks are delicious, right? I got them from the celestial realm." Lala, who was eating enthusiastically while praising that they were good enough to sell. I told her my plan and asked if she was interested in being the only merchant group operating in Eldorado. "So what kind of goods can be obtained here?" "Gold, of course!" Gold is everywhere, and it boasts enormous resources from various jewels to magic stones. True to its name as one of the 7 Magic Realms, it was impossible to extract due to monsters, but now it''s different. When she heard that I would give all of that to Lala, her eyes lit up and she muttered something, probably doing calculations. Having finished her calculations, she tightly held my hand and told me to trust only her. "Just trust me! What are friends for!? I''ll make you sit on a pile of money!" Hearing those words, I took out a contract from my inventory and handed it to her. She looked at it as if wondering what it was, then read the contract and started making a fuss. "What kind of unfair contract is this!? The ratio is 8 to 2!? And I''m the 2!? Are you kidding me!?" "If you don''t like it, forget it. There are plenty of merchant groups who''d want to do it. Besides, Lala, you don''t even have a merchant group yet, right? This is already generous." "Let''s make it at least 7 to 3! I need to make a living too!" "It includes exclusive rights." Hearing my words, she fell into contemplation. As expected of a merchant. She maintains a good poker face. While she''s happy inside. To drive the point home, I took out a unique-grade magic stone, and her eyes widened. She grabbed my collar and shook me, asking where I got this, and I barely managed to tell her that it could be obtained from the celestial realm. "S-so you can buy one of these for 100 million gold in the celestial realm!? Just reselling it would be 200 million... no, if done well, it could even fetch 300 million...?" Having finished her calculations, she hugged me with a bright smile. "As expected! I knew I made a good friend!" "Aren''t I your only friend, Lala?" "Don''t poke where it hurts." I added that other travelers would be able to purchase unique-grade magic stones soon, so if she wanted to sell, now was the chance. While unique-grade magic stones that can be purchased from the celestial realm shop can be bought by other players, it''s currently impossible. It''s operated on a membership system, and if it weren''t for Michael-nim''s recommendation, I wouldn''t have been able to buy them either. For some reason, I thought it was strange that she was hesitating. When I handed over some of the quantity I had, Lala said with a touched expression to just trust her, and that she would mobilize all her connections to immediately establish a merchant group and bring me enormous wealth. After seeing Lala off, I looked at the monsters pouring into the Golden City of Eldorado. From the rabbits in Cradle Village to the monsters that were captured in the coastal village. Numerous monsters flocked to the city and began to settle in their own homes. Among them, there were monsters trying to fight for space, but they stopped due to Yong-yong''s mediation. The only rule that exists in the Golden City of Eldorado. [Let''s all get along well.] I welcomed the monsters that moved to the city, assigned them places, and prepared spaces for various monsters to live. But in doing so, a problem arose. "Kyuung." "Right? No matter how you look at it, they''re too big." Even the smallest goblin was close to 2m tall, and the huge 7 Magic Realm monsters were no joke. It''s not a problem right now, but we need a way to accommodate more monsters. Invasion...? No. We need a peaceful method. While rummaging through my inventory for something useful, I found a black book-shaped item tucked away in a corner. What was this again? ???? Book? I don''t know what it is. Even when I opened the book, it was full of strange characters. As I was about to put it back because I couldn''t read it, Yong-yong read it aloud. "Kyuuung. Kyuung. Kyuuuung." "Huh? What does that mean?" With those words, the book began to emit a bright light. [The special power of the little folk is unlocked.] You have acquired the Active Skill: Shrink! ?Shrink!? When the skill is used, you can make summons smaller. Mana used: 0 Cooldown: None. "Our Yong-yong is the best! I''ll give you three magic stones for dinner today!" "Kyuuung!" As soon as I used the skill, it asked me to specify which summons to target. "All summons currently in the city." With my words, all the summons began to shrink. The huge monsters suddenly changed into cute, miniature forms. It''s so adorable. "A-amazing! They''re so cute!" "Kyuu?" "Yong-yong is cutest at his current size." When he asked why he stayed the same, I answered, and he showed a somewhat proud expression, which was cute. As I approached the shrunken monsters, they seemed confused, checking their bodies and making all sorts of screaming noises. "Now, now, attention! I''ve made you a size that''s comfortable to live in, so are you all satisfied?" However, the voices I heard were only voices of despair. From rabbits crying and eating carrots saying their muscles had shrunk, to goblins shouting Valhalla. The griffins that were flying in the sky showed tears, saying this wasn''t the feeling they wanted. It can''t be helped. "It might be uncomfortable for now, but please bear with it for a bit. You''ll get used to it soon." After spending time comforting and soothing the monsters, I said goodbye, lay down on the bed, and logged out of the game. I stretched, changed clothes, and headed to Rea unni''s house. Today marks the beginning of another unfortunate time. But I think I''ve gained some muscle lately? I touched my arm and flexed, but it''s still soft. Maybe not... The door opened, and Rea unni''s expression as she welcomed me was strange...? "Can we talk for a bit before exercising?" "Sure!" We went into the kitchen, and she handed me a cup of warm milk, nervously opened her mouth with difficulty. "Monsters are flocking to the Golden City, Eldorado, one of the 7 Magic Realms. Could it be..." "Yes, it''s me! I wanted to create a comfortable home for my summons!" "Th-then all those monsters are currently..." S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes! They''re all summons! There are even more in the city!" I drank the warm milk with a bright smile, and it was delicious. It''s slightly nutty and sweet, as expected, warm milk tastes better. After finishing one cup, I gave her a look asking for more, but Rea unni had a serious expression. "If it''s to that extent, the Avalon Empire or Arcadia''s upper echelons won''t just sit still..." "Don''t worry about that! I made a treaty with them!" Hearing my words, she looked at me with a blank expression, then got up from her seat and approached me. And then she shook my shoulders!? "T-tell me in detail!" "Wait, Rea unni!? I''m getting dizzy! I said I''m getting dizzy!" After hearing about everything that had happened, Rea unni thought for a long time, and I was about to escape saying I''d give her time to think and skip exercise today, but she grabbed my arm and said that wasn''t allowed. After an hour of exercise, followed by a bath and meal, I returned to my house. I had used up all my energy to the point where I couldn''t move a single arm and wanted to close my eyes right away, but I couldn''t. I need to check the community. With trembling hands, I put my phone on the stand and accessed the community. [Have you heard of the Great Migration?] In Arcana Online, monsters are migrating? What''s this about? [Comments] - Must be a holiday lol - Looks like they''re heading home lol - [Author] Stop talking nonsense, you crazy fools lol - Whoa, whoa. Calm down, friend. Why are you so angry? [No, have the monsters collectively gone crazy? Are they moving? Did their lease expire?] They''re all heading somewhere together, and normally they''d be fighting each other, but they''re moving together? Isn''t this a sign of a main scenario quest? [Comments] - Is the main scenario your neighbor''s name, kid? - Are you making fun of the main scenario quest that''s only happened twice so far? - [Author] You crazy fools, what kind of concept is this lol [If you look closely, aren''t those monsters the special variants that mutated this time?] Then isn''t it over? Of course it''s ''The One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken'', right? [Comments] - The one who can''t even leave their name in history? - Hey! How dare you call them ''that person''! You should call them ''That Person'' lol - Hey! How dare you call them ''That Person''! You should call them ''Master'' lol I turned off the community and closed my eyes. Nothing special. * * * [An anomaly has been detected in the Arcana continent.] [An anomaly has been detected in the Arcana continent.] [An anomaly has been detected in the Arcana continent.] [An anomaly has been detected in the Arcana continent.] [A judge is being dispatched to the Arcana continent.] 50. Arcana Online 50. Arcana Online50. Arcana Online It''s already been a week since I started living in the Golden City of Eldorado. During that time, I assigned monsters to different areas, and with supplies provided by Lala''s merchant group, Lala Trading, we''ve entered into a stable lifestyle. The biggest reason this was possible in such a short time. It''s not thanks to my friend Lala, but thanks to the Silver Fox Clan. "Good work, everyone." "We only did what needed to be done for our benefactor." Rang, speaking prettily while looking at me. I''m receiving a lot of help, so as a token of gratitude, I handed over a unique-grade magic stone. At first, she refused, but unable to overcome my insistence, she accepted and used it, her eyes widening. "W-what is this..." "It''s fine, right? It''s something that can only be obtained from the celestial realm." Watching this scene, her younger sister Ran also held out both hands to me. "Give me one too! No, please give me one!" It''s cute how she switches to polite speech as soon as she sees her sister making a fist. When I handed her a magic stone, she showed the same surprised expression. Sisters will be sisters. They look exactly alike, after all. When I handed over a pouch of magic stones, telling them to give one to each member of the Silver Fox Clan, Yong-yong made a fuss. "Kyuuu!" "But you already ate one!" "Kyuuuuu!" He complained tearfully, asking if I was discriminating against him, and I couldn''t help but give in. In the end, I handed him one magic stone and set out to tour the village. Monsters who had been assigned tasks by the Silver Fox Clan were tending to the city. Befitting the Golden City of Eldorado, there was a wall made of gold, but it was cumbersome, so we demolished it, and rabbits were making fields to farm. Goblins and orcs were helping with that work. Slimes were absorbing and dissolving garbage into their bodies, and warbears were moving large stones and trees. Griffins were flying around, keeping watch, and everyone was living while carrying out their assigned tasks. Near what used to be the city gate, something was approaching. The griffins flew over to inform me that it was dwarves? When I went outside, there really was a group of dwarves approaching. The one who seemed to be their representative approached, and it was a familiar face. "Aren''t you the dwarf who was doing business in Thalassa?" "It''s been a while." The dwarf I had received help from before. But something felt off. Leading a group of dwarves with a gaunt face compared to before, what kind of story could they have? "Let''s go inside and talk first." "Thank you." As I led the group of dwarves inside, numerous monsters looked at them. If it were before, they might have been scared, but now they''ve changed to cute doll sizes, and their gazes... "There are many cute creatures here." "Don''t get too close. It''s dangerous." When one of the dwarves tried to approach a cute lizard nearby, I stopped him. Despite appearances, it''s one of the 7 Magic Realms. It''s a named monster that lived in the Forest of Pain and Despair. I was busy stopping it as it was about to spit out the poison it was holding in its mouth. I guided the dwarves to a somewhat decent building, took out tea and snacks from my inventory to serve them, and asked about their situation. "We were scammed and can no longer do business in the village." "The same happened to us..." The dwarves told me that they had been victims of a supply scam by a merchant group they usually dealt with, losing everything including their homes and being driven out. Most of them said they had spent their entire lives hammering iron and selling goods, never expecting this to happen. Trusting someone they thought was a friend was the root of the problem. I felt sorry for them and wanted to help, but I had my own problems. But then they made an unexpected proposal. "We want to start anew here! If you provide us with a place, we''ll build the best city for you!" Dwarf masters are not easily found anywhere. Moreover, since they''ve come all this way, I can''t just do nothing. "Is it really okay if I just provide you with a place? It can''t be that simple, right?" "W-we have nothing, so if you provide us with some capital too, we''ll pay you back 100 times... no, 1,000 times later!" When I looked into their eyes, I could tell they weren''t lying. I took out a pouch full of gold coins from my inventory and held it out to them. The dwarves looked at the pouch with blank stares. "I don''t need 1,000 times. Just pay back the principal and buy me a meal sometime later." Hearing my words, the dwarves bowed their heads. Surely they''re not crying? They held my hand tightly, tears flowing. "We promise on the honor of dwarves. When my friend is in trouble, I too will help." [You have acquired a title.] Friend of the Dwarves. When I told them I''d connect them with Lala Trading so they could purchase necessary items, they looked at me with moved expressions, but it was burdensome. All dwarves look like grandfathers... After finishing our talk, I gave them a tour of the city, telling them which areas were safe to enter and which would be dangerous. "That area over there is dangerous. They''re all children carrying poison, so you could cross the River Jordan in 3 seconds." "That''s scary." After finishing the tour, they all took out hammers from their bosoms, saying there were many parts that needed repair, but where did those come from? "We''ll do the repairs we can do right away. We''ll start the rest when the materials arrive." "Please take care of it." With those words, I waved goodbye, and the dwarves set off to do repair work in the distance. We''ve gained reliable allies. At this rate, won''t there be more later? Thinking about the future, I should make preparations. You never know what the future holds. "What should we do first?" "Kyuuung!" "Huh? We''re already excavating, though?" True to its nickname as the Golden City, all sorts of rare treasures are buried underground. We''re gathering them in the treasury, but the first treasury is already full, so we''re piling them in the second treasury, and I can''t even guess how much more is buried. "Kyuuung!" "Do we really need to extract magic stones? We can just buy them from the celestial realm if we need them, right?" "Kyuuuung!" Our Yong-yong strongly insists that we should do it as a top priority. Surely not... "Is it unique-grade...?" "Kyuung!" He confidently says it''s the same grade or higher. "As expected, our Yong-yong is a bundle of fortune!" "Kyuung!" He rejects my affectionate advances, saying it''s gross. Such a cold-hearted dragon. When I raised my left hand, the Silver Fox Clan twin sisters Rang and Ran appeared from somewhere. "Did you call for us?" "Did you call?" I gave instructions to the twins looking at me. "We need to prioritize extracting magic stones." "Understood." "Got it." With those words, the twins disappeared. Now all we have to do is wait. How convenient is this? Everything gets done with just one word. Since it''s come to this, should I try being a king later...? You know, I want to hear things like "It cannot be, Your Majesty!" like in historical dramas... As I was looking down at the city from the highest building with Yong-yong, dreaming of grand things, I felt a sensation. "Kyuung." "It seems so." Is it because my level has increased? Thanks to my keener senses than before, I could tell. "Come out." Hearing my words, a being revealed itself. A suspicious being wearing a black mask and hood pulled low. "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Traveler Yuna. I am Judge Nia." The mysterious being Nia, who introduced herself as a judge. Holding Yong-yong in my arms, I approached her and asked. "What''s a judge?" "We are beings who observe and judge anomalies occurring in the Arcana continent." Judging by her thin voice and way of speaking, she''s a woman. If that''s the case, this conversation should be easy. "Shall we sit down and talk first?" I offered her a soft chair and served her sweet snacks and fragrant tea on the table. Then I called a warbear. "Kyang!" "Are you the youngest? This is perfect." The youngest of the warbear family. The smallest and cutest in size. I handed the warbear to the judge who was sitting in the soft chair eating sweet snacks. At first, she was flustered, but then she started petting the warbear with careful hands. "Kyang!" The judge was so distracted by the warbear acting cute that she couldn''t focus. "So, what brings you here?" "Uhh... N-no... That is..." As I watched her stammer, I gave the warbear a look. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Telling it to use its ultimate technique. The warbear nodded and acted as cute as it could, causing the judge to make strange noises and bury her face in the warbear''s belly while taking off her mask. A girl with silver hair and red eyes. Seeing her expression melting, it''s a success. Just as planned. 51. Arcana Online 51. Arcana Online51. Arcana Online The girl with a reddened face was earnestly petting the warbear she was holding in her arms. Judge Nia. "I''m sorry..." "It''s okay. These things happen." When I sympathized, saying it couldn''t be helped because our warbear was cute, she nodded. Indeed, cute things are the best in the world. But why are her fangs so sharp? "Your fangs are really big?" "It''s because I''m of the Night Clan." "What? The Night Clan?" S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What''s the Night Clan... "Kyuung!" "Ah... Vampire? That, that, what was it. The race that hates garlic and fears crosses?" "It''s not quite like that..." When I took out garlic bread from my inventory and offered it because the plate was empty, she frowned. She does dislike it...? "I''d appreciate your cooperation with the investigation." "Of course!" As I was curiously watching her while earnestly petting the warbear, wondering by what criteria she would conduct the investigation, she wasn''t doing anything? Her hands were moving diligently though. As she was petting the warbear with a blank expression for a while, I wondered when the investigation would start... "When will you start the investigation?" "I plan to investigate while living with Traveler Yuna for about a month from now." "A month!?" "I''ll be in your care." Aren''t you being too confident? Well, I guess it doesn''t matter if we have one more mouth to feed. "Then I''ll be in your care for a month!" "I''ll be in your care." * * * "What? A judge? What''s that?" "I... I don''t know either... Please save me..." When I explained what happened today to Rea unni, who was helping me stretch by pressing my back from behind, she said she didn''t know either. "I didn''t know there were beings dispatched when anomalies occur. The operation team has never intervened before." "And she introduced herself as part of the Night Clan, so she''s a vampire, right?" "N-Night Clan!?" A startled tone. After finishing the stretching, I continued the conversation while drinking a glass of warm milk. "We once invaded the Night Clan''s castle during an event." At that time, numerous players flocked there along with the top 10 guilds. The result was the players'' defeat. A complete defeat, at that. "We only met one member of the Night Clan then. And it wasn''t even a True Ancestor, just a regular vampire." True Ancestor Meaning the true progenitor, those who were vampires from the beginning. Regular vampires are those created by True Ancestors, while True Ancestors are beings born as vampires. The method of distinguishing them is simple. If they have silver hair and red eyes, they''re True Ancestors. All others have different hair and eye colors. Then the judge who came to me is a True Ancestor. "A True Ancestor came." With those words, I patted Rea unni''s back as she was coughing, having choked, and her pupils shook. "B-be careful! The Night Clan is a truly dangerous race! Especially a True Ancestor..." "It''s okay. There must be a way." As I was drinking a glass of warm milk, Rea unni looked at me intently. "Um, it''s a bit awkward to say this, but there''s something I want to ask." I looked at Rea unni, who spoke in a serious voice, and she looked at me with a determined expression. "You know that what you''re doing now is causing harm to many players enjoying Arcana Online, right...?" In a game where you hunt monsters, my actions of talking about monster rights, building a city, and gathering them in one place can''t be seen positively by other players. After thinking for a while, this is the conclusion I came to. "I don''t intend to interfere with players'' hunting. But the children who have come into my arms are already family. I will protect them." Arcana Online is vast. Even just the currently revealed continent has numerous monsters and races living in it. Among them, of course, there are races that attack humans first. "I don''t intend to interfere with what happens outside my territory. So you don''t need to worry." "That''s a relief." Rea unni said she was worried about what would happen if I suddenly declared war on all countries and players. If I hadn''t obtained the ''Shrink!'' skill... "Th-there''s no way that would happen, right...?" "Why are you stuttering?" "Ahaha! The milk is delicious!" As she looked at me suspiciously, I avoided her gaze while sweating. I, I know nothing about this. At that moment, a brilliant idea occurred to me. Cuteness is justice. What if monsters that used to attack or couldn''t even be approached now act cute in adorable forms? "I''ve had a great idea!" "Huh? What idea?" When I explained my thoughts, Rea unni pondered for a while and then spoke positively. "That''s not bad. If we market it as an event city for visiting players..." Like cat cafes or dog cafes, cute creatures showing affection to you...? This could work. Then we can somewhat resolve the negative perception players currently have, and it won''t look bad to the administrators either. "I need to implement this right away!" "Then the guild will help with promotion." "Really!? Thank you, Rea unni!" "But there''s a condition." She''s smiling mischievously, what kind of condition could it be...? * * * [Did you know that the Golden City of Eldorado, one of the 7 Magic Realms, has changed into an event city?] When you visit, incredibly cute creatures welcome you. I nearly had a heart attack. You guys should definitely go once. [Comments] - What does this mean? - What did it change into? - Is it a pet cafe? lol - So how cute are they? [You''re missing out on life if you don''t visit while playing Arcana Online (photo)] Can you see the photo? These cute creatures welcome you! With affection, no less! I think I''m going to die... [Comments] - Where is this? - [Author] The Golden City of Eldorado! - Change the name to the City of Cuteness lol - Wow, they''re cute... [Eldorado City Tour Report (photo)] As soon as you enter, cute creatures welcome you. This place is heaven! I want to live here if possible, but the overnight fee is incredibly expensive... Oh! Look over there! The cute creatures are having a parade... [Comments] - That fox-like one is so cute!! - There''s a bear next to it too!? - There are dragon-like ones too!! The Golden City of Eldorado is heating up the community. The number of players flocking to the city is increasing day by day. When you pay the entrance fee and go inside, one mascot follows each player. They''re randomly assigned at the entrance, but you can choose the mascot you want if you pay an additional fee. The assigned mascot can guide you or you can spend leisurely time eating snacks together. Physical contact is also possible, but that''s a paid service. "Let me do just one belly rub!" "Kyang!" The warbear hands a menu to the player. "100,000 gold!?" The fees are expensive, but 98 out of 100 people are satisfied. However, the saying that out of every 5 people, 1 is trash isn''t for nothing. "What kind of service is this!? Tell the manager to come out!" When troublemakers appear, the Silver Fox Clan deals with them. Of course, by force. The only rule that exists in the Golden City of Eldorado. [Let''s all get along well.] There are no exceptions. Even if you boast about being from a top 10 guild, the Silver Fox Clan doesn''t listen and drags you out or forces you to log out. And this content is notified before entry. "Kyuuung!" "Right. They''re working hard." At first, a few monsters dealt with players as a trial operation, but day by day, more monsters are volunteering. When I proposed the condition of converting all their earnings into magic stones, the warbear family started working the hardest. "Indeed, money talks." "Kyuuung." Our Yong-yong is looking with disdainful eyes, asking how old they are to be acting cute to humans. I decided not to say anything. Then I hear a knock. "Come in." The Silver Fox Clan twin sister Rang entered. "Here''s this week''s report." "Thank you." As I check the documents, they''re earning this much...? They''re earning enough to make your eyes pop out every day. Everyone''s really serious about cuteness...? The scenery spread out beyond the window. Both monsters and players are all smiling happily. 52. Arcana Online 52. Arcana Online52. Arcana Online To be honest, I was planning to run the business for about a month to deceive the judge and then end it, but I changed my mind. Not only are the sales good, but the faces of both players and monsters are bright. Looking at the monsters who seem happier than before, along with scenery I''ve never seen before, I thought it might be okay to keep this going. I got up from my seat and headed to a new area with Yong-yong. Currently, Eldorado is divided into 4 areas, and a 5th area is being constructed. Areas 1 and 2 are accessible to outsiders, but from area 3 onwards, it''s not possible. There are monsters who like players, but there are also children who don''t, so we operate by dividing the areas. If someone were to sneak in, it would be a big problem. Of course, I mean the players. As I entered area 3, monsters welcomed me. "It''s narrow, right? I''ll expand it soon." As I was spending time petting the monsters, a child from one corner approached me. A child I brought from one of the 7 Magic Realms, ''The Area Where Sky and Earth Meet''. It''s in the form of a small golem. It approached me and spoke while waving both hands. "Hm? You want to go to area 1 too?" It nodded. Sometimes, monsters from areas 3 or 4 express their desire to go to areas 1 and 2. I gladly permitted it and raised my hand, and the Silver Fox Clan twin sister Ran appeared. "Did you call?" "This child wants to go to area 1." "I''ll take them." I waved to the golem toddling along holding Ran''s hand and checked on the condition of other monsters. While everyone was spending time leisurely, I heard a disgruntled voice. "Grrrr!" "Hmm? You want to hunt?" "Woof woof!!" A miniature-sized wolf says it wants to hunt, but where should it do that...? I thought about it, but no ideas came to mind. Should we invade somewhere...? "Kyuung!" "Huh? What did I...?" "Kyuuung!" "Ah, no! I absolutely had no intention of invading!" While making excuses to Yong-yong, who was waving a red flag and calling for revolution, I petted the wolf and said I''d think about it. "It''s not possible right now, but I''ll try my best." "Woof woof!!" When I said I''d give it a week, it felt like I was some kind of loan shark... I met many children and heard their complaints, but most of them said they wanted to hunt. I guess monsters will be monsters after all. Is there no way? As I was pondering, a thought crossed my mind. ''Colosseum.'' Should I hold some kind of event match...? We could set up some good bait... I mean, prizes for the players... Our monsters won''t lose anyway, right? Even if they do lose, I can revive them... Perfect. "Alright! Shall we try it right away!?" "Kyuung?" * * * Something started being constructed in a corner of Eldorado. As one or two days passed, its outline became clear - a Colosseum...? And flyers were being distributed. [Event Match!] An event where you can compete with pretty, cute, and lovable monsters! [Grand Prize] Unique-grade magic stone (current market price 200 million gold) [Participation Prize] Mascot designation rights (after 5 participations) The event starts in 3 days. Numerous players began to apply. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It''s beneficial just to participate, but if you win, it''s 200 million gold. "How is it? Quite a crowd, right?" "Kyuung!" "What!? No way!" It says it wants to participate too, but how could that be possible? Are you planning to turn this place into a sea of fire? I moved to area 3 with Yong-yong and told this news to the monsters. "Enjoy to your heart''s content!" The monsters looked excited after hearing my words. They all seem to be looking forward to it. They''re deciding among themselves who will go first. I prepared for this. Even though the Colosseum is large, there''s a limit. But if you use money, it''s a different story. An item I prepared by asking Lala Trading: [Expand Space Space!] Expands a certain space. With this item, we can expand the space. Of course, it costs an enormous amount of money, but we can somewhat make up for it with the money we receive as admission fees. Three days passed. I sat in the VIP seats with Judge Nia to watch. The viewing seats are priced differently for each tier, from C-grade to VIP seats. Many players participated, and quite a few gathered to watch. As the whistle blew to signal the start of the match, players entered the arena one by one. "Thank you all for participating in the 1st Chaotic Battle Royale! I''m Ran of the Silver Fox Clan, and I''ll be your MC for this match!" The usually lazy-faced twin sister Ran was now excitedly enjoying herself. "Sister, you''re so pretty!!!" "Big sis, take me!!!" The Silver Fox Clan is popular because they all have idol-like appearances along with fox ears and tails. As the players cheered, she announced the start of the match. "Now then, let''s start the first match! The rules are simple! Just survive until the end!" With those words, the players inside the space tensely gripped their weapons. From the opposite entrance, cute monsters started entering one by one. From golems making "pitter-patter" sounds as they walked, to small wolves walking with elegant steps. Because all the monsters had cute appearances, jeers erupted from the spectator seats. "You bastards!! Don''t bully our beauties!!" "Don''t you feel sorry for them!!" Just as the participants were about to say something in disbelief at those words, the whistle blew. "The first match will now begin!!" Along with the whistle signaling the start of the match, an anomaly occurred. The golem that was cute and small just moments ago changed to a size exceeding 30m, and the wolf with elegant steps returned to its original size. A player who knew their identity dropped their weapon. "Fe-Fenrir!? H-how can we beat that!?" A monster that was active as the leader in the Magic Realm called ''The Snowy Mountain of Death Where Blizzards Rage''. As it exhaled white breath, players started freezing. When the giant golem charged, players scattered in panic. As dozens of such monsters charged, the spectator seats were at a loss for words. Perhaps because they realized the true identity of the children they were playing with cutely. There were even players tremblingly looking at the mascots they had been cuddling and playing with. I was watching this scene with Judge Nia. "How is it? Isn''t it fascinating to see monsters and humans living together?" "It looks more like they''re terrified to me." "That can''t be." As I was watching the match with a light smile, the whistle blew, and the monsters returned, seemingly satisfied, while the players disappeared with a bright light. "Travelers are revived anyway, right?" "That''s right." Travelers'' souls are known not to be bound to this world and travel numerous worlds, so they''re known as beings who don''t die even if they die. Knowing this, Judge Nia didn''t say much either. "How has it been living here so far?" "......" She''s exercising her right to remain silent, but will she tell me the results a month later? "Shall we watch the next match now?" "Yes." As if using the ''Expand Space Space!'' item, the space started to expand, and when I used a pre-prepared item, the empty space changed into a vast forest. We created it like reality using illusion magic, which would have been difficult without Arcadia''s cooperation. Illusion magic installed with a unique-grade magic stone as the trade condition. From the second match, the format changes. "The next match is a treasure hunt!" Some players who participated in the first match respawned and re-entered, while new players also joined. This match is literally about finding treasure to win! There''s no need to fight monsters, just find the treasure somehow and you win. Is that why more are participating than in the first match? Numerous players participated, and when preparations seemed complete, MC Ran''s voice echoed. "Thank you for waiting! The second match will now begin!! In this match, you don''t need to fight, just find the treasure hidden in the forest and return to the starting point!" As the match started, some players ran out while others lurked around the starting point. They''re probably planning to ambush and steal from players returning with the treasure. But there''s one fact they don''t know. It''s not just players at the starting point. 53. Arcana Online 53. Arcana Online53. Arcana Online Some players using stealth skills were hiding at the starting point. They probably planned to steal the treasure from other players who found and brought it back. But that thought was foolish. Monsters began to reveal themselves one by one at the starting point. Huge warbears appeared. "Groar!" "W-wait a minute!?" The warbears shouted "No need for questions!" and sent the players flying. The 30m-sized warbears hunted all the hidden players and started walking into the forest. Among the spectating players, some looked at the warbears acting cute in their arms. "Y-you... can you transform like that too...?" "Kyang!" It acted cute, pretending not to know anything. As players petted them thinking "I guess so," everything was being recorded without missing a beat. All physical contact is a paid service that will be billed later in bulk. Judge Nia was looking down at this scene with a blank expression. "How is it? Everyone looks happy, right? At this rate, it doesn''t seem like it would harm the Arcana continent, right?" "No comment. There''s still a lot of time left." My words lacked persuasiveness as I earnestly petted the warbear nestled in my arms. After some time passed, the first player to find the treasure appeared. The treasure was, of all things, a [One-day Date Pass]. A treasure that allows you to go on a date with the mascot of your choice for a day on a predetermined course. The Silver Fox Clan had perfectly planned the entire schedule. The player who confirmed the treasure started running towards the starting point. If they just make it back, they''ll be first place. But no one was going to let that happen quietly. From players trying to steal it to monsters starting to swarm. The player panicked at the sight of them charging through trees, was finally caught, and had the treasure stolen by another player. It turned into chaos, but the spectating players loved it. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After much struggle, a player brought the treasure to the starting point and took first place, followed by one or two more players returning with treasures. Two choices were given to the players lying face down on the ground, gasping for breath. Whether to be satisfied with the current reward, or to advance to round 3 with the reward at stake. If they win in round 3, they can get an additional unique-grade magic stone. However, players satisfied with their current rewards exited the Colosseum, and only one player decided to advance to round 3. "What''s round 3?" "It''s simple." A simple round where you just need to get past the gatekeeper and put your reward in the box. It''s set up almost like an event match, so anyone can easily succeed. If it''s too difficult, players might not participate later, right? The arena changed with a tremor. An atmosphere like an audience chamber. A skeleton sitting on a huge throne. You just need to get past the skeleton and put the reward from round 2 in the box behind the throne. The player, thinking it was a regular skeleton, easily put it in the box and won. A few players who realized it was an event match looked regretful, but they''ll learn the truth later. That it was easy to pass because there was only one person now. "A skeleton... no, an arch lich?" "That''s right! It was hard to get! And it''s a Grand Magician level one!" One of the 7 Magic Realms. I was able to get it from ''The Library Containing the Truth of the World''. If Yong-yong hadn''t stepped up then, we would have been in trouble. There are only two conditions that interest an arch lich. A strong player. Or it will respond if two or more players challenge it. The player who advanced to round 3 was too weak, so the uninterested arch lich stayed still, allowing them to pass easily. This should be good enough for promotional effect. After the event ended, disappointed players dispersed, and I took a walk around the village with Judge Nia. I allowed her to accompany me from area 3 onward on the condition that she''d come with me. Seeing how she can''t resist cute things, she''ll probably go crazy when we enter area 4. Area 4 is especially full of cute monsters. As we entered, monsters that spotted me swarmed around, but Judge Nia wasn''t going to just stand still watching this scene. She took the monsters into her arms and showered them with all sorts of affection, but strangely, she was quiet. Usually, these children hate humans, but is it because she''s not human? "Are you okay with this?" "Woof woof!" Fenrir, who moved from area 3 to area 4, says. That she''s a terrifying being... It says she''s not cuddling voluntarily, but to this extent...? Even Fenrir, a monster that used to rule one of the Magic Realms, is meekly cuddling in fear. Just how strong is she? Should I recruit her...? "Judge Nia! Do you want to use one of these!?" I held out a magic stone to the Judge buried among the monsters. She stared at it for a while and then refused. "I have no intention of being bound to anyone." The Judge flatly refused. But such things are useless in front of fluffy creatures. "I''ll let you spend time with the children whenever you want!" For a moment, her pupils shook as she flinched. "By the way, if you help me, we can go get even more fluffy creatures!" "M-more fluffy creatures than this...?" When I held out the magic stone to the Judge, who was drooling and letting her imagination run wild, she immediately used it. At that moment, messages popped up. [An anomaly has been detected in the dispatched judge.] [An anomaly has been detected in the dispatched judge.] [An anomaly has been detected in the dispatched judge.] [An anomaly has been detected in the dispatched judge.] The messages displayed in red seem to indicate something big has happened? Then in an instant, all the messages disappeared and a golden message appeared. [Danger of the Golden City: Eldorado confirmed.] [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [CHAPTER 3: Destroy the Golden City of Eldorado.] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 167 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] "Huh...?" * * * [Did you check the main scenario quest?] It says to destroy the Golden City of Eldorado? [Comments] - Are you crazy? The kids there are so cute!! - I''m going to protest to the game company!!!! - This is animal abuse!!!! [We oppose the main scenario quest! (photo)] Can you see the photo? Are you planning to take away the home of these cute children? Are you even human? [Comments] - Even real demons wouldn''t make a quest like this. - I''ve become best friends with a warbear there!! - My bear said it would wait for me tomorrow!! [But isn''t it just a game?] Why are you getting so immersed? Don''t you know it''s just a game? [Comments] - I might not see the game, but I can see your parents'' burning hearts as they watch you. - Instead of spouting such nonsense, go be filial to your parents. - Are you even human? Doesn''t seem like it. [Do you know how good the main scenario quest rewards are?] Did you forget the rewards other users received last time, except for first place? I''m definitely participating. [Comments] - Can''t resist the rewards lol - Isn''t it just a game anyway? lol - Monsters revive when they die, don''t they? - [Author] Do they revive? Community opinion was split in half. From how good the main scenario quest rewards are, to those saying to treat the game as a game, and those opposing how we could hunt such cute children. Isn''t it a battlefield rather than a community? I closed the burning community and consulted with Rea unni. "Our guild is absolutely on Yuna''s side. So we need to gather forces from now on." "Then I''ll go around asking for help from other monsters." "We''ll try to recruit players to our guild somehow." Rea unni confidently said we could attract as many players as possible since public sentiment is not bad currently. "But you know we can''t help for free, right?" "Ah, if you mean magic stones..." "That''s not what I''m looking for." Rea unni smiled mischievously. What on earth does she want? "I don''t want much. All the guild members agreed to this too." Then she whispered in my ear. To call her unni and oppa. "Th-that''s impossible!" "You can do it! It''s about overcoming your trauma and taking a step forward!" She held my hand tightly and said confidently that I could do it, but it''s driving me crazy. What am I supposed to overcome!? 54. Arcana Online 54. Arcana Online54. Arcana Online [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [CHAPTER 3: Destroy the Golden City of Eldorado.] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 143 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] A day had passed. I posted a notice saying we were temporarily suspending operations and focused on defense. If I had known this would happen, I shouldn''t have destroyed the city walls! "I have a favor to ask. Will five days be enough?" "What!? Five days!? Absolutely not!" When I told the dwarves who were shocked that I''d provide them with monsters, they sighed and said they''d try their best somehow. As expected, they''re reliable. So, how much can we defend with the monsters we have now? Most players say they''ll help us, but we can''t let our guard down. We don''t know what the Arcana management might do. Even if we ask for help from the celestial and demon realms, the odds are uncertain. Hugging Yong-yong who was comforting me in my arms, I headed to the conference room to recruit new monsters. Representatives from each race were gathered in the conference room. When I entered, everyone stood up. "Don''t feel burdened, please be comfortable." "We can''t do that, benefactor." When Rang, the Silver Fox Clan twin sister, spoke up, everyone nodded. Chief-level monsters of various races who had completed their evolution by eating magic stones were looking at me. I sat down and started the meeting. "The world is targeting our ''home''." It''s a city, village, and home where numerous races live together. "I''ll do whatever it takes to protect our home." * * * [Time remaining until invasion begins: 23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] After spending the busiest time ever, only one day remained. We finished all preparations to protect our home by persuading numerous monsters. Is it just final adjustments during the remaining time now? I heard hurried footsteps, and the door opened with a knock. "Benefactor! Big trouble!" "What? What is it?" Ran of the Silver Fox Clan took me to the city walls. With Yong-yong''s help, I climbed up the wall and looked in the direction Ran was pointing, and numerous players had gathered. There''s still a day left, but have they already attacked? Then I saw someone waving in the distance - Rea unni!? "Yunaaaa!! We''re here!!" She brought numerous players, most of whom I''ve seen before. Players who suspiciously have a lot of money. They''re regular customers of our city. I didn''t know they were the leaders of the top 10 guilds. When I opened the door and greeted the players, their expressions were bright. From people laughing casually saying they brought all their guild members, to guild leaders asking to see their bear just once. There really are all sorts of people. Fortunately, with the joining of numerous players, we gained some chance of winning. I assigned defense positions to the joined players and prepared for channel integration. We''re currently operating on channel 1 for business, but if players from other channels rush in, an enormous number of players will gather. After finishing the meeting that lasted all night, I entered my room to find Judge Nia waiting for me. As soon as she saw me, she stood up and bowed her head. "I''m sorry. I didn''t know it would turn out like this because of me." "No. It''s not your fault, Nia." When I held her hand and told her it was something that would have happened eventually, she shed tears. "It''s okay." "I''m really sorry." When I wiped her tears, she awkwardly avoided my gaze, but why is she like this? I told her to stay away for a while because we don''t know how the management will react, but Nia refused. "I''ll help too. It might be small, but I can be of some help." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If a judge and True Ancestor vampire helps, it will be reassuring. "Really!? Welcome!" When I hugged Nia, she struggled for a bit but then patted my back. Doesn''t this increase our chances somewhat? The promised time approached quickly. [Time remaining until invasion begins: 00 hours 59 minutes 00 seconds] While numerous monsters and players were gathered in one place preparing with tense hearts, an anomaly occurred. [Channels are being integrated due to the main quest.] Numerous players revealed themselves, but the players revealing themselves inside the castle are on our side, and those outside are enemies. Players on the walls jeered. "You trash! Are you going to attack these cute creatures!?" A shout retaliating against those words. "Look around! Where are the cute creatures!" The tiny monsters had all released their skills and returned to their original state. And this is just excluding some of the large monsters. And time passed. [Time remaining until invasion begins: 00 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds] [CHAPTER 3: Destroy the Golden City of Eldorado.] Invasion begins. As I was looking down at the players with a tense heart, nothing unusual happened. Even the hostile players seemed confused and were in chaos. Then, something black started flying in to cover the distant sky. It was too far to see clearly, but looking closely, a swarm of bats was flying in. "Bats?" "They''re not bats." Rea unni told me in a tense voice. They gathered around the players standing on the hostile side and revealed themselves one by one. Beings appearing while fluttering black cloaks. Judging by their sharp fangs, they''re of the Night Clan. The hostile forces cheered at their joining, while our forces despaired. I didn''t expect the Night Clan to come in such numbers. "W-why are there so many..." The leaders of the top 10 guilds who had experienced total annihilation by just one of them all had despairing expressions. Their number was roughly several hundred. As they slowly approached one by one. They''re attacking the players trying to attack the walls!? "Team kill...?" "Huh...?" The Night Clan was personally taking care of the hostile players. They logged out the players who were wailing about not being on the same side one by one, and only the Night Clan remained. They knelt on one knee in front of the city gate. "We''ve come to escort Mother." Who''s Mother now? Then Judge Nia revealed herself. Fluttering her long silver hair, she slowly descended to the bottom of the wall and extended her hand to them. "I have violated the contract made with the Beginning, so I am a traitor." "That''s not true, Mother." One of them slowly approached. A young girl with hair color close to silver and pink eyes. She has the appearance most similar to the Judge. "To us, there is only one Mother. Respecting Mother''s will, we of the Night Clan will follow you." "......" I''m sorry for the touching atmosphere, but all of this happened because of our children. No, to be precise, because they were fooled... As all the Night Clan turned to our side, a new alert window popped up. [CHAPTER 3: Destroy the Golden City of Eldorado.] Failed. [History is being altered.] [The main scenario quest is changing.] [CHAPTER 3: Revitalize the Golden City of Eldorado.] [Time remaining: 719 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] The main scenario quest changed. It says to revitalize the city within a month. As I was checking the quest with a dumbfounded expression, Rea unni approached me. "I checked the quest. Saying to revitalize without clear criteria..." "The game company is always like that. It seems we''ll need everyone''s strength." She grumbled that they''ve never been kind even once and summoned the other guild leaders. "I''ll compile the opinions of the top 10 guilds and let Yuna know." "I''ll hold a meeting with our side''s children." It seems better to organize the opinions of both sides separately in this situation. I created a meeting place for the player side and called the representatives of each race again. Judge Nia also attended this meeting as a representative of the Night Clan. Judge Nia probably has the most information in this situation. She provided information, excluding what she couldn''t say. "So you''re saying the operator, no, the Beginning is the cause of everything?" "A being older than the World Tree. The beginning and end of this star." The scale is bigger than I thought. I just wanted to enjoy the game while waving the flag of revolution...? 55. Arcana Online 55. Arcana Online55. Arcana Online After a full day of meetings, we decided to use the plan that the majority approved. What I recommended was invasion. Historically, there are several ways to revitalize a country, but this is the simplest and most effective method. It was rejected though. "We don''t know what kind of fault they might find later." "Heeeng." Among various opinions, the plan that was passed was to expand the city and extend the business. "First, we should expand the business we''re currently running and systematically reorganize the city." Although expansion up to the 5th area was completed, only areas 1 and 2 were actually open to outsiders. Areas 3 to 5 were zones where monsters lived, and there was a proposal to open these areas and make individuals responsible for any accidents that occur within them. "Hunting... no, travelers who suffer unfortunate accidents can''t be helped." Ran, the Silver Fox Clan twin sister, said with a grin. She got hit on the head by her older sister and was grumbling, but it''s not a bad plan. It seems difficult to use the Colosseum for a while, so it''s hard to satisfy the monsters'' desires, but isn''t this method okay? If we place prettier and rarer monsters as the areas progress to stimulate adventurousness... "Not bad, right? Let''s adopt that method for now, and what other plans are there?" "I''ll explain the plan to expand the city." The dwarf representative stood up and began to explain. The content was to construct new facilities around the Golden City of Eldorado. He said it would be good to create various facilities to attract the footsteps of travelers and otherworld residents. "For details, we''re thinking of making what Yuna called an amusement park...?" He took out a blueprint from his subspace and showed it to us, and it looked quite plausible. Everything from carousels to gyro drops exists. "We''ll use magic stones for power..." As everyone''s eyes were shining during the long explanation, Rang, the Silver Fox Clan twin sister, raised her hand. "It''s a good idea, but we lack manpower. The Silver Fox Clan has its limits." Most of the work is being done by the Silver Fox Clan, but their numbers are insufficient. Is there any good solution? * * * Numerous construction projects were underway around the Golden City of Eldorado. Players trying to raise their contribution were contributing to the city in various ways. "Hey, Kim! Help me here!" S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Coming now!" A player helping the dwarves with work. "We''re short on goods here, so for the next delivery date..." "More than that, please raise the price! There''s nothing left at this rate!" "Oh? The neighboring city would buy it for even cheaper than this..." Even merchants supplying various goods to the Golden City of Eldorado. They were raising their contribution in various ways. Among them, the most helpful person was Catlleya, the guild master of our Frey Guild. Rea unni was teaching me work with her extensive document processing experience. As she was patting my shoulder after a long period of paperwork, I heard a voice. "By the way, Yuna. You haven''t forgotten our contract, right?" "What do you mean? I don''t remember." As I was avoiding her gaze and fidgeting shamelessly, she stared at me intently. "Call me un.ni." "I think there''s a document missing here?" "Un.ni." She was pressuring me by bringing her face close, but I couldn''t think of a way out. A way to escape this situation. With a bleeding heart, one word came out of my mouth. "R-Rea unni." "......" My face turned red like a ripe apple and I lowered my head, but there was no reaction. I slightly raised my head and looked at her. "Y-you''re too cute!" "Hyaak!?" She hugged me joyfully and asked me to call her that once more, but twice is too much. She whispered while hugging me, saying let''s move forward one step at a time, but it''s driving me crazy. What kind of misunderstanding is this!? At that moment, Sasha unni of the Frey Guild entered, breaking down the door. "Leader! I''ve finished the task you... W-w-what are you doing!?" She came in with a bright expression to report that she had finished the assigned work, but when she saw our situation, she blushed and made a fuss. Smiling in this situation, I answered. "Our Yuna called me un.ni." "......" As soon as she heard those words, she approached me with big strides. "Call me that too!" "Twice a day is too much." "You can do it!" "Y-you''re too close!" She was so close I could feel her breath, it was burdensome. That day, I was only released after calling them unni. Speaking based on inherited memories is no problem, but it''s embarrassing. Extremely embarrassing! As I was fanning myself with my hand to cool down, she showed me a document. "This document looks a bit strange?" "Huh? Let me see." It was a document listing the payment for goods supplied by a merchant group, but the amount didn''t match. Are there players trying to cheat even in this situation!? This is too much. "We won''t deal with this merchant group anymore. And please contact the information guild." They tried to rip me off, but if I just let it go, I''m a pushover. These days, once a pushover, always a pushover. Is it because there are many people who maliciously take advantage of kindness? Pushing aside my bitter feelings, I continued with the paperwork. From costs incurred in the city to the increasing incidents and accidents these days. There were conflicts because many travelers were trying to see rare monsters or hunt them secretly. Although we notified in advance that all responsibility lies with the players, there are many strange players these days who don''t even read it and blame others, giving me a headache. Should I just expel them all? After finishing a full night of document organizing and stretching, an enormous amount of documents arrived with a knock. "I''ve brought new documents." "......" Don''t tell me the documents I did were just one day''s worth...? Our Rea unni... no, u-unni who always does this seems amazing. "Have you always been doing this? You''re amazing, Rea unni." "I-it''s nothing." She blushed and covered her face with both hands after hearing me call her unni, this is my chance. "Then I''ll go check on the construction situation!" "Okay. ...What? Where are you going!? Come back right now!" "I''m counting on you! Rea unni!" I came out of the office almost running away and started patrolling from area 1. The sight of numerous players and monsters living mixed together is unfamiliar. Originally, this game was a typical RPG where players hunt monsters to grow. It wasn''t a game like ''Animal Crossing'', but now it looks like one. Somehow, it feels heartwarming. Should I expand the territory more after clearing this main scenario quest? Changing the entire Arcana continent. Into a world where humans and monsters live together in harmony. To do that, conflict with the Avalon Empire and Arcadia is inevitable. Those two countries don''t treat monsters as living beings. They use them as slaves or experimental subjects. That''s probably why they tried to attack our city. To obtain cheap labor or rare materials. Or maybe... "Kyuung." "Hm? It''s nothing." Did it read my troubled thoughts? Our Yong-yong looking at me with worried eyes. When did it start? Our Yong-yong comforting me. Was it from the beginning? While stroking Yong-yong, I passed through area 1 and was entering area 2. While area 1 was mainly commercial, area 2 was being constructed mainly with cultural facilities. They were building various amusement facilities and parks where people can relax comfortably. Areas 3 to 5 were residential areas with houses built to suit the habits of various monsters. The buildings had a European atmosphere, but the interiors were different. When I opened the doorknob of the building at the very front and went inside, I saw a wide meadow. A green field was spread out, and I heard the sound of something running from afar. An item that can create a meadow inside a building. [Create Space Space!] A tool that can create your own space. It''s an expensive item, but it couldn''t be helped. As there are numerous monsters, their living environments are different. Since I brought them this far, I should do at least this much. 56. Arcana Online 56. Arcana Online56. Arcana Online It''s been almost a month since numerous players and monsters joined forces to carry out construction to revitalize Eldorado. [CHAPTER 3: Revitalize the Golden City of Eldorado.] [Time remaining: 23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] Only one day remains, but anyone can see that the city has developed incomparably from a month ago. Unlike before when there were only 5 areas, it has now expanded to 10 areas, and monsters occupy a wider area. Additionally, each guild was given the authority to establish their headquarters. Of course, taxes must be imposed accordingly, but it''s possible to use at a much cheaper price than other cities, and numerous merchants and trading companies have started to enter the city. Merchants with an incredible sense for money wouldn''t miss this, but as initially discussed, Lala Trading holds the monopoly rights. Thanks to that, it didn''t take long for the small-scale trading company to grow into a large-scale one. The building of Lala Trading, which I visited after a long time, was shining brilliantly. When I entered the building, it was bustling with people, and a clerk who spotted me volunteered to guide me to the company head. Following the clerk into the room, I saw Lala buried in documents. "Who is this! If it isn''t my one and only friend!" As soon as she saw me, she jumped out and hugged me, is she that happy? "It''s been a while. Business seems to be going well?" "Of course! Other trading companies and merchants can only sell through our company, and it''s quite lucrative!" She made a gesture towards me, which was so like Lala. I smiled and handed Lala a list of needed items, and she said she''d get them within 3 days. "That''s too late. I''ll give you 12 hours." "Are you a robber!?" "10 hours." "That''s too much!" She burst out angrily and rushed out, but judging by the fact that she didn''t say she couldn''t do it, it seems possible. As expected, it''s good to have one friend, right? At that moment, our Yong-yong pulled me and pointed to a corner. In one corner, unique-grade magic stones were piled up, and it was drooling and looking at them with shining eyes, asking if it could eat them. "Kyuung." "Hmm, a few should be okay, right?" "Kyuuung!" With those words, it rushed in and started devouring the magic stones, but it wasn''t just a few... "S-stop! You can''t eat anymore!" "Kyuung!" Yong-yong, who had eaten half of the magic stones, burped with a satisfied expression. I hugged Yong-yong and was about to leave the scene when at that moment. "I forgot to mention, but you shouldn''t eat the magic stones...?" Lala, who opened the door and came in, was saying this to me while looking at the magic stones piled in the corner, when suddenly her legs gave out and she collapsed. "Where did the magic stones go...?" "W-we ate well and are leaving!" As I was running away saying I''d leave a 5-star review, I heard a scream from behind. It sounds like she''s saying she won''t let this slide, but that must be my imagination. "Kyuung." "Ahaha..." Our Yong-yong saying we should come raid this delicious place again next time. If we do that, we might see a Kraken destroying the city... * * * [CHAPTER 3: Revitalize the Golden City of Eldorado.] [Time remaining: 00 hours 00 minutes 59 seconds] All preparations are complete. Only 1 minute remains. [Channels are being integrated due to the main quest.] The channels were integrated and all players gathered in one place. An unfamiliar scene of numerous players and monsters together. Though I don''t know by what criteria they''ll check the revitalization, we''ve made every preparation and are waiting, and the time has come. [CHAPTER 3: Revitalize the Golden City of Eldorado.] Begin. Along with the golden window, an anomaly occurred. The sky split and the earth cracked, revealing numerous races. Angels and demons appeared in the sky, and from the ground, the World Tree of the middle world appeared along with the Forest Clan and dwarves. Why are you all coming out from there...? The angels and demons were growling at each other as soon as they met. "Do you know how much overtime we have because of you!? We can''t go home!" "Ha! Then you should have been born as demons!" The Forest Clan and dwarves didn''t seem to get along either. "What business do you long-ears have coming here with your heavy bottoms?" "You shorties talk a lot. Small in stature but big in mouth." As I was watching the races fighting each other, an alert window popped up. [We will begin evaluating the Golden City of Eldorado. Representatives of each race, please begin.] From the celestial realm, of course, the Heavenly King came forward and waved at me. "It''s been a while, Yuna. Come visit us sometime." Like the celestial realm, the Demon King stepped forward as the representative of the demon realm. "Don''t play with those chicken wings, come visit the demon realm. Isn''t our Yuna a proud duke of the demon realm?" With those words, they smiled at each other brightly, but it was frightening. From the Forest Clan, the Elder stepped forward and smiled. "Thanks to Yuna, we''re living a peaceful life. Now it''s our turn to repay the kindness we received." Similarly, the representative of the dwarf clan was the grandfather from the Silver Blacksmith Shop who came forward. "It''s been a while, little one. Thanks to our little one''s promotion back then, many people came and business has been great!" The grandfather laughed heartily, saying thanks for the promotion. The system seemed to recognize the situation and a new alert window appeared. [Due to questions about fairness, a new race will be added.] With the alert, a gate was created and merfolk revealed themselves. They''re Sirens. And as soon as she spotted me, the Queen waved. "Savior! It''s been a while!" "Queen! It''s good to see you after so long!" As we greeted each other happily, everyone looked at me with strange eyes. Especially our guild members who looked at me with dumbfounded eyes. "Why does Yuna know everyone!?" "She even knows races I''ve never seen before!?" "Ahaha. I just happened to meet them while doing quests." As we were having this miscellaneous conversation, another golden window appeared. [Due to fairness issues, a new race will be added.] How ugly, System. But unlike before, the atmosphere vibrated and all races began to be on guard. A subspace opened and a being revealed itself. A girl with long straight black hair similar to Dragon King Ernia, snow-white skin, and ruby-red eyes appeared. Then she spotted me and waved. "Yunaaaa! I missed you!!" As I waved back to the girl waving at me, she smiled brightly and teleported in front of me. "Really! You disappeared without saying anything back then, do you know how much I missed you!?" "Who are you!?" She''s talking about feeling hurt without even explaining who she is, but who are you!? At that moment, red warning windows dominated the world. [Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning!] The numerous warning windows continued for a while and then suddenly disappeared as if nothing had happened. And a new golden window appeared. [The evaluation team, please move to Area 1 for inspection.] With the alert to start the evaluation from Area 1, the representatives of each race moved with me. The Heavenly King, who was sticking close to my side and glancing at me, spoke in a cold voice. "Even if our Yuna is involved, if it''s terrible, I''ll cut points mercilessly." "Ahaha. Please go easy on me." "Then can we do that later?" If it''s ''that'', it must be the airplane game... As soon as I nodded with a blushing face, she marked all 10 points on the document. An evaluation document with scores from 0 to 10. "Is it okay to give 10 points without even looking!?" "It''s fine." The other races weren''t going to just sit still seeing this. The Demon King grinning and looking at me, saying she had already marked 10 points. The Forest Clan saying they could give 10 points anytime if it would help their benefactor, and the dwarf who shouted heartily that he wouldn''t give petty scores and marked 10 points. The Siren race marking 10 points saying they''re glad they could help their savior, and even the mysterious girl hugging me and saying 10 points is natural for her sister. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So who are you again!? 57. Arcana Online(Part １ Complete) 57. Arcana Online(Part £± Complete)57. Arcana Online(Part 1 Complete) After the introduction from Area 1 to Area 10 was finished, a message appeared along with a notification that the scores would be tallied. [You have successfully revitalized the Golden City of Eldorado.] Rankings based on contribution are being measured. Please wait a moment. After a while, a message that hadn''t appeared for a long time popped up. [All players who worked to revitalize the Golden City of Eldorado will receive equal rewards.] [Channels will normalize in 1 minute after the quest ends.] Everyone received rewards and the main scenario quest ended, and the channels returned to normal. All players were satisfied with this, and some were even screaming with joy. This kind of reward isn''t bad either. The Heavenly King and Demon King hugged me once each before leaving. And even the mysterious girl. I asked about her identity, but she left with the meaningful words that I''d find out everything later. And then came peace. I was worried about what would happen if we failed, but fortunately, we cleared it. Are we going back to normal life now? * * * A year had passed since I started the game, and I was having tea with Rea unni at the Frey Guild headquarters in the Golden City of Eldorado, which had developed incomparably from before. At that moment, a message appeared. [A Battle Royale event will be held in 30 minutes, please participate.] "Aren''t you participating, Rea unni?" "I''ll pass this time." "Then I''ll be going!" "Take care!" The Battle Royale event is where numerous monsters attack the city, and the rewards and experience are quite good. The monsters that appear are not from the Arcana continent, but from another world. Monsters that pass through dimensional gates attack the city, and it''s the players'' role to stop them. As I was moving to the Battle Royale location riding Yong-yong, I could see fierce battles already taking place in the distance. "Please." Blue particles gathered around and with a huge roar, a breath attack was fired, sweeping away the otherworld monsters, and the quest ended. [The Battle Royale event has ended.] After confirming the message, our Yong-yong flew back to the headquarters. I don''t know how reliable it is. When I arrived at the guild headquarters and opened the door, I heard the sound of firecrackers. ''Pababang!'' "Our youngest is here!?" "What''s going on!?" S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Surprised, I looked around and it was set up like a party. "Today is the 300-day anniversary of our youngest joining the guild!" "You even calculate that!?" As I looked at them with a surprised face, they guided me to a cake, telling me to blow out the candles. This is my first experience of this kind, so I blew out the candles with a "hoo~" and everyone congratulated me. "Our youngest! This is a gift for you!" Sasha unni handed me a gift with her ears twitching. ?Necklace of the Dragon King? When equipped, greatly increases the summoned creature''s stats. A necklace that the Dragon King Ernia received as a coming-of-age gift. If Ernia discovers this necklace, your relationship will turn hostile and she will pursue you until she retrieves her necklace. If you die to Ernia while wearing the necklace, it will disappear and Ernia''s curse will decrease all your stats by 50%. "Where did you get this!?" "We accidentally entered a dragon''s lair and found it there! We swiped it thinking of our youngest!" I''ve met Ernia before. If she finds out about this, she won''t let it slide. ''I''ll be kidnapped again, just like before.'' Ugh, bad memories came back. I thanked them and decided to store it in my inventory forever. And after a long party when I was exhausted, a message appeared. "What''s this." [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [LAST CHAPTER: Another Meeting After Farewell.] [Time remaining: 23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] I checked the newly appeared golden window and looked at it blankly, then turned to our Yong-yong. "Kyuung?" Our Yong-yong tilted its head and asked what''s wrong. I don''t know what''s going on either, but all the guild members have fallen into panic. It was the same with the community. After checking the community that had turned into a chaotic mess, I looked at the guild member unnies and oppas. While everyone was checking the community with dumbfounded expressions, I heard a clapping sound. ''Clap!'' With that sound, I looked at Rea unni. "Let''s wait until tomorrow for now." "R-right. They wouldn''t end the service overnight, right?" "That''s right. They wouldn''t end such a well-made game, right?" She spoke as if she was calm, but her hands were trembling. It''s the same for me. Not knowing what''s going on, I hugged Yong-yong tightly, and it licked me to comfort me as I trembled. "Kyuung." "R-right. Our Yong-yong said it would always be by my side, right?" Maybe it''s a surprise? An event prepared by the game company, I mean. * * * [LAST CHAPTER: Another Meeting After Farewell.] [Time remaining: 00 hours 00 minutes 59 seconds] 1 minute remains. With trembling hearts, we were at the headquarters with the Frey Guild members when the time came. [Thank you for loving Arcana Online all this time.] With those words, starting from our legs, we slowly turned into light and disappeared. This anomaly only happened to all travelers. "N-no! Yong-yong!" "Kyuung!?" With Yong-yong''s surprised voice at the end, the world went dark and I returned to the real world. In a dazed state, I lay on the bed and tried to press the play button to log into the game again, but it was useless. [This game''s service has ended.] With trembling hands, I tried to connect to Arcana Online dozens, no, hundreds of times, but it was useless. [Usage has been suspended due to user abnormality.] With those words, even the gear became unresponsive and tears started to flow. One year. For some, it''s a short time, and for others, it''s a very long time. And I''m included in the latter. The time I''ve spent with Yong-yong until now. And I parted with numerous monsters I had communed with and newly befriended monsters. All in one morning. At first, I denied it, and at some point, I got angry and threw the gear on the floor. And the last emotion that came was just the fact that nothing was left. Then the doorbell rang. It''s Rea unni. With a dejected heart, I didn''t even answer the phone and was in bed when I heard footsteps. "Yuna. Unni is here." "......" "F-first, don''t have any bad thoughts. Unni will solve this somehow." "......" Rea unni''s voice was trembling. Unni must not understand this situation and is having a hard time too, but she thought of me first and came. I understand with my head, but I can''t understand with my heart. Am I worth that much? I don''t know. I don''t know anything. If I sleep and wake up, maybe all of this was just a dream? I''ll wake up again and log into Arcana Online and feed our Yong-yong first. Its taste has become so refined that it won''t eat anything but unique-grade magic stones. Our Yong-yong. It''s not satisfied unless it eats three meals a day, plus snacks and late-night meals, what should I do? I''m sorry. When I go in, I''ll make sure to give you delicious magic stones. * * * I woke up to the sound of the bell and hurriedly picked up the gear I had thrown, but it was useless to try to connect to Arcana Online. [This game does not exist.] An alert window that appears as if it never existed from the beginning. It''s all reality. Wiping the tears flowing from my eyes, I got up and looked at the scenery outside the window. What I see is a residential area. This is reality, but it''s not reality for me. What should I do from now on...? I... I... No matter how much I think, my head won''t work. Then I heard footsteps and my room door opened, and Rea unni, who found me, rushed over and hugged me. "N-no! You can''t have bad thoughts!" "......" I understand what kind of misunderstanding she''s having. It might not be a misunderstanding. Rea unni, hugging me and crying. She says it''s too early to give up and let''s find a way together. At that moment, there was a tremendous vibration and the ground shook, and an earthquake occurred. Rea unni hugged and protected me. After a long earthquake, the house turned into a mess. When the earthquake stopped, Rea unni asked if I was okay. Just as I was about to say I was fine. She pointed outside the window and looked at the sky with a blank expression. Not knowing what she was pointing at, I looked up at the sky, and at that moment. Huge letters were floating in the sky. [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [CHAPTER 1: ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö.] [Time remaining: 719 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] 58. Arcana Continent 58. Arcana Continent58. Arcana Continent The world was in chaos due to the huge letters floating in the sky. From people saying it was an American conspiracy to doomsayers claiming the end of the world was near, there were all sorts of reactions, but those who had played Arcana Online knew. This news spread quickly due to the tens of billions of Arcana Online users worldwide, and it was reported on the news all day. And I decided to live with Rea unni at her house for a while. She must be worried about leaving me alone. "If there''s anything uncomfortable, tell me right away. Unni will solve it for you." "I''m comfortable now. And I''ve been coming and going every day for exercise, so what could be uncomfortable?" I reassured Rea unni and checked the numbers floating in the sky. There''s still a long way to go. Whatever those numbers mean, I don''t care as long as I can meet Yong-yong again. While I spent time looking up at the sky every day, Rea unni was contacting other guild members to prepare for any possible situation. Today, we''re on our way to meet with guild members for a meeting, riding in Rea unni''s car. "It''s your first time seeing guild members in reality, right?" "Yes. I always saw them at the guild headquarters." "They''re all nice, so there won''t be any big problems." When we entered the restaurant where we were supposed to meet, we followed the staff member who guided us to a room. Several people were gathered there. They''re faces I always saw in the game, but they feel unfamiliar. Above all, it''s so strange that Sasha unni doesn''t have ears on her head. "Kyaa! Our Yuna is cute in reality too? No, she seems even cuter!?" Sasha unni hugged me joyfully. "Sasha unni feels unfamiliar without ears and tail." "What!? Say that again!" "It hurts!!!" She was stretching my cheeks with an evil smile, and if Rea unni hadn''t saved me, my cheeks would have become plump. Sitting down and holding my stinging cheeks, Rea unni started talking. "We don''t know what the letters floating in the sky mean, but one thing is certain. It''s related to Arcana Online." "Then, like in novels, it might appear in reality?" "There''s a possibility." Rea unni talked about the anomaly that occurred in Arcana Online. "You made many monsters existing on the continent into summons, right? Then at some point, beings called otherworld monsters started attacking the Arcana continent." With those words, she used the beam projector she brought. And numerous videos played on the screen. "Among them, I heard from a friend working in the celestial realm. They said that angels above the archangel level gather every day to talk about the otherworld." It was known that they used every means possible to stop the invading beings from the otherworld, but the frequency of attacks on cities increased, and the damage occurred even in the celestial and demon realms. "And with the sudden announcement of service termination and the letters floating in the sky, I thought that they might be able to intervene in the real world." "Come on, leader. Is that possible? It''s not a novel." "If you''re curious, look at the sky." "It''s possible." Sasha unni scratched her head. She held my hand tightly, telling me to stay still, and she was happy. "Now, the question here is how Arcana Online will intervene in reality." There are two most likely possibilities. The first is that the Arcana continent appears in the real world, and the second is that we move to the Arcana continent. If the first happens, since 70% of the Earth''s surface is ocean, the continent might appear on the sea, and in the case of the second... "We''d move to the Arcana continent like logging into Arcana Online. You know, like possession in novels?" Then Sasha unni raised her hand and asked a question. "Then is the first one better, or the second one?" "Hmm, I don''t know either." If monsters appear in reality, there will be chaos, and if we move to the Arcana continent, there will be problems with missing persons. In short, she''s saying both are serious problems. Honestly, it doesn''t matter to me. It''s not the world I originally lived in. I just need to see our Yong-yong again. In the car returning with Rea unni after finishing the meal. She keeps glancing at me, but why? "Do you have something to say?" "No!?" She was flustered and focused on driving, but after a while, she glanced at me again. Why? Is my expression bad? After arriving home, I said goodbye to Rea unni and went to my room. I could see the sky through the window and the floating letters. [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [CHAPTER 1: ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö.] [Time remaining: 419 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] "Not much time left now. Just wait a little longer." * * * The time has finally come. [Time remaining: 00 hours 00 minutes 59 seconds] Only 1 minute remains. Can I finally meet our Yong-yong? [Time remaining: 00 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds] [Integration of Arcana continent and Earth No.562 will begin.] Integration...? No, more than that, what''s that number in front of Earth? It''s not just Earth, but No.562. Then does that mean it''s the 562nd Earth...? After the alert window saying the integration was complete, nothing unusual happened, and I don''t understand what''s going on. "W-what... Why is nothing happening!?" I grabbed Rea unni beside me and spoke, and she turned on the TV urgently with a flustered face, saying that can''t be. [Breaking news! An anomaly has occurred in the Pacific Ocean!] Checking the news, satellite images showed a continent appearing in the Pacific Ocean. That continent had a shape I''d seen somewhere before. "Has the Arcana continent appeared!?" "I-it seems so!" The first hypothesis was correct. But the problem is that we can''t go to the Arcana continent right away. The government is controlling the citizens and saying they''re dispatching soldiers from each country for investigation. The broadcast was filming helicopters approaching the Arcana continent when an anomaly occurred. A huge barrier was spread around the Arcana continent. The broadcast screen changed quickly after showing helicopters being destroyed by colliding with the barrier. As I was blankly watching TV, another breaking news appeared on the broadcast, and letters were displayed in the sky. [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [CHAPTER 2: ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö.] [Time remaining: 239 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] Now that the Arcana continent has appeared, next is the celestial or demon realm. If not that, then it''s the turn of the afterlife realm to appear. More than that, I want to see Yong-yong soon. I can see the Arcana continent through the screen, so why can''t I go meet him? Why... At that moment, a golden alert window appeared. [Synchronization will begin.] With those words, blue particles started to envelop me. The same phenomenon occurred to Rea unni beside me. "W-what is this..." While we were flustered, an alert sounded. [Synchronization successful.] With those words, an anomaly occurred. Something surging from deep within my body. It''s exactly the feeling I had in Arcana Online. Like when using magic. And somehow, I felt like I could do it now. "Yong-yong. Help me." With those words, blue particles started to gather, and our Yong-yong revealed itself. "Kyuung!" "Is it really you, Yong-yong...?" S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Kyuuung!" It''s angry, asking if I''ve forgotten its face after not seeing it for a month, but tears are falling from my eyes. Our Yong-yong missed me too. I knew but... I knew but once again... "Yong-yong. You''ll be by my side for the rest of my life, right? Right? You won''t leave without saying anything?" "Kyuuung!" Our Yong-yong, licking my tears and saying it will be with me for life. Ah, our Yong-yong. As I was hugging it for a while, our Yong-yong said. "Kyuung." It wants food. "W-wait a moment, okay?" I shouted "Inventory!" but nothing appeared. Have all the items in my inventory disappeared? As I was despairing, I heard a voice. "Kyuung." "Hm? You''re saying to imagine the item in my mind and put my hand into the air?" 59. Wake up and go to work, right? 59. Wake up and go to work, right?59. Wake up and go to work, right? When I stretched my hand into the air while imagining a magic stone, it felt like my hand was being sucked into something, as if I had put it into a pocket. Inside, I felt something. When I pulled my hand out with it, there was a magic stone in my hand. "How fascinating. So that''s how it works." "Kyuung!" I handed it to Yong-yong, who was saying to hurry up and give it to him as he had starved for a month, and he swallowed it in one bite. Yong-yong was staring at me intently. He wanted more. "Just wait a moment." It''s still awkward, so it takes a bit of time. Our Yong-yong was eating everything I took out. It''s a strange sensation. Just by putting my hand into the space, an image of what''s inside appears in my mind. While Yong-yong, who had eaten his fill of magic stones and had a full belly, was cuddling up to me and acting cute, Rea unni approached. With a weapon she had taken out of her subspace, just like me. "To be able to use game abilities in reality..." Rea unni, who had been muttering blankly, came to her senses and said she would contact the guild members and told me to stay at home, then rushed out, leaving just the two of us. But I wonder if the others are doing well. "Is everyone doing well?" "Kyuung." Our Yong-yong tells me not to worry, saying that the Silver Fox Clan is managing things so there aren''t any big problems. More than that, he says he''s curious about this world and asks me to guide him. "This is your first time in our world? Then shall we go sightseeing?" "Kyuuung!" Rea unni said it was dangerous and told me not to go out, but our Yong-yong is by my side. Well, what could possibly happen? As we went outside and were walking around showing him our world, it was noisy. What''s going on? Looking around, there were people running and jumping on rooftops, and people wearing dazzling armor. All sorts of people were acting crazy. They were making a fuss, shouting strange things, seemingly enjoying themselves. "Isn''t that inconsiderate to others? Yong-yong." "Kyuung." With those words, all the people causing the commotion collapsed on the spot. Police officers who had been dispatched after receiving reports were escorting the collapsed people. It should be fine, right? More importantly, our Yong-yong was looking around curiously, and it was cute. There were tall buildings in the Arcana continent too, but they''re no comparison to our country. As I was muttering while looking up at the buildings soaring high into the sky. "Kyuung." "Huh? The gods will be angry?" He explains that the reason they don''t build buildings that tall in the Arcana continent is because it''s seen as challenging the gods, and the gods won''t leave it be. Are there really gods? Why have I never seen them? As I was showing him around various new things, a commotion broke out here too. There were people who couldn''t control their powers and were trying to show off, so the moment I spoke to Yong-yong. The people collapsed on the spot. Really. Even if they suddenly gained powers, isn''t it inconsiderate to act like that? Then a ringing sound. It''s Rea unni. "Hello." "Yuna!? Where are you!? It''s dangerous outside right now, so hurry home!" "I was showing Yong-yong around our world. I''ll come back now." Anyway, our Rea unni worries too much. On one hand, I''m grateful. Unni who takes care of me like family when I have no family. As I returned home with light steps, all the guild members were gathered. Everyone looked just like they did in Arcana Online. "Sasha unni, you''ve grown ears on your head?" "That''s right! How can I go outside like this!? People think I''m cosplaying!" As I stroked Sasha unni''s head while she was complaining, I naturally touched her ears and they were quite soft. I could touch them all day if she let me. "Don''t touch." "Just a little bit." As Sasha unni and I were playing around, Rea unni clapped her hands. "Stop playing around and let''s prepare for what''s to come." "What preparations?" With those words, Richard grandfather, the oldest member of our guild and an elderly knight, spoke. "Let''s move to my mansion. It''s prepared with bomb shelter facilities to protect against nuclear attacks, so it will be safe." "There''s such a place in Korea!? Why didn''t I know about this!?" "It would be meaningless if civilians knew about it." He explains that it was built in a place no one knows about because it would become the first target of looting if an apocalypse came. No, more than that, hasn''t this gotten too big? Following Richard grandfather, we each packed necessary luggage and agreed to meet at a designated place. I also came home after a long time to pack my things, but all I had to pack was food and family photos. "Kyuung." "Yes, that''s right. It''s my family. They''re not here now." "Kyuuung." I stroked Yong-yong who was comforting me and carefully stored it in my subspace. Shall we move now? * * * A change occurred to all players worldwide who had played Arcana Online. [Synchronization complete.] It meant they could use the abilities they used in Arcana Online as they were. This caused great confusion internationally. The leaders of each country gathered to sort out the chaotic situation and came up with a solution. There were over tens of billions of players who played Arcana Online worldwide. It''s difficult to manage tens of billions of people, but not impossible. Each country started documenting lists by implementing a ''Traveler Registration System'', calling people who could use Arcana Online''s powers ''travelers''. There''s no way such great power would suddenly appear for no reason. Surely an unknown threat that we don''t know about is approaching. That''s why each country started inciting people. It''s human nature to unite in times of crisis. Especially the travelers who gained powers became more sensitive than ordinary people. As new organizations were being created in each country and meetings were being held, breaking news came in. According to the testimonies of numerous users who played Arcana Online, just as the unknown continent known as the Arcana continent appeared, something huge appeared in the air over the Pacific Ocean. A continent as large as the Arcana continent was floating in the air. Like a floating island. Troops were deployed to investigate, but like the Arcana continent, it was protected by a barrier. "What on earth is that now." * * * I never thought Arcana Online would shut down its servers overnight. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It had been a year since I started working in the celestial realm department. The reason I logged into the game every day after work despite the grueling work was just one. Financial compensation. The gold coins I received monthly were three times my salary, so at first it felt more like working a side job than playing a game, but just as I was about to quit my company job and make Arcana Online my main job after nearly a year, it disappeared overnight. Then what about my life...? I had immediately cashed out the gold coins I received monthly, so there''s no big problem right now, but the other problem is that I quit my company job in a spectacular way. I threw my resignation letter in the face of the department head who always sexually harassed me and quit, but the industry is small so I can''t go back there. Now the only path left is for the numbers floating in the sky to be related to Arcana Online. Or for the Earth to be destroyed. So for a month, I spent my days eating, watching YouTube, or reading comics every day. Forgetting the fact that my brain was being damaged by dopamine addiction. As time passed like that, I despaired while watching the news flowing on TV. Only the Arcana continent had appeared. The celestial realm didn''t show even a glimpse. Overwhelmed by despair, I''ve been living like a shut-in, whether I synchronize or not. Today too, I woke up, ordered delivery food, and fell asleep while watching YouTube. In my dream, I heard someone calling me. "Wake up. It''s time to go to work." As I opened my eyes with a start at the voice that was too clear to be a dream. My senior angels from the celestial realm department were looking at me with bright smiles. "Se-senior angels...?" "We didn''t expect our youngest to be absent without leave for over a month." Hearing those words, tears flowed from my eyes. My seniors were flustered by my appearance and asked if I was okay. "Can I, can I really go to work?" Hearing my words, they froze for a moment and then put their hands on my forehead. I felt a soft touch as they muttered, "She doesn''t seem to have a fever," and hugged me. "I want to go to work right away!" But my seniors were looking at me with pitying eyes. "Did we treat her too harshly?" "I know. Our youngest has gone crazy..." 60. The Red Revolution Group 60. The Red Revolution Group60. The Red Revolution Group After driving for a long time, we saw a huge mansion in the place we arrived. "Is this the secret hideout?" "Hmm? It''s just an ordinary house though?" This is ordinary!? It''s enormous!? The mansion with its antique atmosphere exuded a grand atmosphere that seemed like it could be in the Top 10 Most Expensive Mansions in the World on YouTube. But to call it ordinary. How rich are you? "Can I call you grandfather from now on?" "I''d prefer if you called me mister." "Perverted old man." Our Luna unni, attacking the elderly as if she''d been waiting for it. She throws daggers very well, as expected of an assassin. "You attack the elderly as if it''s nothing!" "Tsk." Despite how they look, they''re partners who move together. They must be close since they wouldn''t move together if they weren''t, right? "I''ll fix your behavior today!" "Don''t overdo it, old man. Are you trying to go see grandma?" Are they really close? Rea unni had to intervene to stop the two who were fighting while grabbing each other''s hair before we could enter the mansion. As we entered, he started guiding us from the first floor. "The bomb shelter is in the basement of the mansion. If anything happens, take refuge there immediately." "Which room should I use?" "Use whichever room you want." As soon as I heard those words, I headed to the second floor, with Sasha unni following me. "Which room are you going to use?" "The one next to our youngest!" Hearing those words, other guild members started following one by one. "I''m sorry, but as the leader, I''ll be using the room next to our Yuna." "She might need treatment, so I, as the Saint class, will use it." "What are you talking about!? I''ll use it!" Leaving the unnies fighting behind, I approached the room at the end of the second floor and opened the door. As expected, it was just as I thought. Before entering the mansion, I thought the room at the end would have a view of the entire scenery, and it was exactly as I imagined. "How is it? Do you like it?" "Kyuung." Seeing that our Yong-yong likes it too, I guess I chose well. While looking around the room, I turned on the TV located in one corner, and breaking news was flowing. [Breaking news. A floating island has appeared above the Arcana continent.] Judging by its form, is it the celestial realm? After the middle world, it''s the celestial realm. Then when will the demon realm appear? As I was blankly staring at the TV, another news item came on. [Each country has established a ''Traveler Association''. We request that travelers who previously played Arcana Online register within a week. Failure to comply may result in legal punishment.] Registration with the Traveler Association, huh. Are they planning to manage travelers in each country? At this rate, monsters will appear and towers will come out too. I don''t know what''s going to happen to the world. It''s confusing. So confusing. "Kyuung." Perhaps reading my troubled heart, our Yong-yong comforts me. "It''s okay. I''ll protect you, Yong-yong." "Kyuuung?" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He looks at me with narrowed eyes, as if asking who''s protecting whom. Is it because even that face is cute that I''ve fallen head over heels? * * * There are three main forces in the Arcana continent. The Avalon Empire with its formidable military power. Arcadia, which has seven great mages and three magic towers. The Red Revolution Group, a new organization created by Traveler Yuna, which possesses numerous monsters. These three groups made agreements with each other to prevent conflicts. Then one day, an anomaly occurred. The entire continent was moved to a space called Earth, and after sorting out the chaotic atmosphere and gathering information, they learned a fact. They found out that this other world was the world where travelers lived. This meant dialogue was possible. Duke Adonis Ether, known as the First Sword of the Avalon Empire and one of the ten masters, called an emergency meeting. Beliar, one of the seven great mages of Arcadia who received a direct contact, attended, and the Silver Fox Clan twin gumiho sisters attended from the Red Revolution Group. What they had in common was that they all cherished Yuna. "Is your master, Yuna, safe?" "We''ve been informed that she''s safe." "Ah, I''m glad she''s safe." After breathing a sigh of relief and relaxing their expressions for a moment. They look at each other with sharp eyes again. "You must know where the world we''re in now is, right? It seems we need to meet with the leadership of the travelers and negotiate." "Arcadia will cooperate actively." While Arcadia said they would cooperate, the Red Revolution Group shook their heads and opposed. "Our master, Yuna, will decide. We''ll maintain neutrality." "Then I''ll talk to Yuna when I meet her." They''re grateful beings just for not stepping forward. I was foolish to have tried to eliminate them before when I thought they were a threat to the Avalon Empire. Their power is beyond imagination. Over the past year, they''ve recruited numerous monsters into the Red Revolution Group and gained the support of travelers, expanding their size. As of now, they''ve grown to the point where they can''t be defeated even if the Avalon Empire and Arcadia launch a full-scale attack. Above all, the information obtained through spies. They confirmed that the celestial and demon realms are on Traveler Yuna''s side. If we touch them, they''ll probably step in too. It''s frightening. To think an individual would possess such power. No. Did they just choose the right side early on? Smiling wryly, I ended the meeting and immediately formed a delegation. To negotiate with the leadership of the travelers. For the next few days, we spent a hectic time negotiating. Fortunately, the leadership of the travelers also didn''t want a violent conflict, so we signed a peace treaty. And the counter floating in the sky ended. [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [CHAPTER 2: ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö.] [Time remaining: 00 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds] [Integration of Arcana continent and Earth No.562 is complete.] The notification appeared and disappeared. As we mobilized all forces to gather information. "Breaking news! New life forms have started appearing in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and others!" With those words, the monitor split into several screens, and videos of each ocean were broadcast. Starting with mermaids, to giant krakens, and even unidentifiable creatures. Numerous creatures appeared on Earth, and a new change occurred. Blue windows started appearing in front of countless people who had never played Arcana Online. [Please select the weapon you want.] Numerous weapons appeared in hologram form, from swords, bows, and staves to rapiers, gunlances, dual swords, crossbows, and more. After completing the selection, jobs suitable for each weapon started to appear. [We recommend jobs suitable for your chosen weapon.] [Mage] [Elementalist] [Cleric] [Summoner] : : : Numerous jobs were displayed. For those who completed their selection, a slot machine was generated. When each person spun their slot machine, they acquired their own unique characteristic, and all ranks were the same. EX-rank unique characteristic. Along with the explanation that humans have various abilities and personalities, and infinite potential. [You acquire a unique characteristic.] Everyone gained a unique characteristic that utilized their own strengths, and all humans became ''travelers''. And a new quest appeared. [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [CHAPTER 3: Protect ''China'' from otherworld monsters.] [Time remaining: 239 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] A scenario quest different from before. Protect China? It means something is going to invade. Because of this, the Traveler Association in China was put on alert, but something was strange. They were ignoring offers of help from other countries and acting on their own. While their quantity is admirable, there are no travelers with outstanding skills. But what are they relying on to ignore even offers of help from other countries? At that time, a meeting was held on the Chinese Communist Party side. "The resources in the Arcana continent are all exceptional. Are you thinking of foolishly wasting this opportunity to monopolize them?" "That''s not it. And our great nation has the most travelers who played Arcana Online. We don''t need help from other countries." 66. The Intruder 66. The Intruder66. The Intruder The World Tree''s voice, which I heard after a long time, wasn''t good. I''m not sure if it''s very difficult or if it hasn''t been able to absorb nutrients properly, but we need to transfer it as soon as possible. "Yong-yong, I need your help." "Kyuung." A blue light enveloped the entire World Tree, and its size gradually decreased. Once it had shrunk enough to pass through the gate, we moved to the Red Revolution Group hideout located in China. We decided to transfer it to China because there''s already a World Tree in the Arcana continent, which could cause a conflict, but a problem occurred. Whether it was the World Tree''s power blocking the pollution or not, pitch-black beings began to reveal themselves one by one. "Hurry! Quickly!" "Y-yes! Mom!" It was a word I couldn''t get used to no matter how many times I heard it, but there''s no time. We need to evacuate the dark elves as soon as possible and get out of this space. As expected, without the World Tree''s purifying power, Yong-yong screams at the fierce resistance of the pollution. "Kyuuung!" "J-just hang on a little longer!" I barely stop him from returning to his original form and saying he''ll chew up those things, and after evacuating the last remaining dark elf, I threw myself into the gate. I sealed the gate to prevent the pollution from escaping and approached the World Tree, which was absorbing nutrients from the newly rooted land. I could see its withered body, like an old tree, slowly recovering. "How long do you think it will take?" [It will take about ten days, Mother. This land lacks magic power compared to the demon realm.] One of the advantages of demon land is its fertile magic power, but unfortunately, such land doesn''t exist on Earth. Is there no other way? Suddenly, a thought crosses my mind. We can just pour in magic stones, right? As I take out a bunch of magic stones from my subspace and throw them on the ground for easy absorption, Yong-yong cries tears of blood and wails. "H-here! Take this and go play over there!" "Kyuuung!" Only then does Yong-yong accept a bundle of magic stones, turn his head, and enjoy a feast in one corner. Who did he take after to become such a glutton? Is it... me? After absorbing the magic stones, noticeably more green leaves appeared than before, and I''m glad it''s regained its strength. [Thank you, Mother. Thanks to you, I was able to regain my strength.] "There''s no need for thanks between us. It''s fine." I say casually as I check the magic stones in my subspace, and I''ve used quite a lot, so I need to replenish them. I should go to the hideout once. I took care of Yong-yong, who was burping after eating all the magic stones, and opened a space. "I''ll be back soon, so rest." [Understood, Mother.] It''s still awkward no matter how many times I hear it. I crossed the space and returned to the Red Revolution Group hideout located in the Arcana continent. On the way to the warehouse, greeting the monsters welcoming me. Yong-yong follows, swaying his body back and forth, what''s he doing...? "What are you doing?" "Kyuuung!" Our Yong-yong says he''s digesting. Don''t tell me he''s planning to eat more magic stones from the warehouse? "I won''t give you any." "Kyuuung!?" He whimpers, asking if I wasn''t serious, and my heart weakens. This guy... He knows my weakness exactly. "E-even if you use that cute voice, I won''t give you any." "Kyuung..." I finally give in to Yong-yong, who says in a dejected voice, ''What''s the point of living anymore.'' When we arrive at the warehouse, I fill my subspace with magic stones and give him a bundle, which he happily eats. "That''s it for dinner today." "Kyuuung!" He''s making a fuss, saying he''s only eaten two meals today when even humans eat three meals a day. And what do you mean two meals! You''ve eaten four meals today! I hug Yong-yong, who''s exercising his right to remain silent, open a gate, and return to the World Tree, where I see collapsed dark elves around. I rush over to check the condition of the fallen dark elves, and they each have a bump on their head. Then the Silver Fox Clan twins reveal themselves. "What happened!?" "We gave them a lesson in manners." "......" The dark elves complain to me with teary eyes. "Mommy!" As I pat their heads and listen to their story, I realize the dark elves were wrong. From speaking informally to strangers to making disrespectful remarks about the Silver Fox Clan. Character education for children is essential. "You guys were wrong, weren''t you?" "B-but! But!" "Hey! When you''ve done something wrong, you shouldn''t make excuses, you should apologize!" "W-we''re sorry!" The Silver Fox Clan twins accept the dark elves'' apology and say they should get along well from now on. How mature. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Something seems off about their eyes..." "Not at all." When I pat the twins'' heads, they look at me with bewildered expressions, and their faces are identical. Twins will be twins. * * * The executives of the Red Revolution Group gathered in one place. Today''s agenda is just one thing. [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [CHAPTER 7: Conquer the tower.] [Time remaining: 47 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] Two days left. We''ve removed all the towers that appeared across Asia, but anything beyond that is impossible. It''s not just one or two that appeared, but really over hundreds, and it''s impossible to remove them all. We persuaded with the help of numerous travelers, but there were also significant casualties. As we hold a meeting about what will happen in two days, the optimistic view is that the monsters in the towers will pour out and gather in one place. Then we can persuade them all at once, but pessimistically, if those many monsters scatter all over the world...? From there, there''s no answer. Or if we could find the Demon King, we wouldn''t have to struggle like this, but where on earth is she? I sigh and finish the meeting, staring blankly at the scenery outside the window when someone enters with a knock. It''s Kraken, my friend Lala. "Why do you look so down?" "There are only two days left. That''s why I''m worried." "There''s nothing more tiring than worrying about things that haven''t happened yet?" My friend comforts me, saying everything will work out somehow. Did she come to see me because she was worried even though she must be busy? Really. I''m blessed. "By the way. I need your help." I take back what I just said. "Get out." "No, it''s not really a big deal. It''s just a tiny favor, really?" "What is it...?" After hesitating and pondering for a while, she cautiously spits out shocking news. "My dad, you see. He''s searching the sea to find me, so could you stop him?" Lala''s father is a Kraken. And a Kraken of such enormous size that it could swallow an entire city. In short, is she planning to use me as a sacrifice? "It was nice knowing you." "What are you saying!? Is this all our friendship amounts to!?" "Friendship? You''re trying to sell me out right now!" "But, my dad listens to you well, you know." I don''t know if it''s the effect of the magic stones or not, but he does listen to me relatively well. But that''s relative. It''s not absolute. Before, when Lala didn''t come home, he turned everything upside down, and the scene from that time remains as a trauma that sometimes appears in my dreams, and it''s so terrifying. "I''m scared too!" "I''m more scared!" We fought, both screaming "Bwaaa!", and finally agreed to compromise. "If you can just persuade my dad well, our trading company will take care of Yong-yong''s food expenses for a while!" "Ha? Do you think I''d fall for something like that!?" "Kyuuung!" I was about to refuse outright, but our Yong-yong fell for it. And she sealed the deal with her final words. "Plus, unlimited provision of unique-grade magic stones!" "Kyuuung!" "W-wait a minute!? H-hold on!" Because of Yong-yong trying to push me into the gate he opened, I couldn''t even spit out my last words and was sucked into the gate. The last scene I saw. With Lala smiling wickedly, I sank into the deep sea. Our Yong-yong, who had somehow prepared it, put the pacifier in my mouth. Well, thank you. "Zook zook zook!!" "Kyuung." I was dumbfounded by his words telling me to hurry and find the Kraken, but since it''s come to this, I should do it with a happy heart as a change of pace. With a very happy heart, I''m going to tell everything about what Lala has done from start to finish. You dare to entrust me with such a task? I''ll make you regret it. After searching around the sea for a long time to find Lala''s father, the Kraken who used to be the gatekeeper of Atlantis, I saw a huge Kraken in the distance. As I approached, the atmosphere was ominous. "Zook zook zook!" "Kyuung." Has an intruder appeared in Atlantis? How pitiful... 72. Choice 72. Choice72. Choice It''s been a year since I''ve eaten mom''s cooking. As soon as I take a bite, tears start to flow. "It''s salty..." "Oh my, did I put in too much salt?" "But it''s still delicious." After finishing breakfast, I spend time cuddled in my parents'' arms, being fed fruit. "Our daughter is being extra affectionate today." "We should have days like this too." In the morning, I act cute in mom''s arms, and in the afternoon, I play games with dad. "Did our daughter play games before? You''re good at it." "Heh! I take after dad, that''s why I''m good." "I don''t know whose daughter you are, but you even speak prettily." "Whose daughter would I be but dad''s!" As I''m playing games with dad while smiling broadly, my older sister barges in. "What''s this!? Why are you two playing without me!? I want to play too!" "This is a two-player game." "That''s not fair!" As the three of us are playing games and chatting, a chilling voice is heard. "How long has it been since I told you to eat? You''re still playing games?" The head of our household, mom, has appeared. After all three of us get scolded, we eat dinner, finish bathing, and I lie down on my bed, but I can''t sleep. I take my pillow and enter my parents'' room, and they look at me with surprised eyes. "Oh my, why is our daughter like this today?" "I just... want to sleep together." "Come here." As I lie down with my pillow between mom and dad, they embrace me from both sides. "Sleep well, our daughter." "Have sweet dreams." "Good night." * * * When I wake up in the morning and open my eyes, my parents aren''t on either side of me. With a startled heart, I open the door and go out to find mom preparing breakfast and dad reading the newspaper. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Our daughter is up?" "Did you sleep well?" "Yes!" As I sit at the table, warm food is served. After finishing the meal, dad goes to work, and as I follow mom around while she does housework, clinging to her, she smiles and strokes my head. "Our daughter has become more affectionate." "Hehehe." As I''m acting cute in mom''s arms, my older sister suddenly appears. "Little sis! Let''s go shopping with unni!" "I want to stay home today." "It''s spring! Let''s go buy clothes!" Forced to go out. It''s my first time going out with my older sister in this life. As she holds my hand and we head to the department store, I can feel people''s gazes. People glancing and staring. Why are they doing that? "People keep staring." "Well, if you walk around with a snake around your neck, anyone would stare, right?" "I see. It''s because of Yong-yong." "Kyuung!?" As I comfort our Yong-yong, who''s protesting with a bewildered face asking why it''s his fault, I enter the department store with my older sister. But how can we enter with a snake around my neck? "There''s no rule saying you can''t enter with a snake around your neck, right?" "I guess so." "Well then, shall we start with that store!?" With an excited face, she grabs my hand and enters the store, trying on various types of clothes on me. I feel like a dress-up doll. Moreover, it''s my first time wearing a dress in my life, and it''s more comfortable than I thought. It feels a bit empty with the bottom open, but it''s comfortable. "You''re my little sister, but doesn''t it suit you too well!?" As I stop my older sister who keeps trying to take pictures, we spend the whole day shopping and then go to a dessert cafe where I take a bite of cake, and it''s sweet. A sweet bite of cake after hard labor. How romantic. After finishing one slice, I look at my older sister, and she checks her wallet and orders one more with trembling hands. After eating strawberry cake and peach iced tea, we head home. Walking along the path as the sunset fades, we chat about various things. "Come to think of it, didn''t you say you were in a club in high school? Was it the band club?" "I wasn''t in any club though?" "Was that so." The more we talk, the more I feel a sense of dissonance. I know. This isn''t reality. It must be an illusion created by the Beginning. But still, it''s nice. Because this moment right now is so happy. After returning home and finishing dinner with my parents, as I''m acting cute in mom''s arms, she whispers. "I love you, my daughter." "I love you too, mom." "We''ll be together forever, right?" "......" I wish I could stay together. I want to spend peaceful time with mom, dad, and older sister, but I can''t. As I leave mom''s embrace, she asks what''s wrong. "I was happy, even if just for a moment." She smiles at my words, but now it''s time to part. "Yong-yong. Let''s go back." "Kyuung." With those words, the world starts to shatter. And we return to where we originally were. The Beginning, looking at me in mom''s form. "Have you decided?" "This is my answer." I raised one hand and shouted. "Help me!" A huge gate is created and numerous monsters, angels, and demons reveal themselves. The ground shakes and a tower appears, and the Kraken appears, tearing through space. Even amidst all this, the Beginning is smiling. "I''ll respect your choice. Meet your death in this other world." Another gate appears. Dragon King Ernia opens a gate and appears. "I had hoped for my child to be happy, but I guess that won''t be possible." "Don''t worry. It won''t go as you think." I need to break the brainwashing on Dragon King Ernia. Even if by force. "Yong-yong, please." "Kyuung." Yong-yong transforms into his enormous form. Dragon King Ernia also returns to her original form and the battle begins. Huge breaths collide, and the shockwave causes the ground to split and the sky to tear. Thankfully, a protective barrier was put up to protect me. Otherwise, it would have been a disaster. Numerous monsters appear, tearing through gates and charging towards the Beginning. The Beginning waves one hand and countless monsters turn to dust and disappear. I''m not one to just stand by and watch this. "Divine Dragon''s Revival!" [Divine Dragon''s Revival: Revives the life of summons.] Everything that appeared here counts as a summon, so I can revive them even if they die. The monsters that had turned to dust and disappeared reveal themselves again and charge at the Beginning. "I guess this won''t end unless I deal with Yuna." The moment it looks at me, I feel a chill down my spine and squeeze my eyes shut, but nothing happens. When I open my eyes and look ahead, Heavenly King Lucifer and Demon King Echidna are protecting me. "If you want to touch our Yuna, you''ll have to deal with us first." "How dare you try to touch Yuna right in front of me. I won''t let this slide." Yong-yong charges at the Beginning. A fierce battle ensues, and I''m helping by casting various buffs, but it doesn''t end. No, we''re gradually being pushed back. In this critical situation. An anomaly occurs. One, two huge gates reveal themselves in the sky. Could it be that the Beginning created them? In this tense moment, beings reveal themselves. Former Imperial Knight Commander and Guard Captain Charles, leading the knights of the Avalon Empire. "A master should help when their disciple is struggling." Behind him, Great Mage and Moonlight Inn owner Beliar, leading the Arcana mages. "I''ve brought all the mages to help Yuna, our inn''s regular customer!" Information Guild Master Erica, leading numerous problem solvers. "We should help when our pretty one is struggling." One of the top 10 guilds and leader of the Frey Guild, Catlleya, has appeared leading all guild members including the entire top 10 guilds. "Yuna! Your unni has brought everyone!!" And numerous travelers appear. Shouting that they''re grateful for being protected all this time and that they''ll repay the favor now, they charge at the Beginning. Saying they''ll protect our world themselves. With numerous reinforcements joining, the tide of battle begins to turn in our favor. Then I hear a sound that feels like it''s tearing my eardrums. "Why are you going this far? Yuna isn''t even originally a resident of this world." I answered those words. "At first, I wanted to go back, but not anymore. Look at those beside me now. They''re risking their lives to help me, how could I run away alone?" With those words, Dragon King Ernia falls and Yong-yong charges at the Beginning. At that moment. Numerous stars begin to appear in the sky and Yong-yong''s body starts to glow. The constellations that had been maintaining neutrality until now joined the war. Because of this, the Beginning becomes furious. "Why are those who have been watching until now stepping in at this point!?" Then a voice is heard. [When a human child who isn''t even a resident of this world is trying so hard for our world, wouldn''t it be shameful to just stand by?] 76. Splash! 76. Splash!76. Splash! [Has the game company lost their minds?] What kind of game has rabbits staging protests lol [Comments] - That''s our game for you. - There was a protest because they protested. - That''s what a protest is. - [Author] Are you guys crazy? [Did you see the rabbits protesting?] They don''t seem to be in their right minds. What rabbits would stage a protest lol [Comments] - Guarantee the rabbits'' right to survive!! - Rabbits love carrots!! - Guarantee it! Guarantee it! - [Author] You guys are crazy lol [So what do we hunt now?] I started yesterday and got killed in one hit by a rabbit when I messed with it. What should I hunt? [Comments] - Are you a psycho? How could you think of hunting the rabbit lords? - You''re not in your right mind, are you? - You''re completely insane. - [Author] You guys seem crazier than me... - For real lol [Breaking news!! Rabbits are teaching exercise postures!!] I happened to pass by and saw the rabbits exercising. But their form was so perfect. So I unconsciously approached, and they looked me up and down, made me hold an empty bar, and taught me how to squat. They perfected my form in just 2 hours! [Comments] - Better than a trainer lololol - Oh, the membership fee is carrots, member lol - Learning squats from a rabbit lolol - Is touching naturally possible? - [Author] Furry furry... [So who''s the user that showed up with a megaphone?] Our game is set in a fantasy world, but does it make sense to protest with a megaphone lol [Comments] - It''s fantasy, isn''t it? - That''s what makes it fantasy (nods) - A rabbit whacking your head with a carrot makes sense? - Does it make sense for flames to come out of your hands? lol Checking the Arcana bulletin board, it seems the public opinion campaign is working better than expected. "How did it go?" "We''re driving good public opinion, and it''s going even better than expected..." "So you''re saying that despite what happened, people are actually happy about it...?" "Yes..." What in the world is going on. Rabbits staged a protest and beginners can no longer hunt in the novice hunting grounds, but people are happy about it. On top of that, more and more travelers are learning exercises from rabbits. Um, I hate to say this, but are the people playing our game in their right minds...? I thought about it for a while, but that doesn''t seem to be the case... "Hmm, for now, keep working on public opinion and monitor the situation." "Understood, team leader." Fortunately, the problem hasn''t grown bigger, but there''s no guarantee this won''t happen again in the future. This won''t do. I need to talk to Eve again. "Eve." With those words, a screen appears. "You called, team leader." "This much has happened, but you can''t restrict it?" "I judged there was no problem." "There is a problem!?" I mean, not only did they turn ordinary rabbits into muscular rabbits, but they even staged a protest in the village, and you''re saying there''s no problem with this!? Dumbfounded and at a loss for words, I bowed my head, and Eve disappeared. At that moment, a chill ran down my spine. "Eek!" "Are you alright, team leader!?" "I''m still uneasy. What is No. 1 doing now?" "They are approaching the slime area." "What are they trying to do now!?" I grabbed my team member''s collar and shook them for a while, then apologized and let go when I calmed down. I hope they haven''t done anything, but that hope was beautifully dashed. * * * As I entered the grass, slimes began to reveal themselves one by one. They changed into female forms after eating my magic stone before. I wonder if it will happen again this time. I took out a magic stone and waved it in one hand, and a group of slimes slowly approached. "Come on, eat up. It''s very good, you know?" As I smiled kindly like a grandmother offering an apple, the slimes flinched in surprise. Why are they surprised? The slimes that received magic stones from me disappeared one by one, and I gave magic stones to every last one of them. The preparations are complete. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now all that''s left is to find a justification for revolution. What would be good? When I took off the gear and ended the game, Yong-yong was waiting for me. "Kyuung." "Hm? You want to go somewhere tomorrow?" "Kyuuung." "A place with good air and energy...?" What''s that, where is it? When I told him to point it out on the map I spread out, Yong-yong marked near Seoraksan Mountain. What lived there again? This world is one where numerous monsters and various races live together in harmony. I''m sure some race lived near Seoraksan Mountain too, but I can''t remember. "Well then, should we skip the library for a day tomorrow?" "Kyuung." "Hmm, no. It''s for our Yong-yong, so I should sacrifice one day!" "Kyuuung." Our Yong-yong says to go to the mountain in the morning and study at the library in the evening. Do you think I have that kind of stamina? You''re overestimating me! As I poked Yong-yong''s cheeks, saying I don''t have that kind of stamina, he sighed. "Kyuung." "Hehe! Then I need to prepare for our trip tomorrow." First, starting with hiking equipment, then snacks and money... Wait a minute... Money...? I checked my wallet and found 5,000 won. Checking my bank account balance, there''s about 20,000 won. This won''t even cover transportation costs...? As I fell into deep contemplation, I remembered. A way to get money. I got up from the bed, opened the room door and went to the living room where Dad was watching TV. "Daaaaad!" "Need allowance?" "......" Our ghostly Dad. As soon as I acted cute, he took out his wallet and handed me two 50,000 won bills. "Buy something tasty to eat." "Thank you! Oh, do we have any hiking equipment at home?" With those words, our Dad suddenly got up. He grabbed my hand and headed to the storage room, what''s going on? He opened the storage room door, turned on the lights, then opened a box in one corner, and inside were all sorts of hiking equipment. "One of Dad''s hobbies is hiking. You''ll find everything you need there." "Then can I borrow this?" "More importantly, why hiking all of a sudden? Where are you going?" "I''m planning to go to Seoraksan Mountain!" Hearing my words, his wallet appeared again. And he handed me two more 50,000 won bills. "Buy something tasty to eat and let''s go together with Dad later." "Okay!!" Yes! 200,000 won! With this, I can not only cover transportation costs but also buy lots of delicious food. I''ve been really into tteokbokki lately, so I should eat a lot tomorrow. Swallowing my saliva, I returned to my room with the hiking equipment, and our Yong-yong looked at me with surprised eyes. His eyes seemed to ask what all that was. "Hehehe, this is hiking equipment! Items to conquer Seoraksan Mountain!" "Kyuung." "Hmm? You say it''s not necessary...?" At that moment, a translucent sphere formed around my body and I started floating in the air. "Kyuung." "......" If you were going to fly there, you should have told me earlier... No, it''s okay. I can use the allowance to buy tteokbokki. More importantly, what time is it? It''s already past 10 PM. I should go to sleep soon. He''ll definitely wake me up early tomorrow morning, so I went to bed early tonight. As I was about to fall into a deep sleep feeling warm, I heard a voice. "Kyuuu." "Mmm, just 5 more minutes..." "Kyuu!" "Ow! Don''t hit me!" I wondered what time it could be for him to make such a fuss, but it was 4 AM. Why did you wake me up so early...? "You want to go already!? I''m sleepy!" "Kyuu!" He''s making a fuss saying we need to leave now to receive the morning energy. I reluctantly finished preparing and left the house, shivering from the chilly weather as I was about to take the bus, but is there even a bus at this hour...? That''s when my body started floating in the air. "Kyuuu!" "W-wait a minute!? I-I''m not mentally prepared!" "Kyuu!" "Kyaaaaaah!" As a result of moving at incredible speed, we were able to arrive at Seoraksan Mountain, but the problem was what came next. As a rainbow was pouring out of my mouth, Yong-yong patted my back. "Kyuuu..." He apologizes saying he''s sorry. "Ugh, I feel like I''m dying." "Kyuung." "Is that what you should be saying...?" He says not to worry. He says if we go to the netherworld and cause some trouble, it''ll be fine, but what on earth does that mean...? After regaining my strength, I followed Yong-yong deep into the mountain and heard the sound of water. Is there a waterfall nearby? I followed Yong-yong pointing in the direction of the water sound, and a huge waterfall unfolded before my eyes. At the same time, Yong-yong dived into the water. With a ''splash'' sound, he went into the water and didn''t come out for a long time, so I started to get worried. S-surely nothing could have happened? He''s a dragon after all. There''s a saying that a dragon rises from a small stream. No, is this not the right situation for that? At that moment, an anomaly occurred in the water. A huge whirlpool began to form, and it seems like something is about to happen. What in the world is going on!? 77. A Gap in Time 77. A Gap in Time77. A Gap in Time The whirlwind, or rather, the waterspout-like formation soon stopped, as if it had never happened, and everything became quiet. However, there was still no sign of anything. Just as I was starting to worry that something might have really happened, with a huge vibration, something appeared. The water parted, revealing stairs leading downwards. Then I heard Yong-yong''s voice. "Kyuung." Was he telling me to follow the stairs down? I carefully took one step at a time down the slippery stairs, wet from the water. One wrong move and I could slip. As I slowly descended, I saw a vast space with a huge statue. "Yong-yong, where are you...?" "Kyuung." The sound came from behind the statue. As I approached to check, I saw Yong-yong wrapped around something. "What''s that?" "Kyuung." He showed me what he was holding - fragments...? He said that if we collect three more pieces, they can be combined into one, but he wouldn''t tell me what it was. And our Yong-yong said the other three pieces were also in this space. In other words, he was telling me to find them. This seems suspicious... "You find them!" "Kyuuung." He whined that he used up all his energy opening this space, and even that was too cute... No, you think I''ll fall for that!? "Kyuung!" Our Yong-yong promised to be affectionate all day if I found the remaining pieces. If I hear such words and do nothing, I wouldn''t be a proper owner. After confidently telling him to just trust me, I checked the inscriptions on the statues and walls, but I couldn''t read them at all. Giving up on the letters, I looked at the pictures and guessed. "There must be one in each direction - east, west, north, and south! How about that!?" "Kyuu." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yong-yong nonchalantly replied that he didn''t know. But something felt strange. This unfamiliar feeling - what could it be? And then I realized. That''s not our Yong-yong. "Who are you?" "Kyuung!" He got angry, asking why I was suddenly acting like this, but I was certain. "Where did our Yong-yong go!" "Kyahaha! You figured it out!" With those words, a bright light enveloped the surroundings, and when it cleared, a beautiful but sinister-looking woman appeared. "Hello! I''m in the middle of a bet with your precious dragon. Something about resolving his blank space, or whatever." The suspicious woman who had been rambling on for a while continued. "If you had found all four pieces, I would have won. But alas! Alright! You win!" With those words, our Yong-yong fell from the sky towards me. "Yong-yong!" "Kyuung!" I thought we were going to have a touching reunion, but I was mistaken. He was glaring at me with eyes that seemed to say, "How could you not know?" "How was I supposed to know!? They looked exactly the same!" "Kyuuung!!" He said in a tearful voice that he was the only one being sincere, which made me feel guilty. Only after I apologized did Yong-yong forgive me, and the pretty woman was rolling on the floor laughing at this scene. "Ahaha! You two are so interesting! I''d love to stay and watch, but I can''t. Here! I lost the bet, so take this!" She handed a bead to Yong-yong, who swallowed it in one gulp. After a while, Yong-yong, who had been staring blankly, looked at me and spoke. "Kyuuung." "Hm? What''s wrong?" Yong-yong said he just now realized what had happened all this time and rubbed his face against my cheek. Could it be that Yong-yong had also forgotten until now? Like the others? I thought Yong-yong would naturally know, but my assumption was wrong. If I had asked earlier, he would have told me. "Why didn''t you ask?" "Kyuuung." Yong-yong answered that he wasn''t sure about his memories, so he couldn''t bring himself to speak up. I hugged him tightly and said, "We''re family, aren''t we? So you can tell me anything." "Kyuu." Just then, we heard the sound of someone clearing their throat. "Ahem, sorry to interrupt this touching moment, but could you leave now? This is, well, my home." With those words, we were kicked out. We were transported back to where we were before entering the lake, and a protective barrier formed around my body. It was time to go home. Wait, don''t tell me we''re flying back again? "Yong-yong, can''t we take a bus on our way back?" "Kyuung!" "S-save me!!!" After spending a long time in the bathroom when we got home, I was finally resting on my bed in my room when Yong-yong started urging me to go. "Kyuung kyuung!" "J-just let me rest a little..." "Kyuuung!" My naughty Yong-yong was pestering me, saying he wanted to eat magic stones quickly. With no choice, I put on the gear and logged into Arcana Online. When I opened my eyes, I was in the middle of a forest where slimes lived. [Summon: Yong-yong requests to be summoned.] Accept / Reject "Accept." With those words, a bright light burst forth, and Yong-yong appeared. "Kyuuung!" "You really can come in!" Feeling happy, I hugged Yong-yong and nuzzled him for a while, but he coldly pushed me away. He was insisting that I give him magic stones quickly. When I took out magic stones, he ate them excitedly. After finishing his meal, we moved to the slime habitat, where slimes that had evolved into female forms greeted us. "You''ve evolved safely! That''s great! Shall we begin then?" "......" The slimes nodded with determined looks in their eyes. I handed out flags and headbands to them. A revolution was about to begin. * * * [Did you know there''s another protest happening in Cradle Village right now?] This time they brought slime ''noonas'' and are protesting lol [Comments] - A slime is a slime, what''s a slime noona? - [Author] A noona is a noona! - So what is it, you fool!! - [Author] Explaining it wouldn''t be very noona-like! - Aaargh!!!! - Calm down and have a drink~ [Slimes are indeed noonas (video)] Can you see? Can you see our slime noonas? lol [Comments] - Noonaaaaaaaa - Let''s go see the noonaaaaa - This is definitely the village''s fault - The noonas did nothing wrong! It''s the village''s fault!! [Do you know how much the noonas have suffered until now!?] They''ve lived enduring all sorts of mistreatment from evil travelers and villagers, and now they''re exposing it. Did you think they''d just sit still? [Comments] - But aren''t we those travelers? - [Author] Not me, I''ve never hunted - Then where did you level up? lol - [Author] I don''t play the game? - Then why are you on this forum, you idiot lol The forum was on fire. After rabbits, today it was slimes. Then tomorrow will be goblins, and the day after, orcs? As I drank coffee with my mind in a daze, it tasted sweet. I thought I''d like to get some sleep, worn out from fatigue. If only it had been whiskey instead of coffee. "Give me some alcohol." "Team leader. You can''t lose your mind." "Then what are we going to do about those slimes causing a ruckus over there!?" On the monitor screen, Traveler No. 1 was leading slimes in a protest in front of Cradle Village. Not just ordinary slimes, but slimes that had evolved to have human forms. Moreover, their appearance was so provocative that it would have been a big problem if this wasn''t an 18+ game. The sound of slogans coming from the monitor. "Cradle Village must change!" "Cradle Village must change!" "Cradle Village must change!" What on earth are they demanding this time? "So what are they demanding?" "Well, about that..." This time, the demands were even more complicated. Now that they had taken on intelligent forms, they were asserting their right to receive equal treatment and respect as the villagers. Furthermore, they were demanding that, as they had gained intelligence through evolution, they should be guaranteed rights and welfare befitting that status. "Are you kidding me!? Aaargh!!" "Team leader!? Calm down!" "Huff, alright. Is that all?" "Well, about that. There''s more." My head was throbbing with pain. Looking at the details, it was ridiculous. There was even a demand to have a representative who could voice the slimes'' opinions in the village administration. "Why don''t they just ask for a slime village while they''re at it!?" "That''s also included." "......" I desperately needed alcohol. And a lot of it. "Bring me some alcohol!!!" "Team leader!? It''s working hours!" "Aaargh! How can we just sit and watch this!!" The stress was becoming unimaginable day by day. What''s the use of being on the management team if we can''t do anything? I felt like I might throw in my resignation first at this rate. Just then, the door opened and the CEO came in. "I''ll meet with them and talk again." "Please, I beg you!! We''re all going to die at this rate!!" "Hehehe, what we promised back then..." What did the CEO mean? Did he make some kind of agreement when he met the traveler back then? I don''t care anymore. As long as I don''t have to see protests for even one day. 78. Nia Repays the Favor 78. Nia Repays the Favor78. Nia Repays the Favor "Transform Cradle Village!" "Transform Cradle Village!" "Transform Cradle Village!" As the protest continued for a while, the village side once again presented a compromise proposal. "Workers do not compromise!" "Workers do not compromise!" "Workers do not compromise!" The village''s negotiation team asked for more time, struggling with our demands. After waiting for quite some time, we were able to conclude the negotiations with satisfactory terms. "Ugh, to be robbed like this. I''m a failure as Cradle Village''s negotiator." "Hehehe, it can''t be helped. After all, your opponent was me." Phew, today was fun too. Feeling content, I took off the gear, stretched, and went to raid the kitchen refrigerator. I wanted some cold ice cream. I wonder if there''s any. There should be. My sister always keeps it stocked. When I opened the freezer, sure enough, there was ice cream. The problem was, it was mint chocolate. It''s not that I dislike it, but I don''t particularly like it either. I want ice cream, but not this. But, rather than going to the convenience store, I might as well... "What''s my little sister up to?" "Eek!" My sister whispered in my ear, sending chills down my spine. Startled, I turned around to see her looking at me with a bright smile. "You weren''t thinking of eating my ice cream, were you?" "O-of course not!" "Right?" And then she took the mint chocolate ice cream. Ah, I guess I''ll have to go to the convenience store after all. I put on my coat and hat, and just as I was about to open the front door with Yong-yong... "Where is this?" "Kyuung." We were transported to a place I''d never seen before. No, I had just opened the front door... Looking around, the scenery was like being in the celestial realm. The door behind us had disappeared too. "Have we been kidnapped...?" "Kyuu..." There are only a few beings who could pull something like this off. No, only one god that I know of. The Creator. At that moment, someone was walking towards us - the bakery uncle who gave me bread in Cradle Village!? "Are you alone?" "Oh, I came with Yong-yong." "Welcome. Follow me." As I followed the uncle, I saw one, then two familiar faces. I saw the guard uncle who guided me in the City of Stars, and the high priest I met in the demon realm. The chief of the Silver Fox Clan village, the Siren I met in Atlantis, even the god from the celestial realm. Various beings were waiting for me, but what''s going on? Then I heard a familiar voice. "Welcome, Yuna." "Creator!" The Creator greeted me warmly. "But there are many familiar faces here?" "They are all my avatars." "W-what!?" The Creator said we have plenty of time and should talk slowly. A table and chairs appeared, along with various snacks and fragrant tea. I sat down and took a sip. It was sweet. "I clearly told you to come visit, but you didn''t, so I invited you." "B-but it''s only been a few days..." "It felt like a very long time." "Uh-huh." Are you not listening to me? As we all drank tea and chatted about various things, I suddenly became curious about something. Why did he go through the trouble of creating a game to destroy the world? But I wonder if it''s okay to ask. "Yes, that''s what you''re curious about." "W-what!? I didn''t say anything!" "Hehehe, I can tell just by looking at your expression. Well then. Where should I start?" The Creator took a sip of tea and spoke. "You see, I love all living beings. Even if they''re walking down the wrong path." I wanted to destroy the world I created, my creations, with my own hands, but a part of me was suffering. Maybe that''s why. I created avatars and gave numerous chances. To create time for gods to stay by the side of all living beings. To see that even the power of one person can change fate. I wanted a process of communication and connection. Even if it meant using an indirect medium like a game. A picturesque smile appeared on the Creator''s face, as if even he didn''t know, and it was so beautiful. "Don''t fall for me." "It''s not like that!" You knew all along! You were just teasing me! As I shouted with a red face, everyone laughed. "Thank you for letting me know that I don''t have to start from the beginning." "It''s nothing. I just did it to survive." "Hehehe, perhaps it''s because you''re a being that can''t even live 100 years that you shine so brightly. I''m always cheering for you." Is that... a compliment...? After finishing tea time and being sent off with an invitation to come visit again, I returned home. But I feel like I''ve forgotten something. "My little sister''s back!? But why are you empty-handed?" "Ah..." * * * My daily routine is to wake up to the alarm clock, stretch, wash up, eat breakfast, and then go to the library. Today, as I opened the door to go to the library, there was a black limousine parked in front of our house. What''s that? Just then, the limousine door opened and Nia got out. "What brings you here?" sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Want to get in first? I can feel people''s gazes." As soon as I got in the car following Nia, the door closed and she glared at me with cold eyes. Did I do something wrong...? "I said I''d allow it to some extent, but I didn''t say you could protest every day, did I?" "W-what are you talking about!? Life is a continuous struggle!" "Hehehe, you still haven''t come to your senses!?" "W-wait a minute!?" She poked my side repeatedly, telling me to protest only once a month. "I-I can''t do that! Once a day!" "Absolutely not!" "Every two days! Or at least every three days!" "We''ll die!!" After dramatic negotiations, I said I would protest once a week. And with advance notice, at that. Ugh, but that reduces the effect of surprise protests. "Huff, let''s finish this conversation for now. Do you have time today?" "I need to study at the library...?" "Think of it as a one-day part-time job." "I need to study..." "Daily wage of 1 million won in cash. Meals provided." "I look forward to working with you, boss!" As expected of our boss! So generous! The car drove quickly and arrived at... a department store? "I''ve received a lot from Yuna, so this time it''s my turn to treat you." "Boss..." Is it just my imagination, or is there a light shining in my eyes? Our boss is so cool! The best! As I was flattering her, we entered the department store and Nia led me inside. For the first time in my life, I entered a VVIP room where an employee was waiting for us. "Show us all the new arrivals." "Understood." With those words, the employee left, and while waiting, I was drinking a glass of watermelon juice when the employee returned with all sorts of items. "Huff, huff. I-I''ve brought clothes, bags, shoes, and even accessories." What''s all this? Surely not...? "Now it''s Yuna''s turn." Nia looked at me with a grin. It can''t be, right? "Try them on." "W-what are you saying? Aren''t you going to say ''I''ll take from here to there''?" "I''ll buy them if they suit you. So. Try. Them. On." Just as I was trying to sneak away, the employee had already approached. "Miss, let me help you." "N-no, I''m fine." "Shall we go?" That day, I ended up changing clothes like a doll for three hours. The only difference was that everything was mine. "Everything looks good on you. As expected, I was right to prepare things that would suit Yuna." "Then you could have just bought everything from the start!" "This was to satisfy my personal desires. I''ll have everything sent to your home. And take this." She handed me a card. It was black. Just like a black card. "It''s a black card." "Is it okay to give me something so valuable?" As I adamantly refused, she pushed my back, telling me to take it. "Use it to buy what you need and eat what you want." "B-boss..." As I looked at Nia with a moved expression, she smirked and told me to use it well. Just as I was carefully putting away the precious card, a phone rang. After taking the call, she said she had to hurry back to the company and I refused her offer to take me home. "You''re busy, right? Go ahead." "Then I''ll see you next time." On my way to the library after parting ways. I was amazed as I looked at the shiny black card in my hand. "They say you reap what you sow, I guess it''s true." "Kyuuung." "Didn''t our Yong-yong get anything?" "Kyuuung!?" Our Yong-yong was crying pitifully, saying how could I say that when he''s done so much for me. As I comforted our Yong-yong, saying it was a joke, he said I shouldn''t just say it. He''s after something. "What do you want?" "Kyuuung." He says it''s nothing much, just something possible with that card. "Ahem, if our Yong-yong wants it, of course I should do it." "Kyuung!" I guess I won''t be able to go to the library today. 79. Guarantee the Rights of Workers! Guarantee Them! 79. Guarantee the Rights of Workers! Guarantee Them!79. Guarantee the Rights of Workers! Guarantee Them! [Web notification] Today''s card approval. 19,900 won in full. Bread Boom Boom Toy Store. [Web notification] Today''s card approval. 6,300 won in full. Pro Lang Burger. [Web notification] Today''s card approval. 5,900 won in full. CS Convenience Store. I set up phone alerts for Yuna''s card usage, but mostly these are the only notifications I get. I should take her out sometime and teach her how to spend money. More than that, what''s this now? A report came in about suspicious movements in Arcana Online, and when I checked, goblins, orcs, and even warbears are starting to gather in one place. Could this be...? * * * I was spraying water on our Yong-yong in a pool I set up in the yard. Seeing our Yong-yong swimming in the pool I bought for the hefty sum of 20,000 won from the toy store is just too cute. He''s floating freely on the water, but can it really be that enjoyable? Just looking at his expression, he seems so happy. "Do you like it that much?" "Kyuung." Our Yong-yong says he missed it so much after living in water for a long time. Well, he did say he lived in water for 1,000 years, so I guess it makes sense. Then how old are you? "Our Yong-yong is old, huh." "Kyuuung!?" As I''m spraying water on our Yong-yong, who''s protesting with a surprised look saying he''s still in his prime, the phone rings. It''s Rea unni. "Unni! Why are you calling?" "I was worried because you haven''t been coming to the library lately." "Our Yong-yong has been begging me to play, so I couldn''t go out!" Yong-yong looks at me with an incredulous expression upon hearing my phone conversation, so I spray him with water. Now he''s angry. He liked it earlier though. They say a dragon''s heart is as fickle as a reed, I guess it''s true. After ending the call with a promise to meet tomorrow, I''m spending some leisurely time spraying water on Yong-yong when I feel a gaze. "My daughter seems to have a lot of free time, huh?" It''s Mom. "I''m not that free. I''m busy, you know?" "It doesn''t look like it." "Taking care of our Yong-yong is like childcare!" "Kyuuung!?" Mom and Yong-yong look at me with bewildered expressions. Their expressions are exactly the same, I guess they really are family. "Well then, let''s go grocery shopping with Mom. It''s boring to go alone." "Eh? But I''m busy..." "I''ll buy you pork cutlet on the way back." "Let''s go, Mother." I can''t resist pork cutlet. After drying Yong-yong with a towel, I head to the supermarket with Mom. It feels nice to go out holding Mom''s hand after a long time. "Oh my, why is our daughter like this these days? You used to be so prickly because your puberty wasn''t over." "Me!? I''ve never gone through puberty!" "Why, remember that time? Was it in middle school? When you wore a black eye patch and the night..." "Kyaaah! D-don''t talk about that!" Just thinking about that time makes me want to die of embarrassment. What on earth was I thinking to do such crazy things? Ugh, I''m going to be kicking myself under the covers tonight. After arriving at the supermarket with Mom and finishing our shopping, our Mom buys me pork cutlet at the food court inside. Going out with Mom is nice, but pork cutlet is nice too. Using a fork and knife to cut the pork cutlet and dipping it in sauce, it''s crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, just the way I like it. After devouring one pork cutlet and eating a soft-serve ice cream, we''re on our way home. As I''m chatting with Mom about various things... "So the reason you haven''t been going to the library lately is because of Yong-yong?" "Yeah! How could I go when our Yong-yong is begging me?" "Kyuuung." Our Yong-yong whispers that he has a lot to say but won''t. Mom chuckles at that sight and pats my head... "Ow! It hurts!" "Go to the library properly from tomorrow." "I will! I''m really going!" Why is our Mom so strong? Heeeng, my head... After arriving home and putting away the groceries, I go up to my room and put on the gear. Today is the day for the long-awaited protest. All preparations are complete. As I log into the game, an alert pops up. [Summon: Yong-yong requests summoning.] Accept / Reject "Accept." Hugging Yong-yong, I arrive at the promised place to see numerous orcs, goblins, and warbears. More than that, I was supposed to contact them before starting the protest. I press the operator call button and when it connects... "I''m going to hold a protest now." "W-wait a moment!? What do you mean!?" "I did contact you!" With those words, I end the call and make a gesture, and red flags start waving from all directions. This is the start of the coup. [Sudden Quest: Stop the monsters approaching the village.] Numerous monsters chanting revolution and strike are approaching Cradle Village. They are calling themselves workers and waving red flags, so please be prepared for any possible bloodshed. [Channels are being integrated due to the sudden quest.] An alert rang for all travelers logged into Arcana Online. Hearing the news that another protest is happening, numerous players are heading to Cradle Village. The difference is that they''re not going to stop it, but to join the protest. It would be a loss to miss this fun event. As I join the monster group approaching the village, they hand out red headbands and flags. "Kuruk! Is this your first protest, human!" "Y-yes, it is." "Kuruk! Go get educated, human!" A goblin guiding travelers participating in a protest for the first time. Arriving at the guided location, a huge orc was conducting education. "Transform Cradle Village!" "Transform Cradle Village!" "Shout louder!" People becoming intoxicated with madness while shouting slogans. Just as I''m thinking I might have come to the wrong place, someone grabs my shoulder, sits me down in a chair, and looks at me with fierce eyes. "Repeat after me, workers do not compromise!" "Workers do not compromise!" "Louder!" In a situation where numerous monsters and travelers are gathering to prepare for the protest. There was someone looking at this scene with satisfaction. "Huhuhu, even travelers are participating a lot these days." "Kyuuung." Our Yong-yong says how can you resist something this fun. As expected, he''s very smart, just like me. At that moment, a warbear approaches me. "Kwaaang!" "Is it already that time?" I put on the red headband and stand up holding the flag. "Shall we get going now?" "Kyuung!" With those words, Yong-yong shoots fireworks into the sky, and monsters and travelers gather one by one. Everyone has put on red headbands and is holding flags. "Workers! Rise up! No one guarantees our rights! We must seize them ourselves!" As I shout while looking at numerous monsters and travelers after getting up on the podium, countless voices resound. "Fight! Unite! Fight! Unite! Fight! Unite! Fight! Unite!" "Fight! Unite! Fight! Unite! Fight! Unite! Fight! Unite!" "Fight! Unite! Fight! Unite! Fight! Unite! Fight! Unite!" "Fight! Unite! Fight! Unite! Fight! Unite! Fight! Unite!" * * * "T-team leader! The protesters are moving!" "Aaargh! I told them to give notice, but they only told us an hour ago!?" "W-we barely managed to stop them from notifying just 1 minute before." "What''s the use of stopping them! Look at that! There are even more now!" It seems to have become an established event now, as numerous travelers have flocked to join the monster side instead of protecting the village they were supposed to guard. Travelers laughing and participating, saying how can they miss something this fun. This is really driving me crazy. "Sigh, how''s the community situation?" "W-well. It''s like a festival atmosphere." [Workers! Unite!] Rise up for workers'' rights! sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Guarantee workers'' rights! [Comments] - Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite! - Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! - Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite! - Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! [Transform Cradle Village! Transform it!] Transform it! Transform it! [Comments] - But what are we transforming? - [Author] There''s a reactionary here!!! - Kill them! Kill them! Kill them! Kill them! - Kill them! Kill them! Kill them! Kill them! [Workers! Prepare your sickles and hammers!] Prepare for revolution and strike!! [Comments] - Revolution! Revolution! Revolution! Revolution! Revolution! Revolution! Revolution! Revolution! - Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike! - Revolution! Revolution! Revolution! Revolution! Revolution! Revolution! Revolution! Revolution! - Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike! Checking the community sentiment, it''s a complete mess. How did everyone end up like this!? This is all because of one person. "Aaaaargh! Bring me Traveler No. 1!!!" "T-team leader! Please calm down!" "Whiskey! Alcohol! Bring me anything!!!" I can''t work at the company sober. I desperately need alcohol. 80. If a Sports Car Drifts to a Stop in Front of You and Tells You to Get In, Do You Get In or Not? 80. If a Sports Car Drifts to a Stop in Front of You and Tells You to Get In, Do You Get In or Not?80. If a Sports Car Drifts to a Stop in Front of You and Tells You to Get In, Do You Get In or Not? After finishing studying at the library, I''m chatting with Rea unni over drinks about various things related to Arcana Online. She knows more than I expected. She must have done a lot of research. Rea unni tells me that the top 10 guilds have numerous benefits. She mentions powerful competitors. "Among them, the most powerful group is the Red Revolution Group." "Cough! Cough!" "Are you okay?" I tell her I''m fine after choking, and she pats my back. Kind Rea unni, smiling and taking care of me. She takes out her phone and shows me a video of myself waving a red flag and giving a speech. "So, tell me. This is you, right?" "Umm? I-I don''t know." I avoid her eyes and say it''s someone I don''t know, but it''s the moment her suspicion turns into certainty. "To think that Yuna was the leader of the Red Revolution Group, the friend of workers..." "I''m telling you it''s not me..." She pokes my cheeks and smiles, which makes me nervous. "You''ll join our guild, right?" "Of course. I promised to join." Promises are meant to be kept. Children who break promises will taste the flag of revolution... "Kyaa! To think the Red Revolution Group is joining our guild! This is amazing!" "W-wait a minute!?" * * * On my way home after agreeing to join the guild this evening. I''m about to buy ice cream at a convenience store when a flashy sports car drifts to a stop right in front of me. The passenger door opens, and I see someone inside - it''s Nia!? "What''s going on?" "Just get in! I''ll explain on the way!" If a suspicious vehicle told me to get in, I would have turned and run without looking back. But if a flashy sports car drifts to a stop in front of me and tells me to get in? I would have gotten in even if it wasn''t Nia. I can''t resist this... As I get in the car, Nia fastens my seatbelt. She tells me to call home and let them know I''ll be eating dinner out. "Did you come all this way just to buy me dinner?" "That''s part of it, and I also have someone to introduce you to." "Someone to introduce?" I wonder who Nia could be introducing me to. N-no way... "I''m not interested in being set up with a guy. I''ll just accept the thought." Nia looks at me with a bewildered expression at my words. Is she surprised by my unexpected response? "Look! Look at the road ahead!" "It''s fine. Everyone else will avoid us anyway." For some reason, all the surrounding vehicles seem to be avoiding us. I saw on YouTube that the easiest way to drive is to ride in an expensive car. They said all the surrounding drivers will avoid you, and it seems to be true. The car speeds along and stops in front of a large building. "We''re here." "This is the place?" As I open the door and get out, an employee approaches. "Welcome, CEO." "Yes, could you park the car for me?" "Certainly, CEO." Wait a minute, they''re calling her CEO, so this must be a company. This is my first time at a company in my life. As I''m looking around the lobby, Nia tells me to follow her. "There''s an employee at our company who wants to meet you, so I''ll introduce you." "Me?" "They also have a proposal." Saying we''ll talk slowly, I follow Nia into the elevator. We get off on the 19th floor and immediately see an iron door. There''s even a CCTV installed. "It''s for security." She taps a keycard and the door slides open smoothly. It''s fascinating. Is this how companies normally are? As soon as we enter, I see a huge monitor. It shows a bird''s-eye view of the Arcana continent. "C-CEO!" At that moment, an employee approaches, calling Nia. But when they look at me, they have a puzzled expression. Then suddenly. They call out to me with a scream. "Aah! Traveler No. 1!" "M-me?" They point at me with their finger, but why are they acting like this...? "Team leader, this is my guest. Please show some manners." "I-I''m sorry, CEO..." They look at me with a frustrated expression, but I wish someone would explain what''s going on. At that moment, Nia introduces them as the general team leader. She explains that among their duties, they particularly manage special management targets, and I''m one of them. Then Nia says she has a very good proposal for me. "You''re going to continue the coup... I mean, protests anyway, right? So our game company wants to make it a regular event. Can you cooperate with us?" "No way!" "That''s a relie... Huh? What did you say...? You said no?" Nia looks at me with a dumbfounded expression. Is she surprised by my answer that''s different from what she expected? "The flag of revolution is for workers'' rights!" At that moment, the team leader who had been trembling slowly approaches. "CEO, if you give me just 5 minutes, I can persuade them." "You mean persuade, right...?" Seeing the team leader''s ominous smile, I get goosebumps. I quickly hide behind Nia, but she sells me out with a bright smile. "W-wait a minute!? This wasn''t in the plan!" "You rejecting my proposal wasn''t in the plan either." "Workers do not compromise!" * * S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. * To summarize in one sentence, the negotiations broke down. But that doesn''t mean there was no progress at all. "Just compromise this much." "That much is okay." I promised to give at least one day''s notice before holding a protest. They say the game company needs to be able to respond, so I guess it can''t be helped. I guess I can''t do surprise protests anymore. "But there''s one thing I want to ask." "What is it?" Nia asks a question while I''m sipping my drink. She asks why I''m rejecting the proposal. "We''re offering the best salary and treatment in the industry, so why are you rejecting it?" I put down my drink and spoke with a serious face. "I don''t like having someone above me!" "How are you going to handle company life later?" "That''s the thing..." The reality that suddenly hit me was not easy. My current status is a student preparing for college entrance exams. If I get into university, I''ll have to attend, graduate, and then get a job... what should I do... Is there no good solution? "Couldn''t I just find someone to support me?" "......" Wouldn''t it be nice if a pretty, kind, and rich older sister could support me? As I''m lost in my fantasies, Nia tells me to go eat, and I follow her to the car as we head to a restaurant. On the way, I send a message saying I''ll join the guild I was supposed to join this evening tomorrow because of a prior engagement, and I enjoy the scenery outside. As I''m admiring the beautiful night view, Nia asks what I want to eat for dinner. "Meat!" "I thought so, so I made a reservation." A capable CEO is different indeed. She seems somehow different. Wait a minute, rich and pretty, and while not exactly kind, she is older than me... "Want to raise one cute college prep student?" "No." "How cold." I pout my lips, and Nia chuckles as she parks the car. As we enter the restaurant, the fragrant smell of Korean beef wafts through the air. Is it Korean beef! Is that what it is! We take our seats and I check the menu, but the prices are insane. 180,000 won per serving!? What''s this that''s over 300,000 won!? As I''m looking at the menu with trembling hands, Nia orders for us, but how much did she just order...? "Do you want cold noodles too?" "Yes!" By the way, the cold noodles are 20,000 won. I used to have a lot of money before, so I didn''t think much of it, but from the perspective of someone with 8,000 won in their bank account, it''s a burdensome price. "If it''s not rude, can I call you unni?" "Suddenly!?" As I''m chuckling, the food starts to arrive one by one. Look at those beautiful colors. Just looking at it makes my mouth water... "Don''t drool." "Gulp!!" The staff grills the meat and puts it on our plates, and the taste is amazing. It melts in my mouth as soon as I put it in, it''s incredible. After finishing dinner, we buy a family-size ice cream at an ice cream shop, and Nia puts it in my hands and drops me off at home. "Thank you." "If you''re grateful, contact me before you hold a protest." She chuckles and tells me to go inside quickly. As I enter the house, my family is waiting for me. "Did our daughter eat well?" "Yes, yes! We went to a super~ expensive meat restaurant today!" "Oh my, really? Was it delicious?" As I''m telling Mom and Dad about my adventure, my sister shows interest in my ice cream. "What flavor is it?" "I don''t know? I didn''t see because it was given to me." My sister says she''ll open it, and as soon as she does, she screams. "Kyaaah!" "W-what''s wrong!?" She points at the ice cream with a happy expression, but what on earth is it to make her react like that? As I check the ice cream, surprisingly, it''s filled to the brim with mint chocolate. The family size, that is. My sister praises me with a happy face, saying I''ve made a very good friend. "......" 81. Saying ‘Red’ Sounds Revolutionary, but Saying ‘Scarlet’ Sounds Cheap 81. Saying ¡®Red¡¯ Sounds Revolutionary, but Saying ¡®Scarlet¡¯ Sounds Cheap81. Saying ''Red'' Sounds Revolutionary, but Saying ''Scarlet'' Sounds Cheap The next evening, when I logged into Arcana Online, Rea unni welcomed me. Her outfit was unfamiliar - not the usual flashy attire, but ordinary traveler''s clothes. "You''re here?" "Yes!" Today, as promised, I was going to join the guild. We met in Cradle Village, where she handed me an invitation. With this, I became a member of the Frey Guild again. "Now! From now on, call me Leader!" "Okay! Rea unni Leader!" "No! Call me Lea-der!" "I got it! Leader Rea unni!" "Are you teasing me now...?" As Rea unni poked my cheeks, I told her it was a joke. "Ahaha! Just kidding! Rea unni!" "Lea-der!" Saying that obsessing over small things is useless, I took out equipment similar to what Rea unni used to use from my inventory and handed it to her. She looked at me with surprised eyes. "W-what is this...?" "It''s a gift from the future unni." Well, should I say another Rea unni...? Fortunately, the equipment she gave me as a gift when she changed her gear back then was still in my inventory. Wait, could it be that she anticipated even this and gave it to me!? Scary Rea unni. She''s not just thinking one step ahead, but several steps ahead. Well, it must be a coincidence. "C-can I really accept such a precious thing...?" "Of course!" When I told her to use it freely, she looked at me with a touched expression. "I''ll treat you to a delicious meal next time!" "I like sushi!" "My wallet will have to work hard..." I should eat moderately, considering her wallet situation. "Now then! First member of the Frey Guild, Yuna! Let''s go recruit guild members!" "I have some members in mind for that." "Really!?" Her hand gently patted my head, saying I was thoughtful. Rea unni is capable, pretty, and kind... Doesn''t she have enough qualifications to support me? "Hey! Are you thinking of supporting a gap year student right now? It''s free if you do it now!" "Hmm? I''ll pass." "Why not!?" Rea unni chuckled at my dejected state and told me to hurry up. Following her, the kidnapping... I mean, recruitment of Frey Guild members began. The first one, of course, was beast-kin Sasha unni. I had already figured out her location. Moving to her usual channel and approaching the lakeside, I saw her fishing. Happy to see her, I waved excitedly as I approached, but I had overlooked one fact. She didn''t remember me. "Who are you, acting so familiar?" Momentarily flustered by her words, I managed my expression and invited her to join the Frey Guild. I even presented two choices. "Would you like to join the Frey Guild? Or would you like to be kidnapped?" "Is that an invitation?" "Your answer!?" "No! It''s troublesome! Nothing''s more uncomfortable than belonging to an organization!" With those words, Sasha unni ran away at lightning speed. As expected of a beast-kin, her speed was no joke. But she''s no longer the ranker she used to be. Now, she''s just a beginner user. I caught up to her with light steps, and she was shocked. "Don''t follow me!" "I''ll follow you until you join!" "No!!" Finally, I caught her and brought her to Rea unni, who handed her an invitation with a bright smile. "Congratulations on joining the Frey Guild!" "I''m not joining!?" Faced with her quite stubborn attitude, I took out the item I was going to give her if she joined and handed it over. "If you join now, it''s a bonus!" "I said I''m not join-" She glanced at the item, and in an instant, her words stopped. When she checked the information, her mouth fell open. "D-do you really give this just for joining?" "Yes!" "You''re not going to ask for it back later or charge a rental fee..." "There''s nothing like that!" Hearing my words, she immediately took the invitation and used it. As expected, in a capitalist society, capital is supreme. No, as someone waving the flag of red revolution, is that right? Hmm, whatever! She looked happy examining the Dragon Clan''s Gauntlet I gave her as an item. This is how I plan to recruit all the former Frey Guild members one by one. * * * [Are there no protests these days?] I feel like having a revolution today. [Comments] - Is revolution your cousin''s kid''s name or something? - Wave the red flag and strengthen comradeship! - Back in my day! It wasn''t red, it was scarlet! - Saying scarlet makes it sound cheap lol [Doesn''t it sound off if you say you''re waving a scarlet flag?] No, it just sounds like China. When you think of revolution, red sounds more fitting. [Comments] - For real lol - Saying scarlet sounds cheap lol - Please correct it to red - [Author] Corrected [If you say red hair, it just sounds like a baby] Try saying crimson hair. Doesn''t it make you think of revolution? [Comments] - Kid, you''ve learned well. - [Author] Your way of speaking really sounds like you''re from the North? - That''s right? I''m a North Korean defector. - [Author] Oh, it was real lol [So when are we having a protest!!!!] I''ve even been practicing waving flags these days!!! [Comments] - I heard it''s becoming an event? - I heard the admin will announce it? - I heard the representative will let us know? - [Author] For real? Users who had tasted protest once realized. How sweet the taste of revolution is. At that moment, a notice from the game company was posted. [Coup d''¨¦tat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!] Coup d''¨¦tat time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [Comments] - How did this actually become a real event lol - The game company really made this on purpose lol - Let''s go wave red headbands and flags!!! - Let''s gooooooooo [Isn''t Star City really crossing the line?] There are so many knights and mages there, you know? [Comments] - The flag of revolution knows no time or place! - I''ve never raised a weak kid! - [Author] When did you raise me lol - Want to taste the flag!? While many users were in a frenzy of excitement, there were also users who weren''t. Users who couldn''t understand why such actions were being taken gathered inside Star City, while users participating in the revolution started gathering one by one at a campsite away from the city. A campsite where numerous monsters had gathered in one place, waving flags and preparing. Unlike Cradle Village, Star City was much larger in scale, and as they were half expectant and half nervous about whether it would work, something started flying from far in the sky. "I-isn''t that a griffin!?" "The griffin that was said to live in the Valley of Death!?" "It''s not just one or two!?" What looked like hundreds of griffins flying in the sky slowly descended. The current level of rankers is in the 50s, making it impossible to catch griffins with a recommended level of 60. But something seemed off. The griffins had grown 2 to 5 times larger than what was seen in videos. The level displayed on their heads exceeded 100. In other words, ordinary users would die just from brushing against them. What if such monsters joined their protest? This might work. Then a voice rang out. "We''re offering a chance to participate in the protest by riding griffins on a first-come, first-served basis!" There was a moment of silence at those words, but then countless people rushed forward. When else in life would you get to ride on a griffin''s back? As the lucky ones were chosen and envious gazes followed, just as the first traveler was about to mount the griffin... "Rejected." With one kick, they were logged out. "Um... This wasn''t in the script. It''s okay! We still have plenty left, right?" The leader of the Red Revolution Group smiled brightly at us. Comrade Yuna is looking at us, but if we say we can''t do it now, will she let us off? As everyone was panicking and waving their hands, a presence slowly approached. "Get on." Watching this scene, the ordinary users breathed sighs of relief. Saying they were glad they weren''t in that position. * * * The sound of bells rang throughout Star City. The bells signaling an emergency situation echoed throughout the city, and as the city gates closed tightly, they entered a state of emergency. "What''s the scale of the enemy!?" "There are too many to gauge!" "What kind of answer is that! Go out and find out right now!" How many could there be to talk such nonsense? Climbing up to the city walls to check the number of enemies, I couldn''t close my mouth. A vast crowd was approaching, filling the ground densely, but the problem was that monsters were coming along with them. On top of that, griffins filled the sky. Ah, is this the end of Star City? At that moment, an anomaly occurred. The vast crowd parted as someone walked forward. A girl...? She took something out of her subspace, and a loud voice rang out. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Star City, transform!" "Star City, transform!" 82. Peace Comes from Overwhelming Force 82. Peace Comes from Overwhelming Force82. Peace Comes from Overwhelming Force The reason for staging a coup in the City of Stars is simple. The discrimination that exists between nobles and commoners. I raised the flag of revolution, waving red flags in response to the different treatment starting from the city gates. To create a society where everyone is equal. "Transform the City of Stars!" "Transform the City of Stars!" "Transform the City of Stars!" After numerous shouts, someone who looked like a high-ranking official in the City of Stars approached us and proposed negotiations. They''re probably proceeding with these negotiations because they clearly know what will happen if the situation reaches its worst. If our forces were few or weak, there''s no way they would offer such negotiations. "Workers do not compromise!" "Workers do not compromise!" "Workers do not compromise!" Then, holding his head, he shouted for us to state our demands. What we want is simple. Equal treatment in the inspection procedures. He said they would notify us after holding a meeting and told us to disperse immediately, but we''re not that naive. We made our position clear that there would be no dispersal until our demands were met and that we would fight to the end. His face turned red and blue. The official, who looked like he wanted to snap at us, was led into the castle by soldiers, and we waved the flag of revolution. * * * After successfully concluding this protest, I was maintaining my items at the Red Revolution Group''s temporary residence when I heard urgent footsteps. "B-big trouble! Comrade Yuna!" "What''s the matter?" He handed me something - a wanted poster...? When I opened it to check, there was my photo and name, along with a bounty. The amount was 30 million gold. Currently, the cash ratio between the game and the real world is 1:1. In other words, a bounty of 30 million won in cash was placed on me. "It''s less than I thought." "That''s not the problem! If there''s a bounty, you can''t freely enter and exit the city!" If I can''t enter and exit the city, I can''t do anything from various items to lodging. It means I''m in a difficult situation, but I''ve experienced this once before, so it doesn''t matter. And sure enough, the Avalon Empire put out the bounty. I didn''t like that emperor before, and I still don''t. Should I just go and take care of him...? "Well, let''s prepare for now." Surely, no one would target me for this amount of money, right? But reality wasn''t so simple. There were frequent attacks targeting me when I was alone. Due to the overwhelming level difference, I don''t even get a scratch, but our Yong-yong is infuriated. "Kyuuung!!" Yong-yong shouts that he won''t stand for this and wants to fly to the empire right now to turn it into a sea of fire. I calm him down and fall into thought for a while. "Should we resolve this peacefully, or should we do it my way." Peace. Or blood. The deliberation wasn''t long. Since it''s come to this, I''ll call myself a necessary evil that can''t be absent from the Arcana continent and do something spectacular. Hehehe, they''re all dead. For that, I need powerful strength. Our Yong-yong is enough, but I''ll save him as a trump card and borrow the power of the demon realm this time. To do that, I need to go to the demon realm first. Then suddenly, one race came to mind. Dark elves. They''re a race that doesn''t exist in this world yet. To give birth to dark elves, we need to plant the World Tree in the demon realm. They really liked me and followed me well. First, I should get seeds from the Forest Clan and go to the demon realm. "Please take me to the village where the Forest Clan is located." "Kyuung." In an instant, my vision changed and I moved to the center of the village. I said village, but I didn''t say the center of the village...? Without fail, arrows flew from all directions along with killing intent. If Yong-yong hadn''t spread a protective barrier, I would have become a porcupine. "Who are you!" At the loud shout, I looked up to see Mellin unni aiming an arrow at me. Happy to see her, I waved my hand, but she frowned and pulled the bowstring. "Answer! How did you infiltrate the village!?" As I was pondering how to explain, I heard a voice. "Stop." The elder of the Forest Clan appeared. "Elder!" "This is my guest." With those words, the elder welcomed me with a bright smile. "Shall we go together?" "Yes!" The elder of the Forest Clan is also an avatar of the Creator. He''s one of the people who remembers me. Entering the elder''s house after a long time, it was still simple as before with only necessary items. "Please sit comfortably." "Yes, Elder." As I sat down, Mellin unni served tea. Her gaze is not good. I give her a sly smile in response to her gaze that seems to ask what my identity is, and she glares at me intensely. "I''d like to talk to her alone." "Understood, Elder." Mellin unni leaves with a warning that she won''t let it slide if I do anything strange. I take a sip of tea, but it''s bitter. It used to be sweet before, did she make it like this on purpose? I guess I''ve really upset her. "It''s been a while, Yuna." "Have you been well? Actually..." "I know. It''s because of this, right?" He hands me a box - it''s the World Tree''s seed. "Thank you. I was planning to visit the demon realm again with this." "I prepared it knowing you would." Then space tears and a being appears. The high priest of the demon realm revealed himself. "It''s been a while." "It has been a while!" I didn''t expect things to progress so smoothly. The high priest extends his hand to me, and as I take it and say goodbye to the elder, he tells me to be careful. After saying goodbye to the elder, I cross over the space and arrive in the demon realm. The demon realm is different from when I visited before. "Something has changed?" "This is what it looked like before it was destroyed by pollution. This is the original demon realm." The grotesque-looking demon realm doesn''t exist, and I see a demon realm that looks similar to the middle world environment. Following the high priest, I see the Demon King''s castle. "The Demon King doesn''t remember. So behave yourself well." "Just trust me!" "I''m worried." As we approach the Demon King''s castle, the demon clan members standing guard become alert. "How is a human in the demon realm!" Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "H-High Priest!? What is this..." "She''s my guest. Step aside." With those words, a huge door opens and as we enter the Demon King''s castle, we bump into numerous demon clan members. Their scary-looking faces are still the same. After passing through a long corridor, we knock on the door of the audience chamber where the Demon King is, and the door opens with an eerie sound. ''Creeeaaak'' As we enter, I see numerous high-ranking demon clan members and the Demon King sitting on the throne with a noble appearance. Is it because I haven''t seen her in a long time? The corners of my mouth twitch. I wanted to hug her right away, but I held back as much as I could. Because she probably won''t remember me. Then I hear a voice. "Everyone leave." With those words, everyone left. Including the high priest. Now only the Demon King and I remain in the audience chamber. "Kyuung." ...The three of us, including Yong-yong, remain in the situation. She gets up from her seat and approaches me. "It''s nice to meet..." Just as I was about to say those words, the Demon King hugs me. "I''m hurt. Saying it''s the first time." "You remember!?" I look at her with surprised eyes, and she pats my head as if I''m cute. "I may forget everything else, but how could I forget our Yuna." "Demon King..." It''s a touching atmosphere. However, it didn''t last long because of our Yong-yong. "Kyuuung!" "The dragon is still the same." Yong-yong separates me and the Demon King and sticks out his tongue as if protecting me. He''s very possessive. "Our Yong-yong is still young, that''s why." "Kyuung!?" Yong-yong gets angry at being treated like a child all of a sudden, saying what do you mean, but it''s cute. The Demon King smiles at that sight and extends her hand to me. I put my hand on the Demon King''s hand, and she smiles. "Yuna''s hand is nice, but don''t you have something else?" "Ah..." I smile awkwardly and take out a box from my subspace and hand it to her. She carefully puts away the box. "There''s a very good location, different from before. Let''s go." She uses a gate to move, and we arrive on a hill high enough to see the entire demon realm at a glance. It''s an environment where ordinary trees can''t live, but the World Tree is different. The Demon King plants the World Tree''s seed and lets magic flow into it, and a sprout grows. "The rest is up to you, Yuna." "Leave it to me." I take out magic stones from my subspace and drop them near the sprout. It absorbs them one by one and grows bigger and bigger. Finally, it reveals the form of a huge World Tree. [It''s been a while, Mother.] "You remember me!?" [Because I''m the World Tree.] 83. Financial Treatment is the Most Effective! 83. Financial Treatment is the Most Effective!83. Financial Treatment is the Most Effective! The World Tree grew and began to bear fruit one by one. In about a week, many children will be born. Now all we have to do is wait. "I''m curious about something." "You can ask me anything!" When the Demon King asked her question, I said I''d answer anything, and she asked why I came to the demon realm. "Well, about that." I told her about what had happened and the story of the bounty placed on me, and she smiled broadly, but that smile was scary. "Oh? They dared to touch our demon realm?" "Huh? What? They didn''t touch the demon realm though?" "Yuna, you are a duke of the demon realm. In other words, it''s the same as touching the entire demon realm." Is that how it works? While my head wasn''t working due to the unexpectedly complicated story, the Demon King patted my head. "Don''t worry. I''ll resolve this problem." "Thank you!" At that time, I didn''t know what would happen. Really. * * * An anomaly occurred in ''Eve'', the AI robot managing Arcana Online. "Team leader! It''s an emergency! An anomaly has been detected in Eve!" "Argh! It must be traveler No. 1 again!" "Th-this time it''s even worse!" At the team member''s shout, I checked the monitor screen and collapsed in my spot with weak legs. "Team leader!?" "How is this already..." A golden window floating on the huge screen. [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [CHAPTER 1: Protect the Avalon Empire.] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 239 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] According to the AI robot Eve''s judgment, it was supposed to occur at least 3 years later, but why is it invading already? Moreover, it was originally supposed to target the World Tree, but suddenly it''s targeting the Avalon Empire...? This is a disaster. Inevitably, the time has come to use the last resort. "Can you bring me what''s in the bottom drawer of my desk?" "Huh? Alright." The item that the confused employee took out of my desk drawer was a resignation letter. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Wh-what is this, Team leader...?" "Can''t you see? It''s a resignation letter. It''s been tough working together, let''s never meet again." "N-no, Team leader!" With those words, the employee tore up my resignation letter. "Argh! What are you doing! That was the only one!" "Absolutely not! Don''t even think about quitting, even if you die!" "Then what are we going to do about that!?" When I pointed at the screen, the subordinate turned away. This is driving me crazy. I don''t know where to start untangling this mess. First, I should contact the CEO and have a conversation with traveler No. 1. At that moment, the CEO enters through the door. "The main scenario quest came faster than expected." "Th-this is all because of traveler No. 1!" I tried to complain, but it was useless. The CEO pats my shoulder and says, "I''m counting on you, Team leader." Now is the time to hand in my resignation letter. "When the main scenario quest is over, I''ll give everyone bonuses and send you on an overseas trip, so please work hard." "We''ll do our best, CEO!" As the saying goes, kindness comes from a full granary1, if there''s financial treatment, it''s doable. After the CEO left, I remained with the team members. "First, locate where traveler No. 1 is." "W-well... We can''t locate them." "......" If we can''t locate them when we''re monitoring the entire Arcana continent, it means they''re currently not on the Arcana continent but in another place. If they''re currently in the demon realm...? Then everything makes sense. "Send a dispatch team to the demon realm!!" "We''ll all die, Team leader!!" The demon realm is a world of survival of the fittest that runs on power. With the dispatch team''s level, they''ll all be defeated by low-level demons as soon as they enter. If it comes to this, it''s over... "Where''s the resignation letter that was torn up earlier?" "Team leader!?" * * * While all travelers are in an uproar due to the main scenario quest, strangely, the Red Revolution Group is quiet. As the group boasting the largest scale, depending on what position they take, the opinions of numerous travelers would be divided, but it''s strangely quiet. Many guilds send spies to the Red Revolution Group to check information, but they''re all caught at an unbelievably fast speed. Plus, there''s retaliation. An assassin visits in the middle of the night, hangs them upside down, and sprinkles salt... A traveler who has experienced it once never approaches the Red Revolution Group again. At the same time. Yuna, the leader of the Red Revolution Group and a member of the Frey Guild, is studying in the library. She''s already in trouble for spending a bit more time playing games recently and might have her game console confiscated by her parents if she''s not careful. Well, a student retaking the college entrance exam shouldn''t just be playing games... I came out of the library to take a break and was drinking a beverage from the vending machine when I saw a familiar silhouette. "Rea unni!" "Yuna!" I waved my hand happily, and she ran over in one step and hugged me. She''s been more physically affectionate lately. As I was happily burying my face in her large chest, she gently pushed me away. "Sometimes I feel like I have a little brother." "Th-there''s no way that''s possible, right?" "Then why are you stuttering?" "Ahaha..." This is why they say a woman''s intuition is scary. It''s true. We sat on a nearby bench drinking beverages and chatting. She said her growth rate has become incredibly fast lately thanks to the equipment I gave her, and she thanked me. "It''s nothing between us." "So, about that..." She looked at me with eyes that seemed to have made a decision. "I think this is an opportunity. So I''m thinking of playing the game seriously." Well, she did make it big through games in that other world. Back then, there was a sports car and a building... Wait a minute... If I help Rea unni, won''t she be able to support me later? Rea unni even moved next door to take care of me. I held her hands tightly and said I''d help with anything she needed. She hugged me happily, and indeed, they''re big. She told me to study hard and said goodbye. As I was about to move my feet to go back to studying after watching her leave, a thought crossed my mind. Should I try to make some money through the game too...? No. My parents won''t let me. Let''s think about it after entering university. Time is finite, but this isn''t a problem to be decided hastily. As I was spacing out for a while, I heard a voice. "Kyuuung." "Hm? You''re saying the tteokbokki we ate last time was delicious? I''ll buy you some on the way." Our Yong-yong has changed since coming to this other world. In that world, he only ate magic stones, but since coming to this world, he started eating food. Especially, he''s crazy about spicy things. Last time we went to eat malatang together, and the money... That was the first time I tried to call Nia to apologize, but she called first. "Well done! That''s how you should eat! You should eat at least that much from now on, okay?" "Um? O-okay..." She said that and hung up saying she was busy, but I''ve made one good friend. On the way home after studying late that day. After devouring tteokbokki and various fried foods at a nearby snack shop and packing some for my sister, I entered the house and was greeted by my parents. "Our daughter is home?" "Good job studying." "Ehehe, I''m home! Ah! I bought this on the way!" My parents don''t really like street food, so I only bought a little, but they stared at it for a while and then the snacks disappeared in an instant. I didn''t know they''d eat it so well. "It''s delicious eating it after a long time." "I ate well, our daughter." Then I heard footsteps. "What''s that smell? It smells so good!" My sister appeared with a ''ta-da!'' and checked the empty bowls, and my parents disappeared in an instant. Left alone with my sister, an awkward atmosphere flowed. "Little sister, what about mine...?" "Mom and dad just ate everything..." "What about mine...?" "Should we go eat together...?" "Okay!" Going out with my sister is always awkward. When we were brother and sister, we only spoke about one word a day at most, but since becoming sisters, we talk a lot every day. And the conversation topics change every day. "Does our little sister have anyone she''s dating?" "No! Absolutely not!" "Your sister understands." "What!?" Even though I insist that it''s not that I can''t date but that I don''t want to date, my real older sister ignores my words and says a good person will come along later. This is driving me crazy. I have no intention of dating at all. As we walked hand in hand towards the snack shop, talking about various things, stars shone in the night sky, lighting our way. Just like when I went camping with my sister when I was young. Footnotes: 1: This is a Korean proverb meaning that generosity comes from abundance. In this context, it suggests that the employees are more willing to work hard because they''re being offered financial incentives. 84. Youngest, You’ve Been Fooled Again 84. Youngest, You¡¯ve Been Fooled Again84. Youngest, You''ve Been Fooled Again Long-ago memories are best left as memories. Why? Because they become idealized. As time passes, you think "That''s how it was back then" and laugh it off. But if the situation you call a memory were to happen right now, you''d either love it or hate it, with a 50-50 chance. And I fall into the latter category. "Isn''t it great to go camping with your sister!?" "Not really..." "You''re saying it''s too great!? Me too!" My sister casually ignores what I say and hears only what she wants to hear. As a result, I was kidnapped to a place with beautiful mountains and waters in the early morning. And there''s one more person. No, one more snake who''s enjoying this. "Kyuung!" "Yong-yong is happy too, right!? The air is so fresh! The water here is amazing!" "Kyuuung!" Yong-yong, who used to dislike everyone except me, gets along so well with my family. Anyone who sees this would think he''s my sister''s summon. Why don''t you just switch owners...? When I glare at Yong-yong, he glances at me and seems to have enough sense to approach me. "Kyuung." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "W-what...? You want me to spray water on you...?" He had no sense after all. No, more importantly, where did you get this camper van!? And since when did you have a driver''s license!? I thought she didn''t have a license since she always walked everywhere, but apparently she does. And she even has a camper van. "Where did you get the camper van from?" "I borrowed it from a friend who uses it for camping!" She''s making a V-sign with her fingers and grinning broadly, but even if it''s a friend, who lends out their car!? What if there''s an accident? I''ll have to give that friend a piece of my mind next time I see them. "Come on, your sister packed all sorts of yummy things for you. Want to check it out?" "How much could you have possibly packed." She points to the refrigerator inside the camper van, but just how much did she prepare to be acting like this? I go inside and open the fridge door, and I can''t help but gape in amazement. W-what is all this... The fridge is packed full. Even the freezer is crammed. Are we two supposed to eat all this...? "I bought a lot, right!? Your sister''s wallet worked hard!" "It worked a bit too hard..." She grabs my hand telling me to come out quickly, and when we exit the camper van, she''s already set up chairs and a fire pit in the meantime. "Let''s stare at the fire for a while, then play in the river and grill some meat!" She''s smiling saying she even put watermelon in the water to chill, but I have a feeling I''ll be going home about 5kg heavier. Sitting in the chair and comfortably staring at the fire is quite relaxing. Maybe it''s because I''ve been so busy lately - waking up, studying, logging into the game in the evening and waving flags. This kind of healing isn''t so bad. Yong-yong, who was staring at the fire with me in my arms, starts pestering me to get some marshmallows, but you didn''t used to eat this stuff!? When I look at my sister, she hands me marshmallows as if she''d been waiting for this. Anyone watching would think our Yong-yong could understand human speech. "Your sister wanted marshmallows too, and my little sister wanted some too!?" "Actually, it was our Yong-yong who..." "Kyaa! Are you being shy!?" She suddenly hugs me and starts poking my cheeks, and it''s driving me crazy. If other sisters did this kind of skinship, I could shout "Thank you!" and even bow, but my own sister is an exception. No matter how pretty my own sister is, to my eyes she''s just... "Your eyes look strange. You''re not thinking extremely rude thoughts right now, are you?" "Th-there''s no way that could be true, right?" "Then why are you stuttering?" She keeps poking me telling me to be honest, and only after I say I want to eat marshmallows does she finally let me go. Ugh, my poor self. To think that I, the leader of the Red Revolution Group and a repeat student, would face such trials. Ah, being a repeat student isn''t really a good thing. I put marshmallows on skewers one by one and start roasting them, and our Yong-yong is staring while drooling. I start filming Yong-yong''s appearance with my other hand, and he gets angry. "Hey now! There''s no such thing as a free lunch in this world! If you want marshmallows, cooperate fully with the photo shoot!" "Little sister. That''s my money." "What''s yours is mine! What''s mine is mine!" "Come here." "N-no violence!!!" * * After playing around with Yong-yong by the water for a while, I approach my sister clutching my rumbling stomach, and she starts preparing the meal as if she''d been waiting. Today''s lunch is barbecue, she says to look forward to it, and just imagining it makes my mouth water. I want to eat quickly. Since it will take some time for the meat to grill, I go to get the watermelon we put in the river water to chill for dessert in the meantime. At that moment. Suddenly feeling mischievous, I hide it on one side and urgently call my sister. "Sis, it''s not here?" "N-no way!?" With a scream, my sister comes running and checks where the watermelon was, then looks devastated. I comfort her saying it seems to have floated away in the river, and tears well up in her eyes. This wasn''t in the scenario. "I was looking forward to it..." "Um, well..." I take out the watermelon I had hidden in the corner and hand it to her, and she looks back and forth between the watermelon and me before a fierce expression flashes across her face. "You dare to tease your sister!?" "I-I didn''t think you''d react this strongly!!" "Come here!!" Our Yong-yong watches me getting scolded with a disdainful look. His eyes seem to say "Why did you do such a useless thing?", but it was fun! This is Yong-yong''s fault too. "Yong-yong is an accomplice too!" "Kyuung!?" "Oh? Is that so." After fooling around like that for a while, I start to feel like I''ve forgotten something when a burning smell comes from somewhere. "Ahhh! The barbecue!!" My sister runs off with those words. She looks devastated at the sight of what seems to have turned into charcoal rather than barbecue, I say this is all part of the memories too and get a knock on the head. Hiing. So mean. Somehow we finish the meal and devour the watermelon thoroughly, then sit in the chairs blankly staring at the fire when a thought crosses my mind. After spending such a peaceful everyday life, I should wave the flag of revolution again, right? I''ll plant a flag right in the imperial palace of the Avalon Empire. You dare put a bounty on me? Just you wait, old man. My sister, who was using her phone next to me, calls me over asking what''s going on, then asks if this is me, I go closer to check her phone and see a picture of me waving the flag of revolution. Being called a 21st century revolutionary. The day has finally come. The day my sister found out. I knew this day would come someday, but I hoped it wouldn''t. And on a day when we came camping, just the two of us. An evil smile spreads across her lips. An evil smile like she''s caught her prey. "Heh, so my little sister has been doing this kind of thing in the game?" "W-well... It''s just a hobby..." "A hobby..." Before I know it, she''s hugging me and rubbing her face against my cheek telling me to explain in detail. No, we may be sisters but isn''t this too much skinship? When I look at other families, they can''t wait to tear each other apart! We weren''t like this when we were brother and sister! I want to say this, but if our mom and dad find out about this, they''ll faint for sure. If they find out that one of their only two daughters is going around waving flags. It''s not coming out, and it''s not rooming out, so should I call it revming out? In the sense that I got caught revoluting. "You''ll keep this a secret from Mom and Dad, right?" "Well. That depends on what my little sister does." "P-please." "Informal speech?" "Please." "There''s no sincerity!" "I sincerely beg you, sister." "Louder!" "Ah, I won''t! I don''t know! Tell them!" I struggle and puff out my cheeks, protesting that I''m sulking and to let me go, and she marvels that it''s not my first time doing this. "As expected, this isn''t your first time protesting." She threatens to bite me and only then do I finally get released, but she says with a smile that she''ll keep it a secret. "Really?" "Really." She says we can pinky promise if I want, and holds out her hand to me, but just as I''m about to take it, she grabs my hand and starts fiddling with it saying how small it is. Why are you really like this!? After finishing the eventful camping trip like that, on the way home. While I''m blankly staring out the window because I''m nervous about my sister''s driving skills, I hear a quiet voice. "How is it? You''ve seemed troubled lately. Are you okay now?" "......" So she prepared all this on purpose because of me. Feeling slightly touched, I say thank you and my sister smiles broadly. When we arrive home and I''m about to hug Mom and Dad who welcome us, I get hit on the back of the head. "Mom! Dad! Look at this! Can you believe what your one and only little sister has been doing outside? She''s been protesting!" "Sis!?" 85. Transform the Avalon Empire! 85. Transform the Avalon Empire!85. Transform the Avalon Empire! [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [CHAPTER 1: Protect the Avalon Empire.] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 119 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds] Not much time remained for the main scenario quest. Numerous travelers came up with countless hypotheses about what this could mean, but they were all just speculation. There wasn''t a single official statement, until the leader of the Red Revolution Group, Comrade Yuna, finally spoke up. "We will not protect the empire." With those words, many travelers were divided. There were the romantics who shouted that a connection once made is not coincidence but fate. And there were the realists who said they joined just for fun anyway, so of course they would actively participate in the main scenario quest. The remaining romantic users followed Comrade Yuna on a long journey. Without even knowing their destination. "Comrade Yuna. I have a question." "Please go ahead." "Where are we going?" Taking the remaining romantics somewhere, after marching for days and days, complaints started to surface one by one. Many voiced the opinion that they should at least be told their destination to understand, so a representative approached Comrade Yuna to ask, but he was nervous. Of course, with the snake coiled around her neck flicking its tongue and staring, it sent chills... "I suppose it''s about time I tell you. Would you gather everyone in one place?" "Understood." Gathering the numerous romantic travelers in one place, there were thousands of travelers even excluding the realists and those maintaining neutrality. While the many gathered travelers were buzzing with conversation, silence fell in an instant when Comrade Yuna''s voice came through a megaphone. "Ah, comrades. It''s good to see you. The reason I''ve called you all here is to explain why I didn''t reveal our destination while we marched for days." And the moment she raised one hand to the sky, an anomaly occurred. The sky was cracking. Even for a game, how is this possible? Cracks started forming one by one, then with a loud shattering sound, the sky broke and beings revealed themselves from within. Starting with a giant one-eyed monster, countless monsters revealed themselves, endlessly pouring out. The travelers were frozen at that sight, and just as someone''s scream was about to start them fleeing, "Everyone, stay calm!" With Comrade Yuna''s shout, their bodies wouldn''t move. A skill that could restrain thousands of travelers in an instant. While standing in place staring blankly, sweating nervously at the sight of the giant monsters descending to the ground, she took something out from her bosom. "A red flag...?" One by one, the monsters started taking out red flags. And they put on red headbands. "These are our comrades." With those words, they felt a chill. To have recruited monsters that strong. Where on earth is the limit of our Comrade Yuna''s abilities? * * * Finally, that day arrived. Countless travelers flocked to the imperial capital to protect the Avalon Empire. Normally a place low-level travelers couldn''t even dream of, it was temporarily opened due to the main scenario quest. As a result, there was an enormous crowd. [Main scenario quest conditions have been met.] [CHAPTER 1: Protect the Avalon Empire.] [Time remaining until invasion begins: 00 hours 00 minutes 59 seconds] [Channels are being integrated due to the main quest.] [CHAPTER 1: Protect the Avalon Empire.] Invasion begins. With those words, the imperial knights started to reveal themselves one by one. The Avalon Empire, with its ten master-level knights and formidable military power, wouldn''t just sit still after detecting an anomaly. Ten master-level knights along with numerous troops were lined up and waiting. Then came the sound of drums. [Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom.] At that moment, a report came to Duke Adonis Ether, known as the First Sword of the Avalon Empire and one of the ten masters, who was in overall command. "Emergency! De-demons have appeared!" "Th-that can''t be... Why would demons invade the empire!" Duke Ether hoped it wasn''t true, but he had to accept it when he confirmed with his own eyes the group of demons approaching close enough to be visible. He saw countless demons approaching while waving red flags. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ...Wait, what are they waving as they approach? Rubbing his eyes and checking again, the demons were wearing red headbands in addition to the red flags. And there were humans mixed in here and there. What on earth is going on? "B-big trouble!" "What is it now!?" When his aide pointed to the sky, he looked up and at that moment, He could see something appearing with an elegant figure from the sky that had shattered with fragments flying. The appearance of the Demon King as described in literature. Jet-black hair and huge horns. Red eyes and alluring lips. A beautiful woman wearing a black dress. At the same time, as she raised her hand, two huge red moons rose in what had been a clear sky just moments ago. And as demonic energy spread in all directions, his body felt as heavy as lead. [Due to demonic energy, all stats are decreased by 50%.] [Due to demonic energy, all stats are decreased by 80%.] [Due to demonic energy, you enter an immobilized state.] How are we supposed to stop this? Just as he was filled with despair, a new being revealed itself. Golden short hair shining brightly. Blue eyes that looked mysterious. A cute girl wearing strange clothes. As his soul was about to leave his body at the sight of this unfamiliar yet somehow familiar-looking girl, She put on a red headband, waved a red flag, and held something he''d never seen before in one hand as she shouted, her voice echoing throughout the empire. "Transform the Avalon Empire!" "Transform the Avalon Empire!" "Transform the Avalon Empire!" At the same time, the approaching demons and humans shouted too. Fortunately, it seemed they had no intention of waging war, as they just kept shouting, but it felt like his ears would bleed. "F-first, let''s dispatch a negotiation team..." "No, I''ll go myself." "But Duke!" "Enough. There aren''t many who can move right now anyway." Due to the demonic energy, most soldiers couldn''t move a single step from where they stood. Even Duke Ether, a master-level swordsman, could barely move with trembling steps, so how much worse must it be for others? Wrapping his body in magical power, he jumped down from the castle walls to the ground with a thud. And as he approached the demons, the girl who had been waving a flag in the air just moments ago stood before him. "I am Duke Adonis Ether, the one in charge." "It''s nice to meet you!" The girl showing a bright smile. Though he was sure he''d never seen her before, he felt affection towards her. Does she have some strange ability? Or... "I have come here representing the empire." "Then that''s great! We can proceed with negotiations smoothly." And she took out a parchment from her subspace and handed it to me. At this distance, I could take her life in an instant. No, that would be impossible. The moment my eyes met the being coiled around her neck, I realized my thoughts were mistaken. That''s not just a snake. It''s something hiding enormous power. I received the parchment and checked its contents. "Wh-what is this..." "An hour should be enough time to think, right?" "I need at least a month! N-no... I need ten days! His Majesty the Emperor''s permission..." "50 minutes." I tried to buy as much time as possible, but the more I tried, the more the time decreased. With no choice, I said I would report to His Majesty the Emperor and return, and the girl waved goodbye. I moved my feet to the imperial palace, but His Majesty was nowhere to be seen. "Where is His Majesty the Emperor!" "W-well..." I couldn''t help but be shocked by the words of the soldier guarding the palace. How could he abandon his people and flee? Just the number of people in the imperial capital alone... Have my eyes been blind knotholes all this time? "Summon the generals at once." "Yes, Duke!" And soon after, the masters known as the Ten Swords of the Empire gathered in one place. Their expressions darkened at the news of His Majesty''s evacuation too. "First, I''ll share my thoughts." I stated my position that we don''t have many options in the current situation, so we should proceed with negotiations as much as possible. Following my words, the other generals also judged that seeking a peaceful resolution rather than armed conflict would be better for the empire. Accordingly, I presented a specific negotiation proposal. 86. Wake Up! Wake Up! 86. Wake Up! Wake Up!86. Wake Up! Wake Up! "Transform the Avalon Empire!" "Transform the Avalon Empire!" "Transform the Avalon Empire!" The operations team was fuming as they watched the monitor screen showing demons and humans protesting together. When the demons first appeared, they thought our game was over, but that wasn''t the end of it. They nearly fell over backwards when the sky split open and the Demon King revealed herself. With the average ranker level at 70, they couldn''t even defeat a single demon with a baron-level title, so they never expected the Demon King to appear. The Demon King, who extremely disliked leaving the Demon King''s castle even in the demon realm. Just as they were about to take out the alcohol they had secretly brought into the company, unable to bear it sober, Traveler No. 1 appeared. And for the first time, Traveler No. 1 looked pretty to them. Although she always brought trouble, at least the worst-case scenario was avoided. If the demons had launched a full-scale attack on the Avalon Empire, the angels in the celestial realm wouldn''t have stood idle either. They would have joined the battlefield, turning it not into a human-demon war, but a celestial-demon war. If that had happened, all travelers would have been killed, and our company''s bulletin board would have been terrorized. Saying, "Is this what you call an event?" "What''s the mood like among the travelers who sided with the Avalon Empire?" "Not good. It seems to be going in the exact opposite direction of what they expected." The monitor screen captured the faces of those who had expected war, now filled with bewilderment and disappointment. At that moment, a group of travelers started moving. As they approached the demon side that was protesting, they took out red flags from their inventory...? "Turn up the volume a bit." "Yes, Team Leader." The voices of the travelers approaching the demons flowed from the monitor screen. "We were wrong! Please take us back, Comrade Yuna!" Hearing those words, Traveler No. 1, Yuna, revealed herself among the demons. They expected her to turn them away, but she smiled brightly and extended her hand. "You''re always welcome, comrades." The main scenario quest was to protect the Avalon Empire, but that doesn''t mean there''s no reward for choosing the other side. What matters most is how much you contribute to the scenario quest. As a result, numerous travelers who judged the empire to have no future started defecting to the demon side one by one. Sensing this trend, the imperial side tried to stop them from leaving, but fierce protests turned the situation into chaos. "Haha, it''s a mess both inside and out." Laughing helplessly, just as they were about to take a sip of the alcohol in the bottle, it was snatched away. "Team Leader! Alcohol during work hours? Absolutely not!" "Please, just one drink! I can''t bear it sober!" The operations team has no operational authority, so there''s nothing they can do, but they still have to take responsibility. No authority and only responsibility in this situation, and they''re told to endure it sober!? As they were lamenting while watching the monitor, the master-level knights of the Avalon Empire finally revealed themselves one by one, seemingly finished with their meeting. Among them, one of the ten masters known as the First Sword. Adonis Ether, the Duke who owns the holy sword, approached the demon side. "Sound! Turn up the sound!!!" "Yes, yes! Team Leader!" As they turned up the volume to the maximum, even whispers could be heard. "The imperial side is prepared to provide maximum convenience." With those words, he handed over a parchment. The leader of the Red Revolution Group and the culprit of this incident, Player No. 1 Yuna, checked the parchment and smiled brightly. Are they negotiating? At that moment, an unexpected event occurred. The parchment was torn, and Duke Adonis Ether showed a surprised face. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, voices rang out. "Workers do not compromise!" "Workers do not compromise!" "Workers do not compromise!" After laughing helplessly, the Duke''s expression turned angry, and Demon King Echidna approached him. "How dare you frown in front of whom?" In the face of the Demon King''s power that made him kneel in an instant, the master knight showed a helpless appearance. As a result, the situation rapidly deteriorated. "W-wait a moment! Demon King! I''ll handle this!" "Will you now?" The Demon King''s eyes were sharp, but a faint smile played on her lips. The Demon King smiling while patting a human''s head. I''ve never seen such a sight in my life. No, it''s my first time seeing a Demon King. Yuna approached the fallen Duke and extended her hand. "I''ll say it once more. You hold all the authority, right Duke? The Emperor must have fled by now." Her voice was tinged with a sense of victory. "How did you know such confidential information..." The Duke muttered with a face stained with shock and fear. Yuna smiled wickedly and held out a paper. Her eyes seemed to be making an offer that couldn''t be refused. Although they looked like a grandfather and granddaughter, the scene was eerily contrasting. Scary, so scary. "Team Leader, if the negotiation wraps up here..." "Then that''s for the better. It won''t get complicated." If bloodshed were to occur, it would be the end of everything. Even at the cost of some losses, proceeding with negotiations immediately is the only way for the Avalon Empire to survive. The Duke signed with a grim face, as if he had made up his mind, and with that, the notification that the scenario quest had ended rang out. [You have successfully protected the Avalon Empire.] Rankings based on contribution are being measured. Please wait a moment. No.1: Private (Red Revolution Group) No.2: Private (Red Revolution Group) No.3: Private (Red Revolution Group) No.4: Private (Red Revolution Group) No.5: Private (Red Revolution Group) Rewards will be given based on contribution. [Channels will normalize in 1 minute after the quest ends.] Although all rankings were set to private, everyone would know who was first. More importantly, why does it say Red Revolution Group!? There''s no point in making it private then! As a result, the Red Revolution Group and the demons were celebrating. "Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity!" "Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle!" "Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity!" "Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle!" It was a celebration that was maddening just to look at. Ugh, my stomach hurts. I should take some antacid. "But we did protect the Avalon Empire, didn''t we?" "Yeah, we did protect it." Into a situation where we don''t know what kind of bloodshed might occur. With the Emperor fleeing and abandoning the empire, the revolution group will probably make their move. And it''s the Red Revolution Group at that. Are they going to take over our game at this rate? They won''t. Or will they? Have they already taken over? Laughing helplessly, I checked the bulletin board, and it was chaos there too. The travelers who managed to switch sides to the Red Revolution Group at the last minute were in a festive mood. Those who couldn''t were busy cursing at the operations team. Ah, responsibility without pleasure. It hurts my heart. "Just read me some of the bulletin board posts." "Wouldn''t it be better if you didn''t know?" "I still need to know. We''re the operations team, after all." An employee took out a Woohwang Cheongsimwon from their pocket and handed it over. I had no words for the look that asked, "You carry this around?" and the reply that they bought one for the Team Leader. "Then I''ll begin." [Is this really how you operate, operations team!?] Be honest, isn''t the leader of the Red Revolution Group actually the daughter of the game company''s president!? How else could she monopolize the main scenario quest? [Comments] - Our Comrade Yuna would never do that! - How dare you doubt our Comrade Yuna! - Where do you live, OP? You''ve won an event! Tell me your address! - (Author) What event? [Our Red Revolution Group has won!] We will continue to wave the red flag today to overthrow the rotten capitalism and create a society where everyone is equal! Wake up! Wake up! [Comments] - Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! - Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! - Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! - Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! [We will continue to fight for the workers today!] Even if we face oppression, we will move forward to create an equal society! And we will shout! Struggle! Unity! [Comments] - Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! - Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! - Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! - Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! [So, you crazy game company bastards, aren''t you going to release a statement?] You mess up the main scenario quest and don''t say anything? Or is a lawyer writing it for you? [Comments] - This comment has been censored. - This comment has been censored. - This comment has been censored. - This comment has been censored. 87. Transform! Transform! 87. Transform! Transform!87. Transform! Transform! After the main scenario quest ended, I said goodbye to the Demon King and was spending peaceful time. Of course, while studying. I woke up in the morning, studied at the library, had a light lunch, and then continued studying until evening. On my way home from the library, timed with my parents'' return from work. My sister asked me to buy mint chocolate ice cream on the way home via text message, so I bought ice cream and snacks at the convenience store. When I entered the house, my parents and sister welcomed me. Of course, my sister welcomed the plastic bag in my hand more. The momentary disappointment faded as my parents hugged me and told me I did well today. "Hehehe, praise me more!" I said in a cute voice, and mom''s eyes widened. "Oh my, was our daughter always this adorable?" As I was grinning at mom and dad''s touch while they patted my head, Yong-yong cried out for food. "Kyuung!" "Hmm? Tteokbokki? I''ll buy it for you later." "Kyuuung!" I tried to refuse, but when he shed crocodile tears, I had no choice but to give in. At that moment, my mom gently stroked Yong-yong. "Hohoho, eat it after dinner." "Kyuung!" Wait, why does he listen to mom better than me!? As I was looking at him with a bewildered expression, he avoided my gaze and mumbled something. Our Yong-yong saying he doesn''t listen to me because I''m the lowest in the hierarchy. I pinched Yong-yong''s cheeks and told him to say it again, but he exercised his right to remain silent. This guy... I can''t just let this slide as his owner. After finishing dinner, I ordered tteokbokki for delivery using the card I received from Nia. Our Yong-yong waited, drooling. There was one fact I overlooked. I won''t give him a single bite until he acknowledges me as his owner. When the tteokbokki arrived at home, I looked at our Yong-yong, who seemed ready to pounce on the enormous amount, and asked. "What did our Yong-yong say earlier? That you don''t listen to me?" I raised an eyebrow at Yong-yong as I asked. "Kyuuung!?" Yong-yong blinked his eyes in surprise. He said there was no such thing, that he listens to everything I say, and begged me to give it to him quickly. I patted his head and said, "You''ll always listen well, right?" Only after he nodded and said he understood did I open the tteokbokki for him. He ate it as if he was inhaling it. Our Yong-yong is a dragon after all. It means he must keep his word. Only after finishing the tteokbokki did he seem to realize his mistake, looking at me, but it was too late. "You''ll listen well?" "Kyuuu." * * * How many days had passed since the main scenario ended? With hurried footsteps, an executive of the Red Revolution Group entered the office. The executive reported, panting. "B-big trouble, Comrade Yuna!" "What''s the matter?" "There are signs of a coup in the Avalon Empire!" With the Emperor fleeing and abandoning the people, they couldn''t just sit still. What''s important for us is that we now have justification. This interesting... No, we can''t just sit by while we hear the voices of the suffering people! "Gather the executives. We''ll hold a meeting." "Understood, Comrade Yuna!" As he disappeared as quickly as he entered to call the meeting, a picture-perfect smile spread across my face as I thought about the upcoming coup. "Kyuuung." "Hehehe, are you excited too, Yong-yong? We have justification now." I packed the flag hanging on one wall into my inventory and entered the conference room, where the executives of the Red Revolution Group were gathered. As travelers and monsters gathered in one place to hold the meeting, opinions were unanimous. "Our Red Revolution Group cannot sit idle when we hear the voices of the people. So, we will join them." With those words, preparations began. The Red Revolution Group''s preparations for a coup. * * * As numerous people rose up and protested, and knights and soldiers were deployed to suppress them, an unexpected event occurred. Suspicious movements of the Red Revolution Group were detected. As a result, the imperial faction in the empire''s leadership was put on high alert. "Why are they moving!? Didn''t we negotiate with them!?" "Look at this." There was an exception clause in the negotiation. A clause saying they would listen to the voices of the people. This is giving me a headache. We thought we could suppress it by breaking up the citizens before they united and punishing a few ringleaders, but this is a big problem. Moreover, as more and more people join the noble faction, the imperial faction is bound to lose power. At this rate, it''s not just the Emperor''s position that''s at risk, but their own positions too. The nobles looked at Duke Adonis Ether, the key figure in this situation. "Duke! Are you going to just sit by!?" "That''s right! At times like this, we should unite and..." "Enough." Duke Adonis Ether silenced the noisy nobles and finally spoke after a long while. "I''ll meet them myself." "Oh, that''s reassuring." "We''ll trust in you, Duke." With a throbbing headache from the continuous flattery until the end of the meeting, he headed to the meeting place. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Entering an ordinary pub located in the western district, there was only one young girl waiting inside. "You''ve come!" The leader of the Red Revolution Group and the Demon King''s favorite, the traveler Yuna. And for some reason, every time he saw her, his heart ached, and she seemed to follow him well, which he couldn''t understand. As soon as he sat down across from the traveler who told him to take a seat, she got straight to the point. "Have you thought about it?" "Betraying my lord is not a decision I can make lightly." Hearing those words, her expression changed. It was as if she was scolding a naive child. The girl took something out from her bosom and handed it to him. Receiving and checking the bead, it was a video orb. Inside, there were vivid images of countless corruptions and people suffering. "I''m making this proposal to you, Duke, whom I trust the most. Only you can rectify this situation. Countless people are suffering because of an incompetent leader." "......" He couldn''t say anything. Because it was all true. After much deliberation, he made his decision. To accept their proposal. "Can you keep your promise?" "Of course! I won''t interfere with the empire at all. Our goal is fun... No, a coup... No, no, it''s to save the suffering people!" What an honest girl. He smiled slightly, and she told him to contact her with a date and time before opening a space and leaving. To have such power and yet no greed. Is that a blessing? Or... * * * The long-awaited contact came. From Duke Adonis Ether. I rang the bell hanging in the office, and the door opened as an aide entered. It was the Silver Fox Clan twin sisters, Rang and Ran. "Did you call for us?" "Did you call?" I had made a contract with them using magic stones as a condition when I visited their village before the goblin attack, and they''ve been taking care of me diligently then and now. "Can you call a meeting?" "Understood." "Got it!" The protagonist always appears last. After pacing in the corridor for about 10 minutes, I entered the conference room where everyone was waiting. Fully prepared. "How are the preparations going?" "Everyone is ready." "We can move at any time." It''s finally time for the Red Revolution Group to move. I got up from my seat with a grin. Opening the door next to the conference room and stepping out onto the terrace, countless revolution members and monsters were gathered in one place. Their numbers reached tens of thousands at a rough estimate. As I appeared, cheers erupted from all around, but when I raised my hand, silence fell in an instant. I took out a megaphone from my inventory and shouted. "We will fight for the suffering people!" With my words, tremendous cheers erupted, and one by one, they began to wave the flags of revolution. * * * The roar of the Red Revolution Army shook the earth. The ground trembled under their footsteps, and wyverns and griffons spread their wings in the sky. Travelers and monsters began marching in perfect order. Smiles were drawn on their faces. How could they resist such an exciting event? There''s only one reason to play a game. For fun. There''s no traveler who wouldn''t smile in this situation where dopamine is flowing freely. Just as the imperial side was preparing to defend. Led by Duke Adonis Ether, the remaining nine Sword Masters also began to step up for the greater cause. As a result, the Avalon Empire rushed into a new phase. 88. The End 88. The End88. The End "Transform the Avalon Empire!" "Transform the Avalon Empire!" "Transform the Avalon Empire!" Countless voices echoed throughout the empire. In the Emperor''s audience chamber, ten Sword Masters were gathered, looking at their lord and Emperor of the Avalon Empire. Unable to bear it any longer, the Emperor shouted. "You, whom I thought were loyal swords, why are you betraying this empire?" Duke Adonis Ether, the First Sword of the Empire, answered while staring at the Emperor with cold eyes. "We are not betraying the empire. Rather, this is for the sake of the empire and its people." "Betraying me is betraying the empire!" At that moment, the door to the audience chamber opened, and a new figure entered. "That can''t be true, can it? The empire exists because of its people." "You, you are..." A woman with long, flowing blonde hair and cold eyes that contrasted with her pure appearance, The owner of the Moonlight Inn in the starting village of Cradle and one of the seven Great Mages of the Arcana continent. Beliar Avalon revealed herself. "It''s been a while, Father." "You should be dead! How are you alive!?" The Emperor''s face was filled with shock. It was understandable, as he had personally sent assassins and received news of her death, yet here she was standing proudly before him. "Do you mean when you sent assassins to kill me as a child?" Beliar recalled the past with a bitter smile. Memories of her childhood, being called an illegitimate child and the Emperor trying to kill her by sending assassins, flashed through her mind. The Emperor''s expression suddenly changed, and he became furious. When it became clear that further dialogue was impossible, he was dragged away by the knights. "I''ll say it again, I didn''t come back because I wanted to sit on this throne." "We understand, Princess. No, Your Majesty the Emperor." As Duke Adonis Ether politely replied, Beliar was taken aback. Beliar sighed. Originally, she had planned to spend the rest of her life running an inn while taking on new disciples, but somehow Yuna knew her secret and came to negotiate. She asked if Beliar would join her in changing the thoroughly rotten Avalon Empire. At first, she firmly refused, but after persistent persuasion, she reluctantly took this position. Even now, she wanted nothing more than to return to her inn. "Let''s calm the protesters for now." "Understood." With those words, she went outside the imperial palace, where numerous travelers and monsters were waving red flags. "Transform the Avalon Empire!" "Transform the Avalon Empire!" "Transform the Avalon Empire!" She took out a staff from her subspace and struck the ground once, making a sound. ''Thud!'' At that moment, all the protesters paused and looked at her. "From today, the history of the Avalon Empire will begin anew!" Cheers erupted at Beliar''s declaration. * * * The official ceremony for the new Emperor to ascend to the throne. On the day of the coronation ceremony, a huge crowd gathered. The new Emperor of the Avalon Empire. The nobles who never expected the owner of the Moonlight Inn in the starting village of Cradle to become Emperor were initially opposed, but with the overwhelming support of the ten Sword Masters and the Red Revolution Group, she ascended to the throne. This was because the core members of the Red Revolution Group were all travelers. Who would oppose someone who had taken such good care of travelers while running the Moonlight Inn in the starting village of Cradle? As a result, numerous revolution members gathered on one side to raise a toast. However, there was one concern. "We''ve lost our reason to wave the revolution flag in the Avalon Empire, haven''t we?" "It''s okay. We still have the neighboring country, right?" "As expected, Comrade Yuna. You''re so smart." If we can''t wave it in the Avalon Empire, we can wave it in another country. We can wave the flag of revolution in Arcadia, which has three magic towers and is called the homeland of all mages. I heard there''s a lot of corruption in the magic towers, which makes for a good cause. As we were discussing with sinister smiles, a trumpet sounded. ''Buuuuuuuuuuuung!'' And the coronation ceremony began. When Sister Bell, who had put on the crown handed to her by the high priest, waved to the public, thunderous cheers erupted. From the day of the coronation ceremony, the empire held a festival for a week, providing unlimited food and drink to all citizens, with all costs borne by the imperial family. All the restaurants let out cries of joy. Our revolution members also enjoyed the festival and drank, then returned to the inn to log out. When I came out, Yong-yong also jumped out of the space I opened. His face was red as if he had been drinking secretly. "Did you drink?" "Kyuuung!" Our Yong-yong says you have to have a drink on such a good day. I wonder when he became such a drinker. When I poked his cheeks, he acted cute saying it tickled, isn''t he too adorable!? I hugged Yong-yong and got into bed, closing my eyes for tomorrow''s schedule. * * * Waking up to the sound of the alarm clock in the morning, I stretched and got up to find Yong-yong sleeping with his belly up. He usually wakes up earlier than me, but maybe he drank too much yesterday. As I gently stroked Yong-yong, he finally opened his eyes and looked at me. "Kyuuung." "Hmm? Honey water...? I''ll look for some." A snake asking for honey water must be our Yong-yong. Or is he a dragon? I went down to the kitchen to look for honey, but I couldn''t find any. "Mom, we don''t have any honey?" "Here it is." I''m sure there wasn''t any just now, but what''s that honey in mom''s hand? I received the honey from mom, put it in water, and went back to the room to give it to Yong-yong, who downed it in one go. "Do you feel better now?" "Kyuuung." "You want spicy kimchi stew...?" "Kyuuung!" "......" I carried Yong-yong in my arms and went down to the kitchen, where I smelled kimchi stew. I''m sure it was beef bone soup earlier!? "When did you make kimchi stew!?" "I thought our daughter had honey water, so she must have had a drink." "I didn''t drink!" Mom laughed and told me to sit down, then served the spicy kimchi stew. I gave a spoonful to Yong-yong, who was waiting and drooling, and he ate it while making a ''keuuuu'' sound. "You''re really like an old man." "Kyuuung!?" After finishing the meal, today''s plan was to take a walk in the nearby park with Yong-yong, go to a cafe, have lunch, and then do some leisurely shopping. After getting ready and going outside, a black car was waiting, but surely not...? The door opened, and a sister in a suit with a familiar face got out of the car. "Traveler No. 1, it''s been a while." "Ah, the team leader from before...?" "I have something I''d like to tell you. Do you have a moment?" "Y-yes, that''s fine." She''s much more polite than before. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Why...? She even opened the door for me, so I thanked her and got in the car, which started moving slowly. "Where are we going?" "It''s a secret." Faced with such a confident answer, I looked at her with a bewildered expression, and the team leader smiled and said we were going to the company. The car drove quickly and arrived in front of the company. We got out of the car and followed the team leader into the company, where she guided me somewhere. We took the elevator and got off on a different floor than before, and inside it looked like some kind of party venue...? At that moment, I heard the sound of firecrackers. ''Pababababang!'' Numerous employees appeared from somewhere and set off firecrackers, what on earth is going on!? Then my friend Nia appeared, took my hand, and led me up to a platform. And a certificate of commendation naturally appeared. "You have made a great contribution to the development of our game..." No, anyone would think I''m an employee of the game company. Why are they suddenly doing this!? Wishing someone would explain, I looked at Nia, who smiled and handed me the certificate and trophy. After receiving them, she told me to look straight ahead, and as I turned around, numerous employees were waiting to congratulate me. As I stared blankly at the ensuing party, Nia finally smiled and explained the situation. "Actually, you see. An AI robot predicted the future..." Nia''s story goes like this: Originally, the Avalon Empire was supposed to fall due to the anger of the people, but because I persuaded Sister Bell to come, history changed. As I stood there with a bewildered expression, she patted my head and thanked me. "Thank you for protecting another of my hometowns, Yuna." 89. Conflict Resolution 89. Conflict Resolution89. Conflict Resolution As I was watching Traveler No. 1 eating food while talking with the CEO, a subordinate approached me. "Team leader, isn''t it because of Traveler No. 1 that things have come to this point?" "That''s right. About 98% is due to Traveler No. 1." "Then why are we welcoming them like this?" "You''re curious about why we''re welcoming them?" The employee, looking at the team leader smiling mischievously, slowly backed away but was soon caught by the team leader. He whispered something in his ear, causing the employee''s face to turn pale. "You understand? It''s a very important occasion, so go over there and liven up the atmosphere." "Ah, understood, Team leader." As I watched the subordinate approach Traveler No. 1 and start flattering them, the CEO nodded, apparently judging that the mood had risen enough. Then, naturally leading to a second round, he lured the traveler into a nearby conference room. Once inside the conference room, the traveler sat down, and when asked to talk about their journey so far, they began to tell various stories. "You know how griffons live in the Valley of Death, right? Well, guess what? They''re having a territorial dispute with wyverns! So..." Though I had observed through monitoring, hearing it told as a story like this was somehow different. When the mood had ripened to some extent, I asked the traveler a very important question. "So, do you love Arcana Online?" "Yes! I really love it!" At the answer given without a moment''s hesitation, I looked at the CEO, who nodded. Then I naturally pulled out a document that I had been carefully keeping in my bosom. "What''s this?" "It''s a scout offer." I explained that from the company''s perspective, we highly value Traveler No. 1''s capabilities and experience, and we''re officially making a scout offer in hopes of working together. As the traveler carefully checked the document, their eyes widened at the salary and company welfare sections. A salary in the hundreds of millions is basic, along with a 3-day work week, and the company welfare benefits are too numerous to even explain. When presented with this scout offer that office workers could only dream of, their eyes wavered and their hand holding the pen trembled. "I heard you''re a repeat college entrance exam taker. If you just pass the university entrance exam, we can also adjust your working hours and provide full tuition support for free." Looking at me with eyes that seemed to have made some decision, they put down the pen. "I''m sorry. I want to keep the game as a game." "What?! Why?! No company will make you such a good offer!" I can say with certainty. What company would present such an absurd contract? But the traveler looked at me with determined eyes. "I want to keep the game as a game. Even if I regret it later, I believe in my convictions." Hearing those words, I looked at the traveler. With a meaning of respect, as well as asking for respect. "Please join us! I''ll treat you well!" "W-wait a moment?! Don''t hug me!" "Pleeeease!!" * * * To be honest, the conditions were so unbelievable that I was tempted, but I don''t want to use my good memories for money-making purposes. Some might think I''m foolish, but my thoughts are firm. After finishing studying at the library, I looked up at the dark night sky and then went into a nearby convenience store with Yong-yong. I bought some drinks and snacks, and on the way home, I also bought some tteokbokki that our Yong-yong likes. When I opened the door and entered, my parents welcomed me. "I''m home." "Welcome back. Are you hungry? I''ll prepare dinner for you." While waiting for dinner, I was taking pictures of Yong-yong eating tteokbokki when I heard a familiar voice coming from the TV news. [Transform the Avalon Empire!] [Transform the Avalon Empire!] [Transform the Avalon Empire!] [Yes! Today we saw a scene from the currently popular virtual reality game, Arcana Online! What''s going on here? It looks to me like they''re staging a protest?] [That''s right. This is a scene of a protest being staged by one of the largest forces in the currently popular Arcana Online, a group called the Red Revolution Group.] Hearing the content flowing from the news, I hurriedly looked at the TV and saw myself being broadcast. [The person appearing now is the most influential figure in Arcana Online and the leader of the group called the Red Revolution Group. It''s a traveler named Yuna.] And with the explanation that followed, my face couldn''t help but turn as red as a ripe apple. [You''re curious about why they''re protesting now, right? They say they''re waving the flag of revolution to save the suffering people.] As I was staring blankly at the TV, at some point my parents and sister were watching together beside me. "Oh my, our daughter looks even prettier on screen." "She looks good on camera too." "Our little sister looks so pretty on TV." I tried to turn off the TV in embarrassment, but it was useless. Caught by my sister, I received skinship while watching until the broadcast ended. "It''s over now. Let me go quickly." "Why is our little sister so soft? Should we sleep together tonight?" "No!!" Only after resisting could I be freed, but her face was full of mischief. "Isn''t it natural for a little sister to serve her older sister!?" "No, it''s not!?" While we were playing around, our parents told us to eat. After dinner and washing up, I lay down on the bed, but I don''t have the energy to play the game today. I''m tired both physically and mentally, so I just tried to sleep. As soon as I closed my eyes hugging Yong-yong, the alarm clock rang. A-already...? I turned off the alarm and sat on the bed in a daze when Yong-yong came into my arms and acted cute. While playing with Yong-yong, I checked my phone and found 151 missed calls. W-wait a moment... How many...? 151 calls!? There were also hundreds of text messages piled up, but I didn''t know because it was on silent. There were definitely none until I took pictures of Yong-yong in the evening, so what on earth happened? When I checked the messages and call history, everyone from Rea unni to all the Frey Guild members had contacted me. Checking the text messages, was it because I appeared on TV? When I called Rea unni, she answered in 1 second. "Are you okay? Did something happen? Should I come over?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''m fine, but why?" "You didn''t log into the game! I thought something had happened!" "Ahaha, thank you for worrying, Rea unni." Rea unni said she was surprised that I hadn''t logged into the game for a whole day. After saying I would log in today, I hung up and called other guild members. I never thought there would be such a fuss just because I didn''t log in for one day. If I don''t log in for about 3 days, will they come to my house? Still, it''s a happy thing to have people who worry about me. After contacting other guild members, I ate breakfast and logged into the game right away. Today is Sunday, and it''s the day I give myself a gift for working hard all week. There was an enormous amount of paperwork piled up in my office just because I didn''t log in for one day, is this right? I don''t play games to work. Realizing anew why Rea unni was always doing paperwork, I processed the urgent documents first and then went outside to see people and monsters filling the huge city. A city where humans and monsters live together in harmony. Called the city of dreams, it was named Paradise. However, there is also a rule. ''Let''s all get along well.'' There are no exceptions. If a conflict occurs, a very reasonable solution is proposed. At that moment, I saw people arguing in the distance, and security guards approached. "You know what this one-eyed creature said?! He said my story wasn''t interesting!" "I merely said an uninteresting story was uninteresting. However, the human insulted me by asking if I had no parents if I wasn''t interesting." "That''s right! So do you have any?" "I won''t let this slide, human." In an atmosphere where they seemed about to fight at any moment, the security guards dragged the two somewhere. A place to resolve conflicts when they occur. ''Colosseum.'' Unlike before, it''s now being used as a place to resolve disputes. There''s only one rule. Listen to the words of the survivor. Travelers revive anyway, and I periodically revive the monsters, so it''s a risk-free method. Plus, it relieves stress for the monsters! By doing this, we can kill two birds with one stone. 90. Trial by Combat 90. Trial by Combat90. Trial by Combat The Colosseum was packed with numerous people and monsters at the news of a trial by combat. Two beings entered to cheers. One was a high-ranking bard who wandered around aimlessly, telling stories to many people. The other was a one-eyed race called a Cyclops, boasting massive muscles. The two stood in the center of the Colosseum, glaring at each other. "Human, I''ll forgive you if you apologize now." "What? I can''t hear you because you''re an orphan." "I''ll kill you, human." Just as he was about to swing his huge club, a whistle blew. ''Pheeeeeeeee!'' As a giant iron gate opened, monsters began to enter one by one. "The rules are simple. The one who survives longest wins." With those words, the monsters charged. Excited by their first hunt in a long time, they rushed at both the human and the Cyclops, causing them both to die screaming. Boos poured from the audience at the anticlimactic end to the trial by combat. I too felt it was a shame to end like this, so I used resurrection magic. The revived Cyclops, who had died inside the Colosseum, respawned in the infirmary and re-entered. "Since it ended too easily, I''ll change the rules this time." This time, it''s a one-on-one death match. Shouting confidently, he pulled out a lute that looked very similar to a guitar. Then came the buff. While singing, he cast buffs on himself and finished preparing. For fairness, I also cast a buff on the Cyclops, causing veins to bulge on his body and his green skin to turn red. I didn''t expect that. "W-what? What''s that!?" "Is that all for your last words, human?" With those words, a laser fired from the Cyclops''s eye, taking out the bard in a single shot. The sight of the Cyclops raising his club high and reveling in the audience''s cheers was impressive. Lasers from the eyes. How romantic. But why does he carry a club? After the trial by combat ended, I returned to my office feeling unsatisfied. It felt somehow lacking to end the day like this. A coup d''¨¦tat, no, a revolution was needed. While looking for a good place on the map, a good idea came to mind. If it doesn''t exist, can''t we just create it? Come to think of it, last time I recommended multi-level marketing to the celestial realm when they said they were short-staffed. Excited at the thought of reaping unexpected fruits, I called a meeting. When the executives of the Red Revolution Group gathered in one place, I distributed materials. "This is happening in the celestial realm. Does a 7-day work week make sense? I can''t accept it." The revolutionaries who checked my materials nodded and smiled. * * * A being with twelve wings. The Heavenly King Lucifer was leisurely drinking tea in her office. Thanks to Yuna, who elevated me to the position of Heavenly King and solved the celestial realm''s staffing problems, I can now enjoy such leisurely times. At that moment, urgent footsteps were heard in the hallway. "B-big trouble, Heavenly King!" "What''s the matter?" "H-humans have invaded!" "What do you..." I spread my wings and instantly moved to the sky above the celestial realm to look down at the ground, where I saw numerous humans and monsters. The peculiar thing was that they were waving red flags. Then I saw a familiar face. A being shouting through a megaphone on a platform. Yuna. "Transform the celestial realm!" "Transform the celestial realm!" "Transform the celestial realm!" What on earth is going on? Why Yuna? "Workers of the celestial realm, rise up!" "Workers of the celestial realm, rise up!" "Workers of the celestial realm, rise up!" As tens of thousands of humans and monsters advanced waving huge red flags, the angels retreated in shock. When I descended to the ground where Yuna was, the humans and monsters, and even Yuna, stared at me. "What on earth is going on?" "Heavenly King! It''s been a while!" She greeted me happily, but then said we''d talk privately later and shouted again. "Workers, unite! Unite!" "Workers, unite! Unite!" "Workers, unite! Unite!" At the loud shouts, angels and humans began to appear one by one from the celestial buildings. They were all wearing red headbands too. "Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite!" "Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!" "Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite!" "Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!" The celestial realm turned into chaos filled with chanting slogans. I approached Yuna with a throbbing headache and tried to negotiate, but it was useless. "Workers do not compromise!" "Workers do not compromise!" "Workers do not compromise!" It seems words won''t do. I raised one hand and shot massive magical power into the sky, revealing the archangels. But something unexpected happened. Even the archangels were wearing red headbands. Led by Michael with a face full of mischief, even the archangels shouted. "Guarantee angels'' rights! Guarantee them!" "Guarantee angels'' rights! Guarantee them!" "Guarantee angels'' rights! Guarantee them!" Even the archangels have betrayed me. Is this what it feels like when your mind goes blank? * * * I didn''t expect even the archangels to join the protest. I knew celestial work had been difficult, but not to this extent. Our forces swelled instantly, absorbing half of the celestial angels as we continued the protest. The Heavenly King watching from the side gave a hollow laugh. After conducting the protest for a while, I handed a parchment to the Heavenly King. "What''s this?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Our demands." The Heavenly King checking the contents almost fell backwards, but other angels supported her. "Sigh, I could overlook the others, but a 3-day work week...?" "That''s the most important part." "......" At a loss for words, the Heavenly King grabbed my shoulders and asked. "Is this really right?" "Workers do not compromise!" "No, these are impossible conditions!" As the Heavenly King shook my shoulders in a frenzy, the archangels intervened to separate us, but still dissatisfied, she complained to the archangels. "I''m the one having the hardest time!? I don''t even remember when I last rested!" The Heavenly King lamented that she didn''t know how busy she''d been since taking the position, and today was the first time she had a chance for tea time, just one cup. But workers do not compromise. "Guarantee angels'' rights! Guarantee them!" "Guarantee angels'' rights! Guarantee them!" "Guarantee angels'' rights! Guarantee them!" The Heavenly King, crying out to guarantee her rights too, was led away by the archangels as we continued our protest. It''s a bit pitiful, but what is a protest? The struggle is life and life is the struggle. The protest that continued like that for about a week ended with the celestial side''s surrender. I signed the documents while avoiding the gaze of the Heavenly King, who stared at me with a gaunt appearance compared to a week ago. As the protesters dispersed, the Heavenly King caught me as I was about to leave. "Where are you going? If I conceded this much, shouldn''t I get free use of Yuna?" "What? That wasn''t in the negotiation terms." "It is." And she handed me a document, saying there was writing so small it couldn''t be seen with the naked eye. I couldn''t see it until I used a magnifying glass. [If negotiations proceed smoothly, the human representative Yuna will be bound to the celestial realm for 1 week.] In short, it means to live in the celestial realm for 1 week. "T-this is fraud!" "That''s why you should have checked the contract carefully?" Led by the Heavenly King smiling mischievously, the archangels appeared one by one. Plus even Michael''s younger sister Miel appeared. "You worked hard today too." Look at that evil smile as she pokes my cheeks while I''m in the Heavenly King''s arms. Her eyes are full of mischief. I wonder what will happen over the next week. I''m already afraid. Then the Heavenly King reassured me with a gentle touch. "Don''t worry. I''ll send you back alive." "That''s even scarier." Led by the Heavenly King smiling mischievously, along with the archangels and Miel. I thought about running away, but it''s impossible due to the contract. I thought I just had to endure for a week with a feeling of resignation. But that was a mistake. I should have run away then. 91. Arcadia 91. Arcadia91. Arcadia Day 1 of celestial realm life. "In the celestial realm, the Heavenly King''s word is law. So wear this." "I''ll fight against unfair treatment!" Day 2 of celestial realm life. "Play! Play! Play! Play! Play! Play! Play!" "Okay! I get it! Please just say it once! Miel!" Day 3 of celestial realm life. "Is it finally my turn? I lost to Miel yesterday, but I won''t miss out today." "Michael...? You were with us yesterday too!?" "I needed time alone with you." Day 5 of celestial realm life. "Celestial department, wake up! Wake up!" "You need to shout louder! Louder!" "Wake up! Wake up!" Day 7 of celestial realm life. "Workers do not compromise!" "Workers are not parts!" "Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite! Unite!" "Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!" As I was watching the numerous angels shouting unity and struggle with proud eyes, I felt a gaze from somewhere and turned my head to see the Heavenly King staring at me intently. "I didn''t know you''d turn the neutral angels into activists in just a few days." "We''re asserting workers'' basic rights!" She smirked and opened a gate, then threw me in!? "Come play again sometime." With those words, my one-week celestial realm life came to an end, and I was able to return to the Red Revolution Group hideout located on the Arcana continent. The hideout I returned to after a long time was no different from a week ago, but no. One thing was different. The enormous amount of paperwork piled on the desk had changed. It had become even more and larger than before. In a situation that made me sigh just looking at it, I sat in the chair and checked urgent matters first, and there was information that movement had been detected in the magic tower located in Arcadia. At that moment, the door burst open and the Silver Fox Clan twins entered. Judging by their twitching lips, is it that? "They took the bait." "Call a meeting." 10 minutes later. The main executives gathered in the conference room, and I started the briefing. "This time''s target is the three magic towers that exist in Arcadia. The key is to wave flags simultaneously, and the key figures have already been recruited." I stood up, slamming the desk. "It''s time to show Arcadia the taste of revolution." * * * Among the three magic towers, a protest was currently taking place at the one called the Golden Tower, which was the richest. "Respect mages'' human rights! Respect them!" "We can''t live like this! Guarantee freedom! Guarantee it!" "We''re people too! Does a 7-day work week make sense?" The main executives were having headaches due to the protesters. "Why on earth are they doing this!?" "The tower master is leading them in waving red flags." "Why is that person waving flags there again!?" The woman appearing in the video. A woman with golden shining hair waving a red flag and protesting. She''s the master of the Golden Tower and one of the seven great mages. But why is she protesting there? No, what''s lacking? The treatment of tower masters is incredible. It''s to the extent that there''s no difference even compared to the empire''s emperor. But why on earth...? "She''s protesting for vacation time. She says she''s worked for 30 years without a single vacation..." "No, back in my day, what''s 30 years? You had to work 50 years to get about 3 days of vacation!" "She says even a 7-day work week is killing her. She works 365 days out of 365..." S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Back in my day! We worked 168 hours a week!" After saying I''d meet her directly, I went to find the protesting tower master. "Guarantee mages'' human rights! Guarantee them!" "Guarantee mages'' human rights! Guarantee them!" "Guarantee mages'' human rights! Guarantee them!" The shouting was about to give me a headache. As I approached the tower master, she spotted the elder and looked at him. "No, Tower Master! What on earth are you doing!?" "I want to go on vacation!" "What vacation!? You''ve only worked for 30 years!" "30 years is enough!" This is the problem with young people these days. In the old days, they begged to be given work, clinging to our legs, but now they''re spoiled... Just as I was about to tell them to disperse while sighing. The huge doors of the tower opened, revealing numerous red flags. Among them were even monsters mixed in. "Guarantee workers'' human rights! Guarantee them!" "Guarantee workers'' human rights! Guarantee them!" "Guarantee workers'' human rights! Guarantee them!" The voices of the tower master and mages were nothing. I tried to cast magic while covering my ears from the ear-splitting shouts, but it was useless. Someone had activated an anti-magic field. A high-level barrier that even an elder-level mage couldn''t do anything about. "W-what is this..." At that moment, I heard someone''s shoe sounds. ''Tap. Tap.'' Very clearly at that. Shoe sounds in such a noisy place. As I looked in the direction of the shoe sounds with blank eyes, I was breathless. A woman with long, straight jet-black hair, snow-white skin, and ruby-red eyes. I could see an abyss beyond her pupils, and I knew at a glance. That woman is not human. As I was trying to muster courage while grabbing my trembling legs, I heard a voice. "Impressive. You''re still standing while facing our dragon visage." "Dragon...?" At my words, she looked at me with curious eyes, then her expression suddenly changed. And as she stretched out her hand, I felt like a heavy stone was pressing down on me, and in an instant, I knelt and crawled on the ground. "Cough!" "How impudent. Dragon... Call me the Dragon King." I closed my eyes tightly thinking it was the end, but I felt no pain. The feeling that was pressing down on me until just now disappeared. At that moment, a girl who looked exactly like the woman appeared and shouted. "Really! You shouldn''t use force! I told you Yuna doesn''t like it!?" "I''m sorry, child. I was wrong." As the woman was apologizing profusely and the girl was getting angry, another girl approached. "Now, now, stop fighting and wear this." And what she held out was a red headband...? You''re giving that to a dragon now? Are you in your right mind? Are you crazy to die? Just as I was thinking that, an unexpected thing happened. The dragon obediently wore the headband and shouted with a blushing face. "Guarantee humans'' rights! Guarantee them!" "Guarantee humans'' rights! Guarantee them!" To think I''d see a dragon shouting to guarantee humans'' rights in my lifetime. It would be a sensation just to report this to an academic society, but the bigger problem is whether they''d believe it. Even I can''t believe it while seeing it with my own eyes, so who would believe it if I reported it? I''d be lucky if I''m not kicked out of the elder position for having dementia. I sighed and tried to think of a way to overcome this situation, but there was no way. * * * Starting with the protests that broke out in the three magic towers, red flags began to wave one by one throughout Arcadia. Until now, mages worked 7 days a week as standard, and of course didn''t receive any additional pay on top of their basic salary. The news that the tower master hadn''t been able to take a vacation for 30 years spread throughout the continent. Because of this, the community was buzzing like a fish in water. [There''s a workplace where you can''t take a vacation for 30 years?] That would be the magic tower lol [Comments] - It''s amazing they''ve endured this long lol - A workplace that doesn''t give a single vacation in 30 years? - Even the demon realm wouldn''t do this lol - Now who''s the devil? - The celestial realm would be doing this? [Breaking news: There''s a workplace where you can''t take a vacation for 300 years.] Please save me. I changed to the hidden job of angel because they said it was good, but they don''t give vacations. Forget vacations, they won''t even let me go home! Please save me! I''ll be good! [Comments] - There''s a sucker who changed to angel lol - Why didn''t you change to demon instead lol - We pray for the deceased. - But they pay a lot, don''t they? - [Author] I don''t have time to spend money... [No vacation for 300 years VS No vacation for 30 years] Which would you choose? There''s a difference between the former and latter. [Comments] - What the hell is this nonsense? - Are you crazy, is this balance for real lol - Don''t bullshit too much lol - What kind of balance is this lol There are other people checking the community and confirming the protests happening throughout Arcadia. They can''t go home either. "Argh! Who''s fault is it that we can''t go home!" "C-calm down, Team Leader. We can''t go either." "Even if I go home, my daughter won''t recognize me." 92. Dragon Mother and Daughter 92. Dragon Mother and Daughter92. Dragon Mother and Daughter "Team leader! There''s a problem with the server!" "Contact the server management team quickly!" "Team leader! The community is starting to burn again!" "Let''s divert public opinion with the hidden job ''Angel'' that was just released!" "Team leader!" "Team leader!" "Team leader!" "Team leader!" They were calling for me from all directions. Even the AI robot Eve was calling for me. "Team leader, a problem has occurred in the afterlife realm." "What''s wrong there now!?" "They say the number of souls doesn''t match." "Argh! Why are they making a fuss when they''re the ones who didn''t manage it properly!?" After being quiet for a while, Eve cautiously spoke up. "They say a dragon invaded and stole souls." "Where is there a dragon in our game!?" At that moment, a figure appeared on the screen. It was Yuna, user number 1. But the focus was on the snake that Yuna always carried around her neck. "It''s a dragon." "......" That''s a dragon? It''s a snake, isn''t it? Anyone would see it as a snake! If you asked a child if that looked like a dragon, they''d say, "Lady, does that look like a dragon to you? If it looks like a dragon, you should go to the hospital." It''s such an ordinary-looking snake. But they''re saying it''s a dragon...? At this point, isn''t Yuna the root of all evil? I need a bamboo spear... I need that bamboo spear where one strike is all it takes! Amidst the chaos of work, a collective phone alarm rang out. "Who didn''t put their phone on silent while we''re working!?" "You didn''t either, team leader..." "Are you talking back to me!?" I was so busy, but I took out my phone to see who sent a group message, and immediately felt at peace. The CEO had deposited a bonus for our hard work, and there were seven zeros. "Let''s all do our best, everyone!" * * * When we discarded all the labor contracts written in the magic tower and made new ones, all the magicians shed tears and hugged each other. But this isn''t the end. We need to establish future welfare systems for magicians and regulate to prevent this from happening again. At that moment, I heard the sound of high heels. Dragon King Ernia and Ar approached. Ernia looked tired, and Ar''s eyes were sparkling. "Child, is it all over?" "It was so much fun!" Is it God''s consideration? Or is it fate? I didn''t know there were so many beings who remembered me. I''m happy, but on the other hand... Just then, a bluebird flew in. It''s an item called a messenger that delivers letters and is ridiculously expensive. Who sent it to me? It was from Rea unni. [You know there''s a guild meeting this week, right? Make sure to attend!] This kind of contact could have been done by text...? After leaving the follow-up to the executives and logging out of the game, I checked my phone and understood why she sent a bluebird. 129 missed calls. 352 text messages. My bad. I tried to contact Rea unni on the phone, but she didn''t answer. Is she in the game? At that moment, Yong-yong hugged me with a bright light. "Our Yong-yong is cute no matter when I see you." "Kyuung." He says to stop talking nonsense and cover him with the blanket. He''s so prim and proper, isn''t he? As I covered myself and Yong-yong with the blanket and closed my eyes, an alarm went off. ''Rice rice rice! What''s the soup! Rice rice rice! Rice rice rice rice rice! Rice rice rice rice! What''s the soup!'' I turned off the noisy alarm and sat blankly on the bed. Yong-yong stared at me. It was a look that said he wanted food. "Umm, you usually don''t eat breakfast, right?" "Kyuung." He says today is a day when he feels like eating for some reason. I stretched once and carried Yong-yong down to the kitchen, where the smell of soybean paste stew was strong. As I sat at the table, mom said to wait a moment as she prepared breakfast, and dad was reading the newspaper. My sister had already left, she''s so diligent. After eating breakfast, I headed to the library with Yong-yong. I felt like someone was watching me from somewhere. Was it just my imagination? "Kyuung." "You''re saying someone is following me?" To think I''d be followed in my life. I never thought this day would come. Could it be a reporter? Or a thug? Or... could it be a s-stalker...? I''m not worried because Yong-yong is here, but I can''t help but tremble. As I was walking quickly to get to the main road, I heard a familiar voice. "Mom, I think that''s her." "It is our child." I quickly turned my head to check, and it was Dragon King Ernia and Ar. I knew they existed in the real world, but I didn''t know they''d come to find me. "Child, I missed you." "You didn''t forget about us, did you?" "......" As I was staring blankly, they came close and hugged me. "We met in the game world." "But meeting in reality is better, right?" "How do you know that!?" Because of the stares from around us, we headed to a nearby cafe. But what''s this? Ar took out a black card and told me to order whatever I wanted. Why is everyone I meet... no, every being so rich? She ordered a whole cake for me and handed me a fork, telling me to eat, but our Yong-yong wasn''t going to just sit still. I tried to stop him as he was drooling and flicking his tongue, but I failed. He devoured the cake in an instant and looked at me with satisfied eyes. "What about mine!?" "Kyuung." Our Yong-yong says it''s too sweet and gives it 4 stars. I''ll let it slide because he''s cute. As I poked his cheeks saying, "You ate it all by yourself, you pig," he protested. "Kyuung!" He says he''s not a pig. "Kyuung!" He says he''s a dragon. Geez, who doesn''t know that! As I was poking his cheeks, Ar took a picture of us and bought another whole cake before I finally calmed down. The moment I''d been waiting for. As soon as I took a bite of the cake, sweetness filled my mouth. Isn''t this too delicious!? As I was eating the cake frantically, when I had eaten about half. As I was touching my full stomach with a satisfied smile, I heard a voice. "Our child hasn''t changed at all." Ernia patted my head. As I was feeling good from the gentle touch, Ar brought up the main topic. "Where did we leave off earlier? We said we met in the game world, right? That was us too." "It''s easier to think of it as shared memories, child." They told me the information I was curious about and said they were running a small business in this world. Then they asked if I had time today. "Child, if you don''t have any plans today, would you like to come with us?" "You won''t regret it." "Umm, I need to go to the library to study..." At that moment, they handed me an envelope. "Think of it as a part-time job." "We wouldn''t make you work for free, right?" I never thought I''d see an envelope of money like in dramas in my life. I looked at the envelope curiously and when I opened it, there were eight zeros. As soon as I confirmed that, I closed the envelope and tried to give it back. "It''s too much!" "It''s not too much, child. You''ve done so much for us." "That''s right! Don''t hesitate and accept it! Or should we deposit it into your account?" "That would be good." With those words, a bell sound rang. No, how do you even know my account!? Even I don''t know it!? How do you know my account number better than I do when I can''t even memorize it because it''s so long!? Before I knew it, I ended up skipping the library today and got in the car with Ernia and Ar, heading somewhere. The car was driving fast, but they wouldn''t tell me where we were going. "It''s a surprise, child." "We''ll tell you when we arrive." What if they take me to some shady place and say, "You''ve been using us quite well, haven''t you?" and threaten me? I looked at Yong-yong with eyes that said I''d only trust him, but he glanced at me and then turned his head away. He''s sulking because I didn''t give him the cake I was eating earlier. You ate a whole cake! As we were having a staring contest, the car arrived at an underground parking lot, and the mother and daughter told me to get out. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following them, we took the elevator up, and what I saw was a hotel...? N-n-no way!? I covered my body with both hands and was on guard, and the mother and daughter tilted their heads. "No! I don''t want to! Don''t do it!" At my words, the mother and daughter who were pondering what I meant smirked. W-what...? This feeling of defeat...? "It''s not like that, so don''t worry." "Our Yuna has high self-esteem, huh?" "......" As I glared at them with eyes that said I''d get revenge, they took my hand and headed to the front desk, received a room key, and got on the elevator. I looked at them with eyes that said, "You tricked me!" and they smiled and said it wasn''t like that, but what do you mean it''s not like that!? After getting off the elevator, they held the room key to the hotel room door and it opened. Even now you''re saying it''s not like that!? I panicked and resisted, but it was useless. How could a human win against dragons? And when we entered the hotel room, inside was a suite room decorated with lavish ornaments, and there was someone waiting. "Our pretty little sister, welcome!" "Unni!?" Why is my sister coming out of there...? 93. The Frey Guild 93. The Frey Guild93. The Frey Guild "Why is unni here?" "Surprise!" Unni says she was recruited in advance to surprise me. She puts a party hat on my head. I''m not sure what''s going on, but they even prepared a tiny party hat just for Yong-yong. "Were you surprised?" "I was so surprised my heart almost ran away." "Ahaha! Our little sister is good at jokes too." My heart is still pounding and bouncing, but she says it''s a joke...? Meanwhile, Yong-yong seems to like the party hat and is pestering me to take a picture quickly. I feel proud that he''s adapted so perfectly to modern society, but also a bit bitter that he''s not taking my side. As she takes my hand and leads me into the suite room, I see a large table prepared with various foods including cake, but the problem is that I just finished eating a whole cake on the way here. I''m so full I don''t even want to look at it, but they say it''s delicious and tell me to eat quickly. Save me... "I just ate a whole cake before coming." "No way! Our little sister can eat more!" "Impossible!" As unni tries to shove food into my mouth, I run away from her hand, but she smiles brightly and slowly approaches with a plate in one hand and a fork in the other. "You should eat at least for the sake of our effort, right?" "I really can''t eat anymore!" I resisted until the end, but it was useless. In the end, I collapsed on the bed holding my bloated stomach, and only then did my unni bring me some digestive medicine. "I didn''t raise our little sister to be this weak." "You never raised me in the first place..." Old memories vividly come back to me. Unni, who was always busy, couldn''t even take care of me, let alone see my face. We were more distant than strangers, so how could she take care of me? Then I felt a warm embrace. Unni hugged me and said: She''s sorry. She''s sorry that she couldn''t take care of her little sister properly all this time, but it feels awkward. It feels awkward and unfamiliar. This side of unni. After hugging me without saying anything for a while, she finally let go, and her eyes were red. Did she cry? "Did you cry?" "No, I didn''t. Just got some dust in my eye." "It looks like you cried though? Are you a crybaby?" "Come here." Unni grabbed my cheeks and stretched them out, and only let go after I begged for forgiveness. As I rubbed my sore cheeks and glared at her, she looked at me. "Is that a face of dissatisfaction?" "Me? No way." I immediately backed down, and only then did she smile and pat my head. The dragon mother and daughter were taking pictures of us sisters with a camera. "Since when have you been taking pictures?" "From the beginning!" Isn''t that too brazen? Even if I ask them to delete it, they won''t listen. We spent time together late into the night, the four of us - the dragon mother and daughter, my unni, and me - and then they drove me home. "Contact us anytime if you need help." "Let''s see each other again soon!" "Take care." "Thank you for inviting me today." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After seeing off the departing car, I entered the house to find mom and dad preparing firecrackers...? "What are you doing?" "Oh my, you''re back already? How do you use this thing?" "No, I''m telling you, you just pull it!" "Is that so?" As soon as mom pulled the firecracker, it exploded with a bang and we were covered in the debris. What day is it today? "Surprise!" "It''s a surprise, dear." "What day is it today?" "Huh? It''s not any special day?" As I listened to their story, apparently dad suddenly wanted to eat cake on his way home from work, so he bought one, and they gave him firecrackers too, so they used them for a surprise. And in the kitchen, I saw a whole cake... I don''t want to see any more cake today, so I turned my head, but my parents told me to eat together quickly. I reluctantly ate one slice, but I''m sick of it. I don''t even want to look at cake for a while. * * * On the day of the regular meeting where all Frey Guild members gather in one place. Rea unni said she''d come to pick me up, so as I was waiting in front of my house, I saw a sleek sports car. No way...? Sure enough, the person getting out of the sports car was Rea unni. She came to pick me up in a fashion completely different from what I saw at the library, like from a parallel world. No, how much money did you earn in such a short time since starting the game!? "How is it!? I just bought it, isn''t it nice!?" "How much money did you earn to buy a car like this!?" "This is all thanks to Yuna!" Rea unni hugged me and said thank you. I just recommended items that might go up in price or told her about hidden quests and secret dungeons!? I didn''t know she''d earn this much. I got in Rea unni''s car, fastened my seatbelt, and as the car started, it made a vrooom sound. After driving for a while and leaving Seoul, wait a minute... Where are we going...? "Rea unni, where are we going?" "Hmm? Didn''t you see the text? We booked a hotel in Gangneung this time. It''s for one night and two days!" "What!? I didn''t see it!? No, I don''t have any luggage with me!?" "Don''t worry! Unni will buy everything for you!" Rea unni confidently said there''s nothing that can''t be solved with money. If something can''t be solved, then it''s because there''s not enough money, she said with a smile. As we drove for a long time, stopping at rest areas along the way where she fed me snacks, we arrived after 3 hours. As soon as I got out of the car and stretched, I looked at the hotel and saw a nice-looking hotel with a view of the sea at a glance. Has our guild grown so much that we can have a regular meeting at a hotel like this? Following Rea unni into the hotel lobby, Sasha unni was waiting for us. "Leader! And our youngest is here!?" She greeted us warmly, and maybe it''s because I haven''t seen her in a while. Feeling happy, I ran over and hugged her, and she hugged me back. "Sasha unni!" "Youngest!" Someone might think we''re a family reuniting after being separated, Rea unni said with a smirk as she approached the front desk. While she was talking to the staff member, we were chatting about what had happened in the meantime, and guild members started entering the hotel lobby one by one. "Our cutie, it''s been a while." "Sister, it''s been a while." Mage Hecate unni and Saint Aria unni entered together. Unlike their usual robes and priest''s clothing, they were wearing clothes that showed off their figures. "Th-they''re big." "My my, our youngest is so naughty." As they were poking my cheeks, someone approached. A brother with a body made entirely of muscle, showing off muscles that look like they could lift 700kg, smiling brightly. "Did everyone come early?" "Balak hyungnim!" "Won''t you call me oppa just once, please?" "Hyungnim!" As he was looking dejected at my words, the last members of the Frey Guild entered the lobby. They looked so alike they could be mistaken for grandfather and granddaughter. "Old man, if it''s hard to walk, just say so. I''ll carry you on my back." "You brat, I''m not that far gone yet." Luna unni and Richard grandfather are always fighting. At that moment, as soon as Luna unni''s eyes met mine, she approached with quick steps and lifted me up. As expected of someone with the assassin class, her footsteps were silent and her movements were swift. After dangling for a while, I was finally able to be freed with Richard grandfather''s help. "Isn''t the youngest having a hard time?" "Just worry about your own health, old man." "Hohoho, are you worried about me?" What''s this? They''re suddenly creating a harmonious atmosphere, but of course. Luna unni immediately attempts to attack the elderly. "I need to tease you about being an old man for a long time." "What did you say? What does that mean?" At that moment, it seems the check-in was completed, and they took us to the top floor of the hotel. Is it just my imagination, or have I been coming to hotels often lately? When we moved to the top floor, there was one room. As they held the key card to the door and opened it, I saw a spacious room - is this a hotel room or a palace? As I was looking around curiously, Sasha unni was taking pictures, saying I looked cute. It feels awkward without the ears she always has in the game. I thought you might feel that way, so I prepared something. I handed her what I bought at the rest area earlier, and Sasha unni asked what it was. I told her to open it, and when she saw what was inside the plastic, her expression hardened. Then she stared at me intently. "What does this mean...?" "You have ears in the game but not in reality, so I thought it might feel awkward and bought one for you." What I gave her was an animal ear headband. I spent a whopping 10,000 won to buy it for our Sasha unni. As I was looking proud, she smiled and then took it out and put it on my head!? "What is this!?" "It suits you well." At that moment, I heard the sound of a camera. As I quickly turned my head, I saw the unnis taking pictures. "P-please delete those!" 94. The Frey Guild 94. The Frey Guild94. The Frey Guild When the Frey Guild gathers in one place, there''s only one thing to do. A drinking party, of course. "The alcohol''s going down smoothly!" "How long are you going to do that shoulder dance?" "Unni, we don''t do that these days." Sasha unni looks at me with an embarrassed expression. "Really? They don''t do it anymore?" "They don''t." At my words, she looks at me with a hurt expression and then hugs me. "I guess your unni is getting old. Comfort me." "Don''t hug me! You smell like alcohol!" "Wah! So cold! So heartless!" Sasha unni is making a fuss while hugging me. Sigh, it''s tiring. Are you already drunk? We''ve only had one drink! More importantly, why am I drinking grape juice? "I want alcohol too! Give me alcohol!" "Should our youngest wait until she''s a bit older?" "What are you saying!? I''m an adult too! An adult!" I want to say I''m a college student, but unfortunately, I''m a gap year student, so I can''t. Sasha unni looks at me with a pitiful expression and finally puts a drink in my hand. "Our youngest is an adult too! So you should drink!" "Sasha unni!" As I look at her with a touched expression, Sasha unni grins. For a moment, she looked cooler than anyone else in the world. But it was only for a moment. "What are you giving to our youngest!?" With those words, Rea unni slaps Sasha unni and takes the cup from my hand. I try to rebel in my own way, but what comes back is a cup full of orange juice. Wait, wasn''t it grape juice earlier!? I like grape juice more than orange juice! No, this isn''t right! As I sigh and sip the orange juice, Rea unni offers me a cake. I accept it with a serious expression, and she looks at me with a hurt face. "I-I didn''t know you''d dislike it so much." "No, it''s just that I''ve eaten too much cake recently..." When I was kidnapped by the dragon mother and daughter, I ate half of the cake I''d eat in a lifetime, and when I got home, I finished the other half. Now I can''t stand the sight of it. Watching me like this, Balak oppa shows off his muscles and says something. He pushes chicken breast in front of me, saying cake isn''t good for the body, but I refuse immediately. "I don''t like it. It''s too dry." "H-how can that be... It has 25g of protein..." He''s muttering something to himself, but I can''t understand what he''s saying. As I poke Balak oppa, Rea unni hugs me and keeps him from getting close. Those words seem to have dealt additional damage, as Balak oppa can''t come to his senses for a while. Excluding him, we continued the party late into the night. * * * When I woke up in the morning and sat blankly on the bed, looking around, I saw the sleeping unnis. How much did they drink last night that they''re all still out of it even though the sun is high in the sky? "Kyuung." "That''s right. Our Yong-yong was here too?" "Kyuuung!?" As I poke the cheeks of our Yong-yong, who''s looking at me with a shocked expression, I tell him it''s a joke. He seems to be sulking, puffing up his cheeks, but even that is too cute. Just then, with a rustling sound, Rea unni gets up, rubbing her eyes. "Mmm, you''re up early." "Good morning." Actually, it''s afternoon, but whatever. I wake up all the sleeping unnis, but none of them are in their right minds. After giving them about 2 hours to prepare, everyone finishes getting ready. We have a meal, and then I wave goodbye to the guild members, saying we''ll meet in the game, and we part ways. On the way home in Rea unni''s car. It was fun, even though it was just one night and two days. Now I''ll go home, wash up, and play the game. More than that, I feel like I''ve forgotten something. When I check my phone that I took out by chance, there are an enormous number of missed calls. Among them, the messages from my older sister were no joke. [My little sister, already staying out overnight? Without saying anything? Let''s talk when you get back.] "Rea unni, can I stay at your place for a while?" "Did something happen?" "I think I''ll die if I go home." I read the message content to Rea unni, who''s driving, and she looks at me with an incredulous face, asking if I didn''t contact them. When did I have time!? You ate me up with high tension as soon as we met! But it''s already too late. If I prepare my heart and use Yong-yong as a shield... Our Yong-yong stares at me intently, asking what I mean by that. "Kyuuung?" "Can our Yong-yong read minds?" "Kyuung!" I hug our Yong-yong, who proudly claims to be a dragon despite his appearance, and apologize. He says he''ll forgive me for tteokbokki. Should I be relieved that he''s fully adapted to capitalist ideology? After a long 3-hour drive, Rea unni drops me off in front of my house. "Thank you, Rea unni." "It''s nothing. You''re our precious guild member, after all!" I wave to Rea unni as she leaves, saying we''ll see each other in the evening. After preparing my heart, I open the door and go in. "I''m home." "......" There''s no sound from the house. Did everyone go out? Shouting "Lucky!" I enter the living room to find my mom, dad, and older sister looking at me with cold expressions. "Oh... you were here?" "Come here and sit down." At my parents'' chilly voices, I kneel down and sit, and immediately a barrage of nagging begins. They ask why I didn''t contact them before going somewhere, saying they worry if I don''t answer, and they hug me tightly along with the tremendous scolding. "If you stay out without saying anything one more time, be prepared." "I''m sorry..." Still, it ended warmly in the end. Thanks to the souvenirs Rea unni prepared. "Oh my, isn''t this expensive?" "I saw this on Instagram, and it was super expensive! Where did our little sister get the money to buy this!?" "A close unni bought it all for me." While they were checking the souvenirs, I said I was tired and went to my room to rest. Then I quietly slipped out with Yong-yong. As soon as I entered the room, I threw myself on the bed, and the soft bed welcomed me. Mom must have changed the bedding; it''s cozy. "Mmm, should I just roll around in bed today?" "Kyuung!" Our Yong-yong says we have a meeting today. How admirable that you''re acting as my secretary too? "I''ll appoint our Yong-yong as the mascot of the Red Revolution Group and my secretary!" "Kyuuung." He says he doesn''t need it. How cruel! Heartless! So heartless! As I rub my face against Yong-yong, complaining that he''s too heartless, he sighs and licks my cheek. "As expected, I''m your favorite in the whole world, right, Yong-yong?" "Kyuuung." Kyaa! Our Yong-yong saying I''m his favorite in the whole world, isn''t that too bold!? After rubbing cheeks for a while, I get hit once and then put on the gear and log into the game. When I open my eyes, I wake up in the Red Revolution Group hideout, and after a while, Yong-yong appears with a bright light. And soon after, with a knock, the Silver Fox Clan twins enter. "You''ve arrived." "Yes! Nothing happened, right?" "......" The Silver Fox Clan twins, Rang and Ran, are staring at me intently without saying anything. I''m anxious. Extremely anxious. I look at them with pleading eyes, begging them to say it''s not true, but they just turn their heads away. "Please check the desk in your office." "N-no, I don''t want to." "You must." With no choice, I move my feet towards the office, feeling very anxious. As soon as I open the office door and go inside, what I see is a pile of documents stacked high on the desk. As I try to leave the office, the Silver Fox Clan twins block my way. "You need to work." "I-I don''t want to! Today is a day I want to sing revolutionary songs!" "You can do that after you finish everything. It won''t be too late." "It will be too late! Can''t you hear it!? The voice of the people!" "We can''t hear it." With those words, they forcibly sit me down in the chair and put a pen in my hand. Then they hand me the most urgent documents first, and even just those are an enormous amount. As I''m racking my brain for a way out, I hear a voice. "There''s no other way, so please work diligently." "......" As I work on the documents for a long time, I wonder if I''m playing this game to relieve stress or to receive it. Amidst all this, one document catches my eye. [Frey Guild Report.] Isn''t the Frey Guild our guild? Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As I read the report in detail, it says that we''ve been recognized as one of the top 10 guilds as a small elite guild, and my shoulders rise with pride. But recently, it says other guilds have been picking fights with the Frey Guild. Starting from hunting grounds to dungeons, they''ve been causing trouble. Recently, there have even been signs of them trying to PK us. 95. The Sacred Duel Arena 95. The Sacred Duel Arena95. The Sacred Duel Arena Don''t they know that I''m a member of the Frey Guild? I have a lot to say, but I won''t. Because I plan to show it through action. "Call a meeting of the executives." "Understood." 10 minutes later. As I enter the conference room, the Red Revolution Group executives are waiting for me. Travelers, monsters, angels, demons - various races gathered in one place. Although our races are different, we have only one goal. Revolution. We don''t use force. Of course, we use it in urgent situations, but we try not to use it as much as possible. The moment we use force, the fun... no, the justification is diluted. That''s what revolution is about. "I''ll start the briefing." I hand out a report with detailed information about the ''Olympus'' guild that has been messing with the Frey Guild recently. "As you can see, they''re not only picking fights with the Frey Guild but also with guilds and travelers they deem weaker than themselves." Controlling hunting grounds and dungeons is basic, and they''ve even been seen picking fights in villages and PKing. It''s gone too far to leave them alone. Now that we''ve designated the target, it''s time to wave the flag of coup... no, revolution. Everyone starts to act with undisguised smiles. An hour later. Numerous races gathered in front of the Olympus Guild headquarters. What they have in common is that they''re all waving red headbands and flags. "Olympus Guild, transform!" "Olympus Guild, transform!" "Olympus Guild, transform!" The Olympus Guild didn''t stay still at the voices filling the streets and echoing around. In terms of numbers, they''re the guild with the most members in Arcana Online. One by one they revealed themselves, but they don''t even come close to the Red Revolution Group. They''re overwhelmed by our numbers and can''t suppress us by force. There aren''t many groups that can beat us by force. The Olympus Guild members who tried to suppress the protesters by force were tied up tightly with ropes and left in a corner while the protest continued. At that moment, with a thunderous sound, the Olympus Guild master ''Zeus'' appears and glares at us. "What is the meaning of this!" "Olympus Guild, transform!" The guild master, who was suffering from a headache at the enormous shout, glares at me leading the protest at the front. And he challenges me to a duel. "If you''re the leader of a group, you won''t refuse!" He looks at me with a vile smile, but is he in his right mind...? A one-on-one duel with me? Really? Seriously? Ranker-level players have surpassed level 100, but my level has exceeded 300. Even by simple calculation, there''s a threefold difference, and Yong-yong in my arms is urging me to accept with shining eyes. "Kyuung!" The look in his eyes says he wants to make a splashy debut. Come to think of it, our Yong-yong has never revealed himself in the game until now, right? Recently, there have been voices doubting my abilities even within the Red Revolution Group, so this is an opportunity. While I''m at it, I can establish discipline and remove obstacles blocking the waving of the revolution flag. Killing two birds with one stone. Having my cake and eating it too. Win-win! The moment I accept the challenge with a grin, we''re transported to the Sacred Duel Arena with a bright light. [Sacred Duel Arena] A system where you can have a fair one-on-one duel. As I open my eyes in the arena that looks like a colosseum, I see the Red Revolution Group members filling the audience seats along with Olympus Guild members. As the guild master appears with lightning, I regret not making a flashy entrance myself. Should I use a skill to help with that? "Kyuung." "Alright. I''ll leave it to our Yong-yong." With a huge shout, the countdown begins. "Ten!" "Nine!" "Eight!" : : : "Zero!" With the whistle signaling the start of the match, a huge lightning bolt strikes towards me. I block the continuously striking lightning with a barrier while waiting. For the attack to end. Due to the long-lasting attack, the arena was filled with dust, and nothing could be seen. After a while, the attack stops, and after waiting a bit, he shouts in shock at seeing me unharmed. At his cry that I must be using a bug, I raise my finger upwards, and he follows my finger to look at the sky. If any cheating occurred, the constellations watching the Sacred Duel Arena wouldn''t stay still. They were watching the match in the form of stars shining in the clear sky. In other words, I didn''t commit any cheating. And Yong-yong wrapped around my neck asked me. If it''s his turn now. "Please." At my words, he wraps himself in a bright light and disappears in an instant, and the Olympus Guild master Zeus who was looking at me. His eyes widen. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And soon after, as my vision darkens, I look up at the sky to see an anomaly. Huge dark clouds gather in the clear sky, and something massive appears within them. Zeus, as well as the audience, are trembling at the sight of something in the shape of a dragon. And the being revealing itself. A dragon. It has the form of a dragon that you''d only see in the East, and it''s holding two huge orbs in its hands. It confessed that it took one from my inventory without permission, and the other is the Golden Orb obtained from Atlantis. Then Yong-yong''s solemn voice echoes. [How dare you bare your fangs at my master. Atone with your death.] With those words, blue particles slowly begin to gather. And due to the breath that fell, the arena is shattered, and only I could remain unharmed. [Yuna Win!] My victory is confirmed, and one by one, we''re enveloped in bright light and transported back to our original location. We''re moved in front of the Olympus Guild where we were protesting, and in front of me, the Olympus Guild master who took the breath attack head-on was kneeling. And he''s muttering something, what''s he saying? "This is cheating..." Mm-hmm, I think so too. But life is unfair, right? Can''t be helped. And a message window pops up for the victor. As per our initial agreement, the authority over the Olympus Guild fell into my hands. I added one rule to the Olympus Guild. [Let''s all get along well.] The guild master Zeus, who checked the guild rules, looks at me. "Games are meant to be enjoyed, right?" "......" At my words, he couldn''t say anything, and as he was about to leave with the help of guild members. He raises his hand to stop the guild members and looks at me. And after hesitating for a while, he opens his mouth. "I''m sorry. And thank you..." "Don''t mention it." With those final words, he goes into the hideout, and we resume what we were doing. "Olympus Guild, transform!" "Olympus Guild, transform!" "Olympus Guild, transform!" At our shouts, Zeus comes out again, slamming the door open. "Didn''t it end on a warm note!? Why are you protesting again!?" "Workers don''t compromise!" At our voices, he grabs his neck and is about to collapse, but guild members take care of him. They''re having a hard time. But, we created the Red Revolution Group to do this, so how can we end it so easily? We need to make a living too! Of course! After 3 hours of continued protest, we were able to disperse with satisfied faces, having blown off the stress we''ve accumulated. This protest was very fulfilling too, but where should we protest next? * * * "So you''re saying you''re going to protest in front of the Olympus Guild this time?" "Yes, that''s right, team leader." "Well, they''ve been quite territorial lately, so it doesn''t matter." I get nervous every time the Red Revolution Group moves. What kind of trouble will they cause this time? Still, it''s fortunate that they say they''re going to solve the problem of the Olympus Guild that''s been giving us headaches lately... right? No. I take that back. What is that... A dragon appearing in the Sacred Duel Arena. The being that Yuna was carrying around really was a dragon. And it''s a dragon with not one, but two orbs. You need to spend 1,000 years in cold water to obtain one, so why does this dragon have two!? And one of them is shining golden, which is clearly not an ordinary item. With that much power, should we be grateful for what they''ve done so far...? What''s there to be grateful for! Do you know how much overtime I''ve had to do! "Aah! What is that!? Eve!" "Yes, team leader." The AI robot Eve reveals itself. I ask what that is, and she gives me a shocking answer. That is... "It''s a dragon." "I know that. Anything else?" "Nothing else." "......" 96. The Last Stop 96. The Last Stop96. The Last Stop [I knew we could trust our comrade Yuna!] Those Olympus Guild bastards who were yapping away without knowing how scary a tiger is! Did you see how powerless they were when their leader got taken down? Did you see? I tell you, it''s the first time in my life I''ve felt so satisfied! [Comments] - Comrade, I felt the same way! My heart was bursting with satisfaction! - I knew we could trust our comrade Yuna! - Of course, I knew Yuna would win, but I didn''t expect her to crush them like this! - [Author] We have a reactionary here!!!!!!! [You''ve all watched our comrade Yuna''s achievements closely, right?] Those bastards, they''ve seen clearly what happens when you mess with the Red Revolution Group! This means enjoy the game while being considerate of each other! [Comments] - Tsk tsk, those bastards tasted the red flavor and lost their minds! - This is the red flavor of our Red Revolution Group! - [Author] What kind of crazy talk is that? Red flavor? Are you eating tteokbokki? Call it the crimson flavor! - What does the flavor of revolution taste like? It''s the crimson flavor, I tell you! [Red workers! Gather! Gather!] We need to show the rotten Arcana continent the taste of the red revolution! [Comments] - Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! - Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! - Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! Unity! - Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! Struggle! [By the way, where can you get a summon like that?] Riding a dragon is so cool, where can I adopt one like that? Just flying in the sky and shouting from above would be a great stress reliever. [Comments] - Flying in the sky and peeing! Hehe! I want to do that lol - For real, it''s romantic to pee from the sky lol - [Author] What kind of crazy talk is that? - You crazy bastards lol [So, what''s the next target?] The middle world seems to be done, so where do we protest next? We''ve conquered the celestial and demon realms too, is there anywhere left? [Comments] - There''s that place left, you know. - [Author] Where''s that? - The place you go when you die. - [Author] The afterlife? * * * The Arcana continent is divided into the celestial realm, middle world, and demon realm, but there''s one place that hasn''t been revealed to users. The afterlife. Called the world of the dead, it''s where souls go through reincarnation to receive a new life. But recently, a problem has occurred. The number of souls doesn''t match up. The number of deceased souls who have reached the end of their life journey and are supposed to depart for a new one doesn''t add up. What does this mean? In short, it means things are about to go to hell in a handbasket. "Any word from the celestial realm!?" "We''ve heard they''re on strike!" "Angels on strike!? What are they, humans!?" "They say there will be no negotiations until workers'' rights are guaranteed!" Hearing this ridiculous news, I immediately headed to the celestial realm, but it was chaos. More importantly, the person leading the protest at the front looked familiar. I''ve seen that face somewhere before... "Lucifer...?" At my voice, she turned to look at me. The fallen angel Lucifer. The one who had been giving the afterlife a headache by stealing souls for a while, now leading a protest here? At that moment, I felt a blade at my throat. The blades of numerous angels, that is. "How dare you address the Heavenly King like that?" The one speaking to me was Archangel Michael. Gone was her gentle smile, replaced by a cold glare. I raised my hands in surrender, and only then did the angels withdraw their blades. More importantly, Heavenly King? I never expected Lucifer, known as the fallen angel, to take the vacant seat among all those archangels. I needed an explanation of what was going on, but I had a feeling I wouldn''t get out of here in one piece if I asked for one now. Despite appearances, I''m a veteran with 1,800 years of experience in the afterlife. I put on a natural business smile and spoke politely. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Ahem, I apologize, Heavenly King. I''m Kim Chasa, holding the position of Chasa in the afterlife." "Nice to meet you. There was this little mishap in our first meeting, but I trust you''ll understand." "Oh, of course! I completely understand! But about what''s going on here..." "Ah, it''s nothing much. We''re just protesting for a 3-day work week." Not understanding who they were protesting against, I followed the Heavenly King, who took off her red headband and told me to come along. Numerous angels were protesting. But something seemed off. Looking around, everyone was smiling while protesting, making it feel like a show. As if it was a protest to relieve stress. At that moment, the Heavenly King walking in front of me gestured and told me to wait a moment. Her twelve wings spread wide as she soared into the sky, and a loud voice echoed throughout the celestial realm. "That''s enough protesting for today. Go back to work now." With those words, numerous angels began to disperse, packing up their red headbands and flags. And I could hear their conversations. "Ah, that was fun today too!" "I''m telling you, protesting is no joke when it comes to stress relief!" "I wish we could do this every day." "It feels like work efficiency goes up after protesting." Hearing these bewildering conversations, I wondered if this was right. Troubled by how much things had changed, the Heavenly King approached me. "So, what brings you here?" "I came to check on the news that the celestial realm was on strike." "Ah, it''s like an annual event. Relieving stress like this increases work efficiency." "I-Is that so...?" After finishing this dizzying conversation and being told that things would normalize soon, I watched the Heavenly King''s retreating back before making my way back. Back to the afterlife. What in the world is going on? I guess it''s fortunate that it''s just the celestial realm. If something like this happened in the afterlife, I''d collapse holding my neck. Thinking I should treat my employees well when I get back, I moved to the afterlife, only to find the atmosphere in disarray. "What''s going on?" "B-Big trouble! The living are rushing into the afterlife!" "What are you talking about!? How can the living enter the afterlife!?" "We''re investigating now!" The ''Bibimbim~! Project'' that monitors and supervises the afterlife was broadcasting footage of the living crossing over to the afterlife through gates. The number was roughly in the tens of thousands. How could so many living beings cross over to the afterlife? More importantly, I started seeing familiar faces one by one. "Wait, that slime over there. Didn''t it die and come to the afterlife?" "Th-that''s a soul that escaped from the afterlife." "That griffin over there should have been reincarnated already!" "That soul also escaped..." After ordering an immediate check of the records. Souls that should have gone through reincarnation and been sent to new lives had invaded the afterlife. This was the first time in the history of the afterlife. No, it was something that should never happen. I urgently contacted headquarters, but there was no response. What on earth is... At that moment, the living began to act strangely. One by one, they started taking out red headbands and red flags. Those were definitely the ones I saw in the celestial realm. And then a voice rang out. "Transform the afterlife! Transform it!" "Transform the afterlife! Transform it!" "Transform the afterlife! Transform it!" The loud chants echoed throughout the afterlife, and with no special instructions coming from headquarters. Just as I was about to collapse from having to stand by and watch this situation, a message arrived. [Send them back gently.] A brief and concise instruction. So, I''m supposed to send all those numerous living beings back to their original world. The middle world, and they want me to do it? Really? Seriously? Part of me wants to go over there and join the protest. But there''s no other way. When the higher-ups say jump, you ask how high. As I was sighing, my direct junior Kim Chasa brought me some equipment. "I''ve prepared the S-class scythe and the Blue Dragon Crescent Blade." "Hey, kid. Are we going to fight? I don''t need any of that, just go get some alcohol." "What? Alcohol? Are you going to negotiate with that?" "No, I don''t think I can go there sober, so I''m going to have a drink first." Seeing my direct junior Kim Chasa''s dumbfounded expression at my words, I raised my fist, and only then did he leave to get the alcohol. Anyway, they just don''t listen unless you show them. After a while, I took a swig of the alcohol he brought and set off. To gently send them back. 97. The Last Stop? 97. The Last Stop?97. The Last Stop? ''It''s boring. It''s hard. I don''t want to do it.'' ''You need to get rid of these thoughts! Repeat after me! You must do it!'' "I must do it!" ''You can do it!'' "I can do it!" ''This kind of motivation, gathering one by one, for a better life...'' "Kyuung?" "Hmm? What am I doing, you ask? I''m watching motivational videos." Recently, I haven''t been able to concentrate on studying at the library, so I found a new method. I thought maybe if I watch motivational videos and then study, it would work better? That''s how I started, and it''s quite effective. It doesn''t seem bad. "Kyuung." "Ugh! No, it''s not! It''s working!" Our heartless Yong-yong tells me to stop wasting time and just study. As I poke his cheeks in rebellion, he threatens to tell mom if I keep doing it. I''ve raised a tiger cub. "Oh my! I raised you with such difficulty, and you turn out to be a tiger cub!" "Kyuung!?" He protests that he''s not a tiger, but a dragon. You never back down, do you? When I look at him with pitiful eyes, he reluctantly nods. Our Yong-yong, who sometimes says it''s okay to watch. You should have said so earlier! ''Don''t think! Do it now! You can do it!'' "That''s right! I can do it! Let''s go! To the library!" "Kyuung." He says it''s nighttime now, so stop talking nonsense, wash up and go to sleep. Heeeng, you''re so mean. "Aren''t you being too cold lately? You weren''t like this at first! Give me back our cute Yong-yong!" "Kyuung." He says he''ll cover me with a blanket and sing a lullaby, but a lullaby from Yong-yong? I''m too curious. After he tucks me in tightly, I look at Yong-yong who''s warming up his voice. And then the lullaby begins. No, a funeral dirge. "Kyuuu~! Kyung~! Kyuuuk~!" "Aah! I''m sorry! I was wrong! Please spare me!" Yong-yong''s funeral dirge echoed all night, and I almost said goodbye to this world that day. * Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. * * "So you''re saying it''s all the afterlife''s fault?" "That''s right! It''s all the afterlife''s fault!" Why did funeral dirges come to be in the first place? Weren''t they created to honor the souls of the dead? Then it''s the afterlife''s fault, isn''t it? I appealed to the executives who were looking at me with incredulous expressions. About why we need to invade the afterlife, that is. "How about a charge of hurting feelings?" "That''s a bit..." The executives say that even though we''re causing trouble, public opinion won''t be good if we protest without any reason. As I was thinking about whether there was any other way, the door burst open and someone entered the conference room. The department in charge of information for the Red Revolution Group said urgent information had arrived. "We''ve received information that the afterlife is going to the celestial realm to protest." "Really!?" Checking the documents, it says that due to the celestial realm''s strike, there have been problems in the afterlife, but strictly speaking, isn''t that the afterlife''s fault? If the afterlife hadn''t been pushing them, there''s no way the celestial realm would work 7 days a week. So this is all the afterlife''s fault! "How about this forced logic?" I thought they would flatly reject it, saying it was bad, but surprisingly, the executives nodded. In reality, they just want to protest, though. We gathered opinions with one heart and mind and began preparations. For a coup, that is. * * * "Transform the afterlife! Transform it!" "Transform the afterlife! Transform it!" "Transform the afterlife! Transform it!" The voices of the living echoing through the afterlife caused the dead to complain about the noise, but we won''t stop until our demands are met. Because that''s what revolution is. At that moment, a figure wearing a gat who anyone would recognize as a grim reaper approached us. "Nice to meet you. My name is Kim Chasa." But as he got closer, I could smell alcohol. Did he have a drink before coming? "Nice to meet you. I''m Yuna, the leader of the Red Revolution Group." "Nice to meet you, living one. And go back. This is the afterlife. No being other than the dead should be here." "We won''t stop until our demands are met." I handed him a document with our demands, and after checking it, his expression hardened. "Three shifts...? What''s this?" "It means dividing the work into three parts and working only 8 hours a day." The afterlife doesn''t prevent working 7 days a week. You never know when the flame of life might go out. But according to our investigation, isn''t working 24 hours too much? Even if the dead don''t need to sleep, that''s abuse. And I can''t stand by and watch this tyranny. Kim Chasa, who was looking at me with a strict, solemn, and serious expression, held both my hands tightly and looked at me with an indescribable expression. An expression that looked so sad. Seeing that expression, I looked at him with a bewildered face, and Kim Chasa explained his circumstances. He complained about the lack of manpower, saying he had been working for 1,800 years. "I want to rest too! I just want to hand over my work and rest, please!" As I comforted the sobbing Kim Chasa, I told him I had a very good solution, and he perked up his ears to listen intently. "In short, you''re short-handed, right? If we supplement that, there''s no problem, right?" "That''s right...?" "Then I have a brilliant idea." As I whispered to him, he said it was quite a good idea. "You''re saying we should make the souls who have committed sins work, but will they really listen to us?" "That''s not a problem. If we make them suffer for about 16 years, it''s possible." "Is that really enough? How?" * * * We gathered the souls who had committed sins and come to the afterlife in one place, and complaints erupted from everywhere. As they muttered that they didn''t deserve such treatment, grim reapers wearing red hats began to appear one by one. "Souls, stand up straight." Some souls rebelled at those words, but after receiving a heartfelt beating, they all quieted down. "Welcome, trash. You will go through 16 years of training and then perform community service according to the sins you''ve committed. No objections are allowed." With those words, shouts rang out from all directions. "Trash, get down!" And so began the education, which was actually just beating, and the souls couldn''t come to their senses. As I watched this scene leisurely. Kim Chasa approached me. "Will this method really work?" "Of course." The brilliant idea that if you commit sins and die, you do community service according to your sins. There''s a saying that if you live righteously, you''ll be blessed, so shouldn''t there also be a saying that if you commit sins, you''ll suffer even after death? You reap what you sow. We''ll see results in 10 years. If they complete the training normally, they''ll do community service according to their sins and then depart on the path of reincarnation. If they resist until the end, they''ll go until the end. As I was smiling wickedly, Yong-yong raised his head and looked at a certain spot. "What''s there?" "Kyung." At that moment, a being revealed itself. It''s the fortune-telling grandmother. "Grandmother!!" "Oh my, my child. It''s been a while." The fortune-telling grandmother, no, Samshin Grandmother. I rushed into her arms, and she caressed me with her warm hands. "Child, I''ve heard. You''ve been causing interesting things lately." "I''m going to create a world where everyone is happy!" Grandmother smiled at my words. "Hohoho, I knew you were extraordinary from the first time we met, but I didn''t know it would be to this extent, child." "Praising me won''t get you anything." "Kyuung." "It''s not praise!?" Yong-yong''s shocking words. He says it''s not praise. As soon as I heard that, I was startled and looked at grandmother, who smiled and patted my head. "Hohoho, how can I praise our child for causing trouble?" "It''s not trouble..." I protested weakly, but it was useless. She told me to reduce the protests from now on, and I nodded saying I understood. For some reason, I feel like I should follow what Samshin Grandmother says. Why? "Yes, I heard that our child has been causing trouble in the afterlife. But those children are all precious too. So don''t treat them too harshly." "O-Of course!" With the thought that I need to completely revise the plan, I reassured grandmother not to worry, and she smiled and said she''d see me next time before leaving. Kim Chasa, who had disappeared like a ghost when Samshin Grandmother appeared, showed himself again. "Is she gone?" "You''re quick..." "This is what 1,800 years of social experience looks like." I''m not envious at all. No, rather, I feel sorry for him. Poor thing... 98. The End? 98. The End?98. The End? "So you staged a protest in the afterlife?" "Yes!" Rea unni looks at me with a speechless expression after my confident answer. She laments about how surprised she was when she went to the hideout to see me and heard I had gone to the afterlife. When I say that if a man draws his sword, he must cut something1, she asks where the man is, and I look at Yong-yong. "Kyuung." "What!? You weren''t male!?" "Kyuuung!" I just learned for the first time that Yong-yong is female. To think she had been hiding such a secret all this time. When I look at her asking if there had been secrets between us, she avoids my gaze. That''s too much! "Sometimes when I watch Yuna and Yong-yong talk, it''s like they''re conversing without brains, but it''s so cute." "......" Is that a compliment? It feels like one... Or is it not? Is it really a compliment? When I ask if that''s really a compliment, she says it is while avoiding my eyes. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You''re lying right now, aren''t you!?" "Oh my, look at me. I forgot I left laundry out. I''ll see you later then." With those words, Rea unni flees quickly, and as I watch her retreating figure, I take out a teleport scroll from my inventory and tear it. In an instant, I''m transported to the guild hideout, and Rea unni, who arrives a step later than me, looks at me with surprised eyes. "Y-you followed me!?" "Alright! Let''s do a check. Boom chick chick! Boom chick chick!" As I try to open the door and go in, Rea unni grabs me from behind and tempts me to go eat something delicious. She says if we go now, she''ll buy me anything I want to eat. "I earn enough on my own, you know?" "Don''t you want to eat pancakes!? There''s a new caf¨¦ that just opened in front, and it''s really delicious!" "...Can I eat two?" "Of course! Let''s go quickly!" On the way to the caf¨¦, holding Rea unni''s hand. I wave to the traveler unnis and oppas who recognize and greet me from around, and they look at me with expressions that say they want to cuddle me. Is this what it feels like to be an idol? No, wait. Rather than an idol, it''s more like the gaze of adults looking at a cute child. I''m an adult, you know. An adult! Although I am a repeat student. Feeling annoyed by these unpleasant thoughts, Rea unni takes me into the caf¨¦, and there''s a sweet scent. Judging by the fact that the sweet dessert scent is stronger than the rich caffeine scent of coffee, it must be a real gem of a place. As soon as we sit down following the waiter''s guidance, Rea unni orders various things from the menu. She tells me to try a bite of everything because they''re all delicious, which is cool. As expected, a rich unni is the best. "Rea unni, don''t you want to raise a cute maknae?" "Aren''t I already raising one?" Seeing how smoothly she dodges, she''s no ordinary person. Soon after, the waiter sets up desserts on the table, and each one is nothing short of a work of art. As I drool looking at the desserts, she wipes my mouth and puts a fork in my hand, telling me to eat quickly, and I really feel like a baby. But I think it''s okay for today. "I''ll eat well!" "Eat a lot." As soon as I take a bite of the hotcake in front, a fanfare~ rings out in my mouth. The sweet syrup and soft hotcake meeting to create such synergy. This is no ordinary restaurant. After devouring one in an instant, I immediately stab a strawberry from the strawberry cake in front with my fork, and when I eat it, the sweet juice bursts in my mouth. I hold out the cake without strawberries to Rea unni, telling her to eat quickly, and she smiles. "Why is there no strawberry?" "Have you heard of gimisanggung2? To protect our guild leader Rea unni, I tasted it first just in case!" At my words, she can''t hold back her laughter and finally bursts out. As I eat dessert while Rea unni holds her stomach laughing for a while, I hear Yong-yong''s pitiful voice from beside me. "Kyuuung." "Tteokbokki...? I''m not sure if they have it here." When I look at the menu, sure enough, it''s not there. I comfort Yong-yong, who looks very disappointed at that sight, while eating dessert, and she tells me to just trust her. When did you come to your senses? And then she takes something out of her inventory - tteokbokki...? And it''s a pot full of it, with steam rising. Why did that come out of there...? "Ta-da! I prepared this because I knew this would happen!" "Kyuuung!" Yong-yong rushes over with a scream of joy. The moment she takes a bite of the tteokbokki. "Kyuuung!" "Hmm? Is it that delicious?" "Kyuung!" She says it''s the most delicious tteokbokki she''s ever eaten. "Kyuuung!" "Rea unni, she''s asking where you bought it." At those words, she smiles and answers. "I made it myself." "Kyuuung!?" "Rea unni made it herself!?" As she says she would have made it earlier if she knew we''d like it this much, looking at us at that moment. "Kyuuung." "What did you say!?" "What''s wrong?" I glare at Yong-yong, who asks if she wants to raise a cute dragon, and Rea unni asks what''s wrong. As I say it''s nothing and tell her I''ll deal with her later, she laughs saying it''s a joke. Does it feel like the kid is getting slicker by the day, or is it just my imagination? After finishing our snacks and rubbing our full bellies, we follow Rea unni into the guild hideout to find Sasha unni lying on the sofa playing a game. It''s fascinating to see a game within a game. At that moment, as soon as she spots me, she throws her game console and flies towards me. Literally throwing her body to fly at me, I can''t help but be startled by the situation. Fortunately, Rea unni blocked her, otherwise I might have died for the first time while gaming. If I died, the afterlife would be really happy. "Our maknae is here!? More importantly, leader! Move aside quickly! If I don''t hug our maknae, I''ll be upset!" "Calm down first. You''re scaring our maknae, aren''t you?" Our strange Rea unni who calls me Yuna when we''re alone, but calls me maknae when we''re with guild members. I don''t get it either! "Sasha unni!" "Our maknae!" A moment of reunion that rivals a separated family reunion. My face buried in Sasha unni''s large, soft chest, happily enjoying myself while Rea unni watches us with a dumbfounded expression. And our Yong-yong looking at the situation with displeasure. Isn''t this the very definition of chaos? Footnotes: 1: This is a Korean proverb meaning that once you start something, you should see it through to the end. 2: Gimisanggung (????): Historically, a royal court lady responsible for tasting the king''s food to detect poison. The character humorously compares herself to this role. 99. The End 99. The End99. The End I was only able to be released after appeasing the unnis by acting cute in their arms. Phew, being the maknae is tough. To think there''s so much work to do. As I take off the gear and lie down on my bed, looking up at the ceiling, Yong-yong appears in midair with a bright light. "Kyuung!" As I hug Yong-yong, who dives into my arms, and stroke her, our Yong-yong tells me to keep my promise. "What promise?" "Kyuuung!" She complains that I promised to buy her tteokbokki, but who was it that made me act cute for the unnis! When I tell her to go hungry tonight, she whispers ''Was I the only one being sincere?'' with a shocked expression. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. "Your acting is obvious." "Kyuung!?" Our Yong-yong asks when I became so perceptive. It''s time to show my authority as an owner. "If you do the three types of aegyo, I might buy you tteokbokki." "Kyuuuu." When she says she''s too old to do aegyo, I reply that age doesn''t matter, and she closes her eyes tightly and acts cute. "Kyuuung, kuung. Kyuuuu!" "Kyaa! So cute!" As I hug Yong-yong and nuzzle her face, she sighs and says let''s just go eat tteokbokki, but at that moment. My phone alarm rings. "Looks like it''s arrived. Let''s go get it." "Kyuung?" I smile as Yong-yong asks what has arrived, and her eyes waver. I go to the front door and open it to find the tteokbokki I ordered for delivery waiting. "Kyuuung!?" "See? You would have eaten even without doing aegyo, right?" "Kyuuung!" She gets angry at me saying she was tricked, but it''s too cute. "Ahaha! Our Yong-yong is so innocent?" "Kyuuung!" As she glares at me saying she''ll get revenge, I ask if she doesn''t want to eat tteokbokki, and she says that''s not it. Really, isn''t she too cute? After devouring 3 servings by herself, she falls asleep in my arms, seemingly satisfied. * * * In the morning, I woke up, cleansed myself of negativity, ate rice cakes and taffy, and headed to school. The day of the long-awaited college entrance exam. I need to pass this time to start a new semester. Otherwise, I''ll have to go through the dreadful repeater life for another year, which is horrifying just to imagine. When I refused my parents'' offer to drive me, I received encouragement from my family telling me to do well, and as I came out of the house, sports cars were waiting for me. Two of them, no less. One is our Frey Guild''s guild master, Rea unni. "Our maknae! It''s your college entrance exam today, right!? Hurry and get in!" And getting out of the other car is my friend, Nia. "You''ll ride in your friend''s car, right? Right? I''m right, aren''t I?" As Rea unni and Nia glare at each other, why are they acting like this? When I tell them to play rock-paper-scissors nicely, they both shout ''Rock, paper, scissors!'' with serious expressions, and the winner is... "Isn''t it nice riding in unni''s car!?" "Yes, it''s comfortable." Rea unni won. Rea unni smiles brightly while driving and looks at the car behind through the rearview mirror. Nia following behind us. I don''t need to see to know she must be making a frustrated expression. Really. They''re not kids anymore. But wait... Are all the other guild members waiting too? My thoughts, which I hoped weren''t true, were indeed correct. The Frey Guild members waiting for me in front of the school. More than that, the problem wasn''t over yet. There was a huge banner hung up with the words ''Fighting, our maknae!'' written on it. Ugh, how embarrassing. I need to get inside quickly. Just as I was about to enter the school, Sasha unni caught me and forced me to listen to the guild members'' words of encouragement. It wasn''t just one or two words, and I was held up until the proctor was about to close the door, almost missing the exam. Fortunately, as I entered the classroom, all eyes turned to me, but why are they looking at me like that? "Student, you can''t enter the classroom with a snake around your neck." "I''m sorry. Yong-yong, will you go in for a bit?" "Kyuung." She disappears into subspace, and the proctor and classmates look at this sight in wonder. I take my seat and finish preparations, and with the sound of the bell signaling the start, the college entrance exam begins. * * * With the bell signaling the end of the last subject, I became a free person. As I pack my things and come out of the classroom, calling for Yong-yong, our Yong-yong reveals herself from midair. "Were you bored being alone?" "Kyuung." Our Yong-yong says sometimes she needs time alone. It doesn''t seem like she''s saying it for my sake, but she''s sincere...? As I go out the school gate, numerous parents and students were waiting, and our family, the entire Frey Guild, and even Nia were all waiting for me. "I''m back!" As I approach waving my hand with a happy heart, everyone discovers me and tells me I did a good job. And they say they''ve reserved a nice restaurant, so let''s go quickly, but my friend Nia. Our family all agreed, so we all moved together to the restaurant they said they reserved, and it looked very expensive at a glance. They say it''s a very expensive restaurant that takes at least 6 months to get a reservation, and there''s a room that only corporate owners can use. We live in different worlds...? When I say it''s amazing, they''re happy, showing a childlike side. Really, I, the adult, need to keep my wits about me. "Our maknae! Want some chocolate?" "Yes!" Just as I was about to eat the chocolate Sasha unni unwrapped for me, Rea unni snatched it away. "No snacks before meals." "Just one..." "No." She says she''ll give it to me after I finish eating, but that''s mean. One should be fine as an appetizer before the meal. As I sit down with puffed cheeks, soon the dishes are prepared one by one. From strange dishes emitting smoke to foods that look too artistic to eat. And the chef explains each dish one by one, but I don''t understand what he''s saying. I stabbed the smoky dish in front with my fork and took a bite, and the taste. A fresh taste...? No, a taste that makes you feel healthy...? "Oh my, it''s not bad." "It''s so delicious!" Mom and unni say it''s delicious, but I''m not sure. Is my palate strange? I look at Sasha unni, who has the same taste as me, and our eyes meet, and she nods as if she''s thinking the same thing. As expected, I''m not the only one who finds it strange. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I ate other dishes, but they were all... That, healthy taste...? A taste that makes you feel healthy...? A taste that makes your body feel good. Ugh, I need to go out and eat tteokbokki. Still, I finished the meal in a harmonious atmosphere, said goodbye to Nia and the guild members, and on the way home. As we talked about the food we ate today, the conversation naturally turned to the game. "Our daughter, you''ve met good people in the game." "I''m lucky with people." "Hohoho." My parents laugh, and my sister says she doesn''t have to worry anymore. So she was worried...? I thought she wasn''t. "Our little sister, your eyes look strange?" "M-me? That can''t be." "Right?" As she hugs me saying our good little sister couldn''t be like that, it''s uncomfortable. It''s more uncomfortable after lying. After arriving home, I said I was going to the nearby convenience store and headed to a snack shop with Yong-yong. For dinner. "You''re thinking the same thing, right?" "Kyuung." Our Yong-yong, who ate little because the food didn''t suit her taste, nods with a serious look. We enter the snack shop and order tteokbokki and various fried foods, fill our stomachs fully, and as we come out of the snack shop, I feel like I can live now. As expected, we should eat the food we usually eat. Suddenly eating fancy food doesn''t go down well. Rubbing my full belly, I stop by the convenience store with Yong-yong to buy snacks and return home. Then our sister, no, the thug waiting for me in front of the door. "Hey, little miss. Got something good?" "Here..." "That''s right." She only lets me in after I take out an ice cream from the bag and give it to her. The sorrow of being a younger sibling... In my next life, I must be born as the eldest and boss my younger sibling around. I go up to my room, devour the snacks I bought, and put on the gear. The place that is the beginning and end of our connection. The place where all stories begin. To go to Arcana Online. No, to the continent. For a moment it goes dark, and when I open my eyes, I''m in a familiar place. The place where my journey began. In Cradle Village. And I headed to the most familiar place. As I enter the ''Moonlight Inn'', Bell unni and Uncle Charles welcome me. If it weren''t for Uncle Charles, I wouldn''t have known about the Moonlight Inn, and if it weren''t for Bell unni, I wouldn''t have made it this far. Looking at these connections and benefactors, I shouted. "I''m back!" 100. The Last Stop (Complete) 100. The Last Stop (Complete)100. The Last Stop (Complete) There''s a saying in the world. The beginning and the end should be the same. I really like that saying. "Yuna, could you help me move this?" "Sure!" While helping Bell unni with the inn work and chatting with guests, I try to slack off, but she catches me with her keen senses. "Were you chatting with the guests again?" "This uncle said he''d show me something big and nice!" "W-wait a minute!? If you say it like that, it sounds strange!" "Oh? Would you like to discuss that with me privately?" When Bell unni glares at the uncle, he breaks out in a cold sweat and says it''s not like that. Really, he did show me something nice though. A huge stag beetle he caught in the mountains. My goodness, I didn''t know they could be that big. Bell unni is about to scold him when she starts to take out her staff from her subspace. I panic and hug her waist to stop her, and only then does she calm down. What on earth did they talk about for her to suddenly take out her staff!? That was a close call. The Cradle Village almost had a Meteor strike. It''s terrifying just to imagine. After finishing the inn work, I tell her I''m going out to play, and Bell unni comes out to see me off. "You don''t have to come out this far." "I just wanted to." Then she gives me a tight hug. "Have fun." "I will!" As I leave the village, I greet the villagers and finally make it past the city gates. Oh my, my body aches. I must be getting old. As I massage my shoulders and head towards the hunting grounds, I see rabbits and travelers in the distance. "Kyuu!" "One more!!!!" "Kyuu!!!!" "One moooore!!!!" They''re exercising while making strange screams. It looks weird to exercise in the game, but seeing their satisfied faces, I just let it be. Then a rabbit approaches me. "Kyuu." "It''s been a while! Have you been well?" "Kyuu!" It says it''s been doing well and hands me a flyer. What''s this? [We''ll help you achieve perfect exercise form.] Free trial event in progress! "Kyuu." "You''re saying there''s no need for expensive PT if I just learn the form here? How much does it cost?" "Kyuu." "You only take a few carrots? That''s cheap." No wonder it''s popular. The rabbit says there''s no need for expensive PT since they''ll help you achieve perfect form, and you can just exercise like that in reality. They''re really good at business. "Then I''ll try the free trial today." "Kyuu." The rabbit says it''ll personally take care of me and leads me away. I should have run away then. * * * "Kyuu!" "I-I''m dying..." "Kyuu!!" The rabbit tells me not to worry, saying humans don''t die easily. It talks well for not being human. In the end, I was held captive for 2 hours and subjected to hellish torture before I could finally be released. "Kyuu." "Thursday at 5 PM!? I can''t! I won''t!" "Kyuu!" "You say I can!? I''m telling you I can''t!" As a result, I was forced to make a Thursday 5 PM date with the rabbit before I could part ways. Well, their faces are cute, but their bodies are all bulky and scary. I had no choice but to make the appointment when they surrounded me and looked down at me. More importantly, where did our Yong-yong go? As I move in the direction where I can feel Yong-yong''s energy, I see him swaying his body among numerous rabbits and travelers. "Kyuu!" "More energetically! More vigorously!" "Kyuung!" What is that? It''s so c-cute! Just as I''m about to take out my phone, I realize how frustrating it is that this is inside a game. No, there''s a way! I hurriedly start taking screenshots and recording videos. Sensing my gaze, he approaches me. "Ah! You can keep going if you want!" "Kyuung." Our Yong-yong says he''s satisfied and tells me to go now. "I''m not satisfied! Do more!" "Kyuung." He firmly says no, which is too much. Having no choice, I decide to retreat for today and film next time, but that means I''ll have to come again, right? Even if I have to come again, I must film this. Our Yong-yong dancing cutely! With a happy heart, I say goodbye to the rabbits, promising to visit again, and enter the forest where a healing massage shop welcomes me. It''s a shop run by slimes, and it''s quite popular. As I enter, the Slime Queen welcomes me. With a bright smile, she takes my hand and leads me inside, where numerous travelers are enjoying healing sessions. From foot massages with the slimes'' soft liquid to full-body massages. Passing by travelers enjoying various healing treatments, we go deeper inside, and she hands me clothes to change into. "You want me to change into this?" The slime nods, and I say okay and change clothes. Then she tells me to sit comfortably in the chair. And the massage that begins is truly fantastic. The soft liquid touching my body with every movement, the sensation is just... After about an hour, I say I''ll stop here, and she looks at me with a disappointed expression. "I''m sorry. I have a lot of places to visit today." When I say I''ll come again next time, she finally cheers up. She sees me off to the door, waving goodbye. "Kyuung." "You say it felt good? Me too..." It was heaven. Chatting with Yong-yong about the massage I just received, we go deep into the forest and see the goblin village. Their suspicious ritual is in full swing today too. "For Valhalla!!!!!" "For Valhalla!!!!!" "For Valhalla!!!!!" * * * Past the goblins, orcs, warbears, and even griffins. After checking on the monsters living there, I return to the guild hideout where Rea unni and Sasha unni welcome me. "I''m back!" "Our youngest is back?" "Come here! Let unni give you a hug!" I tried to refuse, saying it''s okay, but it was useless. While I''m screaming, trapped in Sasha unni''s firm muscles, Rea unni comes to save me. And then she slaps my back. "Ow! That hurts!" "Stop bullying our youngest." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "But she''s so cute." So you were really bullying me!? I look at her with a shocked expression, and she just smiles widely. Really, she''s incorrigible. She apologizes to me and hands me something from her pocket. She puts a large lollipop in my hand, which feels like giving a snack to a cute little cousin. "Thank you, auntie." "Who are you calling auntie!?" "Granny?" "Come here." She pokes my cheeks repeatedly, telling me to try the candy, and it''s surprisingly delicious. Sweet with a fruity flavor that''s just my style. "Yong-yong, want to try some?" "Kyuung." He refuses, saying he only wants tteokbokki. At this point, isn''t it a tteokbokki addiction? Just then, our Frey Guild unnies and oppas come in through the door. They all come in together, preparing something, but what is it? Their fidgeting makes it clear they''re hiding something from me. "What''s going on?" "Hm? Nothing''s going on. Want to play over there with unni?" Sasha unni quickly grabs my hand and leads me somewhere. Her expression management is terrible, openly signaling to the other unnies and oppas. Does she think I won''t notice? I guess I have to pretend I don''t know? "Wow, I wonder what kind of sur.prise.e.vent there might be." "I''m not good at acting, but our youngest is even worse." "What!?" Laughing, they tell me to just pretend I don''t know since I''ve figured it out. "We all prepared something because our youngest worked hard on the college entrance exam." "I didn''t expect that far." "Oops..." Then Rea unni approaches us and leads us to the auditorium. Inside, party preparations are all set up. "Our youngest! You worked hard! Let''s walk on a flower path from now on!" "Kyaa! Our youngest! Congratulations! It was tough, right!?" "Congratulations, youngest." Receiving congratulations from the Frey Guild unnies and oppas, they all look at me, telling me to blow out the candles on the big cake. As I approach the cake and blow out the candles with a "hoo~", everyone congratulates me. One of the things I think I did best while playing this game. Joining the Frey Guild. Maybe because of that thought, my eyes start to tear up, and Sasha unni next to me hugs me, saying I''m cute, but gets scolded by Rea unni. * * * "Are you ready, Yong?" "Kyuung." Of course! I was hoping for a "I am!" but he says not to do such embarrassing things. Really, he''s so shy. That''s cute too, though. Well then, shall we start? It''s time to act as Yuna, a member of the strongest guild ''Frey'' in Arcana Online and the leader of the Red Revolution Group. I grab a red headband and a large red flag and go outside where numerous monsters and travelers are waiting for me. "Shall we go wave the flag of revolution again today?" (The End)