AAU.
They were as shocked as the players.
Sighs broke out from branches around the world.
They didn't expect Frost to fall.
Because it was something they never imagined.
"Let's think calmly first. This makes it clear. Just like how time passes in real live. Time is passing in Arcana World as well."
In other words.
Arcana was not just a game.
No, even if it used to be a game.
They acknowledged that it had become another world.
"I've guessed it before. But this…! The speed is too fast. You all know what kind of city Frost is, right?"
"…The difficulty of their siege is comparable to that of the Imperial capital."
"Right! that's what I don't understand. How the hell did the demons capture Frost? Even if you think of the passage of time, physically…?"
Wait, the passage of time?
Alas.
Why did they think the passage of time was the same?!
Suddenly, the setting of the game came to mind.
"The passage of time is different…!!"
"What? What do you mean?"
"Damn it, I totally forgot. A day in reality is four days in Arcana!"
24 hours in real life = 96 hours in Arcana.
It was back when Arcana was a game.
It was a setting that remained.
Maybe that's why.
That simple setting was overlooked.
"…Time passes four times faster than in real life? Then it makes sense."
"The demons didn't suddenly become strong?"
"Damn it, then it isn't strange that Frost fell?"
For a moment, to everyone who was listening.
Terrible possibilities reached them.
"…Then, what is Arcana World at this point?"
Even Frost, which was prideful of their high walls, collapsed.
Then, the small towns, cities…?
It didn't have to be mentioned.
Sighs leaked everywhere.
"Counterattack of mankind, my ass. How the hell…!"
Arcana World was being trampled by the demons.
And most importantly.
Those demons were being updated to reality because Arcana World was not enough for them.
AAU tapped the calculator coldly.
"How likely the players are able to recapture Frost that has fallen to the demons?"
"…It's impossible."
"I think they have to be at least level 600. It's the point at which ranker players can set their sights on Frost's lordship."
Considering the fact that Frost had collapsed disastrously.
The demons who captured Frost must be level 600.
But they were stronger than that level.
The current players had to defeat such demon-type monsters?
"Shit…!"
No matter how hard they thought about it, it was impossible.
AAU concluded so.
"…Wait a minute."
Until Hoyeol came out.
In the situation room.
The image of Hoyeol appeared on the monitors that filled the wall.
Hair of the same color as the fluttering snow.
With suits and shoes once again.
That unshaken look.
It didn't surprise them.
Because he'd always been like that since his first appearance.
Yes, the reason AAU was surprised was because of the NPCs that were following Hoyeol.
No, it was because of the Arcanains.
"No way."
The Knights of Lionheart was coming out again.
Due to the setting of knights who swear allegiance to their lord.
No matter how much you build a relationship with them, there was no way you could lead the knights…
How could Lee Hoyeol, who was just a player, show up with the Knights of Lionheart, not once, but twice in a row?
That alone was shocking.
"…S-Shadow Mercenary Corps!"
The group Shadow Mercenary Corps.
They appeared with Hoyeol.
"He's built up a relationship with those black curtains, too…?"
Black curtain [1] .
That's what they called the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
They had been hidden behind the black curtain until now.
Because they were people who could have a lot of influence in the second half. Yeah, if you had to compare them, they had a similar position to the Mage Tower.
"…But their influences don't come to the frontline."
"Their setting was enough to shake the continent beyond the Empire, wasn't it?"
"It would be hard for the player to know their value at this point… Of course, you can guess to some extent because of the ridiculously high commission fee. "
"Haha…."
At that moment, they burst into laughter.
"Mage Tower, Lionheart, now Shadow Mercenary Corps?"
They couldn't believe it.
But they could spit out a laugh like that.
It was breathtaking.
Yeah, in other words, it was too early to be discouraged.
With the arrival of Hoyeol.
AAU.
It was a moment when their conclusions changed.
"First of all, let's sit back and watch Lee Hoyeol's move…!"
*
There is a reason for everything.
"Ugh, it's cold."
"Don't be so mean, Miss Kitch. Keep in mind that we have a mission to recapture Frost."
"Yes, sir. But can't you say that it's cold? Ugh, the kingdom of Yusra was warm and sunny, so it was perfect…"
I was the Knight Commander of the Lion Heart.
And for appearing in Frost with the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
There was a reason for everything.
.
.
.
'I didn't know there was such a situation.'
I had a conversation with Harkon about Frost.
Lionheart, the most powerful knight order of the Empire.
Wasn't Harkon the leader of those knights?
Naturally, he must have a lot of experience in the siege.
I was wondering if I could get some sort of tips.
However, Harkon's response was unexpected.
"…Frost has fallen? Sir Hoyeol, is that true?"
When Harcon was updated to reality.
He was on an expedition to a village not far from Frost.
Unable to overcome his anger, Harkon gritted his teeth.
"Sir Hoyeol, it's because I couldn't take care of the commander of the demon army that this tragedy happened! If only I had carried out His Majesty's last order properly..! Frost would be…!"
The commander of the demon army.
'Although I don't even know the demon's organization chart.'
This was definitely part of the class quest.
I could tell from its name that this guy was related to the demon king's subjugation.
If I did this well, I could take it easy.
'Commander of the demon army, if I can get his information…'
I could prepare myself in advance.
Well, now, I had a lot to prepare.
Most importantly, I needed to buy a demon's item to activate the [Exorcism].
Since I had saved up money in the Mage Tower, I could prepare thoroughly.
I felt rewarded for living with integrity.
However.
"Sir Hoyeol. Our Knights of Lionheart will come with you."
…Those words were beyond my expectations.
Harkon's eyes were determined.
"Because His Majesty's last order was to subdue the commander of the demon army. Until His Majesty takes back his order. We intend to subjugate the commander of the demon army of this world."
Harkon continued.
"It means our intentions coincide with Sir Hoyeol's."
…I have no reason to refuse.
What is my intention?
Clearing the class quest.
'You're going to help me with the quest? Go ahead!'
Is there any other support force more reliable than this?
Just in case he changed his mind.
I answered Harkon straight away.
"I will respect your pride. Sir Harkon."
.
.
.
That's how the Knights of Lionheart came together with me.
About the Shadow Mercenary Corps?
There wasn't much to say about it.
'When I tell them to go, they should go.'
Me and the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
Our relationship was thorough from the beginning.
My first meeting with the leader, Kitch, was still vivid in my memory.
"Hiccup–"
"Is there something wrong?"
"N-No. I feel stabbed… No, I was startled."
Well, from the beginning, she took one look at me and started to hiccup.
I spoke coldly while listening to Kitch's self-introduction.
"You want to make a fresh start here, in Yusra?"
Shadow Mercenary Corps.
They would do anything for money.
Kitch explained herself.
"…Haha, right? You understand it accurately. Hiccup."
So it was true.
I could tell just by looking it up without inquiring.
They were a mercenary group with a frighteningly high commission fee.
Although they were strong enough to handle any request.
Their cost-effectiveness was so bad that you wouldn't want to entrust any request to them.
"But, unfortunately."
Even if they didn't have a bad reputation.
They only moved for money?
"I hate people like you."
Pure integrity itself.
For Grandfel, there were no other people more proud than he was.
I could see why Hakuna asked me to judge them.
"…Hic!"
Don't misunderstand.
That wasn't a cry, it was a hiccup.
The reason why her shoulders were shaking was also because of the hiccups.
Of course, even if she showed tears.
Grandfel was not a man to be swayed by tears.
But.
"But I will trust that commitment."
"Hic? What?! Commitment?"
"To want to abandon the past and start anew."
Swap–!
I signed their papers without hesitation.
"I will see if you can find pride."
At that moment, Kitch looked thrilled.
Of course, that thrill didn't last long.
Soon after, I declared to the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
"It is an opportunity to prove your commitment."
Yeah, the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
They were half-forced into the demon king's subjugation.
There was a give-and-take in everything.
I had risked my life to protect the Yusra Kingdom.
'If you want to put in a straw [2] , prove its value.'
Kitch's words halted.
"It's a request that isn't worth the money and only brings danger…?"
This proposal would have been unimaginable in the past.
But she said she'd throw away that past.
After all, it was for a fresh start.
"…I'll do it though. No, I have to. No, I'll do it. No, please leave it to me. Hiccup! "
She had no other choice.
I was good at organizational society.
.
.
.
The Knights of Lionheart volunteered.
Kitch and other shadow mercenaries were half-forced into it.
That's how I appeared on Frost with them.
But I forgot one thing.
'Why, of all places…!'
This time, it's in Hokkaido where Russia is right in front?
Far from a padding jacket.
I was wearing my outfit without a coat.
I just resented the local circumstance…
.
.
.
But the bone-chilling cold didn't last long.
It was real hell.
Fiery Frost.
Instead of cold, it was full of heat.
Harkon strongly suppressed his emotions.
"…I will definitely recapture it, His Majesty."
It had nothing to do with Frost.
I couldn't even describe it.
The hearts of the Knights of Lionheart must be filled with emotion.
But the best knights of the Empire.
They weren't meant to be swayed by emotions.
With their enemies in front of them.
"Sir Hoyeol, there are survivors there, right?"
Chivalry.
They became stronger when they had something to protect.
Pound–!
The lion's heart began to beat violently.
"We will recapture Frost from evil today!"
Shouts soared with morals together.
'…The Knights of Lionheart will continue to help me with my class quest, right?'
There was no one else more reliable.
In the hearts of such courageous Knights of Lionheart, there was no hesitation.
Harkon got down to business.
"Sir Hoyeol. Above all, the top priority is to enter Frost."
I agreed with him.
[Class quest: Demon King Subjugation]
The king of demons.
His magical powers begin to reach out.
The last demon hunter.
Overthrow the throne of evil.
– Train your weakened body. (Repeat)
– Investigate the Northern city of Frost. (In progress)
Because the quest's top goal was also investigating Frost.
First of all, we had to open the gate of that tightly closed Frost.
If we couldn't, we had to break down the walls.
I thought so…
'…I don't know what to do with this.'
Wasn't this a siege?
It was a real siege that couldn't be compared to Count Ascura!
It was common sense that the defensive side had an advantage in the siege.
'In the end, they managed to capture it because they're demons.'
Because demons had status abnormalities.
In terms of fair and square battle.
It was obvious that they didn't capture Frost through the siege, but used nasty tricks instead.
On that subject.
They were closing the gates firmly.
"How obstinate."
Naturally, I was at a loss.
In the siege.
Siege weapons were needed to attack the gates or walls.
If it was just to blow off Frost.
Actually, flying a bomber would be the most effective.
'It's not as inaccessible as a rupture.'
It was the power of modern civilization.
What do you think, demons?
I should feel proud.
But I couldn't.
"…There are survivors!"
"What, really? Let me see."
"…I think they're being dragged somewhere? No, are they already dead?"
"What are you up to, demon bastards?"
A video was taken with a drone over the sky.
The players said that there were definitely NPCs inside.
No, there were Arcanains.
Not knowing whether they were alive or not.
We couldn't get them caught up in the explosions.
Then there was only one way.
'With power comparable to that of a missile.'
And could be controlled delicately.
Of course, I could only use magic.
I checked the message that appeared.
[Skill, 'Natural Enemy Relationship' is activated.]
Demon king.
His instrument from Frost was enough to affect me outside the walls.
I raised my manal.
Exploration, interference, manifestation.
A rapid sequence of processes.
I headed to the tightly closed gate.
I manifested my magic.
Then a message appeared.
"…!!!"
In this spot, before every player's eyes, including mine.
1. In Korea, the black curtain means the real power/manipulator behind the scene.
2. Put a straw into something = exploit something.
LyraDhani