The Player Hides His Past

The swans on the lake were always magnificent.

Even when they were struggling.

They never showed it on the outside.

If you asked me why I suddenly talked about it…

I looked like a swan right now.

Morning sunlight streamed into the office desk.

I shamelessly opened my mouth.

“It’s later than usual.”

Goodness.

I guess I was the only one who ever reprimanded the sun for being lazy…

More importantly, speaking of staying up all night.

Don’t pretend you wake up early, Grandfel.

Clink–

I started my day with green tea and looked back on last night.

I didn’t even have time to catch my breath.

In particular, the training quest that started at dawn felt particularly tiring.

‘I almost cried because I felt so sad.’

[Tenacity: 3]

I rose the tenacity by 1 level.

If the system hadn’t recognized my hard work.

I probably really would have cried.

Don’t say that I am just exaggerating.

‘If you suffer it yourself, you’ll know that it’s not an exaggeration.’

There is a saying that suffering in youth pays off in old age.

I knew that all this hard work would be a great help. No matter how hard it was, I could bear it. But what I couldn’t stand was…

“Is it the beginning of a new day?”

This shamelessness, pretending like nothing is wrong!

This was unfair.

You want me to think I should be grateful and just carry on?

There should be a limit to being consistent.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Aren’t you a saint at this point, Grandfel?

An ordinary person like me would suffer and die from feeling wronged.

But this wasn’t the first time I suffered like this.

“There should be no hesitation.”

I was also slowly reaching the stage of resignation.

No, rather than resignation…

I thought about it beforehand.

‘Rather than expecting his stubbornness to be broken.’

For my sake.

I tried to mull over it a little bit.

Just like I said, I finished the 15 days’ worth of work in one day.

The penalty effect of the [The Last Adventurer] had ended.

I should enter the Arcana continent without hesitation.

‘Because I have a new goal.’

This time, I planned to return to reality as quickly as possible.

Actually, the last time was an unusual case.

The gap of dimensions and the effect of absolute zero overlapped without me knowing.

15 days passed by.

‘Two months in Arcana time.’

Let’s see, given the passage of time.

This time, I planned to return to the reality within a day at the latest.

I had felt it clearly while dealing with the backlog of work.

“For me, even just wasting one moment is regrettable.”

I thought that I shouldn’t leave my seat even if just for a day from now on.

‘I brought this upon myself, so I won’t say who’s responsible but…’

Just because of this pride.

I had a lot of work to do. In particular, it was safe to say that the fixed daily routine had doubled, especially when it came to reviewing the permission to use the connector.

Creek–

So like this.

I had no choice but to kick off my office chair and get up.

Of course, before opening the portal to the Arcana Continent.

I had some work to finish.

Yes, everything was in accordance with the procedure.

Garnet Hall.

First of all, I had to return the rented magic tool.

That didn’t mean I would return all the magic tools.

Since the class quest appeared.

You never knew what would happen in Sisley.

“I will return some tools. And I will extend the rental period of the rest magic tools.”

It was simply because of my strict pride that I couldn’t ignore procedures.

Perhaps because I suddenly talked about business.

The skilled mage, Laran, stammered.

“Hello, Chief Lee Hoyeol! I will put back the tools you handed me. But would it be necessary to extend the rental period for the rest of the tools…?”

Swish–

Then she opened the parchment booklet.

It showed the rental period that I wrote down.

Certainly, it was written in my handwriting.

──────

Rental period: until the moment of death.

──────

I realized it once again.

…Am I, at this point, calling myself a nuisance?

I was basically going out and spreading misconceptions to others.

‘It’s all your fault, Grandfel.’

I felt wronged again.

But there was no other way.

This too, was also a mistake from my youth that I had to bear.

I said indifferently.

“Yes. The rental period has expired, so I will extend it.”

It went without saying.

I was the only one who knew that I froze to death in the Arcana Continent. Even the dragons who watched my last moment in the Dragon Temple didn’t know that I had frozen to death.

Just clank–

The dragons just heard a sound.

They just said I disappeared without a trace.

Death that even the dragons didn’t know about.

Death that was not even known to the enemy.

I never thought I would say it so calmly with this mouth.

At this point, it wasn’t pride, but a provocation.

“Yes? What do you mean…?”

She must be puzzled, so I could understand.

But this personality was not kind enough to explain things in detail.

Sk–

I just specified the rental period with a feather pen.

This time, please, write it nicely.

Grandfel.

“One day should be enough.”

“…Y-Yes!”

Let’s see, excluding one magic tool.

The return and the extension of the rental period had been completed.

If someone asked where I sold out the remaining one tool…

As expected, I had no choice but to speak confidently without any shame.

“As for the White Elytra, we will proceed according to procedure.”

“Ah, yes! But… This is the first time that an exported magic tool has been lost! The procedure says that the reason has to be clearly stated…”

You don’t have to struggle to say it, Laran.

I would pay my taxes voluntarily anyway.

Even if I didn’t, as long as it was the procedure.

“There should be no exceptions to the procedure. You did well, Skilled Mage Laran.”

How could I say no?

“Thank you for your understanding!”

I spoke straight to Laran, who bowed her head.

“I’ve given the White Elytra to someone who needs it and uses it more skillfully than I do.”

“…Yes?”

How come there’s no law that asks you to explain with 5W+1H, Grandfel?

He had a talent for making things sound so grand.

Well, if you thought about it, it wasn’t wrong

“I don’t know if I’m being presumptuous in meddling with the Chief since I am just a skilled mage of enchantment, but…! Even if you search the entire Arcana Continent, you won’t find anyone who can use the White Elytra as effectively as Chief Lee Hoyeol. I heard it from Chief Marcelo!”

It’s embarrassing to get such a high evaluation, Marcelo.

In fact, the effect of the White Elytra was customized for me.

However, unlike in the past, now I didn’t have to suffer from mana.

It was not a magic tool that I desperately needed.

‘Like I just said.’

Compared to me.

Eunaxus, who had lost his wings, desperately needed that magic tool.

So, I explained without adding or subtracting anything.

“You’re not wrong either.”

“That’s right.”

“However, the wings will be most valuable to someone who has lost them.”

“… Someone who has lost their wings?”

“I’m talking about an old dragon who lost its wings.”

A dragon was suddenly mentioned.

Laran’s eyes widened at the word old dragon.

I fully understood her surprise.

But as expected, I shamelessly continued.

“Starting with this, we may be able to resolve the aftermath of the Great Dragon-Demon War.”

“…!”

This time, I praise your big mouth, Grandfel.

The Mage Tower and the dragons.

We were on the same side, so we should get along from now on.

Well, the White Elytra was a symbol of that reconciliation.

Furthermore, if I had such an excuse…

‘…Maybe they’ll pardon it.’

I could also be relieved of the responsibility for losing the magic tool.

It was not for no reason that there was a saying you can repay a thousand debts with words.

Surely, this seems a little more serious than a simple loss?

‘Well, even if they can’t pardon it.’

This pure integrity.

I worked hard like a dog to earn money and didn’t even use it.

Even if it was a magic tool that sounded expensive, I didn’t have to worry about paying the compensation.

Soon, I walked out of Garnet Hall with a lighter step.

‘Now all I have to do is wait for Harkon.’

If you asked why I was waiting for Harkon at the Mage Tower.

It was because of the connector that was in the Mage Tower, Crystal Hall.

Yeah.

The first person to receive the permission to use the connector.

It was the Commander of the Knights of Lionheart, Harkon.

*

Harkon’s eyes shone brightly.

“I understand.”

Those words were uttered in a kind voice, but his eyes were fierce like a beast. He couldn’t help it. The woman he was facing now was not someone he could completely trust.

“I’m just grateful that you understand.”

Long black hair.

Although they occasionally made eye contact.

Soon, her eyes turned elsewhere.

“Haha…”

Not only that, she laughed awkwardly.

If anyone was watching this scene.

They would judge that the woman was very intimidated in his presence.

But Harkon knew.

‘That’s a great way to handle people’s gaze.’

The opponent was the worst criminal in the history of the Empire.

She was the leader of the Shadow Mercenary Corps.

Harkon remained silent and looked at Kitch.

There was a huge bounty on that neck.

Large enough to buy a few small kingdoms.

If anyone asked how could such a bounty be placed on the head of a mere mercenary leader.

‘I just have to list the major cases.’

Assassination of aristocrats, contract murders, treasure robbery…

By the standards of Shadow Mercenary Corps, such things didn’t even belong to the axis of evil deeds.

Even before the Empire unified the continent.

Since the Warring States Period, the Shadow Mercenary Corps had been a big player in the underworld.

Harkon could guarantee.

‘Before the demons appeared. They’re the ones closest to the demons.’

In the past, the evil deeds of the Shadow Mercenary Corps were comparable to those of the demons. However, at this moment, the reason why Harkon was talking to Kitch was simple.

Harkon pondered over the conversation he had just now.

– “Can I ask you one thing?”

– “Yes, as much as you want!”

– “Do you regret the past?”

– “All of a sudden? Well, if you ask me if I regret it…”

Kitch continued in an extremely bitter voice.

-“…Yes, I regret it. I don’t want any more of that.”

Harkon thought of Hoyeol.

‘If it’s Sir Hoyeol, he will definitely…’

Hoyeol didn’t dwell on the past.

Even though he had no mercy for the demons.

He was infinitely generous to humans.

Well, just look at his decision to have the Shadow Mercenary Corps join the Holy War Allied Force.

It was safe to say that Hoyeol trusted them.

So Harkon nodded his head.

“Good. I’ll give you a chance, Kitch.”

“… Are you serious?”

“Of course.”

“Wow!”

Only then did Kitch make eye contact with Harkon.

“You must have been more concerned about the safety of the Empire and His Majesty than anyone else… I’m sorry for making such an unreasonable request, Captain Harkon!”

“No, I just confirmed through Sir Hoyeol that Antonium and His Majesty are safe. It’s just my greed that I want to see it with my own eyes.”

“I will definitely get it back, even if only because of Captain Harkon’s consideration!”

The reason why Harkon gave Kitch the opportunity to enter the Arcana Continent was simple. Because he felt like Kitch’s goal in entering Arcana would help Hoyeol and the Holy War Allied Force.

Harkon added to Kitch.

“Please, I hope you will get that request back.”

.

.

.

“It’s a clear violation of the procedure.”

I looked at Kitch, who appeared in the Crystal Hall instead of Harkon.

If it was the usual Grandfel’s temperament.

I would have sent Kitch back right away.

“…I apologize for not meeting the deadline.”

But Kitch’s purpose was certainly reasonable.

──────

Purpose: Access to the Shadow Mercenary Corp hideout / Acquire the request ledger

──────

Because there was a smell coming from the request ledger.

‘A request from a great evil.’

A strong demonic smell.

If the procedure had been followed.

It would have been chosen before Harkon’s application.

According to Kitch’s explanation.

The request had been written down on the ledger for a long time.

Kitch smiled awkwardly.

“The previous leaders seemed to have accepted so many requests… This was a request that was always being carried out as a top priority. Of course, it hasn’t been successful so far.”

If I could confirm the request ledger.

I felt like I could get a good deal of information about the great evil.

Most of all, Harkon had conceded to her.

Even if the procedure is important, let’s put up with it, Grandfel.

Sometimes you need to be flexible.

I struggled to open my mouth.

“I can’t betray Harkon’s pride.”

I continued to Kitch, who lowered her head.

“The given time is four days in Arcana.”

I planned to return to reality within 24 hours at the latest.

At that time, I would have to exert all my magic power to create a two-person portal.

‘Raymond Sean, you black-hearted bastard.’

Giving a one-way trip, he was so stingy.

The connector didn’t have a logout function.

So keep that in mind, Kitch.

If you’re late for the appointment, due to the nature of Grandfel, I’ll leave you behind.

The place to reunite was the main gate of Antonium.

I watched Kitch lay down on the connector.

Soon, the light of the portal was emitted from the connector.

Kitch was nowhere to be seen.

I also squeezed my mana straight away to create a portal.

‘But I’m getting used to it because it’s my second time.’

I walked straight through the portal.

And then I faced them.

Messages emerging from the darkness.

[You’ve entered the Arcana Continent, where legends overflow.]

…The entry message changed?

From a continent heading towards destruction.

To a continent where legends overflow.

I wondered if something had happened while I was away.

I soon realized.

[Legend system opens]

…No way, the overflowing legend was my story?

[Acquire the legend, ‘Dark Dragon Lee Hoyeol’.]

But, what?

Dark Dragon Lee Hooooooyeoooool?!

…Who the hell told them I was the Dark Dragon?!

I tried so hard, but I was betrayed like this…!!

No, more importantly…

[Your legend materializes.]

That strange legend materializes, what kind of horrible thing is this?!