Episode 98. Top Secret (1)
AAU North American Chapter.
The lights of the building did not turn off even at night.
A rift is a planned but unavoidable threat.
Because I always had to react quickly.
“Turn it off—!”
The sound of stretching echoed in the control room.
Fatigue poured out, but I was lucky this week.
“Wednesday isn’t bad, though. is not it?”
“I don’t know. I am busy.”
“What are you knocking on such a fine day?”
Tomorrow is Thursday.
The day a new update comes to mind.
Even an AAU employee with a strong sense of duty would not be happy to work on Thursday.
It’s understanding the situation. It’s a briefing to the high-ranking people. On Thursday, I really didn’t have time to catch my breath.
“Be diligent, too. Are you writing a report already?”
“I have no intention of wasting precious time like anyone else.”
“Everything should be taken lightly. You are too passionate.”
So what are you using?
A sneak peek—
I looked at the laptop screen and I knew it right away.
“World tree? Are you digging that rice cake?”
Predator Swamp.
The World Tree is said to have blossomed from that crack.
It was one of the hottest subjects of research in AAU as well.
Of course, I couldn’t find any information despite my efforts.
“It is good to try. What will happen if you tap on it? Why is it that only Rayman Shen knows about the world tree?”
“I know. Just sorting it out.”
Ta-dad-dad—
even while talking.
Katrina’s fingers didn’t stop.
“Well, I don’t know now, but it might be useful later.”
Might be useful later?
At that, the man who glanced at the contents said.
“But that only seems like a compliment to Lee Ho-yeol?”
from start to finish.
Doesn’t the name Lee Ho-yeol fall out in every sentence?
Still, I had nothing to say.
And actually discovering the seed of the World Tree.
The one that sprouted that seed.
Because it was all done by Hoyeol.
“By any chance, using it later… means that you will write and sell things like Lee Ho-yeol’s biography of a great man?”
“What are you talking about? I uploaded the video on nettube. Who sees something like that these days?”
“…I thought of posting a video already.” There was a
Hoyeolgyo
believer here too.
Katrina replied to the tongue-in-cheek man.
“And it’s some kind of occupational disease.”
occupational disease?
At that sound, the man realized.
“iced coffee! You said you were in charge of quests when you were at Cosmo, right?”
“okay.”
“Then admit it. No, it’s not like this, you should stop interfering.”
Department in charge of quests.
Back when Arcana was a game.
It was a department that made up the large and small quest lines of Arcana.
The man kept his mouth shut and thought.
If it was the days when Arcana was a game.
A player who has made great achievements on the Arcana continent by now.
Lee Ho-yeol’s name must be ringing out.
“A new hero is born. There are countless quests that can be connected with just one incident. Because this is connected to the world tree. Could it be that you meant that you could use it later?”
After all, every quest has a story.
It must be organizing the inspiration that came up while organizing the story of Ho-yeol.
And with an occupational disease…
“As expected, you’re anticipating the next quest, right?”
Tada-tada–
Katrina tapped the keyboard and shrugged.
“Well, the chance that the predictions will be correct is less than 1%.”
If I can be of even the slightest help, I’ll try.
Unlike players who risk their lives every moment to enter the rift.
Because there wasn’t much AAU could do.
‘Even now, time is passing.’
Arcana Continent is another reality and world.
It may not be the same as when it was a game. Considering the level of work Lee Ho-yeol had done, it was certain that the achievement would shake the entire continent.
‘Besides, time on the Arcana Continent is faster than reality. By now, Lee Ho-yeol’s achievements should have spread all over the continent.’
What kind of change did Lee Ho-yeol’s actions bring to the Arcana continent?
Yes, the reason for constantly tapping the keyboard was to gauge the possibility.
“Whoa. I’m hungry for sugar.”
Of course, it wasn’t so easy that it broke my head.
Because the current Arcana Continent would be nothing more than a wasteland.
Even if it’s different from what you know, it will be completely different.
Considering all such variables and predicting the continental flow?
It’s a nonsense thing.
Still, I could tell you one thing.
‘The ‘tribe’ related to the World Tree will move somehow.’
Elf.
Of course, I don’t know when that will be.
I was sure.
That their appearance would inevitably turn the world upside down.
“what?”
“?”
“madam. what else really…!!”
But before that.
The world turned upside down.
Beep beep beep—
the alarm sounded throughout the control room or the entire AAU branch.
The man tore his hair.
“No, Wednesday’s emergency update really crossed the line!!”
Despite venting out his anger, the response was swift.
Check the update history.
Right away…
right away…
right away I had to move on to the next action.
“crazy.”
Without blaming anyone, the two stopped at the same time.
“This is the crack at that time.”
then that crack.
It was.
[The gap in the broken dimension].
The crack that was created with an emergency update like now.
In the urgent update history that came to mind.
Just like back then, [Crack in the broken dimension] was written on it.
However, the length of the update history was unusual.
──────
A new crack, ‘Broken Dimension Rift: ה’ is added.
A new crack ‘Broken Dimension Rift: מ’ is added.
A new crack ‘Broken Dimension Rift: ל’ is added. A new crack ‘crack in the cracked dimension:
ש
‘ is added
.
The chattering mouth stopped.
It was because he realized the seriousness of the situation.
The appropriate level was not written, but it was natural to guess.
[A crack in a broken dimension] It wasn’t the first time a crack had occurred.
This means that the appropriate level can be predicted.
[Appropriate level: Lv.900]
Although I had knowledge through experience.
I couldn’t shake my embarrassment.
Even if the appropriate level is not level 900.
Because there were so many cracks created.
It wasn’t enough, because he knew through experience that the proper level of the rift could be raised.
muttered the man.
“…This is not something our ship can handle.”
Branch…
No, it wasn’t a problem at the AAU level.
It was a catastrophe that required a worldwide consensus.
The news came quickly.
There were also those who suggested extreme solutions early on.
“So you’re just going to let the rift collapse?”
“Is there a way? This is a catastrophe that would have been better wiped out with a missile. I have no choice but to accept small sacrifices for the sake of the world.”
“How about refraining from saying such things in a situation where the location of the rift has not yet been identified?”
“no. Location doesn’t matter. Even if a rift appeared in the middle of my country’s capital, my decision would not change. that there is nothing you can do about it. Doesn’t everyone know?”
If only it was like usual
Superprecipitation, which would not have even been mentioned, was seriously discussed.
Yes, because everyone knows.
“Isn’t this something players can step up to?”
An urgent update that surfaced on Arcana’s homepage.
Players as well as the general public could obtain the details.
So no matter which community you looked at, the atmosphere was not much different.
-No, didn’t you see the rankers in [Swampland of Predators]??
-Even a 500-level rift was covered with blood, but
everyone -It
really
crossed the line .
unification of the world.
Guild Master Liuo Junchun had already drawn attention to this rift.
“It’s not something we’re going to do.”
It didn’t matter what the circumstances of the people were.
Because I had no intention of giving up my life foolishly.
Either by bombarding the collapsed rift with missiles or by delivering nuclear bombs.
It’s not something they care about.
“It’s really vicious.”
“Is this also Raymon Shen’s work?”
“Because it’s an urgent update that suddenly popped up. It must not have been planned.”
Kingdom of Yusra.
and Frost.
Players staying there also encountered the update.
No matter how thirsty for level and fame.
Entering this rift seemed tantamount to committing suicide.
But as said.
Everyone knew it through experience.
Such an absurd crack.
One player who cleared.
“After all, this time, is there only Lee Ho-yeol?”
okay.
Appropriate level 900 ~ 1000 level.
Lee Ho-yeol who cleared [The Crack of the Broken Dimension].
Because you know that.
Some players had no choice but to move.
The place where they met was, of course, the Magic Tower.
“…what are you? also.”
“You and you too. don’t really talk Because I don’t want to be misunderstood.”
“You’re good at making unpleasant noises.”
Leonie.
Taemin Nam.
and Hisagi.
The three of them glared at each other with disapproving eyes.
[The Predator’s Swamp] An uncomfortable union that started there.
How many questions, interviews, and media did you suffer from that wind?
“Even if I wasn’t the real Ho-yeol. uh?”
Nam Tae-min still felt his teeth tremble when he thought about it.
Especially with Hisagi, it was to the point where he would have been better off when he growled whenever he met him like before.
Back then, we were able to radiate stress by criticizing each other.
But it was Ho-yeol that brought them together.
I didn’t know what Ho-yeol thought to unite them. It was impossible to immediately deny such a decision of Ho-yeol.
In the end, no comment on the union.
In today’s world, silence is no different from affirmation.
The result was now.
Leonie looked up at the two men with a crooked gaze.
“Are you aware of the seriousness of your situation?”
“No, I came. You don’t have to help.”
“If you get something, you have to pay it back.”
Glancing—
Leonie glanced at the two of them.
Like himself, the guild members were invisible.
You know how serious it is.
‘Because it’s like a real suicide.’
reckless decision.
He had no intention of attracting guild members to such stubbornness.
yeah i had to do that
It wasn’t just them who were stubborn.
“found. Fools like me!”
sly voice.
Shining’s executive and top-ranked Camilla.
Familiar faces appeared behind her, who appeared out of nowhere.
“…Are you crazy?”
They were Gaon Inazuma Berserker’s guild members.
Not all guild members, but dozens at first glance.
Quite a few players followed the guild master.
“Nam Taemin. I knew you would be here.”
“Do you think only older sisters and older sisters are stubborn?”
“I guess someone isn’t a snake. Neither mouse nor bird knows. I just found it.”
Camilla shuddered.
“Is it a bond that even death cannot separate? It’s a good time.”
Of course, there was nothing to envy the touching reunion.
‘Because there’s nothing different about my position.’
Camilla that day.
I remembered Jesse’s eyes.
So, now that the [Crack of the broken dimension] rift has reappeared.
“If you pretend, you pretend.”
He knew what Jesse would make without even asking.
Of course, I don’t know how helpful it would be if they joined that ridiculous rift.
“You should know that you do whatever you want~”
Do you think a princess is a princess for nothing?
You must be a princess because you have a lot of hands.
Looking around, Jessie was nowhere to be seen.
“…You didn’t already have it, did you? I was in such a hurry, but I.”
Camilla hurriedly entered the magic tower.
and witnessed
Jesse Heinness, who suddenly stopped.
“proposal?”
Camilla’s sense of being able to detect even the slightest breath.
Jesse’s breathing was clearly different from usual.
“proposal. what’s the matter. what’s the matter.”
Camilla hugged Jesse from behind.
Those who entered after her also witnessed the scene.
To be precise, the scenery of the lobby of the Mage Tower has changed.
“…Is the portal gone?”
There was not even a trace.
The portal that always guarded the lobby of the Mage Tower was nowhere to be seen.
What he meant was simple.
To the players gathered here at the Magic Tower…
“There are a few cracks. How can I get there without a portal…?”
There is no way to go to the rift in a short time.
Soon, Camilla realized why Jesse had hardened.
Camilla bit her lip.
Why did the portal disappear?
I didn’t know exactly.
there must be a situation
However, one could guess who had the authority to make the portal disappear.
I don’t know, but it’s impossible for a senior mage to do something like this. Yes, at least I would have had to be a senior to make this decision.
“…I have to say something sharp about this.”
Then everyone noticed.
Ho-yeol stopped the portal’s operation.
“…why?”
different from themselves.
I knew at least that Ho-yeol was looking into the distance.
There must be meaning in this action.
Yes, to the players, including themselves.
You might have thought that this rift was a daunting rift.
still.
Still…
this was too harsh.
“Damn it. Are you saying we can’t do anything?”
to themselves too.
“How many cracks are there? How are you going to do that alone…!”
Hoyeol himself too.
because it was always
because it was the same
I hadn’t even thought about it.
How did Ho-yeol stop the operation of the portal?
Even that was not enough, the feeling of heading towards the rift alone.
And why are they
Are you thinking like this only now?
This wasn’t the first time Ho-yeol had shouldered such a burden.
It was an indescribable feeling.
in silence.
Suddenly –
I heard a grinding sound.
“Anyway, this is too much. I did everything alone…!”
*
You cannot bring outsiders into your internal affairs.
‘Moreover, this group action.’
The senior wizards of the Mage Tower are on the move.
Even if you don’t tell me the specific circumstances.
If you’re aware, you’ll know that something happened in the Mage Tower.
‘I want to avoid censure.’
I mean, I want to go through it as quietly as possible.
If something happens, taking responsibility and stepping back is a parachute.
I knew it because I saw it often in society.
therefore.
as quickly as possible.
covertly as possible.
In other words, the best thing to do is to deal with the internal situation.
A total of 11 cracks were created.
It was not difficult to pinpoint the location of the rift.
‘Even if I didn’t know at first.’
[The gap in the broken dimension].
Because the nature of the imperfect rift was grasped through experience.
All you have to do is track down the magic traces of Karimzeba who planned this situation.
Of course, I don’t have the power to do that.
However, there are reliable Mage Tower wizards.
Indeed, Marcelo did not hesitate.
expression of exploratory interference.
Suddenly, Marcelo’s eyes narrowed.
“Coordinates captured.”
