Chapter 630: Chapter 620

The composure I had struggled to maintain now felt meaningless.

Thud.

After the long and exhausting conclusion of the special conference, I returned to my office and immediately collapsed into my chair. In my heart, I wanted to lean back completely and just let myself go limp, but…

‘Does a habit from my chuunibyou days really last a lifetime?’

It was definitely an aftereffect left by Grandfell.

Now, if I didn’t sit with proper posture, my body felt uncomfortable instead.

In the end, all I could do was sit up straight, let out a sigh, and mutter—

“I’m really gonna die at this rate.”

This is a whole different level of difficulty!

Why? Because watching Grandfell’s nonsense from the sidelines was nothing compared to the sheer embarrassment of actually acting like him.

I, Lee Hoyeol, might have gotten decent at imitating Grandfell’s mannerisms, but…n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

That shameless confidence? No way I could match that…!!

‘Halfway through, I was really afraid I was going to slip up.’

As I said, the aftereffects Grandfell left behind were truly formidable.

No matter the situation, my mind automatically translated my words into his formal, grandiose speech patterns like some kind of internal script.

But actually speaking in that way of my own will? That was a whole different issue.

“… A performance without a single flaw.”

In the end, I found myself constantly clearing my throat, sighing, and pausing unnecessarily—things Grandfell would never do. I repeated those little slip-ups multiple times.

—“Ahem…”

‘And each time, everyone’s reactions were… not subtle.’

I could only hope it wasn’t suspicion.

“No, even if someone did notice… I have to play it off perfectly.”

Because how on earth would I even explain this?

How would I explain the name Grandfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo? How would I explain the truth about the Claudi family and their ties to the Sin of Pride?

And if that wasn’t enough, how would I explain that this whole thing was influenced by the fantasy setting I wrote in my cringeworthy teenage years?

‘Am I insane? There’s no way I can ever tell anyone that…!’

Absolutely not.

That’s how firm my resolve was. And if you don’t believe me, just watch how my fingers move now. Taking a deep breath, I started typing.

How have you been…

Wait, no. That’s not how Grandfell would say it.

—I trust you have been in good health.

It took me several tries—writing, erasing, and rewriting—before I finally managed to compose just one proper sentence.

That’s right. I was determined to maintain my Grandfell persona even in front of my own family!

‘As I said, I have no confidence in explaining this complicated situation.’

If they knew the truth, they’d be worried sick.

Of course, that was just a secondary reason. The real problem was my wensu—my siblings.

Just look at how they keep a close eye on my every move, turning every little thing I do into breaking news.

Ding!

As soon as I sent my greeting in the group chat, my siblings bombarded me with messages.

Links, countless links, all leading to news articles about me.

[Breaking News: Lee Hoyeol Returns to the Magic Tower… What Is His Current Condition?]

[Holy War Alliance Representative: “The Commander-in-Chief Will Address Everything Personally.”]

…

[Breaking News: Lee Hoyeol Appears in the Crystal Hall!]

Now, let’s imagine for a second.

What would happen if I admitted that I’ve been pretending to be Grandfell this whole time?

I could say this with confidence—

‘Every word I say would be immortalized in this group chat forever.’

From that day until my literal grave, I’d never hear the end of it.

—”Hoyeol, your performance today was top-tier, lol.”

—”Just curious, do you come up with those lines yourself?”

—”Dude, just take the Nobel Prize for acting already.”

—”You idiot, the Nobel Prize doesn’t have an acting category.”

—”Why not? Lol. I mean, Grandfell doesn’t exist either, but that didn’t stop him.”

Shaking my head, I forcibly shut down my imagination before it spiraled further.

In any case, I kept my response simple.

—I will visit home soon to greet you all in person, my dear sisters.

That was a noble lie—a lie made for a good cause.

And if you ask who that cause benefits?

Me.

I had to protect myself from social suicide before I could even think about rescuing Grandfell.

But then.

“My lord.”

… I couldn’t fool my familiars so easily.

I turned to see Hiel and Diend standing before me.

And, of course, Ego Sword hummed faintly from where it rested at my waist.

I opened my mouth.

“I’m fine.”

A familiar wouldn’t be a familiar if they couldn’t see right through me.

Even without me saying anything, they had probably already realized.

They knew that the presence of Grandfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo had vanished from my body.

I forced a smile.

“Really, I’m fine. See? Have you ever seen me smile like this? You both know me—there’s no time to dwell on this. I just need to handle things properly. I’m the one who’s missing something, not the other way around.”

Of course, they didn’t fully understand Grandfell’s identity.

Perhaps Hiel had some suspicions, but Diend and Ego Sword definitely didn’t know the whole truth.

Diend, always dramatic, shuddered as he spoke.

“My lord’s kindness brings me great solace.”

I didn’t even need to check to know what Ego Sword was thinking.

That sword had always considered Grandfell, not me, to be its rightful master.

Right now, it was probably clamoring for me to go rescue him immediately.

“Hiel.”

“… Yes, my lord.”

“Is something on your mind?”

Of course, I wasn’t shameless enough to speak in full Grandfell mode to my familiars.

After a moment’s hesitation, Hiel answered cautiously.

“I must apologize, my lord… I have found myself lost in contemplation.”

“Contemplation? About what?”

“That is…”

I may not be a genius like Grandfell, but I do have good instincts.

‘So, it’s something difficult to talk about, huh?’

If Grandfell were here, he’d probably press for an immediate answer, insisting that nothing should be hidden from him.

But I’m not Grandfell.

“If it’s hard to say, you can tell me later.”

“… My lord.”

“I get it. You all must have a lot on your minds too, right?”

Just as I was confused, my familiars were probably just as conflicted.

Still, there was one thing I could promise them.

And unlike Grandfell, I wouldn’t use grandiose words.

“Just trust me.”

“…?”

“I’ll set everything back to the way it was.”

Upon hearing my words, Dien and the Ego Sword showed clear signs of deep admiration. Hiel, however, simply nodded and muttered under her breath, as if something was still bothering her.

“My lord…….”

Just as I needed time, so did Hiel.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on such things.

I pulled up my quest window for the first time in a while.

— Train your weakened body. (In Progress)

Grandfell, so that you can return at any time.

I will maintain a level of grace that does not go against your sense of aesthetics.

Physical training was just one of many aspects of maintaining perfect decorum.

100KM Run (In Progress)

5,000 Push-ups (In Progress)

3,500 Pull-ups (In Progress)

3,000 Burpees (In Progress)

Wait, is this something a human can actually do?

“How the hell did you even manage this?”

The sheer, absurd numbers alone were enough to crush my motivation. But since I’d already declared it, there was no backing down. Right, I had to faithfully uphold that damn setting, didn’t I?

『Grandfell knew no such thing as humility. Underestimation was met with proof. Overestimation was inevitably turned into reality.』

I turned to Hiel as I began my push-ups.

“Hiel.”

“I am listening, my lord.”

Of course, Grandfell, even if you did all this on your own, I am not someone capable of such feats.

Which is why—I need your help, Hiel.

I flashed her a smile.

“Can you count for me?”

*

Iron Castle.

“Hiel-nim.”

Chainwalker lowered his head as Hiel returned to the ship. She gazed down at the land below. The imperial capital, Antonium, was still brimming with life.

“As you can see from its exterior, there were no major damages. Though there were unavoidable casualties, they were all soldiers—none of the civilians suffered harm.”

“It must be thanks to the swift evacuation to the Adventurers’ World.”

“Indeed.”

After saying that, Chainwalker trailed off.

Curiosity flared within him, but he couldn’t bring himself to ask.

To be more precise, he lacked the courage to do so.

‘……How could I dare to ask?’

The Commander-in-Chief, who had lost the silver hair that symbolized Claudi.

He was not the only one who had witnessed it. Even now, long after the event, the dwarves aboard the Iron Castle would still passionately discuss it among themselves.

Chainwalker recalled one particular remark that had resonated with him.

— “Think of it like minerals; it’s easier to understand that way.”

— “Minerals?”

— “Yes, even the most common lump of metal shines differently depending on how it is tempered. Could it not be the same for the Commander-in-Chief? Perhaps his current transformation is his true self…….”

Chainwalker’s thoughts were interrupted by Hiel’s voice.

“I have entertained irreverent thoughts.”

“……?”

Chainwalker flinched for a moment.

‘Irreverent, she says.’

Hiel was an existence of such stature that she surpassed even the Spirit Kings. The only being she could possibly consider irreverence toward was just one person.

A bitter smile tugged at Hiel’s lips.

“I dared to harbor thoughts that went against my lord’s will.”

Yes.

That was why she had held back her words before Hoyeol.

The vivid memory resurfaced in Hiel’s mind.

The day her lord lost his silver hair.

The First World Tree’s Blessing, which had left him, had returned to his body.

The meaning behind it was clear.

It was not the silver-haired him that the World Tree had chosen, but the black-haired lord.

Perhaps that was why she had felt relieved for a fleeting moment.

But her relief was short-lived—because her lord still yearned for him.

The one who had taken the blessing away from him.

The one who had caused the World Tree to revoke its favor.

Hiel did not know why her lord wished for his return, what he was, or even what Claudi truly was.

But there was one thing she was certain of.

“If this continues—”

“……If this continues?”

“My lord will ultimately meet his ruin.”

“R-ruin?! What do you mean?!”

The returned blessing symbolized the will of Mother, the World Tree, and by extension, Arcana Continent itself.

Whether her lord had realized this or not, she did not know.

However—

“Arcana Continent will no longer turn a blind eye.”

There was no telling how long the World Tree would continue to accept and embrace her lord.

When he had taken possession of her lord’s body, the World Tree had withdrawn its blessing without hesitation.

‘The World Tree desires peace in Arcana Continent.’

Hiel slowly closed her eyes.

‘…What should I do, my lord?’

To protect him, she would have to go against his will.

Hiel wrestled with her dilemma.

She only opened her eyes again after much time had passed.

“I will be leaving for a short while.”

Chainwalker, who had been lost in his own thoughts, was about to ask why.

But before he could, Hiel spoke again.

Her body had begun to emit an unfamiliar light.

“Mother, the World Tree, is calling for me.”

[ A ‘World Tree’s Incarnation’ manifests in Arcana Continent. ]

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