Nobles with high-ranking titles among the demon race appeared in the audience room.

All of them looked peculiar, but they shared one common trait: they were all terrifyingly intimidating.

Is that why? The demon lord’s appearance stood out even more.

The demon lord sat gracefully on the throne.

Rising from the seat, they announced to the demon nobles,
“I bestow the title of Duke of the Demon Realm upon Yuna, who saved us.”
[You have acquired a title.]
Duke of the Demon Realm.

[You have become the first traveler recognized by the demon lord.]
Earned 100,000 fame points.

It was my first time receiving a title; was it a good thing?

Placing the Duke of the Demon Realm title in the empty title slot felt impressive.

“If you have any wishes, speak now.”
Hearing that they were offering more rewards made me hesitate, but then I realized I didn’t have a single magic stone.

“Could I receive some magic stones?”
“Understood.”

[You have received a pouch of magic stones.]

The pouch contained hundreds of top-grade magic stones, and the number of high-grade and mid-grade stones was uncountable.

While I gaped at the astonishing quantity, a voice broke through my astonishment.

“Feel free to stay in the demon realm before returning.”
“Yes!”

After exchanging pleasantries and stepping out of the audience room, I heard the cute voice of my dragon companion.

“Kyung kyung!”
“Yes, yes!”

As I handed over some magic stones, I walked down the long corridor. The bond dragons flying above glanced down at us.

Were they envious of the magic stones my companion was eating?

“Come here!”
I waved a magic stone, and a few cautiously approached.

Since there were plenty of stones, I fed them one by one. Their joy in receiving the treats felt like giving food to a puppy.

Other bond dragons, watching from a distance, also flew over and gazed at me with adorable eyes.

“Okay, okay. Take one each!”
Since I received them from the demon lord, it should be fine to share, right?

As I distributed one stone each to the numerous bond dragons while walking around, I noticed the demon race constructing a village on the land restored by the World Tree.

While watching this scene, someone tugged at my clothes, and when I checked, I saw a small child.

A girl with cute pigtails and a single large eye.

[Cyclops]

“Sister! Sister!”
“Hmm? Uh, sister...?”
“Can’t I have one too?”

Her bold request for a magic stone was so adorable that I took one out for her. She joyfully accepted it, but I felt eyes on us.

Looking up to see what was happening, I found numerous demon race members staring at us.

To be precise, their gazes were focused on the young girl who was eating the magic stone.

“Shall I give you all one?”
“Thank you! Duke!”

The demon race swarmed around me as I handed out the magic stones, and my once-bulging pouch quickly became flat.

While checking the remaining quantity, a familiar voice broke through.

“It’s a rare sight in the demon realm.”
“Demon lord!? When did you arrive!?”

They looked as if they were observing a curious creature.

“Would you give one to me as well?”
“Alright...”

I hesitated, pulling back as I realized how wicked that seemed for a demon.

The demon lord received a magic stone from me and began to absorb it.
“Oh? This has an interesting effect.”

They muttered to themselves, but what did that mean?

“I have a proposal for you. Would you consider becoming my successor?”
[A hidden job quest has been created.]
The demon lord, Echidna, has proposed for you to become her successor. If accepted, you can change to the hidden class 'Demon Lord.'

Will you accept?
YES / NO

“I'm sorry.”
[The hidden job quest has been declined.]

“What a pity. If you became my successor, you could become the ruler of the demon realm.”
“Thank you for the offer, but I like being a summoner.”

The demon lord looked at me with disappointment for a moment before chuckling and gesturing at the air, causing space to tear apart.

On the other side of the torn space was the audience room.

“I have many things to do, so I’ll take my leave now.”
As they stepped through the torn space, it returned to normal.

Was what just happened even possible?

“That’s amazing. Should I have accepted the position?”
“Kyuuuu!”
“Hmm? It’s nothing special?”

I patted the jealous dragon’s head and walked towards the World Tree, admiring the village along the way.

The World Tree had grown immensely and could be seen from anywhere in the demon realm.

It was even larger than the one in the intermediate realm.

As I got closer, I heard a voice.
“Mother, you’ve arrived.”
“Yes! I’m here! But is it really necessary to call me mother? It feels awkward.”
“Please, feel free to speak casually, Mother.”

“Hmm. In that case, can I also call you casually?”
“Mom.”

“.........”
It made things more uncomfortable.

I couldn’t bring myself to tell the World Tree not to call me mother.

But suddenly, a question arose in my mind.
“Do I have to live in the demon realm forever?”
“Yes. You can cross over to the intermediate realm, but doing so would bring suffering back to the demon realm due to corruption.”
“What exactly is this corruption?”
“I’d like to tell you, but I lack the causal connection to do so. I’m sorry, Mother.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

I was curious, but there was nothing I could do.

Then, perhaps I should spend some time in the demon realm for the time being?

[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 remained until the main scenario started.

Many players used this time to level up, change their equipment, and increase their affinity with the forest tribes while preparing for the main scenario quest.

The surprise quests also provided substantial rewards that could serve as stepping stones for regular rankers to rise in rank, marking the first main quest of Arcana Online.

Unimaginably massive rewards were to be given.

However, one thing was troubling: no information had been revealed thus far.

“The main scenario is less than a day away, and there’s no information whatsoever!?”
“Yes. Every guild member has been active in gathering information, but we haven’t obtained anything.”

Currently, all members of the Frey Guild were gathered in the guild’s main base.

“Hey, leader! Where’s the new member!?”
A muscular man with red hair and no shirt, perhaps due to exhibitionism.

The hidden job warrior, Balak, was proudly showing off his muscles.

“I need to show my amazing muscles to the newbie!”
“I’m curious too. I can’t send a letter to where they are.”

How far away could they be that I can’t even send a letter?

It seemed they had reached level 50, but I hadn’t been able to recruit them into the guild because I couldn’t contact them.

They weren’t answering in real life either; could something have happened?

“It’s about time we start moving.”
“Let’s go! Let’s go!”

[Mass Teleportation Scroll]
You can move the entire party to any place you have been before (some areas excluded).

Tearing the scroll, my surroundings changed, and we were transported to the World Tree.

Around the enormous World Tree, countless players had gathered, and even before channel integration, there were this many people.

In large-scale events, thousands of channels merge into one, but how much money must have been poured into the servers to make that 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.]

[Due to the main quest, channels will merge.]

Numerous players emerged all over the World Tree.

Their numbers were beyond what the eye could count.

[CHAPTER 1: Protect the World Tree.]
Invasion begins.

With a golden alarm window, tension filled the air.

Yet nothing happened.

One minute, five minutes, ten minutes passed without anything occurring, and complaints from players filled the area.

“What’s that in the sky!?”
At someone’s shout, I looked up, and the space was tearing apart.

The blue sky shattered, transforming into a dark night sky with two red moons hanging above.

From within, a presence emerged.

A figure with jet-black hair and enormous horns, red eyes, and alluring lips, dressed in a black cheongsam.

Next to her was a familiar face.

Short golden hair shining brightly.
A mystical aura emanating from her blue eyes.
The cute girl dressed in the miko robe I had seen in Japan.

“Yuna!?”

In a moment of surprise, I shouted her name, and Yuna spotted me, waving her hand with a bright smile.

Why is Yuna there!?