Marry my daughter and take your lover as a concubine.
The Count, who made that unexpected suggestion, continued,
"The Abyss Seeker Rimenin, who was the first to reach the 10th floor, the Great Navigator Pikma, who explored and mapped the entire 6th floor, and the Iron Hero Juggernaut."
"...."
"And countless other heroes. Do you know what they have in common? They all had a strong patron."
I couldn't help but ask.
No, I understood what he was trying to say…
"What do you gain from sponsoring me?"
"This city is always lacking talent. I was planning to sponsor you even if this incident hadn't happened."
It didn't seem like he was just saying it for the sake of saying it.
"What exactly do you mean?"
"It's common for nobles to sponsor promising explorers. It helps their family's reputation."
I already knew that.
It's like a hobby of the upper class.
To put it in modern terms, it's like collecting supercars.
But I didn't know this.
"Sometimes it even becomes a measure of a family's power. If you don't have any explorers you're sponsoring, you're looked down upon, and if they don't achieve anything, you're criticized for having bad judgment."
So it wasn't just a hobby.
For nobles, social circles are a political arena, and others' evaluations directly translate to power.
"Our Perdehilt family's wealth is comparable to any other great noble family. And our knights are also the same. But there's one thing we lack."
Although I didn't know much about the Count's family, I could guess.
"We haven't had any notable explorers for a long time, despite our efforts."
"So you said you would call me separately when I was ready because of that."
"What's there to hide? I said that because I wasn't sure about you back then. If the explorer I sponsored died soon after, it would tarnish our family's reputation."
But he still warned me not to accept invitations from other nobles because he didn't want to lose me.
It was a kind of marking his territory.
"I should have sponsored you back then without hesitation."
I couldn't help but chuckle at his regretful voice.
If he had done that, his family's reputation would have skyrocketed along with my rising value.
And he wouldn't have had to offer his daughter.
"I'm no longer doubtful. You'll become someone even greater. Many explorers died, but is this the end? The empty spots will be filled as time passes, just like always. You'll definitely become a key player in this new age."
"…You overestimate me."
"Well, we'll have to wait and see. Anyway, I think I've explained the benefits for me. So can you give me an answer?"
I pretended to contemplate for a moment.
I would have definitely hurt his feelings if I refused right away.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think that kind of relationship would work."
I refused, trying to leave no room for interpretation.
"Think carefully. Everyone will want to have a good relationship with you, but will there be anyone who wants to form a blood tie? I can do much more for you than you can imagine."
That was the end of my conversation with the Count.
I briefly greeted his daughter again and returned to the outdoor garden. Misha approached me as soon as I came out.
"Bjorn! Where were you?! I went looking for you, but you were nowhere to be found!"
"Ah, a noble called for me."
There was no need to tell her about what just happened.
I brushed it off and returned to my spot, continuing to drink.
The more I laughed and chatted, the more the Count's words came to mind.
[You'll definitely become a key player in this new age.]
And so, the banquet ended.
_____________________
The music stopped, and the noise died down.
The long banquet was finally over.
"Those bastards."
At first, he didn't know what kind of banquet this was.
He had become practically blind after his only source of information was blocked. It was impossible to contact the outside world.
But…
[It's been a while since we've met face-to-face.]
…he learned from his conversation with the Prime Minister who just visited.
What had happened.
[Those Noark bastards pulled something this time. There was a lot of damage.]
A lot of damage.
Just how much…?
The man suppressed his anxiety and asked, and the Prime Minister answered,
[More than you can imagine.]
70% of the explorers above the 4th floor had died.
Of course, what was important to him was something else.
The explorers above the 7th floor.
The large clans who were preparing themselves to go deeper, even though they could live comfortably even if they stopped climbing.
Most of them were also dead.
Just how long would it take to recover from this damage?
"Ha, this is so frustrating. I should have just smashed his head back then."
The man gritted his teeth.
His first thought when he heard the news was 'I've been tricked'.
[Was this… intentional?]
He asked, barely suppressing his killing intent, and the Prime Minister chuckled and answered,
[We didn't know about this either. You can check if it's true with your ability.]
Although his words were true…
…he wasn't going to be fooled by that sly tactic again.
[Bullshit. This would have happened eventually, even without this incident.]
[Well, what do you think would have happened?]
[Don't try to pull anything. This would have never happened if I had just let you kill those bastards back then.]
It felt like the question was finally answered.
The situation during the subjugation was overwhelmingly in Lafdonia's favor. Although the casualties were high, they could have definitely finished it if they had just pushed a little further.
But the royal family didn't.
They gave them time, and in the end, Noark activated an ancient barrier and locked their gates.
[Why don't you just be honest? You never intended to keep your promise with me from the beginning.]
[How dare you. It's a promise His Majesty made on the honor of the royal family. It will be kept, so don't doubt it.]
[Doubt it, my ass.]
The man finally realized.
No, it was more accurate to say that he finally accepted it.
These bastards had no intention of letting us go.
'They're probably acting so arrogantly because they think I have no way to escape.'
The Prime Minister left after that conversation.
The reason he didn't smash his head and let him go was simple.
Because it had to be nighttime.
'Ha, where should I look now?'
He thought there might be a clue with the royal family, but he couldn't find anything.
No, he just learned that there was no answer there.
He had wasted at least 10 years because of that judgment.
But the man didn't give up.
'…If there's nowhere else to go, I guess I'll just go to Noark.'
Although their power was weaker compared to the royal family, they would at least have the will to clear the game.
'Ah, whatever, I'll think about it after I get out.'
The man, Lee Baekho, closed his eyes and reached out towards the void, thinking that.
And he slowly started to imagine.
'Extinction of Stars.'
The Dark Lord Deathred's skill.
The essence he obtained the last time he entered the labyrinth, the one the royal family didn't even know he possessed because there were no witnesses.
Crackle.
A dark orb rotated in the man's hand, absorbing all the mana in the surroundings. The sealing magic circle engraved in the room was no exception.
Crackle.
The magic circle finally broke.
And…
Kwaaang!
…the dark orb exploded, annihilating everything within a 100-meter radius.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
He could feel the knights stationed nearby approaching as soon as the explosion occurred.
Geez, they're quick to react.
"He, he escaped!"
"Stop him!!"
The man chuckled.
"Hey, you'll die if you come now."
The knights flinched at his killing intent.
It seemed like they valued their lives, even though they chanted about the King and loyalty like fanatics every day. It made him feel a bit better.
"Idiots."
The man scoffed and leaped high.
And he easily escaped the royal palace, using 'Spatial Interference' to walk on air as if enjoying his freedom.
He reached hundreds of meters above ground in less than a minute.
This damn city was the same as before.
Towering walls that surrounded the city like bars, no matter where he looked.
'Ah, wait. But I can't enter Noark right now because of the barrier.'
The man, who had been traveling for a while, belatedly realized that and stopped in midair, lost in thought.
'…Should I go to Bifron? It's a good place to hide.'
That seemed like the best option.
But…
'Let's stop by the Magic Tower first.'
There was a place he had to go before hiding.
He had to restore his information gathering route to know what was going on in the world even while in hiding.
'And I'm also curious about what happened to that hyung.'
…He's alive, right?
Hmm, I hope so.
It was his first time in a long time thinking that about someone else, and the man, Lee Baekho, flew through the night sky.
_________________
Five days had passed since the banquet.
I hadn't done much during that time.
I just stayed at home and recovered, and yesterday, when I was finally feeling better, I went out alone and visited a family.
Because I had promised.
[Deliver the news to my son. I have a feeling you'll be famous when you get out. He'll be happy.]
A family with a 10-year-old boy and a young wife.
Contrary to his words, the boy didn't smile when he saw me.
Well, how could he?
[I've heard a lot about you. Thank you for coming…]
Although I traveled for over four hours in a carriage, I only had a brief conversation with the wife.
She said she was planning to open a shop with the compensation money she received.
It was a long-time dream of the couple.
[If you have any problems raising your child or with your life, please don't hesitate to come find me.]
[Why… why are you being so kind? I heard you and my husband only met that day…]
[We would have been friends if we had met somewhere else.]
[I… see…]
The resilient woman, who had pulled herself together in a little over ten days for her child, silently shed tears.
[He… was a bit childish. He always admired heroes. Thank you, truly. He would be happy. If someone like you remembers him…]
What am I?
I wanted to say those words, but I held back.
I had to.
If that's what they wanted.
It was also something I had to do.
"Bjorn!"
Misha burst into my room as I was quietly reminiscing.
"Erwen! Erwen is here!"
Right, so she finally recovered.
I went downstairs, and I saw Erwen standing there blankly.
It was our first reunion since that day.
I contemplated what to say and then just blurted out,
"Welcome back."
If I had lived a more decent life, I would have been able to say something more comforting.
"Yes…"
Misha hurriedly approached Erwen, who had a gloomy expression.
"Di, dinner? Are you hungry?"
"I'm fine. Thank you, Miss Kaltstein."
"Don't call me Miss! Just call me… ack!"
Ah…
Misha stepped on a landmine.
"No, no, that's right! Just Misha is fine…"
Misha quickly corrected herself.
Erwen closed her eyes tightly.
And she slowly opened them and forced a smile.
"You don't have to be so considerate. Really. Thank you, Misha."
"Ah, uh-huh… Right. Come here. I emptied this room just in case you came…"
"Yes? You emptied a room?"
"You don't have anywhere to go, right? You can stay here as long as you want, until you recover. It's just harder to be alone…"
Erwen's eyes widened at Misha's words.
As if she had received an unexpected offer.
"Is, is it really okay…?"
Erwen then looked at me as if asking for my opinion, and I shrugged.
"I told you, didn't I? Your sister asked me to. I'm your guardian now."
Erwen clenched her small fists.
And she struggled to speak.
"…Thank you… for your consideration. Truly… I, I have… nothing left…"
"Nothing left, my ass. Misha, take her and show her the room. You decorated it, so you know it better than me."
"Ah! Okay!"
Misha then took Erwen and showed her around the house.
But could it be that she hadn't slept properly?
Erwen lay down on the bed, saying she would rest for a bit, and then fell asleep.
"…Phew, I think I'd rather fight monsters."
"I agree…"
We had dinner together since Ainar said she was going to spend the night at the sanctuary.
Anyway, after dinner, I spent time talking to Misha, and then I went up to my room and lay down on the bed around midnight.
[23:59]
Thump, thump, my heart pounded.
I wondered how many people would be there.
No…
「The character's soul resonates and is drawn to a specific world.」
…would that Clown bastard be there?
I hope he will.
-x-X-x-
A dimly lit room.
Wooden blinds letting in white light.
A $200 single mattress and a work desk with a laptop on it. A one-person tea table with a single chair against the wall.
A woman was standing in that small room.
Her face was filled with confusion.
"This is…"
It wasn't an unfamiliar place.
It was the rental apartment she first signed a contract for when she moved to New York for work, the place she was summoned to every 15th at midnight.
"Why am I here…?"
The woman recalled her memories, feeling a headache.
They slowly came back to her.
[It's a dark mage!!]
[Buy some time. I'll take care of it soon.]
Day 1 in the labyrinth, where the war began.
The safe zone they arrived at through Mass Teleport.
The ruthless decision she had to make after a long meeting with the leaders.
[Those royal bastards are trying to abandon us and escape!! Stop them!!]
Herself and her clan members running towards the Dimensional Gate while the knights were dealing with the explorers.
And…
Swaaaaaaaaa!
…a magic circle emitting a brilliant light from the ground.
Kwaaang!
A giant pillar of fire engulfing the sky.
"Do, don't tell me…"
Now she understood.
Why she was here when she had just returned to the city through Dimensional Gate.
"Has it been… 15 days?"
The woman hurriedly turned on her laptop.
And she checked the forum to see what had happened.
It didn't take long for her to find the information she wanted, as she was used to doing this.
Only 103 survivors among the explorers who escaped through Dimensional Gate.
They were all unconscious, and even the High Priest of the Tovera Church, known as the 'Proxy', had given up, saying there was no way to heal them.
"Oh, no…"
Versil Gowland, the vice-leader of the Lalel Clan.
Her face turned pale as she realized the reality.
___________________
As soon as the computer turned on, I checked the chat room list.
[Long Live Korean Independence] - 0 members online.
As expected, Lee Baekho didn't return.
Well, even he wouldn't be able to do anything after being banned by Ghost Master.
Phew, it was definitely better when he was here.
'So I have no choice but to get high-level information from Watchers of the Round Table…'
I dismiss my regret and move the mouse.
The Round Table opens three hours after the community opens. I was planning to just lurk and observe the atmosphere until then.
'As expected, a lot of players died.'
Normally, the exchange, the free board, and other sections would be flooded with posts as soon as the community opened, as players who were waiting for this time would start posting.
But what about this time?
'It's about one-third.'
It was the same for the chat rooms.
Even the large chat rooms that always had over 50 people online only had a little over ten people.
"Ha…"
I sigh every time I see these changes.
It's like a 'great flood' has swept over the world.
Everything is swept away, and there's nowhere that's normal.
'Will this place also be filled with new newbies as time passes…?'
Hmm, it probably will.
Even Korea, which had nothing left after the war, eventually reached its current state.
And by then, I'll be a high-ranking player, not a newbie.
Ah, am I considered high-ranking now?
Right, no matter how I think about it, there can't be many people who received a noble title.
Click, click.
I browse through various forums, thinking about these things.
Most of the posts were about the recent incident, and I even saw my story mentioned… no, it was mentioned quite often.
[Bjorn Yandel, what the hell is he?]
-I thought he would be in his thirties since he's a 5th-grade explorer, but he's only been an adult for a year?
-What have I been doing for the past 5 years?
Although I was mentioned a few times during the 3rd-floor Floor Master incident, it was incomparable to now.
The number of posts about me was incredible, and each one had dozens of comments.
[these99: He's not even 5th grade. How is that guy 5th grade? If it weren't for the guild achievement points, he would have already reached 4th grade.]
[└OP: Wow, he's that strong? After just one year? I feel even worse now.]
[└NExtlevEL: 4th grade is an exaggeration. OP, you don't have to feel bad. It's normal to reach 5th grade within a year if you just get good essences.]
[└NExtlevEL: Ah, and it seems like he doesn't even have that many essences? I think he's barely 5th grade.]
[└these99: 5th grade is normal within a year? Are you playing the game alone? And what's with that bullshit about him barely being 5th grade? He already proved it by crushing the Corpse Collector.]
[└NExtlevEL: Are you American? It's obvious they're trying to make him a hero, and you're believing it. And even if he really won, do you think he did it alone? It's all team power.]
[└Pnec: He's right. How can you say he crushed the Corpse Collector when he fought him with hundreds of people? Are you an idiot?]
The players were expressing various opinions, just like how people argue about celebrities on the internet.
There were also several comments that made my heart skip a beat.
[fliccolo: I think he's a player.]
[└OP: Ah, that's possible. Why didn't I think of that?]
It's a natural question to ask when someone gains fame in a short amount of time.
But the path I've walked has helped me.
[└arolf5205: Player, my ass. You guys wouldn't be saying that if you had actually seen him. LOL.]
[└stevencastle: Those who are saying that are probably the ones who didn't enter the labyrinth. If you saw him biting the Corpse Collector's ear while blind, you wouldn't be saying he's a player.]
[└cherylvander: A true man.]
[└Ykbell: Even I felt his passion when he was screaming while stepping on goblin traps. 1st year or whatever, it was an emotion that a modern person could never express. Everyone who was there will agree.]
[COOOOL75: Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!]
I felt a strange sensation, reading the posts criticizing or praising me.
I've grown enough to be a hot topic.
Although the attention was burdensome, I thought it was a path I had to go through to reach the top.
After all, floor level and fame are proportional.
'It's about time.'
Three hours had passed since I entered the community.
[03:01]
I used to enter as late as possible to attract attention, but this time, I entered as soon as it was time.
I was also curious about the small talk before the main meeting.
'Don't tell me everyone except for the Clown is dead?'
I dismissed my slight anxiety and quickly double-clicked.
Flash!
A light flashed before my eyes, and when I came to my senses, I was in the familiar customization room. I quickly put on the suit I always wore and the Lion mask and then moved to the main room with the round table.
Creak.
Three people were already there.
Goblin, Fox, and Antler.
'The Clown bastard isn't here yet.'
The three of them glanced at me as I entered and let out strange gasps.
"Ah…"
"Fortunately, you came again today."
They always do this when I arrive.
I sat down in my usual seat, resting my chin on my hand, pretending to be indifferent, as if possessed by the Lion mask.
They would entertain themselves if I just stayed like this.
I could just close my eyes and listen.
"So there are already four survivors."
Goblin muttered, as if the quiet atmosphere was uncomfortable.
"Interesting. I thought you would be in danger. How did you survive?"
It was something I was also curious about.
Most of the religious figures, except for a few priests, escaped through Dimensional Gate.
In other words, most of them died.
Then what about Goblin?
"Well, it's related to my personal information. I'll just say I was lucky."
"Tsk, as if it's something special."
Antler clicked his tongue as Goblin brushed it off. And the two of them chatted for a bit.
Strangely, Fox didn't participate in the conversation.
But did they notice it too?
"Fox, you're acting strange today."
"Yes. You've been spacing out since earlier…"
Antler and Goblin looked at Fox with suspicion, and Fox flinched belatedly and tilted her head.
"…Yes? What did you say?"
"See, I told you she's acting strange."
"If there's something wrong, tell us. I can help you, Miss Fox…"
Goblin took the opportunity and tried to get close to her.
Fox sighed deeply and shook her head.
"Thank you for your concern, but it's nothing. So please mind your own business."
"Ah, okay. If that's what you want…"
Goblin awkwardly changed the subject at her unusually sharp tone.
"By the way, the others aren't coming?"
Only 5 minutes left until the entry deadline.
There were two members who hadn't arrived yet.
The Clown bastard, whom I was eagerly waiting for, and Crescent Moon, who desperately wanted the Stone of Resurrection.
"Don't tell me they both died?"
"Hmm, I don't know about Crescent Moon, but I don't think that Clown bastard died."
"…Th, that's right? Probably?"
Goblin said in a slightly disappointed voice.
That's when…
Creak.
…the door to the customization room in the hallway opened, and we heard footsteps.
'Is it the Clown?'
I tried to act indifferent and turned my head to check.
And…
"Huh?"
…I froze, just like Goblin and Antler.
Because it wasn't the mask I was expecting.
'Queen?'
A mask adorned with a harmonious arrangement of colorful jewels.
The area around her eyes was decorated with gold ornaments, and her forehead was shaped like a crown.
And the outfit she chose was a fancy red dress.
'Is she a returning member?'
That thought briefly crossed my mind, but I realized it wasn't the case when the Queen Mask greeted us elegantly.
"Oh my, hello. I'm new here, so I don't know much, but I look forward to working with you."
She was a new member.
__________________
It was the first new member since I arrived.
Naturally, everyone's attention was focused on her.
And the most enthusiastic one was Fox.
"New? How did you even get in here? Don't tell me you met the Master?"
Fox couldn't hide her excitement and bombarded her with questions, unlike a moment ago when she was spacing out.
"Yes, well… I guess so?"
Fox's excitement intensified as the Queen Mask half-heartedly agreed.
"Him! Where is he? No, can I meet him? I have a favor to ask…"
"Oh dear, I'm sorry, but I don't think I can grant you that favor."
The Queen drew a firm line.
And she smiled and led the conversation with an air of confidence, unlike a newbie.
"Anyway, shall we introduce ourselves?"
The Queen spoke as if it were her own home from the very first meeting.
Antler responded with disapproval.
"It's against the rules to use names."
"I see! Then this is Goblin, that's Fox, and this is Lion. Hmm, then what should I call you?"
"Antler."
"Not just Deer?"
"Your mask should have a name on it too."
"Ah! Right. Then I guess I'm Queen? Huhu."
While the Queen was receiving everyone's attention and chatting, I continued to observe her.
After all, a mask doesn't hide everything.
Goblin's skin was tanned, so I guessed he was from Southeast Asia or South America.
Then what about this woman?
'She's definitely Caucasian.'
Blue eyes and flowing blonde hair.
Her skin was very white, like a Caucasian's.
Of course, that was all I could tell from her appearance, and it wasn't helpful in deducing her identity in this world.
But I couldn't take my eyes off her.
'I feel like I've seen her somewhere before…'
An inexplicable sense of déjà vu.
Why did I feel this way?
"Anyway, Miss Fox, it's so nice to meet you. As you know, there aren't many female players. Ah, and Mr. Goblin, you have a very nice voice. Mr. Antler also seems very kind."
Fox quickly intervened and warned the Queen, who was looking at me with her energy-draining tension.
"Mr. Lion is…"
"Um."
"Yes?"
"I know what kind of style you have, but I think it's better not to act too friendly towards him."
"Yes? Why?"
Fox looked at me awkwardly as the Queen tilted her head. Did she think I would establish dominance like I did with Goblin?
Well, I might have done it normally.
It would be a win-win if I could be freed from that demonic tension with a single blast of killing intent.
But…
"Hmm, Mr. Lion is very quiet. Let's talk more when we get to know each other!"
"...."
…I just ignored her, not doing anything.
The reason was simple.
I had to conserve my energy.
'He's finally here.'
About 1 minute left until the entry deadline.
Creak, another door in the hallway opened.
"Oh, it seems like there's another member."
The members' gazes shifted towards the sound as the Queen's attention was diverted.
"Wow! Many of you survived!"
The Clown, speaking in his unique annoying tone from afar.
"Honestly, I thought Mr. Goblin would just die… Huh?"
The Clown tilted his head, looking at the Queen.
"Hello. Can I call you Mr. Clown from now on? I'm so excited because you seem like a fun person!"
"…Who is this frivolous woman?"
"She's a new member. It seems like she was invited by the Master."
"Hmm… is that so?"
The Clown, who was observing the Queen, sat down in his seat. And he turned his attention away from her and spoke to me.
"Pfft, how have you been, Mr. Lion?"
It was his usual repertoire.
This bastard always acted friendly towards me.
As if I was the only one here on his level.
"Look forward to it. I brought a lot of interesting stories this time."
What is he talking about, this idiot?
"...."
I slowly raised my killing intent.
Normally, I would have had to control my mind and think about killing him, but there was no need this time.
'If it weren't for this bastard…'
Daria wouldn't have died.
And many other explorers would have been able to return alive and embrace their families.
But what about this bastard now?
"Pfft, it seems like Crescent Moon is dead since he's not here."
He's smiling brightly as usual.
Right, so…
"But Mr. Lion, why have you been so quiet?"
…I open my eyes, my mind filled with a single thought.
It's full-on killing intent.
"Are you… ugh!"
The Clown clutched his throat with both hands as soon as our eyes met. And he struggled as if he was in a vacuum, then collapsed to the floor and writhed.
"...!"
The members were confused, not knowing what was going on.
I slowly got up and walked towards the Clown.
And I looked down at him.
"St, st, stop…"
It was a bit funny.
He always acted like he was something special, talking down to people in his stupid tone.
"You look like a bug."
You're banned from acting friendly from now on, you bastard.
-x-X-x-
Killing intent.
The will to kill someone.
Usually, it just sends shivers down your spine, but in this mental world, the effect is amplified dozens of times.
It's not transmitted through the body, so in severe cases, it can cause extreme shock to the spirit and even permanent aftereffects in reality.
'Mental contamination.'
That's what players call this phenomenon.
If you reach this state, you'll suffer from speech impediments like stuttering, and in severe cases, your mind can even collapse and fragment.
Therefore…
"You look like a bug."
…I stare at the Clown bastard with even stronger intent.
He asks, drooling,
"Wh, why…"
The reason is simple.
Clown is a Necromancer.
It will take a long time for him to recover the summons he lost in this battle, and he can't come out to the city and harm me until Noark's barrier is lifted.
But…
'Orculus.'
The group that the Dragonslayer, who killed Dwarkey, belongs to.
In the end, he's also an enemy I have to eliminate someday.
It's only rational to take care of him now if I can.
"...Ugh, huh!"
I feel a sharp pain in the back of my head as I continue releasing killing intent. It's an unavoidable side effect since it's a skill that uses Mental Strength as a cost.
I'll probably have to spend the entire day tomorrow sleeping.
Hmm, maybe even two days straight.
But I increase the pressure.
This bastard would definitely be thinking of 'Bjorn Yandel' as an enemy and plotting revenge.
'It's best to take care of him here.'
He's more dangerous than the Dragonslayer.
Unlike that guy who lost his memory, he has a clear hostility towards 'Bjorn Yandel'.
If I can't eliminate him this time, he'll hurt me someday.
He'll hurt my companions.
"...!"
My killing intent, thick enough for everyone here to feel it, not just the Clown bastard.
'Damn it.'
My head suddenly feels heavy as I continue.
It's something I've experienced before.
I've depleted all my Mental Strength, which is used to activate killing intent.
"Pl, please… stop…"
I feel regretful, as if I could have done it if I had just a little more time.
But I squeeze out the last of my killing intent.
After enduring for a few more seconds…
"…Gasp!"
…the Clown takes a deep breath as if he's just come out of water.
And he coughs and vomits.
"Keuk, keheuk, ugh…!"
Although he's in a pathetic state, I'm not doing much better.
It feels like I could pass out if I just close my eyes.
"Why… why…"
The Clown bastard, as if his mind has returned, struggles to sit up and looks at me.
His breathing is a bit ragged, but it doesn't seem like his speech is impaired.
Right, so I couldn't even get close to Mental Contamination.
'Phew, as expected…'
It was a somewhat expected result.
Even when I unleashed my killing intent on Fox, my Mental Strength was depleted before I could reach that point.
The Clown, who has killed countless people, would naturally have a thicker mental barrier than Fox.
'Tsk, it feels like my killing intent is much stronger than before, but it still doesn't work.'
I carefully observe his eyes, feeling bitter.
He seems more confused than resentful. Fear stemming from not knowing the reason behind my actions.
"...."
I continue staring at the Clown bastard, who's trembling.
Now, what should I do?
Do you think I need a convincing reason after that unprovoked attack failed?
It's a pointless thought.
Because I'm not Bjorn Yandel, but Lion.
"Is this all?"
It's not that my killing intent mode ended because of mental exhaustion.
I ended it out of pity.
I hypnotize myself like that and turn my back on him nonchalantly.
And…
"Tsk."
…I click my tongue in annoyance.
"I thought you would be somewhat useful, considering the rumors."
As if I just tested him.
_____________________
My plan to mentally contaminate the Clown bastard with killing intent failed.
But I wasn't particularly disappointed.
Even this had its advantages.
There's a saying, 'keep your enemies closer', right?
'I guess I'll just have to milk him for all he's worth.'
Clown is an executive of the criminal organization Orculus.
Since their headquarters is in Noark, if I use him well, he'll continuously provide me with useful information.
"Um… are you okay?"
The Queen, who had been watching the situation silently, cautiously approached the Clown and offered her hand.
But did that hurt his pride?
Thwack.
The Clown swatted her hand away as if venting his anger and then sat down in his chair, grabbing it for support.
And he looked at me.
As if he didn't care that he had shown such a pathetic side of himself in front of the other members.
He fixed his gaze solely on me…
…and said something I couldn't understand.
"…Lion, are you 'him'?"
Huh?
What's 'him'?
It's not like he can't call me by my name.
"...."
I just kept my mouth shut since I had no idea.
As always, this would at least get me to the middle ground.
Indeed, after a short wait, the Clown bastard muttered as if organizing his thoughts,
"…No, that's impossible. You're not him."
Antler also said something, as if he knew something.
"Right, 'he' can't participate in the gathering because of restrictions."
Even the Queen, who was watching with interest, couldn't hold back and spoke.
"…It seems like the level here is quite high? Yes, he can't possibly be here. This chat room only opens at 3:00."
He can't be here because it opens at 3:00…?
Wait a minute, it sounds like he's talking about someone I know.
'…Don't tell me, he's talking about Lee Baekho?'
That hypothesis suddenly came to mind, but there was no way to confirm it.
It's one of Lion's few weaknesses.
He can't ask questions first, even if he's curious.
Especially if it's common knowledge.
Geez, Lion has his pride.
'Anyway, I'll look into it later.'
It was time for me to intervene.
There's no need to stay silent when everyone already knows the answer is no.
I chuckled and said casually,
"Right, I'm not 'that guy'."
As if to reward them for their efforts.
Not 'that guy', but 'that guy'.
I chose a word that subtly put him and me on the same level, even though I didn't know who he was.
But did this strategy work?
"Who the hell are you…?"
The Clown bastard looked at me with shock, even though he was in that state after being attacked.
There wasn't a shred of resentment in his eyes.
He probably couldn't even think of being hostile towards me.
"Are you curious about my identity?"
The Clown gulped and nodded at my question. But he flinched immediately, as if he did it unconsciously.
Ah, but he didn't correct his answer.
It seemed like he was genuinely curious about my identity after being beaten up.
I shrugged slightly.
Everyone except for the Queen, who was a new member, would understand the gesture.
"…What does that mean?"
"It means he'll tell you if you bring him interesting information."
"Ah, come to think of it, that's the concept of this secret chat room, right?"
"Yes, that's right. So, who is this 'he' you guys were talking about?"
Goblin asked subtly, but the Queen ignored him as if she didn't hear.
That's when…
"Are you serious about revealing your identity…?"
…the Clown asked blankly, and I didn't bother answering.
I just stared at him.
As if to say that I wouldn't mind telling him, even if it was related to my personal information, as long as he 'entertained' me.
As if I would even enjoy it.
"I've been watching you for months, but I can't understand you at all."
Antler said, looking at me as if he was disgusted.
"I don't know how long you've been in this world, but you're seriously broken. You won't be able to live a proper life even if you go back."
He's a surprisingly sweet guy, worrying about someone else's life in this situation.
But that's one thing, and this is another.
Antler clenched his mouth shut in frustration as I ignored him and didn't even look at him.
That's when the Queen stepped in.
"By the way, this is a bit interesting. Can I also hear about your identity if I bring information? I'm a bit curious now."
"If you entertain me."
The Queen smiled at my answer.
"Look forward to it. I know quite a few interesting stories, you know. Huhu."
Hmm, I'm actually a bit excited now that she said that.
This woman was also an enigma.
'She must have been invited by the Master since she joined in this situation…'
At first, I didn't pay much attention to her because I was busy disciplining the Clown bastard, but it seemed like I should observe her closely from now on.
"Um, shouldn't we start now…?"
Goblin spoke first, breaking the silence that naturally fell as no one spoke, and the chaotic situation was somewhat resolved.
"Well, the door is already closed, so we can't just stay like this forever. So Crescent Moon didn't come after all."
"The fact that he didn't come at this time means he probably didn't survive."
As expected, it seemed like everyone thought Crescent Moon didn't survive this incident.
He was the most enthusiastic one here.
"So who's going first this time?"
Normally, Fox would have taken the role of a moderator and led the meeting, but Goblin took the lead since she was acting strange.
"I'll go later. I need some time to adjust since it's my first time."
"Alright. Then who's going?"
"I'll go first if no one else wants to."
Antler was the first.
"Since we were talking about 'him' earlier, I'll go with this. He was released five days ago."
"Yes? 'He' was…?"
The Clown seemed surprised, as if he didn't know.
"Um… to be fair, shouldn't you tell us who 'he' is first…?"
Goblin seemed clueless, and Fox didn't react at all.
No, was she even listening properly?
Whoosh.
Anyway, the jewel on the Round Table emitted a green light.
It meant that the information was true, and more than half of the people here didn't know about it.
"But I don't understand. Is it okay to share such valuable information like this?"
Antler answered nonchalantly at the Clown's question,
"Everyone who should know will know within a week anyway. I have to use it somehow."
"Then can I go next?"
The Queen raised her hand slightly.
Although it was customary to go clockwise from the first person…
…everyone agreed.
Because they were curious.
What kind of information would this woman share?
"Huhu, I'm a bit nervous since it's my first time in a setting like this."
Her voice didn't sound nervous at all, despite her words.
The Queen slowly opened her mouth after making eye contact with each person, as if enjoying the attention.
"He's at the Magic Tower."
His current location.
'Phew, this again?'
I didn't feel anything, as I didn't even know who 'he' was.
But could it be that these two were different?
The Clown and Antler's eyes turned towards the center of the round table as soon as the Queen shared the information.
Where the jewel that would determine the truth was.
"It's true…"
"To go to the Magic Tower as soon as he came out, I'm suddenly interested."
I thought I should definitely find out who 'he' was if I had the chance. He must be someone truly amazing for them to react like this.
'…If it's really Lee Baekho, what the hell is he doing?'
That's when, as I was lost in thought…
…I felt a gaze on me.
It was from where the Queen was sitting.
She was staring at me.
"Mr. Lion, you're not surprised at all? As if you already knew."
Uh, is that so?
I just didn't care where he was since I didn't even know who he was.
"Do you have someone at the Magic Tower?"
"Well, maybe."
I casually brushed off the Queen's subtle probing.
"I'll… go next."
Fox was next.
She had been silent throughout the meeting and had received three consecutive rejections.
The first two were recent news, but everyone already knew about it, and the third was judged to be useless information.
"It's a bit interesting that the master of the Elkapad Clan was a player. But this seems too useless, don't you think? I'm pretty sure he died as soon as he came out through the Dimensional Gate."
"…Value is relative. For example, Goblin and I don't even know who 'he' is. It was useless information for us."
Although Fox's logic was valid, this was the Round Table, where the majority ruled.
"But at least we learned that there's someone like that in the world. Pfft."
"…Do you all agree?"
Everyone remained silent at her question, and that silence was the best answer.
In the end, Fox had to try for the fourth time.
"The master of the Tavern Clan has Number Nine."
It was information about a Single Numbered Item.
"The clan master of Tavern…"
"It's like putting pearls before swine. Pfft."
The jewel on the Round Table emitted a green light, and no one objected this time.
A Single Numbered Item was worth that much.
Honestly, it even felt like she was only sharing it now because she was saving it.
"I'll go next."
Goblin was next.
As expected of a former paladin, he shared information related to religion again.
"In the end, all the churches decided to withdraw their support for the royal family. They'll probably return to their neutral stance in a few days."
It was information that only someone in the core of the religious world would know, so he naturally passed.
"Pfft, then it's my turn."
The Clown made a shocking declaration as soon as it was his turn.
"I live in Noark."
What the hell is this bastard doing?
Did he get brain damage after being hit by my killing intent?
____________________
It was information that revealed his identity.
Everyone, including me, froze at his incomprehensible action.
"...!"
Ah, to be precise, everyone except for the Queen.
"Noark? Mr. Clown, you're also an interesting person!"
The Queen spoke to the Clown in an innocent voice.
But the Clown's gaze was fixed on me, showing no signs of moving.
I suddenly thought of the Evil Spirit Hunter.
That bastard also observed my expression like that after throwing bait.
'Don't tell me, he's trying to gauge my information network?'
That thought briefly crossed my mind.
So I also carefully observed his eyes.
He seemed relieved.
"You seem surprised, so I guess you didn't know who I was? Pfft."
What is he talking about, this crazy bastard?
"Crescent Moon said Mr. Lion seemed to know all our identities. I guess that's not the case."
It was a kind of probing.
He knew Lion was a formidable person, but just how formidable was he?
Was it just his individual strength?
Or was he an absolute being who also possessed a vast network of connections and information?
"How is it? Did you find it interesting?"
It was a rather efficient move, as he could even gain 'interesting' points on top of testing me.
But…
"Indeed."
…I chuckled and answered.
"It was an interesting trick."
The jewel, which had emitted a green light, lost its glow, indicating that the turn was over.
Now it was my turn.
I already had the information I was going to share.
"Clown is the Corpse Collector."
What are you trying to pull, you bastard?
-x-X-x-
The moment I spoke…
"...!"
…Clown gasped, his mask unable to conceal his shock.
His reaction was practically confirmation.
But could it be that the content itself was too shocking?
"The Corpse Collector…?"
The members looked at one spot hurriedly, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Towards the jewel on the round table.
The jewel soon emitted light.
A clear green light.
"…So it was true."
Everyone's gazes then shifted again.
Not towards the jewel, which had served its purpose, but towards the Clown, who seemed to have short-circuited.
"...."
Clown didn't say anything under their wary, or rather, hostile gazes.
Of course, it wasn't because he was uncomfortable with their gazes.
If that were the case, he wouldn't have revealed that he was from Noark.
'He's surprised that I know his identity.'
I wasn't originally planning to reveal it.
Well, it would be practically impossible for them to identify 'Bjorn Yandel' just from this…
…but I judged that the disadvantages outweighed the advantages.
'But for the situation to be set up like this…'
If I had revealed his identity first, Clown might have thought I had obtained that information recently.
But what about now?
[Crescent Moon said Mr. Lion seemed to know all our identities. I guess that's not the case.]
The Clown bastard naturally created this situation by provoking me.
No, that wasn't all.
He even revealed that he was from Noark. In other words, it meant he wasn't going to leave the gathering even if his identity was exposed.
'Well, since everyone knows he's a player, his identity isn't as important as the others.'
Thanks to that, I didn't have to hold back.
I could expose his identity and mess with him, and I could still maintain Plan B of keeping him around and extracting information from him.
And there were several additional benefits.
Now that his identity as a Noark resident was revealed, the members would naturally expect information about that place from him.
And it also solidified the Lion persona in front of the members and left the new member, Queen, with a false impression.
This was also a very important part for me.
The more veteran Lion seemed, the harder it would be for them to connect me with Bjorn Yandel.
It was a win-win situation.
"…A secret chat room with the Corpse Collector, I'm glad I came."
The Queen muttered, breaking the brief silence.
"…Pfft, you got me good."
Clown forced a laugh, as if trying to maintain his composure.
"...."
Goblin avoided making eye contact with the Clown after hearing the words 'Corpse Collector', and Fox and Antler looked at me with more wary gazes than the Clown.
"…So you really knew everything."
"Who the hell are you…?"
Yeah, that's it.
I tried to suppress my rising lips and acted indifferent, ignoring them. And as I did that, the attention naturally shifted back to the Clown.
"So, how do you feel about your identity being revealed? Corpse Collector."
Antler asked aggressively, as if he had a story.
But the Clown bastard didn't back down.
"…Pfft, well? How do I feel? Just that Mr. Lion is a more dangerous person than I thought?"
"You're still trying to act tough."
"Tsk, this is why you only see what you want to see. You think I care about you guys? It's not like I've been hiding like you."
He wasn't wrong.
But did they sense something from the nuance?
"…Don't tell me you're planning to stay in the gathering even after this?"
"Of course. Ah, but I don't want you to misunderstand and think I'm staying because of you guys. I'm staying because of Mr. Lion."
Honestly, I was a bit surprised by his reaction.
He's still acting friendly towards me, even after I hit him with killing intent and exposed his identity.
Is this bastard a punching bag?
That's when, as I was inwardly impressed…
…the battle of nerves between Antler and the Clown continued.
"By the way, Mr. Antler, you should watch your mouth. What if I come looking for you?"
"I'm not worried. I'm not stupid enough to reveal my identity like you."
"Pfft, are you really that confident? I can think of at least four suspects. What if I just kill them all? The answer will be among them, right?"
"Pfft, come at me if you want. Do you think I'm scared of you? You were just beaten up by a barbarian, and your arrogance hasn't changed."
"You… do you really want to die?"
Judging by the compliment that erupted, Antler was the winner.
Although the Clown unleashed his killing intent and pressured Antler, he didn't budge since they were at a similar level.
That's when…
"Everyone, stop it. We should all get along. Right?"
…the Queen intervened and mediated.
It was a bit funny.
What kind of newbie was this?
"Let's just continue with the next round. I didn't know before trying it, but it's very fun."
The two stopped their battle of nerves, perhaps impressed by the Queen's unbelievable social skills.
But just as we were about to move on to the next round…
"…I'll stop here."
…Fox declared her withdrawal.
It seemed like she didn't have any useful information left, after trying several times. It wasn't surprising since this happened sometimes.
However…
"I'll wait outside until it's over."
…Fox chose to wait outside after opening the door and leaving, instead of leaving the chat room.
It was the first time this had happened since I became a member.
"Please give me some time when it's over. I have something to tell you, Mr. Lion."
Something to tell me…
Is it related to her spacing out earlier?
"…Although you might already know."
Fox left after those meaningful words, and the second round began immediately.
_________________
The Queen was the first.
She shared information in a cheerful voice, as if she enjoyed the system of this gathering.
"Everyone knows the GM, right? But I wonder if you know this. Huhu! Many people misunderstand, but this community wasn't actually created by the GM."
Although her voice was confident, as if she didn't doubt she would pass, the jewel emitted a red light.
"Huh…?"
Antler muttered, looking at the flustered Queen,
"Lion already shared that information."
It was information I had shared at a previous gathering.
"…Mr. Lion knew about this?"
The Queen stared at me.
It seemed like her curiosity about me had grown even further.
Well, I felt the same way.
'Who is she?'
To know this information, which was high-level information that no one knew at the gathering…
'Could she be someone from the community's management team…?'
That's when, as that thought crossed my mind…
'Wait a minute.'
…a face I had only met once flashed through my mind.
The woman who guided me and explained things when I first entered this community.
'Come to think of it, her nickname was SoulQueens.'
And the woman also chose the Queen Mask.
The Clown said that people usually chose a mask that resembled them…
Could this be a coincidence?
And they're both blonde Caucasians?
'…Their voices also sound similar. Why didn't I think of this right away?'
Although I had that thought belatedly, it was only natural. After all, a person's impression changes drastically even if just their nose is hidden.
If it weren't for the 'Queen' point, I wouldn't have even thought of 'SoulQueens' unconsciously.
'I'm not sure yet, but it's better to assume that's her for now.'
While I was organizing the possibilities, the Queen shared new information and received another rejection.
"Hmm, then I guess it's better to go with confirmed recent information. A 6-person Bonding spell will be distributed within a few years. The entire exploration structure will change. How about it? Amazing, right—?"
Ha, just how many people are late to the party?
"Huh?"
The Queen looked flustered, seeing the red light on the jewel.
"Is there something wrong with this?"
"There's no way. It's information that's already been mentioned. It's been about six months, so there's about a year and a half left until the Bonding spell is released."
"Wow, even the time frame? The level here is really high."
The Clown laughed arrogantly as the Queen exclaimed in genuine admiration.
"Pfft, isn't it just that your level is low?"
He probably didn't mean it.
The Queen had shown an unwavering presence from the beginning.
'He's just saying that because he wants her to share more valuable information.'
Ah, for reference, Goblin shut his mouth and kept a low profile as soon as the 'level' talk came up.
He was incredibly perceptive.
"Hmm, this is a bit troublesome…"
The Queen said so, not sounding troubled at all, and made her third attempt.
"It's a lie that the King is sick."
…Huh?
__________________
The jewel on the round table emitted a green light at the Queen's words.
And that's why even greater confusion swept over the Round Table.
The reason was simple.
Information that was the complete opposite had already been mentioned by the Clown.
[The King of Lafdonia's condition has worsened.]
It was one of the Round Table's weaknesses.
If the person sharing the information was 100% certain, the jewel would emit a green light.
It only determined the sincerity, not the truth.
Well, if that weren't the case, they would have used this system to access all sorts of information.
"This is troublesome."
"Yes? Troublesome?"
Antler sighed and explained the situation to the Queen.
"Hmm, no one lied, but it means one of them is mistaken."
"That's right."
"Then it's only natural that my side is more credible, right? Everyone knows that the King is sick, but I'm the only one who's certain it's a lie."
"Pfft, where did you hear that nonsense?"
"Hmm, is this the level of the Corpse Collector?"
"…What did you just say?"
The Clown was enraged at the Queen's provocation.
But the Queen just retorted slyly.
"Then where did you hear that information, Mr. Clown? I met the King in person. Are you more certain than me?"
"…Anyone can say that."
"I can't believe the Corpse Collector is such a cheapskate. Here, I'll say it while touching the jewel. Then it's settled, right?"
The Queen then said she had met the King, and the jewel emitted a green light.
"...."
The Clown couldn't say anything.
How did this guy become such a pushover?
He's been getting beaten up all day.
"Another monster has joined, on top of Lion. A player who can contact the King…"
"It's not that much. I just had an opportunity."
The Queen, as befitting her mask, had imprinted her presence on the members from the very first gathering.
"Why are these kinds of people increasing…?"
Goblin, who was deflated by the newbie's performance, was a bonus.
"Then let's move on! It's your turn now, Mr. Goblin!"
"My, my turn?"
"Yes!"
The Queen naturally took the lead, exuding her aura. Goblin couldn't refuse and obediently took the next turn.
"They found a way to break through Noark's barrier at the Magic Tower yesterday. It seems like they can do it right away. Ah, but it requires thirty High Priests to pray together."
Right, so they finally found a way.
Maybe a second subjugation force would be formed soon.
"That's right, Corpse Collector."
"What are you bragging about? I heard the temple is withdrawing its support for the royal family."
"Do you really think a religious group can rebel against the royal family?"
"The royal family doesn't have 'him' anymore."
"Damn it, I wouldn't have said that if I knew you were one of them."
Antler and the Clown started bickering, seizing the opportunity.
"Um… aren't you going to stop them this time?"
Goblin subtly hinted at the Queen, but she just watched with interest.
"Why? I think this is also a form of entertainment."
"I, I see?"
The Queen also ignored their battle of nerves, and the conversation seemed to be going on endlessly, but the winner was quickly decided.
"Ah, right. Congratulations. You got a new title, right?"
"…What do you mean?"
The Clown reacted as if he didn't know.
"Hoo, you don't know? Your new title is 'Toy Collector'."
"Oh my, how indecent."
The Queen covered her mouth with her hand as if she knew something, and Antler continued explaining, unable to hide his amusement.
"Toy Collector. It's because you're like a child."
"I'm like a child…?"
The Clown seemed confused.
Antler exaggeratedly tilted his head, as if he had expected that reaction.
"Why? Am I wrong? It's famous that Bjorn Yandel keeps talking about it at drinking parties."
"That, that bastard…?"
The Clown's voice started to tremble, as if he was starting to understand.
It was the perfect time to deliver the final blow.
"You're small, aren't you?"
Antler, as expected of a veteran, didn't miss the opportunity and stabbed him in the heart.
Crack.
I heard something breaking from the Clown's mouth.
I apologized inwardly.
"...."
Ah, sorry, sorry.
I repeatedly asked him to keep it a secret…
"Pfft."
…and this happened?
Goblin chuckled, and the Clown's cold gaze turned towards him.
"Ahem, ahem!"
Goblin avoided his gaze, clearing his throat as if to say he wasn't laughing, but coughing.
Antler intervened and defended him.
"Why are you picking on Goblin? It's not his fault that you ended up in a small body."
The Clown didn't respond to his sarcastic remark.
He just glared at them, trembling with humiliation.
'Is he not going to come back after this?'
That worry briefly crossed my mind, but fortunately, Clown was a professional.
"…Pfft."
He forced a smile, even though it was a situation where anyone would understand if he burst into tears.
"Such childish tricks."
I had a hunch about what he was trying to do.
The only way to turn the tables in this one-sided exchange.
"It's not even my real body, do you think I would be hurt by something like that?"
A mental victory.
'This guy is something else.'
Although his lines were confident, his voice was overflowing with anger.
But what about Antler?
His eyes were filled with amusement.
It was a situation where the winner was already decided.
However, Antler was a ruthless man who didn't show any mercy.
"Hmm, so you're admitting that you're small?"
Is this man a demon?
"...."
Clown, who was being hit below the belt until the very end, finally chose to remain silent. He realized that he would only be hurt if he continued talking.
"Real men."
The Queen chuckled as the situation ended.
I felt embarrassed for them.
Well, it would be pathetic to see grown men bickering over something like this.
Anyway, the brief commotion ended, and the gathering continued.
"We got sidetracked. Then I'll continue."
Antler announced the resumption of the meeting and shared his information.
"The royal family captured a spy from Noark three days ago. It seems like they smuggled a few people to the surface before activating the barrier."
A captured spy…
I wonder if it's Amelia, but I don't think so.
She didn't seem like the type to be easily caught.
"They're planning to kill him after extracting all the information. Ah, of course, after torturing him to the point where he wants to die."
Antler then spoke to Clown, who was from Noark, as if to tease him.
'Antler is definitely from the royal family…'
Another achievement from the conflict with the Clown.
"Pfft, how naive. Do you think I would bat an eye at the death of a few insignificant bugs who couldn't even protect themselves?"
Although his words were dismissive, his voice was filled with displeasure.
He probably didn't like the fact that Antler was acting so arrogantly, regardless of the spy's life.
"Then it's my turn."
The Clown spoke as soon as Antler's turn ended, as if to counterattack.
"An assassin will be sent to Bjorn Yandel soon."
…Huh? Suddenly?
"They're trying to make him a hero, right? It would be fun if he died as soon as he received a noble title. The royal family's prestige would plummet!"
Ha, so this is what it means to be caught in the crossfire.
I was momentarily flustered at being mentioned out of the blue, and then anger welled up inside me.
'An assassin, when I'm not even fully recovered yet…'
But the silver lining was that I was able to learn about it beforehand.
And was it the same for Antler?
"Idiot."
He clicked his tongue and retorted.
"To kindly warn the enemy because you can't control your emotions, you're truly a child."
"Tsk, where does that confidence come from? That you can stop it just because you know?"
Their battle of nerves was about to begin again.
Although it was fun at first, I was starting to get bored, so I intervened and ended it.
"It's my turn now."
The room became quiet in an instant as I spoke after a long silence.
I glanced at the members.
And I fixed my gaze on the Queen and said,
"Another world's evil spirit created Ghostbusters."
Tsk, I was saving this.
_____________________
It was a preemptive strike.
I was saving it to use as a reward if someone told me something 'interesting'…
[This community wasn't actually created by the GM?]
…but the Queen, who knew that the GM didn't create the community, would also know that a different world's evil spirit created it.
I judged that it was better to use it before it became useless.
I was running out of cards to establish Lion's authority—
"Another world's evil spirit created it…"
Huh?
"Right, so that was it."
The Queen nodded as if something had clicked as the jewel emitted a green light.
What, she didn't know?
'…I thought she would know, being an administrator.'
Then could it be that she wasn't 'SoulQueens'?
That thought briefly crossed my mind, but I wasn't sure yet. Maybe the Master didn't tell her about it.
That's when…
"Wa, wait! Another world's evil spirit? What do you mean? Are you saying there are players besides those from Earth?"
…Goblin asked me in surprise after a moment of silence.
But there was only one thing I could do.
"That's for you to interpret."
If he really wanted me to answer, he could bring me something interesting.
Although I would still judge it as boring.
"…I've heard that there are such beings. But I thought it was just a rumor."
Antler, who had been lost in thought for a while, also exclaimed in astonishment as if he had heard an amazing secret.
'Baekho really is amazing.'
This piece of information, as well as most of the information that made Lion who he is now, came from Lee Baekho.
"Pfft, it's a good thing I stayed."
Even the Clown, who had been getting beaten up throughout the gathering, nodded in satisfaction, as if he found my information interesting.
It seemed like he thought I was good at playing dumb.
"…This is getting more interesting."
The Queen, with enthusiastic eyes, suggested we continue with another round, but unfortunately, the gathering ended here.
Because Goblin raised the white flag.
"I, I don't have anything else to say, so I'll be leaving."
"Then I'll stop here too. It doesn't seem like we'll be able to find information that all four of us don't know."
Antler also declared his non-participation, and the gathering naturally ended.
"Then I'll be going."
The Clown, who usually stayed and chatted with the members, left as soon as the gathering ended.
Well, it would be awkward to chat after his identity was revealed.
"Pfft, then please bring something interesting next time."
The Clown, still acting friendly even after being exposed.
Honestly, it was a bit ridiculous…
But his attitude of being strong only to the weak was admirable.
As expected, there's a reason why he's survived for so long.
"Then I'll be going too."
I got up and opened the door, and I saw Fox leaning against the wall in the empty hallway, waiting for me.
"Ah, is it over?"
She guided me to a small reception room nearby, not the main room with the round table, as I nodded.
Oh, so there was a room like this here.
"...."
An awkward silence fell between us as we sat on the sofas facing each other.
But it would be a rookie mistake to speak first.
I waited patiently, and Fox finally opened her mouth.
"Um… thank you for your time."
"Get to the point."
Fox flinched at my curt words and then asked cautiously,
"Do you… happen to know why I called you…?"
Of course, I didn't.
But it would also be a rookie mistake to answer honestly here.
"Are you testing me?"
I muttered coldly.
"N, no! Th, that's not it…!"
"It doesn't seem that urgent."
I then pretended to get up from my seat.
Because I was the one who was in a hurry.
Although I didn't know the details, that much was certain.
She wouldn't have bothered creating a separate space otherwise.
'Something must have happened that requires Lion's power or information.'
I had time to organize my thoughts about Fox's situation while the Round Table was in progress.
And I judged that if I used this well, I might be able to figure out her identity.
Then, what about reality?
"Please, I'm begging you. If you know about my situation, help me."
Fox pleaded earnestly.
But I could sense that she didn't completely trust me.
If I knew about her situation…
'As expected, she's asking for my help after seeing that I know the Clown bastard's identity.'
If her identity was already revealed, she wouldn't have anything to lose by receiving my help, and if it wasn't, she would think about it a bit more.
Geez, how cunning.
"You're still trying to look down on me."
I got up from my seat as if there was nothing more to see.
In the first place, there was nothing I could do for her in my current state.
I only knew the Clown's identity.
I didn't know anything about Fox's situation.
Therefore…
"You're not desperate enough."
…I said.
That wasn't the way to ask for a favor from Lion.
"Come back when you're more desperate."
Fox shouted hurriedly as I got up and headed towards the door.
"Ju, just tell me! Whether you know or not!"
There was a hint of frustration in her voice.
I couldn't help but chuckle at her unexpected innocence.
"Why should I?"
"That's—"
I refused to let her answer and said,
"Because it seems more fun this way."
Damn right, this is Lion.
_____________________
A spacious room reminiscent of a hotel suite.
"I wonder what those two are talking about now?"
A man lying on the bed muttered to himself and got up.
"Eh, why am I even curious? They never tell me anything anyway."
Actually, it was a familiar situation to the man.
He had often felt like an outsider among his friends since his school days.
Well, he was lucky.
He was able to live in a place like this because the cryptocurrency he bought out of boredom had hit the jackpot.
But what was the point now?
"Whew, less than five hours left."
The man checked the time and sat down at the table in the living room, typing on his laptop.
It was his only hobby, something he did once a month.
Chatting in this virtual space made him feel like he was back in his original world.
"Bjorn Yandel…"
The forum he was browsing was filled with stories about one man.
Right, this was the main topic today.
[Did you hear that Bjorn Yandel is becoming a noble?]
-I'm so envious. Many people say he's a player, but what does it matter? At that level, I would also want to live here, player or not.
The man spent his free time posting comments on various posts.
[Bling0_0: I agree. If you're a noble, you can have multiple wives. I would live here too. I heard his companions are all very pretty.]
[└arolf5205: Misha is the legal wife. I saw her from afar, she's really cute.]
[└Ykbell: I like Erwen, the fairy.]
[└cherylvander: For a real man, it's obviously that barbarian woman, right?]
Replies poured in as he subtly trolled in popular posts.
The man frowned as he was reading them.
[Pnec: Idiot. I can tell your level just by the fact that you're envious of that trash barbarian.]
Okay, this guy was today's target.
The man chuckled.
Because he knew.
That these kinds of people who didn't receive a proper upbringing were the most satisfying to hit.
'Come to think of it, that kind of insult worked well.'
The man chuckled, recalling the incident from earlier.
Although his opponent started attacking him personally…
[└Bling0_0: Yeah, yours is 3cm. One-tenth of Bjorn's. Are you trembling with envy?]
Ding!
A notification soon popped up, indicating that a reply had been posted.
[└Pnec: …Damn it, who are you?]
It was a slightly unexpected reaction.
[└Bling0_0: What? Is it really 3cm?]
[└Pnec: Why are there so many weirdos? Just get lost.]
[└Bling0_0: Yeah, I'm not going anywhere. The one who's getting lost is your future wife. Even a kind woman can't endure 3cm and will run away. That's why you can't even get a concubine, even though you're a noble.]
[└Pnec: …Hey, where do you live?]
As expected, compliments soon erupted.
The man grinned and continued to cling to him tenaciously.
[└cherylvander: I was wondering what was going on with all the notifications, what the hell are these two doing here? LOL.]
[└Ykbell: Everyone, stop it. As someone who graduated from MIT, I can tell that this is a complete defeat for 3cm.]
[└1spring: But judging by how he's talking, I think he's really 3cm.]
Other users, who were watching the fight like it was a spectacle, joined in the mockery, and his opponent eventually deleted all his comments and ran away.
'That bastard, how pathetic.'
The man stretched, feeling refreshed after his victory.
After some time…
…it was time for the community to close.
"Parab! Parab!"
When he opened his eyes, a priest next to him was quietly calling his name and shaking his shoulder.
"What are you doing, sleeping?!"
"Ah, I apologize…"
The man quickly apologized and then listened to the bishop's words from the pulpit.
No, to be precise, he pretended to listen.
This wasn't a world where he could reveal his true nature.
He had to act like a devout paladin.
'Ha, I should have chosen a different class if I knew it would be this hard.'
Today's evening prayer ended after about an hour. But the man spent some time chatting with his companions before returning to his room.
But could it be because he had just been to the community?
His companion asked with concern as he just listened, too tired to talk,
"Parab, are you okay? You don't look well."
"Don't tell me it's because of that incident? Let it go. It's not your fault that you couldn't enter the labyrinth because you had an upset stomach."
"It's a good thing you're alive."
"God helped you."
Although his companions were misunderstanding, he didn't correct them.
He just nodded with a bitter smile.
"Right, I should let it go."
Actually, he didn't even have an upset stomach.
He just made an excuse because he had a bad feeling and wanted to rest.
He couldn't describe how relieved he was when he saw the pillars of fire erupting from the Dimensional Plaza the next day.
"Why don't you go back to your room and rest?"
"No, I'll stay here. I think I'll be better off here."
"…If that's what you want."
His companions' chatter continued.
The barbarian was also the topic of conversation here.
"That guy, he's becoming a noble, right?"
"It's a good thing. I heard he's a truly noble person from the priest who was with us that day."
As expected of religious people who valued humility, his companions praised the new hero without any envy or suspicion.
'Geez, this is so boring.'
It was difficult to find the freedom of the community here.
The man couldn't help but blurt out, feeling suffocated,
"Isn't he a bit suspicious?"
"Suspicious?"
"To gain that much fame in just one year, it's not normal."
"That's true, but…"
"Maybe he's an evil spirit?"
Although he said it jokingly, he meant it.
Although the general consensus in the community was that he wasn't a player…
…he thought it didn't make sense unless he was.
Then, what about his companions' opinions?
"...."
Silence fell at his words.
Of course, it didn't last long.
"Hahahahahaha!"
His companions all burst into laughter.
"An evil spirit? There's no way."
"Captain Krovitz likes him. It's not good to suspect him like that."
"What kind of evil spirit would sacrifice their life for their companions?"
"Your jokes are a bit much today!"
The man felt his face flush.
Of course, it wasn't an unfamiliar experience.
He had always been teased and ostracized like this since he was young.
'Right, I was wrong again.'
The man sighed deeply and returned to his room.
It was a common occurrence.
-x-X-x-
"So, how was it?"
SoulQueens, a blonde woman, pondered for a moment at the man's question and then answered,
"It was a very interesting place."
It was the most fitting expression.
A place where the Corpse Collector was just an ordinary member, and even he was completely powerless? She didn't know such a chat room existed in the community.
But…
"You're not really curious about my personal impressions, are you?"
SoulQueens chuckled as if teasing him, and the man didn't deny it.
After all, there was another reason why he sent her to 'Watchers of the Round Table'.
[Maybe Watchers of the Round Table is a group they created to avoid our eyes.]
A spy sent by the royal family.
Or a player from another world.
He sent her there to confirm those two possibilities.
Then what was the result?
SoulQueens smiled and added,
"It seems like Love's intuition was right again."
"Which one?"
"As expected, Watchers of the Round Table seems to be a place created by players from another world."
"I need to hear more details."
SoulQueens slowly explained what happened there.
Lion, who exuded an overwhelming presence.
Clown, whose identity as the Corpse Collector was revealed.
Antler, who was presumed to be from the royal family, and Goblin, who seemed out of place because he was so ordinary.
"Hmm, I'm not sure about Miss Fox. It doesn't seem like she's the quiet type, but I didn't really get to talk to her this time."
But Fox was a woman to be wary of.
After all, she asked Lion for a conversation at the end.
What if it was a 'meeting' of some sort?
"You suspect the member named Lion."
"Yes, if there's a player from another world among them, it's definitely him."
The man then asked for the basis, and SoulQueens answered without hesitation.
"He almost mentally contaminated the Corpse Collector with just his killing intent. Judging by how he stopped right at the threshold, it seemed like he had a lot of room to spare."
That alone was clear evidence.
It was impossible for an ordinary human with ordinary mental strength.
Unless he was a player from another dimension who had fallen into this world hundreds of years ago and survived.
And there was more evidence.
Lion said this during the second round:
[Another world's evil spirit created Ghostbusters.]
He casually revealed a piece of information that very few people knew, as if he knew that the GM didn't create the community.
As if he knew their identities.
That's when she was certain.
[Right, so that was it.]
That dangerous man wasn't just an ordinary player.
"Come to think of it, he said he knew the Corpse Collector's identity from the beginning, right?"
"Yes, for reference, the members were expecting Lion to know their identities."
"…That's suspicious."
Security within the community was absolute.
Even he, who had taken over the administrator privileges and created the current Ghostbusters, couldn't figure out their identities.
"How do you think he knew their identities?"
"Well, if he really knew, there are two possibilities."
The man presented two possibilities at SoulQueens' question.
"One, Lion is on par with the Archmage from another world who created this subspace, or he has someone like that as a companion. And the second…"
"The second is that Lion is working with the one who created Watchers of the Round Table, right?"
"Yes, that's right. Since the current members were all gathered by that 'Master', it's only natural that he would know if he was informed."
"But then it doesn't make sense that he knows my identity."
"We're not sure yet, are we? Try throwing some bait next time. To see if he really knows your identity, SoulQueens."
"Okay."
"Anyway, then information about the Master is important now. Did you find out anything?"
"I haven't met the Master yet. But I heard from Mr. Goblin after the gathering that he visited this place on the day there was a strange login record."
"Then it means that the person who secretly entered the community that day was nickname '0720'."
"It seems like that's the case. I wanted to find out more, but Mr. Goblin still seems wary of me…"
They continued talking for about an hour.
It wasn't just about 'Watchers of the Round Table'.
The recent incident.
The countless players who died.
How to efficiently increase the recruitment of new members.
And…
"What are you going to do about Lee Baekho? He's running around the Magic Tower, trying to find Love. He's just one of the many suspects now, but it doesn't seem like you can hide your identity forever…"
…the most troublesome incident that happened recently.
"Baekho is still thinking about it. It seems like he's become enemies with the royal family, but… he has to be careful. It might be a trap."
"Okay, I'll leave that to Love."
That's when, as they were having a conversation about various things…
"Elov, how's the investigation on that person going?"
"It will take some time to recover the data since all his posts were deleted. But he has quite a lot of GP."
"Did he receive it from Baekho?"
"No, he earned most of it on the first day. By selling some high-level information."
SoulQueens then explained that it was information that anyone who had played the game to some extent would know, and that it would take some time to recover his deleted posts and comments.
"Hmm, I see…"
The man tapped his index finger on the armrest as if organizing his thoughts.
There was one reason why he investigated 'Elfnunna'.
He judged that there was a possibility that 'Bjorn Yandel' and 'Elfnunna' were the same person.
Bjorn Yandel.
A barbarian who showed an unprecedented growth rate.
He unusually chose a shield during his coming-of-age ceremony.
Elfnunna.
He easily obtained GP by selling information about the game in the community.
And he was a 'Korean' whom Lee Baekho considered as his hyung.
This was a very important point for the man.
If they were the same person, there was a chance that he was 'that person' whom he had been waiting for—
'…Wait a minute.'
A thought suddenly crossed his mind, and he subtly spoke.
"SoulQueens."
"Yes?"
"Did you say that Lion was Asian?"
"Yes, you can't hide your skin color, even with a mask."
As expected of a Western game, the percentage of Asians among players was very low.
Just look at Lee Baekho.
He opened a chat room, waiting for a Korean, but it took him years to meet a fellow countryman.
And that fellow countryman was 'Elfnunna'.
The one who was suspected to be the same person as 'Bjorn Yandel'.
"The only identity Lion clearly revealed was the Clown's, right?"
The man adjusted his posture and asked.
"Uh, it's hard to say for sure since this was my first visit, but it seemed like that was the case based on the atmosphere."
"I see…"
The man trailed off, lost in thought.
After all, 'Bjorn Yandel' was the one who fought the 'Corpse Collector' most recently.
Could this really be just a coincidence?
Of course, it was still just a far-fetched hypothesis since he hadn't even figured out if he was the same person as 'Elfnunna'.
But that's why…
"When is Bjorn Yandel's title bestowal ceremony?"
"I think it's in three days."
"Three days…"
The man then made a decision.
"I'll be going out for the first time in a while."
He decided to meet him in person instead of just worrying.
_________________
"Hey, wake up, wake up! Wake uuuup!"
The next morning after visiting the community…
…I woke up to Misha's back smash.
Although I was exhausted after using killing intent for the first time in a while…
"What did you do yesterday to be so weak in the morning?!"
…it was better to wake up on time after visiting the community.
If there was anyone who knew about this place, they might find it suspicious that I was sleeping in on this day.
And there were many eyes on me now.
'That damn assassin bastard is coming too…'
Although I just collapsed from exhaustion yesterday, it seemed like I wouldn't be able to sleep properly from now on.
Ha, this is so annoying.
'Why can't everyone just leave me alone?'
I wouldn't even be able to fight properly in my current state. I sighed, but I quickly washed my face and went down to the 1st floor to have breakfast with everyone.
It was a slightly unfamiliar sight.
Because there was one more person at the breakfast table.
"Di, did you wake up?"
"Of course. Don't just stand there awkwardly, come sit down. The food will get cold."
"Ye, yes!"
Erwen sat down at the table and ate her food timidly, looking nervous.
"...."
An awkward silence fell over the table. Fortunately, Misha sensed the atmosphere and spoke cheerfully,
"So, how is it? My cooking?"
"It, it's delicious… Thank you…"
"Tell me if there's anything you want to eat. I'll make it for you tonight. Ah, and let me know if there are any ingredients you can't eat."
Misha, as always, was considerate.
"Carrots! I can't eat carrots!"
Ainar interjected and then got hit on the back.
Phew, that wouldn't work.
Even I tried ten times, but I failed every time.
She said we had to eat these things properly since we were always just eating meat.
'I appreciate the thought…'
Tsk, barbarians have their own way of life.
"I, I'll do the dishes!"
Ainar left for the sanctuary after breakfast, as always, and the three of us spent some time together.
The atmosphere wasn't bad.
It felt like the hierarchy was completely established.
"Erwen, come sit here. We need to talk."
"Okay!"
"This might be a bit insensitive to ask, but what are you going to do? Our team is already full."
"That's…"
Erwen trailed off and glanced at me.
She must be wondering if she could talk about the clan.
Well, there was no reason why she couldn't…
…but I didn't have the energy for a long conversation right now, so I just brushed it off.
"It's too early to talk about that, Misha. We don't even know if we can enter the labyrinth next month."
"That's… true."
Honestly, it would be wise to stop exploring for a while until this situation ended.
We didn't have any financial problems right now.
'…The most annoying thing is that even the city isn't safe.'
The Dragonslayer.
The Corpse Collector.
Noark's assassins.
And the royal family's unpredictable moves.
There were too many reasons why I had to become stronger quickly.
But…
'It's better to observe the situation until it calms down.'
I suppressed my impatience.
There's a saying, 'more haste, less speed', right?
'I should talk to Raven about this later.'
Anyway, the three of us had tea and chatted.
Erwen, who was initially nervous and uncomfortable, surprisingly calmed down quickly after Misha treated her kindly.
'It seems like she came to terms with her sister's death before coming here.'
Thanks to that, I also felt relieved.
Although she would inevitably carry a heavy burden from now on, Erwen had gotten back on her feet.
So she would definitely be able to move forward.
"Huh? You have a younger sister?"
"Yes, she's still young, so she's staying at the sanctuary. When she becomes an adult… I'll have to take care of her. Just like my sister did for me…"
"Nyaha, don't worry too much. You still have a lot of time left, right? You'll be much more well-off by then."
"Really…?"
Erwen and Misha were having a surprisingly heartwarming conversation. But Erwen suddenly bowed.
"I, I didn't properly apologize back then, did I? I'm, I'm sorry, I don't know what was wrong with me…"
"…What apology? It's fine. Actually, something good came out of it."
I tilted my head.
Back then?
Did something happen between them that required an apology?
"Bu, but are you okay, Misha…?"
"Why wouldn't I be okay? My thoughts have changed a lot since then… and in the first place, I'm not in a position to…"
Misha glanced at me as she spoke.
I felt a chill run down my spine.
That's when…
Knock, knock.
…we heard a knock on the front door.
"I'll get it."
I quickly got up and walked towards the door.
Normally, I would have just opened the door, but I had heard that an assassin might come.
So I asked who it was first.
"I'm Raymond Keplo, a knight of the 2nd Royal Knight Order."
The knight politely introduced himself, perhaps because I was about to become a Viscount.
I checked through the peephole, and he was wearing proper armor, and there were other knights behind him.
'It doesn't seem like a lie.'
I opened the door because I also had a hunch.
And I confirmed their purpose while facing them.
It was good news after a long time.
"We received orders from our superiors."
"Orders?"
"To protect you from any potential threats."
Right, so Antler made a move.