Chapter 126 - Veteran (5)

The rank-three monster, Bandemon.

It was among the easier rank-three monsters to defeat, but several conditions governing its appearance made it a rare variety that was difficult even to encounter.

That was why I had chosen it for my first contribution. Even players who used cheat mode were unlikely to have much experience killing Bandemon. They were even less likely to have killed it with just three people.

'More importantly, knowing this won't do them any good.'

That had actually been the biggest factor in my decision.

Bandemon was hard to encounter, and killing it with three people was harder still. This wasn't cheat mode, where you could absorb up to thirty Essences. In short, it was the sort of information that should have elicited no more than, "That was a thing? Interesting."

Yes, that was certainly how it should have gone...

"Is that really true?! Oh, oh! I'm not doubting you. Really. You know that, right?"

Starting with Fox, who sprang to her feet to ask a question before hastily making excuses, everyone was reacting rather strangely.

"... Killing Bandemon with three people?"

"If I recall correctly, Bandemon is a rank-three monster. Is that even possible...?"

They reacted as though they had heard something utterly absurd.

"Then let's move on."

I passed the turn along as though it were nothing. In truth, I wanted to divert their attention away from me, but thanks to my mysterious image, no one noticed.

"Fortunately, it turned green."

After Stag Horns, who was last, shared some information and received approval, the round came to an end.

According to the notice I had read on entering, the participants would now discuss whether to go another round...

"I'll stop here for today."

When Crescent Moon, who hadn't prepared much, announced that he would bow out after the first round, the mood shifted toward ending the gathering.

"Hmm, then I'll stop here too. I'll save what I was going to use today for the next gathering."

"If Fox is out, I'll stop as well. I've prepared plenty... but information those two don't know? I'm not at all confident."

After Fox and Stag Horns declined to continue for their respective reasons, Clown looked at me and spoke in an inviting tone.

"What will you do, Mr. Lion? I wouldn't mind continuing with just the two of—"

"I'll stop here as well."

"What? Why?"

I merely shrugged, keeping my words to myself.

Of course, I would have loved to go as many rounds as possible and gather information...

'But if it's just the two of us, I might get exposed.'

The risk was too great. If he offered some information to test me and the light turned green, it could expose me as a newbie. Besides, trading one piece of information for just one in return wasn't particularly efficient.

"Hmm, what a shame. I've finally met someone who could be useful to me, and we're already finished."

With those words, dripping with reluctance, Clown brought the gathering to a close.

But what was this?

"..."

Even though the gathering had ended, nobody left the chatroom. They merely watched in silence. They pretended otherwise, but it wasn't hard to notice that their attention was on me. They seemed to expect me to leave them with a few words before departing.

'... Right. I was the star of today's show.'

I gave a faint chuckle, but considered the matter seriously.

This was my first gathering. Today, I had successfully established a persona that would keep these veterans from looking down on me.

So what would best suit that persona?

"..."

Clown, Stag Horns, Fox, Crescent Moon.

I slowly studied each of the four veterans I had met today.

And then...

"Is this all you amount to?"

I left without another word.

* * *

"He's gone..."

The instant Mr. Lion left, Fox let out a long breath she had been holding.

"Fox, are you all right?"

Crescent Moon asked cautiously as he looked at her. He hadn't specified what he meant, but it was obvious. Things really had been dangerous earlier.

"... I'm fine."

Bloodlust.

The intent to kill someone.

An intangible force that ordinarily only those with keen senses could even perceive. In this special space, however, where minds connected directly to other minds, things were a little different.

"Are you truly all right? Your fingertips haven't stopped trembling."

Without the body to act as a filter, exposure to Bloodlust etched overwhelming terror into the mind. Of course, that was usually the extent of it... but in severe cases, the spiritual body suffered serious damage, with aftereffects that persisted even in the real world.

"It'll stop soon. Fortunately, it didn't reach the point of mental contamination."

Despite her words, Fox felt faint at the thought. What would have happened if Mr. Lion had withdrawn his Bloodlust even a little later? Just thinking about it sent chills down her spine. She might not have gone mad, but she could have developed a speech impediment, such as a stutter.

"Just who is he...?"

Fox voiced the question she had been holding back.

The first newcomer in the year since the Master had disappeared. Bloodlust she had barely endured for a few seconds, despite considering her mental defenses fairly strong.

It made her wonder what someone would have to experience for their mental fortitude to reach such heights... but the truly astonishing part was something else.

"The moment he noticed I was at my limit, he erased his Bloodlust. All at once, too."

"... So I wasn't imagining it."

The Bloodlust that had been crushing them had vanished in less than a second. It was difficult to explain in any terms.

Erasing, in a single instant, intent given form through extreme concentration? Was that even possible for a human mind?

'Why did I have to step forward then, of all times...? '

While Fox regretted her rash actions, Stag Horns spoke.

"More importantly, what do you think of what he said earlier?"

"About Bandemon?"

"Yes."

"It couldn't have been... a lie. The light of truth did come on, after all."

Of course, the Round Table's jewel wasn't infallible. If the speaker firmly believed something to be true without a shred of doubt, the jewel would glow green.

But...

"Somehow, I don't think he's mistaken."

"I... agree. Which is why I'm so confused."

For Mr. Lion's information to be true, one prerequisite had to be met.

Three people had to kill Bandemon.

"He must mean in the game, of course, but it still sounds utterly far-fetched to me."

"Wouldn't it be possible in fifty-times mode or so? Though I doubt Lion cleared the game on that difficulty."

Crescent Moon joined in with a smile at Stag Horns's muttering.

And at that moment...

"Hmm, you're all assuming Mr. Lion learned that in the game?"

Clown's pointed remark brought a moment of silence.

"..."

Of course, it lasted only a brief moment. All three forced smiles and shook their heads.

"... Ha ha, surely not."

"Clown, you always have the strangest things to say."

Fox didn't voice her denial like the other two, but she felt much the same. Killing Bandemon with three people was difficult even in the game. How could anyone accomplish that here?

"Tsk. You all lack imagination."

Clown clicked his tongue, seemingly displeased.

"Never mind. I hope you'll put some effort into preparing next time."

"Preparing?"

"Information! Information! What was that supposed to be? Someone like him finally shows up, and we have to send him straight back because we're short a few pieces of information. Will you take responsibility if he loses interest in this place? Who knows what he might tell us in the future?"

"Now, losing interest is a bit of an exaggera—"

"Didn't you hear what he said earlier? He was obviously disappointed! Disappointed!"

"A-ahem..."

"If you really have nothing useful, at least find something sensational and entertaining. I'm not going to let you cost me an opportunity like this. Understood?"

At Clown's barbs, the three clamped their mouths shut. They said nothing, maintaining an awkward silence.

Observer of the Round Table.

A secret forum for exchanging information whose very existence was unknown to ordinary players. The three had taken a certain pride in being members.

But...

["Is this all you amount to?"]

Those few words had shattered it all.

That cold, seemingly derisive gaze had made them realize it had all been arrogance. Watching him leave without looking back, they had admitted it in spite of themselves.

Observer of the Round Table.

In the end, to some people, even this place was just another narrow well.

* * *

'That was an interesting place.'

I opened my eyes, feeling utterly satisfied. I was in Lee Hansoo's room, where the bed and computer desk were crammed together. After checking the time, I closed my eyes again.

'Observer of the Round Table, huh...?'

The community Lee Baekho had told me about was more useful than I had imagined. It was just the right place to obtain what I lacked most: high-level information.

'I'll have to hang on until the whole damn thing goes under.'

Of course, that would require me to keep up my persona. They probably couldn't kick me out immediately if they discovered I was a newbie, but their attempts to uncover my identity would become far more direct.

'Anyway, I'll organize the information I can share there tomorrow... '

I turned my thoughts to another subject.

[Sergeant Lee]

Lee Baekho.

The embodiment of bad luck, summoned here on his discharge day after clearing the game he hadn't managed to finish on leave... and a player so far beyond a veteran that you could practically smell the stagnation.

Honestly, I still didn't quite know how to feel. It was like having someone sneak gifts into my pockets.

'I'll have to thank Baekho next time we meet.'

I had only dropped in because I missed other Koreans, and I had ended up making an incredible connection. Of course, I had no intention of leaving it a one-sided relationship where I only received. That wasn't the sort of relationship I wanted... and Lee Baekho was certainly no pushover, either.

'Exactly. Knowing not to overstep while you're still on good terms is how you make a relationship last.'

With that, I finished my musings, sat down at the computer, and spent some time in the community. Unlike last time, I sold bits of information to earn GP, then spent my remaining time browsing the boards and visiting chatrooms to get used to the atmosphere.

Before I knew it, my second community session was over.

「Your character is being transported to Raphdonia.」

Bjorn's room, not Lee Hansoo's.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I checked the clock. Once again, hardly any time had passed.

'... This would be perfect if it weren't so tiring.'

I had stayed awake for about twelve extra hours during the time I normally slept, so the mental fatigue was considerable. Or was it simply because I had overused Bloodlust?

Whatever the cause, it was a relief I had cleared my entire schedule for tomor—

"Bjorn! How long are you going to keep sleeping, nyah!"

Fuck.

I had only closed my eyes for a moment, but there was Misha. The window was bright too; morning had apparently already arrived.

"Just a little longer..."

"Ugh, what do you mean, a little longer, nyah? You're always calling me lazy, nyah. Did you stay up all night at the library again, nyah?"

"No, that's not it."

Since Misha was particular about meals, I obediently got up, ate with her, then collapsed back into bed.

How much time passed after that?

When I slowly opened my eyes and looked toward the window, a dim orange glow lay on the glass.

"You're only getting up now that the sun's setting? What on earth did you do yesterday, nyah?"

"I just didn't sleep very well."

"... You, nyah?"

Her reaction stung a little, but I had no real comeback. This barbarian body fell asleep the instant I decided to sleep.

"But... don't tell me you've been here all this time?"

"Of course not, nyah. I finished my morning training, met Dwalki for a bit, and even visited my family home, nyah."

"What? Wait, you met Dwalki...?"

"Yes. He said something was troubling him, so I gave him a little advice, nyah."

Misha spoke as though it were nothing, but knowing how Dwalki felt, I couldn't take it that lightly. Even in [Dungeon and Stone], romance between companions was a shortcut to bloodshed.

"So... what was troubling him?"

"Hmm... It's someone else's private business, though, nyah..."

Hey now, you're going to hurt this barbarian's feelings.

"Since when are we strangers?"

"True... Well, I suppose it's fine to tell you, Bjorn, nyah."

When I subtly let my hurt show, Misha readily spilled someone else's concerns. From what she told me, it was ordinary relationship advice. Apparently, he had fallen for someone and couldn't decide whether to confess his feelings.

'I never thought anyone actually did that... '

I let out an incredulous chuckle, but asked another question to make sure.

"So what did you tell him?"

"Hmm? I just told him to be a man and confess, nyah."

"I see..."

That was more or less the answer I had expected. This was Misha, who had reached twenty-five without so much as an ordinary romance. As was clear from the way she usually acted around me, she had no interest in relations between men and wom—

"But, a-about that, nyah..."

Misha suddenly averted her eyes and trailed off. Her face looked oddly red.

What was this? The sunset?

While I was wondering, Misha grabbed my hand.

"Bjorn, if you don't mind, could you come along to my house tomorrow, nyah?"

"... Come along with you?"

Not come over?

I asked because her wording didn't seem to fit, but Misha merely nodded.

"Yes, yes. Couldn't you, nyah? I'll keep doing what you tell me, nyah. Please, nyah?"

For a moment, I wondered what on earth was going on, but it didn't take me long to figure it out. She wouldn't act like this just to invite me to her lodgings.

"By your house, don't tell me you mean your family home...?"

At my question, Misha bowed her head deeply.

"Yes, nyah..."

I could feel a nervous tremble in her hand.

Had the sun sunk lower already? The sunset shining through the window onto Misha had deepened in color.

Then Misha swallowed and offered an explanation.

"M-my father says he'd like to meet you, nyah... So... could you... come with me, nyah...?"

An invitation from her parents.

I would have been lying if I said I wasn't taken aback... but I answered without hesitation.

"All right."

"... What? Really, nyah? You mean it, nyah? Wow! No taking it back, nyah!"

"Never mind that. What time do we need to be there tomorrow?"