Surviving The Game as a Barbarian (Novel) Chapter 235, 236, 237

  

C235, 236, 237

Chapter 235: New Age (5)

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 is.

----------------------------------

Chapter 236: Stiletto (1)

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.

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Chapter 237: Stiletto (2)

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?

Trial

I like Korean novels (Murim, Dukes, Reincarnation, etc, etc, etc)

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