A Name for the Shadow
Juhan stepped out of the building after registering as an adventurer without any issues. He turned the adventurer’s plate he’d just received over in his hands, examining it from every angle.
‘It’s made of wood, but the texture is actually pretty nice.’
The only things written on it were his name, age, and adventurer rank, yet…
‘I like it.’
It appealed to him far more than he’d expected. Maybe it was because he was finally seeing something he’d only ever read about in the novel with his own eyes.
He’d briefly debated whether to use a fake name or his real one, but…
‘Good thing I went with Juhan.’
Using his real name had been the right choice. The sense of satisfaction it gave him was completely different.
After turning the wood-rank plate over in his hands for a while, Juhan slipped it gently into his pocket as if it were something precious. He was thinking back on what had just happened inside.
‘That guy really made a complete fool of himself, didn’t he?’
The adventurer who had tried to harass and mock him. The first emotions Juhan had felt were exactly what he’d described before—confusion and anger. Even though he’d seen the situation in the novel, experiencing it firsthand was on an entirely different level. He’d almost taken the whole thing too seriously without realizing it.
‘Come to think of it, the guy wasn’t even Carius. There was no reason for me to overreact.’
Hannibal, was it? The man had just been an ordinary bronze-rank adventurer. From the brief glance Juhan had taken at his level and behavior, there wasn’t a single thing about him that could pose a threat.
Still, there was something worth taking away from the whole incident.
‘I thought I had no problems controlling my aura, but apparently that’s not entirely true.’
Even after checking and double-checking, it seemed there was still an issue with controlling his power. He hadn’t felt like he’d done anything special. He’d simply asked a normal question.
Whether the man intended to draw his sword all the way or not.
‘I really don’t think I did much at all.’
Yet the other man had suddenly screamed, collapsed on his own, and then… well. He’d created a rather unpleasant scene that wasn’t worth mentioning.
‘I’ll have to be more careful from now on. I should run some regular tests too.’
If even a third-rate adventurer like that had sensed Juhan’s aura for a moment, there was no telling what stronger individuals might pick up. The same thing had happened at the temple with the bell, and now again at the adventurer’s guild.
It was clear that living alone inside a pocket dimension for a thousand years had left him unable to judge himself objectively. The Blacky minions had only ever parroted “You’re truly amazing!” over and over. In the end, the problem had circled right back to the beginning.
‘At this rate, I’ll be stuck in the same place even after decades of gathering information.’
Dangerous as it might be, he was starting to feel the need to take at least a small risk.
Haa. He really didn’t want to do this.
Juhan let out a small sigh that sounded almost like muttering to himself. He glanced around once, then slipped into a quiet back alley where there weren’t many people passing by.
He looked around carefully. No one following him. No unnecessary attention drawn.
After scanning his surroundings for a long time, Juhan began to summon a small pocket of space in the air.
‘Guess I have no choice.’
That’s right. He was about to bring out one of the Blacky minions.
If he wanted the “safe and peaceful life” he desired, taking a bit of a risk was necessary.
‘There’s a clear limit to what I can do alone.’
Juhan shook his head as if finally admitting it.
Shwooo…
A black shape quietly materialized in front of him.
“You called for me.”
From the faintly distorted space emerged none other than Blacky Number 5, the one Juhan had created.
‘Number 5.’
The one who didn’t seem likely to cause unnecessary trouble. The one who understood the intent behind orders the best. The calmest among all the Blackys. There was no better candidate for the autonomous task of “information gathering” that Juhan was about to assign.
“I will carry out any command you give.”
“⋯⋯.”
Number 5 bowed his head quietly toward Juhan and waited in silence for any order.
Juhan soon explained why he had summoned him.
“You remember all the information I gave you before, right?”
“You mean the Hero Carius, the other heroes, and the political situations of the various kingdoms… Is that what you are referring to?”
“Yeah, that’s it. But⋯.”
It made his stomach hurt to think about it again, but there was no helping it. He had to make this clear.
“Forget all of that. Or rather… not completely forget it, but treat it as rough reference material at best?”
“Understood. I should not treat the information you provided as factual truth. Is that correct?”
“Yeah. Exactly that.”
As expected of Number 5. No one else could grasp the meaning so perfectly from such a vague explanation.
“Honestly, even I don’t know for sure anymore… so.”
Juhan continued.
“For now, stay hidden and observe how normal people behave. Merchants, nobles, adventurers—watch them all without exception.”
“People, I see. Understood.”
“How they walk, how they speak, how they act.”
This much should have been enough for Number 5 to understand what Juhan meant.
“Learn human emotions and imitate them. Got it?”
“Yes.”
Juhan was telling him to adapt to human society. Number 5 slowly nodded as if he had taken the instruction to heart.
“Once you feel confident that you can perfectly mimic a human’s appearance…”
“I will begin gathering information from that point onward. Without overdoing it or leaving any traces.”
“Good.”
It was a satisfying exchange. That didn’t mean Juhan wasn’t worried, but it couldn’t be helped.
“The highest priority information is about the strong individuals first.”
“Yes.”
“Second is the church, third is the kingdom.”
“Understood.”
“And the most important part.”
That seemed to cover all the instructions. Now all that remained was to emphasize the final point he had to remember.
“If anyone begins to suspect your true identity.”
“Yes.”
“Not just finding you strange or thinking you’re an odd person—that kind of level.”
What Juhan meant was clear. If someone went beyond simple suspicion and started questioning his true nature…
“Immediately discard all the identities you’ve created and run.”
“Understood.”
“But if they continue to pursue you even after that.”
There was no immediate reply. Juhan simply kept his gaze fixed on Number 5.
Perhaps interpreting Juhan’s attitude differently, Number 5 answered calmly.
“I will handle it at my own discretion.”
“⋯Yeah. Do that. It’s better than getting caught.”
There were no more orders to give or precautions to mention. It was time to send him off.
“Alright. You can go now.”
“Yes. I will strive to live up to your expectations.”
Juhan turned to leave the back alley, signaling that Number 5 could depart.
“Creator.”
“Hm?”
The unexpected voice from behind made Juhan stop in his tracks.
Number 5 was still kneeling in the same spot, as if he had something to ask.
“Is there something else you’re curious about?”
Juhan didn’t have any particular thoughts. It was simply a casual “Do you still have questions?” kind of feeling.
After a short silence, Number 5 carefully opened his mouth.
“There is one thing I would like to request.”
“A request?”
Juhan blinked without realizing it. This was the first time any of the Blackys—Number 5 especially—had directly asked him for anything.
And then came Number 5’s next words.
“I would like you to grant me a name. A pseudonym that I can use within human society.”
“A pseudonym? Ah⋯.”
Number 5 was asking Juhan to give him a name. Not Blacky Number 5, which he had first received from Juhan, but a name suitable for use in human society.
‘Yeah, calling him Blacky Number 5 would be a bit… awkward.’
Juhan could have just made something up himself, but Number 5 seemed to want it to come from him and spoke again.
“If I am to operate among humans, I believe it would be appropriate to have a suitable name.”
“That’s not wrong. But you want me to come up with it?”
“Yes.”
Juhan was momentarily at a loss for words. Since the minion had put it that way, it felt awkward to refuse, and it wasn’t a difficult request anyway.
The only problem was that Juhan’s naming sense wasn’t particularly great.
“Karoon.”
“⋯Karoon.”
“How about it? Do you like it?”
The name had popped into his head with less than three seconds of thought.
“It is good. I like it.”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
Even so, Number 5 nodded with what looked like deep emotion.
Juhan let out a small chuckle without meaning to. He waved his hand at Number 5—no, at Karoon—telling him it was time to go.
“I’m counting on you.”
“⋯Yes.”
Leaving those final words of trust with the departing minion.
Saaa—.
Not long after, Karoon’s body slowly melted into the shadows and vanished without a trace.
“He’s gone.”
Juhan stared at the now-empty space for a moment, then shrugged and left the alley with one last remark.
“Yeah, I guess I have to trust him. Whatever.”
Two days had passed since he sent Number 5—now Karoon—off on his autonomous information-gathering mission.
Slurp. Slurp.
“So I was thinking…”
“He seems to be looking for more people to help. I’m thinking of volunteering this time.”
Juhan continued his routine as usual—gathering information during the day and staying at the inn at night. For now, he was moving quietly and cautiously.
In front of him, as always, was a bowl of soup made by the innkeeper.
“Mmm.”
It was delicious today as well. Good enough that he wanted another bowl.
‘Yeah, I’ll have one more.’
Having decided to get another serving, Juhan stood up and headed toward the innkeeper.
“Hey, Juhan. Wanting seconds again?”
“Yes. One more bowl, please.”
“Sure, sure. Eat as much as you want. As long as you pay the extra copper, of course.”
Juhan had already grown quite close with Logan, the innkeeper. Between his friendly appearance and the way he genuinely enjoyed the food, it was only natural that he’d earned Logan’s goodwill.
Juhan took the refilled bowl of soup from Logan.
Steam rose gently.
‘Whoa, I’m drooling.’
He was about to return to his seat and savor the aroma and taste when—
“By the way, did you hear that story?”
“⋯?”
If a conversation hadn’t suddenly started at the next table, that is.
‘What’s this?’
Juhan, who always picked up on various rumors, naturally turned his ears in that direction.
“That black-haired young man.”
“Ah, you mean the one who’s been active in Poltable?”
They were talking about a certain young man.
Poltable was the name of a large city located about a day or two’s ride from here.
‘Who are they talking about?’
He couldn’t tell who they meant. It sounded like they were just sharing hearsay.
“Apparently that young man saved a noble’s carriage near the forest.”
“A noble’s carriage? What happened?”
‘He saved a noble?’
Slurp. Slurp.
It was an interesting story. Perfect to listen to while eating.
Juhan kept spooning up his soup as he focused on the men’s conversation.
“What were the escort knights doing?”
“They all died, apparently.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“More precisely, they were on the verge of total annihilation.”
“Wow.”
‘What kind of monster would push them that close to total wipeout?’
Poltable was a fairly large city. The area around it shouldn’t have had terrible security.
Harboring that question, Juhan continued eating his soup.
“Bandits? Or maybe a personal vendetta over some interests?”
“No, they said a Grey Fang appeared.”
“A Grey Fang?”
‘A Grey Fang showed up?’
Grey Fang.
Juhan knew that monster. A high-ranking creature that usually lived deep in the forest. It was so dangerous that even dozens of experienced silver-rank adventurers had to gather just to have a chance against it.
Slurp.
‘If they got ambushed, I can see why it was that bad.’
Those things specialized in ambushes. Even a gold-rank adventurer could lose their life in a moment of carelessness. No matter how skilled the escort knights were, they wouldn’t have been able to handle it properly.
“Why would something like that appear near the city?”
“How should I know? It’s not like someone dragged it there.”
“True. So what happened next?”
“What do you mean, what happened? I already told you.”
The man continued.
“That guy showed up, killed the Grey Fang, and saved the others.”
“⋯Wow. He took down a Grey Fang by himself? Seriously.”
But the man’s story didn’t seem to be over. In fact, he was even smiling slightly, as if this was the most important part.
“And the person riding in that carriage… turned out to be the Berhart Count’s daughter.”
“And?”
“She completely fell for him afterward. For that man.”
“What? Puhahaha!”
“There are even rumors she’s lovesick.”
‘So there’s someone like that.’
Slurp.
If the man was strong enough to casually kill a Grey Fang, Juhan thought it was worth remembering him. The only problem was that they hadn’t mentioned the man’s name yet…
“Now that I think about it, what was his name again?”
As if answering Juhan’s thoughts, one of the men muttered to himself, trying to recall the name.
“Hmm, it was Ka… something.”
“Ka, Ka… Ah! That’s right.”
Clap.
The other man clapped his hands as if the memory had suddenly returned.
And the name that came out of his mouth was one Juhan had never expected.
“Karoon! I’m sure it was Karoon.”
“Yeah, that’s it!”
“Pffft!”
Crash!
“Uwaa!”
“What the—! He just spat out his soup…”
Juhan had been so startled that he’d sprayed all the soup he’d been holding in his mouth.
“⋯⋯.”
“What the hell are you doing?!”
“Ugh…”
The men at the table in front were already in chaos. They had been directly hit by the soup Juhan spat out.
Of course, Juhan had no attention to spare for that situation.
‘…Hey.’
He was simply thinking one thing.
‘What the hell is he doing out there?’