The Stage's Turning Point (End)
"Well then, Jeong Hoon. Will you still put that question you have in mind to me?"
...Goddamn it.
There was no substitute question. And throwing away a chance I'd barely managed to secure didn't sit right either.
Ah, screw it...
I decided to just go for it. Even if it got censored, I figured I might still scrape out some important information — or at least something resembling a hint.
"My first question. You lot brought a zombie and monster apocalypse down upon this Earth. Explain in detail the reason and purpose behind it."
Of the two questions my women and I had hashed out through endless debate, this was the first — and the most direct.
Candidate questions had piled up without end, but in the end, if I wanted to wring the maximum amount of information from a single question, this was the only one that made sense.
"...I did warn you just a moment ago. Haa... Very well. Since you have chosen that question, I have no choice but to answer."
After a brief pause, the Merchant replied smoothly.
"First of all, let me make one thing clear: we did not create this apocalypse on Earth out of boredom. No — I shall go so far as to say this. We brought the apocalypse to Earth at the request of someone who lived on this planet."
And the moment we heard that answer, our composure shattered in an instant.
Honestly, I nearly leapt out of my seat.
Sure, he'd boldly declared with his own mouth that he would speak only the truth... and I'd half-suspected something along these lines myself...!
This apocalypse happened because of someone who lived on Earth? Because of a human, just like us?
Seriously?
"Well, if I must be precise... we were the ones who made first contact. But the one who came to us bearing a 'proposal' was that person. We simply accepted it. Ah, as for the primary purpose of this entire affair... I still cannot be certain whether this information will reach you intact."
Why are you hesitating like that?! Just say it already!
"I shall speak it regardless. It is to $##$@$ the ### and $#%@$. Did that come through properly?"
...I deflated the moment I heard it. Letting out a sigh, I answered the Merchant.
"No. It was censored midway."
"Hmm, is that so? All of it? Or only specific words?"
"Probably just specific words."
"Then... #$###$@. How about this?"
"Censored again."
"Hmm. Even that fails to get through... In that case..."
"It is to find those who will carry on the noble will of the Great One. Did that reach you?"
...What?
No, it came through clearly enough, but... come again?
"...It came through. But what on earth does that even...?"
What kind of nonsense is this? The Great One? Noble will? What will? Carry it on? Inherit that will — is that what he's saying?
It's clearly our language, and I don't understand a single word of it!
"A pity. That I can only speak in such roundabout terms, stripping away every important detail... I had thought that for a valued guest such as yourself, I might at least be permitted to share something like $%@#$ or @#$@#%@... Ah. Even that failed to get through. My miscalculation was considerable. My apologies, Jeong Hoon."
And so I received the answer to my first question. A complete mess of one.
The only real information I'd gotten was "someone among Earth's people is the mastermind behind this whole catastrophe," plus that garbage about "the Great One's noble will" and so on.
Goddamn it... My expectations plummeted hard. Had I really picked and polished that question just to get a handful of heavily censored scraps?
I even felt a twinge of self-loathing. If I'd known it would turn out like this, I should have just quietly taken the gold and bought more gear for crushing vampires.
Haa... Anyway, there was no putting spilled water back in the cup.
I had to ask the second question I'd prepared — even with my expectations scraped down to the floor.
"I shall put forth my second question. I want you to tell me in detail about the 'update' plans that you — the so-called Administrators — have established for our world."
"Hmm... Up to which point in time do you require the information?"
Huh? Unlike before, it sounded like he might actually be able to give me something detailed. So I went big.
"I would like the update information for the coming year."
"Understood. Hmm, so then... based on Earth's calendar, starting in June, new zombies will appear. Those zombies are—"
Ah, this is genuinely important information!
"—as $#^%@... Ah. Judging by that expression, it seems it did not come through properly. A pity."
"Haa..."
...The moment I heard that "censored" remark, the expectation that had briefly swelled up drained out of me with a hiss.
Even Kim Seyeon, who had been taking notes beside me, let out a sigh of pure hollowness. That said it all.
"These stingy-ass operators...!"
"They really never take the easy road and just tell us, do they. Shit..."
"Just how important and decisive must it be for them to hide it this thoroughly? Even so, the vast majority of people would never even catch a glimmer of hope from the hints..."
I could hear the others whispering among themselves in disappointment. The faces that had briefly lit up with anticipation were painted over with letdown once more.
"Mm... the zombies that appear from June onward are... very special — no, specialized. That is to say, they $#$#%@... Did this part reach you? It did not? Understood. In that case... I shall tell you that it is an update designed to preserve the spirit of the 'zombie apocalypse' genre."
Still, the Merchant at least seemed to be making an effort to be kind. The way he kept circling around, trying to get useful information through to us by any means necessary, even inspired a flicker of gratitude.
Honestly, this guy — unlike that irritating Administrator — actually seemed to show us a bit of consideration. You could see it in his eyes. That Administrator bastard just screeched at the top of his lungs with nothing resembling consideration or anything else, so comparing the two was frankly an insult to this Merchant.
"The next update is in July. Assuming there are no issues with the update schedule, July will see a new dungeon update. Did that come through? Good. As for where the dungeons will spawn, even I do not know, so I ask for your understanding. And in August there will be no particular update... In September..."
The Merchant's words trailed off. No — for a moment, something awkward seemed to settle over his form.
Ah. Then he moved naturally again. I couldn't see his face properly, but... it was as if his entire body had locked up for an instant before releasing.
"...I am deeply sorry. My superiors have just now sent an emergency message warning me not to reveal anything further. A shame."
"I see..."
"Th-that's so...!"
"So mean! So petty!"
"Haa..."
Sora, Seeun, and Yun Mina each let out their own sighs of frustration.
I wanted to sigh myself. Shit! Barely two or three months of future information — that was all we'd managed to get!
"Kim Seyeon, did you by any chance..."
"Yes, I wrote it all down, but... haa..."
Even Kim Seyeon, who'd racked her brains alongside me to craft those questions, wore a hollow expression. No — it was closer to the look of someone who'd lost their country.
I genuinely felt bad. We'd given up a mountain of gold and wrung our brains dry trying to extract good information, and the results were so meager they left nothing but regret.
"...I am truly sorry that I cannot provide you with any further information. My apologies."
"It is not your fault. There is no need to apologize."
"No. As the one who made such bold claims, I feel a considerable weight of responsibility. And so... beyond the questions you have asked, I would like to offer you a small tip regarding some sensitive information I am able to share."
Huh? The Merchant's tone had dropped far lower than before — almost to a whisper.
"Be sure to conquer the Area Boss. You will likely receive rewards beyond anything you hope for. And I hope that you will be the one who defeats that boss and 'liberates' this region — that is to say, Seoul. If it is you, you may well see through the hyenas' true intentions in an instant and carry hope forward."
Huh? Hyenas?
"And... one more good tip. After you leave this dungeon, something will happen to someone precious to you. I guarantee it. The previous advice is one thing, but this one in particular — I urge you to burn it into your mind."
That tip left a thoroughly unpleasant feeling the moment we heard it...
But never in our wildest dreams did we imagine that less than an hour after leaving the dungeon, it would crash down before our eyes as a tragic reality.
In that moment, none of us had the faintest clue.
Immediately after Jeong Hoon and his party left the dungeon.
"...This should be satisfactory enough, no?"
Still seated in the chair before the table, the Merchant had not left the dungeon.
And then, carefully—
Ssssss...!
From the dungeon floor, something took shape and rose to the surface.
It was a shadow.
A form similar to a human, and yet simultaneously nothing like one...
As if it had six legs and four arms, yet had fused them together to reshape itself into something with two arms and two legs like a person.
To any ordinary human who beheld it, it was the kind of "advent" that would trigger gestalt collapse or inflict deep psychological trauma — the sort of thing a certain niche of enthusiasts would call cosmic horror.
"Oof, oof... Even descending an Avatar is this exhausting, huh."
"Consider yourself fortunate this is a dungeon. Outside, it would have been far more horrific. Please fully savor the superiority of Instance Space."
"You're right! That's why I can even talk with you like this, Merchant-nim! Hahaha!"
The shadow-form flung both arms skyward and let out a bright, cheerful voice. It even burst into laughter.
At that gesture — so frivolous anyone could see it — the Merchant exhaled a sigh.
"You seem so at ease that one might question your sanity. Though I am well aware that your true body is anything but at ease — fretting and fretting."
"Huk! W-what do you mean by that...?"
"Your disciplinary action is about to be decided, as I understand it... Am I wrong? I believe a disciplinary committee has been convened..."
"Huuuuk!?"
As if struck square in a vital spot, the shadow-form twisted. More precisely, it doubled over as though punched in the gut and trembled violently.
And then it spat out the ugliest of excuses.
"I-it hasn't convened... not yet!"
"Ah, it has not convened yet? But judging by your reaction just now, it is only a matter of time. ○○○○. Or rather..."
"Administrator A."
Its identity exposed — though of course it wasn't particularly damaged by the situation — Administrator A drooped both arms in disappointment.
"Ugh. You made me remember a future I wanted to forget... That's so mean, Merchant-nim! No, Stolas-nim! Wait, are you an S? Were you born under the blessing of S?"
"Spare me the meaningless chatter. More importantly... is this satisfactory?"
In truth, the Merchant Stolas was exactly the kind of being his borrowed name suggested.
One who taught the knowledge people needed — but the moment he judged the degree of that knowledge to be excessive...
"I mixed in falsehoods, yet they noticed nothing. Of course they didn't. A being far above them standing right before their eyes... Yes. Reigning over them like a kind of 'devil' — how could they possibly see through my lies?"
Without hesitation, he packaged falsehood as truth.
Of course, he had not mixed lies into the information itself. But even when the content contained no falsehood... the dissonance that distorted what he intended to convey was not interference transmitted from some higher being above the Merchant.
From the start, the very act of believing that a considerable number of beings reigned above this Merchant only proved how foolish and narrow the knowledge of those who had left the dungeon truly was.
"I did exactly as you so 'earnestly' requested of me. So I am asking you: are you satisfied? Administrator A."
A third time. The Merchant directed the same question at the shadow-form before his eyes.
At the being right in front of him, arms hanging limp, still offering no reply.
"..."
The form that had maintained that awkward silence—
Whoosh!
—suddenly thrust both arms high into the air.
"Of~ course I'm satisfied! Merchant-nim! No, Stolaaas-nim! How could I possibly not be satisfied when someone like you went this far to grant my request! No — you're a ray of light. Light! My superiors are itching to crush me, but you empathized with the loyalty behind my meticulous and magnificent plan, and I am truly, truly overjoyed, you know? Khhh... To have someone like you on my side — I am seriously super-super-super luckyyyyy! Oh yeah!"
"..."
In that moment, the Merchant—
—shared the exact same desire as the countless survivors roaming the outside world.
The desire to beat the Administrator standing before him to death.