Chapter 26. The Chosen Ones (2)
Chapter 26. The Chosen Ones (2)
"...A conversation?"
"Yes. To be honest, I'm quite flustered."
The throne room. A stage on Floor 12 modeled after some empire's palace. In the middle of it, my voice flowed out low.
"I don't know why Sword Saint is attacking me. Sword Saint may be seeing me for the first time, but I've always admired Sword Saint's noble swordsmanship. So having a sword drawn on me out of nowhere is really awkward."
Sword Saint's expression hardened.
Even though I was only speaking the truth right now.
'He can't help it.'
There was a reason the old man's face was stiffening.
The day Sword Saint and I first met. That night, which Sword Saint no longer remembers, Sword Saint shouted at me the moment he saw me.
-Did you think I wouldn't know you're a top-class assassin sent by the Black Dragon?
-I don't know if the Black Dragon's witch sent you or who hired you, but I will kill you with everything I have!
He had suspected me of being an assassin.
'And not just any assassin—one raised by the Black Dragon.'
Sword Saint must be suspecting the same thing right now. That I'm an assassin subcontracted by the Black Dragon with countless blood on my hands. No, he might suspect me even more viciously now.
'Like a top-class assassin secretly raised by the Five Great Guilds.'
-Hmm, well.
The guardian spirit nodded.
-From a third party's perspective, zombie, you're just too weird.
'Exactly.'
A hero who appeared out of nowhere at a timing no one expected!
A hunter of merely E-rank conquered an impregnable stage. And right after the conquest, he formed an alliance with the Five Great Guilds and was promised treatment equal to the guild masters.......
'Suspicious beyond belief.'
-Right. From old man Marcus's perspective, you're not a self-made hunter. You're a fake hero manufactured through collusion between the giant guilds. Tsk tsk.
The guardian spirit clicked his tongue.
-Zombie, your kill count is roughly 4090, you said?
'It's probably showing 4093 by now?'
-Right. From the old man's perspective, the number 4093 isn't simply the number of humans you've killed. Because you're not a hunter who operates alone—you're a guy raised thoroughly as a pawn of the giant guilds.
From Sword Saint's standpoint, it could only look that way.
-In short.......
'Yes.'
In cahoots.
'It must look like the number of humans the giant guilds assassinated through me.'
The giant guilds that reign over the Tower.
That they have assassinated at least 4093 humans.
It's nothing but a misunderstanding and a misapprehension... but even so, to that old gentleman, it must appear as a sight more repulsive than anything.
"Hah."
If Sword Saint had been even slightly less righteous an old man, he would have backed off here.
"Whether it's the outside world or Babylon, there's truly no difference."
But Sword Saint knew no compromise.
He knew, yet he refused.
"Ever since entering the Tower, you lot have been throwing yourselves at me practically every day. Telling me to join your guilds. But I refused outright. Do you know why?"
Sword Saint put strength into his sword grip. The old man's hand was aged. The flesh sagged. But the veins bulging beneath the skin had not aged a single bit.
Even if a lion's mane grows old, a lion's fangs remain sharp.
"In this Tower, in this new world, I wished to show that one can reign at the top even alone."
Sword Saint glared around the room with eyes blue and chilling.
"Blood ties. Nationality. Origin. Unlike the outside world, reeking with the stench of such things, this place alone allows one to stand supreme with nothing but a single sword. To succeed through one's own talent and effort alone."
"......."
"It was precisely to show such hope to the masses that I have never formed a faction. And what are you lot doing?"
Sword Saint aimed his blade.
"You are no different from stagnant, rotten mud water."
The guild masters stirred.
Anger. Humiliation. Resentment.
Dark emotions swirled across the guild masters' faces. The remark Sword Saint had just thrown out was a declaration of war. There were some, like the Heretic Questioner, who simply grinned as if nothing was wrong, but most of the guild masters' faces crumpled.
"Sword Saint. Others aside, for you to say such words......."
"Ha! You've already forgotten how you slipped away all by yourself when we cleared Floor 5, old man! Looks like dementia's fried your brain!"
"That's right. Mister Calenbury. If you had helped using your connections in the outside world, the current food shortage would have been far less severe, and our Merchant Alliance would also......."
The clamor simmered and boiled.
The hunters gathered here had known each other since the earliest days of the Tower's opening. Had too much accumulated between them? As emotions clashed, the air of the throne room turned murky in an instant.
"If you're rank 1, you should have shown an attitude befitting rank 1. But you were smug all by yourself. You lived alone. Do you even know how many hunters you could have saved if you hadn't been so full of yourself?"
The Black Witch spoke as if cursing.
"Not just Floor 5. Floor 7, Floor 9 too—if you'd cooperated, the damage would have been cut in half!"
Viper of the Heavenly Martial Sect exuded killing intent.
"An adult who was supposedly a member of a chaebol family in the outside world—if you had lent a hand, the current system would have landed far more stably. We're rotten mud water? Fine. Then you're nothing but an irresponsible child."
The Merchant Alliance's count glared venomously.
It was a complete mess.
Even facing the guild masters' curses, killing intent, and stares, Sword Saint merely furrowed his brow once. The single word the old man spat out only fanned the flames further.
"Noisy."
"......."
"Grown adults yapping away....... Do you think I'm your grandfather? Get lost. If you want to fight, come at me with a sword."
The air of the throne room turned uncontrollably hostile.
-Kyah! As expected of old man Marcus. That's my one and only disciple.
Only the guardian spirit failed to read the room and simply admired.
-There's nothing I despise more than hunters blathering about connections and politics. If you've got time to worry about that crap, swing your sword one more time, that's what I say!
He had a point.
But.......
Unlike the guardian spirit, I felt regret first.
"They're fighting even in a place with only ten people."
The hunters in the hair-trigger situation looked at me.
I sighed.
"Even the NPCs on Floor 11 united and fought, saying they had to protect their empire. But look. Our fellow hunters are pointing fingers, shrieking about whose fault is bigger. Isn't it a bit embarrassing to be worse than NPCs?"
"...Hunter Kim Gong-ja."
The witch opened her mouth.
"This has nothing to do with you. It's more serious than you think......."
"I know, I get it. But if you call yourselves hunters, there's something else you should be doing."
I glanced around the throne room.
"Let's focus on clearing from Floor 12 onward."
"......."
"Giving people hope is good, and minimizing casualties in conquering the Tower is admirable, all of it's good. But please, put some effort into clearing the stage right in front of you."
I spoke while looking especially at Sword Saint.
"They may be nothing but NPCs... but their empire is in danger of destruction, isn't it? They're asking for help. If the people summoned as heroes don't give a damn about the empire's safety and just squabble among themselves, what kind of disgraceful sight is that?"
"You bastard......."
I meant it sincerely.
Sword Saint couldn't threaten my life any further here anyway. The difference in power was clear. So my only concern now was how to clear Floor 12.
The complicated emotional conflicts and political fights among hunters were outside my interest.
"What's so special about a hero? If you solve what others couldn't, that makes you a hero. We cleared Floor 11, so let's clear the remaining stages too."
"Kim Gong-ja is right."
Fortunately, there was a hunter who responded to my words.
Paladin.
The Vigilante Corps' vice guild master stepped forward.
"It's difficult to understand why Sword Saint attacked Kim Gong-ja, but at the very least, it's clear that now is not the time for us to fight among ourselves. Everyone, you're too worked up."
"......."
"......."
Paladin stepped in to mediate. But no one lowered their guard. Not Sword Saint, not Viper, not the count, not the Heretic Questioner. They all held postures ready to attack at any moment.
Persuading with words alone... everyone distrusted each other.
Because of emotions piled up over the years.
"Haa."
Realizing that, Paladin let out a sigh.
"Fine. It can't be helped. I'll make a small sacrifice."
At the word "sacrifice," the hunters turned.
With all eyes focused on her, Paladin murmured quietly.
"Skill card open."
Flash!
Light rose softly from Paladin's hand. A moment later, a silver card appeared in the air.
A card that no one else could ever see unless the hunter herself permitted it. It was Paladin's skill card.
"...Vice Guild Master."
The witch looked at Paladin with concern. Top-ranked hunters almost never revealed their skill cards. Skills were a hunter's hidden weapon. Showing them openly to others was no different from scoring an own goal.
"It's fine. It doesn't matter."
But Paladin calmly flipped the card over.
"Everyone, watch closely."
+
[Lie Detector]
Rank: A-
Effect: You can tell whether the other party is lying or not. It applies not only to people but also to NPCs and monsters! However, what the other party believes to be 'truth' may objectively be a 'lie.' Belief? Doubt? The final choice is always up to you.
※However, there is no guarantee that people will believe what you say.
+
My eyes widened.
'Lie Detector!'
That was the skill Flame Emperor had once pretended to possess. I see. So it wasn't that bastard—Paladin had it.
'It's a skill that suits the Vigilante Corps vice guild master perfectly!'
The Vigilante Corps was a guild that maintained public order. Naturally, the Tower was overflowing with criminals. Just look. Even rank 1 Flame Emperor and Sword Saint had killed me where no one was watching, hadn't they?
In a world like this, [Lie Detector] would be tremendously useful for identifying criminals.
"As you can see."
Paladin spoke while holding the card.
"I have the ability to discern the other party's lies. It's no exaggeration to say this skill is what raised me to Vigilante Corps vice guild master. Sword Saint."
"...What is it."
"If you will only trust me, ask Kim Gong-ja anything right here and now. I will tell you whether Kim Gong-ja's answer is a lie or the truth."
Paladin looked back and forth between Sword Saint and me with an impassive gaze.
"Kim Gong-ja. The same goes for you. If you will only trust me, I will vouch for whether your words are lies or truth."
"......."
"Doubt is a poison that gnaws at humans, and truth is the most powerful antidote. We cannot recover the trust lost until now, but at the very least, we will be able to cooperate on Floor 12."
"Hmm......."
Sword Saint stroked his beard and sank into thought.
'Wow.'
I thought to myself as well.
'This is a jackpot.'
This was the best opportunity.
It was unexpected luck. But... this was the right answer. The reason I'd drawn suspicion in the first place was Sword Saint's skill, the so-called [Detective's Insight]. Since a skill had caused the suspicion, wasn't it only natural to resolve the suspicion with a skill!
"I'm fine with it."
I answered immediately.
In things like this, the one who accepts first has the advantage.
"...Miss Paladin, is it. You are the only person here who has not harmed a single soul. Very well. I shall trust you as well."
Sword Saint also accepted, letting slip a meaningful remark.
Paladin nodded.
"I'll consider both of you to have agreed. Then, Sword Saint. Please ask Kim Gong-ja your questions. On my honor and the reputation of the Vigilante Corps, I will fairly verify the exchange between the two of you."
"Hmm."
Sword Saint glared at me.
As if he had been waiting for this very moment, Sword Saint's face was solemn. He probably thought he was about to expose to the world what a terrifyingly evil bastard I was. In any case, his gaze was full of confidence in victory.
-Aigo.......
The guardian spirit wailed beside me.
-Aigoo, old man Marcus. You stubborn old geezer. This is why I keep telling both the old man and the zombie not to rely too much on skills. Those who live by skills will one day be betrayed by skills! Aigoo, aigoo.
'Be quiet.'
Unfortunately, the guardian spirit's voice couldn't reach Sword Saint. This ghost bastard was my ghost bastard now.
"Hunter Kim Gong-ja."
"Yes."
"You have killed over 4000 humans. Is that not so?"
Point!
The old man pointed at me with the hand not holding his sword. How should I put it? He looked exactly like he was shouting, 'How about that! Now the time has come for your evil deeds to be revealed to the whole world!'
I smiled.
"Yes."
"Oho, you see! You wretched creatures of this world. I shall surely expose what atrocities you have committed by employing this child as an assassin and proclaim it to the world......."
"That is a lie."
Paladin spoke.
"What?"
"That is a lie."
Paladin repeated impassively.
"Did Kim Gong-ja not answer 'yes' to the question you just asked? That answer was a lie. To summarize, Kim Gong-ja has not killed over 4000 humans."
"......."
"Do you have any further questions?"
Silence.
While Sword Saint kept his mouth shut, only Paladin tilted her head.
"But 4000 people. How strange. Can one person kill that many humans? By common sense, I'd think it's close to impossible."
"Th-that's because you lot... raised this young man as a top-class assassin......."
I beamed.
"That's right. I'm a top-class assassin."
"That is a lie."
"......."
The aged swordsman's mouth fell open blankly.
"M-Miss Paladin. I misjudged your character! I believed you, of all people, would mediate all matters without falsehood!"
"Whether you trust my words is up to all of you."
Paladin replied quietly.
"If you wish to believe, believe. If you wish not to believe, don't. Didn't I ask both of you the same thing from the start? Whether you would truly trust me."
"......."
"If you intend to change your words now, that's a bit... petty. No, very petty. Sword Saint. It's unlike the attitude you've shown all along."
"W-wait!"
The old man looked at me urgently.
"There's no way you haven't killed a single human!"
"Ah, yes. That's true. I have eliminated someone before."
Paladin nodded.
"That is the truth."
"You see!"
"But it was exactly one person."
"...What?"
Paladin nodded again.
"That is the truth."
"......."
"Of course, killing one person doesn't change the fact that I'm a murderer. But, Sword Saint. Even if I'm not exactly blameless, I can tell you this. That bastard truly deserved to die. Because he tried to kill me first."
"That is the truth."
"No, if he'd only tried to kill me alone, he'd be a gentleman. That guy was a massacre demon, a massacre demon. I once witnessed the scene of him committing murder—wow, he burned people to death without blinking an eye! That goddamn bastard!"
"That is the truth."
"I don't know for sure, but the people he killed alone number in the dozens. No, easily over a hundred. Yes. He's capable of that. I killed a guy who deserved it. If you want to curse me as a murderer, curse away. But you know what? Even if I went back to the past, I'd go after him first. Wow, shit. A human being cannot possibly be as vicious as that guy."
Paladin nodded slowly.
"All of that is the truth."
"......."
Sword Saint fell silent.
The old man slowly looked around. His expression said he didn't understand how the situation was unfolding, but by looking around, he probably grasped it somewhat.
Because all the guild masters were staring at Sword Saint with eyes that said, '...What are you doing right now?'
"Ahahaha! Ahahah!"
The Heretic Questioner burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.
"Hunter Kim Gong-ja, a top-class assassin of our Five Great Guilds! What an intriguing idea. It would have been nice if that were true, but Sword Saint! Unfortunately, we only met Hunter Kim Gong-ja for the first time yesterday!"
"For reference, that is also the truth."
"......."
Sword Saint's silence deepened.
-Tsk tsk tsk. Those who rise by skills shall fall by skills.
The guardian spirit just clicked his tongue.
"Well. Anyway, I've answered everything."
I smiled cheerfully.
There truly wasn't a single wrong word in Confucius's sayings.
"It seems there was a big misunderstanding on both sides. I'm glad it was nothing more than a misunderstanding. But Sword Saint, because of that misunderstanding, Sword Saint attacked me, and if the guild masters hadn't protected me, there's a very high probability I would have died, right? Truly unjustly."
"......."
"I think I should be hearing an apology around now. What do you think?"
Paladin nodded.
"That is the perfect truth. A sound argument without a single leap of logic."
"......."
"Hurry and apologize to Kim Gong-ja, Sword Saint."
The soul drained from the old man's face.