Chapter 237: Awl (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 237: Awl (2)
Murderous intent was an affirmed desire to kill someone. Usually, it only resulted in a shiver down your spine, but in this imaginary world, that effect was amplified dozens of times. Since the feeling wasn't transmitted through a physical form, in severe cases one experienced extreme shock accompanied by permanent side effects that spilled over into real life.
Players called this phenomenon Mind Pollution. When they reached this state, the subject suffered from speech impediments such as stuttering and, in the most severe cases, their mind collapsed and split into fragments.
"You look like a bug." I stared at Clown with even more deliberate intent.
"W-Why..." Clown asked, even as he choked on his own spit.
The reason was simple. Clown was a necromancer. It would take a long time for him to recover the summons he'd lost during this battle, and until the barrier around Noark was released, he could not come out into the city to harm me.
Orcules.
However, he belonged to the same group as the Dragon Slayer, who killed Dwalkie. In the end, this guy was also an enemy I would have to defeat someday. If I could screw him up in advance, it was only logical to do so.
"...Uhh, ha!" As the murderous intent dragged on longer, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my head. Since this was a skill that used willpower as payment, that was unavoidable. I'd probably have to sleep all day tomorrow—maybe even two days. But the more it hurt, the more I increased the pressure. This son of a bitch probably already considered Bjorn Yandel his enemy by now and was planning his revenge.
It's best to screw him up here.
This bastard was more dangerous than the Dragon Slayer. Unlike that guy, who lost his memory, he harbored clear hostility toward Bjorn Yandel. If I didn't take him down now, one day, he would harm my comrades.
The murderous intent had become so thick that the others aside from Clown could now feel it on their skin.
God damn it.
As the oppressive energy continued, a sudden feeling of stiffness occurred in my brain. I had experienced this before, the sensation of exhausting all my willpower from using murderous intent.
"S-Stop. Please..."
I could've finished this if I had a bit more in me. Despite my disappointment, I squeezed out my last bit of murderous intent to the bitter end.
Gasp!
After holding out for a few more seconds like that, Clown took a deep breath like a man surfacing from the ocean. Then he coughed and vomited. "Khak, ughhh—!"
Although he looked pathetic, I wasn't in good shape, either. I felt like I might pass out the next time I closed my eyes.
"Why... Why...?" Coming to his senses, Clown struggled to stand up and looked into my eyes. His breathing was a bit rough, but it didn't seem like there was a problem with his speech.
So, I didn't even get near Mind Pollution. Huh, so it's like this...
I kind of expected this. In the past, when I released my murderous intent on Fox, my willpower bottomed out before I could reach that point too. Clown, who had killed countless people, must have had a thicker mental barrier than Fox.
Hm. Just judging by the energy, I thought I had gotten a lot stronger, but it's still not enough.
Feeling bitter, I carefully studied Clown's eyes. In those trembling pupils, I sensed more worry than resentment, a fear that filled him because he couldn't understand the reason for my actions.
I continued to stare at the trembling Clown. So, what should I do now? That wasn't even a concern in my mind.
What, just because my sudden surprise attack had failed, I need to have an acceptable reason? It's pointless to worry about stuff like that. That's because I'm not Bjorn Yandel. I'm Lion.
"That's it?"
It wasn't because of mental exhaustion that the murderous intent ended. It was because I pity you.
Repeating that until I believed it myself, I turned around indifferently. "If the rumors were true, I thought you would be at least a little useful," I spat, seemingly annoyed, like I had just been testing something out.
The plan to screw up Clown with murderous intent had failed, but I wasn't too disappointed because this outcome had its own advantages. As the age-old adage went, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."
Now that this has happened, I'll resort to milking him dry for as long as possible.
Clown was an executive of the criminal organization Orcules. As long as he had Noark as his base, he would continue to be a source of useful, quality information.
"Um... are you okay?" Queen, who had been watching the situation with bated breath, cautiously approached Clown and extended her hand. But did that hurt his pride?
Slap.
Clown pushed her hand away in a fit of anger, grabbed onto a chair, and sat down on his own. Then he looked at me as if the whole scene he'd made earlier didn't matter. His eyes fixed on my face, he asked a question I didn't understand. "...Lion, are you him?"
Huh? Who's him? Like some kind of villain who must not be named?
I didn't know so I just kept quiet, as always figuring that would get me halfway to where I wanted to go.
After a moment of waiting, Clown started muttering to himself like he was puzzling something over. "...No, that's not possible. You aren't him."
Deer seemed to know something, because he said, "Yes, he is unable to participate in this gathering due to restrictions."
Queen, who was watching things unfold with interest, also opened her mouth. "This place is more top-of-the-line than I thought. Yes. He cannot possibly be here. This chatroom doesn't open until three o'clock, after all."
Someone who couldn't possibly join because it was three o'clock? It sounded like they were talking about someone I knew.
Are they talking about Baekho?
The thought suddenly came to mind, but there was no way to confirm. This was one of the few downsides of being Lion. Even if I had a question, I could never ask first, especially if it was low-level information everyone else knew. Lion had an image to maintain.
Anyway, I'll look into it later.
It was time to step in. Everyone was already saying I wasn't, so there was no need to stay silent. I chuckled. "Yes. I am not that guy," I said as if to reward them for using their brains. Not "him", but "that guy." Whoever it was, I chose a word that implicitly put him and me on the same level. But did this strategy work?
"Who are you...?" Despite having been reduced to that state, Clown looked at me with awe. There was no sign of resentment in his eyes at all. He probably hadn't even considered the idea of being hostile toward me.
"Do you want to know who I am?"
Clown gulped and nodded, but then immediately flinched as if he hadn't meant to do that. He didn't backtrack, though. It seemed getting beaten up had made him really wonder who I was.
I continued to stare at the trembling Clown. So, what should I do now? That wasn't even a concern in my mind.
What, just because my sudden surprise attack had failed, I need to have an acceptable reason? It's pointless to worry about stuff like that. That's because I'm not Bjorn Yandel. I'm Lion.
"That's it?"
It wasn't because of mental exhaustion that the murderous intent ended. It was because I pity you.
Repeating that until I believed it myself, I turned around indifferently. "If the rumors were true, I thought you would be at least a little useful," I spat, seemingly annoyed, like I had just been testing something out.
The plan to screw up Clown with murderous intent had failed, but I wasn't too disappointed because this outcome had its own advantages. As the age-old adage went, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."
Now that this has happened, I'll resort to milking him dry for as long as possible.
Clown was an executive of the criminal organization Orcules. As long as he had Noark as his base, he would continue to be a source of useful, quality information.
"Um... are you okay?" Queen, who had been watching the situation with bated breath, cautiously approached Clown and extended her hand. But did that hurt his pride?
Slap.
Clown pushed her hand away in a fit of anger, grabbed onto a chair, and sat down on his own. Then he looked at me as if the whole scene he'd made earlier didn't matter. His eyes fixed on my face, he asked a question I didn't understand. "...Lion, are you him?"
Huh? Who's him? Like some kind of villain who must not be named?
I didn't know so I just kept quiet, as always figuring that would get me halfway to where I wanted to go.
After a moment of waiting, Clown started muttering to himself like he was puzzling something over. "...No, that's not possible. You aren't him."
Deer seemed to know something, because he said, "Yes, he is unable to participate in this gathering due to restrictions."
Queen, who was watching things unfold with interest, also opened her mouth. "This place is more top-of-the-line than I thought. Yes. He cannot possibly be here. This chatroom doesn't open until three o'clock, after all."
Someone who couldn't possibly join because it was three o'clock? It sounded like they were talking about someone I knew.
Are they talking about Baekho?
The thought suddenly came to mind, but there was no way to confirm. This was one of the few downsides of being Lion. Even if I had a question, I could never ask first, especially if it was low-level information everyone else knew. Lion had an image to maintain.
Anyway, I'll look into it later.
It was time to step in. Everyone was already saying I wasn't, so there was no need to stay silent. I chuckled. "Yes. I am not that guy," I said as if to reward them for using their brains. Not "him", but "that guy." Whoever it was, I chose a word that implicitly put him and me on the same level. But did this strategy work?
"Who are you...?" Despite having been reduced to that state, Clown looked at me with awe. There was no sign of resentment in his eyes at all. He probably hadn't even considered the idea of being hostile toward me.
"Do you want to know who I am?"
Clown gulped and nodded, but then immediately flinched as if he hadn't meant to do that. He didn't backtrack, though. It seemed getting beaten up had made him really wonder who I was.
I shrugged slightly, a gesture that everyone except for the new member, Queen, would recognize.
"...What does that mean?"
Like a dutiful subordinate, Clown answered Queen's question. "It means we'll be told if we bring him entertaining information."
"Oh, right. That's the concept of this secret chatroom, right?"
"Yes, that's right. On that note, who is the 'him' everyone was talking about earlier?" Goblin asked, but Queen ignored the question as if she didn't hear him.
"Are you serious about revealing your identity...?" Clown asked in a daze, and I didn't bother answering. I just stared straight at Clown like there was nothing I couldn't tell them as long as they entertained me, even if it had to do with my identity—like even that would be amusing to me.
"I've been thinking this for months, but I just can't understand it." Deer spoke like he had grown weary of me. "I don't know how long you've been in this world, but you've been properly broken. If you keep this up, you won't be able to live a decent life even once you're back home."
Worrying about a stranger's life? He was a sweeter man than I thought, but this and that were two different things. When I pretended not to hear and did not even look at him, Deer clammed up in anger.
That was when Queen stepped forward. "Anyway, this is interesting. If I bring you information, can I hear who you are too? I'm getting curious."
"If you can entertain me."
Queen grinned at my answer. "Just wait. I may not look it, but I know quite a few interesting things. Huhu."
Hmm, that did make me look forward to it, since this woman was a stranger too.
Seeing how she managed to get in during a time like this, it looks like she's here on Master's recommendation...
I hadn't been able to pay her much attention at first in favor of educating Clown, but I'd have to keep a close eye on her going forward.
"Then why don't we get started...?"
A silence fell as no one opened their mouth. Then Goblin spoke up and the confusion was somewhat sorted. "True, the door closed a while ago so we can't sit like this forever. Crescent Moon didn't make it in the end."
"If he isn't here at a time like this, that must mean he wasn't able to avoid dying."
It seemed everyone thought Crescent Moon hadn't survived this incident. And he had been the one with the most initiative here too...
"So, who will go first this time?" Normally, Fox would have taken on the role of moderator herself and begun the gathering, but Goblin took the lead considering the strange state she was in.
"I'll go later. This is my first time, so I think I'll need some time to get used to how things work."
"Sure. Then who will go?"
"If no one else will, I will go first." The first speaker was Deer. "Let's go with this since he was brought up earlier. He escaped into the world five days ago."
"What? He did...?" Clown seemed surprised as if this was new information.
"Um... If we want to be fair, shouldn't you tell us who he is first...?" Goblin hinted that he wanted more information on what was going on, but Fox's eyes remained the same. No, was she even listening?
Vooom.
Anyway, the jewel at the center of the Round Table gave off a green light. That meant that the information was true and that more than half the people here were unaware of it.
I shrugged slightly, a gesture that everyone except for the new member, Queen, would recognize.
"...What does that mean?"
Like a dutiful subordinate, Clown answered Queen's question. "It means we'll be told if we bring him entertaining information."
"Oh, right. That's the concept of this secret chatroom, right?"
"Yes, that's right. On that note, who is the 'him' everyone was talking about earlier?" Goblin asked, but Queen ignored the question as if she didn't hear him.
"Are you serious about revealing your identity...?" Clown asked in a daze, and I didn't bother answering. I just stared straight at Clown like there was nothing I couldn't tell them as long as they entertained me, even if it had to do with my identity—like even that would be amusing to me.
"I've been thinking this for months, but I just can't understand it." Deer spoke like he had grown weary of me. "I don't know how long you've been in this world, but you've been properly broken. If you keep this up, you won't be able to live a decent life even once you're back home."
Worrying about a stranger's life? He was a sweeter man than I thought, but this and that were two different things. When I pretended not to hear and did not even look at him, Deer clammed up in anger.
That was when Queen stepped forward. "Anyway, this is interesting. If I bring you information, can I hear who you are too? I'm getting curious."
"If you can entertain me."
Queen grinned at my answer. "Just wait. I may not look it, but I know quite a few interesting things. Huhu."
Hmm, that did make me look forward to it, since this woman was a stranger too.
Seeing how she managed to get in during a time like this, it looks like she's here on Master's recommendation...
I hadn't been able to pay her much attention at first in favor of educating Clown, but I'd have to keep a close eye on her going forward.
"Then why don't we get started...?"
A silence fell as no one opened their mouth. Then Goblin spoke up and the confusion was somewhat sorted. "True, the door closed a while ago so we can't sit like this forever. Crescent Moon didn't make it in the end."
"If he isn't here at a time like this, that must mean he wasn't able to avoid dying."
It seemed everyone thought Crescent Moon hadn't survived this incident. And he had been the one with the most initiative here too...
"So, who will go first this time?" Normally, Fox would have taken on the role of moderator herself and begun the gathering, but Goblin took the lead considering the strange state she was in.
"I'll go later. This is my first time, so I think I'll need some time to get used to how things work."
"Sure. Then who will go?"
"If no one else will, I will go first." The first speaker was Deer. "Let's go with this since he was brought up earlier. He escaped into the world five days ago."
"What? He did...?" Clown seemed surprised as if this was new information.
"Um... If we want to be fair, shouldn't you tell us who he is first...?" Goblin hinted that he wanted more information on what was going on, but Fox's eyes remained the same. No, was she even listening?
Vooom.
Anyway, the jewel at the center of the Round Table gave off a green light. That meant that the information was true and that more than half the people here were unaware of it.
"But I don't understand. How can you release such valuable information like this?"
Deer answered Clown's question with nonchalance. "Most people who don't know will know in a week anyway. I should at least use it here."
"Then may I try next?" Queen raised her hand just slightly. Normally, going clockwise was the rule, but everyone allowed it because they were curious about just what information this woman would share. "Huhu, it's my first time at a gathering like this so I'm a little nervous." Her voice didn't sound nervous at all. Queen met eyes with each person like she was relishing in their attention, then slowly parted her lips. "He is in the Magic Tower as we speak."
Hah, this again?
Because I couldn't be sure who "he" was in the first place, I wasn't particularly impressed by this information. But I guess these two were different. The moment the words left Queen's mouth, Clown's and Deer's eyes turned to the center of the Round Table, to the jewel that could discern authenticity.
"It's true..."
"The first place he goes to since reentering the world is the Magic Tower? Doesn't that pique your interest?"
When the opportunity came, I'd have to make sure to find out who "he" was. If these guys were acting like this, whoever it was must be an extraordinary person.
...If it really is Baekho, who the hell is that guy, really?
While I was thinking that, I felt eyes on me from Queen's direction. I didn't know when she'd started, but she was staring intently at me. "Mr. Lion, you don't seem surprised to hear that. As if you already knew."
Uh, is that what you think? I just don't know who he is, so where he is doesn't matter to me.
"I guess you have someone in the Magic Tower too?"
"Well, that could be the case." Queen tried to feel me out, and I ignored her like I thought her attempts were cute.
"Next... I'll go." After that, it was Fox's turn. Fox hadn't said much since the gathering started and promptly received three red lights in a row. The first two things she shared were recent pieces of information that everyone knew already, and the third was judged to be pointless information to have.
"To think the leader of the El Capard Clan was a player. That's quite interesting. But isn't that useless? I remember hearing he died as soon as he stepped out of those portals this month."
"...Value is relative. For example, neither I nor Mr. Goblin know who 'he' is. That means that was pointless information to us." Fox's logic made sense, but this was a Round Table where the majority ruled.
"Still, at least now you know someone interesting exists out there. Pshehe."
"...Are you all of the same opinion?" Everyone was silent in response to her question, and that silence became the most effective answer. In the end, Fox had to try for the fourth time with information about a single-digit numbered item. "The leader of the Tavern Clan has No. 9."
"Tavern's leader, huh...?"
"It's like putting a pearl necklace on a pig. Pshehe."
The Round Table's jewel emitted a green light and no one disagreed this time. A single-digit Numbers Item was worth that much, at least. To be honest, it seemed like Fox was just now revealing information she had been saving up.
"I will go this time." Next up was Goblin. Like the paladin he was, he revealed information connected to religious society. "Ultimately, all denominations have decided to withdraw their support for the king. In a few days, they will begin to keep their distance again, just like they did in the past."
Since this was information you couldn't know unless you were a key figure on the religious side of things, it passed with flying colors.
"Pshehe, then it's my turn." As soon as it was his turn, Clown made a shocking declaration. "I live in Noark."
Just what was going through this bastard's head? Did the murderous intent screw up his mind? This was information that revealed part of his own identity. Everyone, including me, was stunned by this incomprehensible decision.
Or, rather, that was true for everyone except Queen. "Noark! You must be a very interesting person too, Mr. Clown!" she remarked innocently.
Clown's eyes were fixed on me and showed no signs of moving. For some reason, I was reminded of a certain evil spirit hunter. That bastard had also studied me with an expression like this after tossing out some bait.
Is he trying to feel out how much I know?
The thought came to mind, so I studied Clown's eyes closely too. I thought I could even see relief in them.
"Judging by your surprise, I guess you didn't know who I was? Pshehe."
What are you talking about, you deranged bastard?
"Mr. Crescent Moon said it seemed like Mr. Lion knew all of our identities. I guess that's not the case."
He was testing the waters. Lion was extraordinary, but how extraordinary was he? Did he only have personal power and influence, or was he a superpower with an enormous faction plus information?
"Was that entertaining for you?"
And if he could rack up some additional entertainment points in the process of finding out? Well, it was definitely an effective play on his part.
"Certainly," I said with a smirk. "It was an entertaining ruse."
At that moment, the green light on the jewel turned off, indicating that the previous turn had passed. It was time for my long-awaited turn. The information I would reveal had already been decided.
"Clown is the Corpse Collector."
Who do you think you're messing with?
"But I don't understand. How can you release such valuable information like this?"
Deer answered Clown's question with nonchalance. "Most people who don't know will know in a week anyway. I should at least use it here."
"Then may I try next?" Queen raised her hand just slightly. Normally, going clockwise was the rule, but everyone allowed it because they were curious about just what information this woman would share. "Huhu, it's my first time at a gathering like this so I'm a little nervous." Her voice didn't sound nervous at all. Queen met eyes with each person like she was relishing in their attention, then slowly parted her lips. "He is in the Magic Tower as we speak."
Hah, this again?
Because I couldn't be sure who "he" was in the first place, I wasn't particularly impressed by this information. But I guess these two were different. The moment the words left Queen's mouth, Clown's and Deer's eyes turned to the center of the Round Table, to the jewel that could discern authenticity.
"It's true..."
"The first place he goes to since reentering the world is the Magic Tower? Doesn't that pique your interest?"
When the opportunity came, I'd have to make sure to find out who "he" was. If these guys were acting like this, whoever it was must be an extraordinary person.
...If it really is Baekho, who the hell is that guy, really?
While I was thinking that, I felt eyes on me from Queen's direction. I didn't know when she'd started, but she was staring intently at me. "Mr. Lion, you don't seem surprised to hear that. As if you already knew."
Uh, is that what you think? I just don't know who he is, so where he is doesn't matter to me.
"I guess you have someone in the Magic Tower too?"
"Well, that could be the case." Queen tried to feel me out, and I ignored her like I thought her attempts were cute.
"Next... I'll go." After that, it was Fox's turn. Fox hadn't said much since the gathering started and promptly received three red lights in a row. The first two things she shared were recent pieces of information that everyone knew already, and the third was judged to be pointless information to have.
"To think the leader of the El Capard Clan was a player. That's quite interesting. But isn't that useless? I remember hearing he died as soon as he stepped out of those portals this month."
"...Value is relative. For example, neither I nor Mr. Goblin know who 'he' is. That means that was pointless information to us." Fox's logic made sense, but this was a Round Table where the majority ruled.
"Still, at least now you know someone interesting exists out there. Pshehe."
"...Are you all of the same opinion?" Everyone was silent in response to her question, and that silence became the most effective answer. In the end, Fox had to try for the fourth time with information about a single-digit numbered item. "The leader of the Tavern Clan has No. 9."
"Tavern's leader, huh...?"
"It's like putting a pearl necklace on a pig. Pshehe."
The Round Table's jewel emitted a green light and no one disagreed this time. A single-digit Numbers Item was worth that much, at least. To be honest, it seemed like Fox was just now revealing information she had been saving up.
"I will go this time." Next up was Goblin. Like the paladin he was, he revealed information connected to religious society. "Ultimately, all denominations have decided to withdraw their support for the king. In a few days, they will begin to keep their distance again, just like they did in the past."
Since this was information you couldn't know unless you were a key figure on the religious side of things, it passed with flying colors.
"Pshehe, then it's my turn." As soon as it was his turn, Clown made a shocking declaration. "I live in Noark."
Just what was going through this bastard's head? Did the murderous intent screw up his mind? This was information that revealed part of his own identity. Everyone, including me, was stunned by this incomprehensible decision.
Or, rather, that was true for everyone except Queen. "Noark! You must be a very interesting person too, Mr. Clown!" she remarked innocently.
Clown's eyes were fixed on me and showed no signs of moving. For some reason, I was reminded of a certain evil spirit hunter. That bastard had also studied me with an expression like this after tossing out some bait.
Is he trying to feel out how much I know?
The thought came to mind, so I studied Clown's eyes closely too. I thought I could even see relief in them.
"Judging by your surprise, I guess you didn't know who I was? Pshehe."
What are you talking about, you deranged bastard?
"Mr. Crescent Moon said it seemed like Mr. Lion knew all of our identities. I guess that's not the case."
He was testing the waters. Lion was extraordinary, but how extraordinary was he? Did he only have personal power and influence, or was he a superpower with an enormous faction plus information?
"Was that entertaining for you?"
And if he could rack up some additional entertainment points in the process of finding out? Well, it was definitely an effective play on his part.
"Certainly," I said with a smirk. "It was an entertaining ruse."
At that moment, the green light on the jewel turned off, indicating that the previous turn had passed. It was time for my long-awaited turn. The information I would reveal had already been decided.
"Clown is the Corpse Collector."
Who do you think you're messing with?