A Secret Meeting at Midnight, Part 4
I looked at Pean.
He was still trembling, unable to shake off his fear.
The reason he was so terrified was simple.
“—...For a grand covenant to save the world, the reward seems a bit lacking, don't you think?”
That was the impression Arwen von Goldheart had shared when he first encountered the Easter egg.
As this showed, others could not sense the energy of the Easter egg. The "shell" that blocked external perception completely cut off its presence.
‘But Pean is different.’
To Pean, who pushed his senses to the absolute limit, the Easter egg's "shell" meant nothing. His Super Sensory had reached a level where it could pierce through any veil to peer inside. The fact that he could even see through Tristan's Cloak said it all.
When someone like Pean sensed the Easter egg in my breast pocket, he must have felt a presence that defied imagination.
‘Of course he did. The Easter egg is a creature created with the utmost care by the Great Ones themselves.’
Even if you gathered dozens of Divine Beasts, they couldn't match the racial stats of the Easter egg. That was how different its status was, and how overwhelming its presence.
‘So, when he sensed the life form hidden within the Easter egg, it was only natural that he would be overwhelmed by its sheer pressure.’
And that wasn't all.
As I've said many times, the Easter egg was still essentially a blank canvas. Depending on what the player drew upon it, what hatched from it would vary wildly.
An infinite potential that could not be defined by anything. A completely unknown creature whose very form had not yet taken shape.
No matter how strong a Sword Master was, even one who had lived for thousands of years, they had no choice but to tremble before such an existence. After all, all fear stems from the unknown.
"You..."
It happened while I was lost in these thoughts.
Pean, barely regaining his composure, asked in a trembling voice.
"...Were you, by any chance, not of the dragon race?"
I paused.
I blinked at the sudden, out-of-the-blue question.
‘Wait a minute.’
‘What is he talking about...?’
"My senses cannot be wrong."
"..."
"I clearly sense the traces of a Dragon Body from you. Heukgol and Pokryong reacted the exact same way I did."
Right. The Earth Dragon's Heart I obtained in Labyrinth Village, and the trait Dragon Body that I got by combining it with the Corrupted Holy Grail. There was no way someone at the level of a Sword Master would fail to perceive my physical traits.
Not just Pean, but Heukgol and Pokryong as well, surely knew that I possessed a Dragon Body. But...
"That egg must have been laid by you. I can feel a deep bond between you and that entity."
"...?"
"Seeing how you always keep it close to your chest, you must hold a special affection for that child."
...I never expected the misunderstanding to spiral in this direction.
"However, the energy felt from your 'child' is by no means that of a dragon."
"..."
"Rather, it possesses an energy far beyond that."
I was so dumbfounded that I couldn't speak.
'What is this?'
I had suddenly been mistaken for the father of a monstrous Easter egg.
It was an absurd situation, but what made it even more mind-boggling was that Pean's reasoning wasn't entirely baseless.
‘Come to think of it, it's a reasonable misunderstanding...’
If I, who possessed dragon traits, was carefully keeping an egg that radiated a powerful energy close to my chest? And if a deep bond could be felt between the two of us?
Yes. Anyone would think the Easter egg was an egg I had laid myself.
"Gaon."
"..."
"Just... what is your true identity?"
Pean asked, looking at me with a trembling voice.
I kept my mouth shut and paused for a moment.
Honestly, there was no reason to correct Pean's misunderstanding of my identity. In fact, it was for the better.
If Pean mistook me for the parent of the Easter egg, he would be that much more wary of me, which would surely work to my advantage. The more he feared me, and the more he perceived me as an enigmatic entity, the better it was for me. Especially in a situation like this where I needed to seize the upper hand.
"My identity..."
I began in a meaningful tone.
"You ask useless questions."
"...?"
"It is not something you could understand anyway, nor is it something you could handle even if you did."
Pean flinched, his body trembling slightly.
The moment I saw that reaction, I gained a certainty.
‘Looks like the bluff worked perfectly.’
Sometimes, this kind of primal fear was far more effective than any threat or conciliation.
‘So...’
...Now was the time to drive the nail in.
"@???????????????#????????!????$?????????????????.?????"
Rumble—!
Along with the "sound" that flowed from my mouth, the world began to shake. At the same time, Pean's face turned deathly pale.
[True Name: @???????????????#????????!????$?????????????????.????? has been spoken.]
[The 'True Name' echoes through the Hall of the Great Ones.]
"How on earth..."
Pean muttered in a voice that trembled endlessly.
"H-how do you... know that...?"
His mind went completely blank.
What had flowed from Gaon's mouth was clearly language, yet it was not language. It was a sound, yet it was not a sound. It was something engraved directly into Pean's mind.
...It was his True Name.
A name he had possessed since birth, yet one that had never been known to anyone. A secret and the very source of his existence, never once exposed to another in all the thousands of years he had lived.
In this incomprehensible situation, countless possibilities flashed through Pean's mind. Yet, none of them could provide an answer.
"You seem to have been mistaken from the start."
It was then that Gaon's voice rang out coldly.
"The one showing favor here is me, not you."
"..."
"Waiting until you grow old and sick? You seem to believe the choice of when to fight lies with you."
A brief silence.
Then, a low, echoing voice.
"Do not be so arrogant."
"...!"
Pean's breath hitched slightly. Even though Gaon did not raise his voice, every single word he uttered carried an indescribable, absolute weight.
"You are barely standing right now on the tolerance I choose to bestow."
Clink.
Gaon set down his teacup. Even in that simple action, a heavy, undeniable pressure lingered.
"Did you say you have lived for an eternity?"
Gaon said with a sneer.
"To me, such time is but a fleeting moment."
"..."
"Before you speak of the eternal life granted to elves, think first about whether you even have the right to stand on the same level as me."
A single bead of cold sweat rolled down Pean's forehead.
Knowing his True Name, which was buried deep within the sands of time. Harboring an overwhelming life form that surpassed even the dragon race. And on top of that, treating someone like him, who had lived for thousands of years, like a mere insect.
‘Just what...’
His head spun. The pressure, unlike anything he had ever felt in his life, made even breathing difficult.
"I will say this one last time,"
Gaon murmured in an utterly flat voice.
"In a fortnight, an auction will be held in the black market of the dark city, Dawnguard."
"..."
"And you will accompany me there."
Gaon delivered the one-sided declaration.
As soon as he finished speaking, Gaon stood up, leaving the window where the sun was rising behind him. The shadow cast by the orange dawn completely enveloped Pean.
What Gaon had issued was not a request. It was a command... no, it was no different from a notification of a predetermined fate. Naturally, Pean had no right to refuse.
A heavy silence fell. After some time had passed, Pean finally bowed his head deeply.
"...I will see you in Dawnguard in a fortnight."
Gaon looked down at Pean for a moment, then turned around without a word. He walked out of the VIP room and headed somewhere.
"..."
*Creak, thud.*
Left alone in the room, Pean could not lift his head for a long time. Gaon had already departed, but the presence he had left behind hung heavily in the air.
"Haa, haa..."
He gasped for breath, as if squeezing his lungs. Even the air felt heavily compressed. He had to be careful with every breath he took.
Pean suddenly realized that he was still overwhelmed by the lingering remnants Gaon had left behind.
"..."
*Step, step.*
My footsteps as I walked through the corridors of Midtemple were light. I had established a clear upper hand in my relationship with Pean. This meant far more than simply bringing a strong individual to my side.
‘There are no ambiguous relationships among Sword Masters.’
If the hierarchy wasn't clear, the roles could be reversed at any time. That was why I had put on a massive bluff and then brought up Pean's True Name. I needed him to perceive me not as an equal partner, but as a superior existence.
‘Pean probably thinks I'm some ancient being.’
That misunderstanding would never be shattered. Even if other circumstances shook him, he would never be able to shake off his belief simply because I knew his True Name. It meant that, at least in my relationship with Pean, I would always hold the upper hand.
‘Anyway.’
Looking up at the dawning sky, I reviewed my future plans.
‘This is the first time I'm participating in the Dawnguard auction at this point in time.’
Even after going through 200 playthroughs, I had never experienced a black market auction held this early. It was practically an event that hadn't existed before.
While the general flow would be similar, there would inevitably be many unexpected situations that hadn't occurred before. I couldn't feel safe with just my own abilities and Adelia's protection. That was why I had dragged Pean into this to ensure our safety.
‘Actually, with this kind of force...’
...I wouldn't need to worry, no matter who showed up.
"..."
Even so, I had to be more certain. I had to become stronger.
There were only two weeks left until the auction.
‘For that moment, I need to acquire a new ability.’
And I had already laid out all the plans.
*Inhale, exhale.*
The cold morning air filled my lungs. Leaving the VIP room, I headed toward the Goldheart estate.
*Knock, knock.*
*Creak.*
The door opened as soon as I knocked. Beyond the door stood Adelia, fully armed, and Arwen, dressed in relatively comfortable attire.
"We have been waiting for you, Sir Gaon."
With her armor, sword, and various auxiliary equipment, Adelia's eyes were already filled with determination.
"How is your condition?"
"It is at its peak."
Hearing that, I nodded and took a step forward.
"Then let us move immediately."
"...Yes. This way."
*Step, step.*
Arwen von Goldheart took the lead and began to guide the way.
Now, it was time to seek growth once again.
By challenging the "Trial" left behind by the Master of Flame and Blacksmiths, the one and only Sacred Piece managed by Midtemple.
A dark room.
While the flickering candlelight made the shadows on the wall dance, the Five Nightmares sat in their respective seats in silence.
*Squelch!*
Right then, with a spine-chilling sound, the black sphere resting on the knight's neck slowly split open.
A hideous mouth formed where it tore. Soon after, a heavy voice began to echo through the room.
"The second Apostle has descended."
"..."
"In a fortnight, we will make contact with them in the dark city of Dawnguard."