Chapter 72
Chapter 72 - Too Much Information
"... Now I understand."
At that moment, Old man Hick stepped forward in front of the terrified assassins.
He stared at me quietly with sunken eyes and began to mutter.
"That beautiful blue sword aura. I thought I'd seen it somewhere... It's the secret technique of Margrave Halcenberg, the Tiger of the North."
Busted.
This guy. He saw through the technique I used in one glance.
I swung Bestak as a threat. Swish swish swish! The magic sword immediately drew spirals and poured towards old man Hick.
"A flood of magical blades like watching meteor showers. The scale is a bit small, but it's definitely it."
Clang clang clang!
Contrary to expectations, the magical blades scattered in mid-air. Slightly surprised, I glared at old man Hick.
It was a speed that was difficult for my eyes to follow. Old man Hick had deflected seven magical swords in an instant.
"That means you must be the mysterious Hero who hunted Eldritch with Margrave Halcenberg."
He figured it out in an instant. He's the master of the information bureau afterall.
I immediately rushed at old man Hick. And swung my sword more fiercely to push him back.
"To think I couldn't recognize such a celebrity. It seems it's time for the Kern Performance Society to bring in a successor."
Clang, clang clang!
Even during the exchange of attacks, he kept running his mouth. And at the moment I desperately fired 7 magic swords at him.
Old man Hick dodged my sword with ghost-like movements. Right after, he jumped and created distance from me.
No chance of escape. Just as I was about to launch a pursuit attack.
"It's an honor to meet you in person. Eldritch Slayer."
He bowed his head to me like before. However, it wasn't the servile greeting from when he was pretending to be a vagrant.
It was a dignified greeting befitting the title of the Master of the Information bureau.
"I am Hick Tosior. Information bureau ruling the back alleys, head of the Kern Performance Society."
At that point, I realized further fighting would be meaningless.
The opponent had formally introduced himself. He doesn't seem to want to fight anymore either. It means the time for fistfighting is over and finally time for dialogue has come.
Only then did I lower my sword. Scratching the back of my head, I said to him.
"I have some information I'd like to know. Please cooperate."
"A VIP guest like you is always welcome."
Old man Hick responded with brief pleasantries and a meaningful smile.
* * *
I was back in the shantytown following his guidance.
Specifically, I had entered some shack located in a secluded part of the shantytown, and was sitting across from old man Hick with a magic light bulb between us.
Old man Hick leaned his upper body close, resting his chin on the rotten wooden table.
"So. What would you like to know?"
"I'm looking for someone."
"Someone, eh."
"I need information about a red-haired vagrant active in this area."
"A red-haired vagrant...?"
Old man Hick crossed his arms, fiddled with his fingers for a moment, then spoke.
"There are over 2,000 displaced people and vagrants wandering in this Kern. Narrow it down."
"Height comes up to about my neck. Hard to tell because they're wrapped in a straw mat, but they're quite large in build. And their hair is on the long side. Long enough to flow down even with a hood on."
"Right. That's more like it."
I explained the person's appearance mixing in hand and foot gestures.
Old man Hick nodded and made eye contact with his aide who was waiting beside him. The aide nodded and quickly began writing something on paper.
"Anything else?"
"Nothing in particular. Just give me a list of all possible matches."
"Hmm..."
Old man Hick pondered for a moment. He seemed to exchange glances with his aide before suddenly speaking.
"It's convenient and good for us, but I can think of ten people right now who match those conditions. How do you plan to identify them?"
"I have my methods. Don't worry about that."
"... Kehe. Like how you found me?"
"Let's say that."
Old man Hick nodded and whispered something to his aide. The aide nodded and quickly went outside.
Clunk. As the door closed, old man Hick crossed his legs sideways and leaned back in his chair.
"Wait a moment. My aide will compile the list."
"Please make it as quick as possible."
"We'll do our best."
And at that moment. I felt old man Hick's eyes become notably sharp.
Considering his next statement, it wasn't just my imagination.
"In the meantime, let's settle the information fee."
"Yes. I wasn't planning to get it for free. Do you want money?"
"Information for information. I want the information you possess."
"Hmm..."
It's ambiguous whether I should like this or not.
While I should be happy about saving money, I'm questioning whether selling my information is the right thing to do. Especially with that warning from whoever Casas was.
While scratching the back of my head, I carefully opened my mouth.
"I'll judge based on the questions and answer accordingly."
"I hope for generous judgment."
Old man Hick responded with a sly smile and joke.
Soon his eyes, curved like crescent moons, stared straight at me.
"There's quite a hot potato in this industry these days."
"Is that so?"
"A legendary tale of valor about a Hero that started in Halcenberg. His fame has been sporadically transmitted to Marktress by swift information bureaus. Though only some high-ranking individuals know for now... well, it's just a matter of time before the whole world knows."
"...…"
I-I, who had been answering carelessly, shut my mouth tight at that point.
Damn, that's me. It has to be me. There are only two heroes who recently came from Halcenberg - me and Seolbaek. Damn, it would be even stranger if it wasn't me.
While I was thoroughly flustered, old man Hick's words, as he rested his chin on his hand, only added to my confusion.
"Yes. There are rumors that you're conspiring with demons to overthrow the world order."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I was going to ask if that's true... but your reaction just now is enough. Thank you."
While old man Hick was taken aback by my swearing that contained my utter bewilderment, he started scribbling on paper with his usual slick smile.
Glancing over, it seemed he was trying to transcribe our conversation verbatim.
"Then are the rumors about you joining hands with the Immortal Demon Lord false?"
"... No comment on that."
"No comment. I see."
Old man Hick seemed to nod, then immediately wrote in a corner of the paper.
I secretly peeked at it.
—Question: Has joined hands with the Immortal Demon Lord?
—Answer: Half confirmed
"Hey old man, are you a taffy seller? If you're going to write whatever you want, why bother asking me?"
This old man is distorting history in real time. Is he Chinese or Japanese?
When I glared at him with full suspicion, old man Hick finally slightly hid the paper. Then he waved his hands and scrambled for an excuse.
"Haha, since you didn't strongly deny it, I naturally took it as confirmation."
"Stop saying things that sound like a sex offender's posthumous statement. Change it. I said no comment."
"Alright, alright. Try to understand. In my common sense, only Immortal Cult members don't get angry at such terrible rumors."
"... Immortal Cult?"
A new term has appeared. Given how naturally he said it, it seems to be a common organization.
When I gave him a questioning look, old man Hick explained readily without batting an eye.
"They're followers of the Witch Diana. People who aim for Diana's revival by expelling all heroes from this Paraiso."
"Ah. I guess they're a group of demons?"
"They're a group of humans."
"What?"
"People who fell for demons' temptation. Fallen heroes. Those chasing after lost money and status. Those seeking power and immortality. A group of humans who wish for the witch's revival for their own reasons. That's the Immortal Cult."
"......"
Like the Casas organization I got involved with before, and now this Immortal Cult.
The power struggles in this world seem quite complicated in their own way.
How nice would it be if the worldview ended at the level of 'In the beginning, celestials and demons fought~'. It's easy to understand and people can just accept it as is.
While I was clicking my tongue, old man Hick suddenly shrugged his shoulders.
"I was going to ask about connections to the Immortal Cult next. But your reaction just now didn't seem like acting, so I have my answer. Let's move on."
Here, old man Hick's eyes became even sharper than before.
He leaned his upper body close to me and asked in a low voice.
"Was it really you who hunted the Eldritch?"
"Yes."
"I heard you succeeded in hunting it with just the two of you - you and the Margrave of Halcenberg. Is this true?"
"No. A woman from my party and a maid named Leila helped too. Four people total."
"Oh. That's valuable information I'm hearing for the first time. Then how did you hunt it?"
"Trade secret."
"My... that's the most important part. How disappointing."
A barrage of immediate answers without a moment's hesitation. Even old man Hick who asked the questions was somewhat surprised by that momentum.
Well, who could say anything when I'm telling the truth about something I actually did.
Old man Hick continued his recording while repeatedly making impressed sounds of "hmm, hmm".
After writing the final line, he nodded with satisfaction.
"Very interesting information. More than enough payment for the information."
"Glad to hear that."
"Lastly, this is just out of personal curiosity."
"What is it?"
Old man Hick suddenly lifted his quill pen slightly and pointed it at my chin.
Though there was no hint of threat, I unconsciously swallowed once.
"Are you on Ashin's side? Or the Witch's side?"
I tried to figure out old man Hick's intentions but failed. Being a master of an information bureau, his expressions wouldn't be easy to read.
Having given up early, I spoke my true thoughts.
"The winning side."
"... Haha."
Letting out a hearty laugh, old man Hick put away his pen.
After rolling up the parchment he wrote on and tucking it in his sleeve, he grinned and said one thing.
"That's the most trustworthy answer I've gotten from any hero so far, Eldritch Slayer."
* * *
"It's one of these."
I was examining the vagrant settlement while looking over the list I received from old man Hick.
There were 35 people listed. 35 names and descriptions, combat rankings, and even detailed residences were written down.
Honestly, I didn't expect this level of detail. Those guys do good work. I clicked my tongue in renewed appreciation.
'... Can I check them all?'
I looked up at the sky.
Dusk had already fallen and stars were rising. I had spent longer at the information bureau's than expected.
Night is coming. The time limit... is getting closer and closer.
'I have to return to the inn before midnight...!'
"It's not like I'm Cinderella, so what is this?"
"It feels ridiculous, but there's no other choice."
I have to leave my thoughts in a certain place to continue my memory. Also, it's better to return with time to spare so I can ask Seolbaek to protect Lucy.
My heart feels constricted. The anxiety and restlessness I've been trying to ignore wrap around my body.
‘I'm going to confiscate the two weeks of my worries, Park-jeong yong’.
Let's stop. When there's room for anxiety, I need to move.
Even if it feels like death, if I move now, I can die once instead of ten times.
'I'll find it. Even if I have to bet my life on it.'
Though it's just a few hours of life remaining anyway.
With a bitter smile, I began searching through the shantytown as if looking for lice.