The Vamdemon monster was a rare species that was difficult to find due to various appearance characteristics, even though it belonged to the lower end of the Rank 3 monsters. So I decided to share this information first. Even players using cheat mode wouldn't have much experience defeating Vamdemons, let alone catching one in a team of three.
Above all, it's useless information.
In fact, this was the most decisive factor. Vamdemons were hard to obtain and even harder to kill with three people. This wasn't some cheat mode where you could consume up to 30 essences. Simply put, it should have been, "Really? That's interesting information."
"Is that true?! A-ah! I'm not doubting you. Really. You know that, right?" The woman in the fox mask jumped up to object, then quickly apologized. The reactions of the others were also a little strange.
"...Catching a Vamdemon in a group of three?"
"But a Vamdemon is a rank 3 monster. How is that possible?"
They reacted as if they had never heard such nonsense.
"Then let's move on," I replied, as if it were no big deal. That was meant to divert attention from me, but thanks to my mysterious appearance, no one noticed.
Fortunately, the green light came on.
After that, the deer mask gave its information and received an OK, and the round ended. According to the notice I saw upon entering, from now on the participants would consult with each other to decide whether to play another round or not.
"I'll finish here today."
When Crescent Moon, who hadn't prepared much, declared that they would quit after the first lap, it seemed that the rally would end there.
"Hmm, then I'll finish here too," Fox said. "I'll save what I was going to wear today for the next match."
Deer replied, "If Fox has finished, I'll stop too. I have other information prepared, but... I'm not sure those two don't know it."
The clown spoke to me in a low voice. "What are you going to do, Leon? I don't mind continuing the meeting just the two of us-"
"I'll end up here too."
"Excuse me? Why?"
I shrugged and kept quiet. If I could, I wanted to wander around a bit and gather more information, but if it was just the two of us, there was a chance we'd be discovered. It was too risky. If I gave them any information to probe and the red light came on, they might figure out I was a novice. Giving and receiving information one bit at a time wasn't very efficient either.
"Hmm, that's a shame. I've met someone who could be of help to me for the first time, but we must end here."
The meeting came to an end with the clown's words, drenched in regret. But what was this? Although the meeting was over, everyone remained in the chat room and just watched each other in silence. Although they pretended otherwise, it wasn't difficult to realize that their attention was on me. They seemed to want to say a few words to me before leaving.
...Yes, I guess the protagonist today is me.
I smiled, but I thought about it seriously. At my first meeting, I managed to build a concept that would not be underestimated by veterans here. So what was the most appropriate action for this concept?
Clown, Deer, Fox, Crescent Moon: I looked one by one at each of the four veterans I met here.
«That's all?»
I was.
***
«Has... gone.»
Just as Leon left, Fox let out a long sigh.
«Fox, are you okay?» Crescent Moon looked at her and asked cautiously. The theme was omitted, but the meaning was clear since it had been really dangerous before.
«...I'm fine».
Killing energy, the intention to kill someone, was something intangible that was normally difficult to perceive unless you had a good spiritual sense. However, in this special space where mind and spirit intertwined, it was a different story.
«Are you really okay? Your hands have been shaking since before».
Without the filter of a body, overwhelming fear was etched into the mind the moment it was exposed to the murderous energy. Of course, it usually ended there. However, in severe cases, the spiritual body was seriously damaged, and the aftermath continued even in the real world.
«It will stop soon. Fortunately, it didn't amount to mental contamination». Even as he said that, Zorro was dizzy. What would have happened if Leon had withdrawn his murderous energy even a second later? He shuddered just thinking about it. Maybe she wouldn't have been crazy, but she might have been left with a stutter or some kind of speech impediment. «Who could it be...?». Fox spat out the question he had been holding.
He was the first newcomer in a year since the teacher's disappearance. He believed his mental barrier was high, but he could only survive his murderous energy for a few seconds. It made him wonder what the hell someone had to go through to achieve a mental strength of that power, but there was something even more surprising.
«That person, as soon as he realized that I was at the limit, stopped emitting the energy in an instant».
«...I guess I wasn't wrong».
The oppressive energy had disappeared in less than a second. This was something difficult to describe in words. Suddenly erase the apprehension formed by extreme immersion? Was that possible with a human mind?
I shouldn't have taken a step forward...
As the Fox lamented her careless actions, Deer opened her mouth. «What do you think of the words from before?»
«Do you mean the Vamdemon?»
«Sí.»
«No... it may be a lie, since the light of truth was turned on».
Of course, the gem of the round table was not absolute. If the speaker firmly believed that his words were the truth and had no doubts, the jewel emitted a green light.
«Somehow, I don't think I'm misinformed».
«I also agree with that... That's why it's confusing».
For the information on the lion mask to be true, one premise had to be met: defeat the Vamdemon in a team of three.
«I'm sure it's like that in the game, but it seems too far-fetched to me», Deer murmured.
Crescent Moon smiled at the murmur and joined the conversation. «Wouldn't it be possible 50 times? Although I don't think León would have achieved it on that difficulty».
«Hmm, you're assuming it's information Leon learned in the game».
A moment of silence passed after the clown's meaningful words. Of course, it didn't last long. The three shook their heads and smiled.
«...Haha, it can't be».
«Clown, you always say strange things».
Fox didn't spit out words of denial like the other two, but he felt the same way. Attacking a Vamdemon with only three people was even difficult in the game. How could it be done here?
«Tsk, you all lack imagination». Clown clicked his tongue in disgust.
«It doesn't matter, I hope you prepare more next time».
«Prepare?»
«Information! I mean, information! What is this? We had someone like that who eventually joined, but we had to turn him down due to lack of information. Are you going to take responsibility if that person loses interest in this place? Who knows what he will tell us in the future?».
«Look, losing interest is an exaggeration-»
«Haven't you heard what he said before? I was clearly disappointed!»
«A-ajem ... »
«If you have nothing to use, at least find something stimulating and interesting. I don't want to miss this opportunity because of people like you. Understood?» At Clown's comments, the three remained silent and maintained an uncomfortable silence.
The Round Table Watchers, a secret group that normal players didn't even know existed. All three were proud to be members of this group.
«That's all?»
With those two words, everything was broken. They realized his arrogance from that cold, mocking look. When he left without even looking back, they admitted it. In the end, the Round Table Watchers was just a small pond for some.
***
What an interesting place.
I opened my eyes with a feeling of complete satisfaction. Inside Hansu Lee's room, where there was only a bed and a computer desk, I checked the time before closing my eyes.
Round Table Watchers, huh?
The community Baekho informed me about was more helpful than I thought. It was a perfect source of high-quality information, which I lacked the most.
I'll have to find a way to stay in it until the end.
Of course, for this it was necessary to continue acting. They couldn't kick me out just for finding out I was a rookie, but they would try to dig deeper into my identity.
Anyway, I can organize the information to use there tomorrow.
I changed the subject of my thoughts. Sergeant Lee, Baekho Lee. A professional of professionals... and the definition of misfortune, be called up here after clearing the game on the day he was released. He couldn't even finish his vacation. To be honest, I still couldn't believe it. Was I generous enough to put in my pocket after all that?
I should thank Baekho next time we meet.
I only came into the room because I missed being around Koreans, but I ended up making a great connection. Of course, he had no intention of maintaining a one-sided relationship. Not only did I not want that, but Baekho wouldn't be so stupid either.
Staying in our own lane while we can still laugh is the way to maintain a long relationship.
After that thought, I sat in front of the computer and participated in community activities. Unlike last time, I received GP selling small pieces of information. In my free time I would go to the bulletin board or chat room and adapt to the atmosphere there. The second community activity soon ended.
[You are transported to Rafdonia].
Inside Bjorn Yandel's room, as soon as I opened my eyes, I looked at the clock. Time barely passed this time either.
...If only I wasn't tired, it would be perfect.
Since I was awake about twelve hours longer than I normally slept, the mental fatigue was considerable. Or maybe it was a side effect of too much killing energy? Whatever the cause, I was glad I cleared my schedule for tomorrow.
«Bjorrrn! How long are you going to sleep?»
Damn. I had closed my eyes for a moment, but then I saw Missha. It must have been daytime by now, because light was coming in through the window.
«A little more...»
«What little else? You always call me lazy. Did you stay all night in the library again?»
«No.»
«Hmm, really...? Anyway, before you go back to sleep, eat this while it's hot».
Missha was sensitive to eating on time, so I obediently got up and we ate together before stretching out on the bed again. How long did it take after that? When I slowly opened my eyes and looked out the window, I saw a dark, scarlet light projected onto the glass.
«You slept until sunset! What did you do yesterday?».
«You have trouble sleeping».
«...¿In series?»
That reaction hurt my feelings, but I had nothing to respond to. A barbarian's body could fall asleep as soon as it was decided. «But... have you been here all this time?».
«Of course not. After morning training, I met with Dwalkie for a while, and also went to my parents' house».
«That? Wait, did you meet Dwalkie?».
«Yeah. He told me he had a question, so I gave him some advice». Missha said it like it was no big deal, but knowing Dwalkie's feelings, she couldn't react the same. Even in Dungeon and Stone, teammate relationships were a shortcut to bloodshed.
«So... what was your concern?»
«Mm...I can't reveal someone else's affairs...»
Wow, that hurt my feelings. «Are we not a team?»
«Well... I'm sure I can tell you, Bjorn.» When I acted like I was disappointed, Missha revealed her concerns without any problems. It was ordinary relationship counseling. He had someone he liked, but he was worried about whether or not to reveal his feelings.
To think that there are people who really do this...
Although I found it funny, I asked for confirmation. «And what did you answer?»
«Hmm? I just told him to confess it like a man».
«I see...» I already expected it. Wasn't Missha the one who had never been in a relationship at twenty-five? As he could tell from how he usually treated me, he was not interested in relationships between a man and a woman.
«That's why I want to say something...» At that moment, Missha abruptly avoided my gaze and blurted out those words. His face looked strangely red. Because? Was it because of the sunset? As I thought that, Missha grabbed my hand. «Bjorn, if that's okay with you, will you come to my house with me tomorrow?»
«...Go with you?» No, come? Thinking the words didn't fit the context I asked again, but Missha just nodded.
«Yeah. Can? I will continue doing what you ask of me in the future. Hmm?»
Wondering what the hell this situation was, I soon realized what was going on. She wouldn't be acting like that just to invite me to her inn. «Could it be that you were talking about your parents' house?»
Missha lowered her head at my question. «Yes...» There was a nervous tremor in his hands. The sun had set at that moment; The sunset shining over Missha through the window was darkening. He swallowed and gave one more explanation. «M-my father wants to see you, you'll see... So, I was thinking... can you... come with me...?».
An invitation from your parents? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised, but I responded without hesitation. «Okay.
«...What? Oh really? Are you serious? Oh! You can't take it back, okay?»
«Uh huh, what time do we have to go tomorrow?»
It felt like something long awaited had finally arrived.