The rookie was wearing an elf mask. Strictly speaking, I was the newbie and that person was a returning user, but... Sorry. Since it had been a while, they should know what had changed, right? Or they listened carefully to their elders' patch notes.
«A-wave... »
When Goblin spoke with struggle, I immediately erased my murderous energy. However, if he ended up like this, he would only be branded a temperamental bastard.
«That's all?»
I decided today's lines by remembering the last words I said before I left last time. The important thing to act was coherence. «I heard there was a newcomer, but...». I muttered in disappointment, as if I had some expectations, but everything was as planned. As if to say that this was not just bullying, but me trying to learn each other's level.
«How boring».
As if that were my only purpose, I looked away from Duende and scrutinized Zorro, as well as Crescent Moon and Deer, to say that I would be very disappointed if I didn't have as much fun with today's meeting as last time.
«Keke, don't worry, Leon, I have something that will interest you again».
I didn't even answer, I sat with my chin resting on my hand.
If Clown is saying this, it must be really important information.
Was this why people put pressure on their subordinates? I continued to feign indifference.
Rattle.
When the time came, the door to the Round Table closed. This meant that there were no more members to participate. However, there was one thing to do before the meeting began in earnest.
«Goblin, wake up».
«How funny. They always pretended to be so cool.»
«Keke, unlike last time, Mr. Leon was being considerate! Ha! You're even embarrassing me». At Clown's words, Fox and Deer laughed in agreement.
«Definitely... not like then».
«Yeah. This time I was able to endure it too».
Seeing that they were both looking at me as if thanking me for my consideration, I shuddered internally. The reason was simple.
That was the maximum production...
It was the maximum amount of killing energy that he could freely activate and deactivate. I practiced countless times after watching the head of the Karlstein family use it in real life, but when I used it seriously, I couldn't turn it off at will. Well, it was good that they interpreted it as me being considerate. This was why people should at least appear powerful.
«I'm sorry. I'm fine now.» Anyway, Goblin also came to his senses. Although as soon as our eyes met they moved away, as if the previous incident had left them with trauma.
This one definitely seems inferior to the other four.
Just look at Fox: she endured my true murderous energy for much longer, but she just distrusted me and was careful, not afraid.
«So who should start?» Fox asked and looked at Clown.
Clown shrugged. «Delicious things are enjoyed in the end, right? How about we start with Mr. Goblin?».
«Ahem, why not». Soon, Goblin cleared his throat and passed on his information as if to make up for his previous indecency. «Everyone will know that Ludwig, High Priest of the Stars, has disappeared».
«¿Y?»
«The culprit was Hercules. They kidnapped him and used him as a slave».
Was this bastard a priest? Was that how they knew it? The idea occurred to me, but the light emitted by the jewel on the Round Table was red.
«Keke, I guess more than half of us already know this».
It left a bitter taste in my mouth. Not even two weeks had passed since I brought them the letter. Everyone who knew, including Baekho, must have already known me...
«You better get used to it. If you want to satisfy those two, ordinary information won't work», Fox said.
¿Eh?
«I didn't know anything about this. Perhaps with this event, the temple will support the palace». Listening to Crescent Moon, it seemed like the two were unaware of this information.
Then the red light came on because Clown, Deer and I knew this fact?
I accidentally clicked my tongue. Had they been watching me all this time?
Clown stood up and snapped at the other three. «Hey, are there no unspoken rules anymore? I thought we had decided not to openly reveal whether we knew the information or not».
«I'm sorry. I felt bad for Goblin».
«We overlooked it when it was just us. But there's a newcomer, right? Let's all be careful. Yeah?»
"Yo, lo tender."
Oh, so this was the original rule. If this continued, the person who did not know the information that another knew would inevitably be revealed. That was a part that had been bothering me, but thanks to Clown, it worked.
But for some reason, I don't think he spoke for me...
Something like this had also happened in the last meeting.
«Crescent moon, don't be too discouraged. Most won't know the information you just said».
Back then, Clown acted like this first.
Did you judge that the latest information could be used to deduce your identity?
I wasn't sure, but it seemed possible.
However, if that assumption is true, Clown is a priest or a member of the underground city. It must be one of the two.
The latter seemed more likely. I couldn't imagine Clown working in a temple. Well, it was possible that he was acting like me.
That's not important now.
Soon, I paid attention to the meeting again and listened to the information that Goblin kept revealing. Perhaps it was a shock that the above information gave off a red light. «The goddess of the stars has given an oracle».
The next announcement, a green light immediately came on. Was this something even Clown didn't know?
«I want to buy information about who has been given the oracle», Clown said.
«I'm not sure about that...»
«Keke, information that not even a paladin knows? I guess the temple really keeps it hidden».
«You said you wouldn't talk about it!»
«Oh, my fault. But everyone already knows this. Why are you so susceptible?» At that, Duende looked at me and Clown laughed as if that were ridiculous. «Do you think he cares about you?».
Goblin snorted in disgust, but made no rebuttal. I took notes in my mind indifferently.
Goblin Mask = Paladin.
In any case, the meeting continued. After Goblin it was Fox with them. «There will be a double number item at the sky auction house next month».
Double number: In other words, an item numbered between 11 and 99 would be put up for auction. But was the clown's warning to respect the rules effective? No one spoke after that, but the air became heavy as if everyone was looking at their competitors.
Ugh, I have to go through the auction house in heaven too.
The Sky Auction House was located in Karnon, the royal capital. To enter Karnon, I needed to gain more fame or increase my scout rank and accumulate achievement stats. It would take at least a year.
I don't even have money to buy a double number item. I'll have to give this one up.
I neatly folded that thought. Not only did I not know what kind of object it was, but even if I had the money it would be better to use it on the Garphas Necklace, which I got at the count's banquet.
«The royal family is making a plan to subjugate Noark». Following Fox, Deer gave information, and a green light appeared. So Baekho was right about the conquest. As advised, I planned not to approach that.
Next came Crescent Moon. «Equipment allegedly owned by the dragon slayer, a member of Hercules, was put on the black market. Although it is not his sword, it is clear that he has had bad luck».
The green light came on again. I barely managed to maintain my composure in the chin rest posture. Was it on the black market? But I only stole the sword. At first I was taken aback, but I quickly imagined the situation in my head.
It would be correct to assume that what Baekho said was true.
The dragon hunter had lost his memory, probably because of the drugs at the time. The person who picked up the remaining equipment and sold it on the black market would be the one who supplied him with the drugs.
From Goblin clockwise, it was finally Clown's turn. Everyone's eyes had high expectations of the way he set the tone before. «Hmm, León, would you like to be the first?»
«You must be very confident».
«Of course. If we just say boring things we all know here, Mr. Lion might not come back next time».
I chuckled and nodded. It meant I had no intention of playing along, so we should go in order.
«Well, that leaves me no choice. Mr. León's information could be more interesting». Clown shrugged disdainfully. Then, bending his body in a bizarre way, he stretched out and blurted out: «In three years, magic capable of tying up to six people will be created».
The words spoken in a playful voice were followed by silence. Everyone looked away towards the center of the round table.
«Es una long verde...»
It meant that Clown's words were true; At least, he believed they were.
«Santo... I didn't know that was possible».
«The guild, the royal family, the clans... everything will change».
Despite the unspoken rule mentioned by the clown, everyone vomited their astonishment. It was to be expected. This would not only expand a scout's radius of activity and the basic composition of their team, but also amounted to increasing the chances of beating the game several times over.
Can six people enter the top floor?
Five and six were completely different. Whether in 10x mode or 100x mode, it meant that combinations and synergies that were impossible in the original game were now possible.
In the middle of this, Clown just looked at me, as if he didn't care about other people's reactions. «So what do you think?» The eyes hidden behind the small holes in his mask met mine. The emotions contained in them were very clear.
It's like a child asking to be praised.
I chuckled and opened my mouth, just to a point that wouldn't hurt my concept. «This is quite interesting».
A praise earned sticker.
There was a saying that praise begets will. Well, being whipped several hundred times would do the same thing, but in terms of efficiency, there was a huge gap. What people were really passionate about was the future. It was the reward they desperately longed for.
«Ahem. So it's your turn, Mr. Leon.» Clown, after receiving a compliment sticker, awkwardly looked away and changed the subject.
As if they were waiting for him, all eyes turned to me. Thanks to the bomb Clown had just dropped, everyone's eyes were shining.
...What do you choose?
The truth is that I had already prepared some information to release here beforehand, but the quality of the information had gone up too high. Maybe thanks to the words I left last time, it seemed like everyone was taking out their funds. Especially the clown came with a clear intention. Information about six-person binding magic? That result would not have come if it had not been for the character's mysterious act.
Ugh, I mean it's a good thing, but...
It created more than one load. What should I tell them? Of course, it's not that he didn't have information to meet his sky-high expectations.
But if others found out, it would affect me too.
El problema era elegir información que era inútil, aunque la conocieran, como el Vamdemon. Además, sacar el tema del laberinto mientras los demás hablaban del exterior sería un poco raro en términos de fluidez.
Hmm, eso sería lo mejor.
Pronto, después de calcular de cerca las secuelas que traería esta información, tomé una decisión. «Antes tenías curiosidad por el oráculo». Hablé mientras miraba a Clown, como si quisiera darle una recompensa por ser él quien me entretuviera.
«No quiero revelar la razón-«.
Clown malinterpretó mis intenciones, así que corté sus palabras y pronuncié: «Era un oráculo que venía con una reliquia sagrada».
«¿Perdón?»
«Una nueva reliquia sagrada ha aparecido en el mundo a través de un oráculo de la diosa de las estrellas».
Clown, who was stunned for a moment as if he had heard something he shouldn't have, came to. Looking at the green light on the jewel, he asked cautiously: «...Can we know what kind of sacred relic it is?». Unlike his usual playful tone, his voice was cold and subdued.
So the sacred relic is what matters to you. Not who received the oracle.
I laughed happily and replied: «If you bring me another funny story».
«Keke, still, I'm glad to know you'll be back». Clown laughed frivolously, as usual, but I could feel it. The next time I came, I could hear more fun information, although I couldn't imagine what it could be.
«I'll wait for it impatiently».
When that time came, I'd probably say this: It's not fun.