Episode 255
“You say he’s not a Player?”
The sudden mention raised doubts.
Sirius is not a Player.
What does that mean?
“Are you saying he’s in a state like Li Wei? Unable to log out?”
“It’s different from that. What I sensed was an anomaly is the power Sirius possesses.”
“Power?”
There was no trace of a smile on Elfo’s face.
It was a look of certainty, not mere speculation.
After briefly turning his gaze away as if looking at a screen, he immediately continued with a detailed explanation.
“There is someone on our side who possesses a skill that can gauge power. Unlike rankings, should I say you can see exactly how strong they are purely?”
“You mean the Eye of Intuition?”
A skill that can be learned in a hidden village in the northeastern forest.
It was a technique that allowed one to gauge an opponent’s power through intuition.
Although it relied on senses rather than numbers, its reliability was high because it stemmed from instinct.
“I thought you knew? Anyway, I infiltrated the area around the Holy Kingdom with him and kept tracking down the power. But do you know what Sirius was like?”
“What was he like?”
“The rate of growth keeps accelerating day by day. Compared to other rankers, it’s several times faster.”
“…Several times?”
That statement was certainly strange.
It was a universal truth in any world that growth slows down as one approaches the peak.
Especially in a situation where the Demon Realm had not yet been opened, it was practically impossible.
If there was a possibility, it was only the space the two had mentioned earlier.
“Wasn’t there a hidden Error Zone? There must be places accessible only to the Holy Faction.”
“I’ve already identified most of the places, and the Error Zone isn’t that significant anymore. You absolutely cannot get that strong that fast through normal means.”
Elfo shook his head firmly.
If that was how the 6th ranked person felt, his words were highly persuasive.
The meaning of his statement that he wasn’t a player was that he was falling outside that category.
“Do you have any hunch about anything else? You said you’ve been observing.”
“I can’t see what happens inside the Holy Kingdom. But there are more clues given by the Eye of Intuition.”
Crouching down, Elfo grabbed a twig and began to draw something.
It was a strange object with several lumps stuck together.
“It’s an image of power my friend drew for me. Usually, they’re circular, but Sirius’s was in this shape.”
“…It is strange.”
An ominous aura could be felt even from the drawing made of twigs.
While I quietly gazed at it, Elfo asked a question.
“When you met Sirius, didn’t something feel off?”
“Hmm.” It was the memory
of their first meeting, which had been revealed on broadcast.
It was the memory of that day when they had displayed their wits and successfully counterattacked.
“Rather than personal impressions, there is something a Spirit told me. They used the expression that something was mixed up.”
“Mixed up?”
“It’s a Spirit’s sense, so it’s likely very different from human standards. Though, that’s how much it penetrates the essence.”
The words Ariel had uttered the moment Sirius appeared were vivid in my memory.
Too many things are mixed up.
It seems there are demons among them.
That was exactly the gist of it.
“…So that is it.”
Elfo muttered, his arms crossed.
Then, he raised his head and looked at Hanbit.
“There is something I want to tell you. It’s related to the other world.”
“Are you an experienced one too? Well, seeing how everyone on the Holy Kingdom side is like that, even the Rankers…”
“No, I’m not an experienced one. Instead, my soul is mixed with that of people from another world.”
“…What?”
My eyes widened at yet another shocking statement.
My soul is mixed with that of people from another world.
How should I accept this?
“Which… no, whose soul is it?”
“There is no boundary between knowledge and memory, so it is hard to distinguish. Even now, after all this time, it is just as complicated.”
Elfo added that this was a change that struck on the day the RP was released.
Was this the reason for his behavior that didn’t seem his age?
This, too, seemed to be the result of the clash of the two goddesses’ powers.
“What about the stories regarding the goddesses? How much do you know?”
“Knowledge regarding the two goddesses is embedded within me. Judging by the strong hostility toward the Goddess of Turmoil, perhaps there are the souls of victims as well?”
Elfo attempted to deduce based on the sensations he felt.
It was difficult to understand hastily, but he seemed to be taking the time to organize his thoughts well.
“Well, in the end, it means we are enemies of the Holy Body Faction as well. It’s about standing together against a powerful group. Though, for now, my goal is Sirius.”
Li Wei, who had been sitting on a rock watching the conversation, summarized the situation.
Regardless of the complicated circumstances, the important thing was the fact that they could be on the same side.
“You said you were going to kill Sirius, right? Do you have a concrete plan?”
“There is an item called the ‘Soul-Shattering Trap.’ I obtained it in the Error Zone, and I’m thinking of using it. It’s an item that inflicts permanent damage.”
“Really?”
An item with such a powerful-sounding name was not in Hanbit’s knowledge.
It felt more like something that would shatter him rather than kill him, but considering he was dealing with a monster, it suited him quite well.
“I’m going to target the newly updated occupied territory. I’ll instigate a faction war to draw Sirius in. The problem is, I don’t know if he’ll actually move on his own…”
“There is a way to call him out. I’ll have to think about the plan itself a bit, though.”
Hanbit turned his gaze to look at the sky.
It was time to make a move.
“Feria Island is the most important thing to me right now, you see. Is it okay if we talk again tomorrow?”
“Of course. I only came here today to say hello.”
Elfo nodded obediently.
Even though 6th place was a considerably high ranking, he showed not the slightest hint of arrogance.
Such words and actions were building trust one by one.
“We’re going to survey the remaining error zones. You’ll be watching the broadcast, but contact me if anything goes wrong. I’ll help you. The Alliance matter regarding the message I conveyed to Haemu is an extension of that.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Having finished adding them as friends, Elfo disappeared right before their eyes with Riwei.
The barrier that had been spread around them had vanished before they knew it.
‘Sirius… …’
The proposal the two brought wasn’t bad.
No, it wasn’t just not bad; it was absolutely necessary.
If the No. 1 ranked individual were to become uncontrollably strong, it would become a major source of trouble in the future.
‘I need to time this well.’
Their goal on Feria Island was singular:
to obtain a clue to the entrance leading to the Demon Realm.
Normally, this would require a long, arduous journey, but using this shortcut would allow them to drastically shorten the process.
It would likely be a massive upheaval that would engulf this world.
Ta-ta!
Pushing off with a kick, Hanbit hurriedly headed toward the city in the eastern part of the island.
In the meantime, the broadcast was also restored to normal.
—Phew.
—You’re back.
"-I teased you for crying, but the stream cut off, so I ended up crying instead.
" -LOL -But
where is this?
-Looks like Feria Island? -The
graveyard of the advance party, *shivers* -It
is the curse of Episode 8.
Viewers who instantly recognized Feria Island recalled memories from just a short while ago.
The countless advance parties that had been blocked by Episode 8 and unable to advance.
Even if they tried their best to hide information, the internal situation had already been revealed through various channels.
"I’m going to do some quests here today. It will be completely different from the episodes other players have played."
-Declaring 'I’m different' *shivers*;
-Well, I’ve already proven it, so…
-If you’re an advance party member starting to watch out of curiosity, give it a thumbs up.
-The answer key is coming.
-But don't we not know the ending here anyway?
-Yeah, in the end, no one could clear it.
The advance party members who hadn't seen the ending even until the second update.
The viewers, too, were unaware of the backstory.
'Originally, it was part of the investigation team member test.'
The content of Episode 8 involved taking the investigation team's free test to find and solve problems that appeared on the island.
Hanbit had experienced this in the other world as well, but now that he was already an official member of the investigation team, the process itself was unnecessary.
Ta-da!
Continuing his advance, Hanbit soon reached his destination, the city.
The high walls surrounding the perimeter looked menacing, as if studded with thorns.
Running a little further, he arrived at a small entrance.
“Come this way.”
Standing guarded the gate was a young male adventurer.
As this place was managed by the Adventurer's Guild, it was a natural situation.
“What is the purpose of your visit? If it’s for a request from those noble bastards, just get lost.”
The adventurer abruptly furrowed his brow and growled.
The various animal-like monsters existing on Feria Island were occasionally used for the nobles' hobbies.
There were also quite a few adventurers who came seeking hefty commission fees.
“I’m an investigation team member, so it’s okay if I come in, right?”
“What? An investigation team member, my ass…?”
The man, who had been looking at him with a bewildered expression, turned his gaze to Hanbit’s chest.
There, the insignia of an official investigation team member was pinned.
“Really?”
“It really is.”
“Come… in.”
-Hahaha
-Etiquette instilled.
-You shouldn’t block an investigation team member.
-That power is insane;
-This is the first time we’ve seen a broadcast from an official investigation team member’s perspective.
The adventurer took a slight step back and stepped out of the entrance.
It seemed that no investigation team players had arrived here yet.
“Where is the Guild Master? Is he inside?”
“Always at home…”
“Thanks.”
Hanbit offered a light greeting and stepped inside.
The scene within was exactly as he remembered.
‘There are quite a lot of people.’
Countless crowds moved about amidst a landscape that blended the city with the base camp.
There were not only adventurers, but also a significant number of non-combat personnel, such as merchants and technicians.
There were even many tourists.
‘The ship just arrived.’
A large ship was visible above the buildings to the east.
Although all trade and movement took place by sea, it was rare to see a vessel that large.
And Hanbit’s objective had also been brought aboard that ship.
Stride—
Hanbit headed toward the center of the city.
He stopped in front of a five-story building.
‘It’s unnecessarily flashy, no matter when I see it.’ Standing out
particularly brightly among the surrounding buildings, this was the Guild Master’s residence.
Surprisingly, the shabby one-story building next to it was the Adventurer’s Guild.
Bang—!
Hanbit suddenly kicked the door.
Receiving the force, the door panel was half-shattered.
-?
-Huh?
-Is this right? Hahaha
-Excuse me (I really was being rude)
-Sorry haha.
Stepping inside, Hanbit shifted his gaze.
In front of a table on one side of the first floor, a middle-aged man was asleep holding a bottle of alcohol.
[Kadon, Guild Master of Feria Island]
A clear name tag appeared, revealing his identity.
Approaching him, Hanbit struck him with his sword sheath.
“Hey, wake up.”
“Ugh…”
As he spoke, Kadon swayed his body and let out a groan.
His hangover was as strong as the pungent smell of alcohol.
“Wake up.”
“Ugh…”
Even with the voice repeating, he curled up and refused to get up.
Having given him ample opportunity, Hanbit stepped back.
Then, he kicked the chair Kadon was sitting on hard.
Bang—!
“Ugh!”
With the chair supporting his body gone, Kadon let out a strange scream and collapsed onto the floor.
“W-what… Ugh…”
Turning his head in a panic, he gagged from his hangover.
Hanbit approached him, knelt down, and said,
“You’re the Guild Master, right?”
“…?”
Only then did Kadon’s gaze meet at the sound of the voice.
Unable to grasp the situation, his eyes naturally rested on Hanbit’s chest.
“The-the-the Investigation Team…!”
Kadon recoiled in terror, as if he had seen a ghost.
The reason for his reaction was simple.
It was the Investigation Team that had been granted the authority to manage this island.
It was only natural that the administrators should not behave in such a manner.
Watching this, Hanbit grinned and said,
“Let’s just do one thing.”
