Killer energy was the intention to kill someone. Normally it ended with a simple chill, but in this Imaginary World, that effect was amplified dozens of times. Because it was not transmitted through physical fitness, in severe cases extreme shock was experienced accompanied by permanent side effects in real life.
Players called this phenomenon Mental Contamination. When they reached this state, the subject suffered speech impediments, such as stuttering, and, in severe cases, their mind collapsed and divided into fragments.
«You look like a bug». I stared at Clown with an even more intentional thought.
Clown asked even in saliva: «W-why...».
The reason was simple. Clown was a necromancer. It would take a long time to recover the summoned beasts I had lost during this battle, and until the barrier surrounding Noark was released, I would not be able to go out into the city to harm myself.
Orcules.
However, he belonged to the same group as the Dragon Slayer who killed Dwalkie. After all, this guy was also an enemy he had to defeat one day. If I could annoy you beforehand, it would be more reasonable to do so.
«...Uhh, ha!» As the duration of the murderous energy dragged on, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my head. Since this was a skill that used willpower as a cost, it was inevitable. I would probably have to sleep all day tomorrow, maybe even two days. But the more it hurt, the more the pressure increased. This son of a bitch probably already considered Bjorn Yandel his enemy and planned revenge.
Better fuck him here.
This bastard was more dangerous than the Dragon Slayer. Unlike that guy who lost his memory, he maintained clear hostility towards Bjorn Yandel. If I didn't take him down this time, one day I would harm my comrades.
The murderous energy had become so dense that others apart from the clown could feel it on their skin.
Damn sea.
As the killer time continued, a sudden feeling of stiffness occurred in my brain. I had experienced this before, all my willpower exhausted to use the murderous energy.
«P-para. Por favor…»
I could have finished if I had a little more. Even feeling disappointed, I squeezed my murderous energy to the end.
¡Jadeo!
After holding on like this for a few more seconds, the clown took a deep breath like a man out of water. Then he coughed and vomited. «Khak, uhhhhhh...!»
Although his appearance was pathetic, I was not in good shape either. I felt like I could faint if I closed my eyes.
«Why... why...?» Coming to, Clown stood up with difficulty and looked me in the eyes. His breathing was a little labored, but there didn't seem to be any problem with his speech.
So, I didn't even get close to Mental Contamination. Huh, so it's like that...
It was kind of an expected result. In the past, when I released my killer energy on Fox, my willpower hit rock bottom before I got to that point, too. Clown, who had killed countless people, must have had a thicker mental barrier than Fox.
Oh. Judging by the energy, I thought I had become much stronger, but it is still not enough.
Feeling bitter, I looked closely at the clown's eyes. In those trembling pupils I perceived more doubt than resentment, fear that had blossomed because he could not understand the reason for my actions.
I continued staring at the trembling clown. What should I do now? Those worries never existed.
That since my abrupt first punch turned into a failure I need to have an acceptable reason? Useless worry. That's because I'm not Bjorn Yandel. I'm Leon.
«That's all?»
It wasn't because of mental exhaustion that the murderous energy ended. It was because I pity you.
Hypnotizing me like this, I turned around indifferently and spat as if annoyed: «If the rumors were true, I thought you would be at least a little helpful». It was like he was experimenting with something.
The plan to annoy Clown with murderous energy failed, but I didn't regret it too much because this result had its own advantages. Since ancient times, they said that enemies had to be kept as close as possible.
Now that this has happened, I will resort to milking him for a long time.
Clown was an executive of the criminal organization Orcules. As long as I had Noark as a base, I would still have useful and quality information.
«Um... are you okay?» Queen watched the situation with bated breath before cautiously approaching Clown and extending her hand to him. But did that hurt his pride?
Slapped.
Clown moved his hand away as if he wanted to vent his anger, grabbed onto a chair and sat down alone. Then he looked at me as if the scene that had been staged before was unimportant. Fixing only his eyes on me, he spat out words I didn't understand. «...León, is that you?»
Hey? Who is he? Like a character whose name can't be said?
I didn't know, so I stayed silent, as always judging that it would take me half the way.
Once I really waited, Clown muttered as if to organize his thoughts, «... No, that's not possible. You are not him».
Cornamenta seemed to know something and said: «Yes, you cannot participate in the meeting due to restrictions».
Reina, who was watching with interest, also opened her mouth as if there was no need to spare words. «This place is more top notch than I thought. Yeah. There's no way I'm here. After all, this chat room doesn't open until three».
Impossible because it was three o'clock? It sounded like they were talking about someone I knew.
Are they talking about Baekho?
The idea suddenly came to mind, but there was no way to confirm it. This was one of León's few disadvantages. Even if he had a question, he could never ask first, especially if it was low-level information that everyone knew. León had a face to keep.
Anyway, I'll look at it later.
It was time to intervene. Everyone already said it wasn't, so there was no need to sit still. I chuckled and blurted out: «Yeah. I'm not that guy», to give them a prize for using their brains. Not «him», but «that guy»: Whoever it was, I chose a word that implicitly put him and me on the same level. But did this strategy work?
«Who are you...?» Despite having been left in that state, the clown looked at me with astonished eyes. There was no sign of resentment. He probably didn't even have the mind to be hostile.
«Do you want to know who I am?».
The clown swallowed and nodded, but immediately shuddered as if it were not his intention. However, it was not corrected. It seemed like taking a beating had made him really wonder who I was.
I shrugged slightly, a gesture that everyone except the new member, Queen, would know.
«...What does that mean?»
Clown responded as a subordinate to Reina's question. «It means we'll know if we bring you entertaining information».
«Oh, right. That's the concept of this secret chat room, right?».
«Yes that's right. Since we're on that page, who is 'him' everyone was talking about before?». Goblin asked, but Queen ignored him as if she hadn't heard him.
«Are you serious about revealing your identity...?». asked a stunned clown, and I didn't bother to answer. I just stared at Clown, as if there was nothing I couldn't tell as long as I was entertained, even if it had to do with my identity, as if even that situation was pleasant to me.
«I've seen this for months, but I can't understand it». Antlers spoke as if he was tired of me. «I don't know how long you've been in this world, but you've been destroyed properly. If you continue like this, you won't be able to live a decent life even when you come back».
Worrying about the life of a stranger? He was a sweeter man than I thought, but that was it and this was this. When I pretended not to hear him and didn't even look at him, Antlers fell silent angrily.
That's when Queen came forward. «Anyway, this is interesting. If I bring you information, can I also know who you are? I'm curious».
«If you can entertain me».
Queen smiled at my response. «Wait. It may not seem like it, but I know quite a few interesting stories. Huhu».
Hmm, that made me wait, since this woman was unidentified, too.
Seeing how he entered at a time like this, it seems that he is here on the recommendation of the Master...
At first I couldn't pay much attention to her in favor of educating the clown, but I would have to keep a close eye on her from now on.
«So why don't we start...?».
There was a natural silence as no one opened their mouths. Then Goblin spoke and the confusion was somewhat ordered. «True, the door closed a long time ago so we can't stay like this forever. In the end Crescent Moon did not arrive».
«If you are not here at a time like this, it must mean that you could not avoid death.».
It seemed like everyone thought that Crescent Moon did not survive this incident. And he was the one who had the most initiative here.
«So who will go first this time?» Normally Fox would have taken the role of moderator and started the meeting, but Goblin took the initiative considering his strange condition.
«I'll go later. It's my first time, so I think I'll need some time to get used to it».
«Clear. So who will go?»
«If no one does, I'll go first». The first to speak was Antlers. «Let's go with this since it was mentioned before. He was released into the world five days ago.»
«That? He was...?» Clown was surprised as if he had never known.
«Um... If we want to be fair, shouldn't you first tell us who he is...?». Goblin hinted at what was happening, but Fox's eyes remained the same. No, was he listening?
Voom.
Anyway, the Round Table jewel emitted a green light. It meant that the information was true and that more than half of those present were unaware of it.
«But I do not understand it. Can such valuable information be disseminated like this?».
Antlers responded indifferently to the clown's question: «Most people who know will know in a week anyway. I should at least use it here».
«So can I try below?» Reina raised her hand slightly. Normally, going clockwise was the rule, but everyone allowed it because they were curious to know what information this woman would release. «Huhu, this is the first time I'm in a meeting like this, so I'm a little nervous». His voice didn't sound nervous at all. Queen looked into each person's eyes as if enjoying the attention, then slowly parted her lips. «Right now he's in the magic tower».
Ugh, this again?
Since I wasn't sure who «he» was, I wasn't very impressed. But were these two different? The moment the words left Queen's mouth, Clown and Antlers' eyes turned towards the center of the Round Table, towards the jewel that could discern authenticity.
«You are true…»
«Is the first place you go since you went out into the world the magic tower? Doesn't that pique your interest?»
When the opportunity came, I would have to make sure I found out who he was. If these guys acted like that, he must be an extraordinary person.
...If it really is Baekho, who the hell is that guy?
As I thought that, I felt like they were looking at me from where Queen was sitting. I didn't know how long, but he was staring at me. «Mr. León, you don't seem surprised to hear that. As if he already knew».
Is that so? I just don't know who he is, so I don't care where he is.
«I take it you also have someone in the magic tower?»
«Well, that could be the case». Queen tried to probe me, and I ignored her like it was a nice trick.
«The next one... I'll go». After that, it was Fox's turn. Fox hadn't spoken much since the meeting began and received three rejections in a row. The first two were recent information that everyone already knew, and the third was judged ineffective.
«To think that Clan Master El Capard was a player is quite interesting. But isn't it useless? I remember that this time he died as soon as he crossed the portal».
«...Value is relative. For example, neither I nor Mr. Goblin know who 'he' is. It means it was useless information». Fox's logic had a point, but this was a Round Table where the majority ruled.
«Still, now you know that someone like that exists in this world. Pshehe.»
«... Are they all of the same opinion?» Everyone was silent when faced with his question, and that silence became the best possible answer. In the end, Fox had to try it for the fourth time with information about a single-digit numbered object. «Tavern's Clan Master is number nine».
«It's like putting a pearl necklace on a pig's neck. Pshehe.»
The Round Table jewel gave off a green light and no one disagreed this time. An item numbered in single digits was worth that much. To be honest, it seemed like Fox was only now revealing information he had been keeping.
«I'll go this time». Next was Goblin. As a paladin, he revealed information related to the religious body. «Ultimately, all confessions have decided to withdraw their support for the king. In a few days, they will keep their distance again as in the past».
Since this information could not be known unless you were a key figure on the religious side, it happened with flying colors.
«Pshehe, then it's my turn.» As soon as it was his turn, clown made a shocking statement. «I live in Noark.»
What was going through this bastard's head? Did the killer energy develop a problem in your head? It was information that revealed his own identity. Everyone, including me, was stunned by that incomprehensible action.
To be precise, that was true for everyone except Queen. «Noark! You must also be a very interesting person, Mr. Clown». Queen commented in an innocent voice.
The clown's eyes were fixed on me with no signs of moving. For some reason, that reminded me of a certain evil spirit hunter. That bastard was also watching me with an expression like this after throwing the bait.
To probe how much I know?
I suddenly had that thought, so I also closely examined the clown's eyes. I even seemed to feel a sense of relief.
«Judging by your surprise, I don't suppose you knew who I was? Pshehe».
What are you talking about, you crazy bastard?
«Mr. Crescent Moon said it seemed like Mr. Lion knew all of our identities. I guess that's not the case either».
It was a kind of water test. León was extraordinary, but how much? Did he only have personal power and influence, or was he an absolute with a huge faction plus information?
«Did you find it entertaining?»
Getting extra stacks of entertainment with it was definitely an effective move.
«Of course». I smiled with satisfaction and said: «It was an entertaining ruse».
At this moment, the jewel's green light went out, indicating that the turn had passed. It was time for my long-awaited shift. The information to be revealed had already been decided.
«The clown is the Corpse Collector».
Who do you think you're playing with?