As soon as I said that, clown took a deep breath, revealing a bewilderment that a mask could not hide by any means. That reaction alone confirmed the truth. But was the content too shocking?
«Corpse collector...?» The members urgently looked at a place with incredulous eyes, towards where the jewel of the Round Table was located. Soon, the jewel glowed and gave off a color. The light was a very bright green.
«…Es verdad».
Now, everyone's eyes moved again, not towards the jewel that had completed its use, but towards the clown, who seemed to be experiencing brain malfunction. With eyes filled with caution and hostility, clown said nothing at all. Of course, it wasn't because their gazes were uncomfortable. To begin with, someone like that wouldn't reveal that he was from Noark.
He must be surprised that he knew his identity.
He also had no intention of bragging about it. It would be almost impossible to deduce that I was Bjorn Yandel from this alone, but I judged that the damage was greater by revealing it.
But to think that the cards would fall in the right place on their own.
If he had identified it first, the clown might have assumed that he had obtained that information recently. But now?
«Mr. Crescent Moon said it seemed like Mr. Lion knew all of our identities. I guess that's not the case either».
The clown provoked me and created a natural composition. No, not only that, this guy even revealed that he was from Noark with his own mouth. Simply put, even if his identity was discovered, he was not the type of person who would leave the meeting.
Well, since it is already known to everyone that he is a player, his identity will not be as important as that of the other guys.
Thanks to that, there was nothing to avoid. I could stick with plan B and keep him by my side to divert information and expose his identity and give him a thumbs up. It even came with several additional benefits. Since he revealed that he was from Noark, the members would openly expect information from him from that side. Additionally, it could solidify Lion's character in front of members and leave room for misunderstandings for the rookie Queen. This was also a very important part for me. The more León appeared as a veteran, the more difficult it would be to associate him with Bjorn Yandel. It was really a jackpot.
«...A secret chat room with the Corpse Collector. "I'm glad I joined in", Queen murmured, ending the brief silence.
«...Pshehe, you got me right». Then coming to, Clown pretended not to have lost his composure and feigned a laugh.
Goblin wasn't able to look Clown in the eye since he heard «Corpse Collector», and Fox and Antlers sent me suspicious glances, more so than Clown.
«...You really knew everything».
«Who are you...?»
Ugh, that's great... That's it.
I tried my best to keep the corners of my mouth fixed and ignored his words as indifferently as possible. As he did so, attention turned back to the clown.
«How does it feel to discover your identity, Corpse Collector?». Goring growled as if he had a past with Corpse Collector.
But Clown did not hesitate. «Pshehe, I don't know. What does it feel like? Only Mr. León is more dangerous than I thought».
«You pretend to be relaxed until the end».
«Tsk, it takes one to know one. Do you think I care about you? It's not that I spend the day hiding like all of you».
He wasn't exactly wrong, but did Hornamenta get a nuance in those words? «...Are you going to stay in the meeting after all this?».
«Of course. Ah, but I hope you don't misunderstand that I'm staying for you. The reason I want to stay is because of Mr. León».
To be honest, this kind of reaction was a little surprising. I couldn't believe he could still act friendly towards me after the murderous energy followed by identity exposure. Was this bastard a punching bag or something? Even as I admired him inwardly, the war of nerves between Antlers and Clown continued.
«Anyway, Mr. Antlers. You should be careful what you say. What are you going to do if I come looking for you?».
«I don't think there's anything to worry about. I'm not stupid enough to expose my identity wherever I go like you».
«Pshehe, are you sure about that? I already have about four candidates in mind. I'm sure the answer will come out if I kill them all».
«Pft, try if you can. Do you think I'll be scared? Not long ago a barbarian almost beat you to death. I guess that arrogant personality is still the same».
«Do you... really want to die?»
Judging by that review, the winner was Cornamenta. Clown then pressed him with murderous energy, but I assumed they were more or less on the same level, because Cornamenta didn't even flinch.
«Yes, now. Leave it now. Members must be friendly to each other. No?» Queen intervened to referee. It was funny. What kind of rookie was this? «Let's do another round instead. I didn't know it before, but this is a lot of fun».
I figured Queen's absurd network was impressive because the war of nerves stopped there. But by the time the next round was about to begin, Fox declared herself defeated.
«I'll stop here». I figured I had no more information to use. This happened from time to time, so it wasn't that strange. Except, instead of leaving the talk, Fox walked out the door and waited. «I'll wait outside until it's over». It was the first time this had happened since I became a member. «Please make some time for me once I'm done. I have something to tell you, Mr. León».
Something to tell me, huh? Is this related to your previous mistake?
«...Although you may already know this».
Fox left a curious message and the second round began right after.
The first turn was Queen's. I assumed he liked the talk show system since he brought out his information in a happy voice. «Everyone knows the GM, right? But let's see if you know this. Huhu! Many people misunderstand it, but in reality the community was not created by the GM!». His tone sounded certain of a free pass, but the light emitted by the jewel was, of course, red. «Eh...?»
Reina was startled and Cornamenta responded: «That is information that León has shared before».
«...Did Mr. León know about this?». Reina stared at me. It seemed like his curiosity about me had grown even more. Well, the same thing happened to me too.
Who is she really?
This was high-level information that no one else at the summit knew about.
It could be someone from the community management team. No wait...
The moment that thought came out of nowhere, although I had only seen it once, a face etched in my unconscious passed through my mind: the woman who acted as my guide and told me several things when I first entered this world. community.
Come to think of it, her nickname was Queen of the Soul.
Coincidentally, that woman chose a queen's mask. The clown said that we always chose the mask that most resembled us. Was it really a coincidence? Although she was also Caucasian and blonde?
His voice also seems similar. Why didn't I think about this right away?
The thought came late, but in reality it was normal. With his nose missing, a person had to look totally different. If it weren't for the name Queen, my subconscious wouldn't have even thought of Queen of the Soul.
It's not certain yet, but I better think that's the case for now.
While thus organizing the possibility, Queen revealed new information and received another disqualification. «Hmm, I guess I should opt for recent information. Within a few years, six-person binding magic will be supplied. It will completely change the structure of the scans. What do you think? Isn't it amazing...?»
Ha, how many people were going to beat this horse?
«Hey?» Seeing the jewel illuminated in red, Reina seemed bewildered. «Are you sure there's nothing wrong with this gem?»
«Of course not. It is information that has already been mentioned before. Since half a year has passed, there should be a year and a half left for the binding magic to be released.»
«Wow, even the period? This place is truly first class», Queen innocently commented.
Clown laughed arrogantly. «Pshehe, your level is too low». He probably wasn't serious. Queen had shown an unmatched presence all this time.
He must be doing that for her to reveal more valuable information.
Goblin kept his mouth shut ever since the clown mentioned the level. I really knew how to read the room, for once.
«Hmm, this one is a little touchy...» Speaking in a voice that didn't sound affected at all, Reina went for the third try. «The king is not sick. It was all a lie».
…¿Eh?
To Reina's words, the jewel responded with a green light, causing even greater confusion in the Round Table. The reason was simple: the exact opposite information had been mentioned before by the clown's mouth.
«King Rafdonian's illness is getting worse».
In a way, you could say it was the weakness of the Round Table. If the speaker was 100% sure, the gem would emit a green light. He did not discern facts and fiction, but lies and truths. If it weren't for that, people would have used this system to approach all kinds of information.
«This has become a headache».
«Excuse me? Why is it a headache?»
Antlers sighed and explained the situation to Queen. «Hmm, neither of them have lied, but has one of them made a mistake?»
«Exactly».
«So, isn't it natural that my words have weight? Everyone who knows her knows that the king is sick, but I am the only one who is convinced that it is a lie.»
«Pshehe, and where did you hear that nonsense?»
«Hmm, is this the limit of the Corpse Collector?»
«...What did you just say?» Clown felt provoked by Queen's provocation.
Queen counterattacked with a witty retort: «So where have you heard that information, Mr. Clown? I met the king in person. But are you still safer than me?».
«...Anyone can say something like that».
«I never thought the Corpse Collector was so uptight. Here, I will put my hand on the jewel. Is that okay with you?» Then the Queen commented that she had met the King and the jewel glowed green.
The clown couldn't reply. How had this guy ended up like this? Today they were hitting him everywhere.
«Another monster that follows León. A player who can come into contact with the king...»
«It's not like that. I just had the chance». Reina impressed her presence from the first meeting, in keeping with her mask.
«Why are there more and more people like that?». Goblin humiliated herself like a cousin.
«So enough of this matter. Let's move on to the next one! Mr. Goblin, you go!»
« ¿Yo?»
«Yes!» Reina radiated her aura naturally and led the round. Goblin could not refuse and obediently spoke next.
«Yesterday the magic tower discovered a way to penetrate the Noark barrier. It seems like they can do it at any time. Although the premise is that thirty High Priests have to gather to send a prayer».
So, finally there was a way. Perhaps a second punitive expedition would form in the near future.
«He says it, Corpse Collector.»
«What do you brag about? It seems that the temple will withdraw its support for the palace.»
«Do you think that a mere religious body can rebel against the king?»
«The palace no longer has it either».
«Damn, if I had known you were on his side, I would never have brought up that topic.».
Antlers and clown began to argue again.
«Um... Won't you stop them this time?» Goblin asked Queen insinuatingly, but she just watched him amused.
«Because? Now that I see it, this adds to the fun».
«I see?» Even Queen remained a spectator in their war of nerves and the conversation seemed to have no end, but the winner was quickly decided.
«Oh, right. Congratulations. I heard you have a new nickname».
«...What do you mean?» The clown reacted as if he heard it for the first time.
«Oh, don't you know? Your new nickname is Toy Collector».
«Wow, how vulgar». Reina covered her mouth as if she knew what that meant, and Cornamenta continued explaining without hiding her amusement.
«Toy collector. It's because you're like a baby».
«Am I like a baby...?». Clown didn't seem to understand what he meant.
Waiting for him, Antlers tilted his head exaggeratedly. «That? You are not? Bjorn Yandel is famous for talking about it every day at drinking parties».
«T-that bastard...?» The clown's voice trembled, slowly remembering something.
It was the perfect moment to deliver the final blow. «You, you are small». As a veteran player, Cornamenta did not waste that timing and stabbed him in the heart with a dagger.
Crackkk.
There was the sound of something breaking from the clown's mouth. I took some time out of internal apology.
Sorry, sorry. I specifically told them to keep that a secret.
«Pft.»
But did it somehow end like this?