The Witch of the Earth was alive. There were several reasons to recycle this information. Among them, number one was that it was possible to annoy Auril Gavis, who was impatiently waiting for the information he was going to bring up.
«Ha...» He even seemed to be speechless from the way he just moaned with an incredulous look in his eyes. That made my heart instantly happy. But it wasn't just for that reason that I brought up this information.
That brings us to the second point: This information was quite useful. The fountain? Mine. I was very surprised the first time I heard it. To exaggerate a bit, I felt like my heart was falling when I heard it, although I didn't let it show, unlike these guys. Simply put, it was the best information to make me look good.
Flick.
I slowly observed everyone's reactions. They were uniforms. At first their faces seemed to say, Huh? What is he involved in? Then they realized what he meant and turned to a place, the center of the Round Table where the jewel was placed, the place where the truth was kept. Soon, the jewel glowed green.
«Is green».
«So that must be the truth...»
«At least, that's what that man believes.»
Seeing the astonished members, I chuckled. Yes, that should be enough to prove my grades.
So you never told them this, huh?
This was the third effect. By asking this question, I was able to discern how much information Auril had spread to these members. If Auril had been sharing this kind of high-quality information with them all this time, the light would not have turned this color.
I expected it to be like this when they didn't even know his name.
There was a fourth reason: to share information with members. After all, there was no mention in the game of the Earth Witch being alive. I interpreted this as the old man intentionally hiding this information.
Mhm, secrets are better when they are exposed.
I just spilled poison on this group. Although I didn't know the effects of this poison, how lethal it was, or whether it would only end with a slight sting or not, judging by its sour expressions, I assumed it had been a success. With that, I learned a secret that Auril was trying to hide from the four veterans at this meeting. This would definitely start a chain reaction in a way Auril wouldn't have wanted.
«To think that the Earth Witch was alive... I will start investigating this from now on».
«I'm sure the palace knew this, but kept it hidden. Maybe it could act as a trigger for them». The Fallen Scholar in the appearance of a child pondered my words with studious eyes. The Orcules boss's face shone as if he had just acquired a large weapon.
«If the witch is really alive... where is she now?». The woman repeated the same question she had asked Auril.
He even seems smart.
«What's your name?»
The elegantly dressed woman frowned at my question and said in a low voice: «...Ravi».
Ravi. He couldn't even be sure if it was his first or last name. Actually, he wasn't sure it was his real name. Well, I was going to look into it later.
«But why do you ask that?»
It was obvious. She was the only one here whose name I didn't know. Of course, I couldn't answer him like that.
«Because you ask stupid questions. Is there any reason I should answer your question?»
It was funny for me to speak respectfully to these people when I didn't even use honorifics with the Master, so I just treated her like an inferior. But did that make her a little angry? Ravi bit his lip and glared at me. As someone with a year of experience like León, it was the perfect time to give him a carrot.
I found it funny to talk respectfully to these people when I didn't even use honorifics with the Master, so I just treated her like an inferior. But did that make her a little angry? Ravi bit his lip and glared at me. As someone with a year of experience like León, it was the perfect time to give him a carrot.
«However. If you say something entertaining, I might move on to give you the answer you want».
My arrogance made her pause before nodding as if she understood. Then he closed his eyes and looked at me. «You also want us to prove ourselves. Okay». There was a competitive spirit in his bright eyes.
I expected this reaction. After all, the Master had gathered these elites. His arrogance would not be ordinary. It would be natural to feel frustrated hearing this from a mysterious man you were meeting for the first time. The other members also seemed slightly moved by my words.
Well, I think this should be enough bait... Huh?
Feeling them looking at me, I turned in that direction to see Auril staring at me. His eyes seemed to ask, Who the hell is this bastard?
Starting with me, the order of the summit was clockwise.
«I guess now it's my turn?» The second to leave was Auril, to my left, so I stayed alert. Information that half of these veterans should be unaware of? It would have to be useful. «Then allow me». Auril then took out his piece of information. «Miss Ravi, the Witch of the Earth is where everyone's hopes are directed».
Oh, clever old man. I was going to use that on my next shift. Well, he probably said it first because he knew he would.
Auril would have thought that preventing me from recycling information was the only way to prove my true hand.
Shaaaaaaa.
Naturally, the green light came on. Each of the members murmured to themselves, as was almost usual.
Naturally, the green light came on. Each of the members murmured to himself as was almost usual.
«Where everyone's hopes go...»
«That must mean the maze, right?»
«That interpretation fits, but it could refer to the exterior of the castle walls».
So these guys couldn't pinpoint a place either.
«Yes, now. We can talk later, so for now, let's continue». Auril continued the conversation and the meeting resumed.
The next to speak was the middle-aged man, Kagureas. Amelia had never heard that name either. Maybe it was a pseudonym.
«Haha, I've never done anything like this, so I don't really know what to say».
«Take it easy. Someone like you would have at least some information. Something important that others don't know».
«Yes, but...» The muscular man seemed to weigh whether it was worth sharing his information here before sighing. «I must take it seriously since the Master is here. Here I go».
«Forward.»
«There is a portal in the basement of the palace».
When the green light came on, questions erupted from everyone's mouths except Auril's.
«Portal? Is it connected to the maze?».
Although he had no reason to respond since his turn had already passed, Kagureas shrugged and even gave an answer. «I learned it by chance, so I can't be sure, but I don't think the portal is connected to the maze».
«This... is very interesting».
«So where the hell does the portal lead...?».
At the same time as Fallen Scholar murmured like an old man, the four men and women naturally moved their gazes towards Auril Gavis and me. Everyone kept their mouths shut without saying a word, but the desire in their eyes was very clear.
You know that, right?
Eyes longing for answers was a vision I encountered countless times living like León.
«...Haha». Auril just laughed.
I stayed silent as if I was used to this. This was something I learned over and over again through experience. Doing this always took me halfway. Lion Style Shape 2: Stay still. Of course, even as I unleashed Form 2, the gears spun busily in my head as I organized my thoughts.
A secret related to the palace, huh? Maybe it belongs next to the palace.
Kagureas, what kind of man was he? Since I knew almost nothing about this man, unlike the chief of Hercules and the Fallen Scholar, I was more interested.
However, it seemed that someone did not want this silence to pass meaninglessly. «Then it's my turn». Starting with that, Fallen Scholar pulled out his information without delay. «The principle of circulation in the labyrinth is vitality».
As soon as I heard that, a question mark formed in my head. But I guess it wasn't just me.
«...Lord Ruingenes, could you explain it in simpler terms? Unlike you, we don't know magic».
«Simpler? Okay.» The Fallen Scholar gave further explanations at Kagureas' request. «Contrary to popular belief, the labyrinth is not supported by mana. For it to circulate like now, it needs resources». To me, it sounded like alien language.
I assumed that the woman named Ravi had knowledge of magic. «And you say that this resource is vitality». When she spoke as if she understood what he meant, Fallen Scholar nodded.
Kagureas spoke displeased. «But what about that? I don't think anyone here is curious about the principles of the maze».
Actually, I had a similar feeling. Where were we supposed to use this?
«Tsk, how annoying». When the Fallen Scholar clicked his tongue, Kagureas fell silent. Watching a muscular man tiptoe around a child wasn't such a strange thing in person. Although he looked like a child, Fallen Scholar gave off an aura that was difficult to mess with.
«So can I explain to you?»
«As you wish».
Ravi spoke on behalf of Fallen Scholar, who seemed sulking. «That the raw material of mana stones is vitality means that the labyrinth is sustained thanks to vitality. If I understood it correctly... it changes everything».
«What do you mean?»
«Humanity was not rebuilt and this city was not sustained by the discovery of the labyrinth. It was because this city existed that the labyrinth was sustained».
I felt a tingling sensation in the back of my neck.
Wait wait... Is that true? If what you said is true...
«...So the explorers who died inside the maze were essentially their fuel. What the palace must be aware of». Thinking the same as me, the chief of Orcules verbalized the same conclusion as me.
«Well, that's how I understood it, at least». Ravi shrugged and looked at the Fallen Scholar.
«There is no doubt that vitality is the resource that maintains the circulation of the labyrinth. And doubts about the palace are reasonable and can arise from this fact.»
«I see...»
«Now, is it enough? I think this is as valuable as the vague information that an unidentified portal exists beneath the palace.»
Kagureas laughed timidly at Fallen Scholar's sharp comment. «Haha, don't be angry. People like me have no way of understanding unless everything is explained to them».
...Is this person a barbarian?
His way of speaking was familiar to me, but deducing his race was too much. There were many explorers like him.
«Now it's Miss Ravi's turn». Everyone's eyes turned to the woman at Auril's words.
I had some hopes too. Not only was the two previous pieces of information very interesting, but this woman confronted my provocation from before head-on. Even if it wasn't to put me in my place, I was sure I would want to show that we were at a similar level.
«I guess it's my turn». He opened his mouth and then pulled out completely unexpected information. «The ancient old dragon has died. You may not know it, but it happened more than ten years ago».
I was speechless. I wondered what great information he was going to reveal with that determined face. But was this? It almost made me laugh, but the light on the jewel was green. Auril would definitely already know this, so this meant that the other three were hearing this for the first time.
«...I see. No wonder the dragon tribe has been quiet lately».
«So that was the story.»
«It is a shame that he who lived in the age of immortality has died».
The trio accepted this information as if they were hearing a secret that was difficult to bear. At first, that seemed strange to me, but it made sense when I thought about it. From my point of view, only after the dragon slayer Regal Vagos killed the ancient elder dragon was the new elder dragon chosen.
So it was more or less around this time, right?
Since I hadn't studied history, I couldn't remember the exact year, but it seemed that way.
But I hadn't realized that the secret was so well kept that not even these people knew it.
I licked my lips in disappointment, but assumed she didn't see it.
«What did you think? Was it entertaining?»
«I don't know.» To begin with, he didn't understand why they reacted like this to the death of the chief of the dragon tribe. I couldn't accept that she acted pompous about something like that. Wasn't the information shared clearly much more valuable than yours? So I gave him an honest answer. «I don't think it's particularly valuable».
«...You mean you can't accept it». Ravi looked at me as if I had hurt his pride. There was also a look of doubt mixed in his eyes. She was probably wondering if I was acting to intentionally humiliate her.
If you're going to act pompous, bring me something more interesting.
For the sake of the quality of the information, it was necessary to kill his spirit a little.
Is it time to release Form 3?
I knocked on the chair senselessly and said: «It's not my turn yet, but I'll say it in advance».
«What m....?»
How dare you speak when the Lion is speaking?
I could have passed this turn for free, so leaving no room for interference, I continued in a sigh: «The one who killed the ancient ancient dragon is a dragonman named Regal Vagos».
«...Eh?» The woman stopped at half an objection. After a brief pause, the jewel turned green.
Shaaaaaaa.
The silence seemed too familiar to me. In the middle of that, I looked at Ravi and spoke as if he were kindly explaining something to a bug crawling on the ground. «What do you think, does that explain enough?».
[León Style Form 3: Lack of respect for the weak]