«Regal Vagos...?»
«I already met him once. He was an adventurer with a very useful form of Dragon Speak».
«An adventurer who betrayed his people... this piques my interest».
When I finished speaking, Kagureas and the head of Orcules had a brief exchange. Even those brief comments were meaningful. Was your interest piqued? I couldn't describe the discomfort I felt upon hearing those words come out of the mouth of the chief of Orcules. However, I took my eyes off them and turned my gaze elsewhere.
The woman in the costume, Ravi, who had been looking at me belligerently, was now looking at me with a slightly dislocated jaw. His eyes were filled with amazement. «How could you...?
Since she even stuttered, it seemed like my ad had been shocking enough to drive her crazy. But there was no room for compassion. After all, this was a ruthless world. If you missed the opportunity to attack, you couldn't become the king of the jungle.
«No way. The number of people who know that information is still less than ten...»
Seeing Ravi's deep confusion, I chuckled. «You're young», I told her, treating her like a naive girl who had only seen the good side of the world. His actual age would be much older than mine, but that was none of my business. Anyway, she didn't know anything about me.
Ravi's reaction was instantaneous. He closed his lips. It seemed like being treated like a child had pissed her off, as her face turned red and her eyes drilled into my head. However, there was a question etched in those eyes, and Ravi blurted it out. «Who... who are you?».
Name, identity, whatever... It was as if everything seemed fine to him as long as he knew even a little about me. He had asked too vague a question. The other members watched the situation with interest, without interrupting our conversation. She was sure that no one wanted to step forward to save face. They were as curious to know who I was as Ravi. The question he had just asked had probably stung everyone.
Well, the environment is right.
My answer to your question was already decided. Although it might seem a bit topical, everything topical meant that this had worked well so far. «Well», I said slowly, «it's nothing I can't answer».
At that moment, I could see the level of attention in the room increasing sharply. Really? Are you really going to tell us something? Their expressions were filled with expectation.
I studied each of those faces, delighting in them, and then continued. «For those who are worth it».
«Ha...» When my words echoed in the Round Table, the commander of Orcules let out a mockery.
«You mean we have to prove our worth to hear your name?», the muscular middle-aged Kagureas asked coldly. «Do we have to show you whether or not we are qualified to partner with you?».
This time I didn't shut up. «Fortunately, you understood this well». Instead, I agreed with him. After all, this was the era of self-presumption. Why bother being humble? Nothing good ever came of it.
«...Where did someone like this guy come from?» Fallen Scholar laughed at my arrogant words. Come to think of it, it was the first time I had seen him smile. Most of the time, he just sipped the tea selflessly.
This certainly attracted anger.
I was smiling to myself, satisfied with my work, when suddenly I felt like they were looking at me. They were from Auril Gavis.
How uncomfortable.
He looked at me without understanding, his gaze again contained the same question: Who the hell does this bastard think he is?
***
Despite the small setback, the meeting continued with Auril as moderator.
«Three months ago, an envoy from the king visited the castle of the lord of Noark. Unfortunately, this matter was treated with the utmost secrecy, so what they discussed is unknown.» The last person to speak in this round, the head of Orcules, revealed this information and received the green light.
«Hmmm! Interesting. I think it is the first time that the castle interacts directly with the palace.»
«Maybe that's why...»
Unlike the Fallen Scholar, who muttered to himself as if this seemed illuminating, to me it was not very meaningful information. What good was the politics of twenty years ago for me? There was only one thing I learned from this information: not only did the palace know about Noark at the time, but everyone who knew anything knew about the existence of the underground city.
«So the next one is...» When the first round ended, Auril looked at me. Then he pursed his lips, disappointed. «I guess this time we'll have to go around again without this partner. Is there anyone who wants to go first?».
The person who raised his hand was Kagureas. «I'll go first».
«Oh, will you?»
«I think going first would calm me down more. I also have something I would like to share».
«Forward.»
The muscular man revealed his information, marking the start of the second round. «Um... Another of the Genesis Treasures has been obtained».
To be anything said while scratching his cheek, the information was too shocking. My mind went blank for a moment. That was because within twenty years, these objects disappeared without a trace. But now he said he had gotten another one?
That means I already had more than one.
I was about to scream, but I held back. I wasn't the only one who was surprised.
«That? Is that true?!» Fallen Scholar jumped out of his seat.
Ravi was also upset. «From what tribe?»
«I can't tell you».
«Then at least tell me how it was obtained...?»
«As for how... I can only say that it was luck».
«How can you get an object like that luckily?»
«Ah, don't all be like that. To be more precise, it's more like you have the right to borrow it once in the future.»
Wow, it turned out that this man was no ordinary guy. That's when I realized I had entered the world of veterans. Obtaining a Genesis Treasure was feasible in the game. All you had to do was get over the main character's tribal history and become boss. The real problem began when you arrived at the second Genesis Treasure. You had to overcome another tribe's history and get the right to use it or make one of your companions chief.
That means it is actually possible to unlock it.
As soon as that thought occurred to me, I looked at Auril. His expression did not change. Simply put, he was already aware of this turn of events. Why did this old man call these kids failures?
As he pondered this, Kagureas continued: «Anyway, there's only one reason I'm revealing this here. As the Master has said, we have spent a lot of time together, but we have never spoken openly. But that has to change. Now I have two. Since the ancient ancient dragon is dead, Miss Ravi should be able to bring us another one whenever she works on it.»
«Why do you say that at a time like this?». Ravi roughly scolded Kagureas, glancing at me to see how he reacted. But I had already heard everything I needed to hear.
So he's from the dragon tribe.
«Oh, I was wrong. I have been inconsiderate». Kagureas apologized like a real man and then concluded what he wanted to say. «Now there are three of us left. And if we really work together, I think it's feasible... What do you all think?». He seemed to be asking everyone, but Kagureas's eyes were fixed on Orcules' head.
Ah, now that I think about it, those two got into a fight over this last time.
In some ways, this could be seen as a peace offering. So how would the commander respond?
His response was silence. Kagureas continued, trying to persuade him. «I know you hold a grudge against the king. But think rationally. That relationship was built in this world, anyway. If you think about the family you left behind in the real world...»
«Enough.» The chief of Orcules cut him off, in a cold voice. As if Kagureas had pulled a trigger on him, he suddenly exuded vicious killing intent.
At this, the smile also disappeared from Kagureas's face. «As expected, you were always trash. I thought your goals would at least be aligned with ours. Are you saying the palace should be the target of all our suspicions? If we want to return, should we help him? I feel like a fool for being excited by your words».
«Kagureas, please, stop...»
«You heard it too, Miss Ravi. This man has no desire to return».
«That can't be true. If not, why would he show his face here every month?»
«Isn't it obvious? Because if you make good use of us, we can be useful in your mission to kill the king. He probably only thinks of us as consumables he can use before throwing us away. I'm wrong?»
Faced with Kagureas' belligerent demand, the leader of Orcules responded in the same acidic tone. «Aren't you also hiding your true intentions?».
¿What?
«Lord Ruingenes said he believes the dimensional spell can be completed, but in truth, you were just going around collecting Genesis Treasures».
«...What's the problem with that? Obviously it is better to have more than one plan in place.»
«However, there has to be another reason why you opposed me when I tried to persuade Lord Ruingenes to help me. If your goal is to gather all the Genesis Treasures, you will inevitably come into conflict with the palace. However, you continue to interfere with my work».
«Oh, are you serious?» Kagureas spoke confidently, as if he had nothing to hide. «I have good instincts. And I had a strong feeling that you're a charlatan and a trash».
The chief of Orcules no longer opened his mouth. He simply looked Kagureas in the eyes and exuded even greater killing intent. At this, he almost let out an exclamation of admiration.
His killing intent is on another level.
You couldn't compare the members of the Round Table twenty years from now with these people. Even though the killing intent wasn't even directed at me, my skin was burning and my breathing was labored.
«Haha, it looks like they're all on». Auril, who until then had only been watching, intervened and said something unexpected. «We better finish for today. Everyone go rest and we will see each other again next time».
...What? Wait, are we done here? We haven't even started. If you're going to finish it, at least finish this round. I manipulated the last round for nothing, then.
«Wait...» Just as I was about to say something, my vision flickered like the crackling of a light bulb.
¡Flash!
When I opened my eyes again, I saw Amelia's familiar face. «...Are you back yet?»
Yes, he has thrown me.
«How long has it been?»
«About three seconds since you closed your eyes».
Three seconds, huh? It was natural for Amelia to look at me strangely. For her, it had only been a moment. It probably didn't even seem real to him.
I was thirsty, but when I picked up the cup from the bedside table, Amelia gave it to me. «Take.
But what...?
«Ah, oh... thanks». When I thanked her, unable to hide my shyness, Amelia looked away awkwardly.
«So what happened inside this time?»
«Oh,...»
Dude, where do I start?
Too many things had happened to sum them up in a few sentences, so I told him everything from the beginning. I figured she might notice anything I'd missed.
«Wait, Auril Gavis apologized? Because of such an unreasonable demand?».
«Yes?»
«...Nothing, continue».
The story, which began with the battle of wits between Auril and I, soon reached the Round Table. The increasingly peculiar look in Amelia's eyes became increasingly clear. It was a look he had seen several times at the Round Table.
«You... what were you doing in your original world?».