YMDR 15

Chapter 15 …

What a Heartless Elf

“…Who are you?”

Abel, who had been absentmindedly staring into space, sprang to his feet and bared his claws.

I sat him back down in his chair and turned to face our unexpected guest.

[Assassin Rosalia (Wood Elf, 29). Unable to discern any deeper secrets due to the difference in Soul Rank. Hurry up and raise your Soul Rank!]

Unfortunately, because of the level difference, I couldn’t learn much about her.

It didn’t really matter.

The most important information needed to assess the situation was already stored in the mind of a veteran player.

‘She looks exactly the same.’

That elf’s class was Assassin, but in everyday life, she served more often as a bodyguard than an assassin.

“Did you come because you’d like to have a reading session? Please, have a seat across from me.”

Even after I thoughtfully had Abel pull out a chair for her, the red-haired assassin simply remained standing.

Silent as a single flower.

She didn’t even draw the daggers or throwing knives that were an eternal companion to the Rogue classes.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of hostility or killing intent.

“Don’t your legs hurt?”

I pointed at the chair across from me again.

“……”

Rosalia merely shifted her gaze slightly before looking forward again.

“If you barged in uninvited, then either hurry up and assassinate me, or grin ominously and tempt me with forbidden powers of destruction or something. Just do something already instead of standing there blankly.”

I kept trying to talk to her, but Rosalia didn’t respond.

What a heartless elf.

“If this is some new assassination technique where you kill people through sheer frustration… Then congratulations. You’ve already succeeded.”

As I patted Abel’s tense back, my eyes fell upon the elf’s feet.

Her unusually pitch-black shadow…

Was slowly swaying.

Even though its owner hadn’t moved an inch.

“I understand. I lose.”

I held up, I’ll Tell You Everything About Nightmare Dungeon!

“I’ll just keep reading my book, so feel free to keep standing there.”

“……”

Once again, Rosalia gave no reaction.

Only her shadow suddenly writhed violently.

Apparently, it wasn’t even trying to hide anymore.

Ripple.

Just as I was about to pretend to resume reading…

The shadow abruptly surged upward, taking the shape of a handsome young man.

Crackle.

The tattoo on my collarbone sent me the delighted emotions of the deity who loved every variety of beautiful people.

“My back is killing me. You figured it out from the beginning, so why keep pretending not to notice?”

The man who emerged from the shadows grumbled as he sat down across from me.

Crossing his arms and his legs, he proudly lifted his chin.

“Kar. Cultist of Twisted Truth. Tell me who I am.”

Appearing out of nowhere and immediately demanded that I identify him.

It was an abrupt request.

But I’d expected this.

So it wasn’t surprising.

If anything…

I was slightly disappointed.

I’d expected something even ruder and more self-centered.

“You’ve already guessed, haven’t you?”

“Not guessed. I know exactly who you are.”

I’d known before he’d even revealed himself.

Finding the Hidden Pieces in two labyrinths and selling the information to the Harmony Church…

I’d done all of it for this very moment.

“You are the youngest young master of the Brites merchant family, the foremost information broker family that rules District Four of Pletica. At present, you’re living in exile at a villa in District Six together with your mother. What brings Young Master Odilon here today?”

Odilon Brites.

The youngest son of the Brites family, one of the six great powers dominating Pletica.

At his absolute kindest, one could generously describe him as self-centered.

But his abilities were unquestionably exceptional.

Odilon stared silently at me for a moment before snorting.

“My identity isn’t difficult. Anyone who isn’t a complete fool could figure it out. I openly used [Shadow Kin], the Mystery monopolized by my family. You’re absolutely right. Still… You meet the minimum standard. So I’ll grant you the opportunity to become one of my close aides.”

There it is!

That arrogant line every veteran player warmly remembered… the one that only appeared after discovering two Hidden Pieces consecutively!

“I’ll give you exactly five minutes. Prove your worth. If you can’t produce useful information that even my family’s intelligence network failed to uncover… You fail.”

I hadn’t even agreed to take a test.

Yet he’d already begun acting like the examiner.

Yes.

This was the Odilon I knew.

Feeling rather pleased, I nodded and spoke quietly.

“Where shall I begin? Should I start by listing the insults your older half-brother and half-sister use most often against you? Or perhaps… I could carefully enumerate all twenty-seven reasons why you and your mother were driven out to District Six. If neither appeals to you… I could simply list every chronic illness you’re currently suffering from. You decide.”

“……”

Odilon watched me silently for a moment.

Then he uncrossed his arms and placed both hands on the table.

“Not bad.”

Despite my openly bringing up his deepest embarrassments…

The youngest son of the information broker family smiled in satisfaction.

Then, as though doing me a favor, he made an offer.

“From today onward… Use the Mysteries Lidni granted you to assist me in conquering labyrinths. I wish to hire you as a member of the expedition party I’m assembling.”

His tone was utterly arrogant.

As if there were no possibility I’d refuse such an incredible opportunity.

How could someone be so conceited?

That was precisely why he had such an unexpectedly large fanbase.

Apparently, both American and Japanese players loved how equally rude he was to absolutely everyone.

I didn’t particularly care about that.

What mattered was that this proposal benefited me.

If I joined hands with Odilon…

Recruiting numerous talented people normally unavailable to a Cultist would become much easier.

There was no reason to refuse.

“It’s certainly an attractive proposal. However… Rather than an employer-employee relationship, let’s simply cooperate as equals. I have a personality that can’t perform at my best if I have a boss.”

“Cooperation…”

Leaning back in his chair, Odilon extended one hand.

Rosalia, who’d been silently standing nearby, placed a long stick between his lips.

[An expensive Artifact called Comforter. While held in the mouth, it releases smoke that alleviates the symptoms caused by numerous chronic illnesses. If someone were to steal it, he’d likely die within a few days, so remember that well.]

Hoo…

Taking a deep drag of the smoke, Odilon nodded.

“Very well. I’d like to include you in my expedition party as a collaborator.”

“Shall we draft a contract?”

“Let’s first try conquering a labyrinth together. After we evaluate one another… Then we’ll sign.”

“Reasonable.”

True to someone with 18 Wisdom…

He reached a cool, quick decision.

“…Is it really alright to decide something like this so casually?”

Abel, who understood absolutely nothing, merely darted his eyes back and forth.

“How do you intend to organize your expedition? I heard you entered your previous labyrinth with nothing more than a single child. Planning to do that again?”

“I was. But she still requires more training.”

I pointed toward the assassin quietly standing in the corner.

“So I’d like her assistance.”

Rosalia.

Among Rogue-class companions…

She possessed one of the best growth curves, the greatest potential, and the most useful Traits.

I recruited her frequently.

She overlapped with Marlin in class…

But that wasn’t a problem.

The roles of a trick-oriented Thief and an Assassin specializing in covert combat were completely different.

“Not an ideal composition… But it’s the best available for now.”

“Very well. We’ll proceed with that for the first labyrinth. We can recruit additional companions gradually.”

“That sounds best.”

I answered readily.

Then, after subtly reading the room, I changed the subject.

He was so pragmatic that everything progressed too quickly.

If I wanted to fulfill Su’eje’s religious duty…

This conversation needed to continue a little longer.

“If you’re seeking knowledge or combat techniques useful for conquering labyrinths… Wouldn’t priests or Holy Knights of the Harmony Church serve you better?”

To put it bluntly…

At this point in time, the Mysteries bestowed by Lidni were simply inferior versions of those granted by Artein, Goddess of Wisdom and Protection.

In other words…

There was no real reason to seek out a Cultist of Twisted Truth.

“Young Master. What exactly do you truly want from me? Please be specific. Only then can I meet your expectations.”

“You’re troublesome.”

Frowning slightly, Odilon tapped the Comforter between his fingers.

“You already know. So why ask? Do you simply want confirmation? If you already know… Why ask that question yourself? I’m already beginning to regret cooperating with you.”

Despite what he said…

There was no chance he’d cancel the agreement.

Cultists of Twisted Truth were exceedingly rare.

There might be a few closet cultists secretly hiding their faith.

But true, officially initiated Cultists who had received Mysteries through living sacrifice rituals…

Were few and far between.

“To explain, since you insist… You’re a variable.”

“A variable capable of overturning the hopelessly unfavorable succession battle for the position of family head?”

“Exactly. In my family… The person with the greatest accomplishments inherits the position of patriarch. And at present… My elder brother and elder sister are crushing me.”

The eldest and second children of House Brites both had elite Harmony Church followers at their side.

Individuals blessed by Artein with Mysteries specialized for information warfare.

Odilon barely had any supporters within the family to begin with.

Recruiting yet another Harmony Church follower would accomplish very little.

Instead…

He intended to create an unpredictable variable by using a Cultist of Lidni, master of wicked knowledge.

“If you can consistently do what you did earlier… Revealing my secrets… Then winning the succession battle won’t be impossible. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“You’re not wrong.”

“To be honest… I didn’t expect much. But you’re impressive. Lidni’s influence has declined to a miserable level. So how are you able to uncover so much information?”

Because my source wasn’t Lidni’s Mysteries.

It was the mountain of knowledge I’d accumulated after wasting an absurd amount of my life playing this game.

Though admittedly… Not all of it.

Lidni’s Mystery, Eyes That Perceive the Truth, had contributed as well.

[Odilon’s favorite hobby is reading romance novels in which the relationships between the major characters end in complete catastrophe. He always complains, “It’s a shame the ending wasn’t even more disastrous.” Even I find that revolting….]

Though it also told me completely useless things like that.

As I waved away the text blocking my vision…

Odilon, after quietly inhaling another puff of smoke, spoke.

“We’ll arrange the detailed expedition schedule later. I’ll send Rosalia within a few days. Any further questions?”

“I don’t have any questions. But I do have one request.”

“Let’s hear it.”

I cast Abel a meaningful glance before quietly whispering,

“Please completely neutralize Maken, the leader of the Black Sword Guild operating in the eastern slums of District Six… And deliver him to the front of our house.”

It was the simplest way to eliminate the siblings’ greatest source of anxiety.