Ministry of Security of the Rafdonian Royal Family.
"What? He came back covered in blood?" Upon hearing his subordinate's report, a man burst out laughing. He didn't know why he'd be angry first. "Tell me this, why did you contact him? My orders would have simply been to follow him."
"...I believe it was an act taken by the associate himself at the scene of the crime."
"Do you think so? Are you pulling my leg? Speak plainly."
"As a barbarian of only three months, the associate had decided that he could easily discover his true identity."
The man sighed deeply. It wasn't impossible to understand. Most evil spirits under a year old were naive. More than half of them readily revealed their identity to anyone who approached and intended to be in the same situation, and the other half revealed their identity through facial expressions. "So you said there was no such reaction?"
"Yes, sir. The individual frowned as soon as he heard it, then became angry and told him to speak plainly instead of using 'difficult words.' It would be quicker if you saw it yourself." The subordinate pulled a button from his pocket—a specially designed video recorder. When he held it up to the crystal ball on the desk, the events of the incident played back. The man watched the recording again and again, observing in detail the changes in the barbarian's expression, eyes, and facial muscles.
"America? Taiwan? Europe? Where are you from?"
Perhaps the partner who made the mistake had approached too carelessly, but nevertheless, this reaction was certainly unusual. "What are you talking about? Don't use complicated words and speak clearly." The reply came without hesitation. Normally, evil spirits would be started and rack their brains trying to identify their adversary. But this barbarian?
"Wow, you almost fooled me. You're really good at acting. Haven't you only been doing this for three months?"
"Acting"? I told you not to use difficult words, didn't I?"
His vocabulary and tone of voice, thought process and questions, and handling of the situation, all of this was different from existing evil spirits.
"Then I'll ask you freely. Has you an evil spirit?"
"What do I have to hide now? I've. That's why..."
"That's enough. You don't have to say anything else."
"Pardon? What the hell?"
"The boss told me that evil spirits must be killed on the spot."
Rather, they coincided with the characteristic reaction that could only come from those who were not evil spirits.
«Even those who do not want to reveal their identity often choose to evade in that situation». But that person? As soon as he made a decision, he chose to make it head-on without hesitation, like a barbarian. After thinking about it for a while, the man made a final decision. «It certainly doesn't look like an evil spirit».
Bjorn Yandel. Since the name once caught their attention, evil spirits must have shown interest in him as well. But he had only gained fame a few days ago.
The meeting has not been held yet, so in terms of time, you will not have learned about our methodology...
All circumstances indicated that it was not an evil spirit. Even if he recognized the existence of the secret Ministry of Security, it was doubtful that he could react like that. Above all, the incident that took place in the guild was impressive. After being framed and on the verge of death, he escaped from prison and wreaked havoc. It wasn't something an evil spirit who liked to pass himself off as noble could do. But a barbarian with nothing to lose?
«Bjorn Yandel is acquitted».
The man stamped a blue stamp on the report, placed it in a file and placed it in a closet. At this, the subordinate who was watching let out a sigh of relief. «...I'm glad, sir».
«Yes, he is very lucky. If our man had been bloodily struck by an evil spirit, I would have killed him myself.»
«So what will he do with the punishment?»
«Has been responsible for contacting the target on a follow-up mission. After three months of suspension, he will have twelve months of salary reduction, and the evaluation of his promotion will be postponed until next year.»
«I will transmit that information».
After that, the subordinate left his office, and the man sat alone with his thoughts for a moment.
So he earned a nickname in three months without being an evil spirit, huh?
Regardless of this incident, it was worth keeping a close eye on this barbarian in the future.
Could he really be destined to be a hero? Maybe the Count will love him.
There was always a shortage of talented individuals in this city.
***
[Your reputation has increased +1.]
[Your reputation has increased +1.]
***
Is it already daytime...?
I didn't sleep all night because of the letter I found. Was the content of this letter real or not? I let out a sigh as I pondered this over and over again until the sun came up.
Well, it looks real, but...
This was just an intuition, and I couldn't be sure. So, as soon as the sun came up, I washed and went out. I planned to learn more about this pill to get started. Of course, there was a good chance that it was a technique used by evil spirit hunters, but...
Actually, all the more reason I should show you that I'm trying to figure out what it is.
Well, think of it like a local. Did someone come into my room and leave a letter with an illegible text along with a pill? It was normal to wonder what it was. To them, this would be fucking scary.
«I thought you forgot about our appointment since you hadn't come in the last few days, but I guess you haven't...».
That's why I visited the magic tower, thinking that an intellectual magician of this world might know something. And in fact, it did, much more than expected.
«Oh, seeing that pill has come to you, you really must have earned fame this time». That was Raven's reaction to the letter and the pill.
«Fame?»
«Yeah. You don't have to worry too much. I've heard that anyone who gains a little fame gets one of these». After that, Raven looked at the letter and licked her lips. «But it's a shame. I wish you had come to me right away».
The letter was now blank. Maybe something magical had been added, because the ink erased itself less than ten minutes after reading it.
«Aren't you curious, Mr. Yandel? What have the evil spirits written in the letter?»
«Evil spirits?»
«Oh, I didn't tell you. It is a card from an evil spirit».
«I didn't even know it was a letter. You really are amazing».
Raven let out her characteristic snort when I used words of flattery. Then it went into TMI mode, as usual. «Well, it's true. Most people don't know it. Can you give me that pill?»
«Take.»
«Do you know what this pill is?»
«I don't know.»
«It was made by a very talented magician, someone who possesses enormous knowledge of psychic magic, dimensional magic and alchemy».
«So what is it?»
He gave a long explanation of how many magicians had worked diligently to interpret the formula, but to my short question, he finally got to the point. «If you take this pill, you can enter a certain spiritual world».
«Spiritual world?»
«Oh, has it been a little difficult to understand? It's a kind of parallel dimension. The body is asleep, but the mind moves to another place». After that, Raven's explanation continued. In short, it was like that.
If you took this pill, you were called to a spiritual world at midnight on the 15th of each month.The evil spirits there were probably exchanging information with each other.That's why many people took it to infiltrate their world. However, the next morning they were found dead, having coughed up blood.
I shuddered at that moment. «Did they find them dead?»
«Yeah. So, Mr. Yandel, don't take it even if you're curious».
«Wait. Isn't this just poison, then?»
«Hey, is that what you think of us magicians? I swear there are no poisonous ingredients or formulas in this pill».
«So what happened to those who died?»
«Well, there are many hypotheses but... The most likely explanation is that these people have a way of distinguishing those who are and are not evil spirits. When the soul and body separate, the body dies».
«...It's a dangerous pill.» These words were sincere. That is, the moment I took this pill, my life would be in his hands. Of course, he could now believe to some extent that the person who sent the drug was a gambler, but he had no information about what kind of gambler he was.
«Anyway, it's definitely not poison. Although it is not an official record, there is a story that a captured evil spirit made a statement about this meeting. It means it is not lethal for everyone».
«I see.»
«Oh, and another peculiar thing is that in this world, everyone appears in the form of their souls, so no one is able to know who they are».
This was good news, and it clarified some of my doubts. Is that why networking was so important? If it hadn't been for my connection to a magician, I wouldn't have heard that information anywhere else. However, I asked one last question. «Do you mean there's no way to recognize who takes this pill?».
«Never. If it could be done, all the evil spirits would have been arrested».
I could see why the sender was sure that anonymity was fully guaranteed in the community.
He asked: «So in that sense, can I study this pill?».
«I don't care as long as this counts as today's research».
«How cheap, when I have answered all your questions. Does not matter. I don't think anything else will come of my research, anyway». He gave it back to me. «Now, if we're done chatting, come sit here».
Following his instructions, I sat in a chair. I didn't bother to ask if this chair was an execution tool used to open human skulls.
«So, let's get started.»
«...Please finish it quickly.»
Now he knew that this chair was a magical tool made to collect blood.
Zzzzzzz!
***
Around four in the afternoon, a day of research was over, which meant I wouldn't have to waste my time coming here until next week.
«Oh, that's the famous guy these days, right?»
«I heard that it was Lord Hernesion who gave him the nickname Little Balkan».
«Did that cheapskate speak so highly of a barbarian? How strange».
As I left Raven's private laboratory, I saw the magicians gathered in the lobby sending glances at me. Was this the power of fame?
Last time, they looked at me like I was experiment material rolling around...
I was realizing once again how familiar my name was.
«They say he has the essence of an Orc Hero?»
«Aru said he even has the essence of a guardian vampire».
«That's... definitely beautiful».
That look seemed to be looking at a very, very valuable experiment ingredient. After all, the reputation of an explorer was out of the interest of these bastards.
«Hey! Can you come for a moment?», one called me.
«I'm busy.»
«Just a second...»
«I'm hungry, so no».
Walking between glances several times more uncomfortable than usual, I escaped from the magic tower.
I don't have time to go to the library, so I should go back to the inn and rest.
Organizing my thoughts along the way, it took me about an hour to return to the inn, where I collapsed on the bed. Then I took out the pill and looked at it carefully. My thoughts grew deeper, as if my mind was receding.
A community where anonymity is guaranteed...
The main reason I didn't want to be in contact with other players was risk. If just one person knew, it would no longer be a secret. But listening to Raven, it looked like a virtual web space. In the past, I thought it wouldn't be useful to have contact with players, but... Now, I've changed my mind.
Certainly, the people there would know much more than me.
I didn't think about hidden information in the game. There was nothing anyone else knew that I didn't know too. However, this was another world, not a game made of decimals. As long as the risk of identity exposure had been reduced, the benefits were greater than before.
I'll have to check it out for myself to be sure, but learning information one step ahead isn't bad.
For example, what tactics were used by evil spirit hunters. Whether the Explorers Guild had devised a new law and applied it or not. Joining the community would make it easier to stay up to date with that news. In other words, it would be a secret source of information.
I don't expect it, but they may even know how to get back.
After looking at the pill for a long time, I made a decision.
It's still better to take it.
I came to my conclusion after carefully weighing the risk I had to take and the benefit I could obtain. However, he was not planning to take it at that time. Not only did it take time to make sure there were no other risks, but...
Although anonymity is guaranteed, someone sent me the invitation.
Think about it. If three invitations were sent, what would happen if all three joined the community? The sender of the invitation could deduce the identity of the three.
If I accept it, it will be safer after at least three months or half a year.
Of course, all of these assumptions were meaningless if the community didn't function as I imagined it.
Right now I'm not desperate for information.
I would wait slowly and patiently, as always. Prevention is better than cure.
***
Inside a laboratory on the upper floors of the tower, as the clock's minute hand passed midnight, a man lying in a chair opened his eyes. He immediately stood up and communicated with someone through a crystal ball. «Queen of Souls, what is the news of this time like?». He tried to hide it, but the excitement was clearly revealed in his voice.
Soon, a light of deep disappointment appeared on the man's face. «Nothing».
«Huh, so I guess he's not really a player».
«It is very likely. So what are you going to do with the unsent letters of this wave?».
The man thought for a moment. Originally, a total of seven letters should have been sent before this meeting. However, this time he only felt one because there was something he wanted to confirm. "I shouldn't delay any longer on my own. Will you send the letters that couldn't be sent this time before the next meeting?"
"Yes, I'll pass it on." With that, the brief conversation ended. The lab then fell silent.
"I'd gotten my hopes up because he chose a coat of arms for his coming-of-age ceremony..." The man sighed and murmured, "It wasn't him this time either."
At that moment, I'd even started to think the rumors circulating among the players might be true. I'd been constantly denying it all this time as a fan, but...
In reality, it makes no sense to have organized such a large amount of data on your own.
Did he really exist? As many had guessed, was he simply an employee of the gaming company? Twenty years had passed since he woke in this unknown world. The man's faith was slowly crumbling.