The corpse collector, Abet Nekraphyto.

A member of the elite criminal group Orculis, and once one of the vanished members of the Round Table.

But he wasn’t the only familiar face.

“That’s the Witch of Agony...!”

The dark sorceress, Rilanne Vivian.

“If it’s the death knight in blood-red armor... that author is precisely—!”

The blood knight notorious for killing the royal knight commander long ago and fleeing.

Not only the ones who fought fiercely on the Dark Continent but also mid-level criminals known only by reputation appeared here and there.

Ah, and of course, there were also several completely unknown figures.

Despite my research and study of the Orculis members, there were still many unidentified people I couldn’t place.

‘...New recruits?’

That’s the feeling I got, though they didn’t seem easy to deal with.

No, in fact, they probably weren’t.

Noark had monopolized the 8th floor and invested heavily in raising the next generation. I knew well their power, having even directly faced some of them during the Ice Rock expedition.

The only relief was that the squad leader with a complicated essence wasn’t here.

However...

“......”

The moment we faced them, a deadly gleam flashed in Elwen’s eyes.

Honestly, seeing that made me a bit worried about any sudden actions...

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about me.”

She calmed me down with a composed voice as the killing intent faded.

Maybe much time had passed since that day.

Or maybe the many events that transpired in the elapsed time allowed her to control those emotions more skillfully now.

“Even if not today... someday I’ll kill them all.”

“......”

“So it’s okay.”

Her feelings hadn’t faded entirely, it seemed.

But that was a good thing.

Come to think of it, I wasn’t much different from her.

Though to the royal family, I was more detestable and looked worse, but in terms of hatred, I wasn’t comparable to these guys.

The Dragon Slayer, Regal Bagos.

He was a member of that very Orculis.

Thud.

As the tense standoff grew heavier, I stepped forward.

Look at the numbers that have gathered.

Yeah, so...

“Oh, have you already given up? That’d be boring... Hey? How about saying something—”

I cut off the boastful fellow and opened my mouth.

“Long time no see.”

“Pfft, that proud mouth finally opens—”

“Toy collector.”

“......”

Honestly, I wanted to recklessly charge just like I caught the lighthouse keeper on the Dark Continent before, but right now there were too many restrictions.

Our goal now was escape.

If he was determined to run, it’d take ages just to get close.

‘...I need to get a transport device soon.’

So teaching him a lesson was postponed.

“Well then, toy collector! Not bad! After I kill you, I’ll treat you like a toy for sure!”

He tried to hype himself up as if my personal attack didn’t affect him.

Ha, just because of that you won’t grow up.

“How about getting new essences yourself? If you search well, there should be essences that only enlarge specific parts—”

“Stop.”

“...?”

“Stop teasing this friend.”

Just as I was about to press the attack, a man interrupted the conversation. That proud jester was unusually silent, suggesting he held a high rank.

‘Who is he?’

While pondering, Amelia, standing behind me, whispered briefly.

“Roland Banossant. The vice leader of Orculis.”

His appearance was ordinary enough that I hadn’t recognized him immediately, but he was quite famous.

Mana master, Roland Banossant.

Ten years ago, he killed the previous vice leader in one strike and took his position—a top-tier esper.

“Really? He killed the previous vice leader?”

“That’s right. The previous vice leader was found to be collaborating with the royal family, and this guy took him out.”

“Hmm, I see...”

Anyway, that eased some of my worries.

Since the vice leader was in the 7th District, the leader must be in the 13th.

No chance we’d meet the leader today.

Of course, that didn’t mean the vice leader was easy to deal with.

“Yandel, it’s better if you avoid talking to him—”

At that moment, a magical aura flowed between me and the vice leader.

“———!”

Amelia said something beside me, but I couldn’t hear it.

‘Not a noise control spell...’

Must be a skill.

I gestured to [N O V E L I G H T] Amelia that it was fine, then fixed my gaze on the vice leader.

“My introduction seems to have been made by that lady, so I’ll keep it brief. Yandel’s son, Bjorn. I have a proposal for you.”

“A proposal...?”

I decided to listen, and the vice leader immediately got to the point.

“A storm that will engulf everything is coming soon. And a leaky ship can never withstand that storm.”

“Are you talking about the royal family being the leaky ship?”

“Of course. Otherwise, how could we be here like this? Abandon the leaky ship and join us.”

The vice leader’s offer was somewhat disappointing.

Too obvious, perhaps?

I was curious why he was even stopping my speech to make such a proposal.

“...Can I have some time to think about it?”

At my request, he chuckled.

“That means refusal.”

“No, why does it have to be that? I only asked for time to think.”

“You’re a person of interest to us. We’ve done extensive research on you. Saying you’ll think about it just means you’re stalling.”

“Uh...”

What the hell?

I was momentarily stunned, speechless, but thinking back, it wasn’t impossible.

Like baseball players analyzing pitchers’ habits...

They were analyzing my usual habits.

But precisely because of that—

“Research? Not really.”

“...?”

“If you had researched properly, you’d already know.”

“...”

“You know what my answer will be.”

Despite my sarcastic remark, the vice leader showed no reaction.

He just asked again with the same tone.

“So what’s the answer?”

“Refusal.”

“Why?”

“Hmm? Just felt like it.”

I didn’t want to talk about myself, so I gave a vague answer.

But maybe he noticed something.

“I heard you cherish your comrades like life.”

He said coldly.

“Riol Worb Dwalke. His death had a big impact on you.”

What the hell was this madman trying to say?

“But the one who killed him was the Dragon Slayer, and that was a unilateral act. And it’s said that he died clashing with the Rose Knights while chasing you.”

That sounded almost like mockery.

“Oh, maybe you don’t know? This is secret even inside the royal family...”

In some ways, it sounded like persuasion.

“Apparently you were just busy running away back then.”

It sounded like a threat.

“But... aren’t you curious why the Rose Knights were there?”

How much did this guy know to say something like that?

Because I couldn’t tell whether he meant to persuade or threaten, I found it hard to read his true intent.

Or maybe...

‘He’s testing how much I know.’

Trying to keep a poker face, the skill ended and everyday noise returned to my ears.

And at the same time—

“You’re smarter than other barbarians. You’ll surely find out the answer someday.”

The vice leader said aloud for all to hear.

“So today, I’ll let you pass.”

Only then did I realize why he had requested this talk.

He wanted to persuade me.

And in a very forceful way.

“Let you go as is. We have no intention to stop you.”

This guy was completely different from anyone I’d met before.

‘Ha, I should have just charged him on sight.’

The poison had been poured into the well.

Afterwards, the vice leader gave some orders, and miraculously, a path opened all the way to the city walls.

And if that wasn’t enough—

“If you still feel uneasy, we’ll just disappear far away to another place.”

He even offered to vanish completely.

At first, I couldn’t understand what was happening, but calmly putting it together, I realized.

“What kind of conversation did the baron have...?”

“They spoke briefly and then opened the way.”

“...Are they planning to deceive and ambush us later?”

“But they even said they’d disappear altogether.”

We were truly screwed.

Like some diplomat in Goryeo who stopped an army with a few words.

This guy also trapped me with a few words.

[You’re smarter than other barbarians. You’ll surely find out the answer someday.]

Even that ominous phrase left loud enough for everyone to hear.

If we cross the walls today without anyone bleeding, the biggest loser will be me.

The royal family will suspect me.

People will suspect me.

They’ll think there was some deal for the Noark faction to just let us pass.

Until now, as a noble, I couldn’t investigate without cause, but this time there will definitely be a high-level inquiry.

For me and my comrades.

And if that happens?

‘It’s over.’

The vivid image of that ending squeezed my heart tight.

Thump—!

The vice leader probably didn’t know whether I was aware of the Rose Knights’ existence.

So he tried to check.

If my knowledge leaked during the investigation, the royal family would take care of me.

If I didn’t know, I’d become hostile to them.

Either way, no good.

‘What should I do?’

Should I give a blind charge order right now?

While contemplating, the guy smiled and said to me,

“You seem to have difficulty deciding with so many eyes watching. Then we’ll be on our way.”

Still with that smirk to the end.

“Wait.”

I stopped him and quickly sorted out my thoughts.

There was one contradiction in his plan.

I understood that they could gain from just letting us break through the walls...

‘But to go this far just for that...?’

Honestly, I still don’t get it.

Why give up the 7th District so easily?

Was I really that valuable to them?

What expectations did they have for me?

Then suddenly—

“Ah.”

Like lightning, a possibility struck my mind.

What if—

It wasn’t because I was valuable, but rather the opposite.

For example, maybe it wasn’t me who was valuable, but simply that this 7th District wasn’t.

Yeah, so...

‘These bastards never cared about the 7th District from the start.’

If I accept that premise, it makes sense.

Could their real goal have been the 13th District?

I don’t know for sure, but my intuition says it’s probably no different from the 7th.

So there’s only one remaining candidate.

“How long do you plan to hesitate—”

“Viphron.”

“...!”

Yeah, that’s the right answer.

That smirk.

Now I know what to do next.