72nd Episode: Too Much Information
“…Now it makes sense.”
Suddenly, as if startled, Hik Toshiro the old man stepped forward in front of the frightened assassins.
With a somber look in his eyes, he stared at me silently and began muttering.
“That beautiful blue sword qi. I’ve seen it somewhere… Isn’t it the secret technique of Halsenberg, the Duke of the Northern Frontier known as the ‘Tiger of the North’?”
Busted.
This old man had instantly recognized the technique I used.
I brandished the Vestark sword threateningly. Pshhhpshh! A spiral of magical energy blades immediately rushed toward Hik.
“The rush of magical swords resembles a meteor shower. The scale is slightly smaller but undeniably potent.”
KaKaKang!
To my surprise, the magical swords dissipated in mid-air. I stared at Hik.
It was a speed too fast for the eyes to follow. Hik the old man had deflected all seven magical swords in an instant.
“That means you must be the mysterious knight who slew Eldritch alongside Duke Halsenberg.”
He had instantly deduced that much. Fitting for the head of an information guild.
I immediately lunged at him again, swinging my sword more fiercely to press Hik.
“You didn’t recognize a famous person like you. Looks like it’s time for the Kern Exchange to select a new heir.”
Kang, KaKaKang!
During the intense exchange, he continued to taunt me. The moment I unleashed seven magical swords in anger.
Hik evaded my sword with ghostlike movements. Right after, he leapt back to create some distance.
There’s no way I’d let him escape. As I was about to deliver a follow-up attack.
“It’s an honor to finally meet you, Eldritch Slayer.”
He bowed his head towards me just like before. But it wasn’t the groveling bow he gave while pretending to be a vagrant.
It was a dignified bow befitting the master of the information guild.
“I’m Hik Toshiro. The master of the information guild that rules the back alleys, the Kern Exchange.”
I realized at that moment that it was pointless to fight any further.
The opponent had formally introduced himself. It didn’t seem like he wanted to fight anymore. The time for punches had ended and the time for conversation had come.
I finally sheathed my sword, scratched the back of my head, and spoke to him.
“I’m here for some information. Will you assist me?”
“Great warriors like you are always welcome.”
Hik replied briefly, with a meaningful smile.
I returned to the shantytown under his guidance.
More precisely, I entered a certain shabby shack hidden in a quiet corner of the shack town. I was now sitting across from Hik with a magical light orb between us.
Hik rested his chin on the rotted table and leaned in.
“So, what information do you seek?”
“There’s a person I’m looking for.”
“A person?”
“I need information about a wandering red-haired person active around here.”
“A wandering red-haired person…?”
Hik crossed his arms and tapped his fingers for a moment before speaking.
“About 2000 displaced people and vagrants wander around this Kern area alone. Can you narrow down the range?”
“The person is about as tall as my neck. It’s hard to tell with the cloak, but they have a large build. Also, their hair is long, flowing even with the hood on.”
“Ah. That’s the least you could do.”
I described the person’s features with gestures and body language.
Hik nodded and signaled his adjutant waiting nearby. The adjutant nodded and quickly began writing something down on a piece of paper.
“Anything else?”
“Not really. Just pull out a list of people who could fit the description.”
“Hmm…”
Hik paused for thought. He exchanged a glance with the adjutant and spoke up.
“Convenient for us, but not that easy. I immediately recall about ten people fitting the description. How do you plan to distinguish?”
“There’s a method to that. Don’t worry.”
“… So like how you found me?”
“Exactly.”
Hik nodded and whispered something in the adjutant’s ear. The adjutant nodded again and quickly departed.
The door clicked shut. Hik crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair.
“Let us wait for a little while. My adjutant will prepare the list.”
“Please make it as fast as possible.”
“I’ll do my best.”
And at that moment, I felt Hik’s gaze sharpen.
Considering his following words, it wasn’t a hallucination.
“While we wait, let’s settle the information fee, shall we?”
“Yes, I don’t intend to receive it for free. Do you want money?”
“Information for information. I desire the information you possess.”
“Hmm…”
It’s ambiguous whether I should like or dislike this.
While I’m tempted to rejoice at solid money, there’s a nagging doubt about selling my own information. The warning given to me by someone from Cassas also comes to mind.
As I scratched the back of my head, I cautiously opened my mouth.
“I’ll judge and answer depending on the question.”
“I hope you’ll be generous.”
Hik grinned and shot me a joke in return.
His crescent-like eyes then fixed intently on me.
“There’s a very hot topic going around this industry these days.”
“Is that so?”
“A legendary tale of heroism that originated in Halsenberg. Carried by swift informants, the story has painstakingly reached Markeuteuriseu. Currently, only a few high-ranking individuals know, but the rest of the world will eventually learn this.”
“…”
I had been casually replying, but I shut my mouth at that point.
Damn it, that’s me. Can’t be anyone else. The only heroes that recently emerged from Halsenberg are me and Seop Baek. Damn, it couldn’t possibly be anyone else.
In the midst of my perplexity, a single sentence Hik delivered with his chin resting on his hand deepened my confusion.
“So, there is a rumor that you have conspired with demons to disrupt the order of the world.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I was about to ask if it’s true… but your reaction just now was enough. Thank you.”
Hik, while taken aback by my astonished expletive, started scribbling on a piece of paper with his usual cheeky smile.
Glancing over, it seemed he was meticulously transcribing our conversation.
“Then is the rumor that you’ve colluded with the immortal Demon King just a made-up story?”
“…I’ll abstain from commenting on that.”
“Abstain from commenting. Understood.”
It seemed Hik nodded. He then scribbled something on one corner of the paper.
I sneaked a peek.
– Question: Have you colluded with the immortal Demon King?
– Answer: Partially Affirmative
“Are you selling lies, old man? Why bother asking me if you’re going to write whatever you want?”
This old man is rewriting history in real-time. Is he a bandit? A Japanese imperialist?
When I glared at him with raised suspicion, Hik finally hid the paper and waved his hands in apology, fabricating excuses.
“Haha, since you didn’t strongly deny it, I naturally took it as an affirmation.”
“Don’t spew nonsense like sexual crime confessions. Fix it. I said no comment.”
“Understood, understood. Please understand. In my common sense, the only ones who don’t get angry at such terrible rumors are followers of the Resurrection Sect.”
“… Followers of the Resurrection Sect?”
A term I didn’t know emerged. It seems to be a common knowledge group based on how naturally the term was used.
When I threw him a questioning look, Hik readily explained without flinching.
“They’re worshippers of the witch Diana. A group aiming to banish all heroes from this paradise and await the return of Diana.”
“Aha. So it’s something like a group of demons, I suppose?”
“It’s a human group.”
“What now?”
“Humans who have fallen for the snares of demons. Fallen heroes. Individuals seeking lost money and status. People yearning for power and immortality. They, for various reasons, form this sect that anticipates the return of the witch. That’s the Resurrection Sect.”
“…”
The conflicts I’ve been involved with before, like the faction Cassas, were troublesome. The Resurrection Sect also appears to be the same.
The world view would be so much easier if it ended with “In the beginning, the Celestials and Demons fought~”. It’s easy to understand and the receiving side would accept it with a shrug.
As I was pondering, Hik suddenly shrugged.
“I was about to ask about the connection with the Resurrection Sect, but seeing your reaction just now, I can cross that off. Let’s move on to the next.”
At this point, Hik’s eyes grew even sharper than before.
Leaning in toward me, he asked in a low voice.
“Is it really you who hunted Eldritch?”
“Yes.”
“I heard you succeeded in the hunt with just you and the Duke of Halsenberg’s company. Is that true?”
“No. One of my party and a maid named Leira also helped. That makes four in total.”
“Hmm. That’s new valuable information. Then, how did you hunt it?”
“Corporate secret.”
“Ah… It was the most important part. A bit of a shame.”
No hesitation in the quickfire answers. The momentum took even Hik, who asked the questions, by surprise.
I mean, if it’s true what I’ve captured, so naturally I’ll say it’s true. What could anyone else say?
While Hik continued recording, humming appreciatively, he finally nodded when he finished the last line.
“What interesting information. More than enough to cover the fee.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“And lastly, I have a personal curiosity to ask out of interest.”
“What is it?”
Suddenly, Hik tapped his pen slightly under my chin.
There was no sense of threat, but I instinctively swallowed.
“Are you on the side of the gods or the witch?”
I tried to gauge Hik’s intention but failed. Naturally, someone of the master of an information bureau wouldn’t wear their emotions on their sleeve.
Giving up early, I simply spoke from the heart.
“The side that wins.”
“… Haha.”
Hik erupted in hearty laughter and finally put the pen down.
He rolled up the parchment he had been writing on, organized it up his sleeve, and grinned as he said:
“That was the most trustworthy answer I’ve heard from any hero I’ve met so far, Eldritch Slayer.”
“Is one of these the person?”
I was examining the list given to me by Hik while observing the vagrant village.
There were 35 people on the list, with their descriptions, power rankings, and residences thoroughly recorded.
Honestly, I didn’t think it would be this detailed. The professionals do great work, and I couldn’t help but praise them.
“Can I check them all?”
I glanced skyward.
The dusk had fallen, and stars were beginning to shine. The time spent in the information guild was longer than expected.
Night was approaching. The time limit was… drawing closer.
“I need to return to the inn before midnight!”
It might feel a bit like Cinderella but there was nothing I could do.
To continue the memory flow, I needed to leave residual memories in a fixed location. I should return with some leeway for the sake of asking Seop Baek to watch over Ruci.
An oppressive feeling was tightening my heart. The anxiety and restlessness that I had tried so hard to ignore were surrounding my body.
“Two more weeks of confinement, Park Jeong-yong.”
Enough. If I’m anxious, I need to move.
Even if it feels like dying, moving now will mean dying once instead of ten times.
“I’ll find them. Even if I have to bet my life on it.”
Of course, only a few hours of borrowed life remains.
With a bitter smile, I began meticulously searching through the shantytown.
