World: MSS - Loading...

There was one thing which Pol talked about that still bothered me.

"Because not all of us are like you people from Earth."

It implied that some [Players] weren't from earth.

This brought up so many questions I didn't even know where to start. First off, I don't remember the process of how I got isekai'd into this world too clearly. I remember entering the final dungeon, some words appearing on my screen and then a bright flash of light –followed by my enslavement. What I do remember are the words that I was the first player to clear this game on original difficulty.

Despite the earlier time limit, Pol seemed content to let me mull this over.

'Ok, let's organize this.'

Pol was part of the [Player's Guild].

This [Player's Guild] had information I didn't have. What I had in terms of gameplay knowledge, they had knowledge about the current hidden affairs of the world –Like the fact that Earthlings (strange to say out loud) weren't the only Players in MSS.

Unlike my previous belief, the [Player's Guild] didn't have a centralized ruling party. Instead, it was closer to a gathering of Clans.

These Clans weren't necessarily friendly to each other.

Pol wanted me to kill Delas' Clan.

He wanted to use me.

I didn't trust him.

But he also offered Coum and Tanya as collateral.

I wanted to kill Coum and Tanya so bad.

Claw's Nest was going to be a bloodbath. And there were a number of people I wanted to kill in the resulting fallout.

Arione Popindale and Delas Ender.

Delas, I knew I would kill. Even if it wasn't for Pol, he and I had too many differing ideas. He wanted the [Autarch's Key] and I needed it as well, for my obligation to Oung. Not just that, I could see it in his eyes: he wanted to kill me too.

As for Arione… one thing kept me from making the decision.

L'teya, daughter of Agda.

If L'teya defended Arione and fought alongside him, could I do it?

Could I kill her?

Clover would side with Arione. I think. But that was a given. She'd made her choice long ago. If push came to shove, if I really had to and she gave me choice… yes. I could. But L'teya…

I owed her a lot.

She saved me.

Before Stole. Before Aurora. Before Kyrian and Skaris.

In the Dokkaebi Tunnels, she was the one who reached out with a hand, asking me if I wanted to work together. That single act of kindness was what helped me get here today.

'Not the time to think about it.' I pushed the thoughts aside.

Whether because it really was a bad time to think about it, or whether it was because I simply wasn't ready to face my own answer, I don't know.

I focused on Pol again, my decision made.

"...The numbers don't add up." I muttered.

Pol perked up, his eyes alight with interest, "The numbers?"

"What you're asking me to do and what you're giving me for it, the numbers don't add up." I shrugged, pointing at the [Knight's Journey], "All you gave me is a relic."

"A relic that you were willing to spend your entire fortune on." Pol frowned, but I could tell he was listening.

"If it weren't for you and your guildmates, I bet I could have bought it too." I had taken a gamble, to see if Pol was lying about not knowing what the [Knight's Journey] did. Looks like they didn't. Whatever difficulty they played this game on, they hadn't encountered [Knight's Journey] or figured out how to use it. "And it won't help me at all against Delas."

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Delas, Coum and Tanya, plus the other [Players] he has with him." Pol leaned forward.

"This book turns to scrap if I die while trying to kill Delas."

"You could also sit back and watch Zenom do all the work."

I snorted, "Zenom Saintred's goal is the Church's goal. He's not out to kill Delas. If someone like Delas wanted to get away, he'll get away. That's why you came to me, someone who can chase Delas down."

Pol smiled, all teeth and no eyes, "You seem awfully sure that you can kill Delas. He's quite formidable, you know."

I let my silence answer that.

He twirled a strand of purple hair, "You are that powerful?"

"You want to find out?"

I left the challenge hanging in the open air.

Pol didn't let it linger, lest the air turn awkward. "No thank you. I've heard speculations about what Cores you have and I doubt a mage like myself is best suited for you."

I scoffed.

If Pol truly did had [Dimension] magic at his disposal, there were plenty of things he could do. My build is powerful, but it's not unbreakable. I might be immune to spell damage, but the versatility of magic wasn't limited to doing damage directly. Environmental damage, shifts in terrain, suffocating me… all things were possible. There was no way a Mage of his level didn't know that.

"The fact is, I don't trust you." I flipped the book again, "I want something more than this book."

Pol leaned back, seemingly thinking. I saw him eye the book then me, then into empty space. Finally, he nodded.

"Fine. But we're not just looking for someone to do a job. We're looking for a partner, whom we can work with again and again."

I frowned. "Then just form your own party."

His eyes glittered with something akin to frustration. "The denizens of this world do not trust us."

"...So what is it you want from me? Apart from killing Delas."

He checked his pocketwatch again, nodding to himself, "Let's lay out our cards on the table once more. What were you thinking of asking for in exchange?"

"More information."

"Such as?"

"What kind of Cores they have, what Mana Cores Coum has."

Pol pursed his lips, idling tapping a finger on the table. "We can guess, but nothing you yourself haven't figured out."

Fair enough. "What about Coum? You said he was barely hanging on?"

He smiled at me, seemingly genuine. I quickly reassessed the purple-haired Mage. This guy either really hated Coum or enjoyed the idea of the bald mage being in pain.

"Some kind of brain damage. Last we heard though, they managed to find a workaround."

So brain damage was a thing in MSS. Though there had to be a way to heal it, judging by Pol's comments. This too, was good to know.

"You're not giving me much." I sighed.

"Perhaps you're asking the wrong questions."

I mentally recounted what I knew so far about Pol and his Guild. Right now, he was working for the Auction Houses. Whether that was his Clan's usual routine or something they did because Delas was here, I didn't know. What was the one thing I needed badly right now?

"I want a list of all the Cores and weapons above [Unique]-grading that are available in the various auctions in the next three days."

"Done, it'll be delivered to your mansion by the morn." He lifted an eyebrow questioningly, "Do you need an arbitrator to make the sales on your behalf?"

And let them figure out what Cores I bought? They might be able to get that information anyways, but I wasn't about to make it easy for them. "Not needed."

"My turn." He gestured at the book. "What does the book do?"

I considered lying, then shook my head. "If I tell you, you'll have to give me more on top of what you've already given me."

Pol nodded, "I see. So the knowledge about the book is more important than the book itself. I'm starting to figure out what type of person you are, Lock Slaveborn."

When I didn't offer more, he continued.

"Fine then." He moved onto other matters, "What is Zenom Saintred's goal?"

"An artifact that supposedly belongs to the church." I avoided lying by the skin of my teeth.

"I see." Pol smiled. "There is one last request I'd like to make, pertaining to the matter of Delas."

"Speak."

"Astelion Giantler." Pol said in that flowing speech of his, making a move to get up, "If you can, we'd appreciate it if you can spare him."

I frowned.

"We've been trying to recruit him, but Nathan got to him before we could."

"This Nathan guy you keep mentioning, who is he?"

"No one you need to know about." Pol snapped, speaking a little too quickly. He quickly recovered though, smiling as if it didn't just happen, "Sources tell us that he's nowhere near Claw's Nest. Rumor is that he's back home."

"Zimmskar? Turina?"

"No. Sky City."

The statement hit me like a hammer.

My body froze, just for a moment though. But my instincts told me the Mage picked up on it with well-practiced instincts of his own.

"So you know of it. Of course you would." He muttered. "Interesting."

Pol had fished for information, trying to see if I knew anything about Sky City and he'd gotten it.

Sky City is the origin place of the sixth hidden race of MSS: Nephilim.

People with great wings whose entire race resided in Sky City, filled with hidden dungeons full of unique loot and monster Cores that could only be obtainable in that place. Their racial trait, [Flight] was pretty formidable too, starting with the ability to fly. Most adventurers have to spend a Core slot on that.

This told me a lot about the Player's Guild.

Humans and Elves weren't the only races that people were isekai'd into. Of course not. Dwarves, Orcs and Beastman could be players; why not the Nephilim? Chances were, there were many more [Players] in this world than I knew about.

'Just how big is this [Player's Guild]...'

As he made to leave, he stopped, turning to face me. "Ah, if I may leave you with one word of advice?"

I nodded for him to continue.

"Do not get involved with the denizens of this world further." He muttered, almost whispering, "Only pain awaits you. If I were you, I'd find other [Players]. Perhaps from Earth, perhaps from other Places. But this world will never accept us. It was never made for us, we are but interlopers."

As Pol neared the end of his advice, something changed in him. It was in the eyes, or perhaps in the tone. I couldn't put a finger on it. But it wasn't anything hot and fierce like anger or hatred. No.

All I got from him was Sorrow.

A deep bottomless well of blackness made of tears.

He turned. "Soon, the Auction House management will come. I must report our dealings to the Guild, so I won't be seeing you." The handsome mage smiled over his shoulder. "It was nice speaking with you, Lock Slaveborn. Hopefully, we can be… acquaintances. A business partner of sorts."

Compared to people who'd only been out to trick me, I was fine with that. A give and take.

I could trust that.

But I knew from this conversation that the moment Pol saw a weakness, he'd capitalize on it. If he wasn't willing to do at least that much, I wouldn't trust him.

"Be seeing you." I whispered, as the Mage left through the door.

Soon the Auction House Management came in, but I wasn't listening.

The last pieces of a puzzle were coming into place.

There were only two more people I needed to talk to.

Zenom Saintred.

And…

Jared Akka Xalud.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.