Chapter 115
29. Item Presentation (6)
The branded item issue was resolved quite smoothly. Melian seemed quite satisfied with the luxury branding plan.
It was inevitable.
This strategy borrowed some methods from famous luxury companies on Earth.
However, there was one concern.
Many aspects of what I presented today resembled things from Earth.
Alterisha’s presentation imitated the famous CEO of the ‘half-eaten apple’ company, and the luxury items with a few lines drawn on them were inspired by Earth’s luxury brands ‘Three Stripe Brown’ and ‘Tomdidas.’
Especially, since Flame is fanatically fond of the ‘half-eaten apple’ CEO according to her setting, she might become suspicious about my origins the moment she sees it.
‘Well, it can’t be helped.’
Honestly, the reason we agreed to keep 50% of our secrets from each other was because we were forced to maintain secrecy by ‘narrative constraints.’
The trust level in the protagonist, Flame, had already risen significantly, so I wondered if it wouldn’t hurt to trust and reveal some secrets to her.
[Due to lack of narrative, it’s not possible.]
…That damned narrative constraint kept interfering, causing all the problems.
“If you could sign here, please.”
The contract process was slightly more complicated than expected. The lawyer from Starcloud babbled on and on, dropping a thick stack of contracts on the table, which was honestly a bit intimidating.
Fortunately, Alterisha’s faction already had a competent lawyer. With his help, we successfully finalized the contract…
-Wow!!
-Clap, clap, clap, clap!!
Just then, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the grand auditorium where Alterisha was conducting her presentation. She had also successfully completed her role.
Now, even ordinary people without any specialized knowledge understood.
How revolutionary the technology called items was and how significantly it would impact modern society.
Everything was perfectly concluded now.
I felt relieved.
I wouldn’t have to stress over this anymore.
Thi s w a s c o pi ed f ro m kin gm tl .or g
I’d like to think so, but the young lady staring intently at me right now made it quite burdensome.
Zeliel. A yellow aura sparkled around her body. These streams hinted at something, providing information to me.
[Doubt]
She harbored some suspicion about me. Thanks to Red Spring March’s derived trait, [Mentalist], I could tell.
Even without the trait, her expression alone made her suspicion evident.
Probably… just a guess, but Zeliel’s trait [Value of All Things] wouldn’t work on me.
How do I know that? In the game, when Zeliel encountered Flame, her ability was entirely useless against him.
T h i s w a s c op i e d f ro m k i n g m t l. o rg
T h i s w as c o p i e d f r om k in gm tl . o r g
I don’t know the exact reason, but perhaps it’s because Flame and I are from different worlds.
Anyway, by now, Zeliel is likely waiting for a chance to kill me.
Of course, no matter how much she is the daughter of the Starcloud chairman, she can’t casually assassinate a Stella student.
In the original game, since she couldn’t directly assassinate Flame, she tormented the player externally.
Moreover, I am not just an ordinary Stella student; I am a co-developer of Alterisha’s faction.
She might not be able to torment me in the same way as before, but she might come up with smarter and more annoying methods.
Before that happens, I should also prepare countermeasures.
The best strategy would be the players’ plan of ‘seducing the father!’ that they devised to deal with the wicked villainess, but since I can’t do that, I have to think of another way.
I know the original game’s knowledge well, and I also understand what Zeliel is desperately searching for right now.
‘The ruins of Ancient Carmenset.’
A dungeon that doesn’t even appear prominently in the main episodes, feeling more like a side quest.
‘Defeat Carmenset’s soul in Soul Chess, and I will grant you the gift of eternal light.’
As ambiguous as it sounds, ‘eternal light’ literally means ‘eternal life.’
T h i s w as co p i e d f ro m k in g mtl . o r g
However, as often depicted in movies and novels, eternal life is never given for free.
Most cases involved losing one’s body in exchange for eternal life or having one’s soul forcibly taken or controlled by the Other World.
Anyway, that’s a matter for later; what’s important right now is that Zeliel is desperate for the ruins of Carmenset.
She’s unlikely to win against Carmenset in Soul Chess… even if she does, the end would be nothing but ruin, so it might be better if she doesn’t win.
‘I should utilize this.’
By shaking key information and keywords related to the ruins of Carmenset, I might be able to curb Zeliel’s antics to some extent.
However, I was worried about the period before discovering the ruins of Carmenset. I wouldn’t be able to stop Zeliel from strangling me until then…
Just then, as if she had a sudden thought, Zeliel smiled.
“Oh, right. Father, the gift we prepared.”
T h i s w a s c o p i e d f r o m k i n g m tl . o r g
“Oh, almost forgot.”
At Melian’s gesture, the lawyer stepped back, and a few burly men brought in gift boxes.
“This is a token of our goodwill. If it’s too burdensome…”
“Oh my, you shouldn’t have.”
I hurried to accept the gift box, fearing they might take it back.
It didn’t feel right to open it immediately, but it was thin and long by touch.
It wouldn’t contain gold bars, but at least a top-quality beef set or a ginseng root. There might be even better things inside.
‘Could it be poisoned?’
As my suspicion toward Zeliel deepened, she pulled out another small box from her bosom. She held it out to me and opened the lid, revealing a pendant with a pearl embedded in it.
“This is a necklace made from processed mermaid tears. It’s a pure token of goodwill. Will you accept it?”
Zeliel said with a bright smile. It seemed dubious, but I accepted and checked it out.
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[Mermaid Pearl Pendant… crackle!]
[…Orb of Souls]
As expected, it was an item with its true form and function hidden by magic. Although it was quite a high-level spell, it couldn’t fool the Bulbul Glasses.
But what?
‘Orb of Souls?’
One of the sacred artifacts of the World Tree, a pearl with the ability to discern the soul of the bearer.
But it shouldn’t have any particular function other than that. Did pearls have a function that could kill people?
Just in case, I checked again with the Bulbul Glasses, but it was exactly as I knew it to be.
“If you wear it for a month, your eyesight will become permanently clear, and your body will feel revitalized. It’s very rare and expensive, but I’m giving it to you as a special gift. Would you accept it?”
T h i s w a s copi e d f r o m k i n g m t l. o r g
A month.
I understood as soon as I heard that word.
For some reason… Zeliel wanted to test if my soul had been corrupted through this orb. And that deepened smile.
She probably believed my soul had been corrupted. If her assumption was correct, the orb would darken after a month, and I would be executed immediately.
Corruption of the soul means Dark Mage.
But there was no need to worry.
My soul had been deeply imbued with Spirit Leafanel, coming out as a bright and clear white of pure good.
‘What’s this? Is this all they prepared?’
I don’t know how they got the Orb of Souls…
“Thank you. Can I wear it right away?”
“Yes, of course.”
If this is the extent of their elaborate plan, then I am thankful.
After sending Melian and Zeliel away, I immediately went to find Alterisha, who had finished her presentation. I wanted to hear how things went…
“Dr. Alterisha! Could you please say a few words?”
“This is Dr. Lenok from the Preton Faction! Dr. Alterisha! We were supposed to meet that time…”
“Please grant us the opportunity to collaborate, Doctor!”
It was chaotic and noisy.
A huge crowd surrounded Alterisha.
‘This is hopeless.’
Fortunately, the burly mages guarding Alterisha drew strict boundaries, but it seemed she would be preoccupied for a while, making it impossible to meet her separately.
‘By the way…’
I glanced around with the Bulbul Glasses on.
Numbers floated above the heads of certain individuals.
[Dark Mana Erosion Rate: 49.99%]
[Dark Mana Erosion Rate: 49.99%]
[Dark Mana Erosion Rate: 49.99%]
Just like Hae Wonryang or Arshuane before, those who had Dark Mana seeds couldn’t be identified, but those who chose to become ‘Dark Mage Contractors’ could be discerned with the Bulbul Glasses.
Several individuals here had suppressed their erosion rate to 49.99% and hidden their power as Dark Mages.
They couldn’t reveal their true power. The moment they released Dark Mana, their heads would be cut off by the vigilant magic warriors before they could even return to their true selves.
Although there would be many casualties, losing a large number of Dark Mages who could control their emotions and Dark Mana would be a greater loss for the Dark Mage Union.
Therefore, these Dark Mages wouldn’t act recklessly or go on a rampage.
So the question was.
Why did these Dark Mages come here, hiding their identities?
“Dr. Alterisha! Please grant us the opportunity to collaborate!”
Indeed.
Ridiculous as it might sound, the Dark Mages were trying to infiltrate Alterisha’s faction to steal her technology.
I wanted to reveal them all by shouting ‘That guy is a Dark Mage!’ but there was no evidence.
Current technology couldn’t detect erosion rates below 50%.
Still, it was fortunate I had the ability to distinguish them. Alterisha would accept my opinion, so I could filter out all the Dark Mages.
‘Hmm? Those people are…’
Two particularly noticeable Dark Mages came into my sight.
[Professor Kamahon]
[Professor Taivon]
The two professors with personalities that seemed completely incompatible were also waiting from a distance, intending to enter Alterisha’s lab.
‘Hmm…’
While most Dark Mages were low-level, those two held significant positions and power in the ‘Moonshadow Church’ and the ‘Dark Tower.’
They were among the most dangerous Dark Mages present here.
They might think they have hidden their identities, but I already know who they are.
There are only deceivers, no one being deceived.
If I could use that fact to bring them inside and exploit them, I might gain some information about the inner workings of the Dark Mages that I didn’t know.
‘Not a bad idea.’
As I organized in my mind what to tell Alterisha, someone particularly eye-catching appeared in the distance.
A man who brutally tore apart and killed every Dark Mage in his sight, earning the nickname ‘Dark Mage Killer,’ and became a terror to all existing Dark Mages.
‘Kaen, leader of the 13th Extermination Squad?’
For some reason, he was here.
However.
That was one thing, but…
‘…Isn’t he too conspicuous?’
Standing with his arms crossed in the center of the Alchemic Hall, glaring around with terrifying eyes, no Dark Mage, not even ordinary people, dared to approach him.
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Even though he wore a mask, so those who knew his face wouldn’t recognize him, I know that the mages of the Tower of the New Moon strictly concealed their identities and operated in secret…
As I looked at him in astonishment, I noticed the name tag hanging from Kaen’s chest.
[Alchemic Hall Level 9 Janitor: Kim Clean]
…Surely, he didn’t think that would make him inconspicuous?
It really couldn’t be.
After parting ways with Baek Yu-seol, Zeliel boarded her private vehicle with her father, Melian, preparing to leave.
Enjoying the comfort as if lying in bed, Zeliel raised the corners of her lips slightly.
“Haha, Zeliel. Were you that happy to meet Baek Yu-seol?”
“Of course. It was a really good meeting. I definitely want to meet him again.”
“It makes me happy to see you pleased.”
She recalled the recent situation.
As soon as Baek Yu-seol received the pendant, he wore it and even fiddled with it as if he was very satisfied.
Baek Yu-seol often wore glasses habitually while studying or giving speeches, probably due to his poor eyesight.
Knowing that characteristic, Zeliel prepared something that appeared to be beneficial for eyesight.
The pendant was magically coated to resemble mermaid tears, and various blessing spells were imbued to make the wearer genuinely feel revitalized.
It did cost a bit of money, but it was worth it. If such a small amount of money could determine Baek Yu-seol’s fate.
‘I’m certain.’
Zeliel was convinced.
Why else would Oranha, the representative of the Elf King, personally give Baek Yu-seol the Orb of Souls?
His soul’s corruption was almost confirmed, but there was no other way to reveal his true nature.
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Moreover, this was an opportunity for Zeliel.
‘Baek Yu-seol’s weakness…’
If she couldn’t make him her chess piece, she would kill him. Conversely, if she could make him her chess piece, it wouldn’t matter if she kept him alive.
If she could grasp that weakness, she could manipulate Baek Yu-seol as she wished.
If he refused? She would kill him.
Executing Dark Mages was a perfectly natural act in magical society.
‘I’m looking forward to what happens in a month…’
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For the first time in a while, a pure smile of joy appeared on Zeliel’s face.
End of Chapter