Chapter 64

Chapter 63: The Main Association (1)

The night at the Tower of Trials is a bit special.

The temperature, which had been warm during the day, dropped rapidly, and the ferocity and attack power of the monsters skyrocketed.

Therefore, when night fell, most players stopped hunting and sought out safe places.

It was only natural.

There was no need to take unnecessary risks.

And about an hour after dealing with the Thousand-Armed Guanyin,

Jinhyuk managed to find a spot in front of a shrine surrounded by a dense bamboo forest.

‘This brings back memories.’

Except for the time spent sleeping or streaming, he had spent most of his time in the Tower of Trials.

After a mad session of hunting, he always sought out a place where he could see the night sky.

It wasn't a bad spot to rest.

Especially since he could see the meteor shower from here.

‘The bamboo shoots and the ingredients that can only be found in the tower add to the charm.’

Jinhyuk built a fire and cooked bamboo shoots, rice, and rock salt in a bamboo container. He added three ironclad shrimp he caught from the stream.

Soon, a fragrant aroma filled the air.

Rumble.

His appetite was stirred.

He took a spoonful and put it in his mouth. The soft, warm porridge slid down his throat.

The plump shrimp, with their firm texture, created a fantastic mouthfeel.

Mmm, this is the taste.

‘Next time, I should copy some cooking-related skills.’

As he climbed the tower, he encountered all kinds of delicacies.

Desert calf meat so full of juice that it didn't even need olive oil.

Rainbow crab from the sea.

Thousand-scented apples, said to have a thousand scents.

Ingredients that could never be found outside the tower.

It was truly a treasure trove of exotic ingredients.

However, just as Jinhyuk was enjoying his rare feast,

“Wow, that’s a good smell.”

“Quite a delicious meal, it seems.”

A couple appeared between the bamboo trees.

A bewitching Western beauty and an Eastern man with a sturdy build.

Melena and Li Chao.

“Ah! We don’t have any bad intentions. We just saw the light and came over to check.”

“We just need to avoid the night dew for a bit.”

Melena and Li Chao calmly approached the campfire.

What, these guys, could they be...

Pretending to be ordinary players instead of Main Association members?

For real?

‘I’m speechless.’

At this point, there’s nothing left to say.

Either they are incredibly stupid, or...

They have a way to win even if their true identity is revealed.

One of the two.

I hope it’s the latter.

That way, I can spend this long night without being bored.

“Since you can avoid the cold, please sit down.”

Jinhyuk pointed to a spot by the campfire.

“Thanks. I’m Melena.”

“I’m Li Chao. We’ll just stay for a few hours.”

Melena and Li Chao took their seats.

At least their claim about avoiding the night dew didn’t seem to be a lie.

They quickly warmed up their half-frozen arms and legs.

“You must have had a tough time.”

“Don’t even mention it. The masked guy didn’t know, but I was shivering on the tree all day.”

Of course, it must have been tough.

How much must they have strained their eyes, spying like mice?

“Since I made quite a bit of food, would you like to have some?”

Jinhyuk handed them a bamboo bowl.

The plump shrimp and white rice looked appetizing.

Don’t refuse.

I know you’re starving, with your stomachs stuck to your back.

“...”

Melena swallowed hard.

Her face showed a sense of conflict.

But she didn’t reach for the food right away.

She was suspicious.

Who knows what he might have done to the food. However, her pupils twitched several times in that brief moment, driven by the strong instinct of hunger.

On the other hand, Li Chao drew a clear line.

“We’re fine. Sorry, but we have a policy of not eating food from strangers. Especially if they’re wearing a mask.”

“Does the mask bother you?”

“Of course. If there’s nothing to hide, why wear a mask?”

“Hmm. If it really bothers you, I can take it off.”

“...What?”

“...Really?”

Jinhyuk’s words made their pupils dilate rapidly.

Since the opponent, who had been trying to uncover his identity, declared that he would reveal it, it was natural for them to react this way.

“Of course, just taking it off would be boring, so let’s play a simple game.”

“A game...?”

“Since we both have questions, we’ll take turns asking three questions each. If you answer all my questions, I’ll take off the mask as soon as the game ends.”

A game to exchange information.

Li Chao’s mind raced.

‘There’s no way to verify the truth of the words anyway.’

It means they can give false information.

On the other hand, the opponent, who doesn’t know their true identity, would likely let their guard down.

‘We won’t lose anything by accepting this offer.’

Melena, who was beside him, nodded and whispered.

“The relic won’t activate for another 5 minutes. If you give us some time, it would be good for us.”

The deliberation didn’t last long.

“...Interesting. Not a bad way to pass the time.”

Li Chao spoke.

And at that moment.

[‘Anubis’s Judgment’ has been activated!]

A transparent wave spread around Jinhyuk.

***

...Got you.

Jinhyuk smiled meaningfully.

In fact, he had known from the start that the two would accept the offer.

They needed time.

Pfft!

The unique wave emanating from the woman named Melena.

The magic power he had felt several times while playing the Tower of Trials.

‘The coin of Caligula...’

A coin with the image of the Roman tyrant Caligula.

I wondered what card they had prepared, and it was this one.

It’s not a bad choice.

Although it had the disadvantage of taking time to activate, once fully activated, it completely broke down the target’s guard.

A mental relic that makes the target confess everything they know without the need for physical torture was quite useful.

‘Even though they know my body hasn’t fully recovered, they’re trying to achieve a perfect victory.’

Their intention to avoid even minor injuries was evident.

Impressive.

Impressive, but...

Now that the existence of the coin is known, it’s just a simple commemorative coin, not a relic.

‘I’ll show them that there’s always someone better.’

Jinhyuk smiled.

“I’ll give you the first move. Ask your question.”

“Your name or affiliation... you won’t answer those...”

“If I reveal my identity in the first question, this Q&A loses its meaning. I’ll take off the mask only after the game ends.”

“Then I’ll change my question. Are there any other companions with you here?”

Hmm.

I thought you’d ask something else.

A pretty practical question.

Logically, it’s hard to imagine someone coming alone for a boss raid, so they must think there are other companions.

The range of the coin of Caligula is 10 meters, so they’re checking for any variables.

“I came alone and will leave alone.”

“...I see.”

“Now it’s my turn. It seems you’re here to hunt the boss monster. Why did you just watch?”

“I was waiting for the right time to enter. It’s a notorious place, so caution was necessary.”

Talking about caution.

But I got the answer to the first question.

Two more to go.

Right then, Li Chao asked his second question.

“If you climb the tower, you must have something you wish for. Power, wealth, or fame. I want to know what it is.”

Hmm.

Jinhyuk’s eyes narrowed at Li Chao’s words.

‘I thought you came to kill me...’

It seems they also considered the possibility of persuasion.

“I do have something I want, but can you really fulfill it?”

Shivering from the cold and starving.

Li Chao and Melena had been on the tree all day, so they were in a terrible state.

“Of course, we look ridiculous now. But we have the ability to do it, so don’t worry.”

That’s the second...

Now I only need one more answer.

Jinhyuk’s lips twisted subtly.

His polite tone turned cold.

“Having the ability... Can you give me a seat at the ‘Round Table’?”

“W-What did you say?”

“How do you know about the Round Table!?”

The two shouted simultaneously.

The Round Table, symbolizing the highest officials of the Main Association.

They never imagined that an outsider would know this secret word, so they were shocked.

But do they know?

The fact that there is an old-timer who has grasped the origin and reason for the use of the term ‘Round Table’ before anyone else.

“Have you heard the answer to the question? So, can you give it to me or not?”

“Of course not!”

Li Chao gritted his teeth.

“How can you say that about the Round Table!”

Melena was already standing up.

I knew they would say this.

“In fact, even if you gave it to me, I wouldn’t care.”

A position in the Main Association, even if given for free, is not something I want.

And there’s no need to continue this awkward act.

[Conditions met!]

Anubis’s Judgment has just been activated.

Rumble!

The ground began to shake violently.

“Gah!”

Li Chao quickly put some distance between them.

It was an instinctive reaction to the ominous magic power.

Just then.

“5 minutes are up!”

Melena shouted.

Finally, the time they had been waiting for had come.

If they could use the coin of Caligula, they could subdue even the strongest enemy.

No player had the ability to defend against mental attacks.

But.

“It won’t activate.”

Jinhyuk smirked.

“What?”

Li Chao, who had drawn his dagger, raised his eyebrows.

“That coin. It’s useless right now. I delayed its activation time by about 5 minutes.”

“Stop bullshitting! How did you...!”

“Wait! He’s serious.”

Melena’s face darkened.

It’s true.

“The coin hasn’t been fully charged with magic power yet. That guy... He must have done something. He must have done something to suppress our magic power!”

“What are you talking about! We didn’t even touch the food!”

The only possibility was the food Jinhyuk had offered.

But how could he have done anything with food they didn’t eat?

“This food... Its effect can be triggered just by smelling it.”

Suspicious people wouldn’t eat food given by others.

So, he thought a bit more.

A more meticulous method, though slower than direct consumption.

“The sap in the bamboo shoots reacts with the ironclad shrimp to create a substance that suppresses magic power. Of course, chewing the bamboo won’t cause poisoning.”

Jinhyuk showed a eucalyptus leaf in his mouth.

“It’s... impossible. You knew our identity, the effect of the relic, and even how to counter it?”

“Are you saying... we weren’t the ones buying time?”

The two muttered, unable to believe it.

They thought they had set the perfect trap.

They thought time was on their side.

But everything crumbled.

“Now, I’ll ask the questions.”

Jinhyuk snapped his fingers.

At the same time.

[Anubis selects the opponent!]

Something began to move.