Chapter 187

Not all information brokers are created equal.

If you carelessly walk into any random place, you’re likely to get only superficial information and be ripped off.

I’ve had many such experiences.

It took me a long time to find truly competent places hidden beneath the surface.

But now I know.

That’s why I entered without hesitation.

Into an astrologer’s shop located in a corner of a mid-tier district’s shopping area.

“Oh my, welcome, customer.”

A woman sitting at a small table, wearing a deep black robe, greeted me.

In front of her was a crystal ball that shimmered mysteriously.

I sat down on the chair opposite her.

“What kind of fortune-telling would you like? Love? Work? Wealth?”

The atmosphere made me want to try a fortune-telling, but I decided against it, knowing it was bogus.

There was a reason why there wasn’t a single customer at this hour, only flies buzzing around.

“I want to buy information.”

I said directly.

Unlike Carson’s shop, there was no need for a grand code phrase.

“Oh, what a bummer. You’re that kind of customer? How boring.”

The woman clicked her tongue.

Typical of her, who genuinely loved fortune-telling despite her lack of skill.

Her name was Rose.

A self-proclaimed astrologer and the contact point for the information organization ‘Mirage’.

“Isn’t it rude to say that so bluntly?”

“Boring is boring.”

“…”

There was no need for pointless chatter.

I handed her a note I had prepared in advance.

“I’d like to request this.”

“Okay, okay.”

Rose took the note with a casual reply.

“Please wait a moment.”

“Alright.”

Rose left me and went inside.

I knew it was to contact the other members of the organization.

The other members, of course, were in a place with big data filled with all sorts of information.

They would quickly find the information and relay it to Rose.

But before that.

A quote had to be given first.

“What is this, customer?”

Rose, who had reappeared, looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

“What do you mean?”

“They say this is very expensive information, are you sure it’s okay?”

Rose asked, waving the note she was holding.

‘That expensive?’

I was surprised too.

I had originally assumed that Old man Baker was a big shot to some extent, but it seemed he was beyond that level.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Then let me confirm first. They say this will cost at least 50 gold.”

“Here.”

I placed a 100 gold check on the table.

“Wow, you’re quite wealthy, customer. Want a fortune-telling too? You could easily afford a premium one with this.”

She’s so serious about fortune-telling, even though it’s bogus.

“…Just bring me the information.”

“Sigh, you don’t understand romance. Alright, alright. Please wait a little longer. It’s tough because I have to write it all down by hand.”

This was their method: receiving information through a communication device and then manually writing it down to hand to the customer.

It was a fairly advanced method in a game world without the internet.

I prepared to wait patiently.

“Alright, just give me a cup of coffee.”

* * *

Slurp.

Coffee from a self-proclaimed astrologer.

So this is what it tastes like.

It’s way too bitter.

…If I hadn’t asked for it, I would have spilled it.

As I was forcing myself to drink the unpalatable coffee, Rose finally reappeared.

She was holding a few sheets of paper.

“Why the frown?”

“…I’m tired.”

“Then why the coffee? It’ll keep you awake.”

“Ah, you’re right. It’s probably better to stop drinking. Thanks for the coffee.”

I removed my hand from the coffee cup as if I had suddenly come to my senses.

Thank you.

“Here’s the information you requested.”

Thump.

Rose placed the documents on the table.

But she kept her hand on them.

It meant she wouldn’t let go until I paid.

I quickly presented the check I had shown earlier.

“I like straightforward customers.”

Rose handed me the documents.

I took them and put them away.

And.

“Your change.”

Rose gave me a pouch containing the change she had prepared.

As soon as I received it, I got up.

“Huh? Aren’t you going to check?”

“Is there a need to check?”

“Not the change, the information. The information.”

“I’m sure that will be accurate too.”

“Wow, you’re a cool customer.”

Rose blinked and then smiled.

“I like you. I’ll give you good service next time you come.”

…Am I really a lady-killer?

Have I stolen another lady’s heart from our first meeting…?

Impressed with myself, I winked confidently.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

“Ugh, so cheesy.”

“…”

I see.

I guess I’m not really a lady-killer after all.

It was all the result of my blood, sweat, and tears.

Anyway, this is so embarrassing.

“…Forget it.”

I quickly left.

* * *

“Hmm.”

I sat down on a nearby bench and read through the information I had just received.

My expression grew more serious as I read.

“The Kingdom of Killstein… I didn’t know such a country existed.”

Even I, a hardcore player, didn’t know about this country.

It made sense, considering it had been forcibly annexed by the Kingdom of Parene decades ago.

According to the information, it was a small country, but it seemed to have had a history and tradition of its own.

Being a country in a barren mountainous region, life was difficult, but perhaps because it was useless land, it had maintained peace for quite a long time.

The problem was.

A massive gold mine, hidden and unknown to anyone, was suddenly discovered in that barren mountainous region.

It would have been a great fortune for the country, but I knew from history that such fortune doesn’t always lead to good results.

When a weak country suddenly acquires a tempting morsel, there will always be those who covet it.

Especially if those coveters are a superpower with the size of a dinosaur.

Unfortunately, they were in a position where it was difficult to seek help from other superpowers like the Empire or even the influential religious order.

The result was obvious.

They fought desperately against the Kingdom of Parene, which had mobilized its army, but were ultimately defeated and destroyed.

It’s a common occurrence in history.

Except for one thing.

The fact that the Kingdom of Killstein had a prince, Baker Killstein.

‘To think that he was a prince.’

It was unexpected.

He reeked of retired knight, so I just assumed he was a knight.

Even if he was a powerless third prince, a prince is still a prince.

Anyway.

Prince Baker, who miraculously survived by being abroad, swore revenge with tears of blood in front of his father’s severed head.

But he was also realistic.

He acknowledged that revenge against the superpower, the Kingdom of Parene, was impossible.

The same went for the king, the supreme ruler of the kingdom.

So he narrowed his target.

To Duke Duteil, the commander who had led the invasion of Killstein.

However, Duke Duteil was not only a high-ranking noble but also a Master swordsman.

It meant his goal was practically impossible.

But Prince Baker didn’t give up.

He changed his appearance drastically and joined Duke Duteil’s private army.

He must have already been quite skilled at the time, so getting a position as a soldier, not even a knight, wouldn’t have been difficult.

‘His life is like a movie.’

I clicked my tongue.

A prince who endures and works under his enemy, biding his time for revenge for his father.

It was something you couldn’t do without a will of steel.

And so.

Starting as a soldier, Prince Baker steadily rose through the ranks.

He must have worked extremely hard to catch Duke Duteil’s eye.

Eventually, Prince Baker became a knight, and then even a close aide as a royal guard.

It was something that took more than 20 years.

‘But it must have been insufficient.’

He succeeded in gaining a position close enough to his target, but the opponent was a Master.

Could I suddenly kill Empress Oscar or Regina with a surprise attack?

Absolutely not.

Thinking about it that way, the situation became clear.

‘But how did he do it?’

Of course, he must have improved his skills tremendously through hard work during his rise to the position of royal guard.

He probably created Baker’s swordsmanship during that time.

Knowing his opponent was a Master, he made it specifically to target Masters.

The problem is.

‘Is that really possible?’

I know all five forms and the secret technique of Old man Baker’s swordsmanship.

Each form is certainly powerful, and the secret technique is even more so, but it’s not enough.

Then.

‘Could there be another one?’

My eyes gleamed.

The single secret technique that exists in Baker’s swordsmanship.

But what if there was a true secret technique?

What if Old man Baker didn’t teach me that?

‘It’s entirely possible.’

Maybe he didn’t have time due to his poor health, or maybe he simply didn’t intend to.

I don’t know the reason.

The important thing is the possibility itself.

“Hmm.”

I stared blankly into space, lost in thought for a moment, and then turned my eyes back to the information document.

Five years later.

Prince Baker finally succeeded in his revenge.

He assassinated Duke Duteil in a one-on-one duel and even managed to escape.

He even revealed his identity, boldly declaring, “The third prince of the Killstein royal family has taken revenge for the blood of his father, Duke Duteil!”

It was an event that would shake the kingdom, no, the entire continent.

Because it was an unprecedented incident where a Master was killed by someone who wasn’t a Master.

Moreover, the killer was the prince of the very nation the Master had destroyed.

But precisely because of that.

The kingdom thoroughly concealed the incident.

They must have considered it an unbearable disgrace.

The cause of death was reported as a natural death due to illness, and the witnesses were said to have been silenced.

However, the fact that I’m reading this information shows that it’s impossible to completely suppress information.

‘Headmaster Ricardio must have been one of the witnesses.’

I was certain.

Although it was said that the headmaster’s entire career was in the military, it was probably a cleverly fabricated resume.

He must have worked under Duke Duteil.

He wouldn’t have been able to recognize anything from my swordsmanship unless he had seen Baker’s swordsmanship firsthand.

Whoosh.

I set the information document on fire.

There was nothing more to see.

It was completely incinerated, and the ashes scattered in the wind.

“In the end, the important thing is…”

I muttered as I got up.

‘To somehow draw out and learn the hidden true secret technique.’

The conclusion was simple.

That secret technique must be the answer to how he was able to kill a Master.

A Master slayer.

A person who achieved the unprecedented feat of killing a Master without being one himself.

He was the best swordsmanship teacher I could ask for, chillingly so.

Because it would be practically impossible for me to reach the Master level with this body.

No, even for the protagonist, it was the same.

The protagonist wasn’t a monstrously talented protagonist.

At least, he never achieved it in the parts I played through.

‘To think I was actually on the right track to finding the answer.’

I had found the answer, but didn’t even know its true value.

If I hadn’t met Headmaster Ricardio, I wouldn’t have known this time either.

Thinking about it sent chills down my spine again.

It meant that important things were happening even in places far removed from the protagonist.

Perhaps all those countless interactions were affecting the outcome of this game.

“Anyway, it’s impossible for now.”

I decided to approach it calmly, without rushing.

I didn’t think it was something that could be solved by being hasty.

First, I needed to master the five basic forms and truly satisfy Old man Baker.

Once I achieved that, I would move on to the next step.

“I’ll definitely draw it out.”

My eyes blazed with determination.

And so, time passed again.