episode_0763

masquerade.

A social gathering where everyone enjoys themselves on equal footing, with their identities hidden by masks worn over their faces.

In fact, that’s what they say, but in reality it’s different.

Anonymity becomes a secret in name only, and equality becomes a means to please superiors.

It’s a similar situation to a subordinate trying to smile and applaud a manager who claims to be young.

‘Isn’t a masquerade a place where you pretend not to know even though you know?’

‘You’ll never forget, right?’

At first, the young guests believe in the empty formalities of the masquerade ball and cause a ruckus, but as they experience the painful malice, they naturally keep their mouths shut.

After a few incidents like this, the masquerade ball becomes a place where only the upper class can have fun.

The people below, who should originally be having fun, are busy trying to keep an eye on others and going back and forth between good and bad.

‘What is it? Then Arthur, why is he taking me away so confidently?’

It’s weird to say this myself, but I stand out.

It’s not a matter of covering your face or not. No matter where you put it, it will attract people’s attention.

It’s not that there’s no mask to hide it, but Arthur wouldn’t know that.

‘Could that be true?’

“Here.”

The carriage stopped in a small village on the outskirts of the kingdom.

It’s a place you wouldn’t even know exists if you didn’t come looking for it on purpose.

But what’s really strange is that on one side of the town there are a lot of carriages. And they all look really expensive.

I’ve been seeing so many tourists lately that my taste has improved.

You can get a rough estimate just by looking at it without having to use your emotions.

One horse there could feed a common family for half a year.

It’s an ordinary town and things that aren’t. It’s full of a sense of dissonance.

“Of course, everyone who comes here is a noble. High-ranking nobles at that.”

Arthur noticed my doubts just by looking at me and slowly opened his mouth.

Did he learn something from Caria? He seems to be getting more and more perceptive.

“It’s not that my intuition has improved, it’s that your expression is honest.”

“Do you want to read a woman’s mind like that? It’s really disgusting.”

“Then at least try to hide it! What can I do when it’s so obvious!”

“You don’t have a shred of consideration. Yes, yes, yes. You’re really good.”

As I took a step forward, laughing at Arthur who was clenching his fists, I saw a face I had seen somewhere before.

A man wearing a fedora that completely covered his eyes bowed his head to me formally.

“Nice to meet you. Daughter of the Great Lord. I am the God who governs secrets.”

“I know. Himyor. My name is Lucy Allen.”

“The noble light knows my name. It is truly an honor.”

Himyor’s voice trembled as if he was about to cry at any moment, but there was not the slightest change in his expression.

It’s exactly like the description in the game. The voice is honest, but the expression is hidden by a gray mask.

“Are you coming to the ball today?”

“The pervert prince here brought me here. I don’t even know what kind of place he is.”

“Then, Prince Soladin, would you please give me the opportunity to explain?”

“I would be honored if you told me.”

After clearing his throat by coughing once, Himyor began to explain in a tone that clearly showed his excitement.

“This is a secret cult that I created. Everyone’s identity is a secret. Even if you want to find out, you can’t find out. It’s just a place where you can laugh and have fun participating in the cult as a human being.”

“Will my identity be hidden too?”

“Of course. I promise it on the strength of my position as a god.”

He explains that the town itself is an area covered in secret powers.

In this place, no matter how much you observe others, you can’t tell who they are, and even if you go outside and meet them, you can’t find anything in common.

“At first, everyone is puzzled, but once they go inside, they all understand.”

“It’s amazing. But I have a question. Why did the secret god create a place like this?”

The God of Secrets is a being with great power among the many gods. Secrets are something that cannot be separated from human life.

So, there is no need to work desperately to make yourself known like other lesser gods.

But is there a reason to create a place like this and make yourself known?

“This is a secret. People tend to be more open-mouthed when they know their secrets are kept.”

I was amazed to hear that after creating this place, I was able to obtain more secrets.

“I’m only speaking to the noble light?”

“Oh, Lord Ruel. If you keep doing that, I might expose your hidden secrets.”

In a word, Himyor, who had covered his grandfather’s mouth, held out two masks to us with an expressionless face.

“Okay. Hope you have a good time.”

The moment I put on the mask he gave me, the air around me turned cold.

No. It’s not that the air around me has changed, it’s that the warmth I naturally exude has disappeared.

– what!?

-What happened to Lucy!

– Lucy!

As the fairies, startled by my change, appeared, the God of Secrets lifted his index finger and put it to his lips.

“Everyone. Shhh. This is not the place to make a fuss.”

– What are you saying?

– Oh my! I only listen to Lucy!

– Don’t wear that mask, Lucy!

“Oh, sorry. Noble Light. Excuse me for a moment.”

When Hymour snapped his fingers, the fairies’ forms disappeared.

“What did you do!?”

“I sent it back to where it came from according to the old fairy contract. I’m sure you’re talking to the fairy queen by now. Don’t worry. I’ll give it back to you when you leave.”

I was at a loss for words when he said he would swear his secret.

From my perspective, Himyor helped me there too. If the fairies had been there, I wouldn’t have been able to get in there.

“Ah. Right. Sir Ruel knows too, right?”

“The noble knight’s promise is trustworthy.”

“This is really amazing. No one will recognize me.”

I was feeling awkward about the slight sensation on my head disappearing, and then I turned my head when I heard a voice next to me.

It was Arthur standing there. It was Arthur. It had to be Arthur. But I didn’t know it was Arthur.

It’s as if the function of cognition itself has lost its flavor.

Is this really Arthur?

Wow. This mask really works.

If you wear this and go into that town, you won’t know who’s who.

It also makes sense why your mouth feels lighter.

Because if you are in a situation where complete anonymity is guaranteed, you can say whatever you want.

I know very well. I, not Lucy, have felt a great deal of anonymity in communities.

Mama would love this too. She used to have a blast here back in the community days.

“Your Majesty, don’t you know who I am?”

“Not at all. I don’t know anything other than the fact that she’s a girl. I feel like my brain is broken.”

“Me too. I think it’ll feel similar when you go inside.”

No one knows me. No one knows my past, present, or future.

Something that was normal when wearing an anonymous mask on the Internet, but something that could not happen in the world of fantasy.

It has now become a reality.

For some reason, the corners of his lips slightly went up.

It’s not exactly like the Internet. Typing on a keyboard on the other side of a monitor or smartphone is completely different from having a conversation in real life.

But if complete anonymity were guaranteed, there would be no shortage of ways to mess around.

“Hehehe.”

While humming, I listened to Himyor explain the basic rules.

What happens within the village does not go outside.

A certain level of verbal fighting is acceptable, but physical fighting is not permitted.

Intentional induction of conversation to find out the other person’s identity is not permitted.

Any action that induces the other party to break the rules is also not permitted.

If you violate the above, the God of Secrets will directly intervene and expose important secrets.

There were many other minor details, but this was the most important part.

“Do you have any additional questions?”

“Do I have a secret too?”

“Of course it exists.”

“Really? I have one too.”

The weakness note given by the God of History is still in my inventory.

Naturally, some of them are held by the secret god.

I won’t reveal the details to respect the individual’s privacy, but it’s clear that the content is somewhat ugly and dirty.

“…I’ll let you have a look.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Satisfied with the sight of Himyor with his mask broken and his lips trembling, I entered the village with Arthur.

Inside the rural village, which could be found anywhere, there were people wearing expensive clothes that were hard to find even in aristocratic societies.