LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 100 - The Mastermind
< Chapter 100: The Mastermind >
According to the strategy guide, it was supposed to be time for the reward room to appear.
But what was waiting for me wasn’t a reward room but a boss room.
Wow, this guy?
Has it come to this, confusing the reward room and the boss room because they start with the same initial consonants?
Impossible.
Even if they start with the same initial consonants, I wouldn’t confuse those two.
So, I thought once again, there must have been a disconnect between this damned game and reality.
However.
An inexplicable sense of unease persistently clung to my ankles.
Soon, I realized.
The strategy guide I had read was a troll guide.
The trigger was the boss monster waiting for us in the boss room.
The Avatar of Gluttony.
How could I not recognize this creature?
[Title: Unmasked Mizu .JPG]
Content: [Photo]
This quality assurance means you can rest assured, Miss Mizu!
[Ah f*ck]
[Eating and this sh*t]
[Wow, really looks like sh*t for real]
[Looks like monjayaki that’s been swallowed and vomited out about ten times, then mixed up like dough, f*ck]
[Quality assurance. Thank you.]
[Quality assurance form is crazy]
In the final phase, it boldly took its place in the ‘Galju Line’ with its shocking visual reveal.
Because the jerks kept trolling with images of this creature’s final phase form whenever the cooldown was up, anyone in the community couldn’t help but know about this creature, even if they tried to ignore it.
Its nickname, which comes from its shocking visual of overflowing pancake batter in the final phase, is the Quality Assurance.
The most famous material related to this Quality Assurance was, of course, that damned strategy video.
[Aaaah f*ck LOL]
[Quality Assurance overflowing LOL]
[Who the f*ck flushed the toilet with paper in it!!!!!!!!!]
Why is it called Quality Assurance?
The reason is revealed in the final phase of combat.
As a community user myself, I’ve watched that strategy video multiple times to enjoy the basic knowledge.
Based on that, I recall the memory.
The beginning of the strategy video.
The player was approaching a stone door located at the deepest part of the dungeon, themed around a forest.
At a certain proximity, they are forcibly summoned to the cave where Quality Assurance resides.
The situation was the same for me and my party.
It was different from the disconnection between reality and the game that I had experienced so far.
Moreover, things that were not visible, being engrossed in quest clearances and dungeon strategies, start to become visible belatedly.
[Nickname: SoWhatAreYouGonnaDoAboutIt]
If I remember correctly, that was the nickname of the strategy guide’s author.
Recalling the nickname, the accompanying unpleasantly splitting negative image suggests that he might have been quite a scumbag.
All these factors combined to suggest several possibilities.
Ultimately, I concluded that the strategy guide I had read was a troll guide that maliciously exploited the dungeon’s structure.
-This is dizzying…
It felt like I had been hit in the head.
Suddenly, I remembered a lecture that Hallow had given.
The method of handling and verifying information.
After this ordeal, the first thing I should do seems to be to gather and sift through the information I have.
In fact, this was something I had thought about even before this incident occurred.
My memory is strange.
Having experienced something as absurd as game possession, I hadn’t taken it seriously, but there was a need to address it clearly at least once.
My memory is freakishly weird.
The information from communities and wikis that comes to mind is too vivid.
I can assure you.
Showing this level of performance in a brain function-related area would have been impossible with my original hardware, even if I were to die and come back to life.
It seems reasonable to assume that my previously poor memory has transformed into an extraordinary one due to some trait.
Let’s think about it.
The memory that can accurately recall long strategy articles and the nicknames of the authors I glanced at.
If I were to search my brain with this memory-
That is, if I were to sift through the communities and wikis existing in my memory, might I discover information I wasn’t even aware of?
Wouldn’t I begin to grasp what else I need to proactively do, besides completing quests to ensure a happy ending in this world?
Given the situation, I felt a strong urge to tackle tasks I had been postponing.
After this is over, I must definitely sit down with a notebook and organize the information.
Anyway, returning to our Quality Assurance story.
For now.
This encounter with Quality Assurance wasn’t entirely bad for me.
As far as I know, Quality Assurance’s level was supposed to be 75-
In the game, characters start to dramatically grow stronger after reaching level 70.
You undergo an awakening at level 60, but you only start to truly reap the benefits of that awakening after level 70.
Therefore, the battle with Quality Assurance was my first fight against a strong opponent by my standards.
What level of power the real powerhouses of this world possess, and how to counter that power.
I was able to acquire a significant amount of meaningful data from what I personally experienced.
And Quality Assurance was one of the named boss monsters that must be defeated in this game.
Having killed such a creature in advance, the likelihood of this world turning into a disaster has been reduced accordingly.
-Oh, not bad?
Considering just those factors, the unexpected encounter with Quality Assurance could be seen as beneficial to me.
But what if I consider other things as well?
I reflected on the circumstances of this incident.
1. I approached Miss Phibian first and activated a dormant artifact she was unaware of.
2. I did not dissuade Miss Phibian when she wanted to join the dungeon raid.
3. I acted as if I knew everything about the dungeon.
4. Thus, I ended up guiding the party to the location of Quality Assurance.
-Oh, am I screwed?
Even my mom would see that I’m the villain, the mastermind behind all this.
No one’s hurt, so it’s okay~
She was also tricked by the strategy post, so she’s a victim~
No one would say that for me.
Miss Phibian Leolalian, a lady of the Leolalian noble family, almost faced danger due to being caught up in the scheme of an obscure commoner.
The Leolalians, the academy, and even the order would join forces to interrogate me.
I can guarantee it.
This incident.
If I can’t manage this, I’d have to delete my main character.
Leaving behind the academy life filled with dreams, hope, youth, and romance.
I’d have to live moving from shadow to shadow, becoming the true leader of Harashin or Harasho or whatever it’s called.
I don’t want that.
I’m scared.
How hard I worked for that pseudo-nobility title.
I couldn’t just give up like this.
It was while pondering how to resolve this situation that it happened.
“Did you orchestrate all of this?”
Lagadisal magic.
Egonocounter.
Daltasian, who greeted me in a completely young and MZ (Millennial and Gen Z) manner, muttered meaningfully while looking at me.
All of this was orchestrated by me?
So, I planned it?
‘How did you know, you bastard.’
I was feeling the cold sweat run down inside the mask when-
‘Wait?’
Hold on.
Daltasian said “you.”
And that “you” refers to “Right Arm,” not “Ceylon.”
‘Oh…’
It seems my trait influenced not just my memory but also my intelligence.
An ingenious solution came to mind, one that seemed too clever for my poor brain to have thought up on its own.
Namely, shifting the blame.
The target?
Right Arm.
My reputation as Ceylon is as delicate as a white T-shirt, becoming impossible to wear the moment kimchi soup splashes on it.
But Right Arm?
He didn’t care about such things.
He’s inherently a dark mage and an assassin.
He’s like a rag.
A little splash of kimchi soup, I mean, shifting the blame for this incident onto him wouldn’t be a problem.
‘This is it.’
Deciding this was the best course of action, I immediately set about implementing my ingenious plan.
Nod.
I nodded in response to Daltasian’s question if I had orchestrated all this.
Yes.
It was all Right Arm’s doing.
So, spare Ceylon.
“Indeed…!”
But really, Daltasian.
That’s all well and good, but what’s with your eyes?
Why are they sparkling?
Were you always such a character?
‘Indeed, what indeed.’
Suddenly, I became curious.
How does he view me—or Right Arm—to the point that he would say “Indeed, it’s Right Arm” in this situation?
I decided not to delve too deeply into it because it was too daunting to consider.
“Harashin, your intentions are clear to me.”
“Harashin…!?”
“Did you say Harashin!?”
Uh-oh-
Why are you calling me that?
‘Don’t you need to put a “true” in front? Others might get the wrong idea.’
When Daltasian called me Harashin, the suspicion in the eyes of those looking at me deepened.
Just as I was about to clarify the misunderstanding.
Daltasian, who was facing me, turned to look at the others.
“Do not be afraid, everyone. This person is not our enemy. This person is the true Harashin, the shadow that sustains the light, the guardian.”
Daltasian began a solemn lecture on the history of the true Harashin with a serious face.
‘That’s a bit different from what I know?’
Without my knowledge, the true Harashin had become not only the nemesis of all darkness but also the guardian of all lights.
After finishing the lecture, Daltasian said,
“And. Our encounter with this formidable monster today was all arranged by Harashin.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Miss Phibian stepped forward to ask.
Indeed, our Miss Phibian.
She asked the question I wanted to ask on my behalf.
“We, as mere specks of light, were used to lure out the deep darkness. And he devoured that darkness.”
“That means-…”
Miss Phibian pondered Daltasian’s words for a moment.
Then, with a look of realization, she glared.
Not at Daltasian, but at me.
At Right Arm.
“Was it you? Did you leak the information about this necklace to Ceylon?”
Miss Phibian held up the necklace around her neck as she spoke.
That expression.
That voice.
It was assertive, like an interrogation.
However, there was an unmistakable tremble in it, not fully concealed.
Despite Daltasian’s active defense and support, Miss Phibian was still afraid of Right Arm.
Naturally.
Claiming to be the leader of a group known as the true nemesis of darkness and the true Harashin.
And being an assassin and a dark mage at that.
Unless one was saved from the brink of death like Daltasian, it was natural to be wary.
It was evident not just in Miss Phibian but also in the others.
Not only the Square Shield party, including Hallow, but also Daltasian’s party members looked at me with fear and suspicion.
Amidst this, only Miss Phibian boldly expressed her hostility towards Right Arm.
I mulled over Miss Phibian ‘s question.
-Was it you? Did you leak the information about this necklace to Ceylon?
Perhaps.
After hearing Daltasian’s story, Miss Phibian might have thought that I was played by Right Arm.
Right Arm intentionally leaked information to me.
And I played right into Right Arm’s intentions by acquiring that information.
Agreeing to Daltasian’s question if I had orchestrated all this was a natural conclusion at that point.
It was also the situation I had hoped for.
I nodded in response to Miss Phibian ‘s question.
“This is the worst.”
At that, the hostility evident in Miss Phibian ‘s expression deepened.
“Using an ignorant man as bait to lure out enemies. Is that something a guardian of the light should do? Aren’t you ashamed? True Harashin, nemesis of darkness, guardian of the light. Say whatever you want for your own good. But-”
Miss Phibian pointed at me and said,
“If you ever try to use me and my people like this again— you better be prepared. Do you understand?”
Miss Phibian ‘s strong brown eyes locked onto the slits of my mask.
“…”
But as I returned her gaze, those strong eyes lost their resolve.
Just before Miss Phibian looked away,
“I’m sorry.”
I said to Miss Phibian.
I meant to say I understand, but the words “I’m sorry” came out instead.
I shifted all the blame onto Right Arm for everything I did.
It was indeed the situation I had intended, but I felt a considerable bitterness about it.
Was it because of the guilt for deceiving Miss Phibian?
I reprimanded myself once again for my rashness.
My arrogance in thinking I knew everything almost put others in danger.
In the end, no one was hurt.
Isn’t that all that matters?
That’s no excuse.
It shouldn’t be excused that way.
What if the enemies lying in wait for us here were higher beings than the Devourer?
What if the dark mages who summoned that creature, calling it “mother,” were here with us?
Someone in the group could have been injured.
In the worst case, there could have been fatalities.
Among those who came here because I activated that artifact.
It was an incident that must never happen again.
I made a vow right there and then.
Never again will I involve others in uncertain matters.
“There won’t be a next time.”
Those words slipped out without me realizing.
“…!”
At that, Miss Phibian was taken aback and turned her gaze back to me.
After looking at me quietly for a while-
She then looked around.
After a moment,
Miss Phibian tilted her head and asked,
“Ceylon…?”