novelraw Chapter 93 : The Omniscient Creator's Point of View?
Chapter 93 : The Omniscient Creator's Point of View?
The Omniscient Creator's Point of View?
The person looking for us.
Miriam is now saying that they will tell me what I want to know.
But there's something a bit odd. If it's the "First Finger," that means we're talking about the highest-ranking among the "Disguisers."
For Miriam, of all people, to add an honorific to "that person"—just how important are they?
Could it be... a noble?
No, probably not.
"U-um, should we talk somewhere else? There are too many eyes on us here."
That's what I was thinking, too. I don't really want to hang around with the "Disguisers" for too long anyway.
Besides, this is just the docks. No matter how much they clean, it doesn't exactly feel sanitary.
But—
"If you want to talk, they can come here in person."
Barkal abruptly interrupted. He'd said exactly what I wanted to.
"Barkal is right,"
I added.
If you want to talk so much, shouldn't you come to us?
"Well..."
Miriam trailed off.
"They're not able to walk right now..."
"Are they lame? Leave it to me! I know how to make the lame walk!"
Barkal pounded his chest and boasted confidently. Looks like he means to suggest his 'barbarian treatment method' again.
What else could it be? Probably just beating them until they walk.
"Is it nearby?"
I asked Miriam. Even with a wagon, if it's too far away, people naturally won't want to go.
"Yes."
Thankfully, it seems to be close.
"I will guide you there, then."
* * *
Miriam led us to a place a little distance from the docks: a small city named "Armandie."
It seemed to have so few residents that even I, who had played 《Dungeon God》, was hearing the name for the first time. In fact, it wouldn't be surprising if it disappeared any time.
"There's one thing I'd like to ask."
Right before entering the village called "Armandie,"
Miriam questioned me.
"You were the one who used the classical code, correct?"
Classical code?
"I don't know what you mean,"
I replied.
I really had no idea what this "classical code" she mentioned was about.
When I shook my head, miriam looked carefully at Serena and Barkal in turn.
They didn't seem to know what a "classical code" was either.
Miriam turned back to me.
"The Disguiser's tattoo reacts to passcodes."
Passcodes?
If that's it, I do have a memory about that.
Not long ago, when I played the trick with "Finger" on the Disguiser named "Ebel,"
I used a passcode.
As I reacted, miriam nodded as if she was convinced.
"That's enough. My grandmother will tell you the rest."
With that, miriam signaled us to follow and started leading the way.
As dawn began to break, with the mist still lingering, she guided us down a narrow forest path to an old, small shack.
At first glance, the weathered wooden walls and the roof covered in ivy looked ancient, but as we got closer, I realized it was surprisingly well-kept.
"She's inside."
Miriam pointed at the shack.
Inside here...
Someone who knows the whereabouts of the item left by the "No Logout" adventurer and Player.
"... Who will go inside?"
Miriam, having taken off her mask, looked directly at me, letting the words trail off.
"How can only our comrade go in by himself, not knowing what might be in there!"
Barkal's threat made Miriam's eyes fill with fear.
She must have remembered what happened at the training grounds.
"In any case, it's not a big shack,"
I said, stopping Barkal from entering.
"Whatever happens, I'll be able to handle it myself."
"Hm."
Barkal nodded.
"S-Still, just in case there's any danger, I'll rush in immediately!"
Serena stretched, clenching and unclenching her fists. I acknowledged her concern with a nod and opened the shack door.
As soon as the door opened, a gentle scent of wood welcomed me.
Inside was astonishingly tidy. The floor was spotless, and a small table held neatly folded towels and herbs.
By the window, there was a bed, and on it lay a frail old woman.
"Grandmother, I've come."
When Miriam addressed the old woman, she slowly turned her head to look at us.
The old woman's gaze was faded, but it carried the depth of years and a gentle warmth.
With such an old woman, even Barkal—no, never mind.
"Is it him?" the old woman asked, her voice almost a whisper.
"Yes, he's the one who used the classical code,"
Miriam answered.
"Ah."
The old woman looked at me, slowly stretching out her trembling hand.
Her voice wavered faintly, but deep emotion lay within.
"Are you the one who said you wanted to see me?"
The old woman nodded.
"I wanted to see you as well."
Because there were things I wanted to ask.
"Do you know of the adventurer party called 'No Logout' from 300 years ago?"
The old woman nodded.
"You've come for that item, haven't you?"
She knew exactly what I wanted.
"You're sure you have it in your possession?"
"Our family has kept it safe for 300 years."
For 300 years...
That matches the period when "No Logout" was active.
"It's so we could pass it on to you, ancestor."
The old woman gestured to Miriam with hands like dry twigs, and she nodded, walking toward the hearth.
She reached past a small flame to the spot near the chimney, then pulled out something wrapped in cloth.
Miriam handed it to me. Naturally, I undid the wrapping.
Inside was a piece of pure white metal. What is this?
I looked at the old woman in puzzlement, but she only shook her head.
"We don't know the details either. We never touched it after 'No Logout' entrusted it to us," she said.
"Entrusted it?"
I tilted my head. After all, the books at the "Adventurer's Guild" said the group called "Disguisers" stole it.
"We did steal it... but actually, it was at 'No Logout's' request."
They asked them to steal it? Why?
With that thought, I looked at the old woman. Was the Adventurer's Guild cooking up something shady, and "No Logout" had them steal it because they figured it out?
"When 'No Logout' retired..."
I listened closely to the old woman's story.
"They donated the item in exchange for a pension."
Hearing that, my mind started reeling.
So,
they exchanged this item for a pension, then asked the "Disguisers" to steal it back for them.
The "fragment" was too important to simply leave with the Adventurer's Guild, so they made that choice.
Wow.
I couldn't help but let out a sigh of admiration at their audacity.
"A pension, huh?"
"Yes."
I nodded to the old woman's answer.
"Preparing for old age is important."
* * *
Anyway, with the "fragment" finally in my hands, I was satisfied. Figuring out what it is can come later. With this fragment, I'll finally be able to fight back against the "dark knight"
I saw before.
"Old woman."
Just as I was about to leave the shack, I grew curious about one thing.
"What is this classical code?"
It sounded like they'd found me because of this code.
But I had no idea what it meant.
"The black blade is still unworn by rust."
The code that flowed from the old woman's lips was the very passphrase I'd used before with the Disguiser.
But why?
It matches the code.
After all, I'd created that code myself when developing the settings for the Disguisers. Of course, I couldn't forget it.
Wait.
Was I wrong after all?
"Was there something incorrect about it?"
I asked, curious—memory can play tricks sometimes.
"No, it is the exact code."
Contrary to my expectation, the old woman did not deny my words.
Then how did she immediately recognize me by that "code"?
"It was the first classical code ever used when the 'Disguiser' group was founded. Only the First Fingers, myself included, still remember it."
Ah.
Hearing that, I understood.
A secretive organization like the "Disguisers" is always at risk of having passcodes leaked.
So it's common sense for them to keep changing the code.
"Five hundred years ago, when the group called 'Disguisers' was first established, we used this very first code. Only the First Fingers, myself included, know it."
The old woman openly revealed that she herself was a First Finger.
Come to think of it, the role of First Finger is hereditary. In a way, you could say they're a kind of entrenched hierarchy within the Disguisers.
"It's the original code used in the Disguisers. If an outsider knows it, it's not hard to guess who it might be."
The old woman gripped my hand.
"Thank you, ancestor."
Her skin was hard and dry as a branch, but I could feel warmth within.
"If it weren't for you, we would simply have become wandering nomads lost to the desert."
I gazed at the old woman.
The "Disguiser" group first arose 500 years ago. I wanted to ask if a person could really live that long.
But I held back.
The longing in her eyes made it hard to refuse her gaze.
Besides, I did really help to found the Disguisers.
I submitted that entry in the contest, after all. That's why the group "Disguisers" was born.
So—
"There's no need for thanks. After all, you've helped me now, haven't you?"
"Ahhh..."
The old woman let out a sigh of relief, as if she'd been saved by my words.
With her sentimental gaze, I briefly fell silent.
In front of someone with feelings like hers...
I just couldn't bring myself to ask, "If you have any spare funds, could you help support me?"
The way "No Logout" did—
After all, preparing for old age is important.
I should go talk to Miriam.
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