Is It Bad That the Main Character’s a Roleplayer? - Chapter 19

◈Episode 19 The Price of Ignorance (5)

Sometimes while playing a game, you can see maps or places where NPCs and monsters exist at the same time.

The ‘ghetto’ in the original ‘Legend of Heroes’ was also such a place. A pickpocket NPC and a humanoid monster named Pickpocket coexisted. There are too few monsters to call it a hunting ground, and there are too many first-attacking mobs to consider it a safe zone.

But if you ask why I’m bringing this up now.

“Ahh!”

“Courage is imaginary.”

Unlike the original, I wanted to say that in Rimepan, nothing floats above the head, so it’s hard to tell whether it’s a mob or an NPC. Jeeeeeenjang.

I approached it thinking it was an NPC and almost got pickpocketed.

“There is something that God has forbidden. “One of them is theft.”

Separately, I understand why the Inquisitor had a somewhat nervous… or rather a sour expression on his face the entire time he was heading to the slums.

Our jam-packed kimchi dumplings must have been somewhat uncomfortable having to meet those who violated God’s word.

“Fucking unlucky….”

The person who had put his hand in my waist and was kicked by his foot and was twisted cursed. The Inquisitor’s expression turned cold and he grabbed his mace.

“He who steals must cut his wrist.”

“You can stop there, Inquisitor.”

“yes?”

“It is not a bad thing to keep doctrine and rules, but it should not be done at all times.”

“But that’s a sinner.”

“Isn’t mercy sometimes necessary?”

“…You mean mercy?”

“Yes, mercy.”

“….”

Despite the Archmage’s words, the Inquisitor did not seem to understand much. Her honesty seems to be slowly coming through clearly through her lack of understanding.

Well, it doesn’t matter because it’s not something I take care of.

“There is a rumor that pickpocketing has decreased recently. Is this true?”

Seeing as he tried to pickpocket me, I thought he would be classified as a mobster, but I tried to talk to him just in case. This is because it was judged that, unlike the original work, which was concluded as a monster, it may have been promoted to the level of a hostile NPC. Or this could also be a story – if the player catches it, it leads to interrogation, and if the player misses, it leads to a chase?

If not everything, just handle it according to the situation.

“What are you saying?”

But why are you being so uncooperative?

“I don’t ask twice.”

Judging from what the Inquisitor was trying to do, it seems that people who steal here are subject to amputation of their wrists, so the information obtained must be put to good use.

I pulled out my longsword without hesitation. The Archmage who had been gently soothing and admonishing the Inquisitor from behind was the flagship, but it was none of his business.

“Your wrist or your answer?”

He gently stepped on the pickpocket’s chest and moved the tip of the sword that was pointed at the neck to his wrist.

The sunlight that was just coming up vividly expressed the movement of the uvula.

“Hi! I don’t know! It is true that the territory has expanded, but…!”

“Tell me exactly. “Why did it become so spacious?”

“A few pickpockets who were in charge of the area have vacated the area. That’s why.”

“Whereabouts.”

“I don’t know that. In the first place, hiding one or two people on this floor is an everyday occurrence!”

「❖ An ominous omen

∎ Talking to a pickpocket 1 / ?

∎ Talking to a snail 0 / ?」

There’s so much I don’t know. The moment I made that decision, the count went up by one.

Since the number of people to ask is not set, it seems like all you have to do is talk to a few people and get the information you want.

Additionally, you can get information from people you don’t even know are mobs or hostile NPCs.

“Is there no one who knows more details than you?”

Ah, but I have to ask this.

“Wow, if you’re a king, you might know. “All the pickpockets in this area give money to him.”

“location.”

“What what?”

“location.”

Ugh. You can ask this too, right? Aside from the fact that he doesn’t give the answer he wants, the interrogation is fun.

I experienced the thrill of interrogating people with a cold voice according to the concept. In other games, I could only inquire using the given options, but here I could do whatever I wanted, which was a unique and fun point.

Of course, I don’t feel confident that I asked more accurately than the keywords specified.

“If you tell me that, I’ll die!”

“Then I will cut your wrists.”

“Fuck!”

The pickpocket NPC heaved his body as if trying to resist, but my foot pressed against his chest was stronger.

And since the pleasure of interrogating NPCs while intoxicated with the concept was greater than the guilt of cutting someone else’s wrist, I pointed the blade at my wrist without hesitation.

Unlike the tongue, cutting off the wrist was not particularly objectionable—it was something that happened frequently while catching monsters—and this was even more so.

“Fuck, damn, damn…”

I wonder if the cut will cut me with a single blade. But I think the blade will get more damaged if you scratch the floor.

It would be better to stab him. I raised the arm holding the sword above my head. The intention was to cut off the center of the wrist in one go.

“You can just say what you want to say!”

And just as I was about to lower my blade, the NPC closed his eyes and finally shouted surrender.

Sigh!

I hit the floor right next to my wrist.

“Guide me.”

“I was wondering if I could make some money since the fucking morning…”

So who chose me as the opening guest?

Sreung.

Anyway, the promise was accepted. I sheathed my longsword and put my feet away. Of course, I didn’t relax my body so I could catch it if it ran away.

“He is a thief.”

The Inquisitor who was watching this could not bear it and added one word.

“It’s none of my business.”

Of course, it wasn’t a very important issue to me. It’s shameful that they tried to steal my things, but wouldn’t the priority (in terms of concept) be finding the tail of the devil that might be there?

“And unless you want to test how fast my sword can pierce you, you’d better not think nonsense.”

However, that doesn’t mean that all the embarrassment was alleviated. I warned the pickpocket.

“I… I understand.”

I stabbed it just in case, but did I really think it would jump? I narrowed my eyes as I looked at the pickpocket who was just getting up and flinching.

From the looks of it, if you go into that alley, you’ll ignore the warning and run out again. There’s nothing more I can do here. Oh, tracking magic?

But it’s a bit awkward for me to ask first. I still have to go in and out a little more. Just like a group of people walking down the street together.

“Arch Mage. “How about casting that spell?”

“…You mean tracking magic?”

“yes. “You could run away, right?”

After catching the devil contractor, I thought about tracking him down with the skill points I hadn’t taken yet.

But in the meantime, the Inquisitor did it. Of course, it’s not like he read my mind, it’s just that I don’t like pickpockets, so it seems like he made the condition.

Either that or it was just placed because it was a story.

“what?”

“…I don’t know if this is right.”

At the sound of tracking magic, the NPC jumped and the Archmage let out a light breath.

“I cast a tracking spell. Even if you run away, we’ll be able to catch you.”

But in the end, he didn’t refuse.

Her staff waved once and the pickpocket NPC was branded. I panicked and tried to erase it, but there was no way the magic could be erased with physical force.

“Go ahead.”

“C…ang.”

* * *

“Why are you crawling back again?”

Once the sure shackles of magic were fastened, the pickpocket led the way to Wang Gae with a resigned look.

“What are you!”

The NPC, who had a stout body that was uncharacteristic of a thief, got up from his seat in horror. In terms of his physique, the food around him, and the fact that he was a manager, he seemed like he was doing the right thing.

“What on earth did you bring—.”

“It will depend on what answer you give.”

“Ugh.”

Well, it wasn’t my concern how much he exploited, so I just turned it off. Instead, he kicked his bulging stomach. That’s why he lifted the dagger from the table.

“It doesn’t seem like a very good way to say hello.”

“If you are dissatisfied with my ways, turn around and deal with it your own way.”

The Archmage seems to be starting to feel skeptical about the humanity of his companions. But my concept was like this from the beginning. Haha. The concept is hilarious.

“Even if the words are short, the sentences can be long.”

I kicked away the hand of the fallen man, took away the dagger, and took out the knife that was in my arms.

Combined with the experience of turning the Balisong and the correction, even the fixed knife turned smoothly in my fingers.

“What are you asking?”

How is it that a person called a leader is less courageous than a person who is under his control?

Still, if you scare them like that, it’s easier to interview them. I slowly and peacefully asked him what I wanted to ask him.

The results that came out of this were poor, but if there was something to be gained, there was something to be gained.

“What is it that you ask me? The heretic newspaper officer knows better about this. “He took them to the temple for the purpose of enlightenment.”

“…What did you say just now?”

Even if the quality is poor, it will be because at least we have a direction to move forward.

“Swear to God! “Are you sure they were taken from the temple?”

The Inquisitor who had suddenly intervened seemed angry. I felt a little uncomfortable because my concept’s way of speaking and temperament overlapped, but I felt better when I remembered that it was limited to criminals.

“Yes yes… I can swear. “There is not a single lie in what I said.”

“How long?”

“I started to understand it properly about a month ago… I guess it happened even before that.”

“…It’s blasphemous!”

And the Inquisitor spat out a fireball.

“The reformation of criminals is only possible during the period permitted by the Great Temple! “But you arbitrarily volunteer to educate yourself when it’s not even that kind of period!”

…That was a very annoying reason. I thought there was something really suspicious going on.

“…Isn’t that the important part?”

“Then is there anything more important than this?!”

I left behind the white lion—mage—and the inquisitor, who had somehow become whiter, and looked down at Wang Kai.

“They’ve been dragging people away for a month now.”

“Yes yes.”

“Did you drag a lot of people along when you dragged them?”

“No… according to the kids, they only quietly dragged away one or two people.”

Wang Gae glanced at me as he said that.

“They do it quietly and secretly, just like human traffickers take people away. Oh, I’m not saying that actually happened. How could they do something like that in a temple? It’s just a metaphor…”

Wow. At this point, even if I don’t remember writing the original work, I’ll miss it. I’m starting to feel solemn at how obvious the plot is. It doesn’t matter because the game system is so fun.

“What now?”

“Is dragging people away a regular occurrence?”

Before the Inquisitor could say something with an angry face, a stern voice struck first. It was an Archmage with a serious face.

“Yes yes. Two or three times a week, at certain times, the Inquisitor walks around. So, we have restricted anyone from going out during that time.”

The white lion, which walks on two legs and is over 2 meters tall, has a creepy feel even if its expression is slightly stiff. The NPC trembled and affirmed. The Archmage’s face immediately became fierce.

“Could it be… a sacrifice to the devil…?”

She seems to be able to picture the worst-case scenario just from this testimony. Well, it’s the same for me too.

“What does that mean? “It’s a sacrifice!”

“…it’s just a hypothesis. But…”

“There is no way in the church that would do that!”

Anyway,

I plunged the dagger I was still holding into the holder in my chest.

“There’s nothing more useless than saying it can’t happen.”

“…!”

Please note that these words are not necessarily a concept, but rather come from my life experience. There is nothing I can say that is more unbelievable than saying that it can’t be like that.

Still, I had to stick to the concept, so I massaged my right arm and muttered. The gasping sound heard from behind was of a very satisfying kind.

“Does anyone know where they were taken?”

“I don’t know…”

This was the answer I received when I asked while possessed by the ice. I really wonder what this guy knows. Well, all quests are like this.

“I know myself!”

At that time, someone shouted from behind. It was a pickpocket who guided us here.

I thought they would have taken it out right away, but it’s a bit surprising that they waited until now. After all, it’s a story, right?

“It’s not exactly what I know, but I know someone who might know, but seeing as the devil has come out, this is important, right?”

The guy who received attention stuttered for a moment, but spoke steadily. Although my first impression was that he was a mess, he was a guy I really liked.

Creak, creak.

I turned my back on Wang Gae and walked towards him. Every time, the old wooden floor made a strange sound, but it created a cozy atmosphere.

The guy who had the courage to shout took a step back and swallowed his saliva.

“What is it?”

Did you set the tone too much? But that’s the ‘concept’.

“Guide me.”

“…Follow me.”

I followed him. The twisted alley welcomed me again.

“Let’s go, Inquisitor.”

“…yes.”

Of course the Archmage and Inquisitor followed me.

* * *

“The place I’m taking you to is the roughest back alley here.”

Did I pass by a couple of alleys? A pickpocket NPC spoke to me. It was an unexpected action, so I almost missed it.

“So… be careful not to take out the knife there. Because people there are very sensitive. Especially that Heretic Questioner! “I really hate temple people, so be sure to warn them.”

Thank you for the advice, but I don’t think the latter part should be told to me. Still, it seems like the Archmage heard it, so it seems okay.

“I’m not a fan of thieves either.”

“Inquisitor.”

Look at me.

“Don’t put me in danger by doing something stupid! okay? “I’m just trying to help because it seems important to everyone!”

More than that, now that I look at this pickpocket, I think he has a bit of tsundere talent. It reminds me of my cousin, who was cute even though he ate cheap food.

“Even if things go badly, I will send you back alive, so don’t complain and guide me.”

“You seem to be bragging about your skills, but unless you become a knight, you won’t be able to survive, right?”

Is that so? But it just so happens that I am a former driver.

I furrowed my brows as I watched the pickpocket begin to chatter about how he could hold it together. To be honest, I want to keep chatting, but my concept is that I don’t like noise. If you express your feelings like this, you won’t get upset.

Rustle.

“You have to be careful from here on out. Just in case, don’t take out the knife…”

But the moment I entered the path he showed me, I reflexively put my hand on the hilt of the knife.

“A hostile target exists within a 20m radius.”

“What the fuck are you doing! “Don’t pull out your sword!”

“If you don’t want me to pull this, tell me. “Put away the knives you guys have first.”

It’s a good thing I raised my search skills a notch. The increased radius is not only the radius, but the location of the closest target is also indicated by a marker visible only to me.

“what?”

“Come out.”

I looked at each target, counting the clearly visible target and the number of breathing sounds that could be heard faintly if I listened.

“…is it here?”

It seems that Archmages and Inquisitors can’t hear that breathing sound.

But even if you’re an Inquisitor with a heal tank, isn’t an Archmage supposed to be good at Sappel? It’s a job, but it’s from the Shagi race. Don’t you need better ears?

“Do you want me to go?”

And even though I paid attention to them, why don’t they come out?

“…after.”

Just as I was about to put my hand in my arms, thinking about firing a dagger, someone stood up from the roof of the shack.

The closest hostile object to me was a man with dark green cat ears sticking out from behind a hood.

Considering that he has animal ears but has human facial features, his race is probably the ‘Cuerty’ tribe. If it was Shaggy, Ha Gwan would also have been an animal type.

“When have I ever heard of a guy like you?”

But if that shape seems familiar, it might just be because of my mood.

“Two colored hair. “Gauntlet worn on only one arm. Right eye covered.”

Probably not.

It is not common for a thief to be a member of the Qureity tribe, with dark green fur and an unkempt beard sticking out of his chin.

Even more so if you add a rough tone.

“You’re a demon knight, right?”

There is a high probability that this is a representative character of the thief class.