Chapter 124

The red thread floated into the air.

[The portal of a Barrier Magician is being activated.]

[The portal's name has been designated.]

A black portal we could also click appeared. Once I clicked the black shimmer, a description popped up.

[Predator Tree Colony]

A gate to teleport to the Predator Tree Colony.

Entrance conditions:

The activator of the gate, and at least level 30.

One who has hunted a Predator Tree before, and at least level 30.

Only Players who have fulfilled 1) or 2) can enter.

The description didn't look all that special at a glance, but there was definitely something unique about it, a small detail an inexperienced eye could easily miss.

'This is…'

Encompassed in the text was a 'limited to Players only' condition, a condition Players really liked.

"Senia."

And that was because even Intermediate Administrators were restricted from entering this field. That was the System setting itself. So unless you invested a huge amount of Coins—I didn't know how much—or you enlisted the help of an extremely powerful Guardian of the same or higher grade as this setting, even a Streamer couldn't come inside.

"I see, it's a Players only field."

Senia's wings fluttered. Her face was as flat as ever, but there was the slightest trace of panic in her eyes. An amateur reaction.

'She's become pretty quick on the uptake.'

Both her skill and perceptiveness had increased. She seemed to have figured out what I intended to do, which told me she had come to a complete understanding of my Playstyle. I was a Player who would take one situation and suck everything there was to get from it, down to the very marrow. Knowing this, Senia threw out some words that laid the initial groundwork.

"Through my exclusive contract with you, I have offered Player Kim Hyukjin much support."

"Yeah, I know."

But I wasn't the only one who profited. Senia had also gained a great deal from exclusively streaming me.

"Why're you bringing this up all of a sudden? You know our relationship."

Senia's wings trembled again. Her eyes showed that she was very shaken.

Ahn Seohye hesitantly cut in. "Um… When should we go inside?"

"Hold on one sec."

Seohye snuck glances at Senia. I was used to that reaction. After all, Senia possessed a beauty that attracted every gaze in the room, regardless of gender.

'But beauty means nothing.'

We were business partners, and as a business partner, her 'beauty' didn't mean much to me. What was the most important thing in business? How much profit you could get from one another, of course.

"I think it would be best if you would temporarily delegate the filming to me."

Streamers couldn't enter, so wouldn't it be good to let me do the filming?

'She'll probably say she doesn't want that.'

I didn't know why. Even in the days before I regressed, when the world was far more familiar with new culture than now, no one knew why Streamers were so reluctant to concede their 'filming rights', even for a moment.

"Are you saying you will personally film what happens in the Predator Tree Colony?"

"Yeah. Wouldn't that be convenient and good for you, too?"

If I captured the footage for her, she could edit and direct it into new content.

"..."

Senia was silent for a while. As I expected, Senia, like other Streamers, was loath to transfer 'filming rights' to a Player.

"Only in the Predator Tree Colony."

"But…"

Why did they dislike the idea so much? Was it because the footage felt like content they didn't create themselves?

"Think in terms of efficiency, Senia. Don't let your emotions get in the way. You can't come in anyway. I can film and you can upload the footage."

"..."

I had already cracked the whip. Since she was facing something she didn't like, it was now time to dangle the carrot.

"For the sake of our harmonious partnership, I won't even make any requests this time. Think about it. This is what we both want. I'm doing volunteer work here, you know?"

Senia's wings quivered. For the first time in a while, I was able to read Senia's emotions.

State: Doubt / Distrust / Happy

Her emotions were so intense that Eye of Perception could pick them up. Normally, I couldn't see her state.

'She's doubtful and distrusting, but… even amidst those feelings, she's happy.'

This Streamer, she should just be happy if she was happy. How much of a bully did she see me as? I had to wonder if she'd lived her whole life being played for a fool.

Giving a freebie and laying the groundwork would make it easier to take advantage of Senia later at the appropriate moment. I made it sound like I was doing her a favor, but this wasn't a losing deal whatsoever for me. All I had to do was temporarily get the 'filming rights' and just record while Playing. Then, Senia would produce new content from the footage and relay it to the Guardians. That was, of course, a good thing for me, too. It was good for me, but what if I could make Senia feel that she owed me?

'That's the real profit.'

The groundwork was all laid out. In the end, I received the 'filming rights' from Senia.

[The 'Nameless Observer' is observing.]

[The 'Merchant of Venice' is impressed by your 'negotiation skills'.]

[The 'Whispering Devil' is having fun.]

[The 'Conductor of Sound' praises your 'broad vision'.]

[The 'White Hunter' is impressed.]

A full complement of five Guardians rushed to send me messages. To my amusement, the Conductor of Sound praised my 'broad vision', but the White Hunter was only impressed.

'They don't know what they should be impressed by, but they quickly sent a basic message because the Conductor of Sound praised me.'

From this, I could extrapolate another detail about the Guardian's disposition.

'The White Hunter isn't that interested in me drawing the big picture or predicting the future.'

It was just a short message, but it told me enough.

'But they don't want to lose to the Conductor of Sound.'

That was why they squeezed into the five slots.

'If I can make good use of this…'

Sung-gu shivered. "Dude, what kind of nasty thoughts are you cooking up now? Your face is scary. Why're you smiling all of a sudden?"

I was smiling without realizing it.

These Guardians who supported Italy's top two Players in my former life… would probably end up sponsoring me like crazy, and that was a future not far removed from the present.

We entered the Predator Tree Colony. Around us was a dense forest. The humidity was extremely high. Considerably cool air full of moisture hit us upon entry.

Seohye explained, "We're in a massive cave."

It was surprising that such a lush ecosystem had grown inside a cave, but it made sense considering that Predator Trees were fundamentally fond of dark places. It wasn't weird for this place to be set as a cave.

"Outside this cave is Charles' owner."

For now, I didn't see any Predator Trees, which was in line with what I saw on my map.

"I'll give you this."

Seohye passed us each a seed.

[Predator Tree Seed]

The seed of a Predator Tree. Will grow into a Predator Tree if the conditions are met.

"If you slot this seed and use it, you can avoid getting attacked by Predator Trees."

I didn't see anything about that in the description. I guessed there was an additional description visible only to Seohye.

I took the seed.

"In cases like this, it's typically…"

It was a little more effective to personally consume the item rather than use it in a slot. I brought the seed to my mouth.

"...more effective to chew and swallow it."

Crunch.

I brought my teeth down hard. The seed was extremely tough, but not so much that I couldn't chew it.

"Fuck! Gross. So disgusting. This seed smells like shit."

I also used a skill.

[Using the special skill Conductor's Song.]

[Conductor's Song is in effect.]

[Curing status abnormalities of party members at a low chance.]

[Increasing the crit chance by 3%.]

[Increasing the effect of 'Predator Tree Seed' by 20%.]

Seohye's eyes widened.

"Oh…" she mumbled to herself. "The Predator Trees have been turned completely neutral."

I wasn't able to hear that notice. The Predator Tree Seed's effect was amplified, but I didn't think it would turn the monsters 'completely neutral'.

I looked at Seohye's state.

State: Awe / Inspired / Motivated / Slight Fear

This girl was pretty full of drive.

"I'll guide you," she said, taking the lead.

'Ahn Seohye.'

Was the Ahn Seohye I was seeing right now truly good? Her disposition definitely had 'just' in it, but that endless darkness I saw with Eye of Perception made even me feel an emotion close to fear.

'I have to prepare for the worst.'

I couldn't completely cross out the possibility that Seohye pretended to be innocent and lured us here. As we followed Seohye's lead, I kept my guard up. We occasionally ran into groups of Predator Trees, but they really didn't attack us.

After walking for some time, I saw a light. The smell of the wind changed, going from the musty, damp smell of the cave to fresh air.

"We just need to go that way."

I kept a close eye on the terrain and the 'Map of the Predator Tree Colony' we obtained as we moved, engraving the layout into my head over and over again. I had to take into account all the variables and scenarios that might unfold.

A notice rang out.

[Leaving the cave.]

[Entering 'Tycon's Garden'.]

Tycon. That was the name Seohye had told us for Charles' owner.

'This huge place is a garden?'

As expected of someone who could keep a Twin-Headed Black Dog as a pet. To say it another way, this NPC—if it was an NPC—was set to be very capable.

'But they lost that Twin-Headed Black Dog.'

It was a little odd. How come the owner was unable to personally go and find his dog?

Sung-gu shook his head. "A garden? Looks like a regular forest." And then, he shuddered. "Ahh. This intense smell of wealth."

He went on to mumble something about disliking the smell of the middle and upper class and preferring the smell of ordinary folk. Having relaxed a little after leaving the Predator Tree Colony, Sung-gu muttered to himself as he walked with us.

I saw a mansion in the distance.

"Is that Tycon's house?"

"Yes. Tycon should be in the 2nd floor parlor. He's always there."

"Always?"

"Yes. Always."

We walked through the garden. The place directly connected to the Predator Tree Colony seemed like a large forest, but it was still quite garden-like in appearance. Like an expansive medieval garden, there were white sculptures here and there, a fountain was gushing water in the middle, and pink tulips were blooming all over the garden.

Other than a few neutral rabbit monsters, I didn't see any particularly dangerous monsters.

[Entering 'Tycon's Mansion'.]

We entered the 1st floor. There was red carpet on the ground, and stairs going up to the 2nd floor were visible from the entryway. As soon as we entered, we were greeted by two giant portraits hanging on the wall by the stairs.

"That person is Tycon… and next to him is Tycon's wife."

"That so?"

Sung-gu stiffened. I gave him a look, and he schooled himself back into composure, muttering, "Eurgh, this intense smell of wealth. The whole house is positively dripping with it."

The reason why Sung-gu stiffened was simple.

'We don't see the wife's appearance.'

To us, both portraits were of Tycon. But Seohye was seeing a different portrait. We were looking at the same thing, but it looked different to us.

[Observing with Observer's Eye.]

I observed the portrait with Observer's Eye as I went up the stairs like nothing was wrong.

'Something's weird.'

Observer's Eye sensed something was off. I couldn't say what it was, but I trusted the signal my skill was giving me.

'It's not a simple mansion.'

The owner of an extremely strong monster like the Twin-Headed Black Dog. The Predator Tree Colony. A forest-like garden. A massive mansion. A young girl who might become the Red Demon. A portrait giving off a strange feeling. What were these puzzle pieces telling me?

We followed Seohye down the 2nd floor hallway and stopped in front of a room.

Creak—

The door opened with a creak, and the inside of the room became visible to us. Seohye spoke to someone.

"Mr. Tycon. I found a clue related to Charles."

There was a red chair in the room. No one was in it.

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