Shadow (2)

Han Baekgil. The leader of Shadow, an organization that dreamed of resurrecting a great being.

Even Kim Minwoo knew little about this “great being” they spoke of. After all, Shadow's members only ever referred to it vaguely as a great being, never mentioning its name or any distinguishing characteristics.

'No, to be more precise...' Even these bastards didn't really know anything about the being they served.

That was why players often called them a bunch of lunatics. They fervently prayed and offered sacrifices to a being they knew nothing about, without even getting any real rewards. Shadow was essentially a cult of fanatics.

There was nothing to gain from getting close to them. Normally, he would have chatted for a while, left the possibility open, and ended the meeting, dragging things out as long as he could. That was the standard strategy for delaying their assassination attempts.

But things were a little different now.

“Mr. Kim Minwoo. Wouldn't you like to level up faster?”

“I'm already leveling up quickly.”

“Haha. What if you could gain far more experience from killing the same monsters?”

“... What are you talking about?”

“If you wish, I can offer you a special opportunity.”

He was offering him a chance to duplicate experience points?

Han Baekgil might have been insane, but he was a relatively honest fanatic. His recruitment pitches consisted of empty, self-important nonsense like “The great being is watching you” and “I shall grant you the glorious opportunity to join us.”

And now he was suddenly offering something tangible?

'That's not Han Baekgil's style.'

That was what made this interesting. Bluffing when he had absolutely nothing to offer wasn't his way. Had this fanatic actually found an experience duplication bug?

“I thought you were just a fan... Doesn't this sound a little too much like a cult pitch?”

“Haha. I admit it could certainly look that way. But it's true.”

“...”

Minwoo narrowed his eyes slightly.

Cult. It was one of the words Han Baekgil, a fanatic with no real foundation for his faith, hated most. Usually, hearing it would send him into a frenzy, charging in with a weapon.

Why? Because he knew it himself. He really did sound like a cultist.

They didn't even know what they believed in, they received no rewards, and yet they still had to offer sacrifices. Weren't they clearly just a bunch of fanatics following a deranged cult leader?

'But he's taking it in stride?'

Where did that composure come from? Simple. He wasn't shaken. In other words, Han Baekgil now had something solid to lean on. Something so solid that he could chuckle good-naturedly at being called a cultist.

'Interesting.'

Minwoo looked straight at Han Baekgil.

“If this is something so important, perhaps we shouldn't discuss it here. Shall we go to a nearby café?”

“Certainly. My treat.”

The two rose to their feet.

Outside the auction house, Minwoo glanced at Han Baekgil as they headed toward the café.

'There's something oddly relaxed about his expression.'

Usually, his eyes were bloodshot, as though something were hounding him. But this Han Baekgil was different. He walked down the street with a smile, as if enjoying the cool winter breeze.

'... Well, maybe it's because he's a clone.'

This wasn't Han Baekgil's real body. Shadow Clone was an S-rank assassin skill that allowed its user to create and operate a highly detailed clone. That was what this Han Baekgil was.

The reason Minwoo could tell was simple.

'It can't duplicate items.'

As a famous villain, Han Baekgil had an impressive equipment setup, ranging from Unique at minimum to Legend. He was practically a walking treasure trove.

Yet every item this man wore had crude shapes and patterns. A beginner might not notice, but Kim Minwoo was a veteran among veterans. He could spot a clone's fake equipment at a glance.

That was also why he'd tried provoking him. His real body might have been another matter, but Minwoo could make short work of a mere clone if it attacked. Then he would presumably come back with another clone a few days later.

Kim Minwoo and Han Baekgil entered a nearby café. After ordering coffee and introducing themselves, they got down to business.

“Mr. Han Baekgil. What exactly is this experience duplication you're offering?”

“We receive baptism from the great being.”

“... So you really are a cultist?”

“It's only natural that you don't believe me. But it's true. Many people are already enjoying its benefits.”

“... All right. Let's say such a thing really exists. Why offer something so good to me?”

“We saw your potential, Mr. Kim Minwoo. Especially since you personally saw the great being's symbol.”

“... Symbol? That weird drawing?”

“Yes. Even the most devout believers have never reached that realm. Yet you managed it on your very first attempt. I found that most pleasing.”

Han Baekgil's eyes gleamed with madness as he spoke.

“What's the price?”

“It's truly nothing much. A trivial matter. But first, let me ask you a question. What matters more to you, Mr. Kim Minwoo: the well-being of strangers, or your own strength?”

“The latter, obviously.”

Was that even worth asking?

He wasn't some hero. Frankly, he wasn't trying to kill the Outer God out of some noble desire to save the world, either. He would die if he didn't.

Of course, that didn't mean he would sacrifice people without a shred of compassion like Han Baekgil here. A sensible middle ground mattered in everything. He was just an ordinary person, the sort who valued himself more than complete strangers.

Han Baekgil nodded in satisfaction at his utterly honest answer.

“Excellent. The price is simple. Offer sacrifices to the great being and carry out its commands.”

“That sounds like a pretty steep price.”

“Not at all. You gain nearly twice the experience.”

“... Twice?”

“Yes. Twice.”

“You said many people were enjoying these benefits... Isn't it a little too quiet for that?”

“Come now, surely you understand. Good things should be enjoyed in secret, so others don't grow jealous.”

If that was true, Shadow's members had been secretly duplicating their experience by offering sacrifices and completing missions?

“I need to know exactly what this baptism is.”

“Normally, this isn't something we can discuss with outsiders...”

“Really? It's tough being an outsider, isn't it? I'll be going, then.”

Minwoo immediately stood up.

They were the ones who had approached him to recruit him in the first place. Besides, Han Baekgil had made a huge fuss about seeing his talent and whatnot. It was time to remind him who held the upper hand.

Sure enough, Han Baekgil hastily grabbed his hand.

“I'm not saying I won't tell you. I was merely making an observation. Please sit. I'll explain.”

Minwoo sat down and looked straight at him.

“We received the call of the great being.”

“What is this great being?”

“As a mere insignificant creature, I dare not even think of its name, let alone speak it. I would go mad.”

“Go mad? This isn't the Cthulhu Mythos. You expect me to believe that?”

At that moment, Han Baekgil handed him a stone.

“Take a look.”

[Life Stone]

[Grade: Special]

[A stone that indicates whether 'Lee Seoyun' is alive or dead. It contains a strange power.]

[Effect 1. Loses its light when the 'target,' Lee Seoyun, dies.]

What the hell was this? A Life Stone? He had never once seen this item while playing the game.

'No wonder their investigation was so quick...'

Had they had something like this at their disposal?

Han Baekgil spoke.

“Have you ever seen an item like this?”

“No. But couldn't it have come from a gate?”

Han Baekgil's expression turned utterly serious.

“I obtained this through prayer. The same is true of baptism.”

“... The same?”

“Through prayer, I obtained an orb containing great power. I can perform baptism by transferring the power within it.”

“And you're offering to transfer that orb's power to me?”

“Yes. The more we share it, the more dispersed its power becomes, so our existing members were strongly opposed. But someone of your caliber deserves baptism, Mr. Kim Minwoo.”

Kim Minwoo's expression hardened.

Shadow. An organization that had worshipped an illusion had turned into one serving a real monster overnight. It handed them an experience-duplicating orb in response to prayers?

If that was really true, they had to have an extraordinary being backing them.

'Could it be that Outer God?'

The Outer God was the first thing that came to mind. Surely it would take a being of that caliber to hand out such bizarre items.

'It's not impossible.'

Stage 6: Hunt the Outer God.

Naturally, that Outer God would have begun acting too. No, perhaps this was a world where it had already been active for a long time. There would be nothing strange about the repercussions reaching Shadow.

“There's something I'd like to know.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Let's say this incredible being exists. Why would it help you? You're so weak you can't even think of its name.”

“Yes. We are weak. But even feeble creatures like us can do something for the great being.”

“You mean offering sacrifices?”

“Haha, that's merely a small token of our devotion. Our true mission is something else.”

“What is it? I'm curious.”

“That... you'll learn in time if you join us. I'm afraid I can't discuss it here.”

Han Baekgil's gaze suddenly grew resolute. Minwoo doubted he would try to stop him even if he stormed out now.

'An Outer God. Something an Outer God would use its creatures to pursue...'

It might be an item on Earth, a person, or some third category he knew nothing about. Whatever it was, there had to be something worth pursuing.

'Maybe it's trying to hunt me down.'

When he had first awakened, after seeing the beings behind the veil, he had seen some strange messages.

● Warning! Warning! Warning!

● ??? senses an anomaly!

● ??? begins searching for the cause!

● Beware. ??? will not take this situation lightly!

They had said that the question marks wouldn't simply stand by and watch.

A being whose name would drive someone mad if they thought of it or spoke it. Perhaps its name had been filtered into question marks to protect him.

'I knew this was going to be brutal from the start...'

If the being Han Baekgil served really was the Outer God, that meant the final boss had gone on alert a mere two months into the run.

Of course, all of that only held true if Han Baekgil really served the Outer God, and that Outer God really was targeting him.

'It's all still speculation.'

But if every one of those assumptions was true, Stage 6 really wasn't going to be easy.

“What's your organization's name?”

“We are 'Shadow.' We exist everywhere.”

“... Everywhere? Are you saying you're a worldwide organization?”

“Correct. You catch on quickly. Allow me to introduce myself again. I am Han Baekgil, priest of Shadow's Korean branch.”

Hah. They'd really grown, hadn't they?

An organization that had operated only in Korea had suddenly become a global one.

“Well, thank you for explaining. I'll think it over and give you my answer.”

Despite saying that, he had absolutely no intention of joining. Who knew what side effects this baptism might have? If he was really unlucky, he could end up under mind control overnight.

For now, he needed to buy some time.

“Very well. I'll visit you again in a month.”

Minwoo nodded.

At least he'd bought himself a month.