“You, y-y-y-you’re…!”
Lowell stammered as she pointed at me. Her finger trembled uncontrollably.
The worst-case scenario—my identity exposed. But it’s fine. I accounted for this, too—
‘Like hell I did.’
The best I could come up with was covering my face with both hands.
I’d actually resorted to the classic “If I can’t see you, you can’t see me” move. How stupid.
But that’s how desperate the situation was.
“What the hell! What is going on! Why are you the one under that mask?!”
“I-I don’t know what you mean. Anyway, I’ll be goi—”
“You bastard! You’re not going anywhere!”
Lowell jumped in front of me, blocking my path.
Between my fingers, I could see her face—bright red with fury.
‘If she confirms I’m Zero, I won’t leave here in one piece.’
I knew Lucid family secrets, insulted her beloved Rodelin, beat her in combat, and even made her cry.
Honestly, I’d be lucky to survive.
Lowell twisted her neck this way and that, trying to catch a glimpse of my face.
I matched her movement, shaking my head side to side to avoid her line of sight.
“You’re him, aren’t you? You’re Zero, right?”
“No, I’m not. You must be mistaking me for someone else. I have one of those common faces.”
“Common? That face? And the voice too—sounds just like him. And didn’t your tone just change from before?”
The mask’s artifact had a voice modulator and speech pattern adjuster built in.
I wasn’t sure how it sounded to her, but it always adapted to suit the user’s form best.
The Dark Beast Squad was a mysterious and enigmatic group.
I lowered my voice as much as I could.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand what you’re talking about. What student would be wandering around at this hour?”
“Hmph~ But how did you know Zero was a student?”
“I-I’m a master informant. Of course I’d know about a famous student like Zero. Someone like me, a man of my caliber, being a student? Now that’s ridiculous.”
“Hmm. I guess that makes sense… I mean, what student at the Academy could push me back like that? Impossible, really.”
“Keke, exactly.”
“Right, so…”
Thunk—
Lowell suddenly grabbed my wrist and yanked it downward.
Her eyes met mine through the gap between my fingers.
I’m not exaggerating. She was right there—inches from my face.
Those half-mad eyes, sometimes rolling back until only the whites showed.
‘This is basically a horror movie.’
If I didn’t have the [Mental Defense] skill, I probably would’ve screamed like a little girl by now.
Pain flared in my wrist. She was prying at my hands, trying to see my face.
“Hey, open up.”
“N-No thank you!”
“Just a peek. I’ll only look a little.”
This conversation’s starting to sound… off. Must be my imagination, right?
Whatever it is, one thing’s clear—I need to get out of this situation.
“S-Someone help! I’m being assaulted!”
“It’d be easier to just open your hands, you know? …No? Then stay still.”
Wait, is she giving up?
“Cause I’ll just break your arm.”
“J-JEKKIYAAAAAACK!!”
A beautiful young maiden’s (?) scream echoed through the forest.
My arm was moments away from being snapped in half. That’s when I sensed movement behind Lowell.
Lester Family Style First Secret Technique.
One Flash.
A streak of light shot toward us.
“Tch.”
Lowell clicked her tongue and backed off. I rolled away from the spot just in time.
“Snake! Are you okay?!”
Yeah, totally fine—except for the part where I nearly died from your attack.
Luna, wearing her cat mask, rushed over to help me up. Not far behind, Rezé came tumbling down a small hill, pulled out her magic gun, and shouted.
“I-I can shoot nowwwww!”
Great. The sniper decided to reveal herself. Fantastic timing.
That wasn’t even the only problem. If the three of us were seen together—
“Come to think of it… that guy also ran around in a group of three. Just like you.”
Lowell muttered, her tone low.
She was connecting dots—dots she’d clearly forgotten until now.
“That means… the cat mask is the rude little brat, and the rabbit mask… that kid with the frustratingly long bangs?”
“N-No! I-I’m just a random village NPC, nothing more!”
“Trying to play dumb with me? Please. I’ve already figured it all out.”
Lowell lunged toward Rezé. Even injured, she was a 6-Star Knight on the verge of reaching 7 Stars.
Rezé didn’t even get to pull the trigger before she was pinned.
“Same weapon too, huh? So all that timid acting was just an act, wasn’t it? Hm?”
“KEEEEK!!”
Lowell straddled Rezé and started trying to rip off her rabbit mask.
She looked exactly like a lion pinning down a rabbit. No escape.
“Don’t hurt my friend!”
And then Luna leapt on Lowell.
Now the lion had a cat on its back. Even a zoo wasn’t this chaotic.
I didn’t join in.
One, because my identity had basically already been exposed.
‘And two, I need time to think.’
Even someone like Lowell—known as the Mad Lion—wouldn’t just kill a student on the spot.
I looked down. The snake mask was on the ground.
‘Cleanly sliced.’
I tucked the split mask into my pocket dimension.
It was an S-grade artifact, after all. It’d restore itself in time.
“…”
I replayed the battle in my mind.
Reverse Sky Splitter.
I’d let my guard down, but the move itself was flawless.
If I had reacted just a moment slower, my body would’ve been sliced along with the mask.
No—maybe.
‘Maybe she aimed for the mask from the start.’
Lowell had already accepted her defeat.
And I had told her clearly—if I died, the Lucid family’s secret would get out one way or another. Killing me was off the table.
In the end, she might’ve decided:
‘Then at least I’ll learn his face and prepare for next time.’
If that’s the case…
‘Is this part of the story?’
Lowell was a character with sharp instincts.
It was unlikely she’d consider me an “enemy” trying to clear the game.
‘Seriously, what a wild game.’
The sheer range of stories. It was impossible to stop playing.
“ARRRRRRRGHHHH!”
“Ow! Stop biting!”
“K-KIIIIII! I’m getting crushed! I’m gonna dieeeeeee!”
First things first—I had to clean up this disaster… I mean, animal farm.
The three of them were tangled up, rolling around like a single creature.
I slowly approached and removed Luna and Rezé’s masks.
Guys, relax. It’s over. We’ve already been found out.
A little while later—
“Haa…”
Lowell sighed as she sat atop a small rock.
We were all kneeling before her.
She tapped her longsword against the ground a few times, then barked.
“You little brats dare mess with an adult?”
Honestly, we looked more like the adults here… but I kept that to myself.
That wasn’t the kind of situation it was.
“Haa… Fine, let’s hear it. What the hell were you thinking, doing something like this?”
“I needed your proof token.”
“Why? Why do you need my proof token, something completely useless?”
Because the quest told me to.
—Not exactly something I could say. So it was time to bring out my signature move.
“Keke, it’s a secret.”
Whack!!
Lowell’s longsword came crashing down on my head.
My skull buzzed. Luckily, she hit the side instead of straight down—otherwise my head might’ve split in two.
“Are you messing with me? You’ll seriously end up dead at this rate.”
“Everyone has their secrets. Even you, and the Lucid family.”
Lowell’s eyes narrowed into sharp, dangerous slits.
Alright, that’s enough provocation. If I push any further, I might end up in pieces myself.
“Don’t worry. I won’t use it for anything shady. Besides, your proof token doesn’t have much power anyway, does it?”
“Well, yeah… Wait—why the hell not?! It’s useful! I can use it for meals and a place to sleep! And, um…”
She scratched her head irritably. Maybe that was all it could do.
It might be useless to her—but to me, it was invaluable.
Time to make the offer. A proposal so good she wouldn’t be able to refuse.
“Please hand over your proof token. I’m not asking for it for free. I’ll offer you something in return.”
“Hah! What could you possibly offer me?”
“Have you forgotten already? I know the Lucid family’s secrets.”
It could sound like a threat. But I didn’t say it to threaten her.
Before Lowell could speak up, I quickly continued.
“And I also happen to know roughly where the person you’re chasing is.”
“…!!”
Lowell’s eyes widened. The Second Legion Commander—someone she’d been searching for over a decade.
No way she’d believe I actually knew.
‘It’s not information I should be sharing right now… but if I want to prove my value, I’ve got no choice.’
The stick of knowing the Lucid family’s secrets had already been swung. Now it was time for the carrot.
And to Lowell, the name “Second Legion Commander” wasn’t a carrot—it was a full-course reward.
Her response came fast.
“Where?”
“Keke, you want me to say it here?”
“…Don’t they already know?”
She shot a glare at Luna and Rezé.
Rezé passed out instantly. Luna, unimpressed with the entire situation, puffed her cheeks and muttered.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s true we don’t know any secrets. Zero never lets us get too close, and we didn’t even hear the conversation… He’s the worst. Never shares anything.”
“Hmph… What a jerk. Must be tough working with a manipulative con artist like him.”
“It is. He’s the worst, the absolute worst.”
Hey! Don’t bond over that! And stop talking trash about me while I’m right here!
“Nothing changes. I’ll keep my mouth shut about your secrets and provide the information you want. In exchange, give me your proof token… and grant me one wish.”
“…Why would I do that? I could just torture you and take the information myself.”
“Keke, didn’t I mention it before? If I die, the secrets are automatically released. But more than that…”
I activated the [Eye Opening] skill.
Lowell flinched. I smiled and continued.
“Are you sure you could even take me down?”
She said nothing.
But she knew—I’d already beaten her once.
To her, my full capabilities were still an unknown.
On top of that, her current health was below 10%.
There was no way she could subdue me now.
“From the start, I could tell… You’re the type who corners people. I really hate people like you.”
“Keke, is that so? I’m absolutely heartbroken. Anyway, what’s it going to be? I’m fine with either outcome.”
Lowell’s eye twitched at the cheap provocation.
But it didn’t matter.
Even if she wanted to fight, she knew that attacking me wouldn’t stop the secrets from spreading.
And on top of that, I was offering her information on the commander she’d desperately chased for ten years.
Refusing was impossible.
Even for someone called the Mad Lion.
After a long hesitation, Lowell finally opened her mouth.
“…Fine.”
Let’s make a deal.
–TL Notes–
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At this rate perhaps Lowel and Pleche would eventually join the Dark beast squad? That would be fun
And Reze seem to be quite bold when she is Rabbit mask and when she served bad carrots
And the Second Leguon commander too,I would have thought he was in the Demon realm but I guess once he come over he here to stay
But what could Lowel even do with that information? She can’t take him out herself