Chapter 39
We were currently holding what was essentially a random box. It might contain a bomb or a loyal dog that recognizes its owner. For now, I decided to postpone opening that random box.
I briefly looked over the participants. Eighteen. Not too many, not too few. In the first place, this was a continuously recruiting cooperative event, so as long as the number wasn’t filled, it would keep drawing people in.
‘A place with a lot of people isn’t necessarily good.’
In fact, there were many cases where it was better that there weren’t many people. The more people there were, the more oppressive the attractions became.
What we could obtain here…
That would be…
‘Items.’
Compared to other places, the quality of items here was decent. Specifically, the quality of items classified as “materials.” That’s why Sa Jaeheon would sometimes include this route…
‘Normally, he enters right when it opens.’
By now, he would have already come and gone.
“…You okay?”
“…We’re supposed to go in there, right? This feels damn ominous.”
In the end, Lee Hoin loosened his belt.
“Let’s go.”
Instead of answering his action, I simply gave a small nod.
—
[You have joined the ‘Land of Adventure and Fantasy’ event hosted by ‘Clown of Revelry’.]
—
The moment participation was confirmed, our view immediately changed. Before we knew it, we were standing in front of a ticket booth. A square booth, its window completely shut with shutters down, with only a semicircular opening where tickets came out.
From the speaker above it, a voice rang out.
—
Welcome, adventurers, to a land of beautiful mysteries.
This is the Land of Adventure and Fantasy.
A perfect land that will satisfy all your curiosity.
We will now briefly explain the rules.
—
I took a short breath. Unlike when we first met the rabbit in the waiting room, this voice wasn’t distorted or filled with noise.
Rather, it was calm and gentle, which made it all the more chilling.
—
[First Rule]
All mysteries found here belong to you, adventurers.
You may take them with you at any time.
Find mysteries and become “complete”!
—
The voice continued, steadily reciting the rules.
—
[Second Rule]
The country does not take responsibility for any disasters that occur while exploring mysteries.
However, there are no such things as disasters.
The citizens of ‘6’ welcome you, adventurers.
—
—
[Third Rule]
Our country has a fairy tale.
Please read it now.
You may memorize it or not.
We simply wish to explain our country before your exploration.
—
The voice stopped. Then, from the small semicircular opening, a thin booklet slid out.
“……This is…”
Muttering, Lee Hoin picked up the booklet and handed it to me. It looked like ordinary paper, printed with nothing particularly special.
I opened it and began to read.
—
[Once upon a time, there was a king who loved fun more than anything.]
—
In the illustration, the king wore a jester’s hat instead of a crown.
—
[The king who loved fun always searched for it. Eventually, he became obsessed with one particular kind of fun!]
—
The ordinary fairy tale suddenly changed on the next page. The king, wearing a jester’s hat, sat smiling atop a throne drenched in blood.
His mouth stretched grotesquely wide into a grin.
—
[Demons! Aren’t demons such fascinating beings? They love blood and flesh, screams and moans, pleasure and pain. What a perfectly fated race!]
[So the king began to love the race known as demons. Especially the number ‘6’, which represents demons. He revered it so much that he eventually created a perfect being.]
—
—
[Hmm, what a disgusting illustration!]
—
—
[With 36 eyes, 6 heads, and 6 arms, he created a ‘clown’! Ah, why a clown? Because the king himself ruled a land of clowns.]
[A land of clowns. A king of clowns. A perfect clown created by a clown.]
[This land symbolizes pleasure and blood, pain and laughter.]
—
I saw the “clown.”
Six heads. The eyes on those heads were irregular. Some heads had twelve eyes, while others had none at all.
—
[However, this land is also filled with immense mystery. A king who created an impossible being, demons beloved by that king, and citizens who worship ‘6’ in pleasure and revelry.]
[And the imitation ‘3’ that clumsily mimics the demons… namely, the clown.]
[This is a strange yet beautiful world! Six suns rise, six pairs of rainbows appear, and light splits into six streams!]
[Do not worry. If you worship ‘6’, this land will be beautiful, kind, and cheerful.]
[We love you, who are ‘6’!]
—
The final page ended cheerfully again.
—
Have you finished reading?
—
—
[Fourth Rule]
If you explore mysteries by visiting six attractions, we will see you off.
Alternatively, you may present six mysteries to the King.
—
—
[Fifth Rule]
Do not harm the demons.
The King does not mind the citizens of ‘6’, but he dearly loves the demons of ‘6’.
It will not be difficult to recognize them.
They always have six body parts.
However, beware of imitations! Horns are very beautiful.
—
—
[Sixth Rule]
Tear off all your limbs.
If you have six arms and legs, you will not incur the King’s wrath.
If not ‘6’, then ‘0’.
That is how our land works.
—
The explanation finally ended. The ticket booth spoke kindly.
—
Have you confirmed?
—
I glanced at Lee Hoin. He frowned and tossed the booklet aside.
“…Disgusting…”
“……”
I answered instead.
“…Confirmed.”
—
Yes, adventurers.
How many tickets shall I issue?
—
At that moment, a window appeared.
—
[6 Tickets, Land of Adventure and Fantasy! ▼]
The ticket clerk asks:
There are two of you, so shall I issue two tickets?
Or perhaps… is it asking each of you individually?
[〉 0
[〉 2
[〉 3
[〉 6
– Clown of Revelry
—
This wasn’t displayed by the “narrator.” It was displayed by the “Clown of Revelry.”
‘It doesn’t record that we’ve seen the Clown of Revelry.’
Because the Clown of Revelry wasn’t that significant. In the first place, he was one of the “Third Parties” that least suited Sa Jaeheon. Sa Jaeheon was consumed by madness but didn’t enjoy it…
‘Whereas the Clown of Revelry is consumed by madness and enjoys it.’
They walk the same path, yet in parallel lines. They cannot understand each other. That’s why the Clown of Revelry had no interest in Sa Jaeheon, and Sa Jaeheon, by nature, wasn’t interested in much of anything.
Lee Hoin was clearly seeing the same window as me. My traits, Possession and Suspicion, flickered briefly.
If not 0, then 6?
“…Do we have to pick six tickets?”
Lee Hoin asked.
The ticket booth waited persistently. I quietly reread the fairy tale. This place wasn’t one Sa Jeheon liked much, so what I knew about it was mostly limited to what items were here.
Those items had enough merit to make it worth noting. Beyond that, only a few simple lines.
Here, you just had to be careful of the “King.” Even though Sa Jaeheon had killed demons plenty of times, the King rarely appeared. So as long as you didn’t run into him, you’d be fine.
I remained silent for a moment.
‘Here, Sa Jaeheon always chose six tickets. Whether alone or with others.’
I already knew that. My suspicion was also telling me that six was the correct answer.
‘But the number in this fairy tale isn’t only six.’
Three.
That made me uneasy.
—
[The Seed of Suspicion is scattering doubt!]
—
—
Adventurers?
Please answer.
How many tickets shall I issue?
—
—
[But before the suspicion can be processed, patience is running out!]
—
The ticket booth, losing patience, urged us again. Lee Hoin kept staring at me.
Should I just choose 6 and move on?
The gentle voice of the ticket clerk spoke again.
—
Adventurers, others are waiting behind you.
Please make your selection.
—
Now it was urging us.
“…You pick 6.”
There were two selection windows anyway. If one of us was going to get screwed, it’d be better if it were me.
—
[Ah, behold this noble sense of justice!]
[So noble it makes me want to vomit….]
—
Quietly, I chose 3.
TL.Note: Aw man, I hope you guys do not get confused by the ‘clown’ and ‘narrator’ back and forth
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