章 56: 56 The Interview
56. The Interview
The conditions for obtaining the Rune of Doppelganger are simple.
You just need to commit murder while impersonating someone else in the place where the rune is hidden.
Of course, it wasn't as easy as it sounds.
'How often does someone commit murder while impersonating someone else?'
But today, that will actually happen.
That guy impersonating Black Scythe will commit murder and obtain the Rune of Doppelganger.
'Of course, the person himself doesn't know.'
Ryumin read the impersonator's thoughts.
-Kukuk, they really think I'm Black Scythe? Idiots. I can't believe it's this easy to deceive them.
While maintaining an expressionless face outwardly, he was inwardly sneering.
'His expression doesn't waver? He could be an actor at that level.'
The real nickname of the guy currently impersonating Black Scythe is [Kuku Ruping Pong].
He's the one who will coincidentally obtain the Rune of Doppelganger and later earn the nickname Doppelganger.
'He's nothing special now, but he becomes famous after getting the Rune of Doppelganger.'
He becomes famous in a bad way, not a good way.
Because he abused the Rune of Doppelganger for all kinds of crimes.
'It's understandable. He's trash with a history of fraud from the start.'
Loan fraud, multi-level marketing fraud, eat-and-run, spam coins, hacked exchange impersonation, voice phishing, etc.
He's an experienced and professional fraudster who's tried almost every scam that makes money.
'To think such a guy became a player and is now impersonating Black Scythe...'
It was bitter that even criminals gained power from the other world, but only briefly.
Seeing the impersonator he encountered as planned, Ryumin inwardly smiled with satisfaction.
'I'll use him to obtain the Rune of Doppelganger.'
It was an opportunity to get a hidden piece.
"Well, now that you've all greeted each other, I'll briefly confirm your personal information. Shall we start with Little Baby Cockle?"
"Huh? Y-yes."
Ryumin made a nervous expression like a new military recruit.
"Your real name is Kim Seung-hyun, correct?"
"Yes."
"And your age?"
"19 years old."
"Do you currently have any other occupation?"
"No, I just graduated high school..."
"19 years old, unemployed..."
The manager muttered while writing the information on the document.
"You wrote that you're a level 13 assassin in the application, is that correct?"
"Yes, that's right."
"And it's true you've reached 4th place in area rankings?"
"Yes, yes."
While answering "yes", he inwardly couldn't help but sneer.
'What truth. It's all lies.'
There was only one thing he didn't lie about.
The nickname.
'Little Baby Cockle is a real existing nickname.'
In other words, Ryumin is also impersonating another player.
'That way I'll also meet the conditions to obtain the Rune of Doppelganger.'
The manager would be dumbfounded if he knew.
There were two impersonators right in front of him.
'They have no way to verify whatever lies I tell.'
Even so, it's not like he's not uncomfortable.
Though his identity isn't exposed, his face is.
'Well, it's fine. There's no worry about my face being leaked through these guys.'
Ryumin looked at Black Dragon and the impersonator.
-4th in area rankings? This anchovy is unexpectedly good.
-Hmm. I haven't even reached 4th place... I shouldn't underestimate him just because he looks weak.
While reading their thoughts, the manager shifted his gaze.
"I see. Next, I'll ask Black Dragon on Right Hand some questions."
"Can I ask something first?"
"Yes. Black Dragon. What are you curious about?"
"Why are you revealing all our personal information in front of others instead of talking one-on-one? Is there a reason?"
At the somewhat disgruntled tone, the manager's expression hardened slightly.
"Well, I was asking publicly so you could get to know each other's information and become closer, but... Do you feel uncomfortable having others hear your personal information?"
"Is there anyone who wouldn't be uncomfortable?"
"You'll all get to know each other anyway once you become members and get close, right? And I'm only asking for basic information like name, age, occupation, level and class in the other world."
"..."
Though he tried to explain reasonably, Black Dragon's dissatisfaction didn't disappear.
The manager openly sighed.
"Huu, if you're really that dissatisfied, we can skip Black Dragon's interview..."
"Well, I'm not that dissatisfied, so just proceed."
Though Black Dragon answered indifferently, Ryumin knew.
That he was inwardly quite flustered.
'Of course. He originally applied thinking of preying on players, so he wants to pass the interview no matter what.'
For Black Dragon with the Rune of Absorption, the player union cafe was no different from an all-you-can-eat buffet.
"Then I'll ask. Your real name is Shim Hyeong-taek, correct?"
"Yes."
"And your age and occupation?"
"I'm 15 years old and a middle school student."
"Oh, you're the youngest among the applicants."
Though he smiled outwardly as if praising, inwardly it was different.
-This pig bastard. I thought he was an adult but he's a middle schooler?
-Kukuk, damn he looks ripe.
Even the impersonator maintaining a poker face was barely holding back laughter.
But Ryumin couldn't laugh.
Because he knew what Black Dragon had done.
'If they knew he brutally murdered his classmates, would they still sneer like that? Though they were kids who usually teased or bullied him rather than friends.'
Ryumin could understand since he had similar experiences.
He must have wanted to kill them.
Having experienced countless murders in Round 4, he must have felt confident.
'But to brutally murder ordinary people just for teasing? That's not something a normal middle schooler can do.'
Black Dragon planned and carried out murders that even normal adults would find difficult.
'He's definitely not ordinary. Even with the Rune of Absorption.'
That's why Ryumin killed him five times in Round 4 to keep him in check.
Because his very existence was dangerous.
"Is it true you're a level 10 warrior and reached 3rd place in area rankings?"
"It's true. Do you think I lied?"
When Black Dragon spoke grumpily, the manager was a bit flustered.
"Ahem, I was just confirming. I apologize if it displeased you."
"..."
"Next, Black Scythe's name is..."
"Kim In-hong. 28 years old. Occupation is fund manager. I've never missed 1st place in my area, level 30. You should know I'm in the Reaper class too?"
"Ah, yes! Of course."
"Is that enough? Anything else to prove?"
"No! Thank you for confirming."
Black Scythe folded his arms again after speaking indifferently.
His words flowed smoothly, befitting a fraudster.
'That guy, everything he says is a lie.'
Even the name Kim In-hong he gave isn't his real name.
Not to mention Black Scythe's information.
'Calling himself a fund manager when he lives by scamming others.'
The reason he's acting as Black Scythe is all for money.
'He plans to borrow money from players using Black Scythe's fame. That's why he's trying to join the cafe.'
Even if the economy collapses and a dystopian era arrives, money doesn't disappear.
Its value just decreases.
"That concludes the basic information check, now we'll proceed with the main interview."
The three focused on the manager's words.
"First, I'll ask a common question to all of you. Please tell me one by one why you want to join our Pla.Se.Ba. Let's start with Little Baby Cockle."
"Ah, I..."
Of course, Ryumin who had repeated regressions knew the answer the other wanted.
What purpose Pla.Se.Ba cafe was operated for and what kind of players they wanted to join.
"The world is harsh these days, right? It's scary to be alone, and I thought it would be good for players to unite, so I applied to join."
"Hmm, I see. Next, Black Dragon on Right Hand?"
"Umm..."
Shim Hyeong-taek fell into thought for a moment.
He couldn't honestly say he came to kill players, could he?
"I... have similar reasons as Cockle. I can't go to school anymore, and I'm worried about the next round, so I thought we could ask each other's opinions and support each other..."
'As expected, he's piggybacking on me.'
When he gives the model answer, Black Dragon follows and says the same.
This was something that always repeated in previous regressions.
'Players need to unite to set the world right. That's this cafe's slogan and motto.'
If you speak on the theme of player collusion, you can consider passing the first interview.
Of course, there are exceptions.
"What about Black Scythe?"
"I just applied because there was a cafe. Thought it might be fun."
"...Haha, is that so?"
Whatever Black Scythe says would be a free pass.
How could they fail such a big shot like Black Scythe in the interview when he's willing to join?
'This is just a formality question too.'
Even without reading thoughts, it's obvious he wants to say "pass" right away.
"Good. All three of you gave quite satisfactory answers from the cafe's perspective. Then I'll ask one more question. Little Baby Cockle."
"Yes."
"Have you ever been bullied at school? Or is there anyone you want to kill?"
"What?"
Though it was a question he expected, Ryumin acted surprised.
"What do you mean..."
"It's a necessary question for the interview, so just answer."
"W-well, I was bullied... but not to the point of wanting to kill..."
"Hmm, is that so? Is there no one you have a personal grudge against? Tell us now."
"Uh, no there isn't."
When Ryumin waved his hands, the manager made a somewhat disappointed expression.
"I see. Then I'll ask Black Dragon the same question. Were you ever teased at school? Or bullied by someone. Or is there anyone you want to kill?"
"..."
Looking at Black Dragon, he was contemplating how to answer to pass the interview.
-What kind of question is this? What do they want? Damn. Should I honestly say I killed them all?
Ryumin inwardly laughed seeing Black Dragon agonize.
'Just say it honestly. If you say you committed murder, you'll probably get a free pass.'
But perhaps not crazy enough to confess crimes to others, Black Dragon shook his head.
"Bullying? There's nothing like that."
"Ah... there isn't?"
The manager sighed as if disappointed again.
"What about Black Scythe?"
"Why? Are you going to kill them for me if there's someone I want to kill? What's the reason for asking such useless questions?"
When Black Scythe rebelled, the manager's eyes widened.
He looked surprised by the defiance, but actually wasn't.
"Oh, how did you know? That's right. I asked to kill for you. Strictly speaking, to kill together."
"What?"
People looked with eyes saying "what nonsense are you suddenly talking about".
It was understandable since he was calmly discussing murder.
"Why are you surprised? You've all experienced murder in Round 4, right?"
"..."
"Well, I understand. Murder in the other world and murder in reality must feel different."
"..."
"I'll reveal it now, but the final hurdle of the interview is committing murder. You can only pass the final interview if you commit murder. This is why I asked if you have anyone you want to kill."
"M-murder... you say."
Ryumin gaped and acted out a shocked expression.
"Why do such a thing..."
"Hm? Cockle doesn't seem to understand."
'Not just me. The others look like they don't understand either, so explain.'
As if answering Ryumin's thoughts, the manager nodded.
"Alright. I should help you understand why we're doing this. As those who've seen the news know, the government is already showing moves to regulate and ostracize players. They fear our power that transcends humans."
It wasn't wrong.
The government is preparing various laws in response to the rampant players who are unaffected by force.
'But laws won't have any effect on players who ignore laws in the first place.'
Moreover, such policies only provoke antipathy from players.
You can tell just by looking at the manager in front of you, can't you?
"We are different beings from ordinary people. No longer weak and inferior beings. I declare that from now on, a world led by players is coming. If we join forces, that speed will accelerate. That's the reason for this cafe's existence!"
The manager speaking passionately looked like a fanatic caught in a cult, but...
'I can't refute since it actually happens.'
As someone who experienced a world dominated by players, Ryumin couldn't just laugh it off.
"Therefore, we don't need to be within the bounds of law. We must resist and confront government regulations. We must show that only players are the law."
"So murder...?"
"That's right. Murder is a kind of rebellion to show the government our will as players. It shows that laws can't constrain us."
"..."
"Do you understand a bit better now? Cockle?"
"Ah, yes..."
"Pla.Se.Ba only passes those prepared to oppose the government and lead the future world in interviews. If any of you are unwilling, please stand up and leave now. However, those who leave now shouldn't expect help from our cafe in the future."
Though he said it euphemistically as help, it actually meant being blacklisted.
It was no different from a threat in a way.
Did they notice that fact?
No one stood up from their seats.
"Huhu, you all seem sufficiently prepared. Good. Then I'll proceed assuming you agree to the final interview."
"Proceed? You mean the murder?"
The manager calmly answered Black Dragon's retort.
"That's right."
"How can we proceed when there's no one to kill?"
"You don't need to worry about that."
The manager suddenly smiled coldly.
"We have targets selected in preparation for this."
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