Chapter 301 - Command Function
Black Scythe's interrogation made the three hesitate in their words.
"What were you planning to do?"
"Why are you silent like mutes? Do my words not sound like words?"
"Ah, sorry, we're really sorry."
The scholar finally opened his mouth, sensing his life was in danger, but he was so flustered he didn’t know what to say.
"Damn it, Black Scythe suddenly appears!"
He wasn't even detected by their presence detection.
Not even his small footsteps were heard.
When they turned their heads, he stood there like a ghost.
"They must not have heard us, right?"
Despite his racing heartbeat, the scholar regained his composure and finally spoke.
What he said to save himself was nothing but an excuse.
"Ah, what did we say earlier...? Ha ha."
"It seems you were planning something unpleasant for Christine."
"Ha ha, I guess you misunderstood."
"Are you blaming my ears now?"
Although Black Scythe's voice was sharp, they had no choice but to go along.
It was evident that if they admitted what they did, they were doomed.
What if Black Scythe hadn’t heard anything?
"Well, we weren't actually talking about doing something bad..."
"Did you plan to take advantage of Christine, pretending to be kind after receiving help, using her lack of combat skills, and then getting rid of her?"
His piercing words made the three lower their gazes.
Their trembling faces from a moment ago had disappeared, replaced by a terrifying expression as if they were about to commit murder.
Shlink-
As if they had agreed to do so, the three drew their weapons and looked at Black Scythe with eyes full of murderous intent, making Ryu Min laugh disdainfully.
"You don’t need to be so tense. I have no intention of killing you."
"...."
"To be honest, you haven’t done anything wrong, right? You planned to commit a crime, but you never actually did it."
"So... you won’t attack us?"
"Of course not. Do I seem like someone who just kills anyone?"
Although he indicated for them to lower their weapons and relax, the players couldn’t easily let down their guard.
He could attack them suddenly while saying that.
"Why don’t you lower your weapons? You don’t even have the confidence to beat me all together."
"That’s something we don’t know. The length of a fight is only known after trying..."
At that moment.
Gruu!
An ogre that found multiple prey charged towards Ryu Min from behind.
Thud-Thud-Thud!
When Ryu Min turned around, the one charging at him raised his hand as if to smash his head.
A critical moment.
What is he doing?
As soon as it received Ryu Min's gaze, the ogre stopped its actions.
It cautiously lowered the hand it had raised and stepped back.
A full display of fear.
The strange scene left the players there stunned.
It was the first time they had seen a monster instill fear in a human.
Only Ryu Min, who knew the reason, maintained an unperturbed expression.
"Being the holder of the title of Dragon Slayer has its perks."
The title that made monsters instinctively feel fear.
Thanks to that, Ryu Min was able to easily kill the ogre.
Swish-!
With just one swing of his scythe, the ogre was torn to pieces.
It was just one strike, but it had a great impact.
The three swallowed their saliva in tension.
Gulp-
The massive damage he inflicted on the ogre with one blow was surprising, but what made them most nervous was the complete lack of preparatory movements before the attack.
That was why the three were tense.
"What did you say earlier? The length of a fight is only known after trying, right?"
"...."
"If you want to challenge me, I’ll accept. I’d prefer not to kill you if possible, but well, if dying is your wish..."
"Oh, no, no, no."
"No, no. We want to live."
When it seemed like he was going to approach with his scythe, the three trembled.
"If you spare us, we’ll do anything."
"Yes, that’s right. Please just give us orders."
When they pleaded, Ryu Min just laughed.
"Do you think I would trust you with something?"
"Please trust us. We’ll do anything if you spare us."
"Stop with the nonsense. If you have ears, listen. When did I say I’d kill you? I said I’d spare you. I don’t want to kill without reason."
The mention of forgiveness made the three's eyes shine.
"Really?"
"But..."
Ryu Min's eyes suddenly turned purple.
[Using the Command Function.]
"All of you must follow my orders."
---------------
After giving the orders, the players nodded.
"Understood."
"We’ll do as you ordered."
"We’ll try our best."
"Good. Then go. Perform the task according to what I ordered."
"Understood."
Though he spoke with disdain, Ryu Min knew.
That they would properly carry out his orders.
After all, he used the [Command] function, unlocked when they reached the maximum level.
"The Command function is quite useful for controlling players who don’t obey."
Although it was effective like dominance, it had a key difference.
"The main difference is that it doesn’t apply to opponents of the same level."
While dominance applied even to opponents of the same level, the Command could only be given to lower-level players.
Besides that, they had similar effects.
"That makes it compatible with dominance."
Currently, Ryu Min was the only one at the maximum level, so he didn’t need to use dominance to give orders to anyone.
It was useful to save uses of dominance and ensure control over the area.
"Anyway, now Christine doesn’t have to worry. She now has a solid support group."
He didn’t expect Dorothy to join after Jeffrey, but it worked out well anyway.
Even if other players tried to attack her, they could handle it among the three.
And he had the three he had planted.
"I still have to postpone the hunt and ensure the other companions are safe."
Although she was not yet on the death list, it was better to confirm with his own eyes.
And he would also tell them to gather at the promised place.
After reviewing the tracking list and deciding where to go, Ryu Min leaped into the air.
Then.
Kwaaaaang!
The sonic boom shook the forest and echoed in the sky.
----------
Crack-crack!
As they walked, Seo Arin and Min Juri shared a thought.
"Summoners... are stronger than I thought," Min Juri reflected as she watched a Soul Knight fighting alone against an ancient dark tree.
It was incredibly powerful, almost like a one-man army.
Though probably its strength was due to its own buffs.
At that moment, Min Juri's and Seo Arin's eyes met in the air, but both looked away silently.
Despite their temporary alliance, they still distrusted each other.
Then it happened.
[The tenth death has occurred.]
[The deceased's nickname is 'Bulgeum'.]
[10 minutes have passed since the death, proceeding to eliminate the player.]
[Remaining players: 133]
[Eliminated players: 10]
[Time remaining until the end of the round: 70:52:08]
It was already the tenth death.
It was hard to believe so many had died in just an hour.
With frustration, Min Juri murmured, "Despite trusting each other, why are they trying to kill each other?"
"I don’t know, but I have an idea," Seo Arin responded.
"An idea?"
"Don’t you see, Min Juri? Even between us. A month ago we were comrades, and now? We're just throwing cold stares at each other."
"Even so, I don’t understand why they’re killing."
"Maybe it’s a sign we never really trusted each other."
"That seems right. After all, even I have been betrayed by someone I trusted."
When Min Juri continued talking without hesitation, Seo Arin looked at her reproachfully.
"Are you suggesting I betrayed you?"
"No! I mean, I trusted you and you stabbed me in the back."
"It’s Ryu Min's, not mine... but anyway, it seems I’m being treated like an adulteress meddling with someone’s husband."
"What...?"
Just as the atmosphere grew colder, an unexpected voice was heard.
"It seems the atmosphere is getting gloomy."
Silently, a presence descended from the sky, it was Black Scythe whom both Min Juri and Seo Arin had been trying to obtain.
Of course, Min Juri still didn’t know that Black Scythe was Ryu Min.
"Oh, what a surprise," she said.
Though the two women were surprised by his sudden appearance, they quickly showed a welcoming smile, but Ryu Min couldn’t smile.
"Why are you together right now?"
Like with Christine, Ryu Min felt the need to protect Min Juri and had assigned her a slave. However, the slave Ryu Min had ordered to protect Min Juri was not Seo Arin.
How could he assign her to Seo Arin when it was so obvious they would fight among themselves?
In that moment of concern, he realized the slave he had ordered to protect Min Juri was not in sight.
Had he not arrived yet?
The slave he had ordered seemed to be approaching, according to the tracking list.
Due to the distance from the starting point, it seemed he had just arrived.
"Mr. Black Scythe, what brings you here?"
"Did you come to get a buff?"
"That too, but I'm also a bit worried."
Despite their doubts, Min Juri cast a buff on Ryu Min.
Seo Arin approached Ryu Min with a smile, feeling slight envy for her kindness.
"Did you come because you were worried about me?"
"No, that's not all."
"...Were you worried about Min Juri then?"
Before responding, Ryu Min looked at Seo Arin.
Although her gaze pleaded for him to say no, she didn't plan to lie.
"As your supporter, it’s natural to be concerned. If we encounter an Ogre, it’s obvious we’ll have trouble."
"Oh... I see."
Though Seo Arin lowered her head in disappointment, she wasn’t unable to understand.
Since Min Juri had a trap skill called "Bless," she was a crucial resource for Black Scythe.
"By the way, what happened between you two?"
"Nothing. Nothing happened."
"Why do you think something happened?"
Min Juri's question was natural.
She didn’t associate Black Scythe and Ryu Min as the same person.
But since Ryu Min knew that both women had feelings for him, he knew something was wrong between them.
"It seemed you two weren't getting along."
"It’s fine. There's nothing to worry about Black Scythe."
Hearing that, Ryu Min nodded, reassuring Seo Arin.
But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t take precautions.
His insurance arrived just in time.
"Oh, there they come."
The two women turned their heads to where Ryu Min pointed.
There stood, the number one slave, Yamti.
"Oh, sorry. I’m a bit late, right?"
"Not a bit, but very late."
"Why are you here, Yamti?"
"Was I called by Black Scythe?"
When the two women asked questions, Ryu Min nodded.
"The more companions, the safer we’ll be."
"So... should the three of us go together?"
"What about Black Scythe?"
"I have matters to attend to, so I must go back."
Yamti was more assigned as a mediator to prevent them from fighting each other.
Ryu Min whispered to Yamti.
Yamti, make sure they don’t fight.
Don’t worry.
With a smile that seemed to release some tension, Ryu Min flew into the sky and disappeared with a sonic boom.
"So, girls? Shall we go?"
Yamti smiled, while Min Juri and Seo Arin looked surprised.