#256
256. Requiem (2)
Late evening a few days later.
I looked up.
The gray sky came into view.
Amkena is disconnected. There was no worry of getting caught.
In the first place, this party is also a day trip.
[Ticket]
I narrowed my eyes.
A golden ticket lay on the desk.
It was an item that arrived the same night I contacted Mobius.
[How to use]
[Tear the ticket to open the 'dimensional door' connected to the party!]
[You must observe the entry time.]
[Entrance time – 201X. XX. XX 20 : 00]
[Precautions – Please use it in an empty place. You may get suspicious. ^_^]
[Mobius Inc.]
I picked up a ticket.
On the cover of the ticket, the logo of Moebius was stamped.
'A celebration party?'
I don't know why you have to party.
Besides, why did you invite me?
A strange smell wafted up. Well, I already made up my mind that I had to enter the tiger's den to catch the tiger, but I decided not to let go of my guard. I flicked my left hand.
[Yah-ho!]
Isel appeared spinning around.
Instead of her usual black dress, she was wearing a short frill dress.
[How is Loki? It suits you?]
"Where did you get that?"
[Ahem, it's a party outfit. I've poured all my paycheck into the shopping mall to buy this.]
Issel coughed and dusted off the hem of her dress.
[Is Loki going to wear that? Nothing different from usual
, right ?]
I was wearing leather armor and a belt with a sword hanging from it.
It was not fully armed, but it was an outfit that could be dealt with at any time in an emergency.
clap. I touched the dagger sheath attached to the back of my belt.
[It's still a party…]
"I'm not going to play. I'm going to find out."
I caught my breath.
In the worst case, the party itself may be a trap aimed at me.
I must keep my mind straight.
'I'd like to take a member of the 1st party…'
Whoever he accompanies will be a great escort.
The question is whether they will allow you to join the party or not.
Of course, I will raise my hand and oppose it.
After checking the condition of the dagger sheath, I covered the belt with a cloak.
Then the door was locked tightly. The passage under the door that had been left open for Gugu-Con was also blocked. This business trip is going without anyone noticing.
"Are you ready?"
[Yes.]
I nodded and took the ticket.
And without hesitation, I tore the ticket.
Aww.
The golden paper was torn and light began to ripple through it.
[A dimensional door connected to '???' has been created.]
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.
The dimensional vortex swirled and rotated.
Enemies come in here. keep your mind straight I made a promise to myself and stepped forward.
The light wrapped around his body with a familiar feeling of floating.
[Royal Cruise Ship]
[Welcome to the dimensional passenger ship 'Pioneer'!]
I opened my eyes.
The first thing you see is the rolling sea beyond the iron railing.
The surface of the water shimmering softly in the moonlight extends to the end of the horizon.
'This is…'
I looked back.
A streamlined building towered high into the sky above the steel deck.
"What is this?"
[I've only heard about it… Pioneer!]
Issel looked at me with twinkling eyes.
[It's a luxury liner exclusively for employees!
"Temple only?"
[This is where Moebius employees go on vacation. Various leisure facilities including high-end hotels, golf courses and swimming pools! There's everything from restaurants to large banquet halls!]
Issel's cheeks turned red.
It seems like you are in your own world.
'Everything's special.'
It's not surprising anymore.
"Are you a guest?"
I turned around at the unfamiliar voice.
A man in a suit was staring at me.
As if he were a Moebius employee, his employee ID was hanging around his neck.
"Excuse me, please show me the invitation. No one can enter without permission."
I took the invitation out of my pocket and held it out.
The man looked at me again after scanning the front and back of the invitation.
"Did you come alone?"
"With Isel next to you."
"Okay. One person and one bird."
[One ha?!]
Issel opened his mouth wide.
"Follow me. He is waiting for you."
The man bowed his head to me and started walking ahead across the deck.
I followed the man without a word. As the man swiped his pass through the card reader installed at the entrance to the cabin, the blocked gate opened left and right. The man climbed the stairs without hesitation.
'It's like this.'
I quickly inspected the structure of the cabin.
It draws a map of the cruise in your head and calculates an escape route. I didn't forget to find a place where I could fight many-on-one. There were people who looked like sheriffs all over the ship.
'Armed…'
I looked at the man passing by.
He wore a bulletproof vest over his suit and wore a pistol holster around his waist.
'It's not a cold weapon.'
I clicked my tongue.
Swords and guns have a clear advantage.
Are all Moebius armed groups like this?
"This way."
The man led us to a large elevator.
The door closes and about a minute later.
"When the door opens, it is the banquet hall."
"…"
"Ah, before that… can you leave your weapon? I'll keep it safe."
did you know too
I sighed and unzipped the dagger.
"Please do a sword test."
The boy had a smile on his wrinkled face.
I also unwrapped the Bifrost and handed it to him.
"Thank you for your cooperation. Have a good time."
The man smiled contentedly and covered his weapon with a cloth.
Then the elevator door opened. What unfolded outside the elevator was a luxurious banquet hall that was completely unexpected. The banquet hall, comparable in size to a playground, was covered with luxurious carpets. A well-dressed band was playing classical music, and various high-end liquors and buffet dishes were on display.
'Even if it's obvious, it's too obvious.'
I laughed out loud.
In the banquet hall, men and women in suits and dresses were enjoying a party.
"Are these all Moebius Temples?"
[Yes!]
Isel replied vigorously.
And pointed to the corner of the banquet hall.
Small sized fairies are gathering and making a noise.
[There are also my classmates.]
"Then come and play."
I whispered to Isel, who looked bewildered.
"Gather information about Alpha Zero."
I pushed Isel's back.
Isel flew towards her colleagues with a bewildered face.
Left alone, I headed to the corner of the banquet hall and took a seat in a suitable place.
'Let's see what we're talking about.'
The banquet hall was full of noise with all kinds of people talking.
I put my butt on the chair and focused my attention on my ears.
The noise that had been mixed up gradually began to clear up.
"What is that guy? It's a tacky outfit."
"It's Loki. Master of Niflheim. He killed El Cid."
"But why did you come alone? Where are your entourage?"
"I don't know."
They glanced at me.
that would be weird Everyone is dressed in modern clothes, but I'm the only one wearing armor.
"Aren't you stupid? You know what's going to happen to you. You don't even look that strong."
"Did El Cid die by a kid like that? I can't believe it."
"What is killing? It's just a spoon."
I closed my eyes.
They only whispered from afar, but didn't come close.
"The director too. Why did you invite an outsider to a party like this? I don't understand."
"What are you going to do if company secrets are leaked? Without being able to take responsibility."
"Really, we're the only ones suffering because of the ignorant upper body. After taking a vacation, we came to play, and the strange guy blurs the atmosphere."
It doesn't seem to like me very much.
I didn't even expect it from the beginning.
"By the way, the director said it's not the same as before?"
"I heard that I lost my taste because I was pushed by company politics. I don't know how it was at first, but now I'm an old man in a small room. I don't have a say in executive meetings. That's why I always go on the Internet and giggle."
"You have to walk the rope well. There are a lot of rumors that the game director will be replaced."
They didn't seem to be friendly to me or to the party organizer, 'Alpha Zero'.
"You never know. If he climbs all the way to the top, he could become the CEO's right-hand man. Because the previous 1st place almost did. He kicked his fortune."
"Uh, well, at least say hello…"
A woman in a dress started walking towards me.
When I glared at her, she hurriedly backed away.
"Why are your eyes like that? I think I'm going to kill people."
"Don't touch it. Rumors say it's a mad dog."
'There doesn't seem to be any helpful information.'
I relaxed and started to look around slowly.
"Never mind, it's just the bullshit of worthless people."
I glanced back.
Next to the marble pillars in the banquet hall, a woman in a suit greeted me.
neat impression. Dark blue hair is tied down in a ponytail, and a metal scabbard hangs from the waist.
"…who are you?"
"My name is Sizel, the director's first-class secretary. Thank you for accepting our invitation. He also highly acknowledges the credit for subduing El Cid."
"I never subjugated him. He came to die."
"Maybe it's different for each person."
Siselle whispered.
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"well."
Sizel smiled.
Then he cleared his throat and looked at me.
"Have you… come alone?"
"I did bring Isel."
"The heroes of Niflheim…?"
"You didn't come. Why?"
"this."
Siselle scratched her cheek with a troubled expression.
"Well, it can't be helped. The manager is coming. See you later."
Sizel lowered her head and began to climb the stairs in the middle of the banquet hall.
I laughed out loud. I couldn't figure out what the woman was approaching.
The host in the middle of the banquet hall raised the microphone.
[Applause everyone! Pick Me Up's general director and producer Lecadis enters!]
Clap clap clap clap.
Applause echoed through the banquet hall.
'Alpha zero.'
Kirik.
The main door in the middle of the banquet hall opened.
A middle-aged man walked out of it.
'Rather than walking… It must have been the right expression.'
The man was in a wheelchair.
The gaze of a middle-aged man who was looking at the inside of the kite with blurry eyes met mine.
"Loki."
The director muttered in a low-pitched voice.
"Siris… where did you go?"
"…?"
"Chi-Siris-Jang…"
What is that guy talking about?
The middle-aged man muttered with a blank expression.
"I wanted to lick…"
"what?"
"Ha, lick…"
I frowned.
"…because I'm completely senile."
Someone in the room muttered, but he didn't even pretend to hear.
"Siris Jean…"
The middle-aged man dragged the wheelchair and disappeared beyond the open door.
Confused, I stood there blankly for a while.
'What is that idiot?'
I couldn't imagine.
Is that Alpha Zero?
The general manager of Pick Me Up?
'…'
I glanced at the back of the invitation.
[Remarks – We strongly hope that Niflheim's submaster Siris will participate in the party.]
When I asked why he wrote such nonsense…
[Welcome with applause. It was a great speech from the director!]
Clap clap clap.
Empty applause echoed through the banquet hall.
"Hmph, that waste has gone as far as it goes."
Amidst the applause, cynicism echoed.
I looked back over there.
A blonde young man in a white suit was smoking a cigar.
"It should have been fine."
The young man blew smoke.
and looked back at me
"Same goes for you. It looks like the CEO is getting a lot of attention, but don't even think about rebelling. If you don't want to look like El Cid."
"…"
"You still don't know why we invited Masters or something like that? They're telling you to figure out the subject. This is a warning. No matter how strong Niflheim is, you can never win against us. Keep in mind."
The young man, speaking only of his own words, threw the cigar on the carpet and rubbed it off with his foot.
Took. The young man purposely came out and bumped my shoulders and left the banquet hall. Several men who appeared to be bodyguards followed him.
'…'
I immediately left the banquet hall.
A young man was going down the stairs humming. I glanced back at him and headed for the ledge.
'There is no one.'
I took the paper out of my pocket.
[Party Schedule (Executives Only)]
When he bumped into my shoulder, I snatched something sticking out of my pants pocket.
As I was slowly reading the paper, I stopped at some point
[2:00 am – meeting in the conference room on the 7th floor. All team leaders attended. Dorado's ending screening. Discussion of El Cid's actions afterwards and prevention of recurrence.]
Ending screening.
This was the information I was looking for.
'It's the 7th floor.'
It was the top floor of the cruise.
The security would be tight.
"Hey! What are you?"
I looked back
One of the bodyguards following the young man was walking towards me.
I immediately hid the paper.
"What did you just do here?"
"Not at all."
"Suspicious…"
He furrowed his brows and reached for his pistol holster.
"I'll do a body search. Raise your hands and lie down…"
Kwajik.
I momentarily grabbed his right arm and broke it.
"…he!"
When the bent joint popped out the other way, this time I grabbed the guy's head with my left hand and threw it against the iron railing.
puck! Blood spurted out with the sound of a broken nose. I then kicked him in the leg. He spun in the air and bounced off the railing.
with a plop.
"…"
I'll have to find that bastard.
I brushed off the blood on my hands and went down the stairs.