I Became an Illegal Cheat User

131 – Means of Communication (1)

“How do you know about that…?”

The expression on the king’s face twisted in horror, as if it were so shocking that I knew his master was a dragon. His mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air, struggling to form coherent words.

But even without his words, I could guess what he wanted to say.

‘You must know, right?’

The situation, his expression, the words he had uttered.

Everything pointed to a question, and if there were to be any follow-up, it could only be that.

Of course, it had nothing to do with me.

Whether the king’s mind was in disarray or confused, I couldn’t care less.

“I’ll ask you again.”

Creak.

“Where is the dragon’s lair?”

I pressed a little harder on the finger resting on the trigger.

This was the last chance.

If he didn’t answer this time, I was ready to pull the trigger, regardless of any information-gathering attempts.

Knowing the information but not speaking meant he was prepared for a bullet to the head.

‘Well… from my perspective, it just seems like he’s too stunned to speak.’

But did I really need to care about that?

Whether it was because he was too stunned to speak or because he didn’t want to out of loyalty to his master, his silence was the same.

Did he sense my thoughts, or more precisely, my murderous intent?

“I-I will speak!”

The king, who had been gaping without forming words, finally managed to articulate himself properly.

“Th-then lower that weapon.”

“…Lower it?”

Huh? That’s strange.

My gun is clearly aimed at his head.

So why does he still speak as if it’s a command?

I felt a surge of irritation.

In response, I tightened my grip, the pressure increasing on my finger.

Then—

“A, no! I misspoke! I meant to say, put it down, put it down!”

Had the king’s hearing sharpened with the impending threat of death, perhaps due to the sorcerer he trusted dying?

Reacting to the faint sound of the trigger being pulled, the king flustered and corrected himself.

Indeed, the gun.

What a splendid means of communication.

To make that arrogant king retract his words.

‘Well, he’s not completely humble yet, but… I suppose I can let it slide for now.’

Though he may appear unremarkable, he is still a man bearing the title of king.

As such, I should at least allow him a modicum of dignity.

‘Though I’m not sure if he has any dignity to spare.’

His massive frame was as imposing as the grand throne itself.

The sight of the king, whose flesh quivered merely from breathing, showed not a hint of dignity, let alone gravitas.

I truly cannot comprehend why such a man occupies the throne.

Yet, while I may not understand, I do know how he became king.

‘It’s obvious.’

Hereditary succession.

Is there anything else?

I recalled the system that existed in the outside world, in reality, and relaxed the pressure on my finger.

Of course, I had only relaxed the pressure of my finger on the trigger.

I did not lower the gun aimed at the king’s head.

To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, and to maintain the threat, to gain an advantage in our conversation.

“…Ahem.”

The king cleared his throat, having caught on to my intentions.

He showed discomfort at the continued threat of the gun still trained on him.

But that was of no concern to me.

I scoffed lightly, dismissing the king’s discontent.

His expression turned sour at my attitude.

Before long, he sighed briefly and adjusted his posture.

“…My master is not here.”

Finally, he began to divulge information about his master, the dragon.

“My master resides in the most perilous place in this world.”

However.

“He is in a place where a human would have to risk their life—no, a place so dangerous that even risking one’s life would not allow for an approach.”

The content was somewhat vague.

He could have simply said he was somewhere, but instead, it felt like a grandparent reading a storybook to a grandchild, the details all too nebulous.

Of course, while the king’s information was ambiguous, it wasn’t entirely useless to the point of being unguessable.

The most perilous place.

A place a human would dare not approach.

It was a riddle, almost.

So obscure that others might not understand it at all.

But I had already grasped the geography of this hidden world with my keen insight.

Thus, even though the king’s words were unclear and ambiguous, I understood. As soon as I heard those two pieces of information, a specific region sprang to mind.

That region was none other than.

‘The North.’

Shrouded in a dark purple mist, it was the place where I was half-convinced the Demon Lord, the target of my assigned role, would be.

‘With this, I can be certain.’

By gathering the king’s information, it became clear that he was indeed in the North.

But what I desire is not this puzzle-like conjectural information.

What I long for is a definite location of the lair.

A compass that doesn’t require me to strain my mind, piecing together clues like I am now.

So.

Creak.

“It’s nice to be given information, but I’m not in the mood to entertain riddles right now.”

I wish it could be said simply and clearly.

So that no unfortunate incident occurs where I pull the trigger in a fit of anger.

At such words laden with meaning, the king’s mouth fell shut.

“……”

Silence flowed.

Cold sweat trickled down the king’s forehead.

His face was already smeared with oil and sweat, but I could see droplets of sweat rolling down his cheeks, hanging at the tip of his chin.

And not long after.

Plop…

The sound of a droplet falling echoed in the quiet audience chamber, where only the sound of breathing could be heard.

“…Honestly, I don’t understand.”

The king voiced his confusion, lifting the napkin resting on his lap.

“You are foreigners. Literally, people from another world, not this one.”

Wiping the oil and sweat from his face, the king tossed the soiled napkin onto the table and continued.

“Then why do you want to know where my master is? What benefit could it possibly bring you?”

Is there any benefit to be gained, huh…

‘Well.’

From the king’s perspective, my question must seem absurd.

It’s one thing to be cautious not to attract the attention of a predator like a dragon, but it’s another for a mere prey to seek out the predator.

But the king does not know.

That the apex predator is currently weakened due to a certain transcendent being. That I am more than capable of facing it.

Of course, that applies only to me and the main characters.

The people of this world, who appear weak and powerless, or the semi-compatriots who entered this world with me, stand no chance at all.

And who said it?

That meeting with a dragon would not benefit us.

As I thought this, I glanced at As, cradled in Terra’s arms.

“…Ah ha.”

The king let out a sound as if he had realized something.

“It’s because of the hero. You, the outsiders, are trying to meet my master.”

…So this is what it means to be a king, I suppose.

Just a brief glance at As was enough for him to figure it out.

“Are you thinking of breaking the chains of discipline that bind the hero? If so, I must say that’s an excellent idea. A great master would surely be able to break those chains and still have plenty of strength left.”

No, that’s not it.

Perhaps temporarily, but no matter how powerful a dragon is, it cannot completely sever the laws of a world.

And the same goes for transcendent beings who have escaped fate.

But the king, who could not possibly know that, said,

“However, will my master truly bestow grace upon you?”

His face, brimming with confidence, twisted into a sinister smile.

‘…He’s not wrong.’

I don’t want to agree, but… he speaks the truth.

A being of supreme power from birth.

Yet, as if in proportion to that power, a race more arrogant and greedy than any other.

Thus, I find it hard to have any expectations.

Expectations that the dragon would willingly listen to our words.

So I am seriously considering force, one of the means of negotiation.

But then, thinking back on it now…

‘There’s no guarantee that will work.’

After all, a dragon is a being made of arrogance, greed, and pride.

Even if it fled after being beaten by the god, Baek Yu-hwa, that essence would not have vanished. So it might not bend, even if it breaks. No, it might be even less likely to listen because of that.

Having fled from Earth, which it considered its colony, while suffering damage to both body and soul, its pride must have been severely cracked.

So the possibility of it no longer tolerating us is quite high.

With that thought, I pondered whether I should devise a method beyond brute force.

For instance, seeking the help of the king, a servant of the dragon…

“Yes, as you think, the master will never bestow grace. So beg. Kneel before me and bow your head. And then take your own life. If you do so, I will specially forgive your rudeness and plead with the master to grant you grace, the warrior.”

…No, rejected. It’s rejected.

I don’t need the king’s help.

I frowned and eliminated the options that appeared in my mind.

‘What do I need the king’s help for?’

When did I ever beg for help from the enemy?

Let alone the enemy who wishes for the lives of me and my friends, I can never accept that. So I will neither ask for help from the king nor receive it.

‘And there are many others who can help me besides the king.’

For example, the chairman or the principal.

I can borrow the power of the transcendent beings from the outside world.

‘Not every transcendent can interfere with other worlds like the chairman, but they can surely tell me how to bring someone from another world to this one.’

Or perhaps a way to momentarily break the laws of this world.

So.

“I don’t need it.”

I won’t be swayed.

I ignore the words of the king, who is mistakenly feeling in control.

Click.

In my own way.

“Your help is worthless.”

I implement the method I had in mind.

Rumbling—Boom─!

“……!”

The king’s eyes widened.

Perhaps he never thought I would pull the trigger, as the yellow pupils in the narrow eye sockets trembled.

Rumbling…….

The thunderous sound echoed in the audience chamber.

In response, the shock on the king’s face gradually faded, and a new question arose.

“Am… am I alive?”

The king fumbled over his own body. And after confirming that there was no problem, he let out a sigh of relief.

Let me know if you need anything else!

But that was only for a moment.

“…Ugh, ugh!”

A sound of horror erupted from the king’s mouth.

“Lord, Lord Rice!”

Ah, so he had a name.

I looked down from the throne with a nonchalant expression.

A headless corpse, like the sorcerer who dared to brainwash us.

I gazed coldly at the corpse of the Equipment Master, who had guided us to the audience chamber.

‘Just like before, lying face down on the floor.’

The reason I suddenly pulled the trigger.

It was because the Equipment Master had gone beyond mere intent to kill and had drawn his blade from its sheath.

It seemed the king had regained his momentum, mistaking it for having regained control.

So I fired.

Before he could point his blade at us.

“…….”

The king looked at me with trembling eyes.

Shiver, shiver, shiver.

The king’s massive body, a mass of flesh, trembled like waves crashing.

A reaction that hadn’t been visible when the sorcerer died.

Seeing that reaction, it seemed he finally grasped the situation.

That he had never had control to begin with. And that I had no hesitation in pulling the trigger.

“It’s over.”

Arthur said this while observing the situation and recalled Excalibur.

Lee Seoyeon, who was beside him, also seemed to agree with Arthur’s words and recalled Dainsleif.

“These fallen people won’t be getting up, right?”

Asuka lightly tapped the fallen knight on the ground with the hilt of his sword.

But with the master of control, the sorcerer, dead, they remained unconscious, showing no reaction.

“No.”

Arthur shook his head.

“Mental shock has a significant impact on the body. Let alone, they experienced the shock of their original consciousness returning as the brainwashing was lifted. So unless a high-level priest like Noah comes to heal them, they won’t be getting up easily.”

“Ah… how unfortunate.”

Asuka looked at the fallen knights with pitying eyes and set the scabbard she held in both hands down on the ground. Then, with a very cold gaze, she looked at the king and spoke.

“What a pathetic human.”

At Asuka’s icy words, Arthur and Lee Seoyeon nodded in agreement.

“How pitiful the people of this world are. That kind of person is a king.”

“…disgusting.”

Trembling.

The king shuddered under Asuka’s contemptuous gaze. This time, it was not fear, but anger born from humiliation.

So what?

What will you do if you’re angry?

‘What can you do with that body buried in the throne?’

He gripped the armrest as if he would break it, shaking with rage.

I glared at the king, whose face had turned a deep shade of red.

Then, with a click, I aimed the gun at him again.

“It would be wise to speak clearly this time.”

Creeeak.

I pulled the trigger to a precarious position.

Just a moment’s pressure from my finger would be enough to fire.

“The moment any information displeases me in the slightest.”

I said this while glancing at the corpses of the sorcerer and the equipment-enhanced captain.

“Two people you held dear will follow them.”

I turned my gaze back to the king.

Then,

“…I will do as you say.”

This time, the king, his face pale, nodded heavily.

&

We returned to the inn, ‘Flowing Wind.’

And there,

“You’ve come.”

“Oh, Noah. You arrived quickly?”

“Yes, fortunately, there were no attacks, so I was able to come quickly.”

“That’s a relief. I thought it would take at least two or three more hours, even at best.”

“Haha, isn’t this all thanks to divine favor?”

I was welcomed by Noah, who had arrived at the inn faster than I expected.

“Oh, speaking of which, I haven’t introduced you to the others yet.”

Noah turned his head, almost forgetting to mention it.

“Good afternoon. Lee Seoyeon, Asuka, Arthur, and….”

Ah, right.

I hadn’t introduced them yet.

Realizing my mistake, I hurriedly introduced Terra and As to Noah.

“Oh, so this is the cute hero that Lee Yujin mentioned in the messenger yesterday.”

Noah smiled brightly and knelt on one knee.

“It’s truly a pleasure to meet you, Aster. I’m Noah, a friend of Lee Yujin.”

With his kneeling and eye contact, it seemed that As’s wariness had significantly eased.

As, who had been slightly hiding behind Terra, slowly stepped forward. He hesitated for a moment, his lips moving as he finally said,

“…Hello.”

He bowed slightly in greeting.

Then, with a face full of shyness, just like he had with Asuka yesterday, he said,

“I’m… Aster.”

As revealed his name, his face turned red as he lowered his head deeply.

It seemed he felt embarrassed by the attention directed at him.

Noah burst into a bright laugh at that cute sight.

“Haha, as Lee Yujin said, you really are adorable.”

Noah said this while gently ruffling As’s hair. Then he stood up and turned to Terra, the maid quietly standing next to As.

“Terra, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

…A brief greeting.

That was the end of my introduction to Terra.

‘Well, I guess it can’t be helped.’

Noah, the saint who is kind to everyone but finds it hard to form close bonds beyond a certain level.

Since it was derived from the system, its emotional expressions are clumsy…

‘…Is clumsy the right word?’

These days, it seems to have emotions as rich as any human.

Anyway.

To everyone besides me and As, Terra is a cold artificial intelligence.

Two people who find it hard to form friendships have met, so it’s only natural for it to be awkward.

‘Tsk, we’ll become friends eventually.’

Terra will be with me.

Noah, as a main character, will share the ups and downs of life with me.

Since we’ll be seeing each other often from now on, our intimacy will gradually build.

Thinking this, I cleared my throat with a cough, breaking the awkward flow.

“Now that introductions are done, let me tell you what we need to do.”

Since everyone has gathered, I need to inform them of our plans.

Just as I was about to speak about the plans I had envisioned in my mind—

Growl.

A cute sound came from somewhere.

Turning my head toward the noise, I saw—

“…Uuuh.”

As was bowing her head, seemingly embarrassed.

Ah, this is awkward.

Because of my infinite energy, I had completely forgotten that it was mealtime.

“Shall we eat first?”

At my words, everyone who had been looking at As with pleased expressions nodded.

With everyone in agreement, I immediately opened my inventory.

Then, I took out the lunchboxes that the academy chef had specially prepared and distributed one to each of them.

&

&

&

In the audience room where Yoo Jin and her party had left.

“…….”

The king, left alone in the quiet audience chamber, gripped the armrest tightly and surveyed his surroundings.

First, he saw two corpses.

The sorcerer and the captain.

His closest aides.

Loyal subjects who had devoted themselves to him above all else.

But now, they were gone.

Murdered by the foreigners from another world.

“Damn it.”

Without the sorcerer, he could no longer enlighten the foolish humans.

“…Damn it.”

Without the captain, he could no longer raid the village for livestock.

Everything had gone awry.

Opportunities to savor delicacies from various regions had diminished.

“……Damn it!!”

Rage surged within him.

How could such a humiliating thing happen to him!

The king unleashed his fury.

He spat out vulgar curses he had never uttered before, sweeping the dishes off the table in a fit of rage.

Crash!

Empty bowls and those filled with food tumbled down beneath the throne, creating a sharp clatter.

“Damnable foreigners! How dare you insult me like this? I will never forgive you. Never!”

Murderous intent ignited within him. Especially.

“…That b*stard, what was his name? Lee Yoo-jin.”

The murderous intent directed at Lee Yoo-jin.

“You arrogant fool… I will kill you. I will mobilize all my forces to ensure your death.”

No, that’s not enough.

Killing him wouldn’t satisfy him.

“Ah… yes.”

He would have to kill him last.

It seems you hold those women beside you in high regard.

“Starting with those women… brutally…”

Just as he was about to say he would kill them.

“That’s enough.”

A chilling voice pierced the king’s ear.

At the same moment, he felt something cold touch his neck.

With that sensation, the king spoke with a face filled with terror.

“Please, spare my life… I don’t know who you are, but please, spare me.”

“Is it only when a blade touches your throat that you beg for your life? How pathetic. This is not the behavior of a king.”

A sharp rebuke, as cutting as the blade itself.

Yet the king paid no mind to it. No, to be precise, in a situation where he could lose his life at any moment, he had no time to care whether his actions were pitiful or not.

“I-I will give you gold and jewels! If you spare my life, I will offer treasures enough to live on for a lifetime!”

“……”

No response.

“I-I will grant you power! The power to command my subjects as you wish!”

“……”

Still no answer.

“I will give you the most handsome man in the world as a slave!”

Could it be that even this is of no use?

Just as the king thought this.

“That is…”

Finally, a response came. At the same time.

Swoosh.

“You, you are…!”

The identity of the assassin was revealed. And that identity was none other than.

“The maid who was with that man earlier…!”

It was the woman who had been with a man named Lee Yoo-jin.

But how?

He had clearly seen her leave with him.

Yet before he could voice such doubts.

“……It’s a truly unpleasant proposal.”

The blade, which had merely brushed against his neck, now dug in.

With that, a sharp sensation accompanied by pain surged, but the king could not utter a sound of suffering.

“I will give you a warning.”

His eyes, devoid of emotion and thus appearing even colder, were fixed upon him.

“Do not do anything.”

The blade pressed deeper into the king’s neck.

Blood began to trickle down, staining the king’s garments a deep red.

“Do not touch my master, nor the women accompanying him. And do not disturb the outsiders who have entered this world.”

His throat ached.

Yet he could not scream.

The moment he made a sound, it felt as if his head would roll.

Thus, the king trembled each time the maid spoke.

“If you understand, blink once.”

At the maid’s words, the king hurriedly blinked.

In that instant, he felt the cold touch that had been digging into his neck fade away. At the same time, he realized the maid’s figure beside him had also vanished.

But still, the voice echoed in his ears.

“I will be watching. Please do not break your promise.”

There was no malice, yet the threat of murder was more palpable than ever.

At those words, the king quietly nodded.

&

‘Ah, right. Terra.’

[Yes, my master.]

‘What is he doing right now?’

[He is sitting quietly on the throne.]

‘…Sitting? Not causing a ruckus?’

[Yes, that is correct.]

‘That’s strange. I thought he would be in a frenzy.’

[Doesn’t that mean the conversation with you has gone well?]

‘…Is that so?’

[Yes, that’s right.]

It’s really strange.

Given his personality, he wouldn’t just sit still.

I expressed my doubts about the king’s incomprehensible behavior.

‘…Still, just in case, keep watching. If he does anything suspicious, report it immediately.’

[Yes, understood. I’m not sure if he will show any suspicious behavior, but if he does, I will report it right away.]

‘…? Okay, please do?’

…What is this?

Why is the word “indeed” attached to the notion of suspicious behavior?

‘It sounds like the king is incapable of doing anything foolish.’

Could it be that he was threatened?

As I thought this, I looked at Terra.

Terra, who was distributing lunch boxes to the party along with me, suddenly flashed a smile.

‘He did it, he really did.’

Of course.

The king wouldn’t just sit quietly.

I chuckled softly and shook my head.