Old People Don’t Hold Hands - Chapter 160



Only Krnovel

Episode 160, The Manifester (4)

To my words, Nokin simply asked back with a look of bewilderment on his face.

“Hunters… …, is that what you mean?”

And I answered Nokin’s question with my shoulders straight on purpose.

I spoke confidently.

“Yes, the hunters.”

“… … .”

“Prove your strength by hunting down those who are hunting our enemy, the Successor.”

“If we can successfully capture them… … , you will take us all in… … ?”

… … Yes, no matter how absurd the conditions may be.

You know that you have no choice but to do it in the end.

As if I had been waiting for this to happen, I held my hands together with my fingers interlocked.

I leaned my upper body forward.

“If you can prove it, I will have no more reason to refuse.”

“… … Then, let me try.”

Hmm, not bad.

As Nokin spoke, as if he had made up his mind about something, I began to explain what kind of ‘proof’ he had to provide.

In fact, what had to be done was simple.

He pretended to be the successor and went around districts 4 and 5 to lure out hunters.

As soon as you reach their lair,

“… … Are you saying that we should all be executed immediately?”

“To put it simply, yes.”

All you had to do was kill them all.

In the final step of finishing the ‘hunt’, all that was needed was to carve a blood mark into the den.

Nokin nodded vigorously, seeming to understand what I was saying.

At the last mentioned ‘Blood Mark’, he tilted his head.

“It’s only for you, Deklen, so why are you engraving a mark on it? If you leave a common mark, it’ll be easier to track you down… …?”

“Because I plan to use the sign in reverse.”

“Use it in reverse… …?”

“Nokin, have you ever heard of a group called Hong Gil-dong?”

“Hong Gil-dong… … Yes. Of course I have heard of him. Are you talking about those who punished hunters before?”

“Yes. I plan to use the sign to make it look like Hong Gil-dong did this too.”

“… … !”

Of course, to tell the truth, it was the opposite.

A group called Hong Gil-dong that was created temporarily by unintentionally imitating what we did.

If they were simply a group that preyed on hunters, they would have been branded as second hunters or thieves.

These people who gathered unexpectedly not only punish the hunters, but also

The property confiscated from them was distributed fairly among adventurers in difficult circumstances.

At the time that happened, the labyrinth was closed, so it was a difficult time for all adventurers.

The fame of the group itself grew day by day… … .

Of course, it may have been because of the incident at the time that he temporarily developed a strong antipathy toward hunters.

It is not clear whether the members were scattered when the labyrinth reopened.

At some point, Hong Gil-dong disappeared without a trace.

Because of this, the hunters became less alert than before.

… … We take advantage of this gap to attack the hunter.

At the same time, I wanted to bring out the good image that adventurers have of the group called Hong Gil-dong.

“… … If that were true, we could hide our identities more clearly.”

“Well, I guess so.”

… … Although he pretended to have something for Nokin and added the word ‘proof’.

This was already the first step in the great mission we are embarking on.

What the manifesters chose in EndWorld was a true rebellion.

Literally, with the intention of crushing the successor and the temple with force and reigning over them… … .

A real rebellion.

But the ambitious rebellion failed so easily that it let out a shiver.

So, those who are here have only been thinking vaguely.

Without even knowing how strong the Successors and the Temple they would have to face were.

It’s not that I haven’t thought about this method yet, but…

No matter how much I thought about it, I knew I would never be able to win by fighting with simple force.

No, it was the same even if I tried to deal with just one temple, let alone the successor.

So, aside from the power-to-power relationship, what should we address first?

When I thought about it, the first thing that came to mind was… … .

That’s right, it was a negative perception of the person who expressed it.

If only we could instill in them the perception that the manifestor might not be such a bad person.

From then on, things would take care of themselves.

The reason why all citizens and successors consider the manifester a target for immediate execution is.

Because that’s literally what the temple said.

Without any evidence to support these facts.

The only reason the temple claimed was that the Prophets were those who had illegally usurped the power of the gods… … .

I knew it.

That all that talk is a joke.

It was information I learned by luck when I was playing as a priest in EndWorld.

This is a treatment that stems from a claim that cannot even be proven in the first place.

If we change our perception of this little by little… … .

The negative perception of the Prophet that started from the temple will gradually lose its power.

If it were to become like this, the temple would no longer be able to treat the manifesters as carelessly as it does now.

… … At least I will be able to avoid summary execution.

So, this could be seen as the first step.

Because this will be an opportunity for people to gradually change their perception of the expresser.

therefore.

“I know that there are some among you who have powers that are advantageous to movement or information.”

“… … That’s right. There are many others, including Twallen, who brought Lord Declen with him today.”

“There must be some people who have an advantage in obtaining information?”

“Oh, that’s right. In general, there are many of them… … .”

“Then, after we execute the hunters, let’s take only some of the usable equipment and distribute the rest.”

“… … Are you telling me to completely imitate the actions of Hong Gil-dong?”

“Yes. We will select adventurers without revealing ourselves and secretly deliver their equipment to them during the night.”

If that happens, it will probably be known that Hong Gil-dong has resumed his activities.

In addition to the fame he had already gained, the rumor that he only helps difficult adventurers spread.

As the days go by, the influence of that group itself will grow.

When its influence became definitely stronger.

I was thinking of informing people that Hong Gil-dong’s group was a group of people who had come to realize their true nature.

… … If that really happens, what changes will occur?

If things go well, the perception of the person who made the statement will change, and even if things go wrong… … .

It might cause some confusion.

This would be an act that directly contradicts the perception of the manifestor that the temple has built up.

“Are you dividing the manifestors here into types now?”

“… … Yes? Joe, dividing them by type?”

… … Really, these are the guys who will later cause a rebellion.

Are you saying that you’ve been living like this?

“First, let’s divide the powers possessed by type. Combat, information, and movement should be fine.”

“… … ! Ah, I understand!”

At my words, Nokin quickly took a notebook out of his pocket and began to write it down.

Well, I feel good because it makes me feel like I’ve become some kind of great person.

… … No, is he really a great person?

I’m going to be the one getting eaten here soon anyway.

“Oh, if there are other powers, you can classify them separately.”

“… … Then, what should we do with those who have little power?”

“Then let’s create a living category and gather those with little or no power there. They can mostly take charge of activities inside the hideout.”

“… … Ah, I understand!”

After that, I continued my explanation.

The first thing that was explained was what kind of work the classified manifesters would do.

First, those classified as combat items are, of course,

I was assigned the task of leading the charge and sweeping away the hunters.

And once they’re done clearing out, those classified as moveable items sweep up all the equipment.

It was a way to quietly deliver items to adventurers selected by those classified as information items.

While working in Hong Gil-dong’s department like this… … .

On the information and movement items side, additionally covertly.

We would recruit the poor, and preferably the strong ones, to train manifesters.

… … Of course, it would be impossible to obtain the blood crystals without those great ‘elders’.

It would be difficult to develop it right away.

“Only the elders know how to obtain the blood crystal. For now, we… … .

Nokin also listened to me and cautiously took the position that it would be impossible.

“I think I can figure out how to do that.”

“… … Uh, how did you know?”

“I plan to meet with those who know about it soon.”

… … The destruction party.

It wasn’t just the odd gods who were so fed up with the gods and their successors that they wished for this world to simply end in destruction.

Naturally, the manifestors are also included in it.

From what I saw in EndWorld, the Doomsday Society also included many manifesters called Nanda Ginda.

… … Maybe I’ll get lucky and meet someone who knows the elders.

If you’re lucky, you might even meet the elder himself.

There are many powerful manifestations who cannot join the group of gods and adventurers.

… … The structure of this EndWorld is such that you have no choice but to become a member of the Destruction Society.

So, to summarize the plan simply, it was this.

While the group of manifesters were returning to automatic hunting for the sake of ‘proof’.

I quickly climb the layers of the labyrinth and make contact with the Doomsday Sect.

… … Oh, by the way, I forgot to say that.

“Nokkin.”

“… … Yes, yes! Mr. Dicken!”

… … You punk, you’re really serious.

“If you raid the hunter’s den, you’ll find something like crystals. Bring them to me.”

“Soo, Soo-jeong… …?”

“Yeah. You’ll know when you see it.”

Nokin, who had probably never lived the life of an adventurer, wondered how the crystal was made.

… … I don’t even know how to use it.

“Well, you said to distribute the equipment to the adventurers, but why the crystal thing…?”

“I’ll make sure to bring them all to you so you can check if they’re working properly with those modifications.”

“… … Ah, I see!”

Well, I tried to cover it up by saying it was for confirmation.

I was finally able to turn on automatic hunting.

Can I skip all the rewards?

I should eat what’s edible.

“And it won’t be easy to reform without a leader, so you can declare me the master from now on.”

“… … ! Are you already accepting us before we even prove it… … !”

Nokin’s eyes welled up with tears as if he was touched by my words, but…

I was planning on taking it anyway.

Even if Nokin simply classifies and reforms this and that, thinking that it is a better method, it is obvious that other manifestations will not follow suit.

… … Anyway, I decided to do that, and I followed that guy named Twallen back out of the hideout.

“Oh, thank you for today! Tea, Pale Blood, Ah, No, … … Mr. Dickenson!”

After waving to the guy who greeted me awkwardly, we arrived at the inn.

All the fatigue that had built up came rushing back to me.

After giving a proper explanation to Nokin, he continued to look around the hideout and pour his energy into reforming… … .

Now that I’m at my accommodations.

… … I had something else to talk about.