"Useup… … ."
I took a moment to catch my breath.
'Masquerade... … . 'This is an event that is difficult for even me to handle.'
okay. You haven't even checked the contents of the letter yet, have you?
"Let's take a look at it first."
The envelope contained two sheets of paper.
One was A4 paper folded in half, and the other was a cute postcard reminiscent of a Christmas card.
"Oh, it's a bear?"
Heo Sang-hyeon's voice is absurd.
He looked relieved for a moment. A hollow smile also comes to mind, as if to say, 'What? I made a misunderstanding?'
First of all, I agreed with Heo Sang-hyeon.
"Yes, it's a bear with a cute design."
It's a postcard with an image of a comically cute purple bear shyly greeting you.
It's even a cute bear with colorful candies drawn on its belly.
I'm sorry, but this is not a situation to be at peace with.
This is actually a danger signal.
Because there is only one crazy person in this world who would send a postcard like this to a 150 year old bone necromancer.
Dokgogyeom.
He is one of the most dangerous characters in Cthulhu World.
Well, when it comes to Masquerade, there is only Dokgo-gyeom.
"It's a letter from Dok Go-gyeom. "Maybe it's an invitation?"
Heo Sang-hyun, as Heo Sang-hyun, looks at me with a curious expression.
"You haven't even read the content yet, but you're speaking as if you have guessed the content in advance?"
"Oh, that's because I know what Masquerade is."
Masquerade is a very special gathering.
A certain crazy NPC that appears in [Cthulhu World] founded... … .
'It is a group with interests that transcend sects and denominations.'
It is a pan-religious union for cultists that works to promote mutual development and rights among cultists, and to block troubleshooters and administrative agencies who are annoying to cultists.
There is an entrance fee, we have fun exchanging information among ourselves, we get together occasionally to go to workshops, we take care of congratulations and condolences, we send gifts on holidays, we lend each other money, we avenge dead friends... … .
In the end, realistically speaking, cults are pseudo-religions, but they get along well.
I can roughly guess what is written on the postcard.
Let's see.
"The movements of the stars are unusual. Sooner or later the stars will fall into place. Before that day comes, a meeting is needed to determine the direction of the judges. Get your mask ready. Although it is too early, we would like to hold a Masquerade."
Oh, shit. That's right.
The idea is for cultists of different religions to gather together wearing masks and interact in a friendly manner.
Of course, it's not just about interacting.
Usually, the exchange is a light pre-ceremony event, and the main event is a joint ancestral rite held by cultists from different sects gathered in one place.
I shook my head and said to Heo Sang-hyeon.
"You sent a letter without knowing that Heo Ju was dead?"
"There are so many words I don't know."
Heo Sang-hyun gave an expression that said he had no idea what was going on.
"Well, it's no big deal. therefore-."
Well, if I start explaining this in detail, it will get really long, so do I really need to explain it?
"-This is a meeting where judges from each denomination gather."
"The judges… … ? Are they similar to the previous owner? "Something like a cult leader?"
Oh, should I explain from there?
"No, to be exact, it's a little different. "This is just a title chosen by cult members."
"As you wish?"
It is a truly meaningless title.
It's not something that the beings of the abyss call them, nor is it a title recognized outside of their own group.
In fact, there is no such title in the world of Call of Cthulhu, which became the motif of [Cthulhu World]. It's just a title that only exists here.
"A being from the abyss, so from the cultists' point of view, it's a god, right? "It was decided that if a cultist receives too much attention from such a person and becomes famous enough to surpass other sects, he will be called a judge."
Only those who are the leader of a religious cult receive this title, but there are also people, such as painters, who inherit titles or characteristics even though they are not the religious leader.
In addition, there are those with exceptional talents, those who can achieve special feats with legendary artifacts, etc.
"Uhm… … ."
Was that a bit of a long-winded explanation? Heo Sang-hyun looked like he was struggling to remember the contents.
In short, it's like this.
"He's just the strongest guy in each church. Depending on the type of cult, there may be someone who is stronger than the cult leader."
"Then those people gather together… … ."
"Isn't it obvious what a group of scoundrels from each denomination would do together? "They gather together and carry out the kind of beggarly blood ritual that Heoju usually does alone on a large scale."
"ah."
A very exciting and enjoyable, yet terrible and evil ritual that will change the fate of this world will take place.
As such, a risk that is different from the quests, events, and random encounters you have experienced before awaits you.
First of all, the strongest from each denomination participate.
In addition, he brings the most promising students among his students, but the number of people gathered varies slightly each time... … .
'Due to the nature of the banquet's offerings, when I go, there will probably be the maximum number of people who can appear, right?'
So at least 300 people?
It's not just simple cult members, there are about 50 people like Heo Ju and Hwain.
There are about 100 direct disciples.
And about 150 people were brought in to run the event or help out.
Until a clear method was discovered, some people said that this was an instant-death trap intentionally created by the development team.
"What should I do… … ."
Heo Sang-hyun, who was looking anxious next to me, became even darker. He has a gloomy appearance that would be worthy of being called the ghostly butler of a monster mansion.
"Are you sure you want to participate?"
"Well, considering the situation. "Anyway, I guess I'll have to leave the house for a day or two in some way."
"A day or two?"
Heo Sang-hyun rolled his big eyes menacingly and made a strange expression.
"what? "Why do you look like that?"
"In the meantime, every time you announced a stay-out, it would last at least a week."
"Ugh, during the Cheongeumdang, it wasn't a situation I could control. What happened during Cheongho… … "I have nothing to say about that."
"The number of intruders is increasing."
Oh, is this the butler's warning?
Heo Sang-hyeon is not whining because he is bored for no reason.
During the game, the butler character often warns of dangers that may arise when going out. I guess this is part of that.
It would be appropriate to interpret this as an increase in the level of attention or notoriety of the place of residence.
"I guess we need to increase the defenses of the mansion."
It seems that the test subjects released around the mansion are not enough. Where do they catch so many ghosts and release them?
"That defense… … "Isn't that why the number of intruders is increasing?"
Heo Sang-hyeon spoke carefully.
"Ah, has the rumor spread?"
"Rumors? "Is this really your intention?"
"Well, automatic farming is necessary at a reasonable level, right?"
This may be something Heo Sang-hyun cannot understand.
As expected, Heo Sang-hyun just said, 'He's saying something I don't understand again.' He made a certain expression and said nothing more. It's because he often tells nonsense.
"anyway."
I said, waving my hands to organize things.
"Because if you don't go, it's a problem."
There are disadvantages to those who do not participate.
It doesn't end with simply paying a fine.
It has been treated as having withdrawn from the group, so from now on, the entire Judges' Association will regard the Starving Mansion as a hostile force.
'Those with more power will take turns attacking this place, right?'
If it is revealed that Heo Joo is dead in the process, they will try to hold an event at the starving mansion.
That's not all. If this event is left unattended, other problems will arise.
T's clock, aka doom counter.
'A star will be added to the destruction counter.'
In short, it is a painful situation.
This is an event that awaits you with a beggarly difficulty that you cannot handle at your current level, but if you ignore this event, an even more beggar situation will occur.
Heo Sang-hyun briefly looked at his big eyes... … Wow, how do you really open your eyes that wide? Anyway, he said with his eyes wide open.
"So, ultimately, I have to accept this invitation?"
Heo Sang-hyun seems to have roughly understood what I was trying to say.
The area under his eyes had darkened and is now turning bluish.
"Do not worry. Here, you can simply use the strategy of canceling the event itself."
"yes?"
Heo Sang-hyun asks in an absurd tone.
Oh my. As I was talking about the game settings, I ended up talking as if I was broadcasting some kind of game.
"Ah, I made a mistake. Hey, what am I going to do here? "If we just go ahead and set the fire, the meeting won't be held at all."
"fire… … "This?"
"Hehe, don't you need a place to hold an event?"
Actually, this is a buggy play, but if you attack in advance and destroy the place where they will gather, the meeting will not be held.
Of course, this is not easy either.
Is this to prevent this kind of abusing (the act of gaining advantage in a different way than intended in the game)? Usually, quests in [Cthulhu World] often change locations randomly.
But this time, you can know the location in advance, right?
"They kindly let you know the location in advance, right? "It's as simple as going ahead and setting it all on fire."
Oh, of course, there are random artifacts that can only be received by clearing this event.
'But most of the items found here are unusable, so it's okay to ignore them.'
Because it is a buggy game, you will not receive any experience points, let alone rewards.
However, it is safer to prevent the meeting from taking place than to suffer from being caught in that horrible place where hundreds of cultists are gathered.
Okay, anyway, decide on a policy!
This strategy requires diligence.
Let's see, when is the event happening?
The event schedule is written on the A4 paper enclosed with the postcard.
'The date is tight.'
Oh, this is really annoying. Should I do a speed run for the first time in a while?
And the meeting place listed below.
"Hey, Sejong City?"
Well, it calls from far away. How does a bony old man with limited mobility get there?
And the event schedule is listed below.
A forest where immoral ingredients are used.
The main event with human sacrifice.
Other sadistic and disgusting things that I don't feel the need to mention in detail.
And again, and… … .
what?
An unexpected sentence caught my eye.
Clear rewards that players could not help but think were random.
It's written there.
'The owner of [Mask of the Faceless One] will also be decided at this time.'
Are you giving [Mask of the Faceless One] as a reward?
Again, the best play is to just cancel the event itself.
'but… … .'
If you prevent the event from being held, you will not be able to receive this artifact.
'Are you telling me to give up on this?'
My image is reflected in the mirror hanging in the living room.
The appearance of a crazy wizard is visible.
He is a crazy wizard who always wears a bizarre mask.
I have an L-class mask artifact anyway.
Unless I have two faces, even if I receive a mask, there is no way I can use it anyway.
And just as my face is one, my life is also one.
Sometimes I put myself in danger, but those were usually adventures that occurred in extreme situations. Pointless adventures are unnecessary when you already know what will happen.
I need a cool-headed judgment now.
Yes, Shinhwa Kim. Come to your senses.
"hmm… … . But this is still a bit desirable."