A Veteran Player is Needed in the Apocalypse

Chapter 50. Kidnapping (?)

At the time when the Academy’s graduation ceremony was in full swing.

“…….”

BangguseokYeoBo sat awkwardly across from Anton, with only a small tea table separating them.

Though BangguseokYeoBo’s hair and clothing were a mess, it wasn’t as if Anton had done anything to him.

After receiving an outing pass and heading towards the slums, BangguseokYeoBo was greeted by large men in black clothes.

– “Please get in. He’s waiting for you.”

Thinking that Haydam had summoned him, BangguseokYeoBo had no concerns even when they blindfolded him in the car.

However, when the blindfold was removed after arriving at the destination, and he saw Anton sitting across from him, he was startled and caused quite a commotion. BangguseokYeoBo, who had retreated to a corner like a cat with its fur standing on end, frantically swinging a chair, was finally calmed down and seated by Anton, who now looked rather exhausted as he asked,

“Why were you so frightened?”

BangguseokYeoBo hesitated before answering in a small, trembling voice,

“I thought I was going to be tortured….”

“You’ve been reading too many novels.”

At Anton’s remark, BangguseokYeoBo offered a sheepish smile.

‘Not novels, but too many games. This place usually shows up during torture scenes.’

Upon reflection, this secret location was indeed used as a torture chamber after the player became the commander in the game.

‘I always wondered who set up these secret places when I was playing, and it turns out it was Anton.’

BangguseokYeoBo thought that anyone would have trembled like he did if the first thing they saw after removing their blindfold was the very place where they had tortured NPCs in the game.

“You should have just told me you wanted to talk.”

“I did say that.”

“Actually, my English isn’t very good.”

If it had been Haydam, he would have probably teased him with, “Are you bragging?” but Anton seemed more intrigued.

“That’s a fresh answer.”

“Fresh? Where are you going with this?”

“Recently, the only person around your age I’ve spoken with is Lord Haydam. He speaks… quite well for his age.”

“Not just well. He talks like a snake.”

Anton cracked a small smile at that comment.

‘Did he really just call me to talk?’

Anton didn’t seem like he intended any harm, and with that, BangguseokYeoBo sighed internally in relief.

Anton was one of the NPCs in the Cola Zone, and in truth, BangguseokYeoBo knew very little about him.

He only knew that after the player poisoned Daphne, this NPC would follow her in suicide.

‘It seems like Haydam is the reason this guy kidnapped me, though….’

Still, since Anton didn’t seem to have any intention of treating him roughly, it looked like he simply had something to ask.

As soon as he had that thought, Anton suddenly asked,

“How long have you known Lord Haydam?”

‘How long have I known him…?’

Why was he asking that specifically?

Did something change based on how long you’d known Haydam?

Should he boast about knowing him since the slum days? Or maybe he should testify about Haydam’s childhood?

‘Hmm….’

BangguseokYeoBo tried to think like Haydam for a moment but soon gave up and decided to answer honestly.

‘There’s no point in pretending to be like DopamineAddict. I’m not good at psychological games.’

Plus, telling the truth seemed like the fastest way to end this tense one-on-one situation.

Because.

“I’ve known Haydam for about… three months?”

In reality, the time BangguseokYeoBo had spent with Haydam since getting stuck in the game was only three months.

If he claimed to have known Haydam since the slum days, he’d have to make up a lot of stories.

But by sticking to the truth, there was no need to fabricate anything. And proving it wouldn’t be difficult either.

Naturally, Anton’s face scrunched up as if he had expected that BangguseokYeoBo had known Haydam for much longer.

“Three months…?”

“When I came to enlist, Haydam filled out my application for me because I couldn’t write. That was the first time we met… but why?”

“…….”

From the look in Anton’s eyes, it was clear he didn’t believe what BangguseokYeoBo had just said.

“Your enlistment application said you were from the slums. If you’re from the same slum, wouldn’t you have known Lord Haydam?”

“I just told you, Haydam wrote that down for me.”

“So, you’re saying Haydam just made up the slum part? Then where are you really from?”

At Anton’s repeated questioning, BangguseokYeoBo answered confidently.

“I don’t know.”

“…You don’t know?”

“I have no memory before the age of ten. That’s why I couldn’t write, and that’s also why I’m not very good at English. Not because I’m dumb.”

“…….”

It was obvious from Anton’s expression that he didn’t believe a single word BangguseokYeoBo had just said.

Of course, even BangguseokYeoBo wouldn’t have believed it either. Having no memories before meeting Haydam? That was a conveniently crafted backstory no one would buy.

“But you filled out not only your birthplace but also your name on the enlistment form. Are you saying that was made up too?”

“How did you know? That was also Haydam.”

“…You expect me to believe that Lord Haydam named you *Darling Outsider*?”

“Isn’t that the part where I should be mad? I’m the one stuck living with that name!”

When BangguseokYeoBo retorted with genuine frustration, Anton leaned back in his chair with a dumbfounded look on his face.

“No wonder Lord Haydam is so fond of you. I’ve always wondered what he saw in you… Turns out I was fooled by your naive little act.”

“…….”

‘It’s not an act, though….’

But BangguseokYeoBo kept silent, knowing Anton wouldn’t believe him even if he denied it.

“Alright… Let’s assume you’ve only known Lord Haydam for three months. I’ve seen you get called to the Commander’s Residence often. What do you do when you’re there?”

Anton, perhaps frustrated by BangguseokYeoBo’s uncooperative attitude, now directly asked about his activities with Haydam.

“Do you receive any special training? Or is it that he gives you orders?”

“Uh…….”

BangguseokYeoBo decided to answer truthfully once again.

“I mostly eat things.”

“…What do you mean, eat things?”

“Cookies… ah, and also military rations. I tried a variety of things because he told me to. So, I ate a bit of everything.”

In reality, whenever he met with Haydam, they were often busy testing out various abilities, which involved eating different things. So, it wasn’t exactly a lie.

Anton, visibly irritated, sharply asked again.

“Are you making fun of me?”

“No, but is it really that strange for ten-year-olds to meet up and eat snacks?”

“Of course, it’s strange! You’re telling me the great Lord Haydam calls you over just to eat snacks?!”

As Anton’s voice rose, something quite unusual for him, BangguseokYeoBo shrank back slightly, but then quickly steeled his resolve and asked Anton.

“Why are you so eager to know what I do with Haydam? What do you plan to do if Haydam finds out you’re doing this?”

“……”

Anton stared at BangguseokYeoBo for a moment before calming down, his voice becoming more composed.

“Lord Haydam said he would make my son his lieutenant.”

“…What? Plato?”

When BangguseokYeoBo mentioned his son’s name without hesitation, Anton’s eyes narrowed.

“So, you already know about my son. You must have had plenty of conversations with Haydam while eating your snacks, huh?”

“He never mentioned making Plato his lieutenant, though. Did you actually confirm that? If it’s Haydam, he might be tricking you about the lieutenant position.”

“…Aren’t you supposed to be friends with Lord Haydam?”

Anton asked, surprised by how little BangguseokYeoBo seemed to trust Haydam.

But BangguseokYeoBo was also taken aback, as he had assumed the lieutenant position would naturally be given to him.

‘If Plato gets the lieutenant position… then what about me?’

While BangguseokYeoBo was deep in thought, Anton’s voice continued.

“…But truthfully, I don’t trust Lord Haydam that much either. That’s why I called you here. I can’t decide if my son should trust him or not.”

“Hmm…”

‘He doesn’t seem to be lying…’

At first, BangguseokYeoBo thought Anton, as the leader of the Daphne faction, had summoned him to uncover Haydam’s weaknesses.

But if Haydam had offered Plato the lieutenant position, it didn’t seem like Anton had any reason to oppose him.

“Now, do you understand? We’re going to be in the same boat. So, how about being honest with me now? How long have you really known Lord Haydam? Is he someone who can be trusted?”

BangguseokYeoBo could sense that Anton was somewhat sincere in his question, but that didn’t change anything.

“Honestly, I’ve only known him for three months, and he’s not really someone I’d call trustworthy.”

At that answer, Anton’s expression immediately darkened.

“Even after all this, you’re still going to continue pretending? You’re quite cautious, aren’t you?”

Cautious? BangguseokYeoBo had only told the truth, but Anton clearly didn’t believe him.

As BangguseokYeoBo stood there awkwardly, Anton, with an unreadable expression, said,

“If you still don’t trust me… I’ll share one of my secrets with you.”

“A secret?”

“I actually have a hidden daughter.”

“You have a daughter?!”

Even as someone well-versed in the secrets of the Safe Zone, this was news to BangguseokYeoBo.

The fact that Anton had a daughter? That was unexpected.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through BangguseokYeoBo’s mind, and he asked in shock.

“Could it be that Daphne is your daughter?!”

For a moment, Anton’s face twisted in annoyance.

“Daphne *is*?”

“You mean Lady Daphne is your daughter?”

“I’m offering to tell you a secret, and you come up with some ridiculous plot like that? You really should stop reading those novels.”

“……”

There had been a popular theory among players that Anton, who remained loyal to Daphne even after the former commander’s death, and even followed her in death when she was poisoned, was actually her biological father.

But from Anton’s expression, it seemed that theory wasn’t true.

Ignoring BangguseokYeoBo’s absurd speculation, Anton pulled a photo from his jacket and handed it over.

“Here, take a look at this photo.”

‘It’s strange he’s suddenly bringing up a hidden daughter… but since even DopamineAddict didn’t know about this, I might as well take a look.’

BangguseokYeoBo accepted the photo from Anton.

When he looked at it, a young woman with black hair, who bore no resemblance to Anton, came into view. She had a beauty mark under her eye and looked quite young.

“…Huh?”

As BangguseokYeoBo stared at the photo, puzzled, a faint smile appeared on Anton’s lips.