Chapter 100
“...!”
The reason everyone's expressions hardened was simple.
“Excuse me, President?”
[Why?]
“It seems like nothing has changed.”
It was true.
He fiddled with the back of his helmet as if he was going to do something, and the sound of the lock releasing was heard...
And as he lowered his hands, I thought the Dragon Head would split open to reveal his face, or the helmet would pop up with a clank and he would pull his head out from underneath, but nothing happened.
It was just the usual Sasha Dragon. The Red Dragon Head, looking exceptionally annoying today, proudly snorted out breath.
The Dragon President grinned evilly and shouted.
[Uso da yo (It's a lie!)! You didn't actually believe me, did you?]
“...”
[Not a chance! I can't break the Red Dragon Concept I've maintained for over ten years right here. And over just a few words! It's a shame you seemed to be looking forward to it so much, but Dame da yo, dame (No, don't).]
Tsk.
Honestly, I expected this to some extent.
The opponent is a Crazy Concept-obsessed person who shoves even alcohol and food into his Dragon Snout while wearing his helmet. There's no way he would reveal his true form so easily.
When the click sounded from the Helmet Connection, I was almost Caught Off Guard and fooled, but it was as expected. Sasha Dragon was not such an Easygoing person.
“...”
However, the Bartenders were just as Formidable.
Perhaps they were full of determination to see their Employer's bare face this time, because as soon as the Dragon President shouted that it was a lie, the surrounding atmosphere turned bleak.
Is this... bloodlust?
My limbs stiffened as if I had been anesthetized. Cold sweat chilled my spine.
Sey was looking at the Dragon President from across the table.
She was clearly just staring expressionlessly without any emotion, but that made it even scarier.
It would be better if she just glared openly. That Cold, ashen gaze made my heart sink even though it wasn't directed at me.
Goodness, how on earth could a Bartender's gaze be more terrifying than the glares of those Gangster terrorists?
What was even more surprising was that the Dragon President withstood it. Is this the willpower of a legendary former Ronin and Veteran Soldier?
Of course, he definitely didn't overcome it easily, as I judged from watching right in front of him.
The bright yellow Electronic Lens flickered for a moment and wandered here and there, and I could see the Metal Finger holding the giant beer mug, trembling.
Still, to endure that was challenging. Is this the state of Myeonggyeongjisoo (Clear Mirror, Still Water)? It was highly admirable.
But even the Dragon President couldn't stop Tony from getting access to the Net Forum.
I could see Tony ostentatiously continuing to write a temporarily saved post on the hologram Display.
A shameless Employer asked for a subordinate Employee's Three Sizes at a company Dinner.
On top of that, he was trying to post all at once that the Employer was a Crazy psychopath who wore the exact same Dragon Costume every day and even handled his piss and SHIT inside it, thereby destroying his reputation online!
[Yamero (Stop it)!!! When did I Ever handle my excrement inside the suit! Don't just spread baseless rumors as you please!]
“...”
[What? Even if you Threaten me like that, you can't break my Resolve! I won't yield to Outside pressure! I will never take off this helmet.]
“...”
[...However, this is a Truth or Dare game, right? If you give me an order through a dare, the story might change a little?]
Nod. Everyone's gazes met in one place and nodded.
A dramatic Negotiation Settlement.
The Dragon President confirmed that Tony completely deleted the post he was writing and was able to take a breather from the Threat of being embalmed on the net,
and the remaining Employee Trio was able to focus on one common goal.
The objective was just one thing.
The objective was making the Dragon President choose a dare.
And thus, they proceeded by using an order to peel off the shell called the Dragon Helmet and check the bare flesh inside!
The game is starting now.
* * *
Unfortunately, the 3-person Employee Union Alliance system opposing the Evil Dragon Dragon President was not very effective.
The first reason was that the Game Rules themselves were set up so that you couldn't Freely designate the Target of Attack.
Because the target was decided by spinning a chopstick, even if we wanted to target the Dragon President, there were countless times when someone else was chosen.
It was even more so after Tony was caught midway through trying To precisely Manipulate his prosthetic arm to adjust the direction the tip of the chopstick pointed, to his liking.
[Foul!!! Yellow Card!!!!]
The rules underwent an Emergency Revision, changing to use a Net Program that selected the target completely at random.
Unlike with chopsticks, there was no room to play any tricks here, and we could proceed with the game in a Fair Method.
Of course, even in the midst of that, I was pretending not to notice Tony's hand movements as he manipulated his Portable Terminal this way and that under the table, trying to somehow mess with the Program Code.
Isn't he just a pure con artist, not a Magician?
The second reason:
There was one more fatal flaw in the rules, even more so than designating the target.
“This is a scam!”
Tony shouted, Raging with Indignation. Sey also nodded vigorously in front of him.
The Evil Dragon provoked them and smiled wickedly.
[Why? There's no problem at all. We are strictly following the rules and engaging in Normal Play.]
Tony shuddered at the Dragon President's words.
“But...”
[But?]
“You're not choosing dare!”
That was right.
The Blind Spot in the Rules was the fact that the target could Freely choose between truth and dare.
In short, if the Dragon President continued to choose only truth, it was impossible to give him an order to take off his helmet as a dare!
[I just want to properly enjoy Truth or Dare, you know? Confessing the secrets we've hidden from each other is the Charm of the Game, after all. I'm definitely not purposely avoiding the dare just to dodge your orders.]
The Dragon President said with a shrug.
His words were correct, but... when the person who insistently chose truth every single time he was picked, even three times in a row, said he wasn't purposely avoiding the dare, it severely lacked credibility.
[I just followed the rules... Well, that's a shame! Can't be helped, I guess. Kekekeke!]
At that devilishly mean laughter, a vein popped on Tony's forehead.
He Ground his teeth and said.
“If you're going to come out like that, I have an idea too...”
[I have an idea too~ Even if you have an idea, you can't do anything, right? You're a pushover, right? You can never take off my helmet, right?]
Somehow, it felt like the Truth Game was gradually flowing completely differently from its original intention...
I didn't mind since it was fun to Watch. Should I have ordered something to chew on, like popcorn?
With a joyful heart, I watched Tony pull out the blade he had been sharpening to use against the Dragon President and unfold his revenge play.
Ding-
By a truly pure coincidence, the Dragon President was amazingly chosen as the target on Tony's turn.
The Italian man, full of venom, opened his mouth with blazing eyes.
“Honestly, deep down in your truthful heart, you know that a gun is a Superior Weapon compared to a sword, right? Honestly, you Admit you're a sword pushover, right? Actually, you were just being stubborn because you didn't want to lose, right?”
[Wait, this isn't a game where you ask things like─.]
“Just Answer the question. Is it true or not!”
Suddenly, the atmosphere completely flipped, as if we had entered a DCPD Interrogation Room instead of a 24-hour Unmanned Restaurant.
Still, I thought he would somehow gloss over this crisis and move on... but on the turn after next, it returned, ghost-like, to Tony's turn.
Ding-
And 'coincidentally' again, the Program nominated the Dragon President.
[Kore (This) is a bit strange... You didn't mess with the machine, did you? If you're pulling a scam again─.]
“Shut up and just Answer the question, Sasha Dragon!”
[Hey. I haven't even decided between Truth or Dare yet?!]
The Dragon President protested like that, but it was obvious what he would choose.
As everyone expected, he chose truth, and Tony sharply dug into that opening.
“Honestly, you Admit your Dueling Skill is worse than mine, right? Deep down in your head, you know that winning last time was pure luck, right? You know it's ugly to try and act like equals just because you won once, right?”
[Hey, why is dueling suddenly coming up here? And I'm telling you, this isn't how you play...]
“Just Answer the question!”
And it didn't end there.
“Honestly, have you Ever Taken a SHIT inside your suit, yes or no.”
[I told you I haven't...]
“Honestly, you know your concept is unfunny and childish, right? It's an otaku armored Kkon-dae dragon who uses Japanese. It's kimoi (gross).”
[Don't sneakily make a Personal Attack! And don't copy my way of speaking!]
"Honestly, doesn't it stink inside every time you wear the suit, because you never wash it?"
[Stop tormenting me with that... I was wrong...]
Due to Tony's Fierce Attack using the Truth Game's questions for criticism, and the Coordinated Attack of the other employees chiming in appropriately from the side with 'Boooo-', the Dragon President was put in a Precarious Situation, as if standing on the Edge of a Cliff.
A situation right on the verge of taking down the Impregnable dragon!
Ding-
Once again, the bright light pointed at the Dragon President.
It was already the fifth time.
It was a situation where it was obvious to anyone that the Program had been hacked, but perhaps because his Mental Shock was severe, he couldn't point it out and only rolled his dead, black LED Reptilian Eyes around dizzily.
“It's the President again. Truth or Dare?”
[Tru...th...]
“Honestly─.”
[Kkieeeeeeeek! I can't take it anymore!!!!! I can't live like this!!!!!]
Finally!
As soon as Tony brought out the magic intro 'Honestly─.' as if he had been waiting for it, Sasha Dragon threw a fit and complained of Trauma.
At the sight of him grabbing his helmet and screaming, the remaining three shared a victorious High-five.
We had finally defeated the wicked Evil Dragon!
The remaining steps were set.
“Then choose dare obediently.”
“It's easier on your mind if you give up.”
Tony and I threw in a word each, and Sey nodded from the side. The Dragon President sobbed and raised the white flag.
“Do you Admit defeat? If so, take off your helmet!”
[Sob...]
He chose the dare, and he detached and tore off the front part of the helmet, the Dragon Face, obeying the majestic order of the Triumphant General Antonio.
Click-
And what appeared was...
“A mask?”
A Golden Mechanical Face Mask completely filled the area where the Dragon Snout and eyes had disappeared.
It was a mask that covered the face very densely, like something a bank robber would pull over his or her head when committing a crime.
No, masks are my exclusive property.
Somehow, I felt wronged. a feeling like my Identity had been stolen.
It's a company Dinner right now, and since we're indoors, I'm not wearing one. Should I put one on even now?
...No, more than that, what kind of Crazy person wears a mask inside a helmet?
Come to think of it, it was strange—a feeling like I had been thoroughly tricked.
And in reality, I had indeed been tricked.
The Dragon President burst into a maniacal laugh, Kuhahaha.
[Kuhahahahah! I knew something like this would happen today, so I prepared a countermeasure in advance! You tried to see my bare face by attacking my mentality. Not bad, but you're still ten years too early to catch up to me! Thanks to my excellent Method Acting, you probably thought my face would be right there when I took off the helmet.
But Oresama (My Great Self) anticipated that you would give an order and came wearing a mask to cover my face! Thanks to that, even if I take off my helmet like this, my true form isn't revealed. Furthermore, since you've already given an order once, you won't be able to make me take off the mask too. It's your defeat!]
“Ugh... how frustrating!”
Tony conceded defeat and fell to his knees, and I Clapped from the side with my mouth wide open.
Is this the Battle of Wits between duelists...!
Just how many moves ahead did he see?
He anticipated that something like this would happen even before starting the Truth or Dare game—no, from the moment he came to the company Dinner—and he came wearing a mask inside his helmet!
Is this what they call the gap between an Employee and a President?
Tony fought hard in his own way, but the Dragon President was on a different level.
I Admit it: to think he would be that faithful to his concept.
I could only express sheer admiration at his Thorough Security Device. If he wants to protect his Mysticism that much, I should respect it.
Until he reveals it himself, it seems I shouldn't try to dig up the Dragon President's true form if possible.
I am curious, but since everyone has their own Privacy, I'll have to hold back.
It's not like there was no harvest at all, either.
“──.”
I didn't do it on purpose, but for a moment, my gaze sweeping over Sasha Dragon with his helmet off was incredibly sharp.
The World momentarily slowed down, and even the finest Details appeared extremely close to my eyes, as if I were looking through a magnifying glass.
In that familiar state of Superhuman Concentration, I examined the Dragon President's slightly revealed outward appearance.
It was a Steel Mask that wrapped around his entire face, but it couldn't cover the back of his head.
Thanks to that, the rough red, scarlet hair springing and poking out between the helmet and the mask couldn't help but catch my eye.
On top of that, the acrylic sunglasses were worn over the mask as if to hide his real eyes. His gaze shone bluish-green even behind the round, pitch-black lenses.
So he's not called the Red Dragon for nothing. Is that it?
I couldn't see his face, but even just considering the indirectly revealed signs, I found it highly impressive.
I wanted to look a bit closer...
[Nakamura-kun! Where are you staring so intentlyyyy!]
But because the Dragon President shrieked like a girl, unfortunately, my Concentration broke and I couldn't see any more than that.
After I turned my head away for a moment, he had already put the front part of the Dragon Helmet back on with a clank.
[From now on, trying to strip off someone else's clothes like a Hentai (Pervert) is forbidden! Teaming up with multiple people to Attack just one person is also forbidden! Manipulating the Program by hacking is also forbidden! We are going back to the pure, original Truth or Dare!]
He shouted, snorting breath out of his Dragon Head nostrils.
Unfortunately, the fierce Truth Game battle between the 3-person Employee Union Alliance and the Dragon President came to a close with a victory for the Employer's side.