Surviving The Game as a Barbarian (Novel) Chapter 331, 332, 333

  

C331, 332, 333

Chapter 331: To the Future (1)

Sunlight streaming through the window bars and a cool breeze.

I couldn’t help but sigh in contentment as I enjoyed grilled meat and rum.

“Ah, this is the life.”

It had been so long since I had enjoyed such an ordinary day.

The contrast with the gloomy Noark made it even more satisfying.

Well, it wasn’t like I didn’t have anything to worry about.

‘It’s already been a week…’

Auril Gabis, Liuhen Praha, Jerome the Knight of Light.

A week had passed since that chaotic day when big shots were popping out from everywhere.

And…

“Sigh.”

…I was still stuck in this time period.

“When the hell is this thing going to activate?”

I grumbled, fiddling with the Fragment of Records, but there was a silver lining to this situation.

At least I had time to dispose of my equipment.

‘And I have a few guesses as to why it’s not working…’

Anyway, I decided to take a break and got a room at an inn on the surface.

Ah, for reference, it was just one room.

I wanted two rooms, but Amelia said there was no need.

Honestly, I agreed.

We had practically lived together for months in that underground city.

It was a bit late to be talking about separate rooms.

“Drinking again…?”

“Oh, you’re back.”

“I told you to lock the door when I’m not here.”

Amelia entered the room and casually threw her coat on the rack.

I didn’t ask where she had been since morning.

It was obvious.

She must have been secretly stalking her sister.

“Nagging as soon as you come back.”

“It’s not nagging…”

I quickly changed the subject.

“So, how’s Laura doing?”

Laura had woken up three days ago, thanks to the strong effect of the Lethe’s Blessing prototype. And she was diagnosed with amnesia by the priest who was volunteering at the shelter, believing that the name on the ID card in her pocket was her real name.

“It’s not Laura, it’s Shannon Ellaura.”

“Ah, right.”

For reference, we created the name ‘Shannon Ellaura’. We were a bit hesitant to use the ID card the old man gave us.

Amelia had a hard time switching the ID card we obtained with the one in Laura’s belongings and even modifying the patient records at the shelter.

“So how is she?”

“Unfortunately, it seems like she caught the priest’s eye. She started learning how to read today, and she’s progressing very quickly. The priest thinks it’s a sign that her memories are returning…”

“Don’t worry, that won’t happen.”

“I’m not worried about that. I’m just concerned that she’s attracting the attention of someone from the church.”

I didn’t understand at first, but then it clicked.

“Because of her essences?”

“Right. It would be suspicious for a child to have essences.”

She would probably live her life without even knowing that she had essences.

Her stats could be explained away as her being naturally healthy, and she wouldn’t be able to activate her abilities since she had no memories.

But…

“This is a bit unsettling. For her to catch the priest’s eye, of all people.”

It would be a different story if she lived a life closely connected to the church.

There was a chance that her essences would be revealed since the church had the power to remove them.

“…It seems like she attracted attention because it’s rare for someone to lose their memories.”

“So what are we going to do?”

“What can we do? We can’t just take her away.”

Amelia clicked her tongue and said she would just observe for now, and I agreed.

And that was the end of that topic.

“By the way, how about changing your way of speaking?”

Amelia looked at me with wary eyes as I subtly brought it up.

“…My way of speaking?”

“It’s a bit too formal for companions.”

“Companions?”

“What’s with that ‘I’ve never heard of it’ expression? Don’t tell me you forgot our promise—”

“No, I remember. I was just… wondering what that had to do with my way of speaking.”

“Well, it doesn’t really matter. I was just curious about how you would sound if you spoke differently.”

“…What?”

Amelia stared at me as if I was pathetic and then sighed.

“You… really…”

“Well, I can be curious, can’t I? You didn’t speak like that when you were younger.”

“That’s…”

Amelia trailed off.

It was an unexpected reaction.

She would have usually ignored me or told me to stop teasing her.

“I’ll try to change my way of speaking.”

“Huh?”

“No, I’ll… try. Is this better? No, is it… huh?”

What the hell.

I was genuinely creeped out.

That’s when, as I was speechless…

“Hmm… ‘Is this better?’ sounds more natural than ‘Is it better?’ Which one do you think is better?”

…Amelia started seriously contemplating her way of speaking.

“Wa, wait a minute. Aren’t you changing too easily?”

“You’re the one who told me to change.”

“That’s true, but even so…”

“Don’t misunderstand. I’ve also been thinking about it recently.”

“Thinking about it?”

“…My sister would have wanted me to. And besides, you said it, so I must have a problem.”

Ah…

‘I was just teasing you because the atmosphere was too gloomy.’

I quickly tried to fix the situation before it was too late.

“I don’t think it’s something you have to force yourself to change. What does it matter how you speak? The important thing is who you are.”

Amelia, who was initially hesitant, nodded, trusting my words since I had a history with Misha.

“So you two really were in that kind of relationship.”

“Ah…”

Why did I say that?

I had never told anyone about that.

“Hmm, well, you wouldn’t say that if you didn’t mean it. I understand. I’ll put the speech issue on hold for now.”

“…Right, good decision.”

I quickly moved on to the main topic.

“Anyway, now that we’ve rested enough, let’s have a proper conversation.”

“Conversation… alright.”

Amelia sat down across from me, and we started our meeting.

______________________

The first item on the agenda was this:

“Are you really not related to the Rose Knight Order?”

“No. And we already talked about that.”

I found out later that Liuhen Praha had persistently chased Amelia because he thought she was a member of that group.

It seemed like he had a grudge against them…

[I can show you what it feels like to lose something.]

…judging by what he said, he must have lost someone because of them.

But that wasn’t important.

“Why are you bringing this up again?”

I had dismissed it as a strange coincidence back then, but a possibility came to mind as I thought about it.

“You said you learned Aura from a woman you met in Noark?”

“Yes, she taught me a few things because she liked my eyes. But she just laid the foundation, I awakened Aura much later. But… didn’t we already talk about this?”

“That’s true.”

We had concluded back then that the woman was probably a member of the Rose Knight Order.

However…

“But isn’t it possible that she was you?”

“…What?”

“I suddenly thought about it. It doesn’t make sense for a stranger to be that kind.”

Amelia, who had been perceptive since she was young, understood what I was trying to say.

“Are you saying that’s what we have to do?”

“Yes.”

To lay the foundation for ‘Aura’ for Baby Amelia.

That might be our remaining task.

However…

“Don’t worry, it’s not that.”

Amelia firmly denied the possibility.

I asked for her reasoning, but she just said she could trust her and didn’t elaborate.

‘It seems like I’m really wrong… judging by how she’s reacting.’

That was good news for me.

It meant we wouldn’t have to stay here for another two years.

“Then let’s move on to the next item.”

The second topic was Auril Gabis.

How would that suspicious old man affect the future?

We talked about it for a long time.

And it ended with me getting scolded.

“By the way, why did you do something so dangerous? It would have been better if you had just parted ways amicably.”

“What do you mean? You’re saying I should have revealed my identity and face?”

“Even if you didn’t do that, you didn’t have to mock him at the end.”

“Ah…”

That’s true.

I felt refreshed back then, but it was a bit creepy thinking about how angry he must have been.

“You’re good and all, but you need to be more careful with your words and actions.”

“…Alright.”

“I won’t say anything more… but be careful. I said I would become your companion, and that means I’m entrusting my life to you.”

I was grateful for her trust.

‘…But didn’t she say she wouldn’t say anything more?’

“Ahem.”

I coughed and changed the subject, and then we moved on to the next item.

The core of this meeting.

How to activate the Fragment of Records.

“To be precise, I was thinking we should discuss what our task is…”

“You sound like you have an idea.”

Of course, I did.

There were a few candidates besides teaching Baby Amelia the basics of Aura in two years.

And the first one was this.

“The Genesis Artifact…?”

Amelia tilted her head, but she couldn’t dismiss the possibility.

Well, it wasn’t like I would be the one stealing the ‘Genesis Artifact’ twenty years later…

…but I might get involved with it somehow.

Like the ‘barbarian heart’ incident.

Although the outcome wouldn’t happen for a while, I might be the one who caused it.

“Well, the Genesis Artifact is a very important item for evil spirits. It makes sense in that aspect. You’re also an evil—”

“Tsk.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I wasn’t supposed to say that.”

Although it was a sensitive topic for me, Amelia quickly apologized, so I just gave her a yellow card.

Then the second possibility.

“The GM… that was the nickname of the one who inherited the gathering from Auril Gabis, right?”

“Yes.”

“But why?”

“It’s around this time that he takes over the community.”

It was a bit of a coincidence.

Maybe I had to meet the past him and do something to return to my original time.

“That’s also plausible. Is there a third one?”

I immediately presented the last possibility.

“To hide the things I’ve gathered here and send them to the future. Maybe that’s my last role.”

“Isn’t that… just wishful thinking?”

Uh, well, she’s not wrong…

“Do you have any ideas?”

“We, well… I’ll tell you if I think of something.”

Damn it, I was hoping for something good.

I was a bit disappointed, but a leader should be able to embrace their companion’s shortcomings.

“Whatever, so did you sell all the equipment?”

“More than half of it. We could sell it faster if we lowered the price—”

“No, it’s fine if it takes time, just sell it at the right price.”

“But there are some valuable items, wouldn’t it be better to keep a few?”

Ugh, she doesn’t know anything.

Equipment requires maintenance.

Its value decreases over time.

And besides, it would be suspicious if I was selling equipment from twenty years ago, so it was better to just get rid of everything except for the Demon Crusher, which I couldn’t buy even if I had the money.

‘The problem is where to hide it…’

I was continuing my usual worry when…

“Ah, and one more thing.”

“Huh?”

“I heard something while I was out today. They’re auctioning a 3rd-grade essence at the central exchange.”

“What, a 3rd-grade essence? Why not the Sky Auction House?”

“It seems like the Alminus Trading Company is trying something new.”

Hmm, are they trying to upgrade the central exchange?

They wouldn’t be able to beat the Sky Auction House.

“So what essence is it? Ah, are they keeping it a secret until the day before the auction like the Sky Auction House?”

“Yes, but it doesn’t matter since I already know. It was a famous auction.”

Damn right, this is the perk of being a regressor.

Amelia spoke as I urged her to tell me with my eyes.

“It’s Vol-Herchan’s essence.”

Is this fate?

“……!!!!”

It was the essence I needed for my build.

-------------------------------------

Chapter 332: To the Future (2)

Vol-Herchan.

A super-sized monster that appears on the 7th floor.

Since it lives in groups in specific fields, essence farming itself isn't that difficult if you have the specs. That's why I chose Bion's essence, which is harder to obtain later, when I received the royal family's reward.

But...

'To be honest, its combat performance was better.'

While Bion's [Transcendence] allows for utility, variable creation, and unconventional skill combinations, Vol-Herchan focuses on one thing.

Physical Resistance.

The stat that tanks should prioritize even over Strength.

Moreover, Vol-Herchan has an active skill that allows you to block Aura, making its essence essential for becoming a sturdy shield barbarian.

'The problem is... the essence color.'

The active skill changes depending on the color of the essence.

This is one of the biggest reasons why growth becomes more difficult as you climb higher. Not only are high-level monsters harder to hunt, but from 3rd-grade onwards, there are at least five or six different colors of essences that can drop.

It's not time to celebrate yet.

At least not yet...

"Amelia, do you happen to know... what color the essence is?"

"Hmm, I think it was green."

What? Green?!

"Hallelujah..."

Amelia frowned at my exclamation. Well, she must have been confused since it was a word she had never heard before.

"Is that something you say in your world?"

I explained that it was a word used when something good happened, omitting the religious meaning, and Amelia nodded.

And then she glanced at me with a slightly hurt expression.

"You gave me a hard time when I said that word earlier..."

Ah, right.

I did get upset when she said I was an evil spirit.

It must have seemed hypocritical.

'I would have kept my 'hallelujah' to myself if it were anyone else...'

Is it because she's the only companion (SSR) in this world who knows I'm an evil spirit?

I apologized sincerely.

"It wasn't that I was being strict with you. I just tend to be more comfortable around you. I'll be more careful from now on."

"...Whatever."

Amelia accepted my apology coolly, and that was the end of that topic.

I then asked the most important question.

"By the way, Amelia..."

"Just get to the point."

"Do you happen to know... how much it sold for?"

I asked with a trembling voice, trying to suppress my excitement, and Amelia chuckled and stood up from her chair.

And...

Click, click.

She walked over to me, bent down, and whispered in my ear.

"...!!!!"

I felt goosebumps all over my body.

What the hell, how is it that expensive?

____________________

I was shocked at first, but after thinking about it, it wasn't that unreasonable.

It was a 3rd-grade essence, after all.

Since it was being auctioned at the central exchange instead of the Sky Auction House, there would have been many more bidders. There are plenty of rich people who can't enter the Sky Auction House.

Anyway, that wasn't the important part.

"Amelia..."

"What is it?"

"That's..."

I hesitated, and Amelia, who had returned to her seat, crossed her legs and folded her arms.

It was a bit intimidating...

"Uh... that's..."

Amelia sighed and scratched the itch as I struggled to speak.

"You're wondering how much we'll get if we sell all the equipment, right?"

"Yes."

"Probably... about 70%. Even if we sell it slowly at a good price."

Damn it, so it's not enough.

"...I guess we have no choice but to give up."

It wasn't just about being 30% short.

We had been looting for over six months, and we had even taken everything from those ten looters.

It was practically impossible to make that much money in a short amount of time.

Amelia also seemed to agree, judging by her expression.

"...Don't be too disappointed. We can always get the essence ourselves later."

That's true, but...

"Sigh..."

I couldn't help but sigh despite her consolation.

I wish I had just stayed ignorant. It felt like I had received a birthday present only to have it taken away because it was the wrong one.

It was the perfect color, too...

"Well, there is a way..."

Amelia suddenly spoke, and I looked up.

"A way...?"

Amelia averted her gaze.

At first, I thought she was avoiding my gaze, but it seemed like she was looking at something specific.

'What is she staring at so intently...?'

I unconsciously followed her gaze and froze.

Kraul's Demon Crusher was leaning against the wall, its massive size impossible to ignore.

"No, we can't sell this!"

"Why? You can't take it back to your original time anyway."

"I'll bury it somewhere safe!"

"There's always a risk. Selling it and converting it to an essence would be the most rational choice."

Amelia was right.

No matter how well I hid it, there was no guarantee that it would still be there twenty years later.

On the other hand, essences could be taken back without any problems.

But...

"Are you crazy?! You're asking a warrior to sell his weapon?!"

"You're sounding like a barbarian again."

"Ah, it's a habit..."

"I thought so."

Wait, how did we get here?

I returned to the topic and firmly stated my position.

"Anyway, this is something I will never sell, so don't even mention it again! I'd rather give up on the essence!"

It wasn't just stubbornness.

A 3rd-grade essence was valuable, but its rarity was nothing compared to a Double Numbered Item. Double Numbered Items were so rare that they rarely even appeared at the Sky Auction House.

The price might be similar, or the essence might even be more expensive, depending on demand...

But the acquisition difficulty of 'Kraul's Demon Crusher' was dozens of times higher. In other words, if I sold it now, I might never be able to get it again.

"Hmm, if that's how you feel..."

Amelia nodded in understanding after I explained my reasons.

And that was the end of that conversation.

Amelia went out again, saying she was going to check on her sister, and I stayed in the room, drinking to soothe my aching heart.

"Ugh... how long will it take to get that essence..."

It would take at least a year.

I would have to return to my original time, reorganize my clan, upgrade my ship, clear the 6th floor, and reach the 7th floor before I could even encounter Vol-Herchan.

And then I would have to farm it until I got the right color.

"Ugh... Vol-Herchan..."

I was wallowing in self-pity when...

Creak.

The door opened.

"You're still drinking?"

Amelia had returned, her face pale with exhaustion. It seemed like she had spent the entire day by her sister's side.

"Haha, you're back, Amelia..."

"I told you to lock the door."

"...Sorry."

"You're apologizing?"

"I'll make sure to lock it from now on. It's not like we have the essence anyway. What if an assassin who can use Aura comes and..."

I couldn't finish my sentence.

I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion.

Amelia sighed deeply.

"You reek of alcohol."

I had nothing to say. I was in the wrong. I just hung my head in shame, and Amelia cautiously spoke.

"By the way, Yandel."

"...?"

"Do you... really want that essence that badly?"

"Huh...?"

I suddenly snapped out of my drunken stupor.

It was like a mother giving in to her son who was throwing a tantrum in the toy aisle.

"Are you saying... you have a way...?"

Amelia chuckled at my hopeful question.

And...

"Don't get your hopes up."

"Th, that means...!"

I was speechless with joy.

"I said don't get your hopes up. It's just a possibility... but there might be a way..."

It was the first time I had felt such a sense of security from someone older than me.

_____________________

Amelia went out every morning and returned to the inn exhausted late at night.

But she wouldn't tell me what she was doing.

She just said she would tell me if it worked out.

[If it goes well, I'll be able to solve the money problem. So until the auction, you should focus on what you can do. Don't just stay in the inn all day.]

[Amelia...!!!]

I couldn't disobey her orders, so I diligently explored the city.

My goal was one thing.

To find a place where I could hide Kraul's Demon Crusher and keep it safe for twenty years.

'The forest in the sanctuary would be perfect, but I'm worried that someone might dig it up during a funeral...'

Finding my own garlic field was harder than I expected. I would find a good spot, but after careful consideration, it would always fall short of 100%.

'The sewers are full of homeless people, so it's not safe either... And I can't freely enter the sanctuaries of other races, so I have to pass on those...'

If Amelia failed to get the money, I would have to hide a huge sum of money as well, so I had to be even more careful.

Well, that wasn't my only concern.

'But what if she actually gets the money? What do I do then?'

My current level was 6.

I could absorb up to six essences, and all six slots were currently filled.

To absorb Vol-Herchan's essence, I would have to level up or remove one of my existing essences.

But reaching level 7 would require clearing more than half of the 6th floor, so I didn't have to think about that option.

'Which one should I get rid of?'

Orc Hero, Ogre, Bion.

These three were core essences, so I couldn't remove them. And Stormgush was a 3rd-grade essence, too valuable to discard.

Its base stats alone were worth keeping.

So I was left with two choices.

'Manticore.'

My only movement skill, and a 5th-grade essence that I had always planned to remove eventually.

And...

'Corpse Golem.'

The 7th-grade essence that I had absorbed out of desperation.

It was the lowest grade essence I had, but it wasn't an easy choice.

'It feels like I'll be missing something without it...'

The usefulness of this essence was undeniable.

How much had I relied on the 'Pain Resistance' stat?

Even the trash skills [Flesh Explosion] and [Acidic Fluid] had proven useful in battle.

But...

'It's time to graduate from it. I never planned to keep it this long anyway.'

If I had to choose between the two, Manticore was the better option.

The reason was simple.

[Inheritance] would give me back 20% of the stats, but my Magic Resistance, which was 200, would be reduced to 40.

If I removed it now, I would have to absorb another intermediate essence to balance out my Magic Resistance until I could get Bellarios' essence.

'Well, this is all pointless if Amelia fails to get the money.'

The thought of finding a hiding place became even more important, and I diligently explored the city.

And...

'Only three days left.'

It was three days before the auction.

I lay down on the bed, staring at the clock on the nightstand.

'What will happen this time?'

It was midnight on the 15th.

______________________

"Oh, I'm here again."

I opened my eyes in the familiar room and put on the white mask.

And I quickly left the room.

"..."

The hallway was empty and silent.

But if my guess was correct, the new owner of this space, the 2nd Master, GM, should be somewhere in this mansion.

'Let's take a look around.'

I wandered through the mansion, carefully examining every room.

The Captain, the Ruin Scholar, and the other members were nowhere to be seen.

'What happened to them...?'

I was starting to get curious when I saw a man standing in the main hall on the first floor.

He was clearly not one of the otherworldly evil spirits.

He was wearing a tracksuit with a familiar logo.

'Could he be the GM?'

I took a step closer to get a better look.

But did he sense my presence?

"Pe, person...?"

The man looked around and then froze as our eyes met.

"..."

We stared at each other in silence.

'This is unexpected.'

He had a somewhat goofy face.

His eyes were filled with confusion.

He even seemed scared of me...

"Um... who, who are you? You said you banished all the previous members..."

'The previous members were banished...'

He was clearly wary of me, but he was still giving me information. I could smell it.

The strong scent of a newbie.

'Well, even the GM would have been here for less than a year. He's still fresh.'

How should I handle this?

I was already salivating.

And...

"Um... Sir! Are you the Sir?!"

He looked at me with such innocent eyes...

Lick.

I couldn't help but lick my lips.

------------------------------------

Chapter 333: To the Future (3)

What am I doing, and why am I doing it?

To be a good gamer, you always have to be aware of your goals and the means to achieve them. It's the starting point for an efficient gaming life, as it helps you avoid wasting time.

So...

Lick.

I licked my lips and organized my thoughts.

What was my goal for entering this community?

It was a simple answer.

To find out the identity of the GM.

And the means...

'Yeah, this is the best option.'

Lion Style.

Fourth Form, Possession.

It's a technique that allows you to seamlessly continue a conversation as if you're possessed by the other person, going beyond mere method acting.

Ah, I just made it up.

"Haha, surprised?"

I chuckled like an old man, and the white guy's eyes widened.

"Sir, is that really you?"

His voice was filled with relief.

But did he sense something was off?

His wariness, which had been fading, intensified.

"But... your height is different... And your skin..."

Haha, he's quite suspicious for a newbie. He'll go far.

I smiled warmly, as if enjoying his suspicion.

"You're also different, aren't you?"

I spoke in a gentle tone, like a grandfather teaching his grandson.

The guy seemed to realize something and looked around, checking his reflection in a window on the wall.

"Ah, is that your true form, Sir?"

"Yes."

"But why are you wearing a mask...?"

"I don't want to show my face to others."

"Ah..."

Ah, my ass.

He nodded in understanding, which was quite amusing, but I kept my composure.

I wasn't Lee Hansu right now.

"So, how do you like this place?"

I started with a light question, gathering information step by step.

"Ah, well... I'm not sure yet. I don't really understand what you told me..."

What I told him?

I had no idea what he was talking about, so I activated the Second Form, Silence.

"..."

It was a technique that always guaranteed at least a basic response.

"Um... the, the materialization you mentioned? It's not easy..."

Ah, that.

Fortunately, it was something I was familiar with.

It was a basic technique that you had to learn to participate in the Ghostbusters community.

'It used to only work in chat rooms or your inner world. But it seems like he can use it here because he inherited the Master position.'

I quickly assessed the situation and continued the conversation.

"Haha, it's natural to find it difficult at first. Let me help you. Is there any food you want to eat?"

"...Yes."

"Close your eyes and imagine it in detail. And then imagine holding it in your hand. Yes, good. You're a fast learner."

"...Yes...?"

"Open your eyes."

"Yes... huh?"

The guy opened his eyes and stared at the hamburger in his hand.

And he took a big bite.

"...I can't taste anything..."

Ah, that?

Sorry, that feature was removed when I created the Round Table before you arrived...

'There's no need to tell him the harsh truth.'

"It can't be helped. Don't be too disappointed."

"Yes..."

He nodded, but he couldn't hide his disappointment.

I could relate.

I was also disappointed when I first entered Ghostbusters and tried to drink a can of Coke from the fridge.

"Um... Sir."

"Yes?"

"What happened to the previous Master? He said we wouldn't see him again..."

He didn't seem suspicious, just curious.

It was an easy question to answer.

"I was worried about you. I thought I should at least meet you once and help you before leaving."

"Ah, I see...!"

He was so naive that he believed me without a doubt.

This was my chance.

I had gained his trust...

Now it was time to dig for information.

"Don't worry too much."

I patted his shoulder, pretending to be friendly.

"You have a talent for magic. You'll get the hang of materialization soon enough."

The GM was a mage.

I had confirmed it myself, but I deliberately used the word 'talent' just in case.

It's always better to be careful.

He might not have become a mage yet since he was still a newbie.

"Ah, magic... So that's why you chose me."

Judging by his tone, it seemed like he had already chosen the mage path.

"But I still don't understand. There must have been more skilled mages than me, a half-baked one... Why me...?"

"Don't put yourself down. How many people have adapted to this world as quickly as you? You'll become someone great."

I showered him with praise, and he looked away, embarrassed.

It was time for another attempt.

"By the way, what's your rank?"

"6th grade."

What?

I was genuinely shocked.

He had been here for less than a year...

But he was already 6th-grade? Was that even possible?

"It's just that I was lucky enough to get a high rank. I still can't use magic properly, so I'm always nervous..."

He muttered in a self-deprecating tone, and that solved the mystery.

He had called himself a 'half-baked mage' earlier, and he just said he 'couldn't use magic properly'...

'It means the character he possessed was already a mage!'

There's a statistic that possessed bodies are always fixed at 20 years old.

But unlike explorers, who can only enter the labyrinth after becoming adults, mages can choose their profession from a young age.

'Damn it, I started as a ground-dwelling barbarian...'

I felt a pang of jealousy, but I also memorized the information.

So there were cases like this among evil spirits.

"Um... why are you looking at me like that?"

"Haha, it's nothing. I'm just proud of you."

"...You're making me blush..."

He looked at me with grateful eyes.

Okay, this was practically a groggy state in gaming terms.

I subtly asked,

"By the way... what's your name?"

It was time to find out.
________________________
The GM's identity was a mystery.

I knew he was a mage, but I didn't know his name or face.

So I wanted to use this opportunity to find out.

But...

"Huh? My name? Why...?"

He tilted his head, confused.

And his eyes, which had been filled with trust, started to show a hint of suspicion.

'Damn it, this isn't working.'

I quickly switched to Plan B.

Plan A was just a test anyway.

"Haha, I was asking for your real name."

"My, my real name?"

He was flustered at first, but then he seemed relieved.

"Ah... I thought you were asking for my name here. There's no point in hiding my real name. It's Oliver Wiseman."

"That's a nice name, haha..."

I chuckled like an old man and brushed off the name 'Oliver Wiseman'.

It was meaningless in this world.

"By the way, Sir."

"Yes?"

"Can I ask for some advice?"

"Of course. Go ahead."

"You told me to manage this place well and make it a place where evil spirits... I mean, players can interact, right?"

Did I say that?

"You did, right?"

"You also mentioned a pill... I think I can make it myself if I study a bit more, but I'm not sure about the other parts. Can I get some advice on that?"

"Hmm..."

"I'm not sure how to manage this place."

If that's what he wanted, then I could help.

I had already made up my mind.

I would just tell him what I had seen in the future.

"This world considers you all evil spirits, so they'll be hesitant to enter this place. You'll need a system that guarantees anonymity."

"Ah! I have an idea! We could make it like an internet community..."

"Internet community?"

"Sorry, it must be an unfamiliar term."

The GM explained what a community was, as if teaching an old man about modern technology.

It was meaningless information to me, who had spent his entire life with the internet.

But I did learn one thing.

'So Auril Gabis didn't tell him much about himself.'

It seemed like he had only introduced himself as an otherworldly evil spirit.

Anyway, that wasn't important.

"Hmm, that's a good idea. But it would be even better if you used that 'computer' thing you mentioned. It fits the concept of a community, and it would be easier for them to adapt to something familiar."

"Oh... you're right!"

"You could also create something like a marketplace so that they can benefit each other. If they can trade real-world items without revealing their identities, this place will be very attractive to them."

"Wow..."

"And when you send the pills, you could write a letter in your world's language explaining what it is."

"That's amazing...! It's incredible that you understood the concept of computers and communities so quickly, but how did you come up with this idea so fast...!"

I continued to explain the final form of Ghostbusters, and the GM was amazed.

But then...

"It sounds like an amazing place. But how do I actually create it?"

The GM tilted his head and asked.

I had nothing to say.

How do you create it?

'That's for the engineers to figure out.'

How would I know?

I firmly said,

"You can do it."

"Huh...?"

"You're still inexperienced, but you'll get the hang of it. I believe in you."

"Ah, yes..."

The GM seemed unsure, but I didn't care.

It would happen eventually.

I continued with the design process.

"Ah, and one more thing. How about adding a password to the letter?"

"Password?"

"Yeah, if you use something like 'Fuck the royal family' as the password, you can filter out some spies."

The PS actually became the password later on.

Of course, it didn't really matter.

Even if they entered the correct password, they still had to be verified by 'SoulQueens' before they could join.

Well, I had a keen eye for detail, so I figured out the trick in the letter and entered the password before she even arrived...

'Wait, the abbreviation for password is PW, not PS?'

But why did it work?

Was it just a fluke?

I wondered if there was another way to solve the password, but it wasn't something I could think about now.

"Sir, are you alright...?"

"Ahem, I'm fine. Where was I?"

"You were talking about how to distinguish spies."

"Ah, right."

I then shared information about the content of the letter, individual private spaces, and measures to filter out and banish spies.

'This should be enough of a guideline.'

I couldn't cover every detail, but I wasn't worried.

This wasn't my first time messing with the past.

Whether I told him or not, this mansion would eventually become the community I knew.

'Hmm, maybe this is my role in this era...?'

I suddenly wondered if I would be sent back to my original time as soon as I left the community.

But...

'Nah, that can't be right.'

I dismissed the thought.

That's when...

"By the way, Sir..."

The GM cautiously spoke to me.

"I think I know who you were talking about."

"..."

"You said that a user who cleared the original difficulty would come here someday... the one who would fulfill all our wishes. You remember?"

Ah, I did say that.

I flinched as I understood the context.

'So he didn't just tell him about the future...'

He had given him a mission.

Well, the GM didn't know that.

'But what did he mean by 'fulfill all our wishes'? Was he talking about the Gate of the Abyss?'

Hmm, maybe the old man just said whatever to motivate the GM. Like, you can only return home when this guy appears.

Anyway, I'll think about it later.

"I did, but?"

The GM continued,

"I've been thinking about it, and I think I know who it is. A user who was very famous in the Stone Ivan community... someone I really respected. I learned a lot from his posts while clearing the 15x mode."

I already knew who he was talking about.

But I was pretending to be Auril Gabis, so I asked with feigned interest,

"Who is it?"

"A user who went by the nickname 'Elf Noona'."

"Hmm?"

"I can't be sure, but I think she's the only one who could have cleared the original difficulty. And you said that user would be a 'barbarian', right? Coincidentally, she also mainly played 'Shield Barbarian'."

"Is that so... I see. But we can't be sure, so it's best to keep all possibilities open. That person might not be a 'barbarian'."

I subtly misled him.

But was that a mistake?

"Huh? What do you mean 'might not be'?"

Whoa, why is he overreacting?

I chuckled and spoke calmly.

"Haha, I just meant that it's a possibility."

"I see..."

The GM seemed to understand, but his eyes didn't.

"Sir."

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you one more thing?"

The GM stared into my eyes and asked,

"What's your name?"

Damn it, this is going to be troublesome.
_________________________
I had underestimated him.

He might be a newbie, but he had been managing the community for over twenty years, hiding his identity.

His judgment might be a bit slower than usual, but he was still intelligent.

My appearance was different from before.

I was wearing a mask.

And I had asked for his name.

I had given him plausible explanations for everything, but he must have felt a growing sense of dissonance.

I couldn't perfectly imitate an old man. He must have sensed something was off.

"...Why aren't you answering?"

I chuckled bitterly.

This wasn't the time to be thinking about why things had gone wrong.

"Do you not know my—"

I cut him off and quickly spoke.

"Jerkip Elmen MacKinder."

I didn't just blurt out a random name.

[There are three of them?]

It was one of the three mage names that Lee Baekho had given me, the ones he suspected were the GM.

So...

'The probability is 33.3%.'

It was a good enough chance to take before giving up.

Then what was the result?

"..."

A brief silence followed.

And...

"Who... who are you?"

The GM's voice was filled with hostility.

Trial

I like Korean novels (Murim, Dukes, Reincarnation, etc, etc, etc)

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