Surviving The Game as a Barbarian (Novel) Chapter 307, 308, 309

   

C307, 308, 309

Chapter 307: Round Table (1)

A study filled with the calming scent of wood.

‘Nothing has changed.’

As I was looking around, I noticed a change.

A white mask.

The same white mask I wore during my last visit was hanging on the empty wall.

‘Is he telling me to wear it?’

I chuckled and put on the mask.

And as soon as I opened the door and went out…

…I saw an old man walking towards me from the end of the hallway.

Auril Gabis.

The mysterious figure who might have the answers to all my questions…

“Haha, you’re here. I’ve been waiting.”

…and the old man who couldn’t hide his excitement when I told him I had cleared the original game.

“Did everything go well? I was worried something might happen after I sent you back that day.”

I couldn’t let my guard down, even though he greeted me warmly with a chuckle and a friendly tone.

I had seen it firsthand.

The captain of Orculus, the Ruin Scholar, and so on.

Those powerful figures who were intimidated by this old man.

“I’m fine. But what happened to them?”

“Huh? Them?”

“You sent me back after saying they broke the rules again.”

Auril Gabis nodded in understanding.

“Ah, you’re talking about those failures.”

Failures…

I realized that the real battle had begun when he casually used that word.

His intention was obvious.

‘It seems like he didn’t like being led around by me last time.’

It was a variation of the carrot and stick method.

The only difference was that he was using the stick on someone else, not me.

“Don’t worry about those failures. I showed them what would happen if they caused trouble again.”

He was showing his authority by wielding the stick on others…

…while being kind to me.

Like this.

“Ahem, but I was being inconsiderate. You must have been offended. But don’t worry too much. I know you’re different from them.”

A stark contrast between his coldness and his kindness.

The recipient of that kindness would think…

I don’t want to be on his bad side.

I have to reciprocate his kindness.

That’s how it works.

Well, I’m immune to that kind of tactic.

“You’re special, aren’t you?”

I chuckled and answered the old man’s question.

“I don’t know.”

“Huh?”

“Stop with the cheap tricks.”

I hate carrots.

“…Cheap tricks? You’re being rude.”

The old man glared at me, his expression changing at my provocative words. Although there wasn’t any killing intent, I could feel a powerful aura emanating from him.

But I didn’t back down.

I had to let him know.

That I wasn’t afraid of him.

“I didn’t come here to talk about this.”

“Huh…?”

“Just send me back if you’re going to waste my time with this kind of small talk. No, actually, it would be better if you just took care of it so that I don’t have to come here anymore.”

The old man looked flustered and then exclaimed indignantly,

“Sm, small talk?! You were the one who asked about them!”

Ah… that’s true.

This is getting ridiculous.

But what can he do?

“So you’re saying it’s my fault?”

I learned about the importance of faith while watching barbarians farting everywhere.

A strong belief in yourself.

That unwavering heart creates confidence and allows you to face any obstacle without fear.

Therefore…

“No, I’m not saying it’s your fault…”

“Apologize.”

I demanded confidently.

Even if it was unreasonable.

Even though I was currently in Lee Hansu’s form, not Bjorn Yandel’s body.

“So you’re not going to apologize?”

“…Haha, it seems like I underestimated you.”

The old man glared at me, his expression hardening at my repeated demands. The surrounding space even started to ripple, which was ominous.

Honestly, I was scared.

But…

“Apologize.”

…nothing changed.

What can he do if he’s angry?

Is he going to kick out the ‘original clear user’?

“Phew… why are you doing this?”

The old man sighed and asked.

The rippling space had also stopped.

As expected.

It was obvious that he was just pretending to be angry to resolve the situation.

Ah, but was he really angry?

“Why are you provoking me? You weren’t this rude last time.”

“You sound like you know me well.”

I quickly continued.

“And you’re saying I’m looking down on you? You were the one who looked down on me first.”

“What do you mean? I looked down on you—”

“You called them failures and said you were inconsiderate. Did you think I would grovel?”

“…….”

Unexpectedly, the old man didn’t refute me.

He could have made excuses, saying it was a mistake or that he didn’t mean it.

But he just thought for a moment and then nodded.

“Indeed, you’re different… “

“…?”

“I apologize. I was too casual with you, even though you’re the one who cleared the original version that everyone thought was a failure. I’ll be careful from now on.”

Uh, I wasn’t expecting such a sincere apology.

I was a bit flustered, as I had planned to casually accept a half-hearted apology and then take the initiative in the conversation.

‘No, maybe he even planned this.’

“…Fine, I’ll let it slide.”

Although I usually didn’t accept verbal apologies, I accepted it, thinking that our relationship might really be ruined if I continued acting like a barbarian.

The atmosphere softened a bit.

“Well, then let’s talk over a drink in the other room instead of just standing here. Ah, do you have a preferred type of tea?”

What a natural question.

“Sprite.”

That’s all I wanted from the beginning.
_______________________

Ah, this is the life.

I should have thought this earlier.

Right, I should have.

But…

‘Why does it taste so bland?’

Is it because I asked for ice?

Clank.

I put down the empty glass, only ice left, and thought for a moment. It wasn’t that it wasn’t refreshing, but the carbonation seemed weak.

It tasted noticeably worse than before.

‘Don’t tell me this old man is holding a grudge…?’

That’s when, as I glanced at him suspiciously…

…Auril Gabis spoke.

“So, shall we get to the point…?”

It was a bit funny.

He didn’t seem like the type to be concerned about a small fry like me.

‘It must mean I’m important to him.’

I became more wary as my treatment improved.

After all, no one is nice without a reason.

I dismissed my thoughts about the lack of carbonation and thought about it.

‘Why is an original clear user so important?’

Hmm, well, I don’t know.

Because they have more knowledge about the game than other players?

That’s true, but it couldn’t be the reason.

The old man in front of me is Auril Gabis. The game developer.

He would naturally know everything I knew, and if he needed a player with knowledge, he could just share it with me.

Then why is he so obsessed?

‘I’ll have to find out.’

“Ahem, what are you thinking about?”

“Ah, sorry. I was lost in thought.”

“Ha! With me right in front of you?!”

Auril Gabis clicked his tongue in disbelief. Ah, but his rude behavior didn’t last long.

“Phew, here we go again.”

“Ah, no. I was just saying it’s refreshing since it’s been a while.”

“Ah, I see. I almost misunderstood.”

“…Are you a barbarian?”

Huh?

Damn it, did I show it too much?

Although I felt a bit guilty, I casually brushed it off as if I was offended.

“Is that even a question?”

“No, of course not. I was just kidding.”

It seemed like he was really joking, judging by his expression, but I should be more careful.

“Anyway, speaking of questions…”

“Go ahead, don’t hesitate.”

The old man quickly got to the point after I gave him permission.

“We talked about fairness before we parted ways last time. I thought hard about it every day—”

“Just the gist of it.”

“I made an item that can solve that problem.”

Right, he could have just said that.

“Hmm, an item?”

“This.”

Auril Gabis took out a fist-sized jewel from his pocket instead of explaining.

It was a familiar item.

“This is…”

It was definitely it.

The jewel that was embedded in the center of the Round Table.

Damn it, I didn’t expect it to have been created like this.

Then is this old man really the Master?

“…Do you know what it is?”

“No, it just looks expensive.”

“Expensive… haha! This is an item that can’t be measured with such worldly possessions… ahem, I almost got sidetracked again.”

Auril Gabis quickly explained the item after stopping himself.

“It’s an item I created by objectifying some of my authority in this spiritual space.”

I didn’t understand the principle, but I didn’t ask. I didn’t think I would understand even if he explained it…

And it’s best to stay quiet when you don’t know something.

“The way it works is simple. If you tell the truth in front of this jewel, it will emit a green light, and if you lie, it will emit a red light. Do you want to try it?”

I had already dismissed the possibility of it being fake as soon as I saw it, but I didn’t show it.

After all, he was giving me a free question.

“Auril Gabis, are you over 300 years old?”

I deliberately set a standard.

If I just asked how old he was, and he answered 1 year old, the jewel would emit a red light, and that would be the end of it.

“…I’m not.”

Auril Gabis answered as if playing along.

And…

Swaaaa.

…the jewel emitted a red light.

“It means you’re lying.”

Wow, so he’s over 300 years old?

I just threw it out there since the Compendium of Rifts was written 150 years ago…

What a monster.

I was inwardly shocked, but I didn’t show it.

“So, now we can ask each other one question without it being unfair, right?”

“Hmm, but isn’t that a bit… You made this item, so you can probably control what light it emits.”

It was a valid point.

Surprisingly, Auril Gabis chose to confront it head-on.

“I swear on my name. That’s impossible.”

Swear…

It was a nostalgic word for me.

I had sworn countless oaths and then betrayed them.

“It’s hard to believe. I might believe you if you swore on your parents.”

“My, my parents…?”

“You can’t, so it was a lie.”

“That’s ridiculous! I was just… surprised because it was such an absurd request. How can I swear on people who aren’t even in this world anymore?”

Didn’t he realize that swearing on his name wouldn’t work?

Auril Gabis was lost in thought.

“It’s up to you whether you believe me or not, but I’ll say this. My oath was true, and now I can’t even tell if you’re telling the truth or lying without this item.”

“Huh?”

The jewel emitted a green light.

“Didn’t I say I used most of my authority to create this item? I can’t even read your soul capacity now.”

“Soul capacity…?”

“It means I can’t even tell how many essences you have.”

The jewel emitted a green light again.

But did this old man know?

That my trust in him was decreasing.

‘The more he talks about his weaknesses, the more suspicious he seems…’

Did he really tamper with it?

“Do you remember the people you saw that day?”

“The ones you called failures?”

“Right. Actually, despite what I said earlier, they’re people who would be treated well wherever they went, just based on their names and abilities.”

“Name and ability, that’s two things.”

“…You know what I mean.”

“Anyway, what are you trying to say?”

Auril Gabis sighed and made a new suggestion.

“How about we have a conversation in the room where they are? They might not know everything, but they’re capable of noticing and objecting if I’m lying.”

“…What?”

I was truly dumbfounded.

This is like a demo version of the Round Table.

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


Chapter 308: Round Table (2)

“You know, it’s like a jury system.”

He then added defensively,

“Of course, I don’t like this method, and I don’t think it’s a good idea. I just suggested it because you didn’t believe me, so you can refuse if you want.”

He was watching my reaction as he spoke, so it seemed like he thought I was staring at him because I didn’t believe him…

‘Round Table…’

It wasn’t a bad suggestion.

If we were going to do it, I would have to make a few changes, like having them all sit at the Round Table instead of just acting as a jury.

The captain of Orculus and the Ruin Scholar.

And two more unidentified veterans.

If I played the Round Table game with them, valuable information would definitely come out.

But…

“I refuse. I don’t want to talk about my personal life in front of other people.”

Auril Gabis’ limited edition information was the priority. We could play the Round Table game later.

“You refuse… I expected that. You might think we’re all on the same side.”

Auril Gabis sighed and asked,

“So, what are you going to do?”

I chuckled.

What else could I do?

We go back to the beginning.

“Three questions for one answer.”

“Hmm, at least it’s better than five for one.”

“But you brought this item.”

Auril Gabis chuckled as I pointed at the jewel.

“Thank you for acknowledging my efforts, but wouldn’t it be more reasonable to just take turns asking each other one question?”

Well, he did have a point.

The conditions were now equal since the lie detector was activated.

However…

“Think of it as a reward for your faith.”

Aside from the fact that I had seen that jewel in the future, I couldn’t be certain that this old man couldn’t manipulate the results.

After all, he was the one who created it.

He might have hidden a cheat code.

Therefore…

“That’s ironic.”

Auril Gabis chuckled in disbelief.

“You know, don’t you? It doesn’t matter how many additional questions you have if I’m lying to you.”

Of course, I knew.

But so what?

“So you’re refusing?”

“Haha, there’s no way. It’s strange, but it also makes sense. At least you’re taking a risk in an uncertain situation.”

His agreement was surprisingly straightforward.

I thought he would drag out the negotiation.

“But can I go first? You already asked about my age.”

“Alright.”

I decided to compromise this time.

This old man had his own motives, but he had been kind to me…

And it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing to be asked questions.

I could use them to figure out his intentions.

“Then I’ll ask.”

And so, the truth game began.

Auril Gabis opened his mouth.

“How many people cleared the original version twenty years later?”

That’s his first question?

I was momentarily surprised, but it was too early to relax.

It was a question he asked at the cost of an unfavorable exchange rate.

It couldn’t be just simple curiosity.

‘The reason he’s curious about that…’

He’s probably wondering…

…if there’s anyone who can replace me in the future.

Therefore, I answered honestly.

“I’m the only one who cleared the original version and came here. At least as far as I know.”

I left some room for interpretation, but I also made it clear that I had the upper hand in this relationship.

“Hmm, I see.”

Auril Gabis just nodded slightly, his expression unreadable, as the jewel emitted a green light.

It was my turn to ask a question.

I didn’t need time to think since I had already prepared a list of questions. Ah, of course, I had to modify them a bit because of the ‘jewel’.

“Have you ever used the Fragment of Records?”

I deliberately asked a question that could only be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Although I couldn’t get much information this way…

…at least I could fact-check.

Once I had the facts, I could figure out the rest myself. It was more reliable than listening to someone else.

“I didn’t expect to receive this kind of question from the beginning… you’re not an easy opponent.”

“So, what’s the answer?”

“I have.”

Right, as expected.

I calmly chose my next question after confirming that the jewel emitted a green light after a slight delay.

That’s when…

…Auril Gabis asked curiously,

“But how did you know?”

The answer was simple.

He had subtly shown it during our conversation last time.

Honestly, it was just a shot in the dark.

But there’s no such thing as a free lunch in the world of competition.

“Ask me later if you’re curious.”

“Ahem…”

“Then I’ll ask my second question.”

“Go ahead.”

I took a breath and spoke.

The second piece of information I had to confirm.

“Did you create this spiritual world?”

Auril Gabis flinched slightly and looked at me with a strange gaze.

“…I don’t understand your intentions.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t understand why you’re curious about that. I would understand if you were just asking out of curiosity, but you don’t seem like the type to be driven by emotions.”

I roughly understood what he meant.

He probably thought it was a question with low cost-effectiveness.

Although I didn’t get a definite answer, the circumstances were clear.

He probably thought it was a waste of time to confirm it.

But…

‘This is something we have to be sure about.’

This space, which I was summoned to every 15th, was unique.

Although the royal family and the Magic Tower were aware of its existence and had conducted much research, no one had figured out how it was created.

Mages could only guess.

That a mage far beyond their imagination had created this place.

Then was this old man really that great mage?

“So, what’s the answer?”

“You’re right. I created this place.”

Auril Gabis then answered.

And…

“It’s red.”

…the jewel judged his answer to be a lie.

I was as surprised as Auril Gabis.

I didn’t expect him to lie here.

“What’s going on?”

Auril Gabis trailed off as I narrowed my eyes and asked.

“That’s… it seems like it was a bit ambiguous.”

Ambiguous…

I roughly understood the situation since I knew about the jewel. It worked based on the speaker’s ‘psychology’.

The green light wouldn’t turn on if he felt even a slight sense of unease.

Auril Gabis gave a cryptic answer as I glared at him, demanding an explanation.

“I created this space, but I didn’t create it.”

What kind of wordplay is this?

“Are you serious?”

“…The light is green, isn’t it?”

“Tell me clearly. What do you mean? Did you have an accomplice?”

Auril Gabis hesitated for a moment and then answered,

“…You could say that.”

If that’s the case, then just say so. What does ‘you could say that’ even mean?

It was ridiculous, but the jewel did emit a green light.

‘…Then I can interpret it as him wanting to hide the fact that he had an accomplice. The reason it was red at first was probably because he felt guilty about trying to brush it off.’

I had gained an unexpected piece of information.

“…Then this is the third question. Go ahead.”

Auril Gabis urged me on in a tired voice.

Geez, he’s impatient.

“The Witch…”

I chuckled and corrected myself.

It was better to be specific in this case.

“Is the Earth Witch really dead?”

It wasn’t an urgent question, but it was something I had to ask at some point.
________________________

The Earth Witch.

A name you couldn’t avoid hearing in this world, even if you weren’t interested in history.

Come to think of it, I had always been curious.

Just how much of the story about the ‘Witch’ that was known to the world was true?

“…There’s not a single easy question, from the very first one.”

“So, what’s the answer?”

Auril Gabis smiled bitterly and answered.

“She’s alive.”

Wow, really…?

I suddenly had a lot to think about.

It meant that the royal family had intentionally hidden this fact…

‘And there weren’t even any Easter eggs or anything in the game that hinted at this.’

The game developer was this old man.

But he didn’t include this information even though he knew?

The guy who crammed all sorts of useless information and settings into the game and then said ‘Tutorial Complete’ at the end?

It didn’t make sense.

It was more plausible that he intentionally hid it because he didn’t want players to know.

‘Then why did he want to keep this a secret?’

I briefly tried to guess, but I didn’t know yet.

There weren’t enough clues.

But I had a hunch that if I dug deeper, I might be able to figure out the royal family and this old man’s ultimate goal.

In short, I had obtained a guideline with this question.

That’s when, as I was organizing my thoughts…

“Huhu, it’s finally my turn.”

…the old man, who had endured a long period of silence, chuckled.

Damn it, what’s he going to ask?

I felt uneasy, and then the old man opened his mouth.

“Do you want to return to Earth?”

His intention was clear.

He had phrased it indirectly, but what he really wanted to know was something else.

If I had the will to open the Gate of the Abyss.

Right, that’s what he wanted to ask.

“I don’t know.”

I answered, and the jewel soon emitted a green light.

“You don’t know…”

Auril Gabis smiled wryly, as if he was disappointed, but he quickly composed himself.

And he gave me some unexpected advice.

“I hope you make a decision soon.”

“Why?”

“It would be better for both of us.”

I asked him what he meant, but he just said, “Is that your question?” and that was the end of that topic.

It was my turn again.

I asked without wasting time.

“Did the Witch’s Poison really exist?”

“…You’re very interested in her.”

Well, not really.

I just had a feeling that the ‘Witch’ might be the key to this whole story as we talked.

“Phew…”

Auril Gabis took a sip of his tea and answered as if reminiscing about the distant past.

“That’s not a made-up story. This world was almost destroyed because of her. If it weren’t for the labyrinth, it would have definitely ended.”

The jewel emitted a green light.

Hmm, then was the outside world really fine because time had passed?

I moved on to my next question as I thought about that.

“If the Witch is alive, where is she now?”

It was the only open-ended question I had asked today.

I couldn’t ask it as a multiple-choice question since I didn’t know anything.

But Auril Gabis was cunning.

“She’s where everyone’s hopes lie.”

Damn it, that cryptic answer.

I sighed and checked the jewel.

It was green, so it seemed like he would just brush it off even if I complained…

“Are you really going to keep doing this?”

But I asked anyway, just in case.

“But it’s difficult to find a more suitable explanation.”

The jewel was green again.

Judging by his sly expression, it seemed like he wouldn’t change his attitude even if I kept asking.

So I gave up.

‘Well, at least I confirmed one thing.’

Auril Gabis knew the Witch’s location.

And he didn’t want to tell me.

In other words…

…it was possible that me knowing about the Witch would conflict with his goals.

“That was already the third question.”

The old man smiled leisurely, as if the questions weren’t that difficult.

‘Geez, how annoying.’

It was time to confirm it.

The thing that might be more important to me than the Witch or anything else.

“Go ahead.”

I hesitated for a moment and then spoke.

“Do you feel sorry for me?”

A brief silence fell.
______________________
I knew his occupation was a mage.

He seemed to know about the secrets of this world, including the Witch.

He was the game developer, and he was an enemy of the royal family.

So it was time to confirm.

What kind of person was Auril Gabis?

“Haha, you’re asking me another difficult question.”

The old man’s hearty laughter broke the brief silence.

“You answered ‘I don’t know’ when I asked if you wanted to return to Earth, right? That could also mean that life here isn’t that bad.”

It wasn’t an answer to my question.

I just stared at him without saying anything.

“What’s with that look? You know, don’t you? Sometimes you have to ignore your emotions to achieve your goals.”

Although I agreed, it still wasn’t an answer to my question.

“I’ll change the question if it’s that difficult to answer.”

Auril Gabis readily agreed as I seemingly compromised.

“Ah, will you?”

I nodded and changed the question.

It seemed like he was having a hard time answering the previous one.

So I asked a more specific question.

“Auril Gabis, do you feel even a shred of guilt for the countless ‘evil spirits’ who were dragged here and died because of your greed?”

He didn’t answer again.

“Haha…”

But his awkward laughter…

…was enough of an answer.

I was thinking that when…

“Hahaha! Hahahahaha!”

…Auril Gabis burst into laughter.

It was a strange sight.

I even felt a chill run down my spine.

“You’re a funny one.”

He looked at me with a serious gaze.

The atmosphere suddenly became heavy.

Thud.

Auril Gabis placed his hand on the jewel in the center of the table and spoke.

In a friendly voice, like before.

“Of course, I’m not happy about it. Of course, I feel sorry for them. I feel responsible. I’ll probably live the rest of my life atoning for this.”

He smiled.

“So, is that your answer?”

“…It’s enough.”

I answered briefly and checked the jewel.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

A bright red light was emanating from the jewel.


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


Chapter 309: Round Table (3)

A long silence, like the ones we had several times during our conversation, followed.

“…….”

“…….”

Auril Gabis looked at me calmly, and I met his gaze.

I felt suffocated, even though I tried to hide it.

And in that silence…

“Well…”

…Auril Gabis spoke.

Casually, as if nothing had happened.

“It’s my turn now, right?”

My heart pounded at his words.

This old man was like the abyss that some philosopher talked about.

Looking into the abyss, it also looks back at you.

[How many people cleared the original version twenty years later?]

He used his first question to check if there was a ‘replacement’ for me.

[Do you want to return to Earth?]

And his second question was to see if I had a weakness.

Then what about the third?

The answer was coming from his mouth.

“What was the name of the body your soul possessed after crossing the Gate of the Abyss?”

My name, Bjorn Yandel.

A means to find me outside this anonymous spiritual world.

“Don’t say ‘Nibels Enche’. I checked because I felt a bit uneasy that day.”

I remembered his meaningful gaze when I gave him that name.

I thought I had gotten away with it.

“What I asked that day was the name you use ‘here’.”

Auril Gabis, who had noticed the trick I used, started investigating.

“Did you know? There are seven people in Lafdonia who use that name. I was able to confirm that six of them were ordinary people…”

“But I couldn’t find the last one.”

“A 6th-grade explorer, Nibels Enche.”

“And surprisingly, he’s a barbarian. I thought it was a human name.”

I felt like the walls were closing in on me as he spoke, and I realized…

[…Are you a barbarian?]

…that even that seemingly casual question was part of his plan.

He probably thought I would have used my real race, even if I gave him a fake name.

“Then I’ll ask again.”

Auril Gabis repeated the same question.

“What was the name of the body your soul possessed after crossing the Gate of the Abyss?”

I couldn’t give him a fake name.

There was only one right answer when he asked a question with such specific conditions.

‘Damn it.’

I had to hide my name, no matter what.

I had learned what kind of ‘person’ Auril Gabis was.

Although I couldn’t be certain that he was an enemy, one thing was clear.

[Of course, I’m not happy about it. Of course, I feel sorry for them. I feel responsible. I’ll probably live the rest of my life atoning for this.]

This old man could never be an ally.

Therefore…

“I won’t answer.”

I confidently exercised my right to remain silent.

“Hmm…”

Auril Gabis didn’t say anything.

He just observed my reaction with interest.

“It seems like it was a difficult question. Well, it’s natural for you to be wary of me. Then I’ll change the question.”

He continued, not dwelling on the fact that he didn’t get my name.

“How long has it been since you woke up in that body?”

He was asking about my experience.

He knew I was from twenty years in the future, so he could guess when I woke up in the ‘barbarian’s’ body with this information.

Therefore…

“I won’t answer.”

“Really? Then I’ll ask a different—”

“No, the question and answer time is over.”

I ended the truth game without hesitation.

Although I still had many questions, this old man wasn’t like a bag of cats.

He had to pay a price if he wanted something.

And I judged…

…that it was too dangerous to pay any more.

“…Wait, over? What do you mean?”

“It means what I said. You were the one who went first, so there’s no problem, right?”

Auril Gabis clicked his tongue and stared at me as I unilaterally ended the game.

Well, he couldn’t refute me logically.

We hadn’t agreed on a set number of questions.

He just expressed his disappointment.

“This is unexpected. I thought you would have a lot of questions for me.”

“Well.”

Indeed, I had pages of questions left.

The next question I was going to ask was whether I could return to my original time using the Fragment of Records that the Lord had.

But…

‘It’s a good thing I didn’t ask.’

I had belatedly realized that the question could have revealed that I was currently in Noark.

“It seems like you’re not going to change your mind.”

The old man sighed and then suddenly complimented me.

“You’re very smart.”

“…….”

“Then what are you going to do? Are you going back?”

Contrary to my expectations, Auril Gabis was being a gentleman, as if he would send me back whenever I wanted.

‘…What should I do?’

I needed time to think since I didn’t expect the truth game to end this early.

‘It’s a shame to just go back.’

I hesitated for a moment and then decided to follow the plan I had made earlier.

“How about what you said before? About talking in the room where the others are.”

“Huh? Didn’t we already talk about that?”

“I think it’s a good idea. We just need to make a few changes.”

Damn right, I should at least see their faces since I’m here.
_____________________

The truth game with Auril Gabis was like Russian roulette.

It was nerve-wracking every time we took turns.

But…

‘This is enough limited edition information for now.’

I didn’t know anything anyway.

And it wasn’t like Auril Gabis was the only one with valuable information. Especially not those otherworldly evil spirits who were summoned decades before me.

“Hmm, that’s an interesting idea.”

Sharing information freely, not just answering questions.

But it had to be the truth, and something that more than half of the participants didn’t know.

Auril Gabis chuckled as I explained the rules, which were practically identical to the Round Table twenty years later.

“I think it will be fun. It’s well-structured for a sudden idea. What did you do before you came here?”

The answer is, I was an ordinary office worker.

Of course, I wasn’t going to tell him that.

“I thought the question and answer time was over.”

Auril Gabis muttered as I answered curtly.

“…I was just curious. And besides, it wasn’t a big secret.”

He wasn’t wrong.

But I had a feeling that even this question had a hidden motive because he was the one who asked it.

“Anyway, wait a moment. I’ll have to add some authority to the jewel to implement the rules you mentioned.”

Auril Gabis closed his eyes, focusing his mind, as he touched the jewel.

And after some time…

Whoosh.

Although it wasn’t visible to the naked eye, the air around the jewel started to shimmer like a heat haze on a summer road.

“It’s done.”

“That was easy.”

“Haha, that makes me feel a bit offended. Believe it or not, but I’ve lost most of my authority over this space because of this.”

Hmm, I don’t know…

The old man explained as I glanced at him skeptically.

“For example, my ability to materialize. I can still create objects by focusing my thoughts, but they’ll be different from the real thing.”

I flinched.

I didn’t care about materialization or focusing thoughts.

Different from the real thing…

“Wait a minute, is that why the Sprite tasted bland earlier?”

Auril Gabis nodded without hesitation at my question.

“That’s right. Is there a problem?”

Of course, there’s a problem.

It meant I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the refreshing taste of Sprite anymore.

“…….”

“You have a serious Sprite addiction.”

“…….”

“But judging by how much you miss it, it seems like it’s been a long time since you came here.”

What the hell is this old man talking about?

He’s still trying to extract information from me in this situation.

Thanks to him, I came to my senses and subtly asked,

“…What’s the reason for all this? It seems like that authority is a very important ability.”

“Huhu.”

Auril Gabis chuckled, as if he knew what I was thinking.

“You said you received an invitation from someone nicknamed GM.”

Ah, right, I did say that.

“So?”

“It means that the ownership of this space has been transferred to him. I don’t know how it happened, but if it’s going to be taken over by someone else anyway, there’s no reason for me to give him the core too.”

I roughly understood his reasoning.

Even if it was something he would never do normally, it was different if the server was shutting down.

He wouldn’t hesitate to do anything.

But there was one thing I was curious about.

“Why aren’t you asking more about the GM?”

“Haha, you said you didn’t know much about him either.”

Ah, that’s true.

Auril Gabis muttered as I nodded in understanding,

“And even if I knew more, I don’t want to ask.”

“…Why?”

Auril Gabis answered in a somewhat melancholic voice,

“I told you, didn’t I? You can’t change the future that’s already been observed.”

Hmm, so he’s saying ignorance is bliss?

That’s when, as I was feeling a strange mix of emotions…

“Enough small talk, let’s go. They’ll be interested too.”

…Auril Gabis got up from his seat.

I followed him.

To the room with the round table.
_____________________

A round table with dozens of seats.

Creak.

Auril Gabis opened the door and entered, and the four people sitting inside looked at us.

“…Master.”

Their reactions were the same.

I didn’t know what they had done after sending me back, but they all looked at Auril Gabis with fear in their eyes.

And…

“He’s… with you.”

…they were curious about me.

But could it be because Auril Gabis had firmly drawn a line about my identity last time?

No one dared to speak.

“…….”

“…….”

A strange silence filled the room.

It was Auril Gabis who broke the silence.

“Haha, everyone’s so stiff.”

His words were like the words of an absolute ruler.

As if telling them to relax.

“It’s only natural. You acted like that last time…”

The unidentified woman spoke, as if letting out a breath she had been holding, and Auril Gabis chuckled apologetically.

The atmosphere softened.

“Anyway, it’s good that everyone’s here. I came up with something interesting while talking to this friend.”

Auril Gabis placed the jewel in the center of the table and continued,

“I summoned you all for the purpose of exchange, but we haven’t really had a proper conversation, have we? Maybe this will solve that problem.”

“Can you explain in more detail?”

Auril Gabis briefly explained the rules of the meeting at the request of the man in black, who seemed to be the captain of Orculus.

Their reactions were mixed after he finished.

“To share information that more than half of us don’t know, that’s difficult.”

The woman seemed worried.

“But that’s what’s needed for a proper exchange. Everyone has been hiding their true intentions until now.”

Kagureas, the middle-aged man, spoke as if he welcomed the idea.

And…

“Are you participating, Master?”

…the Ruin Scholar, the child who spoke in a mature tone despite his appearance, just asked one question.

“Of course, I’m planning to participate. And so is this friend next to me.”

Their gazes turned to me at Auril Gabis’ answer.

They looked uneasy.

Well, they wouldn’t want to share information if a stranger suddenly appeared and joined the meeting.

‘It seems like I’m being favored, but they’re probably also wondering if I’m even on their level.’

Hmm, what should I do?

It seemed like a good idea to prove myself first. I hesitated for a moment and then called out to Auril Gabis.

No, to be precise, I was about to call him when…

“Um…”

“Ah, just call me Master. You’re the only one who knows my name.”

Huh? Suddenly?

That’s when, as the old man cut me off…

“……!”

“……!”

“……!”

…the four of them looked at me with surprise in their eyes.

‘What the hell…’

Honestly, I was dumbfounded.

How the hell was this old man treating them?

“You… know his name…?”

I can’t believe he didn’t even tell them his name.

‘…Anyway, is this a good thing?’

I tried to think positively as I composed myself.

Auril Gabis was helping me for an obvious reason.

He wouldn’t have a reason to participate in this meeting if it weren’t for me.

And he readily agreed to my suggestion because he wanted to get more information about me.

No, that wasn’t all.

“Alright, everyone, sit down. It’s natural for you to be wary, but if you’re that concerned, this friend can go first.”

Auril Gabis naturally steered the conversation.

To create an atmosphere where I had to share valuable information.

“…Shouldn’t you ask if everyone wants to participate first?”

I spoke, not hiding my displeasure at the old man’s scheme.

But then…

“……!”

“……!”

…the four of them widened their eyes again.

As if they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

“How dare you speak so casually to the Master…”

“…But the Master isn’t saying anything.”

Damn it, I’m speechless.

This is ridiculous.

Thud.

I just pulled out a chair and sat down.

And they each expressed their willingness to participate.

“I’ll participate.”

“Me too.”

“…Who would refuse to participate in a gathering like this?”

No one refused.

Auril Gabis couldn’t hide his satisfied smile and volunteered to be the moderator.

“Then it’s unanimously decided. There’s no need for introductions, so let’s begin. You go first, and then we’ll go clockwise.”

Their gazes turned to me again.

Even I couldn’t help but feel pressured.

After all, it was the first turn of this newly created meeting.

The level of information they shared would depend on the quality of the information I shared.

‘And besides, it’s not good to be underestimated.’

I had learned something from the Round Table twenty years later.

First, act like you’re a big shot, and good things will come to you even in your sleep.

It’s the same as how you get applauded even if you shit your pants if you’re famous.

Indeed, there were times when I shared trivial information at the Round Table, and they just let it slide, thinking there must be a hidden meaning.

‘Hmm, so what should I share?’

I continued to contemplate as I observed the members.

They were all showing strong interest in me, and Auril Gabis was the most enthusiastic.

‘Right, you’re dying to know what kind of information I’m going to share, aren’t you?’

Thanks to that, my contemplation ended.

I knew what this old man was expecting…

‘But no way.’

I’m a veteran of the Round Table.

I opened my mouth after finishing my contemplation.

It was something that wouldn’t reveal any unnecessary information to Auril Gabis, but would satisfy the other members.

“The Earth Witch is alive.”

The Lion Style.

First Form, Information Recycling.

Trial

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

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post

ADPORT6

ADPORT7