Surviving The Game as a Barbarian (Novel) Chapter 370, 371, 372

   

C370, 371, 372

Chapter 370: Black Star (3)

Lion is Bjorn Yandel.

That claim was first made by SoulQueens.

Her reasoning was that Lion disappeared right after Bjorn Yandel died.

In other words…

‘This is over if I just have an alibi.’

Lion isn’t Bjorn Yandel.

That one sentence would dispel most of their suspicions.

[I heard he also absorbed the Ogre’s essence…?]

[I don’t think she would use a stand-in and call him ‘mister’…]

[Then it would make sense for the Golden Mage to omit that from her report.]

[He might have faked his death.]

After all, those suspicions were all based on the possibility that Lion was Bjorn Yandel.

Clown’s reaction was proof.

[Pfft, what are you guys talking about? Bjorn Yandel is dead.]

He didn’t react to the suspicion because he firmly believed that Lion couldn’t be Bjorn Yandel.

‘Damn, he’s two-faced.’

I wanted to smash his head every time I saw him outside, but he was surprisingly cute at the Round Table.

Ah, this wasn’t the time to be thinking about that.

It seemed like the others were starting to come to their senses.

“…….”

“…….”

Fox was the first to break the heavy silence.

“…Twenty-two years ago…?”

Her voice was filled with shock.

Well, it was understandable.

“Is… is that even possible? That would mean Lion has been an explorer for over twenty years…”

Goblin trailed off, and Stag Antlers naturally interjected.

“It’s not impossible. The GM was also summoned around that time.”

It meant that I joined the community around the same time as the GM, the oldest player.

“Pfft, I wonder if I’ll be like Lion if I kill people for another ten years.”

Right, Clown, you’ve been an explorer for about ten years, right?

It seemed like the others were also around that level.

“But Queen, why are you so quiet?”

Clown spoke to SoulQueens, mocking her for being wrong.

“Shouldn’t you apologize? Spreading such a ridiculous rumor about Lion being Bjorn Yandel.”

Clown, enjoying his position as the only one who was ‘right’, then glanced at the other members.

“You guys are the same! Bjorn Yandel? Even if that bastard is alive, do you think a small fry like him could even compare to Lion? Huh?”

“Haha… We were just thinking out loud, we didn’t really believe it…”

Goblin laughed awkwardly and trailed off.

Stag Antlers, on the other hand, took responsibility for his words.

“Now that I think about it… it was a bit of a stretch to assume that Bjorn Yandel is even alive.”

“…I actually don’t believe that Bjorn Yandel is an evil spirit. There are some suspicious aspects to the royal family’s announcement… And I’ve met him in person.”

Fox met me in person?

She was a high-ranking official who escaped through the dimensional gate, wasn’t she?

Hmm, maybe they met by chance at another time?

‘I’ll think about it later…’

Clown then agreed with Fox.

“Pfft, I agree. That barbaric idiot, an evil spirit? That’s ridiculous.”

Even Stag Antlers, who was usually at odds with Clown, agreed to some extent.

“Well… it was hard to believe that his behavior at the title bestowal ceremony was an act.”

“…You’re talking about the incident where he pushed Marquis Kudo in front of the Prime Minister and all the other nobles?”

“Huhu, I heard about it later. They say he claimed that the marquis had tripped and rolled forward.”

…How embarrassing.

Why are they praising me in front of my face?

‘Anyway, I think I’ve cleared their suspicions…’

I glanced around, and SoulQueens was still silent, lost in thought.

‘What is she thinking so hard about?’

I observed her, curious, and Clown changed the subject.

“Queen, how long are you going to stay silent? It’s your turn. Can’t you see Lion is waiting?”

He seemed to have interpreted my gaze as impatience.

What a sycophant.

“Ah, ah! Yes, that’s right… I should go…”

Anyway, did Clown’s urging work?

SoulQueens seemed to have snapped out of her daze. She took a deep breath and slowly spoke.

“…The royal family knows the GM’s identity.”

It was an interesting piece of information.

____________________

The Magitechnician, Yurven Habelión.

The head of a school and an idol to countless crafting mages.

But that was just on the surface.

His true identity was different.

The GM, the leader of Ghostbusters, the evil spirit community, and a legendary figure among players.

But…

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The green light on the Round Table proved that SoulQueens’s information was true, and that it was something more than half of the members didn’t know.

“The royal family knows about him…”

It meant only one thing.

Not only had the royal family intentionally let the GM go…

“Then they’re probably working together. The GM and the royal family.”

…but they were also cooperating.

It would also explain why the GM didn’t seem concerned about the royal family’s threats during our meeting.

Then why did SoulQueens reveal this information at the Round Table?

I soon found out.

“Pfft, the GM is just like the rest of them. No wonder there were no rumors even though I told them to spread them.”

It was probably a warning.

She was telling them not to waste their time spreading rumors since it was pointless.

“Wait a minute, but isn’t this strange? The GM clearly considered the royal family as an enemy.”

Goblin pointed out the contradiction, and Crescent Moon answered with a bitter smile.

“There’s nothing more futile than believing in eternity. Especially not when it comes to humans.”

He was saying that no one could be sure if the GM’s initial intentions had remained unchanged.

“This could destroy the entire community.”

Stag Antlers sighed.

“Yes. All players will be anxious if they find out that the GM has sided with the royal family. Even me.”

The other members also looked at SoulQueens as Fox stared at her.

“Queen, tell us. You’re part of the management team, aren’t you? Why did the GM join forces with the royal family?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

“Then you’re saying we should interpret it ourselves—”

“But I can confidently say this.”

SoulQueens cut Fox off.

And…

“Let’s start with me this time since my turn is over.”

…she placed her hand on the jewel.

“The GM is someone who acts for the sake of the players more than anyone else.”

“…….”

“He would never sacrifice another player to the royal family. And it’s technically impossible with the community’s current functions.”

The jewel emitted a green light as soon as she took her hand off it.

“Haha, I feel a bit relieved now.”

Goblin laughed awkwardly, breaking the silence, and the interrogating atmosphere disappeared.

“It’s a good thing it’s technically impossible.”

That was probably the deciding factor.

The GM’s heart might change later, but at least the worst-case scenario was technically impossible.

“Well, if he could find out our identities with his authority, this wouldn’t have happened…”

“It seems like he’s in a mutually beneficial relationship with the royal family, not completely under their control.”

“It’s your turn now.”

SoulQueens quickly ended the conversation, not wanting to talk about it any further, and passed the turn to Clown.

“Pfft, this is interesting from the very beginning…”

Clown trailed off, as if choosing what information to share.

But did he find something suitable?

“Aha, this is perfect!”

He clapped his hands dramatically and placed his hand on the jewel.

“…I just learned about this recently, but it’s quite shocking.”

“You said dragging it out is just pathetic.”

“Pfft, but Goblin and I are different, aren’t we?”

Clown shrugged, and Stag Antlers nodded slightly.

“Why are you nodding…?”

Goblin muttered, as if hurt.

But no one cared about Goblin.

Clown had started talking.

“The Dark Continent is a real place.”

His words were difficult to understand.

“…It’s green.”

“But what does that mean? I don’t understand.”

“Pfft! It means what it says! I went outside and looked around, and I realized… this land we’re standing on is exactly like the 7th-floor Dark Continent! Well, there might be some minor differences in the terrain and structure, but…”

It was information that piqued my gamer curiosity.

“…If that’s true, then maybe that theory is also true.”

“You’re talking about the theory that the labyrinth isn’t a passage to another dimension, but a dimension created by someone?”

“The Crystal Cave, the Rocky Desert… maybe they’re all based on real places.”

It would be ironic if that was true.

Someone created the labyrinth based on this world, and then someone else created a game based on that labyrinth city.

‘I’m curious about the outside world…’

Would I ever get to explore it?

____________________

The second round, which started in reverse order, went smoothly without any red lights, but that was all.

‘Queen and Clown were good, but the other information is a bit underwhelming.’

It wasn’t helpful to me, regardless of its objective value.

Fox, for example.

She received a green light for revealing that the Blood Spirit Marquis had bought a mansion with a large sum of money and then used that mansion as collateral for another loan.

And Crescent Moon…

He sighed and said that the Blood Spirit Marquis had probably used the money to buy an essence.

And…

“Buying a house and even an essence… Pfft, that woman is obsessed! It’s not like Bjorn Yandel is going to come back to life.”

Their reactions were a bit hurtful.

“…Lihen Schuitz, I don’t know who he is, but he doesn’t sound like a good guy.”

“Bu, but he’s strong, right? It’s hard to get that strong with just a few essences…”

“Those who have more are always greedier. To take advantage of a woman’s pain for his own gain… Shame on him.”

“Oh my, Stag Antlers, you’re quite the romantic.”

“Ahem…”

“The fairy tribe should also look into this. We only knew that she bought an essence, we didn’t know she gave it to a stranger…”

Damn it, they’re all going to investigate me…

‘If I could just take care of the Explorer’s Guild records…’

I had to find a solution soon.

“Haha, it’s my turn!”

Anyway, the next two, Goblin and Stag Antlers, were no different.

Their information wasn’t related to me, and it wasn’t particularly useful.

‘Well, it’s not like I can always get what I want.’

I dismissed my disappointment and glanced around.

It was finally my turn.

The atmosphere in the room had changed.

“…….”

Their gazes were filled with anticipation.

The air was so still that I could hear my own heartbeat.

And in that silence…

‘So, what should I do…?’

…I contemplated for the last time.

But I wasn’t going to change what I had already decided.

I opened my mouth.

“I’ve met Auril Gabis, the creator of [Dungeon and Stone].”

Right, I had to make it clear.

“……!”

“……!”

…that Lion couldn’t be Bjorn Yandel.

_____________________

“Phew… I’m tired…”

I collapsed onto the bed as soon as I returned to Lee Hansu’s room and closed my eyes, replaying the events of the Round Table.

‘It’s been a while since we went for three rounds.’

We had gone for one more round after the second one ended.

There was some useful information, but most of it wasn’t.

Therefore…

[It’s not like it will make a big difference if Goblin leaves. Let’s continue.]

[I don’t think anything interesting will come out.]

…I got up and left, ignoring Clown’s disappointed gaze.

If Goblin left, the majority ratio would decrease.

As always, one or two more people would leave if I didn’t take the initiative.

‘…And it’s true that there probably won’t be any high-level information.’

Okay, my head is working again after a short break.

I should spend the rest of the time browsing the internet.

Click, click.

I sat up and started browsing the forums.

“Keuh, keuh, keuh… these idiots…”

Damn it, why is this so funny?

What’s wrong with their brains?

“Kekeke…”

That’s when, as I was browsing the forums with one leg on the desk, laughing…

“…Huh?”

…I quickly sat up straight.

I rubbed my eyes and leaned forward, but the words on the monitor didn’t change.

[Long Live Korean Independence] - 1 user online.

Online? Who is it?

Could it be Lee Baekho?

No, the GM wouldn’t have unbanned him already…

‘And besides, it’s impossible for him to enter right now.’

Then is it just someone who’s bored?

Or a real Korean?

‘…Maybe there’s a Korean among the new recruits.’

Well, I would find out if I met them.

I double-clicked on the chat room.

And…

Click, click.

…the screen flashed white, and the surrounding space changed.

It wasn’t the usual empty lot or field, but a luxuriously decorated mansion.

The one that Lee Baekho, the room owner, had decorated.

‘What the, it’s a woman?’

I could see the back of a woman sitting in front of the fireplace.

[HS123]

I couldn’t tell her nationality from her nickname, but she was definitely Asian, judging by her hair and skin color.

Hmm, is she really Korean?

‘Well, I’ll find out if I talk to her.’

Although I preferred men, I didn’t mind talking to a woman.

If she was Korean, she might be willing to help me out, just like Lee Baekho did.

I made a noise to announce my presence.

“Ahem.”

“Eek!”

The woman flinched.

It seemed like she didn’t even notice me entering…

She smelled like a newbie—

“…Huh?”

…and then she turned around, startled, and our eyes met.

And at the same time…

“Uh…?”

“Uh.”

Her eyes widened.

Well, my eyes were probably also wide.

“Uh…?”

What the…

Am I dreaming?

Why is she here?

“Uh…”

My mind stopped working.

My mouth opened and closed like a goldfish, unable to speak.

And she was the same.

“Uh, uh.”

“Uh…”

“Uh…?”

But she recovered faster than me.

“Hansu… oppa…?”

She asked, her expression filled with surprise rather than joy.

“Hyunbyul…?”

I asked back, dumbfounded, and looked down.

A long skirt and a neat blouse.

And…

“Ha… you haven’t changed at all, have you?”

…black stockings.

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

Chapter 371: Black Star (4)

Kang Hyunbyul.

My ex-girlfriend who was four years younger than me.

She confessed first while we were both preparing for job applications, and we dated for about three years.

Well, that wasn’t important right now.

Swoosh.

I looked at her again.

Her gaze was cold.

And I knew why.

“Your eyes are going there in this situation?”

“Ahem…”

Well, what can I do if my eyes are drawn there?

I quickly pulled myself together.

“Don’t misunderstand. I was just checking.”

“Checking?”

“The default outfit here is based on how you see yourself.”

“So… you’re saying this is how I see myself?”

“That’s right.”

You have to buy other clothes with GP.

That’s how I got this tracksuit and t-shirt I was wearing.

The default outfit was a bit uncomfortable—

“What about you?”

“…?”

“What was your default outfit?”

“Uh…”

It was a navy blue suit.

My ex-girlfriend… her, bought it for me to celebrate getting a job.

But…

“This. This is my default outfit.”

…I was too embarrassed to say that.

It would seem like I still had feelings for her if I told her I was wearing the suit she gave me.

“…Hmm, that’s very you.”

Thankfully, Hyunbyul didn’t seem suspicious and easily accepted my explanation.

But that made me curious.

“Very me? What do you mean?”

“Why are you being so sensitive? I just meant you look comfortable.”

“Re, really?”

Damn it, I can’t win against her.

Maybe it’s because I’m guilty?

“By the way… don’t you have anything to say to me?”

“…It’s been a while, Hyunbyul!”

“That’s it?”

“Uh…”

What else should I say?

Ah, I forgot to ask.

“So, how did you end up here?”

Hyunbyul stared at me and then sighed.

“You still haven’t changed, always running away.”

I pretended not to hear her.

“It’s fine. It doesn’t really matter now…”

“Right, why does the past matter? The present is more valuable than gold…”

I felt a chill.

“Why did you stop? Continue.”

“I just… thought I should apologize first.”

“…….”

“I’m sorry about what happened back then. I mean it.”

Hyunbyul looked at me with a surprised expression as I apologized sincerely.

“You’ve… changed, haven’t you?”

“Well, it couldn’t be helped… So, do you accept my apology?”

“It’s fine. Like I said, it doesn’t matter now. And it’s not really something anyone should be apologizing for…”

“That’s… true.”

An awkward silence followed.

Well, it was understandable.

We were exes who had broken up over a year ago, and we had just reunited in another world.

“By the way, I was really surprised. I never thought I would see you here.”

“Really? I thought we would meet someday.”

“…Huh?”

“I’ve been thinking about it since I came here. That you must be somewhere in this world. It made me feel a bit relieved.”

“Relieved…?”

“About your disappearance. I was shocked when I heard about it. I thought you might have done something stupid…”

Ah, I guess that’s understandable.

I felt a sense of gratitude. She was worried about me even though it had been over a year since we broke up.

“So… how did you end up here?”

It was my third time asking.

“You’re not exactly the type to be interested in games…”

Hyunbyul finally answered.

“Well… I became a bit curious after we broke up. How fun that game must be for you to be so obsessed with it.”

It was a strange feeling.

When we were dating, she used to nag me about playing that game on three computers.

Wait a minute.

“So… you cleared the original version?”

“There’s no way I could clear that. I played the cheat version after you disappeared.”

“Then… what difficulty did you clear it on?”

“30x.”

“30x…?”

30x was a high difficulty.

There were countless players who couldn’t even clear the normal difficulty and switched to a higher difficulty.

“You must have played a lot…”

“No, I cleared it after about ten tries. It was easy since I had played the original version. And I learned a few things from watching you play.”

“Ah…”

Come to think of it, I used to brag about finding hidden pieces and explain them to her.

She was smart, so she must have remembered everything.

“Why the gloomy face?”

“…You can tell?”

“Of course. We were together for a long time.”

I hesitated for a moment and then answered honestly.

“It’s nothing. I was just thinking about how you always listened patiently to my ramblings, even though you weren’t interested…”

I trailed off, feeling awkward.

Hyunbyul answered after a brief pause.

“…You’ve really changed, haven’t you?”

“A lot of time has passed.”

“That’s… yes, that’s true…”

The atmosphere almost turned awkward again, but it was short-lived. Hyunbyul told me what she knew about my disappearance.

To summarize:

My company filed a missing person report after a month, and the police came to see her, so she found out about it.

And…

“You… met my mother…?”

“Yes. At the police station.”

“What did that woman say…?”

“She didn’t talk to me directly.”

“But something must have happened.”

“…….”

“It’s okay, tell me.”

Hyunbyul hesitated for a moment and then spoke cautiously.

“She talked about the inheritance for a long time… and then she asked the police if there was a way to file a death certificate before the missing period expired.”

“Ha…”

I expected it, but it still felt disgusting.

How much money did I even have?

I was stupid to even have a glimmer of hope.

Crack.

I clenched my jaw, and Hyunbyul tried to comfort me.

“We, well… you still have five years. It wasn’t an accident, and there’s no evidence that you were a victim of a crime, so they couldn’t process it as a special disappearance.”

“What’s the difference?”

“For special disappearances, inheritance is possible after just one year.”

“I see.”

That was a bit of a relief.

And it was also a bit funny.

Heh.

It was a typical Hyunbyul-style consolation.

She always tried to find a silver lining and comfort me logically instead of offering empty words of sympathy.

She had a significant influence on my current personality.

“So what happened next?”

“I don’t know. I was dragged here three months after you disappeared.”

“What…?”

I was genuinely surprised.

Time was messed up because of the Fragment of Records, but it had been three years and nine months since I became Bjorn Yandel.

And the time ratio was 5:1…

‘Nine months have passed in reality since I disappeared.’

In other words, it meant that Hyunbyul had survived in this world for over two and a half years.

“But why are you only here now?”

“I’m not an explorer. They probably didn’t notice me.”

“You’re not an explorer…?”

“No. Do you think I would fight those monsters in real life just because I played a game? I got a decent job and made money.”

“You’re truly human.”

“Aren’t you?”

I was speechless at her question.

Could I tell her this kind of personal information?

But she sensed my hesitation.

“Right, you don’t want to tell me.”

Hyunbyul’s eyes crinkled at the corners.

____________________

It was a familiar expression.

One I had seen several times when we were dating.

I used to be flustered and try to appease her, but there was no need for that now.

We were strangers.

Hyunbyul, who was always rational, wouldn’t forget that.

“You… drew the line first?”

“Yes.”

“…Okay. I won’t ask again. Happy?”

She accepted it coolly, as expected of Hyunbyul.

But could it be that she was a bit disappointed?

“But don’t expect me to tell you my story. I won’t tell you even if you die.”

Damn it, she’s right.

I nodded, unable to refute her.

Hyunbyul bit her lip.

“You’re really not curious at all?”

“I’ll have to tell you my story if I hear yours.”

I answered honestly instead of making an excuse.

She knew when I was summoned here. If I told her my race, the number of candidates would be drastically reduced.

“…….”

“…….”

We stared at each other in silence.

“…Let’s sit down.”

“…Okay.”

It was a bit awkward to keep standing, so we sat down on the sofa.

But we didn’t have anything to talk about.

So I started with something light.

“This is your first time in the community, right?”

“Yes.”

I was curious how she got an invitation if she had been living a normal life in this world. But I swallowed my curiosity.

“Do you need some GP? You can exchange it for cash or buy things on the exchange.”

“No, thank you. I can earn that much myself. And besides, if I exchange it for cash, there will be a physical transaction, and my identity might be revealed.”

“That’s… true.”

I had just offered it to break the ice, but I was actually planning to stop her if she tried to exchange it for cash.

“You… became an explorer, right?”

“That’s right.”

We had agreed not to reveal our identities, but I admitted it.

I couldn’t refuse even this much.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Just… I can’t imagine you fighting monsters.”

“It just happens.”

“It must have been hard.”

“What about you?”

“I’m doing okay. Work life is actually easier here.”

Well, she was the smartest person I knew.

She must have adapted to this world quickly—

“Seriously. The systems aren’t even digitalized, so it was easy to make some starting capital.”

Starting capital… don’t tell me she embezzled money?

“The market is so inefficient that I’m getting a good return on my investments.”

“…….”

“Oppa.”

“…Yeah?”

“Let’s stop beating around the bush and join forces.”

“Haha, join forces… we already—”

“No, I’m not saying we should get back together, I’m saying we should work together. I’ll support you.”

“Support me?”

“It’s only natural, isn’t it? In exchange, you take me with you when you go back. You want to go back, right?”

“Return…”

Hyunbyul’s expression changed as I trailed off.

“Oppa… don’t tell me you’re going to stay here?”

I didn’t bother denying it.

“There’s nothing waiting for me back home.”

“…What about your mother?!”

“Huh? My mother?”

“If you stay here, she’ll get all your money!”

Ah, so that’s what she meant.

“Oh, that’s a good motivation.”

Hyunbyul raised her voice as I chuckled.

“Don’t try to brush it off! Are you really going to stay here?”

“Why are you so worked up? I mean, it’s not a bad place to live. Did you know? I have more friends here.”

Hyunbyul’s lips tightened at my attempt to lighten the mood.

And then, after a long pause…

“…………Friends? You?”

…she exclaimed in shock.

“…….”

Uh…

Even I felt a bit hurt.

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

Chapter 372: Black Star (5)

It was surprisingly easy to talk to Hyunbyul.

I thought it would be much more awkward, considering our past relationship and the things we were hiding from each other…

‘It’s convenient that she never crosses the line once it’s drawn.’

Economy, culture, politics, administration, and so on.

There were many topics we could relate to, and we freely discussed them.

After some time…

“The library… maybe we ran into each other a few times?”

“Did you go there often?”

“Whenever I had time.”

“Well, there’s no better place to get information than a library.”

It had been about two hours since I met Hyunbyul.

Wow, it’s been a while since I lost track of time.

What should we talk about next?

As I was contemplating, Hyunbyul cautiously spoke.

“Oppa.”

“Yeah?”

“What kind of people are your friends?”

“…Suddenly?”

I tilted my head, and Hyunbyul spoke nonchalantly.

“Just curious. It’s all your fault that you didn’t have any friends, isn’t it?”

“…What? Are you going to hit me where it hurts?”

Hyunbyul quickly added,

“No, I mean… it was up to you whether you considered someone as a friend or not. I’m sure there were people who considered you as a friend. Like those who contacted you on New Year’s Day or your birthday.”

“Those aren’t friends, they’re acquaintances.”

“That’s what I’m saying, your mindset was the problem.”

Although I had a lot to say, I didn’t refute her.

I understood what she was trying to say.

“That’s why I’m so surprised. You consider your current friend… as a real friend, right?”

“That’s right…?”

“Honestly, I don’t understand how someone like you changed. What kind of people are they?”

…Is it really that strange for me to have a friend?

I felt a strange sense of bitterness, but I answered her question.

“They’re trustworthy. I wouldn’t be worried even if they were holding a knife behind my back.”

“Hmm, so you were able to build a deep bond because you often risk your lives together?”

“Probably.”

“But isn’t that just a companion, not a friend?”

Uh…

Well…

“Considering the setting of this world, a companion is socially considered to be a closer and more trustworthy relationship than a friend—”

“So they’re just companions.”

“…….”

I didn’t answer.

What did it matter whether they were friends or companions?

The important thing was that they were important to each other.

“…What’s with that look?”

“Come to think of it, you didn’t have any friends either.”

“There were tons of people who considered me as a friend.”

I know.

But she was similar to me, wasn’t she?

Prioritizing her own judgment over what others thought.

“So, did you make any friends here?”

“…I don’t need any. I’m going back anyway.”

“Really? Then it can’t be helped.”

Hyunbyul looked up at me with a frustrated expression as I chuckled.

But it was short-lived.

“Huh?”

She suddenly flinched.

“I just heard a ‘ding’ sound.”

“Ah, you got a message.”

“Message…?”

“Did you post anything on the exchange?”

“No, but I sent an offer to someone who was looking for information. I thought it would be nice to earn some GP. How do I check my messages?”

“You can’t check them here. You have to go back and use the computer.”

“…Then I’ll check later.”

“Go check it now. Judging by how late the reply came, they probably received other offers too.”

Hyunbyul’s face brightened as I suggested it.

It seemed like she also thought it was the rational choice.

“Then I’ll be back soon.”

“Huh? You’re coming back?”

“…You’re leaving?”

“It’s not like you’ll be able to focus if you’re waiting for me. It’s fine, we can see each other again later.”

“…….”

“And besides, you said this was your first time in the community. You should check out the other features.”

“That’s… true.”

As expected, she nodded without any objections when I explained logically.

“Then see you next month.”

“Yeah, take care.”

We said our goodbyes.

Well, that’s what we should have done.

But…

“…….”

“…….”

“Why aren’t you leaving?”

“…….”

“Ah, you want me to go first? Then—”

I tried to focus and leave the chat room.

“Wait!”

Hyunbyul grabbed my sleeve.

And…

“Oppa.”

…she asked, looking away,

“How do I… leave…?”

Damn it, I thought she was doing something, but…

She was trapped because she didn’t know how to leave?

“Don’t tell me… you…”

She wasn’t waiting for someone, she was stuck because she didn’t know how to get out?

____________________

“…Twenty-two years ago…? You’re saying he joined twenty-two years ago?”

The white man asked, biting his lip, and the woman answered.

“Yes. That’s what he said. The jewel on the Round Table emitted a green light.”

“…….”

“How is this even possible? The community wasn’t even properly established back then.”

The man was silent.

He had a hunch.

The masked man he met for the first time after inheriting the spiritual world’s authority from the old man, presumably Auril Gabis.

[Believe it or not, that’s your choice. I just came here to warn you.]

He had pretended to be someone else at first, and then he gave him a warning or a threat after being exposed.

And…

[So that’s your name.]

…he had forcefully learned his name.

“…Master, my hands are shaking.”

The man unconsciously looked down.

His fingertips were trembling slightly.

It had been over twenty years, but…

“…….”

…he knew now.

That the aura he felt back then was killing intent.

But…

Clench.

He clenched his trembling hand into a fist and forced himself to calm down.

Ignorance is bliss.

Sometimes, knowing the truth only makes you more afraid.

He couldn’t even imagine how many people he would have to kill to have that kind of killing intent.

‘But to think Lion was that guy…’

He hadn’t connected the dots immediately because it had been so long ago, but now it all made sense.

How he knew his real name, Yurven Habelión.

And the unbelievable killing intent that SoulQueens reported.

‘Three months… he said…’

The man felt both fear and relief.

If he had refused his threat and acted arrogantly, that man might have become his enemy.

But he had to know more about him.

If Lion, the mysterious man he met 22 years ago, was really that powerful…

What was his goal?

That would be the key to the current situation.

‘He reappeared in the community three years ago.’

His nickname was Elfnunna.

He didn’t seem to be an otherworldly evil spirit, but he couldn’t be sure.

He was a secretive person.

‘He contacted Lee Baekho as soon as he joined the community, and then he entered the Round Table.’

Then what was his reason?

The clue was in their conversation from 22 years ago.

“Auril Gabis…”

“That’s the game developer’s name, isn’t it?”

He had warned him.

To be wary of the old man, Auril Gabis, who had handed over his authority.

That he was the one who summoned them to this world, and that he didn’t feel any guilt.

“…….”

“Sorry, you were thinking.”

The pieces were starting to fall into place.

Lion was an enemy of Auril Gabis.

And the reason he had reappeared in the community after nearly 20 years…

‘Was it because the Master of the Round Table… was Auril Gabis?’

Nickname 0720.

The one who created the Watchers of the Round Table, and the one he suspected was an otherworldly evil spirit.

‘No, there are too many contradictions.’

“SoulQueens, you said the Master of the Round Table visited the Round Table once, right?”

“Yes. I wasn’t there, but that’s what I heard.”

“And it seemed like they were close.”

“Yes. They seemed so comfortable with each other that the other members were surprised.”

“I see…”

He thought he had finally figured it out, but he hit another wall.

The more he dug, the deeper he sank.

He couldn’t figure out what Auril Gabis, the Master, Lion, or Lee Baekho wanted.

He lacked the clues to connect the dots.

But…

Crack.

…one thing was certain.

Even at this moment, in a place he didn’t know…

…powerful figures were scheming and moving towards their goals.

“…I guess we have to admit it.”

“Admit what?”

The man kept his mouth shut.

The owner of the community? The GM? The oldest player?

No matter what the other players called him, the truth didn’t change.

“…….”

He was just a small fry.

“SoulQueens, it seems like a lot of things are happening behind our backs.”

“Yes, I’ve been feeling that way too.”

“We have to work harder.”

The man chose to acknowledge his shortcomings and move forward instead of despairing.

And as if heaven had answered his prayers…

“…M-Master! Lion is in the Korean chat room! There are two people—”

“Who’s the other one?”

“HS123. The one I helped earlier. And, she’s Korean!”

“…So she’s a new recruit.”

The man quickly gave an order.

“Send her a message. I need to meet her.”

It might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

_____________________

A small room with a bed on one side and a computer desk on the other.

Kang Hyunbyul found it a bit ridiculous.

[This space is a manifestation of your imagination.]

The guide she met when she first entered the community had said that.

Although she couldn’t see it because her mental barriers were too thick…

…this space was based on the place that first came to mind, the place where she felt the most comfortable and secure.

But…

‘This is ridiculous. To think it’s here.’

Kang Hyunbyul smiled coldly.

She understood why it was this place.

But the most important person was missing.

“…Let’s just get to work.”

She looked around the room and then sat down at the computer desk.

And she frowned as she checked her messages.

‘What the, it’s not from the buyer?’

She felt a strange sense of annoyance, but she carefully read the message.

It was because of the sender’s nickname.

‘SoulQueens… that guide from earlier.’

For some reason, she was requesting a meeting.

Click, click.

Kang Hyunbyul entered the password for the chat room without hesitation.

There were two people there, a man and a woman.

She recognized the woman.

And the man…

[Elfnunalove.]

What the hell is that nickname?

She felt a sense of disgust, but she didn’t show it.

“Hello. Nice to meet you. I’m Elfnunalove.”

“Hello. But what is this about?”

“I have something to tell HS123—”

“Just call me ‘you’. It’s a bit awkward to be called by that name.”

“Ahaha, I understand. It is a bit strange.”

The man laughed good-naturedly at her request.

But she was dumbfounded.

‘He knows that, and he still chose that nickname?’

She glared at him coldly and then quickly made a judgment.

‘He’s acting so humble… there must be a reason.’

She wasn’t going to underestimate him.

He might seem stupid…

…but it was foolish to judge someone based on their appearance.

SoulQueens was part of the management team.

And there was no way the man who was standing next to her, acting like her assistant, was an ordinary person.

‘Could he be the GM…?’

There was no need to think about it.

The timing of the message, that creepy nickname, his humble attitude…

There was only one possibility.

‘He must be related to Hansu oppa.’

And she was right.

“You’re Korean, right?”

“I’m sorry, but can we get to the point? I don’t have much time.”

“Haha, I understand. It’s your first time here, so there’s a lot to check.”

“…….”

Kang Hyunbyul didn’t answer.

As always, it was an effective method.

“You’re quite blunt. Then let’s get to the point. What’s your relationship with the user ‘Elfnunna’?”

“Why should I answer?”

“I’ll give you GP.”

“We’re strangers. Why would I tell you?”

“Hmm…”

The man with the strange nickname, Elfnunalove, seemed to be contemplating her words, and then he revealed his reason for calling her here.

“I want to buy information about Elfnunna.”

“You’re asking me to investigate him? I just met him today.”

“Any information will do. I heard Koreans are close. He’ll probably lower his guard if you approach him.”

“…What’s the reward?”

The man answered curtly at Kang Hyunbyul’s cautious question.

“Anything you want.”

“…You know what I want?”

“We have the power to grant your wish, whatever it may be.”

“Is… is that true…?”

Kang Hyunbyul smiled, dismissing her cold demeanor.

It was only natural.

She had no intention of refusing and leaving.

That would be foolish.

‘Oppa is so careless… I don’t know what he’s been doing, but to have someone like this behind him.’

Her smile widened.

Trial

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

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