The 7th floor of the labyrinth, the Dark Continent.
Five explorers were setting up camp in a deep mountainous area shrouded in black fog, indicating that it was part of the 7th floor.
"Hey, old man, how long until the blocking magic circle is done?"
"About 10 minutes."
"Still? Ugh, this is why we need a priest."
The old man's face twitched slightly at the blonde man's complaint.
It wasn't very noticeable, but it was clear that he was annoyed.
"If you're so unhappy, why don't you fill the last spot with a priest?"
The blonde man chuckled at the old man's words.
"Old man, do you think a priest would join our team?"
"There are priests of Karui."
"I'll pass on half-assed healers."
The blonde man muttered and then looked out into the fog.
He could see a monster approaching through the thick black fog.
A 5th-grade beast, the Devil Wolf.
They usually lived in packs, but this one was alone, perhaps having lost a fight for dominance. The blonde man then turned to a woman and spoke in his usual lighthearted tone.
"Hey, kitty cat, you take care of that."
"I told you not to call me that."
"You're so sensitive. So, what's your answer?"
The red-haired beastwoman, Misha Kaltstein, didn't answer.
She just stood up and drew her sword.
And...
"Woof, woof...!"
As soon as the monster emerged from the fog, she attacked.
Two strikes were enough.
Thud!
She pierced the monster's hide with the sword in her left hand, and a wave of frost froze the wounded beast solid.
And then...
Kaboom!
She shattered the frozen monster with the sword in her right hand.
"Oh, you can one-shot 5th-graders now?"
"..."
Misha didn't answer.
She just returned to her seat.
The blonde man muttered, as if he was feeling wronged.
"Hey, why are you always so cold to me?"
"You don't know?"
"Then do you know? I brought you here, fed you essences, trained you, and even told you how to bring your lover back to life. What are you so unhappy about—"
"Stop."
"Just your tone... It was cuter when you used to meow—"
"I said stop."
Misha glared at him, and the blonde man shrugged and sat down by the campfire.
"Ah, right, we're not supposed to talk about him? Sorry."
He apologized without a hint of sincerity and then started chatting with his other companions.
Misha quietly suppressed her boiling emotions.
'...Lee Baekho.'
That was the blonde man's name.
The only 'individual' the royal family was wary of, and a powerful figure even Noark had to be careful of.
Crackle, crackle.
Misha stared at the flickering flames and recalled her first meeting with him.
____________________
It was like a deal with the devil.
An offer she couldn't refuse.
"I'll tell you how to bring Bjorn Yandel back to life."
Lee Baekho had said that.
He told her about the 'Stone of Resurrection' on the 9th floor.
That it could bring back someone who had died.
Of course, it wasn't an act of kindness.
"But you have to do something for me."
He had two conditions.
"First, you have to testify that Bjorn Yandel was an evil spirit."
"...What?"
"You were practically lovers, right? If you say it, it won't just sound like a rumor."
The first condition was baffling.
"Don't be ridiculous! If I do that, Bjorn won't have a place to stay even if he comes back alive! I would never—!"
"So, you're not going to do it?"
Lee Baekho chuckled and cut her off.
Misha wanted to run away, but she clenched her teeth and endured.
She had a feeling that if she said another word, he would withdraw his offer and leave.
"Good."
Lee Baekho seemed pleased with her patience and continued in a gentler tone.
"Don't worry, I didn't make this offer without a plan. If it works out, we can crush the royal family."
"...Crush the royal family?"
"It seems like we have to take care of the royal family first if we want to get past the Gate of the Abyss. And revealing that Bjorn Yandel was an evil spirit is the first step."
This crazy bastard...
She wanted to say it, but she held back.
"Anyway, what I'm trying to say is... once the royal family is gone, it won't matter if he's an evil spirit or not. He'll be able to live safely."
"...What if your plan fails?"
"Then I'll personally escort you outside the walls. It seems like a decent place to live, based on what I've heard. Well, if you don't like that, we can create new identities and live in hiding in the city outskirts."
"..."
"It's a good deal, isn't it?"
Whether it was a good deal or not didn't matter.
If what he said was true, she had no choice.
Living without Bjorn was the same as being dead.
But Misha wasn't stupid enough to agree right away.
"...Tell me your second condition."
"Ah, that? It's simple. You have to help me."
"...?"
"I need a dual-wielding frost swordsman."
Misha flinched at his casual tone.
He was smiling, but his eyes were cold, as if he was looking at an object, not a person.
"...Why me?"
She felt a strange pressure and asked.
But...
"Just a whim."
His answer was unexpected.
"...A whim?"
"Yeah, it doesn't have to be you. I can spread the rumor about Bjorn Yandel without your help, and I have to get the Stone of Resurrection anyway, so it's just more work..."
He spoke as if she was a burden.
Misha felt humiliated, but then he continued.
"Ah, but there is one advantage."
Lee Baekho grinned and looked at her.
"You have a reason not to betray me."
That was why he had sought her out.
____________________
I felt like I was going crazy.
I had to prove my identity again?
But it wasn't that difficult to convince Erwen.
I just had to tell her the truth.
About the Fragment of Records activating on Parune Island.
About arriving in this city 20 years in the past.
And about the six months I spent struggling to return to my original time.
Of course, I left out the part about being an evil spirit.
[No matter what anyone says, you're Bjorn Yandel to me.]
It wasn't easy to lie to someone who had said that to me.
But I had no choice.
It was the best option for both of us.
[...You'll be able to live safely in this world.]
I had Auril Gabis' 'gift'.
If it worked, I could prove that I wasn't an evil spirit.
But what if Erwen tested me?
What if my secret was revealed?
'It would be a disaster.'
I didn't know what would happen.
So I had to be careful.
'Did Auril Gabis give me that gift with this in mind...?'
I couldn't help but be suspicious, but I couldn't be sure.
"Hmm... so you're saying you're not an evil spirit?"
Erwen didn't seem interested in the evil spirit issue.
But she was persistent about something else.
"By the way..."
"Yeah?"
"You spent over six months with Amelia Rainwales... that woman?"
"Y, yeah..."
"And she even said she would become your companion?"
"She didn't mean it romantically, it was just—"
"So you can just abandon her now?"
"...Huh?"
Abandon Amelia?
What was she talking about?
Erwen's conversation was difficult to follow.
I was trying to figure out what she meant when...
Erwen continued.
"You know she's a Noark looter, right? Can you really trust someone like that?"
"But Amelia is a valuable asset..."
I trailed off.
Erwen was smiling, her eyes filled with a strange meaning.
"Hehe, you're so cute..."
It was probably the first time I had been called cute since I was possessed by this body.
I stared at her, and Erwen seemed embarrassed. She covered her mouth with her hand.
But she had to say this.
"Mister, don't worry about that woman. I'm here for you. I've become very strong. I don't need someone like her anymore. I can earn a lot of money, and I even have subordinates who follow my orders."
"Oh, really..."
"Yes. Of course, I understand how you feel. You must have needed someone to rely on after what happened."
She spoke as if I couldn't live without a woman.
It was a bit offensive...
"Maybe she was reliable in that situation. Like when we first met..."
Erwen then said something strange and grabbed my hand.
"But don't worry. I'm here now."
"...?"
"I'll protect you from now on. So..."
"So...?"
I had a bad feeling about this.
"So... when we meet again, I'll kill her."
"Kill... who...?"
"Rainwales, that woman!"
____________________
Now I understood.
Why Amelia had said that.
[Yandel, that woman is not the Erwen you knew.]
The innocent 20-year-old fairy was gone.
Only a radical and slightly crazy fairy remained.
'I'm screwed if I let her lead me around.'
I instinctively knew that I couldn't just laugh this off.
So...
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
I shouted.
It always made me feel like I could do anything.
But Erwen, perhaps because of what she had experienced, didn't even flinch at my sudden outburst.
No, she actually clapped her hands and smiled.
"Wow! It's mister!"
...That's not helping.
I ignored her reaction and spoke firmly.
"Erwen, you're not going to kill Amelia."
"Huh? Why not?"
Erwen, as expected, wasn't easy to deal with.
"Secrets are better kept hidden, right? The Fragment of Records and all that. We have to keep it a secret that you're alive, and that means we can't let that woman live—"
"Stop."
I cut her off.
She looked at me, genuinely confused.
"Don't talk about Amelia like that again. I'll handle it. Do you understand?"
I spoke firmly and stared at her.
Erwen looked around nervously and then slumped her shoulders.
"...Okay, I won't."
Whew, it seemed like I could still control her.
I then discussed a few things with Erwen and headed to the surface through the secret passage.
And...
"Don't worry, no one will see you."
Once we were on the surface, we used the darkness spirit to hide ourselves and walked to the inn. It was nighttime, so there weren't many people on the streets, and there was no one strong enough to detect us.
"It's a bit small, but please stay here tonight. I'll find a better place by tomorrow..."
"A better place...?"
This was already the top floor with four rooms...
It was hard to believe that this was coming from Erwen, who used to walk an hour to eat a 1,000-stone meal because it was cheap and delicious.
But that's what time does.
I should adapt quickly—
"Come on, let's go inside!"
"...You too?"
"Of course? I paid for this room."
Uh, that's true.
I was speechless, and Erwen pushed me into the room.
And...
"Mister, do you remember this?"
Erwen suddenly took out a bottle of alcohol from her subspace pocket.
It felt like I was being tested again.
'Remember this...?'
...Ah, I remember.
"It's the Return Wine we drank together for the first time."
"That's right! I knew you would remember!"
Erwen smiled brightly, seemingly pleased that I had answered correctly.
But then she said something strange.
"It's so romantic, isn't it?"
"Romantic...?"
"I was saving this to drink alone after killing all those bastards we have to kill. Hehe, I never thought I would be drinking this with you..."
What the hell happened to her?
If she was this messed up, I was worried about the other companions...
"Okay, let's have a drink."
I was good at holding my liquor, so I accepted her offer.
And then, after some time...
'She still can't handle her alcohol.'
Erwen soon passed out and went to bed. She looked so vulnerable that I was worried she might get into trouble if she drank like this outside...
'No, why am I even worried?'
I chuckled and sat down by the window.
I finally understood why husbands wanted some alone time after getting married.
'It's peaceful...'
I sat by the moonlit window and enjoyed the silence.
But then I started thinking.
I had learned a lot from my drunken conversation with Erwen.
Raven was in the 3rd Magic Corps.
Avman had joined a clan to make a living.
She didn't know anything about Misha.
And Ainar...
'She'll be the easiest to bring back.'
I sighed and shook my head.
There was a bigger problem than reuniting with my scattered companions.
Quests have a certain order, right?
'The rumor that I was an evil spirit spread a few months later, and then the royal family officially announced it...'
I had to take care of that first.
-x-X-x-
Bjorn Yandel is an evil spirit.
It started as a rumor, but eventually, even the royal family acknowledged it.
Of course, it wouldn't be difficult to refute it.
I could just create an opportunity to prove myself and use Auril Gabis' gift. Then I could regain my noble title and my reputation.
But...
'Something feels off.'
The more I thought about it, the more uneasy I felt.
The dead have immunity.
Not legally, but morally.
There's no point in accusing the dead, so people don't dig too deep, and they don't care much about it.
But this was different.
A dead man was being accused of being an evil spirit, and the royal family was acknowledging it.
It was an absurd situation.
'I need to lay low for a while...'
This wasn't natural.
It didn't seem like some divine intervention or a coincidence.
Someone was behind this rumor.
And the royal family had a reason for acknowledging it.
But the problem was...
'I don't know what that reason is.'
I didn't have enough information.
So it was too dangerous to just go to the royal family and say, "I'm alive."
Not everyone would be happy to see me alive.
Some might even want to make my survival disappear.
If that someone was the royal family, I would be as good as dead.
'...I'll prove myself after I figure out what's going on.'
I decided on my stance.
First, gather information without revealing that I'm alive.
I would clear my name and regain my title and reputation later.
"Phew..."
I sighed and lay down on the bed, looking at Erwen.
It seemed like I would have to rely on her for a while.
I didn't even have a place to stay, let alone money to buy clothes. And it would be impossible to gather information with this conspicuous body.
It was a bit embarrassing, showing up like this...
'But at least she passed out after just a few drinks. Maybe she's not completely gone...'
I was looking at Erwen, who was sleeping peacefully, when she suddenly spoke.
"How long are you going to stare out the window?"
Erwen's eyes were open.
"It's like you're waiting for someone."
Uh... she wasn't asleep?
_____________________
The peaceful night passed, and as soon as the sun rose, Erwen got dressed and prepared to leave.
And she warned me repeatedly, as if she was worried.
"You can't leave this room while I'm gone. Not even one step. I'll know if you do. Do you understand...?"
I was curious about what she meant, but I just nodded and asked where she was going.
"Are you going back to the sanctuary?"
"Yes, I have to."
Right, she had obtained the Pureblood and contracted the Spirit King.
She had her own duties and responsibilities—
"I need money."
"...Huh?"
"I'm going to sell everything I can and find a better place to stay. This place... it's not... you know?"
"...What's wrong with this place?"
"No, it's not that I don't like it... but it would be better to start fresh in a better place..."
...I didn't understand, but I decided to accept that this inn wasn't a good place to hide.
"Well... I'll be back later?"
"Ah, wait. Can I ask you a favor?"
"Yes? Do you want me to buy you some meat?"
"Not that... well, I'm not saying don't buy meat. But it's a different favor."
I asked Erwen to check the vault at the bank. And if there was anything inside, I told her to bring it to me without asking any questions.
"Okay, I'll see you later, mister!"
Erwen agreed and left.
She didn't seem very reliable.
'Will she really bring it back...?'
I felt uneasy, but I didn't have a choice.
If I went out, someone would definitely recognize me.
'At least Amelia came back first.'
I was shocked last night when I realized that 22 years, the vault's time limit, had already passed. But luckily, it seemed like Amelia had taken care of it.
She wouldn't have left that message otherwise.
[I'll take it...]
She must have extended the time limit.
She was truly reliable.
'And it seems like she's gotten stronger.'
The summon range of a clone made with [Self-Replication] is 5 meters.
And the clone's movement range is 100 meters.
But it didn't seem like Amelia's real body was nearby.
It meant she had obtained a new ability.
There were three synergy skills that fit those conditions, according to the database.
But considering how Amelia had listened to my advice in the past...
[Dual Control].
She probably absorbed the Twin Hydra's essence and granted her clone independence.
I had already explained the drawbacks of the other synergy skills.
'Okay, let's get some sleep...'
I was exhausted from staying up all night, so I went to bed.
And after some time...
"Mister, wake up."
"Ah... you're back..."
I opened my eyes and saw Erwen.
The sun was setting.
It seemed like about eight hours had passed.
"Did anything happen outside?"
"You... worried about me?"
No, I was sleeping.
"Of course."
"...Hehe, that feels nice."
"Ahem, so how did it go?"
"Ah, that? I found a good house! It wasn't perfect because I didn't have much time, but don't worry! I renovated it properly."
"Really? Good job."
I didn't care much about the house, so I quickly moved on to the most important question.
"But... what about the bank? How did that go?"
"Ah... the bank...?"
Her reaction was strange.
I felt uneasy.
Did she fail to open the vault?
I gave her the correct password.
No, wait... could it be that Amelia failed to extend the time limit?
As I was thinking about all the possibilities...
"Here."
Erwen handed me a crumpled piece of paper.
"Uh..."
I took it, but I didn't understand.
"What... what is this...?"
"The thing that was in the vault. You asked me to bring it, right?"
"Was there a hammer in there? About this big—"
"There wasn't anything like that. Just this letter."
"...Letter?"
I finally realized what it was and carefully unfolded it.
There was no sender, but I knew who wrote it.
Amelia Rainwales.
"...Can I read this?"
"Sure."
I asked Erwen for permission and quickly scanned the letter. It was crumpled, but I could still read it.
To summarize:
She had taken some measures, but just in case something went wrong and we couldn't meet, she was leaving this letter.
She had extended the vault's time limit.
So I should leave my current location, and she would come find me.
Ah, and lastly...
[Kraul's Demon Crusher is...]
That was the end of the letter.
It seemed like the last part was torn off.
'The most important part is missing!'
I asked Erwen if she knew what the missing part said, but she shook her head.
She said she didn't remember because she had only skimmed it.
'My hammer...!'
I felt a pang of anxiety.
What if something had happened to it while I was gone?
'No, that hasn't happened yet.'
I tried to think positively.
Maybe Amelia was just holding onto it.
And even if she wasn't, I could just send her a reply and find out what happened.
"Erwen..."
I burned the letter and called Erwen.
I was going to ask her to put my reply in the vault.
But...
"It's okay. It's not your fault that you received a love letter. It just means you're popular. What can you do about it?"
"Huh?"
"Ah, just in case, I closed the vault."
"Uh..."
I should be angry.
She had done something without my permission.
And I was usually the type to get angry when I had to.
But...
"Th, there's no way!"
I blurted out a denial.
It was an instinctive reaction.
Perhaps I was worried about ruining our relationship.
"Hehe, I knew you would say that."
Anyway, we ate the food Erwen had brought and then it was nighttime.
The best time to use the darkness spirit.
We used the darkness spirit to hide ourselves and walked to the house Erwen had found.
"You found this... in one day?"
It was a detached house with a high fence and a private garden.
"I told you, I have money."
Even if she had money, it was still unbelievable that she had found this place in one day. She must have bought it at full price without even negotiating...
'Maybe I should just buy a new Demon Crusher...'
I followed Erwen into the house.
And...
Thud.
The heavy iron gate closed behind us, and the lights turned on.
And then I realized...
"..."
There were no windows.
Or rather, all the windows were boarded up with thick planks. It had looked dark from the outside, so I thought they had just drawn the curtains...
"Erwen...?"
"Yes?"
"Why are the windows..."
"Ah, this? Well, it would be troublesome if someone saw us from the outside, and..."
Erwen smiled and continued.
"We don't have to go outside anymore, right?"
Gulp.
_____________________
"This... isn't this a bit much? Boarding up the windows? If you're worried about people seeing us, we have curtains, and the fence is really high..."
I felt uneasy and tried to find a reason, but Erwen wouldn't listen.
"No, mister, you don't understand how dangerous the situation is!"
"..."
"I'm not just talking about you. What if they find out that I'm hiding you?"
"...It would be a big problem."
She was right.
It wasn't just a problem, it could destroy everything I had built.
Erwen seemed emboldened by my agreement and raised her voice.
"Right? So this is necessary! You're a trouble magnet. I have to take care of you, you know?"
"..."
"Ah, what am I doing... look at you, all slumped over..."
Erwen seemed to feel sorry for me and offered a compromise.
"It will be tough, but cheer up... I'll let you walk in the garden at night. Okay?"
"Really...?"
"Yes! But only if I'm with you."
"..."
And so, my reclusive life began.
And time passed...
「The character's soul resonates and is drawn to a specific world.」
It was midnight on the 15th.
-x-X-x-
Lee Hansu's room.
'It's been a while...'
I looked around and then immediately turned on the computer.
Whirrr!
My goal for today's community session was simple.
Gather information.
But unlike usual, there were two years and six months' worth of information to catch up on.
'Let's start with the forums.'
The main event, the Round Table, wouldn't open for another three hours, so I browsed the forums.
It was a tedious task.
I had to scroll through countless pages to get a sense of the atmosphere over time.
[Has anyone been to Bjorn Yandel's house?]
-I went with some people who were helped by him on the 1st floor. It felt strange seeing all the flowers piled up in front of his door.
-It finally hit me that he's really gone.
-His companions were completely devastated.
Okay, it seems like I should start reading from here.
[tetyys: What's the big deal about one NPC dying?]
[ㄴSogeking33: Well, no one would care if a nobody like you died, right?]
[ㄴSoDamnToxic: He was a candidate for barbarian chieftain, the first explorer to receive a noble title in 10 years, and even the royal family sent knights to his funeral procession... It's natural for people to feel jealous.]
[Ki11Humans77: It's a shame. I was curious to see how his new clan would turn out.]
I skimmed through the comments and then clicked the back button. And I continued browsing the forums, page by page.
One month, two months, three months...
Each month, the forums were filled with posts about the hottest topics of the time. My death was one of them.
After just one month, the number of posts about me had drastically decreased.
But then it started increasing again the next month.
Someone had added fuel to the fire.
[Is the rumor that Bjorn Yandel is an evil spirit true?]
-It's all anyone's talking about these days. There must be some truth to it.
[Three reasons why Bjorn Yandel is an evil spirit]
-Like and subscribe!
[Is he really an evil spirit?]
-If you disagree, you're a newbie who's never even seen him.
-If you agree, you have a beastwoman girlfriend.
[arolf5205: This guy is right. Only newbies would think he's an evil spirit.]
[1spring: Bjorn Yandel is not an evil spirit. So, can I be his beastwoman girlfriend now?]
[Bling0_0: Hmm, I still think he's an evil spirit...]
Two months after my death.
The forums were filled with debates about whether I was an evil spirit or not.
Most people still considered it a rumor.
Well, there was one comment that caught my eye.
[teckmonkey: It might not be just a rumor. I heard the rumor started with one of his closest companions.]
I ignored it because it didn't mention any names. It was common for attention seekers to post vague comments like that when a hot topic emerged.
Click, click.
Three months later, the topic had lost its momentum, and my name was rarely mentioned.
But...
Six months later.
My name, which had almost been forgotten, started appearing everywhere again.
The royal family had made an official announcement.
That Bjorn Yandel was an evil spirit.
[Is the royal announcement real?]
[Bjorn Yandel is an evil spirit?]
[He was a candidate for chieftain, a noble, and everything... how can he be an evil spirit? Something's wrong, right?]
At first, everyone was confused, but then people started posting evidence, and the atmosphere shifted towards accepting it as truth.
There were many suspicious things about me, if you assumed I was an evil spirit.
[It was strange from the beginning.]
-How could he have gotten so strong in such a short time? It was too suspicious.
[ㄴtunaboot: Fact 1: It's still impossible, even if he was an evil spirit.]
[ㄴBrutalizerX: Fact 2: Bjorn Yandel was living with three women.]
[ㄴWingPizza: Fact 3: Bjorn Yandel was known to be over 2 meters tall. In height, of course.]
But the topic died down quickly.
It was shocking, but there wasn't enough fuel to keep it going.
Bjorn Yandel is an evil spirit?
That's surprising.
But so what? Why are we still talking about someone who's dead?
That was the general sentiment.
Some people speculated that there was a hidden reason behind the rumor and the royal family's announcement, but...
That was all.
Those kinds of secrets wouldn't be revealed on a public forum.
Click, click.
I continued browsing, but there weren't any other major events for a few months.
It was just a typical forum, filled with random posts.
But...
One year after my death.
Something happened that set the community on fire.
[Did you guys hear about the Nartel Clan?]
The Nartel Clan.
The clan led by Melter Pend, the explorer I had met during the Noark War.
90% of their clan members had died in the labyrinth.
And the reason was already known.
[godFLEXyou: They were ambushed by Noark, and only a few survived, right?]
Noark, who were supposed to be outside the walls, had been spotted in the labyrinth.
This led to countless speculations.
That there was a portal outside the walls.
That they had somehow created a new portal.
Or that they were actually Noark members who had stayed in the city and were hiding their identities.
And...
One year and one month later.
A mid-sized clan was wiped out in the labyrinth.
They were exploring the Dark Continent, the same place where the Nartel Clan had been ambushed.
There were no survivors, so the cause of their deaths was unknown.
One year and three months later.
The number of clans disappearing without a trace on the 7th floor increased, and there were several reports of Noark sightings.
Most of the sightings were on the 7th floor.
One year and four months later.
The royal family, realizing the severity of the situation, started distributing new ID cards.
They even sent knights to patrol the lower floors.
But it didn't help.
They checked the explorers entering the labyrinth on the 1st floor, but there were no Noark members.
One year and six months later.
The royal family, noticing that Noark was only appearing on the 7th floor, formed an expedition team with a few large clans.
And they returned with heavy casualties.
But they had learned something.
[Breaking News: Latest Update on Noark]
-This is confirmed information obtained from a captured prisoner.
-Noark opened a portal outside the walls that leads directly to the 7th floor.
-No one knows how they did it, not even the prisoner or the royal family.
New information had been revealed.
One year and eight months later.
The royal family banned ordinary explorers from entering the Dark Continent and formed a second expedition team. They suffered heavy losses, but they managed to win a costly victory. ŔãŊỐꞖÈŝ
And...
[The real war has begun.]
A full-scale war began on the 7th floor.
The royal family had decided that Noark would become a major threat if they were allowed to stay on the 7th floor and grow stronger.
Countless explorers joined the war, lured by the huge rewards offered by the royal family, and new heroes emerged every day.
The Seven Strengths were one of them.
Seven young heroes who had gained fame during the war.
[Looking back, Bjorn Yandel's party had an insane talent pool. How did two of the Seven Strengths come from one team?]
I finished reading the latest post and took my hand off the mouse.
It had taken me over two hours to catch up on two years and six months' worth of information, even though I was skimming.
'Let's take a break and organize my thoughts...'
I got up from my chair and lay down on the bed.
I hadn't learned much from the community.
I had already heard about the major events from Erwen while I was stuck at home for over ten days.
'But it was nice to get a sense of the atmosphere...'
There were also a few details that Erwen hadn't mentioned.
For example, that the explorers who had been in a coma after the fire pillar incident had all recovered.
'Anyway, let's check the exchange forums next.'
I sat back down and continued browsing.
And then...
[03:09]
It was time to enter the Round Table.
___________________
Creak.
The Goblin mask entered the room and waved cheerfully.
"Oh, Fox! It's been a while!"
"Hello."
"It seems like we're the first two again today."
The woman wearing the Fox mask, Bersil Gowland, smiled awkwardly at Goblin's question.
She knew he wasn't just making small talk.
She didn't want to have a personal conversation with him.
"...Haha, it seems like you have something on your mind again today. I'll be quiet."
"Thank you."
A few minutes later, Stag Antlers and Crescent Moon arrived almost simultaneously.
It was 3:05.
Five minutes until the meeting began.
"It seems like the other two aren't coming again."
"...They'll be here soon."
Bersil smiled bitterly at Stag Antlers' question.
The two missing members were Clown and Queen.
They would probably show up.
But they would just check the members and leave before the meeting began.
Just like they had been doing for the past year.
"Well, at least we have four people, so we can actually have a meeting today."
"...Last time, Stag Antlers wasn't here, so we couldn't even start. Why didn't you come?"
"Goblin, do I have to explain myself to you?"
"Well... no. I was just curious."
They chatted idly as they waited, and then the door opened again.
This time, it was a woman.
"Oh, it's been a while, everyone."
Queen.
She wasn't as influential as Lion, but she had proven her worth in this gathering by outsmarting Clown.
"Are you going to leave again today?"
Crescent Moon asked politely, and Queen smiled awkwardly.
Her intentions were clear.
'She doesn't see the point in participating without Lion.'
Queen had continued to share information even after Lion disappeared.
But at some point, she started leaving before the meeting began, just like Clown.
"Pfft, is everyone here again?"
"Clown..."
Two minutes until the meeting began.
Everyone looked at Clown as he arrived.
Most of their gazes were hostile.
They had been clashing with Noark a lot recently.
Even though he wasn't as deeply involved as Crescent Moon, they couldn't be friendly with a member of Noark.
"What? Are you going to kill me with your eyes?"
Clown ignored their gazes and sat down. He stared at the clock on the wall, waiting for someone.
It was a familiar scene.
"Sigh... it seems like he's not coming again today."
"...I heard there have been sightings of Noark explorers trying to enter the 6th floor. What's going on?"
"Huh? The meeting hasn't even started. Why would I tell you?"
"Well, you're not participating..."
"Stag Antlers, really... You should have brought something interesting then. I keep leaving because it's so boring."
"...Do you think you're Lion?"
"Pfft, I didn't mean it like that."
Clown chuckled and stood up, and Queen followed suit.
"Well, it seems like he's not coming again, so I'll be going."
"Me too..."
Bersil sighed as they left.
She felt the need for Lion's presence.
'Where did he disappear to...?'
At first, Clown and Queen had speculated about Lion's disappearance.
That he had lost interest.
That he had been banned by the GM.
There were many theories, but the most memorable one was Goblin's.
That Lion and Bjorn Yandel were the same person.
The timing of their disappearances was too coincidental.
But...
[Pfft, Goblin, you should be a writer, not a paladin.]
Goblin was ridiculed for his theory.
The other members didn't take it seriously either.
Lion had first appeared when Bjorn Yandel was a rookie explorer.
It would be impossible for a low-level explorer to act like that.
But...
'Maybe... he was right...'
Bersil thought it was a possibility.
There were many contradictions, but if it was true, it would explain why Lion hadn't appeared for two years and six months—
Creak.
The door opened, and everyone flinched.
It was a simple reason.
Clown was about to leave, but the door opened before he could even reach it.
"...?"
There were no more visitors.
Or rather, there shouldn't be.
Except for one.
Thud.
A man stepped through the open door.
And...
"...!"
"...!"
The man, whose presence alone froze everyone in place, spoke.
As if he had just stopped by on a whim.
"It's been a while."
Lion had returned.
-x-X-x-
I ran countless simulations before coming to the Round Table.
After all, there had been a sudden gap of two years and six months. The members would definitely be curious about my absence.
'Maybe someone even figured out that I'm Bjorn Yandel because our disappearances coincided.'
But I wasn't too worried about that.
Only Amelia and Erwen knew I was alive.
I could dispel those suspicions just by showing my face at the Round Table.
The real problem would be after I revealed that I was alive…
'Well, I'll figure it out when the time comes.'
There was a more pressing matter.
How to explain my two-year and six-month absence.
I had run simulations, considering various scenarios, and I had reached a conclusion.
"Lion…"
"…You're really alive."
I didn't have to explain anything, no matter how surprised or curious they were.
"Aren't you going to move aside?"
"Ah… yes…!"
Clown, who had been standing frozen in front of the door, flinched and stepped aside at my curt words.
SoulQueens did the same.
Of course, she was much better than Clown, who was completely stunned.
"…You haven't changed at all, have you?"
She observed me with an amused gaze as she moved aside. Although her relaxed tone bothered me, I didn't show it.
I just ignored her and walked past.
Thud.
I sat down in my usual spot, acting indifferent.
"...."
"...."
A strange silence followed. The members stared at me, glancing at each other.
Their intentions were clear.
They wanted someone else to ask the questions.
'Damn, it's been a while.'
Could it be because I had been cooped up at home for the past few months?
I felt a liberating sense of power.
A few seconds passed in silence.
Thud!
The doors that had been open slammed shut.
It was past 3:10, and the entry period was over.
In other words, it meant that the meeting could begin.
Therefore…
"Are you going to keep standing there?"
I looked at Clown and SoulQueens and said,
"Sit down."
I had a lot to hear from them.
And a lot to tell them.
______________________
"Pfft, I showed you an embarrassing side of me."
Clown, who had been frozen against the wall, snapped out of his daze and sat down.
He looked at me with unconcealed joy.
"Welcome back, Lion."
What the hell is this guy talking about?
Did he forget that I told him not to act so friendly last time?
Well, I guess he could have forgotten after two years and six months.
"...."
I ignored him, and he chuckled, as if he had expected it.
"Reason."
Stag Antlers was the next to speak.
"You disappeared for over two years, and now you're back. Why?"
He stood up and asked me directly, his tone aggressive.
But my answer was already prepared.
"Well."
"You're not going to answer?"
Stag Antlers' voice rose as I exercised my right to remain silent. It sounded like the tone the royal family used when interrogating someone…
I felt a bit sorry for him.
He had lost his edge after being away from the Round Table for two years and six months.
"I'm offended."
I spoke as coldly as I could.
And…
Whoosh!
…I slowly unleashed my killing intent.
I had to re-establish my authority since I had been away for so long.
"…Ugh."
Stag Antlers clenched his fists, as if in pain. It seemed like he was ready to listen, but I wasn't satisfied. I continued to press him with my killing intent.
"Never."
Stag Antlers' neck bulged as I spoke.
He was better than Clown, who had been wriggling on the floor like a worm, but it wasn't much different.
"Look down on me."
Stag Antlers' body slowly bent as I unleashed my full killing intent.
As if something was pressing down on his shoulders.
I looked at him with satisfaction.
"Yes, like that."
Stag Antlers was now kneeling on the ground, looking up at me.
His arms, which were on the table to support his weight, were trembling. It seemed like he was reaching his limit…
But honestly, I was also reaching mine.
'Ugh, my head…'
The killing intent vanished as soon as I felt a headache.
And at the same time…
"…Gasp!"
Stag Antlers took a deep breath.
Clown scoffed at the sight.
"…Pfft, you foolish and stupid human. Have you forgotten what to do when you have a question for Lion?"
"...."
"Bring something interesting! Something interesting!"
Clown glanced at me as he spoke.
As if asking for my approval.
I ignored him again.
And after some time…
"Lion."
A man's voice broke the silence.
It was Crescent Moon.
The fairy who longed for the Stone of Resurrection more than anyone else at the Round Table.
"It doesn't matter what you've been doing."
He swallowed his anxiety and questions and said,
"Thank you for coming back."
It was the perfect reaction.
I felt a bit guilty. He must have been worried sick while I was gone.
'Should I give him a clue?'
I was thinking that when…
"Hmm, so everything's settled now?"
SoulQueens spoke in a cheerful voice, changing the mood.
"Then shall we begin? I think we have a lot to talk about today."
And so, the meeting began.
______________________
The order was quickly decided.
"Then Fox goes first."
"…It seems that way."
As always, it was clockwise.
But I would be the last one to go.
"Why did I have to sit here…"
It was an unspoken agreement.
They would share information first, and then I would evaluate it and share my own information in return.
That was how the Round Table usually worked.
"…I haven't prepared anything special today, so I'll just share what I was going to talk about here."
Bersil, the Fox, was the first to share information.
It was a rather interesting story.
"The Dragonslayer, who disappeared after the High Priest kidnapping incident three years ago, has reappeared in the Dark Continent. According to witnesses, he's much stronger than before, and it seems like he's even overcome the 'Dragon's Curse'."
News about the Dragonslayer, whom I had almost forgotten.
'He overcame the Dragon's Curse…'
It was unfortunate news, but I didn't dwell on it.
Nothing would change even if he could use Dragon Speech.
I wasn't the same person I was before.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The jewel on the Round Table emitted a green light, signaling the end of the first turn.
But then…
"Pfft, you're clever, Fox."
Clown chuckled and spoke to Bersil.
"…What do you mean?"
"That wasn't the information you were originally going to share, was it? It's something that could reveal your identity."
"...."
"And judging by Stag Antlers' reaction, it seems like even the royal family hasn't heard about this. Did you meet him yourself?"
"I won't answer any personal questions."
"Well, whatever. I'll just ask that salamander bastard who he met in the labyrinth."
Bersil frowned at Clown's rude behavior and then remained silent.
The turn naturally passed.
"Then it's my turn… now."
It was Stag Antlers' turn.
He avoided eye contact with me, his expression awkward.
It seemed like he was still affected by my killing intent from earlier.
But he cleared his throat and spoke, trying to act nonchalant.
"The royal family is going to issue a conscription order to all titled nobles soon."
He was looking at Clown as he spoke, as if trying to gauge Noark's reaction.
But…
"Pfft, you think I'm scared? It just means they're desperate."
…Clown just scoffed, and Stag Antlers didn't react.
Crescent Moon spoke as soon as the green light went out.
"It's my turn now."
I was expecting something good since he had been diligently bringing information after being hooked by the Stone of Resurrection bait…
"Unfortunately, I haven't prepared anything special."
…but he had been caught off guard by my sudden appearance.
He seemed worried that I might be disappointed and stop coming.
"It's about the Blood Spirit Marquis."
But surprisingly, he shared something interesting.
"A few weeks ago, the Blood Spirit Marquis took most of the support funds the royal family gave to the fairies, saying she needed money. She didn't give us a reason."
It was practically a tribal scandal.
SoulQueens asked,
"But even the Blood Spirit Marquis can't just take that much money without a reason, can she? The royal family's support funds aren't a small amount."
"Of course, it's an unusual situation. But the elders had no choice when she threatened to sell the Sacred Tree Bow."
"…Sell the Sacred Tree Bow?"
"It's embarrassing, but it's true. But she said she needed the money for something important, so we have to believe that she has a reason."
The other members couldn't hide their unease at Crescent Moon's explanation.
"Pfft, what the hell is that crazy woman planning?"
"If she needs that much money, it can only be for one thing."
"Well, there's going to be another bloodbath."
I felt a strange sensation.
What kind of reputation did Erwen have?
No, wait…
'She told me she had plenty of money… so she extorted it from her tribe?'
I was speechless.
I had wondered where she got the money to buy a mansion in one day…
'What would happen if the fairies found out?'
I would be devastated…
Goblin cautiously spoke as I was lost in thought.
"Th, then… can I go now?"
Ah, it was his turn.
'He's a paladin from the Leathlas Church, right?'
I was a bit curious about what he would share since I knew his identity, unlike Clown.
"The main church has decided to send all its forces, except for the 1st Paladin Order, to join the royal army."
What the hell, another war story?
I was disappointed, but I couldn't help but chuckle.
'The main church… he's not even trying to hide it anymore. Or maybe his identity was revealed during the past two years.'
I continued listening, wondering what kind of conversations they had at the Round Table while I was gone.
"Pfft, you guys are so boring. Don't you know how to entertain Lion?"
It was Clown's turn.
He shook his head dramatically and then spoke, his eyes gleaming.
"Lee Baekho has the Stone of Resurrection."
…Huh?
____________________
Clown's casual announcement caused a stir.
And Crescent Moon was the most agitated.
He couldn't hide his emotions and muttered,
"Lee Baekho… the one the royal family issued a secret assassination order for…? The Stone of Resurrection…?"
Crescent Moon seemed surprised to hear that Lee Baekho had the Stone of Resurrection, but I was different.
'Why is Lee Baekho suddenly being mentioned…?'
It was an unexpected name, and I didn't even know when he had become this famous.
He was just 'that guy' two years ago, a name only a few people knew.
And how did he get the Stone of Resurrection?
It was an item you couldn't obtain without luck, even if you knew the conditions.
"How is it?"
I didn't have time to space out.
"I thought you might be interested in Lee Baekho, so I brought it up."
The jewel emitted a green light, and Clown subtly asked for my opinion. I hesitated for a moment and then answered,
"Indeed."
It was more valuable than the previous information.
I was more interested in this than the war stories.
But I couldn't be too impressed.
"It wasn't bad."
I gave him a lukewarm response.
After all, he would only bring me this kind of information if I showed some appreciation.
'I should ask Erwen if she knows anything about Lee Baekho when I get back.'
I organized my thoughts and looked ahead.
"Clown, is that true?"
"You can see for yourself, can't you?"
"Pl, please tell us more—"
"Pfft, I refuse."
"...."
Crescent Moon was being humiliated by Clown.
I felt sorry for him, but there was nothing I could do.
It was my first time hearing that Lee Baekho had the Stone of Resurrection.
'Hmm, this makes it difficult to use the Stone of Resurrection as information… What should I share later?'
I observed the situation, thinking about what information to share next, and then SoulQueens clapped her hands, drawing attention.
And…
"Well, then it's my turn, isn't it?"
…she spoke in a seductive voice, looking at me.
"Lion hasn't logged into Ghostbusters for two years and six months."
"...."
"Where have you been all this time?"
Haha…
____________________
All members of the community are forcefully summoned to this spiritual world on the 15th.
Well, there was a way to log out as soon as you entered…
"What do you mean 'hasn't logged in'?"
"It means what I said. There's no record of him logging in."
It was strange that there was no login record at all.
She must have confirmed it through the GM.
"So I thought he must be dead…"
She must have concluded that I was Bjorn Yandel.
I was the only famous person who died around that time.
But did Goblin sense a contradiction in her words?
"De, dead? But you were waiting for Lion, weren't you?"
"No, I was waiting for the Master. The one who created this Round Table. I was hoping he might come back."
"Ah…"
Goblin nodded, and everyone looked at me.
Their intentions were clear.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The jewel on the Round Table emitted a green light, so it was true that I hadn't logged in for two and a half years.
They were expecting an explanation.
"Ah, are you going to avoid answering again? Well, this isn't exactly interesting information for you—"
I cut her off and said,
"You're being bold."
"Then do I have a reason to be afraid?"
She looked at me confidently, as if she had a way to counter me, even if I unleashed my killing intent.
"Interesting."
"Oh, so you're going to tell us? What happened?"
I glanced at the jewel, which had lost its light, and then answered,
"It's my turn now."
"Are you ignoring me?"
"Well."
It wasn't ignorance.
It was punishment.
"Magitechnician, Yurven Habelión."
I had to teach her a lesson to maintain my authority as Lion.
Even if it wasn't through brute force.
"That's the GM's name."
That there were consequences for defying me.
-x-X-x-
[There is no record of Lion logging into Ghostbusters for two years and six months.]
I was quite flustered when I first heard it, but after thinking about it, there was no reason to be too afraid.
At least one thing was certain.
'She probably only knows my nickname, 'Elfnunna'.'
After all, even Auril Gabis couldn't find out my real identity in the spiritual world.
Could the GM, who only inherited half of his power, do it?
It was impossible.
The problem was that if she knew my nickname, she could ban me from the community…
But that wasn't a big deal either.
'It's not like I'll die if I can't participate in the community.'
On the other hand, I would lose a lot if I backed down.
She would realize that this was my weakness.
[Where have you been all this time?]
She would ask me even more direct questions. And it would only be a matter of time before my Lion mask was ripped off if I kept avoiding them.
So, in that case…
'The best defense is a good offense.'
…I decided to take a gamble.
After all, this GM was the one who almost died after trying to ban Lee Baekho.
Like how nuclear weapons are a deterrent to war…
…I judged that the only solution might be to act even more boldly.
Well, I wasn't sure what the outcome would be…
'I'll find out soon.'
I looked around.
"...."
"...."
A heavy silence.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on one spot.
The center of the Round Table, where the jewel that distinguished between truth and lies was placed.
But I was looking at something else.
SoulQueens.
The GM's companion who was participating in the Round Table wearing the Queen mask.
Her eyes, which had been relaxed until now, were filled with unease.
'What the hell is going on?' With that question in her eyes. As if she hadn't expected this at all.
"…Uh, um…"
She wanted to say something, but her words were jumbled, and only a sigh escaped her lips.
Her hand was also trembling.
"Uh, uh…?"
She reached out, as if to stop me, but then she lowered her hand powerlessly.
She knew.
That she couldn't stop anything with a gesture like that.
That the damage was already done.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The jewel emitted a green light after a brief pause, as if enjoying the attention.
And the brief silence ended.
"The GM… is the Magitechnician…?"
"Wa, wait a minute… I can't keep up. Ho, how can he be an evil spirit… No, the GM?"
"…Pfft, it was worth waiting for you for over two years, Lion. Such a big secret from the very beginning."
The members were all talking at once, the atmosphere chaotic.
But there was something worth listening to.
"I'm actually more surprised about Queen. There were rumors that she might be part of the management team, but…"
Right, I thought it was strange that she revealed the login records in front of everyone.
There was no reason for her to hide it.
It seemed like her identity had been revealed while I was gone. Hmm, or maybe she intentionally revealed it, considering her personality?
But that wasn't important right now.
I continued to stare at one person, ignoring the others.
"Can you… handle it?"
SoulQueens, who had been standing with her head bowed, her hands on the table, glared at me.
But it wasn't a threatening glare.
It was for a simple reason.
"Ca, can you… handle it…?"
Her voice was trembling.
Who would be intimidated by that?
"Even after doing this… how can you—"
I cut her off and said,
"You said you weren't afraid."
"...?"
"You're trembling."
"...!"
SoulQueens quickly looked down at her hands.
They were shaking uncontrollably.
Grab.
She grabbed her trembling wrist with her other hand and glared at me again. And then she took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.
"Fine, that's how you're going to play it. I'll go first this time."
She placed her hand on the jewel and told anyone who wasn't participating in this round to leave.
Of course, no one left.
And…
"Lion is Bjorn Yandel."
The jewel emitted a light.
____________________
1. Lion is Elfnunna.
2. Elfnunna hasn't logged into the community for two years and six months, and neither has Lion.
3. Therefore, Lion is Bjorn Yandel.
She must have been 100% certain, having reached that conclusion through a logical process.
At least until she entered the Round Table today.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The jewel emitted a light in the tense atmosphere.
"…It's red."
As expected, it wasn't green.
This jewel didn't distinguish between truth and lies.
It seemed like SoulQueens wanted to get back at me… but it was a meaningless struggle now that her faith had been shaken.
'But the problem is, she doesn't seem that flustered.'
Then why did she make a meaningless attempt?
I found the answer in Goblin's question.
"Um, but Bjorn Yandel is dead, isn't he? Lion is alive and right here… Why did you ask that question…?"
"There are many mysteries surrounding his death. Even his companions didn't see him die."
The possibility that Bjorn Yandel was alive.
She had asked that question with that in mind.
Well, she received a red light because she lacked faith.
"Pfft, even you should know that the jewel would emit a red light with that kind of speculation."
"…I won't answer that."
SoulQueens looked away from me.
Come to think of it, maybe she was just testing me.
No, she definitely was.
She had been staring at me when the jewel emitted the light.
'…Damn it, she's testing me in this situation? This woman is relentless.'
I was worried about what she would think after seeing my reaction, but I tried to hide it.
But did she gain confidence because I was silent?
"…Anyway, we have to do it again since it's red."
SoulQueens casually said she would retry and glanced at me.
And…
"I can ban Lion from Ghostbusters at any time."
…she received a green light after revealing that she was part of the management team.
It was a predictable action.
After all, the only penalty she could give me was to ban me from the community.
Unlike me.
"Pfft, I'd rather you didn't do that. Ah, not that you can anyway."
"…What do you mean?"
"Why would they leave me alone if I was banned? I'm from Noark, which you guys hate so much. You're just keeping me around because you're curious about our information." ṘἁΝòＢÈṣ
"…What does that have to do with anything?"
"Pfft, I guess that's the answer. Anyway, that means you shouldn't ban Lion. We don't know what kind of stories he'll tell us…"
Clown said firmly,
"You should know better than to do something you can't handle."
"…Something I can't handle?"
"Yes. He knows the GM's identity, what are you going to do to him?"
It was music to my ears.
He was scratching my itch.
After all, it wouldn't sound good if I said it myself.
It was better for someone else to say it for me.
"...."
I looked away from Queen, who was speechless, and met Clown's eyes.
He was smiling.
'Good job, right?'
With that look in his eyes.
____________________
Did she feel like she had gotten her revenge?
"Pfft, well, it's not my place to say anything."
Clown, who had said everything he wanted to say, spoke in a cheerful voice.
"Anyway, it's my turn now, isn't it?"
And so, the second round began.
And from the very beginning, I couldn't ignore what he said.
"Speaking of Bjorn Yandel, that bastard… he might not actually be an evil spirit."
Huh?
"Pfft, it was Lee Baekho who spread the rumor."
…Lee Baekho?
He revealed my identity?
As I was inwardly shocked, Stag Antlers casually shared even more shocking information.
"But the original source was Misha Kaltstein, that woman."
…Huh? Misha?
"It's the same thing. She's one of Lee Baekho's companions now."
No, what the hell is he talking about?
Why is Misha one of Lee Baekho's companions?
"Pfft, fortunately, it's green. Well, I knew you wouldn't know that the cat girl had become one of his companions."
I was getting dizzy from the influx of information, but I barely managed to maintain my composure.
And then it was the next person's turn.
"…Phew, this isn't easy."
Goblin, who had received two red lights after sharing information about the war, finally succeeded in getting a green light on his third try.
It was about the internal affairs of the Leathlas Church.
It wasn't surprising since he always sold out his church when he was cornered.
"It's my turn again."
It was Crescent Moon's turn.
I was curious about Erwen, but his information was just okay.
It was about the war.
Stag Antlers was the same.
"Pfft, it seems like the royal family is serious this time."
It seemed like it was important information, judging by how even Clown, who always mocked Stag Antlers, was being serious.
But the war didn't matter to me right now.
My scattered companions.
Clearing my name.
I had a lot of homework to do.
So I was at least interested in Fox's information.
No, to be precise, I was worried.
"A few months ago, a Double Numbered Item was acquired by the Alminus Central Exchange. An unidentified woman used it as collateral for a large loan, and the repayment date is approaching. We might see it at the exchange's auction house soon."
Don't tell me… she's talking about my Demon Crusher?
No, that can't be right.
That kind Amelia wouldn't do that.
"...."
I tried to rationalize it, but I could feel everyone's gaze on me.
'Ah, it's my turn.'
I didn't have to think about what to say since I had already decided.
I slowly looked at them one by one.
They were all looking at me expectantly.
Except for one.
"...."
SoulQueens seemed more anxious than expectant, perhaps because of what happened earlier.
Was she the type who had a lot of pride but was actually easily scared?
'Anyway, that's enough stalling.'
I tapped my fingers on the table twice and then looked at SoulQueens.
"You asked if I could handle it."
It was my turn to answer her question.
Or rather, to ask her back.
Like Clown said…
…was she really prepared to handle it?
Gulp.
The moment Queen's slender throat bobbed, I continued without hesitation.
"Your nickname is SoulQueens."
Everyone's gaze turned to the jewel as soon as I finished speaking.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
Geez, I'm not even done talking.
"And SoulQueens's real name is…"
Honestly, I didn't know.
But I deliberately trailed off, looking at her.
If she didn't react, I could just say something like, 'I'll save it for later,' and pretend to be merciful.
"Hoo."
The members' eyes gleamed with interest as I paused.
Clown was the most enthusiastic.
After all, he had been humiliated by her before.
"Pfft, I hope she's not a shut-in like the Magitechnician. It's hard to kill those types. Hehehe…"
SoulQueens's throat bobbed again at Clown's creepy laughter.
Tap, tap.
I tapped my fingers on the table again.
And at that moment…
"…St, stop!"
…she spoke.
"Pl, please stop… I don't want to reveal my identity here…"
Tsk, she should have just agreed from the beginning.
-x-X-x-
SoulQueens finally surrendered.
It seemed like she had realized how foolish it was to try to gain the upper hand in our relationship…
"Pfft, what a funny woman. She was so bold when she revealed the GM's identity, but now she's backing down when it's her turn."
Queen endured Clown's mockery without a word. It was a pitiful sight, considering her status at the Round Table.
But…
'It would be a shame to end it here.'
…it would be foolish to just accept her surrender.
SoulQueens seemed to be sensitive to hierarchy.
It would be better to properly imprint it on her now.
Like I did to the goblin I met in the cave on the day I was summoned to this world.
Who was on top.
And who was below.
"Why…"
I tapped my finger on the table and asked,
"…should I?"
SoulQueens flinched at my short question and answered in a small voice,
"…If we stop here, we won't be hostile towards you."
It meant that they wouldn't ban me from the community, and they wouldn't even hold a grudge against me for revealing the GM's identity.
I chuckled coldly at her uncharacteristically roundabout expression.
It sounded like a suggestion between equals.
"You still haven't learned your lesson."
I tapped my finger on the armrest again.
But there was a difference from before.
This time, I didn't hide my displeasure.
"…Please tell me what you want."
SoulQueens pleaded, watching my reaction.
Therefore…
"I don't want anything from you."
I spoke clearly, as if she didn't understand.
"And I'm not afraid of you."
At least on the surface.
Would I have been this aggressive if I was even slightly concerned about making an enemy out of the management team? I must seem like an uncontrollable madman to them.
So…
"I'll ask you one last time."
I asked SoulQueens again,
"Why should I?"
"Th, that's…"
Of course, she couldn't answer.
After all, everyone she had dealt with had their own desires. It was only natural for her to be speechless when she encountered someone who didn't want anything and wasn't even afraid of threats.
But…
"I…"
…she was a clever woman.
Threats didn't work, and I didn't even want anything.
I was just enjoying this punishment.
How could she persuade someone like that?
She finally reached an answer after a long contemplation.
To give up on persuasion.
And…
"I was… wrong…"
…to beg for mercy.
The last resort of a powerless person.
"Please… forgive me…"
"It seems like that stupid woman has finally realized her place. Pfft."
SoulQueens ignored Clown's mockery and lowered her head, just like I had told Stag Antlers to do.
And she looked up at me and spoke with difficulty,
"I'll never… disobey you again… So please… forgive me for my mistake today…"
Honestly, I was impressed.
I didn't expect her to be this humble. Was it that shocking to know that I knew their identities?
"...."
"...."
The other members were just watching me and SoulQueens, their mouths shut.
They were curious about whether I would accept her apology.
'That's enough hierarchy establishment…'
I looked down at SoulQueens and said,
"That's better."
Yes, that's it.
______________________
"Queen's nickname is SoulQueens. And I won't tell you SoulQueens's real name."
I ended my turn and received a green light.
"Phew…"
The members all sighed in relief, the tension lifting.
SoulQueens was the same.
"Thank… you…"
She thanked me, as if she was peeling off her own skin. I didn't answer, and an awkward silence followed.
Stag Antlers cautiously broke the silence.
"…What about the meeting? Are we going to continue?"
The second round had ended with my turn.
We usually went for four or five rounds, but it wasn't strange to end it here.
Then what would they decide?
"I, I'm done…"
SoulQueens, who had been scolded earlier, spoke cautiously, watching my reaction.
It seemed like she would stay if I told her to…
But it wouldn't change anything if she was the only one left.
"Then… I'm done too…"
Goblin, who had received two red lights and barely managed to pass this round, declared his withdrawal, and the meeting naturally came to an end.
'Damn it, it's over already…'
It was a bit disappointing that the Round Table, which I had returned to after two years and six months, ended after just two rounds, but it couldn't be helped.
'Well, at least I showed my face today. They'll bring something more interesting next month.'
"…Pfft, then let's all prepare more diligently for next month. Ah, of course, assuming Lion comes back!"
Clown glanced at me as he spoke to the other members.
It was a bit cute.
He really wanted to ask if I was coming back next month.
Swoosh.
I left the Round Table without answering his question.
And…
"Phew…"
…I lay down on the bed as soon as I returned to Lee Hansu's room, taking a deep breath.
I was exhausted, perhaps because of the killing intent I had used earlier.
'I'm going to sleep like a log until tomorrow evening.'
Of course, that was my future self. My current self started working.
First, organize the information.
'I made a scene today, so no one will suspect that I'm Bjorn Yandel for now…'
I replayed the events of the Round Table.
My comeback performance seemed successful, but it wasn't perfect. After all, I couldn't stay hidden forever.
'They'll start suspecting me again as soon as they find out I'm alive.'
Of course, I had a few ways to deal with that.
I had gained several trump cards during my time travel.
'I'll think about that later…'
There was something more important.
No, honestly, I almost had a mental breakdown because of it.
[The original source was Misha Kaltstein, that woman.]
Misha Kaltstein.
Why did she spread that rumor…
[It's the same thing. She's one of Lee Baekho's companions now.]
…and how did she become Lee Baekho's companion?
I couldn't connect the dots, no matter how hard I tried.
But if I had to guess…
[Lee Baekho has the Stone of Resurrection.]
…that seemed to be the key.
For example, maybe Misha had joined forces with Lee Baekho to bring me back to life.
'…Is that just wishful thinking?'
Damn it, if only he had sent me back a year earlier.
The gap of two years and six months felt huge, and my frustration grew.
But what could I do?
'Anyway, if Misha's goal is to bring me back to life… what's Lee Baekho's goal?'
Well, I didn't know.
I didn't have enough information yet.
I hadn't spent much time talking to Lee Baekho, and we were both from Korea.
And we had never had a sincere conversation.
'…I'll think about that after I find out more about Lee Baekho.'
I closed my eyes and continued organizing my thoughts.
The GM, Auril Gabis, Amelia, Noark, the royal family, and so on. I had countless things to think about.
"...."
After brainstorming for a while, I sat back down at the computer and continued browsing the forums.
After some time…
'I thought the GM or SoulQueens would send me a message, but there's nothing.'
I moved the cursor.
I didn't think I would find anything important even if I continued browsing, and it was almost time for the community to close.
Click.
The screen flashed as I clicked the logout button, and then darkness enveloped me.
A bedroom with all the windows boarded up, not a single ray of moonlight entering.
"Hehe, you're awake…"
Erwen was looking down at me.
____________________
Erwen Fornachi di Tersia.
The current Pureblood and the contractor of the Spirit King.
She had been bestowed with the 'Sacred Tree Bow', a fairy treasure, and had become one of the Seven Strengths, earning the nickname 'Blood Spirit Marquis' for her achievements in the war.
And…
[Pfft, what the hell is that crazy woman planning?]
[Well, there's going to be another bloodbath.]
…the only one among my companions who had dedicated everything to avenging me.
[No matter what anyone says, you're Bjorn Yandel to me.]
The one who said it didn't matter if I was an evil spirit.
But I couldn't feel grateful or touched by her devotion.
It was too much.
Then why was she so obsessed with me?
At first, I thought it was because of her Obsession stat.
Goblin Archer, Steel Hill Chaser, Cannibal.
All three essences she had absorbed had the 'Obsession' stat.
And her sister's death might have acted as a trigger.
But…
"Mister… do you want to go for a walk? The, the moon is beautiful tonight…"
…that was Erwen from two years and six months ago.
She had already replaced most of her essences, receiving generous support from her tribe.
The problem was that the new essences weren't that great.
Patrol Golem Ertes from the Golem Island on the 6th floor.
+45 Defense Mechanism.
Kalban, a wolf monster with the unique characteristic of not attacking during the day, but attacking first at night.
+30 Impulse and +30 Distrust.
+24 Possessiveness from the 4th-grade monster, Metcrow, and -30 Control and +40 Deficiency from the other two essences.
They weren't stats that would cause serious mental problems individually, but it was only natural for them to affect her real life when combined.
So I had been trying to avoid provoking her after realizing that.
Things could get out of hand if she snapped.
Right, that's what I had been doing.
But…
"Ah, right…! I bought you a necklace… If you wear this, I can always know where you are—"
…I couldn't avoid it forever.
This wasn't my style.
Thud.
I swatted her hand away.
"…Huh?"
Erwen looked surprised.
"Mi, mister… are you… angry? Why…?"
She looked around nervously, trying to find the reason for my sudden change.
"Come to think of it… there was… a loose plank in the living room…"
I had almost ripped it off because I was feeling suffocated.
But did she interpret it differently?
"Amelia Rainwales. That woman, right…? She was here, wasn't she? That's why you're…"
Erwen started rambling, her body trembling.
Her eyes were filled with killing intent.
Honestly, it was terrifying.
But…
"Amelia wasn't here."
…so what?
I couldn't run away just because I was scared.
When I was falsely accused and imprisoned in the guild's basement.
When I encountered the Dragonslayer in Lalkas's Maze.
And even during the Noark War, which earned me the title of 'Giant'.
I survived because I always faced my problems head-on.
Therefore…
"Why… why are you still calling her by her name?"
…I answered without hesitation.
"Because she's my companion."
Erwen's response came after a brief pause.
"…Th, that's… I, I told you I would be here for you, that you don't need her anymore…!"
Right, she did say that.
But…
"Why are you the one who decides that?"
"Th, that's…"
Erwen was speechless.
I didn't feel sorry for her.
I spoke naturally, as if I was still wearing the Lion mask.
"How dare you."
"...!"
Erwen's eyes widened.
I activated my dormant muscles.
After all, what else could she do in her unstable mental state?
"…Who are you?"
"I'm Bjorn Yandel."
"Li, liar… you're an evil spirit…"
A black aura started emanating from Erwen's body.
It was the darkness spirit she had mastered.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
My heart pounded, sensing danger.
Although I was prepared, the pressure was still significant.
But I reminded myself.
'Who am I?'
A barbarian warrior who had overcome countless hardships.
Giant, Bjorn, son of Yandel.
The only player who cleared the original difficulty.
The absolute ruler of the Round Table with a lion's heart.
Clench.
My chest swelled with courage as I recalled my identity.
So before this feeling faded…
"It, it's not too late, so tell me now. Th, that you made a mistake while you were asleep—"
"Erwen Fornachi di Tersia."
…I said,
"There's something wrong with your head."
Right, if there's a problem, we have to fix it.
"Just attack me."
In the way I knew best.