She was almost 2 meters tall.
But thanks to her good proportions and slim muscles, she didn't look bulky.
However...
'It feels strange to be looking up at her.'
She must have removed the Bone Knight essence.
Ainar's current appearance felt unfamiliar.
I had only seen her smaller form for the past few months.
Well, I did have some memories of her original form...
'...But she looked much younger back then.'
She had matured significantly.
Well, maybe it wasn't just her appearance, but her aura?
"Haha! It happens, people doze off while reading. Are you discriminating against me because I'm a barbarian?"
"I... I'm not! I, I really—"
"Just kidding! Just kidding! I promise I won't do it again, so please forgive me. Okay?"
Her hearty laughter and confident tone were impressive. She knew how to use her barbarian traits to her advantage, creating a friendly yet persuasive atmosphere.
I was honestly impressed.
She had learned how to use her barbarian charm.
"...Alright."
The librarian reluctantly agreed, and Ainar, true to her word, started reading again.
'She can even read now?'
I felt a surge of pride.
I kept glancing at her, pretending to read my own book, and then...
"Hmm..."
Ainar frowned.
She seemed to be struggling with a certain word.
But even here, Ainar's growth was evident.
"Hey, buddy!"
She called out to me without hesitation.
"...Are you talking to me?"
"Haha, what a strange fellow! Is there anyone else here? Can you come over and read this for me?"
Wow, she even called me 'buddy' and asked for help.
Did she see me as a fellow barbarian?
"Don't be scared! I'm not going to hurt you!"
"...I'm not scared. I'm just surprised. I heard barbarians hate humans."
"That's just a stereotype! Well, I used to think that way too, but I realized there's no reason to hate them."
Hmm, it seemed like she didn't mistake me for a barbarian.
And she didn't seem to recognize me as Bjorn Yandel either.
I moved to her table.
"I'm reading this, but I don't understand this word. Can you tell me what it means?"
"This is... 'logistics'. It's a military term for managing and supplying resources."
"Logistics? What's that? Sounds delicious."
Wait, she can't even read this word, but she's reading a military strategy book?
I was dumbfounded, but I answered her question.
I then glanced at the other books she had piled up.
There were various books besides military strategy.
Most of them were about history.
'...She's reading these?'
"Anyway, thanks! Now I can finish reading this!"
Ainar thanked me and returned to her book.
I went back to my own table.
And after a while...
I couldn't hold back my curiosity.
"Why are you reading those books?"
"Huh? Are you picking a fight with me?"
"No, I'm just..."
"Haha! Don't worry! I know I'm a bit different!"
Wow, she's good at controlling the conversation.
Ainar laughed heartily and then continued in a serious tone.
"The warrior I respected the most loved reading books."
"..."
"Well, I can't even compare to him... But someone has to do it."
Her voice was tinged with sadness.
I remembered what Erwen and Raven had told me about Ainar.
'She declared that she would become chieftain after I died.'
It was a bold declaration, made in front of her grieving tribe.
At first, they were skeptical, but as time passed, they started to accept her.
She was practically the next chieftain now.
"But... it's a bit disappointing..."
Ainar suddenly looked at me and clicked her tongue.
"...What do you mean?"
"You would have been quite handsome if you were a barbarian."
"...Really?"
"Anyway, it's fate that we met, so let's introduce ourselves properly. I'm Ainar, Frenelin's second daughter. You?"
"Lihen Schuitz."
I told her my alias, and Ainar repeated it as if memorizing it.
Then she handed me a few books.
"Here, take these."
"Why... are you giving me these?"
"It's a gift for becoming friends."
Seriously, who gives library books as a gift?
I couldn't even take them out of the library.
"...Thank you."
I awkwardly thanked her, and Ainar chuckled.
"You're welcome. It's what a superior species should do."
"...Superior species?"
"Ah, that's a bit of a difficult word, isn't it? You wouldn't understand as a human..."
Ainar looked around and then whispered to me.
"Barbarians are actually the most superior species in this world."
"...Huh?"
"Read those books. Then you'll understand if I'm telling the truth."
I looked at the titles of the books she had given me.
[The Secret of the Heart, The Selfish Superior Gene]
[Barbarian III - Why Did the Mages Covet Their Hearts?]
[Seven Reasons Why You Shouldn't Antagonize Barbarians, Learned from the Sacred Relic War]
...They were all about barbarians.
__________________
"Aren't you reading?"
"...I am."
Ainar kept glancing at me, so I had no choice but to read the books.
I was a bit curious, too.
Maybe the content was actually normal, despite the titles...
'...No way.'
The author was unknown, but the content was all the same.
It was all about how amazing barbarians were.
What was the author thinking?
The author clearly wasn't a barbarian. And no one in their right mind would publish a book like this for barbarians.
Thud.
I gave up trying to understand and closed the book.
Ainar looked at me, her eyes sparkling.
"How was it? Good book, right?"
"...It was certainly interesting."
"Hehe, don't be too discouraged. Humans aren't that inferior. It's just that we're special."
"..."
"Did you know that the illiteracy rate among barbarians is 99 times higher than that of humans? But even so, we've managed to maintain and pass down our traditions for thousands of years. No other race has done that." ꭆãℕÖᛒÈṨ
"..."
"Ah, and also, do you know why barbarians can't float in water? It's because our soul density is much higher than that of other races."
"...Do you even know what 'density' means?"
"...Ahem, there's a reason why only barbarians can get the Spirit Engraving!"
She didn't.
"It's because we have the purest and cleanest souls..."
I stood up.
"...Huh? Where are you going? We just started talking."
"Sorry, but I just remembered something I have to do. I'll see you around."
"...Okay? If you have to go, then I can't stop you. Bye."
I was happy to see Ainar, but I couldn't stay any longer.
If I did, I would have to listen to her talk about barbarians all day.
'I'll be safe here.'
I moved to a secluded corner and started reading a new book.
This time, it was about current events.
There were quite a few books that compiled newspaper articles from the past year.
'So these are the policies the royal family implemented to support low-level explorers.'
I was reading through the book, gathering information, when my hand suddenly froze.
I saw a familiar name in an article from a year ago.
[Nail Urbanes, 7th District Guild Master, Resigns Due to Personal Reasons, Not Political Disputes.]
That guy retired?
I was intrigued and continued reading.
[Nail Urbanes, who was actively involved in guild affairs and even considered running for Guild Master just two years ago, suddenly resigned. Those who knew him speculated that his daughter's death a year ago had a profound impact on his decision.]
His daughter's death a year ago?
"...Was she his only daughter?"
I didn't know.
We weren't close.
'Well, I should at least check.'
I found a book with articles from a year ago and started searching.
And I soon found what I was looking for.
[Julian Urbanes, Eldest Daughter of the Urbanes Family, Announces Engagement to Alminus Trading Company Executive.]
First, there was an engagement announcement.
And then...
[Julian Urbanes Dies on Her Wedding Night.]
Three months later, there was a death announcement.
The cause of death was a fall.
She had fallen from the 3rd-floor terrace, headfirst, while drunk.
[Nail Urbanes Insists It Was an Accidental Fall, Not Suicide, After Receiving Compensation Claim.]
I felt a bitter taste in my mouth.
We weren't close, but I knew her circumstances.
I couldn't help but feel responsible.
'I shouldn't have looked into it...'
__________________
One day, two days, three days, four days...
Time flew by in the city.
Well, there were a lot of things to do at the beginning of the month.
Exchanging vouchers for money, selling equipment, and so on.
And then it was time for the payout.
"This is more than enough to pay off the debt."
"Th-then we don't have to sell the house?!"
"That's what I was going to talk about. I'm thinking about postponing the repayment."
"W-why...?"
There was still plenty of time until the due date.
And I had to invest this money first.
"Ah... if, if you say so... I, I can't stop you... But why are you going to use that much money...?"
"I'm going to buy a ship."
"...A ship?"
Erwen was confused, but Amelia seemed to understand.
"That's a good idea. If you're not going to participate in the war anymore, it would be convenient to have a ship."
"Exactly. I'm planning to explore the 6th floor next time."
I had joined the war as a mercenary, but we had already earned enough money to buy Vol-Herchan's essence.
There was no reason to keep fighting.
We would make a lot of money, but I had other priorities.
"Explore the 6th floor? Where are you going?"
"The Submerged Island."
"...Submerged Island? Was there an island with that name on the 6th floor?"
Even Amelia didn't seem to know about it.
Well, Raven would definitely know, but...
Anyway, I briefly explained the characteristics of the Submerged Island, and both Erwen and Amelia seemed to have heard of it.
"An island hidden beneath the sea... Ah, I think I heard about it."
"I think my sister told me about it!"
"But can we even go there with just the three of us? We don't have a navigator."
"That's why we're looking for one now."
"...Looks like we'll be busy again."
Thankfully, they agreed to my exploration plan without any objections.
And from the next day, we started searching for a ship and a navigator.
Time flew by...
"Where's Erwen?"
"She's sleeping."
"Really? You didn't have to come."
"...I came just in case. If you don't like it, I won't come next time."
Uh, I didn't say I didn't like it...
"Ahem, thank you for coming."
"...How is that a thank you?"
Well, if you think so...
I chuckled and checked the clock on the desk.
And then...
"I'll be going then."
"Okay."
As soon as I closed my eyes, the world was engulfed in a white light.
「Character's soul resonates and is drawn to a specific world.」
Okay, let's turn on the computer first.
Click, click.
I checked the chat rooms first, using the mouse.
It was one of the first things I always did when I logged into the community.
[Long Live Korean Independence] - 0 users online.
The Korean chat room where I first met Lee Baekho.
As expected, there was no one there.
'Well, it would be nice to meet him and talk, but…'
I moved to the free forum. The forums were usually flooded with posts after the community opened.
It was the best time to catch up on the events of the past month.
[Breaking News: Viscount Lamreond Dies During Expedition]
-I heard the captain of Orculus took him down with four others.
-They're saying the Chief of Staff, who was acting commander during the expedition, is the most likely candidate to take over the vacant position.
[these99: The weakness of [Wall of Thousand Gold] has been revealed, so the rear isn't a safe haven anymore.]
[└SecureId7: It's still a safe haven. They barely lost anyone. The only difference is that there will be more patrol teams.]
[stevencastle: Wait, isn't the Chief of Staff that Eltora Terserion guy?]
[└OP: Yeah, the Prime Minister's son.]
[└stevencastle: Damn it, I'm never going to the 3rd Corps. I've never had a good experience with that guy.]
As expected, the forums were mostly filled with posts about the war.
[Anyone heard about the Blood Spirit Marquis?]
-She killed that Lighthouse Keeper guy from Orculus, is it true? I heard the Blood Knight, the Corpse Collector, and the Wailing Witch were also there.
[marcelone: It's confirmed information. It wasn't a solo kill, she worked with the Golden Mage.]
[└OP: Wow, really? They used to be companions, I guess they're not on bad terms.]
[marcelone: There are a lot of speculations because the enemy was so strong. It doesn't make sense for even the Blood Spirit Marquis to have killed the Lighthouse Keeper, who was a support class, against those opponents.]
Damn it, there are people who are suspicious.
If there were doubts even here, then there might be an investigation going on outside.
Click, click.
I continued reading the posts.
And after some time…
Ding!
I received a message.
[Sender: Ghost master.]
The sender was 'Ghost master', the GM's nickname, but I wasn't surprised.
System messages and announcements were usually sent under that name.
90% of the messages in my inbox were from the GM.
But…
'I can't help but feel nervous.'
I clicked on the message, knowing it was inevitable.
And as expected…
[I apologize for the late reply, things were a bit hectic last time. Let's meet if you're free.]
…I had received an invitation from the GM.
_____________________
It wasn't surprising.
I had expected him to contact me.
It was actually stranger that he waited this long.
'Honestly, I thought he would contact me immediately after the last session.'
I had revealed his identity at the Round Table.
And SoulQueens would have told him.
'But he waited until the next session…?'
There were two possibilities.
He wanted to meet me after carefully considering the situation.
Or he wasn't in a position to receive messages while the community was active.
Well, it wasn't important.
'So what should I do…?'
I contemplated, staring at the message.
I didn't think the GM would ban me even if I refused his invitation. After all, I had acted like a big shot while wearing the Lion mask.
He wouldn't want to make an enemy out of me, especially since he almost died after banning Lee Baekho.
'…Let's just meet him.'
I closed the message window and entered the secret chat room's password.
'0720? Is it some kind of anniversary?'
I had a thought, but it wasn't something I had to worry about.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The monitor flashed, and I opened my eyes.
I was in a luxuriously decorated study.
"...."
The faint scent of books.
It was a familiar place.
I had been here once.
It was when the rumors about dimensional collapse were spreading. I had come here to get information from a man.
[Elfnunalove]
The man with that strange nickname.
I didn't know he was the GM back then.
Well, it must be the same for him.
"It's been a while, Elf Noona. Or should I call you Lion?"
"It doesn't matter."
I ignored his probing question and sat down on the sofa across from him.
He smiled fakely.
"Your tone has changed a lot. Or is this your true self?"
I ignored him again.
"...."
"You've become quite taciturn."
"...."
"Then I'll ask you directly. I don't believe in fate. What do you want from me?"
What I want…
"Why do you think I want something from you?"
"Your first meeting with me might have been a coincidence, but the second one definitely wasn't."
Right, that's how he interpreted it.
It really was a coincidence.
"You were the one who invited me to the chat room."
"Yes, I did. But looking back, it was strange. You specifically asked about the Tarutein School and the mage, Shanel Pergang, in your post."
"...."
"I can't help but think that you were trying to lure me in. You deliberately posted something I would be interested in."
This guy is funny.
What would I even gain from that?
"It's a bit creepy, now that I think about it. You knew that much about me."
It was a ridiculous leap in logic, but I didn't bother refuting him.
"…You didn't call me here to talk about this."
"Are you avoiding the question?"
Avoid?
Damn it, I can't tell him the truth.
"Think what you want."
"I will."
"So why did you call me here?"
I firmly took control of the conversation.
He chuckled and answered.
"That's a strange question. You're the one who called me."
Huh? What is he talking about?
"...."
I remained silent, confused, and he continued.
"I don't know how you found out my real name. But you told SoulQueens my name because you wanted to meet me, didn't you?"
Uh…
This is embarrassing.
I was lost in thought.
But as always, I didn't hesitate.
"Indeed."
If that's how it's going to be…
"You're not an idiot."
…let's change the strategy.
____________________
"…What do you mean…?"
He looked at me, his voice trailing off.
I shrugged.
"...!"
He was also testing me.
He was clearly trying to get information by asking me questions.
If I agreed, it would be a fact check for him, and if I disagreed, he could eliminate one possibility.
He wouldn't lose anything even if he was wrong.
Therefore…
'Let him be wrong.'
I opened my mouth.
"Yes, I want something from you."
It wasn't a bad situation.
It wasn't just a bluff, there were things I wanted that only the GM could do—
"Then you could have just contacted me quietly."
Ah, that…
"That's no fun."
He interpreted it as he wanted.
"…Well, I think you did it to threaten me, but…"
Well, think what you want.
I got back to the main topic.
"So, aren't you going to ask?"
"...Ask what?"
"What I want from you."
"...."
He stared at me and then sighed.
"Alright. Tell me. What do you want from me?"
I answered after a brief pause.
"Unban Lee Baekho."
That was the only thing I needed the GM's help with.
If Lee Baekho could access the community, I could talk to him. And I also needed to find out more about our cat.
But could it be that he was expecting this request?
"…So that was your goal."
The GM's expression was surprisingly calm.
Well, it wasn't unusual for players to form groups based on nationality.
"So Lee Baekho told you about my identity?"
He seemed convinced that we were in cahoots.
There was no reason for me to answer.
"Well."
"What… what are you two planning?"
"There's no reason why I can't tell you."
"…Yes?"
He looked dumbfounded, as if he hadn't expected this answer.
Geez, at least listen to the whole sentence.
"If you bring me something of equal value."
I continued, and he frowned.
"Are you… talking about interesting information?"
Right, so he also heard about it.
He tapped his knee with his index finger as I remained silent.
"Hahaha…"
He suddenly started laughing.
It was creepy.
"You seem very confident."
His tone had completely changed. It was cold and threatening.
"I'm not completely lacking in confidence."
"We're similar then."
"Are you refusing?"
He answered without hesitation.
"Yes. I have no reason to comply with your demands after you revealed my identity and are now making unilateral requests."
"...."
"If you want me to unban Lee Baekho, bring me something of equal value."
He stood up and looked at me as if asking if I had anything else to say.
Well, at least he gave me time to speak.
"It's a shame."
I spoke with genuine regret.
"That you think I'm here to make a deal."
He tilted his head, confused.
What is he pretending not to understand?
I could tell he was scared of me from our first meeting.
[Your tone has changed a lot.]
He maintained a polite attitude, despite my rude tone.
[…Well, I think you did it to threaten me, but…]
He felt threatened by my actions.
[Then you could have just contacted me quietly.]
And he expressed disappointment rather than anger.
Therefore…
"I'll give you three months."
"…Are you threatening me?"
I didn't answer.
As always, the interpretation was up to the listener.
He then said,
"…Even Lee Baekho couldn't do anything to me."
Damn it, saying that in such a small voice only made him seem more pathetic.
And there was something I had to correct.
"To be precise, he almost killed me."
"...."
"Do I seem as soft as him?"
"...."
He didn't answer.
Therefore…
"Remember. Three months."
"...."
"I'll come find you after that."
It was my turn to leave.
____________________
"Phew… I feel alive again."
I collapsed onto the bed as soon as I returned to Lee Hansu's room, exiting the chat room.
It was an experience I had countless times while wearing the Lion mask, but it was still exhausting.
'I didn't expect it to go this smoothly.'
My original plan was to find out how much he knew about me.
And maybe bring up Lee Baekho.
Yes, that was the plan…
'…but I didn't expect him to be this afraid of me.'
My thoughts changed after talking to him.
Magitechnician, Yurven Habelión.
An unidentified powerful figure.
It seemed like his position as the GM was a source of anxiety for him, and I was able to quickly pick up on that.
'But it didn't seem like the royal family was wary of him, even though his identity was revealed.'
As I calmly replayed the conversation, I had a thought.
He would be ruined if the royal family found out he was an evil spirit.
But why was he only wary of direct threats?
'…Does he have connections in the royal family? Someone who can cover up the evil spirit issue?'
If he did, I wanted to know who it was.
'…His last words were a bit strange too…'
I recalled his question before I left the chat room.
[Password. You didn't say anything about the password.]
It was a rather unsettling experience.
Why was he asking about the password? It seemed like it meant something.
[....]
I didn't understand, so I remained silent, and he interpreted it as an answer.
[…So you're really not connected to him?]
[....]
[Sorry for keeping you. I'll see you again soon.]
Damn it, that was creepy.
'0720…'
What was he trying to confirm by mentioning that number?
-x-X-x-
I couldn't dwell on the GM for long.
It wasn't a topic that would yield any answers, no matter how much I thought about it.
It was more efficient to focus on what I could do.
For example, browsing the internet.
Click, click.
Unlike in the modern world, browsing the internet here wasn't just for entertainment. It was a precious time to gather and organize information for my survival next month.
"…Keuh, keuh, keuh…"
Ah, why is this so funny?
It's embarrassing.
Click, click.
Time flew by as I browsed the forums.
And…
'It's about time.'
…it was time to enter the Round Table.
____________________
A study with an antique atmosphere.
The white man sitting there was deep in thought, his fingers interlocked.
"I can't believe he's on Lee Baekho's side."
He had considered the possibility, but it wasn't a desirable situation.
Lee Baekho alone was a headache, practically uncontrollable, and now there was another variable.
"…Just who is he?"
'Elfnunna' joined the community about three years ago.
And Lion appeared at the Round Table around the same time.
In other words…
'He deliberately pretended to be a newbie and infiltrated the community.'
Then why did he join?
His combat power seemed to be on par with Lee Baekho's, and judging by his superior information network, he must have built his own faction…
'…Watchers of the Round Table.'
The man had tentatively concluded that his goal was to enter that secret chat room.
Nickname 0720.
An otherworldly evil spirit who had secretly infiltrated the community, created the club 'Watchers of the Round Table', and even recruited big shots like the Corpse Collector.
He suspected that he might be connected to Lion.
But…
'He didn't seem to know anything about it.'
He thought Lion would react somehow if he saw that password…
But he didn't.
He didn't react at all, even when he mentioned it at the end of their conversation.
He seemed completely clueless.
Well, maybe that was also an act…
'But if he's really not connected, then did he join the community to easily contact Lee Baekho?'
Hmm, maybe.
The man considered various possibilities.
That's when…
"Sorry, there was a problem with the forums, so I couldn't come right away."
A white woman appeared in the study.
Her nickname was 'SoulQueens'.
"So, what did you call me for?"
She sat down on the sofa across from him and asked, and the man briefly explained what had happened.
"I met with Lion."
"…I see. How did it go?"
"He threatened me. To unban Lee Baekho."
"So… what are you going to do?"
It was a question the man had been constantly pondering.
He didn't know anything about Lion…
Except for the fact that he was a player from Korea.
Clench.
The man unconsciously clenched his fist.
'Those damn Koreans.'
It was unfair.
He had only met a few Korean players since creating this community. Korean players were rare.
They were outnumbered by most Western countries.
But what about their results?
Lee Baekho, who had joined much later, had become an unstoppable force.
And now there was 'Elfnunna'.
'And 'Elfnunna' is also highly likely to be Korean.'
It made him wonder if they were genetically superior.
'Damn it, I forgot to ask if he chose that nickname because he was related to 'Elf Noona'. Well, he probably wouldn't have answered anyway.'
The man believed that 'Elf Noona' was the most likely candidate to clear the original version and enter this world.
She was the only one who consistently played the original version while everyone else was looking for shortcuts and playing the cheat versions.
"Master?"
"Ah, I was lost in thought."
The man snapped out of his thoughts at the woman's call and gave her an order.
"You're right. We don't have any information about him."
"...."
"So please find out more. But don't provoke him."
The woman hesitated for a moment and then answered.
But her tone was different from her usual confident self.
"…I'll try."
Her voice was filled with reluctance.
_____________________
I put on my mask and walked through the quiet hallway, arriving at the Round Table room.
Everyone was already there.
"…You're here! I was worried!"
Clown, who seemed relieved to see me, even stood up to greet me.
"...."
Queen awkwardly averted her gaze when our eyes met.
Well, there was the incident from last time…
And she must have heard about my meeting with the GM.
"...."
I sat down, and the Fox mask was in front of me.
She briefly made eye contact…
"Tsk."
I felt a pang of regret every time I saw her.
If it weren't for the sudden time travel, I could have used that opportunity to find out her identity—
"Um…"
That's when, as I was feeling regretful…
"Did I do something wrong…?"
…Fox cautiously asked.
I didn't understand at first, but I soon realized why she was asking.
'Ah, she's talking about me clicking my tongue.'
It was like throwing a small stone and accidentally killing a frog.
It seemed like she wasn't the only one who was watching my reaction, the others were also being cautious…
But I didn't feel like explaining myself.
"Well."
I gave an ambiguous answer.
Fox gulped nervously.
She must have thought she had made a mistake.
Damn it, I felt a bit bad…
'Let's just change the subject.'
"Then let's begin."
It was time for the meeting to start anyway, as the entry period was over and the door was closed. The other members also stopped worrying about Fox's 'mistake' and focused on the present.
"I'm already excited to hear what kind of interesting stories we'll have today. Heh heh."
"Then we'll start from that side?"
Everyone's gaze turned towards Stag Antlers, who was sitting to my left, at Crescent Moon's question.
It was an unspoken rule of the Round Table.
We had to start from my left so that I would be the last one to go.
They would share information first, and then I would evaluate it and share my own information in return.
Damn it, I chose the perfect seat.
"…I'll go first."
Stag Antlers calmly shared the information he had prepared.
"The issue of integrating evil spirits into the nation was brought up at the royal council meeting for the first time in 150 years. Of course, it was immediately dismissed due to opposition."
It was a difficult statement to understand unless you had experience in government.
In other words…
'What the hell is he talking about?'
I didn't understand either.
But it wasn't a problem.
There was always someone at the Round Table who would ask questions when they didn't understand something.
"Integrating evil spirits…? What do you mean…?"
Goblin asked timidly, and SoulQueens explained.
"It's a proposal to accept evil spirits as citizens instead of treating them as enemies. It was proposed 150 years ago, but it was rejected for various reasons."
"I, I see… But it's strange to hear that from the royal family…"
"Pfft, it sounds to me like they're running out of soldiers—"
"Well, at least we know that you don't know anything about the royal family's military strength."
"…Why are you always picking on me?"
"Oh my, what a sense of self-importance. I was just stating a fact."
Clown didn't say anything more as SoulQueens chuckled nonchalantly.
He was strangely weak against her.
Maybe it was because she had verbally abused him several times?
'Clown is such a bully…'
Anyway, Stag Antlers' information received a green light on the first try, and the turn naturally passed.
It was Goblin's turn.
"Ahem, the Leathlas Church received a divine message a few days ago."
"That's… not all, is it?"
"Haha, of course not. Anyway, it was a rather strange message."
"Just get to the point. Stop dragging it out, it's just pathetic."
Goblin glanced at Clown, as if asking why he was always picking on him, and then revealed the content of the divine message.
"The King's bloodline has embraced the black star, so help the one who will become its master."
"...?"
"That was the message."
Leathlas, the Goddess of Stars.
It was a divine message from the goddess who governed the fate of souls, so it was open to interpretation.
"Black star… Is it referring to rebellion?"
"It could also mean they're colluding with Noark."
"But… 'help the one who will become its master'…"
"Maybe the Queen is pregnant. And the baby is black. Heh heh!"
"…How can you say such a vulgar thing?"
"What? What's wrong with being black? Are you accusing me of racism?"
Clown chuckled as if he had just told a funny joke, but the other members' reactions were cold.
This guy must have been a loner.
That's why he played [Dungeon and Stone]—
'Damn it.'
I stopped thinking, feeling my self-esteem plummeting. The conversation about the divine message was ending anyway.
After all, most divine messages were like that.
No matter how much you analyzed and speculated, you wouldn't know its true meaning until later.
"It's my turn now."
Crescent Moon was the third to go.
He had brought valuable information about the Genesis Artifact before, but not lately.
And unfortunately, it was the same today.
'Ugh, he's always bringing up the war.'
Well, it might be helpful someday…
But I wasn't leading a faction, so it wasn't something I could benefit from.
Next.
"The royal family has started sharing their warship building technology with civilians. It seems like they had no choice because they need to repair the damaged warships quickly. We might even see large clans using warships soon."
Fox's information was also about the war.
As expected of her, she logically explained the information and its implications, but that was all.
'The information is a bit underwhelming for a first round.'
The only things that piqued my interest were the divine message and the 'integration' proposal that was brought up at the royal council meeting.
'Accepting evil spirits… will that day ever come?'
I briefly entertained the thought, but I didn't have high hopes.
Stag Antlers had said…
…that it was just a brief mention, and it was immediately dismissed.
"Pfft, then it's my turn now, isn't it?"
It was finally Clown's turn. But unfortunately, his information was also useless to me.
No, to be precise, it was harmful.
"The Lighthouse Keeper is dead."
Clown, who started with that statement, then proceeded to reveal my information.
"They say it was the Blood Spirit Marquis's achievement, but the truth is completely different. It wasn't her, but that strange man she's with."
"…Strange man?"
"Yes, I thought she was using him as a replacement for Bjorn Yandel after seeing him use the Orc Hero's [Gigantification] essence…"
"Lihen Schuitz. The royal family is keeping an eye on him."
"Pfft, is that his name? Anyway, I'll tell you more about him since I hope there will be more information about him at the next Round Table."
"...."
"I don't know where he came from, but he was a monster. Even the four of us couldn't kill him."
"...There was someone like that?"
"Wait, there wasn't anything like that in the Golden Mage's report. Are you sure?"
"Would the jewel have emitted a green light if I was lying?"
The members were shocked and intrigued by Clown's words.
'Ugh, this is going to be a problem… they're all going to investigate me…'
I sighed inwardly.
'What the hell, why is she staring at me?'
I glanced to the side, and SoulQueens was staring at me.
She was muttering something.
Softly, so that only I could hear.
"Gigantification… joined three years ago… Blood Spirit Marquis…"
Don't tell me, she's figured it out?
No, maybe she was just organizing her thoughts, trying to reach a conclusion.
And she wasn't the only one who felt a sense of dissonance.
"Wait a minute, what if he's not a replacement, but the real deal? [Gigantification] isn't a common essence. And I heard he also absorbed the Ogre's essence…?"
Goblin was the first to speak.
"Well, I don't think the Blood Spirit Marquis, crazy as she is, would use a stand-in and call him 'mister'…"
Fox nodded in agreement.
"Pfft, what are you guys talking about? Bjorn Yandel is dead."
Clown scoffed at their suspicions.
But…
"What if he's alive? And he's been secretly training? Then it would make sense for the Golden Mage to omit that from her report."
Stag Antlers muttered.
"That makes sense. He was exposed as an evil spirit soon after. He might have faked his death because of that."
Crescent Moon agreed.
And…
"If Bjorn Yandel is really alive…"
Queen looked at me and said,
"That coincides with Lion's disappearance."
All eyes were on me.
Are you Bjorn Yandel?
They wanted to ask me directly, but they were hesitant.
'Well, I knew this might happen.'
But I didn't feel cornered.
This could be solved with an alibi.
"That again?"
I placed my hand on the jewel.
And…
"You all seem curious about me, so I'll go first this time."
…I said, as if mocking their suspicions.
"I joined this community…"
"...."
"…twenty-two years ago."
The jewel emitted a green light.
-x-X-x-
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.
-x-X-x-
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." ṘάΝŏ฿ЕS
"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.
-x-X-x-
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.