Ding-!
A cheerful notification sound greeted me as I turned on my computer.
"A message…?"
I checked my inbox, and a new message with an unread marker was at the top.
The time stamp was only a few seconds ago.
It meant the message had been sent as soon as the community opened…
Click, click.
I opened the message.
[Sender: Ghost master.]
[I'd like to have a word with you.]
A short, one-line message.
Below it were the name and password for a private chat room.
"Hmm…"
What should I do?
If I accepted the invitation, Lee Baekho would be waiting…
I hesitated for a moment, but I quickly made up my mind.
'…It won't take long. And I'm curious what he wants.'
Maybe I could get some information about Lee Baekho from the GM.
It wouldn't hurt to be a little late.
He wouldn't leave without talking to me, anyway.
"It's been a while, Lion."
I entered the chat room, and a white man with the nickname 'Elfnunalove' stood up and greeted me.
I ignored his greeting and sat down on the sofa.
"So what's this about?"
"As you requested, I've lifted Baekho's ban. Did you meet with him?"
He was trying to take credit for it.
"Is that all you wanted to talk about?"
"Of course not."
The GM sat down on the sofa and continued.
"I heard something interesting at the last Round Table. You said 'Elfnunna' had already entered this world?"
Right, it was because of that.
I felt a sense of accomplishment, but I maintained a serious expression.
"So?"
"Let me ask you directly. Are you 'Elfnunna'?"
It was a blunt question, even for a barbarian like me who preferred direct communication.
I hadn't expected him to be so straightforward.
"Why should I answer that?"
The GM replied immediately.
"I'm the one who lifted Baekho's ban. Do you really think I did that for no reason?"
He had been sweating nervously back then, so it wasn't like I was intimidating him.
But it wasn't a complete lie either.
"You need something from me, and I need something from you."
Give and take.
The GM had given me what I wanted because he also wanted something in return.
He couldn't afford to lose my information at the Round Table. He had lifted the ban as a gesture of goodwill.
'But he summoned me immediately after hearing about "Elfnunna"…'
It only made me more curious.
"If you want to maintain our current relationship, you'll answer my question. Are you 'Elfnunna'?"
Why was the GM so obsessed with 'Elfnunna'?
That was the reason I had mentioned the nickname at the Round Table.
Therefore…
"Before I answer that, I have a question."
I asked, trying to be subtle.
"Do you believe what that old man said?"
It was a test.
I had met the GM in the past, when I was a newbie.
[I'm not sure, but I think I know who you're talking about.]
[She was a famous figure in the Stone E-ven community… someone I greatly respected.]
He had mistaken me for Auril Gabis.
So I had theorized that the GM's obsession with Elf Noona stemmed from his belief in Auril Gabis's words.
But…
"I have no reason not to believe him. At least, the story about the Record Stone was true."
His answer was strange.
'Record Stone…?'
I had never heard of it.
___________________
What was the Record Stone?
'Is it like the Fragment of Records that sent me back in time? A legacy of the Great Sage?'
I didn't know, but it felt important.
It might be the key to solving all my questions.
I remained silent and listened.
"There's no one else. Who else could possibly clear the original difficulty?"
The GM's story felt incomplete.
As if a crucial piece was missing.
But I could understand one thing.
"It's impossible without her."
His faith was almost religious.
It reminded me of my aunt, who had been obsessed with a cult.
"…"
I felt a sense of unease.
But I had to make a decision.
"So, tell me. Are you 'Elfnunna'?"
It was the same question he had asked before.
If his faith and admiration were genuine, I could use him. I might even be able to recruit him as an ally.
"I'm not."
But I ultimately decided against it.
The information about the Record Stone and the GM's resources were tempting…
'But this is the right choice.'
I had to investigate the Record Stone before revealing my identity.
Most irreversible mistakes stemmed from ignorance.
[You mustn't open the Gate of the Abyss.]
And the Earth Witch's warning was also bothering me.
"…I see."
Thankfully, the GM didn't seem suspicious.
He had just been testing me.
"Then tell me about 'Elfnunna'. Where is he? What's his race—?"
I cut him off.
"That's rude."
"…?"
"I answered your first question out of goodwill. Because you kept your promise."
In other words, lifting Lee Baekho's ban was the only reward I was giving him.
"…"
The GM looked dumbfounded, and I felt a pang of guilt.
But I couldn't back down now.
It would be strange to pretend I didn't know anything.
"If you want my favor, you'll have to return the favor."
"…So you want something in return?"
It was the Lion's rule at the Round Table.
"But… isn't that unfair?"
"I lifted Lee Baekho's ban at great personal risk. And you're asking for information in return for answering a single question—?"
"I see what you mean."
"…?"
"Do you really think lifting Baekho's ban and revealing 'Elfnunna's' information are of equal value?"
"That's…"
The GM was speechless, and the conversation was over.
"If you understand, I'll be going now."
I left the chat room.
___________________
I returned to Lee Hansu's room.
"Phew…"
I checked the chat room.
[Long Live Korean Independence] – 2 users online.
Two users…
Lee Baekho and Hyunbyul.
They hadn't left yet.
'Let's organize my thoughts before going in.'
I leaned back in my chair and replayed the conversation with the GM.
[I have no reason not to believe him. At least, the story about the Record Stone was true.]
It wasn't certain yet, but maybe Lee Baekho's interest in 'Elfnunna' was also related to the Record Stone.
'…I should ask him about it.'
I had made the right decision by talking to the GM first.
I clicked on the chat room and entered.
"…But I can't! Hansu hyung will kill me!"
"If we keep it a secret, how will he—?"
Two figures were sitting on the sofa in front of the fireplace, engaged in a suspicious conversation.
"Eek!"
Lee Baekho noticed me and jumped up, rushing towards me.
"…"
Hyunbyul flinched and looked at me with an apologetic expression.
"What are you doing?"
"Hyung! It's not my fault! Hyunbyul noona wanted to know about you, and I told her I couldn't tell her!"
As expected.
I looked at Hyunbyul, and she avoided my gaze, glaring at Lee Baekho.
"…You're incorrigible."
It was a cold, emotionless statement.
"Haha, Noona! That's not what I—"
"Why are you calling me noona?"
"You told me to call you that—!"
"Do you really think this is the same as before?"
"…"
Lee Baekho fell silent as Hyunbyul cut him off repeatedly.
'…Well, at least he kept my secret.'
I was about to intervene…
'Wait a minute.'
Why should I defend him?
He had betrayed me and then run away.
'I almost let him get away with it.'
I remembered the humiliation and anger I had felt that day.
"Hyunbyul."
My voice was cold and calm.
Hyunbyul flinched and replied,
"…Yes?"
"Can you leave us alone for a moment? I need to talk to him. We can continue this later."
"Okay…"
Hyunbyul left the chat room without a word.
And…
"…"
"…"
An awkward silence filled the room.
I stared at Lee Baekho, and he finally spoke.
"Haha… Hyung… are you still mad at me?"
I couldn't believe it.
Mad? Was that even the right word?
"Just tell me what you decided."
"…?"
"You said you would give me an answer."
"Ahaha… about Misha… right…"
Lee Baekho scratched his neck awkwardly.
But I wasn't fooled by his act.
I knew how calculating he could be.
He was putting on a show.
"I've been thinking about it…"
"…"
"Surprise! I've decided to give her back! Yay! Clap, clap, clap! What a joyous occasion!"
Was he insane?
"…"
I maintained a serious expression. I couldn't let myself be swept up in his act.
"So… hyung… do you believe me now? I was just kidding before! Joke, joke! Just kidding!"
"…"
"Come on! Are you still mad at me? Let it go! Think of the bigger picture!"
"Ha…"
I couldn't help but sigh.
"…You sighed! So you're not mad anymore? Right?"
"Why would sighing mean that?"
"Don't be like that…"
"…"
I had always been weak against this type of person.
I couldn't just punch him in the face here.
"Stop talking nonsense. When are you giving her back?"
"Anytime! Should I send her tomorrow?"
"Yes, now. And don't tell her about what happened between us. Can you do that?"
"Yep. I was planning to tell her to visit you anyway."
"Can you stop with that tone?"
"Yep? Why?"
"…"
"Hehe, alright. I'll stop. Don't be mad, hyung."
"Ha…"
I tried my best not to get swept up in his act… but it was difficult.
He had backed down and offered a compromise.
'It would have been troublesome if he had refused.'
"So we're done talking about Misha, right? Can we move on to the next topic?"
"The next topic?"
"Yes! You said you would listen to my request if I gave Misha back."
"I said I would listen, not that I would agree."
"That's the same thing. What do you have to lose?"
"That's for me to decide. So tell me. What can you do for me if I help you reach the 10th floor?"
"A lot. I've already done a few things for you."
"…?"
I gave him a look, and he said smugly,
"Marquis Terserion."
"The Prime Minister?"
"Yes. He can't touch you anymore."
…What was he talking about?
-x-X-x-
Marquis Terserion. The Prime Minister of Lafdonia and the second most powerful person in the kingdom.
He was a constant source of anxiety for me.
After all, he was the one who had tricked me into leading the suicide mission.
He must see me as a thorn in his side.
'And there were so many things I didn't understand about his actions…'
My promotion, for example.
He could have easily blocked it if he wanted to.
But it had been approved without any resistance.
And the fact that he had suggested the Evil Spirit Integration Policy to Ragna was also suspicious.
He was an enigma.
But…
"I'll keep it brief."
Lee Baekho's explanation cleared up some of my questions.
"The reason Marquis Terserion announced that Bjorn Yandel was an evil spirit and then suggested the Integration Policy… was because of me."
Lee Baekho had used my reputation to promote the integration of evil spirits into the city.
It was a ridiculous plan, but also a plausible one.
Ragna's perception of me had changed because of it. She had become a genuine supporter of the policy.
I was the perfect symbol for his cause. A living example of a 'good' evil spirit.
"Why are you so obsessed with integrating evil spirits?"
"Because the players need to gain more influence if we want to overthrow the royal family."
Lee Baekho's goal was to overthrow the royal family.
He believed that reaching the 10th floor required dismantling the current power structure.
"But what about the Marquis? Why would he agree to your demands?"
"I blackmailed him."
"…Blackmailed him?"
"Yes. His son is also a player."
That surprised me.
So that's why he had been so willing to use the royal family's name.
He had leverage.
'A noble from birth? Talk about unbalanced…'
The players who started in Noark would be furious if they heard about this.
But that wasn't my concern right now.
"The Marquis agreed to my demands to protect his son."
He had chosen to protect his son rather than risk his family's reputation.
"He needed time. He didn't have any other heirs. If his son disappeared, the entire family would be in turmoil."
"I'm sure his relatives would be calculating their chances of inheriting the title."
"Exactly. No one would try to assassinate him, but his faction would be weakened."
"But wouldn't it be better to just give the title to another relative than to risk it all for an evil spirit?"
"I told you, he needed time. He's been working tirelessly to find a solution, hasn't he?"
I didn't need to know that.
It made me uncomfortable.
He was old enough to be my grandfather.
Was this his last hurrah?
'Maybe Ragna was also part of his plan B…'
As I was thinking that, Lee Baekho suddenly apologized.
"By the way, I'm sorry, hyung. The Marquis probably sent you on that expedition because of me."
"…What are you talking about?"
"If you returned alive and proved that you weren't an evil spirit, it would have disrupted my plans for the Integration Policy. So he wanted to eliminate you. Quietly."
But his plan had failed, and I had returned alive, declaring my innocence in front of everyone.
"He contacted me after that, saying he had no choice."
Lee Baekho had accepted the situation and decided to remove me from his plans.
I was no longer a useful pawn.
But…
"He asked me if I could kill you. He said you would become a problem later."
I felt a chill run down my spine.
He had been plotting against me from the moment I returned.
"I told him I would think about it. His offer was quite tempting."
"Is that why you said you were glad I was alive?"
"Ahaha… You're sharp."
…I had almost died.
Without even realizing it.
"But now that I know you're my hyung, I told him I wouldn't do it. And I told him to leave you alone."
"…"
"So… I've paid my dues, haven't I?"
He was right.
At least until he found a solution for his son, the Marquis wouldn't dare harm me.
'I guess that's one less thing to worry about…'
It was an unexpected gain, but I remained calm.
"So? What else can you do for me?"
Showing satisfaction would only weaken my bargaining position.
___________________
Lee Baekho then listed the other ways he could help me.
But they were mostly empty promises.
"If you have anyone you want dead, just tell me. I'll take care of them!"
"Really? Then kill the Marquis."
"Uh, that's a bit… He can be resurrected by the royal palace."
"…Resurrected? What are you talking about?"
"Ah, you don't know about that. It wasn't in the game, was it? Anyway, there's a royal treasure that can resurrect people. And the Marquis has it."
"Then what about Count Alminus?"
"He's always with that Dragonkin, so it's difficult. He's a tank…"
What was he even talking about?
He had sounded so confident…
"So who can you actually kill?"
I asked patiently, and Lee Baekho suddenly looked down and mumbled,
"I mean, it's not my fault… Why are you always asking about such difficult targets…"
But his meekness didn't last long. He quickly recovered and said cheerfully,
"Ah! Then how about this? You're planning a Dreadfear raid, right? I can help you with that—!"
"No need."
"Huh?"
"It'll attract too much attention. I don't want people to know about our connection."
"Uh… we can just use disguises."
"No. I can handle it myself."
"…"
Lee Baekho was speechless.
It seemed like I had to be more direct.
"What about money?"
"How much do you need?"
"About a billion stones."
"T-That's a bit… even I don't have that much."
"Then 500 million?"
"I'm a little short on cash right now…"
"…100 million."
"…I've had a lot of expenses lately."
What? He was poorer than me?
"Then give me some equipment. What Numbered Items do you have?"
"Uh… they're all core items, so I can't give those away."
What was he even trying to do?
No money, no equipment…
"Baekho, do you know what a damp squib is?"
"…"
Lee Baekho didn't answer.
"What about essences? You can farm some for me. Bellarios, for example."
"Hyung… that's a war zone…"
"Baekho, you always find excuses, don't you?"
"…Alright! I'll do it! I'll start farming next time!"
Right, he could do it if he wanted to. Why was he acting so weak?
'I didn't expect to skip the Bellarios grind so easily.'
It was a decent reward.
Time for the next topic.
"Baekho, I have a few questions for you. Will you answer them?"
"Yes! Anything!"
"How did you figure out that I was Bjorn Yandel?"
"That? Thanks to the GM. He summoned me as soon as my ban was lifted. He said you blackmailed him into unbanning me."
What the… Seriously?
"I was shocked. I didn't know you were that strong. So I pretended to be on your side and asked him about you, and he started spilling information."
The GM had lived up to his reputation.
"He said you were using a Lion mask at the Round Table."
He had revealed my identity at the Round Table…
"That wasn't a problem. But then he asked me…"
…and then he had revealed the crucial piece of information.
"He asked why you hadn't been online for over two years. He asked if we were plotting something together…"
Lee Baekho grinned.
"That's when I knew."
It wasn't surprising that he had figured it out.
My long absence from the community coincided with Bjorn Yandel's disappearance.
Even the other Round Table members had suspected me.
"I see."
I didn't want to hear any more about the GM, so I moved on to the next question.
"What happened between you and the Ruin Scholar when the fire broke out in the Imperial City? You both disappeared."
I had been curious about that.
How had they become companions?
"Ah, that?"
Lee Baekho shrugged.
"Nothing much. He told me he was an otherworldly evil spirit, that his goal was to open the Gate of the Abyss, and that he wanted to work with me. I needed a mage, so I agreed."
"Really?"
I tried to sound nonchalant.
Just like Lee Baekho had sensed my lie before,
I could feel it instinctively.
"Yes. I was worried because he was old and missing a few teeth, but he's quite skilled."
Lee Baekho…
"Hmm, is that so?"
…was lying.
___________________
A skilled liar hides the lie within the truth.
If that was true, most of what Lee Baekho had said was probably true.
Therefore…
"My future plans? They're simple! We'll join forces and take down the royal family and the labyrinth! Ah, just kidding. What I'm actually planning is—"
I asked him a random question, and while he was answering, I analyzed his previous statements one by one.
[He told me he was an otherworldly evil spirit.]
That was a known fact.
[His goal was to open the Gate of the Abyss.]
That was also true.
[He wanted to work with me.]
He had probably asked for his cooperation.
That made sense.
Then…
[I needed a mage, so I agreed.]
That was the only part that didn't add up.
Lee Baekho hadn't teamed up with the Ruin Scholar because he needed a mage.
There was another reason.
And he had hidden it from me.
Why?
'Because it's something he can't tell me.'
I had almost let my guard down, charmed by his seemingly naive demeanor… but I was now wary of him.
Lee Baekho was a dangerous opponent.
'What else is he hiding?'
He had given me very little in return for my information.
He had reluctantly agreed to farm Bellarios essences, and he had promised to return Misha… but that was all.
'…He's clearly hiding something. Is he really trying to help me?'
I couldn't be sure.
"The royal family is the biggest obstacle. The players are still hiding, so it's difficult to gather them. We need to bring them out into the open—"
Was Lee Baekho my friend, or my foe?
___________________
After a while, it was time for Lee Baekho to leave.
He still had the one-hour logout restriction.
"Hyung, can you ask the GM about the time limit? He must have taken the early version pill too. Ask him if there's a way to increase the time limit."
"Alright."
"Okay. See you later!"
I hadn't had a chance to ask him about the Record Stone.
But it wasn't a big deal.
Things were going smoothly.
I could ask him about it later, after getting Misha back.
"Oppa, how did it go?"
After Lee Baekho left, Hyunbyul returned, and we chatted for a while.
"It went well, thanks to you."
"Don't get too close to him. He's not trustworthy."
"I know."
"…That's good. I was testing you, by the way."
"…Testing me?"
"Yes. He was acting like he knew your identity, so I wanted to see how tight-lipped you were. He didn't say anything in the end, though."
"…I see."
It was hard to believe that had been her intention, but I didn't have any proof to the contrary, so I just let it go.
And after a while…
"Hyunbyul, I'm leaving."
I stood up.
"You're leaving early again…"
The Round Table always started at this time.
"See you later."
"Okay."
I left the chat room and entered the Round Table.
I put on my navy blue suit and my Lion mask.
That was all the preparation I needed.
Step, step.
I walked through the empty hallway towards the main room.
But…
"Haha! Fox, it's been a while!"
When I arrived, there were three unfamiliar masks in the room.
And…
"Oh, you're Lion? Nice to meet you!"
"…"
"Hello…"
…three new members.
-x-X-x-
Fox, Goblin, Clown, Queen, Stag Antlers, Crescent Moon.
And me. The seven members who had maintained the Round Table for so long now had new company.
"Oh, you're Lion? Nice to meet you!"
A Wolf mask with a boisterous voice.
"…"
A black mask with no distinguishing features.
"Hello…"
And a Butterfly mask with a youthful voice.
As I looked around, Fox helpfully explained the situation.
"Wolf was a member before you joined, Lion."
"Haha! I've been busy since the Master disappeared, but I finally remembered this place."
"Pfft, I thought you were dead. You're surprisingly resilient."
"Aha! Clown's venom is as potent as ever!"
Okay, so Wolf was a returning member.
I gave Fox a look, and she continued.
"These two… I'm meeting them for the first time today."
So Black Mask and Butterfly were newbies.
I could trust Fox's judgment. She had been at the Round Table the longest.
But there was something else that bothered me.
'Newbies at this point in time…'
It was suspicious.
The last newbie had been Queen, who had joined without an invitation, thanks to the GM.
No one had received an invitation from the 'Master' in years.
"Anyway, it's fate that brought us together, so let's introduce ourselves! I've already met Queen…"
Wolf extended his hand for a handshake, but I ignored him and went to my seat.
"Haha! Right! Introductions aren't that important!"
Wolf awkwardly returned to his seat.
"…"
Black Mask remained silent, showing no interest in me.
"…Ahem…"
Butterfly Mask coughed awkwardly and avoided my gaze.
And then…
Thump-!
The door closed, signaling the start of the gathering. A strange silence filled the room. The existing members were also surprised by the sudden appearance of the newbies.
Gulp.
Goblin's nervous gulp echoed through the room.
"Now that Lion's here, shall we continue our conversation?"
Queen, sensing the awkward atmosphere, spoke up.
"We know about Wolf, but I'm curious how these two got here. Butterfly, and… what should I call you?"
Black Mask answered curtly,
"…Black."
It was a low voice, but definitely a woman's.
"Black… Alright. So, Black and Butterfly, how did you get here? Did you meet the 'Master'?"
"Ehehe…"
Butterfly giggled awkwardly, while Black Mask replied coldly,
"Why should I answer that?"
Butterfly chimed in,
"Yeah, Black's right. Asking about each other's identities is against the rules… isn't it? Hee."
She giggled again, not holding back.
"Just because you're wearing a Queen mask doesn't mean you're a real queen, you know. Hehe."
"…What did you say?"
"Uh? Nothing!"
Queen's face flushed red, and she glared at Butterfly.
It was an interesting scene.
'Wow… she's not as naive as she looks.'
But the other members seemed to agree.
Clown burst into laughter.
"Haha! That's a good one! We have an interesting new member!"
"Thank you…"
"Pfft."
"Hehe…"
It seemed like Butterfly and Clown were on the same wavelength.
'Do all frivolous people get along?'
I didn't understand their world.
"Just a word of advice, you only need to be careful what you say to Lion here."
"Oh, really?"
"Aren't you going to ask why?"
"It's obvious, isn't it…? He looks dangerous…"
Butterfly glanced at Queen.
I could almost hear her unspoken words.
'Unlike you.'
"…Ha!"
Queen scoffed, seemingly offended.
Butterfly ignored her and said,
"So when are we starting…? I've been looking forward to this…"
The other members looked at me.
They were waiting for my approval.
They were asking if I was okay with the newbies joining the meeting.
Of course, I didn't have the authority to kick them out.
"This should be interesting."
I was curious too.
Who were these new members?
"Haha! I'm excited. It's been a while."
"…"
"Hehehe… So who goes first? I'm a little nervous…"
I wondered who they were.
___________________
Wolf, a returning member.
Black Mask, shrouded in secrecy.
Butterfly, with her innocent demeanor.
All three of them were suspicious.
Wolf was less suspicious than the other two, but…
'A returning member after all these years…'
It wasn't a coincidence.
He didn't seem interested in the Master's whereabouts.
"So, Wolf, you're back after all these years, but you're not curious about the Master?"
Queen, thinking along the same lines, asked Wolf directly.
"Haha! He's probably doing well, wherever he is."
"Hmm, is that so?"
"…Shouldn't we decide on the order first? Ah, by the way, I don't want to go first."
He was acting suspicious.
It seemed like Auril Gabis had sent him.
'Black Mask and Butterfly are the most likely candidates.'
There weren't many ways for newbies to join the Round Table anymore.
Either they were invited by the GM, like Queen… or they had an old invitation code, like me.
'Or maybe Queen brought them in and is pretending not to know them.'
It was all speculation for now.
Therefore…
"Let's just go with the traditional order. Wolf goes first, next to Lion. Pfft."
I would observe them.
Until they made a mistake and revealed their true intentions.
"Traditional order? What are you talking about? We didn't have that before—?"
"Wolf, things have changed while you were gone. If you don't like it, you can leave."
Clown's blunt words made Wolf hesitate.
"Hmm…"
"Pfft, you can't leave, can you? So you're not just a casual visitor? Did someone tell you about this place?"
Clown was also trying to extract information.
"Haha! It's good to see you all again. I can't just leave now. And it's not that difficult to go first. I should adapt to the new rules."
Wolf laughed heartily and began his turn.
"Alright, here goes."
He paused for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully.
"I came back because I recently learned something shocking. But I didn't have anyone to share it with—"
"Wolf, you talk too much."
Clown cut him off, urging him to get to the point, and Wolf chuckled awkwardly, clearing his throat. Then he lowered his voice and said,
"The Master of the Round Table is Auril Gabis."
A strange silence filled the room.
It wasn't surprising.
"Isn't that shocking? The one who brought us together, the one who shared his knowledge with us… is the creator of [Dungeon and Stone]—"
Queen had revealed the same information last month.
"…Huh?"
Wolf flinched as the jewel glowed red.
"Why…?"
"Why? Because most of us already know. Did you forget the rules while you were gone?"
"…"
"Try again. Something more interesting."
Clown, who had been shocked by the same information last month, was now mocking him.
It was amusing.
It proved that Wolf wasn't connected to the existing members.
He wouldn't have revealed old information if he had been.
'Well, it could be an act…'
"Phew… Alright, one more time."
Wolf sighed and tried again.
"The royal family is responsible for summoning players to this world. And Auril Gabis's goal is to help them escape."
He paused, waiting for the jewel to light up. As soon as the green light appeared, he continued,
"So… what do you think?"
No one answered immediately.
It was understandable.
He had openly connected himself to Auril Gabis…
"…Are you sure about the royal family? Is that reliable information?"
…and the information itself was shocking.
There were many rumors among the players, but no one had ever claimed that the royal family was responsible for summoning us.
They didn't have a motive.
But…
"Why would the royal family summon us and then try to kill us as evil spirits? It doesn't make sense."
Wolf's answer to Stag Antlers' question was firm.
"I can't reveal the details, but trust me. It's a reliable source."
"Pfft, did you hear that from the King himself?"
Clown tried to provoke him, but it didn't work.
"If you're curious, ask me next round."
"…"
"Hehe, so… next turn?"
Fox went next and shared some information about the war.
I didn't pay much attention.
I already knew most of it…
'The royal family is behind this…?'
…and I was still thinking about Wolf's claim.
'How much of it can I trust?'
The jewel had glowed green…
But that didn't mean it was true.
There was a loophole in the Round Table system.
If the speaker believed their information was true, the jewel would glow green.
Which meant…
'It could be misinformation.'
Then the question became: How did Wolf come to believe this false information?
But that wasn't important.
'Why did he reveal this information at the Round Table?'
The answer was in the information itself.
'He wants the players to turn against the royal family.'
The one who would benefit the most from this information…
'Auril Gabis gave Wolf this misinformation and sent him here.'
…was that too far-fetched?
I didn't know, but I decided to clear my head and focus on the present.
"…It's your turn."
Fox, Goblin, Crescent Moon, and Stag Antlers had all finished their turns.
It was time for the newbies.
"Black."
She was also suspicious.
___________________
"There are other ways to return to Earth, besides opening the Gate of the Abyss."
Black Mask's short statement earned her a green light. The other members bombarded her with questions, but she remained silent.
'…Other ways to return to Earth.'
There was one possibility.
'She's probably talking about dimensional magic…'
I had learned about dimensional magic from the Ruin Scholar 20 years ago. He had been researching it, hoping to return to his homeworld. He had even made some progress.
Maybe that's why Lee Baekho had teamed up with him.
But there was something else that bothered me.
'Black Mask… could she be Lee Baekho's spy?'
There was plenty of evidence to support that theory.
Lee Baekho knew about dimensional magic, and he had an extra invitation code.
'And he has a motive. He's curious about me.'
"…It's your turn, Queen. Pfft."
Queen, who usually competed with Clown by revealing high-quality information, shared some generic political news.
It was interesting, but it was clear that she was just trying to get her turn over with.
"…Hehe, it's my turn?"
Butterfly's turn.
She didn't hesitate.
"The royal family can intentionally trigger a dimensional collapse."
Wow, the newbies were revealing more impactful information than the veterans.
"…So the rumors were true."
The members were shocked, but no one questioned the information's validity or source.
They all seemed to believe it.
And they knew that asking wouldn't get them an answer.
"Pfft, it's my turn."
Clown's turn.
"Noark has begun their conquest of the 9th floor."
It was valuable information, giving the veterans a chance to save face.
It was approved without any objections, and then all eyes turned to me.
"So…"
It was my turn.
I had already decided what to say.
Therefore…
[Of course, I feel remorse. I feel responsible. I'll probably carry this burden for the rest of my life and atone for my sins.]
I remembered Auril Gabis's words and focused my emotions.
Then…
I looked at Wolf and spoke.
Whether the royal family was really behind this or not,
I spoke with conviction.
"Auril Gabis is the players' enemy."
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The jewel glowed green, confirming my belief.
The reaction was immediate.
"…Lion, do you have any evidence to support that claim?"
Wolf cautiously challenged me.
But I wasn't worried.
He didn't know what had happened while he was gone.
"…Pfft, it must be true. Lion said so."
With the green light and my reputation,
It would take a mountain of evidence to refute my claim.
-x-X-x-
Clown wasn't the only onenvinced by my statement.
"Auril Gabis is our enemy…"
Fox, who had once been a loyal follower of the Master, muttered with a hint of bitterness. Stag Antlers nodded in agreement.
"Well, he was always secretive, just like the royal family. And people who keep secrets usually have something to hide."
Even Queen, who had investigated Auril Gabis the most among the existing members, didn't object.
"Auril Gabis is our enemy… I'll keep that in mind."
She said she would keep it in mind, but I knew she would immediately report to the GM and share her theories about Auril Gabis.
After all, I had built a reputation for providing valuable information.
"…"
Wolf, who had initially questioned my claim, now looked around nervously, gauging the other members' reactions.
But he still seemednfused.
"…Is there something I'm missing? Why are you all accepting his statement so easily? I mean, if he had said Auril Gabis did something bad, I would understand, but… that statement was too subjective, wasn't it?"
As a returning veteran, he had subtly pointed out the flaw in the Round Table system.
But his objection fell on deaf ears.
"Hmm, but Wolf, you did the same thing, didn't you?"
The same logic applied to him.
"We all asked you for evidence. But Lion didn't provide any."
He sounded a little indignant.
"Even if I said Auril Gabis wasn't our enemy, the jewel would still glow green. So who would you believe?"
It was a sharp rebuttal, but the answer was obvious.
"Pfft, that's easy."
"…?"
"We would believe Lion. Not some random newbie who suddenly appeared after all these years."
Wolf looked dumbfounded, and Queen added,
"Well, there's always a chance. If Wolf can provide us withncrete evidence…"
Queen's words were a clear challenge.
She wanted to see what he was hiding.
Wolf had revealed his allegiance to Auril Gabis, but that was all they knew.
"Evidence… Alright."
Wolf didn't back down. He didn't seem fazed by their reactions.
And so the snd round began.
"We went in order last time, so let's go in reverse order this time."
"Pfft, feelingnfident, are we?"
"I just thought it would be fairer."
"Well, I don't mind. I think Lion would prefer it this way too…"
Clown glanced at me.
He was always trying to please me.
I hadn't been particularly kind to him…
"So, I'll start. I've been hesitant to share this because it's not entirelynfirmed… but I have a feeling it will be a hot topic this time. Pfft."
Clown, unusually verbose, looked around the table and said,
"We've all been wondering, haven't we? About the old man who led thousands of explorers out of the labyrinth."
"…"
"I think that old man… was Auril Gabis."
Hmm, is that so?
It was an old story, but I was still interested. It was just Clown's speculation, though.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The jewel glowed green, and the existing members didn't object.
Queen was the only one who spoke up.
"Can you tell us why you think so?"
"Pfft, do I really need to? You all know who I am. My opinion alone should be enough."
"Well… I'll let it slide this time."
Was it because of the new members?
Queen, who usually pressed for more information, let it go.
"Wow… Clown, you're amazing."
"Compared to Lion? Not even close. Pfft…"
He said that, but he sounded pleased.
'Did he reveal that ambiguous information just to show off?'
I dismissed the thought.
He wasn't that desperate for attention.
"Alright, Butterfly, your turn. I'm looking forward to this. Pfft."
"Uh… I think my turn came too early."
Butterfly looked around nervously.
"There's a portal in the royal palace basement."
Damn, that's the information I was planning to reveal…
"Two of them, actually."
What? Two?
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The jewel glowed green, and the members started asking questions.
"A portal? What does that mean? Can the royal family enter the labyrinth whenever they want?"
"Hehe, I don't know? What do you think?"
"…"
"So… is my turn over?"
Butterfly ignored their questions and ended her turn.
Queen's turn.
"Recently—"
"Another political story? Those are so boring…"
"…"
Queen hesitated for a moment at Butterfly's interruption and then started over.
"About the dimensionalllapse… the one the royal family can intentionally trigger. It actually happened. The most recent one was intentional."
"…Hee, is that so?"
The jewel glowed green, but Butterfly seemed indifferent.
Or rather, she was glaring at Queen.
'She's trying to one-up her.'
She had revealed information related to the previous topic, claiming it as her own.
"There's another way to return to Earth, besides opening the Gate of the Abyss. It's dimensional magic."
It was related to her previous information. But no one criticized her.
She had added another line.
"That's how Auril Gabis got here."
"…!"
"Black, you're also suspicious now."
The members were now interested in Black Mask's identity, and the meetingntinued.
Stag Antlers, Crescent Moon, Goblin, Fox.
They all shared useful information, avoiding any world-altering secrets.
And…
"…Pfft, finally."
It was Wolf's turn.
Everyone looked at him expectantly.
They knew what he was going to say.
He would try to prove that Auril Gabis wasn't our enemy.
And then it would be my turn to refute his claim.
It was a one-on-one battle.
"I've met the King. And I've glimpsed the secrets of this world."
What?
He had met the King?
"…When?"
"Within the past year."
Wolf seemed willing to answer their questions.
But…
"That's an interesting story, but it's a little vague, isn't it? 'Secrets of the world'… that doesn't tell us much."
Queen pointed out the flaw in his statement.
But I knew her well.
She was trying to suppress her excitement and extract more information.
"…"
The other members seemed to have noticed it too, but they didn't interrupt.
They wanted to hear more.
"I can't reveal the details to strangers. But I can tell you this much."
Wolf drew a line and said,
"Auril Gabis isn't our enemy. He's our ally."
The jewel glowed green throughout his statement, and his turn ended.
"…"
It was my turn.
'He met the King… that's a bold claim.'
The members seemed a little hesitant now.
Wolf looked at me smugly.
I needed to assert my dominance.
Therefore…
I spoke.
I mentioned a name that would overshadow even the King.
"The Earth Witch, Ellis Groundia."
She had told me not to open the Gate of the Abyss… but that wasn't important right now.
"I've met her."
"…!!"
I wasn't lying.
___________________
The Earth Witch, Ellis Groundia.
The mythical being who had brought ruin upon this world.
"…!!"
The moment her name was mentioned, everyone fell silent.
Even Wolf.
They were shocked.
I had mentioned her before, saying she was alive… but meeting her was a different story.
"The Earth Witch…"
"Pfft… Lion, you always surprise me. I repent. I shouldn't have doubted you."
Clown was the most enthusiastic, but the atmosphere had clearly shifted in my favor.
The King might be a powerful figure, but he was still just a human.
And he hadn't even appeared in public recently, citing health issues.
His reign hadn't even lasted 200 years yet.
Heuldn'tmpare to the Earth Witch, who had ruled the kingdom for over a thousand years.
And…
'There's also the speaker's reputation, ofurse.'
Me, the mysterious and powerful figure at the Round Table, versus Wolf, the returning veteran who had beennsidered a nobody a few years ago.
"…Hehehe, I think we know who to believe now."
"There's always a chance that Lion is being deceived by the Earth Witch—"
"Huh? But Wolf, youuld be deceived too."
"…"
"And if one of you is being deceived, I think it's more likely to be you."
"…What are you trying to say?"
"Hehehe, I'm just saying… you seem more gullible."
Butterfly giggled, and Wolf didn't respond.
He knew heuldn't win this argument.
And…
"Haha, I think I'll be going now. It was good to see you all again. Lion, Butterfly, Black… see you next time."
Wolf declared his withdrawal from the Round Table.
'He's running away.'
But he had said he would be back, so it wasn't a permanent departure.
"…"
"…"
An awkward silence followed.
Everyone was looking at each other.
It was time for me to take the initiative.
"Ah… Are you leaving?"
It was obvious, wasn't it?
"See you next time."
I left the Round Table.
___________________
A bedroom bathed in moonlight.
A woman's voice trembled.
It was because of the shocking news she had just received from the late-night visitor.
"What? He's… alive…? Bjorn is…?"
After a moment of shock, anger surged through her.
"You… you're irrigible."
Her voice wasld and sharp.
But Lee Baekho just smiled awkwardly.
"That's the snd time I've heard that today."
"…Get out. If you pull this kind of prank again, I'll—"
"Misha Carlstain."
He had used her full name.
Misha froze, and Lee Baekho's voice became serious.
"I'm not joking. Bjorn Yandel is alive."
"…Proof?"
"It's all over the city. Just ask around tomorrow."
Lee Baekho then briefly explained Bjorn Yandel's recent activities, and Misha slowly began to believe him.
"Bjorn is… alive…?"
A mixture of emotions washed over her.
Joy, sadness,nfusion, anger…
"…That bastard."
"Yeah, he's a real piece of work. He tricked everyone, faked his death, and joined the royal—."
"Not him, you. You knew, and you didn't tell me…?"
"Ah… sorry. I was trying to… process it. You should go outside more often."
"…"
"…"
A long silence followed.
The man finally spoke.
"So… are you going to see him?"
"Ofurse. Why do you think I've been with you all this time?"
"To revive Bjorn Yandel. With the Stone of Resurrection."
"I know. Now get out. I need to pack. I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Hmm, I see…"
The man's tone was strange, and Misha flinched.
"…What do you want to say? Just spit it out."
She had a bad feeling.
And her premonition was right.
"Nothing much, just…"
Lee Baekho was smiling.
"I have a favor to ask."
Just like he had done that day.
-x-X-x-
The answer came after a long pause.
"…A favor…?"
Her voice was different from when she had told him to leave.
She was trying to hide it, but her trembling voice betrayed her fear.
It was understandable.
She had seen it firsthand.
How ruthless Lee Baekhould be.
And how powerful he was.
"Yes, a favor."
But it wasn't a request.
"We've been through a lot together, haven't we?"
It was a threat.
She knew that refusing him would havensequences.
That thought dominated her mind.
But…
"…No."
Misha refused.
"You haven't even heard it yet."
"I don't care what it is. I won't do it."
Her eyes were trembling, but she met Lee Baekho's gaze head-on.
He was impressed.
"Wow…"
He had met many fearless people, but not many whould oveme their fear.
"How can someone change so much in such a short time?"
What was the source of her newfoundurage?
The answer was simple.
"Hansu hyung is amazing. He must have worked really hard to win her over."
Lee Baekho chuckled.
He didn't understand the difference, but Misha felt like sheuld breathe again.
"I understand. Love makes you blind, right? I wonder if Hansu hyung even knows…"
He trailed off and then looked at Misha, who seemed to have something to say.
"…Who… is Hans…?"
"What…?"
Lee Baekho stared at her blankly and then burst into laughter.
"Pfft! Hahaha! Oh, right. That makes sense. I'm such an idiot!"
Misha frowned at his laughter, and he calmed down, answering her question.
"Lee Hansu is your boyfriend's real name. Okay?"
Misha didn't react to his teasing tone.
She just repeated the name silently.
"…Lee Hans…"
"It's Hansu, not Hans."
It was a difficult name to pronounce, even after years of practice.
"Lee Hansu."
"That's better."
"Lee Hansu… So that's Bjorn's…"
Misha closed her eyes, as if cherishing the name.
Lee Baekho watched her with a strange expression.
But he didn't dwell on it.
He had work to do.
"So you're really not going to do it?"
"…Why should I?"
"Hmm, let me see…"
He shrugged.
He was usually playful and didn't hesitate to lie…
"Because if you don't, Bjorn Yandel will die."
…but this was the truth.
___________________
After the Round Table,
I logged out and went to sleep.
Iuldn't stay up late. I had to wake up early tomorrow.
"Mister! Wake up!"
"…Five more minutes."
"Stop talking nonsense and get up. We're almost done packing."
"…Already?"
I opened my eyes and checked the time. It was 11:00 AM.
Damn, I wanted to wake up earlier…
"Wait, I'll pack my own room."
"Don't bother. Just go wash your face."
"Okay, Mister. It's not that much anyway. We'll take care of it."
I quickly washed my face and returned to my room to pack. Four large carts were already waiting in the garden, loaded with our belongings.
Thump-!
I carried my barbarian-sized iron bed downstairs and loaded it onto the last cart.
"We're ready to depart, Baron Yandel."
"Alright, thank you."
The hired drivers led the carts away, and we were left alone in the empty house.
"…This feels strange."
Erwen looked around the empty living room with a wistful expression.
I understood how she felt.
We had made a lot of memories here.
Good and bad.
[We won't beming back, will we?]
She had been so worried back then…
But she seemed much calmer now.
Even though the essence's negative effects were stronger than before.
'It must be because of her mental growth.'
Erwen was also a source ofncern for me.
Well, my biggestncern was someone else…
'…When is Lee Baekho going to send her back? He should be able to find our new address…'
"Let's go. We need to unpack before nightfall."
I checked the house one last time, making sure we hadn't left anything behind, and then we left.
We hired a carriage, and Auyen was our driver.
It seemed like he was good at more than just navigating ships.
"…You're surprisingly good at this."
"I worked as aachman before bming an explorer. I know the city streets like the back of my hand. Ofurse, it's nothingmpared to your skills, Clan Master."
"Enough with the flattery."
Anyway, it suddenly occurred to me that it might be a good idea to buy a carriage and have Auyen drive us around.
Our new house even had a small stable.
And since he had worked as aachman, he probably knew how to take care of horses.
'Hmm, not bad.'
I shared the idea with Amelia, and she seemed to like it.
"Everyone needs a role. I don't mind, as long as Auyen is okay with it."
"Lokrok, what do you think? You heard us."
"I-It would be an honor! I'll do my best to serve you, Clan Master!"
Auyen seemed genuinely happy with the idea.
Well, it was better than beingoped up in the basement.
I would discuss it with him later.
"We've arrived, Clan Master."
Thanks to Auyen's smooth driving, I had dozed off in the carriage.
We had arrived at our destination.
A three-story building on the main street of Commelby, themmercial district, just ten minutes away from the Alminus Central Exchange.
"…It's in much betterndition than I expected."
"I know. I thought it would be dilapidated,nsidering the low rent."
The building was owned by the Melbeth Trading Company, and we had secured it at a diunted price.
It would be our new clan house.
But since we didn't have any clerks yet, we would be living here for the time being.
"Alright, let's unpack. People are staring."
The news of our move had already spread, and passersby were gathering to watch.
Were they that surprised to see a noble moving?
"Phew…"
With four explorers, unpacking didn't take long.
The first floor wasn't suitable for living quarters, so we decided to use it as ammon area. The snd floor was for Amelia and Erwen, and the third floor was for me and Auyen.
At Amelia's request, Auyen was given the room with a window…
"A room overlooking the main street of Commelby… I never thought I would live in a place like this…"
…and he was surprisingly emotional.
I had expected him to be happy about having a room with sunlight, but I hadn't expected him to tear up.
"Where did you live before?"
"On the outskirts of Ravigion."
"The slums near the outer wall?"
"Yes…"
He was a navigator, and a member of a pirate clan… he should have been wealthy.
I asked him why, and he explained that he had been treated like a slave and hadn't received any pay.
"But why did you stay?"
"You wouldn't understand, Clan Master. There are many clans like that. Once you join, it's difficult to leave…"
Clan rules,ntracts, and shared crimes had bound him to the clan.
But I didn't feel sorry for him.
The real victims were the explorers they had robbed and killed.
"Just do your job. I'll be watching."
"O-Ofurse, Clan Master! I'll do my best!"
I didn't trust him, so I lectured him for an hour.
"I'm doing this for your own good. It's better to be honest and hardworking. Understand?"
"…Yes."
"Louder."
"Yes, Clan Master!"
That's better.
___________________
I was busy after we moved.
"No, I'm going to turn the backyard into a garden."
"A garden? It would be much more useful as a training ground."
While Amelia and Erwen were arguing about interior design, I went out to take care of business.
Baroness Lirivia hadntacted me.
She had found a few suitable locations for my estate and wanted me to inspect them.
She had also expressed her disapproval of my decision to build the estate in the 7th District.
[…I still don't understand why you want to build your estate in Ravigion, not the Imperial City. It's not too late to rnsider.]
I had decided to build my estate in the 7th District.
I was a noble, but I was also an explorer.
It was morenvenient to be close to the Dimension Plaza.
'And the land in the Imperial City is too expensive.'
Iuld build a much larger estate in the 7th District for the same price.
'Okay, so I've secured the land. Now I just need to build the house.'
I had chosen a plot of land and finalized the purchase.
Now I just needed tonsult with an architect from the Melbeth Trading Company and finalize the blueprints.
Construction would take at least a year.
'That's it for today.'
I went home andllapsed onto the bed, exhausted.
The next day, I visited the dwarf's forge to check on the progress of the Mithril smelting. And then I visited Lotmiller.
"…Are you serious? You want me to teach tracking skills to the barbarians?"
"I'll pay you well. And you're not doing anything anyway."
"That's true, but… if you're doing this for me, you don't have to. I can find another way to—"
"What are you talking about? You're the only one who can do this. I'm asking for your help."
Lotmiller, who had initially tried to refuse, eventually agreed.
"Then let's go to the sanctuary. The 2nd Elder will explain everything. If you can'tmmunicate with him, go to the administrative office."
"…Administrative office?"
Lotmiller looked at me as if I was insane.
Did he think barbarians didn't have an administrative office?
One day, two days, three days, four days…
Time flew by.
Bersil Gowland, having severed all ties with her former church, finally joined Clan Anabada. She was the first of the Ice Rock survivors to officially join.
"…You want me to be the Vice-Captain?"
"Yes, I think you would be a good fit."
"That's true, but… I think it's better to leave the position vacant for now. It will attract less attention if I'm just an ordinary member."
"…"
"Don't worry, I'll still handle the Vice-Captain's duties. Ofurse, there will be times when I need your authority, but…"
"I see… Then let's do that. Thank you."
"But… are you really going to do it? The Floor Lord raid?"
"Ofurse. You'reming too."
"…It's a little much for my first clan expedition, isn't it?"
"Are you planning to file amplaint with the royal family?"
"Haha, just kidding."
After Bersil joined the clan, we began preparing for the five-man raid.
Iuldn't focus.
'Why isn't she here…?'
Misha still hadn't returned.
Was Lee Baekho planning to break his promise?
I was getting anxious, but there was nothing Iuld do.
I just had to wait.
"You're leaving again?"
"This is the last one. After this, I'll be free until the next labyrinth opening."
"I see… You're working hard."
"I might be late, so don't bother making dinner. I don't want to eatld leftovers again."
I left the house and went to the designated location.
And then…
I tore up the note Raven had given me.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
A magic circle appeared on the ground, and the light engulfed me.
"It's been a while."
"Yes, it's been a while."
I was back in the Dragon's Temple.
I looked at the Ancient Dragon sitting on his throne and recited my quest objective.
'Deliver the Dragonslayer's heart and receive the reward.'
It was the last quest for this month.
-x-X-x-
After a moment of awkward silence, the Ancient Dragon burst into hearty laughter.
"Haha! I've been waiting! I was so surprised to hear that you were alive! Do you have any idea how shocked I was?"
It was a greeting I had hearduntless times since returning to the city. I was getting tired of it.
"Sorry, I should have visited sooner, but I've been busy."
"It seems like you've been through a lot. I know some of what happened, so don't worry too much about it."
Oh, he knew?
I wondered how much he knew…
"Anyway, I'm glad you're safe. My daughter was devastated when she heard you were dead. Ah, should I call her? She'll want to see you."
"After we're done talking."
"Talking…? So you didn'tme here just to see me?"
"Didn't Raviyen tell you?"
"My eldest daughter only said you wanted to meet with me. She said I should summon her after you tore the paper."
He didn't seem to be lying.
My trust in Raviyen increased.
So she hadn't told him anything?
"If you didn'tme here just to see me… then what is it?"
"Before I tell you, I need your promise."
"A promise?"
"That you won't tell anyone about what we discuss today."
Not even the King.
I added that last part, and the Ancient Dragon's expression hardened slightly. He seemed to understand the gravity of the situation.
But he still agreed.
"I swear on my soul, which is bound to the name 'Pirsealidormus'."
It was a necessary precaution.
I didn't understand the meaning of his long,mplicated name, but Dragonkin valued their oaths.
"Alright, now tell me."
It was faster to show him than to explain.
I took out a box from my subspace pocket and opened it.
"That's…"
The Ancient Dragon's eyes narrowed as he saw the heart. It looked like a bumpy tropical fruit, with strange chain-like marks on it.
He must have rgnized it.
"A Dragonkin's heart. Is it from the one I'm thinking of?"
"Yes. It's Regal Vagos's heart."
"…So it's true…"
The Ancient Dragon's eyes trembled.
He must have suspected it, but hearing itnfirmed was different.
But he quickly regained hismposure.
"…I'm a littlenfused, but let me say this first."
The Ancient Dragon bowed his head.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel, on behalf of my tribe, and as a father… I thank you."
His gesture was sincere.
Even if I hadn't been a Baron or the Barbarian Chieftain, his attitude wouldn't have been different.
It was a good sign.
It increased the chances of him agreeing to my request.
"…So what happened? I haven't heard anything about the Dragonslayer's death. Did you meet him during the expedition?"
"No, I killed him in Ice Rock."
"During the expedition…?"
"How much do you know about the expedition?"
"Only what's been publicly announced. Raviyen told me not to say anything."
"Then I'll start from there."
I explained what had happened during the expedition. The Ancient Dragon listened intently.
And when I was done…
"You… killed the Rose Knights…?"
That was the key point.
Not the Noark pursuers, not the royal family's betrayal, not even the Dragonslayer's death.
But the fact that we had killed the Rose Knights.
We had defied the royal family.
"Now I understand. Why you were so secretive. And why Raviyenuldn't tell me the truth."
"Don't blame her. I asked her to keep it a secret. That's why I came to see you directly."
"…I understand. And I'm grateful. But…"
He sighed.
"…I'm also afraid."
He was a wise leader.
"What do you want?"
It was time for the main event.
___________________
If Iuld ask for one thing from the Ancient Dragon, what would it be?
The answer would be different for everyone.
After all, there wereuntless possibilities.
The Dragonkin, with their long lifespans and small population, were a prosperous race. Theyuld provide me with almost anything I wanted.
But…
"The unditional support andoperation of the Dragonkin tribe."
The Ancient Dragon flinched at my request.
"That's impossible."
"I didn't ask for money or treasures."
"I would have preferred that. What you're asking for…uld lead to the destruction of our entire tribe."
He said his gratitude was genuine, that he would grant me any other request…
So I activated Barbarian Negotiation Mode.
"Do it! You promised you would do anything!"
"…You haven't changed at all, even after bming a Baron."
"Do it! Or I won't give you the heart!"
I started acting stubborn, and the Ancient Dragon, initially flustered, quickly adapted and changed his tactics.
"You promised! You said you would do anything!"
"I never promised you a reward! I gave you the Dragon's Blessing in advance, trusting you!"
He was right.
I had received the Dragon's Blessing in exchange for the Dragonslayer's sword. And I had promised to bring him the heart.
"…So you're going back on your word? This is the only way to save your daughter!"
"That's why I'm asking you for a different request! I can't grant you this one, so please ask for something else!"
I finally gave up.
He wouldn't change his mind.
'He wouldn't risk his entire tribe for a single request, no matter how grateful he was.'
It was time for a more reasonable approach.
"Laphir."
"…?"
"You can't agree to my request because of the royal family, right?"
"…I won't deny it. You might not understand yet, but the King is a terrifying figure."
Everyone kept saying the same thing.
I wanted to meet the King and see for myself.
Then Iuld argue with them.
The Ancient Dragon looked at me and said,
"…If I limit your request to situations where the King isn't involved… I can agree to that. How does that sound?"
It was a significantncession.
It meant he would support me with all his might in anynflict with the Marquis, the Duke, or any other tribe. As long as the King wasn't involved.
There were somenditions regarding militarynflict, but…
"If you have a legitimate reason, any attack against you will bensidered an attack against me."
I had to think about this.
Negotiation was a delicate balancing act.
But…
'This is probably his final offer.'
This negotiation was different.
He had skipped the usual back-and-forth and offered me the best possible terms.
It wasn't because he didn't know how to negotiate.
It was a gesture of gratitude and goodwill.
'Let's stop here.'
Securing the Dragonkin's support in anynflict that didn't involve the King was already a huge gain.
The original reward was just the Dragon's Blessing.
"…I can't go any further—"
I cut him off and handed him the box.
"That's enough. Take it."
I added,
"And thank you. For listening to my unreasonable request."
"…I didn't expect you to accept so easily."
"I had my reasons. But I'll make sure it doesn't cause you any trouble."
"Don't worry about me. My daughter is involved too."
Ah, Raviyen was his daughter.
That's why the offer was so generous.
"Anyway, now that that's settled, tell me what you've been up to. Did you really work on secret missions for the Marquis, like they said?"
We chatted for a while, catching up on each other's lives.
And after a while…
"Now that you'll be receiving our support, can you do me a favor?"
"A favor…?"
"Can you testify on my behalf at the trial with Count Alminus?"
"Testify… at the trial…?"
"You're the Dragonkin Chieftain, aren't you? It would help my case if you testified on my behalf."
"…My case?"
"Haha! Just kidding!"
He was teasing me.
"Ah, I've been enjoying ournversation, but I have to go now. There's an Elder Council meeting."
"I see."
"Let me know if you're leaving now. I can use Dragon Speech to send you back."
"No, I'll meet with Pen and Raviyen while I'm here."
"Haha, that's good. She'll be happy to see you. It won't take long. You can have tea with my daughters while you wait."
The Ancient Dragon gave me directions to Pen and Raviyen's room, and I headed that way.
Step, step.
The marble floor wasld and smooth beneath my feet.
I turned around before reaching therner.
"Is there something else?"
"I have one more question."
The Ancient Dragon shrugged.
I stopped and waited for his question.
"If… and this is a hypothetical situation…"
I maintained a respectful distance.
"If you bme stronger, and your influence grows…"
"…"
"And if you think you have a chance… of succeeding…"
I omitted the subject, but he understood what I was asking.
"Will you help me?"
The answer came after a long pause.
"…If that happens, I'llnsider it."
"I see."
I turned around andntinued walking.
Step, step.
That was enough for today.
-x-X-x-
The two sisters were together in the room.
Pen, the Dragonkin Priestess who had given me the Dragon's Blessing.
And Raviyen, my former expedition teammate.
"…You're here?"
Pen, the Dragonkin girl, glanced at me and then looked away, a pout on her face.
'She's acting like a teenager.'
I tried to be understanding.
I had heard from her father and Raviyen that she had been depressed after I was declared dead.
'She kept saying she wanted to hear more stories…'
"…Huh? What did you just say?"
"You… heard that…?"
"No, I asked what you said."
I lowered my voice, and Pen, slightly intimidated, raised hers.
"W-Why?! I just said you look the same!"
It was a blatant lie.
I had clearly heard her say, "That ugly face…"
"Penitasauros."
"…It's Penitasaurooooos."
"I might have forgotten after all these years, so let me remind you. I'm not ugly, I'm manly. Understand?"
I stared at her, and she finally replied,
"…Okay."
Right, she knew it all along.
Now that the dominance hierarchy had been established, I turned to Raviyen.
"It's been a while, Raviyen."
"You two… seem close."
"Close? We've only met once before, when I received the blessing."
"Still, you were probably the last outsider she interacted with."
Well, that was true.
Not many outsiders visited the Dragon's Temple.
I sat down at the table and asked,
"So you knew I wasming?"
"…Yes. Father told me."
"When?"
"While he was talking to you. I can hear his voice wherever he is."
So he had some kind of telepathicmmunication skill, besides Dragon Speech? He was more versatile than I thought.
"What did he tell you?"
"Just that you wereming, and that he had good news for me."
Oh, he had added that part too?
"What's the good news?"
Pen looked at me expectantly.
I avoided her gaze, and Raviyen shrugged.
Iuldn't understand the Dragonkin's way of thinking.
Why would they entrust such an important moment to an outsider like me?
'Well, it's not that difficult.'
I decided not to postpone it any longer.
"I killed the Dragonslayer and brought back his heart."
A lot had happened, but ituld be summarized in a single sentence.
"…What?"
Pen lookednfused, so I repeated myself.
"It's true. I gave the heart to your father, so you'll be able to rver soon."
"…Sister?"
"It's true, Pen."
"…"
Even after Raviyen'snfirmation, Pen still lookednfused. It was too sudden, I guess.
"…"
After a long silence, she finally spoke.
"…Thank you."
I had to take back my previous assessment of her upbringing.
Both her and her father were surprisingly polite.
It made me feel a little awkward.
"But even if you rver, things won't change immediately."
"…What do you mean?"
I relayed the Ancient Dragon's instructions.
My fight with the Dragonslayer was to remain a secret for now. She would have to stay hidden in the temple until the situation calmed down…
And her father had agreed to it.
"I'm sorry. I know you hate this place—"
"It's okay."
Pen interrupted me.
"I don't mind staying here."
She sounded sincere.
Iuldn't understand her.
"You don't mind? But you have everything you need here. Food, shelter… you can just play all day—"
"What are you talking about? You idiot."
"…Was that not the reason?"
Pen sighed.
"Ofurse not. I hate this place. I want to go outside, feel the wind, smell the flowers… but…"
She clenched her fists.
"Now my father doesn't have to stay here because of me. He can finally go wherever he wants."
Her answer surprised me.
"So that's enough for you."
Family…
I suddenly felt a pang of curiosity.
"Yandel, thank you for saving my father."
What was it like to have a family like that?
___________________
Pen excused herself, saying she needed some time alone, and I was left with Raviyen.
It wasn't a bad oume.
I had something to ask her.
"Raviyen."
"Yes?"
"Why have you been avoiding me?"
"What… do you mean?"
I had been subtle, but she didn't seem to understand.
I decided to be more direct.
"Why didn't youme to the after-party? You don't seem that busy."
"I heard Titana Akuraba didn'tme either."
"Well, that's true."
I nodded.
"But she's actually busy."
After a brief pause, Raviyen replied,
"…I was busy too."
"Really? Then I guess I can't blame you."
"Is that all you wanted to ask?"
She sounded more relaxed now.
I took a sip of my tea and nodded.
But she wasn't fooled.
"Raviyen, I'm fine, so just tell me the truth. Did you change your mind?"
The subject was omitted, but everyone in the room knew what I was talking about.
"No, I haven't."
"Really? I thought you were trying to distance yourself from us—"
"Because we weren't on the same page from the beginning."
What?
"Not on the same page…?"
I gave her a look, and she sighed, finally explaining herself.
"Ofurse, I'm saddened by the deaths of ourmrades. And I'm angry at the Marquis, and the royal family."
"But?"
"But that's all. Not everyone is like you, Yandel."
So my initial impression hadn't been wrong.
She was distancing herself from us.
And the reason was exactly what I had suspected.
"No matter how close we became, we were just teammates on a single expedition."
If they had been family, it would have been different.
But they weren't.
And therefore…
"If you're asking me to dedicate my life to revenge… my answer is no."
Raviyen had made a rational decision.
It was the normal response.
Even if their family had died, most people wouldn't seek revenge against the royal family.
"I see… Thank you for being honest."
"…I'm sorry. But I'm sure there are others who feel the same way. They're just afraid to say it."
Well, that was true.
People's emotions were fickle.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"…That's unexpected. I thought you would accuse me of betrayal."
"Would that change your mind? If it would, I would have done it a hundred times."
"I see…"
Raviyen looked down.
She had said everything she wanted to say, and thenversation was over.
But…
"…"
She still seemed to have something on her mind.
I understood how she felt.
I had been in a similar situation before.
"Raviyen, let me give you some advice."
"Go ahead."
"If everyone had been as rational as you that day, none of us would have survived."
There were no right or wrong answers in this world.
Only choices.
___________________
"Let me know if you change your mind. You're always weme."
I was about to leave the room when Raviyen said,
"…Father is still in a meeting."
"Ah, right."
I awkwardly waited for the Ancient Dragon to return. He eventually used Dragon Speech to teleport me back home.
It was just past noon.
"Mister! You're back!"
"…You're early. I thought you might be late."
Amelia and Erwen were waiting for me.
"It ended sooner than expected. What happened here?"
I pointed at the backyard.
The overgrown wasteland had been transformed.
Half of it was now a lush garden, and the other half was a training ground.
"…It just… happened. It looks a little crude, but… we didn't have a choice."
"Weuldn't let one person have it all, so we decided to share."
So they had finally reached ampromise after days of arguing.
"Yandel, have you eaten?"
"I had a few snacks. What about you?"
"Not yet!"
"Then let's eat together."
I was thinking about going out for lunch, but Auyen was already preparing a meal.
I wasnfused.
"Heoks…?"
"Didn't you know? He made dinner last night too."
"…I thought you bought it… Wait, we don't even have a kitchen, do we?"
Amelia gave me a look.
"We turned one of the rooms on the first floor into a kitchen. You didn't even notice?"
"…"
"Yandel, you need to pay more attention to your surroundings."
Iuldn't argue with that.
I hadn't had a chance to relax at home lately.
Anyway, I followed Amelia to the first floor, and one of the empty rooms had beennverted into a kitchen.
"Weme back, Clan Master!"
Auyen, dressed in a white chef's uniform, greeted me with a smile. A plate of food was already prepared.
"Mister,me here. He'll take care of everything."
"Oh… really?"
Auyen… what was his job, again?
Navigator,achman, and now a chef?
'…Is there anything he can't do?'
I realized once again that power was everything.
If I wasn't strong, he wouldn't be hereoking for me.
"How is it? Does it suit your taste?"
"It's perfect. Just the right amount of seasoning. And plenty of meat."
"The ladies instructed me to always prepare extra, just in case you came home hungry."
"…Ladies?"
"Ah…"
Auyen flinched.
He had made a mistake.
But I didn't say anything and focused on my meal.
And after a while…
"Leave it. I'll clean up."
Auyenllected the dishes.
It was a strange feeling.
Being treated like this in my own house… I felt like a real noble.
"Mister, you don't have anything scheduled for today, do you?"
"No, I cleared my schedule."
"Then… would you like to have some tea in my garden?"
"Sure."
"Tersia, I'll have the Black Dragon tea."
"Ha… you're so shameless."
Erwen grumbled, but she still prepared the tea, and we chatted for a while.
The high walls surrounding the house feltmforting, and the afternoon sun was warm.
It was a relaxing afternoon.
'This is nice…'
Erwen chattered excitedly, and Amelia occasionally chimed in, arguing with her.
But I just enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere.
And then…
"Family…"
I mumbled unsciously.
It was a quiet murmur, barely audible.
But…
"…?"
"…?"
Both Erwen and Amelia stopped talking and looked at me.
"…Yandel, what did you just say?"
"Yes, what was that, Mister?"
They had forgotten their argument and were now focused on me.
"…Nothing."
I tried to brush it off, but they were persistent.
"It wasn't nothing. You said 'family'."
"I heard it too. What did you mean by that?"
Damn it, why did I say that?
I had been thinking about Pen…
"Just…"
I sighed and answered.
"I was wondering what it would be like to have a family."
It was an honest answer.
Erwen and Amelia didn't say anything.
"…"
"…"
The silence was awkward.
I was about to change the subject when Erwen suddenly spoke, her eyes narrowed.
"…The left wall."
The left wall?
What was she talking about?
"Someone's watching us."
Amelia explained.
What?
"Tersia, on theunt of three."
"Okay."
They didn't wait for my instructions.
Theyunted to three and then dashed towards the left wall.
And…
"…Eek?!"
They returned a few snds later, dragging someone with them.
"This is… an unexpected reunion."
Amelia's tone was strange.
"…"
And Erwen's expression waslder than ever.
"Ahaha…"
The captive, pinned to the ground, looked at me and chuckled awkwardly.
"I-It's been a while… Bjorn… Ugh!"
She winced, as if she had bitten her tongue.
"…"
"…"
"…"
It was Misha.