Misha Kalstein is a traitor.
Since that information first came out of Butterfly's mouth, Fox tried to dig deeper into it.
Probably the same even if it hadn't been at my request.
Whether he liked it or not, Fox had to act together with Misha going forward. He wouldn't want to stay in a disturbing state knowing there was a traitor among his comrades.
However, it was a risky question.
"This is the second time you've spoken about Misha Kalstein, isn't it?"
Butterfly repeated the question in a strange tone while staring at Fox.
As if piercing through his true intentions.
"Quite interested, aren't you? In that beast-woman."
"…So what?"
"Heh… just saying."
Maybe, by the time this roundtable ends, most members here will have the suspicion 'Fox = Bjorn Yandel's comrade' firmly planted in their minds.
After all, a lot of information about the basement first floor has already been leaked.
In reality, it's almost certain now that this guy is inside the labyrinth…
"The Armin expedition team and the Hext clan have yet another reason to return alive as many as possible."
There's a saying to hide the tree among trees and hide people among people. The more survivors there are, the less likely Versil's identity will be exposed.
But that's a story for later.
"Can I ask now?"
Not only Fox, but other members continued asking questions.
"Who gave you the code to enter the roundtable?"
The Queen was curious about how Butterfly had gained access here.
Also, Black Mask surprisingly joined the questioning for the first time.
It was surprising he spoke at all, but more surprising was the content.
"Do you think Misha Kalstein is a threat to Bjorn Yandel's life?"
What the hell is that about?
It's hard to understand why such a question was asked, but the situation wasn't bad.
"Hmm… Everyone seems quite interested in Misha Kalstein."
Thanks to Black Mask stepping in, suspicion aimed at Versil lessened a bit. Or rather, the attention was spread out.
"Well, I think that's the last of the questions…"
When the question time ended, Butterfly gave a playful laugh and took a moment to ponder.
"Hmm, what should I do…"
Now it was Butterfly's choice.
If she answered Black Mask's or Fox's question, I could confirm the parts I was curious about.
If the Queen's question was chosen, we'd have to wait for the next round.
If there was no third round, there was a chance we'd never hear the answer.
Therefore…
"Since two of you asked, I suppose it's only right to answer."
At the moment Butterfly said that, a slight relief rose in me.
Of course, it didn't last long.
Sometimes such contradictions exist in this world. Things you want to know, but don't want to know.
"Well then, whose question should I answer first…"
Butterfly trailed off for a moment, then smiled and continued.
"Ah, it's up to my mood. Since both questions are pretty similar, I'll just answer both."
At first glance, it sounds like a kindness.
But the more so, the more suspicious I felt.
Because, who ever loses in a 1+1 event?
Every action has a reason, and that reason is usually related to one's own benefit.
'…If that's my first thought, maybe I'm too broken already?'
I didn't know, but I opened my ears and focused on the conversation.
Butterfly, dragging the moment out as if enjoying the attention, slowly began to speak.
"Misha Kalstein returned to Bjorn Yandel's side under someone's orders. But that order isn't related to Bjorn Yandel's death."
She seemed to be talking about Ibaekho and the Resurrection Stone.
I wondered if she was called a traitor for some other reason.
'But how does she even know about that?'
Could Butterfly be one of Ibaekho's people?
After all, Ibaekho was the one who gave me the invitation code, so it wouldn't be impossible…
"Could you tell us exactly what kind of orders those were?"
"Oh, that? As far as I know, it wasn't much. Just to observe nearby and relay information."
"And the compensation?"
"Well, only that woman would know… Ah, but I shouldn't lie. I'll leave that to your imagination."
My guess is that the compensation was probably the Resurrection Stone itself.
Ibaekho is a sly enough guy.
He probably scared me with talk about my fate to die, then gave me the Resurrection Stone asking me to be a spy.
In fact, the real purpose was to hand over the Resurrection Stone.
Anyway, thanks to this conversation, I learned one thing.
"Was there any other order besides that?"
"No. None that I know of."
Ibaekho's scheme ended with the Resurrection Stone.
Of course, he's probably scheming something behind the scenes, but the chances that Misha was involved in that scheme are low.
However, the problem is…
'Why is Butterfly answering so kindly?'
If Butterfly Mask and Ibaekho were on the same team, it made a plausible hypothesis.
Ibaekho knows I'm the Investigator.
'He's naturally trying to give me information.'
His wish was always the same.
He wanted me to sever my attachment to this world.
So he deliberately leaked information about Misha being a traitor or something like that. Perhaps just that alone would break my trust and make me suspicious of those around me.
It's a no-lose attempt from his perspective.
"Can we move on to the next turn now? I think I've answered enough."
With that, Butterfly's turn ended, and Black Mask's turn came next.
"What should I ask…? I don't really know much, so I don't have much to ask."
His tone sounded somewhat sly, but everyone agreed with Butterfly's words.
Perhaps because he spoke so little, he seemed even more secretive.
Still, he did have questions.
"I'll go with this one. Why did you ask earlier if Misha is a threat to Bjorn Yandel's life?"
Butterfly seemed curious about Black Mask's identity, and Fox was similar.
"Are you currently inside the basement first floor?"
It seemed he suspected that this guy might be one of those around us…
Only the Queen asked questions unrelated to identity.
"You said before that Auril Gavis could cross to Earth thanks to dimensional magic. Where did you get that information?"
Surprisingly, all three questions were quite interesting.
Of course, by importance, the Queen's question was the best.
But the answers were up to the others to choose.
After a short pause, Black Mask briefly opened his mouth to answer.
"I have never been to the basement first floor."
It was an answer to Fox's question.
Well, if he really wasn't mixed among us, that was probably the safest answer.
"Is that an answer?"
"Yes..."
After Black Mask's turn ended, the Jester opened his mouth as if he'd been waiting.
"Phit, finally it's me!"
Does he really like being the center of attention that much?
"Well then, ask quickly! Everyone must have a bunch of questions!"
Listening to his self-satisfied voice made me want to leave him with no questions at all just to shame him…
"How sad. I myself have questions I want to ask him."
"Phit! To say you're sad is truly delightful!"
Regardless of the Jester's annoying attitude, the turn quickly passed with a barrage of questions.
Fox, Wolf, Goblin, Queen, Black Mask…
All members except me and Butterfly asked one question each, and the Jester seemed very pleased by that.
"Five questions… This might be the record so far? Phit."
"Enough, just pick what to answer."
"But… there's still one who hasn't passed yet."
Ignoring the Queen's urging, the Jester glanced at me. He seemed to expect me to ask something.
Like I was some elementary school kid.
"Well, I don't have anything I'm curious about."
"Hmm… Is that so…"
"Anything's fine. If it's an interesting story."
I added that because he looked a little too disappointed.
It was unconscious, but I thought it might be a mistake.
Given his personality, such stories might actually produce more useful information.
And that's how things went.
"Interesting stories… well, that's not bad either. Then I'll tell you a fun story for a moment."
"Ha… just ask or answer already."
The Queen sighed looking at the Jester who was drawing aggro on me.
But still, her eyes focused on the Jester.
After all, I was curious about what the Jester's "fun story" was…
"Year 154 of Gaebyeok, August 2nd. The Noark faction, living underground in the sewers where no light had ever shone for a long time, came out into the world beyond the walls."
Thus began the Jester's "fun story."
"The world outside the walls was completely different from what we'd heard. There was no witch's curse, and beyond the horizon lay vast green forests and fields."
"So?"
"The Noark people explored the vast, uncharted lands like pioneers, and soon settled down in a suitable place."
"…Enough with that strange concept, just get to the point—"
"Phit, don't be like that. Listen carefully now. This is important."
"Fine, go ahead."
"The Noark people wondered why the royal family locked people inside the walls. Why they stopped people from going outside into the perfectly fine world."
"…"
"They pondered for a long time, and luckily found the answer. And only recently made a grave decision."
Thump thump.
The Jester tapped the table to raise attention.
And finally revealed the core of the story.
I'm not quite convinced how the story up to here leads to this result, but…
"They decided to invade Lapdonia."
A great war was foretold.
Noark and the royal family.
Their conflict, after Noark came outside the walls, took place only inside the labyrinth. Noark occupied the 7th floor and fought the royal army, slowly growing stronger.
And now that phase is moving into reality…
"An invasion… is that certain?"
"Phit… do you think I'd lie?"
"When then? When is it happening?"
The impact of the Jester's information was tremendous. All members stirred, eager to hear more details from him.
But…
"If you're curious, find out yourself! That's the end of my turn. Well, if I tell something fun before this meeting ends, maybe. Phit."
The Jester drew the line at a suitable point and stopped talking.
A bit disappointing. I thought he might take advantage of the mood and say more—
"Um…"
While quietly sitting and gathering my thoughts, the Jester looked at me and carefully spoke.
"How was it this time? Did you find it even a little fun?"
Honestly, I didn't quite understand the reaction.
'Looks like he spilled the invasion plan purely because of me…'
Why does he want so badly to get my attention and approval?
Anyway, I answered.
"Is that your question now?"
Now it was my turn to receive their questions and give answers.
-x-X-x-
Today's roundtable proceeded differently than usual.
It was a truth game—when someone asked a question, the respondent had to answer honestly.
"Phit… there's no way I'd waste such a precious opportunity."
Honestly, I was a little curious myself.
What would the roundtable members most want to ask the Investigator?
Well, I'd find out soon enough.
"Well then, I'll start…?"
The first to speak was Fox, breaking the strangely quiet atmosphere.
"Do you… really know who we are?"
It surprised me at first, but on reflection, it was a reasonable question.
After all, I was the one who openly revealed the Jester's identity at the roundtable, and ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ the Queen had bluffingly acted as if she knew as well.
Though, in truth, all anyone really knew were just nicknames.
"Sigh…"
Hearing Fox's question, the Jester suddenly sighed.
"You don't even realize what a priceless chance this is, wasting it on such obvious questions!"
The Jester seemed to accept as fact—no, truth—that I knew their identities…
Fox snapped back irritably.
"How do you know whether it's obvious or not?"
"…Phit?"
"Isn't it my freedom to ask whatever I want? Stop trying to interfere like that. It's annoying."
A cold, sharp tone.
Come to think of it, that was just his usual personality.
He was the first to throw killing intent when I first came to the roundtable.
Well, at the time, he had good reason.
'Those were foolish days…'
Anyway, that was all long ago.
In the end, Fox joined Clan Anavada and became my comrade.
Though he doesn't realize it yet.
"…Why are you getting angry? I was just joking."
The Jester tried to smooth things over, apparently flustered by Fox's anger.
But Fox ignored him without a word.
Amid this atmosphere…
"Hahaha… Then it's my turn!"
Wolf spoke up next, apparently uninterested in their quarrel.
"I want to know where and how Investigator met the Earth Witch."
The Earth Witch… that was a bit unexpected.
I thought he'd ask another question related to Auril Gavis, as usual.
Thump, thump.
Habitually tapping his armrest with his index finger, I shifted my gaze away from Wolf to signal readiness for the next question.
Catching my eye, Goblin glanced around cautiously before speaking.
"Um… I'm not sure how to ask this…"
"Phit, don't be so difficult, Investigator. Hurry up—"
"Do you have many wives or girlfriends…?"
As soon as Goblin finished, an indescribable silence fell over the roundtable.
"…Huh?"
The Jester made a dumbfounded noise as if doubting his own ears, and the others were similar.
Everyone was stunned for a moment, then slowly grasped the situation.
Reactions varied after that.
"What kind of absurd question is that…?"
"Goblin, are you an idiot?"
"Ha ha ha! Puhuh, puhahahahaha!!"
Some outright rejected it, some cursed, others burst out laughing loudly.
Among the reactions were guesses about why Goblin asked that question.
"Could it be… because of the 'fate' related to that mask before?"
Fox muttered.
The Jester snorted disdainfully.
"Hah! That ridiculous speculation from before! Investigator choosing the Investigator mask might just be because of good luck."
That was the first time I heard that.
Apparently a private conversation while I was gone…
"Good luck…? What does that mean?"
The Queen didn't know either, so I assumed it was something from the early days when only the original roundtable members were present.
"Why not formally ask next time if you're curious? Phit."
"Fine. I roughly understand what it's about. Now, it's my turn to ask."
The Queen skillfully ignored the Jester's provocation and began her turn.
"What I want to ask is simple. Have you ever met the King of Gaebyeok in person?"
The Queen's question was very meaningful.
It wasn't easy to read her intention.
She must have many things she's curious about, and there was surely a reason she chose this question.
'Why… why ask this?'
Meeting the King.
So far, this topic had come up twice in the roundtable.
The Queen and Wolf both openly admitted they had faced the King.
'Is meeting the King that important?'
Hmm, it seemed there was something more to it.
Or maybe just because so few had met the King, they hoped to deduce my identity through this.
"Hmm… Now it's my turn?"
While I was gathering my thoughts, it was Butterfly's turn.
"Then, what should I ask…"
Trailing off playfully, Butterfly suddenly made an unexpected decision.
"I'll just pass."
"Whaaat? Butterfly, don't you realize what a great opportunity this is! Investigator knows everything and can answer anything!"
The Jester exclaimed, but Butterfly's choice didn't change.
"But… I doubt Investigator will answer my question anyway."
"Eh? On what basis do you say that without even trying—?"
"Intuition, and experience."
"…?"
"Men usually don't like women who put them in difficult situations."
Though she spoke to the Jester, it was clear she meant for me to hear.
'In other words, she's saying her question would definitely put me in an awkward position…'
Anyway, with Butterfly passing, it was Black Mask's turn.
What would he ask?
I didn't really know him well, and he might just skip like Butterfly—
"Bjorn Yandel."
…Huh?
Why suddenly mention that name?
I was startled for a moment but focused on his words as I rested my arm.
"Bjorn Yandel and… Misha Kalstein…"
What? Does he know about the Resurrection Stone incident too?
Such thoughts crossed my mind.
"…Were they really dating, as the rumors say?"
Black Mask's question knocked me out of my thoughts.
'What the hell…'
Why was he asking me that?
Did he somehow know I was Bjorn Yandel?
If he did, why ask such a thing?
What was his intention?
"Sigh… All these questions are such trash."
I don't know why, but the Jester sighed, seeming annoyed that even Black Mask wasted the opportunity with such a question.
How great did he think his own questions were?
"Enough. Since everyone's done, now it's my turn."
Whatever he asks, I definitely won't answer.
Resolving that inwardly, the Jester looked at me and carefully spoke.
"Then… I'll ask the Investigator."
With an unusually nervous, trembling voice.
"If… if I said… I want to give up everything and serve under you… would you accept me?"
What the hell is this guy?
The declaration of wanting to be a subordinate stunned the roundtable into a strange silence.
"I wondered what kind of question it would be…"
"To ask such a thing after causing all that chaos for us?"
"It's a shame. If you want to ask that, just say it after everything's over…"
Because of his karma, the members' eyes were cold.
Of course, the Jester didn't care about those reactions.
"Uh… then… will you answer?"
A serious question, without a trace of a forced laugh.
Not the final scene of some matchmaking show.
By now, I wasn't even incredulous.
I had long passed that stage.
He doesn't know who I am.
Nor what I want.
Just a mysterious powerful figure wrapped in a veil.
That's about the extent of his awareness.
But to say he wants to give up everything and become my subordinate…
'What kind of mindset does this guy have?'
Is he like a rebellious teenager idolizing a bully?
I don't know, but his question ended the questioning round.
I had received six questions in total.
Though Butterfly passed, it was the most questions I had gotten so far.
Most of them were weird questions anyway.
"…"
"…"
When it was time to answer, everyone quietly fell silent and stared at me.
What kind of answer would I give?
I could see in their eyes a hope that I would answer their questions.
The Jester's question was probably the most pressing.
'Ugh, so stressful…'
I naturally avoided eye contact but kept thinking hard.
What question would be best to answer?
[Where and how did you meet the Earth Witch?]
[Have you ever met the King of Gaebyeok in person?]
I'd pass on those two for now.
Wolf's question was dangerous since I didn't know where my answer might lead, and the Queen didn't seem to grasp the true intent behind her question.
[Do you have many wives or girlfriends?]
[Were you really dating, as rumored?]
Answering those two would look too weird…
[Do you really know who we are?]
[If someone said they'd give up everything and serve under you… would you accept?]
Those two were the remaining candidates.
If I had to eliminate one by process of elimination, it was obvious which.
Unfortunately…
'I don't fully know their identities.'
'It'd ruin the mystique to say I know some.'
So only one choice remained…
Thump, thump.
Like pulling a horn off with one quick jerk,
I scanned them all, then fixed my gaze on the Jester and spoke his name.
"Abet Nekrafetto."
The corpse collector behind the Jester mask—his real name.
I stared at him firmly and said,
"I won't accept you."
He looked as if the world had collapsed on him and asked,
"Why…?"
Why?
It was very simple.
"I don't have a hobby of raising insects."
No matter how friendly he acted at the roundtable, I would never treat this guy like a person.
["Sis… she doesn't move anymore. Can't speak. Cold and stiff. I haven't done anything for her yet…"]
He is my enemy.
Swoooooosh!
After the green light of truth flowed out, the Jester said nothing.
He just stared blankly into space like someone dazed.
"Um… are you okay—?"
The Queen, unable to watch any longer, tried to speak to him.
"Puhuhu, puhuhuhuhu…"
Suddenly, the Jester started laughing like a madman all alone.
"Puhuhu, insects…"
Hmm, maybe that choice of words was harsh?
I briefly thought so, but it couldn't be helped.
These kinds of people only understand when spoken to strongly.
"Really… impressive, Investigator…"
After laughing for a while, the Jester looked at me.
"I used to have some confidence in myself, you know. Puhuhu…"
It was a pattern often seen in those trying to look cool.
"Insect! No matter what, insect! Puhuhuhu… Surely, Investigator sees everyone as such creatures, right? Puhuhuhuhuhu…"
If he keeps laughing, you'd think he's unaffected.
"Wow… that one's broken, huh? What now?"
"Geez, why ask such a question…"
Watching the Jester laugh like a lunatic, the members each offered words of sympathy.
But I didn't care.
'I just want the next round to start already…'
Just when I was wondering whether I should step in, a sudden shaking hit the roundtable room.
Thud thud thud thud thud.
Like an earthquake, the room violently shook.
And then…
Crrrrriiick.
During the meeting, the door opened from outside.
This had only happened once before.
The Master.
The one who created the "Watcher of the Roundtable"…
And the old man already confirmed as "Auril Gavis" entered the roundtable.
'It was exactly like this last time.'
So how would it be this time?
Slowly, I turned my head toward the opened door.
"Heh heh, masks I haven't seen before?"
The old man wearing a white mask looked at us with a hearty laugh.
-x-X-x-
A plain white mask with no distinguishing features.
He wore a dull-colored robe that covered his whole body, and his only exposed skin—the wrinkled hand—was heavily creased with age.
"Heh… who's that old man?"
Black Mask and Butterfly exchanged questioning looks at the unfamiliar visitor.
However, the Queen—also seeing him for the first time—was different.
"No way…"
Though it was their first meeting too, she seemed to realize who the old man was through intuition.
"The Master…!"
Wolf immediately recognized the unwelcome guest's identity and jumped up, rushing out.
"Long time no see, Wolf. How have you been?"
"Thanks to you, I've been fine as always. But Master, what brings you here? You could've given some notice…"
Their words clearly indicated a connection between the two.
"What you say is true. Just came to see your face one last time. I have some business here too."
"Business… you say?"
Wolf's eyes showed curiosity about that, but the Master didn't elaborate.
The listeners were left curious.
"By the way… would you mind stepping aside for a moment? I want to greet the others too."
"Ah…! Sorry!"
Noticing the Master's hint, Wolf quickly apologized and returned to his seat.
Anyone watching might have thought the place belonged to Wolf, not the other way around.
While watching this, the Master's gaze shifted to me.
"Karma is a truly mysterious thing. How does it feel to see the end?"
Unlike the first time we met at the roundtable, he no longer intended to hide that he was Auril Gavis.
That wasn't really surprising.
[The Master of the Roundtable is Auril Gavis.]
Wolf had already revealed that information here.
And that info probably came with this old man's permission.
Thump, thump.
So why show up here again?
Seeing their close relationship, if the Master wanted to send a message to me, he could have just sent Wolf.
Calculating inwardly, I accepted the conversation naturally.
"Not particularly."
"Hmm, is that so? I thought you might feel a little regret. After all, this place is basically something you created, isn't it?"
Well, that's true.
More precisely, not the roundtable itself but the truth game system was his creation.
"Phit, phit??!"
"The roundtable… was made by that man…?"
What followed was the reaction of those listening nearby.
One word, two words, three words.
"Ah, of course it was 20 years ago… Back then, there were only evil spirits from other worlds."
As the conversation with the Master went on, intense reactions burst out all around.
"There was a roundtable even 20 years ago…?"
"No, but evil spirits from other worlds…?"
Ugh, so irritating.
If that's the case, couldn't they just have this talk quietly between themselves?
I thought so, but decided to ignore it for now. Just dealing with this old man alone was enough to give me a headache.
"So, what brings you here?"
"Didn't I say? I had business here, and I wanted to see faces after a long time."
The old man said that, then turned his gaze to another member.
"Good to see you, Miss Fox. How have you been?"
"Huh? Ah, ah… I'm fine… It's been a while."
"Honestly, I was a little disappointed. Back when there was nothing, you followed so well, and now you don't even consider me a benefactor. Heh heh."
"How… do you know that…!"
Fox was visibly flustered when this was mentioned, and the others' eyes shone with interest.
How could he know?
No need to ask for a reason.
The old man had some way to eavesdrop on everything said here.
In other words…
'…he's always been listening to these talks.'
A chill ran down my spine.
I'd long known he was sinister, but I hadn't expected his tastes to be so foul.
What chilled me most was that despite this, he came through the door casually mentioning masks he'd never seen before.
A habitual liar to the core…
"Uh… that's not it…"
"No need to make excuses. I really am fine, so don't worry."
Still, that claim was probably true.
To this old man, Fox was worthless. Even if she bled and died right in front of him, if there was no reason to save her, he'd just watch.
"Um…"
At that moment, the silent Queen joined the conversation.
"Are you… really the Master of the Roundtable, that is… Auril Gavis?"
"That's right."
"…I have one question. Wolf said you have the power to prevent the community's shutdown… Is that true?"
"That's the truth. In fact, I'm the one who weakened your authority in the first place."
He said it so casually.
The Queen waited a long moment before asking again.
"…What did you say?"
Hearing that, Auril Gavis let out a spiteful [N O V E L I G H T] laugh and continued.
"You said the device had a problem, but the device I gave that friend is perfectly fine. It just felt that way because the authority I transferred to him was gradually revoked."
"Taking back authority… how is that possible?"
"Well, I didn't hand everything over to him intact."
A concise, clear answer that left no room for response.
"Don't be too sad. I'm just taking back what was originally mine. Besides, haven't I been using it well all this time?"
"..."
"Now then, let's end this topic here…"
Auril Gavis silenced the Queen neatly, then walked over and placed his hand on the roundtable's jewel.
At that moment—
Swoooosh!
The jewel turned into particles of light, flowing through Auril Gavis's fingertips.
"With this, my business is done."
Unlike the other members who watched blankly, I knew what that meant.
Twenty years ago, Auril Gavis said he lost most of his authority over this space when he created the roundtable's jewel.
So, based on that…
"You came to reclaim your authority."
Auril Gavis thus regained his former power.
"That's right. Now I can do anything here. In other words, this."
With his wrinkled hand waving through the air, the masks of all members except me were forcibly removed.
Thunk.
As if an invisible hand pulled, the masks fell onto the table.
"Ahhh!"
"...!"
"Ph… phit?"
Immediately, the true faces hidden beneath the masks were revealed, and chaos broke out.
Some covered their faces with both hands; some crouched so their faces weren't visible; others stared blankly into space.
Of course, not all reacted passively.
Whoosh—!
Some immediately logged out as soon as their masks came off.
Two of them at once.
"Despite appearances, shy ones, huh? I guess showing their real faces to everyone isn't a problem."
The first to vanish without a word was the Jester.
What did he look like again?
I think he was white, but he disappeared so fast I didn't get a good look.
Surprisingly, he seemed a little chubby…
'And the next to vanish… Black Mask.'
The spot where Black Mask had sat was now empty.
He even escaped faster than the Jester, so I didn't see him at all.
So before more left, I quickly scanned the room.
"…W-what is this madness?!"
The Queen shouted in panic.
She had the typical appearance of a foreigner with blue eyes and blond hair.
Not exactly a stunning beauty, just very average-looking, probably in her early thirties.
The members exchanged surprised and suspicious glances at her.
"Somehow… her face looks familiar…"
It was probably not just my imagination.
The Queen acts as the guide to check if newcomers are real players or not.
Next was Goblin.
Surprisingly handsome.
No, extremely handsome.
He could be an actor or something.
His skin was dark, so I thought Southeast Asian, but he was actually a typical Latin American handsome man.
'Short for Latin American handsome?'
Latin American handsome.
A palindrome—what an absurd coincidence…
'…But that's not the point.'
I rolled my eyes, pretending not to care, and checked all the members' bare faces.
I knew appearances in the community didn't matter, but I was honestly a bit curious.
What kind of people they really were.
'Butterfly is Asian. Fox looks younger than expected. Wolf is just an ordinary middle-aged man…'
A secret roundtable meeting.
A conversation among veterans.
Yet their faces beneath the mysterious masks were so ordinary. None looked particularly strong or ruthless.
But…
'I'm probably no different.'
Who would imagine Lee Hansu to be someone who could smash heads with a hammer and smile bloodily even after having limbs torn off?
They'd be the same.
None of them escaped staining their hands with blood.
Those people all died long ago.
"Um… why did you take off the masks…? I-I'm a bit… no, honestly very uncomfortable… Ah! I'm not angry or anything…"
Goblin timidly spoke, and Auril Gavis promptly replied.
"Hmm, weren't you curious? About what kind of people you talked to every time? Since it's the last time, I thought it wouldn't be bad to take off masks and mingle once."
"Ah… I see?"
Goblin nodded dumbfoundedly, then glanced at me.
I didn't have to hear what he meant.
"But… why didn't you take off Investigator's mask?"
"Yes… that's right."
Auril Gavis removed everyone's masks without consent, except mine.
Why?
"Heh heh, I'm a bit cautious dealing with that friend! Don't want things to go wrong by being rude."
"Oh… I see?"
Goblin awkwardly nodded after hearing the answer.
It was kind of funny.
If he just nodded silently after that, why ask at all?
Well, that was very Goblin-like.
"…"
"…"
A strange silence filled the room.
Auril Gavis said nothing and seemed to enjoy the moment, while members kept glancing at me.
They seemed to want me to say something, so eventually I spoke first.
"So… is that all you wanted to say?"
It was a prompt to say if there was more business.
I spoke indirectly for once, but it seemed my meaning got through.
"No. There's one thing left."
"One thing?"
"I have a question for you."
"Go ahead. Ask."
I said so, gladly willing.
I'd listen first and decide whether to answer.
But…
"There are many listeners."
Auril Gavis scanned around with a sly voice.
"But still, it would be a little cruel to just kick you out now. I forced you to reveal your face, so at least you deserve some compensation."
Hearing "compensation," I tensed up.
There was no way this old man was truly sorry enough to give any real reward.
There had to be some hidden motive…
"If I just gave compensation, it wouldn't be fun. Let's all play a game."
Of course, his words got longer.
"A game… you say?"
"Yes, a game. Don't you all like games? By the way, the reward will be given to the one winner."
"…Can you tell us what the reward is?"
Before Goblin even heard what kind of game it was, he asked about the reward first.
Auril Gavis coolly answered without delay or deferral.
"I'll send the winner home."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
-x-X-x-
Fox, Wolf, Goblin, Queen, Butterfly.
And Auril Gavis and me.
Seven people in total gathered in the round table room, and an uncomfortable silence fell.
Thinking about it, it was natural.
The round table members were old users who had been dragged into this strange world for at least several years.
"Back home…"
"You mean… you'll send us back…?"
Because they had spent so long here, they knew even better. Achieving the goal of opening the Abyssal Gate and returning home was nearly impossible.
That's why most of them accepted life here and lived diligently.
But…
"Why, don't you like the reward?"
The situation had changed.
The mastermind behind all this, [Dungeon & Stone]. And Auril Gavis, the very person who made that game.
It was none other than him who spoke.
"If you play the game and win, you will receive a ticket to return home as a prize."
"Hmm, I thought this was a decent reward."
For any player, this was an irresistible offer they would rush at like moths to a flame, but surprisingly, the round table members remained calm.
And rightly so, who were they?
They were the ones who had survived this harsh world until now.
If something delicious was suddenly placed in front of them, the first thing they knew better than anyone was to be suspicious.
Just like this.
"…I want to hear what kind of game it is first."
"If I have to participate just to hear about it, then I won't listen…"
Rather than immediately wagging their tails and rushing in, the members tried to collect information first for a proper judgment.
To their questions, Auril Gavis replied in a generous tone.
"There's no way you have to participate just to hear about it. The game I prepared is a very simple one."
It was quite strange.
By his tone, he sounded like a kindly old neighbor, but from our position, it was anything but that.
"..."
Auril Gavis paused, and the members' faces behind their masks tensed even more.
What kind of game could it be?
Hopefully, he wasn't senile and about to order them to kill each other or something.
At that moment, the old man finally spoke.
"It's a quiz."
No one there had expected that game.
"A quiz… you say?"
"Yes, it's the quiz you know, so stop looking at me suspiciously."
"No… I'm just curious about how it works…"
"Oh, I didn't say that. When I ask a quiz, you just have to answer whether it's true or false. It's a multiple-choice quiz with only two options."
"An OX quiz, then…"
Goblin quietly mulled it over with a doubtful voice, and Auril Gavis added more explanation.
Well, I'm not sure it counts as extra explanation.
"The quiz will continue until only one person remains. Oh, of course, you can quit midway."
"Heh…?"
Butterfly made a sound like, 'Look at this?'
Everyone felt the same.
It wasn't elimination by OX quiz but quitting? What on earth did that mean?
"Do you mean there might come a situation where we have to quit?"
The Queen asked bluntly, and the old man gave a meaningful reply.
"Well, you might suddenly think so. I always respect your free will."
Respect my ass.
They were all people dragged here while playing games at home.
I really wanted to snap sarcastically, but I just engraved patience in my mind and endured.
Nothing would change anyway.
"Anyway, I think that's enough explanation. Anyone who wants to participate, speak up."
Then the old man asked for participants' intentions, and the time was short.
"There's really no penalty for quitting or being eliminated?"
"Don't worry. Didn't I say earlier? This game is a payment for removing your masks."
"Then… I'll try."
The Queen, who hesitated until the end, declared her intention to participate, deciding the participation of all members.
Ah, except for me.
"Sorry, but you can't participate. But don't be too disappointed. You can't return this way anyway."
It wasn't that I couldn't return; rather, they had no intention of sending me back like this. I had to grow hard and open the Abyssal Gate someday.
"Heh… So I'm different from the Seeker? Somehow, this is interesting."
With that, Butterfly's gaze toward me deepened, and Auril Gavis clapped his hands, gathering attention.
"Without wasting time, let's start right away."
I realized belatedly that in front of each seat, O and X signs had been placed.
Well, now it really felt like a mini-game.
'…Surely this old man is hiding something.'
What trick was he planning?
I didn't know yet…
"Now, here is the first question."
As the OX quiz began, I understood why the old man said quitting midway was possible.
"The Fox mask is a wizard."
"…!"
"Hold up the sign with O if you think it's correct, X if incorrect."
…This isn't a game to get the answer right.
At the moment the first question came out, the awkward atmosphere surrounded the room.
"…"
Fox tried to keep a neutral expression but failed completely.
And…
"Uh…"
Knowing that situation, Goblin anxiously looked at Fox's face.
"Hmm…"
It seemed the Queen had realized the hidden truth in this game.
Well, the other two hadn't yet.
"Heh… why don't we just follow the sign Fox holds? He is the quiz subject after all."
"Oh, not a bad idea."
All eyes turned to Fox, who seemed to gather his thoughts briefly and then lifted his sign.
"A circle."
"You really are a wizard. I somehow had that image. Hey, Master? Isn't it time to check the answer?"
At Butterfly's question, Auril Gavis nodded.
"Congratulations. Everyone got the answer right. Then let's move to the second question."
"…"
"The Goblin mask is a paladin."
Even Wolf and Butterfly, who were indifferent, realized Auril Gavis's intention from then on.
"…"
"…"
The room became so quiet it was hard to believe a game was ongoing. People held up O signs, and a similar process continued repeatedly.
"The Queen mask has never entered the labyrinth."
The answer to the third question was O.
"The Wolf mask is the leader of a clan."
The fourth was O as well.
"The Butterfly mask is a member of Noark."
Naturally, the fifth answer was also O.
At this point, one might wonder why they even made X signs.
"Well, now it's time for the sixth question?"
After one round finished, the old man's gaze moved back to Fox, and everyone knew what that gaze meant.
Everyone had long realized this wasn't an OX game.
A revelation game disguised as an OX quiz.
That was the truth of this game, and since one round ended, the next question would surely become more intense.
"I'll say one last time. I respect your free will, so if you want to quit, just say so anytime."
Respecting free will…
Earlier it sounded ridiculous, but now those words carried a different weight.
He even kindly gave a taste.
No chance he could know my identity. As turns passed, the amount of information to be revealed in front of everyone would only increase.
"What happens if we quit here…?"
The Queen asked, and Auril Gavis answered immediately.
"Nothing at all. Ah, but since the game continues, you'll have to give up your seat. One spectator is enough."
"How certain is it that we can return home?"
"What would I have to say here for you to believe me? The only way to erase doubt is faith."
"If you gave some credible evidence or something—"
"If you don't trust me, the only thing you can do is leave here."
"…"
"What can you do?"
Though the speech was obviously like a scam, the Queen couldn't get up and leave right away.
Auril Gavis laughed at that.
"I knew you'd say that. In fact, this is the only way you can return home."
"…"
"Cheer up. In the end, just stay until the end and become the winner. Oh, or I can give you some time to go ask that friend whether you can do this or not. Like you always did when something happened—"
"Enough… continue."
The Queen interrupted irritably, and Auril Gavis cheerfully continued the OX quiz.
Thanks to everyone quietly holding their signs, one round took /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ about three minutes.
"The Fox mask once killed an innocent explorer to steal money."
"The Goblin mask once received a prophecy from Reatlas."
"The Wolf mask currently lives in District 7."
"The Queen mask is a noble."
"The Butterfly mask is a member of Orculus."
I don't know why only Fox's past story came up, but the second round ended in a flash.
And…
"…Hey, Master? I'll stop here!"
Butterfly declared quitting.
"I feel like my name will come out in the next round. Well, there's nothing I can't reveal… but it's kind of awkward, right? And I'm not even sure if they'll really send us home."
"I understand your judgment. Then would you give up your seat now?"
When asked to leave, Butterfly nodded casually, then gave us a quick cheerful farewell.
"See you all outside someday!"
Saying that with a look in her early twenties made her seem quite fresh.
But maybe because of the OX quiz, I learned that Butterfly belonged to Noark, a criminal group called Orculus.
'Why does her "see you outside" sound so unpleasant?'
But it didn't feel like just a mood thing.
I doubted that person was a normal human.
"I'll… stop here."
Anyway, Butterfly left quickly at the right moment, and then Fox also declared departure.
"Hmm, I didn't expect Miss Fox to make that choice. She was more desperate than anyone before."
"That's right… But after dying once and coming back, everything feels meaningless. My life now is precious enough."
Fox gave an honest answer, then bowed shortly toward Auril Gavis.
"Still, thank you for that time. Whatever your intentions, if you hadn't taken me then, I wouldn't be alive now."
"…Thanks. Even if it wasn't me, Miss Fox would have survived well."
"Then may I say goodbye before leaving?"
"Feel free."
Fox turned and made eye contact with each person.
Wolf, Goblin, Queen, and me.
"Somehow, the number of people got smaller like this. It's a shame. I never thought we'd part like this without a proper goodbye."
"…Indeed."
"But it's nice to see faces. It really feels like talking to people."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. At least to me. At first, I was a bit surprised. Whether we return home or not, I wish you all well wherever you are. I mean that."
The Queen was silent for a long time at the blessing.
Her thoughts were obvious. She probably wondered if there was some meaning behind those words.
Eventually, she must have realized there wasn't.
"…Thank you."
The Queen replied in a tiny voice, and Fox smiled briefly, ending the short conversation and shifting her gaze.
Wolf, who had a short connection, just glanced and passed.
Before Goblin, Fox fixed her gaze a moment.
But did she think it was okay to talk outside?
She left no special words for Goblin and looked at me.
"Actually… I wanted to say something to Seeker. Is that okay?"
Fox nodded briefly, as if to encourage me to speak, and cautiously opened her mouth.
"When life is too boring, why don't you take off your mask and make a new one?"
Uh…
"Then surely life here will become more fun."
Why was that premised on having no friends?
I didn't know, but I chuckled at what followed.
"I did that."
That was a little touching.
-x-X-x-
As Fox left, the already reduced number of people dwindled further.
Wolf, Goblin, Queen.
Now, only three participants remained in the game.
Auril Gavis murmured while looking at the empty round table.
"I've prepared diligently, so it's a bit disappointing. Only three left already."
It wasn't that he disliked the situation; it was more of a surprise.
Well, I could understand that feeling.
I myself found this development a bit unexpected.
'I didn't think the return tickets would be given up so easily.'
Losing anonymity and having your identity exposed?
In this world where evil spirits are subject to immediate execution, it's extremely dangerous. But if only one could return home, none of that would matter.
So I thought a chicken game would unfold.
But…
The Jester and the Black Mask left from the start, Butterfly quickly quit, and Fox gave up saying living in this world wasn't so bad.
They started leaving one after another even before the real game had begun…
"Then, you'll continue."
Just as Auril Gavis was about to resume the OX quiz, Goblin cautiously raised his hand.
"Um… I will quit here too…"
The third quitting declaration following Butterfly and Fox.
Auril Gavis clicked his tongue.
"Is that so? Then leave quickly."
"Aren't you going to ask me why…? I'm not complaining or anything… just curious…"
"…Alright, what's the reason? Did Fox's words change your mind?"
"Uh… well… I can't say it had no influence…"
"No influence?"
"I… don't quite know how to say it…"
"Enough, just say it."
Auril Gavis said irritably, and Goblin averted his gaze and muttered quietly.
"I have a bad feeling."
Hmm, Goblin's intuition is trustworthy.
I too thought that right away, but on the other hand, Auril Gavis seemed hardly worried.
"I see. Now that I know the reason, leave quickly. Ah, do you need time to say goodbye?"
"Oh, yes… just briefly…"
Goblin then spoke to everyone.
"I once heard from a friend at a language school that even brushing past someone's clothes is fate. If that's true, being dragged into this strange world and meeting while wearing masks is no ordinary fate. S-some of you might even know who I am."
A long prelude.
But the main point was very short.
"So, if you have to kill me, please spare me. Aren't we all players?"
What did he want to say?
"…Is that all?"
"Eh? Ah, yes… that's all I wanted to say."
"Then go."
"Ah… yes… then goodbye, everyone…"
As Goblin left, Queen and Wolf exchanged awkward looks.
Suddenly, only two remained for the finals…
'Is this the real endgame from now on?'
That thought came first, but the situation then moved in an unexpected direction.
"I'm quitting here too."
At those words, Auril Gavis showed genuine emotion for the first time.
"…What's your reason?"
His voice was angry, more than just displeased.
Well, it made sense. He seemed to have prepared something, but nothing was going well.
"The reason is simple. I don't trust you."
"Distrust, huh… I do have the ability to send you home."
"Yes. Maybe that's true. No, I think it's highly likely you have that ability. But still, I don't trust you."
Queen glanced at Wolf and added.
"That person is closely connected with you, isn't he?"
It seemed Queen was worried.
That she might be toyed with endlessly, exploited for her wish to go home.
"Even if he planned for that person to win in the end, I have no way to know. To decide the winner now, Wolf would have to quit, but I don't think Wolf would make that choice."
A very rational judgment.
But it clearly was influenced by seeing others quickly quitting.
"The greetings are done, so I'll be going now."
Queen left without a farewell, and so the OX quiz winner was decided anticlimactically.
"Uh… huh…?"
The winner with the sweet reward was Wolf Mask.
Wolf seemed dazed, as if it didn't sink in, but then snapped out of it and asked excitedly,
"Gavis, so… can I really go home now?"
Did he not get the mood?
I didn't know, but as a bystander, it was a great show.
"Of course. A promise is a promise."
"Th-thank you…! I really thank—"
"Now, would you please keep your mouth shut for a while?"
When it came to the OX quiz, he seemed full of excitement.
'He's mad, mad.'
A very rare spectacle.
"…"
"…"
When Wolf finally realized the mood and closed his mouth, a heavy silence settled.
Yet did he have courage even now?
"So… when… do I get the reward…?"
Wolf asked Auril Gavis again about the reward.
"I'll come to you when the time comes. So, wait outside for now."
His voice was deeply irritated.
Wolf didn't press further and bowed.
"…Yes. Then I'll wait outside, Gavis."
With Wolf gone, only two remained at the round table.
I, quietly watching, finally spoke.
"Will you really send us home?"
Since only two remained, the question carried the meaning of 'tell the truth.' But that sly old man wouldn't answer honestly.
"Hmm, what do you think?"
"Well, honestly, I don't think it will end well."
"You lack faith in me."
An utterly ridiculous remark.
Then maybe act trustworthy sometimes.
"Anyway, it's a pity. If we had played a few more rounds, you would have enjoyed watching."
"Enjoy watching? You have unique tastes."
"I won't deny it… but isn't that your place to say?"
Well, I couldn't deny it either.
What I did behind this mask wasn't much different from this old man's behavior.
I asked bluntly.
"So why did you do all this?"
Apologies for unmasking or anything like that were just excuses.
But I still didn't understand why he prepared this OX quiz game.
What on earth was the reason?
"Faith is no different from gambling. I hope you return this time as much as you risk."
"But?"
"Before talking with you, I wanted to show you something. But… now it's ridiculous to explain with words."
"You're good at saying 'it's a secret' for a long time."
"Heh, then maybe you're good at making everything simple and clear?"
Damn, an old man who won't say a word but expects others to talk.
The more I saw him, the more disgusting he was, but as someone raised in a Confucian country, I endured. We met after a long time; I couldn't waste this opportunity.
"Enough. I have a question."
"Question? Ask."
"How did you find out about me?"
It was a question I intended to ask when only the two of us were left.
Because it didn't feel like he was probing.
[Actually, isn't this place more or less something you made?]
That old man came into the round table today and said that the moment he saw me.
Simply put, he knew the Seeker mask was 'Nibels Enche' whom I met 20 years ago.
'Actually, from how he talks, it seems he even knows I am Bjorn Yandel.'
Anyway, before we start the real talk, I needed to check how much he knew…
"But you speak briefly sometimes and at other times at length?"
"Why, do you want me to call you 'sir' now?"
I smiled and asked, and ★ ★ Auril Gavis responded welcomingly.
"Uh… will you? Now that everyone left, I don't need to pretend to be a Seeker…"
Apparently, he was a bit uncomfortable with my blunt speech.
"Well, fine. Let's do that. It's not hard. So, what about the answer? Is it a secret too?"
"Ah, you asked how I found out about you? The answer is simple. I waited and waited for 20 years. There was so much information that it was easy to find out you were Bjorn Yandel."
Hmm, that made sense.
But here came a contradiction.
"But then, why didn't you recognize me immediately when we first met at the round table?"
"Well, from your perspective, we hadn't met yet. I judged it better to wait longer."
"And now is that time?"
"About right. Until now, I tried to avoid meeting you as much as possible… but there was one thing I wanted to confirm as soon as possible."
Ah, right, he said he came with questions for me.
"Then speak quickly. What do you want to know?"
Coolly asking as if he'd tell anything, the old man quickly took the chance and asked.
"You said you met a witch here at this round table, right?"
"Yes. And?"
"I want to hear the details of where and how you met the witch."
It felt like déjà vu.
The exact same question Wolf asked me earlier.
'Ah, since I didn't answer, he came in person?'
Hmm, that seemed reasonable.
That meant this information was important enough for him to revise his original plan.
Looking at it another way…
'So I'm the boss?'
Realizing that, I was already sitting back arrogantly with crossed legs.
A natural instinct of a K-Barbarian who senses an advantageous situation like a ghost.
"…"
Auril Gavis looked at my attitude change with suspicion but said nothing.
'Okay, so he'll just put up with this much.'
Tap tap.
My eyes caught the discarded OX signs that the old man had conjured with a single gesture.
'Come to think of it, he said he regained all authority?'
I smirked and 'asked' Auril Gavis.
"Excuse me, sir? I'm thirsty, could you make me a cider?"
"…?"
"With lots of ice, very refreshing."
-x-X-x-
The cider, filled with plenty of ice, enhanced the refreshing sensation.
After shaking the glass moderately to chill it well, I downed it in one gulp.
Because if the ice melts, the taste becomes bland, after all.
"Ahh…"
Yeah, this is it.
How much I had longed for this flavor.
This world was bearable in everything except for the lack of carbonated drinks.
At least I could find carbonation in beer, but even that felt very different from the modern kind.
'…Should I go back?'
A taste enough to sprout my almost lost will to return.
Ibaekho had to know this.
If instead of fussing about the Resurrection Stone or whatever, he had just made cider and let me drink it a few times, I might have seriously considered returning.
"Sir, another glass please."
After finishing one glass, I asked for a refill.
But this time, I didn't shotgun it; I sipped it slowly, savoring the taste.
"You… really look happy."
Damn, that made me feel embarrassed.
People like us tend to suddenly sour upon hearing such words, no matter how glad we were before.
"Well then, tell me. How did you meet her?"
"Ah, the witch, you mean?"
"Yes. I just can't understand it. No matter how I think, I don't see how you could have met her…"
Hmm.
"How can you be so sure, sir?"
I asked, narrowing my eyes, and Auril Gavis turned mute, rolling his eyes.
"..."
Honestly, it gave me chills.
What, was he really watching my every move?
By what method?
While pondering, the old man skillfully evaded.
"Well, you didn't meet on Basement Floor 1, did you? And at that time, you were very busy, I recall. Tribe affairs, the Magic Tower, and even catching the Hierarch twice at that time."
Well, it was true I was busy.
I was swamped with work and even sued by Count Alminus, so my mind was scattered.
Still, his words didn't sound like excuses.
"You've already finished it. Give me your glass. I'll pour another."
As soon as the glass was empty, Auril Gavis quickly took it and refilled it.
I hate to say it, but in some ways, he was a consistent old man.
Like a ghost switching between master and servant depending on the situation.
"Sir, no matter what, I can't just give you information for free. I need to get something in return."
I drew a clear line, and Auril Gavis, ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) now unmasked with only the two of us left, bristled.
"For free! What do you mean? Didn't I even give you cider?"
"Yes, thank you for that."
"People really do appreciate kindness—"
Whoa, that's crossing the line.
"If everything ended with just cider, why do money and magic stones even exist? Just pouring a glass of cider and it's over?"
When I openly mocked him, Auril Gavis's expression stiffened.
"You always have the talent to make people uncomfortable."
Laughing like a neighborly old man one moment, then turning serious the next gave a heavy pressure.
But so what?
I'd experienced this situation more than once. I was getting a handle on this old man.
"Don't pretend to be angry. It won't work anyway."
When I shrugged it off casually, Auril Gavis returned to his usual expression like nothing had happened.
"Heh, you're really stubborn too. So tell me… what do you want from me?"
You can only offer a wild horse a carrot, not a whip.
"You must want something, so you're acting like this?"
Honestly, I didn't have a definite desire.
More precisely, I had too many questions and didn't know which to pick.
So I had to prioritize…
'Asking what he's scheming is too broad.'
After thinking, I settled on a more specific question.
"Why do you want to shut down Ghost Busters?"
A question about his most recent action.
"Hmm, can I just answer? There's no gem here to hide the truth."
It sounded like he'd make a gem if I wished right now, but I declined.
"Just go ahead. Even if there was, it wouldn't mean 100% trust anyway."
"So you want me to judge truth or lie."
"Yes. So answer carefully. If you lie and get caught, it's your loss."
"Loss?"
"You'll never trust me again, whatever I say."
It may sound childish, but this threat seemed effective this time. This old man wanted to control me like a puppet.
I had to maintain a good relationship somehow…
"Hmm…"
But why was he staring at me with such a perverted look instead of answering?
"Why? Got something to say?"
"No."
"Not really? You almost said something, didn't you?"
When I looked at him as if to say 'stop messing around,' Auril Gavis reluctantly spoke.
"I just found your attitude toward trust… somewhat impressive."
"…?"
"Really."
Like nonsense about chewing straw while hanging from a roof in your sleep.
When I stared at him like that, the old man continued.
"If someone betrays you, there will be punishment. That's what trust means to you."
Isn't that the same for everyone?
If betrayed, do you just laugh it off?
Though I thought that secretly, I endured and listened.
"The stricter the law, the less people dare sin. Likewise, your trust requires means of punishment to be valid—"
Ah, I really can't take this.
He made it sound like I was a pathological doubter who can't trust others unless he's superior.
I bluntly asked,
"Sir, is something wrong with your head? How on earth do you interpret what I said that way?"
"Hmm…"
"Think about what you yourself did first. What do I have to see to believe?"
"Then you think it's different with your comrades?"
Of course.
…I was about to say that but suddenly couldn't.
I remembered what the old man just said.
[If someone betrays you, there will be punishment.]
Punishment.
Maybe one of the things I did to Misha was such a thing?
I don't know, but that's enough on this topic.
"…Enough, just answer the question. Why do you want to close this place?"
"If I answer, will you answer too?"
At the old man's question, I answered without hesitation.
"If I think it's worth hearing first."
Which meant I was ready to run anytime.
An ambiguous answer instead of a firm one.
Auril Gavis must have clearly understood the meaning behind it.
But…
"Good. Then listen and decide."
For some reason, the old man accepted my offer silently.
"As expected, sir, you're straightforward today as well?"
"…Stop flipping attitudes so quickly. It makes you look like a spoiled child."
"Just my imagination. Just my imagination."
"…"
"So, the answer?"
Smiling softly, I asked, and Auril Gavis sighed deeply and answered.
"The reason to close Ghost Busters is simple. It's not working well for players now. It's different from my intention."
"Not working well?"
"This place is like a sanctuary for players. They share hometown stories, and ease loneliness with others in similar situations."
"Then why is it having a bad effect?"
"That's the problem. People satisfied with the present eventually settle."
"Ah…"
I understood what he meant.
You could see that atmosphere quickly just by looking at the free board.
You could easily find posts about housing prices, marriages, even having children.
"The same with those friends earlier. A few years ago, they wouldn't have missed such an opportunity."
This old man thought the futile end of the OX quiz was rooted in that psychology.
Not wrong.
"So you want to destroy it? Because if this runs, people won't think of returning home?"
"You could say roughly that."
Roughly, huh…
Clearly, he left much unsaid.
"Well, how about it? Is that enough?"
"No. If there was some big secret, I'd understand, but I conclude that trading it for the witch's info is too low value."
Simply put, he intended to run away with the loot.
Surprisingly, Auril Gavis's expression was calm.
As if he didn't lose even if the conversation ended there.
Was he pretending calm to keep control?
I was the first to speak again.
I couldn't part without some gain from this meeting.
"So then…"
"…"
"Can't you just leave the community alone? Then I'll give you the witch's info."
I didn't say it to protect the community.
I was just curious about Auril Gavis's reaction to the offer—
"That's impossible."
Yes, a refusal.
Meaning shutting down the community had higher priority than hearing the witch's info.
Why would that be?
It didn't seem to be just because players had lost spirit.
"Then today's talk ends here."
"Yes. You wouldn't answer even if I asked in detail anyway."
"Heh, you need to trust people a bit."
"I do. People worth trusting."
With that soulless reply, the conversation slowly wound down.
"I should be going. One last thing to do before closure. See you next time."
"Yes. I don't know when, but next time please tell everything honestly."
"That's odd. I can tell you everything right now, if you're ready to believe me."
That was a big lie fully grown into his mouth.
When I gave a dry laugh, Auril Gavis smiled like he expected it.
And then…
"I don't know if you'll believe me, but one last piece of advice."
"Advice? I'll listen. Go ahead."
"Ibaekho."
"Ibaekho…?"
"Don't get too close to that friend."
It was a non sequitur, but I had no reply.
"That's all my advice. See you later."
With that, Auril Gavis left the round table, and I, who had been watching vacantly, slowly collected my thoughts.
A case suddenly occurred to me.
'Ibaekho…'
Maybe…
Not yet sure, but maybe.
Could Auril Gavis's reason for shutting down the community be this guy?
Like burning the straw hut to catch fleas. If this community disappears, the way to communicate with Ibaekho would be blocked for me too.
Well, in the end, it was just speculation.
"Damn old man. Why the hell does he never say anything straightforward until the end?"
My sigh echoed hollowly in the hall.
"..."
An inexplicable silence.
The empty seats, the round table's symbol—the gem—were all gone.
'I really feel like it's over.'
I thought to leave and get to work but hesitated.
It didn't feel real.
The Deer Antlers and Crescent Moon left in the first round; then Auril Gavis appeared and one by one people left the gathering.
Tap.
I picked up the Seeker mask I'd taken off while drinking cider earlier and put it on my head. Probably the last time wearing this mask.
I had some affection for it.
"Is this really the end…?"
Hard to say, but somehow it felt hollow.
I never imagined a friendly atmosphere like a graduation ceremony, but I never thought it would end like this.
Maybe that's why?
[Can't say thank you.]
[Do you really think this kind of thing is fun? You?]
For some reason, those two last words kept ringing in my ears.
But I shook my head and brushed off the thoughts.
'What a pity party. We never gathered here to make friends anyway.'
I chuckled and took off the mask, placing it on the round table, then glanced around the empty table.
"…Boring."
And so the last gathering ended.
Back in Lee Hansu's room after watching the round table's end.
After lying on the bed for a while, I snapped back to focus and sat in front of my computer to check my inbox.
'There is at least one message…'
Contrary to expectation, it wasn't a message from the awaited GM.
[Sender: HS123]
HS123.
That is, Hyunbyeol sent the message.
Well, we couldn't properly say goodbye earlier because of Ibaekho.
So what was written in the message?
Click click.
I opened it, and the contents unfolded.
[When we said to reveal our identities before, I know you drew the line first. But now I want to do what I want. The admins might secretly spy, so I can't say much about my identity here.]
The bottom line was one last sentence.
[See you outside.]
Outside, huh…
First, I need to escape the labyrinth quickly.
-x-X-x-
Ghost Busters.
A space created over 20 years ago that became a refuge for countless users nostalgic for the past.
The end of that space came suddenly, even until the very last moment.
[Urgent Notice] The server will be shut down soon.
[If forcibly disconnected, unforeseen problems may occur, so all logged-in users are advised to log out promptly.]
About five minutes after receiving Hyunbyeol's message, this notification popped up.
After pressing the refresh button, the bulletin board, already radiating an apocalyptic atmosphere, went into chaos.
Posts ranged from "Why is this happening so soon when there's still plenty of time before the community closes?" to messages searching for someone, and even mindless spam posts rarely seen during normal management.
[Guys, urgent. Please respond.]
[Guys, urgent. Please respond.]
[Guys, urgent. Please respond.]
[Guys, urgent. Please respond.]
[Guys, urgent. Please respond.]
[Guys, urgent. Please respond.]
Curious about what was so pressing, I clicked—and unsurprisingly, it was nothing significant.
[What happens if you don't log out and just wait?]
Ugh, I figured as much.
Still, since I was secretly curious myself, I checked the comments on the post.
[these99: What do you think? You'll just be logged out.]
[└Author: Really? Then I'll just wait until it disconnects me automatically before logging out.]
[└fliccolo: Didn't you see the part about "possible issues"? Just quietly log out yourself. If you mess up, you might end up an idiot for life.]
Quite a chilling statement.
That you'd become an idiot if you failed to log out on time…
I wondered if it could really happen, but given the uniqueness of this place, I couldn't completely rule out the possibility.
"The wording 'possible issues' left by the GM himself also bothers me a bit."
Even without that, there was no reason to stick around till the end, so after reading through some posts on the bulletin board one last time, I clicked the logout button.
[Are you sure you want to log out?]
The choice window divided between "Yes" and "No" brought back memories of when I first entered this world.
Click, click.
As I pressed "Yes," my vision darkened to black, and a sensation as if being sucked into somewhere blossomed.
It was time to return.
No longer the mysterious absolute investigator Maske, nor the ordinary office worker Lee Hansu.
But Bjorn Yandel.
Come to think of it, since when had it started?
Every time I came back from the community, Amelia was always there.
No matter how many times I told her it wasn't necessary, she'd secretly come, so I gave up trying to stop her.
Honestly, I wasn't ungrateful…
"You said you were just going to sleep earlier? Now you're even lying?"
"I was planning to."
"But?"
"I couldn't sleep."
Couldn't sleep indeed.
When I smirked, Amelia continued as if making an excuse.
"…And you never know what might happen inside the labyrinth."
Well, she wasn't wrong.
As I sat up, Amelia handed me a cup of water and asked again.
"So, what exactly happened inside?"
I quenched my dry throat with cold water and told her the details of what happened.
The announcement that the community would be closed right after logging in.
And the closure information obtained from the roundtable.
"Hmm, so Auril Gavis was involved in the closure…"
"The official reason is to prevent evil spirits from growing complacent, but that can't be the real reason. What about you? Do you suspect something?"
"Not really… If something comes to mind later, I'll tell you immediately."
Hmm, I guess she didn't suspect anything either.
Well, she hadn't met Auril Gavis properly anyway, so that was to be expected.
At that moment, Amelia changed her tone and stared at me.
"So, Yandel, what else happened inside?"
"…Huh?"
"You wouldn't have that expression just because of that."
"What expression…?"
When I tilted my head, Amelia cautiously spoke.
"I might be mistaken, but…"
"No need to beat around the bush, just say it plainly."
"You look like you're in pain."
Ah…
"Did something else happen inside?"
Ha, I really can't hide anything in front of her.
What should I do? Should I say it or not?
After a moment of hesitation, I finally told her everything honestly.
It wasn't something to hide anyway.
…And it felt a bit awkward to lie in front of someone with such wide eyes.
"I see… So that's what happened inside."
It didn't take long for her to finish listening.
I had excluded my personal views and strictly laid out the events in chronological order.
But Amelia seemed to immediately grasp what was bothering me.
No, maybe she knew better than I did.
She then said,
"You're struggling with whether you have the right to be angry at Misha Kalstein."
Amelia summed up my psychological state, which even I hadn't fully understood, in one short sentence.
It felt like I was completely exposed and naked.
Maybe that's why I unwittingly defended myself.
"It's not that simple. It's not just Misha but a complex issue involving everyone—"
"But the core of the problem is Misha Kalstein."
"..."
"Am I wrong?"
…I had no response.
So I just closed my mouth, and Amelia calmly asked,
"Can you tell me what happened that day?"
There was no need for clarifying which day she meant.
That was the day I said nothing happened.
Because that was when Misha started isolating herself, refusing to talk to anyone, hiding in a corner alone.
'…Where should I even begin?'
After a short pause, I started explaining from the beginning.
"Do you know about the Resurrection Stone?"
To explain what happened with Misha, I first had to explain this.
I hadn't told anyone the full story yet.
"To some extent."
"Misha Kalstein received the Resurrection Stone from Ibaekho before returning to our clan. When I found out, I questioned her about it."
"And?"
"I asked if she knew that using the Resurrection Stone causes the target to lose all memories of their previous life, and she said she didn't know. So I told her I understood and told her to leave."
"So… what happened after that?"
I sighed as I answered.
"Misha didn't leave. I asked her to say something, even if angry. So I just spoke honestly."
"..."
"I can't trust you… Even after hearing what you said today, my first thought was whether you're hiding something."
After those words, silence settled between us for a while.
"…And?"
"That's all."
Misha left the room without a word, and since then, we haven't had a proper conversation.
That is the whole story.
"I see."
After hearing everything, Amelia was silent for a long time, seemingly organizing her thoughts, then unexpectedly asked,
"Why did you hide the story about Misha Kalstein from us?"
Well… I don't know. Why?
Why hadn't I told Amelia about the Resurrection Stone either?
I wanted to dodge the question, but I actually knew the answer.
"…Because Misha would become isolated."
Misha's position in our clan was already precarious.
Elwen looked at Misha with disapproval, and Versil was openly watching her as a candidate for betrayal.
Even socially withdrawn for over two years, Misha couldn't get along with Ainard, her former comrade, and was alienated.
If the fact that she received orders from Ibaekho came out here, it was obvious what would happen.
'She'd be even more isolated.'
Maybe it would even end with her leaving on her own.
But that made me feel even more foolish.
'What exactly do I want?'
At the moment when it became increasingly difficult to understand my own state, Amelia finally nodded as if understanding.
"So that's why you couldn't use 'Broken Trust' on Misha Kalstein."
"..."
"You must have thought she was hiding more."
That was the point.
It was a paradoxical story, but because I didn't trust Misha, I couldn't use that item.
Like Schrödinger's cat.
Once you open the box, the result is already determined, and there's no going back.
So for now, I left the box unopened.
Seeing my pathetic self, Amelia said,
"That's so like you."
It sounded like a reproach, but Amelia's gaze was gentle.
"Bjorn Yandel. At dawn, take the 'Broken Trust' and ask Kalstein if she's hiding anything else. If she says no, treat her as a comrade like before."
"And if she is hiding more from me?"
"Well, then you'll have to reconsider."
"That's… a bit irresponsible advice, isn't it?"
"But you know you can't keep postponing it forever."
Well, she was right.
Sighing in frustration, Amelia comforted me,
"Even ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) if you don't want to, do what you have to."
"..."
"Bjorn Yandel. Be yourself."
Be myself…
What kind of person did she think Bjorn Yandel was?
That question suddenly came to mind, along with thoughts about how I saw her.
"…Why do you see me that way?"
"Just because you seem more mature than usual?"
A sincere answer without any filtering.
"Ugh…?"
For some reason, Amelia flinched as if struck in the solar plexus.
Then she looked at me for a moment and sighed.
"Take it as a compliment."
Huh… could that be interpreted otherwise?
The next morning, after a good night's sleep,
I immediately went to the chief and received the 'Broken Trust' to use on Misha.
But I hesitated.
'Is this really the right thing to do…?'
Not because I was worried about what Misha might be hiding, but because using such an item on a comrade felt very uncomfortable.
If I get past this with this item, then what next?
Would I start relying on 'Broken Trust' every time I felt suspicious?
And would such a relationship still be called camaraderie?
That was the fundamental doubt.
But…
'This is the last time I'll use it.'
No matter what happens later, once I decided that, my hesitation lessened a bit.
Yeah, so…
Knock knock.
After standing dazed for a long while, I knocked on the door.
No response. She didn't seem to be sleeping.
"I'm here, Misha. Let's talk for a moment."
Knocking again and calling out, soon I heard movement inside.
"Huh? B-Bjorn? W-Wait a moment…"
The door finally opened nearly five minutes later.
"What… is it…? So early…?"
Unlike the stories about being a shut-in, she looked much cleaner than expected. She was probably in the middle of washing, water still lingering in her hair.
"Can I come in for a moment?"
"Um… it's a little messy…"
"That's fine."
I stepped inside through the slightly opened door.
Then I took out the Broken Trust right away.
"That is…"
Misha's expression, recognizing the item instantly, was mixed with many emotions.
It looked like relief, happiness, disappointment, and fear all at once.
Because of that, she couldn't easily speak.
But I forced my voice out.
"Before we talk, I want to turn this on. Can you allow that?"
After a short pause, her answer came back.
Not exactly an answer, but a question in return.
"If I turn it on and answer everything…"
"..."
"…Then I can go back? Like before?"
Before I could answer, that question arose.
When did she want to go back?
Was it the time when we understood each other's hearts, or just a simple comrade relationship?
Well, it was probably the latter.
Because it was clearly Misha who drew the line and pushed me away.
"Maybe."
I gave an ambiguous affirmative answer.
With one condition: that Misha truly had nothing more to hide.
Then maybe we could really go back.
Back to a time without the headache of these worries.
"Then… okay."
After Misha nodded tightly, clenching her fist, I began the real questions.
「The character has used [Broken Trust].」
I always feel the name is really well chosen.