Extra chapter thanks to Yanfry for the donation
Clown wasn't the only one who believed me.
«So Auril Gavis is our enemy...» Zorra, once a devoted follower of the Master, murmured grimly to herself.
Deer also nodded his head. «That doesn't surprise me. That man has as many secrets as the royal family. It would be stranger if he didn't have a hidden dark side».
Queen, who had researched Auril Gavis the most of all of us, also did not refute my claim. «The enemy of the players... I will take it into account». His response may have seemed almost carefree, but it was obvious that he was going to run and tell the GM as soon as the Round Table was over.
Wolf, who was the first to mention Auril Gavis, was stunned by the reactions of the other members. I couldn't understand what was happening. «...Am I the weird one here? Why do you believe his word so easily? Maybe the Master has really done something wrong, but isn't Mr. León's statement too subjective?»
Since it was his first time back in a long time, Wolf didn't have much influence over the others. As such, he tried to make a hole in my statement, but unfortunately for him, his attempt did not work in his favor.
«Um, but can't the same be said for your turn, Wolf?»
Wolf's argument that my comment was biased could also turn against him.
«But isn't that why you all asked me to give you more details and tell you my source? Mr. León did not provide any of that, but you instantly believed him...» A hint of indignation crept into his tone. «I mean, I could say here and now that Auril Gavis is not our enemy, and the green light would turn on again. So why do you automatically believe him before me?».
His half-rant was quickly interrupted before he could accumulate steam.
«Isn't it obvious? Pshehe, of course we would believe Mr. Leon before you. He is much more trustworthy than a little shrimp that I barely remember suddenly crawling off any rock that has been low for years«.
Wolf was speechless at the immediate answer to his question.
Noticing the dazed expression on his face, Queen decided to help him. «But you can never know for sure. If you can provide us with evidence, then we will naturally come to see things from your perspective».
It was clear that Queen was just trying to get more information out of Wolf about Auril Gavis, which made sense. Wolf was obviously something of a follower of his, so he was bound to know more.
«Try... I understand». Now believing he had a fighting chance to prove him right, Wolf finally calmed down as the second round began. «Since I started the first round, how about this time we go the other way around?»
«Pshehe, you must be very confident?»
«I just thought it would be fairer to do it this way».
«Well, I don't care. Mr. Lion might even find it more interesting this way...» Clown said, staring at me. To be honest, I had no idea why this guy liked me so much. I was never nice to him and even intimidated and made fun of him whenever I had the chance.
«Then I'll go first. I'm actually not sure about this, which is why I haven't taken it out before, but... for some reason, this seems to be the main topic of this month's meeting, so it fits the theme. Pshehe».
Clown made an unusually long introduction before getting to the point.
«Are you not curious? Who was the old man who mass teleported over ten thousand people from Noark to the outside world? I think that old man was Auril Gavis».
That made sense. It had happened years ago, but the mention of the incident still piqued my curiosity. However, that didn't mean that anything Clown had just said was true: it was just something he believed.
Shaaaaaa.
The jewel turned green and no one objected. Only Queen asked a complementary question.
«Why don't you at least tell us why you think that's the case?».
«Pshehe, is it really necessary? You already know who I am. Isn't that enough to trust my opinion?».
«Well... we'll let it go this time».
Was it because there were new people this month? Queen would normally have barricaded herself and confronted Clown, but this time she calmly let him pass.
«Hehe... You must be an amazing person, Mr. Clown».
«Although I'm still a long way from being as cool as Mr. Lion, pshehe...». That's what he said, anyway, but judging by his expression, he was delighted with the comment.
Had he said something vague on purpose to look good?
I shook my thoughts. Even if it was, it didn't matter.
«Now Butterfly, it's your turn. I'm looking forward to it. Pshehe.»
«Hey... I feel like my turn came too soon this time». Butterfly tilted her head, thinking about what to share. After a minute, he finally opened his mouth. «There is a portal under the palace».
Damn. It was information I had been saving for a rainy day, but to think she took it from me and...
«Two of them, in fact.»
Hey? Two of them?
Shaaaaaa...
As soon as the jewel lit up green, the other members began to pepper it with questions.
«A portal? Does that mean the royal family can enter the labyrinth whenever they want?»
«Hehe who knows? What could it be used for? Anyway, that means it happened, right?».
Butterfly ignored all questions as her turn came to an end. Next was Queen.
«Recently...»
«With politics again? That's not fun...»
Queen was immediately interrupted by Butterfly's boo. After a brief pause, Queen ignored her and continued. Somehow, however, I instinctively had the feeling that he ended up changing what he was going to say thanks to Butterfly's complaints.
«As for the information that the royal family can purposely cause a dimensional collapse, it has actually happened before. In fact, the most recent dimensional collapse was his doing».
«...Hehe, ¿es así?»
It seemed like Butterfly already knew that. Instead of being surprised, she seemed more agitated, looking at Queen in a way that seemed to ask: «Who does this chick think she is?».
I guess Queen ended up accepting Butterfly's freedom letter.
«The other way to return to Earth apart from opening the Gate of the Abyss is dimensional magic». The information Black shared this turn was an extension of what he had previously provided, but no one had any complaints. However, apparently dissatisfied with that, she added something else. «Auril Gavis was able to travel to Earth using that method».
Another wave of astonishment swept through the members.
«I'm very curious to know your identity, Miss Black».
It seemed like everyone was becoming more and more interested in who this black masked woman was. The round continued with Deer, Crescent, Goblin and Fox saying their thing. They all provided decent information about events in the world rather than any secrets that shook the earth.
«...Pshehe, the time has finally come.»
Now it was Wolf's turn. Everyone looked at him, curious to know what his test would be. Wolf was going to say something to defend his claim that Auril Gavis was not the enemy of all players. So once the jewel turned green, the ball would be in my court and I would have to refute his argument. In a way, we were engaged in a kind of one-on-one duel...
«I have met the king before, and was able to learn the secrets of this world.»
Huh. I did not expect it. Even I, a new noble, had not yet had the opportunity to meet the king.
«...When did you meet the king?»
«I'll just say it was last year.» Perhaps because he was trying to convince us of his credibility, he responded generously to the follow-up question.
«It's quite interesting information you've shared, but does it really count as proof? The Secrets of This World» is too vague and lackluster», said Queen, who was quick to refute his claim. However, it was not the first time he had tried to incite Wolf, and it was obvious that he was getting too excited and trying to get all the information he had out of him.
The other members also seemed to notice what he was doing, but none of them bothered to intervene. After all, we all thought the same thing. None of us would argue to get more answers.
«I don't think I can say much more without first knowing who all of you are, but let me clarify one thing». Wolf rejected his request for clarification, adding: «Auril Gavis is not the enemy of the players. In any case, he could be the best person to help us».
The jewel emitted a green light as its turn came to an end.
Now that it was my turn, everyone's eyes turned to me.
Meeting the king... that is definitely convincing.
Perhaps because Wolf had mentioned such an important figure, all the members who had returned and who fully trusted me now seemed to waver in their faith. Wolf himself had been watching me for sure from the moment he named the king. This was the perfect time to show these newcomers exactly where I was in the food chain.
Tap, tap.
Wolf may have mentioned the king, but he wasn't going to scare me. So, as if this were the moment I had been waiting for, I spoke.
«The Witch of the Earth, Elise Groundia...»
She had disappeared immediately after telling me not to open the Gate of the Abyss, and she definitely didn't say anything about Auril Gavis being the players' enemy. However, in this situation, none of that mattered.
«I've met her before».
They could interpret that however they wanted. It wasn't like he had said something false.
Elise Groundia the Witch of the Earth was the mythical being who had led this world to ruin.
As soon as I said his name, everyone was speechless, including Wolf. He had mentioned in a previous Round Table that the Earth Witch was alive, but meeting her was something else entirely.
«The Witch of the Earth...»
«Pshehe... You always exceed my expectations, Mr. León. I can't believe I doubted you for even a second. There's no way you're wrong».
Not only Clown felt embarrassed for doubting me. I realized that everyone present had fallen into my trap, immediately turning to my side. But that was a fact. It might have been different if Wolf was a friend of the Immortal King who had ruled for thousands of years, but the current king had only been ruling for just over two hundred years. Not only that, but he had disappeared from the public scene due to health problems. Compared to the Earth Witch, the king's name meant nothing.
There is also value in the fact that I was the one who said it.
I had been building a reputation among the regular group for some time. A little shrimp that had faded from public consciousness after being missing for years had no chance against me.
«...Hehe. I guess it's already decided who we're going to trust in this».
«But there is also a possibility that Mr. Lion is being deceived by Earth-»
«What are you saying? The same could be said for you too, Mr. Wolf. And if one of you were deceived, it would most likely be you».
«...What do you mean?»
«He he. I don't know you both that well, but I can still say that you are much more gullible...» Butterfly laughed inwardly as she mercilessly wet Wolf.
In the end, Wolf seemed to realize that it would be difficult for him to change anyone's mind at this point.
«Haha, I guess I should go for today, then. It has been a pleasure to see you again. And it was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. León, Mrs. Negra and Mrs. Mariposa. I'll see you again next time».
Wolf left the Round Table after deciding not to participate in the third round.
Look how naturally he was able to leave.
Still, the fact that he said we would see each other next time meant he would come back in the future.
Now that someone had left, the Round Table felt emptier. There was a strange silence in the air as we all looked at each other. Sensing that nothing more important would be shared today, I decided that I should leave too.
«¡Oh...! ¿You copper?»
«Until next time».
Quickly abandon la Mesa Redonda.
***
Moonlight flooded the bedroom through a large window, and beneath its rays was a woman whose voice trembled with barely suppressed emotion. How could I not do it? I had just heard a creepy story from the uninvited guest who had come to see her in the middle of the night.
«That? Is he... alive...? Is Bjorn alive...?» His mind went blank as rage overwhelmed his senses, heat in his chest boiling. «You... are a heartless bastard».
However, Baekho Lee simply let out a shy laugh at his anger. «Oddly enough, this is the second time I've heard that today».
«...Get out of here. If you play a joke like this on me again, I'm serious...»
«Missha Karlstein.»
He said his full name, which he had never done before.
Missha shuddered and fell silent in surprise, and Baekho's voice lost its playful tone as she continued. «I'm not kidding. Bjorn Yandel is alive».
«...Where is your evidence?».
«Everyone already knows it. If you walk around the city for a while, you will surely hear people talking about it».
Baekho briefly recounted what Bjorn Yandel had been up to lately. As she progressed, Missha realized that she was telling the truth.
«Is Bjorn... alive...?» All kinds of emotions began to bubble inside her. I was happy, sad, confused, angry. «...Bastard.»
«Yeah, what's wrong with that guy, am I right? How could he let all his teammates think he was dead only to return years later working under royalty...?»
«Not him, you. You must have known this for a long time, but are you telling me now?».
«Oh... sorry. I've been trying to make sense of this too. But you know, I told you to stop locking yourself in your room and go for a walk... What an unpleasant look of yours, damn it.»
Missha did not deign to acknowledge Baekho Lee's mockery.
For a moment, an awkward silence filled the room. Finally, Baekho opened his mouth to ask: «Are you going back to him?».
«Of course. What was the reason I joined you in the first place?»
«It was to use the Renaissance Stone to save Bjorn Yandel».
«Exactly, so go. I need to pack my things. I'll be out of here at dawn».
«Hmmm, well. If you say so...»
Missha was confused by the strange way he was prolonging this conversation. «...If there is anything you want to say, go ahead and say it». She had a strangely sinister feeling about this, and it was strange that her instincts were wrong.
«No, it's nothing». Baekho smiled. «I was just wondering if you could do me a favor».
He smiled exactly the same as when he visited her that fateful day.