Surviving The Game As A Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 470

Fox, Goblin, Clown, Queen, Deer Horn, Crescent Moon.

And with me, a total of seven people. New masks had joined the assembly that had been maintained for so long.

“Oh, are you the Lion? Nice to meet you!” A wolf mask spoke with a sly voice.

“…….” A black mask with no particular features remained silent.

“Hellooo…….” Lastly, a butterfly mask with a youthful voice greeted me.

As I looked around, Fox, sensing my gaze, explained the situation.

“The Wolf here was active before the Lion came.”

“Haha! After the Master disappeared, I was busy and forgot about it, but then I remembered and came back.”

“Tsk, I thought you were dead? You managed to survive?”

“Euhah! Clown, your sharp tongue is as sharp as ever!”

Okay, so the Wolf is a returning member.

I glanced at Fox, and he spoke about the other two.

“These two… I’m meeting them for the first time today too.”

Okay, so the Black Mask and Butterfly are newbies.

Since it’s Fox, who has the longest Round Table experience, it’s safe to assume he’s correct.

The problem is something else though.

‘Newbies at this time……’

It’s definitely suspicious.

After all, the last newbie was the Queen, who became a member without an invitation with the help of the GM [Game Master, the administrator of the game or system].

In fact, there hadn’t been a new member who entered the Round Table after being invited by the ‘Master’ for several years.

“Anyway, since we’ve met like this, let’s greet each other! I’ve already done it with that Queen over there… Huh?”

The Wolf’s hand, extended as if to shake hands, was ignored as I went to my seat and sat down.

“Haha… Right! Greetings aren’t that important!”

The Wolf, looking awkward, returned to his seat and sat down.

“…….” The Black Mask was still sitting in place, not showing much interest in what was happening.

“……E, ahem…….” The Butterfly Mask made an awkward cough and avoided my gaze when our eyes met.

And……

Thud-!

The Round Table door closed, signaling that the entry time was up, and a strange silence fell. Well, the existing members must have been just as bewildered by the sudden appearance of new members.

Gulp.

The sound of the Goblin swallowing was unusually loud in the room.

“Well… now that the Lion is here, how about we continue the conversation we were having earlier?”

In the end, the Queen, who had been watching the situation, spoke first.

“I understand the Wolf, but I’m curious how the other two got here. Butterfly, and um… what should we call you?”

At the Queen’s words, trying to sort out the titles, the Black Mask answered quietly.

“……Black.”

It was a low tone, so it was a bit confusing, but it was a woman’s voice.

“Black… okay. So, how did Black and Butterfly get here? Did you perhaps meet someone called ‘Master’?”

“Ehet…….” At the Queen’s question, the Butterfly Mask laughed awkwardly, while the Black Mask spoke in a cold voice.

“Why do I have to answer that question?”

When the Black Mask took the lead, the Butterfly Mask next to her also chimed in.

“Yes, Black is right. Asking about each other’s identities goes against the rules here… wouldn’t you say? Heh.”

The Butterfly, smiling and saying what she wanted to say, didn’t even stop there.

“Just because you wear a Queen mask doesn’t mean you’re a real queen, you know. Hehet.”

“………What did you say?”

“Huh? Nothing!”

The Queen, speechless at the innocent voice, trembled.

It was a very impressive scene.

‘Wow…… She’s not as easy as she seemed at first glance.’

But were the other people also getting the same first impression?

Suddenly, the Clown started to laugh out loud.

“Haha! Puahahah! Ah, excuse me… this is a fun person who just joined!”

“Thank youoo…….”

“Pshshsh.”

“Hehet…….”

It seemed that these two were quite compatible.

Well, is there something that connects people who smile like that? It was a world I didn’t want to understand.

“If I may give you a piece of advice, you only need to be careful with your words to that Lion over there.”

“Hee… is that so?”

“You’re not asking why?”

“Well… it’s obvious that you shouldn’t mess with him, right……?”

The Butterfly Mask said, glancing at the Queen.

For some reason, I could almost hear the unspoken words.

For example, ‘Unlike that person.’

“……Ha!”

The Queen, who seemed to have interpreted it similarly to me, snorted as if she was dumbfounded.

Of course, the Butterfly Mask didn’t care.

“So when are we starting……? I was really looking forward to today…….”

At those words, which seemed to urge the start of the assembly, the gazes of the existing members turned to me.

They were checking my intentions first.

They were asking if I was okay with the participation of the unidentified newbies in the assembly.

Of course, the answer I would give was already decided.

It’s not like I have the authority to kick them out anyway.

“It will be interesting.”

I’m actually curious too.

“Hahahat, it feels like I’m getting excited because it’s been a while.”

“…….”

“Heh… then who should go first? It’s a bit burdensome to go first…….”

Who the heck are these people?

***

The Wolf, a returning user.

The Black Mask, who seems to have many secrets.

The Butterfly, a chatterbox.

All three of these members I met today have several suspicious points.

Of course, compared to the unidentified Black Mask and Butterfly, the Wolf, who is a former member, is somewhat better, but…….

‘The fact that he’s returning after several years is suspicious.’

Today’s return doesn’t seem like a simple coincidence.

That’s because, despite returning after several years, he doesn’t seem particularly interested in the Master’s whereabouts, does he?

Just like this.

“By the way, Wolf, you said you came back after a long time, but you haven’t asked anything about the Master?”

The Queen, who seemed to be thinking similarly, asked the Wolf instead of me.

“Haha, I’m sure he’s doing well wherever he is?”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“…Rather than that, how about we decide the order first? Ah, for reference, I don’t mind as long as I’m not first.”

Ha, why is he so suspicious?

No matter how I look at it, it seems like Auriel Gavis, that old man who used to be the Master of the Round Table, sent someone to try something.

At least one of the three, if not all of them.

‘The most likely ones are the Black Mask and Butterfly.’

First of all, there are very few routes for new members now.

Either enter with the GM’s authority like the Queen, or enter with an invitation code that was given out a long time ago like me.

In fact, these are the only two options, and Auriel Gavis, who was the Master of the Round Table, should still have several codes.

‘There’s also the possibility that the Queen secretly brought in her own people and is pretending not to know.’

Everything is just a possibility for now.

That’s why…….

“How about we just go with the Wolf next to the Lion, as per tradition? Pshsh.”

I should watch them for now.

Until they make a mistake and reveal a clue.

“Tradition? What are you talking about? There was no such thing before—.”

“Wolf, things have changed a lot while you were gone. Well, if you don’t like it, you can just leave?”

The Wolf showed a troubled expression at the Clown’s strong wording.

“Keuheum…….”

“Pshsh, you can’t leave, so it seems you didn’t just come in by chance? Did you perhaps hear about this place somewhere?”

Looking at him, it seems like the Clown is also trying to dig up clues by subtly scratching at him…….

“Haha, it’s been a while since I’ve seen these faces, so I can’t leave already. It’s not like the first turn is particularly difficult. Yes, if the rules have changed while I was gone, I should follow them.”

The Wolf laughed heartily and started his turn.

“Well, then I’ll go first.”

So, what should he do…….

The Wolf, who seemed to be pondering as he spoke, finally opened his mouth.

“The reason I came back here is because I recently learned an amazing fact. But there was no one to tell this story to—.”

“Wolf, you still talk too much?”

The Clown cut him off and glared at him, telling him to get to the point. The Wolf laughed awkwardly, cleared his throat, lowered his voice, and said briefly.

“The Master of the Round Table is Auriel Gavis.”

Immediately, a strange silence flowed through the Round Table.

The reason was simple.

“Isn’t it amazing? The person who gathered us here and taught us all sorts of knowledge is the one who created [Dungeon & Stone]—.”

That’s the information the Queen mentioned last month.

“…Huh?”

The Wolf, startled and flinching as soon as the red light came on in the gem.

“Why is this…….”

“Why do you ask? It means it’s information that the majority knows. Ah, did you forget that too since it’s been a while?”

“…….”

“Instead of such trivial information, how about you bring out something more interesting?”

It was a bit funny to see the Clown, who was so surprised when he heard that information last month, acting like that, but…….

Thanks to that, one thing was confirmed.

The Wolf didn’t know the situation inside the Round Table in detail.

If he did, he wouldn’t have brought up the information that came out last month.

This can also be interpreted as meaning that he doesn’t have any particular relationship with the existing members.

Well, there’s also the possibility that it was an intentional act.

“Hoo… then I’ll try again.”

The Wolf sighed and then spat out information again.

“It was the royal family that summoned the players to this world, and Auriel Gavis’s goal is to help the players escape this world.”

The Wolf paused for a moment and continued speaking as soon as the green light came on, as if he had been waiting for it.

“Well, how about this?”

No one answered immediately.

It was understandable.

Putting aside the fact that this guy is openly showing that he’s related to Auriel Gavis.

“…The royal family is behind it, is that reliable information?”

It was a shocking story.

There were many rumors among the players, but there was no story that the royal family was the one who summoned us.

The royal family has no ‘motive’ to do so.

But…….

“Why would the royal family summon us and then drive us to be treated as evil spirits and execute us? This doesn’t make sense.”

At Deer Horn’s question, the Wolf drew a firm line.

“I can’t go into details, but you can trust me. It’s more reliable than anything else.”

“Pshsh, it’s as if you’ve heard it directly from the king?”

The Clown threw out a probe, but there was no gain.

“Ah, if you’re curious about that, I’ll bring it up next round.”

“…….”

“Hehe, then it’s the next turn, right?”

The next turn was Fox, and he brought out information related to the war.

It didn’t really register.

In the first place, it was just information I already knew, and…….

‘The royal family is the one behind summoning us……?’

I was still thinking about this.

No, to be precise, should I say I was pondering the truth of those words?

‘How much can I trust what this bastard said?’

Of course, the gem emitted a green light.

But there’s a catch to accepting that statement as truth just based on that.

There’s a loophole in the Round Table system.

If the person who speaks believes it to be ‘true,’ the gem will emit a green light.

That is to say.

‘There’s a possibility that it’s wrong information.’

Then, the question now moves on to the next one.

How did the Wolf come to believe the wrong information to be true?

Actually, this isn’t that important.

‘What was the Wolf’s intention in bringing up that information at the Round Table?’

The answer was in the information.

‘Because he wanted the players’ hatred to be directed at the royal family.’

The one who benefits the most from this information.

‘Auriel Gavis gave the Wolf the wrong information and sent the Wolf here.’

……Would that be a far-fetched leap?

I don’t know, but I cleared my head and focused on the conversation.

“…It’s your turn now.”

By the time Fox, Goblin, Crescent Moon, and Deer Horn’s turns were over, the newbie’s turn was starting.

“Black.”

He’s suspicious too, isn’t he?

***

“Besides opening the gate to the abyss, there is a way to return to Earth.”

The Black Mask spoke briefly and received the green light. As the content was what it was, many members were in an uproar and asked various questions, but the Black Mask remained silent.

‘…A way to return to Earth.’

There was only one method I could think of.

‘It seems like she’s talking about dimensional magic……?’

I learned about dimensional magic at the Round Table I visited 20 years ago. The Ruin Scholar was researching dimensional magic to return to his hometown and seemed to have actually achieved some results.

Maybe the reason Lee Baekho became friends with the Ruin Scholar was because of that magic.

Anyway, the important thing is something else.

‘Black Mask… she might be a spy sent by Lee Baekho?’

There are several grounds for suspicion.

First of all, Lee Baekho would know about ‘dimensional magic,’ and it wouldn’t be strange if he had one more invitation code besides the one he gave me.

‘…Above all, the motive is quite clear. She has a lot of questions about me.’

“…Then it’s your turn, Queen? Pshsh.”

The Queen, who had been bringing out high-level information as if competing with the Clown, brought out general information related to politics, perhaps wary of the unfamiliar members.

It was interesting information, but it was obvious that she was trying to pass her turn.

“…Heh, it’s my turn now?”

And so came the Butterfly Mask’s turn.

As if she had something in mind, the Butterfly coolly spoke the information without any hesitation.

“The royal family can intentionally cause dimensional collapses.”

Ha, how is it that the newbies are spitting out more impactful information than the existing members?

“……So the rumors were true.”

Everyone was surprised, but no one asked about the truth or the source, unlike before.

Everyone secretly thought that what she said was true, and there were two previous cases.

Would they even answer if asked?

“Pshsh, then it’s my turn now.”

Soon, the Clown, who was the last in line, started his turn.

“Pshsh, recently, Noah Arc has begun to attack the 9th floor in earnest.”

A rare piece of information that at least saves the face of the existing members.

Naturally, it was passed without any objection, and naturally, the gazes turned to me.

“Then I…….”

Now it’s my turn, is that what you’re saying?

Actually, I had already decided what to say while the order was going around.

That’s why…….

[How can I be at ease? Of course, I feel sorry. I also feel responsible. I will probably live with this feeling for the rest of my life, atoning for it.]

After recalling the words Auriel Gavis had said to me that day and raising my emotions.

Tap tap.

I opened my mouth, fixing my gaze on the Wolf.

Whether the real mastermind behind summoning the players is the royal family or not.

According to what I believe, with all my heart.

“Auriel Gavis is the enemy of the players.”

I spoke.

Shwaaaaaa-

As if proving my belief, the gem emitted a green light.

The reaction was immediate.

“……Lion, do you have proper evidence for what you just said?”

The Wolf cautiously challenged me.