Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 569

A strange world where I have to hide the fact that I’m an evil spirit.

The only place where players in that world could communicate anonymously.

Ghost Busters is shutting down.

The repercussions of that announcement were, needless to say, immense.

[Don’t close the door!]

Open the door. Open the door. Open the door. Open the door. Open the door. Open the door. Open the door. Open the door. Open the door. Open the door. Open the door.

Posts just blindly demanding things.

[GM, try shutting down the server if you dare. Go ahead and try!]

Because dying is the end of it.

Posts threatening to end their own lives.

[GM and staff, please read this.]

Hello. I’m an ordinary person who has been in this world for almost five years now. Like everyone else, I’ve had several near-death experiences. And sometimes, it was my own fault.

I wanted to give up everything and just rest.

But what pulled me through those weak moments was this Ghost Busters community….

Posts desperately pleading for the server shutdown to be reconsidered.

[GP refund request.]

I just applied, when will it be processed?

It’s a lot of money for me. You’re not going to run off with it, right?

Posts worrying about their own losses rather than the community.

[Ghost Busters closure reason speculated by a 12-year veteran.]

As those who know already know, there was a secret connection between the GM and the royal family. The reason this community was able to exist in the first place was because the royal family was supporting it….

Posts analyzing and speculating, and so on.

From the first post on the board to all the pages that piled up after it, everything was about the major incident of ‘Ghost Busters closure.’

It was an understandable reaction.

Click, click.

Even I was greatly shocked and was continuously reading through the related posts.

With only one question in mind.

‘Why the hell are they closing the server?’

Soon, I stopped browsing the bulletin board.

It didn’t seem like I would find any helpful information by looking further. 90% of it was either attention-seeking nonsense or posts blindly demanding things.

Right, so let’s think about it myself.

Since I probably know more than those guys anyway.

‘As expected… the most likely possibility is that there was a problem with the royal family.’

Up to this point, it was almost a foregone conclusion.

It had already been proven that the GM and the royal family were secretly working together.

However, the problem here is….

‘Then why would the royal family suddenly try to close the server?’

The intention isn’t clear.

Simply because there was a conflict between the GM and the royal family?

That possibility certainly exists, but perhaps there could be some other political motive mixed in.

“Haa… this is a headache.”

The closure of the community itself was unfortunate news, but what made me even more disappointed was the timing.

“Why does it have to be when I’m trapped on the first basement floor….”

If the community disappears, it becomes impossible to get news from the outside while on the first basement floor.

In other words, it means that I won’t be able to influence the outside world depending on the situation.

Click, click.

After a long time of speculating about the circumstances surrounding the community closure, I finished my contemplation and moved the mouse.

“Let’s just ask.”

I decided that no matter how much I pondered, it wouldn’t be as good as having a conversation with the person involved.

After all, I’m different from the average users who can’t do anything but whine on the bulletin board.

I know the GM’s nickname.

[Requested a 1:1 conversation with Elfnunalove.]

A nickname that always feels burdensome whenever I see it.

I requested a conversation with that nickname for now.

But….

‘Is he busy?’

No matter how long I waited, there was no response.

He didn’t reject it, nor did he send a message saying to wait a bit.

Well, I guess I’ll just keep waiting for this….

Click, click.

I moved the mouse again and switched to the chat room category.

[Long Live Korean Independence] – 2 users are online.

Okay, it seems like both of them are online here.

“Huu….”

I took a deep breath and calmed myself while hovering the cursor over the chat room entry button.

And….

“Oh! Hyungnim [older brother/respected male], you’ve arrived! This unworthy younger brother greets you with utmost respect!”

“Oppa [older brother/term of endearment for a female speaker], did you see the announcement? I was just about to talk about it—”

As soon as I entered the chat room, I glared at Lee Baek-ho and spoke.

I felt a little sorry for Hyun-byeol, who had greeted me so happily.

“Hyun-byeol, can you leave us for a bit?”

“…Yes?”

“Lee Baek-ho, I have something to talk about with this bastard.”

I didn’t come here to laugh and joke around today.

***

After Hyun-byeol, who had been watching my mood, left the chat room without a word.

In the silence, Lee Baek-ho cautiously opened his mouth.

“Hyung… are you perhaps angry…?”

It was truly a despicable sight.

In reality, he wasn’t really afraid whether I was angry or not. If he were that kind of guy, he wouldn’t have done such a trick behind my back.

Therefore.

“Hey, what the hell are you?”

I directly voiced my honest question.

But perhaps he didn’t understand the words well?

“Huh? No, Hyung… please calm down for a moment… you have to tell me why you’re like this first….”

Right, he’s curious about how much I know.

Well, there was no reason to hide it in this situation.

If the community is really closing for good this time, there won’t be a better opportunity to talk with this guy in a better environment.

“The Stone of Rebirth.”

Just like I did with Misha, I uttered only one word.

But was that enough for him to grasp the whole situation?

“Ah.”

Lee Baek-ho’s expression changed in an instant.

From eyes that seemed restless because I was angry, to eyes that seemed somewhat regretful.

“Looks like it failed.”

He sighed briefly and then asked me.

“Did she tell you?”

It was really a new feeling, I felt it again at this moment.

This bastard is truly broken somewhere.

“Or did you just find out? Well… I was already doubtful when I entrusted it to her in the first place—”

“Lee Baek-ho.”

I cut him off.

Because if I kept listening, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to control my emotions.

Clenching my jaw, I asked as calmly as possible.

“Why did you do it?”

Why did he put the Stone of Rebirth in Misha’s hands?

At that short question, Lee Baek-ho tilted his head.

And….

“That’s not like you, Hyung.”

He smirked and looked at me.

“You already know the answer, don’t you?”

Certainly, that was true.

But….

“Just answer the question. Why did you do it?”

When I asked again strongly, Lee Baek-ho finally gave an answer.

“Because you keep acting so frustratingly, Hyung.”

“……So you were trying to use the Stone of Rebirth on me?”

“Yes. Since you couldn’t cut it off first, I tried to help a little. After all, when you go back home, all those relationships will be unnecessary, right?”

A madman who doesn’t care about any means to achieve his goals.

That was the essence of Lee Baek-ho.

It was obvious without even looking.

If I were to lose my memories, he would approach me with a kind smile, pretending to follow me, saying ‘Hyung, Hyung’.

However, getting angrier here would be a low move.

“Is that so? Still, thanks anyway.”

“……Yes?”

“I’m talking about the Stone of Rebirth. It’s a very precious item, but somehow I got it for free. You must have had a hard time getting it. I wouldn’t mind if you had achieved your goal, but it’s not even that.”

I mocked him with a teasing tone, as if there was no way he could ever ask for it back now.

However, the reaction that came back was completely different from what I expected.

“Oh, really? I’d be grateful if you kept it, Hyung.”

Not pretending to be calm, but an answer that was filled with sincerity.

“After all, you’ll never die, Hyung. You have to break through the last floor and achieve your ‘wish’ someday. But knowing that, do you know why I gave you the Stone of Rebirth?”

He continued without giving me a chance to answer, as if he didn’t expect an answer from me.

“Because if you revive with the Stone of Rebirth, it’s not death. There’s no problem with that record being realized, right?”

In short, if the environment allows for the Stone of Rebirth to be used, it means that a situation where I am in danger of dying can occur.

“Records are like flowing rivers. The flow of water in one direction will eventually reach its destination, but anything can happen in the process.”

That was the reason why Lee Baek-ho gave the Stone of Rebirth to Misha and sent her back.

Just the fact that the Stone of Rebirth is by my side means that there is a possibility that it will be used on me.

I couldn’t help but think that he was a truly cunning bastard, but I tried to smile calmly.

“Baek-ho, aren’t you being a little emotional right now? Even if you’re upset that you didn’t achieve your goal, you shouldn’t say everything like that. If you tell me everything like that, I—”

“Hey, I know you, Hyung.”

“……?”

“You wouldn’t be able to throw them away, right? Your companions can die at any time. I heard that a half-baked magician died before, and you were very sad.”

My head turned white at the line that crossed the line, but I couldn’t refute it.

Because it was a statement that hit the nail on the head.

Even if there was a penalty of losing my memories, when that moment comes, I will not hesitate to use it on my companions.

Thankful that I was lucky enough to have the Stone of Rebirth.

“Well, if you’re still uncomfortable and want to throw it away, then do it. It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped. After all, Plan B is also going well.”

“…….”

“More importantly, what happened to Misha Kalstein? If you found out about the Stone of Rebirth yourself, you must have felt betrayed.”

“…….”

“Oh, judging by your expression, it seems like it’s true? If you’ve completely closed your heart, just give it back to me. It’s a hassle for me to find another ice swordsman and raise them to that level.”

“…….”

“But isn’t it a bit hypocritical? You’ve always manipulated and deceived others too. The cat too. Do you also know about that barbarian warrior? That you’re an evil spirit—”

At this point, I cut him off.

“Be quiet.”

“…Yes?”

“Please, just be quiet. I want to kill you.”

I humbly admitted it.

If this kind of argument is about who gets angry first, then today was my defeat.

In this spiritual world, no matter how much you want to kill your opponent, it’s impossible to kill them.

But….

“Oh, how scary. But Hyung, calm down. I have a new proposal to make—”

“Baek-ho.”

I closed my ears and said what I wanted to say.

“Even if we say we’ll never see each other again, we’ll meet again someday, right?”

“Uh… I guess so?”

“Then, Hyung will grant your wish.”

“Yes? What does that mean….”

What does it mean?

You always said it.

That you want to leave this shitty world.

“See you then.”

With that, I left the chat room.

***

Back in Lee Han-soo’s room.

As I slowly calmed my emotions, Hyun-byeol, who must have been waiting outside, belatedly came to mind.

‘She must have been very flustered….’

But I didn’t want to go back into that chat room and talk about it in detail.

First, I needed to replenish the energy I had used.

Alone in a quiet place.

1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes….

As the time I spent lying blankly on the bed stretched on, my mental strength recovered a little.

I did regret a little, thinking about the things I should have said during the conversation with Lee Baek-ho, but.

Anyway.

“Huu….”

I got up from the bed like a zombie and checked the chat room.

[Long Live Korean Independence] – 0 users are online.

Hyun-byeol wasn’t in the room.

It seemed like she had gotten tired of waiting and left.

I felt sorry, but regardless, I checked my inbox first. The conversation request I sent to the GM earlier still had no response.

‘I feel like I’ve been left on read….’

It wasn’t a time when he wouldn’t have been able to check because he was busy.

However, I didn’t feel frustrated or anything.

After all, once I leave the labyrinth, I can go directly to the GM and ask, and….

Even if it’s not the GM, there is a way to talk to the staff right now.

Click, click.

As I moved the mouse, the screen changed, and the simple welcome message that I had seen several times before appeared.

[Welcome, Overseer.]

It was time for the final Round Table meeting.