Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 573

Today’s Round Table proceeded in a different way than usual. A truth game format where if someone asked a question, they would honestly answer it.

“Pfft… As if that would happen. I can’t waste this precious opportunity like that.”

Honestly, I’m a little curious too. What would the Round Table members want to ask ‘Lion’ the most? Well, I’ll find out soon enough.

“Then, I’ll go first… shall I…?”

In a strangely quiet atmosphere, the Fox, who was first in line, opened her mouth. “Do you… really know who we are?”

My first thought was that it was unexpected, but when I thought about it, it was a question that was worth being curious about. I was the one who revealed the Clown’s identity at the Round Table, and the Queen had also bluffed as if she knew their identities. In reality, I only knew their nicknames though.

“Haa…”

The Clown, who had heard the Fox’s question, suddenly sighed. “You don’t even know how precious this opportunity is. To waste it on such an obvious question!”

The Clown seemed to be taking it for granted… no, as a truth that I knew their identities. The Fox opened her mouth with a touchy voice at the words that sounded like a rebuke.

“How do you know if it’s obvious or not?”

“…Pfft?”

“In the first place, isn’t it my freedom what I ask? Stop trying to interfere like that. It’s annoying.”

A cold, sharp voice. Come to think of it, this was her original personality. When I first came to the Round Table, she was the first one to send out killing intent. Well, there was a reason for that back then.

‘Those were the days of immaturity…’

Anyway, that’s all in the past. As a result, the Fox joined the Clan Anabada and became my comrade. Of course, she doesn’t know that yet.

“…Why are you getting angry? It was just a joke.”

The Clown, flustered by the Fox’s anger, tried to smooth things over by saying it was a joke. However, the Fox didn’t react at all and ignored him. And in that atmosphere.

“Ahaha… Then it’s my turn this time!”

The Wolf, who was next in line, opened his mouth as if he had no interest in their battle of nerves. “I want to know where and how Lion met the Witch of the Land.”

The Witch of the Land, huh… This is a bit unexpected too. I thought he would ask a question related to Auriel Gavis again this time.

Tuk tuk.

I habitually tap the armrest with my index finger, take my eyes off the Wolf, and move them to the side. A gesture to listen to the next question. Seeing this, the Goblin, who made eye contact with me, cautiously opened his mouth after looking around.

“I… I don’t know how to ask this…”

“Pfft, don’t you know Lion’s personality? Don’t be so frustrating, and hurry up—.”

“Are you perhaps married, or do you have multiple girlfriends…?”

The moment the Goblin finished his question, an indescribable silence fell over the Round Table.

“…Huh?”

The Clown made a dumbfounded sound as if he doubted his own ears, and the other members were similar. Everyone was stunned for a moment, and then they understood the current situation. And then the reactions were a little different.

“What kind of bizarre question is that…”

“…Goblin, are you an idiot?”

“…Kuhaha! Puh, puahahahahahaha!!”

Some were completely disgusted, some cursed, and others burst out laughing. Among the different reactions, there were also speculations about why the Goblin asked such a question.

“Perhaps… is this question because of the ‘fate’ that came with the mask before?”

The Fox muttered. At this, the Clown snorted as if he was dumbfounded.

“Ha! That absurd speculation from back then! That Lion chose the Lion Mask, just because he might have a lot of luck with women.”

It was the first time I had heard of this story. It seemed like they had a private conversation while I was away…

“Luck with women…? What are you talking about?”

The Queen didn’t know about it either, so I could infer that it was something that happened when only the original members were at the Round Table.

“If you’re curious, how about asking formally next time? Pfft.”

“It’s okay. I roughly know what you’re talking about. Then, it’s my turn to ask, right?”

The Queen skillfully passed over the Clown’s aggro and started her turn. “What I want to ask is simple. Have you ever met the Calamity King in person?”

The Queen’s question was very meaningful. Should I say that her intention is not easily read? She must have a lot of questions for me, but there must be a reason why she chose this one.

‘Why…? Why is she asking this?’

Meeting with the King. This topic has come up twice at the Round Table so far. The Queen and the Wolf have both stated that they have met the King in person.

‘Is meeting the King important?’

Well, it seems like there’s more to it than that. Or maybe, it’s just that there are few people who have met the King, so she’s trying to deduce my identity through this.

“Hmm… It’s my turn now?”

While I was organizing my thoughts, it was the Butterfly’s turn. “Then, what should I ask…”

The Butterfly, who was trailing off with a playful tone, made a decision that no one expected. “I’ll just pass.”

“…Huh? Butterfly, don’t you know how good of an opportunity this is! Lion is a mysterious person who knows everything and has the ability to answer everything!”

The Clown exclaimed, but the Butterfly’s choice did not change. “But… even if I ask, I don’t think Lion will answer my question anyway, right?”

“Huh? What basis do you have for saying that without even trying—.”

“Intuition, and experience.”

“…?”

“Men usually don’t like women who make them uncomfortable.”

She answered the Clown, but it was easy to tell that she was actually saying it for me to hear.

‘If I interpret it, it means that her question will definitely make me uncomfortable…’

Anyway, thanks to the Butterfly skipping her question, it was immediately the Black Mask’s turn. What will he ask? Actually, I don’t know him very well because I don’t have much contact with him. Maybe he’ll just skip like the Butterfly—.

“Bjorn Yandel.”

…Huh? Why is that name suddenly coming out? I was startled for a moment, but I pretended to be calm and focused on the words that followed.

“Bjorn Yandel and… Misha Kalstein…”

What is it? Does he also know about the ‘Stone of Rebirth’ incident? While such a guess was floating in my head.

“…Were they really dating as the rumors say?”

The Black Mask’s question was completed, and my mind went blank.

‘What is this again…’

Why are you asking me that in the first place? Does he know that I’m Bjorn Yandel? No, even if he knows, why is he asking that? What is his intention?

“Haa… How is it that all the questions are trash?”

The Clown sighs, annoyed that even the Black Mask wasted his opportunity with such a question, although I don’t know why. Hey, how great of a question are you going to ask?

“Okay, everyone’s done, so now it’s my turn.”

Whatever he asks, I should never answer his question. As I was making such a resolution in my mind, the Clown carefully opened his mouth while looking at me.

“Then… I’ll ask Lion.”

With a trembling voice as if he was nervous, unlike usual. “If… if, I mean…”

While speaking slowly, he even swallowed his saliva and asked me. “If I were to give up everything and want to go under Lion… would you accept me?”

What is this guy… really?

***

The Clown’s declaration that he wanted to become a subordinate caused a strange silence to descend upon the Round Table.

“I was wondering what kind of question he would ask…”

“To ask such a thing, and yet he made such a fuss with us?”

“It’s a shame. If he was going to ask that, he should have just said it separately after everything was over…”

As much as there was karma, the members’ gazes were not kind. Of course, the Clown didn’t care about such reactions at all.

“Then… will you… answer…?”

A serious question that didn’t even have a hint of a deflated laugh. It’s not like the last scene of some dating program. At this point, I don’t even feel absurd. Should I say that it has far exceeded that level?

He doesn’t know who I am. And he doesn’t know what I want to do. Just a mysterious, unidentified strongman. He only recognizes me to that extent. But he’s going to give up everything and become my subordinate…

‘What the hell is wrong with this guy’s head?’

Well, is he like a teenager who admires a bully? I don’t know, but with the Clown asking his question, the question time was over. The number of questions I received was a total of 6. The Butterfly did pass, but still, I received the most questions among the rounds that have been held so far. It’s strange that most of them were weird questions though.

“…”

“…”

When it was time to answer, everyone quietly closed their mouths and stared at me. Which question will I answer? I hope he answers my question. Such a psychology can be seen in everyone’s eyes. The most obvious one is the Clown.

‘Ugh, this is burdensome…’

While naturally avoiding their gazes, I continued to think hard in my head. Which question is the best to answer?

[I want to know where and how Lion met the Witch of the Land.]

[Have you ever met the Calamity King in person?]

First of all, these two questions are a pass. In the case of the Wolf, I don’t know where my answer will flow, and in the case of the Queen, I don’t properly understand the intention of her question.

[Are you perhaps married, or do you have multiple girlfriends…?]

[…Were they really dating as the rumors say?]

And to answer these two questions would make the situation look too strange… [Do you really know who we are?]

[If I were to give up everything and want to go under Lion… would you accept me?]

In the end, there are two remaining candidates. And if I were to eliminate one by the process of elimination, it’s too easy to know which one it is. It’s a very unfortunate thing, but…

‘I don’t know all of their identities.’

An ambiguous answer like ‘I know a few’ will only break the mystique. Therefore, there is only one remaining option…

Tuk tuk.

Like pulling out a bull’s horn in one go. After looking around at each person, I fixed my gaze on the Clown and said a name. “Abet Nekrapeto.”

The real name of the corpse collector wearing the Clown mask. Then, I stared at him and said firmly. “There is no way I will accept you.”

At my answer, he asked the reason as if the world had collapsed. “Why… is that?”

Why, you ask? It’s very simple. “Because I don’t have a hobby of raising bugs.”

No matter how friendly he acts at the Round Table, I will never treat this guy as a human being.

[Sister… she doesn’t move anymore. She can’t talk either. She’s cold and hard. I haven’t been able to do anything for her yet…]

He is my enemy.

***

Swaaaaaaa-!

After the green light, which meant it was the truth, flowed out, the Clown didn’t say anything. He just stared blankly into the air like someone who was dazed.

“Hey… are you okay—.”

The Queen, who couldn’t stand it, was about to say something to the Clown. “Puhuhu, puhuhuhu…”

Suddenly, the Clown started laughing alone like a madman. “Puhuhu, a bug…”

Well, was my choice of words a bit harsh? I suddenly had such a thought, but it couldn’t be helped. Originally, these kinds of guys only understand properly when you speak strongly to them.

“You’re really… amazing. Lion…”

The Clown, who had been sobbing and laughing for a while, looked at me. “I thought I was confident in myself, but… puhuhu…”

It was a pattern often seen in those who want to look cool. “A bug! Even so, a bug! Puhuhuhu…! Surely, everyone looks like that to Lion, right? Puhuhuhuhuhu…”

They think that if they laugh, they haven’t been hit hard.

“Hee… a person has broken down? What should we do?”

“Oh my, why did you ask such a question…”

The members each threw a word of sympathy while looking at the Clown who was laughing like he had lost his mind. Well, it wasn’t my concern.

‘I just wish the next round would start soon…’

Should I step in at this point? While I was thinking and calculating, it was then.

Drrrrrrrrr.

As if an earthquake had occurred, the Round Table room suddenly shook violently. And…

Squeak.

The door opened from the outside during the meeting. This was a phenomenon that had only happened once before. The Master. The existence that created the ‘Watcher of the Round Table’ and… The old man who was already confirmed to be ‘Auriel Gavis’ entered this Round Table.

‘That was exactly like this back then.’

Then, what will it be like this time? Then, I slowly turned my head towards the direction where the door opened.

“Heh heh, there are some masks I haven’t seen before?”

The old man wearing a white mask was chuckling as he looked at us.