Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 196

Master Key (2)

The Round Table Watchers.

A secret community created for the exchange of high-quality information.

When I first joined this place, the existing members were curious about my relationship with the Master.

It’s a simple reason.

It had already been a year since the Master, who was recruiting members through 쪽지 [ 쪽지 (jjokji) is a direct message function], disappeared.

The members thought they could learn about the Master’s recent whereabouts from me, and after the ‘Lion’ concept was established, it became the accepted theory that we knew each other.

Because I’ve consistently given a ‘no comment’ to all related questions.

[The answer is no.]

Admitting I knew him would create problems later.

And saying I didn’t know wouldn’t fit the mysterious persona, so that’s the decision I made.

But, did I unknowingly become greedy?

[……Do you perhaps know where the Master is?]

At the second gathering, I shrugged at the Fox’s words.

As if to say, if you bring something interesting, I might tell you. I leaned my chin on my hand nonchalantly, acting as if I were an absolute being.

Clearly intending to cause a misunderstanding.

“……Weren’t you the one the Master invited? I’m sure he said that too……”

Whether that intention worked well, the Fox mask’s voice was very confused.

The other masks were also wondering what was going on.

“Hmm, I invited him?”

The Master tapped his chin, looking completely clueless.

At this, the other masks’ gazes turned to me.

Full of questions and curiosity about my identity.

“If it’s not the Master, how did that person get in here?”

“Maybe he used an invitation code he received a long time ago?”

At the Fox’s mutter, the Goblin offered a guess, which the Jester refuted.

“You’re stupid. Don’t you know that invitation codes expire after just one month and can’t be used?”

“……Is that true, Master?”

“The Jester’s words are true.”

“Then……”

As the Master agreed, the gazes toward me became even more blatant.

“Mr. Lion, why did you deceive us by saying you knew the Master……?”

The Fox mask asked me cautiously.

I stopped breathing and closed my eyes for a moment.

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t flustered by the unexpected appearance of the Master, but losing my composure would only ruin things.

I quickly decided on the position I would take.

“I didn’t deceive you.”

I never claimed that I knew him myself.

It’s just that you guys misunderstood.

If I push that, they won’t have anything to say.

‘Well, they might feel a little uncomfortable……’

From the barely concealed killing intent to various pieces of information.

How much have I revealed so far?

There’s no way they’ll figure out I’m a cyber thug from this.

Yeah, so……

“You didn’t deceive us?”

Let’s be brazen.

After all, ‘Lion’ is that kind of character, right?

“That’s what I said. Do you have a problem with your ears?”

“Ah, no… it’s not that……”

The Fox mask was greatly flustered when our eyes met, even though I wasn’t emitting any killing intent.

I chuckled softly.

And I was about to deliver my prepared line, saying that it was their side that misunderstood when I didn’t say anything.

But then.

“Everyone, stop it.”

The Master said, looking at me.

“I don’t know the details of what happened between you, but he didn’t deceive anyone.”

‘……Huh?’

“Now I understand. Who you are.”

For a moment, my heart sank.

Of course, that time was only fleeting.

He knows who I am? That’s impossible.

Even if he’s the Master, he’s just the leader of a private chat room, how could he know—

“Heh heh. I thought you’d be on the Tiger’s side.”

I shut my mouth at the Master’s laughter.

Not because he hit the nail on the head, but because I couldn’t understand what he was saying at all.

I just chose silence.

I figured that even if I just kept my mouth shut, I’d be halfway there.

“A soldier, or something like that.”

That judgment was not wrong.

‘A soldier, huh……’

Now I get it.

Who this old man is mistaking me for.

***

Sergeant Lee.

Literally, it’s Sergeant Lee, and……

The nickname of Lee Baekho, the unfortunate player who was dragged into this world on the day of his discharge.

“Heh heh, it’s no use pretending you’re not. You’re the only one who gave out a code with no expiration date.”

Looking at it from the Master’s perspective, it was a misunderstanding that was bound to happen.

After all, isn’t this the invitation code that Lee Baekho gave to me?

There’s no way he could distinguish between me and Lee Baekho while I’m wearing a mask.

‘……Should I say this is a good thing?’

I’m not sure yet.

It seems like the key is how close Lee Baekho was to the Master……

“I never thought you’d come here. When I first went to see you, you told me off for doing such a pathetic thing.”

“……”

“I’m a little curious. What made you change your mind?”

Without much thought, I came to a conclusion.

‘They weren’t close.’

The expression ‘told me off’ doesn’t matter.

There are relationships in the world where people are close even while bickering.

But……

[Ah, I didn’t tell you that. The pill I took was an early one, so I can only be here for an hour.]

Lee Baekho can only be here for an hour.

So, it’s impossible for him to participate in this gathering, which has an entry time between 3:00 and 3:10.

But he doesn’t know this?

That thing he told me as soon as we met on the first day?

‘I’m starting to get a sense of it.’

The Master doesn’t know much about Lee Baekho.

In other words, it’s entirely possible for me to pretend to be Lee Baekho.

“It’s not for me to say, since I was the one who suggested it first, but if it’s you, there’s nothing you can gain by participating here.”

At the Master’s words, the Jester muttered as if grumbling.

“……Psh, nothing to gain? Master, aren’t you looking at us like we’re children?”

“Ah, I’m sorry if I offended you. But he’s really that great of a friend.”

“Heeeee, is that so……”

The Jester’s eyes sparkled at the Master’s praise.

I quickly looked at the other masks. They weren’t much different from the Jester.

They were just full of amazement.

Perhaps even more so than when I revealed high-level information like the ‘Stone of Rebirth’.

“It seems like it’s the first time the Master has given such an evaluation to someone……”

“I never thought it would be this much.”

The Crescent Moon was constantly exclaiming, and the Deer Antler had a somewhat resentful expression. Oh, by the way, as soon as the Fox made eye contact with me, he flinched and lowered his head.

It seems like he was bothered by the suspicion from earlier.

‘What should I do?’

Seeing this, my worries deepen.

They say a crisis is an opportunity.

As you can already see from the changed gazes of the members.

If I succeed in pretending to be Lee Baekho, it will be a great help in my future role-playing.

‘Above all, I might be able to find out what kind of person Lee Baekho is through this old man.’

The return is certain.

Then, what about the risk?

‘……There’s nothing really to call a risk?’

Come to think of it, if it doesn’t work, I can just reveal the truth that I’m Lee Baekho’s friend.

There’s an old saying that birds of a feather flock together.

Since the Master mentioned that he’s a great person, his friend, me, would also be seen as equal to Lee Baekho.

‘Okay, let’s go for it.’

Having made my decision, I broke the long silence and spoke to the Master first.

“What should I call you here?”

“Huh?”

“I can’t call you like I usually do, can I?”

“Why not? Just call me old man like before. And get rid of that weird honorific too.”

“Alright, old man.”

I was also on edge as I naturally changed my attitude.

‘I almost messed up from the start……’

I never thought we were on a first-name basis.

But thanks to that, I realized one more thing.

Lee Baekho is a proud Confucian of Korea.

But he’s talking down to an old man?

‘It seems like they weren’t just not close, but they actually had a bad relationship.’

I have a rough idea of how I should act.

Therefore, I naturally added to my words, making up for my previous mistake.

“You have strange tastes. Even when I try to save your face, you say you don’t like it.”

Words that sounded like I genuinely couldn’t understand.

I’m not sure if it worked properly, but the Master laughed happily.

“Heh heh! Yes, that’s more like you. Anyway, let’s end this talk here. It’s good to see you after a long time, but I don’t have much time.”

“……Master, you don’t have much time?”

“Due to circumstances, I don’t have much time to stay here.”

“What? What happened to you in the meantime—”

“Enough.”

The Master muttered briefly, dismissing the question.

“I understand that the Fox has many questions for me. Why I disappeared without a word, and what I’m saying now. But I can’t tell you.”

“Is it that urgent?”

“No, it has nothing to do with time.”

At the Master’s firm line, the Fox didn’t push any further.

Instead, she asked one more thing.

“Then… will you come again next time?”

“Well, I don’t know. But I’ll come again in a year. If something comes up that I need to tell you, I might come sooner.”

“Psh, that means you came today because you had something urgent to tell us, Master.”

“Jester, you’re right.”

At the Master’s shocking declaration, all the attention that had been on me turned to him.

It was a perfect situation for me.

Even the content itself.

‘He’ll come back in a year……’

In short, it means I don’t have to worry about my lies being exposed at every gathering.

However, for now, I was more curious than relieved.

‘He doesn’t have much time, it doesn’t seem like a lie…… What situation is he in? And what’s the information he needs to urgently tell us?’

Amidst many questions, I focused my attention on my ears and stared at the Master. Not just me, but all the masks were doing the same.

A strange silence formed naturally.

“Heh heh, don’t be too nervous. It’s actually good news.”

The Master, who was waving his hand as if to clear the heavy air, slowly opened his mouth.

And……

“A binding magic that can accommodate up to six people will be created within two years. The key to opening the abyss gate will increase to six!”

Silence pressed down on the hall.

The members glanced at each other with awkward expressions and didn’t say anything.

At this, the Master tilted his head.

“Uh, why do you all look like that? I thought you’d be much more surprised……”

That’s because you’re late to the party.

***

The fact that a six-person binding magic will be created.

It’s certain that this is valuable information that would shake the entire city for at least a few months the moment it’s revealed.

But……

“……You revealed this news first? Aigoo, no wonder everyone’s reaction was so lukewarm.”

The Master smacked his lips after learning that it was the Jester who had talked about it at the last meeting.

“But it’s a bit unexpected. Jester, I didn’t think you’d say something like that here. Have you grown to like the people here a little?”

“Psh, is there any way that could happen? It’s just that there was someone I was curious about how they would react.”

The Jester looked at me while making his unique laughter.

Following that gaze, the Master scanned me with a meaningful look.

I became tense, wondering if he was going to say something.

But……

Chijijijit.

At that point, the Master’s body began to flicker like a hologram.

“Oh, it’s already time for me to leave.”

“Master!”

The Fox shouted regretfully, but the flickering speed only increased.

Even in that situation, the Master only looked at me.

It was a very unpleasant and unsettling gaze.

It was like my inner self was being seen through just by making eye contact.

“Old man, do you have something you want to say?”

In the end, I couldn’t hold back and asked.

And then.

[It’s not old man, it’s old geezer.]

A voice echoed in my head like a telepathic spell.

The owner of the voice was clear.

[That damn brat used to call me that.]

Damn it.

I thought it was going too smoothly.

‘He knew from the beginning?’

My body stiffened slightly without me realizing it.

Of course, it was so subtle that it was difficult to detect with the naked eye, and the time was close to a fleeting moment.

But……

[Hmm, actually, your reaction was so natural that I was still confused until now. But seeing your heart rate increase so much, it seems you really weren’t that brat.]

No, was he just testing me?

[Don’t worry. No matter what you do here, I have no reason to interfere.]

“……”

[I’m just curious, but unfortunately, I don’t have time today. Let’s talk about who you are when we meet again later.]

With those words, the Master’s body scattered like mist before my eyes.

“Ha.”

I laughed out loud.

It was similar to how I would let out a hollow laugh when I experienced something too absurd.

There really aren’t any easy bastards in this world.