Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 307

“You know, like a kind of jury system.”

He started like that, then continued as if making excuses.

“Of course, I don’t like this method either, and I don’t think it’s a very good idea. I’m just suggesting it because you don’t trust me, so you can refuse if you don’t like it.”

Seeing him watch my expression as he spoke, it seemed he interpreted my staring as a sign of disapproval…

‘A round table…’

Actually, it’s not a bad proposal for me.

If we’re going to do it, it shouldn’t be a mere imitation of a jury system, but rather a gathering where everyone is brought to the round table, with some modifications.

The commander of Orculy and the scholar of destruction.

And two unidentified high-level players.

If I participate in a round table discussion with them, I’m sure useful information will come out.

But…

“I refuse. I don’t want to reveal my thoughts in front of others.”

As expected, Auriel Gavis’s exclusive information is the priority for now. We can always move on to the round table idea later.

“Refusal… I actually expected you to say that. From your perspective, it might seem like I’m colluding with them.”

Auriel Gavis sighed and asked.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

I chuckled.

What else would I do?

I have to go back to the beginning.

“Three questions for one.”

“Hmm, well, my situation has improved compared to when it was five for one.”

“Still, I even made this thing.”

As I spoke, looking at the jewel, Auriel Gavis chuckled this time.

“I appreciate you acknowledging my efforts, but wouldn’t it be more reasonable to take turns?”

Well, from his perspective, it’s understandable that he feels wronged.

As long as the lie detector is working, it could be said that our conditions are the same.

However…

“Consider it the price of trust.”

Aside from seeing that jewel in the future, I can’t be sure that the old man can’t manipulate the results of the jewel’s authenticity.

After all, he’s the one who made the jewel.

It wouldn’t be strange if he had a cheat code hidden somewhere.

Therefore.

“That’s contradictory.”

Auriel Gavis laughed as if he was dumbfounded.

“Don’t you know? If I were to deceive you, it wouldn’t matter how many additional questions you have.”

Of course, I know.

But so what?

“So, is that a refusal?”

“Haha, of course not. Strangely, while it feels contradictory, it also seems to make sense. At least, you’re putting yourself in an uncertain situation.”

It was a more straightforward acceptance than I had expected.

I thought he would haggle more.

“But can I go first? You asked about my age earlier, didn’t you?”

“Fine.”

This time, I conceded a step.

The old man must have his own agenda, but it’s true that I’ve received a lot of consideration, and…

Being asked questions isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

I can also use the questions to gauge the other person’s intentions.

“Then, I’ll ask.”

Thus began the time of the truth game.

Soon, Auriel Gavis opened his mouth.

“How many of those who cleared the original [referring to the original game or challenge] will be left in 20 years?”

Is that all for the first question?

That thought suddenly crossed my mind, but it’s too early to relax.

Wasn’t it a question asked while accepting the disadvantageous exchange rate of one out of three?

It can’t be simple curiosity.

‘The reason he’s curious is…’

He’s probably wondering if there’s someone to replace me in the future.

So, I just answered honestly.

“I’m the only one who came over after clearing the original. At least, as far as I know.”

Leaving room so that he doesn’t fixate on me too much, while also asserting the unique advantage I have in this relationship.

“Hmm, I see.”

When the jewel turned green, Auriel Gavis nodded slightly with an inscrutable expression.

Now it’s my turn to ask a question.

I had already prepared a list of questions, so I didn’t need time to think. Ah, of course, since the ‘jewel’ is in front of me, some modifications are needed.

“Have you ever used a fragment of record?”

I deliberately ask in a way that can only be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Of course, this method reduces the amount of information I can get…

But still, I can properly verify the facts.

Once the facts are sorted out, I can deduce the rest. That way is more trustworthy to me than what others tell me.

“I didn’t expect to receive such a question from the start… You’re really not easy to deal with.”

“The answer?”

“I have used it.”

Yes, I knew it.

After confirming that the green light appeared after a slight delay, I calmly chose the next question.

It was then.

Auriel Gavis asked, as if he was curious.

“But how did you know that?”

The answer is simple.

He showed signs of it when we talked last time.

To be frank, it was just a shot in the dark.

However, there’s no such thing as a free lunch in the world of competition.

“If you’re curious, ask me later.”

“Ahem…”

“Then, I’ll ask the second question.”

“Go ahead.”

I took a moment to catch my breath and then opened my mouth.

The second piece of information I need to confirm first.

“Did you create this spiritual world?”

Auriel Gavis, upon receiving the question, flinched slightly and looked at me with a strange gaze.

“…I can’t figure out your intentions at all.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s hard to understand why you’re curious about that. If it’s just out of curiosity, I can accept it. But you don’t seem like someone who acts on emotion.”

I think I know what he means.

In the old man’s eyes, it probably seemed like a low-value question.

Although I didn’t get a definite answer, the circumstances were clear.

It would have seemed like a waste to confirm it.

However…

‘These things need to be clarified.’

This space, where I’m dragged every 15th of the month, is unique.

Even the royal family and the magic tower are aware of its existence, and much research has been done, but no one has discovered the principle by which this world was created.

Even now, the mages are just speculating.

They believe that a mage so great that they cannot even imagine created this place.

Then, is this old man really that great mage?

“So, the answer?”

“As you think. I created this place.”

Auriel Gavis gave his answer.

And…

“A red light came on.”

The jewel judged the answer to be false.

I was as bewildered as Auriel Gavis by the situation.

I didn’t expect a lie to come up here.

“What’s going on?”

As I asked, narrowing my eyes, Auriel Gavis trailed off.

“Well… it seems like it was a bit ambiguous.”

Ambiguous…

Since I have knowledge about that jewel, I roughly understand the situation. That jewel is based on the ‘psychology’ of the person speaking.

If they feel uneasy themselves, the green light won’t come on.

As I glared at him, urging him to explain, Auriel Gavis gave an answer that sounded like a Zen riddle.

“I created this space, but I didn’t create it.”

What is this, some kind of wordplay?

“Are you serious?”

“…But the green light did come on, didn’t it?”

“Speak clearly. What do you mean by that? Does it mean you had a collaborator?”

Auriel Gavis paused for a moment before answering.

“…You could say that.”

If that’s the case, then that’s the case, what’s with ‘you could say that’ again?

It’s absurd, but the jewel did turn green.

‘…Then, it could be interpreted as he wanted to hide the fact that he had a collaborator. The reason the red light came on at first was probably because he felt guilty for trying to pass the turn carelessly.’

I gained an unexpected insight.

“…Then, it’s the third question. Go ahead.”

Auriel Gavis urged me in a voice that sounded somewhat drained.

Don’t rush me.

“The witch…”

I chuckled and corrected myself.

It’s better to be sure in this case.

It’s better to be more specific.

“Did the Earth Witch really die?”

Even if it’s not an urgent question, it was something I had to address at some point.

***

The Earth Witch.

Even if you’re not particularly interested in history, it’s a name you can’t help but hear countless times while living in this world.

Come to think of it, I’ve always been curious.

How much of the stories about the ‘witch’ that are known to the public, the stories I know, are true.

“…From the first question, you never let anything slide easily.”

“The answer?”

At my urging, Auriel Gavis smiled bitterly and gave his answer.

“She is alive.”

Wow, really…?

Suddenly, I have a lot of thoughts.

If that’s the case, it means that the royal family also intentionally hid that fact, and…

‘There weren’t even any easter eggs or anything like that in the game that hinted at such a thing.’

The game creator is this old man.

But he didn’t include such content even though he knew it?

The guy who crammed in all sorts of unnecessary information and settings and said ‘tutorial complete’ at the end?

This is not natural.

It’s more plausible that he intentionally hid it, hoping that this story wouldn’t reach the player’s ears.

‘Then why would he want to keep this a secret?’

I speculated for a moment, but I still don’t know.

There’s not enough information.

However, I had a hunch that if I dug into this, I could find out the final goal of the royal family or this old man.

In short, I’ve gained at least a minimal guideline with this question.

I was organizing my thoughts when it happened.

“Hehe, then it’s finally my turn.”

The old man, who had endured a long time, burst into a hearty laugh.

Jeez, what kind of question is he going to ask to be like that?

Feeling uneasy for no reason, the old man opened his mouth.

“Do you want to return to Earth?”

The intention of the question is clear.

Although he expressed it in a roundabout way, what he really wants to know is something else.

Do I have the will to open the door to the abyss?

Yes, that must be what he really wanted to ask.

“I don’t know.”

I gave my answer as if exhaling a held breath, and soon a green light emanated from the jewel.

“I don’t know…”

Auriel Gavis smiled as if he was somewhat troubled, then changed his expression as if nothing had happened.

And, unlike him, he gave me advice.

“I hope you make a choice soon.”

“Why?”

“Because that would be better for both of us.”

I asked what he meant, but the old man retorted, ‘Is that the question for this turn?’ and played it off, and that was the end of the topic.

Then, it’s my turn again.

Without wasting time, I asked directly.

“Did the witch’s poison really exist?”

“…Were you always interested in her?”

Well, not really.

It’s just that as we talked, I thought that the ‘witch’ might become the core of this story.

“Hoo…”

Auriel Gavis, taking a sip from his teacup, answered as if telling a distant old tale.

“That much is not a fabricated story. This world was almost destroyed once because of her. If it weren’t for the existence of the labyrinth, it would have surely met its end.”

The light revealed by the jewel was green.

Hmm, so the outside world became normal again because time really passed?

Thinking that, I moved on to the next question.

“If the witch is alive, where is she now?”

It was the only subjective question among the questions I asked today.

Since I don’t know anything, I judged that I couldn’t get an answer with an objective question.

However, Auriel Gavis was cunning.

“She is in the place where everyone’s wishes are directed.”

Ugh, that damn riddle-like way of speaking.

I sighed and checked the jewel.

Seeing the green light on, it seems like even if I find fault, he’ll just brush it off…

“Are you really going to act like this?”

Thinking I’d at least try, I glared at him and asked, and Auriel Gavis, putting his hand back on the jewel, said.

“But it’s really hard to find a more appropriate explanation than this.”

The green light turned on again this time.

Looking at that smug expression, it doesn’t seem like he’ll change his attitude even if I try harder.

So, I just gave up.

‘Well, at least I confirmed one thing.’

Auriel Gavis knows the witch’s location.

And he doesn’t want to tell me.

In short…

My learning about the witch has the potential to be contrary to Auriel Gavis’s purpose.

“Now it’s already the third time.”

The old man smiles leisurely, as if these questions weren’t that difficult.

‘Geez, how annoying.’

It might be time to check that.

Maybe it’s much more important to me than the things I asked about before, whether it’s the witch or anything else.

“Now, go ahead.”

I hesitated for a moment and then opened my mouth.

“Do you think you owe me an apology?”

A moment of silence fell.

***

I found out that his job is a mage.

He seems to know a lot about the secret history of this world, including the witch.

He’s the game creator, and I also know that he’s in an antagonistic relationship with the royal family.

So, now it was time to check.

What kind of person is Auriel Gavis?

“Haha, you’re asking a difficult question again this time.”

The old man’s characteristic chuckle signaled the end of the short silence.

“You answered ‘I don’t know’ to the question of whether you wanted to return to Earth earlier, right? That means that your life here wasn’t so bad, right?”

It wasn’t an answer to the question.

However, without saying much, I just looked at him.

“What’s with that look? You should know. To achieve a goal, sometimes you have to ignore your emotions.”

I agree, but again, it wasn’t an answer to the question I asked.

“If it’s that difficult to answer this question, I’ll change the question.”

At my words, which seemed like a step back, Auriel Gavis readily agreed.

“Ah, would you?”

I nodded and changed the question.

It seems like the previous question was difficult to answer.

More specifically.

“Auriel Gavis, do you feel any remorse for the countless ‘evil spirits’ who were dragged here and died because of your greed?”

Again, there was no answer.

“Haha…”

Just an awkward laugh.

That was enough of an answer.

I was just thinking that when it happened.

“Haha! Hahahaha!”

Auriel Gavis laughed loudly.

It was a very strange sight from my perspective.

So much so that I got goosebumps.

“You’re a friend I can’t just look at with a cute gaze.”

He looked at me with eyes devoid of playfulness.

At that moment, the surrounding air became heavy.

Thump.

Soon, Auriel Gavis placed his hand on the jewel in the middle of the table and opened his mouth.

In a friendly voice, just like before.

“How could I be at ease? Of course, I feel sorry. I also feel responsible. I will probably live with these feelings for the rest of my life, atoning for my sins.”

Saying that, Auriel Gavis smiled brightly.

“How about that, is that an answer?”

“…Enough.”

I answered briefly and checked the jewel.

Shwaaaaaaa-

A very clear red light was flowing from the jewel.