Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 575

Fox, Wolf, Goblin, Queen, Butterfly.

And me, and Auriel Gavis.

An uncomfortable silence settled in the round table room where a total of seven people had gathered.

Looking back, it was only natural.

The round table members were all veteran players who had been dragged into this strange world for at least several years.

“Home…”

“You’re saying you’ll send us back…?”

Having spent a long time here, they knew better. The fact that achieving the goal of opening the gate of the abyss and returning home was close to impossible.

That’s why most of them accepted life here and lived diligently.

But…

“Why, is the reward not to your liking?”

The situation had changed.

[Dungeon & Stone], the culprit of all this. And Auriel Gavis, the very person who created the game.

He, of all people, was saying it.

That if they played a game and won, he would give them a ticket home as a prize.

“Hmm, I thought this was a decent reward.”

It was a proposal that any player would be drawn to like a moth to a flame, but the round table members were surprisingly calm.

After all, who were they?

They were the ones who had made their way through this harsh world until now.

They knew better than anyone that if something enticing was placed right in front of them, they should be suspicious first.

Just like this.

“…I’d like to hear what kind of game it is first.”

“If I can only hear it if I participate, then I won’t listen…”

Rather than rushing in with their tails wagging, the members were trying to gather information first for a proper judgment.

To their questions, Auriel Gavis replied in a generous tone.

“To say you can only hear it if you participate, that’s not the case. The game I’ve prepared is a very simple game.”

It was strange.

His tone was like that of a neighborhood grandpa, but from our perspective, it was not at all.

“……”

When Auriel Gavis stopped talking and paused for a moment, the expressions of the members whose masks had been removed became even more rigid.

What kind of game could it be?

Was he going senile and going to make us kill each other from now on?

Just as I was thinking that, the old man finally opened his mouth.

“It’s a quiz.”

It was a game that no one gathered here had expected.

“A quiz… you mean?”

“It’s the quiz you know, so stop with the suspicious looks.”

“No… I’m just curious about how it will be done…”

“Ah, I didn’t mention that. When I give a quiz, you just have to answer it. Whether it’s true or not. It’s a multiple-choice quiz with only two options.”

“You mean an OX quiz…”

As the Goblin quietly repeated the words with a somewhat uneasy voice, Auriel Gavis added an explanation.

Well, whether you could call this an additional explanation was debatable.

“The quiz will continue until only one person remains. Ah, of course, it’s also possible to give up along the way.”

“Hee… ?”

The Butterfly made a sound as if saying, ‘Look at this?’

Everyone felt the same way.

It wasn’t like they would be eliminated in the OX quiz, but to give up, what did he mean by that?

“Does that mean there might be a situation where we have to give up?”

Soon, the Queen asked directly, and the old man gave another meaningful answer.

“Well, wouldn’t such a thought suddenly come to mind? I always respect your free will.”

Respect, my ass.

They were all people who were dragged here while playing games at home.

I was dying to retort with a sarcastic tone, but I just endured it, engraving the character for patience on my head.

There was no point in saying anything anyway.

“Anyway, it seems like the explanation is enough, so those who want to participate, speak up.”

After that, the old man took time to ask about their intention to participate, and that time was not long.

“You’re really saying there’s no penalty for giving up or being eliminated, right?”

“Don’t worry. Didn’t I say earlier? This game is compensation for taking off your masks.”

“Then… I’ll try it.”

With the Queen, who had been hesitating until the end, expressing her intention to participate, all the members’ participation was decided.

Ah, except for me, of course.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t participate. But don’t be too disappointed. You can’t go back this way anyway.”

It wasn’t that I couldn’t go back, but that he had no intention of sending me back this way. Because I had to grow diligently and open the gate of the abyss someday.

“Hee… does that mean the Lion and we are different? I’m getting kind of interested.”

With the Butterfly’s gaze towards me becoming a little more intense, Auriel Gavis clapped his hands and gathered attention.

“Let’s start right away without wasting time.”

I realized belatedly that O and X signs were placed in front of each of our seats.

Well, it felt like we were really playing a mini-game.

‘……Surely, this old man is hiding something.’

What exactly was he trying to do?

I didn’t know yet, but…

“Now, then, the first question.”

At the same time as the OX quiz started, I realized why that old man said it was possible to give up along the way.

“The Fox Mask is a mage.”

“……!”

“If it’s correct, hold up the O sign, if it’s wrong, hold up the X sign.”

……This isn’t a game to get the right answer.

***

The moment the first question came out, an awkward atmosphere enveloped the surroundings.

“……”

The Fox was trying hard to manage her expression, but it wasn’t working at all.

And…

“Uh…”

The Goblin, knowing the situation, was even more flustered and was looking at the Fox’s complexion.

“Hmm…”

It seemed that the Queen had also realized the truth hidden in this game.

Well, the remaining two didn’t seem to have realized it yet.

“Hee… shouldn’t we just follow the sign that the Fox is holding up? She’s the one who’s the subject of the quiz.”

“Hoo, that seems like a good method.”

Thus, everyone’s attention was focused on the Fox, and soon, the Fox seemed to organize her thoughts for a moment before raising the sign.

“It’s a circle.”

“So you really were a mage. I kind of had that image. Hey, Master? Isn’t it time to check the answer?”

Soon, at the Butterfly’s question, Auriel Gavis nodded.

“Congratulations. Everyone got the right answer. Then let’s move on to the second question right away.”

“……”

“The Goblin Mask is a paladin.”

It was from this point that even the Wolf and the Butterfly, who had been taking it for granted, realized what Auriel Gavis’s intention was.

“……”

“……”

The venue became so quiet that it was hard to believe that they were playing a game. In that silence, people held up the O sign, and a similar process was repeated continuously.

“The Queen Mask has never been to a labyrinth.”

The answer to the third question was O.

“The Wolf Mask is the leader of a clan.”

The fourth answer was also O.

“The Butterfly Mask is a member of Noark.”

Of course, the fifth answer was also O.

In fact, at this point, it was questionable why they even made the X sign.

“Now, then, it’s time for the sixth question, isn’t it?”

Soon, after one round was over, the old man’s gaze moved back to the Fox, and there was no one who didn’t know what that gaze was trying to say.

Because everyone had already realized that this wasn’t an OX game.

A disclosure game disguised as an OX game.

That was the reality of this game, and now that one round was over, the next question was bound to be more intense.

“I’ll say it one more time. I respect your free will, so if you want to give up, just say the word.”

The words that he respected free will…

It sounded ridiculous earlier, but this time, the weight of those words was different.

After all, he had kindly provided a taste of it.

There was no longer any room for thoughts like, ‘Could he possibly know my identity?’ As the turns passed, the amount of information that had to be revealed in front of everyone would increase.

“If we give up here… what happens?”

To the Queen’s question, Auriel Gavis answered immediately.

“Nothing at all. Ah, but since we have to continue the game, you’ll have to leave your seat. One spectator is enough.”

“How sure is it that we can go home?”

“What words should I say here for you to believe me? The only way to remove doubt is through faith.”

“If you present some kind of plausible evidence or something—”

“If you can’t believe it, there’s only one thing you can do. Leave this place.”

“……”

“What will you do?”

It was an obviously fraudulent speech, but the Queen couldn’t just get up and leave.

And seeing this, Auriel Gavis chuckled.

“I knew you would do that. In fact, this is the only way for you to go home, isn’t it?”

“……”

“Cheer up. In the end, you just have to stay until the end and become the winner. Ah, or you can take some time and go out and ask that friend? Whether you should do this or not. Just like you always did when something happened—”

“Enough… continue.”

The Queen cut him off irritably, and Auriel Gavis, on the contrary, continued the OX quiz with a cheerful demeanor.

Thanks to everyone quietly holding up their signs, it took about 3 minutes to complete one round.

“The Fox Mask has killed an innocent explorer to steal money.”

“The Goblin Mask has received a prophecy from Leatlass.”

“The Wolf Mask is currently residing in District 7.”

“The Queen Mask is a noble.”

“The Butterfly Mask is a member of Orculius.”

I didn’t know why only the Fox had such a past story, but the second round ended in an instant.

And…

“…Hey, Master? I’ll stop here!”

The Butterfly Mask declared that she was giving up.

“I feel like my name will come out in the next round. Well, there’s nothing I can’t reveal… but it’s a bit… you know? In a situation where I can’t even be sure if you can really send me home.”

“I understand your decision. Then will you please leave your seat?”

At the request to leave, the Butterfly nodded nonchalantly, then glanced at us and greeted us cheerfully.

“See you all outside someday!”

Saying that with a face in her early twenties, she looked quite refreshing.

But was it because the OX quiz revealed that the Butterfly was a member of Noark, and even a member of the criminal group Orculius?

‘Why does the phrase ‘see you outside’ sound so unpleasant?’

However, I didn’t think it was just a feeling.

I didn’t think she was a normal human being, whoever she was.

“I… will stop here.”

Anyway, as the Butterfly Mask quickly cut ties at the right time, the Fox also declared her departure, as if she had come to her senses.

“Hmm, I didn’t expect the Fox to make such a choice. You used to be more desperate than anyone else.”

“I was… but after dying and coming back to life, it all felt meaningless. My current life is precious enough to me now.”

After uttering such an honest answer, the Fox gave a short bow to Auriel Gavis.

“Thank you for that time. Whatever your intentions were, if you hadn’t taken me in back then, I wouldn’t be alive now.”

“…Thank you. Even if it wasn’t me, the Fox would have made it through.”

“Then, can I say goodbye for a moment before leaving?”

“Feel free to do so.”

Soon, the Fox turned her head and made eye contact with each person.

Wolf, Goblin, Queen, and me.

“Somehow, the number of people has decreased like this. It’s a shame. I didn’t expect to say goodbye like this without even saying a proper farewell.”

“…Yeah, I guess so.”

“But it’s good to see each other’s faces. It really feels like I’m talking to a person.”

“Is that… so?”

“Yes. At least for me. I was a little surprised at first, though. Whether you go home or not, I hope you all live well wherever you are. I mean it.”

At the words of blessing, the Queen couldn’t answer for a long time.

Her inner thoughts were obvious. She would have first thought about whether there was any intention behind those words.

And she would have eventually realized that there wasn’t.

“…Thank you.”

Soon, the Queen responded with a tiny voice, and the Fox smiled gently, then quickly shifted her gaze.

She just glanced at the Wolf, with whom she had a short relationship, and then fixed her gaze in front of the Goblin for a moment.

But did she think she could talk outside?

She didn’t leave any special words for the Goblin and moved on to look at me.

“Actually… there was something I wanted to say to the Lion. Is that okay?”

When I nodded briefly as if to say go ahead, the Fox carefully opened her mouth.

“If life is too boring, how about taking off your mask and making friends?”

Uh…

“Then, your life here will surely become more fun.”

Why is it assumed that I don’t have friends?

I didn’t know, but I couldn’t help but chuckle at the words that followed.

“That’s what I did.”

That was a little touching.