Chapter 251: Gnometree (5)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 251: Gnometree (5)

There was no point in making up excuses anymore. No amount of clever words was going to trick him. He was going to try to get a definite answer by any means necessary.

God damn it.

Setting aside my displeasure at being forced to make a choice, my brain was already starting to run through the options available to me and the fallout of each one in detail. What was really the best ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠option for me?

"Excuse me? Aren't you going to speak? I asked why you're being so nice?"

Ha, this annoying prick. I wished I could say something like, I just wanted to, you got a problem with that? and go back to Brainless Barbarian Mode.

But then I could really die.

I was weaker than him, and so even though the guy kept voicing his suspicions, I couldn't default to my usual strategy of claiming there was something wrong with his head and following it up by swinging my mace. If I did, it'd be my head that got cracked open.

Baekho sighed in frustration and glared at me with his blue eyes. "Ha, look at you, acting rude again."

"Why do you keep asking? You have no intention of believing me anyway." I didn't bother to hide my huff, but it seemed he was just as annoyed with me as I was with him.

"Yeah, but it's different hearing it from your own mouth."

Yeah, I know what you mean. That's why I've been trying to hide it this whole time. So, you insist on hearing an answer?

It was time to admit it. Too many things had already gone wrong for me to be able to get through this without sacrificing something. I had to give up what I had to give up.

"They say manners make the man." I may have been suspected many times in the past, but I'd never confessed my identity to anyone until now.

"Huh?" Baekho looked puzzled by my sudden change in attitude, but I had nothing holding me back now that I'd made up my mind.

"Wouldn't it be good manners to pretend you didn't see anything just now?"

"Hold on. Really? You really are a player?" Upon actually hearing the truth from me, Baekho's eyes gleamed in fascination.

So, it really was just a matter of curiosity for you.

Anger burned inside of me. Did he even have a clue that this was the first time I'd ever spoken in this tone with Bjorn Yandel's body?

Still, it feels a bit refreshing.

Feeling a strange mix of liberation and resentment, I glared at Baekho. But it seemed this guy's empathy gauge was nonexistent.

"Wow, and you've seen that movie too!" Even in the midst of all this, he focused only on the topic he was interested in and wanted to talk about. Did he have literally no social skills?

"...You should apologize before anything else." I was sure we painted a bizarre picture, a barbarian lecturing a human on social common sense and morality.

"Oh, sorry. But since you watched that movie, suddenly you don't feel like a stranger anymore. I like that movie." Baekho blurted out a flimsy apology before cautiously asking one more thing. "...But did you also see the second one?"

Just what was wrong with this guy? At this point, this conversation was confusing enough to make even a barbarian cry. "...I saw it." I decided to answer his questions for now because if I ignored them, he might do another one-eighty.

"Hm. Why are you talking down to me?"

Huh?

Suddenly riled up, all traces of laughter disappeared from Baekho's face as he released a wave of murderous intent. "Why do you keep talking without honorifics? Don't you know a thing about mutual respect? What, do you think a player somehow won't die if they get stabbed in the stomach?"

I felt like I was going to lose my mind. "...I'm not used to talking like that."

"Oh, you're a Westerner!"

That was another way that statement could be interpreted. I had been speaking with barbarians in mind.

"Then let's both speak casually. Okay?" A bright smile returning to his face, Baekho requested a handshake. At first glance, he seemed utterly unpredictable.

This has sobered me right up.

It kind of cleared my mind. Perhaps his seemingly erratic speech patterns were more strategic than they seemed, a way to seize the upper hand by skillfully draining the opponent's energy and leaving them with no time to think.

Did he ask if I watched the second movie to figure out when I came here, and the last question to check if I'm from Asia?

Maybe that was a leap, but it would be best to be careful.

I should definitely hide that I'm Hansu Lee.

That was my biggest concern. At first, I had thought it might be better to reveal both the fact that I was a player and who exactly I was to be on friendly terms with him, but I put that on hold for one reason.

"Looks like that cat's noticed it too. Wouldn't it be better to kill her?"

Earlier, he had offered that as a bit of simple advice, the same way someone might meddle in the life of an acquaintance. But the moment I revealed that I was Hansu Lee, he would make it his business. This guy was the type to be fiercely protective over one of the few Korean players in this strange world.

"But about me being a player..."

"Ah, I promise I won't tell anyone! What, do you think I don't have basic common courtesy?"

The word "yes" sat in the back of my throat, but I swallowed it back. Now that I'd talked to him some ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠more, I had a better understanding of him. Baekho was like a ball that was liable to bounce anywhere at any time. I could never get involved with him, at least not until I was confident I could control him.

"Anyway, I'm really glad you answered honestly. I heard you became a nobleman recently. If you were an NPC, I was planning to kill you here before you could join the palace's side."

That nonchalant statement made my heart skip a beat. "...What?"

"Why are you surprised? It's not like I just enjoy PKs or something. Well, as long as you're not an NPC born with a destiny it's fine. Those guys are a headache for me too."

I couldn't understand a word he was saying. A little curious, I tried to ask about it indirectly, but Baekho just glossed over it. Was it because I was Westerner Bjorn Yandel? I felt like he would've answered Korean Hansu Lee.

"Oh, and one more piece of advice just in case. It's a bit ridiculous to say this to someone who is already a nobleman, but don't get too involved with the palace."

"Your reasoning?"

"The palace is not interested in opening the Gate of the Abyss. No, instead, they're more intent on stopping that from happening. It might be their fault that the Genesis Treasures are gone too."

The palace? But why?

It was common knowledge that the key to saving this world was located in the deepest part of the labyrinth, but was that all a lie? I was filled to the brim with curiosity and questions. However, no matter what I asked him, Baekho just looked at me in annoyance and said: "Why do you need to know?"

Well, if that was how he felt, I doubted he'd tell me who the GM was, either.

While I was licking my lips in disappointment, he asked, "So, you're in that camp?"

I felt like I was going to lose my mind. "...I'm not used to talking like that."

"Oh, you're a Westerner!"

That was another way that statement could be interpreted. I had been speaking with barbarians in mind.

"Then let's both speak casually. Okay?" A bright smile returning to his face, Baekho requested a handshake. At first glance, he seemed utterly unpredictable.

This has sobered me right up.

It kind of cleared my mind. Perhaps his seemingly erratic speech patterns were more strategic than they seemed, a way to seize the upper hand by skillfully draining the opponent's energy and leaving them with no time to think.

Did he ask if I watched the second movie to figure out when I came here, and the last question to check if I'm from Asia?

Maybe that was a leap, but it would be best to be careful.

I should definitely hide that I'm Hansu Lee.

That was my biggest concern. At first, I had thought it might be better to reveal both the fact that I was a player and who exactly I was to be on friendly terms with him, but I put that on hold for one reason.

"Looks like that cat's noticed it too. Wouldn't it be better to kill her?"

Earlier, he had offered that as a bit of simple advice, the same way someone might meddle in the life of an acquaintance. But the moment I revealed that I was Hansu Lee, he would make it his business. This guy was the type to be fiercely protective over one of the few Korean players in this strange world.

"But about me being a player..."

"Ah, I promise I won't tell anyone! What, do you think I don't have basic common courtesy?"

The word "yes" sat in the back of my throat, but I swallowed it back. Now that I'd talked to him some more, I had a better understanding of him. Baekho was like a ball that was liable to bounce anywhere at any time. I could never get involved with him, at least not until I was confident I could control him.

"Anyway, I'm really glad you answered honestly. I heard you became a nobleman recently. If you were an NPC, I was planning to kill you here before you could join the palace's side."

That nonchalant statement made my heart skip a beat. "...What?"

"Why are you surprised? It's not like I just enjoy PKs or something. Well, as long as you're not an NPC born with a destiny it's fine. Those guys are a headache for me too."

I couldn't understand a word he was saying. A little curious, I tried to ask about it indirectly, but Baekho just glossed over it. Was it because I was Westerner Bjorn Yandel? I felt like he would've answered Korean Hansu Lee.

"Oh, and one more piece of advice just in case. It's a bit ridiculous to say this to someone who is already a nobleman, but don't get too involved with the palace."

"Your reasoning?"

"The palace is not interested in opening the Gate of the Abyss. No, instead, they're more intent on stopping that from happening. It might be their fault that the Genesis Treasures are gone too."

The palace? But why?

It was common knowledge that the key to saving this world was located in the deepest part of the labyrinth, but was that all a lie? I was filled to the brim with curiosity and questions. However, no matter what I asked him, Baekho just looked at me in annoyance and said: "Why do you need to know?"

Well, if that was how he felt, I doubted he'd tell me who the GM was, either.

While I was licking my lips in disappointment, he asked, "So, you're in that camp?"

"That camp?"

"You know, people who want to keep living here. When I saw you risk your life for that NPC, I figured you were one of those guys, but judging by your growth rate you might not be. Which is it?"

"What will you do if I say I want to stay?"

"What do you mean what will I do? Of course there are bastards like that out here. I'm not that inflexible. As long as it doesn't affect me, I don't care."

I quietly stared into Baekho's eyes, not that there was a point in doing so. I couldn't tell what was going on behind those blue eyes at all.

I don't think he's just sounding me out...

I let go of my worries and parted my lips. "I don't know." It was the most honest answer I could give. "At first, going back was my goal. But these days, I'm starting to wonder if I should really have to risk my life to go back."

"Because of that red cat?" I didn't answer, but I guessed that was enough for him. "I feel like I'm looking at the old me," Baekho said with a smirk. "I'm telling you this because you seem promising, but don't expect too much from an NPC. You'll definitely regret it."

I could sense a cold emotion hidden behind his laughing tone and suddenly questioned what had happened to him. Just what had he experienced in this world that he'd become such a broken monster who only wanted to go back? I had no way of finding out right now.

"Then since I asked all my questions, I'm leaving." Before long, Baekho turned around like he was done here and brought down the wall, which had just finished repairing itself. Actually, I wasn't sure if you could call what he did "brought down."

Crumble.

All that remained of the wall when he was done was dust. And when Baekho waved his hand again, even that dust was blown away by the wind.

...Good thing I didn't use Brainless Mode.

At the realization that it could've been my head that was turned to dust, I felt faint.

Just when I was watching Baekho leave, he turned around, looked at me, and delivered some parting words. "Oh, right. By the way, we're strangers the next time we meet. Got it?"

"What do you mean?"

"If we happen to run into each other by chance, don't pretend to know me. I don't do friends in this world."

Oh, that bastard. How cold.

***

After Baekho left, I exited the cave without looking back and returned to our lodgings. I spent the entire next morning resting with the trio, who were suffering from hangovers.

"Ughhh, Mister... I'm dying..."

"Bjorn... But when did you get back? How did the work yesterrrday go?"

By the way, Missha seemed to have forgotten everything that happened last night, as she didn't remember me coming back at all. Which was for the best.

"Is it because I can't give birrrth to a barbarian?"

If she knew she said something like that to me yesterday, she wouldn't have been able to face me.

"If you've finished the commission, can you just have fun now?"

"Of course." I'd planned for two nights and three days just in case, but all of our business at Gnometree had been concluded on the first day. The rest of the trip was free.

"Oooh! Let's go have fun!"

In the end, we spent the second day having fun until late at night. It was a rather enjoyable day, except for the drowning at the end.

"That camp?"

"You know, people who want to keep living here. When I saw you risk your life for that NPC, I figured you were one of those guys, but judging by your growth rate you might not be. Which is it?"

"What will you do if I say I want to stay?"

"What do you mean what will I do? Of course there are bastards like that out here. I'm not that inflexible. As long as it doesn't affect me, I don't care."

I quietly stared into Baekho's eyes, not that there was a point in doing so. I couldn't tell what was going on behind those blue eyes at all.

I don't think he's just sounding me out...

I let go of my worries and parted my lips. "I don't know." It was the most honest answer I could give. "At first, going back was my goal. But these days, I'm starting to wonder if I should really have to risk my life to go back."

"Because of that red cat?" I didn't answer, but I guessed that was enough for him. "I feel like I'm looking at the old me," Baekho said with a smirk. "I'm telling you this because you seem promising, but don't expect too much from an NPC. You'll definitely regret it."

I could sense a cold emotion hidden behind his laughing tone and suddenly questioned what had happened to him. Just what had he experienced in this world that he'd become such a broken monster who only wanted to go back? I had no way of finding out right now.

"Then since I asked all my questions, I'm leaving." Before long, Baekho turned around like he was done here and brought down the wall, which had just finished repairing itself. Actually, I wasn't sure if you could call what he did "brought down."

Crumble.

All that remained of the wall when he was done was dust. And when Baekho waved his hand again, even that dust was blown away by the wind.

...Good thing I didn't use Brainless Mode.

At the realization that it could've been my head that was turned to dust, I felt faint.

Just when I was watching Baekho leave, he turned around, looked at me, and delivered some parting words. "Oh, right. By the way, we're strangers the next time we meet. Got it?"

"What do you mean?"

"If we happen to run into each other by chance, don't pretend to know me. I don't do friends in this world."

Oh, that bastard. How cold.

***

After Baekho left, I exited the cave without looking back and returned to our lodgings. I spent the entire next morning resting with the trio, who were suffering from hangovers.

"Ughhh, Mister... I'm dying..."

"Bjorn... But when did you get back? How did the work yesterrrday go?"

By the way, Missha seemed to have forgotten everything that happened last night, as she didn't remember me coming back at all. Which was for the best.

"Is it because I can't give birrrth to a barbarian?"

If she knew she said something like that to me yesterday, she wouldn't have been able to face me.

"If you've finished the commission, can you just have fun now?"

"Of course." I'd planned for two nights and three days just in case, but all of our business at Gnometree had been concluded on the first day. The rest of the trip was free.

"Oooh! Let's go have fun!"

In the end, we spent the second day having fun until late at night. It was a rather enjoyable day, except for the drowning at the end.

"Ainar! I told you not to move like that!"

It happened at a fishing spot. We had been fishing at night with the lanterns on when Ainar freaked out after being bitten by a fish, causing the boat to capsize. The problem was that none of us knew how to swim. Well, the three of them had probably never been to waters this deep.

I really thought I was going to die.

Still, I learned one thing thanks to that whole mess. When I fell into Glacier Cave way back when, I'd assumed I'd been on the verge of drowning because of the armor but that wasn't it. Barbarians could not swim. It wasn't a question of technique, but because we had no choice but to sink if we fell into the water. Luckily, I had been able to use Giantization (Transcendence) mode to bring my head above the surface and call for help.

Once I get back, I should look around for swimming classes. Ainar may not be able to, but these guys should learn to swim.

Anyway, that was how our second day ended. The next day, after drinking all night and falling asleep, we woke up at noon and got on the carriage that would take us back home.

"Ugh, I wish we had just one more day. I guess we're rrreally leaving, though."

"I agree. Since Mister doesn't drink much at home..."

"Oooh! Missha! There are horses running over there!"

We spent a few hours admiring the natural scenery that was hard to come by in the city. We soon arrived at the southwest exit of Gnometree and returned the whistle we had received upon entry.

I forgot about that.

The whistle was a pride of the Gnometree and could summon a militia whenever and wherever it was blown. I wondered what would have happened if I'd blown it when I ran into Baekho, but I was sure it wouldn't have changed much. I didn't think he would have given me the time to do so, either.

"Then I'm going to rest. Let me know when you guys are hungry laterrr."

We arrived home in the evening and headed to our separate rooms to rest, and the next day wasn't all that different. It was a period of peaceful relaxation. As always, times like these flew by.

"I'm going out for a while."

The day had finally come. Two hours remained until midnight when the labyrinth would open. I finished getting ready and headed to Dimension Square.

They said the palace has really prepared for this one.

Rumor had it that the palace was building an army. Since they'd suffered a blow, apparently they planned to fight back properly and seek revenge. The scale of their efforts was unknown. That was because it seemed there hadn't been any official letters requesting cooperation from clans sent out like for the last conquest. That meant they intended to handle this with the power of the palace alone.

I'm sure I'll get a sense of it once I get to the plaza. Just how big their forces are.

I could actually see adventurers here and there heading to the plaza to scout out the situation. Everyone must have been curious about the palace's true potential, which had only ever been speculated on but never properly witnessed.

"Oh, Bjorn! Are you going to the square too?"

"I want to see for myself."

I spotted some familiar faces on the way, so we chatted while we walked together. A while later, all the adventurers who made their way over, including me, were tilting their heads in confusion.

"...Now I didn't expect this."

"To think there would be no one here."

It wasn't exactly no one. Guards from the Public Peace Agency were occupying the plaza to prevent adventurers from entering, but that was it.

"Where's the army?"

No matter where we looked, there was no sight of the rumored army.

"Are they not here yet?"

"My friend, do you really think that's likely? The labyrinth opens in five minutes. If they're still not here, that means the army never existed in the first place."

"How anticlimactic. To think the rumors about them putting up a proper fight were false."

The adventurers gathered near the square and started to leave one by one, making no effort to hide their disappointment. The same went for the adventurers I'd run into on the way here.

"Yandel, are you not coming?"

"I'm going to wait a little longer."

"Hmm, then I'll be going first."

Figuring I might as well just in case, I waited there until the portal opened and stayed for some time after it closed. To be blunt, there really was no army.

The heck? Are they aiming for the next opening?

I was full of questions, but staying here any longer wouldn't answer them. I gave up and turned around. And that was when it happened.

Booom!

Somewhere in the distance, I heard the faint sound of something collapsing.

Dddddd!

Before long, the ground beneath my feet began to shake.

"W-What is this? An earthquake?" The officials and security guards who filled the square froze, stunned looks on their faces.

The few knights in the square were different. Their expressions looked more resolute than anything, remaining unchanged as they began to whisper amongst themselves. Like something they had been waiting for had finally begun.

Yeah, so that's what it was.

I shifted my gaze to the ground. For some reason, I had a feeling I knew where the royal army was, even if I couldn't see it with my eyes right now.

Sneaking in right under everyone's noses.

The war had already begun.

"Ainar! I told you not to move like that!"

It happened at a fishing spot. We had been fishing at night with the lanterns on when Ainar freaked out after being bitten by a fish, causing the boat to capsize. The problem was that none of us knew how to swim. Well, the three of them had probably never been to waters this deep.

I really thought I was going to die.

Still, I learned one thing thanks to that whole mess. When I fell into Glacier Cave way back when, I'd assumed I'd been on the verge of drowning because of the armor but that wasn't it. Barbarians could not swim. It wasn't a question of technique, but because we had no choice but to sink if we fell into the water. Luckily, I had been able to use Giantization (Transcendence) mode to bring my head above the surface and call for help.

Once I get back, I should look around for swimming classes. Ainar may not be able to, but these guys should learn to swim.

Anyway, that was how our second day ended. The next day, after drinking all night and falling asleep, we woke up at noon and got on the carriage that would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠take us back home.

"Ugh, I wish we had just one more day. I guess we're rrreally leaving, though."

"I agree. Since Mister doesn't drink much at home..."

"Oooh! Missha! There are horses running over there!"

We spent a few hours admiring the natural scenery that was hard to come by in the city. We soon arrived at the southwest exit of Gnometree and returned the whistle we had received upon entry.

I forgot about that.

The whistle was a pride of the Gnometree and could summon a militia whenever and wherever it was blown. I wondered what would have happened if I'd blown it when I ran into Baekho, but I was sure it wouldn't have changed much. I didn't think he would have given me the time to do so, either.

"Then I'm going to rest. Let me know when you guys are hungry laterrr."

We arrived home in the evening and headed to our separate rooms to rest, and the next day wasn't all that different. It was a period of peaceful relaxation. As always, times like these flew by.

"I'm going out for a while."

The day had finally come. Two hours remained until midnight when the labyrinth would open. I finished getting ready and headed to Dimension Square.

They said the palace has really prepared for this one.

Rumor had it that the palace was building an army. Since they'd suffered a blow, apparently they planned to fight back properly and seek revenge. The scale of their efforts was unknown. That was because it seemed there hadn't been any official letters requesting cooperation from clans sent out like for the last conquest. That meant they intended to handle this with the power of the palace alone.

I'm sure I'll get a sense of it once I get to the plaza. Just how big their forces are.

I could actually see adventurers here and there heading to the plaza to scout out the situation. Everyone must have been curious about the palace's true potential, which had only ever been speculated on but never properly witnessed.

"Oh, Bjorn! Are you going to the square too?"

"I want to see for myself."

I spotted some familiar faces on the way, so we chatted while we walked together. A while later, all the adventurers who made their way over, including me, were tilting their heads in confusion.

"...Now I didn't expect this."

"To think there would be no one here."

It wasn't exactly no one. Guards from the Public Peace Agency were occupying the plaza to prevent adventurers from entering, but that was it.

"Where's the army?"

No matter where we looked, there was no sight of the rumored army.

"Are they not here yet?"

"My friend, do you really think that's likely? The labyrinth opens in five minutes. If they're still not here, that means the army never existed in the first place."

"How anticlimactic. To think the rumors about them putting up a proper fight were false."

The adventurers gathered near the square and started to leave one by one, making no effort to hide their disappointment. The same went for the adventurers I'd run into on the way here.

"Yandel, are you not coming?"

"I'm going to wait a little longer."

"Hmm, then I'll be going first."

Figuring I might as well just in case, I waited there until the portal opened and stayed for some time after it closed. To be blunt, there really was no army.

The heck? Are they aiming for the next opening?

I was full of questions, but staying here any longer wouldn't answer them. I gave up and turned around. And that was when it happened.

Booom!

Somewhere in the distance, I heard the faint sound of something collapsing.

Dddddd!

Before long, the ground beneath my feet began to shake.

"W-What ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is this? An earthquake?" The officials and security guards who filled the square froze, stunned looks on their faces.

The few knights in the square were different. Their expressions looked more resolute than anything, remaining unchanged as they began to whisper amongst themselves. Like something they had been waiting for had finally begun.

Yeah, so that's what it was.

I shifted my gaze to the ground. For some reason, I had a feeling I knew where the royal army was, even if I couldn't see it with my eyes right now.

Sneaking in right under everyone's noses.

The war had already begun.