Chapter 309: Chapter 309: Round Table (3) - Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 309: Round Table (3)

The silence that had fallen several times throughout our conversation once again stretched between us. Auril Gavis watched me cooly, and I met his eyes without looking away. Although I tried not to show it, I felt like I couldn't breathe.

"Now then..." Auril calmly opened his mouth, acting as if nothing had happened. "Is it my turn?"

My heart pounded at those words. This old man was like the abyss a famed philosopher had once spoken of. Through this conversation, he was able to gaze beyond the darkness back at me.

"How many people clear the original in the next twenty years?"

With his first question, this man had checked to see if there was a replacement for me.

"Do you wish to return to Earth?"

With his second question, he had checked whether I had flaws. So what would the third question be? The answer was coming out of his mouth now.

"What is the name of the body your soul came to dwell in as it passed through the Gate of the Abyss?"

Bjorn Yandel—my name. A concrete way of finding me outside this anonymous, spiritual world.

"Do not say Nivelles Enze. I had a strange feeling about that last time and already looked into it." I recalled the mysterious look in his eyes when I gave him the name Nivelles Enze. At the time, I thought I'd done a good job of clearing that hurdle. "The question I asked at the time was what name you use here, correct?" But, noticing my trick, Auril had begun investigating. "Did you ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠know? There are a total of seven people in Rafdonia who use that name. I was able to visit six of them to confirm they were ordinary people but..."

"But you were never able to find the last one."

"Rank-six adventurer Nivelles Enze. Surprisingly, he was a barbarian, even though I was sure his name followed a human naming convention."

The longer the conversation dragged on, the more it felt like the walls were closing in on me, and suddenly it hit me.

"...Are you perhaps a barbarian?"

Even that seemingly joking question from earlier had been part of a plan to reveal my true identity. Despite the fact that I gave him the name of a false identity, he must have concluded that the races, at least, must be the same.

"Let me ask again," Auril repeated his question once more. "What is the name of the body your soul came to dwell in as it passed through the Gate of the Abyss?"

There was no way for me to use a different name. By wording the question in that specific way, he ensured that the only answer I could give was already set in stone.

God damn it.

I didn't know about anything else, but I had to hide my name now that I knew what kind of person Auril Gavis was. Although it may have been too early to conclude he was an enemy, at least one thing was for sure.

"How could I ever be at peace? Of course I feel sorry for you. I feel responsible as well. I will probably live with and atone for this for the rest of my life."

This old man could never be my ally.

"I will not answer that." I proudly exercised my right to remain silent.

"Hmm..." Surprisingly, Auril didn't argue. He simply studied my reaction like he found it interesting. "I guess that was a tough question for you. Well, it makes sense for you to be wary of me. Let me change the question then." He did not get hung up on the fact that I wouldn't tell him my name and instead changed tacks. "How long has it been since you woke up in that body?"

He questioned the length of my stay here. Since he knew I came from twenty years in the future, obtaining that information would allow Auril to guess when in the timeline I would open my eyes in the body of a barbarian.

"I will ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not answer that."

"Really? Then another question—"

"No, question and answer time is over." I ended our game of twenty questions with no regrets. There were still many things I wanted to ask, but this old man was not running a charity. If there was something I wanted, I would have to pay the price for it. And I made the call that paying any more here would be dangerous.

"...Wait, it's over? What do you mean by that?"

"It is as I said. Since you were the one running the game, there shouldn't be any issues, right?"

Auril licked his lips in disappointment at my one-sided declaration, studying me. I knew for a fact he couldn't logically refute me. It wasn't like we had decided in advance how many questions we would be asking.

He made his regret obvious. "That's unexpected. I was sure you still had a lot of questions for me."

"Well." There was no doubt that the list of questions I had for him could fill numerous pages. In fact, my next question was going to be whether the Fragment of Records Stone that the castellan had in his possession could return me to my original time.

Good thing I didn't ask that earlier.

Now that I thought about it, I was glad I'd put off asking that question. If he worked backwards, that one question could expose the fact that I was currently in Noark.

"I guess you won't change your mind?" The old man stared straight at me for a while longer before letting out a deep sigh and praising me instead. "The more I talk to you, the cleverer you are. So what will you do now? Will you go back?" Contrary to what I expected, Auril acted like a gentleman and offered to send me back whenever I wanted.

What should I do?

I didn't expect our game of twenty questions to end so early, so I ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠needed time to figure out what was next.

It'd be a waste to just go back like this...

After thinking it through for a moment, I finally decided to go with an earlier plan. "Why don't we do as you suggested earlier? Have our conversation with the others present."

"Hmm? I thought that our conversation was already over?"

"I think it's a good idea. Although it needs a few tweaks." Since I'd come all the way here, I should at least see their faces.

Twenty questions with Auril Gavis was a lot like Russian roulette, especially in that each turn that passed left me on pins and needles.

So that's enough limited-edition information.

There was tons of stuff I didn't know, anyway. Auril wouldn't be the only one here with useful information, especially considering these people were evil spirits from another realm who were brought to this world decades before me.

It would be a free exchange of information rather than a question and answer session, but all of the information given would have to be true, and it would have to be something at least half of the participants didn't already know. When I explained the rules of the future Round Table to him in their entirety, Auril laughed joyfully. "Hmm, what an interesting idea you just came up with. That sounds logical. The system is well-structured for something you developed on the spot. What did you used to do in your original world?"

The answer was that I was an ordinary office worker. Of course, I wasn't going to give him an honest response. "I thought I said the question and answer period was over?" I replied sharply.

He questioned the length of my stay here. Since he knew I came from twenty years in the future, obtaining that information would allow Auril to guess when in the timeline I would open my eyes in the body of a barbarian.

"I will not answer that."

"Really? Then another question—"

"No, question and answer time is over." I ended our game of twenty questions with no regrets. There were still many things I wanted to ask, but this old man was not running a charity. If there was something I wanted, I would have to pay the price for it. And I made the call that paying any more here would be dangerous.

"...Wait, it's over? What do you mean by that?"

"It is as I said. Since you were the one running the game, there shouldn't be any issues, right?"

Auril licked his lips in disappointment at my one-sided declaration, studying me. I knew for a fact he couldn't logically refute me. It wasn't like we had decided in advance how many questions we would be asking.

He made his regret obvious. "That's unexpected. I was sure you still had a lot of questions for me."

"Well." There was no doubt that the list of questions I had for him could fill numerous pages. In fact, my next question was going to be whether the Fragment of Records Stone that the castellan had in his possession could return me to my original time.

Good thing I didn't ask that earlier.

Now that I thought about it, I was glad I'd put off asking that question. If he worked backwards, that one question could expose the fact that I was currently in Noark.

"I guess you won't change your mind?" The old man stared straight at me for a while longer before letting out a deep sigh and praising me instead. "The more I talk to you, the cleverer you are. So what will you do now? Will you go back?" Contrary to what I expected, Auril acted like a gentleman and offered to send me back whenever I wanted.

What should I do?

I didn't expect our game of twenty questions to end so early, so I needed time to figure out what was next.

It'd be a waste to just go back like this...

After thinking it through for a moment, I finally decided to go with an earlier plan. "Why don't we do as you suggested earlier? Have our conversation with the others present."

"Hmm? I thought that our conversation was already over?"

"I think it's a good idea. Although it needs a few tweaks." Since I'd come all the way here, I should at least see their faces.

Twenty questions with Auril Gavis was a lot like Russian roulette, especially in that each turn that passed left me on pins and needles.

So that's enough limited-edition information.

There was tons of stuff I didn't know, anyway. Auril wouldn't be the only one here with useful information, especially considering these people were evil spirits from another realm who were brought to this world decades before me.

It would be a free exchange of information rather than a question and answer session, but all of the information given would have to be true, and it would have to be something at least half of the participants didn't already know. When I explained the rules of the future Round Table to him in their entirety, Auril laughed joyfully. "Hmm, what an interesting idea you just came up with. That sounds logical. The system is well-structured for something you developed on the spot. What did you used to do in your original world?"

The answer was that I was an ordinary office worker. Of course, I wasn't going to give him an honest response. "I thought I said the question and answer period was over?" I replied sharply.

"I was just curious," Auril muttered, aggrieved. "And it's not as if I asked for a great big secret, no?"

He wasn't wrong. But since he was the one asking, it felt like there had to be some kind of hidden motive behind it.

"Anyway, give me a moment. To add the capabilities you mentioned, I'll have to imbue it with more of my power." Auril then placed his hand on the jewel and closed his eyes in concentration.

Whooom.

Although it wasn't visible to the naked eye, the air around the gem distorted a bit, kind of like the haze that appeared above a hot road in the middle of summer.

"It's all done."

"That looked easier than I thought."

"Haha, it hurts my feelings when you say things like that. Whether you believe me or not is up to you, but I lost a significant portion of my power over this space by doing that."

Hmm, I'm still not convinced...

When I glanced at Auril, the old man launched into an explanation I didn't even ask for. "The main casualty was my ability to materialize things here. I still have enough power to create an object if I use all my concentration, but the results will be different from the real thing."

I wasn't paying much attention to what he was saying, but that last part made me flinch. Materialization, concentration—whatever. But different from the real thing? "Wait, is that why the Sprite earlier tasted so bland...?"

Auril nodded without hesitation. "That's right. Is there a problem?"

Of course there is. That means I can no longer experience the refreshing taste of Sprite from here on out.

"That is a serious Sprite addiction you have, my friend. But seeing as you miss it so much, I guess that means it's been quite a while since you came over from your world?"

What was this old man talking about? The fact that he was trying to dig for information at a moment like this was, well... That thankfully brought me to my senses. "Forget that—why are you doing all this? It's obvious that power is a very important one."

Auril laughed as if he had read my mind and found whatever he saw very cute. "You once told me that you received an invitation from someone nicknamed the GM."

Ah, I did say that once. "And?"

"That means that ownership of this space will be transferred to ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠them sometime in the future. I don't know how that transpired, but if it's going to happen anyway, there is no reason to hand over the substantial potential this space has to them as well."

I thought I could understand his logic. Even if this was something you would never do under normal circumstances, if the service termination date had already been announced, that was a different story. No amount of stacking the deck was a waste. But there was one thing I was wondering.

"Why don't you ask more about the GM?"

"Haha, you told me you don't know much about them, other than their nickname."

Ah, that's true.

While I was busy nodding, Auril added in a low voice, "And even if you did know more, I do not particularly want to ask."

"...Why?" I asked, genuinely curious.

Auril's tone was somewhat forlorn as he answered. "I told you. A future that has already come to pass cannot be changed no matter what."

Hmm, are you trying to say ignorance is bliss?

Just as I was starting to get where he was coming from, Auril stood up and I followed his lead. "That's enough chitchat. Let us go. I think they will enjoy this too."

"I was just curious," Auril muttered, aggrieved. "And it's not as if I asked for a great big secret, no?"

He wasn't wrong. But since he was the one asking, it felt like there had to be some kind of hidden motive behind it.

"Anyway, give me a moment. To add the capabilities you mentioned, I'll have to imbue it with more of my power." Auril then placed his hand on the jewel and closed his eyes in concentration.

Whooom.

Although it wasn't visible to the naked eye, the air around the gem distorted a bit, kind of like the haze that appeared above a hot road in the middle of summer.

"It's all done."

"That looked easier than I thought."

"Haha, it hurts my feelings when you say things like that. Whether you believe me or not is up to you, but I lost a significant portion of my power over this space by doing that."

Hmm, I'm still not convinced...

When I glanced at Auril, the old man launched into an explanation I didn't even ask for. "The main casualty was my ability to materialize things here. I still have enough power to create an object if I use all my concentration, but the results will be different from the real thing."

I wasn't paying much attention to what he was saying, but that last part made me flinch. Materialization, concentration—whatever. But different from the real thing? "Wait, is that why the Sprite earlier tasted so bland...?"

Auril nodded without hesitation. "That's right. Is there a problem?"

Of course there is. That means I can no longer experience the refreshing taste of Sprite from here on out.

"That is a serious Sprite addiction you have, my friend. But seeing as you miss it so much, I guess that means it's been quite a while since you came over from your world?"

What was this old man talking about? The fact that he was trying to dig for information at a moment like this was, well... That thankfully brought me to my senses. "Forget that—why are you doing all this? It's obvious that power is a very important one."

Auril laughed as if he had read my mind and found whatever he saw very cute. "You once told me that you received an invitation from someone nicknamed the GM."

Ah, I did say that once. "And?"

"That means that ownership of this space will be transferred to them sometime in the future. I don't know how that transpired, but if it's going to happen anyway, there is no reason to hand over the substantial potential this space has to them as well."

I thought I could understand his logic. Even if this was something you would never do under normal circumstances, if the service termination date had already been announced, that was a different story. No amount of stacking the deck was a waste. But there was one thing I was wondering.

"Why don't you ask more about the GM?"

"Haha, you told me you don't know much about them, other than their nickname."

Ah, that's true.

While I was busy nodding, Auril added in a low voice, "And even if you did know more, I do not particularly want to ask."

"...Why?" I asked, genuinely curious.

Auril's tone was somewhat forlorn as he answered. "I told you. A future that has already come to pass cannot be changed no matter what."

Hmm, are you trying to say ignorance is bliss?

Just as I was starting to get where he was coming from, Auril stood up and I followed his lead. "That's enough chitchat. Let us go. I think they will enjoy this too."

We headed to the room with the Round Table, which I was far too familiar with.

Creaaak.

When Auril stepped through the door, the three men and one woman seated inside turned to him.

"...Master."

Their reactions were all identical. I didn't know what he did after he sent me off the other day, but everyone was looking at Auril with fear in their eyes.

"And... that man is here again as well."

They also showed interest in me. But was it because Auril firmly put his foot down when it came to my identity last time? None of them were bold enough to open their mouths and ask.

Just like that, a strange silence descended over the Round Table for a beat. The one to end it was Auril. "Haha, everyone is so tense today." He spoke like an all-powerful being who, out of consideration for the little guy, wanted to assure them they could relax now.

The woman whose name I didn't know parted her lips in an exhale. "Understandably so, considering how you were at the end of our last meeting..."

Auril chuckled apologetically. From there, the atmosphere started to loosen up.

"Anyway, it's good to see everyone together. You see, I made something very interesting during my conversation with this man." Auril proceeded to place the jewel down at the center of the Round Table before continuing. "I summoned you all here for the purpose of exchanging information, but we haven't managed to have a proper conversation yet, have we? Perhaps this will solve that problem."

"Could you please explain in more detail?" The man whom I presumed to be the head of Orcules asked.

Auril briefly explained the rules of the meeting. Once the explanation was over, there were mixed reactions.

"Information that more than half of the members are unaware of... That'll be difficult." The woman seemed somewhat worried.

The middle-aged man named Kagureas, on the other hand, seemed to welcome the idea. "But it has to be at least that compelling for this to turn into a proper exchange. Since everyone has been busy hiding things from each other so far."

The child, Fallen Scholar, who spoke in a dignified manner despite his young appearance, asked only one thing. "Will you be participating, Master?"

"Of course I intend to participate. The same goes for my friend beside me."

At Auril's response, the four people turned to me again. They seemed somewhat displeased. I was sure they didn't want to reveal any information to a strange outsider who had suddenly intruded on their meeting.

And while I may look like I have Auril's favor, they must be wondering if I'm really on the same level as them.

Hmm, so what should I do? I think it would be best to prove how qualified I am first.

After taking a moment to think, I called Auril's name. Actually, I was about to call his name, but I stopped myself just in time. "Um..."

"Ah, just call me Master. As it stands, you are the only one here who knows my name."

Uh, you're just gonna drop that on us out of nowhere?

The moment the old man cut me off, the eyes of the other four people in the room went wide.

What the hell is this?

To be honest, "baffled" wasn't a strong enough word to describe how I was feeling right now. Just how did this old man treat these people?

"He knows... your name...?"

I had no idea he hadn't even told them his name. Well, maybe this would be useful for establishing my credibility. As I was processing my shock and trying to look at this positively, I noticed Auril smile so that only I could see.

Jeez, he's so transparent.

It was obvious why this old man was helping me. If it weren't for me, he would have had no reason to participate in this meeting. The reason he'd said yes to my proposal in the first place was probably because he wanted to obtain as much information about me as possible. And that wasn't all.

"Now, now. Sit yourselves down. It's only natural that you're wary of him, but that can all be resolved by him going first." Auril smoothly set things up so that I'd be forced to share an important piece of information.

"...Shouldn't you ask if everyone will participate first?" I didn't hide my disapproval at the old man's trick. But what was this now? The eyes of the quartet widened again like they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

"How could he speak in such a way to Master...?"

"...But Master isn't reprimanding him."

Ugh, it's like I can't say anything here.

It was so ridiculous that it wasn't even funny.

Drag.

I just pulled out a chair wherever and sat down. As soon as I did, everyone at the table expressed their intent to participate one by one.

"I will participate."

"I will too."

"...Who would refuse a seat at a table like this?"

The number of people who opted out was zero. Auril didn't bother to hide his satisfied smile and took on the role of emcee. "Then we've reached a unanimous agreement. There is no need for introductions, so let's get started. Once you go first, we will go around the table clockwise."

With that, everyone's attention turned to me again. Even I couldn't help feeling the heat, and rightfully so, because I was the first speaker of the very first Round Table summit. Depending on the quality of the information I gave them here, the quality of the information they would provide me would go up as well.

Even if it weren't for that, it would be best not to let them look down on me.

There was something I'd learned from my time at the Round Table twenty years in the future. First, acting cool was the way to go. Just like how people applauded celebrities for so much as taking a poo, there were many moments I'd passed my turn with insignificant information that the others simply assumed held some hidden meaning because I was the one sharing it.

Hmm, what should I go with?

Even as I continued to think it over, I studied each face sitting at the Round Table. Everyone was showing a strong interest in me, and among them, Auril was the most enthusiastic.

So, you're dying to know what information I'll drop in a situation like this, huh?

Thanks to that, my anxiety vanished. I knew what this old man was waiting for.

Not a chance.

This wasn't my first rodeo. Coming to a decision, I opened my mouth to share something that would be useless to Auril and also satisfy the other members. "The Earth Witch is alive."

[Lion Style Form 1: Juggling Information]