Chapter 333: To the Future (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 333: To the Future (3)
What was I doing now, and for what purpose? In order to become an excellent gamer, you had to be constantly aware of your goals and the means to achieve them. By doing so, you could reduce the amount of time you wasted unnecessarily. That was how to have an efficient gaming life.
Lick.
Even as I licked my lips, I was busy running through my list of what I wanted to achieve on this trip to the community. I didn't need to think for too long, though, as it could all be summed up in one sentence. My goal was to find out the GM's identity.
Hmm, this would be best.
Lion Style Form Four: Possession. Going beyond method acting, this was a technique that allowed me to smoothly carry on a conversation like I'd been possessed by the person I was embodying. I made it up just now.
"Haha, did I surprise you?" When I laughed like the old man, the white guy's eyes widened.
"A-Are you really him, sir?" His voice was welcoming, but did he sense something was off? His guard, which seemed to have lowered a bit, went up higher again. "But your height is different... Your skin as well..."
Haha, you have a lot of doubts for a newbie. You'll be a big boy one day.
I spoke like I was rather happy to be on the receiving end of his suspicions. "I could say the same to you as well." My tone was that of a grandfather kindly teaching his grandson something new.
The man glanced around at his surroundings as if he'd just realized something, then checked his reflection in the glass window on the wall. "Ah, then is this your true self?"
"That's right."
"But why the mask...?"
"I don't want to show my real face to others."
"Ah..."
'Ah' what? It was quite funny to see him nod like he understood my logic, but I made sure to keep a straight face. I was not Hansu Lee right now.
"Haha, so how is it here?" I decided to start with a light question and gather information bit by bit.
"Ah, right... I'm not sure yet. I'm not really sure how to do the thing you told me about, either..."
The thing I told him? I had no idea what he was talking about, so I whipped out Form Two: Sit Tight. Using the secret skill that always got me halfway through, I soon felt a tug on the line.
"The... materialization you mentioned? Even that isn't all that easy..."
Ah, that.
Thankfully, that was something I was familiar with. It was an essential function to master if you wanted to be active in the Ghost Busters community.
Normally it only works in a person's inner world. But since he took over the Master's position, I guess it would work for him here too.
I quickly took stock of the situation and smoothly continued the conversation. "Haha, it's natural to have a hard time at first. I will help you a little. Is there something you want to eat?"
"...Yes."
"Close your eyes and imagine it in your head in detail. Imagine it is in your hands. Yes, good job. You're a quick learner."
"Sorry...?"
"Would you like to open your eyes?"
"Yes... H-Huh?" The man opened his eyes, which went wide at the hamburger in his hand. He took a big bite. "...I can't taste it."
Oh, that? Sorry, that function was removed when the Round Table got made before you came... But there's no need to tell him such a cruel truth.
"That is unavoidable, so don't be too down on yourself."
"Right..." The man nodded in acceptance but still couldn't hide his dismay.
It wasn't like I couldn't sympathize. When I first came to Ghost Busters, I couldn't hide the disappointment I felt after trying the can of Coke in the refrigerator, either.
"Ah, um."
"Speak."
"But what happened to you, sir? You told me I would never see you again..." Judging by his tone, he wasn't suspicious of me but simply curious.
It wasn't a very difficult question so I was able to easily answer it. "I was worried about you. I thought I should meet with you here at least once and provide you some help before I leave."
"Ah, I see...!" Like the naive newbie he was, the man trusted this without a hint of suspicion.
As soon as I saw this, I knew the timing was perfect. Since I'd managed to gain some of his trust, it was time for some digging. "Don't worry too much." I patted the man's shoulder nonchalantly like someone with no ulterior motives. "With magical talent like yours, you will be able to quickly improve at materialization."
The GM was a wizard. I already knew this after meeting him in person months ago, but the reason why I deliberately chose the words "magical talent" was simple. It was best to be cautious about everything. Since he was only in his first year, it was possible that he wasn't officially a wizard yet.
"Ah, magic... that's why you chose me, sir." Judging by his tone, it sounded like he'd already selected the wizard route. "Still, there is something I don't quite understand. There would be many people more capable than a half-wizard like me, so why...?"
"Do not belittle yourself. How many of those called to this world have established themselves as quickly as you? You will surely become even greater with time." When I started innocently praising him, the man looked away in obvious embarrassment. At this point, I attempted to dig for his identity one more time. "By the way, what was your rank again?"
"Rank six."
What? I was genuinely surprised. It wouldn't have even been a year since he was called here, but rank six? Was that possible in such a short time?
As those questions were filling my mind, the man muttered in a self-deprecating tone, "Luckily my rank is high, but I still can't use magic properly, so I live on edge every day..."
That answered my questions. Combined with the fact that he called himself a half-wizard earlier and told me he couldn't use magic just now, that had to mean that the character he possessed when he got here was already a wizard. Statistically, evil spirit possession only happened when the possessed person was twenty years of age. However, unlike adventurers, who could only enter the labyrinth as adults, wizards were able to select their class at a young age.
Ha, so while I started from scratch as a barbarian...
Even as I found myself getting jealous of someone else for the first time in a long time, I carved that vital piece of information into my head. So there were cases like these among evil spirits.
"Um... what's the matter?"
I laughed. "It's nothing. I'm just proud of you."
"Please don't be like that. It makes me embarrassed..."
"Embarrassed? How is knowing your shortcomings and working hard to fix them something to be embarrassed about?"
At the warm words that almost gave me a toothache just from saying them, the man looked at me, moved. "Sir...!"
Oh, that? Sorry, that function was removed when the Round Table got made before you came... But there's no need to tell him such a cruel truth.
"That is unavoidable, so don't be too down on yourself."
"Right..." The man nodded in acceptance but still couldn't hide his dismay.
It wasn't like I couldn't sympathize. When I first came to Ghost Busters, I couldn't hide the disappointment I felt after trying the can of Coke in the refrigerator, either.
"Ah, um."
"Speak."
"But what happened to you, sir? You told me I would never see you again..." Judging by his tone, he wasn't suspicious of me but simply curious.
It wasn't a very difficult question so I was able to easily answer it. "I was worried about you. I thought I should meet with you here at least once and provide you some help before I leave."
"Ah, I see...!" Like the naive newbie he was, the man trusted this without a hint of suspicion.
As soon as I saw this, I knew the timing was perfect. Since I'd managed to gain some of his trust, it was time for some digging. "Don't worry too much." I patted the man's shoulder nonchalantly like someone with no ulterior motives. "With magical talent like yours, you will be able to quickly improve at materialization."
The GM was a wizard. I already knew this after meeting him in person months ago, but the reason why I deliberately chose the words "magical talent" was simple. It was best to be cautious about everything. Since he was only in his first year, it was possible that he wasn't officially a wizard yet.
"Ah, magic... that's why you chose me, sir." Judging by his tone, it sounded like he'd already selected the wizard route. "Still, there is something I don't quite understand. There would be many people more capable than a half-wizard like me, so why...?"
"Do not belittle yourself. How many of those called to this world have established themselves as quickly as you? You will surely become even greater with time." When I started innocently praising him, the man looked away in obvious embarrassment. At this point, I attempted to dig for his identity one more time. "By the way, what was your rank again?"
"Rank six."
What? I was genuinely surprised. It wouldn't have even been a year since he was called here, but rank six? Was that possible in such a short time?
As those questions were filling my mind, the man muttered in a self-deprecating tone, "Luckily my rank is high, but I still can't use magic properly, so I live on edge every day..."
That answered my questions. Combined with the fact that he called himself a half-wizard earlier and told me he couldn't use magic just now, that had to mean that the character he possessed when he got here was already a wizard. Statistically, evil spirit possession only happened when the possessed person was twenty years of age. However, unlike adventurers, who could only enter the labyrinth as adults, wizards were able to select their class at a young age.
Ha, so while I started from scratch as a barbarian...
Even as I found myself getting jealous of someone else for the first time in a long time, I carved that vital piece of information into my head. So there were cases like these among evil spirits.
"Um... what's the matter?"
I laughed. "It's nothing. I'm just proud of you."
"Please don't be like that. It makes me embarrassed..."
"Embarrassed? How is knowing your shortcomings and working hard to fix them something to be embarrassed about?"
At the warm words that almost gave me a toothache just from saying them, the man looked at me, moved. "Sir...!"
Okay, in the game, he'd be in the Confused state right about now.
I snuck in another question. "But... what is your name?"
It was about time I learned the identity of the GM, which was shrouded in mystery. I knew he was a wizard, but I didn't know his name or face yet, so I wanted to use this opportunity to figure it out.
"Pardon? My name? Why...?" The man looked confused at my question. Suspicion showed signs of emerging in his eyes, something I'd worked hard to mitigate by building his trust up to this point.
Welp, I guess it's not going to work out like this.
I quickly made a decision and whipped out Plan B. Plan A had just been to test the waters anyway. "Haha, I was asking for your real name," I said cheerfully.
"R-Real name?" The man looked taken aback for a moment before exhaling in relief. "Ah... no wonder. I was wondering why you were suddenly asking my name. You have no reason to ask that..."
"Haha, I was only asking out of curiosity, so you don't have to answer if you don't feel comfortable."
"No. There's no point in hiding my real name. It's Oliver Wiseman."
"What a nice sounding name, haha..." I laughed like the old man and filtered the name "Oliver Wiseman" out the other ear. As he said earlier, what was the point in knowing it? Real names were useless here.
"But, sir?"
"Hmm?"
"Could I ask for some advice?"
"Of course. Go ahead."
"You told me to turn this place into a place for evil spirits—no, players—to interact."
Uh, did he?
"I did."
"I think I can produce the pill you spoke of with a bit more research, but I'm clueless about the other aspects. Could you give me some advice on those?"
"Hmm..."
"I don't know how to start decorating this place."
Oh, that. After thinking it through for a while, I gave the GM what I knew would end up being great advice. Since I'd decided to play along, it wasn't hard at all to help him out. If he didn't know how to run this community, I just had to tell him what I saw in the future.
"As this world classifies people like you as evil spirits, the others will be reluctant to enter this place. There should be a system in place to maintain complete anonymity."
"Ah! I do have an idea for that part! I think I can create something like an internet forum..."
"Internet forum?"
"Sorry. That would be an unfamiliar term for you."
The GM explained internet communities in an easy-to-understand manner like someone teaching an old man about pop culture. For someone who had lived with the internet my whole life, this explanation was completely redundant. However, I learned one thing from this.
So, Auril didn't introduce himself properly.
Judging by how this guy was talking, it seemed Auril had only introduced himself as an evil spirit from another world and not the creator of the game. Anyway, that wasn't important.
"Oh, that sounds like a good idea. But while you're at it, I think it would also be a good idea to use those 'computers' you mentioned earlier. It suits the form of a community, and it would be easier for people to adapt to something they are familiar with."
Okay, in the game, he'd be in the Confused state right about now.
I snuck in another question. "But... what is your name?"
It was about time I learned the identity of the GM, which was shrouded in mystery. I knew he was a wizard, but I didn't know his name or face yet, so I wanted to use this opportunity to figure it out.
"Pardon? My name? Why...?" The man looked confused at my question. Suspicion showed signs of emerging in his eyes, something I'd worked hard to mitigate by building his trust up to this point.
Welp, I guess it's not going to work out like this.
I quickly made a decision and whipped out Plan B. Plan A had just been to test the waters anyway. "Haha, I was asking for your real name," I said cheerfully.
"R-Real name?" The man looked taken aback for a moment before exhaling in relief. "Ah... no wonder. I was wondering why you were suddenly asking my name. You have no reason to ask that..."
"Haha, I was only asking out of curiosity, so you don't have to answer if you don't feel comfortable."
"No. There's no point in hiding my real name. It's Oliver Wiseman."
"What a nice sounding name, haha..." I laughed like the old man and filtered the name "Oliver Wiseman" out the other ear. As he said earlier, what was the point in knowing it? Real names were useless here.
"But, sir?"
"Hmm?"
"Could I ask for some advice?"
"Of course. Go ahead."
"You told me to turn this place into a place for evil spirits—no, players—to interact."
Uh, did he?
"I did."
"I think I can produce the pill you spoke of with a bit more research, but I'm clueless about the other aspects. Could you give me some advice on those?"
"Hmm..."
"I don't know how to start decorating this place."
Oh, that. After thinking it through for a while, I gave the GM what I knew would end up being great advice. Since I'd decided to play along, it wasn't hard at all to help him out. If he didn't know how to run this community, I just had to tell him what I saw in the future.
"As this world classifies people like you as evil spirits, the others will be reluctant to enter this place. There should be a system in place to maintain complete anonymity."
"Ah! I do have an idea for that part! I think I can create something like an internet forum..."
"Internet forum?"
"Sorry. That would be an unfamiliar term for you."
The GM explained internet communities in an easy-to-understand manner like someone teaching an old man about pop culture. For someone who had lived with the internet my whole life, this explanation was completely redundant. However, I learned one thing from this.
So, Auril didn't introduce himself properly.
Judging by how this guy was talking, it seemed Auril had only introduced himself as an evil spirit from another world and not the creator of the game. Anyway, that wasn't important.
"Oh, that sounds like a good idea. But while you're at it, I think it would also be a good idea to use those 'computers' you mentioned earlier. It suits the form of a community, and it would be easier for people to adapt to something they are familiar with."
"Oh... you're right!"
"It would also be a good idea to create something like an exchange for different parties to help each other. A place to exchange real-life information and items without revealing their identities will be an attractive prospect to many."
"Wow..."
"And when you send out those pills, send them a letter in your mother tongue to explain what kind of place this is."
"Incredible...! It's amazing enough that you grasped the concept of computers and communities right away, but to think of all this as well...!"
I spent a while describing the final form of Ghost Busters to the GM like it was all my idea. With each section, the GM let out exclamations of admiration.
But it seemed something had belatedly occurred to him. "Just from what you're describing, it'll be an extraordinary place. But how can I create all that?" the GM asked, tilting his head. To that, I had nothing to say.
How, you ask? That's for the engineer to figure out. How would I know the process?
"If it's you, you can do it," I said firmly.
"Sorry...?"
"You may still be inexperienced in materialization, but you will slowly get used to it. I believe in you."
"Ah, right..." the GM answered half-heartedly. He looked like he still lacked confidence, but that wasn't my problem. That was how things turned out in the future, anyway.
I ended the debate about feasibility there and resumed my design work. "Oh, and one more thing. How about writing an entry code at the bottom of the letter?"
"You mean a password?"
"Yes, if you use an insult to the palace as the password, you should be able to filter out spies to some extent."
The PS after the letter actually served as a password. Not that it mattered much, of course. Whether you got the password right or not, Soul Queen had to approve your membership after a verification process. Since I was a perceptive person, I'd figured out the trick hidden in the letter and entered the password before she even arrived.
Oh, come to think of it, though, the abbreviation for 'password' is PW, not PS.
How did that happen, then? Had it just been a stroke of luck on my part? It suddenly occurred to me that there might have been another way to figure out the password, but that wasn't something to worry about right now.
"Sir, are you unwell?"
"Ahem, no. Where was I?"
"You were talking about a way to identify spies."
"Ah, right." After that, I rattled off information on everything from the contents of the letter to the concept of everyone having individual private spaces, along with measures to filter out and eject spies.
Those should be enough instructions.
Although I was bound to have missed some details conveying this verbally, I wasn't particularly worried. This wasn't the first time I'd experienced this since coming to the past. Whether I said everything or not, this mansion would slowly turn into the community I knew.
Hmm, maybe this was the task I had left to do in this era...
As the thought popped into my head unbidden, I suddenly began to worry I might be sent back to the present as soon as I left the community.
No, come on. That won't happen.
I tried to shake off my concerns.
"But, sir..." the GM said cautiously. "This isn't certain, but the person you mentioned at the end last time. I think I know who they are. Um... when you found out I cleared the game at Times Fifteen mode, do you remember you said there would one day be a user who would clear it on the original difficulty? The person who would make every player's long-cherished wish come true?"
When I understood what he was getting at, I flinched. Ah, so that was what they had talked about.
So he doesn't pass on information about the future to just anyone.
I could now see that the GM had been assigned a position of surveillance. The GM himself didn't seem to be aware of this, though.
But what's this about a long-cherished wish? Is he talking about the Gate of the Abyss? Hmm, perhaps that old man just said whatever he needed to say to motivate the GM—that I need to show up for them to all go home.
Anyway, I decided to think about that later. "Yes?"
When I prompted him, the GM continued speaking. "I've thought about it since then and I have a guess as to who it could be. He was very famous in our forum, which was called Stone Iven... and someone I respected very much. While I was clearing the game at Times Fifteen mode, I received a lot of help from him."
I knew who he was talking about without him needing to say it, but I was currently disguised as Auril Gavis so I leaned in with fake anticipation. "And who is that?"
"It's someone who went by the username Elfnuna."
"Hmm?"
"I don't know for sure, of course, but in my opinion, there's no one else out there who could beat the original difficulty besides him. And didn't you say last time that this user would be a barbarian? Coincidentally, it seemed he mainly used Shield Barbarians."
"I see... all right. But since nothing is confirmed yet, it would be best to leave as many possibilities open as possible. There is a chance that that person is not a barbarian at all." I casually tacked on that last bit to make it a little harder for him to track me down. But was that a mistake on my part?
"Pardon? Not a barbarian?"
Uh, why are you triggered all of a sudden?
Though I was startled, I let out an easy laugh. "Haha, I just meant that it was a possibility."
"I see..." The GM spoke as if he agreed, but his eyes said otherwise. "Sir?"
"Speak."
"May I be so bold as to ask you one more question?" The GM stared intently into my eyes, which were the only things visible through my mask, and asked, "What is my name?"
Oh, what a mess.
Upon reflection, perhaps I underestimated him too much. Even if he may have been a newbie now, this was a veteran who would end up running the community for over twenty years, keeping his identity thoroughly hidden the whole time. Although he may be lacking the quick judgment he would one day have in his prime, he wouldn't be wanting for intelligence.
The fact was that my appearance was different here than in the outside world, yet I was still wearing a mask and had also asked for his name. Although I'd provided valid explanations for each action I took to make him accept them, even still, the discrepancies would have built up. No matter how hard I tried to act like the old man, I wouldn't be able to do it perfectly. This man must have sensed that something was off about our conversation from the start, and my statement just now was a critical mistake.
"...Why aren't you saying anything?"
At his question, I laughed ruefully and silently. But now that things had come to this, this wasn't the time to be asking how things went so wrong.
"Is it because you don't know my name—?"
I quickly spoke up, interrupting the GM. "Zerkif Elmen Mackinder." That wasn't just a random name I blurted out in haste.
"There are three. Should I tell you all of them?"
This was the name of one of the three wizards Baekho suspected of being the GM. As such, the probability that it was the right one was 33.3 percent. The odds were good enough to at least give it a shot before throwing in the towel. So how did that work out for me?
There was a moment of silence. Then, the GM spoke in a voice that radiated hostility. "You... who are you?"
"Oh... you're right!"
"It would also be a good idea to create something like an exchange for different parties to help each other. A place to exchange real-life information and items without revealing their identities will be an attractive prospect to many."
"Wow..."
"And when you send out those pills, send them a letter in your mother tongue to explain what kind of place this is."
"Incredible...! It's amazing enough that you grasped the concept of computers and communities right away, but to think of all this as well...!"
I spent a while describing the final form of Ghost Busters to the GM like it was all my idea. With each section, the GM let out exclamations of admiration.
But it seemed something had belatedly occurred to him. "Just from what you're describing, it'll be an extraordinary place. But how can I create all that?" the GM asked, tilting his head. To that, I had nothing to say.
How, you ask? That's for the engineer to figure out. How would I know the process?
"If it's you, you can do it," I said firmly.
"Sorry...?"
"You may still be inexperienced in materialization, but you will slowly get used to it. I believe in you."
"Ah, right..." the GM answered half-heartedly. He looked like he still lacked confidence, but that wasn't my problem. That was how things turned out in the future, anyway.
I ended the debate about feasibility there and resumed my design work. "Oh, and one more thing. How about writing an entry code at the bottom of the letter?"
"You mean a password?"
"Yes, if you use an insult to the palace as the password, you should be able to filter out spies to some extent."
The PS after the letter actually served as a password. Not that it mattered much, of course. Whether you got the password right or not, Soul Queen had to approve your membership after a verification process. Since I was a perceptive person, I'd figured out the trick hidden in the letter and entered the password before she even arrived.
Oh, come to think of it, though, the abbreviation for 'password' is PW, not PS.
How did that happen, then? Had it just been a stroke of luck on my part? It suddenly occurred to me that there might have been another way to figure out the password, but that wasn't something to worry about right now.
"Sir, are you unwell?"
"Ahem, no. Where was I?"
"You were talking about a way to identify spies."
"Ah, right." After that, I rattled off information on everything from the contents of the letter to the concept of everyone having individual private spaces, along with measures to filter out and eject spies.
Those should be enough instructions.
Although I was bound to have missed some details conveying this verbally, I wasn't particularly worried. This wasn't the first time I'd experienced this since coming to the past. Whether I said everything or not, this mansion would slowly turn into the community I knew.
Hmm, maybe this was the task I had left to do in this era...
As the thought popped into my head unbidden, I suddenly began to worry I might be sent back to the present as soon as I left the community.
No, come on. That won't happen.
I tried to shake off my concerns.
"But, sir..." the GM said cautiously. "This isn't certain, but the person you mentioned at the end last time. I think I know who they are. Um... when you found out I cleared the game at Times Fifteen mode, do you remember you said there would one day be a user who would clear it on the original difficulty? The person who would make every player's long-cherished wish come true?"
When I understood what he was getting at, I flinched. Ah, so that was what they had talked about.
So he doesn't pass on information about the future to just anyone.
I could now see that the GM had been assigned a position of surveillance. The GM himself didn't seem to be aware of this, though.
But what's this about a long-cherished wish? Is he talking about the Gate of the Abyss? Hmm, perhaps that old man just said whatever he needed to say to motivate the GM—that I need to show up for them to all go home.
Anyway, I decided to think about that later. "Yes?"
When I prompted him, the GM continued speaking. "I've thought about it since then and I have a guess as to who it could be. He was very famous in our forum, which was called Stone Iven... and someone I respected very much. While I was clearing the game at Times Fifteen mode, I received a lot of help from him."
I knew who he was talking about without him needing to say it, but I was currently disguised as Auril Gavis so I leaned in with fake anticipation. "And who is that?"
"It's someone who went by the username Elfnuna."
"Hmm?"
"I don't know for sure, of course, but in my opinion, there's no one else out there who could beat the original difficulty besides him. And didn't you say last time that this user would be a barbarian? Coincidentally, it seemed he mainly used Shield Barbarians."
"I see... all right. But since nothing is confirmed yet, it would be best to leave as many possibilities open as possible. There is a chance that that person is not a barbarian at all." I casually tacked on that last bit to make it a little harder for him to track me down. But was that a mistake on my part?
"Pardon? Not a barbarian?"
Uh, why are you triggered all of a sudden?
Though I was startled, I let out an easy laugh. "Haha, I just meant that it was a possibility."
"I see..." The GM spoke as if he agreed, but his eyes said otherwise. "Sir?"
"Speak."
"May I be so bold as to ask you one more question?" The GM stared intently into my eyes, which were the only things visible through my mask, and asked, "What is my name?"
Oh, what a mess.
Upon reflection, perhaps I underestimated him too much. Even if he may have been a newbie now, this was a veteran who would end up running the community for over twenty years, keeping his identity thoroughly hidden the whole time. Although he may be lacking the quick judgment he would one day have in his prime, he wouldn't be wanting for intelligence.
The fact was that my appearance was different here than in the outside world, yet I was still wearing a mask and had also asked for his name. Although I'd provided valid explanations for each action I took to make him accept them, even still, the discrepancies would have built up. No matter how hard I tried to act like the old man, I wouldn't be able to do it perfectly. This man must have sensed that something was off about our conversation from the start, and my statement just now was a critical mistake.
"...Why aren't you saying anything?"
At his question, I laughed ruefully and silently. But now that things had come to this, this wasn't the time to be asking how things went so wrong.
"Is it because you don't know my name—?"
I quickly spoke up, interrupting the GM. "Zerkif Elmen Mackinder." That wasn't just a random name I blurted out in haste.
"There are three. Should I tell you all of them?"
This was the name of one of the three wizards Baekho suspected of being the GM. As such, the probability that it was the right one was 33.3 percent. The odds were good enough to at least give it a shot before throwing in the towel. So how did that work out for me?
There was a moment of silence. Then, the GM spoke in a voice that radiated hostility. "You... who are you?"