Chapter 469: Between an Ally and an Enemy (1)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 469: Between an Ally and an Enemy (1)

Ding!

As soon as the computer turned on, a cheerful notification bell sounded.

"Mail...?"

I hurriedly checked my inbox to see an unread message sitting at the top. It was just a few seconds old, meaning whoever it was must have sent it to me the moment the community opened.

Click, click.

I opened it up to check out what was inside.

[Ghost Master]: I'd like to talk to you for a moment.

The entire thing was a single sentence. Below it, the name and password of a secret chatroom were written.

"Hmm..."

What should I do? If I accepted the invite, then I would be making Baekho wait. The thought of doing so worried me a little, but it didn't take long for me to decide.

...I can take care of this quickly first. I wonder why he even wants to meet with me.

Maybe my conversation with the GM would give me ideas for dealing with Baekho. Besides, surely the guy wouldn't just leave because he was forced to wait a little, right?

"It's been a while, Mr. Lion." The moment I entered the chatroom, a white man with the username Elfnunalove stood up and greeted me.

I ignored his greeting and sat down on the sofa. "So, what do you want this time?"

"I have unbanned Baekho Lee, just as you asked. Have you already met with him?"

"Did you call me just to ask about that?"

"No, of course not." The GM sat down on the sofa as well. "You told quite an interesting story at the Round Table last month, but I wanted to hear it for myself. Is it true that Elfnuna has already entered this world?"

So that was what this was all about. I was pleased that my bait had worked, but I couldn't let it show on my face. "Why do you ask?"

"Let me be blunt. Are you perhaps Elfnuna?"

Even as a barbarian who liked to get straight to the point, that caught me off guard. I didn't expect him to be so direct. "Well, why should I answer that?"

"Because I'm the one who unbanned Baekho Lee," the GM replied when I dodged the question. "Did you really think I would fulfill that request without expecting anything in return? Especially when doing so has put my safety at risk?"

It was true that he had unbanned Baekho Lee, even at risk to his own life. I could still personally remember his last encounter with Baekho, and the memory of that moment was enough to make even me, an unrelated party, break out in a cold sweat. However, that wasn't the issue at hand here.

"You need something from me, and I need something from you," he said.

Give and take. The GM gave up his advantage over Baekho because he wanted something from me. He must also be curious whether I might be able to provide him with any other useful information.

And of course, the moment Elfnuna was mentioned, he messaged me right away...

I couldn't help but be curious about what his deal was.

"If you want us to maintain this friendly relationship, please answer my question. Are you Elfnuna?"

Why was he so obsessed with Elfnuna? The reason I had mentioned that old username at the Round Table was to answer that very question.

"Before I answer that, let me ask you one thing," I responded with a question of my own. Asking him outright why he wanted to know more about Elfnuna would only put me in a tough spot and make me seem uninformed and out of the loop. Instead, I needed to act like we were at the Round Table and go on the offensive. "Do you believe what that old man said?"

I thought back to something the GM had said to me when he was still a newbie.

"This isn't certain, but the person you mentioned last time. I think I know who they are."

"He was very famous in our forum, which was called Stone Iven... and someone I respected very much."

Back then, the GM had mistaken me for Auril Gavis and said all that, so I deduced that his obsession with Elfnuna might have stemmed from a sincere belief in Auril Gavis's whole "the original clearer will save us all" narrative.

"There's no reason for me not to believe him. At the very least, the Records Stone corroborates his claim, anyway."

His response to my question was strange.

Records Stone...?

This was the first I'd heard of it. What was that?

Is this something left behind by the Great Sage? Like the Fragment of Records Stone that can take people back in time?

I had no idea, but I knew that whatever it was had to be important. Perhaps it would even answer all my questions. However, I kept my mouth shut and hid my confusion as I listened to the rest of his story.

"He's the only one who can do it. If not him, who else could possibly clear the original game?"

Maybe it was because I didn't know what the Records Stone was, but the GM's story was hard to follow. But I knew at least one thing for sure.

"No matter what anyone else says, I know that it'd be impossible for anyone but him."

The GM was no different from a fanatic. That look in his eyes was the same as the one in my aunt's when she fell prey to a cult. Since the person in whom he'd placed his faith was none other than me, I was struck with a feeling of discomfort. Still, right now, my priority was to act fast and figure out how to handle this.

"So please tell me, Mr. Lion, are you Elfnuna?"

He'd asked me the same question quite a few times already, and I'd spent more than enough time mulling it over. If he really did have complete faith in me, it might be beneficial to reveal myself so I could enjoy his full support. The GM could even become a close ally of mine in the future.

"I'm not him."

But in the end, I decided to take another route. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested in hearing about the Records Stone or taking advantage of the network and resources the GM had accumulated over the years. However...

Yeah, this is the right choice.

I decided I shouldn't tell him the truth until I at least figured out what this "Records Stone" was. After all, most irreversible mistakes were a result of ignorance.

"Don't open the Gate of the Abyss."

...There was also something about my encounter with the Witch that kept replaying through my mind.

"...I see."

Fortunately, the GM seemed to accept my answer as he quickly moved on. I had wondered if he had some basis for suspecting me, but apparently, he was only asking just in case.

"Then please tell me about Elfnuna. Where is he now? What race did he—"

As the GM began to bombard me with questions, I cut him off. "How disrespectful."

"Before I answer that, let me ask you one thing," I responded with a question of my own. Asking him outright why he wanted to know more about Elfnuna would only put me in a tough spot and make me seem uninformed and out of the loop. Instead, I needed to act like we were at the Round Table and go on the offensive. "Do you believe what that old man said?"

I thought back to something the GM had said to me when he was still a newbie.

"This isn't certain, but the person you mentioned last time. I think I know who they are."

"He was very famous in our forum, which was called Stone Iven... and someone I respected very much."

Back then, the GM had mistaken me for Auril Gavis and said all that, so I deduced that his obsession with Elfnuna might have stemmed from a sincere belief in Auril Gavis's whole "the original clearer will save us all" narrative.

"There's no reason for me not to believe him. At the very least, the Records Stone corroborates his claim, anyway."

His response to my question was strange.

Records Stone...?

This was the first I'd heard of it. What was that?

Is this something left behind by the Great Sage? Like the Fragment of Records Stone that can take people back in time?

I had no idea, but I knew that whatever it was had to be important. Perhaps it would even answer all my questions. However, I kept my mouth shut and hid my confusion as I listened to the rest of his story.

"He's the only one who can do it. If not him, who else could possibly clear the original game?"

Maybe it was because I didn't know what the Records Stone was, but the GM's story was hard to follow. But I knew at least one thing for sure.

"No matter what anyone else says, I know that it'd be impossible for anyone but him."

The GM was no different from a fanatic. That look in his eyes was the same as the one in my aunt's when she fell prey to a cult. Since the person in whom he'd placed his faith was none other than me, I was struck with a feeling of discomfort. Still, right now, my priority was to act fast and figure out how to handle this.

"So please tell me, Mr. Lion, are you Elfnuna?"

He'd asked me the same question quite a few times already, and I'd spent more than enough time mulling it over. If he really did have complete faith in me, it might be beneficial to reveal myself so I could enjoy his full support. The GM could even become a close ally of mine in the future.

"I'm not him."

But in the end, I decided to take another route. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested in hearing about the Records Stone or taking advantage of the network and resources the GM had accumulated over the years. However...

Yeah, this is the right choice.

I decided I shouldn't tell him the truth until I at least figured out what this "Records Stone" was. After all, most irreversible mistakes were a result of ignorance.

"Don't open the Gate of the Abyss."

...There was also something about my encounter with the Witch that kept replaying through my mind.

"...I see."

Fortunately, the GM seemed to accept my answer as he quickly moved on. I had wondered if he had some basis for suspecting me, but apparently, he was only asking just in case.

"Then please tell me about Elfnuna. Where is he now? What race did he—"

As the GM began to bombard me with questions, I cut him off. "How disrespectful."

"...What?"

"Giving you an honest answer to that question was my thanks to you for fulfilling my previous request." In other words, I no longer owed him anything for unbanning Baekho Lee. The GM's stunned expression actually made me feel pretty guilty, but it couldn't be helped. It would be weird to backtrack now, so I decided to just stick to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my guns. "If you want a favor, then you need to give me something in return."

"...You're asking to be paid for more information?" These were the same rules that were used at the Round Table. "But... isn't this unfair?"

As expected, the GM wasn't happy. But what was he going to do about it?

"I took a risk and lifted the ban on Baekho Lee, but you only answered one question of mine and—"

"I guess you aren't as smart as I thought. Do you really think that was one simple question? Information on that person is worth the same as unbanning Baekho Lee, wouldn't you say?"

"I just..." The GM was at a loss for words.

As a result, I decided this conversation was now over. "Now that I've made myself clear, I'll get going."

With that, I quickly left the chatroom.

***

I was back in Hansu Lee's room after dining and dashing out of my meeting with the GM.

"Phew..."

After a quick breather, I moved my cursor over to the chatrooms.

[Long Live Korea's Independence – 2 people are online.]

There were two people inside. One had to be Baekho Lee and the other had to be Hyeonbyeol. Fortunately, it looked like they didn't leave just because I was late.

Let me gather my thoughts for a moment before I go inside.

I reflected on the conversation I just had with the GM as I leaned back in my chair.

"There's no reason for me not to believe him. At the very least, the Records Stone corroborates his claim, anyway."

I couldn't be certain yet, but the reason why Baekho Lee was interested in Elfnuna might also be because of this mysterious Records Stone.

...I should try to use this opportunity to ask Baekho about it.

All right, I was glad I went to the GM first. After getting my thoughts in order, I clicked the mouse to enter the chatroom.

"...I can't tell you that! If Big Bro Hansu finds out, I'm dead!"

"He won't know if we keep this between us."

Two people were sitting on the sofa in front of the fireplace, having a rather suspicious conversation about me. As I observed them, wondering what they were talking about, they finally noticed me standing off to the side.

"Eeek!" Baekho Lee jumped like he had seen a ghost.

Hyeonbyeol, who was next to him, also flinched when she saw me, then shot me that same meek look she always used to whenever she did something wrong.

"What are you two doing?"

Baekho Lee jumped up and ran toward me, rushing to make excuses. "Bro! It's not my fault! Hyeonbyeol kept pestering me, trying to figure out who you were!"

Yeah, that's about what I figured.

When I looked at Hyeonbyeol, she avoided my eyes to glare at Baekho Lee. "...You really are someone I can't get along with, Mr. Baekho Lee." She spoke without any emotion, simply stating a fact.

"...What?"

"Giving you an honest answer to that question was my thanks to you for fulfilling my previous request." In other words, I no longer owed him anything for unbanning Baekho Lee. The GM's stunned expression actually made me feel pretty guilty, but it couldn't be helped. It would be weird to backtrack now, so I decided to just stick to my guns. "If you want a favor, then you need to give me something in return."

"...You're asking to be paid for more information?" These were the same rules that were used at the Round Table. "But... isn't this unfair?"

As expected, the GM wasn't happy. But what was he going to do about it?

"I took a risk and lifted the ban on Baekho Lee, but you only answered one question of mine and—"

"I guess you aren't as smart as I thought. Do you really think that was one simple question? Information on that person is worth the same as unbanning Baekho Lee, wouldn't you say?"

"I just..." The GM was at a loss for words.

As a result, I decided this conversation was now over. "Now that I've made myself clear, I'll get going."

With that, I quickly left the chatroom.

***

I was back in Hansu Lee's room after dining and dashing out of my meeting with the GM.

"Phew..."

After a quick breather, I moved my cursor over to the chatrooms.

[Long Live Korea's Independence – 2 people are online.]

There were two people inside. One had to be Baekho Lee and the other had to be Hyeonbyeol. Fortunately, it looked like they didn't leave just because I was late.

Let me gather my thoughts for a moment before I go inside.

I reflected on the conversation I just had with the GM as I leaned back in my chair.

"There's no reason for me not to believe him. At the very least, the Records Stone corroborates his claim, anyway."

I couldn't be certain yet, but the reason why Baekho Lee was interested in Elfnuna might also be because of this mysterious Records Stone.

...I should try to use this opportunity to ask Baekho about it.

All right, I was glad I went to the GM first. After getting my thoughts in order, I clicked the mouse to enter the chatroom.

"...I can't tell you that! If Big Bro Hansu finds out, I'm dead!"

"He won't know if we keep this between us."

Two people were sitting on the sofa in front of the fireplace, having a rather suspicious conversation about me. As I observed them, wondering what they were talking about, they finally noticed me standing off to the side.

"Eeek!" Baekho Lee jumped like he had seen a ghost.

Hyeonbyeol, who was next to him, also flinched when she saw me, then shot me that same meek look she always used to whenever she did something wrong.

"What are you two doing?"

Baekho Lee jumped up and ran toward me, rushing to make excuses. "Bro! It's not my fault! Hyeonbyeol kept pestering me, trying to figure out who you were!"

Yeah, that's about what I figured.

When I looked at Hyeonbyeol, she avoided my eyes to glare at Baekho Lee. "...You really are someone I can't get along with, Mr. Baekho Lee." She spoke without any emotion, simply stating a fact.

"Haha, but Big Sis! It's not like that—"

"Oh? Am I like a sister to you now?"

"Huh? But I've been calling you that since—"

"Does it look like our relationship is the same as before, Mr. Lee?"

Every word Hyeonbyeol spoke struck Baekho like a bullet. He smiled awkwardly, then looked up at me in a plea for help.

...Well, he did keep my identity a secret from Hyeonbyeol.

Just as I was about to step in and sort things out, something suddenly occurred to me.

No, wait a minute.

Why should I defend him? Not too long ago, I was fighting with the bastard myself. He even threatened to take my life like it was nothing.

Huh, I almost let him off the hook without realizing it.

Recalling the emptiness, anger, and humiliation I felt that day, I made up my mind.

"Hyeonbyeol," I called in a cold, emotionless tone that made her flinch.

"...What?"

"Please leave for a minute. He and I need to have a little chat to make sure that something like this never happens again."

"Okay..." Hyeonbyeol quickly left the chatroom without another word, perhaps because she felt guilty about her transgression.

Now that it was only the two of us, things in the chatroom immediately took a turn for the awkward. I glared at Baekho until he finally opened his mouth.

"Haha... Are you still upset?"

I didn't waste my breath answering that.

Am I still upset? What the hell do you think?

"Forget it. Just give me your answer. You said you would the next time we meet. Or did you already forget?"

"Hahaha... About Kitty... I mean, Missha..." Baekho scratched his neck, looking sheepish.

That expression only made me raise my guard even more. I could no longer see him as the funny and quirky guy I once thought him to be. Now, I knew just how clever and calculating he actually was. Everything he did, including the way he acted, was a carefully planned act.

"I've been thinking about it and... surprise! I, Baekho Lee, have decided to give her back to you! Haha! Clap your hands! Congratulations! Hurrah!"

Was there something wrong with this guy?

Baekho continued to be bizarrely enthusiastic and excited, despite my underwhelming reaction. For some reason, he was always acting like this. "What do you think, bro? Are you still upset with me? Don't be mad anymore, all right? We have to work toward a brighter future together!"

In the end, I wasn't able to hold back the deep sigh that escaped my mouth.

"Oh! Did you let it all out just now? Then you're not mad anymore, right?"

"Why would a single sigh mean I'm not mad anymore?"

"Hey, why do you sound upset again?"

Come to think of it, I was always bad at getting along with people like him. I seriously wanted to punch him in the face, but sadly, that wasn't an option here.

"Cut the crap already. When are you going to give her back?"

"Whenever you want. I can even give her back to you tomorrow."

"Huh, then do just that. And don't tell her about what happened between you and me. Can you do that?"

"Aye-aye. I'm sure the moment I bring up your name, she's going to ask to go back to you right away anyway."

"'Aye-aye?' Why are you talking like that?"

"...Haha. Okay, I got it. I won't talk like that anymore, so don't get mad."

I sighed.

I tried my best to avoid getting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sucked into his theatrics as much as possible, but it wasn't easy. Who knew what would happen if the relationship between us soured even more? At the end of the day, the fact was that Baekho Lee was willing to back off and give her back to me.

Things would have taken a turn for the worse if he'd refused to let her go.

"Then that's enough about Missha, right? Can we move on to the next topic?"

"Next topic?"

"Yeah! Last time you told me you would return the favor if I gave Missha back to you."

"I remember."

"Yeah. Don't worry, bro. It's not a bad deal for you either."

"That's for me to decide, so get to the point and tell me. How can I even help you clear the tenth floor?"

"There's a lot you can do. And there's a lot you've already done."

I shot him a look that told him to stop beating around the bush and hurry up, and he gave me a triumphant grin.

"Marquess Tercerion."

"The prime minister?"

"Yes. That bastard. You can't touch him."

...What the hell was he talking about now?

"Haha, but Big Sis! It's not like that—"

"Oh? Am I like a sister to you now?"

"Huh? But I've been calling you that since—"

"Does it look like our relationship is the same as before, Mr. Lee?"

Every word Hyeonbyeol spoke struck Baekho like a bullet. He smiled awkwardly, then looked up at me in a plea for help.

...Well, he did keep my identity a secret from Hyeonbyeol.

Just as I was about to step in and sort things out, something suddenly occurred to me.

No, wait a minute.

Why should I defend him? Not too long ago, I was fighting with the bastard myself. He even threatened to take my life like it was nothing.

Huh, I almost let him off the hook without realizing it.

Recalling the emptiness, anger, and humiliation I felt ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that day, I made up my mind.

"Hyeonbyeol," I called in a cold, emotionless tone that made her flinch.

"...What?"

"Please leave for a minute. He and I need to have a little chat to make sure that something like this never happens again."

"Okay..." Hyeonbyeol quickly left the chatroom without another word, perhaps because she felt guilty about her transgression.

Now that it was only the two of us, things in the chatroom immediately took a turn for the awkward. I glared at Baekho until he finally opened his mouth.

"Haha... Are you still upset?"

I didn't waste my breath answering that.

Am I still upset? What the hell do you think?

"Forget it. Just give me your answer. You said you would the next time we meet. Or did you already forget?"

"Hahaha... About Kitty... I mean, Missha..." Baekho scratched his neck, looking sheepish.

That expression only made me raise my guard even more. I could no longer see him as the funny and quirky guy I once thought him to be. Now, I knew just how clever and calculating he actually was. Everything he did, including the way he acted, was a carefully planned act.

"I've been thinking about it and... surprise! I, Baekho Lee, have decided to give her back to you! Haha! Clap your hands! Congratulations! Hurrah!"

Was there something wrong with this guy?

Baekho continued to be bizarrely enthusiastic and excited, despite my underwhelming reaction. For some reason, he was always acting like this. "What do you think, bro? Are you still upset with me? Don't be mad anymore, all right? We have to work toward a brighter future together!"

In the end, I wasn't able to hold back the deep sigh that escaped my mouth.

"Oh! Did you let it all out just now? Then you're not mad anymore, right?"

"Why would a single sigh mean I'm not mad anymore?"

"Hey, why do you sound upset again?"

Come to think of it, I was always bad at getting along with people like him. I seriously wanted to punch him in the face, but sadly, that wasn't an option here.

"Cut the crap already. When are you going to give her back?"

"Whenever you want. I can even give her back to you tomorrow."

"Huh, then do just that. And don't tell her about what happened between you and me. Can you do that?"

"Aye-aye. I'm sure the moment I bring up your name, she's going to ask to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠go back to you right away anyway."

"'Aye-aye?' Why are you talking like that?"

"...Haha. Okay, I got it. I won't talk like that anymore, so don't get mad."

I sighed.

I tried my best to avoid getting sucked into his theatrics as much as possible, but it wasn't easy. Who knew what would happen if the relationship between us soured even more? At the end of the day, the fact was that Baekho Lee was willing to back off and give her back to me.

Things would have taken a turn for the worse if he'd refused to let her go.

"Then that's enough about Missha, right? Can we move on to the next topic?"

"Next topic?"

"Yeah! Last time you told me you would return the favor if I gave Missha back to you."

"I remember."

"Yeah. Don't worry, bro. It's not a bad deal for you either."

"That's for me to decide, so get to the point and tell me. How can I even help you clear the tenth floor?"

"There's a lot you can do. And there's a lot you've already done."

I shot him a look that told him to stop beating around the bush and hurry up, and he gave me a triumphant grin.

"Marquess Tercerion."

"The prime minister?"

"Yes. That bastard. You can't touch him."

...What the hell was he talking about now?