Chapter 472: Between an Ally and an Enemy (4)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 472: Between an Ally and an Enemy (4)

Clown wasn't the only one who believed me.

"So Auril Gavis is our enemy..." Fox, a once-devout follower of the Master, murmured darkly to herself.

Deer also nodded his head in agreement. "That doesn't surprise me. That man has as many secrets as the royal family does. It would be stranger if he didn't have a hidden dark side."

Queen, who had investigated Auril Gavis the most out of all of us, didn't refute my claim either. "The enemy of the players... I'll keep that in mind." Her reply might have seemed almost dismissively nonchalant, but it was obvious she was going to run to tell the GM the moment the Round Table ended.

Wolf, who brought up Auril Gavis first, was left dumbfounded by the other members' reactions. He couldn't seem to wrap his head around what was happening at all. "...Am I the odd one out here? Why are you all taking his word for it so easily? Maybe Master really has done something bad, but isn't Mr. Lion's claim too subjective?"

Since this was his first time back in a while, Wolf didn't have much sway with the others. As such, he tried to poke a hole in my claim, but unfortunately for him, his attempt didn't work out in his favor.

"Hm, but can't the same thing be said of your turn, Wolf?"

Wolf's argument that my comment was biased could be turned against him as well.

"But isn't that why you were all asking me to provide more details and tell you my source? Mr. Lion didn't provide any of that, but you instantly believed him..." A hint of indignation crept into his tone. "I mean, I could say right here and now that Auril Gavis isn't our enemy, and the green light will turn on again. So why would you automatically believe him over me?"

His half-assed rant was quickly interrupted before it could build up steam.

"Isn't that obvious? Pshehe, of course we'd believe Mr. Lion over you. He's much more trustworthy than a little shrimp I barely remember who's suddenly crawled out from whatever rock he's been under for years."

Wolf was rendered speechless by the immediate response to his question.

Noticing the dazed look on his face, Queen decided to help him out. "But one can never know for sure. If you can provide us with proof, then naturally, we will come to see things from your perspective."

It was clear that Queen was just trying to get more information out of Wolf on Auril Gavis, which made sense. Wolf was obviously some sort of a follower of his, so he was bound to know more.

"Proof... I understand." Now believing he had a fighting chance to prove he was right, Wolf finally settled down as the second round began. "Since I started off the first round, how about we go the other way this time?"

"Pshehe, you must be pretty confident?"

"I just thought it would be fairer to do it this way."

"Well, it doesn't matter to me. Mr. Lion might even find it more interesting this way..." Clown said, staring straight at me. To be honest, I had no idea why this guy liked me so much. I was never nice to him and even bullied and mocked him whenever I got the opportunity.

"Then I'll go first. I'm not actually certain about this, which is why I haven't brought it up before, but... for some reason, this seems to be the main topic of this month's meeting, so it fits the theme. Pshehe."

Clown gave an uncharacteristically long-winded intro before finally getting to the point.

"Aren't you all curious? Who the old man who Mass Teleported over ten thousand people from Noark to the outside world was? I think that old man was Auril Gavis."

That did make sense. It had happened years ago, but the mention of the incident still piqued my curiosity. That didn't mean anything Clown just said was fact, however—it was just something he believed.

Shaaaaaa.

The jewel turned green and no one voiced any objections. Only Queen asked a follow-up question.

"Why don't you at least tell us why you think that's the case?"

"Pshehe, do I really need to? You all already know who I am. Isn't that enough for you to trust my opinion?"

"Well... we'll let it slide this time."

Was it because there were new people here this month? Queen would normally have dug her heels in and duked it out with Clown, yet this time she quietly gave him a pass.

"Hehe... You must be an incredible person, Mr. Clown."

"I'm still a long way from being as great as Mr. Lion, though, pshehe..." That was what he said, anyway, but judging by his expression, he was overjoyed by the comment.

Did he purposely share something vague this time just to make himself look cool?

I shook off the thought. Even if that was the case, it didn't really matter.

"Now Butterfly, it's your turn. I'm looking forward to it. Pshehe."

"Eh... I feel like my turn came too early this time." Butterfly tilted her head, thinking over what to share. After a minute, she finally opened her mouth. "There is a portal under the palace."

Damn it. That was information I had been saving for a rainy day, but to think she took it from me and—

"Two of them, in fact."

Huh? Two of them?

Shaaaaaa...

As soon as the jewel glowed green, the other members began peppering her with questions.

"A portal? Does that mean the royal family can enter the labyrinth whenever they want?"

"Hehe, who knows? What could it possibly be for? Anyway, that means I pass, right?"

Butterfly ignored all the questions as her turn came to an end. Next came Queen.

"Recently—"

"Is this about politics again? That's no fun..."

Queen found herself immediately interrupted by Butterfly's heckling. After a brief pause, Queen ignored her and continued. Somehow, however, I instinctively got the sense that she ended up changing what she was going to say thanks to Butterfly's complaints.

"Regarding the information that the royal family can purposefully cause a dimensional collapse, it has actually happened before. In fact, the most recent dimensional collapse was their doing."

"...Hehe, is that so?"

It seemed that Butterfly was already aware of that. Rather than looking surprised, she looked more agitated, eyeing Queen in a way that seemed to ask, Who does this chick think she is?

I guess Queen ended up taking Butterfly's Get Out of Jail Free card.

"The other way to return to Earth aside from opening the Gate of the Abyss is dimensional magic." The information Black shared this turn was an extension of the information she previously provided, but no one had any complaints. However, apparently unsatisfied with just that, she threw in a little more. "Auril Gavis was able to travel to Earth using that method."

That did make sense. It had happened years ago, but the mention of the incident still piqued my curiosity. That didn't mean anything Clown just said was fact, however—it was just something he believed.

Shaaaaaa.

The jewel turned green and no one voiced any objections. Only Queen asked a follow-up question.

"Why don't you at least tell us why you think that's the case?"

"Pshehe, do I really need to? You all already know who I am. Isn't that enough for you to trust my opinion?"

"Well... we'll let it slide this time."

Was it because there were new people here this month? Queen would normally have dug her heels in and duked it out with Clown, yet this time she quietly gave him a pass.

"Hehe... You must be an incredible person, Mr. Clown."

"I'm still a long way from being as great as Mr. Lion, though, pshehe..." That was what he said, anyway, but judging by his expression, he was overjoyed by the comment.

Did he purposely share something vague this time just to make himself look cool?

I shook off the thought. Even if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that was the case, it didn't really matter.

"Now Butterfly, it's your turn. I'm looking forward to it. Pshehe."

"Eh... I feel like my turn came too early this time." Butterfly tilted her head, thinking over what to share. After a minute, she finally opened her mouth. "There is a portal under the palace."

Damn it. That was information I had been saving for a rainy day, but to think she took it from me and—

"Two of them, in fact."

Huh? Two of them?

Shaaaaaa...

As soon as the jewel glowed green, the other members began peppering her with questions.

"A portal? Does that mean the royal family can enter the labyrinth whenever they want?"

"Hehe, who knows? What could it possibly be for? Anyway, that means I pass, right?"

Butterfly ignored all the questions as her turn came to an end. Next came Queen.

"Recently—"

"Is this about politics again? That's no fun..."

Queen found herself immediately interrupted by Butterfly's heckling. After a brief pause, Queen ignored her and continued. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Somehow, however, I instinctively got the sense that she ended up changing what she was going to say thanks to Butterfly's complaints.

"Regarding the information that the royal family can purposefully cause a dimensional collapse, it has actually happened before. In fact, the most recent dimensional collapse was their doing."

"...Hehe, is that so?"

It seemed that Butterfly was already aware of that. Rather than looking surprised, she looked more agitated, eyeing Queen in a way that seemed to ask, Who does this chick think she is?

I guess Queen ended up taking Butterfly's Get Out of Jail Free card.

"The other way to return to Earth aside from opening the Gate of the Abyss is dimensional magic." The information Black shared this turn was an extension of the information she previously provided, but no one had any complaints. However, apparently unsatisfied with just that, she threw in a little ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠more. "Auril Gavis was able to travel to Earth using that method."

Another wave of shock rippled through the members.

"I'm very curious about your identity, Ms. Black."

It seemed that everyone was growing more and more interested in who this black mask-wearing woman was. The round continued with Deer, Crescent, Goblin, and Fox all saying their piece. They all provided decent information about the goings-on in the world rather than any earth-shattering secrets.

"...Pshehe, it's finally time."

It was now Wolf's turn. Everyone looked at him, curious as to what his evidence would be. Wolf was going to say something to defend his assertion that Auril Gavis was not the enemy of all players. Then, once the jewel turned green, the ball would be in my court and I'd have to refute his argument. In a way, we were engaged in a sort of one-on-one duel—

"I've met with the king before, and I was able to learn this world's secrets."

Huh. I didn't expect that. Even I, a new noble, still hadn't gotten the opportunity to meet with the king.

"...When did you meet the king?"

"I'll just say it was within the past year." Perhaps because he was trying to convince us of his credibility, he generously answered the follow-up question.

"That's a rather interesting piece of information you've shared, but does it really count as proof? 'This world's secrets' is too vague and lackluster," Queen said, quick to take issue with his statement. However, this wasn't the first time she had tried to egg Wolf on, and it was obvious she was getting overzealous and trying to milk him for all the information he had.

The other members also seemed to notice what she was doing, but none of them bothered intervening. After all, we all felt the same way. None of us would argue with getting more answers.

"I don't think I can say much more without knowing who you all are first, but let me make one thing clear." Wolf rejected her request for clarification and added: "Auril Gavis is not the enemy of the players. If anything, he might be the best person to help us."

The jewel emitted a green light as his turn came to an end.

Now that it was my turn, everyone's eyes turned to me.

Meeting with the king... that's definitely convincing.

Perhaps because Wolf had mentioned such an important figure, all of the returning members who fully trusted me now seemed to be wavering in their faith. Wolf himself had been giving me self-assured looks from the moment he namedropped the king. This was the perfect time to show these newcomers exactly where I was in the food chain.

Tap, tap.

Wolf may have mentioned the king, but I wasn't going to be cowed. So, like this was the moment I had been waiting for, I spoke.

"The Earth Witch, Elise Groundia..."

She had disappeared immediately after telling me not to open the Gate of the Abyss, and she definitely didn't say anything about Auril Gavis being the enemy of the players. However, in this situation, none of that mattered.

"I've met her before."

They could interpret that however they wanted. It wasn't like I'd said anything untrue.

Elise Groundia the Earth Witch was the mythical being who had driven this world to ruin.

The moment I said her name, everyone's jaws dropped in shock, including Wolf's. I had mentioned at a previous Round Table that the Earth Witch was alive, but actually meeting with her was a different thing entirely.

Another wave of shock rippled through the members.

"I'm very curious about your identity, Ms. Black."

It seemed that everyone was growing more and more interested in who this black mask-wearing woman was. The round continued with Deer, Crescent, Goblin, and Fox all saying their piece. They all provided decent information about the goings-on in the world rather than any earth-shattering secrets.

"...Pshehe, it's finally time."

It was now Wolf's turn. Everyone looked at him, curious as to what his evidence would be. Wolf was going to say something to defend his assertion that Auril Gavis was not the enemy of all players. Then, once the jewel turned green, the ball would be in my court and I'd have to refute his argument. In a way, we were engaged in a sort of one-on-one duel—

"I've met with the king before, and I was able to learn this world's secrets."

Huh. I didn't expect that. Even I, a new noble, still hadn't gotten the opportunity to meet with the king.

"...When did you meet the king?"

"I'll just say it was within the past year." Perhaps because he was trying to convince us of his credibility, he generously answered the follow-up question.

"That's a rather interesting piece of information you've shared, but does it really count as proof? 'This world's secrets' is too vague and lackluster," Queen said, quick to take issue with his statement. However, this wasn't the first time she had tried to egg Wolf on, and it was obvious she was getting overzealous and trying to milk him for all the information he had.

The other members also seemed to notice what she was doing, but none of them bothered intervening. After all, we all felt the same way. None of us would argue with getting more answers.

"I don't think I can say much more without knowing who you all are first, but let me make one thing clear." Wolf rejected her request for clarification and added: "Auril Gavis is not the enemy of the players. If anything, he might be the best person to help us."

The jewel emitted a green light as his turn came to an end.

Now that it was my turn, everyone's eyes turned to me.

Meeting with the king... that's definitely convincing.

Perhaps because Wolf had mentioned such an important figure, all of the returning members who fully trusted me now seemed to be wavering in their faith. Wolf himself had been giving me self-assured looks from the moment he namedropped the king. This was the perfect time to show these newcomers exactly where I was in the food chain.

Tap, tap.

Wolf may have mentioned the king, but I wasn't going to be cowed. So, like this was the moment I had been waiting for, I spoke.

"The Earth Witch, Elise Groundia..."

She had disappeared immediately after telling me not to open the Gate of the Abyss, and she definitely didn't say anything about Auril Gavis being the enemy of the players. However, in this situation, none of that mattered.

"I've met her before."

They could interpret that however they wanted. It wasn't like I'd said anything untrue.

Elise Groundia the Earth Witch was the mythical being who had driven this world to ruin.

The moment I said her name, everyone's jaws dropped in shock, including Wolf's. I had mentioned at a previous Round Table that the Earth Witch was alive, but actually meeting with her was a different thing entirely.

"The Earth Witch..."

"Pshehe... You always surpass my expectations, Mr. Lion. I can't believe I doubted you for even a second. There's no way you could ever be wrong."

It wasn't just Clown who felt ashamed for doubting me. I could tell that every person in this room had fallen right into my trap, immediately flipping back to my side. But that was a given. It might have been different if Wolf was buddy-buddy with the Immortal King who had ruled for thousands of years, but the current king had only been ruling for just over two hundred years. Not only that, but he had disappeared from the public eye due to health issues. Compared to the Earth Witch, the king's name meant nothing.

There's also value in the fact that I'm the one who said it.

I had been building up my reputation with the usual group for a while now. A little shrimp who had faded from the public consciousness after being gone for years didn't stand a chance against me.

"...Hehe. I guess it's been decided who we're going to trust on this."

"But there's also a chance that Mr. Lion is being tricked by the Earth—"

"What are you saying? The same could be said of you too, Mr. Wolf. And if one of you were to be fooled, it would most likely be you."

"...What do you mean?"

"Hehe. I don't know the two of you all that well, but I can still tell that you're much more gullible..." Butterfly giggled to herself as she mercilessly dunked on Wolf.

In the end, Wolf seemed to realize that it would be tough for him to change anyone's mind at this point.

"Haha, I guess I should get going for today, then. It was nice to see you all again. And it was nice to meet you, Mr. Lion, Ms. Black, and Ms. Butterfly. I will see you again next time."

Wolf left the Round Table after deciding to sit out the third round.

Look at how naturally he was able to leave.

Still, the fact that he said he would see us next time meant that he'd be back in the future.

Now that someone had left, the Round Table felt emptier. There was a strange silence in the air as we all looked at each other. Sensing that nothing else of importance would be shared today, I decided I should also take my leave.

"Oh...! You're leaving?"

"See you next time."

I quickly left the Round Table.

***

Moonlight flooded the bedroom through a large window, and under its rays stood a woman whose voice trembled with barely suppressed emotion. How could it not? She had just heard a shocking tale from the uninvited guest who had come to see her in the middle of the night.

"What? He's... alive...? Bjorn is alive...?" Her mind went blank as rage overwhelmed her senses, the heat in her chest boiling over. "You... are a heartless bastard."

However, Baekho Lee just let out a sheepish laugh in the face of her anger. "Weirdly enough, that's the second time I've heard that today."

"...Get the hell out of here. If you play a prank like this again, I'll seriously—"

"Missha Karlstein."

He said her full name, which he had never done before.

Missha flinched, falling silent in surprise, and Baekho's voice lost its playfulness as he continued. "I am not joking. Bjorn Yandel is alive."

"...Where's your proof?"

"Everybody already knows. If you walk around the city for a bit, you'll definitely hear people talking about it."

Baekho then briefly recounted what Bjorn Yandel had been up to lately. As he went on, Missha gradually realized he was telling the truth.

"Bjorn... is alive...?" All sorts of emotions started to bubble up inside her. She was happy, sad, confused, angry. "...Bastard."

"Yeah, what's wrong with that guy, am I right? How could he let all his teammates think he was dead only to come back years later working under the royal—"

"Not him, you. You must have known for a while now, but you're only telling me this now...?"

"Oh... sorry. I've been trying to make sense of this as well. But you know, I did tell you to stop holing yourself up in your room and to go on walks—whoa, that's a nasty look in your eyes, damn."

Missha didn't deign to acknowledge Baekho Lee's teasing.

For a moment, an awkward silence filled the room. Eventually, Baekho opened his mouth to ask her, "Are you going to go back to him?"

"Of course. What was the whole reason I joined you in the first place?"

"It was to use the Stone of Revival to save Bjorn Yandel."

"Exactly, so get out. I need to pack my things. I'll be out of here by dawn."

"Hmmm, well. If you say so..."

Missha was confused by the strange way he was dragging this conversation out. "...If there's something you want to say, go on and say it." She had a strangely ominous feeling about this, and it was rare that her gut instincts were wrong.

"No, it's nothing." Baekho smiled. "I was just wondering if you could do me a favor."

He smiled the exact same way he did when he visited her that fateful day.

"The Earth Witch..."

"Pshehe... You always surpass my expectations, Mr. Lion. I can't believe I doubted you for even a second. There's no way you could ever be wrong."

It wasn't just Clown who felt ashamed for doubting me. I could tell that every person in this room had fallen right into my trap, immediately flipping back to my side. But that was a given. It might have been different if Wolf was buddy-buddy with the Immortal King who had ruled for thousands of years, but the current king had only been ruling for just over two hundred years. Not only that, but he had disappeared from the public eye due to health issues. Compared to the Earth Witch, the king's name meant nothing.

There's also value in the fact that I'm the one who said it.

I had been building up my reputation with the usual group for a while now. A little shrimp who had faded from the public consciousness after being gone for years didn't stand a chance against me.

"...Hehe. I guess it's been decided who we're going to trust on this."

"But there's also a chance that Mr. Lion is being tricked by the Earth—"

"What are you saying? The same could be said of you too, Mr. Wolf. And if one of you were to be fooled, it would most likely be you."

"...What do you mean?"

"Hehe. I don't know the two of you all that well, but I can still tell that you're much more gullible..." Butterfly giggled to herself as she mercilessly dunked on Wolf.

In the end, Wolf seemed to realize that it would be tough for him to change anyone's mind at this point.

"Haha, I guess I should get going for today, then. It was nice to see you all again. And it was nice to meet you, Mr. Lion, Ms. Black, and Ms. Butterfly. I will see you again next time."

Wolf left the Round Table after deciding to sit out the third round.

Look at how naturally he was able to leave.

Still, the fact that he said he would see us next time meant that he'd be back in the future.

Now that someone ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had left, the Round Table felt emptier. There was a strange silence in the air as we all looked at each other. Sensing that nothing else of importance would be shared today, I decided I should also take my leave.

"Oh...! You're leaving?"

"See you next time."

I quickly left the Round Table.

***

Moonlight flooded the bedroom through a large window, and under its rays stood a woman whose voice trembled with barely suppressed emotion. How could it not? She had just heard a shocking tale from the uninvited guest who had come to see her in the middle of the night.

"What? He's... alive...? Bjorn is alive...?" Her mind went blank as rage overwhelmed her senses, the heat in her chest boiling over. "You... are a heartless bastard."

However, Baekho Lee just let out a sheepish laugh in the face of her anger. "Weirdly enough, that's the second time I've heard that today."

"...Get the hell out of here. If you play a prank like this again, I'll seriously—"

"Missha Karlstein."

He said her full name, which he had never done before.

Missha flinched, falling silent in surprise, and Baekho's voice lost its playfulness as he continued. "I am not joking. Bjorn Yandel is alive."

"...Where's your proof?"

"Everybody already knows. If you walk around the city for a bit, you'll definitely hear people talking about it."

Baekho then briefly recounted what Bjorn Yandel had been up to lately. As he went on, Missha gradually realized he was telling the truth.

"Bjorn... is alive...?" All sorts of emotions started to bubble up inside her. She was happy, sad, confused, angry. "...Bastard."

"Yeah, what's wrong with that guy, am I right? How could he let all his teammates think he was dead only to come back years later working under the royal—"

"Not him, you. You must have known for a while now, but you're only telling me this now...?"

"Oh... sorry. I've been trying to make sense of this as well. But you know, I did tell you to stop holing yourself up in your room and to go on walks—whoa, that's a nasty look in your eyes, damn."

Missha didn't deign to acknowledge Baekho Lee's teasing.

For a moment, an awkward silence filled the room. Eventually, Baekho opened his mouth to ask her, "Are you going to go back to him?"

"Of course. What was the whole reason I joined you in the first place?"

"It was to use the Stone of Revival to save Bjorn Yandel."

"Exactly, so get out. I need to pack my things. I'll be out of here by dawn."

"Hmmm, well. If you say so..."

Missha was confused by the strange way he was dragging this conversation out. "...If there's something you want to say, go on and say it." She had a strangely ominous feeling about this, and it was rare that her gut instincts were wrong.

"No, it's nothing." Baekho smiled. "I was just wondering if you could do me a favor."

He smiled the exact same way he did when he visited her that fateful day.