Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Clown wasn't the only one convinced by my statement.

"Auril Gabis is our enemy..."

Fox, who had once been a loyal follower of the Master, muttered with a hint of bitterness. Stag Antlers nodded in agreement.

"Well, he was always secretive, just like the royal family. And people who keep secrets usually have something to hide."

Even Queen, who had investigated Auril Gabis the most among the existing members, didn't object.

"Auril Gabis is our enemy... I'll keep that in mind."

She said she would keep it in mind, but I knew she would immediately report to the GM and share her theories about Auril Gabis.

After all, I had built a reputation for providing valuable information.

"..."

But he still seemed confused.

"...Is there something I'm missing? Why are you all accepting his statement so easily? I mean, if he had said Auril Gabis did something bad, I would understand, but... that statement was too subjective, wasn't it?"

As a returning veteran, he had subtly pointed out the flaw in the Round Table system.

But his objection fell on deaf ears.

"Hmm, but Wolf, you did the same thing, didn't you?"

The same logic applied to him.

"We all asked you for evidence. But Lion didn't provide any."

He sounded a little indignant.

"Even if I said Auril Gabis wasn't our enemy, the jewel would still glow green. So who would you believe?"

It was a sharp rebuttal, but the answer was obvious.

"Pfft, that's easy."

"...?"

"We would believe Lion. Not some random newbie who suddenly appeared after all these years."

Wolf looked dumbfounded, and Queen added,

"Well, there's always a chance. If Wolf can provide us with concrete evidence..."

Queen's words were a clear challenge.

She wanted to see what he was hiding.

Wolf had revealed his allegiance to Auril Gabis, but that was all they knew.

"Evidence... Alright."

Wolf didn't back down. He didn't seem fazed by their reactions.

And so the second round began.

"We went in order last time, so let's go in reverse order this time."

"Pfft, feeling confident, are we?"

"I just thought it would be fairer."

"Well, I don't mind. I think Lion would prefer it this way too..."

Clown glanced at me.

He was always trying to please me.

I hadn't been particularly kind to him...

"So, I'll start. I've been hesitant to share this because it's not entirely confirmed... but I have a feeling it will be a hot topic this time. Pfft."

Clown, unusually verbose, looked around the table and said,

"We've all been wondering, haven't we? About the old man who led thousands of explorers out of the labyrinth."

"..."

"I think that old man... was Auril Gabis."

Hmm, is that so?

It was an old story, but I was still interested. It was just Clown's speculation, though.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The jewel glowed green, and the existing members didn't object.

Queen was the only one who spoke up.

"Can you tell us why you think so?"

"Pfft, do I really need to? You all know who I am. My opinion alone should be enough."

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

Was it because of the new members?

Queen, who usually pressed for more information, let it go.

"Wow... Clown, you're amazing."

"Compared to Lion? Not even close. Pfft..."

He said that, but he sounded pleased.

'Did he reveal that ambiguous information just to show off?'

I dismissed the thought.

He wasn't that desperate for attention.

"Alright, Butterfly, your turn. I'm looking forward to this. Pfft."

"Uh... I think my turn came too early."

Butterfly looked around nervously.

"There's a portal in the royal palace basement."

Damn, that's the information I was planning to reveal...

"Two of them, actually."

What? Two?

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The jewel glowed green, and the members started asking questions.

"A portal? What does that mean? Can the royal family enter the labyrinth whenever they want?"

"Hehe, I don't know? What do you think?"

"..."

"So... is my turn over?"

Butterfly ignored their questions and ended her turn.

Queen's turn.

"Recently—"

"Another political story? Those are so boring..."

"..."

Queen hesitated for a moment at Butterfly's interruption and then started over.

"About the dimensional collapse... the one the royal family can intentionally trigger. It actually happened. The most recent one was intentional."

"...Hee, is that so?"

The jewel glowed green, but Butterfly seemed indifferent.

Or rather, she was glaring at Queen.

'She's trying to one-up her.'

She had revealed information related to the previous topic, claiming it as her own.

"There's another way to return to Earth, besides opening the Gate of the Abyss. It's dimensional magic."

It was related to her previous information. But no one criticized her.

She had added another line.

"That's how Auril Gabis got here."

"...!"

"Black, you're also suspicious now."

The members were now interested in Black Mask's identity, and the meeting continued.

Stag Antlers, Crescent Moon, Goblin, Fox.

They all shared useful information, avoiding any world-altering secrets.

And...

"...Pfft, finally."

It was Wolf's turn.

Everyone looked at him expectantly.

They knew what he was going to say.

He would try to prove that Auril Gabis wasn't our enemy.

And then it would be my turn to refute his claim.

It was a one-on-one battle.

"I've met the King. And I've glimpsed the secrets of this world."

What?

He had met the King?

"...When?"

"Within the past year."

Wolf seemed willing to answer their questions.

But...

"That's an interesting story, but it's a little vague, isn't it? 'Secrets of the world'... that doesn't tell us much."

Queen pointed out the flaw in his statement.

But I knew her well.

She was trying to suppress her excitement and extract more information.

"..."

The other members seemed to have noticed it too, but they didn't interrupt.

They wanted to hear more.

"I can't reveal the details to strangers. But I can tell you this much."

Wolf drew a line and said,

"Auril Gabis isn't our enemy. He's our ally."

The jewel glowed green throughout his statement, and his turn ended.

"..."

It was my turn.

'He met the King... that's a bold claim.'

The members seemed a little hesitant now.

Wolf looked at me smugly.

I needed to assert my dominance.

Therefore...

I spoke.

I mentioned a name that would overshadow even the King.

"The Earth Witch, Ellis Groundia."

She had told me not to open the Gate of the Abyss... but that wasn't important right now.

"I've met her."

"...!!"

I wasn't lying.

___________________

The Earth Witch, Ellis Groundia.

The mythical being who had brought ruin upon this world.

"...!!"

The moment her name was mentioned, everyone fell silent.

Even Wolf.

They were shocked.

I had mentioned her before, saying she was alive... but meeting her was a different story.

"The Earth Witch..."

"Pfft... Lion, you always surprise me. I repent. I shouldn't have doubted you."

Clown was the most enthusiastic, but the atmosphere had clearly shifted in my favor.

The King might be a powerful figure, but he was still just a human.

And he hadn't even appeared in public recently, citing health issues.

His reign hadn't even lasted 200 years yet.

He couldn't compare to the Earth Witch, who had ruled the kingdom for over a thousand years.

And...

'There's also the speaker's reputation, of course.'

Me, the mysterious and powerful figure at the Round Table, versus Wolf, the returning veteran who had been considered a nobody a few years ago.

"...Hehehe, I think we know who to believe now."

"There's always a chance that Lion is being deceived by the Earth Witch—"

"Huh? But Wolf, you could be deceived too."

"..."

"And if one of you is being deceived, I think it's more likely to be you."

"...What are you trying to say?"

"Hehehe, I'm just saying... you seem more gullible."

Butterfly giggled, and Wolf didn't respond.

He knew he couldn't win this argument.

And...

"Haha, I think I'll be going now. It was good to see you all again. Lion, Butterfly, Black... see you next time."

Wolf declared his withdrawal from the Round Table.

'He's running away.'

But he had said he would be back, so it wasn't a permanent departure.

"..."

"..."

An awkward silence followed.

Everyone was looking at each other.

It was time for me to take the initiative.

"Ah... Are you leaving?"

It was obvious, wasn't it?

"See you next time."

I left the Round Table.

___________________

A bedroom bathed in moonlight.

A woman's voice trembled.

It was because of the shocking news she had just received from the late-night visitor.

"What? He's... alive...? Bjorn is...?"

After a moment of shock, anger surged through her.

"You... you're incorrigible."

Her voice was cold and sharp.

But Lee Baekho just smiled awkwardly.

"That's the second time I've heard that today."

"...Get out. If you pull this kind of prank again, I'll—"

"Misha Carlstain."

He had used her full name.

Misha froze, and Lee Baekho's voice became serious.

"I'm not joking. Bjorn Yandel is alive."

"...Proof?"

"It's all over the city. Just ask around tomorrow."

Lee Baekho then briefly explained Bjorn Yandel's recent activities, and Misha slowly began to believe him.

"Bjorn is... alive...?"

A mixture of emotions washed over her.

Joy, sadness, confusion, anger...

"...That bastard."

"Yeah, he's a real piece of work. He tricked everyone, faked his death, and joined the royal—."

"Not him, you. You knew, and you didn't tell me...?"

"Ah... sorry. I was trying to... process it. You should go outside more often."

"..."

"..."

A long silence followed.

The man finally spoke.

"So... are you going to see him?"

"Of course. Why do you think I've been with you all this time?"

"To revive Bjorn Yandel. With the Stone of Resurrection."

"I know. Now get out. I need to pack. I'm leaving tomorrow."

"Hmm, I see..."

The man's tone was strange, and Misha flinched.

"...What do you want to say? Just spit it out."

She had a bad feeling.

And her premonition was right.

"Nothing much, just..."

Lee Baekho was smiling.

"I have a favor to ask."

Just like he had done that day.