Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Chapter 344: Comeback (3)

Chapter 344: Comeback (3)

[There is no record of Lion logging into Ghostbusters for two years and six months.]

I was quite flustered when I first heard it, but after thinking about it, there was no reason to be too afraid.

At least one thing was certain.

‘She probably only knows my nickname, ‘Elfnunna’.’

After all, even Auril Gabis couldn’t find out my real identity in the spiritual world.

Could the GM, who only inherited half of his power, do it?

It was impossible.

The problem was that if she knew my nickname, she could ban me from the community…

But that wasn’t a big deal either.

On the other hand, I would lose a lot if I backed down.

She would realize that this was my weakness.

[Where have you been all this time?]

She would ask me even more direct questions. And it would only be a matter of time before my Lion mask was ripped off if I kept avoiding them.

So, in that case…

‘The best defense is a good offense.’

…I decided to take a gamble.

After all, this GM was the one who almost died after trying to ban Lee Baekho.

Like how nuclear weapons are a deterrent to war…

…I judged that the only solution might be to act even more boldly.

Well, I wasn’t sure what the outcome would be…

‘I’ll find out soon.’

I looked around.

“…….”

“…….”

A heavy silence.

Everyone’s gaze was fixed on one spot.

The center of the Round Table, where the jewel that distinguished between truth and lies was placed.

But I was looking at something else.

SoulQueens.

The GM’s companion who was participating in the Round Table wearing the Queen mask.

Her eyes, which had been relaxed until now, were filled with unease.

‘What the hell is going on?’ With that question in her eyes. As if she hadn’t expected this at all.

“…Uh, um…”

She wanted to say something, but her words were jumbled, and only a sigh escaped her lips.

Her hand was also trembling.

“Uh, uh…?”

She reached out, as if to stop me, but then she lowered her hand powerlessly.

She knew.

That she couldn’t stop anything with a gesture like that.

That the damage was already done.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The jewel emitted a green light after a brief pause, as if enjoying the attention.

And the brief silence ended.

“The GM… is the Magitechnician…?”

“Wa, wait a minute… I can’t keep up. Ho, how can he be an evil spirit… No, the GM?”

“…Pfft, it was worth waiting for you for over two years, Lion. Such a big secret from the very beginning.”

The members were all talking at once, the atmosphere chaotic.

But there was something worth listening to.

“I’m actually more surprised about Queen. There were rumors that she might be part of the management team, but…”

Right, I thought it was strange that she revealed the login records in front of everyone.

There was no reason for her to hide it.

It seemed like her identity had been revealed while I was gone. Hmm, or maybe she intentionally revealed it, considering her personality?

But that wasn’t important right now.

I continued to stare at one person, ignoring the others.

“Can you… handle it?”

SoulQueens, who had been standing with her head bowed, her hands on the table, glared at me.

But it wasn’t a threatening glare.

It was for a simple reason.

“Ca, can you… handle it…?”

Her voice was trembling.

Who would be intimidated by that?

“Even after doing this… how can you—”

I cut her off and said,

“You said you weren’t afraid.”

“……?”

“You’re trembling.”

“……!”

SoulQueens quickly looked down at her hands.

They were shaking uncontrollably.

Grab.

She grabbed her trembling wrist with her other hand and glared at me again. And then she took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

“Fine, that’s how you’re going to play it. I’ll go first this time.”

She placed her hand on the jewel and told anyone who wasn’t participating in this round to leave.

Of course, no one left.

And…

“Lion is Bjorn Yandel.”

The jewel emitted a light.

____________________

1. Lion is Elfnunna.

2. Elfnunna hasn’t logged into the community for two years and six months, and neither has Lion.

3. Therefore, Lion is Bjorn Yandel.

She must have been 100% certain, having reached that conclusion through a logical process.

At least until she entered the Round Table today.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The jewel emitted a light in the tense atmosphere.

“…It’s red.”

As expected, it wasn’t green.

This jewel didn’t distinguish between truth and lies.

It seemed like SoulQueens wanted to get back at me… but it was a meaningless struggle now that her faith had been shaken.

‘But the problem is, she doesn’t seem that flustered.’

Then why did she make a meaningless attempt?

I found the answer in Goblin’s question.

“Um, but Bjorn Yandel is dead, isn’t he? Lion is alive and right here… Why did you ask that question…?”

“There are many mysteries surrounding his death. Even his companions didn’t see him die.”

The possibility that Bjorn Yandel was alive.

She had asked that question with that in mind.

Well, she received a red light because she lacked faith.

“Pfft, even you should know that the jewel would emit a red light with that kind of speculation.”

“…I won’t answer that.”

SoulQueens looked away from me.

Come to think of it, maybe she was just testing me.

No, she definitely was.

She had been staring at me when the jewel emitted the light.

‘…Damn it, she’s testing me in this situation? This woman is relentless.’

I was worried about what she would think after seeing my reaction, but I tried to hide it.

But did she gain confidence because I was silent?

“…Anyway, we have to do it again since it’s red.”

SoulQueens casually said she would retry and glanced at me.

And…

“I can ban Lion from Ghostbusters at any time.”

…she received a green light after revealing that she was part of the management team.

It was a predictable action.

After all, the only penalty she could give me was to ban me from the community.

Unlike me.

“Pfft, I’d rather you didn’t do that. Ah, not that you can anyway.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Why would they leave me alone if I was banned? I’m from Noark, which you guys hate so much. You’re just keeping me around because you’re curious about our information.”

“…What does that have to do with anything?”

“Pfft, I guess that’s the answer. Anyway, that means you shouldn’t ban Lion. We don’t know what kind of stories he’ll tell us…”

Clown said firmly,

“You should know better than to do something you can’t handle.”

“…Something I can’t handle?”

“Yes. He knows the GM’s identity, what are you going to do to him?”

It was music to my ears.

He was scratching my itch.

After all, it wouldn’t sound good if I said it myself.

It was better for someone else to say it for me.

“…….”

I looked away from Queen, who was speechless, and met Clown’s eyes.

He was smiling.

‘Good job, right?’

With that look in his eyes.

____________________

Did she feel like she had gotten her revenge?

“Pfft, well, it’s not my place to say anything.”

Clown, who had said everything he wanted to say, spoke in a cheerful voice.

“Anyway, it’s my turn now, isn’t it?”

And so, the second round began.

And from the very beginning, I couldn’t ignore what he said.

“Speaking of Bjorn Yandel, that bastard… he might not actually be an evil spirit.”

Huh?

“Pfft, it was Lee Baekho who spread the rumor.”

…Lee Baekho?

He revealed my identity?

As I was inwardly shocked, Stag Antlers casually shared even more shocking information.

“But the original source was Misha Kaltstein, that woman.”

…Huh? Misha?

“It’s the same thing. She’s one of Lee Baekho’s companions now.”

No, what the hell is he talking about?

Why is Misha one of Lee Baekho’s companions?

“Pfft, fortunately, it’s green. Well, I knew you wouldn’t know that the cat girl had become one of his companions.”

I was getting dizzy from the influx of information, but I barely managed to maintain my composure.

And then it was the next person’s turn.

“…Phew, this isn’t easy.”

Goblin, who had received two red lights after sharing information about the war, finally succeeded in getting a green light on his third try.

It was about the internal affairs of the Leathlas Church.

It wasn’t surprising since he always sold out his church when he was cornered.

“It’s my turn again.”

It was Crescent Moon’s turn.

I was curious about Erwen, but his information was just okay.

It was about the war.

Stag Antlers was the same.

“Pfft, it seems like the royal family is serious this time.”

It seemed like it was important information, judging by how even Clown, who always mocked Stag Antlers, was being serious.

But the war didn’t matter to me right now.

My scattered companions.

Clearing my name.

I had a lot of homework to do.

So I was at least interested in Fox’s information.

No, to be precise, I was worried.

“A few months ago, a Double Numbered Item was acquired by the Alminus Central Exchange. An unidentified woman used it as collateral for a large loan, and the repayment date is approaching. We might see it at the exchange’s auction house soon.”

Don’t tell me… she’s talking about my Demon Crusher?

No, that can’t be right.

That kind Amelia wouldn’t do that.

“…….”

I tried to rationalize it, but I could feel everyone’s gaze on me.

‘Ah, it’s my turn.’

I didn’t have to think about what to say since I had already decided.

I slowly looked at them one by one.

They were all looking at me expectantly.

Except for one.

“…….”

SoulQueens seemed more anxious than expectant, perhaps because of what happened earlier.

Was she the type who had a lot of pride but was actually easily scared?

‘Anyway, that’s enough stalling.’

I tapped my fingers on the table twice and then looked at SoulQueens.

“You asked if I could handle it.”

It was my turn to answer her question.

Or rather, to ask her back.

Like Clown said…

…was she really prepared to handle it?

Gulp.

The moment Queen’s slender throat bobbed, I continued without hesitation.

“Your nickname is SoulQueens.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to the jewel as soon as I finished speaking.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Geez, I’m not even done talking.

“And SoulQueens’s real name is…”

Honestly, I didn’t know.

But I deliberately trailed off, looking at her.

If she didn’t react, I could just say something like, ‘I’ll save it for later,’ and pretend to be merciful.

“Hoo.”

The members’ eyes gleamed with interest as I paused.

Clown was the most enthusiastic.

After all, he had been humiliated by her before.

“Pfft, I hope she’s not a shut-in like the Magitechnician. It’s hard to kill those types. Hehehe…”

SoulQueens’s throat bobbed again at Clown’s creepy laughter.

Tap, tap.

I tapped my fingers on the table again.

And at that moment…

“…St, stop!”

…she spoke.

“Pl, please stop… I don’t want to reveal my identity here…”

Tsk, she should have just agreed from the beginning.