Chapter 307: Chapter 307: Round Table (1)

A study filled with the calming scent of wood.

‘Nothing has changed.’

As I was looking around, I noticed a change.

A white mask.

The same white mask I wore during my last visit was hanging on the empty wall.

‘Is he telling me to wear it?’

I chuckled and put on the mask.

And as soon as I opened the door and went out…

…I saw an old man walking towards me from the end of the hallway.

Auril Gabis.

The mysterious figure who might have the answers to all my questions…

“Haha, you’re here. I’ve been waiting.”

…and the old man who couldn’t hide his excitement when I told him I had cleared the original game.

“Did everything go well? I was worried something might happen after I sent you back that day.”

I couldn’t let my guard down, even though he greeted me warmly with a chuckle and a friendly tone.

I had seen it firsthand.

The captain of Orculus, the Ruin Scholar, and so on.

Those powerful figures who were intimidated by this old man.

“I’m fine. But what happened to them?”

“Huh? Them?”

“You sent me back after saying they broke the rules again.”

Auril Gabis nodded in understanding.

“Ah, you’re talking about those failures.”

Failures…

I realized that the real battle had begun when he casually used that word.

His intention was obvious.

‘It seems like he didn’t like being led around by me last time.’

It was a variation of the carrot and stick method.

The only difference was that he was using the stick on someone else, not me.

“Don’t worry about those failures. I showed them what would happen if they caused trouble again.”

He was showing his authority by wielding the stick on others…

…while being kind to me.

Like this.

“Ahem, but I was being inconsiderate. You must have been offended. But don’t worry too much. I know you’re different from them.”

A stark contrast between his coldness and his kindness.

The recipient of that kindness would think…

I don’t want to be on his bad side.

I have to reciprocate his kindness.

That’s how it works.

Well, I’m immune to that kind of tactic.

“You’re special, aren’t you?”

I chuckled and answered the old man’s question.

“I don’t know.”

“Huh?”

“Stop with the cheap tricks.”

I hate carrots.

“…Cheap tricks? You’re being rude.”

The old man glared at me, his expression changing at my provocative words. Although there wasn’t any killing intent, I could feel a powerful aura emanating from him.

But I didn’t back down.

I had to let him know.

That I wasn’t afraid of him.

“I didn’t come here to talk about this.”

“Huh…?”

“Just send me back if you’re going to waste my time with this kind of small talk. No, actually, it would be better if you just took care of it so that I don’t have to come here anymore.”

The old man looked flustered and then exclaimed indignantly,

“Sm, small talk?! You were the one who asked about them!”

Ah… that’s true.

This is getting ridiculous.

But what can he do?

“So you’re saying it’s my fault?”

I learned about the importance of faith while watching barbarians farting everywhere.

A strong belief in yourself.

That unwavering heart creates confidence and allows you to face any obstacle without fear.

Therefore…

“No, I’m not saying it’s your fault…”

“Apologize.”

I demanded confidently.

Even if it was unreasonable.

Even though I was currently in Lee Hansu’s form, not Bjorn Yandel’s body.

“So you’re not going to apologize?”

“…Haha, it seems like I underestimated you.”

The old man glared at me, his expression hardening at my repeated demands. The surrounding space even started to ripple, which was ominous.

Honestly, I was scared.

But…

“Apologize.”

…nothing changed.

What can he do if he’s angry?

Is he going to kick out the ‘original clear user’?

“Phew… why are you doing this?”

The old man sighed and asked.

The rippling space had also stopped.

As expected.

It was obvious that he was just pretending to be angry to resolve the situation.

Ah, but was he really angry?

“Why are you provoking me? You weren’t this rude last time.”

“You sound like you know me well.”

I quickly continued.

“And you’re saying I’m looking down on you? You were the one who looked down on me first.”

“What do you mean? I looked down on you—”

“You called them failures and said you were inconsiderate. Did you think I would grovel?”

“…….”

Unexpectedly, the old man didn’t refute me.

He could have made excuses, saying it was a mistake or that he didn’t mean it.

But he just thought for a moment and then nodded.

“Indeed, you’re different… “

“…?”

“I apologize. I was too casual with you, even though you’re the one who cleared the original version that everyone thought was a failure. I’ll be careful from now on.”

Uh, I wasn’t expecting such a sincere apology.

I was a bit flustered, as I had planned to casually accept a half-hearted apology and then take the initiative in the conversation.

‘No, maybe he even planned this.’

“…Fine, I’ll let it slide.”

Although I usually didn’t accept verbal apologies, I accepted it, thinking that our relationship might really be ruined if I continued acting like a barbarian.

The atmosphere softened a bit.

“Well, then let’s talk over a drink in the other room instead of just standing here. Ah, do you have a preferred type of tea?”

What a natural question.

“Sprite.”

That’s all I wanted from the beginning.

_______________________

Ah, this is the life.

I should have thought this earlier.

Right, I should have.

But…

‘Why does it taste so bland?’

Is it because I asked for ice?

Clank.

I put down the empty glass, only ice left, and thought for a moment. It wasn’t that it wasn’t refreshing, but the carbonation seemed weak.

It tasted noticeably worse than before.

‘Don’t tell me this old man is holding a grudge…?’

That’s when, as I glanced at him suspiciously…

…Auril Gabis spoke.

“So, shall we get to the point…?”

It was a bit funny.

He didn’t seem like the type to be concerned about a small fry like me.

‘It must mean I’m important to him.’

I became more wary as my treatment improved.

After all, no one is nice without a reason.

I dismissed my thoughts about the lack of carbonation and thought about it.

‘Why is an original clear user so important?’

Hmm, well, I don’t know.

Because they have more knowledge about the game than other players?

That’s true, but it couldn’t be the reason.

The old man in front of me is Auril Gabis. The game developer.

He would naturally know everything I knew, and if he needed a player with knowledge, he could just share it with me.

Then why is he so obsessed?

‘I’ll have to find out.’

“Ahem, what are you thinking about?”

“Ah, sorry. I was lost in thought.”

“Ha! With me right in front of you?!”

Auril Gabis clicked his tongue in disbelief. Ah, but his rude behavior didn’t last long.

“Phew, here we go again.”

“Ah, no. I was just saying it’s refreshing since it’s been a while.”

“Ah, I see. I almost misunderstood.”

“…Are you a barbarian?”

Huh?

Damn it, did I show it too much?

Although I felt a bit guilty, I casually brushed it off as if I was offended.

“Is that even a question?”

“No, of course not. I was just kidding.”

It seemed like he was really joking, judging by his expression, but I should be more careful.

“Anyway, speaking of questions…”

“Go ahead, don’t hesitate.”

The old man quickly got to the point after I gave him permission.

“We talked about fairness before we parted ways last time. I thought hard about it every day—”

“Just the gist of it.”

“I made an item that can solve that problem.”

Right, he could have just said that.

“Hmm, an item?”

“This.”

Auril Gabis took out a fist-sized jewel from his pocket instead of explaining.

It was a familiar item.

“This is…”

It was definitely it.

The jewel that was embedded in the center of the Round Table.

Damn it, I didn’t expect it to have been created like this.

Then is this old man really the Master?

“…Do you know what it is?”

“No, it just looks expensive.”

“Expensive… haha! This is an item that can’t be measured with such worldly possessions… ahem, I almost got sidetracked again.”

Auril Gabis quickly explained the item after stopping himself.

“It’s an item I created by objectifying some of my authority in this spiritual space.”

I didn’t understand the principle, but I didn’t ask. I didn’t think I would understand even if he explained it…

And it’s best to stay quiet when you don’t know something.

“The way it works is simple. If you tell the truth in front of this jewel, it will emit a green light, and if you lie, it will emit a red light. Do you want to try it?”

I had already dismissed the possibility of it being fake as soon as I saw it, but I didn’t show it.

After all, he was giving me a free question.

“Auril Gabis, are you over 300 years old?”

I deliberately set a standard.

If I just asked how old he was, and he answered 1 year old, the jewel would emit a red light, and that would be the end of it.

“…I’m not.”

Auril Gabis answered as if playing along.

And…

Swaaaa.

…the jewel emitted a red light.

“It means you’re lying.”

Wow, so he’s over 300 years old?

I just threw it out there since the Compendium of Rifts was written 150 years ago…

What a monster.

I was inwardly shocked, but I didn’t show it.

“So, now we can ask each other one question without it being unfair, right?”

“Hmm, but isn’t that a bit… You made this item, so you can probably control what light it emits.”

It was a valid point.

Surprisingly, Auril Gabis chose to confront it head-on.

“I swear on my name. That’s impossible.”

Swear…

It was a nostalgic word for me.

I had sworn countless oaths and then betrayed them.

“It’s hard to believe. I might believe you if you swore on your parents.”

“My, my parents…?”

“You can’t, so it was a lie.”

“That’s ridiculous! I was just… surprised because it was such an absurd request. How can I swear on people who aren’t even in this world anymore?”

Didn’t he realize that swearing on his name wouldn’t work?

Auril Gabis was lost in thought.

“It’s up to you whether you believe me or not, but I’ll say this. My oath was true, and now I can’t even tell if you’re telling the truth or lying without this item.”

“Huh?”

The jewel emitted a green light.

“Didn’t I say I used most of my authority to create this item? I can’t even read your soul capacity now.”

“Soul capacity…?”

“It means I can’t even tell how many essences you have.”

The jewel emitted a green light again.

But did this old man know?

That my trust in him was decreasing.

‘The more he talks about his weaknesses, the more suspicious he seems…’

Did he really tamper with it?

“Do you remember the people you saw that day?”

“The ones you called failures?”

“Right. Actually, despite what I said earlier, they’re people who would be treated well wherever they went, just based on their names and abilities.”

“Name and ability, that’s two things.”

“…You know what I mean.”

“Anyway, what are you trying to say?”

Auril Gabis sighed and made a new suggestion.

“How about we have a conversation in the room where they are? They might not know everything, but they’re capable of noticing and objecting if I’m lying.”

“…What?”

I was truly dumbfounded.

This is like a demo version of the Round Table.