Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 199

Master Key (4)

The resurrection stone is on the 9th floor.

With just this clue, finding the Resurrection stone is nearly impossible.

The crescent moon probably knows this fact as well.

He’s a player of this perverted game, after all.

But perhaps it was still a refreshing change.

“Why…?” Crescent Moon, setting his joy aside, asked me.

“Why did you show such kindness to me?”

He seemed genuinely curious about the reason, but…

As the Lion Mask, there’s only one thing I can say.

“Because I thought it would be fun.”

Crescent Moon pondered the meaning of my words for a moment, his lips sealed tight, then suddenly, his body shivered.

“You are… truly a terrifying person.”

Huh? All of a sudden?

Not knowing what he meant, I simply stared at Crescent Moon, chin in hand.

Then, realizing his mistake, he said,

“…Please forget what I just said. It was unnecessary. Whatever kind of person you are doesn’t matter to me. If I can get that item, I would even sacrifice my soul.”

As if making a resolution, Crescent Moon added a self-mocking remark at the end.

“Well, you probably already know about my situation.”

It was completely incomprehensible to me.

No, how would I know that?

‘Where did he get that misconception?’

I reviewed the events that had happened at the round table, but I couldn’t figure out why, so I just remained silent as usual.

As always, when in doubt, stay silent.

“You really did know.”

I didn’t bother to deny it.

In this situation, denying it seemed a bit funny.

I just changed the subject as if uninterested.

“Now, it’s my turn.”

As I spoke, everyone’s attention turned to me.

They seemed to anticipate what I would reveal next. Feeling oddly embarrassed, I threw out a piece of information I had prepared.

It was interesting like the Vandemon, but ultimately useless like the Resurrection Stone .

“Pssit, I already knew that.”

The clown gave me a disapproving glance, even though the gem on the round table glowed green.

Of course, it wasn’t my concern.

Apparently, the clown didn’t blame me but considered it his own fault for not bringing something more interesting.

“If it’s alright, I’d like to continue. What does everyone think?”

As everyone had prepared quite a bit after the break, the meeting continued even after the first round.

I kept delivering similar types of information, and before I knew it, the third round had started.

“I… I will drop out after this round.”

The goblin, who had been the first in turn, was red-lighted four times and struggled through the turn before finally raising the white flag.

Perhaps everyone was running low on information, not just the goblin?

“Hmm, I guess I should stop here too.”

The fox also declared her withdrawal, naturally bringing the meeting to a close.

I didn’t feel particularly regretful.

‘I think I’ve heard all I need to hear.’

After the conflict between Noahark and the royal family, it was unclear how the situation was unfolding, but now I was beginning to get a sense of it.

The city rumors were quite the opposite of reality.

‘It seems the royal side is in a much better position.’

Though the recent raid had caused considerable damage, the underground city had suffered as well. From what I had heard, the blockade of Noahark seemed like a last desperate act.

‘They’ve even managed to make uncopyable badges, so we don’t have to change our plans too much. There doesn’t seem to be any immediate danger either.

I quietly shifted my gaze back to the round table.

The information about Orcules that Crescent Moon had mentioned had been green-lit.

“…It seems only Mr. Lion is left?”

The members’ attention naturally focused on me.

Their eyes sparkled with anticipation.

‘Sigh, no need to make it this pressuring.’

Tap tap, I drummed my fingers on the armrest, pondering for a moment.

What should be the finale?

I already had something planned, but I wasn’t sure if it fit the current atmosphere.

Soon enough, a suitable idea came to mind.

Tap.

 

I stopped tapping my fingers with a sly grin.

It wasn’t one of the pieces of information I had prepared to use here, but…

“Goblin.”

“Yes, yes?”

Startled by my sudden address, the goblin stammered.

I looked at him and said,

“Come to think of it, you mentioned earlier that the ‘Master’ might be a more skilled mage than the GM who created this community.”

“Ah, ah! Yes, that was said…”

The goblin trailed off, unsure of my point, while the fox brightened up.

“Could it be, is it information about the Master?”

Better than the clueless goblin, but…

“You’re wrong.”

I ignored the fox completely and continued speaking to the goblin.

It seemed they fundamentally misunderstood something earlier.

“This community wasn’t created by a GM. More precisely, it’s an already existing place that was remodeled into what it is now.”

I parroted information I had heard previously from Lee Baek-ho.

At that, all members’ eyes focused on one spot.

The jewel embedded at the center of the round table.

“…It’s green.”

The result was as expected; not surprising.

I hadn’t verified it myself, but…

I had no doubt about this information.

“…I never thought it wasn’t made by a GM.”

“Phew, this is new to me too.”

“Then who exactly created this place?”

As if on cue, the members fell silent.

And once again, all eyes converged on one spot.

The only entity at this meeting who could answer that question.

‘Okay, that should be enough to get their attention’

In the heated silence, I spoke.

With a voice implying no expectation.

Void of any emotion.

“I hope it’s more interesting next time.”

I left them with those words.

Shouldn’t they bring something more worthwhile next time?

***

“He’s gone…”

There was a heavy silence in the round table room after the Lion mask left.

It was for a simple reason.

The last thing he said.

Or more precisely, the emotion carried in that voice.

“…Do you think he was angry with us?”

The fox muttered, to which the clown scoffed.

“Pssit, I think you’re overestimating our importance to him. Do you really think we’re worth getting angry over?”

“That’s…”

As the fox tried to retort, she clamped her mouth shut.

She was reminded of what master had said earlier.

[I shouldn’t be the one to say this, but honestly, someone like you wouldn’t benefit from participating here]

The secret meeting unknown even to regular players. The fox had been using the information she’d gained here to her advantage.

That’s why it was hard to accept at first.

But after hearing the Master’s words, there was no point in denying it.

There is no benefit to the Lion mask here.

‘Or should I say, none at all?

The fox let out a bitter laugh.

[Next time, I hope it’s more interesting.]

Fun.

Something to alleviate a bit of boredom.

Essentially, a pastime.

If the Lion expected anything from this gathering, it was merely that.

But what about us so far?

Even that we couldn’t manage properly.

And we’re expecting him to just tell us all about it…….

“…We must have looked pathetic.”

“That’s likely. That man is of a different breed than the Master, even though they seem a bit similar.”

The fox tilted her head at the Deer Horn Mask’s comment.

“…Similar?”

It was Crescent Moon who responded.

“At least since he started coming here, we haven’t felt the absence of Master.”

She seemed to slowly understand what he meant.

Master was a unique presence at the round table.

He was the one who had gathered the current members and imparted precious information and knowledge that no one else knew.

“If there’s a difference, it’s that Mr. Lion isn’t the type to volunteer information like Master did. Phew.”

“Volunteering…”

“Why, it’s not incorrect, is it? Or do you really think the Master created this place just to gather information?”

The fox didn’t offer any retort.

No, she couldn’t.

It was just as the clown had said.

The Master always knew everything.

And he shared it generously.

Like a teacher in a classroom full of students.

“Pssit, Fox, isn’t that why you follow Master so closely?”

This time, even the fox didn’t deny it.

“…Yes. If I didn’t see it as a charity, I wouldn’t consider him a benefactor.”

The assembly was maintained thanks to Master’s efforts.

Just look at the recent attendance.

Before Lion joined, there had only been four regular members. This was because once Master disappeared, attendance plummeted.

The remaining members, like the goblin, would occasionally check if Master had returned and then leave.

‘Perhaps the rest would participate if they knew someone new had joined, just like Goblin did.’

There was a strange feeling about this.

However, the fox set aside those feelings and focused on the conversation with the remaining members.

The topic was Master, who had appeared after a year.

Or, more precisely, the conversation was about the Lion mask, who seemed to have connections with Master.

“Surely, the Lion must be someone we’ve all heard of at least once. If master said he’s ‘remarkable,’ he must really be one of the few.”

“Indeed, even the notorious ‘Corpse Collector’ was treated like a child by him.”

“A child… Yes, that’s what he said. Pssit.”

Once again, it was time for speculation.

“The last piece of information he shared was significant. The community wasn’t created by a GM… How could he know such a thing?”

“Maybe, he might know the GM personally.”

“…You mean that mysterious GM that’s only a rumor to us?”

“To us, maybe, but not to the one who called the master just an ‘Old Man’ There must be a world we know nothing about.”

“I see…”

The goblin looked genuinely impressed, prompting the clown to ask.

“But why the change today? Last time you were here, you were skeptical about everything he said.”

“…That was when I didn’t know much about him.”

“Phew, so your two eyes weren’t just decoration after all?”

The clown’s taunt made the goblin cough awkwardly and look away.

Then, the Deer Horn Mask spoke up.

“Am I the only one who felt it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“When the Master left, I felt an intent.”

“Ah, if it’s that, I felt it too.”

“You two, hold on. Intent? Does that mean he used ‘telepathy’?”

The fox was genuinely surprised.

Intent’ refers to an ability that can only be used in this mental space, similar to telepathy.

It’s similar to the principle of killing intent.

Transmitting intent in the form of language to another person.

”Even master said it was difficult to use …”

“Pssit, Fox, why are you surprised? Did you think Mr. Lion couldn’t use it?”

“…”

Though the tone was annoying, she had no retort.

Thinking calmly, the clown’s words weren’t surprising. After all, the man had emitted such intent from their first meeting.

It would be odd if he couldn’t use ‘Telepathy.’

“Anyway, does this mean Master and Mr. Lion had a conversation before he left?”

“Yes. Surely they had something to discuss privately.”

“Do you know what they talked about, Clown?”

“Of course not. Both Master and Mr. Lion are monsters!”

The fox licked her lips, unable to hide her frustration.

If only she could know what their conversation was about, it might provide clues about Master’s situation…

“Psssit, but it wasn’t entirely without gain.” the Clown Said

“What? What gain?”

Prompted by the clown’s words, the fox snapped to attention.

The clown, pleased by her eager posture, smirked.

“I didn’t feel it at all.”

“Please, could you elaborate a little more?”

“The telepathy of Mr. Lion! I tried hard, but couldn’t feel it at all. Unlike Master, who was at least faintly perceptible.”

Having some knowledge of ‘Killing Intent,’ the fox was struck cold.

It was inevitable.

Even if spoken in his usual playful tone, the implications were far from light.

“Wait. That means…”

Unable to finish, the fox was interrupted as the clown revealed today’s ‘gain.’

“Yes. Perhaps Mr. Lion is an even bigger monster than the Master.”

This shocking speculation silenced everyone.

In the ensuing silence.

“Um…”

The goblin cautiously spoke up.

“Could it be that only the Master said something and left? Then it would explain why the clown didn’t feel any intent… Ah, ah, why are you all looking at me like that? It was just a thought. Just a thought. I didn’t really mean it!”

The silence continued for a while longer.