Surviving game as a barbarian Episode 576

Return (2)

Fox, Wolf, Goblin, Queen, and butterfly.

And me and then Auril Gavis.

An uncomfortable silence settled over the round table where the seven of us had gathered.

Thinking about it, it was only natural.

The round table members were all old users who had been dragged into this unfamiliar world several years ago.

“Home…?”

“You’re saying… you’ll send us back?”

Because they had spent so long here, they knew better than anyone. The goal of opening the Abyss Gate and returning home was close to impossible.

That’s why most of them had accepted life here and lived earnestly.

But…

“What, is the reward not to your liking?”

The situation had changed.

The mastermind behind all of this. And the very creator of [Dungeon & Stone], Auril Gavis.

Now he was offering to make the impossible possible.

“Play the game, and if you win, you’ll be given a ticket to return home.”

“Hm, I thought that was a decent enough reward.”

For any player, it was an offer so tempting they’d swarm like moths to a flame. But the round table members were surprisingly calm.

And why wouldn’t they be? Who were these people?

They were survivors who had endured this harsh world until now.

If something suspiciously enticing was placed right in front of them, they knew better than to trust it right away.

Just like this.

“…I’d like to hear what kind of game it is first.”

“If we can only hear it after agreeing to participate, then I’m not interested.”

Instead of rushing in wagging their tails, they wanted to gather information first to make a proper judgment.

Auril gavis answered their questions in a gentle tone?

“What do you mean, you have to participate to find out? Of course not. The game I’ve prepared is very simple.”

It was strange.

His tone made him sound like a grandfather next door, but from our perspective, it felt nothing like that.

“…….”

As Auril Gavis paused for a moment, the members’ expressions grew even more tense.

Just what kind of game was this?

 

Surely he hadn’t lost his mind to the point of making us fight to the death?

Just as that thought crossed my mind, the old man finally spoke.

“It’s a quiz.”

A game none of us had expected.

“A… quiz?”

“Yes, the very quiz you’re thinking of. So quit looking at me like that.”

“No, it’s just… I’m curious about how it’ll work.”

“Ah, I didn’t explain that. I’ll ask questions and you’ll answer. Whether it’s true or false. It’s a multiple-choice quiz with only two options.”

“A true or false quiz…” Goblin muttered in an uneasy voice, and Auril Gavis added an explanation.

Well, I don’t know if you can call it an explanation.

“The quiz will continue until only one person remains. Oh, of course, you’re free to quit partway if you like.”

“Huh…?”

Butterfly let out a sound as if to say, ‘What’s this?’

Everyone felt similarly.

Quitting a true or false quiz? What could that possibly mean?

“Are you saying there might be a situation where we’d have to quit?”

“Are you saying there might be a situation where we’d have to forfeit?”

When the Queen cut straight to the point, the old man gave another cryptic answer.

“Well, you might suddenly feel like doing so. I’ve always respected your free will, haven’t I?”

Respect, my ass.

Everyone here got dragged into this world while playing a game.

I wanted to snap back sarcastically but just gritted my teeth and held it in.

It’s not like saying anything would make a difference anyway.

“Well, then. I think that’s enough explanation. Those who want to participate, speak up.”

The old man then asked who would participate, and the members quickly made their decisions.

“There’s really no penalty for quitting or losing, right?”

“Don’t worry. Didn’t I already say? This game is the price you pay for having your masks removed.”

“In that case… I’ll do it.”

With the Queen’s final decision, all the members decided to participate.

Well, except for me.

“Sorry, but you can’t play. But don’t be too disappointed. You wouldn’t be able to return home this way anyway.”

Not that I can’t return, but more like he has no intention of sending me back like this. I have to grow stronger and open the Abyss Gate myself someday.

“Huh… So the Lion is different from us? How interesting.”

Butterfly’s gaze toward me deepened, and with that, Auril Gavis clapped his hands to gather attention.

“No need to drag this out. Let’s begin immediately.”

I noticed belatedly that X and O signs had been placed in front of each seat.

Well, this really does feel like a mini-game now.

‘…This old man definitely has something up his sleeve.’

What kind of trick is he planning?

I don’t know yet, but…

“Now, then. The first question.”

As the true-false quiz began, I realized why he had mentioned quitting midway through.

“The Fox Mask is a mage.”

“……!”

“If true, raise the O sign. If false, raise the X.”

…This wasn’t a game about answering correctly.

The moment the first question was asked, an awkward tension filled the air.

“…….”

Fox was clearly trying to keep her expression neutral, but failing miserably.

And…

“Uh…”

Goblin, who knew the circumstances, was even more flustered as he glanced at Fox’s face.

“Hmm…”

The Queen, too, seemed to have realized the hidden truth of this game.

“Huh… can’t we just hold up whatever Fox holds up? I mean, it’s her question.”

“Oh? Not a bad idea, actually.”

All eyes turned to Fox, who took a moment to collect herself before raising her sign.

“It’s O.”

“So you are a mage. I kinda had that impression. Hey, Master? Isn’t it time to confirm the answer?”

At Butterfly’s question, Auril Gavis nodded.

“Congratulations. Everyone answered correctly. Now, onto the second question.”

“…….”

“The Goblin Mask is a paladin.”

It was at this moment that Wolf and Butterfly realized Auril Gavis’s intentions.

“…….”

“…….”

The room was now so quiet it was hard to believe a game was going on. Everyone raised an “O” sign, and the process repeated.

“Queen has never entered the labyrinth.”

The answer to the third question was O.

“The Wolf Mask is the leader of a clan.”

The fourth answer was also O.

“The Butterfly Mask is a member of Noark.”

Naturally, the fifth answer was O as well.

At this point, I wondered why the X signs had even been prepared.

“Now, then. Shall we proceed to the sixth question?”

After the first round ended, Auril looked at Fox again, and everyone knew what that meant.

By now, we had all realized that this wasn’t a simple true or false game.

It was a revelation game disguised as an OX quiz.

It was a game to expose people’s identities, but it was disguised as a simple true or false game.

“Let me say this one last time. I respect your free will, so if you wish to quit, just say the word.”

Respect your free will…

He’d said the same thing earlier, and it sounded like a joke then. But now, those words carried weight.

After all, he had given them a little taste of what was to come.

Any doubt that he was aware of our true identities had been completely wiped from everyone’s mind at the table.

With each turn, the information to be revealed in front of everyone would only grow more personal.

“If we forfeit here… what happens?”

Queen asked, and Auril Garvis answered immediately.

“Nothing at all. But since the game must continue, you’ll have to leave the table. One spectator is enough.”

“How certain is it that we can return home?”

“What could I possibly say to convince you? The only way to erase doubt is through trust.”

“If you could just provide some kind of convincing proof—”

“If you can’t trust me, then there’s only one thing you can do: leave.”

“……”

“So, what will it be?”

It was the kind of sales pitch only a scammer could deliver, but the Queen still couldn’t bring herself to stand up and leave.

Auril Gavis chuckled.

“I figured you’d stay. After all, this is the only path left for you to return home, isn’t it?”

“……”

“Cheer up. All you have to do is stick around until the end and win. Ah, or maybe go outside and ask that friend if you should continue. Just like the good old days, when you—”

“Enough… Let’s continue.”

The Queen cut him off irritably, and Auril Gavis, looking amused, resumed the quiz.

Since everyone quietly raised their signs, the second round was over in about three minutes.

“The Fox Mask once killed an innocent explorer to steal money.”

“The Goblin Mask has received an oracle from Leatlas.”

“The Wolf Mask currently resides in the 7th Zone.”

“The Queen Mask is a noble.”

“The Butterfly Mask is a member of Orcules.”

“I couldn’t figure out why Fox alone was targeted with a question about her past, , but the second round ended quickly.

And then…

“Um, Master? I think I’ll stop here!”

Butterfly announced her withdrawal.

“I have a feeling my name might come up next. I don’t have any secrets, but it’s still a bit awkward, it’s a little awkward, right? Especially when we’re not even sure you’ll really send us home.”

“I understand your decision. Then please vacate your seat.”

Upon being asked to leave, Butterfly nodded casually and cheerfully waved at us.

“See you all outside someday!”

Given her early-twenties appearance, it came off as rather refreshing.

But thanks to the True False Quiz, we now knew that Butterfly was part of Noark—more specifically, the criminal organization Orcules.

“Why does ‘see you outside’ sound so unsettling?”

But it wasn’t just my mood.

I had a feeling she wasn’t exactly a normal person.

“I’ll… stop here too.”

Perhaps inspired by Butterfly’s exit, Fox also declared her withdrawal.

“Hmm, I didn’t expect you to make that choice, Fox. Weren’t you the most desperate to return before?”

“I was… But after dying and coming back to life, it all felt meaningless. My current life is already precious enough to me.”

Fox gave an honest answer, then bowed slightly to Auril Gavis.

“Still, thank you for that time. Whatever your intentions were, if you hadn’t taken me in, I wouldn’t be alive today.”

“…Gratitude? Even without me, someone like you would’ve managed just fine.”

“Before I go, can I say a quick goodbye?”

“By all means.”

Fox turned to make eye contact with each person—Wolf, Goblin, Queen, and me.

“Somehow, the group’s gotten smaller. It’s a shame. I never thought we’d part like this without a proper farewell.”

“…Yeah.”

“But at least we got to see each other’s faces. It feels like I’m really talking to people now.”

“Is that… so?”

“Yes. At least for me. I was surprised at first, but… Whether you return home or not, I hope you all live well. I mean that.”

At her blessing, the Queen couldn’t respond for a long time.

Her thoughts were obvious. She was likely wondering if there was any ulterior motive behind those words.

Eventually, she realized there wasn’t.

“…Thank you.”

The Queen finally responded in a voice as quiet as a mouse. Fox gave a faint smile and shifted her gaze.

Her exchange with Wolf was brief—just a glance before moving on.

When she stopped in front of Goblin, she held her gaze a little longer.

Maybe she thought they could talk outside.

But she didn’t say anything to him either and instead turned to me.

“Actually… I had something I wanted to say to you, Mr. Lion. Would that be alright?”

When I nodded briefly, Fox carefully spoke up.

“If life ever feels too dull, why not take off your mask and make some friends?”

…Huh?

“I’m sure this world would become much more fun that way.”

…Why is she assuming I don’t have any friends?

I wasn’t sure, but what she said next made me chuckle.

“That’s what worked for me.”

That… was actually kind of touching.

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