Coming Out(5)

I’d known for a while that Hyun-byeol suspected my true identity. In fact, she had even asked Lee Baek-ho about it when I wasn’t around.

[“She kept asking if you were actually Bjorn Jandel, you know?”]

When I pressed her about it later, she gave me three main reasons for her suspicion:

[“I know exactly when you arrived here.”]

[“Among all the explorers who came at that time, no one rose as fast or as far as Bjorn Jandel.”]

[And you’ve always talked to me about game stuff. Like saying Shield Barbarians are the best and all that.]

Timing, growth potential, and Shield Barbarians.

According to her, all the circumstantial evidence pointed to my being Bjorn Jandel. But even so, it wasn’t enough to convince me.

“Why aren’t you answering, Hansoo oppa?”

Confronting “Bjorn Jandel” directly would require more than ordinary certainty.

How had Hyeon-byeol managed to become so sure?

“What’s this? Looking me up and down like that—are you already thinking about running away again?”

Or was she just testing me?

That thought crossed my mind, but considering Hyeon-byeol’s personality, it seemed unlikely.

‘Damn… and it’s not like I can just smash her head like I would with an evil spirit…’

I was stuck, unable to move one way or the other.

“You’ve already been given enough clues. No way you don’t know who I am by now. Is it really that hard to take off the mask in front of me?”

At that point, I made a decision.

Honestly, I wasn’t exactly short on people who already knew Bjorn Jandel was also an Evil Spirit. And it’s not like Hyeon-byeol was someone I couldn’t trust.

Step.

I got closer to her, making sure my footsteps wouldn’t echo, until I stood right next to her.

Then I asked the question that had been bugging me as I removed the invisible mask from my face:

“How exactly did you figure it out?”

She gave a light chuckle and shrugged.

“Truthfully, even until the very end, I wasn’t sure.”

“…What?”

She had done something this dangerous without certainty?

If she’d investigated me, she should’ve known what happened to the Secret Security Bureau agent who tried to probe me.

“Don’t look at me like that. I wore the mask and made plenty of preparations for this.”

“Oh, right. What was that mask anyway?”

“Haven’t you guessed already?”

“Wait… are you really Black?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

It was a shocking revelation.

Never mind how she managed to enter the Round Table—how did I fail to notice this all this time?

“Anyway, I figured if I wore the mask, you’d react somehow. And you did.”

“…I reacted?”

“Yes. Same as always. When you’re startled, you shut your eyes for a second.”

“Uh…”

‘Did I?, I wasn’t sure, but I’d have to be careful from now on.

“Anyway, thanks to that reaction, I gained a bit of courage. Otherwise, I might have just turned and run.”

“…But why go that far?”

“Then why did you?”

“What do you mean?”

“That time, you freaked me out. Demanded to know who I was working under, like you were going to kill me.”

Oh…

She had a point.

But that was because I was worried I might have led her down the wrong path…….

“Well, it’s not that I didn’t like it……”

Hyeon-byeol looked up at me and said firmly,

“But you were the one who crossed the line first.”

“…….”

With her saying that, I had no response.

No matter the reason, it would be hypocritical to get angry at her for trying to uncover my identity when I had forcibly probed into hers.

“Ha…….”

Rather than scolding her, I decided to ask a more useful question.

Yes, for example—

“So how did you get into the Round Table? Did you get help from the GM?”

“Yes. I thought it might help uncover your identity, so I found a way and asked him to let me join.”

“Then what about the information from the Round Table? Did you hear all that from the GM too?”

“Then what about the information from the Round Table? Did you hear all that from the GM too?”

“No. I found out all of that myself.”

I recalled the pieces of information that Black Mask had revealed at the Round Table.

The two most impactful ones were:

“Other than opening the Gate of the Abyss, another way to return to Earth is through dimensional magic.”

“That’s how Auril Gavis crossed over to Earth too.”

And then…

“Bjorn Jandel and Misha Karlstein… were they really dating, like the rumors say?”

That wasn’t information, just a question I was asked, so I skipped it. But still

‘So she was already almost sure by then…’

Still, how did a non-explorer like her get such classified information?

“Like I said before, Countess Phefroc really trusts me. I help her with everything, so I get plenty of chances to hear things.”

“…I see.”

I wasn’t sure that kind of trust could grant access to such secrets… but knowing Hyun-byeol’s competence, I figured she managed well.

As I nodded in acceptance—

“Oppa.”

Suddenly, Hyun-byeol declared to me in a serious voice.

“I’m not like that thug, Lee Baek-ho.”

The statement felt a bit out of the blue, but I immediately understood what she meant from her following explanation.

“I have no intention of relying on you like he does. So from now on, don’t cause trouble and just behave.”

Then Hyeon-byeol looked at me and said with conviction,

“I’ll find a way to take you back, no matter what.”

It was undeniably reassuring to hear.

But……

‘I don’t really have any desire to go back……?’

How should I break this to her……?
***

To cut to the chase, I couldn’t bring myself to tell her.

It might have been different earlier, but after so much time had passed, I didn’t want to go back.

I had a feeling that telling her would only lead to trouble.

‘…I’ll tell her later. Much later.’

It wouldn’t change anything if I postponed it.

Whether I returned or not, Hyeon-byeol would still need to find a way back.

“By the way, what happened with the marriage proposal? I was waiting to meet you, so I don’t know what happened inside.”

“Ah… that……”

How in the world should I explain this……?

My head started to ache, so I just gave her the bottom line.

“I turned down the proposal.”

“Oh… really?”

“You can hear the details from her later. It seems like she tells you everything anyway.”

“True, these days, I’m more like a friend than a confidant to her.”

Saying that, she picked up the pace.

“We shouldn’t be seen talking too long in private.”

“So what’s this?”

She handed me a piece of paper torn in half, then scribbled something on her half.

Suddenly—

[Do you understand?]

The writing appeared on my side too.

“I think I’ve seen something similar in a fantasy movie before……”

“Yeah, nothing is original. Anyway, once you write on this, it won’t erase until a day has passed, so it’s not convenient for long conversations.”

“So we just use it to exchange times and meeting places?”

“Exactly.”

I asked what this magic item was called, and she scratched her cheek in embarrassment.

“It’s called a Love Paper.”

“…What?”

“That’s really what it’s called! Apparently, some mage made it for dating.”

“…Alright then.”

A Love Paper, huh.

I guess that’d be… “Love Note” in 21st century terms?

“So, that’s all you had for me?”

“Almost. Just one more thing.”

“Hurry up. Someone might see us.”

She looked around and quickly continued.

“Don’t get too close to Countess Phefroc.”

“…Huh?”

“That woman is hiding something very big. Something more dangerous than just being the Marquis’s illegitimate daughter.”

Dangerous, huh…

“Got it. I’ll be careful.”

“Okay, that’s all. I’ll contact you later.”

After that, Hyeon-byeol disappeared into the alley first, and I quickly left the area and headed to the holy site.
***

And a few days later.

“Chief! A package has arrived for you!”

A delivery had arrived under my name.

It was a suspicious package with no sender listed.

However, the contents of the box made it easy to figure out who had sent it.

Black hair, black eyes.

A cheap doll with no particularly distinctive features, but its legs were painted black.

“Huh…….”

It was so absurd that I wanted to say something, so I took out the paper Hyeon-byeol had given me.

And at the same time—

Swish—!

Characters that no Raphdonia resident could decipher appeared on the blank paper.

[LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]

……I want to die.

***

Several days had passed since the royal council ended, but surprisingly, no major events had occurred.

Maybe that was just the kind of meeting it was?

No one in the public knew about my engagement or my shocking confession at the meeting.

Of course, no secret stays hidden forever. Eventually, the right people would know.

‘Honestly, the other matter is causing more of an uproar…….’

Right after the royal council ended, the policy to close the labyrinths was immediately implemented, and the news spread throughout the city.

Unsurprisingly, the explorers’ reactions were negative, and some extremists were arrested after protesting in the square.

Also, the fear among the commoners of Ravigion had reached unprecedented levels—something you could sense just by walking through the streets.

‘Well, with the invasion of Noark, the Bifron incident… and now the labyrinths being sealed, it’s only natural, isn’t it?’

Even without those events, closing the labyrinths would deal a massive blow to the economy.

The value of goods would skyrocket, and people’s spending would sharply decline.

 

Well, according to the newspapers, the royal family was continuously introducing new policies and systems, like tax reductions, to reassure the public. But who knew if it would work?

‘…Better to just focus on my own tasks.’

In the meantime, I left the sanctuary today to meet with the Melbes alliance leader. We met alone, and I told him everything that happened at the royal council meeting.

Even if I knew about it, there’s little I can do with the information, but the situation is different for the other noble families in Melves.

“Thank you. The information the baron shared today will undoubtedly help us navigate the chaos ahead. I will never forget this favor and will repay it.”

Perhaps this is why so many nobles are desperate to be included in royal meetings.

Just attending and listening gives you influence over lesser nobles, and that influence becomes power.

Just like this.

“Ah, and as I mentioned earlier, the marriage isn’t happening.”

“Don’t worry about that. To be frank, we’re just grateful that you turned down the Marquis’s proposal.”

“Then……?”

“It might not happen immediately, but I will ensure that all of Melbes mobilizes for you.”

“Hmm…….”

“Don’t worry. For now, I’ll make sure House Jandel secures the contract for this week’s project.”

It was somewhat surprising.

Simply by attending the royal council, I had instantly surpassed a family of dwarves that had been in the construction business for over a thousand years and taken their place.

Anyway, this should make it easier to bring this up.

“By the way, Council Leader.”

“Speak.”

“Since you’re helping my House secure the contract, I have something to say… wouldn’t you say the current situation is beyond just being chaotic?”

“Indeed, it is.”

Seeing the his reaction, which seemed to urge me to continue, I laid my cards on the table.

“Anyway, we can’t even enter the labyrinths now, so we’ll have plenty of free time.”

It was a principle of the world I learned while studying stock charts during my corporate life.

“Would you be interested in making some serious money with me?”

A crisis can sometimes also become an opportunity.

 

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