Surviving game as a barbarian Episode 697

Evil Party 2

I couldn’t even call it a coincidence. Back then, I was shocked when more than half the group turned out to be evil spirits.

This time, it wasn’t just half. Each and every one of us was an evil spirit.

“Um… could it be that Mr. Bright is also…?”

Jayna trailed off, looking at Auril Gavis. It seemed she had the same thought as me…

“Bright is a pureborn resident of this world.”

So six out of seven, then. It still felt strange because, in any group, evil spirits were usually in the extreme minority.

Ghost Busters was special to evil spirits because it was the only place where this usual demographic didn’t hold true.

“What kind of dogshit expression is ‘pureborn resident’?”

Baek-ho grumbled, clearly irritated by the phrasing. However, Auril Gavis didn’t bother responding.

“Hoh, I never expected Aures’s homeland to be the same as mine. Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“Aha… Haha… It’s not that I meant to hide it……Honestly, this is the first I’ve heard of it as well.’

“Well, it’s not something you just bring up out of nowhere. But it seems you and I have a lot to discuss now. There’s much I want to know about that world.”

“A-haha… ask me anything. To be honest, my own memories are a bit hazy, but whatever comes to mind, I’ll tell you.”

For some reason, I could already picture Aures and Ruin gramps sitting side by side during every break, chatting away like old friends…

But this isn’t the time to be thinking about that…

And so, I swallowed my surprise that Aures was an evil spirit and forced myself to accept it.

“Um… Sir?”

GM asked Auril Gavis carefully.

“Would it be possible for us to know where we are right now…?”

“So you’re asking whether we’re outside the castle walls, inside them, or somewhere else entirely?”

“Yes… It’s just that the Baron and I happened to be outside by chance and got caught up in this, so…”

“Well… I suppose from your perspective that makes sense.”

“…Sorry?” The GM tilted his head at the strange response, but Auril Gavis didn’t bother explaining and simply went back to answering the earlier question.

“This is somewhere outside the city walls. A place of great significance to me.”

“Ah… Is that so……?”

“So, I must ask for your understanding that I cannot disclose the exact location.”

“Excuse me…? In that case—”

“No need to worry. I’m not planning to keep you all here.”

“Ahaha… Is that so? That’s truly a relief. We didn’t intend to go on such a long journey…”

The GM really had zero spine. He was smiling and sucking up to the very person who caused this situation.

“Not planning to keep us all here?” Baekho asked, looking pissed off but still focused. “You’ll let us go just like that?”

“Of course. As long as you promise me one thing.”

“…Say it.”

“I wasn’t planning to say this so directly, but since we’re already here, I may as well be clear.”

“Yeah yeah, just spit it out already—”

“Don’t look for your answer anywhere else.”

At Auril Gavis’s words, Baek-ho flinched momentarily, then let out an awkward laugh.

“What kind of nonsense is that now? If you want a promise, shouldn’t you be more clear?”

“Then, allow me to be more direct.”

“…….”

“Baek-ho, I know full well why you are aiming for the royal palace.”

“So……?”

“But do not even think of going near that place. The answer you seek isn’t there anyway.”

Auril Gavis didn’t specify any consequences for Baek-ho if he chose to go against it.

That’s because he’d already made it clear several times: if Baek-ho disobeyed him, he would be disposed of. And Baek-ho understood that perfectly well…

“…Then where is the answer supposed to be?”

Baek-ho asked just one question, and Auril Gavis smiled kindly as he replied.

“You are a ‘Explorer’”

He patted Baek-ho on the shoulder.

“Find your answers in the Labyrinth.”

As if he held no malice whatsoever.

“All the answers you seek are there.”

For a moment, Auril Gavis even reminded me of Karui. Now that I think about it, this old man is similar to Karui. In the way he is always toying with people.

Auril Gavis didn’t push the silent Baekho to speak; he simply waited, standing there in a silence that felt calm yet strangely suffocating.

“…….”

“…….”

It didn’t take long for Baek-ho to give in.

“Ah, okay. Okay. I get it. I know what you mean. Simply put, don’t touch the royal palace, right? I won’t. Happy?”

If you were going to give up anyway, you could’ve lost the attitude while you were at it.

‘Does he want something out of this…?’

While I was thinking that, Baek-ho spoke again with that same sly tone.

“But it seems you’re not all-powerful either, are you? You’re scrambling around trying to fix everything… I mean, that much is obvious. You’re clearly not happy about the labyrinth being shut down. And honestly, isn’t all of this happening because you stepped in and saved Noark when it was about to collapse?”

“And what exactly are you trying to say?”

“Oh, nothing in particular… It just seemed that way. If you’re showing yourself to us directly, things must be going wrong for you too.”

In other words, he was testing to see if one of his suspicions was correct.

“But judging by your reaction, it seems I was right, huh?”

“Haha… You’re still the same. I appreciate your concern, but there’s no need for it. An ant worrying about a human won’t change anything, now will it?”

Auril Gavis laughed kindly, but his words cut deep. Lee Baek-ho, unable to hide his discomfort, could only manage an awkward smile. It was clear he’d lost this exchange from start to finish.

“Well then, I suppose we should wrap up today’s meeting here.”

“Um… Sir? There is one thing I’d like to ask…”

“It’s getting late today. When the opportunity arises again, you can ask me whatever it was you wanted to ask.”

“…Does that mean we’ll meet again?”

“Of course. You’re a model student, after all. I’m always watching you closely.”

“R-Really…?” That seemed to ease the disappointment on the GM’s face.

Auril Gavis smiled warmly at him, then led us deeper into the cave.

Step, step.

After about a minute, we reached a wide cave.

“Whoa…”

“Just how many are there?”

Everyone gasped the moment we reached there.

There was no helping it. The area was huge, wide enough to host a soccer match, and the walls were packed with dimensional headstones. Just a look told me there were hundreds.

“For you all…. Hmm, this one will do.”

Auril Gavis then pointed to the Dimensional Stone we were supposed to use.

“Um… can we know where it leads to?”

“Hmm, part of me wants to tell you to save it for later fun, but since you seem so anxious, I’ll tell you. Using this will take you back to the initial location.”

“The initial location… Are you perhaps referring to the place where the magic circle was destroyed?”

“Indeed.”

The GM visibly relaxed once he learned where we were headed. I guess this is what people mean when they say a calm answer can cool someone down.

It’s odd, but he always ends up answering when the GM asks him something.

I got the feeling that maybe that was exactly what the GM wanted.

Well, it seems pointless to me. No matter how much he laughs and chats warmly in front of others, but that gloomy old man will be spitting venom behind their backs with a smile.

Shhhhhh—

As the portal opened, Auril Gavis looked at us as though he were giving us a farewell.

Baek-ho spat on the ground.

“Annoying, miserable old bastard.”

As if he couldn’t stand being in the same space any longer, he was the first to step into the portal.

“I’ll head in next. Baek-ho’s probably already causing trouble.”

The second was Ruin Gramps, the third was Aures… Soon, Jayna and GM also crossed through the portal, and before I knew it, only Auril Gavis and I were left.

‘I suppose there’s no need to pretend now.’

With that thought, I stopped in front of the portal. Auril Gabis stared straight at me.

“What, do you want me to leave quickly?” I answered with a bit of annoyance in my tone.

Auril Gavis just smiled kindly.

“Hehe, of course not. When have I ever made you feel rushed? I merely thought you had something to say to me.”

“……”

“That’s not like you. If you have something to say, speak up.”

Well, even if he said that, he’d never tell me anything he didn’t want to.

I took a quick look around and tried to imitate the GM’s tone as I responded.

“Sir, I’d like to ask just one thing.”

“You always seem to have questions for me whenever you see me.”

“That’s because you have so many secrets, Sir.”

“Hehe… Go on, then. What is it you wish to ask?”

“What kind of place is this, exactly?”

At my question, Auril Gavis looked slightly surprised.

“Why are you curious about that, of all things? There must be other, more important questions.”

“I’ve asked those important questions several times before, but I’ve never received a proper answer.”

I grumbled, showing that I wasn’t going to ask about it anymore. Suddenly, Auril Gavis burst out laughing.

“……What? Pfft! Hahaha! Ahahahaha!”

…Is he insane?

What could possibly be so funny right now?

I couldn’t understand it, but if it put him in a good mood, I’d take that as a win.

“Haha… forgive me. Some old memories came to mind.”

“Old memories…?”

“In any case, since you’ve been through a lot lately, I’ll answer your question.”

“Oh, in that case, I am truly most grateful.”

“Don’t be sarcastic.”

“Yes, sir…”

Since the old man said he would answer, I decided to keep quiet and wait obediently.

This question might actually be important.

[This is somewhere outside the city walls].

Somewhere outside the city walls

[A place of great significance to me]

A place of great significance to Auriil Gavis.

Moreover, this place has a structure very similar to the 1st Floor Crystal Cave. Just what kind of place is this?

“Shall we walk for a moment?”

Even though more and more questions were popping up in my head, I just nodded. As I followed behind Auril Gavis, he suddenly said something that sounded like a riddle.

“A lie you wish to believe is the truth, and a truth you wish to believe is a lie.”

“What……?”

“If you had to choose between these two, which would you pick?”

I had no idea why he was asking, but since this old man never said meaningless things, I thought carefully.

Come to think of it, I’d seen a pretty similar would-you-rather on the internet.

A shit-flavored curry. Or curry-flavored shit.

Of course, there were clear differences from the riddle he had just presented. But precisely because of that, it was easier to choose.

“I choose the latter.”
“You’d prefer a truth you wish were a lie?”
“Because it’s still the truth.”

“Hmm, I see……”

Despite my serious response, Auril Gavis only gave a vague answer and didn’t add anything else.

“We’ve arrived.”

The place where Auril Gavis stopped was before a stone door blocking the cave passage.

A book full of magical gibberish seemed to be attached to the gate, and the moment he placed his hand on it, the gate opened on its own.

And then…

“…?”

A completely unexpected sight spread out before me.

The area was made to resemble outer space, with a straight staircase leading up to an unseen peak.

“Watch your step and follow me.”

As always, he walked ahead without offering any explanation, and I followed quietly, taking in the surroundings.

After a little while had passed.

Step Step

As I continued to climb the stairs, I suddenly realised something.

He brought me here to show me something at the top of these stairs.

“What… is that?”

“You’ll know as soon as you see it yourself.”

I wondered what he meant by that, but the moment I actually reached the top of the stairs I understodd. It was hovering over the altar, covered by a light cloth.

“Fragments of the Record Stone…”

It wasn’t just a single piece; hundreds of fragments were circling in the air.

“Did you collect all these yourself?”

Auril Gavis nodded casually.

Then he reached into the air, and one of the drifting fragments slowly drifted toward us.

“Would you like to read it?”

I nodded and quietly read the ancient script written on the fragments.

“An evil spirit from another world…” I whispered. But I couldn’t understand the rest. “How do you read this? It doesn’t look like ancient writing; it’s just random patterns.”

“You don’t have to read it. To humans, it’s basically just a name.”

Ah. Then I’ll skip it for now.

It didn’t take long to read the rest. It was incredibly short.

“The evil spirit from another world—after losing three of his allies, will realize the path he must take…”

…Huh?

No, wait a minute.

“Is this ‘————‘ me……?”

I quickly turned to look at him and asked, but Auril Gavis only smiled softly and did not answer.

“…….”

Damn it.

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