Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 388

January 21, 2025 • 13 min read • 157 views

Wild Horse(2)

A community of evil spirits who meet at midnight on the 15th of every month.

Time here flows differently compared to the outside world.

“One hour here equals one second outside.”

In simple terms, even if all 12 hours of the community are used up, only 12 seconds will have passed outside.

However…

“He won’t wait that long.”

The marquis’s intention was clear.

He harbored unverified suspicions about me, and tonight, he would seek to confirm them.

The only issue here is one thing.

How much time do I have?

The time I hoped for was 4 seconds.

That would give me enough time to attend the Round Table meeting happening in three hours and still make it out in time.

This way, I could avoid suspicion for missing the meeting and wouldn’t lose any crucial information from skipping a session.

But damn…

“Four seconds is really cutting it close.”

I suppressed the greed creeping up.

Right, I’ll just give up what needs to be given up.

Click, click.

As I made my decision, the computer finished booting.

I quickly moved the mouse and checked the chat room.

[Long Live Korean Independence] – 1 person is connected.

Without wasting time, I immediately entered the chat room.

[HS123]

The player currently connected was indeed Hyun-byeol.

I wondered if the GM had lifted Lee Baek-ho’s ban as I had requested, and if he had come.

“You’re here?”

Hyun-byeol, sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed, glanced at me without moving her head.

A white blouse and a pencil skirt.

Her outfit hadn’t changed this time either.

“What’s with that tone? As if I might not have come.”

As I naturally responded while sitting on the sofa opposite her, memories of the old days came to mind.

“I thought you might not come, oppa. You used to run away whenever something uncomfortable happened, didn’t you?”

What? Run away?

“If it’s not something I absolutely have to deal with, avoiding it saves energy.”

Skipping events with low rewards relative to their difficulty is my rule. 

Pursuing efficiency means reducing waste.

Just like now.

“Hyun-byeol.”

I didn’t have time to waste on trivial chatter, so I got straight to the point.

“Did you meet the GM last time?”

This was the real reason I logged into the chatroom instead of heading straight to the Round Table meeting.

I needed to confirm this.

Hyun-byeol frowned slightly at my question before answering.

“…How did you know?”

A confirmation, not a denial.

I calmly explained the basis of my suspicion.

“It was odd that you got a private message while we were talking. So I looked into it a bit.”

The first time I felt something was off was after I had parted ways with Hyun-byeol.

As I fiddled with my mouse back in my room, I remembered how much interest the GM had in this chatroom.

If it was the GM, although he couldn’t eavesdrop on the chat room content, he could check who was in the chat room.

I suspected the GM might have been the one who sent Hyun-byeol that message. After checking a specific chat room and watching the member count, I confirmed my suspicion.

“The number of people in the GM’s private chat room went up from two to three at the exact time. It was too much of a coincidence, so I figured it was you.”

“…Then why didn’t you call me back then? Why wait until today?”

“Because the GM could be spying on the private messages.”

“Couldn’t you have just asked me to meet here?”

“Even that would have been suspicious.”

“…So annoying.”

Hyun-byeol glared at me and sighed.

“Just to clear any misunderstandings, I had no intention of deceiving you.”

“I know.”

“I was going to tell you today. Of course, from your perspective, it might be hard to believe… What? What did you just say?”

“I said I know—that you didn’t intend to deceive me.”

At my words, a strange expression appeared on her face.

“It’s good that you say that, but… on what basis?”

The basis is simple.

“If you intended to hide it, you wouldn’t have admitted it so easily when I asked.”

Given her personality, she would have hidden it more thoroughly.

Even if she thought everything was exposed, she would have denied it to the end, just in case.

“But I could have been acting, right?”

“If we go down that road, it’s endless. If you still don’t believe me, just think of it as me wanting to trust you.”

I gave a light chuckle, making it sound like a joke.

Hyun-byeol pursed her lips.

“…Have you met someone new, oppa?”

She asked such an unexpected question.

Her unexpected question made me think of Misha for a moment, but I asked for clarification first. 

“And why would you ask that all of a sudden?”

She replied in a slightly odd tone.

“I just feel like you’ve gotten better at talking…”

I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or criticism.

I decided to take it as a compliment and changed the subject,

It wasn’t a topic I wanted to dwell on, and I didn’t have time for it.

“Anyway, Hyun-byeol, I’m short on time.”

“Is this another one of your efficient dodges?”

“No, really. I’m short on time. I just need you to answer something quickly.”

“Alright. What is it?”

“What did the GM propose to you?”

“He asked me to become a spy, offering GP or whatever.”

“As expected.”

“What have you been doing that makes him so obsessed with you? Even his nickname is weird…”

“It just happened. Nothing much.”

I dodged the question, and Hyun-byeol didn’t push further.

“Anyway, so what do you want me to do?”

“If I tell you, will you do it?”

“Have I ever not done what you asked me to do?”

Uh… quite a few times?

No, but she did do the important things while grumbling.

Alright, let’s just ask.

“Leak the information I want to that side.”

“Okay. Is there something this time too?”

“After I leave the chatroom later, I’ll log out immediately. The GM will probably wonder why. Tell them I was in the middle of a battle and couldn’t chat for long, so I left in a hurry and promised to talk next time.”

“Got it. But can I ask one thing?”

“What is it?”

“What’s the real reason you’re logging out?”

“That? It’s similar to what you’ll tell the GM.”

“You mean… you really are fighting someone? But the labyrinth hasn’t opened yet.”

“I said it’s similar.”

It’s not necessarily only physical fights that are battles, right?

Anyway, that should be enough of an answer.

“Then I’m going! See you next time!”

I left the chat room before she could say anything.

***

A quiet study with furniture she designed and filled.

“If that’s all, I’ll take my leave…”

“Yes, I’ll deposit the GP as promised.”

“Alright, then…”

 As the intellectual-looking, yet somewhat awkward, Asian woman left the room, the GM murmured quietly.

“He’s fighting… It’s a strange feeling. If he’s fighting someone serious enough to make him value every second, then it must be a formidable opponent.

GM’s voice was filled with a mix of resignation and wonder, a sentiment that Soul Queens could not have failed to notice.

After all, she felt the same way.

The nickname HS123.

A Korean woman who said if calling her nickname was uncomfortable, just call her ‘Black Star’.

Until she told them, they didn’t know.

Literally nothing.

Despite their pride in their information network, they hadn’t even noticed the colossal clash in the shadows.

“Still, it’s a relief that we were able to recruit Black Star. If there’s a clash that even that man is struggling with, there must be traces left behind. Let’s concentrate on finding those traces for now.

At the GM’s words, Soul Queen nodded, but she didn’t hesitate to bring up one question.

“But something doesn’t add up. If the situation was so urgent, why would he bother entering the chatroom at all?”

“But isn’t that just like him?Black Star said his expression didn’t seem particularly strained either. Maybe he was confident enough to handle it.”

“I guess that’s true.”

It was strange, but SoulQueens thought it was plausible.

It was hard to imagine that Lion Mask was nervous.

He was like a giant, striding confidently with unshakable confidence, yet leaving deep marks wherever he went.

“By the way… Soul Queen, isn’t it time for you to prepare?”

“Prepare for what?”

“Isn’t it almost time to enter the Round Table?”

“But the Lion Mask won’t be there anyway.”

“Still, there is a lot of useful information being exchanged there. Not to mention the Corpse Collector, who connects us to Noark. You should at least attend. You might even get some information about the current conflict”

“If you put it that way… Fine.”

Soul Queen accepted the GM’s instructions without complaint and left the chat room. And when the time came, she entered ‘Watchers of the Round Table’.

“You’re early?”

“Yes, I had some time to kill.”

The Fox Mask had arrived before her.

After a brief exchange of greetings, members began entering one by one.

The Goblin, Crescent Moon.

And then…

“Pssit, what a surprise! Deer Horns isn’t here today?”

The Clown had arrived, making it five in total.

The doors slammed shut, signaling the end of entry.

“That Deer Horns bastard could’ve died somewhere for all I care, but this is inconvenient. Mr. Lion isn’t here either.”

The Clown got up without any hesitation.

Even so, he didn’t stop grumbling.

“Seriously, maybe Mr. Lion didn’t come because you guys always bring trivial things! Ugh, thinking that these kinds of people act all high and mighty outside…”

Just as the Clown was about to leave, he paused and looked at Soul Queens.

“Huh? Aren’t you leaving?”

“No. I’m just here to attend this time.”

“If I leave, all that’ll be left are these small fries.”

At his arrogant comment, Soul Queens covered her mouth where her lips would be and laughed softly.

“Oh my, what a funny thing to say. Actually, there’s not much difference between you and them, is there?”

“Are you saying that I’m on the same level as them?”

“Well, considering you think that Mr. Lion didn’t come because he wasn’t satisfied with our information, you might be similar.”

“…… You seem to be speaking as if you know why Mr. Lion didn’t come.”

“Who knows. I can’t tell you for free. Ah, if you’re really curious, why don’t you take a seat?”

“…Pssit, bluffing again. I almost fell for it. You couldn’t possibly know anything about the Investigator.”

“Are you really sure about that? You could always leave if you are.”

Despite her sneering tone, the Clown’s halted steps betrayed his curiosity.

Soul Queens had expected this.

Clown’s obsessive interest in Lion Mask was nothing new.

Tap.

Eventually, turning his steps back from the door, the Clown sat down.

Even so, he muttered as if making excuses.

“…… Well, it’s not bad to watch and then leave if it’s just nonsense. Pssit.”

His words were rude, but he was playing right into her hands. After all, the clown’s presence always raised the level of information exchanged.

“…”

“…”

With the Clown now seated, all eyes naturally turned to Soul Queens.

Seeing those eyes full of expectation and curiosity, she smirked under her mask.

She hadn’t intended to go first, but there was no reason to avoid it.

“Pssit, why are you staying silent now that the stage is set? Well, I suppose I can see how ridiculous your words—”

She interrupted the Clown’s words and quietly said.

“Mr. Lion is currently in battle with someone.”

As soon as those words ended, the Clown, who was about to complain about being interrupted, turned his gaze in one direction.

To the jewel that reveals the truth.

Not only the Clown, but all the members were staring at it intently.

And then…

Shwaaah.

Light poured from the gem.

“G-Green light.”

The goblin broke the silence, sparking an uproar among the members.

“Queen, does this mean you’ve discovered Mr. Lion’s identity?”

So excited, the crescent moon kicked the table and stood up, and the fox mask also muttered softly.

“It’s not the Queen. The GM must have found out.”

“More than that… For Mr. Lion to be unable to attend due to fighting, who could the opponent possibly be…”

Goblin, too, trailed off, sensing that something unusual was happening.

And…

“……”

The Clown said nothing.

“Clown, you suddenly became quiet—”

“How…”

“……?”

“How did you find out…? Did he tell you? But then, why? Why you and not me?”

Until just a moment ago, the Clown, who had been relaxed, was now speaking with full excitement, and his eyes through the mask’s gaps were piercing into her.

It was the most passionate gaze she had ever seen from him.

“Hmm, well. I wonder why.”

She unknowingly curled her lips into a smile.

“Maybe if you tell me an interesting story, I might just tell you the reason?”

It felt almost addictive.

[The Character is moving to Raphdonia]

About 20 minutes in Ghost Busters.

Converted to real-world time, that’s about 0.3 seconds.

A very short amount of time for something to happen to me in an empty room.

After finishing my conversation with Hyun-byeol, I pressed the logout button without hesitation.

Since I wasn’t planning to go to the Round Table anyway.

If I stayed, I’d just end up browsing the forums and chuckling to myself. Instead, I figured it was better to log out a bit earlier and prepare for the situation.

But…

‘It’s quiet.’

When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by the same unchanging darkness.

No sounds could be heard, and the window frames were firmly closed—

Click.

At that moment, the locked door opened.

And at that instant.

Swish.

Even with my eyes closed, my warrior body, which had entered the realm of superhumans, felt someone approaching me quickly.

‘If I hadn’t logout, things could’ve gone bad.’

It took less than a second from the door opening to the intruder arriving.

This is like a cockroach.

I immediately sprang up and reached out my hand.

Grab—

In an instant, I gripped their neck.

“…!”

I stood up from the bed, still holding the neck of the unexpected nighttime visitor.

An entirely unexpected person was struggling in my grasp.

“Eltora Tercerion.”

To think that the Chancellor’s son would come personally.

Of course, there was no reason to be flustered.

Even if it were his grandfather instead of his son, what I had to do wouldn’t change.

“……I hope you came prepared to die.”

I intend to fully collect the price for being pulled away from my community activities.