Chapter 308 - Round Table (2)

“You know the sort of thing. Something like a jury system.”

Having broached the subject, he continued as though making excuses.

“Of course, I am not particularly keen on this approach myself, nor do I consider it an especially good one. I merely suggested it because you said you could not trust me. Feel free to refuse.”

Judging by the way he watched my reaction as he spoke, he seemed to have taken my fixed stare as disapproval...

'A round table...'

In truth, it wasn't a bad proposal for me. If we did it, though, I'd have to make a few adjustments—like seating them all at the Round Table instead of having them play jury.

The Commander of Orculus, the Scholar of Destruction, and two unidentified veterans. Playing Round Table with them was bound to yield useful information.

But...

“I'll pass. I don't feel like airing every last detail in front of other people.”

For now, exclusive, limited-edition information courtesy of Auriel Gabis took priority. We could switch to Round Table rules later.

“You refuse... I rather expected that answer. From your perspective, they and I might appear to be in cahoots.”

Auriel Gabis sighed and asked, “Well, what will you do now?”

I chuckled. What else? Go back to square one.

“Three questions for one.”

“Hmm. Still, that puts me in a better position than five to one.”

“Well, you did go to the trouble of making this thing.”

As I spoke, looking at the jewel, Auriel Gabis chuckled in turn.

“I appreciate your acknowledging my efforts, but in that case, would it not be fairer to simply take turns?”

Fair enough. From his perspective, he had reason to feel wronged. As long as the lie detector worked, you could say we were on equal footing.

However...

“Think of it as the price of my trust.”

Regardless of having seen that jewel in the future, I couldn't be certain the old man couldn't manipulate its verdict. He was the one who'd made it, after all. It wouldn't be surprising if he'd hidden a cheat code in it.

Hence my demand.

“How contradictory.”

Auriel Gabis gave an incredulous laugh.

“Surely you realize that if I have deceived you, a few extra questions will make no difference?”

Of course I realized that. But what did he expect me to do about it?

“So you're refusing?”

“Ha ha, hardly. Curiously, although I find it contradictory, I also see some sense in it. You are, at least, throwing yourself into an uncertain situation.”

That was a more straightforward acceptance than I'd expected. I'd thought he would drag out the bargaining a little longer.

“In exchange, may I go first? You did ask my age earlier, after all.”

“Fine.”

This time, I gave a little ground too. The old man surely had an agenda, but he had made quite a few concessions for me...

Besides, being asked questions wasn't necessarily a bad thing. His questions could, in turn, help me figure out his intentions.

“Then let me ask.”

And so our game of truth began. Before long, Auriel Gabis opened his mouth.

“Twenty years from now, how many people have cleared the original?”

That was all he wanted for his first question?

The thought flashed through my mind, but it was too early to relax. He'd asked it despite accepting an unfavorable three-to-one exchange rate. It couldn't be simple curiosity.

'The reason he wants to know...'

He probably wanted to know whether there was anyone in the future who could replace me. So I simply answered honestly.

“I'm the only one who came here after clearing the original. At least, as far as I know.”

An answer that left some room so he wouldn't fixate entirely on me, while still asserting the sole advantage I held in this relationship.

“Hmm, I see.”

When the jewel glowed green, Auriel Gabis merely gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable.

Now it was my turn to ask. I'd drawn up a whole list of questions long ago, so I didn't need time to think. Of course, with the jewel before us, some adjustments were necessary.

“Have you ever used the Stone Fragment of Records yourself?”

I deliberately phrased it so he could only answer yes or no. That limited the amount of information I could get, but at least I could properly check the facts. Once I had those straight, I could deduce the rest myself. I trusted that more than someone else's account, anyway.

“I did not expect a question like that right from the outset... You really are no pushover.”

“Your answer?”

“I have.”

Right. Just as I'd thought.

After confirming that the green light appeared a little later, I calmly selected my next question.

That was when Auriel Gabis asked curiously, “But how in the world did you know?”

The answer was simple. He'd let little hints slip during our last conversation. To be frank, I'd just been fishing.

But nothing came free in a contest.

“If you're curious, ask me later.”

“Ahem...”

“Then I'll ask my second question.”

“Go ahead.”

I took a moment to steady my breathing before speaking. The second fact I needed to establish first:

“Did you create this spiritual world?”

Auriel Gabis flinched slightly at the question, then gave me an odd look.

“... I cannot fathom your intentions.”

“What do you mean?”

“I find it difficult to understand why you wish to know. If you asked out of mere curiosity, I could understand, but you do not strike me as someone so driven by emotion.”

I more or less understood what he meant. To the old man, it probably seemed like poor value for a question. I hadn't received explicit confirmation, but the circumstances were clear enough. Going out of my way to confirm it must have seemed wasteful.

But...

'You need to be certain about things like this before moving on.'

This space I was dragged into on the fifteenth of every month was unusual. Both the royal family and the Magic Tower knew of its existence, and much research had been done, yet no one had discovered the principles by which this world had been brought into being.

Even now, mages could only speculate that a mage greater than they could possibly imagine had created this place.

Was that incredible mage really this old man?

“So, your answer?”

“It is as you think. I made this place.”

At last, Auriel Gabis supplied an answer.

And...

“The light's red.”

The jewel judged that answer a lie.

I was just as bewildered as Auriel Gabis, who gave a start. I'd never expected a lie to register here.

“What's going on?”

I narrowed my eyes as I asked, and Auriel Gabis trailed off.

“Well... it seems that was somewhat ambiguous.”

Ambiguous...

Knowing something about that jewel, I could roughly understand what had happened. It operated based on the speaker's state of mind. If the speaker felt uneasy about their own words, the light wouldn't turn green.

I glared at him, demanding an explanation with my eyes, and Auriel Gabis offered a Zen-like answer.

“I made this space, yet I did not make it.”

Was he playing word games with me?

“Are you serious?”

“... The light did turn green, did it not?”

“Speak plainly. What do you mean by that? You had a collaborator?”

Auriel Gabis paused before answering.

“... You could say that.”

If he had, he had. What was this “you could say that” nonsense?

Ridiculous as it was, the jewel did glow green.

'... Then I could interpret that as him wanting to conceal the fact that he had a collaborator. The first answer must have turned red because he felt guilty about trying to breeze through his turn.'

An unexpected gain.

“... Your third question, then. Go on.”

Auriel Gabis urged me on, sounding somewhat drained.

So impatient.

“The witch...”

I chuckled and corrected myself. In this case, it was better to be certain, so I ought to specify exactly whom I meant.

“Is the Witch of Earth truly dead?”

It wasn't an urgent question, but it was something I would have to establish sooner or later.

* * *

The Witch of Earth.

Even without any particular interest in history, you couldn't live in this world without hearing that name countless times.

Come to think of it, I'd always wondered just how much truth there was to all those widely known stories about the witch.

“... From your very first question, you have refused to let a single thing pass easily.”

“Your answer?”

At my urging, Auriel Gabis smiled bitterly and answered.

“She is alive.”

Wow, seriously...?

Suddenly, my mind was racing. That would mean the royal family had deliberately concealed the truth, and...

'There weren't even any Easter eggs in the game hinting at that.'

This old man was the game's creator. Yet he'd known and left that out? The very man who'd crammed in every unnecessary detail and bit of lore, then ended it with “Tutorial Complete” or whatever?

That didn't feel natural. It seemed more plausible that he'd deliberately concealed it, hoping Players would never hear about it.

'Then why did he want to keep it secret?'

I speculated for a moment, but I still couldn't tell. There weren't enough clues.

Still, I had a hunch that digging into this might reveal the ultimate goal of either the royal family or this old man. Put simply, that question had at least given me a direction.

Just as I was sorting out my thoughts...

“Heh heh. My turn at last.”

After his long, patient wait, the old man let out a hearty laugh.

Sheesh. What was he planning to ask?

As an unbidden unease settled over me, he spoke.

“Do you want to return to Earth?”

The intent behind the question was clear. He'd phrased it indirectly, but what he really wanted to know was something else.

Did I have the will to open the Gate of Abyss?

Yes, that must have been his real question.

“I don't know.”

I answered as though releasing a held breath. Before long, green light shone from the jewel.

“You do not know...”

Auriel Gabis smiled with a complicated expression, then rearranged his face as though nothing were wrong. And, uncharacteristically, he offered advice.

“I hope you make your choice soon.”

“Why?”

“It would be better for both of us.”

I asked what he meant, but the old man played innocent. “Is that your next question?” And that ended the subject.

My turn again. Without wasting any time, I asked, “Did the Witch's Poison really exist?”

“... Have you always been so interested in her?”

Well, not really. It was just that as we talked, I'd begun to think the witch might be at the heart of this story.

“Whew...”

Auriel Gabis lifted his teacup, took a sip, and answered as though recounting a tale from the distant past.

“That much is no fabrication. This world once came close to destruction because of her. Had it not been for the Labyrinth, it would surely have met its end.”

The jewel's light was green.

Hmm. Then had the outside world really recovered simply because enough time had passed?

With that thought, I moved to the next question.

“If the witch is alive, where is she now?”

It was my only open-ended question today. I knew so little that I'd decided I couldn't get this answer through a closed-ended question.

But Auriel Gabis played dirty.

“She is where everyone's wishes lead.”

Ugh. That damned way of speaking in riddles.

I sighed and checked the jewel. With the green light shining, it seemed he'd brush off any complaint...

“Are you really going to be like this?”

Figuring I should at least try, I glared as I asked. Auriel Gabis placed his hand over the jewel again.

“But I truly find it difficult to think of a more fitting explanation.”

Again, the light turned green. From that slick expression, he wasn't likely to change his attitude no matter how hard I pushed. So I let it go.

'Well, I did confirm one thing, at least.'

Auriel Gabis knew where the witch was, and he didn't want to tell me.

Put simply... my learning about the witch might run counter to his goals.

“Your third already.”

The old man smiled leisurely, as if this round's questions had posed no difficulty.

'How irritating.'

Perhaps it was time to confirm that. Something that might matter far more to me than anything I'd asked so far, witch or otherwise.

“Well, go ahead.”

After a moment's thought, I spoke.

“Do you feel sorry toward me at all?”

For a moment, silence fell.

* * *

I'd learned that he was a mage. He also seemed well versed in this world's secret history, including the witch. I knew he was the game's creator, and that he was hostile to the royal family.

So now it was time to establish just what sort of person Auriel Gabis was.

“Ha ha. Another difficult question.”

The old man's characteristic hearty chuckle broke the brief silence.

“When I asked earlier whether you wished to return to Earth, you said you did not know, correct? That could also mean your life here has not been entirely bad.”

That wasn't an answer to my question. Rather than say anything more, I simply stared at him.

“What is that look for? Surely you understand. Sometimes, one must disregard emotions to achieve a goal.”

I agreed, but once again, it wasn't an answer to what I'd asked.

“If that question is so difficult to answer, I'll change it.”

At my apparent concession, Auriel Gabis eagerly agreed.

“Ah, would you?”

I nodded and changed the question. Since the last one seemed difficult to answer, I'd be a little more specific.

“Auriel Gabis, do you feel even the slightest guilt toward the countless ‘evil spirits’ who were dragged here and died because of your greed?”

Once again, no answer came.

“Ha ha...”

Just an awkward laugh. That was answer enough.

Just as I was thinking that...

“Haha! Hahahahaha!”

Auriel Gabis burst into loud laughter. It was an incredibly jarring sight—enough to send an involuntary chill down my spine.

“You really are a fellow I cannot afford to indulge.”

He looked at me, all playfulness gone from his eyes. In that instant, the air around us grew heavy.

TAP.

Auriel Gabis placed his hand on the jewel in the middle of the table and spoke, his voice as friendly as ever.

“How could I possibly feel at ease? Of course I pity them. I feel responsible as well. I will probably carry these feelings for the rest of my life, living in atonement.”

As he spoke, Auriel Gabis smiled.

“Well? Does that answer your question?”

“... More than enough.”

Giving that brief reply, I checked the jewel.

Light streamed from the jewel in a flood of unmistakably vivid red.