Chapter 309 - Round Table (3)

The silence that had fallen several times during our conversation stretched out once again.

"..."

"..."

Auriel Gabis regarded me calmly, and I met his gaze without looking away. Though I tried not to show it, I somehow felt suffocated.

Then, amid that silence, Auriel Gabis spoke.

"Well..."

He was perfectly composed, as though nothing had happened.

"My turn now, then?"

My heart pounded at those words. This old man was like the abyss a certain philosopher had spoken of. Through this conversation, he too was peering beyond the line.

["How many people have cleared the original twenty years from now?"]

With his first question, he had checked whether there was a replacement for me.

["Do you want to return to Earth?"]

With his second, he had checked whether I was defective. So what would his third question be? The answer was leaving his lips now.

"What was the name of the body your soul inhabited after crossing the Gate of Abyss?"

My name: Bjorn Jandel. A means of finding me outside this spiritual world, where anonymity concealed me.

"And don't say Nivels Enche. Something felt a little off that day, so I looked into it."

I recalled the meaningful look he had given me when I supplied the name Nivels Enche. I'd thought I'd gotten away with it.

"What I asked that day was the name you used 'here,' wasn't it?"

Having caught on to my little trick, Auriel Gabis had begun investigating.

"Did you know? There are seven people in Raphdonia who use that name. I was able to visit six of them personally and confirm they were ordinary people..."

"But I never managed to find the last one."

"Nivels Enche, a rank-6 explorer."

"Surprisingly, he was a barbarian. I'd been quite sure it was a human-style name."

With every word, I felt the walls closing in around me. And that made me realize something.

["... Are you a barbarian, by any chance?"]

Even that seemingly joking remark earlier had been part of his verbal probing. He must have assumed that even if I'd given him the name of a false identity, I'd have kept the same race.

"Then let me ask again."

Auriel Gabis repeated the same question once more.

"What was the name of the body your soul inhabited after crossing the Gate of Abyss?"

Making up another name wasn't an option. With the question phrased so specifically, there was only one correct answer I could give.

'Fuck.'

Whatever else I revealed, I had to keep my name hidden. Hadn't I just learned what kind of person Auriel Gabis was? It might be too early to declare him an enemy, but at least one thing was certain.

["How could I possibly feel at ease? Of course I pity them. I feel responsible, too. I will probably live out my life atoning, carrying these feelings with me."]

This old man could never be an ally. Therefore...

"I won't answer that."

I boldly exercised my right to remain silent.

"Hmm..."

Surprisingly, Auriel Gabis didn't say much. He merely watched me, as though even this reaction intrigued him.

"It seems that question put you in quite a bind. Well, it's only natural for you to be wary of me. I'll ask something else, then."

Without dwelling much on his failure to learn my name, he continued.

"How long has it been since you woke up in that body?"

He was asking how long I'd been here. Since he knew I'd come from twenty years in the future, that information would let him estimate when I'd awaken in a barbarian's body. Which was why...

"I won't answer that."

"Really? Then another question—"

"No. The Q&A is over now."

I ended the truth game without hesitation. There was still plenty I wanted to ask, but this old man wasn't some magical cat's pocket. If I wanted something, I had to pay for it. And I'd decided that paying any more here would be dangerous.

"... Wait, over? What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. You went first, so there shouldn't be a problem, should there?"

Auriel Gabis smacked his lips and stared at me at my unilateral declaration. Well, he couldn't argue with the logic. We hadn't agreed beforehand on how many rounds of questions we'd exchange. All he could do was express his disappointment.

"How unexpected. I'd been certain you still had plenty of questions for me."

"Who knows?"

I did still have pages of questions left. In fact, my next question would have been whether I could use the lord's Stone Fragment of Records to return to my original time. But...

'Good thing I didn't ask it earlier.'

Thinking about it now, I was fortunate to have put it off. That question might have inadvertently revealed that I was currently in Noark.

"You don't seem inclined to change your mind."

After staring at me, the old man let out a deep sigh, then abruptly offered a compliment.

"The more I see of you, the cleverer you seem."

"..."

"Then what will you do now? Go back?"

Contrary to my expectations, Auriel Gabis was being gentlemanly, speaking as though he would send me back whenever I wished.

'... What should I do?'

I hadn't anticipated the truth game ending so early, so I needed time to gather my thoughts.

'It'd be a shame to just go back like this.'

After a moment's consideration, I decided to follow the plan I'd made earlier.

"What about that suggestion you made earlier? Talking where the others are."

"Hmm? Hadn't we already settled that?"

"I think it's a good idea. Though we'd need to change a few things."

Of course. I'd come all this way; I ought to see their faces before leaving.

* * *

Playing the truth game with Auriel Gabis was like Russian roulette. Especially in how nerve-racking it was to pass the turn each time. But...

'That's enough exclusive information for now.'

There were countless things I didn't know anyway. And Auriel Gabis couldn't be the only one with useful information. Especially when the others were evil spirits from other worlds, summoned here decades before me.

"Hmm, you've come up with quite an interesting idea."

Freely sharing information rather than answering questions—with the stipulations that it had to be true and unknown to at least half the participants. When I explained the rules, lifted straight from the future Round Table, Auriel Gabis smiled in amusement.

"It sounds promising. It's rather well structured for something you just thought up. What did you do before coming here?"

The answer was that I'd been an ordinary office worker. Not that I intended to tell him honestly.

"I believe I said the Q&A was over."

At my prickly reply, Auriel Gabis muttered, sounding a little aggrieved.

"... I was merely curious. Besides, it's hardly some tremendous secret I'm asking about, is it?"

He wasn't wrong. But when you ask, it feels like even that question must have some ulterior motive.

"Anyway, wait a moment. It seems I'll have to pour more authority into it to add the rules you suggested."

Auriel Gabis touched the jewel and closed his eyes as though concentrating. How much time passed?

WHOOOOM.

It wasn't clearly visible to the naked eye, but the air around the jewel began to refract, like heat haze shimmering over a road in midsummer.

"All done."

"That looked easier than I expected."

"Heh heh, that makes me feel terribly unappreciated. Believe me or not, as you wish, but I've now lost most of my authority over this space."

Hmm, that still didn't mean much to me... When I glanced at him with that sentiment, the old man began explaining without being asked.

"Manifestation is a prime example. I can still create objects by concentrating my thoughts, but they'll differ from the real things."

I'd only been half listening, but that made me flinch. Manifestation, concentrating thoughts—I didn't give a damn about any of that. But they'd differ from the real things...?

"Wait. Is that why the lemon-lime soda tasted flat earlier...?"

I'd asked just in case, and Auriel Gabis nodded without hesitation.

"It is. Is there a problem?"

Of course there was. That meant I'd never get to enjoy that refreshing soda taste here again.

"..."

"You have a serious soda addiction."

"..."

"Still, if you miss it that much, you must have been here for quite some time."

What was this old man on about? Trying to dig up information even at a time like this. That brought me back to my senses, so I slipped in a question of my own.

"... Never mind that. Why go this far? This authority of yours clearly seems like an incredibly important ability."

"Heh."

Though he knew what I was after, Auriel Gabis answered as if he found it endearing.

"Didn't you tell me you received an invitation from someone who went by GM?"

Oh, right. I had mentioned that.

"And?"

"That means ownership of this space passed to him. I don't know how it happened, but if it's going to end up in someone else's hands anyway, there's no need to hand over its substance as well."

I thought I understood the mentality. Even if you'd normally never do something, it was a different story on a dying server with a shutdown date. You could pull all sorts of stupid shit without feeling you'd wasted anything.

There was just one thing I wondered about.

"Why aren't you asking more about GM?"

"Heh heh, didn't you say you knew little beyond that nickname?"

Oh, that was true, too. As I nodded in understanding, Auriel Gabis murmured,

"And even if you knew more, I wouldn't care to ask."

"... Why?"

When I asked in genuine bewilderment, Auriel Gabis continued in a somewhat lonely voice.

"I told you, didn't I? Once a future has been observed, nothing you do can change it."

Hmm, did he mean ignorance was bliss? I was still hovering on the edge of understanding his words when he spoke again.

"That's enough small talk. Let's be off. I think they'll find this entertaining, too."

Auriel Gabis rose first, and I followed him to that all-too-familiar room with the Round Table.

* * *

A round table with dozens of seats.

CREEEAK.

As I stepped through the door Auriel Gabis had opened, the four people seated inside turned their eyes toward us.

"... Master."

Their reactions were identical. Whatever he'd done after sending me away last time, they all looked at Auriel Gabis with fear in their eyes. Meanwhile...

"Behind you... That man from last time is here, too."

They showed curiosity about me. But perhaps because Auriel Gabis had drawn a firm line regarding my identity last time, none dared speak up boldly.

"..."

"..."

An odd silence lingered in the Round Table room for a moment. Auriel Gabis was the one who broke it.

"Heh heh, you're all so tense."

Those words were like a pronouncement from an absolute ruler. A kindness extended to the weak, as though granting them permission to relax now.

"It's rather inevitable, given what you showed us at the end last time..."

The woman whose name I didn't know spoke as though releasing a breath she'd been holding. Auriel Gabis laughed heartily and said he was sorry. From that point, the atmosphere softened.

"Anyway, I'm glad you're all here. While talking with this fellow, I ended up making something rather interesting."

Auriel Gabis set the jewel in the center of the Round Table and continued.

"I brought you here to exchange information, but we haven't really had a proper conversation so far, have we? This might solve that problem."

"Might I ask you to explain in more detail?"

In response to the black-clad man I suspected was the Commander of Orculus, Auriel Gabis briefly explained the rules of the meeting. Their reactions afterward varied.

"We must provide information unknown to at least half of us? That sounds difficult."

The woman looked somewhat concerned.

"But that much is necessary for a proper exchange. Until now, we've all been too busy concealing our thoughts."

The middle-aged man named Kagureas sounded pleased. And...

"Will you be participating as well, Master?"

The Scholar of Destruction, a kid whose dignified speech contrasted with his childish appearance, asked only that one question.

"Of course. I intend to participate, as does this fellow beside me."

At Auriel Gabis's answer, all four looked at me again. There was unease in their eyes. Well, if a stranger of unknown identity suddenly showed up wanting to join a meeting like this, you wouldn't want to talk even if you had information.

'I may look like I'm getting special treatment, but they're probably wondering whether I'm really in their league.'

Hmm, what should I do? It seemed best to prove my qualifications before moving on. After a little thought, I called to Auriel Gabis. Or rather, I was about to.

"Hey..."

"Ah, just call me Master. You're the only one who knows my name."

Huh? Why so suddenly? The instant the old man cut me off...

"...!"

"...!"

"...!"

A strange light entered all four pairs of eyes.

'What the hell...?'

Honestly, bewildered didn't begin to describe it. Just how had this old man been treating these people?

"He knows... his name...?"

I'd never imagined he hadn't even told them his name.

'... Well, that got me past the issue, so I guess it's a good thing?'

As I collected myself and tried to look on the bright side, I caught Auriel Gabis giving me a smile only I could see.

'You're so transparent.'

His reason for helping me was obvious. If not for me, Auriel Gabis would have no reason to participate in this meeting. He'd probably jumped at my suggestion because he wanted to learn even a little more about me. And that wasn't all, was it?

"Now, now, take your seats. It's natural to be wary, but if that's the issue, why don't we have him go first?"

Auriel Gabis naturally steered the mood toward one in which I'd have no choice but to share some impressive information.

"... Before that, shouldn't you ask whether everyone wants to participate?"

I made no effort to hide my displeasure at his scheming. But what was this now?

"...!"

"...!"

Their pupils widened again, as though they'd witnessed something unbelievable.

"How can he speak so casually to Master...?"

"... Yet Master isn't objecting."

Seriously, I couldn't say a damn thing here. It was so ridiculous I couldn't even laugh.

SCRAPE.

So I simply pulled out a chair at random and sat down. After that, they began announcing their intention to participate, one by one.

"I shall participate."

"As will I."

"... Who here would turn down an opportunity like this?"

Not a single person declined. Unable to hide his satisfied smile, Auriel Gabis took it upon himself to moderate.

"Then we're unanimously agreed. There's no need for introductions, so let's begin. You'll go first, and we'll proceed clockwise."

All eyes turned to me again. Even I couldn't help feeling the pressure. After all, I was taking the very first turn in a meeting established today. The better the information I offered, the better the information they'd offer in return.

'Even aside from that, I shouldn't let them look down on me.'

I'd learned something at the Round Table twenty years from now. Just act impressive, and good things will fall into your lap even in your sleep. It was the same principle as people applauding you for taking a shit once you were famous. In fact, there had been several occasions when I'd passed my turn at the Round Table with trivial information, and they'd let it slide, assuming there must be some hidden meaning.

'Hmm, what should I use, then?'

As I considered it, I slowly surveyed the faces around the Round Table. Everyone was keenly interested in me, and Auriel Gabis was the most eager of them all.

'Right, you're dying to know what I'll reveal under all this pressure, aren't you?'

That settled it. I knew what this old man was hoping for, but...

'Not a chance.'

I'd spent far too much time at the Round Table for that.

Having made my decision, I spoke. Something that would satisfy the other members without needlessly exposing information to Auriel Gabis.

"The Witch of Earth is alive."

I called it the Male Lion Style.

First Form: Information Recycling.