Chapter 342 - Comeback (1)

Lee Hansoo's room felt both familiar and strange.

'Somehow... it feels like it's been ages.'

After a brief look around to see whether anything had changed, I hurriedly switched on the computer, moving only my toes from where I sat.

WHIRRR!

My goal in the community today was simple. As always, gathering information came first. The only difference was that this time, I had two years and six months' worth to catch up on.

'Let's start with the forums.'

The Round Table, the main course of my community activities, wouldn't open for another three hours, so I used the mouse to browse the various forums. It was quite a chore. To get a chronological sense of the atmosphere here, I had to click through page after page of listings.

[Wow, has anyone been to Bjorn Jandel's house?]

-Went with some people he helped on the first floor a while back. Seeing all those flowers piled up felt weird.

-It really hit me that he was dead.

-His companions looked completely devastated, too.

Hmm, there was plenty about me here. This looked like a good place to start.

[tetyys: What's all the fuss over one dead NPC?]

[└Sogeking33: Right, nobody would've given a shit if some small-time fuck like you died, huh?]

[└SoDamnToxic: A candidate for barbarian chieftain, the first explorer to receive a noble title in ten years, and apparently the royal family is even sending knights for a funeral procession to honor a fallen hero... Of course the insecure assholes are crawling out of the woodwork.]

[Ki11Humans77: Kind of a shame. Heard they'd just formed a clan, so I was curious how they'd develop.]

After checking a few comments on the first post I'd clicked, I hit the back button and worked steadily through the pages.

One month, two months, three months...

As time passed, posts poured in about whatever topic was hottest at the time. The discussion of my death, which had once filled the forums, was a perfect example. After just a month, mentions hadn't merely dwindled; they had all but disappeared.

The following month, however, people started talking about me again. Someone had thrown fresh fuel on the fire.

[Is that rumor about Bjorn Jandel being an evil spirit true?]

-It's all anyone talks about wherever I go these days. They wouldn't be doing this over something completely made up, right?

[Three reasons Bjorn Jandel is an evil spirit]

-Hey, leave an upvote before you go~

[Use your heads. Would he really be an evil spirit?]

-Disagree and you're a newbie who's never even seen Bjorn Jandel.

-Agree and you'll get a Therianthrope girlfriend.

[arolf5205: This guy's right. Bet everyone saying Bjorn Jandel is an evil spirit is a newbie.]

[1spring: Bjorn Jandel is not an evil spirit. So do I get a Therianthrope girlfriend now?]

[Bling0_0: Hmm, I still kind of feel like he is, though...]

Two months after Bjorn Jandel's death(?).

The forums were flooded with arguments over whether I was an evil spirit. Most people still seemed to consider it a rumor. Though one comment did catch my attention.

[teckmonkey: Might actually be true, not just a rumor. There's talk that the allegation originally came from the companion Bjorn Jandel cared about most.]

I dismissed it when I saw that it only said "companion" without naming anyone. I was used to all sorts of trolls latching onto a hot topic.

CLICK, CLICK.

Three months after my death, interest faded and my name was barely mentioned.

But...

Six months after my death, my gradually fading name suddenly exploded across the forums.

The royal family had made an official announcement.

Bjorn Jandel was an evil spirit.

[Hey, is that official notice from the royal family real?]

[Bjorn Jandel is an evil spirit?]

[He was a chieftain candidate and even got a noble title. How could he be an evil spirit? Isn't there some mistake?]

Everyone seemed confused at first, but as evidence that I was an evil spirit gradually piled up, the mood shifted toward acceptance. Once they started from the premise that I was an evil spirit, they found more than a few things to question.

[Thinking back, it was pretty weird.]

-For starters, does it even make sense for someone to get that strong that fast? It was too weird to just chalk it up to him being exceptional.

[└tunaboot: Fact 1: It still doesn't make sense even if he was an evil spirit.]

[└BrutalizerX: Fact 2: Bjorn Jandel lived with three women.]

[└WingPizza: Fact 3: Bjorn Jandel is known to be a giant packing well over 40 cm.]

Of course, my name only stayed in the spotlight briefly. Shocking as the story was, there wasn't enough fuel to keep it burning.

Bjorn Jandel was an evil spirit?

Wow, that's surprising.

But so what? How long are we going to talk about a dead guy?

That was more or less the mood.

A few people speculated that there must be some enormous secret behind rumors spreading about a man who had died suddenly, or the royal family only now declaring them true...

Unfortunately, that was all. Secrets like that weren't going to circulate on the community's general discussion board.

CLICK, CLICK.

I kept reading, but for several months, nothing emerged that set the entire forum buzzing. It was the usual jumble of people talking about whatever they pleased.

But...

One year after my death, something happened that set the community ablaze.

[Guys, did you hear about the Nartel Clan?]

The Nartel Clan. The clan led by Melter Fend, an explorer I'd had extensive dealings with during the battle against Noark.

Ninety percent of its members had died in the Labyrinth. Even the cause was already widely known.

[godFLEXyou: Yeah, those Noark bastards got them and only a handful barely made it back alive, right?]

The people of Noark, who were believed to have gone beyond the walls, had been found in the Labyrinth.

All sorts of theories circulated in the community. Maybe there were portals outside the walls. Or perhaps they'd somehow created a new one. Some argued that they were more likely Noark natives who had stayed in the city and concealed their identities.

Then...

One year and one month after my death, a mid-sized clan was wiped out in the Labyrinth. It had operated in the Dark Continent, where the Nartel Clan had met its tragic fate. With no survivors, the cause of its annihilation remained unknown.

One year and three months.

The number of clans disappearing without a trace on the seventh floor surged, and multiple accounts emerged of sightings of people from Noark. Most of those sightings were on the seventh floor.

One year and four months.

Recognizing the seriousness of the Noark incidents, the royal family began distributing identity tags again. It also sent knights into the Labyrinth to patrol the lower floors.

But nothing improved. Even though they screened entrants on the first floor as soon as the Labyrinth opened, they found no one from Noark.

One year and six months.

Noting that Noark's forces had only appeared on the seventh floor, the royal family joined forces with several major clans to organize an expedition.

It returned after suffering devastating losses. Still, it hadn't come back empty-handed.

[Breaking: Latest Noark update]

-This is confirmed intel from interrogating a prisoner taken during the expedition.

-Those Noark bastards opened a portal outside the walls, and apparently it takes them straight to the seventh floor.

-Oh, and of course the prisoner had no fucking idea how that was possible. The royal family doesn't know a thing either.

New information had been confirmed.

Time passed, bringing us to one year and eight months. After banning ordinary explorers from entering the Dark Continent, the royal family organized a second expedition. It threw in enormous military resources and finally secured a single, costly victory.

And...

[It's really a war now.]

A full-scale struggle for power began on the seventh floor. The royal family had decided that allowing Noark's people to hole up there and build their strength would lead to serious trouble down the line.

Lured by the enormous rewards the royal family offered, countless explorers joined the war, and new heroes won fame in battle every day.

The Seven Powers were the prime example. Seven young heroes who had previously lacked any particular renown, but made their names through outstanding achievements in this war.

[Looking at it now, Bjorn Jandel's party really did have an insane talent pool. How do two of the Seven Powers come from one party?]

After working my way forward through time and finally reaching a post made just ten minutes ago, I took my hand off the mouse. Even skimming as quickly as I could, going through two years and six months of posts had taken well over two hours.

'Maybe I'll take a break and sort this out...'

I got off the chair and lay down on the bed.

For starters, I'd learned very little that was actually new from browsing the community. That was only natural. I'd spent more than ten days cooped up at home, listening to Erwin tell me all sorts of things. I already knew roughly when the major events had happened. Naturally, that included the events involving Noark.

'Still, reading through it all gave me a feel for the mood back then...'

Besides, the posts contained quite a few minor details Erwin hadn't mentioned. For example, all the explorers who had been left brain-dead by that pillar of fire had been cured.

'Anyway, shall I check the Trade market this time?'

After my short break, I sat down at the computer again and began checking the backlog of posts one by one.

Time passed...

[03:09]

It was time to enter the Round Table.

* * *

CREEAK.

The goblin-masked man opened the door, stepped inside, and waved cheerfully.

"Oh, Miss Fox! It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Yes, hello."

"Looks like we're the first two here again today?"

Versil Gouland, the woman wearing the fox mask, smiled awkwardly at Goblin's question. She knew he wasn't asking to confirm anything, but trying to strike up a personal conversation. She didn't particularly want to talk to him.

"... Haha, I suppose you've got something to think about again, just like last time? I'll keep quiet."

"Thank you."

A little later, Stag Horns and Crescent Moon arrived at almost the same time. She checked the clock. It was 3:05, with five minutes left until entry opened.

"Those two still haven't arrived?"

"... They'll be here soon."

She answered Stag Horns with a bitter smile. Clown and Queen were the only members still absent. They would probably show up today. Of course, after checking who was here, they would likely turn around and leave again.

Just as they always had for the past year.

"Still, with four of us here, we can hold a proper meeting today."

"... Last time, we couldn't even begin because you weren't here, Stag Horns. Why didn't you come?"

"Goblin, must I explain even that to you?"

"Well... no. Of course not. I only asked because I was curious."

As they made meaningless small talk before the gathering began, the door opened again. This time, a woman came in.

"My, it's been a while, everyone."

Queen.

Though her presence couldn't compare to Mr. Lion's, she had thoroughly proven her worth to the gathering, crushing Clown with the breadth of her information.

"Will you simply wait and leave again this time?"

Queen smiled awkwardly at Crescent Moon's polite question. That was answer enough. Everyone knew what she was thinking.

'She must think there's little point in attending a gathering without that man.'

Even after Mr. Lion stopped coming, she had continued attending and sharing various pieces of information. At some point, however, she too had begun leaving before the gathering started, after merely checking who was present.

Clown was no different.

"Heh, all gathered together again, are we?"

"Clown..."

Two minutes remained before the gathering began. Everyone turned to look at the newly arrived Clown. Most of their gazes were far from friendly. They had clashed with Noark too often lately. Perhaps not to the same extent as Crescent Moon, but the others couldn't feel kindly toward someone in Noark's camp.

"Do you think you can kill someone by staring at them?"

Unconcerned by their looks, Clown chose an empty seat. Then he stared at the clock on the wall, eagerly awaiting one particular person.

By now, it was an all-too-familiar sight.

"Whew... Looks like he won't be coming today either."

"... I've heard there have been sightings of Noark trying to crawl out onto the sixth floor lately. Why is that?"

"Excuse me? The gathering hasn't even started. Why would I tell you that?"

"That's... because you don't participate in the gathering..."

"Really, Mr. Stag Horns... Then you should have brought something interesting a long time ago, shouldn't you? It's so boring that I keep coming here only to leave again."

"... Do you think acting like that makes you look like Mr. Lion?"

"Heh, that wasn't my intention."

Clown rose with a mocking laugh, and Queen stood as though she had been waiting for him.

"Anyway, it seems he won't be coming today either, so I'll be off."

"I'll take my leave as well..."

Watching their retreating backs, Fox quietly sighed. Her regret at losing their presence made her feel anew how much they needed one particular man.

'Sigh, just where has that Mr. Lion disappeared to?'

At first, Clown and Queen had both offered all sorts of theories about his disappearance. He'd lost interest and stopped coming. GM had expelled him from the community. And so on.

There had been many other theories, but Goblin's was the one that stuck in her mind.

Something about him possibly being the same person as Bjorn Jandel?

His reasoning was that, if Mr. Lion had died, the timing was remarkably coincidental.

But...

["Heh, Mr. Goblin, why don't you quit being a paladin and become a novelist?"]

Goblin had been ridiculed for voicing that theory. Though the other members hadn't been quite so harsh, they hadn't taken it seriously either.

After all, when Mr. Lion first appeared at the Round Table, Bjorn Jandel hadn't even been an explorer for a year. Someone operating on the third or fourth floor at best couldn't possibly have displayed that kind of presence.

And yet...

'Perhaps that theory really was true...'

Fox thought it might be. There were plenty of contradictions, but if it really was true, it would at least explain why Mr. Lion hadn't appeared for two years and six months—

CREEEAK.

Just as her thoughts reached that point, the firmly shut door slowly opened, making everyone flinch.

The reason was simple. Clown, who had gotten up to leave, hadn't even reached the door yet.

"...?"

There was no one else left to arrive.

No, there shouldn't have been.

Except for one man.

TAP.

A man appeared beyond the open door.

And...

"...!"

The man whose mere entrance had frozen everyone spoke, as though he'd simply dropped by out of boredom on his way somewhere.