Surviving the Game as a Barbarian Chapter 197 Master Key (2)

Master Key (2)

Master Key (2)

Watchers of the Round Table.

A secret community created for the exchange of high-quality information.

When I first entered this place, the existing mbers were curious about my relationship with the Master.

The reason was simple.

It had already been a year since the Master, who used to recruit mbers through private ssages, disappeared without a trace.

The mbers thought they might be able to hear about the Master’s whereabouts from , and after the ‘Lion’ persona was established, it beca a generally accepted truth that we were acquainted.

I responded with ‘no comnt’ to all related questions.

[The answer is no.]

I was worried about the consequences if I said I knew him.

And I thought it wouldn’t suit my mysterious persona if I said I didn’t know him.

But could it be that I got greedy?

[…Do you happen to know where the Master is?]

At the second gathering, I shrugged at Fox’s question.

As if to say I wouldn’t mind telling her if she brought sothing interesting. I rested my chin on my hand and acted nonchalantly, like an absolute being.

I clearly intended to deceive them.

“…Didn’t the Master invite him? I’m pretty sure he said that…”

Indeed, my intention worked well, as Fox’s voice was filled with confusion.

The other masked figures were also bewildered.

“Hmm, you’re saying I invited him?”

The Master touched his chin as if he had no idea.

The other masked figures’ gazes then turned towards .

Their eyes were filled with questions and curiosity about my identity.

“How did he get in here if he wasn’t invited by the Master?”

“Maybe he used an invitation code he received before?”

Goblin offered a guess at Fox’s muttering, and the Clown refuted it.

“Idiot. Don’t you know that invitation codes expire after a month?”

“…Is that true, Master?”

“What Clown said is true.”

“Then…”

Their gazes towards beca even more blatant as the Master agreed.

“Mr. Lion, why did you lie to about knowing the Master…?”

Fox asked cautiously.

I held my breath and closed my eyes for a mont.

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t flustered by the Master’s sudden appearance, but I would ruin everything if I lost my composure.

I quickly decided on my position.

“I didn’t lie.”

I never said I knew him.

You guys just misunderstood.

If I push forward like this, they won’t have anything to say.

‘Well, they might feel a bit of dissonance…’

From the killing intent that I half-stumbled upon to various other pieces of information.

I’ve shown them quite a bit.

They won’t be able to reach the truth that I’m just a cyberbully just from this.

Right, so…

“You didn’t lie?”

…let’s be shaless.

After all, that’s what the ‘Lion’ character is.

“That’s right. Do you have a problem with your ears?”

“Ah, no… that’s not it…”

Fox is flustered as our eyes et, even though I didn’t unleash my killing intent.

I chuckled.

And I was about to deliver the line I prepared, saying that they were the ones who misunderstood, even though I didn’t say anything…

But that’s when…

“Everyone, stop it.”

…the Master spoke, looking at .

“I don’t know the details of what happened between you, but he didn’t lie.”

‘…Huh?’

“Now I understand. Who you are.”

My heart skipped a beat.

Of course, it was just for a fleeting mont.

He knows who I am? That’s impossible.

He’s just the owner of a private chat room, how could he possibly—

“Kekeke. I thought you would be from the Tiger side.”

I shut my mouth at the Master’s laughter.

Not because I was hit where it hurts, but because I couldn’t understand what he was talking about.

I just chose to remain silent.

If you just keep your mouth shut, you’ll at least be in the middle ground.

“Or a soldier.”

That judgnt was correct.

‘Soldier…’

Now I understand.

Who this old man thinks I am.

_________________

Sergeant Lee.

It’s the nickna of Lee Baekho, the unfortunate player who was dragged to this world on the day he was discharged from the military.

“Kekeke, there’s no point in pretending. You’re the only one I gave a code with no expiration date to.”

Co to think of it, it’s an understandable misunderstanding from the Master’s perspective.

After all, it’s the invitation code that Lee Baekho gave .

There’s no way he could distinguish between and Lee Baekho when we’re wearing masks.

‘…Should I consider this a good thing?’

I don’t know yet.

It depends on how close Lee Baekho and the Master were…

“I never expected you to co here. Didn’t you scold , saying I was doing sothing stupid, when I first visited you?”

“…….”

“I’m a bit curious. What made you change your mind?”

I don’t need much ti to reach a conclusion.

‘They weren’t close.’

The expression ‘scold’ doesn’t matter.

There are relationships where people are close even though they bicker.

But…

[Ah, I forgot to tell you. The pill I took was an early version, so I can only stay here for an hour.]

Lee Baekho can only stay here for an hour.

So he can’t even participate in this gathering, where the entry ti is between 3:00 and 3:10.

But he doesn’t know this?

Sothing he told as soon as we t?

‘I’m starting to get a sense of it.’

The Master doesn’t know Lee Baekho well.

In other words, it’s possible for to pretend to be Lee Baekho.

“I shouldn’t be the one to say this, but wouldn’t you have nothing to gain from participating here, at your level?”

The Clown mutters grumpily at the Master’s words,

“…Pfft, nothing to gain? Master, are you looking down on us?”

“Ah, I’m sorry if you’re offended. But it’s because he’s that amazing.”

“Hmmmmm, I see…”

The Clown’s eyes sparkle at the Master’s praise.

I quickly check the other masked figures. They’re not much different from the Clown.

They’re just surprised.

Maybe even more so than when I shared high-level information like the ‘Stone of Resurrection’.

“I think this is the first ti the Master has given soone such a high evaluation…”

“I can’t believe he’s at this level.”

Crescent Moon and Antler exclaim in astonishnt. Ah, for reference, Fox flinches and hangs her head low as soon as our eyes et.

It seems like she feels guilty for suspecting earlier.

‘What should I do?’

My dilemma deepens as I see this.

There’s a saying, ‘crisis is an opportunity’, right?

Just by looking at the mbers’ changed gazes…

…if I succeed in pretending to be Lee Baekho, it will be a great help in maintaining my persona in the future.

‘And most importantly, I might be able to find out what kind of person Lee Baekho is through this old man.’

The return is certain.

Then what about the risk?

‘…There’s no real risk.’

Co to think of it, if it doesn’t work, I can just reveal that I’m Lee Baekho’s friend.

There’s an old saying, ‘birds of a feather flock together’.

Since the Master ntioned that Lee Baekho is an amazing person, his friend, , will also be seen as on the sa level as Lee Baekho.

‘Right, let’s do it.’

I break the long silence and speak to the Master first.

“What should I call you here?”

“Huh?”

“I can’t call you the sa way as usual.”

“Why not? Just call old man like you did before. And stop with those weird honorifics.”

“Alright, old man.”

I feel a chill run down my spine as I naturally change my attitude.

‘I almost screwed up from the start…’

I can’t believe they were on informal terms.

But thanks to that, I realize one more thing.

Lee Baekho is a proud Confucian Korean.

But to speak informally to an elder?

‘They weren’t just not close, they must have hated each other.’

I have a sense of how to treat him now.

Therefore, I naturally add another sentence to make up for my previous mistake.

“You have a strange taste. To refuse even when I’m trying to save face.”

It’s a line that implies I genuinely don’t understand.

Although I’m not sure if it worked…

…the Master laughs heartily.

“Kekeke! Right, that’s more like you. Anyway, let’s end this conversation here. Although I’m happy to see you again after so long, I don’t have ti.”

“…Master, you don’t have ti?”

“I can’t stay here for long due to so circumstances.”

“Yes? What happened that—”

“Stop.”

The Master cuts off the question with a brief mutter.

“I understand that Miss Fox has a lot of questions. Why I disappeared without a word, what I’m trying to say now. But I can’t tell you.”

“Is it that urgent?”

“No, it has nothing to do with ti.”

Fox doesn’t push any further at the Master’s firm words.

Instead, she asks one more thing.

“Then… will you co back next ti?”

“Well, I’m not sure. But I’ll definitely co back in a year. I might co sooner if sothing cos up.”

“Pfft, so you’re saying you ca here today because you had sothing urgent to announce, Master.”

“You’re right, Clown.”

The attention that was focused on shifts towards the Master at his shocking declaration.

It’s a perfect situation for .

And the content itself…

‘He’ll co back in a year…’

In short, it ans I don’t have to worry about my lies being exposed at every gathering.

However, my curiosity is greater than my relief right now.

‘He said he doesn’t have ti, and it doesn’t seem like a lie… What kind of situation is he in? And what’s the urgent information he needs to share?’

I look at the Master, focusing on my hearing, amidst countless questions. And it’s not just , all the masked figures are doing the sa.

A strange silence falls.

“Kekeke, don’t be too nervous. It’s actually good news.”

The Master waves his hand as if to lighten the heavy atmosphere and then slowly opens his mouth.

And…

“A Bonding spell that can bind up to six people will be created within two years. It ans the key to opening the Gate of the Abyss will increase to six!”

Silence falls upon the room.

The mbers exchange awkward glances and don’t say anything.

The Master tilts his head.

“Uh, why the long faces? I thought you would be more surprised…”

Well, it’s old news.

_________________

The creation of a 6-person Bonding spell.

It’s definitely valuable information, enough to shake the entire city for at least a few months once it’s known.

But…

“…You already revealed this? Eh, no wonder everyone’s reaction is so underwhelming.”

The Master clicks his tongue after learning that the Clown already shared it at the previous gathering.

“But it’s a bit unexpected. Clown, I didn’t think you would talk about sothing like that here. Have you finally ward up to these people?”

“Pfft, there’s no way. I was just curious about their reactions.”

The Clown looks at as he laughs.

The Master then subtly glances at , following his gaze.

I’m nervous, thinking he might say sothing.

But…

Crackle.

That’s when the Master’s body starts flickering like a hologram.

“Oh, it’s already ti to leave.”

“Master!”

Fox shouts in disappointnt, but the flickering intensifies.

Even in this situation, the Master is only looking at .

It’s a very unpleasant and unsettling gaze.

It’s like he can see through just by making eye contact.

“Old man, do you have sothing to say?”

I can’t hold back and ask.

And at that mont…

[It’s not ‘old man’, it’s ‘geezer’.]

A voice echoes in my head like a Whisper spell.

It’s clear who the owner of the voice is.

[That damn brat called that.]

Damn it.

No wonder it seed too easy.

‘He knew from the beginning?’

My body stiffens slightly.

Of course, it’s so subtle that it’s hard to notice with the naked eye, and it only lasts for a split second.

But…

[Hmm, actually, your reaction was so natural that I was still confused. But seeing your heart rate increase, it seems like you’re really not that brat.]

Wait, he was just testing ?

[Don’t worry. There’s no reason for to interfere with what you do here.]

“…….”

[I’m just curious, but unfortunately, I don’t have ti today. Let’s talk again when we et next ti.]

With that, the Master’s body disappears before my eyes like fog.

“Ha.”

I laugh out loud.

It’s similar to how I chuckle when I experience sothing absurd.

There’s no one easy in this world.