Lee Baekho’s sudden comnt had made the atmosphere heavy, but it didn’t last long.
He quickly regained his usual cheerful deanor, and I didn’t ntion it again.
But I couldn’t help but wonder…
‘…What would he be like now?’
I knew about his past.
A few years before I woke up in this world, his identity had been revealed due to a teammate’s betrayal.
And he had beco the person he was today.
Just like , he had been diligently clearing the labyrinth when his team disbanded, and he had to continue on his own.
His distrust of others was a natural consequence.
‘Well, it’s a bit strange to call it a ‘betrayal’ from a native’s perspective…’
But if he hadn’t been betrayed…
What would he be like now?
“Huh? Hyung, why are you staring at ? Did I do sothing wrong?”
“Just looking. Did you do sothing wrong?”
“…Hyung, you’re too much! Of course not. Haha.”
“…….”
“Anyway, can we talk privately for a mont?”
Lee Baekho glanced at Hyunbyul, and she sighed.
“It’s not like you two are dating.”
“Haha, are you jealous, noona?”
“…I’ll be back.”
Hyunbyul left the room without much fuss, as usual.
I was a little surprised.
She didn’t seem to mind him calling her ‘noona’ anymore.
Had she finally given up on correcting him?
“Hehe, so it’s just the two of us now? Let’s have a nice, private—”
“Cut it out. I’m serious.”
“Yes, sir.”
“So what’s the rush? Why did you ask Hyunbyul to leave?”
“Ah, that? It’s not really a rush…”
“Then what is it?”
I sat down on the sofa and rested my chin on my hand. Lee Baekho sat across from and asked,
“Hyung, are you really trapped in the labyrinth?”
“Yeah.”
“Ti flows normally even after the labyrinth closes… that’s amazing. Have you found a way out?”
“Not yet.”
“Hmm, that’s a problem. Should I co rescue you?”
“Just focus on your own business.”
“Hehe, I knew you would say that. And I can’t go anyway.”
“Are you outside now?”
“Yes. I thought there would be amazing discoveries out here, but there’s nothing. Not even a single rat. I should have stayed in the labyrinth and searched for the hidden area.”
“I was wondering… why did you leave the kingdom?”
“I didn’t expect you to find the hidden area so quickly.”
So that was the reason.
I had found it strange that he, who was so obsessed with the labyrinth, had left the kingdom at this point in ti.
“Hyung, how’s the hidden area? Tell about it.”
“For free?”
“Co on… you’re curious about the outside world too, aren’t you? Let’s share information.”
“You said there was nothing out there.”
“Not yet. But my intuition tells there’s a huge secret hidden out here!”
He sounded like he was trying to sell sothing, but I had a similar feeling.
There was sothing hidden beyond the walls.
I didn’t know what it was yet.
“Fine. Deal.”
“As expected of my hyungnim!”
I told him about the 1st Basent Floor.
The variant and new species of monsters.
The summoning books in the library.
The floating objects in the sea.
But I didn’t ntion the Elder.
I didn’t feel guilty.
I hadn’t received anything from him yet, and he probably wouldn’t tell everything he had discovered outside the walls either.
‘Maybe I could learn sothing new if I discussed the Elder with him…’
But I couldn’t trust him.
I had a feeling he would betray eventually.
But he was too valuable to just abandon.
“So that’s it for now.”
“Huh? What about the tree island? That was getting interesting.”
“We’re still exploring it. I was taking a break when I was summoned here. I was so surprised.”
“That’s good. I was worried when Hyunbyul noona asked if you were really dead. She looked like she was about to cry.”
Right, he was outside the walls, so he must have heard about it from Hyunbyul.
He didn't seem to read the forums.
“Hyung, I’m leaving now.”
“Huh? But you still have plenty of ti left.”
“I know, but I think I should go now.”
“What do you an?”
He grinned at .
“I’m spending ti with Hyunbyul noona today. She was really worried about you.”
“Ah…”
“I’ll be going now.”
“Baekho, wait.”
I stopped him, and he tilted his head.
I hesitated for a mont and then spoke.
It might be unnecessary…
“Being smart isn’t about keeping secrets.”
“…What? Did I hear you correctly?”
He looked confused, so I continued,
“It’s not about being secretive.”
“…Then what is it?”
“It’s about being afraid.”
You.
And .
We were always thinking about the worst-case scenario.
______________________
Lee Baekho left early, and Hyunbyul rejoined the chat room soon after.
“How did it go?”
“It went well.”
“You ended early today.”
She asked casually, and I answered in the sa tone.
“He said he was spending ti with you.”
“…W-What?! That… that liar!”
“Why are you so flustered? It’s not like it’s the first ti he’s said sothing like that.”
“That’s true… I guess…”
She said that, but she was fanning herself with her hand, as if she was feeling hot.
It had been a while since I had last seen her like this.
I felt a surge of playfulness.
“Were you that worried?”
I asked, a teasing smile on my face, and she frowned and glared at .
“…Do you want to fight?”
“Uh… no? Why would you say that?”
“Seriously… you’re becoming just like him.”
“…….”
I had just been teasing her, and yet I was being scolded.
I didn't understand, but I quickly changed the subject.
“How’s work?”
“It’s fine. I’m gaining Viscountess Peprok’s trust.”
“What’s she like?”
“…She’s a kind person. And naive. She’s been a little troubleso lately, though.”
“Troubleso?”
“Don’t you know? It’s because of Bjorn Yandel.”
“Ah…”
It hadn’t been my intention, but I had inadvertently caused trouble for her twice now.
“Well, at least things are looking up. I saw the post on the forums. A lot of people believe it. And it has a lot of views. The news will spread throughout the city soon.”
“That’s good.”
“Yes, it is. If it had been any later, your assets would have been seized, and your family would have been disbanded.”
Right, it was a close call.
“…I was talking about your boss not bothering you anymore.”
“Oh, really?”
She was openly testing now.
I would have to show her what a true barbarian was capable of when we t in person.
She would never doubt again.
“Oppa, what are you thinking?”
“Nothing.”
“You had a sinister look in your eyes.”
“You’re overthinking it.”
I cut her off before she could say anything more, and we spent the rest of the ti reading and chatting.
And after a while…
“Oppa, it’s ti for to go.”
“Ah, right. It’s already that ti.”
It was almost ti for the Round Table eting.
I left the chat room and returned to Lee Hansu’s room. I checked the forums again and then entered the Round Table just as the tir was about to run out.
A navy blue suit and a lion mask.
It had looked ridiculous at first, like I was wearing a costu… but now I was used to it.
Alright, I was dressed…
Step, step.
…and I arrived at the Round Table. The other mbers were already there, waiting for .
“That’s ridiculous. It has to be a lie.”
“Well, I’m not so sure. The comnts on the post say it’s probably true.”
“Heehee, I know that guy! Didigo, right? The one with the weird roleplaying.”
“That’s right, but he’s not soone to be ignored.”
“Well, he does seem to know a lot of things… Ah!”
They stopped talking and greeted with their eyes.
Except for Clown.
“Pfft, welco, Lion.”
He even stood up and bowed like a dieval nobleman. I ignored him and sat down.
‘Parab’s sitting next to today.’
Goblin was sitting next to , which was unusual.
Did he want to go first?
I was curious, but I would find out soon enough.
“Let’s begin.”
I gave the signal, and the eting started without any delay.
“I assu you’ve all read the post on the forums. There’s a high probability that it’s true.”
“…And?”
“…That’s my information.”
The other mbers groaned.
“’High probability’? What kind of information is that?”
“Pfft, then I’ll go next. There’s a high probability that Goblin’s brain capacity is 3kb!”
“Heehee, Clown, you got that from the forums, didn’t you? That guy was so pathetic.”
“P-Pfft…”
Clown chuckled awkwardly at Butterfly’s comnt.
But he had anticipated the ridicule.
“Then I’ll present the evidence that supports my claim.”
Goblin continued, and the mbers, their curiosity piqued, listened intently.
“…Evidence?”
“Oh, so there’s more to it?”
“He wouldn’t have revealed such a vague piece of information otherwise.”
Goblin, seeing their interest, began his explanation.
“I’m good at using the internet. I love arguing, and my specialty is doxxing.”
“…What does that have to do with anything?”
“I’ve been investigating the author of that post. I read all their posts and comnts, looking for clues.”
“…And?”
“I couldn’t identify them, but I’m certain they’re a mber of the Hex Clan.”
I was genuinely surprised.
The other mbers looked confused, but I knew he was right.
‘…He actually did it?’
It was an unexpected talent.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“The Hex Clan… they were one of the sixty explorers who entered the hidden area with Bjorn Yandel…”
“Queen, what do you think? You’re close to the GM, so you must know sothing.”
Queen nodded, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion.
“…I can’t believe it, but Goblin’s theory matches ours.”
“Really?”
“Yes. But… I don’t understand how he did it. We had to recover the deleted posts to reach that conclusion…”
“Deleted posts? What kind of posts?”
“There were quite a few. And they were all related to the Hex Clan. They kept praising the clan’s welfare system and then deleting the posts before the community closed.”
What? Were they advertising their clan on the forums?
It was ridiculous, but Queen’s testimony changed the other mbers’ perception of Goblin.
“Hehe… I’m glad my investigation was correct.”
…What was this guy’s deal?
User Comments
0 comments from readers