Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

I had known for a long time that Hyunbyul suspected my true identity.

After all, she had even openly asked Ibaekho that question when I wasn't around.

[She kept asking if you really are Bjorn Yandel.]

Later, when I pressed her, Hyunbyul's reasons boiled down to three main points.

[...I know exactly when you came here.]

The timing.

[Among the explorers who arrived at that time, none had grown as much as Bjorn Yandel.]

The growth.

[...You often talked about games to me, too. Saying Shield Baba is the best, and all.]

Shield Baba.

Many clues pointed to my identity being Bjorn Yandel.

But still, it wasn't convincing enough.

"Why aren't you answering, oppa?"

It would be impossible to come at me like that without certainty if she had met 'Bjorn Yandel' directly.

How could Hyunbyul have gained such confidence?

"What? You're scanning me up and down again, trying to think of a way to run away?"

Or was she just testing the waters?

I thought so, but knowing Hyunbyul's personality, that was unlikely.

'Ah, but I can't just bash the head of the evil spirit either...'

That awkward stalemate continued.

"I gave you plenty of clues, so you can't possibly not know who I am... Is it really so hard to take off your mask in front of me?"

I finally made a decision.

Honestly, there weren't just one or two people who knew Bjorn Yandel was possessed by an evil spirit.

And Hyunbyul wasn't someone I couldn't trust.

Step.

I stepped closer quietly to avoid making noise, pressed close to Hyunbyul, and asked.

"How exactly did you find out?"

As I removed the invisible mask I wore on my face and asked my question, Hyunbyul chuckled and shrugged.

"To be honest, I wasn't certain until the very end."

"...What?"

But she did something so risky?

If she had investigated me, she would also know about the secret security agent who was carried off after spying on me.

"Don't look at me like I'm pathetic. At least I wore a mask and prepared."

"Oh, by the way, what was that mask for?"

"Didn't you already notice?"

"Are you really Black?"

"Yes, that's right."

A truly shocking truth.

Regardless of how she entered the Round Table, why hadn't I known this until now?

"Anyway, I expected some kind of reaction while wearing the mask. And I got it."

"...I reacted?"

"Yes. You still do, you know? When surprised, you close your eyes for a moment first."

"Uh..."

Did I really have such a habit?

I don't know, but I should be careful from now on.

"Anyway, thanks to that reaction, I got a bit more courage. Otherwise, I might have just turned and run."

"...Why go to such lengths?"

"Then why did you?"

"What did I do?"

"You scared me and pressured me harshly, asking who I worked under. With a look like you were ready to kill someone."

Uh...

That was true.

But that was because I worried I might corrupt her...

"Well, it doesn't mean I disliked that..."

Hyunbyul looked up at me resolutely.

"But you were the one who crossed the line first."

"......."

With that, I had nothing to say.

No matter the reason, it's kind of funny to get mad just because someone tries to find out your identity after you forced them to do the same.

"Hah..."

Instead of blaming Hyunbyul, I decided to do something more productive.

Like, for example—

"So how did you get into the Round Table? Did you get help from the GM?"

"Yes. I asked for help, thinking it would help uncover your identity and found a way to join."

"What about the info from the Round Table? Did you get all that from # Nоvеlight # the GM, too?"

"No. I found all that out myself."

I recalled the information the Black Mask had spilled at the Round Table.

Two pieces stood out the most.

[Besides opening the Abyssal Gate, another way to return to Earth is dimensional magic.]

[It was exactly this method Auril Garvis used to come to Earth.]

Oh, now that I think about it, there were other pieces too...

[Bjorn Yandel and... Misha Kalstein... were they really dating as rumored?]

That wasn't information, but a question asked to me at the end, so I skipped it.

'...She was almost certain from that time.'

Still, how could Hyunbyul, not even an explorer, have gotten such high-level info?

"I told you before. Lady Peprok trusts me a lot. I help her with everything and get a lot of chances to gather information."

"...I see."

It seemed possible to get such information with trust, and knowing Hyunbyul's skill, she probably handled it well on her own.

I nodded in understanding.

"Oppa."

Suddenly, Hyunbyul declared solemnly.

"I'm different from scoundrels like Ibaekho."

A bit abrupt, but I understood what she meant from her explanation.

"I have no intention of leaning on you like he does. So don't cause trouble and behave yourself."

Then she looked at me firmly.

"I'll find a way to take you back no matter what."

Just hearing that was reassuring.

But...

'I don't really want to go back...'

How should I say that...?

To sum up, I didn't say it.

Not at the beginning, and now especially, I had no desire to return to reality.

If I said it clearly, it would just cause trouble.

'...I'll say it later, later.'

Even if I delay, nothing would change.

Whether I return or not, Hyunbyul must find a way back.

"But how did the marriage proposal go? I don't know what happened in there while you were waiting to meet him."

"Ah... about that...?"

How could I explain this?

My head ached, so I just told the result.

"I refused the proposal."

"Oh... really?"

"Ask him about the details later. He seems to tell you everything."

"Indeed... lately you're more like a friend than a subordinate, huh?"

Hyunbyul said that and hurried up the conversation, worried we'd be noticed if we talked long here.

"Here, take this first."

"...What's this?"

"If we're seen meeting privately, it won't be good for either of us."

"...So what is this?"

"You'll see."

She tore a piece of paper in half and gave me one half, then wrote something with a pen on the other.

Then...

[Got it?]

The writing on her half appeared on mine, too.

"I feel like I've seen something similar in an old fantasy movie..."

"People think alike. Anyway, it takes a day for this to erase once written, so it's inconvenient for long messages."

"So we can use it to communicate meeting times and places when we need to talk."

"Yes, exactly."

It was some magical item I'd never seen before.

Curious, I asked its name, and Hyunbyul scratched her cheek.

"It's called Love Paper."

"...What?"

"Yeah, that's really its name. I heard a mage made it for dating."

"Really?"

Anyway, Love Paper...

If translated literally to the late 21st century, maybe "Love Note"?

"So that's all you have for me?"

"Yes, that's it. But I have one last thing to say."

"Spit it out quickly. I'm scared someone will come."

Looking around nervously, Hyunbyul hurried to say—

"Don't get too close to Lady Peprok."

"...Huh?"

"That woman hides a very big secret. Not just that she's the marquis's illegitimate child. Something very dangerous might happen."

Dangerous situation...

"...Understood. I'll keep an eye out."

"Well, that's all for today. I'll contact you later."

Hyunbyul disappeared deeper into the alley, and I quickly left for the sanctuary.

A few days later.

"Chief! Something came for you!"

A suspicious package arrived in my name.

No sender indicated.

But from the contents, it was easy to tell who sent it.

Black hair and black eyes.

A cheap doll without particular features, but its legs were painted black.

"Huh..."

I was so dumbfounded I pulled out the paper Hyunbyul gave me to say something.

And at the same time—

Swoosh—

On the blank paper appeared hieroglyphics no Rapdonia resident could understand.

[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

... I want to die.

Several days passed after the royal council meeting, but surprisingly, no huge fallout occurred.

Maybe because of the location?

News about Ragna and my marriage proposal,

And my shocking confession there,

Did not spread to the city or the public at all.

Well, no secret lasts forever, and the news will slowly leak until those who need to know find out.

'But this side is the real mess...'

Immediately after the council ended, the labyrinth closure policy was enforced citywide.

As expected, the explorers' public opinion was poor, and extremists protested in the square, getting arrested.

Also, the commoner residents of Rabigion were more terrified than ever, evident just walking the streets.

'Well, given the Noark invasion, Viphron incident... now the labyrinth is sealed too, it's no wonder.'

Even without that, closing the labyrinth dealt a huge blow to the economy.

The value of goods would skyrocket exponentially, and consumer spending would shrink drastically.

Still, the royal family kept issuing tax cuts and new policies to reassure people daily.

But how effective that is, I don't know.

'...I'll just focus on my own duties.'

With that in mind, today I left the sanctuary to meet Melbes's sect leader, an old man.

We met alone, and I told him everything about the royal council meeting.

Though I knew it wouldn't help me much, other noble families in Melbes had different situations.

"...Thank you. The information the baron shared today will surely help navigate the upcoming chaos. I will never forget this favor and repay it."

Being a royal council attendee.

I thought maybe that's why all nobles covet this title.

Just attending and listening gives influence over other nobles, which equals power.

Like this.

"Oh, and as I said before, I won't be getting married."

"Don't worry about that. Honestly, we're grateful you pushed back the marquis's proposal."

"Then...?"

"Not immediately, but I will make sure the entire Melbes moves in your favor."

"Hmm..."

"Don't worry. This contract will be handled so the Yandel baron family gets it."

It was a bit surprising.

Just attending the royal council instantly pushed aside the dwarven count family that had handled construction business for over a thousand years, letting me take their place.

Anyway, this will make it easier to bring up the topic.

"By the way, sect leader."

"Yes?"

"I heard the Yandel baron family will be awarded the contract... isn't the current situation too chaotic?"

"Is that so?"

Seeing the sect leader's expectant look, I spoke bluntly.

"Now that we can't enter the labyrinth anymore, there's plenty of time."

When I worked at a company, I learned the laws of the world studying stock charts.

"Want to make big money with me?"

Sometimes crisis can be opportunity.