Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Big Shot (2)

Thump.

My heart started to race.

“…You’re saying you’re Auril Gabis?”

He might be the one who could answer all the questions I had since waking up in this body.

“Did you… really make that game?”

“You were only supposed to ask one question, but I understand how you feel, so I’ll answer.”

He nodded.

“That’s right. I made that game.”

Phew, so it really is him.

Assuming he wasn’t lying.

“Well, then it’s your turn now that I’ve told you my name. What’s your name?”

He asked for my name, as if it was only fair since I had asked for his.

But…

‘He probably has the same intention as me.’

Names are important.

Especially in this spiritual world where appearances are meaningless.

As we could see from the Ruin Scholar, who was in the form of a child, we take on the appearance we believe ourselves to be in this place.

Revealing your name meant losing your anonymity.

It meant giving him a way to find me outside.

So…

“Lee Hansu.”

I revealed my real name, which I had never told anyone except for Lee Baekho.

But the old man wasn’t satisfied.

“Oh, so you’re from Korea? But I wasn’t asking for that. I was asking for the name you use here.”

“The name I use here…”

Okay, I knew he would say that.

“Nibels Enche.”

It was a name I used here, right?

I deliberately mixed in a trick, having seen Lee Baekho, who could distinguish between truth and lies.

This old man might be the one who created the Round Table.

If he was the one who created the jewel that was the core of the gathering system, it wouldn’t be strange for him to have that ability.

‘And besides, it doesn’t hurt to be careful…’

He stared at me meaningfully after hearing my answer.

“Hmm…”

“Is there a problem?”

“No. Then it’s your turn now.”

He ended his turn after observing me with an ambiguous gaze.

My mind was racing.

What should I ask first?

I had so many questions I wanted to ask him that it was difficult to prioritize.

But…

‘Right, let’s ask this first.’

I chose one of the questions on my list.

“Why did you summon us to this world?”

The root of all incidents.

Motive.

Why did he do this?

“…You’re truly special.”

Auril Gabis said something strange instead of answering.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve met a few people from Earth, and most of them think they’re just in a game.”

Ah, so that’s what he meant.

Well, I used to think that way too.

But I had experienced so much and obtained so many clues in this world. There’s no way I would still be under that delusion.

This is a separate world.

If my guess is correct, [Dungeon and Stone] is a game based on this world.

“So, what’s the answer?”

“Well, I guess that’s the thing you’re most curious about.”

Auril Gabis then opened his mouth.

The reason why they had to summon beings from another world.

“Because you’re the only ones who can open the Gate of the Abyss.”

“What? Gate of the Abyss? What’s that…?”

Auril Gabis cut me off.

“One question at a time, wasn’t that the rule?”

“Ah…”

Right, that’s true.

“Go ahead.”

He chuckled as I handed over my turn.

“You…”

“…….”

“Did you use the Fragment of Records?”

The old man’s eyes were filled with anticipation.

_____________________

The Fragment of Records.

A heirloom passed down through generations of the Noark Lord’s family, a treasure with the absurd ability to reverse time.

‘How the hell did he find out?’

My heart sank the moment he mentioned it.

I wasn’t even thinking about it.

I didn’t expect his second question to be one that could reveal everything.

‘…Damn it, what should I say?’

It was too late to pretend I didn’t know what the ‘Fragment of Records’ was.

He must have noticed that I was flustered.

“You can take your time to answer.”

Although Auril Gabis said that, I quickly made a decision and asked back,

“Why do you think so?”

Of course, I knew that asking this was practically the same as admitting it.

But what could I do?

I didn’t think he would be fooled by a lie…

‘He must have a reason.’

Auril Gabis was almost certain.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have specifically mentioned the ‘Fragment of Records’.

“There are three reasons.”

He smiled kindly, as if talking to his grandson, and explained his reasoning.

“One, you’re too strong for someone who’s only been here for a year. Two, I never invited you here. Three, you’re strong, but not strong enough to enter my domain without permission.”

“Just from that…?”

“Haha, it’s not just ‘that’. It’s the only explanation for this level of contradiction.”

Well, even if he said that, I didn’t really understand…

“So can I assume that the answer to your question is yes?”

I just admitted it since it would be ridiculous to deny it now.

It was a shame that it was revealed on the second question, but what could I do?

I just had to do well from now on.

“Huhu, you wouldn’t have come from the past since you’re from Earth. What year are you from?”

“214th year of the Change Era.”

“Twenty years in the future.”

He slowly asked about my personal information, and I did the same.

“Are you hostile towards the royal family?”

“…You could say that.”

“You ‘could say that’? I’d like a definite answer.”

“We’re enemies.”

Hmm, I see.

So they weren’t on the same side.

“It was my future self who gave you the invitation… no, I’ll ask again. Who gave you the invitation?”

“An evil spirit from Earth nicknamed GM.”

“…GM?”

“I don’t know anything else.”

“I see. It’s your turn now.”

“Why is the royal family hiding the fact that the outside world is fine?”

“Hmm, so you know about that twenty years later?”

Auril Gabis subtly tested me, and then he answered when I didn’t react.

“The royal family firmly believes that it’s the way to protect this world.”

“So it’s not just because of greed.”

“Unfortunately.”

He then asked me what difficulty I had cleared the game on, and I answered,

“15x.”

“…You’re lying.”

Geez, he’s so serious.

But at least one thing was clear.

He really had a lie detector.

“I don’t understand. Why would you lie about something like this…”

Auril Gabis trailed off.

And then he realized something.

“…The original! Don’t tell me, you cleared the original version I made?”

He raised his voice excitedly.

‘Damn it.’

It was a checkmate.

If I said ‘no’ here, it would also be an answer.

‘Damn it, and he was the one who said my question was unfair?’

It was ridiculous, but what could I do?

The strong always win.

Small fries like me just have to endure.

“…….”

I couldn’t even say ‘no’ and just kept my mouth shut.

“I see, I see! Of course, there’s no way the Fragment of Records would react to someone who only cleared that trash mass-produced version…!”

The old man, interpreting my silence as agreement, started muttering excitedly.

I felt a strange sensation.

“Tell me, how did you clear it? How long did it take? No, what did you do before you came here?”

He suddenly seemed desperate.

But old people are usually emotionally unstable, so I had to confirm.

“I want something to drink.”

“Huh? You shouldn’t feel thirsty here…”

“Are you saying I’m lying?”

The old man hurriedly created a cup and filled it with water as I frowned.

Hmm, this wasn't enough.

“Sprite.”

“…Sprite?”

“I want Sprite, not water.”

“Ah! You mean that?”

The old man quickly changed the liquid in the cup.

It was clearly Sprite, with bubbles rising from the bottom.

I immediately chugged it down.

“Ahhhhh.”

Unlike the tasteless water in my room, the refreshing carbonation filled my throat.

“Burp.”

“Haha, you drink well. Anyway, now that you’ve finished your drink, answer my question. Are there many people like you who cleared the original version twenty years later?”

I couldn’t help but smile at his question.

My barbarian instincts were telling me that I was the one in power now.

“Hmm, are you that curious?”

Maybe I was the one who had the upper hand now.