bookpower Chapter 370: Black Star (3)
Chapter 370: Black Star (3)
Chapter 370: Black Star (3)
Lion is Bjorn Yandel.
That claim was first made by SoulQueens.
Her reasoning was that Lion disappeared right after Bjorn Yandel died.
In other words...
‘This is over if I just have an alibi.’
Lion isn’t Bjorn Yandel.
That one sentence would dispel most of their suspicions.
[I heard he also absorbed the Ogre’s essence...?]
[I don’t think she would use a stand-in and call him ‘mister’...]
[Then it would make sense for the Golden Mage to omit that from her report.]
[He might have faked his death.]
After all, those suspicions were all based on the possibility that Lion was Bjorn Yandel.
Clown’s reaction was proof.
[Pfft, what are you guys talking about? Bjorn Yandel is dead.]
He didn’t react to the suspicion because he firmly believed that Lion couldn’t be Bjorn Yandel.
‘Damn, he’s two-faced.’
I wanted to smash his head every time I saw him outside, but he was surprisingly cute at the Round Table.
Ah, this wasn’t the time to be thinking about that.
It seemed like the others were starting to come to their senses.
“.......”
“.......”
Fox was the first to break the heavy silence.
“...Twenty-two years ago...?”
Her voice was filled with shock.
Well, it was understandable.
“Is... is that even possible? That would mean Lion has been an explorer for over twenty years...”
Goblin trailed off, and Stag Antlers naturally interjected.
“It’s not impossible. The GM was also summoned around that time.”
It meant that I joined the community around the same time as the GM, the oldest player.
“Pfft, I wonder if I’ll be like Lion if I kill people for another ten years.”
Right, Clown, you’ve been an explorer for about ten years, right?
It seemed like the others were also around that level.
“But Queen, why are you so quiet?”
Clown spoke to SoulQueens, mocking her for being wrong.
“Shouldn’t you apologize? Spreading such a ridiculous rumor about Lion being Bjorn Yandel.”
Clown, enjoying his position as the only one who was ‘right’, then glanced at the other members.
“You guys are the same! Bjorn Yandel? Even if that bastard is alive, do you think a small fry like him could even compare to Lion? Huh?”
“Haha... We were just thinking out loud, we didn’t really believe it...”
Goblin laughed awkwardly and trailed off.
Stag Antlers, on the other hand, took responsibility for his words.
“Now that I think about it... it was a bit of a stretch to assume that Bjorn Yandel is even alive.”
“...I actually don’t believe that Bjorn Yandel is an evil spirit. There are some suspicious aspects to the royal family’s announcement... And I’ve met him in person.”
Fox met me in person?
She was a high-ranking official who escaped through the dimensional gate, wasn’t she?
Hmm, maybe they met by chance at another time?
‘I’ll think about it later...’
Clown then agreed with Fox.
“Pfft, I agree. That barbaric idiot, an evil spirit? That’s ridiculous.”
Even Stag Antlers, who was usually at odds with Clown, agreed to some extent.
“Well... it was hard to believe that his behavior at the title bestowal ceremony was an act.”
“...You’re talking about the incident where he pushed Marquis Kudo in front of the Prime Minister and all the other nobles?”
“Huhu, I heard about it later. They say he claimed that the marquis had tripped and rolled forward.”
...How embarrassing.
Why are they praising me in front of my face?
‘Anyway, I think I’ve cleared their suspicions...’
I glanced around, and SoulQueens was still silent, lost in thought.
‘What is she thinking so hard about?’
I observed her, curious, and Clown changed the subject.
“Queen, how long are you going to stay silent? It’s your turn. Can’t you see Lion is waiting?”
He seemed to have interpreted my gaze as impatience.
What a sycophant.
“Ah, ah! Yes, that’s right... I should go...”
Anyway, did Clown’s urging work?
SoulQueens seemed to have snapped out of her daze. She took a deep breath and slowly spoke.
“...The royal family knows the GM’s identity.”
It was an interesting piece of information.
____________________
The Magitechnician, Yurven Habelión.
The head of a school and an idol to countless crafting mages.
But that was just on the surface.
His true identity was different.
The GM, the leader of Ghostbusters, the evil spirit community, and a legendary figure among players.
But...
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The green light on the Round Table proved that SoulQueens’s information was true, and that it was something more than half of the members didn’t know.
“The royal family knows about him...”
It meant only one thing.
Not only had the royal family intentionally let the GM go...
“Then they’re probably working together. The GM and the royal family.”
...but they were also cooperating.
It would also explain why the GM didn’t seem concerned about the royal family’s threats during our meeting.
Then why did SoulQueens reveal this information at the Round Table?
I soon found out.
“Pfft, the GM is just like the rest of them. No wonder there were no rumors even though I told them to spread them.”
It was probably a warning.
She was telling them not to waste their time spreading rumors since it was pointless.
“Wait a minute, but isn’t this strange? The GM clearly considered the royal family as an enemy.”
Goblin pointed out the contradiction, and Crescent Moon answered with a bitter smile.
I opened my mouth.
“I’ve met Auril Gabis, the creator of [Dungeon and Stone].”
Right, I had to make it clear.
“......!”
“......!”
...that Lion couldn’t be Bjorn Yandel.
_____________________
“Phew... I’m tired...”
I collapsed onto the bed as soon as I returned to Lee Hansu’s room and closed my eyes, replaying the events of the Round Table.
‘It’s been a while since we went for three rounds.’
We had gone for one more round after the second one ended.
There was some useful information, but most of it wasn’t.
Therefore...
[It’s not like it will make a big difference if Goblin leaves. Let’s continue.]
[I don’t think anything interesting will come out.]
...I got up and left, ignoring Clown’s disappointed gaze.
If Goblin left, the majority ratio would decrease.
As always, one or two more people would leave if I didn’t take the initiative.
‘...And it’s true that there probably won’t be any high-level information.’
Okay, my head is working again after a short break.
I should spend the rest of the time browsing the internet.
Click, click.
I sat up and started browsing the forums.
“Keuh, keuh, keuh... these idiots...”
Damn it, why is this so funny?
What’s wrong with their brains?
“Kekeke...”
That’s when, as I was browsing the forums with one leg on the desk, laughing...
“...Huh?”
...I quickly sat up straight.
I rubbed my eyes and leaned forward, but the words on the monitor didn’t change.
[Long Live Korean Independence] - 1 user online.
Online? Who is it?
Could it be Lee Baekho?
No, the GM wouldn’t have unbanned him already...
‘And besides, it’s impossible for him to enter right now.’
Then is it just someone who’s bored?
Or a real Korean?
‘...Maybe there’s a Korean among the new recruits.’
Well, I would find out if I met them.
I double-clicked on the chat room.
And...
Click, click.
...the screen flashed white, and the surrounding space changed.
It wasn’t the usual empty lot or field, but a luxuriously decorated mansion.
The one that Lee Baekho, the room owner, had decorated.
‘What the, it’s a woman?’
I could see the back of a woman sitting in front of the fireplace.
[HS123]
I couldn’t tell her nationality from her nickname, but she was definitely Asian, judging by her hair and skin color.
Hmm, is she really Korean?
‘Well, I’ll find out if I talk to her.’
Although I preferred men, I didn’t mind talking to a woman.
If she was Korean, she might be willing to help me out, just like Lee Baekho did.
I made a noise to announce my presence.
“Ahem.”
“Eek!”
The woman flinched.
It seemed like she didn’t even notice me entering...
She smelled like a newbie—
“...Huh?”
...and then she turned around, startled, and our eyes met.
And at the same time...
“Uh...?”
“Uh.”
Her eyes widened.
Well, my eyes were probably also wide.
“Uh...?”
What the...
Am I dreaming?
Why is she here?
“Uh...”
My mind stopped working.
My mouth opened and closed like a goldfish, unable to speak.
And she was the same.
“Uh, uh.”
“Uh...”
“Uh...?”
But she recovered faster than me.
“Hansu... oppa...?”
She asked, her expression filled with surprise rather than joy.
“Hyunbyul...?”
I asked back, dumbfounded, and looked down.
A long skirt and a neat blouse.
And...
“Ha... you haven’t changed at all, have you?”
...black stockings.