There was no point in making excuses anymore. No clever words were going to fool him. I would try to get a definitive answer in any way possible.
Damn sea.
Apart from the displeasure of being forced to choose, my brain was already beginning to hypothesize in detail the options offered to me and the consequences of each of them. What was really the best option for me?
«How do you say? Aren't you going to talk? I asked you why you are being so kind».
Ha, this provocative bastard. If I could, I wanted to say something like: «I just wanted to, is there a problem?» and return to Brainless Barbarian Mode.
But then he could really die.
I was weaker than him, and that's why, when the guy insistently expressed his doubts, it was impossible for me to claim that he had a problem in his head and continue brandishing my mace. It would be my head that would split open.
«Ha, look at you, acting unfriendly again». Baekho sighed in frustration and looked at me with his blue eyes.
«Why do you keep asking? Anyway, you have no intention of believing me». I didn't bother to hide my sighs, but I figured he was just as frustrated.
«Yes, but it's different to hear it from your own mouth».
Yes, I know what you mean. That's why I've tried to hide it all this time. So do you insist on hearing an answer?
It was time to admit it. Many things had already gone wrong to overcome this situation without any price. I had to give up what I had to give up.
«They say that manners make man». For example, they may have doubted me many times, but I had never confessed my identity until now.
«Hey?» Baekho made a bewildered expression at my sudden change of attitude, but there was nothing to bother me now that I had made up my mind.
«Isn't it polite to pretend you haven't seen anything by now?».
«Wait. Really? Are you really a player?» Hearing the truth from my own mouth, Baekho's eyes flashed in fascination.
So, I was really just curious about you.
Anger burned inside me. Would he even know that it was the first time he spoke in this tone with Bjorn Yandel's body?
Still, I feel somewhat refreshed.
Feeling a strange sense of liberation and resentment at the same time, I glared at Baekho. But I assumed this guy's empathy meter was non-existent.
«Wow, so you saw that movie!» Even in the midst of this, he only focused on the topic that interested him and that he wanted to talk about. Did he really have no social skills?
«...An apology should come first.» It was strange to see a barbarian arguing about social common sense and morality with a human.
«Oh, I'm sorry. But since you said you saw that movie, you suddenly don't feel like a stranger anymore. I really like that movie». Baekho spat out a flimsy apology and cautiously asked one more thing. «...But did you also see the second one?»
What was wrong with this bastard? At this point the difficulty of communication was enough to make even a barbarian cry. «...I saw it.» I answered for now because if I ignored it, I might change my attitude again.
«But why do you speak to me with contempt?».
¿Eh?
«Why do you keep speaking without honorifics? Don't you know what mutual respect is? Are players exempt from dying, even if they stab themselves in the stomach?». Baekho suddenly became enraged and wiped all laughter from his face before releasing murderous energy.
I felt like I was going to lose my mind. «...I'm not used to speaking in that tone».
«¡Oh, eres western!»
That was how it could be interpreted. He said it thinking of the barbarians.
«Then let's both talk comfortably. Okay?» Baekho asked for a handshake again with a bright smile. At first glance he looked like a bipolar patient.
That woke me up.
Rather, it cleared my head. Perhaps it was his way of speaking, taking the lead with the power he possessed to drain the opponent's energy and leave him with no time to think.
Did you ask if I had seen the second one to find out when I got here and the last one to check if I'm from Asia?
Maybe it was a simple jump, but it would be better to be careful.
I should definitely hide that I'm Hansu Lee.
Actually, this part worried me until the end. At first I thought it would be best to reveal who a player was and who he was to be on friendly terms with him, but I put it on hold for a reason.
«It seems that cat has noticed too. Wouldn't it be better to kill her?»
Before, that was simple advice, closer to meddling with a passerby. But the moment I revealed that it was Hansu Lee, this matter would be his business. This guy appreciated one of the few Korean players in this strange world.
«But about me being a player...»
«Ah, really! I won't tell anyone. Do you think I don't have that many manners?»
The word «yes» filled my throat, but I endured it. Talking to him a little more, I understood him better. Baekho was like a ball that could bounce anywhere. I could never get involved with him, at least until I was sure I could control him.
«Anyway, I'm glad you answered honestly. Have I heard that you became noble? If you were an NPC, I was going to kill you when I found you here before you joined the palace side».
Those words spoken indifferently made my heart skip a beat. «...What?»
«Why are you surprised? Not that I like PK. Well, as long as you're not an NPC born with a destiny that's fine. Those guys are a headache for me too».
I didn't understand anything he said. A little curious, I asked indirectly, but Baekho just passed by. Was it because I was the western Bjorn Yandel? I felt that the Korean Hansu Lee would have answered me.
«Oh, and one more tip just in case. It's a little ridiculous to say this to someone who is already a noble, but don't get too involved with the palace.»
«Your reason?»
«The palace is not interested in opening the Gate of the Abyss. No, however, they are more interested in interfering with it. It may also be your fault that the Genesis Treasures have disappeared.»
The palace? But why?
Everyone knew that the key to saving this world was found deep in the labyrinth, but was it all a lie? As curious as I was, I had many things I wanted to ask. However, no matter what he asked, Baekho only said this with an annoyed face: «Why do you need to know?»
With this feeling, I also didn't think he would tell me who the GM was.
As he licked his lips in disappointment, he asked: «So, are you on that side?».
«¿Is this gang?»
«You know, the people who want to continue living here. When I saw you risk your life for that NPC I assumed you would be, but judging by your growth rate you may not be... Which one is it?»
«What will you do if I want to stay?»
«What do you mean what will I do? Of course there are bastards like that. I'm not that inflexible. As long as it doesn't bother me, I don't care».
I stared silently into Baekho's eyes. It was not a particularly significant action. He couldn't know at all what those blue eyes thought.
I don't think he's probing me...
I put an end to the momentary worries and parted my lips. «I don't know». It was the most sincere answer he could give. «At first, coming back was my goal. But these days I wonder if I really have to risk my life to get back.»
«For that red cat?» I didn't respond, but I figured that was enough for him. «I feel like I'm seeing my old self», Baekho said with a mocking smile. «I'm telling you this because you look promising, but don't expect too much from an NPC. You will regret».
I could sense a cold emotion hidden behind his smiling voice, and suddenly I wondered what had happened to him. What had he experienced in this world to become a broken monster who only wanted to return? At that time I didn't know him.
«So since I've asked all my questions, I'm leaving». Before long, Baekho turned around as if he had finished his business and tore down the wall that had finished being repaired. Actually, could that be called tearing down?
Fall apart.
The remains of the wall spread completely like dust. When Baekho signaled again, even that dust was blown away by the wind.
...Thank goodness I didn't use mindless mode.
Thinking it might have been my head turning to dust, I felt dizzy.
Just as I was watching Baekho leave like this, he turned around, looked at me, and spoke the last words he hadn't said. «Oh, sure. By the way, we're strangers the next time we meet. Understood?»
«What do you mean?»
«If we meet by chance, don't pretend to know me. I do not make affections in this world».
Oh, that bastard. How cold.
***
After Baekho left, I left the cave without looking back and returned to the accommodation. I spent the entire next morning resting with the trio who were suffering from a hangover.
«Uhh, Lord...I'm dying...»
«Bjorn... But when are you back? How was yesterday's work?»
For reference, Missha seemed to have forgotten everything that happened last night, as she didn't remember my return at all. It was better this way.
«Is it because I can't give birth to a barbarian?»
If I had known he told me this yesterday, it would have been awkward to talk face to face.
«If you have finished the order, can you have fun now?»
«Of course». I planned a two-night, three-day program just in case, but all the business in Gnome Tree was over on the first day. The rest of the trip was free.
«Let's play!»
In the end, we spent the second day playing well into the night. It was a pretty nice day, except for the drowning at the end.
«Ainar! I told you not to move like that!»
It happened at a fishing spot. We were fishing at night with the flashlights on when Ainar had an attack after being bitten by a fish, causing the boat to capsize. The problem was that no one knew how to swim. Probably none of them had been in such deep water.
I thought I was going to really die.
Still, I learned one thing from that. When I fell into Glacier Cave in the past I thought I was going to drown because of the armor, but that wasn't it. The barbarians did not know how to swim. It wasn't a question of technique, but because there was no other option but to sink if we fell into the water. Well, I was able to use Gigantization (Transcendence) mode to stick my head above the surface and call for help.
When you return, you should look for swimming lessons. Ainar may not be able to, but these kids should learn to swim.
Anyway, that's how the second day ended. The next day, after drinking all night and falling asleep, we woke up at noon and got into the carriage that was taking us back home.
«Ugh, I wish we had one more day. I think we're really leaving like this».
«I agree. Since the man doesn't drink much at home...»
«Oooh! Miss! There are horses running around!»
A few hours had passed as we admired the natural scenery that was difficult to see in the city. We soon reached the southwest exit and returned the whistle we had received upon entering.
I had forgotten about this.
The whistle was one of the prides of the Gnome Tree and could summon a civilian militia anytime, anywhere it was blown. I wondered what would have happened if I had blown it when I met Baekho, but I was sure not much would have changed. I also didn't think I would have had time to do it.
«Then I'm going to rest. Let me know when you're hungry later».
We only got home at night and went to our separate rooms to rest, and it wasn't much different the next day. It was a moment of quiet relaxation. As always, time flew by like this.
«I'm going out for a while».
It was finally the day. It was two hours before midnight, when the labyrinth would open. I finished preparing and headed to the Plaza de la Dimension.
They said that the palace had really prepared for this.
The palace was rumored to be building an army. Since they had suffered a blow, they apparently planned to fight back properly to get revenge. Its magnitude was unknown. That was because it seemed that there had not been any official letter requesting the cooperation of the clans as for the last conquest. It meant that they intended to handle it strictly with the power of the palace.
I'm sure I'll get an idea once I get to the square. How great the forces are.
I could see explorers here and there heading to the square to record matters. Everyone must have been curious about the true potential of the palace, which had only been talked about but which no one had seen properly.
«Oh, Bjorn! Are you also going to the square?»
«I want to see it for myself».
Along the way I saw some familiar faces, so we chatted as we moved forward together. After a long time had passed like this, all the explorers who came here, including me, tilted their heads in confusion.
«...I really didn't expect this».
«To think there would be no one here».
Was nobody. Guards from the Public Peace Agency occupied the square to prevent the entry of explorers, but that was all.
«Where is the army?»
No matter where we looked, the rumored army could not be seen.
«Haven't they arrived yet?»
«My friend, do you think that is possible? The maze opens in five minutes. If they are not here yet it means that the army never existed».
«How anticlimactic. And to think that the rumors about a full-fledged fight were false».
The explorers gathered near the square began to leave one by one, without hiding their disappointment. The same was true of the explorers he had met along the way.
«Yandel, ¿no to fast?»
«I'll wait a little longer».
«Hmm, then I'll go first».
Thinking just in case, I waited until the portal opened and closed after a while. To talk only about the results, there really was no army.
What the hell? Will they be aiming for the next opening?
The questions followed one another, but nothing would change by being here now. I gave up and turned around. That was the moment.
¡Booooome!
A faint crashing sound was heard somewhere.
¡Dddddddd!
Soon, the ground beneath my feet began to shake.
«What is this? An earthquake?» The officials and security guards filling the space stood motionless with bewildered faces.
The few knights in the square were different. Their faces seemed more determined because they remained unchanged as they talked about something with each other, as if what they had been waiting for had finally begun.
Yes, so it was this.
I moved my gaze to observe the ground. For some reason I thought I knew where the royal army was, even though I couldn't see it with my eyes right now.
Mentoring.
The war had already begun.