My heartbeat gradually shortened. «...Are you Auril Gavis?» He was perhaps the person who could answer all the questions I had since the day I woke up in this body. «Are you really the one who made that game?»
«I'm sure the questions went one by one, but since I understand how you feel, I'll answer this for you.». Then he nodded. «That's right. I made that game».
Ugh, so it really was him. Of course, assuming he wasn't lying.
«Now, since I revealed my name, it's your turn. What is your name?» As if it were his turn, he asked a question.
It must be for the same intention as mine.
The name was important, especially in the spiritual world, where appearances were meaningless. As could be deduced from the fact that the Fallen Scholar had the appearance of a child here, in this place we took the form we considered our own. Anonymity disappeared the moment we revealed our names. That created a means to find myself abroad.
«Hansu Lee». I revealed my real name, which I had not told anyone other than Baekho.
Of course, the old man was not satisfied with this. «Oh? I assume you are from Korea? But my question was the name you use here, not that one».
«The name I use here, huh?» Okay, I thought you'd ask that. «Nivelles Enze.»
This was also a name you used here, right? Since I had seen that Baekho was able to distinguish between truth and lies, I deliberately mixed up a trick. This could be the creator of the Round Table, after all. If this was the man who created the jewelry system that was the core of the meeting, I judged that it wouldn't be unusual for him to have that kind of ability.
There is nothing wrong with being cautious...
Hearing my answer, the man looked at me with a meaningful look. «Hmm...»
«Is there a problem?»
«No. Then now it's your turn». He just looked at me vaguely before announcing the end of his shift.
My head was in a mess. What did I have to ask first? There were so many things I wanted to ask if I ever met this man that it was difficult to even choose a priority.
Yes, let's ask that first.
I chose one of the questions from the list I had in mind. «Why have you called us into this world?». This was the root of all events: motivation. Why did he do something like that?
«...You are certainly special». Auril Gavis commented something strange instead of an answer.
«What does that mean?»
«I've met some people from Earth, but most think they're just in a game».
Ah, that's what he meant. True, I used to think like that too. However, after experiencing all those hardships here, I got so many clues. To think that they could still be so deluded. This was an independent world. If my prediction was correct, Dungeon and Stone was a game based on this world.
«So, your answer?»
«True, from your perspective, there would be nothing you would want to know more than that». Soon, Auril Gavis parted his lips and gave the reason these people had for bringing beings from a distant realm into this world. «Because they are the only ones who can open the door to the Gate of the Abyss».
«That? The Gate of the Abyss? What could that be...?»
Auril Gavis cut me off. «The questions are asked one at a time. Wasn't that the rule?»
«Ah...» Yes, it was true. «Ask me».
When I passed the turn, the man smiled and said: «Did you... Use the Records Stone Fragment?». An anxious expectation lived in the eyes of the wrinkled old man. The Record Fragment Stone was a family treasure passed down from generation to generation by the lord of Noark, and a treasure with the absurd ability to reverse time.
Hell, how did he find out about that?
As soon as he mentioned it, my heart skipped a beat. And rightly so, because I hadn't even thought that the question I would ask after my name would be one that would penetrate my entire situation.
Shit, what do I answer?
It was too late to dodge the problem by asking what the Records Stone Fragment was. The other party would have also realized that he was nervous.
«You can take your time», said Auril Gavis.
I decided quickly and asked him: «What made you think that?».
Of course, I knew that asking that was no different from half-asserting it, but what could I do? Not only was this someone a lie wouldn't work with, but there must have been a basis I didn't know about. Auril Gavis was in a certainty phase. If it weren't for that, he couldn't have specified something like the Records Stone Fragment.
«I have three reasons». Auril Gavis smiled as he explained the basis of his speculation as if he were explaining something to his grandson. «One, you're too strong to say you've only been here a year. Two, you weren't one of the people I invited to this place. Three, you may be strong, but not strong enough to invade my territory without permission».
«Just with that...?»
«Haha, it's not fair. For a contradiction of this level to be accepted, there is no other explanation than that.»
Although I still don't understand...
«So can I assume the answer to that question is yes?»
It was ridiculous to say no to that now, so I coldly admitted it. It was a shame to be exposed to the second question, but what could I do? I just had to get it right from this point on.
«Haha, since you are from Earth, you will not have come from the past. What year are you from?»
«The questions were one at a time, I think».
«Oh, it's true. Forward». Auril seemed to be in a good mood. «So what are you curious about now? What is the Gate of the Abyss? If the witch is alive? Hmm, or maybe you're wondering if the outside world is really hell, as the king says». It sounded like he was going to answer anything I asked him.
Strangely it gets on my nerves.
Is it because I saw him coldly dismiss the other members before? Auril Gavis' unknown kindness stimulated my rebellious side.
Should I abandon it now?
I even wondered if it wouldn't be wise to end the Q&A session right now and ask to be sent away. There was no rational reason for this, but it was not something I should underestimate. In my experience, ignoring these intuitions leads to major incidents occurring.
But if it wasn't now, I might never find out.
There was no denying that it was too valuable a moment to pass up simply because it was uncomfortable. This old man would have all the answers. I soon decided.
Let's stop the little things and check what's important. Are you from here? So how did you change dimensions? Do you have comrades who share your goals, and why did you create this spiritual world?
Swallowing many other questions I had, I asked: «Why are you trying to open the Gate of the Abyss?». Motivation was one of the easiest elements for a human being to understand. What was this human acting for?
auril Gavis responded after a brief pause. «Why do you ask that?»
«I thought we agreed to ask one question at a time».
«Haha, don't make a serious face. I was just wondering if you shouldn't ask what the Gate to the Abyss is».
His question was justified. Only for me it wasn't reasonable.
«Haha, I think I'm starting to understand what kind of disposition you have».
«So what is your answer?»
«I was thinking of answering any questions you asked me, but this seems a little unfair to me».
«Are you saying you won't respond?»
«I still don't really know who you are. Everything comes with an order».
Ha, I didn't expect it to turn out like this. So did we have to end the Q&A session here?
«How about this instead? If the Gate of the Abyss opens, you can return to your original world. What do you think? It's not what you asked for, but isn't it enough?».
Auril Gavis brought it up, almost as if it were a reward. It was obvious that this is how he planned to answer if I asked him why he wanted to open the Gate of the Abyss.
But this would not be all.
I felt like I was hiding the really important part. If the only function of the Gate of the Abyss was to return, he had no reason to bring us here.
Wow, that's why I wanted to check the reason... If this is how you want to get out, I too can get past the hard-to-hide things from now on.
«Okay, now it's your turn». I passed the shift carelessly, as if I was satisfied. We quickly exchanged questions.
«What year are you from?»
«From twenty years from now».
He slowly questioned me about my personal information and so did I.
«Do you have hostile relations with the palace?».
«...You could say yes».
«What do you mean? I want you to be clear».
«We are hostile.»
Hmm, is that so? So you weren't all in the same boat.
«The one who sent you the invitation is me in the future-no, let me rephrase the question. Who made you the invitation?»
«An evil spirit from Earth nicknamed the GM».
«...¿GM?»
«I don't know anything else either».
«I see. Now it's your turn.»
«Why does the palace hide the fact that the outside world is normal?»
«Hmm, I guess it's spread that far in twenty years?». Auril sneakily tried to probe me, but when I didn't respond, he gave me an answer. «The palace believes it is the way to protect this world».
«You mean it's not because of a simple lust for power».
«Unfortunately». On the next turn, Auril asked me on what difficulty I had overcome the game.
I answered: «Fifteen times».
«...You're lying.»
Geez, what a serious face. But one thing was certain, there really was a lie detector working.
«Anyway, I don't understand it. Why would you lie about this and not the others...?» Auril interrupted himself as if he realized something. «Original! Could it be that you have clarified my original version?». He raised his voice excitedly.
Damn sea.
It was checkmate. The moment he responded negatively, that would become another response.
Ugh, and you say my question is unfair?
It was ridiculous, but what could I do? After all, this was a world where the strong achieved everything. A fry like me could only swallow it. I kept my mouth shut without being able to say «no».
«You did it, you did it! It's true, there's no way the Records Stone Fragment would react to someone who crossed over from a junk, mass-produced product like that!». Taking my silence as affirmative, the old man began to murmur something in an excited voice. As I listened, I felt a little strange. «Tell me, how did you get over it? How long did it take you? No, what were you originally doing?».
Suddenly it seemed that the old man was desperate. But since the elderly used to have extreme emotional ups and downs, it needed to be confirmed. «I want to drink something».
«Hey? But you don't feel thirsty here...»
«So you're saying I'm lying?»
When I took off my mask and frowned, the old man quickly prepared a cup and filled it with water.
Hmm, this doesn't work.
«Soda.»
«...¿Soda?»
«I want it to be soda, not water».
«Ahh! Do you mean that?» The old man quickly changed the liquid in the cup. It was clear, but it was definitely soda because of the bubbles coming out of the bottom. I couldn't help but drink it in one gulp.
«Aah...» Unlike the tasteless, odorless drink in my room, I felt a refreshing sensation of carbonic acid in my throat.
Fruit.
«Haha, you drink coldly, like a man. Anyway, if you're done, I want you to answer me now. Are there many who have beaten the original in twenty years, like you?».
At that question, a smile naturally blossomed on my face. Rightly so, because the instinct of a hierarchy-sensitive barbarian told me something. I didn't know what was important about clearing the original, but maybe now I had the upper hand.
«Hmm, are you that curious?»