The silence that occurred several times during the conversation continued again for a long time. Auril Gavis watched me with calm eyes, and I met his without looking away. Although I tried not to show it, I felt suffocated.
«Now...» Auril opened his mouth calmly, acting as if nothing had happened. «So it's my turn?».
Those words hit me. This old man was like the abyss that a philosopher once spoke of. Through this conversation, he was also able to look beyond the line.
«How many people delete the original in twenty years?»
Through his first question, this man had checked my replacement.
«Do you want to return to Earth?»
Through his second question, he had verified my flaws. So what would be the third question? The answer now came out of this mouth.
«What is the name of the body in which your soul lived when crossing the Gate of the Abyss?».
Bjorn Yandel, my name. It was a means to find myself outside of this anonymous spiritual world.
«Don't say Nivelles Enze. I had a strange feeling last time and I already investigated it». I remembered this man's ambiguous eyes when I gave him the name Nivelles Enze. At that moment I thought I had overcome that obstacle well. «The question I asked you then was the name you use here, correct?». Noticing my trick, Auril began to investigate. «Did you know? There are a total of seven people in Rafdonia who use that name. I was able to visit six of them to confirm that they were ordinary people...»
«But you were never able to find the last one».
«Rank 6 Scout, Nivelles Enze. Surprisingly, he was a barbarian. Although I was sure he was a human».
Every time the conversation continued it seemed like the walls were closing in on me, which made me realize it.
«...Are you perhaps a barbarian?»
Even the words he uttered earlier as a joke were part of a method of revealing my true intentions. Even if I had given him the name of my false identity, I would have concluded that the race was the same.
«Then let me ask again», Auril repeated the question once more. «What is the name of the body in which your soul lived when crossing the Gate of the Abyss?».
There was no option to use a different name. When the question was asked with a condition like that, the answer I could give was already decided.
Damn sea.
I didn't know anything else, but I had to hide my name since now I knew what kind of person Auril Gavis was. Although it may have been too early to conclude that he was an enemy, at least one thing was certain.
«How could I be calm? Of course I'm sorry. I also feel responsible. I'll probably live with it and atone for it for the rest of my life».
This old man could never be my ally.
«I won't answer». I proudly exercised my right to remain silent.
«Hmm...» Surprisingly, Auril didn't say much. He just watched my reaction as if he found it interesting. «I guess it was a very difficult question for you. Well, it makes sense that you distrust me. Let me change the question then». He didn't obsess over the fact that he couldn't hear my name and continued: «How long has it been since you woke up in that body?».
He questioned the length of my stay here. Since he had learned that I was coming from twenty years in the future, obtaining that information would allow Auril to guess when he would open his eyes on a barbarian's body.
«I won't answer».
«Really? Then another question-»
«No, question and answer time is over». I finished the game true or false without regrets. There were still many things I wanted to ask, but this old man was not running a charity. If I wanted something, I had to pay for it. I decided that paying more here was dangerous.
«...Wait, is this the end? What do you mean by that?»
«It's like I said. Since you were the player, there shouldn't be any problems, right?».
Auril licked his lips disappointed by my one-sided comment as he watched me. I was sure he couldn't refute me logically. It wasn't like we had decided in advance how many questions we would ask.
He simply expressed his regret. «How unexpected. I was sure you still had a lot of questions for me».
«Good». Certainly, my list of questions for him could fill several pages. In fact, my next question was whether the Records Stone Fragment that the castle lord possessed could return me to my original time.
Thank goodness I didn't ask him beforehand.
Thinking about it now, I was glad I put that question off. That might expose the fact that I was currently in Noark in reverse.
«I don't suppose you want to change your mind?» The old man stared at me before sighing deeply and praising me instead. «The more I see you, the smarter you are. So what will you do now? You will come back?» Contrary to my expectations, Auril behaved like a gentleman and spoke as if he could send me back whenever I wanted.
And what do I do?
I didn't expect the real or fake game to end so soon, so I needed time to organize my thoughts.
It's a waste to come back like this...
Thinking about it for a moment, I finally decided to follow the above plan. «Why don't we do what you said before? Have the conversation where others are present».
«Hmm? I thought the conversation was over?»
«I think it's a good idea. Although it needs some tweaks». If he had come this far, he should at least see their faces.
The game of true or false with Auril Gavis was like Russian roulette, especially because the passage of each turn left me uneasy.
But enough of limited information.
Anyway, there were tons of things I didn't know. Nor would it be just Auril with useful information, especially if they were evil spirits from another realm who were brought to this world decades before me.
It would be a free exchange of information instead of asking and answering, but all the information had to be true, and it had to be something that half of the participants were unaware of. When I explained the rules of the future Round Table in their entirety, Auril laughed happily. «Hmm, what an interesting idea you just came up with. Sounds good. The framework is well established for something you just came up with on the fly. What were you doing in your original world?».
The answer was that I was a normal office worker. Of course, I wasn't going to answer honestly. «I thought I said the question and answer period was over».
When I responded abruptly, Auril murmured as if he felt aggrieved: «It was just a curiosity. And it's not like I asked you for a big secret, is it?».
He wasn't wrong. But since he was the one asking, it seemed that there was some ulterior motive.
«Anyway, give me a moment. To add the rules you mentioned, I will have to instill more of my authority». Auril then put his hand on the jewel and closed his eyes as if to concentrate.
Whooooom.
Although it was not clearly visible to the naked eye, the layer of air surrounding the gem began to sway like a haze over a road in the middle of summer.
«It's done».
«It seems easier than I thought».
«Haha, it hurts my feelings when you say it like that. Believe it or not is your choice, but I have lost an important part of my authority over this space with this».
Hmm, I'm still not convinced...
When I looked at Auril, the old man began to explain things to me that I had not even asked about. «Mainly, there is the ability to materialize. It is still possible for me to create an object by concentrating all my thoughts, but the result will be different from the real object.»
I wasn't paying much attention to his words, but I shuddered. Materialization, concentration, whatever, but different from the real object? «Wait, is that why the Sprite from before tasted so bland...?».
Auril nodded without hesitation at the question I asked him just in case. «That's right. Is there any problem?»
Of course there is. This means that from now on I will no longer be able to taste the refreshing sensation of Sprite.
«That's a serious Sprite addiction, my friend. But since you miss her so much, I guess you haven't been here in quite some time».
What was this old man talking about? The fact that I was trying to extract information in this situation was, well... That, fortunately, made me reconsider and I asked: «Forget about that, why are you doing all this? It is obvious that authority is very important».
Auril laughed as if he had read my thoughts, although he still thought I was adorable. «You once told me that you received an invitation from someone nicknamed the GM».
Oh, I did say that once. «AND?»
«That means that ownership of this space has been transferred to them. I don't know how it happened, but if it's going to happen anyway, there's no reason to give them the substantial substance too».
I seemed to understand his thought process. Although it was something he would never do on a regular basis, if the end date of the service was announced, it was another story. No nonsense was a waste. But there was one thing I was curious about.
«Why don't you ask more about the GM?».
«Haha, you told me you didn't know much, other than the nickname.»
Oh, it's true.
As he nodded, Auril murmured: «And even if you knew more, I don't really feel like asking».
"...¿Por qué?"
When I genuinely asked this, Auril continued in a somewhat lonely voice. «I already told you. The observed future cannot be changed no matter what».
Hmm, does this mean ignorance is a blessing?
Just as he was beginning to understand some of what he had said, Auril got up first and I followed him. «Enough chatter. Let's go. I think they will enjoy it too».
We went to the living room with the Round Table, which seemed too familiar to me.
Creaakkk.
As Auril walked through the door, the three men and a woman sitting inside turned to him.
«...Master».
Their reactions were all the same. I didn't know what he had done after kicking me out the other day, but everyone looked at Auril with fear in their eyes.
«And.... that man is also behind you».
They also showed interest in me. But was it because Auril firmly drew the line on my identity last time? None of them dared to open their mouths.
Thus, a strange silence hung over the Round Table for a moment. The one who ended the silence was Auril. «Haha, everyone is very stiff today». He spoke as an absolute being, considerate of the weak, as if to say that they could now relax.
A woman whose name I didn't know parted her lips like an exhalation. «Reasonably, considering how you were at the end of our last meeting...».
Auril giggled apologetically. From then on, the atmosphere relaxed.
«Anyway, it's good to see everyone together. You see, I discovered something very interesting during my conversation with this person». Then Auril placed the jewel in the center of the Round Table and continued: «I have summoned you all here for the purpose of exchanging, but we have not had a proper conversation yet, have we? Maybe this will solve that problem».
«Could you explain it in more detail?». Asked the man who presumed to be the chief of Orcules.
Auril briefly explained the rules of the summit. Once the explanation was finished, the reactions varied.
«Information that more than half are unaware of, that is difficult». The woman seemed a little worried.
«But it has to be at that level to allow adequate exchange. Since everyone has been busy hiding their true thoughts until now». The middle-aged man named Kagureas spoke as if welcoming him to this.
The Fallen Scholar boy, who spoke in a dignified manner despite his young appearance, only asked one thing. «Will the Master participate?»
«Of course I plan to participate. I say the same about my friend who is by my side».
At Auril's response, the four people turned back to me. They seemed somewhat dissatisfied. He was sure that they did not want to reveal any information to a strange stranger who was suddenly interrupting their summit.
And even though I seem to have Auril's favor, they must be wondering if I'm really up to them.
Hmm, what should I do? I think it would be best to demonstrate my skills first.
After thinking about it for a moment, I pronounced Auril's name. Actually, he was about to say her name. «Um...»
«Ah, call me Master. You're the only one who knows my name».
Uh, ¿suddenly?
The moment the old man cut me off, a light filled the eyes of the four of them.
What the hell is this?
To be honest, «perplexed» wasn't even enough to describe this. How did this old man treat these people?
«He knows... your name...?»
I had no idea he didn't even tell them his name. Well, maybe it was good to turn the page like that? As I calmed my daze and tried to think positively, I saw Auril smile in a way only I could see.
Wow, it's so transparent.
It was obvious why this old man was helping me. If it weren't for me, I would have no reason to participate in this meeting. The reason he said yes to my proposal in the first place was probably because he wanted to get as much information about me as possible. That was not all.
«Now now. Sit down. It's natural to be suspicious, but that can be resolved if he goes first». Auril naturally conducted the environment in such a way that I was only able to share a significant portion of the information.
«...You shouldn't ask first if everyone is going to participate?». I made no secret of my disapproval of the old man's trick. But what was this now? The four people opened their eyes again as if they had just seen something incredible.
«How could he speak to the Master like that...?».
«...But the Master is not rebuking him.»
Ugh, I can't say anything here.
It was so ridiculous that I couldn't even laugh.
Drag.
I just took a chair out from wherever I was and sat down. From that moment on, one by one, everyone expressed their willingness to participate.
«I will participate.»
«I will too.»
«...Who will reject a seat like this?»
The number of people who declared their non-attendance was zero. Auril did not hide his satisfied smile and assumed the role of master of ceremonies. «So the agreement has been reached unanimously. No need for introductions, so let's get started. When you go first, we will turn clockwise».
With that, everyone's attention turned to me again. Even I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by it, and rightly so, because I was the first speaker at the first summit. Depending on the quality of the information I gave, the quality of the information that came from them would also go up.
If it weren't for that, it would be better if they didn't belittle me.
There was something I learned from the Round Table twenty years in the future. First of all, what you had to do was act cool, just like people applauded celebrities for anything, even pooping. In fact, I often spent my turn with insignificant information that others thought contained some hidden meaning.
Hmm, what should I date?
As I continued thinking, I watched every face sitting on the Round Table. Everyone showed great interest in me, and among them, Auril was the most enthusiastic.
So they were dying to know what information he would release in this situation, huh?
Thanks to that, my worries are over. He knew what this old man was waiting for.
No way.
This wasn't my first rodeo. Finishing my thoughts, I parted my lips. This was something that would reveal useless information to Auril and also satisfy the other members. «The Witch of the Earth is alive».
[Male Lion Style Form 1: Information Juggling]