When the teacher, the person who created the private chat room called the Round Table Watchers, disappeared without a trace, everyone let out sounds of disappointment.
«Huh, it really is gone».
«...It was different than leaving a chat room».
«Yes, almost as if it were disconnecting».
Their voices were full of questions. Well, I felt something similar.
«I thought you could only log out when you returned to the room».
«I think listening to his words, he was rather disconnecting».
It was very different from Baekho's case. To begin with, Baekho took the initial pill that limited his time to one hour. But what was happening with the teacher? This was a problem that had arisen for someone who was normally fine, and not in reality, but in the use of the community called Ghostbusters. Did the others have similar thoughts?
«Why the hell is the Master going through?»
«Pshehe, I don't know, but one thing is for sure».
«What?»
Clown lowered his voice at Fox's question. «His one-year disappearance has to do with the GM».
There was a moment of silence, not because it was shocking, but because everyone delved into their thoughts. The general conclusion was to agree with Clown's speculation.
«Well, that's probably most likely».
«But there is a contradiction. If the Master is truly under the GM's control, how can he appear here again?»
«He is a mysterious person. Since this space is created by magic, maybe you found a solution through magic?»
«That means he could be a wizard more powerful than the GM who created this community, our master!»
«That's definitely plausible. Pshehe.»
Afterwards, the members exchanged all kinds of speculation and I just listened silently to the interesting content. Of course, this conversation didn't last long.
«...Um, Mr. León, do you know anything?»
Soon, attention naturally turned to me. It was to be expected. I was the one who posed as Baekho and called him Grandpa. They were probably wondering if I knew anything.
«I'm not sure.»
How could I know? I was just as curious about his identity. Of course, I had no intention of telling him. That was not right.
«Oh, ya veo. These no...»
Saying «I don't know» didn't look good on León. Instead, this was better. I cut off Fox's words and pronounced briefly: «But I have a hunch».
That's when Fox's disappointed tone rose sharply. «A hunch? Is that true? I don't doubt you, but...». Fox's eyes through the crack in his mask showed his blossoming anticipation. The same thing happened with the other masks.
Actually, I don't even have a hunch.
My consciousness as a modern man writhed at that, but I ignored it.
«Tell us please. What happened to the Master...?»
«Enough». I cut off Fox's words again.
«Hey?» Believing I was really going to tell him, Fox looked at me with blank eyes. However, there was no need to explain in detail. A slight shrug was enough. There was no one here who did not know the meaning of this gesture.
«You want us to bring you something interesting. Pshehe».
If you want something from me, you have to bring me something suitable: that was the iron rule established by León for the Round Table. So how would Fox respond?
«Okay». It was what was expected. It was she who was almost obsessed with the teacher's current situation. «Still, my hurdle is a little low, right? Since it's a hunch, not a certainty...»
I didn't answer, to which Fox let out a deep sigh. I guessed that he never expected to find himself in this situation after Clown, who took the bait of the sacred relic, and Crescent Moon, driven mad by the Renaissance Stone.
«Somehow, it seems like I've earned a comrade. Fox, you'll have a hard time too».
Fox only laughed bitterly at Crescent Moon's comfort, as if resigned. This meant that the quality of their news would rise in the future.
Only Deer and Goblin remain.
My satisfaction aside, I spoke indifferently. «How boring. Isn't that enough trivial talk?»
«Yes, let's start the meeting».
It was enough bait; It was time to harvest. After the third month, in which there was no one, the fourth month of harvesting took place.
Goblin kicked off. «The tower wizards are working together to find a way to break Noark's barrier». When he first said that everyone reacted as if it were obvious, but they were soon convinced by Goblin's additional explanation. «It appears that a fixed amount of divine power is required for that process, and the time it will take for the barrier to unseal can be reduced, at a minimum».
«I guess it means there has been some degree of progress in the research».
«Yes that's right».
In short, the magic curtain that protected Noark could soon be drawn. Although I didn't know how soon it would actually be.
Raven said it would take at least two years.
Ending the news that the magic tower had set a six-month target for reduction, Goblin's turn ended.
Next was Deer. «The palace has produced a new type of identification tag. It is a magical device in the form of an engraving that cannot be faked. Preparations appear to have been made a long time ago, but will be supplied to explorers starting next week.»
«Next week, huh? That doesn't help at all. It's not like it's information we can benefit from in advance.»
«Then one more. The palace is watching over the clans that have stopped exploring and are playing it safe.»
«What do you mean by watch?»
«Judging by the environment, it looks like they will be given a significant disadvantage, although I can't be sure».
«...I see.» He tried to hide it, but Fox was clearly relieved by Deer's information. I also took that reaction into account.
Fox probably belongs to a clan. He will not be a normal member; maybe a clan master?
Of course, this was only in the speculation phase, so I turned my ears to the next person. It was Fox's turn. «The mega clans are preparing a large-scale boycott».
«¿Boycott?»
«Boycott. They will not enter the maze as a group. They were already very dissatisfied since the conquest, and there was an incident that lit the fire recently.»
«Ah, that. I know what you mean». Crescent Moon jumped out as if he was familiar with it. «Bjorn Yandel, right?»
Hey? Why was my name here?
«Yeah. That's how it is. It was originally something that should have ended with a fine, but the palace banished an ordinary explorer to Bifron.»
Oh, eso...
«Law enforcement is part of their domain, but most clans interpreted it as a warning.»
«Public opinion will not be very good.»
«Yeah. There is talk that if the clans give more power to the palace, they could be forcibly recruited next time».
My hands stiffened and my lips wiped as soon as they mentioned my name, but luckily no one seemed to notice my reaction. No one seemed interested in Bjorn Yandel either.
Uf, you're giving me a heart attack.
Anyway, after Fox answered Deer's additional questions, the third turn was over as well.
«Well then, who wants to be next? Do we continue clockwise?»
«...Clown, can you go first?»
«Well, if you want». At Crescent Moon's request, Clown willingly took the fourth turn. It was the one I was most looking forward to, but I figured I wouldn't find any interesting information this time. «To be honest, I don't think this will interest Mr. Leon, but I'll try anyway». Unlike when he talked about the magic of tying, Clown opened his mouth as if he wanted to skip his turn. «Just before Noark went into lockdown, they sent some people to the surface. The objective is to kill a specific explorer. Shocking, huh?»
«Assassins... Do you also know who the target is?».
«I'm not sure. I don't know either, pshehe!» The fourth shift ended with an elusive smile. Clown didn't even ask if he was intrigued. Well, how was he to know that of all the things he had heard today, this was the most interesting?
Un is still in the casino de Noark.
Immediately, one person came to mind: Amelia Rainwales. Could she be one of the assassins sent? Judging by her skills, she would be perfect for the role.
So the target is Auril Gavis?
The idea came up, but somehow I didn't think that was the case. It didn't sound like a lie that his search was a personal matter. Anyway, I would have to think about it later.
«Now it's my turn». The long-awaited fifth shift began. The protagonist of this turn was Crescent Moon, who was desperately searching for the Renaissance Stone. He seemed confident, as he asked me if my promise was still valid. I wondered what he had prepared. «Do you all remember what I said before about the Relic Extortionist's traces?».
«Of course».
When Crescent Moon started carefully, the other masks nodded, except Goblin. «Excuse me? What relic extortionist?». Only Goblin, absent from that meeting, tilted his head. Nobody paid attention to him.
«And? Is this information related to the Genesis Treasures again?». Zorro did not hide his curiosity at all.
Crescent Moon nodded and blurted out shocking words. «The Treasures of Genesis no longer exist».
The Genesis Treasures were also the keys to reaching the top floor, where the Portal of the Abyss was located.
«What do you mean they don't exist? I don't understand anything you say».
«Is it reliable information? Or is it just what you think?»
«Pshehe, it's a little shocking».
«Cc-how can they disappear?»
Since they were all players who wanted his return, it only took a moment for the room to be filled with confusion.
But I figured I expected such a reaction. Crescent Moon simply continued in a hollow voice: «How nice it would be if I was wrong. But this is the indisputable truth. The Treasures of Genesis do not exist anywhere in this world».
«Do you mean they were destroyed?».
«At least, that's the conclusion we reached».
«But they are indestructible objects!». Goblin looked quite shocked and turned up the volume of his moans.
Shaaaaa.
A green light emanated from the jewel embedded in the center of the Round Table. It meant that the content discussed above was true.
«So... the Genesis Treasures may have really disappeared», Deer murmured in an empty voice. After that there was silence for a while.
The first to open her mouth was Crescent Moon. «What did you think? Was interesting?»
It was a very difficult question to answer. I wanted to say it was boring, but how could I say it here? Crescent Moon fixed her eyes on me throughout the recitation of the information. He would have caught me shaking as soon as I heard it too.
What should I do?
After a brief deliberation, I made a decision. Calling it boring here was a bad choice. «You have talent». I preferred to admit it. Instead, you should cut the damage on the other hand.
«That must mean...» Crescent Moon's breathing became labored, as if he thought that the Renaissance Stone was now almost in front of him.
I muttered concisely: «To be honest, I'm pretty impressed».
Of course, there was a lot to lose by admitting this. Aside from teaching him information about the Renaissance Stone, once I got what I wanted, Crescent Moon would no longer be so willing to bring me information. Furthermore, it did not fit the image of the Lion that I had created. Clear the corner of «make the lion laugh» on the first try? I would totally lose face.
I smiled.
However, this was not a problem. Right now, I was not Bjorn Yandel, but a veteran who wore the León mask.
Well, this should be enough comment.
As soon as I completed the final check in my head, I asked Crescent Moon: «How did you find out?», as if what surprised me was not that the Genesis Treasures had disappeared, but somewhere else. To be precise, as if it were a shame, since it was something I already knew. «There are only a few people who know that the Genesis Treasures have disappeared».
Realizing the nuance behind my words, Crescent Moon's eyes widened. I guess he didn't realize I was cheating on him. Crescent Moon didn't suspect me. «...True, so you knew that». He just put on a resigned face and spoke in a weak voice. What would it take to please me? That desperation was transmitted through the air even to me. It wasn't a great situation from my perspective.
«Hides...»
Just look at the Clown smiling awkwardly. This would affect all the members I had fattened before. So, in that spirit, I laughed out loud and said: «The Renaissance Stone can be obtained on the ninth floor».
At least it could cheer up a little. To be honest, I felt a little sorry for him.