The community of evil spirits opened at midnight on the fifteenth of each month. Time inside the Ghostbusters moved differently than it did outside.
An hour in here is a second out there.
Simply put, even if it consumed the twelve hours that the community was open, that would only translate into twelve seconds in the outside world.
But he won't wait that long.
The marquis' intentions were obvious. He harbored unfounded suspicions about me and was going to try to confirm them tonight. There was only one problem.
How much time did you have?
I expected at least four seconds, as that would give me enough time to participate in the Round Table that would be held in three hours. Doing so would help prevent any suspicions that might arise if León didn't attend, and would also ensure that I wouldn't have to miss any information by taking a break this month.
On second thought, four seconds would be too little.
I suppressed my growing greed. Yes, I had to sacrifice what it took to make this work.
Tick, tock.
As soon as I made that decision, the computer finished booting. I quickly moved the mouse to check the chats.
[Long live Korean Independence – 1 person is online].
Without wasting any time, I immediately entered the chat. The online player was Hyeonbyeol. I was wondering if Baekho had come back considering I asked the GM to lift the ban, but hey, there was still time for that.
«You're here.» Hyeonbyeol was already sitting cross-legged on the couch and simply raised her head to recognize me. Her outfit was the same as last time: a white blouse and a suit skirt.
«What is that reaction about? It seems like you thought I wasn't coming». When I sat on the couch in front of her and fired a carefree response, a conversation followed that reminded me of the old days.
«I thought there was a chance you wouldn't do it. You always ran away when things got minimally awkward».
Hey.
«Unless it's something you have to take care of yourself, you can spend less energy withdrawing». It was common sense to skip side quests that offered few rewards in exchange for great effort. Seeking efficiency meant reducing waste, like right now. I had no time to waste on trivial chats, so I got straight to the point. «Hyeonbyeol. Did you meet GM last time?»
This was the reason why I entered this chat room instead of logging out immediately even though I wasn't going to enter the Round Table this time. I wanted to confirm it.
Hyeonbyeol's frown furrowed slightly, and after a while, she parted her lips. «...How did you know?». They were words of confirmation, not denial.
I calmly explained the reason for my suspicion. «I found it strange that you received a message in the middle of our conversation. So I did some research».
I had had a strange feeling right after separating from Hyeonbyeol. Back in the bedroom, I was fiddling with the mouse when I remembered that the GM was very interested in this chat room. The GM may not have been able to eavesdrop on the conversations happening inside, but he was able to check the list of participants. Suspecting that the GM might have been the one who sent that message to Hyeonbyeol, I looked for a specific chat room and kept an eye on the number of participants. My suspicions were soon confirmed.
«The number of participants in the secret chat room typically used by the GM soon rose to three. It seemed like a coincidence to me and I thought it was you».
«...Then why didn't you look for me then instead of waiting until today?»
«Because the GM can spy on people's messages.»
«Then you could have written to me to tell me to come to the chat room».
«He might think it's strange too.»
«...So annoying.» Hyeonbyeol looked at me and sighed. «I'm telling you now so you don't get the wrong idea, but I had no intention of fooling you».
«I know.»
«I was going to tell you today. Of course you probably find it hard to believe... What? What did you just say?»
«I know you had no intention of deceiving me».
Hyeonbyeol looked at me strangely. «I'm glad to hear you say that, but what do you base it on?».
My reasons were simple. «If you were planning to hide it, you wouldn't have answered my question so easily in the first place.». Considering her personality, she would have completely hidden the truth. Even if she thought she had been caught, she probably would have denied it to the end just in case.
«But he could have been acting.»
«If you want to go there, we'll end up going around in circles forever. If you still don't accept my logic, take it like I want to believe in you», I joked.
Hyeonbyeol pursed her lips and studied me for a long time. «Hansu, do you have a girl here?», he suddenly asked.
Missha immediately came to mind as soon as the question left her lips, but I decided to figure out where I wanted to go first. «Why are you asking that all of a sudden...?».
«Just because», Hyeonbyeol said in a strange tone. «It seems like you've become more eloquent, that's all...» He interrupted himself.
Was it a compliment or a criticism? I decided to take it as the first thing and changed the subject. Not only was it a topic I didn't want to insist on, but I also didn't have time to do it. «Hyeonbyeol, I don't have much time».
«Is this an example of the 'efficient withdrawal' you mentioned before?»
«No, I really don't have time. I just need to check something before I go, so please answer me this.»
«Okay. What is it?»
«What did the GM offer you?»
«He asked me to be a spy for GP or whatever he wants».
«Of course.»
«What have you been doing to make someone like that so obsessed with you? His nickname was also strange...»
«It's just a coincidence. I haven't done anything», I said contemptuously.
Luckily Hyeonbyeol didn't interfere. «...Anyway, what do you want me to do for you?».
«If I tell you, will you do it?».
«Have I ever not done what you asked?»
Eh... many times?
I figured the important thing was that he almost always did it, even grumbling all the time.
It doesn't matter, I'll tell him.
«I want you to leak information to me on purpose».
«Okay. Is there anything you want me to tell them this time too?»
«Once I leave the chat room, I will log out immediately. The GM will probably wonder why. Tell him I couldn't talk for long because I'm in the middle of a battle and that I left in a hurry with the promise of meeting next month.»
«Okay. But let me ask you something».
«What is it?»
«What is the real reason you disconnect?».
«That? It's similar to what you're going to tell the GM for me.»
«Are you saying... that you really came here in the middle of a fight? The maze hasn't even opened yet!»
«I told you, it's similar.» The fights weren't just physical, were they? Anyway, that should be enough of an answer. «Then I'm leaving! Until next time!»
I left the chat room before Hyeonbyeol had a chance to say anything else.
***
They were in a quiet studio with furniture designed and arranged by her.
«If we're done here, I'll leave now...»
«Yes, I will send you the GP that we agreed to right now».
«Okay, then...»
As soon as the Asian, who gave off an intellectual but somewhat clumsy air, left the talk, the GM murmured: «He's in the middle of a battle, huh?». That's very strange. If a man like him is in a position where he cannot waste a second, that must mean that the enemy he is fighting is on the same level».
The GM's voice was full of despondency. Soul Queen, who had been working with him for a long time, knew why-there was no way she couldn't. She felt the same.
The Korean had asked them to call her Black Star if the nickname HS123 was too difficult to pronounce. And until that woman told them what was happening, they didn't know anything. Nothing. Normally they were confident in their ability to gather information, but until they collided with that newcomer in the dark, they didn't even notice the signs that something was brewing.
«...Still, I'm glad we were able to recruit Estrella Negra. If there has been a conflict large enough to provoke that man's struggle, traces of it surely remain. For now, let's focus on finding those traces».
Even as she nodded to the GM's words, Queen of Soul did not hesitate to ask a question in return. «But there is something else that is strange about this. If he really was in such a dangerous situation, why did he enter the chat at all?»
«But he is the one we are talking about. That woman said she didn't seem to be in a hurry either. Maybe he was just confident».
«That's true... true».
It was a strange thought, but Queen of Soul believed it could be so. No, she definitely thought that was the case. I couldn't imagine Leon seemed worried. He was like a giant. Because he had absolute faith in himself, he always walked at a slow pace, but still left a big mark.
«Before that... Queen of the Soul, shouldn't you prepare?»
«Prepare?»
«Soon it will be time to enter the Round Table».
«But León won't be there.»
«Still, there is quite a bit of useful information that is exchanged there. More importantly, there is the Corpse Collector, who is connected to Noark. You should go. You may get some information about the conflict that is happening wherever León is right now».
«If you put it like that... okay».
Queen of the Soul left the chat following the GM's instructions. Then, as soon as the time came, she entered the Round Table Observers.
«You arrive early».
«Yeah. I had some free time».
Fox had arrived before her. As they exchanged brief greetings, the other members entered one by one. Goblin and Crescent were the first.
«Pshehe, I'm surprised Deer isn't here today». Clown soon followed them.
A total of five people gathered around the Round Table, and remained five until the door slammed shut, signaling the end of the entry period.
«I don't care if Deer is dead in some ditch, but this is a problem. I can't believe Mr. Leon isn't here». Clown stood up without hesitation, grumbling the entire time. «Honestly, it's because you never bring anything interesting! Ugh, every time I think of you acting haughtily in the real world...». He continued muttering as he walked to the door, before interrupting and turning to Soul Queen. «Hey? Aren't you leaving, Miss Queen?»
«No. This time I'm going to participate».
«If I leave, you're going to keep the leftovers».
Queen of the Soul laughed, covering her mouth at Clown's arrogance. «Wow, what a funny statement. You are no different, Mr. Clown».
«Are you saying I'm on the same level as them?».
«Hmm, seeing as you think the reason Mr. Leon didn't come was because he wasn't satisfied with our information, I think you're on a somewhat similar level, yeah.»
«...You say it as if you know why Mr. León didn't come.»
«I don't know. I can't tell you for free. If you're curious, why don't we do a round?».
«...Pshehe, you and your lanterns. You almost fooled me. It is impossible for you to know anything about Mr. León».
«Are you sure? If you are, you can leave».
Despite his mocking tone, Clown's feet did not move. This was pretty much what she expected. Clown's blind interest in León was nothing new.
Faucet.
Clown walked away from the door and sat down, then muttered an excuse. «...Well, it wouldn't be a bad idea to see what absurd thing you have to say before I leave. Pshehe». Although his tone was rude, it had played directly into his hand. The fact was that he needed Clown to get high-quality information.
When Clown sat down, all eyes focused on her. Looking at those expectant and curious glances, he felt the corner of his mouth rise behind the mask. I didn't intend to be the first, but there was no reason not to.
«Pshehe, why are you keeping quiet now? Well, how is it possible that you know something that even I don't...?»
He cut Clown off and announced: «León is fighting someone».
Clown didn't even make a fuss about being interrupted. Instead, as soon as she finished, his gaze immediately turned elsewhere, to the place where the jewel that identified the truth was located. It wasn't just Clown either: all the other members looked in that direction with bright eyes.
Shaaaaaa.
Soon, a light emanated from the jewel.
«E-It's green». Once Goblin broke the silence, a commotion ensued.
«Queen, have you discovered León's identity?». Crescent was so upset that he threw back his chair and jumped to his feet.
«She wasn't Queen», Fox said quietly. «It must be the GM who discovered it».
«M-More importantly... if Mr. León cannot participate in the meeting due to a fight, who could be the opponent...?». Goblin then seemed to pick up a strange vibration from the other side of the table and interrupted himself.
Clown, for his part, said nothing.
«You have remained very quiet, Mr. Clown...»
«How... how could you find out...? Did he tell you? But then why? W-Why you first, and not me?». Clown's voice, which until a moment ago was light and carefree, was now full of emotion. He stared at Queen through the cracks of his mask, his eyes filled with an interest more fervent than ever.
«Hmm, I don't know. I wonder why». He smiled without realizing it. «If you tell me something interesting, maybe I can tell you more». It was an almost addictive feeling.
***
[You are being transported to Rafdonia.]
About twenty minutes in Ghostbusters, converted to real time, was about 0.3 seconds, too little time for anything to happen to me in an empty room. As soon as I finished speaking with Hyeonbyeol, I logged out and made the executive decision not to go to the Round Table today. Even if I stayed, I would stay on the bulletin board cackling until it opened. I decided it was best to disconnect early and prepare for what was about to happen.
Everything is calm.
When I open my eyes, I am greeted by the same darkness as less than a second ago. He couldn't hear a single sound, and the windows were also hermetically sealed.
Rattle.
Just then, the closed bedroom door opened. Even when I closed my eyes again, my almost superhuman warrior body felt an unknown entity rapidly approaching.
If I had chosen to take my time, I would have been screwed.
The time it took the enemy to open the door and get to my bed was barely a second.
What is this guy, a cockroach?
I immediately opened my eyes and stretched out a hand.
Grab!
I grabbed his neck with a single movement. I then sat up and confirmed the identity of my uninvited guest. A completely unexpected person was struggling in my grip.
«Eltora Tercerion».
And to think that the prime minister's own son had come to see me. Of course, this was no cause for alarm. I didn't care if it was him or his old grandfather, my job here remained the same.
«...I hope you came prepared to die.» I planned to collect full compensation for being called back here and missing out on community activities.