Surviving the Game as a Barbarian-Chapter 544: Ghost (2)

The Ghost Busters — the gathering of wraiths held every month on the 15th, based on the city’s time.

My routine here was almost always the same.

Wiiiiing—!

First, I’d turn on my computer and log into the community, then check how many people were in the chatroom called ‘Long Live Korean Independence.’

‘No one’s here yet.’

Next, I’d head to the free bulletin board to lurk and quickly scan the latest info, then return to the chatroom to chat with Baekho and Hyunbyeol until an hour passed.

When Baekho left, I’d spend the remaining time talking with Hyunbyeol until it was time for the roundtable meeting, and naturally part ways from the chatroom.

Click, click.

Today was no different from the usual routine.

As always, I smoothly opened the free bulletin board on my monitor and skimmed the titles of posts already starting to come in.

Like drinking morning coffee while reading a newspaper.

Without rush—relaxing.

“...Hmm?”

As I flipped to the page pushed back already and checked the title of the first post today, I couldn’t help but utter a dumbfounded sound.

I couldn’t help it.

[Closure of the Basement 1st Floor of the Laphdonia Royal Family.]

What the hell is this.

Click, click.

Thinking it might be just a simple clickbait post, I kept clicking the mouse button repeatedly.

The title was irresistible.

— OOOO.

Of course, as expected, there was no main content.

Usually, posts like this get the first spot and then the content is edited in later.

What mattered was the comments.

They’d give at least minimal fact-checking.

Like this:

[arolf5205: Ah, I was gonna post this first.]

[NIKAMOTO: This is going to be a hot topic again.]

[AI_DIDIGO: Fact 1: 56% of the first posts on the day the community opens get over 100 comments and make it to the hot topic list.]

[└Ki11Humans77: Wow, it’s Didigo. Please let me get a grade 3 essence in the next exploration.]

[└MarkG: But what’s so good about being a hot topic?]

[└Paweł: The admins give some GP. But I don’t think that’s the reason they keep doing this.]

Not accusations of baiting or trolling, but users chatting on other topics.

From their reactions, I understood one thing.

‘Damn, it’s really true.’

The closure of the basement first floor of Laphdonia’s royal family.

This was fact, and already common knowledge to many.

I quickly refreshed the post and scrolled down.

The productive discussions always come later.

It takes time to write.

[Darkrealm93: /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ But I don’t get the royal family. Why are they blocking access from the next exploration?]

[└Akaistos: Haven’t you heard? It’s too dangerous.]

[└Darkrealm93: I’m not unaware. There must be another reason.]

[└WhyDoYouSniffShit: Obviously. There’s a war going on and people keep trying to desert by going to basement 1, so they’re pissed.]

[└funkinthetrunk: But no one even knows how to get down to basement 1 yet, so what’s the point of banning entry?]

[└WhyDoYouSniffShit: Exactly, stop wasting time on pointless things, just keep being cannon fodder.]

I roughly understood the situation.

It’s been a month since basement 1’s existence was revealed to the outside.

Actually, two clans entered during the previous cycle.

And...

‘I remember quite a few of those clans couldn’t enter.’

Many explorers returned to the city after watching their comrades head to basement 1.

No doubt they helped spread awareness of basement 1 further.

Some savvy ones probably already figured out how to get in.

No, they definitely did.

‘So everyone was preparing to go down. That’s why the royal family is trying to block it.’

Also, if big clans knew how to enter, then the royal family must be aware of the method too...

“Hmmm...”

This situation’s unfolding quite interestingly.

I continued scanning comments and the flood of new posts for a while, then put down the mouse.

Tap, tap.

Suddenly, I was deep in thought.

If the royal family banned it, people would generally avoid going down.

Hmm, guess I just have to revise the plan and watch for now.

I ran simulations in my head.

And after some time passed—

“Ah, they must be waiting.”

Realizing significant time had passed in my daydream, I quickly snapped out of it and entered the chatroom.

“Oppa, you’re here?”

“Oh, hyung! You’re late again.”

As soon as I logged in, Hyunbyeol and Baekho greeted me.

“Sorry, I’m a bit late today.”

“It’s okay. We weren’t worried anyway.”

“...What?”

I tilted my head, not understanding.

Baekho grinned.

“Feels like the main character always shows up late? Well, I don’t see that as bad. Actually, kinda cool...”

What’s this guy saying now.

I chuckled and sat on the empty sofa.

“So, no issues with you two?”

“Yes. I’m fine, oppa.”

“Baekho, you okay?”

I asked indirectly whether they were good or bad without going into details, but unconsciously watched Hyunbyeol’s reaction.

Did this guy notice that?

“I’m fine. Hyunbyeol knows who I am anyway.”

“...Huh?”

“Hey, hyung! I’m not that clueless. I know it’s okay to talk in front of hyunbyeol. I’m outside the castle right now.”

“...Oh.”

Baekho casually shared his recent situation while Hyunbyeol quietly listened with an intrigued look.

“...Baekho, are you really okay?”

“What would be wrong? We’re all from the same hometown anyway. I honestly felt a bit awkward when it was just the two of us chatting without hyunbyeol. It’s more fun talking with all three.”

I still wondered if that was really okay.

But since he said he was fine, it wasn’t my place to say otherwise.

I secretly agreed too.

‘Yeah... talking in a trio really feels like something’s moving...’

More precisely, it felt close to being back in Korea.

Talking about military service, politics, or craving kimchi.

This place was the only one where we could have those conversations.

Life in this world was satisfactory enough.

But there were moments when I clearly missed such talks.

“Anyway, so how’s it there? Have you met the people of Noark?”

“Yes. It’s been about a week, and now we’re just exploring around to find out stuff. We haven’t found Auril Gavis yet.”

“Auril Gavis...?”

“Oh, Hyunbyeol doesn’t know. I went outside the castle to find that guy.”

“Oh... I see?”

Usually, Hyunbyeol carried herself like she was the best and didn’t get intimidated, but when something big like that came up, she seemed surprised.

‘Haven’t seen that side of her in a while.’

Watching that made me a little nostalgic, and Hyunbyeol glared at me sharply.

“I wasn’t laughing just now.”

“I didn’t say anything either.”

“...”

Anyway, I asked Baekho about what he was curious about outside the castle, and he kindly explained what he’d found.

Since it was a thoroughly unknown region even in the game, every little thing was interesting.

Among those, one thing stood out:

“You can farm.”

Unlike Laphdonia, outside the castle walls, living is possible without magic stones.

But this only raised more questions.

“Then why do they keep trying to sneak into the labyrinth?”

Why is Noark still at war?

Why can’t they leave the labyrinth even going as far as making portals to the outside?

Unfortunately, Baekho didn’t have a clear answer.

“I don’t know. But there must be a reason. Most likely it’s deeply related to that Auril Gavis guy.”

“Probably. Okay, let me know if you find out anything else.”

“Yes, hyung.”

That topic ended for the time being, and there were about ten minutes until Baekho logged out.

So we spent the rest of the time talking nonsense.

“Wow, I think I talked a lot about myself today. Next time, tell me about you, hyung. I’ve been curious.”

“Got it. I’ll tell you next time.”

“See you then!”

Baekho logged out when his time came, and nothing special happened while spending time with Hyunbyeol.

“Since he seems so curious, he must be doing something interesting.”

“Hahaha... not really...”

“Don’t change the subject. We’re about to read books now, give me some too.”

“Ah, then thanks.”

I comfortably took the book Hyunbyeol handed me and started reading.

I had been a bit curious since last time we stopped at an interesting part.

‘Why is this so fun?’

I giggled while reading, and when touching parts got emotional, my eyes welled up.

Deeply immersed, Hyunbyeol lying on the sofa tapped my knee with her toe.

“Huh? Why?”

“Isn’t it time to go?”

“Oh, yeah.”

Reluctantly closing the book, I stood up.

Hyunbyeol tossed out casually:

“If it’s that fun, come again later. I’ll lend you more books then...”

“No need to bother. I have plenty of GP, I’ll just buy and read.”

“...”

“See you next time.”

After that, I left the chatroom, stretched out, and loosened up.

Strictly speaking, stretching wasn’t really needed here...

But reading books had made it a habit.

Also, it somehow refreshed my mind.

“Alright, let’s go.”

There were plenty of things to do at the roundtable today.

Wearing a lion-mask that covered the whole face.

And beneath it, a neat navy suit.

Looking in the mirror dressed in that usual set, an inexplicable confidence welled up inside me.

As if I had become someone who could do anything.

But regardless of that feeling, I coldly self-assessed my current condition.

‘Severe case.’

Phew, doing a concept for a whole year is tough.

Feels like my own concept is going to consume me.

Ah, of course, I’m not planning to stop now.

Tread, tread.

After checking my outfit in the mirror, I walked down the hallway toward the roundtable room.

As always, everyone was already there.

“Fishsit, you’ve arrived.”

“Hehe... welcome, Mr. Lion Mask!”

“You’re last again today.”

Ignoring their greetings, I headed to my designated seat, then suddenly recalled what Baekho said earlier.

[The main character always appears late, huh?]

For the roundtable, Baekho was right.

I always tried to arrive as late as possible.

But if I tried to excuse myself, it wasn’t because I enjoyed arriving last to steal the spotlight.

The real reason was...

‘It would be weirder if I came early.’

Usually, those who arrive early chat.

What could I do joining in?

Not small talk and laughter, just making the mood awkward by sitting nearby.

Just like now.

“Well then... since everyone’s here... let’s begin...”

“...”

“Is there... some problem...?”

Ignoring greetings and lost in thought, the wolf cautiously glanced at me and spoke.

“Nothing special.”

“Then... let’s get started. Everyone’s busy.”

For some reason, the wolf took charge and led the meeting today.

Well, I didn’t care who did—

‘Ugh, why does this mask turn me into such a mindset to the bone?’

I figured it might be time to start being cautious and vigilant, but I decided to put that thought aside and listen.

The first to speak was Deer Antlers.

“The royal family has finalized the order to close basement floor 1. Anyone who disobeys and descends will be executed regardless of status.”

“Such a harsh punishment is unusual.”

“Ah, but this only applies strictly to clans of a certain size. We believe ordinary explorers won’t be punished that severely.”

Understandable.

If they just block clans from defecting, they can prevent the battlefield from collapsing.

‘Damn, those royal bastards never do anything helpful.’

Anyway, starting from Deer Antlers, members quickly took turns.

Two notable things stood out.

“The unknown statues appearing on floor 3 can be enchanted with ‘Distortion’ magic and when defeated, yield three types of emblem fragments. These are the keys to basement 1.”

The queen shared the method of entering the basement first-floor archive.

And...

“Fishsit, this might be good news for you all. Sadly, our elite team attacking floor 8 has failed and suffered heavy losses.”

The jester.

It was just something to be taken lightly, but as soon as I heard it, I felt a lightning bolt in my head.

‘Failed to clear floor 8...?’

No proof, but it didn’t seem like a coincidence.

So I unknowingly blurted out.

“Kalheum.”

One of the eight-floor rifts, the City of Light Kalheum.

The very field where Milayel, who dropped the Verdant Spear, appears as a rift guardian.

The moment I mentioned it—

“...Fishsit?”

The jester’s deflated laugh stopped abruptly.

“How do you know that, Mr. Lion Mask...?”

What, it was really there?

Then is the failure of the rift raid related to that guy appearing below?

Thinking that while deducing, the jester quickly composed himself and continued.

“Ahem, ahem! I asked a silly question. If it’s Mr. Lion Mask, you probably have ears everywhere in Noark too.”

I just left it alone but it seemed like he gave himself a convincing excuse.

Is that why you should get famous first?

I didn’t care if the jester made a fuss or not, the members’ eyes turned to me.

‘It’s already my turn.’

So, what info should I pull out?

Today, I didn’t have to think about that.

Until now, if something interesting came up, I’d respond with info to keep the concept.

But...

‘I didn’t come to give info today.’

Or rather, there was a change of plans. The royal family had just made a huge mess. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

If things go on like this, newcomers will stop coming.

So I had to act proactively.

‘The queen gave the entrance method, so we can just skip that...’

Though the royal family gave a death penalty, I wasn’t too worried.

Because I know explorers well.

“The basement 1 archive.”

Explorers don’t care much about their lives.

“Bjorn Yandel acquired two single number items there in two months.”

As long as there’s enough gold beyond that...