Chapter 327: Chapter 327: Ouroboros (2)

It was like a monster losing its life.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

Jerome’s body, limp on the surface of the sewer water, shattered into fine particles of light and scattered.

A few items remained, but most were worthless. Expensive-looking equipment like his sword and armor had all vanished, enveloped in light.

‘It must be Eblus…’

I had a hunch about the essence.

But that wasn’t important right now.

“…….”

“…….”

A silence filled the air, only the sound of the flowing sewer water remaining.

Auril Gabis, who had been smiling vacantly as if paralyzed, finally spoke.

“I’ll ask you again. Are you an evil spirit?”

It wasn’t a question, but a final confirmation.

Well, after coming all the way here, he must have been certain that the 6th-grade explorer Nibels Enche, who couldn’t be found in the city, was ‘Iron Mask’.

‘He’s asking because he wants to hear it from me directly…’

I activated Barbarian Confucianism Mode and spoke, having witnessed him incapacitate the strongest knight of the royal family with a single gesture.

“An evil spirit, sir? I don’t know what you’re misunderstanding, but I’m not.”

Auril Gabis scoffed at my polite tone.

“That’s a lie.”

Damn it, so he can use his lie detector here too.

I was expecting it, but I felt a bit bitter when my attempt failed.

But I didn’t have time to be frustrated.

This wasn’t the community.

Things could get physical.

Therefore…

“Huhu, as expected, I can’t fool you. You’re amazing.”

…I quickly changed my strategy.

I decided to admit what I had to admit since continuing to lie would only make him suspicious.

“Yes, I’m the person you’re looking for. I was so flustered to see you outside that I couldn’t tell you the truth.”

“Flustered…”

“Yes, flustered. And I didn’t exactly lie, did I?”

Auril Gabis chuckled at my bold question.

“Haha, well… you’re right, you didn’t ‘lie’.”

That’s right. I didn’t lie back then.

He asked me about the situation in the city.

And I answered that the Lord had joined forces with the royal family and ambushed Orculus.

He asked if a barbarian had entered the city about five or six months ago.

I answered yes.

And when he asked for the barbarian’s name, I kindly told him ‘Bjorn, son of Thor’.

“Yes, I couldn’t lie to you… but…”

“But you see…”

“…Yes?”

“Do you know that it’s much more insulting to be deceived like that than to be lied to?”

“Ah…”

He was right.

There were ways to counter it, but…

“…I apologize.”

I apologized first.

“I have a mental illness.”

And then I gave him a reason.

“…Mental illness?”

“Yes. I keep lying to people against my will because of it. Damn it, I shouldn’t be living like this…”

It was a kind of blame shifting.

If the environment was the reason I was like this, then he was the one who put me in this environment.

“Haha…”

Auril Gabis chuckled awkwardly, having become the main culprit.

But at least he was smiling this time.

It seemed like he also found the situation amusing, seeing me acting so boldly.

Okay, then the atmosphere had softened a bit…

“But did you come here because of me?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm, I don’t feel good about you investigating me like this…”

Auril Gabis coughed awkwardly as I hinted that I was uncomfortable.

“Ahem, but I wouldn’t have been able to meet you otherwise.”

“Huh? Ah… right. Why did the community suddenly close? I thought you might have banned me.”

“Ah, about that, there was a situation.”

“Situation?”

“There was interference from the royal family. I’ve recovered it to some extent now.”

“Oh, so we can meet there again next month?”

“No, that’s not the case. I handed over ownership to a friend recently. You might not be able to see me anymore.”

“A friend… are you talking about the GM?”

“Probably.”

I was curious and asked who the GM was, but Auril Gabis didn’t answer.

It felt like a secret he couldn’t tell me.

Or rather, he seemed sulky.

“Well, there’s no reason to keep it a secret… but try to figure it out yourself.”

“Yes?”

“If you just see me as someone to trade information with, I have no choice, do I?”

“Ah, yes…”

Geez, he’s sulking over this? He’s over 300 years old, and he’s acting like a child.

“But how long are you going to keep using that tone?”

“Yes?”

“You were calling me ‘you’ and everything back there. It’s awkward hearing you speak so formally.”

“Haha, come on. It was just a concept.”

“Concept?”

“Yes, like another character. A weakling’s struggle to not be underestimated. I wouldn’t dare to be disrespectful to you.”

“Hmm, I don’t really understand, but I think I get it.”

Auril Gabis nodded quietly.

And a brief silence followed.

He spoke after a while.

“Anyway, the reason I came looking for you is because I wanted to try and start over.”

It sounded like a cheesy line from a romance movie.

“…Yes?”

The old man quickly explained as I couldn’t hide my confusion.

“I want to be on good terms with you. I’m sure we can be helpful to each other, so it’s frustrating to just keep going in circles.”

“Ah…”

“So I brought a gift.”

“Gift…?”

I couldn’t help but flinch at that word.

I was both excited and worried.

I couldn’t read his intentions.

“Don’t worry. It’s nothing bad.”

“Can you tell me more?”

“As you know, I want you to open the Gate of the Abyss. So although I called it a gift, it’s also for me.”

Damn it, why is he so long-winded?

“I see. So?”

“It’s an ability that will be very helpful for you to hide your identity.”

Auril Gabis then briefly explained the ‘gift’. To summarize, he was going to use his power to give me a permanent buff.

“So, if I receive it, I won’t be affected by ‘Verification’ magic or interrogation items like ‘Distorted Trust’, right?”

“That’s right. It’s like a protective barrier on your body, so it won’t work when your mind is exposed.”

“When my mind is exposed?”

“For example, that place you’re summoned to every month.”

Ah, so it doesn’t work in the spiritual world.

Then I wouldn’t be able to just lie at the Round Table.

“So, how is it? My gift?”

I briefly contemplated.

It was definitely a very helpful ability.

He said it himself, so I wouldn’t be affected by things like ‘Distorted Trust’ after receiving this gift.

But…

‘I feel like he’s going to do something sneaky.’

I don’t know much about magic.

If Auril Gabis planted a tracking virus or something along with the gift, I wouldn’t be able to find and remove it.

And the problem was…

‘I can’t refuse.’

He was the old man who incapacitated the strongest knight of the royal family with a single gesture.

In other words, if he had any ill intentions towards me, he could force it on me.

“Okay. Then can you do it now?”

“Actually… I already did. As soon as we met in the sewers.”

“Huh? But I didn’t feel anything…”

“That’s my specialty.”

Ah, I see.

So I never had a choice from the beginning.

‘Damn it, this is annoying.’

No wonder he was speaking in the past tense.

______________________

After the ‘gift’ conversation ended…

…Auril Gabis said firmly,

“I’m telling you this beforehand, but I’m not planning to control you forcefully.”

That was good news.

Although I didn’t know how long it would last, it was better than him threatening me with magic.

“As expected of you. I respect you.”

“Haha, well…”

I said something flattering, and the old man chuckled humbly, but we both knew it was all an act.

But hypocrisy is also a form of courtesy in social life.

I chuckled and organized my thoughts.

I had two options now.

1. “Haha, it was nice meeting you. You said you wouldn’t control me forcefully, right? Then I have something to do, so I’ll be going… Please take care of yourself!”

To somehow shake off Auril Gabis and go save Amelia.

And…

2. Exploit the old man.

To accept Auril Gabis’ help.

It didn’t take long for me to make a decision.

I tried to avoid him, but we had met again.

And I couldn’t secretly get rid of him.

He would definitely follow me, even if I chose option 1.

‘And that Iron Mask would probably come off if he wanted it to… and it would be child’s play for him to find out my name.’

If I had to give in anyway, it was more rational to get something in return.

‘I might as well milk him for all he’s worth.’

I made up my mind and then spoke cautiously.

“Um… sir.”

“Ah, go ahead.”

“Can I ask you a favor? I’ll tell you my face and name if you do this for me.”

“Your face and name…?”

“Yes, you’ve always been curious, haven’t you?”

“That’s true, but…”

“Let’s work together.”

Auril Gabis didn’t answer my suggestion.

He just stared at me.

With a look that said, ‘What trick are you trying to pull now?’

_____________________

Meanwhile…

Amelia, who was running through the sewers with her sister, stopped.

“Wh, why did you suddenly stop…?”

She couldn’t sense anyone nearby.

But one of her abilities had been deactivated.

In other words…

“He’s here.”

The Traitor, Ricardo Liuhen Praha, was nearby.

‘As expected…’

She wondered what had happened to Yandel, who was fighting him.

But Amelia dismissed her worry.

She had said she would believe him.

And that wasn’t what she should be worried about right now.

“You mean…”

Laura flinched at Amelia’s mutter.

She had told them that Ricardo Liuhen Praha was after her when they asked about her severed arm.

“Right, it’s him.”

The two girls trembled as Amelia confirmed it. They remembered him slaughtering hundreds of explorers a few hours ago.

“Amelia, Laura.”

“…Ye, yes!”

“Listen carefully. We’re almost there.”

Amelia briefly explained the way to the city.

“Go, I’ll hold him off.”

The sisters’ reactions were different.

“Why are you doing this for us…?”

Her younger self was flustered.

She seemed to be worried about Amelia being left alone.

But her sister, Laura, was different.

“Amelia, come here.”

“Bu, but…”

“Now!”

She grabbed her sister’s hand and ran towards the passage, despite her questions and gratitude.

Laura had…

…one thing that was more important than her personal feelings.

“…….”

Amelia watched them leave.

She didn’t even have to close her eyes, the memory was vivid.

The end of that dark passage.

The memory she had experienced there.

Could she really change the past?

She didn’t know yet.

But…

“Those are precious children to you, aren’t they?”

A man’s low voice echoed softly.

“That’s good.”

Amelia turned her head, and Ricardo Liuhen Praha was smiling.

“I can show you what it feels like to lose something.”

Amelia tightened her grip on her dagger.