Chapter 345: Chapter 345: Comeback (4)

SoulQueens finally surrendered.

It seemed like she had realized how foolish it was to try to gain the upper hand in our relationship…

“Pfft, what a funny woman. She was so bold when she revealed the GM’s identity, but now she’s backing down when it’s her turn.”

Queen endured Clown’s mockery without a word. It was a pitiful sight, considering her status at the Round Table.

But…

‘It would be a shame to end it here.’

…it would be foolish to just accept her surrender.

SoulQueens seemed to be sensitive to hierarchy.

It would be better to properly imprint it on her now.

Like I did to the goblin I met in the cave on the day I was summoned to this world.

Who was on top.

And who was below.

“Why…”

I tapped my finger on the table and asked,

“…should I?”

SoulQueens flinched at my short question and answered in a small voice,

“…If we stop here, we won’t be hostile towards you.”

It meant that they wouldn’t ban me from the community, and they wouldn’t even hold a grudge against me for revealing the GM’s identity.

I chuckled coldly at her uncharacteristically roundabout expression.

It sounded like a suggestion between equals.

“You still haven’t learned your lesson.”

I tapped my finger on the armrest again.

But there was a difference from before.

This time, I didn’t hide my displeasure.

“…Please tell me what you want.”

SoulQueens pleaded, watching my reaction.

Therefore…

“I don’t want anything from you.”

I spoke clearly, as if she didn’t understand.

“And I’m not afraid of you.”

At least on the surface.

Would I have been this aggressive if I was even slightly concerned about making an enemy out of the management team? I must seem like an uncontrollable madman to them.

So…

“I’ll ask you one last time.”

I asked SoulQueens again,

“Why should I?”

“Th, that’s…”

Of course, she couldn’t answer.

After all, everyone she had dealt with had their own desires. It was only natural for her to be speechless when she encountered someone who didn’t want anything and wasn’t even afraid of threats.

But…

“I…”

…she was a clever woman.

Threats didn’t work, and I didn’t even want anything.

I was just enjoying this punishment.

How could she persuade someone like that?

She finally reached an answer after a long contemplation.

To give up on persuasion.

And…

“I was… wrong…”

…to beg for mercy.

The last resort of a powerless person.

“Please… forgive me…”

“It seems like that stupid woman has finally realized her place. Pfft.”

SoulQueens ignored Clown’s mockery and lowered her head, just like I had told Stag Antlers to do.

And she looked up at me and spoke with difficulty,

“I’ll never… disobey you again… So please… forgive me for my mistake today…”

Honestly, I was impressed.

I didn’t expect her to be this humble. Was it that shocking to know that I knew their identities?

“…….”

“…….”

The other members were just watching me and SoulQueens, their mouths shut.

They were curious about whether I would accept her apology.

‘That’s enough hierarchy establishment…’

I looked down at SoulQueens and said,

“That’s better.”

Yes, that’s it.

______________________

“Queen’s nickname is SoulQueens. And I won’t tell you SoulQueens’s real name.”

I ended my turn and received a green light.

“Phew…”

The members all sighed in relief, the tension lifting.

SoulQueens was the same.

“Thank… you…”

She thanked me, as if she was peeling off her own skin. I didn’t answer, and an awkward silence followed.

Stag Antlers cautiously broke the silence.

“…What about the meeting? Are we going to continue?”

The second round had ended with my turn.

We usually went for four or five rounds, but it wasn’t strange to end it here.

Then what would they decide?

“I, I’m done…”

SoulQueens, who had been scolded earlier, spoke cautiously, watching my reaction.

It seemed like she would stay if I told her to…

But it wouldn’t change anything if she was the only one left.

“Then… I’m done too…”

Goblin, who had received two red lights and barely managed to pass this round, declared his withdrawal, and the meeting naturally came to an end.

‘Damn it, it’s over already…’

It was a bit disappointing that the Round Table, which I had returned to after two years and six months, ended after just two rounds, but it couldn’t be helped.

‘Well, at least I showed my face today. They’ll bring something more interesting next month.’

“…Pfft, then let’s all prepare more diligently for next month. Ah, of course, assuming Lion comes back!”

Clown glanced at me as he spoke to the other members.

It was a bit cute.

He really wanted to ask if I was coming back next month.

Swoosh.

I left the Round Table without answering his question.

And…

“Phew…”

…I lay down on the bed as soon as I returned to Lee Hansu’s room, taking a deep breath.

I was exhausted, perhaps because of the killing intent I had used earlier.

‘I’m going to sleep like a log until tomorrow evening.’

Of course, that was my future self. My current self started working.

First, organize the information.

‘I made a scene today, so no one will suspect that I’m Bjorn Yandel for now…’

I replayed the events of the Round Table.

My comeback performance seemed successful, but it wasn’t perfect. After all, I couldn’t stay hidden forever.

‘They’ll start suspecting me again as soon as they find out I’m alive.’

Of course, I had a few ways to deal with that.

I had gained several trump cards during my time travel.

‘I’ll think about that later…’

There was something more important.

No, honestly, I almost had a mental breakdown because of it.

[The original source was Misha Kaltstein, that woman.]

Misha Kaltstein.

Why did she spread that rumor…

[It’s the same thing. She’s one of Lee Baekho’s companions now.]

…and how did she become Lee Baekho’s companion?

I couldn’t connect the dots, no matter how hard I tried.

But if I had to guess…

[Lee Baekho has the Stone of Resurrection.]

…that seemed to be the key.

For example, maybe Misha had joined forces with Lee Baekho to bring me back to life.

‘…Is that just wishful thinking?’

Damn it, if only he had sent me back a year earlier.

The gap of two years and six months felt huge, and my frustration grew.

But what could I do?

‘Anyway, if Misha’s goal is to bring me back to life… what’s Lee Baekho’s goal?’

Well, I didn’t know.

I didn’t have enough information yet.

I hadn’t spent much time talking to Lee Baekho, and we were both from Korea.

And we had never had a sincere conversation.

‘…I’ll think about that after I find out more about Lee Baekho.’

I closed my eyes and continued organizing my thoughts.

The GM, Auril Gabis, Amelia, Noark, the royal family, and so on. I had countless things to think about.

“…….”

After brainstorming for a while, I sat back down at the computer and continued browsing the forums.

After some time…

‘I thought the GM or SoulQueens would send me a message, but there’s nothing.’

I moved the cursor.

I didn’t think I would find anything important even if I continued browsing, and it was almost time for the community to close.

Click.

The screen flashed as I clicked the logout button, and then darkness enveloped me.

A bedroom with all the windows boarded up, not a single ray of moonlight entering.

“Hehe, you’re awake…”

Erwen was looking down at me.

____________________

Erwen Fornachi di Tersia.

The current Pureblood and the contractor of the Spirit King.

She had been bestowed with the ‘Sacred Tree Bow’, a fairy treasure, and had become one of the Seven Strengths, earning the nickname ‘Blood Spirit Marquis’ for her achievements in the war.

And…

[Pfft, what the hell is that crazy woman planning?]

[Well, there’s going to be another bloodbath.]

…the only one among my companions who had dedicated everything to avenging me.

[No matter what anyone says, you’re Bjorn Yandel to me.]

The one who said it didn’t matter if I was an evil spirit.

But I couldn’t feel grateful or touched by her devotion.

It was too much.

Then why was she so obsessed with me?

At first, I thought it was because of her Obsession stat.

Goblin Archer, Steel Hill Chaser, Cannibal.

All three essences she had absorbed had the ‘Obsession’ stat.

And her sister’s death might have acted as a trigger.

But…

“Mister… do you want to go for a walk? The, the moon is beautiful tonight…”

…that was Erwen from two years and six months ago.

She had already replaced most of her essences, receiving generous support from her tribe.

The problem was that the new essences weren’t that great.

Patrol Golem Ertes from the Golem Island on the 6th floor.

+45 Defense Mechanism.

Kalban, a wolf monster with the unique characteristic of not attacking during the day, but attacking first at night.

+30 Impulse and +30 Distrust.

+24 Possessiveness from the 4th-grade monster, Metcrow, and -30 Control and +40 Deficiency from the other two essences.

They weren’t stats that would cause serious mental problems individually, but it was only natural for them to affect her real life when combined.

So I had been trying to avoid provoking her after realizing that.

Things could get out of hand if she snapped.

Right, that’s what I had been doing.

But…

“Ah, right…! I bought you a necklace… If you wear this, I can always know where you are—”

…I couldn’t avoid it forever.

This wasn’t my style.

Thud.

I swatted her hand away.

“…Huh?”

Erwen looked surprised.

“Mi, mister… are you… angry? Why…?”

She looked around nervously, trying to find the reason for my sudden change.

“Come to think of it… there was… a loose plank in the living room…”

I had almost ripped it off because I was feeling suffocated.

But did she interpret it differently?

“Amelia Rainwales. That woman, right…? She was here, wasn’t she? That’s why you’re…”

Erwen started rambling, her body trembling.

Her eyes were filled with killing intent.

Honestly, it was terrifying.

But…

“Amelia wasn’t here.”

…so what?

I couldn’t run away just because I was scared.

When I was falsely accused and imprisoned in the guild’s basement.

When I encountered the Dragonslayer in Lalkas’s Maze.

And even during the Noark War, which earned me the title of ‘Giant’.

I survived because I always faced my problems head-on.

Therefore…

“Why… why are you still calling her by her name?”

…I answered without hesitation.

“Because she’s my companion.”

Erwen’s response came after a brief pause.

“…Th, that’s… I, I told you I would be here for you, that you don’t need her anymore…!”

Right, she did say that.

But…

“Why are you the one who decides that?”

“Th, that’s…”

Erwen was speechless.

I didn’t feel sorry for her.

I spoke naturally, as if I was still wearing the Lion mask.

“How dare you.”

“……!”

Erwen’s eyes widened.

I activated my dormant muscles.

After all, what else could she do in her unstable mental state?

“…Who are you?”

“I’m Bjorn Yandel.”

“Li, liar… you’re an evil spirit…”

A black aura started emanating from Erwen’s body.

It was the darkness spirit she had mastered.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

My heart pounded, sensing danger.

Although I was prepared, the pressure was still significant.

But I reminded myself.

‘Who am I?’

A barbarian warrior who had overcome countless hardships.

Giant, Bjorn, son of Yandel.

The only player who cleared the original difficulty.

The absolute ruler of the Round Table with a lion’s heart.

Clench.

My chest swelled with courage as I recalled my identity.

So before this feeling faded…

“It, it’s not too late, so tell me now. Th, that you made a mistake while you were asleep—”

“Erwen Fornachi di Tersia.”

…I said,

“There’s something wrong with your head.”

Right, if there’s a problem, we have to fix it.

“Just attack me.”

In the way I knew best.