BHDGB-Bab 245

Episode 245: Crossroads (5)

Ghost Master.

A figure who not only holds administrative authority over the community but is also considered a legendary veteran among players.

“So it really is you. GM.”

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

‘Hans I is the GM…?’

I was confused.

If what he said was true, why would someone as big as a GM hide his identity and approach me?

Was it just because I’ve been getting attention lately and he wanted to see me in person?

‘No, that can’t be it.’

The GM suspected I was a “player.”

That’s why he approached me during the banquet to test me, and even went so far as to tail me.

That seems like a more plausible theory.

Even if I don’t particularly like it.

‘Then that wind spell earlier must’ve been his doing too.’

Once I formed the theory, the questions started to answer themselves.

He must’ve been curious if I survived after the wagon exploded and the smoke bomb went off during the tailing.

‘I’ll think more about that later.’

I returned to the most important issue.

A man who dropped from the sky, called Hans I the GM, and radiated such an overwhelming presence that even knights trembled.

Who in the world is this man—

“Lift the ban. Or you’re really gonna die here.”

…Huh?

‘Lift the ban?’

A chill ran down my spine.

For a simple reason.

There’s only one person I know who would dare make such a demand to a GM.

A proud son of Korea.

‘Lee Baekho.’

Of course, there’s a chance it’s not him.

It’s not like the GM banned just one or two people.

It’s possible someone with a grudge came to throw a fit like this.

But…

“Hey, old man, can’t you hear me?”

For some reason, I kept seeing Baekho’s face in him.

‘…Is it really him?’

With that thought, I took another close look at the guy’s appearance.

‘Height’s mid-170s.’

Wearing a clean suit, not really equipped with anything.

If he’s not in disguise, he’s human.

Pale skin, no noticeable scars.

Hair slicked back in a pomade style, platinum blonde.

Good-looking features, but his eyes gave off more of a mischievous vibe than a noble one—

“Sir Yandel.”

As I was observing him, a knight approached and whispered to me.

“Whatever you do, don’t try to run.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“He’s not someone you can run from.”

His voice was tense.

Could it be… he knows who that guy is?

“Who is that man?”

I quickly asked.

And then…

“He is—”

Just as the knight was about to answer—

“Oh, you guys were here too?”

The man’s gaze shifted to us.

Ha, I was whispering so quietly, and he heard that from that distance?

“Bjorn Yandel.”

He said my name clearly, as if he knew who I was.

Though maybe not in great detail?

“I heard you took down that chuunibyou brat. And you’re only in your first year.”

Still gripping Hans I by the neck, the man looked at me with curiosity.

Like he’d stumbled upon something amusing.

“Just to be sure…”

Then he asked me.

“Are you a player?”

Ha, I had a bad feeling the moment he said my name.

These kinds of premonitions never miss.

There was only one answer I could give.

“…You’re an evil spirit.”

Not pretending not to understand, but drawing a line by calling him an “evil spirit.”

Whether he’s Lee Baekho or not doesn’t matter.

With so many people watching, what else could I say?

“Hm, that’s strange. You’ve made a name for yourself, but I don’t think it’s enough for the GM to take interest.”

He muttered quietly, “Unless you’re a player…”

Then narrowed his eyes.

And—

“Hey.”

He continued in a voice that, though smiling, carried no emotion.

“Answer with just yes or no.”

“Don’t answer… kuh!”

The knight who tried to advise me was suddenly struck in the stomach by something invisible and sent flying.

No need to ask who did it.

“Oh, too many people around bothering you? Don’t worry. If you’re a player, I’ll just kill them all and erase the evidence. I mean, I can at least offer that kind of service to satisfy my curiosity.”

He grinned and pressed me again.

“Yes or no.”

I barely held back the urge to say “no.”

Because the question itself was suspicious.

Asking the same question while demanding a yes or no answer?

It’s like he has a way to detect the truth.

‘There are essences that can do that.’

With no information, it’s best to be cautious.

“If you don’t want to, just say no. Just one word. I’m really curious.”

The more he obsessed over my answer, the more suspicious I became.

So I had only one choice.

“I’ll ask the questions first.”

Instead of staying silent, I changed the subject.

As if I didn’t want to give him control of the conversation.

“Evil spirit, are you with the assassins?”

A question a barbarian who doesn’t know what a GM is might ask.

Whether it’s the knight or this guy, my silence would only raise more questions.

Of course, he wasn’t easy to deal with either.

“I told you to answer with just yes or no.”

As he spoke, the air grew heavy.

My body froze as if facing a natural enemy.

‘Is this… killing intent?’

I couldn’t understand it.

Is it really possible to emit this level of killing intent outside the community?

I don’t know.

The only thing I’m sure of right now is—

“Wow, you’re holding up well.”

He was like a tyrant.

Capricious, yet always getting what he wants, wherever and whenever he wants it.

“Ready to answer yet?”

My mind went blank.

Was this how the clown at the Round Table felt?

My breath stopped, and my vision blurred as if blood flow to my brain had been cut off.

A thought crossed my mind.

‘…What happens if I say yes?’

Even knowing it was a foolish hope born of a weak mind, I couldn’t stop thinking.

‘If he really is Lee Baekho… maybe it’s okay to reveal myself?’

Maybe it would help me.

We’re both from Korea, after all.

If the way he acted in the community was his true personality, maybe he’d treat me like a brother.

‘Yeah, maybe…’

Depending on my answer, I might get help from Lee Baekho, grow stronger, and one day escape this world together.

But the moment I imagined that future—

“…Bjorn!”

I snapped back to my senses.

For several reasons.

First, I still wasn’t sure if he was really Lee Baekho.

Also, if I revealed myself, the hundreds of civilians here would become corpses.

No, more precisely—

“Misha?”

I turned toward the voice and saw Misha running toward me, out of breath.

Well, this was near her home.

She must’ve come running after hearing the commotion.

But the situation wasn’t good.

“Oh, your girlfriend?”

The man grinned when he saw Misha.

Like he’d found a good weakness.

The pressure that had been binding my body vanished, and I could move freely again.

So—

Tap.

I immediately leapt forward to block Misha.

To protect her from any sudden attack.

“Red Beast Tribe girls are cute, I’ll give you that.”

He nodded as if satisfied.

Then asked again.

“Answer yes or no.”

But this time, not to me.

To Misha.

“Red Beast girl, are you a player?”

“Uh? P-Player?”

“Are you an evil spirit?”

“N-No, I’m not…?”

Misha stammered, startled by the sudden question, and he nodded.

“That’s the truth.”

“You don’t need to answer him. Misha, get behind me.”

I quickly pulled Misha behind me.

Seeing that, he chuckled.

“Ha, if you’re protecting an NPC like that, you probably aren’t a player… but something’s still off. Why won’t you answer?”

Cold sweat ran down my back.

If I answered, he’d know I was lying.

If I didn’t, it looked suspicious.

“Why should I do what the enemy wants?”

I gave a typical barbarian-style reason to avoid answering.

“Oh, that’s fair.”

He nodded as if convinced, then asked playfully.

“But are you really going to be my enemy?”

Ha, those eyes were sharp.

That must be what they mean when they say someone’s smiling with their mouth but not their eyes.

“If you don’t answer, I’ll kill the Red Beast girl.”

Then he threw down a checkmate.

It wasn’t just a threat—I could tell right away.

‘Damn it.’

What should I do?

I racked my brain, but no good answer came.

Then it happened.

[…Mr. Baekho.]

“Huh?”

[See you next time.]

Light burst from Hans I’s body, who had been held by the collar the whole time.

***

“Ha, that son of a…”

Lee Baekho cursed as he got up.

A wide farm with the scent of fresh fruit.

It didn’t take long to realize where he was.

There was only one place with a farm like this.

Zone 6 of Rafdonia, Gnome Tree.

“Damn it. That bastard’s definitely not coming out of the Mage Tower now…”

Lee Baekho admitted he’d let him go.

Even if he rushed back now, there’d be no one left there.

It was clearly a misjudgment on his part.

He’d been wary of teleportation, since the guy was a mage.

That’s why he grabbed his neck to prevent chanting.

But silent teleportation?

And not just that—he used it on someone else?

“So, he’s got some skill too, huh?”

He regretted underestimating him, but quickly brushed it off.

What’s done is done.

Regret didn’t suit him.

Besides, it wasn’t like he got nothing out of it.

He found out that guy was the GM.

‘Time’s on my side.

I’ll just keep chasing him around.’

Scratching his head, Baekho turned his attention elsewhere.

“In the end, I never got an answer.”

Bjorn Yandel.

A barbarian he ran into while chasing the GM.

“…Well, whatever.”

He stopped wondering whether that barbarian was a player.

Chances were, he wasn’t.

And honestly, Baekho had lost interest.

Even if he turned out to be a player, he didn’t care anymore.

People who were content living in this world and fawning over NPCs were useless to his plans.

Thud.

Baekho flopped down on the ground.

Then used [Spatial Interference] to pluck grapes from a tree and popped them into his mouth.

“Ah, nothing beats wild grapes.”

The air was fresh, the food was good.

The GM would be holed up in the Mage Tower for a while.

‘Too lazy to go all the way to Bifron.’

He figured he might as well stay here for a bit.

***

Two days had passed since that incident.

A noble title, assassins, the GM, and Lee Baekho.

So much had happened in just one day, and the last two days were spent cleaning up the aftermath.

First, the “assassins”…

[We’ll take them for interrogation.]

The captured assassins were transported to Mozlan.

According to the knight today, they were hired by someone unknown.

Apparently, even the explosives that instantly killed three knights were provided by that “someone.”

[Their orders were to kill you, Sir Yandel, and steal the essence you received.]

There were many suspicious points.

The essence, sure, that made sense.

The box with the vial was sturdy enough.

It was possible they could’ve ambushed and killed me to take it.

But…

[What if I had already consumed it?]

[We couldn’t understand that either.]

The client even placed a large bounty on my head.

Which meant the essence was just an excuse.

Otherwise, there’d be no reason to pay to have me killed.

So Mozlan suspected the client was from Noark.

At least until yesterday.

[Then it’s likely one of the major clans.]

Mozlan concluded that the culprit was likely one of the major clans.

If it were Noark, they would’ve sent more capable people.

This kind of “request” didn’t suit them.

And the major clans had plenty of motive.

[Yes.

They probably planned to kill you and frame the royal family.

In fact, there were several attempts to spread such rumors in taverns that night.]

It was a convincing theory, but I still had questions.

Then what about what the clown said?

Did he know this information in advance?

‘Come to think of it, he did say assassins would come.

He never said they were from Noark…’

Maybe he figured it wouldn’t hurt to say it since they weren’t his people.

‘…Or maybe the real ones haven’t even come yet?’

A wave of self-loathing hit me.

Why do I have to live in fear even in the city?

Anyway, that’s enough about the assassins.

Next.

‘GM.’

In the end, Hans I wasn’t the GM.

[The Hans Iphreia you saw that day was definitely someone in disguise.]

When they raided his home, the real Hans Iphreia was found unconscious.

They even checked his mana, and he had no magical talent at all.

In short, someone borrowed his identity.

‘Tch.’

A bit disappointing.

I thought I might’ve uncovered the GM’s identity.

‘Still, it wasn’t a total loss.’

One of the few consolations.

At least now I know the GM suspects I’m a player.

Which means I have time to prepare.

‘Since I didn’t answer, his suspicion must’ve deepened.

He’ll probably target the next community opening.’

Luckily, I have a good idea when that’ll be.

And I’ve prepared a countermeasure.

Anyway, next.

‘Lee Baekho.’

That guy was definitely Lee Baekho.

The GM confirmed it at the end.

[…Mr. Baekho.

See you next time.]

He said it using magic, not his voice, while being held by the neck.

Well, not that it matters much.

[That person… I’m sorry.

I don’t have the authority to tell you.]

When I later asked the knight who he was, that’s all he said.

So timing really is everything, huh?

If Baekho hadn’t interrupted, the knight might’ve told me.

‘He really is dangerous…’

Even if I meet him again, I doubt I’ll be able to get along with him like before.

We’re just too different.

I never thought the innocent act he put on in the community was real, but still, that was too much.

‘He was a total maniac…’

Anyway, that’s enough about Baekho.

Next.

‘Misha.’

Honestly, this is the most troublesome part, the one that makes my chest tighten.

“Bjorn, listen, and don’t take this the wrong way, okay?”

“…”

“You’re not gonna suddenly disappear on me, right? R-Right…?”

Misha was starting to look at me with fear.