[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian":3,"chapter-surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-574":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Surviving the Game as a Barbarian",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1328104,1764,"Chapter 574: Last Community (4)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-574",574,"\u003Cp>Today’s roundtable proceeded differently than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a truth game—when someone asked a question, the respondent had to answer honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Phit... there’s no way I’d waste such a precious opportunity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I was a little curious myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What would the roundtable members most want to ask the Investigator?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I’d find out soon enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well then, I’ll start...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first to speak was Fox, breaking the strangely quiet atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you... really know who we are?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It surprised me at first, but on reflection, it was a reasonable question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, I was the one who openly revealed the Jester’s identity at the roundtable, and ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ the Queen had bluffingly acted as if she knew as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though, in truth, all anyone really knew were just nicknames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Fox’s question, the Jester suddenly sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t even realize what a priceless chance this is, wasting it on such obvious questions!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jester seemed to accept as fact—no, truth—that I knew their identities...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fox snapped back irritably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do you know whether it’s obvious or not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Phit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t it my freedom to ask whatever I want? Stop trying to interfere like that. It’s annoying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold, sharp tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come to think of it, that was just his usual personality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the first to throw killing intent when I first came to the roundtable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, at the time, he had good reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Those were foolish days...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, that was all long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Fox joined Clan Anavada and became my comrade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he doesn’t realize it yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Why are you getting angry? I was just joking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jester tried to smooth things over, apparently flustered by Fox’s anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Fox ignored him without a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid this atmosphere...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha... Then it’s my turn!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wolf spoke up next, apparently uninterested in their quarrel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to know where and how Investigator met the Earth Witch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Earth Witch... that was a bit unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought he’d ask another question related to Auril Gavis, as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump, thump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Habitually tapping his armrest with his index finger, I shifted my gaze away from Wolf to signal readiness for the next question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Catching my eye, Goblin glanced around cautiously before speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um... I’m not sure how to ask this...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Phit, don’t be so difficult, Investigator. Hurry up—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you have many wives or girlfriends...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Goblin finished, an indescribable silence fell over the roundtable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jester made a dumbfounded noise as if doubting his own ears, and the others were similar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was stunned for a moment, then slowly grasped the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reactions varied after that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of absurd question is that...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Goblin, are you an idiot?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha ha ha! Puhuh, puhahahahaha!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some outright rejected it, some cursed, others burst out laughing loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the reactions were guesses about why Goblin asked that question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be... because of the ‘fate’ related to that mask before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fox muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jester snorted disdainfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah! That ridiculous speculation from before! Investigator choosing the Investigator mask might just be because of good luck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the first time I heard that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparently a private conversation while I was gone...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good luck...? What does that mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Queen didn’t know either, so I assumed it was something from the early days when only the original roundtable members were present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not formally ask next time if you’re curious? Phit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. I roughly understand what it’s about. Now, it’s my turn to ask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Queen skillfully ignored the Jester’s provocation and began her turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What I want to ask is simple. Have you ever met the King of Gaebyeok in person?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Queen’s question was very meaningful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t easy to read her intention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must have many things she’s curious about, and there was surely a reason she chose this question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why... why ask this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting the King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So far, this topic had come up twice in the roundtable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Queen and Wolf both openly admitted they had faced the King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is meeting the King that important?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, it seemed there was something more to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or maybe just because so few had met the King, they hoped to deduce my identity through this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm... Now it’s my turn?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I was gathering my thoughts, it was Butterfly’s turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, what should I ask...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trailing off playfully, Butterfly suddenly made an unexpected decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll just pass.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whaaat? Butterfly, don’t you realize what a great opportunity this is! Investigator knows everything and can answer anything!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jester exclaimed, but Butterfly’s choice didn’t change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But... I doubt Investigator will answer my question anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eh? On what basis do you say that without even trying—?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Intuition, and experience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Men usually don’t like women who put them in difficult situations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she spoke to the Jester, it was clear she meant for me to hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘In other words, she’s saying her question would definitely put me in an awkward position...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, with Butterfly passing, it was Black Mask’s turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What would he ask?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t really know him well, and he might just skip like Butterfly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bjorn Yandel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why suddenly mention that name?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was startled for a moment but focused on his words as I rested my arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bjorn Yandel and... Misha Kalstein...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What? Does he know about the Resurrection Stone incident too?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such thoughts crossed my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Were they really dating, as the rumors say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black Mask’s question knocked me out of my thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What the hell...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was he asking me that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he somehow know I was Bjorn Yandel?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he did, why ask such a thing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was his intention?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh... All these questions are such trash.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t know why, but the Jester sighed, seeming annoyed that even Black Mask wasted the opportunity with such a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How great did he think his own questions were?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. Since everyone’s done, now it’s my turn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever he asks, I definitely won’t answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resolving that inwardly, the Jester looked at me and carefully spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then... I’ll ask the Investigator.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an unusually nervous, trembling voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If... if I said... I want to give up everything and serve under you... would you accept me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell is this guy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The declaration of wanting to be a subordinate stunned the roundtable into a strange silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wondered what kind of question it would be...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To ask such a thing after causing all that chaos for us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a shame. If you want to ask that, just say it after everything’s over...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of his karma, the members’ eyes were cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the Jester didn’t care about those reactions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh... then... will you answer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A serious question, without a trace of a forced laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the final scene of some matchmaking show.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, I wasn’t even incredulous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had long passed that stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He doesn’t know who I am.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nor what I want.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a mysterious powerful figure wrapped in a veil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s about the extent of his awareness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to say he wants to give up everything and become my subordinate...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What kind of mindset does this guy have?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is he like a rebellious teenager idolizing a bully?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t know, but his question ended the questioning round.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had received six questions in total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Butterfly passed, it was the most questions I had gotten so far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of them were weird questions anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it was time to answer, everyone quietly fell silent and stared at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of answer would I give?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could see in their eyes a hope that I would answer their questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jester’s question was probably the most pressing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Ugh, so stressful...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I naturally avoided eye contact but kept thinking hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What question would be best to answer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Where and how did you meet the Earth Witch?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Have you ever met the King of Gaebyeok in person?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d pass on those two for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wolf’s question was dangerous since I didn’t know where my answer might lead, and the Queen didn’t seem to grasp the true intent behind her question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Do you have many wives or girlfriends?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Were you really dating, as rumored?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Answering those two would look too weird...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Do you really know who we are?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[If someone said they’d give up everything and serve under you... would you accept?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those two were the remaining candidates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I had to eliminate one by process of elimination, it was obvious which.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I don’t fully know their identities.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’d ruin the mystique to say I know some.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So only one choice remained...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump, thump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like pulling a horn off with one quick jerk,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I scanned them all, then fixed my gaze on the Jester and spoke his name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Abet Nekrafetto.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corpse collector behind the Jester mask—his real name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at him firmly and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t accept you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked as if the world had collapsed on him and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was very simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t have a hobby of raising insects.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how friendly he acted at the roundtable, I would never treat this guy like a person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[“Sis... she doesn’t move anymore. Can’t speak. Cold and stiff. I haven’t done anything for her yet...”]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is my enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoooooosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the green light of truth flowed out, the Jester said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just stared blankly into space like someone dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um... are you okay—?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Queen, unable to watch any longer, tried to speak to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Puhuhu, puhuhuhuhu...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, the Jester started laughing like a madman all alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Puhuhu, insects...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, maybe that choice of words was harsh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I briefly thought so, but it couldn’t be helped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These kinds of people only understand when spoken to strongly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really... impressive, Investigator...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After laughing for a while, the Jester looked at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I used to have some confidence in myself, you know. Puhuhu...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a pattern often seen in those trying to look cool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Insect! No matter what, insect! Puhuhuhu... Surely, Investigator sees everyone as such creatures, right? Puhuhuhuhuhu...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he keeps laughing, you’d think he’s unaffected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow... that one’s broken, huh? What now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Geez, why ask such a question...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the Jester laugh like a lunatic, the members each offered words of sympathy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I just want the next round to start already...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just when I was wondering whether I should step in, a sudden shaking hit the roundtable room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud thud thud thud thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like an earthquake, the room violently shook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crrrrriiick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the meeting, the door opened from outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This had only happened once before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one who created the “Watcher of the Roundtable”...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the old man already confirmed as “Auril Gavis” entered the roundtable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It was exactly like this last time.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So how would it be this time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, I turned my head toward the opened door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh heh, masks I haven’t seen before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man wearing a white mask looked at us with a hearty laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>",1839,"2026-06-05T19:33:16.709Z",1,"novelbin.me","e1f9f2501d44fdd000e19513bf8ca18ee6f368658ae8822f7673a08403aab029","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-754","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-573",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]