The Round Table Watchers were a secret society created to exchange quality information.

When I first came to this place, the current members were interested in my relationship with the Master. The reason was simple. The master who recruited members through the message function disappeared a year ago. The members of the club believed that they could get information about the Master from me, and since the idea of Leo had been formed, our acquaintance was recognized as a fact. I invariably answered all related questions with a refusal to comment.

"I refuse to answer."

If I said I knew him, I would be worried about the future.

If I said I didn't know, it wouldn't fit my mysterious image.

But did I, without realizing it, become greedy?

"Maybe you also know where Master is?"

At the second meeting, I shrugged my shoulders in response to Lisa's question, as if to say, "Bring me something interesting and I'll tell you." I put my chin on my hand and acted relaxed, as if I had become an absolute. This was clearly intended to cause misunderstanding.

"Didn't you invite him, Master? I'm sure he said so too..."

It seemed that this intention worked, because the Fox's voice sounded confused. The others also seemed to wonder what was going on.

"Hmm, did I invite him?" The master touched his chin as if he couldn't remember it. As a result, the rest of the masks turned to me with eyes full of questions and curiosity about my identity.

"If not Master, then how did this person get here?"

"Perhaps he used the old invitation code," the Goblin guessed at the Fox's muttering.

The clown refuted him.

"Idiot. Don't you know that the invitation code expires in just a month, and you won't be able to use it?

"Master, is that true?"

"What the Clown said is true.

"Then...

When the Master agreed, the looks in my direction became more frank.

"Mr. Lev, why did you deceive me that you knew the Master?" The Fox asked in a cautious tone.

I held my breath for a moment and closed my eyes. It would be a lie to say that I wasn't stunned by the Master's sudden appearance, but losing my temper might have ruined everything. I quickly decided which position to take.

"I didn't deceive you.

I never said I knew him. You just misunderstood.

If I tell them that, they won't be able to say anything.

Well, they'll feel uncomfortable, but...

From murderous energy to information and stuff, haven't I shown them enough? Anyway, they won't be able to understand that I'm a cyber thug.

"What do you mean?"

I chose an unscrupulous method. This was the character of Leo.

— In the literal sense. Do you have problems with your ears?

"N-no... That's not the point...

I didn't release any killing energy, but the Fox panicked a lot.

I laughed loudly and was about to say the prepared phrase that I had not said anything, and that they had misunderstood.

But at that moment, the Master looked at me and said:

"That's enough. I don't know the details of what happened between you, but he didn't deceive anyone.

… And?

"Now I know who you are.

For a moment, my heart skipped a beat. Of course, it was only fleeting.

Did he know who I was? Delirium.

Even the Master was only a moderator of a private chat, so how did he know?

"Haha, even though I thought you would choose a tiger.

The master laughed, and I clamped my mouth shut. But not because he made a funny joke, but because I had no idea what he was talking about. I just chose to remain silent.

Not to say too much will already help me go at least half the way.

"Or a soldier.

This judgment was not erroneous.

Soldier, right?

Now I understood who this old man took me for:

"Sergeant Lee."

He was a sergeant in the literal sense of the word. This is the nickname Lee Baek Ho* - a hapless player who was dragged into this world on the day of his demobilization.

Note: In Korean, Baek Ho means "white tiger."

"Haha, it's useless to pretend it's not. You're the only one who got the perpetual code from me.

Come to think of it, it's only natural that the Master didn't understand. After all, Lee Baek Ho gave me the code. In a mask, he could not distinguish me from him.

… Should we call it luck?

I wasn't sure yet. I guess it depends on how close Lee Baek Ho and Master were.

"I never thought you'd come here. When I first came to see you, you ran over me and said I was fooling around.

—…

"I'm a little curious. Why did you change your mind?

The conclusion suggested itself.

They weren't that close.

Hit? Well, okay. There were many quarreling friendships in the world.

But...

"Oh, I didn't tell you. The pill I took was a prototype, so I can only stay here for an hour."

However, Lee Baek Ho could only be here for one hour.

Therefore, he could not participate in this meeting at all if the entry time was between 3:00 and 3:10 in the morning.

He didn't know what Lee Baek Ho had told me on the first day we met?

I got a rough estimate.

Master didn't know much about Lee Baek Ho. Which means I can pretend to be one.

"Although I suggested it first, you have nothing to gain from participating.

The clown grumbled in response to the Master's words.

"Hehee, won't win anything?" Master, aren't you belittling us too much?

"Oh, I'm sorry if I offended you. But this guy is an amazing person, you see.

Clown's eyes lit up at such praise.

I quickly examined the rest of the masks. They were not much different from the Clown, only full of surprise, perhaps even more so than when I gave them high-level information, such as about the Rebirth Stone.

"I don't think I've ever heard a Master judge someone like that..."

"I didn't think it was so impressive!" Crescent Moon continued to exclaim, while the Deer looked somewhat offended. The fox shuddered as soon as our eyes met, and lowered his head. She seemed to feel guilty for suspecting me earlier.

What is going on here?

At the sight of this picture, I was even more worried. They say that the crisis is an opportunity, and this was evident in the way the views of everyone present have changed. If I manage to pretend to be Lee Baek Ho, it will be a great help in the future.

Moreover, I think I will be able to learn about Lee Baek Ho through this old man.

The return is obvious.

What about risk?

… Does it really not exist?

Come to think of it, if it didn't work out, I could just say that I am a friend of Lee Baek Ho. If the Master said that he was a great man, then I, as his friend, would look about the same level. Birds of the same flight, so to speak.

Okay, let's do that.

Having made a decision, I broke the long silence and was the first to speak to the Master.

"What shall I call you here?"

"Hm?"

"I can't call you as usual.

"Why not?" Just call me 'grandpa', like you did back then. Don't even bother with this strange honorary nickname.

"All right, grandfather.

Even when I was naturally changing my behavior, my head was spinning.

I almost ruined everything from the beginning...

To think that they were talking to each other so casually. Thanks to this, I understood one more thing. Lee Baek Ho was a proud Korean Confucian, but he was talking disrespectfully to an elderly man?

Not to mention that they weren't close, they didn't seem to get along.

Now I had an understanding of how to address him, and I corrected my mistake.

"You have strange preferences. I tried to save your face.

I spoke as if I really didn't understand anything.

I don't know if it worked, but the Master laughed willingly and changed the subject.

"Haha!" Yes, it's more like you. Anyway, let's end this conversation here. I'm glad to see you after all this time, but I don't have much time.

"Master, what do you mean?" The Fox asked.

"Circumstances limited the time I spent here.

"Excuse me?" What's happened to you since-...

"That's enough.

The master muttered briefly and waved the question away.

"I understand that Miss Lisa would like to ask me a lot of questions, probably related to why I disappeared without a single word and what I mean by lack of time. But I can't tell you.

"Are you really in such a hurry?"

"No, it's not a matter of haste.

When the Master firmly put an end to it, the Fox did not insist. Instead, she asked the last question.

"Then... Will you come again?

"Well, I don't know. But I'll be back in a year. If there is anything that needs to be communicated to you before then, I can come sooner.

"Hehee, I suppose that means you've come to tell us something urgent today, Master?"

"Clown, everything is as you say.

After this statement of the Master, all the attention that was riveted on me again switched to him. I could not have wished for a better situation, not even the content itself.

It will come in a year...

In other words, I won't have to worry about being caught lying at every meeting. But curiosity overcame relief.

I don't think he's lying, that he doesn't have time... What kind of situation does he have? And what is this breaking news?

Among the many questions, I stared at Master and focused on my ears. And not only me, but all the masks. So there was a strange silence.

"Haha, don't be so nervous. I think we can say that this is good news.

The master waved his hands, as if exhaling heavy air, and slowly parted his lips and...

- Within two years, a [Binding] spell will be created, capable of binding up to 6 people. This means that the number of keys to open the [Abyss Gate] will increase to 6!

Silence reigned in the hall. The participants looked awkwardly at each other and said nothing.

The master tilted his head.

"Hmph, why do you all look like that?" I thought you would be more surprised...

It's because you're late.

***

The Six People [Binding] Spell was definitely valuable enough information to shake the entire city for at least a few months. However...

—... Have you revealed this news yet? No wonder your reaction was indifferent.

Realizing that Clown had mentioned this in the last meeting, Master was somewhat disappointed.

"But that's a little surprising. Clown, I didn't expect you to say something like that. Did you like the people here?

"Hehee, of course not. I was just wondering how one person would react.

The clown looked at me with his characteristic laugh.

Following his gaze, the Master looked at me with a meaningful look. I was nervous, waiting for him to say something to me, but...

*Zzzzzz*

At this moment, Master's body began to flicker like a hologram.

"Damn, it's time for me to leave.

"Master!" The Fox exclaimed in disappointment, but the more she did it, the faster the flickering became.

Even in such a situation, the Master only looked at me. It was a very unpleasant and uncomfortable look. We only looked at each other, but it felt like he could see right through me.

"Grandpa, do you want to tell me something?" In the end, I couldn't stand it anymore and asked.

"[Not Grandpa, but the Old Man].

A voice rang out in my head as if by a spell [Secret Voice]. It was clear who the owner of this voice was.

"[That's what that damn boy called me].

Bloody hell. No wonder I got away with it so easily.

Did he know about it from the beginning?

Without realizing it, I tensed up slightly. Of course, it was so insignificant that it was difficult to catch with the naked eye, and lasted only one moment.

"Hmm, to be honest, your reaction was so natural that I'm even now confused, but judging by your heart palpitations, I think you're really not the right guy.]

Is he listening to me?

"[Don't worry, no matter what you're doing here, I have no reason to interfere.]

—…

"[I'm just curious, but unfortunately I don't have time today. We'll talk about who you are the next time we meet.]

With that, the Master's physical body dissipated in front of my eyes like a fog.

"Hah.

I laughed loudly. It was like that meaningless laughter that arises when a person experiences something too ridiculous.

In fact, there are no truly frivolous bastards in this world.