The woman was standing in a small room with a dim interior. The wood-tone blinds let in white light. In the room there was a single mattress worth $200 and a desk with a laptop. And against the wall there was a tea table for one person with one chair.

She had a very confused expression on her face.

"It's...

She knew the place. It was the first apartment she rented after moving to New York in search of work, and the place she was called to every month on the 15th.

"Why am I here?"

The woman felt a headache trying to remember.

Memories slowly surfaced one after another.

"There is a sorcerer here!"

"Take your time. I'll deal with it quickly."

On the 1st day of their stay in the labyrinth, the war began. She got to the safe zone with the help of the magic of [Mass Teleportation] - a heartless choice that had to be made after a long meeting of the leaders.

"The royal bastards are running away and abandoning us! Stop them!"

While the knights dealt with the researchers, she and her clanmates fled through the portal.

*Shaaaa!*

A magic circle appeared on the ground, emitting a bright light, and then...

*Gunooo

A huge pillar of fire engulfed the sky.

"No... No way...

It finally became clear why she ended up here after returning to the city through the portal.

"It's been 15 days...?"

The woman hurriedly turned on her laptop and, looking at the community wall, tried to find out exactly what had happened. Since she often did this kind of work, it didn't take long for her to get the information she needed.

Of all the explorers who came out through [Portal], only 103 survived. They were all unconscious, and even the High Priest of the Church of Tober, nicknamed "The Agent", surrendered as he could not cure them.

"N-no...

Confronted with reality, Larer Clan Deputy Commander Versil Gowland turned white.

***

As soon as the computer turned on, the first thing I did was check the chat.

[Long Live Korean Independence] - 0 people online.

Lee Baek Ho didn't come back again. Well, I was sure he couldn't do anything since Ghost Master banned him. But when he was here, it was much nicer.

This means that the Observers of the Round Table are my only source of quality information...

I threw aside my regrets and moved the mouse. The Round Table opened only 3 hours after the opening of the community. Until that time, I had planned to look around and figure out what the atmosphere was like here.

As expected, many players died.

Usually, players who waited for this time blew up the exchange and the wall of free ads with messages.

Usually, when a community opened, on exchanges, walls, and so on, players who were waiting for this time would post a huge number of messages.

But now?

Almost one-third.

And not only the wall, but also the chats. Even in large chat rooms, where there were always more than fifty people, there were hardly more than ten.

"Hah...

Every time I encountered these changes, I sighed.

It seemed that the world was covered by the Great Flood. People were swept away from everywhere, leaving not a single normal place.

Will this place be filled with newcomers over time...?

Hmm, most likely.

Even in Korea after the war, there was nothing left, but didn't we end up where we are now?

When the time comes, I will no longer be a rookie, but a high-ranking player.

Oh, am I not already considered such?

Yes, I am sure that there have not yet been players with a noble title.

*Click, click*

Thinking about different things, I went around various posts as if I were browsing the web. Whichever post I visited, they were all full of conversations about the incident. Looking around, I noticed that there was a little, no, a lot of talk about me.

[Bjorn Yandel, what kind of guy is this?]

I heard that he was a rank 5, so I thought he would be in his 30s, but apparently he only finished his coming-of-age ceremony last year? What have I been doing for 5 years?

I had been mentioned several times during the incident with the Lord of the 3rd Floor, but it was nothing compared to what was happening now. The number of posts I featured in was huge, and each of them had dozens of comments.

OP is the author of the post.

these99:He's not a rank 5 to begin with. How can it be the 5th? If he didn't require guild achievement points, he would easily reach the 4th.

OP: Wow, has he grown that much? In a year? I feel even more ashamed.

NExtlevEL: Rank 4 is an exaggeration. OP, you shouldn't be ashamed. You can reach rank 5 within a year if you get a good essence.

NExtlevEL: Oh, and it doesn't look like you have a lot of essences. From what I've seen, you've barely reached rank 5.these99:5th rank in a year is easy? Do you play alone? How can you even talk such nonsense? He had already defeated the Corpse Collector and proved it.

NExtlevEL: Are you an American? You clearly make a hero out of him, and you believe in it yourself. And even if he won, do you think he did it alone? This is all thanks to teamwork.

Pnec: He's right. The Corpse Collector was fought a hundred to one. How can you call it "smashed"? Are you stupid?

Players expressed their opinions as if they were arguing about celebrities on the Internet. There were several comments that made my heart go off rhythm.

fliccolo: As far as I understand, he is also a player.

*OP: Oh, maybe. Why didn't I think about it?

This question is inevitable when a person gains fame in a short time. But still, my past actions helped.

arolf5205: What other player? If you'd ever seen it, you'd never say that lol.

stevencastle:Everyone who says this is lucky that they didn't enter the maze. If they had seen him bite off the Corpse Gatherer's ear at the end while being blind, they would never have been able to call him a gambler.

cherylvander: A real man.

Ykbell: His battle cry when he stepped on the goblin traps made even me burn. Less than a year or not, but a modern person would not be able to evoke such emotions. I am sure that everyone who was there at that time will agree with this.

COOOOL75:Behella!!!!a

It was a very strange feeling to see slanderous and laudatory comments addressed to me. I had a hunch that I had grown up enough to become a hot topic.

On the one hand, such an interest was burdensome, but on the other hand, I perceived it as a path that I had to go through in order to rise higher.

After all, I was going to climb further. The number of floors and reputation inevitably had to become proportional.

The time has almost come.

While I was looking at the posts, 3 hours had already passed.

[03:01]

I used to come in as late as possible to get attention, but this time I just walked in as soon as it was time. I was curious about what kind of small talk was going on in front of the main meeting.

I hope everyone except the Clown is alive.

Throwing aside my slight anxiety, I quickly double-clicked my mouse.

*Flash!*

A light flashed before my eyes for a moment, and when I came to, I found myself in a familiar tuning room. Putting on the same costume as always, and the mask of a lion, I went to the main room, where there was a round table.

*Creak*

The first to be there were three people: the Goblin, the Fox and the Deer.

Apparently, the Clown hasn't come yet.

As I entered, the three of them looked at me and let out strange exclamations.

"Ah...

"I'm glad you came today.

They did it every time I came. I sat down in the place allotted to me and pretended that I didn't care, propping up my chin. If I did that, they were playing with each other. I just closed my eyes and listened.

"The number of survivors is four," the Goblin muttered to himself, as if he felt uncomfortable in silence.

— Interesting. I thought you would be in the greatest danger. How did you come back alive?

I wondered the same question. With the exception of some priests, most of the religious figures left through the portal. Straight to the other world. Then what happened to the Goblin?

"Well. Since it has to do with my personality, I can say that I was just lucky.

"Click." No matter.

When the Goblin dodged the answer, the Deer clicked his tongue. Then the two of them made small talk.

Strangely, the Fox did not take part in the conversation. Could it be that these two also felt it?

"Fox, you're behaving strangely today.

— Yes. From the very beginning, you just sit silently...

The Deer and the Goblin expressed their doubts, and the Fox belatedly looked up.

—... Forgive me? What did you just say?

"See? That's weird.

"If something happened, tell us." I don't know about the others, but I can help you, Fox.

The goblin began to act friendly.

The fox let out a long sigh and shook his head.

"Thank you for your concern, but it's nothing. So please stop paying attention.

"All right. If you say so...

The Goblin changed the subject, confused by the Fox's harsher tone than usual.

"By the way, is it possible that no one else will come?"

There were only 5 minutes left before the start of the meeting. Only two participants have not yet arrived:

The Clown I've been waiting for, and the Crescent Moon who was desperately hungry for the Rebirth Stone.

"Maybe they're both dead?"

"Hmm, I don't know about the Crescent Moon, but I don't think Clown is dead.

—... I suppose so...

The goblin replied in a somewhat disappointed voice.

*Creak*

Then, the attunement room in the hallway opened, and there was a sense of presence in it.

Is it a clown?

I pretended to be indifferent and turned my head to check.

"Huh?"

I froze, as did the Goblin and the Deer. Because it wasn't the mask we expected to see.

Queen?

Her mask was studded with multi-colored gems. His eyes were decorated with various gold elements, like makeup, and a crown flaunted on his forehead. The outfit she chose was a gorgeous red dress.

Is this really a returning participant? I thought, but after the Queen's elegant greeting, I realized that this was not the case.

"Oh, hello. This is my first time here, so I don't know much, but I hope that you will help me.

It was a new member.

***

The first new member since my arrival. Naturally, all attention was riveted on her.

The most enthusiastic among them was the Fox.

"For the first time?" How did you get here? Maybe you have also met the Master?

Unlike her former absent-mindedness and emptiness, the Fox could not hide her excitement and asked questions.

"Yes, well... Something like this?

When the Queen half confirmed this, the Fox's voice became even more agitated.

"Master!" Where is he? I just need to meet him. I have to ask him something...

"I'm sorry. I don't think I can fulfill this request.

The queen resolutely drew a line. Then, smiling, she conducted the conversation in a relaxed manner, unusual for a novice.

"Anyway, why don't we introduce ourselves to each other?"

Even though it was our first meeting, the Queen spoke as if it was her room.

The deer replied dissatisfied:

— We have a rule — not to use names.

"I see!" Then you are a Deer, this is a Goblin, this is a Fox, and this is a Lion. So?

— That's right. Should we also address you by mask?

"Oh!" Yes. So I'll be the Queen? Huhu.

While all eyes were on her and the Queen was chatting with the other participants, I continued to watch her. After all, the mask did not hide everything.

The Goblin had copper-colored skin, and I thought he was from Southeast Asia or South America. And then what about this woman?

She is definitely a Western woman.

She had flowing blonde hair and blue eyes. Her skin was white, like that of Europeans. Of course, this is all the information that can be recognized by appearance, but even this will not help to draw a conclusion about her personality in this world. But I still couldn't take my eyes off her.

It seems to me that I have already seen her somewhere...

For no reason at all, there was a feeling of déjà vu. Why did I have this feeling?

"Anyway, Miss Fox." Very nice to meet you. As you know, there aren't many female users here, right? Oh, and Mr. Goblin. You have a very pleasant voice. Mr. Deer also seems to be very kind. Mr. Lev...

When the Queen looked at me tensely, the Fox quickly warned:

"Excuse me.

"Yes?"

"I can see what kind of person you are, but I think you'd better not be too friendly to him.

"What?" Why?

When the Queen looked at the Fox in bewilderment, the Fox looked at me anxiously.

Does she really think I'm going to show my superiority, as in the case of the Goblin? Well, maybe I could do it. If I could free myself from this diabolical tension with a single blow of murderous energy, I would feel better, but...

"Mmm, you're not very talkative, Mr. Lev. Let's talk later when we get to know each other better!

—…

I just ignored her words and did nothing.

The reason was simple. It was necessary to save strength.

It seems that he has come after all.

When there was one minute left before the entrance closed, another door in the corridor creaked open.

"Oh, I think there's another participant?"

Attention to the Queen was short-lived. All eyes turned in the direction of the sound.

"Wow!" So many survivors!

The clown started the conversation from afar in his characteristic goofy tone.

"To be honest, Goblin, I thought you—" Hmm?

The clown looked at the Queen in bewilderment.

— Hello. Shall I call you Mr. Clown?" I am very glad to meet such an interesting person!

— ... Who is this frivolous woman?

"A new member." It seems that she came on the recommendation of the Master.

"Hmmm... Is it?

The clown looked at the Queen as if watching her, and sat down. Then he distracted himself from her and started talking to me.

"Hee-hee, how are you, Mr. Lev?"

It was the same repertoire. That son of a bitch always pretended to be friendly to me, as if I was the only one in the room who was his equal.

"Wait. This time I brought a lot of interesting stories.

As you say, asshole.

—…

I closed my eyes and slowly awakened my murderous energy. Normally, I had to control my mind and instill a desire to kill a person, but this time I didn't have to.

If not for this bastard, Daria would not have died, and many other researchers could have returned to their families alive.

But what was the situation with this son of a bitch now?

"Hee-hee, I suppose Mr. Crescent Moon is dead since he's not here?"

As usual, he was fooling around.

Yes, like this...

"But why are you so quiet today, Mr. Lev?"

Filling my mind with only one thought, True Killing Intent, I opened my eyes.

"Maybe-...!

As soon as our eyes met, Clown grabbed his neck with both hands. Panting as if in a vacuum, he soon fell to the floor, and began to writhe.

—…!

The participants panicked, not understanding what was happening. I slowly got up and walked over to Clown. Then I looked him up and down.

"Ssss

It was quite funny. He always acted like a jerk, and treated people like idiots, as if he was someone important.

"You look like a beetle.

From now on, you won't be able to be so friendly, moron.