The cider, filled with plenty of ice, enhanced the refreshing sensation.

After shaking the glass moderately to chill it well, I downed it in one gulp.

Because if the ice melts, the taste becomes bland, after all.

“Ahh…”

Yeah, this is it.

How much I had longed for this flavor.

This world was bearable in everything except for the lack of carbonated drinks.

At least I could find carbonation in beer, but even that felt very different from the modern kind.

‘…Should I go back?’

A taste enough to sprout my almost lost will to return.

Ibaekho had to know this.

If instead of fussing about the Resurrection Stone or whatever, he had just made cider and let me drink it a few times, I might have seriously considered returning.

“Sir, another glass please.”

After finishing one glass, I asked for a refill.

But this time, I didn’t shotgun it; I sipped it slowly, savoring the taste.

“You… really look happy.”

Damn, that made me feel embarrassed.

People like us tend to suddenly sour upon hearing such words, no matter how glad we were before.

“Well then, tell me. How did you meet her?”

“Ah, the witch, you mean?”

“Yes. I just can’t understand it. No matter how I think, I don’t see how you could have met her…”

Hmm.

“How can you be so sure, sir?”

I asked, narrowing my eyes, and Auril Gavis turned mute, rolling his eyes.

“……”

Honestly, it gave me chills.

What, was he really watching my every move?

By what method?

While pondering, the old man skillfully evaded.

“Well, you didn’t meet on Basement Floor 1, did you? And at that time, you were very busy, I recall. Tribe affairs, the Magic Tower, and even catching the Hierarch twice at that time.”

Well, it was true I was busy.

I was swamped with work and even sued by Count Alminus, so my mind was scattered.

Still, his words didn’t sound like excuses.

“You’ve already finished it. Give me your glass. I’ll pour another.”

As soon as the glass was empty, Auril Gavis quickly took it and refilled it.

I hate to say it, but in some ways, he was a consistent old man.

Like a ghost switching between master and servant depending on the situation.

“Sir, no matter what, I can’t just give you information for free. I need to get something in return.”

I drew a clear line, and Auril Gavis, Novelight (Official version) now unmasked with only the two of us left, bristled.

“For free! What do you mean? Didn’t I even give you cider?”

“Yes, thank you for that.”

“People really do appreciate kindness–”

Whoa, that’s crossing the line.

“If everything ended with just cider, why do money and magic stones even exist? Just pouring a glass of cider and it’s over?”

When I openly mocked him, Auril Gavis’s expression stiffened.

“You always have the talent to make people uncomfortable.”

Laughing like a neighborly old man one moment, then turning serious the next gave a heavy pressure.

But so what?

I’d experienced this situation more than once. I was getting a handle on this old man.

“Don’t pretend to be angry. It won’t work anyway.”

When I shrugged it off casually, Auril Gavis returned to his usual expression like nothing had happened.

“Heh, you’re really stubborn too. So tell me… what do you want from me?”

You can only offer a wild horse a carrot, not a whip.

“You must want something, so you’re acting like this?”

Honestly, I didn’t have a definite desire.

More precisely, I had too many questions and didn’t know which to pick.

So I had to prioritize…

‘Asking what he’s scheming is too broad.’

After thinking, I settled on a more specific question.

“Why do you want to shut down Ghost Busters?”

A question about his most recent action.

“Hmm, can I just answer? There’s no gem here to hide the truth.”

It sounded like he’d make a gem if I wished right now, but I declined.

“Just go ahead. Even if there was, it wouldn’t mean 100% trust anyway.”

“So you want me to judge truth or lie.”

“Yes. So answer carefully. If you lie and get caught, it’s your loss.”

“Loss?”

“You’ll never trust me again, whatever I say.”

It may sound childish, but this threat seemed effective this time. This old man wanted to control me like a puppet.

I had to maintain a good relationship somehow…

“Hmm…”

But why was he staring at me with such a perverted look instead of answering?

“Why? Got something to say?”

“No.”

“Not really? You almost said something, didn’t you?”

When I looked at him as if to say ‘stop messing around,’ Auril Gavis reluctantly spoke.

“I just found your attitude toward trust… somewhat impressive.”

“…?”

“Really.”

Like nonsense about chewing straw while hanging from a roof in your sleep.

When I stared at him like that, the old man continued.

“If someone betrays you, there will be punishment. That’s what trust means to you.”

Isn’t that the same for everyone?

If betrayed, do you just laugh it off?

Though I thought that secretly, I endured and listened.

“The stricter the law, the less people dare sin. Likewise, your trust requires means of punishment to be valid–”

Ah, I really can’t take this.

He made it sound like I was a pathological doubter who can’t trust others unless he’s superior.

I bluntly asked,

“Sir, is something wrong with your head? How on earth do you interpret what I said that way?”

“Hmm…”

“Think about what you yourself did first. What do I have to see to believe?”

“Then you think it’s different with your comrades?”

Of course.

…I was about to say that but suddenly couldn’t.

I remembered what the old man just said.

[If someone betrays you, there will be punishment.]

Punishment.

Maybe one of the things I did to Misha was such a thing?

I don’t know, but that’s enough on this topic.

“…Enough, just answer the question. Why do you want to close this place?”

“If I answer, will you answer too?”

At the old man’s question, I answered without hesitation.

“If I think it’s worth hearing first.”

Which meant I was ready to run anytime.

An ambiguous answer instead of a firm one.

Auril Gavis must have clearly understood the meaning behind it.

But…

“Good. Then listen and decide.”

For some reason, the old man accepted my offer silently.

“As expected, sir, you’re straightforward today as well?”

“…Stop flipping attitudes so quickly. It makes you look like a spoiled child.”

“Just my imagination. Just my imagination.”

“…”

“So, the answer?”

Smiling softly, I asked, and Auril Gavis sighed deeply and answered.

“The reason to close Ghost Busters is simple. It’s not working well for players now. It’s different from my intention.”

“Not working well?”

“This place is like a sanctuary for players. They share hometown stories, and ease loneliness with others in similar situations.”

“Then why is it having a bad effect?”

“That’s the problem. People satisfied with the present eventually settle.”

“Ah…”

I understood what he meant.

You could see that atmosphere quickly just by looking at the free board.

You could easily find posts about housing prices, marriages, even having children.

“The same with those friends earlier. A few years ago, they wouldn’t have missed such an opportunity.”

This old man thought the futile end of the OX quiz was rooted in that psychology.

Not wrong.

“So you want to destroy it? Because if this runs, people won’t think of returning home?”

“You could say roughly that.”

Roughly, huh…

Clearly, he left much unsaid.

“Well, how about it? Is that enough?”

“No. If there was some big secret, I’d understand, but I conclude that trading it for the witch’s info is too low value.”

Simply put, he intended to run away with the loot.

Surprisingly, Auril Gavis’s expression was calm.

As if he didn’t lose even if the conversation ended there.

Was he pretending calm to keep control?

I was the first to speak again.

I couldn’t part without some gain from this meeting.

“So then…”

“…”

“Can’t you just leave the community alone? Then I’ll give you the witch’s info.”

I didn’t say it to protect the community.

I was just curious about Auril Gavis’s reaction to the offer–

“That’s impossible.”

Yes, a refusal.

Meaning shutting down the community had higher priority than hearing the witch’s info.

Why would that be?

It didn’t seem to be just because players had lost spirit.

“Then today’s talk ends here.”

“Yes. You wouldn’t answer even if I asked in detail anyway.”

“Heh, you need to trust people a bit.”

“I do. People worth trusting.”

With that soulless reply, the conversation slowly wound down.

“I should be going. One last thing to do before closure. See you next time.”

“Yes. I don’t know when, but next time please tell everything honestly.”

“That’s odd. I can tell you everything right now, if you’re ready to believe me.”

That was a big lie fully grown into his mouth.

When I gave a dry laugh, Auril Gavis smiled like he expected it.

And then…

“I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but one last piece of advice.”

“Advice? I’ll listen. Go ahead.”

“Ibaekho.”

“Ibaekho…?”

“Don’t get too close to that friend.”

It was a non sequitur, but I had no reply.

“That’s all my advice. See you later.”

With that, Auril Gavis left the round table, and I, who had been watching vacantly, slowly collected my thoughts.

A case suddenly occurred to me.

‘Ibaekho…’

Maybe…

Not yet sure, but maybe.

Could Auril Gavis’s reason for shutting down the community be this guy?

Like burning the straw hut to catch fleas. If this community disappears, the way to communicate with Ibaekho would be blocked for me too.

Well, in the end, it was just speculation.

“Damn old man. Why the hell does he never say anything straightforward until the end?”

My sigh echoed hollowly in the hall.

“……”

An inexplicable silence.

The empty seats, the round table’s symbol–the gem–were all gone.

‘I really feel like it’s over.’

I thought to leave and get to work but hesitated.

It didn’t feel real.

The Deer Antlers and Crescent Moon left in the first round; then Auril Gavis appeared and one by one people left the gathering.

Tap.

I picked up the Seeker mask I’d taken off while drinking cider earlier and put it on my head. Probably the last time wearing this mask.

I had some affection for it.

“Is this really the end…?”

Hard to say, but somehow it felt hollow.

I never imagined a friendly atmosphere like a graduation ceremony, but I never thought it would end like this.

Maybe that’s why?

[Can’t say thank you.]

[Do you really think this kind of thing is fun? You?]

For some reason, those two last words kept ringing in my ears.

But I shook my head and brushed off the thoughts.

‘What a pity party. We never gathered here to make friends anyway.’

I chuckled and took off the mask, placing it on the round table, then glanced around the empty table.

“…Boring.”

And so the last gathering ended.

Back in Lee Hansu’s room after watching the round table’s end.

After lying on the bed for a while, I snapped back to focus and sat in front of my computer to check my inbox.

‘There is at least one message…’

Contrary to expectation, it wasn’t a message from the awaited GM.

[Sender: HS123]

HS123.

That is, Hyunbyeol sent the message.

Well, we couldn’t properly say goodbye earlier because of Ibaekho.

So what was written in the message?

Click click.

I opened it, and the contents unfolded.

[When we said to reveal our identities before, I know you drew the line first. But now I want to do what I want. The admins might secretly spy, so I can’t say much about my identity here.]

The bottom line was one last sentence.

[See you outside.]

Outside, huh…

First, I need to escape the labyrinth quickly.