Today’s roundtable proceeded differently than usual.

It was a truth game–when someone asked a question, the respondent had to answer honestly.

“Phit… there’s no way I’d waste such a precious opportunity.”

Honestly, I was a little curious myself.

What would the roundtable members most want to ask the Investigator?

Well, I’d find out soon enough.

“Well then, I’ll start…?”

The first to speak was Fox, breaking the strangely quiet atmosphere.

“Do you… really know who we are?”

It surprised me at first, but on reflection, it was a reasonable question.

After all, I was the one who openly revealed the Jester’s identity at the roundtable, and ~Novelight~ the Queen had bluffingly acted as if she knew as well.

Though, in truth, all anyone really knew were just nicknames.

“Sigh…”

Hearing Fox’s question, the Jester suddenly sighed.

“You don’t even realize what a priceless chance this is, wasting it on such obvious questions!”

The Jester seemed to accept as fact–no, truth–that I knew their identities…

Fox snapped back irritably.

“How do you know whether it’s obvious or not?”

“…Phit?”

“Isn’t it my freedom to ask whatever I want? Stop trying to interfere like that. It’s annoying.”

A cold, sharp tone.

Come to think of it, that was just his usual personality.

He was the first to throw killing intent when I first came to the roundtable.

Well, at the time, he had good reason.

‘Those were foolish days…’

Anyway, that was all long ago.

In the end, Fox joined Clan Anavada and became my comrade.

Though he doesn’t realize it yet.

“…Why are you getting angry? I was just joking.”

The Jester tried to smooth things over, apparently flustered by Fox’s anger.

But Fox ignored him without a word.

Amid this atmosphere…

“Hahaha… Then it’s my turn!”

Wolf spoke up next, apparently uninterested in their quarrel.

“I want to know where and how Investigator met the Earth Witch.”

The Earth Witch… that was a bit unexpected.

I thought he’d ask another question related to Auril Gavis, as usual.

Thump, thump.

Habitually tapping his armrest with his index finger, I shifted my gaze away from Wolf to signal readiness for the next question.

Catching my eye, Goblin glanced around cautiously before speaking.

“Um… I’m not sure how to ask this…”

“Phit, don’t be so difficult, Investigator. Hurry up–”

“Do you have many wives or girlfriends…?”

As soon as Goblin finished, an indescribable silence fell over the roundtable.

“…Huh?”

The Jester made a dumbfounded noise as if doubting his own ears, and the others were similar.

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then slowly grasped the situation.

Reactions varied after that.

“What kind of absurd question is that…?”

“Goblin, are you an idiot?”

“Ha ha ha! Puhuh, puhahahahaha!!”

Some outright rejected it, some cursed, others burst out laughing loudly.

Among the reactions were guesses about why Goblin asked that question.

“Could it be… because of the ‘fate’ related to that mask before?”

Fox muttered.

The Jester snorted disdainfully.

“Hah! That ridiculous speculation from before! Investigator choosing the Investigator mask might just be because of good luck.”

That was the first time I heard that.

Apparently a private conversation while I was gone…

“Good luck…? What does that mean?”

The Queen didn’t know either, so I assumed it was something from the early days when only the original roundtable members were present.

“Why not formally ask next time if you’re curious? Phit.”

“Fine. I roughly understand what it’s about. Now, it’s my turn to ask.”

The Queen skillfully ignored the Jester’s provocation and began her turn.

“What I want to ask is simple. Have you ever met the King of Gaebyeok in person?”

The Queen’s question was very meaningful.

It wasn’t easy to read her intention.

She must have many things she’s curious about, and there was surely a reason she chose this question.

‘Why… why ask this?’

Meeting the King.

So far, this topic had come up twice in the roundtable.

The Queen and Wolf both openly admitted they had faced the King.

‘Is meeting the King that important?’

Hmm, it seemed there was something more to it.

Or maybe just because so few had met the King, they hoped to deduce my identity through this.

“Hmm… Now it’s my turn?”

While I was gathering my thoughts, it was Butterfly’s turn.

“Then, what should I ask…”

Trailing off playfully, Butterfly suddenly made an unexpected decision.

“I’ll just pass.”

“Whaaat? Butterfly, don’t you realize what a great opportunity this is! Investigator knows everything and can answer anything!”

The Jester exclaimed, but Butterfly’s choice didn’t change.

“But… I doubt Investigator will answer my question anyway.”

“Eh? On what basis do you say that without even trying–?”

“Intuition, and experience.”

“…?”

“Men usually don’t like women who put them in difficult situations.”

Though she spoke to the Jester, it was clear she meant for me to hear.

‘In other words, she’s saying her question would definitely put me in an awkward position…’

Anyway, with Butterfly passing, it was Black Mask’s turn.

What would he ask?

I didn’t really know him well, and he might just skip like Butterfly–

“Bjorn Yandel.”

…Huh?

Why suddenly mention that name?

I was startled for a moment but focused on his words as I rested my arm.

“Bjorn Yandel and… Misha Kalstein…”

What? Does he know about the Resurrection Stone incident too?

Such thoughts crossed my mind.

“…Were they really dating, as the rumors say?”

Black Mask’s question knocked me out of my thoughts.

‘What the hell…’

Why was he asking me that?

Did he somehow know I was Bjorn Yandel?

If he did, why ask such a thing?

What was his intention?

“Sigh… All these questions are such trash.”

I don’t know why, but the Jester sighed, seeming annoyed that even Black Mask wasted the opportunity with such a question.

How great did he think his own questions were?

“Enough. Since everyone’s done, now it’s my turn.”

Whatever he asks, I definitely won’t answer.

Resolving that inwardly, the Jester looked at me and carefully spoke.

“Then… I’ll ask the Investigator.”

With an unusually nervous, trembling voice.

“If… if I said… I want to give up everything and serve under you… would you accept me?”

What the hell is this guy?

The declaration of wanting to be a subordinate stunned the roundtable into a strange silence.

“I wondered what kind of question it would be…”

“To ask such a thing after causing all that chaos for us?”

“It’s a shame. If you want to ask that, just say it after everything’s over…”

Because of his karma, the members’ eyes were cold.

Of course, the Jester didn’t care about those reactions.

“Uh… then… will you answer?”

A serious question, without a trace of a forced laugh.

Not the final scene of some matchmaking show.

By now, I wasn’t even incredulous.

I had long passed that stage.

He doesn’t know who I am.

Nor what I want.

Just a mysterious powerful figure wrapped in a veil.

That’s about the extent of his awareness.

But to say he wants to give up everything and become my subordinate…

‘What kind of mindset does this guy have?’

Is he like a rebellious teenager idolizing a bully?

I don’t know, but his question ended the questioning round.

I had received six questions in total.

Though Butterfly passed, it was the most questions I had gotten so far.

Most of them were weird questions anyway.

“…”

“…”

When it was time to answer, everyone quietly fell silent and stared at me.

What kind of answer would I give?

I could see in their eyes a hope that I would answer their questions.

The Jester’s question was probably the most pressing.

‘Ugh, so stressful…’

I naturally avoided eye contact but kept thinking hard.

What question would be best to answer?

[Where and how did you meet the Earth Witch?]

[Have you ever met the King of Gaebyeok in person?]

I’d pass on those two for now.

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.

[Do you have many wives or girlfriends?]

[Were you really dating, as rumored?]

Answering those two would look too weird…

[Do you really know who we are?]

[If someone said they’d give up everything and serve under you… would you accept?]

Those two were the remaining candidates.

If I had to eliminate one by process of elimination, it was obvious which.

Unfortunately…

‘I don’t fully know their identities.’

‘It’d ruin the mystique to say I know some.’

So only one choice remained…

Thump, thump.

Like pulling a horn off with one quick jerk,

I scanned them all, then fixed my gaze on the Jester and spoke his name.

“Abet Nekrafetto.”

The corpse collector behind the Jester mask–his real name.

I stared at him firmly and said,

“I won’t accept you.”

He looked as if the world had collapsed on him and asked,

“Why…?”

Why?

It was very simple.

“I don’t have a hobby of raising insects.”

No matter how friendly he acted at the roundtable, I would never treat this guy like a person.

[“Sis… she doesn’t move anymore. Can’t speak. Cold and stiff. I haven’t done anything for her yet…”]

He is my enemy.

Swoooooosh!

After the green light of truth flowed out, the Jester said nothing.

He just stared blankly into space like someone dazed.

“Um… are you okay–?”

The Queen, unable to watch any longer, tried to speak to him.

“Puhuhu, puhuhuhuhu…”

Suddenly, the Jester started laughing like a madman all alone.

“Puhuhu, insects…”

Hmm, maybe that choice of words was harsh?

I briefly thought so, but it couldn’t be helped.

These kinds of people only understand when spoken to strongly.

“Really… impressive, Investigator…”

After laughing for a while, the Jester looked at me.

“I used to have some confidence in myself, you know. Puhuhu…”

It was a pattern often seen in those trying to look cool.

“Insect! No matter what, insect! Puhuhuhu… Surely, Investigator sees everyone as such creatures, right? Puhuhuhuhuhu…”

If he keeps laughing, you’d think he’s unaffected.

“Wow… that one’s broken, huh? What now?”

“Geez, why ask such a question…”

Watching the Jester laugh like a lunatic, the members each offered words of sympathy.

But I didn’t care.

‘I just want the next round to start already…’

Just when I was wondering whether I should step in, a sudden shaking hit the roundtable room.

Thud thud thud thud thud.

Like an earthquake, the room violently shook.

And then…

Crrrrriiick.

During the meeting, the door opened from outside.

This had only happened once before.

The Master.

The one who created the “Watcher of the Roundtable”…

And the old man already confirmed as “Auril Gavis” entered the roundtable.

‘It was exactly like this last time.’

So how would it be this time?

Slowly, I turned my head toward the opened door.

“Heh heh, masks I haven’t seen before?”

The old man wearing a white mask looked at us with a hearty laugh.