Today's Round Table had a different format than usual: a Truth game in which others asked a person questions and they chose one to answer honestly.
«Pshe... not at all», Clown laughed. «I can't waste this precious opportunity on something like that».
To be honest, I was quite curious. What did each member of the Round Table most want to ask León the most?
Well, I figured I'd find out soon.
«So should I start...?»
The first to climb, Fox, broke the sudden silence that had descended on the table.
«Do you really know who we are?»
My first thought was that this question came out of nowhere, but considering what I had seen of León, I could understand why he was asking it. I was the one who had revealed Clown's identity to the Round Table, and I had also bluffed that I also knew Queen's identity, although the only thing I really knew was her nickname Ghostbusters.
However, when Clown heard Fox's question, he let out a long sigh. «It's like you don't realize what a golden opportunity this is! How could you waste your turn on something so obvious?». He seemed to assume that I knew everyone's identity. At least, it was on his mind.
«How are you so sure it's obvious?», he replied, irritation in his tone clear as day.
«...¿Pshe?»
«I'm free to ask whatever I want, so please don't get involved. It's annoying».
Cold as ice.
Come to think of it, she had always been like this, even at the beginning. She was the first person to use killing intent on me during my first visit to the Round Table. Although it must be admitted that he had his reasons then.
A simpler time...
In any case, that was ancient history. In the end, Zorro had joined the Anabada Clan and become Leon's comrade, although she did not know it yet.
«...Why are you so angry? It was just a joke», Clown backed away, apparently surprised by Fox's anger.
Fox did not deign to respond and simply ignored him.
«Hahaha... So now it's my turn!». Wolf laughed, seemingly unconcerned about whatever was going on between those two. «I would like to know where and how you met the Witch of the Earth».
The Witch of the Earth...
Another unexpected question. I had assumed the guy would ask me about Auril Gavis.
I tapped the armrest with my index finger out of habit and turned my attention to the next person, indicating that I would listen to each of the questions in turns. When my eyes met Goblin's, he looked back and forth before quietly admitting: «Um... I don't know how to ask this...».
«Pshe, don't you already know the kind of man Mr. Lion is? Don't be annoying and hurry up-»
«How many women are you married or in a relationship with right now?».
The moment he blurted out his question, the Round Table fell completely silent.
«…¿Eh?»
Clown was clearly in disbelief, as were the others, who stood mute for a second while their brains took in what had just happened.
As soon as they did, their reactions became more... colorful.
«What a strange question...»
«...Sr. Duende, will you pass?».
«¡Baha! Pfft, ¡jajaja!»
Some were horrified, others mocked him, and others couldn't contain themselves and laughed in his face. In the midst of these mixed reactions, however, there was someone who was really trying to figure out why he had asked me that particular question.
«Are you asking... because of that conversation we had about our masks being tied to who we are?». I heard Fox ask under the roar.
Clown snorted as if that were absurd. «Ha! But what is this crazy theory about? What, you think Mr. Lion chose the lion mask because he's lucky with women?».
It was the first time I had heard any of this. It seemed like they had had some kind of conversation about me when I wasn't around.
«Luck with women...? What do you mean?»
Queen didn't know what they were talking about either, so I had the feeling that this mysterious conversation must have been from yesteryear between the original members of the Round Table.
«If you're curious, how about you take your turn to ask him? Pshehe».
«Alright. I think I can grasp the essentials through contextual cues. Anyway, it's my turn now, correct?» Ignoring Clown's taunts, he leaned forward. «What I want to ask is simple. Have you ever met the King of the New World in person?».
The Queen's question made my hair stand on end. He didn't really know what his intentions were. I must have had a lot of questions for myself, so there was certainly a reason why I had chosen this one of them all.
Why...? Why are you asking me this?
Whether or not I had met the king was a topic that had arisen twice during my stay at the Round Table. Both the Queen and Wolf had mentioned yes.
Is it so important to meet with the king?
Still, there had to be something more. Or maybe the number of people who had met with the king was small enough that she was trying to use that to reduce my identity.
«Hmm... I guess it's my turn?»
While I was busy organizing my thoughts, it was Butterfly's turn.
«So what should I ask...?» Butterfly dragged things out mockingly, as usual, but what he actually ended up saying was something none of us expected. «I'm going to pass».
«...What? Butterfly, don't you realize what a great opportunity it is? Mr. León is an enigma who knows everything and can answer any question you have».
Clown was practically screaming at the end of that little rant, although he did nothing to change Butterfly's mind.
«But... even if I asked, I don't think León would answer my question anyway».
«That? How will you know if not...?»
«Just a feeling and past experiences».
Clown was stunned and speechless at this, prompting Butterfly to add: «Men don't usually like women who complicate their lives».
Although I was responding to Clown, I realized that the last part was directed at me.
So your question is something that would have put me in a difficult situation...
In any case, since Butterfly had jumped, it was now Black's turn.
What are you going to ask?
He had barely interacted with her, and as such, he didn't know much about her. Maybe he would just skip his turn as Butterfly...
«Bjorn Candle.»
...Eh? Why was that name suddenly coming out of his mouth?
It made me lose my balance for a moment, but I crossed my arms as if it didn't affect me at all and devoted all my attention to the words that followed.
«Bjorn Yandel... and Missha Karlstein...» But what...? Did she also know about the Renaissance Stone incident? «...Were those two really dating as the rumors say?»
My mind went blank.
What the hell is this...?
And why was he asking me that in the first place? Did you know in any way that I was Bjorn Yandel? No, even if I knew, why was I wondering that? What could be your reasoning?
«Why are all these questions so bad?»
I wondered that as Clown let out another sigh, clearly feeling like Black had wasted his chance.
Well, what amazing question are you going to ask?
«Whatever. Since everyone else is gone, now it's my turn».
No matter what he asked, I wasn't going to answer him. As he made this decision, Clown carefully opened his mouth.
«So... I would like to ask you this, Mr. León. Maybe... just maybe...» His voice trembled with a nervousness quite out of the ordinary for him. He even had to stop to swallow before continuing. «If I left everything to come to work at your service... would you accept me?».
But what...? Seriously, what was wrong with this asshole?
Again, another awkward silence ran through the Round Table at Clown's declaration that he wanted to become my henchman.
«And to think I was wondering what your question was...».
«Did you complain about us when that's what you were going to ask?».
«What a disappointment. If you wanted to ask something like that, you should have done so privately after the meeting...»
The other members made fun of him, but Clown either didn't notice or didn't care.
«So... could you... answer the question?».
His request was solemn, not even accompanied by his usual ironic laugh. It acted like it was the final episode of a dating show.
Puzzled, he didn't even begin to cover it. We were already over it.
This guy had no idea who I was or what my goals were. All I was to him was a powerhouse shrouded in mystery. However, that was somehow enough to make him want to throw his luck with mine.
Be willing to leave everything to become my lackey...
What's going through your head?
He was like a naive high school student daydreaming about a talent scout picking him out of the crowd and giving him his big break.
Although I still couldn't get a sense of what had happened, Clown's turn marked the end of this round of questions. He had received a total of six questions. Even with Butterfly passing by, that meant he had received the most questions of all so far.
Although, for some reason, most of them were very rare.
When they passed the baton to me, everyone remained silent, watching me attentively.
What question was I going to answer?
Everyone clearly crossed their fingers for him to choose them; could be seen in his eyes. And the one who had the most hope was undoubtedly Clown.
Argh, no hagas eso...
As I gently avoided his gaze, I made furious calculations in my head. What question would be best for me to answer?
«I want to know where and how you met the Witch of the Earth».
«Have you personally met with the King of the New World?»
Right off the bat, these two were amazing. In Wolf's case, even I wasn't sure how to answer exactly, and as for Queen, I still couldn't determine why she had asked.
«How many women are you married or in a relationship with right now?».
«...Were those two really dating as the rumors say?»
But it would be too awkward to respond to one of those instead.
«Do you really know who we are?»
«If I left everything to come work under your command... would you accept me?»
In the end, those were the only two options left, and the elimination process made deciding between them easy.
How annoying.
I don't know everyone.
A vague answer like «I know some of you» would only break the mystique surrounding my character. That meant there was only one question I could really answer.
Tap, tap.
It's time to take off the band-aid.
After looking at each of the members, I stared at Clown and pronounced a name: the real name of the Corpse Collector hiding behind the clown mask.
«Abed Necrapeto». My tone was blunt and severe. «I would never let you join me».
Seeming his world collapsing beneath his feet, he asked, «Why... is that?».
Like why? It was very simple.
«I don't have a hobby of having bugs as pets».
No matter how friendly he was to me at the Round Table, I would never treat him like a fellow man.
«My sister is...! It doesn't move anymore. Can't speak. It's cold and hard. And I haven't done anything for her yet...»
He was my enemy.
¡Shaaaa!
Even when the green light came on to confirm that he was telling the truth, Clown said nothing. He stared into space, stunned.
Queen, realizing his condition, looked at him suspiciously. «Are you... okay...?»
«Pshe-pshehe!» Suddenly, Clown burst into deranged laughter. «Pshehehe, a bug...»
Hmm, was my choice of words too harsh? Still, it couldn't be helped. With people like him, you had to make sure you said things bluntly so they understood the point.
«Impressive... Impressive as always, Mr. Leon...» After laughing like a balloon with holes for a while, Clown raised his head. «And I was so sure of myself too, pshehe...»
This was a common pattern of behavior in people trying to look cool.
«But a bug! It's still a bug! Pshehe...! We should all seem that way to you, eh, Mr. León? Pshehehe...»
They thought they could laugh at the damage.
«Heh... you broke it. What do we do?»
«Hahaha, why did you have to ask a question like that...?».
As everyone watched Clown huckle as if he had lost his mind, the other members seemed almost understanding.
Well, not that I cared.
I want to start the next round now...
Was I going to have to step in and get things going? What should I...?
Rumor...
The room that housed the Round Table suddenly began to shake as if it had been shaken by an earthquake.
Crujido.
Then, in the middle of the meeting, one of the doors opened to let someone from outside in.
It was an anomaly, something he had only seen happen once. Especially when the Master - the founder of the Round Table Watchers, and the old man I knew as Auril Gavis - had appeared to visit all those years ago.
This is exactly what happened then.
And now?
I turned slowly to look at the open door.
«Haha, looks like there are some masks here that I've never seen before».
And behold, an old man in a white mask was watching us from the entrance of the hallway, with a giggle in his voice