Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 127
Episode 127: Karlstein (1)
Misha Karlstein.
Although she comes from a pure-blood family and has 5 years of experience as an explorer, she was never treated like a child after she failed to sign a spirit beast contract.
‘So, her dad wants to see me…’
I had some idea why.
Through Misha, I had gotten a pretty good grasp on how the Cat Tribe operated.
“But why are you silent? I asked what time we should go.”
“Uh, that’s because… well tomorrow won’t work. I need some time to prepare mentally… And I should also inform my father in advance.”
“What? What do you mean, you were the one who asked me to come with you tomorrow?”
When I asked incredulously, Misha avoided my gaze and fidgeted with her hands.
“It’s just that…… I didn’t know you’d actually say yes so easily…….”
“So you said let’s go tomorrow?”
“Yeah, you said that’s how you negotiate, Nyang?”
“…”
I couldn’t remember saying that, but Misha’s plan seemed reasonable enough.
“If I said I couldn’t make it, she was going to casually postpone the appointment to another time?”
“Every time I ask you to hang out, you’re always busy, but why the change of heart this time, Nyang?”
“Isn’t it because your father called for me? Of course, I should go and meet him.”
“Uh? Is, is that so?”
Misha dodged the question with a vague response.
“You, you really… How can you say something so embarrassing, Nyang?”
Wasn’t it you who said that beast-tribes and barbarians aren’t strangers to each other?
*****
“You’ll tell me when the appointment is set, and you should go now. I need more sleep. Oh, and don’t come tomorrow. I have to leave early.”
“What? You’ve been sleeping all day and you’re going to sleep again, Nyang?”
“If you keep doing that, I won’t go-“
“No way! I won’t bother you, just rest up, Nyang!!”
After Misha hurriedly left the room, I continued my interrupted sleep.
And the next morning.
“Phew, now I finally feel alive.”
The 36 hours of uninterrupted sleep finally cleared my head a bit.
I’ll have to refrain from pushing myself too hard in the future.
Anyway, after a quick wash, I headed to the sanctuary where an elder greeted me.
“It’s been a while, Bjorn, son of Jandel.”
“Where is the tribe chief?”
Out of curiosity, I casually inquired, but the answer was surprising.
“The chief has gone to the city for some business. He should be back by tomorrow.”
“The tribe chief on an outing, that’s unusual.”
“Yes, that’s not usual. But while you’re here, why don’t you meet the young warriors? You could be a great inspiration to them.
I politely declined the elder’s hopeful suggestion.
It felt good to be recognized as one of the Barbarian tribe’s accomplishments, but I had other matters to attend to today.
“Could you call the shaman for me?”
After a short wait, the shaman’s apprentice came and led me to the tent.
The bald shaman, with his deeply wrinkled face, was puffing smoke from a large pipe.
“Kekeke, the warrior returns. Always a pleasure.”
His voice was unusually high-pitched today, and his pronunciation was a bit slurred, as if I was talking to a drug dealer.
“Can I receive the spirit engraving today?”
“If you have enough money, keke.”
No, no, no, I was asking if you could do it while you’re high.
I was worried but opened my wallet regardless.
Jingle, jingle.
‘Now I’m broke again.’
The price for a Level 5 engraving was 8 million stones.
After this, I’d be left with only about 700,000 stones. Well, there’s still 2 million stones in the joint account with Misha, but…
Those funds are not available for personal use.
“You’re missing one, warrior.”
“…I was about to add it.”
With that, I added the last magic stone worth 500,000 and completed the transaction.
‘Sigh, I was hoping it would work this time.’
‘I think I can stop worrying about mistakes during the imprinting’
Focusing on the positives, I lay down on the bed.
And then…
“Kuhuhuhuhu…”
“Keke, warrior! Scream louder!”
“Aaaaaaah!!”
Soon enough, the familiar pain engulfed me.
[Activated Immortal Engraving Level 5. Your vitality significantly increases]
[Physical stats increase by +30]
[Mental stats increase by +30]
In [Dungeon & Stone], vitality is a crucial stat. While it doesn’t directly affect combat power, running out of vitality can render one unable to act. During hours-long raids, ‘Vitality Regeneration Scrolls’ are considered essential consumables.
However…
“I never knew such a stat would be useful in real life too.”
I’ve experienced the limits of fatigue in the Witch’s Forest before. Just yesterday, I fell into a semi-conscious state due to mental exhaustion. This made the changes in my body and mind even more noticeable.
“Keke, you seem quite alright today.”
Normally, I would have been half-dead by now, but today, the accumulated fatigue in my body and mind seemed significantly less.
Though I’ll need to check the details later, if this effect holds, perhaps I could stay awake for two nights in a row and still be fine?
Of course, if asked whether the 8 million stones were worth it, definitely not.
“…Engravings really don’t give you your money’s worth in terms of efficiency.”
It might be different in the mid to late game stages when stats are more valuable than money.
But in the early to mid game stages, it’s more efficient to buy equipment, or better yet, buy essences and consume it. …….
Accelerating growth and gathering money to upgrade engravings is a way to shorten the growth period.
That’s why I originally planned to only get a Level 1 engraving and not touch it for a while.
But I didn’t expect to get [Gigantification] so soon.
“Phew, but going all-in on engravings, now I’m really just one stage away.”
The fleeting disappointment of depleting my funds is replaced by a sense of pride.
Once I reach Level 6, I’ll receive several times the reward for all the costs I’ve invested so far.
“Warrior, why are you spacing out? You must be tired, you should go now.”
Lost in thought, I heard the shaman’s dismissal and left the tent.
It was already dusk outside.
I scanned the bushes for Aynar, wondering if she was waiting for me like last time, but…….
“She’s not here.”
I didn’t see Ainar anywhere as I passed through the dim forest path and arrived in the city.
Well, her training must be reaching its final stages, so she’s probably busy.
“Now that I think about it, there’s only a month left.”
Walking through the quiet streets today, I couldn’t help but smile.
Time is both fast and slow.
It feels like just yesterday I was tripping and stumbling because I didn’t have leather boots, caught in Goblin traps
“Bjorn Jandel”
Level: 4
Physical: 330 (New +30) / Mental: 154 (New +30) / Supernatural: 128
Total Combat Rating: 941 (New +60)
Essences Acquired: Corpse Golem – Rank 7 / Vampire(B) – Rank 5 / Orc Hero – Rank 5
Three days later, Misha and I boarded a large carriage headed for District 13.
After all, the sanctuary of the Beast-Tribe didn’t border District 7, where we currently lived.
“Nyang, are you thirsty? Shall I get you some water?”
“I’m fine.”
“What about hunger? Are you hungry? I brought various things just in case you want to eat, Nyang?”
Observing Misha’s overly attentive behavior, I laughed in disbelief.
“Stop it. I won’t turn back or anything.”
“No, it’s not that. I’m just worried. It might be uncomfortable for you to be here because of me. I should at least take care of you to this extent. -“
“Enough, I’m going to sleep. Wake me up when we get there.”
“Okay… It’ll take about three hours, so have a good rest, Nyang”
Before it got any more troublesome, I said I’d sleep and closed my eyes.
And after some time.
Just as Misha mentioned, it was noon when the carriage finally reached its destination.
‘Six hours round trip… No wonder she sleeps every time she goes.’
The distance isn’t far in a straight line, but we had to detour around the restricted District 14, making the journey longer than expected.
‘Well, that’s probably why she chose to settle there. She wanted to be as far from home as possible.’
“Bjorn, why are you just sitting there? Are you tired? Should I carry you, Nyang?”
“It’s fine, just lead the way.”
“Okay!”
Following Misha, who could be considered a local here, I took in the sights of the area.
It wasn’t much different from Zone 7 where we currently resided.
Just the streets were a bit more complicated, and there were more beastmen and dwarves.
However…
“Here we are.”
The beast-tribes’s sanctuary we arrived at was vastly different from the Barbarian’s.
‘I had heard about it, but to see it to this extent…’
Like the Barbarian’s, the sanctuary was located outside the city.
But that was the only similarity.
Instead of living in huts or tents among the bushes, most buildings were made of stone, and there were proper roads laid out.
Moreover…
“Dad, look, a Barbarian. A Barbarian!”
There were shops open for business, and families of beastmen walking the streets, living their lives here as if it were a city.
‘We were all kicked out after the coming-of-age ceremony…….’
The beast-tribe’s sanctuary truly seemed like a village outside the city, meant for beast-tribe.
Was I staring too blankly?
“What’s wrong…? Is there a problem? Even if there is, we can’t go back now, can we?”
“…I was just surprised.”
“Surprised?”
Misha looked puzzled, not understanding.
I had a lot to say but held back.
Complaining about the Barbarian’s harsh living conditions would only be spitting in my own face.
I casually inquired.
“Is every sanctuary like this?”
“What do you mean?”
“Aren’t beast-tribes supposed to live in the forests, raising animals and such?”
That was the portrayal of beast-tribes’ sanctuary in games.
That was, what, about 150 years ago, maybe?
“Ah, well, I heard that in the old days, they lived according to tradition… But that’s so long ago, I don’t really know.”
“…I see.”
Sigh, why is it only the Barbarians who’ve remained the same?
Swallowing my complaints, we continued walking until a massive mansion loomed before us.
“Here, this is our house.”
Shit, Damn It.
Our tribe chief still sleeps in a tent.
As I sighed deeply, Misha started to look concerned again.
“Don’t be nervous. It’ll be fine. You’re Bjorn, Son Of Jandel and the famous little Balkan, right? My father likes famous explorers. Okay?”
Misha tried to reassure me, but it was clear she was the one who was actually nervous.
“You’re the one who needs to calm down. It’s your house we’re visiting, why are you so worked up?”
“Huh? I’m fine.”
“Then open the door. How long are we going to stand here?”
At my words, Misha quietly took a breath and then rang a bell to summon a servant.
“We’d like to enter. Could you open the door, Nyang?”
Without a word, the servant glanced at us, opened the door, and left.
It was a very strange sight.
Misha was no longer a half-ling.
‘I heard her father knew about her spirit beast contract.’
I looked at Misha absentmindedly, and I realized she was looking at me, too.
The emotion in her eyes was familiar to me.
My ex-girlfriend used to look at me with the same eyes.
The look she gave me when she saw something she didn’t want me to see.
“There’s something I haven’t told you yet, Bjorn.”
“Spit it out.”
Swallowing nervously, Misha began to carefully explain.
“Only my father knows about my contract with the spirit beast. So, no matter what happens inside, please don’t get angry. Okay?”
“What kind of ‘something’ are we talking about?”
“Just a bit worse than the person we just saw.”
“Be more specific. I need to know how to react.”
Misha hesitated for a moment before reluctantly sharing.
Insults from siblings, bullying disguised as pranks, and servants gossiping loudly enough for her to hear.
While it sounded bad, it was clear she was choosing the milder stories.
Surely, the reality was much harsher.
“Of course, they won’t act like that towards you. So don’t worry too much—”
Somehow, I found myself smirking.
“Bjorn? Why are you laughing? Don’t laugh. It scares me when you do that… Once father speaks up, it’ll all be over. I just need to endure a bit longer.”
Misha defended her father with a nervous face, but to me, that was the biggest issue.
Her father knew everything yet left her to suffer.
Regardless of his reasons, he neglected his child’s pain for his own circumstances.
And yet, he had the audacity to invite me to their home.
‘Thinks very highly of himself, doesn’t he?’
Suddenly, the mansion seemed to exude a sinister vibe, as if it were a labyrinth filled with monsters.
And perhaps that’s why…
“Bethel—raaaaaaaaah!”
A shout burst forth from me.
At the same time, the servant who had disappeared earlier without even a nod of acknowledgment reappeared.
“What is this behavior, barbarian! Show some manners!”
“Manners…”
I walked up to him, pondering his words.
“You clearly have a problem in your head.”
Since when did barbarians ever need to show manners to their enemies?
Hey Folks, This website and the translation runs on the support I recieve from you guys. So please consider supporting me if you can. You can join my patron here or buy me a coffee here. See you guys on Monday