Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 205

Instant (1)

Deep within the fortress of Noark, in a great hall.

A man was speaking to someone through a crystal ball.

“Amelia Rainweilz. Have you found that explorer?”

[Not yet, my lord.]

“I see…”

This was the first regular report since Noark had been sealed. 

It was impossible for her to have achieved anything yet, and the lord found himself unwittingly sinking into gloom.

However, grim news reached him once again.

[There’s something else I need to tell you.]

“What is it? Speak.”

[Starting this month, the royal family will begin distributing specially crafted identification tags to the explorers.]

“…Special tags?”

[Yes.]

“Tell me more. I’m sure you’ve already done your research.”

The lord then learned about the ‘identification tags’ that the royal family planned to distribute through Amelia.

The more he heard, the grimmer the news seemed.

An identification tag designed by the royal archmage himself.

“It would take us months to produce something similar.”

[Yes, I think so too.]

“Thank you for the update. Concentrate on your tasks and don’t worry about this end. I’ll see you next month”

With that, the lord ended the communication and closed his eyes in deep contemplation.

How much time had passed?

“Ah, have you arrived?”

The lord summoned his treasurer to review Noark’s financial situation.

Rather, he asked specifically,

“Treasurer, how long can we last without entering the labyrinth?”

“If we continue as we are, three months.”

The aftermath of the last battle had left them in a difficult position.

It was nothing new. They had never been ahead of their opponents before.

It was a familiar situation, something their ancestors had also endured.

“And if we starve ourselves? How long then?”

“…About twice as long.”

“I see.”

The lord then summoned his advisor and issued an order.

“Seal off the labyrinth and do not allow anyone to enter until I give the order.”

“…There will be strong objections. Do you know how long this might last?”

The lord replied decisively.

“At least until we can produce identification tags like those used by the royal family.”

Entering before that would certainly lead to death.

So…

“We endure and endure until they let their guard down.”

They must wait patiently for the right moment.

That moment would surely come.

The moment to change everything.

「The labyrinth has been sealed.」

「Your character is moving to Raphdonia.」

Light slowly crept over my closed eyelids.

Opening my eyes leisurely, I was greeted by a bright sky for the first time in a while.

With each breath, the hot air of the city wrapped deeply around my lungs.

Suddenly, I can feel the passage of time all over my body.

‘Is it already June…’

Six months had passed since I was exiled to Bifron.

Compared to Korea, the mild winter is long gone and the short spring is also coming to an end.

‘Fascinating.’

It was March when I arrived in this world.

It’s really been over a year since I’ve been here.

I paid my first year’s taxes, but it still felt strange.

Frankly, my life on Earth was gradually becoming a blur.

That was to be expected.

Including the time I spent in the labyrinth, I had spent almost two years in this place.

“Hey, are you going straight back to your accommodation?”

“Not for now. Let’s get cleaned up and have a drink.”

“We’re backkkkkkk!!”

After checking the usual surroundings, I shook off my brief thoughts.

‘So, nothing happened this time’

I was curious about the other floors, but judging by the reactions around me, there didn’t seem to be any incidents.

Well, that’s a relief.

Swoosh.

I looked down at my wrist.

Though I had just come out to the city, the identification tag etched like a tattoo on my wrist was already scattering into light.

I have to get a new one every time I enter the city, but its function was different from the previous ones, which could simply be stolen.

Interestingly, since this tag was introduced, the underground city bastards were nowhere to be found.

‘…I thought it was about time they showed up.’

Earth and this place had distinctly different ecosystems.

There were no flowing rivers or fertile land to farm.

Both Noark and Raphdonia had to create food from the magic stones that came from the labyrinth.

‘But there’s been no word for six months…’

Last month at the Roundtable, I had heard from the Fox that the great clans had formed an alliance in preparation for a surprise attack by Noark, which made me feel even more uneasy.

Where have these bastards disappeared to?

With no new ways to procure food besides magic stones, the question lingered in my mind.

“Jandel! Why are you so late?”

As I walked, organizing my thoughts as if on a stroll, Raven waved to me from a distance.

Even Mr. Bear, who usually came late, was already there.

“Just had something to think about.”

“Hmm, you could have done that while you were queuing here …….”

Well, efficiency is key.

Nevertheless, since I was indeed late, I politely apologized and joined the line.

It only took a few minutes for the line to dwindle down.

After all, this was the rank 5 checkpoint.

“Team Apple Narak of rank 5, correct?”

One of the many changes over the past six months. Me, Aynar, and Misha had been promoted to rank 5, and our team’s rank had also increased.

Getting promoted required us to complete guild commissions, which was a hassle…

But we completed one together three months ago.

Being low-ranked inevitably leads to being underestimated, and that brings more nuisances in this industry.

“Wow, they even give out candy here. Did you know that, Bjorn?” Misha spoke

“I didn’t.”

I popped the candy Misha had peeled into my mouth and sucked on it.

“It’s sweet.”

Raphdonia, a city merciless to the weak.

Now, I was gradually beginning to feel respected wherever I went.

“So, we’ll do the calculations tomorrow?”

“Why ask the obvious?”

“Ooh! Let’s go then! Home!!!”

We simply exchanged the magic stones for money and headed out of the city.

Although rank 5 checkpoints offer the convenience of bathing facilities, we chose not to use them this time.

Why bother when we can wash up at home?

“See you there tomorrow then. Honey, I’m home!”

After saying goodbye in front of Mr Bear’s tavern, the three of us headed straight home.

A four-story building located in the 7th District, just 10 minutes away from the commercial city of Commelby.

We used the first and second floors, and another explorer couple lived on the third and fourth floors.

Since the entrances were separate, we hardly ever crossed paths.

“Ah, home sweet home!”

Our new place is incomparably better than the one-room lodging we had before.

We had only moved here two months ago.

I loved the property at first sight, but we had to wait for the previous residents to move out.

Ah, of course, we rented it. Buying was outrageously expensive.

“We take a while to wash up, so if you’re hungry, eat first!”

Aynar and Misha went into the first-floor bathroom with the bathtub, while I washed up in the small bathroom on the second floor.

It was smaller, but still much better than our previous place.

As I lathered up with soap, I chuckled.

‘Maybe this too is a change.’

A spacious home with a kitchen.

Soap made in a workshop, not mass-produced.

And an expensive bed that I paid a lot of money for.

Instead of saving every penny to go back home, I started to improve my quality of life here.

But I didn’t want to think of it as inefficient.

I don’t even know if it’s possible to go back now that the Creation Relic is gone.

‘In the first place… I’m not sure if I need to go back.’

Shaking off a moment of weakness, I dried my hair with a towel and stepped out of the bathroom.

Chaaaaaa-!

It seemed like the girls were still washing up below.

I was hungry, but Misha’s cooking was far better, so I just sat on the sofa and dozed off for a while.

How long had passed?

“You woke up just in time. Come eat.”

Lured by the appetizing smell, I looked towards the kitchen to see a table full of food, mostly meat, befitting the two barbarians that we were.

We chatted about everyday things as we ate.

“Oh, right. Are you going to drop off the equipment today?”

“Yes, it needs good maintenance to last. After we’re done eating, gather it up. I’ll go alone.”

“Okay. But are we using Hikurod’s forge again?”

“It’s good to patronize him regularly. It’s not like we need any special skills for weapon maintenance.”

As time passed, the dwarf had also opened his forge.

It’s been about three months now, and as his business relies mainly on regular customers, it seems he hasn’t been able to avoid making a loss.

Well, it seems to be improving gradually.

“But about Hikurod… if his shop fails, he might return to being an explorer?”

“Don’t say that… not in front of him.”

“Hey, do you think I’m crazy? I do have some sense. I’m just a bit worried, that’s all.”

“Haha, Misha, what are you worrying about? If he fails, we can just hire him as our housekeeper!”

“Housekeeper…?”

“Hikurod would make an interesting one, don’t you think?”

What does she think a housekeeper is?

It would be foolish to take a barbarian’s words too seriously.

Still, it could be fun, and we chuckled over such silly conversations for a while.

“Well, I’m off to the forge then. You guys go to sleep first.”

“Should I come with you?”

“No need. It’s not like I’m doing anything important.”

After putting the kids to bed, I gathered up the equipment and went to the Dwarf’s Forge to have it inspected and repaired before going to bed.

An oversized bed that cost a whopping 350,000 stones.

“Yes, this is it.”

Satisfied with its unchanging softness, I closed my eyes.

Memories of the past surfaced.

Was it when the last line was missed and I stayed with Misha in Commelby? Back then, I had sighed at how long it would be before I could sleep in such a bed every day…

“…”

It’s been over a year since I came to this city.

Blood doesn’t faze me anymore, not even my own.

Instead, days without blood feel more awkward, and harming people instead of monsters doesn’t evoke much emotion anymore.

Before falling asleep, I asked myself.

Am I living more humanely now than before?

***

The long nap continued until the next morning when it was interrupted by Misha’s visit.

“Didn’t you say you were going out? You need to wake up!”

“Ah, thanks.”

“What about breakfast? Should I get it ready?”

“No, I’m meeting someone to eat together.”

“Oh, right.”

After freshening up and preparing to go out, I heard snoring from the first floor.

Aynar was still asleep.

And by the way, Misha and I each have a room upstairs.

There are two rooms on the first floor, but…

Snore!

She snores louder than I do.

The other room on the first floor is just a shared storage room.

“Then I’ll see you at the tavern later.”

“Okay, take care!”

After saying goodbye to Misha, I left the house.

Instead of taking a carriage, I walked the ten-minute distance to Commelby.

After crossing the city gate and walking for another thirty minutes or so, I arrived at the designated meeting point on the public platform.

Raven was already there.

“You’re late. I’ve been off the carriage for a while now.”

“…Feels like you just came early today.”

“Quick to notice. Come on, let’s go. I’m starving.”

After joining up with Raven, we finished our meal at a regular restaurant, then visited the shops and the exchange to dispose of the loot from our last exploration.

This time it was particularly profitable.

Thanks to capturing a Miladon in a mirrored underworld and obtaining a Grade 5 essence.

“It might take a while to sell, so I’ll distribute the money from my share and collect it later when it sells .”

“That’s fine for us, but are you sure it’s okay for you?”

“Why not? It seems like a lot of hassle to wait until it sells and then come back and split it.”

We’ve always insisted on that method till now, considering it the least problematic.

“What’s that look for?”

“Nothing.”

“It doesn’t seem like nothing?”

“You’re mistaken.”

I forced a smile and kept walking, looking ahead.

It seems she has changed a lot too.

Still not quite honest, though.

“We finished earlier than expected. Let’s go to the tavern first.”

After selling the loot, we made our way to the tavern, our agreed meeting place.

“It’s actually a good thing. Last time we didn’t even have time to organize.”

Raven ordered a drink and pulled out a piece of paper, starting to write down the details for today’s settlement.

It took longer than expected.

She always said it was no big deal when asked.

“Thanks.”

“…Huh, suddenly?”

“You’re always doing the heavy lifting for my team.”

“If there was even one other person who could do this, I wouldn’t have to, right? Maybe you should pay me for it.”

“Fine, how much? I bet everyone would agree.”

“…Never mind. What, you think I’d get rich off that money?”

She really could be more popular if it wasn’t for her grumbling tone.

“Oh, I thought I would be the last one.”

As time passed, Mr. Bear showed up, followed soon by the melee sisters.

And so began the time for settlements.

“Each person gets 8.5 million stones.”

The catch from Miladon that spit out the mirror amounted to a significant sum. Since  I had paid off all my debts two months ago, this income was entirely mine.

“Now let’s talk about other matters.”

After settling accounts, we relaxed with food and drinks while planning our next exploration.

Well, it was more like making announcements.

“I’m thinking we won’t go back to Hellfire Canyon.”

“What? Why?”

We had hunted in Hellfire Canyon for half a year, entering the otherworld through the mirror three times.

And we had completed explorations of the ‘Ash Mountains’ and ‘Lava Lakes’ that we hadn’t tackled before.

It hadn’t been that difficult.

Thanks to the ‘Orb of Fire’, which protected us from flame damage, and our combat abilities had significantly improved since we first entered.

“Why would we leave the place where we have the best synergy and go somewhere else?”

Raven, who enjoyed our successes in Hellfire Canyon, expressed her concern about my decision.

But this was a point I couldn’t concede.

“We can’t stay on the fifth floor forever. It’s time to explore other places.”

We had gained everything we could from Hellfire Canyon.

So, it was time to move on to the next chapter.

“So, where do you plan to go?”

“Frost Canyon.”

“Frost Canyon, you say…”

Misha trailed off, giving me a sidelong glance.

Unlike Hellfire Canyon, this was a field that could offer her opportunities.

Her guess wasn’t wrong.

In Frost Canyon, the essences that synergize well with Misha’s ice attributes drop frequently.

And that was precisely what I was aiming for.

‘Once we get that essence, Frost Canyon is done.’

Then, the plan is to just farm experience in the remaining two fields of the ‘Grand Illusion’ before making our way to the 6th floor.

Well, it’ll take another year to get there.

‘But I’ve come a long way.’

Just as I was contemplating this,

Swoosh!

A vine ring on my hand burst into light.

“Bjorn, that can’t be…”

Unlike the first time, I didn’t try to deny it or deceive myself by spitting on it and twisting it back together like a vine

It would change nothing anyway.

[The activation conditions for the ‘Blessing of the Stars’ have been met]

The second vine, which had been a safeguard against death flags related to the dragon slayer, snapped.

Damn it.