Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 287

Cause and Effect (3)

After Raven left the library, I considered following her to find out where she lived but decided against it. 

That wouldn’t be polite between colleagues. 

She hadn’t mentioned her home situation to me because she didn’t want to share it. If I’m really curious, I should just ask her directly later.

‘…So, what should I do now?’

I continued to organize my plans after Raven left, but I couldn’t concentrate, so I just left. After hastily grabbing something to eat and lounging around in bed, Amelia, who had gone out early, returned.

“…Have you been like this all day?”

“So what?”

Didn’t you tell me to stay home?

When I stared at her with that look, Amelia shook her head and threw a heavy pouch at me.

“Here, take this.”

“…Money?”

“It’s the proceeds from selling the equipment and items the plunderers had. I split it exactly in half, so go to the city tomorrow and get the equipment we’ll need.”

“Oh, there’s quite a bit.”

“There aren’t many blacksmiths in Noark, so it’s hard to get new equipment. Don’t waste it and only spend it on what’s necessary.”

Geez, nagging again.

“How’s your work? Is it going well?”

“It’s still in progress.”

Amelia said she’d let me know when there was progress and then disappeared somewhere, saying she had things to do.

Did she just drop by to give me money?

‘Tomorrow, I’ll go have some grilled meat.’

The next morning, I headed out early to the commercial district called Commelby, also known as the ‘Free Market.’ I went to the blacksmith shop I frequently visited and requested some custom-made equipment.

They said it would take about three weeks…

‘This place was thriving even 20 years ago.’

Well, it makes sense.

There aren’t many places in Commelby that offer good value while handling top-tier equipment like this.

‘Since I’m here, I might as well look around.’

With nothing else to do, I wandered around enjoying the sights. 

I checked the market prices at the central exchange, asked local explorers about old famous eateries from 20 years ago, and visited some of them. I enjoyed myself thoroughly until the last carriage back, and then returned to my lodgings to have a drink before sleeping.

And the next day, on the morning of the third day.

‘Whew, this is nerve-wracking.’

I visited the sanctuary. 

I worried someone might approach me, wondering who I was, but…

‘Is it because the population is bigger? The atmosphere here is completely different from 20 years later.’

Thankfully, what I feared didn’t happen.

Unlike my generation, where everyone memorized names and faces of peers from one year above to one year below, there were many differences here.

‘Okay, let’s drop off the letter and get out of here.’

I loitered near the chief’s tent, and when he stepped out, I slipped in the letter I had prepared the previous day and left the sanctuary.

Then I visited the Leatlas Church.

Coincidentally, there was a job posting that fit perfectly.

The task was to repair a building under the church’s jurisdiction.

The reward was solely in merit points, essentially making it a volunteer job.

“Application received.”

Since the job started in three days, I submitted the application today and headed out into the streets.

I had finished my tasks for the day…

With quite a bit of time left, I headed to the library.

Just as I quietly organized my thoughts like yesterday, the chair across from me scraped against the floor.

Screech.

So, you came again.

“Nice to see you, Alluva.”

“…”

I greeted her by name, but her expression looked sullen.

“Why didn’t you come yesterday?”

Why is she acting like we had plans?

She left without even looking back when it was time to go.

“Never mind that, did you eat?”

“Yeah.”

When I asked, Raven replied that she had eaten some bread she brought from home.

What kind of meal is that?

“Let’s go out and get some meat.”

“…Meat?”

“Don’t like it?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know?”

“I’ve never had it before.”

Geez, this kid is going to make me cry.

“Well then, you’ll try it today. What are you doing? Get up. You can study later.”

“But…”

“We’re just going to a place nearby, so don’t worry too much.”

“I wasn’t worried.”

Annoyed at being treated like a child, Raven closed her book and got off the chair. She moved a bit further away from me.

“Don’t pity me. I can buy meat on my own later.”

It seemed that the very act of offering to buy her something hurt her pride greatly.

Sigh, that was my mistake.

There’s a right approach for dealing with kids like this.

“Ah, I’m sorry if you thought that way.”

When I sincerely apologized, Raven came off the chair again.

And…

“You’re the first adult to apologize. I’ll let it slide.”

She returned to her original seat.

Good grief, it’s like dealing with a cat.

“I’m going to read now, so don’t disturb me.”

With a crisp voice, Raven said that and really started reading.

I was a bit dumbfounded.

When did I disturb her…?

“…”

“…”

Anyway, time quietly passed while maintaining that appropriate distance.

Thud.

Raven spoke to me again when she turned the last page of her book.

“…Are you an explorer?”

It was honestly a question I had been waiting for.

Kids go nuts over stuff like this.

“Yes, I am.”

“What rank?”

“Rank 5… no, Rank 6.”

I quickly corrected myself.

It’s best to give all answers according to Nibels Entze’s id, just in case.

“Is that high?”

“It’s just average. Most explorers in the books you read would be at least Rank 4.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Surprisingly, Raven didn’t mock or look down on me for having a low rank.

She just showed curiosity.

“Can you tell me about it?”

“About the labyrinth?”

“Yeah.”

After that, I told her about my experiences in the labyrinth, fun stories from my explorer life, and some exaggerated tales, like entertaining a child.

Oh, I left out the bad stories as much as possible.

Raven is different from Dwalki, after all.

Yeah, kids’ innocence should be preserved.

“That’s interesting. Are all barbarians like you?”

“Not barbarian, Nibels Entze.”

“Ah, sorry. I’ll call you by your name from now on.”

Despite my initial impression that she was a troublesome kid, Raven turned out to be quite sensible.

She was considerate and didn’t do things she disliked to others.

She just had one little flaw.

“But why do you go around picking fights with adults?”

“I told you, I wasn’t picking fights.”

“A smart kid like you should know there are better ways than just electrocuting people out of the blue.”

“…I don’t know about that.”

From our conversation, I felt that Raven had a strong desire for recognition.

Well, who doesn’t have that desire…

But for her, it was several times stronger than for kids her age. Maybe electrocuting random pedestrians was an expression of that desire. 

She probably wanted to show off that she was a mage. Though, I doubt she ever got the reaction she hoped for.

Based on my experience, when someone gets hit with an unexpected electric shock, there’s only one thought that comes to mind:

‘Is this crazy kid out of his mind?’

“Well, I’ll be going now. Take care.”

Raven left the library earlier than usual, seemingly trying to avoid an uncomfortable topic.

So I returned to my lodgings as well.

Three days passed.

***

Twenty years ago, in the past.

It was exciting at first, wandering around the streets every day, marveling at the fact that I was in a different time. But that excitement quickly faded.

What’s so special about being 20 years in the past?

In the end, it’s just another place where people live.

So, for the past three days, apart from chatting with Raven at the library, I stayed mostly at my lodgings.

‘Ah, come to think of it, I forgot to tell her I wouldn’t be coming today.’

After meeting and talking daily for several days, I became quite close to Raven.

Not only did I share stories about the labyrinth, but she also started to talk about her family on her own.

‘…That was surprising.’

Raven came from a single-parent family. But it wasn’t that her father had died; he had left the family a year ago after having an affair. Oh, and her father was also a mage.

No wonder I thought it was unlikely for a kid, no matter how smart, to learn magic just by reading library books. Her father had taught her the basics, making it possible.

[Anyway, that’s why my mom hates me learning magic. She sold all the books we had at home. I guess it reminds her of him.]

Although she casually mentioned her family situation, I felt it was part of her defense mechanism.

Pretending it’s nothing to others, hoping it would truly become nothing to herself.

‘Sigh, it’s really heartbreaking…’

So, I had a new goal recently.

The goal was to help Raven get into the Mage Tower. Well, she would eventually join it anyway, but…

‘The sooner she joins, the better.’

Maybe when I return to the future, Raven will be an even greater mage.

Hmm, but would that change our first meeting?

‘Oh well, how much could it change?’

Maybe the Vampire War will just be a bit easier. Even if it isn’t, it doesn’t matter.

The past is already altered.

I left a letter at the sacred ground.

And in three weeks, Amelia and I will go to Noark to save a life that should have died.

‘If things are going to change anyway, it’s better to guide them in a way that benefits us.’

Yeah, with that in mind…

Thud.

I arrived at my destination and took a deep breath at the entrance.

‘I’m a bit nervous.’

The orphanage under the Leatlas Church.

It’s also the place where Dwalki spent his childhood.

“Ah, are you Mr. Nibels Entze?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“If you could wait here for a moment, the site manager will explain today’s tasks. Would you like something to drink?”

“No, I’m fine.”

I told them I came for volunteer work, then sat down to wait. Soon, a rough-looking man came and led me and a few other volunteers to the site.

“As you can see, the building is quite old. There are many places that are inconvenient and dangerous for the kids. We’ve mixed experienced volunteers with newcomers, so let’s all work hard today.”

For about a week, my job here was to repair the old building.

It felt a bit nostalgic.

The last time I was here, it was to move out belongings before demolition, not to repair.

“Hey, barbarian guy! Morning shift is over, take a break!”

Anyway, I worked hard and during my break, I went to the playground where the kids were.

It wasn’t hard to find Dwalki.

Everyone was playing, but he was reading a book alone under a tree.

‘…He didn’t have friends even back then.’

Drinking from my water bottle, I naturally walked over and sat next to him. However, the lines I had prepared to get close to him didn’t come to mind.

I could only think of his final moments.

There were many things I wanted to say when we met again someday.

“Um, I’ll move. Please rest….”

Dwalki hesitated and stood up, uncomfortable with my gaze.

I snapped out of it.

I can reminisce later; I have a job to do now.

“Sit down.”

“Yes, sir!”

“…You can speak casually. I won’t bite.”

“….”

He sat back down, but looked uneasy, glancing at me cautiously.

Geez, I didn’t expect him to be this shy.

“What’s your name?”

“Leor.”

“Last name?”

“I don’t want to say.”

“I’m Nibels Entze. A Rank 6 explorer.”

“Yes, sir…”

Sigh, this feels like bullying.

Shouldn’t kids be excited to see an explorer?

Well, except for kids like these.

“Wow, a Barbarian!”

“Is this a tattoo? Didn’t it hurt?”

As I sat on the ground, the playing kids gathered around, showing curiosity. When they learned I was an explorer, they begged for stories about the labyrinth.

Meanwhile, I noticed Dwalki had moved to a corner but was still watching us.

‘He could have left, but he stayed. He must be curious too.’

Dwalki probably wanted to hear about the labyrinth, so I started telling stories.

Of course, I told a different version than what I told Raven, full of dreams and innocence.

“Have you killed goblins?”

“Yes, I have. I crushed their eyes with my hands and smashed their heads with my fists. Their skulls are quite hard, so it took three hits.”

“Wow…”

“I remember stepping into a trap once. I thought I was dead. My muscles and tendons were torn, so I couldn’t use one foot. I crawled for hours in the dark, looking for someone to rescue me.”

“Oh…”

“Yeah, it was a tough experience. My shin bone was sticking out, and every time it touched the ground, the pain was unbearable. I nearly went crazy when the goblin paralysis poison wore off. I later realized I had lost a molar.”

“…Huh?”

The kids’ faces grew darker as the story went on, likely not the kind of tale they were expecting.

After all, who would tell them such stories?

“And one more thing. Usually, people think monsters turn into magic stones right after they die, but that’s a misconception. They stare at you for about three seconds, bleeding from their nose and ears. Just like this.”

“…”

“Don’t like monster stories? Okay, I’ll tell you about a plundererI met who wore human ears as a necklace…”

“Waaah!”

A little girl at the front started crying and ran off.

Regardless, I continued my story.

“Not a fan of that one? Then let me tell you about the first time I lost an arm.”

“…”

“Don’t like that either? Hmm… How about the time the guild tried to kill me by framing me?”

“Um…”

“Hm?”

“Is… is that all you’ve got?”

Just as I was about to continue, a trembling kid asked.

I nodded without hesitation.

“What did you expect? I don’t know what stories you’ve heard, but in exploration, these horrible things happen daily.”

That was the unvarnished truth.

Though you might laugh and say you’re glad you became an explorer, it’s undoubtedly horrific.

“So, remember…”

I looked directly at Dwalki as I spoke.

“Don’t do this kind of stuff, okay?”