Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 292

Giant (4)

Lavigion, where over half of the kingdom’s population resides.

The upper class lumps everyone living here as commoners, but even in Lavigion, there are stark differences in wealth.

Explorers and self-employed individuals running decent businesses live near the central plaza or along the main roads. Such places have good security and decent living conditions.

But…

“She used to live in a place like this when she was young.”

As you move away from the main roads and enter the massive blocks through the back alleys, the situation changes.

Poor security where the guards don’t reach.

The buildings are old and worn out, with many rooms divided into tiny spaces for living.

Shared bathrooms and kitchens.

Even the Barbarian lodgings, which cost 500 stones a night, were not in such places.

“……”

As I followed Raven into the alley, wary glances from the residents poured in.

It was similar to my experience in Bifron.

Everyone was on guard, but no one approached or picked a fight.

If anything, they avoided eye contact.

“Have they never seen a Barbarian before?”

Feeling the advantages of being a Barbarian anew, I also realized how harsh Raven’s living conditions were.

Because this wasn’t the bustling main street.

Those people must have guessed I was following Raven.

“Yet, no one steps up…”

Well, it’s not their business, right?

Fine, I don’t plan to keep Raven here for long anyway.

Creak. Thud.

Soon, Raven slipped into a building and closed the door behind her.

At first, I didn’t even realize it was a house.

It was just a door attached to a wall.

“Guess I’ll wait a bit.”

After arriving at the house, I leaned against the wall and killed time.

Raven’s biological mother appeared about 20 minutes later.

She wasn’t hard to recognize.

Her hair was far from the glossy blonde, and she was much taller, but her face was the spitting image of Raven’s.

“Are you Alluva Raven’s mother?”

“Yes, but… who are you?”

She seemed like she could have been a beauty in her prime, but she wasn’t much older than me. 

Maybe in her late twenties at most?

Did she have Raven at a young age?

Feeling something odd, I stared at her, and Raven’s mother asked me anxiously.

“Has she caused any trouble again?”

“This place isn’t ideal. Let’s talk over a drink outside.”

“…Okay.”

I took Raven’s mother to the main street.

We entered a pastry shop, the equivalent of a café in this era.

“Don’t worry. I’ll pay.”

“Okay…”

There was a strong sense of discord during our conversation.

Her face was identical to Raven’s, but her mannerisms were completely different.

“Order whatever you want.”

“…”

“If you don’t want anything, I’ll order.”

Ordering without female assistance wasn’t difficult with my ‘friends’ experience,’ and since it was a confectionery shop, the ordered items arrived quickly.

Neither of us touched our food.

Phew, where should I start…

“First, let’s clear up any misunderstanding. I’m not here because Raven caused trouble.”

“What? Then…”

“I am a friend of Raven.”

“A friend…?”

“Barbarians don’t care about age.”

“I see…”

Raven’s mother nodded reluctantly, her face still uneasy.

I had a good sense of her personality.

The complete opposite of Raven.

“When we met recently, she had a wound on her face.”

“Ah…”

Raven’s mother’s face turned pale, realizing why I had come.

But then she seemed resentful.

“That’s… not your concern.”

She had been too scared to speak earlier, but now she firmly drew a line.

Indeed, it was a fundamental statement.

In a crazy world where failing to pay taxes could land you in prison, parents hitting their disobedient children isn’t considered a problem. In fact, the ones who criticize such actions are seen as abnormal.

But…

“Concern? Don’t use big words.”

I am a proud member of the Barbarian tribe who doesn’t know such things.

“If my friend is hit, I will seek bloody revenge.”

I said calmly, without any particular emotion, causing Raven’s mother to freeze. She had probably never heard such words.

From what I heard, she just seemed to be working in a kitchen.

“So, what do you want from me? To stop hitting her? Is that it?”

“No, let her go.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know it too, right? Raven has the talent to become a great mage.”

“Because of her father’s blood.”

Raven’s mother bit her lip, her eyes filled with clear hatred.

She must be thinking of the husband who abandoned the family…

It’s not my concern.

“Send Raven to the Mage Tower.”

“I can’t afford that.”

“I’ll cover all the costs.”

“…Why go so far?”

“I just feel like it.”

Raven’s mother was silent for a long time after my answer.

Then she muttered something strange.

“That child will abandon me.”

What?

“Someday, she will look down on me and leave for her own world, just like her father did. Because she has his blood…”

Ah…

“Isn’t it unfair? Why does she have such an easy life? She is my child, but I have never met anyone who helped me for such a reason. But… why her…”

Raven’s mother continued to pour out her pent-up emotions.

“Looking back, I had no talent. I was slow to learn to read. But she learned magic at that age.”

It was mostly about her husband and daughter, but ultimately it was her regret and dissatisfaction with life.

I quietly listened to her.

The trauma from her husband’s infidelity.

Her hatred was too complicated and deep to be simply explained by such words.

How much time passed?

“Are you done?”

I asked, and she answered.

“Okay. I’ll send her to the Mage Tower. She looks like me but has nothing else in common. If she disappears from my sight, I’ll feel better too. Yes, I want to… feel at ease.”

“Good.”

As soon as the conversation ended, I stood up and paid the bill. I tried to give her money outside the shop, but she refused.

“I don’t need it. The Mage Tower already sent someone a few days ago. They said they would support everything, so I should send her for the test. They must have noticed her using magic at a young age.”

“…I see.”

“Isn’t it strange? I worked my whole life, and all I have is a room in this slum.”

Raven’s mother staggered back towards her home in the back alley, and I watched her leave.

I didn’t feel any sympathy.

But still…

“What was my life worth?”

Her final words kept echoing in my head.

***

Time passed quickly after that.

Raven’s mother kept her promise and took Raven to the Mage Tower, where she was recognized for her talent over several days.

I heard the details every two days when Raven came to the library…

“You got into the Artemius school?”

“Yeah, the headmaster liked me. He didn’t look down on me because I was young.”

So, it was just as Auril Gavis, that old man, said?

Sending her to the Mage Tower early won’t change the future much.

“Come to think of it, I don’t know when she entered the Mage Tower…”

I assumed it was after she turned ten.

When we first met, Raven talked about becoming an administrative magician. I thought some incident would change her mind later.

“Why do you look like that?”

“Nothing. Anyway, it’s good you got into the Mage Tower.”

“…I’m a bit worried. Can I do well?”

“You will become a great mage. I guarantee it.”

“Hehe, really?”

Anyway, our conversation didn’t stop at the Mage Tower but also included family matters.

Her mother suddenly became kind?

It seemed Raven’s mother hadn’t told her about our conversation.

After chatting for a while, it was time for Raven to go home.

“Then I’ll go. Oh, and I can’t come here anymore. I have to live in the Mage Tower starting tomorrow.”

“I couldn’t come tomorrow either.”

“Why?”

“I have plans.”

I have to go down to Noark with Amelia tomorrow. I won’t be back until my mission is complete.

“…I see.”

Before parting, I gave Raven some advice.

“When you go to the Mage Tower, don’t speak informally to everyone like you do now.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t make unnecessary enemies.”

“…I’m not afraid of that.”

“Even if you’re not afraid, do it. Making enemies will make people who could have been your friends run away. With such an attitude, you’ll end up alone.”

“Did I offend you?”

Raven asked carefully, and after a moment of thought, I said I was a little bothered.

Did she realize something?

“Okay, I won’t do it anymore.”

“Won’t do it?”

“…Yes.”

Good, now she sounds like a kid.

“But don’t you have to go soon?”

“Yeah…”

We finished our last conversation and left the library.

We said our goodbyes with no promise of when we’d meet again.

“See you later!”

A promise with no set time or place.

Where did the honorifics go again?

I smiled and replied.

“Yeah, see you later.”

Though she wouldn’t remember me by then.

***

After parting with Raven, I went straight to a specific place.

I had come to terms with it.

“Yes, Dwalki… can’t be saved.”

The orphanage under the Leatlas Church.

I stood in front of it for a long time, unable to open the door.

For a simple reason.

I wondered if it was worth talking to Dwalki one last time, knowing it wouldn’t mean anything.

How much time passed?

“Mr. Entze…?”

Someone called me from the side.

“Wuerv Emirin?”

It was a woman I had met while volunteering in the past. During our last get-together, we had a strange conversation while encouraging each other.

“What brings you here?”

“Well, actually… my son is here.”

…What?

“Fortunately, things worked out, and I can take him with me. I’m really grateful. If it weren’t for you, I would have hesitated forever.”

I felt a chill as I instinctively grasped the truth.

But I had to confirm it.

“By any chance… is your son named Leor?”

Leor ‘Wuerv’ Dwalki.

And, ‘Wuerv’ Emirn.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Emirn responded with surprise.

So, Dwalki’s middle name came from his mother.

“How did you know?”

“He just… looks a bit like you.”

“Is that so? Well, you often talked with him.”

Emirn smiled happily at my words. However, she seemed eager to fetch Dwalki more than to talk with me.

“Then, I’ll be going now.”

“Oh, okay…”

Emirn hurriedly said goodbye and entered the orphanage. I stood frozen at the entrance, unable to leave.

My mind was filled with countless thoughts.

After a few minutes…

Thud.

I climbed over the orphanage wall.

In his usual spot, where he always sat reading a book, Dwalki was there today too.

“Oh! Hello.”

Dwalki greeted me.

“Yeah… it’s been a while.”

“What brings you here?”

“Just… thought I’d visit.”

“…?”

Dwalki tilted his head in confusion but didn’t seem wary, perhaps due to the time we’d spent together.

I turned my head to look inside the building.

I saw Emirn handing over a stack of documents to an employee at the desk.

It finally hit me.

Dwalki would now live with his biological mother.

He would hear about the sea.

He would become an administrative mage but never let go of his dream, eventually entering the labyrinth.

And then…

[Thank you all for being my companions.]

He would die.

‘Is it all because of me?’

A deep sense of responsibility weighed on me.

At the same time, I felt as insignificant as a speck of dust in the universe.

A wave of powerlessness washed over me.

But there was also a rebellious desire.

Maybe it wasn’t too late.

If I did something now, I might be able to prevent that future. Yes, if I kidnapped him right now, something would definitely change.

‘Damn it.’

Despite my thoughts, my body didn’t move.

Scenes kept replaying in my mind.

Emirn’s face when she came to me asking for courage.

Dwalki’s voice reminiscing about his biological mother during our half-hearted team days.

I kept seeing and hearing them.

‘I…’

What should I do?

Will my actions really change the future?

If my actions don’t affect the outcome and only take away his happy times with his mother…

I unconsciously clenched my fist, and a small hand overlapped with it.

It was Dwalki’s.

“It’s big… Ah, sorry for touching you suddenly.”

“…It’s okay.”

“Will I ever grow this big? Big enough to protect someone important?”

I forced myself to answer his question.

“Don’t worry too much.”

Even though his body was skinny and he was short.

“You will become a great person.”

Greater than me.

No, greater than anyone I’ve ever met.

****

I climbed back over the orphanage wall, almost as if running away.

I hid in an alley and watched the orphanage.

Creak.

After some time, the door opened, and Dwalki and Emirn came out.

“Auntie, why are you my mom?”

“Well… there’s a long story. Let’s go first. You’ll understand everything when we get there…”

“…”

The two held hands awkwardly, too awkwardly to be considered a mother and son, and started walking.

And…

“Goodbye, Dwalki.”

I watched them leave.