Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 312

Inheritance (1)

In District 7, there was a well-known high-end restaurant.

Alluva Raven had chosen this place to meet with her clan members after a long time.

Of course, this was her first visit.

If she had chosen a place she frequented, she would have only gotten more depressed by various thoughts.

“Aren’t you going to order?”

“Not everyone is here yet.”

Raven’s short reply made Abman look somewhat uncomfortable.

At that awkward moment, Aynar spoke up.

“No, everyone’s here.”

“Misha said she wasn’t coming. I was hoping she would change her mind, but if she hasn’t turned up by now, she won’t be coming”.

“…I see. So, it’s just the three of us.”

Raven unconsciously let out a sigh.

It seemed everyone shared the same bitter feeling.

“Raven.”

“Yes, Sir Urickfreit?”

“But…what happened to Erwin? Have you contacted her?”

“I sent a letter. I mentioned the settlement from the last raid and discussed Mr. Jandel’s…inheritance.”

Of course, it was just a matter of formality. She didn’t expect Erwin to come here.

Not after how she left things last time.

“Did you get a reply?”

“No, nothing. So, I’ll just send the settlement by mail when it’s ready.”

“…I see.”

“Anyway, forget about the fairy. But Misha not showing up… That was unexpected. I thought she’d definitely be here since she’s the most important person regarding this matter.”

Raven let out a deep sigh and glanced at Aynar.

Then she carefully asked.

“…How is Misha? Is she doing okay?”

Raven was genuinely worried about her

The last time they saw each other was at the royal funeral procession. And even then, the distance had been too great, and the atmosphere too somber, for any real conversation..

So, how was she now?

“…She’s not doing well. She stays in her room all day and barely eats. One time, I forced her to eat, and she threw up.”

“I see…”

“So, I don’t go home much these days. I think she feels more uncomfortable when I’m there.”

“Then, where are you staying, Aynar?”

“I’m staying at the sanctuary. At least when I’m not there, Misha eats the bare minimum. So, I just stocked up the house with food.”

“That’s a relief then.”

“Raven, what do you think? Is it okay to leave Misha like this?”

“That’s…”

Raven spoke, reflecting on her own experience over the past month.

“Not eating is probably due to guilt. You know? The discomfort that comes from…the act of eating itself…”

She trailed off awkwardly, but Aynar and Abman nodded as if they understood.

“Ah, that.”

“I think I get what you mean. So, what then?”

“…I’m not sure how to help Misha. Maybe giving her some time alone isn’t a bad idea, but I’m not sure if that’s the right answer.”

“Yeah, you wouldn’t have all the answers either.”

Aynar’s words weren’t meant to be hurtful, but Raven felt a mix of frustration and sadness.

Aynar wasn’t wrong.

If he were here, he would have handled it better.

“Let’s order something first. If we keep sitting here without ordering, they might kick us out.”

Sensing something off, Abman changed the subject, and Raven moved on to choosing food with him.

“Oh, this is my first time at this restaurant, and the food is really good. Why aren’t you eating?”

“Oh, yeah…”

After the food came out, they talked as they ate, and then they got down to business.

“There’s no issue with the loot settlement. We just divide everything we got that day into five equal parts. The problem is the inheritance… Have you all seen Jandel’s will?”

“Yeah, I saw it. There wasn’t anything except the distribution ratios for the inheritance. That’s just like him, though…”

Abman trailed off, then chuckled.

Then, he carefully asked.

“But isn’t it a bit odd?”

“Odd? How?”

“The ratios. To be honest, I can’t quite understand why he distributed them like that.”

“Oh, that…”

Raven nodded slightly, showing she understood.

She had been surprised too.

She never imagined Jandel would evenly split the inheritance, giving 20% to each of the five of them.

She had expected most of the estate to go to Misha or Aynar.

But Bjorn Jandel hadn’t done that.

He didn’t specify who would get what, only the percentage of the loot, so they would have to agree on who would get what, but the percentage would be the same.

And perhaps the reason was…

“You seem to have an idea?”

Raven smiled bitterly and answered.

“It’s obvious why Jandel did that.”

That clever barbarian warrior had wanted them to avoid resentment towards each other even after his death.

So they would continue to care for each other.

“…I don’t think we can leave Misha alone like this.”

Yes, that’s probably what he would have wanted.

****

Three days after visiting the Round Table.

Amelia and I, fully equipped, visited the lord’s castle.

We met a man at the agreed location.

“Nice to meet you. You must be Iron Mask.”

His nickname in Noark was ‘Felix Barker.’

He was the leader of the clan to which the Rainweilz sisters had belonged during their childhood as ‘Plunderers.’

The clan had about thirteen members.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Iron Mask.”

I also had the nickname ‘Bjorn, Son of Thor,’ but I introduced myself with just my nickname.

There was no problem with that.

In this city, it was common to use nicknames as names.

“Come in.”

Following him into the clan house inside the lord’s castle, the smell of alcohol hit me.

The interior, stylishly decorated, was filled with rough-looking clan members drinking and smoking casually.

It felt more like a criminal hideout than a clan house.

“Would you like a drink?”

As soon as we sat down on the opposite sofa, Felix Barker offered me a bottle of alcohol.

“No, thank you.”

Amelia firmly refused, and I accepted the bottle.

After all, it would be too strange if neither of us drank.

We were here to join this clan. In this city, refusing a drink meant you didn’t trust the person offering it.

So…

Clink.

I lifted the visor on my helmet slightly and took a swig.

Felix Barker grinned widely.

“Good, I like that. But can I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“Why did you choose our clan?”

The answer was simple.

Because the Rainweilz sisters were part of this clan.

To stay close when that event happens in five months, this was the best way.

But I couldn’t say that out loud.

“Emily said you approached us first, didn’t she?”

“But even if only half of what I’ve heard about you is true, there were other good options.”

I gave him the prepared answer.

“I thought it would be convenient to have a clan, but in those big ones, your share gets smaller.”

“So, you’d rather have a troll’s head than an ogre’s claw, huh?”

“Yeah, is that a problem?”

Felix Barker stared at me as if trying to gauge my true intentions.

But it was impossible.

I mean, I had a steel helmet on. How could he see my eyes?

While I was thinking that…

“Haha! Hahahahaha!”

He suddenly burst into laughter, his eyes gleaming.

Unlike Auril Gavis, he was simply annoying.

Like some blowhard with too much air in his lungs?

And his voice was irritatingly theatrical.

“Good, very good.”

“What’s good?”

“I like you even more.”

“So, am I in?”

“Not yet.”

Felix Barker waved his finger slowly, trying to act like a mafia boss.

“We have a merit-based system. Except for me, there are three ranks within the clan, and your share in the loot depends on your rank. And we don’t know your abilities yet.”

“…?”

“Have you heard of ‘survival of the fittest’?”

“I’ve heard of it.”

“Then this will be quick. If you want the troll’s head, take it. Prove yourself. This place is—”

Oh, so that’s what he’s been rambling about.

“Fine.”

“Huh…?”

“You want to test if the rumors are true or not, right?”

“Well, yes…”

“Then let’s do it. Why all the talk?”

I stood up abruptly, and Felix Barker looked up at me in surprise.

Did he think I’d be intimidated by his show?

You should skip these minor events quickly.

“Alright, just tell me. Do I have to kill you?”

“…Duel challenges are only between members. And I didn’t mean kill—”

What, anticlimactic.

“So, who do I have to kill?”

Looking around, I scanned the clan members.

My gaze landed on a big guy who flinched.

“Looks like that guy’s my opponent.”

“Yes, but you don’t have to kill—”

He kept talking, but I ignored him and started walking toward the big guy.

The guy, overwhelmed by my presence, stepped back and glanced at Felix Barker.

A look only someone desperate for help would give.

Felix Barker, regaining his composure, spoke to me.

“Wait! There’s an open space in the back.”

“Fine, let’s go there.”

“And no special abilities are allowed during the duel.”

Huh, so there’s a no-skills rule.

So we’re just using basic stats and physical prowess.

Noark really is a place for tough guys.

“Winning without special abilities…shouldn’t be too hard.”

After a moment’s thought, I readily accepted the rules.

But then Felix Barker muttered something.

“I’d prefer if no one dies…”

I was genuinely surprised.

“Then how do you level up?”

“…You just need to make them surrender.”

“What? You can level up without killing?”

Isn’t a bloody promotion match the rule in this underworld?

And didn’t you just mention survival of the fittest?

“How does that even work? This doesn’t make sense.”

I looked at him, genuinely confused.

Ironically, he had a similar expression.

“Didn’t you say you’ve only been in Noark for a month?”

“So?”

“Never mind…”

It was Felix Barker who averted his eyes first.

****

In a dark room with thick curtains drawn over the windows.

Misha Karlstein slowly sat up with hollow eyes.

Another day has begun.

She slightly opened the curtains to check if it was daytime and then lay back down on the bed.

Sleep didn’t come, and her unwashed body was drenched in sweat from the nightmare she had last night.

Her stomach ached from hunger.

It was so painful.

“….”

Misha dragged her weary body out of the room.

She stopped in front of Jandel’s room, which she hadn’t entered since that day. It felt like if she just opened the door, she would find him sleeping inside.

But today, as usual, she couldn’t bring herself to open the door.

Staggering.

She weakly turned around and went downstairs.

The first floor was as dark as the second.

All the windows were covered because people kept coming by to leave flowers.

Misha muttered in a dry voice.

“She came…and left again…”

On the dining table, there was a note in Aynar’s crooked handwriting, telling her to check the pantry she had restocked.

Clunk.

Misha checked the pantry.

Rye bread, vegetables often used in cooking.

And meat and fruits.

Most of the things were items she used to enjoy.

But…

“Ugh.”

Just seeing them made her nauseous.

She couldn’t even bear the smell.

The rye bread was what Bjorn liked.

And the meat, of course.

The vegetables were always stocked up because Bjorn was a picky eater, so there was always plenty left over.

In the end, Misha shut the pantry again as if she were fleeing.

But she knew.

She had to eat.

If she didn’t, her body would deteriorate.

Jandel wouldn’t have wanted that.

“Bjorn…”

In the dark kitchen, with the lights off.

She sat down on a chair, weeping for a while before getting up and approaching the pantry again.

At that moment.

“Oh, you were here? I thought no one was home.”

A stranger’s voice came from behind her.

‘A thief?’

Misha grabbed a knife from the cutting board and turned around. Despite her haggard state, her movements were sharp.

But…

“Whoa, whoa, careful there.”

The intruder easily grabbed her wrist, disarming her.

She tried to resist, but he was too strong.

“Is this how you greet an old friend?”

“An old…?”

Unconsciously, Misha looked up at the man’s face.

It was too dark to see clearly.

But something about him was familiar.

Human.

His skin was as white as snow, and his platinum-blonde hair, a symbol of nobility, was neatly combed back.

And most of all…

[A Shadow Elf, are you a player?]

[Huh? F-Freya?]

[An evil spirit?]

[N-no, not at all…?]

That distinct, eerie yet light-hearted voice.

She quickly remembered who this man was.

“You…you’re that…!”

“So, you remember? I’m Lee Baek-ho. I’ll let go now, so stay calm.”

“…”

True to his word, the man named Lee Baek-ho released her arm.

Misha took a step back, rubbing her sore wrist.

The platinum-haired man smiled as if to reassure her.

“Don’t be so guarded.”

A chill ran down her spine.

His wide smile was unsettling.

“I just came to ask you something.”

Because his eyes weren’t smiling at all.