Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 777

It wasn’t a bad proposal, just completely unexpected.

Setting my emotions aside and looking at it purely from a practical standpoint, Versyl’s absence had left a vacancy in our clan for a mage. We still had Lyris Marone, but with our current numbers, any future expeditions would inevitably require splitting into at least two teams. That made additional magical support essential.

And now Raven was making the offer herself. A high-ranking mage, and someone I had tried to recruit more than once in the past.

Still, I needed to confirm things properly.

Whether she joined the clan or not, I had always thought of her as an ally.

“What exactly is going on?”

I set aside the recruitment talk for the moment and asked as carefully as I could.

“…Are you sure you’re okay?”

Maybe it was because she had lost her master, but I couldn’t help worrying about this sudden change in her mindset.

“…I’m fine.”

“Then why are you suddenly quitting the Mage Corps…?”

Raven paused for a moment at my question, then seemed to make up her mind and spoke in a bitter voice.

“I want to take revenge with my own hands.”

“…Revenge? You mean the one who killed your master?”

“Yes.”

I see. It was a perfectly understandable motivation.There isn’t much for those left behind to do, after all.

“Who is it?”

“One of the members of Orcules. He has only just appeared in this war and hasn’t earned a title yet.”

She went on to say that although little was known about him, his abilities were far too exceptional for a newcomer, and he appeared to hold a fairly high position within Orcules.

‘A super rookie who appeared out of nowhere.’

Of course, I didn’t ponder where such a high-level person came from. I already knew the answer.

It’s just like the ones who chased us during the Ice Rock Expedition.

In the past, Noark had spent over a year trying to clear the eighth floor, and that process ended up producing a large number of high-ranking adventurers in a short period of time.

They made use of high-ranking essences, some even reaching level 2, and displayed overwhelming firepower. Of course, their builds weren’t well balanced, since they lacked low-ranking essences.

Anyway, the one who killed Raven’s master was probably one of those artificially created elites.

…Still, I spoke honestly.

“Raven, if revenge is your goal, you’d be better off staying in the Mage Corps. Our top priority is survival. If the royal family tries to send us to the front lines, I intend to avoid it as much as possible. Understood?”

“I understand. But I won’t change my decision.”

“You were trying to avoid it, but you still ended up fighting a lot, didn’t you? You even went up against Demon Eye.”

“Well… that’s true. But—”

“My instincts are telling me something. That staying in the Mage Corps won’t get me closer to revenge… but going with you will.”

I was about to say something, but Raven stopped me with a gesture and continued.

“And besides, if I stay in the Mage Corps, I have to follow orders from above. Even if he appears right in front of me, if there’s no command, I’ll just have to stand there doing nothing.”

“…So what are you going to do?”

I had no way to refute Raven’s reasoning when she put it like that. I couldn’t come up with any grounds to oppose her either.

If there was one thing bothering me, it was the words Liranne Vivian had left me.

[Y-You might not know this, but I used the Level 1 dark magic [Future Sight]

She claimed that through ‘Foresight’, she saw Raven betraying me on the day the Imperial Capital, Carnon, burned.

Although the Palace of Glory was destroyed by Thunder, Carnon itself ultimately never burned.

Raven betraying me…

If Vivian’s words were true, bringing Raven into the clan could be dangerous.

“…No. Would anything even change?”

Thinking about it, if it’s something destined to happen, it will happen whether I put Raven in the clan or not.

“Fine. I’ll accept you. Go submit your resignation to the Magic Corps first.”
“It will take about a month to get everything sorted.”

“No problem. We don’t even know when the Labyrinth will open yet.”

With that, the matter of Raven’s induction was settled. I then turned to Misha, who had been wearing a strange expression for a while.

“Do you have a problem with Raven joining?”

Misha flinched and shook her head.

“Ahaha… No way! Isn’t Aruru a great mage? W-welcome anytime! Welcome……………”

“Is that so…?”

Then why did her smile look so awkward?

When I stared at her, she waved her hands defensively.

“I really don’t have any worries or concerns! Seriously!”

Worries and concerns…

I only asked if she had complaints…

***

After finishing our meal, we chatted for about thirty more minutes before parting ways. There wasn’t much worth noting in our conversation aside from Raven’s recruitment, but if I had to point out one more thing…

Something’s off with him too…

Misha wasn’t the only one acting strange after Raven’s acceptance.

Mr. Bear had also been looking at both me and Raven with a peculiar expression.

It was as if he had something to say, yet he kept it to himself even as we parted ways. It left me feeling slightly unsettled.

Well, if it was important, he would’ve said it.

Unless he brings it up himself, it’s not something I can force out of him.

I decided to think about it again later if he brought it up himself.

“We’re a bit behind schedule, but let’s head to our next place!”

“I’ll find it myself. Just give me the address.”

“But that takes the fun out of it—”
“Efficiency comes before fun. Hurry up now!”
With that, I followed Misha’s planned schedule.

We went to a pottery workshop and made ceramics, then watched a play and a circus near the plaza.

And after night fell, we stopped by a pub that also functioned as an inn…

“Do… you remember this place…?”

Misha’s question came just as we were finishing our dinner, and I sifted through my memory for an answer.

“Isn’t this where we came before?”I answered

Not for anything weird. We came to sell my old gear, ended up missing the last carriage out, and had to pay a hefty fee to stay the night here.

The rooms were divided into separate living areas, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Plenty of windows, terraces, even Arthian soaps, and more.

We were so shocked by the quality of the inn that we promised ourselves we’d work hard to earn money.

“Hey, Bjorn…?”

“Go ahead.”

“…Should we stay here tonight? It’s late, and it brings back memories…”

What is she even saying?

“Don’t joke around.”

I answered firmly, just in case there was any misunderstanding.

Misha probably just meant literally sleeping here, but things aren’t the same anymore.

If we were still like back then, maybe it would be fine—but now, I wouldn’t be able to sleep comfortably in that situation.

“…I wasn’t joking though…”

“Enough. Let’s go home.”

We ended the outing there and returned to the sanctuary.

It took quite a while to get back, and during that time, I reflected on yesterday and today.

Amelia’s outing and Misha’s outing felt very different.

Amelia’s was about escape, freedom, and solitude.

Misha’s felt more like memories and connection with people.

Maybe it’s just the difference in how they relieve stress.

Some people heal in solitude, others through laughter and companionship.

Though it’s a bit funny that they tried to apply the same logic to me.

They can be like kids sometimes. They think that if they give their mother something she loves, she’ll stop being sad, so they offer her their favourite toy or sweet.

But what really makes the mother happy is the thought behind it.

Thwack!

“Ouch! Why’d you hit me all of a sudden, you crazy barbarian?!”

Now this feels a bit like the old days.

I smirked and spoke my feelings honestly.

“Thanks for today.”

“………………Huh? Thanks for what?”

“You dragged me out by force because you were worried I’d be depressed, weren’t you?”

“No, but why did you hit me on the back if you’re thankful…?”

“Don’t sweat the small stuff. Anyway, thanks. For today.”

“Well… if you feel that way, then I’m glad…………….”

After a brief silence followed those words, Misha spoke cautiously.

“But… um… was it that obvious…?”

I wanted to ask if she really thought it wasn’t obvious, but I held my tongue.

“Go on inside and get some sleep. It’s cold, so make sure you use a blanket.”

“Do I look like a kid to you…?”

“Whatever. I’m heading in first.”

“Ah… okay! Get some rest!”

After parting with Misha, I went inside, washed up, changed, and lay down on the bed.

But sleep didn’t come.

Eventually, I went back outside and took a walk, just like yesterday.

Coincidentally, my footsteps stopped at the same place as yesterday.

[Brown Rotmiller]
[Versil Gowland]
[James Carla]

The graves of the three we lost in this war.

Unlike yesterday, the drunken dwarf wasn’t here.

Neither were Shabin or Sven Parav, who sometimes showed up here.

I sighed and shifted my weight from foot to foot. Was I feeling awkward because this was my first time here alone? Not that it was a bad thing or anything.

I sat in front of the graves, staring blankly as time passed in the cold wind.

Unlike the dwarf, I didn’t drink.

Alcohol clouds the mind and lets you escape reality.

Unless I’m drinking with others, I try not to drink alone like that.

…Though I kind of want a cigarette.

As I sat there, simply taking in the night air, a sudden thought of cigarettes crossed my mind. I had never smoked before.

If I’d known I was going to become a barbarian, I would’ve tried smoking at least once.

“…You guys…”

I suddenly wanted to ask the ones who had gone ahead.

What was it you wanted to do the most? What were you curious about? What did you regret the most at the end?

…Though it wouldn’t mean anything now.

They’re gone.

Rotmiller at least had a chance to leave something behind, but the other two didn’t.

So I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.

Another sigh escaped me.

Everything felt suffocating.

Whenever I turned away from one problem, another one I had been avoiding appeared.

[The evil spirit from another world, after losing three companions, finally realized the path he must take.]

That’s what the record stone said.

But in reality… I hadn’t realized anything.

Not a single thing.

‘Labeling Lee Baek-ho as an enemy?’

Was that really the path the record stone was talking about?

No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t seem right.

‘Then becoming king, like the marquis suggested?’

Hmm… that didn’t sound right either.

At best, it was just a fantasy, something I might hope to achieve someday, far in the future. It wasn’t a realisation or a firm resolve.

‘Then what is it…?’

In the gloomy graveyard, under the cold night wind, I kept thinking and thinking for a long time—

But I couldn’t reach an answer.

 

Continue reading more chapters at henprogressive.com

Please join here, I need supporters to help me continue translating Surviving game as a barbarian and Lee Gwak
If it doesn’t work support me here buymeacoffee.com/hennoveltranslations. There are advanced chapters for supporters as well.