Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 823
Lifeline 7
The conversation that followed was calm and efficient. I asked questions, and he answered them without any tricks or nonsense.
“Then let me ask this first. I once read a diary you wrote. At the end, it said, ‘Today, we die.’ What happened after that?”
Without hesitation, he began telling me the story in a calm, matter-of-fact voice, revealing the grim events that had unfolded.
“We all chose to die together, so we took the drug Tarvian made for us. But for some reason, I survived. Perhaps it was because I had built up resistance after taking all kinds of transformative drugs during my time as a soldier.”
Their plan to die together that day had failed because Ormi Noark lived.
“There were no drugs left… so I left the house where my companions slept and wandered outside. I couldn’t find the demons I was searching for, but it didn’t matter. The flames burned my skin, and the scorching air destroyed my lungs. I thought that, with this, I would soon be able to return to their side.”
But if that second plan had worked, he would not be here telling me this story now.
“Even then, I survived.”
“How is that possible?” I asked.
“As I was slowly burning alive, a demon appeared before me. It was a welcome sight, something that could finally end my suffering. But when I walked toward it with a smile, an arrow suddenly flew through the air and struck the back of its head.”
He pressed his lips together before continuing.
“…It was the rescue team. The very people the four of us had waited for all those years. Even as my strength faded and I lost consciousness, I clearly heard them. Their warm voices telling me not to worry anymore because I had been saved.”
Thus, in the depths of despair, he closed his eyes.
And when he opened them again…
“Several days had already passed. The rescue party had saved me, and they were carrying me out of that damned Great Demon Realm.”
He asked them to return to the place where he had been and at least retrieve the bodies of his companions, but the rescue team refused, saying they did not have the resources to do so.
“Regret overwhelmed me. If only… if only I had waited one more day. Just one more day, and we all could have survived together.”
After being saved at the end of years of waiting, the man began to wonder what was left for him in life.
Should I live, or should I die?
But even that choice had already been decided for him.
The living had duties they had to carry out. Ultimately, he could not bring himself to throw himself into the abyss of despair, and so his story continued.
Before listening to the rest, however, I asked him one question.
“This rescue party you mentioned. Who were they?”
“Raphdonia.”
“What?”
“Ravigion Kommelby Raphdonia.”
The Immortal King, Ravigion III.
“More precisely, it was him and the companions with whom he had been making history.”
This was the moment when the fate of a man who had been waiting only for death took a strange turn.
In truth, this wasn’t the first time the man had met the Immortal King.
The Immortal King was a direct descendant of the lord’s family, and this man was the son of one of their vassal families.
“However, once the war grew worse, even the rural territories received conscription orders. I had to leave the territory before I had even come of age.”
Because of that, twenty long years passed before their reunion.
Curious, I asked, “What was he like?”
“Even though many years had passed since I last saw him, he was still the same as before. He never lost his cheerful nature and always spoke with wit. He could be playful, but he always treated those around him with consideration and respect.”
“So he was just an ordinary man.”
“Normal… Well, perhaps. I suppose you could see it that way, if the world had not been in such a state.”
Then the man continued.
“His laughter and bright energy did not belong in that hopeless world. After meeting him again… How should I put it? He had become great. So great that even an ordinary person like me could recognize it at once.”
Huh.
I hadn’t expected someone with the name Noark to praise the Immortal like that.
The oddness of it left me a little unsettled, but I decided to focus for now. I could sort through those feelings after hearing the rest of his story.
So I focused on the rest of the conversation.
“In that hopeless world, he traveled the continent with his companions searching for hope. That’s why they were able to find me in the Great Demon Realm.”
“What happened after that?”
“He brought me to Raphdonia first so they could replenish their equipment.”
“That must have been nice. Returning home after so long.”
“Well, I’m not sure I could call that place my home…”
Seeing my confusion, he explained.
“It was not the Raphdonia I knew. It was a shelter built deep underground to survive the End. The survivors there were struggling just to make it through each day.”
“Ah…”
The moment he said that, I got the feeling that this “shelter” he was talking about was actually Noark.
Come to think of it… I did hear that city was originally built by Rafdonia. That was also why there was a Dimensional Plaza in Noark. It was only later, after technology had advanced further, that they were able to come up to the surface, erect walls, and establish the massive Raphdonia kingdom that exists today.
“Anyway, I returned to that Raphdonia, and he left with his group once more. Before going, he placed the heavy responsibility of managing the shelter on me. Even now, I do not know what he saw in me to entrust me with such an important task. Perhaps it was because I carried the historic vassal name of Noark. Or perhaps… he wanted to give me a purpose when I had been left with nothing but death to wait for.”
The man could not have known this, but while he stayed behind and did everything he could to manage the shelter, Ravigion had set out on his great adventure.
“Whenever he returned, he brought survivors from all across the world with him. The shelter grew, and more people began to join him on his journeys.”
Time passed.
And eventually—
“He finally completed his great journey and discovered hope in this world.”
“What was it?”
“I cannot answer questions too closely related to the Origin. But you already know what it is.”
I muttered quietly:
“…The Labyrinth.”
The man didn’t answer.
But his silence was answer enough.
Combining this with what Arta told me… does that mean the Immortal King ultimately obtained the power of the Origin?
A fascinating piece of ancient history.
Unfortunately, every part of the story after that was locked away.
“Do you know? Sometimes hope creates even greater despair. The hope he found was no different from escaping one despair only to face another.”
“Stop speaking in riddles and speak plainly.”
“I can’t.”
I sighed.
Was this another question connected to his origin or something?
“After learning every truth, he created a plan to save the world. Those who knew nothing were satisfied with it, but those who knew the truth could only be horrified by what he intended to do.”
“And I suppose you can’t tell me what that plan was either?”
He said nothing.
“Yeah, I figured. Fine. Then just tell me everything else you’re allowed to say.”
“Those who agreed with his plan had grown sick and tired of the underground. They left with him and built a kingdom on the surface. Those who could not accept his plan, including myself, stayed behind in the underground city.”
Hmm…
This felt like having an itch I couldn’t reach.
I now knew why the underground refuge city of Rafdonia had come to be called Noark, but the answers I truly wanted were still being kept from me.
“What about the Ormi Revolutionary Corps?” I asked, growing impatient. “Can’t you tell me anything about that either?”
“I have told you all that I can.”
“What about Gabrielius? What kind of bastard is he?”
“He was the greatest companion Ravigion had on his journey, and the man who carried out that dreadful plan. Though in the end, he seemed to change his mind and turn away from it.”
“What do you mean, turn away?”
Silence.
Damn it.
I had at least wanted a proper answer to that question. Still, when I combined this with everything I had heard from Arta, I felt as if I was slowly getting closer to the truth of this world.
‘Now then. I’ve told you everything I can. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave.’
As he made it clear that the conversation was over, I firmly shook my head.
“No.”
“No matter how much you pressure me, I have nothing more I can tell you.”
“That’s not what I mean. Even if I’m leaving, I still need to collect what belongs to me.”
Wasn’t he the one who said I could upgrade my Orb of Fire?
“The basement is that way, right?”
I planned to take whatever I could get and then leave.
[Character has obtained a Orb of Fire.]
[The Orb of Fire in your possession has evolved into the Perfect Orb of Fire.]
When I went down to the basement and picked up the other Orb of Fire, the two orbs merged and its appearance changed.
The overall shape remained the same, but the flames swirling inside the orb had become noticeably stronger.
I can test its effects later…
Still, this was extremely interesting. An event like this had never happened before, not even when I obtained two Orbs of Fire. Did it have to be the Orb of Fire from this place specifically?
At that moment, another question came to mind.
“Noark, where are we?”
What exactly was this place?
I could tell it was not simply the Hidden World that could be entered through Miladon’s mirror.
“Shelter.”
Oh, so even the field name was different from the jump.
“How do you enter this place? What are the conditions?”
After a short pause, he answered, “I cannot tell you. As the name suggests, this place is my shelter. It is somewhere I cannot allow anyone else to enter.”
“Then how did we end up here?”
“You can only reach this place when the entire labyrinth is unstable.”
“So the entry method must be pretty difficult.”
Was it something like collecting seven different Orbs of Fire, like in that one show?
Well, it did not matter now that I was done here.
“Now leave. I have given you everything I can give.”
“Hey, don’t rush me. I’ll be forced to leave sooner or later, whether I want to stay or not.”
Noark did not answer.
I left the basement and returned to the living room, then took a moment to look around. Zephyros was still standing stiffly near the door like a broken machine. If I went upstairs, Tarvian and the child would probably be in the same state.
“This whole thing is nothing more than a play created by that child.”
Suddenly, I remembered something Noark had said.
Why did the word “play” leave such a strong impression on me?
“A play made for one person… I think I understand why this place is called Shelter.”
Noark did not respond to my muttering.
For some reason, seeing his muted reaction made me ask,
“Are you satisfied?”
Once again, he didn’t answer.
But his expression spoke for him.
It was bitter, as if asking how I could even think he would be satisfied.
Unable to ignore a face like that, my barbarian instincts took over.
THUD! THUD!
I smacked him hard on the back.
“What are you doing?!”
He nearly collapsed like a non-aggressive monster suddenly taking damage.
Before things escalated, I quickly added:
“Just hold on a little longer.”
“What?”
“I don’t like the way things are now either.”
Honestly, that was all I could say to him.
I knew too little to make him any promises.
“…Was that supposed to be comfort?”
He seemed to realize it only afterward.
I merely shrugged and walked out the front door.
And then—
FWOOOOSH!!
Since the Orb of Fire was no longer protecting the building, the house began to burn as I moved away.
I stopped for a moment and watched it burn, then clicked my tongue.
Once we left, that building would restore itself again, and that guy would secretly watch the events of his past repeat like some kind of pervert.
By now, my feelings were clear.
I don’t like this at all.
And when I didn’t like something, I had to get rid of it.
That was the barbarian way.
***
After leaving Noark’s Sanctuary, I rejoined the allies who had been waiting for me.
We then began preparing ourselves before the dimensional collapse started again.
Those who needed rest got plenty of it, while those who had time discussed what might happen next and prepared for every possible scenario.
As for me, I went with Raven to test the effects of the newly upgraded Orb of Fire.
“Uh…”
“Th-there’s no way the numbers are wrong, right?”
“Why are you asking me that?”
The results were surprising, to say the least.
[All fire damage within 15 yards is reduced by 90%.]
The phrase “continuous damage” was gone.
Within a fifteen-yard radius, all fire damage inside the aura would be reduced by 90 percent.
This is insane…
Fire was no longer a threat..
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