Surviving game as a barbarian Episode 555

Déjà Vu (4)

Day 109 of entering the labyrinth.

In other words, it’s been two days since I joined the expedition force and arrived at the library.

Pa-pa-pa-pam! Pa-pa-pa-pam! Pa-ra-ra-ra-pa-ra-ra-ra-bam—!

The military trumpet echoed through the library, marking the start of a new day.

Ha, why does the military seem to be the same everywhere?

‘…Baek-ho would probably get mad if I told him about this.’

We were all working toward the same goal anyway, so it didn’t matter.

Anyway, the trumpet instantly woke everyone up—no chance to roll over and go back to sleep.

And as soon as the sound stopped, the day’s routine began.

“Rations distribution!”

After tidying up the campsite, we lined up in front of the cooks who had gotten up early to prepare breakfast, received our meals, and finished eating in less than 30 minutes.

And…

“There will be a morning meeting that all the squad leaders are required attend”

The leadership gathered to discuss the day’s plans and brief everyone on the decided course of action.

I pricked up my ears, wondering if there was anything special, but nothing particularly important came up.

‘So we’re just hunting again like yesterday.’

Of course, there were some differences in the details.

Yesterday, we smashed through the door and rushed the summoning process, but this time, with stronger monsters, we’d proceed with the normal strategy.

Naturally, the mages would also participate in combat.

“Alright, let’s start today’s mission with lots of vigor!”

I wondered if it was really necessary to gather everyone for a meeting, but I guess that’s just how the military operates.

Being bound by protocol may sometimes be inefficient, but it can also help prevent unexpected accidents.

“To your positions!”

After that, each squad moved to its designated location, and the library raid finally began.

“Looks like the combat squads are rotating out again today.”

“Because that’s the most efficient method.”

There were over 200 personnel. Naturally, deploying them all at once would be like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken.

So, Jerome implemented a shift system.

“Hold! Squads 1 and 2 will switch duties with Squads 3 and Squad 4!”

As scheduled, Squads 1 and 2, who had been guarding the stone gate, stepped aside, and Squads 3 and 4, who had been pulling books from the shelves, took their place.

Meanwhile, Squads 1 and 2 took over book-carrying duties to recover their stamina and resources.

‘I guess I won’t be teaming up with Kaislan and Parav today either.’

Those two were in Squad 1, which meant we had our meals at different times as well.

Well, Raven is in Squad 3, so it’s slightly better, but…

Since she’s a mage, she stays far in the back during missions, so there’s no chance of running into her anyway.

‘…Guess I’ll have to wait until night to talk about the revelation.’

While I was grinding away like a cog in a machine, I noticed one of my teammates chatting happily with the knights from the expedition force.

“Hahaha! Don’t lie! How could a mage defeat warriors like us!”

“Which makes it all the more humiliating! Who would’ve imagined one of us losing a one-on-one duel to a mage?”

“When did this supposedly happen?”

“A month ago! But since you were here, you wouldn’t have known. It was quite a famous story in social circles.”

When did she get so chummy with them?

Her ability to make friends never ceases to amaze me. Not that it’s a bad thing—it actually helps me, too.

“What’s the funny story you’re all laughing about?”

“Ah… B-Baron! My apologies. We should be focusing on the mission—”

“I didn’t ask you to apologize.”

“Pardon…?”

“We’re all warriors here, aren’t we? I’m curious too. Who’s the fool that lost to a mage?”

And perhaps noticing our amusement, the other knights from Squad 3 began gathering around as well—eavesdropping at first, then occasionally chiming in or correcting the story, gradually joining in on the conversation.

‘Right, this assembly-line job can’t be fun for them either.’

Once I showed a more easygoing side, the knights who had been wary of me because of my baron status began to warm up. Some even approached me with questions.

“Um… Baron, may I ask you something…?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“I heard that during your knighting ceremony, you challenged Baron Kypriot to a duel. What exactly happened?”

“Oh, that? Nothing special. Some goblin-looking guy was talking trash behind my back. I wanted to punch him, but since I couldn’t, I challenged him to a duel.”

“Haha… Is that really what happened? Baron Kipriot must’ve been so flustered.”

“Serves him right. There are too many clueless people in noble circles. If a nobody acts up, they’ll get beaten—it’s just common sense.”
.
A joke only someone of my status—a titled noble—could make. The knights nodded in agreement, clearly enjoying it.

“Well… when have those people ever faced real hardship?”

“There are quite a few who don’t realize that their safety comes from people like us protecting them…”

They still kept within bounds and didn’t say anything too outrageous, but the more I dropped spicy takes, the more they subtly smirked, clearly enjoying it.

‘Okay, that’s enough goodwill-building for now.’

After that, I spent the rest of my hunt enthusiastically sharing stories, building camaraderie with the expedition team knights.

“Baron… you’re even more impressive than the rumors. Ah! Not in a bad way! I just didn’t know you’d be this down-to-earth and fun…”

“Haha! Why the excuses? Aren’t we friends already?”

“F-Friends?! Oh, please don’t say that! If the commander hears, he’ll be furious!”

“Then let’s call each other comrades.”

“Comrades… Well, comrades is fine…”

“Then I’ll trust you to watch my back when things get dangerous.”

“…You can count on us, Baron!”

Making friends always helps.

That night, after a day of chatting and hunting with the knights, I left the camp setup to my teammates and headed to Squad 1’s campsite, where Sven Parav was stationed.

After getting permission from the church members there, I pulled him aside.

“We couldn’t finish our talk yesterday.”

“Ah… r-right, about that…”

“The revelation you received. What was it about?”

He flinched at the word revelation, immediately glanced around, confirmed no one was listening, and lowered his voice as a precaution.

“F-first, it might just be a misunderstanding…”

“Yesterday you said you were sure.”

“Y-yes or no, technically, But believing something yourself and having others believe it are two different things, you know? Something like that”

Ugh, frustrating.

“Fine. I’ll decide. Just tell me the details.”

“If you insist…”

He drew a long breath as if steeling himself, then spoke.

“I had a dream while I was in the city.”

“A dream?”

“I heard a voice—indescribably holy. And somehow I just knew the owner of that voice… was Her.”

“‘Her’ meaning Leatlass?”

“Yes… exactly.”

The goddess appeared in his dream.

“Her? You mean Reatlas?”

“Yes… exactly.”

A dream where a goddess appeared.

It was puzzling how he could be so certain it was an “oracle” based on that alone, but I decided to listen quietly.

“So what did she say?”

“She told me I had a task to fulfill and showed me a glimpse of the future.”

A prophetic dream.

It was the most common form of divine revelation received by saints and saintesses.

He saw a single scene.

“The archbishop ordering me to join the expedition force.”

That prophecy came true the very next day, which sealed his conviction it was a real revelation.

“And?”

“T-that’s… it.”

“What?”

“She said she would appear again when the time was right and told me to be prepared.”

Put simply, the main quest would begin after he entered the labyrinth alongside the expedition force…

Frankly, it didn’t make sense.

“…Then why did you pretend to have a stomach ache and try to run away? Even after receiving the revelation from the goddess?”

“Uh, well…”

He hesitated, then squeezed his eyes shut and blurted out:

“Because…! It’s obviously going to be dangerous!”

“…What?”

My mind blanked, but he barreled on.

“If it’s not dangerous, it’ll be a huge hassle—I just feel it.”

Wow. Seriously? No wonder he hid the revelation; the moment it got out, the whole church would’ve worked him to death to fulfill it.

‘A paladin avoiding divine duty because he didn’t want the trouble?’

It was so absurd I didn’t know what to say, but in a way, I was grateful.

He told me what he wouldn’t tell anyone else.

‘Loyalty… approved.’

“Um… can I go now? They’re staring at us over there.”

He gestured toward the church group, who were watching us intently-not so much with suspicion, but more like nervous guardians watching a child by the water.

‘So even the church treats him like that, huh…’

“Alright. If you have another dream, come to me right away.”

“I will.”

“Good night.”

“Same to you, Baron.”

After the talk, I returned to my camp and laid down to sleep.

But for some reason, sleep didn’t come easily again tonight.

‘A divine revelation…’

What I heard from him today wasn’t particularly groundbreaking.

But just like how he had desperately tried to avoid entering the labyrinth…

Something big is coming.

That premonition stuck with me strongly.

So there was only one thing I could do.

To prepare myself, so I wouldn’t be swept away, whether it was a tidal wave or a typhoon.

To be honest, I wanted to hold onto it as long as I could before using it.

But at this point, I had no choice.

Lying under the blanket in the dead of night, I made my decision.

‘Bellarios’ Essence.’

I’d have to consume it as soon as possible.

Day 111 of Entering the Labyrinth.

The library conquest had progressed to the point where Grade 3 monsters were pouring out.

‘It only took five days to get this far.’

It was a reminder of the royal family’s sheer power.

Knights, mages, priests—

They had handpicked the most elite talents from these classes to form this army. At this point, their collective strength was beyond ridiculous.

‘With this much firepower, we could’ve stormed the Chief’s Island right away.’

At first, I had opposed the idea because I wasn’t sure how competent they’d be. But looking back now, we should’ve gone straight for the Village Chief.

Even if the Chief retained all his power from his human days, he’d be helpless against a force like this.

“Baron! We found a book with Bellarios’ illustration!”

While I was spacing out over lunch, good news came in.

The knight from Squad 3 who delivered the message had been keeping an eye out for Bellarios-related books at my request.

“The one you’re carrying in your coat?”

“Yes! I pulled it aside the instant I saw it!”

“Thanks.”

“No need for thanks, we’re comrades!”

This was the payoff from all my effort in building goodwill.

I handed the knight a generous amount of jerky—the sincerest gratitude a barbarian could offer.

And then…

Flick.

Changing the color of the fountain pen to green, quickly traced Bellarios’s illustration in the book before heading off to find Commander Jerome Saintred.

“Hmm, so you want Squad 4 to take it down alone?”

“We need its essence. Wasn’t it agreed that we’d retain ownership of what we obtain ourselves?”

“That’s true, but is this really necessary? It’s a waste of time—why not hunt it with the others? Ah, of course, you’ll get the essence. If it drops.”

Perhaps assuming the drop rate was low, Jerome not only agreed easily but even offered to help with the hunt.

So…

“Summoning!”

I immediately set out to summon Bellarios.

“Kill it!”

The moment the smooth-scaled Bellarios emerged through the stone gate, the knights and archers shredded it in seconds. Less than a minute after the battle began, it vanished into light.

Whoooooosh—!

A large magic stone.

And an essence.

“The Essence… it really dropped. Huh? Baron, where are you going? Wait, don’t tell me… the one who needed the Essence was…!”

“Yes. It was me.”

Leaving the slightly flustered Jerome behind, I rushed over and absorbed the Essence.

[The [Essence of Bellarios] seeps into your soul]

Finally, I’ve consumed it.

“Bethel—raaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

My Shield Barbarian character was now within reach.

Continue reading more chapters at henprogressive.com