Surviving game as a barbarian Episode 564

Destination(4)

How did I notice?

The answer was simple.

To begin with, the dynamics between them developed unusually fast.

[Try it. That execution thing]

[Exterminate them! Kill them all except their leader!]

Not even five minutes after we met, we were already in battle—and the village chief had fled with the monsters.

Then came the chase.

Even during that, something felt off.

[He’s heading that way? All units, change direction!]

The main force followed me the moment I broke off from the group.

It was as if Jerome had been aware of my movements.

Of course, this was just my gut feeling. But even if he had coincidentally spotted my sudden move, it still didn’t make sense.

Because if it were Jerome, the mission-obsessed Jerome who had openly expressed his hostility toward the village chief, calling him a “traitor”…

He wouldn’t have stopped chasing the chief until the mission was completed.

‘…Well, up to that point, it was just a strange feeling.’

The final nail in the coffin was Jerome’s request.

[Would you be willing to take the lead, Baron?]

He asked me to take the front.

The same Jerome who chose my safety over the success of the battle when I collapsed during the fight against Kaisan, the wolf of prophecy.

The same man who considered the lives of his subordinates expendable for the sake of the mission.

And now he was trying to throw me into an unknown danger?

Feeling an intense sense of unease, I started thinking hard—and came up with a possibility.

The problem was that my theory turned out to be right.

“You and your people weren’t supposed to know that. Looks like there are more rats than I thought.”

Jerome’s cold gaze swept over his subordinates. He seemed to believe that someone must have helped me figure this out.

Well, that would explain why I had tried to escape during the chase.

‘Well, by “your people” he’s probably talking about Raven and Kaislan’

My theory was now proven.

So now I tried to imagine what kind of conversation the village chief and Jerome might’ve had.

The location: this island.

The time: probably when we were asleep, and only the sentries were on watch.

If my theory is correct, they must have met in secret. And during their conversation, the village chief must’ve made an offer.

It must have been something so important that Jerome Saintred would prioritize it over his “mission.”

“What was it? What did the village chief promise to make you switch sides overnight?”

I asked directly, but Jerome showed no intention to answer.

“That’s enough talking. Baron. Now that I’ve answered your question. Take the front and descend below.”

This was neither persuasion nor a request.

“This is an order from your commander.”

His tone was forceful, as if he no longer had any reason to hide his true intentions.

“What if I refuse?”

“Then I will consider it an act of treason.”

Honestly, I was a little taken aback.

There were nearly 200 witnesses here—was he really going to act this boldly?

‘Does he have a way to silence them all…?’

Well, there were plenty of methods.

Money, honor, fame, power—the royal family had endless ways to coerce people. And even if coercion didn’t work, that wasn’t a problem.

Silencing mouths didn’t always have to be done the gentle way.

“……”

 

I bit my lip and glanced at my allies.

Did they sense my gaze?

“Jandel, don’t waste your time thinking about it. We’re ready for whatever comes,” Amelia’s voice was laced with resolve as she said that.

“Even if we hate fighting, there are times when we must. You said that yourself, didn’t you, Bjorn?”

Aynar, whose fighting spirit had been dulled, drew her weapon and stood behind me.

“It’s earlier than expected… but this was bound to happen .”

Versil, too, seemed ready to fight to the death no matter what happened.

What surprised me a little was Myul Armin.

“We’ll fight with you, Baron. It’s the least we can do to repay our debt.”
he declared, unafraid of the charge of treason.

“Uh… w-we… I-I don’t know what’s going on, but… maybe we should try talking this out first…?”

Wyatt Hex, on the other hand, didn’t seem to have the same level of loyalty.

But honestly, that was the normal response.

Even those hostile toward me were beginning to waver.

“If what the Baron says is true… then the Count has joined hands with those monsters…?”

“There must be a reason, but… even so, sending the Baron to his death like this… is this really okay?”

“Wasn’t our mission to rescue the Baron and return? Something’s wrong here.”

My past achievements.

My reputation as a hero and my title as a noble.

And all the goodwill I had carefully built up.

Although these three factors didn’t yet amount to outright rebellion—but together, they were enough to stir doubt.

Even if an order came right now to kill us, most would hesitate.

That hesitation was the opening.

Whether it widened or closed now depended on me.

So…

“I, Bjorn Jandel, Baron of the Kingdom of Raphdonia, declare this!”

I lowered my shield, which I had raised in defense, and shouted.

“As a proud noble and warrior upholding the crown of Raphdonia, I swear on my honor! I fear nothing for the sake of the royal family! Even death itself!”

As I spoke, I firmly gripped Misplaced Trust.

Of course, it stopped working when I spoke.

But from a distance, no one would notice.

“For the eternal future of the royal family, I’m always ready to charge forward, even if it means burning my own body!”

Faking absolute devotion towards the royal family, I completed my argument.

“But! I don’t understand! Is this truly for the royal family? Or is this some misguided judgment you’ve made with ulterior motives?!”

It was a kind of poison.

The kind that slowly seeps inside you without your realizing it and leads to your destruction.

“How dare you question my loyalty to the crown?”

“You haven’t given me a proper explanation! Convince me! If you do, I, Bjorn, son of Yandel, will go down there right now! Even if it means being used as a sacrificial pawn!”

I clung to him like a drowning man, refusing to let go.

“……”

The longer Jerome Saintred remained silent, the more suspicious the expedition would become.

Perhaps sensing this, he finally spoke.

And perhaps he realized that too.

“Tell me, Jerome Saintred! What’s down there, and what deal did you make with the village chief?”

At last, he answered.

“I cannot reveal military secrets. But I can say this: it is all for the sake of the royal family!”

“I can’t trust that!”

“…Why not? The Misplaced Trust isn’t reacting, is it? Everything I just said is undeniably true—”

“What if your belief that this is for the royal family is just your own delusion?!”

“……”

Okay, judging by his expression, if I pushed a little harder, he’d definitely spill something more.

If I could counter him just once more, swaying public opinion completely might not be impossible.

“Tell me! How is sending me down there for the royal family’s sake?!”

Just as I was shouting with full conviction, fully immersed in the role of a loyal subject—

A voice suddenly echoed in my head.

[…You’re wrong. Opposing him here will only lead to a worse outcome.]

It was a gentle voice laced with a hint of a sigh.

[Why didn’t you just run right away? Why make things so difficult…?]

I wondered whose voice it was—but before I could think further, a brilliant silver light flashed before my eyes, and my consciousness faded.

***

「The Watcher of Fate intervenes.」
「Through Sven Parab’s Stigma, the character is subjected to the Authority of the Stars.」

「The mark of the stars is deeply engraved into the character’s body.」
「The character’s holy resistance is permanently increased by 100.」
「All healing and beneficial effects tied to the power of Leatlas Church are reduced by half.」
「Warning: Receiving divine power once more may cause the fragile mortal body to collapse…」
***

When I opened my eyes, I was there.

No—more accurately, I was watching the scene from a slight distance.

“Tell me! How is sending me down there for the royal family’s sake?!”

The me in front of me was shouting aggressively.

And then…

“…”

Jerome’s face was red, like a kettle about to boil over.

‘What… is this?’

For some reason, I was observing it all like a third party.

And just as I started to question the phenomenon—

[Just keep watching. The answer lies at the end.]

The same voice echoed in my mind again.

My head felt foggy, as if I were drunk.

Maybe that’s why…

My doubts disappeared, and all that remained was the conviction that I had to follow that voice.

“Why won’t you answer? Don’t tell me you know it too—that what you’re doing has nothing to do with the royal family’s interests!”

As I kept watching, the situation became even more intense.

I relentlessly cornered him with words, until finally, Jerome exploded.

“How far do you plan to mock the royal family, you traitor?!”

“Ha! Traitor! I’m not trying to break the king’s orders, I’m just doubting your judgment-.”

“Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?! That you’re a traitor pretending to be Bjorn, son of Jandel?!”

“…What?”

As he said that, I saw my own eyes widen with surprise.

Since it was me, guessing what I was thinking wasn’t hard.

I’d thought I’d been exposed as an evil spirit.

But…

“I had my suspicions from the start, but after coming here, I became sure. You’re the one who operated in Noark decades ago under the name ‘Iron Mask.’”

“Uh…”

“You were probably a spy working under Noark’s orders, pretending to be a young Barbarian who had just come of age, and have continued your activities since. During the 2 years and 6 months you supposedly disappeared on a special mission, you must have simply returned to your homeland.”

“Uhh…”

“And yet someone like you dares speak of serving the royal family? I don’t know how you managed to neutralize ‘Misplaced Trust’…”

“Neutralize? I never—”

“Then take your hand off it and hold it up clearly. Go on! Let everyone see! It stops working everytime you speak!”

“…”

That was game over.

“If handing over a traitor like you means securing the royal family’s interests, I’d do it a hundred, a thousand times.”

“……”

“All of you! Capture that treacherous impostor! Anyone who helps him will be judged as a traitor and executed! I, Jerome Saintred, take full responsibility!”

My Misplaced Trust deception was exposed, and Jerome—having instantly fabricated a “just cause” I couldn’t refute—ordered a full attack.

And then…

“Everyone, get behind me!”

With the Hex Clan and the Armin expedition team out of the picture, only the members of Clan Anabada stood and fought in a desperate last stand as the world came to a halt.

“What happens next…?”

“What happens next…?”

The mysterious voice answered my muttering again.

[Three of your dear companions will die. And eventually, it’ll lead to the same future I once showed that child.]

That’s when I finally realized whose voice it was.

Only then did I realize who the voice belonged to.

The Goddess of Fate, Reatlas.

Though I had been an atheist, here I was, in a distant world, speaking to an actual god—but it stirred no awe in me.

Only one thing mattered.

“Then what should I have done? It was obvious they were scheming. Was I just supposed to go along with it?”

The answer.

Like a cornered man calling upon God, I sought answers from the divine.

But…

[I told you. Watch until the end.]

With those words, the frozen world began to rewind and the time began flowing backward.

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