Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 109

Baby Barbarian (2)

“Ugh.”

“Don’t move yet. Your wounds haven’t fully healed.”

“…You saved me?”

“Even using a Top-grade potion.”

The awakened Mr. Bear had a complex expression on his face.

He was happy to be alive and all, but he felt a little off.

Well, I probably have an idea why.

If he had died, how much would we have gained?

[He must be worth about 30 million stones—]

30 million stones.

Although it wasn’t an exact figure, given Jencia’s extensive experience with plundering, it was likely close to accurate.

Mr. Bear, who was familiar with an explorer’s instincts, muttered quietly.

“…I was lucky.”

I agreed with him.

Indeed, how many explorers would choose to save someone in such a situation, rather than waiting for them to die?

“I’ll pay for the top-grade potion.”

That’s a given.

“How much will it be?”

“Uh, about 5 million stones should do.”

“…Aren’t top-grade potions worth about 1 million stones?”

“Is that so? Then I must have been swindled by the merchants.”

Mr. Bear was momentarily stunned by my cheeky attitude, but then burst into laughter.

“Indeed, the value of goods changes depending on the situation.”

Like a seasoned Rank 5 explorer, he understood exactly what I meant.

“5 million stones… That’s a reasonable price.”

“I’m glad you think so.”

“……What the hell are you two talking about?”

Just stay out of it.

We’re having a grown-up conversation.

“But I don’t have that kind of money right now. I’ll pay the 5 million stones when we return to the city.”

“Hmm.”

“In the meantime, I’ll leave this item with you, and I’d appreciate it if you could return it to me after I’ve paid.”

Mr. Bear took out a skull-shaped bracelet and handed it to me.

“It’s a Numbered item. I’ve only used it once just now, but it’s still worth over five million stones.”

He briefly explained the item, but even without the explanation, I knew what it was.

No. 7611 ‘Necromancer’s Deceit’.

When the wearer receives fatal damage, they enter a state of suspended animation and become immune to damage for a period of time.

It breaks after three uses.

‘So that’s how he survived.’

I asked if he would consider just giving me the item instead of the 5 million stones, but Mr. Bear insisted it was only collateral and that he would pay in cash later.

“Don’t even think about running away with it, Bjorn, son of Jandel.”

How did he know?

When I flinched, Mr. Bear smirked.

“I’ve heard about a barbarian traveling with a beast-human. And the lady here has mentioned your real name a few times.”

“Oh, did I do that, Nyang?”

“Don’t worry. I understand not wanting to attract attention. I won’t go around talking about it.”

That was a relief.

I didn’t care much about other things, but if the Dwarf heard about it, it could get annoying.

We had left on the pretext of taking on an escort mission, after all.

“So what happened? Is that bitch dead? Did you two take down the guardian?”

Having settled the matter of his life debt, Mr. Bear asked about what happened next.

There were too many details to explain, so I simply nodded. Fortunately, Mr. Bear, being an explorer, didn’t pry further.

“Bjorn, Little Balkan, son of Jandel. I thought your stories were exaggerated, but seeing today’s events, maybe they weren’t.”

The fact that we had taken down the guardian together was surprising to him.

Anyway, we arranged a time and place to meet in the city later, and I distributed his share of the magic stones, by which time all his injuries had healed.

“Bjorn, son of Jandel, and Misha Karlstein. Thank you for saving me. I will not forget this kindness.”

With those words, Mr. Bear stepped through a portal and left the rift.

He really was a cool guy until the end.
***
After Mr. Bear left, I took some time to examine the ‘Necromancer’s Deceit’.

Two of the three gems on it were still glowing, meaning it had two uses left.

‘I’ll just wear it and return it when the time comes.’

Just in case, I wore it on my wrist.

Given the uncertainty, I decided to wear it on my wrist. Mr Bear’s words about making sure to return it resonated with me, but…

“Well, as long as I use it wisely and return it, it should be fine.”

Setting aside that issue, I took a moment to reflect.

‘5 million stones…’

For a top-grade potion, it was a decent compensation. Though it paled in comparison to the 30 million stones we could have gained.

‘I’ve really become quite the barbarian, haven’t I?’

To say I wasn’t tempted would be a lie.

After all, I didn’t even have to lift a finger.

By simply waiting, I could have gained a fortune sufficient to enhance my spirit engraving to level six in one go.

But…

I chose to heal his wounds with a potion.

It wasn’t due to some philosophical dilemma about letting someone die for money when I could save them, making me no different from a plunderer.

It was because of Misha.

“…Why, why are you looking at me like that, Nyang? It’s making me nervous all of a sudden.”

“It’s nothing.”

Regardless of my ethical standards being utterly corrupted.

I decided it wasn’t the right thing to do with a companion by my side.

However, now that it’s all over, I wonder.

‘What if I had been alone?’

It wasn’t just about indulging in wealth and luxury.

In this world, money is power, akin to life itself.

Had Misha not been there, facing such a massive temptation, what choice would I have made?

‘…No need to worry about that now.’

Whether I want to or not, as I continue my life as an explorer, such a moment will come.

With that, I ended my reflections and packed up.

“Eh? Aren’t we leaving, Nyang?”

Leave? Where to?

There were two things to take care of.

I took Misha with me and moved along the ice pathway.

It was originally blocked, but had opened up when the tyrant Tarunbas made his appearance.

Following this path would take us back to the location of the second chapter we had encountered earlier.

“Wow… How do you know all this, Nyang? Information about rifts is incredibly expensive.”

“Thanks to Ragna.”

“Ah, right… that woman…”

Misha accepted the explanation, attributing it to Ragna’s library.

She tends to believe things when I say I’ve read them in a book, probably because she doesn’t read much herself.

Boom-!

After arriving at the second chapter, we climbed the stairs in reverse and destroyed the third pillar from the top.

I had missed an item that grants one-time resistance to cold because I was too focused on observing the mafia.

[Character has consumed a “Magic-Infused Ice Shard]’

[Cold resistance permanently increased by +3.]

I consumed it since Misha already had sufficient cold resistance. The next one, I plan to give to her.

After passing the first chapter and emerging outside, we headed towards the starting point, crossing the frozen lake.

Boom-!

Near the starting point, there was a small pond.

After breaking the ice with my mace and diving into the icy water, I retrieved a red ice orb.

“Here, eat this.”

“Shouldn’t you tell me what it is first, Nyang?”

Would I ever give you something harmful?

Still, after a brief explanation, Misha, shedding her apprehension, chewed and swallowed it.

‘Misha Karlstein has consumed an “Frost Essence.”‘

‘Cold sensitivity permanently increased by +3.’

The ‘Frost Essence’ is actually the signature of the glacier caverns.

Not only does it increase sensitivity but it can be consumed up to three times, making it a staple for those developing their ice skill tree in the early stages.

‘Next time I clear this, I’ll have to start here.’

Diving had made us quite cold, so we lit a fire to warm up.

We redressed in the clothes we had laid out to dry.

“So, that’s the end then.”

“Oh, are we finally leaving?”

What do you mean?

I took a blanket out of my bag.

“…Why are you taking out a blanket, Nyang?”

“Didn’t we barely sleep last night because of taking turns keeping watch? Let’s rest a bit before we go.”

Truth be told, there’s no place safer than a cleared rift within this labyrinth.

It might be a bit cold…

It’s the perfect place for a good rest.

“Don’t worry. There’s no one here but us.”

“…Oh, okay, Nyang. So we’re just resting for a bit?”

“Yes. It’s cold, so come here. Let’s share the blanket.”

“…Should we, Nyang?”

The cold breeze brushes against our noses.

The warmth of the campfire.

As night falls, the dark blue Milky Way stretches across the sky, twinkling above us.

And within that moment…

“Bjorn… are you asleep, Nyang?”

Drrrrrrr…

“Now, are you sleeping?”

We closed our eyes for a bit.

‘You have entered the 1st Floor Crystal Cave.’

Level 5 Explorer, Abman Urichfried.

He opened his eyes in the crystal cave and let out a deep sigh.

Only then did it truly hit him.

‘…I made it back alive.’

After a certain incident, he had left the team he had been with for a long time and had been operating solo.

During that time, he faced many crises.

After all, this labyrinth was not a place to roam alone lightly.

But never had he faced such danger.

Had he literally been on the brink of death, only to narrowly escape?

‘…I was lucky.’

He felt it again, his luck.

Regardless of the encounter with a bitch who had entered the rift with the intention of plundering while hiding her identity.

There was a kind-hearted explorer within the team who was willing to save a stranger like him.

And that person had a top-grade potion.

What were the odds of that?

‘I should make an offering at the temple when I get back.’

No matter how many times he thought about it, it seemed like a miracle.

As he savored the afterglow of survival, he shifted his thoughts.

‘Jandel’s son, Bjorn…’

Little Balkan.

He had heard that name several times in the city.

At the time, he hadn’t thought much of it.

Just another unique individual, he supposed?

For him, a Rank 5 explorer, an explorer with a nickname wasn’t unusual.

But…

‘An interesting guy, that’s for sure.’

He was different from the typical barbarian.

Seemingly simple, yet experienced, quick-witted, and skilled in negotiation.

If anything, he resembled a barbarian who had spent a long time as an explorer.

Pure, but not naive.

That’s probably why he could sense it.

The dark intentions of that bitch he hadn’t even been aware of.

‘Getting a nickname within three months and already this experienced… he’s bound to make it big.’

He harbored no ill feelings toward him.

In fact, he was grateful.

Many explorers chase after money, but how many are consumed by it?

Being asked for 5 million stones as a healing fee?

Not being stripped of all his gear was already adhering to the explorers’ code.

Well, many have forgotten that code, which is why his actions seemed all the more remarkable.

‘No wonder that lady is so loyal to him.’

Abman thought of the beast-human lady who seemed to be the barbarian’s companion. The barbarian had selflessly given her the essence of the Yeti and the guardian without expecting anything in return.

‘She’s really lucky to have such a companion.’

Having such a teammate is not a small fortune.

If only his former teammates were half as good as him, he wouldn’t be wandering alone—

‘Wait, just a moment…’

It was initially just a fleeting thought.

But then, he seriously considered it.

‘Surely, such a guy wouldn’t be a bad choice.’

Especially after this ordeal, he felt the drawbacks of going solo.

‘…After all, I can’t keep going alone forever. It seems they only have two people as well.’

Abman made up his decision.

The various clans and regular teams that had tried to recruit him would be dismayed…

But what do they know?

‘When I meet him in the city, I should bring it up.’

He really liked this barbarian.