Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 120

Episode 120 Dark Clouds (4)

A heavy wooden scent pervaded the office.

The 7th District Head of the Explorer’s Guild, Nile Urbans, cracked a smile.

It was because he remembered something his daughter had said not too long ago.

[“I have no intention of living the rest of my life as my father’s puppet.”]

When the prison escape first happened.

He noticed his daughter’s rebellious actions.

After all, there was no reason for her to meet privately with the Branch Manager at that time.

Upon investigating further due to this suspicious behavior, he discovered that his daughter had been solidifying her position within the guild in secret.

“A woman has her own life to live.”

Her rebellion seemed quite plausible at the time.

Though it was a headache, he felt a sense of pride, thinking, “Indeed, she is my daughter.”

However…

“I told her to be careful even with breathing.”

He could find such ambitions endearing only because she was his daughter.

“The Branch Manager , it seems he has chosen my daughter after all.”

Bjorn Jandel.

He had resolved to correct his ways someday, but the barbarian had grown tremendously in a short period.

The Branch Manager had attempted to contact him today.

He was still unsure what his daughter was planning to do with that barbarian, but it was clear that the Branch Manager had fallen under her influence.

He was very displeased by this.

“Daring to rebel against me.”

He could understand why the Branch Manager made such a choice.

He had already fallen out of favor, and a replacement for his position was already determined. Knowing this, the Branch Manager must have tried to cling to any lifeline, even a rotten one.

But understanding and forgiveness are distinctly different words.

“I should take this opportunity to deal with both of them.”

Nile Urbans sipped his tea, his eyes shining.

He had originally planned to leave the barbarian alone.

The humiliation from before made him seethe, but since the barbarian had established his own standing within a few months, there was no need to make an enemy out of him.

But now, things were different.

There must have been a reason his intelligent daughter attempted to contact the barbarian.

“…And besides, it’s irritatingly bothersome.”

Nile Urbans made his decision.

If something is bothersome, just remove it.

Before it becomes a bigger problem later.

****

Rummble!

How long had it been since I left the Explorer’s Guild?

As I was heading back to my lodgings, out of nowhere, thunder roared in the clear sky, and a downpour began.

“Shit.”

Dark, gloomy clouds had covered the sky at some point.

I thought about just enduring the rain, but considering it might be a passing shower, I entered a nearby restaurant.

It was about time for a meal anyway, so I planned to have a meal and wait out the rain for a bit.

“Your order is ready.”

 Roasted meat, pumpkin stew, and rye bread.

It’s hot and filling, but somehow I feel like something’s missing.

It’s not like I went into one of those cheap restaurants that charge me 300 stones for a meal like in the old days.

“Definitely… Misha cooks meat better.”

Thinking of buying some meat tomorrow to ask Misha to grill, I ordered more rum.

Might as well wait here until the rain stops or at least calms down a bit.

After all, Misha won’t be there when I return.

“Ah, maybe she’s still there because of the rain?”

Drinking alone with the sound of rain as my company, various thoughts flow aimlessly.

It feels like just recently I was eating rock bread while being wary of goblin traps, but half a year has already passed.

“Pancakes and rice wine… I guess there’s no place selling that here?”

My desire to return home had faded.

Everything had just become familiar.

The squeaky bed, the small single room with an attached bathroom, laughing and chatting with comrades over cheap beer.

“I’ve really changed a lot.”

I could list the shitty things about this world all day long. But that doesn’t mean I’ve never had fun. …….

Initially, survival was my goal, but gradually, I found joy in seeing myself grow as a gamer.

Chatting and laughing with comrades wasn’t too bad either.

It felt a bit strange.

“If I hadn’t been summoned here, I’d probably still be playing games alone in my room.”

“As a 29-year-old office worker, my social circle was extremely narrow. Of course, I had neither complaints nor discomforts about that.”

I was diligently preparing for my retirement and could live on my own without relying on anyone else.

Unlike this world where having comrades is mandatory.

“Having these thoughts… seems like I’ve grown attached.”

I took a sip of the rum, unnecessarily sweet as if it had been sugared.

Dwalki, Rotmiller, and the dwarf guy.

Just thinking about them left a bitter taste in my mouth.

“To go to the upper levels, I guess I’ll have to form a new team.”

The current members were not enough starting from the 5th floor.

Should I say their growth limit is clearly visible?

First of all, Dwalki isn’t from the mage tower, plus he has a significant problem with inherently low mana.

“At this rate, it’s almost certain he can’t use Level 6 spells.”

Rotmiller goes without saying.

In the lower levels, it’s enough if he finds the way, but in the higher levels, even the scout needs to have high combat skills.

After all, the maximum party size is five.

“Unless he goes through a second awakening, the 4th floor might be his limit.”

Of course, unlike these two, the dwarf guy could play an active role in the upper levels if he’s well-equipped.

But there’s no need for two tanks in a team.

“…If Misha’s specs rise a bit more, I should consider forming a new team.”

It’s a problem I’ve been considering for a while, but now I’ve made up my mind.

The recent troll battle played a big part in this decision.

I will continue to climb to the upper floors, and I cannot achieve that goal with them.

It might seem cold-hearted, but this decision is also for their sake.

There are monsters worse than trolls lurking in the upper levels.

Expecting to survive by luck as we did this time is not something I should count on—

“Jandel?”

Huh, what’s this all of a sudden?

Hearing my name called, I turned around to see someone I hadn’t expected at all.

Mr Bear.

Or rather…

“Urokburak?”

“…It’s Urichfried. If it’s hard to pronounce, you can just call me Abman.”

“Then I’ll go with that.”

The macho looking Mr Bear sat across from me without asking, as if to match his appearance.

Since I often did the same, I wasn’t particularly upset.

“I never expected you to come in as a customer.”

“Customer?”

“Ah, I didn’t mention it. This place is run by my wife.”

So, the owner is his wife…

It was new information to me, but not something to be surprised or alarmed about.A rank 5 explorer should have enough wealth to open a store.

If I was to be surprised, it would be about something else.

“A guy with a wife is venturing into the labyrinth alone?”

“The store has been running at a loss lately. I have to earn money somehow, don’t I?”

Well, I had no comment on that.

It’s not my place to meddle.

“Anyway, it’s a curious coincidence that you’re the owner of the place I came to escape the rain.”

“It’s a coincidence that’s too significant to be just called curious. Thanks to it, I’ve made up my mind, Bjorn Jandel.”

“Made up your mind?”

Mr. Bear replied as if it was nothing.

“Would you include me in your team?”

Eh? What’s this now?

****

Suddenly asking to join as a comrade?

It was an unexpected topic, but after hearing him out, I understood. From Mr Bear’s perspective, I was a proven explorer.

“If you’re willing to save a complete stranger to the point of risking your own back, you probably won’t stab me in the back.”

He had demanded 5 million stones, but it seems he took it well that I used top-grade potions in a rift to save him.

“…So it’s come to this.”

A tank support summon and powerful long-range physical damage.

Someone like Mr. Bear would surely be able to hold his own even above the 5th floor.

However…

“It seems there’s been a misunderstanding. That was a one-time thing; I have a regular team.”

I gently declined his offer.

I’m planning to stay with the Dwalki party for now, and I can’t just kick someone out to add this guy.

Surprisingly, Mr. Bear nodded easily.

“If that’s the case. Let’s say if a spot opens up later, or if you leave the team, we can talk about it then.”

“A spot opens up?”

“You know what I mean, don’t you?”

With Mr. Bear’s meaningful look, the matter of joining as a comrade was concluded. Afterwards, we had a brief conversation about when he’d pay back the five million stones.

“I’ve already put up some unused equipment in the exchange, so I should be able to pay you by the promised date.”

Looking around the nearly empty shop, I felt somewhat heavy-hearted…

But we agreed to meet back here in ten days to exchange the five million stones for the collateral.

“See you then.”

“Take this with you. It should fit you too.”

As the rain didn’t seem to be stopping any time soon, I borrowed a raincoat from Mr Bear and headed back to my lodging.

Swoosh-

The rain poured down as if a typhoon had arrived.

Running through the unusually quiet streets, I quickly arrived at my lodging.

But what’s this now?

“Nyang, Bjorn’s back? Here’s your guest.”

“Uwaaah, Mister…!!”

Like a rain shower on a sunny day, an unexpected encounter was waiting for me.

10 years after that incident, Erwin had lived a life of restraint.

She thought she was good at enduring.

At least until today.

Erwin, without realizing it, let her true feelings slip out, momentarily causing herself to tense up.

“Huh? You… are tougher than I thought, nyang?”

Fortunately, the person she was speaking to hadn’t grasped the true intent behind her words.

‘What, what did I just say…’

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t something taken from her.

Mister isn’t an object, after all.

Moreover, it was her own choice to leave Mister’s side and be with her sister.

Crunch.

An unusual hostility bubbles up within her.

Could she win if they fought?

Without realizing, she found herself sizing up the other with these thoughts.

“Now that I think about it, we don’t even know each other’s names. I’m Misha Karlstein, nyang.”

“…Erwin Fornacci de Tersia.”

“Wow, that’s a pretty name, …… Erwin, nice to meet you.”

“Yes…”

Despite her reluctance, Erwin shook hands.

And they sat down to talk.

She had no desire to become friends with this woman, but there was something she wanted to ask.

“Ms. Karlstein, are you dating someone?”

“Dating someone…? Don’t say weird things, nyang. Bjorn and I are just colleagues, colleagues!”

“Hmm, I see.”

For some reason, her anger subsided.

She had only asked if she was seeing someone, yet she immediately mentioned Mister’s name. Erwin didn’t understand why, but…

‘It seems I need to investigate further’

“I’m sorry. I misunderstood because I heard you showered together earlier.”

“Sha, showered together? What are you talking about, nyang! I just borrowed the bathroom for a moment.”

“Borrowing the bathroom from a man’s room, your lodging must be quite far from here?”

“Well, not particularly far but…”

“…You’re not?”

Erwin’s eyebrows arched at that.

Maybe Mister isn’t, but this woman clearly has some cunning thoughts.

To the extent of using such vulgar tactics.

“Ahem! So, how do you know Bjorn, nyang?”

Did she want to divert the topic from herself?

This time, the question came from the other side.

Erwin answered honestly.

“I was a comrade of Mister.”

“Uh? Mister…? Bjorn is only twenty years old, though…”

“Ah, it’s like a pet name between Mister and me, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

“A pet name…nyang?”

“Yes, is there a problem?”

As Erwin tilted her head innocently, the beastwoman smiled awkwardly.

“No problem? Why would there be, nyang? Nyaha!”

Her mouth was smiling, but her tail was flicking against the bedcovers as if she were in a bad mood.

Erwin felt a strange sense of victory at this sight.

Until an unexpected counterattack followed.

“Mister and I have a somewhat special relationship. For starters, he was my first comrade, and we also shared our first return toast—”

“Oh? But isn’t that kind of thing only meaningful to you, nyang?”

“…What?”

“Well, I’ve been with Bjorn for months now, and I’ve never once heard him mention you. Nyaha!”

The beast-woman plunged a dagger into her heart with a cheerfully innocent smile. Erwin couldn’t hide her astonishment at the sudden change in attitude.

But instinctively, she knew one thing.

“Erwen, was it? The way you act, it’s not like I can’t find it cute. But… when you show this much hostility and treat people like idiots, it annoys me too, nyang?”

Misha Karlstein.

It was natural to feel hostility towards this woman from the moment she saw her.

“Um, still, I’m thankful for one thing. Thanks to you, I think I won’t be confused anymore.”

“Confused about what, nyang?”

“Who knows? Maybe you already know what I mean?”

This woman is an enemy.

Someone who intends to take away what’s precious to her.