Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 125

Episode 125 High-Rank Player (3)

It’s often said that humans are social animals.

I don’t know who first said it, but it’s a very apt comparison.

Maybe not as primal as animals, but humans have always judged others based on first impressions.

To be respected, it’s necessary not to be looked down upon.

Especially if you’re the new student who’s just transferred in.

“You… what did you just say…?”

The fox mask asks as if she heard wrong.

Meanwhile, the other masks simply watch the situation with interest, as if amused.

It’s a kind of initiation.

What I do next will determine my first impression.

So—

“Say that one more time.”

I make sure to engrave it clearly in her mind, staring back at the menacing fox mask to avoid any misunderstanding.

“The person who recommended me to this place is your mo—”

“‘Who the fuck are you?!”

Crazy, psycho, asshole, dickhead, etc.

No matter what they call me, it’s better than giving off a weak image.

However, I didn’t expect this.

“Look here, you.”

A fierce flash of light shines through the gaps of the fox mask.

“…This is a strange feeling.”

I physically feel a sharp killing intent, causing my skin to tingle.

Not metaphorically, but literally.

Feeling the threat to my life, my heart races and chills run down my spine.

In a world where physical force doesn’t exist, how is this possible?

Luckily, I had information about this phenomenon.

‘So this is that technique.’

It’s my first time experiencing it, but it’s definitely the technique that Lee Baek-ho mentioned earlier.

A skill that operates on clear will and thought, usable only within Ghostbusters—a technique of no particular use but perfect for scaring newbies, a petty skill of the veterans.

“Can you say it one more time, the same way?”

The fox mask intensifies her killing intent and asks me once more. I can almost see a cold smirk twisting behind the mask.

Therefore…

“I, I, I…”

I stutter once again.

Snicker.

I heard laughter.

Not from the fox mask, but from the others.

A newbie who didn’t know his place trying to act tough and then backing down, amusing to them, no doubt.

“Why can’t you do it? You were so brave just a moment ago.”

Was she really offended?

It seems like the fox mask has no intention of letting this go, her killing intent becoming even denser.

Of course, it wasn’t a problem.

“Oh, no… I mean, that’s not… what I meant…”

“Speak up. Clearly, without missing a single word.”

“Sure.”

I decided it was time to drop the act of playing the fool.

“Your mum was the one who referred me here. So what, is there a problem?”

“What… what?”

The fox mask looked extremely puzzled by my sudden change of demeanor.

“No, surely you’re covered in thought energy? How on earth…”

Instead of answering, I simply raised my pinky and began to scratch the itch that had been bothering my ear since earlier.

It seemed like the others had caught on to what was happening a while ago.

“This is certainly an interesting situation.”

“Newbie, that’s enough with the jokes. You’re going a bit too far.”

“Your attitude is impressive, but that kind of attitude will only make you enemies.”

I savored their mixed reviews.

Funny, cocky, pathetic.

That seemed to be their assessment of my act. Despite my efforts to craft an image.

‘Yeah, guess this isn’t too surprising after all’

After all, when you think about it, it’s expected.

This is the veterans’ club, after all.

Just because I calmly handled a blast of killing intent, it doesn’t mean I’d receive any special treatment.

“How dare you mock me…?”

The fox mask, realizing too late that I was playing the dick-head, showed a relatively intense reaction…

My first impression would have been that of an annoying bastard.

Therefore, I closed my eyes and recalled the conversation I had with Lee Baek-ho.

[“You want me to shoot you with killing intent? Ah, no way. If I do it wrong, you might end up with mental issues. Since it’s based on thought energy, the stronger the mental strength, the stronger the effect…”]

The power of killing intent is proportional to mental strength.

And by mental strength, it means actual mental fortitude, not some numeric value.

[“That’s why it’s exclusive to veterans. The more you kill and the more you narrowly escape death, the stronger your mental strength becomes. Of course, some people are just born with it.”]

So, where do I stand?

Well, I guess there’s only one way to find out.

Baekho hadn’t had time to actually use it, but it didn’t seem too difficult.

[“I’ll tell you how to use it. Well, there’s not really a ‘method’ to speak of…”]

Lee Baek-ho said.

To emit killing intent, you first need to hypnotize yourself.

[“Think of them as your enemy. An enemy you must kill.”]

Coincidentally, self-hypnosis is one of my specialties.

“Excuse me, when people are talking… you…”

When I opened my eyes, the fox mask I had locked eyes with flinched, then scoffed as if it were ridiculous.

“Ha, was that revenge?”

It worked, but the effect wasn’t very strong.

So, I focused even more on my thought energy.

“Childish.”

They are goblins.

The bastards trying to kill me.

Yes, enemies are threatening my life.

“Just apologize. Since you tried to provoke me first, if you properly apologize, I won’t hold a grudge over this incident.”

Imagining myself charging at them and smashing their heads with a mace, I hypnotize myself.

Then, at some moment.

‘Oh?’

I felt something leaving my head, a sensation unlike any pain, something I’d never experienced before.

“No, is a single apology too much for your pride—”

The fox mask, who was lecturing me, suddenly stopped talking.

And became as still as a statue, not moving at all.

As if caught by something invisible, unable to move.

“……!”

The emotion in her wide-open eyes was familiar to me.

The same look my enemies had shown at the end.

The look in their eyes when they saw the mace coming down on their heads.

‘Wow, I didn’t expect it to be this effective.’

Even though I was puzzled, I looked around to confirm.

The three, puzzled by the fox mask’s behavior, showed clear reactions when their eyes met mine.

Swoosh.

The one with the Deer mask, who had been leaning against a pillar, moved his hand towards where a sword should have been at his waist.

He was the one who had considered me arrogant.

Whoosh.

The crescent moon mask looked away as if avoiding my gaze.

He was the one who saw me as pathetic.

“……Oh, I didn’t say much, did I?”

The yellow clown mask exaggeratedly gestures with his hands and steps back.

He was the one who had found me amusing.

‘What’s going on?’

Seeing such strong reactions, I felt more puzzled than pleased.

Why? Why was it so effective?

I didn’t have the time to calmly ponder.

Squeeze.

Suddenly, it felt as though my brain was being wrung out like a wet towel.

I felt a mental exhaustion akin to staying awake for three days and nights.

Instinctively, I realized.

I only had a few seconds left to maintain the barbarian Raging mode.

‘Shit, no one mentioned this.’

I hastily looked at the fox mask.

The fox mask was shivering.

“Please, stop. Any more, and it’s dangerous for me, too…”

She pleaded with difficulty when I simply looked at her without saying a word.

Then, just in time, the killing mode ended.

“Phew……!”

The fox mask breathed deeply as if she had been submerged in water.

Seeing her flinch as our eyes met, I was convinced.

“Whatever the reason, it worked out well.”

This is the image I wanted to create when I realized that the atmosphere was hostile to newbies.

I succeeded in becoming someone not to be trifled with.

***

“……To cause such a commotion just because someone tried to test you. The future seems tough.”

The murmuring of the Deer mask started to lift the silence that had enveloped the room.

“Pfft, it was a fun experience nonetheless. I wonder how much more I have to kill to be able to do something like that?”

The clown mask looked at me with a strange gaze at that moment.

Thud!

The four doors connected to the room suddenly closed all at once.

I was honestly startled, but thankfully, I didn’t show it.

It was just that the entry time had ended.

“It’s already this late.”

“This time, it’s not just the four of us… but five.”

As everyone took their seats, I casually sat down as well. But before the meeting could officially begin, I was bombarded with questions.

Unlike before, these questions weren’t probing my identity.

“Lion, this must be your first meeting. Seeing the killing intent earlier, I thought maybe you were one of the original members… and the lion mask had been on the wall the whole time.”

Tl/N- Bjorn is using the Lion Mask.

I nodded at Crescent Moon’s words.

Let them think, what they want to think

Better to coolly admit it and look more credible.

“So, what did you want to say?”

“…Have you met the Master? Ah, if you don’t want to answer, you can just say so.”

The cautious and polite tone from Crescent Moon made me wonder if acting like a madman was the way to live.

A realization I might never have had if I hadn’t become a Barbarian.

“If there’s a price you want, I’ll pay it. It might not be to your satisfaction, though.”

“That’s fine, but why do you think I’ve met the Master?”

I responded arrogantly.

After all, I didn’t even know who the Master was.

“That’s… a bit strange to say. You’re the first newcomer since the Master disappeared a year ago, so it’s natural to think that, isn’t it?”

“Which is why Fox tried testing him and got hit with a rebound?”

As the Clown Mask was muttering to himself, the Fox mask turned away in embarrassment.

‘It seems they’re talking about the founder of this gathering.’

As I pieced the information together in my mind, Crescent moon mask Spoke again

“Ahem, anyway, it’s unusual for a newcomer to know so much about this place, which is why I thought you might have met the Master.”

Well, that’s thanks to Lee Baek-ho, not the Master.

But then, what exactly is Lee Baek-ho’s identity?

Deciding to find out more about Baek-ho later, I ended my musings.

“So, can I get an answer to my question? Just telling us when and where you last met the Master would be enough—”

“My answer is no.”

“Hmm, I see. Understood.”

Crescent Moon cleanly gave up and backed off.

If I had seemed weak, they would have surely pestered me further.

“Regardless of the Master, shall we start the meeting?”

Unlike the others, the Clown seemed less interested in the Master’s whereabouts and signaled the start of the meeting.

I was relieved I knew the rules beforehand.

Asking how it worked here now would surely ruin my mysterious image.

“Let’s start with me.”

The first to speak was the Clown who had initiated the conversation.

“The health of the King of Raphdonia has deteriorated.”

The gem in the center of the table started to glow red.

This indicated that the information was true and known by at least half of those seated at the table.

“That’s too vague an information.”

“Everyone knows the King’s health is serious. Share something more useful.”

Fox and Crescent Moon frowned and criticized the Clown.

I just stayed silent.

‘I didn’t know…’

The King is sick?

This was news to me. Such rumors hadn’t circulated in the city at all. Though, discussions about the King’s health in public would be odd anyway.

“Sigh, you don’t realize how important this is. Disappointing.”

The Clown glanced at Fox and Crescent Moon, then quickly looked at me.

‘You understand what this means, right?’

His gaze seemed to carry this message.

“……”

I remained silent this time too.

Better to stay in the middle ground.

“The commander of the Rose Knight Order died yesterday. How about that? You’ll acknowledge this, won’t you?”

The room fell into a heavy silence as the Clown shared this new piece of information.

“Blood will flow in the palace now.”

“Yes, we need to prepare too.”

Who the hell is the commander of the Rose Knight Order?

Anyway, a green light lit up on the gem, so the discussion moved on to the next person, Fox Mask.

“The Jaegun Clan has succeeded in subjugating the first-floor Layer Lord.”

“Ah, so it was them?”

“Pfft, the trade posts vanished, so they must’ve found a strategy. I thought they’d never manage it.”

I kept my silence again.

Not because I didn’t know, but because it was about me.

‘The Jaegun Clan were the ones who did it.’

In the city, there was no mention other than the fact that a layer lord had been summoned.

‘…Glad I joined.’

Once again, a green light from the gemstone, and it was Crescent Moon’s turn.

“Huhu, probably no one knows this.”

“Just say it already.”

“In the Silent Fairy Island, activating a Hidden Piece guarantees the appearance of up to three Ravagnus’.”

At Crescent Moon’s words, Fox and Deer Horn were visibly shocked.

“Good news for those seeking the essence of Ravagnus.”

“Wait, what’s the Hidden Piece?”

“Expecting to know that as well would be too much, wouldn’t it? Anyway, it’s the next person’s… huh?”

Crescent Moon, attempting to pass the turn naturally, stiffened as a red light flowed from the gemstone.

In contrast to the previous anonymity, it was easy to deduce who already knew the information.

Since the previous two had clearly shown they didn’t know.

“Don’t be too discouraged, Crescent Moon. What you mentioned is not commonly known.”

Clown offered some words of consolation, to which Crescent Moon sighed.

“Why not just tell us about the Hidden Piece?”

“That’s… something I must keep a secret for now.”

“Then, regrettably, you’ll be expelled today—”

“Ha-ha, what are you talking about? I was just embarrassed because I’ll have to reveal the ace up my sleeve.”

Crescent Moon sighed and brought up new information.

“The fairy race has found traces of the ‘Relic Thief’.”

A green light shone from the gemstone, but Fox narrowed her eyes and raised an objection.

“Traces? Isn’t that a bit too vague?”

“It’s information on the ‘Relic Thief,’ about whom no clues were previously known. This in itself is a highly confidential fact.”

“Hmm, alright. I’ll accept that.”

“So you’re really from the fairy race, huh, Crescent Moon?”

With the Fox withdrawing her objections, Crescent Moon’s turn ended.

Then, all eyes turned to me.

It was my turn, naturally coming around in a clockwise direction after Deer Horn.

‘I’m feeling a bit nervous.’

Is it because of those expectant gazes?

Even though I had decided on some worthwhile information during my turn, the pressure suddenly felt heavier.

It would be embarrassing if they already knew what I was about to share.

‘I should start with something certain.’

Wanting to maintain a mysterious image, I chose something others were unlikely to know.

“Vandemons drop their essence guaranteed if defeated by three people.”

As expected, the gemstone emitted a green light.

However…

“…Defeating Vandemons with three people?”

Why were they surprised by that part?

Isn’t it easy even with three if you’re in cheat mode?

‘Especially since it’s an easy one to strategize against…’

I couldn’t understand their reaction.