Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 151

Barbarian Chief(3)

Tanker me and cold attribute close-combatant Misha.

Now, we need to recruit three more team members to match our combination.

‘A priest, a mage, and an archer cum scout.’

This was the first combination that came to my mind.

Should I call it the fundamental combination of [Dungeon and Stone]?

With the vampire essence gone, a priest would be a great addition to the team.

However…

“Let’s decisively give up on the priest.”

Even saying ‘give up’ might be putting it mildly.

I asked Krobitz if he could introduce us to a priest, but was flatly rejected.

The team must have at least three members of rank 5 or above, and a certain level of public merit in their temple to recruit a priest.

‘The basic recruitment conditions are stricter than the game’

It’s disappointing, but not a major issue.

Having a priest would increase the stability of the team, but it also means a reduction in damage, so I’ve deliberately left them out.

“I’m starting to get the hang of this’

That evening I learned the shocking truth that Misha was a racist. After taking some time to process this revelation, I got dressed and went outside.

Then. I made my way to the tavern I’d remembered.

Ding-!

As soon as I opened the door, I was greeted by a bear tribe lady with her majestic rice cake. … When I mentioned Mr Bear, the lady smacked her lips and gestured with her chin to one side.

Mr. Bear, a rank 5 explorer, was busy serving food and drinks to the customers wearing an apron.

“He knows we don’t have customers, but he always brings his friends.

I sat in an empty seat, trying to ignore the comment I heard from behind. And when Mr. Bear had just finished a round of serving, I quietly raised my hand to call him over.

“Oh, wait, I’ll be right there……. Bjorn Jandel?”

“Let’s talk for a bit.”

At my words, Mr. Bear sneakily rolled his eyes and glanced towards the counter. Wow, I hadn’t seen it before, but he seemed to be under a tight leash.

I had intended to just have a short conversation, but ended up ordering two snacks and two drinks. I figured this way, both Mr. Bear and I would feel less awkward.

“Ahem…”

Soon, Mr. Bear came with the drinks and snacks, sitting across from me with an awkward expression.

He said, almost as if making excuses.

“Well, it’s not always like this. You know? It’s just that the shop has been really busy lately…”

The tavern seemed quiet for being busy, but I didn’t comment.

What’s so shameful about living a domestic life?

Soon, Mr. Bear changed the subject.

“So, you coming here means you left your original team?”

“…The team disbanded.”

“Judging by your expression, it seems you lost someone.”

I neither confirmed nor denied.

Perhaps my silence was answer enough.

Mr. Bear took a sip of his drink with a bitter smile.

“Such a shitty job.”

“Yeah, it’s really shitty.”

I also downed a drink and then ordered two more. We then started talking in earnest.

“How many have you gathered?”

“Just two of us so far.”

“You and that beast tribe girl?”

“Yes, so your answer?”

“Alright, I’ll join you.”

Mr. Bear readily agreed and then started asking various questions.

What floor we were aiming for, and how the loot would be distributed.

And how we planned to fill the remaining two spots.

I briefly explained the combination I had in mind.

“First off, a mage is a must. And for the last spot… I guess we have no choice but to fill it with a scout.”

There was also the option of including Erwin as the archer instead of the Mr. Bear. However, I wasn’t sure how well she would perform as she had just started the Scouting lessons.

Moreover, since Mr. Bear, who has a tank summon, could somewhat cover for the absence of a priest, I made such a decision.

“We’ll use a hired scout until we find one. Apart from the scout, I plan to distribute everything else evenly.”

Mr. Bear nodded.

Then he asked bluntly.

“Would you increase my share if I acted as the scout?”

“What?”

“Exactly as I said.”

What’s this Ahjussi talking about?

Is he saying he’s a scout?

If that’s the case, it doesn’t make any sense.

I then asked 

“Didn’t you say you were lost on the first floor for 19 hours when we met?”

“…Did I tell you the exact time?”

“It was around 19:00 on Day 1 when the rift opened.”

At that time, Mr. Bear was wandering around the crystal cave.

Unable to find the portal to the second floor.

A scout, who is supposed to precisely know the direction of the portal regardless of their location in the labyrinth, stayed on the first floor until that time?

Considering Rotmiller’s record is 6 hours, it doesn’t add up.

However…

“Ah, well… the crystal cave is kind of complicated, isn’t it?”

“Huh?”

“I know where the portal is, but getting there is always a struggle.”

Mr. Bear explained that he only gave directions, and it was his teammates who figured out the path.

Without realizing, I asked back.

“…So, you mean to say, you’re a scout but have no sense of direction?”

“Cough! My previous teammates used to say that. Honestly, it’s hard to accept.”

Hard to accept what?

An ordinary person could find the second-floor portal in a day just by following a compass.

‘A scout with no sense of direction…’

It seemed absurd, but I concluded the conversation without showing any skepticism.

“I’ll think about the distribution. I need to hear the opinions of the others who will join later.”

“That’s enough for me.”

“Then, our conversation is concluded.”

I had found my first teammate.

Abman Urichfried.

A rank 5 archer with a tank summon and a guide whose directional skills were near zero.

“I look forward to working with you, Bjorn, son of Jandel.”

Is it just me, or do I already see the second coming of Team Halfling, only with much higher stats?

****

We clinked glasses to celebrate becoming colleagues.

But soon the Lady bear shot us a sharp look.

“How long are you going to play around?”

“Honey, honey, no, this isn’t playing.”

Then Mr Bear got up in a hurry and walked over to the lady, carrying on a conversation too quiet for me to hear.

At first, it looked like he was being scolded…….

“Oh my, you should have told me earlier. That you’ll become my husband’s companion.”

Somehow, they reached an understanding, and the lady approached me with a friendly smile.

“Nice to meet you. You’re also known as ‘Little Balkan’, aren’t you? Tall and sturdy, now I feel relieved”.

“Well, that’s good to hear.”

“Yes. To be honest, I didn’t like his previous teammates much. How could they be a team for more than half a year and never show their faces?

Huh?

“…His previous teammates?”

He was supposed to be soloing the labyrinth, wasn’t he?

I discreetly checked on Mr. Bear. His face was pale as he shook his head vigorously.

I recalled our past conversation.

[He enters the maze alone, even though he has a wife?]

[The shop’s been running at a loss lately. I have to earn my share, don’t I?]

Earning more is good, but I never expected he would lie to his wife and go soloing.

Following the revelation about being directionally challenged, it felt like another blow to my fantasies.

I had thought of him as a sturdy and wise teammate.

Turns out he was just a man living for the day.

“Anyway, please consider what you had today as my treat. And though he’s lacking, please take good care of him.”

Not wanting to get involved in someone else’s family affairs and risk getting caught in the crossfire, I quickly left the tavern. And when I arrived at my lodgings…

“Oh, Mister. Have you been drinking?”

Erwin was sitting in the 1st floor lobby, waiting for me with a drink ordered , possibly to continue the conversation we couldn’t finish earlier…

“I’m sorry!”

Before I could say anything, Erwin apologized.

“Sorry for what?”

“I had no idea something like that had happened to your teammate…”

“How did you know about that?”

“Your expression looked so bad, I asked the other teammate.”

When I inquired who she meant, she replied it was the dwarf. Upon telling him that she was my former teammate, the dwarf seemed to have innocently shared details about Dwalki without suspicion…

Fortunately, it seems he left out any mention of the Revelation or the  Dragon Slayer.

“It must have been hard for you? I understand what it feels like to lose something.”

Erwin, on the verge of tears, gently held my hand.

It was an incredibly embarrassing moment. Was it like being comforted by a three-year-old child?

It was too late anyway.

I had already begun to move on from those feelings.

“…Let’s not talk about that anymore. Anyway, good timing. There was something I wanted to discuss.”

“There’s something else you wanted to say? Oh, but I still had more to say…”

“What else was there?”

“…Never mind. So, what did you want to talk about?”

I sat down opposite Erwin and got straight to the point.

“I’m forming a new team, would you be interested in joining?”

Originally, I wasn’t going to include Erwin.

Not because of Misha’s request, of course.

It was just that, after much thought, I chose Mr. Bear as the archer, and there were no slots left.

However, the situation changed upon learning that Mr. Bear was a scout.

This left a vacancy for a real scout.

‘Although her combat prowess might be lacking now, if nurtured well, she’ll be able to pull her own weight”

The fact that Erwin was receiving scouting lessons from her sister was a significant plus.

A combination with Mr. Bear for navigation seemed perfect.

“Me…”

After a long silence, Erwin hesitantly gave an answer.

“I’m truly happy about the offer, but please don’t get me wrong?”

Hmm, it sounds like a refusal.

“Is it because of your sister?”

“No, it’s because of me. I still have a lot to learn from her.”

An unexpected response.

Well, not that I couldn’t understand it.

Staying with her sister would indeed be beneficial for her growth right now. It hasn’t been long since she started her scouting lessons, and there are things like spirit magic that I couldn’t teach her.

“I see. Understood.”

“Are… you not mad? Right?”

“Of course not. It’s a smart decision. You’re practically an explorer now.”

“Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve received a compliment…”

Erwin looked into the void for a moment, then coughed slightly to regain her composure.

Then, with a determined voice, she said,

“Just wait half a year. In just half a year, I’ll learn everything I can from my sister, and then I’ll join your team.”

Uh, I appreciate the sentiment, but…….

This almost makes it sound like I’m sending a corporate spy.

I could almost hear her sister’s heart breaking.

***

The next morning.

As soon as I woke up, I headed to the sanctuary without even washing up.

There wasn’t really a need to bathe when I was just going to a place swarming with barbarians.

‘It feels like I’ve come home.’

Not that I’m a true barbarian, but there’s something comforting about the greenery here. While I used to be intimidated by the tribe chief, that wasn’t the case now.

Maybe that’s why?

‘Shit.’

Suddenly, the revelation came to mind, weighing heavily on my heart.

My intuition, hardened by misfortune, was speaking.

A secret known by more than ten people won’t stay secret forever.

‘Even if I finish stage 6 today, reaching stage 9 will take years…’

Unlike other races that have abandoned the traditions of the old, the Barbarians are stubborn to the point of insanity.

If it became known that I received an oracle from the Star Goddess instead of the ancestral gods, regardless of being a super rookie or not, the tribe chief would banish me.

‘Let’s think about this part later…’

I walked through the bushes towards the center of the sanctuary.

As I did so, I saw a group of young warriors gathered in an empty clearing. Little warriors holed up in the sanctuary, practicing their martial skills, waiting for their coming-of-age ceremony.

It was a familiar sight whenever I came here, but…

‘Is that, Caron…?’

Among the young barbarians, I spotted a familiar face.

Tarson’s son, Caron.

Once a naive baby barbarian who knew nothing of the world, but now a full-fledged warrior who had embraced the darkness of the world.

He stood in front of the young barbarians.

As if he had become a training instructor.

“Everyone, repeat after me. Humans are?”

“Enemies!”

“And our hearts?”

“Must be protected by us!”

It was almost brainwashing, but even this would significantly increase their survival rate.

I watched them with a sense of satisfaction.

Until I realized one thing.

‘But what’s that?’

The appearance of Tarson’s son Caron and a few senior barbarians who seemed to follow him was odd.

For some reason, they were carrying several backpacks each.

I wondered if this was a new fashion trend among barbarians, but…

“Instructor! But what are those bags for?”

Not just to my eyes, but one of the young warriors raised his hand and asked, noticing the oddity.

Caron, as if he had been waiting for the question, answered with a smile.

“Good question, young warrior! This one is Robert, this one is John, this is Aiden…”

He pointed to the backpacks strapped to his front, back, and sides, giving each a name.

“Ha ha ha! It sounds like you’re naming people!”

The baby barbarian burst out in laughter.

However…

“Well, they are people’s names.”

Caron was no longer smiling.

“Wh-what do you mean?”

To the shocked baby barbarians, Caron explained in great detail how he came to possess those backpacks.

And then, the indoctrination continued.

“Let’s repeat once more. Humans are?”

“Enemies!!!!!”

“And our hearts?”

“Must be protected by us!!!!”

“Bjorn, son of Jandel is?”

“A great warrior!!!!!”

Watching this, I was at a loss for words.

“…What have I done?”