Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 212

Discarded Pawn (1)

In the stillness, a man shouted.

“What do you mean, we can’t all go together?!”

The anxiety in his voice was palpable, as if he was about to be abandoned at this honey-sweet party.

“I’ll explain.”

Vice-Captain Vercil continued calmly.

“Our scout says that the explorers from the Noark are stationed in every passage that leads to the Dark Zone. It’s impossible to go out or come in.”

The military presence amassed before us was incomparable to anything before.

At that, another man shouted.

“…So you’re saying if we want to get through, sacrifices are inevitable!”

That was the true meaning behind the statement that not everyone can go together.

‘In some ways, i felt similar to that man.’

The moment I heard his bittersweet and meaningful murmuring.

Thump—!

My heart began to race uneasily.

Vice-Captain Vercil didn’t waste time and continued relentlessly.

“Let’s skip the excuses and get straight to the conclusion.”

“Mass teleportation magic.”

A high-level spacial magic only usable by mages of certain schools who are rank 4 or higher.

Now it made sense.

Why they said not everyone could go together.

“…”

A deeper silence pressed down on the room than when I first heard those words.

“Bjorn? If we use teleportation magic, can’t we just pass without fighting? But why does everyone look so…”

The reason was simple.

“Mass teleportation magic can only transport up to twenty people.” As our current mage, Raven, said.

Mass teleport can only accommodate up to 20 people, but there are currently 35 of us.

That meant—

’15 people.’

In simple terms, a total of 3 teams would be left behind.

At a moment when the central dark zone was just within reach.

“If you were going to abandon us at the end, why did you say we should unite!”

Someone cried out in anger.

Vercil, however, did not change her expression and merely apologized briefly.

“I’m sorry about that. We didn’t anticipate this situation.”

Her voice was smooth yet unyielding.

I quietly sighed.

Persuasion is meaningless with this type.

No matter what we say here, that woman is unlikely to change her decision.

“So, how are we going to select the 15 to be left behind?”

I asked, and Vercil looked at me with a peculiar expression.

It seems the calm barbarian struck her as unusual in this situation.

“We’re going to draw lots by team.”

“Excluding your team and everyone else?”

“No, one more team will be excluded.”

Vercil said this while staring in a particular direction.

It was towards the team that had fought and cleared the path alongside them throughout the journey.

“I’m sorry about this. Deputy Leader Vercil and I have a long-standing connection.”

The leader of that team, seemingly already aware, expressed regret to us without any sign of surprise.

Yeah, it was a prearranged promise.

Nothing strange there. After all, they are from a major clan.

But…

‘Damn it.’

A headache surged suddenly.

Now, only two teleportation tickets remain.

Meanwhile, there were three tickets for being left behind.

With a lottery, the chances of being abandoned here just got significantly higher.

Perhaps because they knew this?

“Take us with you.”

The expressions of those left changed.

Desperately so.

“Five million… no, ten million stones per person.”

Someone offered money.

“We are under the Blue Barrier Clan. If you take us, I’m sure the Master will offer a great reward…”

Someone promised a future through their affiliations.

“We… we don’t belong to any clan. We’re all women, currently active on the fifth floor but originally from the sixth. Our Raler Clan is even seeking new members due to recent losses…”

Someone used themselves as a bargaining chip.

Not one was willing to simply accept the lottery.

Naturally.

No one wants to leave their life to chance.

“Jandel.”

Mr. Bear called me with a heavy voice.

It seemed like he was suggesting we should do something.

But I decided to wait and observe.

Offering something now, before seeing what decision Vercil Gouland would make, seemed premature.

“I’m sorry, but it doesn’t seem right to proceed in that manner.”

“That means…!”

“Yes. The rest will be decided fairly by lottery. Please understand my decision.”

Vercil, who had promised to exclude just one specific team, stuck to her principles as she initially said.

“Vice-Captain of the Raler Clan, Vercil Gouland. She’s exactly as I heard.” Raven commented, seemingly admiring her nobility. But I found it hard to agree.

‘She just didn’t receive an offer tempting enough.’

If she were truly fair, she wouldn’t have excluded that other team in the first place, especially knowing what kind of situation the left behind ones would face.

‘Anyway, it’s decided by lottery…’

I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.

If only I had ever won anything in such lotteries before.

“Let’s not waste any more time and get started then.”

Vercil then prepared the lottery with a bag containing five stones.

The rules were simple.

Two white stones meant you’re safe.

Draw three black stones, and you’re unequivocally left behind.

“Which team will go first?”

“I will.”

The first to step forward was the team that had offered ten million stones per person.

“To think my fate would depend on some damn stones.”

A dwarf warrior in flashy armor nervously reached into the bag.

And…

“Ha, haha… Yes!!”

He succeeded on his first try.

Laughter erupted among the dwarf’s team, while the faces of the other teams darkened.

“Please come this way. Who’s next?”

In the midst of fluctuating fortunes, no team was eager to step forward next. After all, there was now only one winning ticket left among three destined for doom.

“Mr. Jandel, we should wait. Statistically, our chances of drawing a black stone are higher now.”

A 25% chance of success.

A 75% chance of failure.

But as always, probability felt meaningless.

“Alright, we’ll go first.”

Amid hesitant glances, the team composed entirely of women stepped forward.

“…”

They drew the remaining white stone.

“Damn it.”

***

“So that’s everyone.”

With just two draws, the fate of five teams had been sealed. The remaining three teams didn’t even get a chance to try their luck.

“Gahhhhhhh!!!”

What did I do while that woman’s team drew the white stone?

Contemplation between Misha, Aynar, and Raven—who should draw for us. I really didn’t expect it to end in just two draws.

‘Is this even reasonable?’

Just as I pondered, Vercil conspicuously turned the bag inside out, scattering the three black stones onto the ground.

This was to prove that there was no foul play.

“Everyone, gather around. We’ll use the magic as soon as we’re ready.”

Those selected quickly assembled at Vercil’s call.

That’s when it happened.

“Just a moment!”

One of the teams, visibly shaken by the situation, rushed forward.

“Please, take us with you! We’ll do anything!”

A groveling plea.

But she wasn’t the type to be swayed by such things.

“All spots are filled.”

Vercil’s voice was emotionless as Square Jaw turned his begging toward the others.

“If someone would give up their spot for me, I’ll pay ten million stones! No, twenty million!”

Trying to buy a spot with money…

Now it seemed downright despicable.

By not mentioning his teammates, it sounded like he was only interested in saving himself.

Initially, his teammate Daria looked at him as if he were a bug, but Square Jaw didn’t stop there.

Going beyond just speaking from a distance, he approached each person, asking if they were interested in his offer, and was uniformly ignored.

“So, there’s really no way?”

As if anyone would agree to that.

It wasn’t about the money; selling a spot would mean abandoning their comrades.

“If you’re done, could you step back?”

Vercil’s brief comment made Square Jaw weakly turn back to his team.

That ended the incident.

Vercil’s mages began drawing the teleportation circle on the ground.

“Bjorn…”

“Let’s talk later.”

I ignored Misha’s call and addressed the vice-captain.

“Vercil Gouland.”

“Yes. What is it?”

Her voice was polite but void of any other emotion—no sympathy, no curiosity.

Hmm, maybe she thought I’d grovel like Jowjaw.

I smirked and asked something specific.

“When moving, why were we placed in the safest central formation?”

Vercil tilted her head.

But she probably wasn’t really interested in why I was asking.

“We drew lots. It was fair.”

Yeah, everything he said was a lie.

I suspected it, but it wasn’t Square Jaw’s doing that we were placed in the center.

‘Okay, got the measure of the guy.’

Like it or not, we’d have to stick with the three teams left behind. It became clearer how to deal with Square Jaw.

“Is that all your questions?”

“No, one more.”

“Go ahead.”

“You said the enemy has set up in the corridor. I want to hear more about that. What’s their arrangement, and what’s their strength?”

“You’re thinking of breaking through yourselves?”

Did she really think we’d just die here?

“If necessary.”

We were only with these people for a short while to get here comfortably, but my goal has always been beyond this point.

So nothing changes.

“So, what’s the answer?”

Vercil paused, staring at me intently.

“You really are as the rumors say. Alright. Zenia?”

“Yes, Vice-Captain.”

“Go tell him everything he wants to know.”

“Understood.”

Vercil then sent a scout from her team to provide me with the details I sought.

After about five minutes?

“Zenia, come here.”

All preparations for the magic were complete, and Vice-Captain Vercil left us with just one parting word.

“Please try not to resent us.”

It meant we had to make our own way forward now.

Well, that wasn’t anything new.

***

“…they really left.”

As more than half the group disappeared, their absence felt all the more significant.

But despite that, I focused solely on one thing.

What is it that I need to do now?

Certainly, it wouldn’t be to waste precious time stewing in feelings of emptiness.

“Mr. Jandel, what will you do now?”

“Give me a moment to think.”

There are two options.

Either break through the route that Vercil had given up on and head towards the originally planned central area.

Or turn back and look for another place.

The latter wasn’t a bad choice either.

‘If we stay on the outskirts, we can survive.’

The center was engulfed in war.

And at the very outskirts, the strongest of Noark blocked the paths.

Whereas, the outskirts had relatively fewer people.

With the area being vast, we could manage to evade and hide to survive.

But…

‘It becomes impossible to know how things are unfolding.’

That was the biggest drawback.

In this chaotic time, where every minute counts differently, hiding away meant no access to information about the unfolding situation.

And…

‘On the third day, a tier lord appears.’

A first-floor tier lord is something we cannot take down just among ourselves.

If we were to be summoned during a holdout, it would surely lead to our annihilation.

“We need to check our strengths first.”

“What?”

“Could everyone gather?”

I postponed making a decision and brought together the other two teams in the same situation.

And went straight to the point.

“Let’s take turns stating our explorer levels, the essence we’ve consumed, and our specialties.”

“You want us to lay it all out?”

“In the midst of this, is that really what matters? Given the situation, shouldn’t we join forces?”

“You talk as if you’re already the leader.” Square Jaw frowned at my suggestion.

He wasn’t the only one; it was clear that not everyone was thrilled about me naturally taking the lead.

Ugh, troublesome.

“Does it matter who the leader is? To worry about such nonsense even now, what a bunch of idiots.”

“…What? What on earth are you—”

“If you insist, we can settle it with a vote.”

I smoothly steered the topic to a vote.

After all, Erwin was here.

If another team member voted for me, I couldn’t lose the vote.

But the situation took an unexpected turn.

“There’s really no need for a vote.”

“…?”

“If there were a vote, our team would cast ours for you.”

The leader of another remaining team spoke up.

“With your team and ours combined, that’s already 10 votes. No need to waste more time.”

Hmm, how did it turn out like this?

Honestly, it was a bit surprising.

Square Jaw, seemingly as surprised as I was, fortunately asked the question for me.

“…What are you talking about? Choosing the Barbarian as the leader? Are you out of your mind?”

“I just don’t have the knack for leading.”

“Then it should obviously be me—”

“If I had to choose between the two, this one seems far more trustworthy.”

I kind of understand his reasoning.

They preferred me over Square Jaw, who had tried to save himself by abandoning the team.

It seems there were other reasons as well.

“Most importantly, when everyone was in denial, this man was the only one who asked that woman for information.”

…This is somewhat embarrassing.

“Your Name?”

“I am Tacellan Arbenon.”

“I am Bjorn, son of Jandel.”

After a formal exchange of names with Tacellan, I returned to the original topic.

“Anyway, that settles it. Now, let’s go around stating our explorer levels, the essence we’ve consumed, and our specialties. We need to decide what to do next—”

“Hold on, who decided that?”

Ah, this guy keeps on.

“Do you have a problem?”

“Of course I do—”

“Then leave. We two teams can move together without you.”

Not wanting to waste more time, I cut him off and spoke decisively.

“…Damn it.”

Square Jaw clenched his fists in frustration but didn’t leave our side.

Where would he go in these circumstances, after all?

I smirked at him and said,

“If you interrupt me again or disobey an order, it’s over. Understand?”

“…”

“Answer me.”

“…I understand.”

Okay, the hierarchy is settled.

Then, I swiftly completed the task at hand.

Who held what position and possessed what essences.

‘Hmm, it’s a bit tricky.’

Although I assessed the overall strengths, my concerns only deepened.

Should I be more confident?

So, I proceeded with additional checks.

“We should at least know each other’s names. We need to be able to call each other in emergencies.”

I made up a reason and learned everyone’s names one by one.

Honestly, it would be difficult to remember them all…

‘At least Hans isn’t here.’

Luckily, there was no Hans.

That was a positive indicator.

It meant that whatever decision I made, the chances had slightly increased.

“What shall we do now?” Raven asked, and all 14 eyes turned to me.

It was time to make a decision.

I erased any doubt about my choice and spoke.

“We’re heading for the safe zone.”

“How likely do you think that will be?” Tacellan asked, and I responded with a wry smile.

I had just seen how meaningless probabilities could be…

But one thing was certain.

Even if successful, not everyone would survive.

‘About half might die.’

To reach that place where some had passed easily with magic, we would have to risk our lives.