Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 249

Gnome Tree (3)

Shabin’s request was simple.

“Please deliver this letter to Baron Nertobin.”

The task was to deliver a letter.

The reward? 3 million stones.

But there was one condition attached.

“Oh, and by the way, this letter must be delivered to the Baron himself before he leaves Gnome Tree.”

That was the reason for the exorbitant reward. It was almost impossible for any explorer to gain entry into Gnome Tree.

Essentially, unless you are a laborer working on the farms, only nobles are allowed entry.

“Alright, I understand the request.  However, I would like to know the details.”

I could already smell the sweet deal in the air, but I didn’t get excited and calmly checked off the details.

What is this letter?

Why have this job done at such a high cost when they could just mail it to the Baron when he returns to the city?

Shabin answered my questions without hesitation.

“I can’t tell you the content of the letter. And the reason for this request is because if we send the letter to his residence, the Baron is sure not to read it.”

The administrative office has something important to convey to the Baron.

However, the Baron is ignoring the situation.

So the administrative office found out that the Baron was vacationing at the Gnome Tree and devised a plan to hand the letter directly to him.

“The Gnome Tree is practically a retreat for nobles. Moreover, only three escorts are allowed. You just need to naturally approach him and deliver the letter, so it shouldn’t be too much of a burden for you.”

Hmm, that makes sense.

I nodded in understanding.

Indeed, it is cumbersome for a noble to visit another noble’s residence in the city. You’d have to dine together and greet the family members.

It’s impossible to just drop by and hand over a letter briefly.

‘So, the condition to deliver it within the Gnome Tree is for my benefit?’

That thought crossed my mind, but it wasn’t necessarily the only reason. They wouldn’t have set it as a ‘condition’ just as a favor for me.

“So, what do you say?”

Shabin handed the decision over to me, and after pretending to ponder for a bit longer, I answered.

“I’ll take it.”

Given the current times with no source of income, delivering a letter for 3 million stones?

There’s no reason to refuse.

‘I was thinking of visiting Gnome Tree anyway.’

“Oh, just to let you know, I only need to deliver the letter. Whether the Baron reads it or not is none of my concern.”

“Yes. As long as you fulfill the request, there will be no issues with the payment, so don’t worry about that part.”

Okay, that settles my last concern.

I signed the contract Shabin brought and received the letter.

That concluded the official business.

Afterward, we chatted about personal matters for about an hour before wrapping up the friends’ meeting and headed home.

And then…

“Misha, pack your bags.”

“Huh?”

“We’re going on a trip.”

I started preparing for the journey.

***

I planned for a 2-night, 3-day trip.

While it wasn’t too far for a one day trip, I will need time to find the Baron.

Moreover…

‘There are places I need to visit while I’m there.’

Honestly, I would have preferred a more leisurely 5-night, 6-day schedule.

But the labyrinth is about to open.

Well, I’ve agreed with my mates that we’ll skip it this time, but…….

‘I’d much rather see for myself how much effort the royal family has put into this one.’

“Gnome Tree!! Wow! I can’t believe I’m finally going there!!”

Although it was a sudden proposal, Misha was excited when she heard the destination and started packing.

By the way, we could bring three people.

So, we decided to take Aynar and Erwin along for a family trip.

“Is it okay for me to join on such a trip?”

“What are you talking about? If you don’t want to, then don’t go.”

“I don’t dislike it! I’ll go and pack, how long did you say we’d be back?”

Feigning reluctance, Erwin quickly got up and went to pack her things.

Well, she hasn’t had much to enjoy recently.

“Hey! Pack properly, don’t just fool around.”

“I wasn’t fooling around…”

“Are you just going to pack underwear? What about your toothbrush? Towels? Are you going to borrow everything from me each time?”

Soon enough, Misha was helping Aynar pack, and the preparations for the trip went off without a hitch, and in the early hours of the next day.

“I’ll escort you to the front.”

With the escorts’ best wishes, we set off towards Gnome Tree.

It was well past noon when we arrived.

“Baron Bjorn Jandel. Your identity has been confirmed. Please, come this way.”

We stood in front of the castle gate and went through a simple identification process before entering.

Ah, the escort knights didn’t follow.

Gnome Tree has a rule that only allows up to three escorts.

‘I feel a bit sorry.’

In fact, the knights wanted to fill all three spots themselves.

But I firmly refused and filled the spots with Misha, Erwin, and Aynar.

Having knights around would restrict our freedom.

Besides, there’s little need to worry about assassins in such a place.

“If you encounter any danger within, don’t hesitate to use this whistle. The Gnome Tree’s self-defense force will come to assist you.”

Gnome Tree is the second most secure area after the royal palace in this city, so while the knights were disappointed, they didn’t force us to cancel the trip.

“Wow…”

As we passed through the double gates, the view of the Gnome Tree was breathtaking, even for me.

A straight road stretched ahead.

On both sides, a vast green landscape unfolded, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of unripe crops and fruits.

“Oh! Look over there! Fairies!”

We continued to look around while riding in the carriage. The most common sight was the fairies working in the fields.

They are specialists in farming, after all.

The fairy tribe sends fairies skilled in special spirit magic  to Gnome Tree and receives substantial support funds.

‘So envious…’

The enormous wealth from the Gnome Tree. This is why they can offer interest-free tax loans to their tribe members, unlike the Barbarians.

“Erwin, how many years do they lend to your tribe?”

“For us, it’s three years.”

“Wow, lucky you. We only get two years. They don’t press us hard for repayment, but after that, we’re on our own.” Misha answered

By the way, this tax loan policy is available to all races except Barbarians and Humans.

Fairies aren’t the only ones earning money this way.

Dwarves have formal contracts with the royal family for their unique skills in construction and metallurgy. It is likely that the windmills and waterwheels we see were built and maintained by them.

Oh, and the beast-tribe..

[Moo—!]

“Mi, Misha! What is that weird creature?!”

“Oh, it’s a cow. You probably haven’t seen one before.”

“A cow?”

“That’s the meat you said was the most delicious. Oh, I’ve never eaten it in the wild, but…….”

The beast-tribe excel in livestock farming.

They naturally bond well with animals, and some of their spirit animals enhance the growth and reproduction of livestock.

‘Although, in the end, the real money-makers are the dragon-tribe.’

While other races primarily make up the working class, the dragon-tribe is a bit different.

They can be considered landowning nobles.

In fact, the Gnome Tree agricultural area was created in their sanctuary.

‘…Why are Barbarians the only ones left out?’

The more I think about it, the more I feel deprived, but there’s nothing to be done.

Fighting is our only racial trait.

Clatter.

The carriage finally reached the area near the center of the Gnome Tree and began circling east.

How much time passed?

“We have arrived.”

The coachman, who was also our guide, informed us that we had reached our destination.

‘Kiarvis,’ the residential area, is a historical retreat for nobles that existed even in the game 150 years ago.

“Please, follow me.”

With the guide’s help, we headed to our lodgings.

The place reserved by the administrative office exceeded my expectations.

‘This is nice.’

It was much better than I expected.

We had an entire outbuilding to ourselves, with five servants at our disposal.

I wonder how much a night here costs?

“Please have your meal first. It’s ready.”

I was quite hungry, so I ate first.

And then…

“There are hot springs……?”

When a servant mentioned there was an outdoor hotspring, I went there immediately to unwind.

‘Ah, this is it.’

I might have to come back here again during winter, even if I have to pay out of my own pocket.

 After enjoying the onsen for about an hour, I came out to find Aynar waiting alone.

“Bjorn, what took you so long?”

“Where are Misha and Erwin?”

“They’re still in there. I don’t get it. It’s just warm water to me…”

Aynar, who seemed unable to appreciate the true charm of the hot spring.

Sigh, these barbarians.

“Never mind, just rest here until they come out and hangout with them.”

“Huh? What about you?”

“I have to go to work. Why, do you want to come along?”

“Oh, no… I’ll just stay here!”

She quickly backed off at the mention of work, and I left the lodging with a smirk.

I then started to look around the area.

‘This place screams luxury.’

It was designed as a retreat for nobles, so luxurious facilities were everywhere.

Hot springs, riding grounds, fishing spots, and more.

If this were modern times, it wouldn’t seem luxurious, but it feels different here.

‘They not only eat wild game, but they play with it too…’

99% of the people in this city eat meat and bread made from magic stones. Aynar, for example, had never seen a real cow before coming here.

But what about this place?

They even have spots for hunting pheasants and deer.

‘Hmm, I guess that’s enough sightseeing…’

I moved to my destination with a letter in hand.

I didn’t have to go around asking which lodging someone was staying at. There were no titled nobles staying in rented lodgings like me in this city.

Most spend their holidays in villas they own.

“You may enter.”

After notifying the butler at the villa, I soon received permission to enter.

Phew, at least he didn’t turn me away.

“I’ve been wanting to talk to you at least once. Haha, nice to meet you, Baron Jandel. But what brings you here all of a sudden?”

“I have something to deliver.”

“Something to deliver?”

I handed over the prepared letter, and the baron immediately opened and read it.

He made a strange expression.

“The administrative office is really heating things up. For them to ask you for this favor…”

“Well, I don’t know the details.”

“Hmm, and yet you accepted this request? Someone like you, for what reason?”

The baron muttered as if he couldn’t understand.

To be honest, I accepted because they offered me 3 million stones for the commission…

Not wanting to look bad, I made up an excuse.

“I owed them a favor.”

“Haha, you could just ignore them later.”

Wow, is this the noble mindset?

I was both amazed and appalled, but I couldn’t say that to his face.

“A warrior never forgets a favor.”

“Hmmm… That’s true? Haha! Interesting. A noble who guarantees the value of faith? Perhaps many nobles will want to befriend you.”

After delivering the letter, the baron invited me to dine with him, but I declined and left.

In the small world of nobles, associating with the wrong person can have consequences.

‘Anyway, that’s the end of the commission.’

It ended so easily that I wondered if 3 million stones was too much.

Now I have free time for the remaining days.

‘I’ll go there later when it gets darker…’

I headed back to my lodging while checking my remaining schedule.

At that moment, I noticed a familiar symbol among the knights escorting some noble young lords.

Cold sweat started to run down my back.

‘The House of Baron Ifreya.’

The house of the person whose face and identity the GM borrowed after knocking him unconscious.

‘…It can’t be him. He’s the youngest, right? It must be his older brother.’

Even if my expectations were wrong, it didn’t matter.

It’s been proven in quantum mechanics.

Until you open the box, you can’t know for sure. Whether there’s a cat inside or something else, you only find out after you observe it.

Fortunately, I hadn’t opened the box yet.

So…

‘Let’s get out of here.’

I quickened my pace, staring at the ground.

At that moment,

“W-Wait! Aren’t you Baron Jandel…?”

A familiar voice called out from behind, recognizing me at last.

“Please stop for a moment! I heard you went through a lot because of that evil mage who disguised himself as me. I must apologize…”

It was (real) Hans I.

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