Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 283

Adrift (3)

Tudok.

The insect monster “‘Krungbee” turned into light and disappeared, dropping a mana stone.

I didn’t bother to pick it up.

What good would it do? I don’t even have a pouch to store it in.

“Damn it.”

In some ways, this is worse than when I first fell into the labyrinth and crawled on my three limbs.

At least I had underwear back then.

“…I’ll figure out where I am later. First, I need to find something to cover myself.”

After a moment of panic at being in an unfamiliar situation, I quickly organize my tasks and ticked them off one by one.

First, I needed clothing.

Although the area was filled with nothing but trees and monsters that vanished into light when defeated, it wasn’t too hard to find clothes.

After all, I’m a barbarian.

“…I really am trying everything here.”

I picked up a vine that fit my waist.

Then I threaded large leaves, the size of pumpkin leaves, onto the vine, wrapped it around my waist, and tied it.

With this, my dignity-saving equipment, “Blessing of the Tree Spirit,” was complete.

“…It’s sturdier than I thought.”

I moved around in the makeshift outfit and was surprised by its unexpected durability.

Perhaps the basics are still important?

There must have been a reason why early humans favored this kind of look.

“…I should make one for her too.”

I made one for Amelia as well. Unlike me, who only needed a bottom, she required two pieces…

But she was much smaller than me, so it didn’t take long.

‘I made it generously, so there shouldn’t be any issues with the size.’

One of the few advantages of the “Blessing of the Tree Spirit” is that its primitive nature makes size less of an issue.

I just have to tie the vine tightly.

“How long does she plan to sleep?”

I approached Amelia and tossed the “Blessing of the Tree Spirit (Female)” onto her body.

I considered dressing her, but…

“That would be too awkward.”

After all, there’s a saying that men and women shouldn’t sit together after the age of seven.

‘Anyway, I’m not hungry right now, so let’s make shelter first.’

With clothing sorted, I immediately started preparing for shelter.

This wasn’t too difficult either.

I dug a hole with one hand, stuffed it with large leaves like those used for the “blessing of the tree spirit” and finished.

I also gathered dry wood and lit a bonfire in the center.

Surprisingly, lighting the fire was easy.

‘Maybe it’s because I feel strong?’

I rubbed the wood vigorously without stopping, and soon smoke started to rise.

It seems like there’s nothing that can’t be done with enough strength.

‘But when will she wake up?’

After laying Amelia on the leaf bed, I looked up at the sky.

It was already night.

Thanks to the fire, I didn’t feel cold and could see, so fighting monsters wouldn’t be a problem.

Having done enough, I moved on to the next task.

‘The problem is food…’

The third essential element for living and arguably the most critical for survival.

“Sigh, really…”

A sigh escaped my lips.

I never thought I’d be worrying about this again, especially not now.

Growl.

…How do I find food?

****

There are no mountains on Farune Island.

Aside from the coastline, the entire area is a flat forest, with plenty of cover, so the bonfire’s light didn’t spread far.

However…

‘They’re like moths to a flame’

The light from the bonfire was enough to attract nearby monsters, so I spent the night fighting them off.

Of course, I didn’t put out the fire.

Monsters appear even without light, so it’s more reasonable to fight with visibility.

‘…I’m not planning to sleep in this situation anyway.’

As I continued fighting hunger for a few more hours, Amelia finally woke up.

“You’ve finally awakened.”

“…How did you know?”

“Your breathing changed.”

She’s quite amusing. Clearly awake, but lying still with her eyes closed and saying nothing.

Is she trying to assess the situation first?

“…Where are we?”

“Hold on, put that on before getting up.”

“…?”

Amelia, sitting up, frowned at the piece of wood on her naked body.

“Barbarian, did you… undress me?”

Expecting this question, I calmly responded.

“Look at my state. My clothes were gone too.”

“…I see.”

She turned her back, and I heard the rustling of leaves. Luckily, I didn’t need to explain how to wear it.

“You can turn around now.”

When I turned back, Amelia was fully dressed in the “Blessing of the Tree Spirit (Female)” I made.

It was a strange feeling.

We were both wearing similar makeshift clothes, like a set of items that would grant a buff when worn together.

“So, where are we?”

Without any embarrassment, Amelia asked her first question again.

Hey, I’m the one who should be asking questions.

“This is Farune Island. I don’t know how long it’s been, but when I woke up, we were both naked.”

I briefly explained the doubts I had upon waking, and Amelia remained silent, probably organizing her thoughts.

After giving her a minute, I asked.

“Okay, now tell me. Why are we in this situation?”

“…Why are you asking me?”

Oh, don’t play dumb.

“Remember the stone you were holding? I’m convinced it’s related to all this.”

“Ah, that…”

Amelia clenched her empty hand reflexively. But the item, gone since I woke up, didn’t reappear.

Ah, I should mention this too.

“By the way, I didn’t touch that stone. I have no idea where it went.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not suspicious of you.”

Does that mean she trusts me that much?

“So, what’s the answer to my question?”

“…I have a guess, but it’s not certain.”

Come on, just tell me.

Even in this situation, does she still need to control the information?

“Just say it. What is that stone, and why are we in this state?”

I asked, unable to hide my irritation, and Amelia hesitated.

And then…

“That is…”

Just as she seemed ready to speak.

Snap.

We heard a twig snap in the bushes.

We both lowered our stances and stared in the direction of the sound.

On this island, there are only insect monsters.

So, it’s likely that whoever made that sound is a person.

“…”

Aside from the sound of the bonfire, a suffocating silence fell.

This only made me more nervous.

If there had been any footsteps, I could have just thought it was a passerby.

“How long do you plan to keep spying on us? Come out.”

Amelia coldly muttered as she stared into the dark bushes.

About five seconds later, there was a response.

“Haha, you make us sound like bad people when you put it that way.”

Five explorers emerged from the bushes, straightening their crouched bodies.

So they really were watching us?

From when?

‘Damn it.’

Feeling a bit dizzy, I quickly scanned the group.

They were all human males.

Judging by their equipment, their level was…

‘About fifth-floor level.’

However, they had clan emblems on their chests.

It was an unfamiliar clan emblem.

‘So, they’re in a clan, reached the sixth floor, and are splitting up on this island?’

Of course, it still felt off.

Most explorers didn’t enter the labyrinth this round due to the situation, and that’s why the condition of fewer than 20 people on this island was met.

But now we run into explorers?

Something feels off.

I was vaguely sensing that when…

“Why were you spying on us?”

Amelia, showing clear vigilance, asked, and the real conversation began.

“Don’t misunderstand. We saw the light from afar and thought it might be our clan members, so we came to greet you. But we were surprised by your appearance and watched for a bit. Oh, and we only noticed you just now.”

It was somewhat believable.

If I saw a couple dressed like primitive people in the middle of the island, I’d be curious too.

“Then what happened to you?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“Don’t be so guarded. Clearly, you seem to be in a tough situation….”

“I said you don’t need to know.”

Amelia cut the man off sharply.

Yet, did he find even that charming?

“Haha, quite fierce.”

The man laughed heartily without showing any displeasure.

Honestly, he seemed crazy to me.

It’s like he’s asking to be killed.

“Amelia.”

“I’ll handle this. You stay put.”

Right, okay.

Calling her name to indicate not to escalate things further, Amelia slightly softened her demeanor.

“Our boat ran aground. We promised to meet our companions here after getting separated. Does that explain it?”

It was a story clearly fabricated, possibly adapted from mine.

“Hmm, then what happened to your equipment?”

“We lost our bags before we fell into the water. Our clothes got wet and dirty, so we discarded them.”

“I see.”

The man continued to ask a few more questions out of curiosity, and Amelia provided plausible answers.

Of course, if probed deeply, there were many contradictions…

“Oh, such a story! You must have been in quite a predicament.”

Regardless of those contradictions, the man seemed intrigued by Amelia’s barely clothed body, his eyes glinting.

It was at that moment.

“Such luck, I must sa-…”

Whack!

Amelia landed a high kick on the man’s head.

Thud.

Ha, this woman.

Even I, a barbarian, stayed still.

‘Who taught her to strike first?’

While sighing internally, I moved immediately as if on cue.

“What are you doing!”

Water had already been spilled.

We’ll sort out blame later; for now, we need to work together.

“Betheeeel—raaa!!”

I activated [Wild Burst] and [Gigantification].

Then, with [Leap], I landed in the middle of their formation.

And then…

‘Swing.’

I swung my club, knocking the mage to the ground first.

‘Okay, the mage is down.’

I turned my waist naturally and used the centrifugal force to swing my club at the archer beside me.

But…

“Noooom!”

The shield-bearer blocked my swing.

Crash.

The club shattered against the shield.

Tsk, if it were a mace, I would have smashed through the shield.

I dropped the broken club and grabbed the shield with both hands.

And then…

“Give it to me.”

I pulled it with force.

Taking it at once was difficult.

No matter the strength difference, shields are usually strapped to the arm.

Of course, it was a minor issue.

If the arm is the problem, just break the arm.

Crunch-!

“Arghhh!!”

I pulled the guy along with his shield, smashing his elbow and destroying the joint.

Then, kicking him away and seizing the shield—

Clang-!

Blocked an incoming arrow with it.

And that was the extent of the battle.

Splat-!

In that short time, Amelia had taken care of most of them.

Once the archer collapsed, spurting blood, there was no one left standing.

Not everyone was dead, but…

“Y-you… do you know who we are…?”

The first man who got kicked looked up at us with venomous eyes.

Ha, how did things end up like this?

“Quiet.”

Worried they might scream and cause trouble, I quickly gathered leaves from the ground and stuffed them into his mouth.

Then I looked at Amelia.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Though I had to participate, what we did was no different from plundering.

If word of this spreads to the city, we’ll be in serious trouble.

“Explain yourself. Why did you suddenly do this? Make me understand.”

I looked at her as if giving her a chance to explain, and Amelia avoided my gaze.

“…We were unarmed, so I attacked preemptively before we were at a disadvantage.”

I was dumbfounded.

“Isn’t trying to resolve things through dialogue the first step?”

“I judged they wouldn’t respond to such.”

It felt like talking to a wall.

Huh, did people who met me feel like this?

Somehow, being with her made me reflect on my past.

‘Does she think she’s some sort of psychic?’

I sighed deeply and decided to stop the conversation. Amelia then spoke as if to console me.

“Don’t worry. What you’re concerned about will never happen.”

“What do you mean?”

“Check their bags.”

Not understanding the meaning, I followed her instructions and opened their expanded bags.

The first thing I saw was jerky for snacks.

I was starving, so this was a relief.

At least the food problem is solved?

I stuffed the jerky into my mouth and continued rummaging through the bag.

Soon, I noticed something odd.

‘Wait, these guys… weren’t they part of a clan?’

The bag was filled with various equipment.

It was too diverse to be emergency supplies.

Most of the weapons had bloodstains.

“These guys… they’re plunders.”

So, the clan emblem was a disguise?

Yet it looked familiar…

‘Where have I seen this?’

As I searched my memory, it clicked.

“…Clan Elbis.”

I had read about this clan in a book at the library.

A group known for committing brutal crimes until they were discovered and executed.

If my memory serves right,

It was about 15 years ago.

‘No sane person would carry around a forged emblem from such a clan…’

Something felt terribly off.

And at that moment.

Whoosh-!

A cold night breeze from the sea brushed my spine.

‘Wait a minute…’

I hastily opened the bag again and checked the IDs I saw earlier, freezing on the spot.

“This is insane…”

The IDs had various names, races, and ages.

But they all had one thing in common.

“Renewal date: Year 134 of the New Era…?”

For some reason, they all had dates from 20 years ago.