Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 285
Casuality (1)
The sea churned with violent waves.
“Is Bjorn here yet?”
“No, he should be here soon…”
Alluva Raven tightly gripped the ‘Coordinate Transmitter’ in her hand, staring at a single spot. Everyone aboard the ship was feeling a surge of unknown anxiety.
Bjorn Jandel.
Their leader, the barbarian who stayed behind to buy them time to escape by facing a Level 3 monster alone.
“Something must have gone wrong. We need to rescue him!”
“No! Didn’t you hear what Mr. Jandel said? He told us not to come near him under any circumstances.”
“He always says that and then does whatever he wants! Fine, I’m going to do what I want too!”
“But how will you get there? Mr. Jandel is fighting beneath the sea!”
“That’s…”
Misha trailed off.
Raven, who had been shouting emotionally, bit her lip and spoke more gently.
“Let’s wait. If it’s Mr. Jandel, he will definitely come back safely.”
“Sorry for shouting.”
“No, I feel the same way.”
“You feel the same way?”
At Misha’s question, Raven paused before answering.
“…He’s our comrade.”
“Ah, yes… that’s true.”
An awkward silence followed.
All eyes on the ship were fixed on the end of the path they had traversed.
Five more minutes passed.
The anchored ship swayed violently.
“Water is receding!”
The sea level, which had risen as if from a flood, was lowering in real time.
“Wha, what’s going on? Bjorn isn’t back yet! Did he… fail?”
“That doesn’t seem to be the case! If Stormgush were still alive, the storm would have returned!”
“So, then…”
“Yes! Mr. Jandel defeated the Stormgush!”
Raven shouted with joy, and Misha couldn’t hide her excitement either.
“Ah, that crazy barbarian! He said he’d just hold out, but what on earth did he do down there!”
Despite her words, Misha’s face was filled with bright relief.
“Patzran, turn the ship around quickly!”
“O-okay!”
Raven hurriedly turned the ship towards the island.
Then it happened.
Flash!
A white light flickered and disappeared from the sea’s surface as if thunder struck beneath the water.
“W-what was that just now?”
“C-could something have gone wrong…?”
All eyes, including those of the priestess, turned to Raven.
…Not all mages know everything.
“I-I don’t know either…”
Wasn’t the labyrinth such a place? There are more unknowns than known.
After all, this was the first time they had seen a Stormgush in person.
…
As time passed, the water receded, revealing the central part of the island.
But the person they were looking for was nowhere to be seen.
“W-where did he go! And what are these equipment doing here?”
All that was left on the island were the equipment of Bjorn and the woman named Amelia.
“There’s a nail here. From the tangled ropes, it looks like he was definitely here until recently…”
“It seems he tried to anchor himself to avoid being swept away by the current. But where did he go…”
“Wait, the equipment… Why did he take off his equipment? There’s no reason to.”
The scene was full of contradictions.
“Let’s search the area. If he was swept away by the current, he can’t have gone far.”
Raven, despite her confusion, gave the calmest orders she could.
Didn’t Jandel once tell her?
When he’s not around, she has to act as the leader.
“Here! More equipment! It’s the necklace Bjorn always wore!”
“Here, it’s his underwear!”
The party scattered and began to search.
Meanwhile, the water level continued to drop, and the island returned to its original state.
But…
“Why… Why can’t we find him anywhere?”
Despite searching the entire island, Bjorn was nowhere to be found.
What on earth had happened here?
Although nothing was clear, Raven spoke firmly.
“Could Jandel have…”
“Urickfreit, don’t say strange things. If it’s him, he’s definitely alive.”
Even without evidence, she uttered positive words.
Yes, that barbarian said that’s what a leader should do.
So…
“Given the situation, it’s clear they defeated the Stormgush together. They even had the presence of mind to bind themselves down to avoid being swept away. I don’t know why he removed his equipment, but maybe he got swept to another nearby island. Let’s check around.”
Raven then took Patzran’s ship and searched all the nearby islands. During this time, there were many speculations and occasional disputes.
But no one lost hope.
Time passed…
“…We’ll meet in the city.”
Eventually, the day came when the labyrinth closed without finding Bjorn.
Shwaa-!
The light of the labyrinth signaling their return.
Raven, back in the quiet dimensional square of the city, looked for the barbarian.
No one was immediately visible.
Thinking he might have moved before they found him, they even checked the checkpoint, but it was the same there.
“Is Bjorn in the square? The staff said there was no explorer passing earlier.”
“…I didn’t see him in the square.”
Raven and his comrades waited endlessly at the checkpoint.
But even as all the explorers passed through and the square emptied…
“….”
Bjorn did not appear.
If he were alive somewhere in the labyrinth, they should have met here.
“Excuse me… it’s almost time to close the checkpoint.”
When the staff began to hint, it meant only one thing.
But no one could easily voice it.
“…”
As heavy silence descended, Bjorn’s only kin and warrior, Aynar, muttered briefly.
“So, Bjorn is dead.”
It was time to face reality.
***
They say a lot can change in ten years.
But not here.
Even though twice the time had passed, this city hadn’t changed much.
Like the street in front of this checkpoint where I now stood.
“Dad! Here! Over here!”
“Ramirion, I’m glad you returned safely again. Let’s go home. I’ve prepared your favorite meal.”
The checkpoint was crowded with the family and friends of returning explorers.
Even the surrounding buildings hadn’t changed much.
Only the signs on the first floors of the buildings were slightly different.
“There used to be a bar there instead of a general store.”
While marveling at the small differences between the past and present, I looked around for anything else.
As I looked around, wondering if there was anything else, a woman sidled up next to me.
It was Amelia.
“Ah, you’re here.”
“Kept you waiting. Was there any trouble during the inspection?”
“Just as you said, I handed over my ID and exchanged the mana stone. That was it.”
“Good. Let’s get moving then.”
“Where to first?”
“Let’s start with the clothing store.”
After meeting Amelia, we stopped by a nearby clothing store and bought some clothes. We then secured lodging in the 7th district, where I usually stayed.
“Clean up and then come to my room. We need to talk.”
I scrubbed myself thoroughly in the bathroom, put on the new clothes, and headed to Amelia’s room. Thankfully, she had also finished washing up and opened the door quickly.
“What do you want to talk about?”
As I sat on the bed and asked, Amelia, drying her hair, sat down on a chair opposite me.
“First, I need to confirm something with you.”
“Go ahead.”
“Are you… thinking of going back?”
I wondered what she was going to ask.
“Of course. No matter what, I will return.”
“Hmm, I see.”
“Did you think I would want to stay here?”
“I thought it was possible. By now, you must have realized you’re back in the past.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“…This is twenty years ago. You may not know, but you can live much more comfortably using this time difference.”
“I see.”
“It’s not just ‘I see.’ Barbarian, you still don’t get it. The opportunity you have now—”
I cut her off before she could go on.
“That’s enough.”
I understood what she was saying, but it didn’t appeal to me at all. Besides, it’s not like I have Bitcoin.
Staying here would mean losing my equipment, my newly gained noble status, and my precious comrades I’ve worked hard to raise.
I have no reason to stay.
“If there’s a way to return, I’ll go back immediately. So, don’t bring this up again. I wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for you in the first place.”
“…I’m sorry about that.”
Her apology was late, as usual.
“Enough about that. Is that what you wanted to ask me?”
“No, there’s more. If you had wanted to stay, I wouldn’t have said anything.”
I had a feeling she was trying to gauge my intentions.
“Stop beating around the bush and get to the point.”
“I want your help while we’re stuck in the past.”
She hadn’t answered any questions properly on the island, and now she wants my help?
Isn’t this too much?
“So, what’s in it for me?”
“I’ll help you return.”
“How can you help when you don’t even know how to get back?”
“…There’s one thing worth trying.”
“Let’s hear it.”
I was ready to walk out if she asked for a commitment before explaining, but…
“Using the Fragment of Record once more.”
Amelia told me the method straightforwardly.
But I didn’t understand immediately.
“The Fragment of Record? But it disappeared when we came here…”
I stopped in the middle of questioning her.
“Ah…”
It hadn’t completely disappeared.
This was twenty years in the past.
“Yes, the one I used is gone, but there should still be one left. The lord of Noark should be keeping it at this time.”
I suddenly remembered the ‘Creation Relic,’ the key item of the last floor that was stolen.
‘If I take that back with me, what happens? Will I have a way to clear it?’
The curiosity was tempting, but I quickly brushed it off.
Just returning to my original timeline is challenging enough…
‘It might not even be possible to bring items back.’
Given that Amelia and I ended up on Farune Island with just our bodies after time traveling, it’s likely the reverse is also true.
Taking items back is impossible.
…
I realized my thoughts had drifted.
Amelia had stopped talking and was staring at me.
Oops, even barbarians can lose focus sometimes.
“Ahem, I’m listening. Go on.”
“…The rest depends on your answer.”
Ah, so that’s how she wants to play it?
I thought it was a bit underhanded, but I had no other answer. Using the ‘Fragment of Record’ again seemed like the best plan, and…
‘I can’t do it alone without her help.’
I needed Amelia’s help to get that item.
I don’t even know where the lord keeps it.
“Fine, tell me how I can help you.”
When I agreed, Amelia showed a somewhat strange expression.
She didn’t seem happy.
In fact, she looked rather displeased.
“Is there a problem?”
“…No, it’s just that there’s no way that guy’s words are true.”
“What guy?”
I asked, but Amelia clamped her mouth shut.
She took a moment to compose herself and then began to speak slowly. It was a long story, and by the end, I finally understood.
What exactly Amelia Rainweilz wanted to change about her past.
****
The next day after the long conversation,
“I might not be able to visit for a while. I can’t stop you from doing anything, but try to stay quiet.”
Amelia left after clearing out her room.
She mentioned something about approaching shady scouts who secretly aid criminals and try to recruit them into Noark.
Both she and I needed to enter Noark to achieve our goals.
‘Huh, I never thought I’d end up going to Noark.’
Anyway, Amelia said she’d be gone for about three weeks.
She promised to update me on the progress, so if any plans changed, I’d hear about it then.
‘What should I do now?’
Being alone in the room made me restless.
Maybe it’s a gamer’s curiosity.
After all, this is the world twenty years ago.
‘Should I look around?’
As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I put on my clothes and left the lodging. Although Amelia repeatedly told me not to cause any trouble…
‘How can I just sit still?’
Surely, nothing serious would happen, right?