Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 314

Inheritance (3)

Rank 6 Explorer, Droff Itoms.

He wasn’t part of any major clan, and the team he was currently with had come together through the Explorer’s Guild’s mediation.

If there was anything notable about him, it was that he had recently taken over as team leader after the previous one died, but even that didn’t change the fact that he was quite ordinary.

The team operated on the 4th floor of the Labyrinth. 

The skill levels of the members were mediocre, and their personalities and ways of thinking weren’t much different from others.

They usually hunted diligently to gather mana stones, but like any other explorers, they wouldn’t hesitate to get their hands dirty if a good opportunity arose.

That’s why Droff Itoms and his team found themselves in a dilemma.

“Oh, you guys are very kind people!!”

Meeting this barbarian had been a complete coincidence.

While passing through the Thorn Reed Field on their way to the Witch’s Forest, they stumbled upon him. He was calling for help.

Apparently, he had wandered away from his team to sneak a drink during a break and had gotten lost.

‘What an idiot…’

At first, they couldn’t believe it, but it didn’t seem like he was lying.

After all, he was a barbarian!

Such illogical things were entirely possible, and besides, barbarians weren’t known for being good liars, and when they did lie, it was pretty obvious.

‘So, he really did get lost…’

“Drop, what are we going to do?”

“We’re not just going to let him go, are we? That ring he’s wearing… it looks like it’s a subspace item.”

“He also said he left his weapons behind. If we’re going to do it, let’s do it quickly. His comrades might come looking for him.”

Greed filled everyone’s eyes.

And why wouldn’t it? A subspace ring retains its value when sold, as it isn’t subject to wear and tear and doesn’t require a matching physique like other equipment.

It’s worth hundreds of thousands of stones, at the very least.

‘And that armor looks valuable too…’

“What are you all whispering about? Weren’t you going to help me find my comrades?”

“Jackson, go over there and keep that barbarian occupied.”

“Piece of cake. Hey, barbarian! Aren’t you hungry? Have some jerky!”

“Oh! Jerky!! But… don’t you have any alcohol?!”

“Haha, right here. Join me if you’re bored.”

After sending a teammate to distract the barbarian, Droff exchanged glances with the remaining team members.

As their eyes met, everyone nodded in silent agreement.

In an instant, a unanimous decision was made.

“Ugh, after running all day, I’m tired… You said you had something to discuss? Can I take a quick nap?”

“Haha, do as you please.”

Right then, the barbarian lay down as if he were about to fall asleep, and soon, the sound of snoring filled the air.

Snore! Snore!

At that sight, Drop dismissed the slight guilt he had felt.

This was the barbarian’s fault.

He was practically begging to be robbed blind, so who could resist?

Signaling to his comrades with a hand gesture, Drop and the others stealthily approached the barbarian.

And then…

‘Now.’

In an instant, weapons were thrust from all sides.

But what on earth was happening?

Clang-!

The blades were blocked.

It felt as if they had struck a wall, and the sound was different. Instead of the familiar noise of flesh and leather being torn, it was more like scraping against stone.

“…What, what is this?”

Everyone was caught off guard.

The barbarian, still unharmed, suddenly shot up and, while swinging his fist, shouted:

“Problem SOLVEEEEEEEEEED!!!!”

As if he had been waiting for this moment.

****

“Huh… I can’t believe this actually worked.”

After their first successful raid on plunderers, Felix Barker let out a chuckle.

At first, he had been skeptical, but after seeing the results, he had no choice but to admit it.

“Leader, there are no stolen goods in their bags, but their equipment is quite high-end for their level.”

“Of course. Judging by their actions, this wasn’t their first time.”

That’s the unfair truth of this world.

No matter how diligently one hunts monsters and grows stronger, those who stab their fellow explorers in the back advance much faster.

Of course, if they push their luck, they might not live long enough to enjoy it.

“So, what do you think? About the method I told you?”

When I asked confidently, Felix Barker nodded in agreement.

“It’s not bad. No, to be honest, it’s brilliant.”

Then, Felix Barker, truly impressed, began showering me with praise for quite a while.

“Just being able to infiltrate with a warrior like you is a game-changer. If you strike from within while we ambush from outside, no one can respond properly!”

In the battle just now, everyone had turned their backs on me, making it easy for our clan members hidden in the reeds to ambush them. They fell like flies.

Did that fight even last 10 seconds?

“Barbarians are truly remarkable! Even sending a child as a scout would raise some suspicion, but with you, there wasn’t any, was there?”

…But is that really something to be proud of?

For a moment, I wondered, but I brushed it aside.

I’m not really a barbarian, so I could take it as a compliment.

‘Anyway, now that they’ve seen how effective this method is…’

It was time to move on to the next phase.

After all, there was only one reason I shared this strategy with them.

“Since you like it so much, will you all start using my method from now on?”

Even though I had to spend some time with these guys, I really didn’t want to plunder innocent and decent explorers.

I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing either.

So I’d steered them towards hunting looters.

“I would love to, but…”

At my question, Felix Barker clicked his tongue.

“Unfortunately, there’s a fatal flaw in this method.”

“What is it?”

“There’s only one barbarian—you. As good as this method is, it wouldn’t be efficient for everyone to stick together for this.”

Ah, that?

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve already thought of a solution. Hey, you and you over there.”

I grinned and called forward a few guys from Teams 1 and 2 who had caught my eye. Then, I made them strip.

“Uh, why are we…?”

Why? To check out your muscles, of course.

‘Okay, they’re a bit soft, but the size seems about right.’

Swoosh.

As I took a step closer, the two shirtless men crossed their arms over their chests and backed away.

Hey, what do they think I’m gonna do?

“Um, could you tell us what you’re going to do…?”

“I’m going to turn you into warriors.”

With that, I pulled out the items I had prepared.

Did they realize what I was planning?

The two guys widened their eyes and shouted.

“That’s…!”

“Is it really?!”

A brush and some dye.

***

The surrealist painter, Salvador Dalí, once said,

[I am not strange. I am just not normal]

And the impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh once said:

[I have no certainty in my life. But the sight of the stars makes me dream.]

Ah, there’s also something Pablo Picasso said:

[Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up]

I wonder if one day I, too, will be able to leave behind famous words like these artists.

I don’t know for sure, but for now, I’ll say this:

“…Hold still! Unless you want to die!”

Ugh, what’s with all the squirming?

You’re making the lines crooked.

Swoosh, swoosh.

The more they fidgeted, the more I focused my concentration.

Red, green, blue, black.

Using just four very common colors, I threw myself into the brushwork, keeping the sayings of these great artists engraved in my heart.

Creating art that only I could understand.

Not on canvas, but on the skin of a person.

Swoosh, swoosh.

The people watching me kept murmuring, never tiring.

“…Looks like a bunch of doodles.”

“With lines that crooked…”

Tsk, how barbaric.

They clearly have no clue about modern art.

“Ahem!”

When I cleared my throat, clearly annoyed, the onlookers finally shut up.

Whew, much better. Should’ve done that sooner.

“…….”

In the now quiet atmosphere, I continued my work.

It didn’t take much longer.

At first, it was fun, but as I kept going, it started to get boring.

“Alright, it’s done! You can get up now!”

After hastily finishing up, I patted the backs of the two guys, signaling that they could stand.

Man, they sure aren’t making this easy.

“Why are you covering your tattoos with your arms?”

I pushed aside the arms of the two men who were covering their torsos as if embarrassed.

Finally, my masterpiece was revealed in full.

I was quite satisfied.

The quality was rough compared to my own tattoos, but…

“It doesn’t stand out as much as I thought.”

Even the clan leader, who had been giving me odd looks, seemed surprised by the result.

In the dark labyrinth, this level of camouflage wouldn’t stand out as much as one might think.

But from my perspective as the creator, the imperfections were glaring.

“Why are you staring at the ground? Are you actually embarrassed?”

Look at their shy faces and behavior.

No one would believe they were barbarians like this.

So…

“Come here. I’ll turn you into real warriors.”

After getting permission from the clan leader, I took the two guys away to give them a crash course.

It wasn’t too difficult.

It took about 30 minutes?

“Be-Bethelraa!”

“Louder!”

“Bethel—raaaaaa!!”

“Good. Now, what do you say when you’re running?”

“I’M LOST!! HELP MEEE!!!”

“Snore!”

“Snooore! Snort-snore!!”

“Sit!”

Thud.

Yeah, now you look more like barbarians.

***

Late at night under the crescent moon.

Erwin Fornachi di Tersia knocked on the door of a certain mansion.

Knock knock.

The door opened about a minute later.

With a creak, a fairy man opened the door and froze when he saw Erwin’s face.

The determined expression on her face told him everything.

Why she had come to see him at this hour.

“…So, you’ve made your decision.”

“Yes.”

Her short answer was devoid of any hesitation, and the man sighed deeply in response.

He couldn’t say he didn’t understand her feelings.

But…

“The process of gaining the power of pure blood in our lineage is far more terrible than you can imagine, and even if you wish for it, it’s not something that just anyone can achieve.”

“I know.”

“Please, reconsider one last time?”

The man implored her, unable to stand idly by.

He could see the painful path she was about to walk down.

But Erwin’s resolve didn’t waver.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve already made up my mind.”

“…….”

“Please help me. Help me become a pureblood.”

Erwin raised her head.

Her amber eyes, which usually shone brightly, were now filled only with a hunger for power.

The man felt his breath catch in his throat.

He had seen too many people with eyes like hers and knew how they all ended.

However…

“Very well. I will help you.”

He couldn’t refuse Erwin’s request.

No matter what power or title he might hold, he was still a sinner before these sisters.

“Thank you. Then, I’ll be going.”

With that, Erwin turned around and slowly walked away. As he watched her leave, the man couldn’t help but stop her.

“Wait.”

“…Is there something else you wanted to say?”

“What if… Yes, what if…”

If there were a way to bring him back, what would you do?

The man wanted to ask but couldn’t bring himself to say the words.

“Never mind. I was just rambling. It’s late, so you should go. I’ll inform the Council.”

“Okay.”

Erwin hesitated for a moment, then turned back and left. This time, the man didn’t stop her.

No, he couldn’t stop her.

Because, for some reason, the one who knew about the ‘Stone of Resurrection’ was absent from this gathering…

“…….”

After all, there was only one person that stone could be used to save.