Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 328

Ouroboros (3)

Some might consider it foolish.

After all, people are bound to die someday, and in a world where everyone experiences loss at least once, such tragedies are all too common.

Some might be surprised.

To think that a woman who seemed to be devoid of blood and tears would be ruined by nothing more than the death of a family member.

Some might call her weak.

That in twenty years, she couldn’t overcome what everyone else could.

Even Amelia herself didn’t entirely disagree with these thoughts.

But…

Pooook!

Even so, if it were her sister, she would surely say this:

She would stroke the hair of her always young, needy little sister and say, “It must have been tough.”

Setting aside her sadness, and even her reprimand,  she would just hold her tightly and say, “You did well.”

No matter how much the world saw her as a cold, unfeeling woman who didn’t know how to express emotions.

To her sister, she was just a tearful, immature younger sibling.

Because her sister was the only one in this world who could see her that way.

Yes, she was surely that kind of person…

“I… I’m sor…”

“Who are you apologizing to?”

Amelia closed her eyes, trying to ignore the pain radiating from her abdomen.

“Sister…”

In the end, she achieved nothing.

For twenty years, she had trained in preparation for this day, but it wasn’t enough to defeat that man.

She had even tried to explain to him that she had nothing to do with the Rose Knights, but he didn’t listen.

In the end, a fight broke out, and she desperately stalled to give her sister a chance to escape.

But, this was as far as she could go.

“Was I just seeing things?”

The man sneered as he twisted his sword.

A burning pain shot through her wound.

“Do you really think I’ll let them escape?”

The sharp pain brought her mind back to reality.

“You need to witness this too—what I had to go through.”

The man pulled out his sword, causing Amelia’s body to collapse, and he began dragging her by her hair.

What would happen next was all too clear.

[So you can know what it feels like to lose something.]

He would harm her sister right before her eyes.

Just like that day.

Thud!

With each step, her chest tightened.

Her consciousness blurred, and every time she blinked, the scene before her changed.

“I knew you wouldn’t get far.”

The man muttered.

“Sister…”

“Go on! I’ll handle things here!”

Words exchanged on that day as well.

“Amelia…!”

A sword aimed at her younger self.

And then…

Pooook!

Her sister, embracing her.

“Sister…!!”

Just like back then, the man’s sword pierced her sister’s chest.

‘In the end, I couldn’t change anything…’

Finally, Amelia realized.

This was the end of her twenty-year wish.

Happy endings where they lived together in peace only existed in fairy tales.

“That’s a good expression.”

In reality, all that was left was a foolish and weak human woman standing there.

Pooook!

The man pulled the sword out of her sister’s body. At that moment, Amelia’s consciousness blurred again, and the scene shifted.

The stench of blood filled the dark sewer.

Boom!

The deafening noise filled the passage.

“Why are you crying now?”

The cold skin beneath her fingers still held some warmth.

“It’s not even over yet.”

Not over?

What did he mean by that?

She couldn’t understand.

But…

“You’ve worked hard. Now, leave it to me and rest.”

With that one sentence, the tension in her body eased, and she closed her eyes.

“By the time you wake up, everything will be over.”

That was the last scene her consciousness allowed her to see.

****

The moment Amelia lost consciousness, I shouted loudly.

“What are you doing?! Take your sister and run!”

It was a shout directed at Amelia from her younger years, Amelia Young for short.

“A-ah…!”

She hesitated for a moment at my command, but then, with her small body, she lifted her sister and began to run.

Phew, now I just have to leave the rest to the old man…

I shifted my gaze.

“You…!”

Lühensprache couldn’t hide his panic as he looked around. It seemed he was trying to check if the “Knight of Light” had come along as well…

‘This guy is really funny.’

“If you’re so scared, why don’t you just run away? What could you possibly gain by coming here?”

He didn’t respond to my question.

He just avoided my gaze with a strange expression.

“Wait… did you end up here because you got lost trying to find your way out?”

I asked, half-joking, but deep down, I wondered if that could actually be the case.

He answered briefly.

“…Fate led me here.”

“Huh, talking about fate, huh?”

I couldn’t help but laugh, but then I realized that maybe “fate” wasn’t entirely wrong.

If everything ends up flowing as predetermined, what difference does it make from fate?

While I was pondering that, he asked me a question.

“By the way… Did you come alone?”

“Yeah.”

I was never friends with the Knight of Light, so it wasn’t like I had anything to hide.

Since there was nothing to conceal, I just nodded and asked what had been on my mind.

“Hey, let me ask you one more thing. Why are you so obsessed with her?”

“…You don’t need to know.”

“Wow, touchy.”

With that, I glanced at Amelia. Her injuries were visibly healing.

Thanks to the binding scroll I tore before jumping in.

In simple terms, the triple binding had made Amelia immune to the effects of [Silence Command].

‘If she had been conscious, it would’ve been easier.’

It’s a bit disappointing, but what can I do?

For the sake of recruiting an SSR companion, this level of trouble is worth it.

So…

“Step aside. Hand over the woman, and you—”

“What are you saying, you one-trick bastard?”

I gestured with my hand.

“Cut the chatter and come at me.”

This would be the last battle of this time travel.

***

“Huff, huff…”

A girl running down the sewer passage breathed heavily. Her muscles burned, and the heat from her sweat-drenched back was unbearable.

“Sister… You’re okay, right…?”

Even as she ran with all her might, Amelia kept talking to the unconscious Laura on her back.

“…”

There was no response.

But she continued to move forward, desperately ignoring the ominous feeling growing within her. Perhaps it was because she was running beyond her limits, carrying Laura all the while.

“Ugh…!”

Amelia, who had been running at a steady pace, lost her balance and fell. It wasn’t that she tripped on something—her legs had simply given out.

“Sister! Are you okay?”

Instead of worrying about her twisted ankle, Amelia immediately checked on Laura. She feared that the fall might have worsened her sister’s injuries.

“Amelia…”

Laura seemed to regain consciousness from the shock, her voice faint.

“Sister! It’s okay! We’re almost there! Don’t talk—”

“Alone…”

Her weak voice trailed off, but Amelia knew what she meant to say.

She wanted Amelia to leave her and go on alone.

If she had the strength to speak, she would have added all sorts of logical reasons: that she was beyond saving, so Amelia should survive.

But…

“I’m sorry, I can’t hear what you’re saying.”

Amelia pretended not to hear, carefully supporting Laura’s limp body.

Laura, who had always been 15cm taller, now felt so small.

Maybe it was just her imagination, but she seemed lighter too.

She knew her strength hadn’t returned.

“It’s… the blood.”

It was because of the blood.

As the weight of the life within her sister’s body drained away, her body had become lighter.

Amelia leaned Laura against a wall and tore her clothes to press down on the wounds.

Then she poured all the potions she had.

She should have done this earlier, but she had been too frantic to think straight.

‘Why am I so stupid…?’

Self-loathing overwhelmed her.

Her sister, who had always been calm, would have handled this situation perfectly.

“Grrr…!”

As the potion began to heal the wound, Laura twitched in pain.

Her forehead and neck were covered in bulging veins.

“Sister! Please hold on…”

Amelia hoisted Laura onto her back again.

But just as she was about to stand up.

Boom!

A loud noise shook the passage.

And then…

Tumble.

The ceiling collapsed, and rocks began to fall.

At the same time, Amelia’s body was thrown forward.

Someone had pushed her from behind.

Thud!

As she fell forward, Amelia quickly turned around.

And there she saw Laura.

It was a scene too surreal to be real.

Her beloved sister’s lower body was crushed under a massive boulder.

“Amelia…”

“Sister…”

Amelia approached her as if in a trance.

Then Laura pushed her hand away.

“What… What are you doing?!”

Amelia screamed.

And then…

Laura’s half-opened eyes turned towards her.

“There were times… when I resented you.”

“I know. Even you would have. But now’s not the time for that—”

“Listen…!”

At Laura’s shout, Amelia shut her mouth.

Her voice was rough and raspy, but there was an overwhelming force that made it impossible to refuse.

Thud.

Laura placed her hand on Amelia’s cheek.

And in a much gentler tone, she spoke.

“You finally… got what you wanted.”

“…”

“You finally got… the ordinary life you always wanted.”

Tears streamed down Amelia’s cheeks.

Was it sweat or tears?

She couldn’t tell.

But one thing was certain.

Thump!

Her heart pounded erratically, as if it were broken.

Perhaps she had known all along, no matter how much she tried to deny it.

“Why… Why are you saying that…?”

Laura’s words excluded herself.

As if this was truly the end.

“Sister… Don’t give up. You’ve taken the potion, right? Just a little more, and we’ll be safe… I’ll take care of the rock. I promise I will… Okay?”

At Amelia’s desperate plea, Laura’s face contorted with pain.

But only for a moment.

“Forget… all the painful memories here.”

“…”

“An ordinary life… is finally beginning for you.”

Laura forced a smile, pushing her trembling facial muscles upwards.

And then…

“…!”

It happened in an instant.

Thud.

Laura reached out and grabbed the dagger strapped to Amelia’s waist.

And she plunged it into her own throat.

Pooook!

“No…!”

Amelia quickly pulled out the dagger.

She poured what little potion she had left over the wound and tried to stem the bleeding with her hands.

But…

“No, no, no…”

It wasn’t enough.

The blood that had been gushing out suddenly stopped.

The potion that had been sizzling and reacting to the wound also quieted down.

The warmth drained from her hands.

The blood was sticky, but it was no longer hot.

“Aah… Aah…”

Amelia realized.

Her sister was no longer here.

“Aaaaaaahhhh!!!”

Amelia screamed, hugging Laura’s upper body.

And at that moment…

The ceiling collapsed again, raining down rocks.

Rumble…

Amelia saw it, but she didn’t move.

She intended to stay with her sister until the very end.

But the cruel world wouldn’t even allow that.

“…Ugh!”

Someone grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and yanked her backward.

Thud!

Her head hit the wall, and her vision blurred.

In her fading consciousness, Amelia watched her sister disappear beneath the rubble.

And then…

Step.

Footsteps echoed.

Amelia instinctively turned her head toward the sound.

An old man was walking toward her.

“Who…?”

The old man looked at her without any change in expression.

But if one looked closely, he seemed to be pondering something.

After a moment of silence…

“Sigh, how demanding this is.”

The old man sighed and spoke.

“Auril Gavis. That’s my name.”