Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 348

Hidden (3)

Read more chapters here

Everyone has a plan, 

Though there’s no guarantee they will work.

Amelia was no different.

“…There was an organization I had been keeping an eye on. They disguised themselves as a relief shelter but sold opium at high prices on the black market. My plan was to hit them and secure some cash.”

“And?”

“…While tracking their base, the Secret Service barged in.”

I didn’t really have anything to say.

This was so… typical of her.

Still, I suppose this was better than trying to rob a bank. Maybe.

As I smirked, Amelia subtly apologized.

“…This was my mistake, so I’ll figure out a solution somehow.”

What was she even saying?

I spoke firmly.

“No need. Why should you solve this on your own?”

After all, if she hadn’t extended the vault’s time, the item would have already been confiscated. Plus, Amelia has about a half stake in this thing.

After all, it dropped during a party hunt.

Moreover, it would be ridiculous to hold her responsible when she was the one who helped me get the funds to buy the Essence of Bol-Herchan in the first place.

“We’ll solve the money problem together. Got it?”

“…Because we’re comrades?”

Wow, she can say stuff like that too.

“Yeah, because we’re comrades. Instead of blaming someone when things go wrong, we find a way to fix it together.”

“…Understood.”

With that understanding, we began discussing our next steps.

The amount we needed was difficult to gather in just two months, but it wasn’t entirely hopeless.

Fortunately, the stocks I bought two and a half years ago had skyrocketed.

“Borrowing money from that fairy, huh… If she has the wealth to purchase a mansion like this, it’s certainly possible. But is it really okay?”

“Huh? What do you mean, is it okay?”

“That fairy is also one of your comrades, right?”

“Cough…”

She sure knows where to poke.

“Amelia, you’ve been on your own for a long time, so maybe you don’t know this, but comrades help each other when they’re in trouble. Got it?”

“I see… So that’s how you treat your comrades.”

Wait, who said I’m just taking without giving back?

I’ll pay it back with interest, obviously.

“Anyway, that’s enough about that. Let’s talk about something else.”

“Judging by how you’re changing the subject, I’d say the situation’s unfavorable to you.”

“…Huh?”

“Isn’t that right? You usually change the topic when that’s the case, if I recall.”

Oh…

She was so spot on, I had no rebuttal.

“……”

Was she always like this? Why does it feel like she’s teasing me?

“Enough. Just say what you wanted to, Jandel.”

Judging by how she didn’t give me a chance to argue, she was clearly teasing me on purpose.

But I let it slide for now. There were more important matters.

“Oh, it’s nothing serious. I was just thinking about how I should introduce you to Erwin .”

I’d rather not have to watch a team-killing situation unfold in front of me.

***

Tap, tap, tap.

As I tapped the table rhythmically, Amelia clicked her tongue.

“You’re making me dizzy. Calm down a little.”

“……”

“Are you really that scared of the fairy?”

“W-Who said I was scared? Erwin listens to me just fine.”

I was just a little nervous.

Though I’d already told Erwin  that I was taking Amelia on as a comrade, you can’t always control someone’s impulses, can you?

I really don’t want to see Amelia explode again.

Especially if this time, it’s not just a clone but the real thing.

Tick, tick.

Time passed, and I started feeling hungry.

Clank.

I heard the front gate outside close.

That meant Erwin was home.

She was probably carrying tonight’s dinner in both hands.

Pat, pat.

The sound of her light fairy footsteps grew closer.

And then…

Thud.

She stopped in front of the door.

Something felt off.

The doorknob had turned with a clattering sound, but why wasn’t she opening it? And why did her humming stop so suddenly?

I felt a sense of unease.

“Erwin ?”

She muttered softly.

“…A woman’s scent.”

That one sentence made me jump to my feet.

It felt like if I revealed the surprise event I had planned, things would go south.

“…E-Erwin ! You’re back!”

I rushed to the door to greet her, but Erwin  ignored my greeting and scanned the interior of the house.

Her eyes locked onto Amelia.

“Amelia Rainweilz.”

“It’s been a while, Blood Spirit Queen. Is this the first time we’ve met in the city?”

“…What are you doing here?”

“I tailed you when you visited the bank. Your stealth skills have improved, but you don’t seem to use them much in daily life. You should be more cautious from now on. You’re not the only one living in this house, after all.”

At Amelia’s reply, Erwin  muttered under her breath.

“…Should I kill her?”

“H-Hey, Erwin …?”

“Oh, sorry. I meant to think that to myself.”

“Oh… R-Right. That can happen, sure. But let’s… just sit down for now. We’re going to be living together, so we can’t stay on awkward terms, right?”

“Alright.”

Surprisingly, Erwin  quickly calmed down and sat at the table as I suggested. She spoke in a casual voice.

“I just need to get along with this woman, right?”

“Don’t call her ‘this woman.’ Use her name.”

“Then I’ll use her last name. Rainweilz, right?”

“That’s right. I’ll call you Tercia in return.”

“Fine.”

The conversation stopped there as Erwin  gave a short response.

It was my turn to step in.

“Erwin , as I mentioned before, Amelia will be with us from now on.”

“What about her status?”

“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ve taken care of it while waiting for Jandel to come back.”

“…Why didn’t you tell me sooner that he was alive?”

“What a foolish question. How could I trust you and tell you that?”

“What? We were together for half a year, at most.”

“Hmph, and yet, I believe your time in the labyrinth with Jandel was even shorter than that?”

Why are they leaving me out of the conversation again?

“Hey, hey, let’s all calm down.”

I hurriedly jumped back into the conversation.

“I don’t know exactly what happened between you two, but it was all a misunderstanding. Let’s clear the air here and now, alright?”

I gave Amelia a signal with my eyes, hinting that she should ease up a little.

But…

“Well, I don’t hold any grudges. Sure, I lost both my legs on the sixth floor and had to cling to a board for three days without being able to swim, but I survived in the end.”

Oh, she has a reason to be bitter.

“…I always wondered how you managed to escape from the ship.”

“Erwin .”

“…Don’t worry. I don’t hold much of a grudge either. I only had to watch a body from Noark captured with great difficulty be stolen right in front of me. Oh, and I did get my arm cut too, should I add that?”

“But I didn’t kill you.”

“You say that like you could’ve. You ran the moment reinforcements arrived.”

“Well… I got what I wanted. I was short on cash, but selling that guy’s gear helped me get this dagger.”

Alright, I give up on the idea of them getting along.

Not all comrades have to be friendly, right?

I forced a smile to wrap up the conversation.

“Haha, you two really fight over nothing! Come on, shake hands and make up.”

The one who laughs last is the true winner.

***

After Erwin  and Amelia reluctantly shook hands with sour expressions, I moved on to the next matter.

Like a true barbarian, I got straight to the point.

“Erwin , could you lend me some money?”

“…Why do you need money?”

I explained the situation with the demon smasher, and Erwin ’s expression hardened.

“So, what you’re saying is, you want me to cover the cost of the essence this woman bought?”

“You could see it that way…?”

“…Sorry, but that’s going to be a bit difficult.”

“…What?”

“Don’t get me wrong. It’s not because I don’t want to.”

Then why?

As I stared at her, Erwin  muttered apologetically.

“I don’t have much money left… Really.”

Oh, right…

Now that I think about it, she did say she barely managed to buy this house by extorting the chief.

Still, I had to ask, just in case.

“Then, how about using this house as collateral?”

I felt like a scumbag, but what choice did I have?

We needed a backup plan in case things went south.

“…T-This house? It’s full of memories…”

“You’d get it back once the loan is repaid.”

“Jandel, you really—”

“Don’t blame him. It’s your fault we’re in this mess, so it’s only fair.”

“What…?”

“So you understand, right? Don’t feel bad, Jandel. We can always… get a new house later…”

But her hands were shaking.

“…Sorry about this.”

“Stop apologizing. This is for you, after all.”

In the end, we decided to use the house as collateral to retrieve the demon smasher.

With that sorted, it was time to plan our next steps.

“Whatever we do next, we need to secure funds first.”

“Yes. You’ll need new equipment to head back into the labyrinth. And with money, we can… also keep this house…”

“Wait a minute. The labyrinth? Isn’t clearing your name from that evil spirit accusation the priority right now?”

Ah, that…

“I’m going to hold off on that for a while. Something about it seems suspicious.”

After I explained my doubts and concerns, Amelia nodded, agreeing that things seemed fishy.

She had sensed something was off too.

“In any case, Amelia, I’ll need you to get me a fake identity.”

“Getting you a new identity is easy, but it’s just a matter of time before someone recognizes you. Even after more than two years, many still remember you.”

In other words, a helmet wouldn’t be enough to keep my identity hidden.

This wasn’t like the old days when I had no ties to anyone.

If I used [Gigantification], people would immediately suspect Bjorn Jandel.

“Hmm… I guess if I’m careful in the labyrinth, it might work for a while…”

“You might get away with it once or twice, but the longer it drags on, the more likely someone will recognize you.”

“Wait, how about using an essence?” Erwin  interjected.

“An essence?”

“Like what Miss Aynar used. Isn’t there an essence that makes you shorter? If you shrink and pass as a human, no one will suspect a thing…”

While saying that, Erwin glanced at Amelia, as if wary of any potential criticism.

But…

“True. If you’re planning to hide for an extended period, that would be much safer.”

Surprisingly, Amelia acknowledged Erwin ’s idea and even praised it.

Did that surprise her?

“That’s a pretty good idea.”

“Well, it’s about Jandel, after all,” Erwin replied coldly, turning her head away.

It was heartwarming in a way, but I had to cut in.

“Uh…”

I really hate to break this up, but…

“I don’t have any slots left to absorb an essence.”

I’m still far from level 7.

No essences to erase either.

As soon as I explained my situation, Amelia smirked.

“Manticore.”

“…What?”

“Didn’t you say at some point that it’s an essence you’d have to get rid of eventually?”

…Was she really going to make me give up my leap skill?