Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 393

Captain Barbarian(3)

Thunk.

When I finished speaking and sat down, a brief silence settled over the dining hall.

It was only natural; everyone here had been arguing why they should be in charge.

I could easily guess how they’d taken my words.

“So, are you saying that you’re stronger than the rest of us?”

The noble knight asked, his displeasure evident through his tight lips.

I smirked and replied.

“You’ve understood correctly.”

No need to deny it.

I hadn’t said anything wrong, after all.

“……”

Despite my bold reply, the surroundings remained surprisingly quiet.

The noble knight looked as if he wanted to retort, but probably held back for the Marquis’ sake.

In that sense, I glanced at the Marquis and our eyes met.

Contrary to what I expected, he wasn’t put off by my behavior. Instead, he was looking at me with shining eyes full of interest.

Well, I wonder how the others are feeling?

When I scanned the room, I saw the various gazes directed at me.

“I hope you have at least half the skill to match that arrogance. A competent subordinate is always welcome.”

A hostility born from displeasure.

It was from the noble knight.

“Hoho, men at your age are all like that, Why? I think it’s manly and nice.”

Despite the cheerful voice, her gaze clearly showed that she found me pathetic.

It was from the dwarf lady.

“Rihen Schuiz, I’ve heard of you. They say you’re the Blood Spirit Queen’s man?”

A gaze showing deep curiosity, analyzing me—it was from the vice-captain of the Gearfang Clan.

“……”

The paladin, Jun, from the Tobera Church looked at me with eyes devoid of emotion.

Maybe he thought I wasn’t worth bothering with.

Whatever it was, their interest in me soon dissipated, and they began casting each other evaluative glances.

They were likely deciding who posed the greatest threat to their ambitions.

“It’s a joyful occasion, but the atmosphere has become heavy. Since we’ve all introduced ourselves, let’s have a meal.”

At the right time, the marquis stepped in to refresh the mood, and everyone continued their conversations while having their meal.

Ah, of course, it wasn’t a harmonious atmosphere.

“You all know that one of us will stand in the position to lead everyone. As you know, it’s a position with heavy responsibilities.”

A position where one must take responsibility for the lives of thirty people.

However, there was no one here who didn’t know that the one who sits in that position would reap enormous benefits.

Even for me, the marquis promised generous support.

“So, Sir Kaislan, what do you want to say? That we are not qualified?”

In a casual tone, the dwarf lady made it clear she wasn’t about to back down.

“Hmph, I only wanted to confirm if you all truly understand the weight of that role.

His mouth twitched as if he considered her his biggest rival.

“Haha, I think I know what you mean. I too was burdened with many duties and responsibilities before becoming the vice-captain.”

Not missing the opportunity, the vice-captain of the Gearfang Clan subtly boasted of his career.

Jeez, what a game of nerves.

“If I may be blunt, Sir Jun, are you also vying for the position?”

“Human emotions are as fleeting as they are shallow. All will be decided by the will of the gods.”

It sounded almost as if he was positioning himself as an observer.

The knight’s face brightened slightly at his words.

Until the paladin added something.

“However, among those here, it seems I am closest to the will of the gods.”

Despite all his talk about the gods, he, too, intended to join the fray.

He seemed to judge him as another big competitor…

“Very well, then.”

What’s this? Why isn’t anyone asking me?

I was beginning to feel a bit hurt.

****

After the nerve-wracking psychological battle where they seemed to test each other.

The knight, with a determined look, nodded once and then led the conversation.

“Many desire the position, but there is only one spot. In the end, we must determine who among us is the most suitable.”

“Oh my, it sounds like you have a method in mind.”

“How about we each share what we think an ideal leader is?”

In short, it was a suggestion to learn more about each other’s values.

“Sounds good. If it’s just that.”

At the knight’s suggestion, the dwarf lady and the vice-captain readily agreed, and since neither I nor the paladin objected, things proceeded.

“Since I brought it up, I’ll go first.”

As expected, the knight, who’d been eager from the beginning, stepped up.

He declared loudly and boldly like a soldier.

“A group cannot demonstrate its true value unless it moves as one body. I believe the most important quality for a leader is command ability.”

“That’s too abstract. What exactly do you think command ability means?”

“It is the power to create and maintain discipline. Control starts from there. A perfectly controlled force moves toward its set goal without any excess.”

I could already imagine what it would be like if this guy became the leader.

An inflexible group where personal freedom and individuality are lost, meddling in every little thing.

After talking for quite some time about what kind of group he wanted to create and what its advantages were, he finally finished.

And after what felt like an eternity…

“That’s it.”

Barely after the knight finished, the dwarf lady seized her turn.

“Thanks for the good talk. Then I’ll go next.”

Unlike the knight’s too stereotypical talk, I became quite interested in what this lady had to say.

First of all, she’s a top-level explorer.

I wonder what someone like her values most.

“Since ancient times, problems in labyrinths have been solved by explorers. Historically, it’s been rare for the military to intervene as they do now. Do you know why?”

“That’s because the royal family respects the methods of explorers.”

“That’s part of it, but I think it’s also because it’s more efficient for them. Anything can happen in the labyrinth. Explorers are uniquely equipped to handle such unpredictability. Not to mention, deploying large forces in the labyrinth has too many downsides.”

“So, you’re saying the ideal leader is an explorer?”

“Not exactly. I just believe that if someone is to lead in the labyrinth, they must have rich knowledge of it, experience, and the ability to make quick decisions.”

The qualities the dwarf lady demanded were quite understandable.

Honestly, if I had to choose, I’d rather be under this lady than that knight.

Well, there were also some issues with what she said.

“Excuse me, but Ms. Akuraba, don’t you lack leadership experience?”

At the vice-captain‘s words, the dwarf lady frowned.

Perhaps she didn’t expect that her junior, who used to call her ‘senior’ with respect, would embarrass her like this.

Yet, despite her glare, he continued,

“I remember hearing that during your previous team activities, leadership was left to someone else.”

“…I have experience leading a team before.”

“I see, but leading a team is one thing, leading a group of thirty people is another.”

Wow, he really doesn’t hold back.

Then again, rank and seniority didn’t seem to count for much in this type of gathering.

“In any case, my turn is over. James Carla, you’re up next.”

“I have no reason to decline.”

After undermining the dwarf lady, he took over the turn, and the value he put forward was this.

“What’s most crucial for a leader is information. I believe you yourself mentioned, ma’am, that one should be ready to adapt to any situation.”

“And?”

“With the right information, these situations can be avoided. And even if they do occur, you have more choices.”

The vice-captain looked straight at the dwarf lady as he continued, as if his aim was to belittle her.

“True. Assuming you have access to such information.” Her tone was sharper than usual.

“Behind me stands the Alminus Merchant Guild and the Explorer’s Guild. I’m not saying I know everything about the world, but…”

“…”

“At the very least, my ears may be the sharpest among us here.”

At those words, the dwarf lady could not make any rebuttal.

With such powerful guilds supporting him, his intelligence network could surpass even the royal family’s within the labyrinth.

“Anyway, that’s all I have to say. Who’s next?”

The next turn after the deputy leader was the paladin Jun, and he began to give a long speech, like a priest giving a sermon.

“Everything starts with faith, and it’s no different for a commander. Strong faith and trust create the courage to stand up to any evil…….”

Wow, I didn’t realize he was such a talker.

“The world is full of trials. Some overcome them, while others lose faith. But do you know?”

His eyes now brimmed with passion.

At first, I thought he was like a block of wood.

“Those who have always overcome trials were those who kept their faith. Only faith can bind people together, and only that shared faith can save us from the tribulations we face.”

Ugh. Repeating the same thing over and over, he was beginning to lose me.

“Yawn…”

Before I knew it, I was yawning, and the paladin pressed his lips together and glared at me.

“My talk on faith bores you?”

What did you expect? I glared back as if to say that, and the paladin frowned.

“Then why don’t you share your thoughts?”

The paladin passed the turn to me and those beside me seemed happier.

“Yes, that would be good.”

“Yes. I was curious anyway.”

It looked like everyone else was tired of the faith talk too.

“Rihen Schuiz, what do you think makes an ideal leader?”

The vice-captain asked me.

His voice had a subtle hint of treating me like a voter rather than a competitor.

Or was that just him?

The knight chipped in, “Given your attitude, you probably think a strong leader needs to dominate.”

He subtly promoted himself.

“If you’re a soldier, that might be true. But if you’re an explorer, you’d understand the importance of my point,”

As the knight stepped in, the dwarf lady quickly interjected.

It’s ridiculous.

I laughed involuntarily.

Why did they expect me to agree with them? I’d made myself clear before.

“…Why are you laughing?”

Isn’t it obvious?

“I’m laughing because it’s absurd to waste time debating who’s the most qualified.”

“Pardon?”

“What are you trying to accomplish here?”

I wiped the sauce off my fingers, having finished my meal while they’d argued.

“Just let the winner take it all.”

With that, I set down my cup with a heavy thud.

Boom.

A heavy silence filled the hall. No one flinched, though.

“Hah… I somehow knew you’d say that.”

“So you’re saying your qualification is ‘strength.’”

They looked at me with gazes that seemed somewhat pitiful.

They’re all a bunch of hypocrites.

Or perhaps they lack imagination.

“So you’re just a fool who relies on petty strength and acts cocky. Do you think you can convince us like that?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you think leadership is achieved by strength alone… What?”

“Is there any reason I can’t convince you?”

Now that I’m full, it’s the perfect condition to get some exercise.

“Stop wagging your tongues and come at me.”

When I stood up abruptly and spoke, the knight who had met my gaze looked flustered.

He seemed to wonder if this was acceptable with the marquis present.

“I have no intention of interfering, no matter what method you choose.”

The marquis seemed to have decided to leave this matter to me.

“There you have it.”

When I shrugged, the dwarf lady sneered.

“Even if you beat him, that doesn’t mean we’ll acknowledge you. If someone like you, relying on brute force, were to lead us—”

What was she going on about?

“If I’d said something else, would that convince you?”

This is the fundamental reason I said earlier that what they were doing was a waste of time.

I looked at each of them and spoke.

“Strong control. Judgment from experience. Extensive information-gathering ability. And trust.”

The leadership qualities the four of them had mentioned earlier.

“Yes, none of those are bad.”

I genuinely meant that.

However, there’s a very significant problem here.

“Yet even if you preach them endlessly, is there anyone here who would sincerely agree that someone else should lead?”

What everyone desires cannot be obtained by consensus.  Especially not for some abstract notion of value they’ve placed on the table.

But…

“So, you’re saying you’re different?”

“Yes.”

Strength is different.

“So, come at me.”

“Don’t bother with this. Even if, by some chance, you actually defeat him—”

They wouldn’t acknowledge me. I know that much.

However…

“Who said it had to be just one of them?”

Life as a barbarian has taught me.

If there’s a situation where you can’t gain someone’s agreement through force,

It’s only when

“All of you.”

That person’s force is insufficient.

“……?”

Looking at the four men and women whose brains didn’t seem to keep up, I grinned.

“All of you come at me together.”

Among the four, there isn’t a mage.