Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 66

At each level there is a field boss type entity, each with its own unique name, attributes and patterns.

They all share one thing in common: they are impossible to confront at the level of adventurers who explore their respective floors.

For example, to defeat the field boss on the first floor requires a party of more than 30 explorers, assuming they are all adventurers of at least the fourth floor.

That’s the bare minimum.

Thus, I was in a dilemma.

Misha and I, if we were to accidentally encounter it, it would be game over on the spot. At normal speed, it was impossible to escape.

So, where should we go?

Not just trembling in fear, praying not to encounter it, but to increase our chances of survival, what should we do?

The answer was to head to the Orc colonies, as most explorers here did.

“Bjorn, why are there so many people here?”

“Because the Dzarwi Clan is here.”

The Dzarwi Clan is a large clan that operates on the sixth floor and above. From what the dwarf said, they numbered in the hundreds.

It was unlikely that they were all here at once, but…

‘At least ten teams must have come down. Even though it’s the third floor, controlling the hunting ground would require that many people.’

Of course, even with such force, subduing it would be tough.

Well, it wasn’t impossible if they were willing to accept the losses, but that’s assuming they had a proper strategy and prepared for months.

‘But being with them, if we encounter the Field Boss, we might have a chance to escape.’

I made a pragmatic decision and led Misha into the midst of the dense crowd of explorers.

An interesting situation was unfolding.

“Hey, I heard there’s a high wizard among you! Please use your portal magic for me! I’ll pay whatever it costs…!”

“You lot! You summoned the Field Boss!!”

“Um, what about us? We’re from a large clan, you can’t just kick us out, can you?”

Someone desperately pleading.

Someone denying reality and seeking a target for their resentment.

Someone calmly trying to understand the situation.

Amidst the various cries, an executive of the Dzarwi Clan spoke up.

“Everyone, please calm down. This place is safe. Our cleric has declared a banishment of evil, and our scouts are guarding all around.”

“Our Dzarwi Clan, in accordance with the agreement with the royal family and the guild, will do our best to ensure as many explorers as possible return to the city alive in such a disaster.”

“But! If anyone refuses to follow our control or causes trouble, we will have no choice but to expel them, so please understand this part.”

It was a bit lengthy, but a clear announcement.

The last warning was especially effective; those who had been shouting recklessly disappeared.

“At least we don’t have to worry about being thrown out now.”

“Phew, that’s a relief…”

I glanced around for a moment and then sat down, leaning against a tree.

“Isn’t this a bit too relaxed?”

“What else can we do?”

Rest as much as you can when you have the chance. No one knows how the situation will change.

“Hmm, that’s true.”

Accepting the situation, Misha plopped down next to me.

“Misha, just out of curiosity, do you have good ears?”

“I’m not sure, but some people have liked my ears.”

What is she talking about?

“I mean, are you good at hearing things from far away?”

“Oh, that. I’m pretty confident about it.”

“Then listen carefully to their conversation. Don’t make it obvious by staring.”

“Got it.”

Misha leaned back and closed her eyes, her triangular ears perking up as if concentrating.

“I’m not sure, but it sounds like they’re arguing.”

“About what?”

“It’s too far to hear clearly. One thing’s for sure, they’re talking about the Field Boss.”

That makes sense.

In this situation, what else would the leaders urgently discuss?

‘Getting any closer would draw attention, so this is the best we can do…’

“For now, keep listening. If you hear anything special, let me know.”

“Okay.”

Misha, in eavesdropping mode, began to observe the crowd’s reactions.

Despite some grumbles and signs of anxiety, the overall mood was one of relief.

“I thought it was bad luck getting kicked out of here, but you never know with life, huh?”

“Exactly. A banishment of evil on such a large scale? Only a clan like the Djarwi could bring such a priest.

“It’s a miracle. A Field Boss appearing on the third floor after ten years, and they happen to be here?”

Despite the Djarwi Clan’s misdeeds in the Orc colonies, most were thankful and content with the current situation.

Not everyone, though.

“Hey there, are you two alone?”

While observing the surroundings, a man approached me.

He doesn’t seem to be looking for trouble.

“What do you want?”

“Nothing much, just thinking we should stick together in times like these.”

“Go on.”

“Though the Djarwi say they’ll protect us, we don’t know how things will turn out. How about we act together?”

Ah, he’s proposing a temporary alliance.

“About thirty people have already joined. It looks like you’ve lost companions in this incident too. Wouldn’t it be good to have someone to rely on for a while?”

Before answering, I needed to clarify something.

“I’m Bjorn, son of Jandel. And you are?”

“Jack Fletcher.”

Okay, as long as it’s not Hans.

“Alright.”

I agreed for the time being.

If something seemed off, I could always back out later.

It’s not like we’re signing papers or anything.

“True to a Barbarian’s nature, straight to the point. Then I’ll leave you be. If something comes up, I’ll come find you.”

“Understood.”

The man left, and the next two hours passed uneventfully.

Thanks to the high priest’s banishment proclamation, chaotic spirits couldn’t even approach, and there didn’t seem to be any other variables.

At least, as far as external factors were concerned.

“Misha, wake up.”

I woke Misha, who had shifted from eavesdropping to sleep mode.

“Is something happening?”

Not yet. But if my hunch is right…

“It will soon.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look around, there are too many people here now.”

The Dzarwi Clan had unconditionally accepted refugees, and finally, they reached their limit.
The area covered by the banishment proclamation was only about twice the size of a school sports field, not to mention it wasn’t an open field but a forest.

Now there seemed to be over 500 people.

“…Shouldn’t we stop letting more people in?”

“If we take in any more, there won’t be room to sit.”

“If monsters attack in this state…”

Selfishness always blossoms in situations of division.

Anxiety spread among those who had arrived earlier, and voices of such opinions began to emerge.

“Bjorn, what’s going to happen to us now?”

“Well, it depends on what the Dzarwi Clan decides.”

Whether they keep accepting people until the limit.

Or stop and lock the doors.

The clan would have to make a choice.

Indeed, not long after, an announcement came from a clan executive.

“Thanks to the banishment proclamation, this place has become the only safe zone on the third floor. A truly miraculous situation. But…”

To put the long-winded announcement succinctly:

“The priest wishes for everyone to show reverence to the deity.”

Reverence.

And by that, they didn’t mean intangible values like prayers, conversion, or worship.

“One million stones per person. It must be paid immediately, in cash or in valuable items.”
No one believed that was the cleric’s demand.

There must have been some agreement between them, but…

It was clear the clan had initiated it.

‘So much for the honorable front with the royal family and the guild. In the end, they chose material gain.’

Blocking refugees would bring the same criticism later, so they might as well make some money.
Of course, there was resistance.

“There’s no way we have that many stones, and asking for equipment in this situation is like telling us to die!”

The one who spoke the loudest was Jack Fletcher.

“Our group of a hundred will not stand for your tyranny!”

With a resounding declaration, Jack Fletcher looked around. I, having sensed it earlier, managed to avoid eye contact.

But what about the other hundred members?

“Uh, um… Come on, say something. If we just stay quiet, we can’t stand up to their tyranny!”

Jack Fletcher stammered in panic.

And with that, the short-lived protest ended.

“One million stones is a sign of reverence to the deity, and a protection fee. You might lose some equipment, but what’s there to worry about when we’re here?”

Of course, there’s plenty to worry about, you idiot.

Even if the banishment proclamation was a powerful skill, it was almost useless against the Field Boss.

But my complaints remained internal.

I am a Barbarian who knows how to compromise with reality.

“Misha, leave the consumables like potions alone and take out only what we don’t need.”

“Got it.”

Like other explorers, we hurriedly rummaged through our bags, selecting items that could be easily liquidated. Fortunately, we didn’t have to strip off the equipment we were wearing since we had looted some gear from marauders earlier.

‘Sigh, a million stones a day for resting on the ground…’

It’s painfully expensive, but if you think of it as a fee for using the banishment proclamation, it’s worth it. And they just said it themselves.

The protection fee is included.

“If they don’t try to haggle, this should be enough.”

Having gathered a few pieces of equipment from a religious party, we were ready to make our contribution.

But not everyone was as well-off as us.

Still, as a third-floor explorer, if you hand over the equipment you’re wearing, it should be worth about 1 million stones….

“Without this, are they telling us to starve to death next time?”

“To pay a million stones for just surviving one day is ridiculous.”

A significant number, not just a few, refused to pay the protection fee and chose to leave voluntarily.

The clan didn’t try to stop them.

And they continued to collect the fee from newcomers.

From at least three hundred people.

‘Did they make at least 300 million stones in just one day…’

It’s like printing money.

Damn, is power truly invincible and godlike?

I don’t know, but in the end, even they have to pray to the heavens.

Especially if the Field Boss arrives here.

At that moment, the market crash would begin.

‘If it weren’t for that scenario, there wouldn’t have been a fee in the first place.’

I always feel these guys lack imagination.

Surely, they have their reasons for this choice.

The third floor is vast, and they must have thought the chances of encountering the Field Boss were lower than not encountering it.

Today is the fifteenth day; even if they encounter it, they just have to survive one day.

With this much force, that should be possible.

Yeah, that’s what they would think.

In the best possible way.

In a way that’s advantageous to them.

But they should know.

No one anticipated that the summoning of the Field Boss would halt all adventurers on the floor and lead to this situation.

‘Well, I didn’t either.’

But at least I imagine.

The worst possible scenarios that could happen to me.

Of course, more often than not, these imaginations don’t become reality…

But what about this time?

‘I’ll know if I watch.’

I quietly closed my eyes.

From then on, a time like the calm before the storm passed.

[19:07]

Five hours left until the end of the fifteenth day.

Drip, drip, drippity-drip –

Black rainwater began to fall through the trees from the ceiling, darkening the ground.

「As the area is eroded, [Banishment Proclamation] is deactivated.」

The pure white patterns on the ground lost their light in an instant.

And then.

[Arooooooooo—!!]

A massive beast began to howl from beyond the forest.

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