Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Episode 91

Chapter 91 Player (3)

It’s been five months since I woke up in another world.

If I include the time spent in the labyrinth, the perceived time is much longer.

A lot has happened during this time.

For the first time, I killed a person and a monster. Besides that, I’ve done many barbaric things to survive.

But am I still fundamentally a modern person?

Click, clickity-click, click, clack!

As soon as I finish entering the password, my little finger naturally pressed enter.

Then I realize something and startle.

“Is this… my body?”

It’s not the rough and thick hand of a barbarian.

Nor is it the body of a warrior plastered with rock-like muscles on broad shoulders.

It’s the body of Lee Han-soo, 175 cm tall, of average weight, with soft flesh and skin.

It was at this moment that I realized it.

“Damn it!”

The floor seemed to suddenly give way, and my body was sucked into somewhere.

When I came to my senses, it was pitch dark around me.

It was nothing new, as I had experienced it often in the Labyrinth, but…….

Click.

There was the sound of a switch being flicked, and my surroundings were brightly lit.
Surprisingly, I was in my room.

The room where I, Lee Han-soo, had been playing games until I was dragged here.

‘…So what am I supposed to do now?’

I began to check my surroundings.

A bookshelf, a computer, and a slightly tattered bed…….

After checking the kitchen cum living room and the bathroom, everything matched my memory.

‘Ah, then perhaps that too…?’

I hurriedly opened the fridge door.

For some reason, it was filled with only ice-cold canned cola.

It seemed absurd, but I didn’t think too deeply about it.

How could I resist it?

Click, sssshhh-

Just hearing it was refreshing.

I had missed this so much, I quickly poured it into my mouth, fearing it might disappear.

But then…

‘Damn it.’

I couldn’t taste it.

There was no sharp sensation of it cutting my throat.

It was just a tasteless, odorless liquid sliding down my throat.

I couldn’t hide my disappointment when…

Ding-dong-

The doorbell rang.

Checking through the intercom, there was a blonde Caucasian woman.

It couldn’t be a religious solicitation.

‘Who are you?’

‘I was about to ask “Who are you?” in my usual tone, but realizing my mistake, I opened my mouth again.

“Who is it?”

Thinking that she might guess I’m a barbarian from my tone.

‘But why does it feel so awkward?’

Even though I spoke normally, it felt like there was a thorn in my throat.

Soon, a reply came from the other side of the intercom.

[This is Soulqueens, handling guidance for Ghost Busters. May I come in?]

Hmm, I didn’t know this was the system.

Before I gave a bad impression, I quickly opened the door.

But what’s this about?

“Excuse me, why are you going into the wall?”

“Oh, is this a wall? To me, it just looks like a white space.”

Is she talking about the space I saw earlier?

It seems some mysterious rule is at work in this spiritual world.

As I casually pointed her in the right direction and led her to the living room, the woman exclaimed in admiration.

“That’s impressive. Even so, one would usually see a faint outline.”

“An outline?”

“Of this place. Probably for you…”

“You can just keep calling it ‘that side’.”

“…If you say so.”

True to the letter’s promise of anonymity, the woman was unfazed by my euphemistic refusal.

“Anyway, this space is a manifestation of what you imagine. The first place that comes to mind in your inner consciousness. Usually, it’s a space where you feel most comfortable psychologically.”

“And so?”

“Normally, others can see it too. There are occasionally people with strong defense mechanisms, but usually, the shape is recognizable to some extent…”

The woman looked at me curiously.

It was unclear if it was out of curiosity or caution, but I decided to address the contradiction first.

“Then how did you ring the doorbell earlier? You said you couldn’t see it.”

“That must have been how it was expressed. I didn’t ring any bells. I just called you as soon as I arrived in this white space. Do you understand?”

To be honest, I roughly get it but also don’t.

So I just awkwardly smiled and nodded.

“Thanks to your clear explanation.”

“That’s good. Actually, even magicians find this concept difficult to understand, so it’s always tricky to explain.”

Anyway, since she introduced herself as a guide, I felt comfortable asking what I was curious about.

“Oh, but what happens if the password is wrong?”

I realized that there must be others who can’t input the password correctly.

“That? Nothing much. It’s just for show. There’s hardly anyone like you who gets the password right before I arrive.”

“…?”

“Whether you enter the password or not, I still have to come and check.”

The method of her check was simple, apparently.

Just by looking, she could tell?

I wondered if she had some special ability, but then I realized, looking at my own appearance.

A navy blue suit that fits snugly.

It was a gift from my ex-girlfriend to celebrate my job.

‘Is the difference starting from the clothes…?’

After all, I knew she was a modern person as soon as I saw her, so it must have been the same for her.

“Wow, you’re really quick. The difference between players and NPCs starts here.”

“NPCs?”

“It’s a slang term for the locals. Anyway, the difference isn’t just in the clothes but also evident when entering this space. I’ve never seen anything like this before…….”

“So, usually, you can tell by looking at the room.”

“Yes. You wouldn’t find a rock star’s poster in an NPC’s room, right?

I understood.

With this kind of verification method, it would be almost impossible for locals, that is, NPCs, to hide their identity and enter.

“So, do I pass?”

“Of course.”

I was inwardly worried that the appearance of my room was not visible due to the defense mechanism, but the woman nodded without hesitation.

Seeing that, I realized one more thing.

Clothes, tone of voice, expressions, and this imaginary space.

There must be another surefire way to distinguish NPCs besides these things.

‘I guess she’s not telling me for security reasons.’

“Well, now then… you’ve officially become a member of our Ghostbusters.”

“Who came up with the name Ghostbusters?”

“There’s someone who did. It’s such a crappy name, right? I kept saying “let’s change it to something else, but…”

Oh, I thought it was a pretty clever name, so I had asked…

“Ha, everyone who comes here starts by questioning why it’s named like that.”

I nodded awkwardly.

I couldn’t agree that it was a crappy name, but I could pretend to agree.

Being tactful had always been my specialty.

“It’s certainly… a unique name.”

“Right? Oh, where was I…”

The woman soon returned to the main topic.

“Ah, now we can’t forcibly separate your soul and kill you like we did the NPC who snuck in, but we can banish you from ever being called here again, so if you have time, please familiarize yourself with the rules.”

Then, the woman explained the basic methods of using the GhostBusters community.

“Do you have a computer? If so, go ahead and turn it on. If not, you’ll have to imagine and materialize one…”

“I have one.”

“That saves time. Go ahead and turn it on.”

As I turned on the computer, instead of the familiar OS screen, a window popped up immediately.

“Ah, just a moment. Your code is…”

After entering the code she provided, the window shifted to a page where I could create a nickname.

“Just create a nickname here and you’re done. Once you make it, you can never change it, so be careful.”

Hmm, what should I use?

As I was pondering, the woman gave me a suggestion.

“You’ve played Stone Iven, right? Many people use their nicknames from there. My nickname, Soulqueens, also came from there.”

Stone Iven.

Typical of a dead game community, the main board’s refresh rate was less than 30 posts a day…

But those who played this game must have used it at least once.

I was no exception.

‘It’s just an ID and not a real name, so it should be fine to use that nickname, right?’

I then typed in a nickname and hit enter.

But…

[That nickname is unavailable.]

“Oh, someone must be using that nickname already.”

What? Someone is using that nickname?

I couldn’t understand, but I changed one letter in the spelling and set my nickname. The woman, seeing my nickname, just smiled meaningfully.

“Huhu, are you a fan of that person?”

A fan? What’s she talking about?

Before I could ask for details, her explanation continued.

Instructions on how to use the community in the future.

“Well, I guess I’ve told you about everything. Now, I’ll be leaving, so feel free to use it. If you encounter any problems, please submit a 1:1 inquiry!”

Soon, the woman with the nickname Soulqueens left.

Before I knew it, I was alone in the room again.

Having completed the tutorial, I easily browsed through the community.

[Men in their 20s and 30s only]

[American Union]

[Gathering of the Beastmen]

[Wizardry]

[Hangout Room]

There were several active chat rooms.

Could I just pick any of them and start a conversation with them?

It was a futuristic yet fantasy-like system.

‘There are rooms with level restrictions and passwords too.’

For now, to get accustomed to this place, I randomly chose a room to enter.

[Newbie’ Room]

Not a room restricted by level, but a special room where only those who have joined the community for less than a year can enter.

I chose it because it seemed like there would be many people similar to me.

Click.

The moment I double-clicked.

Bright light burst out from the monitor.

And just like the day I woke up in the body of a barbarian in the middle of a game.

When I came to my senses, I was standing in a clearing.

Tap-tap, tap-tap-tap-

A clearing with a bonfire fiercely burning in the center, like a campfire.

About a dozen people were standing around it.

All of them were men.

Well, how many women would be playing this hardcore, almost perverse game?

“Oh, a new person!”

Eyes gathered around me as I appeared.

Caucasian, Asian, African.

Although more ethnically diverse than I expected…

Having lived in another world for several months, a sense of camaraderie with people from the same homeland emerged first.

Perhaps they felt the same way.

“Which country are you from?”

“Ah, Korea.”

“Oh, I see! Welcome!”

I looked around, taking in the overall atmosphere.

There was no hint of racial discrimination, just a pure welcoming vibe for the newcomer.

‘Are those nicknames floating above their heads?’

Translucent letters were floating above people’s heads.

Then a neatly dressed African man approached me.

“A bit bare here, right? Haven’t gathered enough points to decorate. I’m the room admin, Darkman. Could you set your nickname to public and introduce yourself?”

“Public nickname?”

“You must be new to this room. Just think you will do it. In the community, there is power in definite cognition and thought.”

Definite cognition and thought…

Is it like using an active skill?

‘Public nickname.’

As I muttered to myself, people’s gazes shifted above my head.

Now they could see my nickname.

But then…

“Hello. I’m Elfnunna.”

I revealed my nickname, thinking it’s an anonymous space anyway.

“…”

“…”

A cold silence enveloped the clearing.

And then a moment later.

“Elfnuna?!”

“The person who wrote the stat compilation?!”

“Wasn’t that person part of the game company?”

“Indeed, they were Korean! I knew it!”

“Hey! Is it really you? Are you really that person?”

Somehow, a commotion broke out.

But before grasping the situation, I quietly took a long breath.

‘Hoo…’

What’s this all about?

Translating the next chapter please check back later