Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 55

The Priest of Karui.

You need to reach at least the 5th floor to change jobs, and unlike regular priests, it’s a kind of hidden class packed with all sorts of combat spells and curse abilities.

“What the heck! She ran away!”

We had considered the worst-case scenario of being wiped out, but as it turned out, we overcame the danger without any harm.

How was that possible?

Looking back calmly, there were several reasons.

“A priest of Karui… They’re as terrifying as I’ve heard. Bjorn, if it weren’t for you, we would have been in serious trouble.”

I had taken away her weapons early on.

The sword, shield, spear, and even Elisa’s staff. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but it was a stroke of luck that I took the staff away.

Without the staff, she wouldn’t have been able to cast spells as easily as usual.

Well, there’s another key factor to point out.

“As expected, a sturdy barbarian is the best. I thought that woman was a priest, so maybe Rotmiller was mistaken. But she just smashed her head!”

“I, I feel the same way. Bjorn, even when you were swinging your weapon, oh my, my heart was pounding so hard…”

A blow inflicted at an unexpected time by both the enemy and ally.

Elisa, whose head was smashed by this one blow, had to revive by absorbing the life force of her companions.

However, it wasn’t a perfect revival.

After all, how could her body be fine after her brain was smashed and then revived?

‘Maybe the reason she was speaking in such a broken manner was because she hadn’t fully recovered.’

There were many advantages in many ways.

However, while a sense of relief arose from that fact, there was also a sense of dread. What if we had fought her at 100%?

Well, I think the odds of winning would have been about 50/50.

Assuming that at least two people would die, no matter who won.

There would have definitely been a fierce battle.

Knowing that, they must have been trying to trick us by pretending to be shipwrecked.

‘So, was it actually helpful that our power was evenly matched?’

After reviewing the incident, I briefly checked my physical condition.

It was the worst, without a doubt.

「[Stamina Depletion] is ongoing.」

「The rate of stamina recovery is decreased.」

「[Low-Grade Corruption] is ongoing.」

「The rate of injury recovery is decreased.」

「[Tracking] is ongoing.」

「The character’s location is being transmitted to the caster.」

「[Wraith Walk] is ongoing.」

「The character experiences minor pain when moving.」

「[Stamina Reduction] is ongoing…」

Damn it, I feel like I’m going crazy.

My eyes are sore, and my head feels a bit pickled in salt. For some reason, I can’t even feel strength in my lower body.

Ugh, how many curses did that witch cast on me alone?

「Warning: The character has more than 15 overlapping curses. If not treated with divine power or magic, the character’s physical abilities may be permanently reduced.」

My condition is terrible.

It’s a total mess. Honestly, it’s hard to even explain in words where and how I feel bad.

But I’m not too worried.

Because we have a mage on our team.

“Dwarki, please cast a curse removal spell.”

“C-curse removal, you say?”

Why are you so surprised?

You’re making me anxious.

“Didn’t you say you could use curse magic?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Well, that’s true, but so what?

I stared at him, meaning to tell him to keep talking, and Dwarki avoided my gaze and said,

“I said I could use several kinds of curse magic, but I didn’t say I could remove them…”

Huh?

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I didn’t enter the Magic Tower, so I had to study on my own. I also heard that there’s hardly any need to remove curses while exploring…”

Dwarki continued with a long string of excuses.

To put it briefly, it was a very simple story.

“In short, you didn’t have money.”

When I summarized the situation in one sentence, like a barbarian, Dwarki nodded with a displeased look.

“That’s right. I thought it was better to learn the most necessary things first.”

Yeah, we were that kind of team.

What’s the point of blaming it now?

We’re all in similar situations, so complaining more here would only make me look bad.

Instead of dwelling on the impossible, let’s do what we can right now.

“Rotmiller, is there any way to track that woman?”

“…Unfortunately, no. I’ve been looking for a way since earlier, but I can’t even find a clue.”

Well, I guess so.

This is a bit… no, this has become quite troublesome.

Although some of them don’t seem to realize it yet.

“What’s your opinion? How dangerous do you think it is?”

“Well, I’m not sure yet. But it’s certain that we need to leave this place right now.”

“Leave… but where to?”

“Wait! What are you guys talking about?”

Dwarki interrupted while Rotmiller and I were having a serious conversation.

I’d like to tell him to stay out of it since the adults are talking, but…

He’s a mage, after all.

If we discuss it, maybe we’ll come up with a good idea, so let’s explain it roughly.

“Didn’t that woman say when she ran away? That she wouldn’t let us live. It’s clear that she’ll come back for us soon.”

“Well, that’s true, but if she comes again, can’t we just deal with her like we did now?”

No, I mean, do you think it’s going to be that easy?

Is it because it’s his first time in the labyrinth?

He’s a mage, but he seems to have even less judgment than Misha.

“It’s definitely a big deal! If we’re fighting monsters and she ambushes us from behind, it’ll be troublesome!”

It’s common sense all over the world that an unseen enemy is more frightening than a visible one.

Moreover, when she comes back for revenge, she’ll definitely have almost recovered her strength.

‘And she’ll be able to decide the timing of the ambush.’

Just like I benefited from the preemptive strike tactic earlier, most fights are usually advantageous for the one who initiates.

When Rotmiller kindly explained this, Dwarki shut his mouth tightly, looking very scared.

“A priest of Karui is targeting us in the dark, it seems like a big obstacle has arisen in our journey? Hahaha.”

The dwarf, who is the team leader in name only, tried to act calm and patted Dwarki’s stiff shoulder, but…

The tense atmosphere didn’t improve at all.

Well, they just fought 1 vs 5, so they know better than anyone how troublesome the priests of Karui are.

It was when the anxiety was gradually increasing.

“Now that it’s come to this, it would be better to enter the Witch’s Forest as soon as possible.”

I suggested the only solution to the current situation.

Rotmiller asked briefly.

“Why?”

“Because she won’t be able to track us if we go there. And the curse problem will be solved too.”

It was an answer with many omissions, but it was enough. Looking at his expression, he seemed to understand everything I meant.

“Using the geographical characteristics of the Witch’s Forest… That’s a reasonable judgment.”

Rotmiller nodded.

But was there one thing he was curious about?

“But didn’t you say it was your first time on the 3rd floor?”

Yes, that’s right.

So please, before I say anything, just proceed with things on your own, you old man.

“…I studied in the library.”

“Library?”

Rotmiller tilted his head at my excuse, which wasn’t really an excuse.

But I’m not too worried.

Because there’s a witness right next to me.

“It may be surprising, but it’s true. Bjorn goes to the library every day to read books.”

“Wow, a barbarian reads books?”

“No wonder, unlike other barbarians, his way of speaking is extraordinary.”

They’re looking at me like I’m a weirdo.

I’ve had enough of the attention, so I wish they’d make a decision and do what they need to do.

“So, what does everyone think?”

“I agree with your plan.”

After that, Rotmiller supported my claim, and then the dwarf and Misha also cast their votes in favor, and the conclusion was quickly reached.

However, there was one thing left to do before we hurried to leave.

Looking at ‘Hanson,’ who had collapsed like a doll with its strings cut as Elisa fled, I said,

“What are you all doing? Aren’t you going to take off his equipment?”

No matter how urgent it is, we have to take what we can.

We’re explorers, aren’t we?

Looters and monster slayers.

***

“If we sell everything, it’ll easily exceed 6 million stones.”

Is it because he was a 3rd-floor looter?

The drop items that ‘Hanson’ spat out were on a different level than the ones we had encountered before.

Of course, if we divide it by five here, the income would be roughly the same as before.

“Really! That means each person can take more than 1 million stones! I was barely making ends meet with this year’s taxes, so this is a relief!”

“With that money, I can learn a few more spells! Ah, I will definitely learn curse removal magic this time!”

Dwarki and Misha, who had suddenly come into a large sum of money, happily envisioned their futures.

However, Rotmiller, the dwarf, and I just smiled ambiguously and remained silent.

After all, no matter how much you earn in the labyrinth, it only matters if you return to the city alive.

“We’ll sell all these spoils in the city later and then settle the accounts.”

For reference, during the journey, the three of us with expandable backpacks decided to share the spoils.

No one can predict what will happen in the future.

Someone might die during the exploration, we might lose our backpacks, or there might be an attempt to run away with the loot.

However, I was slightly surprised in this process.

‘I knew about the dwarf, but I didn’t know that Misha was also an owner of an expandable backpack…’

Contrary to the impression she had shown so far, was she the type to save money diligently?

Maybe Misha is more sharp-witted than I thought when it comes to financial matters.

“Then, let’s depart now.”

After taking the spoils, we packed up the campsite and quickly left the area.

Rotmiller took the lead to find the way, and the rest followed behind, wary of any possible ambushes.

We avoided monster battles as much as possible using Rotmiller’s sense of smell and focused only on moving.

How much time had passed since then?

「Warning: The character’s stamina is continuously decreasing. If not resolved quickly, it may be permanent…」

I feel like I’m going to die.

After moving for about 5 hours, almost running, with all those curses, my body is a mess.

If it weren’t for the magic resistance and dark resistance stats I got from the vampire, I probably would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago.

“Bjorn, are you… okay?”

“I can endure it, don’t worry about me.”

I pretended to be okay at the dwarf’s concern, but to be honest, I’m not okay at all.

Unlike them, who only have two or three curses, that crazy witch threw countless curses at me alone.

And she only cast these curses on me.

‘Damn stamina depletion…’

Stamina depletion.

A terrible skill that greatly reduces the recovery of stamina, which is consumed every time a character moves or takes action.

For reference, stamina is separate from health, so no matter how high your natural regeneration is, it’s useless.

‘If it were a game, I’d probably have about 30% left?’

In the game, if the stamina gauge dropped below 10%, the character wouldn’t move.

In the case of NPCs, they would often whine and say things like, ‘Please just kill me.’

But I’m not at that point yet.

Of course, it’s incredibly difficult.

But it’s not to the point of dying.

I can still endure it with my willpower.

So, that means I still have quite a bit of leeway.

「Achievement Unlocked」

Condition: Stamina level drops below 5%.

Reward: Mental stat permanently increases by +1.

Yes, it definitely will.

I can’t endure it if I don’t think that way.

Let’s just think about the positive aspects.

Even though I pushed myself a bit, the destination is almost in sight, isn’t it?

“Judging by the moisture in the soil, we should arrive in about 10 more minutes.”

A journey of about 5 hours.

Contrary to our worries, we reached the Witch’s Forest without a single attack.

‘If she’s not here yet, it means that witch hasn’t fully recovered either.’

It was worth rushing even while pushing myself.

At least, I don’t think there’s any chance that she’s given up on us.

After all, she even used the power of the dark god in front of us to try to survive.

If we, the witnesses, return alive and well, she’ll be in a lot of trouble.

“We’ve arrived.”

At the same time as Rotmiller’s words were heard, I shook off the thoughts that had filled my head.

Ugh, it’s always best to think about other things when things are tough.

I was able to skip a whole 10 minutes, wasn’t I?

“This is the Witch’s Forest… For some reason, I feel a creepy sensation.”

“For some reason, all the mages who come here for the first time say that.”

“I feel like an ominous magical power is vibrating throughout the forest.”

Dry thorn bushes.

Vines that coiled around them like snakes.

“W-wait a minute! That tree just moved!”

A place where all those things are alive and moving.

The Witch’s Forest.

「The character has entered a special area.」

「Field Effect – Witch’s Forest is applied.」

「Status Ailment [Disorientation] is applied.」

「Status Ailment [Auditory Hallucination] is applied.」

「Status Ailment [Visual Hallucination] is applied.」

「Status Ailment [Enhanced Pain] is applied.」

The moment I stepped into the place, relying on the torch, a cold air was transmitted through my skin.

「All status effects except for the field effect are nullified.」

Ha, I feel a bit better now.

***

「Bjorn Yandel」

Level: 3

Physical: 199.1 / Mental: 106.3 (New +1)/ Ability: 152.4

Item Level: 699

Total Combat Power: 631.55 (New +1)

Acquired Essence: Corpse Golem – Rank 7, Vampire (Guardian) – Rank 5