Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 73

I’m sitting by the fountain, eating my lunch. The menu is potato stew, bread, and a vegetable salad with beef. Misha is sitting next to me.

“Bjorn, have some of this.”

“You’re giving me meat…?”

“I ate a lot while I was making it.”

Well, then. I chew and swallow the meat Misha gave me. How long has it been since I’ve had beef? It melts in my mouth. However, the only downside is that it’s hard to fully enjoy the taste because of the stares coming from the side.

“Did you just say Bjorn?”

“If so, that must be the Little Balkan.”

“Hmm, I can’t see anything special about him on the outside…”

Since when did people start recognizing me wherever I go? Clan invitations, team recruitment offers. I can deal with that kind of stuff, but… “Hey, are you really the Little Balkan?” There are also guys who come up to me for no reason, trying to pick a fight or bothering me to tell them about what happened back then. Hey, can’t you see I’m eating? Well, it was the last spoonful anyway.

“Misha, get up.”

“Huh?”

“I’m done eating, so let’s go.”

I quickly cleaned up my spot and left the fountain. I could hear them grumbling behind me, but they didn’t follow or cross the line. Misha glanced back and muttered, “It’s kind of amazing. I thought only really great people got recognized like this…”

What is it? Is she trying to pick a fight? Still, I know what she’s trying to say. It must be awkward for her that someone around her suddenly became famous. ‘Little Balkan, huh…’ In the game, there was nothing to lose by increasing your fame. You could get quests you couldn’t get before, or suddenly receive high-paying requests. Above all, if your fame was low, you couldn’t enter the first district, the capital of Karnon, so fame was essential for progressing in the game. But… ‘I don’t know if this is a good thing.’ The place I’m in now isn’t just a simple game. Players are treated as evil spirits, and they’re put on the guillotine as soon as they’re discovered. If my name suddenly becomes known, I’m sure I’ll get unwanted attention. But… ‘I had no choice if I wanted to live.’ To gain something, you have to give up something. I obtained the Orc Hero’s essence, saved my life, and gained several other benefits. So, I have to put up with this much.

“Then, it seems like I’m done with today’s work.” After getting my repaired equipment back, buying the necessary supplies, and stopping by the auction house to see if there was anything worth buying, the day began to wane. ‘I should go back to the inn and finish planning my growth strategy.’ “I’m going back now, what about you?” It was practically a way of saying, ‘Let’s go back soon.’ However, Misha suddenly trails off. “Ah, well…” What is it? She’s making me anxious for no reason. I stare at her as if to tell her to speak quickly, and Misha carefully says, glancing at me, “…I’m going to visit my family for a bit.”

“Family?”

“Yeah. I’m planning to be there until tomorrow or the day after.”

“I see.”

Why is she saying this while looking at my face? If she has plans, she has plans. It’s a family matter, so it’s not my place to interfere. It’s not like I’m not a little worried, but she’ll take care of it herself. “Good luck.” I decided to at least give her words of encouragement. I know what her family means to her, after all. Misha chuckled. “Well, I feel a little more energized…” Really? Her voice doesn’t sound very energetic, though. I think I need to give her a push. Of course, in a barbarian way. Thwack-! “Ack! You ignorant barbarian!” Misha, startled, shouts something or other. “Much better.” “Tsk, anyway, I’ll definitely be back within two days, so until then, make sure you eat well, okay?” I chuckled and replied, “Okay.” This is a change that happened after returning to the city. They said they would treat me like a benefactor, is this what they meant? For some reason, she’s been acting like a mom lately.

***

Misha and I parted ways at the carriage platform. She went to her family, and I got on a carriage heading to the 8th district, where my inn was located. My body swayed with every creak. Since there was nothing else to do, I closed my eyes and started to think, like letting my body drift with the waves. ‘It’s better to stay on this team for a while.’ My stats jumped up at once after eating the Orc Hero’s essence. In fact, I’m guaranteed to be promoted to a 6th-grade explorer just by filling out and submitting the application. With the fame of the Little Balkan, I might even be able to get promoted to 5th grade at once. In other words, if I wanted to, I could find a better team. ‘But it would be difficult to bring Misha with me.’ Misha’s combat power is exactly at the level of a 7th-grade explorer. Of course, she has enough potential to reach a higher grade. Not only did she get the Soul Water this time, but her transformation ability, [Enhancement], is the decisive reason why I decided to raise her as a companion. In that sense… ‘The first task is to level up Misha.’ I made my final decision. It would be more efficient to focus on Misha’s growth for a while. ‘First, I need to raise the Soul Water contract level, and if possible, the next exploration should be in that direction. That essence might come out. Ah, I think it would be good to change her main weapon if possible…’ As I was planning Misha’s growth process in detail, I arrived at my destination. ‘Hah, if nothing else, when I change inns later, I should get one near the platform.’ It’s a kind of station area. I’m sure the rent will be expensive, though. Thump. I got off the carriage and skillfully found my way to the inn. Go straight, turn left at the candy store. Then, when you see the statue of the Immortal King, take the right fork. If you go for about 5 more minutes, you’ll see the central square… “We will now begin the execution!” Damn it, it was quiet for a few days. I can see crowds gathered in the square, which is usually empty. Everyone is looking up at the guillotine. Swoosh-! A sight that doesn’t even look that gruesome anymore. But I don’t want to watch it with interest. So, I let the eerie sound pass through one ear and quickened my pace. But even so, my subconscious detected something strange based on the visual information given. ‘…Why are there so few people today?’ I’m not talking about the crowd gathered below the guillotine. The prisoners who are scheduled to be executed today. It’s common to execute dozens of people at once, but today there are only four. ‘It seems like there aren’t any guys waiting in front to drink the blood today either.’ The moment my head detected the question. The murmuring that had been faint like background music began to be heard clearly. “I was expecting an evil spirit, but it’s nothing special?” “Oh my, you’re right. The blood is red too.” “Isn’t it disgusting? An evil spirit pretending to be human.” What, an evil spirit? My steps stopped without me realizing it. I turned my head to check the guillotine, and I saw the prisoners trembling as they waited their turn. There were three left. “I, I’m not! I’m not!” “What are you doing? Put the gag back on.” A young-looking fairy woman. A dwarf man who looked to be about the same age as the dwarf. And— “Ugh, ugh!!” A barbarian with a somewhat familiar face. Swoosh-! The fairy’s head rolled off and went into the container, and the dwarf, next in line, was forced to kneel at the execution site. However, my gaze was fixed on only one place. ‘Tarikan, Liyen’s son.’ Yes, that was his name. The name of the barbarian trembling with fear, with those terrified eyes. ‘Damn, I was worried about what he was doing…’ The awkward barbarian way of speaking. The timid personality. The weak mindset of wanting to rely on someone. There were so many things I could guess, but I didn’t even know what he did wrong to get his identity exposed. But somehow, I had a feeling. ‘It doesn’t seem like he bought a weapon with the money I gave him.’ There’s no basis for it. Because they would have taken his weapon before putting him on the execution site. But for some reason, I keep thinking that he didn’t go into the labyrinth this time either. ‘Why the hell?’ As I was seriously pondering the source of my baseless intuition. “Ugh, ugh!!” He, who had been quietly trembling, suddenly began to struggle. Also, his gagged mouth was constantly moving as if trying to say something, and his wide eyes were directed towards where I was. It doesn’t seem like a coincidence. “Ugh! Ughhhhh!!” Did he recognize me from afar? Well, I’m the only barbarian here, so I would stand out even from afar. “What are you doing! Why aren’t you making him kneel?” Eventually, he was subdued by the people and forced to put his neck under the blade of the guillotine. Even in that situation, he was trying to say something. Looking directly at me, mixed in with the crowd. “Ugh, ughhhh!!” I couldn’t tell. What did that crushed scream mean? Was he asking for help? Well, his eyes look too venomous for that. “Ugh, ugh!!” While my heart was heavy at the sight of him not even being able to leave a last word, a slight sense of relief also arose. ‘I’m glad I cut ties with him back then.’ If I hadn’t ended it with 150,000 stones. If I had made a different decision, revealed that we were in the same situation, and relied on each other— “Yandel’s son—!!” I might have been in that place with him. Swoosh-! At the last moment, his gag was cut, and he shouted something, but the cold blade fell and crushed his voice. I immediately turned my back and headed the way I was going. At the same time, I engraved one lesson in my heart. ‘I shouldn’t do that kind of thing next time either.’ I have to be more careful. In this shitty world, the ones who threaten my life won’t just be looters and explorers. Who is pitying whom? I should refrain from unnecessary meddling and act with my wits about me from now on— “Yandel’s son, Bjorn, right?” Someone calls my name from behind. I turn around and see a man in neat attire looking at me. “Don’t bother me and get lost.” It’s been happening a lot lately that strangers talk to me, so I ignored him and started walking. But… “Don’t be so wary. I’m in a similar situation.” The nuance of his words is very strange. I unconsciously stopped walking and turned back to look at the man. “America? Taiwan? Europe? Where are you from?” Damn it, what is this?

***

After gaining fame, I had thought about it. I thought that something like this might happen. But… ‘I didn’t expect it to be this fast.’ My head cools down like an ice block. Of course, the action I would take was already decided. Whether this guy is a real player or a guy pretending to be a player… ‘Nothing changes anyway. Let’s do as we prepared.’ I knew from the first day I woke up in this body that there were other evil spirits besides me. In the past, I had already asked myself once. ‘Is it worth taking the risk to interact with them?’ The conclusion I came to then was simple. Absolutely not worth it. What would I do by meeting a player? Share information? I could do it to some extent, but… In the end, it would all be about the relief of not being alone in this strange world. It’s stupid to take that much risk just to feel at ease. Therefore… ‘I don’t need to show my hand to anyone.’ There’s a saying in the world, poker face. It’s sometimes used to play mind games, but it basically means a blank face. That’s how much the face is the part of the body that best reveals a person’s psychology. But I decided. What I need to do now is not a blank face. As soon as the guy finished his question, I answered. “What are you talking about?” Of course, this isn’t perfect either. So, while answering in a barbarian-like tone, I thought to myself. ‘What would Ainar’s reaction be if he heard those words?’ Since we had been together for quite a while, the answer came easily. “Don’t talk in difficult terms and speak clearly.” Yes, that’s it. Barbarians don’t know much. And they’re not ashamed of what they don’t know. Also, if the stranger is a human… They also show a bit of wariness and aggression. Therefore— Thump. I take a step forward with a slightly threatening look. Also, I snort as if I’m going to smash his head if he says the wrong word. But even with my actions, the man only let out a strange exclamation. “Wow, I almost fell for it. You’re really good at acting. Weren’t you a 3-month player?” “Acting? I told you not to use difficult words?” “Ah, you don’t need to be wary. I’m from America. I shouldn’t have touched that damn game.” A voice dripping with regret and sorrow. And information that no one but a player would know. With this, I was somewhat certain. “Anyway, you’re amazing. You got a title in just 3 months, and it took me over 3 years. And I ended up being a human…” This bastard is not a player.