Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 77

“Can you also see what might happen in the near future?”

“Well, I can’t see that either. But, be wary of those with deep grudges, no matter when or where. Your fate seems to attract such individuals.”

“In simple terms.”

“If you resolve their grudges, it will bring you fortune; if you fail, it will bring you misfortune.”

Does this guy not understand what ‘simple terms’ means?

“I’m hungry, so go on out now.”

“Understood.”

With the shaman’s dismissal, I left the tent.

And with my energy depleted, I trudged towards the city.

As I walked, my strength gradually returned.

‘Is it thanks to the Soul Imprint?’

The first stage of the Undying Imprint increases natural regeneration, and the second stage increases stamina and magic resistance.

Magic resistance is, as the name suggests, resistance to magic damage, and stamina affects the maximum and regeneration speed of stamina.

In other words, unlike physical stats like strength or agility, it’s not a stat that’s immediately noticeable.

But….

‘Not bad.’

These sub-stats are essential for a character to fulfill their role later on.

Moreover, to unlock the 6th stage imprint, which is the core of my growth method, I need to slowly build them up from now.

‘From the 3rd stage imprint, it becomes quite useful on its own.’

Originally, I was planning to break through to the 3rd stage right away, but I’ll pass on that for tomorrow.

Then, since I have time today—

“Bjorn!”

Just as I was re-evaluating my plans for the day, a familiar voice called out from somewhere.

A whisper-like shout.

For a moment, I wondered if I had misheard….

“Bjorn!”

Soon, I checked the direction of the sound, and a face popped out from the swaying bushes.

“…Ainar?”

“Be quiet! If we get caught, it’ll be a big problem!”

At Ainar’s urgent request, I unconsciously crouched down in front of the bushes and lowered my voice.

“…Why are you here?”

“I heard from the Elder that you came to the sacred ground, so I came to see you for a bit. You have to pass through this path to get to the city, right?”

Ah, I see.

But how did he know when I would come?

“Still, it’s a relief that I came early. My legs were getting numb!”

So, he was just planning to wait until I came.

Typical Ainar.

“Anyway, someone might pass by, so come in here quickly.”

He was a welcome face, and I was also curious about his recent activities, so I went over the thick bushes and crouched down between them.

Only then could I see Ainar’s body properly.

I asked with genuine concern.

“…Why have you become so thin?”

His height had decreased to the mid-170s [around 5’7″ to 5’9″] due to the essence of the Bone Knight.

Even so, he had muscles, so he didn’t feel small, but what about now?

Ainar smiled bitterly.

“Hehehe, it’s embarrassing, so don’t look too much. I know better than anyone that I look pathetic.”

In just one month, the warrior’s body that used to be bulky had turned into a slim, lean muscular physique.

“Does the Elder not feed you properly?”

“It’s not that, but I’ve been compressing my muscles every day, and somehow I ended up like this.”

“Compressing?”

“There’s such a thing. I don’t know much about it either, so don’t ask me for details.”

“I see….”

Even so, what kind of training is it that turned this healthy guy into this?

I couldn’t help but feel dismayed and kept my mouth shut.

Then, Ainar forced a smile and changed the subject.

“I heard about you from the Elder. You got the nickname ‘Little Vulcan,’ right? You’re amazing, Bjorn!”

“It’s nothing much.”

“What happened there? I’m curious about your story.”

Ainar looked at me with sparkling eyes.

He must have been curious about the outside world, having repeated training every day.

I felt a bit sorry for him, so I sat down and began to tell him my story in earnest.

“Oh, you teamed up with Hikurod? That’s a relief. I was worried when I left, but I can trust him.”

The fact that I teamed up with Hikurod.

And the various incidents I experienced in the labyrinth.

Just as the story was about to end.

“Ainar, the second daughter of Pnelin!!!!!!”

A roar-like shout echoed from afar.

“Did you run away again!!!!”

“Oh, no. The Elder seems to have noticed that I ran away.”

Ainar quickly got up from his seat at the roar that rang in my ears even from afar.

I asked worriedly.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. It’s just that today’s training will be doubled. I just won’t sleep, so don’t worry too much.”

No, that makes me even more worried….

“I was bored to death anyway, but thanks to you, I got to hear an interesting story. So, come again next time.”

“Okay.”

“Then, I’ll go!”

Soon, Ainar turned his back and started running in the direction of the sound.

So, I was about to continue on my way.

“Ah, right! Bjorn!”

Suddenly, Ainar turned around and called me.

And he said something unexpected.

“I couldn’t say it earlier, but I’m glad you look good!”

“I look good?”

“Before, you seemed to have more venom in you? Well, I didn’t mind that either…! But you seem a bit more relaxed now! Maybe it’s because your new companions are trustworthy!”

Hmm, is that so?

I don’t know….

“Ainar!!! Can’t you come here quickly!!”

“Ugh, anyway, see you later!! I’ll keep training hard and come back as a more reliable warrior!”

Soon, Ainar disappeared from my sight.

But I looked at that spot and thought for a moment.

‘The venom has faded….’

Is this a positive change, or a negative one?

I couldn’t tell yet.

***

Since the Soul Imprint ended early, I had quite a bit of time left, so I visited the Magic Tower.

It was to fill this week’s research quota.

“Oh? Why are you here today, Mr. Yandel? Weren’t you supposed to come tomorrow?”

“I have something to do tomorrow, so I came today.”

“No, if you have a prior engagement, shouldn’t you not make other plans?”

…That’s definitely the right thing to say.

But I am a magnificent barbarian.

I am not bound by the world’s etiquette and customs.

“What does ‘prior engagement’ mean?”

“Ugh, you’re always like this at times like this… Anyway, sit down and wait a bit. I’ll finish what I’m doing and start.”

“Alright.”

After waiting for a while, the preparations for today’s experiment were completed.

For reference, today’s experiment is to check how the vampire’s magic resistance affects mental magic and to measure the exact value of the decreased solar resistance….

“The explanation is done, so do it yourself.”

“Then, shall we begin?”

Zzzzzzzzz-!!

As I entrusted my body to the gruesome experimental tools and spaced out, the experiment ended faster than I thought.

But just as I was about to leave without looking back.

“Excuse me, Mr. Yandel!”

Raven urgently called me.

I wondered if he had something to say about the research, but…

“So, when are you going to tell me about that?”

“Tell you about what?”

“That relic you used when you caught the vampire! How did you know? That [Tears of the Goddess] was there?”

Ah, not again?

This is a conversation that happens every time I visit this place.

“I’ve said it repeatedly, I don’t even know what that is.”

“So, you’re going to come at me like that again?”

Raven crosses her arms and glares at me.

Does she even realize? With that tiny stature, it just makes her look arrogant.

I cut straight to the chase.

“Arua Raven, why are you so obsessed with the [Tears of the Goddess]?”

At first, I thought she suspected me of being a demon.

But after seeing her actions, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Just look at when she asked about the pills and the letter.

If she suspected me of being a demon, she would have shown it in some way during our conversations.

“…It’s not because of that relic.”

She finally gives an answer.

If it’s not because she suspects me of being a demon, then what is it?

The answer was something I never expected.

“It’s because of the book that contains information about that relic.”

“Book?”

“The ‘Record of the Great Rifts.’ Surely you know about it?”

No, even if you look at me like that, I really don’t know…

“I understand wanting to keep the existence of that book a secret. I did too. Knowledge becomes more valuable the fewer people who know it, right?”

“…So, what’s your point?”

“If you have that book or know where it is, I want to buy it. Mine wasn’t stored properly, so there are many parts I can’t read.”

Looking at her scholarly eyes, it doesn’t seem like she’s testing me with a made-up story…

It was really because of the book?

“If that was your goal, you could have just asked from the beginning instead of beating around the bush.”

“But isn’t it true that the one who seems more desperate loses in negotiations?”

Well, that’s true.

As I unknowingly nod, she confesses her true intentions candidly.

“If you admitted to finding the relic, I was going to try to negotiate as if it was nothing special. But it was useless since you knew its value, Mr. Yandel…”

“So, you chose the direct approach.”

“Yes. So, can’t you just be honest now, Mr. Yandel?”

I pondered for a moment.

Since I’m completely sure that the item I used back then was a relic, it doesn’t seem like a good idea to keep denying it like before.

It’s better to admit what I need to admit.

“I got that thing, the [Tears of the Goddess] or whatever, by breaking a statue in front of the fountain.”

“I knew it! I knew it!”

“But that’s it.”

“…Huh?”

Seeing her bewildered, I quickly explained.

“When you guys were searching the area, I was bored, so I broke it, and it came out.”

“Then… you don’t know about the book?”

She muttered with a blank expression, then quickly regained her composure and snapped back.

“Wait a minute. There’s a contradiction, isn’t there? If that’s true, how could you think of using something you didn’t even know about in that situation?”

A sharp question, indeed.

But since I already expected it, I had no trouble answering.

“The box had the goddess’s symbol on it, so I figured it was one of your items. And it worked well.”

“…Is that true?”

“I swear on the honor of a warrior, everything I just said is true.”

When I even made a modern-day oath, which is like a cheat code, Raven’s expression turned gloomy.

“Then what… what have I been doing?”

It seems like she’s feeling self-loathing after realizing she was shadowboxing alone.

I feel sorry for her, but I also think this.

The players’ community, ‘Ghost Busters.’

I thought its greatest strength was the ‘exchange of information’…

‘Maybe it wasn’t for other people.’

I am a player to someone,

And also, a demon to someone else.

Therefore…

“I’m hungry, so I’m going now!”

Like a barbarian, I slam the door open and leave the room.

Misha, who follows me as if I’m her benefactor.

The dwarf who treats me like a friend.

Ainar, who encourages and looks up to me, saying I’ll become a great warrior.

It’s the same for everyone.

Bjorn, the son of Yandel.

In this body, I can’t be truthful to anyone.

Well, it’s not like it would be any different in Lee Han-soo’s body.

***

After leaving the Magic Tower, I went straight to the commercial district and picked up the completed magic underwear.

Then, it was five in the afternoon.

It was a bit of an awkward time to end the day like this.

So, I dragged my weary body to the library.

Because it would be a little more productive than going back to rest.

“Parsityev.”

After receiving the magic from the librarian, I headed straight to the bookshelves.

There was no point in greeting her since she wouldn’t respond anyway, and I didn’t have the energy to do so today.

But…

“…You’ve become quite famous, haven’t you?”

The librarian, who usually couldn’t be bothered to exchange a single word, surprisingly speaks to me.

“It just happened.”

I gave a casual answer and left.

I used to think that it would be beneficial to befriend a mage…

‘But now, it’s ridiculous to be concerned about such things.’

I became a 6th-grade explorer.

And I also got the nickname ‘Little Vulcan.’

I have enough specs to join a team with a mage, and my current team already has one.

Although not from the Magic Tower…

‘Looking at her working as a librarian, she’s probably the same.’

I chuckled inwardly at that thought.

Because I knew that no matter how I justified it, it was just rationalization.

Thud-

Evidence that exists only for the sake of justification.

In the end, my true feelings are different.

I just didn’t want to.

I didn’t want to calculate every single action and try to gain favor from others.

At least today, I was a little too tired for that.

Therefore—

Thud-

I stop walking towards the bookshelves.

And I face the problem I had been avoiding.

‘No wonder Ainar says I’ve lost my edge.’

I have a problem.

A mental problem.

It seems that my body has recovered quite a bit, and the emotions I thought were dried up are slowly showing themselves.

Bad news for me, whose priority is survival.

Then what is the solution?

‘I don’t know, let’s just do what I have to do.’

I turn around.

And I approach the librarian.

“Don’t just stare blankly, if you have something to say, say it quickly.”

“…How did you know I had something to say?”

“It was just that kind of look.”

There are a few reasons, but I’m too lazy to explain.

Seeing my gaze filled with such emotions, the quick-witted librarian concisely stated her business.

“I have a friend who works at the administrative office. They’re looking for an explorer to take on a request, so I recommended you.”

“You recommended me?”

“Strictly speaking, I didn’t recommend you. It just so happened that your name came up during our conversation, and my friend asked me to arrange a meeting with you. Of course, you can refuse if you’re busy or don’t want to—”

“Okay. I’ll meet them and hear what they have to say.”

The librarian, looking surprised at my answer, nods slightly.

“Then I’ll let my friend know.”

A request…

It was about time for such an event to happen.

‘So, I’ve gained a way to make money in the city too.’

I’m glad I decided to hear her out.