Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 171

Swaaaah-!

The Orb of Fire emitted light upon user registration.

However, after that, no matter what we did, it wouldn’t react.

So, Raven, who had been fiddling with it, also gave up.

“This… I think we should go back to the city and have a special appraiser take a look.”

“Are we taking this with us?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

No, that’s…

Since it’s come to this, I spoke honestly.

“Actually, I thought you might say we should take the book. Something like it’s a book of immense historical value.”

“Oh, well, I can’t say I’m not tempted by the book.”

Raven readily agreed instead of getting angry.

“But the person who wrote the diary also said it, right? To take this and use it. It must be something more valuable than the diary. Besides, I’ve already memorized all the diary entries. And just in case, I also made a video recording.”

“Oh… is that so?”

“Yes. So, don’t worry about that part.”

Soon, Raven used ‘Distortion’ magic on the Orb of Fire.

This meant that even if it was revealed to be bound, it couldn’t be undone.

‘It would be much more practical to use this after returning to the city.’

Yeah, that seems better.

I didn’t know anything.

So, this was completely an accident.

Although my conscience pricked a little…

‘In the first place, it’s not like I got this item just for my own benefit.’

The Orb of Fire is an item for the entire team.

Therefore, everyone can share the benefits.

Yes, until I leave the team.

“…It doesn’t seem like there’s anything else here.”

After that, we searched every nook and cranny of the house for about 30 more minutes, but there were no significant finds.

I thought there might be elements left that didn’t appear in the game, like the diary, but there weren’t.

“Well, what should we do now?”

“What are you talking about? We should continue hunting.”

“…I thought you’d say that.”

Like the money-obsessed explorers we are, we spent the remaining time hunting monsters.

And how much time had passed?

「The character will move to Lapdonia.」

The time to return had come.

***

The sunlight we saw after a whole month.

After basking in the warmth for a moment as if photosynthesizing, we moved on.

A checkpoint for mid-level explorers of rank 6 or higher.

After waiting for a while, everyone gathered except for Bear Ahjussi [a respectful term for an older man].

“Why isn’t Urakburak coming?”

Well, do I really need to ask that?

Since we had been hunting until just now, I didn’t have the energy to answer.

After waiting for a while, Bear Ahjussi arrived.

There was an unfamiliar explorer next to him.

“Here you go.”

“Ah, thank you. Thanks to you, I found it easily.”

“Hehe, thanks to you, I’m having a strange experience.”

With that exclamation, the explorer coolly headed to their own team.

Bear Ahjussi smiled awkwardly and joined us.

“Haha, the line is quite long?”

Of course, it’s because you made us late.

I sigh every time I see it, but I didn’t say anything.

After all, I’m the leader of this team.

Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.

I have to try to embrace their flaws as well.

I’ve also built up some immunity from the team of half-wits.

‘This ahjussi is amazing when it comes to fighting.’

Anyway, while we were all waiting in line, Misha chatted with Bear Ahjussi.

“Being here together like this, it really feels like we’ve made it big.”

“Hehe, I guess you could say that. Team ranks are recognized from rank 6 and above.”

“Yeah, yeah. It feels like we’ve become real explorers, you know? It’s so strange…”

Actually, I was feeling the same way.

Before, we had to meet outside through checkpoints that matched each rank.

Anyway, as it was for rank 6, the line moved quickly.

There were far fewer people passing through here than at the rank 9 checkpoint, but there were more than twice as many staff.

Even the checkpoint was in the form of a room, so privacy was protected.

“Team Apple Narac… is that correct?”

The administrative staff member checked our team registration and then managed their expression.

After going through a simple administrative procedure, we handed over the magic stones we had collected in bundles.

About seven of them.

All of them were heavy.

“… !”

The staff member’s eyes widened as they opened all the bundles and confirmed that they were full of magic stones.

Of course, that moment was brief.

Their eyes narrowed and became meaningful.

For some reason, the past days when I was dragged to the guild prison came to mind, and I felt like I was getting PTSD…

But Raven, the dialogue enthusiast, took care of it.

“These are all magic stones that we legitimately obtained by defeating monsters. We also have video recordings to prove it. Well, if you want to check, you’ll have to give us appropriate compensation for disclosing our achievements.”

“There’s no need for that… it seems.”

“Then, could you please exchange them quickly?”

Perhaps because they were tired, or perhaps because they didn’t like the staff member’s gaze, their tone was more prickly than usual.

Did they sense something?

The staff member moved quickly and finished the exchange.

“That’s 25.19 million stones.”

It was an amount that would practically only come from a clan-level operation.

If divided among five people, that’s a whopping 5 million stones each.

If we earn this much every month, our annual salary would be 60 million stones!

‘As expected of a burning zone.’

Even if we caught dozens of monsters in one battle, it would have been impossible to earn this much without the double magic stone event.

“Huh…”

A sigh involuntarily escaped my lips.

It was that strange of a feeling.

It felt like just yesterday when I exchanged 180,000 stones on my first entry and received the admiration of my peers.

“Then, how many cotton candies is that?”

“Uh… even if you ate 10 every day, you’d never run out in your lifetime?”

It was very encouraging that this was pure magic stone income, not from the equipment of looters or anything like that.

Well, it would be difficult to earn this much every time.

‘This time, we found it pretty early.’

We discovered the black moss earlier than expected.

Moreover, Milaloden appeared without us having to wait long.

Furthermore, the distortion magic was successful in one go.

It would be difficult to expect things to go this well in the next exploration.

“…The settlement will be tomorrow, right?”

As soon as we left the checkpoint, Raven asked.

Looking at their eyes, it was clear that they had already decided on the answer.

“Let’s just do it the day after tomorrow.”

I didn’t plan on doing it today anyway.

I had been hunting while cutting down on sleep, and on the last day, I had stayed awake until 12 o’clock.

Considering that the camping routine was between 9 and 10 PM, I had already gone over my bedtime.

“The day after tomorrow?”

“Yeah, we also have to sell the equipment and byproducts.”

“Ah, that… Could Yandel sell it for me instead? I really, really don’t think I can wake up tomorrow.”

“You said you have an appraiser’s license, so you can handle this part?”

Raven shut their mouth.

It seemed like they never imagined that the words they had proudly uttered before would come back like a boomerang…

“If it was just equipment, I wouldn’t mind, but there are also magic materials mixed in. This is something only you, a mage, can do.”

“…Then, Yandel, come with me. A barbarian can carry the luggage, right?”

Luggage carrier, my foot.

They were carrying a subspace ring, yet they were saying such absurd things…

But I just said I would.

I was also curious about the mage’s sales route.

“Then, let’s meet then.”

After simply setting a meeting time, we each scattered to our lodgings.

“Haaam, I’ll go first.”

Raven went to the magic tower where their personal laboratory was located.

“Abman, can you find your way properly?”

“Don’t worry. I know the way home from the checkpoint.”

“Hmm, so you can still find your way home?”

Bear Ahjussi went to the pub where his wife was waiting.

“Okay, let’s go home too.”

“Misha, can’t we eat something before that? I’m so, so hungry…”

“Let’s eat after we wash up together.”

“Ugh, I’ll try to hold on.”

We headed to our own lodgings.

***

The next day, 1 PM.

While Misha and Ainar were sleeping in at the lodgings, I prepared to go out.

Because I had to go sell the loot with Raven.

[Ah, then please take my equipment to the repair shop too.]

[…Can I ask you too?]

For reference, I also brought the equipment of the two in my backpack.

It was a little disappointing that not a single person said they would come along…

But yeah, I’m the team leader.

It’s right for me to suffer this much for the team.

“You’re one minute late.”

“Should I pay a late fee?”

“Do I look like a beggar to you?”

Why are they so prickly again?

‘Ah, it’s because they didn’t get enough sleep.’

I decided to understand with a broad mind.

They’re not the team leader, and they were just dragged out because they’re a mage, so they can’t help but be dissatisfied.

‘Do they like sweets? I should try feeding them one later.’

Remembering the coping skills I learned from my ex-girlfriend, we boarded a carriage heading to Commelby.

There was no friendly conversation during the ride.

We both passed out and slept.

“Haaam, I slept well…”

I opened my eyes to find that the carriage had arrived.

Since we didn’t meet early in the morning, we moved a little faster.

Ah, first, let’s put something sweet in our mouths.

“Umm, I don’t like sweets…”

“Focus your eyes before you speak?”

“Ah, my pride is hurt.”

Anyway, today’s schedule was simple.

Sell Milaloden’s byproducts at the magic shop.

Stop by the blacksmith to repair weapons and dump the Masked Man’s equipment.

Register the expansion backpack and Ifrit essence at the exchange.

And while we were at the exchange, we called out a special appraiser and finished appraising the Orb of Fire.

“This… you’ve obtained a rare item. I’ve heard that even among large clans, there are very few that possess it.”

“So, what is it?”

“It’s the Orb of Fire. When activated, it reduces fire damage within a 15-meter radius, consuming soul power instead.”

“What are the activation conditions?”

“There’s an activation phrase. I’ll write it down here, so don’t forget it.”

For reference, the special appraisal cost a whopping 300,000 stones.

My stomach started to hurt as soon as I heard that.

They’re really raking in money while sitting down.

“So, what’s the appraisal value?”

“Ah, I didn’t tell you that. Only the first person to acquire the Orb of Fire can use it.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

Raven’s gaze shifted to me.

But what can we do now?

It was an accident, it was an accident.

“Hoo…”

A sigh that seemed to contain many emotions.

Since we had finished our business, we were about to leave when the appraiser made a suggestion.

“Ah, could you tell me where you obtained it?”

“No. We have no intention of sharing our achievements.”

“Please come back if you change your mind. The clans that have obtained the Orb of Fire are all keeping their mouths shut. We will pay a reasonable price.”

“Yes, we will.”

We left the exchange, and today’s schedule was all over.

Thanks to moving along a systematic route, there was still quite a bit of time left until the last train.

We had a simple meal near the platform.

“Raven, I’m telling you in advance, I didn’t know about this.”

“Who said anything? What, do you think I’d ask you to compensate me with money?”

Oh, no…?

I thought that would be the obvious thing to say.

“It’s okay. The appraiser said it too, right? It’s a magic tool that’s used more like a public asset than a personal item.”

“Yeah, I’ll only use it for the team.”

A crisis that I was secretly worried about was easily resolved.

So, I also ate my meal comfortably and asked what I was curious about.

“But why did you refuse that offer earlier?”

“The one asking for the acquisition location?”

“Yeah, they seemed like they would give us a generous amount if we just told them.”

“Generous, my foot. If we told them, they’d make several times more profit than the money they’d give us. I can’t tolerate that.”

Well, it seems like the distributors are always the ones who get the easy money, but…

“More than anything, if the acquisition location is revealed, more people will know about that book, right? That’s not okay. I’m going to dig into it properly later and turn the academic world upside down.”

Now I see, there was another reason.

What’s with that fame?

It’s a motivation that’s hard to empathize with, but everyone has different things they pursue.

“Anyway, so please take care of me in the future too.”

“Suddenly?”

“What do you mean suddenly? I’m going to keep being an explorer. Next to Yandel.”

No, I still don’t know why they’re emphasizing being next to me so much…

As I stared at them, Raven smiled brightly.

“I felt it during the Crimson Fortress, but Yandel, you’re naturally gifted in this area. I have a feeling that we’ll experience unusual things often in the future, you know?”

That if I’m next to them, we’ll experience unusual things often…

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You can trust me. A mage’s intuition is more accurate than you think.”

It’s definitely reliable.

That mage’s intuition.