Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 192

The third floor of the tavern where Team Apple Narak always gathered.

Raven let out a deep sigh for no particular reason. It was because of the absence of one member due to an unexpected situation.

“Well, we’ve gathered as promised, but at this rate, we won’t be able to settle the accounts properly.”

It had already been three days since they returned to the city. Raven, in place of the absent leader, had gone to Commelby alone and sold all the spoils of war. The total came to a whopping 152.4 million stones.

“W-what?! That’s a number I’ve never heard of before!!”

“Wow, did that price really come out even without the equipment we took?”

“Well, it’s the result of selling all the equipment of seven mid-level explorers. Moreover, the Numbers item, ‘Foxfire Knot,’ is still listed on the exchange and hasn’t been sold yet.”

“…I expected it to some extent, but it’s truly astonishing.”

As soon as they heard the amount, everyone made a sound like air escaping from their mouths. It was exactly the reaction they had expected. But why did it feel so lacking? Raven unconsciously glanced at the empty seat.

‘I didn’t realize it when he was here, but it feels kind of lonely without him.’

Bjorn, Yandel’s son. A barbarian warrior who serves as the guardian of Team Apple Narak and also the team leader. If he were here, he would probably be having a battle of wits over the distribution ratio right now.

[You want 40% of the value of the Manticore’s essence for yourself because it’s a special spoil? That’s a strange calculation. If you had won the dice roll that day, I might understand, but this was obtained from the dwarf, so it’s right to distribute it equally.]

[Then what about the 20 million stones we received as a reward?]

[Of course, I’ll give you the cost of the test tubes you used. But you want 40% of the reward? There was no mention of such a reward in the distribution agreement for special spoils, was there?]

There would have been a conversation something like that, and then he would have chuckled as usual and proposed a new compromise. He thought it was all about profit back then. But maybe it wasn’t always like that……

“Aruru, what are you thinking so hard about?”

“It’s nothing.”

Raven shook off his thoughts and wrapped up the meeting. “If no one needs the money urgently, I’ll keep it until Mr. Yandel comes back.”

“Okay, okay. I can lend Ainar money.”

“Again!! Do I have to borrow again!!”

“You don’t have much to pay back anyway. If you take it in advance, it will only complicate the calculations and make it harder for Aruru. So, just wait until then. Okay?”

“Okay!”

“Hmm, he said 20 days, right? There’s a little over half a month left.”

Raven felt a strange sensation. It was his own suggestion. But is it normal for them to nod so readily when he says he’ll keep over a hundred million in assets by himself? If you ask that, the answer is no. Raven, like a mage, couldn’t hold back the question that arose and voiced it.

“Aren’t you all worried? That I’m going to keep it.”

“Huh?”

“Worried? Why would we be worried about that!”

It was as if they were asking a strange question. He felt even stranger. It wasn’t a bad feeling at all, but it was hard to define exactly what it was.

‘Is that why he used awakening magic back then……’

In the past, when he heard that story from Bjorn, he thought he was a really naive person. Because a mage from the Magic Tower would never do such a thing. But now, he could understand his actions a little bit. Not much, maybe about 1%.

“Anyway, that concludes today’s agenda.”

After finishing the purpose of the meeting, they had a meal together and chatted about various things. It goes without saying that most of the topics were about the team leader who was absent.

“Arurung, what kind of place is Bipron?”

“……It’s a nasty place. Even the most noble people can’t help but become ugly there.”

“Poverty and starvation are like that.”

“Did Mr. Urikfrit also have such times?”

“……When I was in my third year, I lost all my equipment. Back then, I spent a whole year eating only bread crusts to save money and barely managed to recover. I remember barely paying taxes too.”

The atmosphere became a bit heavy. Misha carefully voiced her concern.

“Bjorn, is he doing okay?”

“Why are you so worried, Ms. Carlstein? He has a lot of money and is strong. What could be difficult for him there? He’s probably relaxing as if he’s on vacation right now.”

“Hmm, I hope so……”

Raven chuckled and shook his head. No matter what he said to a woman in love, it wouldn’t register, but she looked so lovely. ‘She’s a year older than me……’ For some reason, he felt envious. Would he ever make such an expression? He couldn’t imagine it easily right now. As he stared, Misha turned her head as if embarrassed and pinched Ainar’s waist.

“Ainar, stop eating so much meat and say something too. Aren’t you worried about Bjorn?”

“…Huh? Bjorn? Why would I worry about Bjorn? Bjorn is a great warrior! He can live better without laws!”

It was a truly barbarian-like answer. Normally, he would have shaken his head and said something, but surprisingly, everyone kept their mouths shut as if they had made a promise. It was for a simple reason.

“……”

It really seemed like he could. Even when there were laws, he was a guy who cleverly slipped through the cracks and did whatever he wanted.

***

He shouts. Louder than ever before.

“Behel—raaaaaaa!!!!!”

The place where I am currently is the fourth-floor terrace of the old government building in District 14. For reference, a total of 514 subordinates are lined up on the ground. And there is only one action they must take now. Since I led the chant, they must follow.

“Behel—ra!”

This is the result I achieved in just three days since arriving here. I became the boss of the ‘Western Alliance’ that occupied the western district of Bipron. It wasn’t difficult. In a place without laws, force becomes the law, that’s the natural order. Ah, I just went in and smashed everything.

“Your voices are too quiet!”

“Behel—raaaaa!”

“Louder!!!”

“B-Behel—raaaaa!”

Since I had subordinates, I taught them the barbarian battle cry, but it wasn’t very good. Is it because there isn’t a single barbarian among these people? It seems like it will take some time to be satisfactory. If someone asks why I’m teaching it in the first place, there’s only one answer I can give. I am a K-Barbarian who inherited the spirit of Hongik Ingan [a Korean ideal of benefiting humanity]. Of course, good things should be shared.

“Behel—raaaaaaa!!!”

I clenched my mace, feeling dissatisfied, and my voice grew louder. Okay, this is good enough.

“That’s it for today! Go back and play! Ah, don’t do anything that harms others!”

“Yes!!”

I finished the regular morning assembly that started today and dismissed my subordinates. There were quite a few who had broken legs and were using crutches, but they all safely left the premises with the help of their comrades. Now it’s my turn to start the morning.

“I have prepared tea.”

As I entered the room, a man with a jellyfish-cut hairstyle, whose crown was balding, bowed and brought out brunch. He was the boss of the Western Alliance until yesterday. For reference, he had severe alopecia areata [hair loss], so he usually wore a wig, but I told him to take it off from now on. How can a subordinate hide something from his boss?

“Tea and bread……”

Looking at the breakfast set on the table, I couldn’t help but sigh. “Are you kidding me? Bring me alcohol and meat.”

“Yes? Ah, yes! I’m sorry. I didn’t know, so I just prepared it as usual—”

“You eat this kind of thing for breakfast, that’s why your hair is falling out even though you’re young.”

“T-this is because of the witch’s poison!”

Whatever. If that were true, everyone here would be bald.

“Don’t make pathetic excuses.”

“……”

After waiting for a while, the table was set with crispy grilled meat. I ate it with my bare hands as usual. My hand skin is thick, and my fire resistance is high, so the heat isn’t a problem.

“What was your name again? I don’t remember.”

“That’s because you didn’t ask……”

Was that treason? Just as I was about to think that, he realized his mistake and quickly corrected himself.

“It’s Jinkasar Peljain.”

“That’s unique. Where is that name from?”

“It’s a South-Central naming style.”

Ah, so his ancestors were desert people. No wonder his skin is dark.

“Hmm.”

I looked at him for a moment and pondered. Jinkasar Peljain. Isn’t that too annoying to pronounce? For practicality, I need to shorten it a bit. Okay, since it starts with Jin……

“Jingjing. Yes, it would be good to call you Jingjing.”

“…Yes?”

“From now on, I will call you Jingjing.”

The answer came after a long pause.

“…………Yes.”

“You should add boss at the end.”

“Yes, boss……”

Jingjing didn’t seem to like his new name at all, but what could he do? If he doesn’t like it, he should try to win against me. Or, he should have managed his subordinates well so that they wouldn’t cause trouble for me.

“Water.”

“Yes?”

“Water.”

“Ah, yes!”

After finishing the meal, I swallowed the antidote I received from the knight with water. I felt uneasy because I didn’t know the ingredients, but Raven guaranteed its safety, so it should be fine. ‘Besides, not taking it would be even more unsettling.’ Bipron is an area where the ‘Guardian Magic Circle’ is broken. The ‘Witch’s Poison’ that brought the world to ruin is seeping in even at this moment, and all the residents here are exposed to it. For reference, the Witch’s Poison is like radiation. There is one unique aspect, as befits a fantasy world. ‘It doesn’t manifest until the age of 15, and after that, the probability of it manifesting increases depending on the exposure time.’ To explain it in a more game-like way, Bipron is a place covered with a probability-based instant death zone. For adults, the life expectancy after being exiled is 8 to 9 years. It’s only because the ‘Guardian Magic Circle’ is partially working that it’s even that long. If you go outside the walls, you’ll die within a day. ‘Well, no one has ever gone outside.’ The world outside the city is an unknown space for me too. It was completely blocked by the system in the game. So, in that sense……

“I’m full, let’s go for a walk.”

“……I will accompany you.”

I took Jingjing and went for a walk. And I walked aimlessly in one direction, asking about things I was curious about. As the leader of a group, he knew more than the kid who guided me on the first day, and he answered even the slightly strange questions sincerely. He was putting his soul into playing the role of the boss.

“If you have any more questions, please ask me anything. I, Jinkasar Peljain, will answer everything.”

Well, his intention in bowing so low was obvious. He probably thought that he only needed to play along for the 20 days until I leave. If he tried to betray me and failed, he would surely die. ‘Should I thank that kid?’ There was no way I had a plan to take over the Western Alliance when I was exiled to Bipron, but it wasn’t something I did without thinking. Whether I liked it or not, it was a place I had to stay for 20 days. I decided that it would be less troublesome to establish some kind of position. I also had some things I wanted to find out personally. Well, it’s not like I didn’t do it because I was bored.

“But boss, where are you going? We’ve already entered the eastern territory.”

“Just follow me.”

After the morning walk continued for more than two hours, Jingjing expressed his doubts.

“But if we go further, there’s only the wall……”

“That’s the destination.”

Why the wall, which has nothing there? That look flashed across his face for a moment, but Jingjing didn’t ask any more questions. He had learned how to talk to me in just one day.

Thud. We arrived at the street near the wall. I climbed onto the roof of the tallest building and looked at the wall. ‘It’s the same here too.’ Just like in other districts, there were soldiers standing guard on the wall. Come to think of it, I’ve always been curious about this. Why are the soldiers always looking this way instead of outside?

“Well, maybe it’s to prevent anyone from going outside?”

I asked Jingjing, but that was the only answer I got. Actually, I thought so too. Everyone else thinks so too. But…… ‘Is there really a need to do this even in Bipron?’ From the royal family’s point of view, these people are better off disappearing. No, if they die from the ‘Witch’s Poison’ while crossing the wall, it would actually help the royal family gain ‘legitimacy’. ‘It’s still strange.’ It was a contradiction I felt as soon as I arrived here. The ‘Guardian Magic Circle’ is broken in Bipron. So, when soldiers stand guard on the wall, they have to be given an antidote. But they’re still wasting resources to keep watch? ‘There’s something going on.’ I had that gut feeling. The same gut feeling that led me to discover countless hidden pieces. However, even after looking up at the wall and organizing my thoughts, I couldn’t find an answer. I did come up with one plausible hypothesis, but…… I still lack the evidence to support it.

“Let’s go back. I’m hungry.”

“Yes.”

I took my eyes off the wall and turned around. But then, I saw a group of dozens of people in the street below.

“They’re from the east. It seems they heard we came here and gathered. What should we do?”

His words seemed to be asking for my opinion, but Jingjing’s eyes were filled with anticipation that I would smash them too. He’s so transparent.

“That’s enough. Let’s go back to our district, so guide me. Let’s avoid encountering those guys as much as possi—”

Just as I was about to turn around, I froze like a stone. It was because of the face of one person among the easterners. ‘……Amelia Rainwales?’ Why is she here?