Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 221

The old me wasn’t like this. What was the original me like?

Lee Han-soo, the little boy who spent most of his childhood in the hospital, was an ordinary child. He admired heroes and believed that he would become someone special someday. However, that little boy learned as he lived. Emotions are just emotions. In the end, the ones who can laugh and live even at the end are the ones who think and act rationally. That’s why…….

‘Misha, Ainar, Raven, Bear Uncle.’ I engrave my priorities in my mind once again. No matter what happens, I will save them and return. However, even with such determination.

Clang!

I raise my shield to block the beast’s claws that were aiming for my comrade. “Are you okay?” “Ah, ah! Thank you…….” I don’t want to let go of this desire to save even one more person, this desire that heats up my heart and head. My head is hot, as hot as the breath I’m exhaling right now. Was I such a hot-blooded person?

“Dabers, if you’re tired, go back and rest.” “……That won’t happen.” “……?” “Not until you go to rest.” Why are all warriors so stubborn? I find myself thinking I shouldn’t have asked for their names, but also that it’s a good thing I did. Therefore, I discard the question. I also discard regret. I think of only one thing, as if I’ve truly become a game character. A shield-type barbarian created to protect comrades. Bjorn Yandel, who followed that build exactly. What is he best at? No, what does he have to do? I know the answer.

「Due to the [High-Grade Recovery] effect, your body is rapidly regenerating.」

I’m still barely hanging on, like walking a tightrope with just potions, even though I know I could be much safer if I received a cleric’s care. I don’t ask for heals instead of potions. The Orc Hero’s passive skill [Path of the Hero], which increases defense stats as health decreases. “Behel—raaaaaaaaaa!!” The more I burn my health, the tougher I become. Then I can save more people, and those who survive will help overcome the remaining obstacles. Yes, so…….

“We’re almost there!!” This is a rational choice. Let’s believe and move forward.

***

About nine hours have passed since we left the center. The first two hours were spent sprinting as if we were doing a speedrun, and the remaining seven hours were spent breaking through the ‘Abyssal Mist’ to clear the path. There were many casualties. There were terrible things that are hard to sum up in a few sentences. But…….

“We’ve arrived.” We finally reached our first destination. Yes, our first destination. [How is it, is the portal open?] I swallowed a groan and tried to answer calmly. “No, the portal is destroyed.” What greeted us at the place we arrived after passing countless corpses and blood was a scene of destruction. There was nothing there where the monument should have been and the portal should have been open. Clench. For the first time in a long time, I was filled with anger at the absurdity. So many warriors died. Each and every one of them had families, and were precious beings who could not be discarded. [It was a wasted trip.] “…….” [Get a grip. There are still two portals left. You need to choose where to go.] I forcibly suppress the overflowing emotions and try to cool my head as much as possible. And I think. North or South? [Make a decision as quickly as possible.] There’s no time to think leisurely. The battle continues even at this moment. “Yandel, don’t feel pressured. How can you choose that? It’s just luck.” “Haha, a warrior is supposed to judge with his heart, not his head!” “We’ll follow you no matter which choice you make.” “Even if it’s the wrong choice, no one can blame you. If there’s anyone who does, I’ll split their head with my axe.” The warriors who have crossed the line of death with me several times in a short period of time offer me words of comfort. They’re such strange fellows. They can all laugh in that state. Scoff. I closed my eyes. ‘Now, there’s only one chance.’ Realistically, it’s impossible to check all three portals. We judged that we had two chances in terms of time and power, and decided to make the east our first destination. There were several reasons. 1. If we choose the east, we can choose between the north and south even if the first chance is lost. Also, if we get new information during the expedition, we can change the route. 2. The Abyssal Razor Wolves are less tricky than other monsters. It’s also the path with the least damage. Also…….

3. If it’s a beast’s lair, it’s difficult for the Noark bastards to form an encirclement. I thought it would be better for us if a battle broke out. We can hold out with our backs against the walls on three sides, and then go down to the first floor at the end of the 7th day. ‘……Damn it.’ After organizing it like this, I belatedly realize one thing. ‘It was a flawed judgment from the start.’ From my perspective, choosing the east was reasonable. But what about from the other side’s perspective? ‘I was short-sighted.’ I made plans only in a direction that was advantageous to me. Because if it succeeded, it would be the best for me. I acted while picturing the best-case scenario in my head, even though it was clear that everyone else would do the same. ‘If they were the ones, where would they have chosen?’ I asked myself again. Which portal would be most advantageous for Noark? The answer came quickly. ‘The north.’ The Goblin Forest. No matter how I think about it, there’s no better choice for them than this place. There are three reasons. 1. The Abyssal Goblins are the trickiest of the four monsters on the first floor. To get through this path, many sacrifices will be inevitable. 2. There are no geographical features to act as walls, so encirclement is possible. Even the battle is advantageous. Most of all…….

3. The Goblin Forest is the shortest distance to the third floor. This is the most important part. The guys who stopped exploring the labyrinth for seven months must be suffering from food shortages. After this operation is over, they would have tried to go up to the upper floor and mine magic stones. After all, aren’t all the people in this world efficiency freaks? ‘You stupid bastard.’ I already knew about the food shortage. So I also thought that there wouldn’t be that many people waiting in front of the second floor. And I believed that and made this plan. However, I failed to connect that to the Goblin Forest, even though I simulated it over and over again. ‘One of three, my ass. I just wanted an easy path.’ I curse my own stupidity. But rather than blaming myself further, I take out the message stone and hold it in my hand. Clench. This isn’t the time to fall apart alone. The water has already been spilled. So, what’s important now is how to deal with it next. “We’re going north.” As soon as I announced the decision through the message stone, Kyle’s voice was heard. [The Goblin Forest, huh…….] “Do you have something you want to say?” [No, actually, if you hadn’t chosen anything, I was going to recommend that place first. I just thought of it now, but that side is suspicious.] Yeah, the old man had the same thought as me. I wish we had realized it a little sooner. Both me and this old man. ‘Okay, that’s enough whining.’ I led the group that trusted me and came this far, and resumed moving. “Get ready. We’ll start again now.” The destination is the Goblin Forest in the north. “Ha, so the rest is over.” “Let’s go. We can rest enough when we get out.” Instead of going back the way we came, breaking the formation, we moved in a roundabout way, changing direction. “Grrr……!” “Kyaaaaak!” As soon as we left the vicinity of the portal, the beast bastards appeared without fail. We fought fiercely with them again, clearing the path. And how long has it been? “Grrrk, grrrk!!” The Abyssal Goblins slowly began to appear. This meant that we had moved a considerable distance from the eastern district where the Razor Wolves appeared. “Grrrk.” The same small stature as usual, but the goblin, whose skin was as black as ominous, stared at me. “Krrk, krrrk!” He was smiling, just like when I first fell into this cave. “Prepare for battle!” From now on, we will walk a difficult path.

***

9th-grade monster, Goblin. These bastards are nothing special. Just be careful of the traps, and even those traps can be neutralized with a decent pair of boots. But…….

「You have defeated an Abyssal Goblin +EXP 5」

The 5th-grade goblins with the prefix Abyssal are different. These damn bastards transform into beings that are more difficult than trolls. 「The Abyssal Goblin has cast [Random Trap].」 Active skill [Random Trap]. The effect is simple. Click. When stepped on, a random skill of 5th grade or lower is cast on the target. Ah, by the way, buffs are excluded. Only attack and curse-type skills are activated. Whoosh-! The moment I heard the sound of the trap activating, one of the warriors was engulfed in flames. I knew what it was as soon as I saw it. [Extinguish] Among the 5th-grade skills, it’s one of the top single-target damage skills. “Damn it!! Cleric! Cleric, Cleric—!” The cleric, who had been called out so desperately, was already casting a heal as soon as the flames appeared, but it was useless. Thud. A warrior who had been clearing the path at the front line for over two hours fell, burned to a crisp. A truly futile death. That’s the annoying thing about Abyssal Goblins. “Krrk, krrrk!!” No matter what build you take, there are bound to be counter attributes, but random attacks? If you’re unlucky, you can die in one hit. But in the midst of that…….

“Damn it, this is driving me crazy.” The Abyssal Goblin’s traps cannot be detected in advance with the naked eye or magic. You just have to step on them. “I, I can’t go any further. I’m sorry.” A warrior who had his arm torn off by a Razor Wolf and still smiled and came back after treatment took a step back. I can’t blame him. If I was weak and couldn’t avoid the enemy’s attack, that’s one thing. But just dying if you’re unlucky? Even a warrior who has overcome countless adversities would have a hard time overcoming psychological fear. Therefore…….

“I’ll go first.” I move forward first. It’s not that I’m not afraid, nor do I have a noble mindset to sacrifice myself with a smile for everyone. “You guys follow behind me.” There’s no solution if everyone is scared. In the end, that choice will kill everyone, including me. That’s why, in this situation, it’s necessary. Click. The one who overcomes fear and takes the first step. Yes, there has to be someone like that. “Behel—raaaaaaaaaa!!” I overcome my fear and increase my speed. Click. The traps activated at intervals of twenty steps. 「Your character’s stamina is greatly reduced.」 A curse-type debuff. 「Your character’s body is burning hot, and regeneration ability is temporarily sealed.」 A continuous fire attack [Leech Flame]. 「The cold damage your character takes is temporarily greatly increased.」 A deluge of water and…… Boom! Real lightning. All kinds of skills are stacked on me. But I moved forward, believing in the +200 magic resistance I got from the Manticore, believing that the first step I took would not be meaningless. Click. I kept taking steps. At some point, I could hear people’s voices from afar, but that time didn’t last long. “I, I…….” “Stop making a scene and step back. I’ll go next.” “Damn it, I! Why am I…….” Those who passed by those who stopped and fell followed behind me. “We follow the great warrior!!” “Behel—raaaaaaaaaa!” The beginning is the Barbarian. “Haha! You said you had a family. Someone like me who is single should go.” The leader who lost his team. “……This is also fulfilling the duties of the royal family. I will stand next.” The abandoned knight. “I’m going crazy. This is the first time I’ve seen an enemy like this.” “Ha, how am I supposed to get out of here?” “I’ve been feeling it since earlier, but you’re a real madman.” The murmuring grew louder, and I could feel the presence of my comrades right behind me. But I didn’t look back. The one who is needed in this place today is not the one who doubts and is anxious, but the one who moves forward silently. “Y-you’re all crazy! Do you think anyone will acknowledge you for doing that!! Huh? A hero?” Without blaming the one who sat down. “Damn it……. But I’m still going. Because someone has to do it.” With the one who stood up again. Click. I move forward, in order not to throw anything away anymore.

***

When I came to my senses, I was being carried on Ainar’s back. But I didn’t ask what had happened, because this was already the third time. Stepping on traps, stepping on them again and again, and then passing out. “How long has it been?” “Please… rest a little more, Bjorn……. Huh?” Ignoring Misha’s worries, I get off Ainar’s back. I could see Kyle. This old man would tell me. “How long has it been?” “We’ll arrive in two hours.” “Okay, I see.” I think I was passed out for about 30 minutes. The cleric’s divine power had already run out. I wonder how many more died in the front while I was gone. “Old man…….” Just as I was about to take a step, Erwen grabbed my wrist. “Can’t you not go……?” “…….” “Other people are clearing the path right now anyway, right?” A terribly selfish yet alluring statement. Also, it was a statement that the old me would have thought was rational. But…….

“I have to go.” “Why… why do you go so far?” “Because I’m sick of seeing someone die.” I have a high level of magic resistance, so I only passed out after stepping on hundreds of traps. It’s just a 5th-grade skill, after all. Even without [Giantification], my body was very strong. And I realized that, at least I won’t die in this madness. So…….

“Get out of the way.” I push Erwen away and head to the front. My comrades didn’t hold me back anymore either. Soon, as I increased my speed, I was able to rejoin the front line again. “You’re back again, not getting tired of it.” A passage blocked by nearly 200 warriors. It turned out like this when I gathered the warriors indiscriminately without dividing them into three groups. This is different from the Razor Wolf district. If you just step on the traps in front, the enemies coming out of the side paths are not very dangerous. The condition is 5th grade or higher. Among them, those with high defense stats. Ah, I did accept melee-type warriors, but I completely excluded non-warrior classes. The Abyssal Goblins’ characteristic isn’t just the traps. They use throwing weapons. The name is ‘Monster Pouch’. When thrown, it explodes and a random monster of 5th grade or lower appears, right in front of you. It’s an environment that weak mages or archers, for whom distance control is vital, cannot withstand. “……Is that a cleric being carried on someone’s back?” “Ah, I told you to just stay still. You keep using divine power and then pass out.” By the way, it’s not just the cleric who’s being carried. Warriors who were seriously injured and retreated to the back, panting for potions, are being carried on the shoulders of other warriors, two at a time. Maybe when they come to their senses, they’ll get up and carry another warrior. “I see. When they wake up, stop them even if you have to force them. We need to save it for when it’s really needed.” “But this goddess cleric is so stubborn, she just won’t listen to us?” “Then why don’t you just knock her out before that?” “Oh, that’s true.” Even though it was a suggestion to commit blasphemy against the cleric, the warrior nodded as if he understood. It must mean that this isn’t a situation to be picky. “Then I’ll go first.” Just as I was about to nod and move forward, the warriors pushed me with their shoulders. Wait a minute, did I just get shoulder-checked? The first experience I’ve had since waking up in this body. “……What is this?” When I asked, the warriors shrugged nonchalantly. “Can’t you see we’re waiting in line here?” “Even if you’re the leader, you have to follow the rules.” “Bjorn Yandel, do you think you’re some kind of hero?” What? No, what the hell is this nonsense? It’s absurd, but the warriors’ expressions were sincere. “Rest a little more, Yandel.” “You deserve it.” Huh, I don’t know whether to be happy or not about this situation. While I was just watching the situation. “Stop, stop!!” A commotion was heard from the front. Stopping in this situation? Something must have happened. “Get out of the way.” I hurriedly pushed past the warriors and moved forward. This time, even the flustered warriors didn’t stop me. “Uh, uh?” “Wait!” “Yandel? Why are you here?” “We clearly said to let him rest…….” When I reached the front, familiar explorers greeted me. But there was something to solve before their questions. What was the commotion about? Without even needing to ask, the answer was right in front of me. “Anyway, you came at the right time. Yandel, is that the thing the mage was talking about?” Beyond the passage, a huge eye that flickered in the darkness that devoured the light, looking at me. “Yeah, I think so.” I sighed and nodded. What’s the point of denying it? Having made eye contact with that eye, it was as good as confirmed that I would encounter the Abyssal Lord Berzak. Yeah, it was a miracle that we hadn’t met until now. “So, what are we going to do now?” What do you mean what are we going to do, we have to do it according to the plan. “Everyone, step back.” I took my mace and moved forward. Even though I was approaching with a weapon, the huge eye just blinked and didn’t move back. It was quite an unpleasant gaze. Therefore…….

‘Hey, have you never seen a barbarian before?’ I slammed the mace into the eye with all my might. Crack-! As expected of a 9th-grade token monster, the eye disappeared into light with one normal attack. 「You have defeated the Abyssal Watcher +EXP 1」 「The Abyssal Lord Berzak has begun to take a strong interest in you.」 Sigh, how long has it been since I woke up, and I’m going to suffer again. I took out the message stone and gave a post-report to Kyle. “I just killed the Abyssal Watcher. Now hurry up and come this way.” It’s time to go to Plan B.