Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 294

I turned my head to see who had grabbed my shoulder.

A ring with a unique pattern adorned his index finger.

“A subspace ring.”

My heart skipped a beat.

I wondered what treasures it might hold.

It was like seeing a mysterious, unopened box.

*Swish.*

Without thinking, my hand reached for the ring.

My treasure…

“……What the hell, you creep!”

The man recoiled in disgust as soon as my hand brushed his, snatching his hand away.

“You barbarian! You wouldn’t dare…!”

Looking at his horrified eyes, I could guess his misunderstanding.

His companions also muttered among themselves.

“I knew it was strange for a barbarian to be a newbie.”

“A normal person wouldn’t come to this city.”

“Yeah, he was probably kicked out of his tribe for this… tendency.”

What the heck are these lunatics talking about?

I needed to clear up this misunderstanding quickly.

So, I swiftly extended my fist forward.

*Thwack!*

The first punch landed squarely on the face of the buck-toothed guy who had dared to touch me and act friendly.

“Cough!”

Something white flew out of the guy’s wide-open mouth.

One punch had completely fixed his buck teeth.

“Behel—raaaaaaa!”

As soon as I let out a battle cry, the explorers who had crowded around quickly backed away, creating space.

“It’s a fight!”

“Waaaaaaa!”

“The newbie and Rex’s gang are going at it!!”

This isn’t some schoolyard brawl.

The staff at the counter just sighed, looking like they were thinking, ‘Not again?’

So, no one’s going to try to stop it, huh?

‘Even better.’

I’m starting to like Noark more and more.

Maybe I secretly wanted this kind of macho society without admitting it.

“You bastard!!”

The former buck-toothed guy’s companion, the bearded guy, was enraged and drew his weapon.

Alright, a gear battle, huh?

I had been holding back on using my weapon just in case, but now I pulled out my mace as if I had been waiting for this moment.

However…

*Whoosh!*

The bearded guy ducked his head and dodged the mace.

And at that moment.

*Zzzzzap.*

An electric sphere sparked and flew from the hand of the man behind him.

It doesn’t seem like magic.

He must be a psychic…

‘Yeah, my shield is adamantite.’

Adamantite is a 5th-grade metal with 50% reduction in elemental damage.

*Zap!*

The current flowed through the shield and into my body, but I could easily withstand this much with my magic resistance.

But, was this type new to them?

‘If you’re going to take down a tank, you should curse them first, you bastards.’

When I swung my mace without any effect, the bearded guy’s eyes showed panic.

“……!”

I understood.

He had expected me to be ‘stunned’ and had closed the distance even more.

At the perfect angle to strike.

*Thwack!*

Okay, that’s two down.

*Thud.*

The bearded guy’s body flew up and crashed into the ceiling before falling to the floor.

If this were baseball, it would have been a foul.

I tapped my shoulder with the mace and stared straight ahead.

“What are you doing? Not coming?”

The trio, who had just tried to cut in line, surprisingly acted rationally after seeing two of their companions get wrecked in an instant.

“Rex, let’s back off.”

“……?”

“He’s a newbie who came yesterday, and it seems like the Kalte gang followed him and were all found dead.”

Ah, so you guys haven’t heard the rumors yet.

It seems they realized I wasn’t an easy opponent from the onlookers’ comments…

“But if we back down like this…”

“We’ll become a laughingstock. But it’s better than dying, isn’t it? I don’t know if it’s true, but they say one of his companions is a woman who uses aura.”

“Aura… ?”

The man named Rex frowned.

And at that moment.

*Swish.*

Amelia, who had been standing in line elsewhere, came and stood next to me.

“Ah, you’re here.”

“You seem to attract every incident.”

“It’s not my fault this time.”

“…I know. I saw it.”

With that, Amelia put her hand on the dagger she had strapped to her thigh.

And was this the deciding factor?

“…How about we wrap things up here?”

The man named Rex made a proposal.

Hey, that’s not how you negotiate.

“What about an apology?”

“I apologize. I’m sorry for making a rude request because I underestimated you.”

Is it the culture here to completely submit when you decide to give in?

Surprisingly, he was completely submissive.

‘So, what should I do…’

As I was pondering and glancing sideways, Amelia nodded slightly.

It meant to let them go at this point.

“Alright, I’ll accept your apology.”

“Thank you, then…”

As I accepted the apology, Rex and his companions began to gather their fallen comrades.

Um, what the heck is this?

“Stop.”

“……?”

“Leave everything those two have.”

“But you accepted the apology…”

No, that’s that, and this is this, you know?

What’s the point of a mere verbal apology?

“We’re on the same side now. We should help each other out.”

Yeah, isn’t that the way people should live?

***

After much deliberation, Rex finally sighed and stripped the gear off his unconscious companions.

“There, is that enough?”

“What about the rings?”

“…Here.”

Whew, how much is this worth?

It’s almost like money is being duplicated.

Why do the people of Noark live in poverty?

‘Anyway, I’ll check what’s inside the ring later…’

“Go on.”

“…….”

After chasing Rex and his gang away, I put all the stripped gear into the subspace ring.

Whew, I was already having a lot of inconveniences with the expansion backpack, so I was hoping to get a subspace item.

“They may look a bit rough, but they have warm hearts.”

“…….”

“Why are you staring blankly? Come on, let’s get back in line.”

After that, we headed back to the counter.

Thanks to getting out of line, other explorers had already taken our place, but it wasn’t a problem.

I had already adapted to this city.

“Oh, human.”

“……W-What is it?”

“As you saw earlier, we have a situation, so could you give us your place in line?”

“……Of course.”

Soon, thanks to the kindness of the explorer, we were able to stand at the front of the line.

We were in the middle of the line before the fight, so we saved almost 30 minutes.

“The people here are so full of warmth.”

“……Anyone would think you’re from here, not me.”

Hehe, it’s embarrassing to be praised.

“I’m just adapting quickly. It’s not like I’m a genius.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Hehe, you’re not being honest.”

“…….”

Anyway, being at the front of the line, it was soon our turn, and we were able to finish the registration earlier than scheduled.

That’s because we skipped the rank adjustment application.

“Didn’t you say you were going to raise it to rank 5?”

“It doesn’t matter. By now, news about us will have reached the lord’s ears anyway.”

Since the goal was already achieved thanks to me, there was no need to reveal the essence of our power to the world by adjusting our rank.

“It was good that you acted as you pleased.”

“……It’s been fine so far, but be careful from now on. This city isn’t just full of small fry like that.”

“Got it. Then is today’s work done?”

“Yeah, let’s go back and rest for now.”

After that, we returned to the inn we had booked yesterday, switched to a long-term rental, and refrained from going out while we waited.

And how long had it been?

Contrary to Amelia’s expectations, several days passed, and the lord’s side did not show any interest or approach us first.

Tsk, the plan was to get under the lord’s wing, but…

“Amelia, what’s going on?”

“……Since they don’t have any information about us, it seems they’re taking some time to figure out our tendencies.”

“So?”

“Let’s just keep waiting. They’ll contact us eventually. Given the lord’s personality, he won’t leave high-ranking independent explorers alone.”

Time passed, and the day to enter the labyrinth arrived.

***

“Waaaaaaa!”

“It’s been so long!”

“Let’s go make some moneyyyyy!”

The plaza was bustling with a large crowd as if a festival had been held.

It was a common sight on the day of labyrinth entry, but the people gathered in the plaza today seemed particularly excited.

It wasn’t hard to understand.

Most of the small number of people who entered the labyrinth last month had returned alive, creating a public opinion that the labyrinth had become safer.

For those who were struggling, it was nothing but good news.

*Whoosh-*

Arua Raven, who was passing by the road next to the plaza in a carriage, closed the curtain with a bitter expression.

It was a fresh realization.

“Right, it’s already been a month…”

It had been a month since Bjorn Yandel died.

It was the death of a man who was called a hero among explorers, but the world had not changed.

Only her surroundings had changed.

“Haa…”

Raven briefly recalled the past days.

[Yes, Bjorn is dead.]

Surprisingly, the most rational one in the group was the warrior.

[What are you doing? Let’s all go rest. I’m tired, so let’s talk about what to do tomorrow. I’ll go to the guild alone.]

She faced reality and tried to do what she had to do right away.

To maintain the team that Bjorn Yandel had created.

Of course, it wasn’t going to go well.

[In the future…? What do you mean by that?]

[Since Bjorn is dead, shouldn’t the five of us enter the labyrinth from now on?]

At that, the fairy retorted in an aggressive voice.

[Exploration? Is that the problem right now?]

[Then what’s the problem?]

[Of course, we have to take revenge!]

[Revenge?]

[Noark! Everything that happened on the island is because of those people! And that red-haired woman is suspicious from the start. If that bitch is alive and involved in what happened to the old man…]

The fairy’s eyes gleamed with murderous intent.

[No, even if she’s not involved, it doesn’t matter.]

[…….]

[I’m going to find them all and kill them.]

I understood her feelings of losing her mind in anger.

After all, the recent loss of her sister was also caused by Noark.

[Erwen, I understand how you feel, but calm down. How are you going to take revenge on those people who went outside in the first place? Let’s go back and rest today and then tomorrow…]

[So, that’s all he meant to you guys.]

[Huh?]

[I feel sorry for the old man. He stayed behind alone to protect people like you, who were his companions.]

[…What did you say? Say that again.]

[Re, Raven, stop it! You can’t be like that too!]

The warrior stopped her.

Normally, the beast warrior would have stepped in, but she didn’t seem to have the mind to do so.

But did that catch her eye?

[…….]

The fairy approached the beast warrior.

[What about my sister? Are you going to do it? Revenge?]

[I, I…….]

The beast warrior trailed off.

And how long had it been?

[You beastly bitch.]

The fairy, who had been waiting quietly for an answer, left after saying those words.

[E, Erwen, I’ll meet her tomorrow. So, let’s… go now.]

That’s how they scattered and went home.

The warrior said she would go to the guild to report Bjorn Yandel’s death, but the mage stopped her.

[Ainar, please take care of Misha. I’ll do this.]

[But…….]

[Ainar, you can’t even read.]

[Alright. I’ll leave it to you.]

Even at the moment of parting, the beast archer with a family said nothing.

She just watched the team fall apart with a bitter look, as if she had experienced this many times before.

[Let’s see, the deceased is… Baron Bjorn Yandel?!]

When the death report was submitted to the guild, the surroundings were in an uproar.

Not only the nearby explorers but even the staff had expressions that showed they wanted to ask many questions, but they didn’t approach Raven after seeing her expression.

That’s how a day passed.

[Did you hear? Baron Bjorn Yandel is dead.]

[I can’t believe the giant is gone like that…….]

[A valuable man has died.]

Bjorn Yandel’s death spread through the city as quickly as his reputation during his lifetime.

And those who knew him visited his house.

[Ainar! Misha! Open the door! Is it true that Yandel, that friend, is dead? W-Why……? Open it!]

The former companion, the dwarf warrior Hikurod Murad.

[……Murad, stop it. I’ve already been to the guild and confirmed the death report. We shouldn’t make things harder for them. Let’s go back and come again later.]

Brown Rotmiller.

And besides them, countless explorers who owed a debt to the hero named Bjorn Yandel visited his house.

[Thank you for saving us that day.]

[He won’t be coming to the library… anymore.]

Flowers piled up in front of the door.

Many mourned his death, and the barbarian tribe, who considered him their next chief, even closed the gates of their sacred place and held a funeral for several days, praying for his soul, which had fallen asleep in the labyrinth, to return to the forest.

But even so, the world did not change.

Only her surroundings had changed.

[……Everyone, let’s not think about exploring for a while and just rest.]

All future exploration plans were put on hold.

After all, what could the four of them do?

Moreover, they were not even in their right minds.

Everyone needed rest.

That included Arua Raven herself.

But…

‘Resting won’t change anything.’

After the fairy left that day, Arua Raven intuitively realized.

The saying that time heals all wounds is a lie.

As time passed, everything would only get worse, not better.

That’s why.

“I have to find it.”

Since that day, Arua Raven had not slept properly and had been buried in books every day.

Today alone, she had visited the library in the royal palace and was on her way back to the lab.

That’s because there was a question about his death.

It was known in the city that he had died because of the ‘Stormgush’ but…

“I still can’t accept it.”

Circumstantially, he had succeeded in the hunt.

He even had the strength to nail his body to the floor to prevent himself from being swept away by the sea.

But, where did he disappear to in that short time?

If he was really swept away by the water, why was his gear stripped off?

“There’s something more… There’s some huge secret…”

Raven clutched her chest as if she was having trouble breathing.

Even if it wasn’t a rational deduction like a mage would make.

“There must be more…”

She needed something to hold onto.