Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 303

After abruptly getting up and spewing curses as if having a seizure, an awkward silence followed for a moment. It wasn’t long.

“Did you just call me a ‘fuck’?” Amelia asked, as if confirming, and I quickly tried to smooth things over. Ah, of course, I didn’t offer a mindless apology. This is an important issue for me.

“Ahem, my name is Lee Han-soo, not Lee Hans.”

“So?”

“I’d appreciate it if you’d be careful with the pronunciation. It’s, you know, a very sensitive matter for me…” Even as I said that, I worried if this would further decrease my favorability, but surprisingly, Amelia was understanding.

“…Okay. I’ll be mindful from now on.” I don’t know why she’s reacting like this to the pronunciation, but it seems she’s aware she crossed a line. Okay, then that part is over.

Since she initiated the conversation, I asked what I was curious about. “Hey, Amelia.”

“Speak.”

“What did you mean by what you said earlier? About the royal family possibly knowing I’m an evil spirit and turning a blind eye to it.”

That question I had to hold back before coming out as an evil spirit.

“It’s just one possibility for now.” Amelia laid down that safety net first, then voiced her speculation. “If the royal family had done a ‘verification,’ your identity would have been exposed a long time ago.”

Well, that’s true. Even with just one Numbers Item [a magical artifact] like today, there’s nothing I could do about it. But…

“I understand that, but why does that connect to turning a blind eye? Isn’t it more natural to think the royal family completely trusted me?”

“Maybe that’s possible. But back then, you were the most famous hero in the city. I thought there was a possibility the royal family couldn’t touch you.”

Uh, I still don’t understand. No matter how famous I was, I was just a tiny existence from the royal family’s perspective.

“Explain in more detail.”

“Hmm, you have no sense for politics, do you?” No, please stop researching Lee Han-soo. When I just stared without answering, Amelia chuckled and continued.

“Think about it. A hero who risked his life in the labyrinth to save his comrades, and who fought fiercely against the evil forces, saving thousands of explorers. But what if that hero’s identity was an evil spirit? What kind of problems do you think would arise?”

“Uh… it would cause confusion?”

“Right, it would cause confusion. Because the royal family, along with the three religious orders, has been portraying evil spirits as evil beings that must be eradicated.”

Ah… Only then could I understand. Why she thought the royal family might have known my identity and turned a blind eye to it.

“Evil spirits must always be evil, is that it…”

“Fortunately, you’re quick on the uptake.” I’m different from other evil spirits. I helped my fellow evil spirits to raise the weak barbarian tribe, and furthermore, I risked my life more than anyone else in the Noark War.

That’s why the royal family had to be cautious. The moment they execute me for being an evil spirit, the citizens will think and say, ‘He saved thousands of people? And yet, you’re killing him just because he’s an evil spirit?’

“Of course, even if they reveal you as an evil spirit and put you on the execution stand, there won’t be a riot or anything. As always, it’ll be noisy for a while and then quiet down. But…”

“The royal family wouldn’t want to leave even that kind of precedent. A precedent that perhaps there might be evil spirits who could be helpful to this world.”

“I’m saying again, it’s just a conjecture.” Amelia finished her story with the word conjecture, but from my perspective, it was very unsettling. Because it wasn’t a mindless conjecture. There’s a basis. And the problem is that the basis sounds credible even to my ears.

“Huh, what if this is really true? Should I get a new identity and live in hiding as soon as I get back?” I was lost in thought when it happened.

“…Amelia, are you asleep?”

“I’m not sleeping. And from now on, even when we’re alone, call me Emily. I’ll call you by a pseudonym too.”

“Uh, suddenly?”

“You might make another mistake in front of others.” Saying ‘another’ must be referring to when I messed with Beck’s gang.

“So, it’s good to get into the habit. According to our plan, we’ll be contacting the lord’s forces soon.” With those words, I cleared my mind. Right, no matter how much I think about the royal family, I can’t find a proper answer in this era, can I? Let’s focus on this matter first.

***

The next morning. Knock knock. A visitor came to the inn where we were staying. “I am Rick Omanus. Emily, are you Byorn, the son of Thor?” He was, surprisingly, a knight. Not just an explorer who uses a sword as a weapon and wears full plate armor, but a real knight under the lord.

“So there’s a knight order here too.” Well, that’s why Amelia uses aura [a form of magical energy]. It would have been difficult to build up sword proficiency enough to awaken naturally at that age. She must have learned from someone.

“What’s your business?”

“The lord has decided to support you, highly valuing your abilities.” It was an arrogant choice of words that reminded me of the high-ranking people of Lapdonia. They just don’t think we’ll refuse, do they? Well, we won’t, but still.

“What kind of support are you talking about?” When Amelia asked, pretending not to know, Rick Omanus handed over a piece of paper instead of answering. “Everything is written in detail there, so could you please read it and then give me an answer?” A contract that detailed the support we could receive if we accepted the recruitment offer, and conversely, what we would have to give up.

The conditions weren’t bad. We would receive support for our team, and if we made achievements, we would be granted the authority to go up to Lapdonia, and we could receive many benefits with the lord’s power behind us. But we would have to follow the lord’s orders in emergency situations.

“It wasn’t support, it was recruitment?”

“I told you, the lord highly valued your abilities.”

“We need some time to think.”

“I’ll wait here. I just hope it doesn’t take too long.” We were waiting for this situation, but we deliberately dragged out the time, as accepting too easily could raise suspicion. And when we opened the door again.

“…Have you been standing there the whole time?”

“It’s my duty, so of course.” Even so, I didn’t expect him to be standing there for over two hours.

“Here, take this.” After that, we gave the signed contract to the knight, and the knight told us that he had already informed the inner castle and that we could visit anytime. It seems they really didn’t think we would refuse.

“But does a signature like that even mean anything?”

“It’s just a formality. Either way, you can’t live a normal life in this city if you go against his will.” What is he saying, showing off in front of a newbie? There’s also a way to move to the eastern district and work with Orculius.

“Then, I’ll see you again later.” The knight left without looking back after finishing his business. So now it’s our turn to start the day.

“Emily, what are we going to do now? We’ve attracted attention, but it seems the lord isn’t going to meet us directly.”

“There’s no problem. We just need to attract more attention.”

“Well, that’s true.” It’s not something to be proud of, but I’m confident in attracting attention. With this barbarian body, I get caught up in all sorts of incidents just by staying still.

“Okay, let’s go out then.” After that, we put on all our equipment and headed to the lord’s castle. Last time, we only did simple administrative work in the outer castle, but this time we were able to enter the inner castle, which required permission.

“You must be Emily and Iron Mask. I’ve heard about you from Sir Omanus. I’m Mel. My job is to assist you when you visit the inner castle.” Mel, the administrator who greeted us with a bright smile, welcomed us as part of the family and briefly explained the structure of the inner castle, showing us around. It wasn’t a story that needed much attention. I had already heard it all from Amelia.

“Since it’s your first day, it seems like registering is the first thing to do. Ah, what are your plans for the future? Most people join an existing team—”

“We have no intention of joining a regular team.”

“I see. Then I’ll guide you on how to create a team under your names.” After that, we followed the administrator to the inner castle’s labyrinth management office, which was only available to the lord’s explorers. And we created and registered a two-person duo team. Ah, by the way, the team name is ‘Iron Mask.’ Emily or Byorn, a nickname like this is much more memorable, right?

“What about the three other members? If you tell me the roles you want—”

“Hold off.”

“Pardon?”

“We’ll move as just the two of us until we find someone we like. So, I’d like you to block all applications.”

“Yes, I’ll do as you say.” Amelia, who had finished all the party settings skillfully like a local, confirmed one piece of information with the labyrinth management office staff. “How many haulers can we choose from?” Haulers refer to that position, like Zensia, who enter the labyrinth at a young age and take on all sorts of dangerous tasks.

“There are currently 13.”

“Including haulers who are affiliated, not just those who are unattached?”

“There are 173.”

“I want to see them all.” Amelia carefully read through the list that the staff had pulled out, not missing a single detail. And she found the name she was looking for. “I want to take these two children.”

“The Rainwales sisters already belong to a team, so it’s impossible, but…”

“Even so, you can at least contact the team they belong to, can’t you? Tell them that if they hand them over, we’ll give them generous compensation.”

“…Yes.” With that, the business scheduled for today was over. However, before going back, Amelia took me to a certain place in the inner castle. It was a bar.

“A bar? There’s a place like this inside the castle?”

“It’s one of the welfare benefits for those who have gained access to the inner castle.”

“But why here…” I couldn’t figure out the intention, as I had never seen Amelia take even a sip of alcohol. Until I saw the bar’s sign. [Rainwales] It couldn’t be a mere coincidence that Amelia’s surname and the name of this bar were the same.

“Aren’t you going in?”

“Ah, ah, uh…” The interior was relatively clean, and there weren’t many people, as it was daytime. We took a corner seat and ordered drinks and snacks. And…

“……”

“……” We just sat there quietly without saying a word to each other. No, if that’s the case, why did you bring me here? It looks like a place full of stories—

“Are you curious?” I hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

“It’s not a very interesting story.”

“You can’t only experience interesting things in life.” As I said that, I grabbed my glass and downed it in one shot. Ugh, this is strong. It tastes terrible too. Is this what it’s like in the city of manly men, Noark?

“…Strange guy.”

“Huh?”

“You didn’t say anything.” Amelia said that and gulped down her drink. Oh, what’s with her? Even doing a one-shot. Is this a story that’s hard to tell while sober? It was the moment Amelia put down her empty glass on the table.

Clang-! Ouch, that startled me. I quickly turned my head in the direction of the sound. A loud shout from a burly man was coming from the kitchen. “You ungrateful bitches!!” The man’s voice was full of anger, and soon after, the sound of something breaking was heard. That sound was mixed with a woman’s unique scream.

Thud-! Thud-! The situation was clear enough for even a blind person to know that violence was being inflicted in the kitchen. However, the few customers had faces that showed they were used to this situation.

“The owner is beating his daughters again.”

“Heh heh, those daughters are pitiful. Calling that thing a father.” What, the owner? Daughters? Then, the ones getting beaten there are possibly… Whoosh. The moment I realized that, I quickly turned my head to check on Amelia. Shudder. Amelia’s hand holding the glass was trembling. It was a look that was too pitiful and heartbreaking to be considered just old anger.