Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 311

A high-end restaurant with a decent reputation in District 7.

It was where Arua Raven had chosen to meet with her clan members after a long time.

Of course, this was her first visit.

If they met at a place they frequented, she would only become more depressed with all sorts of thoughts.

“Aren’t you going to order?”

“Not everyone’s here yet.”

Raven replied curtly, and Abman looked somewhat uncomfortable.

Just as an awkward atmosphere was forming.

“No, everyone’s here.”

Ainar spoke up.

“…Misha said she wouldn’t come. I was hoping she might change her mind and come later, but if she hasn’t come by now, she’s not coming.”

“…I see. So, it’s just the three of us.”

Raven sighed without realizing it.

Then, similar sighs followed from the others.

Well, they were all feeling bitter.

“Raven.”

“Yes, Mr. Ourikfreed.”

“But… what happened to Erwen? Did you contact her?”

“I sent her a letter. I told her to come because there were things to discuss regarding the settlement from the last exploration and Mr. Yandel’s… inheritance.”

Of course, she had contacted her to fulfill her duty, but she didn’t expect the fairy to come here.

She had left after showing that kind of behavior at the end.

“Did you get a reply?”

“No, I didn’t. So, I’m planning to just send it by mail after the settlement is done.”

“…I see.”

“Anyway, forget about that fairy. I didn’t expect Misha to be absent too. I didn’t know that. She’s the most important person in this matter, so I thought she would definitely come.”

Raven sighed deeply and looked at Ainar.

Then, she carefully asked.

“…How is Misha doing? Is she doing well?”

Raven was genuinely worried about her.

The last time she had seen her was during the funeral procession held by the royal family. Even then, they were far apart, and it wasn’t an atmosphere where she could talk to her properly.

So, how was she doing?

“…How could she be doing well? She’s been cooped up in her room all day and not eating properly. Once, I forced her to eat, and she threw it up.”

“I see…”

“So, I don’t go home much these days. It seems like she’s more uncomfortable when I’m there.”

“Then, where are you staying now, Mr. Ainar?”

“I’m staying at the holy site. But it seems like Misha eats at least a little when I’m not there. So, I just bought a lot of food and left it at home.”

“…That’s a relief.”

“Raven, but what do you think? Is it okay to leave Misha like this?”

“That’s…”

Raven spoke, drawing from her own experiences over the past month.

“I think not eating is because of guilt. You know? The act of eating itself… feels uncomfortable…”

She was rambling, unlike her usual self, but Ainar and Abman nodded as if they understood.

“Ah, that thing.”

“I think I know what you mean. But so what?”

“…I don’t know either. How should I help Misha? Giving her time alone might not be a bad idea, but I don’t know if that’s the right answer.”

“Well, it’s not like you’d have an answer.”

Ainar didn’t mean it maliciously, but Raven felt a mix of frustration and sadness.

Ainar was right.

If he were here, he would have definitely made the right decision.

“More importantly, let’s order first. If we just keep wasting time like this, we’ll get kicked out.”

Sensing something was off, Abman changed the subject, and Raven also moved on from the heavy topic and chose food together.

“Oh, this is my first time at this restaurant, but the food is very delicious. What are you all doing? Not eating.”

“Ah, yes…”

After the food came, they ate and talked, and then they began to discuss work in earnest.

“There’s no problem with the loot settlement. We just need to divide everything we got that day into five equal parts. The problem is the inheritance… Did you all see Mr. Yandel’s will?”

“Ah, I saw it. There was nothing except for the ratio of how to distribute the inheritance. Well, that’s just like him…”

Abman trailed off and chuckled.

Then, he carefully asked a question.

“But isn’t it a bit strange?”

“Strange?”

“I mean the ratio. To be honest, I don’t understand why he distributed the ratio like this.”

“Ah, that’s right…”

Raven nodded slightly, showing that she agreed.

She had been surprised at first too.

She couldn’t have imagined that he would specify that the inheritance would be divided equally among the five of them, 20% each.

She had naturally expected that most of the assets would go to Misha or Ainar.

However, Bjorn Yandel was not like that.

He didn’t specify who would get what, but only wrote down the ratio of the assets, so we had to agree among ourselves who would take what, but the ratio was the same.

And perhaps the reason was…

“You stopped talking, so I guess you have an idea?”

Raven smiled bitterly and replied.

“It’s obvious. Why Mr. Yandel did that.”

The clever barbarian warrior had wished.

That even after his death, we wouldn’t feel resentful towards each other.

So, that we would continue to care for each other without change.

“…I don’t think we can leave Misha like this after all.”

Yes, he would have definitely wanted that.

***

Three days after returning from the Round Table.

Amelia and I, fully equipped with our gear, visited the lord’s castle after a long time.

And we met a man at the meeting place.

“Nice to meet you. You must be Iron Mask?”

The nickname used in Noark was ‘Felix Barker’.

He was the leader of the clan to which the Rainwales sisters were affiliated as ‘moles’ in their childhood.

I think there were thirteen members in total.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Iron Mask.”

I also had the nickname ‘Bjorn, Son of Thor,’ but I just introduced myself with a nickname.

There was nothing particularly wrong with that.

In this city, it was common to use nicknames as actual names.

“Let’s go in.”

Following him into the clan house located inside the lord’s castle, the smell of alcohol hit us.

Inside, which was decorated in a hip style, rough-looking clan members were freely sitting, drinking, and puffing on cigarettes.

This wasn’t some kind of criminal hideout.

“Would you like a drink?”

Felix Barker offered a bottle of alcohol as he sat on the opposite sofa.

“I’ll pass.”

Amelia refused sharply, and I just took the bottle.

It would be too strange if neither of us drank.

First of all, we were here to join this clan. In this city, refusing alcohol meant that you didn’t trust them.

Therefore…

Clink.

I touched the joint, raised only the chin part of my helmet, and took a swig.

Then, Felix Barker grinned.

“Good, good, I like it. Ah, but I have one question, is that okay?”

“Go ahead.”

“Why did you choose our clan?”

The answer was simple.

Because the Rainwales sisters were affiliated with this clan.

This was the best way to be naturally close to them when that incident happened three months later.

Well, I couldn’t answer like that.

“Emily said you guys made the offer first?”

“But even if only half of your rumors are true, there would have been other good places.”

I gave the answer I had prepared in advance.

“It seems like it would be convenient to have a clan, but if you go to such a place, the share tends to be smaller.”

“You’d rather take a troll’s head than have an ogre’s claw.”

“Yeah, is there a problem with that?”

Felix Barker stared at me as if trying to gauge my true intentions.

But there was no way he could.

No, how could he see my eyes properly when I had an iron helmet covering my face?

I was thinking that to myself when.

“Ha! Hahahaha!”

He suddenly burst into laughter and his eyes lit up.

Unlike Auriel Gavis, he was just pathetic.

Should I say he was like a concept-obsessed person with too much air in his lungs?

His voice was also strangely theatrical, which was annoying.

“Good, very good.”

“What’s so good?”

“It means I like you guys even more.”

“Then, are we accepted?”

“No, not yet.”

Felix Barker said, waving his finger leisurely as if he were some mafia boss.

“We have a merit system. Within the clan, there are three ranks besides me, and the share when going on expeditions is determined by that rank. And we don’t know your skills yet.”

“…?”

“Have you heard of the saying ‘the strong eat the weak’?”

“I have.”

“Then, it’ll be quick. If you want a troll’s head, take it. And prove it. The world you’re standing in is like that—”

Ah, what was he talking about?

“Okay.”

“Huh…?”

“You’re saying we need to check if the rumors are true or not, right?”

“That’s right, but…”

“Then, that’s it, why are you talking so much?”

When I suddenly stood up, Felix Barker looked up at me with a flustered expression.

What, did he think I’d be intimidated if he talked with a pose?

Originally, these kinds of minor events should be skipped quickly.

“Okay, just tell me quickly. Do I have to kill you?”

“…The challenge is only possible between members. And I didn’t say you have to kill—”

Ah, what a letdown.

“Then, who do I have to kill?”

As I said that, I scanned the clan members around me.

Then, one of the bulky guys who made eye contact with me flinched.

“Looking at him, it seems like he’s my opponent.”

“That’s right. But the challenge doesn’t mean you have to kill—”

What is he saying, so noisy.

As I took steps with murderous intent, the bulky guy, overwhelmed by my momentum, stepped back and glanced at Felix Barker.

A look unique to those seeking salvation.

Soon, Felix Barker also came to his senses and said to me.

“Wait, wait! There’s an empty lot behind there.”

“Ah, then let’s move there.”

“A-And, using abilities is prohibited during the challenge.”

Huh, I didn’t expect there to be a rule prohibiting the use of skills.

It meant that the battle would be fought only with passives and raw stats.

Is Noark really the world of real men?

“I have to kill without using abilities… Well, it doesn’t seem too difficult.”

After thinking for a moment, I readily accepted the rule.

But what is this again?

Felix Barker answered in a voice as small as an ant.

“I hope no one dies, if possible…”

I was genuinely surprised.

“Then, I can’t get promoted!”

“…You can just get them to surrender.”

“What? I can get promoted without killing?”

Wasn’t a bloody promotion battle the rule of this underworld?

Besides, he said ‘the strong eat the weak’ earlier?

“What’s going on? Does this even make sense?”

I looked at him as if I genuinely didn’t understand.

Coincidentally, he had a similar look in his eyes.

“You… didn’t you say you’ve only been in Noark for a month?”

“So?”

“Never mind…”

Felix Barker was the first to look away.

***

In a dark room with thick cloth covering the windows.

Misha Kalstein raised her body with hollow eyes and thought.

Another day has begun.

She slightly pulled back the curtain to check if it was daytime, then lay back down on the bed.

Sleep didn’t come again, and her unwashed body was soaked with sweat from the nightmares of the previous night.

And her stomach was aching from hunger.

To the point of being painful.

“…”

Misha dragged her haggard body out of the room.

And she stopped in front of Yandel’s room, which she hadn’t touched since that day. It felt as if the person waiting inside would be sleeping if she just opened the doorknob and went in.

However, she couldn’t open the door again today.

Thump.

She turned her back weakly and went down the stairs to the first floor.

Like the second floor, the first floor was dark.

This was because all the windows were covered with curtains due to the people who came to leave flowers.

Misha murmured in a dry voice.

“They came and went again…”

On the first-floor dining table, there was a note left by Ainar in crooked handwriting, telling her to check the food storage as he had filled it.

Click.

Misha checked the food storage.

Rye bread and vegetables that she often used when cooking.

And meat and fruits.

Most of them were things that she used to eat well.

But…

“Ugh.”

Just looking at it made her want to throw up.

She couldn’t even smell it.

The rye bread was what Bjorn liked.

Not to mention the meat.

The vegetables were always bought in abundance because Bjorn was picky, and she had to eat them often because there were always leftovers.

In the end, Misha closed the food storage as if she were running away.

However, she knew it herself.

She had to eat.

Because her body would break down if she didn’t.

Because Yandel wouldn’t want that.

“Bjorn…”

In the dark kitchen with the lights off.

She sat down on a chair as if collapsing, sobbed for a long time, and then got up again and approached the food storage.

It was at that moment.

“Oh, you’re here? I thought no one was here.”

A strange man’s voice was heard from behind.

‘A thief?’

Misha grabbed the knife on the cutting board and turned around. It was a nimble movement that didn’t seem like someone who was a wreck.

But…

“Whoa, whoa, dangerous.”

The stranger easily grabbed her wrist holding the knife and subdued her. She tried to use her strength, but he was so strong that she couldn’t budge.

“It’s been a while, but are you going to start by swinging a knife?”

“It’s been a while…?”

Misha unconsciously looked up to check the stranger’s face.

It was dark, so she couldn’t see well.

But it was somehow familiar.

His race was human.

His skin was as white as snow, and there wasn’t a single scar, as if he had grown up well. His platinum blonde hair, a symbol of nobility, was neatly combed back.

And above all…

[Catkin, are you a player?]

[Huh? F, Freya?]

[Are you a demon?]

[N, no, I’m not…?]

His unique, light yet eerie way of speaking.

Thanks to that, she quickly remembered this man.

“You, you’re that… that time!”

“Looks like you remembered? I’m Baekho. I’ll let go of you, so stay still.”

“…”

The man with the strange name Baekho released her arm as promised.

Misha stepped back, clutching her sore wrist.

Then, the platinum blonde man smiled as if to reassure her.

“Don’t be too wary.”

A chill ran down her spine.

Unlike his long, curved lips.

“I just came because I have one question to ask.”

His eyes were not smiling at all.