Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 392

Thud.

As I finished speaking and sat down, a moment of silence fell over the banquet hall.

Well, that was to be expected.

After all, this was a gathering where everyone was trying to prove why they should be the leader.

It was obvious how my words would be received.

“Are you saying you’re stronger than all of us?” the noble knight asked, his discomfort evident in his stiff tone.

I chuckled and replied, “You understood correctly.”

I decided there was no need to deny it. It’s not like I said anything wrong.

“…….”

Surprisingly, the room remained quiet despite my bold answer. The noble knight looked like he wanted to snap back, but he seemed to be holding himself back out of consideration for the marquis beside him.

Swoosh.

I glanced at the marquis, and our eyes met. Surprisingly, the marquis wasn’t disgusted by my actions; instead, he was looking at me with a glint in his eyes, as if he found me interesting.

Well, what about the others?

When I scanned the room, I saw gazes with different emotions focused on me.

“I hope you have at least half as much skill as you have arrogance. A skilled subordinate is always welcome,” the noble knight said, his hostility clear.

“Oh my, men of that age are all like that. Why, I think it’s good that he’s so manly?” the dwarf lady said, her cheerful voice masking her disdain.

“Richen Schuetz, I’ve heard of you. They say you’re the Blood Lord’s man?” the vice-leader of the Cogtooth Clan asked, his gaze analyzing me with deep curiosity.

“…….”

The paladin of the Tovera Church, Jun, stared at me with surprisingly emotionless eyes.

Well, does that mean I’m not even worth paying attention to? I couldn’t tell, but the attention that had been fixed on me scattered, and their gazes moved as if they were sizing each other up.

Now that the self-introductions were over, they must be making their judgments, figuring out who is the biggest obstacle to them becoming the leader.

“It’s a joyous occasion, but the atmosphere has become heavy. Now that everyone has introduced themselves, let’s have a meal,” the marquis said, stepping in to lighten the mood. Everyone continued the conversation while sharing the meal.

Ah, of course, it wasn’t a friendly atmosphere.

“As you all know, one of us will be in a position to lead everyone. As you know, it’s a position that comes with great responsibility,” the marquis continued.

A position that would be responsible for the lives of thirty people. However, there was no one here who didn’t know that they would gain immense benefits the moment they took that position. Even I had been promised generous support from the marquis.

“So, what is Sir Kaislan trying to say? That we are not qualified?” the dwarf lady asked, making it clear in a calm tone that she had no intention of giving up the position.

“Ahem, I just wanted to confirm whether you all truly understand the meaning of it,” the knight said, clicking his tongue as if he was disappointed. He seemed to consider the lady his biggest rival.

“Haha, I think I understand what you mean. I too had to bear countless responsibilities and duties to reach the position of vice-leader,” the vice-leader said, subtly emphasizing his own experience.

Wow, what a battle of nerves.

“I’ll ask you directly, Sir Jun, do you also desire the position?”

“Nothing is as fleeting as human emotions. Everything will be as God wills it,” the paladin replied, sounding like he was taking a bystander position. The knight’s expression brightened at that, but only until the paladin continued speaking.

“However, it seems that I am the closest to God’s will among us.”

His words were long about God and such, but in the end, it meant that he was also participating in this competition. Perhaps because they knew that the paladin was backed by the Triune Church, the knight’s expression became more troubled. It seemed like he considered him a major rival as well…

“I see.”

What, why aren’t you asking me? That’s disappointing.

***

After the battle of nerves where they seemed to be sizing each other up, the knight nodded once with a determined look in his eyes and then took the lead in the conversation.

“There are many who desire it, but there is only one position. In the end, we must determine who among us is the most suitable.”

“Oh my, does that mean you have a method in mind?”

“How about we each talk about what we think an ideal commander is?”

In short, it meant they wanted to learn more about each other’s tendencies.

“That sounds good. I’m fine with that,” the dwarf lady and the vice-leader readily agreed to the knight’s proposal, and I and the paladin didn’t object either, so things proceeded.

“Since I brought it up, I’ll go first,” the knight said, stepping forward, eager to take the lead from the beginning. He declared loudly, like a soldier.

“A group cannot demonstrate its true value unless it moves as one body. I believe the most important quality for a commander is the ability to command.”

“That’s too abstract. What exactly do you mean by the ability to command?”

“It is the power to create and maintain discipline. Control begins there. A perfectly controlled force will have no unnecessary elements when moving towards a set goal.”

I could already picture what it would be like if this guy became the leader: a group without flexibility, constantly interfering in everything, where individual freedom and individuality would disappear. He then spent a long time explaining what kind of group he wanted to create and what its advantages were.

And how much time had passed?

“That’s all.”

As soon as the knight’s turn ended, the dwarf lady snatched the next turn.

“I enjoyed listening to your good points. Then, I’ll go next.”

Unlike the knight’s talk, which was too formulaic, I became quite interested in this lady’s words. After all, she’s a top-tier explorer, right? What would such a person value the most?

“Historically, problems in labyrinths have been solved by explorers. Historically, there have been very few cases of the military intervening like this. Why is that?”

“That is because the royal family respects the methods of explorers.”

“That’s part of it, but in fact, it’s more efficient for the royal family. Anything can happen in a labyrinth. They needed people who could handle any situation, and that was the explorers. In the first place, there are too many disadvantages to operating hundreds or thousands of troops in a labyrinth.”

“So, Akuraba, are you saying that the ideal commander is an explorer?”

“That’s not what I mean. I just think that if someone has to command in a labyrinth, that person needs extensive knowledge and experience of labyrinths, as well as the ability to make proactive decisions.”

The qualities that the dwarf lady demanded made a lot of sense. Honestly, it felt much safer to be under this lady than that knight bastard. Well, it wasn’t like there were no problems with those words either.

“Excuse me, but Senior Akuraba, don’t you lack command experience?” the vice-leader asked. The dwarf lady frowned at his words. It seemed she didn’t expect her junior, who had initially called her a respected senior, to try to put her down like this. However, even as the lady glared at him, the vice-leader finished everything he had to say.

“I believe that when you were in a team, that person did all the commanding.”

“…I have experience leading a team before.”

“I see. But leading a team and leading a large group of thirty people are different matters.”

Wow, he’s completely relentless. Well, it’s funny to consider moral feelings like seniority in a business setting.

“Anyway, my turn is over, so James Kala, you can go next.”

“There’s no reason to refuse,” the vice-leader said, taking the turn after putting down the dwarf lady. He presented this value.

“After all, the most important thing for a commander is information. Senior Akuraba said it, didn’t she? That they must be able to respond proactively in any situation.”

“And?”

“If you have information in advance, it’s possible to avoid such situations. Even if you do end up in a crisis, the number of choices you can make increases.”

The vice-leader continued, looking directly at the dwarf lady, perhaps because his goal was to check her. But perhaps this was absurd.

“Certainly, that’s not wrong. If you have that level of information, that is,” the dwarf lady replied more irritably than usual, and the vice-leader immediately opened his mouth, as if he had been waiting for this reaction.

“Behind me are the Alminus Merchant Guild and the Explorer’s Guild. Of course, that doesn’t mean I can know everything in the world perfectly, but…”

“…….”

“At least, my ears are the most open among us.”

The dwarf lady couldn’t refute those words. After all, if the Alminus Merchant Guild or the Explorer’s Guild were backing him, he could gather more information than the royal family, at least in the labyrinth. He might be a bit weak in terms of high-level information, though.

“That’s all from me, so who will go next?”

“I will,” the paladin Jun said, taking the next turn after the vice-leader. He began to give us a sermon like a clergyman giving a mass.

“Everything begins with faith, and it is no different for a commander. Strong faith and trust create the courage to not yield to any evil…”

Wow, this guy was quite talkative. “The world is full of trials. Some overcome them, and some are frustrated and lose their faith. But do you know?” His eyes were full of passion, unlike before. I thought he was just a wooden doll at first.

“Those who have always overcome trials are those who have kept their faith. Only faith can unite people, and only that united faith can save us from trials.”

Well, if he just keeps repeating the same words in a long-winded way, it gets boring.

“Haa…” As I was yawning without realizing it, the paladin pursed his lips and glared at me.

“My story about faith seems boring to you.”

No, how could it not be boring? When I looked at him as if asking what he expected, the paladin narrowed his brows.

“Then how about you tell us what you think?” As the paladin tried to pass the turn to me, the people next to me were even more excited.

“Yes, that would be good.”

“Yes. I was curious anyway.” It seemed that they were just as bored with the story about faith.

“Richen Schuetz, what kind of person do you think should be a commander?” the vice-leader asked me. His voice had a subtle hint of treating me not as a rival, but as a citizen who would cast a vote.

No, was it just him?

“Given your attitude earlier, I thought you would want a ruler who can command strongly,” the knight subtly appealed to me.

“If you were a soldier, you might think that way. If you were an explorer, you would know how important the points I mentioned are,” the dwarf lady quickly joined in as the knight stepped in.

I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t help but chuckle. Why are they expecting me to agree with their opinions? I clearly said it earlier.

“…Why are you laughing?”

Well, it’s obvious.

“It’s funny how you’re wasting time talking about who’s suitable.”

“……?”

“In the first place, what are you babbling about and trying to persuade me?” While they were all talking passionately, I finished my meal, chewing on the meat, and wiped the sauce off my hand by sucking on my fingers. And…

“It’s enough for the one who wins to take it,” I said, placing the cup I had gulped down on the table.

Thud.

A heavy thud echoed in the banquet hall. However, no one flinched.

“Haa… I had a feeling it would be like this.”

“So, we can assume that Mr. Schuetz is pursuing ‘force’.” Gazes that seemed to consider me pathetic. They’re all hypocrites. Or, they lack imagination.

“Now that I see it, you’re just a fool who’s showing off his meager strength. Do you think you can convince us like that?”

“Yeah.”

“A leader is not just about strength… what?”

“Is there a reason why I can’t convince you?” Now that I’m full, it’s the perfect condition for a workout.

“Stop playing with your tongue and come at me,” I said, standing up from my seat. The knight, who had been looking at me, was flustered. He seemed to be wondering if it was okay to do this with the marquis present.

“I have no intention of interfering with whatever method you choose,” the marquis said, completely accommodating me. He had decided to entrust this matter to me.

“So that’s what he says.” As I shrugged, the dwarf lady said sarcastically, “Even if you fight and win against him, we will not acknowledge you. If someone who only relies on strength gets into such a position—”

What is this lady talking about again?

“Would you have accepted it if it was something else?” That’s the fundamental reason why I said what they were doing was a waste of time. I said, looking at each of them.

“Strong control. Judgment from experience. Extensive information gathering ability. And trust.” The qualities of a commander that the previous four had mentioned. “Yeah, they’re all not bad.” I was sincere about this. But there was a very serious problem with it.

“But no matter how much you talk about it, is there anyone who would be convinced that it’s better for that person to be the leader?” What everyone wants cannot be achieved through agreement, especially if what they’re putting on the table is such an illusory value. However…

“Are you saying you’re different?”

“Yeah.” Force is different.

“So, come at me.”

“Don’t do anything unnecessary. Even if you really win against him—” They wouldn’t acknowledge me. I know that much. But…

“Who said it was one person?” The life of a barbarian had taught me. If there is a case where you cannot gain the other party’s consent through force, that is only because you are not using enough force.

“All of you.” When I saw the four men and women who seemed unable to keep up with my thoughts, I grinned. “Come at me all together.” There are no mages among the four.