Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 399

Ice Rock (1)

The grand expedition to the Dark Continent continued, passing through the 8th floor.

The planned duration for traversing Ice Rock on this expedition was 20 days, and we brought about three months’ worth of food. It wasn’t that we packed extra in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances. Ice Rock isn’t a place where you can afford to be leisurely. It’s just that extra food was essential. Here, due to [Starvation], food consumption is tripled per person, and there’s also the risk of food spoiling. All because of this damn thing.

“It’s an ice storm!!”

Snowstorms that come as frequently as every 30 minutes, or as late as every 6 hours.

「Field Effect – ‘Festering Chill’ is applied.」

「The decay rate of the affected target is accelerated.」

This goddamn storm even spoils frozen food. The only way to defend against it is to prioritize the food over people and protect it with magic. Of course, there are problems with this too.

「Reard Ashde has cast 4th-grade space magic [Barrier].」

「Mckelly Leiathers has cast 4th-grade space magic [Barrier].」

「Bersil Gowland has cast 4th-grade space magic [Barrier]…」

The mana consumption of the ‘Barrier’ magic, classified as 4th grade, is considerable, and to be ready to use it at any time, the already large consumption becomes even greater. Taking shifts even at night is a given.

“Ashde, go rest by the sled.”

“Yes? But…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll call you if it’s urgent.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Sorry, my ass. The other team mages are already all sitting comfortably on the sleds, resting.

「Field Effect – ‘Festering Chill’ is removed.」

After the snowstorm stopped, we resumed our journey. Crunch, crunch. Snow that sinks up to our ankles with every step. Grrrruuuumble- I feel like I’m going to die of hunger, but we can’t fill our bellies as much as we want because we’re rationing food as much as possible. So far, we’ve been protecting the food well with ‘Barrier’ magic, but we don’t know what will happen in the future. What if a snowstorm blows during a battle, and we don’t have enough mana to protect a single box? From that point on, the situation becomes truly serious.

‘Well, it’s not like we’re in perfect condition now either.’

Day 3 of entering Ice Rock. Everyone is so exhausted that there’s no small talk or even silly jokes among the members. They’re just silently distributing their stamina and moving forward. Within the expedition, where there’s no room for leisure, only a sensitive and tense atmosphere lingers.

‘And they want us to go to war with those Noahrc bastards later with this?’ They say ‘morale’ is the most important thing in war, but it’s not even clear if we can complete the mission in this state. The only positive thing is that experience points are accumulating quickly.

「Defeated a Frozen Soul. EXP +4.」

「Defeated a Corrupted Snow Spirit. EXP +6.」

「Defeated a Frost Guardian. EXP +7.」

「Defeated a Lich. EXP +6.」

「Defeated a Glacier Giant. EXP +7.」

「Defeated a Frostfire Turtle…」

「…」

Most of the entities in Ice Rock are high-level monsters, so the speed at which experience points accumulate is amazing. Well, there’s still a long way to go. Even if we defeat all the entities that appear in Ice Rock, it’s far from enough to reach level 8. ‘Still, it’s a place that’s hard to come to, so I should hunt as much as possible.’

How much longer did we fight monsters and continue our journey with our exhausted bodies? As the day slowly came to an end, we set up camp on a cliff. We took out tents from the boxes loaded on the sleds and set them up, putting sleeping bags inside. And….

「Used a Warming Stone.」

By placing a few activated magic tools in the tent, a cozy shelter is completed.

“There’s no night watch for our team today, so everyone can sleep comfortably.”

Ah, for the record, there were a total of two night watches for the entire expedition, and it was our turn tomorrow, so we could sleep comfortably today. It was possible because there were four priests. Even if they take turns using [Exorcism Declaration], monsters can’t even come close, and there’s no way there would be a team of raiders active in this barren land. Even if there were raiders, they wouldn’t dare to attack such a large group. If they had a head on their shoulders.

“Sleep well, see you tomorrow, mister.”

The tents were for three people and were used separately for women and men. Even among close explorers, men and women are different. I also feel more comfortable sleeping with men. Well, the frail old man and the mage might feel a bit cramped.

“Ashde, Aldid, you guys go to sleep first.”

“Are you going on patrol?”

“Well, I am the expedition leader.”

After putting the tired old man Didi and Ashde to bed, I took a quick look around the camp to see if there were any problems. It hadn’t been long since we set up camp, but snoring could be heard from all over the place. Well, everyone must be tired. ‘Everything seems fine, so should I go to sleep too?’ I was thinking that as I was walking towards our team’s tent.

Crunch.

Turning around at the sound of a presence, I saw a familiar face.

“Kaislan, aren’t you asleep?”

“I have something to tell the expedition leader.”

“What is it?”

“Let’s talk while we walk for a bit.”

Soon, we walked a large circle around the edge of the camp and talked.

“Recently, dissatisfaction has been growing among the members.”

Dissatisfaction, huh…. It was obvious what kind of dissatisfaction it would be.

“Most of it is probably about me, right?”

At my question, Kaislan nodded with a bitter expression.

“People, when they are happy, don’t look for reasons, but when they are struggling, they always try to find a reason.”

A murmur that deeply reflects on people.

“So, is that it?”

When I asked, Kaislan shook his head.

“If that was all, I wouldn’t have come to you in the middle of the night.”

“There’s something more, then.”

“…There is someone in the expedition spreading malicious rumors.”

“Rumors? What kind of rumors?”

“It’s about how, in a situation where food supplies have decreased, only Team 1 is taking care of their own selfish interests.”

“I see, that’s what it is…”

I couldn’t help but sigh in front of Kaislan. I had no choice. Sigh, it’s not like we’re playing kids’ games. Is this the elite that the royal family gathered?

“Do you know where the source of the rumors is?”

“It’s Pike Neldain.”

“A member of James Carla’s team.”

For the record, this guy’s position is the same as mine, a warrior, and he was the one who came to me first at the last banquet, smiling and asking for my name. That big guy, being so cowardly. Ah, maybe because he’s so big, he was hungry and his head wasn’t working properly?

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know…”

When I trailed off, Kaislan even recommended a few ways to respond.

“If you’re going to discipline him, it’s right to do it through me.”

“So you can deflect the arrows of resentment?”

“If you want, I can make a big scene in front of all the members. To the point where they won’t even think about hating you.”

Heh… I never thought he would say such loyal words. Feeling strange, I listened carefully to what he said next.

“Or you can use Akuraba. Managing supplies was her duty, and whatever the reason, this mess happened because she didn’t do her job properly.”

That wasn’t wrong. Whether the front line collapsed or not, Akuraba should have protected the supplies. But….

“Right now, she’s a famous explorer, so everyone is keeping quiet, but if it’s mentioned, everyone will want to blame her.”

I still don’t like it. Before giving my answer, I decided to ask one thing.

“Kaislan, why are you trying to help me, even with the resolve to be a human shield?”

A question to see if he had any hidden motives. However, Kaislan looked at me with a straight gaze and answered without any hesitation.

“Whether I like it or not, you are the one leading the expedition right now.”

It was an unexpected answer.

“If you waver in this situation, this expedition cannot succeed.”

To be honest, I thought that if my position became precarious, he would be the first to try to take my place. Is it because he’s a soldier? Kaislan was the type who prioritized the common goal over personal greed.

“Now, tell me. What are you going to do?”

The options he presented were two, but if you looked closely, they were the same. Whether it’s Akuraba or him. In the end, it’s about making someone other than me the public enemy. I appreciate the advice, but my answer is already decided.

“I’m not going to do anything.”

At my short answer, Kaislan tilted his head as if he didn’t understand, then carefully asked.

“If you stay still, the members will try to hold you responsible whenever something goes wrong.”

Yes, they would. But what does that matter?

“It doesn’t matter what they say.”

“…?”

“That’s why they’re the members, and I’m the leader.”

I never intended to only enjoy the rights from the beginning.

***

Day 8 of entering Ice Rock. The expedition, which had many problems from the first day, continued arduously and had reached the halfway point. A giant ice mountain that we faced after the plains ended. It’s not that we have to climb this mountain, but rather, the direction is below the mountain.

“We found the entrance!”

James Carla’s team, who was in charge of scouting, soon found a passage to the next field, and we followed that passage into a huge ice cave and headed underground. Thump, thump. The sound of the members’ military boots echoing on the hard ground. However, it’s not just a gloomy atmosphere like before. Isn’t it the same in military training camps? When you go through hard times together, you naturally develop a strong bond.

“The ice all around is as transparent as glass, it feels like we’ve entered a fantasy.”

“Haha, I felt the same way.”

Of course, the change in atmosphere was also largely due to the fact that we had more physical energy. Half of the members were new to this, so there were many trials and errors in the beginning…. Now everyone has adapted to some extent.

“Ugh, I’m starving to death. I see why everyone avoids Ice Rock.”

“When it was hard, I endured by looking at my child’s portrait, but I can’t do that here. If I had known, I would have taken it out of the subspace before getting off the ship.”

“Oh, you have a child? How old are they?”

Ah, it wasn’t just the atmosphere that changed. The expedition, which was creaking, now moves like a single body. Just like this.

“Monsters appearing from the sides and front!”

“While Team 1 at the front blocks them, Teams 2 and 3 deal with the enemies on the sides first!”

When an order is given, the members carry it out quickly and without any fuss.

「Defeated a Frozen Webter. EXP +5.」

「Defeated a Non-Melting Cocoon. EXP +6.」

「Defeated a Frostfire Goblin. EXP +5」

The battle itself has become much easier than before. Should I say they’re finally acting like elites? Once they started to work together, they were able to fully demonstrate their inherent combat power. Ah, and there was another positive thing.

“Schuitz, that guy… he’s definitely amazing at fighting.”

As expected of the explorer industry, which respects the strong, as I took the lead and volunteered for the most dangerous tasks, my reputation naturally began to rise. The strange rumor that I was secretly eating food at night also disappeared. Indeed, people must prove themselves with actions, not words—

Zzzzzzzzzzt-

Huh? My instincts sounded an alarm at the sudden noise in my ear.

“Erwen, what was that sound just now?”

“I don’t know. It sounded like it came from back there….”

It came from behind? I quickly turned around and was able to see it with my own eyes. Zzzzzzzzzzt. Thin cracks spreading across the floor like a spiderweb, as if it couldn’t bear the weight. ‘Damn it!’ It was the exact spot where the trolls pulling the sleds were.

“Summon! Release the summons first!”

I shouted with all my might, and the summoner, who was in a daze, followed the order and reverse-summoned the trolls. But, was it already too late? Crack, crack, crack. A cracking sound that was even louder than before.

“…Everyone, get away!”

The explorers who were in the center of the cracked area quickly moved away, and a few brave ones tried to save the luggage rather than their own safety.

“Supplies! Get the supplies!”

“If we don’t have that, it’s over!”

“Move it!!”

The explorers pulled the sleds with all their might, being careful not to add more weight. However, the floor was collapsing even faster. Kwa kwa kwaaaang-! The ground collapsed, sinking like a sinkhole. Two explorers who were pulling a sled that they couldn’t move in time fell into the endless darkness. And at that moment.

「Reard Ashde has cast 5th-grade support magic ‘Levitation’.」

Like a miracle, the two explorers floated upwards. The expressions of the two, which were filled with despair, changed to relief, and at the same time, a sound came from below. Splash-! Ha, there was water flowing down there? Then we can’t get it back. Regardless of my miserable feelings, I quickly gave instructions.

“Everyone, stay as far away from the cliff as possible! Don’t get too close, just in case!”

Only after the instructions were given did the members move their stiff bodies. I carefully approached the edge and looked down. When I shined a light with a mage, as expected, there was water flowing below, and I couldn’t even find a trace of the sled.

“Akuraba!!”

“Yes, yes!”

“What was the proportion of food on that sled?”

“A-about half!”

Right, the already scarce food supply has decreased again.

“…”

As I gritted my teeth, Akuraba started to look at me cautiously.

“Um…”

“Be quiet. I’m thinking.”

“…”

It didn’t make sense at all. ‘The ground collapsed the first time, and now it’s happening again?’ No matter how I think about it, this doesn’t make sense. That’s why….

“Akuraba.”

“Yes. Please speak.”

“Ask all the members right now and check.”

I decided to check what I could first.

“If there is anyone among the members who has changed their name, and if that name was Hans.”

Once I confirm this, it will be easier to distinguish. Whether this is just a series of unfortunate coincidences. Or….

“Check as quickly as possible. It’s important.”

Whether it’s a man-made disaster caused by someone’s malice.