Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 417

Crunch, crunch.

We move forward, chewing on jerky.

Not just me, but all the team members together.

“I… I think I’m going to throw up. I’ve eaten so much I can’t anymore…”

Some voiced their complaints about being full, but they were the minority.

Even as we moved up the slope at a near-jogging pace, everyone forced themselves to chew and swallow the jerky.

Everyone knew.

That this was the last time we could eat our fill like this.

“Mr. Schuetz!! Ah, no… Viscount Yandel!!”

As we were moving, Marone, the mage from Team 5, ran up to me.

“The detection magic I set up 10 minutes ago has been activated!”

“They were much closer than I thought.”

A distance that could be covered in a few minutes if we ran at full speed.

“Everyone, throw away the food boxes!”

I shouted that and threw the jerky box I was holding in one hand over the cliff first.

After all, we had to reduce our load as much as possible to increase our speed.

Whoosh!

Most of them threw the boxes over the cliff as soon as the order was given, as if they were glad to be rid of them, but some members trembled with regret in their eyes.

The paladins, knights, and other warrior-type members.

“Damn it, I could still eat more… !”

It was a bit funny to see him say that with his pockets stuffed full of jerky, but I couldn’t blame him.

I felt the same way.

‘Why do I feel like I’m already getting hungry?’

This fuel-inefficient body of mine just keeps demanding more, no matter how much I eat.

It’s so damn annoying.

‘Well, the good times are over now.’

“Marone, cast a new detection spell. So we can deduce their speed over time.”

“Yes!”

Soon, as Marone set up a new detection spell, we began to increase our movement speed in earnest.

Of course, it wasn’t a sudden increase.

If we were walking at a brisk pace on the Han River bank before, now we were moving at almost a slow marathon pace.

About seven minutes passed.

“The detection magic has been activated!”

Even though we increased our speed, the distance was reduced by 3 minutes.

“This is troublesome.”

The weaklings like priests and mages were already being carried on backs.

Now there was only one way.

Survival is determined by what you are willing to give up.

“Throw away all the backpacks with the warming stones.”

We gave up the warming stones that had greatly helped us maintain our body temperature.

Aside from the tents and sleeping bags we had already thrown away when we abandoned the sled, this was the heaviest thing we had.

The food would naturally decrease as we ate it anyway.

“Damn it, now we have to fight the cold too?”

“What are you doing! Throw it away quickly!”

“We have to keep running anyway, so let’s not think about it too much!”

As expected, our movement speed increased a little more when we gave up the warming stones.

The burden on the members who had to carry the non-combatants was greatly reduced.

In fact, good news was delivered soon after.

“The detection magic has been activated. This time, in exactly 7 minutes and 37 seconds!”

The distance that had been closing began to stabilize.

Well, we were also dying because we increased our speed.

‘I’m sure they’re not having it any easier.’

From now on, it’s a battle of who is more persistent.

The harsh environment is fair to everyone.

Just as we had to give up many things, they too would soon have to make a choice.

Just like now.

“…W-what do we do? T-they suddenly got faster. Now there’s only a 6-minute difference!”

Five hours of running without even a short break, chewing jerky while running.

The 7-minute wall that had been steadily maintained was broken.

Then, what could be the reason?

The answer was quite simple.

“Their numbers have decreased! To about twelve!”

They had also given up.

In order to catch us.

The huge advantage of numbers.

‘Did they give all the food to the remaining guys and send the rest back down?’

That seems like the most likely possibility.

The ones going back would be starving, but if they could just make it down in about three days, they could eat their fill.

‘But still, twelve people…’

Somehow, our numbers are now twice as many as theirs.

But…

‘Still, I’m not sure if we can win.’

Of course, we would have to clash someday.

However, that time is not yet.

Therefore.

“W-what do we do? At this rate, they’ll catch up soon!”

What do you mean, what do we do?

They gave up one thing, so we have to give up one more thing.

That’s fair, isn’t it?

“Throw away the heavy plate armor. Of course, we still need to be able to fight, so shields and weapons are an exception.”

“Whaaaat?”

Without saying much, I took off the armor covering my body and threw it over the cliff.

“D-do we really have to go that far?”

“When you were screaming that we were all going to die, where was your regret?”

“No, it’s not that, but…”

“Then it’s settled. Throw it away. Anyway, if we organize the loot stored in the subspace when we return to the city, we’ll get the value of the equipment, right?”

“Haa… To throw away equipment while being chased by the enemy. You’re completely crazy.”

The front-liners, who valued their plate armor like their lives, grumbled, but eventually followed my instructions and took off all their armor, putting on only thick fur coats over them.

As a result.

“6 minutes! It’s the same as before!”

The 6-minute gap began to be maintained without closing.

I’m sure they’re probably panicking right now.

What is it? Why isn’t the distance closing?

‘I wonder what kind of expressions they’ll make when they meet us naked later.’

Okay, thinking about that expression makes me feel a little more energized.

Thud, thud.

How much further did we run up the slope like that?

“…I’ve learned for the first time that people can sleep while running.”

“If only I could sleep for just one minute…”

Then, after a long time, there was a change in the current situation.

“What is it? The detection magic should have been activated by now…”

The detection magic, which had been activated every 6 minutes, had not been activated for over 20 minutes.

Why?

Is there a way to avoid detection magic?

‘No. If there was, they would have used that method a long time ago.’

I ran up the slope for more than 10 minutes while thinking about that, but the detection magic remained silent.

So I came to a conclusion.

‘It seems like they’re reaching their limit.’

Currently, they are stopped and resting.

So, in other words…

“Stop!”

We can also rest and take a breather now.

***

“Everyone, rest! You can sleep! I’ll wake you up when it’s time to leave!”

As soon as my order was given, the members collapsed without even being able to cheer.

Some of them, who were extremely exhausted, fell asleep as if they had fainted as soon as they collapsed on the floor.

“Aren’t you going to rest, sir?”

“I’m just going to look around for a bit.”

“I’m sorry. I want to stay with you, but I can’t take it anymore…”

“Don’t be sorry. Go and rest quickly.”

“Yes…”

Soon, Erwen, with a tired look on her face, turned her back and went to Amelia, who she didn’t usually get along with, and lay down, huddling close together to sleep.

Well, since there are no warming stones, they have to share body heat.

I chuckled and watched them for a while, then turned around.

Among the members who were eating or had fallen asleep, there was one person who was acting out of the ordinary.

“Kaislan, what are you writing now?”

“Ah! I was recording what you said earlier, Schuetz… no, Yandel.”

“What I said…?”

Instead of answering, Kaislan quietly handed me his notebook.

[I will do the hardest work. I will do the dirty work that no one wants to do. I will walk into the bloody places first, and if someone has to get hurt, I will get hurt.]

[So… follow me.]

[If you’re going to throw your life away in the gutter anyway, throw it away to me!!]

Ugh, reading this in writing makes me feel so embarrassed.

But I can’t say anything bad to him when he’s taking the time to write it down so diligently.

“…You have a good memory.”

“Well, what good is memory? I’ll probably never forget it.”

He has a strange hobby.

I felt embarrassed for some reason, so I scolded him for taking up his precious rest time to write this down, but Kaislan just shrugged and smiled quietly.

“You never know.”

“Huh?”

“This record might become a moment in great history.”

Huh, that history talk again.

Come to think of it, he’s always liked that kind of thing, hasn’t he?

I straightened my bent back and patted him on the shoulder.

“We have to go back alive. For that record to remain in history.”

“Ah, that’s true. Yes, we have to go back alive…”

“Write it down moderately and rest. You can write that when you get back.”

“I will.”

After finishing my conversation with Kaislan, I was heading towards Erwen when the female mage, who was sitting crouched with her back against her backpack, opened her eyes.

“Viscount Bjorn Yandel.”

It was Bersil Gowland.

“Ah, did I wake you up? If so, I’m sorry—”

“I’m the one who should apologize.”

“…Huh?”

“I’m sorry. For abandoning you guys on the first floor back then.”

I wondered what she was talking about, and then she brought up something from so long ago.

“Do you remember when I said at the banquet that I sincerely regretted it? It wasn’t just something I said. When I woke up later and heard what you had done in the Crystal Cave, I was so miserable and ashamed.”

“What’s there to be ashamed of? If you were the leader of a group, that’s a decision you would have to make. I would have done the same.”

Bersil Gowland looked serious at my sincere words.

“Don’t joke. There’s no way you would have done that.”

That’s too much to accept.

If they had given me as many escape tickets as there were people in the Crystal Cave, I would have taken the portal immediately.

I was just struggling to survive because one was abandoned.

There was no heroic mission.

But, perhaps her thoughts were a little different.

“You’re like the eye of a storm. Even if fierce winds blow from all directions, you never get swept away.”

What difficult words is she using on a barbarian?

I stared blankly at her, wondering if she was testing me, and Bersil Gowland laughed self-deprecatingly.

“Maybe that’s why. Even in the fierce storm, people gather around you.”

“It’s just… the situation turned out that way.”

“…I guess I said something unnecessary. I didn’t mean to put pressure on you. You were… going to rest, right? Sorry for taking up your time.”

“No. You should rest too.”

That was the end of my conversation with Bersil.

After that, I passed by the fallen members and took a seat near Erwen and lay down.

The mage would wake me up when the detection magic was activated, so I was going to close my eyes for a while.

But…

‘The eye of the storm…’

Even thinking about it again, it’s a compliment that doesn’t suit me.

Unless it’s an interpretation that my fate is full of bad luck and everyone around me is swept up in misfortune—.

“Sir! Wake up!”

What?

It feels like I closed my eyes for only a few seconds?

“Has the detection magic been activated?”

“Yes. We have to leave quickly.”

Damn it.

Instead of relieving my fatigue, it feels like it’s gotten worse.

“Form up!”

I wanted to sleep more, but I quickly got up and prepared to leave.

And how much more time passed?

“Marone, what’s the time?”

“5 minutes…! 5 minutes!”

As the chase continued, the distance between us and them gradually began to close.

It wasn’t that their speed had increased.

It was just that we had slowed down that much.

“Huff, huff…”

Was it impossible to fully recover our stamina with a short break?

Well, the amount of accumulated fatigue is different between us, who have been on a difficult journey for over two months, and them.

“W-what do we do? At this rate, they’ll catch up!”

“How about we fight now? If we get more exhausted here, we won’t even be able to resist properly.”

The members’ anxiety grows.

So, I checked the time first.

[00:12]

The time just after midnight.

In other words, we were just one day away from getting out of the Eye of the Glacier.

‘One day… it’s possible, but barely.’

My thoughts didn’t last long.

As I’ve said repeatedly, survival is a series of choices.

Those who stand at a crossroads must make decisions every moment.

What will we give up this time?

My answer to this is very simple.

“McKelly Leiathers!”

I immediately stop the expedition and call for a mage. After all, he’s the only one in the expedition who knows how to use that magic.

“Is something the matter?”

The mage asked back, looking somewhat nervous, as I stopped even our movement to call him.

“When I asked you last time, you said you could use portal magic. Is that right?”

“Yes… I certainly did, but… why suddenly portal magic?”

Ah, that.

It’s nothing much, really.

“Use it. Right now.”

When I said that in a commanding tone without any preamble, the mage’s face showed bewilderment.

“A portal… you mean? Here… ?”

I understand his feelings.

Generally, the portal magic used in the labyrinth is all modified versions.

The number of uses is only once in a lifetime.

Of course, given the situation, he wouldn’t be unhappy about using up his use, but…

“I don’t understand why you’re suddenly making such a request. Portal magic doesn’t work from the 7th floor.”

The modified portal magic only works up to the 6th floor.

If you use portal magic on the 7th floor, you’ll only waste a precious use and that’s it.

But…

‘He’s being kind and explaining it with a serious face.’

Do you think I don’t know that?

“McKelly Leiathers.”

I lowered my voice, omitting the detailed explanation because there wasn’t much time.

“I’ll explain the reason later, but for now, follow my words. I need that magic right now.”

“…I understand. I’ll prepare right away.”

“How long will it take?”

“Judging by the magic density around here, about 1 minute should be enough.”

“Then I’ll ask you to do it right now.”

As soon as the conversation ended, the mage began to chant, and I quickly gave new instructions to the members who were staring blankly at us.

“We will resume moving the moment the portal magic is finished, so prepare! From now on, we will move in a combat breakthrough formation!”

“…Breakthrough formation?”

“Are you thinking of fighting the enemies here…?”

Questions arose among the members at my instructions.

However, the leaders of each team followed my instructions and finished building the formation before approaching me.

“Why suddenly portal magic? What are you thinking?”

“Especially when we don’t even have enough time to escape.”

“I’m most curious about the breakthrough formation. Are you thinking of turning in the opposite direction?”

They trusted me and followed my instructions, but they seemed curious about the reason.

I answered briefly.

“From now on, we will go on an even more difficult path.”

“…A difficult path?”

“Because a difficult path for us will also be a difficult path for them.”

“…Wait a minute, what does that even mean?”

Kaislan tilted his head as if he still didn’t understand.

It was at that moment.

「McKelly Leiathers has cast the 1st-grade space-time magic [Portal].」

A fierce light formed as the magic was completed.

Well, for about 1 second.

「The darkness of the labyrinth blocks the interference of space-time.」

The portal disappeared with a popping sound before it could even take proper shape.

With this, McKelly will never be able to use portal magic again in his life.

That’s probably why he’s looking at me with a hollow gaze, as if blaming me.

But…

「The darkness of the labyrinth blocks the interference of space-time.」

Thud, thud, thud!

From the beginning, what I wanted wasn’t to go outside through the portal.

“…W-what is it?”

The members’ faces were filled with caution as the entire canyon vibrated violently as if an earthquake had struck.

「Special condition – momentary stimulation is satisfied.」

Yeah, I thought the modified portal would work too.

Even though there were various penalties, it was still classified as a 1st-grade space-time magic.

‘Haa… It worked, but…’

It was as I expected, but I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

My warrior’s intuition was already telling me.

「The Glacier Mage Cariadea has appeared in the area.」

Today is going to be an unusually difficult day.