Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 487

Among the various detection abilities, each with its own unique characteristics, some naturally involve precognition [the ability to see the future]. A prime example is the [Clock Hand of Regret]. A 1st-grade essence skill, obtainable from the 9th floor or higher. Its effect is simple. In the game, when acquiring this skill, a message would appear upon a companion’s death: ‘The memory of regret reverses time,’ allowing you to restart at a branching point. Well, looking at it that way, is it truly precognition? Anyway, this skill, with its cheat-like ability, also had clear drawbacks. The activation condition required a ‘bonded’ companion. It also had a cooldown period of several months based on city time. Despite that, a maximum of 3 uses were allowed. Furthermore, it wouldn’t activate if the user died. Therefore… ‘First of all, it’s not this skill.’ Currently, we’re not in a bonded state, and judging by our conversation, it seems he’s already used it at least twice, so it’s unlikely to be this skill. ‘The most plausible one… it must be that one.’ I quickly narrowed down the most likely candidate. [Harbinger of Misfortune] A 6th-grade passive skill with high acquisition difficulty. When possessed, it activates with a random probability, and you can receive advice-like future information through system logs. Something like this: 「An ominous vision settles in the Harbinger’s eyes.」 「In the near future, Bjorn Yandel will lose his life to the sword of Centurion Dreadfear, who is following behind. Do not be relieved that he is not visible. He will never give up on you.」 Therefore, I classified this skill as an information detection skill, and in fact, I often used it for that purpose in the mid-game. Being able to know the presence of traps, and the types and characteristics of monsters in advance was a great help in unexplored areas. However… ‘It must feel different in reality.’ Once the skill activates, he would actually see a ‘vision’. And the information that was just a few lines in the game would be experienced directly through his own eyes. “Haa… haa…” “…Ainar, did you perhaps see me dying?” “…” Again, there was no answer. However, the momentary twitch of his body was the answer to my question. ‘So, that’s why he’s pushing himself this hard…’ I then firmly shut my mouth. Because no matter how much I tried to persuade him, he wouldn’t listen. All I could do now was that much. “Left.” Directing him to the right path. And… Clench my teeth. “Behel—aaaaaaah!!” Being carried on Ainar’s back as he broke through the soldiers with his bare body, helplessly. Thud-! An arrow piercing my leg. “Die!” Watching as the sharp tip of a spear tore through my skin. That was all I could do. “There, we got him! Now’s the time, hurry…!” “Uwaaaaaaaaah!!” “…What kind of power is this!” It was after a much more desperate charge that Ainar finally stopped moving. It wasn’t because we had reached our destination. There was still a way to go to the cave entrance, but it was too much now. To keep going while protecting me. Thud. As his injuries piled up and his speed slowed, the distance between him and the pursuing soldiers narrowed, and Ainar finally ended his reckless charge. And… “Don’t… worry… about anything.” With those words, he swung his weapon against the soldiers who were swarming in like a tide. I could only sit against the wall and watch his back helplessly. One, two, three, four, five, six… When he cut down the seventh, an axe struck Ainar’s forearm. Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, seventeen… When he defeated the eighteenth soldier, his collarbone was pierced by a spear. Forty-three, forty-four, forty-five… At the forty-sixth, a flying arrow pierced his left eye. Seventy-one, seventy-two, seventy-three. As time passed, countless corpses piled up. One hundred. A moment of silence fell. Despite being riddled with arrows and bleeding from pierced wounds, his upright figure made the soldiers hesitant to close the distance. “…” “…” Of course, that time was extremely short. “That guy is exhausted too…! Don’t back down!” The soldiers stepped over the piled-up corpses and swung their weapons again. One hundred and thirty. Ainar apologized to me. “Sorry…” “…” “My body… has no strength…” Soon, Ainar collapsed, his body covering mine. Thud, thud, thud-! Sounds that shouldn’t be coming from my companion’s body were heard. Beeeep- It felt like I was having a nightmare. My head was blank, and I felt dizzy and nauseous. Thud, thud, thud— Beeeep-! Countless sounds were heard in succession. And how long did that eternity-like moment repeat? Finally, the body that had been forced to watch everything helplessly—. Twitched. It began to move. *** 「The character’s health has reached 30%.」 「The status ailment [Paralysis] is removed.」 *** I reached out to the side and grabbed any weapon that I could get my hands on. And after pushing Ainar’s body away, I stood up. Whoosh-! I swung the weapon wildly. The soldiers were startled and retreated, creating a small gap. In that opening, I quickly picked up Ainar and started running. Just like Ainar had carried me earlier. “Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah—!!” I ran through the passage filled with soldiers. “S, stop him!” Weapons were swung to stop me. With each step, large and small injuries piled up on my body. However, I didn’t block or dodge. If the weapon wasn’t aimed at Ainar, I would take the hit with my body like a mindless tank and keep running. How long had it been? 「The character’s health is below 15%.」 The body that had barely recovered was tattered again, but I managed to break through the encirclement. “Haa… haa…” Finally, I had a little bit of breathing room. I checked Ainar’s condition as I ran. “Ainar! Are you okay? Wake up! Don’t fall asleep! Get up—.” Then, a faint voice reached my ears. “…B, Bjorn.” “…!” …Yes, he was alive. “T, thank goodness. H, is it hard? But hold on a little longer! 10 minutes! No, 8 minutes is enough!” Then we can get out of this cave. Of course, I don’t know if that’s the clear condition, but considering how absurd the escape difficulty was, there’s a high chance that there will be a way to recover in the next chapter. “So…!” Trust me and hold on a little longer. Just as I was about to continue, Ainar spoke. “…L, let… go.” What on earth was he saying? His pronunciation was slurred, and his voice was so small that I wondered if I had misheard. But… “Leave… me… behind…” …I heard it correctly. I felt angry for some reason, but I couldn’t bring myself to say harsh words to a patient. Therefore, I decided to just ignore it. “You must have a problem with your head from losing too much blood.” “…” “So just stay still. That’s all you can do anyway.” I don’t know if he decided to follow my words, or if he simply didn’t have the strength left. But Ainar didn’t say anything more. ‘…He’s not dead, right?’ I swallowed the anxiety along with dry saliva. And I ran forward as if my heart would burst. As the entrance came closer, I could smell the scent of the bushes, and the surroundings gradually brightened due to the light seeping in. The dazzling entrance came into view in the distance. “Ainar! Ainar! Wake up. We’re almost outside!” “…” “Answer me!” “…B, be… careful.” What is he saying? Anyway, I confirmed that he was alive, so that’s enough. So let’s get out quickly—. “…?” I stopped walking as I reached the cave entrance. And I slowly approached the entrance and reached out towards the translucent barrier. For some reason, I don’t know why. Thud. The cave entrance was blocked. “…Don’t be ridiculous.” If escaping outside isn’t the goal, then what is? What? You create a boss monster that’s impossible to catch and then prevent us from leaving? “Then what… is the strategy…” A feeling like something I had been holding onto tightly inside was collapsing. “B, Bjorn…” However, I laughed. “Ah… Ainar? Don’t worry! I’ll break this barrier in no time!” If there’s something blocking the way, breaking it and moving forward is the spirit of a barbarian. Wham! Wham! Wham! I punched the barrier with all my might. “Bjorn…” Unfortunately, the barrier didn’t budge. But not knowing how to give up is also one of the virtues a barbarian should have. “S, stop…” Fists, feet, forehead. I used everything I could, including ramming my shoulder with my full weight, to attack the barrier. Wham-! Seriously, did they put an indestructible option on it? ‘Okay, then it’s time for Plan B.’ I changed my strategy and targeted the wall next to the barrier. Even if an iron door is sturdy, the stone wall with the door won’t be. Maybe there’s a way there. So… “Stop, and…” Wham-! “Go… now…” “…” “Before… he comes…” I couldn’t take it anymore. Wham-! I slammed my forehead against the unyielding wall as if venting my anger. Instead of feeling even a little better, I still felt suffocated. “He’s here…!” Then, soldiers appeared from behind. We had created so much distance, but already? I didn’t even have that thought. With a feeling of ‘it’s better this way,’ I immediately charged at the soldiers. Crack-! I smashed the one in front against the wall, and after taking his weapon, I began the massacre in earnest. “…A, a demon!” “Don’t back down!” “For the Empire…!” One, two, three, four… ‘Five.’ Six, seven, eight… ‘…How many was it?’ I don’t know, so starting again from the beginning, one, two, three… Crack, crack, crack-! When I finally came to my senses, the surroundings were quiet. Only corpses were everywhere, and not even a small breath could be heard. Realizing something belatedly, I turned around. “…Ainar.” I rushed over and checked, and thankfully, Ainar was still breathing. Faint and rough, as if it would stop at any moment. “B, Bjorn…” Feeling my presence, Ainar trembled and lifted his eyelids. “…” My mouth wouldn’t open. I should say something like ‘it’s okay,’ ‘don’t worry,’ or ‘we’ll be able to get out soon.’ “Yandel’s… son… Bjorn.” As I stared blankly down at him like a person who had lost their soul, Ainar weakly twisted the corners of his mouth into a smile. “My… precious… friend…” It felt like a thick stake was being driven into my heart. A precious friend… “You… will… become… a great… warrior…” Something I had barely managed to hold back collapsed. *** A painful truth and a sweet lie. It’s clear which of the two is right for someone facing death. But. ‘A precious friend…’ Before I could even make that simple distinction, my mouth opened on its own. It was a confession and an apology. “I’m… I’m not… that…” The real Bjorn Yandel is someone else. I’m just an evil spirit that stole his body. Yes, the evil spirit that you said should have its head crushed and killed on the spot. That’s… me. I muttered those words for a long time, looking at Ainar, who was staring at me without focus. Then, at some point, when I came to my senses. “…” Ainar was no longer breathing. His open eyes were still facing me, but it was pointless to deny it. 「The third Pilgrim has died.」 Ainar died. And, along with this. 「All stats of the surviving Pilgrims increase by +400.」 My stats increased once more. Through this, I could understand. 「You have survived alone.」 When the stats increase. And… 「Special Condition – Perfect Bond has been fulfilled.」 「All stats increase by 3 times.」 「Defeat Centurion Dreadfear.」 What the strategy for this hidden phase was.