Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 520

After the goblin’s turn ended, the order quickly rotated. “The Royal Military Strategy Department reports that the reason we were able to achieve a great victory this time and advance beyond the Dragon Mountains is because Noahrc guided us. The core personnel of Noahrc have not been identified anywhere.”

The second in line, Deer Antler, spoke, looking directly at the clown, an Orculys member, as if asking for the inside story. “The Blood Lord, who entered the hidden area following Bjorn Yandel, is still alive.”

The third in line, Crescent Moon, made everyone tilt their heads. “Since there’s been talk about it, it’s true that there’s a high possibility they’re alive… but how can you be so sure?” “It’s because the pureblood residing in the Blood Lord’s body has not yet returned to the clan.” “Ah… !” Right, there was that method. To confirm their survival. “So, the Elven race is already certain of her survival and is forming a rescue team composed of their best members.” “Tsk, but that’s strange. Isn’t the Blood Lord a traitor to the clan? They raised her well, even giving her pureblood, but she went and gave her heart and soul to some guy.” “…I have no reason to answer you.” “Tsk tsk. How prickly.” “I’ll say it again, I will come for you someday, so don’t die before then. The reason I always come here is also to know that you’re alive.” The clown and Crescent Moon growled at each other after a long time, but this was just a brief happening during the assembly. As the turn continued, the two ignored each other, like a cow looking at a chicken [a common idiom meaning they completely disregarded each other]. “Fox, it’s your turn now.” The turn was already at the fourth person. I rested my chin on one hand and listened to her voice. I was curious what Bersil, wearing the fox mask, would say this time. After all, I had given her a quest last time. [I’ll look into it too. So, can you look into it in more detail?] A quest I gave her, after hearing that Misha was a traitor, to probe more actively at the Round Table. So, how would Bersil try to probe? “Misha Kalstein is not a traitor. From Bjorn Yandel’s perspective.” Information that directly contradicted what the Butterfly Mask had said last time. As soon as I heard it, I thought, ‘What is this again?’ After all, it was clear that saying this would make the gem turn red— ‘Ah, that’s what she was aiming for.’ Soon, the Round Table’s gem emitted light. Shwaaaaaaa. The light was a clear red, just as I had expected. “Heh… this has become interesting.” The Butterfly Mask muttered, looking at the Fox with an intrigued gaze. Okay, it seems like she’s definitely drawn aggro with this [short for ‘aggression,’ meaning she has provoked a reaction]. ‘Maybe the reason she sat right in front of the Butterfly Mask was because of this.’ Of course, I don’t know if this bait will work. However, in my opinion, the attempt itself was very good. “Tsk, what’s going on?” As each member shot out gazes demanding an explanation, Bersil opened her mouth with a calm voice. “It seems my conviction was a bit lacking. I did gather a lot of evidence… Anyway, since it turned out like this, I’ll do something else.” Afterwards, Bersil presented other information and received a green light, and the turn passed to the next person. The Butterfly Mask, one of the three newbies who suddenly appeared at the Round Table. So, will this one bite the bait or not? The answer was soon revealed. “It seems Fox doesn’t believe what I said. Or, is there a reason why you don’t want to believe it? It’s really funny.” Yes, she bit. “Misha Kalstein rejoined Bjorn Yandel’s team because she received instructions from someone else.” ‘……What?’ I almost let out a sound without realizing it. ‘Misha returned because she received instructions…?’ Even as I felt my heart pounding, I first checked the Round Table’s gem. Shwaaaaaaa- The green light that emanated as if proving that those words were true. The clown, seeing this, muttered in an excited voice. “Tsk, that stupid barbarian is also pitiful. He kept shouting about his comrades, but now he’s about to be betrayed by them.” I wanted to slam his face into the floor right away, but I clenched both fists under the table and held back. It was time to focus on reason rather than emotion. ‘……Someone’s instructions.’ Who is the someone that the Butterfly Mask was talking about? There’s only one person that comes to mind. ‘Lee Baekho.’ No matter how much I think about it, there’s no one else who would do such a thing. Next month, as soon as I meet him— ‘No, wait a minute……’ Just as my vision was narrowing due to anger towards Lee Baekho, I suddenly made eye contact with the Butterfly Mask. Of course, they immediately averted their gaze after making eye contact…… ‘What is this guy?’ That thought suddenly came to mind. Was it a coincidence that this person brought up the story of Misha Kalstein in this place? Was there really no intention behind it? ‘Looking back… it was an unexpected timing.’ The head that was heating up cools down as it senses a sense of discomfort. The fact that the Butterfly Mask said this information at the Round Table means that it doesn’t matter if it’s widely known. Or, they wanted it to be known. ‘If it’s the latter.’ They must have also expected it to reach Bjorn Yandel’s ears. I calmed myself as much as possible and asked myself. ‘When Bjorn Yandel finds out that Misha Kalstein is a traitor.’ What did the Butterfly Mask think Bjorn Yandel would do? The answer was obvious. ‘He would cast Misha out.’ Or if not that. ‘He would have a falling out with Lee Baekho.’ Then, is this the result that the Butterfly wanted? This was still unknown. Well, these speculations are just my delusions, and maybe they just said whatever came to mind to pass their turn. But…… ‘My mind is coming back a bit.’ After recognizing these possibilities, I became much more cautious. ‘If someone is really trying to drive a wedge between us.’ I just need to stay still. Then, they will be the ones who get impatient. Tap. Before firing a gun, you have to aim properly. *** 「The character is moving to the archive.」 *** After the Butterfly’s turn ended. [There is an inscription in ancient language under the stone monument found on the first floor. The content is……] Starting with the Queen, who brought out the key clue to descend to the first basement level, the turns rotated through Black, the Clown, and the Wolf, and soon it was my turn. Was it because there was a big event this month? All the members showed more interest than usual in the information I would reveal. However, I betrayed their expectations and passed my turn by talking about game information, and that’s how the first round ended. And…… ‘There wasn’t really anything to see in the second round either.’ I was only able to hear information from the outside world that had been cut off by being trapped in the labyrinth, and there wasn’t much that was helpful or relevant to me. ‘The Butterfly Mask didn’t mention Misha at all in the second round either.’ And that’s how this assembly ended. Afterwards, I returned to Lee Han-soo’s room, browsed the bulletin board for a bit, and logged out early. After all, I didn’t log in from the city. I needed to get enough rest and conserve my energy for tomorrow’s exploration…… [00:00] The time when the 36th day of entering the labyrinth had just begun. I slowly opened my eyes from under the blanket and moved only my eyes to check my surroundings. Flap- The light of the burning campfire flickered in the cave. No, should I call it inside a tree? The surroundings were the same as the campsite I had set up before entering the community. ‘…Even though I came out after about 4 hours, I’m so tired.’ I closed my eyes again for a moment. And how much time had passed? Soon, I heard a rustling sound from the side, and Amelia’s clone, who I had set as a night watch, approached the source of the sound. “Some water?” “…Ah, yes. Thank you.” Right, it was you, Bersil. Judging by the few seconds of difference in the time I woke up, it seemed like she had stayed until the community closed…… “Is Yandel-ssi… sleeping?” “Yeah.” It was a bit strange to wake up here and talk, so I just closed my eyes again. And the next morning. As we were all waking up and preparing for exploration, Bersil walked over like a zombie with a tired face. “Yandel-ssi, before we leave, can we talk one-on-one for a bit?” “Talk? Sure.” I answered as if I had no idea, but it was obvious what Bersil was going to say, and it wasn’t much different from what I had expected. “It’s about Misha Kalstein. There’s a suspicion that she returned to our team under someone’s instructions.” Of course, I was curious about one thing. “Why are you telling me this only now?” “…It’s a sensitive topic, so I wanted to confirm it a bit more before telling you.” Right, that’s how you were planning to gloss over it. If I didn’t know anything, I would have found it very suspicious, but since I knew the inside story, I just pretended not to know. “Ahem! Anyway, that’s not the important thing… There’s one more thing I need to tell you……” “What is it?” “Maybe time is passing outside right now.” Huh, I didn’t expect her to report this right away. Did she think that she had to say it right away, even if it made me a little suspicious? If so, that’s kind of admirable. “What’s the basis?” “…The village chief. If you think about it, there are many strange things. That person is from thousands of years ago. I heard that he has also spent a very long time here? The story only makes sense if we assume that time is passing in both places.” The basis that Bersil gave was honestly a bit surprising. ‘……Wow, if I had heard it without knowing, I would have just accepted it?’ I thought she was tossing and turning a lot more last night, but was she preparing these excuses in advance? Well, I was a bit late to sleep because I was thinking too. “Then, has it already been more than a month outside?” I asked again as if I didn’t know anything, and Bersil shook her head. “No. That’s not it. No, I don’t think so… In my opinion, the ‘rainy season’ is the starting point.” “What’s the basis?” “…There isn’t any.” There is. The biggest basis is that 15 days have passed outside. Right, so you couldn’t prepare an excuse up to this point? Anyway, Bersil’s opinion on the time ratio between the city and this place matched mine. The rainy season ends on the 21st day. The Round Table opens at midnight on the 35th day, which is fifteen days later. In other words, if we assume that time flows at a one-to-one ratio after the rainy season, then the calculation is perfect…… “If my guess is correct, there’s a high possibility that the labyrinth will open again on the 50th day.” “And?” “On the 57th day, the first floor will be closed again, and no one will be able to enter. And on the 64th day, the rainy season will start again.” This also perfectly matches the rainy season cycle that I heard from the village chief. *** After Bersil conveyed the shocking (?) information to me, a clan meeting was held after a long time. “Time is passing in the city……?” Everyone was surprised by that hypothesis, but most of them didn’t doubt the truth of the information itself. After all, I told them that the community had opened. Except for Ainar and Auyen, who don’t know that I’m an evil spirit. “Oh! That’s a very strange thing!” “I-Is this a big problem? Then? If we are also trapped here forever like the village chief……” Regardless of the two people’s contrasting reactions. Information sharing was just the beginning, and the topic of the meeting was different. “What we need to decide now is how we will act in the future.” “Captain, what exactly do you mean by that?” “To put it simply, we have to decide. Whether we focus only on our exploration, regardless of whether other explorers come down here or not. Or else……” “Or else?” “We help them grow their forces and find a way to escape this place.” Since everyone was an explorer who was quick at calculating gains and losses, there was no need for long words. As soon as we started voting, the pros and cons quickly split. “I’m in favor. Regardless of the short-term gains, finding a way to escape this place is the priority.” “I, I’m also in favor. It’s not just about escaping… if we leave them alone, most of them will die……” Amelia and Auyen in favor. And…… “I’m against it. I don’t know if those people will be helpful……” “I’m also against it! If they’re explorers who have come this far, shouldn’t they be able to handle it themselves? Above all, it seems like a hassle!” Erwen and Ainar against. “I… I think it’s better to meet them even if we have to stop exploring. We can at least confirm the truth of the information and hear news from the outside. Whether we help them or not is a matter for later.” “I… I don’t think we need to go out of our way to find them, and if we meet them later, it would be good to think about it after seeing the people……” Bersil and Misha with other votes. Why am I always the last vote? I don’t know, but I just voted for what I thought was the right answer. “I think it’s better to go back to the rocky island first.” Both the library and the rainy season, and this giant tree island. Since the end-content has a high difficulty level, the more people there are, the more options we can have. ‘Above all, if there are more people, we’ll be able to catch that giant bastard.’ In that sense, we continued our exploration for about ten more days and then headed to the rocky island at the right time. The date when we arrived was the 53rd day. We set up a campsite at the location where we had started and waited endlessly, and time passed quickly. The 54th day, the 55th day, the 56th day…… And then it was the 57th day, and we were starting to doubt if anyone would really come. Whoooosh-! “B-Bjorn!! Portals! It’s a portal!!” Several dozen portals opened in the air, and newbies poured in.