Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 625

After raiding the main temple of the Leatlass Church, our first target, we moved according to the pre-planned route, rescuing explorers trapped in various city facilities.

And then…

“You’re saying… you’ll give us essences?”

“Yes! The stronger you become, the higher the chance of saving this city! Now, take them!”

We shared essences every time we escaped.

Ah, of course, I didn’t just give them out to anyone. Each time we escaped, I gave one to the highest-ranked explorer there.

I had to do at least that much to save face with the royal family.

Besides, the essences I got from the first basement floor weren’t enough to give to everyone.

‘Okay, that’s the end of the essence sharing.’

Soon, after liberating the 7th District Security Office, which was the fourth stop on our route, all the essences for sharing were used up.

“Um… shouldn’t we at least record who got which essence?”

Auyen and the other colleagues, who had no idea about my skimming plan, belatedly expressed their concerns about my unconventional actions.

“Since it’s the royal family’s property, they will surely try to verify it, even if the cause is good.”

Well, that’s probably true.

But so what?

If ordinary people made such a ‘mistake,’ it might look very suspicious.

“Hey, why bother recording such things? It’s a hassle.”

I am a barbarian.

Therefore, it’s not strange at all if I handle things in a barbarian way.

“If it’s a hassle, I can ask people now and record it…”

“Enough! When would we do that one by one in this busy time?”

“Still…”

Ha, this is something.

I appreciate their concern, but…

“Auyen, I’m telling you it’s okay.”

When I lowered my voice and spoke firmly, Auyen made a startled expression and shut his mouth.

It seems he finally realized that I have some hidden intention…

‘But it seems he still doesn’t know exactly what I’m planning.’

Indeed, even Amelia was shocked and horrified when she first heard my plan.

She said I was the only person in the world who would do such a crazy thing against the royal family.

“Bjorn! When are we leaving for the next destination! I want to fight already…!! Uoooooo!!”

Just as I was about to resume moving, Ainar couldn’t wait and urged me on.

‘…Should I have only put in half the fighting spirit?’

After recovering his fighting spirit, Ainar seemed ashamed of his past dark history, and for some reason, he was much more active than before.

So, I wondered if he would have been at the level of ordinary people if I had only put in half…

‘Eh, then what kind of spear barbarian would that be? Just a spearman.’

By definition, a barbarian should be like this.

Frankly speaking, as the Barbarian Lord, I am very pleased that Ainar has regained his bold appearance.

So, I changed Ainar’s position as well.

Originally, Ainar’s mission this time was to follow Bersil and guard the rear, but…

“Roar, Ainar.”

“Behel—raaaaaaaa!!!”

Now, he’s just following me at the forefront, smashing everything in sight.

He’s even using his new skills skillfully.

「Ainar Fnellin has cast [Unbreakable Spirit].」

「Physical stats are greatly increased for a certain period of time.」

「All types of status abnormality effects that restrict actions are reduced by 80%.」

The newly acquired combat buff made Ainar charge like a tank, sweeping through the battlefield.

Although it’s not a skill that grants CC immunity or completely removes it…

Considering the 80% reduction and his magic resistance, most CCs [Crowd Control] are nullified in the blink of an eye.

「Ainar Fnellin has cast [Focus Fire].」

However, [Focus Fire], the core skill of the spear barbarian, has not yet shown great power.

「For the next attack, all effects of the currently held penetration skills are applied.」

That’s because he only has [Trident] as a penetration skill.

So, I even advised him not to use it now as it wastes mana, but Ainar didn’t seem to have any intention of listening.

How could he resist when the spear was emitting a white light?

‘Once the city problem is solved, I need to quickly buy and feed him attack skills.’

When about three penetration skills are stacked, [Focus Fire] shows power that surpasses the performance of a 5th-grade skill.

Well, the true value of this skill lies elsewhere.

‘In a way, is this skill also a conversion-type skill?’

The skill condition of [Focus Fire] is ‘penetration type.’

Therefore, it is possible to eat and utilize skills from other classes that can only be used with ranged weapons like bows.

That’s why [Focus Fire] was adopted as the core essence of the spear barbarian in the first place.

“Uooooooo!!”

Anyway, apart from not being able to properly utilize [Focus Fire], Ainar was roaming the battlefield, showing the same, if not greater, presence than when he was called the Sword Demon.

That’s because his raw stats have become incredibly high with this spec-up, and…

「Ainar Fnellin has used attack skills 10 times.」

「Due to the passive skill [War Machine], the damage received is temporarily greatly reduced.」

「Ainar Fnellin has failed to defend.」

「Due to the passive skill [Endurance], all resistances are slightly increased.」

Thanks to the defensive passive skills, his combat stability has also increased dramatically.

And in the midst of that.

Thwack-!

The damage has increased much more than before.

It might have been much better before when dealing with many weak enemies, but the single target damage is on a different level.

That’s because the Verdant Great Spear is the ultimate weapon in the spear category.

Just stabbing it easily pierces through most armor like tofu…

“The Sword Demon… when did he start using a spear?”

“But he seems even stronger than when he used a sword…”

“…A new spear! It’s the emergence of a new spear!”

Ainar, hearing the fuss of the explorers who were surprised by his presence, asked me.

“Bjorn, what is a new spear?”

“It means someone who is good at using a spear.”

“Uoooo!! I am a new spear!!!”

Ainar got a new title.

***

「Ainar Fnellin’s fame stat has increased by +1.」

「Ainar Fnellin’s fame stat has increased by +1.」

「Ainar Fnellin’s fame stat has increased by +1.」

「Ainar Fnellin’s fame stat has increased by +1…」

「······.」

***

Even if not as much as Ainar, who made a big impact by changing his weapon after returning from the first basement floor, we also received a lot of attention from the explorers who followed us.

“What is that shield…?”

“I don’t know. But it’s definitely not an ordinary item.”

“It seems the giantesses have also become stronger.”

Not only me, but Amelia, Misha, and Erwen, who had obtained new essences, also showed more growth, receiving admiration from many explorers.

“…I don’t know what kind of exploration you did there, but the giant has wings on her back.”

“Why be surprised now? He’s already an explorer who has left his name on the Stone of Honor. That person will one day die and leave his name as a legend in this city.”

It’s a bit embarrassing, but if you think about it, it’s not exactly wrong.

Through this journey, we have gained the momentum to move further.

Ah, of course, we have to finish this matter well first.

“…It’s empty again this time.”

The underground prison of the Western Explorer Branch, the ninth stop on our route. However, when we arrived, the prison was completely empty.

“It seems that defeating them greatly in the last battle had a big impact.”

“Other facilities will probably be in a similar situation.”

From the third facility, the Noark guys recognized us and waited with full preparations, so we had to engage in fierce battles.

However, from the seventh facility, their forces gradually weakened, and now, both the guys guarding the prison and the explorers who should have been imprisoned have completely disappeared.

Of course, it wasn’t an entirely unexpected result.

Even if we cause chaos inside, the target that the Noarks are most wary of is the royal army stationed beyond the city walls.

They have to deploy troops on the walls in case of an emergency, and if they take out too many troops to catch us, there is a high possibility that the royal army beyond the walls will notice something is wrong.

In short, from their point of view, they have no choice but to leave us alone.

‘Tch, it’ll be difficult to get help from the royal family.’

In fact, there is a best-case scenario that I hoped for in this plan.

That is for the royal army to launch a full-scale offensive, seizing the gap we created.

The news that the first basement expedition team has returned would have already been delivered to the royal family.

They would also know that we are in the 7th district, and I thought there was a high possibility that they would notice what was going on as soon as the troops on the walls were reduced.

But…

“It’s time to move on to the next stage.”

Does the world ever work the way you want it to?

As it is a law of the world that I have felt countless times in my life, I was able to make a quick decision.

“The next plan you speak of is…”

“I already told you everything, why are you pretending not to know?”

“……”

“We will break through the city walls and enter the city with our own strength.”

It was something that had already been planned and shared among the members.

But perhaps not for the explorers who had just escaped.

“Yes…? What are you talking about?”

“I heard that the Noark guys are swarming on the city walls…”

There was a commotion among the explorers who overheard my words.

“Will we be able to do it with just us?”

“We don’t even have proper equipment!”

“No matter how good your achievements are, I must cautiously say that this is a bit unreasonable…”

In fact, there were many ways to persuade these guys.

Our power is enough to try.

Also, if we strike first, there is a very high possibility that the royal army will notice and provide support.

No matter how much we get hurt, we can get treatment as soon as we cross the city walls, etc.

If I just say those things in a cool way, they will eventually be persuaded and follow me.

But…

“Ugh, so noisy.”

“…?”

“Why do grown adults have so much to whine about?”

“…Yes?”

Looking at the dumbfounded explorers, I spoke bluntly.

“Those who are scared, step back. Isn’t that the end of the problem?”

“…Yes?”

“Why are you so flustered? Did you think I would try to persuade you earnestly?”

“……”

Seeing that there was no answer, it seemed like they did. I’m not their parents.

“Let’s go!”

There was no need to have a longer conversation, I just took the lead and started moving, and that was enough.

“…Are you, are you going to stay?”

“Are you crazy? I have to follow!”

“The Baron must have a plan, that’s why he’s doing that, right? I believe in the Baron!”

In my opinion, I saved more than 20 minutes.

***

As the 7th district is like my hometown, it wasn’t difficult to find my way even in the ruined city.

Besides, the city walls are clearly visible in the distance.

However, the problem is that the main force of the Noarks, who discovered us as we got closer to the city walls, started to approach…

“There are at least twenty times more of them than us.”

“The problem is that’s not all. More will gather as time passes.”

Moreover, it’s not just that there are a lot of them.

The main force of the Noarks that came to stop us was full of guys with unusual auras, and one of them was a figure very familiar to me.

“So you managed to come back alive from there? Bjorn Yandel.”

“……”

“It would have been better if you had just died there.”

Looking at the guy who was throwing greetings from afar, I just chuckled.

“Tsk.”

He’s still the same.