Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 637

I’ve never been excessively shy.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’ve always had the right answers or overcome every hardship like a hero in a story. I’ve always done my best, but there were always things I regretted.

I’m an ordinary person, flawed and imperfect, and I’m not ashamed of being that kind of person.

But…

‘Haa…’

Today, I am ashamed of myself.

Why did so many faces come to mind when I heard the Clan Chief’s proposal?

‘Am I really going crazy?’

I don’t understand myself either.

So, I spent a long time under the blanket, thinking.

‘Misha Karlstein.’

Well, it seems natural that she comes to mind. She was the first person I connected with after coming to this world, when I couldn’t break through the walls and approach anyone else.

‘Erwen Fornaci di Tersia.’

However, Erwen is a little different from Misha. There’s always a sense of guilt in a corner of my heart, but that feeling is clearly different from that between a man and a woman. It’s just that I know how she feels about me, so it’s highly likely that she came to mind when the ‘marriage’ talk came up.

Why are there people like that sometimes? They prefer someone who likes them rather than someone they like.

‘Amelia Rainwales.’

Ironically, Amelia, whom I first met as an enemy during my days as a plunderer, is the most trustworthy person I know. She’s reliable and dependable in any situation. And on top of that, she’s also cute, to be honest.

However, the problem is…

‘Why aren’t these three the end of it?’

Raven, Hyunbyul, Ragna.

And Ainar—.

‘No, he’s just a friend.’

Compared to the previous three, it was much shorter, but to be honest, they also flashed through my mind for a moment. Like a teenager who imagines his grandchildren’s names just from a kind smile, I drew an abstract picture of married life with each of them.

Surprisingly, it seemed like a happy life awaited me no matter who I ended up with.

‘…Am I really crazy?’

I don’t understand myself at all. It’s not like I want to be with all of them. It’s not impossible institutionally since I’ve become a noble, but I don’t want to myself.

But, even so, why did so many faces come to mind at the same time back then?

After a long time of pondering, I came up with an answer that seemed closest to the truth.

‘…It might have been natural.’

I haven’t made up my mind about anyone yet. After what happened with Misha, I’ve been suppressing and burying these kinds of feelings as much as possible. In that situation, if someone suddenly brings up marriage, it’s only natural to think of the people around me first.

Aren’t they all the women around me?

‘Yeah, it’s not like I’m weird.’

Even if it’s just rationalization from my own point of view, I felt relieved once I came to that conclusion.

Therefore…

Snore! Snore!

The next morning, after falling asleep and waking up without anyone knowing, I secretly slipped out of the newly built building that was in the place where the Clan Chief’s tent used to be—.

‘You’re busy from early in the morning.’

Uh…

‘Haha, I was just going for a walk…’

As I awkwardly smiled and glanced around, Amelia let out a chuckle.

‘Don’t worry. The others aren’t nearby. I persuaded them well and sent them all back, saying I’d wait for you.’

‘Oh, really…?’

‘You’ll have to give a proper answer someday. Everyone is curious about what decision you’ll make.’

It was as if Amelia had been waiting to say those words, and as soon as she finished speaking, she coolly turned her back.

Ah, maybe not coolly?

‘And… I don’t know where you’re going today, but don’t come back too late. If you’re going to stay out, let me know in advance.’

She was walking away chicly, but then she stopped for a moment and said those words, like a nagging mom.

Well, that’s one of her charms, though.

‘Ha… How did the marriage talk come up at the dinner table…’

This is why people should be careful about what they say. The saying that a single word can repay a thousand gold coins also meant that the opposite was entirely possible.

‘It’s the Clan Chief!!’

‘The Clan Chief is going to the city!!’

‘Open the gates!!’

I was just going to take a walk, but somehow, when I arrived at the city gate, it opened, and I ended up moving to District 7.

District 7, which was still in ruins because reconstruction work hadn’t started in earnest. The residents, who were lying down like vagrants in front of collapsed houses, covered in blankets, stood up when they saw me.

‘A giant…! It’s a giant!’

‘What? Did the Baron come?’

‘Baron Yandel…!!’

Is it because of my reputation as a hero? Unlike the usual nobles’ procession, where residents would be afraid and rush to avoid them, they showed a different attitude towards me.

Of course, it wasn’t all good. It’s nice when they just pass by and offer words of thanks or blessings, but not everyone was like that.

‘P, please! Please help my family! Our shop is completely destroyed, and if this continues, next year’s taxes…!’

It’s still better when they beg or ask for sympathy.

‘Baron! Baron! What will happen to our District 7 in the future! What about Bifron! What happened to Bifron!’

‘There are rumors that the royal family will abandon District 7! Is that true!’

They asked as if they were demanding answers.

‘Please say something!!’

Many people thought it was natural for me to answer, as if they were looking for something they had left with me.

‘…I understand, but…’

They are also in a difficult situation, struggling day by day, and they must be frustrated because they can’t get proper news.

‘Baron!’

‘Don’t believe the rumors. Reconstruction work will begin soon in District 7.’

‘Baron!’

‘Take this for now and hold on a little longer. I will do my best to ensure that more relief supplies arrive.’

‘Baron!’

‘Bifron’s barrier? What’s so scary about that? Don’t worry, everyone! This city will never fall!’

Instead of getting angry at them, I encouraged them and gave them the answers they were hoping for as I walked through the streets.

And how much further did I walk?

‘…I wonder if it’s there?’

Since I came this far, I also visited the Magic Tower. I had already received several letters from the Holy Land anyway. The letters said that they were continuing their personal research in the Magic Tower’s laboratory thanks to the long special vacation given by the royal family after this expedition, and they asked me to visit as soon as possible….

‘Invincible, my foot.’

I chuckled when I arrived at the Magic Tower. They said that it had never been conquered by invaders in its long history, but that record had been broken twice in the last few years. Once by me, and this time by Noark.

‘Actually, it’s not that it’s invincible, but that they were just good at politics.’

Well, I heard that unlike the exterior, which was in a terrible state starting from the entrance, the damage inside wasn’t that great. As soon as the invasion began, they bought time with a barrier, then packed all the data and research equipment, and left the area with the high-ranking officials and local leaders of District 7 using a teleportation magic circle?

‘They said that everything was fine except for the teleportation magic circle being destroyed…’

I heard that Noark also knew that they had taken everything and left, so they only destroyed the magic circle so that the royal family couldn’t use it and didn’t touch anything else—.

‘Why are you standing in front of the door like that? If you’ve come, just go inside and wait.’

Then, Raven appeared behind me as I arrived at the laboratory.

‘Give some sign that you’re coming.’

‘…What are you talking about.’

‘Hey, what kind of way is that to talk to a Baron? You’re so small.’

‘No, why are you picking a fight as soon as you see me? Did something annoying happen on your way here?’

‘….’

‘What, did something really happen?’

‘No, it didn’t.’

It wasn’t exactly a lie. It was closer to being physically and mentally exhausted because of the residents who were paying attention to me, rather than being annoyed.

***

‘Let’s go inside for now. We can talk inside.’

‘But where did you go? I thought you’d be inside since you’re so busy.’

‘I didn’t go far, I just went to borrow something from someone I know.’

‘What?’

‘It’s an experimental tool, do you want me to explain it in detail?’

‘No, it’s okay.’

After going inside the laboratory and roughly settling down, I could see that Raven’s laboratory had also changed a lot from before.

‘It’s a mess, right? The whole Magic Tower is in chaos because of this incident. My teacher packed everything and left while I was gone, but there are quite a few things that are missing if you look for them.’

‘I see.’

‘Well, there wasn’t much left anyway since I took a lot of things to the laboratory in Karnon. Should I get you something to drink? You’re a Baron, after all.’

‘Just water.’

After that, I gulped down the water in Raven’s laboratory flask (1.8L) and we talked about what had been going on. It had already been a long time since we came out of the first basement level, and there had been a major event in the meantime.

‘How does something like that happen as soon as you come back, Mr. Yandel?’

When I briefly explained what had happened after returning to the city, Raven listened with great interest, and then laughed as if she couldn’t believe it.

‘It seems like you’re always involved in every incident that happens in this world?’

It was a sad thing to say, but I couldn’t refute it. Honestly, since she knows almost everything I’ve been through, I don’t think she’d be convinced if I denied it.

‘Why does it feel like the whole world is tormenting me?’

Did something bad really happen to the name Hansoo?

I was seriously pondering that question when…

‘By the way… it’s a shame.’

Raven continued, her voice full of sincerity.

‘Why, I heard that you gave all the essences you got during the first basement level exploration to the general explorers. If you had just researched those, you could have monopolized this year’s academic awards for at least a few years.’

‘Ah, that…’

‘I’m saying this so you don’t misunderstand, but I didn’t mean to blame you or anything like that, Mr. Yandel. To be honest, when I heard that decision, I thought it was just like you.’

‘…Huh? Like me?’

For a moment, I wondered if she had grasped the truth of the incident with just this information, but the result was that she hadn’t.

‘You made that decision to save the city and the people, right? I can never say it was wise, but no matter what anyone says, I…’

Raven looked up at me, her gaze shifting to the side as if she was embarrassed.

‘I… personally… think it’s cool.’

It was the first time I had seen that kind of look in Raven’s eyes since we had been together. Should I say that I could feel something similar to respect in her eyes?

‘Oh… is that so?’

‘Yes.’

‘But… you know.’

‘…?’

Because Raven’s expression was too serious, I couldn’t even think of joking around like I usually do, and I immediately corrected the information.

‘Don’t… don’t be too disappointed.’

‘Yes. I should. It was for the greater good. It might seem a little pathetic to Mr. Yandel if I felt that way to satisfy my own selfish desires—’

‘No, no, it’s not that…’

What should I say? Looking at Raven, who was waiting for me to continue, I just confessed like a man.

‘Actually…’

‘Yes, actually?’

‘I already took all the useful stuff separately.’

‘…What?’

A question came back after a long pause.

‘You… took it? What do you mean?’

‘It’s exactly what it sounds like. If I just scatter the essences around, the royal family won’t be able to do a proper inventory check.’

No matter how I thought about it, it was a very clever plan. As I was praising myself inwardly, Raven opened her mouth in a stuttering tone, like someone denying reality.

‘…You touched the royal family’s spoils?’

‘So?’

‘Are you out of your mind?’

I knew that I could get these kinds of words, but even so, I couldn’t help but tilt my head.

‘Why are you suddenly acting like this? It’s not like this is the first time.’

We had already had the experience of taking things from the first basement level. Yes, so…

‘You even liked it back then, didn’t you? You even gave it a cool name, the ‘Crown of Anguish’.’

‘T, t, that’s different from this…! No, why are you telling me everything honestly after doing something like that!!’

Hey, where are you trying to back out? I was a little disappointed by this attitude, but fortunately, I knew how to handle a mage.

‘It’s because I don’t want to hide anything from you—’

‘That doesn’t work anymore!’

‘…Is that so?’

She’s a good student, she learns fast.

‘Anyway, don’t say too much. Either way, if we get caught, we’ll be executed, right?’

‘No! That’s not it! If we both keep our mouths shut, it’s over, but this is too big!’

Um… that’s true.

‘But so.’

‘…?’

‘Aren’t you going to do research?’

‘T, that…!’

Raven, who was at a loss like a puppy in front of a treat, lowered her head and answered in a voice as small as an ant.

‘…I guess I have to.’

Yeah, I knew it.