Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 103

Level 7 monster, Yeti.

This guy’s essence had decent stats.

[Yeti]

Strength +10, Agility +10, Bone Hardness +15, Cold Resistance +25, Cold Sensitivity +15

First off, it had dual stats considered top-tier, and bone hardness and cold resistance are also defensive stats classified as high-tier.

But, it even has cold sensitivity attached?

‘At this rate, I can use this for a few years.’

Sensitivity stats are a core stat for elemental damage dealers like Misha.

Just like how physical damage increases with high strength.

The power of the corresponding element is modified according to the sensitivity value.

‘She really is lucky.’

I felt it in the Witch’s Forest, but Misha is the complete opposite of me.

It’s like everything she does just works out?

Just look at how the Yeti’s essence came out in blue.

(P) Chill – Cold elemental additional damage is applied to all attack actions, and the cold resistance of the target that receives the damage is reduced.

The passive is common regardless of color, so let’s set that aside.

(A) Cold Condensation – Temporarily greatly increases cold sensitivity.

Among the Yeti’s active skills, the one I wanted dropped. [Cold Burst] isn’t bad either, but when comparing potential, nothing beats this.

‘Tsk, if the base stats were good, I could have used it as a junk essence.’

[Cold Condensation] shines more as you go into the later stages.

Well, because the stat bonus is too low, I’ll have to get rid of it later.

‘If the Yeti was only a level 5 monster, it would have been much better…’

It’s a game that’s so well-balanced in these useless areas.

I was thinking that when.

“H-How much is it…”

“Huh?”

“H-How much is it that you’re hesitating so much!”

What, is she still doing this?

“As you know, I spent a lot of money this time, so I don’t have that much…”

At this point, I’m wondering why she’s like this, but when I think about it, it’s not something I can’t understand.

The way explorers distribute essences is unfair.

When an essence drops, they first look for someone to consume it.

And when the owner is found, they pay the party members based on the average value announced by the guild.

But…

‘It’s a pain when there’s no buyer among the team members.’

There are times when there is no buyer not because they don’t need it, but because they can’t afford the essence value.

No, rather, this is overwhelmingly more common.

Even in that case, they wait 30 minutes until it naturally disappears and then resume the exploration.

‘They’re saying they’ll never do anything good for others for free.’

That’s what explorers are like.

However, Misha was lucky this time too.

“Don’t worry about the money. That kind of distribution is only for those who meet and part ways after a few times.”

“R-Really?”

I’m a barbarian who knows how to invest for the future.

For my safe exploration life, Misha needs to become a better damage dealer.

“Then, I’ll eat it…?”

“Why do you keep looking at me? Eat it quickly.”

“Ugh, I’m really eating it?”

Seriously, how many times do I have to say it?

Misha, who has been an explorer for a long time, seemed awkward to receive something without a price.

“Why are you hesitating? I’m satisfied just with you staying by my side.”

“T-Thank you for saying that… Ah, I don’t know. I’m really eating it!!”

Unlike her spirited shout, Misha carefully reached out to the essence.

「The [Yeti’s Essence] permeates into Misha Kalstein’s soul.」

The essence, emitting a blue light, swirled into Misha’s body.

“…Is it because it’s been 2 years? It feels really weird.”

“You’ll get used to it soon.”

I decided to explain the detailed information about the Yeti later when I had time, and I turned my back to look at the ‘Jensen’ group.

It seems like they’ve finished their discussion too…

“What did you decide to do with that?”

Carlson cautiously answered my question.

“W-Well… we decided that no one would consume this.”

It was a slightly unexpected result.

They’re going to throw away the essence that came out?

And those are newbies?

“Well… I heard that Ms. Jensia saw this essence coming out of a Frost Wolf.”

“So?”

“If it’s a Frost Wolf… I decided that it’s not an essence that suits me.”

Yeah, that’s how it comes out.

I carefully observed Carlson’s expression and asked.

“Do you happen to know anything about Frost Wolves?”

Level 9 monster, Frost Wolf.

Although the level is low, it can only be encountered after reaching the 6th floor, excluding the rift, so information about this guy is not well known.

But a level 1 or 2 explorer knows this?

It’s not impossible, but it’s certainly not common.

“W-Well, I don’t know much, but isn’t it a level 9 essence? Maybe a better essence will come out later…”

“…I see.”

It was a bit suspicious, but there was nothing to criticize in the answer.

It would be different outside.

Isn’t this place inside a rift where the essence drop rate is ridiculously high? There’s only one essence slot, so it would be a shame to fill it with a level 9 essence.

“Ah, of course, I meant that I would take the leftovers, not that I had any other intentions.”

“I know, you don’t have to make excuses.”

After finishing Carlson’s interview, it was Jensia’s turn.

“Are you the same as this guy?”

“Yes… I only have one slot, so I want to be a little more careful…”

Careful, huh.

It doesn’t seem like something a swordsman who ate a goblin archer’s essence should say…

“Well… it costs a lot of money to erase an essence, right? So I thought I shouldn’t make the same mistake this time…”

She learned a lesson from her past mistake, huh?

Then I have nothing to say again.

“I’m sorry. You were kind enough to give way for us.”

In the end, both interviews ended without any gain.

It was a disappointing part.

‘Tsk, I thought I could figure out one person’s identity for sure.’

Originally, if the guy who consumed this essence appeared, I was planning to remove him from the list of suspects.

But…

As a result, neither of them took the essence, and their answers were also flawless.

‘Damn, they’re not all in on it, are they?’

While keeping the worst-case scenario in mind, I ended my thoughts.

Because it was almost time for the last wave to start.

“By the way… is it all over now?”

Jensia muttered in an uneasy voice.

And at that moment.

Zzzzt, zzzzt-

The extra time that was created by dealing with the mid-boss Yeti early ended, and the last wave of the second chapter began.

The arena, which had already expanded four times as much as before as nine layers of ice walls were broken.

“It’s coming!”

The ceiling, cracked like a spider web, broke, and a 3m diameter beast appeared.

[Grooooooaaaar-!!]

Grayish-white fur covering its skin.

A mane that goes up the spine and covers the neck.

A level 7 monster that walks on two legs and specializes in tearing enemies to shreds with its sharp claws.

“…It’s a Lycanthrope!”

Lycanthrope.

Bear Old Man questioned Misha’s cry.

“Isn’t that Lycanthrope too big? And what’s that club in its hand?”

It’s a reasonable question.

If you don’t know that guy is the final boss of the rift we entered.

The guardian of the glacier cave, Tyrant Tarunbas.

“It’s better to be careful.”

Perhaps instinctively sensing that it was not an easy enemy, Bear Old Man tensed up for the first time and advised me.

Of course, I just brushed it off.

Because even though it’s the final boss…

Fighting this guy will be later.

“Oh, be careful!”

Everyone raised their concentration and prepared for what was to come at the appearance of a guy who was obviously not normal.

And then.

「Tyrant Tarunbas, who has discovered the intruder, is greatly enraged.」

「Tyrant Tarunbas casts [Ice Shatter].」

The guy slammed his club into the bare floor.

Kwaaaang-!

A huge shock that vibrated all around.

Soon, cracks spread like spider webs on the floor like the ceiling…

“Uh, uh?”

“B-Bjorn!!”

“…The floor is collapsing!”

The ground collapsed, and we fell.

“Uwaaaaaaak!!”

It’s time to move on to the third chapter.

***

「The character has entered a special area.」

「Field Effect – Glacier Cave is applied.」

「Status ailment [Hypothermia] is applied.」

「Agility is greatly reduced, and cold damage received is doubled.」

***

“Puh!”

I stuck my head above the water and took a breath that I had been holding back. Then, I walked towards the ground and lay down on the floor.

I couldn’t help but curse.

‘Damn reality patch.’

In the game, you just had to wait for the loading screen.

My HP was reduced quite a bit, but the third chapter started with me coming out of the water.

But what was it like in reality?

‘I thought I was really going to die.’

There was an underground water vein flowing where we fell.

And it was very strong.

I had to ride the rapids, being swept away by the current, and when I came to my senses, I was being thrown down a waterfall.

‘So that’s why my HP was decreasing.’

My body aches from crashing into every curve.

I desperately want to rest for a while, but… resting is not in my destiny.

“B-Bjorn! Are you okay? Wake up… Oh, what should I do? Ah! I had that!”

I opened my eyes because it was noisy, and Misha’s face was right in front of me. I pushed her chin away with one hand and got up.

“Gasp! What are you doing!!”

I think that’s what I should be saying.

“It’s Bjorn, not Biyorn.”

After muttering quietly so that only Misha could hear, I quickly checked my surroundings.

“Ugh! Ugh!”

First, I saw Carlson throwing up water while gagging.

“A-Are you okay?”

Next was Jensia, who was gently patting his back.

By the way, Bear Old Man was…

“I’m freezing to death.”

He was warming himself in front of a bonfire that he had made at some point.

When our eyes met, Bear Old Man gestured.

“If you’ve come to your senses, come here.”

“I’ll take you up on that.”

“Wow, do you always carry firewood with you?”

“When you’re alone, you have no choice but to carry everything.”

So he was really soloing?

I don’t know, but I went to the bonfire and dried my clothes and body first. As I was doing that, ‘Jensen’ also came and quietly huddled up.

“…Do you happen to know where that Lycanthrope from earlier disappeared to?”

When Carlson asked, shivering from the cold, Bear Old Man replied curtly.

“How would we know that? We didn’t study it beforehand. Don’t disturb my rest.”

“Ah, yes… I’m sorry.”

After that, a time for maintenance and rest continued.

Everyone took off their clothes and equipment and laid them out near the bonfire, and they ate a simple meal.

However…

“It’s… unusually cold.”

Even though my body was almost dry and I kept warming myself by the bonfire, the cold didn’t go away.

It’s better than when I was soaking wet, but it’s like I can’t get warmer than a certain level?

Soon, Bear Old Man came to a conclusion.

“It seems like this is a special area.”

“A special area… you mean?”

“Ah! Do you mean a place like the Witch’s Forest?”

“Yeah, no matter how cold it is, it’s not natural for my body to be this stiff.”

“Hmm, is it that cold? I don’t really feel it…”

Misha tilted her head, looking at us shivering in front of the bonfire.

It’s not a deception, she’s being sincere.

Because her cold resistance is much higher than ours.

‘She must have received much less of a penalty.’

Misha made a contract with the ice demon Skadia.

And it’s the ‘Enhancement’ type, which has the biggest stat bonus.

But now she’s even consumed the Yeti’s essence…

‘Her cold resistance must be around 40.’

In [Dungeon & Stone], 40 is not a low number at all.

My pain resistance is only 70.

Putting aside the damage reduction, if you have that much, you wouldn’t feel the cold that much.

“…Are you very cold?”

“It’s okay. It’s cold, but it doesn’t hurt.”

“Oh, I don’t know what you mean…”

It’s literally what it means.

My body is shivering from the cold, but it doesn’t feel like pain.

But did that answer make me look more pitiful?

“Hoo, this ignorant barbarian old man.”

Misha sighed and then wiggled closer to me.

And she slightly fluttered a rolled-up blanket instead of the clothes that were drying and made an absurd suggestion.

“Come in here, then you’ll feel better.”

…What is she saying?

“Whew.”

Looking at Bear Old Man whistling, it seems like I’m not the weird one.

***

The maintenance time lasted longer than expected.

It took a lot of time to dry all the clothes and equipment, and…

“It’s getting too late.”

It’s already been more than 12 hours since we entered the rift.

The rift opened around 7 PM, so that means we haven’t slept for a total of 31 hours.

“Well… it doesn’t seem like monsters are coming out here, so how about we all sleep for a bit?”

In the end, everyone agreed to Carlson’s suggestion and decided to get some sleep, even if it was short.

“We’ll go over there and sleep separately.”

“It’ll be cold?”

“We carry emergency firewood.”

“If that’s the case, do as you please.”

It was impossible to sleep with one bonfire, so we went to a secluded spot far away and lit a new bonfire.

By the way, we also decided to take turns keeping watch.

That means the sleeping time will be cut in half, but…

It seems more appealing to me to sleep a little while alive than to sleep a lot when I’m dead.

“Bjorn, you should sleep first.”

“Wait a minute, I have something to talk about.”

“Something to talk about?”

Since it was a rare opportunity to be alone, we put off sleep and talked about what we had missed.

First, it was about the essence.

You need to know what you consumed to use it well in actual combat later.

“Wow, you memorized all of that?”

“It’s not that big of a deal. Anyway, from now on, listen carefully.”

After reciting the information about the essence based on this world’s standards, I lowered my voice even more and continued.

“Did anyone among the three of them do anything suspicious while coming here?”

I deliberately sent Misha to the rear.

The superficial reason was to guard the rear before the battle broke out in the front, but…

In fact, it was mostly to monitor the group.

I judged that she would be able to see the actions of others well as she was following from the back.

“Hmm, suspicious behavior? I don’t really know.”

“I see. That’s enough. If possible, please keep a closer eye on them in the future.”

“I will.”

Finally, after finishing the conversation, I got into the blanket and lay down.

And I went back over the words and actions of Carlson, Jensia, and Bear Old Man, wondering if I had missed anything.

I observed their every move throughout the day. I kept throwing out bait in ordinary conversations and gathered clues.

As a result, I was able to derive a strong suspect.

But…

‘There’s still no decisive evidence.’

It’s still not enough to conclude that they are the mafia.

I wish I had just one more clue…

As my thoughts went on and on, and my mind was gradually falling into sleep, Misha gently shook my shoulder.

“Hey, Bjorn.”

“Now that I think about it, there’s one strange thing…”

I was tired, but I listened to her story attentively.

And…

“Good job, Misha.”

“Oh, did I help somehow?”

“Of course.”

It’s not just help.

The last puzzle was finally put together.

I smiled at Bear Old Man’s bonfire.

‘I wondered which of the three it was.’

It was you after all, mafia.