Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 124

People often say that humans are social animals. It’s a very apt analogy, though I don’t know who first said it. Even if we’re not as primal as beasts, humans still judge each other based on first impressions. To be respected, you need to avoid being looked down upon, especially if you’re a transfer student who’s just jumped into the middle of things.

“You… what did you just say…?” the fox mask asks, as if they misheard me. On the other hand, the other masks are just watching the situation with interest. It’s a kind of initiation. Depending on how I act here, my first impression will be decided. Therefore—

“You, try saying that one more time.” Facing the fox mask glaring at me with a menacing aura, I make sure they don’t misunderstand and firmly imprint it. “The person who recommended me here is your mo—”

“What the hell is wrong with this bastard?!” Crazy bastard, lunatic, moron, etc. Whatever they call me, it’s better than giving off a weak image. However, even I didn’t expect this.

“Hey, you.” The moment a sharp glint of light emanated from the gap in the fox mask. ‘……This is a strange feeling.’ The clear killing intent I feel through my skin makes it tingle. Not just in description, but for real. My heart pounds as I feel a threat to my life, and goosebumps rise all over my body. This is a world where physical force doesn’t exist, so how is this possible? Fortunately, I had information about this phenomenon.

‘So this is that technique.’ It’s my first time experiencing it directly, but it must be the technique Lee Baek-ho told me about earlier. The spiritual world that operates with clear will and thought, something that can only be used within the Ghost Busters [a group of people who deal with supernatural phenomena]. A useless skill, but perfect for scaring newbies, a trick only the old-timers use.

“Would you like to say that again, exactly the same way?” The fox mask raises the density of its killing intent and asks me again. I can almost see a cold, twisted sneer behind the mask. That’s why…

“I, I, I…” I stutter again. Pfft. I heard a laugh. It wasn’t the fox mask, but the others. A newbie who didn’t know his place was acting up and then backed down, so it must have looked pretty funny.

“Why can’t you do it? You were just running wild a moment ago?” Is their mood really that bad? They have no intention of letting it slide, as the fox mask’s killing intent intensifies even more. Of course, there was no problem with that.

“Ah, no… I, I, it’s not that…” “Say it. Clearly, without missing a single word.” “Whatever.” I decided to stop the act of being a pushover. “The person who recommended me here is your mom. So what, is there a problem?”

“Wha… what…?” The fox mask looked very bewildered by my sudden change in attitude. “No, it’s definitely covered in intent? How the hell…?” Instead of answering, I first raised my pinky finger and picked at my ear, which had been itching since earlier. It seemed like the others had already figured out what was going on.

“This is, indeed, an interesting situation.” “Newbie, stop playing around? It’s a bit much.” “It’s impressive, but that kind of attitude will only make enemies, Ryan.” I clicked my tongue at their respective comments. A funny guy, an arrogant guy, a pathetic guy. That was about it, their evaluation of my act. I even went through the trouble of staging it to create an image. ‘Well, I guess this isn’t that surprising.’ Come to think of it, it’s only natural. It’s a club for old-timers, after all. Just because I endured a single burst of killing intent without flinching doesn’t mean I’ll get special treatment.

“How dare you make a fool of me…?” The fox mask, who belatedly realized that I was acting like a pushover, showed a somewhat intense reaction, but… At best, my first impression would be that of an annoying guy. Therefore, I closed my eyes tightly and recalled the conversation I had with Lee Baek-ho.

[You want me to shoot you with killing intent? No way, if I do it wrong, you might go crazy, Hyung [a Korean term used by males to address an older male, like ‘bro’ or ‘older brother’]. Since it uses intent, the stronger your mental fortitude, the stronger the power…] The power of killing intent is proportional to mental fortitude. For reference, mental fortitude here doesn’t mean a numerical value, but actual mental strength. [That’s why it’s only for old-timers. If you kill a lot and go through near-death experiences like it’s nothing, your mental fortitude will naturally become stronger. Well, there are some people who are just born with it, though.]

Then what about me? Well, I’ll find out if I try it. I didn’t get to actually try it because Lee Baek-ho didn’t have time, but it doesn’t seem too difficult. [I’ll tell you how to use it, though. No, actually, there’s not much to it…] Lee Baek-ho said. To unleash killing intent, you first need to hypnotize yourself. [Think of them as enemies. Enemies you must kill and get rid of.] Coincidentally, self-hypnosis is one of my specialties.

“Hey, I’m talking… to…” When I opened my eyes, the fox mask, whose gaze met mine, stiffened and then snorted as if in disbelief. “Ha, you call that revenge.” It worked properly, but the power doesn’t seem to be strong. Therefore, I focus even more on my intent. “How childish.” They are goblins. Bastards who are trying to kill me. Yes, enemies who threaten my life.

“Just apologize. I was trying to test you first, so if you apologize properly, I won’t hold a grudge over this.” I imagine running out and smashing their heads with a mace, and I hypnotize myself. Then, at some point. ‘Huh?’ A sensation like something is leaving my head arises. A strange sensation that is clearly different from pain, something I’ve never experienced before.

“No, your pride is just a single apology…” The fox mask, who was scolding me, suddenly stopped talking. And they froze like a stone, not moving at all. As if they were caught by something invisible and couldn’t move. “… !” The emotion in their wide-open eyes was also familiar to me. That thing my enemies showed at the very end. The look they had while watching the mace coming down to smash their heads. ‘Huh, I didn’t expect it to be this effective.’ While feeling puzzled, I glanced around to check. The three who were questioning the fox mask’s behavior showed a clear reaction every time they made eye contact with me.

Swoosh. The deer antler mask, who was leaning against the pillar, moved their hand to their waist where a sword should have been. They were the one who thought I was arrogant. Flick. The crescent moon mask lowered their eyes as if avoiding my gaze. They were the one who looked at me with pity. “…Oh, I didn’t say anything?” The yellow clown mask waved their hands exaggeratedly and stepped back. They were the one who thought I was just a funny guy. ‘What is this?’ Since they’re showing such intense reactions, I’m more puzzled than pleased. Why? Why is it so effective? I didn’t have time to calmly think about it.

Zzzzt. A feeling like my brain is being squeezed like a wet towel. I feel mental fatigue as if I’ve been up for three days and nights. I instinctively realized that the time I could maintain the Barbarian killing intent mode was only a few seconds left. ‘Shit, they didn’t say anything about this.’ I quickly stared at the fox mask. The fox mask was trembling. “Please, stop. Any more, and I’m in danger…” When I just stared at them without saying anything, they pleaded with difficulty. At that moment, the killing intent mode ended at the perfect time.

“Hoo… !” The fox mask took a long breath, like someone who had been buried underwater. When they made eye contact with me, they flinched, and I was convinced. ‘I don’t know what it is, but thanks to it, things worked out well.’ As soon as I realized that the atmosphere was hostile to newbies, the image I wanted to create. I succeeded in becoming a crazy bastard who shouldn’t be messed with.

***

“…To make such a fuss just because I tested them once. The future will be tough.” The silence that had covered the room was broken by the deer antler’s muttering. “Hehe, it was a fun experience. How many more times do I have to kill before I can do that?” At that moment, when the clown was glancing at me with a strange look. Clunk! The four doors connected to the room closed simultaneously. Honestly, I was really surprised, but it’s a relief that I didn’t show it. It was just the end of the entry time.

“It’s already this late.” “This time too, it’s just the four of us… no, the five of us.” Everyone sat down, so I also took a seat anywhere. However, before the gathering officially started, a question was directed at me. Unlike before, it wasn’t a question to test my identity. “Ryan, this must be your first gathering. After seeing your killing intent just now, I thought you might be an early member… but the Lion Mask has been in the corner all along.” I nodded at the crescent moon’s words. There’s no point in denying it when there’s clear evidence. It would be better to just admit it coolly.

“So, what do you want to say?” “…Did you perhaps meet the Master? Ah, if you don’t want to answer, just say you don’t want to.” Perhaps because the crazy bastard image was still effective, the crescent moon’s tone was polite and cautious. Is this why people should live like a hooligan? A realization I would never have known if I hadn’t become a Barbarian. “If you want something in return, I’ll give it to you. It might not be as much as you want, though.” “Forget about that, why did you think I met the Master?” I answered arrogantly. Because I don’t even know who the Master is.

“That’s… a bit strange. You’re a newbie who came in a year after the Master disappeared, so isn’t it natural to think that?” “So, Ms. Fox took the lead and tried to test him, and got thoroughly beaten, I guess?” The clown muttered to himself, and the fox mask turned their head away as if ashamed. ‘It seems like the Master is referring to the founder of this gathering.’ As I was combining the given information and stuffing it into my head, the crescent moon continued to speak. “Ahem, anyway, not only that, but you seem to know a lot about this place for a first-timer, so I thought so.” Well, that’s thanks to Lee Baek-ho, not the Master. No, but what the hell is his identity? I decided to find out Lee Baek-ho’s identity later and ended my thoughts.

“So, can I get an answer to my question? It would be enough if you just told me when and where you last met the Master—” “The answer is no.” “Hoo, I see. Understood.” The crescent moon cleanly gave up and stepped back. If I had looked like a pushover, they would have definitely bothered me with endless questions. “Anyway, the Master doesn’t matter, how about we start soon?” Unlike the other three, the clown, who didn’t seem very interested in the Master’s whereabouts, wrapped up the conversation and announced the start of the gathering. It was a relief that I knew the rules beforehand. If I had asked such a question here, my mysterious image would have been completely shattered.

“Then, I’ll go first.” The first turn was the clown, who had spoken first. “The King of Lapdonia’s condition has worsened.” A red light turned on in the jewel embedded in the center of the round table. This meant that the information was true, and half of those at the round table knew this information. “Worsened, that’s too vague of information.” “Isn’t it common knowledge that the king’s condition is serious? Tell us something more useful.” The fox and crescent moon frowned and rebuked the clown. I just stayed still. ‘I didn’t know that…’ The king is sick? That’s news to me. There were no such rumors in the city at all. Well, it would be funny if the king’s health was being talked about on the streets.

“Hoo, you don’t even know how important this is. Pathetic.” The clown glared at the fox and crescent moon, then glanced at me. You know what this means, right? A look that seemed to contain this meaning. “…” I just stayed still this time too. That way, I’ll at least be in the middle. “The commander of the Rose Knights died yesterday. How about that? You guys will acknowledge this, right?” When the clown released the information again, a heavy silence fell over the round table. “…There will be blood in the royal palace.” “Yes, we should prepare too.” No, who the hell is the commander of the Rose Knights? Anyway, since a green light turned on in the jewel, it immediately moved on to the next turn. This time it was the fox mask.

“The Jagun Clan succeeded in subjugating the 1st floor’s floor master.” “Oh, so it was that guy?” “Pfft, the purchase posts disappeared from the exchange, so it seems they got the strategy somewhere? I thought they would never catch it.” I remained silent this time as well. Not because I didn’t know anything, but because it was my story. ‘So the ones who caught it were the Jagun Clan.’ No matter how much I looked into it in the city, all I could find out was that the floor master had been summoned. ‘……I’m glad I came here.’ This time too, a green light turned on in the jewel, so the next turn was the crescent moon’s.

“Hehe, perhaps no one knows this.” “Just say it?” “If you activate the hidden piece on the Silent Fairy Island, up to three ‘Lavganus’ will definitely appear.” The fox and deer antler were greatly surprised by the crescent moon’s words. “That’s good news for those who were looking for Lavganus’s essence.” “No, wait a minute. Then what is the hidden piece?” “It’s too greedy to ask for that too at once? Anyway, then it’s the next turn… huh?” The crescent moon, who was about to naturally pass the turn, stiffened. Because a red light was flowing from the jewel. Unlike until now, where anonymity was maintained, it was easy to deduce who already knew the information. Because the previous two had made it obvious that they didn’t know.

“Mr. Crescent Moon, don’t be too discouraged. What you said, most people wouldn’t know.” When the clown threw out words of comfort in their own way, the crescent moon sighed. “Until now, it was enough if only the clown didn’t know, but now there’s one more person…” I shrugged my shoulders. I mean, who told you to say something that anyone who just plays the game diligently would know? “Why don’t you just tell us about that hidden piece?” “That’s… I have to keep it a secret for now.” “Hoo, then you’ll inevitably be expelled today as the last—” “Haha, what are you talking about? I just meant that I was embarrassed because I had to reveal my hand.” Soon, the crescent moon sighed and revealed new information. “They found traces of the ‘Artifact Thief’ in the fairy race.” A green light came on in the jewel, but the fox narrowed their eyes and raised an objection. “Traces? That’s too little information, isn’t it?” “It’s information about the ‘Artifact Thief’ that no one had any clues about. This alone is a top secret fact.” “Hmm, okay. I’ll acknowledge it.” “Mr. Crescent Moon, you were a fairy after all?” The fox, who had raised an objection, backed down, and the crescent moon’s turn ended. And everyone’s gaze turned to me.

The deer antler was left, but since it was going clockwise, it was naturally my turn first. ‘I feel a bit nervous.’ Is it because of those expectant gazes? Even though I had decided on useful information while the turns were going around, I felt a sense of pressure for no reason. If it was all information that everyone already knew, I would be embarrassed. ‘First, I should just throw out something certain.’ I wanted to maintain a mysterious image as much as possible, so I selected information that was difficult for others to know from among several pieces of information. “If you catch a Bandemon with three people, the essence is guaranteed to drop.” As expected, the jewel on the round table emitted a green light. However… “…Catch a Bandemon with three people?” Why are they surprised at that part? Isn’t it easy with three people if you’re in cheat mode? ‘Even the strategy is easy…’ I couldn’t understand at all.