Surviving The Game As A Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 126

Misha Kalstein.

Though from a pureblood family, she’s a 5-year explorer who hasn’t been treated like a child because she couldn’t contract with a soul beast.

‘Her dad wants to see me, huh…’

I can somewhat guess why.

I’ve gathered enough information about how the Catkin operate through Misha.

“But why are you so quiet? I asked what time I should go.”

“Oh, um… I, I don’t think tomorrow will work after all. I need to prepare myself… and I need to tell my father in advance.”

“What? What are you even saying? You were the one who said we’d go together tomorrow, weren’t you?”

I asked, dumbfounded, and Misha avoided my gaze, fidgeting with her hands.

“Well… I didn’t think you’d agree so easily…”

“So that’s why you said we’d go tomorrow?”

“Yeah, you said that’s how negotiations are done, right?”

“……”

I don’t even remember saying that, but Misha’s plan was plausible in its own way.

If I said I didn’t have time, she was planning to pretend to postpone the appointment and naturally push it to the next time?

“Ugh, when I ask you to go out and play, you’re always busy, but what’s with this sudden change of heart?”

“Your father called me. Of course, I should go and meet him.”

“Huh? R, r, really?”

Misha avoided my gaze at my casual reply.

“You, you’re so… How can you say such embarrassing things?”

Hey, weren’t you the one who said beastmen and barbarians are practically family?

***

“Let’s decide on a time later, and you should go now. I need to sleep more. Oh, and don’t come tomorrow. I have to go out early.”

“What? You’ve been sleeping all day and you’re still going to sleep?”

“If you keep doing that, I might not go—”

“No! I won’t bother you, so please rest well!!”

After Misha quickly opened the door and left, I continued my interrupted sleep.

And the next morning.

‘Phew, I finally feel alive.’

It was only after sleeping for a full 36 hours that my head finally felt clear.

I should refrain from using killing intent in the future.

Anyway, after a quick wash, I headed to the sacred ground, where the elder greeted me.

“It’s been a while, Bjorn, son of Yandel.”

Where did the chieftain go?

I couldn’t help but wonder, so I asked cautiously, and got a somewhat unexpected answer.

“The chieftain has gone to the city for some business. He should be back by tomorrow.”

“The chieftain is out? That’s unusual.”

“It’s not a common occurrence. By the way, if you had business here, how about meeting some of the young warriors while you wait? You could be a good inspiration for them.”

I politely declined the elder’s hopeful suggestion.

It didn’t feel bad to be recognized as one of the Barbarian tribe’s best, but my business today was elsewhere.

“Then, could you call the shaman for me?”

After waiting for a while, the shaman’s disciple came and led me to the tent.

The bald shaman with deep wrinkles was puffing out smoke with a large pipe in his mouth.

“Kikikik, warrior, you’re back again. You’re quite talented.”

His voice was strangely high-pitched today.

His pronunciation was also a bit slurred, like he was on drugs.

“Can I get a spirit imprint today?”

“If you have enough money, kikik.”

No, that’s not what I meant, I was asking if you can do it in that drunk-like state.

I was worried, but I just opened my wallet.

Clink, clink.

Every time I put in a 1 million stone magic stone, my heart ached.

‘I’m broke again with this.’

The cost to get a 5th stage imprint is 8 million stones.

After paying this, I’ll only have about 700,000 stones left. Well, there’s still 2 million stones left in the joint account with Misha, but…

That’s a fund that can’t be used for personal purposes.

“Warrior, you’re one short.”

“…I was about to put it in.”

I put in one more 500,000 stone magic stone and the payment was complete.

Well, I thought it might work this time.

‘I don’t have to worry about making a mistake in the middle.’

I focused on the positive aspects as much as possible and lay down on the bed.

And…

“Kkeueueueueueh…”

“Kikik, warrior! Scream louder!”

“Kkyaaaaaaak!!”

Soon, the same old pain engulfed me.

***

「You have activated the Undying Imprint Stage 5.」

「Stamina is greatly increased.」

「Mental stat has increased by +80.」

***

In [Dungeon & Stone], stamina is an important stat.

It doesn’t have a big impact on combat power, but if your stamina runs out, you become incapacitated.

Even during raids that last for hours, ‘stamina regeneration support scrolls’ were considered essential consumables.

However…

‘I didn’t know it would be a useful stat in real life too.’

In the past, I experienced the limits of fatigue in the Witch’s Forest. Also, just yesterday, my mental strength was depleted, and I fell into a semi-dormant state.

That’s why I feel it even more clearly.

The changes in my body and mind.

“Kikik, you look quite normal today.”

Normally, I should be half-dead by now, but today, the accumulated fatigue in my mind and body is much less.

I’ll have to check the details later, but with this level of effect, wouldn’t I be fine even after staying up for two nights?

Of course, if you ask if it’s worth 8 million stones, the answer is definitely no.

‘…As expected, imprints have terrible cost-effectiveness.’

It might be different in the mid-to-late game when stats are more valuable than money.

In the early to mid-game, it’s more efficient to buy equipment or buy and consume essences…

Growing even a little faster and saving money to upgrade imprints is the way to shorten growth time.

That’s why I was originally planning to only get the 1st stage imprint and not touch it for a while.

I didn’t know I’d get [Giantification] this early.

‘Phew, still, I went all-in on imprints, and now there’s only one stage left.’

The feeling of emptiness from my reduced wealth was fleeting.

A new sense of pride bloomed.

The moment I reach stage 6, I’ll get back several times the reward for all the money I’ve invested so far.

“Warrior, why are you spacing out? You must be tired, go out now.”

As I was lost in thought, I heard the shaman’s dismissal and left the tent.

The sun had already set.

I carefully checked the bushes, wondering if Ainar was waiting like last time, but…

‘He’s not here.’

I didn’t see Ainar until I passed through the dark forest path and arrived in the city.

Well, his training is probably nearing its end, so he must be busy.

‘Come to think of it, there’s only a month left now.’

Passing through the lonely streets, I chuckled.

Time.

It’s so fast and yet so slow.

It feels like just yesterday I was limping around after stepping on a trap because I didn’t have leather boots.

***

「Bjorn Yandel」

Level: 4

Physical: 386.1 / Mental: 319.3 (New +81) / Ability: 345.4 (New +3)

Item Level: 967

Total Combat Power: 1292.55 (New +84)

Acquired Essences: Corpse Golem – Rank 7 / Vampire(B) – Rank 5 / Orc Hero – Rank 5

***

Three days later, I boarded a large carriage heading to District 13 with Misha.

After all, the Beastkin’s sacred ground wasn’t adjacent to District 7, where we were living.

“H, hey, are you thirsty? Should I get you some water?”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you hungry? Are you not hungry? I brought a bunch of things just in case, do you want to eat?”

I laughed in disbelief at Misha’s excessive behavior.

“Stop it. I’m not going to turn back halfway.”

“No, I’m just worried. It’s going to be an uncomfortable place for you, isn’t it? I’m taking you there, so I should at least treat you like this—”

“Enough, I’m going to sleep, wake me up when we arrive.”

“O, okay… It’ll take about three hours, so get some good sleep.”

I said I was going to sleep before it got more annoying and closed my eyes.

And how much time had passed?

As Misha said, the carriage reached its destination around noon.

‘Six hours round trip… No wonder she always sleeps over when she goes.’

It wasn’t that far in a straight line, but the travel time was longer than expected because we had to go around District 14, which was a restricted area.

‘Well, that’s probably why she settled here. She probably wanted to be as far away from home as possible.’

“Bjorn, why are you just standing there? Are you tired? Should I carry you?”

“Enough, just lead the way.”

“Okay!”

After that, I followed Misha, who could be called a local here, and looked around the streets.

It wasn’t much different from District 7, where we currently lived.

It was just that the roads were a bit more complicated, and there were more beastmen and dwarves.

However…

“Okay, we’re here.”

The Beastkin’s sacred ground that we arrived at was very different from the Barbarian’s.

‘I’ve heard about it, but I didn’t think it would be this much…’

It was the same in that the sacred ground was located outside the city.

But that was the only thing they had in common.

Instead of living in shacks or tents in the woods, most of the buildings were made of stone, and there were even roads in between.

Also.

“Dad, that’s a barbarian over there. A barbarian!”

There were shops open for business, and families of beastmen could be seen walking around.

It was as if they were living here, not just visiting.

‘We were all kicked out once we became adults…’

The Beastkin’s sacred ground was like a village outside the city for the Beastkin.

Perhaps I looked strange staring blankly at it?

“Why are you like that…? Is there a problem? No, even if there is, you can’t go back?”

“…I was just amazed.”

“Huh? Amazed?”

Misha tilted her head as if she couldn’t understand.

There were many things I wanted to say, but I held back.

What good would it do to complain about the Barbarian’s poor environment? It would just be spitting in my own face.

I just asked casually.

“Are all sacred grounds like this?”

“Um, I don’t know what you mean?”

“Shouldn’t beastmen raise animals in the forest?”

In the game, the Beastkin’s sacred ground looked like that.

That was probably 150 years ago, right?

“Ah, um, I think I’ve heard that they used to live like that to keep the traditions… It’s too long ago, so I don’t know much about it.”

“…I see.”

Phew, why are only the Barbarians still the same?

As I suppressed such complaints, a huge mansion loomed before us.

“Okay, this is my house.”

Son of a bitch.

Our chieftain still sleeps in a tent.

As I let out a big sigh, Misha started to look at me again.

“D, don’t be nervous. Nothing bad will happen. You’re Bjorn, son of the famous Balkan Yandel, right? My father likes famous explorers. Right?”

Misha tried to reassure me, but she herself looked very nervous.

“You’re the one who needs to calm down. You’re at your house, why are you acting like that?”

“Huh? I, I’m fine?”

“Then open the door. How long are you going to stand here?”

At my words, Misha quietly took a breath and rang the bell to call a servant.

“Um, I’m trying to go inside. Can you open it?”

The servant didn’t answer Misha’s request, just glanced at her once, opened the door, and left.

‘What is this?’

It was a very strange sight.

After all, Misha had escaped her half-wit days.

‘I heard that her dad knows she contracted with a soul beast, right?’

I glanced at Misha, and she happened to be looking at me, and our eyes met.

The emotion in her eyes was familiar to me.

My ex-girlfriend often had that look.

The look when something you didn’t want to be seen was discovered.

“Um… you know, Bjorn. There’s something I haven’t told you yet.”

“Tell me quickly.”

At my words, Misha swallowed and carefully continued.

“Only my father knows that I contracted with a soul beast. So, I hope you won’t get angry no matter what happens inside. Okay?”

“That depends on what happens.”

“It’s nothing much. It’s just a little worse than that person you just saw. So don’t worry too much—”

“Tell me more details. I need to know how to react.”

Misha hesitated for a moment at my request, then gave up and muttered.

The insults from her siblings, the bullying disguised as jokes, the attitude of the servants gossiping behind her back so that she could hear.

There weren’t any episodes that were that bad.

She probably only told me the mild ones.

It must have been much worse in reality.

“O, of course, no one will do that to you. So you don’t have to worry too much—”

My lips twisted into a smirk.

“B, Bjorn? Why are you laughing? D, don’t laugh. You get scary when you do that… It’ll all be over when my father reveals it later. I, I just need to endure a little longer.”

Misha spoke on behalf of her father with an anxious face, but to me, that was the biggest problem.

The father knew everything but left her alone.

Whether there was a reason for his silence or not.

He left his child to suffer for his own convenience.

And yet, he called me to this house.

‘Did he think I was a pushover?’

Suddenly, I began to feel a sinister malice from this huge mansion.

It felt like looking at a dungeon full of monsters.

Is that why?

“Behel—raaaaaaaaaa!!”

A shout burst out on its own.

At the same time, the servant who had disappeared without a bow reappeared.