Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 128

The head of the Kalstein family invited me to his mansion.

I’d heard this had been going on for about three months now.

So, what could be the reason?

The first thing that came to mind was this:

‘Curiosity.’

He simply wanted to meet me, a colleague of his daughter.

If Misha was being considered as a member of the family, it was quite possible.

I also considered that if he met me and found me unsatisfactory, he might ask me to leave his daughter alone. It seemed most of the family’s children were comfortably working as explorers in large clans with connections.

But…

[If, if I just hold on a little longer, it’ll be okay.]

It turned out that Misha’s situation was still the same.

The father figure had kept the fact that Misha had awakened a secret and hadn’t even tried to improve Misha’s position within the family.

The moment I realized this fact.

I felt a sinister malice emanating from this mansion.

A malice directed not only at Misha but also at me.

‘Knowing it’s like this, he still called me here…’

The head of the family’s purpose, and the means he chose, were so clear.

‘He’s even more of a crazy bastard than I heard.’

The head of the family wants something from me.

But instead of creating a proper negotiation table, he created this kind of situation.

Perhaps this was his calculation:

Bjorn, the son of the small Balkan Yandel.

A warrior who didn’t abandon his companion, even when facing a class lord.

A barbarian who might even be in a romantic relationship with that companion.

If I, who was known to the world like that, saw this, he must have thought it would be easier to control me. Because the only one who could change Misha’s current situation was the head of the family.

However, based on this, I made my judgment.

‘A leech bastard who doesn’t hesitate to use his own daughter. If I’m looked down on even once, there’s no hope.’

Plan A isn’t enough.

If I end it here, I’ll just remain an ordinary barbarian.

That’s why…

Thud.

I take another step forward and stare at the older brother.

He wasn’t scared at all while looking at me.

He just laughed as if it was absurd.

“You’re a guy who never knows satisfaction.”

He seemed to think that I was asking for something else and being stubborn.

Well, when you think about it, it’s not exactly wrong.

“B, Bjorn…! That won’t do!!”

Misha hurriedly grabbed my wrist, and I stopped in place.

Because I really didn’t intend to beat this guy up.

He’s not a servant of the mansion, but one of the direct descendants.

If I beat him up mindlessly, it would become a weakness.

Therefore.

“Behel—raaaaaaaaaa!!”

I shout loudly so that it can be heard anywhere in the mansion.

At my actions, the older brother frowned.

“What is this all about?”

“I just felt like it!”

“…You’re out of your mind.”

No matter what he said, my shout became a trigger and gathered people from the mansion.

Servants who were even putting down their work at the end of the corridor connected to the first floor and watching this way.

When I glanced at the second floor, I could see young men and women wearing high-quality casual clothes.

‘Are they Misha’s siblings?’

I don’t know, but they were looking down with interested eyes.

‘Anyway, that’s enough spectators and witnesses.’

Now that the stage is set, I slowly ended the mindless barbarian act and spoke to the older brother.

“Talon Kalstein.”

“It’s not Talon, it’s Tailon.”

“You’re not manly, caring about such trivial things.”

“…Okay, what do you want to say?”

As if he didn’t want to discuss manliness with me, he asked for the main point.

I asked directly.

“Why is Misha being treated like this in the family?”

“As I said before, that’s a matter of the family—”

“Is it because Misha is a half-wit? A direct descendant who couldn’t even contract with a spirit beast?”

He was momentarily flustered at my words.

Then he smirked and looked at Misha.

It was a look of contempt, as if asking if she had told this guy everything.

“Since you know, there’s no need to hide it. Yes, what you said is true. So, stop being interested in our family matters.”

His words to mind my own business were reasonable in their own way.

Because everyone except us barbarians has a culture that values bloodlines.

It was natural for them to treat Misha like an outsider.

If she had inherited the head of the family’s blood, there would have been no way she wouldn’t have contracted with a spirit beast by now.

She really doesn’t have a drop of his blood in her.

It seems that her mother, the fourth wife, didn’t have any children other than Misha.

But…

“What if that was your misunderstanding?”

The truth doesn’t matter.

What’s important now is that Misha has already awakened, and this fact can be used as a useful card.

“If Misha contracts with a spirit beast, will you apologize for what you’ve done so far and accept her as a member?”

“She’s twenty-five, there’s no way that could happen—”

“Answer me. If you just answer this, I won’t cause any more trouble.”

The older brother sighed, rubbed his forehead, and opened his mouth with an annoyed voice.

“Okay, I’ll apologize as much as you want.”

“What about accepting her as a member?”

“That’s the same.”

He answered without a moment’s hesitation, as if he thought it would never happen.

I smiled and nodded.

“Then that’s settled.”

“Settled…?”

At my attitude, he asked back with an uneasy voice.

Instead of answering, I shifted my gaze to Misha.

Because my role was over now.

“Misha, show them.”

“H, huh…?”

Suddenly becoming the center of attention, Misha looked around in confusion. When she made eye contact with me, she lowered her head and muttered.

“But, Father…”

I wondered why she hadn’t come out yet, but as expected, it seemed that the head of the family had silenced her.

But that’s why Misha needs to step up.

Revealing this fact in front of everyone would mean that one of the head of the family’s cards would disappear.

“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”

“…I, I won’t forgive you.”

“Then what? Just say you were wrong. That’s what families do.”

“Bjorn, you might get hurt too.”

“Let it be. I’m not that scared.”

He might be like the sky to her, but to me, he’s just a leader of the beastmen.

And that’s divided into five.

“What’s so scary? Family isn’t everything in life. I’ve lived well without that.”

When I said that while picking my ear, Misha laughed as if it was absurd.

“That’s because you! No, never mind. What’s the point of this?”

“Yeah, just ignore the trivial things. It’s good for your mental health.”

“Ugh, I don’t know anymore. What’s right?”

Okay, I think I’ve persuaded her enough.

“Misha Kalstein, try doing what you want for once. This time, you have a companion to help you.”

I didn’t say anything more after that.

Time passed, and then Misha raised her head and slowly looked around.

Was this situation quite interesting?

Many people were just watching from afar.

Gulp.

Misha swallowed.

And it was at that very moment when she opened her mouth as if renewing her determination.

“I am—”

A cold voice filled the vast mansion.

Misha froze like a stone, and when she came to her senses, a middle-aged man was standing in front of her.

“Everyone, step back.”

At the man’s words, no one opened their mouths and left their places.

The air, which had been heavy, sank as if it was being pressed down.

The man’s gaze turns to me.

Without any introduction, I knew who this guy was.

‘Yeah, this guy is that crazy bastard.’

Albrenev Kalstein.

The head of the Kalstein family, who has been the leader of the Red Cat tribe for generations.

“Thank you for accepting my invitation, Bjorn, son of Yandel.”

“I’m the one who should be thanking you for inviting me, Kalstein.”

In the middle of the first-floor lobby, where everyone had disappeared, we exchanged formal greetings.

“Haha, you’re a more polite friend than I thought?”

He smiled kindly and approached me.

And instead of shaking hands, he patted my shoulder as if he was dealing with a subordinate.

But what is this?

「The character is in a [Fear] state due to the [Nightmare Lord].」

My body stiffens as if I’ve met my natural enemy.

Also, the tingling sensation in my brain that I felt every time I was on the verge of life and death is rising.

For the first time, I felt like I understood why Misha was so afraid of her father.

It was at that time.

“But why did you do that? So rude.”

The head of the family takes away his smile and whispers.

It was a really shitty feeling.

My head knows that this is the power of a skill, but my body doesn’t listen.

It’s as if my sensory organs are broken.

Of course, that time didn’t last long.

「The character’s magic resistance is above a certain level.」

「The character’s fighting spirit is above a certain level.」

「The character’s mental strength is above a certain level.」

「The [Fear] state is removed.」

Whew, finally released.

“Hey—”

I immediately removed the arm from my shoulder of the guy who was babbling with an arrogant voice.

“…?”

His eyebrows furrowed as if he didn’t understand.

Well, if he had expected this situation, he wouldn’t have said such stupid things just now.

“Why are you touching other people’s bodies?”

I said, throwing the arm I was holding to the side.

“You, you’re rude.”

If you want to be treated well, you should treat others well.

***

“Interesting.”

After a moment of silence, the head of the family said.

It was creepy to hear such a sound without smiling with his mouth or eyes, but…

I can’t lose in a battle of wits.

“You have a unique taste. I don’t find it interesting at all.”

I tried to respond calmly and grabbed Misha’s hand, which was as stiff as a stone.

At this, the head of the family’s gaze also shifted to Misha.

“Ah, Father…”

“I never thought you would rebel against me.”

“N, no, it’s not that…”

“Okay, you’re not important anyway.”

Cutting off Misha’s words as she tried to make an excuse, the head of the family stared at me.

“I was originally planning to have a lunch banquet together before talking.”

Talking my ass.

He was planning to show me how Misha was being treated there.

When I stared at him without answering, the head of the family continued.

“I refuse.”

“What?”

The head of the family made a distorted expression at my answer without a second of hesitation.

I just said it without backing down.

“Why should I wait?”

Giving time is a foolish thing to do.

I had no choice but to come out because of Misha, but this situation was not in his plan.

He must be planning to organize his thoughts and call me again.

“If you have something to say, say it here.”

“…Even if you’re a barbarian, this is a bit rude.”

“You’re the one who called that barbarian, beastman.”

Did he not expect to be called a beastman, not by his name, or by his position as a tribal chief or head of the family?

The head of the family’s expression hardened, and killing intent emanated from him.

Not a description, but really.

‘…This is possible in reality too?’

I was a little surprised, but it was much weaker than the fox mask [referring to a previous encounter].

Well, that was the spiritual world.

The output would be different from the start.

When I picked my ear to mean don’t do useless things, the head of the family asked as if he was genuinely curious.

“Are you really not afraid of death?”

To me, it was a really useless question.

Not afraid of death?

There’s no way such a person exists in this world.

“Well, I don’t know about that. But you don’t seem that scary.”

This is the truth.

That the head of the family was an 8th-floor explorer in his prime?

So, if I fought him, I would be completely destroyed?

So what?

If he kills me, our tribal chief won’t stand still.

“Are you even capable of killing me?”

I just asked directly this time too.

That’s how absurd it was.

Kill me?

And that too, me, the most promising talent in the barbarian tribe recently?

In the middle of the beastman’s holy land after being invited?

Immediately, the war with the elves that happened ten years ago would be repeated.

Because barbarians are that kind of race.

“What? Hahahahaha!!”

The head of the family tried to laugh coolly, but I could see the deep frustration inside.

Well, it must be frustrating.

He doesn’t want to admit it for the sake of his pride, but my words are true.

He’s just laughing it off.

“It was natural for things to go wrong. I never thought you would be such a cunning guy.”

“Thanks for the compliment, but I think I’m getting hungry, so answer me. What do you want to say to me?”

The head of the family just stared at me as if organizing his thoughts for a moment, and then opened his mouth.

“I know you used that item.”

Only then did all the questions get answered.

The Frost Spirit Ring.

As expected, he was making a fuss because of this.