Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 140

Hector Ludwig.

He was a respected high priest of the Leartlas Church, but in his final years, he was kidnapped by the Dragonslayer and forced to become a subordinate of the evil god, a tragic old man.

“May the star that rises at dusk guide them….”

He makes the sign of the cross as a habit, then pauses.

It was because of the evil god’s voice that echoed in his head.

[Hypocrite, do you still harbor vain hope?]

He knows without being told.

That it is a vain hope, nothing more than hypocrisy.

No matter what excuses he makes, all of this is the result of his choices.

‘If, that day…….’

If he hadn’t succumbed to evil.

If he hadn’t compromised his faith and shouldered all the sacrifices like the great men in the legends.

The man would not have reached this place.

So many people would not have disappeared into despair, and the explorers he met today would have finished their exploration without incident and returned to the city.

But…….

Clench.

Ludwig clenched his wrinkled fist.

It was a meaningless assumption and regret.

Even if he went back to that day, he would surely make the same choice.

And as if to prove it.

Whoooosh-!

He is still standing in front of the fluctuating portal.

To follow the single instruction given by the Dragonslayer.

To be precise, to protect his precious grandson, whom he wouldn’t mind keeping in his sight at all times.

He is guarding this place in case they might have escaped here.

Inside, he is just thinking such thoughts.

‘I hope they don’t come here.’

It was the only hope he was allowed.

A hope so meager it was not even worth calling humble, a hope like crumbs.

However, the evil god was not satisfied with even this.

[Ripen further.]

In long despair, his ambition was chipped away, and now he has even lost the will to solve problems.

He resigned himself to the miserable reality, like a slave who is happy that he only got whipped once today.

He chose the lesser evil and justified it as the best option.

He deliberately ignored that he had the means to end all of this.

Yet, as if it was not enough, the evil god says.

[Hypocrite, watch. It is despair caused by you, and pain caused by you.]

A voice that echoes as if engraved in his brain.

Soon, a scene was cast beyond his tightly closed eyelids.

A barbarian and his companions were fighting against a great evil.

In a situation where no one would see a chance of winning.

[Behel—raaaaaaa!!]

Unlike himself, who had resigned to fate.

***

“So, you’re not running away.”

The guy looks at me and laughs as if I’m pathetic.

I don’t intend to be pushed back from the start of this battle of wills, so I force the corners of my mouth up.

Seriously, it’s not like he’d let me go easily if I ran away.

The current situation is extremely simple.

[Survive by using the mage until the soul exhaustion state ends.]

If it were a game, a message like this would have popped up.

The duration of soul exhaustion is about 20 minutes.

I have to hold on desperately until then.

Ah, by the way, running away is impossible.

There’s nothing more tempting to bite than prey that shows its back.

“Protect Dwarki!!”

At the same time as I shout with all my might.

Tadat!

As if not giving me time, the guy kicks off the ground.

A figure that accelerates in an instant.

In his hand is the viper’s fang he stole from Misha.

Tch, even if he steals it, how does he steal that?

I ignore the stinging feeling and focus on the guy’s movements until the very end.

Kwaang-!

I block the sword with my mace and make a judgment.

Sliding, my feet slipped backward.

This means I’m being pushed back in the area I was most confident in, strength.

Whoosh!

The sword is swung again, drawing a smooth curve.

I quickly stepped back, but it’s not enough to keep up with the guy’s movements.

This means that the guy is also superior in agility.

Swish.

Acidic blood splattered from the torn skin.

So, [Iron Skin] doesn’t work either.

I was hoping it would since he couldn’t use the Arcane Greatsword. Well, it’s a skill that increases efficiency the higher the physical resistance.

Whoosh-!

I ignore my complaints and swing the mace.

Swish.

Far from reaching the guy, my wounds increased.

However, I swing the mace again.

Getting hit and hit again, giving my companions time.

That’s my role.

“Dwarki, when is the magic ready!”

“It’s ready. But, the two of you are too close—”

“Just shoot it!”

Finally, the ice spear I had been waiting for is fired.

As expected, the guy quickly stepped back.

He must have judged that it would be a loss if he got hit while fighting me.

How grateful.

Tadat.

I also stepped back, getting out of the radius of the ice spear.

However, without a moment to catch my breath, I quickly reached behind me and took out a shield from my backpack.

After all, I can’t even use [Giantification].

I judged that having a shield would be much more helpful in battle than the Arcane Greatsword.

I wish I could wear the breastplate too, but…….

‘He won’t give me that much time.’

I ignore my lingering feelings for what I can’t have.

Not out of resignation, but to focus everything on what is more urgent.

I discard what I have to discard, and take only what I need.

In that sense, one piece of information I need to check first.

“How is Misha?”

“It seems her bones are broken and pierced her internal organs. I gave her a potion, so she’ll be fine soon.”

Okay, until then, I have to fight 1:4.

It’s a cold statement, but it’s a relief that the one who’s out is not Dwarki. If it had been Dwarki who was hurt, there wouldn’t have been a chance of winning—

“Be careful!”

The guy rushes in again.

It means he doesn’t have time to wait leisurely.

That’s a positive factor for now.

‘Okay, so you’re in a hurry too.’

I had a hunch, but now I’m sure of it.

The guy is not suffering from a short-term status ailment.

As you can see from the way he rushes in as if every minute and second is precious.

Clack!

Before the soul exhaustion ends, the guy is pushing himself to make a move. In short, it means that if we hold out for 20 minutes, we will have a chance.

But…….

‘To have to hold out for 20 minutes, I’m going crazy.’

Time is not on our side.

The guy doesn’t know this, but we only have four potions left.

‘Except for the highest grade, one medium grade and one high grade.’

If we continue like this, it’s clear that they will all be used up in a few minutes.

That’s why…….

“Behel—raaaaaaa!!”

I shout with all my might and push the shield forward.

And quickly dash in and swing the mace.

I judged that I would never be able to hold out for 20 minutes by playing defensively.

Of course, only for the first few minutes.

Tadat.

If the guy creates distance, I immediately follow.

And I focus on attacking rather than defending.

Whether Rotmilla’s arrow support flies or not.

Whether Dwarki shoots magic or not.

“……Are you trying to die with me?”

I swing the mace, sticking close like someone aiming for a mutual kill.

It’s called the Barbarian Water Ghost Mode [A fighting style where one attacks relentlessly, like a water ghost that drags its victim down].

It’s contradictory, but this tactic actually reduced injuries and prevented the guy from even thinking about approaching Dwarki.

As if proving that the best defense is offense.

“Tch.”

The guy twists his body to avoid the ice spear instead of stabbing me with his sword. Unfortunately, towards the point where the crossbow was shot.

Thwack!

A monumental first hit.

It didn’t pierce deeply because of his physical resistance, but it’s the thigh, so it should have restricted his mobility a little.

However, has the guy finally realized something?

‘The free ride is over.’

From this point on, the momentum in his eyes changes.

Therefore, I also quickly stepped back.

A guy who has learned to give up in order to gain something is dangerous in any field.

“You persistent things……!”

A thick killing intent emanates from the swung sword.

It’s as if he has broken free from his shackles.

The guy’s sword, which had been limiting its attack path for defense, now draws a free trajectory with only one purpose.

Well, the biggest change is something else.

Whoosh-!

Even though an arrow grazed his shoulder, the guy didn’t flinch and pushed me.

And as a result.

Thwack!

After a few exchanges, the guy’s blade pierced deep into my abdomen.

A wound that could lead to death if left alone, thanks to the disappearance of natural regeneration.

「Your body is regenerating due to the [Recovery (Medium)] effect.」

Under Rotmilla’s judgment, another potion was used.

Now, there’s one high grade and two highest grades left.

But to make matters worse.

Tadat.

I failed to stop the guy.

As if performing some kind of acrobatics, the guy steps on the swung mace and jumps over me.

‘Damn it.’

I quickly turned around and reached out, but it was already too late.

The guy, who kicked off the ground once more, quickly closes the distance towards the back line.

“Get back!”

The dwarf blocked Dwarki, but it didn’t mean much.

How can you stop that monster head-on?

In a situation where there is no core skill like [Balance].

Kwaang!

The dwarf is sent flying like a soccer ball, holding his shield, with a single kick.

Rotmilla abandoned his crossbow and swung his sword.

Of course, it was futile.

Thwack!

The guy easily knocked away Rotmilla’s sword and stabbed a green blade into his abdomen.

But just as the guy was about to pull out his sword.

“This is, our thing.”

Rotmilla grabs the guy’s hand, stopping him.

Pshooosh-!

Fortunately, an ice spear was fired in time, and the guy let go of his sword and stepped back.

Thud.

Soon, Rotmilla, who had lost his support, fell to the floor powerlessly. However, the sword that had been stuck in his abdomen was nowhere to be seen.

The Mimic’s skill [Treasure Vault], which does not consume soul power.

To prevent that guy from using it.

To be of some help to this team.

‘If I give him a potion in time, he can live.’

Even with my companion’s injury, I remained calm.

But, not everyone could do that.

“You, you did that to Rotmilla……!!”

Misha, who was recovering while leaning against the wall, swung her sword at the guy with a body that was even difficult to move.

Knowing that it wouldn’t reach.

For a single purpose.

“You can’t go to Dwarki…… *cough*!”

Misha’s figure, kicked by the guy, was once again slammed into the wall. But the guy didn’t go straight to Dwarki, but quickly moved towards the unconscious Misha.

What he was trying to do was obvious.

He was planning to land a finishing blow and steal the last remaining sword.

That damn thief bastard.

“Didn’t I tell you? It’s our thing.”

The guy fell away from Misha without any lingering feelings at the mace swing that was swung as if chasing away a fly.

And he chuckled.

“Barbarian, are you still thinking of trying?”

What is he saying, that idiot? He’s stating the obvious.

Instead of answering, I rushed towards the guy.

Whoosh-!

The guy easily stepped back and dodged, saying.

“Are you really trusting that trash? A guy who, besides a few curses, only has ice spear and cold air blast?”

Of course, I am.

What does it matter if it’s a low-level attack spell?

It’s the same if you get hit in the head and die.

Just once, even if it’s a lucky punch, if I can hit the guy just once.

I’ll buy time somehow until then.

“Dwarki!!”

I shouted with all my might, thinking it was about time for the magic to fly.

But what is this?

‘Damn it.’

The magic is not flying.

***

Royal-certified mage, Riol Worb Dwarki.

It was no coincidence that he submitted an application to join a team with only two warriors.

He wanted to look like a special person.

So he chose the easiest place.

He thought that if there were two warriors, a mage would look more valuable. However, it didn’t take long for his true nature to be exposed.

[Hahaha, my name is Riol Worb Dwarki, a royal-certified 8th-grade mage of Lapdonia—]

[I thought it was something, but he’s just trash after all.]

Trash.

A being who is not even treated as a mage by other mages.

[Hahaha! Then does that mean our team is full of half-wits? That’s good, it means we don’t have to feel intimidated by each other in the future.]

Even so, they told him it was okay.

They understood, saying they were the same.

It felt like he was being saved.

He even thought that his 25 years of life had all been for the sake of meeting them.

But…….

[Are you really trusting that trash? A guy who, besides a few curses, only has ice spear and cold air blast?]

In the end, his true nature did not change.

Even though the moment to shine for the first time had come, he couldn’t do anything properly.

No matter how strong his magic became.

He was a half-wit mage.

A half-wit mage who couldn’t even live up to the expectations of his precious companions.

But, even with that.

[Get back!]

He was protected by his friend.

[This is, our thing.]

He failed to save his companion who was smiling with a sword stuck in him.

[You can’t go to Dwarki…… *cough*!]

He failed to protect the woman he loved.

His mind went blank at that fact.

He couldn’t breathe from the utter powerlessness.

If he could, he wanted to run away from this cruel reality right now.

But…….

“Unfortunately, that guy seems to have already given up.”

He must not give up.

It would be different if he was the only one left.

But his precious companion is still fighting.

Alone, to protect everyone.

“Barbarian, you know it too, right? That it’s already over.”

Even at the guy’s mockery, he silently swings his mace, spitting the blood he had in his mouth at the guy’s face.

Until the very last moment.

He is doing his best to respond.

[You look brighter, are you that fond of your companions?]

He recalled a conversation from a certain day as he began to chant.

It was a conversation he had with the instructor at the magic tower training center, right after the troll battle.

[What? You want me to teach you magic that can catch trolls? Well, um…… it’s not that there isn’t one.]

That day, Dwarki paid a large sum of money to the instructor and learned one magic.

No, to be precise, he learned a ‘magic combination’.

The instructor told him, but warned him several times not to use it, but…….

‘Thought Acceleration.’

His cognitive ability is dramatically improved, and time flows slowly.

‘Magic Amplification.’

He stimulates the magic power inherent in his heart, temporarily increasing the output.

‘Heart Acceleration.’

He forcibly increases his heart rate, causing magic power to spread throughout his body, and also overlaps mental sensory magic that is known to have severe side effects.

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

His heart beats as if it will burst, and magic power circulates throughout his body. On the other hand, his mind is clearer than ever, and his vision is sharp.

It feels like he can do anything.

[What’s the name? There’s no exact name. It’s a combination that everyone knows about. But, if I had to give it a name…….]

[Hmm, well. Sacrifice sounds a bit off.]

Dwarki stretched his hand forward.

That was all he did.

[Yeah, Awakening would be appropriate.]

Basic attack magic, Mana Arrow.

Dozens of arrows were shot out as light.