Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 144

The Great Legacy (2)

The ancient evil god, Karui.

Unlike the three gods remaining in the world, he is an entity that demands infinite recompense from his subordinates. He doesn’t benevolently give everything. He merely fulfills fervent wishes, without distinguishing between good and evil. If the price is sufficient, no more, no less, just that much.

[I grant it.]

The moment the long-awaited answer was heard, a demonic beast’s arm, tearing through space, ripped off Ludwig’s arm and took it away. However, when he regained his senses, he was standing in the very place he had only been looking at. It was truly a power and authority akin to a demon, especially in that there was always a price to pay.

“I, Sree… da!”

Even as he made his decision, the desperate battle was rushing towards its end. Ludwig urgently reached out his hand. And…

[I shall take it.]

That was enough. There was no need to explain to the evil god what he was offering as a price or what he desired.

“H-Hey, you! What is this, you…!”

The dragonslayer, who was stabbing his sword at the barbarian warrior, was thrown backward by a fierce resistance. But in return, zzzzt-! Both of his ears were torn off. A permanent injury, offered as a sacrifice to the evil god, that could not be healed by any divine power or potion. Pain, comparable to a raging fire, bloomed. However, Ludwig thought of only one thing. Yes, those guys were fighting even in this kind of pain.

“Hey, you. Heal me, now.”

The dragonslayer commanded, emitting a black glow from his eyes. In response, his body moved as if possessed, regardless of his will. It was because of one of his abilities, [Subjugation], separate from his grandson who was captured by the soul. As long as that cursed ability bound him, he could not refuse his words. But…

[I shall count to ten.]

At the same time as the giant demonic beast’s claws tore off his last remaining arm, his body, which had been moving against his will, stopped. But it was still not enough. There were still many things he desired, and many things left to offer. Legs, eyes, heart, lungs. Anything was fine. He would offer his entire wretched body. If it could help the young heroes on their path, in his twilight years, he would even give up his desire to end his weary life and rest in His embrace. So…

“Give me the power to kill that man.”

Ludwig spoke, and the evil god answered.

[It is impossible.]

Not a refusal, but an impossibility. Even if he valued ‘voluntary’ sacrifice the most, it meant that this was not enough of a price. But Ludwig had let go of all his lingering attachments. It was different from the resignation he had felt every day. Wasn’t it just before that he had decided to abandon impossible hopes and do what he could? The freedom the evil god had granted him was only for 10 seconds. There was no time to waste on despair.

“Then, allow me to protect these people.”

Ludwig spoke again, and the evil god laughed. And…

[I grant it.]

The demonic beast’s arm, emerging from the darkness, tore his body to shreds and swallowed it.

***

The relief of having avoided the immediate crisis was fleeting. Questions arose. How did Karui’s priest arrive here, crossing a 4-hour distance, and why was he doing something that would harm the dragonslayer? Was there some other plan?

“Hey, you! What is this, you…!”

Judging from the dragonslayer’s expression, it didn’t seem like it. In short, it meant that even that guy hadn’t expected this situation at all. However, it was difficult to see it as a positive variable.

“Hey, you. Heal me, now.”

Black light emanated from the eyes of the guy who had fallen backward, even dropping his sword. It was obvious what it was, without even looking. [Subjugation]. The ability of the 3rd grade essence that he possessed. If used on the dead, it would absorb their souls and increase stats, and although there were some usage conditions, if used on the living, it was a cheat skill that could enslave the target.

Thud.

Soon, the priest took a step forward as if possessed. However, at that moment when everything seemed to be over, crack. The priest’s remaining arm was torn off, as if offering it as a sacrifice to the evil god hidden in the darkness. Thud. The priest, who had been moving as if possessed, stopped walking. His appearance was beyond horrific. His two ears and both arms were in a state as if they had been bitten off by a beast. But in that state, the priest spoke.

“Give me the power to kill that man.”

Only then did I accurately grasp the situation. Who this nameless priest was talking to, and what kind of deal he had made. If all my predictions were correct, there was no way to survive—

[It is impossible.]

The answer to the priest’s request was a refusal. A voice that echoed throughout the passage, as if speaking to everyone present. In response, the dragonslayer’s eyes briefly flickered with a mix of hope and despair. It was at that moment.

“Then, allow me to protect these people.”

The man’s request followed without the slightest hesitation. In response, laughter was heard from somewhere. And…

[I grant it.]

The priest collapsed to the floor. It was only natural, because the two legs that had been supporting his body had been torn off. However, the evil god was a contradictory being who gave both hope and despair at the same time. Whoooosh-! In return, a portal opened. A portal that appeared in the center of the passage, scattering black light and swirling. The color of the light was different, but it was a dimensional gate. The highest level magic that could open a door from the labyrinth to the city.

Whoooosh!

Soon, the dimensional gate, which had been emitting a huge amount of magic power, revealed what was beyond it. It was not the familiar gray city of Lapdonia, but the appearance of a dark and gloomy underground fortress.

“Hey, you! What are you doing, you…!”

As if pushed by an invisible gust of wind, the dragonslayer’s body was slowly pushed back, towards the place where the portal was.

“No matter what happens to me—”

“It’s something that should have been done a long time ago.”

The dragonslayer shouted in anger, but the priest only answered with unwavering resolve.

“Shit!”

It seemed that the guy was slowly accepting that there was no way to stop the priest’s decision, and he let out a roar, then looked at me and shifted his gaze to one place. And he stretched out his hand. Swoosh. Then, the Arcane Greatsword, which had been lying on the ground without an owner, scraped the ground. The silver greatsword moved towards him as if drawn by magnetism. It was too obvious what he was trying to do. Even if he was going to leave, he was going to take this with him.

‘Damn sword-obsessed bastard.’

Forcing strength into my staggering legs, I threw my body forward. Not towards the shameless dragonslayer bastard, but towards the sword that was being pulled towards him. Thud. My head spun from the impact of my tattered body slamming into the floor, but I reached out and grabbed the sword. Crack-! As if it was imprinted with its owner, the sword emitted a hot heat as soon as my hand touched it. Thanks to my pain resistance, the pain was bearable, but the sensation of my hand going numb was clearly felt in real time. I even wondered if I would be unable to use my arm forever if I held it like this for a few more minutes.

‘…Was this guy using the sword in this state the whole time?’

The unnecessary question that flashed through my mind was immediately erased. That wasn’t what I needed to think about right now.

“You!”

I would endure. I would put my weight on the ground and grit my teeth, even if it meant breaking them, so that the blade that would one day be aimed at me would not be held in his hands again, so that he could not harm my companions. Clack! The pulling force suddenly increased rapidly. My body began to slide as if it had lost its friction. At this speed, it wouldn’t be strange if I was sucked into the portal along with the sword. Damn it, should I let go now? Just as such a thought was slowly beginning to surface, “Cough, cough!” The guy coughed up blood, and the resistance disappeared. Yes, you can’t handle any more than this, can you?

“Barbarian….”

Soon, the guy called out to me and muttered briefly. “We will, meet again.” He said that we would meet again. He said it with a lisp that even Misha would be ashamed of, like a third-rate villain who was running away. Moreover, there was no mention of what he would do after that. But… Thump-! My heart vibrated at that one word.

“……”

The skewer piercing his shoulder, the half-crushed jaw, the murderous intent that made my skin tingle. The guy’s right arm, which was so red that it was almost black and was emitting steam, was telling me that if that day came, there would be no such luck as today. It was conveying it to me more clearly than hundreds of curses. But so what? Clench. A member of the Orculists? The 8th floor explorer known as the dragonslayer? That there would be no ‘Guardian of Balance’ next time? ‘I already know that much.’ Yes, I wouldn’t be able to beat him right now. If he came up with some trick, I would have to struggle desperately like today. But… Whoooosh-! I will survive, because that’s what I’m best at, because it’s what I’ve been doing until now, and what I have to do in the future. I will survive every day, desperately, and become stronger, so that someday, when I no longer need luck.

“We will meet again, dragonkin.”

I will go find him, because you’re not the only one who lost something today.

***

The portal, which had opened greedily, swallowed the guy’s body and disappeared. And at the same time, a warm light began to permeate my body. Not just me, but all the other companions as well. ‘…Divine power?’ I stared blankly at my hand. My wounds were slowly but surely regenerating. Unlike potions, there was no pain, only a sense of warmth. Swoosh. Only then did I come to my senses and check behind me. I saw the priest’s body, torn to shreds. No, could I even call that a body anymore? He had no arms or legs. Dark red blood flowed from his hollowed-out eye sockets, and his nose was cut off like a corpse on a battlefield. Also, inside his vertically cut abdomen, the things that should have been there were missing.

“Why….”

I muttered without realizing it. Why did this old man sacrifice so much? And for us, who were complete strangers. “Letter… in my pocket….” Then, a faint sound was heard. It was the sound the priest had made. Although it was hard to believe, I quickly approached and searched his robe. A crumpled and worn letter came out. “Rea, Tr….”

“Don’t worry and rest. I will make sure this letter is delivered to the Reatras Order.”

“Thank….”

Soon, the priest closed his eyes. Although he was covered in blood everywhere, his wrinkled face looked so clean and peaceful. Looking at it, it was as if I was dreaming. How could he speak in this state? I couldn’t help but ask, because if I missed this moment, there would be no other chance.

“……Why did you save us?”

Because it was the right thing to do? Well, if he had such a will, he would have had a chance to be freed long ago. But why today of all days? It couldn’t have been just a coincidence, and I was too curious about the inside story.

“…….”

There was no answer. Could it be that he was already dead? As I was thinking that and getting up, the priest’s lips parted slightly. “Ma, gic….” The sentence was not completed, but that was enough.

“I see, thank you for letting me know.”

I got up from my seat without any regrets. There were many things I wanted to ask, but for some reason, I felt like the old man had already left this place.

“…….”

I paused for a moment and listened. The silence was awkward and out of place. As if enjoying the lingering feeling of this silence, I murmured inwardly. ‘I survived.’ I survived. The dwarf, Misha, and Rotmiler too. No one died. But… ‘At this rate, I can’t say I kept my promise.’ I smiled bitterly as I looked at the bodies of my companions visible beyond the passage.

[Can… you win?]

[Don’t worry. I will definitely bring everyone back alive.]

I had said that so confidently, but it was him who protected us, that which allowed us all to return alive, that which was like a miracle from God, beyond the word luck.

[Ma, gic….]

It was the legacy left to us by the mage who had fought to the very end. Leol Worb Dwarki.