Surviving The Game As A Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 153

The tribal chief held an axe in his hand.

The very axe that had severed the neck of the man next to him during the coming-of-age ceremony.

‘To kill people for money instead of monsters, do you think this is the right thing for a warrior to do?’

The heat that had been rising in my head cooled down.

An unexpected situation.

No, it was a situation I knew I would face someday, but I didn’t expect it to be today.

I calmly took a breath and made a quick judgment.

And then…

1. Apologize for my mistake.

2. Smooth things over with an excuse.

I immediately erased those two options from my mind.

Because I know what kind of race Barbarians are.

Even if it looks easier and more reasonable to ordinary people, you should never be mistaken.

There is only one breakthrough.

‘Tribal Chief, this is something you should have done in the first place.’

Just charge in like a Barbarian.

‘……You’re saying something interesting.’

The corners of the tribal chief’s mouth twisted.

‘Tell me, what do you mean by that?’

The moment I opened my mouth, I felt like an axe would be swung.

But I straightened my shoulders proudly.

A mistake becomes a mistake when you try to admit it.

Conversely, what if you don’t admit it?

It becomes a belief. No matter what the essence is, there is at least a possibility that it can be packaged that way.

That’s what I need to do now.

‘That’s exactly what it means. What I did today was something you should have done a long time ago!’

Not for personal gain, but for the greater good.

I raise my voice in front of the tribal chief without backing down.

‘Tribal Chief! Do you even know how many people die in the labyrinth every month?’

‘A warrior cannot be a warrior if they fear death.’

A clash of beliefs.

As a young warrior who cares for the tribe, I decided that it was safer to express my anger and plead for the future of the tribe.

The tribal chief cares for warriors.

‘Bjorn, son of Yandel, you should know. Only the warriors who survive become strong warriors.’

Perhaps he thought it was an act done for the sake of the tribe, the tribal chief’s voice softened a little.

But if I end it here, it will be neither fish nor fowl.

I asked back.

‘Only the warriors who survive become stronger?’

‘You are the proof!’

It’s definitely not wrong.

Half of them die on the first entry.

Then half of them die again the next time.

By the time half a year has passed since the coming-of-age ceremony, 90% of them are dead.

A deformed structure that is difficult to call survival of the fittest.

To survive there, you have no choice but to become stronger, even if you don’t want to.

But…

‘Tribal Chief, did this many people die when you first became a warrior?’

‘No, it wasn’t like that.’

It was the answer I expected.

I didn’t exactly study the past records, but even if this kind of structure had continued for just ten more years, the Barbarians would have been in a position where they couldn’t even give weapons during the coming-of-age ceremony.

‘Then are we dying this much because we are weaker than them? Tribal Chief, do you really think so?’

‘That’s also… not true.’

He could have avoided making unfavorable statements, but the tribal chief honestly answered the question.

Well, he must know.

What is the decisive cause of this situation?

‘There are monsters in human skin in the labyrinth. They treat us like goblins. Why do you think that is?’

‘The mages take our hearts—’

The tribal chief said.

I cut him off firmly and shouted.

‘No! It’s because you didn’t do anything!’

If it were another race, they would have requested the royal family to make a law to prevent the trading of hearts.

But our tribal chief didn’t even make the slightest effort.

Under the guise of the tradition of survival of the fittest.

He just watched as the race declined.

‘At least you should have warned us of the danger! You should have told us what kind of monsters lurk in the labyrinth, how to deal with them, and prepared us!’

‘It’s a tradition that has been passed down from our distant ancestors. I can’t change that—’

‘The ancestors wanted us to become stronger!!’

The tribal chief’s decision cannot even be seen as following providence. There is no animal in the vast nature that chooses to die on its own.

Everyone chooses to evolve to adapt to a new environment.

But the tribal chief didn’t do that obvious thing.

‘Tribal Chief! Look at us now! In the labyrinth, we have become as easy prey as goblins. Because we were only taught that monsters are the enemy! But did the ancestors want this?’

‘……Calm down.’

‘If I were you, I would have sent them with at least a pair of leather boots. I would have given them a pouch to hold magic stones. I would have taught them how to use a compass in advance—’

‘Didn’t I tell you to calm down!!!’

Ah, did I cross the line a little?

The tribal chief’s cry, hit by facts from a warrior who hasn’t even been around for a year, shook the forest.

‘Speak your mind! So what do you want to say to me!’

He can’t logically refute it, but he seems to be furious to just listen.

‘If you don’t do it properly……’

I swallowed hard and said the last line.

‘I’ll do it, Tribal Chief.’

For myself.

And for our Barbarian tribe.

***

After I boldly declared my ambition.

The tribal chief was silent for a while.

He stared at me quietly as if he was organizing his thoughts.

And then…

‘He suddenly swung his axe.’

I stepped back to avoid the axe.

I reached out in [Giant Form] and grabbed the axe handle, and a tug-of-war began.

The tribal chief was the overwhelming winner.

A giant figure well over 3m was lifted into the air, hanging from the axe.

So I let go of the axe and rushed at the tribal chief.

Um, then…

‘A punch.’

Yes, I punched the tribal chief in the face.

However, it didn’t feel as heavy as usual, and when I came to my senses, I saw the tribal chief’s large fist in front of my eyes.

That was the last thing I remembered.

‘……Then this must be the tribal chief’s tent.’

After calmly organizing the situation, I slowly opened my eyes.

As expected, it was a tent, and I could see the tribal chief.

‘You woke up early.’

‘……Tribal Chief, your nose is crooked.’

‘You too.’

Really? No wonder I couldn’t breathe well.

It also felt like I could taste blood when I swallowed.

I opened my backpack next to the bed, took out a potion, and drank a few sips. Then I handed the rest to the tribal chief.

‘You drink it too.’

‘……No, why waste a potion? It will heal by tomorrow if you leave it alone.’

Well, if that’s the case.

I roughly adjusted my nose bone with my hand, then wiped the pooled blood as if blowing my nose and rubbed it on the bed.

And then I got to the point.

First, this is what I need to check first.

‘Are you done being angry?’

‘……I wasn’t angry from the beginning.’

‘Then why?’

‘I just felt like hitting you because you were a little cocky.’

Anyway, he doesn’t seem to be angry anymore, so I didn’t say anything.

There must be something more important.

‘Fortunately, it worked out well.’

I declared in front of the tribal chief that I would become the tribal chief.

I didn’t just say whatever came to mind because I was excited.

I just expected that the tribal chief wouldn’t kill me because of this.

‘Are you so greedy for my position?’

‘Yes.’

For a Barbarian, ambition and aspiration are not shameful.

Especially if belief and cause are intertwined.

‘You are different from other warriors.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Other warriors wanted the position of tribal chief for honor. But you only care about our tribe.’

Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like he suspects me of being possessed by an evil spirit.

The tribal chief doesn’t seem to dislike this side of me. If I had just been a little less blunt, I wouldn’t have been hit.

Anyway, did the tribal chief have any excuses?

He brought up something a little out of the blue.

‘If you want to be picky, the previous tribal chief was similar to you. He would do anything for our tribe. Do you know what happened because of that?’

‘Are you talking about the Holy Relic War?’

‘Yes.’

The Holy Relic War.

That was the name of the war with the elves 10 years ago.

A tragedy that began when a Barbarian accidentally found an elven holy relic in the labyrinth.

The elves captured and interrogated the Barbarian who had the holy relic, and the Barbarian strongly resisted.

And died.

‘Until the royal family intervened, we fought with the elves for over a year. The previous tribal chief also died in that battle.’

The Holy Relic War was the biggest reason why the Barbarian forces were so weakened.

Countless warriors who should have led the next generation died.

In the meantime, the Magic Tower announced that Barbarian hearts were valuable as magical materials.

‘I met with the Tower Lord, but they said why should they give up magical materials for us.’

Um, so he didn’t do nothing at all.

‘But we couldn’t wage war with the Magic Tower.’

‘So, like I said—’

‘Yes, if we had warned and taught the young warriors about the dangers, it would have been better than it is now.’

‘What?’

The tribal chief chuckled as I flinched as if I had heard something I shouldn’t have.

‘You’re still young, warrior. What you did this time was an act that instilled hatred for humans in the warriors.’

‘They’re not humans, they’re looters.’

‘If you really believe that you can tell the difference, then I was wrong about you.’

‘……But why shouldn’t we hate humans?’

I asked out of pure curiosity, and the tribal chief paused for a moment before answering.

‘Because if we hate them, there will be no place for us to live.’

‘So you were afraid of the Laphdonia royal family.’

It’s not something I can’t understand.

I know how immense the power of the royal family is.

However, the tribal chief muttered bitterly.

‘Is there anyone in this world who is not afraid of that person? If the day comes when you meet that person, you will understand me.’

As if he was afraid not of the royal family’s army.

But of the king, the existence itself.

***

The conversation ended shortly after that.

[I will turn a blind eye to you teaching the warriors about the looters. But if you go any further, I will not stand idly by. Don’t let the warriors harbor great hatred for humans.]

It wasn’t that I was chosen as the successor, but it meant that he acknowledged my ambition and would allow me to increase my influence within the tribe.

Well, I did get a warning to stay within the lines…

A reward I wouldn’t have gotten if I had been busy admitting my mistakes or making excuses.

[If you want my position, become stronger, warrior. And prove that you are qualified. I will be watching you.]

[Oh, and one more thing.]

[Your punch was quite spicy.]

Hey, who should be saying that?

With the tribal chief’s praise, which wasn’t really praise, I left the tent.

The sun was setting beyond the walls.

There were many Barbarians around the tent.

They were all looking at me.

From baby Barbarians to elders who were quite famous in their youth.

‘He’s fine.’

‘The tribal chief had a nosebleed, though……’

‘Then it’s really……’

They were showing deep curiosity as they looked at me, who had returned alive from the tent. I roughly adjusted the position of my backpack and walked among them.

They just looked and didn’t approach.

It seems they thought I had incurred the tribal chief’s displeasure.

I had taken a few more steps when it happened.

‘Bjorn!!’

Ainar approached me.

‘Are you okay! I heard you fought with the tribal chief!’

‘Ah, I’m fine.’

‘So what happened? I heard you declared that you would become the tribal chief?’

The moment Ainar asked directly.

The ears of nearly a hundred Barbarians perked up at the same time.

I couldn’t just disappear here.

I chuckled and answered.

‘He told me to become stronger and prove my qualifications.’

I immediately felt a buzz around me.

Some were surprised, and some said that it would be impossible even for me. Some even gave realistic reasons, saying that it would take at least a few years.

The tribal chief probably thought the same.

But…

‘So? Bjorn, what did you answer?’

Then I answered.

‘It won’t take long.’

Yes, that’s what I answered.

***

While returning to the city with Ainar, I met Caron.

And I made it clear.

When teaching the baby Barbarians, don’t hate humans too much.

‘H-but! Didn’t we say that humans are the enemy?’

‘Not all of them are enemies.’

It was like changing my words now, but when I told Caron about Dwarki, he agreed.

‘Yes, there are such noble men among humans… Can I tell this story to other warriors?’

‘About Dwarki?’

‘It will be a very good example! We like such warriors very much!’

‘Didn’t you hear me? He’s not a warrior, he’s a mage.’

‘Haha! You’re saying strange things. He fought to protect his comrades, so why isn’t he a warrior?’

Oh, if you put it that way, I have nothing to say…

I just ended the argument there and finished the conversation.

‘Then we’ll be on our way.’

‘Okay! See you next time, Bjorn, son of Yandel! The great warrior who will lead us in the future!’

I feel like the modifier has gotten longer again…

‘But it ended well, I guess.’

For the record, I just left the money duplication bug alone.

The tribal chief was only worried about the intensification of hatred, so he said that this was within the acceptable range.

In the first place, the money duplication bug will be blocked in a few months.

The reason why the looters targeted the Barbarians so much was because it was low risk and high return.

‘If rumors start to spread that we’ve changed, there won’t be any bastards who will try to attack us at the risk of their lives.’

But what about a 3rd grade monster?

If they’re in their right mind, they’ll run away as soon as they see it.

Drrrrrrr!

I left the holy ground and led Ainar to my lodgings. And after finishing a tearful meal on the first floor, I took the vacant room next door, which had just become available.

‘C-can I really sleep in a place like this…?’

‘Of course. You don’t have to pay me back later. This is nothing now—’

‘Biyo—rneeeeeeeeee!!! I will follow you for the rest of my life!!’

‘……Be quiet. This is not a holy ground.’

‘Ah, right?!’

I was giving Ainar a warning when it happened.

My door, which should have been empty, opened from the inside.

‘……Bjorn? Who is that girl next to you?’

‘Ah, were you here?’

Since she was a team member who would be working with us in the future, I gave a brief introduction. I had mentioned each other a few times before, so a long explanation wasn’t necessary.

‘Nice to meet you! Misha Karlstein!! I’ve heard a lot about you! Bjorn’s comrade is my comrade!! I look forward to working with you!’

Perhaps because she was nervous about meeting a comrade for the first time, Ainar shouted almost desperately and reached out her hand.

Misha was just as flustered.

‘Ah, uh… Nice to meet you……’

Misha, who had been shaking hands with Ainar almost like a possessed person, came to her senses and approached me.

And whispered in my ear.

‘Hey, is he really the Ainar you were talking about? You said he was a Barbarian back then!!’

‘So?’

‘Where does he look like a Barbarian!!’

Isn’t he obviously a Barbarian?

At first, I didn’t understand, but when I thought about it, I understood why she was surprised. When you say Barbarian, most people imagine someone who is at least 2m tall.

The problem was that Ainar heard it.

‘Misha Karlstein!! Are you insulting me because I’m short!!! I sincerely thought of you as a precious comrade…!!’

‘Aah! No, that’s not what I meant!’

‘I have good ears!!’

‘S-sorry! Th-that’s not what I meant. Huh? It’s just that you’re so pretty… yeah! That’s why—’

‘What!! Misha Karlstein, how much more are you going to insult me? Duel! I challenge you to a duel!!’

As soon as the trauma button was pressed, Ainar started shouting, and Misha was trying to calm her down.

Watching them, a strong headache arose.

‘Ugh… my head……’

The head that was hit by the tribal chief must not have healed yet.

Well, whatever.

There’s no other explanation.