Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 158

Negotiation (1)

Evening of the 17th.

The newly formed team gathered for a meeting.

For reference, the meeting place was a newly opened three-story pub. Originally, we were going to meet at Uncle Bear’s place, but he decisively refused.

[Hmm, our place isn’t suitable for secret talks.]

[It’s okay. This time, we’ll mainly be discussing distribution rather than exploration plans—]

[Stop. I know a place, let’s go there.]

I was going to give him some business, but whatever. Is his aversion to it some kind of married man’s thing?

This guy is really something.

“Am I the last one?”

After Raven arrived, everyone was present.

“No need to apologize, just sit down.”

“I arrived on time, why would I apologize?”

Oh, that’s true, but… Why is she so prickly today? Ah, is it because of the power dynamics? Or is it because it’s a meeting with strangers?

‘She’s quite sharp in these situations.’

I thought she might have come on time on purpose, but I didn’t bother to say it out loud. We haven’t signed the contract yet, have we?

“Then, let’s briefly introduce ourselves.”

After ordering some dishes and drinks, we took some time to get to know each other.

Ainar started first.

“I’m Ainar, the second daughter of Fnellin! Nice to meet you!”

“Hey, Ainar? That seems too short….”

“Do, do I need to do more…? Sorry. This is my first time in a place like this….”

Ainar scratched her head, embarrassed by Misha’s comment. They had become quite close in the past few days.

However, no one pointed it out. After all, Ainar was acquainted with everyone on the team. She had been with Raven in the Crimson Fortress, and she had met Uncle Bear when she visited his shop a few days ago.

“Ainar, you’re… still the same as ever.”

“Thanks for the compliment. Wizard, you seem the same as well.”

“……”

Anyway, I ended up introducing Ainar instead. I explained what grade of explorer she was and what role she would play in the team, etc.

“So, there are two swordsmen?”

After my briefing, Uncle Bear made a short comment, and just as I was about to respond, Ainar interjected as if correcting an error.

“Urakburak, I’m not a swordsman, I’m a warrior.”

“My name is Urikfrit… No, I told you before, can you please just call me Abman?”

“……I’ll try. It’s hard to pronounce.”

“Pronounce, hard?”

“Is there a problem?”

Uncle Bear seemed to have a lot to say, but he just ended the conversation with a deep sigh. It seems he’s slowly learning how to talk to barbarians. Not talking is the best way.

“You’re the only one I’m meeting for the first time. I’ve heard a lot about you from Bjorn. I’m Abman Urikfrit.”

“I’m Arua Raven. I heard you’re the guide?”

“Ah, I’m Misha Kalstein.”

After that, the remaining three introduced themselves and professionally discussed their respective roles. With that, the first half of the first meeting was over.

Just as the food we ordered came out, we continued the conversation over a meal with drinks.

“This place is quite nice, and the food is delicious.”

“If only my wife cooked this well….”

“Mr. Urikfrit, are you married?”

“Ah, I didn’t mention that. It’s been three years now.”

“Bjorn, this is squid, do you want to try it? The texture is really unique.”

The overall atmosphere of the conversation was friendly. Until the topic of the labyrinth came up as the meal was coming to an end.

“By the way, shall we get down to business?”

“Yes, that would be good. Bjorn, how are you going to distribute the loot?”

As the issue of money surfaced, everyone’s eyes changed, except for Ainar, to be precise.

“Isn’t it fine to just receive whatever Bjorn gives?”

“That might be the case for Ainar, but not for us.”

The wizard, who was quick with calculations, and Uncle Bear, who had a family to support, both spoke up to protect their rights when the time came.

“It’s understandable for Misha, but it seems problematic for Ainar to receive the same share. Isn’t she the weakest among us?”

“Urakburak…! You, you were looking at me like that! I, I trusted you!!! I thought you were a precious colleague—!!!”

“Be quiet. Bjorn will take care of it. Okay? Be good?”

“Ugh……!”

Ainar was trembling with betrayal, and fortunately, Misha was able to shut her up in time. However, seeing her so sad, even Uncle Bear must have found it a bit difficult to speak up.

“Ahem…….”

Uncle Bear coughed and avoided eye contact. And then, Raven naturally took the lead and began to advocate for herself.

“I don’t really care about Ainar or Kalstein. I’m a wizard, after all, right?”

“……Go on.”

“If I’m there, I can put the essence in test tubes and sell it. I’ve also learned ‘Superior Distortion,’ so even if byproducts are the goal, it’ll be much easier to obtain them.”

“Are you asking for a higher share?”

“Yes. I should get 30%.”

Wow, it’s intense from the start. Dwarki accepted equal distribution with laughter, but…

“……30% is too much.”

“Too much? I heard that all the seniors get that much.”

Seriously, where are you trying to take advantage of me? It’s true that wizards are treated well in the labyrinth, assuming everyone is on the same level.

“Those seniors, it seems they joined teams that were lower level than them.”

“Hmm, are you saying that’s not the case for me?”

Raven is a 6th-grade wizard, so it’s appropriate to treat her as a 5th-grade explorer. Considering that Misha and I are 6th grade, and Ainar is 7th grade, she is clearly a higher grade. But……

“We’ll see once we explore.”

I’m confident. Regardless of the grade, we will never be in a situation where we are being carried one-sidedly.

“Isn’t that why you wanted to join this team?”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

Surprisingly, Raven easily admitted it. But was this all a stepping stone for the next stage?

“Still, it’s true that Kalstein and Ainar are less important than the three of us, right?”

“They’ll soon be pulling their weight.”

“Yes. I think so too. In a year… no, in a few months at the earliest, they’ll be pulling their weight. But why should I suffer until then?”

Raven proposed that we should readjust the shares when the two of them are able to confidently claim their share, and I somewhat accepted it.

“The share will be 20% each. But, I’ll give you 40% for special loot obtained through magic.”

“Okay.”

Equal distribution with a bonus for magic loot. In the end, Raven secured the conditions that a wizard in a 5-person team would typically receive. One person is done for now.

Now, all that’s left is Uncle Bear.

“I’ll take 5% from Ainar and give it to you.”

Actually, considering he’s a guide, it wouldn’t be enough even if I gave him 10% more, but…

“It’s our first exploration, so be satisfied with that for now.”

Uncle Bear readily agreed. Well, it would be a bit awkward for him to assert himself. He’s a guide, but his exploration ability is zero.

“Then, this issue is settled.”

That’s how the final distribution ratio was decided.

Me 20%.

Misha 20%

Ainar 15%

Raven 20% (40% for special loot)

Uncle Bear 25%

Ah, for reference, this is only for general loot. We agreed to distribute loot obtained by defeating plunderers equally.

‘Ugh, it’s such a waste.’

I can see why explorers are so desperate to rank up. I need to reach 5th grade soon. If all three of us were 5th grade, they wouldn’t have even brought up the distribution issue.

‘……Well, this is within the expected range.’

I took a sip of my drink and brushed away my disappointment. I was secretly thinking that the two of them might be even more greedy, but they all stayed within the lines. If it wasn’t me as the leader, other teams would have tried to take advantage much more blatantly.

‘So, I guess the most important hurdle is over.’

With the distribution ratio negotiations concluded, the formation of the team is practically confirmed. Though, there will be countless other matters to discuss afterward.

“Oh, right, what about the team? When are we going to register it?”

“We’ll do it tomorrow.”

“Then I won’t be able to go. I figured this might happen, so I wrote a letter of attorney. Please go and do it without me.”

“……Alright.”

We had to discuss everything, from simple administrative tasks to all sorts of other matters.

“Will we collect team funds separately? Or just gather what we need when we need it?”

“We’ll collect a fixed amount each month.”

“How much?”

How much should the team funds be?

If the funds are insufficient, how will we replenish them?

When we enter a rift or discover a mystical treasure in a labyrinth, will we use the current distribution ratio?

Should we acknowledge what individuals obtain through their own abilities?

Are there any incentives, etc., etc., etc.

‘I didn’t even do this much when I was with Team Half-Pint…….’

When I came to my senses, only Raven and I were still actively engaged in conversation.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz-!!

Ainar had completely nodded off, his neck bent at an awkward angle.

Uncle Bear was enjoying his newfound freedom, drinking alone, and Misha was scribbling in her notebook.

Not taking notes or anything…….

It’s just a hobby. Since she can’t cook, it seems like her hands are always itching to do something?

She started drawing a few days ago.

“……What are you drawing?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

“An orc?”

“Puhuhut!! Yes, it’s an orc. An orc. Hehehe.”

It was a somewhat unpleasant reaction, but before I could ask further, Raven called out to me.

“Hey, Yandel, we’re still talking…….”

Ah, that’s right.

I’ve been using my brain for hours, and my concentration is waning. It wouldn’t be so bad if it were an important topic, but it’s even worse since we’re deciding on such trivial things.

I checked the time and spoke.

“Raven, let’s call it a day for today.”

“What? But I still have things I’ve organized.”

“……Organized?”

“Points we need to go over before forming the team. I organized them beforehand.”

When I asked how much was left, Raven replied that there were thirty-one items remaining.

‘……We haven’t even done half of it yet?’

Thinking about the remaining topics, I felt like I was already bored to death, but knowing his personality, these are things that will be helpful if we get them done.

“Still, it’s getting too late. Let’s meet again next time to finish the rest.”

“Okay.”

We made an appointment for two days later and called it a day.

I felt both physically and mentally exhausted.

I thought I had a similar personality type to mages.

‘……Seeing the real deal, I know for sure.’

I’m glad I chose Barbarian.

***

The morning after our first meeting.

The four of us gathered and visited the Explorer’s Guild.

And we officially registered the team, submitting the letter of attorney we received yesterday.

“Team name is Bjorn? Isn’t that too uninspired?”

Ainar grumbled in dissatisfaction, but I just did it according to custom.

The official name of Team Half-Pint was just ‘Murad’ too.

Originally, most teams just use the leader’s last name or first name.

“We can change it later if we think of something better, so don’t be too disappointed.”

“H-hey, can I think about it too?”

“There’s no reason why not.”

“Really! I’ll think hard about it!!”

Even if he does, he’ll probably forget it even happened in a few hours…….

It doesn’t matter either way.

The team name isn’t important.

“Abman, what about you?”

“I have to go back to the shop. My wife is waiting.”

“I see.”

As soon as the team was formed, Uncle Bear left, and we had a simple meal outside before returning to the lodgings.

Well, all three of us live here now.

I’m in room 201, Ainar is in 202, and Misha is right across from us in 207.

“Oh, Bjorn, there’s something in your mailbox?”

“Mail?”

At Misha’s words, I checked inside and found a letter.

A letter with the seal of the Leatlass Church.

‘Could it be that an appointment with the Dragonkin has been set?’

I quickly went into my room to check the contents.

But what is this?

[He will call for you.]

When I opened it, there was only one sentence written.

The sender’s title, ‘Second Holy Knight Commander Paal Krovitz,’ was longer than the content itself.

‘What is this?’

As I tilted my head in confusion, the letter burst into flames and turned to ashes in an instant. I appreciate that they took care of security as requested, but…….

It’s hard for me to understand like this.

“…….”

I sat on the bed and organized my thoughts.

I had a rough idea of who ‘he’ that Paal Krovitz mentioned was. It must be the leader of the Dragonkin, the Ancient Dragon.

However, there was one thing I couldn’t understand at all.

‘He will call for me?’

It would have been easier to understand if they had just written the time and place of the meeting. I was the one who requested that the appointment be arranged as secretly as possible.

‘How exactly will he call for me? Will they come back to make an appointment again?’

I was thinking such thoughts when I flopped onto the bed.

That’s when a blue magic circle was drawn on the wooden floor.

“Huh?”

Before I could even figure out what it was, the magic circle emitted a brilliant light.

And when I came to my senses.

‘It’s like some kind of otherworld summoning.’

I was in an unfamiliar space.

The place was a structure reminiscent of a Greek temple, supported by massive pillars.

‘The Dragon Temple.’

I quickly assessed the situation.

‘Is it a space-shifting Dragon Word [A type of magic]? And the letter acted as a medium?’

The circumstances were roughly clear.

It wasn’t bad.

This way, security would be much easier to maintain.

“You’re not surprised.”

I looked straight ahead.

Scales on his skin and eyes that resembled those of a reptile.

A man with all the characteristics of a Dragonkin was sitting on a throne, looking down at me intently. For reference, the area behind the throne was surrounded by fog, and dozens of glowing eyes flickered from beyond it.

Are they all Dragonkin?

Then how many did they gather?

‘……Geez, those eyeballs.’

A pressure different from bloodlust was being transmitted.

A feeling like facing another species that you can never defeat with your bare body. A natural enemy.

‘Dragon Fear.’

Something that Dragonkin have as a passive skill.

‘They’re using that on me…….’

I smiled bitterly.

I think I know what their intentions are.

“Do you know? You are not the first Barbarian to visit this place. But…….”

“…….”

“If you return alive, you will be the first.”

It’s a kind of preemptive strike.

Given their race’s personality, they wouldn’t take the Dragon Slayer Sword from their benefactor without proper compensation, but they must have judged that they needed to intimidate me.

Because they don’t know what unreasonable demands I, a Barbarian, might make.

“…….”

The Dragon Fear intensified, and I broke out in a cold sweat.

But so what?

I didn’t grow up so carelessly that a little sweat would make my head go blank.

‘……Why do people here like these kinds of power struggles so much?’

Thanks to that, what I need to do right now has become clear.

I never dreamed that I would have to do this before even introducing myself…….

It would be faster to let them know.

Whether it’s a preemptive strike using Dragon Fear or whatever.

“Behel—raaaaaaaaaaa!!”

That it’s all in vain.