Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 159

A strange silence hung in the air. I thought it would be polite to ask why I suddenly yelled, but… Uncle Dragon has just been keeping his mouth shut and acting all serious since I shouted. ‘Man, this is awkward.’ The silence was starting to get uncomfortable. “……Why did you suddenly yell?” The brown-haired Uncle Dragon asked, dispelling his Dragon Fear. It’s hard to read his emotions with those reptile eyes, but it seemed like pure curiosity for now. Okay, so he was curious too. I answered without hesitation. “I just felt like it. Why, is there a problem?” A Barbarian’s cheat code that can be applied to any action when you’re too lazy to explain in detail. Uncle Dragon seemed to ponder for a moment, then chuckled. “No, there’s no problem. As I’ve heard, Barbarians are a truly interesting race.” A dignified, deep voice. He then waved his hand in the air. Whoosh. A gust of wind arose, completely clearing the fog. The scene beyond was quite different from what I had expected. Because there was no one there. I thought there would be a ton of Dragonkin because of the glowing eyes. He avoided my gaze, looking embarrassed as I stared at him, demanding an explanation. “I’ll say this in advance. I was against this childish act.” “Against it?” “Ah, it’s just that they said it’s easier to negotiate if we crush your spirit during the first meeting, you know?” In short, the glowing eyes were all an illusion. If I had thought about it calmly, I could have noticed it beforehand. The thing I emphasized most to Krovitz was ‘secrecy’ and… The Dragonkin are a race with an extremely small population. Logically, there’s no way dozens of them would gather in one place just to pick on me. “Anyway, I’m sorry to you. Tsk, what is this nonsense just because they’re stingy with a few coins? I told them not to treat our benefactor like that, forgetting their manners.” His voice was still deep, but his tone and the atmosphere he gave off were incomparably lighter than before. Was that acting, and is this his real self? He seems like someone I could talk to. Still, let’s not let my guard down. This could be an act too. “Let’s start with introductions. I am Bjorn, son of Yandel. Are you the chief of the Dragonkin?” “Chief… Well, I suppose that’s what you’d call it. It hasn’t been long since I inherited the position.” “Not long?” I tilted my head without realizing it. I heard that the Dragon Slayer was cursed more than 30 years ago after killing the Ancient Dragon… “Time is what the beholder makes of it.” Ah, right, there was a setting that the Dragonkin had long lifespans. I had forgotten about it for a moment since it wasn’t really meaningful information in the game. Anyway, that’s not important, so let’s get to the point. “Chief.” “Feel free to call me Pirsairaidormus.” Is it even possible to call that comfortably? While I was internally debating what kind of reaction I should have, Uncle Dragon chuckled and revealed his alias. “Just kidding. Call me ‘Lafir.’ It’s my second name that I use publicly.” For reference, the second name is a unique culture among the Dragonkin. Since their real names are so long, they needed a second name for convenience when living in the city. Maybe ‘Legal Bagos’ has a much longer real name too. ‘Phew, that’s a relief.’ I let out a silent sigh of relief. This isn’t an official setting, after all. If he had asked me to call out his full, long name, it would have been a huge pain. “Lafir. If it’s too long for you, call me Yandel or Bjorn, whichever is easier to pronounce.” “I like the sound of Yandel better.” Anyway, the introductions are over. Just as I was about to open my mouth, Uncle Dragon spoke first. “Before we start talking, can I see the Dragon Slayer Sword? I heard the whole story through the Leatlass Church, but I still can’t quite believe it.” I couldn’t help but smile wryly at his words. He said it a bit gently, but the content was too blatant. ‘He’s saying he doesn’t believe me to my face….’ Well, I can’t say I don’t understand his feelings. I’m a member of Orculius and a notorious criminal with a bounty of hundreds of millions of stones. It would be hard to accept the explanation that I, a 4th-floor explorer, beat him up and took his sword. Thud! I didn’t have to explain it in detail, so I took the Dragon Slayer Sword out of my backpack and slammed it into the ground. ‘Ouch, it hurts.’ I only held it for about three seconds, but the skin was already peeling off. Uncle Dragon then came down from the throne, pulled out the sword, and held it. And he murmured quietly. “It was real.” In that short sentence, complex emotions were conveyed through my skin. He seemed solemn yet desolate? Considering the story behind this sword, his feelings must be extraordinary. After standing still for a long time holding the sword, Uncle Dragon put the sword back in and asked a question. “……How was he? You were the most recent person to meet him. I’d like to hear more details.” I summarized the events of that day, leaving out the parts that could be disadvantageous. “I see. So, he ended up like that… Thank you for telling me. As you requested, I will keep the fact that the Dragon Sword has returned a secret.” “Were you close to him?” Uncle Dragon smiled bitterly at my question. “He was… my younger brother.” “What?” “That’s why… I couldn’t stop him with my power.” I wanted to talk more and get information about the Dragon Slayer, but Uncle Dragon changed the subject, as if it wasn’t a topic he wanted to mention. “Now that I think about it, I haven’t said this yet. Bjorn, son of Yandel. Thank you for returning this sword. Regardless of the compensation you request, we will consider you our benefactor.” I could feel from his eyes that he wasn’t saying it as a formality. Well, it’s hard to tell with those reptile eyes, but anyway. As someone who made this decision solely for compensation, I was in a rather awkward situation… ‘There’s no need to refuse if they’re going to treat me like a benefactor.’ Then, I’ll ask about the specific benefits of being treated as a benefactor later. I focused on the current conversation. “So, what do you want?” This was the core of this meeting. I had thought a lot about it. What should I ask for in return for returning the Dragon Sword, a weapon made of 6th-stage material and a sacred object to the Dragonkin? “What can you give?” I asked first. I thought there might be a proposal that could change my mind. Uncle Dragon also seemed to have prepared a few things, as he opened his mouth without hesitation. “First, there is wealth.” Money. Not bad. It was one of the three candidates that remained until I made my final decision. Considering that 5th-stage weapons all start in the hundreds of millions, I would surely be compensated with an amount that would allow me to equip myself with top-tier gear. But… “I don’t need money.” Uncle Dragon made a strange expression at my answer. He didn’t seem to expect me to refuse this offer. “Hmm, perhaps it’s because you don’t know how much—” “I’m telling you again, what I want isn’t money.” The amount doesn’t matter, no matter how much it is. It won’t be more valuable than the Dragon Sword anyway. It’s better to receive something else. Sensing my will, Uncle Dragon didn’t say anything more and brought out the next compensation plan. “Second, there is a companion.” “A companion?” “I heard from Sir Krovitz that you are forming a new team.” “Get to the point.” “I will assign one of my clan members to you for two years.” It was a compensation I had never even imagined. Giving a companion as compensation? I think they really know their own worth. ‘It’s definitely tempting.’ As you can see from the battle with the Dragon Slayer. Dragon Words can make things possible that no mage or priest can do. Also, the Dragonkin have high base stats, making them suitable for close combat, and some special ones can use magic that only humans can use. However, my answer remained the same this time. “I’ve already found all my companions.” I don’t want to receive a companion as compensation who will leave in two years. What I ultimately want is a team that is united as one. “She’s a very lovely child, though.” Um, so what? Uncle Dragon coughed awkwardly, seeing my blank stare, and opened his mouth again. “……Then, this is the last offer.” “Tell me.” “I will give you an Arc-made weapon that will be created next year.” Yeah, I knew the last one would be this. I had expected it. The relationship between Arc and the Dragonkin is so close that Arc is synonymous with the Dragonkin. Only the Dragonkin can handle Arc. ‘The setting was that they can create one every year through a ritual.’ In that sense, this compensation was the most reasonable. I give them a Dragon Sword that I can’t use and get an Arc-made weapon that I can use. It’s a deal where no one loses. But… ‘If that was the case, I would have just taken the money.’ My answer was consistent this time as well. “That doesn’t sound good either.” Uncle Dragon closed his mouth, as if he hadn’t expected this offer to be rejected either. He seemed to have no idea what to offer next… So, I decided to speak first. “Forget all that, just give me a tattoo.” A casual remark. “A tattoo?” Uncle Dragon tilted his head, and then his eyes widened horizontally. He seemed to have realized what I meant by that. “Are you perhaps talking about the Dragon’s Blessing?” Yeah, that’s it. When I nodded, Uncle Dragon’s eyes changed in an instant. “Yandel, where did you hear about that?” Okay, this is the real deal. *** The Dragon’s Blessing. Along with Dragon Words, it’s what makes the Dragonkin a cheat-like race. “The elders were right. You humans are too greedy.” Uncle Dragon wiped the smile off his face. And he emitted the Dragon Fear that he had deactivated earlier. “I should have done this from the start.” The air became so heavy that it was hard to breathe. Is this his true mode? Whether it was true that he was against childish acts, the intensity was different from before. But… ‘It’s not unbearable.’ It’s the same as before. It’s scary enough to make me tremble? So what? As long as my ancestors are with me, a Barbarian will not lose in a battle of wills. “Behel—raaaaaaaaaaa!!!!” I let out a shout from my core and loosened my stiff neck, and Uncle Dragon opened his mouth blankly. “What is this….” “Is there a problem?” “……Are all Barbarians like you?” The Dragon Fear had already been withdrawn. Okay, so he used his true mode, but it wasn’t because he was really annoyed with me. “Hoo….” Uncle Dragon relaxed his serious expression and sighed deeply. “I’ll give you an Arc-made weapon and a generous amount of compensation. How about that?” He must have thought I wasn’t someone who could be swayed by the whip, so he offered a carrot. For the record, I hate carrots. “I refuse!” “No, you don’t understand, this is a loss for you too. If your fellow tribesmen find out, you’ll be treated as a traitor.” I’ve already received a prophecy, so what’s the big deal? “So, calm down a bit—” “Lafir! You’re a descendant of the dragon! Don’t be so petty and just do it! You said I was your benefactor, but you can’t even do this? You’re so stingy!” Uncle Dragon just stared at me blankly, probably because it was the first time he had been hit with the ‘just do it!’ tactic at the negotiation table. I took advantage of that timing and poked his Achilles’ heel. “The Goddess of the Stars said that Legal Bagos and I will meet again. That we have a strong, bad relationship.” “……The Goddess of the Stars? Is that true?” “I need to become stronger. So I don’t lose my companions to your brother again.” Even I thought it was a despicable thing to say, but so what? In the first place, the one who can use dirty cards without hesitation is the one who wins in negotiations. And if you think about it, I didn’t say anything wrong. “Lafir, you said you couldn’t stop your brother with your power, right? Invest in me. I’ll do what you couldn’t do.” I didn’t push any further after that line. Uncle Dragon went into thinking mode again, and that time was quite long. “……Perhaps this is my karma.” A murmur that sounded like a sigh. “Does that mean you’ll do it?” “……First, I need to check with the temple to see if the prophecy is true. Then, I’ll call you again. This is not something I can decide on my own.” In that case. “How long do you think it will take?” “I don’t know. A month? Two months? I’ll try to get an answer as soon as possible and let you know.” “Until then, I’ll keep this.” “I see.” A much cooler acceptance than I expected. I then pulled out the Dragon Slayer Sword and put it back in my backpack. And after asking a few questions I was curious about, along with how to contact each other again, I concluded today’s negotiation. “It’s a message stone. When I send a message, tear the paper I gave you now. Then I’ll know where you are.” “Got it.” Uncle Dragon then used a space-movement Dragon Word again to send me back to my inn room. ‘……As expected, all Dragon Words are cheats.’ I was about to take off my equipment and lie down on the bed to rest for a moment, thinking that. Knock knock knock. A knock sounded. It meant a visit from a stranger. If it were Misha, she would have just opened the door, and if it were Aynar, it would have been a ‘bang bang bang’ instead of ‘knock knock knock.’ “Nice to see you.” When I opened the door, I saw a familiar woman’s face. “Julian Urbans?” Commonly known as the regional manager’s daughter. A true rebel who wants her father to fall for her own freedom. “So, have you changed your mind?” “What are you talking about?” “I checked, and I heard your team was disbanded. And that mage died. Didn’t that Rotmuller guy do something?” Ah, so that’s why she came back again without getting tired. It certainly might look like that from the outside. “It wasn’t that mage, it was Leol Worb Dwarki. And it’s true that your father was up to something, but Rotmuller didn’t fall for it.” I stated only the facts accurately. However, after doing so, I realized that this issue also needed to be resolved. Even if they try to pull another trick, it doesn’t seem like Uncle Bear or Raven would fall for it… If I leave it like this, it will turn into a more annoying problem. ‘I should just do it now while I’m thinking about it.’ “Where is your father now?” “Oh, I don’t know. At this time, he’s probably at the main branch in District 7?” After gathering the necessary information from Miss Urbans, I ordered her to leave. “You go back now. And don’t come back again. I don’t want to get involved in your family affairs.” “Huh? What do you mean….” “Just as I said.” When she first came to me, I thought she just had a grudge against me because of the jailbreak. But when I thought about it, the timing was coincidental. The reason why the regional manager suddenly became hostile to me after a few months must have been her. “I told you before, our interests align, right?” “Enough, get out.” I forcibly kicked Miss Urbans out, then put on the equipment I had thrown off. Squeak. When I opened the door, Miss Urbans was standing in front of me. “Are you perhaps going to see my father?” “Yeah. I’m going to confront him.” “But why the weapons….” I tilted my head. Why would I leave my weapons behind when I’m going to confront someone?