Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 172

The day after returning from Commelbi with Raven.

The entire team gathered at the tavern for the final settlement.

“You guys really made a killing.”

Magic stone earnings: 25.19 million.

Expanded backpack and miscellaneous equipment: 3.01 million.

Ifrit’s essence, after deducting the test tube cost: 9 million.

Milaroden’s byproducts: 750,000.

So, in total…

‘A total of 37.95 million stones.’

Of course, it’s not a fair 5-way split.

It was agreed that Ainar would take 15% of the magic stones and Bear Ahjussi would take 25%…

And Raven takes 40% of the essence and Milaroden’s byproducts as special loot.

‘Let’s see, then my share is…’

7.1 million and 2,500 stones.

For reference, this is exactly the same amount as Misha.

“Ainar-ssi, your share is 5.843 million stones.”

“Ooh!!”

“Then, what will you do with the essence money?”

“Uh, the essence…? How much was that?”

Ainar, who was briefly happy with the absurd settlement amount, quickly made a confused expression.

“…I’ll pay for that.”

I took 2.157 million stones from my share and handed it to Raven.

“What about Karlstein-ssi’s share?”

“Ah, I decided to get that from Ainar later.”

“Hmm, if that’s the case. Uh… wait a minute, then Ainar-ssi won’t receive anything from today’s settlement?”

Is it a problem that he won’t receive anything?

He worked hard in the labyrinth, but his debt only increased.

4 million to Misha.

7.5 million to me, including the cost of the equipment I bought him last month.

A total of 11.5 million stones.

“Th-that can’t be…!!! There was a settlement amount, but it’s gone!! Th-this is wrong!!”

“That’s how the world is. But you got stronger after eating the essence, didn’t you?”

Unlike Misha, who comforted him with words, I decided to give him practical compensation.

“By the way, I think it’s time to increase Ainar’s distribution.”

He ate a 5th-grade essence.

In fact, it’s hard to see Ainar’s combat power as below average now.

“Ah, I don’t mind.”

“…From now on, I’ll only take 20% too.”

Bear Ahjussi also acknowledged it without complaint, and Ainar’s magic stone distribution rate was increased to 20%.

Now, it’s a fair distribution.

‘Hoo, I’d like to adjust the special loot ratio too, but… she’ll definitely throw a fit, so I’ll do that later.’

Actually, thinking about it, it’s a bit unfair.

A tank, a leader, and a guide I never asked to be…

Besides, I’m feeding them all the hidden pieces, right?

Shouldn’t I be getting about 30%?

“Ah, then everyone just needs to pay the team’s common fund, and we’ll be done for today.”

“How much was the common fund?”

“300,000 stones per person.”

“Are you taking it away again…!!”

Ainar’s debt increased by another 300,000 stones.

Well, what does debt mean when I’m feeding and housing him anyway?

***

Three days after the final settlement.

While Misha went out with Ainar to apply for his 6th-grade promotion, I lay in bed organizing my thoughts.

‘I’ve already gathered another ten million stones.’

This is the amount excluding the money I lent to Ainar and what’s in the joint account with Misha.

As expected, growth has accelerated since coming to the 5th floor.

I can now play proactively, so I can properly utilize my knowledge of the game, I guess?

‘One year.’

I made a rough plan.

‘Let’s build a foundation on the 5th floor for just one year and then head to the 6th floor.’

Of course, it will be difficult to grow as quickly as we are now from the 6th floor.

It’s a floor that can’t be cleared with combat power alone.

The 6th floor will be a long battle against time.

‘…But if I go to the 6th floor, I can eat that essence.’

As long as a powerful enemy called the Dragonslayer is after my head, I need to get stronger as soon as possible.

‘Even if that wasn’t the case, looking at the current situation, I don’t think there’s a solution in my current state.’

The recent atmosphere in the city is very heavy.

To be precise, it’s the explorer industry.

Everyone seems on edge and tense, I guess?

It’s understandable.

Such an incident happened this time.

‘471 people.’

That many people died on the 4th floor.

And that’s just in this round.

This was a much more serious problem than the previous 3rd floor stratum lord incident.

Not monsters, but raiders.

A large-scale terrorist attack by a huge group targeting veteran explorers who have been going in and out of the labyrinth for almost 10 years.

“Bjorn!!”

Just as my thoughts reached that point, Misha, who had gone to the guild, returned.

She was holding a piece of paper in her hand, looking very urgent.

“L-look at this!! The royal family has issued a notice to the explorers!”

I quickly took the paper and read it.

A notice stating that the royal family was leading a subjugation plan, and that explorers above 6th grade would receive rewards for participating.

The target of the subjugation was Noark.

‘…It’s going to be a mess.’

The underground city was an open secret.

Everyone who knew, knew, but 99% of people didn’t even know of its existence.

But the group was mentioned in a royal decree.

“Bjorn, what are you going to do?”

“Well…”

The rewards are quite attractive.

Not only the amount measured per person, but also a three-year exemption from taxes and exchange fees. Moreover, they even said they would bestow essences owned by the royal family depending on the merit, so many people would be tempted.

‘It seems like they’ve already finished recruiting the super-large clans.’

The names of the clans that had agreed to participate were also written in the notice.

They probably received much bigger rewards.

Should I call it a recruitment for publicity?

Just the fact that the leading large clans are participating will cause the credibility of ordinary explorers to skyrocket.

No, they might even think it’s a great opportunity and that it’s foolish not to participate in the subjugation.

But…

[Anyway, what I want to say is, absolutely do not participate.]

I steeled my heart, remembering Baekho’s advice.

“We will not participate.”

I’ll pass on getting caught in a whale fight and getting my back broken.

Besides, we’re growing well enough now, aren’t we?

I don’t really feel the need to participate in the subjugation.

“I see… that’s a relief. I had a bad feeling about it…”

“For now, just in case, I need to talk to Raven and Abman. Oh, what was Ainar’s reaction?”

“He’s excited, saying it’s a chance to raise his reputation. But don’t worry. I’ll talk to him.”

“Then I’ll leave that to you.”

After finishing the conversation with Misha, I headed to the magic tower.

I wondered what the mage’s perspective would be.

The answer was really simple.

“Ah, that notice… I heard about it last night. I was going to ask you anyway, but I’m glad you’re not participating.”

“Are you against it too?”

“Yes. I’m curious about the underground city, but it’s a subjugation in name only, it’s a war, right? I don’t want to get involved in such power struggles.”

Regardless of the rewards offered by the royal family, Raven didn’t feel any particular interest.

That’s a relief in many ways.

I heard a similar answer at Bear Ahjussi’s tavern later.

“Everyone at the tavern has been talking about it all day, but something doesn’t feel right to me. Well, I’m greedy for the rewards, but…”

Bear Ahjussi said that he probably would have participated in the subjugation if he was playing solo.

Well, this ahjussi is almost forty years old.

A three-year tax exemption is huge.

Isn’t he the one who’s almost single-handedly taking care of his wife’s taxes?

“Huhu, and a child will be born next year. With the childbirth benefits, taxes will be reduced for 20 years, so there’s no reason to be so urgent.”

“That’s true.”

“If you guys aren’t participating, I don’t plan to join either.”

Okay, then it’s decided that we’ll pass on the subjugation.

‘…Let’s find out more detailed information when the community opens.’

There’s nothing I can do right now.

So, I was about to go back to the lodgings and check what I need to do in the city this month when…

Bear Ahjussi made an unexpected suggestion.

“Yandel, how about a drink later?”

“A drink?”

“You’re the leader of a team now, aren’t you? From what I see, you don’t seem to have any connections in this area.”

“So?”

“There’s a gathering of 5th-floor explorers tonight. If you’re okay with it, how about going together?”

Hmm, networking…

Honestly, I’m not in the mood.

However, it’s common for explorers here to meet and hang out with their colleagues and exchange information.

Maybe it wouldn’t be bad to experience it once?

‘Well, the Round Table Watchers only give out high-level information, so it’s hard to know about this kind of thing.’

“Okay. Then what time and where should I go?”

After hearing the time and place, I went to the library to kill time.

Ragna greeted me as stoically as usual.

However, how did she hear this news when she was only in the library?

“Is there something you want to say?”

“Are you… participating in the subjugation?”

“No, our team has decided not to participate.”

“I see. That’s a relief…”

Ragna’s face brightened up.

Somehow, that fact was suspicious, so I asked directly.

“A relief? Do you know something about Noark?”

“I… don’t know much about that side. But I know what kind of people the royal family are… There will definitely be a huge sacrifice.”

Ragna answered in a voice as faint as an ant crawling.

“The royal family?”

“Please pretend you didn’t hear what I just said.”

Ragna immediately retracted her words with an expression that she had made a mistake.

I didn’t bother to dig deeper.

Because I know how dangerous it is to badmouth the royal family.

“Thank you for your concern.”

“Concern…”

Ragna repeated the word as if savoring it.

However, a slightly unexpected reaction came out.

I thought she would correct me, saying that she wasn’t worried as usual.

“Yes. I was worried, so I’m really relieved.”

“Uh… I see.”

If she comes out like this, I’m the one who feels embarrassed.

But as soon as she said it, Ragna’s neck turned slightly red, as if she was embarrassed herself.

So, I just pretended not to notice.

“…Then, will you cast a spell? I’m going to read a book now.”

“Ah, yes. Magic. That’s right.”

I don’t want to make it more awkward here.

***

10 PM.

At that time, I would usually be taking a shower and getting into bed.

I’m at a bar I’ve never been to before.

And it’s not in the 7th district where I live, but in a bar in the 8th district, which requires crossing a wall.

“Abman! It’s been a while! How have you been?”

“I’m fine, what could be wrong with me? How about you?”

“Haha! I’m just barely surviving every day!”

As I entered the private room, I saw about a dozen explorers gathered.

The friendly-looking ahjussi here seems to be the host.

“Who’s that friend next to you?”

“He’s the leader of our team.”

“Oh, I was wondering who would take you, and the lucky one is right here?”

As soon as I entered the room, I had a brief introduction time led by the host.

“I’m Perpe Derbes. Call me whatever you’re comfortable with. You can just call me Pepe. It’s a nickname only close friends use.”

Pepe…

It’s an excessively cute nickname for a bearded ahjussi.

“…I’ll call you Derbes.”

“As you wish.”

“I’m Bjorn, Yandel’s son.”

“Can I call you Bjorn?”

“Whatever.”

The introductions ended quickly, as befits explorers.

“Wait, Bjorn Yandel? That sounds familiar?”

Then, one of the explorers tilted his head.

And then, he belatedly remembered where he had heard it.

“Ah, Little Balkan! The barbarian who made a name for himself during the 3rd floor stratum lord! Is that right?”

“That’s right.”

When I readily admitted it, Derbes’s gaze towards me also changed a little.

A surprised yet somewhat questioning look.

“Oh, so that means you haven’t even been here for a year yet?”

“Don’t worry about that. We just came back from the 5th floor this time.”

When Bear Ahjussi assisted, the doubt was completely erased, and only admiration remained.

“To advance to the 5th floor in less than a year, that’s really amazing…”

After that, Derbes introduced each of the participants one by one.

Because of my fame as Little Balkan and my explosive growth, everyone had a friendly reaction.

Except for one person.

“I’m Jack Johnsonville from the 5th-grade clan Neviswolf.”

A blonde, tanned human ahjussi who introduced himself with a somewhat aggressive gaze.

‘Why is he glaring like that? Does he want to die?’

My barbarian-ized way of thinking is already itching, but I endured it with superhuman patience.

I’m one of the few modern people in this world, aren’t I?

Yes, I have to understand.

“Haha, then let’s have a drink.”

Derbes, sensing the chilly atmosphere, raised a toast and eased the mood.

That’s how the gathering started.

People naturally drank and shared everyday conversations or industry stories.

“How is it? Not bad, right?”

Bear Ahjussi whispered in my ear.

I chuckled and nodded.

I thought it might just be a bunch of trash talk at an explorer gathering, but it’s pretty good so far.

Well, there was one guy who was stirring up trouble.

“How about we gather somewhere else next time instead of this old bar?”

Jack Johnsonville.

“Our clan has a tavern under its umbrella, and the alcohol is amazing. Of course, it’s much more expensive than here. Hahaha!”

“Subjugation? Of course, you have to participate. Ah, you guys are a team, so you might be a little scared?”

“But still, try your best. Who knows? You might catch the eye of a scout and join a clan.”

The only guy in this gathering who belongs to a clan, and the guy who keeps bragging about that fact while pretending not to.

Moreover, this bastard kept stepping in and pouring cold water on me whenever the attention was on me.

“Now that it’s come to this, I can’t help but ask. Yandel, what’s your secret? How were you able to climb so fast?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? He just met a good team.”

“…”

“…Haha, having good colleagues is also a skill.”

Derbes, who was trying to eliminate the conflict by packaging it up whenever there was silence.

“S-so, Bjorn. How about you? I’d like to hear your thoughts on participating in our gathering for the first time.”

Should I say it honestly, or not?

I was hesitant for a moment, but the answer was already decided.

“I like it.”

“Pfft, of course you’d like it. You’re just a newbie who just arrived on the 5th floor.”

I am a K-barbarian who combines the spirit of a modern person, the ideology of Confucianism, and the boldness of a savage.

When I have to endure, I will definitely endure.

I’m confident that I can endure even more insults with a smile.

But…

“What the hell are you yapping about, you moron?”

“Wh-what? Are you talking to me right now?”

“Then is there another moron here besides you?”

I don’t endure if I don’t have to.

That’s because I’m a K-barbarian.