Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 19

“Good work. You can go now.”

“Goodbye!”

Erwen quickly prepared to leave without even a word of thanks. It seemed that the half-day of ability research had been quite exhausting for her…

“I’ll come again!”

She’ll come again?

Ah, I didn’t tell her.

“You don’t have to make time to come here anymore.”

“Huh?”

Why is she so surprised? This is obvious. You’re not my companion.

“You’ll need time to get used to your new ability. It’s better to spend your time more usefully until the labyrinth opens.”

Strictly speaking, all of that applies to me as well.

Yesterday, I set a new goal. The goal is to become a mid-level explorer and enter the 5th floor. Therefore, there are many things to do in the future.

First, I need to use 3 million stones to grow myself. If possible, I also want to receive professional combat training. I still haven’t fully utilized the performance of this monstrous body. I also need to read books to gain common sense and knowledge, and I need to spend time exploring the city as much as possible to adapt to the prices and culture.

In short, unless there’s a specific reason, there’s no reason to hang out with Erwen.

“Certainly! Th-that’s true, but?”

“I think you said you have a younger sibling, so go meet them and spend time with them. You have to go back into the labyrinth in three weeks anyway.”

“Yes…”

Erwen nodded with a gloomy face. Is it because I was her first companion? She seems to have some strange fantasy about me. Honestly, I can roughly guess what kind of fantasy it is. But business relationships last long.

“Since I’ll be staying here, feel free to come if you have any problems. I’ll help as much as I can.”

“Oh, really?”

“Aren’t we comrades?”

“Hehe, that’s right! Okay!”

After throwing in a carrot [a small incentive], Erwen left with a satisfied face. She’s still easy to handle.

Now that it’s come to this, I decided to maintain my friendship with Erwen. This is also a kind of connection. While you can’t do anything about blood ties, you can create connections later. It might be helpful someday.

“…Am I too materialistic?”

Well, so what? It’s not the time to be picky.

After a quick wash, I went back to the library. I received magic from the lazy librarian I saw the day before and read books for about six hours.

‘There wouldn’t be a place that sells something like gukbap [a Korean soup with rice], would there?’

It was a bit late, but I went into a cheap-looking restaurant for lunch and ate a few pieces of bread with a watery stew. The price was 450 stones. It seems more cost-effective to have meals at the inn.

“I am Bjorn, son of the greatest warrior Yandel!”

After finishing my meal, I asked around and visited the Raging Bull Inn, where Ainar was staying. Surprisingly, it was full of barbarians.

“Are you planning to stay here too? Good thinking! It only costs 300 stones a day here!”

What, 300 stones? I was surprised by the unbelievable price and looked into it a bit, and there was a reason. As soon as I entered a room with five narrow beds, the strong smell of sweat that had been fermenting for days stung my nose.

“Are five people sharing a room?”

“No! Ten warriors share it!”

“…But there are only five beds?”

“You can take turns sleeping at set times!”

It wasn’t exactly cheap; it was just cheap because many people were paying for it. Well, they only earned 30,000 to 40,000 stones at most, so they had no choice.

“But what brings you here?”

“I’m looking for Ainar, the third daughter of Fnellin.”

“Ainar, the second daughter of Fnellin, went out this morning!”

So she was the second daughter. I shouldn’t have changed it at the end. Anyway, after waiting for about an hour, Ainar, who had been out, returned.

“Bjorn, son of Yandel? Is something wrong?”

Since we were both barbarians, I spoke directly.

“I want to fight you.”

“Are you talking about sparring?”

“Yes.”

I need training right now. In the labyrinth, I achieved more than any other barbarian, but in pure combat skills, I wouldn’t be a match for them.

“That’s a bit strange.”

Ainar tilted her head. It didn’t seem like it was because it was a difficult request…

“If that’s the case, you don’t need to ask, you can just go out to the open space, right?”

Open space?

Ainar led me out through the back door of the inn. There, already a dozen or so barbarians were gathered, throwing punches, rolling on the ground, and sweating. Well, maybe even bleeding.

“Hahahaha! That punch was quite heavy!”

“Yours was too!”

No wonder it’s been so noisy outside since earlier. This is just their daily life. The elves were giggling and talking about what the spirits’ voices were like. While I was smiling bitterly at the barbarians fighting fiercely as if they had met their enemies, Ainar asked.

“Is there a reason why it has to be me?”

Actually, there isn’t. I just thought that Ainar would accept my request. But if I say no now, it would look strange.

“Because you’re the only one who uses a sword.”

“Do you want to learn how to fight against a swordsman?”

“Yes.”

“If that’s the reason, I understand. I have to go to learn to read in the morning, so if you come at this time, I’ll spar with you as much as you want.”

So, her schedule is free from 5 PM. I’ll have to come here every day from now on.

“Are you going to start today?”

“Of course.”

After waiting for a while, Ainar went back to her room, put on her sword, and returned.

“Ainar and Bjorn are going to fight!”

At this, the other barbarians also stopped fighting and started watching. I came to learn, but I had no intention of losing so easily, so I gripped my shield tightly and tensed up. However, the result was…

“Then, I’ll go!”

I got destroyed. Did it even take three minutes before I was just getting beaten up and dropped my shield? She’s really good at fighting. Still, it was a useful time in many ways.

“Bjorn, son of Yandel, was not the greatest warrior of all time!!”

“Now Ainar is the greatest warrior of all time!!”

“Waaaaaaah!!”

Except for these bastards.

***

How many more times have I been beaten? The sky had already turned dark.

“Are you going to do more? I want to rest soon.”

“No. I’ll end the sparring here today.”

The other barbarians had already left the open space. After much deliberation, I made a decision.

“Ainar.”

“What is it?”

Ainar, who was stretching and heading towards the building, stopped.

“Are you planning to go into the labyrinth alone next time too?”

“I have to. I don’t have enough money to form a team. But this time, I’m thinking of trying to challenge the 2nd floor if possible.”

It makes me realize how hardcore the barbarians live. A compass and a torch. With just these two things, you can advance to the 2nd floor. But to earn money to buy supplies for the first entry, and then immediately head to the next floor with that money…

“It’ll be tough alone, won’t it?”

“There’s no other choice.”

No other choice… Perhaps, this is why there are only humans in the lower floors. The other races, who have to pay several times more in taxes, can’t even pay their first year’s taxes by working on the 1st and 2nd floors. It’s clear just by looking at my fellow barbarians. The one who earned the most barely made over 20,000 stones.

“If you’re lucky, you might meet other members of your race on the 1st floor and form a team.”

“That’s true.”

“So, what are you trying to say?”

Seeing that the conversation was about to get long, Ainar immediately asked for the main point. I spoke directly, like a barbarian.

“Ainar, won’t you become my companion?”

“Companion?”

“I’ll cover the cost of forming a team.”

I felt it after sparring a few times today. Ainar is strong. From what I heard around, she seems to be in the top tier among the fellow barbarians. Above all, she’s also quite smart.

“I appreciate the offer, but why?”

I need a companion anyway. It’s a chore to find a night partner every time, and having a partner actually increases profits. But Ainar not only has high combat power but also has the advantage of not having to worry about betrayal due to her race. Although our classes overlap… Since Erwen left, Ainar is the best option I can choose. Of course, there was no need for a long explanation.

“I just wanted to.”

“I see.”

Ainar nodded and immediately made a decision.

“Okay. It would be every warrior’s wish to enter the labyrinth with you, a wise warrior.”

It’s a much more positive reaction than I expected. I can be a little more greedy, can’t I?

“However, there’s a condition.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll take 80% of the profits.”

“…?”

Ainar frowned at my audacity. Is she upset? I spoke again and continued with an explanation.

“I’m also paying for the cost of forming the team. And I promise, even with a smaller share, you’ll earn much more money than if you went into the labyrinth alone. Besides, I’ll pay for all the other consumable costs—”

“Stop, there’s no need to explain further.”

“…?”

“No matter how difficult the words like 80% are, I won’t understand them anyway. So, just give it to me. I trust you.”

“…I see.”

I had no choice but to admit that I had underestimated the barbarian race.

“I’ll be in your care, Bjorn, son of Yandel.”

Ainar approached and hit my back hard. It was too heavy to be considered a friendly gesture… Well, it’s better to get used to it quickly.

“I look forward to working with you.”

I have a reliable barbarian companion.

***

The next morning, I visited the Sanctuary with Ainar. The Sanctuary is a kind of communal childcare facility. Barbarians who leave for the city send their children here. They have no time to raise children because they have to be warriors until they die. And the barbarians who become adults and leave for the city repeat this process again. That’s not what I need to worry about right now.

“Bjorn, son of Yandel.”

As soon as we arrived, the chieftain came out to greet us. Damn it, that’s why I didn’t want to come here if I could help it…

“It’s rare for a warrior who has left to come back. Did you also come to learn to read like Ainar, the second daughter of Fnellin?”

I calmed my pounding heart and shook my head.

“That’s not it. Chieftain, the reason I came to the Sanctuary is different.”

“Different…”

The chieftain looked at me with interest. Don’t be nervous. I learned the barbarian way of speaking and titles from Ainar beforehand. I just need to avoid making mistakes.

“Tell me what it is.”

I took a breath and spoke calmly.

“I want to receive a spirit imprint.”

Each race has its own characteristics. For example, elves handle spirits, and dwarves handle artifacts. Barbarians have ‘spirit imprints’. In the game, it required a considerable amount of money, so it was a growth method that couldn’t be used in the early stages… Fortunately, I had a large sum of over 1 million stones. Therefore, after much deliberation, I decided. It’s still terrifying to stand in front of this damn chieftain…

“Specifically, I want to receive the ‘Undying Imprint Technique’.”

There’s no doubt. This is the most correct use of money.