Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 191

Bipron (2)

Lafdonia.

It was once a small territory, but after the world ended, survivors from across the continent gathered, transforming it into the world’s only fortress, humanity’s last refuge.

This fortress is divided into 14 district cities.

First, there’s District 1, the imperial capital, Karnon.

This is where the royal family, nobles, and the privileged class reside. A key feature is that commoners cannot enter without permission.

Then there are Districts 2 to 5, Commelby.

This is a commercial district commonly known as the free market.

Located on the outskirts of the imperial capital, it’s where artisans and successful stores are concentrated.

Districts 7 to 13 are called Lavigion.

It occupies the largest area of the city, with 70% of the city’s population residing there.

A common feature is that each district has a dimensional plaza where portals open every month.

Finally, there’s District 14, Bipron.

It’s quite different from District 6, Noumtree, which was classified as a special district from the city’s inception.

Originally part of ‘Lavigion,’ it’s now a restricted area, and even the dimensional plaza has disappeared.

Drrrrrrr-!

The gate to that place opens.

To admit one more prisoner.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you going in?”

“…Is that it?”

“Didn’t you hear the explanation? As long as you don’t try to escape, you can do whatever you want.”

The knight who brought me here turned his back, as if eager to leave.

Thud!

The gate closed, and only then did I turn to survey my surroundings.

“A prison…”

As a place with such a nickname, the atmosphere was different from other ordinary city districts.

Would the 7th district where I live turn into something like this if it were left unattended for over a hundred years?

The old buildings were broken and neglected, their outer walls covered in dirt and graffiti.

The streets weren’t much better.

Waste materials were piled up haphazardly.

‘Tch, I have to spend 20 days here.’

It felt awkward to just stand there, so I started walking aimlessly.

I could feel wary gazes from all around.

It was the gaze of the residents of this district, who were skinny, their bones showing, and wearing shabby clothes.

Or should I call them prisoners?

Heh.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

What would Lee Han-soo, a modern person from the 21st century, have been like?

He would have definitely shrunk back from those gazes alone.

Because it was a look full of greed, beyond just rejecting strangers. He would have been too busy looking for a place to hide without saying a word.

But…

“What are you staring at?”

I am now a barbarian of this era, with a muscular body over 2 meters tall, armed with heavy armor.

I’m confident I could turn those weaklings into pulp in minutes, even if dozens of them attacked me.

“Behel—raaaaaaaaaa!!!”

When I unleashed [Wild Outburst], the residents who were watching me from hiding lowered their eyes as if they had seen a ghost and hurried away.

“It’s okay! I won’t eat you!!”

I laughed exaggeratedly at the sight and continued on my way.

“Why did that guy suddenly shout…?”

“…He must not be normal if he crawled all the way here.”

“He’s crazy. It’s better not to get close to him.”

Such words were faintly heard from everywhere.

That was exactly the reaction I wanted.

I don’t want to be bothered by flies for no reason.

‘This feels like being in a beginner’s field.’

I was quite worried because it was called a lawless zone.

No, to be exact, Misha was.

But now I was sure.

A lawless zone is a place where the strong are the boss, and it can sometimes be more comfortable than a society with laws.

‘I guess I can just think of it as taking a good rest.’

The barbarian’s body, sensitive to providence, had already noticed.

That there wouldn’t be much that would make me uncomfortable here.

*

I was walking around aimlessly, looking at my surroundings, when it happened.

“Hey, newbie mister!”

A kid who looked about ten years old stood boldly in front of me.

I asked to confirm.

“Did you follow me from the gate?”

“No? I just saw you?”

“But how did you know I was a newbie?”

“Because it’s the first time I’ve seen you today. People like you spread rumors as soon as they arrive.”

Looking at the weaklings around, it was an understandable answer.

“Tell me your business.”

I lowered my voice, conscious of my surroundings.

However, the kid was strong-willed, not avoiding my gaze, and spoke clearly.

“If it’s your first day, you probably haven’t found a place to stay yet, right? I’ll guide you. I’m a native who was born and raised here.”

In short, he was offering to be a guide.

Of course, it wouldn’t be free.

He wouldn’t have dared to stand in front of a giant barbarian just to volunteer.

“What’s your fee?”

“Just 100 stones.”

It was such a small amount that I wondered if he had missed a zero.

“Okay. Guide me.”

When I coolly agreed, the kid took the lead, saying he would take me to the best place in the area.

I followed the kid, asking him various questions.

I had read a few books about Bipron in the library, but it would be arrogant to think that I knew everything about this place just from that.

First, my personal curiosity.

“Were you born here?”

“Yes.”

“What about your parents?”

“They’re dead.”

“No, I mean, were your parents also born here like you?”

The kid seemed reluctant to answer, but he had no choice but to yield to my offer.

“I’ll give you 100 more stones.”

“…Only my mother. I heard my father came from outside.”

“For what crime?”

“…For possessing and distributing subversive books. I’m telling you in advance because I think you’ll ask again, it was a book about whether the taxes paid to the royal family were just.”

“He was a thinker.”

It wasn’t that surprising.

The nickname ‘prison’ attached to Bipron itself was created by exiling those who spread negative words about the royal family.

So, you have so many complaints?

Then try living in a place where the blessing doesn’t reach.

It was an exile based on this kind of logic, and it was a very clever move from the royal family’s point of view.

They could get rid of the rebels while proving the legitimacy of the royal family more clearly than anything else.

It was much more profitable than a death sentence.

“How old are you?”

“Eleven.”

“You can leave in three years.”

“If I succeed in proving my qualifications.”

I tilted my head.

“Qualification proof? I heard that you can go outside when you turn fourteen?”

“You only heard half of it correctly. The only ones who can receive relief are the very few who show talent in any field. Although they say any field, most of them aim for explorer. It’s much easier and they recruit a lot…”

“Are you also aiming to be an explorer?”

“No. I’m a scholar.”

A scholar…

No wonder he spoke so articulately, he hadn’t let go of his studies even in this environment.

“Are you an explorer, mister? How did you end up here?”

The kid then asked me a question.

It seemed like he felt it wasn’t fair that only he was answering.

“I’ll tell you if you take 100 stones less.”

“It’s not that much money…”

“An explorer doesn’t lose even a small amount of money.”

“Oh, so that means you are an explorer?”

A prank that was too cute to be called a scam.

However, perhaps realizing that I might retaliate, the kid quickly continued.

“Okay. I’ll take less. So, tell me why you came here.”

“I committed a minor offense in the city. They told me to live here for 20 days and come back.”

“20 days…”

Was it an infinitely short period for him, who had lived here his whole life?

The kid bit his lip and was silent for a moment.

And then he asked one more thing.

“What was your rank, mister?”

Personal information that I didn’t really want to answer.

“That wasn’t the question, was it? 100 stones is enough. So, just answer what I ask from now on.”

Like a cowardly adult, I firmly dismissed it and changed the subject.

Topics that were difficult to grasp from books alone, such as the cost of living and social structure of Bipron.

The kid, being a native, answered everything I asked without much difficulty, and one of them was a bit impressive.

It was about the source of food.

“The royal family distributes food every month?”

“Yes. But the strong guys take it all and use it like power.”

I didn’t care about the gangster groups the kid was talking about.

As long as you are born a human, there will always be a hierarchy.

What caught my attention was something else.

“The more I think about it, the more contradictory this place is.”

“Huh?”

“It’s nothing.”

I felt a little more interested in Bipron.

It felt like there was some more interesting inside story hidden in why one of the city districts that was fine in the game had turned out like this.

“We’re here.”

After talking a bit more and walking, we arrived at the inn the kid had mentioned.

A common type of store that can be found anywhere in this city, with a pub on the first floor and lodging on the second floor.

Usually, these kinds of stores are occupied and run by gangs, right?

‘They said it was the best place.’

I chuckled and opened the door of the inn, which looked like it would be swarming with bugs, and stepped inside.

Creak.

Surprisingly, there were quite a few people inside.

Men and women with sturdy builds, wearing shabby clothes, were drinking.

Clink.

When the rusty bell shook with a dull sound, everyone in the room turned their gaze to me.

The emotions in their gazes were varied.

Wary, bewildered, curious, greedy.

I ignored them all and approached the counter.

“Hey, owner, how much is it for one night here?”

“50 stones.”

Again, it was a price that seemed to be missing a zero.

“How much is one meal?”

“250 stones.”

“250 stones…”

Both were small change for me, but experiencing it firsthand made me realize the difference from the outside world.

The cost of food was five times more expensive than the cost of housing.

Prices that were unimaginable in Lafdonia, where the housing shortage was severe.

“I’ll stay for today.”

“What about the meal?”

“Bring it right away.”

“Pay in advance.”

I paid 300 stones, including the room fee, and sat down.

“Then, I’ll be going now, mister.”

“You haven’t even received your money yet?”

“Ah, that’s right!”

I gave the kid a thousand stones as he made a flustered expression.

“I don’t have any change to give you back…”

“Keep the change, come sit next to me.”

“Huh?”

“Keep me company until the food comes out.”

The kid, who was looking at me with a strange gaze, organized his thoughts for a moment and sat down. And he answered each of the questions I asked.

Time passed like that.

“Here’s your order.”

The food I had been waiting for came out.

A meal with no meat at all, just bread and a white soup-like broth.

“Then, I’ll be going now…”

I grabbed the kid who was about to get up from his seat.

“Sit down.”

“Huh? You said it was only until the food came out…”

Hey, do I look like a complete idiot to you?

I spoke again in a high-handed manner, even with killing intent.

“Sit down.”

The kid, feeling the heavy air, shut his mouth and sat back down. He was trembling even from afar, though he was pretending not to be.

I took a big spoonful of the soup.

And…

“Eat it.”

“Huh?”

“I said eat it.”

“T-thank you, but I’m not hungry…”

Yeah, so that’s how you’re going to play it?

“I’ll give you 10,000 stones if you eat it.”

I made an offer that the kid could never refuse.

So, what choice would this kid make?

The answer was really simple.

“…P-please, save me.”

As expected of a kid who was born and raised in a terrible environment, he was quick-witted.

***

The reason I could see through the kid’s trick was twofold.

[Did you follow me from the gate?]

[No? I just saw you?]

First, the kid calmly lied to the question I asked to confirm.

Well, he lied well enough not to be obvious…

But I’m a bit confident in my memory.

He had been loitering nearby since the gate first opened.

[Just 100 stones.]

Second, he asked for money too conscientiously.

This is a very strange thing.

Usually, even when you go to a tourist spot, people are full of thoughts of ripping you off. But this kid, and even the innkeeper, didn’t even think about overcharging me.

Of course, it could just be a coincidence, but…

“…P-please, save me.”

The kid knelt down instead of eating the food.

I wasn’t surprised because it was something I had expected.

Is it just me, or are the tricks of these people lacking in originality?

‘If you’re going to stab someone in the back, at least don’t make it so obvious.’

I got up, overturning the table that I wouldn’t eat from anyway.

Originally, I was going to ask who the accomplice was, but…

It seems like there’s no need to do that.

“Freeze.”

I said, looking at the guys who were slowly walking towards the exit.

A rare attempt at a friendly conversation.

However, sadly, the four men and women, including the owner, were too busy speeding up to escape.

“Damn it!”

“Run!!”

I clicked my tongue bitterly as I watched their backs.

No, how could that work?

“Agh!”

I picked up the kid with one hand.

And quickly went outside, naturally activating [Giantification] as if it were a routine, then kicked off the ground and [Leaped] high.

Kwaaaang-!

A body that crossed dozens of meters in an instant and crashed into the ground. The bodies of the men and women who were bouncing from the effect of [Rebound] floated in the air.

“Behel—raaaaaaaaaa!!”

When I used [Wild Outburst] in succession, the four of them couldn’t even think of getting up and running away.

Crack.

I broke one leg of each of the four of them so they couldn’t escape.

It was broad daylight.

And it happened in the middle of the street, but who cares? This is a lawless zone anyway.

In the first place, there are no guards who would come running just because I used my abilities.

“Agh, agh!!!”

Did they finally come to their senses?

A man with a rat-like face among the four shouted like a macro.

“W-we are members of the Western Alliance!”

The Western Alliance was one of the four gangster groups that divided Bipron.

I heard that the boss was an explorer?

So, his rank is…

“H-if you let us go quietly, we won’t retaliate for this…”

What are you talking about?

Crack.

It was noisy, so I crushed the other leg as well.

Then, did they become even more desperate?

“O-our boss is a 6th-grade explorer!!”

He screamed in pain.

I couldn’t help but tilt my head.

“Our boss? What are you talking about?”

When I asked as if I was questioning him, he tilted his head this time.

He had an expression that he couldn’t understand what I was saying. I smiled kindly and bent down to pat the man’s head.

“From now on, your boss is me.”

I wanted to have subordinates at least once anyway.