Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 210

“Mister!!!!”

Erwen, who had popped out from the group of explorers, grabbed my arm.

“Thank goodness! I was so worried!!”

Huh, I never thought I’d meet her here.

Of course, that’s not a bad thing.

I relaxed a little and checked my surroundings.

It turned out her older sister, Daria, was also there.

‘They don’t all seem to be from the same clan though…’

At first, I thought they might be from the clan Erwen had joined as a mercenary.

But after looking closer, that didn’t seem to be the case.

Most of them had clan marks, but not all. Also, the clan marks were all different.

So, what kind of group is this?

“Erwen, who is that?”

A human woman, probably in her early thirties, lowered her weapon and asked. Erwen finally let go of my arm and turned around.

“Don’t worry. He’s someone I know! Oh, and my sister knows him too! Right, sis?”

“…That’s right. His identity is confirmed, so you don’t have to worry about him being from Noahrc.”

“That’s good news to hear.”

After hearing Daria’s words, the woman ordered the wary explorers to lower their weapons.

Hmm, is this woman the leader here?

“Nice to meet you. I’m Bersil Gowland, the vice-captain of the Larel Clan.”

“I’m Bjorn, son of Yandel.”

“The Little Vulcan…?”

When I shrugged, the woman looked at me with a welcoming expression.

“Wow, a very impressive person has come.”

She praised me in a way that naturally lifted me up.

If I were a normal barbarian, I would have puffed out my chest and acted cocky here.

Is this how leaders communicate?

“It’s not that impressive. I should be the one saying that.”

I replied briefly and stared at the woman.

What I just said wasn’t just for courtesy, it was genuine.

“The Larel Clan, I know it’s quite a large clan.”

It wasn’t in the top 10 clans, but it was a clan that could proudly call itself a large clan.

A unique point was that 80% of its members were women.

“The vice-captain there…”

I met a considerable figure in an unexpected place.

But I had no intention of just socializing.

“So, what were you guys doing here?”

“I’ll explain it to you.”

As soon as the introductions were over, Bersil, the vice-captain of the Larel Clan, briefly explained the situation here.

It turned out they were in a similar situation to us.

As soon as they entered the labyrinth, they moved quickly to get to the second floor.

And then…

“That incident happened.”

To understand the situation, Bersil led her team back to the starting point.

However, that place was already a scene of chaos.

So, she started gathering forces as a temporary measure.

“Everyone gathered here are people we met nearby. Their identities are confirmed.”

“Confirmed?”

“I don’t know everyone, but they’re all connected through mutual acquaintances. Unfortunately, we’ve thoroughly excluded those who couldn’t use this method, so you can rest assured.”

Right, since they couldn’t trust the identification tags, they used that method.

Just like Erwen vouched for me.

They were a group that had formed a minimum level of trust by vouching for each other.

“Our goal is simple.”

After explaining the group, Bersil presented the goal the group was aiming for.

“To join forces to protect ourselves. And ultimately, to break through the enemy and reach the safe zone.”

“By safe zone, do you mean the dark zone in the center?”

“Yes, since you know, it’ll be faster to talk. Would you like to join us, Yandel?”

Is it because she’s the vice-captain of a successful clan?

I could definitely feel that she was used to handling people in every word she spoke.

Her personality also seemed quite cautious.

‘A vice-captain must have considerable skills.’

After a brief moment of thought, I accepted Bersil’s offer to join.

“Okay, I look forward to working with you.”

In this chaotic situation where I didn’t know how the day would end.

I had found a temporary place to stay.

***

“You don’t need to stand guard, so please rest for a while. I’ll let you know when we’re about to depart.”

I decided to gratefully accept Bersil’s consideration.

I was in desperate need of rest anyway.

The fog that obscured the view.

Battles with people, not monsters.

The chaotic situation where it was impossible to predict what would happen next.

My body was tired, but the mental stress was enormous.

“What are you doing? Come here and rest.”

I led my team members, who were awkwardly stiff because of the unfamiliar explorers, to an empty spot and sat down.

And then, we rested.

“Still, it’s really good. To meet people like this, it’s like we’re not meant to die…”

Was it because the tension had finally eased?

My companions, who had been busy guarding their surroundings at first, also enjoyed a brief rest with relieved expressions.

It was then.

“Mister, you made a good choice. That vice-captain over there is incredibly strong. And so are the others.”

While we were talking, Erwen, who had been subtly next to her sister, naturally approached and sat next to me.

“By the way, I think we’re really meant to be. I was just thinking about how much I wanted to see you. And then you really appeared! Hehehe.”

“Tsk.”

Even Ainar and Misha, who usually didn’t like Erwen, just frowned slightly and didn’t start a fight.

They knew it too.

How foolish it would be to create conflict with personal feelings in this situation.

“But how do you two know each other? I heard that elves and barbarians don’t get along.”

Raven, who was a newcomer, showed curiosity and joined the conversation.

“Oh, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m—”

“I know! I’ve heard about you often from Mister. He said a very amazing mage joined the team…”

“…Did Yandel really say that?”

Hmm, not quite…

I decided to think of it as Erwen doing her social life and watched quietly without saying anything.

“I’m Erwen Fornachi di Tersia. You’re Arua Raven, right?”

“No need for formalities. Just call me Raven.”

“Then please just call me Erwen too.”

After the introductions in a friendly atmosphere, Erwen told the story of how we met as if it were a boast.

The bear-like man, leaning against the wall, was also listening intently, pretending not to be interested, as he was curious about my relationship with her.

“To have such a pretty elf as the one you shared your first return drink with… Yandel, the more I see you, the more you seem to have a lot of luck with women.”

What is this guy talking about?

“You’re Urikfrit, right? Hehe, thank you for seeing me so kindly!”

“…Just call me Abman.”

“Yes, Abman!”

Erwen, exuding the charm of the youngest, quickly made friends with the group.

Honestly, it was quite impressive.

“But how do you use this crossbow? It seems like a normal person wouldn’t even be able to pull it because of the tension.”

“Oh, this? It’s not that great. Do you want to try pulling it?”

“Really? Ugh… Wow! It’s on a completely different level from my bow.”

“Hehe, it’s because I used troll tendons.”

Has she always been this good at socializing?

It’s like she’s putting on a show for her mother-in-law—.

‘Ah, maybe that’s not wrong.’

Come to think of it, she said she was going to create a clan.

Of course, Raven and the bear-like man were the top candidates for recruitment.

She must have judged that it was necessary to make a good impression in advance, since they might belong to the same clan someday.

Well, she was disliked by the other two though.

“Urakburak. Lower your lips. Is this a time to laugh!!”

“…Huh?”

The bear-like man, who was hit first by Ainar for the first time in his life, froze blankly.

However, did he realize the situation late?

The bear-like man uttered incomprehensible words as if making an excuse.

“Ah, ah! I’m definitely a cat person.”

“Right? I almost suspected you! So, come here and look at my greatsword. Talking about bows is no fun!”

“Uh… is it not fun?”

“Of course not!!”

Ainar grabbed the bear-like man as if kidnapping him and sat him down next to him.

It was then that such a ridiculous thing happened.

“Erwen.”

“Ah, sis.”

Daria, who had been watching us intently from a distance, approached.

“Sorry to interrupt your conversation, but I have something to say for a moment.”

“Oh, with Mister?”

“Yes.”

I was about to get up from my seat because she said she had something to say to me, but Daria stopped me.

“There’s no need to do that when you’re resting.”

“Really? Then what is it you wanted to say?”

At my question, Daria stood awkwardly and stared at me. For some reason, she seemed uncomfortable dealing with me.

The reason for that would soon be revealed.

“You, you became a 5th-grade… explorer, right?”

As far as I knew, Daria was also a 5th-grade explorer, and that hadn’t changed.

On the other hand, what about me?

I, who was a newbie 9th-grade at the time, had grown into a 5th-grade explorer leading a team in just one year.

So, it was inevitable that she would feel awkward.

“So? Is that all you wanted to say?”

“…I have a proposal.”

“Go ahead.”

“How about we travel together for a while?”

“Explain in more detail.”

At my words, Daria continued to speak in a thoroughly formal tone.

Although a total of seven teams had gathered for one purpose, in the end, it was just someone else’s business, right?

In reality, most of the teams were moving in groups with their own acquaintances.

“If you agree, our two teams’ formations will be right next to each other when we move. So that we can join forces immediately if something happens.”

Wherever people gather, factions are bound to form.

Daria was proposing an alliance to me.

“Not a bad proposal.”

The proposal itself was quite attractive.

Yes, if only one condition was met.

“But did you get permission from your leader?”

Daria was a member who had joined the Blue Barrier Clan’s 4th team as a mercenary.

Of course, the team leader was one of the clan’s executives.

I wondered if she had finished talking about it.

“That man… don’t worry. I can persuade him. So, what’s your answer?”

“Okay.”

“Okay, then I’ll come back later. Erwen, let’s go back together for now.”

“Okay…”

After that, Daria led her younger sister back to her team, and I watched them go.

I felt a strange sense of emotion.

When we first met, I was just treated as a reckless barbarian. I was also treated as a guy who was just hanging around her sister.

But, to think that I would receive such a proposal first.

“Let’s finish up our personal preparations and depart now.”

After resting for a few more minutes, Bersil announced the departure. Oh, by the way, she also told us the formation our team should take when moving, which was the third position from the front.

Right behind us was the team Erwen belonged to.

‘This, I feel like I’ve been had.’

A structure where each team followed like a train.

Of course, there was no dissatisfaction with this.

Due to the nature of the crystal cave, it was natural for the formation to move in a line, and the team that was breaking the path at the forefront was Bersil’s team, which had the strongest combat power.

But…

“I’ve heard about you from Daria and Erwen. You’re called the Little Vulcan, right? I look forward to working with you.”

“Okay, I’ll leave the rear to you.”

Why are we ahead of them?

Is this really a coincidence?

‘That’s unlikely.’

Whether it’s the third or fourth position, it might be similar, but it’s a fact that the front is more dangerous.

It’s a minor detail, but it’s true that we’ve been at a disadvantage.

Raven seemed to think so too.

“Hey, this is a bit unpleasant.”

“Huh? What part are you talking about?”

“The formation. We’re not going to keep going like this, are we? It would be better to take turns, whether it’s the front or the back.”

At Raven’s objection, the leader of Erwen’s team, or rather, the Jaw, gave a good-natured smile.

“Haha, we have many ranged fighters, and you have many melee fighters. It’s just a rational arrangement.”

“That’s—”

“In the first place, aren’t we located in the safest center? Who do you think we owe that to?”

The Jaw cut off Raven’s words and drew a firm line.

Even Raven, who was a rationalist, couldn’t say anything.

“……”

If it was really his contribution that got us this position, he must have thought it was fair for us, who hadn’t done anything, to be in front.

We could even say that we benefited from it.

But…

‘Can a team leader from a small to medium-sized clan influence the vice-captain of a large clan?’

No matter how I listen to it, it sounds like bullshit.

I need to watch it a little more.

“Okay, let’s end the talk here and go. It seems like the front has already departed.”

Geez, he’s rushing us.

I put my suspicion aside and moved forward.

Step, step.

That’s how the full-fledged journey began.

***

For now, the journey itself was smooth.

It was a stroke of luck that we happened to run into them, and that Erwen was there to vouch for my identity.

“Vice-captain! It’s a black mage!!”

“Buy time. I’ll take care of it soon.”

The combat power of the team that the vice-captain of the large clan belonged to was truly amazing.

‘They said they mainly operate on the 7th floor.’

Since they were breaking the path in front, it was too easy for us who were following behind.

‘Is this what it feels like to ride a bus?’

Apart from a few ambushes that were launched from the side paths, I could count the number of times I swung my mace on one hand.

That’s how the journey continued for about an hour.

“I have good news and bad news.”

Vice-captain Bersil stopped moving and spoke to us.

“The good news is that we’re almost there. If we run, we can enter the dark zone in 20 minutes.”

Right, I knew that too.

“What’s the bad news?”

At an explorer’s question, Bersil recited as if she had no personal feelings.

“Not everyone can go together.”

A cold silence began to engulf the cave.