Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 216

Dimensional gate.

A unique type of magic only a few schools practice.

In this game, with death flags everywhere, it’s obvious how overpowered this magic is.

Being able to return to the city without waiting for the labyrinth to close?

Isn’t that the ultimate survival skill?

‘Well, it’s not without its limitations.’

First, it’s not easy to use as an escape during combat because the method to counter it in a one-on-one fight, rather than against monsters, is widely known.

Also, it can only be used by a maximum of 30 people.

This is why most upper-level expeditions are organized in units of 30.

‘Most importantly, once used, the mage can never use that magic again.’

For reference, this is different from the game.

Originally, in the game, the ‘dimensional gate’ magic could only be used by a grand mage who had reached the 1st grade.

If used, the mage would always die.

However, this world is 150 years in the future from the game’s timeline.

The six schools that possess the formula for dimensional gate magic have, through joint research, created a way for even lower-grade mages to use it.

I’m not a mage, so I don’t know the details, but I do know it’s a method that can only be used once in a mage’s lifetime.

‘In the current situation, there won’t be any mages who refuse to use dimensional gate magic…’

Then, how many have actually entered the labyrinth?

Well, quite a few.

Large clans prioritize recruiting mages who can use dimensional gates, and the relevant schools also encourage mages who still have ‘dimensional gate’ uses left to go on exploration support.

But……

‘Even if they scrape together every last one, it won’t be more than 150.’

Realistically, less than 4,500 people can escape this hell through the dimensional gate.

‘If you exclude the formal knights of the royal family and the elites of the large clans who would have had mages with them… it’s safe to say that everyone else is abandoned.’

The more concrete the numbers become, the more I realize how absurd this is.

The scale is different from the 3rd floor’s boss incident.

At least tens of thousands of explorers will die.

‘Knowing that, he made this choice…’

Pushing aside the overwhelming feeling, I tried to calmly continue my reasoning.

Perhaps this is the most important thing right now.

Why did the commander of the knights make this decision?

‘……He must have judged that the path to the 2nd floor was blocked, or at least in a similar state.’

It’s impossible to escape from the 1st floor.

No, it might be possible, but it would require more sacrifices than having a small number escape through the ‘dimensional gate.’

That’s why the commander of the knights made this decision.

He thought it was strategically the right choice to preserve as much power as possible and return to the city—

“We meet again.”

I turned around at the sudden voice from behind and froze.

Whew, that startled me.

“Bjorn Yandel, was it?”

I don’t know since when, but the commander of the knights was standing behind me.

So, his name is……

“Marco Elburn.”

“Your memory is good for a barbarian.”

Normally, I wouldn’t have let that go, but I responded softly.

“Thanks for the compliment.”

After all, he’s the highest authority here.

Just getting a chance to talk to him alone, even briefly, is a stroke of luck.

After much deliberation, I asked him.

Like a barbarian, directly.

“I heard you’re looking for mages who can use dimensional gate magic. Are you planning to escape?”

This question, to confirm the facts, is the most important.

As soon as he heard this question, his eyes turned cold.

“In this aspect, you are like a barbarian. Anyone else would have noticed, but they wouldn’t have thought of asking me directly.”

As you can see, it’s because I’m a barbarian.

As I calmly met his gaze, he asked back.

“Where did you hear that story?”

That was enough.

So, it’s true.

I really wondered if there might be another strategy.

“I heard a knight giving instructions to an administrative soldier earlier.”

“……He’s a careless one. Or maybe he was careless because he thought you were a barbarian.”

Looking at his eyes, it seems that the knight will not get away with it, but that’s not my concern.

I was about to continue with the main point.

“Well, it could also be that you are smarter than I thought.”

He said, giving me a strange look.

“Since it has come to this, I’ll just tell you. I heard about the composition of your team through the administrative soldier.”

“……You investigated me?”

“I just became interested for some reason.”

Interested……

Is this a positive variable, or the opposite?

To cut to the chase, it was both.

“I can take you and a mage with me if you promise to serve the royal army for just one year.”

He offered me a dimensional gate ticket.

The problem is, there are only two of them.

“What about the others?”

“You know what kind of choices you have to make.”

Damn it, it means we don’t meet the standard.

I thought I had raised them well for the past few months.

“So, what will you do?”

I was at a crossroads.

“I’d like an answer now. We don’t have much time.”

My life and the life of one of my companions?

Or a gamble with everyone’s lives?

[Can we… win?]

[Don’t worry. I will definitely bring everyone back alive.]

A fleeting conversation we had once flashed through my mind.

“I……”

I answered without hesitation.

“I don’t abandon my companions.”

Maybe I’ve really become a barbarian to the core.

***

「The second Lord of Terror has been defeated.」

「The third Lord of Terror has been defeated.」

「The fourth Lord of Terror has been defeated.」

「The fifth Lord of Terror has been……」

「……」

***

Time passes.

I kept the conversation I had with the commander of the knights a complete secret.

[Keep the talk about the dimensional gate to yourself. If you value your companions.]

It was a threat, but I didn’t feel the need to do so. Anyway, this will spread quickly even if I don’t.

And it did.

“Mr. Yandel, did you hear? About that story.”

It’s impossible to silence thousands of mouths.

Especially if it’s not a group united as one.

The commander of the knights’ dimensional gate escape plan spread little by little, and it didn’t take long for it to reach Raven’s ears.

“Yes, I know.”

“……What are you going to do? Do you also think it’s just a rumor, Mr. Yandel?”

At Raven’s question, Bear Uncle and Misha’s eyes turned to me. They must have discussed it among themselves before talking to me.

Well, they’re the only ones who haven’t felt the murderous intent in this cave.

“Karon, you can’t even lift that greatsword! How can you call yourself a man!!”

“I, I can lift it! Look!”

“Oh ho! So you’re half a man!”

The barbarians have been playing with one adamantite greatsword for an hour now.

Sometimes I envy their nonchalance.

They can move forward without doubt.

“Hey, Mr. Yandel……?”

“Ah, sorry, I was lost in thought for a moment.”

I forced a bright smile and patted Raven on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry about the rumors! Everything will be fine!”

It will be fine.

I will definitely make it so.

So, I hope they just move forward without doubt.

It’s enough for me to constantly doubt and worry about what traps and enemies lie ahead.

“No, why are you so unnecessarily positive!”

“That’s what a leader is.”

“Okay, okay, just stop patting my shoulder!”

I finished the conversation roughly and closed my eyes again, lost in thought.

Recently, my only concern was one thing.

How can we all survive and return?

To this end, I have pondered thousands of times, made and discarded countless plans, and even after making a plan, I have reviewed countless times whether there are any variables or errors in my judgment.

‘It has to be perfect.’

If Plan A doesn’t work, then Plan B.

If that doesn’t work either, then Plan C.

Whenever I have time like now, I run simulations from beginning to end, assuming the worst that I can face.

How much time has passed again?

Whooooom!

A weak vibration rises from the ground, signaling that the critical point is getting closer.

“That’s the eighth one already.”

With this, the eighth Lord of Terror has been summoned.

Since it’s been happening for days, everyone, including Raven, didn’t show any particular reaction.

Because they don’t know.

What kind of event will occur when the ninth Lord of Terror is defeated.

‘Even though such rumors have spread, there are no protests yet, probably because most people think it’s just a rumor.’

From the perspective of ordinary people, there is no reason for the leadership to escape through the dimensional gate.

Because they don’t have information about ‘that’.

“By the way, I can hear screams, so it seems to be nearby……”

“They might come this way, so everyone be on guard.”

We waited for the Lord of Terror to be defeated, preparing for the worst.

Then, we heard footsteps from the passage behind us.

“I’ll be passing through, so everyone stick to the wall!”

A group moved quickly, pushing aside the explorers in the narrow passage like an ambulance on an emergency call.

Soon, they brushed past us as we stuck to the wall.

“It’s the Eramel Star Clan.”

A group from a large clan that is quite well-known.

They are heading in the direction of the screams, so it seems they are moving to defeat the Lord of Terror.

“The support team has gone, so it will be dark again soon.”

30 explorers from the 7th floor are enough to catch a 1st floor Lord of Terror. If there is a strategy, it is possible with much less power.

I smiled bitterly.

‘I don’t know why they bother to catch the Lords of Terror when they’re going to abandon everyone anyway.’

The 1st floor Lord of Terror doesn’t have any significant loot.

No essence comes out, and the value of the byproducts that can be obtained with ‘distortion’ magic is not high.

The only reward for defeating it is that you can be promoted to a 4th grade clan, where the benefits are given in earnest.

So, it was mostly used for verification purposes.

Like a rite of passage when you reach a certain level, a monster that you only defeat once and move on.

‘Is it perhaps a sense of guilt? Like, we did our best until the end?’

I suddenly had that thought, but there’s probably a more realistic reason.

They have to appear to be doing their part until the end, so that those who are going to be abandoned don’t notice.

[Kyahhhhhhh—!!]

About 20 minutes later, a huge roar was heard from afar, and the red-hot crystal went dark.

It meant that the Lord of Terror had been defeated.

“Tomorrow will be the 5th day, so if we hold out for about two more days, we’ll be fine.”

I checked the time from time to time and continued to review the plan.

How much more time has passed since then?

[22:07]

About two hours had passed since the eighth Lord of Terror was defeated.

No, in other words……

“Damn it!!”

Four hours before hell unfolds.

“Everyone, run inside! The rumors were true!”

“The royal bastards are trying to abandon us and run away!! Stop them!!”

A commotion spread from inside the cave.

***

At that time, in the central area where the large clans and the royal knights’ barracks were located.

“You bastards!! Get out of the way, get out of the way!!”

“Step back, explorer, I will cut you down if you come any closer.”

“Either way, we’re going to die—!”

Swish-!

Thud, roll.

The head of an explorer falls to the floor.

“Is there anyone else who wants to come?”

At the knight’s murderous words, they hesitated for a moment.

“What are you doing, push forward!!”

“I’m going to get out! I’m going to get out!!”

“Agh! My arm! My arm……!”

Explorers blinded by life rush in like moths to a flame.

It was a scene happening simultaneously in all the passages connected to the center.

“The real enemy is out there, yet they insist on shedding meaningless blood.”

The commander of the 3rd Royal Knights, the man who created this situation.

Marco Elburn clicked his tongue and asked his adjutant.

“What is the current progress?”

“A little over half of the personnel have left.”

“Half… it’s taking much longer than planned.”

If they had used dimensional gate magic all at once and escaped to the city, there would have been no commotion.

However, due to the nature of dimensional gate magic, which absorbs the surrounding magic power, they had to use the magic sequentially, so it couldn’t be helped.

“It’s almost our turn. Let’s leave this place to the remaining knights and go, Commander.”

Marco Elburn followed his adjutant to the center. A new dimensional gate was opening, emitting a dazzling light.

Whooooom-!

Marco Elburn erased all regrets and slowly moved towards the portal.

“Please, take me too!!”

“Aaaaaaagh!”

With each step, the sounds of desperate screams and clashing weapons mixed together.

Clank, clank.

Marco Elburn paused in front of the portal.

It was because he suddenly remembered the conversation he had two days ago.

[I don’t abandon my companions.]

He was an impressive man in many ways.

He was like a barbarian, yet unlike one?

He was also a little disappointed.

[I misjudged you. To make such a wrong choice.]

He lost interest in the barbarian.

In the first place, he made this offer purely out of a whim.

And yet, he didn’t even seize that luck.

[Keep the talk about the dimensional gate to yourself. If you value your companions.]

He was only going to leave after making a threat to keep his mouth shut.

But in that instant.

[You feel guilty.]

The barbarian uttered a strange word.

[Guilt……?]

[That must be why. You’re disappointed because I rejected your offer.]

At first, he didn’t know what he was talking about.

But soon, a cold voice pierced his ears.

[You wanted to be sure that your choice wasn’t wrong, through me, didn’t you?]

Marco Elburn couldn’t refute it.

Even he didn’t realize it, but he thought that maybe that was the case.

[Knight, I am different from you.]

[So, don’t try to use me to ease your feelings.]

The conversation with the barbarian ended there.

He probably won’t ever face him again and talk to him.

“Commander, you must go now.”

Marco Elburn looked up and stared ahead.

Unlike this dark labyrinth, the brightly lit city could be seen beyond the portal.

The only city in this cursed world.

The place we must truly protect.

The last citadel.

“For Lapdonia.”

He stepped into the portal.

It was a choice that had to be made.

***

I close my eyes for a moment and catch my breath.

And I remind myself.

Finally, the moment of execution has come.

So……

‘Do what you have to do.’

I open my eyes.

“Everyone, follow me. We’re moving to the center.”

“Huh? What are you going to do there?”

What am I going to do?

By the time we arrive, all sorts of talented people abandoned by various groups will be in despair.

‘First, we need to match our size.’

We need to gather forces.

That is the first way to survive.