Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 229

“Are you awake?”Misha Kalstein opened her eyes, the lingering taste of the potion still on her tongue. The first thing she saw was Abman.”…Huh, what happened? Did we win?” Misha asked immediately, trying to piece together her memories. They were fragmented. [Protect Raven!!] The corpse collector, transformed into a skeleton, rushing towards them. She remembered being knocked away, unable to withstand him. And then… Boom! Boom! She had opened her eyes to the sound of thunder, and Bjorn was on the ground, struggling to protect them. That was her last memory.”I don’t know if we won, but at least we’re safe for now. All the enemies have retreated.””Really? That’s a relief. But, the, the dead people…?””…” Abman frowned. As if there were dead people. But perhaps he realized his mistake when he saw her eyes? Abman quickly continued, “Ah, don’t think strange things. Our team all survived. It’s the elves who died.””Elves…?” Her heart fluttered at those words. “Could it be Erwen?” Erwen Fornachi di Tersia. Even if she tried to sugarcoat it, they weren’t exactly good friends, but a deep sadness welled up from the bottom of her heart.”No, it’s her older sister who died. She protected her younger sister in the explosion at the end, hugging her.””…Then, what about Erwen?””They said she would have died with her if it was a little later. I don’t know if it’s right to say it’s fortunate, but she’s unconscious right now. I’m worried if she’ll be able to keep her sanity when she wakes up.””I see…” Misha also heard about the condition of the other teammates. Raven was also unconscious, and Ainar, who woke up a little earlier, had gone to Bjorn?”Don’t you go. I was going to stay by his side too, but the priestess kicked me out saying I was in the way… It’s no use talking, you won’t listen. It’s over there.” Misha asked Abman for directions and moved there. The goblin forest, where the battle had ended, was ablaze with flames rising everywhere. Thud, thud. Misha walked among the explorers. She saw explorers sitting on the bare ground, resting, and she saw explorers crying. There were those who were happily drinking alcohol with their blood-soaked hands, and there were those who were busy moving the fallen corpse legions and throwing them into the flames.”Oh! It’s the cat lady from Yandel’s team!” As she was walking quietly, explorers spoke to her. “Are you going to see Yandel? He’s over there.””Hmm, I don’t think it’s a good idea to go.””Yeah, he’s your teammate, so you must be worried.” They all said meaningful things. On the other hand, there were those who spoke lightly. “Ah, don’t worry. There’s no way that guy would die, right?””Bjorn, Yandel’s son, is immortal!!””They say he even half-killed the corpse collector this time? I heard that if it wasn’t for the Ruin Scholar, they would have won. He’ll become incredibly famous when he goes out.” The explorers acknowledged Bjorn’s greatness. The more they did, the faster Misha’s steps became. Soon, a tent appeared. There were several explorers gathered in front of it.”Ah, Miss Kalstein has arrived too.” The first thing she saw was Ainar, arguing with Kyle Febrosk.”Please understand that I have to sit down. In fact, it’s a strain for me to even be awake.””Why won’t you let me in!””Didn’t I tell you? The priestess is risking her life to save him. So please lower your voice. If you really want to help him.””But…!””Ainar, stop it!” Misha quickly approached and stopped Ainar. She didn’t know what it was, but she was sure that it wasn’t helping.”M, Misha! You’re awake!” Ainar greeted her happily, but Misha asked Kyle about Bjorn’s condition. It was terrible just listening to it. His entire face was covered in poison, and his eyes and everything else had melted?”It seems the poison is melting his bones and has flowed into his brain a little.” She was breathless. She felt dizzy, and the world moved erratically as if she had drunk alcohol. It was then.”…You can come in now.” The priestess came out of the tent with a pale face. Misha went inside without even thanking her.”Bjorn…” She saw him sleeping on a makeshift bed made of several overlapping sleeping bags. He looked fine on the outside. He had scars like burns on his face, but at least there was nothing that looked serious.”The scars will gradually heal over time. My power is not enough to do more than that…””Thank, thank you so much…””It’s nothing. Compared to what this person has done, what have I done? Anyway, I need to rest too, so I’ll be going…” After the priestess left, Misha knelt down next to Bjorn. And she stroked his face. For some reason, she was reminded of the time when she was being chased by the floor master on the third floor. But it was clearly different from that time. At that time, he was sleeping peacefully as if he had finished everything he had to do. Seeing that, she thought he was like a hero. It was the same after that. Bjorn had done so many things, and he had gained the recognition of new people. There were times when she was proud and happy about it. But…”Why, like that…” What did his face look like now? He looked sad and distressed. It was as if he was blaming himself. Clench. Misha couldn’t finish her sentence and clenched her fist. She felt like she knew the reason for that expression. No, she couldn’t not know. Because he was a man she had been watching by her side for a long time. ‘Erwen…’ He must have thought it was because of him. Swoosh. Misha took her hand off Bjorn’s body. Even though he wasn’t conscious, his body was twitching as if he was having a seizure whenever her skin touched him. How hard must it have been? For this man, who was like steel, to be like this.”Now…” Misha closed her eyes and prayed earnestly. God had never answered her prayers before, but she still put her hands together and prayed and prayed. She prayed that this man would not be recognized. *** When I opened my eyes, the entire team was gathered. After exchanging greetings for a moment, the priestess came in and checked my condition. I could see well. My sense of smell was normal. But my body wouldn’t move well. My senses were alive, but my arms and legs didn’t have any strength, and if I forced myself, they would tremble.”It’s a common phenomenon when the brain is injured. You’ll be fine if you rest for about a month.””I see. Thank you.””It’s nothing. Since you’re awake, I’ll go get Mr. Febrosk.” While the priestess left to get Kyle, I heard about the situation after I collapsed from my teammates. There was less than an hour left until the end of the 7th day?”Were there any attacks?””No, there weren’t.” While I was unconscious, the Ruin Scholar and the clown who had returned alive did not come back. Well, what could they do to each other? It would take time to recover, and the corpse legion that the clown left behind was all burned, so they were also outnumbered. Also, it’s hard to call for support. It takes a day just to go up to the 3rd floor from here. It takes two days just to go up and come back. ‘In the first place, if it’s the Ruin Scholar, that bastard wouldn’t go even if the clown insisted. He’s not the type to move with revenge.’ No, wait a minute. As I was talking with my teammates, I remembered something I had forgotten. Why haven’t I remembered this until now?”Ah! Erwen, what happened to Erwen?” When I asked urgently, there was a moment of silence. My teammates stared at me with stiff expressions.”Yeah, she died.””No, it’s her older sister who died.””Her older sister?” I heard the details from Bear Ahjussi [Uncle]. A short story about how she used a short-range teleportation skill right before the explosion and sacrificed herself instead of her younger sister. I was reminded of the weight of death. It was truly a light and light world.”…” It was something that happened in a truly split second. No one could stop it, and Daria didn’t even leave a will in the moment she died. I’m glad I heard it beforehand.”Where is Erwen now?””…She’s in that place.””That place?””Yes. That place.” I felt like I had to go. So, I tried to get up, but my body tilted.”Give me your arm.” In the end, with the help of Bear Ahjussi, I barely managed to get out of the tent. Kyle was there at the right time.”You’re awake.” I talked with Kyle and slowly moved to the place where the battle had taken place.”There are a lot of people, what happened?””They are the ones who came up after the battle ended. There are about a thousand people in total, combined into four groups.””A thousand people…?””Didn’t we leave marks on the way we were going? As soon as the personnel was organized, they followed us to the east, and then they followed it all the way.” I see. If only they had come a little earlier. Then… ‘What are you thinking?’ I shook off my regret and resentment and kept walking. What’s the point of blaming the past?”Oh, it’s Bjorn, Yandel’s son!!” As I was walking with Kyle, explorers who recognized me came up and talked to me. They said they would drink with me later. Someone was the leader of a clan, and they said they would definitely repay their debt. Someone thanked me, saying that they would be the first to come running if they had any trouble. But, there were no words of comfort among them.”…Don’t look at it too badly. There’s a saying that heroes don’t get comforted, right?” I don’t know if such a saying existed in this world. But I don’t look at it badly. They also suffered many sacrifices. Because it’s hard, they’re saying things that they can say with a smile.”Ahjussi…” When I arrived at my destination, I saw Erwen. She was sitting there, hugging her older sister’s body, which was burned here and there and hardened. There were many streaks of something flowing down her face, on top of the blood and dirt.”Come here.” Erwen shook her head.”It’s almost time to go down. Are you going to stay here alone?””Alone… I’m not alone.” I took my arm off Abman and staggered towards Erwen. And I tapped her on the back.”Listen to me. I’m your guardian now.””…Huh?” I told her the will I had heard from Daria. It wasn’t a long story. The woman had asked me to take care of her younger sister if she died. By the way, it was something she had said to me even before she escaped through the portal in the royal family, so maybe that woman had a premonition. That something like this could happen.”Ahjussi… my sister, my sister…! She doesn’t move anymore. She can’t talk. She’s cold and hard. I, I haven’t done anything for her yet…” Erwen hugged me tightly.”What do I tell my younger sister, that little kid? That her mother died, and now her sister too? That, that it’s because of me?” I stood still and listened to the words she was spitting out. I didn’t say words of comfort like it wasn’t because of you, or that it was something that woman chose. I just waited until the end. How much time had passed since then?”Yandel, it’s time to go.” It was time to go down to the first floor. I collected my sister’s body with Erwen. It was better than during Dwarki. At least now there was a mage who could use ‘distortion’ magic. We would be able to hold a funeral in the city.”Let’s go, home.” I led Erwen back to where the team was. Misha and Ainar, who didn’t get along, didn’t say anything either. No, rather, they wanted to comfort her, but they couldn’t approach her because they were afraid it would hurt her. ‘It’s the first time I’ve seen Ainar like that.’ Soon, we stood in front of the portal in the center of the goblin forest. [23:50] The clock was pointing to the end of the long journey.”Okay, let’s go back!!””Waaaaaah!!” Starting with the teams standing in the center, one by one, they went down to the first floor. Even if Berzak was scary, he wouldn’t come out in 10 minutes.”Yandel! Then, see you in the city!””Do you remember my name? I will definitely visit you again.” The explorers in front of me also entered the portal, and then it was our turn. 「You have entered the first floor Crystal Cave.」 The cave had a more eerie atmosphere than before. While moving forward so that other explorers could come down, I kept checking the time. [23:59] There was only one minute left until the closing of the labyrinth. It didn’t feel real. Is it really over? Thump-! Yeah, it must be over. It’s only one minute left, what can I do even if Berzak comes out?”Those damn royal family bastards.””When I go back, I won’t even pee in their direction.” Anger towards the royal family erupted from the mouths of the explorers who were sure of their survival. Hey, even so, you should be careful with your words.”Don’t say strange things when you go back.” I warned my teammates not to curse the royal family in front of people. It was then. 「The labyrinth has been closed.」 「The character is moving to Lapdonia.」 A pure white light began to settle beyond my eyelids. The light from the outside that I had longed for so much. Thump-! Soon, the light disappeared, and a clear sky came into view. I blankly scanned my surroundings. ‘They’re all really dead.’ The dimensional plaza, which was always crowded, was unusually deserted. How many people died?”Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!” Listening to the shouts erupting from everywhere, I naturally stared at one place.”It’s the dimensional gate!””Those damn bastards!” The center of the plaza where the dimensional gate was opening. Hundreds of dimensional gates opened there, and those who had abandoned us were appearing one by one. Everyone was the same as they were back then. Well, even if they came out through the dimensional gate, the time they came out would be the same. ‘Those guys can’t even imagine what we went through.’ I couldn’t help but feel such a complaint inside at their too normal appearances. It was that moment. Whooshhhhh-! A huge magic circle appeared in the center of the plaza where the dimensional gate had opened.”Huh, huh?” Time seemed to slow down for a moment. Even so, ‘it’ happened in an instant. Thump-! The bewildered knights and the elite of the clan. The explorers who quickly distanced themselves, sensing something alien. And… KWAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-!!!! Explosion. Whooshhhhh-! The flames carried by the wind swirled and pushed me away. I fell to the ground and quickly raised my head, and I saw a crimson pillar of fire soaring into the sky. It was as if I was seeing the end of the world. A voice was suddenly played in my head. [Congratulations. On becoming the only victor.] It was the last thing the Ruin Scholar had said to me.