Surviving The Game As A Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 263

I’m walking through the swaying canyon.

I’m at the front, with Iron Bear, the wannabe tank, at the rear, and the rest of the group is huddled in the center.

[Kieeeeeeek-!]

With each step, I hear the wails of wraith-type monsters from beyond the darkness.

This is a characteristic of the ‘Wraith’s Canyon,’ one of the four routes connected to the 6th floor.

「The character has entered a special area.」

「Field effect – Wraith’s Canyon is applied.」

The ground shakes violently every few minutes.

The eerie background music emitted by the wraiths.

And……

「Status ailment [Earthbound Spirit] is applied.」

「Darkness resistance and physical resistance are reduced by -100.」

Even this unpleasant sensation, as if my skin has become thinner somewhere.

‘It feels even more eerie because there are no other explorers around.’

It’s already been a day since we entered the Wraith’s Canyon, but we haven’t encountered any other people in the same profession yet.

All we’ve faced so far are monsters.

「You have defeated a Curse Stone. EXP +4」

「You have defeated a Fallen Creation. EXP +2」

「You have defeated a Blood Ghoul. EXP +5」

「You have defeated a Dakirion. EXP +5」

「You have defeated an Ancient Earth Spider…」

Well, this is more of an advantage.

I was able to acquire most of the experience points available on this route in this one exploration.

‘I think I can just go through here one more time and catch the ones I missed…’

“Be careful not to fall down.”

Except for stopping briefly whenever the ground shook, we spent all our time fighting and moving.

Rest was only when we camped.

It’s a bit of a tough schedule, but I saved up quite a bit of stamina on the 4th floor, so I should be fine for a few days.

“It’s a bit strange. I thought the next area would be the Frost Canyon.”

“We weren’t ready to move to the 6th floor back then. This route is the closest to get to the 6th floor.”

“Hmm, I heard that, but… even so, wouldn’t it have been better to go through the familiar Hellfire Canyon rather than this unfamiliar place?”

“But we’ve already collected all the contribution points there.”

I gave Raven various reasons to come here, but the real reason I chose this route is different.

‘I’ve already obtained the essence to feed Misha from the Frost Canyon.’

The essence I originally intended to feed Misha was obtained as a reward from the royal family.

And more than anything…

‘That guy appears here.’

If you want to enter the 6th floor, there is a monster that you must catch on this route.

Of course, I couldn’t say that this guy was my goal.

If I did, I would have to answer how I was going to find this guy, and I didn’t have a good excuse.

It’s best to just say I was lucky—

“Uncle.”

Huh?

“You have to go this way this time.”

When I finished my thoughts and looked ahead, three paths were blocking our way.

Actually, it was ambiguous to call them three paths.

“This time, the distance to the other side is a bit far. I’ll jump over first and throw the rope.”

Using [Leap], I jumped over a distance of more than 30 meters in an instant and threw the rope I had prepared to the opposite cliff.

That’s the fun part of the 5th floor Great Labyrinth.

The routes you can choose increase depending on your character’s abilities.

“Installation is complete! I’ll go over now!”

Once the rope was installed, the team members crossed the rope one by one and came to where I was. Thanks to the slope, there was no need to sweat and strain.

Just hook onto the rope and slide down.

“Then I’ll go back again.”

After finishing the move, I used [Leap] again to cross to the other side and retrieve the rope.

I can’t just use it as a disposable item.

How much would it cost to specially make a rope of this length?

“Erwen, how far down have we come?”

“About one-seventh.”

“That means we can reach the 6th floor in a week.”

“Yes. If we can maintain the current speed.”

After that, we quickly went down, guided by Erwen.

Her exploration method was different, so she didn’t make a map like me, but she never wandered around aimlessly.

“The fairy girl is very good at finding her way.”

“I haven’t been to the 6th floor, but I’ve experienced all four routes while living in the clan. And Abman tells me the direction of the portal, so I can’t fail at this!”

“Don’t be so modest. What does the portal location mean on the 5th floor? You can be more confident.”

I didn’t think badly of her before, but as Erwen proved her abilities, the other members’ views of her also improved.

It seems like she’s gotten quite close to Misha these days too.

“Sister! Come a little more inside. The outside can be dangerous…”

“Okay, thanks.”

Anyway, as we were moving along the shortest route following Erwen’s guidance, it was time to find a campsite and rest.

“This place is good.”

The place I chose for the campsite was a cliff edge.

First of all, we only need to guard one side, and even if something goes wrong, we can just jump to the side path about 5 meters away.

Ah, of course, the watch order didn’t mean much.

“Bjorn, wake up.”

“Is it another monster?”

Monsters appeared every 20 minutes on average, so we had to wake up even while sleeping and pick up our weapons.

This was the same for Raven, who was also low on stamina.

We tried not to wake up for small-scale encounters, but if dozens of monsters rushed in, we had no choice but to wake her up.

“…Haaam, I’m going back to sleep.”

“Okay, good job.”

“……”

Raven makes a small snoring sound without replying.

It’s a little funny to watch.

She’s really become an explorer.

“Heh, she doesn’t even wake up to most noises now.”

“No, it seems like she wakes up every time she hears a noise. Well, it seems like she goes right back to sleep if it’s not a big deal.”

“It’s kind of amazing. That’s actually the hardest part.”

“Even if it’s hard, it’s about time she gets used to it.”

“Yeah, that’s true… you get used to everything if you do it enough…”

It’s like Misha’s and my relationship.

At first, it was awkward for a while even after entering the labyrinth, but now we talk without any burden, and everything becomes familiar over time.

“Anyway, you should sleep now. I’ll take the watch.”

“There are still a few minutes left until your turn, right?”

“It’s more annoying to sleep and wake up again.”

“Hmm, I feel bad though…”

What’s there to feel bad about?

We’ll be waking you up to fight again in 20 minutes anyway.

***

After that, the exploration continued, and ten days had already passed since we entered the 5th floor.

However, we were still on the 5th floor.

“How much further to the 6th floor?”

“I think it’ll take about a day.”

“If we keep up the current speed, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then we can assume it’ll take about two days.”

Unfortunately, the movement speed gradually slowed down as the exploration progressed.

It was because our stamina was slowly reaching its limit.

Well, it’s strange if we were fine, considering we couldn’t sleep properly and were just fighting all day.

Explorers are not superhumans.

They’re just much better than ordinary people.

‘Well, at least we caught that guy yesterday.’

The schedule was slower than I thought, but I achieved one of the secondary goals of this exploration.

A 5th-grade rare species, Soul Eater.

It’s a very unique monster in many ways.

It’s also because only one appears when the labyrinth opens, but…

「You have defeated a Soul Eater. EXP+177」

First of all, the experience points are ridiculous.

At first, I thought it was a bug when I saw the experience log.

How could I have known that there would be a monster that randomly gives a minimum of 100 to a maximum of 200 experience points on the first hunt?

‘How much did I get?’

I won’t be able to calculate the experience points accurately from now on, but I have no regrets.

I finally reached level 6 with this.

「The character’s level has increased.」

「Spirit power increases by +30.」

「Maximum absorbable essence increases by +1.」

Corpse Golem, Orc Hero, Ogre, Manticore.

And the essence of Bayon, which I got as a reward from the royal family this time.

Even though all five essence slots were full, I came into the labyrinth without deleting the Corpse Golem.

I had copied quite a bit of experience, so I thought I could level up if I just caught this guy.

“Even though there are few explorers, to think we’d encounter that guy. I was lucky again.”

“Hehe, I’ve told you many times. This team is lucky.”

Luck, my foot.

What kind of effort did I put in to fulfill the appearance conditions without you knowing?

“Aruru, we’re not a team anymore, we’re a clan!”

“Ah, yes… yes, we are.”

“Stop chatting and focus.”

As the team leader, no, now the clan leader, I continued to move while adjusting so that the focus wouldn’t loosen too much.

It seemed like the exploration was going smoothly except for the delay in the schedule, but there were some close calls.

Thanks to the royal family’s reward, our power itself exceeded the 5th floor level, but is this world a place where everything is done with just specs?

“Misha, we need to repair your armor as soon as we get out.”

“Ah, yeah… ha, how long has it been since I bought it? It’s such a waste.”

Misha was hit directly by the spear of the soul knight summoned by the Soul Eater.

Of course, it didn’t lead to an injury.

But…

“Misha, what are you wasting? You would have died yesterday if it wasn’t for that.”

The spear blade deeply pierced Misha’s armor.

It was the area where her heart was.

If it had gone in just one more finger joint, her life could have been in danger.

It’s still a close call to think about.

If I was still wearing the 2nd-stage material leather armor I got from killing Jensia, my first PK opponent, I wouldn’t have been able to withstand it that much.

‘It’s a good thing I didn’t get 4-tier leather this time and spent a little more money to get 5-tier leather armor—’

“No, but it’s still a waste…”

Huh, she still hasn’t come to her senses.

“Okay, don’t even think about saving money on equipment from now on.”

“Okay…”

This is why those with low physical resistance are no good.

I can’t be at ease at all.

“Ahem, ahem, it’s nice to see, but how about we start moving?”

“……”

After a brief awkward moment while scolding Misha, we resumed our exploration.

After about a day, we came down from the Wraith’s Canyon and reached the ground, and after moving for another half a day, a portal appeared.

“Wow, it’s really the 6th floor…”

“It’s my first time coming this far too.”

“I’m kind of excited. I’ve heard so much about this place.”

As if it were the moment of entering a new floor, everyone expressed their feelings while saying something.

Ah, of course, I was also deeply moved.

‘We’ve finally reached the 6th floor.’

The day I first saw the executions of tax evaders in the plaza.

That day, I thought.

To have a house with a kitchen, to be able to get treatment when I’m sick, and to be able to stop working from the age of fifty and still be able to leisurely raise about three dogs, I have to go to at least the 6th floor.

And even there, I have to work hard until retirement.

So…

Let’s think properly about how to go home after that.

‘…I didn’t expect to arrive in less than two years.’

At least three years earlier than expected.

However, I don’t want to say I was lucky.

It’s been 16 months since I opened my eyes in this body.

It’s a short time, but so many things have happened to me during that time.

I struggled hard.

And yet, I lost someone.

And I grew into who I am now through that legacy.

“Bjorn.”

“Ah, I was just thinking about something.”

“You go in first. You’re the one who brought us this far.”

Then, Bear Uncle tapped my shoulder.

“Yes. That’s right. If it wasn’t for Yandel, I wouldn’t have entered the labyrinth.”

Raven poked my waist with her staff.

Alright, stop rushing me.

“Then I’ll go in.”

I took a step towards the portal.

「You have entered the 6th floor, the Great Sea.」

Yeah, we really made it this far.

***

「Bjorn Yandel」

Level: 6 (New +1)

Physical: 607.62 / Mental: 502.19 / Ability: 2,214.55 (New +39)

Item Level: 4,627

Total Combat Index: 4,481.11 (New +39)

Acquired Essences: Corpse Golem – Rank 7 / Orc Hero – Rank 5 / Ogre – Rank 3 / Manticore – Rank 5 / Bayon – Rank 3

***

Blue sky and the sun shining down.

The salty smell of the sea carried by the wind.

And the sound of the waves crashing.

Swaaaaaa-!

When I landed, balancing in the air, the first thing I saw was a vast sandy beach.

The sand was close to white, and beyond the wet mud, an emerald sea stretched out.

“Wow…”

Everyone was mesmerized by the sight.

I wasn’t much different.

It was such a beautiful sight, and there was a different kind of emotion than those who saw the sea for the first time.

“……”

Like people who had forgotten the time, we stood blankly, staring endlessly beyond the horizon.

Actually, I had come to my senses a long time ago, but…

‘There’s no need to disturb this moment.’

I took my eyes off the sea and took the time to look around and observe.

‘Laimia, the Island of Beginning,’ the starting point of the 6th floor.

It was always full of people in the game, but now there was no one.

‘Well, they would have already set sail by this time.’

I turned my head back towards the sea.

And I went to Misha and spoke to her.

“Misha.”

Calling her name briefly was enough.

“Ah, yeah. That’s right, we have to do that first…”

Misha, understanding what I was saying, took out an item that she had been cherishing.

Raven tilted her head.

“What’s that in the glass bottle? It looks like an explorer’s pass…”

“It’s an explorer’s pass.”

“Ah, could it be…”

“Yes, it’s Dwarki’s.”

We held a simple funeral among ourselves and burned most of Dwarki’s belongings, but we left this one.

It was the dwarf’s request.

[That place is so mysterious that even though it’s a labyrinth, time flows differently and there are seasons, right? Please, I’m begging you. He’ll definitely be grateful.]

[…But he’s never been there?]

[That’s why, he’ll like it. He definitely would.]

I wonder, how will it be?

I don’t know for sure, but I came here.

“Can you wait a moment?”

“Of course. Go ahead.”

Raven didn’t say anything and stepped back with the other companions to make room.

“Misha.”

“Uh-huh.”

I walked with Misha across the sandy beach to the sea.

Chwaaaaaaa-!

The boundary line of the waves that rose and fell repeatedly like a beating heart.

Misha bent down and dipped her finger in the sea.

“It’s colder than I thought…”

“It is.”

“It would have been nice if he had come with us…”

“Yeah.”

Really, it would have been.

He was so happy like a child when he first arrived on the 3rd floor.

[…I think I understand what the explorers meant when they said the world is wide.]

Just a little bit.

If we had just a little more time together, he could have seen the real night sky, not the galaxy spread out on the blocked ceiling.

“Give it to me now.”

“Huh? But…”

“It’s obvious that it’ll just come back down if I leave it here.”

“Ah, I guess that’s true…”

Without needing a scientific explanation, Misha understood what I was saying when she saw the waves.

So, after receiving the specially made glass bottle from Misha, I went into the sea.

The shallow depth gradually deepened, and I moved as far away from the island as possible.

“…This should be enough.”

Even with [Giantification], the water reached up to my neck.

I threw the glass bottle as far as I could.

Splash!

Soon, the glass bottle that fell into the water floated on the surface and began to move towards the opposite side of the island, carried by the waves.

Okay, I succeeded on the first try.

If it hadn’t worked, I was going to go out on a boat later.

“Anyway, I tried to get along with Misha, but it didn’t work out.”

I said, looking at the glass bottle floating away.

Then I chuckled a little, finding it funny.

What am I doing?

“Rest in peace.”

I swallowed all the words I wanted to say, thinking they wouldn’t be heard anyway, and turned my back.

Even so, I thought.

If Dwarki were to see me now, what would he think?

‘He would have been happy.’

Even if this was an act for those who remained.