Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 284

The sea surged with fierce waves.

“Is Bjorn here? Hasn’t Bjorn arrived yet?”

“Yes. He should be arriving soon…”

Arua Raven stared intently at one spot, clutching the ‘coordinate transmitter’ in her hand. Like everyone else on the ship, an unknown anxiety was rising within her.

Bjorn Yandel.

Their leader, the barbarian who had stayed behind alone to face a 3rd-grade monster to buy them time to escape.

“Something must have gone wrong. We have to go save him!”

“No! Didn’t you hear what Mr. Yandel said? He told us not to go near him!”

“That guy always says that and then does whatever he wants! Fine. I’m going to do whatever I want too now!”

“But how are you going to go? Mr. Yandel is fighting down there in the sea!”

“That’s…”

Misha trailed off.

Raven, who had been raising her voice emotionally, bit her lip and opened her mouth a little more gently.

“Let’s just watch. Mr. Yandel will definitely come back safe and sound.”

“Sorry for shouting.”

“It’s okay. I feel the same way.”

“The same way?”

At Misha’s question, Raven paused for a moment before answering.

“…We’re comrades, after all.”

“Ah, yeah… that’s right.”

After that, an awkward silence fell.

Even during that time, everyone on the ship kept their eyes fixed on the path they had come from.

About five more minutes passed.

The ship, anchored and moored on the sea, lurched violently.

“T-the water is receding!”

The sea level, which had risen as if there had been a flood, was dropping in real-time.

“W-what is it? Bjorn isn’t here yet? Could it be… did he fail?”

“I don’t think so! If Stormgush were alive, the storm would have returned!”

“Oh, then…”

“Yes! Mr. Yandel defeated Stormgush!”

Raven shouted, unable to hide her joy, and Misha felt the same way.

“Ugh, that crazy barbarian!! He said he was just going to hold out, what the heck was he doing down there!”

Contrary to her words, Misha’s face was full of relief.

“Partsran, turn the ship around quickly!”

“Y-yes, ma’am!”

Raven quickly turned the ship towards the island.

It was then.

Flash-!

As if lightning had struck beneath the sea, a white light flickered and disappeared on the surface of the water.

“W-what was that just now?”

“H-hopefully nothing bad happened…”

All the members of the group, including the priestess, turned their gaze to Raven.

…Just because I’m a mage doesn’t mean I know everything.

“I-I don’t know either…”

What kind of place is a labyrinth [a magical dungeon]?

There are more things I don’t know than things I do.

In the first place, this was the first time I had ever seen Stormgush in person.

“…”

Soon, as the water level dropped, the center of the island, which had been the highest point, gradually began to reveal itself.

But the person they were looking for was nowhere to be seen.

“W-where did he disappear to! And what is all this equipment?”

All that remained in the center of the island were Amelia and Bjorn’s equipment.

“There’s a nail here. And the ropes are tangled, so it’s clear that the old man was here until just now…”

“It seems like he was trying not to get swept away by the current. But where did he go…”

“Wait a minute, the equipment…? What about the equipment? There’s no reason to take off his equipment…”

The scene was full of contradictions.

“…Let’s search the surroundings first. If he was swept away by the water, he couldn’t have gone far.”

Raven’s head was just as confused, but she gave the instructions as calmly as possible.

Bjorn had said it before, hadn’t he?

That when he wasn’t around, she had to take on the role of leader.

“Here! There’s more equipment! It’s the necklace Bjorn always wore!”

“H-here’s the old man’s underwear!”

After that, the group scattered and began searching.

Meanwhile, the water level continued to drop, and the island had returned to its original state.

But…

“Why… why isn’t he anywhere?”

Even after searching the entire island, Bjorn could not be found.

What on earth had happened here?

They couldn’t know anything for now, but Raven spoke firmly.

“Maybe Yandel…”

“Mr. Ourikphrit, don’t say such strange things. That person will definitely be alive.”

Even if there was no basis, she had to say positive things.

Yes, that barbarian had said that was what a leader had to do.

So…

“First of all, it’s clear that the two of them defeated Stormgush. He even had the presence of mind to hammer in a nail to avoid being swept away by the water. I don’t know why he took off all his equipment, but maybe he was swept away to another island nearby. Let’s go around and look for him.”

After that, Raven took Partsran’s ship and searched all the nearby islands. There were many speculations during the process, and sometimes there were arguments.

But everyone did not give up hope.

And so, time passed…

“…We’ll meet in the city.”

In the end, they couldn’t find Bjorn, and the labyrinth’s closing day arrived.

Whooshhhhh-!

The light of the labyrinth signaling their return.

Raven, who had returned to the city, looked at the quiet dimensional plaza and searched for a certain barbarian.

There was no one in sight.

She wondered if he had moved before she could find him, so she went to the checkpoint, but it was the same there.

“Is Bjorn here? Was he in the plaza? The staff said that he wasn’t among the explorers who passed by earlier.”

“…I couldn’t find him in the plaza.”

Raven waited endlessly with her companions who had arrived at the checkpoint earlier.

But even when all the explorers had passed through the checkpoint and the plaza was completely empty.

“…”

Bjorn did not appear.

No matter where he was in the labyrinth, if he was alive, he should have been able to meet them here.

“Um… it’s almost time for the checkpoint to close.”

The staff began to look at them cautiously, but he still didn’t show up.

That meant only one thing.

But no one could easily bring themselves to say it.

“…”

It was then, as a heavy silence fell, that his only fellow tribesman and warrior, Ainar, muttered briefly.

“Yeah, Bjorn is dead.”

It was time to face reality.

***

They say that even mountains and rivers change in ten years.

But, at least not here.

Even though enough time had passed for the mountains and rivers to change twice, this city hadn’t changed much.

Just like the street in front of this checkpoint where I’m standing now.

“Dad! I’m here! I’m here!”

“Lamirion, I’m glad you came back safely this time too. Let’s go home. I’ve prepared your favorite food.”

Acquaintances or families of explorers filled the area in front of the checkpoint.

Even the surrounding buildings hadn’t changed much.

The only slight difference was in the signs hanging on the first floor of the buildings.

‘There used to be a pub there, not a general store.’

I was a little curious about the difference between the past and the present, so I looked around to see if there was anything else.

A woman sidled up next to me.

It was Amelia.

“Ah, you’re here.”

“I kept you waiting. Were there any problems during the checkpoint?”

“It was just like you said, I handed over my ID and exchanged the magic stones.”

“Is that so? That’s good. Then let’s move on.”

“Where are we going first?”

“To the clothing store first.”

After meeting Amelia, we stopped by a nearby clothing store to buy clothes. And then I booked a room in the 7th district, which was my usual living area.

“Take a shower and then come to my room. Let’s talk for a bit.”

First, I went into the bathroom, scrubbed my body clean, put on the new clothes I had bought, and headed to Amelia’s room.

Fortunately, the door opened quickly, as she had finished showering.

“What do you want to talk about?”

I asked as I sat on the bed, and Amelia sat on the chair at the table opposite me, shaking the water out of her hair.

“First, there’s one thing I need to confirm with you.”

“Go ahead.”

“Are you… planning to go back?”

Indeed, I wondered what she was going to ask.

What a silly question.

“Of course. I’m going back no matter what.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“Did you think I would want to stay?”

“I thought you might. You’re probably starting to realize that you’ve returned to the past.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“…This is 20 years ago. You don’t know it well, but if you use this time difference, you can live much more comfortably than before.”

“I see.”

“…It’s not just ‘I see.’ Barbarian, I don’t think you understand, but the opportunity you have now is–”

I cut Amelia off before she could go on.

“That’s enough.”

I know what she’s saying, but it’s not really appealing to me.

After all, there’s no Bitcoin here.

If I stay here, I’ll lose my equipment, the noble status I barely obtained, and all the precious companions I worked so hard to raise. It’s just a penalty.

There’s no reason for me to stay.

“If there’s a way to go back, I’ll go back right away. So don’t talk about this anymore. In the first place, I wouldn’t have gotten caught up in this if it weren’t for you.”

“…I’m sorry about that.”

She’s a bit late with her apology.

“Okay, so is that what you called me here to ask?”

“No, the main point is different. If you were thinking of staying here, I wouldn’t have said anything.”

I knew she was testing the waters.

“Stop playing games and just tell me what you want.”

“I want you to help me while you’re staying in the past.”

Huh, she never gave me a straight answer on the island, and now she’s asking for my help…

Isn’t she taking me for too much of a pushover?

“And what do I get in return?”

“I’ll help you go back.”

“You don’t even know how to go back, so how are you going to help?”

“…There’s one method worth trying.”

“Tell me.”

If she was going to say something like she could only tell me if I made a decision, I was going to get up and leave immediately, but…

“Using the Fragment of Records one more time.”

Amelia readily told me what the method was.

However, I didn’t understand it right away.

“Fragment of Records? That should have disappeared when we came here…”

I paused mid-sentence as I voiced my question.

“Ah…”

It wasn’t completely gone.

Because this is the world from 20 years ago.

“Right, the one I used is gone, but there’s still one left. At this time, the lord of Noark should be keeping it.”

The Genesis Artifact suddenly came to mind.

According to this theory, the ‘Genesis Artifact,’ the key item of the last floor that was stolen in the current timeline, should also exist.

‘If I take that back with me, what will happen? Will there be a way to clear it?’

Such curiosity arose, but I quickly dismissed it.

I’m already in a situation where I need to focus on returning to my original timeline, and…

‘In the first place, I wouldn’t be able to take it back.’

Looking at how Amelia and I were dropped onto Parune Island naked after time-traveling, the opposite is likely to be true as well.

It’s impossible to take items back from here.

“…”

Ah, my thoughts suddenly wandered off.

When I came to my senses, Amelia had stopped talking and was staring at me.

Well, a barbarian can lose focus sometimes.

“Ahem, I’m listening, so continue.”

“…I’ll tell you the rest after I hear your answer.”

Ha, so she’s going to play it like that?

I thought it was petty, but there was only one answer I could give. The plan to use the ‘Fragment of Records’ again to return was the most plausible, and…

‘I’ll have a hard time doing it alone if she doesn’t help me.’

Amelia’s help, who is from Noark, is essential to obtain that item.

I don’t even know where the lord is keeping it.

“Fine, tell me. How can I help you?”

When I gave my consent, Amelia made a slightly strange expression.

She didn’t look happy at all.

No, rather, she looked somewhat displeased?

“Is something wrong?”

“…No. There’s no way what that guy said is true.”

“What guy?”

I asked, but Amelia kept her mouth shut.

And after calming her emotions for a moment, she slowly began to speak. It was quite a long story, and when it was over, I finally understood.

What Amelia Rainwales wanted to change so badly.

***

The next day, after a long story.

“I might be busy for a while and won’t be able to come. I can’t stop you from doing anything, but try to stay quiet.”

Amelia even checked out of her room and left.

There are underground scouts who try to recruit criminals by subtly offering them a helping hand and bringing them into Noark?

She said she was planning to make contact with them.

After all, whether it’s me or her, entering Noark is the top priority to achieve our goals.

‘Hah, I never thought I’d end up going to Noark.’

Anyway, the period Amelia mentioned was about three weeks.

She said she would stop by and tell me the progress from time to time, so if there are any changes in the plan, I’ll hear about it then.

‘What should I do now?’

Being alone in the room makes my body itch.

Maybe it’s the curiosity of a gamer.

This is the world from 20 years ago, after all.

‘Should I go take a look around?’

As soon as that thought came to mind, I put on my clothes and left the inn. Although Amelia repeatedly told me not to cause any trouble and just breathe…

‘Honestly, how can I resist this?’

Surely nothing bad will happen?