Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 285

I didn’t have a specific destination in mind for my outing. I just wandered around, letting my feet guide me.

‘Oh, that skewer place was here 20 years ago too.’

I’m not usually one for walks, but this time it was quite enjoyable. It felt like playing a spot-the-difference game, you know? Seeing shops that were still in business after 20 years made me feel strangely happy, even if I hadn’t frequented them much.

It was while I was just wandering around like that.

“……Huh?”

When did I get this far? It’s scary how habits stick. I blankly raised my head and stared at the beautiful building in front of me.

[Lavigion Southern Central Archives.]

A place everyone just calls the ‘library,’ and also the place I’ve visited the most in this world.

‘It hasn’t changed at all in 20 years.’

Since I didn’t have any pressing matters, I didn’t hesitate to step inside the library. And then…

“Welcome. We’re glad to have you.”

As soon as I entered, I was greeted by the staff. Honestly, I was very taken aback.

‘What’s this? This place wasn’t like this before.’

The counters that used to be empty when Ragna was around were now filled with staff. When I first came, there was only one librarian dozing off.

One of the many librarians approached me.

“Is this your first visit?”

A female librarian who looked to be in her early to mid-teens. She looks really young, so she probably isn’t a full-time employee. Is she like a part-timer?

But why does she look so familiar?

“……Is this your first visit?”

“Ah, uh… yes, it is.”

“Then, I’ll briefly explain the reading rules and procedures.”

After listening to the staff member’s explanation, I realized that the number of librarians wasn’t the only thing that had changed. There was only one administrative mage among all these people. Even that mage would only use magic to pull up records of the stored books when a user gave them a keyword, and then the other regular librarians would guide them to the location.

“……Why use such a cumbersome method?”

“Excuse me…?”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to cast a spell on the users and let them find it themselves?”

At my question, the librarian smiled brightly, giving me a look that said, ‘What the heck is this barbarian talking about?’

“Haha, I suppose you could think that way. However, I’ve heard that spells cast on others consume several times more mana.”

“Ah, so the problem is that there aren’t enough mages.”

“Yes. And we haven’t even heard of such a spell existing in the first place.”

Huh? What’s that supposed to mean? There’s no such spell?

As I tilted my head without realizing it, the librarian muttered in a self-deprecating tone.

“The noble mages of the Magic Tower would never create a spell for librarians like us, would they?”

“……Oh, right? Sorry. I’ll come back later.”

“It’s alright. Please feel free to ask if you have any books or fields you wish to read about while you look around.”

As the conversation ended, the librarian returned to her seat. But thanks to that, I noticed the name tag that wasn’t visible when we were talking while standing.

[Apprentice Librarian – Shavin Emuer]

Ha, no wonder her face looked familiar. It was her. It seems she worked here before becoming a civil servant in the administration after she became an adult…

‘That’s really fascinating.’

That thought suddenly occurred to me. If I wanted to, I could hear Misha’s lisping voice from her childhood…

‘Ah, her lisp is still there anyway.’

Anyway, that’s not the important thing. If I wanted to, I could see my acquaintances in their fresh, young days? It’s interesting, but what’s the point of that?

‘Dwarki… he’d be alive here too.’

Liol Worb Dwarki. A mage who will probably be one of my sore spots for the rest of my life.

‘If it’s possible to change the future…’

Depending on what I do here, it might be possible to prevent Dwarki from dying? As soon as that thought crossed my mind, a jolt of electricity ran through my body. Not a metaphor, but literally.

Zzzzt.

What’s this? Who’s using electricity? A stinging sensation arose from my feet, and when I looked down, I saw a little kid looking up at me with an insolent gaze. Like the adult barbarian I am, I spoke generously.

“What the hell are you doing?”

The kid replied to my question.

“I’m a mage.”

I was dumbfounded. Yeah, you’re a mage, so what? Did you think I’d be intimidated and bow down?

“Human kid, you’re too young to know, but even mages die if their necks are snapped.”

It was ridiculous to seriously argue with a mage who was about six or seven years old, so I just gave him some sincere advice. But did he not like that?

“Whatever, move. You’re blocking my way.”

The little mage glared at me with a disrespectful look in his eyes. Thanks to that, I could understand why I was shocked with electricity.

‘Huh, he shocked me with electricity just because I was blocking his way?’

He’s quite a cheeky little brat, but I barely held back, remembering Amelia’s words not to cause any trouble.

“Alright, go ahead. Kid.”

“What’s the point of being big if you can’t even use magic?”

“What? Do you want to see a neck-snapping spell?”

As I moved aside to make way, the kid snorted loudly enough for me to hear and disappeared.

“……How barbaric.”

Yeah, it doesn’t affect a barbarian.

‘Tsk tsk, are all the kids 20 years ago like that? Sigh, we weren’t like that back then… What’s the world coming to?’

After that, I looked around the library. And without taking out any books, I sat down in any empty seat. There was something I needed to sort out in my mind.

‘It’s a waste to just throw away this opportunity.’

A 20-year time difference. Just like Amelia said it was an ‘opportunity,’ I felt like it would be a loss to just go back to the original timeline.

‘I only have three weeks to stay on the surface, so I can’t invest too much time…’

I organized the things I could do during that time. There were a few things that came to mind.

‘First, the Genesis Relic.’

The Genesis Relic gets stolen 20 years later. I can’t stop that, and it’s practically impossible to steal it beforehand and bury it in the ground. I don’t even know where it’s hidden within the holy site. But…

‘I can at least give a warning.’

That’s how the first thing to do was decided.

1. Write an anonymous letter stating that someone will come to steal the Genesis Relic on March 1st, 153 of the Founding Era.

Of course, it’s uncertain whether this will change the future. However, it doesn’t require much effort, so there’s no harm in doing it. In that sense, I decided to write about the Holy Relic War as well. After all, that’s the primary cause of the barbarian tribe’s decline.

‘……It would be nice if our power was just as strong as it is in this world.’

I haven’t looked around the city from 20 years ago for long, but the most noticeable change was the proportion of barbarians. Barbarians were quite visible everywhere. Maybe that was normal back then. The population decreased after the Holy Relic War broke out, and the Magic Tower announced that our hearts were valuable as magical materials, leading to this situation.

‘The Magic Tower… is there any way I can stop them?’

Hmm, I decided to think about that more. I didn’t have any immediate ideas.

Next up.

2. Create a situation where Dwarki doesn’t die. In this case, there are two methods that come to mind. Either intervene in the past and guide him away from becoming an explorer…

‘Or kill that bastard, the Dragonslayer.’

The former has many variables, but the latter is more certain than any other method. It’s also a more beneficial action for the world. It’s full of advantages in many ways. However, the problem is…

‘It’s not even certain if that bastard is in Noark.’

According to known history, the first time he appeared after stealing the Dragonslayer Sword was about 10 years from now. He made his Orculist debut by single-handedly terrorizing the elven holy site that was destroyed by the Holy Relic War. Unfortunately, his previous actions are completely unknown.

‘Then it would be good to meet Dwarki first.’

Therefore, this matter was decided to proceed as ‘guiding Dwarki away from becoming an explorer.’ There are many variables, but it was a worthwhile attempt. Moreover, I know where Dwarki is staying during this time.

‘If I go and tell him all the bad things about how hard and dirty being an explorer is, his perception of it will get worse.’

Okay, let’s do it this way…

‘Next is…’

I was continuing my thoughts when…

Zzzzt-!

I heard the sound of electricity crackling from somewhere. Fortunately, this time it wasn’t coming from my body.

“Aaaah!”

When I turned my head towards the direction of the sound, I saw a man screaming after being shocked with electricity.

“Move, don’t block the way.”

The kid recited the same line he had said to me earlier to the man. However, unfortunately, the result was different from before. How many adults in the world are as kind and generous as I am?

Slap-!

The man mercilessly slapped the kid’s cheek. He had a flimsy physique typical of a weakling, but it was still difficult for a six or seven-year-old to withstand the strength of a grown man.

“Birhe Te…”

The kid, who had been hit and sent flying, quickly got up and began chanting a spell, but the man who had been shocked didn’t give him a chance.

Thud-!

Ruthless kicks were aimed at the small body.

“……Shouldn’t we stop him?”

“Librarian! Let’s call a librarian.”

People’s gazes gathered, but no one stepped forward. Ha, that’s why they’re just bookworms. They’re making it hard to concentrate.

“Who made that noise?”

I had no choice but to get up and head towards the commotion. And I approached the man who was still kicking, not having calmed down…

“Be quiet in the library.”

I tripped him and sent him flying.

Thud-!

“Damn it, who are you!”

The man, who had fallen on his butt, got up, panting. And then, he raised his voice in annoyance as he looked at me.

“If you don’t want to get hurt…”

He trailed off as soon as our eyes met.

“If I don’t want to get hurt?”

“……”

“Why are you stopping mid-sentence?”

“……”

The man didn’t answer my question. I wondered if he was trying to use the first method of making someone angry, but thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

“……Just go your own way.”

He lowered his eyes slightly, pretending to be tough. It was a bit absurd. He slapped a kid’s cheek without hesitation, so I thought he was an egalitarian like a barbarian, not discriminating against anyone regardless of gender or age.

‘He was just strong against the weak.’

Well, still, he was 100% in the wrong this time.

“Why don’t you stop here and go? Can’t you see people are reading?”

“……Tch.”

As I gave him a reason to stop, the weakling clicked his tongue and turned away. It seems he realized he was embarrassed after his anger subsided.

“Can you get up?”

“……Mind your own business.”

If you’re going to say that, say it after you’ve grown up a bit and lost some of your baby fat.

“Sigh.”

I sighed and helped the kid, who was curled up like a shrimp, to his feet. And then I asked.

“Do you not have a mother?”

“I do.”

Eh? He does?

“You don’t?”

“……She’s at home.”

Ah, I see. You should have said that earlier.

“Why are you going out alone without your mother? If you’re going to come to a place like this, go with her.”

“……I can do it alone.”

“Is that why you got beat up like that?”

Like a barbarian, I directly poked at his sore spot, and the kid frowned.

“……I could have won.”

“I see.”

That’s why I hate kids. They’re far from rational thinking, and they’re so stubborn.

“Okay, you do whatever you want now. If you’re going to pick fights again, do it over there where I’m not.”

“……I didn’t pick a fight. It’s the one blocking the way who’s in the wrong.”

What’s he talking about again?

“The one who uses magic just because someone is blocking the way is also in the wrong. You should have asked them to move first.”

“I did. To you, and to that man earlier. But both of you ignored me.”

Oh? Really? I really didn’t know…

“So I won’t do it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I won’t say thank you.”

“Oh, is that so?”

I wasn’t expecting it anyway.

“Okay, go.”

As I waved my hand, the kid, looking like he was very upset, took a deep breath and turned away, disappearing. The staff member came running from afar after that. Fortunately, without me having to say anything, the staff member, who had been informed of the situation by the surrounding users instead of me, thanked me and disappeared.

“……I heard you stepped in and resolved the situation. Thank you.”

With that, the brief incident was over. As I sat back down and continued my thoughts.

Squeak.

I glanced to the side when I heard a sound, and I saw the kid from earlier sitting diagonally across from me, opening a book.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“Reading a book?”

“Why are you reading here?”

“Why can’t I read here?”

Ha, really…

‘Hold it in.’

Exercising my adult patience, I moved my seat. But what is this?

Squeak.

Not even a few minutes later, a chair was pulled out again diagonally across from me.

“Why did you follow me?”

“I didn’t follow you?”

“You did follow me.”

“I didn’t.”

According to my numerous volunteer experiences, it seemed I had caught this kid’s attention.

‘In this case, indifference is the best medicine.’

If I don’t respond, he’ll lose interest on his own and give up. I stopped paying attention and continued my thoughts. But this damn kid didn’t know the line.

“Why aren’t you reading a book and just sitting there?”

“……”

“Maybe you can’t read?”

“……”

“Should I teach you?”

Ah, this is driving me crazy.

“Hey, kid.”

When I finally said something, the kid frowned.

“I’m not a kid.”

“What do you mean you’re not—”

“Arua Raven.”

“……Huh?”

I froze blankly. For a moment, I doubted my ears, but my ears weren’t wrong.

“My name is Arua Raven. So call me properly.”

……No, really?

***

Blue eyes and shimmering blonde hair. Small physique and the fact that she’s human. Those were the only common points I could find right away, but when I looked closely, I could see ‘Arua Raven.’ But it wasn’t as certain as with Shavin Emuer. After all, there’s a huge difference between six or seven years old and mid to late teens. So, I asked again to confirm.

“Is it Arua? Not Aruna, Aruru, or Aruberos?”

“What are those weird names? My name is Arua. So call me properly.”

She’s so sensitive. Anyway, in 20 years, there won’t be anyone calling her ‘Arua’ properly.

“So how old are you?”

“Five years old.”

Wow, she’s the same age, so it must be her. She was taller than her age when she was young. I was surprised by the sudden encounter, but I slowly started to become curious.

“What’s that book? It looks like a book about magic. Are you learning it on your own?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t you go to the Magic Tower?”

As someone who knows that Arua belongs to the Magic Tower in the future, I couldn’t help but be curious. But she just clicked her tongue.

“Do you think anyone can just enter the Magic Tower?”

Oh, that’s true, but…

“My family is poor, so I can’t.”

“So you’re studying alone?”

“Yeah, if I become an administrative mage later, I won’t have to worry about making a living.”

“……Well, I guess so?”

I nodded awkwardly and thought. What was I doing when I was five years old?

‘I was always going in and out of the operating room and reading books in the hospital room.’

I was quite mature for my age, but it’s nothing compared to her. At least back then, I didn’t think about my ‘future.’ Well, I was in a life-or-death situation, so I didn’t have the time to think about that.

“Then I’ll go now.”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

“It’s time for my mom to get off work. She’ll be mad if she finds out I went to the library.”

“Well, I guess she’d be worried if you went out secretly like this.”

“……It’s a little different from that.”

After that, Raven put the book she was reading on the return counter and left coolly without looking back, without any promise to meet again.

‘It’s a little different from being worried, what does that mean?’

It might be nothing, but the expression on Raven’s face when she said that was strangely dark, and it stuck in my mind.

‘Is there some kind of problem with her family?’

Come to think of it, she’s never talked about her family in front of us. And it’s the first time I’ve learned that she’s from a commoner background.

“Hmm……”

This is getting a bit interesting.