Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 287

The week-long schedule for building repairs flew by quickly.

There were no significant incidents.

I focused on the work without distraction, and during breaks, all I did was tell the children how tough being an explorer was.

Even that got skipped from the third day onwards.

Now, even when I sit in the shade to rest, the children don’t come to me anymore.

“……”

“……”

So, during breaks, it became routine for me to sit quietly in the shade with Dwarki.

Oh, of course, we talked occasionally.

“Why did you come here?”

“……The headmaster said my parents couldn’t afford to raise me.”

“I see.”

“B-but, I’m better off than the other kids. I’ll be picked up from home soon……”

“……Did you happen to say that in front of the other kids?”

“W-why?”

Sigh, I think I know why he doesn’t have any friends here.

As I sighed, Dwarki started making excuses.

“I-I’m okay. Anyway… I won’t be here that long. M-my parents are merchants. They’re just having a hard time right now……”

‘Having a hard time, my ass.’

A bitter feeling washed over me as soon as I heard that.

Of course, I know this kid’s situation.

The current Baron had Dwarki registered in a collateral family as soon as he was born, and they had irresponsibly left him here.

‘Later, his birth mother found out and told the Baron, and then they moved into a separate house on the Dwarki estate and lived together……’

For the record, he said he had barely seen his adoptive parents in over ten years. However, the financial support was quite good, so he was able to live a comfortable life, even learning magic.

“You’ve been through a lot. Here, have some jerky. You need to eat well when you’re young to grow tall.”

“Ah, yes…… Thank you.”

Soon, the break time was over as we sat there munching on jerky.

“So… today is your last day, right?”

“Yeah, the repairs are all done now. The roof won’t leak even when it rains.”

“……Thank you.”

Well, at least he has manners.

The other kids thought it was natural for volunteers to come and fix their homes.

“If you’re really grateful, never become an explorer.”

“Huh? What’s that all of a sudden……”

“Never mind, just answer me.”

“An explorer? I-I can’t do that…… I don’t want to either.”

The expression on little Dwarki’s face as he answered was sincere.

Well, if he heard that story, this is normal.

Since the other kids are now sick of the idea of being explorers, there won’t be anyone to encourage him.

……Honestly, I’m still not relieved.

‘But I can’t stay here forever, so all that’s left is to leave it up to fate.’

“Hey, Enche! If you’re done resting, come here and help with this!”

“Riol, then I’ll be going now.”

“……Yes. Goodbye.”

After that, I gave all the jerky and snacks I had in my bag to Dwarki and returned to the work site.

He refused, being a kid, but what could he do when a barbarian insisted on giving it to him?

“Thanks to you, the schedule finished early today. Okay, everyone, you’ve all worked hard!”

Anyway, after a few more hours of repair work, the foreman announced the end of the work.

The end of a schedule that had taken a week.

“We’re going for a drink after this, will you join us?”

“But I’m an explorer?”

“Haha, everyone knows you’re not like those other arrogant explorers, so it’s fine.”

The foreman asked if I would join the get-together, and after a moment of thought, I said I would.

I didn’t have anything else to do anyway.

Raven wouldn’t be at the library at this time.

“The church gave us a generous amount for our work, so don’t worry about the bill and drink up!”

So, we all moved to a nearby pub and drank. But is it because it’s the first time I’ve had a gathering like this with people who aren’t explorers?

‘It’s a bit awkward.’

I can’t follow the conversation topics.

We’re talking about which blacksmith is good quality, or which clan member is dating whom.

“Excuse me……”

While I was drifting alone, someone spoke to me from the side.

That is, the name is……

“Wob Emiren.”

Ah, that’s right.

Even with her small stature, she was impressive for carrying heavy loads without slacking off and participating diligently in the work.

“Do you have something to say?”

“I… I heard the stories you were telling the kids.”

Ah, no wonder she was looking at me with a strange gaze every time I spoke.

“Are you talking about the labyrinth?”

“Yes.”

At my question, Emiren nodded with a slightly embarrassed expression, then cautiously asked.

“Is it… really such a terrible place?”

“It’s not exactly like that.”

“Huh? But……”

“The reason I said that in front of the kids was to prevent them from getting any strange ideas. It’s definitely a place that’s hard to endure with a half-hearted attitude.”

“Ah……”

I took the opportunity to tell her a few things.

Starting with the scenery of the third floor that Dwarki particularly liked, the vast forest, the snowy plains I saw in the ‘Glacier Cave,’ and various mysteries.

As the story continued, I could feel the people around me becoming quiet. Well, everyone likes this kind of thing, regardless of whether they’re adults or kids.

“Snow…… I’ve never seen it, so it’s hard to imagine even if you say it.”

“Is it like cold sugar?”

For them, who had lived their whole lives trapped inside the city walls, the events in the labyrinth were like stories from another world.

Just as their stories were unfamiliar to me, it was rare for them to associate with explorers.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard such a fascinating story.”

“I should tell my son when I get back.”

Of course, the time I spent talking alone wasn’t that long.

After I finished telling my stories, the topic naturally returned to their lives, and I spent time only chiming in on topics I could relate to.

‘This isn’t so bad either……’

As time passed and the day began to set, one or two people started returning home, and the get-together came to an end.

That’s when I came outside to return to my lodgings.

“Excuse me……!”

A woman followed me out and grabbed me.

“Ah, Emiren. What’s wrong?”

“I just wanted to ask you one thing. Is that okay?”

“Go ahead.”

Emiren seemed to hesitate for a moment, then spoke in a somewhat burdened voice.

“Earlier, you said that even you get scared sometimes, right?”

“I did.”

“I-I do too. Sometimes my vision goes dark, and just thinking about it makes my heart feel like it’s going to burst. How do you overcome it when that happens?”

That’s a bit of a difficult question.

Especially if the person is someone I didn’t even know a few days ago.

However, I decided not to think too deeply about it.

She had already mustered the courage to stand before me.

“As I said before, barbarians aren’t beings who don’t know fear.”

I, who was an ordinary office worker, am even more so.

But……

“We just know that if we don’t do what we have to do because we’re afraid, only the worst outcome awaits us at the end.”

“The worst outcome…… Yes, I guess that’s right……”

After that, an awkward silence flowed.

I gave her some time to think, then asked her.

“Is it something you absolutely have to do?”

“Yes.”

Her voice was small, but there was no hesitation in it.

Therefore, there was only one thing I could say to her.

“Then do it.”

The only encouragement a barbarian can give in this world.

The answer came after a slight pause.

“……Thank you for giving me courage. I’ll try my best.”

“Really? I hope it goes well, whatever it is.”

“Yes. And the stories you told earlier were really interesting too.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Especially that place called the sea. I’ve only heard about it, but it sounds like a very wonderful place. Maybe… someone like me will never get to see it.”

I didn’t add anything to her self-deprecating words.

What could I say?

That you can go if you set your mind to it?

I know better than anyone that that’s a deceitful thing to say.

“……I’ll be going now.”

“Ah, okay. Go ahead.”

After that, I said goodbye to Emiren once more and parted ways.

But why is it?

‘Wob Emiren, huh……’

For some reason, her name kept bothering me on the way back.

***

When I returned to my room, reeking of alcohol after the get-together, Amelia was there.

“You’ve been gone since the afternoon, where did you go?”

“Ah, I went to do some volunteer work.”

“Volunteer……?”

Geez, she’s making a face.

Did I say something wrong?

“A person should know how to give back too.”

“……I see.”

“Anyway, you came at a good time. I was running out of money, so give me some money while you’re here.”

“Did you really spend all that money?”

“Ah, I bought some equipment and stuff, so there’s nothing left.”

“……I see.”

Then Amelia rummaged around her waist and threw a pouch at me.

It was quite heavy.

‘I won’t have to worry about meat prices for a while.’

After thanking her, I took the opportunity to tell her about some of the restaurants I visited 20 years ago.

Judging by her expression, it doesn’t seem like she’ll go.

Sigh, if I don’t get to the point soon, she might get angry.

“Ah! But how’s the work you were doing going? You met that broker or whatever last time, right?”

“It’s still in the contact stage. Fortunately, it’s going as planned, so if there are no other accidents, we should be able to leave next week. You should prepare too.”

“I will.”

As soon as the brief main topic was over, Amelia left, saying she had things to do.

‘Departure in a week……’

After roughly washing up and changing clothes, I lay down on the bed and organized the things I had to do in my head for the remaining days.

There wasn’t much to organize anyway.

‘Since we’re leaving next week, I need to wrap things up with Raven soon too.’

The equipment I ordered should arrive sometime next week, so if I can just resolve things with Raven, it should be fine.

I should go straight to the library tomorrow.

‘The important thing is what happens after we go down to Noark.’

I’ll probably have to be on my toes from then on. Amelia and I have made plans for how to move after we go down, but……

Does the world ever go according to plan?

‘Sigh…… Anyway, I want to go back soon.’

With these and other wishes in my head, sleep slowly came over me.

***

The place was the two-story rental house I had found with Misha.

There, I was laughing and chatting with my colleagues.

I didn’t know at first, but I quickly realized.

‘It’s a dream.’

The reason I was sure was the mirror.

I was laughing and chatting, then I looked to the side, and in the mirror, it wasn’t Bjorn but Han-soo Lee.

Something that could never happen in reality.

The moment I realized, the background blurred and the space changed.

[Bjorn, what are you doing? Let’s go!]

This time, it was inside the labyrinth.

I was exploring, going up the floors as usual.

But this time too, I wasn’t Bjorn but Han-soo Lee. The shield was heavy, and my eye level when looking at the monsters was different, so I was the one looking up.

Is that why?

[Why can’t you even block that!]

I kept making mistakes, and my colleagues were getting hurt.

At first, it was just injuries, but in the end, one of them died.

[If it weren’t for you……]

It was Dwarki.

Only then did I realize once again that this was a dream, and the background swirled again.

This time too, it was a familiar place.

A quiet room reminiscent of a medieval noble’s office.

“What, is it the round table this time?”

At first, I just chuckled and moved on, but soon I felt a sense of unease.

‘It’s a little different……?’

The structure and atmosphere of the room are similar.

But the clothing, the decorative accessories, and the masks that should be covering one wall are missing.

Well, it could just be that the dream lacks detail……

“……But it’s too realistic for that.”

I blankly opened and closed my hand repeatedly.

Every time I flexed my hand, I could clearly feel the movement of my muscles.

Even the flow of thought was natural.

The sound and texture when I knocked on the wall.

Everything was no different from reality.

Swoosh.

As soon as I realized this, I checked the full-length mirror on one side.

As expected, it wasn’t Bjorn but Han-soo Lee standing there.

Then, how did this happen?

Let’s think under the assumption that it’s not a dream, a plausible guess came to mind quickly.

‘Ah…… Today is the day the community opens.’

I was summoned while I was sleeping.

That explains why I look like this.

The fact that the community is different from the one 20 years later, which I used to communicate through a computer, is the same.

Considering it’s the early stages, it’s understandable.

Maybe if I open that door, I’ll see a surprised GM [Game Master].

But……

“……”

Suddenly, the conversation I had with Baek-ho Lee came to mind.

[There have been evil spirits in this city for over a hundred years. That’s more than 20 years ago on Earth. So who are they?]

At that time, I said I didn’t know, so just tell me, and Baek-ho Lee said this.

[The answer is that they’re from other dimensions!]

Evil spirits summoned from other dimensions.

They were a minority compared to those from Earth, but they all had unique powers.

One of them created this space, and the GM we know inherited it?

‘Could it be……’

A possibility that could very well happen.

That possibility flashed through my mind.

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door.