Surviving The Game As A Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 319

Clunk, clunk.

Inside the rapidly moving ten-seater transport carriage, amidst the solemn-faced adult men, was an incongruous presence.

A 14-year-old girl, staring blankly into space with an expressionless face.

At first glance, her face was so calm that no one noticed Amelia Rainweils was actually in a state of anxiety.

Except for her sister, Laura Rainweils.

Swoosh.

Amelia, who had been maintaining a rigid posture with her hands on her knees, flinched.

It was because her sister’s hand had been placed on top of hers.

“Why? Are you very worried?”

Amelia, who had an introverted personality, nodded.

It was pointless to lie to her sister, who knew her inside and out like her parents, and besides…

Her sister would surely have noticed.

No matter how bumpy the carriage was, how much her body was trembling right now.

“…It’s okay, nothing will happen.”

As she felt her sister’s body temperature on her skin, Amelia felt her tension gradually ease.

Even though it was a situation no different from being dragged to a battlefield.

Soon, as she closed her eyes, the conversation between the adult men began to reach her ears.

“What about Iron Mask and Emily?”

“I heard the lord’s side is sending someone to the lodgings, but I don’t know if the message will be properly delivered in this situation.”

“Hah, this is driving me crazy. If they were planning something like this, they should have at least told us beforehand. What is this in the middle of the night?”

“That means it was top secret. I can’t believe the lord is joining hands with the royal family to attack Orculeus.”

The sisters were summoned by Felix Barker while working at their stepfather’s tavern, just like any other day.

He seemed urgent and didn’t explain anything, telling them to prepare for battle. Then, as soon as they had gathered their equipment, they were put on a military carriage with the arriving clan members.

“Wait a minute, attack Orculeus? I didn’t hear anything about that? I only heard that we were going to support because of a riot in the east… And the royal family? What kind of bull is that? How can the lord join hands with the royal family?”

“From what I heard, the royal family contacted the lord some time ago. I don’t know what was discussed there… but at this point, we can guess what’s going on.”

“Well, from the royal family’s point of view, the Orculeus guys must have been a thorn in their side as well. The lord and they had a common interest.”

“Of course, otherwise, why would the knights supported by the royal family be fighting Orculeus?”

“…So that’s why the lord didn’t tell us until the day of.”

“That’s right. After all, the core force will be them. We just need to focus on surviving.”

“Ha, if I had known this would happen, I would have slept outside the castle like Iron Mask. I was foolish to be inside the castle and get dragged here right away.”

“Derbon, watch your mouth.”

“Ah… my slip of the tongue.”

“And you guys, don’t complain too much. Once this is resolved, the lord’s personality will ensure we get a proper reward.”

The clan leader, Felix Barker, calmed the heated atmosphere.

And how much time had passed?

The carriage, which had been running for a long time, stopped at the eastern entrance of Noark.

“We’ll have to walk from here.”

The eastern area, which seemed to have already seen several battles, was filled with the stench of blood from its border.

The remains of collapsed buildings and tattered corpses.

The sounds of explosions could be heard here and there, and the screams of people, more desperate than a banshee’s, filled the air.

“What are you doing! How long are you going to block the way? Get down quickly! Can’t you see more carriages coming behind?”

Amelia followed them out.

Her body, which had calmed down during the ride, was trembling again.

Her sister warmly grasped her hand.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll definitely protect you…”

Her trustworthy sister’s words, who had never broken a promise.

Even so, it was not easy to calm down.

No, rather…

Squeeze.

The more strength her sister put into her hand, the more Amelia felt a deep sense of unease.

***

Amelia, having finished her recollection, slowly opened her eyes.

Where to go was clear.

The eastern part of Noark, which had gradually become independent from the lord’s influence since Orculeus had made it their base.

“F, fire!!”

Now, people simply thought that a fire had broken out there, but in reality, a war was taking place.

And her past self…

‘By now, I’d be on a carriage heading to the east.’

It was a memory from 20 years ago, and at the time, it was her first large-scale battle, so she was out of her mind, but Amelia roughly remembered the route she had taken during that time.

It wasn’t a memory she could forget even if she wanted to.

For the past 20 years, her life had been nothing less than endlessly replaying and regretting that day.

Tap tap.

Amelia spurred her feet and moved towards her destination.

After running for a while, she arrived at the eastern region, where hundreds of explorers, who had been summoned by the lord without knowing anything, were stationed.

Looking around, she soon found the person she was looking for.

“You were here.”

“Who… oh, Emily?”

When Amelia approached and spoke to him, Felix Barker, who was waiting for battle, widened his eyes.

“How did you get here?”

He was glad to see her here, but he seemed a bit puzzled.

“It was noisy, so I went to the castle, and they sent me here. I heard the situation from others on the way.”

“Ah, I see… But where is Iron Mask?”

“He’s sleeping off his drunkenness, so I just left him behind.”

“Hmm, even so… to leave behind such a valuable asset…”

“Then what should I do? He was so drunk he couldn’t even come to his senses.”

At her words, Felix Barker only expressed his disappointment, but he didn’t find the content itself strange.

It was because the barbarian often used the excuse of drinking too much the day before when he was late.

“Well, I guess that guy didn’t know something like this would happen today either. Then it’s better to assume that he won’t come.”

After that, Amelia stood next to her younger self and her sister. Then, the sisters awkwardly greeted her.

“Hello…”

Unlike the easygoing barbarian, Amelia had not interacted with these two for over several months, except for necessary conversations.

It was because she couldn’t seem to speak whenever she stood in front of them.

However, this time, she forced herself to speak.

“Stay close.”

“…Yes?”

“That’s how I can protect you.”

“Ah, yes…!”

The sisters, who knew of Amelia’s outstanding skills, though they weren’t close, brightened up at her words.

They didn’t seem to know why she was suddenly being nice to them.

“Prepare for battle!”

Anyway, as the formation was set, it was soon her group’s turn to go to the front line.

The dozens of groups took turns at the front line, taking breaks in rotation…

There wasn’t anything particularly dangerous at the moment.

That was because the battle for suppression was being handled by the troops sent by the royal family and the lord’s elites, who had been informed of today’s plan in advance.

“They’re trying to escape! Kill them!”

The goal of the forces gathered here was not suppression but encirclement.

How strong could the remnants escaping from the burning city be?

A one-sided massacre ensued.

“It seems the lord is completely determined.”

“Looking at it, it seems like ordinary citizens make up almost 70%, is it really okay to kill them all like this?”

“Hah, you’re so stupid. You can’t distinguish them one by one. What if Orculeus members escape pretending to be citizens?”

“That’s true, but…”

There were some who expressed skepticism about the one-sided battle, but they were few in number. Most of them were people who were used to killing.

“Does anyone remember what the commander said earlier? How much was it per head?”

“I don’t remember well, but at the current rate, it seems better than going on an expedition once?”

“Hey! Did you hear that? Moles! You guys don’t fight, just collect ears! Oh, and if they have anything expensive on, take it all off!”

Most of them were gleeful, saying they could earn a high income for easy labor.

However, Amelia’s expression hardened as they did so.

She had been born in this city and grown up with them, but these ways of thinking were still repulsive to her, and…

At least she alone knew.

That this festive atmosphere was only fleeting, and that a hellscape would soon unfold.

“What’s that, who’s walking alone over there?”

Amidst the noise, someone’s mutterings were particularly loud.

Amelia quickly turned her head.

“…Is he out of his mind?”

A man walking alone from the front line came into view.

Considering that the numerous escape attempts so far had started with at least hundreds of people, it was a very incongruous sight.

However…

Thud.

As the man got closer, those watching sensed a strange feeling.

Thud.

A black uniform soaked in blood.

However, despite being wet, there wasn’t a single scratch on the clothes.

Judging by the fact that it was stained with red blood, it wasn’t like he had been lucky enough to not encounter anything on his way here.

Thud.

The sword he was wearing on his waist was also unusual.

As the distance got closer, everyone, being looters who could recognize the value of things like ghosts, realized that the sword was not an ordinary object.

The sword itself was too ordinary, but…

The name of the man carrying that ordinary sword was too famous in this city.

“…Hey, what I’m thinking, it’s not that, right? Please tell me I’m seeing things.”

“…”

“Does anyone recognize his face?”

There was a commotion among the explorers who were waiting.

Some, trusting their instincts, took a step back, while others were busy denying it, saying it couldn’t be.

But.

Thud-.

When the man narrowed the distance to 50m.

Whoosh-!

The flames emitted by a fire-type ability user disappeared before they could even reach the man, and a moment of silence fell.

It was because it was too famous of an ability.

“F, Fire Nullification…”

[Fire Nullification].

The power of the 5th floor’s ruler, the Silent Monarch.

This incomprehensible power, which nullifies the abilities that are the foundation of explorers, had been obtained by less than ten people in history…

And as far as it was known, there was only one person in the current era.

“H, he’s a traitor…”

The one and only criminal with the alias ‘Traitor’.

The very person who created the group called Orculeus with his own hands, and…

A once undefeated swordsman who was also called ‘Sword Saint’.

Ricardo Lühnphraha.

The appearance of that man caused chaos.

“Why is this man here…”

“They said he was fighting with the guys sent by the royal family!”

The man did not answer any of their questions.

He simply raised his sword quietly, as if he had no interest.

“R, run away!”