Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 322

Long, white hair, thinned out.

Fine wrinkles.

A gentle, likeable impression.

An upright posture that didn’t match his age, and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through a person.

“Hmm, this place is always so gloomy, no matter when I come.”

My heart sank at the appearance of the old man, who looked exactly like the one I’d seen in the community.

‘Auriel Gavis…?’

Of course, I had considered the possibility of encountering him today.

After all, Amelia had told me.

That this old man was also there on the day her sister died.

But….

‘No, why is this geezer here?’

The reason this old man is here, not at the center of the incident, but right here.

No matter how much I think about it, there’s only one possibility.

‘He came… to find me.’

My heart started beating faster, and my mind became a mess.

How did this old man find me?

Did he find out about Bjorn Yandel too?

Why was the community closed for months?

No, more than anything….

What is this old man going to do to me now?

As I pondered these questions, cold sweat belatedly broke out and started trickling down my spine.

It was at that moment.

“Ahem.”

Auriel Gavis cleared his throat, drawing attention.

He seemed displeased that I was just standing there, staring without saying a word….

I need to do something, anything.

Ha, but what should I say?

Right, let’s start with a natural greeting—

“Now, will you step aside?”

What?

“If someone as big as you is blocking the path like that, I can’t pass.”

What did he say?

‘…Could it be that he doesn’t know it’s me?’

My mind went blank at the unexpected turn of events.

However, my mouth, which had told countless lies, knew what to do and acted accordingly.

“Ah, yes…. Please, go ahead, sir.”

Honorifics I hadn’t used even once since inhabiting the barbarian’s body.

Auriel Gavis smiled contentedly at this.

“A rare sight, a polite young man? Or perhaps you’re just quick-witted. You’ll live a long life.”

As I moved to the side to make way, he chuckled and passed by.

Thump, thump.

The sound of his footsteps grew fainter.

A thought suddenly occurred to me.

I instinctively avoided the situation, but was it the right thing to hide my identity?

Of course, it was just a fleeting thought.

This wasn’t in the community, but a real encounter. If I could hide my identity, I should, of course. If he found out about Bjorn Yandel, I’d have too many things to worry about when I returned to the future.

‘Right, I handled it well….’

As I thought that, my frozen body relaxed, and the reality of the situation slowly began to sink in.

It was then.

“Ah, I didn’t ask that.”

Auriel Gavis, who had been walking away, turned back.

And he stared at me, asking a question.

“What on earth happened today that this place is in such a state?”

“The lord joined forces with the royal family and launched a surprise attack on Orculys.”

“Oh, is that so….”

Unlike his words, which sounded intrigued, there was no interest in his voice.

So, at first, I wondered if I was mistaken….

But after hearing the second question, the difference became clear.

“Ah, and one more thing. Hasn’t a barbarian entered this city recently? Maybe about four or five months ago….”

It was the complete opposite of the first question.

It was a casual tone, but his voice was filled with undisguised, deep interest.

‘Calm down, calm down….’

After trying hard to calm my pounding heart, I opened my mouth calmly, searching for the most appropriate answer.

“Yes, there was.”

It wasn’t good to lie.

In the first place, it was an answer that would come out if you just went to the city and asked a few people, so there was no reason to do so.

“Oh, is that so? Could you perhaps tell me where I might find him?”

“If I remember correctly, he belonged to the lord’s forces. So, I think he’s probably fighting in the east right now.”

“Haha, not only are you polite, but you’re also a very kind young man? What’s your name?”

“Excuse me?”

“Ah, not you, but that barbarian.”

“Bjorn. I heard he was Bjorn, son of Thor.”

After hearing the answer, he nodded and tapped my arm as if giving praise.

“Thank you for answering. You look busy, so I’ll be on my way.”

“Yes, I hope you achieve what you desire, sir.”

Whew, why does the air feel so cold?

As soon as it seemed like the conversation was over, I bowed lightly and entered the passage.

Thump, thump.

I could hear the old man’s footsteps fading behind me, and when the sound was no longer audible.

‘Phew, I almost had a heart attack.’

I started running with all my might.

***

Meanwhile, at that time.

“What is the current situation on the eastern front?”

“As ordered, we are stalling for time with only the minimum forces, and we can retreat at any time if we receive the order.”

Jerome Saintred, the silver-haired knight, nodded with a satisfied expression after hearing the report from the adjutant mage.

It was because the first ‘special mission’ he had received after taking the position of commander was successfully coming to an end.

The first goal of the special mission, the ‘Fragment of Records,’ had been obtained.

And the additional goal of reducing the power of Noark by causing internal strife had also been achieved.

“Immediately send a message to the field mages. In 10 minutes, gather at the assembly point and return.”

“Yes.”

Once the forces deployed in the east were withdrawn, the forces of Orculys would vent their anger on the dead lord.

And the civil war would begin in earnest—

“Um….”

Jerome nodded at the adjutant’s voice.

A gesture meaning to speak if he had something to say.

As soon as permission was granted, the adjutant asked in a cautious yet polite voice.

“May I ask about the purpose of the necklace you are holding?”

“That is information not permitted to you.”

Jerome answered firmly and put the necklace in a box, storing it in his subspace.

Then, the adjutant bowed his head as if he had made a mistake.

“I apologize. I was just wondering why Commander Saintred had a refined stone necklace…. I swear I didn’t know it was an item related to a solo special mission.”

A postscript that felt like he was asking to be believed that he was just curious and had no other intentions.

Jerome flinched at this.

“A refined stone necklace…? What does that mean?”

“…Excuse me?”

“Explain in detail. Is this a refined stone necklace?”

Jerome even took out the necklace again and showed it to the adjutant.

And he heard the same answer.

“Yes, it’s certain. It’s a magical tool with a whole piece of high-grade refined stone embedded in it. Ah, refined stone refers to a specially processed rift stone that makes magic casting more efficient….”

In the middle of his explanation, the adjutant shut his mouth.

It was because a chilling sound of ‘crunch’ came from the jaw of his direct superior, Jerome.

“So, I was deceived….”

The adjutant lowered his head without realizing it.

It was understandable.

Jerome was usually a man who would laugh it off, saying it was a common occurrence, even if he bought an item worth 10,000 stones for 1 million stones.

“…Adjutant Avex, you will lead the troops and return to the city first.”

“Yes? Then, what about Commander Saintred….”

“I have something to do.”

Jerome left abruptly without even hearing the answer, and the adjutant could only watch without saying a word.

It was the first time he had seen the commander so angry.

***

The underground sewer system that supports the water and sewage system of Lafdonia.

Those who have been here all think the same thing.

First, the smell is beyond words, and second, the path is more complicated than any maze.

Just like this.

‘It’s a place that always makes me feel bad, no matter when I come.’

After running for a long time along a long, straight passage, I climbed up a ladder into the sewer.

After removing a manhole-like iron structure, I was greeted by a four-way intersection right from the start.

Of course, there was no problem finding the direction.

Traces of what seemed like dozens of people having passed by were left on only one path.

I just had to follow it like a signpost.

Well, the problem was something else.

‘Damn sewer.’

It was a completely water-only designed area, and unlike the sewer areas I had experienced, there were no side paths for people to pass through.

No, strictly speaking, it wasn’t that there weren’t any at all….

‘Now they’re even discriminating against barbarians in sewer design.’

A side path that was too narrow for a tall barbarian over 2 meters to pass through.

Splish, splash.

In the end, I had no choice but to walk through the sewage that came up to my shins.

How long had it been?

Traces of battle left on the walls began to come into view.

Most of them were sword marks engraved on the walls.

The depths were all different, but the sword marks had one thing in common. The cut surfaces were very clean, as if they had been made using precision machinery.

The identity of the one who left the sword marks could also be roughly inferred.

The shallow ones must be Amelia, and the deep ones must be that guy.

The commander of Orculys.

The traitor, Ricardo Ruehenfraha.

“Tsk.”

Somehow, it tasted bitter.

In the original plan that the two of us had decided to carry out, our goal was to somehow separate this guy and enter the sewer.

That’s because in the original history, when Amelia reunited with her younger self in the sewer, she was being chased by this guy.

But….

‘In the end, they couldn’t separate him.’

Looking at the circumstances, it seems they didn’t succeed after all.

Sigh, why did she do such a useless thing?

The future isn’t something that can be changed like that.

‘She’s strangely stubborn in these kinds of situations.’

In a way, Amelia is similar to a barbarian.

Even though she’s human, she’s so stubborn and doesn’t know how to give up.

And not only that?

She acts like she’s the only rational one, but she’s also incredibly sentimental—

Boom-!

A loud explosion echoed from afar, and the sewer shook.

Tap-!

I picked up the pace.

***

There are limits to the physical body.

No matter how much you exercise and build muscle, there is a maximum limit to the power you can exert.

That’s why essence is the foundation of an explorer [a person who explores dungeons and other dangerous places for treasure and knowledge].

Because this power exists in the world, explorers can fight against giant monsters by exerting power beyond their limits.

But, that’s only until now.

“So, you’ve finally decided to fight.”

Amelia was overwhelmed with powerlessness.

The performance of her greatly enhanced body itself was the same.

However, all of her abilities were sealed.

[Fountain of Immortality].

The ability that greatly increased her natural regeneration in exchange for not receiving any healing effects, including potions.

[Self-Replication].

That which had always given her a numerical advantage in one-on-one situations.

[Abyssal Power] and [Asura Mode], all the abilities that had been her wings in battle, were all out of order.

All because of this one man standing in front of her.

“…Why are you so obsessed with me?”

Amelia asked the question she had been holding back.

That’s because she couldn’t understand.

She had spent over two hours running around the city trying to shake off this man, but he had stubbornly followed her.

Even to this stinky sewer.

“Was it an unexpected action?”

Amelia nodded at the man’s question.

“Yes, I don’t understand at all. Instead of following a woman like me, wouldn’t it be much more important for you to go to the lord?”

The royal family and the lord were allied to wipe out Orculys.

But this man, who was the commander and the best fighter, suddenly left the front lines and followed a woman he had no connection with?

Regardless of knowing the outcome, the process was completely incomprehensible.

“That’s a ridiculous question.”

He smiled coldly.

“A human female. A pointed, red aura that seems to be specialized in daggers. All of these are characteristics of the Rose Knights.”

“…Rose Knights?”

“Are you going to deny it even after coming this far?”

Amelia was genuinely flustered.

She knew what the Rose Knights were. A direct unit of the royal family that was in charge of special missions such as assassination, infiltration, and sabotage.

There were rumors that it was made up of only women, but that had not been accurately confirmed.

“I guess you’re a rookie? Well, that’s why you would ask such a question after seeing me.”

“No, I’m not a member of the Rose Knights—”

“Give up on the thought of living.”

Amelia tried to start a conversation, but it didn’t work.

“I have no interest in what you have to say.”

He cut off the conversation and swung his sword.

Amelia quickly pulled up her aura to block it.

No, it was the moment she thought she had blocked it.

Swoosh-!

The right wrist holding the dagger was cut off and fell into the sewer with a splash.

And almost at the same time.

Whoosh-!

The sword flew again.

The target was her left wrist.

A cruel will to cut off everything that could be cut was evident in his sword.

Clang-!

Amelia knocked away the sword with her aura-infused dagger and retreated.

But had he predicted even that movement?

The sword, which had been aiming for her left wrist, twisted like a snake as if using the recoil, changing its trajectory towards Amelia’s neck.

“Ugh…!”

When she came to her senses, Amelia was cornered against the wall.

She could feel the cold touch of the blade on her neck.

Squeeze-

As the man pushed the blade in, a stinging pain and blood flowed out.

“You have a nice face.”

Because her trachea was being pressed by the tip of the sword, Amelia couldn’t even breathe properly, let alone open her mouth to speak.

“It suits you.”

Her mind went blank as she ran out of oxygen.

Was she really going to die?

No, then what would happen to her sister and her younger self?

According to the original history, she should have only been injured and met the two of them….

“……”

Amelia looked around as if rolling her eyes.

As if looking for someone else who could solve this crisis.

‘…Yandel.’

Realizing who she was looking for, Amelia couldn’t help but chuckle.

There was no way he would come here.

She had personally given him a drug that would knock him out for at least six hours.

By now, he would have woken up, read the note, and arrived at the lord’s castle. Well, if he woke up a little earlier, he might have already gotten his hands on that item and returned to his original time.

No, it was highly likely that he had already returned.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense.

“Are you looking for a way to live?”

No matter how much she looked around, there was no way out.

The moment that sword pierced a little deeper, this life, which had become so ridiculously long, would also come to an end.

Which meant.

“Pfft….”

The history had changed.

Today, she would die here.

The cause was definitely….

‘Because Bjorn Yandel returned.’

She had excluded Yandel from this plan.

There were several reasons.

First of all, she didn’t want to owe a debt to a barbarian.

And she thought that if he used the Fragment of Records to return to his original world, she would be able to twist the predetermined causality.

The legend that history could be changed wasn’t just created out of thin air.

She believed that there would be an answer in that item, which contained an unknown power.

No, she just hoped.

It was the same feeling as a person adrift in a small boat drinking seawater because they were thirsty.

But surprisingly.

“Why are you laughing?”

It worked.

Squeeze.

The man pushed the sword in a little further, as if he was displeased.

Death, which she had always lived with, felt a little closer.

‘Right, he really succeeded in returning.’

Amelia closed her eyes.

And she thought.

“Suffer more.”

What would happen to our sisters after I die?

If I’m not there, someone will surely die….

‘No, maybe it will end safely because I’m not there.’

It was an ending she could never know.

But if that was really the case, she would be happy, but also somewhat sad.

Squeeze.

The sword dug a little deeper into her flesh.

She couldn’t breathe, and her thoughts became dull.

She didn’t care anymore.

She had done her best.

So, now she could rest.

It was at that moment that she had that thought.

“Behel—laaaaaaaa!”

A familiar voice was heard from beyond the passage.