Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 326

It was like a monster that had lost its life.

Swaaaah-!

Jerome’s body, slumped on the sewer’s surface, was finely fragmented into particles of light and scattered. Some items remained, but most were worthless. The expensive-looking equipment, like swords and armor, were all engulfed in light and disappeared.

‘Is it Iblis…?’ [Iblis is a term often used to refer to a devil or demon]

There was a guess as to what the essence was. But that’s not important right now.

“……”

“……”

Silence filled the air, broken only by the sound of water flowing in the sewer.

Aurell Gabis, who had been smiling with a stiff, almost paralyzed expression, finally spoke.

“I’ll ask you, are you an evil spirit?”

It wasn’t a question, but a final confirmation. Well, having come this far, he must have already been certain that the 6th-grade explorer, Nivels Enche, whom they couldn’t find in the city, was ‘Iron Mask’.

‘Even so, the reason he’s asking is that he wants to hear from my own mouth whether Iron Mask is me…’

I, who had directly witnessed him incapacitate the strongest knight of the royal family with a single gesture, activated the Barbarian Confucian skin mode [a mode or persona that combines barbarian strength with Confucian politeness] and opened my mouth.

“An evil spirit? I don’t know where you got that idea, but I’m not. Elder.”

Aurell Gabis made a sound as if he was dumbfounded by my polite tone.

“That’s a lie.”

Huh, so he could use a lie detector here too. I had expected it, but I felt a bit bitter when the attempt failed.

However, there was no time to be frustrated. This isn’t the community, is it? If I’m not careful, things could get physical. That’s why……

“Hehe, I can’t fool you, Elder. You’re amazing.”

I quickly changed my approach. Since trying to deceive him further would likely be seen as an insult, I decided to admit what needed to be admitted.

“Yes, I am the person you were looking for, Elder. I was flustered that we met outside, so I couldn’t tell you honestly.”

“Flustered, you say…”

“Yes, I was flustered. And I didn’t exactly lie, did I?”

Aurell Gabis chuckled at my confident question.

“Hehe, well… come to think of it, you didn’t ‘lie’.”

That’s right. I didn’t lie back then. What about asking about the city’s situation? I answered that the lord had joined hands with the royal family and launched a surprise attack. When asked if a barbarian had come in about four or five months ago, I said there was, and when asked for the barbarian’s name, I kindly answered, ‘Bjorn, the son of Thor’.

“Yes, I couldn’t bring myself to lie in front of you, Elder—”

“But you know.”

“…Yes?”

“Do you know that being tricked like that is much more unpleasant than being lied to?”

“Ah……”

That’s the truth. It’s not like there’s no way to break through it, but.

“…I’m sorry.”

After apologizing first.

“I have a mental illness.”

I added the reason.

“…Mental illness?”

“Yes. As I live here, I keep deceiving someone against my will. Sigh, I shouldn’t live like this…”

It’s a kind of diffusion of responsibility. If the environment made me like this, then it’s this old man who pushed me into that environment.

“Hehe……”

Aurell Gabis, who had suddenly become the primary responsible party, chuckled. Fortunately, this time his eyes were smiling too. Rather, he seemed amused by the situation because I was so bold.

Okay, so the atmosphere has become a bit more relaxed now……

“More importantly, did you come here because of me?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm, I feel a bit uncomfortable that you’re investigating people like this…”

When I trailed off and made a gesture as if I was burdened, Aurell Gabis coughed.

“Ahem, but if I didn’t do this, I wouldn’t be able to meet you.”

“Yes? Ah…… That’s right. Why did the community suddenly close? I was thinking that maybe you had expelled me.”

“Ah, there was a reason for that.”

“A reason?”

“Let’s just say there was royal family intervention. It’s been somewhat restored now.”

“Oh, so can we see each other there from next month?”

“That’s not the case. I transferred ownership to a friend a while ago. You might not know, but it’ll be hard for me to see it now.”

“A friend… are you talking about the GM?”

“Probably.”

After that, my curiosity piqued, I asked who the GM was, but Aurell Gabis didn’t answer. A secret he couldn’t tell me. It was more like he was sulking than anything else.

“Well, there’s no reason to keep it a secret, but… try to figure it out on your own.”

“Yes?”

“If you only see me as a trading partner, I have no choice but to do the same.”

“Ah, yes……”

Seriously, this old man, who’s over 300 years old, is sulking over this. It’s his fault for having a lie detector and getting tricked.

“But when are you going to stop using that tone?”

“Yes?”

“You were calling me ‘you’ and such back there. It feels awkward because you seem like a different person when you use that tone.”

“Haha, Elder, you’re funny. That’s just a concept there.”

“Concept?”

“Yes, it’s like another character. You could say it’s a weakling’s struggle not to be looked down on? There’s no way I’d be rude to you, Elder, unless I was crazy.”

“Hmm, I don’t know exactly, but I think I understand what you’re trying to say.”

Aurell Gabis quietly nodded. And there was a moment of silence without any further words. It was after some time that he opened his mouth.

“Anyway, the reason I came to find you like this is to try to start our relationship again.”

It was like a clingy ex-lover’s wording.

“…Yes?”

As I couldn’t hide my bewilderment, the old man quickly added an explanation.

“I want to have a friendly relationship with you. It’s clear that we can help each other, but a relationship that just goes around in circles is frustrating for both of us, isn’t it?”

“Ah……”

“So, I’ve prepared a gift.”

“A gift, you say…”

I couldn’t help but flinch at the word. I was excited, but also worried, I guess? I couldn’t read what his intentions were.

“Don’t be nervous. It’s definitely not bad.”

“Could you tell me more details?”

“As you know, I want you to open the gate of the abyss. In that sense, I said it was a gift, but it’s also for me.”

Ugh, why is he talking so long?

“I see. So?”

“It’s an ability that will be of great help to you in concealing your identity in the future.”

Having said that, Aurell Gabis briefly explained about the ‘gift’. To summarize, he was saying that he would use his authority to give me a permanent buff.

“So, if I receive that, I won’t be affected by ‘verification’ magic or interrogation items like ‘misplaced trust’, is that correct?”

“That’s correct. It’s putting a shield on your body, so it won’t work when your mind is open.”

“When my mind is open?”

“For example, the place you’re called to every month.”

Ah, so it doesn’t work in the spiritual world. Then it would be impossible to just spew lies at the Round Table.

“So, what do you think of my gift?”

I thought for a moment. It was definitely a very helpful ability. Since he said it himself, if I really received that gift, I wouldn’t be affected by things like ‘misplaced trust’. But……

‘Apart from that, it feels like he’s going to do something sneaky.’

I don’t know much about magic. If Aurell Gabis planted a tracking virus or something with the gift, I wouldn’t have the ability to find and remove it. And the problem is……

‘I can’t refuse.’

He’s an old man who sent a knight of light to the other side with a single gesture. In short, if he had the intention to harm me, he could force it through with his power.

“Okay. So, are you going to do it right now?”

“Actually… I’ve already done it. As soon as I met you again in the sewer.”

“Yes? But I didn’t feel any signs of that…”

“That’s my specialty.”

Ah, I see. I knew from the beginning that I didn’t have a choice. ‘This is a bit dirty.’ Somehow, he’s been talking in the past tense since earlier.

***

After the talk about the ‘gift’ was settled, Aurell Gabis said firmly.

“I’ll say it in advance, I have no intention of forcibly controlling you.”

That was good news to hear. I don’t know how long that statement will be kept, but it’s better than being threatened with magic right now, isn’t it?

“As expected of you, Elder. I respect you.”

“Hehe, you’re saying…”

I said some flattering words, and the old man smiled humbly, but in the end, we both knew that this was a futile effort. However, in social life, pretense is also a form of etiquette. I laughed and organized my thoughts. There were two options ahead.

1. “Haha, it was nice meeting you. You said you wouldn’t do it forcibly, right? Then I have some urgent business to attend to… Please take care!”

To somehow shake off Aurell Gabis and move to save Amelia. And……

2. Exploiting the old man. To receive help from Aurell Gabis. It didn’t take long to make a decision. I tried to avoid it, but in the end, I faced him again like this, didn’t I? Moreover, it’s impossible to secretly detach myself. Even if I chose option 1, it was clear that this stalker-like old man would follow me from behind.

‘Even the iron mask that covers my face will be taken off if that old man wants to… and if it goes that far, finding out my name will be a piece of cake.’

If I’m going to give it up anyway, I thought it was the most rational choice to get something out of it while giving it up. ‘Since it’s come to this, let’s suck him dry.’ Having finished the decision, I carefully opened my mouth.

“Um… Elder.”

“Ah, go ahead.”

“Could I ask you for a favor? If you grant this, I’ll tell you my face and name.”

“Face and name…?”

“Yes, haven’t you always been curious about it?”

“That’s true, but…”

“Let’s work together on one thing.”

Aurell Gabis didn’t answer my proposal. He just stared at me. With eyes that seemed to say, ‘What kind of trick is this bastard trying to pull now?’

***

At that time. Amelia, who was leading her sisters through the sewer, stopped walking.

“W, why did you suddenly stop…?”

There was no sign of anyone nearby. However, one of the abilities of the essence that had been activated since earlier had stopped working. In other words, to put it another way……

“He’s here.”

The traitor, Ricardo Ruehenfraha, is nearby. ‘So, this is how it’s going to be…’ Then, what happened to Yandel, who was fighting him? That thought suddenly came to mind, but Amelia shook off her worries. Didn’t she say she would believe? That wasn’t what she needed to worry about right now.

“If it’s him, could it be…?”

Laura flinched at Amelia’s murmur. It was because she had told these sisters that Ricardo Ruehenfraha was chasing her when they asked about her severed arm.

“Yes, it’s him.”

When Amelia agreed, the two girls trembled with tension. They remembered the sight of him cutting down hundreds of explorers a few hours ago.

“Amelia, Laura.”

“…Yes, yes!”

“Listen carefully. We’re almost there.”

Amelia told them the way to the city, including only the necessary information as briefly as possible.

“Go, I’ll somehow block him here.”

The sisters’ reactions were divided. “Why is Emily doing so much for us…?” The younger one was at a loss. She seemed worried about her, as if she was worried about being left alone. However, her older sister, Laura, was different.

“Amelia, come here quickly.”

“B, but…”

“Hurry!”

While harboring feelings of doubt and gratitude, she coldly took care of her younger sister and ran through the passage she had told them about. Laura had it. One thing that was much more important than personal feelings.

“……”

Amelia watched the backs of the sisters as they held hands and ran for a moment. It was vividly clear without even closing her eyes. The end of that dark passage. The memory of what she had experienced at that end. Can I really change that future? I didn’t know yet. But……

“They seem to be precious children.”

A man’s low voice echoed.

“That’s great.”

The man she turned to look at, Ricardo Ruehenfraha, was smiling.

“Because I can show you what it feels like to lose.”

Amelia put strength into the hand holding the dagger.