Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 331

Bol-Herchan.

A colossal monster that appears on the 7th floor.

Since they live in groups in a designated area, farming their essence is relatively easy if you have the right stats. That’s why, during the royal family reward, I chose Bayon’s essence, which would be harder to obtain later.

However…

‘Actually, in terms of combat performance, this one was better.’

While Bayon’s [Transcendence] allows for versatility, variable creation, and skill combinations that break the mold, ‘Bol-Herchan’ focuses on just one thing.

Physical resistance.

The stat that a tank should prioritize even over strength.

Moreover, among Bol-Herchan’s active skills, there’s one that blocks aura [a type of energy or life force], making this essence essential for growing into a sturdy shield-barbarian.

‘The problem is… the color of the essence.’

The active skills vary depending on the color of the essence.

This is also the biggest reason why growth becomes more difficult as you go higher. It’s not just that high-level monsters are hard to hunt, but from 3rd grade and up, there are usually half a dozen or so colors of essence that can drop.

It’s not time to get ahead of myself yet.

Yes, at least not yet…

“Amelia, do you happen to know… what color the essence was?”

“Hmm, I think it was green.”

What? Green, you say?!

“Hallelujah…”

I couldn’t help but exclaim, and Amelia frowned. Well, it must have been strange since it was a word she’d never heard before.

“Is that a saying from your hometown?”

I explained that it was just a phrase used when I was lucky, without any religious meaning, and Amelia nodded, saying, ‘I see.’

Then, she glanced at me with a somewhat sulky look.

“When I mentioned that word earlier, you gave me such a look…”

Ah… right.

I had been serious when she said she was a demon.

It might have seemed like a double standard.

‘Tch, normally I would have only said hallelujah to myself.’

Is it because she’s the only companion (SSR) [Super Super Rare, a term used in gacha games to denote high rarity] in this world who knows I’m a demon?

I apologized honestly.

“It wasn’t that I was being strict with you alone. It’s just that I think I’m getting too comfortable around you. I’ll be more careful about that.”

“…Whatever.”

Amelia coolly accepted my apology, and that was the end of that.

I then brought up the most important question.

“But, Amelia…”

“Don’t give me that weird look, just say it.”

Well, if you insist.

“Do you… by any chance know how much it was sold for?”

As I asked, trying to calm my trembling emotions, Amelia chuckled and got up from her chair.

And…

Tap, tap.

She deliberately came next to me, leaned down, and whispered softly in my ear.

“…!!!!”

As soon as I heard it, goosebumps ran all over my body.

No, how can it be so expensive?

***

At first, I almost fainted when I heard the price, but when I thought about it, it wasn’t an unreasonable price.

It was a 3rd-grade essence, after all.

Since it was released in the exchange rather than the Sky Auction House, there would have been far more bidders vying for it. There are many nouveau riche who have a lot of money but don’t qualify to enter the Sky Auction House.

Anyway, that’s not the important thing.

“Hey… Amelia.”

“What is it?”

“It’s just that…”

As I trailed off, Amelia, who had already returned to her seat, crossed her legs and folded her arms.

It’s kind of hard to say anything more when she’s like that…

“Uh… it’s just that…”

As the time I was hesitating grew longer, Amelia sighed and scratched the itchy spot.

“You’re wondering how much you’d get if you sold all the equipment you’ve collected, right?”

“Yep.”

“Probably… you’d only get about 70%. And that’s assuming you sell it slowly at a fair price.”

Ah, I see.

“…I guess I have no choice but to give up on this.”

It’s not just a matter of being 30% short.

I’ve gathered all the equipment I’ve looted for the past half year, and the combined wealth of ten guys like that is what I have now.

It’s nearly impossible to raise enough money to make up 30% in a short period.

Looking at her expression, it seemed like Amelia thought so too.

“…Was it the essence you wanted?”

“Yeah…”

“Don’t be too discouraged. We can always get the essence ourselves later.”

That’s true, but…

“Haa…”

Even with Amelia’s consolation, I kept sighing.

If I had known this would happen, it would have been better to just not know. It feels like I received a birthday present, and then someone took it back, saying they gave it to me by mistake.

And it was the perfect color, wasn’t it?

In that brief moment, I even felt a sense of destiny—

“If you’re that desperate, there might be a way…”

At Amelia’s words, I lifted my head, which had been hanging low.

“A way…?”

Amelia avoided my gaze.

At first, I thought it was because my gaze was too much for her, but when I looked closely, it didn’t seem like she was just staring into space. It was more like she was fixed on something, or so I should say?

‘What is she staring at so intently…’

Without thinking, I checked where Amelia’s gaze was directed, and I jumped up in surprise.

I couldn’t help it.

There, leaning against the wall, was Crawl’s Demon Crusher, not hiding its imposing presence.

“Oh, no, not that!”

“Why not? It’s not like you can take it back to the original timeline anyway.”

“I’m going to bury it and hide it!”

“But isn’t there a risk? Disposing of it to get the essence might be the most reasonable option.”

Amelia’s words weren’t wrong.

No matter how well I hide it, there’s no guarantee it will be there in 20 years.

On the other hand, I can definitely take the essence back.

But…

“Are you really crazy! Asking a warrior to sell his weapon!!”

“Your tone suddenly became barbarian-like.”

“Ah, it’s a habit…”

“I kind of thought so.”

But how did the conversation suddenly turn this way?

I returned to the previous topic and spoke firmly.

“Anyway, I’m never going to sell this, so don’t ever suggest selling it again! I’d rather give up on that essence!”

It wasn’t just simple stubbornness.

Even if it’s a 3rd-grade essence, its rarity can’t compare to double-number items [items with two of the same number in their stats]. Double numbers are so rare that they don’t even appear often in the Sky Auction House.

Well, depending on the demand, the price might not be that different, or the essence might sell for more…

But in terms of acquisition difficulty, ‘Crawl’s Demon Crusher’ is dozens of times higher. Simply put, if I sell this now, I have no idea when I’ll be able to get it again.

“Hmm, if that’s the case.”

After I explained the reasons in detail, Amelia nodded without complaint.

And that was the end of the conversation.

Amelia went out again, saying she was going to see her sister, and I drank alcohol in the lodging, soothing my aching heart.

“Kick, the alcohol… tastes sweet today…”

How long will it take to get this essence?

I don’t know for sure, but it will probably take at least years.

First, I need to return to the original timeline, reorganize the clan, gradually upgrade the ship, break through the 6th floor, and go to the 7th floor to meet Bol-Herchan.

Farming until the desired color comes out is another story.

“Kkeuheue, Bol-Herchan…”

I was wallowing in self-pity while drinking alone when…

Squeak, the door opened.

“Are you still drinking?”

It was Amelia, who had spent the whole day by her sister’s side and only returned to the lodging after the sun had set.

“Hehe, you’re back, Amelia…”

“I told you to lock the door…”

“…I’m sorry.”

“…You’re apologizing?”

“I’ll make sure to lock the door from now on. It’s not like the essence is here anyway. If an assassin who can use aura comes, I’ll just die…”

Is it because I’m drunk after a long time?

I suddenly became overwhelmed with emotion and couldn’t continue speaking.

Amelia sighed deeply as she looked at me.

“The smell of alcohol is really strong.”

As a roommate, I had done something wrong, so I had nothing to say. So, I just hung my head low, and Amelia carefully opened her mouth.

“But, Yandel.”

“…?”

“Do you… want that essence that badly?”

“Huh…?”

I suddenly snapped back to my senses.

It was understandable.

It was like a tired mother, fed up with her son lying down in the toy corner, finally giving in.

“Could it be, is there a way…?”

At my question, filled with a sliver of hope, Amelia let out a hollow laugh.

And…

“Don’t get your hopes up too high.”

“Th-that means…!!”

I was too moved to speak.

“No, I mean, don’t get your hopes up too high. It just means there’s a way to try…”

It was a kind of reliable maturity from an older person that I had never experienced before.

***

After that day, Amelia went out every morning and returned to the lodging in the early hours of the morning with a tired face.

However, she didn’t answer my questions about what she was doing.

She said she’d tell me later if things worked out, since she didn’t know how it would go.

[If things go well, I can somehow solve the money problem. So, until the auction, do what you can. Don’t just stay home all day.]

[Amelia…!!!]

I couldn’t dare disobey Amelia’s instructions, so I diligently went out after that.

There was only one purpose.

A place where Crawl’s Demon Crusher could be hidden safely for 20 years.

‘Ha, the forest in the sanctuary seems perfect, but I’m worried that it might get disturbed again during a funeral…’

Finding my own garlic field [a safe place to hide something] was much more difficult than I thought. It’s like, even if a place seems good, when you look at it closely, it’s never 100% perfect.

‘The sewers are full of vagrants, so it’s hard to feel safe there… I can’t freely enter other races’ sanctuaries, so I have to pass on those…’

If Amelia fails to get the money, I’ll have to hide a large sum of money as well, so I had to choose an even more thorough place.

Well, that wasn’t the only thing I was worried about.

‘But what if she actually gets the money?’

My current level is 6.

I can eat a maximum of six essences, and all six slots are currently full.

To take Bol-Herchan’s essence, I would have to level up or erase one of the essences I already have.

However, to reach level 7, I would have to conquer more than half of the 6th floor, so there was no need to think about this part for long.

‘Which one would be best to erase?’

Orc Hero, Ogre, Bayon.

These three are core essences, so I have no intention of removing them, and Stormgush is a 3rd-grade essence, so it’s a shame to erase it.

It’s valuable enough with just its basic stats.

Therefore, there were two options.

‘Manticore.’

My only movement skill and a 5th-grade essence that I had planned to erase someday from the beginning.

And…

‘Corpse Golem.’

A 7th-grade essence that I had eaten out of desperation to survive, Corpse Golem.

Its grade is the lowest among the essences I have, but the choice was not easy.

‘I feel like I’d miss it if it was gone…’

The usefulness of this essence doesn’t need to be explained.

How much help I had received from the ‘Pain Resistance’ stat.

Even [Flesh Explosion] and [Acidic Fluid], which I thought were useless skills, had been helpful during battles.

However…

‘It’s about time to graduate from it. I didn’t plan to use it this long in the first place.’

If I had to choose one of the two, it would be right to keep the Manticore.

It’s a simple reason.

Even if I get 20% of the stats back as a payback with the effect of [Inheritance], my magic resistance, which was 200, would immediately drop to 40.

If I erase this now, I would have to eat one more intermediate essence to balance it out until I get the essence of ‘Bellarios’ to take care of my magic resistance.

‘Well, this is meaningless if Amelia can’t get the money.’

The thought that the hiding place would become even more important if she failed made me explore the city even more diligently, and time passed quickly.

And…

‘Only 3 days left.’

It was now three days before the auction.

I placed the clock on the table and lay down on the bed.

‘How will it go this time?’

It was midnight on the 15th.

***

“Oh, at least I’m here.”

I woke up in a room similar to usual, and the first thing I did was put on the mask hanging on the wall.

Then, I hurried out of the room.

“…”

The empty hallway was filled with silence.

However, if my guess is correct, somewhere in this place, the 2nd master who took over this space, the GM [Game Master], should be present.

‘Should I look around first?’

I wandered through the hallway, carefully examining the mansion.

I didn’t see any of the existing members, such as the Commander or the Doom Scholar.

‘Come to think of it, what happened to them…’

As such questions gradually began to arise, I saw a white man standing blankly in the main hall on the first floor.

He was clearly not a demon from another world.

After all, he was wearing a tracksuit with a familiar logo.

‘Could that be the GM?’

I took a step forward to get a better look.

But did he sense my presence because of that?

“A, a person…?!”

The man, who had been looking around, flinched as he made eye contact with me.

“…”

In the silence that followed, I examined him, and he did the same to me.

‘That’s unexpected.’

His features looked somewhat clumsy.

His gaze was full of confusion.

It seemed like he was afraid of me…

“Um… who, who are you? They said they had expelled all the original members…”

‘All the existing members have been expelled…’

Seeing him reveal information that I hadn’t even asked about while being wary, I couldn’t help but smell it.

The thick scent of a newbie that couldn’t be hidden even if he tried.

‘Yeah, even if he’s the GM, he’s probably been here for less than a year. He’s bound to be green.’

How should I handle this?

My mouth was already watering.

Is that why?

“H-hey, perhaps… Elder! Are you the Elder?”

At his question, with such an innocent expression.

Lick-

I couldn’t help but stick out my tongue.