Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 340

Bjorn Yandel is an evil spirit.

At first, it was just a rumor, but as time passed, even the royal family acknowledged it.

Of course, refuting this wasn’t very difficult.

I just needed to create a place where I could prove it, and use Auriel Gavis’s gift there. Then I could regain my status as Baron Yandel and my reputation.

But….

‘No matter how I look at it, it’s a bit strange.’

The more I thought about it, the more uneasy I felt.

That’s because the dead have immunity.

It’s not really that way, but it’s morally so.

There’s no point in blaming the dead, so people don’t delve into it deeply, and people don’t pay much attention.

But that actually happened.

A rumor spread that a person who had already died was actually an evil spirit, and the royal family acknowledged it, which was absurd.

‘I should lay low for a while….’

This isn’t natural either.

It doesn’t seem like the will of God, where coincidences overlap.

The rumor spread because someone wanted it to.

It’s more realistic to think that the royal family acknowledged it because there was a good reason for it.

However, the problem is….

‘I have no idea what that reason is.’

There’s a lack of information.

Therefore, it’s dangerous to just go to the royal family and say, ‘I’ve come back alive,’ and go up to the verification stand.

Not everyone will welcome the news of my survival.

There might be someone who would be so sorry about my survival that they would want to make it as if it never happened.

If that guy is in the royal family, I’m as good as dead.

‘…Going up to the verification stand should be after I find out what’s going on.’

Soon, I decided on my stance for the time being.

First, gather information without revealing my return.

Clearing the false accusation and regaining my noble title and reputation will be the next thing to do.

“Hoo….”

After finishing my thoughts to some extent, I took a long breath and checked on Erwen, who was lying on the bed.

It seemed like I would have to rely on her for a while.

Right now, I don’t even have a place to stay, let alone money to buy a coat. In the first place, it’s impossible to disguise my identity and gather information with this obvious body.

Honestly, today’s appearance was a bit much….

‘Still, seeing her passed out after drinking just that much, it seems like her old self hasn’t completely disappeared….’

I was thinking that while looking at Erwen, who was sleeping like an angel, when.

“How long are you going to keep looking out the window?”

Erwen’s eyes opened.

“It’s like you’re waiting for someone.”

Uh…? Wasn’t she drunk and asleep?

***

The night, where the gentle moonlight felt particularly peaceful, passed, and as soon as the next morning dawned, Erwen put on her coat and prepared to leave.

And, as if she was uneasy, she repeatedly warned me.

“You absolutely must not go outside while I’m gone. There’s a way for me to know if you take even one step out. Got it…?”

I was a little curious about what the ‘way’ was, but I just nodded and asked where she was going.

“Are you going back to the holy land?”

“Yes. I have to stop by.”

I heard that she took the pureblood of the fairy race and made a contract with the Spirit King.

She also has the duties and responsibilities of her race—

“Because I need money in the future.”

“…Huh?”

“I’m going to sell everything I can and find a better house today. This place is… well, it’s a bit, you know?”

“…What’s wrong with it?”

“Nooo… It’s not that I don’t like it… but it’s better to start in a better place, right…?”

…I don’t really know, but I decided to accept that this inn had many shortcomings as a hideout.

“Then… I’ll be back?”

“Ah, wait a minute. Can I ask you for just one favor?”

“Yes? A favor? Should I buy you meat?”

“It’s not that… No, it’s not that you shouldn’t buy meat. Anyway, the favor is something else.”

After that, I asked Erwen to stop by the bank and check the vault. And I told her to bring it to me without asking any questions if there was anything in it.

“Okay. See you later, mister!”

Erwen readily agreed to my request and left.

It was a completely unreliable sight.

‘She’ll bring it properly, right…?’

I felt uneasy for some reason, but there was no other way.

If I went out, there would definitely be someone who would recognize me.

‘Still, it’s a relief that Amelia came back first.’

Only last night did I realize that the current time had exceeded the 22-year storage period of the vault, and I was shocked, but thankfully, it seemed that Amelia had taken appropriate measures.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have left such a will(?).

[The vault…….]

She would have gone in advance and extended the storage period.

She really is a reliable woman.

‘Looking at her yesterday, it seems like she’s grown even more in the meantime.’

The summoning radius of the clone created by [Self-Replication] is 5m.

And the operating range after summoning is 100m.

However, no matter how I looked at it, it didn’t seem like Amelia’s main body was nearby at that time.

In short, it means she has gained a new ability.

For reference, according to the DB, there are a total of three synergy skills that meet the above conditions.

However, considering that Amelia listened carefully to my advice in the past timeline, it’s likely that she ate what I recommended….

[Dual Rule].

It’s right to assume that she gave independence to the clone after eating the essence of the Twin Hydra.

I explained the disadvantages of other synergy skills enough.

‘Okay, I should get some sleep too….’

I had spent almost the entire night awake, so I was quite tired. So I went to bed and closed my eyes.

And how much time had passed?

“Mister, wake up.”

“Ah… you’re back….”

When I opened my eyes, I saw Erwen.

The sun was slowly setting outside the window.

Looking at the clock, it seemed like about 8 hours had passed….

“Did anything happen outside?”

“Are you… worried about me?”

No, I was sleeping.

“Of course.”

“…Hehe, this feels kind of nice.”

“Ahem, ahem, so how did the things you went out for go?”

“Ah, that? Luckily, I had some money saved up, so I was able to find a suitable house! There were some parts I didn’t like because I didn’t have much time, but don’t worry! I’ve fixed those parts properly.”

“Really? That’s good.”

I didn’t care about the house, so I ended the conversation around here and checked the thing I was most curious about.

“But… the bank? How did that go?”

“Ah… the bank…?”

Her reaction was quite subtle.

Seeing this, I became anxious for no reason.

Could she not open the vault?

I told her the password properly, right?

No, could it be… that Amelia couldn’t extend the period?

All sorts of possibilities were swirling in my head.

“Here.”

Erwen handed me a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket.

“Uh….”

I took it without thinking, but I didn’t understand.

“What… is this…?”

“It’s what was in the vault. You told me to bring it, right?”

“Was there a hammer in there by any chance? About this size—”

“There wasn’t anything like that. The only thing there was that letter just now.”

“…A letter?”

Only then did I realize the identity of the paper ball, and I carefully unfolded it. The sender was not written, but it was not difficult to tell who wrote the letter.

Amelia Rainwales.

“…Can I read it for a moment?”

“Go ahead.”

After getting permission from Erwen, I read the letter as quickly as possible. It was full of crumpled wrinkles, but there was no problem reading it.

To briefly summarize the content, it was like this.

I have taken some measures, but I am leaving a letter in case something goes wrong and we cannot meet.

The vault has been extended.

So if you leave your current location here, I will go there.

Ah, and lastly.

[Krauhl’s Demon Smasher is…….]

Unfortunately, the content of the letter ended here.

Perhaps because the letter was crumpled and torn, the last sentence was not completed.

‘The most important part is missing!’

I asked Erwen if she knew the missing content, but she only replied that she didn’t know.

Did she just read that part roughly and not remember it?

‘My hammer…!’

My heart ached in case something had happened while I was gone, but I decided not to think the worst.

Yes, that’s still an unobserved future, isn’t it?

It’s possible that Amelia simply has it.

Even if that’s not the case, if I just write a reply and send it, I’ll be able to find out what’s going on soon.

“Hey, Erwen….”

After burning the letter to maintain security, I called Erwen. I was going to ask her if she could put the reply in the vault.

But….

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault that you received a love letter. It’s just because you’re so great, what can I do?”

“Huh?”

“Ah, just in case, I’ve already disposed of the vault.”

“Uh….”

“You’re not sad, are you? That you can’t contact that woman.”

It was a situation where I should have gotten angry for doing such a thing without permission. And I was a person who knew how to get angry in situations where I should get angry.

Yes, that’s what it should have been….

“T-That can’t be!”

For some reason, words of denial came out without me realizing it.

It was an instinctive action.

If I were to give a reason later, it could be said that it was because I was worried about ruining my relationship with Erwen.

“Hehe, I knew it, right?”

Anyway, after that, we ate the food that Erwen had packed, and as we were doing that, it became night.

The time when the power of the dark spirit is most active.

We hid our appearances with the dark spirit, just like yesterday, and moved to the house that Erwen had found.

“You… found this in just one day?”

A detached house with a high fence and a private yard inside.

“I told you, I have a lot of money.”

Even so, to find a mansion like this in just one day, she must have bought it at full price without even negotiating….

‘At her level, wouldn’t it be better to just buy a new Demon Smasher?’

Thinking that, I followed Erwen into the mansion.

And….

Clang.

The thick iron door closed, and the lights in the mansion turned on brightly, and I realized.

“…….”

There were no windows.

No, to be precise, all the windows were covered with thick boards. When I looked at it from the outside, it was dark, so I thought it was just curtains….

“Hey… Erwen…?”

“Yes?”

“Why are the windows….”

“Ah, this? Well, it’s because it would be a problem if someone looked in from the outside….”

Erwen smiled and continued.

“Besides, we don’t have to go outside anymore, right?”

Gulp.

***

“Even so… isn’t it a bit much to even put up boards…? If people’s eyes are a problem, there are curtains, and the fence outside is also very high….”

I hastily gave a reasonable reason, feeling that something was wrong, but Erwen didn’t buy it at all.

“No, you don’t know. How good… no, how dangerous the situation is right now!”

“…….”

“I’m not just talking about you. What would happen if it was discovered that I was hiding you?”

“…It would be a big problem.”

It was such a valid point that I had no choice but to agree.

It’s not just a problem, it could mean losing all the foundations I’ve worked so hard to build up until now.

But did she gain confidence from my reaction?

“Right? So this is an unavoidable measure! You’re a troublemaker. I have no choice but to manage you, right?”

Erwen’s voice grew louder.

Of course, only for a very short time.

“Oh, what should I do… look at your slumped shoulders….”

When I lowered my head powerlessly, Erwen stomped her feet like someone who had seen a pitiful scene, and then carefully suggested a compromise.

“It’ll be hard, but cheer up… I’ll let you take a walk in the garden sometimes at night. Okay?”

“Really…?”

“Yes! Of course, assuming I’m by your side.”

“…….”

That’s how the secluded life began.

And time passed….

「The character’s soul resonates and is drawn to a specific world.」

It was midnight on the 15th.