Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 351

Raven’s harassment, or whatever it was, ended when we reached our destination after a fifteen-day voyage.

A vast plain stretched out across the continent.

A dark, purplish barrier, like a wall forbidding intruders, ran along the edge of the land.

And in front of it, a portal shimmered in the sea.

“Waaaaah!”

“We’ve arrived!”

The explorers gathered on the deck, cheering as soon as the long-awaited sight appeared beyond the horizon.

Well, the voyage was indeed boring.

I was either looking at the islands when I felt okay, or suffering from seasickness most of the time, so I didn’t have time to be bored.

“Riehen Schuetz.”

As soon as Erwen stood next to me, she warned me once more, lowering her head. It seems she knows she was wrong…

At this point, she won’t make any more slip-ups, right?

“So, why did you come? It seems like it’ll take a while to enter the portal.”

“Just… I wanted to be with you…”

At first, I felt a huge burden from such direct words, but it has lessened a lot now.

Or should I say, I’ve gotten used to it?

“…But what’s that ship? I don’t think I saw it when we set sail.”

I pointed to a spot with my finger.

The portal we arrived at was already crowded with ships, and among them were quite a few vessels of a different type than the sailing ship we came on.

“Ah, that? It’s a fast ship. Usually, they gather the people who arrived fastest on the 6th floor and send them ahead.”

“To stop the Noark guys from coming down?”

“Yes, that’s been happening more often recently. Judging by the fact that there are no signs of battle on the ship, it seems there were no such attempts this time… But a while ago, more than half of the fast ships were completely destroyed; it was that intense.”

I see.

Anyway, since they arrived the fastest, they must have taken down the monster called the gatekeeper.

I bet they didn’t get any essence, right?

As I was thinking such thoughts and looking around, I felt the gazes of the surrounding explorers.

It was a change that had occurred as the voyage grew longer.

“That woman is the Blood Spirit Marquis…”

“But do you know who the man next to her is?”

“Well, I asked a friend who joined the Magic Corps, and he said it’s his first expedition, and that he retired a few years ago and came back.”

“Hmm, but to become a companion of one of the Seven Greats… He must have something up his sleeve, unlike what he looks like.”

Thanks to Erwen’s fame, Amelia and I were also getting attention wherever we went.

For now, the emotions mixed in their gazes were 99% curiosity.

Although new faces without names appeared in every war, since we were traveling with the Blood Spirit Marquis from the start, they were curious about our identities and skills.

Oh, and 1% was hostility.

“Schuetz.”

“Ah, Raven, you mean.”

“She’s doing that again from afar.”

Even while talking with the corps members, Raven’s gaze was fixed on us and wouldn’t leave.

“Um… should we take care of her later when the situation allows…?”

What is she saying?

I flicked Erwen’s forehead as if telling her not to say such nonsense, and Erwen looked up at me with a wronged expression.

“But what if she finds out? I’m worried.”

Actually, I had been pondering this a bit.

Of course, not about whether to take care of her or not, but whether to reveal my identity and ask for cooperation.

However…

‘It just seems like it’ll be more troublesome for no reason.’

First of all, convincing her that I’m not an evil spirit is a task in itself, and even if she is convinced, there’s no guarantee that she’ll keep the secret and cooperate.

Raven, it’s true that she’s kind, but she’s not the type to mix personal matters with work.

‘Even if she keeps it a secret, since she’s currently affiliated with the royal family, there could be damage later if it gets exposed.’

I ultimately decided that it would be best to reveal it after I’ve personally resolved everything.

But…

“If I get caught, then I’ll have no choice but to tell everything.”

Whatever my hopes are, if I get exposed before that, I’ll have no choice but to ask for cooperation—.

“…Crap, then it’s increasing.”

…Was that what you were worried about?

***

Boooooooom-!

The moment the ship at the very front sounded its horn, the ship we were on also became chaotic.

“Everyone to your positions!”

Finally, after a short waiting period, it was time to enter the battlefield all at once.

At the order of a member of the royal family, the explorers who had been watching from the deck moved to their assigned positions.

Oh, by the way, we didn’t need to move.

That’s because our assigned waiting position was on the deck.

“Mister… no, Riehen, I’ll tie you up!”

“Huh?”

“I’m good at this kind of thing!”

Soon, we were connected to the ship with ropes we had received.

A measure taken in case we fell off the ship.

Once the preparations were roughly complete, the horn sounded again from the front, and the ship began to move.

“This is a bit nerve-wracking…”

“Don’t worry. I will definitely protect Riehen…”

Oh, isn’t that a line that I, the tank, should be saying?

Even with such thoughts, I didn’t bother to continue the small talk.

“Flagship entry complete!”

The ships at the front passed through the portal, and as the ship we were on got closer to the portal, I felt my body heating up.

Well, we’re heading to the battlefield now, after all.

Not just me, but the other explorers also had stiff and determined expressions, unlike before.

Sigh, seeing everyone like that makes me feel like I’m getting PTSD from what happened on the 1st floor.

“Main force, entry complete!”

It was about time I let go of my lighthearted attitude.

This is the first time I’m entering the 7th floor with this body, isn’t it?

Moreover, that place is teeming with explorers who are more dangerous than monsters.

Even if we’re heading there to gain something.

There’s always a chance that we’ll return having lost something.

“Erwen, and Emily.”

“Yes.”

“Speak.”

I said, gripping the railing with one hand and the shield I had recently bought with the other.

“Never leave my side.”

Flash-!

Soon, the ship we were on entered the portal.

***

Thud-!

The large sailing ship, which had been briefly suspended in the air as if thrown by a giant, crashed onto the water’s surface, sending out a spray of water.

It was an amazing experience, but there was no time to be distracted.

Because this place we’re in now isn’t a peaceful sea under a blue sky.

[You have entered the 7th floor, the Dark Continent.]

The sea was dyed black as if covered in oil.

Even though it was just the beginning of the continent, the surrounding fog was already affecting our vision.

And…

Boom! Boom! Fwoooosh-!

The explosions erupting from all over assaulted our eardrums.

It was due to the magic cannons fired by the Noark forces waiting above the canyon.

“Their welcome is particularly fierce today.”

“Where did those guys get those magic cannons?”

“They probably stole them from our ships a while ago.”

Even as we were talking, magic cannons, black magic, and various abilities were flying towards the ship.

Just from the sound, we could tell they were quite powerful, but the royal family’s fleet suffered no damage.

Well, there’s nothing that can’t be done with money.

Whoosh-!

The defensive magic circle, activated the moment we entered the 7th floor, blocked all incoming attacks in advance.

Occasionally, the ship would shake violently from the impact, but it never reached the point of being damaged.

It was a measure and large-scale investment taken by the royal family, who had suffered great damage during the initial landing process.

They say that just maintaining that magic circle consumes tens of millions of stones worth of magic stones per minute?

‘To get to the continent in this state, how much money is being spent… Ah, but it’s probably cheap compared to the ship.’

Of course, it wasn’t the time to worry about the nation’s money, so I cleared my mind and focused on the present.

The fleet, which had bravely advanced while taking the fierce welcome head-on, had already broken through the adjacent coast and was now changing formation into a single line, entering the narrow canyon.

[Your character has entered a special area.]

[Field Effect – Canyon of the Resentful Spirits is applied.]

[All healing and regeneration effects are deactivated.]

[Divine power is sealed.]

Canyon of the Resentful Spirits.

A mandatory course to pass through in order to enter the Dark Continent, where all coastlines are made of cliffs.

Soon, as the warship we were on entered the canyon following the ship in front, the ominous and gloomy fog became even thicker.

And…

“Prepare for battle!”

Undead-type monsters began to climb up the outer walls of the ship.

There were as many different types as there were different ranks.

[You have defeated a Deadburn. EXP +3]

[You have defeated a Redeye. EXP +4]

[You have defeated a Banshee Queen. EXP +6]

[You have defeated a Teeth Skeleton. EXP+ 4]

[You have defeated a Cliff Ghoul…]

More than half of the monsters that appeared were individuals that could be hunted on the 6th floor, but since we skipped the 6th floor, our experience points were filling up quickly no matter what we caught.

Erwen’s contribution with her ranged attacks was significant.

Almost 70% of the monsters that were knocked off before they could climb onto the ship were due to her.

The sea monsters didn’t even have a way to attack.

[You have defeated a Chaos Seaman. EXP +6]

[You have defeated a Malder Elephant. EXP +5]

[You have defeated a Skeleton Mermaid Queen…]

The experience points that came in just by having Erwen, who had formed a bond magic with me, land a single normal attack.

Of course, it wasn’t like we were just leeching off of her.

Thwack-!

There were also plenty of spirit-type monsters that didn’t need to climb up on the deck, so we had to swing our weapons non-stop.

[You have defeated a Ghosties. EXP +4]

[You have defeated a Soul Drinker. EXP +6]

[You have defeated a Canyon Wraith. EXP +3]

Sigh, since there are so many people on board, the number of respawning monsters is no joke.

Even while we were fighting fiercely on the deck, those vile Noark bastards were firing magic cannons from above the canyon.

Well, it was being neutralized by the defensive magic circle, but…

“Aaaaaaah!!”

Some explorers fell into the sea when their ropes broke during the battle on the swaying deck.

Moreover…

“What’s going on, why isn’t the ship moving forward?”

“I heard the ship in front sank!”

“Huh? Why did a ship that was moving fine sink!”

“It seems a Dead Rect appeared and damaged the warship’s magic circle!”

Listening to the real-time updates on the battle situation, it seems that there were cases where the defensive magic circle was broken by monsters, causing the entire ship to sink.

‘Tsk, it’s worth it for them to keep firing from above.’

Even if they manage to destroy just one ship, it wouldn’t be a loss, and if they keep attacking, the fleet can’t turn off the defensive magic circle in the first place.

They have no choice but to keep the magic circle on and consume a massive amount of military supplies while passing through the canyon—.

“Amelia, behind you!”

As I shouted urgently, Amelia smashed a skeleton that was trying to ambush us from behind with a spinning back kick.

And…

“No need for thanks. We’re comrades—.”

“It’s Emily.”

“Huh?”

“I hope you’ll be careful, even though no one heard it in this situation.”

“Ah, I’ll be careful…”

Even though it’s the same alias I used in the past, for some reason, it doesn’t stick to my tongue.

Sigh, am I not in a position to blame Erwen for her slip-ups?

“Mister…! Look over there!”

“It’s Riehen.”

“Ah… yes… Anyway, look over there! We’re almost there!”

Soon, I looked at where Erwen was pointing, but all I could see was fog.

However…

[Field Effect – Canyon of the Resentful Spirits is removed.]

After a little more time, the narrow canyon opened up, revealing a vast lake.

Waterfalls were pouring down from the walls, and the color of the water was red, reminiscent of blood.

And…

“Hah, it’s over!”

“I can finally catch my breath.”

The monsters that had been appearing non-stop disappeared, and the Noark guys’ shelling also stopped.

It meant that we had safely passed the first gate.

‘So, it starts now…’

I swallowed hard, looking at the shore that was faintly visible through the fog.

“…”

“…”

Maybe it was just my imagination.

But for some reason, it already felt like I could smell blood.