Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 366

Nearly reaching two meters in height.

However, perhaps because of her good proportions and the lean muscles on her body, she doesn’t feel overly bulky.

But….

‘Looking up at her like this feels strange.’

Was it because she shed the essence of the Bon Knight [a title or role, possibly a type of warrior or knight]?

Ainar’s appearance after so long felt new and unfamiliar.

I had only seen her smaller figure since the beginning when her physique had shrunk. Well, if I trace back my memories, that face is still there….

‘…Back then, she looked so young.’

She has matured much more than I remember.

Well, maybe it’s not so much a change in her face itself, but rather a difference in experience?

‘Haha! People can fall asleep while reading a book. Are you discriminating against me because I’m a barbarian?’

‘N-no… that’s not it. I, really—.’

‘Just kidding! Just kidding! I promise I won’t cause any more trouble, so please let it slide just this once, okay?’

Her easygoing tone exudes confidence, and her way with words has improved quite a bit. She can manipulate people while creating an atmosphere that’s hard to refuse.

I was honestly impressed.

She’s now able to use the characteristics of the barbarian tribe.

‘…If you say so, I understand.’

‘Haha, thank you! Oh, would you like some jerky?’

‘…I’m fine. And food is not allowed inside—.’

‘I know! I just said it because you look so thin. Now, hurry up and go! You must be busy with work!’

Ainar, who practically pushed the librarian away, really did start reading a book, as if she intended to keep her promise not to sleep.

‘Now… she can even read?’

Somehow, my heart swells with emotion.

So, pretending to read my book, I kept glancing at Ainar across from me.

‘Hmm…’

Ainar frowned.

It seemed like there was a part in the book she was stuck on.

However, even here, Ainar’s change was palpable.

‘Hey, friend!’

Ainar spoke to me casually.

‘…Are you calling me?’

‘Haha, you’re a strange friend! Who else would I be talking to? Can you come here and read this for me?’

Wow, not only does she call a human a friend, but she’s also asking for help.

Could it be… does she see me as a barbarian?

‘Don’t be scared! I’m not going to hurt you!’

‘…I’m not scared, I was just surprised. I heard barbarians hate humans.’

‘That’s all prejudice, prejudice! Well, I used to be like that too, but I’ve gradually come to realize there’s no reason to hate them.’

Well, it doesn’t seem like she mistook me for a barbarian.

It didn’t seem like she was reminded of Bjorn Yandel when she saw me, so I willingly moved my seat.

‘I’m reading this part, but I can’t understand this word at all. Can you tell me what it means?’

‘This is… read as logistics. It refers to a military branch that manages or supplies materials in the army.’

‘Branch? What’s that? It sounds like a delicious name.’

No, how can she be reading military books when she can’t even understand something like this?

It’s absurd, but I answered her question.

Looking at the books piled next to her, I saw that there were various types of books besides military ones.

Most of them were history-related books.

‘…She’s reading these kinds of books?’

‘Anyway, thanks! I can continue reading thanks to you!’

As soon as the word explanation was over, Ainar began to focus on reading again, and I returned to my seat.

And how much time had passed?

I couldn’t help but ask.

‘But… why are you reading those kinds of books?’

‘Huh? Are you picking a fight with me now?’

‘No, it’s not that….’

‘Haha! Don’t make that face. I know I look strange!’

What is it with her, she really knows how to play with people’s feelings….

As I stared at Ainar, who was laughing heartily, she suddenly changed her expression to a serious one and muttered.

‘The warrior I respected the most used to read books often.’

‘…’

‘Well, even if I do this, I can’t even reach his heels… but there are things that someone has to do.’

Her voice sounded somewhat lonely.

I recalled what Erwen and Raven had told me about Ainar’s recent situation.

‘After I died… she declared that she would become the tribe leader.’

After my death, who was considered a strong candidate, she boldly declared her ambition in front of her grieving tribe.

At first, her tribe was skeptical, but as time passed, they began to acknowledge her one by one, and now she is almost seen as the successor….

‘By the way… it’s a bit of a shame?’

Suddenly, Ainar looked at me and smacked her lips.

‘…What do you mean?’

‘If you were born a barbarian, you would have a pretty handsome face.’

‘…Is that so?’

‘Anyway, since we met here, it’s fate, how about we introduce ourselves? I’m Ainar, the second daughter of Pnelin. What’s your name?’

‘Richen Shuitz.’

As I revealed my alias, Ainar repeated it as if to engrave it in her mind, and then handed me a few books from the pile.

‘Why… why are you giving me these all of a sudden?’

‘It’s a gift for becoming friends.’

No, who gives library books as a gift?

You can’t even take them out anyway.

‘…Thank you.’

It was absurd, but I thanked her, even if it was just a formality.

But what is this situation?

‘You’re welcome. It’s only natural for a superior species to do so.’

‘…Superior species?’

‘Ah, is that a difficult word? Actually, you humans might not know….’

Ainar looked around and then whispered to me so that only I could hear.

‘Barbarians are actually the most superior race in this world.’

…Huh?

‘You’ll know if you read those books. Whether what I’m saying is true or not.’

I checked the titles of the books I had received without thinking.

[The Secret of the Heart, Selfish Superior Factors]

[Barbarian III – Why Did Magicians Covet Their Hearts?]

[Seven Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Oppose Barbarians, Lessons from the Holy War]

…Those were the titles of the books.

***

‘Aren’t you reading?’

‘…I am reading.’

Since she kept giving me the eye, I had no choice but to read the books I had received.

Honestly, I was also curious.

The titles might be like this, but the content might be surprisingly normal—.

‘…Yeah, right.’

I don’t know who the author of the book is, but all the contents are the same.

Articles praising barbarians as a great race.

What was the point of writing this book?

Looking at the fact that the book was written, the author wouldn’t be a barbarian. If they were in their right mind, they wouldn’t have published it with barbarians as the target audience.

Thud.

I gave up on understanding and closed the book.

Then, Ainar across from me looked at me with sparkling eyes.

‘How was it? Isn’t it a good book?’

‘…It was certainly an interesting story.’

‘Hehe, but don’t be too discouraged. The human race isn’t that inferior either. It’s just that we’re particularly special.’

‘…’

‘Do you know? The illiteracy rate of barbarians is 99 times that of humans. But even so, we still maintain and inherit traditions from thousands of years ago. No other race has done that.’

‘…’

‘Ah, and also, do you know why barbarians don’t float in water? It’s because the density of our souls is overwhelmingly higher than other races.’

‘Hey, do you even know what density is?’

‘…Ahem, there’s also a reason why soul imprinting is only possible for barbarians!’

She doesn’t know.

‘It’s because there are no souls as pure and clean as ours….’

I got up from my seat.

‘…Huh? Where are you going? It’s just getting started.’

‘I’m sorry, but I just remembered something I have to do. Let’s meet again if we can.’

‘…Is that so? Then there’s nothing I can do. Goodbye.’

It was nice to meet Ainar, but if I stayed any longer, I felt like I would have to listen to this kind of talk all day, so I quickly ran away.

And….

‘I won’t be noticed if I’m here.’

I moved to a secluded spot and took out a new book to read.

Most of them were about the latest information.

There were quite a few books that compiled newspaper articles published during the year.

‘The royal family has been implementing many policies for low-level explorers, so this is what they were doing.’

As I was engrossed in reading and gathering information, my hand, which was turning the page, froze.

A familiar name appeared in an article from a year ago.

[Nile Urbans, the 7th Regional Director of the Explorers Guild, Decides to Voluntarily Retire, Not Due to Political Disputes but Personal Reasons.]

That old man retired?

Intrigued, I read the details, and soon I reached the end of the article.

[His acquaintances say that his sudden decision to retire, after being so active that he was even a candidate for guild leader just two years ago, may have been due to the death of his daughter a year ago.]

A year ago, the death of his daughter.

‘…Was she his only daughter?’

Well, I don’t know that much.

We weren’t that close.

‘Still, let’s check it out.’

I took out a book with articles from a year ago and checked them one by one, and soon I found what I was looking for.

[Julian Urbans, the eldest daughter of the Urbans family, announces her marriage to the head of the Alminous Trading Company.]

First, it was an engagement article.

And….

[Julian Urbans Dies on the Night of Her Wedding.]

Three months later, a death article was posted.

The cause of death was a fall due to a slip.

She was drunk and fell headfirst from the third-floor terrace….

[Nile Urbans, After Receiving a Claim for Damages, Insists Once Again That It Was a Slip and Not a Suicide.]

Somehow, it tastes bitter.

We weren’t close, but I know what kind of circumstances there were, so I feel like I’m somewhat responsible?

‘Okay, let’s go back for today.’

Ugh, I shouldn’t have looked it up….

***

One day, two days, three days, four days….

As always, time in the city passed particularly quickly.

Well, there are quite a few things to do at the beginning of the month.

Changing vouchers into money and selling equipment, time really flew by.

And then came the time for settlement.

‘This should be more than enough to pay off all the debt.’

‘T-then, we don’t have to sell the house!’

‘That’s what I’m saying, I’d like to postpone paying off the debt.’

‘W-why…?’

Because there’s still plenty of time until the due date.

There are also places where I need to invest money first.

‘Ah, if you say so, sir… I-I can’t help it… but where are you going to spend all that money…?’

‘I’m going to buy a ship.’

‘…A ship?’

Erwen tilted her head, while Amelia nodded as if she understood my thoughts.

‘Well, if we’re not going to keep participating in wars, it’s better to have a ship.’

‘That’s right. The next place we’re going to explore is also on the 6th floor.’

I participated as a mercenary because I didn’t have money right away, but I’ve already met my target amount with just one expedition.

There’s no reason to participate again.

Considering the daily wages I received this time, I’m making good money, but there’s something more important to me.

‘Where are you going…?’

‘The Subterranean Island.’

‘…The Subterranean Island? Was there an island with that name on the 6th floor?’

As you can see from Amelia’s reaction, it’s not a well-known island.

Well, Raven would probably know, though.

Anyway, after briefly explaining the characteristics of the Subterranean Island, Erwen and Amelia also looked like they had heard of it.

‘An island hidden under the sea… now that I think about it, that’s what you were talking about.’

‘I think my sister told me about it before!’

‘But can we go with just the three of us? We don’t have a navigator?’

‘That’s why we have to find one now.’

‘…It looks like we’ll be busy for a while.’

Fortunately, both of them agreed to follow my exploration plan without any objections, and from the next day, we started to search for ships and navigators.

And so, time flowed endlessly….

‘Where’s Erwen?’

‘She’s sleeping.’

‘Is that so? You didn’t really have to come.’

‘…But just in case. If you don’t like it, I won’t come next time.’

Uh, I didn’t say I didn’t like it….

‘Ahem, that meant thank you.’

‘…How does that mean that?’

Well, if that’s the case, then just know that.

I chuckled and checked the clock on the table.

And….

‘Then, I’ll be going.’

‘Okay.’

No sooner had I closed my eyes in relief than the whole world was filled with white light.

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

Well, let’s turn on the computer first.