Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 375

I held my weapon, but didn’t point it.

Because their purpose wasn’t yet clear.

If I provoked them unnecessarily, a situation that could be easily resolved might become complicated.

“What should we do?”

“Let’s try talking first.”

“I’ll be ready.”

“Okay.”

“Erwen, don’t step forward until I give you a signal.”

After a brief exchange with my companions, I stepped forward, positioning myself as if to protect them.

How much time had passed?

Thud, thud.

The group of fifteen explorers stopped outside our camp, and a man who seemed to be their leader slowly walked out.

“Luckily, we didn’t have to wake you.”

“Introduce yourselves first.”

“Haha, don’t be scared. Nothing you’re imagining is going to happen.”

What is he talking about? Who’s scared?

I’m just figuring out if I need to smash their heads or not.

‘Four ranged, two mages, nine melee, and a priest… there isn’t one.’

However, the number fifteen is a bit significant.

Since the 6-person bond was created, the basic unit has become 6.

Perhaps the remaining three are hiding somewhere else.

“You’re a suspicious fellow. Calm down and let’s talk for a bit. If we had bad intentions, we wouldn’t be talking to you like this, would we?”

That’s something we’ll only know after looking into it.

I glanced at the group waiting behind him, then shifted my gaze to the man.

“Enough, what’s your business? You should know that loitering around someone else’s camp in the middle of the night doesn’t look good?”

At my question, the man revealed his identity.

“We are the people of the Huntsman Clan.”

“I’ve never heard of that name.”

“That’s understandable. To be frank, we’re not a very famous clan. Recently, we’ve been mostly treasure hunting on Pione Island, so we haven’t been doing much outside activity.”

“Treasure hunting, huh…”

Only then did I roughly guess why this guy had come to us.

“I don’t know if you know, but Pione Island is divided into six clan territories, each acting only within their own area. It’s a measure to prevent indiscriminate disputes.”

“So?”

“This place where you’re camping is the territory of our Huntsman Clan. I’d like you to leave as soon as it gets light tomorrow.”

As expected, it was about controlling hunting grounds.

It’s something explorers experience endlessly from the 5th floor, and it’s what makes you realize that the labyrinth is a world of the survival of the fittest.

My first impression wasn’t good, and I can’t see them in a better light now.

“I don’t remember hearing that the royal family granted the rights to Pione Island to a specific group.”

“Haha, you speak rigidly for someone who looks like you. Does the work of an explorer ever go according to the rules?”

With that question, he didn’t say anything more.

He just stood there silently, glaring at me.

Perhaps the words that come out of his mouth will change depending on what decision I make.

My deliberation didn’t last long.

“Don’t worry. We were planning to leave when it got light anyway.”

Since we really just came to stay for one night, I decided there was no need to start a conflict to claim hunting rights.

But did my answer seem like a tail-wagging gesture?

“Haha, is that so? It seems we made an unnecessary trip. Thank you for understanding.”

The guy, who had been looking at us with a hint of caution, started to smile with a much more relaxed expression.

It seemed they had decided we weren’t anything special.

Just looking at him not shutting up and spouting nonsense.

“By the way, three people is a bit unusual. Did you lose a companion on your way here?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Don’t be so wary. We’re just trying to help. If a monster suddenly appears, something dangerous could happen, right? If you want, we could lend you our camp…”

The guy trailed off, glancing at Erwen and Amelia behind me.

Ha. This bastard really has a knack for making people angry.

“Thanks for the offer, but we’ll pass.”

“Hmm, really? But the two ladies might have a different opinion?”

Even though I said it nicely, the guy persistently made offers, and it was only after Erwen and Amelia firmly refused that he backed off.

“We refuse.”

“We’re capable enough to handle our own affairs.”

“That’s a shame. Our clan branch is in the 8th district of Lavigion. If your team disbands and you have nowhere to go, come find us.”

Ha, he’s still being like that until the end.

“Alright, let’s go back to camp!”

I barely suppressed a hollow laugh and watched him lead his group away.

“Mister, why did you hold back?”

“I can’t just start swinging my hammer just because I’m a little annoyed, can I?”

“Hmm, wasn’t that the case?”

Both Erwen and I mostly ignored Amelia’s words.

“B-but, if I had stepped in, those trash wouldn’t have been so rude… !”

Erwen expressed her resentment without hiding it, saying it as if she didn’t understand, but it was an unavoidable decision.

She stands out wherever she goes, and rumors spread easily.

Even if it’s something small, I didn’t want to expose our information to the outside.

But saying that would be a bad move.

“Thank you anyway, Erwen.”

“…W-what for?”

“For holding back even though you were so angry.”

“Well… it’s because you told me not to step forward first…”

“That’s what I’m thankful for and what I think is admirable.”

“I-is that so…? It’s nothing special. I could do it every day…”

Instead of explaining the reasonable reasons in detail, I diverted the point.

After all, the most important thing is the release of emotions, isn’t it?

“It ended surprisingly quickly?”

“Why are you saying that like it’s something strange? Anyway, let’s go back to sleep. We have to go far again tomorrow. Got it, Erwen?”

“Yes!”

I quickly wrapped up the situation, and we went back to our blankets to continue our sleep.

And how much time had passed again?

“Schuitz, wake up.”

Amelia shook my shoulder urgently to wake me up.

What, did those bastards come back again?

Swoosh.

I quickly sat up and reached for the hammer I had placed beside me.

“Calm down. It’s not a person this time.”

“…What?”

Not a person?

Then what the heck is it…

“Could it be…”

I quickly turned my head and scanned the surroundings, and soon I could see what I was looking for with my own eyes.

[Giggigik, gigik?]

The only monster that appears on Pione Island.

A 4th-grade rare species, the Laple Mimic.

***

The Laple Mimic.

It’s a monster that is known to drop a Numbers item [a unique, powerful item] for sure when defeated, and if an essence comes out, you can earn up to billions of stones [currency].

It’s a monster that appears in other fields as well, but there’s no place as easy to encounter this guy as Pione Island.

But even then, it’s considered lucky if one appears in a month.

Of course, that’s when considering the entire island.

“…To think I’d meet him in a place I just stopped by.”

Yeah, this is what exploration and romance are all about.

“Schuitz, what are you going to do?”

Amelia asked in a small, whispering voice, and I answered.

“What do you mean, what am I going to do?”

Did she think I’d give him up because of those guys?

“Of course, I have to catch it.”

“…I knew you’d say that. Then I’ll go wake up Erwen.”

Amelia then headed to the blanket next to her to wake up Erwen, and I belatedly noticed something strange.

“Wait a minute, Erwen? When did you two get so close?”

“After looking at her, she seems kind of cute.”

Huh, you can never really know what’s in a person’s heart.

Is this a case of growing fond of each other while fighting?

“…Cute?”

“There was no need to wake me up separately.”

“Wake you up… more than that, what are you two doing now?”

“A Laple Mimic appeared.”

“…Really?”

Erwen, who had woken up rubbing her eyes at the sound of our conversation, quickly got up and fixed her gaze on the box that was leisurely rolling around about 20 meters away.

[Giggik! Giggigik?! Giggik!]

As a non-aggressive monster, the Laple Mimic only showed curiosity when it saw us from afar, and didn’t express any hostility.

“Erwen, your role is important here. Our team doesn’t have a mage.”

“I know. You said that if there’s no mage, we have to take it down in one shot, right?”

“Yes, otherwise it’ll immediately hide under the ground.”

For reference, if it hides under the ground, you can consider it a lost cause.

Therefore, in the current situation, one-shot one-kill is important, but…

“Erwen, shoot with all your might. Summon a dark spirit if possible. Oh, you know the main body is the box, right? Don’t shoot the stem if it looks like a body—”

“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely catch it!”

“Okay, I believe in you.”

From the start, there’s no other choice but to believe in her.

Because Erwen was undoubtedly the one with the highest single-target damage among us.

“Then… I’ll do it.”

Erwen slowly pulled back the bowstring.

And at that moment.

「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has cast [Elemental Synthesis].」

Fire, water, wind, earth, and even darkness.

Five attributes were synthesized into one, and they began to emit an unusual aura.

Of course, even in the midst of that, the Laple Mimic was calm.

[Giggik… ?]

The Laple Mimic tilted its head as if it was going to watch the strange phenomenon. I felt a biological guilt for its pure appearance, but that was all.

After all, we are explorers, aren’t we?

Our job is to beat up monsters and people to make money.

Thud.

Erwen, who had finished concentrating, released the bowstring.

Whoosh-!

The arrow rushed forward at a speed that was difficult to see with the naked eye.

[Gi, gigigik-!]

Only then did the Laple Mimic get startled, but it was already too late.

Kwaaaang-!

The arrow went straight into the Laple Mimic’s open mouth(?) and exploded with a loud roar.

However…

[Gi, gigigik… !]

Surprisingly, it was still alive.

Even though the box shell was shattered and its body was in tatters.

[Giggigigik-!]

The guy showed movement to go into the ground with its last strength.

But Erwen was one step faster.

「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has cast [Rupture].」

At the same time as the follow-up attack, the Laple Mimic scattered into hundreds of fragments.

Swaaaaaa-!

Soon, the divided pieces turned into a light and disappeared.

「You have defeated the Laple Mimic. EXP +6」

The increase in experience points was clearly felt, as expected of a 4th-grade monster.

It was a feeling that was always pleasant, no matter how many times I experienced it, but I focused on something else.

‘The essence… didn’t come out after all.’

Well, I didn’t expect it anyway.

It would be completely greedy to hope for that much.

‘Please, let it be something above the 5000s [a high value item].’

Soon, two objects fell to the spot where the Laple Mimic had been standing.

One was a magic stone.

And the other one was…

“It’s a ring…?”

I approached and checked the loot, and I couldn’t help but laugh hollowly.

“Huh…”

“Schuitz, is it something you know?”

How could I ever forget it?

I almost died because of this before.

No.6111 Fate Tracker.

The ring that the dragonslayer I met in Larcaz’s maze was wearing.

‘It’s not a bad item, but it’s a bit disappointing…’

“What kind of ring is it? H-hopefully, if it’s good for an archer…”

Erwen trailed off with greedy eyes.

She’s someone who hasn’t shown much greed usually, but is she still a bit greedy for Numbers items?

“It’s something that’s hard to say is good for a certain type of explorer.”

“Hard to say?”

“If I had to classify it, it’s a detection-type magic tool. When something happens around you, you can guess whether it’s positive or negative through the color the ring shows.”

For reference, there are three types of colors in total.

Green, red, and yellow.

That’s why it was usually called the traffic light ring.

“It wouldn’t hurt to have one, so it’s better to keep this instead of selling it.”

“…Then, can I wear it?”

“You? But you already have a lot of rings, don’t you? I’ll just keep this.”

“Ah, yes. Yes! T-that would be better, right? After all?”

Having gotten Erwen’s understanding, I put the ring on my finger without hesitation.

And at that moment.

「The ring has detected the character’s fate.」

The ring lit up.