Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 386

Swaaaaaash-!

I rinsed my hair with warm water, scrubbing my skin with soap as if I were scrubbing away grime.

And after some time had passed.

As I came out of the bathroom and changed into comfortable clothes, it finally hit me.

That I had returned home.

Thud, thud.

I roughly dried my wet hair with a towel and went downstairs to the first floor, where Amelia and Erwen were gathered, waiting for me.

“You took your sweet time.”

Amelia, looking somewhat displeased, watched me as I came, all squeaky clean from my thorough wash.

I sat on the sofa opposite her and asked,

“Judging by the fact that we’re not using written communication, I guess nothing much came up?”

“Yes, unlike your concerns, we couldn’t find any listening devices.”

That’s a relief.

I was worried that they might have installed a bunch of things when they broke into the house—

“Except for the ones that were already there.”

Huh? The ones that were already there?

“Judging by your expression, you didn’t know? There’s been a recording crystal installed in the living room since before.”

Even though she said it as if it were obvious, it was news to me.

However, if I were to deduce from the fact that it had been there since before…

“Erwen?”

I looked at the most likely suspect, sending her a look that asked for an explanation, and Erwen flinched, avoiding my gaze.

“W-well, you never know what might happen…”

“…”

“A-and, if it weren’t for this, we wouldn’t have been able to find out so quickly what happened to you, Uncle…”

…I can’t really argue with that.

Moreover, when I asked, it turned out that the recording crystals were only installed in the entrance and living room, which seemed like a reasonable security measure for a homeowner to take.

‘No wonder they found their way to the Marquis’s estate so quickly.’

I brought up a question that I hadn’t been able to ask while riding in the carriage prepared by the Marquis.

“But Erwen, how did you know I was at the Marquis’s estate?”

“Of course, I had to know! That man came all the way here himself!”

“That man…?”

“Oh, did you not know, Uncle? The commander who tried to capture you is Elthora Terserion, the Chancellor’s son!”

“What? That guy is the one who became the commander of the 3rd Legion this time?”

Is the Chancellor crazy?

Sending his own son on such a dangerous mission?

What if I had smashed his head in there?

‘No, if he cherished his son, he wouldn’t have sent him to the battlefield in the first place, would he?’

I thought the Marquis’s method of raising his children was quite Spartan, but it wasn’t my place to meddle.

“More importantly, Schuetz, what exactly happened at the Marquis’s estate?”

“Yes. Please tell us quickly. When we came back, you were gone, and the door was broken, so we were so surprised.”

After that, I explained the misunderstanding the Marquis had and the deal he had offered me, and I also listened to their opinions.

The reactions were starkly different.

“Oh my, they’re really going to restore your title, Uncle? That’s wonderful!”

Erwen was delighted, saying it was a good thing.

“While the Chancellor would be the perfect person to have as a backer, I still can’t shake off this uneasy feeling.”

Amelia, who was similar to me, expressed concern that things were going too smoothly.

“But what can we do? If I had said no there, things would have only gotten more complicated.”

“…I’ll investigate the Chancellor separately.”

“Okay, I’m counting on you.”

“What about me?”

“Of course, Erwen, you too.”

Truly, my companions are the only ones I can trust.

Because this world is too harsh to survive alone.

***

Tap, tap.

As I was lost in thought, tapping the table with my finger at regular intervals.

The door opened, and a man entered.

“You called for me, Father?”

Elthora Terserion.

The only son of the Marquis, and the one who was said to inherit everything the Chancellor had built up one day.

However, the Marquis’s gaze towards him was cold.

“If you have eyes and ears, you must have seen and heard something, so I won’t say anything more. What do you think about this matter?”

“Honestly… I was very surprised. I never thought that Baron Bjorn Yandel would be alive, as you said, Father.”

“Is that all?”

At the Marquis’s question, the man swallowed hard and cautiously opened his mouth.

“His joining is seen as positive news for our Marquisate. It’s been several years, but there are still many who remember him. He can be used effectively as a symbolic figure—”

“Enough.”

The man’s words, which had been continuing in a logical tone, were cut off by the Marquis’s interruption.

“Is that all you can see?”

A gaze of disgust, beyond disappointment, was directed at the man.

At this, the man lowered his eyes and sighed inwardly.

‘Why is this old man acting like this lately?’

He was never a kind father to begin with, but he was never this bad.

It had gotten a little worse two years ago, and lately, it felt like he had become an emotional garbage can.

‘And bringing that unknown woman… Could it be that he’s noticed something about me?’

It was suspicious.

In fact, recently, he hadn’t called him unless there was something to instruct, and he hadn’t properly shared information.

Just like this time.

“Father.”

“Speak.”

“I also found out today for the first time that Baron Yandel wasn’t an evil spirit. Why did you hide it from me?”

The man cautiously asked, trying to probe the Marquis, and the Marquis coldly replied.

“It sounds like you’re saying that I have to take care of you forever.”

“…That wasn’t what I meant. It’s just that, if I had known in advance, I might have been more helpful—”

“From the start, the idea that Baron Yandel wasn’t an evil spirit was wrong.”

“Yes? But, Father, you clearly…”

“That’s enough. It’s a waste of breath to talk to you.”

Words that were too harsh to be directed at a son.

At this, the man shut his mouth, and the Marquis, not paying any attention to it, brought up the reason why he had called him here.

“Tomorrow, you will go directly to Yandel and inform him of the appointed day. Tell him to continue the conversation that we couldn’t finish today.”

“The appointed day… when should it be?”

“The fifteenth of this month.”

The time was in the evening.

***

Afternoon of the 15th.

“Then, have a safe trip! Be careful!”

As I left the house, seeing Erwen off, the door of the carriage waiting in front of the gate opened.

“It’s been a while.”

“Have we decided to drop the honorifics now?”

“You’re the Marquis’s son, right? Then you already know who I am anyway.”

“That’s true, but…”

The Chancellor’s son, who answered like that, had a somewhat bitter expression, but it wasn’t my concern.

“Enough, let’s just get going.”

“Let’s do that.”

The carriage sped along the wide carriage road.

Soon, a military platform appeared, and as before, I took it and moved comfortably to the imperial capital, Karnon.

“To come to the imperial capital in just one hour, it’s quite convenient. How much does it cost per ride?”

“It’s easier to calculate it as about one million stones per person. Of course, that’s assuming you don’t have a carriage.”

“…At that price, it’s better to just travel by carriage.”

“That’s right. In fact, there aren’t many nobles who use this facility with their servants. I’ve heard they only use it when they have urgent business.”

As we were talking about this and that, the carriage arrived at its destination.

A huge mansion could be seen from afar.

How much would it cost to use this much land in this expensive imperial capital?

“Let’s go quickly. My father is waiting.”

“It seems like it’s not a crystal this time?”

“I told you, my father wants to have dinner with you.”

Even if he said that…

I thought he was going to have a non-face-to-face dinner.

Squeak-

Eventually, guided by the Chancellor’s son, I arrived at the banquet hall on the fourth floor.

One of the outer walls had a large window, so I could see the garden outside and the beautiful view of the royal palace far beyond.

Well, I didn’t have the time to look at the view.

“You’ve arrived.”

The Chancellor, sitting at the head of the table, greeted me.

“It’s been a while, Marquis Terserion.”

“You must have had a long journey. Please sit, Baron Yandel. Ah, Elthora, you may leave now.”

“…Have a good time.”

With the Chancellor’s son gone, the already empty banquet hall seemed even emptier.

However, there couldn’t be a better environment for a private conversation.

Thud.

I also sat down opposite him.

As if to prevent the servants from entering during the meal, the table was already full of food.

For reference, the amount of food in front of me was five times that of the Marquis.

It seemed like he had taken my racial peculiarities into consideration.

“Then, please eat comfortably. I don’t intend to impose any cumbersome etiquette on you.”

“…If you say so.”

The Marquis began to cut the meat with a knife, and I, watching the Marquis’s reaction, picked up a chicken leg and put it in my mouth.

And…

“How’s the food? Does it suit your taste?”

“Excellent.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

We continued our meal and began to talk in earnest.

I knew that it wasn’t proper to talk about work during a meal according to the etiquette of Lafdonia, but… I was the only race that didn’t have to be bound by such formalities.

“Marquis, the food is good, but I’d like to hear about that matter soon.”

“You mean how I’m going to restore your title?”

“Yes. There will be many who won’t understand if I suddenly come back to life.”

The Marquis also responded to my rudeness without saying anything.

“Before I speak, let me ask you this first. How many people knew you when you were in Noark?”

“None. I kept my appearance hidden there as well.”

“Then, it will be much easier.”

The Marquis then explained the plan he had in mind.

“First, we plan to portray you as having infiltrated Noark under a special order from the royal family. And after two and a half years, you completed your mission and returned. How does that sound?”

A short scenario that could be summarized in just a few sentences.

However, it was pointless to ask if this would work.

Because the Marquis would have the ability to realize this plan.

“Not bad.”

“Of course, it will take some time. Because we have to create documents within the royal family.”

“What about the fact that you declared me an evil spirit?”

“Don’t worry. We can just explain that it was necessary during the infiltration mission.”

The scenario itself was quite pleasing.

If I returned like this, I could regain my old life.

However, if there was a problem…

“Then, what do you want from me in return?”

What did I have to give up to get this?

The Marquis put down the knife he was using to cut the meat and raised his hand.

“There are two things in total.”

“Tell me.”

“I will create a special unit centered around you, and I want you to lead them into the war.”

“What’s the time limit?”

“Until the end of the war.”

He was trying to use me as a slave.

“Until the end of the war without any conditions, that’s a bit hard to accept.”

“Then, let’s make it a maximum of three years. If the war ends before that, the deal is over. Of course, if you achieve merits during that time, you will be rewarded accordingly.”

Well, just listening to the content, it wasn’t an unacceptable condition.

After all, these days, most adventurers go to war to make money.

“Then, what’s the second thing?”

“The second thing…”

The Marquis trailed off and put down his fork.

“I’ll tell you the second thing again tomorrow morning. It’ll be much faster that way. There are plenty of empty rooms, so stay here tonight.”

It’s not like a 60-second reveal.

***

After the dinner, I was guided to a room by the servants.

Even if it took longer to travel, my heart was yearning to go home and rest…

‘His intentions are suspicious.’

The date and time the Marquis invited me to the mansion, and even the sudden request to stay the night.

The picture that was drawn in my head was clear.

That’s why, after asking to contact Erwen at home, I decided to spend the night here as the Marquis requested.

Sometimes, a crisis can become an opportunity.

“Sigh…”

A room that was too large and luxurious for one person to use.

Click, click-

I lay down on the bed, checking the time while only the magic lamp on the side table was lit, then I turned off the magic lamp and put the clock down.

Click, click, click.

The second hand moved, making a sound at regular intervals in the silence.

Click, click.

When that sound was repeated ten more times.

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

I immediately raised my upper body.

This time, I needed to move more quickly than usual.