Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 401

“Traitor…?”

“What do you mean by that?” The team leaders frowned at my blunt words. However, they seemed to have a rough idea of what I meant, even though I had cut off the context.

James Kala cautiously opened his mouth. “…Are you perhaps referring to the incident where we lost supplies?”

I affirmed without any hesitation. “Yes, that’s right.”

“But that incident—”

“Was a coincidence? The fact that you mentioned it as soon as I brought up a traitor suggests that you also found it suspicious, didn’t you?”

“That’s…” James Kala closed his mouth as if he had nothing to say.

As if to speak for him, Akuraba intervened, not hiding her displeasure. “Thinking about it alone is completely different from mentioning it. A traitor? It’s an extremely sensitive and dangerous topic to bring up based on mere suspicion.”

Every word she said was correct, except for the most important part of the conversation.

“So, what’s your point?”

“Regardless of who among us you suspect, there must be concrete evidence that we can all agree on.”

*Sigh*, she’s hitting a sore spot. Did she think I was suspecting her? Well, she was in charge of supply management. She might have already activated her defense mechanism, thinking that way.

Before she misunderstood further, I quickly cut her off. “Don’t worry. I’m not suspecting you guys.”

“Huh? But you clearly said earlier…”

“If I suspected you, I wouldn’t have called you separately to talk about this.”

To be precise, I had suspected everyone, but not anymore, because I know who the culprit is now. Fortunately, none of our precious team leaders were the culprit.

“Then… who are you suspecting as the traitor?”

“Pike Neldain.”

As soon as I finished speaking, everyone’s gaze turned to James Kala.

“…He was a warrior in James Kala’s team, wasn’t he?”

“He was also the guy who went around badmouthing the expedition leader at every chance he got.”

“Hmm… then his goal might have been to keep the expedition leader in check.”

The three of them seemed to be picturing the situation in their heads, assuming my words were true. James Kala hurriedly opened his mouth at their gazes.

“W-wait a minute! There must be some misunderstanding! Neldain, I can’t deny that he’s a bit narrow-minded, but—”

“It’s strange. How much do you know about him to say such things?”

“…?”

“I’ve already finished investigating him. He joined the expedition on the recommendation of the Explorer’s Guild, right? You didn’t know each other before then, and you met him for the first time then.”

“That’s true, but…” As James Kala trailed off, Akuraba stepped in to help him.

“Schuitz. I think we should first hear why you think he’s a traitor? It would be better if you had concrete evidence.”

Ugh, concrete evidence, concrete evidence, concrete evidence since earlier. It feels like my ears are going to get calluses, but I explained the reasons why Pike Neldain was a traitor, point by point, as I had prepared. And when I finished talking.

“Certainly…”

“I can tell you’re not just saying things.”

“It’s still just circumstantial evidence, but it’s enough to be suspicious.”

All the team leaders accepted my suspicion as reasonable. Ah, except for James, that guy.

“But we don’t have the most important concrete evidence, do we? With just these circumstances, no one can be convinced! Some might even see it as an act of retaliation!”

This was the first time he had raised his voice, but I wasn’t particularly upset. It’s natural for a team leader to try to protect their team member.

“Calm down. I know that, so I’m having this honest conversation with you after calling you here.” I looked at James Kala and asked, “Just answer this. Do you still think I’m being suspicious for no reason?”

“Not… not really.”

“Good, then that’s settled.” Before he could say anything, I clapped loudly to change the atmosphere and continued, “Listen carefully. I need all of your help from now on.”

“Help, you say…”

“I’ll explain.” I shared the plan I had made with the team leaders, and soon I got everyone’s agreement. And…

“It must be getting dark outside.” It was night. Well, inside this cave, it’s just as dark whether it’s day or night.

“Okay, then the story is over. You guys go and bring everyone, including Pike Neldain.” Since it’s night, it’s time to start the trial.

***

Frozen ceiling and outer walls. A huge sinkhole in the center of the common area. And thirty expedition members gathered at the campsite built next to it.

“…I’m so tired, what’s going on? Does anyone know?”

“They say there’s a traitor in the expedition.”

“…A traitor?”

“Yeah, they say that losing the food was all his doing.”

The team leaders had released some information as I had instructed, and the faces of the gathered members were filled with deep confusion. However, it didn’t take long for that emotion to turn into curiosity.

“So, who’s the traitor?”

“Well, we’ll find out soon enough.”

“Yeah. If they’ve gathered us all like this at bedtime, it means they’ve figured out who it is.”

The murmuring subsided, and more and more attention was focused on me. However, I ignored the attention and focused on just one place.

“Neldain, what’s wrong?” Pike Neldain. The warrior from James Kala’s team who had been badmouthing me every single day. ‘You little coward.’ At first, he flinched and avoided my gaze as soon as our eyes met, but now he doesn’t avoid my gaze and looks at me. It’s a common habit of liars. They worry that if they avoid eye contact, the other person will think they’re hiding something.

“Alright, everyone, quiet down!” When I gave a signal, Kaislan stepped forward and calmed the members, and soon a cold silence fell around us. It was a perfect atmosphere to speak unilaterally.

“Pike Neldain, come forward.” As soon as I finished speaking, all the members’ gazes moved to one place.

“…What? Is it really him?”

“Don’t call him ‘that guy.’ Nothing’s been confirmed yet.”

Whispers could be heard from all over. “Aren’t you coming out?” The moment I said that, the people around Pike Neldain created a path by distancing themselves. And…

*Step, step.* The guy stood in front of me, looking confident with a frown on his face.

“…I’m here.”

“You’re very confident.”

“Is there any reason I shouldn’t be? Anyway, let’s hear the reason. Why did you call me?” The guy glared at me with a hostile look. It was a situation I had roughly expected. I didn’t think he would cry and confess everything just because I created an atmosphere and intimidated him.

“Pike Neldain.”

“I’m listening, so speak.”

“You are currently under suspicion of committing a serious act of treason.”

“…Treason?”

“You have caused serious damage to the expedition, which was established under the King’s special order, so it’s fair to consider it an act of treason.”

“…I don’t understand this situation at all. What exactly did I do? If it’s because I was badmouthing you—”

“Pike Neldain!” I didn’t intend to give him time to wag his tongue, so I raised my voice and cut him off. “You have twice caused the ground to collapse during the expedition, leading to the loss of precious supplies! Do you admit it?”

“Of course, I can’t. Because it’s not true.”

“Are you going to deny it until the end?”

“Why are you all just watching! Is it right for the expedition leader to oppress a member like this without any evidence?” The guy shouted loudly, targeting the other members, not me, and the public opinion started to shift slightly.

“It’s a bit… hard to accept.”

“Just calling someone out like this…”

“Come to think of it, he was the guy who was always badmouthing the leader, wasn’t he?”

“But even if you suddenly call him a traitor, if there’s no clear evidence…”

“Wasn’t the ground collapsing a coincidence in the first place?” What the guy wanted was clear: to make them think that I was retaliating out of personal feelings.

“Schuitz, you’ve made a big mistake.” The guy looked at me with a triumphant look. “If you want to frame me and oppress me, you should at least present evidence that everyone here can accept, shouldn’t you?”

“Evidence…” In fact, this part had been the biggest thorn in my side. It’s realistically impossible to just torture him to get a confession. And I don’t have misplaced trust either. Verification magic? Even if you go past the 5th floor, most explorers are immune to verification magic, so how many people would that magic even work on? I worried and worried about this problem. And…

‘There’s no answer.’ I came to a conclusion. Unless the guy confesses through leading questions.

“It seems like you don’t have any—” There was only one way.

「The character has activated [Giantification].」 My body swelled up in an instant. *Swish.* With a flash-like movement, I grabbed the guy’s neck with my hand.

“…!” The members were surprised, but no one immediately moved to intervene. It’s the nature of explorers. If they haven’t fully grasped the situation, most of them will remain silent and observe.

“Kuh, what are you doing—!”

“You seemed to like making friends. I guess you didn’t have any real friends to help you at a time like this.”

“S-stop—!” What, it hasn’t even started properly yet. *Squeeze-* I put strength into the hand holding his neck, blocking his airway. *Thud! Thud!* The guy hit my arm with all his might. In my eyes, it was the most meaningless thing in the world. *Swish.* Whether the guy struggled or not, I bent my arm and pulled him towards me. And…

“Neldain, do you know?”

“…Ugh, ugh!”

“Evidence isn’t necessary. The expedition leader has the authority to execute any member in case of emergency.”

“Kuh, kuh, kuh-ack!”

“I think this is an emergency.” As I said that, I slightly loosened my grip, and the guy didn’t miss the opportunity and desperately shouted.

“They won’t, believe, that, outside—!”

“Yeah, they won’t believe it.” The nobles aren’t fools. And how many eyes are watching here? The moment I execute this guy here, the Marquis’s rivals will hold me responsible and make me step down from the expedition leader position. But…

“Do I care?”

“…?!”

“I don’t care about that.” With the determination to kill him for real, I put strength into the hand holding his neck. Soon, the guy’s blood vessels bulged, and his blood-filled head began to turn bright red.

“…!!” The guy, who was trying to stay conscious, no longer looked at me. He just looked around, as if hoping for salvation.

“Is it… okay to leave him like that?”

“It’s definitely going to be a problem…”

“Sir Kaislan! Shouldn’t we stop him now?” The members expressed their concerns. However, the team leaders who received those questions all remained silent and observed the situation, because that’s how the agreement ended.

“…”

“…” Perhaps because the team leaders were also silently watching and showing their support for my actions? Even those who had been actively expressing concern and arguing that they should stop me had disappeared. And…

“Ah… no…” The one who realized that fact the most deeply was none other than the guy floating in front of me. What do you mean, no?

“Enough, just die.” I pulled up my killing intent from the depths of my heart and put all my strength into the hand holding the guy’s neck. *Crack-* The sound of his neck bones breaking. The whites of his eyes began to show sporadically. His eyeballs popped out grotesquely.

“Damn it!” Someone who was watching the scene cursed, and at the moment they screamed. 「Pike Neldain has activated [Overload].」 Unable to withstand the explosive increase in the guy’s weight, my arm tilted. Yeah, he finally used it. *Thud!* The guy’s body touched the ground as the angle lowered.

“Haaah…!” As soon as I released the hand holding his neck, the guy sat down as if in pain and took a deep breath. And he shouted with all his might, “He’s, he’s crazy! W-what are you all doing! You have to stop this madman!” The members were shaken by the guy’s cry, who had come back from the brink of death. They had expressions that suggested they should step in now.

“Why are you all just watching!!” The guy looked at the team leaders, as if he was wronged. But the team leaders’ expressions were cold as they looked at him.

“I had hoped his words weren’t true.”

“It really is [Overload]. A warrior has no reason to possess it.”

“Let’s restrain him first. If he commits suicide, we won’t be able to hear the rest of the story.”

One lesson for today: If you have a suspicion, you can create the evidence.