Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 412

“Well… I’ve actually had a good sense of things since I was little…”

Looking at him with a dumbfounded expression, the goblin began to share various experiences he had, starting with that statement. His words were so jumbled that I doubted he even knew what he was saying, but one thing stood out.

“It was the same on the day the pillar of fire rose! I was supposed to enter the labyrinth, but I felt the same way as today…”

At first, I thought he might be crazy, but if what he’s saying is true, it’s hard to dismiss it. ‘Sixth sense’ is an actual stat in [Dungeon & Stone].

“Okay, go back to your spot.”

“A-Are we leaving then?”

“We can’t just keep pushing forward based on unfounded anxiety.”

“…Y-You’re right, I suppose?”

“Yes. But, I’ll think about it.”

With those words, leaving room for consideration, he left with a look that said, ‘Okay, this is the best we can do.’ Only then did the other companions around me start to speak up.

“He’s a peculiar fellow.”

That was the start, a softened way of saying ‘Is he crazy?’ from the psychic Didi.

“Perhaps he received a revelation. He is a paladin who serves a god, after all.”

The mage Ashde seemed to defend him, while Erwen looked displeased.

“What’s with that guy? Everyone’s tired and resting, and he’s just being annoying.”

“Now, now, calm down.”

As I was calming Erwen, Amelia approached me and spoke.

“Schuitz, what are you going to do? You don’t look like you’re dismissing it as nonsense.”

“There’s always a reason why explorers believe in superstitions.”

“So, you’re going to follow his words?”

“I don’t know…”

I should at least consider it. Actually, as soon as I heard his words, I started to get a bad feeling too.

Swoosh.

With that in mind, I looked down at the traffic light ring I was wearing. The ring still wasn’t emitting any light. But, it’s too early to be relieved just by this.

‘This ring doesn’t predict every event.’

The traffic light ring was like that in the game too. Even if there was an event nearby, it didn’t activate with a 100% probability; it worked randomly. If a green light appears, there’s definitely something good nearby. But, just because a light doesn’t appear, it doesn’t mean there’s nothing good nearby…

‘What should I do?’

I was deep in thought when it happened.

[The ring has sensed the character’s fate.]

The ring suddenly activated, emitting light.

Whoosh.

The color of the light I quickly checked was a very clear red.

“Mister…?”

Ignoring Erwen’s flustered voice, I quickly got up. And…

“Everyone, prepare to move!”

We ended our rest and hurriedly resumed our movement.

“…We haven’t even rested for 10 minutes.”

“The members are very tired.”

The team leaders expressed their concerns, but there was no other way. It’s better to be a little tired than to experience a red event, right?

“Form up! We’re starting now!”

We started marching again, and about 30 minutes later…

Whoosh.

The ring’s light went out. I don’t know what kind of negative event was coming for us… I was dumbfounded and bewildered.

‘Sven Parav, what the hell is that guy?’

Is it just a coincidence? Well, no matter how good a person’s intuition is, how could it have a wider range than the traffic light ring? Even while thinking that, his expression of genuinely trying to convince me that he had a good sense of things bothered me. So, while moving, I briefly fell back and went next to the goblin.

“How are you now? Are you okay?”

If he was still uneasy, I would just dismiss it as a coincidence. He doesn’t know about the traffic light ring—

“Ah, yes… I-I feel comfortable.”

What the hell is this guy…?

***

7th Floor, Dark Continent.

A human man with a physique as sturdy as a barbarian bent down and touched the ground.

“White Tiger, there are traces of someone staying here!”

“Really? How many?”

“It looks like a little over twenty, but I’m not sure! But what’s clear is that they haven’t been gone long!”

A loud shout befitting his large size. The old man winced at the noise but muttered briefly.

“Perhaps it’s them.”

“Them?”

“You know, the ones who broke the Eye of the Sky and are on the run.”

“Ah, those guys…”

“Shall we follow them? If it’s really them, we could demand quite a lot from the Noah Arc side.”

“Hmm.”

The blonde man, who had been pondering with his chin in his hand at the old man’s words, chuckled and stared at one spot.

“Meow, what do you think would be good?”

A playful voice. The beastkin woman who received the question only frowned as if displeased and didn’t answer.

“Well, I can tell just by your expression. You don’t want to, right?”

“…It’s a waste of time.”

“It’s a waste of time, you just don’t want to mess with them if they’re really from the city.”

“…”

“How boring.”

As their conversation ended, the warrior who first discovered the traces asked in a subtle voice.

“So, what are you going to do? Are you going to follow them?”

“No. Why bother?”

The blonde man shrugged and continued.

“It’s not like it’s certain anyway, right? What if we go and it’s just some guys hunting nearby?”

“It would be a waste of time. But isn’t it a shame? If we follow them now, we could catch up quickly.”

“Eh, it’s fine. It’s not like we’ll get anything great from catching them.”

The blonde man waved his hand dismissively, then pulled out a chair from his subspace and sat down.

“If we happen to meet them here, maybe, but there’s no need to go out of our way to check. Let’s just do our own thing. Don’t worry about them. They’ll take care of themselves.”

“If that’s your wish, then there’s nothing I can do.”

“Okay, then this conversation is over. Let’s rest for a bit, eat something, and then move again. Hey, Aures!”

“Haha! Just wait a bit! I’ll grill some delicious meat for you soon!”

Soon, the smell of grilling meat began to waft around them.

***

60 days since entering the labyrinth. In other words, 15 days left until the 7th floor is closed.

“Somehow, we’ve come this far.”

We arrived at the ‘Resting Place of the Defeated,’ the western field of the ‘Dragon’s Sanctum,’ where the portal was located. Whoosh. The black fog, which didn’t scatter even in the strong wind, filled the surroundings. Thousands of old swords were stuck in the endless field. It was a space with a somewhat eerie atmosphere, but no one expressed their feelings about it. Because no one had the luxury to indulge in such sentiments.

“Schuitz, we need to keep moving. If we stay still, we might get surrounded—”

“I know, so be quiet.”

“…”

Um, was I too sharp? I belatedly had that thought, but I didn’t apologize. I didn’t have the time for that—

“Schuitz, don’t be too anxious. If the commander collapses, everyone will collapse.”

Heh, I didn’t expect to be comforted like that. I smiled bitterly and sighed.

‘Isn’t it too much to ask me not to be anxious?’

My plan has already gone awry. Not the south where our allies are, but the north, which is the enemy’s territory. I thought that if we chose this place, we could lie low using the principle that the darkest place is under the lamp. But, what was it actually like?

‘Those persistent bastards.’

The pursuit team catches up quickly if we slow down even for a moment. Because of them, we had to continue marching for days without even resting or sleeping properly.

“I don’t understand. How do they know exactly where we’re going and follow us…”

Kaislan questioned how the Noah Arc forces were able to follow us without losing track, but I know the answer. Because I’ve experienced it before.

[If I hadn’t sacrificed another arm, we might have lost them?]

In Larcaz’s maze, the Dragonslayer used Karui’s priest to track us. They probably used a similar method this time too. They’re the kind of guys who would sacrifice anything to achieve their goals.

“Parav. How are you feeling now?”

“Ah, I think I’m still okay…”

The goblin played a big part in ensuring that no one else died on the way here. It’s like he has a sixth sense for when the pursuit team is nearby, even when we’re resting. When he cautiously asks if we can go in a different direction while we’re moving, there are enemies lying in ambush ahead. After realizing that, I’ve been keeping him by my side while moving.

“Then, you can rest a little longer. If anything feels off, tell me right away.”

“Understood.”

At those words, he flopped down on the ground. Ha, if he’s like that, it means the surroundings are really safe. I want to collapse and close my eyes for a bit too. But…

‘I can’t do that.’

Overcoming my weak heart, I gathered the team leaders for a leadership meeting.

“Kala, Kaislan, Jun, Akuraba. First, I want to apologize.”

“…?”

“I thought that if we came here, we could hide until the closing date, but I was wrong.”

Was it too sudden of an apology? The team leaders looked rather bewildered, and then one by one, they offered words of comfort.

“I don’t think you need to apologize.”

“Yes. Just looking at the pursuit team, we can tell. Even if we had waited for more rescue teams there, it would have been difficult to last even a day.”

“If it weren’t for you, more people would have died.”

“I’m ashamed to say, but I was relieved that I wasn’t the commander when this situation happened. As I said before, the commander must never collapse…”

Oh, that makes me feel a bit lighter. Actually, I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately. Should we have just waited for the rescue team in Deadwood? Should we have headed south and escaped from enemy territory, even at the cost of many sacrifices? And… What if everyone dies because of my wrong choices?

Thump-

It feels like I’m living with a mountain-sized rock on my chest. But, that doesn’t mean I should ignore what I have to do. Even if it means a bigger rock will press down on my chest.

“Ahem.”

“You’re feeling awkward.”

Whatever.

Tap tap.

I tapped my knees and said to the team leaders.

“Anyway, that’s why I called you here to ask for your opinions.”

“It seems like you’ve already made a decision.”

Oh, that’s true. But, I’m just thinking about it, not to the point of making a decision on my own. That’s why…

“As you all know, we probably won’t last long even if we hide here.”

I laid the groundwork before getting to the main point.

“If we don’t keep moving, we’ll probably be caught and surrounded soon.”

We’re like sharks that can only breathe by moving forward. If we stop carelessly, it’s game over. Once a full encirclement is formed, we won’t be able to escape with our exhausted forces. Therefore…

“So, where are you thinking of going?”

Looking at the team leaders who were showing curiosity, I clicked my tongue bitterly.

“Judging by how you’re saying that, it seems like you have a place in mind.”

That’s right. I have a place in mind. It’s not something I came up with after arriving here, but a place I had in mind from the planning stage. Yes, to put it simply, it was Plan B. A choice I didn’t want to make unless it was a truly dire situation.

“I’m curious. Where are you planning to move to in this situation?”

I finally spoke the choice.

“We’re going back to Ice Rock.”

The path that’s difficult for us will also be difficult for them. Let’s see if they can follow us all the way here.