Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 429

After the story had somewhat concluded, I borrowed a dagger from Amelia and began by cutting open the Dragonslayer bastard’s belly.

Ssssk-.

The belly split open as if cut by a surgical scalpel. After finishing the laparotomy [surgical incision into the abdominal cavity], I nonchalantly took out the heart.

Perhaps because it was such a cold place, it was still fresh.

‘A dragonkin’s heart looks different from a normal person’s.’

Should I say it’s like a tropical fruit with a bumpy surface? There were also some strange marks like chains on it.

As I was looking at it curiously, Lavienne, who had been watching me, spoke abruptly.

“The chain marks are probably traces of the curse Penn cast.”

Oh, is that so? Anyway, that means the bumpy part is how it was originally?

“Gowland, I need you to use preservation magic and distortion magic.”

After casting distortion magic on the heart I had taken out, I put it in a suitable box and stored it. Lavienne seemed like she wanted to manage it herself, but…….

“I’ll keep this for a while.”

“…Why?”

“Because it’s a means of negotiation.”

“Surely… you’re not going to hand it over right away?”

“Yeah, after things have calmed down a bit, I’ll meet with the current Ancient Dragon directly, promise secrecy, and then hand it over. It would be troublesome if the story about this guy’s heart spread.”

I was a little worried, but surprisingly, Lavienne readily agreed.

“……I understand. You’ll probably get a lot more out of it if you return it than if I take it back. Of course, I feel a little sorry for Penn, but it won’t be that long of a wait…….”

“I appreciate your understanding.”

Okay, that’s settled for now.

After the heart looting was over, we held a funeral. There were no priests left to officiate the funeral, but we cremated the dead members while offering a silent prayer, just like we had seen before.

And…….

Clunk.

It ended with putting the bone fragments into a box.

After that, we started the overall looting. The Rose Knights and the elites of Noark, and the equipment of our dead allies…….

“Collect all the equipment of our members. We can’t use the subspace, so stuff as much as you can into your bags.”

Anyway, all the equipment of our allies that would become keepsakes was collected.

“Since there’s not enough space, pick only the valuable items from the Noark equipment.”

We decided to take a moderate amount of Noark equipment. After all, we killed a lot of the Noark bastards before we came to the Glacier’s Eye, right? Those spoils of war are lying dormant in our subspace. Even if they ask where we got them, there’s no way to tell if they were from then or not.

Unlike the Rose Knights’ stuff.

“Collect the Rose Knights’ items separately. Those must be strictly managed.”

The equipment and consumables they have are mostly military supplies. Therefore, selling them or using them is limited. After all, the moment these items are released into the market, the royal family will also get the news.

‘No, even if I just rummage through my pockets to settle the spoils of war as soon as we return, the plan will be disrupted.’

It’s not 100%, but there is a risk.

“Well, we’ve certainly secured the military funds….”

Kaislan, who was from the military, seemed somewhat satisfied that the budget for the group had increased. Well, it was a bit funny how he would get teary-eyed thinking about his dead comrades. It’s like he has bipolar disorder.

“Yandel, don’t feel too guilty. We just need to fulfill their wishes.”

“What are you talking about? I just have a runny nose because it’s cold.”

Sigh, different thoughts… different thoughts…….

I stopped walking abruptly and headed to where the Rose Knights’ corpses and equipment were gathered. I was thinking of not taking even a single thing if possible, but…….

‘It’s okay to see what they have, right?’

I thoroughly searched their belongings, thinking that something that could be the royal family’s weakness or important information might come out of their bodies. The more I looked, the more my stomach ached.

‘Wow, all the daggers are Mystium [a rare and valuable metal]. The leather is all ogre leather…….’

Do I really have to leave this behind? Can’t I somehow hide it well, take it with me, and then melt it down or cut it up to make new equipment? Such greed naturally crept up.

But…….

“Let’s give up. This.”

I can’t tolerate even a 1% risk. The Dragonslayer bastard’s heart can be excused by saying we got it during the chase at the Glacier’s Eye, but not this stuff—.

“……Huh?”

I was rummaging through the Rose Knights’ corpses when I tilted my head. ‘What are these rings?’ I noticed identical rings on the middle fingers of the knights. ‘Were they… wearing rings?’ I tried to recall, but it didn’t seem like it. When I fought that woman Six, she wasn’t wearing this ring.

But…….

‘What is it?’

As soon as I felt the doubt, I took all the rings off the corpses. First of all, it wasn’t a Numbers item [referring to a specific type of magical artifact]. Then is it a magic tool?

“Marone, Gowland.”

Feeling the need to check, I asked the mages to appraise them. It didn’t take long for the results to come out.

“It’s a subordinate magic tool. The moment you equip the ring, the real object disappears and becomes bound to your soul.”

“A subordinate magic tool?”

“You know, like the summoning sigil used to summon ships on the 6th floor’s Great Sea. That’s one of the most representative subordinate magic tools.”

“Then… this ring is…….”

“Yes. It’s a subspace ring. And it’s several times beyond the level of ordinary magic.”

No wonder there wasn’t a single corpse wearing a subspace ring or bracelet.

“Usually, there are traces like tattoos left on these subordinate magic tools, but this one doesn’t have any. It seems like a nullification circuit is also engraved on it.”

“Does that mean the royal family can’t know about the existence of this subspace?”

“Yes. I think that’s probably the case?”

Jackpot.

***

I don’t know what’s inside this subordinate subspace. But one thing is certain. Even if there’s nothing inside, it’s a huge win. After all, if we have this ring, we don’t have to leave behind all the Rose Knights’ equipment.

“Take it all!”

I gathered all the Rose Knights’ equipment and put it in my backpack. After all, if we organize it like this and put it in the subspace as soon as we return to the city, how would those bastards know?

‘The problem is that there are only seven subspaces…….’

Currently, there are a total of 10 of us. Three people can’t have this ring. However, surprisingly, the distribution of the subspaces ended quickly without any dispute.

“…It’s too much for me to receive, since I couldn’t do anything in this battle.”

James Kala, who couldn’t participate in the battle because he was blind, gave up his claim.

“I’ll also give it up. I already have a subordinate subspace.”

“Me too.”

Akuraba and Lavienne, who already had similar items, gave up their claims. That’s how the owners were decided.

「The character has equipped the Liar’s Rose Ring.」

「The Liar’s Rose Ring is bound to the character.」

The ring disappeared, scattering light as soon as I equipped it.

“How do you open the subspace?”

“By brainwave recognition. It will open if you think about opening the subspace.”

Wow, is this like the royal family’s latest technology? It’s going to be very useful in the future.

“Well, then the cleanup is roughly done.”

Soon, the collection of keepsakes and spoils of war was completed.

「The frozen wall melts.」

As soon as the sealed room state ended after a day, we all left the battlefield together. Although food came out of the Rose Knights’ backpacks, it was far from enough for ten people.

「Bersil Gowland has cast the 6th-grade space-time magic [Superior Distortion].」

「Liris Marone has cast the 6th-grade space-time magic [Superior Distortion].」

So, while securing as much monster meat as possible, I headed to the Glacier’s Eye. But…….

“It’s a shame. If we could have taken all the items below, buying a mansion in the capital wouldn’t have been impossible.”

Because Cariadea, the glacier mage, was standing there, we had no choice but to return. How many pieces of equipment are buried down there? I don’t know, but the moment the labyrinth is closed, they will all be disintegrated.

“Well, let’s stop here for today and rest.”

Securing meat was important, but we didn’t move hastily and took frequent breaks. After all, even if we starved for the rest of the days, we wouldn’t die, and…….

The members’ conditions weren’t good either.

“Kaislan, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, so don’t worry too much. I can endure enough until we get out.”

There were no priests and only four potions left. Everyone survived, but the aftermath was still evident for some who had suffered serious injuries. Erwen had exhausted all her MP [Mana Points] and natural power, and couldn’t use a single skill. There weren’t many people who were in good enough condition to fight.

“Still… is it because of what we’ve been through? I don’t feel tired at all…….”

“Ah, I agree.”

“I thought I had experienced almost everything in my life, but looking back, it seems like I was just being presumptuous.”

During the breaks, we also had such small talk, but mostly we discussed the future.

“Are you going to create the clan right away?”

“Probably. But it will be a bit later before everyone joins.”

“Well… Sir Kaislan is from the military, so he can’t leave easily.”

“It’s the same even if it’s not Kaislan. It’s strange for us to suddenly band together. We need to give it some time. If we wait, they’ll kick us out first anyway, and it won’t be too late to band together after that.”

“……I’ve been thinking about the clan emblem.”

“Wow, Ms. Marone, you’re good with your hands?”

Not only for the clan we would create in the future, but from the start of the expedition until now, we wrote scenarios according to the timeline and matched our words, and if there was any contradiction or concern, we discussed it together to improve the completeness.

“Yandel, I have one concern.”

“Tell me.”

“No matter how much we match our words, will the royal family really believe everything we say?”

“…….”

“It’s been confirmed that we all have resistance to verification magic, but that’s not the only way to discern the truth.”

This was something I had also thought about a lot. If they didn’t believe our words, at least, when they became a little suspicious and decided to check the facts, what should we do?

“As I said before, there’s no reason for the royal family to go that far. They don’t want to create unnecessary trouble either.”

“Yes… that’s usually the case. Asking such questions itself gives them a reason to doubt us…. But what if they take that risk?”

“Even so… it doesn’t matter. The core of this plan isn’t about deceiving the royal family in the first place.”

Plan A is the best, but Plan B isn’t a complete failure either.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“The fact that we matched our words and remained silent is a signal to them. It’s like a request from the weak, asking them to just let it go and not bother us in the future.”

It’s a case involving the Duke, the Marquis, the alliance of minor nobles, the Alminous Merchant Guild, and even the Explorer’s Guild. Even if they doubt what happened in the labyrinth, they won’t try to confirm it, and even if they do, they’re unlikely to make another reckless move. Because I’ll make things as big as possible before that. If everyone’s attention is focused, they’ll be a little more careful, just like when they gave me a noble title without even verifying me. That’s how the royal family handles things.

“So, we need to grow stronger in that time. So that it seems like a much better choice to turn a blind eye to us than to bother us.”

“But isn’t that more dangerous? The more we grow, the more they’ll be wary of us.”

“Well, I don’t think so.”

“Why?”

“No matter how much we grow, we’re just a small candle in front of the royal family.”

The royal family’s power is enormous. Normal people don’t even think about drawing their swords against the royal family. That’s why…….

“They’ll just think we’re struggling to survive, and they won’t think we’re preparing to stick a knife in their necks.”

Just one trip to the labyrinth. They are members who had never even met each other before that. Who would think that they would oppose the royal family for their revenge? Sadness and anger are just momentary emotions. Usually, people are grateful for surviving and make realistic decisions.

But…….

“Still, what if.”

Akuraba somewhat agreed with my words, but still brought up the worst possibility.

“Still, what if… they think we’re a threat and try to eliminate us?”

The answer is simple. Well, what can we do? Then we’ll have to go to Plan C.

***

Day 75 of entering the labyrinth. To be more precise, [22:10]. The time when the labyrinth was about to close, which we had been waiting for so long, with less than 4 hours left.

“What is it?”

Bersil Gowland sat next to me while I was resting and asked abruptly.

“Hey, Yandel, Ms. Naria was a wraith, right?”

“She probably was, most likely?”

“Yeah… I guess so……?”

Bersil muttered that, and I just stayed quiet because I didn’t have anything to say. It was after a moment of silence that Bersil spoke again.

“So… what do you think about Ms. Naria, Yandel?”

A question filled with caution.

“I think she was a colleague who died tragically. But… what exactly do you want to ask?”

“I’ll change the question. If Ms. Naria were still alive, would you still consider her a colleague?”

I could vaguely see the intention of the question, but I answered honestly for now.

“Of course.”

“…Even if she’s a wraith?”

“Are you worried about that when we’ve already decided to oppose the royal family? I don’t care if she’s a wraith or whatever. What matters is whether they’re trustworthy or not.”

“……I see.”

Bersil nodded with a strange expression, chatted a few more words, and then left. Well, what was his purpose? Was he just curious about what kind of person I am?

‘Tsk, could it be that the goblin bastard was caught being a wraith? So he was testing me to see what I would do to him?’

I thought it was a pretty plausible hypothesis. At least until about 2 hours later, when Amelia called me out separately.

“Yandel, can we talk for a moment?”

“Did something happen?”

“Because of the task you entrusted to me before.”

I couldn’t help but tilt my head.

“A task I entrusted to you?”

“Didn’t you tell me to investigate Sven Parav?”

Ah, that? I certainly did make that request. After all, looking at his reckless behavior at the Round Table, I couldn’t feel at ease. I was planning to keep a close watch on him and manage him strictly. But…….

“That was something I said to do after we got out…?”

Moreover, it wasn’t even the wording of an investigation, but a gentle request to keep a close eye on him. But what is this?

“Then I should be grateful that I misunderstood.”

Amelia chuckled and shrugged her shoulders. A gesture that seemed to imply she had a good hand. In an instant, I was jolted awake.

“Did you find something?”

“…If you’re curious, see it with your own eyes.”

With those words, Amelia loosened her belt. I was quite taken aback by the sudden outburst, but then Amelia fiddled with her belt and took out a small crystal ball from inside.

“This is…….”

“It’s a recording crystal ball.”

No, it’s not like I don’t know that. It’s just surprising that such an item was hidden in the belt she always wore.

‘……If I tease her about being a voyeur, I’ll get hit, right?’

I suppressed that urge and activated the crystal ball that Amelia handed me. I judged that it was a priority to watch this first.

[……Chomp, crunch, chomp.]

The video started with Sven Parav secretly chewing on jerky that he had stashed in his top, away from the group. I was filled with betrayal.

“That bastard, he clearly told me he didn’t have any jerky stashed away—.”

“Be quiet and watch. It’s coming soon.”

“…….”

As soon as I shut my mouth at Amelia’s scolding tone, the video changed.

[Mr. Sven Parav.]

A woman approached the guy who had his back turned and spoke to him.

[Eek!]

The guy was surprised to be caught eating jerky.

[Can I talk to you for a moment?]

The woman who spoke was surprisingly Bersil, and Sven Parav just looked around with an uncomfortable look, without answering.

[Ah, I’ll say in advance that I don’t plan to tell the others about the jerky, so don’t worry. I just want to talk for a moment.]

[……Can’t we do it next time?]

[Does that mean you don’t want to talk to me?]

[Ah, no, it’s not that…… I just have a very, very bad feeling…….]

[You’re saying something incomprehensible.]

Bersil tilted her head as if she didn’t understand his expression, but I was just impressed.

‘Could it be that he instinctively sensed that Amelia was watching?’

I didn’t know, but the video continued to play.

[Anyway, I’ll just get to the point and make it short.]

[Yes? Ah, yes… please speak. I’m listening.]

[I know you’re a wraith.]

A single sentence.

“……Huh.”

[……Huh?]

With that one word, both I and Sven Parav in the video made blank expressions at the same time. And…….

[……Cough! Keh, cough cough!]

[Be quiet. They’ll get interested over there.]

[Wh, what are you talking about! Me, a, a, a, wraith…!]

The bomb didn’t stop there.

[Don’t think about running away. I’m a wraith too.]

Crazy, is she coming out here?

[……Yes? Uh, uh… Mr. Gowland is… a wraith…?]

Sven Parav was completely out of it. Looking at him, Gowland calmly continued.

[The reason I said this is simple. I thought that with your personality, you might make a mistake in the community.]

[Uh, uh…….]

[Don’t even think about saying a word about this expedition. I’ll be watching you. Whether it’s on the community board or at the Round Table.]

Thud-!

There was no such sound effect, but it felt like such a sound effect was heard in my and Sven Parav’s ears.

[Wh, the Round Table? How do you know about that…….]

[Well, I’m a member there, so I would know, right? How else would I know you’re a wraith in the first place?]

[J, just a moment… there’s a woman there… a, a queen? No, it’s not that kind of feeling…….]

Sven Parav, who was rambling and trying to calm his mind, raised his finger high.

[N, no way… are you… the fox……?]

With that scene as the last, I stopped the video.

‘Bersil Gowland was a fox…….’

It was another gain from this expedition.

***

「The labyrinth has been closed.」

「The character is moving to Lapdonia.」

***

The warm sunlight. The Marquis, who was sitting at his desk and working, put down his pen and held a cup of hot tea in one hand. And he took a sip and checked the time.

‘It’s about time the portal opens.’

It was 5 minutes before 12 PM. Soon, the labyrinth would close, and the empty dimensional plaza would be filled with explorers who had finished their arduous journey. It was a scene he saw every month, but today was special for him.

“I hope the mission was successful.”

The Eye of the Sky, which was the core strategic weapon of Noark. The thirty-member expedition that was hastily formed to destroy it.

“Well, it doesn’t matter even if they failed.”

The Marquis had already prepared documents for two scenarios. One was when the mission was successful, but the expedition team did not return alive, and the other was when the mission was not successful and they did not return alive. For reference, there were no documents that considered their return alive. He was just cautious, and he didn’t have a hobby of making meaningless efforts.

“It feels like a thorn has finally been pulled out.”

The Marquis chuckled and put down his teacup. And he picked up his pen again and started looking at the pending tasks. It was about 10 minutes later.

Bzzzzzzzz-!

The message stone in his office vibrated. The sender was a checkpoint connected to the Marquis family.

“What’s going on?”

The Marquis’s face quickly frowned as he received the call.

[……I’m sorry to bother you while you’re busy. People claiming to be a special unit of the royal family have appeared.]

“………A special unit?”

[Ah, yes… you don’t know about this? I’m sorry. It’s just that their identities are all quite formidable, so it’s hard to say they’re just talking nonsense…….]

“So that’s what happened…….”

[Yes. The man who seems to be the leader is yelling at me to contact the Marquis right away……. What should I do?]

“Is that so? I understand. I’ll send someone soon, so keep them there. Ah, by the way… how many are there?”

[Ten… exactly ten.]

“I see. I understand.”

The Marquis spoke in a friendly voice and hung up. And…….

Zzzzzzzip.

He tore up and burned both documents on the desk.

“Ten people…….”

I don’t know what kind of trick they used, but.

“Things are getting interesting.”

The ones who were supposed to die have returned alive.