Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 444

With a murderous aura, I glared down at him from the round table.
Even though it wasn’t a community where minds were connected, it was enough.

It was enough to make the guy who had been looking up at me fearlessly lower his gaze.

“…….”

Yeah, that’s right.

Born into a direct line of a noble family and raised with pampering, how could you have ever experienced a situation like this?

“…….”

Silence fell as no answer came back.

The nobles, who were obsessed with scandals, were just watching from afar.

Even though I, whom they considered lowly, was acting out, they should have intervened.

‘The Barbarian is definitely a cheat character [an overpowered character].’

If I were an elf, a dwarf, or a beastkin, someone would have stepped forward to criticize my rudeness.

At least they would think they could reason with me.

Then, what about a Barbarian with no precedent?

The answer was in this silence.

“…….”

Because there were no statistics, they couldn’t easily take action.

They were wary of getting caught in the crossfire if they stepped forward.

“……Is it alright to just leave him like that?”

In fact, someone expressed such concern, but as soon as they made eye contact with me, they looked away.

Logically, even if we made eye contact, I wouldn’t use force in this place where so many nobles were present.

Even so, there was no certainty.

Would common sense really apply to a Barbarian who would request a duel for being slightly insulted?

“I’d like an answer soon.”

Saying that, I took another step forward as much as he had stepped back.

“You don’t want to duel?”

At this, the nobles who had been chatting with him until just now quietly stepped back. Then, perhaps they judged that they had no choice but to resolve this situation on their own.

Soon, he made a decision.

“…Set a date.”

It wasn’t a decision made because he was confident he could win the duel.

He simply had no other choice.

How could he refuse a duel request from a different race he had been mocking as lowly in front of everyone? In this world where reputation is everything, it was like a death sentence.

“Judging by the fact that you’re setting a date, it seems you don’t have the guts to fight yourself?”

“…There is a separate blade for dealing with beasts.”

He said it coolly, but it meant that he was too scared to fight himself, so he would appoint a duel proxy.

“Well, I don’t care, but prepare as many as possible.”

“…Multiple?”

What’s with that face like you don’t understand?

Did you think it would be over after just one?

“Ah, didn’t you know? I’m going to keep requesting duels from you from today until I feel that my honor, which you have tarnished, has been restored.”

A mad dog is a mad dog because it doesn’t let go once it bites.

“…What?”

You should have been more careful with your words.

Or you should have had a strong backer.

Then I would have targeted someone else.

“Are you… really going to be able to handle this…?”

In other words, it was a desperate question of whether I really had to go that far. Well, from his point of view, it must have felt like a bolt out of the blue.

“You’re talking nonsense. Handle it?”

I spoke clearly so that everyone could hear.

“Do I look like the kind of guy who cares about that?”

If you don’t want to get bitten, be careful from now on.

***

And so, the duel was set.

Now, all that was left was to set a date.

“I think this week would be good for the date.”

“…….”

“Why, do you need more time to call someone?”

“No, that’s enough.”

Perhaps he was starting to adapt to this abnormal situation.

The Baron no longer dragged out his answer like an idiot.

He must have finished calculating in his head to some extent.

‘Is he trying to see it as an opportunity?’

A barbarian who dares to act shamelessly and vulgarly without knowing his place.

And himself, who accepts the duel of such a barbarian and wins splendidly, thus protecting the dignity of the nobility.

Isn’t it a pretty plausible future?

Of course, that wouldn’t happen.

‘At best, he’ll use his connections to barely recruit a knight who’s somewhat famous.’

I couldn’t accurately gauge the level of the duel proxy.

However, even so, I was confident.

There would be no Royal Knight Commander who would step forward as a duel proxy for a mere Baron.

If it wasn’t that level, I was confident I could beat them all.

But……

“How about we stop here?”

Unfortunately, there was someone who intervened at that moment.

‘Duke Kealuners.’

He walked through the crowd that parted like the Red Sea, approached me, and then patted me on the shoulder.

As if comforting a sulking child.

“Come now, isn’t it a good day?”

“…….”

“Let’s have you generously let it go at this point. Aren’t we all pillars supporting this kingdom?”

The Duke’s political intention in stepping forward at this exact timing was clear.

A situation where no one could easily step forward.

But, as soon as he stepped forward, the rampaging barbarian calmed down and changed his mind?

That much would raise Duke Kealuners’ standing in the noble society afterward.

But……

‘He said we should become friends?’

It’s a well-known fact that a friendship is a relationship that is quickly cut off if you only receive without giving anything.

If you want to ask something of me, you have to give something too.

“Baron Kipriot insulted me.”

As I directly rebelled, the Duke’s mouth hardened.

Regardless, I continued.

“He called me a mongrel, said I was like a beast.”

Actually, it was the guy next to him who said that, but whatever.

“He treated Baron Lilibia, who was talking to me, like a prostitute because she was a different race, and when I protested, he scoffed at me, asking if I had any honor to be insulted.”

He even mocked me for not being able to write, but if I said that, I would look too pathetic, so I skipped it.

“So, this is what Baron Kipriot did. On that good day you mentioned, Duke.”

After announcing the reason why I requested the duel in front of everyone, I asked again.

“And is there any reason why I should put up with it?”

At that question, the Duke’s gaze turned to the Baron.

He had stepped in after seeing the situation, but it seemed he hadn’t grasped the details of the cause……

“Tsk.”

The Duke clicked his tongue briefly while looking at the Baron, then looked back at me. He seemed to regret stepping in, but once he had intervened in the incident, the Duke had two options.

He could retreat helplessly without resolving anything despite stepping in confidently.

Or else……

“It seems Baron Kipriot made a mistake.”

He had to concede something to me as well.

The Duke’s judgment was swift and bold.

“I, the Duke, will promise on his behalf. That there will be no more mistakes like this in the future. Not just today, but anywhere else.”

A promise made with the name of Duke Kealuners on the line.

“Isn’t that right? Baron Kipriot?”

Soon, the Baron, who received the cue, trembled and answered immediately.

“Yes, yes… of course, Your Grace.”

Even to me, it didn’t sound like an empty promise to get out of the situation. In fact, the Baron wouldn’t be able to do anything like today again. No, not just him, but other nobles as well.

The Duke’s promise had that much weight.

If such a situation were to occur again, it would be the same as tarnishing the Duke’s name.

‘It’s a bit of a shame that I couldn’t go through with the duel…… but there will be another chance later.’

I made a quick decision.

The Duke had also taken a step back.

“Well then, would you let go of your anger at this point?”

If I refused even this offer, it would be no different from declaring a feud.

“I haven’t even received an apology from Baron Kipriot yet. And even if I do receive an apology, the honor I was insulted with today will not return. But……”

I continued.

“I’ll end it here.”

“Hoo……”

At that, a sigh flowed out from among the nobles.

“Because it’s a request from a friend, not anyone else.”

“……!”

At the following words, their eyes widened.

***

Friend.

A word that implies a friendly and equal relationship.

“…….”

The moment that word was uttered through my mouth, silence fell in the Hall of Glory.

‘A barbarian and a Duke are friends?’

A quiet atmosphere as if waiting for an explanation.

In that silence, the Duke, who had slightly narrowed his brow, regained his warm smile and said.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

A short sentence that neither denied nor affirmed the word ‘friend’.

But that was enough.

For the status of the Yandel Baron family, which had just been promoted and entered the Royal Club, to rise sharply.

‘I unintentionally gained a huge advantage.’

Of course, the Duke must have said that after making sufficient political calculations. He had even made a promise with his family’s name on the line to cover up a mistake made by a noble.

He must have thought that raising my status would be less damaging to the dignity of the Duke’s family.

“Then, I, the Duke, will take my leave now as I have official duties. I will call you separately at a later date. Ah, and congratulations on your promotion.”

After that, the Duke left after making a promise for a future meeting in front of everyone.

‘If he does this much for me, it becomes burdensome……’

Still, the result wasn’t bad.

I could feel that the way they looked at me had changed drastically.

“……It seems he wasn’t just someone who became a noble by luck.”

“Could it be… that the Duke used his power to get the approval for this promotion…?”

The curiosity that began to settle in their eyes, which had been looking down on me as if I were inferior.

It was a good sign.

No matter what, I had to get the attention of many people in the end, so that the Marquis wouldn’t act rashly, right?

Therefore, after warning Baron Kipriot that there would be no next time, I returned to my original seat.

The Rabbit Baron was standing blankly, not even sitting at the table, and looking at me.

“You don’t have to stand up to greet me.”

“…….”

“……Baron Lilibia?”

As I said that and waved my hand in front of her eyes, the Rabbit Baron finally came to her senses and approached me.

And in a small voice, she quickly snapped.

“W-Why did you do such a thing……!”

“…….”

“It’s a good thing the Duke stepped in, or else you would have been in big trouble.”

This house doesn’t treat tanks [a character that absorbs damage] very well.

Shouldn’t the first thing to say be ‘you worked hard’?

“But it ended well, didn’t it?”

“……?”

“With the Duke’s promise, discrimination won’t disappear, but there won’t be any more whispering behind our backs.”

Just like you wanted.

As I added those words firmly, the Rabbit Baron’s expression changed strangely.

“You… was that really the only reason……?”

“Then do I need another reason?”

“It was too reckless. If the Duke hadn’t stepped in, there could have been cases where even Melbes wouldn’t have been able to save you……!”

It was a bit disappointing to hear that.

It made it seem like all my achievements were just luck.

“Well, I don’t really think so.”

“…Of course, at least I value Baron Yandel highly. But, not all the families in Melbes are like that. Now that you’re just establishing your position, they might have judged that it wasn’t worth recruiting you even if it meant greatly antagonizing the nobles—”

“Stop.”

It was a non sequitur.

That wasn’t what I meant.

“In the first place, Melbes has nothing to do with it.”

“……Yes?”

“The Duke is the same. In the first place, even if the Duke hadn’t stepped in, the result wouldn’t have changed.”

“……?”

To the Rabbit Baron, who didn’t seem to understand my words, I kindly explained.

“You said it yourself, to become a necessary person.”

“…….”

“That’s why I requested the duel. There has to be at least one guy like me so that the other guys can’t act up. Ah, Baron Kipriot was the perfect example. His family itself isn’t anything special, and he doesn’t have a strong backer.”

“Wait a minute! Baron… does that mean you calculated all of that and acted?”

“To some extent.”

As I nodded, the Rabbit Baron was shocked, but she asked one question as if she was curious.

“But what does that have to do with becoming a necessary person?”

Ah, that?

“When I asked you for the reason when you told me to let it go with one ear, you said there was no way.”

At that time, I saw it at a glance.

What was lacking in the different race noble party.

That was something only a main tank [a character that absorbs damage] who had gone through thick and thin could see.

“Actually, it wasn’t that there was no way for you. There is always a way in any situation.”

I said firmly.

“If you can’t see a way in a situation full of enemies, it’s just that you don’t have it.”

“…….”

“Someone who will break through the path while taking the arrows in the front.”

After I finished speaking, the Rabbit Baron didn’t say anything.

However, I could tell from her expression.

‘Okay, it seems like my self-PR has worked for sure.’

Yes, my value is determined by me.

***

After that, I talked with the Rabbit Baron.

She asked me about this and that like someone who was greatly impressed, and I was possessed by a door-to-door salesman and sold my medicine.

And as that time went on.

“The Baron is right……”

The Rabbit Baron’s face also changed little by little.

“What has changed by enduring and enduring until now? If we had at least… steadily moved forward step by step during that long time! The result would have been different from now!”

The innocent herbivore’s appearance was no more.

There was only one determined beast.

“It’s time for our Melbes to change too. Don’t worry, Baron Yandel. I will take responsibility and get the guild sponsorship approved. Our Melbes needs someone like you.”

With those words, the Rabbit Baron left the table.

As I watched her back, I suddenly had a thought.

Should we hide our teeth, or should we show them?

Perhaps the starting point where herbivores and carnivores were first classified was the difference in that mindset.

‘Well, that’s why the environment is important.’

Is it because she’s a rabbit? Her ears are unusually thin.

Anyway, after she left, I sat at the empty table and continued the meal that had been interrupted, and then the nobles started to talk to me one by one.

“Baron Yandel, you’ve been through a lot earlier. I heard that it was something worth requesting a duel for?”

“Yes, after hearing the circumstances, it was really outrageous.”

“Tsk, racial discrimination, what era is this?”

It was funny how they changed their attitude after treating me like an invisible Barbarian, but I pretended not to know and socialized with them.

From now on, connections are also assets.

“Haha, thank you all. If you invite me sometime, I’ll come visit.”

“Oh, is that so? I heard that you haven’t shown your face since the banquet held at the Perdehilt Count’s family.”

“At that time, I was a stranger, but now we’re friends, aren’t we?”

“……Friends? Hahaha! As expected of an explorer, you’re so cool? Okay, let’s do it. Friends!”

Anyway, among those who came to me with this feeling, Count Perdehilt was also included, and he expressed his regret for not being able to marry me to his daughter before.

“I’m really happy to see you succeed like this, but it’s a bit of a shame. My daughter would have really liked it……”

What do you mean your daughter would have liked it?

Even back then, she was dragged out against her will and was trembling when she saw me.

“Haha, then I’ll be on my way. I’ll invite you next time, so don’t pretend you don’t know me!”

After sending Count Perdehilt away, I exchanged names and made acquaintances with several nobles.

It was at that time.

‘……Huh?’

A middle-aged Baron shook hands with me, slipped a note into my hand, and then threw a subtle glance before disappearing.

I felt goosebumps all over my body.

‘This bastard, could it be……’

I thought about tearing the note to shreds right away, but just in case, I quickly went to the bathroom and read it alone.

After reading the contents, I was glad I didn’t tear it up.

[I will be waiting for you three days later, at the place where we first met. —Your true friend.]

Wow, I didn’t know he would contact me so secretly.

Then, does that mean one of the side quests of the promotion ceremony has been achieved?

‘……Now, all that’s left is to meet the Marquis.’

I tore the note to shreds, swallowed it with tap water, and then left the bathroom.