Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 445

The banquet, which had begun a little after noon, ended before sunset.

Today’s banquet was attended by the heads of each family, representing their respective houses. Unlike the nobles who were busy reveling, they had a lot of work piled up.

‘Actually, after about two hours, people started leaving in droves.’

Most of them, forced to attend by tradition, stayed at the banquet just long enough to avoid criticism before leaving the palace without any regrets.

Of course, since it was a gathering of family heads who were hard to see, many of them took this opportunity to actively socialize. Well, even they left by dusk, saying they were tired.

‘Is this what they mean by saying that old people become like children?’

It’s not like they’re children from a new country with a curfew.

Clatter, clatter.

As I watched the royal palace receding into the distance from the carriage, various thoughts crossed my mind.

From trivial thoughts like how convenient it would be to have a house in the capital, to my future.

‘In the end, I didn’t get a proper conversation with the Marquis.’

Unfortunately, one of the quests of this banquet, ‘Probing the Marquis,’ failed.

I did go to greet him and sit at his table, but there were too many people around. He didn’t seem keen on dismissing them either.

In the end, I had to return after exchanging only pleasantries.

It’s a regrettable part.

‘Actually, now that I think about it, what the Marquis thinks isn’t that important anymore…’

What’s important now is balance.

Regardless of the Marquis’s intentions towards me, if I grow strong enough, he won’t be able to touch me easily.

Therefore, I need to walk the line carefully.

I need to grow to a point where I’m not easily touched, but not so threatening that he’d draw his sword.

‘Anyway, joining Melbes went well…’

The official membership was scheduled for a later date when we would all gather, but for now, there are no problems.

However, I’m still not sure what will happen to Ragna, who contacted me through a note.

Actually, if things go well, she might be able to play the role of a wild card in the future confrontation with the Marquis…

“Haa…”

I feel a little pathetic that I have to think about things like this.

If I had remained a librarian, I could have just happily reunited with her.

‘Why did she have to be the Marquis’s daughter…’

Moreover, Hyunbyul is also involved in this relationship, so the more I think about it, the more my head feels like it’s going to explode.

‘…Well, I’ll know when I meet her.’

After taking a nap, I soon arrived at the military landing, and after teleporting to Lavigion in an instant, I changed to a carriage and headed home.

“You’re back early?”

“It ended earlier than I thought. Where’s Erwen?”

“She came in a little while ago and is taking a bath now.”

Oh, then I can see her after a long time today.

I went up to the second floor, washed up, changed my clothes, and came down to the living room, where Amelia and Erwen were sitting on the sofa, chatting.

But somehow, they seem closer than I thought.

Well, it’s probably because they went through thick and thin together in Ice Rock—

“Uncle!!”

Erwen, who had spotted me, jumped up and ran towards me, and I held out my hand to stop her.

“Erwen, I’m not your uncle.”

“…Eh?”

Erwen made a deflated expression at my words.

“I am Baron Bjorn Yandel!”

As I continued, Erwen let out an awkward exclamation.

“Ah…”

Well, that’s embarrassing for a Barbarian.

She didn’t accept it.

If it were Ainar, he would have cheered and rejoiced with me.

“Bjorn, don’t talk nonsense and sit down.”

“…Okay.”

After I sat down on the sofa with a sulky expression, a family meeting soon began. There were several agenda items since it had been a while, but the first one mentioned was, of course, Erwen.

“…Fortunately, it was resolved well. The Sacred Tree Palace has been returned, and the money borrowed to buy this house… we’ve agreed to pay it back within a month.”

Erwen sounded like she had committed a crime. So when I asked why she had such a voice, she said she was sorry for not being able to protect the house that held precious memories…

“That’s enough, why are you sorry about that?”

In the first place, I can’t believe the Elves let Erwen go with just this.

A pureblood is only one in an era.

I thought that in the worst case, they might even demand her life.

‘In fact, this is practically the best outcome…’

I was suspicious of how well things were going, so I asked Erwen for the reason, and she explained.

“While I was negotiating with the elders, my uncle helped me. I think that had a big impact.”

Uncle, huh…

Come to think of it, her uncle was said to be a hero-like figure among the Elves.

I’d like to meet him someday.

“By the way, a month is quite a tight deadline.”

After Erwen’s status report was over, Amelia mentioned a practical problem.

“We’ll sell this house to get the money, and we’ll have to find a new house to live in.”

“…How about we buy it again? If we sell the spoils we got this time, it might be possible…”

“Well, Bjorn, what do you think?”

“Hmm…”

I pondered for a moment before giving my opinion.

“I think it would be better to stay at an inn for the time being. Or rent a place. Of course, it will be much smaller than the mansion we live in now.”

“…I, is that so. I guess…”

Erwen seemed reluctant to sell this house, but she didn’t object to my words.

She could be honest in a place like this.

“Don’t worry too much. Both the house we live in now and the house we’ll live in later are just temporary places to stay.”

After I brought up the fact that Melbes had agreed to support the cost of land purchase and mansion construction, Erwen’s expression brightened noticeably.

“So, does that mean the Yandel Barony will really be established…!”

“Yes, so when we design it later, tell me everything you need.”

“…?”

“Because it’s also going to be your home.”

“…!!!!”

Looking at Erwen’s expression, it seemed that her regret about selling the house we live in now had completely disappeared.

“Of course, Amelia, you too.”

I mentioned Amelia as well, wondering if she might feel left out, and for some reason, Amelia let out a deep sigh while looking at me.

Ah, by the way, she did say what she wanted.

“…I’d like the room for our navigator to be a little bigger than it is now. And have a window with sunlight.”

It seemed that the navigator had been feeling down lately.

Would it help if she got some sea breeze?

***

“The housing issue is settled for now… how are we going to explore the labyrinth?”

As soon as the house issue was settled, Amelia brought up the next agenda.

Our party is currently incomplete.

Ainar, Erwen, Amelia, me, and our navigator.

We still need one more person to fill the full party of six.

The problem is that there’s no one to add right now.

I plan to have all the expedition members join my clan someday, but I’m being careful because I think it’s dangerous to move too hastily.

If I were to recruit someone right away, it would probably be Lavien or the mage, Versil Gowland, who wouldn’t cause any problems…

‘Versil said it would take about a month to settle his grudges with the cult, and Lavien said she would take a break from exploring for a while…’

No matter what, there’s one spot open.

It’s a shame to just rest when we have a whole month.

I made a decision.

“I think it would be better to go in just the five of us this time.”

“Five of us?”

“It’s not that unusual, is it? Until a few years ago, five people were the norm.”

“That’s… true.”

“We’re not going up to the 7th floor, we’ll only be active on the 6th floor, so there won’t be any major risks.”

“The 6th floor… I understand. I’ll let Rocklob know.”

With that, the labyrinth exploration issue was also settled.

After that, we had a simple dinner and chatted before going to bed.

And the next morning.

We all went to the guild branch and finished registering as clan members.

“Heh… thank you, Uncle.”

I wish she would give her thanks to Amelia next to her…

Looking at her getting another copy of the same document and carefully putting it away, I felt a pang of conscience.

‘Hah, by the way, I need to fill the vice-captain position too.’

When I created the clan, I thought Amelia would be perfect for the job, so I casually brought it up, but she refused right away.

She said she didn’t want to attract people’s attention?

Well, she’s using the name ‘Emily Raines,’ which is a pseudonym anyway.

‘Then who should be the vice-captain…’

My worries deepened.

The vice-captain position is a must-fill position.

Especially since if you register a power of attorney in advance, you can perform administrative procedures that require the captain’s authority.

‘…Raven would have been perfect as vice-captain. He was meticulous and handled troublesome tasks well.’

After finishing the clan member registration, we had a simple meal at a nearby restaurant.

“Bjorn, are we going to Commelby now?”

“No, we’re going to the temple first.”

“…The temple?”

Amelia tilted her head, muttering, but soon understood the situation.

“You’re going to erase the essence of Gachabon.”

“There’s no need to hide my appearance anymore.”

That’s what I said, but I was actually still thinking about this issue until today.

The essence of Gachabon was quite good.

I wondered if it would be better to just keep it until I started farming the next essence in earnest.

But…

“There’s another reason, isn’t there?”

“Well, didn’t I get back the equipment I used to use from Ainar and Avman this time? I can use them as soon as I return to my original physique, and it’s a waste not to use them. Besides, a better essence might come out during the 6th floor exploration. I have to visit the tribe someday, and it’s a bit awkward to go in this body, right?”

“Hmm…?”

Amelia made a strange humming sound at my answer, while Erwen expressed her disappointment.

“Uh… so you’re going to get bigger again like before…?”

“Yes.”

“I like you as you are now…”

It’s an aesthetic sense I can’t understand at all.

What’s so good about this skinny body?

“Then, I’ll be back.”

After arriving at the temple, I went in alone and went through the essence removal process.

「The [Essence of Gachabon] that has permeated the character’s soul has been removed.」

「Physical sense decreases by -40.」

「Physical resistance decreases by -15.」

「Darkness resistance decreases by -30.」

「Accuracy decreases by -45…」

Falling stats.

「Bone density decreases by -110.」

The amount of height that increases.

「Control increases by +30.」

Anyway, I feel more clear-headed.

「Luck increases by +50.」

My luck, which is the most important, must have improved a little.

Swoosh.

After getting used to the changed eye level, I took out the clothes I had brought separately and checked my body in the mirror.

‘Hah, I’m finally back to my original body.’

It’s strange, but I’m really big.

I felt like I wanted to shout the name of my ancestral god, but I held it back with superhuman control.

This is a temple, after all.

***

「Bjorn Yandel」

Level: 7

Physical: 1390.55 (New -54.5) / Mental: 521.3 / Ability: 2197.65

Item Level: 6285 (New -2020)

Total Combat Index: 5680.75 (New -575.58)

Acquired Essences: Orc Hero – Rank 5 / Ogre – Rank 3 / Bayon – Rank 3 / Stormgush – Rank 3 / Bol-Helchan – Rank 3 / Deep Sea Giant – Rank 3

***

The reactions of the two who saw me after I came out of the temple were starkly different.

“Heh, Uncle! You look great this way too! Just like the day we first met!”

Erwen, who had expressed her disappointment, praised me as if she had never done so.

“…It’s definitely better than before.”

On the other hand, Amelia, who had been silent, drove a stake into the heart of the warrior.

With a strange murmur.

“But… in some ways, this might be better.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“It means you’re better off being ugly.”

“I’m not ugly, I’m just manly-looking?”

“Pfft…”

“…Did you just laugh at me?”

‘Family education.’

That word rose to the tip of my throat, but I barely held it back.

She’s a precious comrade, after all.

Besides, she really didn’t receive any family education.

Yes, as a clan leader, I have to endure this.

‘…It could have been dangerous if my control hadn’t returned.’

Anyway, we headed to Commelby as originally planned.

Not all of our expedition members live in the 7th district.

We decided to meet in Commelby, the center of the city.

“This is the place.”

As I entered the building that Versil had rented for the day, I saw familiar faces one after another.

“Hehe, you’ve finally arrived, Baron Yandel… no, should I call you Baron now?”

Melrand Kaislan.

“…Oh my, your appearance has changed?”

Lilis Marone, James Kala, Sven Parav, and others.

The members who had survived the cold and hunger of Ice Rock gathered around, marveling at my changed appearance.

“Versil, what about Akuraba and Lavien?”

“They said they couldn’t come due to circumstances.”

“But the rest of you are all here.”

“I guess everyone was curious.”

Well, I was curious myself, so how much more curious would they be?

“How’s the surroundings?”

“Don’t worry about surveillance. I deliberately chose a place without windows, and the voice control magic is working. Just in case, magic detection is also running in real-time.”

…He’s definitely good at his job, being a mage.

I should casually ask him if he’s interested in being the vice-captain when he joins the clan later.

“Baron Yandel!”

“Forget the Baron, just call me Captain.”

We, who had reunited after a long time, spent time freely talking about our recent situations.

And then, that time naturally came.

“Um… but when are we going to do that?”

The opening of the subspace looted from the Rose Knights.

“When we opened it, there was nothing but the backpacks we put in, so we thought that was it.”

I thought so too, actually.

But I found out recently that it wasn’t.

There are hidden items, and to take them out, you have to adjust the formula of the subordinate subspace?

By the way, this was discovered by the mage Versil…

“Okay, come one by one. I’ve made plenty of reagents.”

I was a little nervous because I hadn’t adjusted the formula yet.

“I wonder… what’s inside?”

“I was a little disappointed at first, but now I’m even more excited.”

“Hah… did you all open it already? I didn’t even think about opening it because I was worried about surveillance nearby.”

What could it be that they tried to hide by double-securing it?

I don’t know.

That’s why I erased the essence of Gachabon today, which I could have erased later.

“Then… now that everything is done…?”

“Okay, let’s open it!”

I hope luck is on my side today.