Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 448

When I returned home after meeting with Ragna, I had unexpected visitors. Two of them, in fact.

“Oh! Welcome back, sir! Your friends are here waiting for you,” Erwen greeted me.

“Friends…?” I tilted my head, entering the living room. Two men, who had been enjoying refreshments on the sofa, jumped up to greet me.

“Is that really Bjorn Yandel?! It’s really Bjorn Yandel…!!” exclaimed Hikurod Murad. Or, as I like to call him, the dwarf.

And…

“…It’s been a while. I heard you were alive a long time ago, but it’s still hard to believe,” said Brown Rotmuller.

It was good to see familiar faces after so long. Well, I had seen the dwarf before when I secretly visited the smithy. To be honest, it was a bit of a shocking memory.

[Tsk, tsk… I explained everything so well because he looked rich, but what bad luck.] I never thought I’d hear those words just for looking around and leaving.

“It’s good to see you both. I was planning to visit you first. Sorry about that.”

“Haha! Don’t be sorry, my friend. I heard you’ve been incredibly busy lately?” the dwarf asked.

“How did you know that?”

“Well, a celebrity like you is bound to have rumors flying around! Even if you’re just working at the smithy, news will naturally spread.”

“…Oh, is that so?” I felt a bit uncomfortable. The dwarf seemed to know everything, from my meeting with the bereaved families to the knighting ceremony, and even my recent meeting with the expedition members in Commelby.

Was it in the newspaper as a heroes’ after-party?

“That’s why we came so late. I wanted to come sooner, but Rotmuller here stopped me. He said we should wait until things settled down.”

“I see…” I gave Rotmuller a grateful look and sat on the sofa. Then, Erwen, who had been watching our reunion, scurried over to my side.

“What would you like, sir?” she asked.

“I’ll have water, please. Cold, if possible.”

“Yes!” After Erwen headed to the kitchen, the dwarf leaned in and lowered his voice.

“Oh, right! Do you know how surprised I was earlier? Not only was the Blood Spirit Princess [a title given to Erwen] welcoming me home, but she even made tea for us with a smile!”

“…Ah, is this the first time you two have met Erwen?” I asked. Rotmuller nodded, while the dwarf shook his head.

“Actually, I’ve met her once before. When the team disbanded, she came to me, worried, asking if something had happened to you.”

Ah, I think I remember hearing that.

“Hah, back then, I never imagined that young elf would become such a famous explorer… You never know what the future holds, do you?”

“That’s true…” I knew Erwen was a promising talent, but even I didn’t expect her to grow this quickly. I certainly didn’t expect her to gain a title like ‘Blood Spirit Princess’.

“Anyway, Yandel,” Rotmuller said, addressing me directly. “Did you… meet Kalstein?”

Right, I was wondering when this topic would come up.

“I haven’t met her yet.”

“I see…”

“Have you met Misha?”

“Only once after you were reported dead. I was worried and went to see her, but she wouldn’t meet me after that one time. Then, she disappeared somewhere.”

“Hikurod, what about you?”

“I’m similar to Rotmuller here. Tsk, I thought she might come looking for you since the news of you spread so much in the city… I hope nothing bad happened…?” He tried to put it delicately, but I knew what the dwarf was worried about.

But thankfully, Misha is fine. Well, I don’t know if she’s fine, but she’s definitely alive.

“I’m looking for Misha too. I’ll find her and bring her back, so don’t worry too much.”

“Well, if you say so… But… could it be because of the Blood Spirit Princess?”

“…Why are you suddenly bringing up Erwen?”

“Well, there are rumors that you two are… you know… an item. Is it true?” Huh, he’s still obsessed with gossip.

“It’s completely unfounded,” I said firmly. The dwarf let out a relieved breath.

“Really? That’s a relief then…” It was a very subtle thing to hear.

“…A relief?”

“Well, it’s up to you in the end. But still, you’ve spent more time with Kalstein, haven’t you? That’s what Dwarki wanted in the end… Actually, I thought you two looked good together while watching—” The dwarf’s words were cut short.

Clang-! The dwarf’s teacup, which was on the table, shattered into pieces. And…

Thud. Erwen walked out from the kitchen.

“Oh my, the teacup broke,” she said with a smile, holding the cold water I had asked for.

***

“Here’s your water, sir.” The moment Erwen placed the cup in front of me, whoooosh-! The broken fragments floated into the air, defying gravity. The same went for the tea that had soaked the carpet.

“There, all clean now.” Erwen, who had cleaned everything up in an instant using her spirit powers, said she would go back to her room and turned away.

“…” Even though only his teacup had disappeared from the table, the dwarf couldn’t say anything as he watched Erwen leave. He might be a bit talkative, but he wasn’t oblivious.

“You should have been more careful. We’re just guests here,” Rotmuller said.

“…Hahaha, you’re right. I, I made a big mistake…” The dwarf laughed awkwardly, as if he was still shaken, and let out a sigh of relief. Tsk, he’s always so nosy.

The atmosphere had become quite strange, so as the host, I brought up a new topic. “More importantly, how have you two been? Hikurod, it doesn’t seem like you’re working as a blacksmith these days.”

“Huh? How did you know that?”

“Actually, I visited your smithy before. You didn’t recognize me back then because I was smaller.”

“Huh! That happened… I didn’t recognize you? Just because my height decreased a little?” The dwarf said it as if it was impossible, but that didn’t change the truth. So, I just told him what happened honestly.

“I was a bit surprised.”

“Ah, well, business has been good lately—”

“Not that, I was surprised that you told me to leave quickly if I wasn’t going to buy anything, because my presence was preventing other customers from coming.”

“…”

“Well, it’s good that business is doing well.” At those words, the dwarf’s face turned red as if he had been caught in a dark past, and then he laughed in a hollow manner.

“Hehe, for you to have seen that, I’m truly embarrassed…”

“I’m not blaming you. It’s not bad to try to make money. It’s just that you seemed a bit different.”

“That’s probably true. I left the team to pursue my dream again, but now I’m a merchant, so I might seem pathetic.”

Oh, I didn’t mean to criticize him that much… But I was curious, so I decided to just listen.

“But you know, Bjorn, I just have a different dream now. A bigger dream than just hammering iron.”

“Is it a dream to make a lot of money?” The dwarf chuckled at my words.

“It’s similar. It takes quite a bit of money to sponsor an orphanage.”

“What?” No, wait a minute.

“…You don’t mean?”

“I can’t do much yet because I don’t have enough resources, but I recently increased the number of orphanages I sponsor to two.”

Ugh, this makes me look like a jerk. I sighed inwardly, but for some reason, I thought.

“Bjorn, I’m going to make a lot of money. Even if I look pathetic. I don’t have many possibilities left, but the children do.”

“…”

“For those children to achieve the dreams I couldn’t.”

“…”

“That’s my new dream.” The dwarf looked bigger today.

“…”

“…” The dwarf, who had revealed his new dream, looked embarrassed, and I, at a loss for words, awkwardly drank my water. Then, Rotmuller spoke.

“I’m just living idly.”

That was an even more unexpected update than the dwarf’s. This diligent man was unemployed?

“What happened to the training center? Weren’t you teaching exploration skills to adventurers?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have the knack for business.”

Right, so it failed… I was about to offer some words of comfort when the dwarf jumped up.

“Hey, Rotmuller! The training center failed because of you—”

“Stop.”

“…?”

“Stop it, Murad. We didn’t come here to talk about that.”

“But, but…! Yandel is a baron! If you just say the word—!”

“Didn’t I tell you to stop?” Rotmuller’s low voice echoed through the room. His voice was so cold and firm that even the dwarf gulped. Actually, I wasn’t much different inside.

‘…What’s with that voice?’ I had only seen Rotmuller angry once before. It was during the last exploration of Team Half-Pint. Rotmuller, who had felt his limits as an explorer, was very angry. Not at anyone else, but at himself. When someone like that acts like this to others, I can’t say anything.

Is this why they say that when a kind person gets angry, it’s scary?

‘Seeing the dwarf act like that, there must be some story behind it…’ Ugh, I’ll have to ask the dwarf about it later when we’re alone.

“…”

“…” The awkward atmosphere returned as if nothing had happened. This was a waste of time, so I decided to get to the point.

“Hikurod.”

“Huh? Ah, uh… speak! What is it?”

“I have a business proposal for you.”

“A business proposal… you say?”

“Yes.” If they hadn’t come today, this was an important matter that I would have gone to them for.

“You’re making me nervous… Tell me what it is.”

“I’m going to expand the clan further.”

“So?”

“I want your smithy to be our clan’s exclusive provider.”

“Oh! That’s the kind of offer that only large workshops get!” As expected, the dwarf was visibly delighted as soon as he heard the proposal.

Okay, so now for the next step?

“Good, let’s write up the contract.”

“Huh? A contract? We don’t really need that between us…”

“Official matters need to be clear.”

“Hmm… that’s true… But isn’t it too hasty? If we’re writing a contract, I need to review it…”

“Are you going to be like that? Is there anything to think about between us? Come on, just put your palm print on it. It’s just a formality.”

“Hmm… okay…” Having gotten his agreement, I quickly wrote up the contract and made sure to get the dwarf’s seal by smearing magic ink on his palm. So, in other words…

“It’s done.” I secured a regular fence [a reliable supplier]. I wonder what kind of expression he’ll make when I bring the Rose Knights’ equipment next time?

***

The day after the dwarf and Rotmuller visited, I put on the equipment that I had received back from Uncle Bear and Ainar not long ago—.

‘No, calling them relics feels weird…’ Anyway, I fully equipped myself with the gear I used to wear a long time ago.

[The character has equipped an Adamantium Large Combat Shield.]

[The overall item level increases by +1,750.] A shield made of 5th-grade metal.

And…

[The character has equipped a Lightinium Breastplate.]

[The overall item level increases by +270.] The go-to armor that I had repaired when it broke and repurchased in the same specifications when it couldn’t be repaired, ever since I first bought it.

[The character has equipped an Idium Greaves.]

[The overall item level increases by +400.] The greaves I had obtained in the Doppelganger Forest and used effectively.

[The character has equipped No. 8,667, the Outlaw of the Wasteland.]

[The overall item level increases by +315.] A belt.

[The character has equipped No. 8,820, the Iron Wall.]

[The overall item level increases by +310.] Boots that double physical resistance and magic resistance for 3 seconds when used.

And…

‘Why did Uncle Bear have to take this? It feels weird for some reason.’ The special magic underwear that had ‘Automatic Repair’, ‘Shape Transformation’, ‘Acid Immunity’, and later, ‘Cleanliness Maintenance’ magic added to it. Even the part called ‘Egg Guard’ in professional terms.

‘Actually, I don’t really need this anymore because of [Unification]…’

Due to the nature of the item, it was a bit difficult to sell, so I had always used it even after I no longer needed it.

‘I got the ‘Soul of the Dead’ and ‘Orb of Fire’ back from Raven last time, so I just need to get the necklace from Misha, right…’ Thinking about it, it was a bit funny. It’s like I’m collecting Dragon Balls [a reference to a popular manga/anime series].

Swish. As I looked at myself in the mirror after putting on the equipment, I thought I had done well to refuse the offer to return the money. Because the equipment was in really clean condition. I was already grateful that they had kept it without selling it, but the parts that had been damaged during the fight with Stormgush were also completely repaired and clean. The repair costs for equipment like this would have been quite high.

‘Misha just took the necklace, right…’ Ugh, that’s actually the most precious thing I have.

‘Okay, so there’s nothing wrong with the equipment…’ After checking the condition of the equipment, I left the house. It had been a long time since I had come out into the city streets in full gear, though I had taken off my helmet. Because there wasn’t much to fight in the city. I usually just wore the breastplate. In other words, it meant that I had something to fight today.

Thud, thud. The place I arrived at after walking for a long time since morning was the outskirts of District 7. The city gate that connected to other areas was firmly closed, and the guard standing on the wall looked down at me as if demanding a password. Ugh, can’t he tell just by looking at me?

“Behel—raaaaaaaaaaa!!” I shouted in a barbarian-like manner, and thankfully, the gate to the sanctuary opened without any further identification. And…

Thud, thud. I passed through the forest path that I had walked with my fellow barbarians after the coming-of-age ceremony.

“Bjorn, son of Yandel! It’s Bjorn, son of Yandel!” “The strongest warrior who inherited the name of the giant!” The barbarians I encountered on the way stopped what they were doing and started following me. As barbarians with well-developed instincts, they felt it instinctively. That there would be a pretty fun event ahead.

“Waaaaaaaah!!” “Bjorn, son of Yandel, has returned!!” By the time the forest path ended and I arrived at the barbarians’ residential area… that is, the place full of haphazardly built huts, there were already hundreds of warriors following me. Also.

“…The news was true.” The barbarians who were staying in the residential area had all heard the news of me and were waiting for me, having run out barefoot. Thud, thud. As I took a step without saying anything, the barbarians cleared a path and pounded their chests with their fists.

Thump-! Thump-! Thump-! Thump-! Geez, if humans saw this, they’d think it was some kind of festival. Thump-! Thump-! Following the cleared path, the chief’s hut appeared. For reference, Ainar was standing in front of it. He was said to be receiving training to become the chief, and it seemed he really was just staying here these days.

“…Is the chief inside?” After making eye contact with Ainar, I asked, and Ainar stepped aside, clearing the way to the hut. Was he telling me to go in myself? If so, then sure. Thud, thud. When I arrived in front of the hut, the tent was pulled back, and a huge barbarian appeared from inside. It was the chief. The one who had mercilessly chopped off the head of ‘Orm, son of Kidua’, who was revealed to be possessed by an evil spirit, with an axe on the day I first opened my eyes here.

“You’re late, Bjorn, son of Yandel.” That very chief. The chief looked down at me with a large axe slung over his shoulder. “I thought you had forgotten about this place after eating so much noble food.”

This guy is really huge too. Even though I’ve returned to my original body, I have to look up a bit to see him.

“Forget? There’s no way.” At my answer, the chief laughed heartily, as if he had completely erased even the slightest bit of disappointment. And…

“Then, welcome back, warrior of the tribe!” After welcoming me with open arms. “Bjorn, son of Yandel!” As soon as the greeting was over, he asked me. However, that question was clearly different from the usual ones people ask when they meet after a long time. Not asking where I had been for two and a half years. Not asking if the announcement from the royal family was true. Not asking if I was in a politically difficult situation. Not those human questions—.

“So—.” The primal main point. “What brings you here today?” To that question, I answered. Of course, this wasn’t something you’d say right away after seeing someone after a long time, but…

“I came because I have something to say.” I’m a proper barbarian too. “What is it?” I said to the chief, who asked back, in a barbarian-like, no-nonsense way. “Let’s have a good fight.”

“…”

“With the chief’s position on the line.” It didn’t take long for the chief’s answer to come this time either.

“Good.” The chief accepted my request. And at the same time.

“Be, Behel—radaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!” “Behel—rayaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!” “Behel—raaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!” All the barbarians began to roar.

***

[Bjorn Yandel]

Level: 7

Physical: 1,390.55 / Mental: 521.3 / Ability: 2,197.65

Item Level: 7980 (New +1,695)

Overall Combat Index: 6,104.5 (New +423.75)

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