Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 451

In [Dungeon & Stone], there are several special stats, some of which are transparent and don’t directly affect your combat ability.

A prime example is the Fame stat.

‘Actually, calling this a stat is a bit of a stretch…’

If your Fame is high, people will recognize you, increasing the likelihood of special events like sudden quests. It also gives you a bonus to your initial favorability when talking to NPCs.

On the surface, it seems like a pretty useful stat.

But…

‘It’s more like a quantified value.’

It’s almost like the cause and effect are reversed.

It’s not that these effects happen because your Fame is high.

It’s that you have a high Fame stat because you’re someone famous enough to cause those effects.

In reality, if you looked at the status of a famous celebrity, their Fame stat would be very high, and they’d experience similar effects.

Anyway, ‘Support’ is also that kind of stat.

Depending on its value, it increases leadership within the tribe.

It reduces the power of rebellious factions.

It increases policy success rates and the effectiveness of instructions, and so on.

It’s useless for a typical explorer, but once you get into internal affairs, you have to pay close attention to this stat.

Well, Barbarians are an exception.

「Your character’s Support has increased by +1.」

「Your character’s Support has increased by +1.」

「Your character’s Support has increased by +1…」

「…」

「…」

Due to their nature, Barbarians gain an insane amount of Support from the start, simply by becoming the tribal chief through the proper channels.

Because it’s a right they’ve rightfully earned.

The warriors respect the tribal chief’s authority and take it for granted that they should follow orders.

‘The problem is that, unlike other races, power doesn’t last forever just because your Support is high.’

The tribal chief can be ‘challenged’ at any time.

But this isn’t a major problem either.

No, it’s actually something to welcome.

Because no matter how much of a mess I make, I won’t be removed from the position of tribal chief, right?

As long as I don’t lose to anyone.

‘…Still, let’s keep an eye on Support and keep it high. If it gets too low, the guys will get depressed.’

As I was thinking that, Ainar, who was cleaning the tribal chief’s tent (a large one) that I was scheduled to move into, spoke to me.

“Bjorn…! Why are you just standing there!”

It was a silly question, not like Ainar.

“Because I’m the tribal chief.”

“…B-But, it’s unfair that I’m the only one doing it—!”

“And Ainar, you’re an Elder.”

“…………Elder? Me…?”

Ainar, who had received the news of his unprecedented promotion without warning, was dazed, like he’d lost his soul.

Hmm, was he really not expecting it?

“Isn’t it obvious! Ainar, where else would I find a more trustworthy warrior than you?”

“Kuh, kuh-hmm…!”

“You’re Ainar, the second daughter of the Seven Swords’ member, the greatsword Pnelin! I can’t even understand the previous Elders and tribal chief who treated you like an ordinary warrior until now!!”

“Uh… I don’t think it’s that much…”

Oh, don’t be so lacking in confidence.

“This is what Bjorn, son of Yandel, the Baron of the Kingdom of Lafdonia and the chief of the Barbarians, is saying! So believe it!”

Originally, these types of people tend to think that if someone in a high position says it, it must be right.

「Your character’s Support has increased by +1.」

In reality, it didn’t take long for Ainar to be convinced.

“I-Is that so?”

“That’s right.”

“T-That’s right! I’m an Elder now!!”

“Then, can I ask you to continue? I have things to do as the tribal chief, and it’s the Elder’s role to assist me.”

“Of course! I like assisting!”

Ainar returned to cleaning as if he had never complained, and I sat on a chair and closed my eyes.

Not because I was really sleepy, but because I had things to think about.

‘It’s even more of a mess than I thought…’

I received a rough handover from the previous tribal chief and heard about the tribe’s current situation, and it was worse than I expected.

From finances to population, welfare, and infrastructure, everything from A to Z is a problem.

It’s amazing that this tribe has been functioning properly until now, and I’m at a loss as to where to start fixing it.

But…

‘It’s not like I haven’t dealt with complicated situations before.’

I categorized the tasks I had to do as ‘Race-Specific Quests’ and prioritized them according to their difficulty.

Thanks to that, the first thing I had to do became clear.

1. Reorganize the Cabinet.

This is the first quest I have to clear as the tribal chief.

However, I’m a bit doubtful whether this can even be called a reorganization.

“Um… Bjorn?”

As I was closing my eyes, Ainar carefully shook my shoulder.

“Call me tribal chief when you’re in the sacred grounds.”

“Oh, um… Tribal Chief…?”

“Good, tell me.”

“I’ve been thinking about it… It’s unfair for me, an Elder, to be doing these chores!”

Tsk, that’s why educated kids are…

They read books and know what’s unfair.

“Hire another warrior or do it yourself! Or… make another Elder do it! I, I really hate cleaning!”

I chuckled at his bold declaration of pursuing his own interests.

“Okay, then stop cleaning.”

“…Are you going to make another Elder do it?”

“No. And there aren’t any other Elders besides you in the first place.”

“…Huh? What do you mean?”

Ah, he doesn’t know.

I explained the tribe’s situation to the 1st Elder.

“All the original Elders retired with the tribal chief.”

“What?! Those old guys?! Did they leave on their own because they couldn’t accept you?”

“Calm down. It’s not like that.”

At first, I thought they were boycotting because they didn’t trust me, a noble, but the truth was different.

[You’re going into the labyrinth even though you’ve become the tribal chief? Haha! Good luck! Try not to die like last time!]

The Elders were indifferent to my declaration that I wouldn’t quit being an explorer.

They also didn’t doubt my legitimacy because of my noble title.

They were just genuinely happy that they could retire.

[Hehehe, you’re in for a rough time now. These days, young warriors choose the difficult path.]

[Good luck! Don’t come to me even if you don’t know something! I won’t do any more calculations!]

Later, I found out that the previous Elders were the former tribal chief’s fellow warriors, and they had only taken on the ceremonial positions because the former tribal chief had begged them so much.

They had been arguing about quitting every day, but they had to pick up their pens because of the former tribal chief’s ‘persuasion’?

“So, don’t hate them too much for trying to save potions.”

“……Huh?”

“After checking, the public funds are really empty.”

I told him about how the Elder had looked bitter, saying that they had to save even that cost to give the young warriors a proper weapon during their coming-of-age ceremony, and Ainar teared up.

“…T-That’s!”

He looked like a girl who had just discovered her parents’ secret of working part-time at night for their children.

“Anyway, if there are any warriors who are fit to be Elders, please recommend them. You’ll know better than me about this kind of thing.”

“That… I’m sure I will! You are—”

“Tribal Chief.”

“…Tribal Chief was always busy taking care of the team!”

Good, I’m grateful that he understands that.

As I was nodding in satisfaction, Ainar recommended a few warriors.

However…

“Ainar, why do you look like that? Like something’s not quite right.”

When I asked, Ainar drooped his shoulders and replied.

“I picked the best fighters among my close friends… but I don’t know if they’ll meet your expectations…”

“In what way?”

“Well… they can’t read at all.”

“Ah, that doesn’t matter.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Of course.”

It was something I didn’t expect in the first place.

I heard that the former Elders only started learning to read after becoming Elders…

“I don’t plan on leaving the administrative work to the Elders like before.”

Why did the Barbarians end up like this?

It’s because people who can’t read or count well are doing administrative work.

So…

“The Elders just need to properly educate the young warriors on how to fight and the ideology of caring for their fellow tribesmen.”

“Huh? Then who will take care of the other things? Even you can’t handle it alone.”

I grinned and said.

“Inside the walls.”

“…?”

“I’m going to hire humans from there.”

In professional terms, it’s called outsourcing.

In simple terms, it means I’m just going to subcontract it.

***

Administrative humans who are skilled in office work.

There was a suitable person.

It was Shavin Emuer, a 7th-grade administrative officer from one of my friend groups.

‘I heard from Ragna that he was promoted to 6th grade, but he was recently fired, right?’

Of course, the possibility of recruiting him is not very high.

I heard that he rejected Ragna’s offer to work under him for the sake of friendship.

He might reject my offer for the same reason.

But…

‘It’s possible to get a few good recommendations.’

Yes, that’s enough for now.

Manpower is important, but before that, I need to create the ‘funds’ to hire external personnel.

‘Funds…’

This was also a problem without an answer.

The tribe’s public funds are barely enough to cover the cost of weapons given out at the monthly coming-of-age ceremony and the food for the underage warriors.

‘…First, I need to create a new source of funds.’

They say don’t give a hungry person a fish, but teach them how to fish? To reform the current Barbarian tribe, it’s necessary to overhaul the source of income.

It doesn’t make sense that a whole race is running on donations and inheritances from warriors.

‘Money…’

There was no immediate solution that came to mind.

There’s no way there would be resources like iron ore left in this narrow land where they’ve settled for thousands of years.

‘Actually, smithing isn’t that great either.’

They produce good quality weapons because they use a lot of steel, but that’s all.

The blacksmiths in the city make better quality weapons.

In that situation, investing in blacksmithing facilities as a race? It would take a long time, and even if they did invest, they wouldn’t be able to beat the Dwarves.

‘…I don’t know how to do anything other than fight in the labyrinth. Damn, what kind of race is this?’

While cursing, I also had this question.

Why is there a lack of funds when all the people in a race who can fight are making a living as ‘explorers’ in the high-income bracket?

They’ve been properly educated since they were young, so they donate like a tithe every month after they’ve gained experience?

“Ainar.”

I couldn’t understand, so I asked a true Barbarian for advice, and I got a novel answer.

“Well… isn’t it because we’re poor?”

“No, I mean, I don’t understand why we’re poor. Everyone’s making a decent amount of money, right?”

“Hey, that’s because it’s you! Everyone buys new equipment and drinks, so there’s nothing left!”

At first glance, it might seem like that, but to me, a Barbarian expert, it was interpreted differently.

The problem wasn’t the income, but the spending.

They spend everything they have and send the leftover change to the tribe like putting it in a piggy bank, so there’s always a lack of money.

“Ah… and… I’m not trying to criticize…”

“It’s okay, just say it.”

“…You can’t tell the other warriors that I said this?”

“Okay, hurry up.”

“Actually, other warriors besides you don’t sell their old equipment when they buy new ones, they want to keep them.”

“…What?”

“You know… they get attached to the equipment they’ve used for a long time… There are even warriors who say they’ll pass them down to their children…!”

I was speechless for a moment.

“……”

…I see. So that’s why they have less money.

It was absurd, but it was a problem that I couldn’t solve right away.

Collecting equipment was a Barbarian habit.

Like a crow collecting shiny objects.

It’s hard to change a trait that’s ingrained in their DNA, even with the tribal chief’s authority.

But…

“B-But, it’s not like we should criticize them too much! C-Collecting equipment is also a kind of saving!”

At Ainar’s words, which sounded like an excuse, lightning struck my head.

“…Saving?”

“Y-Yeah! If we become famous later, it might sell for more! In professional terms, it’s an investment, an investment!”

“…Investment?”

“Ah, I, I don’t do that! Really. I, I have a few… but there are no duplicates! They all have different uses, so I don’t know when I’ll need them—”

“Ainar, are you a genius?”

Thanks to him, a good solution came to mind.

“……?”

Ainar still didn’t seem to realize what he had done.

‘Yes, this is a revolution.’

There was no other word to describe it.

***

Before the tribesmen who had visited the sacred grounds for the festival returned to the city, I summoned all the Barbarians who had visited.

There was no need for an introduction about the weather being nice or anything like that.

“I have something to say to you!”

As soon as the people gathered, I started my speech.

Actually, it was more accurate to say that I was announcing my first policy as the tribal chief rather than giving a speech.

“Awakened warriors! I am different from the tribal chief! So I have decided to give you an opportunity!”

The warriors, who had been scratching their ears, started to shine their eyes as soon as they heard the word ‘give’.

“Opportunity…?”

“I don’t know what it is, but it sounds good…?”

Okay, I succeeded in arousing their curiosity.

I quickly continued before the Barbarians’ concentration could waver.

The method I was able to come up with thanks to Ainar.

The very method that could educate the Barbarians about economics while also filling the empty public funds.

“I will give you the opportunity to buy land in the sacred grounds!”

“…Land?”

“You said you’d give it to us? You want us to buy it? Are you asking for money?”

The Barbarians looked like they didn’t know what I was talking about.

Yes, I didn’t expect them to understand right away.

I explained it briefly and simply to match their level.

“Do you have a house in the city? You don’t. No, even if you do, the land that house is on isn’t yours! Because commoners can’t own land in this kingdom!”

I’m going to give you the privileges that only nobles have.

“But the land in the sacred grounds is different! If I allow it, you can buy it, and once you buy it, that land will be yours, forever!!”

Of course, there will be a small property tax.

“That means you’re free to engrave your name on the land, or build a monument or statue!”

“…Freedom?”

“Yes, freedom! Do you want to build a house? Build it! Not a tent that collapses when it rains, but a house like the ones in the city! A house where your children’s children can live forever!”

Build as much as you want.

I won’t tax the windows.

“I-It sounds good?”

The Barbarians, who are easily swayed by their fellow tribesmen, were slowly getting interested.

Of course, there were also many who were tilting their heads.

“Still, buying land…”

“I don’t know how much it is, but it must be expensive!”

“Land isn’t worth that much…? It’s better to buy a weapon that you can use…”

The warriors instinctively felt that something was wrong.

It was time to make a decisive move.

“Think about it, warriors!”

“……?”

“Weapons will rust someday, but land is different. It’s yours forever, and you can pass it down to your children!”

A word that wouldn’t resonate with Barbarians, whose motto is to live for today.

But…

“Besides, if you buy land, you won’t have to pay for lodging anymore! Not just you, but your children too! Forever!”

The Barbarians, who spent a considerable amount of money on lodging every month, widened their eyes.

“…T-That’s right!”

“That’s true…! If we have land, we can just sleep in the sacred grounds!”

It seemed like they finally realized the value of land.

“But the city is much more convenient… and it’s closer to the labyrinth…”

There was also a warrior who raised a valid question, but it was only a small minority.

So, I just remembered his face.

If he’s also good at fighting, I should pick him as an Elder.

Anyway, it was time to cut to the chase and make the final move.

“And most of all…!”

As I trailed off, the Barbarians fell silent and perked up their ears as if they had made a promise.

Thanks to that, I didn’t have to shout this time.

“The land in the sacred grounds will become more expensive!”

Money.

That which is the clearest motivation for anyone, regardless of race.

“More and more as time goes on! To the point where you won’t be able to buy it even if you want to later!”

“……?”

“Isn’t it obvious! Once you buy land, it’s yours forever! After all the land is sold, there won’t be any land to buy!”

“……!”

“What! If you still want land, you’ll have to beg! To the other warriors who own land, asking them to please sell it to you for a high price!”

The very simple principle of supply and demand.

“Well, it’ll be hard to buy it anyway. Why would anyone sell it? A precious piece of land where my children’s children won’t have to waste money on lodging in the city forever?”

“……!!”

“Ah, of course, then your children’s children will be sleeping in tents and be frustrated!”

“……?”

“Saying, why didn’t our ancestors buy land back then!”

“!!!!!!!!!!!”

The warriors’ eyes were filled with horror as their future children were taken hostage.

There was no need for further explanation.

“Warriors! I’ll say it one last time!”

Therefore, I shouted powerfully.

Like someone who had become a politician today.

“A warrior does not miss an opportunity right in front of their eyes!”

The answer is real estate.