Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 452

It’s called the Holy Land Redevelopment Project.

Even before selling the first piece of land, I was already certain that this plan would succeed. After all, inquiries about purchases were already coming in.

‘There’s no need for promotion; word will spread throughout the entire tribe soon enough…’

Okay, so now all that’s left is to sell, right?

“Um… Bjorn?”

“I’m the tribal chief.”

“Anyway, Chief! Why aren’t you selling the land right away? There are so many warriors who want to buy it!”

The reason is simple.

“Even if there are many, it’s still far from enough compared to the amount of land we can supply.”

“So, shouldn’t we sell it quickly, starting now?”

It’s great that Ainar has gained the heart of a merchant, but sadly, he only knows one thing and not two. If we sell now, how many would actually buy it? They wouldn’t have saved up much money, so the actual sales would be even lower. Therefore…

“Tell any warrior who wants to buy land to come back on the 5th of next month. We’ll start selling then.”

The sales start date is the 5th of next month. That’s when the Barbarians will have the most money, right after coming out of the labyrinth. I plan to decide how much land to sell based on how many people gather. If 100 people come, maybe selling to about 30 would be appropriate?

However, Ainar just kept tilting his head at my words.

“Huh? You’re not selling to everyone? Why not?”

I kindly explained, as if I were nurturing the first elder.

“First, we don’t have enough personnel to handle the administrative work to sell that much.”

“Oh…?”

“Second, if we sell it like that, it will never become expensive.”

It’s still a time when the concept of real estate hasn’t been properly established in the warriors’ minds. Therefore…

“…Not become expensive? What does that mean?”

“Think about it. 30 people bought land that 100 people wanted. What do you think the rest who couldn’t buy it will do?”

“…They’ll wait for the next time?”

“Of course, some warriors will do that, but there will definitely be those who will offer more money to buy the land from the buyers.”

“Hmm! That does seem likely! There will be warriors who don’t have money now but will have it later…”

Wow, he’s definitely getting the hang of things. I was inwardly impressed as I continued to speak. In fact, this was the core of the redevelopment plan.

“Anyway, land sold like that will be more expensive than what we sold it for. Popular weapons also take a long time to order and are expensive, right?”

“Oh! Then the warrior who sold the land first made money just by sitting there?”

Ainar finally grasped the truth.

“That’s right, that’s the important part. The news that someone made a lot of money just by sitting there will spread to other warriors immediately.”

Descendants to inherit the land? The value of the land? Being able to save on rent? In the end, those are just excuses. The important thing is the firm belief that buying land will be profitable.

Ainar soon muttered in a trembling voice.

“The warriors… will flock like crazy. Even the warriors who dismissed it, saying there’s no reason to buy land…”

“Yes, with all the money they’ve worked hard to save. Because they can make money just by buying it.”

It’s a kind of money duplication bug. Wasn’t it the same during the backpack revolution that started with Caron? Even if they talk about warrior’s honor, Barbarians also like money. And…

‘As expected, it’s better to pick a few people by lottery rather than auctioning it off in the beginning.’

I have no intention of stopping this money duplication bug. Even if the bubble bursts later and the true value is revealed, this is the most efficient way to grow the tribe in the short term.

‘………I just need to prevent things like mortgage loans. By then, there will be other sources of income besides this.’

In fact, the near future was more worrying than the distant future. After all, wouldn’t the ‘Barbarian’ who created the concept of real estate be out of place? It will definitely stand out. But even so, I made a decision.

‘It won’t change anything if I stand out a little more now, and it’s right to grow the tribe first.’

Moreover, we’re not the first to do real estate. Dwarves and beastmen have already activated their economies by selling most of the land in their holy lands. So, usually, people would think I’m just following other races.

‘Hah… then I need to find office workers right away.’

There were many things to do to even get shoes on the young warriors.

***

That day, when I first spread the concept of real estate to the warriors, I roughly finished my work around lunchtime and entered the city. And I immediately had a meeting.

“It’s been a while, Shavin Emure.”

He said he was unemployed, but he was indeed at home.

“…Huh? B, Bjorn-nim…?”

Shavin Emure was surprised to see me suddenly visit his house without an appointment, but he welcomed me and let me inside.

“I’m sorry. I actually wanted to visit sooner. I’ve been so busy with so many things.”

“No! There’s no need to apologize. Actually… I didn’t think you would come to see me like this…”

“I should visit. We’re friends, after all.”

“Ah…”

“Besides, I also have a proposal. Or should I say, a request?”

Shavin, who had a touched look at the word ‘friend,’ looked tense as I continued to speak.

“A request, you say…?”

“I heard you lost your job. Could you perhaps help me out?”

“…?”

“Or you can recommend people you know. I need someone who can do administrative work. Preferably trustworthy people.”

“…It seems you really came because you need someone in that kind of position.”

“You were the first suitable person I thought of. After all, I don’t know anyone in this field, right? This is when you need to rely on your friends.”

At my natural words, Shavin seemed to think for a moment and then readily agreed.

“Okay. If you give me the same amount I received at my previous job, I’ll bring some suitable people with me, as well as myself.”

“How much did you receive at the administrative office?”

At my question, Shavin carefully told me his previous salary, and since it was less than I expected, I actually raised it a bit more and finished the salary negotiation.

“But it’s surprising? I didn’t expect you to agree like this.”

“Well… I was already starting to look for a job.”

“Really? That’s good. I was worried because I heard you flatly refused when Ragna made an offer.”

“It seems like Bjorn-nim really needs me, unlike that child who only wanted to help me.”

“You didn’t want to owe a debt to a friend, huh?”

“…Hehe, you could say that. But have you already met that child?”

“Then how else would I know how to find this place? Ah, of course, it’s a secret to the outside world that I met Ragna.”

“A secret… so that’s what the world of nobles feels like…”

Shavin, with truly innocent eyes, exclaimed in admiration and then asked if he should bring out something to drink. After that, we chatted for about an hour while drinking tea. And…

“I should get going. I have several things to do before the exploration.”

“Yes! Then I’ll make offers to the people I used to work with by the day after tomorrow, and then I’ll come to work alone first. Ah, where should I go?”

“I’ll come here in the morning three days from now.”

“Huh? You’re coming to pick me up? I appreciate the thought, but there’s no need for that…”

There’s no need? Humans can’t even enter our holy land without permission. I plan to take him there that day and make him an entry pass and everything.

“Anyway, see you then.”

“Yes, please go safely.”

After leaving Shavin Emure’s house, I headed straight to the dwarf’s smithy. Again, I didn’t make an appointment in advance, but fortunately, there was no problem meeting the dwarf.

“Bjorn! What brings you here?”

I knew he’d be working today too.

“I need to get some equipment repaired, and I also wanted to show you that thing we talked about a few days ago.”

“I see. Give me the equipment first. You need to have everything repaired before the exploration, right?”

“That’s right.”

After entrusting the damaged equipment from the fight with the tribal chief, I waited in the hall for a while. Then, the dwarf led me to the attic on the second floor.

“This is where I usually put in orders or do administrative work… but it might be a bit uncomfortable for you.”

“It’s okay. I can crawl around.”

“It’s not that bad…”

“So, please understand if I talk while lying down.”

Even the highest part of the center didn’t exceed 1.5m, so I just lay down on the floor. The dwarf sighed and then sat down on the dwarf-only sofa.

“So, where’s the item?”

“Ah, it’s here.”

When I took out a chest from my subspace, the dwarf swallowed hard and began to appraise it.

“Where did you get such an item?”

“It’s better if you don’t know.”

“…R, right? I was being nosy.”

The dwarf, looking at each piece of equipment from the Noark explorer, swallowed hard with trembling eyes. His anticipation seemed greater than his anxiety and tension. Well, he’s a blacksmith, not some other profession. With not only Numbers items [Items with special numerical properties] but also equipment made of at least 3-tier materials filling the attic, he couldn’t help but be wide-eyed. Moreover, according to what I wrote a few days ago, a whopping 5% would fall into his hands.

“Even if it takes time, I’d like you to dispose of it as quietly as possible.”

“Ah, o… okay. I will…”

He’s so out of it, he’s not even listening with his ears. Thinking it was the right time, I took out the remaining chest as well.

“Oh, there was more than this?”

“I’m not selling this one; I plan to exchange it for new equipment. First, I want the daggers made into gold bars, and the leather cut into fabric.”

“That’s not difficult. But what is it?”

The dwarf showed curiosity and opened the new chest. And…

“…Ogre leather is one thing, but this is… Mystium? 90% of what’s on the market is said to be supplied to the royal family. Where did you get this precious stuff?”

Ah, that.

“Take a good look.”

“…Huh?”

As I wiggled my fingers while lying down, the dwarf looked at the Mystium dagger again, and then, realizing its origin, he screamed.

“T, t, t, t, t, this is…!!!”

“Speak quietly. Someone might hear.”

The guy, who screamed as quietly as possible, quickly put the dagger and armor back into the chest, worried that someone might see.

“B, Bjorn! T, this is crazy. I don’t know where you got it, but… it’s, it’s really dangerous…!”

A sincere warning filled with trembling. However, I answered indifferently.

“Wasn’t it expected that there would be stolen goods?”

“That’s true, but I didn’t expect there to be items related to the royal family!”

“So, are you not going to do it?”

When I asked directly, he couldn’t answer.

“U, uh…”

He just trailed off, looking around at the equipment. His eyes were overflowing with lingering attachment.

“If you’re going to refuse, forget everything you saw today. Just burn the contract we wrote a few days ago.”

As I reached for the chest, the dwarf tapped my arm.

“…I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it.”

“Hmm? You said it was crazy a moment ago?”

“I still think that… but isn’t it okay as long as we don’t get caught!”

The dwarf was indeed a good business partner.

***

July 28th, 157th year of the Opening. In other words, it was just two days before the next labyrinth opened. A month that was truly hectic was coming to an end. But even so, I still had things to do.

“You’re here!”

As soon as morning came, I went to Shavin Emure’s house to pick him up. After all, today was his first day at work. I thought he would be alone, but there were three other men and women in Shavin’s house besides her.

“Who are they?”

“They’re colleagues who used to work with me at the administrative office. You said it would be good to have more people, right?”

“Oh, that’s true… but this quickly?”

“Our manager lost in the mayoral election, so all of our faction had to leave.”

Oh, I didn’t know there was such a situation.

“Still, you managed to find three people in that time.”

“It wasn’t that difficult. It’s the clan of the labyrinth giant, Baron Yandel, right? Everyone thought it was an opportunity.”

“…Clan?”

I felt a sense of unease, but I couldn’t delve deeper because the people Shavin brought were greeting me.

“Ah, hello! Baron Yandel! I’m Rick Anderson, from the civil engineering department of the administrative office.”

“I’m Mary Jaina… I worked in the same civil support department as Emure-ssi.”

“I’m Shepherd Lamden. It’s an honor to meet you.”

At least, thankfully, Hans wasn’t among the three.

“I’m Bjorn, Yandel’s son. Please take care of me.”

After a brief introduction, we continued the conversation while moving in the carriage at the platform.

“Wow… it’s my first time riding in the noble section.”

“I… didn’t even know there was a separate noble section at the platform.”

“Well, that’s probably true. Commoners aren’t even allowed to use it.”

“…It’s so convenient that it’s always waiting and takes you straight to your desired destination.”

“Hehe, you can enjoy it too if you become nobles like me.”

“Oh, you’re joking… how could we…”

A rather friendly atmosphere.

“Anderson, you said you worked in the civil engineering department, right?”

“Yes! That’s right, Baron-nim!”

“What exactly did you do there?”

I asked the newly met administrative staff various questions, and sometimes I answered their questions, continuing the conversation. And how much time had passed?

“But… the carriage is going to the outskirts?”

Shavin Emure asked, looking out the window.

“Is the clan house near the city walls?”

“Clan house? What are you talking about?”

“…Huh? You created a new clan this time, right? Isn’t that where you need office workers…?”

Only then did I realize where our conversation had gone wrong.

‘No wonder they didn’t ask about the job details.’

I quickly corrected the misunderstanding.

“Shavin Emure, the place you’ll be working is not a clan.”

“Huh? Then where is it…?”

“The Barbarian’s holy land.”

“…………Huh?”

Shavin Emure tilted his head as if he had misheard, and just then, the carriage stopped as it reached its destination.

“Let’s get off first.”

I opened the door first, and the administrative staff followed with bewildered expressions.

“…”

They were speechless, looking up at the city walls right in front of them. Well, they probably have almost no reason to come this far.

“Behel–raaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”

I shouted a battle cry loudly to authenticate, and the gate opened. I led the dazed people into the holy land. Warriors who found me everywhere greeted me.

“Human! It’s a human! The tribal chief brought a human!”

“Ooooooooooo!!”

“Two men and two women!!”

The administrative staff, trembling as if they had entered a cannibal’s den, clung to my back.

“…”

“…”

They regained their senses when they arrived at the tribal chief’s tent after passing through a long forest path. One of the administrative staff that Shavin brought swallowed hard and asked me.

“S, so… what are we going to do now?”

His name is Rick Anderson. A 6th-grade official who used to work in the civil engineering department of the administrative office. Perhaps the man who will play a key role in this redevelopment project. I looked at him and answered briefly.

“All work that involves numbers.”

Of course, that includes digging the land.