Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 454

The first day I opened my eyes in this world remains the clearest memory. My mind went blank at the unfamiliar language I somehow understood, yet even in that state, I tried my best to grasp the situation. Then, a sense of déjà vu washed over me. For some reason, this felt like the beginning of [Dungeon & Stone]. ‘There… someone died.’ I even remember his name clearly. Orum, the son of Kadua. He, who might have broken through several layers to enter this world, had his head chopped off less than five minutes after opening his eyes. And… ‘There were quite a few of them. Those kinds of guys.’ After becoming the tribal chief and looking through the past records, I found that an average of about one player was executed during the coming-of-age ceremony each year for the past decade. Well, these days, the cheat-version isn’t as popular, so that average is gradually decreasing… ‘It seems there are still some who are doing it.’ It’s a pitiful thing. ‘Tsk, how did they get their hands on such a game?’ Of course, it doesn’t mean it’s their fault. If we’re looking for the source of responsibility, there’s only one. ‘That damn old geezer.’ Auril Gavis. The creator of [Dungeon & Stone] and… “You have reached the abyss.” “Tutorial complete.” The very person who kidnapped countless players after showing them just these kinds of phrases. ‘If you’re going to do a tutorial, do it properly.’ Looking at the terrified expressions of the newbies, old memories come flooding back. Of course, the time spent reminiscing was extremely short. If I kept doing that, I’d definitely catch the eyes of the other warriors. “Everyone, quiet!” With a short shout, the young barbarians immediately calmed down and closed their mouths, and I continued the coming-of-age ceremony. Of course, not in the old way. It’s much more natural to help them this way. And who knows, there might be a newbie hiding somewhere that I haven’t found yet. “Makal, the second son of Putil!” I went directly in front of the young warrior, called his name, and patted his shoulder. “Come out and choose your weapon!” “Understood!!!!!” The young warrior, moved by the tribal chief’s warm support and encouragement, shouted at the top of his lungs and ran out. “A two-handed axe! Excellent!” After that, I called out the names of the warriors in order and encouraged them, giving hints from time to time that would help the newbies understand the current situation. “From today, you are a warrior. May the blessing of ‘Laphdonia’ be with you!” How much time had passed? Finally, it was the turn of the newbie I had been watching. “Bekta, the third son of Kiltau!” As I placed my hand on his shoulder with a thud, I could feel an undeniable tremor. But I pretended not to notice and opened my mouth. “Come out and choose the weapon to start your journey!” “…Understood!!” Compared to the other warriors, his timing was late, and his voice was small. But… ‘Still, he’s got some sense.’ Seeing him imitate the other warriors, it seems like he’ll survive well enough once he gains experience—. ‘Huh?’ When I checked the weapon he chose, I couldn’t help but chuckle. “A shield…” I muttered without realizing it, and the guy flinched as if he had done something wrong. ‘To think he’d be a shield-barbarian newbie.’ I passed by the stiff guy and approached the display where the shields were hung. And I handed him the item he had left behind. “Take it.” I had used my tribal chief authority to add a small one-handed hammer along with the shield. “Bekta, the third son of Kiltau! With this, you are a warrior!” He was momentarily flustered by the situation, which was different from the game, but after receiving the hammer from me, he returned to his original spot. He tried to act like nothing was wrong, but his expression was full of unease. ‘Well, he’ll need some time to sort out his thoughts.’ I stopped paying attention to the newbie at this point and continued the coming-of-age ceremony, and before long, the last warrior had chosen his weapon. “Warriors!” However, before heading to the city, I took some time for a speech. Well, to be precise, it was more like a review? “Let’s all repeat together one last time. A good looter is?” “Only a dead looter!!!” “The Explorer’s Guild is?” “Not to be trusted!!” “When you meet Hans in the labyrinth?” “No! Go away! If you don’t want to die!” The reason for reviewing with the young warriors was simple. Review is never enough, and there’s a newbie among them. “Now, then…” There was one last piece of information I had to tell them. “What should you do when you meet the ‘evil spirit’ that stole our well-lived bodies?” Perhaps the most important thing for a player’s survival. “Kill them!!” If you’re found out to be a player, you die. *** “Open the gate!” As soon as my shout echoed, the gate of the wall that separated the holy land and the city opened. The voices of the young warriors, who had grown up in the holy land and dreamed of this day countless times, began to tremble with excitement. “Laphdonia…!” Normally, this would be the time to tell them to go forth towards their destiny without further ado. However, I led the young warriors directly into the city. “…What? The tribal chief is going to act as a guide?” I was going that way anyway. I had to go into the labyrinth too. “Behel—raaaaaaaaaaa!!” “We will surely become great warriors too!!” The warriors were once again moved by the tribal chief acting as their guide. While admiring their innocence, I quickly led the warriors to the center of the city. And… “I greet Lord Yandel.” I met the guild mage at the pre-arranged location and received the ‘binding’ magic. Of course, not for me, but for the young warriors. As they were being paired into groups of three or four, some of the warriors questioned me. “…Tribal chief! I heard that the first exploration should be done with one’s own strength…?” “That’s right! I also heard that was the tradition when I was young!” Tradition, my ass. How many warriors died trying to find a night companion on their first exploration because of that damn tradition? For a moment, the urge to scold them rose to my throat, but… “You fools!!!” Someone stepped forward before I could. It was Ainar, the first elder of our barbarian tribe. “Bjorn, the son of Yandel, is the tribal chief!” “But even if he’s the tribal chief, the tradition is—.” “From today, everything the tribal chief says is tradition! So, you must follow it well, whatever it may be!” It might be a bit dictatorial, but it was a persuasive argument. After all, our tribe has a system for making reasonable objections. “If you don’t like the new tradition, then become the tribal chief in the distant future and change it! Understand?” In other words, if you don’t like it, try to challenge it. Fortunately, the warriors who grew up in the ways of nature easily accepted the logic. “…I see. I understand!” Okay, that settles this issue. “Um… the payment…” “Here it is.” After the binding was completed, I paid the guild mage. “Thank you for your hard work today. I look forward to next month as well.” “Ah… yes, Lord…” The mage, who had to work overtime and go on a business trip, left with a sour expression at my words for the next time. But he would end up meeting me again next month. If I go to the guild branch manager like this and ‘ask’ for a favor, what can a mere mage do? “The labyrinth!!” “Ooooooh! That’s the one…!!!” “It’s like something unknown is pulling at my body!!” Anyway, after the payment was completed, I led the warriors to the dimensional plaza again. Thus, the tribal chief’s duty was over. There was no need for further words. “Go, warriors!” As soon as my permission was given, the young warriors pushed through the crowd and headed towards the portal. “Wooooooo!!” Ainar, who was watching me from behind, chuckled. “Bjorn, why do you look so worried?” Because they’re like little kids being let out into the world. The more of them that come back alive, the stronger our tribe will become… “Don’t worry. In our time, those who were meant to survive came back alive even in worse conditions!” A barbarian-style consolation mixed with old repertoire. But strangely enough, it made me feel a bit better. The barbarian tribe’s training methods had been too hardcore until now, but I didn’t want to raise them like hothouse flowers either. In the end, it’s a crisis that makes people grow the most. What you learn in a crisis is etched into your bones and is not easily forgotten. Even if you want to forget it. “Mister!!” After putting the warriors into the labyrinth, I walked around the dimensional plaza and joined my team. “You’re late.” Amelia glanced at her watch and scolded me, and next to her, the navigator Auyen Lockrove greeted me nervously. “You’ve arrived! Clan leader!” He was fully equipped after a long time. “Thank you so much for letting me come along!” His voice was full of sincerity. Well, he had been locked in the basement for more than a few days. But is it because he tried to rob me? I don’t feel even a shred of sympathy. As I said repeatedly, a good looter is a dead looter. And it’s impossible to trust and take them along unless you treat them this harshly. “Emily.” “Don’t worry. I’ll keep a close watch on him in the labyrinth.” It was a conversation that was openly shared in front of Auyen, but the person in question pretended not to hear anything. There were no words of asking to be trusted or saying that he would do well. ‘When I see things like this, I can tell he’s definitely quick-witted.’ But I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing… “Um… Bjorn? Shouldn’t we be going now?” “Ah… right.” The dazzling portal was gradually shrinking in size, so I slowly walked towards the portal. And… “You have entered the 1st floor, Crystal Cave.” Thus, the first exploration of the Clan Anabada began. *** The crystal cave where a purple glow faintly bloomed. “North.” “North it is.” “It’s towards the Goblin Forest.” The three of them spoke at the same time as they entered. Me, Rotmiller’s disciple, Amelia, the guide, and Erwen, who was trained as a scout by her sister. “…….” “…….” It was an awkward happening caused by having three guides in a team of only five people. “Ahem.” “I was faster. Than that woman.” “…….” “Hahaha! Are you kids? Competing over something like that!” Ainar laughed loudly, and Erwen glared at him, unable to hide her displeasure. Of course, such a glare had no effect. “That’s a good look, Erwen!” Ainar nodded as if he liked it. “……?” Erwen frowned as if she had encountered an incomprehensible creature, and Ainar shrugged. “It means you look happy! Unlike when I last saw you!” I flinched at those words. Because the last time he saw her would be… the day Raven told me about. I thought Ainar had stepped on a landmine. But… “…What are you talking about.” Surprisingly, Erwen didn’t get angry or anything. She just avoided eye contact with a somewhat embarrassed look. ‘Right, she was actually weak in this area…’ It might be a good thing that Ainar came along. Honestly, I felt like Amelia was a bit overwhelmed trying to take care of Erwen by herself. ‘And she seems to have become a bit more lenient these days…’ While I was thinking that. “Well then, let’s go! I’m so excited to be exploring with Bjorn again, I can’t calm down!” Ainar took the lead, and I chuckled and stopped him. “Ainar, where are you going by yourself?” “Huh? We started in the north, so shouldn’t we go north! I know the basic routes now! I can even read a compass!” His growth over the past few years was admirable, but… “The place we’re going today is not the Goblin Forest.” Amelia answered firmly, and Ainar tilted his head. “…Oh? Is that so? Then where is it? The Land of the Dead?” “It’s the Rocky Desert. Hmm, that’s strange. I’m sure we shared the exploration plan before…” “Ah, sorry! I forgot!” “…I see.” While Amelia, who was dealing with a true barbarian for the first time, was speechless, I quickly sorted out the situation. We couldn’t waste time here forever. “Um, then…” Who should I make the guide? Amelia, the guide, like last time? Or Erwen this time? I was a bit conflicted, but I made a quick decision. “…I’ll be the guide!” The main focus of today’s exploration is to work together. It was the right decision to minimize any emotional damage to either of them. “What? There’s no need for you to do it—.” “What are you talking about! We should share all this annoying stuff. Come on, everyone, follow me!” I cut off Erwen’s words and quickly took the lead. There were quite a few things to do on this exploration anyway. Although Ainar didn’t seem to remember anything… ‘Thanks to that, he won’t suspect anything I do.’ That’s actually an advantage. In the old team, I couldn’t even use my game knowledge properly because I was too busy watching Raven’s reactions. “You have entered the 2nd floor, Rocky Desert.” Okay, then, let’s try to work together. Let’s slowly go through the lower raids first.