Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 467

Before filing a lawsuit, the Alminus Count’s family first engaged in a public opinion battle.

Why would they do that?

Even if they just filed a lawsuit, they would surely receive a share through the judgment.

The answer I came up with was this:

‘The Alminus Count also doesn’t want to go to court.’

If this guess is correct, this lawsuit is likely just a gesture.

Or rather, something between a threat and pressure?

Anyway, it meant that since you and I are on different levels, if I didn’t want to lose more, I should cooperate and give up what they wanted.

‘It’s not like someone of the Alminus Count’s stature would be short on money…’

It must be because of their pride.

That’s how the aristocratic society I’ve seen, though my experience is short, is like.

Here, people are only divided into winners and losers.

And simply letting this matter slide would be a clearer sign of defeat than anything else.

Therefore, I decided to turn public opinion around first.

After all, what are they focusing on the most right now?

‘The original Yandel Baron doesn’t have the ability to defeat a Floor Ruler.’

‘If it weren’t for the Toothed Fang Clan, their clan would never have defeated the Floor Ruler.’

Strictly speaking, all of that is true, but the Count is trying to engrave this logic into the public’s minds.

It was a kind of groundwork.

It would start with the presence or absence of ability, and then increasingly negative rumors would start to spread.

‘Bjorn Yandel stole the credit at the end for the Toothed Fang Clan’s hard work in dealing with the disaster.’

‘Is this the kind of behavior a hero should be doing?’

The Count had grasped it at a glance.

That the source of the Yandel Baron family’s power lies in this reputation.

“Hmm, so you submitted a subjugation application without saying a word to us?”

“…That’s right!”

After returning home and revealing the raid plan, Amelia’s cold gaze was directed at me.

Well, it didn’t last long as usual.

“Haa…”

She sighed as if looking at a troublemaking child and started checking for solutions.

“Do you even know? How many clans have disappeared trying to take down a Floor Ruler with just five people?”

“I’ve heard too. It’s especially dangerous when facing them with five people. So usually, they match the numbers to about twenty to thirty people…”

For reference, that number is based on explorers around the 6th to 7th floor level.

However…

“Don’t worry. I have a plan.”

Originally, a 5-person clear was the norm for the Floor Ruler.

That’s the only way to get proper rewards.

That reward was somewhat known, so there were quite a few clans that periodically aimed for the feat.

Not many, maybe two or three every hundred years?

‘Actually, if you know the strategy, a 5-person clear is much easier than a 30-person one.’

The reason I chose the Floor Ruler raid as the next exploration target was also because of that.

People here see a 5-person clear of the Floor Ruler as more difficult than the Liakis. The moment I succeed, those who doubt my abilities will disappear.

“…”

At that moment, I noticed Auyen fidgeting, who had been quietly listening to our Yandel family meeting.

Suddenly, I wondered why he was here, but I didn’t say anything in particular.

Yeah, he did suffer with us this time.

“Rokrok.”

“Yes, Baron. What is your question?”

I said the words that he was secretly hoping for.

“You don’t have to participate this time, so don’t worry.”

“Ah… Is that, is that so…”

The guy exhaled with a blatant look of relief.

“Then who will fill the remaining spot?”

After that, I sent Auyen back to his room and started discussing who the remaining members would be and the overall strategy.

And when that discussion was mostly over.

“Yandel.”

Amelia grabbed me as I was about to go into my room to rest.

“It seems like you’re making enemies a lot lately… Aren’t you overdoing it?”

In short, she meant, aren’t you stirring up too much trouble?

“Just look at this Count’s family matter. It might be much better for our situation to just pay the money than to become enemies with such a person.”

I could fully understand Amelia’s concerns.

They are one of the old owners of this land.

Becoming a tribal chief with noble status, and this incident as well. She must have been very uncomfortable with the constant friction with them.

However…

“Amelia.”

I said without backing down.

“If you’re afraid of being checked and don’t set up an outpost in your front yard, you’ll eventually lose the game.”

It was my long-held belief.

“…?”

Amelia looked at me as if I was talking nonsense again.

***

The next day, I went out with Erwen alone for the first time in a while.

The destination was Raven’s lab in the Magic Tower.

“Oh, you’re here?”

“It’s been a while, Raven.”

“I heard about your promotion. Congratulations. I tried to visit a few times, but you were always out.”

“I’ve been too busy lately.”

The lab, which I was visiting again after a long time, was cluttered and dusty.

“…The lab is a bit messy, right? I’ve been mostly staying at the unit in the Imperial City lately. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the lab.”

“Thank you. I didn’t expect you to take time off even using your vacation.”

“Hey, of course, I should. It’s a chance to see the Floor Essence, if you had just asked, the mages would have lined up.”

Well, that’s not wrong either?

Still, there’s no mage I trust as much as her.

Bersil Gowland’s specialty was also in magic tools, so he said he wasn’t confident with essences.

“I’ve studied the Liakis’s essence a bit more after receiving your call. It’s a very unique essence.”

“It’s quite unique.”

“Well, shall we take a look…?”

As Raven approached with a grin, Erwen, who had been quiet all along, took a step back.

And said to me.

“…Uncle, can’t we just do it by ourselves? Like we used to.”

Erwen didn’t seem to like being treated like a test subject, but there was nothing I could do about it.

“As I said, a mage’s help is essential to properly understand the power you’ve gained.”

“…”

“Can you do it?”

“Yes…”

Erwen nodded at my persuasion.

Seeing this, Raven chuckled.

“…Erwen, you’re still the same.”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Well, I guess so. Come this way.”

Ah, I’m suffocating.

I thought we used to call each other by our names and get along quite well.

Just because I came back, too many relationships had been twisted for everyone to go back to the way they were.

‘Still, seeing how Raven tried to separate me from Erwen because she thought I was trying to use her, it seems like she still has some old feelings…’

Ah, whatever, they’ll figure it out.

It’s ridiculous for me to worry when they’re fine, so I just focused on the experiment.

“Okay, put on this bracelet.”

The very bracelet that I had been wearing when experimenting with the corpse golem essence.

But can you even call that a bracelet?

“…Ugh.”

As soon as Erwen sat on the gruesome chair, the bracelet (?) attached to the chair clicked shut.

“Don’t worry too much. We’re just going to insert a mana conductor into your blood vessels in this state to check Erwen’s biosignals.”

“…”

“Then shall we start the rest?”

After that, Raven continued with various preparations for the full-scale experiment, and after the preparations were complete, she asked Erwen to use a skill.

“It might be difficult since it’s the first time you’re using this ability, but try to imagine it well. It’ll be easier if you recall the name of the ability that the Great Sage gave you—”

“I’ll do it myself, so be quiet. Let me concentrate.”

“Okay. Well, Erwen is more of an expert in this than I am, a mage.”

Not long after Erwen closed her eyes, a change occurred.

Although there was no visible change on the outside…

Beep, beep, beep beep beep, beep—.

The biosignal graph of the magic tool connected to Erwen began to fluctuate.

The essence’s skill had been properly activated…

「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has cast [Fusion].」

First of all, [Fusion] is a transformation-type ability, similar to my [Transcendence] but different.

If [Transcendence] affects other active skills—,

「All passive skills are combined into one.」

[Fusion] only targets passive skills.

‘I wonder how it turned out.’

I recalled each of the passive skills that Erwen currently possessed.

「The aura of chaos devours [Attribute Enhancement].」

The essence of the 5th-grade Evan.

It increases the damage of all four major attributes, commonly known as water, fire, wind, and earth.

「The aura of chaos devours [Absolute Focus].」

The essence of the 4th-grade Litcannon, obtained as a royal reward.

The damage of casting skills is doubled.

「The aura of chaos devours [Harmony].」

The essence of the 5th-grade patrolman Ertes.

It can convert soul power into natural power.

「The aura of chaos devours [Half Blessing].」

The essence of the 5th-grade wolf beast Calvan.

A doping-type buff appears and disappears repeatedly at regular intervals.

「The aura of chaos devours [Hunter’s Eye].」

The essence of the 4th-grade Metcrow.

All stats related to vision are tripled, and all ranged attacks are corrected.

And finally.

「The aura of chaos devours [Food Chain].」

The essence of the 3rd-grade monster Celestial Judge, obtained with the support of the fairy race after the team was disbanded.

All damage dealt to monsters increases in proportion to the level.

It’s not as good as the active skill [Rupture] of the essence, but the passive is also very valuable.

‘The Floor Ruler’s essence isn’t included in [Fusion], so this must be all of them.’

For reference, I didn’t know exactly what would come out of combining these skills.

How many essences are there in [Dungeon & Stone]?

Even for me, it was physically impossible to experiment with all those astronomical combinations one by one.

It’s not like I played a cheat version.

‘…Well, I think I’ve tried most of the combinations based on higher essences.’

I’ve found quite a few good combinations.

But completing this combination will be far in the future.

Then, what options have been added now?

「The aura of chaos dwells in Erwen Fornachi di Tersia’s body.」

A mage’s help was essential to accurately understand this option.

It’s not like I can see the system logs.

“How is it? Do you feel anything different?”

“I don’t know.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll check by adjusting the conditions one by one.”

After that, Raven continued the experiment in a similar form to what she had done to me before, and of course, this experiment couldn’t be finished in just one day.

“I’ve taken the whole month off, so come here every day from now on.”

Erwen’s schedule for this month was set.

***

「The aura of chaos dwells in Erwen Fornachi di Tersia’s body.」

「Soul power and natural power greatly increase in proportion to the character’s level.」

「When dealing attribute damage to monsters below 4th grade, additional chaos attribute damage is dealt.」

「All damage received while concentrating is absorbed using soul power.」

***

Even after visiting the Magic Tower, busy times continued.

[There have been many people spreading strange rumors about the Baron lately. Of course, I will help. Then those rumors will subside.]

I received confirmation from the low-level explorers I met in this labyrinth that they would help if testimony was needed later.

[There seems to have been a fierce battle at the top of the Dragon Mountain Range. One of the Seven Greats died in that battle. Oh, and one more thing you should know—.]

From Bersil Gowland, I checked the war-related information and overall news from this round.

[Bjorn!! Let’s go to the Sanctuary quickly! We need you!]

In the middle, I visited the Sanctuary because of an issue within the tribe.

[…It hasn’t even been a month yet! What do you know about blacksmithing? Originally, to properly melt Mystium, you have to start by making the equipment… Huh? You didn’t rush me? Don’t lie!]

I also visited the dwarf’s smithy to check the progress of disposing of loot and melting metal.

Originally, these gauges in idle games need to be clicked frequently to complete them quickly.

‘…Has only half of the month passed?’

My body was getting more and more tired as each day passed.

Today, I returned home late at night and collapsed onto the bed, closing my eyes.

It wasn’t to finish the day and rest.

Unfortunately, there was one more homework left to do to welcome tomorrow.

「The character’s soul resonates and is led to a specific world.」

…Let’s go.