Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 473

After a brief moment of standing face to face in the empty space,

Dragon Uncle burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha! I wondered when you’d come, but it turns out I’m finally seeing you today! Do you know how surprised I was to hear you were alive?”

It was practically the same greeting I’d been hearing from everyone since I returned, to the point where my ears were tired of it.

Of course, my response was the same as always.

“Ah, sorry. I was going to come sooner, but I had too much to do.”

“It seems you’ve been caught up in a lot of troublesome things. I know the situation to some extent, so don’t worry too much about it.”

Oh, well then.

But how much is ‘to some extent’ anyway?

As I was thinking that to myself, Dragon Uncle said in a subtle voice,

“Anyway, it’s a relief. After you were reported dead, my daughter was so sad. Ah, is it okay to call her now? She’d definitely want to see you.”

“Later, after we’re done talking.”

“Talking… So, you didn’t just come to see my face, did you?”

“Didn’t you hear from Lavien?”

“My eldest daughter only said that you wanted to see me and told me to call her out when the paper was torn.”

Seeing the curiosity in Dragon Uncle’s eyes as he said that, it didn’t seem like a lie.

So, she really didn’t say anything?

Suddenly, my trust in Lavien skyrocketed.

“If you didn’t just come to see my face… then why did you come here?”

“I need a promise before I say anything.”

“A promise?”

“A promise that you won’t reveal what happened today to anyone.”

Even if that person is the king of this country.

As I added that, Dragon Uncle’s expression hardened a bit, realizing the gravity of the situation, but he still coolly agreed to my request.

“I swear on the soul within my name, ‘Pirsearaidormus’.”

It was a minimal safety measure.

I didn’t understand what meaning that long and difficult-to-pronounce name had, but at least the Dragonkin valued promises made in their name.

“Okay, now that’s done, will you tell me?”

It would be much faster to show him than to tell him.

I took out the box I had stored in my subspace and showed him the contents.

“That is…”

As soon as he saw the heart with its bumpy surface like a tropical fruit, Dragon Uncle’s eyes turned sharp.

Well, he’s a Dragonkin, so he’d recognize it right away.

“It’s a Dragonkin’s heart. Could it be that the owner of that heart is the one I know?”

“Yes. It belongs to the Dragon Slayer, Regal Bagos.”

“…Yes, it really is…”

Dragon Uncle made an indescribable expression, his eye muscles twitching.

He must have had a hunch, but getting a definite answer was a different feeling.

However, as a leader of a race, he recovered quickly.

“…To be honest, this is a very confusing situation. But first, let me say this.”

Dragon Uncle, the head of a race, bowed his head to me.

“Bjorn, son of Yandel. On behalf of my clan, and as a father with a daughter, I sincerely thank you.”

I could tell from his attitude.

Even if I didn’t have the title of Baron or the position of chieftain of the Barbarians, this uncle’s attitude wouldn’t have changed.

It wasn’t something I was thinking about doing in this situation, but it wasn’t bad.

It meant that the probability of him granting my request later had increased, even if only slightly.

“…So, what happened? I haven’t heard anywhere that the Dragon Slayer is dead. Did you perhaps meet him this time?”

“No, I killed the Dragon Slayer in Ice Rock.”

“During that expedition… you mean?”

“How much do you know about that expedition?”

“Only as much as is known outside. Lavien, that child, also told me the same.”

“Then I’ll have to start from there.”

I first explained everything that happened during the expedition, and Dragon Uncle, who had been listening intently, finally grasped the whole situation.

The core of that day’s expedition was just one thing.

Not Noahrc’s pursuit, not the fact that the royal family abandoned us, not even the death of the Dragon Slayer—.

“You killed the Rose Knights…”

Killing the Rose Knights.

In other words, openly rebelling against the royal family.

“Now I understand. Why you emphasized secrecy so much before it even started. Why that child couldn’t tell me the truth.”

“So don’t be upset. The reason I came to see you now, even after getting the heart, is all because of that.”

“…I understand well enough. Even so, I’m grateful that you came…”

Dragon Uncle, who had been trailing off, sighed.

“On the one hand, I also feel fear.”

As expected of someone in charge of a race, Dragon Uncle was easy to talk to.

“What do you want from me?”

Okay, it’s time to get to the main point.

***

If you could receive one reward from the highest authority of the Dragonkin, what would you receive?

The answer would be different for each person who received the question.

Because there would be a lot of things that come to mind.

The Dragonkin, though small in number, have prospered next to humans based on their incredible lifespans, and they have the ability to give whatever you ask for.

But…

“The unconditional support and cooperation of the Dragonkin towards me.”

As soon as I revealed what I wanted, Dragon Uncle flinched and raised his voice.

“That’s an absurd request.”

“Well, it’s not like I asked for money or treasure.”

“It would have been better if you had asked for that. What you’ve just said… is something that could lead our entire race to ruin.”

Dragon Uncle tried to persuade me, saying that his gratitude was not a lie and that he would grant me anything else I asked for.

So, I activated Barbarian negotiation mode.

“Still, do it! Why aren’t you doing it when you said you’d do anything!”

“…You haven’t changed, even after becoming a Baron.”

“Do it! Or I won’t give you the heart!”

As I began to stubbornly insist, Dragon Uncle, who was initially flustered and sweating profusely, gradually adapted as time passed and changed his approach.

“Didn’t I promise! That I’d do anything!”

“Promise? Strictly speaking, there was no promise about compensation! No, in this case, it would be right to say that I trusted you and gave you the reward first! Isn’t that right?”

He was right, to be sure.

In exchange for bringing the Dragon Slayer’s sword, I had the opportunity to receive a reward, and I received the ‘Dragon’s Blessing’ on the condition that I bring the heart when the Dragon Slayer was defeated.

“…So, you’re just going to let it go with that! It’s the only way to save your daughter?”

“That’s why I keep saying! My gratitude is genuine… but I can’t grant that request, so please ask for something else.”

In the end, I had no choice but to admit it.

No matter how much I continued the Barbarian negotiation mode, it would be difficult to change the mind of this Dragon Uncle here.

‘Right, he wouldn’t give in to stubbornness on such an important matter.’

It was time to stop the joking and have a frank conversation.

“Lafir.”

“…?”

“The reason you can’t accept my request is because of the royal family, isn’t it?”

“…I won’t deny it. You may not know it well yet, but the king is a truly terrifying person.”

Why does everyone say the same thing?

This is so frustrating, I should hurry up and see the king’s face for myself.

That way, I can refute that statement or do something about it.

As I was chuckling, Dragon Uncle asked me in a subtle tone,

“…If the unconditional support you mentioned is limited to situations where the king doesn’t intervene, I can grant that much. How about it?”

It was a compromise that took a big step back.

Just hearing it made me think that Dragon Uncle was really grateful to me.

How could it not be, support except for the king?

It meant that he would fully support me in case of conflicts with dukes or marquises, or other races.

Well, there was an option for armed conflict.

“If the cause is on your side, an unjust attack on you will be the same as an attack on me.”

My worries deepened.

Originally, negotiation is a process of finding limits little by little, like walking a tightrope, to give up as little as possible.

But…

‘This is practically the maximum offer.’

This negotiation was a little different.

Dragon Uncle skipped the entire process and offered the maximum condition.

It wasn’t because he didn’t know how to negotiate.

It was just a sign of gratitude and goodwill towards me.

‘Let’s stop here.’

I thought it would be enough to gain support in case of conflicts with other races.

As Dragon Uncle said earlier, the original reward for the quest was the ‘Dragon’s Blessing’.

“…Really, nothing more can be—”

I cut off Dragon Uncle, who was trying to persuade me again with a troubled expression, and held out the box.

“That promise is enough. Take it.”

I didn’t forget to add a word of thanks.

“And thank you sincerely. For going along with my absurd demands.”

“…Huh, I didn’t expect this situation.”

“I was desperate because I had things to protect, but I’ll try my best not to make things difficult for you.”

“Enough. Isn’t my daughter involved in this too?”

Ah, Lavien is his daughter too?

That’s why. No wonder the conditions were so good.

“Anyway, now that everything is over, let’s talk a little more. What did you do during the time you were gone? Did you really do a secret mission as the Marquis announced?”

After that, I continued to have a casual conversation with Dragon Uncle in a much more relaxed atmosphere.

And how much time had passed?

“Ah, and since you’ve decided to support me, there’s something I wanted to ask. Could you perhaps participate as a witness in the trial against Count Alminus?”

“In that trial… as a witness?”

“Why, aren’t you the leader of the Dragonkin? If you come out and take my side, I think I’ll have some face.”

“…Face?”

“Haha! Just kidding, just kidding!”

This uncle is fun to tease.

“Oh, I’ve been having a pleasant conversation for a long time, and it’s already this late. I have a meeting with the elders soon, so I should leave.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“If you’re going back right away, tell me. I’ll use Dragon Speech right away.”

“No. I’ll meet Pen and Lavien for a bit since I’m here.”

“Hehe, that’s a relief. That child will be happy. It won’t take long, so if you wait with my daughters while having tea, they’ll be here soon.”

With those words, Dragon Uncle told me where Pen and Lavien were, and I slowly moved in that direction.

Thud, thud.

The sound echoed on the marble floor with each step.

I turned around before turning into the hallway.

“Why, do you have something left to say?”

Dragon Uncle shrugged as if to say, go ahead.

“If, just if.”

My voice echoed with a suitable distance between Dragon Uncle and me.

“If I become stronger, and the forces supporting me increase even more.”

“…”

“So you think it’s worth a try.”

“…”

“If you get the feeling that it’s not a suicidal act—”

I asked, omitting the subject to consider Dragon Uncle’s position.

“Could you help me then?”

The answer came after a long pause.

“…If that time comes, I’ll think about it positively.”

“Yeah, I see.”

I turned around and continued my interrupted steps.

Thud, thud.

That was enough for today.