Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 485

A common grave held several corpses.

An old man slowly approached the center, gently stroking the monument as if sweeping it with his hand.

[In memory of the great first step of the last great sage, Diflun Groundel Gabrielius]

A monument erected long ago to commemorate the achievements of a great hero.

“…Now, I’m almost there.”

The old man, who had been muttering quietly, soon took his hand off the monument.

He then retrieved a book from his bosom.

Whoosh-!

The book floated in the air, defying gravity, without the need for a stand, and opened.

[Monarch’s Comprehensive Record I]

The book with that title flipped through the pages, soon reaching the last page.

[…The pilgrim, who had broken his faith due to the fear gripping his heart, ran for his life, finally facing it. In the place he had run away from fear, there was a greater fear left.]

[The fear that no one is by his side now.]

[Suddenly, the fear of loneliness engulfed the pilgrim. It was a fear he could not escape. Anger and hatred towards himself ruined the pilgrim’s body and soul. Even the care of the Earth Mother [a deity or concept of nature] could not save the pilgrim.]

[As the pilgrim’s soul disappeared, new power and authority settled on ———. Thus, a mere human being gained cursed power.]

[One who spreads fear and hates faith. It was the birth of Dreadfear, the lord of fear.]

Thud.

The opened book closed.

It was an old story buried in time, now forgotten by everyone.

***

“Do I just… have to stab one person…?”

Bersil’s question made my breath catch.

I wanted to yell at him for talking nonsense, but I couldn’t do anything because my whole body was stiff.

“Of course. One person. If you kill just one person, our Empire will accept you again.”

The guy replied, sounding somewhat pleased.

Then Bersil opened his mouth, his voice trembling.

I thought he was going to say something apologetic to reduce his guilt, but what came out was completely different from what I expected.

“Now… I think I know for sure, Yandel… You suspected me earlier, didn’t you…?”

Suspected?

No, what is this all about—.

“I have more abilities than just hiding my body and healing wounds…”

“……”

“I don’t know exactly which monster’s ability it is, but I can feel the emotions directed at me more clearly than ever.”

Son of a bitch.

I didn’t know there was even a trick like this.

“Tersia was the same… She was wondering whether to kill me first because she suspected me. She didn’t in the end, but it’s not because she trusts me.”

“……”

“Of course, Pnelin was the only one who didn’t send any suspicion my way.”

My heart was pounding like crazy as Bersil’s voice continued.

I’m screwed.

This can’t be stopped.

I was wondering what I should say to make him change his mind, but I couldn’t even speak because my mouth was blocked.

Thump-!

Despair, which I hadn’t felt even when Dreadfear used his aura and cast a wide-area stun, was rising.

“Of course, I understand. It’s hard to trust me. I’m not a long-time friend like you guys.”

Soon, the hand holding the dagger stopped trembling.

“…So, I decided to do it.”

“……”

“If I don’t do it, someone will eventually do it first.”

Son of a bitch.

“……”

I closed my eyes.

Even then, I kept thinking.

What should I do? What can I do now to prevent this disaster?

…There was no answer.

It was no longer bearable.

Even when I had sealed all the equipment and essences I had worked so hard to collect and was thrown into this situation with this thing as a boss monster, I refused to accept it, thinking there might be a way.

‘Damn it.’

It’s unfair.

This is too unfair.

It’s not like I’m dying to a monster because I’m not strong enough, or that I made a big mistake, or that I didn’t complete the goal within the time limit.

“Stab, pilgrim. Wash the dagger with your dirty blood and prove your purity.”

So, someone has to die like this?

Without even having a chance to persuade them?

Swish.

Soon, Bersil got up from his spot.

And he came up to me and bent down.

Only then could I see the expression he was making.

“Yandel…”

An expression that looked like he was about to cry.

“If this goes on, the strategy will fail, right?”

Yeah, he decided on me.

Since there’s no way to clear it, he decided to survive alone.

Swish.

The moment I closed my eyes tightly.

“So, let’s not all fall for it.”

A soft hand caressed my cheek.

‘…Huh?’

When I opened my eyes again, I saw Bersil holding the dagger to his own neck. An angle that Dreadfear, who was facing away, couldn’t see.

“I’ve made many wrong choices.”

No, wait a minute.

“I thought this was natural, that anyone else would have done the same, that I was smart.”

I tried to open my mouth, but it wouldn’t open.

“But the result was never good.”

Bersil took his hand off my cheek.

“I’m not going to repeat the same mistake this time.”

No, then he should have just stayed still.

Maybe that’s the strategy for this situation.

Why did he make this decision?

I couldn’t understand it at all.

But……

“I told you. If I don’t do it, someone will eventually do it first.”

With that one word, I was convinced.

“But this seems like a concept where no one should betray each other.”

Stab-!

It was us who pushed her back.

***

[The first pilgrim has died.]

[All stats of the surviving pilgrims have increased by +400.]

***

Thud.

The body fell to the cold floor, losing its strength.

Seeing this, the guy briefly stated his thoughts.

“…What a pathetic bitch.”

At that one word, blood rushed to my head.

My head was numb.

A feeling that something in my head would pop and turn off with just a slight touch.

‘Really…’

She died…?

Something was rising from inside, like I had drunk to my limit.

BEEEEEEEEEP-

I heard the guy’s voice through the ringing in my ears.

“I’ll give you one more chance.”

Soon, black haze began to flow out of his body.

[Centurion Dreadfear has activated [Time of Execution].]

[The fear level towards the target greatly increases.]

In some ways, it was similar to bloodlust.

In that it paralyzed reason and made it impossible to continue normal thinking.

“……”

“……”

The body’s biosignals, sensing the crisis, were ringing like crazy, and the only thought that occupied my mind was the desire to run away from this place.

[Run away.]

Someone kept whispering that in my ear.

However, even in the midst of that, this thought came first.

“Grasp it.”

What if Bersil had made a different choice?

Could we still have trusted each other and ignored that dagger until the end?

‘Maybe.’

She might have made that decision out of concern for this situation.

Always looking at the creator’s intention first.

Like a player of [Dungeon & Stone] [a game or concept].

Swish.

The blood that stained the floor flowed, forming a puddle.

And……

Zzzzzzzzz-!

The moment the flowing blood touched the statue.

[An unknown being embraces the soul of a noble pilgrim.]

[The altar is activated.]

The entire cave vibrated as if a crack had opened.

Thud thud thud!

A stream of light began to emanate from the statue.

[The light of trust drives out the fear within.]

At the same time, the energy that had been binding my body was removed.

Tap.

I immediately grabbed the dropped weapon and stood up.

The guy just looked annoyed at us, but didn’t look wary.

“Do you think anything will change if you do that?”

Well, I don’t know yet.

It’s certain that we’ve passed one pattern.

‘What kind of skill is that?’

Even thinking about it again, it was a truly disgusting skill.

To make people believe that they can survive by betraying their comrades with just one word, ‘Believe’?

There’s a limit to how much you can play with people.

“It’s not too late now. There is only one way for you to get out of this cave alive. It’s to prove your purity.”

What are you talking about? Who would believe that now?

“Mister, my strength has returned to some extent.”

Really? Fortunately, it seems like I’m not the only one who got a buff.

“Ainar, take care of Bersil.”

“…Okay.”

At that moment, when Ainar was silently collecting his comrade’s body.

The guy quickly closed the distance and swung his sword.

Whoosh.

A strike that was incomparably faster than the Imperial soldiers we had faced on our way here.

However, was it thanks to the significant increase in physical ability after the altar was activated? It wasn’t that difficult to see the trajectory with my eyes.

‘Legs……’

Seeing that he wasn’t aiming for my neck or heart, it seemed like he still hadn’t given up on the betrayal game……

Tap!

Instead of blocking the aura with my shield, I jumped high up to avoid the sword.

And I hit the guy’s temple with my mace.

He didn’t expect such agile movements, so he couldn’t avoid it.

Whack-!

But, this bastard is even tough.

It seems like it’s still going to be hard to win in this state.

Actually, the hit this time was mostly because I took advantage of his carelessness.

Yeah, so……

‘Not now……’

I suppressed the urge that was rising like a volcano and shouted.

“What are you doing? Run!”

It was a judgment that it wasn’t time to face him head-on yet.

Thanks to the greatly increased stats, the Imperial soldiers who had been surrounding the common grave were no longer a problem.

“Ugh, ughaaaaaak!”

The soldiers fell like autumn leaves, unable to stop Ainar’s charge like a rhinoceros.

I quickly followed behind him and escaped the common grave.

“Get out of the way!”

The guy, who had been hit hard, quickly regained his senses and began to chase us.

The movement speed is……

‘A little faster than us.’

In other words, it meant that we would be caught 100% if this state was maintained.

We need to find a way.

Therefore, I ran with all my might and thought and thought until the guy was right behind us.

Why did the stats suddenly increase?

Is it just a buff given because the altar was activated?

No, maybe there are other conditions.

‘In the first place, what is the clear condition?’

Is it tag [a game of chase]?

Well, maybe if we run away from the guy, our stats will increase, and eventually we’ll become strong enough to catch that bastard.

Nothing is certain, but I set a goal.

“…Uh, where should we go?”

“Get out of the cave.”

To leave this cave.

It was a judgment that maybe activating the altar and escaping was the condition for clearing it……

But this is not easy either.

“…Mister, we can’t keep running away like this.”

If the current state is maintained, we will be caught soon.

Ainar and Erwen each gave their opinions.

“Bjorn, let’s fight. We have to avenge the mage!”

“No. We can’t win even with the three of us. I’ll try to lure him away.”

To fight and to use a bait.

Certainly, it’s not bad, but……

“…Okay. Instead, I’ll stay behind and lure him.”

“No. I have to do it. I think it’s possible if I move alone, and… I actually had an ability from the beginning.”

“Ability?”

“I can feel where everyone is. I didn’t know what kind of ability it was until we reunited there……”

Is it like the guide’s power to sense portals?

For now, with that ability, it seems like it would be easier to join us even after luring him away……

“Please trust me. I’m the right person.”

What should I do?

What is the best choice?

As always, the given time was only a moment, and I had to make a decision.

“…Don’t get hurt.”

Erwen didn’t answer my reply.

He just smiled as if to say not to worry and slowly slowed down.

***

“Huff, huff……”

I take steps while breathing as regularly as possible. About two hours had passed since I parted ways with Erwen.

‘It’s about the middle part now……’

The distance from the cave entrance to the center, which took almost 8 hours, was covered more than halfway in two hours.

‘With this level of physical stats, it seems to be about one-third of my normal state……’

Of course, that’s just when looking at the stats, and since I don’t have any skills, I’m still far from being able to face him.

‘The problem is… there’s no sign of my stats increasing anymore.’

Is the stat increase just a one-time thing?

I don’t know, but I continued to move towards the cave entrance with Ainar.

And how much time had passed like that.

‘Erwen, when is he going to come? I hope nothing went wrong?’

It was when such anxiety was slowly rising.

[The second pilgrim has died.]

[All stats of the surviving pilgrims have increased by +400.]

My stats increased once more.