Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 489

As a player, my curiosity and ill will towards him led me to ask about the third option, but in reality, my decision was already made.

I don’t know what I would get by choosing the other door.

But whatever it might be, it couldn’t be worth more than my three trusted companions.

‘Still… it seems impossible to take him down alone.’

Thinking that, I glanced at him.

Every time our eyes met, I felt an inexplicable unease.

It was like looking at a creature completely different from me.

“You seem to have made your decision.”

“Yes, I’m going out through that door.”

As I said that and actually started walking, he watched me without saying a word.

Was it a feeling of respecting my choice?

Thud.

I stopped in front of the door and turned to ask him.

It was a simple reason.

I just felt like I’d keep thinking about it if I left like this.

“If… one of us had fallen for your trick and betrayed us, what would have happened then?”

It was a hidden piece I was experiencing for the first time.

It had somehow ended well, but I was still curious about that part.

Fortunately, he readily answered.

“According to the established providence, my clone would have gained power.”

“…So it was like that.”

No wonder he tried to keep us alive as much as possible while encouraging betrayal.

I was starting to understand the design of this space.

In the end, you have to fight the boss alone, but if betrayal occurs, the difficulty of that boss fight increases.

‘And if you lose the boss fight, it’s game over, no stone door or anything.’

If it were a game, would you have to have a certain level of favorability and trust to clear it this way?

Anyway, thanks to that, many questions were answered.

However, I decided to ask one more thing while I was at it.

“What… exactly are you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You already know what I mean, don’t you?”

This wasn’t the first time I had a conversation with a monster inside a labyrinth.

[It’s been a while since I’ve seen a living being. Where did you all come from?]

Cambormier, the vampire duke of the Crimson Fortress.

[You greedy dogs of the Empire. Today, I shall punish you.]

The Knight of the Apocalypse I met in the White Temple.

[If it’s a lie that no one knows… then what’s the difference between that and the truth?]

Doppelganger, and so on.

There were several similar cases, but they all felt like they were just reciting pre-set lines.

In fact, they soon lost their reason and rushed at me with unconditional hostility.

But this guy in front of me is different.

It felt like there was a clear subject.

‘Besides, he said something meaningful earlier…’

When explaining what would happen if a traitor appeared, he clearly said this: According to the established providence, my ‘clone’ would have gained power.

I can’t put my finger on it, but combining the various pieces of information I’ve gathered so far, there’s one thing I can vaguely understand.

Just like [Dungeon & Stone] is a game based on this world view.

The labyrinth was also clearly modeled after something.

I cautiously voiced my speculation.

“Could it be… that all the monsters we’ve met in this labyrinth have their own originals? And you’re also an original?”

He remained silent, just staring at me.

His expression seemed to be contemplating, which made me tense up for some reason.

The moment I heard his answer, I felt like I could take one step closer to the secret of this labyrinth.

But…

“I wonder.”

After a long silence, he shook his head.

“You might figure it out someday.”

That was the end of our conversation.

Thud-!

The stone door that had been firmly closed swung open, and at the same time, something pushed my back.

***

「You have perfectly overcome the great fear dwelling in the labyrinth.」

「No.12 ‘Trust’ is permanently bound to you.」

「The Nameless Pilgrim disappears from the labyrinth forever.」

「Special Condition – Distorted memories are permanently deleted.」

「Hidden areas are now open.」

「This is the first achievement of its kind.」

「The great mark you have left will be engraved on the Stone of Honor and recorded forever.」

.

.

.

「The labyrinth has been closed.」

「The character is moving to Lapdonia.」

***

A warm light fell on my tightly closed eyelids.

I blankly raised my head and opened my eyes to see a gloomy sky welcoming me.

I stared up at it for a long time, lost in thought.

“……”

I’ve come back alive.

I feel this every time, but seeing that sky always makes me feel so at peace.

Of course, that time was extremely short.

“…It’s Bjorn Yandel.”

“They said he was going to take down the Floor Lord, I wonder how that went…”

“There’s no way five people actually succeeded, right…?”

The explorers who recognized me started to murmur.

I quickly came to my senses and headed towards the checkpoint.

Only one person was already there, waiting for us.

It was Amelia, who had left the raid site to interrogate the saboteurs.

“…Thank goodness. You’re back safe and sound. I was so worried when you didn’t show up until the labyrinth closed.”

She had been anxiously looking around the checkpoint, but as soon as she found me, she let out a breath as if her tension had completely dissolved.

However, perhaps another worry arose belatedly.

“Any casualties?”

Amelia, who had no idea about our situation, wanted to check the damage first rather than the success of the mission.

However, all I could say was this.

“No. No… there won’t be any.”

“There won’t be…? What does that mean?”

“…It’s complicated to explain.”

I heard that everyone was alive, but I felt like I wouldn’t be relieved until I saw them myself.

“Wait a moment.”

Amelia, who must have had many questions herself, nodded without asking any questions.

And how long did we wait in front of the checkpoint?

One by one, my companions began to appear.

It started with Erwen.

“Ah, Mister…”

Erwen, who was running towards the checkpoint, found me and collapsed onto the ground, completely exhausted.

“This… isn’t a dream, right…?”

“Don’t worry. It’s definitely reality.”

“What… what happened…?”

I guess from his perspective, he was drawing aggro and died, but when he opened his eyes, he was awake.

“I’ll explain when everyone arrives.”

After saying that, Bersil Gowland appeared soon after.

“Why are you so late? I was worried.”

“I, I’m sorry. I, I couldn’t understand it at all… B, but this… isn’t a dream, right…? I, I definitely died…”

Bersil showed a similar reaction to Erwen.

Amelia tilted her head at this.

“Died…?”

“As I said before, it’s complicated to explain. I’ll tell you everything at once when we’re all together.”

“…Okay.”

After that, I calmed down the trembling Bersil and waited in front of the checkpoint for a while longer, and finally, Ainar appeared.

“B, Bjorn…!!!!”

Ainar, who was making his presence known by shouting from afar.

Only then did I let out a sigh of relief that I had been holding back.

“Phew…”

It finally hit me.

That everyone really came back alive.

“…W, what is this! H, hey, was it all a dream?! I definitely died—!”

I was briefly lost in a strange afterglow, but I quickly covered Ainar’s mouth with my hand.

“…Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!”

“Be quiet. Everyone is already looking over here because of you.”

“……”

“Let’s move somewhere else first. Then I’ll explain everything.”

After everyone gathered, we quickly passed through the checkpoint and went out into the street. As always, the area in front of the checkpoint was crowded with explorers’ acquaintances and families.

“Bersil, I’m going to your house in Commelby, is that okay?”

“I don’t mind. I think it would be more reassuring to talk there.”

“Then it’s settled.”

After that, we went to the public platform and took a noble carriage to Commelby.

That was the disadvantage of living in the downtown area.

When I lived in District 7, I could just walk home.

“Captain! You’re here!”

As soon as we arrived home, Auyen came out to greet us as if he had been waiting. The house was filled with the smell of food that whetted our appetites.

Did he even cook for us, knowing when we’d arrive?

“Thank you. But I have something to discuss, so can you go upstairs for a moment?”

“…Of course. Please rest comfortably, and call me anytime if you need anything.”

After Auyen went to his room, I asked Bersil to activate the voice control magic. We ate the neatly prepared food while talking.

Ah, of course, only Ainar and I touched the food.

“Mr. Yandel… don’t just eat, tell us. I was dying of curiosity while coming here.”

Ah, right. I should start with that story.

I finished chewing the last of what I had in my mouth and began to explain step by step.

In the end, the core of it was this.

“So… from the beginning, it was a format where all the other companions had to die to clear it. Even if only one person survives and defeats the enemy, everyone can wake up alive.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

After explaining everything I had experienced and learned, except for the conversation I had with him at the end, Amelia looked at me with a strange expression.

“Are you… okay?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Considering your personality, you must have suffered a lot.”

Ah, that…

I chuckled and replied.

“I’m fine.”

It’s not like there weren’t times when my mental state broke down in the middle. No, to be honest, there were a lot.

But as long as the result is good, right?

Anyway, it seemed like my story was over, so I started asking questions.

“Amelia, what happened to you?”

When I asked about the interrogation results, Amelia’s expression darkened significantly.

“I couldn’t get any evidence. They just said they received a request from the black market, and they don’t know who the client is either.”

“I see…”

It was a shame, but it wasn’t Amelia’s fault.

Well, Count Alminus will be dealt with somehow.

I don’t think it’s that important of a problem since I came back to life.

But…

“Ah, and also…”

“…And?”

“No, I’ll tell you later.”

She’s making me anxious all of a sudden.

She said she’d tell me later, so I just let it go without asking for now.

“Anyway, Erwen, what happened to you?”

“…Ah, me? I’m sorry. I trusted you, but I couldn’t escape at all. No matter how hard I tried to shake them off, they were always right behind me when I came to my senses. It was like they were using teleportation magic.”

“Teleportation…”

Maybe they really had that kind of ability.

Like it activates when you get a certain distance away.

“But what was strange was that they kept trying to persuade me even until I died. They said it wasn’t too late even now.”

Erwen’s story was short enough to be summed up in a few sentences, but I could feel the anguish and mental suffering in that story more clearly than anyone else.

“Erwen, you did a good job.”

“…It’s nothing.”

Okay, then next is Bersil’s turn.

“Bersil Gowland.”

“…Yes?”

“I know what you were thinking, but… don’t do that again.”

“Yes…”

I just scolded him briefly and moved on.

The really important thing was next.

“But Ainar…”

“…Huh?”

When I cautiously spoke, Ainar, who had been steadily eating, raised his head for the first time.

It was hard to open my mouth.

But I had to confirm it.

“That thing… at the end… how much do you remember?”

“How much do I remember? What are you talking about?”

“I meant, do you remember what I said to you?”

To be precise, I meant, did he properly hear my confession of being a demon?

Ainar nonchalantly picked up a piece of meat with his fork and replied.

“Ah, that…? I think you said something… but I don’t know. I don’t remember. I was about to pass out then, so I couldn’t hear well.”

Hmm, is that true?

I carefully watched his facial expressions, but I couldn’t find anything strange.

It seems like he really didn’t hear it.

Well, if he had heard it, he would have already made a fuss.

“Why, what did you say?”

“Nothing. It was nothing important.”

“Really?”

I quickly wrapped up the topic, and while Ainar accepted it as such, the women next to me were in an uproar.

“Why, I think I know what kind of words they were.”

“Yandel, this guy is surprisingly emotional.”

“………Why are you all like this? You’re making him feel embarrassed.”

Whatever…

I chose to just eat rather than respond, and they also picked up their spoons, as if their curiosity had been somewhat satisfied.

And we had a free conversation while eating.

It was at that moment.

“By the way… Mr. Yandel. What’s that bracelet? Were you wearing it before?”

It was only after hearing Bersil’s cautious question that I realized.

“What is this…”

A strange bracelet was on my wrist.

***

I was momentarily flustered by the unfamiliar equipment.

Erwen and Amelia also stopped eating and muttered.

“Uh… I didn’t say anything first, so I just stayed quiet…”

“To think that he didn’t even know he was wearing it.”

Why didn’t I notice this until now?

“Could it be a reward…? The reward you get for succeeding in the subjugation with five people… that reward.”

Bersil made such a guess, but to tell you the result, that’s not it. The reward for a standard 5-person clear isn’t a bracelet.

Moreover, I chose to save my companions when choosing the reward.

‘…But could it be that there was another reward besides coming back alive?’

Uh… well, when I think about it, right?

It’s a hidden piece that was so well hidden that I couldn’t find it even after playing for almost 10 years.

But is the reward just being revived?

That doesn’t make sense.

Click.

After taking off the bracelet and examining it closely, I froze.

There was something that came to mind as soon as I saw it.

But since I wasn’t sure, I handed it to Bersil to appraise it.

Bersil, who has a ‘Special Appraiser’ license that even Raven couldn’t get, figured out the identity of this bracelet without even looking at it a few times.

“T, this… it’s a Double Numbers…”

Yes, it really is that.

Amelia, who was very interested in these kinds of treasures, had her eyes sparkling.

“Wait, if it’s a Double Numbers bracelet…”

There’s only one.

No.12 Trust.

Is it a fixed reward?

Considering the concept of the hidden piece, there doesn’t seem to be a more suitable item than this.

‘……A Double Numbers as a fixed reward event.’

What exactly is the activation condition?

If I knew that, I could probably copy the item.

I was thinking that when.

Ding-dong, ding-dong.

The bell installed on the front door rang.

‘A visitor at this hour…?’

I stopped eating for now and opened the door to see a group of knights, presumably from Mozlan.

“We greet Baron Yandel.”

The knights bowed politely as soon as they made eye contact, as if they hadn’t come for anything bad.

I quickly returned the greeting and checked their business.

“…Two hours ago, a new achievement was written on the Stone of Honor.”

A new achievement?

But what does that have to do with me?

While I was thinking that, the knight said.

“It is Baron Yandel’s achievement.”

It seems that the reward wasn’t just the bracelet.

I quickly checked the contents written on the stone and froze like a stone.

[In the year 157 of the Great Opening, the great barbarian warrior Bjorn Yandel and his companions defeated the Dreadfear, the Lord of Terror, and opened a hidden area.]

To think there were more unlockable areas left.