Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 509

Hans A.

My first nighttime companion, the being I first killed when I opened my eyes to this world.

Thanks to him, I was able to evolve into a civilized person within the labyrinth, and eventually, I met Erwen in the process and was able to come this far.

But….

‘Is it because his name is Hans? He’s persistent even in death.’

A portrait of him.

I threw this away first when I was organizing my bag after looting. Is it like a cursed doll that keeps coming back no matter how many times I throw it away?

“Hmm, an item discarded in the labyrinth…?”

What, when did Amelia get here again?

When I came to my senses, I could see that the other companions were also listening to this side while doing their own work in their respective positions.

They’re all explorers, so they have sharp ears.

“…Perhaps this place is where everything that disappeared from the labyrinth gathers.”

Bersil soon set up a hypothesis like a mage, but in fact, it was a hypothesis that anyone could come up with if they heard my story.

“Oh! Amazing! Then can I find my old shoes that I lost? They were my favorite shoes!”

“If you’re lucky.”

“Wait a minute, Gowland. According to your hypothesis, what are those? I don’t think there are that many wardrobes or tables that disappeared from the labyrinth.”

When Amelia raised a question, Bersil couldn’t answer easily and trailed off.

“I guess so…? Why would that be…?”

The contradiction of the hypothesis that it acts as a junkyard for the labyrinth.

Surprisingly, it was the navigator Auyen who gave a clear answer to this.

“Those… might be furniture from large ships.”

“Large ships?”

“I heard that subspace magic wasn’t that developed when the 6th floor was first explored. So, ancient explorers couldn’t summon ships like we do now.”

“Oh, so?”

“They cut down trees on the Island of Beginnings and built ships directly on the 6th floor, and the story of using those ships on the 6th floor is the first history that navigators learn.”

“…How is that possible? Unless they’re just going around nearby islands, do they just use a ship once and throw it away?”

“No. They solved that part using magic. It’s not that there was no magic at all, just that subspace magic wasn’t as developed as it is now.”

Auyen doesn’t know the details of the principle, but it was magic that made the ship automatically return to Limeyne Island by riding the currents no matter where it was placed.

“They used the fact that time flows on the 6th floor even when the labyrinth is closed.”

“Yes. However, because of that, there were many thefts and disputes. Ah, of course, there were also frequent shipwrecks while returning to the Island of Beginnings—.”

“I see. Thanks for the information.”

I’m sorry to Auyen, who was excitedly talking, but I cut him off at this point.

It’s okay if the explanation gets long, but he needs to focus on navigation.

“But for now, make sure you steer well.”

“Ah… yes!”

“Erwen, stop looking over here too.”

“……!”

“Ainar, you’ve stopped mopping?”

I quickly returned the distracted personnel to their original tasks.

What does it matter if wardrobes or chairs are floating on the sea?

The only important thing is this.

That we can find items that disappeared when the labyrinth closed here.

“Bersil, if you see anything floating, keep pulling it up. There might be treasure mixed in.”

“Yes. I understand.”

It’s just a family portrait of Hans A that’s useless now, but you never know in the future.

Number items, or high-grade material equipment.

There must be countless treasures that have lost their owners in the long history.

Just like how we had to throw away so much equipment in the canyon and return from Ice Rock.

‘Hmm, if I think about it that way, is it not a junkyard but a tomb? Full of all sorts of expensive burial goods.’

I think I can understand it now.

Even in the situation where Berzak was summoned, I wondered why there were so many guys waiting in front of the tombstone.

It was worth risking their lives that much.

‘New monster essence, by-products, and even treasures floating in the sea….’

I wonder how much I’ll get in my hands when I go back to the city and finish the settlement this time? As I was thinking that, Erwen, who was on the lookout, shouted at the top of her lungs.

“Mister! It’s an island! An island has appeared!”

…It’s not another Rank 1 monster, is it?

***

To cut to the chase, what Erwen found was indeed an island.

Well, is it a bit ambiguous to call it an island?

Anyway, what’s certain is that it’s not a monster.

“…It looks like a temple.”

A structure built with two cylindrical pillars is floating on the water.

I took the ship and went around the island once, but there was only one entrance in the front. Unfortunately, the inside is hidden by the shadow of the labyrinth and cannot be seen.

In short, we have to go in ourselves….

“What are we going to do?”

“What do you mean? We came to explore, so we have to explore.”

After that, since the surrounding water was shallow, we all moved to auxiliary small boats and then unsummoned the main ship.

And slowly rowed straight to the island.

“…It’s a strange space.”

When we got off the small boat and approached the entrance, the inside, which had been hidden by the shadows, began to appear.

‘Visibility is about 5m.’

What I can see right now is a wide staircase leading down.

The height and width are as if it was built with something huge, not a human, in mind.

Of course, thanks to that, it was easy for me.

「The character has cast [Giantification].」

A staircase that I can walk on normally even in the [Giantification] state?

This is really precious.

Thump, thump, thump-

With the mindset that I’ll take all the hits first even if something happens, I go down the stairs first.

And how much time has passed?

“It’s incredibly deep.”

I think I’ve gone down at least 200 stairs.

What the heck is this place?

I wonder if this makes sense spatially, but I decided not to think about it. It would be meaningless to look for reality in this world.

Thump-!

Still, as I kept going down, I finally reached the end.

“Ugh… the smell of dust.”

A musty smell wafts faintly in the space.

It was difficult to check the detailed terrain due to the short visibility, but soon the surroundings began to brighten.

“……!”

The inside of the room brightened as if someone had turned on a switch.

The whole team flinched at the change and looked for the enemy, but soon everyone stared blankly around.

“Here is…….”

The ceiling is as high as the depth we have come down so far.

And huge bookshelves that reach up to that ceiling.

“What is this…? It looks like a library….”

The first thing that came to mind was a library, but it was very different from a typical one.

That is the size.

Each book is so big that you have to spread your arms wide to hold it. Not to mention the bookshelves where thousands of those books are placed.

“Oh! It’s not as heavy as I thought?”

Still, the weight of the book was light enough for an explorer’s strength to lift without any problems.

“Mr. Pnelin, can you open the book?”

“Ah, of course!”

Ainar then placed a book he had taken from the bookshelf on the floor and opened it.

But….

“It’s empty….”

What, are these books just props then?

“Bersil, you investigate the books here. Ainar, you help Bersil next to him. If a dangerous situation arises, you must protect him.”

I left Ainar and Bersil at the bookshelves and investigated the surroundings a bit more.

A cylindrical space.

On the edge, there are curved bookshelves that seem to be custom-made, extending all the way to the ceiling.

And….

“…I don’t know what it’s for.”

In the center, there is a stone slab in the shape of a table.

And at the end opposite the stairs we came down, there is a large stone door between the bookshelves.

I investigated in detail, but I couldn’t find out anything.

‘It seems like a place to do something using this….’

It didn’t seem like there were any monsters or traps, so I had them split up and investigate, and soon there was news.

“Mr. Yandel, I found a book with something written on it! But it’s in ancient language, so you need to come over.”

Whew, it’s helpful in many ways that I learned ancient language.

I hurried to where Bersil was, and a book was spread out on the floor.

A book with a picture on one side and writing on the other.

“First of all, the picture looks like a Wall Mole, a Rank 9 monster… I can’t read the writing at all.”

As Bersil guessed, the owner of the picture was indeed a Wall Mole.

Because it was written like that in the text next to it.

Name.

Habitat.

Ability.

And the origin of the name, the characteristics of the ability, and the unique habits of the individual, etc.

“…It’s like a bestiary [a book describing animals, real or mythical]. Is this all you found?”

“Yes. No matter how many pages I turn, all the other pages are blank.”

“I see….”

“Your tone is a bit subtle?”

“I just have something to think about.”

First of all, this book alone is of great value.

Maybe Raven, who is a history geek, would have jumped up and down and made a fuss about it being a great discovery.

But, I’m not really interested in that kind of thing.

Explorers, not mages, focus more on other things than knowledge.

‘How do I use this?’

What can I do with this discovery?

No, furthermore, what is the reason why such a thing exists here?

Rather than doing research, trying things out and finding results is the way of exploration for an explorer.

“Everyone, gather around.”

For that reason, I immediately summoned my companions.

“Did you find something?”

“Not really, but I think there’s something worth trying.”

“Something worth trying?”

Amelia tilted her head, but it would be faster to see than to explain this.

In the first place, it’s not even certain whether it will work or not.

Thud.

So, I put the book that Bersil found on the stone slab in the center.

And after about 3 seconds?

“…You’re wrong sometimes.”

In the silence, just as Amelia opened her mouth.

Whoosh-!

The stone slab began to emit a blue light.

It means that something has changed.

And this means a dangerous situation in [Dungeon & Stone].

Therefore….

“Bjorn! Th-there! The stone door is opening…!”

Misha ran to the direction she was pointing and stood at the front, shouting urgently.

“Prepare for battle!”

My companions, with a lot of energy, lowered their bodies in a ready stance at the shout like a command.

Time passes in such heavy tension.

1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds….

When 4 seconds had passed, a monster appeared meekly through the slightly opened door.

[Squeak—]

……It was a Wall Mole.

[Squeak squeak!]

Just one at that.

***

A floor where the first monster we encountered after exploring was a Rank 1 monster.

So, everyone, including me, was wary of the existence that would come out of that stone door.

But….

“A Wall Mole…?”

One Rank 9 monster.

“Don’t let your guard down. Something else might come out.”

As the leader, I said that, but I myself was feeling a sense of anticlimax.

But it didn’t take long for that feeling to change to understanding.

‘……I see how it works.’

When I put the ‘Wall Mole’ written in the book on the stone slab, a ‘Wall Mole’ appeared from the stone door.

Is this really a coincidence?

“Erwen.”

As soon as I called her name, Erwen’s arrow was shot.

Is it telepathy? Do you understand what I’m going to say just by calling your name now?

I don’t know, but what’s important now is not that.

[……!]

The Wall Mole, which was running towards us with quick steps, died without even making a squeak.

Whoosh-!

A scattering of light and a Rank 9 magic stone fell.

The essence didn’t come out because the beginner’s luck buff didn’t activate.

I would throw it away even if it did, anyway.

Thud thud thud thud thud!

As soon as the monster was dealt with, the stone door closed again.

And….

“Oh! Mr. Yandel! Over there!”

A staircase leading to the second shelf of the huge bookshelf was created.

It was a straightforward progression for [Dungeon & Stone].

‘Keep summoning and go up, is that it.’

However, before going up the stairs, I first checked the book that I had put on the stone slab again.

“The picture and the letters have all disappeared….”

It means that a book that has been used once cannot be recycled.

Therefore, I threw the blank book on the floor and went up the stairs.

Then, I suddenly had a thought.

‘Can’t I just go up without the stairs and take out the book?’

If I have a thought, it’s the spirit of a barbarian to execute it.

I used my tall height to hang on the railing of the 3rd floor bookshelf that was not yet connected, and then climbed up on it.

However, the books placed on the bookshelf did not budge no matter how hard I tried.

‘I can go up, but I can’t take out the book.’

Still, I wonder what will come out if I just go all the way up?

I was suddenly curious, but I decided to check it later when I was stuck or had time left.

There’s still a lot to do here.

“Everyone, take out the books and look for the ones with pictures.”

As soon as the full-scale instructions were given, the entire team hung on the bookshelves and opened the books, and with everyone working together, there was a harvest in less than a few minutes.

This time, it was a book with two monsters drawn on it.

One was a Rank 8 Night Flier.

“Oh! I know this guy! Isn’t it the individual with the ability used by the vampire we met in the Crimson Fortress!”

The other was a Macguri that we had met countless times on our way here.

“…How is it? What does it say?”

“It already had an official name, so I wasted my effort.”

As it was the first monster discovered, everyone was curious about what was written about Macguri….

‘Let’s see, the name is….’

As soon as I read the letters at the top, I froze.

“…Huh? Bjorn, why are you suddenly like that?”

Ainar approached me with concern.

Bersil, who was nearby, also asked.

“……Mr. Yandel? Is there a problem?”

I didn’t answer and said,

“Macguri.”

“Yes?”

“The name Macguri is also written in this book.”

“……Yes? What are you talking about? Surely that name is the name that the Captain gave….”

That’s why it’s strange.

“W-what a remarkable coincidence…? The names are the same….”

Auyen muttered in a hesitant voice as I just looked at the book.

It wasn’t an incomprehensible point of view.

Certainly, it was much more convincing to think that way.

But….

Name.

Habitat.

Ability.

After passing through such explanations and arriving at the origin of the name, I couldn’t do that.

[………Bjorn, the son of Yandel, the explorer who first entered the underground 1st floor, record storage, discovered it for the first time and gave it that name.]

No, what the heck is this again?