Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 51

Fwoosh-!

The heat was intense, even from about 10 meters away.

And the acrid smell of burning tickled my nose.

Thump-!

As my brain registered the situation, my heart clenched.

‘If that had fallen on our heads…’

We’d probably all be dead.

“Get ready for battle!”

The dwarf, who had been stunned by the sudden event, shouted, and explorers emerged from the bushes.

There were five of them in total.

Four were escorting one mage, forming a protective formation.

‘Damn, they don’t look like they’re from the 3rd floor…’

Why are these guys here?

I was secretly praying they weren’t just looters when the beastman with the triangular ears smirked at us, who were now in battle stance.

Then, he spoke in an overbearing tone.

“This Orc settlement is the territory of the D’zarwi Clan, so leave.”

‘Clan?’

No wonder they were all wearing the same insignia on their chests.

‘Damn it…’

A curse word slipped out involuntarily.

Not because I didn’t understand what they were doing.

‘Territory control on the 3rd floor?’

Damn, isn’t this content supposed to be from at least the 5th floor?

***

[Dungeon & Stone] is a single-player game.

But surprisingly, it has territory control content.

Initially, it appears to prevent movement between maps before clearing the main episodes, but later, when a clan is created, players can also control hunting grounds.

Of course, this requires a huge amount of manpower, so it’s a loss unless it’s a habitat for some rare or boss monsters.

‘But controlling on the 3rd floor?’

I can’t understand it at all.

What are you going to do with a 7th-grade monster under control?

Just look at that mage.

It’s a waste to use such high-level personnel who can use that kind of magic just to catch Orcs.

“…I know the D’zarwi Clan operates above the 6th floor. Why are you in a place like an Orc settlement?”

The dwarf also seemed to be hearing about this for the first time, as he cautiously asked, looking puzzled.

But the answer he received was cold.

“We have no reason to explain to you.”

Ah, I see.

I was convinced, but the dwarf was not.

Even though he’s shown a lot of foolishness since we became a team, he’s still an explorer.

He’s sensitive when it comes to his own interests.

Especially if the cause is external, not internal.

“I’ve heard that some clans are granted rights within the labyrinth by the royal family for their achievements. But I’ve never heard that this place is the territory of the D’zarwi Clan. More than that, we can’t even be sure if you’re actually one of them.”

As the opponent was who they were, the dwarf presented his doubts as logically as possible.

It was definitely a valid point.

Just from their equipment and the level of magic we just saw, it was clear that they were much higher-level explorers than us, but there was no proof that they were members of that clan.

But…

‘I think it’s better to just run away…’

Honestly, I’m more scared if they’re not.

Large clans at least have to be mindful of outside eyes, but imposters wouldn’t have any of that.

“That’s a funny story.”

The beastman frowned, looking displeased, and glared at us.

However, the dwarf didn’t back down.

“I hear that often.”

As the unspoken battle of wills dragged on, the tension gradually increased.

Thud.

I felt something approaching from behind.

When I checked, it was Misha.

But why is she suddenly so close behind me?

As if she was hiding from something…

“…You’re not, by any chance, a half-pint?”

The beastman asked, frowning, and I felt a flinch behind me.

What, was she really hiding?

“O-Oppa…”

Misha stuttered and slowly walked out to my side.

The beastman’s expression became even more distorted.

“I told you not to call me that outside.”

“S-Sorry.”

“Tsk, just like a half-pint, the way you talk.”

Misha couldn’t say anything and hung her head at the beastman’s sarcasm.

As expected, they weren’t close enough to call each other ‘half-pint’.

‘But what’s their relationship? Could they really be family?’

As such questions arose, the mage, who had been silent in the back, asked clearly.

“Just in case, is that young lady your sister?”

“Yes, for now.”

The beastman nodded politely, and the mage stroked his smooth beard.

“Hmm, I owe a debt to Lord Carlstein. And since she’s your sister, I can’t call her a stranger, so I’ll make an exception for them—”

“There’s no need for that.”

“Huh? But…”

The beastman firmly refused the mage’s consideration once again.

“My father wouldn’t care either. The reason is a family matter, so I can’t tell you.”

A cold voice filled with stubbornness.

“If you say so, I understand.”

The mage changed his mind and nodded without complaint. But did he think he could at least explain the reason?

“Listen here, you all.”

He took a step forward and opened his mouth in a tone as if he was trying to persuade us.

“Due to internal clan circumstances, we urgently need the essence of the Orc Great Warrior. If things go well, you’ll be able to hunt here from the next cycle, so please go somewhere else this time. Or, go to the outskirts where the Great Warrior doesn’t appear.”

Perhaps because he was a mage, his tone was much softer than the beastman’s, but… in the end, it still meant they were telling us to get lost.

“I refuse.”

The dwarf shook his head.

And in an uncharacteristically sharp tone, he mocked the opponent.

“From what I see, you seem to be claiming rights without royal approval. Why should we consider your clan’s circumstances? And do you even know that what you’re doing is illegal in the first place?”

“…Illegal?”

Was it a word that particularly offended him?

“A wise explorer should know when to be careful with their words.”

The mage’s eyes, which had been mild, turned sharp.

However, perhaps he didn’t want to leave any room for future problems.

“Rather, when did we break the law? We’re just being considerate by suggesting you leave because if we’re here, there won’t be any monsters left for you to hunt, right?”

Although he was putting it indirectly, it meant that if we didn’t leave, they would do everything they could to interfere with our hunting.

Realizing this, the dwarf bit his lip in frustration.

“Damn it…”

Unless they forcibly kicked us out or injured us, these parts were not clearly specified by the labyrinth law.

In other words, it meant we couldn’t get any help from the law.

‘It’s a problem that I even tried to rely on the law in the first place.’

I felt sorry for the dwarf, who was trying to protect our team’s interests, but I wanted to back down from the start.

Isn’t the labyrinth a place where the strong become the law?

If we forget that and stubbornly resist, we could disappear without a trace.

‘By now, he should have realized that it’s not the time to be stubborn, so it’s better to coax him into backing down.’

As I watched the situation and decided on our next course of action.

“Don’t worry, everyone. I’ll take care of this.”

Dwarki suddenly intervened.

Saying something completely incomprehensible.

‘Take care of it? What is he talking about?’

I couldn’t even guess what he meant.

But before I could ask what he meant, Dwarki smiled and approached the mage.

“Hahaha! Nice to meet you, senior.”

“…Senior? Have we met before?”

“Not exactly, but as a fellow who has devoted his life to the study of magic—”

“Enough, so who are you?”

Did he not expect such a sharp reaction?

Dwarki hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile and replied.

“Hahaha, my name is Riol Worb Dwarki, an 8th-grade mage recognized by the Lapdonia royal family—”

“I knew it, you’re trash.”

“…Excuse me?”

Displeasure appeared on the mage’s face.

No, it seemed like he was more upset than when the word ‘illegal’ came out, and this time, the mage didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding his feelings.

“The study of magic? Devoted your life? You’ve only learned a few basic spells and call yourself a mage, making a living by performing tricks in the streets? You’re not in a position to say that. Your audacity is appalling, so please don’t say such things anywhere else.”

Sharp criticisms poured out like a machine gun.

‘Is it because he’s a mage? His wording is no joke.’

While I was admiring the mage’s relentless barrage, I was worried about Dwarki. Even I would lose my mind if I heard such words to my face…

“…C-Cough!”

Ah, he already lost it.

When I checked, I saw Dwarki, who couldn’t even breathe properly, just blinking his eyes.

His mouth was slightly open and closed repeatedly, like a fish thrown on the sand.

The dwarf, who witnessed his best friend’s mental breakdown, finally couldn’t hold back and exploded.

“Hey! That’s a bit harsh!”

“I was just stating the facts, wasn’t I?”

“What? Stating the facts?”

The veins on the dwarf’s neck stood out.

His eyes were also gleaming with murderous intent, which was not a good sign.

And immediately sensing this.

“Let’s see about that—!”

I grabbed the dwarf by the back of his neck and lifted him up.

Then, I immediately confiscated the battle hammer he was holding.

And as expected.

Chichichit-!

A tingling sensation was transmitted from my fingertips.

「Hikurod Murad has cast [Electrocution].」

Damn it, is this guy really crazy?

I suppressed my anger as much as possible and muttered quietly.

“Get a grip, Hikurod.”

Just now, we were all about to die.

***

“You have good companions. You should be grateful to that barbarian for the rest of your life. He saved you all.”

“……”

Has the dwarf finally come to his senses?

He ignored the mage’s sarcasm and quickly led the team away. And as soon as we reached the outskirts, he bowed his short waist to us.

“I’m sorry. I lost my temper and got carried away. If it weren’t for Bjorn, as he said…”

We would probably all be dead.

It was clear that they weren’t the kind of people who would let those who attacked them go unharmed.

“Just now, you committed a reckless act that could have led the entire team to ruin.”

Rotmiller rebuked him in a strong tone.

“…I have no excuse.”

The dwarf, knowing his mistake, hung his head without making excuses.

To be honest, I wanted Rotmiller to blame him more harshly.

But…

“Since nothing happened as a result, I won’t say anything more.”

Rotmiller was too kind-hearted to play the role of a disciplinarian.

“And while it was reckless, I personally think it was good that you stood up for your teammate when they were being disrespected.”

I couldn’t understand it at all.

He should be cursing him out, but he’s even praising him?

‘Shouldn’t he at least cut his share and make him do this exploration for free?’

There should be punishment and reward for mistakes.

That’s the only way to prevent the same mistake from happening again.

So, I was thinking about such realistic measures, but the atmosphere wasn’t good enough to say it out loud.

‘Damn, am I the weird one?’

As Rotmiller showed a magnanimous side and forgave the dwarf, the surrounding air became strange.

A kind of atmosphere that was hard to describe, the one I had been most uncomfortable with since I was young.

“…I’m sorry too. If it wasn’t for me, things might have gone better.”

The first to be swept up in that atmosphere was none other than Misha.

“Oh, no way!”

The second was Dwarki.

Dwarki was startled by Misha’s self-blame and waved his arms in denial. And even while stuttering, he spoke firmly.

“I, I… Of course, my words aren’t always right…! I think we were at least given a reason before being kicked out because you were there! So, don’t ever think like that!”

It wasn’t a very impressive consolation, but the emotions mixed within it were genuinely conveyed to everyone.

Was that why?

“Do you know… why I hate talking about my family?”

Misha suddenly started talking about herself.

“I’m treated like I don’t exist in my family. Maybe some people can guess why.”

Misha looked at our faces, gauging our reactions.

Rotmiller, perhaps one of those who guessed, looked away first, so I pretended not to know either.

Fairies handle spirits.

Dwarves with the blessing of the weapon have increased efficiency when handling Numbers items, and barbarians have soul imprints.

Similarly, beastmen have racial characteristics in addition to their unusually high base agility stats.

“I’m the only one in my family who hasn’t made a contract with a ‘Soul Beast’.”

Soul Beast.

Beastmen can make contracts with ancient beasts called by that name.

And the forms of the contracts are diverse.

They can summon them to fight together, possess them to increase their physical abilities, or use the special abilities of the beast through blessings.

Of course, not all beastmen can do it.

Only a few talented beastmen are chosen by the Soul Beasts.

However, the problem here is…

‘It must be that she’s from the chieftain’s lineage.’

A direct descendant of the Carlstein family, the chieftain’s family.

In other words, the fact that she, a pureblood, cannot handle a ‘Soul Beast’ is a big problem. It’s not just a matter of talent, but circumstantial evidence that casts doubt on her bloodline itself.

“When I was young, I was close to my siblings. But after I became an adult and still couldn’t make a contract with a Soul Beast, things changed. Everyone called me a half-pint. They said my blood was only half mixed…”

A child born through infidelity.

Her mother had passed away early, so no one knew the truth, and Misha couldn’t bear the looks and left home. And she focused solely on martial arts and slowly grew as an explorer.

“Thank you for sharing your difficult story.”

When the short but long story ended, the dwarf stroked Misha in a serious manner, unlike his usual self.

Misha didn’t act prickly like before.

Rather, she was like a tamed cat.

“Hikurod… he thinks of us as companions and got genuinely angry for us.”

What, is that how it works?

Emotions that are difficult for a pessimist like me to follow continue to unfold.

“Hahaha! Since you said that, I should tell my story too. I dreamed of becoming a blacksmith. But I had no talent, so I couldn’t even get rid of my apprentice title for 10 years. That’s why I became an explorer at the age of thirty! But I had to make money, so I thought it was a good time to run away.”

Impressed by Misha’s confession, the dwarf calmly shared his story, and then it was Dwarki’s turn.

“There’s no one more talentless than me. Although my family was well-off enough to let me enter magic, my talent was so meager that I couldn’t enter the magic tower. If I were a proper mage… he would have respected me a little.”

Dwarki then revealed that his goal was to earn money from exploring to learn more magic.

And just when I thought the story was over…

“I’ve been on many teams, but this is the first time I’ve seen a situation like this.”

Rotmiller, who had been silent, chuckled and rekindled the dying embers.

“I also have something to apologize for. When Murad and Miss Carlstein were talking about their years of experience the other day, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger.”

“Oh, was there such a thing?”

“Yes. It was caused by my ugly jealousy. Without knowing that each of you had your own circumstances, I thought that both of you were lucky to be born as different races and were complaining about being slow or fast.”

Human explorers also have advantages.

First of all, they can use aura, become spiritists, mages, or priests.

Some who are born with special talents can even have a physique as large as a barbarian.

In fact, they have the advantages of all races.

But this is ultimately just a possibility, and it’s only the story of a few with special talents.

“Hahaha! Then does that mean our team is full of half-pints? That’s good, it means we don’t have to feel intimidated by each other anymore.”

The dwarf awkwardly laughed and changed the mood.

And at that remark—

“That’s certainly true.”

The talentless mage Dwarki was delighted.

“I’ll work harder to be helpful to the team!”

The beastman, born a pureblood but unable to handle a Soul Beast, was also moved.

“It’s only the third day of our first journey, but I hope this team lasts as long as possible.”

The human explorer Rotmiller, the epitome of mediocrity with eight years of experience, was the same. Everyone admitted their own shortcomings, opened up, and comforted each other.

And then, naturally, the attention turned to me, who hadn’t confessed anything yet.

“……”

“……”

Eyes as if asking, ‘What about you?’

‘Uh, I don’t have anything like that…’

I felt like I had to say something to avoid being an outcast in the team…

Overwhelmed by the gathering gazes, I blurted out whatever came to my mouth.

“I, I don’t have a mom!”