Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 515

The Last Great Sage, Diplun Groundel Gavrilius.

He was the great explorer and savior who erected a barrier to protect the city from the witch’s curse, opened a dimensional gate connected to the labyrinth to solve the problem of insufficient resources, and was the first to enter the labyrinth.

It’s safe to say that almost all the achievements recorded at the top of the Stone of Honor belong to this guy.

He left an enormous mark on the primitive labyrinth, and people named something hidden within the labyrinth after him… that is, the hidden piece was called ‘Gavrilius’s Arrangement.’

[The Last Great Sage Diplun Groundel Gavrilius and his companions defeated all the monsters in the Crystal Cave and opened a hidden area.]

As he is the first celebrity a child learns about when studying history, his companions are also widely known.

“…Did this person just speak our language?”

“Huh? Yes… he, he did……”

“No, more than that… he knows about Lapdonia?”

My companions, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation with Village Chief Bryungrid, were thrown into confusion.

Just like the monsters who saw me speaking the ancient language.

How can a monster speak human language?

They had exactly that kind of expression, and in fact, if I looked in a mirror, I probably wouldn’t have a much different face.

However…….

[I am Bryungrid, the village chief of this village.]

[Surely you are an explorer from Lapdonia?]

[How much time has passed outside?]

As someone who has to take responsibility for a group, I forcibly pulled myself together and organized my thoughts.

What is the identity of this monster?

…Actually, without needing to organize anything, something immediately came to mind.

“Dragon Knight, Cornelius Bryungrid.”

As I spoke the name, the village chief, who had been silently waiting, nodded his head.

“That is correct.”

Damn it, is it real?

Is this what that monster looks like?

“Y-You’re saying you’re Dragon Knight Bryungrid……!”

“…I can’t believe it.”

“Isn’t it a lie? He’s someone from thousands of years ago…… And his appearance, and the fact that he’s still alive…….”

My companions were in an uproar, but the village chief didn’t respond to each of their reactions.

He just looked solely at me and asked this.

“Then, will you tell me? How much time has passed outside?”

There was a force in Village Chief Bryungrid’s gentle voice that made me feel like I had to answer.

However, I addressed this first.

“Before I answer, let me ask first. Is it okay to use this?”

In a situation where we’ve just met, what reason do we have to trust each other?

Without needing to see more, I took out ‘Misaligned Trust.’ [An item that detects lies.]

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen that item…….”

“So, what’s the answer?”

“You may use it. In fact, I would like that.”

Okay, so that’s how it is…….

His readily accepting demeanor increased my trust, but that didn’t mean I would skip using it.

Click.

Having received permission, I immediately activated the item.

But, what is this?

“First, let’s check if it works. Can you say your name?”

“Cornelius Bryungrid.”

“……”

The item isn’t working.

Not because he told the truth, but simply because the item stops whenever he speaks.

Just like when I speak.

“…What’s going on?”

“I’m not sure.”

While I was in confusion, Bersil came next to me and whispered softly.

“Maybe… is it because the other party is a monster?”

It was a plausible guess.

Even I have never used this item on a monster. If it’s a judgment that only targets humans, this could be possible.

‘Or maybe it’s a similar case to me.’

Just in case, I also tried using verification magic with Bersil’s help, but it didn’t work either.

“In the end, I guess we’ll have to talk without this.”

Ha… what a waste of my uses…….

“Then, will you answer my question now?”

“Before that, just one more question.”

“Go ahead.”

“If you’re really one of the Great Sage’s companions, why is someone like you in a place like this, in that form?”

“That is…….”

The village chief then continued.

“I don’t know either.”

“…Huh?”

“It was a day like any other. I was in the labyrinth, and when the time came, the labyrinth closed. But when I opened my eyes, what greeted me was not the fortress, but this place. This terrible appearance was a bonus.”

“……What?”

“Why I opened my eyes in this place. Why I became this body. Where this place is, and why I don’t die. I’ve thought about it alone for a long time, but in the end, there’s only one answer.”

“…….”

“I don’t know. Why I became like this.”

There was no feeling of resentment or anger in Village Chief Bryungrid’s voice.

It was as if his emotions had been completely worn away.

“I don’t think you’ll be very satisfied with that answer, but did it answer your question?”

“For now, yes.”

Since I received an answer, it was only right that I answer what I asked.

“…The kingdom is currently in the year 157 of the Founding Era.”

“Founding……?”

“It means that 157 years have passed since the Immortal King died and a new king ascended the throne. More than thousands of years have passed since the witch’s curse covered the world.”

“Thousands of years… I see.”

Surprisingly, the village chief’s reaction was indifferent.

It was like a balloon that had all the air let out.

I didn’t feel like it was about to burst with anxiety, or that the air would leak out and bounce off in a strange direction.

‘Anyway, so is it my turn again?’

We didn’t agree on it, but I haven’t seen anyone complain about this method.

‘Let’s go with this one this time.’

Since there’s no guarantee that the number of questions is limited, I carefully chose my question.

“What are the identities of those monsters that look like you?”

That was the first question that came to mind after hearing the village chief’s story.

If he suddenly opened his eyes in a place like this in that form, what are the monsters that look the same?

“They are the ones who were living on this island before me. You could call them natives. I don’t know the reason at all, but when I opened my eyes, I was accepted as one of them.”

As his words ended, Bersil flinched and tried to mutter something, but I hurriedly stopped him.

“Yandel-ssi… is this perhaps a de—.”

“Bersil.”

“Ah…….”

Right, there’s no need to give away unnecessary information.

Not when we don’t even know if he’s someone we can trust.

I glanced at Bersil, who seemed to realize his mistake and shut his mouth, then looked back at the village chief.

‘Demon.’

That must have been the word Bersil was about to say.

Perhaps Village Chief Bryungrid didn’t just change his appearance, but was possessed by this monster’s body.

The reason?

I don’t know yet.

How many secrets are there in this world?

“So?”

“I would guess that they were in a similar situation to me. However, unlike me, they didn’t have any reason left. They were intelligent, but they had no learning. In their initial state, they were no different from barbaric beasts.”

“But now they call themselves humans.”

“Unlike them, I neither grow older nor die. That alone was enough to make me a divine being among them. I became the village chief, and I taught them a lot of knowledge. This island is a harsh environment to survive alone. You will soon find out.”

“But why did you teach them the ancient language?”

“In this form, the ancient language is much easier to learn and more suitable for the oral structure.”

Well, if that’s the case, there’s nothing to say.

It seems like a considerable bad taste to name their race ‘human,’ though.

“Then, can I ask a question now?”

“Yes.”

I willingly passed the turn to the village chief while also raising my concentration.

It was a simple reason.

‘Hey, do you think I’m a pushover just because I’m a barbarian?’

If you’re going to lie, at least don’t get caught.

***

Cornelius Bryungrid.

I don’t know if this guy is really one of those ancient heroes.

[I don’t know. Why I became like this.]

The same goes for the statement that he doesn’t know the cause.

Perhaps that statement is true, or perhaps it’s a lie.

The only thing that’s certain right now is one thing.

[Thousands of years… I see.]

It’s nonsense that he didn’t know the time outside.

After all, he’s already captured explorers and taken them to the village. If he had asked them, he could have easily found out.

‘Judging by the fact that he speaks Lapdonian, it’s not like he couldn’t communicate.’

But he came all the way to meet me even after leaving the village.

Why would he do that?

He could have easily found out that information without our help.

When I think about it carefully, the reactions of the warriors before he appeared were also strange.

[Monster, how can you speak our language?]

The monsters who tried to save the child in the village only invited me to the village after I started using the ancient language.

‘Is there… some kind of hint in the ancient language?’

When my thoughts reached that point, the village chief opened his mouth.

“Do you know how to get out of this place?”

“No.”

“Then how did you get in here?”

“A message was written that a hidden area in the Stone of Honor had been opened, and while exploring, I found the entrance and came down from the first floor.”

Since we were both full of questions, both the village chief and I quickly exchanged questions.

“Why did you kill the explorers who found this place?”

“It was not my intention. It was the village warriors who found them. As they were intruders they had never seen before, I think they were scared and flustered.”

“I see. It’s your turn.”

“What is outside this island?”

“…You don’t know?”

“The trees here don’t float on water.”

Really? That’s information I didn’t know.

“If your curiosity is satisfied, will you answer me? What is hidden beyond that sea?”

“We haven’t been here long either, so we don’t really know. The rocky island where we started, and one island about 5 hours away from this island, that’s all.”

“I see…… Thank you for telling me. Now it’s your turn.”

The turn came back in an instant.

I was worried that I might be just stirring up trouble, but I decided to test the waters for now.

“Why did you come all the way here to find me, instead of asking the explorers you captured in the village?”

“Because the rainy season will start in three days.”

“……Rainy season?”

Come to think of it, the little monster also mentioned something about a rainy season.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“I didn’t have the energy to use my strength elsewhere because I was preparing for the rainy season. Only after that was all done, I was planning to slowly talk to the people I had captured.”

In short, it means he didn’t have time because he was busy.

Frankly, it just sounds like an excuse.

It only makes him look more suspicious.

“That means you took time out of your busy schedule to come meet me. Leaving aside the many explorers you had captured.”

As I asked, revealing my suspicion, the village chief stared at me intently.

“You are… quite aggressive?”

“That’s a natural reaction for an explorer.”

“That may be so, but it would be better to be more polite to your benefactor. The reason I came without even properly finishing the rainy season preparations was because I was worried that you would die in vain.”

“What? Benefactor?”

As I spoke, doubting my ears, the village chief opened his mouth in a voice that showed no emotional change.

“You won’t believe anything I say right now. Let’s meet here again in three days and talk.”

“In three days……?”

I asked back, but the village chief didn’t answer.

“After all, it would be difficult for you to believe me even if I told you to come to the village right now.”

That’s true.

But I wonder what will change if we meet again in three days…….

“Try not to leave this island. No, I recommend that you stay near here if possible. If too much time passes, I will have no choice but to close the village entrance. Ah, I’ll leave the entrance open, so come whenever you change your mind.”

“……?”

“You can keep Marupichichi until then.”

After that, the village chief led the warriors and disappeared through a side path under the tree roots, and I, unable to grasp his intentions, could only watch without being able to rashly grab him.

“They’re gone…….”

“Yandel, what are we going to do now?”

I don’t know either.

I feel like complaining, but that’s only for a moment. I quickly pulled myself together and did what I had to do.

Ah, what I had to do was very clear.

[Marupichichi, what exactly is the rainy season?]

First, I listened to everything I could from the little monster, including the rainy season, and then I hunted monsters while wandering around the area as long as I didn’t leave the center of the island.

And as time passed…….

One day, two days…….

Click.

The second hand moved, and it was the promised third day.

[00:00]

It started to rain on the island.

Kwaaaang-!

Something I had never witnessed in my life.

[Kkiruk, kkiruk, kkiruruk!]

[Grrr……!]

[Kwaaaaaaa!!]

Rain made of monsters.