Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 516

Because the labyrinth’s darkness obscured everything, I couldn’t tell how far we were falling.

But…

9th grade, 8th grade, 7th grade…

The lower-level monsters, pouring down like rain, instantly died upon hitting the ground, dissolving into light.

It was a bizarre sight.

Crack- Crack. Thud-!

Blood splattered, flesh flew, and the agonizing screams of beasts filled the air.

Swooshhhhhh-!

Have I ever seen such a bright light before?

“Yandel! Get a grip!”

I was momentarily stunned by the spectacle, but I quickly surveyed my surroundings.

Thud-!

We were gathered under the shade of a tree, inside the barrier Bersil had erected over several hours.

However, it didn’t feel safe at all.

Crack-!

Each time a monster slammed against the barrier, it shook violently, and blood flowed down the translucent membrane.

Also…

6th grade, 5th grade…

Unlike the low-grade monsters, those that could be called true monsters were still alive and moving, even with half their bodies mangled.

Of course, there was a significant difference between individuals.

Even if they were of the same grade, depending on their characteristics—such as being light or sturdy, or having good regeneration—some were half-dead, while others moved perfectly fine.

Just like this.

[Kroaaaaaaar-!!]

As if to prove they were monsters, they charged at us beyond the barrier as soon as they spotted us, even in this situation.

But the real problem was something else.

“Uh… Bjorn? Is that a new type of monster? That one too…?”

There were unidentified monsters mixed in.

But it was hard to be sure if they were new types.

Each one was too unique to be considered a single entity.

“The strange corpses scattered across the island… I think they were these things.”

I agreed with Bersil’s guess.

Those with excessive individuality remained as corpses without disappearing after death.

The problem was that some of them survived…

“Uh… It’s, it’s coming…!”

Something with a terrifying form, over 10 meters tall, so I couldn’t even see above its shoulders, turned its body towards us.

“That’s…”

“What is it…?”

There was no long conversation, but everyone’s thoughts were in sync.

Thud— Thud— Thud—

Something that seemed like it belonged to the end times.

The little monster Marupichichi also clung to my arm and started shaking.

[L-let’s stop looking and go down to the village! They said stronger monsters will appear if we stay longer!]

Actually, they were just not saying it out loud because they were watching my reaction, but the others seemed to feel the same way.

That’s because 4th-grade monsters had started to appear occasionally recently…

Thud-!

The giant brute who had been glaring from afar started to move.

I hadn’t fought it, but I could tell just by looking.

Bersil’s barrier wouldn’t hold if that thing came.

“…Let’s go down to the village now.”

Enough of watching the pouring rain.

***

As we entered the large gap under the tree, the surroundings widened, and the village finally came into full view.

Everyone, including me, was speechless.

“Ooooh…”

Grass so moist it felt soft.

White lights that shone naturally like sunlight.

Stone buildings that clearly showed the existence of civilization…

“This is… a monster village…?”

“W-well, our holy ground is at least this good!”

Ainar suddenly said that, but well… this seems better than our holy ground. We are still developing, but even so, 99% of us still live in huts.

‘I never thought it would be this impressive.’

I heard from Marupichichi that it was different from a typical underground city, but I was quite shocked because I didn’t expect this kind of sight.

It was like being Alice in Wonderland.

“You’ve come.”

The village chief was kindly waiting for us at the entrance, as if he had expected us to come.

“Do you believe me now? When I said I was your savior.”

His tone, still speaking as if it were someone else’s business, was a bit annoying, but I decided to acknowledge what needed to be acknowledged.

“To some extent.”

This guy saved us.

Of course, it’s also possible that he got the information about the ‘rainy season’ through Marupichichi…

‘In the first place, I don’t even know if the ‘rainy season’ occurs throughout the entire stratum [a layer of rock or earth] or if it’s just an event that happens on this island.’

If it was the former, then the word ‘savior’ wouldn’t be wrong. If we hadn’t entered this village, we would be on the verge of death right now.

“Then let’s go inside and talk. I’ll also introduce you to our village.”

After that, the village chief headed towards the village first, and we slowly followed behind him.

It would be ridiculous to back out after coming this far.

“I never thought the day would come when I would willingly enter a monster’s lair…”

“Don’t worry! I’ll protect you if anything happens! You didn’t seem that strong back then!”

“Pnellin! Lower your voice! They can hear you. Even if the other monsters don’t, that person understands everything we say…!”

“Haha! The village chief is one of the ancient heroes! It’ll be fine!”

“B-but still…”

Bersil trailed off, looking around, but the village chief didn’t react at all and headed towards the village.

He must have heard it at this distance.

He just didn’t seem interested in such things.

“…Erwen, you don’t have to stick so close.”

“But dangerous situations could arise. I have to protect you then.”

“…Do as you please.”

Erwen remained vigilant and stuck by my side, while Amelia showed more interest in the village itself than in us.

I wondered if she had a ‘if you can’t avoid it, enjoy it’ mindset, but I was wrong.

“There are definitely many differences from human cities.”

“What parts?”

“Don’t talk to me. I’m concentrating on memorizing the path.”

“…Memorizing the path?”

“Knowing the terrain makes a big difference when you have to escape. If such a situation arises, stick close behind me.”

Oh… she wasn’t enjoying it.

I stopped observing my companions’ reactions and focused on my own task. I don’t know if he was doing it on purpose, but that old man only talked to me.

“That’s the smithy. It’s a field I didn’t know well, so it took quite a lot of effort to develop metallurgy to its current level.”

“That’s impressive. But where do you get the minerals?”

“We melt things that drift in from the sea, or we collect resources by going around the island after the rainy season. Monsters aren’t the only things that pour down from the sky during the rainy season.”

“Really? I didn’t know that.”

“You probably didn’t see it earlier. Those things only start pouring down after three days.”

“I see.”

After that, I listened to the village chief’s explanation of the village and sometimes asked questions to gather information.

And before I knew it, we had reached our destination.

“This is my house.”

“It’s spacious, but… it’s more modest than I thought?”

“What would I use wealth and glory for in this place?”

His casual remarks gradually revealed what kind of character the village chief was.

In some ways, he was similar to Baekho.

He spoke in a gentle tone as if all his emotions had been worn away, but I could feel a venomousness beneath the surface, as if he would do anything to get out of this place.

“…Where are the captured explorers? Are they still locked up in prison?”

“Of course not. Come in. They’re all waiting inside.”

Indeed, as soon as we entered the village chief’s house, we were able to reunite with the seven explorers from the Silver Lion Clan who had been kidnapped to the village.

They said many had died, and indeed, many had died.

“…Hey, Baron Yandel!”

The leader of the Silver Lion Clan, who had become very thin in the meantime.

The leader looked at me with affection, but when he saw the members next to him, he quickly ran over to have a reunion.

“Marina…! How dare you run away and leave us behind!”

“No, I didn’t mean to…”

“Chen! You too! You would even abandon your brother here! Are you even human?”

“I, I didn’t run away, I went to call for help!”

“Krian! You ungrateful bastard! You don’t even know the grace you were given…!”

“…”

I could fully understand the leader’s feelings, and it was quite amusing to watch.

But…

‘How long are they going to take up time?’

Just as I was about to step in and sort things out, the village chief spoke first.

“That’s enough.”

“Ah, yes… I’m sorry. Mr. Bryngrid.”

The leader straightened up like a new employee at the village chief’s words.

But there was something that caught my ear.

“…Mr.?”

“Uh… didn’t you hear, Baron? This person here is a dragon knight, one of the Great Sage’s companions–”

“Enough. You don’t need to explain. I know.”

“I-is that so?”

“What I’m curious about is something else. You… you seem quite cheerful even though your subordinates died.”

It was unlike me to beat around the bush, but what I meant was, ‘You’re the leader of the monsters who killed your subordinates, so why are you acting like that?’

Fortunately, the leader was human and understood well.

“I’ve already heard about Mr. Bryngrid’s circumstances. And that was… an accident. Rather, it’s more accurate to say that Mr. Bryngrid saved us. Mr. Bryngrid even punished the monsters who killed my subordinates.”

Punished…

That’s ridiculous.

Especially the part where he could laugh it off with a smile after his companions died.

‘……It’s none of my business.’

Whether he was hiding a knife behind his smile or was just a fool, it didn’t matter.

I just needed to take care of my people.

“Now that the reunion is over, can we talk?”

With that in mind, I stopped paying attention to the leader and stared at the village chief. He must have something he wanted to say, gathering everyone like this…

‘What on earth is his intention?’

As everyone watched in silence, the village chief slowly opened his mouth.

“There’s something I want to ask all of you.”

“…Ask?”

“I’ll say it in advance, it’s not a forceful request. No, rather, I’m confident that it’s a very reasonable request that will be beneficial to both of us.”

That’s something we’ll have to hear.

“Speak.”

“I will not spare any support for your exploration here, so I would like you to tell me everything you find out while exploring.”

Hearing him say that with the village chief’s name attached to it felt like I was receiving a quest.

***

Sharing the results of the exploration.

If all the stories the village chief told me were true, it was a reasonable request.

Yes, if that was true.

“Why are you asking us instead of exploring yourself?”

“That’s–”

“Ah, don’t say it’s because the trees on this island don’t float on water. You said it yourself earlier, didn’t you? That resources flow in from the sky and the sea.”

In fact, I had seen countless wooden debris such as wardrobes and desks while sailing here.

So, what would be the village chief’s answer to this?

“It’s faster to see than to explain. If you have any wood you’ve acquired on the way, give it to me. Anything will do.”

The village chief spoke gently as usual, and I quickly told Bersil to bring out the debris.

And…

Swoosh.

The moment the village chief touched the wooden wardrobe.

Crackle-crackle-

The wardrobe instantly lost its vitality and turned into powder, scattering away.

“What did you just do?”

“Nothing. I just touched it.”

“But why did the wardrobe…”

“It’s the embodiment of my ability. Everything made of wood turns into this when it touches my hand. Even if I wear thick gloves, it will eventually crumble over time.”

What nonsense…

Those words were on the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t say them out loud.

Suddenly, that thought came to mind.

‘Come to think of it… was there anything made of wood on the way here?’

…There wasn’t.

The buildings were all made of stone.

The archers all used things made of horns and tendons.

They didn’t eat food, so they wouldn’t need fire either.

Was the grass on the ground not considered wood?

‘Even at the smithy, they were all using skills to shoot fire… not using firewood.’

The only connection was that the entrance to the village was located between tree roots…

“Just in case, I’ll say this. Living trees that have taken root in the ground are excluded.”

Ah, I really can’t tell if he’s lying or not.

So, I just asked this first.

“Then why didn’t you say that back then?”

“It’s foolish to give information that could be a weakness to a stranger. Besides, there’s no guarantee that you wouldn’t become our enemy.”

“Oh…”

Well, that’s certainly true.

“I understand.”

“You’re surprisingly quick to understand in this area?”

“Because I’m an explorer.”

At those words, the village chief nodded as if he understood.

“Right, you were an explorer.”

Explorers don’t waste their energy on unnecessary things.

***

To start with the result, the quest given by the village chief was concluded with everyone agreeing to it.

That’s because there was no reason to refuse, right?

‘They’re offering support, so I should take it no matter what.’

If things go wrong, I can just press the quest forfeit button and run away.

If I can’t run away, I can just keep my promise.

‘Besides, I have to stay in this village for a week whether I like it or not.’

According to the village chief, the ‘rainy season’ lasts exactly 7 days.

That’s why the village chief gave us empty houses so we could live there during that period, and he also gave us the authority to freely roam around the village…

“Hoo…”

The reason I’m alone right now is because of that.

Amelia and Bersil. They started a general village investigation with those two as the main force.

Ah, for reference, I don’t belong to either side.

For a high-level personnel who can speak four languages—Ancient, Lapdonian, Korean, and English—there is a suitable mission.

Swoosh.

That is to read books.

‘It’s tough to read after a long time…’

The village chief must have been annoyed by my constant questions, so he just gave me his study. Ah, of course, the authors of all the books in the study were all the village chief.

Writing books was his only hobby?

If the story about not being able to use wood was true, then all the books were made by binding monster hides…

Thud—

Focus, focus.

I slapped my cheek a little harder to wake myself up, and I sat back down at the stone desk.

And I read the leather book again.

[Monster Comprehensive Record]

A book with a title similar to a series that I have a deep connection with, whether it was a coincidence or not.

The content was very informative, as it was a book that the village chief had asked me to handle with extreme care.

It was like a strategy guide.

The village chief had written down everything he had learned by fighting and observing the monsters he had encountered since waking up on this island.

Well, it wouldn’t be as high quality and accurate as the books in the library I visited recently.

‘Because there are monsters here that I haven’t seen there.’

I repeat the memorization, thinking that the tears I’m shedding from yawning are the blood of the future.

My body is tired, so I’m just falling asleep.

The content was so interesting that reading the book itself was fun–.

“Huh?”

That’s him?

The giant over 10 meters tall that I met when the rainy season started.

“His name is… Hipramajent?”

Tsk tsk, what a naming sense.

It sounds plausible in ancient language, but when translated, it just means giant giant…

[After the rainy season ended, the patrol team collecting magic stones found it on the coast for the first time. Half of the thirty elite warriors in the patrol team died. Estimated grade is 2.]

2nd grade…

I roughly felt it by looking at his size, but he wasn’t an ordinary guy.

‘I’m glad I went down to the village before colliding with him.’

I was thinking that as I continued to read the remaining text.

“…Huh?”

I froze with the book in my hand.

[According to the testimony of the surviving elite warriors, it is said that his body grew once more immediately after the battle began. Judging from the difference between his basic physique and his enlarged physique…]

[It is presumed that Hipramajent’s ability is the Orc Hero’s [Gigantification].]

…I have a new goal.