Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 517

518. One-on-One (1)

Hipramajent.

The village chief estimated his grade to be 2.

Three abilities have been confirmed.

However, two of those abilities don’t really matter.

‘A grade 2 monster with [Gigantification]…?’

How can I resist this?

What’s important now isn’t just the ability, but the embodied ability he possesses.

In other words, what is his passive skill?

If even his passive skill is something I can use…

‘I can probably extract and consume the Orc Hero’s essence, right?’

Unfortunately, there was no record of his passive skill in the book.

Well, they couldn’t even catch him and just ran away in the first place.

It would have been difficult to confirm his passive skill.

‘This is really exciting.’

As I was running through various scenarios and getting my hopes up, that thought suddenly occurred to me.

‘But… what happens if I consume two of the same skill essence? Can I only use one? Or will I not be able to consume it at all?’

Well, I guess… it’s probably the former.

Still, if I could use both, that would be incredibly fun.

But it’s not good to be too optimistic, so I started considering the negative possibilities as well.

There was one major problem.

It’s not just the brute force of a monster estimated to be grade 2.

‘I can’t tell if he’s a monster that drops essence or not.’

That was the unique thing about this floor.

There are two types of monsters here.

Normal monsters that drop magic stones and essence, and monsters whose corpses don’t disappear even after being killed.

The two types fight each other to the death when they meet.

Thanks to that characteristic, the population drastically decreases about three days after the rainy season ends.

‘They said the whole place turns into a magic stone field.’

Gathering those magic stones and making them into life water is how this race survives.

‘Ah, I’ve been distracted for too long.’

I decided to think about Hipramajent later and focused on reading the book for now.

‘I never thought there would be so many new types of monsters.’

The monsters I’ve encountered so far were just the tip of the iceberg.

From the ones that appeared during the ‘rainy season’ to the various ones that washed ashore with the waves.

‘I might forget, so after I finish reading, I should write them all down separately.’

How long had I been sitting at my desk reading when I sensed someone at the door?

“Bjorn…”

“Misha? Weren’t you out with Emily?”

“We just finished and came back…”

I checked the time at those words, and it had already passed quickly.

“Really? Why didn’t you say so sooner? If I had known you were back, I would have closed the book and gone out right away.”

“That woman… told me to leave you alone. She said not to disturb you since you’re busy…”

“Emily did?”

“…Yeah.”

Misha nodded and carefully opened her mouth.

“If it’s okay… could we talk for a bit?”

“Of course.”

I left the book open and immediately turned to face her, ready to talk.

When a team member comes to you alone saying they have something to say, there’s usually a good reason.

“Is something wrong?”

“…It’s not that.”

“Huh? Then why?”

“I just… I’ve been thinking that we haven’t really had a proper conversation since we met again…”

“Ah…”

I opened my mouth without realizing it, and Misha muttered in a slightly bitter tone.

“You’re asking for a reason. When I come.”

For some reason, I felt a pang in my chest, but I also had something to say.

“You were the one who said we should be comrades that day, weren’t you?”

Even after we reunited, it was Misha who drew the line.

So I didn’t try to cross it.

A relationship with a long gap needed time.

“Yeah… I did…”

After those words, Misha didn’t say anything else.

A suffocating silence followed for a while.

In the end, I was the one who spoke first.

“…Is there anything bothering you?”

This was a signal to end this topic.

Misha also replied in a bright, almost acting tone.

“Ah, yeah… It’s just a little strange…”

Well, I can understand.

Floating objects on the sea, monsters claiming to be humans, and monsters falling from the sky.

And even a companion of the great sage trapped in the labyrinth.

It’s only natural to be amazed, experiencing all sorts of mysterious things in the first floor ever discovered.

“Being here with you again… in the labyrinth.”

Ah… wasn’t that topic over?

Even with that thought, I didn’t interrupt her.

“So… don’t worry too much. It’s just that it’s so strange, and so… so I’m still not used to it. It’s something I couldn’t have imagined just a few months ago…”

Misha glanced at me as if checking my reaction.

I chuckled and replied.

“Don’t worry, because I’m not worried.”

Misha giggled.

“What’s with that?”

“I’m not just saying it. Compared to Erwen, you’re nothing.”

Man, how terrifying was that back then?

It’s a bit better now, but I was constantly bickering with Amelia, too.

“So, stop being so cautious and do what you want. Everyone gets closer by fighting anyway.”

I was about to tell her stories about Erwen and Amelia, but for some reason, I was interrupted.

“Actually, Emily and Erwen fought a lot—”

“But what’s that book?”

“Huh? Oh, this… it’s a book written by the village chief, and it contains information about the monsters he encountered while living on this island.”

“Oh, really? That’s good. It’ll be a huge help for future explorations.”

Although the topic changed midway, the atmosphere wasn’t bad.

After that, we talked comfortably about the island, whether the village chief Bryungrid was really an ancient hero, and things like that.

A comfortable conversation that felt like it had been a long time.

It was like going back to the old days.

But…

“Yandel, are you still busy? I’d like to gather everyone soon to share the information we’ve gathered today.”

Until Amelia knocked on the door and Misha left, saying she would go.

‘Someone told me you’re a traitor, what’s that about?’

In the end, I couldn’t ask that question today either.

***

One day, two days, three days…

Time passed quickly even after coming to this village.

Our daily routine was simple.

I would talk to the village chief or read the books he wrote to gather information.

Amelia would explore the village with Erwen, searching for hidden facilities or places.

Versil would take Auyen and Misha around to investigate their lifestyle, culture, organizational structure, and military strength.

And Ainar…

“Then, I’ll be off!”

He was going around playing like an elementary school student who had just finished school.

“Where are you going today?”

“In the morning, a mock battle with Itapia. Then, I’m going to the blacksmith to see how they make weapons. After that, I’m meeting Kagudidi to go play in the underground warehouse. He said I’d be surprised by what’s there, I’m excited!”

How did he make so many friends in such a short time?

I just don’t understand.

“Mr. Pnelin… is amazing. Even though you look different and don’t speak the same language, you can get so close.”

“Hey, that’s too much praise! And what’s so important about language? We warriors can communicate well enough with just gestures!”

“Is, is that so? Even so, I don’t understand how you can make such detailed plans…”

“That’s because you lack sincerity! Mage, you should stop reading books all day! Try looking into the other person’s eyes and focusing on their words! Then you’ll hear their sincerity!”

“Ah, yes…”

A bizarre scene of a barbarian lecturing a mage.

However, since making friends without speaking the same language was something only Ainar could do, I just left him alone without giving him other tasks.

“Ah! I’m late! Then, I’ll be off!”

“Okay, don’t cause any trouble. And when you come back, make sure to tell me what was in the underground warehouse!”

“Got it!”

Early in the morning, Ainar would be the first to leave the house, and then the other companions would slowly go out to do their own things.

And when it was dinner time, we would all gather at the house provided by the village chief to share what happened during the day.

“I found a unique place today. It’s about 15 minutes away from the village chief’s house, and it looked like an ordinary house. But there were guards everywhere. I think I could sneak in without being caught, but I wanted to hear your thoughts first, Yandel.”

“Don’t push yourself. We need to be careful at least until the rainy season ends.”

“I’m from the Silver Lion Clan. It’s in a much more unstable state than I thought. The relationship between those who ran away and those who were abandoned is getting worse over time.”

“It’ll be difficult to continue exploring properly even after the rainy season ends. Auyen, do you have anything to say?”

“Well, that’s… I’ve felt it before, but… that… Bryungrid… I mean. He’s just called the village chief, but he’s actually in a position no different from a king. In this village.”

“He’s seen as almost a god rather than a king. When the village chief gives an order, everyone follows it without question.”

“Let’s stop here for today.”

After the meeting, everyone would return to their rooms and go to sleep.

That was our routine these days.

Of course, there were slight changes to the routine.

On the 4th day of the rainy season.

I had finished reading all the books the village chief had written as a hobby, and I slowly started to leave the house and walk around the village.

I couldn’t just let the only human resource who could communicate with the residents in ancient language sit idle.

As I was walking around like taking a stroll, I met the little monster Marupichichi again after a long time.

Most of the residents clearly avoided talking to me, but fortunately, this guy treated me the same as before.

While chatting, I heard a legendary story circulating in the village.

[Did you know? A long time ago, a huge dragon lived on this island!]

A huge dragon, huh…

On the 5th day.

I was introduced to Ainar’s friends, but unfortunately, I couldn’t become as close to them as Ainar was.

They were all wary of me.

Even though they were so casual with Ainar that they would joke around with punches.

Did the village chief give some kind of order?

I persistently asked several times, but I couldn’t get an answer.

On the 6th day.

In the morning, the leader of the Silver Lion Clan came and asked if they could join the exploration, and I firmly refused.

In the afternoon, the other group of the divided clan came and made the same offer.

I refused them as well.

On the 7th day.

After finishing the village investigation, I locked myself in the house and started preparing for the exploration.

After today, the ‘rainy season’ will end.

As I was preparing for tomorrow, the village chief called us. There was nothing special, just words of encouragement.

On the 8th day.

No, if we’re going by the exploration date, it’s the 21st day.

We left the village, which was no longer new, and went back to the island.

The island, full of grotesque corpses, was beautiful.

Especially in that magic stones were everywhere.

If it weren’t for the fact that they disappear after 30 minutes, there would have been essences scattered all over the place.

The village chief told us to leave the magic stones on the ground because the patrol team would come out and collect them, but how could a sparrow just pass by a mill [a saying meaning to not miss an opportunity for profit]?

I collected as much as I could without being noticed.

On the 22nd day.

Since the island was still full of monsters, we used the village as a base and explored the surrounding area.

Then, I picked up an essence.

I didn’t get it from fighting, I literally just picked it up.

It seemed like it came out from monsters fighting each other…

I don’t know which one it came from, but it must be a decent grade since it was still alive after the rainy season ended.

I immediately put it in a test tube.

In the middle, we met the Silver Lion Clan who had left the village for the first time.

Their expressions were not good.

On the 23rd day.

We stayed in the village for a day and went back to the island as soon as it was morning. For reference, the Silver Lion Clan remained in the village this time as well.

Did someone die yesterday?

It seems they’ll stay in the village until the island is somewhat cleared.

On the other hand, we gradually increased our activity radius.

On the 24th day.

The village also started sending out patrol teams to collect the scattered magic stones.

For some reason, my stomach hurt.

How much is all that worth?

On the 25th day.

The island returned to a state similar to before the rainy season, when we first came to this island.

We searched the island diligently since the rainy season ended, but unfortunately, we couldn’t find Hipramajent.

Did he die fighting other monsters?

I asked the village chief, but surprisingly, quite a few monsters leave the island by sea.

On the 26th day.

Since there was nothing much to do on the island, we left the island and started sailing by boat.

On the 27th day.

Before nightfall, we discovered another island.

No, can this even be called an island?

A vast expanse of silvery waves. And a huge tree sticking out of it.

Just by looking at the width, it was much bigger than the monster island.

Not to mention the height.

I wonder if all the islands here look like this.

On the 28th day.

After spending a night on the boat, we entered the tree island.

As soon as we docked the boat at the base of the tree roots, monsters emerged from the bark, with vines growing out.

A new type of monster that wasn’t in the village chief’s book.

After a naming vote, the name was decided to be Nanari.

On the 29th day.

While wandering around the roots all day, we found a knot hole bigger than most caves.

When we went inside, the hole was very deep and seemed to lead somewhere.

Could this be a path?

I didn’t know, but as we were exploring as carefully as possible, new monsters kept appearing.

The battle difficulty was quite high.

I healed quickly with potions, but Ainar was seriously injured once.

On the 30th day.

Apart from carefully continuing the exploration, I started seriously thinking about when the labyrinth would close.

Underground floor 1, the record storage.

When will this place close?

Surely I won’t have to live here forever like the village chief?

If that’s really the case, it would be a big problem.

We can’t live by drinking magic water like those guys.

We need meat that we can chew and swallow.

…Should I start saving food now?

On the 35th day.

After climbing through winding caves for six days, we found an exit that connected to the outside. The place we came out of was not much different from the root area.

If it were a person, it would be about the size of a calf?

I don’t know how long it will take to reach the top.

Anyway, although it was called an exit, it was actually closer to a window where we could see the outside, so we went back into the cave and started looking for another exit.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t find another exit that day.

Everyone looked tired, so we set up camp and went to sleep early.

And…

“…”

When I opened my eyes as if waking up from a deep dream.

「The character’s soul resonates and is drawn to a specific world.」

For some reason, I was in my room.

“No, why am I suddenly here?”

I was genuinely flustered.