Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 538

It was the third day after the second rainy season ended.

In terms of our time in the labyrinth, it was the 74th day.

‘About 1 billion mana stones were swept from the island. And I’ve collected about 600 million stones so far…’

A total of 1.6 billion stones.

Of course, this was collected by dozens of people together, so my share will be much smaller when it’s divided…

Fortunately, we’ve already agreed on how to split it.

So, now there’s only one thing left.

“Everyone, relax and rest! I’m not doing anything today!”

I, who had been traveling all over the Giant Island to mine mana stones, led the group back to the cave.

The cave, of course, was the one where the portal monument discovered by the stranded Hecetz Clan was located.

‘When I think about it now, I feel incredibly lucky.’

The mapping of the Giant Island is almost complete.

It’s not that there aren’t any other caves.

But this cave, located so deep, was the only one on the island, and for some reason, monsters didn’t approach it.

It was practically the best safe zone…

To find this place right away in that urgent situation.

‘I wish some of that luck would rub off on me.’

The action I’m about to take is greatly influenced by ‘luck,’ so the psychological pressure is considerable.

No matter how I look at it, my luck isn’t that great.

No, to be precise.

‘My luck is average.’

Actually, I’ve only started thinking this way recently.

Since childhood, I’ve experienced all sorts of unfortunate events, and I even thought I was born with a cursed fate.

But looking back, I wasn’t particularly unlucky.

After all, I survived all those events.

And above all…

“Looks like you’re about to start.”

“Bjorn! I don’t know what it is, but good luck!”

It’s an unbelievable stroke of luck that I was able to meet such good people.

Erwen, who I became friends with on the first exploration.

Ainar, a trustworthy fellow warrior.

Raven and Hikurod, who became my companions in the Crimson Citadel where the mutants appeared.

Misha, Rotmiller, and Dwarki from Team Half-Pint.

Really, in my days when I had nothing.

The fact that I was able to meet them can be seen as nothing short of a magical stroke of luck.

Therefore…

‘Don’t rely on it.’

I abandon the weak desire to shift responsibility to lucky companions like Ainar and Misha.

And.

‘I am a lucky person.’

I repeat it over and over again in my mind.

What I need now is not doubt, but only firm conviction.

‘I am.’

A lucky person.

It was the moment I repeated it once more.

“I am…”

Something flashed in my head.

The tension in my jaw muscles, which had been stiff, relaxed, and the slight trembling in my hands disappeared.

It was a kind of realization.

A half-filled glass of water.

It’s not up to the viewers to decide whether that glass is half-full or half-empty.

The only one who can decide this is oneself, not others.

“I’m lucky.”

“…Huh?”

“What’s he saying? He hasn’t done anything yet…”

He hasn’t done anything?

Everything in the world depends on how you think.

It’s the same principle as the future written in the record stone being realized.

In other words, the moment I made up my mind, the future was already decided.

It is the truth of the world, an unchangeable law.

“Hehe…”

However, there was no way the foolish masses would understand even if I told them, so I just smiled and kept quiet.

“The wind is cool today.”

A sensation as if the power of the universe, beyond nature, was warmly embracing me.

“The sunlight is warm.”

What dwells in my heart is conviction, and only conviction.

“We’re inside a cave, what’s with the wind talk…”

“Maybe he just wanted to say it was cool?”

“But saying the sunlight is warm is a bit…”

“Mister… are you sick?”

Ignoring the ignorant questions of the mortals, I picked up a mana stone that had been scattered on the floor.

And slowly brought it to the necklace.

There was no reason to rush.

‘Water is water, and wind is wind.’

It was that obvious to me.

Whoosh-!

The future was already decided.

「The power of the great alchemist Garphas senses the power of creation.」

「Generates a Stone Bread.」

Alright, let’s go.

***

No.7777 Garphas’s Necklace.

The effect of this necklace is simple.

If you bring a mana stone to the necklace, the mana stone melts and disappears, and it randomly spits out bread, water, metal, etc.

Just like this.

「Generates a Stone Bread.」

Each time a mana stone is inserted, the item displayed inside the necklace’s gem changes, and if there’s something you want, you can take it out.

Of course, there was no reason to take out a Stone Bread, so I kept spinning it.

But…

‘Why does the item keep not changing?’

What is this again?

「Generates a Stone Bread.」

「Generates a Stone Bread.」

「Generates a Stone Bread.」

「Generates a Stone Brea…」

Six consecutive Stone Breads from the start?

It’s not a 9th grade mana stone, I only put in 5th grade or higher?

‘The probability of a Stone Bread appearing when using a 5th grade or higher mana stone is about 4 percent.’

And the probability of that happening 6 times in a row is…

“…Cough!”

The moment I calculated the probability, my Barbarian Mind Control mode almost broke, but I overcame it with practiced mind control.

After all, the early gacha [A term referring to a lottery or gambling system, often used in games, where players spend currency for a chance to win a random item] is for stacking.

“Bjorn! Are you okay! You’re coughing up phlegm!”

“…Get out of the way. I’m fine.”

…Doubt is poison.

A very bad poison that eats away at the mind and makes life unhappy.

So…

「Generates a Stone Bread.」

「Generates a Stone Bread.」

「Generates a Stone Bread.」

I abandoned my human heart and mechanically repeated the process of slamming mana stones into the necklace.

Nine consecutive Stone Breads, surpassing six?

What does it matter?

The result is already decided anyway.

「Generates a Steel Ingot.」

Yes, probability is just probability.

What’s meant to come out will come out someday.

All I need is that belief.

“Oh! Bjorn’s expression has changed…!”

“I’ve heard it too! When the Baron makes that expression, it means he’s serious!”

No matter what comes out, I maintain my composure and continue to insert mana stones.

How much time had passed?

‘I think it’s about time…’

Just as that thought began to form.

「Generates a Steel Longsword.」

For the first time, a proper piece of equipment appeared from the necklace that had been spitting out junk like bread, metal, and bricks.

I wasn’t particularly surprised.

Because there’s a hidden rule in Garphas’s necklace.

‘7,777 based on 9th grade mana stones.’

Converted to cash, it’s worth about 1.55 million stones.

If you insert that many mana stones, it will definitely spit out a ‘usable item’ at random.

And…

「Generates a Lythium Breastplate.」

This is repeated every time you insert about 1.55 million stones.

Wow, so I got a Lythium breastplate for inserting 3.1 million?

‘At this rate, the beginning isn’t bad.’

Of course, that’s just how it feels.

It was a result that had no meaning to me.

Because I have no intention of stopping here.

“Huh? Bjorn! Why are you just skipping it! It’s not a Stone Bread, it’s a waste!”

Because if I stop, I have to start stacking from the beginning again.

I thought about answering quickly because it seemed like they would keep bothering me, but fortunately, Amelia next to me took care of it in time.

“Pnellin, stay still. Don’t interrupt.”

“Ah, no… I was just curious about the reason…”

“Tsk.”

“Ah, I understand… I won’t interrupt…”

Is this why ranking is important?

Since he was severely beaten in the cabin, Ainar was particularly weak against Amelia.

Anyway, the important thing is not that.

「Generates a Redwood Longbow.」

A longbow made of second-tier wood.

「Generates a Steel Shield.」

And so on, a normal shield with much less value.

Soon, after drawing nine such usable pieces of equipment, it was time for the tenth turn.

No, to be precise…

In cash, about 15.55 million stones.

The moment I slammed 777,777 9th grade mana stones into the necklace.

「Generates No.9981 Survivor’s Energy Ring.」

For the first time, a Numbers item appeared.

Of course, financially, it wasn’t more profitable than before.

Not all Numbers items are expensive.

‘This one was worth about 2 million stones, right?’

In some ways, it’s an item that’s less valuable than the Lythium breastplate that came out earlier.

But this also doesn’t mean much.

「Generates a Cloud Candy.」

「Generates a Training Magic Staff.」

「Generates High-Density Mana Herb.」

「Generates a Wyvern Leather Armor.」

「Generates a Permanent Magic Enchantment (Light Orb) Scroll…」

Elixirs, equipment, enhancement materials, etc.

I was just looking at them roughly and skipping them, putting mana stones into the bottomless pit.

“…Huh?”

My body stiffened.

The reason was very simple.

「Generates a Mystium Ingot.」

Damn, a 6th tier metal came out here?

Looking at the scroll that came out just now… it looked like just a normal gacha probability?

“M, Mystium!”

“J, just one of those ingots is worth hundreds of millions, isn’t it?”

Even if I stopped here, I would be making tens of millions of stones in profit.

But…

‘Damn it.’

I’m supposed to be stacking bad luck, why is it coming out so well in the beginning?

I sighed inwardly, but I erased my doubts.

And I continued to insert mana stones.

“…Ah!”

“…Huh!”

For some reason, I heard sounds of lamentation from around me.

Hey, you’re jinxing the person spinning the gacha.

‘How can a small person understand the heart of a giant?’

How long had I been repeating this alone like a rhinoceros horn?

Whoosh-!

In cash, about 155 million stones.

The moment I put 7,777,777 9th grade mana stones into the necklace.

For the first time, a red light burst out from the necklace.

「Due to excessive mana condensation, Garphas’s power has been greatly damaged.」

In simple terms, it means that once this gacha is over, I won’t be able to spin the gacha again.

“Bjorn… are you okay? It looks like there’s a crack in the necklace…”

How could I not be okay?

From the beginning, I didn’t even think about a way out.

And in that sense.

‘Let’s take a look.’

I checked inside the gem where the red light had faded.

Statistically, it’s possible to draw single Numbers items from here. If something good came out, I was willing to take the profit and stop here—.

「Generates No.535 Polar Region Shield.」

Polar regions shield.

That was the name in the game, and it was the very item that I used when raising a shield barbarian until I got my graduation shield.

‘Aish.’

A shield isn’t bad, but triple Numbers?

‘Who am I supposed to give this to?’

I quickly passed it and moved on.

It was the most valuable item that had come out so far, but surprisingly, there was no particular regret from those around me.

They must not have recognized it.

There aren’t many perverts who memorize all the Numbers items.

‘Next.’

I insert a mana stone.

And after roughly looking at the item and confirming it.

‘Next.’

I keep refreshing the items.

As the number of times increased dramatically, high-value items repeatedly appeared.

And among them, let’s pick out a few that were impressive.

「Generates No. 2998 Guardian Corps Insignia.」

The earring I’m wearing.

「Generates a Staff Imbued with the Power of the World Tree.」

The staff made of the 6th tier material, World Tree, that Bersil had been eyeing.

「Generates 5 Arc Ingots.」

The 6th tier ingot Arc, which came out in the maximum quantity.

「Generates a Shrine.」

An elixir that can be obtained with a certain probability in the 9th floor rift.

「Generates No.7777 Garphas’s Necklace.」

A necklace that I don’t know what to do with.

Well, is it like a Matryoshka doll?

Anyway, not only these, but many other items appeared, and I skipped them all.

And as a result.

「Generates a Stone Bread.」

I finally reached my destination.

Since I had inserted such a large amount of mana stones, I couldn’t know the exact numbers in detail.

But I had a feeling.

‘About 10 times.’

If I insert mana stones about 10 more times, I will reach my goal.

「Generates a Stone Bread.」

In cash, about 1.55 billion stones.

「Generates a Stone Bread.」

Based on 9th grade mana stones, a whopping 77,777,777.

「Generates a Stone Bread.」

Hmm…

「Generates a Stone Bread.」

Huh?

「Generates a Stone Bread.」

Wait a minute…

「Generates a Stone Bread.」

「Generates a Stone Brea…」

Nine consecutive Stone Breads at the end?

Of course, it doesn’t matter whether a Stone Bread or a Steel Ingot comes out…

Gulp.

Unknowingly, my hand stopped.

For some reason, my grip was soaked with cold sweat.

A revelation.

The phenomenon I was experiencing now felt like a revelation.

A cosmic revelation about the future I would experience.

‘…What a load of crap.’

However, I shook my head and tried to keep my mentality.

A phenomenon is just a phenomenon. It’s foolish to give it meaning.

Also, not only that.

‘It’s better this way.’

In some ways, it seems like a positive sign.

I don’t believe in superstitions, but sometimes when I play games, I’ve often strengthened unnecessary equipment and then strengthened the real equipment.

Yes, so…

Swoosh.

With faith, I insert a mana stone.

Whoosh-!

The mana stone shattered into pieces, and the necklace emitted light.

A light as dazzling as it could be.

「The absorbed mana stones have reached their maximum.」

「Be careful. From now on, the necklace can be destroyed at any time.」

From now on, it’s a real luck-based battle.

***

77,777,777 mana stones.

Garphas’s necklace, which absorbed them, turns into a guaranteed gacha.

Should I say it has a ceiling?

From No.1 to No.35.

From now on, this necklace will create the highest-ranking Numbers items that exist between those numbers.

So, what will the first attempt be like?

‘Tsk.’

Yes, it’s not going to be easy.

「Generates No.35 Nether Claws.」

Of course, the Nether Claws were also a very good item.

It’s a claw-type weapon that comes as a set of two, and it has various effects. If I gave it to Amelia, she would probably be able to use it very effectively.

But…

‘I spent 1.5 billion and got a 35th tier?’

No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t add up.

Therefore.

‘One more time.’

I insert a mana stone into the necklace that has already reached its maximum—.

「Generates No.35 Nether Claws.」

Huh?

Why isn’t it changing?

The mana stone definitely went in…

‘……Is this for real?’

While my mind felt doubt, my head calmly accepted the situation.

The Nether Claws came out again.

Thump thump thump thump-

Suddenly, blood rushed to my head, and my vision narrowed.

For some reason, I felt a chill down my spine and my lips felt dry.

Swoosh.

I slowly inserted one more mana stone.

「Be careful. From now on, the necklace can be destroyed at any time.」

There was this warning, but I wasn’t particularly scared yet. I knew it wouldn’t break until the third time.

…Let’s not worry.

This is all stacking, right?

After all, my future is a bright rainbow—.

「Generates No.35 Nether Claws.」

“……One more time.”

「Generates No.35 Nether Claws.」

“Damn it, are you kidding me?”

In the end, I couldn’t hold back and a curse word came out.

I was trying to maintain my composure on the outside, but I couldn’t take it anymore.

All sorts of thoughts swirled in my head.

Everything that had happened today felt meaningful.

That consecutive Stone Bread, too.

‘Garphas’s Necklace.’

That item that came out when I was rerolling earlier, too.

Maybe that wasn’t a revelation?

That today was ruined, so I should take that and go back and try again next time.

“……Yandel, are you okay?”

“Ah, ah… yeah, I’m fine.”

“Your face is pale…”

“……That can’t be. I’m lucky.”

I raise my heart again, which was about to be frustrated.

‘Four consecutive Nether Claws?’

Even so, this is just another hurdle.

The sweet fruit is always hidden beyond trials.

‘Let’s believe in myself.’

Recalling the realization I had gained earlier, I insert another mana stone with a confident gesture.

「Generates No.35 Nether Claws.」

It’s still okay.

It didn’t break, did it?

「Generates No.35 Nether Claws.」

Yeah, seeing that it didn’t break, it’s just a cosmic prank to test me—.

「Generates No.35 Nether Claws.」

……Is it broken?

「Generates No.35 Nether Claws.」

……It seems dangerous now.

Thump thump thump thump-!

My heart is beating like crazy.

「Generates No.35 Nether Claws.」

In the end, I raised the white flag.

“……Ah, Ainar?”

Ainar Pnellin.

If you look at her, she’s a female warrior who lives without much thought, but she’s always lucky and things work out well.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

Ainar, who had lost interest in this and was eating jerky far away, tilted her head at me.

I politely called out to Ainar.

“Hey…”

“Huh?”

“C, come here… wouldn’t you like to insert a mana stone?”

“Oh! Really! I actually wanted to try it!”

Fortunately, Ainar readily accepted my call and quickly ran over.

And…

「Generates No.3 Aegis Barrier.」

That day, I gained a new realization.

“……Oh? It’s a shield, is it okay?”

“……”

From now on, let’s make her do this no matter what.