Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 541

542. Verdant Spear (4)

No. 7, Millayel’s Verdant Spear.

This Numbers item, a graduation weapon for the spear category, boasts a good balance of damage and tanking capabilities.

The reason I initially researched the spear barbarian build was because of the high survivability this weapon offered.

‘But in the end, it would just be something similar to a berserker.’

Of course, the berserker class isn’t bad.

If there’s a main tank of the same level in the team, it can perform quite well, and it can also act as a sub-tank in a pinch.

But…

“Hmm….”

No matter how much I think about it, it’s still unclear.

“Everyone, clear the area.”

“Yes?”

“We’ll be departing soon!”

“Ah, ah… Yes!”

Everyone seemed curious about who would get the weapon, but we decided to launch the ship first and leave the island while continuing to ponder. It wasn’t a decision to be made lightly.

“Set sail!”

The ship carrying everyone began to cut through the silver waves.

How much time had passed?

“Mister! Look over there!”

From the shrinking center of the island, a giant stood up and let out a ferocious roar at us.

[Woooooooaaaaaaah——!]

…Why does he always do that only when we’re leaving?

***

Until we arrived at our destination, Library Island, I continued to ponder deeply.

Who should I give this weapon to?

‘Ah, I made eye contact again.’

While looking around, hoping for an answer, I made eye contact with a man.

It was a spearman from the Hecetz Clan.

As the only class that uses a spear among all these people, he didn’t dare to say anything, but I could see that he was secretly hoping for it.

Therefore…

*Swish.*

I quickly turned my head away.

Come on, you should be greedy for something you can actually get. This weapon belongs to the Anabada Clan.

It was already decided. Therefore, my only concern was who among our clan members should receive it.

‘First of all, there’s no need to consider Erwen or Bersil.’

The same goes for Amelia and Misha.

Misha has already committed to a dual-wielding ice build, and Amelia uses aura, so a spear isn’t suitable for her.

And Auyen isn’t a combat class in the first place.

By process of elimination, the only one left is Einar…

“Huh? You want some too?”

When our eyes met, Einar smiled and offered me the jerky he was holding dear.

I took it and chewed it while continuing my thoughts.

‘…The one who can make the most of the spear’s performance is him, right?’

[Natural regeneration increases in proportion to combat duration.]

[All recovery-related effects are tripled.]

These two options are a good match for the ‘Combat Learning’ and ‘Devour’ of the ‘Slaughterer’ engraving. [Engravings are like skill trees or specializations.]

He also has skills that boost natural regeneration like [Wings of Greed] and [Crouch], so if these are combined, he’ll have a truly monstrous recovery speed.

The spear barbarian I initially envisioned also had the ‘Slaughterer’ engraving and was built around similar skills.

However, the problem here is…

‘The moment he wields a spear, he has to give up some skills.’

First, the 4th-grade skill [Repeated Slash].

It’s not impossible to use with a spear, but you can’t benefit from the piercing damage increase effect.

[Wild Control], which converts conditional activation effects into ‘Cutting Power,’ also becomes useless in a similar context.

‘If I don’t use [Repeated Slash], [Explosive Scar] becomes meaningless, and if that happens, [Slick Oil] and [Residual Heat] become skills without any effect.’

In fact, the moment he wields a spear, he’d have to overhaul his entire skill set.

However…

‘He, except for Hipramant, are all below 4th grade, right?’

That thought suddenly occurred to me.

‘Now that it’s come to this, why not just change everything?’

[Dungeon & Stone] is a game where growth is the main focus. [The game’s name, likely a reference to a game or system mechanic.]

Creating the perfect final combination is important, but designing the game so that characters can grow up to that final combination is several times more important.

If you don’t prepare several necessary items and replaceable essences for each section, it’s impossible to grow a character up to the final combination. [Essences are likely items or resources that enhance skills or abilities.]

It’s important to gradually increase the value of skills while not losing the character’s concept.

*Creak, creak, creak.*

The reason I made [Repeated Slash] Einar’s core skill was because of that.

It’s a 4th-grade skill that he got early on, isn’t it?

After setting up an essence build that utilizes it, I thought I could change it to a higher-tier skill later.

However…

‘…It’s not entirely impossible.’

I’ve already grown as much as I can.

Erwen has established a unique position by consuming even the tier essences, and Misha has also grown tremendously after her time with Baekho. [Baekho is likely a character or entity.]

Amelia has just been incredibly strong since the beginning.

To be frank, if Einar isn’t here right now, it won’t affect our hunting at all.

In other words, it’s possible to carry him…

‘Actually, it’s not really carrying, and his combat power won’t drop significantly even if he wields a spear.’

A single Numbers item. [Numbers items are likely rare or powerful items.]

And it’s a graduation weapon with no substitutes.

The effects attached to it have enough power to make up for the loss of a few skills.

Especially if it’s a 4th-grade or lower essence.

1,200% piercing damage.

Triple the damage of all attacks using a spear.

Top-tier piercing correction.

With just these three options, the single damage is actually higher than when using a sword, and thanks to the various regeneration increase effects, the stability is much higher.

Therefore, the problem from now on is.

‘Whether he’ll accept this or not…’

Let’s just bring it up.

I have nothing to lose by doing so.

Like a true barbarian.

“Einar.”

I walk up to him and say it casually.

“Do you have any thoughts about using a spear instead of a sword?”

“…A spear?”

Einar, who had been chewing jerky, stopped and looked at me with a strange expression.

Ha, I guess it’s not going to work?

Regardless of whether they prefer it or not, barbarians hate such weapons, calling them cowardly—

“Oh! If you’re talking about that spear, I’d love it! Give it to me!”

…Huh?

What’s with this reaction?

“Just in case you misunderstood, I’m saying you’ll be using a spear for the rest of your life. And change all your essences too.”

“If I have to change them… does that include Semura’s essence?”

Semura’s essence refers to [Repeated Slash].

It’s the one that the elder, whom he followed like a teacher, passed down to Einar through ‘Soul Succession’ before he died. [Soul Succession is likely a ritual or method of passing down skills or knowledge.]

“Yes, that essence is included too.”

“I see….”

Einar’s eyes changed to something wistful.

However, it didn’t take long for an answer to come back.

“If you want, take your time to think about it and answer—”

“Okay. I’ll switch to a spear.”

“…Huh?”

He’s going to overhaul his entire growth, and he’s deciding that without even thinking about it for a minute?

‘Is this a true barbarian…?’

It was a realm I couldn’t even dare to follow.

However, it seemed that Einar hadn’t made the decision without any thought at all.

“Why are you so surprised? All the essences I have now were recommended by you in the first place, weren’t they?”

“Oh… that’s true?”

“Thanks to you, I’ve gained a reputation beyond my abilities. I’ve gained the power to fight against unimaginable enemies, and with that power, I was able to protect my comrades.”

Einar then looked at me intently and continued in a low voice.

“So, I trust you.”

“….”

“You wouldn’t do anything that would harm me, would you?”

I see.

He didn’t just make a decision on a whim, but he was able to move forward without any doubt because he simply trusted me.

‘I wonder, can I do that?’

The thought of an overwhelming trust suddenly came to mind.

“And most of all….”

Einar avoided my gaze.

No, to be precise, he turned his gaze away from me and looked elsewhere.

With a very greedy look.

“…Th, that spear is okay! It’s huge, isn’t it!”

“Ah….”

“It looks 1.5 times bigger than my greatsword!”

I was speechless.

Just like how crows are instinctively drawn to shiny objects.

Barbarians had a tendency to like big things.

“It was also cool because it was sparkling!”

If it even shines, it’s the icing on the cake.

“Besides, it seems like all the winged ones use spears!”

Yeah… you had your own reasons too.

***

Einar, who had changed his class to a spearman, immediately began to familiarize himself with the spear.

Swinging it in the air, extending it forward to measure the distance, and so on.

At first, he was clearly clumsy, as if he didn’t even know how to hold it, but his posture stabilized at an unbelievably fast pace.

“Hehe, now I’m getting back to my old stance!”

“Old stance?”

“Don’t you remember? When we were young, we learned all kinds of weapons!”

“Ah, that… we did….”

Ugh, why are we suddenly talking about the past?

As always, I cut off the topic of the past with a short answer, but unfortunately, Einar was already lost in memories.

“Come to think of it, it’s a strange thing. I heard that my mother and my older sister also used spears.”

Fortunately, it was a topic I could answer naturally.

It was the first time I heard about spears, but I had talked about Einar’s older sister before.

Einar, the second daughter of Pnelin. [Pnelin is likely a family or clan name.]

Einar has an older sister.

No, to be precise… she had one.

“Huh? You had a sister?”

Erwen, who also had an older sister, asked with interest, and Einar shrugged.

“Ah, I haven’t told you about it? She was four years older than me. She became an explorer first and would tell me all sorts of stories and torment me while practicing her skills, hehehe….”

“…Yes?”

Erwen tilted her head at Einar’s words, which seemed to recall happy memories, but it was a happening that came from a difference in racial culture.

“So, how is your sister? Is she famous?”

“She died. Two years before I had my coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Ah… I, I’m sorry….”

Erwen, who looked like she had touched a sore spot, apologized.

However, Einar was completely unfazed.

“Huh? Why are you apologizing? It’s not your fault that my sister died.”

“But… it must be a sad memory for you.”

“Sad memory? What does that mean? I only have good memories left. Of course, it’s a little sad that I can’t see her anymore, but I always feel good when I think of my memories with my sister.”

At those words, Erwen was speechless for a moment.

“How… how can you do that? I still… feel like my heart is blocked when I think of my sister.”

Her voice was agitated, so it had a slightly accusatory nuance, but fortunately, Einar didn’t care about such trivial things.

He just tilted his head innocently.

“Even if you ask why… I don’t really have anything to say?”

“….”

“It’s more pleasant to smile than to be depressed! I’m sure my sister would feel the same way!”

A very barbarian-like answer.

However, Erwen couldn’t say anything after hearing it. She just stared at Einar for a long time, then turned her back and went up to the observation deck without a word.

‘Phew… I can finally breathe.’

When I let out a long breath that I had been holding back, Einar made a strange expression.

“…Did I do something wrong?”

“Nothing. Just keep doing what you were doing. We’ll be going into action as soon as we arrive at the island.”

“Oh! Got it!”

I put Einar, who had temporarily stopped working, back into automatic training mode and headed to the place where the ship’s helm was.

And after checking the estimated time of arrival with Auyen, I sat down with my back against the pillar and closed my eyes.

‘The small fries will take care of themselves, and if some strong ones come out, they’ll wake me up.’

How much time had passed?

I woke up and took out my canteen, looking for Einar. I was curious about how much progress he had made during that time…

‘Huh?’

For some reason, Einar had stopped training and was resting on the deck.

And he was with Erwen.

‘What’s going on?’

Just as I was wondering, Amelia approached me.

“Don’t bother them and leave them alone.”

“…I wasn’t planning to.”

I was just curious about their conversation.

I perked up my ears and focused, and I could hear the conversation they were having.

I was worried because they were together, but.

A very ordinary conversation was going back and forth between them.

“Haha, come to think of it, you said you have a younger sibling too, right? How is he? Is he an explorer?”

“No. Not yet. He’ll have his coming-of-age ceremony in two years, and I’m a little worried.”

“If you’re worried, you can just teach him things by his side.”

“That’s… not easy.”

“Huh? Ah, is it because you’re trapped here?”

“No, it’s not that… actually… after my sister died… and after my uncle suddenly disappeared… we haven’t been on good terms.”

“Ah, I guess you would have gone to the battlefield every day to get revenge. Then it’s all your fault!”

I was shocked by Einar’s no-nonsense way of assigning blame, but surprisingly, Erwen calmly agreed.

“My fault… yes. It’s my fault.”

“Haha, if you know that, then you just have to do better when you go back, right?”

“But, I think it’s already too late. My brother hates and resents me.”

“Did he say that himself?”

“No, it’s not like that, but—”

“If not, don’t have any weird thoughts. Hate? You’re family, there’s no way he would. He must want to go back to how you were before.”

“Do you… think so…?”

A strange scene where an elf, who is no different from an enemy, is seriously receiving life advice from a barbarian.

But at the same time, the scene was somehow understandable.

“Of course, he will! You can trust me!”

I could see how Einar always manages to get along with everyone so easily.

***

76th day of entering the labyrinth.

After leaving the Giant Island, we finally arrived at the Library Island.

Our job here is to farm endlessly.

‘Bellarios is important, but it would be nice if some essences for Einar came out.’ [Bellarios is likely a character or entity.]

With that expectation, we entered the building entrance and went down the stairs for a long time.

And…

“Yandel, there’s someone below.”

“The number is one. There’s no one else.”

“He’s crouching, it looks like he’s sleeping….”

“What are you going to do?”

I received unexpected news from Amelia and Erwen.

A guest who arrived before us.

‘Who could it be?’

There was a candidate that came to mind first.

The clan that came down to the first basement floor with the Armin expedition in the previous round. [Armin is likely a character or entity.]

I’m sure their name was…

“…I suspect it might be someone from the Einperial Clan.”

Ah, that’s right.

“But the number is strange. Only one person. Where did all those people go….”

Muhl frowned and was lost in thought, but I wasn’t very curious.

No, to be precise, I was wasting time.

“It’ll be faster to ask directly.”

No matter how much I speculate, it can’t be more accurate than hearing the truth from his own mouth.

I quickly went down the stairs.

*Thump-! Thump-! Thump-!*

Perhaps because of the loud noise, the unidentified guest who was said to be sleeping was standing up in an awkward posture when I arrived below…

“Oh…! L, Lord Baron?!”

The other side was startled when they saw me.

Actually, I was the same.

Because…

“…Maddakin Lilgriams.”

It was the leader of the Silver Lion Clan, who was last seen on the Village Chief Island and then went missing.