Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 550

Let’s organize what we got from this secret room.

‘An unidentified golden book containing the story of siblings.’

Well, I can’t figure out its use right away.

The rest of the loot was different.

‘Seven summoning books.’

Not just any summoning books, but each one was different from those on the bookshelves outside.

Some contained over ten rare mimics.

Strangely, the monster drawings weren’t in black and white, but painted with colors like blue and red.

Some monster drawings were marked with ‘???’.

Seven books with such unique features.

‘A suspicious fountain pen.’

Plus, there’s the fountain pen that was on Hamsik’s desk.

“Hamsik, how do you use this fountain pen?”

[Th, that is…]

After a long hesitation, Hamsik spoke honestly, starting with, ‘Well, because we’re friends…’

[If you use this pen to paint over the drawings in the book… you can obtain the essence of that color.]

“What?!”

[D, don’t shout! You startled me!]

Well, then you should have said it carefully so I wouldn’t be startled.

A fountain pen that can guarantee the essence of the desired color…?

Should such a thing even exist in this world?

It’s such a cheat item that I can’t help but think that, but unfortunately, the fountain pen had its limits.

Rank 3 or below.

And it can only be used twice.

‘Yeah, it couldn’t be an item with unlimited uses.’

I was disappointed, but it was a little less so considering the game is [Dungeon & Stone].

It’s foolish to expect too much, and…

In this game, this is already a crazy item.

‘Is this an unexplored area…?’

I could see why the explorers were so excited about the newly opened first basement floor.

Floor 5, 6, and 7 too.

When they were first opened, there must have been such cheat-like hidden pieces.

“More importantly, Hamsik, how did you know about the fountain pen? Did you use it a few times before I came?”

[Of course not!]

“Hmm, but you explained it very specifically.”

[I just knew it! Since I was born!]

Hamsik, who had never used it, knew from the start what this fountain pen was for.

[Why are you putting that away!]

As I naturally put the fountain pen in my pocket, Hamsik had another fit.

[That, that fountain pen is also something that should be given to a qualified person… !]

Oh, really?

“But you said it can be used twice, right?”

[So…?]

“Let’s use it once, and then give it to the qualified person.”

[Wh, what nonsense—!]

“Or is there a rule that it has to be given in perfect condition?”

[Uh… it’s not like that…]

“Then there’s no problem!”

Okay, that settles the fountain pen issue.

I’ll use it once when we get out, and then I’ll think about where to use the remaining use and persuade him.

So, in that sense, I turned my attention to the last loot.

“A map…”

A map that seemed to be a condensed drawing of the entire first basement floor.

Several islands were drawn, centered around the rocky island that was the starting point…

The map was a huge gain, as much as the fountain pen.

Because it reduced the time we’d have to spend exploring the map.

“There are two islands we haven’t been to yet.”

After consulting with the navigator, Aouyen, one was a week away from the library.

The other was said to be about a month away.

“A month… it’s a much larger floor than I expected.”

“Yes… However, one thing that bothers me is… the location of this island is in the direction where that rainbow appeared.”

“So, you mean there’s a possibility that what was beyond that rainbow is this island?”

“Well… I can’t say for sure yet, but I don’t think it’s just a coincidence.”

Well, I thought so too.

In that sense, let’s call this island Rainbow Island from now on…

“Hamsik, do you know what’s beyond this map?”

[I don’t know… !]

Hamsik, who was staring blankly at the messy room, answered sulkily.

He seemed a little sulky, but he didn’t seem to be lying.

‘Then he really doesn’t know…’

It’s better to think that what’s on this map isn’t everything.

It only made me more curious.

What would happen if we went outside this map? Or, is it even possible to go out in the first place?

I can understand why people were so curious about the end of the world when they believed the Earth was flat.

‘Anyway, I’ll find out when I go there myself…’

“Yandel, look at this part here.”

Bercil pointed to a spot on the unfolded map.

It was the area where the Giant Island was, or more precisely, the area where the cave we stayed in was located.

“Do you see the drawing marked here?”

“This… seems to represent a portal monument.”

“You see it that way too, right?”

The symbol of the monument drawn in the cave area.

However, there was a very intuitive mark below that symbol.

“An arrow pointing downwards…”

What could this possibly mean?

‘Basement floor 2.’

Everyone who looked at the map seemed to have the same thought, but no one said it out loud.

And then, as the silence continued.

“…Then, would you like to take a look at this place too?”

Bercil moved his finger on the map and pointed to a new place.

Aouyen was the first to recognize the location.

“This is… the Chief’s Island…”

“That’s right. There are only two monument marks on this entire map, and one of them is here.”

The moment I checked the spot Bercil pointed to, I felt like I was suffocating.

I don’t know if this is good news.

Or bad news.

“At least we found the exit.”

The arrow drawn below the monument symbol was clearly pointing upwards.

***

We found the exit.

No, to be precise, we found a place that is ‘presumed’ to be the exit.

This alone was great news for us, who had been wandering aimlessly in the vast sea without any clues.

But…

‘Why does it have to be the Chief’s Island…’

This fact makes me feel suffocated.

It means that in order to return to the city, we will have to face the Chief someday, whether we like it or not.

“S, so can we go back to the city now?”

“We did it! Woooooooo!!”

Some of the squad members were overjoyed at finding the exit, but unfortunately, there were still several problems to solve before we could escape this place.

“But… is it really possible to escape? The monument didn’t work on that Giant Island either…”

“That’s true. Just like when we came down, we must have to meet some conditions.”

As some of the intellectuals said, finding the exit is not the end. We must first find a way to activate the portal monument.

Getting past the Chief will be the next problem.

But…

“The rainbow! The island in the direction of that rainbow! Isn’t there a key to something on that island?”

There are a few things we can try. It’s not like we’ve been doing nothing since we came down here.

‘The most likely place is Rainbow Island, but even if it’s not there, we’ll naturally find out if we conquer all the other islands.’

In that sense, I asked Hamsik one more thing.

“Hamsik, what kind of monsters appear on the top bookshelf?”

How much do we have to level up to clear this library island?

Hamsik’s answer to this question was simple.

He gave an example of the explorers’ standards, but he didn’t say exactly what rank they were…

[Toll-Rapupa, Kashan, Leviathan, Prahel, Reedger…]

Ha, so we have to catch even Rank 1 monsters at the end.

But is it a relief that only one appears instead of several?

“What happens if we catch them?”

To my question, Hamsik said to me in a solemn voice.

[I don’t know.]

“Whether or not the ‘qualification’ you mentioned is obtained?”

[Again, I don’t know. The memory of that does not exist in me.]

Okay, the free ride is over, so I have to find out for myself.

“Hamsik, how do we get out? Can we just go out through that portal-like place?”

We’ve finished all the investigations, and I’ve decided that there’s nothing more to gain here.

However, Hamsik tilted his head at my words.

[Huh? Once you come in, you can’t go out?]

“………What? Why are you telling me that now—”

[Beeeep! Just kidding! You can go out that way!]

Ugh, you really scared me.

As I was laughing in disbelief, Hamsik looked at me, laughing as if he was having fun.

[Beeeep… ! Isn’t it normal for friends to joke around!]

Well, I can’t get angry when he’s so happy.

I chuckled and led the squad members outside.

The stone door was still wide open and emitting light, but when Hamsik came out last, the light disappeared and the door closed.

“But Hamsik, do we have to open the door like that every time we enter?”

[So?]

“I thought you said it was where you lived. Isn’t it inconvenient if you have to do that every time you enter?”

[Well? It wasn’t inconvenient at all normally! I just couldn’t go in because I was organizing the books when you guys came!]

Ah, so that’s why he was wandering around without going home and got caught by us.

He was only wandering around at night because we were asleep at that time.

“We’re going to hunt again after taking a nap, what are you going to do in the meantime?”

[Sightseeing!]

“What about organizing the books?”

[I’ll do it when no one’s around… when you guys leave and no one’s around.]

“Why? Ah, I’m not telling you to do it now, I’m just curious. You’ve already shown yourself to us, can’t you just do it?”

[…I’ll do it when no one’s around. So don’t force me.]

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

After finishing the exploration of the secret room, we returned to the library and continued our interrupted camping.

And as soon as the next morning came, we immediately started hunting.

「You have defeated a Mimic.」

「You have defeated a Mimic.」

「You have defeated a Mimic.」

「You have defeated a Mimic.」

「You have defeated a Mimic…」

First, we summoned the mimic summoning book we got from the secret room. However, unfortunately, even after catching more than ten, no essence was dropped.

We need the essence to loot items from the [Treasure Vault].

‘He’s surprisingly calm.’

Is it because I know that the best I can get from a mimic is about 30 million stones?

I don’t feel particularly disappointed.

It’s not like this is the only summoning book we got this time.

So, I opened all the other summoning books as well.

“…Drake?”

A Rank 4 flying monster, Drake, was summoned from the book that was marked with ‘???’.

What, I was secretly nervous about what would come out.

Is it just 100% random?

I don’t know, but all it dropped was one magic stone.

“Then, all that’s left are the colored books.”

Five summoning books containing colored monsters.

After opening them all, these books had something in common.

The book with the monster drawing painted in red dropped the red essence of that monster, and the one painted in blue dropped the blue essence.

‘The problem is that all but one of them were Rank 5 or below.’

We discarded all the Rank 5 or below without hesitation, and the Rank 3 essence was passed on to the Armin Exploration Team because there was someone who wanted it.

And…

‘We’ve already opened them all.’

With this, all the summoning books we brought from the secret room were used up without much gain.

Well, the main dish, the ‘fountain pen,’ is still left…

‘It’s right to use this after considering all the angles until the end.’

I want to use this right away to extract the essence of Bellarios, but I made a rational decision.

We’re not just going to hunt for one day.

There’s a chance we’ll get the essence naturally, so using it already felt like a very hasty waste.

Therefore…

「You have defeated a Stone Winter.」

「You have defeated a Mecarote. EXP +7」

「You have defeated a Frost Guardian.」

「You have defeated a Bol-Herchan.」

「You have defeated a Machine Giant…」

「…….」

Hunt after breakfast.

Hunt after lunch.

How many more days did we continue to hunt until before going to bed?

Day 99 of entering the labyrinth.

‘The labyrinth will open again in the city tomorrow.’

The time when newbies will be coming in is approaching.

***

“Vice-Commander, have you heard? The news!”

“Ah, you mean that…”

Arua Raven, the vice-commander of the Royal Third Magic Corps, smiled bitterly.

Basement floor 1, the records archive.

No matter where you go in the city, that’s all they talk about these days.

Because a shocking rumor has recently started circulating in the city.

Bjorn Yandel is still alive and well there.

And, he has obtained two single-digit numbers.

The rumor, which first came from the evil spirits, has not been confirmed.

“Vice-Commander… is that rumor really true?”

“It doesn’t matter whether the rumor is true or not. We just need to do our jobs well. I’ll get up first.”

Raven dismissed her subordinate’s question and finished her meal first before returning to her office.

Whether the rumor is true or not.

It’s pointless to worry about it.

Either way, what she wants is the same.

I hope the rumor is true.

Then I wouldn’t have to worry like this every day.

“Haa… if it’s true, it’s annoying in its own way.”

Basement floor 1.

An unexplored area where nothing has been revealed.

What kind of mysteries and unknowns exist there, and what kind of great adventure is Bjorn Yandel having with his companions?

“Hoo…”

She sighed and lowered her head.

The uniform she was so used to.

And the badge of the Magic Corps on the upper chest.

Today, this uniform felt strangely stuffy and annoying.

“Enough, let’s just do my job…”

She repeated the words she had said to her subordinate earlier to herself and started working again.

And that evening.

“Vice-Commander! This is a direct official document from the Royal Family!”

A royal document was delivered to her.

It was full of flowery language and difficult words, but as she was used to official duties, she could summarize it in three lines.

1. The Royal Family wants to explore the first basement floor.

2. So, they need talented people with exploration experience.

3. You’re the perfect fit.

After reading the entire document, Raven jumped up from her chair like a live fish.

And she hurriedly began to pack her things.