Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 554

Day 109 of the dungeon exploration.

In other words, it was early morning the day after joining the exploration force sent by the royal family and arriving at the library.

Baa-ba-ba-ba-bam! Baa-ba-ba-ba-bam! Ba-ra-ra-ra-ba-ra-ra-ra-bam-!

The reveille played by the military band echoed throughout the library, signaling the start of the morning.

‘Ha, the military is the same everywhere, isn’t it?’

‘…If I say that, Baekho might get angry.’

It’s not like being a public service worker means you skip training camp.

Anyway, the bugle call woke everyone up instantly, without any sluggishness.

As soon as the bugle call stopped, the day’s work began.

“Rations are here!”

After cleaning up the campsite, we lined up in front of the cooks who had woken up early to prepare breakfast, received our meals, and devoured them in a quick 30 minutes.

And then…….

“There will be a morning meeting, so all commanders should attend.”

It was time for the higher-ups to gather, discuss the day’s plans, and brief everyone on the decided course of action.

I perked up my ears, wondering if there would be anything special, but there wasn’t anything particularly important.

‘It’s just the same as yesterday, just hunting.’

Of course, there are differences in the details.

Yesterday, they smashed the door, prevented its restoration, and summoned monsters at a crazy speed, but this time, as the monster grade has increased, they will proceed with the attack in a more standard way.

Of course, the mages will also participate in the battle.

“Now, let’s start our mission energetically today!”

I wondered if it was really necessary to gather everyone for a meeting, but I guess that’s just how the military is.

Being bound by formalities may sometimes be inefficient, but sometimes that process can prevent unexpected accidents.

“To your positions!”

After that, each group stood in their assigned positions, and the library attack resumed once again.

“It seems like the combat teams are taking turns today as well.”

“That’s more efficient.”

Over 200 people.

Of course, having all of them participate in the battle is like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken [using excessive force for a simple task].

Therefore, Jerome adopted a shift work system.

“Pause! Squads 1 and 2, switch with Squads 3 and the temporary Squad 4!”

When the time came, Squads 1 and 2, who were guarding the stone gate, moved aside, and Squads 3 and 4, who were picking books from the bookshelves, took their place.

And Squads 1 and 2 carried books instead of us, recovering their stamina and resources.

‘Kaislan and Parav will keep missing each other today too.’

For reference, these two belong to Squad 1.

So, they even eat separately afterward.

Well, Raven is in Squad 3, so it’s a bit better, but…….

He’s a mage, so he’s far behind, and it’s the same that we won’t meet during the mission.

‘…In the end, I’ll only be able to talk about the oracle at night.’

As I was working hard as one of the cogs that move the group, I saw a colleague chatting with the knights from the exploration force, having become friendly with them.

“Hahaha! Don’t lie! How can a mage beat a warrior like us!”

“That’s why it’s even more humiliating! Who would have thought someone would lose in a one-on-one duel to a mage?”

“So, when did that happen?”

“A month ago! However, since the Explosive Sword [likely a nickname or title] was here, it’s natural that you wouldn’t know. It was quite a famous story in social circles.”

No, when did he get so close to them?

His sociability is amazing the more I see it. Actually, it’s also helpful to me.

“What are you talking about so excitedly?”

“Ah… Baron! I’m sorry. I should focus on the mission—.”

“I didn’t tell you to apologize.”

“Yes……?”

“Aren’t we all warriors? I’m just curious. A knight who lost to a mage, who is that moron?”

When I expressed my desire to join the chat, the knight, who had been hesitant for a moment, grinned and started talking excitedly.

And was it too noticeable?

Other knights belonging to Squad 3 also approached us and started eavesdropping on the conversation, sometimes adding interjections or correcting wrong information, joining the chat.

‘Well, it’s not like they would find this factory work fun either.’

Perhaps because of my title as a baron, the knights who had been wary of me also started asking questions first, feeling a bit more friendly after seeing my easygoing attitude.

“Um… but Baron, there’s one thing I’d like to ask…….”

“It’s okay, go ahead.”

“I heard that you applied for a duel with Baron Cypriot during your peerage ceremony. What exactly happened?”

“Ah, that? It’s nothing much. Some goblin-like guy was badmouthing me from behind, you know? I wanted to punch him, but I couldn’t, so I applied for a duel.”

“Haha… is that really true? Baron Cypriot must have been very embarrassed.”

“It’s his own fault. There are too many ignorant guys in noble families. It’s an obvious truth that if a nobody acts up, they’ll get beaten.”

A refreshing joke that only I, a titled noble in the same position as them, could make. The knights nodded in agreement, seemingly liking it.

“Well… when would they have ever done any hard work.”

“There are quite a few people who don’t know the obvious fact that they are safe because people like us protect them…….”

The knights were passively participating in the gossip, trying to stay within the lines. However, as I told my stories and continued with my refreshing remarks, it was clear that they were vicariously satisfied and raising the corners of their mouths.

‘Okay, I think I’ve gained enough favor.’

After that, I kept telling stories throughout my shift, and in doing so, I built friendships with the knights of the exploration force.

“Baron… you’re more than just a rumor. Ah! It’s definitely not in a bad way! I didn’t know you were such a laid-back and fun person…….”

“Haha! Why are you making excuses? Aren’t we already friends!”

“Tch, friends! Oh, please don’t! The commander will be very angry if he hears that!”

“Then, we can be comrades.”

“Comrades… yes, if it’s comrades…….”

“Then, I’ll ask you to watch my back when it’s dangerous.”

“……Trust us, Baron!”

Making friends is always helpful.

***

That night, after spending the day chatting with the knights.

I asked my colleagues to prepare the camp, and then headed to the campsite of Squad 1, where Sven Parav was assigned.

And after asking for the understanding of the people belonging to the Order who were with him, I called him out.

“I’d like to finish the story we couldn’t finish yesterday.”

“Ah… ah, that thing…….”

“The oracle you received. What was the content of that oracle?”

At the word ‘oracle,’ he flinched and looked around, and after confirming that the conversation here was not being heard by others, he took a deep breath.

And he lowered his voice and laid down some insurance.

“Um… I’d like to say first that this might all be my delusion…….”

“You were sure yesterday?”

“If you answer yes or no, it belongs to that side, but… it’s also possible that what I believe myself is different from what others see… something like that…….”

Ugh, frustrating.

“Okay. I’ll make the judgment, so you just tell me the content.”

“If you say so…….”

He closed his eyes for a long time as if to compose himself, then opened them again and slowly opened his mouth.

“When I was in the city, I had a dream.”

“A dream?”

“It’s hard to say, but… I heard a very sacred voice. And I naturally knew. That the owner of that voice… was her.”

“By her, do you mean Leatlass?”

“Yes… that’s right.”

The goddess appeared in his dream.

I wondered why he was so convinced that it was an ‘oracle’ just from that, but I decided to listen to the rest of the story for now.

“So, what did she say?”

“She said that there was something I had to do in the future, and she showed me a scene from the future.”

A prophetic dream.

The most common form of oracle received by saints and saintesses who have received revelations from God.

That day, Parav said he saw one scene.

“It was a scene where the Archbishop told me to join the exploration force.”

The prophetic dream came true the very next day.

And thanks to that, he was convinced that this dream was not just a random dream, but a real oracle.

“And?”

“That’s… the end.”

“What?”

“She said that she would appear again when the time comes, and told me to prepare.”

In short, the main quest will be given after entering the dungeon with the exploration force…….

Frankly, I didn’t understand.

“……But why did you pretend to have a stomachache and try to run away? You even received an oracle?”

“Uh, that’s…….”

After hesitating for a long time, he closed his eyes tightly and answered.

“An oracle……! It’s obvious that it’s something dangerous!”

“……What?”

My mind went blank for a moment, but he didn’t care and revealed his inner thoughts.

“Even if it’s not dangerous, it’s definitely a troublesome thing. I, I had that kind of feeling too.”

Ha, what kind of guy is this?

That’s why he must have kept the fact that he received the oracle a secret.

The moment it became known to the outside, everyone in the Order would have pushed him around to protect that oracle.

‘A paladin did that for that reason?’

It’s absurd, but on the other hand, I’m also grateful. He’s hiding it from other people, but he’s being honest with me.

‘His loyalty… is acceptable.’

“Um… can I go now? They’re staring at me over there, you know.”

He said, looking at the group from the Order.

They were actually looking this way, but their expressions were more worried than glaring.

It was like watching a child who had been put out in the water.

‘So, that’s how they treat him in the Order…….’

“Okay. If you have another dream later, tell me right away.”

“I will.”

“Have a good night.”

“Yes. You too, Baron.”

After finishing the conversation with Parav, I also returned to my campsite and went to sleep.

However, for some reason, I couldn’t fall asleep easily today either.

‘An oracle…….’

The content I heard from him today wasn’t anything special.

Just like how he struggled to avoid entering the dungeon.

Something big is coming.

That intuition hit me hard.

Therefore, there was only one thing I could do.

To prepare so that I wouldn’t be swept away whether a tidal wave comes or a typhoon blows.

‘I wanted to save it as much as possible…….’

It can’t be helped now that it’s come to this.

Finally, I made a decision in my blanket in the middle of the night.

‘Bellarios’s essence.’

I guess I have to eat it as soon as possible.

***

Day 111 of the dungeon exploration.

The library attack has already progressed this far, and we have entered a section where 3rd-grade monsters are pouring out.

‘It only took five days to get here.’

It’s amazing, but I can feel the power of the royal family.

Knights, mages, priests.

They select the best talents from these precious professions and create an army, so the value itself is unbelievable.

‘At this rate, we could have just rushed to the village chief’s island.’

At first, I was against it because I didn’t know how competent they were, but now that I think about it, I should have gone straight to the village chief’s island and caught the chief first.

Even if the village chief has the essence of his human days, he would be helpless in front of this kind of military force.

“Baron! They say a book with Bellarios drawn on it has appeared!”

As I was having lunch and thinking about this and that, good news was delivered.

The one who delivered the news was a knight from Squad 3.

I had asked them to tell me if they found Bellarios.

“Is it that book you’re holding?”

“Yes! As soon as we found it, we took it out separately and brought it here!”

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. Aren’t we comrades!”

It was a result that I could obtain thanks to the favor I had diligently built up.

I gave the knight who took out the book a lot of jerky, the greatest sincerity that a barbarian could show, and sent him back.

And…….

Swoosh.

When the ink on the tip of the fountain pen, which changed color every minute, turned green. I quickly painted over the picture of Bellarios in the book, and then found Commander Jerome Saintred.

“Hmm, you want to catch it only with Squad 4, you say?”

“It’s the essence we need. We agreed to acknowledge ownership of what we acquire on our own, right?”

“That’s certainly true. But is it really necessary? It’s a waste of time, so catch it with the other squads. Ah, of course, I’ll give you the essence. If it comes out, that is.”

Perhaps because he thought the possibility of the essence dropping was low, Jerome readily agreed and even offered to help with the hunt.

Therefore…….

“I will summon it!”

I joined in and summoned Bellarios.

“Kill it!”

The smooth scales of Bellarios, which appeared through the stone gate, were quickly torn to shreds by the knights and archers, and in less than a minute after the start of the battle, it disappeared into light.

Swaaaaaaa-!

A large magic stone.

And only the essence remained.

“The essence… it really came out. Huh? Baron, where are you going? Ah, could it be… that you needed the essence……!”

“Yes, it was me.”

Leaving Jerome, who seemed somewhat flustered, I quickly ran and absorbed the essence.

「[Bellarios’s Essence] permeates the character’s soul.」

Yes, I’m finally eating this too.

“Behel—laaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

The day when the shield barbarian will be completed is not far away.