Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 595

Sometimes when you’re playing a game, there are those situations.

Patterns designed not just for fighting, but to be solved by meeting certain other conditions.

“Hmm…”

Actually, thinking about it, if the goal was just to endure, it wouldn’t have been that difficult.

Hamsik didn’t have any powerful single-target skills.

Even if he did, the casting time was long enough to prepare for it.

But in the midst of that.

‘A buff that increases regeneration as you take damage.’

This mercenary’s body is specialized for endurance.

Even Erwen, who would normally be out of commission, was able to do her part using [Chaos Circuit].

‘It feels kind of anticlimactic…’

I worked so hard to catch him, but all I had to do was endure.

I wonder if I just wasted my energy for nothing, but I decided to think positively.

‘Hey, but it’s right to catch them if you can.’

Yeah, my judgment isn’t wrong.

So what if you could have passed by just enduring?

No, rather, it’s even more positive because of that.

When a method worked in the orthodox way, there was always an additional reward.

Just like this.

[Really… I just wanted to help—.]

“Hamsik.”

[…Speak, mortal.]

Hamsik, who didn’t even treat me like a person, saying I wasn’t qualified to ask questions, has learned manners.

A change that would never have occurred if we had just endured and endured until this guy showed mercy.

Maybe he would have just thrown an item and left without a proper explanation.

Well, that won’t happen now.

“I know you didn’t do it with bad intentions, so tell me now. What is this anyway?”

[If you feed it to that human girl, it will be a great help in her future journey.]

“Don’t just vaguely say ‘help’ or whatever, tell me properly.”

I know it’s some kind of elixir, but I can’t just give something I don’t know to Erwen, so I didn’t just let it go and kept asking.

The efficacy of the elixir that Hamsik revealed was simple.

If you eat this, the ‘forsaken ones’…

So, beyond not being attacked by ‘monsters,’ you might even have some control over them?

[But remember. It will not work on those with higher spiritual ranks like me.]

Hamsik, who gave a serious warning, slowly gets up and heads towards the wall.

“Hey, where do you think you’re going?”

[Now that you’ve heard the answer you wanted, our business is over—.]

“Not yet?”

[…?]

Hey, where are you trying to steal my hidden piece reward?

I’ve subdued you like this, it’s a loss to just let you go. Of course, it doesn’t seem like Hamsik is hiding anything more material…

But the reward doesn’t necessarily have to be material.

Every piece of information I get here is so precious to me.

And in that sense.

“Who are you anyway? Are you also a monster… I mean, one of the forsaken ones?”

I start asking questions in earnest.

[…To the eyes of a mortal, I suppose so.]

“Don’t answer ambiguously, be clear.”

[…Yes. To be precise, we are the ‘abandoners’.]

“Abandoners…?”

[We abandoned our faith first, and thereby we were able to break free from bondage and remain independent beings.]

The forsaken and the abandoners.

After listening to the story, the difference between the two was simple.

‘Whether or not intelligence exists.’

Goblins, kobolds, and orcs belonged to the ‘abandoners’.

Unlike ordinary monsters, they have built civilizations and live in villages in forests or mountains.

Sometimes they even interact with humans.

[But now that today has come, I understand. There are things that cannot be abandoned no matter how much you want to.]

“…What the heck are you talking about now?”

[I said that authority would not work on those with higher spiritual ranks, but do not worry. They will never be hostile to that human girl. Just like I was today…]

Something that cannot be abandoned even if you want to.

It wasn’t an answer to the question, but I didn’t argue and moved on.

More than anything, there was something I needed to check first.

“Hamsik.”

[Speak, mortal.]

Looking at Hamsik, who doesn’t even flinch at the name I gave him, I cautiously asked.

“I’m just asking just in case… is she the Witch of the Land?”

[Witch?]

Hamsik shook his head firmly as if he had heard something strange.

But that didn’t mean that Erwen wasn’t the Witch of the Land.

[That human girl is not a witch or anything like that.]

I could be sure of it from Hamsik’s next words.

[She is just… a poor child born with a cruel fate.]

This rift.

It really was based on the Witch of the Land…

***

Each rift has a story.

When playing games, you can tell that there is a backstory through various concepts or lines, but the reason I became certain was the conversation with the vampire guy.

The Crimson Citadel where the corpse golem and vampire appeared.

That place, which I had visited countless times while playing the game, was a space created based on someone’s life.

The White Temple and the Doppelganger Forest would be the same.

‘A rift created based on the story of a witch…’

I have a strong feeling that this is the most important turning point in all the explorations I’ve done so far.

Also, the contents of the ‘Golden Book’ I read in Hamsik’s room suddenly come to mind.

Once upon a time, a brother and sister lived happily in a rural village. But when the older brother left the village to become a wizard, the younger sister was very sad.

In short, it was a diary-like content that could be summarized in three lines.

‘Maybe this is also the story of a witch.’

Perhaps through this exploration, I can learn more about the witch and uncover the secrets of the labyrinth.

I was spending a lot of time asking Hamsik questions with that thought in mind.

[Stop.]

Hamsik suddenly utters, shooting out a sharp gaze.

“…Stop?”

Does he think we’re friends because I’m being nice to him?

Just as I was seriously considering what attitude I should take when dealing with Hamsik in the future, Hamsik shouted as if he sensed something, as an excuse.

[It’s not that…! The Imperial Army is coming!]

“The Imperial Army…?”

[Don’t even think about fighting them! No matter how strong you are, you can’t handle that many enemies.]

Hmm… is that so?

Even though I don’t feel it, Hamsik continued his persuasive words in an earnest tone.

[You might be okay, but what about that human girl? Do you think you can protect her against that many numbers!]

It certainly wasn’t a wrong argument.

In fact, Erwen hadn’t recovered from the aftermath of using [Chaos Circuit].

“We need to get out of the cave quickly.”

[It will probably be difficult. All sides are already surrounded…]

“Is that true, Erwen?”

“I don’t know. My body isn’t in normal condition…”

[If I hadn’t used all my strength fighting you, I would have noticed it sooner…]

Hamsik muttered with emotion.

I know he’s frustrated, but as for me, I couldn’t just let those lines go.

“Are you saying it’s all my fault?”

[I’m not saying we should find who’s responsible! Enough, come here quickly!]

“Huh?”

[There’s only one way to safely get out of this cave!]

Hamsik, who led me to the center, waved his hand, and a portal was created.

Whoooosh-!

A portal that looks very unstable at first glance.

“Where does this lead to if we go in here?”

[I don’t know. But… it won’t be where you were trying to go.]

Hmm, was there another route besides passing through the cave using the compass?

I’m not sure if it’s a positive event or the opposite.

But…

“Mister, what are you going to do?”

“Let’s get on it first. It doesn’t seem like that guy will harm us.”

There was no other choice.

If Erwen, who is in a glass cannon mode, gets seriously injured, then it will be out of control.

After reaching an agreement, we were walking towards the portal when Hamsik called me.

[Mercenary.]

“…?”

[I entrust that child to you.]

Huh, what is he trying to say?

“I will. Even if you don’t say it.”

I chuckled and entered the portal, holding Erwen’s hand tightly.

And…

‘Is this the third phase now?’

When I opened my eyes, anticipating how it would proceed.

「Special Condition – The Divergent Journey is fulfilled.」

「The character moves to the Great Square.」

A square with thousands of people gathered.

“Kill them!!”

“Divine judgment upon the evil witch…!!”

We were kneeling on the gallows.

***

Let’s organize the situation.

I’m standing on the gallows with my limbs bound.

‘Did they take all my equipment? Damn, can I find them?’

The equipment I worked hard to loot was nowhere to be found, and instead, I was wearing a rag-like cloth.

Oh, and next to me is Erwen in a similar state.

For some reason, she looks a little more grown up than before.

“Ah, Mister…!”

Now she looks like she’s about ten to twelve years old.

A nobleman between the bound me and Erwen began to recite our sins.

From conspiracy to rebellion, murder of nobles, massacre, arson, etc.

Among the countless sins, there was only one thing to focus on.

“I sentence this evil witch and her follower, Bjorn Yandel, who have plunged the world into chaos for over 10 years, to death.”

Over 10 years.

‘Has it been that long since we left the cave?’

Maybe the crimes that the nobleman recited happened over the past 10 years.

‘But Erwen is still too young to say that?’

There are still questions, but let’s pass on this for now.

“Mister, wh-what should we do?”

“Calm down. I’m thinking.”

After calming Erwen down first, I continue to think.

Fortunately, there was still time.

I thought the execution would be carried out right after the nobleman who recited the sins went down, but that wasn’t the case.

“Now, there will be a message from His Majesty the Emperor!”

A knight fully armed in shining armor then came up and began to recite the story contained within, as if delivering a royal decree.

“People of the Empire! It has been a long time! It has been a difficult time! The world has turned into hell with the appearance of the evil witch…”

Words of praise and self-praise, spoken loudly with a voice amplified by magic.

I was trying to figure out how to escape while listening to the content with one ear open.

Tap tap.

Someone gently taps my shoulder, which is bound.

Instead of my stiff neck, I moved only my eyes to check, and there was a familiar face.

“It’s been a while, Yandel.”

“You are…?”

“You seem to remember me. We only met once that day, over a dozen years ago.”

Well, even if it’s been over a dozen years, it’s only been a few hours for me.

It was that mercenary who moved with me in Chapter 1.

Unlike back then when he was still young, his face was full of wrinkles and his hair was gray.

“You haven’t changed since that day. You’re so young. Is that also the power you gained by becoming a follower of the witch?”

“Well, let’s just say that.”

“I was so surprised when I first heard your name. To think that you were the follower of the witch who plunged this world into chaos… In fact, I wasn’t sure until I saw you in person here.”

“…”

“Do you know? I spent all my fortune to stand in this place today, just for one day.”

“…Why did you go that far?”

He didn’t answer my question.

“I joined the Imperial Army after you left. Being a mercenary or a soldier was a rough life, but I was finally able to settle down.”

“…”

“I met a woman who was too good for me, got married, and had children. It was a truly happy time. A dozen years was a long time to change my whole life, but at the same time, it was also too short.”

The man’s voice, which started calmly, became more intense as the story progressed.

“Do you know? I have nothing now. I lost everything when the Nelbus Fortress was captured by the monster army.”

…Damn it.

“Does that answer it? Why I came here.”

I know it wasn’t my doing, but still, receiving such clear malice head-on was stressful.

“I heard that sometimes a prisoner survives because the rope breaks, but don’t worry.”

“…”

“I checked it properly several times.”

He didn’t say anything more, as if he had finished everything he wanted to say, and stepped back.

And how much time has passed?

“Ah, Mister? It seems like the end is approaching…”

I could tell that the moment was right in front of me, even if no one told me.

The enthusiastic roar of the crowd, which had become heated.

‘…No, how am I supposed to do this?’

The thought that I would die if I stayed like this made me strain my veins to the point of bursting, but the rope didn’t even show any signs of breaking.

‘Isn’t this… too unreasonable?’

At first, I thought there was an NPC behind me who was helping me, but that wasn’t the case either.

So, am I really going to die like this?

Or, will I wake up again after I die and move on to the next chapter?

I didn’t know.

The only truth I knew was that there was no reason to give up.

“Uaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

I resist, drawing out all the power in my body.

Even so, it wasn’t enough to break the rope.

But…

Zzzzt-

The rope loosened a little.

Having gained hope from this, I swung my whole body back and forth as much as it had loosened.

“…Stop!”

A soldier approached to stop me from causing a commotion.

…It was that guy from before.

Thud-!

Using the loosened gap, I headbutt the guy’s head with my forehead.

“…Huh? Aaaaaaaaaaack!”

The guy falls from the high gallows.

“Kill him! Kill him! Kill him now!”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”

The crowd shouts even more wildly at the incident that happened on the gallows.

Regardless, I struggled to escape.

And…

“Haa…”

At that moment, the knight who was reading the king’s message sighed deeply.

A small sigh that echoed throughout the square thanks to the amplification.

“Well, it seems like the preparations are finished just in time.”

Only then could I recognize it.

That this voice was very familiar.

“Sir Ervan has been found dead…!!”

“What? Then who is that guy over there…!!”

“Stop them!!”

Immediately, the knights below shouted urgently and climbed the stairs.

And at that moment.

“Begin.”

Light bursts out from the floor of the square that held thousands of people.

Swaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!!

A huge magic circle of a scale I had never seen in my life.

The man, with his back to the light, roughly threw off his helmet.

“Now, let’s go. Do you know how much we suffered because of you guys?”

It was the village chief.