Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 60

Day 7, afternoon.

It’s been over 80 hours since I got separated from that dwarf group and got stranded in this goddamn forest.

“…….”

I’m still here.

I’m just wandering through the forest, blankly staring at the increasingly worse hallucinations and auditory hallucinations.

That’s the change that happened after the first day of being stranded.

“…….”

I stopped talking except when absolutely necessary.

It’s not because we’re upset with each other.

It’s just that we don’t have the energy left to do so.

Ah, there’s one more change.

“…….”

I connected Misha and me with a rope.

It looks like dried fish tied together with a rope.

It’s a trick I naturally learned after spending a long time in the Witch’s Forest.

This way, even if one of us falls behind or gets separated, we can find each other by relying on the rope.

“Bjorn… please go a little slower, just a little slower…”

“Okay.”

I slowed down.

This morning, Misha’s condition deteriorated rapidly.

It’s not that she got sick or her injuries worsened.

It’s just that her fatigue has reached its limit.

Thud, thud.

I slowed my pace, but I keep feeling something tugging at my waist.

Is she not able to keep up even at this speed?

After a brief moment of thought, I stopped walking.

“Get on my back.”

“……?”

“If you get some sleep, you’ll feel better.”

“B-but……”

Misha trails off and looks at me.

Well, it would be funny.

Actually, just by looking at our appearances, I look several times worse than her.

‘I look like the worst beggar.’

The cloth armor I’m wearing under my armor is full of holes and worn out, and there are signs of corrosion on the iron equipment.

It’s all a side effect of awakening Misha.

When I took off the Frost Spirit Ring, the passive skill of the ‘Corpse Golem’ [A type of undead creature] that had been sealed was activated.

And minor injuries from fighting monsters are commonplace, and every time the acidic blood splatters, it has led to my current appearance.

‘The repair costs alone will be huge.’

I smiled bitterly.

The 2nd stage material, the Lytinium breastplate and shield, were in relatively good condition, but they had long lost the pure white luster they used to boast.

But did she misunderstand something when she saw that smile?

Misha opened her mouth worriedly.

“I, I’m okay. You should rest instead. I’ll carry you!”

I appreciate the thought, but…

Is that even realistically possible?

“Enough, come here.”

Refusing any further argument, I grabbed Misha’s waist and lifted her up.

I could feel her listlessness from her light weight.

She didn’t even have the strength to resist.

“I’ll wake you up if there’s a problem, so rest well until then.”

“But……”

“Tsk.”

“…Thank you.”

Misha, who was draped over one of my shoulders, finally accepted the situation.

But she didn’t fall asleep right away, did she?

She spoke to me in a small voice.

“Bjorn.”

“Why are you calling me?”

“…Do you smell it?”

“Tell me.”

“Hing, there’s a good smell…”

A good smell, so what?

You should finish what you’re saying.

I suddenly became curious about what she was going to say next, but…

Well, she must have been dreaming.

There’s no way I’d smell good with my body stained with blood and sweat, and unwashed for days.

I couldn’t help but smile at the sound of her soft breathing that soon began to be heard.

Heh.

Yeah, it’s all because you guys were full, right?

No matter how many hallucinations and auditory hallucinations I have, if I’m really tired, I can fall asleep anywhere.

That’s how the human body is designed.

We have to survive in any environment.

‘Then shall I keep going?’

I continued to walk through the forest with Misha on my back.

I’d love to put her down next to me and rest together, but…

I can’t.

「84 hours have passed since entering the Witch’s Forest.」

「Field Effect – The Witch’s Forest is strengthened.」

「Status effect [Witch’s Eye] is upgraded to level 5.」

Field debuff [Witch’s Eye].

This is the real reason why the Witch’s Forest is only recognized as a passing area.

The effect is simple.

If you stay in one place for a certain amount of time, a level 7 monster ‘Carnivaro’ will definitely appear, and the ‘certain amount of time’ will gradually decrease as the level increases.

On the first day, it was about an hour.

And now…

‘It’s probably about 10 minutes.’

We’ve reached a point where we have to keep moving.

And the problem is that there are two of us.

Even if Carnivaro appears, there are no allies to stop it, and now we can consider ourselves half dead the moment it appears.

Even when we had stamina, it took us more than 15 minutes to catch one.

In theory, another one will appear before we can even catch one.

Thud, thud.

That’s why I’m walking now.

I feel like I’m going to die from exhaustion, but I still have to walk.

Otherwise, I might really die.

‘But seeing as they still haven’t appeared, can I stop worrying about them now?’

When things are tough, it’s best to think about other things.

After finishing one thought, I brought up another topic.

It’s been four days since we got stranded in the Witch’s Forest.

If Elisa had a way to find us, she should have come by now.

I think it’s safe to relax now.

‘I’ve gotten rid of one of the biggest worries.’

I don’t know why they can’t find us.

But if I had to guess…

There must have been some variable on their side as well.

Just like how Misha and I are stranded here alone.

Life is even more of a bitch because you never know what will happen.

Anyway, how long did we wander around avoiding the small fry?

Well, it feels like it’s been at least an hour.

[Oppa, why are you just leaving her alone?]

I raised my head at the familiar hallucination.

[You’ve fulfilled her lifelong wish, and if you just flirt with her a little… she’ll fall for you, right?]

A woman appeared next to a tree and was staring at me intently.

A white blouse and a suit skirt.

And her unique arrogant and prickly tone.

…It’s my ex-girlfriend.

[Are you afraid of being abandoned again?]

Ugh, shit…

Until now, most of the hallucinations were obviously hallucinations, but this one doesn’t even have that.

I feel like if I reached out and touched her, I’d even feel her body temperature.

[Oh my, you’re so lewd.]

What is she saying again?

Maybe it’s based on my mind, but even her actions are the same as hers.

Well, does that mean that all the hallucinations I’ve heard so far were actually based on my subconscious?

[That’s your problem, Oppa. You always try to know everything.]

‘That’s true.’

The fear of ignorance is an instinct that all living things have.

[But isn’t it too much? You don’t try to tell me anything.]

‘You were the same way.’

[Huh? What is there about me that you don’t know? You know every inch of my body better than I do?]

At her seductive voice, my gaze moved involuntarily.

There was one change in the visual aspect.

“…….”

A white blouse and a short suit skirt.

So far, it’s the same as before, but she’s wearing black stockings on her long legs.

It was skin-colored before.

[Your taste is consistent.]

Damn it, is this what I’m like?

[Throw away that beastly girl and come here. You should just be with me. The others can’t even understand you, right?]

Oh, is that so?

My feet moved forward without me realizing it.

That was the moment.

[Make me feel good—]

The face of my ex-girlfriend, who was smiling brightly with her arms open as if she would embrace everything, twisted grotesquely.

Not like a description, but really.

Thwack-!

Her facial muscles were crushed like a rice cake as a fist landed on her face.

For some reason, Misha, who should have been on my shoulder, was punching my ex-girlfriend’s face.

In rapid succession, like a nimble character.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

What is this? Is this also a hallucination?

I just stared blankly at the scene with a dreamlike sensation.

However…

[Kiyaaaaaaak!!!]

A sound like nails scratching a chalkboard followed, and I snapped back to my senses.

Before I knew it, Misha, who had pulverized my ex-girlfriend, came back and was shaking my waist.

“Are you okay! Bjorn!”

“Uh, uhh……”

“I took care of the Dryad, so snap out of it!”

What? Dryad?

That level 8 monster that appears with a very low probability in the Witch’s Forest and uses the [Charm] skill?

No wonder the hallucination was so vivid.

「You have defeated the Dryad. EXP +2」

「Status effect [Charm] is removed.」

The situation was understood in an instant.

It wasn’t a field effect, but I was hit by a skill.

“…Thank you. I would have been in big trouble if it weren’t for you.”

I readily expressed my gratitude.

But in that instant.

“Heh, this much is natural—”

Misha flinched and pointed to one place.

“Uh, uh? B-Bjorn? I, I think the big trouble has already happened…”

I nodded unconsciously after checking where she was pointing.

“…I guess so.”

Has it already been 10 minutes since I was charmed?

There, in the bushes, the level 7 monster Carnivaro was slowly walking towards us.

“D-die, you…”

Scattering a murderous glint in its eyes.

***

Carnivaro.

A level 7 monster that only appears in the Witch’s Forest.

It is classified as a humanoid undead and has a fairly high level of intelligence.

The problem is that it only uses that intelligence to kill people.

“B-blood, and, flesh… g-give, it, to, me.”

Carnivaro aims a crossbow at us.

Its protruding fangs are glistening with bodily fluids, as if it’s already drooling. Well, I’m not sure about it, but I, a barbarian, would be quite appetizing.

I have low body fat, so I might be a bit tough.

“Misha, get behind me.”

“O-okay!”

First, I sent Misha to the rear, and then blocked the space between us with my shield.

Once we’ve encountered it, it’s impossible to run away.

Carnivaro has a habit of following its prey to the end.

In fact, its combat style was similar to that of a hunter.

「Carnivaro has cast [Magic Mine].」

It sets traps around the area.

These are traps that we can’t see, and a strong explosion occurs the moment we get close.

Therefore, it’s difficult to close the distance rashly.

And in the meantime…

「Carnivaro has cast [Pursuit Arrow].」

An arrow flies.

It has power that is incomparable to that of a goblin archer, and it’s an arrow with a high level of accuracy.

Therefore, it’s standard to block it rather than dodge it.

Like this.

Clang!

I deflect the arrow that was shot directly at me, and it bounces off to the side.

Last time, while I was blocking the arrows, Misha threw stones around to destroy the mines.

But…

‘There’s no time for that now.’

I have to defeat him within 10 minutes.

Otherwise, another one will appear.

And that process will continue to repeat.

Until we die.

Therefore, there is only one option left.

“Misha, get on my back.”

“What are you talking about?”

Misha, who was picking up stones to throw, tilted her head.

But there’s no time to explain.

“It seems like I’ll have to push myself this time. So do as I say.”

At my strong words, Misha got on my back.

Immediately, I charged forward, protecting my head and upper body with my shield.

Boom, boom, boom-!

The mines that were spread out nearby exploded with every step, but…

I kept running.

“W-what are you doing!!”

Misha was horrified at my actions, but in fact, from my point of view, there was nothing particularly unusual about it.

Since I woke up in a barbarian’s body, I’ve overcome most crises by using my body, haven’t I?

This is just the same.

The only option I could choose in the worst situation.

Boom, boom, boom-!

The pain that pierces through my pain tolerance.

I can feel my legs getting destroyed in real time every time an explosion occurs.

「Carnivaro has summoned [Hounds].」

In the meantime, the summoned hounds rush at me.

And they bite into all sorts of places, such as my arms, shoulders, thighs, and legs, and shake their jaws.

Boom, boom, boom-!

Even so, I didn’t stop walking.

I deflected the flying arrows.

And I dropped the little dogs that were hanging everywhere with [Flesh Explosion].

I kept going.

Then, at some point.

Boom-!

The tenth mine exploded, and my body tilted sharply.

I tried to find my balance by putting out my other foot, but I soon realized that it was a meaningless act.

‘It’s so disgusting.’

The lower part of my leg could no longer be called a foot.

It was more like a lump of crushed meat.

‘Well, if I’ve come this far, she’ll take care of it.’

As soon as I realized that further charging was impossible.

I threw Misha, who was riding on me, far away.

“Go finish it.”

There was no answer.

However, Misha’s movement in the air became the answer.

Swoosh-!

Misha, who was agilely doing a somersault in the air, stabbed her spear into Carnivaro’s shoulder, not its head.

Swoosh-!

A mistake caused by a lack of proficiency with the spear.

However, Misha used the spear shaft as a pivot to rotate her body, and then pulled out the dagger she was wearing on her waist and stabbed it into the monster’s forehead, making up for her mistake.

And the time it took to get here was…

‘It couldn’t have been more than 5 minutes at most.’

Anyway, I’ve overcome one crisis like this.

Satisfied with that fact, I collapsed to the ground.

***

「Warning: A part of the character’s body has been damaged. If not treated immediately, it may lead to permanent injury.」

***

After the battle.

Misha rushed over.

And she yelled at me.

“Bjorn!! What were you thinking doing that!”

Her face looked like she was angry, but also like she was about to cry.

I answered briefly.

“That was the most likely way.”

There were no other options.

And from now on, what Misha has to do is not scold me or worry about me.

“If you’re done explaining, can you give me some potions now?”

As I, with my foot destroyed, gave an indifferent order while collapsed on the ground, Misha’s eyes went blank.

However, as if my request was registered in her head, she poured the potion with trembling hands.

Fzzzz.

A high-grade potion that costs a whopping 200,000 stones per bottle.

As expensive as it is, it’s an essential consumable that can even recover from limb amputations.

However, Misha still looked worried.

“I-if you get hurt like this, the potion won’t be able to heal everything…”

Well, I don’t think that’s the case.

「The character’s regeneration is greatly increased by the [Eternal Life] effect.」

Immortal mark.

The high natural regeneration rate of the vampire essence.

And even the active skill [Eternal Life].

In terms of the game, my natural regeneration rate would already be well over 150.

Even if it wasn’t a high-grade potion, I could recover from limb amputations if I had enough time.

In the first place, I wouldn’t have done such a crazy thing if it wasn’t for this.

“W-what, what is this! There’s no way you’d heal this fast after using a potion…”

Misha was shocked to see me, whose wounds were rapidly regenerating as the effects of the potion overlapped.

Well, I guess it’s a natural reaction since she thinks I only have the Corpse Golem essence?

My crushed leg healed in less than a minute.

Unfortunately, I was barefoot.

‘Should I have taken off my shoes before running? I could have sold them for 150,000 stones.’

A high-grade potion and boots.

It’s a huge loss for an investment in catching a level 7 monster.

But there’s no point in regretting it.

I opened my backpack, put on the leather boots I was originally wearing, and slowly got up from my spot.

Okay, it seems like the feeling in my toes is normal.

“Bjorn, what are you! You don’t even feel pain when you use a potion…!

“It’s a barbarian’s mental strength.”

This is real.

Even Ainar didn’t make a single groan when he took a potion.

I’m purely relying on my pain tolerance, though.

Well, isn’t it the way of the world that as long as the results are the same?