Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 604

A silence in a place where many people gather always has a reason. Either everyone is focused on something, or it’s an atmosphere of mourning due to a sad event, or they are so surprised that words fail them.

“……!”

“……!”

In this case, it was the latter. It was clear that all the leaders present were flustered by my actions and words. However, they didn’t rashly say anything and just stared at one person.

“…….”

Jillen Evost. The vice-commander of our expeditionary force, who has the legitimate authority to take command in the absence of the commander. In fact, I rate this man highly. Even though a strange monster had entered the body of the commander, Jerome Saintred, this expeditionary force was running smoothly. He was the lubricant and engine that kept this expeditionary force moving.

‘Probably, after my story at this meeting, he was planning to announce the succession immediately.’ Surely, that plan would have proceeded smoothly without any opposition. If it weren’t for me suddenly interfering.

“…….”

Everyone is waiting for his reaction, but the vice-commander himself remained silent. He seemed to be calmly organizing his thoughts… ‘There’s no need to give him too much time.’ I looked at the vice-commander and spoke again.

“Surely you don’t mean you still don’t understand what this means?”

When I spoke with a slightly provocative tone, the vice-commander finally opened his mouth to answer.

“That’s not the case. I understand exactly what the Baron means by sitting in that seat, and I was considering how to convince you.”

“Convince… That sounds like you don’t acknowledge my sitting in this seat?”

At my more provocative question than before, all the leaders widened their eyes. ‘Are you even saying that? You barbarian?’ They seemed to want to shout that, but they couldn’t because of my title and reputation. Unfortunately, this was the same for my companions.

“…….”

Even Amelia, who I thought was my right-hand, was looking at me from a distance with eyes that seemed to say, ‘Is this guy really crazy?’

“Of course.”

Then, the vice-commander answered my question. “The Baron is not qualified to be the commander of this expeditionary force.”

“Why is that?”

“Because the Baron is the leader of the temporary 4th squad.”

The leader of the temporary 4th squad, not even the leader of a formally recognized squad. “According to the military law established by the royal family, when the highest-ranking person is killed or unable to perform their duties properly, the next highest-ranking person will take over the duties.”

The vice-commander then invoked the military law and even used the name of the royal family to back him up. Hey, do you think I sat here without knowing that?

“Then there’s no problem? The next highest-ranking person after the Count would be me, the Baron.”

Although the expeditionary force was full of elites, the only ones with titles were me and the Count. Why would a titled noble come down to the labyrinth, especially to the first basement floor, which hasn’t even been properly explored? The original Count Saintred was also forced to come because they needed someone to act as the commander-in-chief.

“…It seems the Baron needs to understand the difference between rank and title first.”

The vice-commander sighed as he looked at me. It was a much calmer reaction than I expected. If it were me, I would have picked up a hammer, saying I wouldn’t bother with such nonsense.

“Aren’t rank and title both just social status? Among these people, I have the highest status after the Count.”

When I pushed my point again, the vice-commander calmly explained as before. He talked about the difference between rank and title, about military tactics. He also mentioned the political problems my stubbornness would cause, and he lectured about military law for a long time. But…

“So?”

“…Yes?”

“So why can’t I be the commander?”

Even the wisest person would feel a sense of self-doubt if they were reading scriptures to a deaf ear. “…….”

In the end, the vice-commander, who had been trying to persuade me for a long time, shut his mouth. He realized that he couldn’t convince me with any words.

“Jillen Evost.”

I said, having watched for the right timing. It was a bit funny for a Barbarian who had just opened a baronial family to say this. “I have no intention of taking orders from someone without a title.”

I had finished assessing the vice-commander. This kind of approach would work better on him. “And in the first place.”

I said. “Can you give me orders?”

“…….”

“Really, can you treat me like you treat your other subordinates?”

The vice-commander didn’t answer. His steadfastness and honesty in not answering that he could, even as a formality, were quite impressive, but such qualities were not suitable for someone trying to take on the role of commander. Maybe for an aide.

“…….”

“…….”

The vice-commander continued to be silent. Only then did I take my eyes off him and look around. Surprisingly, there was no anxiety or worry on their faces. They were just holding their breath, wondering how this would end. ‘They don’t care who sits in the commander’s seat.’ From the vice-commander’s perspective, it was a forced justification, but from their perspective, it probably didn’t feel so forced. A Baron with a title recognized by the royal family. The meaning of that fact in the city of Lapdonia was enormous. Well, even so, there was probably another reason why they reacted like that.

“Everyone, listen up.”

Thinking that now was the right time, I abandoned my playful tone and spoke to everyone. “We are now at a crossroads.” The crossroads was not about which side to choose as commander. “We can either carry out the mission given by the royal family and return to the city in style, or we can be trapped here forever, never escaping.”

The longer we spent here, the more everyone would have thought about it, but they didn’t express it. After making everyone aware of that, I continued. “But if you trust and follow me.” There was no need for long words. “I will definitely send you all home.”

I had already shown it through my actions. In the Crystal Cave where the Lord of the Abyss appeared, in the Goblin Forest, and in the Ice Rock expedition. It was the same on this first basement floor. On the Library Island, I was the one who fought most fiercely against the 1st-grade monsters. I was also the one who broke through all the guardian statues and opened the rift, and I was the one who went directly into that rift. What did the vice-commander do in that process? He was good at managing the internal affairs of the expeditionary force, but that was all. Therefore, ‘How long do we have to be trapped here?’ It was clear which side the members who had begun to feel such anxiety would see as the ‘trustworthy commander.’

“Everyone, including me, knows that the Baron is a smart person. What does the Baron want? What do we have to do to convince you?”

The vice-commander asked directly, and I grinned and answered. “Let’s gather all the members and vote.” A democratic process is always right.

***

A vote. A democratic process that is not at all suitable for an army with a vertical hierarchy. But surprisingly, the vice-commander easily allowed it. ‘He must have judged that there was no other way to stop my stubbornness other than a vote.’ Ah, of course, he would have been confident in his own way. Even though he didn’t have a title, he was also a member of a noble family and a respected superior to the knights. ‘It’s about half and half…’ His subordinates would all vote for him. On the other hand, all of our temporary 4th squad members would vote for me. Both were similar in number, so it was hard to tell who was superior. Therefore, what was important was the overall public sentiment of the expeditionary force members…

“The results are in.”

The results of the vote for all members of the expeditionary force were out. “It was close.” I was elected with a little over half the votes. It seemed that everyone secretly thought that a strong leader was needed to escape this floor… It was a fortunate thing for both me and the vice-commander. There was no need to deploy a Plan B in case I lost the election.

“Well, now that the results are out…” I naturally sat in the commander’s chair and gave my first order. “Jillen Evost, you are the vice-commander. Your job will be the same as before, so you can do it well, right?”

“Yes.”

A formal order to show the hierarchy to everyone. After that, I led the meeting without any awkwardness. “Somehow, we’re only now talking about the rift.” Only then did I talk about what had happened inside the rift. I didn’t go into detail, and I mainly talked about the end of the ‘Archbishop,’ which everyone was curious about.

“He… is he really a priest of Karui [a major deity in this world]…!?”

“Wait a minute, then is it because of the Archbishop that the Count was killed…?”

The religious people who participated in the leadership meeting couldn’t hide their agitation. The Archbishop’s end was the end, but it was because the Archbishop was the culprit who killed the commander. But…

“Don’t worry. I won’t hold the Three Gods Church responsible for this. It was an act of God. It was a dangerous mission, and the Archbishop just died in the process.” I eased their anxiety, worried that the blame might fall on them. “Besides, I don’t know if Count Saintred is really dead, but he’s not, is he? There will be no disadvantages for him when he returns.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

These are not ordinary religious people. They are all religious people who have risen to a prominent position within the Three Gods Church. So, they are all a bit more shrewd than ordinary religious people.

“Anyway, let’s start the meeting in earnest. Vice-commander, has the investigation of the room beyond the stone gate been completed?”

“Not yet regarding the statues.”

“I heard you found out about the portal.”

“We need to investigate further, but many believe it’s a portal that can take us outside.”

“I see.”

“But, even so, it seems wise to postpone using the portal for a bit.”

“Why is that?”

“Because it’s probably raining heavily outside.”

I hadn’t calculated the time, but it seemed that it was already time for another rainy season outside. “Then we’ll stay here and investigate until the rainy season ends.” With those words, today’s meeting ended.

“I’m hungry, everyone go out.” I uttered a line I had always wanted to say, and at the same time, everyone left the barracks like a receding tide. Ah, except for one person. “Vice-commander, do you have something to say to me?” To be precise, it was a way of saying, ‘If you have any complaints, say them quickly.’ But the vice-commander, upon hearing those words, chuckled.

“Do you know, Baron? I am one of the people who sincerely think it’s fortunate that you became the commander.”

“…What?”

Even if I just listened roughly, it didn’t sound like flattery from someone trying to latch onto a new power. “Actually… I also voted for you.”

“…Why?”

“Because I know my place. A position where I have to take responsibility for hundreds of people is not suitable for me.”

“But you were the one who opposed it the most?”

“Well, I also need to have an excuse, don’t I? If I don’t want to be socially buried when I return to the city.”

The vice-commander then saluted me politely. “So, please take care of me in the future. The better you lead the expeditionary force, the less I have to take responsibility for, right?” With that, he had said everything he wanted to say, and the vice-commander left the barracks, leaving a bag of jerky in front of me. “Ah, I heard you were hungry.” I felt like I had been tricked somehow, but I put the jerky the vice-commander had given me in my mouth and chewed. ‘It’s delicious.’ Now this expeditionary force is mine.

***

The (True) Barbarian Legion Commander mode was very convenient. To be honest, it was quite annoying to go through the village chief, who was just a figurehead, to give orders. Now that process has completely disappeared. No, is that all? “Are you saying you’re going to reorganize the organizational chart…?”

“Yes. No matter how I look at it, dividing it into four squads and letting the squad leaders take care of it is inefficient.”

I could freely issue unconventional orders that the village chief, who had to imitate Count Saintred, could never have done. “Inefficient… you say.”

“Ah, also know that I’m going to make changes to the members who participate in the leadership meeting.”

“Yes…”

Still, the vice-commander was a very useful person. No matter what orders I gave, he would think about how to carry them out without any complaints. Of course, in a way, it was also a disadvantage. It meant that he would never speak ill of his superiors.

“You really… took the commander’s seat.”

“Are you sad that you couldn’t become the vice-commander?”

“…I wouldn’t take it even if you gave it to me. Something like that.”

I think Amelia could say something sweet, but… “Be careful. There won’t be any problems here, but when you return to the city later, you don’t know what kind of fault the royal family will find with this.”

She has a habit of saying something bitter no matter what I say. Well, that’s why it’s good though. “Is there anything you want? I can give you anything with the commander’s orders—”

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Ah, while you’re going out, find Raven and call him!”

“…….”

Amelia, after hearing my request, left the barracks without saying anything. But soon after, Raven came into the barracks. “You called for me, Commander?”

“Commander, my foot. Just sit down.” Raven looked at me sitting in the commander’s seat with a look that still couldn’t believe it, and then he came closer and sat next to me. “So, why did you call me? Because of the investigation?”

“No, I’m curious about that too… but this time, I have a favor to ask.”

“Can I just go back like this?”

“No way. It’s the commander’s order.”

“Ugh… I should have written down Evost’s name and put it in the box.”

It was too late to regret it. This expeditionary force was already mine. “Tell me. What’s the favor you want to ask?” Looking at the resigned Raven, I took out an item I had secretly kept. “A flower crown…? What is this?”

“I don’t know either. But this came out when the village chief killed the Archbishop.”

“It didn’t come from a monster?”

“Yes, that’s why it’s even more suspicious and special.”

Raven then picked up the flower crown with curious eyes and looked at it from side to side. “It’s not a Numbers item [a type of magical artifact]… I’ve never heard of a flower crown like this. Can I take this? You probably called me to investigate this item anyway.”

“Uh, that’s right… but still, don’t tell anyone about that flower crown. Do the research alone too.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because it’s a secret research that no one should know about. You’re the only one who knows about that flower crown.” I’m telling you this especially because I trust you. I even deliberately gave off that kind of nuance that Raven especially liked. But…

“I’m the only one who knows…?”

Unfortunately, Raven was intelligent and quick-witted. “This is… embezzlement!!” Raven quickly took his hand off the flower crown, horrified that he might be implicated as an accomplice. Of course, there was no big problem. “Embezzlement? It’s the commander’s decision.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“So, are you not going to do it? It’s an unknown treasure obtained from the rift on the first basement floor?”

“…I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it.” Raven, who had been looking around quickly, put the flower crown into his subspace [a personal storage dimension] at lightning speed.