Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 609

There was no commotion at the mention of spending the rainy season here.

In fact, everyone had been expecting it.

We had been investigating here until a few days before the rainy season started. If we wanted to avoid the rainy season, we should have finished the investigation and turned back a long time ago.

Perhaps it was because of the calm atmosphere around me?

‘I asked a pointless question. I’ve been so focused on the investigation lately that I wasn’t thinking clearly,’ the exploration team leader said, looking sheepish as he apologized.

‘There’s no need to apologize. Everyone knows how hard you’ve been working on the investigation.’

After that, I proceeded with the meeting, checking if there were any objections. Fortunately, none of the top brass opposed it.

It wasn’t that they were suppressing their objections because they were intimidated by my authority.

It was simply that most of the top brass didn’t consider the rainy season a major threat.

After all, they had already experienced it once.

From the Library Island to the Village Chief Island. Although the journey started on the third day of the rainy season, we reached our destination without a single casualty.

‘Considering the resources consumed at that time, it’s best to avoid the rainy season if possible. However, if that’s not the case, there’s no reason to avoid it.’

‘However, the mages will be significantly weakened for at least a few days after the rainy season ends, so please consider this carefully.’

‘Yes. If we have to fight another enemy right after the rainy season ends, their absence will be too great.’

Our topic of discussion was singular.

Not about fearing annihilation or finding a way to flee from the rainy season.

But how to minimize damage and ‘successfully’ get through the rainy season.

For a long time, various opinions and strategies were exchanged on this topic, and finally, Plan A was created.

However, we were not satisfied with Plan A and continued to brainstorm.

And…

Plan B, Plan C, Plan D…

We continued to develop countermeasures to respond to all kinds of situations.

It was the advantage of a group with the characteristics of the King’s Army.

Since mistakes should never happen, they take it for granted to prepare for all possibilities.

Sigh, I wish our clan members would learn from this spirit…

‘Alright, that’s the end of the meeting. Everyone, go back and prepare according to what we discussed today.’

The meeting ended after several hours, and after that, everyone scattered and busied themselves preparing for each plan for the remaining days.

And how much time had passed?

Crack-!

As if announcing the start of the rainy season, a monster falling from the sky shattered as it collided with the barrier.

Also, at the same time.

‘Plan C should be discarded.’

From the start, one option was eliminated.

***

If the gist of Plan A was to float a barrier on the ship and endure while consuming resources, Plan C was the exact opposite.

A plan in case we encountered an enemy or trial that we couldn’t handle.

In short, it was simply an escape plan.

For reference, Plan C could also be linked to Plan D, which involved circling the surrounding waters and then returning here just before the rainy season ended.

Well, whether it’s C or D, it’s meaningless now.

Kuaaaaaaang-!

With a roar, silver waves surged and connected to the sky, encircling the calm zone where we were.

‘What a bizarre sight…’

The exploration team members, who had experienced all sorts of hardships, were all stunned as they looked up at the overwhelming spectacle.

However, one by one, they regained their senses and realized the seriousness of the situation.

‘This is…’

‘Isn’t this very dangerous?’

The vast sea, which had plenty of room even with three large warships and one medium-sized ship docked, instantly became a confined space.

Even if the warships were known to be sturdy, it didn’t seem possible to break through those currents and get out.

‘Calm down and hold your positions! Nothing has changed anyway! If everyone does their job, there won’t be any problems!’

The vice-commander, who had regained his senses, shouted in my place and calmed the chaos.

‘Nothing has changed anyway…’

It was a statement made to try to salvage the situation, but he also knew it in his heart.

It’s not ‘anyway,’ but ‘not yet.’

Nothing has changed yet.

It’s just that the escape route is blocked, and we still have to endure for the seven days of the rainy season.

But…

The currents surging and blocking the escape route.

Could that really be the end of this event?

I don’t think so.

Of course, I wasn’t too worried about it.

Even during the meeting.

And even now that the rainy season has started.

The goblin’s intuition didn’t activate.

Yes, so…

‘Behel—raaaaaaaaaaa!!’

I kicked off from the commander’s seat, headed for the railing, and swung my hammer at the monsters climbing onto the ship.

‘Lord Baron!!’

The vice-commander was shocked to see me join the battle, but I just pretended not to hear him. If something special happened, he would take care of it.

‘Please come here quickly…! If you go there, who will command!’

Well, I can command from here too.

Commanding while sweating and bleeding in the midst of battle.

I would never think it was easy, but it was something I had always done.

‘I can command from here, so you just keep reporting the battle situation!’

Realizing that it was impossible to stop me, the vice-commander calmed down and carried out his duties as I wished.

Whether there were casualties.

The rate of resource consumption.

The grade and characteristics of the monsters appearing, etc.

He constantly relayed information to me, and fortunately, there were no other abnormalities yet.

Therefore, I focused more on the battle.

Crack-!

As time passed after the rainy season started, the number of monsters trying to climb onto the ship via the railing was increasing.

It was because the number of individuals surviving after falling from the sky was gradually increasing as the grade of the monsters rose…

‘It’s your turn, Lord Baron!’

As the battle progressed into a long one, all the members, including me, took turns fighting to distribute our stamina.

Of course, the mages were an exception.

Although they were excluded from the battle, the mages, who were in charge of the important task of maintaining the barrier, had to pour out their magic power all day long.

Most of the magic power could be replenished by pouring magic stones into the magic circle, but that didn’t mean that magic worked only with magic stones.

One day, two days…

Time passed like that, and we reached the third day.

The total number of deaths so far was two.

Due to the nature of the rainy season, we had no choice but to engage in fierce battles in the early stages, so sacrifices were inevitable.

However, there were no casualties that were excluded from the battle due to injuries.

If it wasn’t an instant death, the powerful healers would somehow grab them by the collar and bring them back from the brink of death.

‘At this rate… it seems to be going smoothly?’

Contrary to the concerns that something unusual would happen with the rising waves, this rainy season plan was progressing smoothly.

As for the two deaths…

If you’re unlucky, you can die even fighting goblins in this industry, right?

Even though my heart was heavy, I had no choice but to shake it off like an explorer and move forward.

‘But… is this really the end?’

The rainy season that had started was also gradually weakening as the peak point ended.

Is that why?

Little by little, the poison of complacency is released in my heart.

I’m still wary of any possible variables, but the thought that the rainy season might really end like this is getting stronger.

‘Actually, enduring the rainy season outside with just your bare body is an incredibly difficult condition…’

If I had to do it with only the Clan Anabada members without the exploration team members, it would be a crazy level of difficulty that I wouldn’t even dare to attempt.

No, even if it was the same members, if we didn’t have the crazy performance warships, there would have been countless casualties.

And if I think about it that way…

‘…Is this the right level of difficulty?’

The more this complacent feeling grew, the more I increased my vigilance.

Isn’t it the same when driving?

Accidents are more likely to happen when you’re moderately confident than when you’re a complete beginner.

But…

Day 3, Day 4, Day 5…

Even though the middle part had passed, no special events had occurred.

Well, that doesn’t mean it was easy.

‘There has been a casualty in Team 2.’

One more casualty occurred on the 6th day.

Considering the fierce early stages, it was much more relaxed, but the level of difficulty is always relative.

As the number of monsters decreased, our condition was not perfect either.

We had been fighting in shifts day and night, so we hadn’t slept properly, and our fatigue level was at its peak.

‘How many are out of combat?’

‘Three.’

There were even those who couldn’t get up due to fatigue even after being healed by the priests…

Is that why?

‘Damn it.’

An accident finally happened in our Team 4, which had not had any casualties so far.

One of the mages, who had been squeezed like a dried squid, fainted, and the barrier was temporarily deactivated…

Crack-!

Not only was the ship severely damaged by the fallen monster.

‘Collect the bodies.’

One member of the Armin Exploration Team and two members of the Hectz Clan were killed instantly.

‘Reverse summon the ship and gather everyone on the first warship.’

That’s how we ended up using Plan E.

There was a disadvantage that the monsters would not be dispersed in various places, but there was no other way in the current situation.

After all, one ship was already damaged.

The consumption of magic stones was so high on the first and second days that even the large number of magic stones were now running out.

‘Trying to endure all seven days straight is killing me.’

Perhaps I had underestimated it a bit because there were no casualties last time.

The perceived difficulty was different between enduring from the third day and enduring non-stop from the first day.

However, if there was any silver lining in this misfortune.

Day 7.

We had reached the last day, and no other events occurred until the moment the hour and minute hands reached the exact hour.

[00:00]

The rainy season finally ended.

However, unlike before, the members did not gather and cheer.

‘…’

‘…’

The members, as if they had burned themselves out, were sprawled out on the deck stained with monster blood, breathing heavily.

‘Is it over…’

‘Even if it’s not over, I don’t care. I can’t move anymore…’

I wanted to say something congratulatory to them, who had suffered so much, but I postponed it and looked up at the sky.

‘It’s about time it started.’

Why isn’t anything happening?

That thought was forming in my head.

Flash-!

As if to bless us for passing the trial, a brilliant rainbow-colored light enveloped us.

***

Beep beep beep- Beep beep beep- Beep beep beep-!

A mechanical beep sound was heard nearby.

When I opened my eyes, I saw a flying object gliding in front of the ship’s railing.

No, to be precise…

Drrrrrrrrr-!

A drone was hovering in place.

‘What is this now?’

Even in my hazy state, I instinctively grabbed my hammer and got up.

Then…

Drrrrrrrrrrr-!

As if sensing my intention to attack, the drone that had been observing me from the front flew into the jungle.

‘Where the hell is this…’

‘Is everyone alright!’

‘Everyone, be on alert…!’

Even in their exhausted state, the members quickly got up, sensing the abnormality.

‘Wait a minute… jungle?’

I quickly went to the railing and checked my surroundings.

It wasn’t a river mouth.

The warship we were on was in the middle of a lush jungle where no sound of water could be heard.

And…

‘Mister! There’s a building over there! There’s a building!’

Erwen, who had climbed onto the lookout tower at some point, raised her voice, pointing somewhere.

‘You have to come and see it!’

Perhaps it was because the ship was so big?

The trees weren’t small, but when I stepped on the ropes hanging from the mast, my vision cleared.

‘Over there, over there!’

Soon, when I looked in the direction Erwen was pointing, I saw an artificial structure that looked like a pyramid, built in a rhombus shape… a temple.

For some reason, as soon as I saw it, a place came to mind.

One of the fields in the 7th floor Dark Continent.

A field where many ‘machine’ type monsters, which were rare in the labyrinth, appeared.

If I’m not mistaken.

‘Pantellion Ruins.’

The place where we opened our eyes was very similar to that place.