Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 629

Bifron is an abandoned city.

Originally, it was District 14 of Lavigion, a residential area with a dimensional plaza, but a long time ago, the guardian magic circle that blocked the witch’s poison broke down, and the entire district was sealed off.

And…

‘It became a prison camp.’

The royal family, seeing it as a waste to abandon an entire city district, separated District 14, renamed it ‘Bifron,’ and repurposed it as a city for a different kind of population.

Dreamers who yearned for revolution.

Thinkers with progressive ideas.

Or those who were dissatisfied with the city’s system itself, and so on.

The royal family imprisoned all such ‘dissenters’ in Bifron, and as a result, they gained more than they would have by simply executing them.

But…

‘Right now, the situation must be unstable for the royal family.’

The fact that the Noark went outside the city walls proves it.

There was no witch’s poison that would melt their bodies the moment they stepped out.

Well, the general public has limited access to information, so they only see it as a kind of urban legend.

Anyway.

“Hoo…”

That’s about all I know about Bifron right now.

Then, why has Bifron become so important?

Is it because it’s a politically significant city for the royal family?

Is that why the Noark are trying to exploit it?

At first, that was my initial thought, but the more I considered it, the more it seemed unlikely.

Because it doesn’t add up.

If that were the case, the royal family would have sent troops to Bifron or tried to protect it somehow.

The royal family isn’t full of fools, and they couldn’t have missed what I’ve realized.

‘…If I investigate, something will surface.’

With that in mind, I continued my investigation of Bifron even after leaving the checkpoint.

I formed a search party to explore various parts of the city and asked the residents if there were any legends or stories passed down through generations.

Also…

Swishhhhhh-!

I also went up to the top of the city walls, which I hadn’t been able to check before because of the knights.

Somehow, with my companions.

“Wow…”

“It’s different from the dark place I imagined since I was young. I thought it would be a land full of darkness…”

“Yeah. It looks… really peaceful…”

The world outside, seen from the top of the high city walls, was more than magnificent.

The lush forests, mountains, and valleys suggested that even beyond the visible horizon, there was a vibrant nature teeming with life.

“Mister, should we just jump off from here?”

“What…?”

“Just because. I was wondering if it would matter if we went outside. Whether it’s the Noark or the royal family…”

I didn’t think it was a foolish idea.

In fact, I had a similar urge as soon as I looked down from the city walls.

What would happen if we just went outside?

If we’re not going back to our original world anyway.

Maybe that’s another way.

Then there’s no need to struggle to reach the Gate of the Abyss, no need to become stronger to fear the royal family who are watching me with narrowed eyes.

No need to lose anything to move forward.

It would all disappear.

As that thought arose, I slowly shook my head.

“It probably won’t work.”

“Huh?”

“Because the guardian magic circle will be active.”

“Huh? But Bifron was said to have a broken magic circle…”

“How can you trust what the royal family says?”

I told them to shoot an arrow towards the outside, and Erwen pulled the bowstring with a tense expression.

And…

Thwack-!

The arrow that flew eventually hit the air with a dull sound and fell.

“It was working after all.”

“…I guess so.”

Erwen, while disappointed by that fact, asked me casually.

“But wouldn’t there be a gap if we shot it harder?”

“You can try, but it probably won’t work. The guardian magic circle is the legacy of the last great sage, Gabrielius.”

And, although I didn’t say it.

In the first place, there’s no guarantee that the life I want will unfold if I go out.

Isn’t that right?

Why did the Noark who went outside the city walls come back to this city?

There must have been a good reason for it.

And not only that…

‘Escaping doesn’t suit me.’

After living the life of a barbarian, my body and mind have become completely tainted.

I don’t want to run away and hide like medieval slash-and-burn farmers.

No, to be precise, rather than that…

‘It’s better to turn everything upside down.’

It’s much better to eliminate the reason to run away.

To put it bluntly, if I destroy everything and become king, there’s no reason to build a house in the middle of nowhere, right?

Well, I doubt it’s realistically possible…

‘Hmm… Is it completely impossible?’

Seeing myself thinking like this, I think I’ve really become a barbarian.

***

Two days after starting a full-scale investigation into the city of ‘Bifron’.

I happened to encounter an old acquaintance.

“You’ve grown a lot.”

“Hello, Baron.”

The ten-year-old kid who boldly approached me on the day I was exiled to Bifron, offering to be my guide and asking for only 100 stones.

That kid had grown into a fresh young boy.

So much so that I wouldn’t have recognized him if he hadn’t come to greet me first.

“You were eleven back then, right?”

“You remember that…”

“And you also said that you could prove your qualification at fourteen.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But why are you still here?”

At my question, he chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.

“I failed. To prove my worth.”

“…I see.”

“I guess I didn’t have enough time. It couldn’t have been a lack of effort.”

“So, are you aiming for a retry?”

“You really don’t know, Baron. You can only prove your qualification once, when you’re exactly fourteen. If you don’t get out then, you’re deprived of the opportunity for life.”

I was at a loss for words at his nonchalant demeanor.

Should I say I feel a little sorry?

Ah, I can just be honest about my feelings.

“That’s unfortunate.”

“No. I think it’s better this way now.”

“…?”

“These days, I’m helping other younger kids pass their qualification. So that at least they can get out.”

“Aren’t you resentful?”

He just smiled at my question, and after saying that he just came to say hello and thanked me for remembering him, he left.

Was it time to go teach the younger kids?

Just in case, I stopped him and asked if there were any rumors or mysterious places in Bifron, but he said there weren’t any.

‘Is there really nothing at all…’

The more I investigate, the more impatient I become.

To be honest, I thought that if I searched the city thoroughly, something would come up.

“Bersil, how’s the communication with the outside? Is it still difficult?”

“Yes. It’s not easy. The guardian magic circle itself, when looking at the results, is closer to a dimensional isolation phenomenon…”

“I see.”

“The only way is to communicate through physical means, but no matter how much we wave flags on the city walls, they don’t pay attention. For some reason, the houses near the city walls are all empty, and there are no people on the streets. It’s as if they’ve all evacuated.”

“Evacuated…”

The more time passes, the more curious I become about the situation outside rather than inside.

Huh, is there no way to get news?

If the community hadn’t been shut down, I would have waited for that time and prepared various things.

One day, two days, three days…

Time passed without any particular gain, and the explorers who followed me into Bifron became accustomed to this place.

Since they couldn’t sleep in the plaza, they slept in the residents’ houses, and in return, they repaired dilapidated houses, gave them things from the outside, and the priests treated the sick.

As such exchanges continued, those who had initially shunned the residents of this place like plague patients gradually lost that attitude.

As someone who once ruled Bifron, it was a very pleasing sight.

But…

Thump-

The more peaceful time passed, the more I began to feel uneasy.

There’s no progress in the investigation.

In that situation, neither the royal family nor the Noark are taking any action, so should I say that I’m just having more strange thoughts?

Swoosh.

I got out of bed, put on my coat, and went outside. My body was stiff, and I couldn’t sleep even if I closed my eyes, so I thought I’d go for a walk.

Step, step.

Bifron is relatively clean, but the appearance of the streets at night was different from other districts.

First of all, it was too dark.

As Bifron is overwhelmingly lacking in resources, it was one of the inevitable characteristics of the night streets.

‘Well, it’s still nice because it’s atmospheric and quiet.’

As I walked along the night streets, I arrived at the outer city wall.

I didn’t particularly intend to come here.

I wondered if I should turn back around here, but for some reason, I became curious about the view of the outside of the city walls at night, so I went all the way up to the top of the city walls.

Swishhhhhh-!

The cool night air blew.

However, the night view seen from the city walls was completely different from what I had expected.

“I can’t see anything.”

Only pitch-black darkness spread below.

It felt like something would jump out of it and pull me in if I kept looking down.

‘…The sky is just black too.’

Maybe I chose the wrong day, but there aren’t many stars either.

So, I was just going to get some air and head home when I was about to turn around.

Thud.

I felt a presence behind me.

Clearly enough that even a dull barbarian’s senses wouldn’t be confused.

Whoosh.

When I turned around, an unidentified figure with their body covered in a hood was standing on the city walls like a ghost.

“Baron Yandel, listen.”

There was no need to ask who the other party was.

Because a strong wind happened to blow.

Swishhhhhh-!

Through the gap in the open hood, I could see light armor.

A dagger attached to the belt.

And that it was a woman.

“What is the Rose Knights doing here?” [The Rose Knights are an elite group of royal knights.]

I asked casually, and the woman took out a rolled-up scroll from her bosom and unfolded it.

“It’s a royal decree.”

Huh, what’s going on in the middle of the night?

***

The content of the royal decree delivered by the Rose Knight who suddenly appeared in the middle of the night when the moon wasn’t even properly visible was very simple.

So, to summarize…

“They’re going to temporarily open the checkpoint in District 4, so they want us to leave through that gap?”

“My mission is to deliver it.”

“You’re so stiff.”

I tried to joke, but the woman didn’t answer and just kept her mouth shut.

Is she the type who doesn’t talk about anything outside of work?

Well, it’s not like there’s no way to deal with it.

“But isn’t it your job to deliver the king’s words well? So, answer me. The scroll says to bring me and the explorer residents from District 7…”

“What do you want to ask?”

“Don’t we need to bring the residents of Bifron?”

“Affirmative.”

“Why?”

“That’s a strange question. They don’t have permission to enter the residential area in the first place.”

“What if I say I’m going to take them?”

“Such an assumption is meaningless. As I said earlier, they don’t have permission to enter.”

In short, it means they’ll stop it no matter what.

And the problem is that this time, the opponent is not the type that can be forced with power.

“Or, are you planning to rebel against the royal decree?”

“Of course not. I was just curious.”

“Then that’s fine. Come to the checkpoint with the explorers from District 7 at the time written.”

I tried to ask other questions after that, but it was difficult to get a proper answer.

“Why is the District 4 checkpoint still closed? They could have attacked District 7 and 13 using Bifron.”

“I don’t know.”

“Since when did you know we were in Bifron?”

“I don’t know.”

“It seems like the Noark are trying to do something with Bifron, does the royal family know about it?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know anything?”

I said sarcastically out of frustration, and the woman chuckled.

However, I didn’t give up and asked again.

“Then what’s your name? You must know your name, right?”

“I don’t know.”

Huh… she’s really strong-willed.

Sensing that she was a formidable opponent, I spoke more provocatively.

“What happens if I don’t go to the checkpoint at the appointed time? Ah, I’m not saying I’m disobeying the royal decree, but you never know. Something might happen and I might not be able to go.”

The woman didn’t react to my words.

She just seemed to think for a moment…

“Do you see that star over there?”

She pointed to the night sky with her index finger.

“…So?”

“If you look down from there, we would probably look that small too. Even if the target is you, Baron, who is called a giant.”

What is this woman trying to say?

I frowned, pretending not to know, but I actually had a rough idea. That from the royal family’s point of view, I’m just a tiny existence.

“What the Baron needs to know is just one thing. To come to the checkpoint with the people at the appointed time without disobeying the royal decree.”

Most people would have backed down at such a clear line, but I, like a barbarian, tilted my head.

“…So, what happens if I don’t go?”

Since you’re not someone who can be reasoned with, I’m not someone who can be reasoned with either.

Eventually, whether she was tired of my persistence or just curious, the woman stared at me and spoke coldly.

“You have to come. Even for your own sake.”

An overbearing statement that didn’t explain anything.

However, through that last statement, I could feel it intuitively.

Although I can’t give any specific reason.

“You guys…”

“…”

“Are you planning to blow up Bifron entirely?”

Usually, these kinds of premonitions are accurate.