Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 631

“Vassals, you say….”

A Rose Knight, whose name I didn’t know, asked with a laugh as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Do you really think this makes sense, Baron?”

Thinking about it, it was a question I’d heard a lot while living as a barbarian.

My answer was no different from back then.

“Huh? What doesn’t make sense?”

I said, picking at my ear, and the Rose Knight frowned.

“A number of nearly ten thousand—.”

“Well, it’s 8,712 to be exact.”

“……What difference does that make? Even the most prominent noble families in the city have never had that many vassals, either in the past or present.”

“Oh, really?”

I exclaimed, smiling as if I was genuinely pleased.

“Then I’ll be the first!”

I wondered if something like this could be written on the Stone of Honor [a monument or record of great achievements].

I even muttered to myself loud enough for everyone to hear, but the woman, who looked like she wouldn’t shed a single tear, completely ignored my mutterings.

And….

“Does Baron Yandel intend to raise a private army?”

A skilled swordsman asked sharply, as if piercing a gap.

This was a sensitive question that I couldn’t just gloss over.

The moment I answered with something like, ‘A private army? What’s wrong with that!’ there would be a lot of room for my intentions to be misinterpreted.

In the worst case, I could be charged with treason.

Therefore….

“Of course not. I have no intention of raising a private army. I swear on my name and my honor as a warrior.”

This one thing, I stated more clearly than anything else.

Ah, of course, this woman didn’t even pretend to listen.

“Instead of swearing, explain. Why do you need that many vassals?”

Sheesh, so picky.

I clicked my tongue inwardly, but still answered the question I was given.

“Well… isn’t it good to have a lot of vassals? I originally like things to be bustling….”

“You want to have nearly 9,000 vassals because you like things bustling?”

“It’s 8,712. Not 9,000.”

I interrupted with a pointless remark and quickly continued.

“And it’s not like I brought them in just because I wanted a lot of people, I really needed them all. For example, Kaina Elmo, who is written on this document… Oh! It says here she’s a kitchen assistant!”

“Baron, do you really think we’ll believe that?”

…Well, I guess not.

I know very well that it’s an excuse that no one would believe.

But so what?

“Isn’t it none of your business whether you believe it or not?”

“……”

“Rather, I don’t understand why you’re suddenly acting like this. Yesterday, you said you were just following the king’s orders? These people have become my vassals and have obtained legitimate entry rights. So why are you trying to stop them?”

When I went out so brazenly, the Rose Knight couldn’t say anything in rebuttal.

It was time to start applying strong pressure.

Therefore….

“Human woman, just pick one.”

“……?”

“If you’re going to make your own judgment, then make it.”

I lowered my voice and continued.

“If you’re going to talk, then talk.”

Barbarian-style advice to act like the tool you are.

The Rose Knight didn’t show any particular change in expression upon hearing this.

But, perhaps she did listen to the advice itself.

“……”

“……”

In the awkward silence where even the knights standing in front of the checkpoint were rolling their eyes and looking around, the woman, who had been silent for a long time, opened her lips.

“The Baron….”

“The Baron?”

“…will regret today’s choice.”

Huh, I wondered what she was going to say.

Coincidentally, this was also a familiar repertoire.

Everyone says something like this to plan for the future when things don’t go well.

“Oh, were you a fortune teller instead of a knight?”

When I teased her to the very end, the woman glared at me with a resentful look and said to the knights.

“……Everyone, clear the way!”

Whew, I’ve gotten over one hurdle for now.

***

District 4, which belongs to the commercial city of Commelby.

Originally, this was an area with many shops and people passing by, but the appearance of District 4 after passing through the checkpoint was completely different from usual.

All the stores were closed, and not a single person could be seen passing by.

“Human woman, what the heck is going on here?”

“…District 4 has been temporarily closed for the safety of the citizens.”

“Which other districts are closed?”

“Only District 4 is closed.”

It was a story that made me doubt my ears for a moment.

“…What?”

The Rose Knight’s words didn’t make sense.

District 3, which is adjacent to District 13 occupied by Noark, and District 5, which is adjacent to District 7, were not closed, but….

‘They closed only District 4, which is adjacent to Bifron? For safety reasons?’

It was hard to understand, but even if I asked in detail, I couldn’t get a proper answer.

“Hear the rest of the story from the Chancellor. As the Baron said, I am not the one who makes judgments.”

“The Chancellor? Are we going to the Chancellor now?”

“That’s right.”

With those words, the conversation was cut short as she only repeated the answer to go and ask directly, no matter what I asked.

After that, when we arrived at the square in District 4, we set up a shelter for the Bifron residents and those from District 7.

They said that they needed some time to decide our treatment, and that we should stay here until then?

“Hoo….”

“…It seems like this is the first time I’ve ever seen Freedom Square so empty.”

Well, seeing the people, they didn’t seem to be uncomfortable with such royal treatment.

It was more like they thought this was natural.

“Baron, come this way. The Chancellor is waiting.”

“…I’ll be back. Emily, Bersil. Take good care of this place.”

After the situation in the square was settled, I followed the Rose Knight. The place we arrived at was a luxury house not far from the square.

And….

“If you wait here, the Chancellor will contact you soon.”

As expected.

This time too, instead of the Chancellor, there was a communication crystal ball in the room that could be used for video calls.

Ziiing.

Soon after the Rose Knight left and I was left alone in the room, the crystal ball vibrated, and when I pressed the receive button, a familiar face appeared on the crystal ball.

[It’s been a while, Baron Yandel.]

“It’s been a while, Marquis Terserion.”

[Before we start talking properly, please understand that I couldn’t meet you in person. It’s difficult to leave my post because of the war situation.]

What war situation?

How long does it take to get here from the capital, Carnon?

He’s even a human who can use military magic circles as he pleases.

I couldn’t even scoff, but words that were different from my true feelings flowed out of my mouth.

“I understand. And I’m not particularly upset, so don’t worry about it.”

[Thank you for saying that.]

“So, did all the exploration teams that went to the first basement floor return properly?”

[They all returned safely to the city, and they have all completed their reports on the exploration. It was thanks to them that I was able to find out that you were in District 7.]

“Hmm… I see.”

I don’t like long introductions, but this time, there was a lot of information to be gained through the introduction, so I decided to continue.

“Then how did you know we were in Bifron?”

[I was able to hear it through an agent who was secretly infiltrated into District 7. I heard that you declared in front of everyone that you would go to Bifron… Why did you do that? I heard that they were going to let you go.]

It was one of the expected questions, so I answered immediately without hesitation.

“How can I believe the words that they would just let us go? Besides, after talking to them, I noticed that they were trying to do something suspicious using Bifron.”

[Something suspicious? Did you find out anything there?]

“I’ve been investigating for a few days, but unfortunately, I haven’t found anything yet.”

[I see… Anyway, since it’s the Baron’s word, I’ll pass on the information that the Noark forces are plotting something related to Bifron to the strategy room.]

“Oh, that’s a relief.”

After my words, there was a moment of silence, and I casually asked what I was curious about.

“How is Saint Red?”

[Sir Saint Red is also safe. Thanks to his unique ability, he was able to wake up safely and hear about what happened there.]

Yeah, the village chief also came back alive. It would have been nice if something had gone wrong and he had just died.

[Speaking of which, I heard that you, Baron, led the exploration team after Sir Saint Red was like that?]

“Ah, it just happened that way. I had to make sure everyone got out alive.”

[You did well. You did well. You have done a great service.]

“Oh, then is a promotion possible?”

[……It’s too early to talk about that. There will be a reward for the exploration team someday, but isn’t this a time of war?]

In short, the calculation of merits will only be possible after the Noark invasion is over.

However, this part was a reasonable reason, so I didn’t say anything.

‘Anyway, I think the introduction is enough….’

It was time to get to the main point.

However, just as I was about to open my mouth with that thought, the Chancellor mentioned it first.

[By the way, I heard that you have accepted the residents of Bifron as vassals….]

Seeing this old man, who likes introductions, act like this, it seemed like he was definitely getting impatient.

[Do you have any intention of sending them back?]

“Send them back? Did I do something legally wrong?”

[No, it’s not that. But… from our point of view, it’s not a good thing for all of them to come out. You’re a noble, so you should know, right?]

As a noble, you should know.

To interpret this, it also meant that now that you are a noble, you should abandon your personal feelings and act for the benefit of the royal family.

“Well, I might have understood if I had heard that before, but it’s a bit late now. I’ve already accepted them as vassals, so what can I do?”

[Isn’t it just a matter of you kicking them out?]

“I’m sorry, but I’m not good at saying harsh things to others, so I think it’ll be difficult.”

[…You?]

Upon hearing my answer, the Chancellor burst out laughing as if he had heard something absurd.

Sheesh, I’m so delicate and introverted.

“Anyway, if it’s not illegal, then this issue is settled. Stop talking about it. It’s already over.”

[……Baron, I’m saying this because I’m worried about you.]

Worried my ass.

He’s probably the one who would be the happiest if I died somewhere.

“Thanks for the concern, but I’ll judge and handle it myself.”

[…….]

“But so, what are you planning to do with Bifron?”

If the disposition of the residents was the main point for the Marquis, this part could be said to be the main point for me.

What was the royal family planning to do with Bifron?

[I can’t carelessly expose military information to the outside, but I guess it’s not a story to hide from you, Baron. It seems like you expected it to some extent.]

“If I expected it….”

[That’s right. We’re going to blow up Bifron entirely. The moment the Noark forces hide inside.]

He was speaking in a calm tone, but the content was endlessly cold and cruel.

They had a plan to blow up Bifron entirely, and yet they were telling the Bifron residents to return to their hometown.

‘……What do these people here think of human lives?’

It was a barbaric world, but in the end, from a distance, I was probably a similar kind of person.

Besides, it wasn’t something to worry about in the current situation.

“Wait a minute, you were planning to lure Noark? Do you know what they’re trying to do in Bifron?”

[We don’t know either. However, we expected that they would run there if we kept putting pressure on them.]

The Marquis said he didn’t know, but I had no intention of believing him naively.

Looking at the deployment of troops, neither the royal family nor Noark were showing normal movements.

‘It’s a secret that they can’t tell me….’

This just makes me more curious.

[Anyway, that’s why. When we heard that you were in Bifron, we tried to get you out as quickly as possible.]

Honestly, this part doesn’t make sense either.

If I were the Marquis, I would have just bundled them up with the Noark guys and blown them up.

Why did they try to save me?

Coincidentally, that question was resolved a little through the conversation that followed.

[Ah, come to think of it, I haven’t told you this yet. I heard that you have most of the items obtained from exploring the first basement floor?]

“Ah, I did.”

[You did……?]

The Marquis tilted his head at my past tense, but he didn’t ask again, thinking it was a simple communication error, and continued.

[The results obtained from the exploration should be left in this room when you leave later. They are all valuable assets of the royal family, and you will also receive what you need after the reward for merit is given.]

As soon as I heard those words, I lowered my head.

That’s because I didn’t know that they were trying to rescue me because of the spoils of war obtained from the first basement floor….

[……But why are you suddenly lowering your head?]

Because it would be difficult to manage my expression if we made eye contact.

“……I’m sorry, Marquis.”

I used it all.