Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 634

As if having waited for this very moment, I shot up and raised an objection, drawing the attention of all the family heads present at the meeting.

“An objection… you say…”

Even Baron Mariblack, the host of today’s meeting and the one acting as the moderator, trailed off, seemingly flustered.

Well, it’s understandable.

At first, I came to report my survival and was bombarded with all sorts of attention and questions, but after answering them all haphazardly, I was just dozing off in the corner. That’s me.

They must be wondering why I’m suddenly acting like this.

“Why? I raised an objection because I was told to. Is there a problem?”

“No… it’s not that. Our Melbes respects the voices of all families.”

“Then that’s great!”

Having received the moderator’s permission, I stated my opinion without hesitation.

“The Goldbeard Count family is not the right fit for this construction project!”

“Excuse me…?”

Not only Baron Mariblack but also the other family heads reacted as if they were hearing some strange nonsense.

Well, it’s only natural.

The Goldbeard Count is not only one of the only counts among the 32 families but also holds a position similar to the vice-chairman of Melbes.

That alone is enough to represent Melbes, and since they also own several construction-related businesses, I agree that they are a good fit for this project.

However…

“Uh… then, does Baron Yandel perhaps not want to participate in this construction project?”

“No! Of course, I’ll participate! It’s a chance to make a fortune, why would I just sit idly by?”

“Then, the reason you opposed the agenda is…”

“The reason I opposed it is simple! The Goldbeard Count family isn’t bad, but in my opinion, there’s a more suitable candidate!”

“A more suitable candidate… who is it?”

To Baron Mariblack’s question, who seemed genuinely clueless, I pointed at myself with my thumb, as brazenly as could be.

“It’s our Yandel Baron family!”

“……”

“……”

What, why is everyone so quiet?

At this point, shouldn’t they be asking to hear the reason for my confidence?

I had no choice but to do my own self-promotion.

Well, doing this makes me look like an elementary school student enthusiastically campaigning in a class election.

“If the Yandel Baron family participates in the construction, all the Barbarian warriors will join. You may not know it yet, but our Barbarians are more natural workers than dwarves—”

I was still trying hard to appeal when someone snorted and interrupted my flow.

“Pfft.”

I looked closely to see who it was, and it was a dwarf hanging off a chair, fiddling with his beard.

It was the Goldbeard Count, a competitor for this project.

“…Why are you laughing?”

“Ah, my apologies. It’s not that I’m looking down on your Barbarians… it’s just that what you said was a bit amusing.”

“So, what part of it?”

When I asked persistently in a cold, calm voice, the Goldbeard Count seemed momentarily flustered but soon chuckled.

“Even if it’s not in the construction field.”

“……”

“There’s no way Barbarians are better than us dwarves, is there?”

Huh…

Did I just encounter a racist?

My mind went blank for a moment, but I opened my mouth, trying to maintain my composure, thinking that getting angry would mean losing.

“Huh? No better? Can’t you tell just by looking at our height? Isn’t it obvious that dwarves can’t compare to Barbarians by birth?”

Small height was the dwarves’ Achilles’ heel.

Well, it seems like they rationalize it by saying they have other talents…

But the fact that they rationalize it like that is proof that they think it’s a weakness.

“…Haha, if physical size was everything, how is it that you’re the only Barbarian who has become a noble?”

He was smiling calmly, but it was obvious that his pride had been severely wounded.

So, it was time to poke at his weakness a little more.

“Oh, that’s quite amazing. You’ve been eating well and living well since way back, but why haven’t you grown taller?”

“…Hehe.”

“Ah, Count, are you like that too? I still sometimes get goblins and dwarves confused. They’re both so similar in height… Oh, right, you wouldn’t know since you haven’t been to the labyrinth? How similar you and goblins are?”

“……”

“L-Lord Yandel? P-Please calm down a little—”

“Calm down? I think the Count over there needs to calm down? His beard is trembling like crazy right now.”

“……”

“But I’m suddenly curious, why do all dwarves grow beards? It’s not like growing a beard makes you taller—”

The Count, who had been silently trembling his beard since earlier, slammed the table and stood up.

“…I will not tolerate any more disrespect!”

Ah, of course, even after standing up, his eye level wasn’t much different.

‘Tsk, tsk. This is why we should confiscate all the chairs from those dwarf bastards.’

While thinking that to myself and clicking my tongue, I calmly asked the dwarf who had flipped the table like a man.

“If you don’t tolerate it, then what?”

“……”

“What are you going to do if you don’t tolerate it? Are you going to challenge me to a duel?”

It was an obvious question, but the answer that guy could give to this cheat-like question was predetermined.

“…How barbaric.”

He just mocked my low level and avoided the question.

But this is a bit funny too.

“Why? Isn’t that why you guys brought me here? To have me charge headfirst when other nobles look down on you?”

“…I was against it back then.”

“Huh? But when we voted, it was unanimous?”

“That’s because there was an agreement beforehand—”

“Ah, so you’re the type who can’t voice your own opinion if everyone else agrees?”

“……”

“Well, if you’re short, you’re probably also small-minded—”

Just as I was about to mock him one more time, someone roared like an angry bull.

“Baron Yandel—!!”

This time, even I couldn’t charge headfirst without thinking. It was the old man who held the position of chairman of Melbes.

His name was Takuo Welbeart.

His race was Black Bear, and his title was Baron.

I hadn’t had many conversations with him one-on-one, but every time we met, he would smile kindly and say nice things, so I had a good impression of him.

In fact, I heard from the Rabbit Baron that he was highly respected within Melbes.

They said they had never seen him angry before…

‘He’s always been quietly smiling, but when he gets angry, it’s no joke.’

When the chairman, who had always been quietly sitting in the corner like a figurehead, roared, not only I but also the Goldbeard Count flinched.

And looking at us, the chairman shouted like a hot-blooded man.

“Never! Forget why we gathered here! We must always unite as one to survive!”

Wow, his voice is great.

Well, since he’s a Black Bear, his build isn’t much different from mine.

“Differences of opinion? Fine! But I will never tolerate us fighting amongst ourselves! Do you understand?”

“…I got a little carried away. My apologies, Chairman.”

“Why is Baron Yandel so hopeless!”

“…I’ll restrain myself.”

When even I took a step back, the chairman sat back down as if he had never been angry and began to wear his usual gentle expression.

Therefore…

“Then, can I continue what I was saying earlier?”

I also opened my mouth nonchalantly.

“What you were saying…”

“Didn’t I get interrupted in the middle because of an obstructionist? I was explaining why we should choose our Yandel Baron family.”

“Ah, yes… you were. Please continue your statement.”

I then naturally continued my explanation as if I had prepared a PPT in advance.

Why the Barbarian race is the best at manual labor.

I talked enough about cost-effectiveness and quantity, and I mentioned that 8,712 residents of Beefron could also be deployed as manpower.

“Hmm… are Barbarian warriors really that good at building houses?”

“Of course, they can’t build as precisely and sturdily as dwarves. But they’re fast.”

At this point, I gave a word of humility and looked at the Goldbeard Count, and the dwarf coughed awkwardly.

Looking at his expression, it seems like he doesn’t dislike the praise itself…

“Ahem, our work speed is definitely not slow either.”

Seeing him add a word, I could tell how much he hated to lose.

“Anyway, I think the point of this reconstruction project is to quickly restore a wide area. The royal family itself would want that too.”

“That is indeed correct.”

“That’s what I meant. Why I said I’m the best fit for this reconstruction project.”

“Certainly… there’s some truth to it, but…”

After the briefing, people’s reactions were ambiguous.

It seemed like quite a few people were swayed by my persuasion, but it also seemed like they were doubting whether what I said was true.

In fact, someone even voiced their doubt.

“But it’s just Baron Yandel’s word so far. That they are so talented in construction work.”

“Then why don’t we just have a competition? We can gather dwarves and Barbarians, have them do construction work, and score the results. If I lose, I’ll cleanly accept the result.”

The moderator was flustered by such a rough-and-tumble proposal that would only be heard in a bar and looked at the Goldbeard Count.

It was a look as if asking for his opinion.

However, as I felt from his actions and height earlier, this guy was also a lost cause when it came to being an adult.

“Great! Let’s have a match!”

And so, the duel was established.

***

After the duelists agreed, everyone naturally looked at one person.

It was the chairman sitting in the corner.

How would the chairman react to the fact that we, who had been arguing earlier, were actually going to have a competition?

Everyone was worried about this, but the reaction that came out was surprisingly pleasant.

“Hahaha! Yes, this is better! I’ll make the arrangements soon and contact you. But both the loser and the winner must promise to accept the result cleanly.”

“I swear on the honor of a warrior.”

“I also swear on my hammer.”

Okay, then this issue is over…

Since the agenda from the beginning took a long time, Baron Mariblack, who was in charge of the proceedings, continued the meeting.

“Then, we will conclude the discussion on the project and move on to the next agenda.”

In fact, the project was not that important of an agenda for them.

After all, it’s just about making money, right?

We, as a new family, are desperate for this kind of thing.

As families that have maintained their nobility for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, they all had plenty of money.

And in that sense.

“The next agenda is a free discussion about the Noahrc invasion and the occupation of Beefron.”

As soon as the new topic came up, all the family heads hardened their expressions and straightened their postures.

They were much more serious than they were during the project agenda earlier.

“This discussion is about sharing information, analyzing the situation we don’t know, and making inferences, so I hope everyone will speak freely.”

As the meeting began, the family heads, who had been quietly sitting in their seats, voiced their opinions with passionate voices.

“There are circumstances that suggest the royal family knew about the Noahrc invasion in advance. This is from a very reliable source…”

“I’ll say in advance that this is not confirmed information. There are talks that Noahrc touched the guardian magic circle in Beefron.”

“Hmph… how could such ruffians touch the legacy of the Great Sage…”

Since the discussion had no clear end, the meeting continued to drag on, and of course, I received countless questions during that time.

“Perhaps… does Baron Yandel know anything?”

“That’s right! Weren’t you the closest to the scene when the incident happened?”

“You’re the only one who has been to both District 7 and Beefron.”

They seemed to have expectations for me, but sadly, I didn’t know much either.

The movements of Noahrc and the royal family were suspicious, but…

It’s a bit much to bring it up here without any evidence.

“I don’t know much either.”

When I honestly said that I didn’t know anything, the family heads couldn’t hide their disappointment.

However, they seemed to understand to some extent.

“Hmm, I see…”

“Well… it’s unlikely that the Baron would know anything.”

“This topic will definitely come up at the royal meeting, so we have no choice but to look forward to their information.”

“But in the end, all we can hear are trivial stories. The really important information doesn’t reach us.”

“In the end, they will monopolize the fruits that can be obtained from this incident again.”

For some reason, the atmosphere suddenly darkened, and everyone looked resentful.

I had no choice but to tilt my head and say.

“Uh… if it’s that, I might be able to tell you in a few days…?”

But the family heads who heard my words also had puzzled expressions.

“…Huh? What do you mean, Baron Yandel?”

“It’s exactly what I said.”

“Haha, exactly what you said? Are you saying that as if you’ve obtained the right to attend the royal meeting?”

“Oh, I did?”

Since it wasn’t something to hide, I just answered nonchalantly. But, was it something they couldn’t just brush off?

“……”

“……”

After a moment of silence.

“What?!”

“Baron! Is that, is that true?”

“…Good heavens! A person from Melbes has obtained the right to attend the royal meeting!”

The surroundings suddenly became noisy.

“Isn’t this… almost the first time in 600 years?”

What is it with these guys, having so many things they haven’t done in hundreds of years?

Honestly, it’s a bit absurd, but…

“Baron! Baron! Tell us! How did you get the right?”

“Is it because of the exploration of the 1st basement floor?”

“No, maybe it’s because of the merit of rescuing the explorers in District 7.”

The warrior’s instinct, born as a natural gambler, was telling me.

“Baron! Say something—”

“I’m thirsty.”

“…Huh?”

“I’m suddenly thirsty. Is there anything cold?”

From now on, I’m the boss.