Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 639

The Dragon Uncle of the Dragonkin.

The Clan Head of the Beastkin, Kalstein.

Except for these two, the rest were meeting for the first time, but it wasn’t hard to recognize them without introductions.

‘Haha, it seems we’re finally meeting for the first time. I’ve heard a lot about you from Titana! I’m told I owe you a great debt?’

‘Debt? No, Akuraba, we’re the ones who owe you.’

‘Haha! Unlike the rumors, you’re a humble fellow!’

The Dwarf’s Dumoka, Malaku Izor.

Ah, ‘Dumoka’ is an ancient word meaning ‘hammer of judgment,’ but it’s just a title for the clan leader.

‘Anyway, this old man wasn’t an explorer, was he?’

That’s one of Malaku Izor’s unique traits.

Looking at the records, including the clan leaders present here, most clan leaders are from explorer backgrounds, but this old man rose to his position solely through trust.

‘It’s called trust, but it’s more accurate to say he’s a natural at politics.’

In this world, the more likable someone seems, the less you should underestimate them.

It means they have the ability to protect themselves without getting angry or irritable.

Ah, unlike that prickly elf.

‘Yandel’s son, Bjorn, this meeting has been postponed several times due to your absence.’

‘So?’

‘I’d like to hear the reason for your lateness to today’s meeting.’

‘Ah, that? I came too early, so I was eating nearby and got delayed.’

‘…Eating?’

‘Why? Don’t you eat?’

‘…….’

The clan leader of the Elves was speechless, probably because it was so absurd… or should I say ‘Lagshian’ instead of clan leader? [Lagshian is likely the Elven term for clan leader].

‘Come to think of it, everyone except the Barbarians has a decent name, right?’

But why do only the Barbarians simply use the title ‘Clan Leader’?

I suddenly had that question, but it didn’t seem important, so I stopped thinking about it.

But ironically, after that, it made sense.

‘…Ah, that’s why they’re just the Clan Leader.’

Well, why bother changing it? Clan Leader is enough.

It’s also the most straightforward.

‘That child…….’

Just when I thought the subtle power struggle was over, the Elf representative, who was clearly handsome, spoke up.

‘Is that child doing well……?’

‘…Are you talking about Erwen?’

‘Who else would I be talking about?’

Huh, he looks kind, but why is his voice so sharp?

‘Don’t worry about Erwen. She’s doing well in our holy land.’

Still, thinking he was Erwen’s family elder, I answered sincerely this time.

But what is this again?

‘With those other women?’

‘Other women……?’

I asked back, wondering what he meant, but only got more incomprehensible words in return.

‘That child is special within our clan. Not just because she’s a pureblood heir, but because everyone cherishes and loves her.’

‘…So?’

‘If you make that child shed tears, you should be prepared for the consequences.’

A declaration filled with the resolve to repeat the war of the past if necessary.

But I wasn’t particularly angry.

Unless it was for another reason.

I’m not so thoughtless as to argue back when he’s saying those things for Erwen.

‘That won’t happen, so don’t worry.’

‘……Then that’s fine. I’ll leave it in your care.’

I realized then that he was being particularly cold to me, and it seemed to be because of Erwen.

Not because I’m a Barbarian.

‘If he hated Barbarians, he wouldn’t have said something like, ‘I’ll leave it in your care.”

After that exchange, I shifted my gaze once more to check the last person.

It was the seat where the Human representative was sitting.

‘By the way…….’

Actually, I’d been racking my brain since earlier, but I couldn’t figure out who that guy representing the Humans was.

So, I just asked bluntly, like a Barbarian.

‘Who the hell are you?’

A question so rude it was hard to believe this was a summit of sorts. However, the Human representative smiled nonchalantly and replied.

‘I am Baron Maxiland. I was fortunate enough to be honored to participate in this summit representing the Humans.’

Baron Maxiland, I remember him.

He’s part of the Chancellor’s faction, not the right-hand man of the Marquis, but more like a left-hand man.

‘Ah, I see. It’s my first time seeing your face, so I didn’t recognize you.’

‘We did meet once during the peerage ceremony, but…….’

‘I was too out of it back then.’

‘I understand, please don’t worry about it.’

After hearing his identity, I understood why everyone was ignoring the Human representative.

‘Their intentions are clear.’

By sending someone of low status, the Humans were showing their intentions.

That they had no intention of taking a leading role in this summit and would just listen quietly and leave.

From the start, the Baron himself seemed to know this, as he was just trying to stay quiet.

‘Now that everyone is here, shall we start the summit?’

Anyway, that’s how my first inter-species summit began.

***

The inter-species summit I attended for the first time was a bit different from what I had expected.

I thought we’d set an agenda and have in-depth discussions.

Or discuss the world situation and make important decisions.

Or even have secret conversations about the world’s secrets.

But there was none of that.

Although it was still the beginning, the inter-species summit I observed was just a place where they politely complained and fought with each other.

Just like this.

‘I’ve heard that the Dwarves are buying land in the Gnome Tree area. Are you perhaps planning to get involved in agriculture?’

‘Why? Do we need the Elves’ permission to buy land?’

‘Then does that mean our clan and the Beastkin can start businesses related to metallurgy?’

Ah, by the way, in these minor disputes, we Barbarians were completely outsiders.

That’s because we didn’t have any territory in the city.

Since we didn’t have territory, we didn’t have any reason to fight over it…….

‘Hah… don’t worry. We have no intention of encroaching on your territory. We just bought the land because we needed to expand the Gnome Tree’s smithies.’

Anyway, these kinds of misunderstandings could be resolved with a few words, but there were also quite a few cases that couldn’t.

‘More importantly, isn’t it the Beastkin who have crossed the line?’

‘What do you mean we crossed the line?’

‘Oh ho! There’s a rumor that the Black Bear Clan took in that traitor. Am I mistaken?’

‘…….’

After hearing the details, it seemed that the Beastkin had taken in a Dwarf craftsman who had committed a crime and been exiled from the Dwarf clan.

‘I understand Dumoka’s feelings, but we can’t interfere in individual matters, can we? It seems you owed him a debt in the past.’

‘Haha, so you’re pretending to take in that guy who has nowhere to go while trying to steal his skills?’

Is this what they mean by words with bones? [A phrase meaning sharp or cutting words].

‘Clan Head, enough with the nonsense, and quickly expel that bastard.’

The Dwarf leader’s gaze was truly formidable, but the Kalstein Clan Head didn’t even flinch.

‘What if I can’t do that?’

‘Well, what can we do? We’ll have to take our own measures.’

‘…….’

A dispute where neither side would back down.

In such cases, representatives who weren’t involved in the conflict had to step in and mediate.

‘Leaving aside the issue of technology leaks, it doesn’t seem morally right for one clan to take in an exile from another clan. I’ll side with Dumoka.’

‘I agree.’

After a vote, it was decided that the Beastkin would expel the Dwarf exile.

Ah, by the way, I abstained.

Why would I care about a Dwarf criminal?

‘They’re talking about things only they know, so it’s not fun at all.’

As the summit continued, the time I spent there became dull and boring.

Just as I was dozing off with my chin propped up, the topic of conversation suddenly shifted to me.

‘By the way, how is the Clan Leader doing?’

‘…Huh?’

‘It seems you’ve been very interested in construction technology lately. Since we’ve met like this, wouldn’t it be nice to hear a bit about it?’

Ah… this old man is trying to keep me in check.

‘I’m also a bit interested in that story.’

The Dragon Uncle seemed genuinely curious.

‘I heard the holy land has changed a lot?’

‘Well, it’s changed quite a bit. We can’t live like savages forever, can we?’

‘If you think that way, how about changing the way you speak?’

‘Hmm, this is our tradition.’

Why would I change something so comfortable?

It’s like a cheat code where everyone except the king can speak informally.

Anyway, since everyone seemed curious, I roughly explained how the holy land had changed with the buildings, and the Dragon Uncle looked at me with curious eyes.

‘It’s hard to imagine just from words. To achieve so much development in such a short time.’

‘Short time……? When was the last time you came?’

‘…About 20 years ago, I guess.’

The Dragonkin’s sense of time is completely different from ours.

I was inwardly impressed and was about to wrap up the conversation about our holy land when it happened.

‘Haha, it’s very pleasing as a craftsman to hear that the Barbarians have learned construction technology. I heard you’re also planning to participate in this royal order……. Is that true?’

‘It’s not a confirmed matter yet.’

‘I see.’

I smiled wryly at the Dwarf leader’s words.

This order was something that came up during the Melves gathering just a few days ago.

I don’t know if their information network is excellent or if there’s a loose-lipped person among us.

‘The information is just leaking out?’

Well, it’s not something I can’t understand.

Melves itself is a group of different races.

Most of the things said there would reach the ears of the clan leaders.

Still, this was a bit unexpected.

‘More importantly… I heard you’re getting married?’

The Dragon Uncle subtly asked me.

I flinched slightly and looked around, and surprisingly, not only the Dragon Uncle but everyone else seemed to know about it.

‘Ah, that’s right. I heard the head of Melves was pushing you to get married.’

‘Well… you’re at an age where you should have at least three children.’

……What, how does everyone know about this?

The head of Melves wouldn’t have gone around talking about this.

‘Scary people…….’

I felt a chill for a moment, but I didn’t show any signs of panic.

It was one of the things I learned while wearing the lion mask. [Likely a reference to a previous event or persona].

It’s much better to act tough than to look easy to handle.

Yes, it must have been.

‘If you don’t have a suitable partner, how about my daughter?’

My expression couldn’t be managed at the Dragon Uncle’s words.

Honestly, if I had been drinking water, I might have spat it out.

‘…Daughter?’

‘Ah, I didn’t say if it was the first or the youngest.’

Uh… that’s not what I meant by asking back.

‘Well, I don’t care which one it is if it’s you—.’

‘Why wouldn’t you care!’

At that moment, the Elf representative suddenly frowned and shouted, and the Dragon Uncle replied as if making an excuse.

‘Ah, that was a misleading statement. I only brought it up because I like this friend, and there’s no political intention for an alliance between clans—.’

‘That’s not it.’

‘……Huh?’

‘Has the Ancient Dragon forgotten the promise that Yandel’s son, Bjorn, made with me earlier?’

‘…Promise? Was there such a thing?’

‘I asked him to make sure that child doesn’t shed tears, and he agreed. He even assured me not to worry.’

‘Uh… I do remember that……. But what does that have to do with this?’

The Dragon Uncle tilted his head as if he genuinely didn’t understand.

And then.

‘Isn’t everyone misunderstanding something?’

A third person suddenly intervened in the conversation.

‘My daughter is already in a deep relationship with him.’

It was Misha’s father.

‘Indeed… there were rumors like that before.’

‘……Is that true?’

The Elf clan leader and the Dragon Uncle looked at me and asked, and my lips felt dry. I picked up the water glass on the table and put it back down.

‘…….’

I felt like I would get indigestion just from drinking water.