Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 65

Field Boss.

They are field boss-level entities that exist on each floor.

These guys, with their various names, attributes, and patterns, all have one thing in common.

It’s impossible for explorers at the level of the respective floor to even think about fighting them.

For example, to defeat a floor boss on the 1st floor, you would need to form an expedition of 30 or more people.

Of course, that’s assuming everyone is at least a 4th-floor explorer.

That’s the absolute minimum number of people.

Because of this, I was worried.

Misha and I.

If the two of us were to accidentally run into one, it would be game over. It’s not the kind of thing you can outrun with normal movement speed.

So, where should we go?

Instead of just trembling and praying not to run into one, what should we do to increase our chances of survival, even a little?

The answer was to head to the Orc settlement.

Just like most of the explorers here.

‘Bjorn, why are there so many people here?’

‘Because the Dzarwi Clan is here.’

The Dzarwi Clan is a large clan that operates on the 6th floor and above. According to what the dwarf said, they have hundreds of members.

Of course, it’s unlikely that all of them would be gathered in one place at this time…….

‘At least 10 teams or more must have come down. Even though it’s the 3rd floor, you need that many people to control the hunting grounds.’

Of course, even with this much power, it’s difficult to defeat it.

Well, if you’re willing to take the damage, it’s not an impossible force…….

That’s only if you know the proper strategy and have spent months preparing.

‘Still, if I’m with them, I can buy some time to escape even if I encounter a floor boss.’

I made a decision based purely on practicality and led Misha into the crowd of explorers.

A rather strange situation was unfolding.

‘H-hey! I heard there are high-level mages among you! Please use a dimension gate spell for me! I’ll pay you any amount of money……!’

‘It’s you! You guys summoned the floor boss!!’

‘W-what’s going to happen to us? You’re a large clan, you’re not going to kick us out, are you?’

Some were earnestly pleading.

Some were ignoring reality and looking for someone to blame.

Some were calmly trying to assess the situation.

Amidst the cries of various people, an executive of the Dzarwi Clan opened his mouth.

‘Everyone, please calm down. This place is safe. Our priests have already declared a banishment of evil, and our scouts are already guarding all sides.’

‘Our Dzarwi Clan, in accordance with the regulations agreed upon with the royal family and the guild, will do our best to ensure that as many explorers as possible survive and return to the city.’

‘However! If there are those who do not follow our control or cause trouble! We will have no choice but to take expulsion measures, so please understand this part.’

It was a bit long-winded, but it was a fairly clear announcement.

Especially the last warning was effective, as those who were shouting wildly disappeared.

‘At least we don’t have to worry about being kicked out.’

‘Phew, that’s a relief…….’

After looking around for a while, I sat down with my back against a tree in a suitable spot.

‘…Aren’t you being too relaxed?’

‘There’s nothing else we can do.’

You have to rest as much as you can when you can.

No one knows how the situation will change later.

‘Hmm, I guess that’s true.’

Having understood, Misha also plopped down next to me.

‘Misha, I’m asking just in case, are you confident in your hearing?’

‘I don’t know, but sometimes people say they like my ears.’

What is she talking about again?

‘I meant, are you good at hearing sounds from far away?’

‘Ah, I’m pretty confident about that.’

‘Then listen carefully to their conversations. Don’t stare too obviously.’

‘Okay.’

At my instruction, Misha leaned back and closed her eyes.

And as if concentrating, she kept twitching the triangular ears that popped up on her head.

‘Um, I don’t know exactly, but it sounds like they’re fighting.’

‘What’s the reason?’

‘It’s too far away to hear in detail. One thing is for sure, they’re talking about the floor boss.’

Of course, they would be.

In this situation, what else would the executives be talking about so urgently?

‘If I get any closer, they’ll notice, so is this the best I can do…….’

‘First, keep eavesdropping. If there’s anything special, tell me then.’

‘Okay.’

After putting Misha on eavesdropping mode, I slowly looked around and observed the crowd’s reactions.

Some were complaining or showing signs of anxiety, but overall, the atmosphere was one of relief.

‘I thought it was such a shitty situation when we were about to get kicked out, but you never know what’s going to happen in this world.’

‘I know, right? Such a wide-ranging banishment of evil, only a clan of that size would have such a priest with them.’

‘It can only be said that God has helped us. A floor boss appeared on the 3rd floor for the first time in 10 years, and they just happened to be here on the 3rd floor?’

Regardless of the Dzarwi Clan’s misdeeds in occupying the Orc settlement, most people were satisfied and grateful for the current situation.

Well, not everyone, but most.

‘Hey, are you two alone?’

As I was observing the surroundings, a man approached me.

He’s not trying to pick a fight here.

‘What’s your business?’

‘It’s nothing much, I just thought we should stick together, especially in times like these.’

‘Simply put.’

‘The Dzarwi side said they would protect us, but we don’t know what will happen, so would you like to act together?’

Um, he’s suggesting a temporary alliance.

‘About thirty people have already gathered. It seems like you’ve also lost your companions in this incident, so wouldn’t it be good to have a place to rely on, even for a while?’

Before answering, I checked one thing.

‘I’m Bjorn, son of Yandel. What’s your name?’

‘I’m Jack Fleischer.’

Okay, as long as it’s not Hans.

‘Alright.’

Let’s just say yes for now.

If something seems wrong, I can just shut my mouth then.

It’s not like I signed any documents.

‘As expected of a barbarian, you’re so straightforward. Then I’ll be going, so rest well. I’ll come find you later if something happens.’

‘Okay.’

The man left, and about two hours passed without any major issues.

Thanks to the high-ranking priest’s banishment of evil, the Chaos Spirits couldn’t even approach, and there didn’t seem to be anything that could become a variable.

At least, that’s the case if we only look at external factors.

‘Misha, wake up.’

I shook Misha, who had switched from eavesdropping mode to sleep mode.

‘Is something wrong?’

Not yet.

But if my prediction is correct…….

‘Something will happen soon.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Look around, there are too many people.’

The Dzarwi Clan unconditionally accepted refugees.

And finally, they reached their limit.

The area currently under the banishment of evil is only about twice the size of a school playground.

It’s not even an open space because it’s a forest.

But there are already over 500 people here.

‘…Hey, shouldn’t we stop letting more people in?’

‘If we accept any more, we won’t even be able to sit down.’

‘If monsters come in that state…….’

Selfishness always blossoms by taking advantage of the situation.

Anxiety began to spread among those who had arrived first, and such claims slowly began to emerge.

‘Bjorn, what’s going to happen to us now?’

‘Well, it depends on what the Dzarwi side decides.’

They were accepting people up to the limit.

They would have to choose whether to stop accepting people here and lock the door.

In fact, not long after, there was another announcement from a clan executive.

‘Due to the banishment of evil, this place is the only safe zone on the 3rd floor. It’s truly a miraculous event. But…….’

To cut out the chatter and summarize, the content was simple.

‘The priest wants you all to show reverence to God.’

Reverence.

For reference, it did not mean non-material values such as prayer, conversion, or worship.

‘1 million stones per person. It must be paid immediately on the spot, and it can also be paid in magic stones or goods.’

No one believed that was the priest’s request.

Well, there must have been an agreement between the two…….

But the clan guys were definitely the ones who proposed it first.

‘At first, they pretended to be honorable, talking about the royal family and the guild, but in the end, they chose profit.’

Even if they blocked the refugees, they would still be criticized for that choice later.

So, they must have decided to make money instead.

Of course, there was bound to be a backlash.

‘There’s no way we have that many magic stones, and in the end, they’re telling us to give up our equipment in this situation, which is just telling us to die!’

The one who raised his voice the loudest was Jack Fleischer.

‘Our 100-man suicide squad will never stand idly by while you commit this tyranny!’

With a powerful shout, Jack Fleischer looked around. I had already noticed and was looking away, so I was able to avoid eye contact.

But were the other 100 suicide squad members the same?

‘U-uh, uh…… Everyone, say something. If we just stay still, we won’t be able to stand up to their tyranny……!’

Jack Fleischer stammered in embarrassment.

With that, the short protest ended.

‘1 million stones is a reverence to God and a protection fee. You may lose a few pieces of equipment, but what are you worried about when we’re here?’

Of course, I’m worried, you bastard.

Even if the banishment of evil is a cheat skill, it’s nothing more than a piece of paper to a floor boss.

Of course, that was just a complaint I had in my heart.

I’m a barbarian who knows how to compromise with reality.

‘Misha, leave the consumables like potions and take out only the things we don’t need as much as possible.’

‘Okay.’

Like the other explorers, we hurriedly rummaged through our backpacks and sorted out things that could be converted into cash.

Since we had equipment looted from the raiders earlier, we didn’t need to take off what we were wearing.

‘Hah, 1 million stones a day to rest on the dirt floor…….’

It’s a damn waste, but if you call it a usage fee for the banishment of evil, it’s worth paying.

Besides, didn’t he just say it himself?

That the protection fee is also included in the amount.

‘If they don’t lowball the price, this should be enough.’

After gathering a few pieces of equipment from the religious party, we finished preparing for the tribute.

However, not everyone was as well off as we were.

Still, since they were 3rd-floor explorers, they would have 1 million stones if they handed over the equipment they were wearing…….

‘If we don’t have this, are we supposed to starve to death next time?’

‘We only need to hold out for one day, but they’re asking for 1 million stones, it’s ridiculous.’

A considerable number of people, not just a few, refused to pay the protection fee and chose to go outside voluntarily.

The clan didn’t stop those people.

And they continued to receive protection fees from those who arrived.

From at least three hundred people.

‘They made at least 300 million stones. In just one day…….’

This is like money being copied.

Damn it, is power really invincible and godlike?

I don’t know, but in the end, they also have to pray to the heavens.

If the floor boss arrives here.

At that moment, the market crash will begin.

‘If we hadn’t assumed that situation in the first place, we wouldn’t have had to pay the protection fee.’

I always feel this, but these guys here all lack imagination.

Of course, they must have a basis for this choice.

They must have thought that the 3rd floor is wide, so the probability of not encountering the floor boss is higher than the probability of encountering it.

Since it’s the 15th day today, they must have thought that they only need to hold out for one day if they encounter it.

With this much power, they thought that was possible.

Yes, that’s what they must have thought.

Only in the best possible way.

Only in a way that is advantageous to them.

But they need to know.

From the beginning, no one knew that when the floor boss was summoned, all the explorers on the floor would stop hunting and face this situation.

‘Well, that’s the same for me too.’

But at least I imagine.

The worst-case scenario that could happen to me.

Of course, this imagination is more often not realized than realized…….

I wonder what it will be like this time.

‘I’ll know if I watch.’

I quietly closed my eyes.

From then on, a time like the calm before the storm passed.

[19:07]

5 hours before the end of the 15th day.

Thud, thud, thud-

Black rain fell from the ceiling through the trees, blackening the ground.

‘The area is being eroded, and the [Banishment of Evil] is being lifted.’

The pure white pattern that covered the ground instantly lost its light.

Also.

[Grooooooo—!!]

A huge beast began to roar outside the forest.