Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 671

The dimensional stone that the man we encountered outside the wall told us about.

And the unknown land that we crossed over using that stone, which was very similar to the Star Tomb on the 9th floor.

At first, I wondered if this was inside the labyrinth, but…

‘I guess not.’

This place is outside the wall.

The evidence for this is that the monsters have high intelligence, and the byproducts remain intact when we defeat them.

The only problem is…

‘It’s impossible to walk back.’

This place is practically an ‘island’.

No, in some ways, it’s worse than an island.

Even if the location is somewhere on the continent, it was impossible to go beyond the gray boundary line that surrounded us on all sides.

In short, the possibility of physical escape is zero.

“…Baron? What are you going to do now?”

Baekho Lee glanced at me and asked.

I was a bit dumbfounded.

He had been subtly trying to take command all this time, but as soon as things turned out like this, he acted like he didn’t know anything.

“It was our Baron who said we should take a big circle around, that there would be a way out somewhere.”

“I think I said there ‘might’ be a way out.”

“Come on, isn’t that the same thing?”

I wondered how someone could be so annoying, but I’d heard that if you react sensitively at times like this, you lose.

So, I just ignored it and got to the point.

“Still, we did gain something, didn’t we?”

“Yes. We found out that we’re properly trapped here. Right?”

Ah, do I really want to hit him?

For a moment, I felt the urge, but I endured it, thinking of patience and [Star’s Extinction].

“…Yes, that alone is enough of a gain. Besides, the map is almost complete.”

“We’ve only drawn the outer edges; the inside is completely empty, though?”

“So, from now on, we just need to search the empty parts. Surely, somewhere there will be a dimensional stone that connects to where we were originally, or somewhere else.”

I spoke with a confident voice, honed by numerous leadership experiences, but Baekho Lee just looked at me with a lukewarm expression.

“Isn’t that just baseless confidence? How do you know there will be a dimensional stone?”

Well…

‘[Dungeon & Stone] is that kind of game.’

Of course, this might be a somewhat naive thought.

This place is ‘outside the wall,’ which I haven’t been to in the game, and the reality of this world that I’ve experienced firsthand is clearly different from the ‘game’.

But…

“So, what are you saying?”

I didn’t just say that without any conviction.

Even if it seems like we’re trapped in a bottomless pit with no way out, there must be a way out somewhere in the world.

That’s my rule and belief.

“If you don’t have confidence, are you just going to sit here and rest?”

“Hey, that’s not what I meant—”

“Or just follow me quietly. Even if all of you say it’s impossible and give up, I will definitely find a way.”

I said, looking him straight in the eye, and Baekho Lee seemed to be speechless for a moment before answering in an admiring voice.

“…Wow, Baron, your speech is amazing. Have you been charming everyone like this all along?”

At Baekho Lee’s words, the archer next to him added a comment.

“It’s a strange experience. For a moment, I really didn’t feel any worries.”

“Hahaha! From the start, I thought the Baron wasn’t wrong! We have to do something! If we just stay still, we’ll only get hungrier!”

After that, even Aures stepped forward with a hearty laugh, and the atmosphere, which could have become a bit tense, softened.

That’s why it’s important to have at least one positive warrior on the team.

Having done leadership multiple times, I know the difference it makes.

“Okay, let’s start again.”

…Let’s go.

***

From now on, there’s only one thing we need to do.

We have to go around the entire map that we haven’t explored yet and find a ‘dimensional stone’ or a way out.

The problem is that we have to thoroughly examine this vast area.

So, our exploration method was very simple.

“Under trees, cliffs, caves, small gaps, structures… Anything is fine; if you see anything that stands out, say it immediately. Got it?”

Not only the scout, archer Briat, but everyone on the team carefully examines the surroundings while moving.

And if we find something…

“It looks like a shallow pond, but the depth is quite deep. It’s a perfect place to hide something.”

“Okay, let’s stop for a moment and check it out.”

We use magic to scan, and even if it feels suspicious, we go into the water to check it ourselves.

Some people said we didn’t have to go this far, but I didn’t compromise.

The dimensional stone that ‘Daylan’ claimed to have found was hidden in a cliff crevice that was difficult to find.

We have to do this much to come to a conclusion later.

That there is no ‘dimensional stone’ here.

So, we need to look for another way.

“Baron! Look at this! Isn’t this suspicious?”

“Where exactly is it suspicious…?”

“Here, here! The flower petals are bent!”

“…Okay, let’s keep moving.”

Ah, of course, even then, I filtered out what to listen to and saved time.

“Why! Didn’t you say to say everything, even the smallest thing!”

No, even so.

What am I supposed to do if the flower petals are bent?

How am I supposed to check this?

“Ruinjenes! Can’t you check it out for me?!”

When I ignored him, Aures went to the old man and started whining.

Of course, the old man wouldn’t listen to that request.

“Let’s go.”

“Ruinjenes!!”

“Then let’s keep moving.”

And so, the search resumed.

The speed is a bit slow as we search carefully, but the map is steadily filling up.

‘The Old Rock Prairie is about 70% done now…’

The structure of the area we are currently in is simple.

Centered around the ‘Primordial Land’ where we first teleported, there is the ‘Old Rock Prairie’ to the west.

To the north is the ‘Poisonous Lava Zone’.

To the east is the ‘Dreamy Waterfall’ and to the south is the ‘Dragon Bone Mountain’.

But except for the Primordial Land, all the fields are cut off in the middle due to the gray boundary line…

‘The biggest problem is probably the Dreamy Waterfall…’

The Poisonous Lava Zone and Dragon Bone Mountain.

Both fields are based on the 9th floor, so the difficulty is high, but they are nothing compared to the ‘Dreamy Waterfall’.

Not just passing through, but if we have to search carefully to find the dimensional stone, it will be even more—.

“A person! There are traces of a person!”

…Huh?

“That’s right. These are definitely human footprints.”

While we were searching the ‘Old Rock Prairie’, traces of a person were suddenly discovered.

And we, who were looking for ‘suspicious things’ without any rhyme or reason, couldn’t just ignore this.

“Briat, from now on, you will lead the way and chase the traces. From now on, we move at full speed.”

I quickly gave the order and followed the traces at our maximum speed.

And how long has it been?

“…”

The back of a man standing alone in the middle of the prairie is visible. A man dressed in very shabby and dirty clothes, as if he hadn’t washed for months.

Looking at this description alone, he had something in common with ‘Daylan’, who lured us here, but…

Swoosh.

The moment the man, who felt our presence, turned around.

We knew that it was neither ‘Daylan’ nor a ‘person’.

Because there was a black spider on his face.

“…What, it was Bayon.”

Bayon, a 3rd-grade humanoid monster.

The original owner of my [Transcendence] skill.

For reference, this guy mainly appears in the ‘Land of Immortality’, one of the fields of the Dark Continent on the 7th floor…

He also appears occasionally on the 9th floor’s ‘Old Rock Prairie’.

“Ha, I thought it was definitely that Daylan guy.”

“It was a waste of time after all…”

The group seemed to lose energy when they found out the identity of the traces, but I was actually quite happy to meet this guy.

So much so that I had to manage my expression.

‘I finally found it.’

‘Bayon’ is one of the monsters you have to catch the most when raising a shield barbarian.

That’s because you have to get [Transcendence], and…

One of Bayon’s byproducts, the ‘Parasitic Spider’, rarely appears in the auction house.

“Still, the Baron must be happy? Because he gives you the 8th stage engraving material.”

“…”

“I’m still jealous. That you still have so much more to get stronger.”

Baekho Lee then made a joke with a bone in it and swung his arms as if stretching.

And…

Tap-!

He immediately dashed towards Bayon.

A sudden action that anyone who has been a leader would find annoying.

“Wait!”

“It’s just a 3rd-grade monster, what’s the big deal?”

Just a 3rd-grade monster.

It’s not wrong, but Bayon is quite a dangerous monster.

Unlike other monsters, the difference in combat power varies greatly from individual to individual, and their abilities are different, so it’s standard practice to hunt them after a reconnaissance—.

Crack-!

…Well, I guess it doesn’t matter?

“Ah! That feels good!”

Bayon collapsed, his heart pierced by Baekho Lee’s straight punch with a black aura.

At the same time, a feeling of something filling up arises.

It was a sensation that all explorers knew.

「You have defeated Bayon. EXP +7」

When I caught ‘Gigazerous’ before, I was too distracted to be sure.

So, I’m definitely getting experience points here too.

“Let’s see… Let’s loot our Baron’s engraving material first… Huh?”

Baekho Lee, who approached the completely dead Bayon and was about to remove the spider that was stuck to his face, suddenly stiffened.

“Baekho? What’s wrong… Ugh! What is this!”

Even Aures, who approached after him, was startled, so it seemed like something had changed.

So, I quickly approached and checked Bayon’s corpse—.

“…Huh?”

What is this?

Even I, who saw the face of ‘Bayon’ that was revealed when the spider was removed, couldn’t help but be surprised, just like the people before me, and so did the others.

“…His face has turned black, but isn’t this, isn’t this that person?”

Bayon, the humanoid monster we encountered in the Old Rock Prairie.

He had Daylan’s face.

***

The case is getting more and more mysterious.

Daylan, who lured us here and disappeared.

Why did this guy turn into a monster and wander around here?

“…Could I ask for your opinion?”

At the GM’s cautious request, the Destruction Scholar opened his mouth.

“It’s not certain, but I read it in an old book a long time ago. ‘Bayon’ are ancient explorers who died in the labyrinth.”

Coincidentally, I already knew that.

I studied the game world settings every day in case there was information about hidden pieces.

“Ah! So, that’s why Bayon uses essence like explorers!”

“That’s what they say, but it’s not a very well-founded story. Rather, it’s closer to a folktale for popular entertainment.”

“…Is that so?”

What kind of situation are we in?

As it became more and more unclear, I took the byproducts from Baekho Lee as if I was stealing them.

Well, I’m curious, and this is this, right?

‘Now, I just need to get one more…’

With this, there is only one material left for the 8th stage engraving.

‘Well, I think I can get it quickly if I use the characteristics of the outside of the wall…’

Still, it’s lucky in many ways that we encountered ‘Bayon’, who doesn’t appear often in this area with a small population—.

“Oh! It seems like it’s really Daylan! I found his ID when I searched his pockets!”

At that moment, Aures gets excited and stands up.

In his watermelon-sized hand was a business card-sized ID.

“Let’s see, his name is…”

Thump-

“Hans…? Ah! That’s right! That’s right! It was Hans!”

Thump-!

My heart started beating rapidly.

I quickly made a decision and shouted urgently.

“Prepare to move!!”

We have to get out of here.

As soon as possible.