Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 697

“Hmm, if that’s the case, I’ll show you one more thing. But what would be good… Ah, how about you choose this time?”

Aurel Gavis’s suggestion wasn’t bad. Instead of him just picking one and showing it like before, if I could choose, I could prevent him from playing tricks with it.

“……”

However, as I hesitated for a long time about what to choose, he added a word from the side, as if he was frustrated.

“Why are you agonizing so much? No matter what you choose, it will be according to your fate anyway.”

“If you think like that, then why do you breathe, and why do you think?”

I retorted, but after hearing the old man’s words, I felt that agonizing over this was meaningless. Therefore…….

“That one over there. Give me that sturdy, inverted triangle-shaped one.”

I chose the one that looked the biggest among the fragments. I figured that the larger the size, the more there would be to read.

But did this old man memorize all the records of every fragment?

“Hmm… To think you’d choose that one.”

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“No, there’s no problem… Well, if that’s your fate, then that’s your fate.”

After that, Aurel Gavis asked once more if I really wanted to see it, and after some thought, I answered that I would. Swishhhhhh-!

Soon, the fragment slowly descended towards the hand of the old man who had reached out. It got close enough that I could see the letters.

But was my choice wrong? ‘Why are there so many empty spaces?’ I chose it because it was the biggest, but when I actually saw it, it was broken and dented here and there, so there weren’t many letters I could read.

But let’s at least read what’s intact.

[………On the day the fields burned, this……… … the demon ‘————’ believed…… companion…was betrayed…….]

First of all, the pattern itself, which symbolizes the name, was the same as the one I saw earlier.

In other words, ‘————’ means me…….

“On the day the imperial capital Karnon burned… I was betrayed by a companion I trusted……?”

If I were to fill in the parts that I couldn’t read due to the damage, according to the context, it would be something like this.

“Is my interpretation correct?”

“In any moment, interpretation is up to you.”

“Ha, tsk…….”

Should I not have looked at it? My already complicated head became even more complicated. Due to some accident, three companions died.

And then, whether it was before or after, one of my companions betrays me. I think that knowing the unchangeable future is a curse, not a blessing.

“Interesting.”

“……Are you so amused by my suffering?”

“Rather than that, I’m amazed that you chose the one with you among so many fragments. This must be the power of fate.”

As if the word ‘interesting’ wasn’t just an empty phrase, the old man even suggested that I look at one more. But…….

“No, thank you. I’d rather not have my head hurt any more than it already is.”

“Hmm, if that’s what you want, then so be it. Understood. I won’t suggest it any further.”

With that, the record stone tour ended around there, and I went back down the stairs and returned to the cave. There wasn’t much conversation during that process.

“So, are you leaving now?”

“Yes, just being this late will make Lee Baekho go crazy.”

“That friend of yours is similar to you. In that he wants to know everything.”

“Didn’t you tell me not to get close to him before?”

“That advice still stands. There’s no good in getting close to Lee Baekho.”

“That… is that from my perspective? Or from your perspective, Elder?”

“Both.”

It’s been a while since I’ve felt this, but talking to this old man for a long time feels like a waste. It’s even more so because I don’t know if everything he says is true or false.

Even though we’ve exchanged many words, there’s nothing I can trust.

“……Since we’re on the topic, let me tell you one more thing.”

“Ha… Go ahead.”

“Be careful of Lee Baekho.”

“…Isn’t that what you said before?”

As I tilted my head, Aurel Gavis continued, as if telling me to listen to the end.

“I said he was a supporting character and all, but Lee Baekho is a very unique existence. Do you see that?”

Aurel Gavis pointed to the hundreds of fragments slowly orbiting in the air.

“I’ve seen not only the ones gathered here, but also the records of countless fragments, but there is no record of Lee Baekho anywhere.”

“……?”

“This is very strange. That someone with that much influence, and above all, someone who is closely related to you, cannot be found in any record.”

If what he said is true, it’s definitely a bit strange. Does Lee Baekho have some kind of secret hidden that we don’t know about?

I don’t know, but Aurel Gavis said again.

“So be careful of Lee Baekho. To not appear in the ‘record’ means that he is free from the record. It doesn’t mean he has no influence, but at least more so than us.”

“……I’m already wary of him, so don’t worry too much.”

“If that’s the case, then that’s a relief.”

“Even if we part like this, we’ll meet again someday, right?”

“That’s what you call fate.”

“Then I’ll be going now. Let’s try to meet very late, if possible.”

“I wish for the same.”

With those words, Aurel Gavis watched me silently, and I didn’t say anything either. I just scanned the old man up and down once more, gave a nod, and took the portal.

And…….

“Oh! You’re here!”

“Th-Thank goodness! I was worried!”

“Hey! Why are you only coming now! Baron! You talked to that old man about something, didn’t you? Huh? Right?”

As soon as I opened my eyes after taking the portal, I heard various words pouring out from all directions, and I opened and closed my eyes. Lee Baekho. Lec Aures. Jaina Flyer. Belbebe Ruinjenes. Yurben Havelion.

Putting aside the fact that they are all demons, which is a unique point. If you include me, it’s a group of six, which is exactly one team.

“What is it? That look in your eyes? I just felt a chill?”

Ignoring Lee Baekho’s fuss, I recalled the record I had read earlier.

Something suddenly flashed through my mind like lightning.

[The demon ‘————’ from another world lost three companions and finally realized the path he had to take.]

The three companions who were not specifically mentioned.

“You guys, become my companions.”

Maybe there’s a way.

It was a really impromptu thought. That’s because the record only said ‘three companions.’

‘If I make these guys my companions and go around with them every day… then three of these guys could die, and I could move on, right?’

It might sound absurd at first glance, but if you look at it strictly, it’s hard to find a logical flaw.

Well, even so, the question of whether it will really turn out that way remains… So what can I do? I have to try as much as I can for now.

“Companions… you say?”

Perhaps my suggestion sounded bewildering. Everyone wore a dumbfounded expression at my sudden proposal. Ah, Lee Baekho’s reaction was the most impressive.

“Wow, this is getting more interesting. What did that old man tell you that made you suddenly act like this?”

After a moment of stunned silence, Lee Baekho quickly regained his sharp gaze and stared at me. Seeing that reaction, I realized I had been a bit hasty.

Even if it’s a situation involving the lives of my companions, I should have proceeded calmly, step by step.

“Lord, what did you do with that old man?”

“…I didn’t do anything in particular.”

“Come on, who would believe that? You didn’t do anything, and yet you had such a change of heart?”

“It’s just that as we continued our journey together, I had a thought. I figured it would be reassuring to enter the labyrinth with you guys.”

Of course, that was not what I truly felt. The labyrinth is the place where you have to be most careful of being betrayed, so how could I go in there with these guys?

Even when I wasn’t around, they were the kind of guys who hid a knife in their sleeves when dealing with each other. If I joined them, it would be a real disaster.

“Hmm… But what about your clan, Lord, if you go around with us?”

Lee Baekho asked, probing me. It seemed he didn’t believe my words that I had no ulterior motives, but he was at least willing to hear me out.

“Well, I’ll have to think about that in the future. It’s not like you guys have agreed to it in the first place.”

So, I naturally brushed off the situation as if I hadn’t thought about it deeply yet. But…

“Oh! Giant, Lord Yandel wants to be our companion? We should really think about this seriously, too?”

Lee Baekho muttered in a tone as if reading from a textbook. Anyone could tell he was mocking me, but there was one person who didn’t.

“Um… Baekho…? If the Lord joins the team, my, my place will become ambiguous…?”

Lec Aures, the tank of Lee Baekho’s team. Still, as an explorer, he seemed to have the instinct to protect his own livelihood… If only he had a little more sense, it would have been much better.

“Aures… please, just stay quiet for a bit…”

“…H-How can I stay quiet? My, my position is being threatened—!”

When Jaina’s efforts to calm him down quietly failed, Lee Baekho snapped irritably.

“No, it’s not like that! Just stay quiet! Do you really want to get kicked out?”

“……”
“Ah, this is so annoying.”

Lee Baekho sighed deeply, as if he had lost all his energy because of Aures, who couldn’t grasp the situation. The textbook tone of his acting was long gone.

“Hey, Lord.”

“I’m listening, speak.”

“Do you know what explorers are best at?”

When I gave him a look asking what he meant, Lee Baekho stared at me intently and opened his mouth.

“Figuring things out.”

“…?”

“Whether I’m at an advantage or disadvantage, whether the other side is stronger, or I am.”

Thump-! Even without hearing the rest, my heart began to pound with an ominous premonition. As expected, my bad feeling was right on the mark.

“That’s how we can do things properly.”

“…Do what?”

“What else? You already know.”

With those words, Lee Baekho gestured, and the Old Man of Destruction, Lec Aures, and even Jaina approached Lee Baekho’s side. And…

“Hey, are you going to stay there?”

He even spoke to the GM as if throwing a casual remark.

“If you keep doing that, you’ll get caught in the crossfire and die.”

The killing intent that was spread so thickly that it sent shivers down my spine made the GM hesitate, looking back and forth between me and Lee Baekho. In this rapidly changing situation, the conflict seemed to deepen.

Ah, of course, like a ‘human,’ it didn’t take long for him to make a choice. With a tank and a mage, it was nearly impossible to face those four.

“I-I’m sorry…”

Perhaps he had a pang of conscience, he apologized to me and then quickly walked towards Lee Baekho. I didn’t feel particularly betrayed.

From the start, this bastard and I were never companions. Swish… Instead of asking what he was doing, I raised my shield, ready to engage in battle at any moment.

And looking at me like that.

“Don’t be too disappointed. To be honest, I’m more disappointed.”

Lee Baekho said.

“Because, no matter how I look at it, it’s obvious you talked about something with that old man, right? But even if I don’t know anything else, I have to know what that conversation was about.”

“……”

“Even if I have to use an explorer’s methods.”

What does this bastard think an explorer is? While I was thinking that, I realized that I found his words to be natural.

If you don’t have power, you can only be wronged. This was as natural a principle in this world as paying money to buy something.

Thud. Lee Baekho took a step forward, ready to pounce at any moment. However, I didn’t step back as much as he stepped forward. Isn’t that right?

‘Escaping is impossible.’

If I were to escape in this situation, where would I go, and with this clumsy body, I would be caught soon after running away.

But was my decision unexpected?

“Wow, you’re not backing down even here?”

Lee Baekho muttered, slightly surprised. But from my perspective, there was nothing surprising about it.

After all, a shield is made to block attacks coming from the front, not the back.

“Could it be that you think I can’t kill you?”

Well, I can’t say I didn’t think about that. Lee Baekho wants me to open the gate of the abyss. He can never kill me. But…

“But what to do? I can already think of dozens of ways to make you miserable even if I can’t kill you.”

That doesn’t mean I’m going to ignore this guy. As he just said himself, there are plenty of ways to torment me even if he doesn’t kill me.

There’s no need to go as far as the ‘interrogation’ that Briat went through.

“For example, I could take away all the equipment you’re wearing. Or, I could have you neutered so you won’t be distracted by women in the future.”

Ah, uh… Um, I didn’t expect neutering at all.

“……”

Damn it, should I just tell him everything honestly? “Or, I could go back and threaten to kill all of your companions—.”

“No, that can’t be.”

“Behel—raaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!”

I shouted, trying to regain my weakening resolve.

“What are you barking about?”

Lee Baekho is a stray dog. A stray dog that will devour every last bit of flesh from the bones of anyone who looks weak. So, that’s why…

“Stop the chatter and come at me.”

This is a place where I can’t back down.

Perhaps he thought that talking any more would make him look like a dog barking loudly when he was weak? Lee Baekho shut his mouth, and a silence ensued.

“……”