Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 706

After hearing Kaislan’s story, I have a lot to think about.

It’s no wonder. The moment I show my face to the outside world, I’ll be dragged to the Military Command, and our clan could end up on the dangerous front lines without me.

‘Should I just stay hidden down here?’

We lost three comrades.

Having seen those records, the very idea of being separated from my comrades makes me incredibly uneasy.

But…

“You must go, Clan Leader.”

Kaislan speaks to me, as if trying to persuade me, seemingly aware of my inner turmoil.

“…Must go?”

“Looking at the official letter, it seems the summons was issued not too long ago. There’s no problem yet since the deadline hasn’t passed, but if you don’t respond to the summons after the deadline, it could lead to big problems later on.”

“Like what?”

I stare at him as if to say, ‘Tell me everything,’ and Kaislan cautiously begins to speak.

“First, it will be a huge stain on the Clan Leader’s reputation. Whatever our circumstances, to others, it will look like desertion. It will seem like you ran away because you were afraid of the war.”

In short, it means the name value of ‘Giant’ Bjorn Yandel, Baron, will be thrown into the gutter…

I’ve received a fair amount of help from my reputation since the old days, so it’s not like I don’t know its value.

But…

“I don’t care about that at all, next.”

Seeing me answer immediately without a moment’s hesitation, Kaislan pauses for a moment before chuckling.

“That’s a very Clan Leader-like answer.”

“Anyway, that’s enough, next.”

“…Second, it’s the damage the clan itself will suffer. As I said before, it will be classified as ‘desertion,’ so when the war ends, we will all stand trial. And we will be severely punished. Desertion is considered a very serious crime in military law.”

“What exactly do you mean by severe punishment?”

“Death. Military law’s biggest purpose is to set an example.”

This was not a story I could simply brush off like before.

Not if these many people were not going to spend their lives hiding their identities in the sewers.

“What if… Noark wins? Then there’s no reason to be punished for desertion, right?”

“That’s true, but…”

Kaislan looked at me and said firmly at my hypothetical question.

“The royal family will not lose.”

“How can you be so sure? The fact that they issued a summons in the first place means the royal family is so cornered that they need to borrow the hands of explorers, right?”

“Well… they just borrowed hands to reduce their own losses. I don’t think they’re really cornered at all.”

Afterwards, Kaislan drew a line, saying it was just his opinion, but I couldn’t just ignore it.

This guy was in the military.

He would know the power of the royal family better than anyone else.

“Is there a third reason?”

“The third reason is the Clan Leader.”

“…Me?”

“Yes. You won’t be ‘executed’ like us, but in the worst case, they could use ‘desertion’ as an excuse to revoke your title.”

He was giving me such a serious look that I wondered what was going on.

“Revoking my title…”

Actually, I don’t care about the title itself.

The problem is the clan members.

If I still had my title, I could have done something to prevent the ‘death penalty’.

“I don’t know what you’re so worried about, but may I say one thing to my Clan Leader?”

I stopped worrying and nodded, and Kaislan looked at me with the eyes of a ‘soldier’.

“We decided to follow you, not because we wanted to be your little kids.”

“……”

“It’s just because we want to walk the same path as you.”

As soon as Kaislan finished speaking, the people around him nodded in agreement.

“You’re saying what I’ve wanted to say all along.”

In Amelia’s case, she looked as satisfied as if she had just drunk a cider.

“You must go, Clan Leader. The royal family will never lose. If you want to live in this world, you must go now.”

Faced with another direct statement in that situation, I had no choice but to nod as well.

“Okay. I’ll go. But there’s something I need to do first.”

“If there’s something to do…?”

What else could it be?

If I leave, you and I will have to part ways, right?

“I’m going to choose a Vice-Clan Leader now.”

There needs to be someone to lead the group while I’m gone.

***

The Vice-Clan Leader position, which has been vacant since the founding.

It’s not like I deliberately left it empty. I wanted to fill it a long time ago, but…

‘Somehow, it’s only now that I’m getting around to choosing one.’

Well, there are many reasons why I postponed the selection.

From the start, everyone was reluctant to take the position.

Even without a Vice-Clan Leader, everyone was doing well, each taking charge of their own area. And the clan members also wanted a more horizontal atmosphere.

But now it’s different.

“Vice-Clan Leader… are you talking about that?”

“Yes.”

There’s a saying in the world.

A pack of sheep led by a lion is stronger than a pack of lions led by a sheep.

That’s how important the role of a leader is.

Therefore…

“Is there anyone who wants to nominate themselves?”

I asked the clan members casually, but no one readily raised their hand.

Kaislan, at least, seemed a bit greedy for the position…

‘Those two are a bit unexpected.’

Versil Gowland and James Kalla, who were former Vice-Clan Leaders of large-sized clans.

These two, who would be the most suitable for this position, don’t seem interested at all.

‘Is it because they know how hard the position is, having done it once?’

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

Our clan is a bit different from other clans.

Being a Vice-Clan Leader would mean more ‘duty’ than benefits like wielding power.

‘Hmm… then who would be the right person?’

With that in mind, I looked at each of the clan members standing around me.

Who would be the most suitable for the Vice-Clan Leader position?

I don’t know yet, but one thing is certain.

The Vice-Clan Leader position is not something that can be filled just because I give someone the title.

If I were to give the Vice-Clan Leader position to Auyen here, would the others listen to him?

The person must be able to create authority within the clan through their own power to take on the position.

And in that sense…

Melrand Kaislan.

He at least meets the minimum requirements.

He has experience leading a group, and he’s a former soldier, so he has some charisma…

‘Most of all, he’s skilled in strategy and tactics.’

The disadvantage is that he lacks information and is not proactive due to his own beliefs.

In short, he’s a bit lacking in improvisation…

‘Amelia Rainwales.’

Amelia is the exact opposite.

She always thinks and judges rationally, and she’s good at improvisation, having gone through all sorts of things.

However, she has a lower understanding of the group than Kaislan.

It’s not that she lacks charisma, but she prefers to move alone…

‘Since she’s a founding member, everyone would probably accept it if she took the Vice-Clan Leader position.’

Still, this was a very big advantage.

I have to leave the clan to lead on their own, and it seems like everyone would accept her without complaint.

‘Versil Gowland.’

…He’s also a good option.

He was the first member to join after the Ice Rock Expedition, so he’s been in the clan for a relatively long time, and he also has experience as a former Vice-Clan Leader.

‘Well, he seems to lack charisma compared to the other two…’

That’s because he’s been a regular member. He would act differently if he became Vice-Clan Leader.

‘He seems to be good at strategy and tactics… and from what I’ve heard him say, he’s not that stubborn or rigid…’

After organizing my thoughts, Versil felt like a mix of Amelia and Kaislan.

Right in the middle, you could say?

‘Anyway, there aren’t any other candidates that come to mind besides these three.’

After looking through the remaining clan members, I narrowed down the candidates to these three.

Erwen and Misha are founding members, but they don’t have the capacity to lead anyone.

“Hey… Vice-Clan Leader!! Could… could I do it?!”

Iynar is out of the question.

“You stay still.”

“Why! You said anyone who wants to can step forward!!”

“…You’re excluded.”

“That’s too much! Bjorn!! How can you treat me like this—”

“Pnellin, the Clan Leader is speaking. Be quiet.”

When Amelia narrowed her eyes and spoke, Iynar became quiet as if nothing had happened.

“……”

Sigh, seeing this, it seems like Amelia is the right person after all…

“I’ll say it in advance, I have no intention of doing it.”

“…Huh?”

“It would never suit me.”

Well, it seems like you’re the only one who thinks that.

She has a habit of undervaluing herself.

It’s similar to how Erwen and Misha never wear skirts or fancy clothes.

She thinks everything doesn’t suit her?

Without even trying it on.

“But don’t worry. Whoever becomes Vice-Clan Leader, I’ll help them as hard as I helped you.”

Well, I can’t force someone who says that much to do it.

I’ll give up on making Amelia Vice-Clan Leader here.

“Since there are no candidates, I’ll decide—”

“Me! I said I’d do it… Ouch! Why, why are you pinching me!”

Misha pinched Iynar’s waist, who was cutting me off again and showing his unwavering will, and the situation was over.

“Since there are no candidates, I’ll decide. Melrand Kaislan, and Versil Gowland. I think you two are suitable for the Vice-Clan Leader position.”

“If you entrust it to me, I will not avoid the duty and weight of it.”

“Me too… After all, someone has to do it.”

Okay, so these two have nominated themselves…

The only thing left is one process.

If one of them gave up, I was going to make the other one do it, but since both of them showed their willingness to do it…

“I’ll start the vote now. All clan members, come to me and whisper in my ear. Who do you think is more suitable for the Vice-Clan Leader position?”

“Whisper… you mean?”

“Don’t worry! I’ll keep it a secret!”

“……”

James Kalla had a somewhat dumbfounded expression, but he didn’t voice any more objections.

And…

“Okay, let’s start!”

Thus began the Barbarian-style secret vote.

The first one to start was Erwen, whom I had pointed out.

“Amelia Rainwales.”

…Huh?

Did I hear something wrong?

“Just because. I think she’d do the best.”

“No, but you have to choose one of the two…”

“Then just mark it as an abstention. It doesn’t matter who does it.”

“Okay.”

So, the first vote is an abstention (Amelia).

“I’ll go with Mr. Gowland… he seems a bit nicer than Kaislan…”

Misha, the second one, chose Versil.

…I wonder what being nice has to do with being a Vice-Clan Leader.

‘……It’s not like I’m choosing an elementary school class president.’

I wondered if what I was doing was a popularity vote, but the votes after that were a bit better.

“Versil Gowland.”

Amelia just said one word and went back.

“I… I would like to cast my vote for Ms. Gowland.”

James Kalla, a former Vice-Clan Leader.

“If I had to entrust my life to one of the two, I would choose Ms. Gowland.”

Sven Parav, who has an extraordinary sense of survival.

“I’ll go with Ms. Versil Gowland.”

Lilis Marone, who just voted without any particular reason, cast one vote each for Versil, making it a total of five votes.

“I’ll go with Kaislan! A knight is better than a mage!”

“Hey… I can hear everything from here?”

Iynar, who didn’t seem to know what a secret vote was, cast another vote, and Kaislan got his first vote…

‘Then the result is already decided.’

Since the candidates decided not to vote, the vote was practically over.

But I still wanted to hear their opinions, so I called out the last person to vote.

“I, I…”

Auyen Lockrove, a former plunderer and navigator.

Who will this guy choose?

“I… I think it has to be the Madam.”

It was a completely unexpected line.

“Madam…?”

“Ah, no… I mean Ms. Raines. No matter how much I think about it, I think she’s the only one who’s suitable for the Vice-Clan Leader position…”

Heh…

“Okay, go back.”

“Yes… I’m sorry for saying something unnecessary.”

“No, it’s your freedom to express your opinion.”

Anyway, with Auyen finishing his vote and returning to his seat, the Vice-Clan Leader election was over.

“……”

“……”

Kaislan and Versil looked somewhat nervous.

The other clan members also seemed curious about the results.

“Don’t worry! Kaislan! Everyone must have voted for you! A knight is better than a mage! You’ll definitely be the one!”

“Haha, don’t praise me too much. Ms. Gowland is also a very capable person. We won’t know until we see the results.”

Hmm… now that they’re acting like this, I’m reluctant to announce it.

Well, it’s not like I’m not going to do it.

“I’ll announce the results. Versil Gowland has received five votes and will be the Vice-Clan Leader of our Anabada Clan from today.”

When I announced the winner, Kaislan had a somewhat regretful yet relieved expression.

“If Ms. Gowland has five votes, then I must have three. With this much of a difference, it’s not that regrettable—”

“Emily Raines has two votes, and Melrand Kaislan has one vote. That’s all.”

The voting results were as neatly organized as Kaislan’s expression from a moment ago.

That’s why Kaislan reacted after a long pause.

“………Huh? What do you mean?”

“It’s as I said?”

I shrugged nonchalantly, and Kaislan shouted as if it didn’t make sense.

“But Ms. Raines didn’t even participate in the Vice-Clan Leader competition!”

Well, that’s true.

That’s why I thought about keeping it to myself.

But if I did that, it would damage the fairness of the sacred secret vote, right?

“Don’t worry. All the votes for Raines have been treated as abstentions.”

So, cheer up.

“Kaislan, you’re clearly in second place.”