Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 708

Leaving the 7th District’s fortress wall and arriving at the imperial capital, Karnon, via the military magic circle, I was greeted by a group of knights waiting for me as soon as I opened my eyes. I was a little surprised.

“We’ve come to escort you, Baron Yandel.”

‘Is it because of the war?’ I didn’t expect the high-and-mighty royal knights, not just regular soldiers, to come out to greet me like this.

“Please, get in the carriage.”

Soon, escorted by the royal knights, I boarded the carriage and headed straight to the ‘Palace of Glory,’ which I had already visited several times for investitures, victory parades, and promotions.

‘It definitely feels like wartime.’ The Palace of Glory was completely different from usual, and I’m not just talking about the atmosphere.

“Baron Bjorn Yandel’s identity has been confirmed.”

The identity check at the city gate was several times more thorough than usual, and as soon as I passed through the gate, I could see a military encampment set up in the wide open space. Ah, of course, it was a bit different from a regular military encampment.

‘It feels like only officers are gathered here.’ Since it wasn’t the front line, communication equipment was set up everywhere, and soldiers who looked like they’d wield a pen better than a sword were standing in front of them. Also, those soldiers were spreading out a map and having a serious discussion about something…

“The headquarters is this way.”

Soon, guided by the knights, I entered the Palace of Glory, and then I started seeing familiar faces here and there. Earl Perdehilt, Viscount Mülbarke, Earl Alminus… Seeing them waving at me from afar made me feel strange again. It felt like I was seeing these people more often and they were more familiar to me than knights, officers, the heads of the Explorers Guild branches, or high-ranking officials.

‘Even Earl Perdehilt, I first met him at a banquet hall…’ There, I became a barbarian warrior and fought against the knights, eventually earning the title ‘Knight Crusher’ and the ‘Garpas Necklace’ [a necklace made from the bones of a Garpas, a powerful monster] as spoils of war. ‘That was already several years ago…’ Now, I’m a titled noble who is exempt from general laws and is only punished by ‘noble law.’ I’m also the clan leader of one of the six races that make up the city and an explorer leading a clan. But why is it?

‘I think I was happiest back then…’ Back then, when I was frantically attacking 6th-grade monsters, always witnessing the mana overcharge phenomenon on the 3rd floor, and bickering with explorers I met in the labyrinth while trying to make a living day by day. Whenever I’m mentally exhausted, I always think of that time. If others saw it, they’d say my position has risen and my situation has improved beyond comparison.

“The Commander-in-Chief is currently in a meeting, so would you mind waiting here for a moment? You are free to stay anywhere within the military headquarters.”

“Sure.”

With that, the knight who had guided me here left, and I was about to look around and get a feel for the atmosphere when…

“Where and how long did you train?”

A familiar voice and a smiling white-rabbit-race woman approached me. “Ah, Baron Lilibia.”

A member of the Melves Interracial Noble Alliance, and the most friendly head of household to me, also known as the Rabbit Baron.

“How much stronger are you trying to get there?” As we were quite close, the Rabbit Baron joked around instead of giving a formal greeting, and I chuckled.

“How have you been?”

“I’ve been fine, until this happened.”

“Is that so? Anyway, it’s good to see you. What’s going on right now? Is there anything I need to know?”

The Rabbit Baron seemed to think my question was a bit out of the blue, and she pondered for a moment. “Hmm… how should I put this… How much do you know, Baron Yandel?”

“I came in a hurry, so I don’t know much. So, just assume I don’t know anything and tell me.”

At my words, the Rabbit Baron explained the current situation from beginning to end. And here are the facts I learned for the first time…

“They invaded the imperial capital…?”

“Not the main force, but a small elite force.”

The day the Bifron barrier disappeared, the Noark [a hostile race] bastards who came out formed a special unit and entered the imperial capital. However, there was no significant damage, and after being discovered once by a search party, no further traces were found.

“Didn’t you see them on your way here? Search parties are all over the city.”

Well, I did see soldiers, but I thought they were just defense forces.

“We don’t know what their purpose was, but so far, no significant damage has been found.”

Anyway, to put it simply, there’s a possibility that the Noark special forces that infiltrated the imperial capital are still hiding inside Karnon.

“But don’t worry too much. That small force wouldn’t dare to set foot in the royal palace. This place is safe.”

The Rabbit Baron seemed to genuinely believe that. Of course, when you think about it, it wasn’t a strange belief. Looking at the forces currently stationed at the royal palace, it’s highly likely that a special force of less than thirty people would be dealt with in a few minutes. But…

‘Do you think those bastards are stupid…?’ Since I don’t know what they’re aiming for, I feel uneasy. Therefore…

‘It’s better to assume that the royal palace isn’t a safe zone either.’ That’s enough mind-setting for now. As I continued to listen, I learned many new things. After all, the Rabbit Baron was a titled noble. Naturally, she knew a lot of high-level information that ordinary people couldn’t access.

“They managed to push them back to Bifron using magic weapons, but the military headquarters is expecting that they planted spies in the meantime.”

That the royal family, worried about spies, is conducting a wide-ranging search operation in various districts housing refugees.

“Rumor has it that the military headquarters is planning to lead all forces to Bifron soon and wipe them out.”

Information about the future war situation. “Your clan is in the 7th District, right? If that happens, there might be damage there too.”

Even such murmurs that I couldn’t just ignore.

“…What do you mean?”

“This… you should keep this to yourself, Baron?”

“Of course.”

The Rabbit Baron, who had already silenced me before starting, looked around and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Apart from the Noark invasion, the royal family is now judging that the power of the explorers has become too great.”

“…What?”

“Isn’t that right? The longer the war that started in the 7th floor of the Dark Continent goes on, the more the explorers have grown noticeably.”

Ah, that’s what she meant. Certainly… I could somewhat agree. The royal family had to ‘reward’ the explorers throughout the war. To overcome the turbulent times, small and medium-sized clans merged to form large forces, and they participated in the war like mercenaries, rapidly growing based on the essences and equipment they received.

“Then, the extreme measure of closing the labyrinth wasn’t just to keep the Noark bastards in check.”

“Yes. No one has heard the official position of the royal family, but everyone secretly thinks so.”

“But why is the royal family trying to keep the explorer forces in check?”

I voiced the question I had always had, and the Rabbit Baron answered like this. “Isn’t it obvious? Any force that becomes strong will raise its voice. They’ll want more, and greed always leads to bloodshed. To rule this city, absolute power is needed.”

Well, from a political point of view, that might be the case… but I have a feeling that it’s not just for that reason. Explorers getting stronger and raising their voices. From what I’ve experienced so far, it’s not that they’re trying to keep this in check, but it’s like they’re concerned about ‘explorers getting stronger’ itself.

‘It’s like they’re trying to prevent us from reaching the depths of the labyrinth…’ That’s when my thoughts, which had been flowing smoothly, reached that point.

Thump-

No, wait a minute.

“…”

If what I thought a moment ago was true.

“Look, it’s Baron Yandel.”

“The fact that the Baron has appeared means that the clan he leads has also arrived at the front line.”

“That’s great. Although their numbers are small compared to the large clans, each one of them is said to be worth a hundred men.”

“There’s even a saying going around. If an explorer reaches the 10th floor in thousands of years, it will be Baron Yandel and his companions.”

This, isn’t our clan the most dangerous right now…?

***

The 3rd Command Headquarters, hastily built in the largest building near the 7th District’s fortress wall.

Knock knock.

A knight with a stiff expression enters with a knock.

“Commander, urgent news has arrived from the military headquarters.”

“Speak.”

When the man sitting at the desk with a large map on it gave his permission, the knight who had opened the door began to speak slowly.

“The first piece of news we received is about the Bifron subjugation operation. The security level does not allow us to view the documents, so it seems that the Commander will have to check them directly.”

“I understand. Then, what’s the second?”

“We have received word that Baron Yandel has arrived at the military headquarters.”

“…I see.”

The man who received the report from his subordinate seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, then took the documents and sent the knight away. And…

Screech.

He tore open the sealed documents and checked the contents first. Subjugation date, time, troop deployment map, etc. Information that is more valuable than anything else in war and should never fall into the hands of the enemy. The man, who had been reading through the detailed items, stiffened when he checked the troop deployment map.

‘They’re sending them all to die.’ The military’s elite forces are in the rear, and the explorer forces are sent to the most dangerous front line. A deployment map with a very clear intention. Even the very last line of the document was added.

[Please be informed that Baron Bjorn Yandel is incorporated into the military headquarters as of this time and there are no plans to change his affiliation in the future.]

There was no need to think separately about what the higher-ups wanted or if there was a hidden meaning.

“Hoo…”

The man put down the documents and let out a long sigh.

[So, do well.]

[……]

[There won’t be a second time.]

Regardless of the fact that the chilling warning left by that barbarian was echoing in his ears.

“I don’t like it.”

The instructions from above were too uncomfortable. After all, he was just a person in the end.

‘What on earth is the royal family thinking…’ The man, seemingly displeased, put down the documents and called back the subordinate who had left earlier.

“This is the troop deployment map from above. Quietly inform only the highest-ranking officers of each unit.”

“This, this is…”

The subordinate also trailed off, having seen the intention immediately. I couldn’t blame him for feeling that way. The man was still displeased with the contents of the document. But…

“It’s an order from above, so no objections will be allowed.”

To live in this city, you can’t just do what you want.

“…Nia Lapdonia!”

Because he wasn’t a barbarian.