Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 714

It had been a long time since I was last locked in a prison.

No, is it even right to call this a prison?

A place where monstrous creatures are locked up, or where super-criminals, thought to be dead in the labyrinth, are being tortured.

The royal underground prison, filled with all sorts of rumors.

‘……The hot water comes out faster than in my house?’

It’s too luxurious to be called a prison.

It feels like I’m in a five-star hotel suite.

The room alone has three sections, and the bed is so big that I could roll sideways twice and still have room to spare.

There was even a large bathtub in the bathroom……

“……Not bad.”

Of course, not all of the underground prison is like this.

After all, the place I’m in is a special cell set aside in a corner of the first basement level.

A place where those who are respected by the royal family, even as prisoners, live their prison lives.

Well, in fact, it’s more of a show of imprisonment than the actual purpose.

Anyway.

“Baron Yandel, may I have a word with you?”

Not even a few hours into my prison life, a visitor came. It was the same old royal knight I had met just a few hours ago……

He was surprised by my patriotism.

He asked if my prison life was uncomfortable.

He told me to speak up anytime if I needed his help.

He said that the Noark people were being interrogated by intelligence agents on the fifth basement level, and that it was revealed that the vice-captain was able to survive thanks to the ‘Essence’ [a magical power source].

He treated me kindly, had a little small talk, and then left with a slightly meaningful remark at the end.

“……I’ll be going now. As I said before, don’t think about anything else and rest for two days. The Marquis not taking any special measures against you might be for another reason.”

“…Huh? What do you mean by that?”

“It means he might want you to escape. Even if the period is only two days, the crime of escaping will not be lessened.”

The old royal knight said he had business and left, and I was left with a lot to think about.

‘It does make sense.’

That’s because the Marquis treated me too well for someone locked in prison. If he knew my personality, he could have put far more restrictions on me to prevent me from escaping.

He put me in a special cell and didn’t even put me in restraints.

Honestly, if I wanted to, I could tear down the door right now and go outside……

“……Hello?”

For some reason, not long after the old royal knight left, a second visitor came.

Is this a place where anyone can come if they want?

I found it a bit funny, but……

‘Actually, when I think about it, it’s not just anyone.’

It’s just that there were many people around me who had enough status to enter the royal underground prison.

Like the second visitor who just arrived.

“Ragna……”

“It’s been a while…… Is there anything uncomfortable? I heard it’s different from the prison I imagined, but I can’t see inside from here……”

“It’s probably as you heard. There’s nothing particularly uncomfortable. The food seems to be good enough.”

“Ah… Is that so? That’s a relief.”

“So, what brings you here?”

When I asked about the purpose of her visit, Ragna hesitated and then slipped a wrapped box through the gap where food is passed.

‘What is this?’

Secret documents, or a letter that needs to be delivered secretly.

Thinking about that, I silently unwrapped the package and checked the contents.

But, what is this?

“…Cookies?”

The small box was filled with cookies, and nothing else was visible.

Ah, did she put a note inside the cookies?

With that thought in mind, I quickly picked one up and was chewing on it.

“I heard that there wouldn’t be any desserts during meals…… So I tried baking them myself, how is it… does it suit your taste?”

“Uh… Uh? Oh, it’s delicious!”

“Hehe, you don’t have to shout so loud, I can hear you well.”

“……”

I wondered if the Marquis had ordered her to come, but it seemed she really just wanted to bring me some food and see my face.

So, while having a casual chat with just a door between us, I suddenly thought I might as well ask her about that.

The painting of the woman, presumed to be Ragna’s biological mother, that I saw in the secret study.

Does she know about the existence of that woman?

I thought about asking her, but decided not to. The Marquis probably has listening devices hidden everywhere—.

“No, wait a minute.”

Suddenly, a thunderbolt struck my mind.

“……What’s wrong?”

Come to think of it, did the Marquis even mention it to me?

I felt a little sorry, but I ignored Ragna’s question and replayed my conversation with the Marquis.

‘He didn’t.’

As I thought back, it became clear.

The Marquis at that time did not.

[So… you really found them while searching our family’s estate?]

Even though he must have heard all the news about what happened within the family.

[Two days, you will only be disciplined for two days.]

The Marquis didn’t even mention it, let alone probe me.

About that ‘secret study’ I entered without permission.

Not even a single word.

He could have mentioned it at least once in passing.

‘……Was it not that important of a secret?’

It wasn’t a big deal to hide, no matter who found out.

Is that why the Marquis didn’t react much?

It’s not an impossible assumption, but my past life told me.

‘No, that can’t be.’

It’s the opposite.

The reason the Marquis didn’t mention it at all was because that ‘secret’ was too important.

And if this assumption is correct.

‘…The most dangerous one might be me.’

Maybe now is not the time to worry about my comrades in District 7.

“…What on earth are you doing?”

Ah, of course, it was a delusion that I couldn’t honestly tell Ragna, who is also the Marquis’s daughter.

Therefore……

“…My stomach hurts!”

“……Excuse me?”

“I need to go to the bathroom quickly! Ah, and I’ll enjoy these cookies! Thank you!”

“Yes? Ah…. Yes………”

Using the Barbarian’s evasion maneuver, I ended my conversation with Ragna at this point.

After Ragna left, my stomach actually hurt a little, so I went to the bathroom and sat on the toilet.

And how much time had passed?

Thud.

Something that looked like a grenade rolled in through the food slot that could only be opened from the outside.

Flash-!

It exploded and emitted a strong light.

‘A flashbang…?’

That was my first thought, but the light wasn’t so strong that it blinded me, and I didn’t feel any damage to the skin that was exposed to the light.

‘Who is it…?’

It doesn’t seem like an attack.

Still, just in case, I took out my hammer and was approaching the door when I heard a voice from beyond it.

“Are you there?”

Jerome Saintred, the commander of the 1st Royal Knights.

No, to be precise, the ancient monster that had taken over his body.

“I have something urgent to tell you.”

It was the village chief.

***

The royal prison isn’t some kind of playground for kids.

I don’t know how many people are trying to visit in a day, but the third visitor was the village chief.

“What’s your business now? And what was that just now?”

“It’s a magical tool used by the Royal Intelligence Department. It emits a powerful magical wave for a moment to neutralize magical tools in the communication system.”

Well, in simple terms, is it an EMP grenade?

“It was a measure taken in case there were listening ears, so I hope you understand.”

Well, I thought there was a high possibility of listening devices, so it doesn’t matter.

“Okay, what’s the urgent matter you need to tell me?”

As I got to the point, the village chief immediately spoke only the essentials, as if it was true that it was urgent.

“It will start soon.”

……No, isn’t that too essential?

“Start? What do you mean?”

“The day when everything will burn.”

“No, I mean, what does that—”

I tried to ask again as calmly as possible, ignoring the uneasy beating of my heart.

Kwaaaaaaaang-!!

The vibration from the ground continued for tens of seconds.

Drrrrrrrrr-!!

Soon, the entire prison began to shake.

The ceiling cracked, and the walls supporting the ceiling crumbled, dropping debris.

I was flustered and grabbed the iron door, trying to ask the village chief what was going on, when the village chief spoke first.

“Get out of here quickly. This place is no longer safe.”

“No, I mean, explain a little—!”

“That’s all I can say right now. Survive. Then I’ll have something to tell you.”

“What do you mean by something to tell me? You need to tell me at least a little about the situation so I can—!”

“It’s about time. You’ll hear about the situation later from someone else.”

With those words, I felt the village chief leave from beyond the iron door.

And……

Tadatadat-!

I could hear very urgent footsteps quickly approaching where I was.

It wasn’t the village chief or the old royal knight.

Because it was clearly the footsteps of an ordinary person who had nothing to do with martial arts.

‘Is it Ragna…?’

The first person that came to mind was her, but surprisingly, this visitor was a new fourth visitor.

Knock knock knock!

“Yandel-ssi!! Yandel-ssi!!”

“Raven…?”

“Ah, you’re here! That’s a relief! I’ll open it for you now—.”

“No need.”

I tore off the door, which had no meaning in the first place, and went outside.

“Uh……?”

“Hurry and get to the point. What’s going on up there right now?”

“Ah, ah……!”

Raven, who seemed to have come to her senses after hearing my voice, quickly started briefing.

“Ure! Ure fell on the Palace of Glory!”

‘Ure’ [one of the three magical weapons].

The official name of one of the three ‘magical weapons’ owned by the royal family.

“I heard on the communication on my way to Yandel-ssi that the Palace of Glory has collapsed, and the prime minister, who is the commander-in-chief, is also in an unclear state! Everyone is in a state of panic and is evacuating……!”

I grabbed Raven’s shoulder as if pressing down on it.

I don’t know what she saw up there, but her body was trembling like an aspen.

“W-we can’t stay like this, we need to evacuate quickly! If that, if that falls one more time, this place won’t be safe either—!”

“Calm down, Raven.”

“But……!”

“I said calm down.”

“……”

When I spoke strongly, Raven also shut her mouth.

Well, that didn’t make the trembling of her body disappear.

But it was much better than a moment ago when she was in a panic.

“District 7… Is there any news about what happened to District 7?”

“I, I don’t know. There was talk of starting the Bipron subjugation operation before Ure fell, but……”

Well, okay… I see.

After that, I checked one last thing.

“Is there any more information about what happened to the prime minister?”

“Yes? No! I don’t know if he’s alive or dead. But according to the news I heard on the communication, he was definitely in the Palace of Glory when Ure fell!”

“I see.”

Even as I answered, I had a gut feeling… no, a conviction.

The Marquis will be alive.

No, maybe the Marquis was the one who detonated ‘Ure’. He’s a guy who has circumstances that could have conspired with the Noark bastards.

“Wait a minute, give me some time.”

“Yes? What do you mean by time? We shouldn’t be doing this, we need to get out—!”

“Just a moment, it’ll only take a moment.”

With those words, I shut my mouth and continued to think, no matter what Raven said.

It was a time of war where every minute and second was urgent.

It didn’t take long to finish thinking and come to a conclusion.

‘As I thought.’

Running away like this is the worst option.

Running away right now, or going outside and joining my comrades in District 7, would all be possible in the current chaotic situation.

Logically, that would be a much safer choice.

Thud.

There’s a ‘golden time’ for everything, right?

The results that follow depend on how you respond initially.

Yeah, so……

“Go first, Raven.”

“……Yes? What do you mean? Are you crazy? Yandel-ssi doesn’t know the situation up there… No, where are you going!”

Raven was horrified as she saw me start to move.

That’s understandable.

If you follow the corridor I’m going to, there’s a staircase that goes further underground.

And……

“It was the fifth basement level, right……”

“The fifth basement level…? Why are you going there!”

According to the old royal knight, they are locked up there.

The Noark special forces who were captured along with the surrendered ‘Evil Eye’ [a powerful Noark warrior].

With restraints and all their abilities sealed.