Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 738

739. Reversed Fate (2)

A vacant lot stretched under a gray, overcast sky.

This place was originally where barbarians gathered for discussions and announcements.

Other races usually preferred indoor spaces for such things, emphasizing formality and security…

But barbarians found that inefficient.

Why gather indoors to talk? Why bother with chairs when they could stand on their sturdy legs and listen?

Consequently, the Barbarian Sanctuary lacked a proper conference room. So, when Bersil requested a space for dozens of people to meet, the Chief Administrative Officer directed her to this vacant lot.

It was hard to believe that a group of this size didn’t have a single suitable building…

[Don’t try to understand everything. It’s better for your mental health to just accept it.]

Upon hearing the Chief Administrative Officer’s seemingly enlightened words, I nodded without thinking.

It sounded like genuine advice the moment I heard it…

And when I considered it, he wasn’t entirely wrong.

In fact, a large conference room could actually hinder communication when dozens of people were trying to talk.

‘Gathering like this naturally creates a more open atmosphere…’

Perhaps this was one of the barbarians’ strengths.

Once you understood it, the unexpected advantages became clear.

The clan leaders, summoned to the vacant lot, didn’t seem to grasp this yet.

“Ahem…”

“Why were we called to this vacant lot so early in the morning?”

“How can we have an important discussion in a place like this… Does the barbarian race not have a meeting hall?”

“We don’t.”

“Hmph… They’ve developed a lot, but still—”

“Enough.”

In Bersil’s opinion, they completely misunderstood their current situation.

They weren’t guests here.

Therefore…

‘I need to start with this.’

Before the full meeting, Bersil wanted to address this one crucial point.

“I don’t think you all realize, but we are refugees who escaped a war. The barbarians are our hosts, who have taken us in.”

“…Ahem.”

“In that case, shouldn’t we take a moment to express our gratitude for providing us with a safe place to stay and food?”

“…”

“Who knows? If they decide to expel us, we’ll have no choice but to return to District 7.”

With those words, Bersil glanced at Ainar, who grinned and stepped forward.

“That’s right, you freeloaders! They saved you, gave you shelter, and fed you. If you have any decency, shouldn’t you at least give a big battle cry as a sign of respect and gratitude?!”

“…A battle cry?”

“Are you… talking about Behella [a traditional barbarian war cry]?”

“Of course!! You can refuse if you don’t want to! We barbarians respect free will!”

“Ah… well, I refuse for religious reasons—”

“Oh! Then you can leave the sanctuary right now!”

“Didn’t you just say you respected free will?!”

“Freedom comes with great responsibility, don’t you know that?”

Ainar gave him a pitying look, and the man who had tried to refuse fell silent, as did the other clan leaders.

In Bersil’s view, it was time to offer a reward.

“Ainar, please stop. The person you mentioned was only trying to refuse for religious reasons, but they are clearly grateful to the barbarians.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“O-of course. Isn’t that natural for a human?”

The man nodded, seizing the opportunity.

It was much more advantageous to simply say thank you than to shout a battle cry in front of everyone, and the other clan leaders seemed to agree, offering their own words of gratitude.

“Ms. Pnelin, we sincerely thank you.”

“Our Partia Clan feels the same. We will never forget the favor we have received this time.”

Watching the scene, Bersil wore a satisfied smile that no one noticed.

It might seem like they were just saying ‘thank you,’ but these small gestures were what built the power dynamic.

“Vice Commander Gowland.”

“Speak, Commander Erta.”

“May I ask why you gathered us here this morning? Surely you didn’t call all these people here just to say thank you.”

“Ah, that?”

As if she had been waiting for the question, Bersil stepped forward.

And she answered loudly, as if addressing everyone.

“The barrier that has been blocking the area between the sanctuary and District 7 has been weakening since an hour ago.”

The casual statement struck the explorers, who had been at ease since arriving at the sanctuary, like a bolt of lightning.

“…W-what are you talking about?”

“Isn’t it the Noark bastards who put up the barrier to trap us in the sanctuary! They’re fighting the royal family, so they shouldn’t have the energy to worry about us!”

To be precise, it wasn’t us, but the barbarians stationed in the sanctuary, but that wasn’t important.

“But why now… what’s the reason—”

“The reason doesn’t matter.”

Bersil cut him off firmly and got to the point.

“It’s a fact that the barrier is weakening. After checking, it seems that the magic supply has been cut off, and it’s naturally dissipating.”

“Vice Commander, how much time do we have left?”

At Bersil’s question, a person calmly asked back.

Was he the leader of the Lavraim Clan?

Unlike the other leaders, who I wanted to punch one by one, he had always shown a rational demeanor, both before and after coming to the sanctuary.

“It’s not exact, but I estimate about an hour.”

“An hour…”

“Anyway, since things have turned out this way, we need to prepare. In my opinion, there are only two reasons why that barrier would suddenly be released.”

“May we hear them?”

“The first is that something really went wrong, and the magic supply was cut off.”

“Then, what’s the second?”

At that question, Bersil looked at the man who had shouted earlier and said,

“It means that the Noark side now has the ability to deal with us.”

“…?”

“The ability to deal with us.”

In fact, Bersil considered this possibility to be the most likely, and perhaps that was evident in her voice.

“…”

“…”

A heavy silence followed.

The vacant lot was so quiet that you wouldn’t think dozens of people were gathered there.

It was a woman who broke the silence.

“Then… what should we do now…?”

Well.

If she could, Bersil also wanted to answer that she didn’t know.

But…

[From today, you are the vice commander of our clan.]

She couldn’t do that.

Bersil closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them again.

“Everyone should prepare to fight.”

“May we hear what the strategy is?”

“First, we will focus on defense. If we build a base in front of the gate and block it, the enemies won’t be able to break through easily.”

“If it’s ‘first,’ does that mean there’s a next step?”

“Yes. If we see an opening while observing the situation, shouldn’t we push forward?”

“P-push forward…?”

The clan leaders widened their eyes as if they had heard an unexpected strategy, but Bersil shrugged and said.

Although her position was ‘mage’ and ‘ranged attacker,’ she knew it now.

“Yes. Offense is the best defense.”

To protect what’s truly precious, you also need to know how to strike.

***

The Chief Administrative Officer of the Barbarian race, Shavin Emuer.

She was currently busier than anyone else in the tribe.

That was only natural.

This damn sanctuary was once again caught up in war, and unfortunately, she was the person in charge (acting) of all the work within the sanctuary.

So, she had to keep her wits about her—.

“Ms. Emuer, I’ve brought tea, so please take a moment to refresh yourself.”

“…Yes, yes? But I don’t have time for that—”

“You have time for a cup of tea, don’t you? You don’t need to feel too much pressure alone.”

“…I, I understand what you mean. But how can I rest when the enemies are about to attack…?!”

Emuer felt like she was going crazy.

That was because her specialty was in administrative office work, not war.

“Well, if that’s the case, I won’t insist… but I’ll leave it here, so please drink it from time to time, even if it’s just for the sake of my effort. To improve work efficiency, sometimes you need to calm down, even if it’s on purpose.”

“Ah… yes… thank you, Mr. Rotmiller.”

As if he had only come to pour her a cup of tea, Rotmiller turned around after saying that, and only then did Shavin Emuer realize what had changed about Rotmiller.

“M-Mr. Rotmiller? What’s with that outfit?”

Rotmiller, who was always dressed in neat casual clothes, was somehow wearing equipment.

Like someone who was about to enter a dungeon.

“Ah… now that I think about it, it’s probably the first time Ms. Emuer has seen this? I didn’t get rid of my old equipment just in case, and now I think it was a good thing.”

“Are you… planning to participate in the war…?”

“Shouldn’t I? We need all the help we can get.”

“But Mr. Rotmiller, you were a scout!!”

It was a statement that could be considered rude.

But Rotmiller smiled gently without any sign of offense.

“Haha, but don’t worry too much. Even though I’m a scout, I was also an explorer. I went into dungeons to protect what was precious.”

Shavin Emuer was speechless as she looked at Rotmiller.

Because when she thought about it calmly, it wasn’t like she was in a position to stop him.

“Anyway, I came to say goodbye. Once I head to the front lines, it’ll be hard to see each other until the end of the war.”

In the end, there was only one thing she could say.

“…Please be careful.”

She said it briefly, with all the sincerity in her heart, and Rotmiller also replied briefly.

“…I will return safely.”

With those words, Rotmiller left the room, and Shavin Emuer, who was left alone, blushed.

‘R-return safely…!’

Even after drinking the fragrant tea, her heart wouldn’t calm down.

***

The Lion King.

There was only one person who used that title at the Round Table [a council or gathering of leaders].

A person who was known for acting like a spokesperson for Auril Gavis at the Round Table.

‘The Wolf.’

Coincidentally, the ‘Hirkumuta’ mask that the opponent was wearing was also a black wolf.

But rather than a coincidence…

‘He must have been part of that group from the beginning.’

Maybe that’s why he chose the wolf when he had to choose a mask.

“Haha, don’t be so wary. I’m not your enemy.”

“Then why did you block my path?”

“I didn’t block your path, did I?”

“Really? Then get out of my way.”

I spoke coldly, but he had no intention of moving aside.

“I told you not to be so wary. I’m just here to give you some advice on behalf of the Elder.”

If it was the Elder, he must be talking about that old man, Auril Gavis…

“Advice…”

In Chinese characters, it’s written with the characters for ‘help’ and ‘words.’

Literally, it means helpful words.

But why did it feel more ominous and make me more wary the moment I heard those words?

I didn’t know, but he seemed to understand that I would listen, and he ‘advised’ me.

“You came this way, so you must be heading to the sanctuary, right?”

“…”

“Go that way instead of the sanctuary.”

With those words, he pointed to District 7, which was on fire.

I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t even laugh.

“You said you wouldn’t block me, that was bullshit.”

“I’m serious when I say I have no intention of blocking you. If the Lion King wants to go to the sanctuary, I will step aside.”

“Really? Then get out of my way.”

“If you wish.”

Even though I didn’t expect it at all, he actually moved to the edge of the wall, making way for me.

Therefore…

Step, step.

I walked forward slowly, inwardly wary of whether he would do something else.

And…

Step.

Just as I was about to pass him.

“Ah, and one more thing. Killing the clown was not a good choice.”

“Does my choice have any meaning?”

“It does. At least for the Lion King. The Elder said that if the clown had lived, he would have been a great help to you.”

“I don’t know if he would have been a help, but I know that your Elder is nosy.”

“Because he is merciful and noble.”

Geez, he’s such a fanboy of Auril Gavis.

I didn’t feel the need to talk any further, so I started walking again, passing him.

And…

Step.

One step.

Step.

Two steps.

Step-

I took three more steps, holding back many thoughts.

‘Ha, this is driving me crazy…’

In the end, I turned around and asked.

“…Why the hell.”

I didn’t like the way his eyes curved behind the mask as soon as I opened my mouth.

“Are you telling me not to go to the sanctuary?”

When I finally couldn’t hold back my question, he answered as if he had been waiting for it.

“The people who die will change depending on where you go.”

“…”

“So go to District 7 instead of the sanctuary. That would be the best choice for the Lion King.”

“A choice for me…”

I chuckled and confirmed one more thing.

“That’s enough, and did your Elder tell you about this future too?”

“I don’t know what you’re asking, but this is the end of the advice I’m allowed to give—”

Geez, I didn’t ask for more advice.

Squeeze-!

I grabbed his neck with a swift hand, pushed him to the edge of the wall, and said.

“Will you live here, or will you die?”

If he gets it right, I might believe him.