Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 87

Marquis Martoang (4)

The marquis’s request was simple.

Apparently, some count was holding a grand banquet in two months.

All I had to do was accompany him there.

‘Is that all…?’

‘Well, I’d also like you to show off some skills in front of the people. Like bending steel with your bare hands or something.’

In short, he wanted to use me as a trophy to make himself look good at the banquet.

‘Can you do it?’

Hey, what does he think I am, some kind of performing barbarian?

‘That’s not a problem.’

‘Then it’s settled.’

For reference, the reward for the request was a 1 million stone fee and lifting the ban on entering the Dwarki Labyrinth.

Seriously, is this what nobles are like?

Wasting that much money just to show off to others.

‘Well, I guess I can just pick up the crumbs.’

Even if it wasn’t for the Dwarki issue, it’s a good deal.

I mean, 1 million stones for just keeping someone company for a day?

A stinky sewer request was only 150,000 stones.

‘Hmm, good. Then I’ll take care of that friend’s problem right away. Consider it a favor from me to you.’

The marquis even showed the generosity of resolving the Dwarki issue first.

I wondered what he would do if I didn’t fulfill the request later…

‘I guess nobles are beings who don’t need to worry about such things.’

It makes me realize how far I still have to go.

I’ve built up some strength.

I’ve also gained some meager fame.

But…

‘I should start planning that side of things too.’

I need to gain power.

Just like in the game.

And just like I have since I opened my eyes here.

The incidents that threaten my life aren’t just happening in the labyrinth.

***

The next morning.

We gathered at the meeting place again.

It was to confirm whether the Dwarki Labyrinth entry permit had been issued.

‘How did it go, meow? Did that marquis keep his promise, meow?’

‘I checked today, and there’s no problem.’

‘But why do you look so pale, meow?’

‘Hehe, it’s just my imagination…’

Imagination my ass.

Could it be that the fact that my half-brother, the second son and Marquis Martoang, didn’t even remember me, let alone be wary of me, was that shocking?

As of yesterday, Dwarki’s mental state completely collapsed.

Well, he’s trying hard not to show it…

‘Haa…’

Dwarki, lost in thought several times a day, sighing as if the ground would cave in.

I hope he gets his act together before the labyrinth opens.

‘Ah, more importantly, you guys take this. It’s the reward I promised back then.’

‘Reward?’

‘Didn’t you come with me to negotiate with the marquis?’

Hikurod took out the 300,000 stones he had offered as compensation.

I decided not to accept it.

‘It’s okay, meow, do we need to exchange things like this, meow?’

‘We didn’t go there for a reward. Besides, the negotiation with him was all for the team.’

With both of them waving their hands and refusing the money, I felt a bit awkward taking it alone…

‘It’s not like I’ll have problems right now without 300,000 stones.’

It would be better to keep this as a debt.

If we keep going into the labyrinth, there will definitely be times when we have to give and take, and sometimes make concessions.

‘Anyway, thank you. It wouldn’t have been easy to bend a warrior’s pride.’

Well, I don’t know…

Honestly, I just feel awkward when I hear such words.

1 million stones was too much to care about pride.

‘I will never forget this and will repay you.’

‘No, why would you repay it? Bjorn, I will repay this debt tenfold.’

‘Whoever it is, just do it.’

‘Hehe, Bjorn is embarrassed, meow!’

What are you talking about? I’m being sincere.

***

The remaining time until the labyrinth opened was 8 days.

What I did during that time was simple.

Aside from my basic routine of helping Misha with her training or visiting the library to read hidden books, let’s talk about the big things…

‘It’s a bell made 150 years ago.’

I found out the production year of [Rift Compendium II].

Apparently, it was a common bell that was distributed as a standard at the time.

‘Seriously, what happened 150 years ago?’

The time the game started.

The death of the first king.

And the time this book was made.

Many questions keep overlapping with exactly 150 years ago.

‘It can’t be a coincidence.’

The above events are somehow related.

That’s all I’ve found out so far…

But thanks to that, I’ve gained some momentum to move forward.

‘I need to focus on examining the history of 150 years ago.’

Who brought the players here?

What was their purpose, and what the hell is Auril Gavis doing? If I keep gathering clues, I might be able to reach that secret someday.

Anyway, that’s about the second thing.

‘Uh, uh… are we doing that…? No! It’s not that I don’t like it, but it’s a bit sudden…’

I opened an Alminus Bank account.

And we designated each other as heirs in case of death.

In the future, we plan to use a portion of the money we earn together as a common fund in this account.

‘In that sense, let’s put all the 2 million stones we earned this time in here.’

‘Eek? All of it?’

‘We don’t have any use for it right now, do we?’

‘Ugh… you’re not planning to use it for something weird behind my back, are you?’

‘What do you take me for?’

We decided to keep the remaining 900,000 stones or so in cash, after putting 2 million stones each into the account.

There’s no place to use it right now, and…

I’ve escaped the days of barely making ends meet, so it’s time to start saving.

Ah, and there was this too.

‘You… Bjorn, son of Yandel?!’

I happened to meet a fellow barbarian from my cohort while walking down the street.

His name was Karak, the third son of Panun.

We didn’t do much, just asked about each other’s recent activities and parted ways.

He had become an 8th-grade explorer and was working as a tank in a team of humans on the 2nd floor.

‘What are the others doing? Most of them are dead. Maybe there aren’t many left besides you, Ainar, and me. As you know, it’s not an easy place.’

Anyway, his personality had changed a lot since he teamed up with humans.

He used to be much more simple-minded and reckless.

‘If they had told us more about the place instead of sticking to old traditions, they wouldn’t have died like that…’

Seeing him express bitterness about the ways of his tribe, I wondered if he was really a barbarian warrior.

Honestly, I felt sorry for him.

It must have taken a lot for a guy who was a warrior to the bone to change like that.

‘Not all barbarians are the same.’

Thanks to that, I realized a new fact.

Barbarians also grow mentally.

They may still be weak in knowledge like writing or numbers, but if they survive in a changed environment, they gain wisdom.

‘…Maybe some of the seniors who have been around for a few years have changed their personalities almost like humans—’

‘Bjorn, what are you thinking about so much, meow?’

Misha’s voice ended my thoughts.

Well, she made a meal and brought it to me, and I was spacing out, so she must have felt a bit bad.

‘But, Bjorn… you seem a bit taller, meow?’

‘What?’

‘Maybe it’s just my imagination, but stand here, meow!’

…It’s annoying.

Still, I got up from my meal and measured my height. Misha did a hand-blade strike from her crown to my chest and nodded.

‘You’ve definitely grown a bit! About this much?’

‘Are you sure you’re not mistaken?’

Honestly, it was hard to believe.

Putting aside the fact that I could grow taller here, how could she tell at a glance that it was less than 1cm?

‘Hmm, I’m naturally good at that kind of thing, meow. So you can trust me, meow.’

‘…If you say so.’

Rather than arguing, I just nodded.

Well, I might have grown taller.

I’ve been eating a lot of meat dishes lately.

‘…If I really did grow taller, should I eat more meat in the future?’

If it’s true, it’s worth it.

A height that is far above average by nature.

That’s the decisive reason why I hired a barbarian as a tank, not a dwarf. The [Gigantification] mechanism itself multiplies the base height.

‘It was exactly 1.771 times, I think.’

This gave me another reason to eat meat.

‘…Don’t just eat the meat, eat everything evenly, meow!’

‘……’

‘Tsk!’

After finishing the meal, I checked my backpack one last time to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.

Because we’re about to enter the labyrinth soon.

‘Let’s go quickly, everyone is waiting, meow.’

When I headed to the meeting place, I noticed my companions wearing different outfits than usual.

The dwarf was wearing full plate armor instead of a shirt.

Dwarki was standing there holding a long two-handed staff.

‘Hey, Rotmiller! Why don’t you have a weapon, meow?’

‘Don’t worry. I put it in my [Treasure Vault]. I’ve gotten used to it, so it’s more convenient to take it out when I need it than carrying it around.’

‘Oh, I see, meow.’

The mimic’s ability, [Treasure Vault].

I had always thought it was just a skill that replaced the subspace, but perhaps it was a very convenient skill for Rotmiller, who uses various equipment such as crossbows, shields, and swords.

‘Then, could you all gather next to me? I’m going to cast [Binding] first.’

Dwarki began to chant, and a green light spread out and seeped into each of our bodies.

It’s like forming a party.

This magic is necessary to start at the same location even if multiple people enter the labyrinth.

‘In the past, Ainar used to wait in front of the guild from dawn…’

I think it’s not for nothing that explorers keep talking about mages.

If there’s a mage in the team, there’s no need to wait in line at the guild from the crack of dawn, and…

There are considerable merits in terms of money.

It would have cost 100,000 stones in fees for five average 6.5-grade explorers to form a [Binding].

‘Let’s move now.’

As we walked towards the dimensional plaza, there were more and more explorers on the streets.

It’s a sight that can only be seen on the last night of each month.

When they come back, they’re all in rags.

‘Stop! I think we’re lost.’

‘That can’t be! We have to get to the labyrinth within the allotted time!’

Coincidentally, we ran into barbarians again this time.

Young warriors who had just finished their coming-of-age ceremony and were heading to the labyrinth, full of anticipation and excitement.

‘…Follow us.’

I asked for understanding from my party and helped them.

I don’t have a sense of duty for my race…

But I felt like I had to.

‘Really? Thank you. If you tell me your name… what! Bjorn, son of Yandel?! Are you that Little Balkan!!! I respect you!!’

Regardless of the young warriors’ excessive reaction.

I gave them some advice on the way to the dimensional plaza.

Barbarian hearts are traded at a high price, so be wary of other explorers… especially humans.

Try to find a night partner from a different race.

Be careful of traps, and walk on the path with light, etc.

I shared all the knowledge I wish I had known when I first entered the labyrinth.

‘If I do that, can I become a famous warrior like you?’

Well, I don’t know either.

But…

‘Yes, you can.’

‘Oh! Is that so! I understand! I will definitely act as you said!’

It’s better for them this way.

They’re the kind of guys who only understand if you tell them clearly.

Watching the young warriors head to the portal with my advice in their hearts, the dwarf quietly spoke to me.

‘You… you’re very kind to your own kind?’

‘I just did what I could. It’s cruel to have to learn only through experience.’

‘Hmm, that’s true. Hahaha!’

With that small talk, we headed to the center where the portal was open.

Whoosh-!

The view became distant, and a dazzling, colorful light covered it.

Suddenly, the past events unfolded like a panorama.

‘Is this the fourth time already…’

The first time I entered, I fought through countless bastards and reached the 2nd floor.

The second time?

I entered a rift with the determination to get stronger. But it was a mutated rift.

The next time was even worse.

I got a team, but we got stranded along the way.

In the end, the floor lord started rampaging, and I barely made it back from the brink of death.

That’s why…

Flash-!

I hope nothing happens.

Is there really going to be any trouble?

I throw away such thoughts before they even form.

‘Hah, I wonder what kind of bastard is going to show up this time?’

Something is definitely going to happen this time too.

So, let’s brace ourselves.

***

「You have entered the Crystal Cave on the 1st floor.」

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「TIP: Your character’s possessed essence has reached its limit. Hunt new monsters and level up!」