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Surviving as a Barbarian in the Game - Episode 122

122stagnant water (1)

The next day, Misha woke me up early in the morning..

“Wake up, wake up! How long are you going to sleep?!”

The time was 6:30 am.

Even considering my schedule for going to Commelbee, it was quite early..

“Let’s buy and eat today. Because I woke up early, I couldn't pack a lunch box..”

“Well, first of all, from the morning on the first floor.—”

“This place is not so good! Let's go out and eat. huh?”

“I'm hungry…….”

“Come on, I'll buy you something delicious. I understand?”

Because of Misha's frustration, I was dragged out without even being able to eat breakfast. She then took off in her carriage as if running away and did not eat until she reached the commercial district of Commelby..

A restaurant located 30 minutes away from the public platform that Missha guided us to as a delicious restaurant..

“How is it? It's delicious.?”

“it's good……!”

I don't know what was done to the stew, but it has a very familiar umami flavor..

I'll remember it and come here every time I'm nearby..

“I'm glad you look satisfied. I liked it so much?”

“Except that the price per meal is expensive..”

“That's because you ate your bowl, you old barbarian.!”

After a late breakfast, I stopped by the mugu store and general store I frequented and disposed of all my loot..

‘30010,000 stones…….’

2The amount earned by selling all of the equipment and consumables of the three people and Zencia met on the floor..

It's not a small amount of money, but it doesn't feel that big. If they had sold the Viper's Fang or the level 2 leather armor, it would have been several times more..

‘Well, you can sell it later..’

From then on, I entrusted equipment repairs to the blacksmith shop that Hikurod told me about. I was worried about the cost of repairs because my shield and breastplate were damaged a lot during the troll battle.…….

“In total, it's 300,000 stones..”

Repair costs were cheaper than expected.

Well, it's probably easier to repair something that's been dented than something that's melted..

“Do you also handle leather??”

“That's right, I have something to entrust to you.?”

“Ah, this thing here is so tight in my chest.…….”

While I was here, Misha also entrusted me with repairing the armor..

Since it was leather armor, I thought it might cause problems if I touched it for no reason, but there were no major problems..

“At this level, I don't think there's any need to add new material. I think you can just use a softener to slightly stretch the tight areas..”

The repair cost is only around 50,000 stones..

Perhaps because I came here through an introduction to Hiku Road, there are no dumpsters and it seems like a very conscientious place to do business..

“Come with me in three days..”

After leaving the blacksmith shop, I wandered around and purchased supplies for this expedition..

I replenished the witch lamp solution, which is a stealth counter consumable, and purchased and stocked up on a few additional items that came to mind..

and…….

“I'll give you two bottles together for 2 million stones..”

I repurchased two bottles of the highest quality potion at the general store I visited previously..

Well, I didn't know I would use one bottle so quickly..

The expenses were considerable, but it was still better because we both paid for it with public funds..

“Fortunately, I didn't have to touch the money in the public account. Now, here is 325,000 stones..”

I split the remaining money with Misha..

Well, today's schedule is now complete..

“Then I'll go! Sleep well, Bjorn!”

“sleep well too.”

We returned to Ravigion at night, had a quick meal, and then parted ways..

And when I returned to my accommodation,…….

What is this again?.

I see a silver-haired fairy squatting in front of my room, burying her head..

“Erwen……?”

“Oh, you're here.?”

Erwen smiles and welcomes me as soon as she sees me..

For some reason, he looked tired in his eyes, so I couldn't help but ask..

“…Since when have you been waiting for me??”

“Not long ago. But did you two go out together??”

“Oh, I have something to do at Commelbee..”

“also… I see.”

“So what's going on here??”

It was time to wash up and go to sleep, so I asked about business, but Erwen just kept his mouth shut..

As if organizing my thoughts.

Although his expression was somewhat serious, Erwen soon spoke in his usual lively voice..

“Man, I can't come here as often as I used to. I'm here to tell you that..”

“huh? ah… Well, things have changed since then..”

Not a one month old fledgling explorer.

Well, at least it hasn’t even been a year.…….

No, that's why you know that it's time to focus more on growth..

“Yes, I decided to go to special training with my sister starting tomorrow. So maybe once a week? I think I can only get that far. I feel like I want to come here more often, but... Well, I think it will take a long time..”

“long time?”

“…There is such a thing.”

Immediately, Erwen trailed off, as if he was making a fuss, and disappeared with a bright smile without even having a chance to say anything back..

“anyway! I'll be back next week, see you then. mister!”

“Uh, okay…….”

…What is this uncomfortable feeling??

***

The whole team gathered at the bar for lunch the next day..

Then, we drank returning liquor and distributed the loot from the previous expedition..

“I think we could split 550,000 stones per person. Frogman Shaman's by-products are selling more expensively than expected..”

“Haha, isn’t it all thanks to Rottmiller’s good peeling?.”

“Well, it won't be of much help in battle, so I guess I should do something like that..”

Passing over Rottmiller's humble words, I made a final settlement of the income from this expedition..

400,000 magic stones obtained from cracks and the 1st and 2nd floors.

After subtracting the cost of consumables from the money sold for the equipment, the remaining 320,000 stones are.

550,000 stones as commission completion fee and by-products.

Total 1.27 million stones.

‘Even though I spent that much, I earned this much..’

Anyway, I earned much more income on the 4th floor than in the past two months..

No, in fact, considering the essence that Misha consumed, the leather armor, and the poisonous snake's fangs, it's safe to say that he made a huge profit..

I also have 5 million stones to receive from Mr. Bear..

‘If I keep this momentum, I'll be able to get the 6th level engraving in no time.?’

I grinned and took a sip of my beer..

Misha and I still have 2 million stone in cash left in our shared account..

The personal wealth accumulated so far is about 2.5 million..

For the past two months, my growth has almost stopped and I have been anxious, but when I see my bank account balance, I automatically feel satisfied..

“Bjorn! What if you drink your first drink alone?!”

“huh?”

“Let's all drink together! We haven't even celebrated properly yet..”

“…Yeah, do whatever you want..”

“I am thankful that the troll cub was killed and everyone returned safely! ruler! Everybody drink it up!”

After settling the bill, we all drank liquor together to unwind from our previous expedition..

Is it because we all overcome another crisis together??

The team leader, the dwarf, looked very happy..

However, the drinking party ended faster than the last time..

“I… I guess I'll just have to go now. I have to stop by my parents' house today..”

First Misha left, then Rotmiller..

“I guess I'll have to stop here today too. I have some business to do at the guild..”

Perhaps because of a future promise, the two, who had been drinking alcohol and just getting along, left. Anyway, Rotmiller, once Misha left, the noisy drinking party became quiet..

I thought the dwarf would get upset if I left out, so I tried to stay and continue drinking.…….

Surprisingly, the dwarf slipped away and moved to the seat next to me..

“Hahaha, is that so? Troll bastards are no big deal, right? Oh, lie? Is that possible? Do you see that barbarian next to you? Little Vulcan, I don't know if you've heard of it…….”

A dwarf who left his teammates alone and started chatting while clinking glasses with explorers he had never seen before. So, I was just about to go back, but Dwalki caught me..

“Now, how about we talk for a moment??”

“what?”

“Well, come to think of it, we've never had a quiet conversation just between us..”

Well, that's right.

Lotmiller, we often chatted when everyone was drunk and sleeping, but this guy was the one who slept drunk..

‘Do you have something to say to me??’

And that was it.

Dwalki just sipped his drink hesitantly and did not open his mouth first..

‘Damn, I should have just gone.’

Unlike the noisy surroundings, an awkward air flows around me..

So I just opened my mouth first..

Because there was something I was already curious about..

“Are you feeling okay??”

“Oh, it's okay... . To be honest, I felt a little uncomfortable even after receiving treatment from the priest, but now I am completely healed..”

“Good luck, then this is it?”

When I asked while touching my forehead, Dwalki tilted his head..

“Isn't this the first time in my life I've ever experienced my body being folded in half? How can I still enter the labyrinth??”

Broken-hearted explorers are more common than you think.

Sometimes, the cruel memories left in the body remain as strong in the mind as scars..

“Oh, that's it…….”

Dwalki, realizing the meaning of my question, hesitated to answer..

It seems like nothing happened as expected..

“Phew… Let me be honest. Since that day, I haven't been able to sleep properly. I thought it was because it was in a labyrinth, but it was the same in the city..”

Soon, Dwalki let out a long sigh of alcohol and confessed that his hands were already shaking just thinking about entering the labyrinth again..

“But don't worry too much. Isn’t this something that everyone goes through and overcomes? I'll be fine before my next expedition..”

I can overcome it…….

Looking at your eyes, it doesn't seem like you're saying anything in vain..

There was just one question..

“Is there a reason to do that??”

Most people continue their work as explorers after overcoming trauma..

That’s because there’s no way to make a living without this..

In a city where people had to pay taxes to survive, they had no choice but to overcome it..

But Dwarki, the wizard, is different..

“Why do you keep working as an explorer when just working in the city would be enough??”

Dwalki hesitated at my question and answered after downing a glass of beer..

“that… Because it's fun.”

It was a completely unexpected answer..

“Because it's fun?”

“Of course, it was for a different reason at first. Do you remember what I said when we first met??”

“I remember. He said he would become a great explorer and raise the reputation of author Nam..”

“Actually, it's all a lie. Only if I become a famous explorer, my father... No, I just thought the Baron might be interested..”

Dwalki is the illegitimate son of a noble family..

And like most illegitimate children, they feel deep love and hatred towards their blood relatives. The contradictory feeling of hating them yet wanting to be loved by them..

“As you know, the former Baron has passed away. And he, as you have seen... The older brother who took over didn't even know of my existence..”

I was disappointed at first.

I lost my purpose in life in an instant and felt like I was floating on the water all day..

Dwalki, who poetically expressed his feelings at the time, looked straight into my eyes..

“But I was able to overcome it. Because there were four people around me to lean on..”

“no way… Ooh, you mean us?”

“Well then, who else would there be? At first, I didn't know my colleagues were like that. More than a friend you can trust and rely on, it's a family... That's what it felt like.”

“Yeah, I see.?”

“exactly. After my mother passed away, I felt like I was left alone in the world every day... She never felt that way when she was with you guys exploring and laughing and talking..”

As if he knew he was saying something embarrassing, Dwalki ordered another beer and finished it in one go..

“Thank you, Bjorn. Thanks to you, every day is fun these days. therefore… Even though I experienced something like that this time… I can overcome this..”

“…Right.”

“exactly. So don't worry too much.”

“Okay, I won't worry about that part anymore..”

Soon I completely let go of my worries..

Whatever the motive, if it's that bad, you don't have to worry about Dwalki's mentality..

“Hehehe, if you just look at it you look like you are not, but you have a lot of affection..”

“Okay, just have a drink..”

Perhaps thanks to the honest conversation, the awkward atmosphere disappeared..

Dwalki, who was hesitant in front of me, got excited and started talking about various things, and I joined in and listened..

That was when.

“Hey, Bjorn… I have one question for you..”

“tell me.”

“By any chance, with Miss Misha... Are you dating??”

Instead of answering, I stared at Dwalki..

His face, flushed with intoxication, was full of nervousness and tension..

Then I realized one thing.

‘For some reason, he suddenly said that we should talk together..’

Hey, this was the purpose..

***

“Brown Lotmiller. At age 34, he has been an explorer for eight years.?”

As soon as I enter the office, I am met with disdainful gaze. Although he felt insulted, Rottmiller responded:.

“…That's right.”

There was more doubt than perplexity..

He received a call from the Explorers' Guild this morning. So he arrived at the guild on time even while he was debating with his colleagues..

And when I followed the staff up, I found this room..

There was a man sitting on a chair, a face Rottmiller recognized..

‘Nile Urbans, the 7th region leader of the Explorers Guild. Why on earth do people like me…….’

Questions welled up in his throat, but he did not act rashly and waited for the man to continue his explanation..

Because if you make a mistake, you don't know what kind of misfortune may come your way..

“Hmm, I like it. Especially the part where you have to wait until the end even though you might be curious..”

“Then, could you please tell me your business??”

At his request, the regional director nodded with a happy smile and explained the reason for calling him here..

The more I heard, the more absurd it became..

“That means you're telling me to betray my comrades.?”

“That's up to you. To be precise, I just need to be able to correct that barbarian friend's habits..”

Rotmiller gritted his teeth..

There are only 13 regional heads in this city..

An entity that can inflict a huge disadvantage just by being intrusive on a single explorer..

That's why I needed even more courage.

“The suggestion... I'll pretend I didn't hear it..”

Words of rejection uttered with difficulty with clenched fists.

The local mayor smiled as if he was interested..

“If we're done talking, I'll leave now..”

Rotmiller hurriedly turned toward the door before his fear consumed him..

It was then.

“It's good to cherish your colleagues. What a wonderful belief. but… How long do you think they will be your colleagues??”

At the sound of the voice that followed, Rotmiller stood still without realizing it..

“I saw your records. It seemed quite unfair. It took you 8 years to reach level 7. On the other hand, didn't a certain barbarian reach level 6 in just half a year?.”

“Those feelings... I've never felt it.”

“If that were you, it would be like that. Shouldn’t you slowly accept reality?.”

“…….”

“Your colleagues will continue to rise. Because I'm not an ordinary person like you..”

Rottmiller pressed his lips to those words that were so direct..

However, he had no rebuttal.

It's not because I'm afraid of that man's power, but because I know very well that what he said is true..

“How long do you think you will go with them? Three months? Four months? Well, maybe it could last longer. If they take pity on you.”

Rottmiller didn't listen anymore and opened the door and walked out..

“I trust you will make a wise choice..”

The local manager, seen through a gap in the closed door, had a friendly smile on his face..