Surviving as a Barbarian in the Game - Episode 208
208angry leader (1)
I'm moving forward slowly, wary of all directions..
This is a change that happened to us a few minutes ago..
2I stopped running towards the floor and started paying more attention to safety..
It was an inevitable choice.
The entire cave was filled with fog that obscured vision..
“……I've heard of this. It's black magic. It was once used by warlocks in subjugation wars..”
my heart is beating low.
Exciting-!
Even though Raven is removing the fog with wind magic, the visibility is only about 5m in radius..
It is difficult to deal with risks in this environment..
Because the place I'm standing in isn't just a game based on HP/MP..
Just one mistake leads to death.
‘A world without buttons like ‘redo’.
Exciting-!
You have to stay alert..
In order to survive without losing anyone.
“Mr. Yandel…….”
In the past, we were too weak to protect ourselves..
That's why I had to lose a colleague.
It was a crisis that could not be overcome otherwise..
Well, what about this time?.
‘Yes, because I'm a lot stronger than then…….’
Engrave positive thoughts into your head to prevent your body from becoming tense due to tension..
It was then.
“Mr. Yandel!”
“don't scream.”
“Then answer it all at once.”
“So what I'm trying to say is?”
Raven aboard Einar asked cautiously..
“2Is going to the floor the right choice??”
“what does that mean?”
“A lot of knights from the royal family also came here. There will be many large clans. Wouldn't it be safer to join there??”
It's not an unconvincing story at all..
No, if we were close to the starting point, I would definitely have chosen that option..
But, in the current situation, well…….
Doesn't seem like a particularly good option.
There is one thing I would like to correct.
“Raven, more than half of the large clans did not enter the labyrinth..”
This is what I heard from the fox mask at the round table..
Large clans dissatisfied with the royal family began a large-scale boycott.
Well, it seems like some people noticed that the royal family was recording such clans in the kill list and stepped out.…….
Yes, that number probably isn't that many..
“……At a time like this.”
That's not it, they did it because it was a time like this..
“Abman, the direction is?”
“It's over there.”
I checked the location of the portal with Mr. Bear and continued to find my way. This is also a change that occurred after the fog covered the cave..
Compass started not working.
“……Will it be okay if I just find the portal??”
“2Just because it’s a floor doesn’t mean it’s safe. But all you have to do is go to the 4th floor..”
The Tower in the Sky is an independent layer.
As long as we get there, it will be possible to return to the city safely even in this war..
Of course, that's the best for us right now—
“no. What I meant was, are there any defenses on the portal side?.”
“What does it mean??”
“That's literally it. If I were Noark's tactician, I would first find a way to eliminate the way to the second floor..”
that… … . Yes.
But so what??
You have to give it a try.
Aren't we already at the outermost edge thanks to the use of the dimensional instability phenomenon?.
“If going to the second floor becomes impossible... … . What will you do then??”
Raven, unlike usual, keeps asking me questions. Seeing things like this makes me think he’s anxious too..
Well, you'll need someone to rely on..
I probably have little experience in this area..
“At that time, as you said, I will join the people in the city. In the first place, there is no other way than that..”
I tried to speak calmly.
I don't know if this is really the best way, but at least one person should do it..
“Once that's explained, let's move on.”
“yes…….”
That was when I was heading towards the second floor as fast as possible..
“Finally meeting someone. Do you guys know how this happened??”
Encountered an explorer.
A team of explorers consisting of three humans and two beasts..
The equipment level is similar to or higher than ours..
Well, since they came here at this time, they can't be low-level explorers..
If you join, your power will increase significantly..
But before that, there is something to check..
“First of all, the identification tag.”
Are these guys really trustworthy?.
***
“It's true.”
“So it must be fake??”
As soon as we met, we confirmed that we were from the city through the dog tags on our wrists..
And we talked naturally..
Originally, we would have gone our separate ways as soon as the dog tag verification was completed.…….
This is clearly an emergency situation..
“Do you know anything??”
“Not much. Except that Noark was up to something..”
“Noark... … . It was like that too.”
I narrowed my eyes as I saw the leader of the other side nodding at my words..
“Are there any wizards on your side??”
It is a well-known story that there are few general wizards in Noark..
“As you can see.”
However, the other side confidently shrugged their shoulders..
“Because we are a team that aims for public value. There's no reason for a wizard.”
Damn, this makes sense..
When speedrunning, wizards usually do not participate..
Not only is it a burden due to the slow movement speed, but wizards do not get experience points even if they speed run..
Therefore, I started with the common name..
“This is Bjorn, son of Yandel..”
Just as I have a nickname, Little Vulcan, I decided that if that side had a reputation, I might have heard of it..
“It's Hansen Kelders..”
“Hansen?”
“Oh, do you know me? Maybe we're just acquaintances across a bridge—”
“I don't think that will happen.”
I shook my head..
I was startled by the ominous tone, but this was my first time hearing the name itself..
So what should I do?.
While thinking about the car, Han Sen exchanged whispers with his colleague..
“Little Vulcan? ah! Barbarian during the time of the Hierarch!”
It seems like there was someone among them who knew my nickname..
Han Sen's gaze became a little more favorable..
“Now I see he was a famous guy? How about moving like this? I don't think we're in a situation where we're just exploring together..”
A proposal to join first from Hansen.
“Could you give me a moment??”
“Just a few minutes. I'm so anxious to stay in one place forever..”
After asking for Hansen’s understanding, I had a discussion with my colleagues..
Isn’t there a saying called collective intelligence?.
I thought they might have found something unusual that I couldn't find..
“I'm not sure. I think it will be safer if the number of people increases... … . Still, Bjorn, I think you'd better do as you say..”
“I'm the same as Misha!”
First of all, Sister Geundil expressed her intention to strictly follow my choice..
Mr. Bear was on the opposing side..
“Something is strange. At that level, the name would certainly have been known, but this is my first time hearing it? Even if he is not from the underground city, he may be a plunderer..”
This bothers me a bit..
Because out of all of us, Mr. Bear has the widest feet..
“Raven, what do you think??”
“Well, there doesn’t seem to be anything strange. So wouldn't it be better to just join? The dog tag was still intact..”
Um, yeah that's right.
I was deep down relying on Raven the most, but now I think I need to change my mind..
Is it because this is the first time something like this has happened??
He also doesn't turn his head like usual..
“Don't worry about the dog tag, just look at the person..”
“yes? What does that mean... … ah!”
Raven opened her mouth as she realized the true meaning of my words..
Now that the situation has reached this point, it is foolish to trust only the dog tag..
Because there is a possibility that a counterfeit was created..
There are two cases.
Did you cry and eat mustard because you couldn't make a counterfeit?.
Or, since you made it, did you believe in it and take a bold move?.
I still don't know which one.
Therefore, you must thoroughly trust your senses and make a choice. Like playing [Dungeon & Stone] where once you die, it’s game over..
“Well, I don't know. Just let Mr. Yandel make the decision..”
Raven seemed confused and left everything to me..
Why on earth is this guy so mentally disturbed??
“Raven, wake up. In the Tower of the Sky, wasn't it okay even when the hiding assassin was next to you?.”
“Well, it’s different now than it was then. Now, if I make a mistake, other people suffer..”
Ah, that was it..
I learned something new about Raven..
I never would have thought that if my responsibilities increased, I would be the type to not be able to make decisions..
It's not that you can't understand.
Someone dies because of my judgment.
Overcoming the burden and making decisions is never easy..
Because this is not a game.
It doesn't just end when the character you raised dies..
‘Shit.’
In the end, the decision is in my hands.
It's nothing new, but.
‘It's a pain in the ass.’
I sighed and stared at the group of Hansens who had separated from a distance..
If there was a wizard among them.
Even if it's not, if it's an explorer you've heard of or a team from a famous clan,.
If that were the case, I would have had faith a little easier..
‘It's neither of those things.’
Unfortunately, the time given was short..
“Have you made a decision??”
“okay.”
Soon I finished worrying..
“Sorry to keep you waiting, but I'll decline the offer you just made..”
My final decision was that there was no need to gamble..
“okay? It's a shame.”
Surprisingly, Han Sen nodded without any sign of displeasure. It seemed like he already understood what I was thinking when I made this decision..
“A cautious person survives long. I hope to see you again later.”
“What are you going to do??”
“First, I'll go to the second floor. I'm not sure if it'll be okay there, though. It's better than here.”
“Right. See you in the city when you get a chance.”
“What are you doing? Let's move quickly.”
After a short conversation, Han Sen's group left first and disappeared into the fog..
Did I really make the right choice??
eat.
I forced a smile as if to erase my doubts and anxieties..
When did you make a choice because you knew the outcome?.
“We're leaving soon too.”
I just have to believe and move on.
***
About five minutes after we parted ways with the Hansen group, we discovered five corpses..
It wasn't from the Hansen group that went first..
Even though he was naked and stripped of all his equipment, there was no problem confirming his identity..
“It's an article.”
“……It's a knight?”
“yes. The tattoo on the back of my neck here. It's Viscount Terten's pattern..”
“It's like a brand to stamp your family's emblem..”
To be precise, it seems as if it is an object rather than a person..
Is that why??
My appetite becomes bitter for no reason..
The fact that we live in a world where even drivers are treated as expendables really hits home..
“……Not all noble families are like this..”
I left behind Raven, who was reciting as if in defense, and gathered my thoughts..
The corpses of a knight and four soldiers.
And the surrounding area has no traces of battle..
It meant one thing.
“There's a monster out there.”
“yes. Looking at the wounds, it was all done in one blow. Since the scars are the same, it doesn't seem like there were multiple people attacking him..”
The knight who uses Aura is the strongest in battle against people, and is the sword that protects vested interests in this world where magic and supernatural abilities exist..
But he died without being able to do anything..
I feel like I am once again in the eye of the storm..
A knight who wielded a sword all his life and enjoyed enormous authority died like an extra..
No, he's probably dying even now..
Like the Noark subjugation battle that took place underground a few months ago..
“The time of death is?”
“20It's been about a minute.”
Yeah, it's not that close..
It was a positive clue, but it is too early to be reassured..
Because from now on, it won’t be strange no matter what happens..
“Those guys... Are you going to start a real war??”
Mr. Bear frowned and muttered..
After seeing the knight's corpse, I felt like I had an idea of what the current situation was like..
Well, we haven't fought anyone yet..
I said exactly.
“I don't intend to punish it. Abman.”
“…….”
“We're already at war..”
We are lucky to be in the outermost part of the country..
So I haven't experienced the aftermath myself yet..
Well, it's only a matter of time now..
“What are you going to do??”
I sighed at Raven’s question..
1I don't even know how many times this has happened since I came down to the floor..
We are faced with a choice again.
“There is only a portal in this direction..”
“No need to explain. Don’t you think the guy who killed this knight must have gone there?.”
The only way out in my opinion is the 2nd floor portal..
There's a monster lurking there.
But even if you turn around, the situation is still bleak. The battle that started in the center will soon cover the entire first floor..
‘Fuck, I wasn't supposed to come down to the first floor because it was an animal's den or something..’
Even if I don’t want to regret it, I regret it..
I never would have thought that such a trivial choice would land me in this shitty situation..
It feels like the heartless world is testing me..
Whatever choice you make is fine..
But the responsibility is all yours..
Without realizing it, my eyes fell on my colleagues..
“…….”
Misha, Einar, Raven, Mr. Bear.
They were looking at me too.
As if the choice is mine.
“……Not going back.”
Soon I made a decision.
I don't know who's in front of me.
Maybe he's a member of Orculis.
There aren't many strong people like this even in Noark..
It was a car that tried to turn away like that..
“Ha, are you really just going back?!”
A voice was heard from beyond the fog..
plod.
Then the sound of footsteps was heard.
Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Immediately, Raven sent a gust of wind and cleared the fog..
What was revealed was one man..
A man wearing only a simple black suit, without any equipment..
He had a skull mask on his face..
“What kind of barbarian is so shy? yes?”
My body suddenly stiffened at that voice..
It was the first time I heard a voice.
That much was clear.
but.
“Fishit.”
It felt familiar somehow..
Comments