Surviving as a Barbarian in the Game - Episode 288
288Hwa causality (4)
The week's work schedule for building repairs went by quickly..
There was no incident of this kind..
Even though I concentrate on my work without paying attention, when it's time to take a break, all I do is talk about how hard it is to be an explorer in front of the kids..
Even that was skipped from the third day onwards..
Now, even if I sit under the shade to rest, the kids won't come..
“…….”
“…….”
So, it became a daily routine to sit quietly under the shade with Dwalki during break times..
Oh, of course we talked occasionally..
“why did you come here?”
“……I told the director that my parents couldn't afford to raise me..”
“Right.”
“Well, it's still better than other kids. I'll come pick you up from home in a little while.…….”
“……Did you ever say that in front of other children??”
“Well, by the way?”
Hey, I think I know why you don't have any friends here..
As I sighed, Dwalki said something to make excuses..
“Well, I'm fine. anyway… It's not a place to stay that long. Boo, your parents are merchants. It's a bit difficult now…….”
‘It's so hard.’
As soon as I heard it, I felt bitterness..
Because I know this guy’s situation..
The current Baron enrolled Dwalki into a collateral family as soon as he was born, and they irresponsibly left him here..
‘Later, after his mother found out and told the Baron, they moved into the Dwalki family's separate house and lived together.…….’
For your information, he said that he had barely seen his adoptive father and adoptive mother in the more than ten years he had lived there. However, his financial support was quite good, so he was able to continue his life without any shortcomings, including learning magic..
“Thank you for your hard work. Eat some beef jerky here. You need to eat well when you are young to grow taller..”
“Ah yes… … . thank you.”
Soon, the break time was over as the two of us sat down and munched on the beef jerky..
“I… Today is your last day?”
“Yes, the repair work is now complete. Now the ceiling won't leak even if it rains.”
“……thank you.”
Well, you're still polite..
Other kids thought it was natural for volunteers to come and fix the house..
“If you are truly grateful, never become an explorer..”
“yes? suddenly what is that…….”
“Okay, just answer..”
“An explorer. Well, I can’t do that… … . I don't even want to do it.”
The expression on Little Dwalky's face as he answered that was sincere..
Well, if you've heard that, this is normal..
If the other little kids are explorers too, they're in the process of getting rid of their cranes, so there won't be anyone to blow wind on them for no reason..
……To be honest, I still don't feel safe..
‘But I can't stay here forever, so I have no choice but to leave the rest to heaven..’
“Hey Enche! When you're done resting, come here and help me with this.!”
“Leo, then I'll just leave..”
“……yes. goodbye.”
Afterwards, I gave Dwalki all the beef jerky and snacks in my bag and returned to the work site..
I refused to give it to the kid, but the barbarian said he really had to give it to me, so what could I do?.
“Thanks to you, today's schedule was completed quickly. Well then, thank you all for your hard work.!”
Anyway, as the repair work continued for a few more hours, the foreman announced the end of the work..
The end of a week-long schedule.
“I'm going to have a drink after today, will you come too??”
“But I'm an explorer?”
“Haha, it's okay because we all know that you're not the kind of condescending person that other explorers are..”
The class leader asked if I would like to attend the company dinner, and after thinking for a while, I said yes..
There's nothing to do after this anyway..
Even if I go to the library, Raven won't be there..
“The church provided a generous amount for your trouble, so everyone, don’t worry and drink.!”
So we all went to a nearby bar and had a drink. But maybe it's because it's my first time being in a place like this with people who aren't explorers.?
‘It's a bit awkward.’
I can't keep up with the topic of conversation..
We talk about which blacksmith shop is of good quality, who of which clan is dating who, etc..
“excuse me…….”
When I was walking around alone, someone spoke to me next to me..
So, the name is…….
“It's Wov Emirn..”
Oh, I did..
It was impressive that even with a small body, he was able to carry heavy loads and participate in the work diligently without being clumsy..
“Is there anything you want to say??”
“that… I heard you talking to the kids.”
Ah, for some reason, every time I talk to him, he looks at me with a strange look from the side..
“You mean the labyrinth??”
“yes.”
In response to my question, Emirn nodded with a slightly embarrassed expression and then asked carefully..
“There… … Is it really such a terrible place??”
“Not really..”
“yes? but…….”
“The reason I said that in front of the kids was because I didn't want them to feel weird. There is no doubt that it is a difficult place to endure with a half-hearted attitude..”
“ah…….”
While I was leaving, I told her a few things..
Starting with the scenery on the third floor that Dwalki especially liked, the vast forest, the white snowy field seen in the 'Glacier Cave', various mysteries, etc..
As the conversation continued, I suddenly felt that the people around me were becoming quieter. Well, adults like this just like kids..
“It's snow... … . I've never seen it before, so I can't even imagine it..”
“Is it like cold sugar??”
To them, who had lived their entire lives trapped within the castle walls, what happened in the labyrinth was like a story from another world..
Just as I was unfamiliar with their stories, it would have been rare for them to hang out with explorers..
“It's been a while since I heard an interesting story.”
“I'll have to tell it to my son when I get back..”
Of course, the time I spent talking alone wasn't that long..
After we finished talking roughly, the topic naturally turned to their lives, and I spent the time only talking about what I could..
‘This isn't bad either…….’
As time passed and the day began to set, the dinner ended with one or two people returning home..
It was the car that went out to go back to the accommodation..
“hey……!”
A woman came out after me and grabbed me..
“Ah, Emirn. What's going on??”
“I just want to ask you one thing. Would it be okay?”
“do it.”
Emirn seemed to hesitate for a moment, then spoke in a somewhat burdened voice..
“You said earlier that you also have times when you are afraid.?”
“It did.”
“Me, me too. There are times when my vision goes dark and I feel like my heart will explode just thinking about it. Mr. Enche, how do you overcome such times??”
This is a bit of a difficult question..
This is especially true if the target is someone you had never met until a few days ago..
But I decided not to think too deeply about it..
Isn’t this the person who already stood in front of me hoping for courage?.
“As I said before, barbarians are not fearless beings..”
This is especially true for me who was an ordinary office worker..
but…….
“We just know. If you don't do something you're afraid of, only the worst outcome will remain in the end..”
“Worst outcome... … . Yes, I guess so.…….”
After that there was an awkward silence..
After giving her a moment to think, I asked her.
“Is this something that needs to be done??”
“yes.”
His voice was small, but hesitation was not evident..
So I only have one more thing to say.
“Then do it.”
Cheering that only a barbarian can do in this world.
It took some time before the answer came back..
“……Thank you for your courage. I'll try my best.”
“okay? I don't know what it is, but I hope it goes well.”
“yes. And the story you told me earlier was really interesting..”
“If so, you're lucky..”
“Especially that place called the sea. I've only heard about it, but I think it's a really cool place. maybe… … I may never be able to go there again in my lifetime..”
I didn't add anything to her self-deprecating words..
What can you say?.
You can go if you want?
I know full well that those are words of deception..
“……I'll just leave now.”
“Oh yeah. Go and see.”
Afterwards, we exchanged greetings with Emirn one more time and then parted ways..
But why?.
‘It's Wov Emirn.…….’
I don't know why, but that name kept coming to mind the whole way back..
***
When I returned from the dinner party, smelling like alcohol, Amelia was in my room..
“You haven't been here since daytime, where have you been??”
“Oh, I did some volunteer work for a while..”
“volunteer……?”
Oh, your facial expression is wrinkled.
Did I say something I shouldn't have said??
“People must also know how to give..”
“……Right.”
“Anyway, welcome back. I'm already out of money, but while I'm here, give me some money and go..”
“Did I really spend all that money??”
“Oh, I thought I was going to buy some equipment, but there was nothing left..”
“……Right.”
Soon, Amelia rummaged through her waist and threw one of her pockets at me..
It was quite heavy.
‘You won't have to worry about meat prices for a while..’
“Use this well.”
After thanking him, he left me and told me about some of the restaurants I had visited 20 years ago..
Looking at your expression, it doesn’t look like you’re going to go..
Huh, I think I'll get angry if I don't get straight to the point..
“ah! But how is your work going? I heard you met that broker or something last time.?”
“It is still in the contact stage. Fortunately, everything is going well as planned, so if there are no other accidents, we will be able to depart next week. Be prepared too..”
“That's right.”
As soon as the short main topic was over, Amelia left, saying she had work to do..
‘I'm leaving in a week…….’
After washing up and changing clothes, I lay down on the bed and organized in my head what I had to do for the rest of the day..
There wasn't much to organize..
‘Since we're leaving next week, we need to finish the Raven side quickly..’
I'll be receiving the equipment I ordered sometime next week, and I think I'll just have to deal with Raven..
I guess I should go straight to the library tomorrow..
‘The important thing is what happens after you go down to Noark?.’
From then on, I will probably have to stay alert. I've been planning with Amelia on how to go down and move.…….
Where does the world go as planned??
‘after… … Okay, I want to go back quickly..’
With various hopes in my head, the beasts slowly came to me..
***
The location is a two-story rented house that I found with Misha..
There I was laughing and chatting with my colleagues..
I didn't know at first, but I quickly realized.
‘It's a dream.’
The reason I was convinced was the mirror..
While I was laughing and talking, I looked to the side, and there was Lee Han-soo in the mirror, not Bjorn..
Something that can never happen in reality.
The moment I noticed, the background blurred and the space changed..
[Bjorn, what are you talking about? Let's go quickly!]
This time it was in a labyrinth..
I was climbing the floors and exploring as usual..
But this time too, I was not Bjorn, but Lee Hansu. The shield was heavy, and the eye level at which the monster was viewed had changed, so I was looking up at it..
Is that why??
[Why can’t they stop that too?!]
I keep making mistakes and my colleagues suffer..
At first there were only injuries, but at the end someone was dead..
[If it weren't for you…….]
It was Dwalki..
Only then did I realize once again that this was a dream, and the background swirled again..
It was a familiar place this time too..
A quiet room reminiscent of a medieval nobleman’s office..
“What, it's a round table this time?”
At first I laughed it off and moved on, but soon I felt uncomfortable..
‘It's a little different……?’
The structure and atmosphere of the rooms are similar..
However, there are no costumes, decorative accessories, or masks that should fill one wall..
Well, it may be a dream so the details are lacking.…….
“……It's too realistic for that..”
I absent-mindedly opened and closed my hand repeatedly..
Every time I put pressure on my hand, I could clearly feel the muscle movement..
Even the flow of thought was natural..
smart.
The sound and texture of hitting the wall.
Everything was no different from reality..
Sreuk.
As soon as I realized this, I also checked the full-length mirror on one side..
As expected, Lee Han-soo was standing there, not Bjorn..
So, how did this happen?.
First, let's think about it under the assumption that it wasn't a dream, and surprisingly, we quickly came up with a plausible guess..
‘ah… … . Today is the day the community opens.’
I was summoned while I was sleeping..
If so, this would explain why it looks like this..
It is also the case that the community is different from the way it was communicated through computers 20 years later..
It's understandable considering it's the early days..
Maybe if you open that door and go out, you might be able to see the GM with a surprised expression on his face..
but…….
“…….”
Suddenly, I remembered the conversation I had with Baekho Lee..
[There has been an evil spirit in this city for over a hundred years. On Earth, that's more than 20 years ago. So who are they??]
At that time, I said, “I don’t know, so just tell me,” and Lee Baek-ho said this.
[The correct answer is they are from another dimension.!]
An evil spirit summoned from another dimension.
Although they are a small number compared to those from Earth, they all have unique powers..
One of them created this space, and the GM we know inherited it.?
‘no way…….’
One possibility that could well happen.
That was the moment when that possibility passed through my mind..
smart.
someone knocked on the door.
Comments