Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Turning the Tables (6)

Turning the Tables (6)

“Are you awake?”

Misha Kaltstein opened her eyes, tasting the lingering bitterness of the potion on her tongue.

The first person she saw was Avman.

“…Wh, what happened? Did we win?”

Misha asked as soon as she opened her eyes and tried to recall what had happened.

Her memories were fragmented.

They were broken and incomplete.

The Corpse Collector, transformed into a skeleton, charging towards them.

Being knocked back by him without being able to withstand a single blow.

And…

Kwaaang! Kwaang!

…opening her eyes to a thunderous roar and seeing Bjorn on the ground, desperately protecting them.

That was her last memory.

“I don’t know if we won, but at least we’re safe for now. The enemies have all retreated.”

“Really? That’s a relief. But the, the casualties…?”

“…….”

Avman frowned.

As if there were casualties.

But did he realize his mistake after seeing her eyes?

He quickly continued,

“Ah, don’t think about anything strange. Everyone on our team survived. It’s the fairy who died.”

“Fairy…?”

Her heart skipped a beat.

“Don’t tell me it’s Erwen?”

Erwen Fornachi di Tersia.

Although they weren’t exactly on good terms, she felt a pang of sadness deep down.

“No, it’s her older sister who died. She hugged her sister at the last moment and protected her from the explosion.”

“…Then Erwen?”

“She would have died too if she had been a little slower. I don’t know if it’s a good thing, but she’s unconscious right now. I’m worried if she’ll be okay when she wakes up.”

“I see…”

Misha then heard about the other companions’ conditions.

Raven was also unconscious, and Ainar, who woke up a bit earlier, went to Bjorn.

“Don’t go. I also tried to stay by his side, but the priestess kicked me out, saying it would interfere… You wouldn’t listen even if I told you. It’s that way.”

Misha asked Avman for directions and headed towards that place.

The Goblin Forest was brightly illuminated by the flames that were rising everywhere after the battle ended.

Thud, thud.

Misha walked through the explorers.

She saw explorers resting on the ground, explorers crying, explorers drinking blood-soaked alcohol with joy, and those who were busy moving the immobile corpses into the flames.

“Oh! It’s the cat girl from Yandel’s team!”

Explorers called out to her as she was walking.

“Are you going to see Yandel? He’s over there.”

“Hmm, I don’t think it’s a good idea to go.”

“Right, you must be worried since you’re companions.”

They all said meaningful things.

But some of them spoke casually.

“Ah, don’t worry, there’s no way he would die.”

“Bjorn, son of Yandel, is immortal!!”

“I heard he almost killed the Corpse Collector this time? And they said they would have won if it weren’t for the Ruin Scholar. He’ll be incredibly famous when we get out.”

The explorers acknowledged Bjorn’s greatness.

Misha’s steps quickened.

She soon reached a tent.

Many explorers were gathered in front of it.

“Ah, Miss Kaltstein is here too.”

The first person she saw was Ainar, arguing with Kyle Pebrosk.

“Please excuse me for sitting down. I’m actually pushing myself just to stay awake.”

“Why won’t you let us in?!”

“I told you, didn’t I? The priestess-nim is risking her life to save him. So please lower your voice. If you really want to help him.”

“But…!”

“Ainar, stop it!”

Misha quickly approached and stopped Ainar.

She knew it wouldn’t help, even though she didn’t know the details.

“Mi, Misha! You’re awake!”

Although Ainar greeted her happily, Misha asked Kyle about Bjorn’s condition.

It was horrifying just to hear about it.

His entire face was covered in poison, and his eyes and everything had melted away.

“It seems like the poison melted his bones and even seeped into his brain.”

She felt suffocated.

She felt dizzy, and the world spun as if she was drunk.

That’s when…

“…You can come in now.”

…the priestess came out of the tent with a pale face.

Misha entered without even thanking her.

“Bjorn…”

She saw him sleeping on a makeshift bed made of several sleeping bags.

He looked fine on the outside.

Although there were burn scars on his face, there weren’t any serious injuries.

“The scars will heal over time. My abilities aren’t enough to…”

“Th, thank you…”

“You’re welcome. What have I done compared to what he did? Anyway, I need to rest, so I’ll be…”

The priestess left, and Misha knelt next to Bjorn.

And she stroked his face.

She suddenly remembered the time they were chased by the Floor Master on the 3rd floor.

But it was different from back then.

He was sleeping peacefully as if he had done everything he could.

She thought he was a hero.

It was the same afterwards.

Bjorn had achieved many things and received recognition from others.

She had been proud and happy.

But…

“Why… why are you…”

What about his face now?

He looked sad and pained.

As if he was blaming himself.

Clench.

Misha clenched her fists, unable to finish her sentence.

She thought she knew why.

No, she couldn’t not know.

He was the man she had been watching for a long time.

‘Erwen…’

He must be blaming himself because of her.

Swoosh.

Misha took her hand off Bjorn’s body.

Even though he wasn’t conscious, his body twitched as if having a seizure whenever her hand touched his skin.

Just how much did he suffer?

For this man of steel to be like this.

“Now…”

Misha closed her eyes and prayed earnestly.

Although God had never answered her prayers, she still clasped her hands together and begged.

She begged him to prevent this man from being acknowledged.

___________________

When I woke up, all my teammates were gathered.

We were briefly catching up when the priestess entered and checked my condition.

My vision was fine.

My sense of smell was normal.

But my body wouldn’t move properly.

I could feel everything, but I couldn’t put strength into my arms and legs, and they trembled if I tried to force it.

“It’s a common symptom when you injure your brain. You’ll be fine if you rest for about a month.”

“I see. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll bring Mr. Pebrosk since you’re awake.”

I heard from my companions what happened after I collapsed while the priestess went to get Kyle.

Less than an hour left until Day 7 ended.

“Were there any attacks?”

“No.”

The Ruin Scholar and the Clown bastard, who survived, didn’t return while I was unconscious.

Well, what could they do?

They would need time to recover, and they were also outnumbered since we burned all the corpses the Clown had left behind.

And it would be difficult for them to call for backup.

It would take at least a day to reach the 3rd floor from here.

And two days to go up and come back down.

‘In the first place, that Ruin Scholar bastard wouldn’t go even if the Clown begged him. He’s not the type to be motivated by revenge.’

Wait a minute.

I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten while talking to my companions.

How could I have not remembered until now?

“Ah! Erwen, what happened to Erwen?”

A brief silence fell at my urgent question.

My companions looked at me with stiff expressions.

“Right, she’s dead.”

“No, it’s her older sister who died.”

“Older sister?”

I heard the details from the bear-like man.

A short story about how she used a short-range teleportation skill at the last moment and sacrificed herself to protect her younger sister.

I was reminded of the weight of death.

It was truly a fleeting world.

“…….”

It had happened in a split second.

No one could have stopped it, and Daria didn’t even have time to leave a last will and testament.

It’s a good thing I heard it beforehand.

“Where’s Erwen now?”

“…She’s there.”

“There?”

“Yes. There.”

I wanted to see her.

But my body tilted as I tried to get up.

“Give me your arm.”

I barely managed to leave the tent with the bear-like man’s help.

Kyle was there.

“You’re awake.”

I slowly walked towards where the battle took place, talking to Kyle.

“There are a lot of people, what’s going on?”

“They’re the ones who came up after the battle ended. About a thousand people in four groups.”

“A thousand…?”

“We left marks along the way, didn’t we? They followed us east as soon as they formed their groups, and then they followed the marks all the way here.”

I see.

They should have come sooner.

Then…

‘What are you thinking?’

I dismissed my regret and resentment and continued walking.

It was pointless to dwell on the past.

“Oh, it’s Bjorn, son of Yandel!!”

Explorers who recognized me approached me and talked as I was walking with Kyle.

They said we should have a drink later.

Or that they were the leader of a certain clan and would definitely repay their debt.

Some even thanked me, saying they would come running if I was ever in trouble.

But there were no words of comfort.

“…Don’t look at them too harshly. There’s a saying, ‘heroes don’t receive comfort’.”

I don’t know if such a proverb exists in this world.

But I didn’t blame them.

They had also suffered many losses.

They were just trying to lighten the mood because it was hard.

“Mister…”

I saw Erwen when we reached our destination.

She was sitting there, hugging her sister’s body, which was burned and hardened. Her face was covered in blood and dirt, and tear stains were visible.

“Come here.”

Erwen shook her head.

“It’s almost time to go down. Are you going to stay here alone?”

“Alone… no.”

She let go of Avman’s arm and staggered towards Erwen.

And I patted her on the back.

“Listen to me. I’m your guardian now.”

“…Yes?”

I told her the last will and testament I heard from Daria.

It wasn’t a long story.

She said to take care of her sister if she died.

For reference, she said it to me before the royal family even escaped through Dimensional Gate, so maybe she had a hunch.

That something like this might happen.

“Mister… my sister, my sister…! She’s not moving anymore. She can’t talk. She’s cold and stiff. I, I couldn’t even do anything for her…!”

Erwen hugged me tightly.

“What… what am I going to tell my sister? That my sister is also dead? Th, that it’s because of me?”

I just stood there and listened to her words.

I didn’t say anything comforting, like it wasn’t her fault or that it was her sister’s choice.

I just waited for her until the end.

After some time…

“Yandel, it’s time to go.”

…it was time to go down to the 1st floor.

I gathered her sister’s body with Erwen.

It was better than Dwarkey’s case.

At least we had a mage who could use the ‘Distortion’ spell now.

We would be able to hold a funeral in the city.

“Let’s go, home.”

I returned to where my team was, leading Erwen. Even Misha and Ainar, who weren’t on good terms with her, didn’t say anything.

No, they actually seemed like they wanted to comfort her, but they couldn’t approach her because they were worried it might hurt her more.

‘It’s my first time seeing Ainar like that.’

We then stood in front of the portal that was opening in the center of the Goblin Forest.

[23:50]

The clock indicated the end of our long journey.

“Let’s go back!!”

“Waaaaaaaaa!!”

Starting with the teams that were in the center, everyone started going down to the 1st floor. Even though Verzak was scary, he wouldn’t appear in less than 10 minutes.

“Yandel! I’ll see you in the city!”

“You remember my name, right? I’ll definitely visit you again.”

The explorers in front of me also entered the portal, and then it was our turn.

「Entered 1st Floor Crystal Cave.」

The cave felt even more eerie than before.

I continued checking the time as we moved forward to make way for the other explorers.

[23:59]

Only 1 minute left until the labyrinth closed.

It didn’t feel real.

Was it really over?

Thump!

Right, it must be.

Even if Verzak appeared now, there was nothing we could do.

“Those damn royal bastards.”

“I won’t even piss in their direction when we get back.”

Anger towards the royal family erupted from the explorers who were certain of their survival.

Geez, they should be more careful with their words.

“Don’t say anything strange when we get back.”

I warned my companions not to badmouth the royal family in front of others.

That’s when…

「The labyrinth is closed.」

「Character is being transported to Lafdonia.」

…a white light started to fill my vision.

The light of the outside world that I had longed for.

Thump!

The light soon disappeared, and a clear sky filled my vision.

I blankly scanned my surroundings.

‘They’re really all dead.’

The Dimensional Plaza, which was always bustling, was unprecedentedly empty.

Phew, just how many died?

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”

I naturally looked towards one spot as I heard cheers erupting from everywhere.

“It’s a Dimensional Gate!”

“Those bastards!”

In the center of the plaza where the Dimensional Gate was open…

…hundreds of Dimensional Gates were opening, and those who had abandoned us were appearing one by one.

They all looked the same as back then.

Well, it’s only natural since the time you exit is synchronized even if you come out through a Dimensional Gate.

‘They have no idea what we went through.’

I couldn’t help but complain inwardly as I saw them looking so fine.

That’s when…

Swaaaaaaaaa!

…a giant magic circle appeared in the center of the plaza where the Dimensional Gates were open.

“Uh, uh?”

Time suddenly slowed down.

But ‘it’ happened in a split second.

Thump!

The knights and the elites of the clans, who were flustered.

The explorers who sensed something was off and quickly created distance.

And…

Kwaaang!

…an explosion.

Swaaaaaaaaa!

Flames carried by the wind push me back.

I fall to the ground and quickly look up, and I see a crimson pillar of fire rising to the sky.

It’s like watching the end of the world.

A voice suddenly replays in my head.

[Congratulations. You’re the only winner.]

It was the last thing the Ruin Scholar said to me.