Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

New Age (5)

New Age (5)

Marry my daughter and take your lover as a concubine.

The Count, who made that unexpected suggestion, continued,

“The Abyss Seeker Rimenin, who was the first to reach the 10th floor, the Great Navigator Pikma, who explored and mapped the entire 6th floor, and the Iron Hero Juggernaut.”

“…….”

“And countless other heroes. Do you know what they have in common? They all had a strong patron.”

I couldn’t help but ask.

No, I understood what he was trying to say…

“This city is always lacking talent. I was planning to sponsor you even if this incident hadn’t happened.”

It didn’t seem like he was just saying it for the sake of saying it.

“What exactly do you mean?”

“It’s common for nobles to sponsor promising explorers. It helps their family’s reputation.”

I already knew that.

It’s like a hobby of the upper class.

To put it in modern terms, it’s like collecting supercars.

But I didn’t know this.

“Sometimes it even becomes a measure of a family’s power. If you don’t have any explorers you’re sponsoring, you’re looked down upon, and if they don’t achieve anything, you’re criticized for having bad judgment.”

So it wasn’t just a hobby.

For nobles, social circles are a political arena, and others’ evaluations directly translate to power.

“Our Perdehilt family’s wealth is comparable to any other great noble family. And our knights are also the same. But there’s one thing we lack.”

Although I didn’t know much about the Count’s family, I could guess.

“We haven’t had any notable explorers for a long time, despite our efforts.”

“So you said you would call me separately when I was ready because of that.”

“What’s there to hide? I said that because I wasn’t sure about you back then. If the explorer I sponsored died soon after, it would tarnish our family’s reputation.”

But he still warned me not to accept invitations from other nobles because he didn’t want to lose me.

It was a kind of marking his territory.

“I should have sponsored you back then without hesitation.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at his regretful voice.

If he had done that, his family’s reputation would have skyrocketed along with my rising value.

And he wouldn’t have had to offer his daughter.

“I’m no longer doubtful. You’ll become someone even greater. Many explorers died, but is this the end? The empty spots will be filled as time passes, just like always. You’ll definitely become a key player in this new age.”

“…You overestimate me.”

“Well, we’ll have to wait and see. Anyway, I think I’ve explained the benefits for me. So can you give me an answer?”

I pretended to contemplate for a moment.

I would have definitely hurt his feelings if I refused right away.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think that kind of relationship would work.”

I refused, trying to leave no room for interpretation.

“Think carefully. Everyone will want to have a good relationship with you, but will there be anyone who wants to form a blood tie? I can do much more for you than you can imagine.”

That was the end of my conversation with the Count.

I briefly greeted his daughter again and returned to the outdoor garden. Misha approached me as soon as I came out.

“Bjorn! Where were you?! I went looking for you, but you were nowhere to be found!”

“Ah, a noble called for me.”

There was no need to tell her about what just happened.

I brushed it off and returned to my spot, continuing to drink.

The more I laughed and chatted, the more the Count’s words came to mind.

[You’ll definitely become a key player in this new age.]

And so, the banquet ended.

_____________________

The music stopped, and the noise died down.

The long banquet was finally over.

“Those bastards.”

At first, he didn’t know what kind of banquet this was.

He had become practically blind after his only source of information was blocked. It was impossible to contact the outside world.

But…

[It’s been a while since we’ve met face-to-face.]

…he learned from his conversation with the Prime Minister who just visited.

What had happened.

[Those Noark bastards pulled something this time. There was a lot of damage.]

A lot of damage.

Just how much…?

The man suppressed his anxiety and asked, and the Prime Minister answered,

[More than you can imagine.]

70% of the explorers above the 4th floor had died.

Of course, what was important to him was something else.

The explorers above the 7th floor.

The large clans who were preparing themselves to go deeper, even though they could live comfortably even if they stopped climbing.

Most of them were also dead.

Just how long would it take to recover from this damage?

“Ha, this is so frustrating. I should have just smashed his head back then.”

The man gritted his teeth.

His first thought when he heard the news was ‘I’ve been tricked’.

[Was this… intentional?]

He asked, barely suppressing his killing intent, and the Prime Minister chuckled and answered,

[We didn’t know about this either. You can check if it’s true with your ability.]

Although his words were true…

…he wasn’t going to be fooled by that sly tactic again.

[Bullshit. This would have happened eventually, even without this incident.]

[Well, what do you think would have happened?]

[Don’t try to pull anything. This would have never happened if I had just let you kill those bastards back then.]

It felt like the question was finally answered.

The situation during the subjugation was overwhelmingly in Lafdonia’s favor. Although the casualties were high, they could have definitely finished it if they had just pushed a little further.

But the royal family didn’t.

They gave them time, and in the end, Noark activated an ancient barrier and locked their gates.

[Why don’t you just be honest? You never intended to keep your promise with me from the beginning.]

[How dare you. It’s a promise His Majesty made on the honor of the royal family. It will be kept, so don’t doubt it.]

[Doubt it, my ass.]

The man finally realized.

No, it was more accurate to say that he finally accepted it.

These bastards had no intention of letting us go.

‘They’re probably acting so arrogantly because they think I have no way to escape.’

The Prime Minister left after that conversation.

The reason he didn’t smash his head and let him go was simple.

Because it had to be nighttime.

‘Ha, where should I look now?’

He thought there might be a clue with the royal family, but he couldn’t find anything.

No, he just learned that there was no answer there.

He had wasted at least 10 years because of that judgment.

But the man didn’t give up.

‘…If there’s nowhere else to go, I guess I’ll just go to Noark.’

Although their power was weaker compared to the royal family, they would at least have the will to clear the game.

‘Ah, whatever, I’ll think about it after I get out.’

The man, Lee Baekho, closed his eyes and reached out towards the void, thinking that.

And he slowly started to imagine.

‘Extinction of Stars.’

The Dark Lord Deathred’s skill.

The essence he obtained the last time he entered the labyrinth, the one the royal family didn’t even know he possessed because there were no witnesses.

Crackle.

A dark orb rotated in the man’s hand, absorbing all the mana in the surroundings. The sealing magic circle engraved in the room was no exception.

Crackle.

The magic circle finally broke.

And…

Kwaaang!

…the dark orb exploded, annihilating everything within a 100-meter radius.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

He could feel the knights stationed nearby approaching as soon as the explosion occurred.

Geez, they’re quick to react.

“He, he escaped!”

“Stop him!!”

The man chuckled.

“Hey, you’ll die if you come now.”

The knights flinched at his killing intent.

It seemed like they valued their lives, even though they chanted about the King and loyalty like fanatics every day. It made him feel a bit better.

“Idiots.”

The man scoffed and leaped high.

And he easily escaped the royal palace, using ‘Spatial Interference’ to walk on air as if enjoying his freedom.

He reached hundreds of meters above ground in less than a minute.

This damn city was the same as before.

Towering walls that surrounded the city like bars, no matter where he looked.

‘Ah, wait. But I can’t enter Noark right now because of the barrier.’

The man, who had been traveling for a while, belatedly realized that and stopped in midair, lost in thought.

‘…Should I go to Bifron? It’s a good place to hide.’

That seemed like the best option.

But…

‘Let’s stop by the Magic Tower first.’

There was a place he had to go before hiding.

He had to restore his information gathering route to know what was going on in the world even while in hiding.

‘And I’m also curious about what happened to that hyung.’

…He’s alive, right?

Hmm, I hope so.

It was his first time in a long time thinking that about someone else, and the man, Lee Baekho, flew through the night sky.

_________________

Five days had passed since the banquet.

I hadn’t done much during that time.

I just stayed at home and recovered, and yesterday, when I was finally feeling better, I went out alone and visited a family.

Because I had promised.

[Deliver the news to my son. I have a feeling you’ll be famous when you get out. He’ll be happy.]

A family with a 10-year-old boy and a young wife.

Contrary to his words, the boy didn’t smile when he saw me.

Well, how could he?

[I’ve heard a lot about you. Thank you for coming…]

Although I traveled for over four hours in a carriage, I only had a brief conversation with the wife.

She said she was planning to open a shop with the compensation money she received.

It was a long-time dream of the couple.

[If you have any problems raising your child or with your life, please don’t hesitate to come find me.]

[Why… why are you being so kind? I heard you and my husband only met that day…]

[We would have been friends if we had met somewhere else.]

[I… see…]

The resilient woman, who had pulled herself together in a little over ten days for her child, silently shed tears.

[He… was a bit childish. He always admired heroes. Thank you, truly. He would be happy. If someone like you remembers him…]

What am I?

I wanted to say those words, but I held back.

I had to.

If that’s what they wanted.

It was also something I had to do.

“Bjorn!”

Misha burst into my room as I was quietly reminiscing.

“Erwen! Erwen is here!”

Right, so she finally recovered.

I went downstairs, and I saw Erwen standing there blankly.

It was our first reunion since that day.

I contemplated what to say and then just blurted out,

“Welcome back.”

If I had lived a more decent life, I would have been able to say something more comforting.

“Yes…”

Misha hurriedly approached Erwen, who had a gloomy expression.

“Di, dinner? Are you hungry?”

“I’m fine. Thank you, Miss Kaltstein.”

“Don’t call me Miss! Just call me… ack!”

Ah…

Misha stepped on a landmine.

“No, no, that’s right! Just Misha is fine…”

Misha quickly corrected herself.

Erwen closed her eyes tightly.

And she slowly opened them and forced a smile.

“You don’t have to be so considerate. Really. Thank you, Misha.”

“Ah, uh-huh… Right. Come here. I emptied this room just in case you came…”

“Yes? You emptied a room?”

“You don’t have anywhere to go, right? You can stay here as long as you want, until you recover. It’s just harder to be alone…”

Erwen’s eyes widened at Misha’s words.

As if she had received an unexpected offer.

“Is, is it really okay…?”

Erwen then looked at me as if asking for my opinion, and I shrugged.

“I told you, didn’t I? Your sister asked me to. I’m your guardian now.”

Erwen clenched her small fists.

And she struggled to speak.

“…Thank you… for your consideration. Truly… I, I have… nothing left…”

“Nothing left, my ass. Misha, take her and show her the room. You decorated it, so you know it better than me.”

“Ah! Okay!”

Misha then took Erwen and showed her around the house.

But could it be that she hadn’t slept properly?

Erwen lay down on the bed, saying she would rest for a bit, and then fell asleep.

“…Phew, I think I’d rather fight monsters.”

“I agree…”

We had dinner together since Ainar said she was going to spend the night at the sanctuary.

Anyway, after dinner, I spent time talking to Misha, and then I went up to my room and lay down on the bed around midnight.

[23:59]

Thump, thump, my heart pounded.

I wondered how many people would be there.

No…

「The character’s soul resonates and is drawn to a specific world.」

…would that Clown bastard be there?

I hope he is.