Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Branch Point (2)

After entering the Golden Treasury, I finally understand.

Why the other races can't stand up to the royal family.

It's the royal family's hidden strength.

The precious 3rd-grade essences fill half of the vast treasury.

And they don't just have one of each.

'There are seven or eight of the easily obtainable and less commonly used essences.'

Most of them even have spares.

Even the essences that are only obtainable in rifts and have a high acquisition difficulty are displayed in different colors, at least one of each.

It's a rare monster essence that only appears in rifts.

Although it doesn't have any useful options for a barbarian warrior...

Its acquisition difficulty alone is on par with 2nd-grade essences...

'How did they collect all of this?'

That's the only thought that comes to mind as I look around. Can a single royal family accumulate this much wealth over thousands of years?

'When I played the game, I thought I could just choose whatever I wanted because it was a game.'

I even dismissed my slight worry that the royal family might be defeated by Noark.

How could they possibly lose after seeing this?

Thousands of 3rd-grade essences.

Although I don't know about their current strength, it means the royal family can create an army of insane power if they want to.

'If they just feed five 3rd-grade essences to each knight who can use Aura...'

I can't even imagine.

And it's not just 3rd-grade essences.

There would also be 2nd-grade essences in a higher-grade treasury.

'...Maybe even 1st-grade.'

And the scariest thing is that it's not just essences.

There are also Numbered Items.

'Since there are Triple Numbered Items in the Golden Treasury, there must be Double Numbered Items and Single Numbered Items in the higher treasuries...'

Although they're lower priority compared to essences, they're the easiest way to increase your stats when you reach the limit.

'...It's not like I don't want any, but they can't compare to essences.'

Hmm, should I at least look around?

I had time, so I walked around the Golden Treasury and looked at the items with interest.

Well, I already knew all the options, so I quickly lost interest...

"Um, please don't touch..."

"It's not like it's going to wear out if I touch it!"

It was a bit amusing to see the mage, who came with me as a guard and guide, turn pale every time I touched the equipment.

'Then that's enough sightseeing.'

It was time to make a decision.

Therefore, I did a final check.

Although I had already decided on what essence to take, you never know.

Right, then first...

'Bellarios.'

An Eastern dragon.

It's a monster that resembles an Imoogi, and it's practically a superior version of the Manticore.

Base stats focused on Magic Resistance.

And a unique passive, [Cycle of Reincarnation], that allows you to accumulate stats.

'Well, even if I absorb it now, it would be practically impossible to accumulate stats.'

[Cycle of Reincarnation] only takes effect when you reach a level where you can hunt 3rd-grade monsters or higher.

And in the first place, it became a core essence because of its active skill.

[Scales of Greed].

When you use this skill, scales temporarily appear on your skin, and your 'Magic Resistance' increases in proportion to your Magic Resistance stat.

For reference, if your Magic Resistance exceeds 1,500, you gain a Magic Immunity bonus, and from then on, mages become beings you can kill like worms.

It's like Barbarian Dragon Mode.

But...

'It's not an essence I should absorb right now.'

Honestly, if it weren't for the Ruin Scholar, its priority wouldn't be this high.

'Manticore' is enough for exploration.

And your growth rate changes depending on what you absorb first, even if you have to absorb it someday.

Anyway, then the second option.

'Vol-Herchan.'

A giant monster covered in shells.

As you can tell from its appearance, it has skills specialized in defense. The passive would synergize with [Iron Hide], and the active would make my body tough enough to withstand even 'Aura'.

In short, it's an essence for preparing against Aura.

It's an essence for a setup I haven't completed yet.

If I had this, my arm wouldn't have been cut off by that Noark explorer who used Aura.

'Amelia, that woman also used Aura...'

The priority of this essence increased a bit since the Clown bastard said he would send an assassin. Honestly, she was the scariest assassin I knew.

'And besides, it seems like I'll be fighting humans more often from now on.'

Ah, but that doesn't mean it's useless against monsters.

After all, being able to counter 'Aura' is just a bonus.

And most importantly, it also has a high Strength stat, so it has the best balance between offense and defense among the candidates.

Then, lastly...

'Bion.'

It's the only small-sized monster among the 3rd-grade monsters, which are mostly giant creatures.

It's also one of the few 'humanoid' monsters...

And an 'undead'. In other words, it's immortal.

According to the game's setting, they're ancient heroes who were resurrected after death, and perhaps because of that, they have a very unique characteristic.

They fight using essences, just like explorers.

For reference, the essence combination varies for each individual, but there's one thing that's added to all of them.

It's the ability of the essence it drops.

[Transcendence].

What's unique is that this is the only skill you get when you absorb its essence.

It's both a passive and an active skill.

Ah, and it also has the extremely rare Soul Power stat as a base stat, so it has the advantage of reducing MP worries.

'So what should I choose...'

I have to absorb all of them someday.

It's just a matter of which one I absorb first.

After much deliberation, I finally made my decision.

'Right, this is it if I can only choose one.'

I'm looking forward to the title bestowal ceremony.

____________________

“Hmm, this essence.”

The mage who had been following me made a strange expression as I chose the essence.

“It’s a good essence. Then I’ll report it to the Prime Minister.”

“Ah, can you also give me a Numbered Item? It seems like they’re just collecting dust—”

“No.”

Geez, he’s so serious.

I was half-joking.

We then returned to the reception room after a body search, and my companions were already there.

“It took a long time, as expected of the Golden Treasury.”

The bear-like man greeted me with a smile.

“What essence did you choose?”

“Hmm, I just chose the one you recommended. It doesn’t seem bad, and it’s a secret technique, right?”

Secret technique.

In short, it means a guaranteed essence combination.

Like the essences possessed by heroes or great explorers who left their names in history.

Of course, most of those people were well-known, but they usually had high-grade essence combinations, so they were difficult to apply unless you were an experienced explorer.

But there are some well-known minor combinations.

For example, even the dwarf knew how to use [Emergency Restoration] to reset the cooldown of Numbered Items.

It must have been one of the secret techniques circulating among dwarves.

“I should get a training center membership as soon as we get back.”

The bear-like man, who chose the essence based on my recommendation, was eager to try out his new skills.

Well, everyone probably felt the same way.

“Bjorn, let’s go back! The warrior’s power is taking over my body! I need to unleash it!”

Although the other three received 5th-grade essences, I was a bit envious of this.

Phew, I had to wait until the title bestowal ceremony.

“Ugh, just endure it. Erwen isn’t here yet.”

“We can just tell that fairy to come alone!”

“Hey, what did I say would happen if you talked like that?”

“I, I misspoke. So please, don’t make me eat carrot soup…”

Misha was scolding Ainar and defending Erwen.

It’s reassuring that she has an older sister to support her.

We waited for a while, and Erwen finally returned after choosing her essence.

“You’re late. Was there a problem?”

“No. I chose the one you recommended. But I needed some time to adjust after absorbing it, so I rested for a bit…”

Hmm, that’s understandable.

Most high-grade essences cause significant changes to your body as soon as you absorb them.

“I’m, I’m sorry. Did you wait long?”

“It’s fine, I’m glad there was no problem. Let’s go back.”

We then returned to the 7th district, which felt like home now, in the carriage the royal family prepared.

And we headed straight to the training center.

The only place in the city where you’re allowed to use abilities.

“Then I’ll go first.”

The bear-like man summoned Iron Bear Iradun.

And he placed a pig he bought at the entrance of the training center on the target platform.

“I can’t do it myself. Misha, can you do it?”

“Me? Ugh… alright.”

Misha then injured Woongie with her sword, and the preparations were complete.

「Avman Urikfrit has cast [Hungry Claws].」

A red light started emanating from the arrow.

The bear-like man nocked it and aimed for the pig’s thigh.

Thump!

“Squeeeeeeeal!!!”

The pig screamed and thrashed, but it didn’t last long.

Thud.

Although it wasn’t a vital point, the pig soon collapsed and stopped moving.

There was no blood.

Because the arrow that was embedded in it was absorbing it.

Swaaaaaaaaa!

The arrow was extracting life force from the pig and transferring it to the bear-like man.

And this is where the synergy of the combination comes in.

「Avman Urikfrit’s health is currently at its maximum.」

「Transferring remaining health to the linked target.」

The absorbed life force was transferred to Woongie through the bear-like man.

“Woong?”

Woongie’s injuries were all healed.

“I was unsure, but the Spirit Beast really recovered.”

“The book says that you’re the priority when you’re injured, so be careful.”

Although he said that, it was practically the same as our tank line becoming tougher since the bear-like man, who was a ranged attacker, rarely got injured.

Well, that wasn’t the only advantage.

The pig’s body was withered like a mummy after about 3 minutes.

‘The continuous damage isn’t bad either.’

And the bear-like man also had [Hook Arrow], so the embedded arrow was difficult to remove.

In other words, once it was embedded, the continuous damage and life steal would continue to stack.

‘And if he gets [Altruism] later, he’ll be able to heal us with it too, not just Iron Bear.’

Of course, that was just a possibility, I wasn’t planning to make the bear-like man a healer.

After all, how precious is an essence slot?

It’s best to leave healing to a professional healer.

‘I should get a priest soon…’

Anyway, Ainar was next.

「Ainar Frenelin has cast [Wild Control].」

Since there weren’t any good 5th-grade essences for her to use as a graduation essence, I chose the one that was most effective right now and could be used for the longest time.

「All conditional activation effects of the next attack are converted to Sharpness.」

[Mark of Explosion], which causes an explosion when you hit the same spot, and [Life Absorption], which increases regeneration when you hit an enemy.

If she uses [Wild Control], those two effects are now converted to Sharpness.

Just like this.

Slash!

The steel bar was cut in half effortlessly, even though it was made of Adamantium.

“Can you try it with a different sword?”

“Why not? Go ahead.”

Unlike the pig, the steel bar was free.

It was magically repaired.

“Then…”

Ainar, as if she was unsure, tested it again with a cheap iron sword provided by the training center.

The result was the same.

Slash!

The steel bar was cut in half with a single blow.

‘Good, this increases her options.’

She would be able to use explosion and life steal when fighting multiple enemies, and increase her sharpness when fighting a single strong enemy.

In short, she was no longer a barbarian who was only good at mob farming.

“Then it’s my turn now?”

Misha then tested the essence she newly obtained, and then it was Erwen’s turn.

They both had satisfied expressions, as their new essences showed synergy that exceeded expectations.

‘…This is unfair for a barbarian.’

Why am I the only one without a new essence?

____________________

Two days later, I visited the royal palace again.

Honestly, I wasn’t as nervous as the first time.

After all, this was my third time this month.

But there were a few differences from my previous visits.

“Can you bend down a bit? You’re so tall.”

The servants were helping me get dressed and styling me, as if even the formal wear Kyle gave me wasn’t enough.

And my companions weren’t here.

Because I was the only one invited today.

It seemed like it was a long-standing tradition of the royal family that no one could attend the title bestowal ceremony unless they were a noble, even if they were a distinguished guest.

‘It’s already noisy over there.’

I was currently in the Palace of Glory, the same place I had visited once before. I could hear musical instruments playing from where the main hall was.

It seemed like the banquet had already begun.

Our entrance would probably be the climax of the banquet.

“Oh my, you look much better dressed like that.”

Count Perdehilt visited me while I was getting ready.

He was with his youngest daughter.

“Ah, I, I’m Arabella Perdehilt…”

The young lady still couldn’t make eye contact with me, as if she was scared.

It seemed like he didn’t intend to bring up the arranged marriage again and bother me today, as he just chatted for a bit and then left.

Well, to be precise, should I call it a warning?

“There are three of you receiving titles today, including you. One is from a Viscount family, and the other is from a Marquis family.”

It was something I had already heard.

To be precise, it was more accurate to say ‘inheritance’ than ‘bestowal’ for them, unlike my case.

“I don’t care about the Viscount family, but the heir to the Kudo family is known for being hot-tempered and competitive.”

“In other words, he’s immature.”

“…That’s an accurate description. So be careful. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event, he might think you stole the spotlight. Ah, and try to endure it even if he provokes you. You’re one of us now, so you can’t just act as you please.”

“I’ll keep your advice in mind.”

“Right, that should be enough. Then I’ll be going now. See you later.”

The Count then coolly left with his daughter. It seemed like he really just came to build a relationship with me.

‘Politics…’

I couldn’t help but laugh, remembering what happened in the Doppelganger Forest. I wonder if barbarian-style politics would work in noble society?

That’s when, as I was having those silly thoughts…

“The heroes of the day are entering!”

…the door opened with cheerful music.

‘This is my second time walking through here this month.’

I walked naturally along the carpet, without any nervousness. The heir to the Marquis family was in the center, I was on the left, and the heir to the Viscount family was on the right.

Thud, thud.

We reached the throne, receiving cheers from the nobles.

The Prime Minister was standing in front of the empty throne.

He said something ceremonial, and we knelt on one knee and bowed.

That’s when…

‘Huh?’

…the Marquis bastard leaned towards me as I was about to kneel.

What?

Did he lose his balance?

I tried to help him at first, thinking that might be the case, but I soon realized it wasn’t.

Malice.

I unconsciously sensed a dark emotion from his movement.

It was truly ridiculous.

Leaving aside the fact that he was trying to pull something so pathetic in front of the Prime Minister, who was practically the second most powerful person in the royal family, and countless other nobles…

‘Do you think that would work?’

The best defense is a good offense.

Strength involuntarily surged through my body, and at the same time, our bodies collided.

Thwack!

The outcome, based on the laws of physics, was practically predetermined.

“Aak!!”

The Marquis heir was thrown forward and rolled on the carpet.

His neat suit was completely wrinkled.

“…….”

The music stopped, and silence fell at his embarrassing display.

The Count’s advice suddenly came to mind.

“…….”

Ah, right.

He told me to endure.