Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Platinum blonde slicked back in a pomade style.

Flawless skin and cold eyes.

Just from this, he gives off the impression of a nobleman, handsome and refined...

"Ugh!"

But those frivolous gestures, tone, and expressions give off a somewhat quirky and nonchalant vibe.

"Why? Like you just saw a ghost or something."

Soon, Ibaekho stepped through the open window and sat down on the seat opposite me inside the carriage, speaking brazenly.

"You're unusually jumpy today."

Though his mouth was grinning, his eyes were not.

"Like someone caught doing something shady behind someone's back."

Ibaekho shot sharp looks at me and spat out words with bite.

Well, he wasn't wrong.

Honestly, the moment I saw this guy, I felt like I was caught gossiping behind his back.

That said, I wasn't about to freeze up in panic.

'...Looks like the coachman can't hear our voices.'

After briefly checking the coachman still focused ahead driving the carriage, I replied in a casual tone.

"Then you're not surprised? Suddenly appearing and coming in through the window."

"Hmm, I don't think it's just that..."

"Of course not. How thin are you anyway? Eat properly and work out a bit. How does a man squeeze through such a narrow window?"

"...It's not that I'm thin, but you're abnormally big."

"Hey, don't talk back."

How the hell are you here?

What did you come for?

Instead of asking that, I naturally steered the conversation like a scolding, making Ibaekho show an embarrassed expression.

And then...

"......"

"......"

An awkward silence lingered briefly.

Honestly, we weren't the kind of people who should be meeting and having conversations like this.

Especially since the last time ended terribly.

[...So you tried to use the Resurrection Stone on me?]

[Yeah. Since you couldn't break it off first. I was trying to help a little. After all, when you go home, those ties are all unnecessary, right?]

On the day the Ghost Busters disbanded, Ibaekho, who was caught scheming behind the scenes, didn't even apologize. Instead, he spat sharp words at me, and I vowed that when I met him again someday, I would definitely grant his wish.

"So you came looking for me because you want to leave? From this shitty world you were talking about?"

"Hey, bro... you're still sulking about that?"

That's the biggest reason I don't want to get tangled up with this guy.

Is he some kind of sociopath?

How can he say that like it was no big deal after all that happened?

But...

'Not yet.'

It's still too soon to punch him in the face right now.

Though honestly, I don't feel confident winning even in my current state.

Or rather, I should say I don't have confidence that I can win.

This crafty guy will retreat as soon as the situation becomes unfavorable, and then the people around me could be in danger—

"Just came! Just came by. I felt like you were doing something shady behind my back!"

Watching him say this so cheekily, I chuckled.

"Don't you think that sounds a bit funny?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Not me, but you."

"...?"

"The one who's always doing shady stuff behind people's backs."

In the cramped carriage where we faced each other, I watched him with a faint hint of hostility.

I wonder if this attitude felt refreshing to him?

"...Interesting."

With that short word, Ibaekho sealed his lips and stared at me.

The tense air was so sharp it felt like a fight would break out the moment someone drew a knife.

"So why did you save the marquis?"

In that atmosphere, Ibaekho asked in a cold voice.

Like before, this question gave me some certainty.

'So it was this bastard who tried to assassinate the marquis.'

However, there was no way this bastard could use magic, so the one who cast that magic must have been the 'Doom Scholar.'

They had been inseparable like partners for some time now.

'No wonder I felt like I was going to die of pain...'

Still, one consolation remained.

Such a powerful magician wouldn't be common.

"What are you thinking like that? Is there a reason it's hard to say?"

"Hey, stop whining. Do I have to answer every time you ask?"

"That's not it, but I'm curious. You once asked me to kill the marquis, and now that you're trying to kill him, you're risking your life to protect him?"

"That's what I want to say. You said you couldn't when I asked you to kill him, so why are you doing it now? After all, even if you kill him, he's the guy who keeps coming back to life at the palace?"

When I asked back, Ibaekho fell silent.

He was truly a selfish bastard.

"...Just know there was a reason."

"Then I guess I'll just assume there was a reason for me too."

His answer implied that until he revealed his hand, he would never reveal mine.

Ibaekho stared at me for a moment, then sighed deeply.

"There's a possibility the marquis lost the resurrection item. I wanted to check just in case. If he dies, it's fine. If he lives, there's also some benefit."

"Benefit if he lives? Didn't you say there's no limit on how many times he can come back?"

"That's true. But it seems to take some time to come back. I wanted to make use of that time. Since the proxy suddenly disappeared, if things go well, the Great King of Renewal might move."

"The Great King of Renewal...?"

"Yes. The one who always uses being sick as an excuse and never shows his face at official events."

"Why do you want to make the Great King of Renewal move?"

"He's hiding too much. But if he comes out and moves, wouldn't he drop even a single hair or something?"

He didn't say everything, but at least he didn't sound like he was lying.

"Okay, I told you, so you tell me. Why did you save the marquis? Have you fully sided with him now?"

Hmm, what should I do now?

Should I just say I don't want to talk?

If it was him, I don't think he'd feel guilty even if I ran away...

'Still, it wouldn't be good to cause weird misunderstandings... Honestly, it's better to use whatever I can from him.'

After deciding, I told him 100% of what happened that day.

Surprisingly, it was explained in just one sentence.

"It was a mistake... right?"

Saving the marquis that day was a mistake.

Of course, Ibaekho didn't easily trust my words.

"You're saying you got hit instead without realizing it because of habit? You expect me to believe that?"

"Believe it or not, it's your freedom. But... I didn't know about the ambush beforehand. It was a situation no amount of thinking or action could prevent."

However, maybe he was persuaded by my honest words that followed.

Or maybe because I pointed out something he himself found strange.

I don't know, but Ibaekho nodded reluctantly.

"Sure... your words do make some sense..."

"It's not that it makes sense, it really happened. I regretted it a lot after saving him."

"But... then what's today about? You spent a long time talking at the marquis's house."

"That's because I also thanked him and such. Oh, I also got a firm confirmation that they will entrust me with that construction contract, maybe as a reward."

It was only half the truth but still undeniable.

Of course, the marquis's real point was a proposal to win over me, and that condition was none other than 'assassinate Ibaekho.'

He didn't open everything 100% honestly either.

"...Is that really all?"

"There's no more pointless question than that."

"Right. I misspoke."

Then Ibaekho looked at me for a moment, as if to decide for himself.

"I don't know. I really don't. Everyone else is easy, but why are you so complicated?"

Honestly, I thought the same.

Even though he was saying it right in front of me, I still didn't understand.

I couldn't even tell if those words not knowing my thoughts were acting or not.

"...So now that we met, just say it. What the hell are you up to?"

"Suddenly you're talking all friendly? You almost tried to kill me earlier."

"Do you really want me to hit you?"

"No, but... I just think you and I are kind of similar."

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

"Right? Emotions are just momentary feelings, and in the end, people think logically and act for their own benefit."

"..."

"Oh, but it looks like you sometimes get ruled by emotions too."

That analyzing tone annoyed me greatly, but I had no good rebuttal.

Actually, right now, rather than hitting him and kicking him out, I felt stronger desire to talk more and get information.

"I know your intentions, but since I did wrong to you too, I'll answer some questions. You're probably not really curious about my recent situation anyway. What's your most curious question?"

Still, having Ibaekho open up like this made the situation much easier.

However, another concern remained.

Questions, questions, questions...

Since he said 'some,' I felt I had to ask only the most important ones. But what should I ask?

After a short hesitation, I chose the first question.

"So, did you meet Auriel Gavis?"

The last update I knew about him was that he went outside the walls to meet Auriel Gavis.

Did he achieve that goal?

"Haha, that old man... how should I say this—."

"Answer yes or no."

"Yes. I met him."

Okay, so he succeeded.

Though a vague anxiety arose, I added another question.

"Not in the community, but in person?"

"Actually met. You said you met him at the round table, right?"

"The old guy said that?"

"Well... something like that...? It's not important."

Since he spoke vaguely like that, it seemed he hadn't heard it directly.

Then...

'The black mask was Hyunbyul, and the wolf was almost ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) certainly someone sent by Auriel Gavis...'

Was the butterfly mask an informant planted by Ibaekho?

It's still too early to conclude, but since the community isn't so important now, I let it go.

"What have you been doing since you left the walls?"

This time, I asked a broad question that couldn't be answered yes or no.

He acted like he wasn't really curious about his own situation, but I was.

His recent situation.

"Just been living crazily. Went around the outside world, tried living at a Noark camp, went to the labyrinth through the portal leading to the 7th floor... Oh, I got a new companion too. Somehow."

Even in that rough answer, I could sense long hidden stories behind the words 'living crazily.'

While I was exploring the 1st basement floor, this guy was also vigorously continuing his own journey.

"...New companion?"

"Can't tell you yet. But... if I say just that, I sound like a complete jerk... I'll take this question off the count. Okay, now the last question, so do your best."

"You said some questions earlier?"

"Yeah. Some, right?"

Well... that wasn't a lie either.

Since it felt like a bonus question, I gave up and asked the last one.

"What exactly are the Noark guys' goals?"

A question everyone living in this city wonders, and even the kingdom's second-in-command, the marquis, didn't fully know.

Would Ibaekho know the answer?

I heard the answer soon enough.

"To survive."

"...What?"

"Isn't everyone's purpose in life the same? Everyone lives hard trying to live well and long."

Though answered playfully, I caught the hidden truth inside.

"Contrary to rumors, no one can live outside the walls."

"Yes. To put it simply, that's it."

What kind of place is beyond the walls?

I wanted to ask more, but sadly, I had no questions left.

"Hmm... Since this is the last question, I'll give you a little bonus."

...Bonus?

I raised my head in confusion, and Ibaekho grinned.

"For the next year, Noark won't stir up anything. So you can rest easy."

Ironically, hearing that I should rest easy made me feel deeply uneasy.

People like us always see the meaning behind the words.

'For a year...'

That means something big is coming after that period.