Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

A witch's curse that once covered this world in ancient times.

To put it simply, this curse is similar to "radiation."

After the curse, the entire continent turned into a land of death where no living creature could survive, and only Rafdonia was said to have escaped the disaster.

...Or so the common belief goes.

But there was no witch's curse outside the fortress walls.

Or more precisely, not the witch's curse as we knew it.

[Outside right now, it's actually fine. Plants are growing, and if you get close, you can even see bugs eating leaves. Wild animals too.]

Just like a post on the Ghost Busters board from some Noark player.

Outside the walls was not a land filled with death.

'Well, that's not to say it's in perfect condition either.'

Standing at the cliff's edge, I gazed at the ash-gray world unfolding before me.

Everything was gray, yet only the sun rising far away glowed red, creating an eerie atmosphere.

"...The world has never really been whole."

Just as the GM muttered, it was clearly a world that had perished.

But that only raised more questions.

Because there wasn't a single truth in what the royal family said.

'Radiation my ass...'

There was no poison scattered in the air.

There was simply a world that had perished in a different way.

Of course, I had no idea why the royal family hid this fact—

"I think I understand why the royal family distorted the truth."

"Hm?"

Lowering a telescope that had somehow appeared in his hands, the GM continued.

"How could they tell the residents inside the walls that this world is heading toward destruction?"

"...What do you mean?"

"Look down there."

The GM pointed to the boundary where the ash-colored waves met the land.

"The speed is slow, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, but that area is gradually expanding."

Taking the telescope handed to me, I focused on the spot and saw that the boundary was slowly eroding.

"The problem is... this isn't happening only here."

"What do you mean?"

"Those who went outside the walls have returned to the city, right? Surely, the other side can't be any different."

"But is there any reason for them to return to the city? If your theory is correct, the city should be the first to perish."

"Well, maybe they know information we don't. Hmm, perhaps even if the erosion proceeds, the protective magic circle can't be breached."

Listening to him, it sounded like a guess unbefitting a mage — a 'whatever' kind of guess.

But...

'It's probably not wrong.'

The Noark bastards did invade the city.

That means the means to survive lies within Rafdonia.

What exactly that is, I still don't know.

'I'll have to find out by exploring it myself.'

With that in mind, the GM and I went down to the coast and investigated various things.

Unfortunately, we didn't learn much.

But to summarize what we did find...

Bang!

First, that erosion zone is literally a land of death.

Anything that touches it immediately loses color and hardens like stone.

I haven't experimented on humans, though.

I'm curious if high resistance could withstand it, but I lack the courage to try.

Anyway.

"A corpse... huh."

Second, while checking around the coast, we found a skeleton inside a cave.

It looked like it had been there for several years, but searching the area didn't reveal anything else.

Lastly, the most important third point.

"At this rate, it will take about ten years to reach the outer walls of District 10."

Assuming the erosion proceeds at the same speed, the calculation is that it will reach the city in ten years.

Well, if the protective magic circle surrounding the city can stop the erosion, there should be no problem.

"Let's end the search and head back."

"Are you going all the way back now?"

"I can't keep holding you here forever, and you should be going home soon, right?"

I said this with a smirk, and the GM's eyes widened.

It was like he couldn't believe I was speaking normally.

"You don't want to go—"

"No! Let's go! Hurry!"

He was so happy it was almost touching.

I thought we were getting closer.

"Alright, let's go."

From then on, we left the coast and moved toward the fortress walls, chatting along the way.

"Havelion, isn't it a bit strange?"

"What is?"

"That something like this hasn't been revealed yet. From atop the District 10 walls, you could see the world turned upside down. I don't think anyone's ever heard of a rumor like this."

"Have you... ever been atop the fortress walls, Baron?"

"I have."

I told him about my experience climbing the walls of Viphron and admiring the vast nature, and he nodded in understanding.

"That's because Viphron is an exception. Other fortress walls have illusion magic cast on them, but Viphron's wall is known to have some problems with that magic."

"Oh, really?"

"It's natural you wouldn't know, since this information is not publicly available. By the way, the soldiers and knights who served atop Viphron's walls believed the outside nature was an illusion caused by magic."

I'd never heard that before.

It made sense, though. He's a high-ranking mage with a lot of experience.

"But... isn't the holy land protected by illusion magic too?"

Ah, that...

"Yes, but I didn't know the fortress walls were like that too."

The holy land lies outside the walls.

Historical records say the royal family respected the non-human races and granted them independent lands to live in, but in reality, it was discrimination and exclusion.

Look at the recent District 7 invasion.

When Noark triggered the magic circle made long ago by the royal family, the holy land was completely cut off and isolated—

'My thoughts have wandered.'

Anyway, walking through the holy land leads to an invisible wall blocking further passage.

Behind it was a forest—

[Everything has its order.]

[...]

[Warrior, it's not yet time to be curious beyond that.]

Thinking back, the shaman said something very meaningful then. I wonder.

I've grown far beyond then.

Is it finally time to be curious beyond the fortress walls?

"Well... I guess you might have thought only the holy land was special. Nominally, it's said the illusion magic was cast out of consideration for the non-human races."

"But it suddenly makes me curious. I wonder what it's really like."

"Hmm...?"

"Since we're on the subject, we should check it out. We're passing by anyway."

Taking advantage of the situation, I slightly changed course to approach the walls.

"The whole area around the walls is forested and inconvenient."

"Stop complaining and move your feet."

Comforting the GM who was eager to return home, we soon arrived at one of the six holy lands in Rafdonia.

Thud.

A transparent barrier blocked the path, refusing any further approach.

This was the fairies' holy land in District 9.

It wasn't difficult to look inside from outside.

'...Just trees as far as the eye can see.'

Since it was the very outer boundary of the holy land, seeing the fairies' living environment or cityscape was impossible, but it was still somewhat fascinating.

'It's huge...'

The trees were enormous and tidy beyond comparison to the barbarian holy land.

Almost as if they had been carefully maintained for thousands of years.

"...We came because you said so, but are you planning to just wait here?"

As I curiously peered inside, the GM started to give me a hint.

And surprisingly at that moment—

"...Hm?"

Something seemed to move beyond the barrier.

"Wait a moment."

"...Yes?"

"Quiet."

I silenced the GM and stared intently into the woods, spotting a silver-haired male fairy with a youthful face, likely a minor or newly adult.

"He's coming this way."

The fairy slowly approached us.

"Can he see us...?"

The direction was too precise for me not to wonder that, but it seemed unlikely.

If he had seen a person outside the barrier, he wouldn't have such a calm expression.

Swish.

Reaching the barrier, the fairy reached out and gently brushed the invisible wall as if stroking it.

He muttered something...

"..."

I couldn't hear his voice because of the barrier.

But maybe the GM had a talent for lip-reading too.

"He says it's frustrating."

"...You can understand speech with your eyes?"

"Just a little trick I picked up in life. It wasn't ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) a hard word either."

The GM smiled humbly, but I was genuinely surprised.

Well, we are players after all.

There's a difference between hearing and speaking, and reading lips to understand words.

"Oh, he just muttered, 'What's out there...' to himself."

Thanks to the GM's interpretation, I understood why the fairy wore that expression.

"Curiosity is the greatest desire humans have. Perhaps someday that boy will become famous."

"You said you only question what you can handle?"

"Yes. That's why I said it was great. People like me can only be curious."

Well, he sure talks well for a mage.

"In that case, Baron, if your curiosity is satisfied, how about moving on?"

"Yeah, let's go."

After briefly laughing off the GM's request, I checked the silver-haired fairy once more beyond the barrier and turned my back.

'Hmm, his face looks somewhat familiar...'

Well, if fate wills it, we'll meet again.

As always, the way back was the reverse of the way we came.

But after spending several days in a strange place and building familiarity, casual conversation flowed without breaks, unlike before.

He no longer seemed to be so wary of me.

"How about you, Baron? I've heard many rumors within the city."

"They're all nonsense."

"Hmm, I heard that at least one of them was true—"

"You've gotten really comfortable, huh?"

"Ha ha... S-sorry."

Going beyond light conversation, he even began to ask personal questions I guess he'd been curious about.

"So... Baron, what's your goal?"

"Are you picking a fight?"

"No, no, I'm genuinely curious. You always take on dangerous tasks and stay busy."

"...None."

"Hm?"

"I've never had any grand goals. Just surviving with my people. That's about it."

Of course, the world runs on give and take.

Since he answered honestly about himself, I kept asking him personal questions too.

"What about you? What's your goal?"

"This one?"

"Yeah. Since you're asking me that, you must have a clear goal."

"I..."

He hesitated a bit when asked about his goal, then slowly spoke.

"There's someone I definitely want to meet again someday."

Interpreted as a fellow player, his goal is to return to the original world, and that motivation is 'someone.'

'Family, maybe...?'

I don't know, but I nodded, pretending not to know.

"I see. Whoever it is, I hope you can meet them again."

"...Thank you."

"Stay strong."

I slapped his shoulder with encouragement; he tried to run away from me but chuckled.

And then...

"Putting aside the 'cultural differences' I can't understand... Baron Yandel, you seem like a pretty decent person."

I couldn't tell if it was a compliment or sarcasm.

Well, no wonder he thinks so.

If the locals are fed up, how weird must I look to a player.

'Still, it feels a little unfair.'

If they had started as barbarians, maybe it would have been different?

One hundred percent, they'd act exactly like me.

...Probably.

"Well, then, let's rest here for the night."

"Yes, that sounds good."

After it got dark enough, we spread a blanket in a clearing with fewer trees and lay down.

'At this rate, we should be able to return to the city before tomorrow night.'

Just as I closed my eyes and reviewed tomorrow's schedule, suddenly a sentimental voice came from beside me.

"The sky."

"...?"

"The sky is the same in every world."

Actually, it's a feeling I often get while camping.

Just lying down and staring at the sky at night, I forget where I am.

But after saying that, maybe realizing my mistake, the GM added an unsolicited explanation.

"Whether inside or outside the walls."

"Yeah. There really is no difference."

"..."

We silently continued staring at the sky for a while.

Maybe because he'd spent so many days holed up in the magic tower?

He seemed nostalgic while camping outside. After all, when he used to roam the labyrinth, this would have been everyday life for him.

"Baron."

"What is it?"

"You were curious about the sect you first joined, weren't you?"

"Yes. You drew the line when I said I didn't want to talk about it, so I didn't ask further."

"But why now? Are you thinking of talking about it?"

I asked bluntly, and the GM gave a bitter smile but answered firmly.

"Yes, it's not a very interesting story."

It really seemed like today was the day for him.

A day when anyone would want to talk about something.