Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

A vein bulging on his forehead.

Breathing heavily, tense.

Biting his lower lip and clenching his fists tightly.

Seeing Ibaekho in a clearly furious state, the first thought that came to mind was how unfamiliar it felt.

"...Huh? Why isn't he answering? Guess it's for real?"

It was genuinely strange.

Ibaekho was always arrogant and impulsive, acting on every whim without self-control.

So why did his anger seem unfamiliar?

After thinking for a moment, the answer came quickly.

'Now that I think about it... he never really got seriously angry.'

Though we'd sparred and insulted each other before, it was more like roleplaying—just threats that had to be made.

But this time...

"Hah, I never thought I'd actually get screwed like this."

This time was different.

Ibaekho perceived my action as an attack and reacted extremely sensitively.

So I had to quickly get a grip.

It wasn't even my doing...

"Wait a moment."

More than anything, I needed to understand what had happened quickly.

"...The returning magic circle was broken?"

If that was true, I was in big trouble too.

The magic circle was set to restoration magic, but it would take at least a year to repair.

"...Trying to run away and then denying it?"

"I wasn't running away."

"Then why were you moving away?"

At Ibaekho's retort, the GM cautiously intervened.

"That's because there were signs of visitors at the entrance, so we were trying to fall back. It can't be known that the Baron and I were outside."

"...Is that true?"

"No reason to lie. And if someone intentionally damaged the magic circle, we wouldn't have time to be just standing here."

"Ha... so that's the case?"

At the GM's words, Ibaekho quickly calmed down.

If that one phrase could soothe him, I wondered why he'd gotten so angry in the first place...

'Ah, right, he has lie detection.'

Even if it didn't work on me, the GM's ability would have picked it up perfectly.

At that moment—

"Baekho, their words are probably true."

A crossbowman who had chased after Ibaekho appeared, backing up our innocence.

"The scent from inside and the scent from those two are completely different."

"...Really?"

Ibaekho stepped back awkwardly at the archer's words.

"The scent leads that way."

"Okay, got it."

Immediately, Ibaekho sprang forward like a rubber band toward the pointed spot.

Though he became the target of vented anger and didn't even get a proper apology...

"Let's go too."

"Huh...?"

I grabbed the GM and dashed toward the place Ibaekho headed.

We needed to check it out too.

Who the hell was responsible for this?

Tap, tap—!

Running at maximum output through the forest, the archer soon cut past me silently.

Why couldn't he just keep quiet?

"...Excuse me."

Is rudeness a trait of minor characters?

I don't know, but after running for a while, I saw Ibaekho and the archer stopped at some bushes.

They were both bent over, inspecting the ground.

"Looks like they were really determined."

"Yes. It seems like a plan targeted directly at us."

"Tch, so our info was leaked... who the hell is it?"

"Didn't the Baron's party run into someone at the old Noark fortress? Maybe it leaked from there—"

"Cut the crap. It's clearly our problem. Baron, don't you think so?"

Well, I wasn't sure of the situation, but if someone was targeted, I thought it was more likely Ibaekho than me.

"So, what exactly is down there?"

"Ah, want to come see?"

Slowly approaching Ibaekho, I saw a corpse partially hidden by bushes.

A horrifying body, half the flesh melted away exposing bone.

"...Looks like suicide."

The GM, experienced as a veteran wizard, barely flinched as he scanned the surroundings and muttered.

Ibaekho nodded decisively.

"Right? You think the same, don't you?"

"...Cutting tails like this is a common tactic."

"Did you find anything else?"

"...Probably not a wizard."

"That makes sense. Wizards' left ribs tend to protrude more."

"Yes. It's a feature due to their hearts being much larger than normal people's."

They spoke as if it was common knowledge, but I'd never heard of it.

'Left ribs are larger...'

No idea why, but I'd remember it.

Might come in handy someday alone.

"I think the wizard who came with him went back, and this guy here likely damaged the magic circle."

"He came all the way here to destroy evidence, then died alone?"

"Yes. Looking at the yellow powder on the leaves, it seems they used powder from the strong acid fruit. By the way, that powder is a main component of the so-called 'Blue Curse'..."

"I know. It's something the royal family uses often."

Ibaekho's voice dropped cold like a sharp blade.

"...If the royal family were really behind this, they wouldn't have used that stuff."

"Who knows? They might have wanted us to think that."

"..."

Anyway, to sum up the situation simply—

Whether Ibaekho or I—

This unknown corpse guy sabotaged the magic circle to screw us over.

Which means—

"Shit, we're screwed. Grandpa said it'd take at least a year."

We're stuck outside the fortress walls until repairs finish, whether we like it or not.

"There's nothing more to gain here. How about we head back to where we were earlier? I want to check the magic circle again."

At the GM's request, we returned to the cave entrance. Ibaekho's comrades were waiting there—

"Only grandpa follows me; the rest stay here. Okay?"

"Alright, alright! No one gets in here, don't worry!"

The gatekeeper, archer, and the mysterious newcomer stayed at the cave entrance.

Then I, GM, Ibaekho, and the doom scholar entered the cave as two pairs.

"Hmm, maybe we got caught up in this friend's fate."

The doom scholar muttered meaningfully but said nothing more.

Neither the GM nor I spoke either.

"..."

"..."

The atmosphere was really awkward.

Tap, tap.

Ibaekho was deep in thought, lips sealed tight, and this uncomfortable silence lasted until we reached the magic circle.

"...They really smashed it thoroughly."

The scene showed gouges and scorch marks like dynamite had gone off.

"Grandpa said we have to wait no matter what. What do you think?"

"...I agree. There are ways to improve restoration power, but—"

"What? There are ways? Tell me."

"Under current conditions, practically impossible—"

"I'll judge that. Just °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° tell me."

Ibaekho's demanding tone made the GM frown briefly, then he listed necessary items one by one.

Listening quietly, I understood why he said it was practically impossible.

Eldritch Force Core.

Soulwinder's Mana Core.

Ghoul Road's Life Stone, etc.

All required materials were rare byproducts only obtainable in the labyrinth.

And naturally, no one carried those byproducts around.

"Ha... why are they all so maniacal? I have plenty of well-selling stuff like ogre tendons, though."

"...That's what I said. Under current conditions, practically impossible—"

"Hm? Not completely impossible though?"

At Ibaekho's sly comment, the GM tilted his head, and the doom scholar nodded to explain.

"Well, if this is your first time, you probably haven't seen it yet."

"...Haven't seen it? What do you mean?"

"There are monsters outside the fortress walls too."

...That was news to me.

Monsters outside the fortress walls.

From what I heard, these monsters have some characteristics.

In short, these three were the biggest points, and to me, the most important was number two.

"...They always drop byproducts when defeated?"

"Exactly. It's the complete opposite of the labyrinth."

Monsters outside the walls don't disappear as light when they die but leave their bodies intact.

And maybe because of that—

"Some byproducts I've heard of, I just tossed out because they were annoying. Ha... when will I get there..."

Ibaekho could easily get many byproducts while living outside the walls.

Unfortunately, due to space, he only looted expensive materials like ogre tendons...

'Crazy...'

Hearing that gave me goosebumps.

"A hunting ground where distortion is guaranteed when caught?"

In some ways, it's as radical as the essence factory in the basement.

Because hunting there and selling byproducts alone could make massive profits...

'Could I finish endless grinding in one go?'

This fact was too tempting for me.

Barbarians are just as obsessed with 'byproducts' as wizards.

To raise 'Spirit Imprint,' monster byproducts are always needed.

Which means—

'Could I effortlessly gather materials up to tier 9?'

Being trapped outside the walls was unfortunate, but it was definitely the perfect chance to raise the Spirit Imprint level, stuck for so long—

"Hey Baron? What are you chuckling about?"

"...Nothing."

"Alright, then let's get going? I'll properly introduce you to the others later. We're going to be together for a while."

Together...?

"...Understood."

Though uneasy with Ibaekho, logically it was better to stick together.

He definitely knows much more about the outside world than us.

So following him was the rational choice for now.

"Grandpa and I already greeted Aures last time, so no need for that..."

Ibaekho briefly introduced his comrades as we stepped outside.

"This is our archer. Name's Layton Briot."

Human, but his skills rival any fairy archer, they say.

Ah, though he added after seeing me,

"Oh... but he's no match for your fairy archer."

Yeah, how can you beat someone who commands spirit kings and has consumed tiered essences?

"Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about Kalstein from you."

"Yeah, nice to meet you."

Briot shyly offered his hand, but I ignored it and looked away.

I wasn't very curious about this archer since Misha had already told me about him.

Unlike the mysterious newcomer.

"Oh, and this is our team healer..."

"I'll introduce myself."

The newcomer in a robe cut off Ibaekho and stepped forward.

Still pressing the hood low, unwilling to show her face...

'I wasn't sure, but turns out she was a woman.'

No wonder she seemed small.

"Name's Jaina."

"...And?"

"That's it."

Not wrong, but her sharp tone reminded me of Raven.

Is this a thing with short girls?

I chuckled, then Aures, the team tank, laughed heartily as he approached.

"Ha ha ha! Not sure how long it'll take, but let's do our best, Baron!"

...Maybe I can get along with him somewhat.