Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

The situation we're currently in is very simple.

Thump-thump!

We acquired information about the location of a dimensional stele from Lek Aures's acquaintance whom we met outside the city walls.

After finding the dimensional stele, we lightly crossed the portal once to check it out, planning to return if it seemed unsuitable.

And then...

"In short, that bastard tried to trap us, huh?"

Lek Aures's acquaintance Daylan vanished somewhere the moment he crossed the portal.

The dimensional stele needed to return was nowhere to be found.

In other words, the way back was blocked...

"Daylan? Daylan, was it?"

There's not much information about Daylan.

It's not even certain that his name is really 'Daylan,' and all we know is that he's from Noark and has a 'very, very common name'...

Clench.

My grip tightened involuntarily.

Whether his name is truly 'that' name remains unknown.

But if it really is 'that' name...

'L, huh...'

It would be the first time in a long while meeting 'that one.'

Thump-thump!

I need to keep my wits sharp from now on.

Only then can I safely get through this crisis.

Therefore, in that sense...

"He probably hasn't gotten far—"

"Stop moving."

I stopped Ibaekho, who seemed ready to dash off searching for the vanished man.

"...?"

Lowering my voice with a command, Ibaekho looked confused.

But I couldn't help appearing so serious.

Thump-thump!

I was genuinely starting to feel the danger of this situation.

"Don't act recklessly. First, find out where we are."

That's my principle when playingDungeon and Stone.

In a strange place entering for the first time, you must be wary of everything.

Well, even with caution, failing the first try is the norm.

Anyway.

"Havelion, Briot. Check the surroundings for monsters or traps first."

I ordered the GM and archer to detect magically and physically.

"Nothing."

"Nothing detected yet."

Okay, that means...

Tap. Tap.

I approached the wall and knocked on the cave's outer surface; only a dull sound echoed faintly.

'Seems there's no hollow space beyond...'

Carefully, I lifted my foot off the ground and stepped forward.

'Mud.'

The cave floor was covered in soggy mud, as if from a landslide on a rainy day.

It didn't seem to reduce movement speed or have any special effects.

But the problem was...

"We need to get out of here first."

"Right? If we follow the path, we might find something—"

"The entire cave might flood."

"Huh?"

I pointed to the cave's walls and ceiling as Ibaekho tilted his head.

"Look. There are still traces of where water once filled this place."

"Oh, really, I see the signs!"

"But saying it will flood now seems a stretch... We just need to get out before that happens, right?"

Why is this guy so optimistic?

"Do you know how long this cave is? What if it takes three whole days and nights to reach the exit? What if it turns into a maze and you wander for ages?"

"...So shouldn't we move quickly?"

Yeah... that's right.

But before that, let's do this.

"Let's form a new formation."

"A formation...?"

"In a place like this, moving split into two groups is dangerous. Even one well-formed line in a narrow passage like this gives you more than half the advantage."

Until now, we had moved together, but GM and I had felt out of place within Ibaekho's team.

But from now on, that's no longer possible.

"Havelion, Ruinjes, Jaina. From now on, you three move in the safest center."

I positioned the core members in the center.

"Lek Aures, follow at the rear. Enemies might appear from behind."

"Hah! Leave the rear to me!"

The secondary tank was assigned to the rear.

In such narrow passage maps, you must be most cautious about your back.

Besides, I could cover the front alone.

"Ibaekho, follow right behind me. Briot, you're right behind him. You can fall back if battle starts, but until then, stay as far forward as possible to do detection. Got it?"

"Yes, understood."

Phew... basic positioning is done. Let's move forward—

"Baron?"

Before I could move, Ibaekho approached, seeming to have something to say.

"I have more team members, but I'm still the one giving orders..."

Ah, so that was his complaint.

"Besides, this is your first time outside the city walls, isn't it? It'd be better for you to just follow my lead like before."

Well, then handle it yourself.

Do you think I want to hold the wheel?

"Ibaekho, this situation is different."

This is not just outside the city walls.

If it were, I would have followed Ibaekho's judgment as he has more information, like before.

But...

"What's different?"

There is a very crucial difference this time.

"This place is new to you, isn't it?"

It's our party's first time entering.

Even my instincts are telling me this place is very dangerous.

And you want me to hand over the wheel?

"We don't have any information about this place, so we don't know what variables might arise. Every decision here is critically important."

"...So?"

"In times like this, leave it to the right person."

I phrased it mildly (?), but the meaning was clear: I can make better decisions than you.

Naturally, Ibaekho didn't look convinced.

"The right person...? You mean the Baron?"

He stared at me as if it were absurd.

I didn't avoid his gaze.

"Why? Don't you think so?"

"No. I don't."

Ibaekho answered instantly with no hesitation, and I smiled a little.

Honestly, I didn't understand why he was so cocky.

Anyone could clearly see who was right.

I was the one who endured all the hardships, organizing data every night, studying the field, and opening the Abyss Gate in original mode.

And Ibaekho was a former soldier who came to this world only because of a cheat sheet.

Which one is the right person...

Step.

I stepped closer and calmly said.

"Last question, Ibaekho."

"..."

"Do you really think you're the right person?"

Surprisingly, he didn't answer immediately this time.

He was feeling the sting.

The difference between him and me was clear.

"..."

I silently waited until he answered, and finally, he looked away and shrugged.

"...Fine. Let's try. You're the most famous explorer in Rafdonia, so I'll see your skills this time."

That's more like it.

After a very peaceful discussion to settle the ranks, we began moving in earnest.

Whispers came from behind.

"What the hell is up with Baron Yandel...? Ibaekho losing ground?"

"I'm surprised too... Ibaekho actually backing down..."

GM quietly whispered in response to Aures.

But that didn't mean Ibaekho didn't hear.

"Hah! Like I'm some snake? When did I ever back down? I was just curious why he's so confident!"

"...Hahaha."

"Baekho! I didn't say anything!"

Ibaekho snapped, and they both shut up as if nothing happened.

That was funny, but I still gave a warning.

"Quiet down. Even if nothing happens now, there's no guarantee it'll stay that way."

"Y-yeah!"

Why are all the top explorers so fidgety?

If only they were all like Amelia.

Surely everything would be at peak efficiency.

"I feel a slight breeze. Luckily, the exit seems close."

After about twenty minutes, archer Briot said this, and shortly after, the exit appeared.

"It's dark..."

Outside the cave, there was no better visibility.

The outside was pitch-black, like the labyrinth.

"It's still night. We'll see something once the sun rises."

Ibaekho seemed unconcerned, but I wasn't.

"...It doesn't seem simply dark because it's night."

"Huh?"

"Look. The light doesn't spread far, like in the labyrinth."

"Oh... now that you mention it, that's true."

Ibaekho frowned, finally realizing the alien nature of the darkness.

"Oh... does that mean this might be the labyrinth?"

"Well... we'll have to find out."

"Okay. I'll trust only the Baron. You said you'd handle everything."

...Is he some kindergartner?

He came to this world way earlier than me, so his mental age should be higher.

"Yeah, I'll handle it, so be quiet."

I put a finger to my lips, and Ibaekho frowned as if displeased but said nothing.

Regardless, I focused on my task.

We just passed one field and entered a new one.

Naturally, we had to start searching.

"There's no water."

Contrary to my expectation of a river or lake nearby, no water could be found despite the search.

Then why is the cave filling with water?

Rain wouldn't cause water to pool here...

'There must be some other reason...'

Thinking deeply about this, I continued searching.

I roughly mapped the area around the cave entrance and marked coordinates so we could find it anytime.

After some time...

"Havelion, current time?"

"9:18. The sun should have risen long ago."

"Yeah, so..."

Even after a long time, no sign of brightening was visible.

Therefore...

"The possibility that this isn't outside the city walls has increased."

"Meaning... we're inside the labyrinth?"

"Well, it's possible."

No one dismissed my words as absurd or delusional.

After all, Auril Gavis once opened a portal connecting the labyrinth using a dimensional stele from outside the walls—

"Baron, look at this!"

At that moment, archer Briot called me over.

I approached and saw a man-made structure I hadn't noticed before.

"A ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don't copy, read here) stele?"

Of course, the stele Briot found was completely different from a dimensional stele.

It was a large monument similar to the one in the crystal cave on the first floor.

"Havelion, can you read this?"

"No, I've never seen this script before."

The monument was carved with glyph-like characters resembling pictographs, which even I, capable of reading ancient languages, couldn't decipher.

"Start an investigation. It might be some magical structure."

"Yes, understood."

I left the stele investigation to the GM and the ruin scholar, then checked my map again.

The forest area had no special features except for huge craters scattered around.

'Maybe it's more efficient to pick a direction and head straight.'

While thinking of the next plan, I waited for the stele research to finish.

Suddenly—

Everything momentarily turned bright white.

Kraaaakkkkkaaakkkk!!

A thunderous roar like the sky collapsing filled the world.

And then...

Sssshhhhhhhhhh—!!!

A heavy downpour started.

At first glance, it might seem like just severe stormy weather...

[Kiyyeeeeek-!!]

Coincidentally, monsters appeared as the strange weather began.

"Over there! Monsters are running this way...!"

The first monsters we encountered since arriving here.

Fortunately, they weren't a new species.

Hmm, I don't know if that's a relief.

"Brakiaistel! A Grade 5 beast-type monster using psychokinesis and water-element abilities!"

The GM stood up and shouted a briefing.

The GM's information was accurate.

But one crucial detail was missing.

Brakiaistel.

It's only a Grade 5 trash mob.

"Graveyard..."

It appears only on the 9th floor.