Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

A dimensional ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) monument given by the man we met outside the city walls.

And the unknown land we crossed through that monument, strikingly similar to the 9th floor Star Grave.

At first, I thought this place might be inside the labyrinth...

'But I guess not.'

This place lies outside the city walls.

The high intelligence of the monsters here supports that, and the fact that when you defeat them, their byproducts remain intact confirms it.

The problem is...

'It's impossible to walk back around.'

This place is basically an 'island.'

No, it's even more isolated than an island.

Even if its location is somewhere on the continent, it's completely surrounded by a gray boundary line, making it impossible to go beyond.

In other words, physical escape is zero.

"...Baron? What do you plan to do now?"

Ibaekho glanced at me and asked.

I was somewhat dumbfounded.

After all the subtle power struggles to wrest command, now that things turned out this way, he suddenly pretends nothing happened.

"You're the one who said we should take a big loop and that there must be a way out somewhere, Baron."

"I think I said there 'might be' a way out."

"Oh, isn't that the same thing?"

I wondered how such an annoying guy existed, but I'd heard it's best not to get sensitive in times like this.

So I just ignored him and got to the point.

"We did get some results, didn't we?"

"Yes. We found out we're properly trapped here. Right?"

Ah, should I just hit him once?

That urge surged up for a moment but I held back, thinking of patience and [Star's Extinction].

"...Yeah, that alone is enough of a result. Besides, the map's roughly complete."

"But only the outer edges are drawn. The inside is still empty."

"That means now we just have to search those empty parts. Surely somewhere there is the dimensional monument originally here or one connected to another place."

I said this with confidence honed by many leadership experiences, but Ibaekho just glared at me indifferently.

"Isn't that just baseless confidence? How do you know there's a dimensional monument?"

Well...

'[Dungeon and Stone] is that kind of game.'

Of course, that might be a naive thought.

This place is the 'outside of the city walls'—somewhere I've never been in the game—and the reality I experienced here is definitely different from a game.

But...

"So what do you want me to do?"

That wasn't just empty words.

Even if it feels like we're trapped in a bottomless pit with no escape, there must be a way out somewhere in the world.

That's my iron rule and belief.

"If you don't have confidence, are you just going to sit here and rest?"

"No, that's not what I meant—"

"Then just quietly follow me. Even if you all say no and give up, I will definitely find a way."

When I looked him straight in the eyes and said that, Ibaekho fell silent for a moment but then answered with a tone of admiration.

"Wow, Baron, you really have a way with words. Have you always hypnotized everyone like this?"

At Ibaekho's words, the archer beside him added.

"That was a fascinating experience. For a moment, I really felt no worries at all."

"Hahaha! I never thought the Baron would say anything wrong! We have to do something! Just staying still will only make us hungrier!"

When even Aures laughed heartily and stepped forward, the slightly tense atmosphere softened.

That's why every team needs at least one positive warrior.

Having led many times, I know the difference such a person makes is huge.

"Alright then, let's set off again."

...Let's go.

From now on, we have only one job.

We have to personally explore every unexplored area to find the 'dimensional monument' or any way out.

The problem is that we have to thoroughly check this vast area.

So our exploration method was very simple.

"Under trees, cliffs, caves, small gaps, structures... anything noticeable, report immediately. Got it?"

Not only the scout archer Briot, but every member of the team carefully scanned the surroundings even while moving.

If anything was found...

"It looks like a shallow pond, but it's very deep. It's a perfect place to hide something."

"Good, let's stop for a moment and check it out."

We used magic to detect, but still felt uneasy and went directly into the water to check.

Some complained if we had to go that far, but I never compromised.

That dimensional monument 'Deilan' claimed to have found was also hidden in a difficult-to-find cliff crevice.

Only this much effort would allow us to draw conclusions later.

That there is no 'dimensional monument' here.

So we must seek other methods.

"Baron! Look at this! Doesn't this seem suspicious?"

"Where exactly?"

"Here, here! The flower petal is broken!"

"...Enough. Let's keep moving."

Of course, we filtered out and saved time listening only to real concerns.

"Why! Didn't you say to report even the smallest thing before?"

But still.

The flower petal is broken. What do you want me to do about it?

How the hell am I supposed to verify this?

"Prince Ruin Genesis! Can't you check this out?"

When I ignored it, Aures went whining to the old man of ruin.

Naturally, the old man didn't grant that request.

"Come on."

"Prince Ruin Genesis!!"

"Then let's keep moving."

So the search resumed.

Because the search was thorough, progress was slow, but the map steadily filled.

'We've finished about 70% of the Old Rock Grassland...'

The current layout of the area we're in is simple.

Centered on the 'Primeval Land' where we first teleported through the portal.

To the west lies the 'Old Rock Grassland.'

To the north, the 'Deadly Poison Lava Field.'

To the east, the 'Dreamlike Waterfall,' and to the south, the 'Dragon Bone Mountain.'

Except for the Primeval Land, all are cut in half by the ash boundary, creating fragmented fields...

'The biggest problem is probably the Dreamlike Waterfall...'

The Deadly Poison Lava Field and Dragon Bone Mountain are both based on the 9th floor, so they're difficult, but nothing compared to the Dreamlike Waterfall.

If we have to thoroughly search to find a dimensional monument, it's even harder—

"Someone! Human tracks!"

...Huh?

"It's real. Definitely human footprints."

While exploring the Old Rock Grassland, we suddenly found traces of humans.

And we, who were searching for 'suspicious things' without any basis, couldn't just ignore it.

"Briot, you lead from now on and track those footprints. Full speed ahead."

I gave the order quickly, and we chased the traces at top speed.

And after some time...

"......"

In the middle of the grassland stood the back of a man.

He wore shabby clothes as if he hadn't washed in months.

Based on this description, he shared traits with 'Deilan' who had lured us here...

But then.

As soon as the man sensed our presence and turned around,

We realized he was neither 'Deilan' nor human.

There was a black spider stuck to his face.

"...What, it's a Bayon."

A Grade 3 humanoid monster, Bayon.

A monster who is also the original owner of my [Transcendence] skill.

By the way, he mainly appears in the 'Land of Immortality' on the 7th floor Dark Continent.

But occasionally shows up in the 9th floor Old Rock Grassland as well.

"Hah, I was certain it was Deilan."

"In the end, a wild goose chase..."

Our party seemed disappointed knowing the true identity of the footprints, but honestly, I was quite glad to see this monster.

I had to keep my expression in check.

'Finally found it.'

Bayon is one of the monsters you have to kill most often when training the shield barbarian.

Not only because you need to get [Transcendence],

But also because its byproduct 'Parasitic Spider' rarely appears in the auction house.

"Well, Baron, you're lucky? It drops level 8 engraving materials."

"......"

"I'm jealous. Means you still have a long way to go to get stronger."

Ibaekho joked with a sharp bone-related pun, stretching his arms as if warming up.

Then...

Tada—!

He dashed immediately toward Bayon.

If you've led before, such a sudden move can be infuriating.

"Wait!"

"It's just a grade 3 monster, what's the big deal?"

It is just a grade 3 monster.

Not wrong, but Bayon is quite dangerous.

Unlike other monsters, its combat power varies wildly by individual, and its abilities differ, so it's standard practice to scout before fighting.

Kwahjik—!

...Well, maybe it doesn't matter?

"Ah! That felt good!"

Ibaekho's black aura-powered punch pierced Bayon's heart, and it collapsed.

At the same time, I felt something rising within me.

It was a feeling all explorers know well.

「Bayon defeated. EXP +7」

When I killed 'Gigazeroth' before, I was so frantic I wasn't sure, but here the experience was definitely gained.

"Let's see... let's loot the Baron's engraving materials... okay?"

Approaching the completely dead Bayon to remove the spider stuck on its face, Ibaekho suddenly froze.

"Baekho? What's wrong... Ugh! What is this?!"

Seeing Aures approach startled too, it seemed something unexpected had happened.

So I quickly checked Bayon's corpse—

"...Huh?"

What is this?

When the spider was removed, revealing Bayon's face, I was as shocked as the others.

"...His face is blackened, but isn't this that person?"

The humanoid monster 'Bayon' we met in the Old Rock Grassland

Had Deilan's face.

The situation increasingly slips deeper into the labyrinth.

Deilan, who lured us here, disappeared.

Why had he transformed into a monster and wandered this place?

"...Could we get your insight?"

At GM's cautious request, the ruin scholar spoke.

"I'm not certain, but I once read in an ancient book. 'Bayon' are said to be ancient explorers who died in the labyrinth."

Coincidentally, I already knew this.

I studied the game's world setting every day hoping to find info about hidden pieces.

"Ah! So that's why Bayon uses essence like explorers!"

"That may be, but there's little evidence. It's more like folklore for public entertainment."

"...Is that so."

What exactly is our situation?

Becoming more and more unknowable, I forcibly took the byproducts from Ibaekho.

Curiosity is curiosity, but this is important.

'Only one more material left for the level 8 engraving...'

Now there's only one material left for the 8th-level engraving.

'Well, I think I can get it quickly using the outside-of-city-walls characteristics...'

Still, encountering 'Bayon' here where the population is low, and where they rarely appear, means we're pretty lucky—

"Oh! Looks like it really is Deilan! I found an ID card in his pocket!"

At that, Aures excitedly stood up.

In one hand the size of a watermelon was a business-card-sized ID card.

"Let's see, the name is..."

Thump—

"Hans...? Ah! Right! That's it! Hans!"

Thump—!

My heart pounded violently.

I made a quick decision and shouted urgently.

"Prepare to move!!"

We have to get out of here.

As fast as possible.