Surviving the Game as a Barbarian – 122



Episode 122: Stagnant water (1)

Misha woke me up early the next morning.

“Wake up wake up! “How long are you going to sleep?”

The time was 6:30 am.

Even considering her schedule to return from Commel B it was quite early.

“Let’s buy and eat today. “I couldn’t pack a lunch because I woke up early.”

“Then first from the morning on the first floor—”

“This place is not so good! Let’s go out and eat. huh?”

“I’m hungry….”

“Come on I’ll buy you something delicious. “Do you understand?”

Because of Misha’s frustration she couldn’t even eat breakfast and was dragged out. Then as if on a run she took off in her carriage and ate only when she reached the commercial district of Commelby.

A restaurant located 30 minutes away from the public platform that Missha pointed out as a good restaurant.

“How is it delicious?”

“it’s good…!”

I don’t know what was done to the stew but it has a very familiar umami flavor.

I’ll remember it and come back whenever I’m nearby.

“I’m glad you look satisfied. “Did you like it that much?”

“Except for the price of one meal being expensive.”

“That’s because you ate your bowl you old barbarian!”

After finishing a late breakfast she stopped by the armament and general store she frequented and disposed of all her loot.

‘3 million stones….’

The amount earned by selling all of the equipment and consumables of the three people and Gensia who met on the second floor.

It’s not a small amount of money but it doesn’t feel that big. If they had sold the Viper’s Fang or the level 2 leather armor the price would have been several times more.

‘Well you can just sell it later.’

From then on she entrusted equipment repairs to the blacksmith shop that Hikuro told her about. I was worried about the cost of repairs because my shield and breastplate were damaged a lot during the troll battle…

“In total it’s 300000 stones.”

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The repair cost was cheaper than expected.

Well it’s probably easier to fix something that’s been dented than something that’s melted.

“Do you also handle leather?”

“That’s right but is there something I can entrust to you?”

“Ah this thing here is so tight in my chest….”

While we were here Misha also left the armor repaired.

Since it was leather armor I wondered if a problem might arise if I touched it for no reason but there were no major problems.

“I don’t think there’s any need to add new material at this level. “I think you can just use a softener to slightly stretch the tight areas.”

The repair cost is only around 50000 stones.

Perhaps because I came here through a referral from Hiku Road there are no scams and it seems like a very conscientious place to do business.

“Come with me in three days.”

After leaving the blacksmith shop I wandered around and purchased supplies for this expedition.

I replenished Witchlamp Dissolving Liquid a consumable for countering the stealth world and purchased and stocked up on a few additional items that came to mind.

and….

“I’ll give you two bottles together for 2 million stones.”

I repurchased two bottles of the highest quality potion at the general store I went to before.

Well I didn’t know I would use one bottle so quickly.

The expenses were considerable but it was still better because we both paid for it with public funds.

“Luckily I didn’t have to touch the money in the public account. “Now here is 325000 stones.”

I split the remaining money with Misha.

Well today’s schedule is now complete.

“Then I’ll go! Good night Bjorn!”

“You sleep well too.”

We returned to Ravigion at night had a quick meal and then parted ways.

And when I returned to the hotel…

What is this again?

I see a silver-haired fairy squatting in front of my room burying her head.

“Erwen…?”

“Ah are you here?”

Erwen smiles and welcomes me as soon as she sees me.

For some reason he looked tired in his eyes so I couldn’t help but ask.

“…Since when have you been waiting here?”

“Not long ago. But did you two go out together?”

“Oh I have something to go to Commelby.”

“As expected… I see.”

“So what’s going on here?”

Since it was time to take a shower and sleep she asked about business but Erwen only kept her mouth shut.

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As if organizing his thoughts.

Although her expression was somewhat serious Erwen soon spoke in her usual lively voice.

“Man I can’t come here as often as I used to. “I came to tell you that.”

“huh? Ah… Well things have changed since then.”

This is not a one-month-old fledgling explorer.

Well at least it hasn’t even been a year…

No that’s why you know that it’s time to focus more on growth.

“Yes starting tomorrow I decided to go to special training with my sister. So maybe once a week? I think I can only get that far. “I feel like I want to come here more often but I think it’ll take a while.”

“For a while?”

“…There is such a thing.”

Immediately Erwen trailed off as if to criticize her and she smiled brightly and disappeared without even having a chance to say anything back.

“anyway! I’ll be back next week see you then. mister!”

“Oh that’s right….”

…What is this uncomfortable feeling?

***

The next day the entire team gathered at a bar for lunch.

Then we drank the return liquor and distributed the spoils from the previous expedition.

“I think we could split 550000 stones per person. “It seems that the by-products of the Frogman Shaman are selling more expensively than expected.”

“Haha I guess it’s all thanks to Rotmiller’s good peeling.”

“Hmm it won’t be of much help in battle so I guess we should do something like that.”

Passing through Rottmiller’s humble words I made a final settlement of the income from this exploration.

The magic stones obtained from the crack and the first and second floors are 400000.

After deducting the cost of consumables from the money from selling the equipment the remaining 320000 stones.

550000 stones as commission completion fee and by-products.

A total of 1.27 million stones.

‘Even though I spent that much I earned this much.’

Anyway I earned much more income on the 4th floor than in the past two months.

No in fact considering the essence that Misha consumed and the fangs of the leather armored viper it would be safe to say that he made a huge profit.

I also have 5 million stones to receive from Mr. Bear.

‘If I keep this momentum I’ll be able to get a level 6 engraving in no time right?’

I grinned and took a sip of my beer.

Misha and I still have 2 million stone in cash left in our shared account.

The personal wealth accumulated so far is about 2.5 million.

Over the past two months my growth has almost stopped and I have been anxious but when I see my bank account balance I automatically feel enriched.

“Bjorn! “What if you drink your first drink alone?”

“huh?”

“Let’s all drink together! “We haven’t even celebrated properly yet.”

“…Okay do whatever you want.”

“I am thankful that the troll bastard was killed and everyone came back safe! ruler! “Everyone drink it all up!”

After settling the bill we all drank liquor together to unwind from our previous expedition.

Is it because we all overcome another crisis together?

The team leader the dwarf looked very happy.

However the drinking party ended faster than the last time.

“I… I guess I’ll just have to go. “I have to stop by my parents’ house today.”

First Misha left followed by Rotmiller.

“I guess I’ll have to stop here today too. “I have some business to do at the guild.”

Perhaps because of a future promise the two who had been drinking alcohol and just getting along left. Anyway Rotmiller once Misha left the noisy drinking party became quiet.

I thought the dwarf would get upset if I got left out so I tried to stay and continue drinking…

To his surprise the dwarf slipped away and moved to the seat next to him.

“Hahaha that’s right? Troll bastards are no big deal right? That’s a lie? Is that possible? Do you see that barbarian next to you? “I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of Little Balkan…”

A dwarf who left his teammates alone and started chatting while clinking glasses with explorers he had never seen before. So I was just about to go back but Dwalki caught me.

“Now how about we talk for a moment?”

“what?”

“Well come to think of it we’ve never had a quiet conversation just between us.”

Well that’s right.

Lotmiller we often chatted when everyone was drunk and sleeping but this guy was the one who slept drunk.

‘Do you have something to say to me?’

And that was it.

Dwalki just sipped his drink hesitantly and did not open his mouth first.

‘I should have just gone.’

Unlike the noisy surroundings an awkward air flows around me.

Therefore I just opened my mouth first.

Because there was something I was already curious about.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Oh it’s okay… To be honest I was a little uncomfortable after receiving treatment from the priest but I’m completely healed now.”

“That’s good then what about this way?”

When I asked while tapping my forehead De Walki tilted his head.

“Isn’t this the first time in my life I’ve experienced my body being folded in half? How can I still enter the labyrinth?”

Broken-hearted explorers are more common than you might think.

Sometimes the cruel memories left in the body remain as strong in the mind as scars.

“Oh that’s…”

Dwalki realizing the meaning of my question hesitated to answer.

It seems like nothing happened as expected.

“Whew… I’ll be honest. Since that day I haven’t been able to sleep properly. “I thought it was because it was inside a labyrinth but it was the same in the city.”

Soon Dwalki let out a long sigh of alcohol and confessed that his hands were already shaking just thinking about entering the labyrinth again.

“But don’t worry too much. Isn’t this something that everyone goes through and overcomes? “I will be fine before the next expedition.”

You can overcome it….

Looking at the look in his eyes it doesn’t seem like he’s saying anything in vain.

There was just one question.

“Is there a reason you do that?”

Most people continue their work as explorers after overcoming trauma.

That’s because there’s no way to make a living without this.

In a city where they had to pay taxes to survive they had no choice but to overcome it.

But Dwarki the wizard is different.

“Why do you keep working as an explorer when it would be enough to just work in the city?”

Dwalki hesitated at my question and answered after downing a glass of beer.

“That’s because it’s fun.”

It was a completely unexpected answer.

“Because it’s fun?”

“Of course it was for a different reason at first. “Do you remember what I said when we first met?”

“I remember. “I said I would become a great explorer and raise the baron’s honor.”

“Actually it’s all a lie. “I just thought that if I became a famous explorer my father… or the former baron might be interested.”

Dwalki is the illegitimate son of a noble family.

And like most illegitimate children they feel deep love and hatred towards their blood relatives. The contradictory feelings of hating them yet wanting to be loved by them.

“As you know the former Baron has passed away. And as you saw… the older brother who took over didn’t even know of my existence.”

I was disappointed at first.

I felt like I lost my purpose in life in an instant and was floating on the water all day.

Dwalki who poetically expressed his feelings at the time looked straight into my eyes.

“But I was able to overcome it. “Because there were four people around me to lean on.”

“No way… are you talking about us?”

“Then who else would there be? At first I didn’t know my colleagues were like that. “It felt like more than just a friend I could trust and rely on it was a family… that’s what it felt like.”

“Is that so?”

“exactly. “After my mother passed away I felt like I was left alone in the world every day… but when I was exploring and laughing and talking with you I didn’t feel that way at all.”

As if he knew he was saying something embarrassing Dwalki ordered another beer and downed it in one go.

“Thank you Bjorn. Thanks to you every day is fun these days. So… even though I went through something like that this time… I can overcome it.”

“…I see.”

“exactly. So don’t worry too much.”

“Okay I won’t worry about that part anymore.”

Soon I completely let go of my concerns.

Whatever the motive if it’s that bad there’s no need to worry about Dwalki’s mentality.

“Hehe even if you just look at it it doesn’t seem like it but you have a lot of affection.”

“Okay just have a drink.”

Perhaps thanks to the honest conversation the awkward atmosphere disappeared.

Dwalki who was hesitant in front of me got excited and started talking about various things and I joined in and listened.

That was the time.

“Hey Bjorn… I have one question for you.”

“Tell me.”

“Are you… by any chance dating Ms. Misha?”

Instead of answering I stared at Dwalki.

His face flushed with intoxication was full of nervousness and nervousness.

Then I realized one thing.

‘For some reason he suddenly said that we should talk together.’

Hey this is what I was looking for.

***

“Brown Rotmiller. “I’m 34 years old and it’s been 8 years since I became an explorer right?”

As soon as I enter the office I am met with disdainful gaze. Although he felt humiliated by this Rotmiller responded.

“…That’s right.”

There was more doubt than perplexity.

He received a call from the Explorers’ Guild this morning. So he arrived at the guild on time even while he was chatting with his colleagues.

And then his staff followed him up to this room.

There was a man sitting in a chair a face Rottmiller recognized.

‘Nile Urbans the 7th region leader of the Explorer’s Guild. Why on earth would someone like me…’

Questions welled up in his throat but he did not hesitate and waited for his man to continue his explanation.

Because if you make a mistake you don’t know what troubles will come your way.

“Hmm I like it. “Especially the part where you have to wait until the end even though you’re curious.”

“Then can you tell me your business?”

At his request the local chief nodded with a happy smile and explained the reason he had been called here.

The more I listened the more absurd it became.

“Does that mean you should betray my comrades?”

“That’s up to you. To be precise I just need to be able to correct that barbarian friend’s habits.”

Rotmiller gritted his teeth.

There are only 13 regional heads in this city.

An entity that can inflict a huge disadvantage just by being intrusive on a single explorer.

Therefore even more courage was needed.

“As for that suggestion… I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”

Words of rejection uttered with difficulty as his fists were clenched.

The regional manager smiled as if he was interested.

“If we’re done talking I’ll just leave.”

Rotmiller hurriedly turned toward the door before his fear consumed him.

It was then.

“It’s good that you cherish your colleagues. What a wonderful belief. But… how long do you think they will be your colleagues?”

At the sound of the voice that followed Rotmiller stood still without realizing it.

“I saw your records. It seemed quite unfair. It took you 8 years to reach level 7. On the other hand didn’t a certain barbarian reach level 6 in just half a year?”

“I’ve never felt anything like that.”

“If that were you it would be like that. “Shouldn’t you too slowly accept reality?”

“….”

“Your colleagues will continue to rise. “Because I’m not an ordinary human like you.”

Lott Miller pressed his lips to those words that were so blunt.

But he could not refute anything.

It’s not because I’m afraid of that man’s power but because I know very well that what he said is true.

“How long do you think you will go with them? Three months? Four months? Well maybe it could last longer. “If they take pity on you.”

Rotmiller didn’t listen anymore and opened the door and went out.

“I trust you will make a wise choice.”

The regional manager was seen through a gap in the closed door with a friendly smile on his face.