Surviving the Game as a Barbarian – 131



Episode 131: Team play (1)

Ten days have passed since I visited Karlstein Street.

On the first day I was worried that Misha might have told everything to her father…

[What? Crazy! You barbarian bastard! How can you say something like that!!]

[Then what did you do there?]

[that…! You don’t have to know!!]

It was a needless anxiety.

I don’t know why they kept it a secret but I could definitely feel that nothing of the kind had happened.

I decided to focus on the issues that needed to be dealt with immediately.

Aren’t there two time bombs within the team?

[Let’s talk about Dwalkie.]

The day after she returned from Karl Steinga she immediately met with De Walki.

She said as she sat around drinking.

[what? Is it true? Miss Misha likes fat men?]

[Yes she definitely said that last time.]

[I see. Thanks for telling me. I was so impatient that I almost made a mistake.]

For your information after that conversation Dwalki ordered a lot of snacks and stuffed his stomach until it was bulging.

This was one solution.

‘I won’t confess until I gain some weight.’

It is safe to say that I earned at least a month or two.

Due to De Walki’s personality he wouldn’t be courageous unless he gained a lot of weight.

By the time we gain weight it will be around the time Misha and I leave the team.

‘This makes me feel like such trash….’

Still I can’t help it.

I don’t know if he’s mentally strong but what if he confesses to Misha and gets dumped?

You won’t be able to come to your senses even in the labyrinth.

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This is an action that may pose a risk to the team.

‘Oh but why am I so sure I’m getting dumped?’

A question like that suddenly occurred to me but I didn’t think about it too deeply. Data accumulated in the unconscious sometimes makes more accurate predictions than anything else.

Anyway next was Lotmiller.

[be careful. My father must have done something to that man named Rotmiller.]

Julianne Urban the daughter of the regional manager.

As the woman said if Rottmiller had contacted the local director there is a high probability that a subversive conversation would have taken place.

Because the regional manager and I could be said to have had a bad relationship.

I was a bit curious as to why he was acting this trick only now several months later.

‘Anyway you shouldn’t show any signs of doubt.’

In the case of Rotmiller unlike Dwalki he took his time and approached the issue cautiously.

This guy is scary.

I’ve never seen him get angry but…

No that makes it even scarier.

Normally once something goes wrong with this type it’s the end.

[Then on the first floor the destination will be the closest location depending on the starting point.]

[Haha speaking of marriage you are asking a strange question. I don’t plan on starting a family until I can truly take responsibility for one person.]

[You can sit inside. Because he is big in the hallway he will keep bumping into people.]

I continued to observe Rottmiller not only at regular meetings but also at simple social drinks.

There was no significant difference from before.

He was quiet and serious as usual and was still considerate of others in most situations.

‘Ha this is really a pain in the ass.’

Even though I listened to Julian’s warning I can’t easily imagine Rottmiller stabbing me in the back.

No on the contrary if you have doubts you will even feel guilty.

As expected we had our share of ups and downs for several months.

But he is swayed by a word from an outsider and cannot be trusted?

‘There is no contradiction like this.’

The more I thought about it the more ironic the situation became.

However he decided that it was right to be more specific and move on.

What kind of conversation did Rotmiller have with the local head at the Explorers’ Guild that day?

‘If you had told me that story first I would have erased my doubts without any regrets.’

Rottmiller had no comment on this.

So today I called him aside and had a conversation.

Because I really don’t have much time now.

The labyrinth opens tomorrow.

Therefore I immediately shook off the glass I had clinked and got straight to the point.

“Rotmiller. “What was the reason you went to the Explorer’s Guild last time?”

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Rottmiller looked slightly surprised by my direct question.

But did he also have any point?

As expected something had happened.

“I know someone in the guild.”

I answered briefly and then asked him to answer the first question.

Rotmiller sighed and answered.

“…I called him and went to see him and there was the head of the 7th region in the room. “He told me to betray you and offered me a reward.”

“so?”

“I came out saying I would pretend I didn’t hear anything. “How was your answer?”

It seemed like he didn’t want to show it but Rottmiller seemed very uncomfortable with my question.

But I took it all in stride and asked again.

“Then why didn’t you tell me until now?”

“I told you so. He said he would pretend he didn’t hear it. Besides I thought that if I told you the atmosphere would just get weird.”

“I see. “Thank you for your answer.”

With this the conversation came to an end.

If I push you further all I’ll say is that I don’t believe you. Whatever Rottmiller’s true intentions he decided that it was not a wise move.

‘Nothing will change anyway.’

You cannot enter the labyrinth without an explorer.

The option of finding someone new?

There are risks there as well.

It’s difficult to find a skilled explorer unless you go through a guild.

In short it is the perfect environment for the regional manager to add a strange person to the team.

In the first place I doubted whether the dwarf or Dwarki would agree.

‘More than anything I don’t think it’s a lie that Rottmiller rejected the offer.

Soon I made my final decision.

“I’m sorry for bothering you at night. “Get a good night’s rest today and see you tomorrow at the meeting place.”

Nothing changes.

Rottmiller is also joining this expedition.

***

The next afternoon.

In other words there are about 7 hours left until the labyrinth opens.

“Uncle then I will come back and find her! “You must come back healthy!”

“Okay you work hard too.”

In the morning Erwen who had been sleeping in my dorm all along after performing a binding spell with her older sister left.

And just then Misha arrived.

“Why is he coming out here?”

“I heard you stopped by to say hello. “After receiving the binding magic there is nothing else to do.”

“Uhm….”

“Anyway I arrived on time. “Let’s go in and get some sleep.”

I set the timer on the alarm clock I bought a while ago and adjusted my condition by sleeping with Misha.

And how long has it been?

“Bjorn wake up.”

After having a quick meal we packed up our bags and left. Perhaps because I came a little early there was still no one at the meeting place.

“Hmm are you two there yet?”

As always Rotmiller arrived on time.

“huh. “Dwalki and Hikurod seem to be a little late.”

“…It’s not even new.”

Those two guys were either early or late so we kept waiting.

It was then.

“Oh Bjorn! Look over there!”

When I check the location Misha pointed to I see young warriors moving in groups who have just completed her coming-of-age ceremony.

So I approached quickly.

Well if I don’t see you anymore I’ll be sad.

“Are you lost? In that case just follow those who look like explorers over there.”

“Who are you to say such obvious things?”

“…I am Bjorn son of Yandel.”

“what! Little Vulcan! “It’s an honor to meet you!”

Once I revealed my name I asked.

“But is it obvious? What does that mean? “Are you sure you haven’t lost your way?”

“Of course! “Why get lost when you can just follow the explorers as you learned in the Holy Land?”

“They taught that in the Holy Land? “You’re not showing me that strange map and telling me to memorize it?”

“map? “We can’t see maps or anything!”

I was dazed by the young warrior’s answer.

What on earth is this?

Has the teaching method changed in the meantime?

Well there was nothing bad for me.

It was a much more reasonable method than having to memorize a map.

but….

“There’s still time left so just listen to what I have to say.”

“talk?”

“Yes these are helpful stories.”

I told the same stories I had told to previous jockeys.

But what is this again?

“Beware of humans? That’s natural. “Shouldn’t we protect our hearts?”

This group of baby barbarians was clearly different from before.

Every time I say something they react as if they are asking why I am saying such an obvious thing.

“Wow… the barbarian evolved.”

Seeing that Misha did the same thing it seems I wasn’t the only one who felt strange.

So why did this change occur?

“Who was the person in the Holy Land who told you that?”

I asked just in case and was left dazed.

“It is Charon son of Tarson!”

Without my knowledge.

The wind of change was blowing from below.

“Then we’ll just go! “It was an honor to meet Yandel’s son Bjorn!”

I wanted to ask more but the baby barbarians left saying they wanted to quickly enter the labyrinth.

And as soon as they disappeared the two people who had been waiting arrived at the meeting place.

“Oh I’m sorry I’m late! “Have you been waiting long?”

“Hahaha! “Forgive me Dwalkie. This guy has an upset stomach!”

“What are you talking about?”

“You too. Is there anything to be ashamed of? “It’s just between us.”

“It’s okay let’s leave quickly.”

Since the two people were late by a whopping 20 minutes we hurriedly headed to Dimension Square.

The portal is already open.

“Come on then let’s go!”

After completing the binding spell through Dwalki we entered the labyrinth.

***

“I entered the crystal cave on the first floor.”

***

A crystal cave with brilliant light.

It was a sight I hadn’t seen in quite a while since I skipped it last month using a bug but I didn’t have time to leisurely look around.

Well I decided to try speedrunning this time.

At Rottmiller’s request.

[If you guys would give me permission I would like to give it a try. It may be difficult to achieve public achievement but I am curious to see how much I can achieve.]

As he was not usually very assertive when it came to exploration plans the entire group unanimously agreed to do so.

“Then we will leave immediately.”

As soon as he opened his eyes he felt his current location by touching the wall or the ground and immediately began to find his way.

And he started running like a canter.

‘It’s actually quite fun to try.’

Rotmiller stands at the forefront looking for a way.

Right after that Misha clears out the miscellaneous mobs.

Not only was the formation for movement only novel but as soon as the team started running they began to run in earnest showing scenes that had never been seen before.

“Wow he’s running too!”

Explorers like us running through caves to find portals. When he moved leisurely it was difficult to even see him.

‘I understand why it is difficult to shorten time on the first floor.’

There was also something new I realized.

The first floor cave has many sharp curves.

So it’s difficult to run with all your might.

In other words as long as it exceeds a certain level the movement speed is similar for all explorers.

The ability of the explorer becomes more and more important.

Well maybe it was the physical strength of the team members.

“Whoa whoa….”

Although we have physical strength that far exceeds that of ordinary people we still sweat like rain as we walk for hours.

Is that why?

Naturally conversation disappeared among the group.

“Is Hikuro okay?”

“It’s okay.”

The dwarf whose agility and endurance were limited seemed almost at his limit but he did not utter a weak sound.

Well how could you say something like that in front of a Rotmiller like that?

“This way.”

It was true that he wanted to test his limits as Lot Miller found his way through the course without losing focus for hours on end.

To put it nicely passion.

To put it in the worst way an enthusiasm that seems like madness.

‘Was this guy this hot?’

Although I was impressed by the sight I was seeing for the first time I continued to move my feet.

And how long has it been?

[06:12]

I arrived at the portal after 6 hours.

Unfortunately the portal had already been opened by someone.

“Wow it could have come so quickly.”

Misha let out an exclamation but the dwarf and I first looked at Rotmiller’s expression.

“Shit! Why am I…!!”

It was my first time seeing him make that kind of expression.