Surviving the Game as a Barbarian – 163



Episode 163: Exploration (2)

Arua Raven.

Fluffy blonde hair.

Short height just over 150.

At first glance he looks like a kid with his skinny body but…

If he has a straight face there is nothing so scary.

Like right now.

“Did Mr. Yandel know?”

Oh uh….

“I didn’t know it would be like this.”

When I answered honestly Raven’s eyes became even more fierce.

However like a barbarian I scratched the back of my neck.

He’s already in the labyrinth. What’s going on?

“I will find the way forward. Abman just keep telling me where the portal is.”

“…Sure.”

Mr. Bear must have been equally frightened by the look in Raven’s eyes as he handed the steering wheel to me without saying much.

Now the important thing starts now.

“Ha really….”

Looking at his expression he seems to have realized that he has been scammed but Raven remains silent wanting to just watch over him for now.

So he needs to show clearly in this expedition.

Even if the guide is unruly there is no significant problem with the exploration.

Before the double curse flies out of that small mouth.

“Then let’s leave.”

Use Mr. Bear as a compass to quickly find your way.

He felt Raven’s distrustful gaze from behind him but he wasn’t too worried.

Isn’t the first floor the only way to get to the second floor if you know the directions north south east and west?

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‘At the fork in the road even if I went to the wider passage I ended up going more than halfway.’

‘I was told to avoid hilly areas because they are likely to be dead ends.’

‘From the outskirts always take the dark road with less crystals.’

Many useful tips that I learned from a side glance while working with Rotmiller a pure hard-working guide.

By using this we minimize wasted travel such as having to go back the way we came because of a dead end.

And the result.

“Oh you came sooner than I thought?”

We reached the outermost dark area earlier than expected.

Oh and it was much easier from here on out.

Originally I would have had to search the surroundings to find the portal rather than relying on the compass…

“It’s over there.”

We have a guide who can recognize the location of the portal without having to do anything.

So just follow that direction and you’re done.

Of course the portal had been opened by another explorer a long time ago.

“You have entered the goblin forest on the second floor.”

After reaching the second floor Raven’s expression softened considerably.

“It’s 12 hours to get to the second floor… not bad.”

Yes it’s safe.

In fact in the original exploration planning stage the first floor breakthrough was set at 13 hours so there would be no reason to argue.

“Somehow there was a guide and he caught a lot of money.”

Raven was looking at me with a look of disappointment but surprisingly there was no response from him.

Is this the type of person who is OK as long as the results are good?

‘That’s reasonable.’

In that sense he tried to ensure that the schedule he had set in advance on the second floor was not violated.

Although I made a tight plan to cover the distance within 24 hours…

“What direction is Abman?”

“It’s over there.”

There are 8 portal monuments in the Goblin Forest.

However once one is opened the remaining tombstones simply turn into stones. Therefore the standard for latecomer teams was to make a wide circle around the outermost area and search for the portal.

Oh by the way I heard that it takes 23 days on average.

Assuming there is no guide on the team.

‘If you have a guide one day is enough. ‘Because you don’t have to go around in circles.’

Without even taking out a compass we headed straight for the direction where the portal opened.

“Can I increase Raven’s light sphere magic?”

“I don’t feel burdened with three.”

The absence of a professional searcher was not a problem.

A field with traps spread throughout the forest?

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As long as the entire area was illuminated like broad daylight it was not even a threat.

Well the goblins kept coming after seeing the light…

“Okay—!!”

Now even if dozens of goblins attack at once I can handle them all by myself.

“Then I will rest here today.”

We set up camp around 9 PM.

The location is the outskirts of the Goblin Forest where hobgoblins began to appear.

“…Do explorers originally force march like this?”

It must have been quite a difficult day for Raven who was on her first proper exploration for the first time but her biological rhythms should be properly adjusted on the first day when she has more stamina.

“We will continue to camp at this time for some time so it will be a little more comfortable starting tomorrow.”

“…Well it’s interesting because it feels like a real exploration.”

“Stop talking and go to sleep quickly. “I have to keep moving tomorrow too.”

“yes. “If something happens wake me up.”

As is customary Raven was excluded from the night watch.

Just by installing the alarm magic you are acknowledged as having done one serving.

“Hey Bjorn… Speaking of Einar is it okay if I leave you alone later?”

Misha cautiously expressed his concern as he looked at Einar who was next in line for him but I just smiled and said

“It’s okay. “You won’t fall asleep or anything.”

Einar is surprisingly trustworthy in this regard.

This is because they have the characteristic of distrusting humans and the barbarians themselves consider it shameful to not be able to keep their promises.

In fact even when the two of us were walking around we always kept watch.

At that time I had to stay on watch for four hours and I didn’t get much sleep so I was much more tired.

“Hmm I see… I guess I was a bit prejudiced.”

After an eight-hour camping trip in which the four of us excluding Raven took turns watching for two hours each we resumed our exploration early in the morning.

And before the afternoon was over I found the portal.

“I have entered the pilgrim’s path on the third floor.”

Even after arriving at the third floor the exploration went smoothly.

The battle was so easy that it didn’t even require actual practice and finding the path wasn’t a problem.

Because Mr. Bear didn’t get lost in places where there was no path like the first floor or the city.

“The character has entered a special area.”

「Field effect – Witch’s Forest is granted.」

The same was true for the Witch’s Forest which I was worried about.

It was easy to clear it by tying the body with a rope like a gulbi and then following the bear lead.

Right now so much time has passed.

“Oh it’s a top! Bjorn! “There really was a tower in the middle of the forest!!”

“Hehe so didn’t I tell you? “There are many amazing things in the labyrinth.”

“Behel—laaaaa!!”

“…So you felt like you wanted to scream for some reason?”

We arrived in front of the 4th floor portal.

And that was only in the afternoon of the 8th day.

‘This is almost the same speed as when Lotmiller was there.’

While that fact was satisfying it was also somewhat bittersweet.

After all hard work can’t beat talent?

“What are you thinking Mr. Yandel?”

“Oh it’s no big deal.”

“Then can’t we go in quickly? “The entire forest is vibrating with ominous magic making me feel sick.”

Is it because of the innate sensitivity to magical power?

Raven didn’t vomit what she ate but she got more motion sick than Dwalkie.

So I want to make it easier for you but…

“Wait a little while. The portal color needs to change before you can enter.”

“Oh right. I’ve heard of it. “You did it that way because another team might get in first right?”

“Otherwise they might be mistaken for looters and attacked.”

When I give a reasonable reason Raven is patient without saying anything.

Soon the color of the portal changed.

“Well then let’s go in.”

Now is the time to start climbing in earnest.

***

“I have entered the 4th floor Tower of Heaven.”

***

Tower of the Sky.

A unique type of hierarchy where a random combination of monsters appears in each stage.

Since this place is usually called the Training Tower I was planning to try to get it right here.

but….

‘…It would be meaningless if I had this much power.’

After my first battle I realized:

The level of combat power itself is different from Team Banpuni.

On the 4th floor it is impossible to do your best to add up.

“The character casted [Giant].”

An ultra-giant mace whose size and performance have been greatly increased through [Unification]. When combined with the attack skill [Swing] the level 7 monster really felt like a goblin.

The key here is that there is a separate main dealer.

“Abman Urikfrit has cast [Hazardous Substance].”

The powerful damage of Mr. Bear a level 5 archer who goes beyond one shot one kill and wipes out the surrounding area and a premium tank summon named ‘Cheolwoong’.

“Arua Raven casted the level 6 attack magic [Flame Baptism].”

In addition to the four major attribute attack spells as well as the crazy utility of Raven an orthodox wizard who possesses over a hundred types of curses and auxiliary magic.

‘Yes there should be three people in the team who can carry.’

The team’s level of completion has improved significantly.

If you are level 6 or lower no matter what strange combination the group appears in you can attack it in the most appropriate way within 3 minutes.

‘It’s just not enough compared to the three of us but Einar and Misha are also doing their part well… As expected the 5th floor shouldn’t be too much trouble in their current state.’

Therefore rather than practicing by coordinating my hands and feet I only focused on climbing the Tower in the Sky.

However the speed did not increase as expected.

It was an extremely simple reason.

The battle speed itself is incomparable to Team Banpoon but…

Because we don’t have any professional searchers on our team.

‘It’s all good but it’s a shame that it takes so long to clear the Trial of Wisdom.’

The Trial of Wisdom is a kind of shortcut.

Instead of having to go through a maze full of traps and monsters it let you skip 5 stages at a time.

Not only that unlike the Stairs of Courage there was no 4-hour cooldown before choosing the next staircase…

It took about an hour to clear Rotmiller.

Now it took us exactly five times that amount.

“Bjorn can’t you just fight monsters?”

I was just as frustrated as Einar but I had no choice.

It takes over 16 days to reach stage 100 just by choosing courage. It is impossible to break through the fourth floor before the labyrinth is closed.

“It’s too late today. “I’ll just rest for now and go up tomorrow.”

I only entered the tower and passed the Trial of Wisdom once but it was already past 10 PM so I prepared to camp.

Of course it was quite different from usual camping.

It ends with everyone putting their sleeping bags where they want without having to decide on a watch order.

“It’s a labyrinth so you don’t have to be on alert!! Misha I have a headache right now!!”

“Hehe I think I know what it feels like. “When I first came here I had a hard time getting used to it and had a hard time sleeping—”

Drurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

“Hey people are talking…!”

Einar fainted as soon as she lay down in her sleeping bag and Misha sighed as she saw this and then she began to get ready for bed wiping her body with a wet towel.

“Bjorn why do you keep glancing in this direction?”

“I didn’t see it.”

“Go to sleep and turn your head. Aren’t we colleagues? Colleagues! “Is there any use in regretting it now?”

No that means I didn’t see it.

I sighed and focused on wiping the blood off my mace.

But maybe you didn’t like it again?

“Tch.”

Misha tasted her as if telling me to listen.

This is a change that occurred after moving to our inn.

Whenever I wanted to pretend like nothing happened I suddenly started jokingly mentioning the events of that day.

Well I have no complaints.

‘…It might be better like this.’

Misha revealed her feelings to me and I drew a clear line. No matter how much you try to make it happen it cannot become something that never happened.

So he must have thought about it and made his decision.

Because this is much less awkward than being conscious of it every time and being careful what you say.

“Then I will remain first.”

“okay.”

Soon Misha also entered her sleeping bag and closed his eyes to her. When I checked next to her I saw that Mr. Bear had also spread out his sleeping bag in her corner and was getting ready to sleep.

Drurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

While I was maintaining the equipment I also picked up Einar’s great sword and gave it a quick clean.

As I was doing that Raven slowly approached me.

“Is there anything you want to say?”

“yes.”

“Tell me.”

“I did the calculation and at the same speed as today we won’t be far from reaching the 5th floor.”

…I guess I calculated that again.

Ugh this is what wizards are.

Of course it wasn’t that I couldn’t understand his concerns.

The time available for activities on the 5th floor will be reduced by the amount of time wasted here.

“That means our income will be lower compared to other teams.”

“…Isn’t this your first expedition? “Right now there are no professional searchers so it takes time but it will get faster.”

“If that’s the case.”

With this Raven returned to her sleeping bag without saying anything.

It wasn’t because he understood everything I said.

Perhaps if it continued to take 5 hours to overcome the Trial of Wisdom like it did today it would come back then.

With an extreme solution.

‘…Okay let’s just sleep.’

I put down the well-polished greatsword next to Einar and laid down in my sleeping bag.

And how much time has passed since I closed my eyes?

[Mr. Yandel just listen quietly.]

He woke up with Raven’s voice echoing in his head.

It was a ‘electric sound’ magic.

However why did he go so far as to use magic to wake me up from my sleep?

[While I was washing my body I felt like something was wrong so I tried using detection magic…]

[There is one more person here besides us.]

[So don’t ever move.]

The situation was actually simple.

I honestly don’t know how you can speak so calmly…

[That person is right behind me right now.]

If we’re not careful our wizard will end up looking like a mess.