Surviving the Game as a Barbarian – 248



Episode 248: Gnome Tree (2)

That day the tribal leader spoke to me.

[If you want my position become stronger warrior. And prove that you are qualified. I will watch over you.]

If you prove that you are worthy you will pass this position on to me.

If so how is the proof done?

I didn’t bother to ask about it.

Because there is only one barbarian I know.

“Let’s move for a moment!”

“…As expected you are a wise warrior.”

The battle that was supposed to take place indoors was moved to an open space outdoors due to my insight.

and….

“Behel—laaaaaaa!!!”

“Behel—laaaaaaa!!!”

The battle started with shouts no matter who was first.

Kwaaaaaaaaaa!

The tribal leader swung the ax that cut off the head of ‘Oreum son of Kadua’ without mercy and I responded by generously using the skills I had acquired.

Just to tell you about the results…

“I won.”

After about an hour of fighting they were defeated.

The factor in the defeat was lack of qualifications.

That’s because the tribal leader is similar to me.

If the positions were completely different variables would have continued to arise but since they were pushed out of power there were no surprises until the end.

‘As expected it doesn’t work yet.’

I accepted defeat cleanly.

Of course if it weren’t for sparring the results might have been different.

In sparring you can’t use despicable tactics like spraying [acidic fluid] in the eyes or distracting someone by talking nonsense and then making a surprise attack. He didn’t even bite his neck with his teeth when his hands and feet were sealed in a ground fight.

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To put it simply he fought with his special moves sealed.

So what happened to the ‘proof’?

“You are still not good enough.”

Soon the tribal leader spoke to me.

“If you want my position become stronger.”

Well I thought the cutoff line was around the 6th floor.

Hasn’t that already happened?

It doesn’t mean that he can hand over the position of tribal leader only if he defeats him—

“He’s no match for an old man like me.”

Ha I guess it was like that.

To win against the 8th floor explorer…

‘It will take a little more time.’

I gave up impatience.

This is also one of the advantages that the Barbarians have.

Even if the succession fails there is nothing to lose.

Or rather should I say that I only get a lot of things?

As soon as the match was over I was so exhausted that I forgot several bottles of potions…

‘But I’ve caught up a lot.’

It’s different from the time when I fainted from a single punch.

The battle lasted nearly an hour.

and….

‘Six integers have been identified with certainty.’

We confirmed the essence of several tribal leaders.

Not only that but I also learned some fighting habits.

Next time you will be able to deal with it much more easily.

also.

‘Barbarians fight well.’

Although I will have to fight more to acquire it I was able to naturally acquire the sense of a tribal leader who once rose to the 8th floor as a warrior during battle.

Moreover.

“You fought for an hour against that tribal leader!”

“Look! “That salty tribal leader eats potions!”

“Even if it looks fine on the outside it’s not like that on the inside. As expected Yandel’s son Bjorn is a great warrior…!”

Even my fellow countrymen who were in full swing when the sparring ended didn’t seem particularly disappointed by my defeat.

Well it’s already been a year for me right?

“I thought it would take at least five more years.”

“Well maybe the clan leader will change much sooner.”

Even the elders are shaking their heads in satisfaction.

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So even though I lost I gained a lot.

On the other hand the tribal leader gained nothing in particular.

‘Yeah so wouldn’t it be okay to say that I actually won?’

As I achieved mental victory my motivation returned.

Soon I stood up and stared at the tribal leader.

The tribal leader seemed curious about what I was going to say after being silent the whole time.

“You’re probably not frustrated right?”

“That can’t be possible.”

I chuckled.

And said.

“One more time.”

It’s not common to find someone you can fight without worrying about anything right?

***

Since then I have fought the tribal leader a total of three times and all of them ended in my defeat. However as the number of times increased the sparring time became longer.

This is thanks to Lee Han-soo’s strengths not Bjorn’s.

I am good at self-feedback.

That’s because I’ve experienced many failures in my life and what I desperately wanted each time was the reason for the failure.

Finding reasons is my specialty.

‘I’m sure it’s because I have a lot of experience so I have a lot of minor skills.’

The difference between me and the tribal leader wasn’t just my specs.

Skills as a warrior.

Judgment of a situation based on experience.

Instinctive intuition that catches the gap like a ghost even in a battle where it is too late to think and react.

These were all things I had to learn.

Now that I have consumed the essence of the ogre it is not efficient to be satisfied with only the role of a meat shield.

I need to be able to fight better.

This is also a way to protect your colleagues.

‘If our allies are in danger just kill the enemy so that they are not in danger.’

It was like fate.

A new destiny as a tank that I must pursue in the future.

“…Your face has realized something.”

“Ah thank you. “You learn a lot.”

“Haha that’s what it means to be a tribal leader!”

What about this guy?

You may not think so but you are secretly weak to praise.

“Can I come again next time?”

“whenever.”

The time when sunset slowly approaches.

When the sparring between the tribe leader and I was completely over the barbarians who had enjoyed the sights dispersed to do their own thing.

“Bjorn! “Are you going home?”

“Not right away. “I’m thinking of taking a quick look around the area.”

“okay? “Can I follow you?”

There’s no reason why it wouldn’t work.

After finishing sparring I moved to my seat with Einar.

There was no exact destination.

I just walked aimlessly in the opposite direction of the city wall.

“It’s been a while since I came here.”

As we left the campsite dense unkempt bushes greeted us.

A forest where the souls of countless warriors including the elder who performed the ritual of ‘soul succession’ to Einar would be playing around.

But I kept walking.

“If you go there there is nothing but a barrier so why are you going there?”

“I suddenly became curious about that barrier.”

I picked up my pace a little and walked for about an hour soon reaching the point I wanted.

Tuk.

An invisible wall appeared as if this was the last time allowed.

Beyond that there is still a forest that continues.

“Eck! Bjorn! What are you doing now? “If the protective barrier were to be damaged it would be a real problem!”

When I knocked on the wall with the back of my hand Einar was startled and tried to dissuade me.

Well it’s a worldview that says that without this everyone will die.

‘Yes as far as I know.’

This was a question that arose after visiting Bifron.

Is the outside world really the way the royal family said it would be?

It was a time when I was thinking about that.

“Kkeuk warrior it’s been a while.”

As I turned my back on the person behind me I saw an old barbarian wearing an eyepatch.

“powwow!!”

“Yeah it’s been a while since you too. Ainar the second daughter of Pnelin.”

It’s so amazing every time I see it.

How can you move around like that when you have no eyes?

“What’s going on here? “There are very few warriors who go this deep.”

“I just came because I was bored. What about you? “What are you doing here?”

“What else could a shaman have to do in the forest?”

While saying this the shaman showed his hands covered in white powder.

When I looked again it was bone powder.

It’s not an animal it’s a human.

“It was during a funeral.”

When a body left in the forest turns into white bones the shaman breaks the bones into small pieces and scatters them throughout the vast forest which is the final step in the funeral.

“Is today perhaps Tohar’s third son Kidubah’s turn?”

“He still has a long way to go before he goes back to the forest.”

Simply put it means that we have to wait longer for the body of the elder who served as Einar’s teacher to become white.

“…I see.”

“I’m going to go back soon. How about you guys go with me?”

Soon the shaman asked us and I answered that I would return later.

“okay? “If you want.”

The shaman turned his back without hesitation.

and….

“There is an order to everything.”

“….”

“Warrior it is not time to wonder about the beyond yet.”

He left after leaving meaningful words.

***

“Hehe now that you think about it it’s been a long time since you two were alone?”

“Is that so?”

“How are you feeling after a long time? “He hasn’t been playing with me much lately because he’s not feeling well.”

Oh you’re talking about sparring.

It seems that the confrontation with the tribe leader earlier aroused his desire to win…

Anyway these damn barbarians.

“It’s a little awkward today let’s do it tomorrow.”

“good night. “You probably know this without me telling you but I’m quite patient.”

Oh yeah yeah

I nodded roughly and spent some time observing the protective barrier again. I felt something strange perhaps because of what the shaman had said.

But there’s nothing I can figure out.

‘Do you think you would have found something if you were a wizard instead of a barbarian?’

In the end he gave up without any results.

There was quite a distance from the place where the protective barrier was located to the castle wall but the way back was not boring.

Even after all this Einar is a talkative person.

He especially loves Barbarian Talk.

Talk about equipment talk about who won a fight with someone and talk about how rugged and stylish backpacks these days are.

Or….

“Oh did you hear that? “Caron is going to become a father soon?”

“what?”

I was truly surprised.

“How on earth? “No that wasn’t said in the labyrinth in the first place?”

“Hehe it looks like he started meeting women as soon as he entered the third floor. Oh and I only heard about her pregnancy a few days ago so she probably didn’t have time to tell you.”

Next I heard detailed circumstances from Einar.

The woman on the other side is one of the tribe’s female warriors.

Well this was a natural thing.

Because humans cannot give birth to barbarians.

Mixed blood is not impossible but in the end a child with a human race value is born.

To begin with barbarians prefer their own people.

The view of the opposite sex that feels attractive is different from that of other races.

‘Above all there are no ideological issues when pregnant.’

In human society getting married and having children is the right course of action.

However there is no such thing in barbarian society.

Children are raised in sacred places and women also consider giving birth to children as a matter of pride.

In addition there are practical benefits.

Although it is less than that of humans the royal family provides tax relief for two years.

‘Plus the pregnancy period is short.’

Although it varies from person to person it takes an average of 4 months to give birth and recovery is also very fast.

This is probably why Barbarian women are tolerant of childbirth.

It’s a bit weird to say something like this while giving birth but…

Is childbirth such a noble process?

If the economic aspects pride and all are not resolved we will inevitably end up with a low birth rate.

“So Bjorn you don’t have any thoughts?”

“…huh?”

“A child. “I heard that the female warriors in the tribe are targeting you…”

Ah that’s what you were aiming for.

Somehow he said that doing something would make his body feel better so he tried to push it here and there. I was really pushing my muscles thinking they were praising my muscles…

“I have no thoughts yet.”

“Hoo why? I hate to say this but we are late. Among the riders who are later than us there are female warriors who have finished giving birth!”

Is it because it’s my first time having a talk like this?

For some reason for the first time since entering this body I felt scared.

A race called Barbarians.

“….”

As I was trembling secretly trying not to be noticed Einar said that she was right.

“ah! Could it be because of Missha? Don’t worry! Misha will understand. Aren’t we barbarians? “She can only give birth to beastmen anyway!”

For some reason Einar feels unfamiliar.

She was standing in front of Mr. Bear and talking about the cat and all but I would have guessed that she had this thought in her heart.

“I’m done. “And you?”

Since it was an uncomfortable topic I changed the topic.

In martial arts terms it is a method of using the enemy’s power to counterattack.

“Me!”

When the arrow came back at him Einar could not hide his embarrassment.

Her reason was simple.

“Ha even if I wanted to I couldn’t. “What warrior would love a small woman like me?”

Those damn aesthetic standards.

Unintentionally it became like stabbing Einar with a dagger.

Just as I was about to apologize for this.

“And… I have no thoughts either.”

huh?

“Isn’t he like that too!! “When I spend time with you all the other compatriots seem young and unmanly!”

Einar cries out as if he feels somehow unfair.

I was also confused and asked if I could find a partner among my fellow countrymen who had accumulated years of experience but…

“I hate being older!!”

An unexpected answer came back.

‘I don’t like being older and people my age don’t make me feel like a man…’

It must be a very troubling taste.

But to be honest it was a positive thing for me.

If she suddenly gets pregnant and can’t enter the labyrinth for a few months the effects will be felt on me.

‘Oh but how did the conversation end up like this?’

29-year-old Lee Han-su has turned one year older in this world turning 30.

but….

“Anyway if you have any thoughts tell me! “I will introduce you to a good female warrior!”

As expected this kind of story is uncomfortable.

***

Two days later.

After breakfast and a warm-up sparring with Einar I went out alone.

Oh isn’t it a bit much to say that I am alone?

“You have arrived at your destination. “The search inside the store has ended but please be careful just in case.”

The extreme escort of knights that we have become accustomed to now.

“Okay thank you.”

After cursorily saying goodbye I got out of the carriage and entered the meeting place.

A tea shop that I have visited about three times so far.

“Oh Bjorn! “Here! Here!”

Level 7 Officer Shabin Emoor seated in the corner looked at me and waved his hand.

Ragnar the librarian sat quietly next to him.

Soon as soon as I was seated all the members of my regular friend group gathered.

“First of all thank you for coming. “I was really worried about whether or not I should call you like this after you earned the title of baronet.”

“You pay attention to all kinds of strange things.”

“That’s right Shavin. “Do you think this man will change just because he becomes a nobleman?”

Ragna speaks in a boastful tone and sips tea.

This time he was right.

Because he has no intention of walking around with a title of nobility.

but….

‘So there’s nothing particularly burdensome about being a baronet right?’

Her natural behavior reveals how much of a daughter she is from a good family.

Well I don’t know exactly what kind of family it is.

When I look at the articles spread around me and see that they don’t show anything special…

‘I’m even more curious. ‘Where on earth are we?’

Soon I turned my gaze and stared at Shavin.

Unlike Ragna he pretended not to be and was carefully observing the knights’ thoughts.

Well it might be uncomfortable.

Let’s just get to the point quickly.

“So what business did you call me today?”

“Hey did we only meet for business?”

“You have a habit of wrinkling your nose when you lie.”

“uh? Really? “I just found out about it!”

Of course it would be the first time.

“It was a lie.”

“ah…!”

Ragnar chuckled as he looked at Shavin who had a confused look on his face for a moment.

“It’s really hard to see something like this.”

“That goes for you too. “For a barbarian this is nothing.”

In fact regardless of age or gender people usually make that kind of facial expression when I start playing barbarian in earnest.

“Okay so what? “Hurry up and tell me what’s going on.”

Soon when I started speaking again Shavin also came to his senses and brought up business.

“I would like to make a request to Baron Bjorn Jandel on behalf of the administrative office.”

Hmm it’s a part-time job….

It’s not that you don’t have money right now but money in this world is always lacking no matter how much you have.

“Tell me what kind of request it is.”

I’ll have to listen to it first.