Surviving the Game as a Barbarian – 293



Episode 293: Newbie (1)

It was evening when I returned to the accommodation.

“You came late.”

Oh I’m surprised.

She obviously locked it and left but how did she open the door?

‘Was there a light on?…’

Soon I turned on the lamp and saw Amelia sitting on the bed in my room.

Well what should I say in times like this?

He looks like he’s in a bad mood…

‘Since when did I care about such things?’

Low pressure is the same for me.

So I just glared at her with a look in her eyes telling me to say something quickly and Amelia slowly got up from her seat and passed by me.

“We have to get there by midnight so get ready and come out.”

Okay now it’s time to leave.

I need to quickly get my gear and put it on.

bang.

Soon after Amelia left the room she put on the equipment she had stored in a corner of the room one by one.

Sigh.

Boots made from level 2 material wyvern leather.

Crash.

An integrated belt with expandable pockets that can store potions scrolls etc.

‘I feel empty.’

I didn’t buy any gaiters or breastplates.

Because it’s impossible to get a full set by killing five looters.

I decided to focus on shields and weapons instead.

What was created in this way was a mace with 100% Idium content a level 3 metal.

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‘Good grip.’

A large battle shield made of adamantium a level 5 metal.

‘Yes the shield should be about this size.’

Since both were too heavy Amelia’s budget was exhausted by purchasing these two.

So the helmet is just plain steel.

Well at this point there is almost no expected defense value with steel but…

‘I didn’t buy it to use it as armor anyway.’

When I ordered these machines three weeks ago I had a lot of concerns about the future.

So I made a full iron helmet.

A helmet similar to the one I used in the early days with only a T-shaped notch to improve visibility.

Of course there is a difference.

Because the forges are different not only are there differences in design…

‘Is it because the flaws are smaller than before? It’s very uncomfortable.’

The exposed part of the face has been greatly reduced.

I thought that I would meet many people in the labyrinth in the future and that there might be trouble if I exposed my face.

‘Actually now I’m wondering if this has any meaning…’

She sighed shaking away all her distracting thoughts.

Then she took one look in the mirror and then she walked out.

Amelia was sitting in her chair at the end of her hallway having finished getting ready.

“It’s finally come out.”

What finally happened?

It took less than 10 minutes.

“…you.”

Amelia soon turned her head to look at me and froze in shock.

And she asked in a tone as if she was being interrogated.

“Where did you get that helmet?”

“It was custom-made but is there any problem?”

“…custom made?”

After hearing my answer Amelia stood silently for a long time.

Her expression was cold and her eyes were fierce.

Just like when she first saw Nivelz Enche’s ID card on Farune Island.

Oh of course the situation was different in many ways than back then.

“Why are you talking to her first?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Then and now this selfish woman never gave a reason.

but….

“We don’t have time so let’s move first.”

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Now I felt like I knew why.

***

In front of the sewer where we met a broker wearing a black robe arrived first and was waiting for us.

It felt very strange.

Should I say that I feel like a smuggled immigrant?

“….”

“….”

The broker didn’t even say hello and the same thing happened to Amelia. The middleman took his hand out of his robe and placed her money bag there.

“I’ll tell you one last time once you go down it’s not easy to come back up to the ground.”

Soon after the calculation was completed the broker gave a formal warning.

It was a bit absurd.

If you’re going to say something like that do it before you get paid.

Just looking at it it looks like they won’t even give me a refund.

“That’s a matter for us to take care of.”

“Hehe if that’s the case.”

When Amelia spoke coldly the broker smiled unpleasantly and took out her key to open her sewer cage.

And he led us inside.

“Follow along so you don’t fall behind.”

The Noark journey was longer than expected.

Only after walking for hours through the maze-like sewer system did the entrance appear.

“Okay that’s it for me. If you go inside and follow this map here you will see a door. If you show this card to the guard he will let you in.”

Soon the broker handed over what would become our identity cards and then took something that looked like a magic tool and opened the entrance.

Grumble.

The stone gate disguised as an ordinary wall was pushed aside to reveal a staircase leading to the basement.

Just as I was about to go down.

“Can I ask you one thing?”

The broker who had not opened his mouth except for what was necessary asked.

“It’s not common for a barbarian to go down to Noark. What’s the story? “It’s not like an escape from love—”

“stop.”

Amelia cut her off firmly.

“If your role is over you can go now.”

A tone of speaking that exudes the scent of a professional.

From the looks of it it seems like they naturally blended in with their lives….

“…This was rude to me. Go first. “I have to make sure the door closes.”

As the broker put down her tail Amelia took her strides and went down the steps and I followed slowly behind her.

Drurrrrruk thump-!

Soon there was the sound of the door closing.

After doing this it feels like I’m going into some kind of hell.

“Wait a moment. “I have to look at the map first.”

After coming down all the stairs she tried to open her map but Amelia stopped her.

“There is no need for that. “I know the way to the castle anyway.”

Oh right. He was from here.

Anyway after a long time I let go of my role as a guide and just followed behind him and I arrived at my destination.

A cave so large that it is difficult to think of it as underground.

A stone gate much larger than the gate of the Royal Palace of Lapdonia was visible from afar.

“Hahaha don’t just sit there come here!”

There was only one man standing in front of the gate a human male with a physique as stocky as that of a barbarian.

Amelia spoke quietly to me.

“Don’t do anything that will get you caught. Despite his light-hearted tone he is one of the strongest men in this city.”

“Do you know someone?”

“He is someone you cannot help but know if you have lived in Noark.”

Hmm is that so? It doesn’t look that strong…

Anyway after that I handed the card I had received earlier to the man in front of the castle gate.

“Oh my! Why did they bring in the right people? Nice to meet you. “My name is Gatekeeper Rek Aures!”

“….”

“Oh I guess your real name is a little awkward? Don’t worry. After all no one here uses their real name. Have you decided on a new name?”

Rec Aures who introduced himself as the gatekeeper immediately asked for our names and we told them the names we had decided on in advance.

Amelia is ‘Emily’.

And I…

“Bjorn son of Thor.”

She just brought up the pseudonym she had used before.

Although ‘Nivelles Nche’ is also a pseudonym I decided it would be better to create a new one just in case.

Of course it wasn’t very meaningful.

They say that all you have to do is write down the name to be engraved on the card and in most cases in the city the name is not asked.

“Hehe I think it’s been about 5 years since I’ve had a barbarian name engraved on a card.”

When the gatekeeper returned the card the pseudonym we had mentioned was engraved on it.

“Is there anything more to do?”

“No the entry process is over. “Go over there.”

“…Wasn’t that door open?”

“Hahaha wouldn’t it be a waste to open and close that big door when only two people can fit in?”

Soon the gatekeeper opened the side door next to me.

Drurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

As I looked at the stone gate being pushed to the side I somehow remembered the first day I came here.

Yes it was exactly like this back then.

Cooung.

Soon the door opened completely and an unfamiliar city came into view.

“Emily and Thor Bjorn.”

“Thor is the last name and Bjorn is the first name.”

“Haha! Oh right? anyway! “Welcome to Noark!”

In the end I have come this far.

***

People often think of Noark as a den of criminals.

That’s natural.

This is where those who committed sins so severe that they could not live on earth flowed into this place. This place is even the hideout of ‘Orculis’.

but….

“You’re surprisingly fine.”

There are no blood stains on the walls the streets are clean and the expressions on the faces of people passing by are not that dark.

“I don’t know what I expected but after all this is a place where people live.”

Newbies might find this fascinating.

“Follow me.”

First we walked around the city with Amelia a native of the area. And I asked questions.

“What is that stone stuck in the ceiling over there?”

“It’s a magic tool. “It produces light using magic stones as raw materials.”

“What about that moving doll thing?”

“It is a golem called a patrolman. “It all belongs to the lord of the castle.”

“Oh and is there a market here too?”

“It’s there but it’s not big. Because there is only one alchemist in this city. “Most foods are unified into a few items and distributed.”

Well I see.

“Then what if you want to eat something?”

“You can apply by giving a magic stone at the alchemy workshop. However it takes about two days and the price is much more expensive than on the ground. Are you finished with the questions?”

“…for now.”

“Thank goodness. “I think I’ve already attracted attention thanks to you.”

“huh?”

“I was followed. “Pick up the pace.”

Soon Amelia picked up her pace without even asking me and I quickly followed suit.

“You mean tailing? “It’s been less than 10 minutes since you came in?”

“Barbarians are especially rare in this city. “As soon as you saw it you would have realized that it came down from the ground today.”

I felt like I knew roughly what he was talking about.

Isn’t this Noark where there are even rumors that demons live on earth?

I can imagine how greedy the pockets of new recruits who have just come down from the ground will be. Because it is clear that it contains all the possessions that one had on earth.

but….

“Didn’t you say that this is also a place where people live?”

Amelia tilted her head at my question.

“But what’s strange? “Isn’t it natural for people like this to exist in a place where people live?”

Oh is that so?

“I guess that’s true too.”

Unable to refute it logically I just calmly accepted it.

To begin with it’s not that different from Lapdonia.

Even in Lafdonia there was one of three groups who roamed the outskirts at night.

A criminal or something.

An explorer with the power to protect himself.

Either that or someone with a non-possessive belief.

“So what do we do now?”

“I’m going to go to a back alley where the patrollers can’t see.”

“huh? back street?”

For a moment I thought I had heard wrong but Amelia gave me a reasonable reason why that was the case.

It is taboo to touch the ‘ordinary people’ born in Noark and the castle lord will somehow find them and punish them but other than that everything is OK?

“They are specialized in targeting new recruits so they must have a lot of things.”

Huh she should have said that first.

As expected natives have a different mindset.

Yes farming comes first in any case.

Trudging.

We soon entered an alley and wandered for a while before naturally stopping at a dead end.

And let’s turn our backs…

“Where are you going like that? “You won’t be able to go far.”

A group of fifteen marauders appeared as if they had been waiting.

“Did you think you could escape if you entered the alley?”

“I never thought you would come in here on your own. “This is why they are new.”

“We all experienced this when we were new so don’t be too resentful.”

The people of the city are already excited to rob the new recruits.

It’s like watching Mangem just before subjugation.

Tsk newbies need to be hugged.

“huh?”

Soon as I looked around at the group of them I froze when I spotted a single human male.

However it was not yet certain so it was necessary to confirm.

“You there.”

“You mean me?”

When I asked him a question he came forward probably out of curiosity. The guy had a large body that could be considered a barbarian and he was wearing a shiny breastplate.

It was a breastplate made of a material I could not recognize.

“…Litinium.”

“Huh?”

But then why?

Have you never heard of the term “tuck in sleeves”?

Isn’t it common sense for stagnant people to give up items to newbies?

I was already embarrassed to have my top off but it worked out well.

“Take it off.”

“…?”

“Before I get bloodied.”

It is time to evolve into civilized people.