Surviving the Game as a Barbarian – 365



Episode 365: Responsibility (3)

‘Vange’s Canyon’ the entry barrier to the 7th tier Dark Continent.

When you leave here you will reach the lake where you are currently stationed which is then divided into three fields.

The first is the Aribeona Estuary.

It is a route that follows a river that leads to a lake with waterfalls. If you follow this route you can reach the Dragon Mountain Range the center of the Dark Continent the fastest way…

‘Bellarios comes from here.’

The place where you can supply the essence that will be responsible for your anti-magic power in the final training is the Dragon Mountain Range.

Well since it’s a patrol team I won’t have to go there this time.

anyway.

The second field is a wide jungle stretching east of the estuary and is called Great Forest.

Because it is so large it is divided into several fields but that is the official name.

and….

Pantelion ruins located west of the third estuary.

It was made up of about 30 people and was also the destination of the 4th patrol to which I belonged.

“All troops forward!”

The patrol team arrived at the entrance to the ruins-like ruins reorganized their formation and then entered the field in earnest.

Of course the purpose of the patrol unit’s creation was to actively defend against unexpected attacks so they did not go deep into the historical site.

but….

“Front line forward!”

“Build a shield wall!”

To begin with this is a place with a lot of monsters.

[Crrrrrrr…!]

Starting with modified beasts with bodies made of steel like golems.

Kuung-! Kuung-!

A giant magic engineering golem.

Whiiiiing-!

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Even mechanical flying monsters that fly like drones.

Monsters sleeping throughout the ruins sense an intruder and come running out.

However the monsters could not penetrate the shield-wielding vanguard and reach us.

Kwaaaaaaaaaa!

Monsters stopped by a huge wall made of people.

For some reason it feels a little strange looking at it.

I never thought the day would come when I would see someone’s back from this angle.

‘This is the scene that kids usually see.’

Even though I was caught up in a strange feeling as soon as the attack order was given I crushed the monsters that came out to the side with a hammer.

“The character casted [Swing].”

“Gigawolf has been defeated. EXP +4」

Even though it was on the 7th floor the average grade at the entrance to the Pantelion ruins was not very high so there was no one who could survive a single attack.

Perhaps because they were converted into machines their taste was unique.

Kakagak Kwazijit Kwajik-!

Huh it’s really convenient because you just have to swing a hammer.

“To the side of the vanguard!”

Soon the patrol leader shouted and the tankers holding shields moved in unison opening a path in the center.

As a result the monsters escaped from the front…

“Leona er epura!”

The joint magic has already been completed in the rear.

Hwiyung-!

What looked like a ray cannon was fired from the center of the formation and pierced through fifteen large monsters breaking the confrontation structure and allowing the remaining monsters to be quickly eliminated.

‘…It’s definitely easier to hunt because we go as a raid unit. Because there is a fuse the electric potential is stable.’

The average rating is said to be low but almost a hundred monsters attacked and it took less than 10 minutes to clear them all.

Well since there are over 30 people here it’s only natural.

Even if you catch a hundred if you divide it by the number of people the profit from this battle will not be that big.

“Since the essence was not found I will collect only the magic stones and resume movement!”

Soon the patrol team followed a pre-planned route circling the entrance to the ruins and continuing to hunt… no patrol.

and….

‘Hey just today’s can experience alone is over 100.’

The number of new monsters killed during this patrol alone exceeded 20.

Although the level of monsters that appear is low there are many unique entities that only inhabit this field.

“Then everyone had a hard time.”

After patrolling for about 10 hours we returned to the station after handing over to the next shift.

And each person received a ticket from the administrative officer.

Is this a ticket proving your share of the loot from today’s hunting party?

It seems that you can receive payment by returning to the city later and submitting it to the Ministry of Merit…

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“Hey buddy.”

When I got my ticket and turned around a man started talking to me grumpily.

I couldn’t help but tilt my head.

“…Who are you?”

Not only do I have no memory of having a friend like this but I’ve never met this guy in the first place—

“What is that reaction as if you were seeing it for the first time? “He was always by your side when you were fighting.”

Oh was it like that?

Now that I think about it it seems like that…

In my experience in cases like this it’s best to just gloss over it and change the topic.

“Oh so what are you doing?”

When I asked why he approached me the unknown man tapped my shoulder as if he were a superior.

“I saw you fighting incredibly well earlier didn’t you?”

Well did you come here for the purpose of socializing?

Thinking about that I uttered words of humility.

“It’s a shame that you fight so well.”

“what?”

For some reason the man frowned at her.

It wasn’t something I cared about.

Therefore I quickly removed his hand that was on his shoulder.

Tuk.

I was in a bad mood earlier.

If you want to become friends you should at least open your eyes.

“So what is your business?”

When I asked again he also erased his fake smile.

and….

“I was wondering if I could give you some advice.”

He said something unexpected.

“…advice?”

“It looks like you just increased your strength ignorantly. If you continue to drink essence like that you will be in great danger someday.”

The guy who said that took out his dagger and cut his own forearm.

“Do you see it? Even if you apply a lot of force it won’t cut easily. “After all an explorer should be balanced like me rather than just relying on strength.”

“What you were just an asshole.”

“…?”

“Oh I’m sorry. “I only think about it internally.”

Even though I apologized like a man he glared at me with a stoic expression on his face.

It looks like it will fall if you hit it.

Where are you bragging about your meager physical resistance in front of me?

“Anyway what is your name?”

Still I asked his name first just in case.

“Melliver Eltain.”

What it wasn’t even Hans?

“I guess so. “See you again sometime.”

“What are you doing there uncle?”

“You may have seen it but now the group has arrived.”

I roughly erased the name I just heard from my memory and left.

***

So the name is Meliver….

‘What was it?’

I don’t remember much but unfortunately I never got to see him again.

After that I continued to take on patrol duties but that was because I ended up in a different patrol unit each time…

The reason for doing so was simple.

Because one patrol unit only patrolled one field.

Well it was a reasonable measure from the command’s perspective.

If one patrol unit is in charge of one area they will become familiar with the terrain and naturally fit together.

Originally it was impossible to change it every time like this.

That is unless there is support in the upper echelons of the military.

[I heard that the Raven 11th Patrol Division will be going on a deep patrol this time…]

[all right. I will write you a letter of recommendation.]

[thanks.]

Thanks to Raven’s help behind the scenes I was able to gain experience by visiting not only the Pantelion ruins which was my first patrol site but also the Aribeona Estuary Forest.

Of course since we only went through the beginning there will be plenty of monsters we haven’t encountered yet.

Still experience continued to accumulate every time I changed patrol units.

And time passes by so quickly that we are now.

“The character’s level has increased.”

「Soul power increases by +30.」

“The maximum absorbable essence increases by +1.”

Finally I reached level 7 which I had longed for and the number of integer slots increased by one more.

This means that new synergy can be added to the current combination.

‘The money issue has virtually been resolved so there will be no need to participate in the war next time. I guess I’ll have to do some hard work on my next expedition.’

Oh for that to happen do we need to get a boat first?

As I was idly thinking about this and that I suddenly realized that the surroundings were quiet.

“Raven.”

“why.”

“Where have Erwen and Emily gone?”

“She left the barracks earlier to get some sleep and Erwen… I don’t know. “She said she followed him out not long after he left?”

“Hmm I see?”

“So that’s the end of the question?”

Raven who said that had already taken her eyes off me and was reading the document.

Please give me some time to answer that.

‘Then… it seems like I’m alone with him.’

As he stayed behind and didn’t say anything more so as not to disturb the work I suddenly felt unfamiliar with the thread time.

That’s because after the reunion whenever I met Raven Amelia or Erwen were always by my side.

‘I should take this opportunity to ask something I’m curious about.’

“Hey Raven.”

“Why again?”

“What did you mean by ‘that thing’ you were talking about back then?”

When I asked carefully Raven’s hand that was moving the pen flinched and stopped.

Raven also turned her gaze and glanced at me.

“You mean that?”

Pretending not to understand.

“Didn’t you say that in front of the iron bar back then? After entering the Magic Tower it wasn’t long before ‘that happened’…”

“…I don’t really want to talk about it. “It’s not that important.”

“…Is that so? Then there’s nothing we can do.”

No matter how much I pretended to be a barbarian I had no intention of being rude until something like this happened so I gave up my curiosity.

and….

“Then what about your mother? How is she doing?”

We decided to just chat.

This may be a bit of a sensitive topic but it’s not like I’m completely unrelated to it right now.

“By any chance… did you know something…?”

“huh?”

When I tilted my head at the strange reaction Raven quickly blurted out the words.

“It’s nothing. But… mother… why suddenly? “Just looking at cancer I don’t think it’s something they’re interested in.”

Hehe I knew you would draw the line that way.

“Why isn’t this something to be curious about? “I was the one who convinced your mother to send you to the Magic Tower.”

Raven was startled by the words he spat out.

“…what what?”

“I don’t know if you remember but there was a time when you came to her library after being beaten by her mother. Then she cried like a child and asked me to help her —”

“I’ve never done anything like that!!”

“huh? “You said you don’t remember much of what happened back then?”

“But I still believe that I couldn’t have done that.”

“Oh really?”

“I’m not in the mood for that so it’s okay to joke around and just say something. Is it true what I said earlier? “You persuaded her mother?”

“okay.”

While I was leaving I told him about things that had happened in the past.

At that time I didn’t have time in the cage so I just skipped it.

I wanted to have a time like this at least once.

Should I say precisely that I wanted to know how much of a positive impact my presence had on cause and effect?

Well you still don’t know.

Will there come a day when I will be able to use ‘Fragment Stone of Records’ one more time?

‘Ah but it’s better not to talk about that.’

However while talking about old times part of the conversation he had with his mother was omitted.

This too is a very simple reason.

[That child will abandon me.]

[At some point you will become a proud person and look down on me. And eventually she will leave for her own world. Just like he did that day it is in his blood…]

[Isn’t something wrong? Why is he so easy with his life? It’s definitely a child I gave birth to but in my entire life I’ve never met anyone who helped me for that reason. But… But why did that child…]

How can you tell such a dark story?

And that too in front of the parties involved.

“What happened with me at the library is now over so stop now and tell me. “What did you and your mother talk about that day?”

“Nothing special. “I persuaded them to send you to the Magic Tower saying I would pay all the necessary expenses but they refused.”

“Rejection…?”

“Ah to be precise he refused the money. I heard that the Magic Tower sent someone a few days ago. “It seemed like you stood out because you were passing around magic to everyone at a young age.”

“I see… that’s why her mother suddenly changed her mind….”

“Hmm it’s a little hard to say it with my own mouth but in that sense I’m also your benefactor…?”

I appealed to him implicitly but Raven didn’t respond and just ignored me.

“….”

It’s embarrassing for people.

“So… what happened to your mother? Are you getting along well now?”

When I soon changed the topic again Raven responded coldly.

“Even if I wanted to I couldn’t.”

“…huh?”

“He’s already passed away.”

For a moment I was speechless and there was silence.

“Oh uh… Is that so? I’m sorry. “It didn’t seem like there was any health problem…”

I was truly embarrassed for the first time in a long time stuttering for words and trying my best to sort out the situation but I couldn’t turn back the water that had already been spilled.

“It wasn’t a health issue. It wasn’t even an accident. “It’s not even that its lifespan has ended.”

“…then?”

“I hung myself. “On your own.”

“….”

“Maybe it was about a month after I entered the Magic Tower? “I had to go home after a week because of the homework my teacher gave me…”

Raven spoke calmly as if reading an old diary hidden in a corner of the warehouse.

“There was a rotten smell in the bedroom. “That was the last time she remembered seeing her mother.”

“….”

“Don’t make that face. Anyway it was all brushed off a long time ago. “It’s not that surprising that people die.”

On the contrary Raven looked at me at a loss and said such considerate words to me but I really couldn’t say anything.

The more it happens the more clearly it comes to mind.

[Isn’t it strange? All I have worked on all my life is one room in this gutter.]

The last conversation I had with my biological mother.

And after the conversation.

[What has my life been like?]

The back of him was staggering towards the back alley like a person with all his strength exhausted.