Surviving the Game as a Barbarian – 396



Episode 396: Expedition (1)

After staring at the knight with a straight face in silence for a long time his expression changed.

“I guess I was mistaken.”

Although he was relieved to see my expression softening he looked at me as if I was wondering what he was talking about.

“Oh I’m glad there doesn’t seem to be a problem with your head.”

After tapping the knight on the shoulder I checked with the other three to see if they had any disagreement about me becoming the leader.

I don’t think I would have the courage to break a promise that was notarized in front of the marquis but you never know.

He judged that follow-up treatment may be necessary.

but….

“no.”

“It’s the same. “Because it was that kind of bet.”

“So if you need my help at any time please call me.”

Surprisingly except for the driver the other three did not express any disagreement.

Are they all cooler types than you think?

I thought there would be one person who would be greedy as not only he but his subordinates’ political interests were at stake.

Well it’s good that I have less work to do.

“It’s good that there are no complaints. “Then I’ll just go.”

“yes? “You want to go?”

When I said I was leaving and tried to turn my back all four people gave me questioning looks.

I guess they thought that since the leader had been decided we would have more to talk about…

“Because I’m hungry.”

“…?”

“See you later then.”

With those words I left the room leaving behind the four people with puzzled expressions.

It’s a kind of build-up.

You’re not going to live as Lehen Schuitz forever it’s going to be revealed in three months right?

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If you show them this in advance they will understand it more quickly.

For some reason what he was doing seemed like a barbarian. I guess that’s why it was like that.

“Are you here?”

The next destination was the Marquis’ office.

I decided that it would be wise to report it first before leaving.

“How was it?”

“How did you sleep? Nothing bad happened.”

“Does this mean that everyone was easily convinced?”

“If you don’t do it there’s no other way.”

“That too… I guess so. “If anything happens that requires my help please let me know.”

“I feel reassured.”

Well this concludes the interim report—

“Oh and one more thing.”

“…?”

“Now that the commander has been decided there will be a founding ceremony soon.”

“Foundation ceremony?”

“Shouldn’t there be a place where we can meet each other before entering the labyrinth? “The guardians who participated in this plan will also want to see you.”

“Then when will that be done?”

“I will deliver the schedule as soon as it is released.”

It was a little funny.

There are less than 10 days left until entering the labyrinth so now I have to go straight into the labyrinth after holding the founding ceremony and paying my respects?

This isn’t like roasting beans over a fire.

‘What is the reason for moving things forward in such a hurry?’

A question suddenly occurred to me but the answer was very easy to guess.

‘I guess I was going to do it after 15 days had passed. ‘Because it is the easiest time for information to be passed on to Noark’s side.’

The higher-ups would have wanted to reduce information exposure as much as possible.

In fact when I asked various questions about the founding ceremony the answer was that it was impossible to have a grand event with hundreds of people due to security reasons.

“Anyway I understand the founding ceremony but what happened to the two who will be my team members? Will we be able to meet them at the founding ceremony?”

“It can’t be. “If it’s okay with you I will make arrangements so that we can meet tomorrow.”

“Then will you send them to my house tomorrow?”

“I will do that.”

The Marquis nodded willingly to my request.

So have you had all the conversations that need to be exchanged through this?

Just as we were about to conclude the conversation the Marquis suddenly brought up a new topic.

“I want to ask you one thing.”

“what?”

“It’s about when we made a bet at the dinner table…”

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Soon the Marquis caught his breath and asked me.

“Were you confident that you would win against four people?”

“Why are you curious about that?”

“I can’t help but be curious. You must have seen the documents I prepared so you would know more about them. So when I first placed the bet I thought it was because I was confident I would win.”

“however?”

“After looking at it I found out that wasn’t the case. Do you know how many times I have had to worry about situations?”

I think I know roughly what you want to ask.

How dare you make such a bet if you were only going to win.

I decided to just answer honestly.

“It is as you said Marquis.”

The factor of victory was the 7th level immortal imprint.

Special stat recovery power that increases regeneration efficiency.

Without this I wouldn’t have been able to survive for very long with my basic natural regeneration levels.

Above all I may have run out of MP first.

Restorative power also applies to MP regeneration.

In other words the amount of MP recovery due to [Soul Diving] also increases.

I thought I could compete with those four with this one.

but….

“I wasn’t sure I would win.”

Nevertheless I am not 100% confident of victory.

Isn’t that what fighting is all about in the first place?

There are many cases where a lucky punch was hit incorrectly and resulted in a goal. There are no need to give examples.

“I don’t understand at all. “Why did you take such a bold action when you weren’t sure?”

“Well why was it like that?”

I responded to the Marquis’ words with a shrug and left the room.

That’s right….

‘What kind of nonsense are you saying? ‘I tried to force it by saying that I would never admit it if I lost so I started arguing as much as I wanted.’

Plan B should always be kept hidden.

***

Lunch the day after returning home.

Two team members who received a call from the Marquis visited our house.

“That must be Mr. Lehen Schuitz. Nice to meet you. “I am Liard Ashed a level 3 wizard of the Rengman School.”

A wizard (male) in his mid-30s with a warm appearance and a tall height for a wizard.

and….

“You’re young. “It’s that old aldidi.”

A male magician in his 60s who looks much neater than I expected.

“Nice to meet you I’m Lihen Schuitz.”

“…Are you a soldier?”

“No why do you ask that?”

“It’s because the bottom looks so natural.”

Are you throwing it away because you want to be treated better based on your age?

I had that question but I didn’t think about it deeply.

It doesn’t really matter what the correct answer is.

“Rdidi if you came here thinking of a normal team of explorers it’s not too late. “First of all we will act as members of the military for a while and for the sake of the system top-down cooperation is absolute.”

In a first meeting it is important to get the momentum going.

When I firmly drew a line old man Diddy known as Old RDidi for short took a step back.

“Haha that can’t be possible. I was just curious not that I was dissatisfied with you speaking down. I have been working as an explorer until this age but have I ever been under someone younger than me? “I’m used to it.”

“Then that’s a relief. wizard….”

“Liard Ashed. “You can call me by either your last name or your first name whichever is more convenient for you.”

“Then let’s do it with Ash. “Ash do you have the same thoughts as this old man?”

“Of course. Not only is it a natural thing in our magic tower society to be treated according to one’s abilities but… this team is an opportunity I don’t want to miss.”

“It’s an opportunity….”

“A lot of rewards have already been promised just for participating in the expedition. But I heard from the Marquis yesterday… that Mr. Schuitz has been promoted to the position of expedition leader right?”

Oh the Marquis already told you that far?

“It looks like we have taken a good line. If you are a team under the direct command of the expedition leader you will have more opportunities to contribute. Isn’t that right? Aldidi?”

“Hehehe you can say so….”

When Wizard Ashed asked with a soft smile Old Man Didi cleared his throat and expressed his approval.

I glanced at them both.

‘Everyone’s first impression isn’t bad.’

First of all wizard Ashed.

We haven’t exchanged a few words but he seems competent.

Well there are some stupid ones among wizards.

Still social skills and intelligence are different things.

‘It seems like the old man is not stubborn despite his age.’

Of course Ashed also has a part to play here.

Because it was an opportunity and the leader of the expedition they showed their snobbish side and made the old man realize that they were Eul.

“Then Mr. Schuitz if it’s okay would you please introduce the two of you later?”

Soon Ashed cautiously opened his mouth and when I winked Erwen and Amelia also briefly introduced themselves.

“This is Erwen Fornacci di Tercia.”

“It’s Emily Raines.”

During Erwen’s introduction ‘Blood Spirit!’ While she looked surprised when it was Amelia’s turn she tilted her head at the name she had never heard of.

but….

‘It’s good that you didn’t say anything unnecessary even though you might be wondering who he is.’

Hmm I guess your luck in the draw isn’t bad at this rate?

“Now come in.”

After the full statement was finished the two were first brought into the house. I prepared a lot of food so that we could eat together when they come.

“By the way you didn’t ask this. “Have you eaten?”

“When I saw that I was called to the mansion I came without eating just in case.”

“It’s better to keep an empty stomach when it comes to important matters.”

Yes both of them are pre-dinner.

“There is nothing prepared but eat as much as you want. “If I have something to say I say it while I’m eating.”

After everyone was seated at the table we ate and talked.

“I don’t know who did it but the food tastes great.”

“Hehe I prepared it. thank you.”

“Thanks should be given here.”

“Oh my it’s nothing special. “Hoho.”

Ashed and Erwen’s conversation makes the atmosphere even more pleasant.

I just quietly ate my food.

Well all the food was bought at the restaurant.

It wouldn’t be a lie to say that I prepared it because I went out in the morning bought it myself put it on a plate and put it on the table.

‘If it had been Misha there would have been an uproar from the morning because he prepared the food….’

Suddenly I thought of Misha but I had no intention of belittling Erwen’s hard work.

Because I didn’t want to see them struggling for no reason I always tried to go out and buy food.

Misha was always stubborn about her.

‘I hope you’re doing well….’

Although she’s only been together for a short period of time she feels aggrieved at the thought of bringing in new team members.

“Schuitz what are you thinking like that?”

Amelia nudged my waist.

“nothing. “You were talking about your career right now right?”

For a moment my thoughts wandered but I actively participated in the conversation and began to survey my new colleagues.

There was nothing much different from what I heard through Marquis.

“The last time I entered the labyrinth was seven years ago. “After the clan that I stayed in for about 5 years broke up I devoted myself to research activities at the Magic Tower.”

“Why have you changed your mind now?”

“It’s the same reason why explorers get excited and head upstairs.”

A better life.

More opportunities.

This is several times more credible than just spouting strange beliefs.

“What can I do in the labyrinth?”

“In the labyrinth what a wizard is good at is more important than what he or she is bad at.”

Ashed grinned at my question and shared the paddle he had.

“Only a very small number of level 5 or higher curse spells are possible. Support auxiliary systems up to level 4. Other than that you can assume that he knows how to do everything except the unique magic of other schools. Ah I’m very interested in labyrinths so I guess it’s an advantage that I have quite a lot of knowledge in terms of gathering and materials.”

Ashed was kind of an all-rounder.

The stats are a bit lacking in the curse and support systems but it’s not a major flaw.

“If you had to ask me what I’m confident in I would say attack magic.”

“What are the properties?

“I don’t think there is any particular difference.”

Is it a wide range of properties?

“Is the Lengman School a place to study combat magic?”

“no. “It specializes in the curse series.”

what? This is a funny guy.

I went to the curse school and what I was best at was attacking.

I think there might be some story…

“Then if you don’t have any more questions for me I’d also like to hear about Aldidi.”

As he was contemplating whether to ask the story or not Ashed naturally passed the turn to old man Didi who was next to him.

‘…Are you aiming for it?’

Even if that’s the case I don’t feel bad or anything.

In the first place I didn’t want to ask because I thought it would be a personal story.

“I am a healer.”

Healers are a detailed category of psychics.

If you mimic the healing power of a priest you become a healer.

If possible a magic wizard can replace the wizard’s firepower.

He is a sorcerer but if he uses poison he is a sorcerer and if he uses fire he is a pyromancer.

If buff doping is your main focus you should be a support shaman.

On the other hand an underworld shaman.

It is roughly classified like this and as you become a higher level explorer this classification becomes more detailed and extensive.

If I were to submit my resume to the guild I would have to write ‘Guardian’ and not ‘Barbarian Warrior’.

“Healer… good balance.”

After hearing Didi’s occupation list Ashed kept nodding his head as if he liked the composition.

After all Erwen is famous for being an archer and Amelia also carries around leather clothes and a dagger at home so it must have been obvious what her position was.

You must have heard about me from the Marquis.

“Most of them have healing abilities but they also have two support magic abilities.”

Simply put it means that there are also buff-like support skills.

Afterwards Old Man Didi explained to us the details of the essences he possessed and how they could be used and then it was our turn.

Of course since we were not psychics whose understanding was essential for our team members there was no need to explain the details of the essence in detail.

What each person can do.

And it is enough to mention Amelia’s ‘Auror’ and ‘Self-replicating’ Erwen’s ‘Dark Spirit’ as unique features.

“Well I think I know most of what I can now through conversation. What are you going to do next?”

“If possible I’d like to meet every day and work things out.”

“Yes is there a training ground you always go to?”

“It exists but it went bankrupt not long ago and disappeared.”

“Then I will hold it somewhere I know. “Ah could you please tell me your address in case I need to contact you in writing in the future?”

“It’s here.”

Would it be like this if you had a competent butler?

Ashed took care of all the little things necessary for team activities so that I didn’t have to worry about them and we were able to gather at the training center every day from the next day and work together.

And time passes….

“I received a call from the Marquis Schuitz.”

Finally the day of the founding ceremony arrived.

‘How do these bastards really get things done?’

There were three days left until entering the labyrinth.