Surviving the Game as a Barbarian – 431



Episode 431: Return of the Lion (2)

A little gloomy sky.

Nevertheless the sunlight seeps through.

A warm feeling that pushes away the chill that has seeped into my bones.

This is a place where there is no shivering cold or hunger.

“Now… it feels a little real. “You really… came back alive…”

As always the city we returned to after going through hardships gave us a particularly strange feeling.

I am definitely happy that I survived but my heart is heavy.

Because there are people who couldn’t come together.

“If only I had held on a little longer… just a little longer…”

If that were the case.

A few more people might have come with us.

“Miss Marrone.”

When Sven Farab who was next to him called out his name and warned him Marone stopped talking to himself and gritted his teeth.

Well it doesn’t end when you return to the city.

It is still too early to be relieved. Maybe things will be more difficult than in the labyrinth.

but….

Wow-.

Even the complaints blooming inside me are forcefully swallowed.

It wasn’t just that I had to be careful about what I said because this was the mansion where I stayed for a few days before entering the labyrinth.

Because it just shouldn’t be like that.

No matter how high and steep the mountain you have to climb is.

Because I had to leave them behind in the labyrinth having fought until the very end just to be here.

“Are you okay Kaislan?”

“Oh it couldn’t be better than this. But I guess I’m the last one?”

Soon all the members gathered in the reception room as Kaislan who had been summoned by a priest on a business trip to an empty mansion returned.

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“Why don’t you just stay here and take a walk? “Looking at it it looks like a nice day today.”

“I hope so too.”

“Do you wish that was the case?”

“Did you see the drivers in front of the reception room on the way there? Even if I try to go outside for a moment they block me.”

Wizard Marone let out a dissatisfied voice at Akuraba’s explanation.

“under! As if we did something wrong! “I came back after completing my mission and to be treated like this is like being treated like a hero!”

“Hey Ms. Marrone….”

“What! “Did I say something wrong?”

Sven Farab noticed me but it wasn’t something I really needed to stop.

It would be strange not to complain this much.

I told you to do that in the first place.

What’s important is the other part.

“Haha first of all our expedition team did not belong to the military. “The journey cannot be considered complete until an official report is made to superiors.”

“Still. “I also come from a military background but isn’t this too tight?”

“Now calm down. Aren’t we the ones who accomplished the task of breaking the eye of heaven to turn the tide? After all reports are completed it will be time for the long-awaited reward.”

“Hwiyu is it finally?”

James Carla responds to Kaislan’s words by whistling.

Next the conversation continued naturally.

Such snobbish things like “I expect a reward” or “I will ask for something.”

Of course these are words that people outside should listen to.

Because the conversation we are having now will completely reach the ears of high-ranking officials.

“Mister I was able to quickly get you something to eat. “Try some of this.”

“Ah thank you.”

As I was eating the meat on Erwen’s plate I thought back on the events that had happened so far.

If there has been a mistake we need to come up with a solution.

‘…The guys at the checkpoint didn’t notice.’

As soon as we returned to the dimensional plaza we put our backpacks into the dependent subspace.

That’s because the equipment to be shown to the royal family and the items not to be shown were carefully organized and stored separately.

And then we arrived at the checkpoint.

There I loudly declared that we were the special forces of the royal family and asked to call the Marquis.

It was an intentional action.

‘There were a lot of explorers at the checkpoint so talk about the special forces must have spread through the city by now.’

The checkpoint official who made contact with the Marquis seemed helpless at first but then held us back repeating the Marquis’ words to ‘keep us here’.

and….

[We will guide you from now on.]

The author’s article arrived less than 30 minutes ago. We were escorted by them to the empty mansion in the imperial capital where the founding ceremony was held.

[We will carry your luggage.]

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[us…?]

[This is the Marquis’ instructions. I promise on my honor as a knight that there will never be any items missing.]

The backpack containing the loot that was okay to show was also taken away in the process and after arriving at the mansion each person was treated one by one by priests called by the knights.

That’s how much time has passed.

dripping.

Soon a knock was heard and the door opened.

Yes it’s too late.

I guess we’ve finally figured out the situation to some extent right?

“The Marquis requests to meet with you.”

Let’s stay alert from now on.

***

The place we arrived at following the drivers was a reception room similar to the one we were in. One thing that is a little unusual is that the head table is empty….

The point is that there is a crystal ball in its place.

‘It’s a message stone….’

It’s so absurd that it makes me laugh.

It wouldn’t be far from here to the Marquis so it’s a long distance communication.

Well I guess I know anyway.

The moment our eyes met he did such a terrible thing to us that I wouldn’t have anything to say even if his head was crushed.

[I have urgent business to attend to so please forgive me for greeting you this way.]

“Well I think that might be the case.”

[Hmm seeing as you don’t use any honorifics… I guess the crew already knows?]

A soft voice comes as soon as you sit down on the sofa.

It wasn’t something to hide so I coolly admitted it.

“I somehow got caught. I already told you that I am Bjorn Jandel. Oh of course it was inevitable because I was working with the royal family.”

[I’m glad that’s the case.]

“Don’t you have something to say first?”

At this point I finished the introduction and got into the main topic.

In a slightly angry voice.

“Now tell me. “Why didn’t the rescue team come?”

That’s because we continued to discuss what would be a natural reaction during the remaining time.

“There’s no way they wouldn’t have heard my voice sent to the entire region. “What happened?”

[…The exact circumstances are being investigated.]

“You’re still trying to figure it out this late even though we’re contacting you through a crystal ball?”

[From what I heard it seems like there were more enemy troops in Deadwood than expected. So I tried to save it but I had no choice but to give up.]

The answer I thought would roughly go something like this.

However I didn’t expect this either.

[It seems that Noark also noticed the existence of the rescue team as you sent a communication to the wide area.]

Hey I say it’s my responsibility here too….

How thick is this marquis’ mug?

“Then why didn’t you contact me at first? “If we had made proper contact from the beginning that wouldn’t have happened!”

[That… it looks like there was some mistake on my son’s part.]

“…mistake?”

Ask back as if you heard a word you couldn’t hear.

and….

[I apologize for this on your behalf. sorry-.]

burst out in anger

“Behel—laaaaa!”

Not the marquis and the royal family.

Towards the person who was just a piece of chess.

“El Tora Terserion!”

[Wait a minute calm down—.]

“So it was all because of him! Because he’s incompetent! “You accidentally didn’t receive our call on time!”

[So that means—.]

“marquis! Where is that bastard? Oh don’t say it. “I feel like I’ll accidentally break his head the moment I find it.”

[….]

Like someone who couldn’t overcome his anger I smashed the table in front of me with my fist.

And then he took a deep breath.

[…Have you calmed down a bit?]

There was a doubt in the Marquis’ eyes beyond the crystal ball as he spoke.

Well it wouldn’t be like me to get angry like this.

Although I may be a bit more extreme than the average person I have always acted based on realistic interests and gains and losses.

therefore….

“compensation.”

At this point I let go of my anger and say:

It’s not like the anger hasn’t gone away at all.

As if the reason I was so openly angry was because of this.

“Compensation must be properly prepared. “I took on the role of commander of the expedition team just as you had hoped and the mission was a success.”

[Ah… of course. Compensation… Yes of course it should be done.]

As soon as the Marquis’ promise ended I moved my head and exchanged glances with the crew.

Then several members nodded as if they had done well.

In things like this details are important.

[Now then let’s postpone talking about compensation for mistakes until later…]

“….”

[Where can I hear it? What happened there.]

Okay now this part.

After taking a breath I began the story I had prepared. It took a little longer because the Marquis interjected and asked questions but it took less than an hour for the story to end.

[You went through a difficult time because of my ugly son.]

A short comment made by the Marquis after the story was over.

Because it’s hard work…

For some reason the blood rushed to my head when it ended with that one sentence but I managed to hold it in well.

[I will do my best to ensure that my son receives compensation for his mistakes.]

Soon the Marquis spoke.

[And… I sincerely congratulate you on your return.]

Saying things you don’t even mean to say.

[Then I’ll contact you again.]

Anyway that was the end of my contact with the Marquis.

“I’ll take you to your room.”

I wonder if our story would have worked.

Well only time will tell.

***

Afterwards we were guided by the drivers and moved to our respective rooms.

A soft blanket on a large bed.

Warm sunlight coming through the window.

Considering the times when I slept naked on the ice the room was too much for me but my body accumulated from the fatigue of 75 days showed no signs of falling asleep easily.

Probably the same goes for my colleagues in other rooms.

You might be worried that knights might attack you the moment you fall asleep.

“….”

Nevertheless my body which had started to become increasingly tired from the moment I lay down soon fell into sleep.

and….

‘The neck is still intact.’

I woke up fine the next morning.

From now on will I have to go to sleep with this feeling of anxiety every day even in the city?

There’s a long way to go.

‘What can I do? Still I have to do it.’

Anyway this is the second day of my return to life.

We got our backpacks back that had been stolen the day before.

The Marquis’ answer to my question about why he took it away if it was going to be like this was truly impressive.

[Well… I guess it was conveyed that way. I just asked you to appraise the loot on behalf of you who must have been exhausted and convey your intention to purchase it at a higher price than the market price. From now on I will be very careful not to misinterpret my words.]

It was absurd but the Marquis actually kept his words.

Only those items that were willing to sell were purchased at a much higher price than the market price. We did not miss this opportunity and disposed of all unnecessary items.

Wow there will be plenty of military funds in the future.

[Oh and one more thing. There is a lot of public interest in the expedition because you showed up at the checkpoint.]

While I was listening there was also good news.

During the war a radio message spread throughout the Dark Continent saying ‘The Eye in the Sky has been destroyed.’

And the special forces of the royal family appeared in the city.

Is it because these two things came together and the rumor spread quickly?

[There will be an improvement ceremony in two days.]

“Triumphal ceremony?”

[It will be held at the royal palace and on that day we will announce your existence which has been kept secret in front of the kingdom’s nobles and subjects and praise your achievements.]

Well I expected it but two days later seems too fast.

Is it possible to get things done this quickly?

I had doubts but soon I became convinced.

‘Oh I guess I had already prepared it.’

The triumphal ceremony must have been prepared a long time ago.

Just because there are no survivors does not mean that the festival cannot be held.

They must have been planning to take the credit for destroying the Eye of the Sky mourn the annihilated expedition and share the credit among themselves.

[So get ready. I will send you the details of the event and ceremony so please read them. Oh of course we will prepare all the costumes ourselves.]

“i get it. “I convey that to the crew as well.”

[As I said before there is a lot of interest from the public. Although it may be inconvenient please stay here and hide until then for the sake of a successful victory ceremony. If you need anything for your stay or have any other requests please let me know at any time.]

“Ah then I have a favor to ask of you….”

I asked the Marquis for something and time passed quickly after that.

And so on.

“Waaaaaaa-!”

“It’s a journey of heroes!”

The day of the triumph ceremony dawned.