Surviving the Game as a Barbarian – 436



Episode 436: Match (2)

Baekho Lee.

Age twenty-three.

A newly discharged soldier with fresh raven hair and the facial features of a young country boy.

That guy called me older brother.

[Me? It’s just… ten years have passed.]

At least 10 years.

No it’s been 4 years since I said those words so even if I’m a player who has survived in this city for at least 14 years.

At first he thought he was a weirdo.

but….

[You are already from here.]

I was finally able to understand through the words of Hans A whom I met at the Punishment Box.

The venom and tenacity in those words he said before.

[older brother! Don’t be such a bastard! I’m going back. So you should use it as your actual age!]

Lee Baek-ho is not a weird guy.

Just more desperate than anyone else.

Therefore it is rather easy to read his inner thoughts.

[Quickly untie the blade. Otherwise you’ll really be left alone here.]

The tone of speech is frivolous.

[Hey that’s right. Who wants to start a fire without my permission?]

He believes in omnipotent power and acts like a fool.

[Are you really a player?]

Although he may seem to only act according to his own desires.

In the end there is only one thing he wants.

[Because I don’t build affection in this world.]

To escape from this damn world and return to the original world.

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There is no person as easy to deal with as someone with clear goals. However I have been wary of revealing my identity to Lee Baek-ho.

but….

‘There won’t be a need for that anymore.’

Anyway this guy doesn’t know that Bjorn Yandel is Lee Han-su but he knows that he is an evil spirit.

And above all.

“Wow awesome….”

Now that time has passed it has become somewhat similar.

Even if this monster is my opponent I am confident that I can protect myself in the worst situation.

“Yes… your brother was really Bjorn Yandel. “Richen Schuitz is Bjorn Jandel so he was the one you met in Atlante the other day?”

Lee Baek-ho who had let out several strange exclamations after revealing my identity exhaled as if relieved.

“…I’m really glad. “You can figure it out now.”

It was a bit annoying.

“Thank goodness…?”

“Ah… I think it’s better not to say that.”

“I think that’s a problem I need to listen to and decide.”

When I spoke clearly Baekho Lee’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“But bro.”

“….”

“Why are you talking to me so aggressively?”

A voice that sounds like it doesn’t understand at all rather than being angry. However without me having to say anything he convinced himself.

“Ah… Now that I think about it I was kind of like that….”

I guess it reminded me of what happened with Bjorn Yandel.

“I’m sorry bro. “Will you understand because this happened when I didn’t know you were my brother?”

Before he could even decide whether to accept the apology or not Baekho Lee sighed again.

“Hyung too… I’ll just tell you then. “If that were the case things wouldn’t have gotten this messed up.”

Hehehe….

This makes people angry.

“So you’re saying it’s my responsibility?”

“no. Didn’t you say that? In the end it was my fault. As my brother said it is because of me that Bjorn Yandel became known as an evil spirit.”

The calm voice made me feel heated again but I suppressed my emotions and focused on the conversation.

“Now that we know each other’s names I ask again why is that like that?”

“I need a symbolic presence for my plan. “Once again if I had known it was my brother I would never have used that method.”

Well that’s what they say but there is no trust.

I know a little bit about this guy now.

“Even if I’m really dead?”

Did this guy actually decide not to use me?

***

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“….”

The answer to my question was silence.

Are you the type of person who hates lying?

I think so but it’s too early to be sure.

Maybe it’s just that you don’t tell lies that are too obvious to get caught.

Lee Baek-ho naturally changed the topic.

“But don’t you wonder how I found out that your brother was Bjorn Yandel? “Honestly I thought you would ask me that right away.”

The answer is simple.

I thought there was something else that was important right now.

No matter how much you look for the reason the result will not change once it has passed.

Even if it means going back to the past—

“Oh of course even if I had asked I wouldn’t have answered.”

What are we going to do about this guy?

“But let me tell you one thing it wasn’t that certain. So I decided to take this opportunity to explore a little.”

The way I thought about it there was no need to listen.

Even though he suspected me of being Bjorn Yandel I just acted like normal. Until I mention ‘Misha’ or ‘Bjorn Yandel’ first.

‘Maybe that’s why he seemed embarrassed to Hyeonbyeol. That way I’ll be a little more alert—’

“Ah but Hyeonbyeol was really scary. How did you fall in love with someone like that? Wow how long has it been since I lost a fight? I just laughed out loud? “It’s ridiculous.”

Well was that real?

I don’t know but it wasn’t a topic to think deeply about right now.

“Anyway that’s enough.”

Ending the topic at this point I asked directly.

“Why did you take Misha away?”

“Of course it’s because of the labyrinth strategy.”

Yes it was because of that reason.

I had guessed it in my mind but hearing it in person gave me an inexplicable sense of relief.

“Isn’t that why you were raising her too? “It’s convenient to have an ice dual-wielding swordsman in the latter part of the 9th floor.”

Of course there were questions about that answer.

“There would have been many other candidates at your level so why did it have to be Misha?”

“I like Soonaebo. “She thought that if I promised her that I would save her brother’s life with the Stone of Reviving she would never betray me.”

“Is that all?”

“Well there are other things… but they are all minor. To be honest that decision wasn’t without my whims. I was a little surprised. “How can she not change her mind even though she knows she is an evil spirit?”

It didn’t seem like a lie.

In fact he didn’t seem to have much interest in Misha.

No does she actually think of it like an object?

“Oh right! If she wants it back I’ll give it to her. “I’ve raised her pretty hard over the years and I feel like I’m sinning against Hyeonbyeol’s older sister…”

The only person this guy is interested in right now is me.

“You and I are in a relationship right?”

Soon he looks at me with a grin.

“I can tolerate that much. “Cancer?”

A favor that is burdensome.

Through this I was able to clearly recognize it.

The reason this guy treats me well is not simply because I am ‘Korean’.

There is a further reason.

Otherwise there is no way this guy whose goal is ‘return’ would give up Misha so easily.

but….

‘She might as well pretend not to notice for now.’

I didn’t even try to float.

First of all I decided that getting Missha back safely was an urgent priority…

“Then since the meow problem has been resolved let’s talk about something else!”

“Something else?”

“I’m just curious about your story. When I was younger I wasn’t as strong as my brother. I even ate deep sea giant essence not long ago. “After making an estimate based on only roughly confirmed facts it seems that there will be at least 4 level 3 integers…”

Lee Baek-ho started asking various questions about me and I faithfully answered the parts that needed to be answered filtering out the ones that needed to be answered.

Because the world is give and take.

Since I coolly said I would send Misha away I thought it would be better to show this level of sincerity.

however….

“So what is it like in reality? “Where have you been for two and a half years?”

I thought a lot about this question.

Wouldn’t it be a good idea to tell him about what happened 20 years ago?

It didn’t take long to make a decision.

‘He knows that I am Bjorn Yandel anyway so there is no need to hide it. Maybe I’ll hear some helpful information from him too.’

Auril Gavis is the common enemy of the players.

So it is also important for him to share information and discuss ways to fight back.

thus….

“Fragment stone of record…? “I heard about it but it really existed.”

I was sucked into the past on Farune Island.

and….

“…You met Auril Garvis?”

The story focuses on entering the community 20 years ago. Anyway he probably doesn’t care about how he saved Amelia.

“Well now I see that this community itself was created by him.”

“Oh I know that. I also heard it from that old Ruingenes… Huh? Wait a minute… That old man said that before the community exploded Auril Garvis brought in a strange guy… Could it have been his brother?”

“Maybe so.”

“Wow… This makes you seem like the main character. Try more. So? “What happened?”

“Auril Gavis was very interested in the fact that I was a player from the future.”

I explained the conversation I had with Auril Garvis except that I beat the original mod.

Surprisingly Baekho Lee already knew most of the information.

That’s because one of his current colleagues is an Annihilator.

The reason I talked about the past in the first place was because I wanted to get information about it.

“I know that the Earth Witch is alive. “I don’t know where it is.”

“The old man says he is where everyone’s wishes go. “Is there anything you can point out?”

“Huh? Did you really answer that way? Is it easy? “Is there more to it than the end of the labyrinth?”

“But there was no such thing as a final boss in the game.”

“That was a tutorial. If you’ve lived this long you’d know right? This place is completely different from the game. Maybe the Earth Witch will appear as the final boss. Hmm then how on earth should I prepare?”

Even though I was not just an earth witch the conversation with Lee Baek-ho was beneficial in its own way.

Rather I was the one who uncovered the information but should I say that I obtained more information?

“By Kagureas do you mean the barbarian who collected the three Noble Phantasms of Creation?”

Oh there were two when I went…

No not more than that in the first place.

“That person was a barbarian…?”

“You didn’t know? He also has a deep relationship with his older brother. “Little Vulcan… you were called by that nickname right?”

…what?

“no way….”

“yes. Cagureas is Balkan. To be precise that is assumed based on the circumstances. April 2 136 Gaebyeok. “Shortly after Balkan died at the age of 55 all the treasures of creation that disappeared were returned to the lost tribes.”

It was an amazing story.

I never would have thought that the legendary senior who was the original owner of my tinnitus was an evil spirit.

“Do you know about the portal in the basement of the royal palace?”

“We’ve been investigating for a while but we haven’t found out much. “The portal there is an exit not an entrance?”

“Exit?”

“It’s not that you can go somewhere through a portal it’s the opposite. “If you take a portal somewhere you can go to the place where the portal under the royal family is.”

Um I see….

It’s a very suspicious story even at first glance.

Anyway after a long time we had a conversation where we were on the same side and we ended up talking about it.

[Auril Gavis do you feel any remorse for the countless ‘evil spirits’ who were brought here and died because of your greed?]

This is the question that happened to end the truth game.

As soon as Lee Baek-ho heard this he burst into laughter.

“Fuha! Foot ahahahaha! Really? “You asked that question to the old man?”

“Why are you smiling?”

“Just like that. I would say it was a question worthy of a brother… but he is still somewhat naive….”

what? Am I naive?

I was shocked to hear it but Lee Baek-ho seemed to really think that way.

“So? What did the old man answer?

I gave exactly the answer I heard at the time without a single mistake.

[How can I feel at peace? Of course I feel sorry for you. I also feel responsible. I will probably live with this mindset for the rest of my life and atone for it.]

Look me straight in the eyes and say that.

[How would this be the answer?]

Even the red light on the jewel came on.

“Hmm….”

Lee Baek-ho who I thought would swear at him and say that he was a psychopath-like old man had a strange expression on his face.

“This is a bit ambiguous.”

“You mean it’s ambiguous?”

“You spoke for a long time and you exaggerated it on purpose.”

“huh?”

“This is a pattern typically used when hiding lies within the truth. “It was a situation where you could only answer yes or no right?”

Lee Baek-ho was suspicious of Auril Gavis’ intentions.

But the problem is that when I think about it that doesn’t make sense at all.

“Well why did the old man do that? Is it just a coincidence? “What do you think brother?”

“Well… how can we know what’s inside that old man?”

“That’s… right.”

The discussion on Auril Gavis’s answer ended neatly there.

Baekho Lee seemed to have more questions than that.

“Hey bro….”

“say. “If you suddenly do that you become more anxious for no reason.”

“Ah but I think it might be a bit rude.”

“I told you to do it.”

“Then will you do it?”

“uh.”

When permission was given once more Lee Baek-ho asked cautiously.

“What is your goal brother?”

It wasn’t a random question.

But I asked back as if I had heard something unexpected.

“What is your goal?”

“Do I want to go back to Earth or not?”

Yeah I was curious about that too.

“When we met him at the Gnome Tree he clearly said he wasn’t sure.”

Yes I did.

For reference when I answered that question this guy asked if it was because of the Red Cat tribe. When I responded with silence he said he felt like he was seeing his old self and even gave me some advice not advice not to expect much from the NPC.

‘…The reason I acted so coolly at that time was probably because I didn’t place much value on ‘Bjorn Yandel’.’

“Still not sure?”

“well….”

“Then think about it seriously now. “It is long past the time when simply surviving was the goal.”

Baekho Lee’s intentions were obvious but he pretended to be seriously considering it. But maybe it’s because I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately too?

“It’s a goal….”

I was just trying to pretend but all sorts of thoughts were running through my mind.

What is my goal?

“If it’s difficult think about it this way. There’s a button here. And if you just press that button you can immediately return to the world you came from.”

Baekho Lee’s advice was more helpful than I thought.

In fact I may not know what decisions my future self will make.

“So what are you going to do then?”

At least I could know the immediate situation.

“….”

If such a button really existed I would hesitate in front of it for a long time.

Also you must have been thinking non-stop in your head.

When you return home what is there?

Just the thought of it right away was enough.

“….”

Hamburger Cola Game.

Fun media and the convenience of countless modern devices.

You don’t have to kill anything you don’t have to bleed every day or it’s painful or difficult.

Although you may worry about living you do not worry about survival.

Yes the smooth life I wish for exists beyond that.

but.

“….”

Obviously the world in this game is a shitty place and that thought still hasn’t changed.

‘Maybe… the result won’t change.’

In the end I wouldn’t have been able to press the button.

No I wouldn’t have pressed it.

Because that’s not the life I want right now.

“Do you think your worries are over to some extent?”

“okay.”

The conclusion has been reached.

My goal is to survive.

In this place full of all kinds of threats like walking on thin ice.

Me and the many people I met here.

That is my honest desire.

Therefore…

“Can you tell me? “What are you going to do?”

I looked him in the eye and answered.

“I’m going to press that button.”

I decided that it was necessary to accommodate him for now without revealing his true intentions.

Because it sucked.

I wonder what kind of answer this guy was waiting for.

“….”

After hearing my answer Baekho Lee stared at me without saying a word.

There was silence like that for a while.

A silence that feels heavy somewhere.

“Tsk.”

What marked the end of that short period of time was the sound of Lee Baek-ho clicking his tongue.

“That person feels bad. “Here just because you can’t use skills doesn’t mean you’re treated like an asshole.”

The guy who always smiled frivolously and spoke jokingly was looking at me.

“You’re lying while looking into your eyes.”

With cold eyes that I have never seen before.