Surviving the Game as a Barbarian – 44



Episode 44: Good (1)

‘But do I really need to find a colleague?’

When Einar talked about leaving the party that was her first thought.

After all I am different from the person I was two months ago.

‘I think I can hunt a group of Desfiends by myself now.’

Corpse golems and vampires also ate the guardian’s essence.

The basic stats themselves including strength have increased tremendously and considering the regeneration-related skills it is safe to say that there is virtually no opponent at the second floor level.

‘If you want to be sure there’s nothing you can’t do.’

There is no on-watch watch.

There are no colleagues to whom you can take care of in case of an emergency.

But I made my judgment objectively.

Even taking all that into account I think I can play solo stably enough at my current level.

‘Well the third floor is probably too much.’

[Dungeon & Stone] is basically a game that requires party play. No matter how strong a character is it is impossible to become a musou alone due to the structure of the game.

The role groups are divided in such fine detail and the absence of a specific role group becomes fatal as you go up the floor.

For example like the Goblin Forest where a searcher was essential.

There is a wall that a barbarian in the ‘tank’ position cannot overcome alone.

‘From the 3rd floor onwards the scale of monsters itself changes.’

After much thought I made a decision.

Find new colleagues of similar level.

If you can’t find one at least join that team.

And together they hunt monsters on higher floors and aim upward.

‘It’s more efficient than wasting time working alone on the second floor.’

Of course this will also be quite a headache.

Because we need to check not just their combat power or member composition but also whether they are trustworthy.

‘Whoa where on earth do I get guys like that?’

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It looks like this month will be quite busy as well.

Aside from Erwen and Einar I actually don’t have anyone I can even call acquaintances in this world.

“Big….”

I poured all the remaining beer into my mouth and was about to go up to my room.

“Hey there Mr. Barbarian! “What do you think brother?”

A group of explorers who had been noisily pouring drinks at the table next to us started talking.

“What do you mean?”

“Oh didn’t you hear? “This little guy here says something cute.”

Well I don’t think there’s any arguing.

When I made a gesture to take a look an explorer in his mid-twenties explained the situation step by step.

To summarize it was like this.

Somehow a story about the Free Barbarian came up. Naturally the explorers excitedly cursed the guild.

But then a young explorer came and praised the guild asking if he believed such nonsense.

The explorers who were listening openly made fun of it and laughed at it and when they saw it on a passing day they caught it.

“For this reason I wanted to hear your opinion. What is it like? “Brother do you trust the guild guys?”

Damn that’s what I’m talking about.

“I’d rather trust a passing turd than trust those guys.”

“Hahahaha! As expected I knew your brother would say that! “Just by looking at your eyes you look different from everyone else!”

A man who laughs because he wonders what’s so good about it.

The young boy who was crouching in a corner stood up with a blush on his face.

“Wait a minute! Why are all these people called explorers? Without a guild who will protect us in this city? “You should be thankful!”

A moment of silence followed.

Before long everyone sitting at the table burst into laughter.

“what? Say thank you? Fuhahahaha!”

“Kid! “So wherever you go you’ll be treated like a brat!”

It seems that there is a culture among explorers that recognizes them as proper explorers even though they must distrust guilds.

“Everyone does this right? Wouldn’t he realize this if he experiences more? “No one can protect you but yourself.”

“Wow those words really touch your heart don’t they?”

“With that in mind let’s have a drink!”

After the short incident was over the explorers started drinking again.

So as I was about to leave the man who had first spoken to me approached me with a friendly expression.

“It’s Hans.”

“Hans…?”

“haha! “It’s a common name right?”

I don’t know much about it but it seems to be common.

The name of the first man I killed in the labyrinth was Hans.

“This is Bjorn son of Yandel.”

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“I see! It’s fate that we met like this but if you’re not tired why don’t we go have one more drink? “Of course I buy the alcohol!”

After thinking for a moment I nodded.

Although I walked around here and there and overheard many conversations between explorers I didn’t have many conversations with them in person.

“So what’s wrong with you Hyung? He’s been doing it alone?”

I honestly shared my concerns because I might be able to get some unexpected advice.

“The team has disbanded so we are looking for new colleagues. “But I don’t know where to start.”

Hans who was listening seriously said ‘Hing?’ He tilted his head with a look on his face.

“If it’s a problem like that wouldn’t it be easier to just go to the guild?”

“Guild?”

“haha! It’s true that they can’t be trusted but shouldn’t they take advantage of what’s available? “How much money is being spent on them from our taxes!”

Well that’s definitely true.

No matter what an explorer has an inseparable relationship with the guild.

Even in games it was easy to find friends through guilds.

but….

“I’m worried about whether I can trust the people I met there.”

“ha ha ha! It looks like you haven’t used it properly yet? It’s a lot different than before. “There were so many cases of betrayal that it became mandatory to wear a video recorder.”

okay?

There was nothing like that in the game.

“Trust me and give it a go. “If anything nothing that you worry about will happen.”

With that being said it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go there once.

***

The next morning.

I woke up with a bit of a hangover and headed straight to the Magic Tower.

“You cannot enter without a visitor’s card.”

Shouldn’t you first ask if it is there?

I was irritated because I was experiencing racial discrimination from the very beginning of the morning but when I showed the card Raven had given me the staff let me in without a word.

Ding—!

So we arrived at the 31st floor.

As soon as I entered Raven’s personal laboratory I was greeted by a busier interior than two days ago.

“Oh are you here?”

It seems that many of the books and documents that were in disarray have been removed but in their place the room is filled with scary-looking devices.

“…What is this used for?”

Among them I pointed out the item that looked the most brutal and asked its purpose.

“It’s nothing special it’s a magic tool that makes it easier to collect blood.”

Her answer surprised me twice.

For once it is not intended for crushing human skulls. And twice in that this barbaric type of device is a magic tool.

“So are you ready?”

“…I don’t think it’s done yet.”

“Hey what about Eomsal? “Come here quickly.”

“…Sure.”

At first I was half skeptical and half worried but surprisingly all the prosecutors who used magic tools were quite humane.

Also the process was so quick that it didn’t take long to complete everything.

However if we only look at the test results…

‘It’s no different from the things I organized by myself in prison.’

“First of all I can’t find any characteristics that are significantly different from other guardian essences. Oh you know what I’m talking about right?”

“I know.”

Essences dropped by guardians have two characteristics.

First of all the basic stats are 1.5 times higher than regular integers.

“Since you know this it would be better to just see it for yourself.”

She summarized and showed the statistics of the vampire’s essence which she had estimated using various magic tools.

It had no particular meaning.

As expected not only were the numbers (top) (middle) and (bottom) written on the paper…

Anyway I was able to calculate the exact number by multiplying the stats of a normal vampire by 1.5.

[Vampire]

Natural Regeneration +45 Strength +15 Agility +15 Anti-Magic Power +30 Physical Resistance +12 Spiritual Power +21 Mana Responsiveness +30 Dark Resistance +12 Sun Resistance -12

Some people might think that the stats are low for a level 5 monster.

It’s definitely not wrong.

The corpse golem’s essence which was only grade 7 had pain resistance of 70 bone strength of 55 and high values.

Even this figure was multiplied by 1.5.

but….

‘Natural regeneration anti-magic physical resistance spiritual power and even mana sensitivity…’

The level of preciousness of the stats is different.

Even in games most of these valuable stats tend to be measured at low values.

Because if you give it away a monster is born.

“I feel again Mr. Yandel you are really lucky too. “Everyone says that the essence of ordinary vampires is so rare that it can’t be obtained but you get it from a guardian.”

In fact it is not enough to say that I am lucky.

Guardian essences of level 5 or higher can be treated as graduation essences without any problems.

In many ways it is definitely not an item worth acquiring in the early stages.

“If you’ve seen everything watch this too. In case you don’t know I’ve compiled all the abilities. “There are four in total.”

The corners of his mouth rose again.

“Four things….”

This is the second characteristic of the Guardian’s Essence.

Normal essence has only two skills: passive and active.

But the essence of a guardian is different.

(P) Source of Darkness — Resists death when the heart is intact.

Of course basic passive skills.

(A) Immolation Imprint — Temporarily increases physical abilities based on the number of creatures bled.

(A) Eternal — Temporarily increases regeneration power significantly in proportion to lost health.

(A) Blood Master — When directly absorbing blood one of the target’s skills is temporarily absorbed.

All active skills that can be attached are attached.

Originally to obtain [Sacrifice Engraving] you would have to eat the yellow essence of a vampire and to obtain [Blood Master] you would have to eat the red essence but…

There is nothing like that in the essence of a guardian.

Although the difficulty of obtaining it is high.

‘Since I have obtained this as well as the Immortal seal is it safe to say that the regenerative power setting is actually complete?’

The growth rate is so fast that even I who has been playing this game for ten years can’t believe it.

As I was feeling satisfied I heard her muttering to herself.

“Okay then that ends here for today. Thank you for your hard work. Come by anytime next week at your convenience. “I’ll be here anyway.”

“But is there anything more to investigate here?”

“What are you talking about? “For this number to be accepted as official data for the academic society we need to conduct ten more response surveys.”

…I see.

“I asked because I didn’t know so don’t be angry.”

“I’m not angry. Anyway if I have time I plan to check out the corpse golem’s essence so don’t ever think about running away.”

“…I get it.”

I was almost naked for the test so I put on some clothes.

And before I left I thought I would ask.

“Raven do you have any plans to enter the labyrinth in the future?”

“well? “I probably won’t be around for a while… Why is that?”

“Keuhumhum! “Wouldn’t it be better to hang out with people you know?”

I wonder if she was able to see my insides as clearly as I myself was looking at her.

She laughed as if it were ridiculous.

“Hey we’re not that kind of relationship are we?”

“Okay pretend you didn’t hear what I just said.”

“You don’t like it?”

A voice that suddenly becomes harsh.

If you think about it his personality was originally like this.

Although he is usually calm sometimes when Pinto gets out he becomes extremely snarky.

“How on earth can you ask me to join a team that only has two barbarians?”

Let me correct you it’s not even two people.

One person withdrew yesterday.

I feel like if I say that the atmosphere will become more violent.

“…So I told you to pretend I didn’t hear it!”

“How can you pretend not to hear something you’ve already heard?”

Is this an issue that raises such voices?

The car was wondering how best to react to her sudden haste.

“ha….”

She let out a long sigh as if her patience had engraved her stamp on her heart.

“Mr. Yandel if you are going to make such an offer to a wizard even if it is not me please at least form a proper team. Hmm… I hope all the team members are level 6 or higher and even priests.”

Who do you think doesn’t know that?

If things had been that good I wouldn’t have made this offer to you.

“I guess so.”

Anyway you should know that wizards have high arrogance.

***

“Then I’ll just go.”

“ah! “Wait a minute!”

Raven caught Bjorn as he was about to leave.

It was only later that she remembered that she had not asked.

“at that time! What was that then? You know what they shoved into the mouth of a fainted vampire? “I think I felt a divine power…”

It was a question that arose while I was recording past events to convey to my teacher.

What on earth was that?

No matter how you look at it it wasn’t something a level 9 explorer would carry around.

“Well I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“yes?”

“Aren’t you mistaken? “It was a very hectic situation wasn’t it?”

“Illusion? That can’t be possible. She clearly felt it —”

“I’ll just go now. “I have somewhere to go in a hurry.”

“hey! for a moment! wait-”

bang!

Bjorn closed the door and left without any time to say anything more.

‘So you’re hiding something?’

She frowned as she looked at the place she had left and headed towards her study with a huff.

Then she took out a thick book.

[Crack Summary III]

A record compiled by combining information about the crack.

An old book with such a simple title that doesn’t even have the author’s name written on it.

This book which I accidentally purchased in the free market as a child surprisingly contained knowledge that was not even recorded in academic societies.

“How many pages was there about the Bloody Citadel?…”

As she was turning the pages of her books her hands stopped at one place.

Map of the dungeon part.

The exact location of the hidden passage.

A page containing advanced information about the Bloody Citadel including how to obtain the ‘Necronomicon’ from the Devil’s Worship Room.

Unfortunately there were some parts that were unreadable.

Two of them too.

[Tears of the Goddess]

Where to get it: ——————.

[Golden Mask]

——— : ——— —.

Two items that have disappeared into the unknown as the method of obtaining them has been erased by the weathering of time.

I searched here and there to find it myself but in the end I couldn’t find it.

She tilted her head as she regained her appetite.

‘Wait a minute I think I’ve heard of the goddess’ tears somewhere…’

Where on earth was it?

As she was recalling her hazy memories she took out several religious books and quickly turned the pages one by one.

And how long has it been?

Finally her hands stopped turning the pages.

[Tears of the Goddess]

A consumable sacred object of unknown origin.

When destroyed it has the effect of spreading powerful ‘grace’ to the location.

150 years ago during a dimensional collapse Cardinal Androne used all three to save the Pope and disappeared from public view.

“A holy relic?”

She was shocked and even checked the picture on the next page.

It’s too early to be sure since I only saw it from a distance but it seemed to be roughly similar in shape and size.

Even how to use it and its effects.

“….”

Raven became confused.

Looking at the cancer alone it didn’t feel like this was just a coincidence.

But what if it wasn’t a coincidence?

How could a barbarian who had just become an adult know the hidden location of [Tear of the Goddess] and even think of using it right away?

‘No way Mr. Yandel….’

Her eyes lit up as she held the book as a possibility popped into her mind.

‘I’ll have to check it out.’

No matter how long it took.

It will be worth it.