Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Negotiation (2)

Negotiation (2)

A strange silence hangs in the air.

It would be polite to at least ask why I suddenly shouted, but...

The Dragonkin man just keeps his mouth shut and acts all serious after I let out the battle cry.

'Geez, how embarrassing.'

Just as the silence starts to feel uncomfortable...

"...Why did you suddenly shout?"

The brown-haired Dragonkin man asks, erasing his Dragon Fear. It's hard to read his emotions because of his reptilian eyes, but it seems like pure curiosity.

I answer without hesitation.

"I just felt like it. Is there a problem?"

It's a barbarian's cheat code that can be used for any action when you don't want to explain in detail.

The Dragonkin man seems to ponder for a moment and then chuckles.

"No, there's no problem. As I heard, barbarians are quite an interesting race."

A dignified, deep voice.

He then waves his hand in the air.

Swoosh.

A gust of wind blows, and the fog disappears.

The sight beyond it is quite different from what I expected.

Because there's no one there.

I thought the place was swarming with Dragonkin because of the gleaming eyes.

He avoids my gaze as if embarrassed when I look at him expectantly.

"I'll tell you beforehand, but I was against this childish act."

"Against it?"

"Ah, they said it's easier to negotiate if you intimidate them during the first meeting."

In short, it means the eyes were all an illusion.

Actually, if I had thought calmly, I could have figured it out beforehand. I emphasized 'secrecy' the most to Krovitz, and...

...Dragonkin are an extremely rare race.

It doesn't make sense for dozens of them to gather in one place just to intimidate me.

"Anyway, I apologize. Tsk, to go through all this just to save a few coins. I told them it's not right to treat a benefactor like that, to forget their duty."

His voice is still deep, but his tone and the atmosphere he exudes are incomparably lighter than before.

Was he acting before, and this is his true self?

If he's like this, it seems like we'll be able to communicate well.

But let's not let our guard down. Even this could be an act.

"Let's confirm first. I'm Bjorn, son of Yandel. Are you the chieftain of the Dragonkin?"

"Chieftain... I guess that's what you would call me. Although I haven't inherited the position for long."

"Not long?"

I involuntarily tilt my head.

I heard it's been over 30 years since the Dragonslayer killed the Ancient Dragon and was cursed...

"Time is relative to the one who perceives it."

Ah, right, Dragonkin have long lifespans.

I forgot for a moment since it wasn't really useful information in the game.

Anyway, it's not important, so let's get to the point.

"Chieftain."

"Call me Firsearaidormus."

Is it even possible to call him that comfortably?

As I'm inwardly contemplating how to react, the Dragonkin man laughs heartily and reveals a pseudonym.

"I was just kidding. Just call me 'Lafir'. It's my second name that I use publicly."

For reference, second names are a Dragonkin custom.

Since their real names are so long, they need a second name for convenience when living in the city.

I guess 'Regal Vagos' also has a much longer real name.

'Phew, that's a relief.'

I let out a silent sigh of relief.

This is a formal setting, after all.

If he had asked me to call him by his long real name, it would have been very annoying.

"Lafir. You can also just call me Yandel or Bjorn, whichever is easier to pronounce."

"I like the sound of 'Yandel'."

Anyway, the introductions are over.

Just as I'm about to speak...

...the Dragonkin man speaks first.

"Before we begin, can I see Dragonslayer? I heard the whole story from the Leathlas Church, but I still can't believe it."

I can't help but smile wryly as soon as I hear it.

Although he's speaking a bit more gently, the content itself is very blunt.

'To say he doesn't believe me to my face...'

Well, I can understand his feelings.

He's a member of Orculus, a notorious criminal with a bounty worth hundreds of millions of stones. It would be hard to believe that I, a 4th-floor explorer, beat him up and took his sword.

Thump!

I take out Dragonslayer from my backpack and stab it into the ground without any explanation.

'Ouch, that stings.'

My skin is already peeling after holding it for just 3 seconds.

The Dragonkin man then gets off his throne, pulls out the sword, and holds it in his hand.

And he mutters softly,

"So it's true."

Complex emotions are conveyed through his single sentence.

It seems both solemn and melancholic.

Well, his feelings must be complicated considering the story behind this sword.

The Dragonkin man, who had been standing there silently, holding the sword for a long time, puts it back and then asks,

"...How was he? You met him most recently, didn't you? I want to hear more details."

I summarize what happened that day, omitting any potentially disadvantageous details.

"I see. So he ended up like that... Thank you for telling me. As you requested, I'll keep the return of Dragonslayer a secret."

"Were you close to him?"

The Dragonkin man smiles bitterly at my question.

"He... is my younger brother."

"What?"

"So... I couldn't stop him."

Although I wanted to learn more about the Dragonslayer by continuing the conversation, the Dragonkin man changed the subject as if it wasn't something he wanted to talk about.

"Come to think of it, I haven't said this yet. Bjorn, son of Yandel, thank you for returning this sword. Regardless of the reward you ask for, we'll consider you as a benefactor."

I can feel his sincerity in his eyes.

Hmm, it's hard to tell because of his reptilian eyes, but anyway...

It's a bit embarrassing since I made this decision solely based on the reward...

'But there's no need to refuse his offer of treating me as a benefactor.'

I'll ask later about the specific benefits of being treated as a benefactor.

For now, I focus on the current conversation.

"So, what do you desire?"

It's practically the most important part of this meeting.

I've given it a lot of thought.

What to ask for in return for returning Dragonslayer, a sword made of 6th-tier material and with a significance similar to a sacred relic for Dragonkin.

"What can you offer me?"

I ask first.

I judged that there might be an offer that would change my mind. The Dragonkin man seems to have prepared a few things, as he answers without hesitation.

"The first is wealth."

Money.

It's not bad.

It was one of the three candidates I had in mind before making my final decision.

Considering that even 5th-grade weapons cost hundreds of millions of stones, I'll probably receive enough money to equip myself with high-grade gear from head to toe.

But...

"I don't need money."

The Dragonkin man makes a strange expression at my answer.

He didn't expect me to refuse this offer.

"Hmm, it seems like you don't know how much it is—"

"I repeat, what I desire is not money."

It doesn't matter how much it is.

It won't be more valuable than Dragonslayer anyway.

It's better to receive something else.

Sensing my resolve, the Dragonkin man doesn't say anything further and presents the next offer.

"The second is a companion."

"Companion?"

"I heard from Captain Krovitz that you're forming a new team."

"Get to the point."

"I'll assign one of my tribe members to your team for two years."

It's a reward I didn't even consider.

To offer a companion as a reward?

As expected of a race that knows its worth.

'It's definitely tempting.'

As seen in the battle with the Dragonslayer...

Dragon Speech can do things that no mage or priest can.

And they have high base stats, making them suitable for close combat, and some of them can even use magic that's only available to humans.

However, my answer is the same again.

"I've already found all my companions."

I'm not interested in receiving a companion who will leave after two years. I want a team that's united as one.

"She's a very beautiful child."

Hmm, so what?

The Dragonkin man coughs awkwardly and speaks again as I stare at him, conveying my feelings.

"...Then this is my last offer."

"Tell me."

"I'll give you the Akro equipment that will be created next year."

Right, so this was it.

I was expecting it.

After all, Akro and Dragonkin are closely related.

Only Dragonkin can handle Akro.

'They can create one item per year through a ritual.'

In that sense, this reward is actually the most rational. I'm trading an Akro longsword that I can't use for Akro equipment that I can use.

It's a deal where no one loses.

But...

'If I wanted that, I would have just taken the money.'

My answer is the same again.

"That doesn't seem very appealing either."

The Dragonkin man is speechless, as if he didn't expect this offer to be rejected as well. It seems like he can't think of anything else to offer...

So I decide to speak first.

"Forget about that, just give me a tattoo."

I say casually, as if it's nothing special.

"Tattoo?"

The Dragonkin man tilts his head in confusion, and then his eyes widen.

It seems like he finally realized what I meant.

"Don't tell me, you're talking about the Dragon's Blessing?"

Right, that's it.

The Dragonkin man's eyes change in an instant as I nod.

"Yandel, where did you hear about that?"

Phew, now it's getting real.

___________________

The Dragon's Blessing.

It's what makes Dragonkin OP, along with Dragon Speech.

"The elders were right. You guys are too greedy."

The Dragonkin man wipes the smile off his face.

And he unleashes the Dragon Fear he deactivated earlier.

"I should have done this from the beginning."

The air becomes heavy, making it difficult to breathe.

Is this his true form?

Whether his words about being against childish acts were true or not, the intensity is completely different from before.

But...

'It's not unbearable.'

It's the same as before.

Scary?

So what?

As long as the ancestor god is with me, barbarians never lose in a battle of nerves.

"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"

I clear my stiff throat by letting out a shout from my dantian, and the Dragonkin man stares at me blankly.

"What the..."

"Is there a problem?"

"...Are all barbarians like you?"

The Dragon Fear is withdrawn.

Right, he used his true form, but it wasn't because he was actually angry at me.

"Whew..."

The Dragonkin man relaxes his serious expression and sighs deeply.

"I'll give you Akro equipment and a hefty sum of money on top of that. How about that?"

He offers a new carrot, as if he's judged that I won't be swayed by intimidation.

For reference, I hate carrots.

"I refuse!"

"No, you don't understand, this would be harmful to you. Your tribe would brand you as a traitor if they found out."

The oracle has already been given, what's he talking about?

"So calm down a bit—"

"Lafir! You're a descendant of dragons, aren't you! Don't be stingy and just do it! You're saying you can't even do this for your benefactor? You're so cheap!"

The Dragonkin man just stares at me blankly, as if it's his first time being subjected to the unreasonable 'Just do it!' tactic at a negotiation table.

I take the opportunity and strike at his Achilles' heel.

"The Goddess of Stars said it. That Regal Vagos and I will meet again. That a strong karmic connection binds us."

"...The Goddess of Stars? Is that true?"

"I need to become stronger. So that I don't lose another companion to your brother."

Even I think it's a despicable thing to say, but what can I do?

In negotiations, the one who can use even dirty tactics without hesitation wins.

In the first place, it's not like I lied.

"Lafir, you said you couldn't stop your brother with your own power, right? Invest in me. I'll do what you couldn't."

I don't push him any further after that line.

The Dragonkin man enters thinking mode again, and it lasts for quite a while.

"...Maybe this is also my karma."

He mutters as if sighing.

"You're saying you'll do it?"

"...First, I need to confirm with the temple whether the oracle is true. And then I'll call you again. This isn't something I can decide on my own."

If that's the case...

"How long do you think it will take?"

"I don't know. A month? Two months? I'll give you an answer as soon as possible."

"I'll keep this until then."

"Alright."

It's a surprisingly cool acceptance.

I take Dragonslayer out and put it back in my backpack. And after asking a few questions and confirming how to contact him again, I conclude today's negotiation.

"It's a message stone. When I contact you, tear the paper I gave you. Then I'll be able to know where you are."

"Alright."

The Dragonkin man then uses a teleportation-type Dragon Speech to send me back to my inn room.

'...As expected, Dragon Speech is OP.'

Just as I'm having that thought, throwing off my equipment and lying down on the bed to rest for a while...

Knock, knock, knock.

I hear a knock on the door.

It means a stranger is visiting.

If it were Misha, she would have just opened the door, and if it were Ainar, it would have been a 'bang, bang, bang' instead of a 'knock, knock, knock'.

"Hello."

I open the door, and a familiar female face is there.

"Julian Urbans?"

The Regional Manager's daughter.

A true rebel who wishes for her father's downfall for her own freedom.

"So, have you changed your mind?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I checked, and they said your team disbanded. And that the mage died. Did that Rotmiller guy do something?"

Ah, so that's why she came back tirelessly.

Indeed, it might seem that way from an outsider's perspective.

"It's not 'that mage', it's Liol Wobu Dwarkey. And although it's true that your father tried something, Rotmiller didn't fall for it."

I first clarify the facts.

But then I realize that I need to resolve this issue as well.

Even if he tries something again, I don't think the bear-like man or Raven would fall for it...

But if I leave it be, it will become a bigger problem.

'I should just take care of it now.'

"Where's your father right now?"

"Uh, well... at this time, he's probably at the 7th district headquarters."

I get the information I need from Lady Urbans and then dismiss her.

"You can go back now. And don't come back. I don't want to get involved in your family matters."

"Yes? What do you mean..."

"I mean it literally."

When she first came to me, I thought she had a grudge against me because of the prison break incident.

But the timing was too coincidental.

She must be the reason why the Regional Manager suddenly became hostile towards me after a few months.

"I told you before, didn't I? Our interests align."

"Enough, get out."

I forcefully kick Lady Urbans out and then put on the equipment I had taken off.

Creak.

As soon as I open the door, I see Lady Urbans standing there.

"Are you going to see my father?"

"Yeah, I'm going to confront him."

"But why are you taking your weapons...?"

I tilt my head.

Why would I go to confront him without my weapons?

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