Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Bifron (1)

Bifron (1)

7:00 AM on Day 11 of the labyrinth expedition.

We returned to the forest after sending the three of them out of the rift.

And...

"Um, how about we eat something?"

"That would be good."

We finally felt hungry and gathered to cook. But as is human nature, drowsiness follows a full stomach.

"...Let's sleep today and do it tomorrow."

After all, it wasn't just one night we stayed up.

We wasted our mental energy playing the mafia game in the third chapter and had a massive PvP battle.

And then the Doppelganger boss battle.

Snore!

Sleepiness washes over me as soon as I close my eyes.

When I open my eyes again, a whole day has passed.

[07:12]

We went to sleep past 8:00 AM, but the hour hand on the clock has moved back an hour.

It means we slept for almost 24 hours.

"Oh, you're awake?"

"...Why didn't you wake me up?"

"We just woke up too."

So it wasn't out of consideration for me.

I wash my face with water from my canteen, and I smell something delicious nearby.

"Come over and get a bowl when you're awake. Ah, and wake Ainar up and bring her too. She wakes up easily when you wake her up, right?"

We then wake Ainar up and eat together, and then we wander through the forest, collecting what needs to be collected.

"Don't just follow me, check the ground carefully. One of these roots is worth 10,000 stones."

Herbs that grow naturally in the Doppelganger Forest.

"Mr. Yandel."

Kwaaang!

'Sealed Shard of Evil', which drops from the Sealing Stone with a certain probability when you destroy it, now that it's useless.

"How much is this worth?"

"About 1 million stones each."

"I see. I'll buy up to five."

I take five out of the seven shards we obtained.

Because there's no effect after that.

「Character has consumed 'Sealed Shard of Evil'.」

「Magic Resistance permanently increased by +1.」

For reference, I have Misha buy and consume the remaining two shards.

"Huh? Me?"

"You earned a lot of money, didn't you? Don't be stingy."

"No, it's not that I'm being stingy..."

Misha looks at Ainar with an apologetic expression.

Geez, she should be more selfish as an explorer.

Ainar's future essences will have a lot of Magic Resistance, so it's more rational for Misha to absorb them.

And she's not even getting them for free.

"Phew, but I can't find it, no matter how much I search."

"It's fine if it takes a day, let's keep looking."

Although there are no monsters, it takes a whole day to find it since the forest is so vast.

But we invest another day and search the entire forest once more, and finally find what we were looking for.

"Everyone, cover your ears... no, just stay far away. I'll pull this out."

It's a Mandrake, one of the ingredients for an elixir.

Raven uses magic to protect herself and pulls it out of the ground, and with that, everything we can do in the 'Doppelganger Forest' is complete.

However...

"I'm really sorry, but could you give me a little more time? I want to look around this place a bit more."

"Why?"

"It's purely personal curiosity."

We decide to stay a bit longer at Raven's request.

Unexpectedly, no one objects.

"Well, even the person who wrote the Compendium of Rifts wouldn't know everything, right?!"

"Maybe we'll find something else."

I see a glimmer of hope in my companions' eyes.

Well, I know that there's practically no chance of finding a hidden piece that I don't know about...

'But it's better than nothing.'

When we first met in the 'Crimson Fortress', she didn't even apologize. She just made the dwarf and me help her with her research.

"So where do you want to start looking?"

"First, that cave from the beginning."

We meticulously search everything, starting from the Shadow Cave, the first chapter, to the Marauder's Hideout, the boss room...

In other words, we smash anything that looks suspicious.

As expected, there are no hidden rooms or items.

However, we encounter countless questions in the process.

"Why a cage?"

"Because we had to wait until all the other teams entered?"

"Then it would be more rational to just synchronize the time. Like when we enter and leave the labyrinth."

Why does the 'Doppelganger Forest' start with us trapped in a cage?

What is the [Record of Offerings] we obtained from the altar, and why is it called 'offerings'?

Why did the clones transform into imperial soldiers after the third chapter?

No, in the first place, what is the 'Empire'?

"Now that I think about it, that's also a shame. He could talk, even if it was broken. We might have been able to get some information from him..."

Although we discuss Raven's question, we can't come up with a proper answer to any of them.

Therefore, the rift exploration ends here.

"I'm sorry, everyone. We wasted two days because of me."

"Don't apologize. You're our mage. It was a legitimate request. And we agreed to the search."

"That's right. And I actually enjoyed it, it felt like a real exploration. Right, Ainar?"

"Huh? I was bored."

"Please, read the room. Okay?"

Ainar looks dejected as Misha, who's been acting like her older sister lately, scolds her.

Raven chuckles, watching them.

"Thank you, everyone. But come to think of it, I don't think I need to apologize. Just selling one Mandrake root is enough to cover several days of hunting, right?"

"Our mage is finally back to normal."

"Back to normal? Mr. Urikfrit, what does that mean?"

The bear-like man shrugs and avoids answering, and Raven just looks at him suspiciously without prying further.

「Entered 4th Floor Tower of Heaven.」

We return to the labyrinth through the portal in the boss room on the afternoon of Day 14 and continue exploring. It takes about 6 days to reach the 5th floor.

Then, as originally planned, we pretend to focus on hunting while taking the 'Hellfire Canyon' route and search for 'Millarodden'.

Ah, for reference, it was a piece of cake once we found the black moss. I didn't even have to tell her to use the detection spell first.

It's because Raven, who enjoyed it last time, used detection magic every 5 minutes throughout the exploration.

"...It didn't appear again."

As a result, we were able to hunt a total of three Millarodden, but they were all duds.

Well, this is actually more common.

The success rate of the Distortion spell on Millarodden is 20%.

'I guess it's not happening this time.'

We didn't bother looking for Millarodden with only 5 days left until the labyrinth closes.

We wouldn't be able to achieve much even if we entered.

Tsk, I was planning to clear the areas we couldn't before since we have the 'Orb of Fire'.

「Killed Stoneburn. EXP +4」

「Killed Fire Wraith. EXP +2」

「Killed Red Mud. EXP +3」

「Killed Hellflame. EXP +5」

But the hunting itself isn't bad.

It's the only advantage of the Noark subjugation's failure.

The 5th floor is teeming with monsters since over 90% of the clans that were controlling the fields are gone.

Of course, this situation won't last long.

The clans that suffered losses will recover in a few months, and there are quite a few clans that didn't enter because of the unstable situation.

And so, time passes...

「Character is being transported to Lafdonia.」

...and the day of our return arrives.

__________________

Warm sunlight embraces my skin.

As always, I stand there blankly, basking in its warmth. I look around, and I see explorers doing the same thing everywhere.

'Alright, let's go.'

I head towards the checkpoint for our rank, and my companions are already there.

Well, everyone except for one.

"It seems like Avman isn't here yet."

"Ah, he's coming now. With someone else."

It's a sight that amazes me every time I see it.

How can he get lost here when the plaza is so big?

"Haha, the line is short this time."

"It's not because you came early, but because there are fewer explorers who entered the labyrinth this time."

"Ahem, who said anything?"

Anyway, the line disappears quickly as we wait.

The magic stone exchange income is much lower than before.

"It's 7,080,000 stones."

Divided by five, it's 1,416,000 stones per person.

It's almost four times less than last time.

But it can't be helped.

We didn't even enter the other world, and the Doppelganger Forest, where we invested our time, isn't a place where you can earn a lot of magic stones.

"So that's it?"

"Yes, good work this time as well."

The employee doesn't look at us suspiciously since we didn't earn an absurd amount of money.

But just as we're about to leave after the exchange...

"Ah, please wait a moment!"

Huh?

"...Is there a problem?"

The employee hurriedly stops us.

And he speaks rapidly,

"Team Apple Nark, and the leader, Bjorn Yandel. Is that correct?"

"So?"

"...Please wait here for a moment. This also applies to your team members."

Although I'm not grabbed and restrained by guards with scary faces like last time, I can feel that something is wrong.

Is it the same for our mage?

"Excuse me, shouldn't you at least explain what's going on?"

Raven speaks aggressively on my behalf, as if I'm about to have a PTSD episode.

And at that moment...

"Inspector, are these them?"

"Ah, yes! That's right!"

A knight enters the checkpoint.

Raven's face hardens.

"...Why is the Moselan here?"

Moselan.

An enforcement agency composed solely of knights of noble birth, and a group with a notorious reputation.

"Bjorn."

Even Misha, who witnessed Dwarkey being arrested before, is trembling.

But unexpectedly, the knight is kind.

At least compared to those arrogant bastards we saw before.

"Greetings. I'm Elmeras from the Moselan Enforcement Division."

Although he's speaking casually as if we're his servants, it's a characteristic of nobles, so it's only natural.

This is actually considered gentle.

And most importantly, he's even offering a handshake.

It means he's not hostile towards us.

"...Bjorn, son of Yandel."

I let out an inward sigh of relief and shake his hand.

But my anxiety hasn't completely disappeared.

Why did the inspector detain us, and what business does the Moselan have with us?

"Hello."

"Hmm, and you, miss?"

"I'm Arrua Raven from the Artemion school. I'd like to know why Sir Elmeras is looking for us."

The knight smiles and answers Raven's question,

"There's only one reason why an inspector would detain explorers. You guys have a warrant out for your arrest."

It's news that's like a bolt from the blue.

"Yes? What do you mean..."

"Don't be too surprised. Judging by the disciplinary action, it doesn't seem that serious."

"No, more importantly, what's the reason?"

The knight grins and answers,

"Using abilities within the city. And entering the labyrinth without permission, disobeying the officials' orders."

Ah, that...

Raven and the rest of us all shut our mouths. We completely forgot about it because of all the things that happened in the labyrinth.

In the first place, I thought it would just end with a fine.

"I don't understand at all. Wouldn't it normally be just a fine for something like that?"

I can't help but ask in a slightly questioning tone.

No matter how I think about it, there's no reason for a warrant to be issued, and even less so for the Moselan to be involved.

Then what's going on?

"Considering the situation, it can't be treated as a simple misdemeanor. It can also be interpreted as disobeying the royal family's orders."

Right, so that's how it is.

I roughly understand the situation.

It seems like Raven also understands.

"...They're trying to tighten the reins on explorers."

"What's there to hide in front of a mage? You're right. It's only been a day, but your story is already spreading among explorers."

"Our story?"

"They're saying they should have just ignored the orders and charged in, that it was stupid to wait. The higher-ups judged that if it just ended with a fine, similar incidents would happen again."

In short, it's to make an example out of someone.

To punish one person and instill fear in the hearts of a hundred.

"Please understand, if we don't control the explorers now, something worse might happen."

I think I understand why they chose me.

I've gained some fame, and I even became a hot topic because of the unauthorized entry, so they probably judged that the story would spread quickly.

"So, what's going to happen to us?"

The knight corrects one thing before answering my question.

"To be precise, it's not 'you guys', it's 'you'."

Only I'll be punished.

He said the rest will just get a fine.

They seemed to be caught up in the situation, and there's no need for everyone to suffer when it's just a symbolic punishment.

"Ooh, rational! Right, it's a rational decision!!"

My heart aches, seeing Ainar so happy.

Even Raven isn't objecting, and the bear-like man is relieved that he won't be beaten up by his wife.

Am I really the only one who can speak for myself?

That's when, as that thought of distrust towards humanity is lingering in my mind...

"Um, sir? Since it's just a symbolic punishment, can I take it instead?"

Misha is the only one who steps up for me.

"What are you talking about?"

I chuckle and push Misha away.

I appreciate the thought, but there's no way that would work.

In the first place, I'm the main culprit in this incident.

And besides, judging by what he's saying, the punishment doesn't seem that severe...

"It's fine, I'll take responsibility. So tell me, what's going to happen to me?"

The knight says casually,

"You'll be living in Bifron for 20 days."

It's a temporary exile.

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