Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Leader (4)

Leader (4)

“Mister!!!!”

Erwen, emerging from the group of explorers, hugged one of my arms.

“I’m so glad! I was so worried!!”

Huh, I didn’t expect to see her here.

Of course, I wasn’t unhappy about it.

I relaxed a bit and looked around.

Her sister, Daria, was also there.

At first, I thought they might be from the clan Erwen joined as a mercenary.

But it seemed like that wasn’t the case either.

Most of them were wearing clan emblems, but not all of them. And the emblems were all different.

Then what kind of group was this?

“Miss Erwen, who is he?”

A human woman, seemingly in her early thirties, lowered her weapon and asked, and Erwen finally let go of my arm and turned around.

“Don’t worry, I know him! Ah, and my sister knows him too! Right, sis?”

“…That’s right. His identity is confirmed, so you don’t have to worry about him being from Noark.”

“That’s a relief.”

The woman, after hearing Daria’s words, ordered the wary explorers to lower their weapons.

Hmm, is this woman the leader here?

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Versil Gowland, the vice-leader of the Lalel Clan.”

“I’m Bjorn, son of Yandel.”

“Little Balkan…?”

The woman looked at me with a welcoming gaze as I shrugged.

“My, we have a very important person here.”

It was a compliment that subtly raised my status.

An ordinary barbarian would have puffed out his chest and acted arrogantly at this point.

Is this how leaders talk?

“I’m not that important. I should be the one saying that.”

I answered briefly and looked at the woman.

I wasn’t just being polite, I meant it.

“The Lalel Clan, if I’m not mistaken, is a pretty big clan.”

It wasn’t one of the Top Ten Clans, but it was big enough to be considered a large clan.

The unique characteristic was that 80% of the clan members were women.

“And the vice-leader…”

I met a big shot in an unexpected place.

But I had no intention of just socializing.

“So what are you guys doing here?”

“I’ll explain.”

Versil, the vice-leader of the Lalel Clan, briefly explained the situation as soon as the introductions were over.

It seemed like they were in a similar situation to us.

They had moved quickly to reach the 2nd floor as soon as they entered the labyrinth.

And…

“That incident happened.”

Versil returned to the starting point to assess the situation.

However, it was already pandemonium.

So she started gathering forces as a temporary measure.

“Everyone gathered here are people we met nearby. Their identities are confirmed.”

“Confirmed?”

“I don’t know everyone personally, but we’re all acquainted one way or another. Unfortunately, we had to exclude those who couldn’t be vouched for, so you can relax.”

Right, so they used that method because they couldn’t trust the identification tags.

Just like how Erwen vouched for me.

They were a group that had formed a minimum level of trust by vouching for each other.

“Our goal is simple.”

Versil then presented the group’s objective.

“To protect ourselves by joining forces. And ultimately, to break through the enemy lines and reach the safe zone.”

“By safe zone, do you mean the dark zone in the center?”

“Yes, it seems like you know. That’s good.”

As expected of a vice-leader of a successful clan…

…she was skilled at handling people.

Her personality also seemed quite cautious.

‘And she must be quite skilled, being a vice-leader.’

I accepted Versil’s offer to join them after a brief moment of contemplation.

“Alright, I look forward to working with you.”

In this chaotic situation where I don’t know how the day will end…

…I found a temporary shelter.

___________________

“You don’t have to keep watch, so please rest for a while. I’ll explain everything when we’re about to leave.”

I gratefully accepted Versil’s consideration.

I desperately needed a break.

The fog blocking our vision.

Battles against humans, not monsters.

And the chaotic situation where it’s impossible to predict what will happen next.

I was physically tired, but the mental stress was even greater.

“Come on, let’s rest here.”

I led my teammates, who were standing awkwardly as if they were uncomfortable with the unfamiliar explorers, to an empty spot and sat down.

And we rested.

“This is great. To think we would meet these people… there’s still hope…”

Could it be that they’re finally relaxing?

My companions, who were initially wary of their surroundings, also enjoyed the brief respite with relieved expressions.

That’s when…

“Mister, you made a good decision. That vice-leader, she’s very strong. And the others are too.”

Erwen, who had been tactfully staying next to her sister, naturally approached me and sat down.

“By the way, we must be fated. I was just thinking about you. And then you really appeared! Hehe.”

“Tsk.”

Even Ainar and Misha, who usually didn’t like Erwen, just frowned slightly and didn’t start anything.

They knew too.

How foolish it would be to cause trouble with personal feelings in this situation.

“But how do you two know each other? I heard that fairies and barbarians don’t get along.”

Raven, who was meeting her for the first time, expressed her curiosity and joined the conversation.

“Ah, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m—”

“I know! Mister told me about you a lot. He said a very talented mage joined his team…”

“…Did Mr. Yandel really say that?”

Hmm, not exactly…

I decided to just watch silently, thinking that she’s just being sociable.

“I’m Erwen Fornachi di Tersia. It’s Miss Arrua Raven, right?”

“Just call me Raven.”

“Then please call me Erwen.”

Erwen, after finishing the introductions in a friendly atmosphere, told them about how we met, as if bragging.

Even the bear-like man, who was leaning against the wall, was pretending not to listen but was actually listening intently, as if he was also curious about our relationship.

“To think that this pretty fairy is the one he had his first return drinks with… Yandel, you really have a lot of luck with women.”

What is this man talking about?

“Mr. Urikfrit, was it? Hehe, thank you for the compliment!”

“…Call me Avman.”

“Okay, Mr. Avman!”

Erwen, acting like the youngest, quickly made friends with everyone.

Honestly, I was quite impressed.

“But how do you use this crossbow? It seems like an ordinary person wouldn’t even be able to pull it because of the tension.”

“Ah, this? It’s nothing special. Do you want to try it?”

“Is it okay? Ugh… wow! It’s on a completely different level from my bow.”

“Huhu, it’s only natural since I used troll tendons.”

I can’t believe she’s this good at socializing.

It’s like she’s showing off her skills in front of her mother-in-law—

‘Ah, maybe that’s not wrong.’

Come to think of it, I said I was going to form a clan.

Naturally, Raven and the bear-like man are the top candidates for recruitment.

She probably judged that it would be good to get on their good side since we might end up in the same clan someday.

Well, she was making enemies with the other two.

“Beefcake. Put your lips down. Is this a situation to be smiling?!”

“…Huh?”

The bear-like man freezes, stunned by Ainar’s unexpected attack.

But did he realize the situation belatedly?

He said something incomprehensible, as if making an excuse.

“Ah, ah! I, I’m a cat person, of course.”

“Right? I almost suspected you! So come here and look at my greatsword. Talking about bows is boring!”

“Uh… boring?”

“Of course!!”

Ainar drags the bear-like man to her side and makes him sit down.

That’s when…

“Erwen.”

“Ah, sis.”

Daria, who was watching us from afar, approaches.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I have something to talk to you about.”

“Uh, with mister?”

“Yes.”

I was about to get up since she said she had something to talk to me about, but Daria stopped me.

“There’s no need to do that while you’re resting.”

“Really? Then what is it?”

Daria looked at me awkwardly as I asked. She seemed uncomfortable talking to me.

I soon realized why.

“You… became a 5th-grade explorer?”

As far as I know, Daria was also a 5th-grade explorer, and that hasn’t changed.

But what about me?

I, who was a 9th-grade newbie back then, had become a 5th-grade explorer leading a team in just one year.

So it’s only natural for her to feel awkward.

“So? Is that all you wanted to say?”

“…I have a proposal.”

“Go ahead.”

“How about you join us for a while?”

“Explain in more detail.”

Daria spoke in a completely business-like tone at my request.

She said that although seven teams had gathered, it was all just temporary, and most teams were sticking with teams they were acquainted with.

“If you agree, our two teams will stay close together when we move. So that we can join forces immediately if something happens.”

Wherever people gather, factions form.

Daria was proposing an alliance.

“That’s not a bad offer.”

The offer itself was quite attractive.

Well, if one condition was met.

“But did you get permission from your leader?”

Daria was a mercenary member of the 4th team of the Blue Wall Clan.

Naturally, the team leader was one of the clan’s executives.

Did she already discuss it with him?

“That guy… don’t worry, I can persuade him. So what’s your answer?”

“Alright.”

“Okay, then I’ll be back later. Erwen, let’s go back for now.”

“Uh-huh…”

Daria then returned to her team with her sister, and I watched them leave.

I felt a strange sensation.

When we first met, she just treated me like a naive barbarian. And a guy who was just hanging around her sister.

But to think I would receive an offer like this from her…

“Everyone, finish your preparations, we’ll be leaving soon.”

Versil announced our departure after a few more minutes of rest. Ah, for reference, she also told us the formation our team should maintain while moving, and we were positioned third from the front.

The team right behind us was Erwen’s.

‘This feels like we’re being taken advantage of.’

It’s a structure where each team follows the other like a train.

Of course, I didn’t have any complaints.

It’s only natural to move in a single file in the Crystal Cave, and Versil’s team, with the strongest combat power, was clearing the path at the forefront.

But…

“I heard about you from Daria and Erwen. You’re called Little Balkan, right? I look forward to working with you.”

“Yeah, I’ll leave the rear to you.”

Why are we ahead of them?

Could this be a coincidence?

‘There’s no way.’

Although the third and fourth positions might seem similar, it’s a fact that the front is more dangerous.

It’s a minor detail, but we’re definitely at a disadvantage.

It seemed like Raven also thought so.

“Um, I don’t feel good about this.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“The formation. We’re not going to keep going like this, right? It would be better to take turns, whether it’s the front or the back.”

The leader of Erwen’s team, let’s just call him Lantern Jaw, smiled kindly at Raven’s objection.

“Haha, we have more ranged attackers, and you guys have more melee attackers. It’s just a rational arrangement.”

“That’s—”

“And besides, we’re positioned in the safest spot, the center. Who do you think that’s thanks to?”

Lantern Jaw cut Raven off and drew a firm line.

Even Raven, the rationalist, couldn’t say anything.

“…….”

If it’s really thanks to him that we’re in this position…

…then it’s only fair for us to be in the front since we didn’t contribute anything.

We could even say that we’re benefiting from it.

But…

‘A mere team leader from a small or medium-sized clan can influence the vice-leader of a large clan?’

It sounded like bullshit.

I needed to observe a bit more.

“Alright, let’s end this conversation here and go. It seems like the front has already left.”

Geez, he’s rushing us.

I pushed aside my suspicions and moved forward.

Thud, thud.

And so, the journey began in earnest.

__________________

The journey itself was smooth.

It felt like a stroke of luck that we encountered them and that Erwen, who could vouch for my identity, was among them.

“Vice-leader! It’s a dark mage!!”

“Buy some time. I’ll take care of it soon.”

The combat power of the team with the vice-leader of a large clan was truly impressive.

‘They said their clan mainly operates on the 7th floor.’

It was very comfortable for us to just follow them as they cleared the path.

‘Is this what it feels like to be carried?’

I barely even swung my mace, except for a few ambushes from side paths.

That’s when, about an hour into the journey…

“There’s good news and bad news.”

…Versil, the vice-leader, stopped and spoke to us.

“The good news is that we’re almost there. We can reach the dark zone in 20 minutes if we run.”

Right, I already knew that.

“What’s the bad news?”

Versil muttered in a neutral tone at an explorer’s question.

“We can’t all go together.”

A chilling silence started to fill the cave.

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