Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Chapter 329: Ouroboros (4)

Chapter 329: Ouroboros (4)

The Traitor, Ricardo Liuhen Praha.

The battle with this guy shocked me in many ways.

It was my first time realizing that ‘weapon mastery’, not ‘specs’ like essence skills, high stats, or Aura, could have such a huge impact on a battle.

Whoosh!

Even his seemingly casual swings were all calculated, setting up his next move.

It was a level beyond simply being good at fighting.

Of course, that didn’t mean I was in a desperate situation.

‘I don’t have to win.’

As long as I could stall for time, it was my victory.

‘I think I’m starting to see it.’

At first, I had to rely on my senses and reflexes to dodge and block his attacks, but as time passed, I started to see it. How he was using his current move to set up his next one.

Whoosh!

He was aiming for my wrist to keep me occupied.

The best option was to dodge back…

‘But he’s expecting that. Then my neck would be exposed.’

It was a checkmate.

Assuming [Flameless Spirit] was working properly.

Swoosh.

I deactivated [Gigantification], and my body shrank, and his sword grazed my wrist. But had he anticipated even this?

Whoosh!

His sword twisted like a snake and aimed for my thigh.

Tadat.

I quickly retreated.

But he saw my movement and changed his sword’s trajectory without hesitation.

Towards Amelia, who was unconscious.

‘Damn it…’

I quickly used [Transcendence] and [Eye of the Storm] to pull him towards me.

Amelia was safe now.

But…

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

…as if he had anticipated even this, he swung his sword as he was being dragged by the wind.

Well, I managed to avoid it…

‘What the hell, is his brain a supercomputer?’

The more I fought him, the more I felt like I was being played.

It felt like he could read my every move. I could understand how modern Go players felt when they were defeated by AI.

‘It would be really helpful if I could learn something from him.’

Although it wasn’t something I could learn just by watching, it wasn’t every day that I fought a swordsman of this caliber in a life-or-death battle, so I stalled for time, trying to learn as much as I could.

After some time…

‘The old man should be done by now…’

…I thought.

“Ugh…”

Amelia groaned.

She wasn’t conscious yet, but it was a sign that her injuries were healing.

‘Okay, I can take him down 2v1 once Amelia wakes up…’

That was probably why he had been targeting Amelia whenever he had the chance, even while fighting me.

He was a ruthless fighter who didn’t have any pride as a swordsman, as we could see from his fight against the Knight of Light.

He would run away if the situation became unfavorable.

Without hesitation.

Like right now.

“…I won’t forget this.”

He judged that now was the best time to escape, before Amelia woke up.

Tadat.

He retreated, leaving behind a cliché villain line, and I didn’t follow him.

I didn’t show it, but I was almost out of MP.

I had been using [Swing] to match his strength every time I blocked his sword, and I had been spamming [Transcendence], [Leap], and [Eye of the Storm] throughout the battle.

‘Well, then that’s settled…’

I approached Amelia.

Her breathing was stable, and it seemed like her severed arm would take a bit more time to heal—

“Haha.”

I heard a voice behind me.

I quickly turned around, and…

“You really defeated him alone?”

…Auril Gabis was looking at me with an impressed expression.

_______________________

“It would have been much easier if you had helped.”

“I didn’t want to see him yet.”

“I see…”

I looked away, knowing that he wouldn’t give me a reason.

There was something floating in the air next to Auril Gabis, as if he was using telekinesis.

No, it was a person.

Baby Amelia, unconscious.

It seemed like things had gone smoothly on that side since she was here…

‘But I have to confirm.’

I looked at Auril Gabis and asked,

“So… what happened?”

“It went well. He said my name at the end, just like you asked.”

“What about Laura?”

“Hmm, you’re suddenly being curt…”

“Haha, of course not. It’s a misunderstanding.”

The old man looked at me suspiciously and then chuckled, as if it wasn’t important.

“Anyway, it’s the same for this girl’s sister. I gave her the medicine and healed her, then sent her to the surface, just like you asked.”

He was efficient.

He said he threw her into the first carriage he saw and disguised it as an accident?

It would be evidence that she had lost her memories.

And he even put an ID card of someone around her age in her pocket…

“I think I know what you’re after. You didn’t do anything stupid, did you? Haha.”

“Of course not.”

It seemed like there wouldn’t be any problems with her sister.

So I confirmed the next item on the agenda.

“But what happened to her sister?”

“Don’t worry. I told you, didn’t I? Subtle magic is my specialty. She’ll never realize that she saw a hallucination. Everything was real, except for her sister’s death.”

The part where Laura was crushed by the rock and stabbed herself in the neck was real. The only hallucination was that the potion stopped working when her heart stopped.

“But why did you have to reveal my name?”

“She said it happened that way in her memories.”

It was a necessary part of the script to eliminate any contradictions.

“Hmm, that’s true. You’re quite clever. I didn’t expect you to come up with such a brilliant idea.”

The old man looked at me with admiration, but I felt a bitter taste in my mouth.

It was a ridiculous farce.

It felt like I was an actor following a script.

‘This is so inefficient.’

I still couldn’t understand it.

I wouldn’t have done it this way.

There was no need to pretend that Laura died…

…and there was no reason to bring Amelia to Noark. I could have just sent her to the surface with her sister.

It could have been a happy ending for everyone.

But I had used this inefficient method, a method that made a young girl suffer for twenty years.

Because I went back in time and met Auril Gabis.

Because I realized that there was no way to change what had already happened.

I had decided on the outcome and then filled in the blanks.

‘Maybe…’

Maybe the question of which came first, the chicken or the egg, was meaningless from the beginning.

After all, what did it matter?

The egg laid by a chicken would eventually become a chicken.

“You don’t seem happy.”

I honestly told Auril Gabis what I was thinking. He listened patiently and then patted my arm.

“I understand how you feel, but don’t think too much about it. You also gained a lot from this, didn’t you?”

It wasn’t a very helpful consolation.

Information that could only be obtained in the past, the buff Auril Gabis gave me, Kraul’s Demon Crusher, a Double Numbered Item, and an Amelia (SSR) Recruitment Ticket.

I had definitely gained a lot, but…

“The world, the nation, and society are all maintained because everyone fulfills their roles. Think of this as your role.”

That made me feel even more uneasy.

What the hell is the Fragment of Records?

I wanted to ask more, but I didn’t have time.

“Now that everything’s over, I think it’s time for you to receive the reward we agreed on—”

I firmly cut off Auril Gabis as he subtly changed the subject.

“We’re not done yet.”

“Huh?”

“Give her to me.”

There was one more thing I had to do.

______________________

Amelia was being carried on someone’s back, running through the sewers, when she regained consciousness.

She wondered who it was, her mind still hazy.

“You’re awake?”

The voice brought her back to her senses.

No wonder his back felt so wide.

“Iron Mask…”

It was Iron Mask.

The one who, unlike the other clan members, had been kind to her and her sister, both in the labyrinth and outside.

And…

‘Emily’s companion.’

She didn’t know why, but Emily had been taking care of them all day. She wasn’t oblivious.

‘Why are they helping us…?’

She couldn’t understand.

But one thing was certain.

She and her sister would have been…

‘Been…?’

Memories flooded back to her.

“Si, sister!”

“……?”

“Wh, what happened to her? She, she was right next to me…! Didn’t you see her?”

“…You were the only one I found in the rubble.”

“Ah…”

Amelia clenched her fists.

“Ah, ah…”

Her mind was spinning.

Iron Mask’s explanation of the situation sounded muffled.

“We’re going back to Noark now. The way out to the city is blocked… What, are you asleep?”

A deep, low voice echoed in her fading consciousness.

“…I’m sorry, I couldn’t save her.”

“…….”

“See you later.”

That was the last thing she remembered.

“This is…”

When she opened her eyes again, she was in a desolate cemetery.

She could see Noark’s fortress in the distance, and the air smelled of smoke.

And…

“…….”

…she was alone.

Iron Mask wasn’t there, and neither was Emily.

And her only sister was gone.

Swoosh.

Amelia drew her dagger, as if possessed.

It was covered in blood.

“Si, sister…”

She realized it as she looked at the blood on the dagger.

What had happened today wasn’t a dream.

“Ah, ah…”

She heard a commotion as she sat there for a long time.

“Over here! There’s someone here!”

“What the, who is she?”

“It’s one of Pelic Barker’s runners.”

“Let’s take her, she might know something.”

Amelia was dragged into the city by the guards, and she finally realized…

“…….”

…that she was completely alone.

Her sister, who had always protected her, was gone.

She had to survive in this city alone.

______________________

“Seeing her like that makes me feel bad. Like I did something wrong.”

What the hell, is he trying to act like a kind old man?

He doesn’t even mean it.

“By the way, where’s your companion?”

“She’s still there.”

“You left an unconscious woman behind…”

“Don’t worry, she’ll wake up as soon as I leave.”

Hmm, if he says so.

I also felt relieved.

She could take care of herself, no matter what happened.

But I was curious about one thing.

“But why didn’t she come with you?”

Auril Gabis answered as if it was obvious.

“We have things to discuss.”

Ah, that…

‘I can’t refuse now…’

It’s human nature to act differently when you’re entering and leaving a bathroom.

Although I had made up my mind to give in, I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

“Are you planning to break your promise?”

Auril Gabis’ voice was gentle, but there was an underlying pressure.

“Your name.”

The old man took a step closer as I subtly avoided his gaze.

“Tell me your name. Or you can take off your mask first. Hmm, right… it would be better to see your face first.”

His presence was intimidating.

Therefore…

“Wa, wait!”

…I hurriedly raised my hand and stopped him.

And I reached into my subspace pocket.

He asked, watching me,

“…Why are you searching your bag?”

Because I had something to try.

“The Fragment of Records?”

He tilted his head as he saw the item I took out.

“Why do you have that?”

Why?

Because it was my last resort.

After all, the Lord had said,

[It’s the same as when you arrived. You’ll be summoned back when you finish what you have to do here…]

The way to return to my original time was to finish my ‘role’. I had judged that my remaining ‘role’ was to save Laura.

And that role was now complete.

In other words, if this worked, I could escape to the future without paying him.

Well, that was the plan…

‘Why isn’t it working?’

…but the Fragment of Records didn’t react.

But could it be that my disappointment showed on my face?

“…Haha, so that was your plan.”

The old man seemed to have figured out my intentions, his eyes widening.

“I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted to be on good terms with you. That’s why I even did all those favors for you… but to think you were planning to betray me until the very end.”

“It’s a misunderstanding… a misunderstanding. If we just talk calmly—”

“Enough. I know how to handle you now.”

‘Damn it.’

I involuntarily took a step back, and Auril Gabis gestured in the air.

Whoosh!

My body was pulled towards him by an invisible force, as if he was using [Eye of the Storm]. When I came to my senses, I was standing right in front of him.

“Well, then let’s see your face first.”

He reached out towards my helmet.

‘Damn it, I should have just taken it off myself.’

It was too late for regrets.

Thud.

That’s when, as his fingertips touched my helmet…

…there’s light even in the darkest night.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The Fragment of Records in my hand suddenly started emitting a bright white light.

‘Right, this is how you exploit an old man.’

I grinned as the world turned white.

“So, sorry about that. I was trying to keep my promise, but…”

“…You bastard!!”

“Don’t shout. What can I do? My role here is over.”

“Your name! Then at least tell me your—”

Flash!

The light exploded, and Auril Gabis’s voice was cut off.

And…

Thud.

…my feet touched the ground.

The timing was tight, but my plan to exploit the old man had succeeded—

“Huh…”

But what the hell?

“Huh…?”

I froze as I looked around.

Everything was the same.

The destroyed cemetery.

The caretaker’s corpse.

And even the smell of smoke from the burning city.

Something should have changed if I had returned to my original time, but everything was the same.

Except…

“Where did the old man go?”

…for Auril Gabis, who was gone.