Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Chapter 338: Snowball (2)

Chapter 338: Snowball (2)

Two years and six months.

I had spent about six months in the past, so time had flowed five times faster here.

The problem was that the time ratio wasn't fixed.

"Amelia, did you arrive before me?"

I asked, even though I was already certain, and she answered immediately.

"Yes, it was a long wait. I left that magic tool you were holding. I set it up to signal me when you returned. I didn't expect it to take over two years, though."

So that was why I heard the beeping sound when I woke up.

It was the magic tool activating.

"Anyway, I'll explain everything later. Just keep running for now."

Amelia wanted to leave this place as soon as possible, but I couldn't just follow her blindly.

There was something I didn't understand.

"Wait, if Erwen is the one chasing us, why are we running away?"

"You wouldn't know, but she'll definitely try to kill me. And if we fight in this city, I'll definitely lose."

I understood that she would lose...

"But why would she want to kill you?"

"Because she thinks I'm responsible for your death."

"Ah..."

I could finally picture the situation.

But I still couldn't understand why Amelia was running away.

"But I can just talk to her and explain—"

"It won't be that easy."

"...What?"

I asked, confused, and Amelia stopped running. She turned to me and said in a serious voice,

"Yandel, she's not the Erwen you knew."

She looked like she was talking about a monster.

Amelia was certain that I wouldn't be able to control Erwen.

"But what happened to her...?"

"A lot has happened. I don't have time to explain everything."

Amelia cut me off and continued,

"It doesn't matter if she still wants to kill me or not. The important thing is..."

"What is it...?"

"She can't protect you."

I felt confused and frustrated.

I couldn't understand what was going on.

"...Protect me? From who?"

I asked, dumbfounded, and Amelia answered curtly,

"From everyone."

What did she mean?

I was about to ask another question when...

"Bjorn Yandel."

Amelia called my name and said,

"This happened two years ago."

Her voice was firm and bitter, like a doctor giving a patient a terminal diagnosis.

"The royal family announced that you were an evil spirit."

...What?

______________________

A lazy afternoon.

Sunlight streamed through the window of a spacious office.

But the atmosphere inside was far from peaceful.

"...That's all."

Alex Hailo, the Vice-Captain of the 3rd Magic Corps.

He finished his regular report and stood at attention, his chin held high, observing his superior's expression.

She was frowning as she read through the documents.

"Hmm..."

She finished reading and looked up at him.

Her eyes were filled with exhaustion, a familiar sight.

He sighed in relief.

He knew from experience...

That he would be safe this time.

"Good work. The report is well-written. The part about Noark's movements was especially interesting. It's just speculation, but it shows imagination. It's much better than the garbage you usually bring."

Was that a compliment or an insult?

He didn't know, but he had only one answer.

"Thank—"

"You thought I would say that?"

Oh, shit.

Gulp.

Her voice had suddenly changed, and he instinctively swallowed.

Her eyes were no longer filled with exhaustion.

They were still tired, but...

They were sharp, like a predator about to pounce on its prey.

He knew he couldn't just stand there.

"Tell me what needs to be fixed, and I'll fix it."

"The format is wrong. I told you last time, but you made the same mistake again. Don't you know that this report goes to Captain Febrosk after I approve it?"

"...I'll fix it."

"And the content is even worse. Noark surviving in the labyrinth? You should write novels instead. Well, they probably won't sell, though."

"I'll fix it."

"Are you a parrot? How will you fix it? Tell me."

Finally, it was over.

"...I'll rewrite it."

"Good. Then get out."

Her gaze shifted to another document, and he clung to his shattered soul and turned around.

He carefully closed the door, trying not to disturb her.

Creak.

He could see her through the closing gap. She was focused on her work, her tired face illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the window.

There was something captivating about her dedication.

He understood why the soldiers in the corps feared her, but didn't hate her.

'She would be much more popular if she was just a little nicer...'

The Golden Mage.

The Vice-Captain of the 3rd Magic Corps, known as the 'Little Ghost' within the corps.

'She's definitely beautiful—'

"What are you doing? Get out!"

"I, I apologize! Nia Lafdonia!"

He hurriedly slammed the door shut and saluted.

And then...

"Sigh, when will he be useful..."

Arrua Raven, the Golden Mage, sighed as she watched the door close.

But her attention quickly shifted back to her work.

She picked up her pen and continued working through the pile of documents on her desk.

And after some time...

"That's enough for today."

Raven stretched, her stiff muscles aching.

She looked out the window.

The sun had already set, and the sky was dark.

'I finished all the important tasks today. I'll come back early tomorrow and finish the rest...'

She unbuttoned her uniform jacket, then stopped and buttoned it back up.

She would have to wear it again tomorrow anyway.

She put on her officer's coat, finished organizing her desk, and then checked the calendar.

December 2nd, 156th year of the Change Era.

She still felt a strange sense of detachment whenever she looked at the calendar.

It should be getting better by now.

But she still felt a tightness in her chest, her body stiffening from time to time.

She had experienced loss, and that made her realize...

How precious those short expeditions with him and his companions had been.

But those days were gone.

'It's already been over two years...'

Two years and six months.

So much had happened during that time.

But to summarize it briefly...

It had been a long time.

The bonds she had tried so hard to maintain had been shattered.

She had joined the royal army as a 6th-grade mage from the Artemion School and had become the Vice-Captain of a corps.

She opened the window.

A cold winter breeze blew in.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

She closed her eyes and thought about her former companions.

The barbarian warrior, Ainar Frenelin.

Avman, who was often unreliable but always came through when it mattered.

And Misha.

'It's been over six months since I last saw them...'

The last time she saw Avman was six months ago.

It was an awkward encounter in the 6th floor. They had briefly talked about their lives and then parted ways.

She had seen Erwen two months ago, but...

They were no longer companions.

They had just made eye contact and walked past each other.

'At least Avman and Ainar seem to be doing well...'

She closed her eyes, thinking about her former companions.

And then she thought about the one who hurt the most.

"Misha..."

How was she doing?

Raven reached out and caught a snowflake in her hand. She remembered her last conversation with Misha.

[There's something I need to tell you...]

It had been two years and four months ago.

The end of summer.

______________________

Intuition.

Explorers often called it their sixth sense.

It was surprisingly useful in life.

It wasn't uncommon to hear stories of explorers dodging a fatal blow because they had a bad feeling and ducked, even though there was no logical reason to.

Thump!

But it wasn't something you were born with.

The more experienced and intelligent you were, the more accurate your intuition became. It was a combination of countless pieces of information stored in your subconscious, like grains of sand.

You just couldn't explain how you arrived at that conclusion.

But there was a reason for it.

"What do you need to tell me...?"

Raven tried to ignore the unsettling feeling and asked.

There was nothing concrete yet.

Intuition was often wrong.

No, it was more common for it to be wrong than right.

But...

"I... need to tell you... something..."

"Um... your speech..."

"Ah, this...? I'm trying to change it. I can't stay like this forever, so..."

"Ah... I see? Good for you! I'm rooting for you."

On the surface, Misha's change was positive.

Raven knew about Misha's past.

She had injured her tongue a few years ago. It had healed, but she still spoke like that because of a mental block.

But...

Thump!

Why was her heart racing?

It felt ominous.

"...So what did you want to say?"

"That's..."

Misha trailed off and averted her gaze, then finally spoke with a heavy heart.

"I'm leaving the team."

She was quitting.

Raven wasn't surprised.

She had expected this to happen eventually.

No one could fill the barbarian's shoes. The team's expeditions had been put on hold indefinitely, and it was only natural for the team to disband eventually.

But...

"Okay... I understand. But what are your plans?"

She didn't want their bond to end just because they weren't exploring together anymore.

"I'm going back to my family."

"Ah, you're going to take a break? I support your decision—"

"And I'm going back to the labyrinth. No... I'm going back."

"...What?"

Raven couldn't understand.

She was quitting the team, but she was going back to the labyrinth?

It didn't make sense.

"The labyrinth? With who? Did you already find a new team?"

Raven felt betrayed and asked frantically.

But Misha didn't answer.

She just changed the subject with a bitter voice.

"That's not all I wanted to tell you..."

Raven felt a chill run down her spine.

The ominous feeling intensified.

"...Go ahead."

Her voice was cold and calm.

Misha looked down at the ground.

And then she spoke in a barely audible voice.

"There's a rumor going around... that Bjorn is an evil spirit..."

"...What?"

"Ah! It's, it's just a rumor! Don't, don't believe it! I, I just wanted to tell you..."

What was she talking about?

Had she lost her mind because of his death?

Was this even a normal conversation?

Raven felt a sense of dissonance, and then it hit her.

It was intuition.

Her sixth sense, telling her the truth.

"You're going to spread that rumor, aren't you? I don't know why, but..."

Misha backed away as Raven spoke.

"You wanted to tell us beforehand, right? You didn't want us to remember him as an evil spirit."

Raven took a step forward.

"But..."

She had already realized it.

"You said it was just a rumor..."

The truth behind the unsettling feeling.

"It's not just a rumor, is it?"

Raven grabbed Misha's wrist and asked.

It was a foolish mistake.

A mage couldn't overpower a physical explorer.

"...!"

Misha pulled her hand away and ran.

And the next day, the rumor that Bjorn Yandel was an evil spirit spread throughout the city.

And...

"Where did she go...?"

That was the last time Raven saw Misha.