Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Chapter 351: Dark Continent (2)

Chapter 351: Dark Continent (2)

The scorching sun and heated sand.

A cool but somewhat humid wind carried the salty scent of the sea.

Starting Island Laimia.

However, the vast ocean stretching along the horizon was nowhere to be seen.

?Entered the Great Ocean of the 6th floor.?

The first thing we saw as we crossed the portal was a line of over a hundred massive galleons along the coastline.

The ships were so large and numerous that the vast ocean felt cramped.

"Hey, hey! Move aside once you're through! The next group is coming!"

We were ushered away from the portal before we could even look around, following the directions of an explorer with the Explorer's Guild emblem.

I asked Erwen, and she confirmed he wasn't.

He was an explorer hired by the guild.

The royal family had requested assistance with managing explorers, but they lacked the manpower to send their own people, so they outsourced it.

'Well, a regular employee wouldn't be able to make it to the 6th floor.'

Anyway, the war had been going on for over a year, so the procedures were streamlined and flowed smoothly.

"Come this way! Register for the war effort, and we'll help you with your unit assignment!"

We waited in line along the eastern coastline and finally reached the registration desk. We handed over our ID cards and finished our registration, but there was a bit of a commotion.

Erwen was too famous.

"Erwen Fornachi di Tersia... Uh... uh, Bl, Blood Spirit Marquis...?"

"Is there a problem?"

"Oh, no... Nothing! I apologize for the commotion!"

The registrar seemed uncomfortable even talking to her, quickly finishing the process. It was understandable for him to be curious about Erwen registering alone.

"5th-grade explorer, Emily Raines. You've participated before. You're registered."

Next was Amelia's turn, and it took less than a second.

She had created the identity 'Emily Raines' two years ago, starting at 9th-grade and gradually leveling up while paying taxes. Her identity was perfectly clean.

As long as she didn't run into anyone who recognized her face, her ID would pass without a problem.

Unlike me, who received a few suspicious glances.

"5th-grade explorer, Lihen Schuitz. First time participating. Can you remove your helmet, please?"

Amelia had found me an ID card belonging to an explorer who had been active five years ago, 'Lihen Schuitz'. Of course, the broker had paid all the taxes diligently, so there was no problem with the paperwork.

"Hmm."

The registrar gave me a strange look. Maybe my face looked younger than my stated age of 29?

It felt like I was a minor trying to buy cigarettes.

But he let me through after I showed him my light brown hair, dyed according to the information on my ID card. I had chosen an ID with the same eye color as mine.

"Is there a problem?"

"No, I wish you good luck on your return."

"Thank you."

I had briefly lifted my helmet, but thankfully, there were no issues.

Just as Amelia predicted, many explorers had retired and returned after the war, so my registration passed without much suspicion.

Besides, two of the Seven Strengths were supposedly in the same situation.

"Then all that's left is the unit assignment."

We moved to a bulletin board after finishing registration.

The board listed the available ships and the number of explorers already on board. Choosing the right ship was crucial for the war.

Explorers who boarded the same ship would be assigned to the same unit upon arrival at the 7th floor.

"There's no need to think about it. You're a newbie, so you won't be able to board anything other than a 3rd-class ship."

"3rd-class ship?"

"Explorers who haven't achieved any significant feats or those without a large backing usually board those ships. Their combat power tends to be lower, so they're mainly assigned to support roles in the rear."

So newbies start at the bottom, huh?

Well, it made sense. Having newbies around would only hinder the main force on the battlefield.

"Let's board that one."

We chose a 3rd-class ship with the fewest explorers and boarded.

Having fewer passengers would give us more options for choosing a cabin.

"We managed to get a triple cabin."

"Why are triple cabins so hard to find?"

"They're not that rare, but they're the most popular."

I didn't even have to ask why.

'Ah, the Bonding spell was updated while I was gone.'

Six-person teams were now the standard.

Triple cabins were naturally the most popular since they could accommodate two teams perfectly.

"We set sail tomorrow, so everyone relax until then."

"Okay! Then what should we talk about now?"

"...Relax, she said."

"..."

I looked at Amelia for help, but she was already lying in bed, pretending to be asleep after finishing organizing her luggage.

'Seriously...'

"Then... should we talk about the war?"

"Okay! Do you have any questions?"

"I heard that 3rd-class ships are mainly assigned to support roles in the rear. What kind of tasks are there?"

"Uh... I'm always at the front lines, so I don't know much... I think they handle things like securing escape routes and escorting important personnel."

I wasn't tired yet, so I chatted with Erwen and learned more about the war.

And after some time...

Knock, knock.

We had a visitor.

It was someone we all knew.

"...I came to say hello since we're on the same ship. It's been a while, Tersia."

I couldn't believe we were meeting again so soon.

_____________________

"...Phew..."

The blonde woman adjusted her collar and sighed, standing in front of the closed cabin door.

'Why did she suddenly do this...?'

Blood Spirit Marquis, Erwen Fornachi di Tersia.

She was the reason Raven was standing here.

The 7th Strength had inexplicably boarded a 3rd-class ship instead of a 1st-class one.

'...Seriously, all the annoying tasks are mine.'

Her unit, the 3rd Magic Corps, was also scheduled to board a 3rd-class ship. Mages needed escorts, so it was inevitable.

But it wasn't supposed to be this ship.

She had been reassigned due to orders from her superiors.

'We're not even close anymore. We weren't that close before either.'

They had been in the same clan, but that was all.

Her superiors must have assigned her to this ship for that reason...

'But I don't know how to handle that crazy woman.'

Raven lacked confidence.

She had no idea what Erwen was planning or what kind of trouble she might cause.

'I guess I should at least try to talk to her... Find out what she's thinking...'

Raven sighed and knocked on the door.

Knock, knock.

About 10 seconds passed before the door opened.

Creak.

The rusty hinges groaned as the door swung open, revealing the interior of the cabin.

There were three people inside, just as she had heard.

'5th-grade explorer, Lihen Schuitz. And Emily Raines.'

One of them was wearing a helmet even inside the cabin, and the other had their eyes and ears covered with a black cloth mask.

Raven's curiosity intensified.

Who were these two, and what were they doing with Erwen?

"Stop staring and tell us why you're here."

Erwen's voice, laced with hostility, snapped Raven out of her thoughts. She forced a professional smile.

"...I came to say hello since we're on the same ship. It's been a while, Tersia."

"Yeah. Then you're done saying hello, so why don't you leave?"

Tsk, would she ever learn some manners?

Raven suppressed her frustration and spoke.

There were too many things she wanted to ask.

For example...

"By the way, you said 'mister', right?"

Why did Erwen call that man 'mister'?

Wasn't that a nickname she only used for him?

"..."

Erwen remained silent.

She just glared at Raven, as if asking what it had to do with her. But there was a hint of anxiety in her eyes.

It felt like she had accidentally revealed something she didn't want to show.

"Hmm."

Raven shifted her gaze to the man.

He was a complete stranger, his face hidden by a helmet...

But there was something strangely familiar about him.

It wasn't his physique or anything specific...

Still, he reminded her of someone.

"Could it be...!"

Raven's jaw dropped.

And she looked back and forth between Erwen and the man.

_____________________

"..."

The silence grew heavier. Raven's gaze lingered on me, making my heart race.

'Did she recognize me?'

What do I do now?

Can I convince her that I'm not an evil spirit?

If she doesn't believe me, the news will reach the royal family, and...

"..."

I glanced at Erwen. She was looking at me, her eyes pleading.

'Mister, what should we do?'

That's what her gaze was saying.

It was a bit ridiculous.

She made the mistake, now she's looking at me for help?

"Could it be..."

Raven finally broke the silence, her voice filled with sadness.

"You've been reduced to this."

"...Huh?"

Erwen and I exchanged confused glances.

What was she talking about?

Raven continued in a sorrowful tone.

"Tersia, or rather, Erwen. You can't find a replacement. You have to overcome this, it's hard, but..."

"...Ah...?"

It finally dawned on me.

Raven had misunderstood.

She thought Erwen was so heartbroken over my death that she was clinging to a similar man, pretending he was me.

"And you."

Petite Raven turned sharply and glared at me.

"I know what you're thinking."

"...?"

"So don't try to take advantage of Erwen. I won't let that happen. I'll be watching. And if you cross the line..."

Raven trailed off, her voice threatening.

I wanted to defend myself.

"Wait! I'm not trying to take advantage—!"

"Your voice..."

"Voice?"

I was confused, but Raven flinched and averted her gaze.

"Your voice... is similar..."

She seemed to have realized why Erwen had called me 'mister'.

"So that's why..."

Raven mumbled sadly, then turned to Erwen.

"You can't do this. He wouldn't want it. Right?"

She was practically begging Erwen.

But it wouldn't work.

Erwen was simply misundersood.

"What are you doing! Get out! Don't you dare come back!"

Erwen snapped out of her daze and yelled at Raven. And before Raven could even react, she slammed the door shut.

Bang!

_____________________

Time flew by after Raven's visit.

The day of departure arrived, and the warships anchored along the coastline set sail.

And...

"Escorting the Magic Corps, huh..."

The explorers on board were assigned to escort the 3rd Magic Corps upon arrival at the 7th floor.

Oh, by the way, we received training on formations and tactics during the voyage. They gathered everyone on the deck and gave us instructions.

'So that's why they group explorers by ship. They can train us during the journey.'

The voyage to the 7th floor was expected to take about 15 days.

Excluding training time, most of it was free time, which I mostly spent on the deck.

There was a simple reason.

Barbarians are weak to the sea.

"Ugh, bleeegh—!"

The ship was massive, but I couldn't stay in the cabin. My stomach churned with seasickness.

Well, at least I could throw up anywhere on the deck.

Anyway, I spent most of my time on the deck, which led to several encounters with Raven.

It was strangely frequent.

And it always happened when Erwen wasn't around.

"...Even your seasickness is the same. It's disgusting."

"...Bleeegh..."

"Why are you hiding your face? Did Erwen make you?"

"...Ugh..."

"His face isn't that similar anyway."

"..."

"Why are you doing this when you have a perfectly normal face? Don't you have any self-respect?"

"..."

"Just try something. You won't like what happens."

Ugh, this is killing me.

Why does she keep bothering me when I feel like I'm about to die?