Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Chapter 366: Responsibility (4)

Chapter 366: Responsibility (4)

Raven spoke to break the awkward silence.

“Why are you making that face? It’s not your fault.”

Although she didn’t know the whole story, she wasn’t wrong.

Of course, it was a bit ambiguous to say it was entirely my fault.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was the one who had pushed her over the edge.

If I hadn’t gone to see her…

Maybe she wouldn’t have made that choice.

No, wait…

Dwarkey.

Thinking about them, I had to accept the possibility.

That my presence had changed the future.

“Sigh… I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Raven spoke, as if regretting it.

It was as if I had reopened an old wound.

But…

“…….”

…I also had a thought.

Was it okay for me to reopen her wounds?

Just because I didn’t want to avoid responsibility?

As I was struggling to speak…

“What’s with the mood? Did we interrupt something?”

“It’s nothing. What are you talking about? …But mister, what were you two… doing…?”

I turned my head towards the entrance, and Amelia and Erwen were entering the tent.

“…….”

I looked back at Raven, and she was looking at her documents again.

Well, it wasn’t a conversation to be had in this atmosphere.

“…….”

I couldn’t say anything that day.

____________________

?The labyrinth is closed.?

?Character is being transferred to Lafdonia.?

____________________

Day 75 of the expedition.

It was time to return to the city as the 7th floor closed.

‘Wow, it feels like it’s been a while.’

The city felt unfamiliar after spending over two months in the labyrinth.

I could understand why some of the high-ranking clans took a month or two off after an expedition.

“Are you going straight home?”

“For now. Let’s rest. And then eat something delicious.”

“Okay!”

We left the exchange and headed straight for the mansion after exchanging our magic stones.

Ah, for reference, we didn’t have many magic stones.

All the loot we obtained after arriving on the 6th floor had been exchanged for vouchers with the royal family’s seal.

They would be exchanged for money at the Achievement Office, but it would probably be crowded for a few days, so we decided to wait.

“Phew, finally home.”

The detached house with a small garden and boarded-up windows.

I never thought I would feel this happy to be back.

Anyway, we would eat the food we bought on the way back after washing up…

“So who’s going to wash up first?”

Amelia spoke to me as we were deciding the order.

“Schuitz, you can use the bathroom on the second floor.”

“Huh? Thanks, but is it okay for me to go first?”

“The bathroom on the first floor is bigger. We can use it together.”

I didn’t understand.

“…What? Together?”

I couldn’t imagine them doing that.

“When… did you two get so close?”

I asked, unable to hide my surprise, and Erwen waved her hands frantically.

“Cl, close?! We’re not! Say something! Why would I shower with her?!”

“It’s more efficient. Well, if you really don’t want to, I’ll go first.”

“What? Why are you deciding that—”

“Then I’ll go first.”

“…Wait, stop!”

Amelia headed towards the bathroom, and Erwen followed her, shouting.

‘These two are never quiet.’

I dismissed them and went to the bathroom on the second floor.

I was a bit curious about whether they would wash up separately or together…

But what did it matter?

They wouldn’t draw their weapons and fight, at least.

“Ah, that feels good.”

The hot water washed away the fatigue that had accumulated in my body.

It finally felt like the expedition was over.

‘Well… it ended smoothly, considering everything that happened.’

There hadn’t been any major incidents after the first attack.

I had continued to join patrol teams and gain experience points until I reached level 7, and the peace had continued.

But there was something going on with the main force. They had requested reinforcements from us and taken some of our troops.

Of course, it didn’t have much to do with me.

Raven had to stay in the rear because of her strategic role, and so did we, who were part of her unit.

‘I should sell the equipment first, exchange the vouchers for money, and then split the earnings…’

I felt a strange sense of accomplishment as I organized my thoughts.

“Level 7, huh…”

I could proudly say that I had reached the mid-to-late game.

And considering the number of 3rd-grade essences I had, it was practically the early stages of the late game.

It felt like just yesterday when I was crawling around after stepping on a goblin trap.

‘…I’ve gotten stronger.’

I could feel my own growth.

After all, why do you think I was able to call this expedition ‘smooth’?

I had fought four members of Orculus.

The Corpse Collector, the Wailing Witch, the Lighthouse Keeper, and the Blood Knight.

If it were the old me, someone would have died, and I would have had to risk my life.

But even so…

‘I have to get stronger.’

I felt a sense of inadequacy rather than satisfaction.

I was still far…

…from being able to guarantee my and my companions’ safety against monsters like the royal family, Auril Gabis, and Lee Baekho.

‘I have to reach level 9 somehow. And I have to take care of the Spirit Engraving issue as soon as possible…’

That’s when, as my thoughts reached that point…

“Mister, are you almost done? I’m going to reheat the food…”

“Ah, I’ll be out soon.”

I realized I had been in the bathroom for much longer than I thought and quickly finished washing up. I ate the reheated food with the others, and then Amelia spoke.

“Schuitz, what are you going to do about the guild?”

“Guild?”

“Raven said we should take care of your guild records if we want to avoid the royal family’s attention.”

“Ah…”

5th-grade explorer, Lihen Schuitz.

His last labyrinth expedition was about five years ago.

But if the royal family accessed the guild’s records, my identity would be revealed.

His former team, the essences he had absorbed, and other information would all be there.

“Even if you just ask your former companions a few questions, they’ll notice something’s off. And if they see you in person, it’s game over.”

I had to either erase Lihen Schuitz’s records or modify them so that they couldn’t be traced back to me.

And only an insider could do that.

“Is there anyone who can help?”

“Well, I’ve never been close to the guild.”

But one person came to mind.

Julian Urbanes.

The guild master’s daughter, whom I had taken hostage to clear my name.

‘Hmm, is she really a ‘daughter’?’

She was a strange woman.

She wanted her father to be ruined because she didn’t want to live as a puppet.

I wondered how she was doing now.

Would she help me if I asked her?

_____________________

The next day,

Amelia went out to sell the Lighthouse Keeper’s equipment, and Erwen left for the sanctuary.

And…

“Then I’ll be going too.”

…I also got dressed and left the house.

We had concluded that it would be fine.

Even Raven, my former companion, didn’t recognize me.

It was practically impossible for anyone to connect this face to Bjorn Yandel. And it would be strange for me to just stay cooped up at home.

‘I should have met that Dragonkin kid with this face.’

Even that Dragonkin priestess, who had called me ugly at our first meeting, wouldn’t be able to lie after seeing this face.

Damn it, what’s so good about this weak-looking face?

‘Anyway, I should go there first…’

It was my first real outing since returning to this time period. I walked through the city, enjoying the sights, just like when I went to the past, and soon arrived at my destination.

[Carsia Lomne.]

A blacksmith with a fancy name in the ancient language, unfitting for its profession.

It meant ‘Magic Flame’, if I remember correctly.

It was the blacksmith Hikurod Murad, the dwarf, had built after leaving Team Misfits.

‘…So the rumors about him doing well were true.’

I had heard about it from Raven, but I didn’t expect it to be this successful.

He had even expanded his business, taking over the neighboring buildings.

‘Should I go in?’

I entered the blacksmith out of curiosity.

And as I was looking at the displayed equipment…

“Hahaha! The items on display are just samples for custom orders. Tell me if you’re looking for something else!”

I turned around at the familiar voice, and a familiar face was there.

“Hikurod Murad.”

“Oh, you know my name? Hahaha! It seems like I’ve become famous…”

The dwarf laughed heartily and then looked at me, his smile fading.

“…Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, nothing. Just a strange feeling. You’re a tall and handsome young man.”

I thought he might have recognized me, but it seemed like that wasn’t the case.

Okay, with this face, I could probably walk around freely without anyone recognizing me.

‘But… why am I disappointed?’

I dismissed the strange emotion and talked to him.

“Is it okay for the owner to be out here?”

“Haha, I don’t really work in the forge anymore.”

“Why?”

“Why would I when I have blacksmiths who can do it for me? They’re much better than me.”

“…I see.”

It seemed like he had given up on his dream of being a blacksmith and had become a businessman.

No wonder he was doing so well.

‘Damn, he’s even wearing a Mithril necklace.’

Honestly, I was shocked.

He was completely different from the dwarf I knew.

Well, the final blow was his last words.

“Ugh, damn it… I wasted my time explaining everything because you looked rich.”

He immediately wiped the smile off his face and kicked me out as soon as I said I was just browsing.

“Get out if you’re not buying anything! You’re blocking the other customers!”

I was dumbfounded as I was pushed out.

What the hell happened to him? He was so obsessed with money.

‘…Well, at least he’s doing well.’

I left the blacksmith and headed towards a training center. It was the place where Rotmiller, that old man, taught explorers navigation skills.

‘It’s closed. I wanted to at least see his face.’

It wasn’t open today.

‘Where should I go now?’

I thought about going back home, but I didn’t have anything to do there, so I chose a new destination.

[Central Library of Ravigion.]

There was no better place to go when you had nothing to do.

I entered the library, and I saw the familiar desk.

But…

‘What the…’

The people sitting at the desk were all different.

There was supposed to be only one sleepy librarian at that large desk.

“Welcome. We’re happy to have you here.”

There were over twenty staff members working at the desk.

It was like the library twenty years ago.

“Um… where’s the librarian who used to work here?”

“…Who are you talking about?”

“Ragna Ritanyel Peprok.”

“……?”

The librarian tilted her head, confused, and then went to the desk and asked the other librarians before returning.

“My seniors said she retired before the library renovation.”

“…When did she retire?”

“Right before the renovation, so about two years ago.”

Two years ago…

Well, she didn’t have the specs to be a librarian forever.

She was practically doing the work of dozens of people with her vast mana pool.

“Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“No, thank you. Just cast the detection spell, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

“The book detection spell fee is 3,000 stones!”

Damn it, they even charge a fee now?

I felt the changes that had occurred during my absence, but I paid the fee and found a few books, then sat down at a table.

After some time…

Snore!

Who the hell is snoring?

Snore!

I couldn’t take it anymore and looked up.

“Um… sir, we received a complaint… can you please… wake up…?”

A librarian was shaking a large barbarian who was snoring, practically begging him to wake up.

Snore!

That guy is embarrassing all barbarians…

‘Huh?’

The barbarian sat up, wiping his drool, and I couldn’t help but flinch.

“Ah, sorry! I must have dozed off!”

Blonde hair tied into a messy braid.

Golden eyes that seemed to be filled with stubbornness.

“Ah, y-yes… then please leave the library…”

I couldn’t believe I would meet her here.

I almost didn’t recognize her because of her large frame, but I was certain after seeing her face.

“Haha! There’s no need to kick me out! I apologized! Don’t be so harsh.”

It was Ainar, Frenelin’s second daughter.