Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Chapter 367: Responsibility (5)

Chapter 367: Responsibility (5)

Episode 367: Responsibility (5)

She was almost 2 meters tall.

But thanks to her good proportions and slim muscles, she didn't look bulky.

However...

'It feels strange to be looking up at her.'

She must have removed the Bone Knight essence.

Ainar's current appearance felt unfamiliar.

I had only seen her smaller form for the past few months.

Well, I did have some memories of her original form...

She had matured significantly.

Well, maybe it wasn't just her appearance, but her aura?

"Haha! It happens, people doze off while reading. Are you discriminating against me because I'm a barbarian?"

"I... I'm not! I, I really—"

"Just kidding! Just kidding! I promise I won't do it again, so please forgive me. Okay?"

Her hearty laughter and confident tone were impressive. She knew how to use her barbarian traits to her advantage, creating a friendly yet persuasive atmosphere.

I was honestly impressed.

She had learned how to use her barbarian charm.

"...Alright."

The librarian reluctantly agreed, and Ainar, true to her word, started reading again.

'She can even read now?'

I felt a surge of pride.

I kept glancing at her, pretending to read my own book, and then...

"Hmm..."

Ainar frowned.

She seemed to be struggling with a certain word.

But even here, Ainar's growth was evident.

"Hey, buddy!"

She called out to me without hesitation.

"...Are you talking to me?"

"Haha, what a strange fellow! Is there anyone else here? Can you come over and read this for me?"

Wow, she even called me 'buddy' and asked for help.

Did she see me as a fellow barbarian?

"Don't be scared! I'm not going to hurt you!"

"...I'm not scared. I'm just surprised. I heard barbarians hate humans."

"That's just a stereotype! Well, I used to think that way too, but I realized there's no reason to hate them."

Hmm, it seemed like she didn't mistake me for a barbarian.

And she didn't seem to recognize me as Bjorn Yandel either.

I moved to her table.

"I'm reading this, but I don't understand this word. Can you tell me what it means?"

"This is... 'logistics'. It's a military term for managing and supplying resources."

"Logistics? What's that? Sounds delicious."

Wait, she can't even read this word, but she's reading a military strategy book?

I was dumbfounded, but I answered her question.

I then glanced at the other books she had piled up.

There were various books besides military strategy.

Most of them were about history.

'...She's reading these?'

"Anyway, thanks! Now I can finish reading this!"

Ainar thanked me and returned to her book.

I went back to my own table.

And after a while...

I couldn't hold back my curiosity.

"Why are you reading those books?"

"Huh? Are you picking a fight with me?"

"No, I'm just..."

"Haha! Don't worry! I know I'm a bit different!"

Wow, she's good at controlling the conversation.

Ainar laughed heartily and then continued in a serious tone.

"The warrior I respected the most loved reading books."

"..."

"Well, I can't even compare to him... But someone has to do it."

Her voice was tinged with sadness.

I remembered what Erwen and Raven had told me about Ainar.

'She declared that she would become chieftain after I died.'

It was a bold declaration, made in front of her grieving tribe.

At first, they were skeptical, but as time passed, they started to accept her.

She was practically the next chieftain now.

"But... it's a bit disappointing..."

Ainar suddenly looked at me and clicked her tongue.

"...What do you mean?"

"You would have been quite handsome if you were a barbarian."

"...Really?"

"Anyway, it's fate that we met, so let's introduce ourselves properly. I'm Ainar, Frenelin's second daughter. You?"

"Lihen Schuitz."

I told her my alias, and Ainar repeated it as if memorizing it.

Then she handed me a few books.

"Here, take these."

"Why... are you giving me these?"

"It's a gift for becoming friends."

Seriously, who gives library books as a gift?

I couldn't even take them out of the library.

"...Thank you."

I awkwardly thanked her, and Ainar chuckled.

"You're welcome. It's what a superior species should do."

"...Superior species?"

"Ah, that's a bit of a difficult word, isn't it? You wouldn't understand as a human..."

Ainar looked around and then whispered to me.

"Barbarians are actually the most superior species in this world."

"...Huh?"

"Read those books. Then you'll understand if I'm telling the truth."

I looked at the titles of the books she had given me.

[The Secret of the Heart, The Selfish Superior Gene]

[Barbarian III - Why Did the Mages Covet Their Hearts?]

[Seven Reasons Why You Shouldn't Antagonize Barbarians, Learned from the Sacred Relic War]

...They were all about barbarians.

__________________

"Aren't you reading?"

"...I am."

Ainar kept glancing at me, so I had no choice but to read the books.

I was a bit curious, too.

Maybe the content was actually normal, despite the titles...

'...No way.'

The author was unknown, but the content was all the same.

It was all about how amazing barbarians were.

What was the author thinking?

The author clearly wasn't a barbarian. And no one in their right mind would publish a book like this for barbarians.

Thud.

I gave up trying to understand and closed the book.

Ainar looked at me, her eyes sparkling.

"How was it? Good book, right?"

"...It was certainly interesting."

"Hehe, don't be too discouraged. Humans aren't that inferior. It's just that we're special."

"..."

"Did you know that the illiteracy rate among barbarians is 99 times higher than that of humans? But even so, we've managed to maintain and pass down our traditions for thousands of years. No other race has done that."

"..."

"Ah, and also, do you know why barbarians can't float in water? It's because our soul density is much higher than that of other races."

"...Do you even know what 'density' means?"

"...Ahem, there's a reason why only barbarians can get the Spirit Engraving!"

She didn't.

"It's because we have the purest and cleanest souls..."

I stood up.

"...Huh? Where are you going? We just started talking."

"Sorry, but I just remembered something I have to do. I'll see you around."

"...Okay? If you have to go, then I can't stop you. Bye."

I was happy to see Ainar, but I couldn't stay any longer.

If I did, I would have to listen to her talk about barbarians all day.

'I'll be safe here.'

I moved to a secluded corner and started reading a new book.

This time, it was about current events.

There were quite a few books that compiled newspaper articles from the past year.

'So these are the policies the royal family implemented to support low-level explorers.'

I was reading through the book, gathering information, when my hand suddenly froze.

I saw a familiar name in an article from a year ago.

[Nail Urbanes, 7th District Guild Master, Resigns Due to Personal Reasons, Not Political Disputes.]

That guy retired?

I was intrigued and continued reading.

[Nail Urbanes, who was actively involved in guild affairs and even considered running for Guild Master just two years ago, suddenly resigned. Those who knew him speculated that his daughter's death a year ago had a profound impact on his decision.]

His daughter's death a year ago?

"...Was she his only daughter?"

I didn't know.

We weren't close.

'Well, I should at least check.'

I found a book with articles from a year ago and started searching.

And I soon found what I was looking for.

[Julian Urbanes, Eldest Daughter of the Urbanes Family, Announces Engagement to Alminus Trading Company Executive.]

First, there was an engagement announcement.

And then...

[Julian Urbanes Dies on Her Wedding Night.]

Three months later, there was a death announcement.

The cause of death was a fall.

She had fallen from the 3rd-floor terrace, headfirst, while drunk.

[Nail Urbanes Insists It Was an Accidental Fall, Not Suicide, After Receiving Compensation Claim.]

I felt a bitter taste in my mouth.

We weren't close, but I knew her circumstances.

I couldn't help but feel responsible.

'I shouldn't have looked into it...'

__________________

One day, two days, three days, four days...

Time flew by in the city.

Well, there were a lot of things to do at the beginning of the month.

Exchanging vouchers for money, selling equipment, and so on.

And then it was time for the payout.

"This is more than enough to pay off the debt."

"Th-then we don't have to sell the house?!"

"That's what I was going to talk about. I'm thinking about postponing the repayment."

"W-why...?"

There was still plenty of time until the due date.

And I had to invest this money first.

"Ah... if, if you say so... I, I can't stop you... But why are you going to use that much money...?"

"I'm going to buy a ship."

"...A ship?"

Erwen was confused, but Amelia seemed to understand.

"That's a good idea. If you're not going to participate in the war anymore, it would be convenient to have a ship."

"Exactly. I'm planning to explore the 6th floor next time."

I had joined the war as a mercenary, but we had already earned enough money to buy Vol-Herchan's essence.

There was no reason to keep fighting.

We would make a lot of money, but I had other priorities.

"Explore the 6th floor? Where are you going?"

"The Submerged Island."

"...Submerged Island? Was there an island with that name on the 6th floor?"

Even Amelia didn't seem to know about it.

Well, Raven would definitely know, but...

Anyway, I briefly explained the characteristics of the Submerged Island, and both Erwen and Amelia seemed to have heard of it.

"An island hidden beneath the sea... Ah, I think I heard about it."

"I think my sister told me about it!"

"But can we even go there with just the three of us? We don't have a navigator."

"That's why we're looking for one now."

"...Looks like we'll be busy again."

Thankfully, they agreed to my exploration plan without any objections.

And from the next day, we started searching for a ship and a navigator.

Time flew by...

"Where's Erwen?"

"She's sleeping."

"Really? You didn't have to come."

"...I came just in case. If you don't like it, I won't come next time."

Uh, I didn't say I didn't like it...

"Ahem, thank you for coming."

"...How is that a thank you?"

Well, if you think so...

I chuckled and checked the clock on the desk.

And then...

"I'll be going then."

"Okay."

As soon as I closed my eyes, the world was engulfed in a white light.

?Character's soul resonates and is drawn to a specific world.?

Okay, let's turn on the computer first.