Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Chapter 393: Captain Barbarian (3)

Chapter 393: Captain Barbarian (3)

Thud.

As I sat down after my declaration, a brief silence fell over the dining room.

It was to be expected.

This was a meeting where everyone was supposed to appeal to the others, explaining why they should be the leader.

They must have been offended by my words.

"Are you saying you're stronger than all of us?"

The noble knight asked, his displeasure evident in his tightly pressed lips.

I chuckled and answered.

"You understood correctly."

I wasn't wrong.

"..."

But surprisingly, the room remained silent.

The knight seemed like he wanted to retort, but he held back, perhaps out of respect for the Marquis.

Swoosh.

I glanced at the Marquis, and our eyes met.

He wasn't disgusted by my behavior. Instead, his eyes gleamed with interest, as if he was enjoying the situation.

Hmm, what about the others?

I looked around, and their gazes were a mixture of emotions.

"I hope your skills match your arrogance. A capable subordinate is always welcome."

Hostility stemming from displeasure.

That was the knight's gaze.

"Ho ho, men your age are all the same. Why, I find it quite manly."

Her voice was lighthearted, but her eyes were filled with disdain.

That was the old dwarf's gaze.

"Lihen Schuitz, I've heard of you. You're known as the Blood Spirit Marquis's man, right?"

Intense curiosity and analytical observation.

That was the Sawtooth Clan Vice-Captain's gaze.

"..."

The paladin, Jun, simply stared at me with an emotionless expression.

He didn't seem to care.

Their attention shifted from me to each other, their gazes meeting and clashing.

They were evaluating each other.

Trying to figure out who would be the biggest obstacle to their becoming the leader.

"The mood has become a bit heavy for such a joyous occasion. Let's eat."

The Marquis intervened, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

They all started eating and chatting, but the tension remained.

"As you all know, one of us will be chosen to lead. It's a position with great responsibility."

A position that held the lives of thirty people.

But no one was unaware of the benefits that came with it.

The Marquis had promised me generous support.

"Are you saying we're not qualified, Sir Kaislan?"

The dwarf woman spoke softly, but her message was clear.

She wasn't going to give up her chance.

"Hmm, I just wanted to confirm that you all understood the weight of this position."

The knight clicked his tongue, seemingly disappointed that the dwarf was his biggest rival.

"Haha, I understand what you mean. I also had to endure countless responsibilities and duties to become Vice-Captain."

The Vice-Captain seized the opportunity to subtly promote himself.

This was a battle of nerves.

"Jun, do you also desire this position?"

"Human emotions are fleeting. Everything will happen according to God's will."

It sounded like he was going to remain neutral.

But the knight's expression brightened prematurely.

"However, I believe I am the one who is closest to God's will."

He was joining the competition.

The knight's face darkened. He knew the paladin's backer was the Three Gods Church, a formidable opponent.

"I see."

But why didn't he ask me?

That made me feel a bit left out.

______________

After the tense exchange of words ended...

The knight, with a determined look in his eyes, took charge of the conversation.

"Many desire it, but there's only one position. We have to decide who's the most qualified."

"Do you have a plan, Sir Kaislan?"

"How about we each describe our ideal leader?"

He wanted to understand their personalities and leadership styles.

"That sounds good."

The dwarf woman and the Vice-Captain readily agreed.

I didn't object either, and neither did the paladin.

"Since I initiated this conversation, I'll go first."

The knight, as always, was eager to take the lead.

He stood up and declared in a loud voice.

"A group can only achieve its true potential when it moves as one. The most important quality of a leader is leadership."

"That's too abstract. What exactly do you mean by leadership?"

"It's the ability to create and maintain order. Control starts from there. A perfectly controlled force can achieve its goals without any distractions."

I could already imagine what it would be like under his command.

A rigid and inflexible group, devoid of individual freedom and personality.

He continued his passionate speech, describing his vision for the unit and its advantages.

And after some time...

"That's all."

As soon as he finished, the dwarf woman took over.

"I enjoyed your speech. I'll go next."

Unlike the knight's rigid and predictable speech, the dwarf's words were intriguing.

She was a veteran explorer, after all.

What did someone like her value the most in a leader?

"Historically, most problems in the labyrinth have been solved by explorers. There have been very few instances of military intervention. Why do you think that is?"

"Because the royal family respects the way of explorers."

"That's one reason, but I believe it's because it's more efficient for them. Anything can happen in the labyrinth. They needed someone who could adapt to any situation, and that's an explorer. Armies are too cumbersome to operate in the labyrinth."

"So you're saying the ideal leader should be an explorer, Akuraba?"

"Not necessarily. I'm just saying that if someone has to lead in the labyrinth, they need extensive knowledge and experience, and the ability to make quick decisions."

Her requirements were reasonable.

Honestly, I would rather work under her than that knight.

But...

"Excuse me, but you don't have any leadership experience, do you, Senior Akuraba?"

The Vice-Captain's words made the dwarf frown.

She hadn't expected him to attack her after calling her 'senior'.

But the Vice-Captain didn't stop there.

"I heard you were always the one who followed orders when you were on a team."

"...I led a team before."

"I see. But leading a team and leading a force of thirty are two different things."

Wow, this guy was bold.

Well, it would be ridiculous to prioritize seniority in a business meeting.

"Anyway, I'm done, so you're next, James Kala."

"I'll gladly take my turn."

The Vice-Captain took over, subtly undermining the dwarf.

"The most important quality of a leader is information. Senior Akuraba said it herself, didn't she? A leader has to be able to adapt to any situation."

"And?"

"If you have the right information, you can avoid those situations altogether. And even if you do encounter a problem, you'll have more options."

He was clearly targeting the dwarf.

But she wasn't backing down.

"That's true, if you have that kind of information."

"I have the support of the Alminus Trading Company and the Explorer's Guild. Of course, I don't know everything... but..."

"..."

"I'm confident that I have the best information network here."

The dwarf couldn't refute his claim.

With the support of those two organizations, he could gather more information than anyone else in the labyrinth.

"That's all from me. Who's next?"

"I'll go next."

The paladin, Jun, was next.

He gave a lengthy sermon, like a priest giving a mass.

"Everything starts with faith, and that applies to leadership as well. Strong faith and trust create courage that can overcome any evil..."

Wow, he was talkative.

"The world is full of trials. Some overcome them, and some lose faith and fall. But do you know what?"

His eyes gleamed with passion.

I thought he was a stoic person, but...

"Those who overcome trials are always those who have faith. Only faith can unite people, and only faith can save us from trials."

But even a good sermon gets boring if it's too long.

"Haam..."

I yawned, and the paladin glared at me.

"You find my words about faith boring?"

Well, how could I not?

He glared at me, and then passed the turn.

"It's your turn now."

The others seemed relieved that it was finally my turn.

"Lihen Schuitz, what kind of person do you think should be the leader?"

The Vice-Captain asked.

His tone was subtle, as if he was trying to win my vote.

The others were the same.

"You seem like the type who prefers a strong leader."

The knight was subtly promoting himself.

"A soldier might think that way, but an explorer knows better."

The dwarf couldn't miss the opportunity to counter him.

It was ridiculous.

Why were they trying to win me over?

Didn't I make it clear?

"...Why are you laughing?"

"Because it's funny."

"...?"

"Why are you wasting your time trying to convince me?"

I had been eating while they were talking.

And...

"The strongest one wins. That's all."

I slammed my empty glass on the table.

Thud.

A heavy silence fell over the room.

But no one was surprised.

"Ha... I knew it."

"So you value strength above all else, Mr. Schuitz."

They looked at me with disdain.

They were all hypocrites.

Or maybe they just lacked imagination.

"Do you really think you can convince us with brute force?"

"Yeah."

"A leader isn't just about strength... What?"

"Why can't I convince you?"

I had finished my meal.

It was the perfect time for a workout.

"Stop talking and fight me."

I stood up, and the knight looked at me in surprise.

He was hesitant to fight me in front of the Marquis.

"I won't interfere."

The Marquis seemed to have decided to let us fight.

"I see."

I shrugged, and the dwarf woman spoke in a mocking tone.

"Even if you defeat him, we won't acknowledge you. If someone who only relies on brute force becomes the leader—"

What?

"Would you have accepted it if I said something else?"

That was the reason why I found their speeches so pointless.

I looked at them one by one.

"Strong control, experience-based judgment, a wide information network, and trust."

The qualities of a leader, as described by the four of them.

"Yeah, they're all good."

I meant it.

But there was a fundamental problem.

"But no matter how much you talk about it, do you think anyone will be convinced?"

You can't obtain what everyone desires through consensus.

Especially not with those abstract values.

But...

"Are you saying you're different?"

"Yes."

Strength is different.

"So fight me."

"Don't be foolish. Even if you defeat him—"

They wouldn't accept me.

I knew that.

But...

"Who said it was just one?"

My life as a barbarian had taught me something.

If you can't obtain consent through words...

It's because...

"All of you."

"...?"

You're not strong enough.

The four of them looked at me, their minds struggling to keep up.

I grinned.

"All of you, fight me."

There wasn't a single mage among them.