Surviving The Game as a Barbarian (Novel) Chapter 7, 8, 9

 

C7, 8, 9

Chapter 7: Give and Take (3)


I'm snoring right now.

Very loudly, imagining a barbarian who has collapsed from exhaustion after a hard day.

Snore, snore, snore!

...Hmm, is this a bit too much?

While I'm slightly worried, I hear a chuckle.

"...They really are a fascinating race."

It seems to have worked well.

It's more due to the racial advantage than my good acting, though.

Barbarians are perceived as simple and stupid.

That's why I always act like a barbarian, even when the 'evil spirit' issue isn't involved.

It's a kind of hidden blade behind a smile.

Just like hiding a blade behind a smile, I use the prejudice that I'm naive as a weapon to see through their true intentions.

...That sounds a bit chuunibyou, though.

In conclusion, it means it's much easier to figure out their inner thoughts.

Just like this.

Snore, snore, snore!

For a realistic performance, I even scratch my belly and curl up on my side.

While doing so, I focus all my attention on the man's movements, listening closely.

Since I've shown this much vulnerability, if he has any ulterior motives, he'll act on them soon.

Or he'll just keep sleeping.

Honestly, I don't know if I can sleep in this state, though.

"Bjorn, it's time to switch."

Ah, hmm... I didn't know I would literally not sleep at all.

"Just because goblins haven't shown up so far, don't let your guard down completely. They're cunning bastards."

As if he doesn't trust me, the man indirectly tells me to keep watch properly and lies down comfortably like before.

And within 5 minutes, he falls asleep again.

A feeling of emptiness washes over me.

I should have just slept too. What the hell have I been doing for the past 2 hours?

Damn it.

Is it because a stranger is next to me?

Even though I've judged him to be trustworthy, I can't sleep at all.

If I had known this would happen, I would have been better off sleeping lightly alone while being careful of goblins.

Then I could have gotten at least some sleep.

"Whew..."

I'm so tired I could die.

I feel even sleepier because the man is sleeping.

Still, it's my turn, so I diligently think of other things to chase away sleepiness.

While I'm doing this, someone calls me.

"Bjorn, wake up."

"...I didn't sleep."

"How about you wipe the drool off your mouth before you speak?"

I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, and it's really wet.

"Since you were sleeping standing up, you didn't even snore."

It seems like I really did sleep.

For a short while, with only 10 minutes left until the shift change.

...My heart sinks.

However, there's something I need to do before blaming myself for being careless.

I apologize honestly.

"I'm sorry."

I'm not pretending to be a barbarian; I mean it.

Night companions are in a kind of transactional relationship. But even though the man provided a safe environment during his watch, I couldn't do the same.

It's only natural to apologize.

At least to avoid becoming the kind of person I despise the most.

"...Fortunately, there were no problems while you were asleep, so I won't say much."

"Thank you. If you want, you can sleep more. I'll keep watch one more time."

"No, that won't do. It can't be like that. It's your turn, so sleep. Give me back the watch."

The man smiles kindly and forgives me, even though he could have blamed me.

I don't refuse any further and go to my spot, crouching down.

And as expected, sleep doesn't come.

I find all explorers, including the man, extremely admirable. To trust someone you just met and entrust your life to them?

They must have incredible guts.

There's no way I can do that.

For that reason, I start snoring again, as usual.

Snore, snore, snore!

There's no other way.

Sorry, man, but I've started to find you even more suspicious.

Snore, snore, snore!

If he's so suspicious, wouldn't it be better to call it quits and part ways at this point?

Even while thinking this, I keep snoring.

How much time has passed?

Click.

A small but unusual sound arises.

Is it the buckle of his backpack? His belt? Or the heel of his shoe?

I can't even guess where the sound came from.

But as soon as I notice it, the barbarian's body instinctively interprets it.

Dangerous.

Is this the killing intent they talk about in martial arts novels?

Goosebumps rise all over my skin.

I immediately open my eyes and check the front.

"You're awake."

The man is still smiling kindly.

With the two-handed hammer, covered in the blood and flesh of goblins, raised above his head.

This fucking...

Dodge!

The body trained as a warrior reacts faster than me.

Before my brain can even give the order, my body is already rolling sideways on the ground.

Kwaaang!

As I hear something shattering right in front of me, I use the momentum to quickly get up and regain my balance.

"Ugh!"

The man, whose surprise attack has failed, has a flustered expression.

I dash forward instead of asking why.

"Wai, wait!"

Is he trying to make some kind of excuse? That he wasn't going to do it? That he was just trying to loosen up? If that's really the case, it's a bit, no, very funny.

Damn it, just how shitty is the perception of barbarians?

Thwack!

Smash, using the shield, lands squarely on the man's chin.

However, a sturdy human is different from a goblin.

The man staggers but doesn't fall.

Then one more time.

Thwack-!

Smash.

"Kyaaaak!"

With a clattering sound, the hammer in the man's hand falls to the ground.

Blood is flowing freely from his nose, which is already swollen red.

...Ugh, that must hurt.

I think about it, but I don't let my guard down.

Because I want to be the guy who doesn't know those things.

So, once again—

"St, stop! I, I can explain...!"

"Smash."

The man, who has been repeatedly hit in the face with the shield, finally falls to his knees and collapses.

In game terms, he's incapacitated.

In other words, we can now have a conversation.

"Man."

"I, I was wrong! Please spare me!"

He's decided to beg for forgiveness?

His judgment is quick, but I can't call it wise.

That's not the conversation I want right now.

"Why did you do it?"

"I, I was tempted by the magic stones... I was just going to knock you out and steal them. Please believe me!"

Believe my ass.

If I was that full of humanity, I would have had a few more friends.

"The shield! I was going to take the shield too!"

I slowly raise the shield, and the man quickly adds something.

This is the main reason I don't trust humans.

They all lie so easily.

Even when they can't deceive properly.

"Why the shield?"

"...Barbarian equipment is of good quality. I was going to sell it in the city."

Indeed, the equipment barbarians receive during the tutorial is mostly expensive.

It's because the amount of steel used is significantly higher than that of ordinary equipment.

Even my shield is made of solid steel.

But even so, to kill someone just to get this?

Hmm, come to think of it, it's not a completely unbelievable story.

But...

"Bullshit."

The man is still hiding something.

"Tell me honestly. Why did you do it?"

I press my foot on the man's chest, just like I did with the fallen goblin.

"Keugh!"

Fear fills the man's eyes.

But is it because he tried to kill me?

Strangely, I don't feel anything special.

It feels like I understand why people say not to look into the eyes of a cow when slaughtering it...

But I just ignore that feeling.

As I'm contemplating ending the conversation here, the man shouts.

"He, heart!"

"Heart?"

An unexpected word.

As I look at him with a questioning gaze, the man continues, as if resigned.

"...Barbarian hearts are sold at a high price."

"Why?"

"I, I don't know exactly, but they say it's used as a material for newly developed magic!"

"I see."

Now I understand his motive.

To this man, I was a goblin.

Difficult to catch, but once caught, a big reward can be obtained.

"Why did you act now instead of when I was first asleep?"

"...I have to sleep too."

Ah, I see.

He wanted to sleep and make money at the same time.

I thought he was just being cautious, but he was just a hardcore efficiency freak.

"I've told you everything, so please forgive me..."

"Forgive?"

Honestly, I can only laugh.

Forgive?

That's not something a guy who tried to take my magic stones, equipment, and even my heart should be saying, right?

If I had been just a little slower, I wouldn't even have had the chance to beg for my life.

"Please..."

Well, he wants to live, right? Did he think this would happen? That attitude deserves some praise.

But.

"Man, I can't do that. I've been backstabbed too many times."

"No, no, no! That's not it! I'm different!"

Come to think of it, even the goblin said something like that.

I just interpreted it from its eyes, but anyway.

What did I do then?

I raise the shield I'm holding with both hands high.

However, unlike then, I hesitate for a moment.

Of course, the moment of hesitation doesn't last long.

Feeling an unknown force pulling my arm...

"No, no!"

I slam the shield down with all my might.

Crack, along with the sound of bones breaking, a heavy silence falls.

「Achievement Unlocked」

Condition: First kill

Reward: Mental stat permanently increases by +1

I don't turn away from what I've done; I accept it as it is.

It's been about a day since I entered this game-like world.

I killed a person.

And I gained a large hammer, shoulder guards, leather boots, a compass, a knife, a pocket watch, a water canteen, a backpack, a blanket, herbs and bandages, a bottle of potion, 6 days worth of food and snacks, and 32 9th grade magic stones.

------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 8: Night Companion (1)

I walk through the cave.

This time, I'm not limping, but walking properly.

「Character has equipped leather boots.」

「Total item level has increased by +5.」

The boots are a bit big. Thanks to this, I learned one more thing. That man had big feet for his height. Anyway, they seem sturdy enough that even if I step on a trap, I won't be fatally wounded like before.

「Character has equipped a two-handed hammer.」

「Total item level has increased by +30.」

This hammer, made of solid iron, is about 1 meter long. When the man used it, it was a two-handed weapon, but I can easily swing it with one hand.

「Character has equipped shoulder guards.」

「Total item level has increased by +13.」

They're made of steel. I loosened the straps a bit, and they fit perfectly. With my upper body bare and only the shoulder guards on, I look like a gladiator.

「Character has equipped a backpack.」

「Inventory space has increased.」

Now I don't have to store bloodstained magic stones with my bread, and it's much less cumbersome when I move.

Chew, chew.

I take out some jerky and chew on it.

There aren't many left as it's meant for snacks, but it's tastier than bread.

I carefully store the remaining pieces using a portable knife to avoid getting saliva on them.

Day 2, I've graduated from my primitive lifestyle.

When I'm thirsty, I drink water from the canteen.

When I'm curious about the direction, I take out the compass, and when I want to know the time, I take out the pocket watch and check it.

The emergency potion will help me cope with any unexpected injuries.

Isn't it a bit ironic?

After killing a person, I can live a little more like a human.
__________________________
「Bjorn Yandel」

Level: 1

Physical: 25 / Mental: 37(New +1) / Ability: 1

Item Level: 72 (New +48)

Total Combat Index: 81 (New +13
___________________________

Smash was a good skill to use with a shield, but with a proper weapon in hand, its power is extraordinary.

Thwack-!

With one swing of the hammer, the goblin disappears into light.

I should have just chosen a weapon from the beginning. I could have bought a shield later with the money I earned anyway.

Well, I didn't know I'd be this good at fighting back then.

Is it because I'm in a barbarian's body?

When I fight, I feel like my body isn't my own. I should be getting used to it by now, but I'm still amazed when I see this body exceeding my expectations.

"I'm so sleepy I could die."

I yawn and pick up two magic stones that have fallen nearby, putting them in my bag.

This is a change that occurred with the start of Day 2.

Goblins have started to appear in pairs.

Probably by tomorrow, the number will increase to three or four, and it will continue like that until the 7th day when the labyrinth closes. That's how it was in the game.

In that sense, it's not bad so far.

I've gained combat power with the new weapon, and I've become safer thanks to various consumables.

It's going pretty smoothly.

'Except for the fact that my eyes keep closing.'

I've been continuously moving and fighting goblins since yesterday. But the time I've slept is less than 10 minutes, and even that was while standing up and dozing off.

I want to sleep.

I don't even want a bed or a pillow. I just want to crouch down on the bare floor.

I really feel like I'm going to die—

"Ah, shit!"

I almost tripped over a rock while dozing off.

I was unusually lucky. If it had been a trap, it would have been a big disaster.

"I might as well sleep for a bit..."

As soon as I make the decision, I lean against the wall with the shield and hammer in my hands.

Although there are no night companions by my side...

It feels safer that way. If I'm going to be ambushed, I'd rather it be by goblins.

If I have to choose, getting stabbed by a dagger would have a higher chance of survival, right?

Compared to getting hit by a hammer while sleeping.

Chak-

Damn it.

I open my eyes to the sound of footsteps that I'm now too familiar with.

They didn't show their faces for over 4 hours while I was on watch, but as soon as I seem to be dozing off alone, they appear.

Now I understand why the man told me not to let my guard down.

...Persistent bastards.

I immediately run out and plunge my hammer into the goblin's head.

Thwack-!

"Grr, grr!"

There were two of them sneaking up, but as soon as one of them turns into mush, the other one immediately turns tail and runs away.

Yeah, go, go.

I don't even have the energy to chase you.

"Ha, those bastards..."

I check the time, and it hasn't even been 10 minutes.

In the end, I have no choice but to wander around the cave again, hunting goblins.

And when I'm so tired that I can't take it anymore, I lean against the wall and doze off like before.

There have been a few close calls while I was dozing off, but there were only two times when I felt like I was really going to die.

Once, when I opened my eyes after sensing a presence, an explorer was quietly approaching me.

He smiled awkwardly when our eyes met and then backed away and disappeared.

...It still gives me chills just thinking about it.

The second one was no less thrilling, though.

Especially since it's ongoing.

「Character was attacked by a goblin while sleeping.」

For the first time, I woke up not to a presence but to pain.

I see a goblin right in front of me. I swing my hammer and kill the one in front first, and the other one, like before, runs away in a hurry.

"Grr, grr!!"

I immediately check the source of the pain.

And oh my god, there's a dagger stuck between my collarbones.

...Damn, no wonder my left arm wasn't moving properly.

Phew, I'm lucky it ended with just pain.

If I were a little shorter or if the goblin had just a little more jumping power, this dagger would have been stuck in my neck.

Crack.

I grit my teeth and pull out the dagger.

And I drop a few drops of potion from my bag onto the wound.

As soon as I close the lid and put it back in my bag, the blood bubbles and regenerates rapidly.

Sizzle.

Did the person who made this potion, is he a psychopath?

Somehow, it hurts more than when I got stabbed.

"Keueueueuk, heuheuheuheu..."

After about 5 minutes, the pain disappears.

With this much pain, I should be wide awake, but my eyelids feel even heavier than before.

My focus blurs as soon as I relax my concentration for a moment.

It's time to make a decision that I've been putting off.

Even though the barbarian's body is sensitive to killing intent, there's a limit to how much I can doze off like this. Just now, I woke up after getting stabbed.

'I need to rest.'

I check the time, and it's been about 14 hours since I parted ways with the man.

The explorers operating on the 1st floor are probably starting to look for night companions again.

"Hey barbarian, are you looking for a night companion by any chance?"

As I wander around nearby, explorers start talking to me first.

And very enthusiastically too.

"Hmm, you seem quite tired. Would you like to come here?"

"A barbarian is trustworthy. If you come, we'll be a group of three. How about joining us?"

It feels like I've become a popular gigolo.

Is it because everyone is in a similar state on the 2nd day?

There are no bastards who complain about the smell. Or maybe the smell wasn't the problem from the beginning.

Well, to be honest, my appearance yesterday, covered in blood and limping because I lost a shoe, was a bit much.

"Really? That's a shame."

Despite the numerous offers, I decline them all and continue to pass by.

Ha, isn't there a single sturdy barbarian around?

The best scenario for me would be to meet a fellow barbarian and become night companions. The problem is that I haven't seen a single barbarian since entering the 2nd day.

"You're looking for a fellow barbarian? Hmm, that'll be tough."

"Tough? Why?"

"Even a barbarian who just finished their coming-of-age ceremony moves up to the higher floors within two or three months. As far as I know, there are less than a hundred barbarians on the 1st floor."

After some inquiry, it seems like barbarians are rare on the 1st floor. Well, it would be strange for someone with this kind of physique to be struggling on the 1st floor.

99% of the explorers I met on the 1st floor were humans anyway.

"Why don't you join us instead?"

"Sorry, but I can't."

"I see. May the blessings of Lafdonia be with you on your journey."

"Thank you."

This man seemed quite reliable, but I continue moving on after that conversation.

After finding out that barbarian hearts are expensive, I can't help but find every explorer suspicious.

Click.

I take out the compass.

I've been moving south since I got this, but I still haven't left the goblin zone.

I'm realizing just how big the 1st floor is.

'...Should I give up on finding a fellow barbarian?'

My contemplation doesn't last long.

I decide to abandon the needle-in-a-haystack search and come up with a more realistic plan.

I'll find a night companion, even if they're not a barbarian.

But excluding humans.

I'll look for a member of a different race, which accounts for about 1% of the population.

Elves who value promises or dwarves with a personality as bold as barbarians would be the best, but...

It doesn't really matter if it's another race.

Most of the other races, unlike humans, are well-off.

They have the potential to climb up to the higher floors if given enough time, so they won't be blinded by small amounts of money and harm fellow explorers.

With that decision made, I wander around the cave for about an hour.

And...

「Encountered an injured fairy.」

I finally find the member of a different race I've been looking for.__________________________________________________
The moment our eyes meet, a strangely suffocating silence descends.

"......"

The fairy with pointed ears leans against the wall and sits, silently staring at me.

Was she dozing off alone without a night companion?

Her amber eyes, shining like a cat's, are filled with a mixture of bewilderment and deep wariness.

It seems like she just wants me to pass by and disappear...

Swoosh.

As the standoff continues, the fairy gets up from her seat with a tense expression.

But her posture is unnatural.

Looking closely, I see a wound on her abdomen.

"You're hurt."

It's not a deep wound, but a long laceration.

Not something that could be inflicted by the daggers goblins use.

I quickly reach a conclusion.

"Human?"

The fairy doesn't answer.

She seems scared of me.

Well, I can understand. If I were injured and a giant like me approached, I'd be scared shitless too.

And she's a woman, isn't she?

She's also small. Maybe around 160 cm?

Anyway, it's not a bad situation—

"Please spare me."

Huh?

"Please, just this once. Please let me go, Mister Barbarian. I have a younger sibling in the city that I need to take care of."

While I'm trying to figure out what kind of development this is...

The fairy drops to her knees without hesitation. Thud.

Her eyes are even filled with tears.

"Please."

What the, what kind of fairy has no pride?

Honestly, I thought she'd be the cool beauty type.

Not only because of her looks, but because the fairies in the game mostly had that kind of personality and way of speaking.

Phew, if I had known she was this type of character, I would have approached her differently.

Let's clear up the misunderstanding before the situation gets worse.

"I have no intention of killing you."

I speak with clear pronunciation while maintaining eye contact.

Eyes are the windows to the soul, so if I just give her some time to calm down, she'll realize that what I'm saying is true—

"...Do you really have to do this, Mister Barbarian?"

—bullshit.

I'm confused about my identity.

I feel like a flasher harassing a high school girl in front of her school. I'm clearly a barbarian, though.

"Just once, please just let me go."

As my silence continues, the fairy steps back with a look of even greater fear and clutches her collar.

This is ridiculous.

What kind of lives do barbarians live? How bad is their reputation for her to be acting like this?

"Whew..."

I sigh involuntarily.

What do I do?

If I show her through actions, not words, that I'm not that kind of trash, will the misunderstanding clear up?

...It doesn't seem like a bad method.

"Heal yourself first. We'll talk later."

I take a step back and throw some herbs and bandages from my bag.

"These are... licho leaves...?"

So these really were licho leaves.

I can use them with peace of mind from now on.

I couldn't use them earlier because I was worried they might be poisonous.

----------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 9: Night Companion (2)


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

"Does helping someone require a reason?"

It feels like thorns are growing in my mouth as I say something I don't mean, but it can't be helped.

This will work better with this type of person.

I want to be night companions with this fairy.

Saying it like that makes me sound like a creep, but it's not a bad deal for her either.

Injuries, sleep deprivation, and pretty looks.

No matter how I look at it, her situation is several times worse than mine.

That's why she acted like that just now.

To be honest, even I was surprised by the tenacity for life she just showed.

"Like I said before, heal yourself first. We'll talk afterwards."

"But..."

"I'll keep watch."

I turn my back in a dismissive manner, and soon I hear a munching sound.

It seems like she's chewing the herbs to make them easier to apply to the wound.

"...I'm done."

Already? She's surprisingly skilled with her hands.

I turn around and see the bandages neatly tied between the gaps in her torn clothes. Her gaze seems to have lost some of its wariness as well.

Let's start by exchanging names and slowly close the distance.

"I am Bjorn, son of Yandel."

"...Erwen."

"I don't know what kind of misunderstanding you had, but what you're thinking won't happen."

"Yes? Ah, yes..."

She pretends otherwise, but the fear in her eyes remains.

I thought this much would be enough to clear up the misunderstanding, but what went wrong?

In the end, I ask directly.

"Why are you so afraid of me?"

"...Aren't barbarians and fairies enemies?"

"Enemies?"

"So, sorry. I didn't mean it like that... I just don't want to fight with you, mister."

My question seems to have brought her back to her senses, and she starts acting meekly again like before.

I was just genuinely curious...

Fairies and barbarians being enemies? That's news to me. They were on pretty good terms in the game.

What's going on?

Just by staring intently, I get the information I want without any effort.

"...It, it was a war that ended ten years ago, right? I, I don't hold any grudges about that! Really."

Ten years ago...

I don't know what happened, but judging by her words, it seems more like a rivalry than enmity.

Hmm, so she grew up hearing bad things and is that scared?

The situation has become quite troublesome.

What should I do? Should I look for someone else now?

The herbs and bandages I already gave her are a bit of a waste...

Okay, let's try it first.

"I don't hold any grudges either."

"R, really!"

"Yes. That's why I'm asking, Erwen, would you like to be my night companion?"

"...Night companion?"

"I'm tired right now. And so are you. Whether we have any grudges or not, how about we cooperate for tonight?"

"Hmm..."

Suddenly, her eyes sparkle.

To be honest, it makes me wonder if she's the same person as before.

As I give her time without rushing, Erwen, who was contemplating seriously with a frown, offers a condition instead of accepting.

"I thought barbarians valued their honor as warriors. Can you swear on it? That you won't harm me first?"

"Swear?"

"Of, of course, I will also promise on the name of my clan. I will never harm you first."

In Korean culture, it's like making a pinky promise.

Of course, I can do it all day long.

However, there's one thing I need to address first.

"I am Bjorn, son of Yandel. Not 'mister'."

Even if I don't know, our Bjorn is only 20 years old.
_______________________________

The agreement is made.

We didn't stamp a fingerprint, but we did something similar in this culture.

Thanks to that, I learned the fairy lady's full name in the process.

Erwen Fornachi di Tersia.

She's 20 years old, the same age as me.

Whew, I'm glad I'm not the real Bjorn. I'm sure the real Bjorn would think the same. I'm one thing, but she...

I won't say it out loud.

"So how will we decide the order?"

"I'll sleep first. That way, you'll feel more at ease."

"It's not really like that, but if you're willing to do that, I can't really help it..."

In other words, she's reluctantly accepting.

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Yes."

Phew, I'm glad it worked. If she had suggested deciding by rock-paper-scissors, I would have been doomed.

My eyes keep closing. Please, I just want to sleep now. Is it this hard to get a good night's sleep?

"Oh, right! How will I know the time?"

Tsk tsk, this is why newbies are troublesome, right?

I take out the watch from my backpack and hand it to Erwen.

"It's expensive, so don't break it."

"Yes..."

Seeing her handling it as if it's a sacred object, not just saying yes, puts my mind at ease.

"I'll be careful with it. Go to sleep."

Just like the man did, I lie down with my backpack as a pillow and cover myself with the blanket, curling up.

And...

Snore, snore, snore!

I fall asleep like I've fainted.

"Mister!"

...It's Bjorn.

"Mister, wake up. Time's up."

I force my eyelids open and sit up. I can't believe it.

Two hours have already passed?

"Here's your watch."

I look at the time, and it really has been 2 hours.

Come to think of it, I couldn't even properly fake snore to test her. I was going to do it for 10 minutes just in case...

Wow, is this the synergy of a backpack and a blanket?

It's scary.

If the man had lent me this, I wouldn't have been able to avoid his surprise attack.

I would have been sleeping soundly, completely unaware.

Is this karma?

...In that sense, let's lend it to her too.

"Cover yourself and sleep. Use this as a pillow if you want."

"Yes? But..."

She says she'll decline, but I see the corners of her mouth twitch upwards.

I pretend not to notice.

"Well then, I'll gratefully use them..."

Even though I didn't offer again, Erwen crawls into the blanket and curls up like a cat. And soon, she starts breathing rhythmically.

Geez, she sleeps soundly in front of a strange man?

Well, she must be exhausted. Just like I had a tough day, it seems like she did too.

"Whew..."

I lean against the wall and open the watch out of habit.

[22:50]

It feels like it's been about 5 days, but there's still over an hour left until the 2nd day is over.

I want to go back to the city. Actually, even saying "go back" is funny...

'...Seeing myself think like this, I guess my body is really doing okay.'

I put away the watch and start thinking seriously. In the rare peaceful moment, various thoughts come to mind.

What happened to me in reality?

Was I reported missing? It's definitely too early for that. Someone would have had to come looking for me. Even the company wouldn't take it seriously for a few days.

"Kick."

There's a reason I haven't thought about this issue even once until now.

Because it's just sad.

If I think that there's nothing good even if I go back, my will will break.

In many ways, it's better not to think about it.

Even if it's just self-deception, I'm pretty good at hypnotizing myself.

"......"

I intentionally change the flow of my thoughts.

Yeah, let's review what happened in the past two days instead. Finished the coming-of-age ceremony, entered the labyrinth, fought goblins, fought the man...

I can pat myself on the back for doing well so far, right?

It was really tough, almost deadly. There's no one to praise me, so can't I do it myself?

Click-

I decide to leave the self-praise until I return to the city and open the watch. It's time to change shifts.

"Erwen, wake up."

"Five more minutes..."

What do you mean five more minutes? Get up quickly.

"Ugh..."

I shake Erwen's shoulder with my rough barbarian hand, and she wakes up, rubbing her eyes.

This is dangerous.

Now I understand why the man didn't trust me.

"Just because nothing has happened so far, don't think about dozing off."

"Yes..."

She seems a bit uneasy, but she lies down in her spot and starts snoring.

Snore, snore.

Really, what is with her?

The fairies I know weren't like this.
_____________________________

[04:30]

Day 3 has begun. And there are about 10 minutes left until I wake Erwen up.

As I watch Erwen sleeping curled up with the blanket between her legs, I contemplate.

Aftercare application.

In other words, whether or not to propose becoming companions.

Of course, there's the downside of having to share the loot if we become companions.

Even if goblins start appearing in groups of three or four from Day 3, Erwen's joining will definitely decrease my income.

It's not related to her strength. Well, since her race is fairy, she'll definitely pull her weight...

But am I already overpowered?

I can easily defeat three or four goblins even without Erwen.

It's not arrogance, but that's my honest judgment after experiencing several battles with this body.

And I'm in a position where I need to collect as many magic stones as possible to prepare for living expenses in the city and future taxes.

"Whew..."

A safe place to sleep or more magic stones.

To make the most rational choice, I continue to ponder.

Thud.

I hear the footsteps of an explorer from the left passage.

This has happened several times during my watch, so I'm not particularly nervous. Most of them just take a look and pass by.

However...

Thud-

This pair of explorers, one chubby and one skinny, take a look at us and stop walking.

And they whisper to each other.

"Isn't that the fairy?"

"Seems like it. The shape of the bow matches."

After whispering and reaching a conclusion, the chubby one asks me on their behalf.

"Barbarian, what's your relationship with that fairy?"

"As you can see, we're night companions."

"A barbarian and a fairy as night companions, that's a rare sight. So, how much time is left?"

"I have no obligation to answer that."

The chubby one doesn't press further at my response.

He just grins and leaves with the skinny one.

"I see. Let's go."

"Huh? Oh, uh..."

The presence of the two disappears from the surroundings.

However, I can't let my guard down.

What the hell were those guys? They're as ominous as the chieftain when he yelled right in front of me.

I slowly move to the side and nudge Erwen's shoulder, who's sleeping.

"Ugh..."

Hey, can you sleep in this situation?

Wake up quickly.

I have a feeling we're screwed.

Trial

I like Korean novels (Murim, Dukes, Reincarnation, etc, etc, etc)

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