Surviving The Game as a Barbarian (Novel) Chapter 19, 20, 21

 

C19, 20, 21

Chapter 19: Lafdonia (3)

"Then I'll be going now."

"Ah, ye-yes... Goodbye..."

After parting ways with Erwen, I headed straight for the library.

The calming scent of paper and ink.

The quiet atmosphere where even coughing feels like it should be held back.

Seeing various skinny people choosing books in that atmosphere makes me feel like I'm the only one out of place, but...

Snore, snore, snore!

Surprisingly, there was another barbarian in the library besides me.

Feeling happy, I approach and poke her back.

"Bjor, Bjorn, son of Yandel?!"

It was you after all.

Ainar, the second or third daughter of Frenelin.

"It's good to see you safe and sound."

"You too!"

"...I think we need to lower our voices."

Ainar also notices the stares directed at us and lowers her voice.

"Sorry, I was surprised. I didn't expect to see another tribe member here besides myself."

Same here.

"What brings you to the library?"

"You once said that I should always think and then act. As I explored the labyrinth this time, I realized that I needed knowledge to think."

Hmm, I see.

That's quite commendable.

If only she wasn't snoring with a book open in front of her face.

"It seems like something happened in the labyrinth."

"It wasn't easy from start to finish. Fighting wasn't a problem, but..."

Ainar continues with a bitter expression.

"It wasn't just the monsters that I had to be wary of."

She definitely seems a bit different from the other barbarians. They just boasted about how easily they beat up monsters.

They never said it was hard, even if they were about to die.

"So you decided to study here."

"That's right. But as expected, this doesn't suit me. Reading is too difficult. I should have studied harder when I was young."

...Ah, so that's where the problem starts?

"So I'm going to visit the sanctuary starting today and learn how to read from the elders again. Now that I'm an adult, I'll have to pay, but..."

It's still a bit surprising.

That one person can change this much with a piece of advice I gave casually.

Ainar closes the book she had open and gets up from her seat.

"Are you going right now?"

"If I don't do it when I think of it, I'll forget."

I see.

The more I learn about them, the more I think they're a sad race.

"Then I'll be off."

Just as she's heading towards the exit, Ainar turns around as if she just remembered something.

"Ah! Come to think of it, I promised to repay you for your advice if I came back alive. If you need any help, come to the Angry Bullhorn Inn. I'll help you in any way I can."

"Alright."

I hope she doesn't forget this promise within a day or two.

I think I'll need to ask for her help soon.
______________________________________________

After Ainar leaves, I wander around the library for a while, just looking around.

Well, a building the size of the National Assembly Building being an entire library is not something you see every day.

Even in the game, the library was marked as "under construction" and couldn't be entered.

Hmm, but how do I find books here?

It's not like I can just type a few keys on a keyboard and get the location like in the modern world...

I decide to ask for help instead of wasting time thinking about it.

"Ahem."

At the sound of my cough, the librarian who was dozing off at the desk slowly opens her eyes.

"What can I help you with?"

"I'm looking for books related to history..."

"Parsityev."

Before I can even finish explaining what kind of books I'm looking for, the sleepy-looking librarian mutters something.

At the same time, a faint light flows into my body.

What the, is that magic?

"Now, as you walk around, you'll be able to find the books you're looking for. You can't check them out, and be sure to put them back in their original place when you're done reading."

As the light fades, the librarian starts dozing off again after giving me those mechanical instructions.

...What the hell is with this woman?

I don't even feel like waking her up again, so I just wander around the library as instructed.

As I do so, I see books here and there that make me feel strangely drawn to them.

I quickly understand what kind of magic it is.

Evil spirits, history, labyrinths, explorers, essences, etc.

The books that I feel drawn to change depending on the keywords I think of.

'What is this convenient magic?'

With magic like this, it makes sense that there's only one librarian. In the first place, the number of library users is almost non-existent compared to its size.

I choose only the books that I feel the strongest pull towards and open them one by one.

[The Ruined World]

The first book I open, which is almost 700 pages long, describes the early history of this world.

Most of it is consistent with the game.

Thousands of years ago, a witch's curse made it impossible for life to exist on this land, and only the last fortress, Lafdonia, escaped the calamity.

To save the people who were starving due to limited resources, the royal family opened a passage to another dimension.

That became the labyrinth of today.

[Basic Understanding of Alchemy: Annotated Edition IV]

The second book describes the process of how magic stones from monsters are turned into bread, water, and steel.

I don't understand the principles at all, but...

I read the books one by one, cramming the knowledge into my head.

[The War of the Sacred Relics III]

Thanks to this, I learn more about the current relationship between barbarians and fairies, and what evil spirits are.

Evil spirits are perceived as evil beings from another dimension who take over bodies.

Hmm, come to think of it, it's not wrong, is it?

[Evil Spirits of the Abyss]

Unfortunately, this book doesn't explain why evil spirits appear.

However, it does describe in detail how the royal family and temple of Lafdonia declared evil spirits as targets for eradication and what efforts they have made.

It's a goldmine of tips for evil spirits.

According to the book, as long as I don't utter forbidden words, there's almost no chance of being suspected as an evil spirit.

For example, "Dungeon and Stone".

...I should also refrain from shouting "Sparta".

[The Evolution of Explorers]

[The Twins of the Lafdonia Royal Family]

[On Heroes]

[The Life of Bifron the Prisoner]

As I continue reading books, I finally obtain the information I was looking for.

[On the Death of the King]

This book deals with the death of Ravigion III, the first king, also known as the Immortal King.

However, I'm not interested in the various suspicions surrounding it or the changes that resulted from it.

What matters to me is the time period.

Let's see, the date is...

"150 years ago...?"

It's the moment my hypothesis is proven correct.

The date of the king's death recorded in the book is about 150 years ago.

In other words, the place I am now is 150 years in the future according to the game timeline.

No matter which race you choose, the game starts the day after Ravigion III dies.

Damn it.

I guess I'll have to live in the library for a while.

"Whew..."

I close the book and rest my tired eyes for a moment.

Even though I only read the important parts, my eyes feel like they're about to pop out after going through ten books.

But I decide to finish reading the two books I took out.

Let's push a little further. There might be some important information.

[Dimensional Instability Observation Records]

Is this the book that the blonde guy who saved me when I was crawling on three legs read?

The book contains cases and statistics similar to mine.

Just like the blonde guy said, ending up in the outermost area is something that happens once every hundred years...

"Bullshit."

As someone who's experienced it, I can say that there must have been many more cases like this.

It's just that most of them died, so we don't know.

The rest of the content is mostly statistics, so I'm flipping through the pages when I stop at the last chapter.

The author's speculation is written at the end: 'Entering the portal at the moment it closes may be related to the instability phenomenon.'

If this is true...

Then it's my fault after all.

Let's move on quickly before I get depressed.

[9th Grade Essence Compendium]

Finally, the last book.

It's like an encyclopedia of the abilities possessed by essences dropped by 9th-grade monsters, but unlike the in-game descriptions, it doesn't provide information with exact numbers.

[Goblin]

Patience (Low), Smell (Low), Poison Resistance (Low), Dexterity (Low), Vision (Low)

*Always inflicts paralysis poison when using melee weapons.

*Creates traps.

Looking at other monsters, it seems like they use "Medium" for stats 21 or higher...

There's no way to know the criteria for "High" rank.

According to the instructions written on the first page, information on 8th-grade and above essences must be purchased from the Explorer's Guild.

"Whew..."

I close the book and stretch briefly.

It's already dark outside the window.

It seems like it's almost time for the library to close, as there are almost no users left.

I put all the books I read back in their original places and return to the inn.

And after a simple meal, I collapse onto the bed.

Thus, the 3rd day in the city passes.

"27 days left..."

Every month on the 1st, at midnight, the labyrinth opens.

A month here is exactly 30 days, so that means I have to enter the labyrinth again in about 4 weeks.

"......"

What can I do in the city for the remaining time?

No, what should I do?

As I organize various things in my head, sleepiness quickly washes over me.

Let's try to find new companions tomorrow.
_______________________________________

"Mister! Mister! Wake up!"

Erwen comes knocking on my door early in the morning.

Leaving aside the fact that her voice sounds quite excited...

'Why the hell is she here?'

She wouldn't come now and say she wants to follow me instead of her sister, would she?

Honestly, I thought we were done with each other.

"What's the matter?"

"Look at this! I succeeded in the contract!"

As soon as I open the door, Erwen blurts out something out of the blue.

"Contract? Ah, you mean you ate a 'Spirit Stone'?"

A Spirit Stone is an item that allows fairies to make contracts with spirits of other attributes.

Assuming the user is lucky.

"Yes! I succeeded in making a contract with a new spirit after parting ways with you yesterday!"

"You were lucky."

In the game, the price of a Spirit Stone was about 150,000 stones.

The success rate was only 10%.

For her, it must have been a gamble where she put almost all of her assets on the line, but to succeed in that?

"Yes! It worked after I tried about ten times with the one my sister bought me!"

...Damn, is she here to tease me?

As a barbarian who only inherited this body, I feel a sense of deprivation.

When we first met, she said she had a younger sibling to take care of and I thought she was a poor girl, but now I see she's a complete gold spoon.

I bet the bow she had was also bought by her sister.

"Anyway, it seems like you made a contract with a wind spirit."

"Yes! I was lucky in many ways. Fire and wind have good compatibility!"

"Alright, alright, dismiss the summon first."

I sigh and say.

I'm a little jealous, but that's not the reason.

"Yes? But I haven't shown you properly yet..."

"Are you planning to make an even bigger mess?"

"Ah, ah! Sorry!"

Only then does the swirling wind subside.

Phew, what a mess first thing in the morning.

As I frown, Erwen, who had been so excited, starts observing my expression with an apologetic look.

"I, I'll clean up?"

I don't know why she's asking.

Was she planning to ask me to clean up?

When I nod, Erwen quickly tidies up the messy room.

Surprisingly, it takes less than 10 minutes.

She said she was confident in laundry and cleaning before, and it seems like she was telling the truth.

There's no wasted movement.

Just like a master from a martial arts novel.

"Should I clean more?"

"......"

"I'll clean more..."

"No, that's enough."

Honestly, I'm not sure if it's even possible to clean more than this.

Somehow, it feels like the inn room is cleaner now than when I first entered.

Let's give her a carrot since she did a good job.

I also have something to ask her later.

"Come to think of it, I haven't said this yet. Congratulations on making a contract with a new spirit."

"Hehe, thank you!"

"Have you had breakfast?"

"Not yet."

Since she hasn't eaten yet, we go down to the 1st floor and have breakfast while talking.

"What can you do with a wind spirit?"

"I think I can do things like slightly alter the trajectory of an arrow that's already been shot, or shoot it much faster!"

It's a rather one-dimensional way of using it compared to what I expected.

Can't she make the arrow spin to increase its penetration power, or make the sound of the arrow being shot inaudible?

If she could, our combat power would increase even further.

"Uh, I haven't thought about that... but it seems like it might be possible?"

What is with this way of speaking?

It makes me feel inexplicably annoyed.

"Anyway, it's good that you came. Let's head back up after breakfast."

"Yes? Why?"

"There's something we need to do in the room."

Erwen tilts her head.

She has a look that says she has no idea what I'm talking about...

"You didn't think you repaid all your debt with that, did you?"

"Ye, yes? I didn't?"

She's quite naive in some ways.

Click.

I lock the door to prevent anyone from entering and sit Erwen down on the bed.

"Now, use your ability."

I need to confirm if using skills is tiring, how long it takes to use them again, if there are any weaknesses in the stealth ability, and so on.

There's a mountain of things to check.

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

Chapter 20: Lafdonia (4)


“Good work. You can go now.”

“Goodbye!”

Erwen quickly gets ready to leave without even a word of refusal.

It seems like the half-day of ability research was quite tiring for her...

“Then I’ll come again!”

Come again?

Ah, I didn’t mention that, did I?

“You don’t have to come here anymore.”

“Yeees?”

Why is she surprised?

This is obvious.

You’re not my companion or anything.

“You’ll need time to get used to your new ability, right? It’s better to spend your time more productively until the labyrinth opens.”

Strictly speaking, this applies to me as well.

Yesterday, I set a new goal.

The goal is to become a mid-level explorer and enter the 6th floor.

So, I have a lot to do.

First, I need to use the 1.4 million stones to improve myself.

If possible, I’d like to receive professional combat training. I’m still not fully utilizing the capabilities of this monstrous body.

I also need to read books to accumulate common sense and knowledge, and explore the city as much as possible to adapt to the prices and culture.

In short, there’s no reason to hang out with Erwen unless there’s a specific reason.

“That’s true! B, but?”

“You said you have a younger sibling, right? Spend some time with them. You also have to enter the labyrinth again in three weeks, right?”

“Yeees…”

Erwen nods with a glum expression.

Is it because I was her first companion?

She seems to have some strange illusion about me. Honestly, I can even guess what kind of illusion it is.

But business relationships rarely last long.

“Since I’m staying here, feel free to come if anything happens. I’ll help you as much as I can.”

“R, really?”

“We’re comrades-in-arms, aren’t we?”

“Hehe, that’s right! Alright!”

After throwing in a carrot, Erwen leaves with a satisfied expression.

Geez, she’s still easy to handle.

Since things have turned out this way, I decide to maintain my friendship with Erwen.

This is also a kind of connection, after all.

Even if I can’t do anything about blood ties, I can create regional ties later on.

It might be helpful someday.

“…Am I being too materialistic?”

Well, so what?

It’s not the time to be picky.
________________________________

Afterwards, I take a quick shower, go outside, and head straight back to the library. I receive the magic from the lazy librarian I saw yesterday and read books for about five or six hours.

‘There’s no place that sells something like gukbap, right?’

Although it’s a bit late, I have a simple lunch at a cheap-looking restaurant, consisting of watery stew and a few pieces of bread.

The price is 450 stones.

It seems like it’s more cost-effective to have meals at the inn.

“It’s Bjorn, son of Yandel, the greatest warrior!”

After lunch, I visit the Angry Bullhorn Inn where Ainar is staying, after asking around.

Surprisingly, the place is teeming with barbarians.

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to stay here too? Good thinking! It only costs 300 stones a day!”

What, 300 stones?

Surprised by the unbelievable price, I inquire a bit and find out the reason.

As soon as I enter the room with five narrow beds, the strong smell of sweat that has been fermenting for days stings my nose.

“Do five people share a room?”

“No! Ten warriors share it!”

“…But there are only five beds?”

“We take turns sleeping at designated times!”

It’s not that it’s cheap, it’s just cheap because many people are sharing the cost.

Well, they only earn about 30,000 or 40,000 stones, so they don’t have much choice.

“But what brings you here?”

“I’m looking for Ainar, the third daughter of Frenelin.”

“If it’s Ainar, the second daughter of Frenelin, she went out this morning!”

So she was the second daughter after all.

I should have just left it as it was at the end.

Anyway, after waiting for about an hour, Ainar, who was out, returns.

“Bjorn, son of Yandel? Did something happen?”

Since we’re both barbarians, I speak directly.

“I want to fight you.”

“Are you talking about sparring?”

“Yes.”

I need training right now.

Although I achieved more in the labyrinth than any other barbarian, I wouldn’t stand a chance against them in pure combat skills.

“That’s a bit strange.”

Ainar tilts her head.

It doesn’t seem like it’s because it’s a difficult request...

“If that’s the case, you don’t have to ask, just go to the open space.”

Open space?

Ainar then leads me out the back door of the inn.

There, more than a dozen barbarians are already gathered, swinging their fists, rolling on the ground, and sweating.

Well, maybe even bleeding.

“Hwahaha! That punch was quite heavy!”

“Yours too!”

No wonder it’s been so noisy outside.

This is just everyday life for these guys.

The fairies were giggling and talking about things like what the voices of spirits sound like.

As I watch the barbarians fighting fiercely as if they’ve encountered their sworn enemies, I smile bitterly. Ainar asks,

“Is there a reason why it has to be me?”

Actually, there isn’t.

I just thought Ainar would accept my request. But it would be strange to say no now.

“You’re the only one who uses a sword.”

“You want to learn how to fight swordsmen?”

“Yes.”

Ainar nods and immediately makes a decision.

“Alright. To enter the labyrinth with a wise warrior like you is something all warriors desire.”

It’s a much more positive response than I expected.

I might be able to push my luck a bit more?

“However, there’s one condition.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll take 80% of the loot.”

“…..?”

Ainar frowns at my unreasonable demand.

Is she offended?

I open my mouth again to add an explanation.

“I’m also paying for the cost of forming a team, aren’t I? And I promise, even with a lower percentage, you’ll earn much more than you would entering the labyrinth alone. Plus, I’ll cover all the other consumable costs—”

“Stop, there’s no need to explain further.”

“……?”

“Even if you talk about percentages and stuff, I won’t understand anyway. So just give me what you think is fair. I trust you.”

“…Alright.”

I have no choice but to admit that I underestimated the barbarian race.

“I’ll be in your care. Bjorn, son of Yandel.”

Ainar then approaches and slaps my back hard.

It’s so heavy that I can’t consider it a friendly gesture, but…

Well, I guess I’d better get used to it soon.

“I look forward to working with you.”

I’ve gained a reliable barbarian companion.
______________________________________

The next morning.

I visit the sanctuary with Ainar.

The sanctuary is a kind of communal child-rearing facility.

Barbarians who have left for the city send their children here when they are born. Since they have to be warriors until they die, they don't have the capacity to raise their children.

And barbarians who become adults and leave for the city repeat this process.

But that's not what I need to worry about right now.

“Bjorn, son of Yandel.”

As soon as we arrive, the chieftain comes out and welcomes us.

Damn, this is why I didn’t want to come here…

“It’s rare for a departed warrior to return. Have you come to learn to read like Ainar, the second daughter of Frenelin?”

I calm my pounding heart and shake my head.

“That’s not it. Chieftain, I came to the sanctuary for a different reason.”

“A different reason…”

The chieftain looks at me with interest.

Don’t get nervous.

I learned the barbarian way of speaking and how to address people from Ainar beforehand.

As long as I don’t make any mistakes, it’ll be fine.

“Tell me what it is.”

I take a deep breath and speak calmly.

“I want to receive a Spirit Engraving.”

Each race has its own unique characteristics.

For example, fairies handle spirits, dwarves handle artifacts, and so on.

Barbarians have “Spirit Engravings.”

In the game, it required a significant amount of money, so it was a growth method that couldn’t be used in the early stages, but…

Fortunately, I have over a million stones.

Therefore, after much deliberation, I made a decision.

Standing in front of this damn chieftain is still fucking scary, but...

“To be precise, I want to receive the ‘Undying Engraving’.”

There’s no doubt.

This is the best way to use my money.

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


Chapter 21: Level Up (1)

The chieftain's eyes narrow.

And very menacingly so.

"Where did you hear about Spirit Engravings? That's not something young warriors should know."

Of course, I first learned about it from the game.

There's no way I, a veteran player, wouldn't know such a basic thing.

But I say confidently,

"I read it in a book."

I have nothing to fear since I've already confirmed that information about Spirit Engravings can be easily found in the library's books.

"The book said that Spirit Engravings were a great help in fighting the fairies during the War of the Sacred Relics—"

"Hwahahahahahaha!"

The chieftain bursts into laughter, interrupting my words.

Honestly, I was scared shitless, but the laughter sounded somewhat pleasant, so I managed not to piss myself.

"You read a book? That's amusing! Both Ainar and you, such promising youngsters appearing at once!"

Fortunately, the chieftain seems to have a favorable view of young barbarians with a thirst for knowledge.

"...If what the book says is true, I definitely want to receive the secret technique."

"Indeed, if a warrior requests it, we have no reason to refuse a Spirit Engraving! But young warrior, there's one problem!"

"Problem?"

"It costs a lot of money."

What the hell, I was worried for nothing.

Why is he saying such an obvious thing so seriously?

Spirit Engravings require many expensive materials.

For higher-grade engravings, there are even some that you can't receive even if you have the money but lack the materials.

"Hahaha! It's commendable that you read a book and came all the way here, but it seems you haven't looked into that part!"

"I have the money. How much is it?"

The chieftain looks at me and speaks as if I'm cute.

"The cost for the Undying Engraving is, hmm, about 800,000 stones!"

I frown.

Ugh, it's 150,000 stones more expensive than in the game.

But I can still manage to pay.

"I'll pay."

"What?"

"Is that true?"

The chieftain and Ainar are both surprised.

Before they can say anything annoying, I open my pouch and take out one 500,000-stone pouch and three 100,000-stone pouches.

A look of doubt appears in the chieftain's eyes.

"Bjorn, son of Yandel, where did you get such a large sum of money?"

I would have been disappointed if he hadn't asked.

I've already prepared a scenario.

I tell them about what happened with Erwen, with some embellishments.

Basically, I met a fairy on the 1st floor, treated her like a slave, and coincidentally got an essence, and then received money from her older sister as compensation...

"Hwahahaha! Serves those pointy-ears right!"

"To rip off those sneaky pointy-ears, you must be the first! Bjorn, son of Yandel!"

The barbarians seem to like this story more than I expected.

Not only Ainar and the chieftain, but even the elder who was far away comes over and smiles broadly.

Do they have that much resentment built up?

"Hwahahaha! I don't remember the last time I laughed this hard!"

The chieftain then takes 600,000 stones from my hand.

Huh? I'm pretty sure he said 800,000 stones earlier...

As I tilt my head in confusion, the chieftain pats my shoulder.

"It's my gift to a young warrior who has shown great potential!"

My shoulder feels like it's dislocated, but the reward is truly sweet.

Damn, 200,000 stones off with just a few words!

Our chieftain is generous, just like a barbarian.

I shout with sincerity,

"I will continue to screw over those pointy-ears whenever I see them and become an even greater warrior!!"

"I look forward to it! Young warrior, Bjorn, son of Yandel!"

Is this what they mean by 'the more you see them, the more charming they become'?

I'm starting to like barbarians.
_________________________________

A Spirit Engraving is a kind of enhancement technique.

The principle is to infuse the body with 'soul power' from magical materials, granting special abilities.

It's also the reason why barbarians are all covered in tattoos.

Since their soul circuits need to remain visible even after they become adults, they have to get tattoos while they're still infants, when their souls are relatively pure.

I think that's how it was.

"I'll give you one more chance to reconsider. If you choose this path, you won't be able to receive Spirit Engravings from other paths. Are you sure you're okay with that?"

"Of course."

I know all the paths.

Therefore, there's no chance of changing my mind.

The core of my build lies in the higher-grade engravings of the Undying path, and even if that weren't the case, most of the abilities in the Undying path are high-performance anyway.

"It seems the elder has also arrived, so you can go now."

"Alright."

After Ainar leaves, the chieftain takes me to the shaman's tent.

And the procedure begins in earnest.

"Hmm, your circuits are quite clean. If you continue to maintain a pure heart, the spirits will grant you great power."

The shaman, who is blindfolded, mutters something incomprehensible and starts poking needles into the tattoos on my upper body.

And...

"Keueuheheuheu..."

"Young warrior, you can scream if you can't bear it. Everyone does."

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaak!!"

Pain ten times worse than the potion's washes over me.

Damn it, I thought it was just a simple tattoo...

Do I have to go through this pain every time I advance to a higher path?

"There, it's done. You must be tired, so go outside."

By the time the shaman says the words I've been waiting for, it's already dark outside.

The chieftain who brought me here is nowhere to be seen either.

"Thank you."

"Kuku, you're the first warrior to thank a shaman."

Huh? Did I do something wrong?

I don't know, but I quickly leave the tent before he catches on.

「Activated 1st stage of Undying Engraving. Natural regeneration greatly increased.」

「Physical stat increased by +20.」

I'm mentally exhausted, but my body feels strangely energized.

Is this the power of the soul?

It's a very strange feeling. I feel like there's some unknown power surging within me.

I'll check the details later.

"Open the gate!"

I leave the sanctuary and return to the inn. I test out the newly acquired ability a few times and then collapse into sleep.
__________________________________

Another day passes, and morning arrives.

I revisit the commercial district I went to with Erwen the other day.

Thanks to the chieftain's generous discount, I'm going to invest all of the remaining 900,000 stones in myself.

"You're the one who came last time, right? Are you here to sell again?"

"No, this time I'm here to buy."

I need a new weapon.

The hammer I got from the man was sold with the rest of the equipment.

The feeling of hitting things with it wasn't bad, but the handle was too long for me to use comfortably as a one-handed weapon.

"I'd like to see some one-handed blunt weapons."

"One-handed blunt weapons..."

After sparring with Ainar, I concluded that this type of weapon suits me better than blades.

Swordsmanship requires a lot of skill.

Well, I could learn it with enough practice, but...

In the first place, the weapon itself is only for the early stages, so it's not efficient. I'm planning to focus solely on the shield once I get 'that essence'.

"Hmm."

The shopkeeper scans me and shows me a one-handed blunt weapon that doesn't look like one at all.

Even the lightest one seems at least three times heavier than the two-handed hammer the man used.

But this is a one-handed weapon?

"These are all one-handed blunt weapons preferred by barbarians."

Ah, I guess they would love this.

Even my shield was a ridiculously heavy piece of equipment made of solid steel.

However...

"I'd like something a bit more ordinary."

"Understood."

There's no need to buy something so monstrous.

With a weapon like that, the destructive power of each strike would obviously increase several times, but...

The 1st-floor monsters are already almost one-shot kills.

It's not like I'm going to be fighting large monsters, so using a weapon like that would probably just be cumbersome.

"How about these?"

The shopkeeper brings out new weapons.

Of course, these are also far from ordinary specifications, but this is probably the right size for a barbarian's body.

I choose a mace that's moderately heavy.

"How much is this?"

"250,000 stones."

250,000?

I sold six people's worth of weapons for only 350,000?

As I frown, the shopkeeper adds,

"The crafting difficulty itself isn't high, but the high steel content makes it expensive."

Ah, right.

I understand.

Although not without some grumbling.

"If you adjust the price to 220,000 stones, I'll buy it right away."

The shopkeeper looks at me with a surprised expression as I try to bargain.

...Just how much do barbarians get ripped off?

"These weapons won't sell anyway."

"Barbarians often come looking for them."

Well, maybe the ones he showed me first, but...

The barbarians I know wouldn't choose something so ambiguous.

Moreover, most barbarians prefer bladed weapons like axes rather than blunt weapons.

When I add those reasons, the shopkeeper easily agrees to the bargain.

"Alright, I'll sell it for 220,000 stones."

...Should I have said 200,000?

「Total item level has increased by +85.」

Anyway, I buy two more pieces of equipment while I'm at it.

First, a half plate armor.

「Total item level has increased by +57.」

Imagine a bulletproof vest made of flat steel plates. The price is 360,000 stones, and I was able to get it cheap because there was one that fit perfectly.

If I had to order a custom-made one, it would have cost twice as much.

Just like the helmet I bought next.

"It will take about 3 days. If you leave your address, I'll send someone to deliver it."

For helmets, I had to order a custom-made one because it needs to fit my head perfectly.

I was able to get it relatively cheap at 170,000 stones by giving up on the design entirely.

「Total item level has increased by +47.」

As a result, I have about 50,000 stones left.

...I guess I won't be able to eat meat from now on.
___________________________________________

My daily routine is set.

Wake up at 7:00 AM.

And have breakfast with Erwen.

"Wow, today's stew even has potatoes!"

"But why do you always eat breakfast here?"

"Because it's delicious and cheap?"

After breakfast, head straight to the library.

If I walk slowly, I can arrive just in time for it to open at 8:00 AM.

"Parsityev."

I've gotten used to receiving the magic from this chronically tired librarian.

"Then good luck."

"......"

Of course, I haven't had a proper conversation with her yet.

Grrrumble!

Read until 4:00 PM, and then have a simple meal at a restaurant I haven't been to before.

Hmm, this place is expensive and not tasty.

But there are many explorers, so it's good for eavesdropping on conversations.

"Is Ainar here yet?"

"Not yet! I'll be your opponent until then!"

After finishing my meal, I head to the barbarian inn, and it's around 5:00 PM.

Starting from the 7th day of training, I began sparring with other barbarians as well.

Just like them, I sparred with my upper body bare, swinging fists, choking, and fighting fiercely.

It's far from the systematic combat skills I was hoping for, but...

Sparring with barbarians who have highly developed instincts and intuition has ultimately been a great help to me.

Because I'm a barbarian too.

「Repeated training slightly improves reflexes.」

「Repeated training slightly improves flexibility.」

「Repeated training slightly improves dynamic vision…….」

「Physical stat increased by +1.」

I'm starting to get a sense of how to use this body.

"Bjorn, son of Yandel, wins!!"

"He's the strongest warrior of all time!!"

Even without the help of new equipment, there are times when I win against Ainar in sparring.

She's definitely skilled, but she has the disadvantage of having predictable patterns.

I gave her advice, but it seems like it's already become a habit and she can't easily change it.

"I'm tired! I'm going to sleep!"

"Me too!"

"A wise warrior knows when to rest!"

At 9:00 PM, the sparring sessions that feel like real battles come to an end.

Then I head back to the inn, my body covered in sweat and dirt.

By the time I finish washing up, Erwen comes again.

"Mister! Hurry up and wash up! The food will get cold!"

"Alright."

Although not every day, we meet for dinner and conversation about five times a week.

Most of the topics are Erwen's daily life, what she did that day, and what emotions she felt.

"Doesn't it bother you to walk here for an hour every time?"

"Not at all? The food here is cheap and delicious!"

Cheap and delicious?

I don't understand why she does this when she has a sister who earns good money.

"Thank you for the meal!"

After finishing dinner, it's around 11:00 PM.

Around this time, Erwen obediently returns to her own accommodation.

"Then good night. Ah, and I can't come tomorrow either."

"Even if you came, we wouldn't be able to meet. We'll both be busy tomorrow."

This is my repetitive daily routine.

I check the time and quickly go up to my room, collapsing onto the bed.

A month has already passed.

And...

[23:41]

About 24 hours left until the labyrinth opens.
_______________________________________

「Bjorn Yandel」

Level: 1

Physical: 46(New +21) / Mental: 36 / Ability: 1

Item Level: 202 (New +185)

Total Combat Index: 133.5 (New +67.25)


Trial

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

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