Surviving the Game as a Barbarian-Chapter 596: RPG (4)

Sometimes, while playing a game, there are those moments.

Not just fighting blindly, but patterns designed to be solved by fulfilling certain specific conditions.

“Hmm...”

Thinking about it, if the goal was just to endure, it wouldn’t have been that difficult.

Hamshik didn’t have any powerful single skills.

Even if there were some, their casting time was long enough to prepare for.

But in the meantime...

‘A buff that increases regeneration the more injuries you take.’

This mercenary’s body was specialized in endurance.

Even Elwen, who would normally have been sidelined, managed to carry the weight of one person using [Chaos Circuit].

‘This feels kind of pointless...’

I worked hard to take it down, but it turned out I only had to endure.

I wondered if I had wasted my effort for nothing, but I decided to think positively.

‘Eh, but still, if it can be taken down, it should be.’

Yeah, my judgment wasn’t wrong.

What does it matter if I could just get through by enduring?

No, rather because of that, it was even more positive.

When the standard method works, extra rewards always follow.

Just like this.

[Really... I just wanted to help—.]

“Hamshik.”

[...Speak, mortal.]

Hamshik, who once said I wasn’t even worthy of being called a person and had no right to question, now showed manners.

If I had proceeded by just enduring until this guy showed mercy, this change would never have happened.

Maybe he would have just tossed an item carelessly and left without proper explanation.

Well, that wouldn’t happen now.

“I know you didn’t do it with bad intentions, so just say it. So what exactly is this?”

[If given to that human girl, it will be of great help on the journey ahead.]

“Don’t be vague about help and all that. Be clear.”

I knew it was some kind of potion, but I couldn’t just let Elwen take an unknown thing, so I pressed him for details.

Hamshik’s explanation of the potion’s effect was simple.

If she takes this, the ‘Forsaken’...

That is, those who are ‘monsters’...

She wouldn’t just be immune to attacks from monsters, but would gain some degree of control over them?

[But remember. It won’t work on those with high spiritual grades like me.]

Hamshik gave the warning seriously and stood up, heading toward the wall.

“No, where do you think you’re going?”

[Since I’ve heard the answer I wanted, our business is done—.]

“Not yet.”

[...?]

Damn, trying to sneak off with my hidden piece reward.

After subduing him like this, letting him go for free is a loss. Of course, I don’t think Hamshik is hiding any material rewards...

But the reward doesn’t have to be material.

Every piece of information I gain here is invaluable.

And in that sense...

“Who exactly are you? Are you also a monster... I mean, one of the Forsaken?”

I started asking seriously.

[...In the eyes of mortals, yes.]

“Don’t be ambiguous. Be clear.”

[...Yes. More precisely, we are the ‘Abandoned’.]

“The Abandoned...?”

[We abandoned faith first, and thus were freed from bindings to remain independent beings.]

Forsaken and Abandoned.

Listening further, the difference was simple.

‘Whether intelligence exists or not.’

Goblins, kobolds, and orcs belonged to the ‘Abandoned’.

Unlike normal monsters, they built civilizations and lived in villages in forests or mountains.

They sometimes interacted with humans.

[But today I realize. No matter how much you want to abandon, there are things you cannot abandon.]

“...What do you mean by that?”

[I said that powers won’t work on those with high spiritual grades, but don’t worry. They will never be hostile toward that human girl. Just as I was today...]

Things you want to abandon but cannot.

Though not the answer to that question, I let it pass without objection.

Above all, there was something I needed to confirm first.

“Hamshik.”

[Speak, mortal.]

Seeing Hamshik no longer flinch at the name ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) I gave him, I cautiously asked.

“Just asking in case... Is she the Earth Witch?”

[Witch?]

Hamshik shook his head firmly as if he’d heard something strange.

But that didn’t mean Elwen was not the Earth Witch.

[That human girl is not a witch.]

With Hamshik’s next words, I became certain.

[She is just a poor child born with a cruel fate.]

That rift.

So the base was really the Earth Witch...

Every rift has a story.

Even when playing the game, you could tell there was backstory through various concepts or lines, but the thing that convinced me was the conversation with the vampire man.

The bloody fortress where corpse golems and vampires appeared.

I had gone there countless times in the game, and it was a space based on someone’s life.

The White Temple, the Doppelganger Forest, and so on were probably the same.

‘A rift made based on the story of a witch...’

It hit me sharply as the most important turning point in all my explorations.

Also, the contents of the ‘Golden Book’ I read in Hamshik’s room suddenly came to mind.

Long ago, a brother and sister lived happily in a rural village. But when the brother left the village to become a wizard, the younger sister was very saddened.

To summarize, it was the kind of diary entry that could be written in three lines.

‘That’s probably the story of the witch too.’

Maybe through this exploration, I would learn more details about the witch and uncover the secrets of the labyrinth.

That was when I was pouring questions at Hamshik for a long time.

[Enough.]

Hamshik suddenly muttered with sharp eyes.

“...Enough?”

Does he think we’re friends because I answered him with a smile?

Just when I was seriously wondering how to deal with Hamshik in the future, he suddenly shouted as if sensing something.

[It’s not that...! The imperial army is coming!]

“The imperial army...?”

[Don’t even think about fighting! Even you wouldn’t stand a chance against so many enemies.]

Hmm... really?

Even though he said that, I couldn’t quite feel it, but Hamshik continued his plea earnestly.

[You may be fine, but what about that human girl? Do you think you can protect her against such numbers?]

That logic wasn’t wrong.

Actually, Elwen was still recovering from using [Chaos Circuit].

“We have to get out of this cave quickly.”

[It will probably be hard. We are already completely surrounded.]

“Really, Elwen?”

“I don’t know. My body isn’t normal yet...”

[If I hadn’t used up all my strength fighting you, I would have noticed sooner...]

Hamshik muttered with emotion.

I could tell he was frustrated, but I couldn’t just let those words pass.

“So you’re saying all this is my fault?”

[I’m not trying to find someone to blame! Enough, come here!]

“Okay?”

[There is only one way to safely exit this cave!]

Hamshik waved his hand, and a portal formed.

Whoooosh!

The portal shook visibly unstable.

“If we go through here, where will it lead?”

[I don’t know. But it won’t be where you intended.]

Hmm, besides passing through the cave via compass, was there another route?

I still couldn’t tell if this was a good or bad event.

But...

“Sir, what will you do?”

“Let’s get in for now. I don’t think he means to harm us.”

There was no other choice.

If Elwen in anglerfish mode got badly hurt, it would be uncontrollable.

After coming to an agreement, we walked toward the portal, when Hamshik called me.

[Mercenary.]

“...?”

[I entrust that child to you.]

Huh, I wondered what he meant.

“I know. Even if you don’t say it.”

I smiled slightly and tightly held Elwen’s hand as we stepped into the portal.

And...

‘Phase 3 now.’

I opened my eyes, curious about what would happen next.

[Special Condition – The Distorted Journey is fulfilled.]

[Character is moved to the Great Square.]

Thousands had gathered in the square.

“Kill them!!”

“Divine punishment to the wicked witch...!!”

We were kneeling on the gallows.

To summarize the situation.

Bound at limbs, standing on the gallows.

‘Did they take all my gear? Damn, I hope I can find it.’

The gear I had painstakingly looted was nowhere, replaced only by a ragged cloth wrapped loosely.

Ah, and beside me was Elwen in similar condition.

Somehow looking a bit older than before.

“Ah, sir...!”

She looked about ten to twelve years old now.

A nobleman standing between me and Elwen began to read out our crimes.

From conspiracy to rebel, noble murder, massacre, arson...

Amid the endless list of charges, there was only one thing I focused on.

“I request the death penalty for the wicked witch who caused chaos in this world for over ten years and her follower Bjorn Yandel.”

More than ten years.

‘So that much time has passed since escaping the cave?’

Maybe the crimes recited by the nobleman had all happened during the last ten years.

‘But if that’s true, Elwen is still too young.’

I had doubts but passed over it.

“Sir, what should we do?”

“Calm down. I’m thinking.”

After calming Elwen, I continued my thoughts.

Thankfully, there was still time.

I thought the execution would happen immediately after the noble finished speaking, but it didn’t.

“This concludes the emperor’s decree!”

A knight fully armored in shining plate armor came up next and opened a scroll as if to proclaim a royal order.

“Citizens of the empire! It has been a long time! It has been a hard time! With the appearance of the wicked witch, the world turned into a hellscape...”

His voice amplified by magic rang loud and proud with praise and self-congratulation.

I listened half one ear and was planning an escape.

Tap tap.

Someone cautiously tapped my bound shoulder. I moved only my eyes to see a familiar face.

“Long time no see, Yandel.”

“You...?”

“You remember me, huh. Though we only met once over a decade ago.”

For me, it had only been a few hours.

The mercenary who moved with me in Chapter 1.

Though wrinkles covered his face and his hair was graying, unlike when he was young.

“You haven’t changed at all since that day. So young. Did you gain power by becoming a follower of the witch too?”

“Well, let’s just say so.”

“I was surprised when I first heard your name. I never imagined you were a follower of the witch who brought chaos to this world... Honestly, until I saw you here in person, I wasn’t sure.”

“...”

“Do you know? I spent all my fortune just to stand here today.”

“...Why did you go that far?”

He didn’t answer my question.

“After you left, I joined the imperial army. Mercenary or soldier, life was rough either way, but I finally settled down.”

“...”

“I met a woman beyond my status, married, and had children. It was a truly happy time. Over a decade was enough to change my whole life, but at the same time, it was very short.”

His calm voice grew heated as he continued.

“Do you know? Now I have nothing. I lost everything when Nelbus Fortress was overrun by monster hordes.”

...Damn it.

“Is that enough of an answer? Why I came here.”

I knew I wasn’t the one responsible, but still, facing such clear malice was stressful.

“Some say sinners survive by a thread, but don’t worry.”

“...”

“I checked many times properly.”

He finished speaking and stepped back, no longer talking.

And how much time passed?

“Sir? I think the end is near...”

No one had to tell me; I could feel it was right in front of me.

The heated roar of the boiling crowd.

‘...No, what am I supposed to do?’

I tried to resist with all my might until my veins nearly burst, but the ropes showed no sign of breaking.

‘Isn’t this... too unfair?’

At first I thought there was an NPC helping me by talking from behind, but no.

So am I really going to die like this?

Or maybe I’ll wake up and continue to the next chapter?

I didn’t know.

The only thing I knew was that it wasn’t a reason to give up.

“Uaaaaaaaahhhh!!”

I pulled every ounce of strength from my body and resisted.

Still, it wasn’t enough to break the ropes.

But...

Crack—

The ropes loosened a little.

Gaining hope, I shook my whole body back and forth as much as it loosened.

“Stop!”

A soldier approached to stop my rampage.

...It was that guy.

Bang!

Using the loosened gap, I headbutted his head.

“...Huh? Aaaahhh!”

He fell from the high gallows.

“Kill them! Kill! Kill immediately!”

The crowd roared louder at the incident on the gallows.

Ignoring them, I struggled to escape.

And...

“Hah...”

The knight who was reading the king’s proclamation sighed deeply.

The small sigh echoed throughout the square thanks to amplification.

“Well, seems like preparations are finally complete.”

Only then did I realize.

This voice was very familiar.

“Sir Ervan was found dead...!”

“What? Then who the hell is that author over there...!”

“Stop them!!”

Knights shouted urgently and rushed up the stairs.

And at that moment.

“Let’s begin.”

A light burst forth from the floor of the square holding thousands.

Swooshhh!!

A gigantic magic circle the likes I’d never seen in my life.

Bathed in that radiance, a man turned his back and roughly took off his helmet.

“It’s time to join forces. Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused us?”

It was the chief.

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