Surviving the Game as a Barbarian-Chapter 599: Third record (2)

The fifth layer of the Labyrinth, Daemagyeong.

This layer holds quite a monumental meaning for explorers.

That’s because it’s from this point that explorers truly start operating in clans as groups...

“The treatment changes.”

For humans starting out, taxes basically stop being a worry from the 5th floor onward.

Because of that, the residents of Lapdonia consider 5th-floor explorers the best marriage candidates.

It’s like getting hired by a major corporation, you could say?

In reality, most 5th-floor explorers enter the Labyrinth as if going to work. And once they reach the 5th floor, they always go to their usual hunting grounds and mine magic stones without rest until the Labyrinth closes, receiving rewards proportional to their results.

Well, many dislike that and choose not to join clans, instead running their own teams...

“Those kinds are probably best seen as successful self-employed.”

Anyway, all things considered, the 5th floor remains the number one groom choice.

But...

“It’s quite ironic, really.”

Preference for spouses is highest at the 5th floor, but from the 6th floor onward, preference actually gradually declines.

Ah, by the way, this information comes from a book in the library.

They surveyed over ten thousand residents directly and compiled it into a book...

The reasons for the decline in preference here are somewhat interesting.

First, they think it’s too dangerous.

Second, realistically, meeting would be difficult.

Third, they think they’re cranky.

Regarding the third place, you might wonder what that means, but it’s actually not an unfounded prejudice.

The flow of time for explorers is different from ordinary people.

Mental wear is different, and from the 6th floor and above, the stress index from exploration rises sharply.

Because of that, among famous explorers, many are known to have cranky personalities—

“Baron, what are you thinking about?”

Hearing the village chief’s voice, I ended my reverie.

“Ah... I was just checking the surroundings for a moment.”

It wasn’t an excuse to brush off the question; it was true.

I really was looking around, and eventually my thoughts led there.

The fifth layer of the Labyrinth, Daemagyeong.

Despite its terrifying name, this layer is relatively safe.

But...

“This is a little different from the place I knew.”

The place where we opened our eyes was slightly different from the usual 5th floor we often passed through.

The terrain and overall atmosphere were the same, but there was one decisive difference.

“There shouldn’t be any Grade 3 monsters in Daemagyeong.”

One of the paths leading downward was completely blocked by a single Grade 3 monster glaring at us.

“Sir, that’s a half-demon, right?”

Half-demon.

A ‘rare species’ monster that’s hard to encounter due to some spawn conditions.

I haven’t gained any experience points from it yet.

‘Since essence isn’t required, there’s no need for the three of us to waste effort trying to take it down...’

At first, I tensed up the moment I saw it, but for some reason, it only looked up at us from below and didn’t approach.

“Gahwin, do you have any idea which way we should go?”

“...Not at all. I don’t have any intuition at all. Since the moment we arrived here, it’s as if my abilities have disappeared...”

Hmm, I see...

“But still, I can’t shake the feeling that this might be the final trial.”

“Uh... isn’t that just your wishful thinking?”

“Baron... that sounds a little... well, I can’t deny it...”

Gahwin sighed deeply and complained.

“It’s about time this ended. We’ve already been here for over half a year!”

I, who woke up in Chapter 11 right after finishing Chapter 2, couldn’t offer any consolation.

After all, my playtime was less than 24 hours.

“Enough. Let’s put our heads together. To summarize, it seems like we need to find that evil god here. Which direction do you think is best to go?”

Jerome cut through the chaotic atmosphere and organized the situation.

And then...

“Of course.”

“No need to think twice.”

Gahwin and I answered Jerome simultaneously.

What the hell now.

“Gahwin, you speak first—”

“Baron, you speak first—”

We tried to yield, but our words overlapped again, making the situation awkward.

“......”

“......”

We were both trying to yield, but should I just speak? What if the other side thinks the same and we overlap again?

While hesitating and watching the other,

‘Alright, now.’

Seizing the timing, I pointed toward the route blocked by the half-demon and opened my mouth.

But...

“I—”

“I—”

No, why does this old man keep doing this?

So annoying.

“Gahwin, are you doing this on purpose?”

“N-No way!”

When I glared, Gahwin looked back at me with an aggrieved expression.

The village chief calmed us down with an expressionless face amid this ridiculous farce.

“Don’t act childish over this. Since both of you just pointed to the same place, it seems you’re thinking the same, right?”

“Well... it seems like that...”

“I agree.”

Again, Gahwin and I spoke simultaneously.

“Of course—”

“Of course—”

If our lines are the same, now it’s actually kind of irritating...

Ah, whatever.

Deciding not to care, I spoke, and unfortunately, Gahwin did the same.

“We have to go there.”

“Just avoiding that place should be enough, right?”

After a brief silence, our gazes met once more in the empty air.

“......?”

“......?”

Man, I really don’t get along with this old man.

“There’s something dangerous over there, so wouldn’t it be wiser to go somewhere else?”

Surprisingly, the point where Gahwin’s logic started was similar to mine, but the conclusions were completely different.

The reason was in the way we think.

“No. Because it’s dangerous, that’s why we should go there first.”

This chapter is about finding the evil god Karui.

And in my view, Karui was likely located in one of the four types of canyons.

Treasure is usually hidden in such places.

“There’s even a helpful signpost, so why would we waste effort going somewhere else?”

“It’s too early to conclude it would be wasted effort. It might be a method where after searching the other three places, we find the object we need!”

“What if the攻略 gets harder over time? A wrong choice might lead to irreversible consequences.”

“T-That’s a huge leap!”

“Gahwin, you have to keep all possibilities open and be cautious in the fissures. Especially since this is the first time entering here. But hearing such careless words...”

“......?”

“You really are a mage, not an explorer.”

“W-What?!”

Watching Gahwin’s face flush red, I recalled the time on the library island when we debated which Grade 1 monster to summon.

Back then, we had the exact same kind of back-and-forth.

“Anyway, no matter how much we talk, the decision is made by the Count, right? Count, you decide.”

Since there was no reason to waste time, I left the decision to the village chief, and naturally, the result was already set.

“Hmm... I think it’s best to follow the Baron’s opinion.”

The chief pretended to ponder for a moment, then raised my hand, ending the discussion on this topic.

“T-That...!”

Gahwin didn’t seem happy with the decision but didn’t openly argue with the chief, the person in charge.

‘Okay, then the route is decided.’

Gahwin gave a wry smile and stepped back. This probably worsened my relationship with the old man, but that was probably for the better.

No, it was rather satisfying, I’d say.

I approached the archbishop, who had been on my mind.

“Archbishop, why have you been staying /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ apart alone since earlier?”

“Ah... ah! I was just thinking. About that evil god. I wondered if there’s a chance we might meet that evil god here.”

“Why would it be awkward to meet?”

“Well... I don’t know.”

The archbishop looked very troubled.

Well, maybe that’s the kind of anguish only a devout religionist feels.

As a non-religious person, I couldn’t understand, but that wasn’t something I needed to be concerned about.

“No matter what you worry about, don’t let it trip you up by daydreaming. Understand?”

“...I’ll manage it just fine.”

What a talker.

Anyway, after checking on the archbishop’s condition, we briefly explained about the half-demon.

By the way, it was Gahwin, not me, who took the role of teacher.

He might lack an explorer’s mindset, but his knowledge was not lacking.

‘He misses some details...’

Well, it should be fine.

If I explained in detail, it’d only look strange.

...Also, I was a bit lazy.

“Half-demon defeated. EXP +7.”

The fight against the Grade 3 monster half-demon was not particularly difficult. That’s because we were all wrapped up in ridiculously strong buffs.

The priest’s infinite holy power.

The knight’s doubled stats.

The mage’s powerful ancient magic.

Even considering that I couldn’t reliably fulfill my tank role as before, this amount of bonuses made it easy to cut through a Grade 3 monster.

‘Should’ve tried to take it down with all three of us...’

The loot from the half-demon was only one magic stone, but I wasn’t too disappointed.

Those trivial things don’t really matter much.

What bothered me more was something else.

“That’s not particularly hard. Why is someone at your age so scared?”

“...Baron, what did you say just now?”

“Nothing.”

“It wasn’t nothing! You just said that to me.”

“But you’re not exactly young either, right?”

It might seem a little childish, but I held my ground against Gahwin.

Because...

‘Since when did you start getting so cocky? Even though you’re a noble without a title.’

I needed to put him in his place at least once—

“Sir...”

Just as I was about to reprimand Gahwin further, Elwen called me.

“...Why all of a sudden?”

“J-Just...”

“Just what? Hurry up and say it.”

“Well... for some reason, you didn’t seem like yourself today...”

Her cautious words somehow made me chuckle.

“What do you mean by ‘not myself’?”

Now that I think about it, everyone always expected things from me on their own terms.

Her, Amelia, Misha...

“Oh, why is this not the side you like?”

As I took a step forward, Elwen stepped back, looking at me.

It was the first time I saw her expression filled with fear.

“What the hell... is this?”

Seeing that expression, I instantly snapped out of it.

At the same time, the torrent of emotions that had been swirling without pause became clearly felt.

It was such a natural transition that I hadn’t realized it until just a moment ago...

“Damn it.”

Now fully aware of my condition, I put the hammer I was holding down on the ground.

And then...

KWAAAANG!

I bent over and struck the hammer with my forehead hard.

“Phew... now I’m coming to my senses.”

The moment we entered Daemagyeong, something happened to my head.

Or perhaps...

“Barbaric...”

“......”

“Why, why are you suddenly looking at me like that?”

Maybe I’m not the only one with a problem.

[Character has entered a special area.]

[Field effect – Daemagyeong is applied.]

[Control steadily decreases.]

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