Surviving the Game as a Barbarian - Chapter 782: Month 13 (9)

After sending Amelia away, telling her I’d go back to sleep, I lay down in bed again, but—as expected—I couldn’t fall asleep. It wasn’t that I wasn’t sleepy after getting a good rest earlier. It’s just… lately, I hadn’t been able to properly sleep at night. During the day, I stayed busy and managed to get through it somehow, but at night, it didn’t work that way. Every night, my mind got all tangled up.

“Hoo…”

So tonight, like always, I went out for a night stroll. And slowly began walking a full lap around the Sanctuary. Even though it was the final night of the festival, the Sanctuary was still noisy.

“Behell—RAAAAAAAHH!!”

“Bwahahahahaha!”

Avoiding the direction of the barbarian cheers echoing from the forest, I naturally found myself heading to that familiar spot again. Come to think of it, maybe the reason I kept ending up there was because of them.

SwaaAAAAAA—!

The cold night wind of the 13th Month brushed against my skin. I suddenly stopped walking and looked up at the sky. A crescent moon hung there. When I look at it, it almost feels like I’m still on Earth, yet at the same time, it reminds me that I’m not.

A very simple reason. If you look closely, its shape is slightly different, and—

‘There are no full moons in Lafdonia.’

For 365 days a year, no matter when you look up at the night sky, you’ll only ever see that same moon. Ah, not that full moons never appear at all. Maybe once in a while, like a solar eclipse on Earth, there’s a rare full moon? I don’t know the exact cycle or what principle governs it—after all, I’m not an astronomer. And in a world where magic and mystery are alive and breathing, it’s not something worth questioning—

Tap.

“Who’s there?”

I snapped sharply toward the faint sound of movement, and a barbarian warrior scratched the back of his head awkwardly as he emerged. When I saw his face, it was an unexpected encounter.

“You… Vekta, Kiltau’s third son?”

Thank goodness it wasn’t Ibaekho, so the tension eased immediately—but I didn’t expect to run into him like this.

“Oh! I didn’t think you’d remember my name! What an honor, Chieftain!!”

The guy shouted at the top of his lungs in the middle of the night, thrilled just because I remembered his name. Not that it was worth criticizing—he was well within barbarian average. Since we happened to meet like this, I decided to chat with him a little.

“Of course I’d remember. You’re the warrior who beat me, after all.”

“Hahaha!! Chieftain, if you drink like me, you’ll do even better!!”

Yeah, well… If I did that, rumors would spread through the whole city that Baron Yandel pissed himself while drinking.

“So why were you out here?”

“Krhhrh!! They said my house would be built here, so I came early!!”

“…What?”

“I’m so excited that I’ll finally have a house, I can’t sleep! I’m going to live here until it’s built! It’s my house now!!”

“Uh… r-right. But why’d you pick this spot? It’s near the cemetery…”

“It’s cool here, and I like it!!”

The more we talked, the more it felt like I was getting pulled into something. I was starting to seriously wonder if I’d misunderstood this guy.

‘Is he really… a modern person?’

Maybe this was how the Secret Security’s specter hunters felt when they looked at me. If I hadn’t seen him at his coming-of-age ceremony, I never would’ve guessed. No way I’d think this guy was a specter.

“By the way, did you choose a shield for your ceremony?”

“Oh! Yeah! I didn’t expect you to remember that too…!! What an honor!!”

“How’s that going? Still using it?”

“I gave it up and switched to an axe! I only picked the shield ‘cause the chieftain did at first, but it didn’t suit me!”

“You chose it because of me?”

“Isn’t Bjorn, son of Yandel, the greatest warrior of all time?! I wanted to follow in your footsteps! But getting the right essence was too hard, so I gave up!”

Yeah, right. How’d you know my name when you awakened during your ceremony?

I smirked and looked down at Vekta.

‘Still… he does seem like a player.’

The more we talked, the more certain I became. Of course, accepting that he was a fellow modern person felt a little shameful…

‘I used to be like that too.’

Ah, not the peeing part. I mean, I had my own “Vekta phase.” Back when I first met the chieftain, I used to get all tense and act super barbarian-like too.

Even though we hadn’t exchanged many words, I could feel it.

‘…This guy’s going to live a long time.’

His commitment to acting 100% barbarian. The guts to abandon dignity and invoke the mysteries of taiji for material gain. Guys like this don’t die easily.

“So what brings you here, Chieftain? Oh, were you heading to the cemetery again?”

“Not really. Just on patrol.”

“Oh! Got it, good work! I’m hungry, so I’m gonna sleep more!”

It seemed like Vekta was trying to get rid of me, but I wasn’t planning to leave.

“I’ll give you jerky. Just chat with me for a bit.”

“Oh! Really? Thanks!! You’re a great and wise warrior, Chieftain!”

Bit of a delay before answering—but hey, decent barbarian acting.

“So what do you want to talk about…?”

Vekta subtly tested me, pretending to be a clueless barbarian but clearly curious. Understandable—if the chieftain suddenly says he wants to talk, it’d make anyone nervous.

“Nothing much. Just wanted to hear about your troubles.”

“My… troubles?”

Vekta looked confused. Can’t blame him. It’s not like I said I had a problem or even asked him for advice—I just said I wanted to hear his problems.

“Tell me. What’s bothering you?”

“I mean, I don’t really have anything…”

“That can’t be! I’m sure you do! Tell me! As chieftain, I have the right to hear it!”

“…The right?”

Not a duty?

I could almost hear the follow-up, but it wasn’t important enough to address. Soon, Vekta gave me a strange look.

Like, ‘Wow, this guy really is a hardcore barbarian…’

Honestly, I was a little offended. I didn’t want to be looked at like that by someone who peed himself mid-drink.

“Ahem! Anyway, speak!”

“Uh…”

“Now!”

With a burst of chieftainly authority, Vekta finally opened his mouth.

“I guess… I do have a problem with a friend.”

“Oh? What kind of friend?”

“A human teammate I used to work with before the dungeon closed. Hans Elibon…”

“…What?!”

“Why are you so shocked? You know him?”

“No, I just pretended to. So what about this friend?”

“I ran into him in the city recently. He said he had a good opportunity and asked if I wanted to go into business—”

“Don’t do it.”

“Huh? But I haven’t even told you what the opportunity is—”

Opportunity, my ass. Does this guy have a screw loose? Doing anything with Hans? Seriously?

“I said don’t do it, so don’t do it.”

I layered my words with killing intent for effect. The intimidation made Vekta nod, stunned.

“Ah, got it! I won’t do it!”

Good. Should’ve said so earlier.

“B-But can you at least tell me why?”

“His name’s ominous.”

“…?”

Vekta gave me a look like, ‘What the hell is with this guy?’ But it only lasted a moment.

So I didn’t bother acknowledging it.

“Alright, your first problem is solved. Now tell me the second.”

“…Second? I don’t have one…”

“No, I’m sure you do.”

“Uh… money? It’s hard to make money these days—”

“That’s not a real problem.”

“Then what do you want me to say—?”

“Think. If you can’t think, try remembering. If you still can’t remember, ask your heart. Do you really have no problems?”

I pressed harder, and Vekta finally spoke, gears turning in his head. Maybe he just wanted to say something to get rid of me. Luckily, it was actually more of a real problem this time.

“…I hope the dungeon opens soon.”

“As I said, money isn’t—”

“That’s not what I meant. I want to get stronger. That feeling got way stronger after the war.”

“Hmm?”

“…A lot of my warrior friends died in the war. If I’d been stronger, I could’ve protected them.”

The sincerity in his awkward words made me quietly nod. So the “house” was just an excuse—he really was here because of the cemetery.

“…It’s not your fault you couldn’t protect them.”

“I know. This is a world where everyone has to survive on their own. I just feel… regret. If they were still alive, we could’ve laughed and had fun together during the festival.”

“……”

“We always wanted a house.”

“But now you have one.”

“Yeah. I’m finally getting one. But I don’t have anyone to brag to.”

I didn’t really know why, but that thought struck me. Maybe—just maybe—the reason he drank himself half-dead, even peed himself just to win, was this. Because he desperately didn’t want to give up. Because even when he was about to collapse, he endured.

“That was my second problem…”

“I see.”

Maybe it was because he let out the truth buried inside. Whatever the reason, Vekta now wore a somewhat refreshed expression.

“What should I do…? Tell me, Chieftain.”

There was even a hint of hope in his eyes. Like he believed I might give him the perfect # Nоvеlight # answer. And so I did.

“Make new friends.”

“…Huh?”

“And get stronger. So you won’t lose anyone again.”

“……”

“Alright, second problem solved. I’m off now. I’m hungry!”

And so, after solving the newbie warrior’s unexpected worries, I walked toward my real destination with a lighter heart.

*

SwaaAAAAA—!

A cold wind swept through, rustling the winter-dried blades of grass. Long ago, barbarians used to believe that the sound was their fallen ancestors dueling and laughing. Surprisingly poetic and figurative for barbarians. Their burial custom was sky burial—leaving the corpse to decompose naturally in the wind and rain. A warrior remains in the land, becomes nourishment for the trees that grow here. Well, building a grave doesn’t stop that process anyway.

[Brown Rotmiller]

[Versil Gowland]

[James Carla]

Tonight again, I stood before their gravestones. Seeking an answer to ease this heavy feeling in my chest.

SwaaAAAAA—!

Of course, just standing here didn’t magically bring answers. It’s not like voices of the dead came on the wind. It’s not like I could hear their wishes or feel what they wanted. Even in a world where ghost-type monsters exist, spiritual phenomena like that weren’t real.

I’m proof of that.

“……”

They were gone. No longer in this world. And I was still left behind, stuck in my own thoughts.

What did they wish for, leaving someone like me behind?

‘Riol Worb Dwalke.’

His wish had been simple. He asked me to look after Misha. But I don’t think I did a good job. He probably didn’t mean this kind of vague relationship.

Ah, but I did finish his revenge properly. Though now that I think about it… that was probably just something I wanted.

“……”

The whole city is loud with celebration, but those who are gone can’t enjoy it. A festival is for the living.

SwaaAAAAA—!

Suddenly, the conversation with Vekta came to mind again.

‘If they were still alive, we could’ve laughed and had fun together during the festival.’

I totally agreed with that. Whenever something good happened to me, I always thought of the ones who’d left first.

What if Dwalke were here? The dwarf would pull a prank, and the guy would turn beet red with anger. What if Rotmiller were still alive? Maybe the festival would’ve brought him closer to Shabin Emure. And Versil Gowland, and James Carla…

If all the ones who left before me were still here, how would things be now?

“……”

I thought for a long time. Of course, it was all just fantasy. No one knows what would’ve actually happened. That future is already erased.

Yeah. That’s probably why—every time I remember them, this regret and sorrow come flooding back.

“…I’m sick of this.”

I finally voiced the lump that had long been stuck in my chest. This world is broken. Whether Earth or Lafdonia.

Now that I think about it, they’re not all that different. Maybe it’s just the way the world works.

But that doesn’t make it right.

Whether human, barbarian, beastkin, or fairy—

‘I know. This is a world where everyone has to survive on their own.’

A world where only survival matters.

I’m so sick of it—

“Ah…”

And at that moment, I realized. What it was I truly desired.

“Ahh…”

I don’t want to survive each day. I want to live. Together with the people I care about.

Heh.

Of course, that’s just wishful thinking. Some cynic might call it childish to dream of such a kind world.

But so what?

I’m a barbarian. If I lose my teeth, I chew with my gums. If my mind’s broken, I fix it. If I want to shout, I shout.

No need to overthink it—it’s the same with this.

If that kind of world doesn’t exist—then I’ll make one.

‘I’ve got a lot of work ahead.’

As I sat in front of the gravestones, building a plan that bordered on delusion, I heard a loud cheer in the distance and checked the time.

Tick.

Yeah, I figured it was that loud for a reason.

[00 : 00]

The year—so full of twists and turns—had finally ended.