Surviving the Game as a Barbarian - Chapter 784: Upgrade (2)

Beleg Shusia di Tersia.

Elwen’s maternal uncle, and the otherworldly specter who once wore the Crescent Moon mask at the Round Table.

Honestly, facing this guy is a bit awkward.

In some ways… no, there’s no “in some ways” about it.

Even if I roll backwards, the fact that I deceived this guy doesn’t change.

“[So the stories of legends and reality really are different…]”

“[…Thanks to you, at least I can let go of my foolish dreams.]”

“[But I can’t say I’m grateful.]”

The day the Round Table disbanded, I finally revealed the Resurrection Stone’s usage conditions—something I had deliberately kept quiet until then—and this is what he told me.

At the time, his eyes were full of profound emptiness.

And now, to be talking about the Resurrection Stone again…

‘Did I really get it wrong?’

That sudden thought made me sit him down and confirm this first.

“Only two people can be revived using the Resurrection Stone. But to use it, the person you want to bring back has to have died recently, and you need to have the body. Do you know that?”

“I know.”

Hmph, so he knows…

That pretty much confirms it—he is the Crescent Moon mask.

So I just came out and asked directly.

“Who are you trying to bring back?”

“…Myself.”

“…Huh?”

“I want to use the Resurrection Stone on myself.”

…What?

***

Hearing such a ridiculous thing as wanting to use the Resurrection Stone on himself, my brain went blank.

You could say I entered that state of “so dumbfounded it left the room”…

Maybe realizing that, he quickly added an explanation.

“I’ll be honest since I’m the one asking. Originally, the ones I wanted to bring back with the Resurrection Stone were Belua and Daria.”

“…Belua?”

“Their mother. My… younger sister.”

“And?”

“But I don’t have either of their bodies. I didn’t cremate Daria’s remains after she was burned—just in case—and buried her. Then, from time to time, I secretly dug up the grave and cast preservation spells on her… But when I heard it only works if the person hasn’t been dead long, I stopped doing it.”

That was a seriously shocking story.

Because that meant Daria’s corpse had been sitting intact in a coffin until not too long ago.

‘…Is this guy insane?’

Saying that kind of psychopath-level stuff in such a polite tone made chills crawl down my back.

Still, that’s that, and this is this.

“…I get that you were crushed when you lost their bodies. But how does that lead to using the Resurrection Stone on yourself?”

It was so far beyond my understanding that I felt like my brain was about to short-circuit—but surprisingly, what he said next made me accept it.

“I heard that using the Resurrection Stone… makes you lose all your memories from when you were alive.”

Ah…

“…I need the Resurrection Stone. To stay alive.”

The way he said that, calmly and flatly, made me nod.

In many ways, it was deeply ironic.

To think a living person needs a Resurrection Stone in order to keep on living…

It sounds absurd, yet somehow, it makes sense.

Maybe because I’ve been through something similar.

“…….”

My head’s starting to hurt.

It’s like my brain’s overheating.

And from experience, I know that when this happens, it’s best to simplify things as much as possible. The one in pain is the one in pain, and I’m just me, right?

“So, you’re asking me to give you the Resurrection Stone?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not expecting it for free, are you? What’s the price?”

“I’ve lived my whole life without greed, so I have nothing to offer. Nothing but this body.”

…What the hell?

Is it just me, or did the phrase “this body” just sound really weird?

Hmm, no, I’m probably just overthinking it.

“Use me as you wish. Whether it’s in the Labyrinth, the city, or beyond these walls—I’ll follow you and do whatever you ask.”

Put simply, he was offering to join us in exchange for the Resurrection Stone.

“I may not look it, but I’m confident in my abilities. Not only will I not drag you down, I’ll definitely be a big help.”

“You’d probably be useful. But what if your help isn’t worth the value of the Resurrection Stone?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, he answered.

“I’ll stay until it is.”

His answer came so fast and firm, I was the one who felt embarrassed for trying to test him.

I let out a long sigh inside.

Even back when he wore the Crescent Moon mask—he hasn’t changed.

After being taken advantage of like that at the Round Table, now he comes here and makes another ridiculous offer.

“What if I just suck all the benefits out of you and never keep my end of the deal?”

“I know you’re not that kind of person.”

“…….”

“And more than anything, even if you were—it wouldn’t matter to me.”

“What do you mean, it wouldn’t matter?”

“…….”

He had answered every other question cleanly, but this time, he fell silent.

Still, I didn’t press him.

Because I could already guess what he meant.

In life, whether you like it or not, you end up meeting people like this.

The ones who seem to live as if they’re done with life # Nоvеlight # already.

This guy had that kind of look in his eyes.

‘Haa…’

Which only made the decision harder.

If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t even hesitate.

I’d just say no.

Flat-out no.

Beleg’s combat ability probably doesn’t come anywhere near the value of a Resurrection Stone.

But the problem is…

‘He’s Elwen’s uncle.’

Talking to him like this, face to face, made all kinds of extreme outcomes flash through my mind.

What if he suddenly hangs himself?

How much would that shock Elwen?

And what about me?

If the man I deceived so thoroughly at the Round Table were to die tortured by a wish left unfulfilled…

“Hoo…”

I didn’t need long to make my decision.

The Resurrection Stone is meant to bring the dead back to life—not the living.

“Fine. I’ll accept your enlistment. But, just like you said—I’ll decide when you get the Resurrection Stone.”

What a living person really needs to keep going isn’t some stupid rock.

It’s something a little warmer than that.

***

It took just three days for Beleg’s enlistment to be processed officially.

During that short time, he tied up every political and emotional loose end he had in the Sanctuary and joined our Anabada Clan.

Though he didn’t move his residence completely.

His only request was to stay behind and look after Elwen’s younger sister, Mei, who was living alone in the Sanctuary, unless something came up. And I had no reason to refuse.

“…My uncle joined our clan?”

By chance, I ended up telling Elwen after the fact—but compared to what I expected, her reaction was surprisingly calm.

No—more precisely, it was ambiguous.

“He’s not going to be on my team, right…?”

“Probably not.”

“Then I don’t care.”

She seemed to care about him personally as her uncle, but didn’t seem too eager to run into him often.

And I felt like I understood why.

There are more cases than you’d think of couples divorcing after losing a child. Even if you want to forget, being together constantly makes the wounds keep resurfacing.

I never understood that before, but now, I kind of get it.

Sometimes, for a wound to heal, it’s better not to touch it.

Keep picking at it, and it festers.

Anyway, I’ll keep an eye on the two of them going forward…

“This is the document listing the items registered at the Alminus Central Exchange today. Once you finish inspection and confirm it’s all clear, they’ll go on sale by tomorrow morning.”

Lately, with Amelia’s help, I’ve been reviewing the registered items at the exchange daily.

The reason is simple.

Rare items that normally wouldn’t show up at the exchange have started appearing more frequently these days.

“Oh, thanks. I can already see a few eye-catching things just skimming over it.”

“At first I thought it was just a temporary trend, but the listings keep increasing.”

Amelia said she had no idea what was causing it—but I had a hunch.

“It’s probably because the war wiped out so many nobles.”

When the Thunderbolt hit the Palace of Glory, countless families were annihilated. Some lost only their head, others even their heirs.

Still, despite the chaos, the estates passed to legitimate successors and the generational shift continued…

“This is probably the ripple effect.”

Every noble family is struggling now.

And in times like that, what’s the first thing a new head of a house does?

They turn unnecessary valuables into cash.

But since the exclusive “Sky Auction” no longer has anyone left to attend, it was only natural that the largest functioning exchange—the Central—would be flooded with listings.

Once I explained that, Amelia nodded in agreement.

And then…

“Like that ruby from Nomilat, for example?”

With a mischievous tone, Amelia shot me a look—and I couldn’t hide my excitement.

“Don’t tell me… you found a way to get it? I heard someone else already won the bid.”

“When there’s a will, there’s always a way.”

Grinning slyly, Amelia gave me a smug smile.

“You seriously got it? How? Did it go up for auction again?”

“Like hell it did. I infiltrated the exchange and checked the ledger. Then I found the seller and told them we’d cover the commission if they canceled the bid and sold it to us instead.”

“…Did they agree?”

Even as I asked, I felt like it was a pointless question.

If they hadn’t, she wouldn’t be bringing it up like this.

“I used your name and said it was something you needed. They didn’t even ask questions, just agreed. Oh, and they said to make sure you remember their name—Viscount Bertan.”

“Viscount Bertan, huh…”

I hadn’t had much contact with that house, but I knew the name.

It was an old family, but not particularly powerful or well-known in politics…

I remembered they were part of the minor nobility faction.

“Oh, and just out of curiosity, I asked where it had been this whole time. Apparently it was just sitting as a decoration in the first floor hall.”

“What…?”

They used that priceless thing as decoration?

Tch, nobles and their damn extravagance.

‘No way this would’ve gone on sale if it weren’t for the current mess.’

Still, from my perspective, I’m thankful.

These consumable-type materials are always the hardest to find.

“But… what exactly are you planning to use it for? I know it boosts physical strength if consumed, but that can’t be the reason you’re so happy.”

“Oh, you mean the purpose?”

Grinning, I answered Amelia’s question.

“It’s the final material I need for Phase 8 of the Spirit Engraving.”

At last, I had all the materials for Phase 8.

***

There are fifteen materials needed for Phase 8 of the Undying Engraving.

But most of them can be bought easily in the city with enough money.

Except for three.

The three core materials for Phase 8 all come from third-tier monsters, and they’re seriously hard to obtain.

Last time I went outside the walls, I was lucky enough to grab two of them…

‘So I finally have all of them.’

Now that Amelia used her finesse to secure the final one, I’m fully ready to level up again.

Not that it’s going to be some massive power spike.

But still—just one more step to Phase 9, and that’s what really matters.

‘Once I hit Phase 9, that becomes possible.’

Once I hit Phase 9 and absorb just two more specific Essences, my big, precious shield-barbarian build will finally be complete…

「You have activated Undying Engraving Phase 8.」

Just a few more steps left.