Surviving the Game as a Barbarian - Chapter 794: Skull Island (1)
We’re wandering aimlessly around the central part of the island.
Crack—! Crack—! Craaack—!
Of course, we’re smashing monsters that pop up as we go, in real-time.
But the reason I’d still say we’re “wandering” is simple.
We’re not really fighting anything.
“…This is boring.”
“Yeah… I honestly think I’d have more fun doing paperwork at this point.”
The average monster grade on Skull Island is 6.
And even that’s inflated by the rare, higher-tier ones—most of what shows up are Grade 7 or 8.
There aren’t any new monsters, either.
So far, the only thing on this island even worth killing for experience was a single Skull Ghost (Grade 6).
“…I hope that thing you mentioned shows up soon, Commander.”
Even Auyen, a non-combatant, was saying that—meaning things really were that boring.
‘Funny how fired up he was with competitiveness just a few days ago.’
Not that I blame him.
It’s been two full days since that encounter.
“…Looks like they haven’t found it either, huh?”
“Probably not. If the cave had opened, we would’ve noticed something.”
“But what if they had some way to hide it?”
Raven asked the question, and I nearly scoffed—but I stopped myself.
It wasn’t entirely impossible.
“I mean, they did have those, right? Multiple copies of them, even.”
“Oh, those…”
What Raven was referring to were [Numbers] items.
Of course, it wasn’t confirmed they had them—just a very likely assumption.
“You agreed too, didn’t you? That it wouldn’t have made sense for them to hide like that otherwise.”
Yeah… true.
Detection’s a secondary skill. If they only had Elwen or Amelia—whose specialties are combat—I’d have dismissed it.
But this time, they’d brought in Beleg, also known as the “Chaser.”
In other words, a specialist in detection.
And yet, they spotted us first—and successfully concealed that entire force without a trace.
So how was that possible?
After a long discussion with Beleg himself, I reached one conclusion.
It was all thanks to gear.
There was even one item that looked very suspicious.
No. 16 – Ebony Emblem.
An item that massively enhances stealth-type skills when equipped.
It boosts stats while hidden, slathers on bonus effects for ambushes… basically a graduation item for assassins.
But the two important options are these:
If you stay still while wearing it, you enter a state of absolute stealth.
And…
If you activate its ability, it generates 29 tokens that maintain the effect temporarily when worn.
‘If they used that, it makes sense how they were able to suppress their presence like that.’
And if you recall the situation, they were all just standing still. They only revealed themselves once we reached the cave entrance.
There was even a witness report of someone seeing a similar item.
The only problem is, they’d need at least three of those to hide all ninety people…
But if that theory’s correct, what I’m really curious about isn’t how they got those rare items.
It’s why the so-called “Gold Ghost” collected three of them.
Nothing about that guy screams good intentions—
“Viscount Yandel.”
At that moment, Beleg suddenly stopped and whispered to me.
“I told you—just call me Commander.”
“…Approaching targets.”
“How many?”
“Six.”
No need to ask who they were.
Almost certainly one of the Golden Tree Clan’s sub-teams.
“If we keep going, we’ll cross paths.”
Still, this was unexpected.
We hadn’t encountered them directly at all these past two days.
Even when our routes overlapped, both sides had sensed each other from afar and deliberately avoided contact.
“Looks like they’ve got business with us. We’ll wait here.”
We paused, and after a short while, a team of explorers emerged from the eerie, vine-covered underbrush—wearing the crest of the Golden Tree Clan.
And then…
“…Yandel?”
“Avman.”
A completely unexpected reunion.
We had glimpsed each other briefly during that standoff at the cave, but we hadn’t had the chance to speak.
Now that I had a moment to think about it, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
From the way he looked flustered, it was pretty clear they weren’t here to talk.
“Lost, are you?”
“…Of course not. We were just passing through.”
Sure, and I’m a goddamn fish.
Just from looking at them, it was obvious he was acting as the guide thanks to his [Pathfinder] ability.
Bear Guy is a guide—but he’s got no sense of direction.
He also completely lacks the basic detection skills that most guides have by default.
Back in the Team Apple Narak days, we had a perfectly fine pathfinder and I still took lessons from Rotmiller.
In hindsight, it worked out, though…
“Ugh… again?”
One of Bear Guy’s teammates sighed.
But unlike the affectionate sighs we used to let out in Apple Narak, this one felt… different.
More like frustration.
“Didn’t you hear? The Captain said to avoid contact as much as possible.”
“Ah…”
“Did you do it on purpose? Just to catch up with your old buddy?”
“N-No, of course not! Th-this was purely coincidence!”
“Coincidence my ass. You’re just incompetent.”
The moment that conversation ended, the air between them turned painfully awkward.
Even in just those few exchanges, I could get a read on the relationship between Bear Guy and the others.
And judging by his reaction, so could he.
More accurately…
“…”
It was the look of someone who just got exposed for something they didn’t want anyone to see.
Can’t blame him.
No one wants their friends or family to see them getting chewed out by a superior.
And this probably isn’t even the worst of it.
They were holding back because I was here.
Who knows what kinds of abuse go on when no one’s watching?
“Regardless, our apologies, Viscount Yandel. We didn’t come to cause trouble… As you can see, this was entirely his mistake.”
“…I’m not blaming you, so forget it.”
“That’s a relief. You heard him—let’s go.”
I wanted to talk to Bear Guy more, but I couldn’t exactly stop them under these circumstances.
I could force a short conversation, but that might backfire on him.
They might accuse him of leaking information or something—label him a traitor.
More importantly, it looked like he didn’t want to stick around.
So I was about to let them go without saying anything when…
“Phew… How’d a halfwit like that end up on our team anyway.”
It was too loud to pass off as a mutter.
And then—
[Misha Kalstein has cast Frozen Soul.]
A wall of ice sprang up before the departing party with a single swing of her blade.
“You… what did you just say?”
Misha was well and truly pissed.
***
The chill from the ice wall rode the wind and brushed across my skin.
It was an unexpected move—but not crossing the line yet.
She hadn’t actually attacked them.
But if things went any further…
“Viscount Yandel.”
The man who appeared to be the team leader ignored Misha and addressed me.
“Shall I take this to mean you’re violating our pact?”
His gaze was aggressive, and honestly, it was ridiculous.
She wasn’t even the leader—just a regular team member.
I was about to step in and say something—
“Forget that. You! Goblin head! What did you say to Avman just now?”
“…”
“You not gonna answer?”
Misha’s breathing grew heavy as she watched the team leader ignore her completely.
Vrrrrr…
Even the hand gripping her sword was trembling now.
She was seriously angry.
“Hurry up and answer.”
Her tone dropped—and with it, her usual pronunciation issues vanished.
Finally, the team leader responded with a voice dripping in irritation.
“Is this about the ‘halfwit’ comment?”
“You…”
“Tch. So it was true, then.”
“I’m telling you nicely—take it back.”
“Frankly, I don’t know what right you think you have to demand that.”
“What…?”
“Sure, I know you and Urikfrit used to be teammates. But now he’s part of our clan. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t meddle in our internal affairs.”
“So as long as he’s not part of your clan, it’s fine, huh? Avman! Get over here! Ditch that crap excuse for a clan and—”
“Enough, Misha Kalstein.”
It wasn’t me or the team leader who stopped her—it was Bear Guy.
His tone was so firm, Misha looked genuinely hurt.
“…Why?”
She’d only tried to help—why shut her down like that?
He didn’t explain.
But the team leader did.
“You call him a former comrade, yet you don’t even know this?”
“…?”
“Urikfrit borrowed money from our clan. The Labyrinth was closed for over a year, his shop couldn’t stay open… He had no other option.”
“Ha! How much? We’ll pay it off—”
“Doesn’t matter. In exchange for the loan, he agreed to complete a set number of expeditions. This is just the first. After this one, he’s got 23 left.”
“So… So you treat him like garbage just because he can’t quit?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking ab—”
“That’s enough.”
At that point, I stepped in.
Misha looked like she had a lot more to say, but I stopped her with a look.
“I’m not here to meddle in your affairs. And I have no intention of violating the pact. So let’s end this here.”
“Much appreciated.”
I backed down first, and the team leader gave a slight bow.
It looked like the situation was resolved.
But Misha wasn’t ready to let it go.
“…Why do you do it?”
She addressed them again as they turned to leave.
Amelia tried to stop her—but this time, I held Amelia back.
Didn’t look like Misha was about to launch an attack.
“What are you talking about?”
“Why do you do it? You’re a team, comrades… Aren’t you? So why do you treat him like he’s nothing? Why bully him like that…? Is that… Is that supposed to be fun for you…?”
The team leader’s expression faltered for a second—then hardened.
“Must be nice. Living in a different world from us.”
“…What?”
“Good day.”
With that, they vanished back into the underbrush.
Misha bit her lip, visibly upset.
“Bjorn…”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got an idea.”
“…Really?!”
I hadn’t planned it before—but now I did.
[New Subquest: Win the competition against the Golden Tree Clan and monopolize the Skull Island event.]
If that were my main quest, this was the new side quest.
Even if Bear Guy himself doesn’t want it.
‘The Guildmaster’s leaving—so someone’s gotta fill the spot, right?’
I’m not letting this go on any longer.
