Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

What path must I walk?

I still hadn’t found the answer to that question, but I was walking nonetheless.

And not through the Sanctuary of the barbarians, but that of another race.

Step, step.

At first glance, °• N 𝑜 v l i g h t •° the architecture didn’t seem much different from the rest of the city, yet the way it harmonized with nature gave the streets an exotic atmosphere.

If you raised your head just a bit, you could see the massive tree in the distance that told you exactly where we were.

The Sanctuary of the Fairies, Barharrium.

Naturally, it was also in the midst of its festival period—but the atmosphere was very different from ours.

It was still loud, as one might expect from a festival, but somehow… more orderly?

Even the background music made that clear. Where barbarians preferred drums and percussion, here it was soft, upbeat string instruments that took center stage.

‘No one’s fighting either…’

Hmm, is this a cultural difference?

It was my first time seeing another race’s festival, so it was fascinating. Though for Elwen, who was walking alongside me, this must’ve been familiar.

“Ajusshi! Doesn’t it smell amazing here without all the smoke?”

She seemed to like that more than the festival itself.

Not that I disliked it either.

“The air’s definitely cleaner… but how’d they manage that?”

Even now, the entire city reeked of smoke from the massive fire in District 8, despite the ongoing festivities.

In District 5, they’d even deployed purification magic circles daily, but the stench wouldn’t go away. Yet here, the air was pristine.

Elwen pointed to the distant tree in response.

“It’s thanks to the Divine Tree over there. Outsiders don’t usually know, but it has purifying powers.”

Ah, right…

I vaguely remembered that part of the setting.

“Anyway, enough sightseeing. Let’s go this way.”

“Huh? Weren’t we here for the festival?”

“Huh? Why would I? What’s there to enjoy about a boring festival like this…”

“Then why’d we come here?”

“Come on!”

Without answering, Elwen picked up her pace and led me forward.

Since we were still at the outskirts of the Sanctuary, we had no choice but to pass through the festive streets for a while.

“…It’s the Bloodshade Marquis.”

“Who’s that man next to her?”

“If he’s standing beside the Bloodshade Marquis… could it be Baron Yandel?”

“He looks too small for that, though.”

Even though I’d shrunk down in the crimson formalwear I was wearing, I still drew attention with every step.

Other races were rare in the fairy Sanctuary to begin with—but more than that, the person beside me was too famous.

“…A snake of a woman.”

“They say she threw away her duty and ran off with a man, even after receiving the pureblood rite.”

“She abandoned the clan—how can she show her face here…”

Just listening in, I could already hear all the malice directed at Elwen.

Traitor. Snake. Disgrace to her people…

‘So this is why she’s avoided returning to the Sanctuary recently…’

The criticism came from every direction.

And just when I wondered if I could really let this slide, Elwen tugged on my sleeve.

“Let’s just go…”

Hoo… Right. If she’s holding it in, it’d be weird for me to make a scene.

I bit my tongue and quickened my pace to keep up with her.

But then…

“Tch, look at that.”

Who said fairies were honest and pure?

Who said they were above the petty malice of humans?

Those were meaningless questions now.

Anyone who spouted that crap to me from now on would get their teeth punched in.

“Grabbing a man like that—just like a whore from the red-light district—”

“Beheeeell—raaaaaaaaahhh!!!”

“……!!”

I immediately canceled the effects of the formalwear, activated [Fusion] and [Giant Form], and let out a roar.

「The character has used [Savage Eruption].」

「Threat Level temporarily increased 3x. Physical stats increase proportionally.」

The sudden surge in Threat Level from [Savage Eruption].

The roar scattered on the wind like an echo, yet within a 50-meter radius, not even a mouse dared move.

“……”

“……”

Dozens of people frozen stiff, as if one wrong twitch would mean their death.

It was a bit ironic.

I hadn’t used a stun skill or anything—just boosted my Threat Level.

‘If you were this scared, why act like that in the first place?’

I didn’t get it, but maybe that, too, was proof that fairies were “people” after all.

Fortunately, handling people was a barbarian specialty.

Thud—!

I casually pushed through the frozen crowd and approached a middle-aged fairy man, his face pale as he looked up at me with terrified eyes.

“U-uh…”

He looked like he wanted to speak, but he was so scared he couldn’t even move his lips.

I asked him directly.

“Say it again.”

“……”

“What did you say to my companion just now?”

“……”

He said nothing.

That was lucky.

If he’d repeated it, I might’ve thrown the first punch.

Still, since he seemed to have some survival instinct, I decided to give him advice.

“Best to keep your mouth shut if you want to live long.”

“Y-yes, of course.”

The man nodded frantically, like someone who’d been thrown a lifeline, and that brought an end to the little incident.

“Ajusshi…”

Elwen cautiously approached again and grabbed my sleeve once more, gently pulling me along.

But of course…

“Damn it.”

“What’s that guy doing here?”

“Is it really okay for him to act like that in someone else’s Sanctuary?”

“Idiots… Don’t they even consider the diplomatic implications…?”

The whispers came from behind as expected.

Did they really think I’d lash out again?

“Don’t mind them. Let’s go. Come on.”

“Yeah.”

Letting her drag me along, I felt like some delinquent trying to act cool in front of his girlfriend.

Still, I didn’t regret it.

Why would I? They brought it on themselves.

If you say shit like that in earshot of a barbarian, of course something’s going to happen—

“…But he still defends her. I guess she really is his woman.”

“Bloodshade Marquis, huh? What could she possibly see in a barbarian like that…”

Agh, damn it.

Tap.

Apologizing inwardly to Elwen, I stopped in my tracks and glanced around at the crowd.

The moment I did, all those whispering just seconds ago fell silent and averted their eyes.

‘She’s being insulted because of me. I can’t just walk away like this.’

I made my decision quickly and shouted at the top of my lungs.

“Listen up!! I swear upon all the honor I possess—here and now! I, Bjorn son of Yandel, have never slept with Elwen Fornaci di Tersia!!”

I’d shouted in hopes it’d stop the gossip, but quickly realized I needed to clarify.

In my rush, I’d misspoken.

“Ah! Wait—no, I mean, we did sleep together, but we didn’t do anything! We just slept! I swear on my mother and father’s honor!!”

A barbarian’s oath, containing nothing but the truth.

“……”

Hmm… but why is everyone still silent?

Was ‘didn’t do anything’ too indirect?

But if I spelled it out, even I would feel a bit vulgar…

“Uhh… um…”

For a second, I even considered pulling out a puppet, but quickly scrapped that idea.

Instead, I went with Plan B.

“…Elwen is a virgin!!”

Of course, that had its own issues.

From a quantum physics perspective, since I hadn’t observed it firsthand, technically, two parallel realities could still exist simultaneously—

“P-probably…!!”

Yeah. That should cover it.

***

“……”

“……”

After that shocking declaration, silence descended upon the streets.

“L-let’s go…!”

Feeling like I’d made some huge mistake, I hurriedly grabbed Elwen’s wrist and pulled her away.

And then—

“S-so, Elwen…? That wasn’t exactly what I meant to do…”

“It’s okay. You don’t need to explain.”

“No, but…”

“Really. It’s fine.”

Hmm. Is it really fine?

If it were Misha or Amelia, I think I’d already be dodging attacks.

Going by tone alone, she didn’t sound angry at all, but…

“Actually, I’m grateful. You stepped up for me, didn’t you?”

“Uh… yeah, I guess?”

“So it’s okay. It did hurt my pride a little, but still.”

…I couldn’t say anything to that.

So I quickly changed the subject.

“Not many people around here.”

After leaving the city streets, we were now deep in a wooded area.

“This isn’t a residential or commercial zone. Not many come here during festivals.”

“I see…”

“It’s fine. This is where we were headed anyway. Shall we?”

“Yeah!”

Once we entered the woods, Elwen slowed her pace, and we began strolling as if on a forest walk.

‘Now that I think about it… where exactly are we going?’

That question popped into my mind, but I decided to ask something else first.

“Elwen?”

“Yes?”

“Does that happen often?”

“Oh, that…? Yeah, kind of. I received the pureblood rite, but I haven’t devoted myself to the clan…”

I see.

I quickly asked one more thing—something she might not want to hear.

“Has anyone ever said… they should kill you and pass the rite to someone else?”

“…I’ve heard that. Especially in times like these, when power is in demand. But don’t worry. Thanks to you, even the Elders don’t criticize me to my face anymore.”

“I see…”

Seeing her force a smile, I thought to myself:

‘I need to take care of this issue before it gets worse…’

I couldn’t return the pureblood rite, of course. But maybe I could repay it some other way—by helping the fairies when they’re in danger, or by settling a debt equal in value.

“But anyway, where exactly are we headed?”

“Oh, we’re almost there.”

I didn’t know what the destination was, but if Elwen had brought me to the Sanctuary despite all this… then she must’ve had a good reason.

“Got it.”

I said no more and quietly followed, taking in the scenery.

And then—I noticed something strange.

“This place… it’s not just a forest, is it?”

When I stopped walking and said that, Elwen smiled awkwardly.

“Ah… you noticed?”

“The magic circles carved into the trees, the loose ground that makes it hard to move quickly, even the trees above arranged for aerial defense. It’s a fortification, isn’t it?”

“Yes. At least now, it is.”

“…Now?”

“Back then, this was a residential zone. But after one breach that left the Sanctuary in ruins, they changed it.”

One breach.

I didn’t need to ask what she meant.

She was talking about the Dragonslayer incident.

From what I’d heard, Elwen had lost her parents back then, too.

“We used to live here, actually… It feels similar, but also very different now.”

“R-really?”

“…Hehe. Anyway, let’s stop with the sad talk and get going.”

I probably shouldn’t have brought it up, but what could I do? It was already said.

We continued walking as if on a peaceful stroll, until finally we reached our destination.

A small house built beside a small pond.

“This was our home. My sister, me, and my little brother lived here. Well, not anymore, for my sister and me.”

“So it’s empty?”

“No, my little brother still lives here. Actually… the reason I dragged you here is because of him…”

“You brought me here because of your brother?”

From what I’d heard, Elwen wasn’t on good terms with him.

After Daria died and I went missing, she’d abandoned her family and chased revenge.

That’s when she became known as the Bloodshade Marquis.

“I’ve been visiting now and then since I returned from Basement Level 1. We’ve patched things up a bit… and he seems really curious about you.”

Hmm. I think I get it.

“He’s worried I might be a weirdo, huh?”

“Well… there are still prejudices about barbarians, you know… I’m sorry.”

“You’ve got nothing to apologize for. It’s my fault, really.”

“…Huh?”

“He’s your family, and that makes him mine too. And I’m only just now coming to see him. Is he inside? Let’s go.”

Whatever kind of guy her brother was, I had to meet him—quickly.

…Before word got around about what had just happened in the village.