Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

When do people make the most resolutions?

If someone were to ask that, most people would give the same answer.

January 1st. The day a year ends and a new one begins.

On that day, everyone is filled with hope. People who feel they’ve gained weight resolve to go on a diet, and those who’ve been lazing around at home vow that this year they’ll finally get a job.

But only a few actually carry out those plans. Because what they truly want is change, and this world is never kind to those who desire change.

If you want to come out of the egg, you have to break the shell. And ironically, the path to hope is always accompanied by pain.

‘Of course, there’s a reason people say New Year’s resolutions never last past three days.’

A person’s determination is so weak and soft that no matter how firmly they shape it, it always ends up sagging with time.

Of course, there are some with unshakable will, but…

Hmm. Even then, would those kinds of people really need the New Year as a trigger?

Anyway.

“Did you spend the last days of the year resting well?”

“More or less.”

On the first day of the new year, I visited the palace and met with Astarotta. It was to put into action the resolution I made last night.

Last night, for the first time in a while, I felt my dull mind spin clearly again.

What must I do to not merely survive, but live—to realize that dream in this merciless city?

After a night of contemplation, I came to a conclusion.

I must commit treason and become king. Or at the very least, I must attain power equal to that of a king.

Only then can I stand on equal footing in negotiations—or otherwise—and obtain what I want.

That’s why I came here the very next day.

“Astarotta Berun.”

“You’re calling me by my full name all of a sudden. It’s making me tense. What is it?”

“Is Countess Peproc still in the same condition?”

“Yes.”

It was the answer I’d expected, and yet, it was enough to confirm my suspicions.

The Marquis had said that in time, Ragna would come to her senses on her own. That was why he left the diary behind in the first place.

‘But she still hasn’t woken up…’

There’s no doubt it’s because of them. Though I have no proof yet.

“Then today as well, I can stop by to see her before I leave?”

“Of course.”

Whatever they’re doing to Ragna, I’ll need to speak with Hyeonbyeol later. Though I doubt I’ll get a clear answer.

“By the way…”

Astarotta narrowed her eyes like a gambler about to make a play.

“When you killed the Marquis, did you happen to see a ring nearby?”

“A ring? No, I didn’t see anything like that.”

“Hmm. I see…”

“What kind of ring was it?”

“It’s nothing special, just one of the royal treasures. But it seems he either took it off before dying or someone took it from him.”

“Either way, I didn’t see it.”

“I see. In that case, the most likely scenario is that it’s in Noark’s hands now.”

At those words, I felt a sense of relief.

The royal family still believes my statement from back then.

But for them to bring this up now, something I didn’t mention at the time, must mean they’ve finally finished their own internal investigation.

‘Looks like I’ve cleared a major hurdle…’

Then again, in hindsight, it was only natural they’d believe me. The royal family knows the Marquis and I were enemies.

Even if they had doubts, they wouldn’t have found a convincing reason why the Marquis would willingly hand over Urae to me. It would’ve sounded far more plausible that he’d fired it out of a desire to kill us all, just as I’d said.

Which is why showing too much obsession over Ragna would be dangerous. The royal family might catch on to the deal the Marquis risked his life to complete.

“Oh, and did you hear? At the royal meeting you missed, the new Chancellor was chosen.”

“…Who is it?”

“Duke Kealurnus.”

“I see.”

“You don’t seem too surprised.”

“Honestly, there wasn’t anyone left but the Duke.”

The nobility had originally been divided into three major factions: The Chancellor faction, the Duke faction, and the minor nobles. Ah, and the Melbeth alliance of mixed races, which I belong to—but their power’s so insignificant they don’t really count.

Anyway, the Chancellor faction essentially collapsed when the Marquis committed treason. The minor nobles lost most of their strength when many were killed by Urae falling on the Palace of Glory.

Only the Duke faction managed to preserve their power throughout the war.

“Yandel, what do you think of the Duke?”

“I think he’s lucky. He didn’t do much, but his biggest rival, the Marquis, destroyed himself. And judging by appearances, he didn’t suffer any major losses in the war either.”

“Fortunate, huh…”

But the tone of her muttering was a little odd.

“…Do you know something?”

“No, nothing like that. It’s just that, in my experience, those who seem lucky often have the dirtiest secrets. But… well, maybe he really is just lucky, like you said.”

“If you ever find out something, let me know too.”

“Of course.”

And with that, the talk about the Duke ended, and we moved on to other topics.

Most of the conversation was me drawing information from her, but the one that left the biggest impression…

Was this.

“Oh, and Yandel… your promotion has been finalized.”

The Yandel barony is now a viscountcy.

Well, calling it a house is a stretch—no mansion, no retainers, nothing.

‘…Or maybe not?’

If we’re just counting numbers, I probably have more followers than any other noble house.

Since I accepted all the refugees from Viphron.

“Did the soon-to-be Chancellor say anything about it?”

“Even if he wanted to object, he couldn’t. You’re the hero who entered enemy territory alone, killed the Marquis, and ended the war temporarily. Ah, do you and the Duke not get along?”

“Not particularly. We’re not close, but there’s no bad blood either.”

“Then there’s even less reason to block your promotion. Still, I heard he did have a small complaint. Apparently, since the promotion ceremony and his inauguration are happening together, he wasn’t too thrilled.”

“I don’t get it. Why would that be a problem?”

When I asked, Astarotta looked at me briefly, then smirked.

“Seems like you’re genuinely clueless. Good. If you weren’t, it would’ve been kind of annoying.”

“Just tell me.”

“Think about it. If both events are held at the same time, who do you think people will focus on?”

“Ah…”

I hadn’t considered that.

Of course, more attention would be on me—the war hero—than the Duke, who basically walked into a vacant seat.

“I heard he even asked if they could be held separately, even if it meant delaying his inauguration. But it was denied due to the urgency of the situation.”

In any case, it seems my promotion ceremony and the Duke’s inauguration will be held on the same day, at the same place.

“Are you going to visit Countess Peproc?”

“Just to see her face for a moment.”

“How devoted.”

As the conversation wound down and I was about to stand, Astarotta brought up something new, as if she’d just remembered.

“Oh, right. I wanted to ask you something.”

“…?”

“Are you close with Jerome Saintred?”

…Why bring up the village chief all of a sudden?

“Not particularly. We did explore the first basement floor together, but that’s about it. Why do you ask?”

“He went missing the day Urae fell on the Palace of Glory.”

“…And?”

“Some think he should be listed as a casualty, but I feel like there’s something more. I just wanted to see if you knew anything.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t.”

“…Sorry for wasting your time. You should go now.”

With that, I left the reception room where I’d been speaking with Astarotta.

‘Missing, huh…’

Honestly, I don’t think the chief was caught in the °• N 𝑜 v l i g h t •° war and killed.

More likely, he got involved in something—or disappeared by choice.

I recalled my last meeting with him.

Just before Urae struck, he came to me while I was imprisoned underground and said something cryptic.

[“It’s about to begin. The day everything burns.”]

And sure enough, right after that, Urae fell. As he left in a rush, he said:

[“Survive. Once you do, I have something I want to tell you.”]

At the time, things were so chaotic I didn’t think much of it, but now that I look back, it’s strange.

Contrary to his words, the world didn’t burn during the war—

‘…Or did it?’

Districts 7 and 8 did burn entirely.

But I was the one who set them on fire, and the tone of the chief’s words had been very different. At the time, it felt like he was talking about the end of the world.

‘But in the end, that didn’t happen…’

The war stopped, and I survived.

But the chief, who said he’d speak with me afterward, didn’t just fail to find me—he vanished completely.

‘What did the chief know that made him so desperate?’

I still don’t know.

But one thing is clear: I have to find him.

Because I must stop the Heart of Karui from falling into the hands of the royal family.

And right now, he has it.

I don’t know what he plans to do with it—but still…

***

Before leaving the palace, I stopped by Ragna’s room.

She was still sleeping like a princess, and Hyeonbyeol was watching over her.

“Are you really planning to stay here until she wakes up?”

“I don’t know what’ll happen if I leave.”

Hmm. If the royal family has something in mind, it won’t matter whether she’s here or not… But I didn’t say that out loud.

“Anything happen while you’ve been here?”

“Not really. I’m dying of boredom, honestly. Even the Chancellor’s son got released, so there’s no one to talk to…”

“Yeah, I guess it would be boring.”

Elthora Tertherion, son of the traitor Chancellor, was recently released after a trial. Even though his father was a rebel, he had betrayed him and helped me, which was taken into consideration.

But truthfully, it was all thanks to Astarotta. And I’m the one who moved Astarotta.

‘What’s he gonna do with his life now…’

Elthora got what he wanted—he survived. He lost all noble rights, but that was to be expected.

‘A lot of people must hate him…’

In a time when tens of thousands of refugees are wandering, the name “Tertherion” is enough to make people grind their teeth.

It might be easier for him to ditch the name and just live as “Elthora.”

‘Maybe I’ll drop by sometime later to see what he’s doing…’

That was as far as my thoughts about Elthora went. It was personal curiosity, nothing more.

“See you next time.”

“Huh… you’re leaving already?”

“I’ll be back soon.”

“You said that last time too, but it took forever for you to show up again.”

“This time I mean it. I’ll probably be coming to the palace a lot from now on.”

“…The palace?”

Hyeonbyeol gave me a subtle, meaningful look.

Then she stared at me quietly.

“You seem… different somehow?”

“Different?”

“It’s hard to explain, but just something. Something’s different…”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“Of course it’s good! And your face looks a lot better too.”

She’s sharp as ever—and I kind of get it. Even I thought my face in the mirror had looked awful for a long time.

“Then I’ll be off.”

And when I returned to the Sanctuary after finishing my palace business, a guest was waiting for me.

“Ah, you’re finally here!”

It was Elwen’s uncle.