[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian":3,"chapter-surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-152":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Surviving the Game as a Barbarian",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1327772,1764,"Chapter 152 Barbarian Lord (4)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-152",152,"\u003Cp>Barbarian Lord (4)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barbarian Lord (4)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, uh, hmm...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I snap out of it, staring blankly at the scene of frenzied brainwashing, and enter the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, it's a bit of a stretch to even call it a village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barbarian sanctuary is closer to a campsite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tents are pitched haphazardly, with no distinction between mine and yours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pass through them and head straight towards the shaman's tent. I don't need to go through the chieftain to meet him, now that I know where he is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What the, no one's here?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, I have no choice but to go to the chieftain's tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what's this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There's no one in the chieftain's tent either. It's a place where the elders usually take turns staying even if the chieftain isn't around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What's going on?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I'm standing there, an elder I've seen a few times spots me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bjorn, son of Yandel? Are you here for the funeral too?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don't need to ask whose funeral it is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's been exactly six months since Ainar confined herself to the sanctuary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...So that day has come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's an honorable thing to be able to leave something behind for future generations.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ask for the location of the funeral and then head straight there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gloomy forest, eerily quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking for about 30 minutes, I see barbarians gathered deep inside, with solemn expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shaman, the chieftain, and even the elders I'm acquainted with are present. Well, someone else catches my eye first, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ainar.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainar is standing precariously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staring blankly at her master's body, leaning against a thick tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Bjorn?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainar's eyes are vacant as she calls my name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She bites her lip as I approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn't have done it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right, she didn't know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought they would have told her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Bjorn, did you know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The training Ainar has been doing for six months is called 'tempering' among barbarians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's the process of strengthening the body and creating a vessel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the game, completing 'tempering' greatly increased physical stats and qualified you to receive 'Soul Inheritance'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it could also end with just 'tempering'...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard that elder was suffering from a chronic illness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had heard that the elder who chose Ainar as his successor didn't have much time left, so I was also considering this situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seems like this is also news to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That... I didn't know!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That elder must have cared for you a lot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soul Inheritance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's one of the unique rituals that only barbarians can perform, along with Spirit Engraving. Through this ritual, barbarians can pass on one of their essences to their successor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For reference, you can only receive it once...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...and the one who passes it on inevitably dies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Why didn't anyone tell me? If I had known it would be like this, I would have stopped immediately.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainar mutters in lament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice is filled with deep regret and self-blame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chieftain, who was watching silently, then speaks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kiduba was a coward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't insult him! Kiduba was a fearless warrior!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then I guess you were the coward. The reason why Kiduba couldn't tell you about Soul Inheritance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not a coward—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chieftain cuts off Ainar, who's about to explode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then stop whining. If you want to prove that you're not a coward, don't insult his death any further and just watch. Warrior.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There's no one in the world who doesn't feel pain. But overcome it and face it. That's the way of a warrior.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The funeral continues in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shaman approaches the body leaning against the tree and smears blood on its face, then shakes a rattle. And he sprinkles a solution around the body to prevent insects from eating it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barbarians silently watch the process, and after some time, the shaman announces the end of the funeral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The soul of Kiduba, the third son of Toharu, has left his body and settled in the forest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The body left in the forest will rot and become bones, and when that happens, even the bones will be crushed and scattered in the forest by the shaman's hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warriors take turns standing in front of the body, cutting their hair or making a cut on their hand to sprinkle blood around the body before leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It doesn't take long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now only Ainar and I are left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I approach the body first, cut my hair with a knife, and scatter it around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's your turn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainar doesn't answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But instead of urging her further, I just leave. She needs time to process this unexpected farewell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>________________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kekeke, I knew you would come, warrior.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I enter the shaman’s tent as soon as I leave the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you bring the material?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me see it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I take out the ‘Heart of Immortality’ that I’ve been carefully keeping in my backpack, as instructed by the shaman. The troll’s heart is placed on a cloth inside a box, beating faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you obtain it yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I bought it from the exchange.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much did you pay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t know why he’s curious, but I tell him, and the shaman chuckles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a strange guy. You were truly born with luck, warrior.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although most of my conversations with the shaman are like this, I feel strangely offended today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is that why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can’t help but retort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t talk about luck when you don’t know anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shaman just smirks at my words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, you returned with all your limbs intact, so it’s not your fault… You lost something, didn’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t want to answer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right, that’s not bad either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Warrior, the more you lose precious things, the stronger you’ll become.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just keep my mouth shut, although it sounds like a curse. I feel like I’m getting sucked in the more I talk to this old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, can I receive the Spirit Engraving today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shaman readily nods at my question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought he might be tired from performing the funeral…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I put the 1 million stones the shaman asked for as a material fee into the jar and lie down on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve finally reached the sixth engraving of the Undying path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are three paths again this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening to a brief explanation, I choose one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s no room for hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the first place, I invested most of my assets in engravings from the beginning just for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I choose the Soul of Armaments.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kuku, you can’t change it later even if you ask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shaman then starts stabbing my body with needles. A sharp pain soon engulfs me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it’s more bearable than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a mental reason, unrelated to the intensity of the pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I know that an enormous reward awaits me after this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Ability stat increased by +60.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a stat with the highest acquisition difficulty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My MP regeneration rate has increased significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, it means I can use [Gigantification] more often and for longer periods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, it’s nothing compared to the main dish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「The Soul of Armaments is imbued into your body.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Equipment performance is enhanced in proportion to the character’s stats due to the unique effect [Unification].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Unification].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a passive skill that’s always active, unlike the active skill [Wild Release].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s already a powerful skill on its own, but…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…there’s a hidden element to this skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of its concept of becoming one with your equipment, your equipment doesn’t break even when you use [Gigantification].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, I no longer have to take off my equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, on top of that, I can now smash enemies with a giant mace and shield!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keuhhhh, Behel, laaaa…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shaman mutters as he sees me groaning and laughing amidst the remaining pain,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kekeke, as expected, he’s not sane.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ignore his evaluation, as befits a barbarian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>_____________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Bjorn Yandel」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Level: 4\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Physical: 555 (New +225) \u002F Mental: 198 (New +44) \u002F Ability: 188 (New +60)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Item Level: 98 (New -770)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Total Combat Index: 965.5 (New +23.5)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Acquired Essences: Corpse Golem - Rank 7 \u002F Orc Hero - Rank 5 \u002F Ogre - Rank 3 (New)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>_____________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much time has passed since the sixth engraving was completed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s still bright outside the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gulp down the water from the kettle on the table and ask,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t tell me a day has passed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kuku, are you going to whine about it being hard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geez, he could have just said ‘yes’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I still don’t understand his way of speaking, but I don’t bother arguing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, to be precise, I don’t have the energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I’m getting up and packing my backpack…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Warrior.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shaman, who usually tells me to leave because he’s tired around this time, calls out to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he drops a bombshell I didn’t expect at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you end up receiving an oracle from the human god?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart skips a beat, but…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…I let out a long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s no point in denying it since he’s clearly asking while knowing everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who told you? No, how many people even know about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you know, with that ring you’re wearing so deeply intertwined with your fate? Kuku, don’t worry. No one else will notice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shaman scoffs as if my eyes are useless since he’s blind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I realize that he seems strangely happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ask cautiously,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you going to tell the chieftain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uh, well, if you say that, there’s nothing I can say…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just an outdated tradition. Just like what I did in the forest yesterday. We left our homeland and became a part of this city thousands of years ago. We learned that gods exist and learned about civilization in the true sense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you trying to say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We rely on and follow the spirits of our ancestors, but why should we deny and hate a being that actually exists and benefits our lives? It’s nothing but foolish stubbornness. Even if we’re called barbarians, there’s nothing we can say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shaman hasn’t changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially in the sense that he always speaks in a way that’s hard to understand. Of course, I can’t say anything that would offend him now that he has me by the balls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So what do you think the chieftain will do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he finds out that you received an oracle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shaman chuckles and answers,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you asking something you already know? That maniac will immediately brand you as a traitor and kick you out. Kick! He might even chop off your head and burn it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…As expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, is there really no other choice but to live in fear until I finish the Spirit Engraving?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I’m clicking my tongue in dismay, the shaman continues,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Warrior, you’re worrying about useless things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Useless things?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beastmen, dwarves, fairies… they all abandoned their old traditions a long time ago. Why do you think that is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s no need to think deeply about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s the same as the history of Earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When new ideas and concepts are needed, there are always those who want to leave the old ways behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Future generations call them heroes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This crazy old man…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I finally realize…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…what the shaman is trying to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you worried about being kicked out, warrior? Then the answer to your problem is simple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shaman is also a barbarian, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or else, he wouldn’t even dare to think of a solution like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there’s a problem…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…you smash it and eliminate it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So in other words…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You just have to become the chieftain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before being kicked out, you take over the barbarian tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you think? Isn’t this a much more warrior-like path?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t know about it being a warrior-like path…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…but I can’t help but grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A barbarian who hasn’t even been an explorer for a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And one who’s actually an evil spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to tell me to become the Barbarian Lord and change the tribe as I see fit…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re saying interesting things, shaman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a proposal that’s quite tempting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially since it’s somewhat rational.\u003C\u002Fp>",2043,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.064Z",1,"novelbin.me","da63e0a8c148bf87df33dd72359453c3113f9e1ebbca947883eb12db8cca52f7","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-153","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-151",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]