[{"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-285":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},1327637,1764,"Chapter 285 Cause and Effect (1)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-285",285,"\u003Cp>The sea was rough, waves crashing against the shore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where's Bjorn? Is he back yet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not yet. He should be here soon...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arrua Raven clutched the 'Coordinate Transmitter' tightly, staring at the horizon. Everyone on the boat was feeling a sense of unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bjorn Yandel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their leader, the barbarian who had stayed behind to buy them time, facing a 3rd-grade monster alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Something must have happened. We have to go back and save him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No! Didn't you hear what he said? We're not supposed to go near him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He always says that and then does whatever he wants! I'm going to do what I want this time!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha trailed off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven, who had been shouting emotionally, also calmed down a bit and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just wait. He'll be fine. He'll come back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry for shouting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's okay. I feel the same way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You feel the same way?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven hesitated for a moment at Misha's question and then answered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...He's our companion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, yeah... That's right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An awkward silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone's gaze was fixed on the spot where they had left Bjorn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About five minutes later...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boat, which had been anchored at sea, suddenly rocked violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The water! The water is receding!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sea level, which had risen like a flood, was rapidly decreasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wh, what's going on? Bjorn's not back yet! Did he... fail?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's impossible! If Stormgush was still alive, there would be another storm!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Th, then...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes! Bjorn defeated Stormgush!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven shouted joyfully, and Misha couldn't hide her relief either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That crazy barbarian! He said he would just hold out, but what the hell was he doing down there?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her words, Misha's face was filled with relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Partslan, turn the boat around!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A, alright!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven quickly steered the boat back towards the island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's when...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A white light flashed from beneath the surface, like a bolt of lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wh, what was that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I, is something wrong...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked at Raven, including the priestess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...But a mage doesn't know everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I, I don't know...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The labyrinth was full of mysteries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had never even seen Stormgush before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed, and the water level continued to recede, revealing the center of the island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Bjorn was nowhere to be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where the hell is he?! What are these equipment doing here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only things left in the center of the island were Amelia and Bjorn's equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There's a nail here. And a rope tied to it. He must have been here...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He probably tried to tie himself down so he wouldn't be swept away. But where did he go...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then what about his equipment? Why would he take off his equipment...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene was full of contradictions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Let's search the area. If he was swept away, he wouldn't have gone far.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven, confused, tried to stay calm and gave an order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bjorn had told her that she had to be the leader when he wasn't around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There's more equipment here! It's the necklace Bjorn was wearing!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Th, there's underwear here! It's his!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others spread out and searched the island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The water level continued to recede, and the island returned to its original state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why... why isn't he anywhere...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn't find Bjorn, even after searching the entire island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell had happened here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew, but Raven spoke firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe Bjorn...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't say anything stupid. He'll be fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A leader should always be positive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's what Bjorn had taught them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's clear that he defeated Stormgush. He even had the presence of mind to tie himself down. I don't know why he took off his equipment, but maybe he was swept away to another island. Let's go look for him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven then boarded Partslan's boat and searched the nearby islands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were many guesses and arguments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they didn't give up hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...We'll see him in the city.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn't find Bjorn, and it was time for the labyrinth to close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swaaaaaaaaaa!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light of the labyrinth enveloped them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven returned to the city and looked for Bjorn in the deserted Dimensional Plaza.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he wasn't there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She went to the checkpoint, but he wasn't there either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where's Bjorn? Was he at the plaza? The employee said he wasn't among the explorers who passed through earlier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...We couldn't find him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven and her companions waited anxiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even after all the explorers had left and the plaza was empty...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bjorn didn't appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He should have been here, no matter where he was in the labyrinth, if he was still alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Um... It's almost closing time...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The employee started to look at them nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant only one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no one could say it out loud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heavy silence fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then Ainar, the only barbarian, spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, Bjorn is dead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time to face reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They say that even mountains change in ten years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not this city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enough time had passed for mountains to change twice, but this city was still the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the street in front of the checkpoint I was standing in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dad! Over here! Over here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ramirion, you're back safe and sound. Let's go home. I made your favorite food.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The street was filled with families and friends of explorers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the buildings looked the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only difference was the signs on the first floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'There used to be a bar there, not a general store.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was finding the differences between the past and present fascinating when...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman stood next to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Amelia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, you're here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're late. Did you have any problems at the checkpoint?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, just like you said, I handed them the ID card and exchanged the magic stones.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really? That's good. Then let's go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where to?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A clothing store first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After meeting Amelia, we went to a nearby clothing store and bought some clothes. And then we got a room at an inn in the 7th district, my usual territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come to my room after you wash up. We need to talk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took a bath, changed into my new clothes, and went to Amelia's room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had already finished washing up and opened the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What did you want to talk about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sat down on the bed and asked, and Amelia dried her hair and sat down at the table across from me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have something to confirm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go ahead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you... going back?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell is she asking?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course. I'm going back no matter what.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm, I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you think I would want to stay here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought it was a possibility. You must be starting to feel like you've returned to the past.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does that have to do with anything?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...It's twenty years in the past. You might not know this, but you could live a much more comfortable life here if you use this time difference to your advantage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...It's not just 'I see'. Barbarian, don't you realize what kind of opportunity you have...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I cut her off before she could continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I understood what she was trying to say, but it didn't appeal to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There's no Bitcoin here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I stayed, I would lose everything. My equipment, my noble title, and my precious companions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll go back as soon as I find a way. So stop talking about it. I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I'm sorry about that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, her apology was a bit late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So is that why you called me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I have something else to ask. I wouldn't have told you if you were planning to stay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was testing me, wasn't she?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop beating around the bush and tell me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I need your help while we're stuck in the past.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, she wouldn't answer my questions, and now she wants my help?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does she think I'm an idiot?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do I get in return?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll help you find a way to go back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don't even know how to go back, how can you help me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...There's one thing we could try.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was ready to leave if she said I had to make a decision first, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We could use the Fragment of Records again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia told me her plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I didn't understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Fragment of Records? It disappeared when we time traveled...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped mid-sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn't disappear completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was twenty years in the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, the one I used is gone, but there's still one left. It should be with the Lord of Noark.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I suddenly thought of the Genesis Artifact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this theory was correct, then the 'Genesis Artifact', the key to the final floor that had been stolen, would also exist in this time period.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What happens if I take it back to the future? Will I be able to clear the game?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was curious, but I quickly dismissed the thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I should focus on returning to my original time first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'And it probably wouldn't work anyway.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia and I had been stripped of our equipment when we time traveled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant we couldn't take anything back to the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, I got sidetracked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia was staring at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, I'm a barbarian, I can't focus for that long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ahem, continue.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I'll tell you after I hear your answer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, she's playing hard to get.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed, but I didn't have a choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Fragment of Records was the only plausible way to return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I can't do it alone.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed Amelia's help to obtain it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't even know where the Lord of Noark kept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, tell me. How can I help you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia had a strange expression when I agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn't seem happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, she looked annoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is there a problem?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...No. It can't be true.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What can't be true?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia didn't answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She just composed herself and started talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a long story, and when it was over, I finally understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Amelia Rainwales had wanted to change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>_____________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll be busy for a while. I can't stop you from doing whatever you want, but try to stay out of trouble. You might do something irreversible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia moved out and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was going to meet with those shady scouts who tried to recruit criminals for Noark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We both had to enter Noark to achieve our goals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Damn it, I never thought I would have to go to Noark.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia said she would be back in about three weeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would come back occasionally to update me on the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Then what should I do now?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt restless, being alone in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was a gamer's instinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was in a world twenty years in the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Should I go explore?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly got dressed and left the inn. Amelia had told me to lay low...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'But I can't just stay here.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could possibly happen?\u003C\u002Fp>",1843,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.064Z",1,"novelbin.me","d3f12d665bb8e2d7c64df489c929513023cf0d9adbc67f276842af7975da81a2","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-33","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-32",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]