[{"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-339":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},1327459,1764,"Chapter 339: Snowball (3)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-339",339,"\u003Cp>My mind went blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like someone had crushed a can, and Amelia's last words echoed in my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The royal family announced that you were an evil spirit.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The royal family announced that you were an evil spirit.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The royal family announced that you were an evil spirit.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a shock that felt like dozens of men were hitting my head with hammers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it weren't for her, I would have been stuck in this state for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yandel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I came to my senses and saw Amelia's face close up. She was looking at me with worried eyes, her small right hand on my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh, uh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand how you feel, but this isn't the time to be spacing out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, sorry...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia grabbed my wrist and pulled me forward, and I followed her in a daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It's unclear if she still has that intention...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen also knew that I was an evil spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant I couldn't expect her to treat me like a companion anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This... probably applied to the other companions as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'So...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched my jaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The day has finally come.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I accepted it, but I couldn't help but think...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it's not too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen was chasing Amelia because she thought Amelia had killed me. Maybe she would still treat me like a companion, regardless of whether I was an evil spirit or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, that possibility definitely existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don't have to hold my hand anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let go of Amelia's wrist and started running on my own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen couldn't protect me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she wanted to, she was a member of the fairy tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she helped me, it would harm her tribe, and she was more likely to prioritize her tribe over her personal feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...That's just an excuse.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I chuckled bitterly as I ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how sly and cowardly I was, I couldn't deceive myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't want to see Erwen yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be precise, I was afraid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was afraid of what I would hear from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[That's right! The chieftain said the same thing! We have to kill evil spirits as soon as we find them!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainar's words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yeah... I didn't know before, but after today, I finally understand. Why people told me not to trust evil spirits...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha's words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It's wise to kill them when you have the chance. That's what happened to those who trusted evil spirits. The result is right there.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Avman's words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stabbed me like daggers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just thinking about it made me feel this way, how would it feel to actually experience it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What would it be like to see them doubt my sincerity and express their anger at being deceived?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I could just get past this situation, I might be able to smooth things over and prevent that day from ever coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I ran after Amelia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yandel, this way!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We left the empty plaza and headed towards the Lord's Castle in the center of the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a secret passage in the Lord's Castle, not just in the cemetery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had to escape through that passage—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we arrived at the Lord's Castle and I was forcing the closed door open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yandel, get down!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia pushed me through the gap in the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at that moment...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An arrow, shot without a sound, pierced Amelia's back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia gasped, her body swaying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She collapsed on top of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're... okay...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What the—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your face... you don't seem like... you'll hurt her...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't understand what she was saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I didn't have time to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly picked Amelia up and stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll... take her...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia was still trying to say something, but she couldn't finish her sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While she was in my arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>_____________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has cast [Rupture].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>_____________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud, thud, thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of pieces fell to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a surreal scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Am, Amelia...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weight in my arms vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I couldn't move my arms, even though they were empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just stood there, thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia is dead?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like this...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And... because of Erwen...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body froze, but then I noticed something strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Blood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a person had exploded into pieces like that, there should have been blood splattered everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there wasn't a single drop of blood on my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swaaaaaaaaaa!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hundreds of pieces of Amelia's body turned into particles of light and disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like a monster dying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Amelia Rainwales' clone has taken fatal damage.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「The summon is dispelled.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right, it was a clone made with [Self-Replication].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whew, that startled me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I really thought she was dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'If she was going to use a clone, she should have told me beforehand.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was annoyed, but I quickly dismissed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn't the time to be complaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I have to run.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I started running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had memorized the path to the secret passage while following Amelia to Noark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was whether I could get there safely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No arrows yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I didn't know how long this would last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Can I win if we fight?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I considered the worst-case scenario.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That Erwen was hostile towards me and wanted to kill me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as I thought about that possibility, I remembered the scene of Amelia's body exploding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'That effect...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't a normal explosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And no shrapnel, like a grenade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her body just crumbled into pieces, like a Jenga tower collapsing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...It must have been [Rupture].'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effect of [Rupture] is simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it's an arrow, a sword, or an axe, if the blade pierces the flesh and deals a certain amount of damage...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It deals fixed damage based on the caster's main stat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It ignores Physical Resistance, Magic Resistance, and all elemental resistances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like Aura, which is unique to humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'And she even obtained the 'Pureblood' and contracted the Spirit King...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was [Rupture] or not, I didn't think I could win in a one-on-one fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would have high-grade equipment to match her specs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'How can I possibly win against that with my bare hands?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was running with all my might when...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Light Gem in my hand, which was illuminating the dark underground city, suddenly went out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't a natural phenomenon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had used Light Gems before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This magic tool gradually dims and then goes out when it runs out of mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It doesn't just suddenly turn off like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...Darkness Spirit?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't expect her to have mastered this element as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was confident in memorizing paths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I focused on my steps, I could probably find my way to the secret passage even in the dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as there wasn't a pursuer behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Escape failed.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I closed my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time to abandon my useless vision and focus on other senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heightened hearing caught the sound of footsteps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought I would hear the sound of an arrow first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Well, even if she thinks I'm an evil spirit, she would probably want to talk to me first.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tensed up, ready to move at any moment, and thought about Amelia's last words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Your face... you don't seem like... you'll hurt her...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must have seen his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia had much better vision than me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She might have made eye contact with Erwen, who was shooting arrows from the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'How could she be so sure just by looking at his face?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew what Erwen was thinking as she walked towards me in the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Erwen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I called her name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the footsteps stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only sound was my heartbeat, echoing like thunder in the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mister.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, after a long time, I heard that familiar name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Light Gem started working again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swaaaaaaaaaa!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light spread out, illuminating the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's really...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I finally understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why Amelia said it was fortunate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why she was so sure that Erwen wouldn't hurt me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's really... you...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes were filled with emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joy, relief, anticipation, anxiety, fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"H, how...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Distrust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... you're supposed to be dead...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, that's... what happened.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What happened? How can you say that so casually?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen's voice rose in anger, but then she suddenly stopped talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Could this be... her doing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She muttered, as if realizing something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And her eyes turned sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uh, I didn't expect her mood swings to be this severe...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I started to feel uneasy, but I tried to hide it and answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who am I? I'm Bjorn Yandel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Liar.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? You don't believe me? I'll use [Gigantification] if you want.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go ahead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tone was curt, but I didn't hesitate and activated [Gigantification].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wh, what... It's really you?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen's voice returned to normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, only for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's really you—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I don't believe it yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Use something else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen's eyes, filled with tears a moment ago, turned cold, and I quickly used [Leap].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's really you...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, I'm glad you finally believe me—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You think this is enough? It's not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same thing happened several times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen wouldn't be satisfied until she had seen all my essences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a chill run down my spine when she told me to use [Flesh Explosion].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You're a fake.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes were filled with madness and killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I explained that I had removed the essence, and then I started talking about things only we knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Our first meeting. What did you give me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Licorice leaf.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The name of the inn where we spent our first night together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can't... answer...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It, it was Garlic and Salt Inn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too late.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I was just flustered because you said 'first night'. We just went to see the essences...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We continued talking about the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I shared stories that only we knew, her mood swings gradually subsided, and finally, she seemed to have completely dismissed her suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although I still didn't know when she would suddenly change her mind and point an arrow at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at least for now, she had accepted me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mister...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's been a long time, Erwen. It's been two years and six months, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long time, she finally greeted me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen put away her bow and clenched her fists, her eyes filled with tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why... why did you come back now?! You were alive all this time... Why didn't you come find me?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, she must have felt that way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't want to come back, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There were some complications.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly answered, worried that she might suddenly change her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen then cautiously asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Complications... are you talking about the announcement that you were an evil spirit?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the most important question of this conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hurdle I had to overcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, that's...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a mix of guilt and relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen had clearly decided not to believe the announcement. She was talking to me now, wasn't she? That was proof—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No? What does that have to do with anything?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen tilted her head, as if I had asked a strange question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then she started explaining, as if teaching me something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mister, we met after I became an adult, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh, yeah?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Evil spirits only appear on the day you become an adult.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...So?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what does it matter if you're an evil spirit or not?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Well, that's true...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't help but stammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen then grabbed my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You protected me in the cave, taught me things I didn't know, and helped me get back on my feet after my sister died... It was all you, mister.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hand was warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No matter what anyone says, you're Bjorn Yandel to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was touched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were people who thought this way too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to say thank you, but I couldn't.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen probably didn't know how much her words meant to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let go of my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And her eyes and tone returned to their previous coldness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you really... mister?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt like I was going crazy.\u003C\u002Fp>",2056,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.065Z",1,"novelbin.me","e9998d72c7a6f51e02d1c8e806c49207098a346e8c590cbbe62b7dc9ec49788d","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-340","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-338",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]