[{"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-362":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},1327532,1764,"Chapter 362: Interrogation (4)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-362",362,"\u003Cp>Arrua Raven turned away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until the very moment her gaze left him, that man was looking at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a desolate and pitiful gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like a sharp object was piercing her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why is he looking at me like that… I’m the one who was betrayed…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evil spirits deceive the entire world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s what she had learned from a young age, and she had witnessed countless examples as she grew up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That he saved her because she was in danger?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rejecting the cry of her heart, trying to convince herself that it was the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That the man had simply said what she wanted to believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That there must have been another reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That she couldn’t fall for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took a heavy step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With every step she took, memories of their adventures flashed before her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It started with their first meeting in the Crimson Fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[What the hell is that?! Why is a Vampire in a place like this…?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Run if you have time to whine, Dwarf.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Vampire who appeared as the guardian in the 1st-floor rift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man naturally took the lead and fought valiantly, eventually achieving victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…That holy water he used at the end… he must have known about it because he’s an evil spirit.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was always like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind every precious memory, there was a version of herself being deceived and manipulated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How foolish and gullible she must have seemed to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, she owed him her life for saving her in the Crimson Fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Raven made a cold judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…He didn’t sacrifice himself to save us.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would have died if he hadn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why he fought so desperately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next scene that came to mind was when they were trapped in the 1st-floor Crystal Cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knights and the large clans had used them as pawns and escaped through the dimensional gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The day that man became a hero of the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Then what do you want us to do?!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I’m telling you one more time—! Everyone stop—!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his voice, and the explorers who had been fighting each other joined forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the breakout began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Damn it, this is crazy.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I… I can’t go any further. I’m sorry.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seasoned explorers collapsed, their will to fight broken, but he kept going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He volunteered for the most dangerous task and fought more desperately than anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Raven judged,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He did that… because he had to… to survive…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took another step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With each step away from the cage, memories of him… to be precise, the big and small favors he had done for her, came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And each time, Raven thought,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That wasn’t… that difficult.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It wasn’t something he had to risk his life for.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…I’ve helped him a lot too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was able to dismiss most of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Don’t tell me… you came all the way here for me? Through that fire?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I was taking a walk.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The incident in the Imperial City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[What… What are you doing? Are you trying to carry the whole boat…?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Uwaaaaaaaaah!!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time he fought the enemy alone on Parune Island after sending his companions away on the boat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just recently…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Your… your b-back…!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time he shielded her from the magic attack with his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But… he did that for himself…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven soon realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That she was in denial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That can’t… be true…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The memory was vivid, despite the chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been in excruciating pain, his veins bulging, but he held her carefully, protecting her from his thrashing body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point in deceiving herself anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had tried to deny it countless times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You were in danger, Raven. So I saved you.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those words… were undoubtedly true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door at the end of the passage closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant that Raven had left for good, and we had to give up on her returning to release us—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Evil spirit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked to the side, and Erwen was staring at me with a lowered head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’re an evil spirit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right, so that’s why she was so quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must have been shocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I could understand why she was upset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It probably seemed like I didn’t tell her because I didn’t trust her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Erwen, calm down. I’ll explain—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That woman knew, but I didn’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That, that’s—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said I could understand everything. I did…!! Why did you lie to me?! Did you not trust me? What do I have to do to make you trust me?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wow, I’ve never seen her this angry…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced at Amelia for help, but she just shrugged and avoided my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was telling me to clean up my own mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, at least she doesn’t seem to care that I’m an evil spirit…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a pang of relief and gratitude, as well as a hint of dizziness, at Erwen’s murderous aura, having just seen Raven leave because she couldn’t accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that was a separate issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How do I calm her down…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take long to decide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about Raven?! She… she knew, but she didn’t tell me! That that woman was dangerous! That she even protected you, revealing her identity—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grabbed her wrist before she could have a seizure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Erwen, you would have done the same if you were in her shoes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spoke sincerely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, I would have done the same thing, even if it was Erwen instead of Raven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But did she find it hard to believe?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li, liar… you didn’t even tell me… You thought… that woman was more trustworthy than me…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What…? Why would you think that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because… I, I’m like this… I absorbed those essences… and now I’m treated like a crazy bitch…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uh, I didn’t know she was thinking that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like she was also struggling with her condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Erwen, that’s not true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then… why did you hide it from me…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, I told you I would explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed inwardly and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because I wanted to protect you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, Amelia answered for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Recycling, how efficient.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell is she talking about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ignored her and looked at Erwen. She reacted after a brief pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hu, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her shoulders trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“M, m, me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay, her voice was calmer now…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly explained, worried that she might misunderstand again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You saw it, didn’t you? Raven asking Amelia a question.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Auril Gabis’s gift couldn’t prevent that kind of application.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why I wanted to minimize the number of people who knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it was also for my own sake, but it wasn’t a purely selfish decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If something bad happens because I’m an evil spirit, I wanted to give you a way out. If you didn’t know, you’re a victim, but if you helped me knowing the truth, you’d be considered an accomplice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“S-so… you’re saying you care about me more than Rainwales…? That, that you hid it from me to… protect me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I unconsciously looked at Amelia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She chuckled and nodded, as if asking what I was so worried about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was telling me to take care of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn, she’s reliable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right, that’s why I only hid it from you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…As, as expected!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen clenched her fists, seemingly pleased with my confirmation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she straightened her shoulders and looked at Amelia with a triumphant smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…This is annoying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia frowned, but Erwen ignored her and turned her attention back to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mister, thank you for your concern… but please don’t do that again. To leave you behind and escape alone… I wouldn’t want that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen glanced at the empty cage where Raven had left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m different from that ungrateful woman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, is that so…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, just trust me! Okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia then changed the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But what are we going to do now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, right…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We should start preparing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, pack your things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Things?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can’t leave our equipment behind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I went to the corner where I had piled up the items I looted from the Lighthouse Keeper and squatted down. I gathered the items, wrapped them in his robe, and tied it into a bundle, then wrapped it around my neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Barbarian Peddler Mode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would carry it like this for now and put it in my subspace pocket when I had the chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me what you’re going to do now that you’re done packing. You must have a plan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia asked, and I shared Plan B with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We waited, not letting our guard down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after some time…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doorknob at the end of the hallway turned, and the door slowly creaked open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Raven reappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wonder what she’s planning… She should have already reported to her superiors by now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia and Erwen looked wary, gripping their weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven flinched and stopped as she approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did you come back alone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven answered quietly at my question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To confirm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a conversation taking place about seven meters apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The distance felt even greater because of the echoing voices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Confirm what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven didn’t answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She just resumed walking, closing the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud, thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression became clearer as she approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a complex expression, impossible to define with a single emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one thing was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Don’t tell me, she didn’t report it?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked to confirm, and Raven answered with silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud, thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her footsteps continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take long for us to be separated by just the bars of the cage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven looked at me through the bars, her blue eyes clear, and I met her gaze without saying anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some time…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Raven silently took out a key from her pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had changed her mind?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a while ago, her heart seemed closed off, and nothing I said reached her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Could this be… a trap?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a plausible theory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must have reported our combat strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She might be pretending to help us for now, worried that we might become hostile on the ship, and planning to arrest us in the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Why are you doing this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What you’re doing now… it’s betraying everyone who follows you, just like you said.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I focused on her eyes as I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t a good actress, so she would definitely show it, whether she was telling the truth or lying…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Raven just chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you laughing…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a mocking laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a bitter, self-deprecating laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just… the situation is similar to before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I didn’t know you were an evil spirit, I wouldn’t have asked that question.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Raven seemed to have already made up her mind and returned, as there was no hesitation in her actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key entered the lock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The iron bars separating me and Raven gleamed in the torchlight, reflecting our images like a mirror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I suddenly felt embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I had given up and was thinking about Plan B.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…My answer is the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll be in danger if you stay here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I decided to help you. For now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Therefore…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click, the key turned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come out. We need to talk about what to do next.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door opened.\u003C\u002Fp>",1907,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.065Z",1,"novelbin.me","0223ca2103b5d9d0c6d00fee7ee69380312364a7b24ae182af115a02eea86af5","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-363","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-361",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]