[{"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-386":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},1327556,1764,"Chapter 386: We (5)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-386",386,"\u003Cp>Viscount Bjorn Yandel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis's eyes didn't even flicker as he spoke my name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were Erwen or Amelia looking at me like that, I would have confessed everything before they could get any angrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's how confident he seemed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a seasoned politician, the second most powerful person in the kingdom for decades. It would be naive to believe his act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you sure you're not mistaken?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I feigned ignorance, testing the waters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It's strange to hear you use honorifics. I still remember you from the title bestowal ceremony.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Is this all because of Erwen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I understand your situation, so I won't accuse you of lying. But...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I need to create a situation where you have no choice but to confess.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A situation where I have no choice but to confess?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he going to use a verification spell or a Numbered Item like 'Distorted Trust'?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or torture?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I calmly considered all the possibilities, but they were all wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I'll start by telling you this.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis chose 'conversation'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Viscount Yandel, don't be alarmed. I'm one of the few people who know you're not an evil spirit.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was coming at me strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>________________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When my identity was revealed, this was the part that surprised Amelia the most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did an evil spirit like me receive a noble title?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...Come to think of it, the royal family might have known and turned a blind eye. You were a hero in the city back then.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was her speculation, and I had considered it a possibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'If what the Marquis just said is true, then they really didn't know.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he could be lying...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I decided to listen to him first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, it was better to wait and react than to strike first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I won't waste time listing the similarities between Lihen Schuitz and Viscount Bjorn Yandel. You understand, don't you?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, I've been mistaken for him a few times...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded, and the Marquis began listing the evidence that proved my identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It was easy to find out that you weren't Lihen Schuitz. I heard the whole story from the employee who accidentally deleted his records.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman had threatened him and forced him to do it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's when I started to get suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You know what's most important in administrative work? It's all about the numbers. No matter how logical or convincing a story is, if the numbers don't add up, it's wrong.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[And that was the case with you.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bjorn Yandel is dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis said that once he rejected that premise, all the pieces started falling into place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You were too strong to be Lihen Schuitz. But two years and some support would be enough to explain that.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[And how did you manage to avoid our eyes for so long? It would only make sense if you weren't in the city.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where was I then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You were in contact with Noark when you disappeared from Parune Island.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was too much of a coincidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And according to their investigation, I had reappeared two years later at the now-abandoned underground fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fortress that was rumored to have a passage to the outside world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You appeared after the Blood Spirit Marquis visited that place.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So that's why the knight had accused me of colluding with Noark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had thought it was just an excuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Now, tell me your thoughts.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a convincing story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was more plausible than me having traveled back in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't shake off the feeling that he was being sincere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Is he that imaginative? Or that unimaginative?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had actually interpreted it that way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>_____________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't hesitate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I always prioritized my goals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My first priority was survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My second priority was reclaiming my identity as Bjorn Yandel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And my third priority was clearing my name as an evil spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's quite clever, for a Prime Minister.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shed my disguise as Lihen Schuitz and revealed my true form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My priority was reclaiming my identity as Bjorn Yandel, not clearing my name as an evil spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether he thought I was an evil spirit or a traitor, it didn't matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was something I could negotiate with the Marquis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'He wouldn't have called me here if he was planning to execute me.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, I'm Bjorn Yandel. It's been a while, Marquis.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My voice was filled with confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wouldn't be this bold if I wasn't sure I could handle the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whew, it feels good to be back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Haha, I'm glad you confessed. It would have been troublesome if you denied it here.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis chuckled, and I smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Troublesome...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's why I had revealed my identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew what would happen next. He would use 'something' to verify my claims.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if that 'something' didn't work on me... it would only make him suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen, Amelia, Raven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they investigated them thoroughly, they would eventually find out about my past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was better to come clean and move on to the main issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had become quite good at deceiving people, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Now, let's get to the real issue.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis ended the small talk and lowered his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Viscount Yandel, why did you join Noark?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does it matter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[That's not a cooperative attitude. You're a smart man, aren't you?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn't join them. I was just there for my own purposes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at me, a strange look in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I held my ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn't lying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had stayed in Noark for six months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I even killed the Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...You're not lying, are you?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hiccup.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, sorry. I had some air in my stomach.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like the sudden hiccup had changed the mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis didn't press me further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You must have been nervous.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, can I assume you're no longer with them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I still find it hard to believe... Why did you hide your identity if you weren't a traitor?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The royal family declared me an evil spirit, didn't they? I wanted to find out why.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You were suspicious of us... I see, that's a possibility.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis nodded slightly, and it was my turn to ask a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Give and take.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, why did you make that announcement? You must know the reason.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I can't tell you the details. Just think of it as a political move. And besides, we didn't know you were alive back then.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn, I missed the most important part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then tell me this. What do you want from me? You would have assassinated me if you really thought I was a traitor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The royal family doesn't handle things that way.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bullshit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The royal palace was practically a den of vipers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you're saying you don't need anything from me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[We were planning to use you in the war, if you were a traitor.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>See? He just admitted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too bad then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Well, it's not that bad. I'm quite satisfied with the current situation.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Satisfied?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Every war needs a hero.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was going to use me, even though they had declared me an evil spirit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The audacity of this guy...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Viscount Bjorn Yandel, return to the royal family.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why should I?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[We can help you.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't see how.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I played hard to get, and the Marquis finally revealed his true intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Whether you've cut ties with them or not, you were associated with Noark. It's a crime punishable by death.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you're saying you'll let it slide if I join you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Not just let it slide. We'll help you reclaim your title and your name.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What about the evil spirit announcement?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[We can come up with a story. People will believe it.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to have it all planned out...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You said you were just there for your own purposes, didn't you? If you're uncomfortable with the idea of joining us, think of it as a deal.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, unsettling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was all going too smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had expected a much more difficult situation...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Viscount, have you made your decision?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't have many options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they were scheming something... I had no choice but to accept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright. Tell me more. How are you going to reinstate my title? And what do you want in return?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis nodded, satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as he was about to speak...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A loud explosion came from the garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What was that?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wondered what was going on, and the Marquis explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Damn, she came after all. I didn't expect her to be this reckless.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Erwen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[We'll continue our conversation later. Calm her down before things get out of hand.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was the end of our conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>",1484,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.065Z",1,"novelbin.me","7a0a7c12504f7ecdb8e5555851feceaddc1c87e00019e5811713b62380fe541b","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-387","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-385",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]