[{"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-403":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},1327473,1764,"Chapter 403: Ice Rock (4)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-403",403,"\u003Cp>After confirming the existence of the traitor,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I started asking around every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I wasn't acting like a detective. I just casually chatted with the members during breaks and at camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, he might have tried to hide—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait! Explain it so we can understand!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the team leaders restrained Pike Neldain, one of the explorers watching the scene interjected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Explain...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I could do that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would help clarify the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Liadkei...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The summoner on Akuraba's team?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The summoner flinched, embarrassed by the sudden attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Y-yes? Me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, you mentioned something strange when I asked you a few questions. You said the trolls were getting tired too quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, yes... I did say that, but...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at me nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he worried about being blamed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't need to worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wouldn't punish the one who helped me the most with this investigation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyway! That's where it all started.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a turning point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before that, I had been focusing on the possibility of a spell or skill causing the ground to collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his testimony made me think differently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I started focusing on the trolls themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I suspected something was wrong with the trolls, so I investigated who had approached them before and after the incidents.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I explained my deduction to the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At first, I suspected Akuraba's team members or the mages who were always near the sleds because they had to maintain the 'Preservation' spell.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the Barbarian Detective Mode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I found out that there was one other person who had approached the trolls.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pointed at the bound traitor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pike Neldain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He approached the trolls under various pretexts, and after the incidents, he mysteriously disappeared—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"T-that's just circumstantial evidence!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pike Neldain protested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're accusing me based on that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't done talking yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun, the paladin, tried to gag him, but I stopped him with a gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was digging his own grave, there was no need to stop him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Evidence! You don't have any evidence!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's right, I didn't have any evidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's why I had to resort to this method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People only believed what they saw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akuraba stepped forward before I could say anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The ability you just used was [Overload].\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"S-so? What about it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why did you hide that ability?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"E-everyone has their trump cards!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm, and that's your trump card, as a 'warrior'? The 7th-grade [Overload]?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her sarcastic tone made him shut his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Overload] was a skill that temporarily increased your weight, reducing your movement speed but increasing the damage of ranged attack skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't a suitable skill for a warrior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"D-don't change the subject! [Overload] only affects the user!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was trying to find a loophole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, [Overload] only affects the user.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've seen someone use it before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was definitely a skill that couldn't be used on others.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? Then you've arrested the wrong person!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The members started to waver, swayed by his logic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's falsely accusing me! Help me! You could be next!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shouted, trying to turn the crowd against me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The logic he had used to defend himself was now trapping him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time to draw my sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can I borrow your sword?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took a sword from a nearby explorer and approached him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-what are you doing...? H-help—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone, stay back!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gah—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grabbed his neck and lifted him up for everyone to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The explorers flinched and looked at each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They seemed to be contemplating whether to intervene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spoke before they could reach a consensus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What you just saw... is the physical ability of a 5th-grade monster, the Blood Roar! It's called [Blood Spring]!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Physical ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant a passive skill in this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...[Blood Spring]?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I read about it in a book. It makes you immune to death by bleeding.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait, Blood Roar... wasn't that one of the monsters that had [Bestow]?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, it always travels in packs with other monsters, making that ability even more troublesome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They started to understand without me having to explain further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I threw him to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't even groan, despite the impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was too busy trying to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-wait! I-I have the Blood Roar's essence, but that doesn't prove I have [Bestow]!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was still clinging to the lack of evidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Akuraba was ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then use another one of Blood Roar's abilities.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"T-that's...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There were four, if I remember correctly. All of them were easily recognizable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I admit it! I have [Bestow]! But that doesn't mean I'm the traitor!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then why did you deny it at first?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I was scared...! I was afraid of being accused!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His last desperate plea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked pathetic, covered in blood and bound by ropes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I didn't feel sorry for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you all just watching?! Just because I have that ability doesn't mean I'm the traitor!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Innocent until proven guilty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would have worked in a modern court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or even in a city court, where there was at least a semblance of law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pike Neldain, how long are you going to act so naive?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And most importantly...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you all waiting for? He's clearly lying.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Explorers weren't stupid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was strange that the ground collapsed twice. It never happened when I came here before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They finally realized the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was all his fault, wasn't it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pike Neldain was the traitor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And all the hunger and discomfort they had endured were because of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud, thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He crawled towards the other members, trying to escape me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-wait! S-spare me! I'll tell you everything!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time for interrogation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>__________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pike Neldain, a 4th-grade explorer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been a member of various teams, from small groups to large clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then why did he betray the expedition force?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who's behind you? Noark? The Alminus Trading Company? Or the Explorer's Guild?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tell me now, and I'll spare you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'll let you keep your head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...T-there's no one! I just hate you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This idiot still didn't understand the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jun.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I called his name, and Jun, the paladin, immediately drove a long awl under his fingernail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aaaaaargh!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's fascinating to see a body that can't die from blood loss.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"G-guh, g-guh, ugh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Be careful, he might not die from bleeding, but he can still die from organ damage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry, sir. He's not dead yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's not something a paladin would say...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he was surprisingly skilled at torture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Wait, was he an inquisitor in the past?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a valid suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had abandoned his secular name, and no one knew his real name...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a bit suspicious, wasn't he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, at least his skills were useful right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"S-stop...! I'll tell you everything...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He finally broke after over an hour of torture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who's behind you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Iriya Adnus...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Guild Master of the Explorer's Guild?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is he suddenly bringing up a big shot like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you sure? Tell me the truth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I'm sure! I didn't meet him personally, but his assistant contacted me and gave me the orders!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't seem to be lying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I continued the interrogation, putting the Guild Master issue aside for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What were your orders?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jun?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He told me to sabotage the expedition...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Be specific. What did he tell you to do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked a series of questions, trying to get a clearer picture of the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To summarize:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Guild Master knew we were going to Ice Rock and had planned to sabotage the expedition by targeting our supplies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I swear I didn't intend to hurt anyone! I wouldn't have done it if I knew...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you talking about? Two members almost fell to their deaths! If our mage hadn't intervened, they would have died!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"T-that's...! I didn't think they would try so hard to protect the supplies!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sounded genuinely regretful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn, I don't think he's lying...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knocked him out after getting all the information I needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I then called the team leaders and shared the information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He really was the traitor...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Guild Master is behind this? This is going to be a big problem when we get back...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wish it was Noark.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had agreed to help me find the traitor, but they must have been hoping I was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their expressions were grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they were different from ordinary people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They accepted reality quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's discuss this. Why would the Guild Master want the expedition to fail?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's probably a political move. If the expedition fails, he can blame the Marquis.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe the Explorer's Guild wanted to remain neutral in the war between the royal family and Noark.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I doubt that, but... it's not impossible. Explorers are benefiting the most from this war.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jun, what do you think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The discussion didn't lead to any conclusions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were many speculations, but we didn't have enough information to confirm anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Um... what are we going to do with Pike Neldain?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>James Kala cautiously asked, and the other team leaders shared their opinions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We have to execute him. It will damage morale if we let him live.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Melend Kaislan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I disagree. If we take him back to the city, we can use him to pressure the Guild Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Titana Akuraba.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's Schuitz's decision.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun, the paladin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all looked at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My decision was already made.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We execute him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn't going to drag a rat along on this long journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>__________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The execution took place that night, with all the expedition members present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I chose the most efficient method, beheading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hanging would take too much time and effort, and I could feel their bloodlust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was over in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some members, still unsatisfied, spat on the cooling corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Explorers hated traitors more than looters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where are you going...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Patrol.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I left the execution site and walked towards the edge of the camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character has equipped No. 6111 Fate Tracker.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I put on the ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「The ring has detected the character's fate.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ring glowed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swaaaaaaaaaa!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed as I checked the color.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, at least it had changed to yellow.\u003C\u002Fp>",1708,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.064Z",1,"novelbin.me","9c1d5d2edd04c096650968e57d03307580c03889e8b1813b2570f66a412fa5c0","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-404","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-402",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]