[{"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-408":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},1327478,1764,"Chapter 408: Dilemma (5)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-408",408,"\u003Cp>Dragonslayer, Regal Vagos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a few people knew about my history with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My former teammates, a few high-ranking officials from the Leathlas Church, and the leaders of the Dragonkin tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen didn't know anything about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She only knew that a mage named Dwarkey had died in the labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Could there be some connection between them?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, that seems unlikely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn't react this way when the Marquis told me about the hidden mission to kill the Dragonslayer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...But she did look upset back then.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips were tightly pressed, and Amelia even asked if she was feeling unwell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She quickly left, saying it was nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I should have investigated further.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can't just ignore my companion's mental breakdown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I excused myself from Jun and calmed Erwen down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then I asked her what had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I'm s-sorry... I-I suddenly...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's okay. I'm not mad. I'm just worried. What happened between you and the Dragonslayer?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's... it's a long story.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen hesitated for a long time before speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It happened when I was ten.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ten years old...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thirteen years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A year after the war between the barbarians and the fairies ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That triggered a memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Could it be... related to the Bloodbath?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The terrorist attack on the fairy sanctuary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The culprit was Dragonslayer, Regal Vagos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over a thousand fairies had died that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if my guess was correct...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Yes. My parents died that day. Protecting us... my sister, my brother, and me...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen had lost her parents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her uncle had adopted all three siblings and raised them with love, but the void remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Erwen endured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her older sister, Daria, had tried to fill their parents' shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[That young lady is fated to follow in your footsteps.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fate had taken Daria as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The culprit wasn't the Dragonslayer, but another member of Orculus, the Ruin Scholar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I'm sorry... I-I was scared when I heard his voice. He's the enemy... but I have to fight him if I don't want to lose anything else... I-I'm afraid they'll take everything from me again...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trauma was like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fear overwhelmed reason, and memories of the past resurfaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I'm pathetic, aren't I...? I-I'm stronger now... I vowed to get my revenge... but I'm still so scared...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pathetic? You're not. I'm the pathetic one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-what? P-pathetic? You're not! You're amazing!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, everyone has their own standards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had spent a lot of time with Erwen, but I didn't know anything about this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, I hadn't tried to find out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...I know I have a problem.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I first noticed her anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I hadn't dismissed it as a stat issue...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I understand how you feel. Losing someone you care about.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When we returned to the city after Dwarkey's death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I had thought more deeply about her words...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I might have realized the true problem sooner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mister...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't dwell on the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time to solve the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Erwen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked up at me with teary eyes and grabbed my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was waiting for me to say something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew what she wanted to hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry. The Ruin Scholar, the Corpse Collector, that damn lizard... I'll kill them all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I vowed, my voice firm and resolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn't the reaction I expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? You don't believe me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glared at her, and she flinched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"N-no! I-I believe you! I do!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice lacked conviction, but I didn't press her further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes, filled with anxiety, had calmed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>_______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I returned Erwen to her position and took a moment to think.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...This is strange.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four members of our team had a grudge against the Dragonslayer, Regal Vagos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raviyen, myself, and now Erwen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Amelia was in a similar situation.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, Amelia's case was a bit different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was the victim, not the aggressor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dragonslayer had a grudge against her for robbing him and erasing his memories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[If he remembers, he'll be furious.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was surprised when I heard about the timing of the incident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It happened right after the first thread was severed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'So Amelia was helping me from the beginning?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a strange coincidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I chuckled and headed towards Jun's tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aaaaaargh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I heard a scream as I entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"K-kill me! Y-you promised! Aaaaaargh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I believed you when you said you had confessed all your sins and found your true self. Or rather... I was deceived.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I didn't lie!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then why didn't you mention the Dragonslayer? He's waiting at the base, isn't he?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Th-that's...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're still filled with malice—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I didn't know! I swear! They didn't tell me anything! Aaaaaargh! Kill me! Just kill me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The survivor, who had been screaming and thrashing, suddenly went silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun approached him and forcefully opened his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood was pouring out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had bitten off his own tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...It seems he lacks the virtue to find enlightenment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun sighed and then healed the wound with divine power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...N-no! Please...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry. I'll help you find your true self and guide you to enlightenment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Demon! You're a demon! A demon!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...My, my.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun's smile didn't waver as he picked up an awl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah! You're here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw me and quickly gagged the survivor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mmm, mmm!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Did you find anything?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not much. Just that there are more troops waiting at the base than we expected.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...More troops? How many?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Based on his testimony, it seems like twice our number.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? Twice?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why didn't we hear about this from the others? Did they deceive us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, they wouldn't lie to us. They're loyal to the cause. They probably just... didn't know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if that's the case, couldn't he be mistaken?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, it's possible. But... he said he overheard it during a communication. Routine check-ins are usually handled by the base. If the Dragonslayer is there, his team would be there as well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are your orders? We'll continue the interrogation, but if the enemy has twice our number, the mission will likely fail.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if we succeed, the casualties will be significant.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should I do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should we push forward with the original plan, regardless of the casualties?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I contemplated for a moment and made my decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jun, stop the interrogation and call the team leaders.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You want to hold a meeting?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two heads are better than one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe they'll have some good ideas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>_______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another leadership meeting during the expedition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shared the information from the interrogation, and the team leaders started discussing the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Twice our number? That seems unlikely. The Dragonslayer's team is just a small clan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if it's just twenty more explorers, we can't underestimate them. We're not that large of a force either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. They're not like the weaklings we encountered earlier. They're all elite.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you're saying we should abandon the mission?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No one said that. We're just brainstorming for alternatives. That's why Schuitz called us all here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaislan calmed down when I was mentioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Authority backed by strength demands respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyway, if we continue with the original plan, the casualties will be significant, even if we succeed. Any ideas?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked directly, and the suggestions came pouring in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How about we ambush them near the base and whittle down their numbers?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That won't work. We'll miss the rendezvous time with the main force.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And they'll figure out what's going on. We'll lose the element of surprise. They'll be prepared.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kala, do you have any better ideas?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What about infiltration? We could use the survivor to gain access to their base. It might work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if it fails, we'll all be captured. The mission will be a failure. It's too risky. We might as well—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ambush, infiltration, luring them out, assassination...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We discussed various strategies, but couldn't agree on a perfect solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But collective intelligence is a powerful force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Luring them out and dividing their forces seems like the best option.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We can use their message stones.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We finally reached a consensus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, it was split into two options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We should lure out the Dragonslayer and eliminate him first. We can deal with the base later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eliminate the Dragonslayer first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, we should lure them out and attack the base. That's our mission.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or prioritize the mission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both options had their pros and cons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former would allow us to achieve two goals at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Akuraba, this isn't the time to be greedy for achievements. Do you think they'll fall for it so easily? They'll alert their allies before they die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And there's no guarantee that the ambush will succeed. If they react calmly, our casualties will be significant.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's what I was going to say! Even if we win, we'll be exhausted. How can we attack the base in that state?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it failed, the mission would be a failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latter option, on the other hand, guaranteed the success of the mission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone, calm down. It's Schuitz's decision.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun intervened, and all eyes turned to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'This is a tough one.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the first time in a while that I couldn't make a decision easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew what the rational choice was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To prioritize the mission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We focus on the mission.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't ignore the Dragonslayer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good thinking! We'll be rewarded handsomely if we succeed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reward...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akuraba sensed something in my laughter and cautiously asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Schuitz, can you tell us why? I thought you would be more ambitious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I had been alone, I would have chosen the former option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because your lives are on the line.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The less we fight, the more of us will return alive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's why I gave up on my greed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the only reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, does that answer your question?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Yes, it does.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akuraba nodded, her eyes filled with understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let go of my last shred of regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Dragonslayer, Regal Vagos.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It doesn't have to be today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'll get my revenge someday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[We'll meet again, Dragonkin.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That vow will be fulfilled.\u003C\u002Fp>",1687,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.064Z",1,"novelbin.me","2193cf44fc7e04beddd92b2dd55e693d3831382faf7f8483573d4976c489ff30","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-409","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-407",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]