[{"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-437":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},1327507,1764,"Chapter 437: Showdown (3)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-437",437,"\u003Cp>Abilities are sealed within the community.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, the lie detection that had given me so much trouble outside wouldn’t work here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, even if he could use it, I had Auril Gabis’s gift to counter it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Is he testing me?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were two possibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One, Lee Baekho didn’t know whether I was telling the truth or not, so he was pretending to be serious to verify my claim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the second possibility…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart pounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe I had underestimated him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had survived in this harsh world for over a decade. He couldn’t be a fool just because he didn’t have a lie detection skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, he might be even more perceptive without it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must have encountered countless liars and learned their patterns thanks to that skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s unlikely that he’s just testing me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly made a judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s better to admit my mistake and apologize than to try and make excuses.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lee Baekho spoke first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hyung.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yeah?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, but I can’t return Meowmeow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smirked at my question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you lose your hearing too while living as a barbarian?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was mocking me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had never heard such a condescending tone from him when I was Lee Hansu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then spoke clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t return her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…..”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meowmeow, the one you care so much about.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mind went blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You do care about her, don’t you? She’s much more useful to me than you are. You just want to live in this world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…..”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, of course, don’t worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll return her to you once I’m done with her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t even know why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baekho, you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew it was a provocation, that I should try to de-escalate the situation…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the words just came out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re a real piece of work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t even regret it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow, showing your true colors now? You’re always so cunning in front of me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lee Baekho chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re one to talk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We were both smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle, crackle, crackle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air between us was cold, despite the warmth of the fireplace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, it is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We both mumbled, and then he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I don’t understand. Why am I a piece of work?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had dropped the honorifics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re the one who’s messed up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…..”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You could go back to your old life, but you’re choosing to stay here with those NPCs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words were accurate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An objective observer would definitely say the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it didn’t matter if it was true or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh, you’re going to thank Auril Gabis someday—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s so talkative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s not how you win a keyboard battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You seem angry, Baekho.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to maintain my composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was my turn to attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t need a long speech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand. You’re the one who got dumped.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Dumped?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t play dumb. Everyone knows that the women you liked all ran away after finding out you were an evil spirit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that why you’re so desperate to go back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s acting like a child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I muttered softly, but he overheard me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face contorted with anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha! Hahaha! Keuh, hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He burst into laughter, as if I had told him a funny joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a classic coping mechanism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was laughing because he couldn’t accept the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just stared at him, and he eventually stopped laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hyung.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meowmeow… what if I just kill her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s more useful to me if she’s dead, isn’t she? You want to stay in this world, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart clenched with each word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll return her to you once I’m done with her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a bright, cheerful smile that didn’t suit the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I instinctively felt a chill run down my spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baekho.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a stronger emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The desire to kill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you keep doing this…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t need to control my mind like I did at the Round Table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just had to let it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The killing intent that had been building up inside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll have to kill you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lee Baekho flinched as he felt my killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then spoke, his words different from anyone I had met before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No apologies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No pleas for mercy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that suffocating aura that would have made the Corpse Collector crawl on the ground and whimper…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…he let out a genuine gasp of admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re insane… The others would be terrified.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cracked his neck and approached me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hyung.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you remember?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I taught you this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Killing intent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was within arm’s reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I felt it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A veteran’s trick to intimidate newbies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had used it countless times at the Round Table, but I had rarely been on the receiving end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only once, to be precise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I first joined the Round Table, I was hit by Fox’s killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a strange feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same feeling I had back then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My skin tingled, and my heart pounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lee Baekho’s killing intent was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The density, the intensity…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I finally understood why the Corpse Collector had been so terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart pounded so hard that I thought it might burst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold sweat dripped down my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t breathe, even though I didn’t need to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My head throbbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? I’ll have to kill you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t completely overwhelmed, unlike the Corpse Collector or Fox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was difficult, but I could endure it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to run away, to leave the chat room and escape this suffocating aura…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took a step forward, forcing myself to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked down at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not really.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think I can do it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a bluff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You cleared the 10x version, right?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was confident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Maybe you’ll be as strong as me in 10 years.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I might be weaker than him now…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I’ve already reached my limit…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if I was given enough time…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘You cocky bastard.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could surpass him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he sensed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lee Baekho, who had been staring at me with a serious expression, forced a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…This is interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, interesting?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s rude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I repeated his words from earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you lying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tilted his head, pretending not to understand, and I continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re not…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…..”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…having fun at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, why would he be backing away—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Whoa, whoa! That’s enough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his hands defensively and took three steps back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! Come on, hyung! You can’t even take a joke?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression and tone had changed completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was back to his usual playful self.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would I kill Meowmeow? I have nothing to gain from it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was right, logically speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would lose his Ice Dual Swordsman and make an enemy out of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a rational choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you had succeeded, you could have used it to control me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shuddered at the thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our conversation would have been completely different if I had lost the battle of nerves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So this is his Plan B?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at him, and he spoke cautiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not going to ask you to come back with me. I understand how you feel now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get to the point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But we can still cooperate, can’t we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused and looked at me with a suggestive gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t interested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Continue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know your situation better than anyone, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I’m definitely more aware of it than you are.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not good. There are countless problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s like walking on thin ice every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll help you. I’ll make sure you survive. I’ll support you, in every way possible. In exchange, you help me reach the 10th floor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His offer was tempting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike me, he had no restrictions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could even assassinate the Marquis for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baekho.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s something you should do first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…..”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t elaborate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t understand why he was so obsessed with me, but…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring me Misha. We’ll talk after that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Answer me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to be deep in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, if he returned Misha, he would lose one of his bargaining chips—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hyung.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re both a bit agitated today. Let’s call it a day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was postponing the decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you agree? I can’t think straight right now. Let’s talk again next time. I’ll think about Meowmeow. Okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—No way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hyung, you said okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll be going!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait! Hold on—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I reached out, but there was nothing I could do in this spiritual space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment my hand touched his body…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Poof!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…he disappeared into particles of light.\u003C\u002Fp>",1507,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.064Z",1,"novelbin.me","a8eadf785e4bd7b192874b7b722446cee983b21e6d1fbf6d7c77b54ff6d4d104","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-438","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-436",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]