[{"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-451":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},1327671,1764,"Chapter 451: Expansion (4)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-451",451,"\u003Cp>The moment I emerged from the pit after the duel with the chieftain, the warriors, who had been cheering excitedly, suddenly fell silent and stared at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They seemed to be waiting for me to say something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a war cry, and the warriors roared in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ugh, my ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced down at the pit as I basked in the cheers of the warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elders were carrying the defeated chieftain away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a lonely sight, the end of a warrior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just the natural order of things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The winner and the loser.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing more, nothing less.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A celebration erupted, even though there were no preparations. The warriors who could play instruments started drumming, while the others just pounded their chests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone danced and drank, their voices echoing through the sanctuary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They built a bonfire, and meat, which seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, was roasted and shared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as the sun began to set…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Great warrior! Where are you going?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Peace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I left the noisy celebration and headed towards the residential area. The warriors I encountered along the way tried to talk to me, but they seemed more interested in enjoying themselves than in celebrating my victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step, step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The further I walked from the center of the festivities, the darker and quieter it became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump! Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The distant sound of drums echoed through the forest path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainar, who had disappeared during the celebration, was walking towards me from the opposite direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bjorn? What are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed surprised that I was leaving the festivities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going to see the chieftain. Where is he?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In his tent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is he awake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, he was sleeping until a while ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you were just there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was a bit worried.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t ask her what she was worried about. She had been learning from the chieftain while I was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must have felt conflicted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she probably had a lot to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But congratulations, Bjorn! I found out later that you’re the first! No warrior has ever become chieftain at such a young age!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I’m the youngest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-yes! That’s right! The youngest! Isn’t that amazing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, it was new information, but it didn’t feel real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, if you’re going to see the chieftain, why don’t we go together?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But weren’t you just there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha! What does it matter? I was heading this way anyway!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We walked towards the chieftain’s tent, chatting idly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We talked about the duel and the chieftain’s condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His injuries were almost healed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The elders are all stingy! They said he would heal without potions, so I had to force them to use them! Can you believe that?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the coming-of-age ceremony! I said we should at least give them proper shoes! But those stubborn elders kept talking about tradition! I told them I was being rational!” Ꞧ𝙖𝐍ο𝖇ЕȘ\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ainar.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re supposed to say ‘irrational’ in that situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah… really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She scratched her head, embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step, step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We walked in silence for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainar spoke again as we approached the chieftain’s tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bjorn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She slowed down and walked behind me, then she patted my shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re better than me. You’re smart, you’re strong, and the warriors follow you naturally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she wasn’t completely indifferent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ainar—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned around to say something, but she cut me off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So take care of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll do a much better job than me! The other warriors will think so too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know where she got the ‘150 times better’ figure from, but I just nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? Then that’s enough. Go ahead. I’m going to join the other warriors and have some fun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay. See you later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned around and walked away, and I entered the chieftain’s tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chieftain was awake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he looked surprisingly well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did Ainar use a potion on him? His body was still a bit swollen, but that was all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pulled up a chair and sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How are you feeling?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I was just being polite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I got straight to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When will you hand over the position of chieftain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tomorrow morning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an unexpected answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought it would take longer. You have to inform the other warriors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The news has already spread throughout the city. They’ll come if they want to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm… he’s not wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The number of warriors who had come to the sanctuary after hearing the news had increased exponentially as the celebration continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But… you seem quite relaxed, considering how hard you fought.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His second question was out of personal curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never thought it was the right position for me. Of course, I’m still disappointed that I lost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So why did you challenge me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to be sure that I had another reason for coming here. I chuckled and revealed my true intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to hear about the King.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The King?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, what kind of person is he?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would be the chieftain tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time for me to learn about the kingdom’s secrets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The King…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chieftain leaned back against the wall and chuckled bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I only met him once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought he knew a lot about the King, judging by his fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was during the Holy Artifact War… over thirteen years ago. I had just become chieftain. I attended the Tribal Council with the ambition of reviving our declining tribe. That’s where I saw him for the first time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze was fixed on the empty space before him, his breathing ragged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if he was reliving that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At first, it was just an ordinary council meeting. The dwarf and the beastman were talking about something I didn’t understand, and I was busy arguing with the elf and the old mage from the Mage Tower, who was representing the humans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Mage Tower? Shouldn’t the King be the one representing the humans?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He should be, but that’s how it’s always been since I became chieftain. The humans were always represented by someone else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was new information to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an ordinary warrior, I had no access to information about the Tribal Council.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, that’s what made that day special.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The King’s appearance, a once-in-a-lifetime event.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the chieftain still didn’t know why the King had appeared during the meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was arguing with the old mage, and then I looked up, and he was there. None of us recognized him at first. One of us even tried to kick him out, asking who he was. But…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…But?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He only said one word.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kneel, my subjects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment those words left his mouth, the chieftains forgot their words, their questions, and their doubts. They just knelt before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We spoke words we didn’t even know we knew.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What words?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a chilling experience, the chieftain said. He had felt a sense of helplessness, as if his will had been completely suppressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I was more interested in something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Mind control… Is he a mage?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was the source of the King’s power?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no essences or magic that could control someone without physical contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only possibility was magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the chieftain shook his head firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It wasn’t magic or an essence. It was like… his voice had power. It felt like it was engraved in my blood and soul from the moment I was born. That he was my King, my master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His story only made me more confused, but I continued listening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what happened next?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing much. He just looked at us, as if searching for someone, and then he said, ‘He’s not here,’ and left. And then we could finally breathe again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the end of his story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I checked a few things before starting my deduction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How strong were the chieftains back then? Well… most of them were around my level.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The King’s ‘mind control’ was absolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had controlled eight high-level explorers with a single word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the range of his control seemed to be unlimited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re saying we couldn’t resist because it was a simple order? That’s ridiculous. We would have rather died than kneel before a stranger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chieftain was certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the King had ordered him to die, he would have done it without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If it wasn’t an essence or magic… what did he do?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was still a glimmer of hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, and the old mage from the Mage Tower only realized who he was after we knelt. He quickly followed suit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it doesn’t work on humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a possibility, but I couldn’t be sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The King might have only used his power on the chieftains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Anyway, it’s certain that the King has that ability.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a valuable piece of information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked one last question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did he look like? Did he seem sick?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I don’t remember. His age, his gender, even his voice… I can’t remember anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm… could it be that the King can manipulate memories?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or maybe he used some kind of magic or item. Unlike mind control, there were many things that could achieve a similar effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, are you satisfied with my answers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sort of.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? That’s good to hear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waved his hand dismissively, telling me to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is strange…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something bothered me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chieftain, can I ask you one last question?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hurry up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you seem so indifferent? You must know what I’m planning to do as the new chieftain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had told me before that we couldn’t survive if we hated humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That we had to endure, even if it was unfair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a frustrating statement, but it was understandable from his perspective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why should I care? I’m not the chieftain anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m just a barbarian now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A warrior, not a leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve always been the ones who charged headfirst into battle. Does that answer your question?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It does.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Now leave. I’m hungry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I left the tent and found an empty one to sleep in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the next morning…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Waaaaaaaaaah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of over ten thousand warriors…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Warriors, I, Bjorn, son of Yandel, swear on my honor as a warrior!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point in giving a complex speech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wouldn’t understand anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I kept it short and simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We will become stronger! We will reclaim everything we have lost! And we will march forward!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at the city walls in the distance and declared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character’s position within the tribe has changed from ‘Ordinary Warrior’ to ‘Chieftain’.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Special stat ‘Approval Rating’ created.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I became the Barbarian Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character’s Approval Rating has increased by +1.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character’s Approval Rating has increased by +1.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character’s Approval Rating has increased by +1.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character’s Approval Rating has increased by +1.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character’s Approval Rating… 」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「….」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「….」\u003C\u002Fp>",1849,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.064Z",1,"novelbin.me","65665800cc0adfac20211af63fe921d2ab72ab3075344b09dedd7499e617ed42","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-452","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-50",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]