[{"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-483":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},1327703,1764,"Chapter 483: Pilgrim (1)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-483",483,"\u003Cp>When encountering an unexpected situation, the first thing to do is ‘wait’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to act rashly in panic, but to calmly assess the situation first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This choice helps avoid the worst-case scenario.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, depending on the outcome, there might be better choices, but at least…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It prevents irreversible mistakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Phew…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I close my eyes and take a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when I feel like I’ve regained my composure…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I open my eyes and gather visual information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m at the entrance of a cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the cave entrance, where light is seeping in, countless soldiers are blocked by a transparent barrier, shouting something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“——— ——, ————!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a muted TV, I can’t hear them, but their expressions are a mix of urgency and anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the real problem is…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can’t see my companions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it’s not just my companions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What is this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My equipment is also gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demon Crusher, the expensive shield I bought, the Royal Guard Sigil, and all the other Numbered Items I was wearing…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything has vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And instead…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m wearing ragged, worn-out clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I’m clutching a bone awl, a crude weapon made from monster bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s when I realize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The real problem is…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Is this for real?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body feels heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“——, — ———— —!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though all my heavy equipment is gone…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I feel sluggish and weak, as if I’m carrying a heavy burden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t question it. I just record the information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「All character stats are fixed at 15.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Information 1: My stats have been reduced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the level of an ordinary person, not an explorer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My powerful body, capable of lifting a carriage, is gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「All character essences are sealed.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Information 2: My skills are sealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ogre, Vol-Herchan, Bion…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All my skills, including the high-grade essences that made me a powerhouse, are deactivated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…And my subspace pocket won’t open.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subspace pocket I obtained from the Rose Knights is also unusable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haa…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I feel a wave of dizziness, but I force myself to calm down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>New information is being updated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… get out… by the imperial law… judgment…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The transparent barrier that had been blocking the sound starts to weaken, and I can hear the soldiers’ shouts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Imperial…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their attire looks familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the Imperial soldiers I saw in the Doppelganger Forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, to summarize…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For the Empire…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Information 3: They’re Imperial soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Captain, the barrier is weakening!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Information 4: The barrier at the entrance is weakening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prepare yourselves! It’s time to judge the wicked pilgrim!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Information 5: I’m a pilgrim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A traitor to humanity who sided with the Witch during the Witch’s War.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the information is processed and organized in my mind, I reach a conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ll die if I’m caught.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I have to run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a five-man or fewer raid,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dreadfear, the Lord of Terror, drags the characters to a new field when he reaches his 4th phase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Bottomless Pit of Solitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sealed room shrouded in darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The players have to fight him in that environment, and he uses much stronger skills than in a normal raid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body grows larger, no longer restricted by the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Token monsters swarm the area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dangerous AoE attacks and unavoidable skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I wasn't worried about the raid itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All his skills had clear countermeasures…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there was an escape route that could only be used right before the labyrinth closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a safety net.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…An unexpected event.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of situation was common in [Dungeon and Stone].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The game was filled with hidden pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A hidden piece.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That must be the reason for this situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Information 6: A hidden piece I’m unaware of has been activated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quicken my pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud, thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat drips down my face, forming beads that roll down my cheeks and soak my clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body is weak and frail, slightly better than Lee Hansu in the hospital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is he?! Where did he go?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Imperial soldiers are chasing me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I don’t despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I have faith.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are no impossible hidden pieces in [Dungeon and Stone].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as proof…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s moving as if he can see through the darkness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It must be one of the powers he gained from the wicked Witch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers seem to find the cave dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it’s bright enough for me, thanks to the glowing crystals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Information 7: Pilgrims have certain advantages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just increased vision range, but also…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gurgle, gurgle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…the monsters in the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They don’t attack me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, they seem to be protecting me from the soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, they’re just buying me time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it weren’t for them, I would have been captured by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grrrr—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…This feels strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I never thought I would be saved by goblins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud, thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, my tracking skills also played a significant role in my escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that brings me to the next question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What happened to the others…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I organized my thoughts as I ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most likely scenario was that they were also separated and started alone, just like me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This place was similar to the Crystal Cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…If this follows the same pattern, there should be entrances in all four directions.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The basis for my theory was my starting location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The area beyond the barrier where the soldiers were gathered was a dense forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the Goblin Forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s this way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, I thought I could rest for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud, thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly got up and continued running, my mind racing. I couldn’t keep running forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Survival was a series of decisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had successfully escaped, so it was time for the next decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should I do now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Regroup.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the most obvious choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were many events that separated party members. And most of them required regrouping to proceed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering our separate starting locations, it was highly likely that this situation followed the same pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But… we might all die before we can regroup…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen would probably be fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had tracking skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was Ainar, who had no sense of direction, and Bersil, who was a mage and nothing else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…I’ll worry about that later.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped thinking about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't something I could do right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't even know how to find them in this vast cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a more important question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What's the clear condition?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this was part of Dreadfear's 4th phase, what was the objective?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To kill all the Imperial soldiers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To reach the monument in the center of the cave?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or maybe I had to escape the cave?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had cleared over a hundred rifts and countless hidden pieces, but I couldn't figure this one out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't have enough information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'There must be a clue...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I made my decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to be more proactive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped running and hid behind a glowing crystal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't the best hiding spot, but the soldiers seemed to find the crystals blinding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the perfect place for an ambush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I waited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step, step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three soldiers entered the passage, carrying torches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Three...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a manageable number, even in my weakened state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump, thump, thump, thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart pounded in my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I attack?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or should I wait?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hesitated for a split second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...Three is doable.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I made my decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't know how long it would take for a smaller group to appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Imperial soldiers weren't that strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were probably around the level of 2nd-floor explorers, judging by their performance against the goblins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant they were just ordinary people who would die if stabbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tightened my grip on the bone awl, hidden in the shadows cast by the crystal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the three soldiers passed by my hiding spot...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I silently approached the last one and stabbed him in the neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Puk-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Gah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound echoed through the passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could even retrieve my weapon, the other two soldiers turned around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes widened in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pushed the dead soldier's body towards them and pulled out my awl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And before they could react...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Puk-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stabbed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Ugh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had aimed for his neck, but the awl only pierced his collarbone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was wearing leather armor, and the awl was stuck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I'll have to give up on the weapon.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let go of the awl and charged at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't need a weapon to kill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grabbed his wrist and pulled him closer, pinning his arms behind his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I twisted his neck, exposing his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then I bit down with all my might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you tore out the jugular vein, they would die instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"T-Trojan!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay, two down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a one-on-one fight now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He might have better stats and equipment...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But battles weren't just about stats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come at me, you little shit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My experience in real combat was different from his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Y-You!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thrust his spear forward, his movements stiff with tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I dodged and grabbed the shaft of his spear, pulling him off balance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was the end of the fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack, crack, crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I jumped on his back, grabbed his head, and slammed it against the ground repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Ptoo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spat out the blood and flesh that had filled my mouth and stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been a while since I had last fought like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt more mentally exhausted than when I fought 3rd-grade monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haa... Haa...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My vision was blurry, even though I wasn't injured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must have been the adrenaline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I didn't have time to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I need to loot the bodies.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was always loot after a hard-fought battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>___________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Imperial soldiers' equipment was standardized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A leather vest, and a cloth with the Imperial emblem on top.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It's a bit tight, even though I took the biggest one.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the weapons were better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could use them even if they didn't fit perfectly. And there were three different types:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mace and shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a two-handed hammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My choice was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Mace and shield, of course.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two-handed hammer was tempting, but I couldn't use it with one hand in my current state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I'll keep the bone awl too, just in case...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looted their belongings, taking food, water, and other necessities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hid the bodies behind the crystals and left the area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step, step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boots made walking much easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the power of civilization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a sense of accomplishment, having upgraded from a bone awl to a proper set of Imperial soldier equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Now that I have equipment, I can capture someone alive and interrogate them.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I started looking for my next target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Four...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was one more than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it didn't matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I lit a torch, even though I didn't need it, and approached them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Imperial soldier set had a hidden effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey! I'm lost. Can you help me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you were wearing the full set, the Imperial soldiers wouldn't attack you first—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...Huh?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's how it was supposed to work...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alert!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they raised their weapons as soon as they saw me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did they know?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't understand, but I made a mental note of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A pilgrim! It's a pilgrim...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Information 8: Imperial soldiers can identify pilgrims.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slash! Slash! Slash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character has slain five Imperial soldiers.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「All stats increased by +1.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Information 9: Killing Imperial soldiers makes you stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Okay, I'm starting to get the hang of this.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I finally understood the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>",1939,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.064Z",1,"novelbin.me","f65f28e7078df64a43cb8b76c5facbc8a3249c8c44d1efd09f91cea9bbb5aed1","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-484","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-482",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]