[{"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-494":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},1327714,1764,"Chapter 494: Declaration of War (5)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-494",494,"\u003Cp>There’s a saying that you should check someone’s room before marrying them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A room reveals a lot about its owner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether they prefer luxury or frugality, whether they’re tidy or messy, what colors they like, what hobbies they have, what their occupation is…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without knowing anything about the owner, you can get a rough idea of who they are just by looking at their room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, the reception room I was currently sitting in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had a stately, luxurious atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The furniture and decorations weren’t ostentatious, but they were clearly expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A servant stood by the door, refilling my glass whenever it was half empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the pièce de résistance…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve never seen a reception room with a dedicated musician.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bald musician sat in a corner, playing a soothing melody on a stringed instrument.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He doesn’t seem to have been hired just for today…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It told me a lot about the owner of this room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s a merchant, at heart.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This reception room wasn’t just for show, it was for business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could feel it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t just trying to show off his wealth, he was trying to make me feel welcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Our appointment is in five minutes. He’s punctual.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I crossed my legs and unfolded a newspaper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a random newspaper, but the first page was about me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I guess it would have been the same with any newspaper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The Great Hero Inscribed on the Stone of Honor, Baron Yandel the Giant, Draws His Sword Against the Rebels of the Underworld…!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The incident at the black market three days ago had finally been made public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, even if Mozelan had tried to keep it quiet, they couldn’t hide the fact that 397 slaves had been freed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But they didn’t mention that most of the buyers were nobles.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The article was full of holes, but it still contained some useful information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, the slaves who had been presumed dead had regained their identities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were currently staying at a temporary shelter provided by Mozelan, and a policy to exempt them from taxes for five years was being prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there was even an interview.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…He said, ‘It’s not me, but you, who should be regretting this.’]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an anonymous interview, but judging by the content, it was probably the young boy from the cage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Oh, the black market is closed? Well, it’s better to lay low in times like this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I finished reading the article, and the servant approached me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Count Alminus has arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I folded the newspaper and placed it on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let him in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time for business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character’s Fame has increased by +10.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character’s Fame has increased by +10.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character’s Fame has increased by +10…」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「….」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「….」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vulgar laugh and a refined chuckle echoed through the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a photographer stood next to the table, taking pictures of us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a business transaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The price of the A-cut he was about to take was 2.135 billion stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baron Yandel, can you… can you smile a little more… manlier…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course! Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Count, please look in that direction and smile.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Certainly. Hehe! Hehehe…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Count Alminus had offered to drop the lawsuit in exchange for a photo op.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said that each photo would be recorded in history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was an old man, nearing the end of his life, so he seemed to value his legacy more than anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, I thought it was a ridiculous request…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then I understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would also be impressed if my grandfather had a picture with Einstein.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehehe…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, the photographer kept giving us instructions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said our smiles weren’t genuine enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave me a cheap beer and the Count a glass of wine and told us to make a toast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perfect! That’s the one!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…that was the A-cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Count was satisfied with the photo and gave the photographer a generous bonus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That concluded our business for the day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe, you’ve worked hard, Baron. Why don’t you stay for dinner?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not hungry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, I made a mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have someone waiting for me at home. Maybe next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe, that’s right… It’s always better to have dinner with your family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Count, ever the businessman, smoothly glossed over my mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then he made an offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, I heard you did something remarkable. You know, rescuing those 397 slaves from the black market.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your youthful vigor is inspiring. It makes my old blood boil! I’d like to contribute to your good deed…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was asking for permission to join the bandwagon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to refuse…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those poor souls… almost 400 of them… they don’t even have a place to live, do they?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can help them. They might be exempt from taxes, but they still need a place to live, don’t they?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a surprising offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A house for each of the 400 slaves?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder he was the richest man in the kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“More heroes are always welcome. I won’t refuse your offer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I readily accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might not have been out of pure altruism, but it would be a great help to the former slaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry. You’ll get the credit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That concluded our conversation, and I left the mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, the newspaper’s front page was about us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Count Alminus pledges a personal donation of 2 billion stones. When asked why, he says, ‘It’s just a small gesture for an old friend.’]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along with the photo we had taken yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh, I’ve become a poster boy…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I put down the newspaper, feeling a strange sense of self-loathing, and Shabin Emure, the head of the administrative team, rushed into the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been days since the labyrinth closed! Where have you been?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She yelled at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here are the documents. Don’t even think about leaving until you’ve reviewed and signed them all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed much more aggressive than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I assumed it was because of work-related stress and chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, alright, calm down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But why are there so many? I delegated most of the authority to you, didn’t I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…This is just the stuff I couldn’t handle without your approval. The tribe’s budget is increasing rapidly, so we need to adjust the monthly budget, and I can’t do that on my own. I had to create temporary approval documents and make temporary entries in the ledger. I had to do everything twice, even three times!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh… I see…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could I escape this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I was thinking that, Shabin’s eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t even think about running away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Can’t you just handle this yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha! Why not?! I can just decide the tribe’s budget, set the land prices, and even give myself a raise!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She raised her voice, as if she couldn’t believe my suggestion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was clearly being sarcastic, but…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…………What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shabin, I trust you. More than anyone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…………?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t blame you if you make a mistake. I’ll take full responsibility. I put you in charge because I trust you. That’s what a chieftain does.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So trust yourself and do it. You’re the expert in this field, just like I’m the expert in the labyrinth. Your decisions will be better than mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay, she seemed convinced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time for the final blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And your salary… you can decide that too. Ask for whatever you want.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’re going to get yourself in trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, if that’s the value you place on yourself, I won’t deny it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stared at me in silence for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after a while…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’ve always thought… I could do a better job than them… but I was scared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone’s scared at first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gave her a reassuring smile, and she clenched her fists, as if making up her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’ll do it. I can’t make any more excuses. I have to prove my worth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. I’m counting on you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I left the tent, relieved to have escaped the paperwork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then I found Ainar and gave her a new task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gather all the warriors in the sanctuary?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I have something to tell them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt bad for the administrative team, who were working day and night… but this was the real reason I had come to the sanctuary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed a bit of a performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll gather them, but there will be a lot of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A lot?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you know? Everyone’s building houses these days, so the sanctuary is packed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard the third land sale ended, but I didn’t think there would be that many.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can’t build a house alone, can you? They’re all calling their friends and working together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, I see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, gather them all! Tell them there will be something interesting!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something interesting…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehehe! You’re up to something! I want in!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainar, excited, left to gather the warriors, and I waited at the designated location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warriors started arriving one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of them were unfamiliar faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were all carrying hammers, the ones used for hammering nails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had just come from building houses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the Chieftain!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! The great warrior who was inscribed on the Stone of Honor three times!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warriors who had arrived earlier were excited to see me. I had been worried they might be angry for being summoned…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said there would be something interesting!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it? Why did you call us all here?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s get started!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…but it seemed like they were also stressed from building houses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait! I’ll tell you when everyone’s here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After about an hour, the entire forest was filled with barbarians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like a festival, with all the noise and commotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warriors were pounding their chests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bjorn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s Chieftain in the sanctuary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Chieftain, everyone’s here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then it was time to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need for a long speech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Follow me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t even tell them where we were going, or why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they parted like the Red Sea as I started walking, and then they followed me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Waaaaaaaaaah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bjorn, son of Yandel!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A long procession of barbarians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We reached the gate connecting the sanctuary to the city, and the guards opened it without a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clatter, clatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heavy gate creaked open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just like the day I first woke up in this body, the familiar gray city appeared before me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The paved roads, the stone buildings, the towering spire…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I started walking, and the pedestrians on the street moved to the side, making way for us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a little bad for disrupting their day…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow! It’s Baron Yandel! Mom, it’s Baron Yandel!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-It’s really him…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Waaaaaaaaaah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…but they didn’t seem to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, they seemed excited, calling out to their friends and family to come and watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clatter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Windows opened, and people peeked out, watching our procession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all had the same question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where are they going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should we call the guards? There are so many of them…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, the city guards soon appeared in front of us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Greetings, Baron Yandel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you blocking our path?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-We received a report…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you arresting us? We’re just walking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“O-Of course not! No, sir!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then move.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard captain, dumbfounded, stepped aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The procession continued, reaching the city center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then the knights appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Greetings, Baron Yandel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were from Mozelan, known for their strict enforcement of the law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they wouldn’t touch me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’ll excuse me, where are you headed, Baron Yandel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why should I tell you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We haven’t received any notice about this… event… We’re just confirming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I didn’t have to answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re just taking a walk. Mind your own business.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…A walk…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight looked troubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I had been an ordinary citizen, he would have dispersed the crowd and arrested the organizers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you questioning me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was a Baron of this kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not. We’re just concerned. We have to investigate when a large group like this gathers. Please understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We won’t be leaving Ravigion. Is that a satisfactory answer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I told him that we wouldn't be going to Commelby, the commercial district, or Karnon, the Imperial City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knights seemed relieved and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"May we... accompany you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won't stop you from walking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn't stop me, so they decided to follow me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after a while...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's the barbarians!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The barbarians are here!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The news of our march had spread throughout the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The citizens lined the streets, watching us like a parade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Mage Tower...! They're heading towards the Mage Tower!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had finally figured out our destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that only fueled the barbarians' excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Mage Tower? We're going to the Mage Tower?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bjorn, son of Yandel, the great warrior!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Chieftain is leading us to a sacred battle!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's time to carve the flesh from the mages' bones!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warriors' shouts echoed through the streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Th-Those lunatics...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are they really going to fight the Mage Tower?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hearts! Barbarian hearts! The mages are using them as ingredients for their magic!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...This is going to be interesting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ignored the commotion and continued walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after a while...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black spire of the Mage Tower loomed before us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large crowd had gathered in the plaza.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of mages had come out to meet us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell over the plaza as the two groups faced each other. It was so quiet that you could almost hear a pin drop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An old mage stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am Wibels Gwyln, the Chief Mage of the Lengman School.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chief Mage was like the head disciple in a martial arts novel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And since the Master of the Lengman School was the Mage Tower Master, this old man was practically the second-in-command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And you are...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew who I was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mages loved their formalities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Me...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Giant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leader of Clan Anabada.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chieftain of the Barbarians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baron of Lafdonia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't need those titles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bjorn, son of Yandel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old mage sighed and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see. It's an honor to meet you, hero. But what brings you to the Mage Tower?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm here to do what should have been done a long time ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What should have been done a long time ago...? I'm afraid I don't understand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then I'll tell you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I raised my voice so everyone in the plaza could hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I, Bjorn, son of Yandel, demand that the Mage Tower stop using our hearts as ingredients for their magic!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...So that's what this is about...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old mage muttered, his hand on his forehead, and then he sighed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then tried to reason with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's a legitimate research project. Even you, a Baron of the kingdom and the Chieftain of the Barbarians, can't just stop it. If you have any objections, file a formal complaint with the royal family—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Be brief.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Keep it short, old man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed offended by the word 'old man'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It seems like you can't understand complex sentences, so I'll keep it short.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glared at me, his wrinkled face wrinkling even further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was cold and hard, unlike his usual gentle tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we refuse...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up at me with a defiant gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief pause, I answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's war.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...War?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's war!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To arms! To arms!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had endured enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character's Approval Rating has increased by +10.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character's Approval Rating has increased by +10.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character's Approval Rating has increased by +10.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character's Approval Rating has increased by +10.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character's Approval Rating… 」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「….」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「….」\u003C\u002Fp>",2644,"2026-06-05T19:32:49.064Z",1,"novelbin.me","ed4174c3111e8aed4715e2002827e85b0e7353b2b06a01c01dba528627790563","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-495","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-493",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]