[{"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-498":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Surviving the Game as a Barbarian",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":18,"prevChapterSlug":19,"totalChapters":20,"novelImage":21},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":9,"created_at":14,"updated_at":14,"volume":15,"translator":16,"content_hash":17},1327718,1764,"Chapter 498: Quest (3)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-498",498,"\u003Cp>Properly brewed tea and formal refreshments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An awkward silence hung in the air between us, with Auyen's meticulously prepared tea set on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha was the first to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These are Lubat Bakery’s cookies… They’re not bad, but Nielon Bakery’s are cheaper and more to your liking…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was she talking about cookies all of a sudden?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I found it random, but I assumed it was small talk to break the ice, so I just replied casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? Auyen’s the one who buys the snacks, so I don’t really know. Speaking of Auyen—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know. Auyen Lokrob, the navigator.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conversation died down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is awkward.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was better to get it over with quickly, like ripping off a band-aid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Misha, you’re here, so I assume you’ve made up your mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what did you decide?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked directly, and Misha hesitated for a long time before answering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll join your clan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded slightly, and I felt relieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been fidgeting, so I thought she was going to refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If… you and your teammates are okay with it…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course we are! Why wouldn’t we be? Ah, you said you didn’t get along with Erwen, right? Don’t worry, you two will be fine. She’s much better now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh… really…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why don’t I call her now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-What…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You two didn’t even get a chance to properly greet each other. You’ll be exploring the labyrinth together, so it’s a good opportunity…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha looked flustered for a moment, but then she nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I left her in the living room and went upstairs to get Amelia and Erwen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, a stifling silence filled the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia sighed and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had given her a look, urging her to do something about the awkward atmosphere, and she had reluctantly taken the initiative…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yandel, go upstairs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you want this to be resolved, just listen to me. You’ll only make things worse by staying here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was kicked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conversation between Amelia, Erwen, and Misha lasted for about an hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia knocked on the door, giving me permission to come down, and I rushed downstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The living room was a mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t exactly a hostile atmosphere, but it wasn’t exactly friendly either. It looked like a typhoon had just passed through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um… Emily? What happened here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked, dumbfounded, and Amelia replied casually,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We had a long talk, and we decided to get along.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, that’s good… but that’s not what I’m asking. There’s… a lot of broken furniture…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, that? Don’t worry about it. We just got a little… carried away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could they get ‘carried away’ and turn the living room into this state?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked around, and Erwen avoided my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes, we got carried away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right, that’s how it was going to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at Misha, but she also remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, at least no one’s injured…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided not to pry any further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had some tact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It seems like they worked things out, even though there was some friction.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I guessed that Misha and Erwen had clashed, and Amelia had mediated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I’ll be going upstairs now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen quickly left the room, and Misha stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Th-Then I… I should be going too…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Where are you going? Just stay here. We have plenty of rooms.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well… I thought about it, and… I think it’s better if I stay somewhere else… It’ll be awkward… I heard Ainar is also staying at the sanctuary…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right, Ainar had been enjoying her life as the 1st Elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So… will you let go of my hand now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I released her wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She rubbed it gently, as if it had been hurting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Th-Then…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She opened the door and left. I couldn't stop her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What did you talk about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked Amelia, but she just shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a secret. You wouldn’t understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That made it even more confusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had they talked about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The day after Misha’s visit,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another unexpected guest arrived early in the morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Raven?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can I come in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven, who had been busy with work after Erwen’s essence experiment, had finally found time to visit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your new house is smaller than the previous one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, this is your first time here, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gave her a brief tour of the house, and then we started our conversation over tea and snacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You didn’t come here just because you were bored. What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean, ‘what is it’?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s about the Mage Tower, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haa…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sighed, but she didn't scold me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had been a bit aggressive, but I had done what I had to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the situation had been resolved peacefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you do it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the real reason for her visit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t understand how the Tower Master could make such a concession. I honestly thought it was going to be a war…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you came here because you were curious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Among other things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hesitated for a moment and then decided to tell her about the deal I had made with the Tower Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted her opinion on this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lurendel Galinbaret… you’re saying the Tower Master gave up so much to protect her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know anything about her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Not really. We’ve never interacted before. I haven’t been active in the Mage Tower since joining the military.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you’re a mage. You must know more than I do. Tell me anything you know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven hesitated for a moment and then spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s published the most research papers on barbarian hearts. And the Triten School is also very interested in that field of research.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, so that’s why she wanted my heart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe. She might have placed that request out of pure academic curiosity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the Tower Master is also interested in her research.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s probably it… Otherwise, he wouldn’t have made such a concession.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Raven, can you investigate this for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… Sure. I’m also curious about this. I’ll let you know if I find anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That concluded the topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I then asked her another question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Raven, have you ever… gained ‘knowledge’ in the labyrinth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knowledge…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, knowledge. Like suddenly being able to read and write ancient language, even though you couldn’t before—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven slammed her hand on the table and stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ancient language! You can read ancient language?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, no… that was just an example—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What example?! That’s exactly what I’m talking about!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why I liked perceptive people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point in making excuses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I can read ancient language now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How well…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well… I haven’t really tested it yet…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I trailed off, and Raven pulled out a book written in ancient language from her subspace pocket and handed it to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“’Mahniarsus pleaded for the return of his wife, but Kaprakadah refused, claiming he could love her more.’ Wait, what is this book about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just keep reading.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…’That was the reason. Mahniarsus drew his sword and stabbed Kaprakadah in the heart. Kaprakadah reached out, his hand covered in blood. That was all he could do…’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven’s expression darkened as I continued reading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-I can barely read this without a dictionary…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, is that so…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was supposed to be one of the most knowledgeable mages when it came to ancient languages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Muten Abiyur Bukrath.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What did you just say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can also speak ancient language.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shrugged, and after a long pause, she replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yandel… do you want to die?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She raised her hand threateningly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kiatto Kiki Keuek.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, I don’t want to be hit—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You idiot!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…I got punched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, her hand was the one that was swollen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seriously… why are you like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry. Anyway, back to the topic. Have you ever heard of anything like this happening before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Not that I know of. But… how did this happen to you? Is it… the reward? The one from the Stone of Honor…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sort of.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Can you tell me about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven asked cautiously, and I readily agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had helped me, even though she knew I was an evil spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I needed her expertise as a mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What you experienced wasn’t just a story… it must be based on real events! A clear causal relationship between the Floor Lord and the Witch…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven was excited after hearing my story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a huge discovery! It proves that the labyrinth isn’t just another dimension! The dimensional coordinates of the labyrinth might be based on time, not space!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn't as excited as she was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't really understand the difference between space and time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about Bersil Gowland? She’s a mage too! She must be researching this, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, she doesn’t seem interested.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whaaat?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bersil was a player, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn't seem to care much about history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Raven couldn't believe it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“H-How… how can a mage not be interested in this?! If I were there…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She suddenly stopped talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you were there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s nothing. It doesn’t matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere suddenly became somber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided to change the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, right! I have another piece of good news for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…News?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Misha is back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I told her about my reunion with Misha and her decision to rejoin the clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her reaction was unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Really? That’s good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll give you her address, so you can visit her. She’ll be happy to see—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-I should be going now. I have work to do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven’s expression darkened, and she quickly left the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was busy after Raven’s visit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I visited the sanctuary to check on Lotmiller, the dwarf’s forge to check on the progress of the Mithril smelting, and we had several clan meetings to discuss our next expedition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was mostly routine work, but there were also special occasions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Welcome to House Gudriks, Baron Yandel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had been invited to the Gudriks estate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were one of the thirty-two families that comprised Melbeth, the demi-human noble alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha! Welcome, Baron! I’m Viscount Gudriks. Thank you for accepting my invitation, even though you’re busy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viscount Gudriks, a descendant of dwarves, was more straightforward than the other nobles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was still a noble, so his introduction was lengthy. I had to give him a look before he finally got to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So why did you call me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We have a request for you, on behalf of Melbeth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was my first Melbeth quest.\u003C\u002Fp>","2026-06-05T19:32:49.064Z",1,"novelbin.me","b08217ef80bc11f7bd0925ffdb8b995bd432a88d9c300b323824903c0ec7c5c7","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-499","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-497",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]