[{"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-517":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},1328194,1764,"Chapter 517: Natives (5)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-517",517,"\u003Cp>Shrouded in the labyrinth's darkness, I couldn’t tell how far they were falling from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>9th-grade, 8th-grade, 7th-grade…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lower-level monsters, pouring down like rain, disintegrated into light the moment they hit the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a grotesque sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—Squish. Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood and flesh splattered everywhere, and the air was filled with the agonized cries of beasts… but…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swaaaaaaaaaa!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had I ever seen such a bright light before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was momentarily mesmerized by the spectacle, but I quickly came to my senses and looked around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We were huddled beneath a tree, inside a barrier that Bersil had spent hours preparing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it didn’t feel safe at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barrier shook violently every time a monster slammed its head against it, and blood splattered across the translucent surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>6th-grade, 5th-grade…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the lower-level monsters, these creatures, worthy of being called monsters, were still moving even after being half-crushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there were differences between individuals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even within the same rank, some were reduced to mangled corpses, while others were still moving, depending on their size, durability, and regeneration abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Kwaaaaaaaaaaa—!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monsters, spotting us beyond the barrier, charged forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the real problem was…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… Bjorn? Is that a new species…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…the unidentified monsters mixed in with the familiar ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard to call them a ‘new species,’ though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their individual characteristics were too distinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think… those are the strange corpses we saw all over the island…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I agreed with Bersil’s theory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monsters with exaggerated characteristics didn’t disintegrate after they died. Their bodies remained intact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And some of them were still alive…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… it’s… coming closer…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A monstrous figure, over 10 meters tall, its upper body obscured by the trees, turned towards us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is that…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We didn’t need a long discussion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We all knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump—Thump—Thump—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was something out of an apocalyptic nightmare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marupichi, clinging to my arm, started shaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[L-Let’s go back to the village! If we stay here any longer, stronger monsters will appear!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other teammates probably felt the same way, even though they didn’t say anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had started encountering 4th-grade monsters…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The giant bird in the distance had started moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn't fought it, but I could tell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bersil’s barrier wouldn't hold against it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s time to go back to the village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had seen enough of the monster rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We entered a large crevice beneath the tree, and the village came into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We were all speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoa…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lush, green grass, moist with rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft, white light illuminated the area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stone buildings, a clear sign of civilization…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is… a monster village…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“O-Our sanctuary is better than this!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainar suddenly declared, but I wasn’t so sure. Our sanctuary was still mostly tents, even though it was under development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I didn’t expect this…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew it was different from a typical underground city, based on Marupichi’s description, but this was beyond my expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like I had entered Wonderland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Elder was waiting for us at the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you believe me now? About saving your lives?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His nonchalant tone was annoying, but I decided to acknowledge his help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sort of.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had saved us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, there was a chance that we could have obtained the information about the ‘rainy season’ from Marupichi…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But we didn’t even know if the ‘rainy season’ affected the entire floor, or if it was just a local phenomenon.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it was the former, he had indeed saved our lives. We would have been in serious trouble if we hadn’t entered the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s continue this conversation inside. I’ll give you a tour of the village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Elder led the way, and we followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point in turning back now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I never thought I would enter a monster’s den…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry! I’ll protect you! They don’t seem that strong anyway!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Frenelin! Keep your voice down! They can hear you! And that old man understands our language…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha! He’s one of the ancient heroes! It’ll be fine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“B-But still…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bersil trailed off, glancing at the Elder, but the Elder didn’t react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must have heard her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he didn’t seem to care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Erwen, you don’t have to stick so close.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But something might happen. I have to protect you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Whatever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen stayed by my side, still wary, while Amelia seemed more interested in the village itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought she was trying to make the best of a bad situation, but I was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are many differences from human cities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t talk to me. I’m trying to memorize the route.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Memorize the route?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s important to know the terrain in case we have to escape. If that happens, follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah… so she wasn’t enjoying herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided to stop observing my teammates and focus on the Elder. He seemed to be only talking to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the forge. Metallurgy wasn’t my specialty, so it took a lot of effort to develop it to this level.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impressive. But where do you get the minerals?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We melt down the debris that washes ashore, and after the rainy season, we gather resources from the island. It’s not just monsters that rain down from the sky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? I didn’t know that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You probably didn’t see it. It only happens after three days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I continued listening to his explanation, asking occasional questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after a while…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is my house.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s spacious… but surprisingly simple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What good is wealth and glory in a place like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His casual remarks revealed his true nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was similar to Lee Baekho in some ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke in a gentle, almost emotionless tone, but I could sense a hidden ruthlessness. A willingness to do anything to escape this place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Where are the captured explorers? Are they still in prison?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not. Come inside. They’re waiting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We entered the Elder’s house and found seven explorers from the Silver Lion Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So many of them had died…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hey, Baron Yandel!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clan leader, who had lost a lot of weight, looked at me with a complicated expression. He then rushed over to his teammates and embraced them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marina…! You abandoned us…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“N-No, I was just…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chen! You too! You left your brother behind! How could you?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-I didn’t abandon you! I went to get help!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Krian! You ungrateful bastard…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could understand his feelings. It was even a little amusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How long are they going to keep this up?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to intervene when the Elder spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, y-yes… I apologize, Elder Brugrid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clan leader straightened up like a scolded child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was something that bothered me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Elder…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… didn’t you hear, Baron? He’s Dragon Knight Brugrid, one of the Last Sage’s companions—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh… you do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m curious about something else. You seem… surprisingly cheerful, considering your subordinates are dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was being subtle, but my question was clear: Why were you so friendly towards the leader of the monsters who killed your men?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thankfully, he understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve already heard Elder Brugrid’s story… and it was an accident. He actually saved us. And he even punished the monsters who killed our comrades.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Punished them…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he be so forgiving after his men were killed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…It’s none of my business.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn't matter whether he was hiding his true feelings or if he was just that naive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I only cared about my own people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that you’re done, can we talk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned my attention back to the Elder. He had gathered everyone here for a reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What is he planning?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we waited in silence, the Elder finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have a favor to ask of you all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…A favor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I assure you, it’s not a coercive request. In fact, it’s a mutually beneficial proposition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would be the judge of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will provide you with all the support you need for your exploration. In return, I’d like you to share your findings with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded like a quest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sharing our exploration findings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a reasonable request, as long as the Elder's story was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But was it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why don’t you explore yourself? Instead of asking us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t tell me it’s because the trees here don’t float. You said resources were constantly flowing in from the sea and the sky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had seen countless wooden objects floating in the sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what was his answer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seeing is believing. Do you have any wood you’ve collected? Anything will do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Elder spoke gently, and I asked Bersil to retrieve the floating objects she had collected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the Elder touched a wooden wardrobe…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fizzle—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…it disintegrated into dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What… did you just do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing. I just touched it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But why did it…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s my passive ability. Any wooden object I touch turns to dust. Even if I wear gloves, it eventually crumbles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was ridiculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I almost said it out loud, but then I stopped myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Come to think of it… have we seen any wooden objects here?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The buildings were all made of stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The archers were using bows made of horn and sinew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t use fire, so they didn’t need firewood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the grass on the ground not considered wood?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And the blacksmiths were using abilities to create fire… not burning wood…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only wooden objects we had seen were the tree roots at the entrance to the village…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just to be clear, this doesn’t apply to living trees.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was making it difficult to tell if he was lying or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why didn’t you tell me this before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It would be foolish to reveal a potential weakness to a stranger. I wasn’t sure if you were our enemy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, he wasn’t wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re surprisingly quick to accept this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m an explorer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Elder nodded, as if he understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right, you’re an explorer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An explorer didn't waste time on trivial matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>______________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Elder's request was unanimously approved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no reason to refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Free support? I’ll take it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If things went south, we could always abandon the quest and run away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if we couldn’t escape, we could just keep our promise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And we have to stay here for a week anyway…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the Elder, the ‘rainy season’ lasted for exactly seven days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had even offered us empty houses to stay in and given us permission to freely roam the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Phew…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why I was alone right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia and Bersil were exploring the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, I wasn’t part of either team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had a special mission, befitting my status as a multilingual interpreter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was reading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s been a while since I last read a book…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Elder, annoyed by my constant questions, had given me access to his study. Ah, of course, all the books in the study were written by him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said writing was his only hobby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The books were all made of monster leather, as if to prove his claim about not being able to touch wood…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Focus, focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I slapped myself lightly and sat up straight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then I continued reading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Compendium of Monsters]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had a similar title to a series I was familiar with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Elder had warned me to handle it with care, and the contents were indeed valuable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was practically a strategy guide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Elder had recorded everything he had learned about the monsters on this island after he woke up here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, the quality and accuracy weren't as good as the books in the Archives…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But there are monsters here that weren’t in the Archives.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I forced myself to stay awake, memorizing the information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was tired, but the content was interesting—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The giant monster we had seen during the rainy season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Its name is… Hippermachant?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a terrible name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded grand in ancient language, but it just meant ‘giant giant’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[First encountered by a patrol team on the coast after the rainy season. Half of the thirty elite warriors in the patrol team were killed. Estimated rank: 2.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>2nd-grade…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had suspected it was strong, but I didn’t expect it to be that strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s a good thing we came back to the village before encountering it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I was reading…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[According to the surviving warriors, the monster grew even larger as soon as the battle began. Judging by the difference in size…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hippermachant’s ability is presumed to be the Orc Hero’s [Gigantification].]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…I had a new goal.\u003C\u002Fp>",2115,"2026-06-05T19:33:16.156Z",1,"novelbin.me","d475a92435702fbb1f67dc7d604771b821f30613939d12ae400f3a9dc65775e4","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-518","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-516",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]