[{"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-529":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},1328206,1764,"Chapter 529: Escape Plan (2)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-529",529,"\u003Cp>Day 63 of the expedition, 3 p.m.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had scheduled plenty of time and arrived at Human Island one day before the rainy season began. Originally, I planned to spend the leftover time hunting around the island, but changed the plan and went straight into the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...As I heard, this is truly a village of monsters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. White... is this really safe?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t the Baron tell you all to be cautious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though we had briefed the explorers beforehand, they still showed signs of unease when they entered the village and saw monsters everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this only applied to the Hexts Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A monster that claims to be human...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is... very rare indeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard that if you speak the ancient language, communication is possible?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha! Haven’t I told you over and over? In this vast labyrinth, it would be a huge waste of space if there wasn’t a single intelligent being who could communicate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Members of the Armin Expedition, who had explorer blood flowing through their veins, showed curiosity rather than fear toward the monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, the three mages were the most excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They said we’ll stay here until the rainy season passes, right? If there’s a chance, I want to try conversing with them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Damn, I should’ve studied ancient language more seriously.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry. All conversations I have will be recorded and translated. This is an unprecedented great discovery in the history of this labyrinth!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From their perspective, the monsters on Human Island must feel like aliens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some would feel fear; others curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From here on, I’ll go alone. You all stay back. Emily, you can lead them, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I made the rest of the team wait in the house given by the chief, then entered the chief’s house alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good to see you back without delay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Were you worried?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. After all that long wait, you finally showed up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet there was no emotion in the chief’s voice when we met again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like talking to a machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I saw the monster who became friends with Ainard, his voice wasn’t emotionless, so maybe it wasn’t just monsters who lacked feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While thinking that, the chief spoke first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see your comrades have increased while I didn’t see you. What happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparently, he’d already heard from monsters in the village that our numbers had grown since arriving here...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s because time seems to pass outside, even if we’re here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So time passed and new explorers arrived here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded but asked a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you don’t seem surprised?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The fact that time passes outside has already been proven through you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, that’s true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that I think about it, one question arises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Glad to meet you again. You must be explorers from Rafdonia.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first day I met the chief on this island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yes, how much time has passed outside?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That question could only be asked by someone who knew time was passing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The more I think about it, this guy is suspicious as hell...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I kept that suspicion inside and never voiced it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, I need the chief’s power and knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if he had some scheme, he wouldn’t tell me honestly anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what’s been happening outside the island?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief asked, and I summarized our stories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From exploring Tree Island, meeting explorers on Rock Island, rescuing explorers on Giant Island, to the portal stele found in the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And finally, the colossal giant seen when leaving that island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...You found many things in such a short time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief spoke, sounding anything but impressed, then asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But why did you suddenly return to Rock Island?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I expected that question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had omitted any mention of the evil spirit when telling the story before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So there was a gap in the tale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chief, after thinking about your words, I concluded that time passes outside as well. So I went just in case. Also, I got stuck in a dead end while exploring Tree Island.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm... I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief accepted my prepared excuse without suspicion, and the info sharing ended there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the chief moved on to the next topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The portal stele that doesn’t work... maybe that’s the key to escape. What are your next plans?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, about that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before answering, I mentioned this first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chief, you and I made a deal. You help our expedition, and we give you information we discover.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief seemed puzzled about why I suddenly said this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to get something for free, huh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled wryly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From now on, I’ll need your help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first step of the escape plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My help...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We need to become stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt the desperate need to level up right after leaving Giant Island. After all, we saw that colossal giant at the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If difficulty rises exponentially... I have to keep in mind that the Library Island and Tree Island might also have such monstrous bosses.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, it’s just a possibility for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, it was clear that giant «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» was the boss of that island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That island was where the portal stele was found.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the big data accumulated from long play of [Dungeon & Stone], it’s very likely that the giant is the key to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need time to think.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief gave a lukewarm answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he’s been trapped here for countless ages, he must want to leave more than anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The rainy season will start tomorrow, so give me your answer before then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the topic was postponed for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, we talked about less important matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With more people, one house won’t be enough. I’ll prepare new lodgings by tomorrow, so bear with the inconvenience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A day won’t matter. These people are used to sleeping on the bare ground.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But where did those guys go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you mean the Silver Lion Clan, they left the island not long after you departed. And haven’t returned yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm... really?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rainy season is about to start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Could they have gone to some strange island and met disaster?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given their level, that was believable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We ourselves started actively recruiting because we lacked people to reach end content.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll wait as long as possible, but once the rainy season starts, we’ll lock the village gates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s only natural.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They might be on their way back to the island now, so we ended the discussion about the Silver Lion Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anything else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. Tell me your decision immediately once you have it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having shared all that needed sharing, I returned to where the comrades were staying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lodging that was roomy during last rainy season had now turned almost into a refugee camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, seven people became thirty-nine, so naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hext, Muul, hang in there. The chief said he’ll prepare a new place by tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a relief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While White Hext showed relief as survival was top priority, Armin was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t care about lodging. But... I heard stories about the chief...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That the chief is the Dragon Knight, Cornelius Brüngrid—is that true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who told you that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Muul flinched at my question and stared at one spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainard, sitting at that spot, avoided my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, that’s my fault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t told him to keep it secret this time. If I had, he wouldn’t have spread it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Muul noticed the mood and quickly defended Ainard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, I asked an unnecessary question...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s not a secret anyway. To answer, the story is only half true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Half true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. He claims to be that, but it’s not confirmed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it came to this, I wanted to hear Muul’s opinion. He’s been searching for labyrinth secrets almost all his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe he knows something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Muul, what do you think? Could that be true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm... I haven’t met him myself, so I can’t say for sure. But if it’s true, one thing bothers me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That he inhabits a monster’s body and enjoys immortality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Sage’s biography is famous... but records about his comrades are suspiciously scarce. I once collected their records eagerly because I was curious about their secrets—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, get to the point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I once found an old document about Brüngrid at an antique market.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What was it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before I explain, I must say this clearly: although the document is confirmed as a record written at that time, its authenticity remains unproven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come on, just give me the gist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. So what was in it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Muul Armin carefully began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The dragon knight Cornelius Brüngrid was obsessed with immortality and clashed repeatedly with the Sage because of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An ancient secret I heard from Muul for the first time, with uncertain authenticity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But somehow...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Immortality...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why do I suddenly feel uneasy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Day 64, 9 p.m.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief visited our lodging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had two reasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One, to solve the cramped housing problem by preparing new lodgings...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have decided to accept your proposal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And second, the chief finally made a decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing about immortality, the chief felt a bit more awkward, but didn’t mention it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not good to confront the chief now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to take what’s offered first, then investigate carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All the warriors in the village are ready.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief gathered the village warriors and went outside with us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was very simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Basement 1, the records repository.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Escaping from here is difficult at our current level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We must get stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to get stronger, hardship is necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are about two hours left. If you change your mind, tell me. Charging headlong into disaster is foolish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter what, I won’t change my mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the chief spoke persuasively, I never wavered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, how much time passed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly 300 soldiers, including the village warriors, waited with grim expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the moment arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Uuum!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Gero, gero, gerok...!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Keng! Keng! Khreuherhng!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless monsters’ howling echoed loudly from the sky in harmony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monsters plunged headfirst into the hard ground, then vanished in bursts of light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shwaaaaaa—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surviving monsters, battered and bruised, charged at us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The waiting explorers and monster warriors drew weapons to fight back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What disaster?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I raised my shield high and shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Behel—laaaaaa!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rainy season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A disastrous event where monsters pour down from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as I expected, this event went as planned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Defeated Ritule Talisman Caster. EXP +4」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Defeated Werewolf.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Defeated Wall Mole.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Defeated Akeltas. EXP +5」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Defeated Underground Dragon. EXP +4」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Defeated Aiantro.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Defeated Orc Warrior.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Defeated Archipelago Guardian...」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「...」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「...」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cracks, hidden fields, and monsters that appear very rarely in normal fields fell from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Character leveled up.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Soul power increased by +30.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Maximum absorbable essences increased by +1.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this isn’t a burning event, then what is?\u003C\u002Fp>",1808,"2026-06-05T19:33:16.156Z",1,"novelbin.me","6a335224d367d3850c09f6026e3ad77719413f192b9b06c9a2f5251c15c9f086","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-530","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-528",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]