[{"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-545":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},1328222,1764,"Chapter 545: Ghost (3)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-545",545,"\u003Cp>He glanced around the room as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay, judging by their reactions, it’s certain that ordinary explorers would have their eyes pop out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only two months...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two Single Numbers...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Two?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, one was pulled from Garpas’s necklace, and the other was luckily obtained by defeating a Guardian...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t lying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those were items that could only be gotten from magic stones found on the first underground floor or from the ‘Guardian’ monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swaaaaaaah—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the green light glowed vividly, a brief silence settled over the round table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From here on, everyone’s reactions differed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until a moment ago, they were all shocked by the content itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How on earth do you even know about that place...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard fewer than 120 people have gone down there so far...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh... no way... inside there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some expressed curiosity about my identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pisit, how dumb can you be? Where in this world doesn’t the Investigator have eyes? Didn’t you see? He even knew everything about what happened at the eighth-floor rift. That was... a top-secret that fewer than 50 people knew about.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True... The first to reveal information about that place was someone from the Hext Clan. It’s impossible to deny they might have an informant among them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others accepted it as unsurprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And also...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, this informant must be close to Bjorn Yandel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stag-antlered noble from the royal faction finally showed a predatory gleam in his eyes, as if he had found a clue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, what does he think he’ll do if he finds out?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sliding my gaze, I checked the fox mask—Versil’s—reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression was hard to read because of the mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, there was no sign of suspicion in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, rather...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Flustered and uneasy.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sensed the faint trace of such feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Thinking maybe one of their clan members is my lackey.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I’d find out for sure what Versil does after the community closes today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ran straight to me during the Misha incident ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ to accuse me of betrayal, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, Versil was fine for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sliding my eyes again, I checked the goblin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmph, honestly, he’s the one I worry about the most.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the others, the goblin was silent, seeming to think deeply, unaffected by the atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, he was just sitting there...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But that just makes me uneasy.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many reasons on the round table made it impossible for the Investigator to be Bjorn Yandel, but some folks have absurd gut feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To me, the goblin seemed like that kind of person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stag-antler.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I addressed the first speaker, the stag-antlered noble, shifting the conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long are you going to sit there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now it’s your turn again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come on, let’s get this show on the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s plenty more to tell anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One round.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All kinds of monsters and Rift Guardians appear in the first underground floor’s archive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two rounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many new and variant species appear in the first underground floor’s archive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um... variant species?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the normally impossible question, I answered kindly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re creatures with skills from multiple monster types. They drop essences too. For example, an entity with an Ogre’s passive and a Troll’s active skill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s absurd...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Th-That means you can combine new essences, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some members shouted, disbelieving, but there was no need to argue with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gem would verify the truth on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swaaaaaah—.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time the gem emitted green light, the members’ murmurs grew louder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some eyes glowed with a greed even stronger than the gem’s light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, what player would stay calm hearing about such a sweet hunting ground?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pisit... this story is getting interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, I don’t think the Noark side will find it so fun. They’ll just have to sit around and twiddle their thumbs no matter what they hear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A war of words between the jester from Noark and the stag-antlered noble of the royal faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there was no stirring feeling in anyone’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, fights between those two are always the most entertaining.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it seemed others shared the sentiment, as no one tried to stop them despite the quarrel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They just watched with interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! Like the explorers of Raphdonia who lagged behind for over a year because they couldn’t get to the eighth and ninth floors, right, Pisit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you hear what the Investigator said? According to that, there’s no reason to go to the eighth or ninth floors anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, well maybe that’s true. But so what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Are you really that clueless? If this news spreads outside, the royal family will reconsider the entry ban and fully support the explorers’ growth. Then Noark’s downfall will be just a matter of time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Really? That’s so scary I could cry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jester’s indifferent answer was met with a sneer from the stag-antler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, Jester, maybe you don’t care. You’re the type to boast about your own failures to the enemy. For you, this is probably just entertainment—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so? Actually, the reason I find it fun is quite different.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cutting off the stag-antler’s words, the jester laughed his unique laugh and continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why do you think this situation is good news for the royal family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you really that clueless?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jester shrugged exaggeratedly and fixed his gaze on the place where I sat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When our eyes met, the jester gave a friendly nod and turned back to the stag-antler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would the Investigator tell us about the first underground floor? Think about it, Stag-antler.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stag-antler chose silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, a member answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To hinder the royal family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The queen who had been silently listening spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the only reason that comes to mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words seemed to convince others too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I guess I wasn’t the only one who suspected it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Investigator must know what will happen if this story spreads.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the first time something so blatant has come out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Information that was released after the royal family’s entry ban.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And such attractive info, enough to provoke a situation against that order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this, the members seemed to have already guessed my intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, it didn’t really matter if they had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pisit, isn’t it funny to be so cocky without knowing this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You only interpret things how you want. Maybe it was to help the royal family. Maybe they didn’t know how precious the first underground floor was.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm... Well? Which side interpreted things to their own liking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ending with the jester’s words, all eyes turned to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t say anything, but their eyes silently asked me to clarify which of the two was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I kept my lips sealed, perhaps frustrating them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, someone took the lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None other than Black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a bit surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I expected someone to step up, but not him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He always kept quiet except when it was his turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Investigator, are you on the royal family’s side? Or Noark’s?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black’s bold question from behind his plain black mask with no ornament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I muttered briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impertinent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t hostile, but Black looked down to avoid my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, maybe he realized his mistake late and forced himself to meet my eyes again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s got a temper, huh.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I made a mental note about this unknown person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had guts, I liked that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But, I’ll answer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fixing my gaze on Black, I placed my hand on the gem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swallow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone swallowed nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I knew it, everyone was looking at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jester hoped I’d be on Noark’s side; the stag-antler hoped the opposite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest just seemed curious about the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Royal family and Noark.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I declared clearly before them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am on neither side.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noark is my enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one who first took my comrade was a dragon slayer from Orculis, and because of them, I had to deal with that hell on the first floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During that time, Elwen’s sister, Daria, died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The royal family doesn’t need mentioning.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold rage I felt that day has not melted away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someday, they will pay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as proof—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swaaaaaaah—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The round table’s gem shone with the light of truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, its brilliance looked stronger than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone, as if entranced, asked while watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice came from the stag-antler, who was sitting there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Investigator, why did you tell us that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a natural question for someone from the royal faction who had fought many political battles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mysterious strong figure wearing the Investigator mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not on anyone’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why act as if obstructing the royal family?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My answer was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap, tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knocked twice on the armrest before speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because it seemed fun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, that would be enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The round table ended weakly afterward, but there was no regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had conveyed how insanely good the first underground floor hunting grounds were, and others seemed to have run out of info today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, the timing to end was not bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I just coolly wrapped it up and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I insisted on one more round, it’d just ruin the mood.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in Ihansu’s room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I lay on the bed for a while, rolling around and resting before sitting back at my computer to continue streaming diligently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironically, this community was my only window to the outside world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Puhuhuhuh... puhuhuh, this crazy bastard really...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ugh, my pride is hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is this so funny?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chuckling while browsing the board, I saw a new hot topic pinned at the top of the free board, climbing the ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Complete summary of known facts about the first underground floor archive.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clicked it immediately, and the content was very substantial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting with how to enter the archive, all kinds of monsters and Rift Guardians appear there, and ‘variant species’ exist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And above all, that Bjorn Yandel had obtained two Single Number items there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The post neatly summarized all the info I had shared at the round table in brief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, the author was...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[BFKILLER]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A nickname I hadn’t seen before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘One thing’s for sure, it’s someone from the round table members...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could it be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that there were ten members including me, it was impossible to guess exactly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, since I released this info hoping the rumor would spread, maybe it’s for the best...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I didn’t expect it to be this public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had thought that those quick to catch info would hear it first this month, and by next month it would spread in earnest, but this was totally different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Sure, even if we’re gathered in one place, everyone belongs to different groups with different goals.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wouldn’t be strange if one of the ten wanted this info to leak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, that’s not important...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screeech, screeech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scrolling quickly, I checked the comments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it hadn’t reached the hot topic yet, the early comments were mostly fact checks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[YPPL: Wow, you should be a writer at this rate.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[gooooooodd2: Trying hard to get a hot topic.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[q1q2q3: So where’s the evidence? Who would believe such nonsense without proof?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Users pouring sharp sarcasm, thinking it was just trolling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those reactions gradually lessened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Amer91: Next expedition, I’ll try the route via the Fragmented Temple. The idiots must be meeting there.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└AI_DIDIGO: It’s already a fact among the royal family and major powers that the fragment is the key to the first underground floor.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└ScottBANE: Wow, is that really true, Didigo?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└Adi: Wait, if the entry method is true, wouldn’t the rest also be true?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└Amer91: Nah, still feels like just trying to troll for hot topic.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└Adi: Think about it. Who would post unconfirmed info just to get hot topic? Even releasing the entry method alone would have been enough.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└ScottBANE: The more you think about it, it doesn’t sound impossible. There must be players on the first underground floor too, and info can be shared through the community.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Users who already knew the entry method appeared, and the situation slowly reversed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From mere trolling to quite credible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Okay, by now the city will definitely have gotten the info...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling satisfied inside, I scrolled down further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hm?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped scrolling at one point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Pnec: You idiots. Someone’s spoon-feeding you, and you still won’t take it.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└bigD: What do you mean by won’t take it?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└Bling0_0: Always trolling, don’t pay attention.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└Pnec: Yeah, was wondering when you’d show up. You clueless idiot.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What? They’re fighting again here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing familiar nicknames popping up enough to recognize, I scrolled faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└Bling0_0: No way? Actually knows a lot? Knows you’re 3cm and 3kb?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└Pnec: Yeah, what could a rookie like you know? Tsk, whether you believe it or not, all the info in this post is true.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└Bling0_0: ...How are you so sure?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└Pnec: It’s info I heard recently from a very reliable source. And if you try to insult that person, I’ll find you and kill you.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He heard it recently?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is this guy also a round table member?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thought flickered in my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└bigD: What do you mean by won’t take it?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└(deleted comment)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└Pnec: Yeah, was wondering when you’d show up. You clueless idiot.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└(deleted comment)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└Pnec: Yeah, what could a rookie like you know? Tsk, whether you believe it or not, all the info in this post is true.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└(deleted comment)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[└Pnec: It’s info I heard recently from a very reliable source. And if you try to insult that person, I’ll find you and kill you.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, the user named ‘Bling0_0’ suddenly fled at the speed of light.\u003C\u002Fp>",2280,"2026-06-05T19:33:16.156Z",1,"novelbin.me","7220db438c4b7c88ebf6dbd64ef88c3492ffc6bd9b538f2e7cf1db1ef45b85df","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-546","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-544",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]