[{"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-546":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},1328223,1764,"Chapter 546: Ghost (4)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-546",546,"\u003Cp>The next day after visiting the community.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I woke up feeling deeply fatigued and started my day as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simply put, that meant I ate breakfast first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, meal’s ready!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was distinctly different from the chaotic days when three groups tangled and operated in a slapdash manner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even outside of battle, roles were clearly divided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, four people took turns preparing our meals daily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, by the way, Misha was the head of the meal duty team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How is it? Does it suit your taste? I made it a little less salty than usual since it’s breakfast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine, except for the small amount of meat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah... meat...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just kidding. We have to save the meat. You never know when it might come in handy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the meal, I went to Versil, the supply manager, to check the remaining food stock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For a total of 38 people, we have supplies for 61 days left. If we reduce rations now, we might stretch it by about four more days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s enough. If we cut more, what strength would we have to fight with?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our current food stock was roughly enough for two months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was thanks to the Armin Expedition bringing plenty of provisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hext Clan, stranded after losing their ship, had long exhausted their supplies, while we had prepared four months’ worth for seven people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Day 86...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this were an ordinary labyrinth, the seventh floor would have closed, and ten days more would have passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet we were still trapped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the problem was...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At this rate, I can’t guarantee we’ll escape even by day 200.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I wasn’t too worried about food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon new novices would join, and if worse came to worst, we could hunt monsters using ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) ‘Distortion’ magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like we did in Ice Rock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, got it. If anyone needs anything, give freely except for food.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We already do that. Oh, and...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Never mind. I’ll tell you once I’m sure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had a good guess what she was about to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was probably a spy of demonic origin hidden in our expedition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to say that, she’d have to reveal she was a demon too, so she hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright? Then I’ll get going.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing the supplies check, I asked Amelia if anything unusual had happened last night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was the leader of the security squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing particular.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She always ended with such words, but her role was indispensable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the labyrinth, you could never be sure if enemies might appear from outside—or even inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We always had to be on guard for any unpredictable variable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“However, it seems Wilkus, the warrior of the Hext Clan, is under extreme stress. These days, he often struggles to sleep properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The security team had mostly acted like watchers, standing guard every night and reporting incidents to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, there were six members total, including a former royal investigation officer acting as Amelia’s right hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood. I’ll go talk to him later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then you don’t need to worry too much about that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re like an idol to the warriors. Besides, he seems to respect you especially, so he should get better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the morning chat with Amelia, I visited the three mages of the Armin Expedition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard Emily researched all night. Any progress?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They acted as our investigation team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They studied monster corpses, essences, and also summoning books in the library, summoning altars, stone gates from which monsters appear, and everything else found here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh... it’s hard to call it progress...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We found unusual data in the blood sample of Hiphramagent...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you give us a bit more time and budget...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They always seemed to tremble nervously and watch me carefully when I asked about progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I repeatedly assured them I wasn’t pressuring, but they didn’t get better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe a habit from their time as research tower staff?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe, Baron, you’re the chief, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter how you put it... it’s hard for us to relax.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right, being careless doesn’t produce results on time either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I had nothing to say to that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, after hearing the investigation report, the morning routine was over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, if everyone’s done digesting, return to your posts!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time to get back to work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had a good meal and digested it well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From now on, we summon monsters!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time to return to the main job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The routine after the morning was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stack the books gathered yesterday evening in one place, then hunt endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swaaaaaah—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic stones poured out; when essences appeared, we paused to identify them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, now we didn’t even need to rely on witness testimony, a primitive method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had recording crystals set up to record the entire hunting ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the essence of Katanda.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The green essence of Katanda must be [Prophecy of the Omen], Baron?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyone else need it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming the essence, I was given first choice; if I declined, the next in line took it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If no one wanted it, it was discarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t it strange? A grade 4 essence no one wants.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No surprise, even grade 3 essences are sometimes discarded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can find better essences later; no rush.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe, thinking about the future just by looking at the essence in front of you. If you go outside and tell what happened here, no one will believe you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not even putting it in a test tube, what a waste. How valuable is that...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Baron said to use test tubes sparingly. I think that’s wise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly, explorers were glad when essences got discarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hunting paused until essences naturally disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, it didn’t mean they rested completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s going on? Replenish the books we used while essences disappear!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I used every spare moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sent everyone to the shelves to grab summoning books, and when there were enough books, we quickly prepared meals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And thanks to the hard work...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Ten whole days...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the first proper success in ten days since arriving at the library to hunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baron?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll take this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After passing dozens of essences, we finally got one worth taking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Speardipper.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A grade 3 monster that could be met by deep diving in a certain zone of the sixth floor sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it had an owner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ainard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! As expected!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as I called him, Ainard rolled his eyes nearby and ran over quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he used a spear, he seemed to expect this when he heard we’d take it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just giving it away felt boring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh...! Why wait! You were going to give it to me anyway—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tsk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right, I thought so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Woohoo!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once permitted, Ainard rushed for the essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he still have any greed left despite his exhaustion?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ainard Phnell’s soul absorbs the [Speardipper Essence].]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The essence’s light seeped into Ainard’s body, and he opened his eyes, shouting like someone addicted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this! No joke! It’s been a long time since I felt this strong...!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His base stats were all invested in physical attributes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, stats weren’t the important part, skills were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(P) Discriminator — When attacking non-kin targets, damage increases proportionally to battle time. Opposite effect applies against kin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A passive perfectly matching Ainard’s ‘Slaughterer’ brand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(A) Trident — When attacking with the spear, deals the same damage to two nearby enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No cooldown, low MP cost active skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though not ridiculously powerful on its own...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Filling a build with only such skills makes a weak character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Trident] was meant to replace [Repeated Slash] as Ainard’s basic attack skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Okay, Ainard’s done now...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, many essences needed replacing, but I had no slots for them now, so I wouldn’t worry until returning to the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That left...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Me, Elwen, and two Amelias...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those were the essences we could eat right away, and storing them in test tubes would greatly increase the count.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’d be even better to clear out essences immediately upon leaving and switch settings quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in that sense...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...I should try to get materials for engraving too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stage 8 materials for the Immortal brand drop from three kinds of grade 3 monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there were more materials...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But those can be bought with money in the city anyway.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike low-grade materials, you couldn’t buy grade 3 materials just by having money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the soul of the deceased at stage 7 was like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dropped by the grade 4 monster Lich, but only one item was listed in the central market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I spent all my money to buy it, not knowing when I’d get another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ainard Phnell casts [Trident].]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Ainard tested the new essence’s power, adapting to his strengthened body...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Captain!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only non-combat personnel among the 38.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Navigator Auyen Rockrove ran up to me clutching a large summoning book urgently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-I found it...! F-Finally!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Found what? Calm down and tell me—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the book that summons Bellarios!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, I closed my eyes and exhaled deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Phew...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, it appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bellarios.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A grade 3 monster shaped like an Eastern-style dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its habitat was the Dragon Mountains in the center of the Dark Continent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since that place turned into a battlefield, despite its attainable stats, no one had yet defeated it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Versil, gather all the books in the shelves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having long awaited meeting it since coming to this library, I hurriedly assembled everyone and briefed them on Bellarios.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe they were a little annoyed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone cautiously raised a hand among the focused explorers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it, Ainard? Hungry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I haven’t even fully adapted to the new essence yet...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I genuinely prefer practicing here to fighting... That efficiency? Seems better too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was something all barbarians could understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just prefer training over fighting...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, yes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That damn fighting spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t you just practice here while the rest fight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to want to avoid fighting whenever possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, my answer was firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. You’re joining this battle too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him so dejected made me feel like a villain and softened my heart, but I cut off emotions coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elwen quietly whispered to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir... even though there are two grade 3s, wouldn’t that be enough for us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t sure when she got close enough to support me from behind, but she wasn’t wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainard skipping battle?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not much matter this fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The problem is others will see it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even among clanmates, showing leniency in these matters can build resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it wasn’t obvious outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I already decided. No arguments.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Yes, sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After firmly dismissing Elwen’s persuasion, I finished the briefing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I was confident the team perfectly understood the enemy...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I placed the summoning book on the altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rrrrrrrrrrrrrr.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stone gate opened and closed over a hundred times today, and two monsters appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flare—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A goat-headed warrior carrying a hammer with a pouch of molten red liquid on his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Helsmith.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The owner of the essence once held by the chieftain known as the Flame Warrior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Bellarios.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but lick my lips while gazing at its sleek scales.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Bellarios casts [Scales of Greed].」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Bellarios gains immunity modifiers to all magic damage.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hand it over, now.\u003C\u002Fp>",1883,"2026-06-05T19:33:16.156Z",1,"novelbin.me","2ac726ca3eb5703f7199fb8c1f1b09d25a71971f80b86f9e16092728d795bb44","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-547","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-545",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]