[{"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-551":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},1328078,1764,"Chapter 551: Secret Room (4)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-551",551,"\u003Cp>To sum up what was obtained in this secret room:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A mysterious golden book with the story of a brother and sister written inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I still couldn’t tell its immediate use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the rest of the loot(?) was a different story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seven summoning books.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just any summoning books, but each one was a book that couldn’t be found on any outside bookshelf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like one containing more than ten rare mimics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strangely, the monster illustrations weren’t black and white but painted over in colors like blue and red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or parts of the monster images were marked with ‘???’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seven books with such peculiarities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A suspicious fountain pen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On top of that, there was the fountain pen that had been on Hamshik’s desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hamshik, how do you use this fountain pen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[W-well...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hesitating for a long time, Hamshik finally started honestly, saying, “Well, since you’re a friend...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[If you use this pen to paint over the drawings in the book... you can obtain the essence of that color.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Do-don’t shout! You startled me!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, then say it cautiously so I’m not surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fountain pen that guarantees you get the essence of the desired color...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is it even right for such an item to exist in this world?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like an absurdly broken item, but unfortunately, the fountain pen had limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grade 3 or below only.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it could only be used twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, there’s no way it would be unlimited use.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Disappointment came over me, but since the opponent was [Dungeon and Stone], it felt a bit less bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that I expected the item to be a bit foolish...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this game, this kind of item was already insanely strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this an unexplored region...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could understand why explorers were so obsessed with the newly opened underground first floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 5th floor, 6th floor, 7th floor too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There must have been such broken hidden pieces when they were first opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, Hamshik, how did you know about the fountain pen? Did you try using it a few times before I arrived?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[No way!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, but your explanation was surprisingly detailed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I just knew! Since I was born!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hamshik said he never used it but knew what the fountain pen was for from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Why would you say that!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I naturally tucked the pen in my pocket, Hamshik had another fit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Th-that fountain pen is something that must be handed to a qualified person...!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, really?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you said it can be used twice, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yes, but...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, you can use it once, then give it to the qualified person later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[W-what nonsense—!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Or is there some rule that it must be given in a perfect condition?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[U-uh... not exactly...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then there’s no problem!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay, so the fountain pen issue ends here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ll go out, use it once, then after thinking more about where to use the remaining use, persuade the qualified person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, with that in mind, I turned my attention to the last loot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A map...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked like a condensed map of the entire underground first floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Centered on the starting point, Rock Island, several islands were drawn...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the fountain pen was a great item, this map was also a huge gain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the time needed to explore and light up the map was reduced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are still two islands we haven’t visited.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After consulting navigator Auyen, one was about a week’s distance from the library island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other was about a month away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A month... it’s a much larger floor than expected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. But there’s one concern... The location of this island is in the direction where that rainbow was seen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that means this island could be the one beyond the rainbow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well... I can’t say for sure yet, but I think it’s not just a coincidence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought so too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For that reason, let’s call this island the Rainbow Island from now on...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hamshik, do you know what’s beyond this map?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I don’t know...!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hamshik answered sulkily while looking around the mess of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed a little upset but didn’t seem to be lying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So he really doesn’t ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) know...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s better to assume this map doesn’t show everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My curiosity only grew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What happens if we go beyond this map? Or is it even possible to leave?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when people believed the world was flat, I guess that’s why they were so curious about the edge of the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Anyway, I’ll find out when I go myself someday...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yandel, look at this part here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Versil pointed to a spot on the unfolded map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the part with Giant Island, specifically the cave where we stayed on the island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you see the symbol marked here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This looks like the portal stele.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stele symbol drawn on the cave part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But below that symbol was a very intuitive mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An arrow pointing downward...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could that mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Underground second floor.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looking at the map seemed to think the same thing, but no one spoke it aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, when silence stretched out...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Shall we look here too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Versil moved her finger to point to a new location on the map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Auyen was the first to identify it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is... the Chief’s Island...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right. There are only two stele marks on this entire map, and one of them is here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Versil confirmed the spot she pointed at, a suffocating feeling hit me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know whether to take it as good news or bad news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At least we found the exit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrow below the stele symbol clearly pointed upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We found the exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, to be exact, we discovered a place presumed to be the exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just that was excellent news for us, who had been wandering the vast sea without any clues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Of all places, it’s the Chief’s Island...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This fact took my breath away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because to return to the city, whether I liked it or not, I’d have to face the Chief someday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, can we go back to the city now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s doneee! Waaaaaah!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some members cheered with joy just from finding the exit, but unfortunately, there were still several problems left to escape this place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But... is escaping really possible? The stele on Giant Island didn’t work either...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true. Like when we arrived, there must be some condition we need to meet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As some intellectuals said, finding the exit isn’t the end. We must first find a way to activate the portal stele.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting past the Chief will be the next problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rainbow! The island in the direction of that rainbow! There must be a key there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were a few things worth trying. We hadn’t just come here to twiddle our thumbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The most likely candidate is Rainbow Island, but even if it’s not, if we conquer all the islands, we’ll naturally find out.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that sense, I asked Hamshik one more thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hamshik, what monsters appear on the top shelf?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much do we need to level up to clear this library island?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hamshik’s answer was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave examples of the explorers’ standards without clearly saying the exact grades...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Tol-Lafupa, Kashan, Leviathan, Prahel, Ridger...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sigh, so in the end, we have to catch even a grade 1.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, it’s a relief that it’s only one, not many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happens if we catch them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hamshik spoke to me in a suddenly serious tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I don’t know.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you know if you gain the ‘qualification’ you mentioned?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Again, I don’t know. I have no memory of that.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, so no freebies here; we have to find out ourselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hamshik, how do we get out? Should we go through that portal-looking place?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing the investigation, we thought there was nothing more to gain here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hamshik tilted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Huh? Once you come in, you can’t get out.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What? Why are you telling me that now—.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Beep! Just kidding! You can get out that way!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, I really got startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gave a dumb smile, and Hamshik laughed happily at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Beep-beep! Isn’t it common sense for friends to joke around!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing how happy he was, I couldn’t even get mad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I chuckled and led the team outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stone gate was still wide open and glowing, but as soon as Hamshik came out last, the light disappeared and the door closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Hamshik, do you have to open the door like that every time you go in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Why?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought that’s where you live. Wouldn’t it be inconvenient to open it every time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I don’t know? It wasn’t inconvenient at all normally! I just couldn’t get in because you guys kept coming while I was organizing books!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, so that’s why he couldn’t even get home and was wandering around before we caught him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must have been going out only at night because we were asleep then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After a nap, I’ll hunt again. What will you do in the meantime?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Watch!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Organizing books?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[When no one’s around... when you guys leave and no one is around.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why? Oh, I’m not telling you to do it now, just curious. Since you’ve been seen by us anyway, you could do it anytime, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...I’ll do it when no one’s around. So don’t force me.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I have nothing to say then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing the secret room exploration, we returned to the library and resumed the paused camping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as soon as morning came, we started hunting immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Mimic defeated.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Mimic defeated.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Mimic defeated.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Mimic defeated.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Mimi—」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, I summoned mimics using the mimic summoning book obtained in the secret room. Unfortunately, even though I killed more than ten, no essences dropped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Essences need to drop to loot items from the [Treasure Vault].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Not as disappointing as I thought.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe because I knew the best mimic drop would be about thirty million stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t really feel too bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t the only summoning book I got this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I opened all the other summoning books too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Drake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the book marked with ‘???’, a grade 4 flying monster, Drake, was summoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What? I was secretly nervous about what would come out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it really 100% random?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t know, but all it dropped was a single magic stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So now, only the painted books remain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five summoning books with colored monsters inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After opening them all, there was a common feature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The book with the monster painted red dropped that monster’s red essence, and the one painted blue dropped blue essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The problem was that except for one grade 3 essence, they were all grade 5 or below.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Essences below grade 5 were discarded without a second thought, and the grade 3 essence was handed over to the Armin expedition team who wanted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘All opened already.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, all the summoning books brought from the secret room were completely used up without much gain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, the main dish—the fountain pen—remained...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s right to wait and consider carefully until the end before using it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I want to use it now to extract the essence of Bellarios, but I made the most rational decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since I’m not just hunting for one day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a chance to get essence naturally, so using it already felt like a waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Stonewinter defeated.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Mecarote defeated. EXP +7」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Frost Guardian defeated.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Vol-Herchan defeated.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Machine Giant defeated...」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「...」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morning hunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lunch hunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evening hunt until bedtime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many days did I continue like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 99th day since entering the labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Tomorrow the labyrinth will open again in the city.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time when newbies would start flowing in was approaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Deputy Commander, did you hear the news?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, that...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arua Raven, deputy commander of the Royal Third Mage Battalion, smiled bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Underground first floor, Records Archive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter where you go in the city, that’s the only topic lately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because a shocking rumor had recently started circulating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bjorn Yandel was still alive and well there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he had two single numbers in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That rumor, originating from evil spirits and not confirmed as true or false.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Deputy Commander... do you think that rumor is true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether the rumor is true or not doesn’t matter. We just need to do our job well. I’ll get up first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven dismissed the subordinate’s question, finished her meal, and returned to her office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether the rumor was true or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was meaningless to worry about that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She probably wished the same thing either way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hoped the rumor was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she wouldn’t have to worry anxiously every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh... If it’s true, it’s really annoying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Underground first floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unexplored region with nothing revealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of mystery and unknown things exist there? And what great expedition is Bjorn Yandel conducting with his companions?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Phew...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sighed deeply and lowered her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The uniform she had become so familiar with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the mage battalion badge pinned to her chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, this outfit felt unusually stifling and annoying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, whatever. I’ll just do my job...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Repeating the words she just told her subordinate, she started work again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that evening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Deputy Commander! There’s a direct royal dispatch from the palace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She received the royal dispatch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though filled with elaborate wording and difficult language, she could summarize it in three lines:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading the entire document, Raven jumped up from her chair like a fish out of water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And hurriedly began packing.\u003C\u002Fp>",2252,"2026-06-05T19:33:16.709Z",1,"novelbin.me","e32fd59fb6112e48759b2751a6689acd9428cd8f9e41eaa1df0bed4818c4c197","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-552","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-700",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]