[{"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-555":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},1328082,1764,"Chapter 555: Deja Vu (4)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-555",555,"\u003Cp>Day 109 since entering the labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or, to put it another way, the early morning of the day after joining the royal expedition troops and arriving at the library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ba-ba-ba-bam! Ba-ba-ba-bam! Ba-ra-ra-ra-ba-ra-ra-ra-bam-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of the military bugle echoed throughout the library, signaling the arrival of morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hah, why does the army always seem the same no matter where you go?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...If I say that, Baekho might get mad.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not like I’m exempt from training just because I’m a public servant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, without wasting any time dawdling, the bugle quickly woke everyone up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the bugle stopped, the day’s routine began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rations!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right after breaking camp, we lined up in front of the cooks who had gotten up early to prepare breakfast and devoured the meal in a brief 30 minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There will be a morning meeting, all commanders attend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leadership gathered to discuss the plan for the day and to brief the troops on the decided schedule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I perked up my ears, wondering if there would be anything special, but there wasn’t anything particularly important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Just like yesterday, we’ll be hunting today.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there were some differences in the details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, we smashed the door to stop restoration and summoned monsters at a crazy pace, but since monster ranks have risen, this time we’ll proceed with a normal strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, the mages will also participate in combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well then, let’s start today’s mission energetically!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wondered if it was really necessary to gather everyone and hold a meeting, but I suppose that’s the nature of the military.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes adhering to formality can be inefficient, but at times, that process can prevent unexpected accidents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To your positions!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, each squad took their assigned places, and the library assault resumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today, the combat teams will each take turns watching one group.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the most efficient way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With over 200 people, having everyone fight at once would be like killing chickens with a butcher’s knife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, Jerome adopted a shift work system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pause! Squads 1 and 2, relieve squads 3 and the temporary 4!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the time came, squads 1 and 2, who had been guarding the stone door, stepped aside, and squads 3 and 4, who had been fetching books, took their place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, squads 1 and 2 recovered their stamina and resources by carrying books instead of fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Looks like Kaislan and Parab will keep missing each other today too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For reference, both belong to squad 1.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So from then on, they even ate separately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, Raven is in squad 3, so that’s a bit better...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he’s a mage, he stays far behind, so he never crosses paths with them during missions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...Looks like the prophecy talk will only happen at night.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I became a cog moving with the group, working diligently, I saw comrades chatting comfortably with knights from the expedition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha! Don’t lie! How could mages ever beat warriors like us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly why it’s so humiliating! Who would’ve thought someone would lose a one-on-one duel to a mage?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When did that even happen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A month ago! Though, since the Spear was here, you wouldn’t know. It’s a pretty famous story in social circles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When did they become this close?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more I see, the more I’m amazed at their social skills. It actually helps me too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you guys laughing about so much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah... Baron! Sorry. I was focusing on the mission—.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t ask for an apology.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pardon...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re all warriors here. I’m just curious. Who’s this idiot who lost to a mage?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I subtly approached, showing I wanted in on the chat, and after a brief hesitation, the knight grinned widely and excitedly started talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did it catch attention?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other knights from squad 3 also gathered around us, listening in, occasionally chiming in or correcting mistakes, joining the chat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, they can’t find factory-like raids fun.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since I’m a baron, some knights who were wary of me softened up after seeing my easygoing side, and some even asked questions first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh... Baron, can I ask something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard you challenged Baron Kipriot to a duel during the investiture ceremony. What exactly happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, that? Some goblin-like guy was badmouthing me behind my back. I wanted to punch him, but since that wouldn’t do, I challenged him to a duel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha... really? Baron Kipriot must’ve been pretty shocked.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Serves him right. There are too many unknown fools in noble houses. If a nobody acts up, they just get hit. It’s a basic truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A refreshing joke only a titled noble like me in the same position could make. The knights nodded approvingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well... when would those guys have ever done anything tough?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. They don’t know that people like us protect them, keeping them safe...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knights, maybe keeping a line, joined the backtalk reluctantly. But the more I told stories and spoke frankly, the more they showed subtle vicarious satisfaction, their mouths twitching into smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Okay, this should be enough for some goodwill.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept chatting diligently during work and strengthened bonds with the knights from the expedition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baron... you’re beyond the rumors. Oh! Not in a bad way! I just didn’t know you were this open and fun...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha! What’s with the excuses? Aren’t we already friends?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“F-friends?! Oh no, please don’t! The commander would get really mad if he heard that!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s say comrades.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Comrades... yes, comrades...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll ask you to watch my back when it’s dangerous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Trust only us, Baron!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Making friends is always helpful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, after chatting with the knights, I asked my comrades to prepare camp and headed to squad 1’s camp where Sven Parab belonged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After asking for the order members’ understanding, I called him out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to talk about what we couldn’t finish yesterday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah... that, yes...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The prophecy you received. What was it about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the word ‘prophecy,’ he flinched, glanced nervously around, and after confirming no one else could hear, exhaled deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he lowered his voice, adding a disclaimer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, I want to say this might all be my delusion...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said you were sure yesterday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, if I answer simply yes or no, it leans that way... But what I believe myself and what others see can differ... it’s kind of like that...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, frustrating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright. I’ll decide for myself, so just tell me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you insist...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Closing his eyes as if to steady himself, he slowly opened them and began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When I was in the city, I dreamed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A dream?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s hard to explain, but I heard a very sacred voice. And I naturally knew the ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) owner of that voice... was her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean Reatlas?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goddess appeared in his dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why he was so sure that counted as a ‘prophecy’ is questionable, but I decided to quietly listen to the rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what did she say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She told me I have something to do in the future and showed me a scene from that future.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A precognitive dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most common form of prophecy received by saints who receive divine revelations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Parab said he saw one scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The archbishop told me to join the expedition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That precognitive dream was realized the next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to that, he was convinced this was no mere dream but a real prophecy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She said she would appear again when the time comes and told me to prepare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, the main quest will be given after entering the labyrinth with the expedition...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why did you pretend to have a stomachache and try to run away if you got a prophecy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well... that...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hesitating for a long time and trailing off, he answered with tightly closed eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A prophecy...! It must mean something dangerous!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, I was stunned, but he went on, revealing his true feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if it’s not dangerous, it’s certainly troublesome. I had that kind of instinct too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hah, what kind of guy is this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder he kept hiding that he had a prophecy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment it got out, the order would’ve pushed him around to protect that prophecy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A paladin acting like that for such a reason?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was absurd, but on the other hand, I was grateful. He was honest with me, unlike others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Loyalty... passed.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh... can I go now? They’re watching me closely over there anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked toward the order members and said that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were watching us, but instead of sharp eyes, their looks were full of worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like watching a kid left alone by the water’s edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The order treats him like that too...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright. If you dream again, tell me immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You too, Baron.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing the talk with Parab, I returned to camp and tried to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But again, sleep wouldn’t come easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A prophecy...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he told me today wasn’t much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like him struggling not to enter the labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something big is coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That instinct was deeply ingrained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So there was only one thing I could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prepare so I wouldn’t be swept away whether it’s a tidal wave or a typhoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I wanted to save it for later, but...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it can’t be helped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I made a decision in the night blanket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Essence of Bellarios.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I should eat it as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Day 111 since entering the labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The library assault had progressed to the point where grade 3 monsters were pouring out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It only took five days to get here.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, I felt the power of the royal family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knights, mages, priests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They picked the best of these precious professions and created an army, so the overall value was absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At this rate, we might as well have rushed to Chief Island right away.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, not knowing how capable they were, I opposed, but now I think I should’ve gone straight to Chief Island and taken out the chief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the chief holds the essence of his human self, he’d be powerless against this level of military force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baron! A book with Bellarios drawn on it has been found!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During lunch, as I was lost in thought, good news arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The messenger was a knight from squad 3.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had asked them to inform me immediately if they found Bellarios.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it the book you’re holding?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! As soon as we found it, we pulled it out separately!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No thanks needed. We’re comrades!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to the goodwill I built, I gave the knight a bunch of jerky—the maximum courtesy a barbarian can show—and sent him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the ink on my fountain pen tip changed color to green by the minute, I quickly retraced over the Bellarios illustration in the book and found Commander Jerome Saintred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, you want only the 4th squad to hunt it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the essence we need. I’m sure we agreed to acknowledge ownership for what we obtained ourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true, but is it really necessary? Let the other squads hunt too; time’s too precious. Of course, we’ll share the essence if it drops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jerome seemed to think the drop chance was low, but he not only agreed readily but also offered to help with the hunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll summon it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I butted in and summoned Bellarios.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bellarios’s sleek scales that appeared between the stone doors were quickly shredded by knights and archers, and within less than a minute after battle started, it vanished into light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoooooosh-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large magic stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it left only its essence behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The essence... actually dropped. Huh? Baron, where are you going? Ah, could it be... you need the essence...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, that was me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring Jerome’s somewhat surprised look, I quickly ran to absorb the essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「[Essence of Bellarios] seeps into the character’s soul.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, finally eating this too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Behel—raaaaaaa!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The day of completing the shield barbarian is not far off.\u003C\u002Fp>",2004,"2026-06-05T19:33:16.709Z",1,"novelbin.me","348e0de0a95ae45c0aa6b3d0954c7de774a17670eb19d4cda581e9579ef42aef","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-556","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-554",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]