[{"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-563":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},1328090,1764,"Chapter 563: Destination (3)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-563",563,"\u003Cp>A blue-skinned, big-eyed monster averaging three meters in height.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unidentified species that calls itself \"human.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They and the true humans were facing each other, separated by a thicket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So those are the ones the baron mentioned...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But why aren’t they coming closer? Why just stand there like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because their numbers were no less than ours in the expedition team, the expressions of those clutching weapons tightly brimmed with tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And amidst this standoff—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Long time no see. Bjorn, son of Yandel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief appeared among the monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who saw the chief for the first time showed genuine surprise that he could speak human language, and I walked past them and stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, it has been a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You've increased your companions since then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, it just happened that way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he seemed willing to talk, I answered vaguely while scanning the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The expedition forces, spread widely to encircle the village entrance, were converging here in real time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, despite knowing this perfectly well—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why is he so relaxed?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His calm greeting without urgency only increased my unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I concealed that feeling and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But where did you all come from? You said there was only one village entrance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be so disappointed. We cannot reveal everything about the village to outsiders, can we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like the corpses in the basement?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief didn’t respond to my probing question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just gave me a chilling glance, looking me up and down, then asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know? Truly perceptive people pretend not to notice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, which side do you think you’re on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I wasn’t sure, but as he said that, his eyes gleamed wildly and looked very frightening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I almost swung my hammer without realizing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baron! Step back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Commander Jerome Saintred arrived from the rear, and the chief shifted his gaze to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm... Who might you be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am Jerome Saintred, Count, First Royal Knight Commander. I have been appointed the commander of this expedition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The royal court... Yes, I expected you would arrive soon—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, it’s your turn. I heard that Baron Yandel introduced himself as the Dragon Knight, Cornelius Brüngrid. Is that true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jerome cut him off and asked in an overbearing tone, and the chief stared at him and answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does that matter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It matters. Depending on that, we will decide whether to treat you as a communicable unidentified entity or as an ancient traitor to be executed immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ancient traitor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell was that about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tilted my head, and the chief’s normally impassive eyes suddenly flashed fiercely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if I had struck a nerve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Execution, huh... amusing words.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so? Strange. My acquaintances always say I’m a boring person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Despite the long time passed, these friends of ours haven’t changed. Very arrogant. As if they stand above this world...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief continued coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s see. That execution of yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well. No matter how much you want it, the execution won’t be carried out here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why now suddenly scared—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is much I need to hear from you. After extracting all the information through interrogation, I will personally finish the execution that couldn’t be done then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The discussion ended in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no lightning-fast deal, but watching it unfold left me bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still, it’s not exactly friendly, so it’s good it ended like this...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When running the simulation in my head, I half-expected these two to team up and take me down, so for now this situation wasn’t too bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exterminate them! Everyone except the leader may be killed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nia Raphdonia!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Everyone scatter and descend into the village!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the order for full attack was given, the monsters scattered and began to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander! The monsters are running!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pursue and exterminate! Capture the leader at all costs. If necessary, shoot to kill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait, should we really chase them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden doubt crossed my mind, but it wasn’t something I could stop by force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nor did I want to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stay close to me. Don’t ever leave my side!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forming a formation with the members of the 4th Squad, I hurried to join the pursuit line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I only pretended to pursue seriously, not giving it my all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone could see this was suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yandel, this might be a trap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know. It’s definitely a lure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jerome surely knew that ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he probably judged we couldn’t just let them go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it was a trap, he must have had confidence we could overpower it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What will you do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, I answered Amelia’s question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll break away from the main force as naturally as possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A perfectly clear plan of action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed a bit confused, and after a few seconds’ pause replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What do you mean? Break away?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. While the pursuit continues, I’ll slip away naturally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll leave this island. Completely by accident and unintended during the chase.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really think that’s possible?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the subject was missing, I understood immediately she was not asking about the plan’s success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was asking if I could handle the consequences after desertion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what can I do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...It’s too risky to keep following them.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before taking Jerome out, Elwen lost her MP regeneration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with the chief showing up, it felt like something big was about to happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And here, I was supposed to quietly watch?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Yeah, this is right.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook off my last doubts and hardened my resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was something I would never have done before. That alone might twist fate enough to prevent the scene Parab saw that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The chief! The chief! The chief is going there!! Squad 4, follow me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the right moment, I led the 4th Squad out of the pursuit line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? I clearly saw him go that way—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you trust me? Follow me!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 4th Squad members didn’t know my plan and looked like they weren’t sure if it was okay, but luckily they obeyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tat-tat-tat—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quickly increasing the distance from the main force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh? The baron is going that way...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But wasn’t there nothing there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, he saw something...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nearby 3rd Squad watched us with confused expressions but did not try to stop us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would imagine I’d lead a desertion at this timing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You say he headed that way? Change the whole army’s direction!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The entire army will follow Baron Yandel!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why are they following me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just when I thought I had escaped the main force successfully, they changed direction and came toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of that, I inadvertently ended up in the lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yandel, what will you do now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just act naturally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Got it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning again would just make the main force continue to follow me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While running, seriously wondering why this was happening, Jerome caught up to me alongside the 1st Squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baron! Though I followed your judgment, are you sure what you saw was correct?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dead end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should I answer here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lost in thought, pretending not to hear, I kept running forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The chief, that one was definitely heading in that direction—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander! That one! The one we lost is there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some unknown reason, the chief was at the end of the direction I was going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be... was the bait we followed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah... If Baron Yandel hadn’t been here, we might have lost him! I will never forget this merit of yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t sure whether to be glad I didn’t have to make excuses or to admit I screwed up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the chief stopped in front of a tree and entered a gap beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is a path leading downward!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That must be another entrance to the village...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Count Saintred, what will you do? There’s a high chance of traps beyond.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know, but we can’t let him get away here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Phew, yeah... they really plan to go down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, fine. If we let them go down here, maybe we’ll spot an escape route—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, Baron Yandel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Would you lead the way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I don’t know what’s down there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s why we need your strength even more. You can hold your own against a first-grade monster, right? If you hold out just a little, our forces will enter soon and assist you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jerome’s reasoning made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among all the expedition members, I was the toughest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sending me first into the most dangerous place was natural for a commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, hearing that proposal made my heart beat low and slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, my narrowed and confused view widened, and only then did I see Jerome’s face clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a usual soldier’s expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, several scenes I saw during the day connected in my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each one was trivial alone but together...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I have to check.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked Jerome straight in the eyes and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. I’ll lead the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh ho, that’s good! If you refuse, I was wondering who else to send—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, let me confirm one thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I interrupted and added a condition, and Jerome pursed his lips for a moment, then stared at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever it was, he seemed to say, ‘Go ahead, say it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I bluntly stated my demand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard among the supplies brought, there is something called ‘Broken Trust.’ Is that true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I can use that to check a few things, I’ll go in first immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know what you want to check, but do it now? The one who fled down there might be plotting something—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then that’s the end. I won’t go first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if I order it as commander?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shrugged and said nothing more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment of silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Guys, the atmosphere between those two seems weird, am I the only one noticing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pnelin, Kalstein, Tersia. Prepare yourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“P-prepare ourselves?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whatever it is, just do it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heavy silence was felt by everyone watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that silence, he finally made his choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Lord Evost! Bring the Broken Trust! Seems the baron wants to verify something!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once approved, the deputy commander quickly brought the item, and I took it and immediately activated it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Phew, now everything within a 10-meter radius cannot lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, so...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your name is Jerome Saintred, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting with a simple test question, then moving to the main topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From now on, you only need to answer ‘no’ to my questions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Easy. Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked into his unwavering eyes and slowly spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, except for the one you met just a moment ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you ever met that monster who claimed to be Cornelius Brüngrid?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer I wanted was ‘no.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter how long I waited, the awaited answer did not come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I gently lifted my shield and hammer facing him, the long silence was broken by his deep voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Damn it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today wasn’t the first time he met the chief.\u003C\u002Fp>",1851,"2026-06-05T19:33:16.709Z",1,"novelbin.me","5b1e511ae3da0af98418fb03e855f6da3500a4924cbf29b8717d0474a1ae80cb","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-564","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-562",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]