[{"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-569":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},1328096,1764,"Chapter 569: Closed (3)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-569",569,"\u003Cp>The private meeting with the chief continued for some time afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept asking what it was about this floor that I didn’t know, what had to be done to open the portal stele.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pressed persistently, but the chief dodged the answers with vague words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll naturally come to know when the time comes. And what reason is there to worry already? Sooner or later, you’ll leave this place and return to the city anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why won’t you just speak plainly? Could it be—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not because I have some other thoughts in mind. I’ve only been considering what might help you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean by that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You never know. There might be something about this floor that even I haven’t discovered yet. If I were to advise you, it would surely erase the chance to find those things on your own. After all, you’d just follow my advice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this like the saying that lions push their cubs off cliffs?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, I understand it even less.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief and I aren’t bound by any close parent-child ties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I find it hard to trust that he “wants to help” me at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, don’t look at it that way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief gave me his characteristic smile and continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Given how things have turned out, you and I are in the same boat now. I’m sure you’ve thought about what benefits I could provide you going forward. Isn’t that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well... it’s not like I haven’t thought about that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Same here. If my ally grows, so will what I’m capable of.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All talk and no substance, really.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I’ll think about it some more and tell you later. It’s not like I’m leaving right this moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that kind of soothing tone like consoling a sulking child, I just nodded. No matter how much I insisted, it didn’t seem like the situation would change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to use the time for something productive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what will you do now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the question I’d been asked several times today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, it was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier questions referred to the chief personally or to us, but this one meant the entire exploration party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will we stay on this island?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What were the plans going forward?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief answered straightforwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll probably stay until today. We still haven’t officially discovered the dimensional stele, right? We must find that first and give the mages time to study it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it were Jerome Saintred, he would do just that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what after that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still undecided. But I’ll finish thinking it through and let you know by tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That ended today’s conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the private talk, I returned to where the others were, killing time until orders came through the deputy commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They planned to search the whole village again, telling each squad to roam freely and find anything suspicious...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Basically a rest order. Then let’s find somewhere suitable and rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our temporary 4th squad, under my command, entered an empty house and started chatting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was our goofing off a problem?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll go check around a bit. Staying here like this feels off...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Concerned about the commander’s gaze?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“More that something hidden might be overlooked.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Muul Armin said this and led exploration party members out, and so did White Hext, leader of the Hext clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...If we find something, it might be recognized as an achievement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Armin’s group focused on “exploration,” those guys seemed more interested in the loot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, it wasn’t my concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, word would come that the dimensional stele’s cave was found, and I’d just casually show up and react a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Looks like it’s just us left again.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Hext clan and Armin’s team gone, only Clan Anabada members remained to chat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! D-Don’t look!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elwen suddenly covered her face, startled as our eyes met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sigh, she still does this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her run off to a corner, I sighed inwardly. Then Versil approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry. There’s a potion that makes hair grow fast. When we return to the city, I’ll make it for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, that’s a relief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow... your tastes really are steadfast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why mention tastes all of a sudden?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing my confused look, Versil averted his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well... I thought Tersia really suits short hair...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she freaks out whenever we make eye contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying anything now would probably sound like empty comfort, so I didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘We’ll be here for a while longer anyway...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worried about the future, but with no solution, I cleared my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There you are. I’ve been looking for you a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man entered the house where we were slacking off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kaislan? What brings you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard Armin’s team was wandering alone, so I stopped by when I heard you were resting here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good to see you. Don’t work too hard; you need to rest too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the plan. After this expedition, I’m done with this damn soldier life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the Ice Rock incident fueling his resentment against the royal family?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Planning to slack off on salary—Kaislan would never have done that before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, not my problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, Kaislan wasn’t the only unexpected visitor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is anyone here...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, someone cautiously entered the building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sven Parab? What brings you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I met the Hext clan on my way by... If it’s alright, could we talk for a bit? Just the two of us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the goblin’s request, I stepped outside alone and talked with him in a nearby empty house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed curious about many things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So... what’s going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vague question with no subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his perspective, it was natural to wonder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our people had gotten explanations, but he hadn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I briefly summarized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s hard to explain in detail, but it ended well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It means the scene from your prophecy was avoided safely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah... that’s a relief, but...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes clearly wanted the omitted details, but he swallowed the questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guess he’s somewhat socially skilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I patted his shoulder in encouragement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sven Parab. I realize I never thanked you before. Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t say much because of circumstances, but if it weren’t for you, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll be counting on you from now on. If any problems arise, come to me right away. I’ll help with all my might.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My thanks must have surprised him, as he looked stunned a moment. Then, modestly saying it was nothing, he left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he stayed away too long, the archbishop would make a fuss?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve worked hard too. Take care. See you later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After ending the talk and returning inside, Ainard ran up shouting,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bjorn!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, that tone usually means he has something to brag about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scanning around, I noticed something immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Raven?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven was here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget Aruru! Look at this!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elwen wore a dark iron helmet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not asking Ainard but Raven, who sighed deeply and explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tersia looked gloomy, so Pnellen came up with this plan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, judging by that proud smile, it made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha ha ha! ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) What a genius idea! This hides that embarrassing short hair. Not only that, wearing this safely protects the head!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainard proudly offered this barbarian-style solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, since you saw it, stop it already.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven whispered hurriedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I delayed answering and instead met Elwen’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do you... uh, like it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly, Elwen no longer avoided my gaze even wearing the helmet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d worried that hair bothering her in battle might restrict her movements, but that concern was solved by one helmet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Not bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the delicate outfit she wears as an explorer looked a bit unbalanced with the helmet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But who cares?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good thinking, Ainard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, it wasn’t easy. But Elwen’s my friend!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was solved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you really going to let Tersia wander around like that? She’ll be a laughingstock. Hey, Raines? Shouldn’t you say something—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leave her be. If she’s fine with it, what can we do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tersia! Are you really okay with this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes? Yes... wearing this definitely makes me less embarrassed...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven’s disbelief ended the subject with a shocked open mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elwen would wear the helmet from now on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my... how did it come to this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is she saying?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, Raven, what are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, that? I was just wondering what Yandel was up to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There was the free search order, and I thought Yandel might find something...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, in other words, came to slack off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If something was found, being nearby could mean first dibs on the research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too bad. As you see, we’re just resting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Yeah. Didn’t expect that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After talking with Raven, Amelia interrupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, Yandel, are you done talking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Finished well, Sven Parab left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see... Can you spare me a moment too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seems like a lot of people want to see me today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excuse me for a moment. This might take a while, so Raven, you can hang around and go when you like.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do I look that idle? Never mind. I was just about to leave anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, take care.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seeing Raven off, I went outside with Amelia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I was curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What on earth did she want with me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I soon found out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was going to ignore it, but seeing you sulking alone in a corner, I couldn’t just watch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So this is coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happened with Misha Kalstein yesterday?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, there was no reason not to tell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibaekho, the Resurrection Stone, the two-and-a-half-year gap, the cracks of distrust...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But somehow, the words wouldn’t come out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I just answered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lie that even a three-year-old wouldn’t believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Amelia just quietly nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you want to talk later, tell me. I’ll be waiting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talking to me like I’m a child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smirked and replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, somehow, it felt a little better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our stay on Chief’s Island grew unexpectedly long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, after discovering the dimensional stele, we were to head to the next destination the next day, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The magical energy flow from the dimensional stele recently shows a pattern similar to the bidirectional transmission device described in a recent paper!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If this is so... maybe we can forcibly activate the stele!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mages studying the dimensional stele had discovered something unusual, spouting incomprehensible words and begging to stay longer on the island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll grant you ten days. You must accomplish it by then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief accepted their request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were Jerome Saintred, he would have made the same call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he might have held onto hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the mages really succeeded in activating the stele, we could return to the city immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘In the first place... the chief isn’t interested in exploration.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he planned only to “adapt” and return, whether staying in the village or exploring outside wouldn’t make much difference...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day, two days, three days...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mages spent all day trying various experiments in front of the dimensional stele, while the rest rested in the village or climbed the island to hunt monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And how many days passed like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「The character’s soul resonates and is drawn to a certain world.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, the day of the community opening arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A place to communicate with the outside world, and the only space to meet that bastard Ibaekho.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Finally, I can question him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I had awaited this moment, I woke up and immediately turned on the computer, moving the mouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click, click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, what was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as I opened the community, a popup filled more than half the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Notice to all Ghost Busters players.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...A notice?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t think they’d ever put up such a big poster before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did something happen outside?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hurried to read to the bottom, then froze like stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hello, this is the GM.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The usual opening contained when the community started, the reason it was made, and how much effort the staff put into maintaining it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who has played a minor game would immediately sense something ominous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because when these messages appear, the conclusion is always the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still hoping it wasn’t true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing more to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[We deeply thank all players who have used Ghost Busters and sincerely apologize for this announcement.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Due to personal circumstances of the staff, the service of Ghost Busters will end today.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[For inquiries about refunds for GP purchased with real money, please use the newly created refund inquiry tab...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The server was shutting down.\u003C\u002Fp>",2116,"2026-06-05T19:33:16.709Z",1,"novelbin.me","c664b7da15456a0e21a5d8334c6a3639840ffcf7d1293df8c2e056e943c231ca","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-751","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-568",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]