[{"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-581":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},1328117,1764,"Chapter 581: Opening (2)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-581",581,"\u003Cp>Suddenly, my mind went blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even my usually reliable brain, which had managed just fine back when I woke up in a strange barbarian’s body and had to undergo a coming-of-age ceremony without even knowing my own name, now felt soaked in alcohol and unable to form any coherent thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, silence stretched between us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha looked up at me with eyes full of fear, but also some expectation. Unable to bear that gaze, I finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t an affirmation, denial, or question—just a meaningless murmur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After such a long silence, all I could say was “I see,” and it was the first time in a long while I felt so pathetic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But thanks to that, my frozen mind began to function again, as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Yes’ or ‘No.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, the choice was not simply picking between those two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If what Misha said was true—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, since Broken Trust was working, it surely was true—but there was something even more confusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why did you put such a line between us back then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a question I had held in my heart for so long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did Misha push me away that day? At the time, I could interpret it as her not liking me as a man...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, hearing her words, that didn’t seem to be the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah... about that......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha’s slightly parted lips gave me the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s because back then, I found out you were a fiend... no, a player......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A player...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tilted my head in confusion, and Misha asked cautiously,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard you dislike being called a fiend... isn’t that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I’d never thought about it, but ‘player’ does sound better than ‘fiend.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But did I hear this from Ibaekho?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, somehow I felt bad again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then... if you don’t like it, I won’t say it. Sorry......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I forced myself back to the point and continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Anyway, what does you knowing I’m a fiend have to do with anything? Did you think that regardless of feelings, you couldn’t be with a fiend?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to suppress my emotions, but maybe they slipped out unintentionally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that, Misha was startled and shouted,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Th-that’s not it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was so embarrassed that her old self came out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raising her voice briefly, she seemed ashamed and looked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just... it was hard to watch... you getting weak because of me......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That needs more explanation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I asked for details, she hurriedly explained in a flustered voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To sum it up simply:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You thought I was pretending to ‘fulfill my duty’ by switching faces with Charon, and you believed such actions wouldn’t help me. Also, you worried that my identity might be discovered someday?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha bowed her head like a guilty student but kept her eyes on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But maybe... I misunderstood...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hoo, how was I supposed to answer that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strictly speaking, the reason I switched faces with Charon using the Golden Mask that day was because of the GM. It was to create an alibi and avoid suspicion of being a fiend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s not entirely wrong.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve never once truly fulfilled my ‘duty’ at the holy site. As a modern person, it felt uncomfortable—that was the first reason. The second was Misha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It just felt like I was committing a huge sin, so that’s why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good to know it wasn’t a misunderstanding... that’s a relief......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha sighed with relief, as if she had read my expression. Checking Broken Trust again, I saw the time was running out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wondered how meaningful this all was now...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it seemed a little cowardly, I wanted to clear away all doubts with this opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, is that all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought maybe there was more to why you pushed me away......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I let my sentence trail off, Misha showed a flustered look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, there was something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I gave her a look urging her to speak, she finally opened her mouth, cheeks flushed red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well... you see......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t have children......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mind blanked for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even being hit with an ogre’s club probably wouldn’t shock me this much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Children...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t misunderstand! I don’t mean I can’t give birth, just that any child I bear wouldn’t be a barbarian......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I understood the meaning in my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It referred to a racial trait of barbarians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only barbarian women can give birth to barbarians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I grasped the context, I still didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What does it matter whether my child is a barbarian or not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I said, sounding incredulous, and Misha flinched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh...? It doesn’t matter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m not a true barbarian myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether my child is barbarian or Akmyo, I will give all my love to that child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Misha couldn’t easily believe my words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lies... don’t all men care about that......?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, for Misha who grew up in this world, that might be a natural thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The world I lived in was different.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But... now you’re a noble, right? P-people will surely think weird things and talk behind your back—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ended the topic here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talking about children already felt awkward and kind of embarrassing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s stop talking about this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah... yeah... yeah, you don’t even still like me...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Technically, I haven’t answered yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......Then? What’s your answer...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before I answer, let me check this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I checked the remaining time once again and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there still something you’re hiding from me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha answered confidently without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, this was really it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt silly for doubting there was something she was hiding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second hand of Broken Trust reached its end, and its light faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then... will you answer now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, I found it hard to meet her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha looked at me as if nothing in the world was more important than my answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I have to answer...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Broken Trust was already off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it were still on, it wouldn’t have meant much to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My answer is......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I honestly revealed my true feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if I were under a spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surely a very cruel curse spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Bjorn Yandel. I... like you too.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Bjorn Yandel. I... like you too.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Bjorn Yandel. I... like you too.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much I doused cold water on my head or banged my helmeted head against the wall, that voice kept echoing in my ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, and that last thing Bjorn said too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[......I see.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t an affirmation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nor was it a denial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Elwen felt deep relief in that voice. If she felt it right, Bjorn was relieved at that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha Kalstein, that ungrateful woman’s answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...................”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What happened between those two?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what was the meaning of ‘I see’?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Elwen now, no matter how much she thought, it was a mystery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Bjorn’s voice was heard from inside the room, she fled from the place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...................”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did she run away?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why couldn’t she listen and had to run?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she regretted it later, even if she went back to that moment, it was uncertain if she would act differently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because even now she was scared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She feared that hearing the truth would lead to an irreversible, dreadful event.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elwen Fornaci di Tersia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she didn’t immediately seek Bjorn out. She thought alone for a long time, daydreamed, then fled here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long are you going to keep doing that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia Rainwales.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A raider from Noark, but a woman who, having crossed paths with Bjorn, was living a new life under the name Emily Raines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you have worries, just say them. If you want someone to listen, I’ll listen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.........No thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elwen eventually turned back, and Amelia did not try to stop her, only telling her to come back if she changed her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Elwen had no intention of returning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had only come here briefly, out of a momentary lapse of reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elwen went back to her room and suffered alone, then finally came to a conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bjorn wouldn’t become involved with that Akmyo woman, it just didn’t make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Am I really inferior to that woman?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reaching that conclusion, her mind relaxed and she left the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Downstairs, she saw two people sitting at the table talking quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! Don’t laugh! You asked me to make it, didn’t you? I haven’t made it in a while, so I might’ve messed up... There weren’t many ingredients in the labyrinth... Is it too salty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry. It’s delicious enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman seemed to have made a nostalgic dish for the man. Standing frozen on the stairs watching that scene, Elwen suddenly caught the woman’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, Elwen......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When their eyes met, the woman’s expression stiffened awkwardly, then she started putting food on a plate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Want some? I made a lot, so there’s leftovers...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That somehow reminded Elwen of old memories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! If it’s because of that helmet, you can take it to your room—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elwen cut her off coldly and went back upstairs. Just resisting the urge to throw the plate was an achievement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Going up the stairs, Elwen opened Amelia’s door and stepped inside. Amelia looked puzzled at her sudden return, but that wasn’t important now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Amelia Rainwales.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elwen said the woman’s real name, which she normally didn’t use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when she had left Bjorn and was learning from her sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when that Akmyo woman acted like the mistress and treated her like a guest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I need help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no going back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Elwen disappeared upstairs again, Misha looked at me worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is she... going to be okay...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll talk to Elwen, so don’t worry. And... you did well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean the food you tried to give her. Even though she knows you hate her, it can’t have been easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, that... it’s nothing. We can’t keep living like this forever... We have to stay together...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha scratched the table awkwardly. Even that looked admirable to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had just told her to try getting along with the other clan members and not isolate herself anymore, and she was already trying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it was still a bit awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silence wasn’t natural or comfortable, but it wasn’t unpleasant either. Amid it, I recalled my last conversation with Misha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking back, it was a little pathetic, but my answer then was ‘I don’t know.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You don’t know...? What does that mean?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s definitely not dislike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remnants of feelings from those days still remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they were just remnants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Because a lot of time has passed since then...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since that day, I had tried countless times to shake off the feelings I had for Misha—and I succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what happens later, the feelings I have now are closer to those of comrades than lovers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia, Elwen, Ainard, Raven...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any one of the four would have suffered as much and acted similarly if they were in Misha’s situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, that’s not important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ha, haha... well, can’t be helped...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha curled up as if hurt by my honest words but ended the matter maturely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[But... we’re still friends, right?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Huh?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[We started out as friends, after all...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ah, yeah...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, at that time I replied with a dumb ‘Y-yeah?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking back, it was a pathetic scene I wanted to throw something at.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what can you do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s already in the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All done? Want some more?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was when the food on the plates was gone in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yandel, you’re on the first floor? I was just looking for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Versil appeared at the entrance and delivered the news, perhaps having gone out since morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Count Saintred called. It seems the research on the stele is finally finished. He’s asking you to come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Research finished... do you know how it went?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not sure, but it looks like it failed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see... well, we’ll find out when we go. Let’s get going.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay... have a good one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stood up, Misha greeted me, and Versil tilted his head at the sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You two...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anything to say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...No. Nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I snorted at Versil’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing, indeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you come back, can we talk for a bit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I already knew what he wanted to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably concern over Misha, whom he suspected as a traitor, and naturally sharing the events that happened in the community yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I think I can tell him it’s no longer a worry...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heading toward the mansion where the dimensional stele stood, the chief was waiting for me on the first floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve greeted you ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) already. Get to the point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pressing him to hurry up, the chief informed me that the ten-day research on the dimensional stele had failed and so they decided to leave the village today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today, huh...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was hoping for a miracle, but since it was a complete failure, there’s no point wasting more time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, that was that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t expected to rest this long in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So before leaving, I wanted to hear your opinion. I won’t interfere with your expedition. Where do you want to go next?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had unintentionally rested enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it was time to go explore again.\u003C\u002Fp>",2222,"2026-06-05T19:33:16.709Z",1,"novelbin.me","eea3fbc15c0ca2b8981948daa628b8dc666f9d644f7837a9e26464df170c73ca","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-760","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-759",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]