[{"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-619":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},1327996,1764,"Chapter 619: Return of the Golden Horse (2)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-619",619,"\u003Cp>A proposal to let me leave this place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being stuck in the basement for months, such words were unbearably sweet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the price?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing in this world is free, and the sweeter the offer, the more dangerous the conditions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, this time it was a bit ambiguous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You must never return here.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demand was completely incomprehensible, so I needed more info.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What exactly do you mean by ‘never return’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Don’t you understand? I think there’s no room for misunderstanding that phrase.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does this guy not understand how conversation flows?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean, why impose that condition on me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It’s a proposal with only benefits for you; does the reason matter?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can you be so sure it benefits only me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if needing time to load, the director paused briefly before answering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I see. You’re wary because you don’t know how my offer will affect the future.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, I don’t know anything about you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Then would you accept if I tell you about myself?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That depends on who you are.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had I spoken than the director continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[In the past, I was the head of the Panthelion lab, committing many atrocities. But in the end, I repented and was forgiven by the witch. After that, I became a completely different person—unable to deceive others, always kind and considerate.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I can’t go into detail now, but the proposal to never return is for your sake.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Are you kidding me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Showing my disbelief plainly, the director seemed to expect this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[See? It’s pointless to talk.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, you never really intended to tell me—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[If I told you a more plausible story,]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The director interrupted me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Would you have believed it all?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overwhelmed by his flat voice, I couldn’t answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It hit the mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The only way to find truth through others is to trust. So it’s a waste of time for me to keep talking.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[That’s why it’s a deal. Who I am is irrelevant. You just decide whether to accept my offer or not. Much more efficient.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh, this is frustrating...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had many things I wanted to say but didn’t know how to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I summarized as best I could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I asked about you to decide whether to trust you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Then that’s strange. Earlier, I said you wouldn’t believe anything I said.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, but... there’s no 100% in this world. I want to listen before judging.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Then judge now. What I said before is all I have to say. What’s your decision?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn... I thought he was at least somewhat reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can’t punch the guy beyond the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why is he so stubborn?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it’s strategy—to distract and deflect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[If decision is hard, I’ll give one more piece of info. Whether you believe it is up to you.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Will you listen?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I felt reluctant, I couldn’t refuse. After all, curiosity won.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gathering info helps judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Tell me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like sighing, he revealed the new info.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[If you don’t leave within half a year, you’ll be in serious trouble. That’s when he appears.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[If you leave before then, you don’t need to know. If not, you’ve refused, so I have no reason to tell.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell is this guy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Usually, these types are best avoided or knocked out immediately for sanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no such luck here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, tell me. What kind of trouble?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You’ll survive. But those around you? Maybe a handful will remain.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“About five people?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[That’s my estimate; there could be small error.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In modern warfare, losing 30% is considered annihilation. This is truly massive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, I’m not who I was before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, protecting just one finger was enough; now five fingers aren’t enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[So, do you believe me now?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Considering it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I hope I influenced you positively.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Still hard to decide—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be quiet and let me think.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[......]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a way, the director’s words made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When trading with a stranger in an unknown place, who they are matters less.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What matters is what they can give you and what you must give in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If these match, the deal stands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trust is better, but not required...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Judging by his talk, he won’t reveal much about himself.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could refuse and test him again, but that’s last resort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“About the item.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaking the long silence, I said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t care about your story; tell me about the item.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...Item?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How will it help us leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ah, that.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t have to say everything; just enough so I can decide.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[A fair request.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The director answered without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You’ve probably found the door by now, so I won’t say more. If you accept, I’ll grant you the qualification to open it.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qualification? Seems like you can get it another way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Not wrong. If someone proves the qualification, I must grant it.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you’re saying I can leave without dealing with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Theoretically, yes. You can prove the qualification. But...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It’ll take a long time. And time isn’t on your side.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back to that vague threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt frustrated but kept talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But is it okay to grant qualification so easily? You said it must be proven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Granting it is my authority. And I must grant it when proven. No contradiction.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strange logic, but who am I to argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Enough info to decide now?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One last thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Go ahead.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hesitating briefly, I spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you worry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Who do you mean?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“About me breaking the promise. I’m a barbarian who values promises above all. Really, you can trust me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying not to be misunderstood, I added that, but he showed no concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ah, I forgot.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Once you promise and get qualification, you can never return here. Literally. If you don’t promise, then not forced.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No wonder...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I wondered why ‘promise’ was a condition at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it’s just a pretext and the real goal is granting qualification itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘My head hurts.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything is sudden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just came to stop rails, but suddenly a strange guy appears on screen with a weird proposal...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I need time to think.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t even know what to trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want a few days to think and answer, is that okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Fine. I’ll be here.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly cool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the deal was on hold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to leave control room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[One more thing.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light cluster on screen flickered like a grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Even if you accept, I don’t recommend leaving immediately.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Why now say this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Not a trick, but for your own good. You should know what this place is.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I guessed what he meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[If you leave within half a year, you’ll be safe. Get as much as you can; then you’ll never come back.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Choose carefully.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not reaching basement alone was huge loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since we’re at it, one more thing. Where are my kidnapped comrades?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You must find out yourself. If you want qualification, that’s first step. But don’t worry; you’ll find them soon.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seems like I gained nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After talking with the director, I went back down to the underground factory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, I quietly called Amelia and Raven aside to share what happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t distrust Misha, Elwen, or Ainard, but honestly, they weren’t much help in this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Versil still doesn’t know I’m a player.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their reactions were roughly similar but for different reasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Absolutely no. That director hides something. We don’t know what he might do to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I disagree. Even if his offer is true, there’s still much to explore. And if we leave, we can’t return. Others will take credit for ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) our discoveries!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, both were things I’d thought alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, the director’s words lingered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You’ll survive. But those beside you...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether true or not, the warning pressed on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An ominous feeling grew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe that’s why I explained despite opposing opinions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Emily, if he’s right, it could be worse. Raven, once outside, we probably can’t return. The royal family blocks explorers from entering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven thought it was temporary, but I doubted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My gut said the royal family wouldn’t allow entry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s a greater secret in the basement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why it’s hard to decide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks for discussing. I’ll think more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Call anytime.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Same here. You always try to do everything alone. Though today, you’re better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, first meeting ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We resumed rail searches and experiments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Best if we can prove qualification ourselves...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The director said it too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Get as much as you can.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The basement was a land of opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Library Island, Stone Gate Island, and all islands scattered with magic stones after the rainy season were jackpots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This lab was no different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the underground factory center stood a device that created monsters with traits of three magic stones when the stones were inserted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This machine is the jackpot.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monsters created this way were treated as new types, gave no experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s essence...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defeating these monsters drops essence—rarely, but much more than usual monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simply put—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, this essence really contains all three monsters’ traits?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Custom essence creation was possible.\u003C\u002Fp>",1514,"2026-06-05T19:33:18.084Z",1,"novelbin.me","689cfe7469ddfbf458f66375159b2e19322d29bc028ed61daad02459a76b50cd","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-620","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-618",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]