[{"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-628":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},1328005,1764,"Chapter 628: Abandoned City (1)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-628",628,"\u003Cp>There was a discussion I had with my comrades before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It’s suspicious that they aimed for two districts simultaneously. Just holding out in one is barely possible...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[And between the 7th and 13th districts lies Viphron, making defense even harder.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...Right. Why would they do that? Could Viphron have some hidden purpose?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though we couldn’t know for sure, back then we guessed there was some hidden meaning behind their moves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And our guess proved correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Viphron was mentioned, a look of unhidden embarrassment appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What the hell are you talking about all of a sudden—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to smooth it over like that was already too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My suspicion had turned into conviction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like we don’t have to step aside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I cut him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the answer was already clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t know what exactly they’re hiding in Viphron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re heading to Viphron.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generally, doing the opposite of what the enemy wants already counts for half a win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him suddenly deep in thought at my words, I realized talking or fighting would make no difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just moments ago, too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I hadn’t unexpectedly struck a gap, I wouldn’t have gotten such a reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silence dragged on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No excuses like why we’d go to Viphron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No claims that I misunderstood something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just quietly watched me from afar, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must be carefully choosing his words in his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But still, it was already too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that we’re turning back, will you still not try to stop us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vice leader quietly muttered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard you were clever, but didn’t expect this much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, in fairness, so was I.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was just called the second-in-command of Orculis; never heard he was some kind of strategist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what’s your answer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked boldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vice leader sneered and answered immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do as you please. You want to go to Viphron? Then go. We won’t stop you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...A bluff, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was my first suspicion, but not yet certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One must keep all possibilities open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, I was only surprised at the word Viphron; it might not be a problem for them if we head there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hah... here comes the psychological warfare again.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My head hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though no physical fight had happened, just talking already showed me he wasn’t an easy enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From now on, the choice is yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, what will it be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vice leader’s tone returned to calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe he thought he’d regained control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With all options open, it actually became harder to choose just one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Make the right choice. Many lives depend on your choice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barbarians don’t suffer choice paralysis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how hard or dangerous, if something must be done, we do it without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, of course, we’re used to situations with no choices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s with all the chatter? Stop whining.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I said sharply, seeing the vice leader furrow his brow like he didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Choice? Didn’t I say before? We’re going to Viphron.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He probably didn’t know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the moment the others tried to sow discord against me, the choice of crossing the walls disappeared for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How can I just walk out like this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My baseline is a demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the Ice Rock expedition, I erased the Rose Knights after killing them; most recently, I even tried to steal royal property.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we give the royal family cause to investigate us in this state, I’ll be in more danger than just going to Viphron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well then, since you say you won’t stop us, fine. Take care. We’re going now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t tell me you’re changing your mind now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shrugged and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vice leader responded casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be ridiculous. Words once spoken will be kept.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, you’re manlier than I thought?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Manlier than you think...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha! Worrying about such petty things isn’t manly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now then, will you disappear before my eyes? I feel uneasy if you stay here while we turn toward Viphron.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I lowered my voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vice leader paused briefly, seemingly gathering his thoughts, then shouted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All units! Move back to the walls!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Noark forces facing us murmured confusedly but did not disobey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re really leaving...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching them leave for the walls, I recalled the vice leader’s last expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before turning his back, he looked at me with a face that was both mocking and joyful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe because I saw it too?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Are you really heading to Viphron?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia asked me worriedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Is this the right choice? Feels like we’re being lured there...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Versil cautiously voiced concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Lured? Not at all.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I saw his expression at the end and understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook off the last hesitation and turned my back toward the opposite side of the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you waiting for? Follow me quickly! We’re heading to Viphron now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever it is, we’ll find out when we get there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why do they hate the idea of us going there so much?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roland Banossant, vice leader of Orculis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a bitter laugh seeing the walls below, now completely empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...They really left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman in alluring attire approached him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vice leader, are you okay? Are they really letting us go without doing anything?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rilanne Vivian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once a promising talent of the Mage Tower, she became a dark sorceress after repeated forbidden magic experiments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even before turning to dark magic, she was said to be cruel with both her hands and personality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her usual mischievousness remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just going so suddenly, you’re surprised?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, look at that surprised face. Always acting smart, but didn’t expect them to really leave, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banossant disliked this type of person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, hated them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still useful.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a gentle smile, he answered the woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha, who can know everything? But from how you say it, Miss Vivian, you must have guessed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No? How could I guess? They even offered to send us back to the city, yet I never expected that decision.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But shouldn’t we follow them now? If something goes wrong in Viphron, it’d be bad for us too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banossant nodded bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the light tone, Vivian was no fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she said, having an unpredictable figure like Baron Yandel enter Viphron was definitely not a good thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But following now is even more dangerous. If they leave the walls empty, the royal # Nоvеlight # family will notice. It’s not time to give up the 7th district yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, pretending to be fine with letting them go so easily isn’t right, is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vivian said sarcastically; Banossant just smiled indifferently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True. I’m regretting it too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, so it feels like I’m bothering you. I’m just curious. Why did our clever vice leader do that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After persistent questioning aimed at getting an answer, he finally replied reluctantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Vivian, ordinary people can’t make such bold choices in such situations, especially when there’s so much to lose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a throwaway line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen many people and many choices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, observed them carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His nickname ‘Mana Master’ came from this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most think it’s because of his powers, but it was just coincidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, he had no such powers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was just naturally skilled at reading others’ thoughts since childhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But wow, our vice leader really is a smarty-pants, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vivian sneered at his serious answer, and Banossant frowned in displeasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps realizing he’d crossed a line, he added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because ordinary people do that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Bjorn Yandel isn’t an ordinary person, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vivian quickly added and shrugged, then left, while Banossant quietly chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not ordinary, huh...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He first learned of Bjorn Yandel when he earned a baron title after his achievements at the Goblin Forest battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, he just thought Bjorn was a strange guy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, it was just luck, not someone to be feared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what about now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bjorn Yandel had grown into one of the kingdom’s most notable figures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve lost count how many times now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, Bjorn kept clashing with people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like with the Dragon Slayer, Regal Bagos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he regained his memory, how shocked he was to hear that the Bjorn Yandel he met in the labyrinth was the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even back then, before gaining fame or title.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is this fate...?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m not superstitious, but he had a strong feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bjorn Yandel would continue to be a major obstacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, I must report to the leader.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having finished his thoughts, he used a communication device to inform the leader in the 13th district.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reporting, he looked at the empty walls and recalled his conversation with the Dragon Slayer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmm, you want me to talk about Bjorn Yandel?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dragon Slayer, who was rapidly growing, had gathered various information from his regained memories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them was this advice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...Vice leader, one more thing.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, he thought it was just nonsense advice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It’s better not to talk with that guy.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, he seemed to understand a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The moment you start talking, everything will go according to his plan—even without you realizing.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why he said that then...\u003C\u002Fp>",1517,"2026-06-05T19:33:18.084Z",1,"novelbin.me","7d12f7c231544b47a2d4dfeea05a297b93c7c6b12df2eb29fb88cf102a72376f","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-629","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-627",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]