[{"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-633":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},1328010,1764,"Chapter 633: Reconstruction (2)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-633",633,"\u003Cp>As I finished apologizing and bowed my head deeply, the Marquis asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...Apologizing? What do you mean by that?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Speak up. I just can’t understand.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking it would be faster to show rather than tell, I took out one by one the items obtained during the underground first floor exploration and neatly stacked them in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Why do you suddenly stop?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[What do you mean? I heard there were over a hundred essences collected in test tubes.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did the Marquis fall silent, seemingly understanding why I had used the past tense earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he seemed curious about the reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...How on earth did it come to this?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, now I see—you’re the kind who values process over results?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Don’t answer jokingly; I say this because you might get into trouble.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay, enough teasing...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gave a lengthy prepared explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though unlike a barbarian, I spoke in great detail, but to summarize in one sentence:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...You needed to increase your strength to escape the city, so you distributed the essences to the District 7 explorers? Those precious essences...?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Good heavens... That’s outrageous beyond words.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s so outrageous? If we had failed to escape and been captured, they would have taken everything anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better that than falling into enemy hands, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I muttered quietly, the Marquis on the other side of the screen held his forehead as if dizzy and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[This matter will need to be discussed again at the royal family meeting. It’s true you rescued the District 7 explorers. We need to discuss whether the merits outweigh the faults.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, they needed time to investigate whether my claims were true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, no matter the investigation, the testimonies would be the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[So please, until this matter is settled, don’t cause any trouble.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, that last comment didn’t sound like aristocratic politeness but genuine concern...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood. I’ll stay quiet, so don’t worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Even though I’ve heard what I want, I don’t know why I feel even more uneasy.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, Marquis, maybe that’s because you’re narrow-minded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, was this the time to empathize and comfort?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not my specialty, so I quickly changed the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! Then what should we do with the explorers and my vassals currently in the plaza? Are they just going to stay there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[They’ll stay there for now, though it’s inconvenient. The situation should calm within a few days.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A few days...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sounded like he believed this whole situation would be mostly resolved soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, not that I didn’t believe him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the royal family’s second in command said so, there must be good reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood. Then we’ll return and wait for news.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That ended the day’s conversation, and after returning to the plaza to live with the people, time passed quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you all hear? The Noark forces have released most hostages under pressure from the royal army!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Noark forces occupying Districts 7 and 13 are being pushed back by the royal army!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“District 13 has been reclaimed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The bastards were pushed from District 7 and fled to Viphron!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Waaah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four days...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the urgent war situation was updated daily, no explosion occurred in Viphron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drdrdrdrdrdrdr-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the fifth day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is that?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We instinctively recognized it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever the royal family’s plan was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The protective magic circle of Viphron has darkened...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something was clearly going wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last stronghold, Lapdonia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This giant city-state is covered with protective magic circles, a legacy of the Great Sage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though there had been doubts about whether the protective magic circle truly existed—especially since the Witch’s Poison was a lie...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But it really exists.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recently, Elwen’s arrow proved the existence of the protective magic circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Invisible to the naked eye, it nonetheless firmly covered the city and cut it off from the outside world at the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At this point, I wonder if it’s not a protective circle but a prison circle.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t the important thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell is happening?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does anyone know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this because of the Witch’s Poison?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With tremors felt through the ground, the protective magic circle covering Viphron blackened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked like aliens invaded and put a dome over a district to imprison it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this could have been the royal family’s original plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yandel, the military’s movements look strange.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow, the atmosphere suggested otherwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait a moment. I’ll find out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling uneasy, I requested a private meeting with the Marquis but was rejected due to his busyness; I finally got through several days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You look worn out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis on the screen looked to have lost several kilograms, clearly busy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Things aren’t going well, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...I can’t say much due to military secrets, but yes.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, say at least a little. Suddenly Viphron ended up like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...Once things settle, you’ll hear. You’re a noble of Lapdonia, after all. But I can say one thing: the Noark forces won’t be coming out of there for a while.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a relief...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I was dying of curiosity, but no matter how much I pressed, it seemed they wouldn’t tell me more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what about us? Do we stay here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[No need. District 4 is scheduled to normalize from tomorrow.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does that mean we’re free now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yes. District 7 is also open, so it’s okay to go.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about our vassals brought from Viphron? Any problems there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ah, that was discussed in depth... For now, no problem. But as long as you keep them as your vassals.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If they cease being vassals?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[They’ll be executed. It’s no longer possible to send them back to Viphron.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Execution if no longer vassals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An extreme measure, but still surprisingly lenient for a conservative royal family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they probably weren’t without reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Also, since they reside in the city, they’ll have to pay taxes too.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh... No wonder they accepted so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much do they have to pay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Same as regular citizens. Minors are exempt from taxes as usual.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was at least somewhat reassuring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for the condition that followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Oh, and Viphron residents can’t hold any jobs requiring military training. Explorer jobs are included.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, they can’t use a strategy where talented few explorers take responsibility for the many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[As someone who’s been Chancellor for a long time, can I give you a piece of advice?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I’ll cut it short. Cut it as much as you can.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[What value is there in useless people like them?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Typical Chancellor advice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This city judged those who didn’t pay taxes as worthless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the Marquis’s perspective in charge of the kingdom’s finances, Viphron residents looked like trash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, thanks for the advice. I’ll just let it go in one ear and out the other.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A barbarian’s belief forbids caring about meddling like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few more words, the Marquis left, saying he was busy, ending today’s conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning to the plaza, I led the District 7 natives and Viphron residents living on the streets into the ruined District 7.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...So we came back here again.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They fled to Viphron, lived as refugees in District 4, and now returned to District 7.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They really trashed the place.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The state of District 7 was worse than when we were last there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buildings along the ruined main road were stained with blood and signs of battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barracks apparently used by soldiers were left untouched and abandoned...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh nooo! My shop...! My shop...!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother! Mother! Here! You’re safe!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Residents who fled during the liberation of District 7 could be seen here and there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, I’ll be going now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m curious if my house is still intact...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for saving us. I will never forget this favor, Baron!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After arriving at District 7, the explorers from District 7 naturally dispersed, leaving my comrades and 8,712 Viphron residents alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Yandel, where are you going now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To the holy ground.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure... Given your position, you should check that place too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia seemed to understand, but actually there was another reason to go to the holy ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was right to be worried, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘First, I need to find somewhere to sleep tonight.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it didn’t work out, I could sleep rough in District 7, but I judged that if I had to sleep rough, better to do it in the holy ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, that was the plan...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bjoooorn Niiiiiim!!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as we arrived at the holy ground, regrets about coming flooded in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did you come so late?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Long time no see, Shabin Emure. How have you been? Let me put this down first—.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not letting go! If I do, you’ll disappear for months again!! No way! I’ll never let go!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shabin, our tribe’s administrative head, seemed extremely stressed ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) from handling everything alone for months and being trapped in the holy ground during the Noark invasion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s put our hands down and talk first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Yes? Ah... okay...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia forced Shabin’s hands down in a businesslike tone, and she seemed to regain composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this was a boss fight, it was a kind of groggy state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From experience, it was time to quickly apologize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shabin, I’m sorry. I really didn’t think I’d be so late coming back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I understand your situation. That’s why I was worried.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry for making you worry—.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the mood was warming, Shabin suddenly interrupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But who exactly are those people behind you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shabin’s gaze was fixed on the 8,712 residents awkwardly standing behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was quite awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, uh, um...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How should I put this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, let’s change the subject first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, how’s the holy ground? It looks like it’s changed a lot...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“While you were gone, a quarter of the holy ground development plan was completed. Thanks to that, funds have become plentiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, that’s a relief to hear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder the roads were paved and buildings had sprung up on the way here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, who are those people?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re Viphron residents. They became vassals of our Yandel family a few days ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All of them...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their looks said, ‘What the hell is this nonsense?’ and my voice unintentionally lowered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...There were reasons for it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps sensing unease, Shabin suddenly grew silent and cautiously asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So why did you bring them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They had nowhere else to stay. I plan to have them stay in the holy ground for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow, I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shabin nodded absently and asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about land for them to live on? Food? Clothes? Budget?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, that’s the economic minister’s job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, roughly speaking...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The chief administrative officer will take care of that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chief administrative officer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shabin tilted her head, puzzled whether such a post even existed in the tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I patted her shoulder and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, chief administrative officer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You just got promoted.\u003C\u002Fp>",1828,"2026-06-05T19:33:18.084Z",1,"novelbin.me","20016bac2d993cf4db3336d1e7484a6b0f9775bb2228a9884ae0f7f15ed38f28","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-634","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-632",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]