[{"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-644":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},1328021,1764,"Chapter 644: Coming Out (2)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-644",644,"\u003Cp>Ragna Litaniel Peprok.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The illegitimate daughter of Terserion, the Prime Minister of Lapdonia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, her current used name omits her nurse’s name, ‘Litaniel,’ but anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your expression isn’t good. I’ve heard she’s quite a beauty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, I know that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that’s not the problem now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than the awkwardness this ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) marriage proposal will cause between friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Viscountess Peprok is the Prime Minister’s illegitimate child.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve already confirmed that. The Prime Minister made a strong move. That means your growth has been exceptional.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you still think I have to marry her? The moment I do, an invisible leash will be tied around my neck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no choice. Imagine what would happen when the Prime Minister seriously starts to watch you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he said “seriously starts to watch,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t need to imagine deeply—countless sabotage plots flashed in my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interference in the reconstruction of District 7.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consequently, vassals from Viphron would be unable to pay taxes and would be dragged to the gallows en masse as soon as next year begins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe the Barbarian hearts would again be classified as researchable items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, only our warriors would face stricter checkpoints and could be falsely accused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a serious expression, the chief spoke, trying to persuade me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t sanctify marriage too much. Bow first, then build your strength afterward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even he sounded a bit strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to him from the start, I felt a kind of discomfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hesitated briefly, but then, as usual, I bluntly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you keep trying to persuade me like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s because you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So whether I succeed or fail, why are you the one worrying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked directly why he was meddling, and after a brief pause, he answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t help but worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because I need you to fulfill my wish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded sincere, but understanding it was another matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You need me for your wish?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t know why so many people come looking for me for their own wishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I’m curious myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What exactly do they ultimately want?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just be frank. I hate those who only scheme behind the scenes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know your nature. But the time is not right yet. I’ll just say one thing—there’s a high chance our interests align.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so? Then I have no choice but to filter what you say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I replied almost threateningly, but the chief’s face remained calm as if letting me do as I please.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Judge as you will. To me, marrying the viscountess seems a much better choice... but that’s just my position. No one can know for sure what will be right looking back from the future.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, it’s getting late. If we stay longer, someone will surely take notice. Let’s end today’s meeting here. I’ll contact you again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, the chief turned his back and left the garden fountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold wind blowing, rustling the bushes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared blankly at the fountain, organizing my thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marriage, huh...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take long to decide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, the decision was basically the same as the one I had already made at the dragon temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since the viscount made such a strong move...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To counter it, I would have to prepare a much stronger move myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Is that really the only way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time in a while, I wished tomorrow wouldn’t come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, one hour before the royal meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of the importance of the occasion, I woke early and roughly finished dressing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just about to step out—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock, knock, knock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A visitor came early in the morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking it might be some peddler or socialite like yesterday, I almost ignored it...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock, knock, knock!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knocking grew louder with pauses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Who on earth is it?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided to see who it was, grabbed the door, and opened it wide—there stood an unexpected guest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Hyaak!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blue-haired woman let out a strange sound, surprised by the sudden door opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dressed head to toe like ‘I’m a noble,’ but somehow her sleepy eyes gave off no dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The marriage candidate to be mentioned in the upcoming meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ragna...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When our eyes met, Ragna flinched and quickly looked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I roughly understood why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt similarly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt strangely hard to meet eyes naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So before the golden moment slipped away, I quickly said something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Long time no see, Ragna. I should’ve visited earlier, but I’ve been busy with all sorts of things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes... long time. And it’s fine you didn’t come. I’ve heard you’ve been busy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s good then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Would you like to come inside?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I said it because I didn’t want her to wait outside, but strangely she jumped back in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that reaction oddly...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, no! It’s not like that...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like what then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just! It would be troublesome if weird rumors spread about us going into the room...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah... I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The awkward silence I had tried to avoid hung between Ragna and me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thankfully, this time she was the first to break it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well... actually, I came today because I have something to tell you in advance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna hesitated to speak, trailing off, but I caught the meaning from the mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At the meeting... there might be some unexpected news. Please don’t be too surprised. Bjorn Yandel, you and I are nobles, aren’t we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here, sometimes things proceed regardless of your own wishes... you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed to find it hard to say, so she rambled a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to clear things up, but for the sake of what’s to come, it’s best to pretend I don’t know for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what do you want to say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-I can’t say right now. But my father has started making moves. So no matter what you hear at the meeting, please don’t misunderstand...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood. No matter what is said at the meeting, I won’t misunderstand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! Of course, I don’t mean I dislike it or anything! Got it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good... then see you later...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded quickly and vanished from the doorway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wondered if she really came alone—her aide, Hyunbyeol, was nowhere to be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Time to go.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I checked the time, went out to the hall, and was led by a servant into the palace for the meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...They don’t use a round table here.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room held a long rectangular table with almost all seats empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s the tradition of royal meetings here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each participant is assigned a number, which tacitly becomes their rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for me...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the seat where Baron Yandel will attend the council today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seat furthest from the head seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After I sat and waited about two minutes, a noble entered...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat directly across from me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was one rank higher, and after another two minutes, another arrived...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What nonsense is this...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could’ve come all at once, but entering one by one every two minutes was maddening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Extreme inefficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There are 50 total nobles attending...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant the lowest-ranked nobles would have to wait nearly an hour and a half sitting there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though that humiliating lowest rank seat might be someone else’s envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, they started filling the meeting room one by one, but the heavy silence remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I even tried to chat with a nearby noble out of boredom, but when I spoke, he jumped in surprise and stared straight ahead, so I gave up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Might as well catch some sleep.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half nodding off with my neck bent, time passed quickly, and nobles in the twenties started arriving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Who’s that?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a nobleman stopped walking and stared at me intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One, two, three, four...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Counting, he seemed to be ranked 27th in this meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at me, then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pft.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sneered meaninglessly and passed by my side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I wasn’t going to let that slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, wait a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Hey?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, sorry. I forgot your name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that’s true, then I’m glad to meet you. I’m Count Huytaylor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Glad to meet you, Count Huytaylor. But why did you laugh earlier?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Is there a problem? I just smiled because I was happy to see the city’s most famous hero.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interpreted in noble terms, it meant he was glad to see me, who’s recently popular, sitting in the lowest rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What? Just an ordinary fool?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relieved, I nodded coolly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, is that so? Then go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had some sinister scheme, I was ready to probe, but if not, fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not worth the attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baron Yandel, as your senior, some advice—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...You’d better drop that attitude here in the royal meeting. Or you’ll get seriously hurt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded, and Count Humersigi gave me a look as if he’d seen all sorts of crazies before heading back to his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Familiar figures began to appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting with Viscount Maxiland, the Prime Minister’s right hand and ranked 25th.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lightly nodded at me as our eyes met, then went to his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viscountess Ragna Peprok, ranked 21st.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She walked past without meeting my eyes and sat down coldly in 14th place, the chief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Glad to see you here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Count Kaislan, ranked 11th, elder brother of Meland Kaislan and head of a large noble coalition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, long time no see, Baron. Heard you’ve done great things this time too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Count Alminus, ranked 6th, an awkward relationship but now bought the title ‘old friend’ by taking a photo with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“New holy births are always welcome. Remember there are always other choices.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duke Kealunus, ranked 3rd, left a meaningful word and passed by after seeing me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, Marquis Terserion, ranked 2nd, sat haughtily without even a glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, and the top-ranked seat is vacant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s the king’s seat, which even the marquis acting as the king’s proxy at events cannot occupy...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Minus one means there are actually 49 members present.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the seating arrangement, Duke Kealunus and the Prime Minister sat facing each other at the head seats...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The marquis on the right rose from his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, on behalf of His Majesty Martanux, I sincerely thank you all for attending despite your busy schedules.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that greeting, the Prime Minister had all the nobles stand, then they all paid respects toward the vacant king’s seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a salute to a national flag in Korea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since these are nobles, a stiff introduction followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Noark invasion, the Viphron situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Discussing recent incidents and current political state, praising the nobles for their presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celebrating the successful expedition to the labyrinth’s first basement floor, saying it is all under Lapdonia’s blessing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After wasting time on unnecessary speeches—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, let’s begin with the first agenda item.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the first royal meeting began.\u003C\u002Fp>",1802,"2026-06-05T19:33:18.084Z",1,"novelbin.me","2550e06b3ef624d1002818d771bdcb1cb76bbce926047c0019561715c85e2a7d","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-645","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-643",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]