[{"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-660":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},1328037,1764,"Chapter 660: The Outsider (4)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-660",660,"\u003Cp>GM, Jurben Havelion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A player using a very unsettling nickname, Elfnunalove, and an old user who has survived in this world for over 20 years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, Versil also knows his true identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Jurben Havelion. That’s the GM’s name.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was already revealed at the round table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I feel there must be a hidden reason why he recommended this guy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...If he’s an Arcane Engineer, I know of him too. But realistically, can we even summon him? I heard he hardly goes outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Amelia’s sharp question, Versil nodded confidently as if it was no problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry about that part. We have a friendly relationship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Though it might not work,’ Versil hedged, but his voice carried confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was he so sure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because there’s no way Versil is truly close friends with that reclusive GM.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He must be relying on some leverage he holds.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But can you really get what you want by threatening someone with their identity? It seems even the royal family knows who he is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Since the community disappeared, I’m curious what kind of situation he’s in now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve been interested in this guy for a long time, but was cautious to approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lacking a legitimate reason, going straight to someone who’s always holed up in the tower would get no audience and seem suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad. Proceed with it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Versil acts as the middleman, we could probably meet him naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I’ll go back and bring it up right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was a little worried, but trusted Versil’s personality to threaten tactfully without revealing his identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Make sure to stress that this must be kept secret outside. And if he agrees to help, arrange a meeting. We’ll need to see him first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I will.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With nothing more to do here, we wrapped up today’s journey and returned to the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going to the mage tower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About three days after Versil left to talk to the Arcane Engineer,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s done. The Arcane Engineer will take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meeting was set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meeting with the Arcane Engineer was conducted with extreme caution and secrecy, like Cold War spies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Turn left here, open the third door beside the red roof building ahead, then go down... Ah, here it is.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After winding through alleyways for a long time, we reached a building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Descending underground stairs, we activated a magic circle like entering a secret market to enter a mysterious space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fairly spacious room arranged like a study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no doors or windows could be found anywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparently, it’s a special space accessible only by magic...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re here. I’ve been waiting, Baron.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man who was sitting on a sofa stood and greeted me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So that’s what he looks like.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d met him once in the city, but then he was disguised as Hans I, so this was the first time seeing his real face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First impression keywords: youthful, skinny, glasses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I wasn’t here to evaluate looks, so I just memorized his face and started talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Why so cautious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry for the trouble. Lately, I’ve had many enemies around me. Please understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enemies...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, Ibaekho was the one who chased after him before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, nice to meet you. Jurben Havelion. I’m Bjorn, son of Yandel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief handshake, I sat down on the sofa that seemed like my seat—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmph, barbarian discrimination from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s fine, no need to apologize—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why should I apologize?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next time, buy sturdier chairs. Buying these makes you look like a discrimination supporter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eh...? Ah, yes...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Buying chairs that barbarians can’t sit on is the beginning of discrimination.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Haha, I’ll remember that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My impression was clearly dropping in real time, but I couldn’t help it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to be extra careful when talking to this guy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never look like a modern man; act barbarian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it looks a bit excessive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pushed the sagging sofa aside and just sat cross-legged on the bare floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly, the eye-level difference wasn’t noticeable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, I might have been a little taller...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, thanks for agreeing to help. I didn’t expect you to be friends with Versil. How do you two know each other?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To avoid suspicion, I spoke as if knowing nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his point of view, he might think I was the one who sent Versil to threaten him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha... We’re both officially affiliated with the mage tower. Naturally, we became friends.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So... what exactly do you want me to [N O V E L I G H T] investigate? Miss Gouland wouldn’t tell me everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s about investigating the magic circle in the underground fortress. More precisely, how to activate it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The magic circle...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. It’s a very ancient magic circle, and Versil said he can’t handle it alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting to the point, the GM put his chin on his hand, looked thoughtful, and cautiously asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you planning to go outside the city walls?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...So you knew something too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since I was going to get help anyway, I answered honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Specifically, to go out and check on those bastards.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you already know how to activate the magic circle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. Not really. I just got lucky to learn of its existence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can’t give a definite answer until you see it yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The GM’s voice had no confidence and even seemed apologetic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why do I feel like he’s just feeding me a line?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling strongly that he was trying to get by quickly, I said kindly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry. Even if you fail, I won’t blame you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, that’s a relief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You just have to keep trying, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of ‘yes’ is that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he think I’d just go underground, check the magic circle, and accept if he said it was beyond his ability?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t care if it takes months. Eventually, you’ll succeed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As the requester, it’s not right to leave you alone. I’ll stay with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, I’ll lock you up and watch you so you don’t slip away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since we’re talking about it, how about we go right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard you’re always holed up in the tower. No appointments anyway!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“B-but I need to prepare equipment...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry! Just say the word and I’ll tell Versil to bring it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-I’ll bring it myself. Without it, it’s meaningless and hard to find just by description!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe realizing he might actually be dragged along, the GM’s voice quickened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph... You’re not going to disappear, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his stunned face, I laughed heartily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha! Just kidding! You wouldn’t disappear! I’m not worried!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahaha... Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if something unavoidable happens and you can’t come, I’ll just come find you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I said the mage tower is well known to me after visiting several times, his face paled, probably recalling the last mage tower raid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry. An hour is enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving after those words, the GM really returned before an hour passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Going to Noark with the GM alone was no problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, I knew the way down to Noark well...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step, step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knights patrolling the sewers were dealt with by the magic tools the GM had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I worried the patrol might have magical detection tools, but it was needless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...His gear is strong.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I really call him an Arcane Engineer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gear seemed superior to the knights’, as they didn’t notice him passing nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said you made it yourself? What’s it called?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It has no name... It wasn’t made to be sold anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not sell it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It requires very rare byproducts to make and has a very low success rate. That’s why only one exists.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that made me want it even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is there any way to steal it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I pondered, the GM quickly changed the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The world has changed a lot. I never thought I’d see knights roaming the sewers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you should go outside more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha... I will.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncomfortable or stressed by being outside, the GM said nothing until we reached Noark Plaza.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to make small talk, but he just ignored it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Less fun than I thought.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Personality aside, as long as he does his job well, it’s fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here we are. Do you understand anything?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the plaza, the GM showed expert flair, pulling out various equipment and tinkering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some time passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The GM approached me, walking quickly, as I watched from a distance to avoid interrupting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, I didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Done?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I wrote the formula to activate the magic circle here. If you follow this method, even a 4th-rank mage can activate it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handed me a parchment with elegant writing, but I found it hard to believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it really be finished this quickly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squinting skeptically and scanning the paper up and down, he added defensively,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...It was easier than I thought. Ancient magic circles are my specialty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why couldn’t you give a definite answer before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a bad habit of mine. Sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I had no argument against that...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So... is it okay to leave now since the work’s done? I prefer eating dinner at home...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I didn’t believe him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I couldn’t say that to his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean the work is done?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haven’t you tested it yet? Try activating it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Giving a reasonable excuse, I held him back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The GM sighed and nodded, unable to refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes... I’ll prepare briefly, so please wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About five minutes later, he called me, saying he was done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Approaching him, he counted one, two, three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White light enveloped us, and when we opened our eyes,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This place...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight was familiar yet strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wide circular corridor that a huge serpent could pass through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One wall was blocked, carved with unknown patterns...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the magic circle inscribed here. From what I’ve seen, the activation method seems the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Seems the same?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh... That was a slip of the tongue. It’s not wrong, so don’t worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, and one caution... be careful not to damage the magic circle. Unlike the one in the plaza, this one is exposed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happens if it breaks?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s a permanent restoration spell, but it will take at least a year to fix.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better than never returning, but a year is still a big risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t we use teleportation magic to return to the city?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Coordinates are set below the city, but since there’s no trajectory, we’re probably outside the protective magic circle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simply put, we’re under the city but outside the barrier covering the entire city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, something feels suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I don’t doubt the truth of what he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Something’s definitely suspicious...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arcane Engineer Jurben Havelion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I get that he’s a talented mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But even so, how can he answer everything just by a quick glance?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even I, an outsider, feel something is off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It feels like he’s pretending not to know what he already investigated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I guess my work here is done... Shall I go back now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hesitated at the GM’s request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s no denying the work was done, but I felt reluctant to send him off just like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I expected it to take at least a few weeks, so I had been waiting quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I actually planned to chat and find out more during the investigation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve come this far. Aren’t you curious? Let’s go together!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I take that as permission!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way I’d let him go easily.\u003C\u002Fp>",1945,"2026-06-05T19:33:18.642Z",1,"novelbin.me","e29dfec7e2a85ff852c4bc615a4fd985f2b24e3bb35b4474023095ec43abfacf","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-661","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-659",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]