[{"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-663":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},1328040,1764,"Chapter 663: Companion (2)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-663",663,"\u003Cp>“I was a late bloomer as a wizard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The GM’s story began with that very first sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At twenty years old. Honestly, entering the magic tower at such a late age was extremely unusual. Of course, adapting was incredibly difficult.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, that made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, elites like Raven who entered the tower young tended to dislike latecomers like him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though those they disliked even more were non-majors like Dwalke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, the important thing was not that...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A late bloomer...?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he lying to me now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because when I met him in the past, he said he was a 6th-grade wizard in his first year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Fortunately, the grade was high, but he still couldn’t properly use magic and lived every day on edge...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even added that, so I assumed it was because he was possessed by a wizard’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn’t?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Let’s hear him out...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If true, it was a really unusual case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From what I later learned interacting with players on Ghost Busters, most who crossed the Abyssal Gate had already mastered some magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like our clan’s Versil Gouwland, for example.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He was already training magic in the tower long before he turned twenty.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why did the GM want to become a wizard?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he hadn’t started as a wizard, becoming an explorer and consuming essences would have been an easier growth path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there a particular reason you started learning magic at that age?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked bluntly, and his answer surprised me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, I never planned to become a wizard. I just thought I should be an explorer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, clashing with monsters inside a dangerous labyrinth didn’t suit me, so wizardry was fitting... But even the Baron would agree, it’s not common to start learning magic after twenty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...That’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I originally wanted to learn archery. I figured I could handle a crossbow well enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hoped-for archer career...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now I was even more curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did someone aiming for archery become a wizard?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I had to earn money first to buy even a crossbow when I was broke. As soon as I became an adult, I tried everything on the streets. Once, I even got a job at a blacksmith’s...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly, while pounding iron, the GM’s wizard path opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He met the master of his first sect like fate...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The master was fascinated by a toy I made in my spare time. He called me over, wanting to talk for hours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The master admired the precision and imagination in the toy’s design.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, that figures. He’s from the modern world.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kind of like a modern cheat code?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes in novels, you see that kind of thing—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An engineer dropped into another world who wows everyone with every ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) little thing he makes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s how you got to learn magic?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. The Maireta sect specialized in wind-element magic, but since the master was interested in magic engineering and magic circles, I was lucky to catch his eye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...That’s quite the story.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nodding as I listened intently, the GM resumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t mean to brag, but magic suited me perfectly. Under the master’s guidance, my skills improved incredibly fast. As a result, I unknowingly earned a lot of hatred.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The GM’s growth was explosive, unprecedented even in the magic tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To enter at twenty and reach 6th grade in one year was unheard of in the tower’s long history.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh... he really got to 6th grade in a year?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait, then what was that about being a half-baked wizard who couldn’t use magic?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coincidentally, the answer came soon from the GM.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But despite that, I was a half-baked wizard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you know? Among wizards, fields are so different that you can become a high-grade wizard without knowing a single offensive spell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The GM was exactly that case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He excelled in magic engineering and magic circle research but couldn’t even cast a fireball, yet was a 6th-grade wizard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wizards who knew this always picked fights with me, so I had to live cautiously. Ah... those days in the tower were truly wild.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But still, my master didn’t want me to learn other magic. He said my talent was in magic engineering and that I had no time to waste elsewhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Despite repeated requests, I started learning other magic one by one, but magic engineering remained my main study. I rarely slept more than two hours a day then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the GM pulled through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He enjoyed magic engineering and was grateful to his master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It may sound strange, but at times the master felt like a father to me. I... didn’t have a father.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having been thoroughly gaslit, the GM seemed to drift further from the explorer path but endured the life stubbornly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But “enduring” means limits come eventually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the end, I couldn’t stand it and ran away. I recruited comrades myself and became an explorer, spending years without returning to the sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just increased studying magic helpful for exploring but never stopped magic engineering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And time passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When a wizard named Yurben Havelion had earned some explorer fame—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s when the incident happened. Maybe the Baron heard of it, but... my master dabbled in forbidden magic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forbidden magic, taboo among wizards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The royal family’s army raided after discovering this, and the master was executed on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All the sect’s wizards were detained and investigated for months. I, who had researched with the master a long time, was questioned the most.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While detained and testifying daily, the GM accidentally learned—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the forbidden magic the master researched was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was shocking. Unbelievable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What was it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My master was researching ‘soul transplantation’ magic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic aimed at imbuing souls into objects to create magical tools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The idea was that if a conscious entity beyond biological limits could be taught eternally, it would lead to a leap forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is basically AI deep learning.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was marveling at the idea when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The most important factor in this plan was ‘talent.’ The master believed that learning speed depended on the intelligence of the soul transplanted and had shortlisted several candidates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did I understand why the GM didn’t want to talk about this story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The list the investigator showed me had my name first. There was even a number after my name, probably a rating, and mine was the highest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A betrayal by the master he once followed like a parent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Afterwards, the whole sect vanished, and somehow I ended up founding my own sect. As it grew, I got busy and stopped entering the labyrinth personally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I got a rough idea of how he’d been living since.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Managing the community, building the sect, and secret political dealings with the royal family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the goal of leaving this damned world and going home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So... how was my story?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The GM asked me with a relieved tone, and after a moment’s thought, I answered briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Definitely not an interesting story.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Ahaha, really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An awkward laugh that clearly didn’t fit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just empathizing and feeling sorry would only make the mood awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t think it would help him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But at least it’s good, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because the bastard who betrayed you didn’t live laughing but died miserably.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, the GM first looked dumbfounded but then burst out laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after a while?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahahaha, yeah. I suppose you could look at it that way...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The GM, laughing aloud, then muttered bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I wish I could think that simply too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well... human hearts don’t always obey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day after this honest talk with the GM,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We got up early and hurried to the cave leading to the underground passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By nightfall, we reached our destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not bad having this kind of time after a long while. It felt like returning to my explorer days. Thank you... Wait, why that face?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That kind of thing should be said after returning to the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly saying it made me feel like something was about to happen—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Stop.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out of habit, I quickly scanned the surroundings, then immediately stopped moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quiet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lowering my voice, the GM tensed, gripping his staff tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why are all wizards so Dwalke-like?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question popped up, but I focused on checking the cave entrance instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Was here.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Daehan Geona Ibaekho.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Graffiti by Ibaekho found earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below it, a new mark appeared that hadn’t been there before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Rafdonia’s king, Mother fucker.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a phrase well-known in Ghost Busters—a meme among community players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who else but Ibaekho?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He probably scribbled it on the way back out of boredom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Th-that’s...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know what language that is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I believe it’s the language of evil spirits. And the letters above look like one of their alphabets too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The GM was flustered, unable to reveal the truth about evil spirits, and hurriedly made excuses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, I’d have teased him with ignorant questions, but now there was no time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like there were unwanted visitors. Let’s get out of here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Better not run into them. It’d be troublesome if the city found out I’m outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I really just didn’t want to meet Ibaekho and his gang, the GM nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as communication ended, we slowly backed away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step by step, moving toward the opposite side of the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One step, two steps, three steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as we were about to turn our backs—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“AAAAAAAAAAAH!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man’s howl echoed from inside the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t quite a scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fuuuuuuuuuuck!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shout born of rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly, the echoing scream rapidly approached—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you hear me? You’re nearby! Can you hear me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man burst out of the cave at a speed too fast to follow with the eyes, yelling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...Ibaekho?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, it was Ibaekho.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But here’s another problem—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just try catching me! Huh? If you catch me, I swear I’ll—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibaekho leapt forward with acceleration as soon as he exited the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“....”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“....”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes met ours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body, which seemed about to fly into the sky like a jet, collapsed weakly and landed on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Uh, why is the Baron with him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibaekho’s expression showed unusual surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it didn’t take long before that expression twisted into a demonic glare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You two... did this together...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Together...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I showed an expression meaning I didn’t know, and Ibaekho yelled in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t play dumb! Did you break the returning magic circle? Was it you two?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1763,"2026-06-05T19:33:18.642Z",1,"novelbin.me","31a0a9a891f8d9652e90891fa771707215c9f77295c958992b5f88bbcc9c2670","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-664","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-662",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]