[{"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-668":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},1328045,1764,"Chapter 668: New World (3)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-668",668,"\u003Cp>Outside the city walls, not a single strand of hair could be found except for us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it was reported that signs of human presence were detected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And not just a group... but a single individual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The target is one person... surprisingly, they appear to be sleeping soundly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironically, the fact that it was only one person made ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ me feel even more uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn’t that far more suspicious than if it had been several?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who on this dangerous land where Grade 3 monsters appear would be wandering alone, and why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well... we should check it out, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. It’s only right to assess all surrounding variables first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibaekho and the archer quickly exchanged opinions and sprang into action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going ahead, so follow me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibaekho shot forward like a cannonball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does this guy have no fear at all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were me, given the unknown variables, I’d approach slowly and stealthily with my team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That unconditional confidence...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe that’s Ibaekho’s greatest weakness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Baekho?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aures, let’s hurry. That man might not be dangerous, but you never know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest of us hurriedly followed Ibaekho.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after some time...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wh-who are you to do this! Gah! L-let me go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man’s panicked voice echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From just below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Seems to be down here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peering into a wide fissure in the ground that looked like it was cracked by an earthquake, I heard Ibaekho’s voice from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, you’re all here? I’m coming down, wait! It’s narrow, so not everyone can fit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying that, Ibaekho peeked his face out from the cliff below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From above, the angle didn’t show much, but it seemed there was a hidden space down there...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibaekho leapt up and landed where we were with a grunt like an old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his raised right hand was a struggling middle-aged man, whose identity was unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked very unhygienic, as if he hadn’t washed for months...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-what are you...! Let me go! Let me go—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The struggling man’s eyes widened as his gaze fixed on someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Aures? You’re the gatekeeper Aures, right? Aures-niiiim!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-you are...!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...What? They knew each other?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Who are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eek! I’m the Red Eye, squad leader of Noark’s direct guard unit, 3rd squad!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Red Eye? That’s a new nickname...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aures tilted his head, and Ibaekho, who had loosened his grip slightly, narrowed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh, just made up some name and pretended to know him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no! You know! Red Eye! Red Eye Daylan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man hastily added his name, and Lek Aures seemed to recall something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Daylan? That’s the name of the old man at the Merun tavern, right? Oh... you’re his son?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes! That’s me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, now I remember that guy! Haha! Nice to meet you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did the two recognize each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibaekho seemed a bit deflated and threw the man to the ground like cargo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he hadn’t completely lost interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said Daylan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes... that’s right!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me, what were you doing here alone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t tell the truth, you’re dead. Take this seriously.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That intimidating attitude was one of Ibaekho’s scary traits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ignored all politeness and pressed with force, demanding answers, and had a built-in lie detector.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I almost lost it then...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the man shrink and roll his eyes in desperation reminded me of old memories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the past is the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak quickly! What nonsense were you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibaekho barked again, and the man shut his eyes tightly before answering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I... deserted!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Deserted...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The plan to invade Rafdonia seemed so absurd... People like us would only die meaninglessly if we got involved!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see... So while everyone else was going back, you snuck away?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wasn’t the only one! At first, many people thought the same as me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm? Then why are you alone now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We were scattered because of monsters...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He explained that initially more than a hundred people remained outside together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They said if they united, they could live happily here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that promise lost all meaning the moment they faced powerful monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who left the group for their own safety couldn’t possibly unite properly in a crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So after scattering, we carefully searched for places to hide. That’s how we ended up settling here...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In that rabbit-hole-like place in the cliff?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long have you lived there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh... I don’t know the exact time, but about two months now...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow, impressive. But where did you go to the bathroom?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well... actually... I used to squat at the cliff’s edge—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop it! No dirty talk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaina, the healer, frowned and scolded him, and Ibaekho grumbled but didn’t continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And maybe sensing it was the right moment?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So... who is Gongja-nim?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man boldly asked Ibaekho.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me? Why do you want to know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well... if you’re from the city, I wondered if you might know if the lord’s plan succeeded...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is he regretting not following now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he really is from the city, he seems ready to beg to be taken back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Ibaekho wouldn’t allow that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t need to know. Stay quiet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, what should we do with this guy? He’ll probably die soon anyway...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s face grew more desperate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone sounded like he was deciding what to eat for dinner—chilling me to the bone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait! I have a proposal!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please take me with you when you return to the city! I’ll give you useful information!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His desperate bargaining was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ibaekho only showed a bored expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, not really curious...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his tone was uninterested, I could tell it was an act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, a natural negotiation—if the other party shows submission, he takes control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, then say it. If it’s truly useful, I might consider.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibaekho spoke firmly from a position of power, giving nothing away, and then through the man, we heard something unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dimensional stele...! I know where another one is...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s story was very short and simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After separating from the group, he wandered far and wide looking for a safe place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he accidentally found it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dimensional stele identical to the one in the Noark settlement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Ibaekho, who has a lie detector, saying that, there’s no doubt about its truth...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Usually, it’s hidden in a dangerous place no one would dare go. If not for me, no one would find it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed... Since he found it by living in a small cave under the cliff, it seemed to be somewhere unimaginable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, where exactly is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now clearly fascinated by the dimensional stele, Ibaekho no longer feigned disinterest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing this, the man quickly tried to bargain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not hard to tell you, but...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, you want a promise, right? I’ll promise. If you don’t cause trouble and follow us well, we’ll take you to the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man seemed to try to check if Ibaekho was lying, but eventually nodded, realizing he had no choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I trust you...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Now tell me, where is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man led us to his hideout at the edge of the cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s right down here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Down here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ha, no wonder he told us so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must have wanted to finish the deal quickly since we would find it soon anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going down first, everyone come down on your own, got it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Ibaekho jumped off the cliff again, and we followed down in our own ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoooooosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mage floated down with levitation magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap, tap, tap—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The archer leapt down the cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hihihihiing-!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The priest rode a flying summoned beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Guess I have to make do with my body.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraaaang-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fall was quite deep, and upon landing, it felt like electricity ran through my toes, but thanks to my high bone density and physical resistance stats, I endured it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow, Baron, you’re bold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you saying? Anyway, this must be the dimensional stele, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. It really exists. We’ll have to ask the old man later if it can be activated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep ravine, nearly 70 meters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was so dark that light barely reached down, but the dimensional stele the man mentioned clearly stood there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, old man! Here! Here! Come check this out quickly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Havelion, you come and take a look too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the mages arrived, they examined the stele and reached the same conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is exactly the same kind of dimensional stele we used.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we pump enough mana into it like last time, there’s a high chance the portal will open.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow, really? Even after all that searching, it’s found like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibaekho patted the man on the shoulder as if praising him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought he should have patted harder if he was praising, but everyone has their own style.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, let’s start putting mana in. Let’s see if it actually works.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What if it does?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, try first. See if it works, then think. Why so cautious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The GM, who had asked a question earlier and got scolded, approached the stele with a bitter expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Starting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ruin scholar and the GM injected mana first, producing exactly the same effect as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sshhhhhhh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dense mana emitted light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It gradually took shape, growing in size until the portal formed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The portal really opened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baekho, what’s your plan now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Well, I really have to think now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Finish as quickly as possible. The portal only lasts about five minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I thought he was quietly contemplating alone, Ibaekho spoke again shortly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I’m curious where this leads. It really feels like exploring for the first time in a long while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Don’t forget our goal. We came here to gather materials to fix the magic circle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you never know, maybe this will get us there faster.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, if not, we can open another portal and come back. Right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What percentage P is this guy thinking with?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a mindset I can’t even imagine, but one thing I agreed on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m curious too...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It really feels like an adventure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I was thinking that, Ibaekho made up his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay, decision made.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What will you do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go through once. It’s more work to come back here later. Baron, you okay with that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you say no, you won’t?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. We’re going without you. You stay here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m coming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, this is kind of a hidden piece. I can’t just let Ibaekho go alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I decided, things started moving fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, you go first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me... me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why can’t you go first?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There might be danger on the other side... Ah, I’ll go first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should have done that earlier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibaekho sent the man through the portal first, then one by one, we crossed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, I was last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My vision whitened then slowly cleared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I habitually scanned the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The terrain was a dark cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No monsters nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baekho? Did you come properly? I don’t see the dimensional stele anywhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment we crossed, the portal disappeared, and the dimensional stele that allows opening portals was nowhere to be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘One, two, three, four, five...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One person was missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, more precisely...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell? That bastard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man who told us about the dimensional stele’s location was nowhere to be found.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where did he really go? There was absolutely no time to escape! What the hell?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibaekho muttered in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching him, I swallowed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt like we’d fallen into a trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An inexplicable dread began to engulf me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hurriedly spoke to Aures, who was familiar with that guy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aures.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That guy earlier. The one called Daylan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you remember his full name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aures found the question somewhat random.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he thought seriously and answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well... I don’t really remember.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, it wasn’t much of a help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...Maybe it’s better not to know?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I was about to drop the subject, Aures said something I couldn’t ignore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think it was a very common name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Eh, no way, right?\u003C\u002Fp>",2022,"2026-06-05T19:33:18.642Z",1,"novelbin.me","d5115e4f8a92b8051e2cb106c27c8c004365b2ff903db7df70e2d8efcc34b03f","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-669","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-667",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]