[{"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-707":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},1327934,1764,"Chapter 707: Summoning Order (2)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-707",707,"\u003Cp>After hearing Kaislan’s words, I found myself deep in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense—once I publicly show myself, I’d be dragged to the Military Command, and our clan would have to face the dangerous frontline without me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Should I just keep hiding down here underground?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would lose three comrades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having seen such records before, the very choice to separate from my comrades feels unbearably uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must go, Captain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaislan spoke as if he could guess what I was worrying about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Judging by the document, the mobilization order was issued not long ago. There’s still time before the deadline, so it’s not a problem yet, but if you don’t comply even after the deadline, it could become a major issue later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For example?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at me as if telling me to name everything, then cautiously began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, your reputation will be severely tarnished. No matter our internal situation, to outsiders, it would look like desertion. You’d seem like you ran away from the war out of fear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, the ‘giant’ Baron Bjorn Yandel’s name value would be dragged through the mud...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t unaware of the value of reputation, having relied on it quite a lot since the old days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That doesn’t matter at all. Next.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing me answer immediately without hesitation, Kaislan paused briefly, then chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s an answer befitting a captain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, next.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Second is the damage to the clan itself. As I said before, it would be classified as desertion, so when the war ends, we’d all stand trial. We’d be severely punished. Desertion is treated as a very serious crime under military law.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of severe punishment exactly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Death penalty. Military law aims foremost to set an example.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t something I could just brush off this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless all these people planned to live hiding their identities forever under the sewers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If... Noirark wins? Then wouldn’t there be no punishment for desertion?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That might be so, but...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I raised the hypothetical, Kaislan looked at me firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The royal family will never be defeated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can you be so sure? Isn’t the very issuance of a mobilization order proof that the royal family is so desperate they need explorers’ help?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well... they just called for help to reduce their losses. I don’t think they’re really desperate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He prefaced that it was just his opinion, but I couldn’t just ignore it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This guy was a military man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d know better than anyone about the royal family’s power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there a third thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The third is you, Captain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. We probably won’t go as far as ‘death penalty,’ but in the worst case, your noble title could be revoked on the grounds of desertion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave me such a serious look that I was curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Revocation of title...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I don’t care much about ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) losing the title itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The real problem is the members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I still had my title, I could have done something to prevent the ‘death penalty.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know why you worry, but may I say one thing to you, Captain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped worrying and nodded; Kaislan looked at me with a soldier’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We didn’t choose to follow you to become your lackeys.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We chose to walk the same path as you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Kaislan finished, those around nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s refreshing to hear what I’ve wanted to say for a long time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia even wore a satisfied expression like she’d just drunk a refreshing drink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must go, Captain. The royal family will never lose. If you want to survive in this world, you must go now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With such blunt words, I had no choice but to nod in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright. I’ll go. But there’s something I must do first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What else could it be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I go, I’ll have to part ways with you all, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will elect a vice-captain now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There must be someone to lead the group in the meantime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vice-captain position has been vacant since our founding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not intentionally left empty, but although I wanted to fill it earlier...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Somehow it’s only now that we’re doing this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were many reasons to delay the election.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, everyone found the position burdensome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without a vice-captain, each took charge of a field and things ran smoothly. Plus, the members preferred a more horizontal atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, things are different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vice-captain... you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s a saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flock of sheep led by a lion is stronger than a lion led by sheep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leadership is that important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there anyone who wants to run?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I casually asked the members, but no one dared raise their hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaislan seemed somewhat interested though...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Those two are surprising.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bersil Gowland and James Calla, former vice-captains of medium-sized clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both seemingly perfect for the role, but neither showed interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Maybe they know how hard the job is from experience?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can understand that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our clan is a bit different from others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being vice-captain doesn’t mean enjoying power or perks—it clearly means more duty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm... who would be suitable then?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I started carefully observing the members around me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would be the best fit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still unknown, but one thing is certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vice-captain is not a title I can just hand out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I gave the position to Auyen, would the others listen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only someone who can command authority within the clan by their own strength can take the role.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in that sense...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meland Kaislan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He meets the minimum requirements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Has experience leading groups, is a former soldier with some charisma...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Above all, he’s skilled in strategy and tactics.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His downside is lack of information and a strong personal belief that makes him inflexible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simply put, he’s poor at improvisation...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Amelia Rainwails.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia is quite the opposite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Always thinking and judging rationally, experienced enough to be good at improvisation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she understands groups less than Kaislan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’s not without charisma, but prefers to work alone...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Since she’s a founding member, if she takes the position, everyone would probably accept it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s a big advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’ll lead the clan separated from me, and I think everyone would acknowledge her without complaint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Bersil Gowland.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...He’s also a decent candidate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joined soon after the Ice Rock expedition, so he’s been with the clan relatively long, and is a former vice-captain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Though he seems less charismatic than the other two...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s probably because he’s been an ordinary member, but he’d act differently as vice-captain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Seems decent at strategy and tactics... He’s not too rigid or stubborn from what I’ve heard...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Putting it all together, Bersil feels like a mix of Amelia and Kaislan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kind of in the middle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Anyway, no other candidates come to mind besides these three.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After scanning all the remaining members, I narrowed the candidates to three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen and Misha are founding members but not the type to lead others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey... Vice-captain!! Can I... do it?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainar, of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stay quiet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?! Didn’t you say if anyone wanted to, they should step up?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...You’re excluded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s unfair! Bjorn!! How can you treat me so badly—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fnelin, the captain is speaking. Be quiet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Amelia sharply told him to shut up, Ainar instantly quieted down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sigh. Watching this, Amelia does seem the most fit...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just to be clear, I’m not planning to do it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because it would never suit me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I think you’re the only one who believes that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tends to underestimate herself, like how Erwen and Misha never wear skirts or bright clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She just thinks things don’t fit her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without even trying them on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But don’t worry. Whoever becomes vice-captain, I’ll support you as I have supported you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I can’t force someone who says that so firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I gave up on making Amelia vice-captain cleanly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No one’s volunteering, so I’ll decide—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I! I said I would... Ah! Why am I being pinched?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainar tried to keep insisting, but Misha pinched his waist, ending the matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No candidates, so I’ll decide. Meland Kaislan and Bersil Gowland. I think you two are fit for vice-captain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you trust me, I won’t avoid the duties and weight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me too... Someone has to do it eventually.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay, with those two candidates set...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only one step remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one gave up, the other would take it, but since both showed willingness...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now we start voting. All members come to me and whisper who you think fits better as vice-captain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whisper... you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry! Secrets will be kept!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>James Calla looked a bit baffled but said nothing more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s begin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barbarian-style secret vote began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first vote was for Erwen, whom I nominated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Amelia Rainwails.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did I hear wrong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just because. I think she’d do the best.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you have to choose one of the two...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then just count mine as abstention. I don’t care who it is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, one abstention (Amelia) from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My vote goes to Ms. Gowland... She seems a bit kinder than Kaislan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha was second, voting for Bersil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Kindness and vice-captain don’t really seem related though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...This isn’t an elementary school class president election.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wondered if this was a popularity contest, but the later votes were better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bersil Gowland.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia said just that and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to vote for Ms. Gowland.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>James Calla, a former vice-captain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I must entrust my life to one, it would be Ms. Gowland.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sven Parav, with his exceptional survival sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll go with Bersil Gowland.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lilis Marone, without any special reason, also voted for Bersil, tallying five votes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll vote for Kaislan! A knight is better than a mage!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey... everyone can hear that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainar, unaware of how secret votes work, gave one vote for Kaislan as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, the results are decided.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Candidates didn’t vote, so the voting was basically over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I wanted to hear the opinions, so I summoned the last member for a vote.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um, I...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Auyen Lokrov, the pirate-turned-navigator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would he pick?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think... it has to be Lady Rainz.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A totally unexpected answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, no... I mean Miss Rains. I just think she’s the best fit for vice-captain...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haha...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, go back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay... sorry for the nonsense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s your right to express your opinion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, with Auyen finishing voting and returning to his place, the vice-captain election ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaislan and Bersil looked tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other members were also curiously awaiting the results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry! Kaislan! Everyone must have voted for you! A knight’s better than a mage! You’ll be the one!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, don’t flatter me too much. Ms. Gowland is very competent too. We won’t know until the results are announced.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm... Suddenly, I don’t feel like announcing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, not that I’m going to back down though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will announce the results. Bersil Gowland received five votes and will serve as the new vice-captain of the Anabada clan as of today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon announcing the winner, Kaislan looked both a little disappointed and relieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With five votes, Gowland must have had three. That’s not a bad gap—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Emily Rains received two votes, and Meland Kaislan got one. That’s all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The results were as neatly arranged as Kaislan’s earlier expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of that, Kaislan reacted after a long pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly as it sounds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shrugging nonchalantly, Kaislan shouted in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Miss Rains didn’t even participate in the vice-captain race!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I even wondered if I should keep that secret to myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that would taint the fairness of the sacred secret vote.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry. All votes cast for Rains were counted as abstentions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So keep your spirits up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kaislan, second place is officially yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1961,"2026-06-05T19:33:18.959Z",1,"novelbin.me","6cf3ad17d79d810adf5618ba995688f9dad4b0f2708c6579edad0cad3e60874d","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-708","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-706",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]