[{"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-739":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},1327966,1764,"Chapter 739: Changed Fate (2)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-739",739,"\u003Cp>A clearing under ash-gray clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, this place was where barbarians gathered whenever they had matters to discuss or announcements to make.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other races usually held such meetings indoors for formality and security...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But barbarians found that inefficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why gather indoors when you can stand firmly on your two legs and just listen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of this, the barbarian sanctuary had no proper meeting rooms, and when Bersil asked the administrative secretary-general for a place to hold talks with dozens of people, he was shown this clearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it was hard to understand that such a large group had no proper building...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Don’t try to understand everything. Just accept it—that’s better for your sanity.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the secretary-general’s enlightened words, I found myself nodding unconsciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was genuine advice, and honestly, not wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When dozens gather, huge conference halls actually make communication harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Seeing everyone gathered like this, a naturally horizontal atmosphere just happens...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe that was a barbarian strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once you accept it, you can see the unexpected advantages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clan leaders called out here hadn’t quite accepted it yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahem...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why call us out here so early in the morning?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can important matters be discussed in a place like this? Barbarians don’t even have synagogues or anything?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They don’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh... they say you’ve advanced a lot but still—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Bersil’s point of view, these people clearly didn’t understand their current situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they weren’t guests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I need to say this first.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the meeting started in earnest, Bersil addressed this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I guess many don’t realize it, but we’re refugees fleeing a war. The barbarians are hosts who took us in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Ahem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In that spirit, how about we take a moment to express gratitude for providing us safe shelter and food?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You never know. If they throw us out, we’d have to return helplessly to District 7.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Bersil glanced at Ainar, who grinned and stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, parasites! You saved us, sheltered us, fed us. If you’re human, wouldn’t it be right to shout a battle cry in respect and thanks?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...A battle cry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-You mean Behela?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course!! If you don’t want to, you can refuse! We barbarians respect free will!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah... then I must decline for religious reasons—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! Then you can leave the sanctuary right now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you say you respect free will earlier?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Freedom comes with great responsibility. Don’t you know that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ainar gave a disdainful look, and the man who was about to refuse went mute, as did other clan leaders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bersil saw it was time to give some encouragement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ainar, stop. That person was just declining for religious reasons, but surely grateful to the barbarians.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. That’s only natural for humans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man nodded eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to say thanks than shout battle cries in front of everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others chimed in with words of gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Pnellen, sincere thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our Partia clan feels the same. We will never forget the favor received this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching this, Bersil smiled quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it looked like simple thanks, such small acts build bonds of give and take.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vice Commander Gouldland.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak, Commander Erta.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you explain why you called us here this morning? You didn’t gather so many people just for thanks, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bersil stepped forward, as if waiting for the chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then loudly addressed everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“About an hour ago, the barrier between the sanctuary and District 7 started weakening.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those words struck like lightning in the minds of the explorers who had relaxed since arriving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...W-what does that mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The barrier enclosing the sanctuary wasn’t made by Noark! They’re too busy fighting the royal family to bother with us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strictly speaking, it was the barbarians stationed in the sanctuary, but that was irrelevant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why now... what’s the reason—?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The reason doesn’t matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bersil cut off the question firmly and went to the main point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The barrier is weakening, that’s true. We confirmed the magic supply was cut off and the barrier is naturally breaking down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vice Commander, how much time do we have left?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A calm voice responded—a leader of the Labrime clan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike others I wanted to punch, he had always shown rationality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not exact, but I estimate about an hour.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An hour...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, since that’s the case, we must prepare. I see only two reasons for the barrier suddenly breaking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“May I hear them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, some problem caused the magic supply to cut.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the second?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at a man who had just shouted, Bersil answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Noark probably has the capacity now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To deal with us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, Bersil considered this most likely, and maybe it showed in his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heavy silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clearing so quiet it hardly seemed like dozens were gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaking it was a woman’s voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So... what do we do now...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were up to her, Bersil and I both would have answered, “I don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[From today on, you are our clan’s vice commander.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wouldn’t do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bersil closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone must prepare for battle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can we hear the strategy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Primarily, we’ll focus on defense. We’ll build a stronghold at the gate and block it; enemies won’t break through easily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If primarily, then there’s a next step?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. If an opportunity arises, we’ll push forward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Push forward...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leaders’ eyes widened in surprise, but Bersil shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she was ‘mage’ and ‘ranged attacker,’ she now understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Attack is the best defense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To protect what’s truly precious, you must know how to strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shabin Emour, the barbarian sanctuary’s administrative secretary-general.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was busier than anyone in the tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sanctuary’s location was unlucky, once again swept by war, and she was the acting head of all sanctuary affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she had to stay sharp—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Emour, I brought some tea. Take a moment to refresh your throat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh? But I don’t have time—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you have time for tea? You don’t need to carry this burden alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I understand, but the enemy is about to storm in, how can I rest—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emour looked ready to lose her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, her specialty was administrative office work, not war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I won’t insist, but I’ll leave the tea here. Please drink it when you can. Sometimes, to be effective, you have to calm yourself deliberately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Thank you, Rotmiller.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rotmiller had really come just to bring tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After setting the tea down, he turned away, and Emour noticed something different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Rotmiller? What’s with that gear?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rotmiller, usually in neat casual clothes, was now wearing full equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like he was about to enter the labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh... Emour, this is your first time seeing it? I kept my old gear just in case, and now I’m glad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you... joining the battle...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t that necessary? We need every hand we can get.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you were a scout!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might have sounded rude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Rotmiller smiled gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, don’t worry too much. I was a scout, but also an explorer. I went into the labyrinth to protect what’s precious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emour was speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, thinking clearly, she couldn’t really stop him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, I came to say hello. Once I head to the front, you probably won’t see me till this is over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, all she could say was:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Take care.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spoke sincerely, and Rotmiller responded briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I will return safely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Rotmiller left the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left alone, Emour flushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I will return safely...!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even sipping fragrant tea, her heart wouldn’t calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Lion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only one person at the Round Table used that title.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Known for swaggering like Auril Gavis’s spokesperson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wolf.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coincidentally, the ‘Hirkmuta’ mask the opponent wore was also a black wolf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But rather than coincidence...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They must have belonged to that group from the start.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No doubt, that was why they chose the wolf mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha, don’t be so wary. I’m not your enemy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why did you block the way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never blocked you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so? Then get out of the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spoke coldly, but he had no intention of stepping aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said don’t be so wary. I’m just here on an elder’s orders to offer advice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elder must be old Auril Gavis...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Advice...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Written with the characters meaning ‘helpful’ and ‘speech.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Literally, it means ‘helpful words.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why did hearing that feel so ominous and make me wary?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know, but perhaps sensing I’d listen, he ‘advised’ me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you came this way, you’re heading to the sanctuary, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t go to the sanctuary. Go that way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed toward burning District 7.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was so stunned I couldn’t even laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said you wouldn’t block me, that was bullshit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I truly have no intention to block. If Prince Lion goes to the sanctuary this way, I’ll step aside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so? Then get out of the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you wish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly, he ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ pressed close to the wall’s edge and let me pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cautiously, wondering if he might do something, I walked forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was about to pass in front of him—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, one more thing. Killing the Jester was a bad choice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does my choice matter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It does. At least to Prince Lion. The elder said if the Jester had lived, he would have been a great help to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I doubt that, but I see your elder is quite meddlesome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s merciful and noble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder he’s a diehard Auril Gavis fan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finding no more reason to talk, I resumed walking past him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After bearing a lot of thoughts, I took three more steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Ha, I’m really losing it...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, I turned back and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I didn’t like seeing his eyes narrow behind the mask,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you saying don’t go to the sanctuary?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to hold back the question, he answered eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who lives or dies depends on where you go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So don’t go to the sanctuary, go to District 7. That’s the choice that best protects Prince Lion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A choice for me...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I chuckled and asked one last thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. Did that elder tell you about this future too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know what you mean, but that’s the extent of the advice I was allowed—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t asking for more advice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a quick motion, I grabbed his throat and pushed him toward the wall’s edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will you live here, or die?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he answers right, maybe I could believe him.\u003C\u002Fp>",1766,"2026-06-05T19:33:18.959Z",1,"novelbin.me","d04088d133d9173883c9560b81dd5198dd80315becd55080b4986c8ef380555e","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-740","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-738",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]