[{"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-768":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},1328133,1764,"Chapter 768: Clarifying Positions (3)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-768",768,"\u003Cp>The fact that a barbarian’s hand is a healing hand—I can prove that through the life I’ve lived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve personally fixed the mental issues of many people, and surprisingly, this time was no different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I smacked the back of the marquis’s head, the dull, dead-fish look in his eyes began to flicker with life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, strictly speaking, it was more like humiliation and rage than vitality...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, even such negative emotions meant he was alive, so calling it “vitality” wasn’t entirely wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good, that's much better.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t hide my satisfaction as I looked at the marquis, who had regained some life in his gaze. Slowly, he lifted his head and looked up at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A whirlwind of complex emotions surged in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shock from being smacked on the back of the head by another person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Humiliation from having to look up at someone he used to look down on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ragna...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Affection for his daughter, and the self-loathing that came from failing to protect her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I had no reason to pity him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A warrior’s heart isn’t soft enough to sympathize with his enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, I clearly remember what the marquis said to me back then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[In the process, one of your precious comrades may die. No—they will die. I’ll make sure of it.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You all need to feel it too. The pain I felt.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That curse, spoken with full sincerity, had actually come true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was struck by Urae and lost consciousness, and Rotmiller died trying to protect me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the one who killed Rotmiller was some nameless Noark soldier, it was the marquis who bore the true responsibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah. That’s why...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clench—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I do not feel pity for this man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weight of the twenty who died on Ice Rock is far too heavy for me to harbor such human emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Marquis. As promised, I’ve brought your daughter. So now, fulfill your end of the deal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the marquis and I exchanged silent glances, the bespectacled bastard behind us cut in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You mean the transfer of Urae’s ownership?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s right. In return, your daughter will be fully protected by Noark. Ah, of course, you’re an exception. Bjorn Yandel offered you up in exchange for your daughter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So that’s how this played out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The marquis nodded slowly, as if he finally understood the circumstances that had led me and the bespectacled bastard to arrive together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to me again and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you see it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subject was omitted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I didn’t ask him to clarify. I just answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I saw it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trailing off, the marquis paused for a moment before speaking again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’d like to have a word with Yandel in private. Could you give us a moment?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You may keep my daughter with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bespectacled man frowned in consideration, but it didn’t take long for him to nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I suppose I can allow that. Just a brief moment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You must keep your promise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly, the bespectacled bastard agreed readily. I signaled to Amelia that it was fine, and she took the others out, following him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now we were alone in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s been a while, meeting just the two of us like this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You seem unusually at ease.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fear is a feeling born from having something to lose. But look at me now. Do I look like I have anything left to lose?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t know... that diary makes it look like you do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I made a slightly softened reference to Ragna, the marquis gave a bitter smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a way, he was similar to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least in the sense that his weakness was glaringly obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what is this? You suddenly want to talk alone—what, are you going to ask me to take care of your daughter or something?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I said it with heavy sarcasm, but the marquis offered no rebuttal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which honestly just made things more awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What, seriously? That’s really what you were going to—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How much do you know about the Lafdonia royal family?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Huh? That’s where this conversation is going?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a bit unexpected, but truthfully, if he hadn’t brought it up, I would have.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lafdonia royal family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anyone could explain the enormous secret buried there, it would be the marquis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What exactly are they working so hard to hide?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know a few things... secrets others don’t. Why? You planning to tell me something?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I asked with a casual toss, the marquis nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then get on with it. Who knows? Maybe if the story’s dramatic enough, I’ll be so moved I’ll actually help Ragna.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I half-jokingly urged him on—and the marquis responded with a bombshell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Immortal King and the Dawnbringer King are the same person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...What the hell did I just hear?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The story of the Dawnbringer King is quite famous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When public unrest grew due to the Immortal King going mad and slaughtering people, the Dawnbringer King seized the throne and ushered in a new era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The age of immortality ended, and a new age began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dawnbringer King abolished old traditions and enacted countless policies for the people, earning their fervent support. As a result, he was called a \"saintly ruler.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now the marquis was saying—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re the same person?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was shocking, but rather than freeze up, I asked the first thing that came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that confirmed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might be pointless, but I still asked about the credibility of the information. The marquis answered with a counter-question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Judging by the fact you’re not asking how that’s possible, I’d say you know a fair bit about the royal family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Bullseye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the royal family’s secrets didn’t appear in the game, but I had uncovered much while exploring the outer wall and the B1 underground level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Oh? Didn’t you know? The Immortal King passed down the throne by stealing the bodies of his own offspring. That’s why he always wore a mask.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hidden truth of Lafdonia I’d heard from the ancient chieftain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, I’d thought so that’s why the Dawnbringer overthrew him. After all, there’s no clearer, more desperate reason than survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But because of that...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just answer the question. Is it confirmed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I found it hard to believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, I knew it wasn’t impossible, theoretically...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I’ll be different from him. I’ll live and die as a human.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) line the Dawnbringer King once said didn’t feel like acting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet now it’s all supposed to be a lie?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To believe that, I’d need at least—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you're asking for evidence... I don’t have any. The Lafdonia royal family isn’t that sloppy. But I’ve spent years investigating them, and I’ve concluded the likelihood is very high.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I exhaled unconsciously as I listened to his next words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haa...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, no evidence. Just circumstantial belief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I got tense for nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, either way, it doesn’t matter to me if they’re the same person or not...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyway, is that all you wanted to tell me? That there’s a good chance they’re the same person?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course not. That was just a preface.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then go on. This is probably the last time you’ll get to talk freely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know about Karui’s Heart?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karui’s Heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A treasure said to hold the power of an ancient evil god—allowing the user to steal the body of another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Immortal King used it to continue his existence by possessing his children like some kind of wraith.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then this will be quick. In the process of taking over the Dawnbringer King’s body, the Immortal King lost the last remaining Karui’s Heart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Huh? Hold on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Last remaining?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You visit the library often, but I guess you didn’t study mythology. Even the scriptures of the Three Gods Cult mention two Hearts of the evil god into which relics were embedded.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Fine, history lessons aside. So you’re saying there were two items called Karui’s Heart in total.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s correct.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That finally clears up a long-standing mystery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the ancient chieftain ran off with one, how the hell did the Immortal King keep surviving?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, go on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyway, after losing the remaining heart, time passed... and the body of the Dawnbringer King reached the end of its lifespan. He should’ve died long ago. But...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s still alive. Sleeps more often, but still breathing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The marquis gave me a strange look as I said it nonchalantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I didn’t expect you to know that much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My life’s just been cursed like that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just want to survive, but I keep getting dragged into all this crap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t stop now. What are you trying to say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...The royal family has been searching for Karui’s Heart ever since. And recently, the treasure has surfaced again. Fortunately, they don’t seem to know exactly where it is yet...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s only a matter of time before they find it. That’s why I made this reckless move.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because you thought the king would take Ragna’s body?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s right. To protect my daughter, I had no other choice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So that’s how it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had a feeling there might be a deeper story, but I didn’t expect it to actually be this one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well... losing the woman you love, losing your son, and now your daughter is about to be taken too—who could endure that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though, one question remains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does it have to be Ragna?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is the marquis so certain the king would target Ragna specifically?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The king has always possessed only the bodies of his own bloodline. There must be a reason.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I mean... If I were in his shoes, I’d have created a bunch of offspring to store away. Couldn't you just convince him to take another one?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The marquis gave a bitter smile at my question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He did exactly that once. The Dawnbringer King created many children and kept them in ‘storage.’ But... a mysterious group relentlessly hunted them down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A mysterious group?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hirkumuta. They wear black wolf masks and claim to follow the Last Great Sage. No one knows their true goal, but while the king slept, they targeted the children. As a result, none remain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And wasn’t it said that even the captain of the Rose Knights died during that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by the timeline, that would’ve been back when I was still a total rookie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that’s not what matters right now...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you understand what this means?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It means Ragna is the last remaining royal bloodline.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing my answer, the marquis quietly closed his eyes... then opened them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me make one final offer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The marquis said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Would you like to become king?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t the sly whisper of a devil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked too desperate... and too pitiful... for that.\u003C\u002Fp>",1797,"2026-06-05T19:33:19.606Z",1,"novelbin.me","152e1d5e1f442de9f1b463fe4d5f7a7a0b10533347eee6b7078fcf49b4323503","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-589","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-767",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]