[{"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-794":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},1328171,1764,"Chapter 794: Skull Island (1)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-794",794,"\u003Cp>We’re wandering aimlessly around the central part of the island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—! Crack—! Craaack—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, we’re smashing monsters that pop up as we go, in real-time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the reason I’d still say we’re “wandering” is simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re not really fighting anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...This is boring.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah... I honestly think I’d have more fun doing paperwork at this point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The average monster grade on Skull Island is 6.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even that’s inflated by the rare, higher-tier ones—most of what shows up are Grade 7 or 8.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There aren’t any new monsters, either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So far, the only thing on this island even worth killing for experience was a single Skull Ghost (Grade 6).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I hope that thing you mentioned shows up soon, Commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Auyen, a non-combatant, was saying that—meaning things really were that boring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Funny how fired up he was with competitiveness just a few days ago.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that I blame him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s been two full days since that encounter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Looks like they haven’t found it either, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably not. If the cave had opened, we would’ve noticed something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But what if they had some way to hide it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raven asked the question, and I nearly scoffed—but I stopped myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t entirely impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean, they did have those, right? Multiple copies of them, even.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, those...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Raven was referring to were [Numbers] items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it wasn’t confirmed they had them—just a very likely assumption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You agreed too, didn’t you? That it wouldn’t have made sense for them to hide like that otherwise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah... true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Detection’s a secondary skill. If they only had Elwen or Amelia—whose specialties are combat—I’d have dismissed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, they’d brought in Beleg, also known as the “Chaser.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, a specialist in detection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, they spotted us first—and successfully concealed that entire force without a trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So how was that possible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long discussion with Beleg himself, I reached one conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was all thanks to gear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was even one item that looked very suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No. 16 – Ebony Emblem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An item that massively enhances stealth-type skills when equipped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It boosts stats while hidden, slathers on bonus effects for ambushes... basically a graduation item for assassins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the two important options are these:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you stay still while wearing it, you enter a state of absolute stealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you activate its ability, it generates 29 tokens that maintain the effect temporarily when worn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'If they used that, it makes sense how they were able to suppress their presence like that.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if you recall the situation, they were all just standing still. They only revealed themselves once we reached the cave entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was even a witness report of someone seeing a similar item.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only problem is, they’d need at least three of those to hide all ninety people...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if that theory’s correct, what I’m really curious about isn’t how they got those rare items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s why the so-called “Gold Ghost” collected three of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing about that guy screams good intentions—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Viscount Yandel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Beleg suddenly stopped and whispered to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you—just call me Commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Approaching targets.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Six.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need to ask who they were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost certainly one of the Golden Tree Clan’s sub-teams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we keep going, we’ll cross paths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, this was unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We hadn’t encountered them directly at all these past two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when our routes overlapped, both sides had sensed each other from afar and deliberately avoided contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like they’ve got business with us. We’ll wait here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We paused, and after a short while, a team of explorers emerged from the eerie, vine-covered underbrush—wearing the crest of the Golden Tree Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Yandel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Avman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A completely unexpected reunion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had glimpsed each other briefly during that standoff at the cave, but we hadn’t had the chance to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that I had a moment to think about it, I couldn’t help but chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the way he looked flustered, it was pretty clear they weren’t here to talk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lost, are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Of course not. We were just passing through.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, and I’m a goddamn fish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just from looking at them, it was obvious he was acting as the guide thanks to his [Pathfinder] ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bear Guy is a guide—but he’s got no sense of direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also completely lacks the basic detection skills that most guides have by default.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the Team Apple Narak days, we had a perfectly fine pathfinder and I still took lessons from Rotmiller.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In hindsight, it worked out, though...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh... again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of Bear Guy’s teammates sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unlike the affectionate sighs we used to let out in Apple Narak, this one felt... different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More like frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you hear? The Captain said to avoid contact as much as possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you do it on purpose? Just to catch up with your old buddy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“N-No, of course not! Th-this was purely coincidence!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Coincidence my ass. You’re just incompetent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment that conversation ended, the air between them turned painfully awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in just those few exchanges, I could get a read on the relationship between Bear Guy and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And judging by his reaction, so could he.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More accurately...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the look of someone who just got exposed for something they didn’t want anyone to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can’t blame him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one wants their friends or family to see them getting chewed out by a superior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this probably isn’t even the worst of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were holding back because I was here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who knows what kinds of abuse go on when no one’s watching?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Regardless, our apologies, Viscount Yandel. We didn’t come to cause trouble... As you can see, this was entirely his mistake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I’m not blaming you, so forget it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a relief. You heard him—let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to talk to Bear Guy more, but I couldn’t exactly stop them under these circumstances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could force a short conversation, but that might backfire on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They might accuse him of leaking information or something—label him a traitor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, it looked like he didn’t want to stick around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I was about to let them go without saying anything when...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Phew... How’d a halfwit like that end up on our team anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was too loud to pass off as a mutter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Misha Kalstein has cast Frozen Soul.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wall of ice sprang up before the departing party with a single swing of her blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You... what did you just say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha was well and truly pissed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chill from the ice wall rode the wind and brushed across my skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an unexpected move—but not crossing the line yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t actually attacked them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if things went any further...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Viscount Yandel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man who appeared to be the team leader ignored Misha and addressed me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shall I take this to mean you’re violating our pact?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze was aggressive, and honestly, it was ridiculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t even the leader—just a regular team member.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to step in and say something—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget that. You! Goblin head! What did you say to Avman just now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You not gonna answer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha’s breathing grew heavy as she watched the team leader ignore her completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vrrrrr...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the hand gripping her sword was trembling now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was seriously angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hurry up and answer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tone dropped—and with it, her usual pronunciation issues vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the team leader responded with a voice dripping in irritation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this about the ‘halfwit’ comment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tch. So it was true, then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m telling you nicely—take it back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Frankly, I don’t know what right you think you have to demand that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure, I know you and Urikfrit used to be teammates. But now he’s part of our clan. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t meddle in our internal affairs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So as long as he’s not part of your clan, it’s fine, huh? Avman! Get over here! Ditch that crap excuse for a clan and—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, Misha Kalstein.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t me or the team leader who stopped her—it was Bear Guy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone was so firm, Misha looked genuinely hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d only tried to help—why shut her down like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the team leader did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You call him a former comrade, yet you don’t even know this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Urikfrit borrowed money from our clan. The Labyrinth was closed for over a year, his shop couldn’t stay open... He had no other option.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha! How much? We’ll pay it off—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Doesn’t matter. In exchange for the loan, he agreed to complete a set number of expeditions. This is just the first. After this one, he’s got 23 left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So... So you treat him like garbage just because he can’t quit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have no idea what you’re talking ab—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that point, I stepped in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha looked like she had a lot more to say, but I stopped her with a look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not here to meddle in your affairs. And I have no intention of violating the pact. So let’s end this here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Much appreciated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I backed down first, and the team leader gave a slight bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked like the situation was resolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Misha wasn’t ready to let it go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Why do you do it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She addressed them again as they turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia tried to stop her—but this time, I held Amelia back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t look like Misha was about to launch an attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you talking about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you do it? You’re a team, comrades... Aren’t you? So why do you treat him like he’s nothing? Why bully him like that...? Is that... Is that supposed to be fun for you...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The team leader’s expression faltered for a second—then hardened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Must be nice. Living in a different world from us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, they vanished back into the underbrush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha bit her lip, visibly upset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bjorn...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry. I’ve got an idea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Really?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t planned it before—but now I did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[New Subquest: Win the competition against the Golden Tree Clan and monopolize the Skull Island event.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that were my main quest, this was the new side quest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Bear Guy himself doesn’t want it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The Guildmaster’s leaving—so someone’s gotta fill the spot, right?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m not letting this go on any longer.\u003C\u002Fp>",1737,"2026-06-05T19:33:19.606Z",1,"novelbin.me","894b9fda3ebbe3ecd1fca827a0faf301761beba0676f49d0a246e0bd5a08346e","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-795","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-793",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]