[{"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-9":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},1327588,1764,"Chapter 9","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-9",9,"\u003Cp>Night Friend (2)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\" Why are you giving me this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do I need a reason to help you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I feel like a thorn is stabbing the insides of my mouth, trying to spout rubbish I don't even want to say, but I can't help it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this works better for her type.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I want to be friends with this fairy tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It makes me sound like garbage for some reason, but it's not a bad deal for her either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Injuries, lack of sleep, and gorgeous looks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just looking at her situation, she has it several times worse than me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She did that shit just now because she knows that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, that tenacious obsession with her own survival surprised me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Like I said, treat yourself first. We can talk later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Im going to stand guard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I turn my back dismissively, I soon hear a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of herbs being chewed before applying them over her wounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\" It's all done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Already? She's surprisingly good with her hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning around, I see a tightly wrapped bandage from between the gaps of her torn clothes. The vigilance in her eyes when she looks at me seems to have lessened a bit, for some reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let's start with the standard introductions and slowly close the distance between us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am Bjorn, son of Yandel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\" Erwen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I dont know what you've misunderstood. But nothing will happen to you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes? Ah, yes\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She makes a brave face, but the fear is still there in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought that if I did this much, this misunderstanding would soon be solved, but what the hell is wrong now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, I can only ask bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you so afraid of me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\" Barbarians and fairies are enemies, aren't they?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enemies?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry, Im sorry! I didn't mean it like that I don't want to fight you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gets so worked up at my question that she starts begging again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, I just asked because I was really curious\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are fairies and barbarians, enemies? That's a story I'm hearing for the first time. They obviously got along pretty well in the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did this happen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just look at her with a piercing stare, and the information I wanted readily flows out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\" Th-, the war that ended ten years ago? I, I personally don't have any lingering hatred! I really don't.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten years ago\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don't know what happened, but listening to her talk, it seems more like a belligerent relationship rather than outright hostility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, then, was she afraid because she grew up hearing bad things about my race from a young age?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation is pretty bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What do I do? Do I have to look for somebody else?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention, the herbs and bandages I already gave her are on the pricey side\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alright, let's try this first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's the same for me, no lingering hatred.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thats right!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. That's why I'm asking, Erwen. Would you like to be friends with me tonight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\" Night friend?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm tired now. The same must go for you, too. So why don't we cooperate for today, since there are no lingering feelings between us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ummm\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes suddenly light up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, I wonder if she spoke truly just now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without rushing, Erwen contemplates for a while with a deep frown, then offers a condition instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Barbarians value a warrior's honour. Can you swear on it? That you won't hurt me first?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I swear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm, of course, I promise you in the name of my clan. I would never harm you first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's equivalent to a pinky swear In Korean culture[1].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I can do this all day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there is one issue that needs to be addressed first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am Bjorn, son of Yandel. Not uncle'.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our Bjorn is only twenty years old, you know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The contract had been concluded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was even a bit ground-breaking in terms of local culture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to that, I found out the fairy maiden's real name in the process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen Fornacci di Tersia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was twenty years old, same as me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hoo, I'm glad I'm not the real Bjorn. I'm sure the real Bjorn would think so too. Even if I\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I won't say it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then how do we decide how to take turns?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll sleep first. That should make you feel safer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Its not like that, but if you want to, I cant help it\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a word, it was an unvoiced complaint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So it's good with you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heh, I'm glad. I would've fallen into despair if it'd been rock-paper-scissors again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eyes had been fluttering closed since some time ago. Please, I just wanted to get some sleep. Why was getting a good night's sleep so hard?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, yeah, but! How do I know the time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tsk, is this why rookies had it so difficult?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took the watch out of my backpack and gave it to Erwen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Its expensive, so dont break it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her receive it reverently like an ancestral relic gave me some peace of mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll be careful with it. Good night.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I lied down on my backpack, covered myself with a blanket, just like uncle had done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zzzzzzzzz!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let sleep claim my consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uncle!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's Bjorn, I tell you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uncle, wake up. Time's up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I forced my eyes open and got up. I couldn't believe it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had it been two hours already?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come on, give the watch here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at the time, and two hours had indeed passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come to think of it, it seemed that I hadn't even snored properly. Just in case, I tried to do that that for ten minutes\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wow, was this the synergy between a backpack and a blanket?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was terrifying enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Obviously, if uncle had lent them to me, I wouldn't have been able to avoid his surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would have slept very comfortably, forgetting the outside world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this karma?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering the circumstances, let's lend them to her too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cover yourself with this and sleep. And use this as a pillow if you want.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes? But\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was shy, but her lips curved at the corners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided to pretend that I hadn't seen anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, then Ill use them properly, thank you\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without any further urging on my part, Erwen crawled into the blanket and curled up like a cat. And soon after, there was the sound of regular breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hey, are you sleeping so well in front of an outsider?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed tired. She might've had as hard a day as mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hoo\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rested my back against the wall and opened the watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[22: 50]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like five days had passed, but there was still more than an hour left before the second day ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to go back to the city soon. Actually, it was funny to say that I was going back, but If I managed to go back, I'd definitely sleep for a few days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that I can think like this, this body is really worth it.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I closed the watch and put it back in, immersed deeply in my thoughts. It'd been a while since I last had a peaceful time, but I kept thinking about this and that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What happened to me in reality?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had my disappearance been discovered? Surely it would be. Somebody should come. Although the company wouldn't take a few days' absence seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kkh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't that this was the first time I was considering this issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It just made me more and more sad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you keep thinking that there's nothing good about going back, your will itself would shatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was better just not to think about it, in many ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter if it was only deceiving myself, I was pretty good at self-hypnosis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I deliberately twisted my flow of thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alright, let's recap what happened over the past two days. After the coming-of-age ceremony, I entered the labyrinth, fought the goblins, fought uncle\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shall I praise myself for doing well so far?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clung to life really hard. Since there was no one to praise me for that, why not do it myself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snap\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided to leave the self-congratulations until I got back to the city, and when I opened the watch, time had run out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Erwen, wake up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just five more minutes\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What's so good about just five minutes, hurry and get up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen rubbed her eyes and stood up as she shook off the wretched barbarian's hand from her shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hey, this looks dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could see why she hated me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dont even think about falling asleep just because nothing has happened so far.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was a little nervous, but once again I went back to bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe because I'd lent her the blanket and the backpack, a trace of warmth remained in them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was ironic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How long had it been since I'd last felt the warmth of someone other than myself? How unfamiliar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe more than everything else I'd gone through in the past two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zzzzzzzzzz!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, I had quite a bit of energy, so I diligently started snoring. To be honest, it was more to make sure she didn't sleep and did her job properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't feel like sleeping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I opened my eyes and glanced at Erwen, then let go of my worries and closed my eyes once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And, how long had it been after that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a sense of urgency and sat up hurriedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, I was holding Erwen's white wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked like she had been stretching it out towards me\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you doing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You looked like you were having a bad nightmare, because you kept sweating\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the handkerchief in her hand, it didn't seem like an excuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, if it had been a weapon in the first place, I would have hit her with a shield without asking why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry, Im sorry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After grasping the situation, I relaxed my hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen stroked the place I'd caught with a painful expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were already red marks on her wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't even apologize. Because they would've been empty words anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How much time has passed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\" Ten minutes left till shift change.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right. So let me take the shift now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I sleep again now, I'll just be more tired.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my words, Erwen lay down with an apologetic expression. And tossed and turned a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uncle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Any problems?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. I have a question.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ask.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Erwen hesitated for a moment before speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\" Who is your uncle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What? Are you making a pun?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because you keep muttering, telling him youre sorry, in your dreams Oh, my apologies. Am I speaking out of turn? You don't have to answer. I'll just sleep.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could respond, Erwen pulled up the blanket over her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed that this young lady was slowly starting to become curious when she realized that I was not that scary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lay off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought while doing a few simple stretches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't really remember anything, but it looked like I had a real nightmare\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, I felt a little curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who the hell was the man I was asking for forgiveness?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two candidates came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unknown uncle who was decapitated at the coming-of-age ceremony, and Uncle Hans, who taught me how to be human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when I thought about it, it was strange for it to be either. I didn't recall doing anything to them worth apologizing for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon I came to a conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must've been some meaningless dog dream that I had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[04:30]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Day 3 had started. And about 10 minutes left before I had to wake up Erwen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt worried as I watched Erwen sleep with a blanket crunched between her legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What concerned me was the prospect of a second date[2].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is, whether or not to propose a team-up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there was a downside to having a companion, that you would have to share the loot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how many goblins appeared on the third day, it was clear that Erwen joining would reduce my eventual income.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had nothing to do with her strength. Well, since she was a fairy, it would usually be cost-effective, but\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I say that I'm already overpowered?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without Erwen, I could easily dispatch three or four goblins by my lonesome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't arrogance, I really judged that way after experiencing several battles with this body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I had to collect as many mana stones as possible, to prepare for my future living expenses in the city as well as the subsequent taxes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hoo\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Safety, or more mana stones?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I was pondering about the most rational choice\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could hear adventurers' footsteps from the passage on the left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It'd happened several times during the night, so I wasn't particularly nervous. Most of the time, they'd take a look at us once and just pass by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This pair of adventurers, let's call them Ricky and Buster[3], took one look at us and stopped walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And whispered to each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isnt that the fairy?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Looks right. The shape of the bow matches.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the two men who came to a conclusion while whispering between themselves, Buster asked me as the representative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Barbarian, what is your relationship with the fairy?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As you can see, we are night friends.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even barbarians and fairies can be night friends, I've seen something strange today. So how long do you two have left?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have no answer for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buster didn't ask any further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just smiled and left with Ricky beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right. Let's go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh? Ah, um\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, their presence disappeared from the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I wasn't reassured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell were these bastards doing? It felt as ominous as when the chieftain had shouted in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I slowly moved to the side and tapped Erwen, who was still sleeping, on the shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hey, are you still sleeping in this situation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wake the hell up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because somehow, it feels like we're fucked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Editor's Notes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[1] Or rather, that is the western equivalent. Not translating the full Korean gesture here because not very relevant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[2] (lit. after sales application), requesting the next date after the first meeting or blind date.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[3] (Tong Tong) and (Bi Sil) are Doreamon characters, fat and thin respectively.\u003C\u002Fp>",2418,"2026-06-05T19:32:48.785Z",1,"novelbin.me","8bfc0f30c454616a88bc96f9822ae77d53a91c10775498d28d8ebd1686436c10","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-260","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-259",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]