Surviving the Game as a Barbarian - Surviving the Game as a Barbarian chapter 22

22 episodes level up (2)

Library, urban adaptation, fighting training.

I skipped all the daily routines I had been doing every day for a month.

On the day the labyrinth is opened, that’s not what explorers have to do.

[08:10]

As soon as I woke up, I skipped breakfast and ran to the place where I had planned to meet with Ainar.

It was because I was told that I would have to wait a few more hours at the latest.

“It’s here! Bjorn son of Yandel!”

To my surprise, Ainar came before me.

“… Since when have you been here?”

“Didn’t you say that if you’re late, you’ll leave me behind! So I slept in front of this! Come on! We are first!”

“… … .”

Even though it was 30 minutes before opening time, there was a long line in front of the entrance.

However, thanks to Ainar, we were able to enter the Explorers’ Guild as soon as the door opened.

“What are you doing?”

“I have come to receive the binding magic.”

“Are there two team members?”

“Yes.”

“Put your hands here together.”

Following the instructions, a faint light leaked from the crystal ball.

The color is greenish.

“You have two Level 9 Explorers. It costs 15 thousand stones.”

15,000 stones… … .

If I hadn’t spared the cost of living, it would have been a little tight.

I meekly opened my pocket and paid.

It was heartbreaking, but it was inevitable consumption.

When entering the labyrinth, the starting point is random, but if you receive this magic in advance, you will be able to start at least in the same place.

“How do you rate an explorer based on what?”

“Measured by the total amount of essence engraved on the soul.”

“Right. So, does the cost of forming a bond increase with each rank increase?”

“of course.”

Ha, it wouldn’t have to be the same as the game.

“it’s over. Please note that this will only be maintained for the next 24 hours.”

“i get it.”

It was a little past 9 o’clock when I finished my business and left the Explorers’ Guild.

“Let’s go back to our inn for dinner. It tastes pretty good.”

“motel? Did you mean that the inn was cooking for you?”

What kind of life has he been leading?

When I turned around and asked a question, Ainar replied with the tone that it wasn’t a big deal.

“I usually bought the bread I ate in the labyrinth and ate it.”

Ah, that one that costs 20 stones.

I also tried once to save money on food, but gave up after a while.

I don’t know what the principle is, but what was quite edible in the labyrinth was hard as a stone here.

‘That’s why the name was stone bread… … .’

But you ate only that for a month?

For some reason, my heart got salty, so I ordered meat and stew, and Ainar swore allegiance.

“Bjorn! Even if you ask me to go into the fire pit, I will! So don’t leave me!”

After a tearful meal, we went up to our room and had time to organize our backpacks.

“Be careful. If something necessary comes up and I forgot to bring it, it will be difficult.”

“Don’t worry! I have nothing to bring with me!”

Time passed unexpectedly quickly as I was checking my equipment and piling up exploration supplies and consumables in my backpack.

“Then let’s get some sleep now.”

“I have never seen such a soft bed. I think two people can lie down! It doesn’t even smell!”

After finishing the maintenance so that we could enter the labyrinth at any moment, we lay down next to each other and slept.

But when I lay down with him, it is quite cramped.

When I lay down with Erwen, there was a seat left.

“Even if you can’t sleep, force your eyes to close. I won’t be able to sleep properly for a while—”

Well, what was I worried about?

Drooling rumble-!

Before he could even finish his speech, a native barbarian-style native snoring could be heard.

At this, I smiled and closed my eyes.

How long has it been since then?

[20:30]

We woke up a little early and had our last meal on the first floor.

A special meal worth 800 stones per person.

“Hey, what does this taste like?”

Ainar, who had been fussing throughout the meal, soaked the cream pie that was served as dessert and bit it, and it hardened.

“Oh, is it magic? Now, the tears keep flowing.”

“Ah, that’s what ‘sweetness’ is all about.”

“In the future, I think I will live my life hard… … .”

It wasn’t intentional, but I think the motivation was right.

“Branch.”

As we pack our bags and head out into the streets at night, we see people passing by in different places than usual.

Novel from https://noblemtl.net

Most of them, like me, are armed and carry a large backpack.

As I said, not all of them are like that, and there are also barbarians with only one weapon on their body.

It seems like you just finished your coming-of-age ceremony today and came into the city… … .

“stop! I must have lost my way.”

“I can! We must get to the labyrinth within the set time!”

“Partun has no qualifications as a leader!”

This was happening every month.

How do they get to the labyrinth every time?

It was a time when I was seriously thinking about it.

“Follow them and you will reach the labyrinth.”

Ainar approached them and gave them advice.

The young warriors looked at her and thanked her with the eyes of a similarly successful senior.

“Thank you. I will definitely repay this favor!”

Watching the barbarians moving away, Ainar wiped his nose.

“… Whoops, it reminds me of the past.”

Please don’t pretend it’s a thing of the past.

It seems to me that nothing has changed between now and then.

“Everyone, back off!”

Thousands of people had already gathered in Dimension Square. As we sat in the gap and waited for midnight, light began to burst from the center.

Although it was small at first, the halo that quickly grew in shape fluttered in the form of a sphere.

“Now you can enter!”

When the official shouts, the explorers around them quickly throw themselves into the portal.

I led Ainar out to the outskirts to avoid the crowds.

“Bjorn, aren’t we in?”

“Wait.”

The number of explorers gathered in the square disappeared by dozens per second, but the crowd was still there.

It was because of the other explorers arriving one after another in time.

About 40 minutes after the portal was opened, the crowded Dimensional Square became quite quiet, maintaining the line of seven hundred and eight hundred people.

“… Shouldn’t we go in now?”

The portal, which had already devoured tens of thousands of explorers, was getting smaller in size.

But I kept waiting.

Ainard also changed his voice to see if he was not paying attention.

“Bjorn, what are you waiting for?”

Well, it’s too long to talk about… … .

I don’t know if it will or not.

However, I decided to give a brief explanation as I had quite a bit of time left.

“I plan to enter when the dimension is unstable. The book says it happens once in a hundred years, but if you take advantage of this phenomenon—”

“I don’t know what it is, but I will obey you.”

“… … ?”

“I have a feeling you don’t understand anyway!”

I honestly thought this would be the case.

It’s maddening to ask and do that, but… … .

In fact, it may be quite convenient to omit the explanation for each action.

“The gate will be closed soon! Back off!”

Eventually, the portal’s light began to fade.

There were no explorers left at this point.

Then I slowly walked towards the labyrinth with Ainar.

Seeing us like that, the official exclaimed.

“It is dangerous to enter now!”

I pretended not to hear.

I don’t know why they say it’s dangerous.

Seeing that there are even books with statistics, they must be aware of this phenomenon… … .

“Rain, Bjorn! It is said that people who look tall are dangerous! You must get out of here!”

Why don’t you plan on using this?

***

1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds… … .

Well, counting doesn’t make any sense?

When I came here with a strong feeling that this would be enough.

“It is now. Let’s go in.”

“Koo!”

I pushed Ainar’s back and entered the labyrinth at the same time.

flash-!

A flash of light obscured my eyes, and when it reappeared, a deep darkness greeted me.

It means that what I intended has worked.

“Ahead! I can’t see ahead! After all, I should have listened to the tall-looking man! Bjorn is stupid!”

“Einar, calm down.”

Ainard regained some composure as he lit the torch he took out of his backpack in a hurry.

“Damn, how the hell did this happen?”

“Even if you tell me, you won’t understand.”

“that… That’s right!”

Having easily convinced Ainar, I slowly looked around. Then, when I found the monument located in front of the dead-end wall, I was captured by a strange emotion.

Again, the dimensional instability phenomenon was closely related to the starting point of the portal.

That fact was both happy and sad.

This means that even if you made a decision a minute early on your first entry, you wouldn’t have to crawl on three legs with one leg chewed!

Whoo woo woo woo-hoo!

As soon as he puts his hand on the tombstone, a beam of light bursts out and turns into a sphere.

“What is this?”

“It is a portal that goes up to the second floor.”

In other words, we skipped all the processes of looking at the compass to find directions, fighting monsters as we saw them, and wandering in the dark.

At least a day or two was saved.

“What?! The chieftain said it would take three days to find the portal! What kind of magic did you use?”

Even if you tell me anyway, you won’t understand.

「The portal has been opened for the first time. EXP +2”

“The character’s level has risen.”

「Spirit power increases by +10.」

“The maximum absorbable essence is increased by +1.”

In order to become the original character, you have to write well about bugs.

***

“Bjorn Yandel”

Level: 2 (New +1)

Body: 46 / Mind: 36 / Abilities: 4 (New +3)

Item Level: 202

Combat Combat Index: 136.5 (New +3)

***

“You have entered the Goblin Forest on the second floor.”

After floating about 3m in the air, I quickly balanced myself and landed on my two feet.

Tuk!

yeah i practiced

While wrestling with barbarians.

“Ugh!”

Watching Ainar who fell while pounding his buttocks, I can feel myself growing again.

He seemed to understand to a certain extent Erwen’s heart as he looked at me and smiled.

“Ugh, my ass is numb.”

It’s pretty fun to watch.

Well, if he’s athletic, he’ll land properly right away.

“Something? That sad expression?”

“It is nothing.”

Leaning around, I took out my watch and set it to 0:05.

I was supposed to do it as soon as I opened my eyes, but I forgot.

Still, it’s 5 minutes fast, so there shouldn’t be a problem.

“… Ainar, can you feel it too?”

“What do you mean?”

“It feels like my heart is beating.”

Should I call it a sensation as if something denser enters the blood vessels and fills the body?

It was like that from the moment I crossed the portal, and now I can feel it clearly.

What is it?

After explaining the symptoms, Ainar quickly made a diagnosis.

“Looks like the spirit level has been elevated! Congratulations!”

Ah, you leveled up.

[Dungeon and Stone] also has levels.

Soul power based on level. In other words, MP, the resource required to use this ability, increases, and the total number of absorbable essences increases.

For example, at level 1, I could only absorb one Essence, but… …

Level 2 and up to two are possible.

Well, both of them have to come out with an integer to be meaningful.

“It’s amazing. You haven’t caught any monsters yet, but your soul’s rank has risen!”

“No wonder. Opening the portal for the first time must have been publicly recognized.”

Achievement is a term that means experience points here.

“Um, is that even publicly recognized?”

do.

No, once you reach a certain level, ‘Speed Run’ is the easiest way to increase experience.

[Dungeon & Stone] is a game with a slightly unusual growth system.

You can only get experience points from the same monster once and for the first time. Therefore, just like filling out the illustrated book, you have to defeat various monsters to level up.

Uh, wait, isn’t this a bit dangerous?

“… Ainar, this is a secret between you and me. Do you understand?”

“secret? What do you mean?”

“It was the first time I opened a portal. This should be one. If anyone asks, answer that it took you two days to get to the second floor.”

Portal opening experience is only 2. In other words, there are only about 2 level 9 monsters… … .

‘Unlike monsters, they accumulate over and over again.’

Therefore, adventurers who have reached a certain level wear their flags and hang their heads on the speed run.

Because the monsters that can be hunted are limited depending on the nature of the god worshiped by the priest, such as the compatibility with the monster, the area in which he is active, the presence of a wizard or not.

When you are blocked by a wall, the only way to break through the wall is through public effort.

But is this possible from scratch?

Only I know this trick and suck the honey.

Because if you know, you’ll never see a good one.

“I swear on the honor of the warrior.”

Was my expression too serious?

Ainar changed his eyes and even made an oath he hadn’t told him to. Thanks to that, I felt pretty relieved, but I needed to move quickly.

“I have to float from here.”

After a few hours, the adventurers will soon enter the second floor. And when they see us who look like novices, they will have doubts.

What are you, you came earlier than us?

It is best not to be seen at all.

As always, I’m more afraid of explorer cubs than monsters.