Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Chapter 253 Open World (2)

Open World (2)

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Episode 253: Open World (2)

Fierce flames blazing around the magic barrier.

Screams and cries.

The sorrow of those who had lost.

Nebarche Greenhope watched it all blankly and thought,

‘Just… where did it all go wrong?’

There was nothing more to see.

It all started with the Dragonslayer, Regal Vagos.

He had kidnapped the High Priest and used him like a slave, despite Noark’s objections, and eventually, his evil deeds were revealed to the world, leading the royal family to draw their swords.

But…

‘…Was it me?’

Nebarche didn’t shift the blame, he accepted it.

What was the point of dwelling on the past to escape the present?

He would eventually have to hold even the previous Lord of Noark, who accepted Orculus, responsible.

So…

“So, how is it? Do you think it turned out the way you wanted?”

…accept it.

That he was the one who created this outcome.

“Stay close.”

Nebarche continued walking, making sure he didn’t fall behind and leave the magic barrier. There was an old man in front of him, effortlessly using Levitation magic.

‘Belvev Ruinjenes.’

The old man who was called the ‘Ruin Scholar’ in his later years.

A mage who pursued knowledge his entire life, and a being who led countless people to ruin with that precious knowledge.

It was Nebarche who had sought him out, frustrated after hearing from Amelia that there was nothing they could do.

Back then, he had a firm belief.

‘The greater good.’

The royal family was wrong.

They had to overthrow their power and create a new world where the surface and the underground were united.

That was the right thing to do.

It should have been…

“H, hot…”

“Please, spare me. I’ll give you any amount of money…”

Lives were being burned alive and collapsing.

And his belief crumbled with every life lost.

Was this really the right thing to do?

To oppress those who didn’t even have the power to protect themselves in the name of the greater good?

Was this truly the path to a new world?

“Stop…”

Nebarche couldn’t hold back any longer and spoke.

The old man finally stopped and turned around.

With an expression as if he had heard something strange.

“Stop? I came here because I don’t want the balance of power to shift, but you were the one who asked for my help. If we stop now, the army that went to Noark will never return.”

He was right.

But…

“This isn’t what I wanted.”

“Really? Then what did you want?”

He was speechless.

What was he expecting when he sought out the villain of this era, the ‘Ruin Scholar’?

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Even I didn’t expect him to appear. I don’t understand what the problem is. We’re safe as long as he’s drawing attention at the royal palace.”

“Do you think I’m saying this because I’m afraid of dying?! I just… I just…!”

Nebarche couldn’t finish his sentence.

The old man then turned his back coldly and started walking again, as if he didn’t have time for this.

“You seem a bit tired.”

Even at that moment, hundreds of flames were flying from his hand, indiscriminately burning the city red.

“Discard your emotions and focus on the goal.”

“…….”

“It’s better than losing both.”

It was a calculating statement, typical of a mage.

Whoosh!

The heat grazed his skin as the magic barrier moved away, following the old man’s steps.

Nebarche involuntarily started walking.

His steps were filled with questions.

“Mo, mom… I, I can’t… bre, breathe…”

“It’s okay, my child… Mommy will be here. Until the end.”

What was at the end of this path?

________________________

It was raining.

It was the mages of the Magic Tower who made it happen.

Swaaaaa!

The guards who came from all over the city were also working hard.

A long line formed at the well.

They were passing buckets back and forth, throwing water at the flames.

And it wasn’t just the guards.

“Don’t be stubborn and come out if you’re tired! It’s only going to hurt you!”

There were explorers who lived nearby, and citizens who rolled up their sleeves to help after hearing the news.

People who gathered to overcome the disaster before them.

“Oh no, my house is going to burn down at this rate!”

“Hey, is that something to be saying now? There are people with families inside!”

“Both of you, carry buckets if you have the energy to fight!”

Of course, not everyone was helping out of a noble heart.

It was the same for me, who was standing here.

‘Raven.’

I felt lost as soon as I arrived at Karnon.

It was a fire on a completely different scale from a few factories burning down in the modern world.

Was Raven okay?

No, maybe…

‘Maybe, my ass.’

I punched myself in the jaw to wake myself up.

Thwack!

A healthy mind resides in a beaten body.

There was no time to be lost in thought.

First of all, Raven was a mage.

Knowing her personality, she would be enduring, even taking care of the people around her. Right, maybe she was even lucky enough to have stopped by the Magic Tower and avoid this situation.

“Hey, mage.”

I approached a mage who was in the middle of putting out the fire and revealed my identity. He looked at me favorably, even though I interrupted him while he was busy.

“Hey, mage? It’s been a while since I’ve been called that. Kekeke!”

It seemed like he had a good impression of me, regardless of my noble title.

“So what business does that Bjorn Yandel have with a mage?”

“Can you cast Cold Blood?”

“Is there even a mage who can’t cast that?”

The mage chuckled and cast the spell at my request.

「Character’s Fire Resistance is greatly increased.」

Phew, it’s less hot now.

“Are you planning to go in there?”

“My companion is inside.”

The mage who cast the spell on me nodded and then chuckled.

“But will that be enough?”

Huh? What? Is he making fun of me?

That thought briefly crossed my mind, but I was soon embarrassed.

Click.

The mage took out a message stone.

And…

“Ah, can you all hear me? I’m sorry to ask this while you’re all busy, but I have a favor to ask. Bjorn Yandel, the one you all know, wants to go into that fire to save his companions.”

He contacted someone and asked for a favor.

“If you have any artifacts or potions that can help with Fire Resistance, please send them to my personal lab’s designated coordinates. I’ll summon them here.”

What, is it like a group chat for mages?

I decided to just wait and see since it was an unexpected stroke of luck.

Replies soon arrived.

[Bjorn Yandel, he has a noble title now, so there shouldn’t be any problems with his credit. But if anything is damaged, I’ll bill you, just so you know.]

A grumpy old man’s voice.

[Okay. Most of my apprentices are in Karnon for support, but I’ll send everything I can from the remaining ones.]

A young woman’s voice.

[My precious apprentice returned alive thanks to him. I’ll send a scroll, tell him he doesn’t have to pay.]

A kind-sounding man’s voice.

[Bjorn Yandel, it wouldn’t be bad to have him owe us a favor. If he’s not eavesdropping, tell him to remember that it was our ‘Ioni’ school who sent the ‘Dragonfire Ring’.]

A calculating voice.

And…

[Aru? Don’t tell me you’re talking about that child?]

…a familiar voice.

‘This voice… is it the old man?’

If I remember correctly, it was the voice of the so-called old man.

The master of the large Artemion school, and Raven’s master.

“Hmm, it seems like it’s him. He’s nodding.”

[I’ll send everything I have right now.]

All the messages ended there.

Honestly, I was dumbfounded.

‘What the hell is going on?’

I just talked to a mage who seemed the most approachable to get the ‘Cold Blood’ spell.

But now that I see it, this is no ordinary mage.

Everyone in the group chat sounded like they were the head of a school, and one of the members was even the old man, the master of Artemion.

And that meant…

‘This guy is also not an ordinary mage.’

I asked out of pure curiosity,

“Who are you?”

He smiled and introduced himself, as if he had no intention of hiding it.

“Ah, come to think of it, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Reven Arpegan.”

It was a name I had never heard before.

But I knew the school he mentioned next.

It was a mid-ranking school in the Magic Tower.

But I can’t believe the master of that school was this young.

“I’ll definitely repay this debt someday.”

“If that makes you feel better.”

After a few minutes, replies arrived one after another, saying they had transferred the items, and Reven Arpegan summoned everything from the coordinates.

‘It really is the Dragonfire Ring.’

It was full of rare items, starting with high-grade Numbered Items.

I felt a strange sensation as I examined them one by one.

“Luck is on our side.”

Actually, it was more than just luck.

What were the chances of the mage I randomly talked to being the head of a school and being so favorable towards me that he even used his personal group chat to help—

“Luck? That’s strange.”

Huh?

“It’s my first time seeing those people go to such lengths to help a complete stranger. Do you really think this was possible just because of luck?”

Reven smiled and continued as I tilted my head.

“I don’t know what they saw in you that made them want to help. But…”

“…….”

“…you earned this.”

Although it was a long-winded statement, as expected of a mage, I understood what he was trying to say.

It was embarrassing to hear it to my face.

Swoosh.

Reven patted my back with his skinny arm as I wiped my soot-covered nose, trying to hide my embarrassment.

“…You’re as strong as steel.”

He laughed awkwardly, looking at my unmoving body, and then made a request.

“Ah, come to think of it, I haven’t said this yet. If you have any strength left after saving your companion, please save the others too.”

It wasn’t a difficult task.

Okay, I’ll take it.

“I’ll try my best.”

“That’s reassuring to hear. Anyway, I won’t hold you back any longer, so go now.”

I then finished all the preparations by activating the ‘Orb of Fire’ I had obtained before.

「Orb of Fire activated.」

「All fire damage taken within a 15-meter radius is reduced by 50%.」

It’s the Barbarian Firefighter Mode.

“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”

Sortie.