Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Chapter 268 Parune Island (2)

Parune Island (2)

“We were exploring the center of the island when an unknown team suddenly attacked us.”

There was an ambush.

It was a team of five.

Each of them was a powerful explorer, at least 7th-floor level, and they were on the verge of being wiped out before they could even fight properly.

The biggest factor was that they started the battle without a mage.

Well, it seemed like they fought hard despite the disadvantage…

“The situation kept getting worse, and eventually, Mr. Drowus made a decision.”

…but one of the team members finally made a decision.

However, it felt different from Dwarkey’s case.

“…So you ran away while your companion was buying time?”

The priestess blushed and made an excuse as I asked incredulously.

“I was against it. I told them several times that we couldn’t leave him alone—”

What is she talking about?

If she was truly against it, she wouldn’t be here with me.

“Enough. I understood the explanation, just tell me the important part. What happened next?”

“…I don’t know what happened to Mr. Drowus, but we were soon chased. And I got separated from the others.”

No wonder she was running alone.

Now I roughly understood the situation.

It was time to focus on the details.

Right, first…

“But who’s Drowus?”

“Guardweaver Drowus. The blond swordsman who saved you and gave you a potion that day.”

Ah, so his name was Drowus.

It was the blond’s name that I learned after over a year, but there was no time to reminisce.

“What kind of people were those who attacked you? Tell me in detail.”

I then asked about the unidentified 5-person team, and the priestess told me everything she remembered.

The abilities they used during the battle, their appearances, and even the names they called each other.

That’s when, as I was listening intently, thinking that this information might save my life…

…I froze.

“Wait, a woman with red hair?”

One of their descriptions resembled someone I knew.

“Yes. She seemed to be the leader of the group. Is there something wrong…?”

Damn it, of course there’s a problem.

How many human women with red hair who used Aura and wielded daggers were there in this city?

And I even asked for details, and the location of her tattoo and the fact that her right ear was half-severed matched.

There was no possibility that it was just someone who looked similar.

‘…Amelia Rainwales, her again?’

I felt a sense of dread.

After all, Amelia was from Noark.

And the other four people she was with were also likely from Noark.

In other words…

‘This wasn’t just a simple robbery.’

Tsk, it seemed like I was caught up in something really troublesome.

The priestess looked at me cautiously and asked,

“…Do you know her?”

“Maybe.”

I brushed it off with a lie and then asked a few more questions.

“Let’s forget about that and continue. Ersina, was there anything unusual about them?”

“Unusual…?”

“Anything strange. Do you have any guesses as to why they ambushed you?”

“That’s…”

The priestess trailed off and then spoke after a moment of contemplation.

“I didn’t think much about it back then because I was flustered, but now that I think about it, there was something strange.”

“Just get to the point.”

“What Mr. Drowus said when he volunteered to buy time. He said it was his responsibility and that we shouldn’t be involved and should just leave. Back then, I thought he was just saying that as a leader, but…”

“It’s definitely strange.”

“Yes. And besides, it seemed like he knew the people who ambushed us. They said something about him being a traitor and to hand something over…”

What?

“Why are you only telling me this now?”

Wasn’t that obviously the reason they were attacked?

The priestess’s voice became as quiet as a whisper as I looked at her incredulously.

“I, I was too flustered back then…”

Anyway, regardless of the priestess’s frustrating side…

…I could roughly picture the situation now.

[Noark sent a few people to the surface right before the lockdown. Their goal is to kill one explorer! Surprising, right?]

According to what Clown said at the Round Table, the infiltrators, including Amelia, were given assassination missions.

Of course, I didn’t know who the target was until now.

But…

‘Maybe it was him.’

Then what the hell was that Drowus guy?

That’s when, as I was thinking about it…

“But Viscount Yandel…”

“It’s Viscount.”

“Ah, yes… Anyway, Viscount Yandel, why were you alone here?”

The priestess, who had only been answering questions, finally asked me one.

It seemed like she was finally curious about my situation.

“My boat sank while we were leaving the island, and I got separated from my companions.”

“Yes?”

What do you mean ‘yes’?

It means we have to work together for now.

_____________________

“Let’s talk while we’re moving.”

“Yes? What do you mean…? Don’t tell me you’re going inside?”

“I promised to meet my companions in the center if we got separated.”

“I, I see. But there’s…”

The priestess looked at me with a reluctant gaze.

I knew what she was thinking.

It must feel like she’s entering a tiger’s den.

But she was also separated from her companions.

‘Geez, this priest is only worried about herself.’

“Don’t come if you don’t want to. I’ll go alone.”

I spoke firmly instead of trying to persuade her politely, and the priestess reluctantly followed my decision.

After all, what could she do alone?

She didn’t have a boat, and even if she did, the sea was in that state.

“…But do you know why the wind is blowing like this? It’s like a storm suddenly started.”

Well, I wanted to ask that.

“I don’t know, but monsters are gathering from the shore.”

“…I see.”

It was as much of a mystery to me as what that Drowus bastard was up to.

I understood that there was an ambush.

But who triggered the island’s event, and why?

If they knew the activation condition, they would have also known how dangerous it was.

‘Well, I’ll find out eventually.’

Whether I liked it or not, I was trapped on this island.

I would eventually meet Amelia or her companions.

‘Let’s just focus on reuniting with my companions for now.’

I dismissed my negative thoughts and moved towards the island with the priestess.

At first, I was leading the way, and she was following behind…

“It will take hours at this rate. Come here.”

…but I started carrying her midway because she was too slow.

The monsters we encountered along the way weren’t a problem.

I would have been fine even if I passed through with my bare body…

…and the priestess had this skill.

「Lyrine Ersina has cast [Invulnerability].」

It was a buff-type divine spell that prevented monsters below 7th grade from attacking first.

It was a bit funny.

The Tovera Church, one of the three churches in Lafdonia, had a unique rule.

That they weren’t allowed to use divine power on barbarians.

‘Geez, how petty.’

A barbarian had peed on a statue of Tovera after getting drunk thousands of years ago?

I heard that was the reason why the rule was established.

That must have been why she didn’t treat me back then when I was crawling through the cave on three legs.

“So even the Sun God allows you to break the rules in times like this?”

“I understand your feelings, Viscount Yandel, but please don’t insult Him.”

The priestess retorted in a slightly sharp tone as I teased her.

“…It’s my problem that I broke the rules. Please blame me if you need to blame someone.”

Geez, she’s so serious.

“You misunderstood. I wasn’t planning to blame anyone.”

Damn right, you have to use it to survive.

No matter how much you like God, you wouldn’t want to meet him this early, right?

“If you were hurt by what happened back then… I apologize. But the reason I insisted on following the rules that day was because it was a situation that could be resolved with a potion. I really wasn’t trying to ignore you.”

Hmm, it seemed like she was sincere.

“It’s fine, I understand your situation.”

I briefly answered and dismissed any lingering resentment.

What could an individual do about a rule set by a group?

“Anyway, let’s stop talking about this. It’s not important right now.”

“Yes.”

We stopped chatting and focused on moving.

And after some time…

“Th, this is it. This is where those marauders…”

“…Be quiet.”

…we finally reached the center of the island.

There was nothing around us.

Just traces of a battle that had taken place a while ago.

“…I guess you can deactivate the divine power now.”

I first had the priestess deactivate her divine spell.

And I slowly searched the surroundings.

It seemed like I was the first to arrive, as none of my companions were there.

“There’s really no one here…”

There was no sign of Drowus, the team leader who sacrificed himself, nor the mage who was said to have been killed when the ambush started.

What the hell happened here?

“Then what are we going to do now?”

I answered the priestess’s question without hesitation.

“Wait. Until someone comes here, whether it’s an enemy or a companion.”

“Yes, I see. Okay.”

Contrary to my expectations, the priestess didn’t object and readily agreed. I asked her why, and she answered,

“I also have to meet up with my companions.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s impossible to leave the island now, isn’t it? If my companions who escaped encountered yours on the shore, there’s a high chance they’re heading here now.”

Right, so she followed me after thinking that far.

“Ersina, aren’t you afraid that your companions are all dead?”

I asked involuntarily, and the priestess answered,

“Of course, I’m afraid. But the more that’s the case, the more I have to believe.”

Ah, right, she’s a priest.

I briefly regretted asking such a question…

“That’s all we can do.”

…but she wasn’t wrong.

‘I hope they’re all safe…’

That was all I could do right now.

______________________

Swaaa!

The sound of crashing waves filled my ears.

“Ugh, ueeeeek…”

Misha Kaltstein opened her eyes, vomiting seawater.

And she quickly checked her surroundings.

“Ai, Ainar!”

Her heart sank.

After all, Ainar was the one who was next to her until the very end after the boat capsized.

She had desperately tried to hold onto Ainar in that violent storm, thinking she had to be responsible for her since she couldn’t swim…

“I lost her.”

Anxious thoughts started to fill her mind.

Was Ainar okay?

What would she say to Bjorn when she saw him?

No, in the first place, Bjorn…

Slap!

Misha slapped herself on both cheeks.

She came to her senses.

“Good thoughts, good thoughts…”

She had also woken up safely on the shore, even though she had been unconscious.

Everyone would be fine.

Right, so…

[If we get separated, meet at the center of the island!!]

…Misha recalled Bjorn’s last shout and brushed off the dirt on her hands and face.

And she slowly walked towards the forest.

That’s when…

Thud.

…she heard a presence next to her.

“…Ainar? Ainar?”

Misha ran towards the sound, calling out her name, and she soon encountered a stranger.

“You.”

“Uh, uh…?”

“You’re Bjorn Yandel’s companion.”

It was a human woman with red hair and a scar where half of her right ear was missing.