Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Chapter 146 A Great Legacy (3)

A Great Legacy (3)

A Great Legacy (3)

Crackle.

I pick up the sword I had put down for a moment and return to where my companions are. And I put the sword in the bag I had left on the ground.

It doesn't seem like an ordinary Akro longsword, but I'll look into it later.

"I'm sorry. I failed again..."

I just pat the dwarf on the shoulder as he apologizes, looking ashamed.

What can I say to him?

It's not like we survived because of me.

Misha approaches me with a mournful gait and places her hand on my chest.

"I'm glad... you're alive. Truly..."

Something wells up inside me.

Because I know.

Who we owe our lives to, that we can feel relieved and grateful for surviving. He would have wanted to share this joyful moment with us.

"Rotmiller."

I gently push Misha's small hand away and walk towards Rotmiller, who has regained consciousness. And I tell him Dwarkey's last words, just a few sentences.

"I see. He..."

Rotmiller, after hearing everything, kneels in front of Dwarkey's body and makes the sign of the cross. And he whispers his farewell, which he couldn't convey alone.

"I remember when you first entered the labyrinth. You said you were starting to understand what it meant when the chieftain said the world is vast."

It was something that happened on the 3rd-floor Pilgrim's Path.

Rotmiller led us to a high hill, saying that exploration wasn't all about hardships and horrors.

We all saw the vast landscape bathed in silver light, and Dwarkey was so excited and happy that he couldn't sleep that night.

"I wish I could have shown you a wider world..."

Rotmiller ends his words plainly.

But it seems like the others still have many things they want to say. Misha and the dwarf also kneel and pour out their hearts.

I watch them from a distance.

It's not that I don't have anything to say.

But...

"Waaaaah! It's my fault! I, I! If only I hadn't chosen that door..."

"No, it's my fault. I told you to trust me, that I would protect you no matter what, but I... couldn't keep that promise."

I wouldn't be much different from them.

No matter what I say, it would just end with self-blame. Dwarkey definitely wouldn't want to see us like this.

The place we have to live in...

...is not a kind world where we can stay down forever.

[Meeek—!]

I open my mouth as I see a Vykuntus appearing from the other side of the passage.

"Everyone, stop it."

"......"

"It's an enemy."

We have to remember, but we also have to overcome our grief and get up.

That's all we can do.

"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"

We have no choice but to move forward.

_______________________

The battle with the Vykuntus was more difficult than expected.

The reason is simple.

Our stats have significantly decreased since there are only four of us left in this vast labyrinth, and our injuries haven't fully healed yet.

In the first place, the reason we were able to defeat 6th-grade monsters so easily was because of Dwarkey.

"Let's just take what we need and go back."

After the battle, we start cleaning up.

We gather the equipment, or rather, the remnants of equipment, scattered across the floor from the desperate fight.

And I thoroughly search the priest's body.

The only thing I find is a necklace with an unknown purpose.

I can't tell if it's an artifact or just a decoration.

Because the only one among us who could sense the magic imbued in objects was Dwarkey.

"It seems like there's nothing here either."

I also loot the middle-aged scout who died early on in the battle, but there's nothing noteworthy.

Well, most of his belongings must have been in that bastard's subspace pocket.

"...I'll deliver everything to where you wished."

A staff and the expandable backpack he was carrying. Although I could sell his boots and robe, I leave them untouched.

"I'll carry Dwarkey."

We then return to the portal through the trap room and go back to the Tower of Heaven.

And we each collapse and rest.

Some of us sit in front of Dwarkey's body, wiping away the blood, and others lean against the wall and sob.

The peaceful time that came like a lie made us realize…

…that this is reality, not a dream.

"Bjorn, is there no way to take Dwarkey back to the city?"

"...No."

"Right, I see..."

Reality is cruel.

Even though he sacrificed his life for us, we can't even take him back to the city for a proper burial.

Because he was a mage.

Corpses in the labyrinth are classified as objects, and it's impossible to take them outside without the 'Distortion' spell.

That's why barbarian hearts are special.

You can take them back to the city without magic? Even mages started researching them as magic materials because of that.

"Misha, you should rest too."

"I'll stay here a bit longer. He'll be lonely... once we leave."

"...Alright."

I leave the suffocating atmosphere and sit down in a corner.

And I check the time.

[10:31]

A day and a half left until the labyrinth closes.

I feel a bitter taste in my mouth.

'...Less than an hour has passed.'

I feel so insignificant.

We went through countless near-death experiences.

It feels like we fought that bastard for days.

But even after taking care of everything and coming back, less than an hour has passed.

'Let's just do what needs to be done...'

I take out the letter the priest left behind.

A single, wrinkled, and stained letter that he must have kept close to his heart for a long time. The letter is filled with the old man's handwriting, detailing how he ended up in this situation.

I focus on one part as I read through it.

'The underground city of Noark.'

It's the name of the place where the old man and his young grandson were kidnapped by the Dragonslayer.

[It's medicine made by an alchemist from Noark. It completely erases your memory for 1 hour after taking it.]

It's the name of a city that the psychopath bitch mentioned before, and the one I couldn't find any information about no matter how much I searched the library.

So there's something like that under the sewers.

'Could it be that she's also a member of Orculus?'

I continue reading the letter with that thought.

The letter not only mentions that the underground city of Noark and Orculus are in a cooperative relationship, but it also contains another surprising piece of information.

'...I can't believe there's a portal there too.'

The foundation that allows the city of Lafdonia to exist.

A portal connected to the labyrinth also exists underground.

That's why the explorers in the underground were able to achieve the impossible feat of secretly mining magic stones and building a city with them.

'Noark.'

I engrave that name in my mind.

I have a strong feeling that I'll be involved with this place in the future.

'Let's investigate this place too when we get out.'

With that thought, I put the letter back in my pocket.

Judging by the content, there's no harm in delivering the letter.

There's a saying, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend', right?

Anyway, I'm done with this matter for now.

"......"

I take a deep breath and close my eyes.

Although I desperately want to rest, all sorts of thoughts come and go, tormenting me.

What should I do from now on?

With such a formidable enemy, even the city isn't safe. He might try to harm me in the labyrinth with his companions.

'Damn it.'

Maybe that's why…

…I feel a bit regretful that he survived. If he had just healed me, I could have finished him off myself.

‘…What the hell am I thinking?’

I shake my head and dismiss my lingering thoughts.

He must have had no other choice.

That bastard evil god was the same even in the game.

He grants wishes in exchange for a price, but he never gives you the best possible outcome. Like a monkey's paw that grants wishes but also brings misfortune.

A being who always gives both hope and despair.

‘…Somehow, this bastard keeps getting involved with me.’

I add Karui, the evil god, to my investigation list and clear my thoughts.

It’s time for me to rest too.

This place is safer than the city, and besides, there are many things I need to do when I get out.

“…….”

I wipe my body with a wet towel, spread out my sleeping bag, and lie down inside.

It’s strange.

Although I stayed up for almost two days and had such a desperate battle…

…I can’t fall asleep for a long time.

__________________________

「The labyrinth is closed.」

「Character is being transported to Lafdonia.」

__________________________

Sunlight pokes at my eyelids.

I pass through the checkpoint without time to savor the afterglow and exchange the magic stones for money.

And I head towards the meeting place.

The Explorer’s Guild branch closest to the Dimensional Plaza. When I arrive, there are many people in a similar state to me.

“…….”

An unusual silence for a gathering of dozens of people.

Everyone is waiting for their companions with solemn expressions.

Well, it’s only natural.

There’s only one reason why they would come here before even washing up after returning to the city.

The death of a companion.

“Let’s go in.”

As soon as all my companions arrive, we enter the guild. And we submit a death report and leave Dwarkey’s equipment and backpack with them.

“…He had good companions.”

The employee looks at us with a strange expression.

Well, it’s not common.

They could have easily pocketed it, even if it’s not the city’s property.

Most people would just submit the death report and leave.

But…

“Liol Wobu Dwarkey, 8th-grade mage recognized by the royal family. Death report accepted.”

…we don’t feel any regret.

After all, we know the contents of the will he wrote before entering the labyrinth for the first time.

[Haha, a will. It really makes it feel like I’m an explorer now.]

[You can write whatever you want, but make sure to properly designate the inheritance. Otherwise, it will all go to the Explorer’s Guild.]

[Don’t worry about that. I’ve already decided.]

He wanted to donate his assets to an orphanage under a certain temple.

I only learned the details yesterday.

The dwarf said he lived there for a while when he was young. His assets should be used as he wished.

We’ve already received something far greater.

“It’s really over… Then let’s go.”

Anyway, the first thing we had to do after returning to the city, Dwarkey’s death report, is complete.

It was surprisingly simple.

It took 1 minute to fill out the form, 2 minutes for the employee to review it. Just 3 minutes were enough to put an end to the 25 years of life that one man carried.

‘That’s how common death is in this world.’

I push aside the bitterness and leave the guild.

And we head towards the Grand Temple of the Leathlas Church.

That’s the only way we can repay the debt we owe to the departed.

“You guys can go back and rest.”

“How can we do that? He’s our lifesaver.”

“I… I’m going too. I rested enough inside…”

Although Misha hasn’t rested properly because she’s been crying all day, I don’t say anything. She wouldn’t be able to rest properly even if she went back to the inn.

“…….”

We head towards our destination together.

Soon, a pristine white building, as if untouched by the world, appears, and we enter.

I contemplate how to answer the apprentice priest’s question of whether we’re here for treatment, and then I say that we’re here at the request of High Priest Ludwig.

“Hi, High Priest Ludwig…?”

He probably didn’t expect us to lie in a place where God resides. The young priest’s eyes widen, and he immediately runs inside to deliver the news.

And…

“It’s been a while.”

…a familiar face comes to greet us as we wait.

Pal Krovitz, the captain of the 3rd Paladin Order.

“I heard you’re here at the request of High Priest Ludwig, who went missing a few years ago. Do you have anything that could serve as evidence?”

He asks politely.

He also says that it’s a very sensitive matter for the church and asks for our understanding.

He says there have been several incidents where people were greatly disappointed because of the bounty offered throughout the city?

“Bounty?”

“Yes. The amount is so large that some people harbor malicious intentions.”

I didn’t come here for a reward.

However, I ask involuntarily, having received a huge bounty after defeating Elisa,

“Just how much is it?”

Misha nudges my side, telling me to be careful with my words. The dwarf does the same.

“Even for you, that’s a bit much.”

Rotmiller, who’s also an explorer and a follower of Leathlas, also doesn’t seem to approve.

But Krovitz speaks without any change in expression.

And…

“The amount varies depending on the information provided and the presence of sacred relics…”

“But?”

“…but I believe the Ministry of Finance offered up to 70 million stones.”

Everyone freezes at his answer.