Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Team Halfwits (2)

Crrrrrackle–!

The heat could be felt even from a distance of about 10m.

And the pungent smell tickled my nose.

Sssssk–!

As my brain recognized the current situation, my heart clenched.

‘If that'd fallen right over our heads…'

Everything might’ve been already over.

"P-, prepare for battle!"

The moment the dwarf who’d frozen at such a sudden situation came to his senses and shouted; adventurers appeared from the other side of the bushes.

Five in number.

Four people in escort formation, accompanied by one wizard.

‘Motherfucker, they don't look like they work on the third floor…'

Why were these bastards here?

As we prayed inwardly that we hadn’t come upon another group of pillagers, the tribal beastkin among the group sneered as he saw us ready for battle.

And proclaimed in a high-pitched tone of voice.

"This Orc Colony is the domain of the Dzarwi Clan, so please go somewhere else."

‘Clan?'

When I looked, they all wore the same seal on their chests.

‘Fuck…'

Curses welled up in my heart out of nowhere.

But not because I didn't understand what these guys were doing.

‘Controlling a hunting ground on the third floor?'

Fuck, wasn't this supposed to happen from at least the fifth floor and up?

[Dungeon & Stone] is a single-player game.

But surprisingly, it has some domain management content as well.

Although at first glance it just looks like a way to prevent movement between different maps before you’ve played the relevant parts of the main storyline, if the player manages to create a clan later in the game, they can also control the hunting grounds like this and farm monsters.

Of course, it needs a huge investment of manpower, so unless it’s the habitat of some rare or boss mobs, it’s a net loss.

‘But doing that at the third floor?'

I can't quite make sense of it in my head.

I mean, what’s the point of farming a seventh rank monster?

Just look at the wizard.

It’s a waste to use such high-ranking personnel capable of magic like that to catch mere orcs.

"… I know that the Dzarwi Clan operates on the sixth floor and up. Why are you in a place like the Orc Colony?"

The dwarf also wonders if this has some kind of unknown reason, and asks carefully.

But the reply that comes back is cold as frost.

"I have no reason to explain that to you."

Oh, that's right.

I might agree to their demand, but the dwarf wouldn't.

Even though we’re on the same team and have had a lot of fun together, that guy is still an adventurer.

He’s sensitive when it comes to matters of self-interest.

Even more so if the cause is external rather than internal.

"I heard that in some clans, the royal family grants rights in the labyrinth in recognition of their achievements. But I've never heard of this being the domain of Clan Dzarwi. And most of all, I don't even know if you really are part of them."

Our opponents being who they are, the dwarf also presents his questions in the most logical and orderly manner.

It’s definitely a sensible view.

Their equipment and the level of magic we just witnessed make it clear that they’re far superior to us as adventurers, but there’s no evidence that they are members of that clan.

But…

‘It might be better to just leave…'

To be honest, I'm more afraid of the possibility that they aren’t who they say they are.

The large clans don't even notice the outside world, won’t any impersonator bastards be even worse?

"You’re a funny guy."

The beastkin shows a displeased expression and tries to widen his eyes into a glare.

But the dwarf doesn't step back either.

"I hear that often."

As the silent fight stretches on and on, the tension gradually rises.

Step.

I feel somebody approaching from behind.

When I turn around to check, it’s none other than Misha.

But why is she right behind me all of a sudden?

As if trying to avoid something and hide…

"… Is that you, halfwit?"

When the beastkin asks with a frown, I feel her twitch behind me.

What, was it really trying to hide behind me?

"H-, Honourable Brother…"

Misha stutters as she comes out of her hiding spot and stands next to me.

The beastkin’s expression wrinkles even more.

"Didn’t I tell you not to call me that outside?"

"Sorry, I’m sorry."

"Tch, how many times do I have to repeat it so that halfwit brain of yours can remember?"

Misha doesn’t respond to the beastkin's sarcasm and silently bows her head.

As expected, he wouldn’t have called her a halfwit if they were close.

‘By the way, what's the relationship between you two? Are you siblings by blood?'

While such doubts arise, the magician of the other team, who’d been trailing behind thus far, asks quietly.

"Just to clarify, is that lady your sister?"

"Yes, for now."

As the beastkin politely nods his head, the wizard strokes his shiny beard.

"Hmm, I do owe you a debt, Sir Karlstein. Besides, she can't be called a stranger if she’s your sister, so we can provide some special exceptions –"

"You don't have to."

"Huh? But…"

The beastkin once again firmly refuses the wizard's consideration.

"Father won’t even care. I can’t tell you the reason because it’s family business."

His voice is cold, with a sense of stubbornness.

"If you say so, I understand."

The wizard also changes his mind and nods his head without saying anything else. Couldn’t you at least ask for an explanation?

"Look, you all."

He takes a step forward, and starts talking in a shrill tone.

"Due to the clan's internal circumstances, we urgently need an orc warlord essence. If things go well, you’ll be able to keep hunting here from the next cycle, so just go somewhere else this time. Well, either that, or go to the outskirts where there’re no warlords."

Maybe it was because he was a wizard, but he had a much softer attitude than the beastkin man… Anyway, in the end, they both mean the same thing, that we should get out of here.

"I will decline."

The dwarf shakes his head.

And he ridicules the opponent with a much sharper tone in return.

"It seems that you’re claiming your rights without the royal family’s official recognition, so why should we care about what clan you’re from? And did you know that what you are doing now is illegal in the first place?"

"… Illegal?"

Did the word strike a nerve?

"A wise adventurer should know when to be careful."

The wizard's gentle eyes change and become terrifying.

But perhaps they don’t want to leave any room for future problems?

"More than that, when did we ever break the law? Aren’t we just being considerate of you, telling you that there’d be no monsters left for you to hunt as long as we’re here, so it’d be better for you to go somewhere else?"

They’re saying it pretty circuitously, but what they mean is they’ll sabotage our hunts with all their might if we don’t leave.

Knowing this, the dwarf also bites his lips with an angry face.

"Shit…"

Nobody can prove if you’re forcibly expelled from an area or injured in the process.

After all, it’s not like the labyrinth is officially partitioned into separate areas.

In other words, there’s no possibility of legal restitution at all.

‘The problem is that we initially tried to lean on the law.'

I do feel sorry for the dwarf who somehow tried to protect our team's interests, but I wanted to back out from the beginning.

In essence, the labyrinth is a place where powerful people are the law unto themselves.

If you somehow forget this and try to make a fuss, you might simply vanish into thin air without even the faintest trace.

‘At this point, he should’ve realized that this isn’t the time for pride, so I better coax him to step back.'

While I’m watching the situation and formulating the next course of action –

"Don't worry, guys, just let me handle it."

Suddenly, Dwalky intervenes.

And he sends out words that are completely incomprehensible to my ears.

‘You, handle it? What the hell are you even talking about?'

I can’t even dare guess what’s going on inside his head.

But before I can even ask him what he means, Dwalky smiles and approaches the wizard on the other team.

"Ha ha ha! Nice to meet you, Elder."

"… Elder? Have we ever met?"

"Actually, no, but as a fellow student who decided to devote his life to the study of magic –"

"Right, so who the hell are you?"

Was such a negative reaction unexpected?

Dwalky pauses for a moment, then replies with a forced smile.

"Hahaha, my name is Reol Webb Dwalky, an eighth-ranked magician of the Rafdonia royal –"

"I was wondering, so you’re trash after all."

"… Eh?"

A look of displeasure appears on the wizard's face.

Or rather, he’s been uncomfortable since the word ‘illegal' was uttered, and he simply has no inclination to hide it any longer.

"Dedicated your life to magic? Know your place, you piece of trash. How dare you say that after learning a few measly cantrips, selling yourself out as a wizard, and playing tricks on the street to earn money? That brazenness of yours is giving me goosebumps, so please don't go and spew that shit anywhere else ever again."

The sharp accusations pour out like rapid-fire cannons.

‘So that’s a real wizard, huh? His vocabulary is no joke.'

While admiring the wizard's lung capacity as he doesn’t even pause for breath during his tide of insults, I’m worried about Dwalky. If I heard words like that in public, even my mental state might’ve collapsed…

"… Stop it, stop it!"

Oh, he’s already down.

When I look to the side, I see that Dwalky can’t even breathe properly, and his eyes are uncontrollably twitching.

The way his mouth keeps opening and closing is reminiscent of a fish thrown onto sand.

The dwarf, witnessing the mental breakdown of his best friend, can't stand it anymore and explodes.

"Look! Aren’t you being a bit harsh!"

"I’m just telling the truth, though?"

"What? You call that telling the truth?!"

A vein jumps on the dwarf’s neck.

His eyes start glowing with repressed energy.

And as soon as I detect it –

"Let’s see, let’s see what –!"

I grab the dwarf's back and lift him up.

And also confiscate the battle hammer in his hand at the same time.

But am I still too late?

Zzzzzzzaaaaap!

A sharp tingling sensation comes from my fingertips.

「Hikurod Murad has cast [Lightning]. 」

Damn, is this bastard really stark raving mad?

I dismiss my anger as much as I can and mutter in a low voice.

"Calm down, Hikurod."

Because just now, we were all about to die.

"You have a good teammate. You should live the rest of your life being grateful to that barbarian. Because he saved all of you."

"…"

Did the dwarf come back to his senses?

The idiot acted consistently submissive to the wizard's scoldings, and hurriedly led our team to leave. And as soon as we reached the outskirts, he gave us a brief bow.

"I’m sorry. I lost my temper and got excited. If it weren't for Bjorn, like he said… "

We’d probably all be dead.

They certainly didn't seem generous enough to spare those who took the initiative to attack first.

"You just committed a rash act that almost ruined everyone on your team."

Rotmiller rebuked in a stern tone.

"… I have shamed myself."

Knowing it was his fault, the dwarf again bowed his head without making any excuses.

To be honest, I wished Rotmiller wouldn't stop there and chide him more.

But…

"But nothing came of it in the end, so I won’t say any more."

Rotmiller was too soft to play the stern military drill sergent.

"And although it was indeed a thoughtless act, personally, I think it was a good thing to stand up in defence of your teammate."

I didn't understand at all.

Instead of giving the dwarf both barrels, he was now praising the guy?

‘Aren't we supposed to at least cancel his share of the loot so he doesn’t earn anything from this expedition?'

Mistakes should be punished, and merits rewarded.

That way people wouldn’t keep making the same mistakes.

Therefore, I thought of a realistic countermeasure in my heart, but the atmosphere wasn’t suitable to speak it out loud.

‘Fuck, am I the weird one here?'

When Rotmiller forgave the dwarf with such diplomatic words, the atmosphere became strange.

It was hard to describe, but it might’ve been the most awkward I’d ever felt since I’d been a kid.

"… I'm sorry too. If it weren't for me, things might’ve turned out a little better."

The first to be swept away by that atmosphere was none other than Misha.

"Oh, how could that be!"

The second was Dwalky.

Dwalky was startled by Misha's self-blame and waved both his hands wildly. And although he stuttered, he spoke with steadfast determination.

"I, I… Of course, I'm not always right, but…! The reason they kicked us out has nothing to do with you being there! So don't ever think like that!"

It wasn't particularly wonderful as a consolation, but the sincere emotions mixed in it were clearly conveyed to everyone.

Was that why?

"I… Do you know why I hate talking about my family?"

Misha suddenly started talking about herself.

"I’m treated like a stranger in my house. Maybe some of you can guess why."

Misha looked at us, and examined our expressions.

Rotmiller, perhaps one of the ones who guessed it, avoided his gaze first, so I also followed suit and pretended not to know.

Fairies deal with spirits.

Dwarves with the blessing of armaments have increased efficiency when dealing with numbered items, and barbarians have spirit engravings.

Similarly, in addition to their unusually high basic agility stats, beastkins also have additional racial characteristics.

"I'm the only one in my family who couldn't sign a contract with a ‘soul beast'."

Soul beasts.

Beastkin can make pacts with ancient beasts called by that name.

And there are different types of such pacts.

You can summon them to fight together, or you can increase your physical abilities by avatarization, or you can use the special ability of the beast through blessings.

Of course, not all beastkin can do it.

Only a few talented beastkin are chosen by soul beasts.

However, the problem here was…

‘I guess it’s because she's of the tribe chief's blood.'

A direct descendant of the Karlstein family, the chieftain of the tribe.

In other words, it was a big problem that she, a pure-blood, couldn’t contract a ‘soul beast'. It wasn’t simply a matter of talent, instead it acted as circumstantial evidence that put her bloodline itself to question.

"I used to get along well with my brothers when I was young. But it changed when I couldn't sign a contract with a soul beast even after becoming an adult. Everyone called me a halfwit. Half mixed blood…"

A child born through infidelity.

Since her mother had passed away early, no one could know the truth, and Misha, who could not stand the gazes of her family, left the house. And she only focused on martial arts, and slowly grew up as an adventurer.

"Thank you for sharing with us such a difficult story."

When the short yet somehow long story was over, the dwarf patted Misha’s back with an unusually serious attitude.

Misha, too, didn’t react as harshly as before.

Perhaps she was more like a domesticated cat?

"Hikurod… you thought of us as colleagues and were genuinely angry for our sake."

What, was that why?

The emotionally charged discourse continued on and on, something that as a pessimist I felt very difficult to follow.

"Ha ha ha! Since we’re laying it all out on the table, it’s my turn to tell you my story. It was my dream to become a blacksmith. But because I didn't have the talent, I couldn't get rid of my apprentice label even after a decade. That's why I became an adventurer when I was over thirty! I still had to make money somehow after all! I really thought about running away and becoming a fugitive."

Perhaps Misha's confession was impressive, and the dwarf also bluntly told his story, followed by Dwalky.

"Ugh, you aren’t alone in not having talent. Although I was able to start on the path of magic using my family's money, my low talent meant I couldn’t enter the Magic Tower. If only I’d been a true wizard… he might’ve respected me a bit, then."

Dwalky went on to say that his goal was to learn even more magic by earning money from his work as an adventurer.

And when I thought this was the end of the story…

"I’ve been on several teams so far, but this is the first time I’ve ever been in a situation like this."

Rotmiller, who’d been silent so far, smiled and blew on the extinguishing embers to reignite them.

"I also have something to apologize for. When Murad and Miss Karlstein talked about retirement the other day, blood rushed to my head in anger."

"Whoa, did something like that happen?"

"Right. My own ugly envy was the reason. I didn't even know that each of you had your own circumstances, and I thought that both of you were lucky enough to be born demihumans, so you had the luxury of grumbling about who was slower or faster."

Human adventurers also have their advantages.

Once you become able to use aura, you can become a spiritist, a wizard, or a priest.

Some are born to become as large as barbarians.

In fact, humans can have the strengths of each of the demihuman races.

But in the end, this is only a possibility, and there are few humans born with special talents.

"Ha ha ha! So, everybody in our team are half-baked people? It's better, because it means that we don't have to worry about hiding from each other in the future."

Soon, the dwarf grinned awkwardly, dispelling the subdued atmosphere.

And in response to that—

"I think so too!"

The talentless wizard Dwalky agreed enthusiastically.

"I will work harder in the future to help the team!"

The pureblood beastkin who couldn’t handle soul beasts, sounded moved.

"I don’t make a habit of saying this on the third day of a team's first expedition, but I want this team to last as long as possible."

Rotmiller, an eight-year-veteran human adventurer at the pinnacle of mediocrity, was the same. Everyone acknowledged their own shortcomings, spoke openly and comforted each other.

As a result, naturally, their eyes focused on me, who hadn’t confessed anything yet.

"…"

"…"

As if something was missing.

‘Uh, I don't anything to say, though…'

I thought I’d have to come up with something first, so as to avoid being bullied by the team…

Confused by the gazes gathering on me, I blurted out whatever came out of my mouth.

"I, I have no mother!"