Surviving The Game as a Barbarian — Chapter 167

...?

What in the...

AN EARTHQUAKE?

...THIS ISN'T JUST AN EARTHQUAKE.

I'LL FOLD THIS HAND.

NOW, HOLD ON! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

I JUST REMEMBERED SOMETHING I HAVE TO DO.

BUT YOU SHOULD AT LEAST FINISH THIS ROUND...

THAT ENERGY FELT LIKE A MIXTURE OF MANA AND DIVINE POWER.

THERE'S NO WAY I SENSED IT WRONG.

THEN THAT MEANS...

...THOSE ROYAL BASTARDS REALLY DID SMASH THROUGH THE PROTECTIVE BARRIER AND INVADE.

NOARK HAD PROBABLY PREPARED FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY'S COUNTERATTACK

BY GATHERING ALL ITS FORCES AND ENTERING THE LABYRINTH.

WITHOUT REALIZING THAT PREPARATIONS TO BREACH THE PROTECTIVE BARRIER HAD BEEN COMPLETED LONG AGO...

THOSE ROYAL BASTARDS MUST BE THRILLED THEY PULLED OFF A RAID ON THE ENEMY BASE.

HUH? BUT WAIT A SECOND...

AT THIS RATE, WON'T ALL THOSE UNDERGROUND FUCKERS END UP DEAD?

HMM, THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM...

IF ALL ELSE FAILS, I'LL NEED THEM TO CLEAR THE GAME.

Ah, shit.

I'VE GOT NOTHING BETTER TO DO. SHOULD I HEAD DOWN AND HELP?

...NO, NO.

THAT'S JUST NOT MY PLAY STYLE.

...OH!

THE ROYAL PALACE MUST ALSO BE EMPTY RIGHT NOW, RIGHT...?

THAT'S RIGHT. A BASE RACE IS WHERE THE REAL FUN IS...!

ADVANCE! KEEP ADVANCING!

WHAT? THE ROYAL PALACE IS UNDER ATTACK?

BY THAT MAN?

JEROME SAINTRED, COMMANDER OF THE FIRST ROYAL KNIGHT ORDER KNOWN AS THE "KNIGHT OF LIGHT"

WHAT A HEADACHE. HOW DID THAT BASTARD KNOW EVEN I WOULD BE AWAY...?

...I'M CERTAIN WE MANIPULATED THAT EVIL SPIRIT CALLED THE GM INTO BLOCKING HIM FROM THE GATHERING.

HAVE WE RECEIVED ORDERS TO RETURN?

NOT YET, SIR.

THEN THE PLAN REMAINS UNCHANGED.

ONWARD!

IT IS TIME TO CRUSH THESE WICKED REBELS AND RESTORE ORDER AND PEACE TO THIS CITY!

FOR THE ETERNAL PROSPERITY OF RAPHDONIA!

FOR THE ETERNAL PROSPERITY OF RAPHDONIA!

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

AT ONE IN THE MORNING, I VISITED MR. BEAR'S TAVERN.

OH, JANDEL. WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE AT THIS HOUR? WITHOUT MISHA, TOO.

I'D COME TO GATHER INFORMATION, BUT—

What did I tell you?!

Those damned royals are scared shitless, I tell you!

I'm sure the royal family is...

I'M NOT HEARING ANY RUMORS WORTH PICKING UP.

2 A.M.

JANDEL, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

ABOUT THE ROYAL ARMY, I MEAN. YOU'VE GOT GREAT INSTINCTS WHEN IT COMES TO THESE THINGS.

WELL, I SUSPECT THAT THEY'RE RAIDING AN UNDEFENDED BASE...

?

...I SEE. SO THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THE EARTHQUAKE EARLIER.

YOU BELIEVE ME?

THAT'S FAR MORE PLAUSIBLE

THAN THOSE DRUNKS CLAIMING THE ROYAL FAMILY IS AVOIDING A FIGHT WITH NOARK OUT OF FEAR.

THEN PERHAPS WE'LL BE ABLE TO ENTER THE LABYRINTH NEXT MONTH--

...??

WHAT'S GOING ON?

HURRY!

EVERYONE, CLEAR THE WAY!

WHAT'S ALL THIS? WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?

HEY, YOU THERE! ARE YOU WITH THE CITY WATCH?

STOP FOR A SECOND! I AM BARONET BJORN, SON OF JANDEL!

TH-THE TITAN?

I-it's really him...!

Oh, come on...

YES, BUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

W-WELL... WE'VE BEEN ORDERED TO SEND REINFORCEMENTS TO THE CAPITAL, CARNON.

Hurry!

F-FROM WHAT MY COLLEAGUES SAY, IT SEEMS THERE'S A MAJOR FIRE.

TROUBLE IN THE CAPITAL, CARNON, RIGHT NOW? COULD THOSE NOARK BASTARDS HAVE INVADED?

RAID ON AN UNDEFENDED BASE

RAID ON AN UNDEFENDED BASE

HA. THOSE ROYAL BASTARDS CAN'T DO A SINGLE THING RIGHT.

WAIT! A FIRE IN THE CAPITAL, CARNON?!

PARDON...? YES, MY COLLEAGUES SAID IT'S A VERY BIG FIRE...

FUCK, THAT'S WHERE RAVEN IS!

STAYING AT LODGINGS IN THE CAPITAL TO STUDY MAGIC

...I'VE GOT A BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS.

ARE YOU GOING? THEN I'LL COME, TOO-

NO, YOU NEED TO STAY WITH YOUR WIFE.

BUT STILL...

IF NOARK IS INVOLVED, THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN ACROSS RAPHDONIA.

JUST IN CASE, I'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE YOUR WIFE TO MY PLACE AND STAY TOGETHER WITH THE TEAM.

Let Misha know, too.

ALL RIGHT. BE CAREFUL!

Don't push yourself!

I won't!

I DON’T WANT MISHA CHEWING ME OUT, EITHER.

JUST...

D-DADDY... HELP ME...

AAAARGH-!

MOM... WAKE UP!

WHERE DID IT ALL GO WRONG?

WELL?

WOULD YOU SAY THINGS HAVE TURNED OUT AS YOU WANTED?

VELVEV LUINGENES...

STAY CLOSE.

I CAN'T PROTECT YOU IF YOU LEAVE THE MANA FIELD.

AAAAGH!

IT BURNS...

AAAAH!!

SOMEONE HELP ME!

HONEY, WAKE UP-

AAAARGH...

SOB...

AAAAAA AAAGH!!

MOMMY!! HELP ME-!

HMM? WHAT DO YOU MEAN, STOP?

WEREN’T YOU THE ONE WHO CAME TO ME ASKING FOR HELP?

THIS ISN’T NEARLY ENOUGH TO FORCE THE ARMY MARCHING ON NOARK TO TURN BACK—

BUT THIS ISN’T WHAT I WANTED!

REALLY? THEN WHAT DID YOU WANT?

W-WELL...!

I DON’T SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

CAST YOUR EMOTIONS ASIDE AND THINK ONLY OF YOUR GOAL.

ISN'T THAT BETTER THAN LOSING BOTH?

...!

NO.

M-MOMMY...

!!

IT BURNS... MY EYES HURT SO...

NO, THIS ISN'T...

IT'S ALL RIGHT, BABY... MOMMY'S HERE...

I'LL STAY WITH YOU TO THE VERY END...

THE CAUSE I BELIEVED IN...

I ONLY MEANT TO BRING DOWN THE TYRANNICAL ROYAL FAMILY...

FUCK, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED HERE?

AAAAH! FIRE!!

BRING THE FIRE CART!!

HURRY!!

GET OUT! EVACUATE TO THE OUTSKIRTS!

LISTEN, I'M AN EXPLORER...!

I'M RESISTANT TO FIRE, SO LET ME DO SOMETHING-

MY MOTHER! MY MOTHER IS STILL IN THE HOUSE...!

SOMEONE, ANYONE... PLEASE SAVE MY YOUNGER SIBLING...!

MOMMY... MOMMY...

AH, AAAH...

I-I'LL GO!

DAMN IT, IT JUST WON'T GO OUT...!

THIS... ISN'T ORDINARY FIRE.

Everyone, stand back.

I NEED ROOM TO DRAW A MAGIC CIRCLE.

I'M GOING TO MAKE IT RAIN, SO PLEASE COOPERATE!

YOU THERE, MAGE. I AM BARONET JANDEL.

CAN YOU CAST ICE BLOOD?

MAGE?

IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG TIME SINCE ANYONE ADDRESSED ME LIKE THAT.

OF COURSE I CAN CAST ICE BLOOD, THOUGH.

THE CHARACTER'S FIRE TOLERANCE INCREASES SIGNIFICANTLY.

THANKS.

ARE YOU PLANNING TO GO IN THERE?

A COMPANION OF MINE IS INSIDE.

THEN WILL THAT ALONE REALLY BE ENOUGH?

WHAT?

TESTING, TESTING. CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME?

I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY, BUT I HAVE A FAVOR TO ASK.

BJORN JANDEL,

WHOM I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW, SAYS HE'S GOING INTO THOSE FLAMES TO RESCUE A COMPANION.

HUH...?

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT HELPS WITH FIRE TOLERANCE, PLEASE SEND IT TO THE DESIGNATED COORDINATES IN MY PRIVATE LABORATORY.

I'll summon it over here.

WHAT IS THIS, SOME KIND OF GROUP CHAT FOR MAGES?

IF IT'S HIM, WE NEEDN'T WORRY ABOUT HIS TRUSTWORTHINESS.

BUT DO KNOW THAT I'LL BE BILLING YOU FOR ANY DAMAGE.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL ASK MY STUDENTS AND SEND EVERYTHING WE HAVE.

MY STUDENT RETURNED ALIVE THANKS TO HIM.

TELL HIM THERE'S NO NEED TO PAY FOR THE SCROLLS.

ARE YOU THERE LISTENING?

IT WAS OUR IONI SCHOOL THAT SENT THE FIRE DRAGON'S RING.

Remember that.

...WAIT. COULD IT BE ARU?

IS SHE THE COMPANION YOU'RE TRYING TO RESCUE?

HUH? THAT VOICE...

...IT'S AN EXPERIMENT TO DETERMINE WHETHER AN EVIL SPIRIT'S SOUL CAN BE DISTINGUISHED FROM OTHERS!

IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, HE'S THE MASTER OF THE MASSIVE ALTEMION SCHOOL

AND RAVEN'S TEACHER.

THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S RAVEN.

R-R-RIGHT THIS INSTANT!

M-master! Please calm down...!

I'LL SEND EVERYTHING WE HAVE!

WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE...?

I APPROACHED A MAGE AT RANDOM, AND HIS GROUP CHAT HAS THIS MANY SCHOOL MASTERS IN IT?

HE CAN'T BE AN ORDINARY MAGE, EITHER.

...WHO ARE YOU?

AH, MY NAME IS LEBEN ARPHEON.

I'M A SCHOOL MASTER MYSELF, THOUGH MY SCHOOL ISN'T VERY WELL KNOWN.

Even so,

I'LL MAKE SURE TO REPAY THIS DEBT SOMEDAY.

IF THAT WILL PUT YOUR MIND AT EASE.

WITHIN MINUTES, THE SUPPLIES ARRIVED.

THERE REALLY IS A FIRE DRAGON'S RING.

I'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH EXTRAORDINARY LUCK.

ACTUALLY, CALLING IT GOOD LUCK HARDLY DOES IT JUSTICE.

WHAT WERE THE ODDS OF RECEIVING SUCH GENEROSITY FROM THOSE PROUD MAGES?

EXTRAORDINARY LUCK? WHAT A STRANGE THING TO SAY.

DO YOU THINK ALL THIS WAS POSSIBLE THROUGH MERE LUCK?

I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM OFFER UP THEIR BELONGINGS TO HELP A COMPLETE STRANGER BEFORE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY SEE IN YOU THAT MADE THEM STEP FORWARD TO HELP,

BUT...

ALL OF THIS IS BECAUSE OF YOU.

...ALL RIGHT. I SEE WHAT YOU MEAN.

THANK YOU.

THE RAIN MAGIC CIRCLE IS READY!

GOOD. I'LL ACTIVATE IT NOW. EVERYONE, TAKE YOUR POSITIONS!

YES, MASTER!

THE CHARACTER HAS CONSUMED [LYE OF ETERNITY].

FIRE TOLERANCE INCREASES TEMPORARILY.

THE CHARACTER HAS CONSUMED [SPIRIT'S TEARS].

ALL ELEMENTAL RESISTANCE STATS TEMPORARILY INCREASE BY +15.

THE CHARACTER HAS CONSUMED [FLAME OF PURITY].

FIRE DAMAGE TAKEN TEMPORARILY DECREASES BY 10%, AND FIRE AFFINITY INCREASES BY +15.

THE CHARACTER HAS EQUIPPED NO.4819 LAVA SHIELD.

TOTAL ITEM LEVEL INCREASES BY 985.

THE CHARACTER HAS EQUIPPED NO.760 FIRE DRAGON'S RING.

TOTAL ITEM LEVEL...

ALL RIGHT, THEN...

OH, IF YOU STILL HAVE STRENGTH LEFT AFTER RESCUING YOUR COMPANION,

PLEASE RESCUE THE OTHERS AS WELL.

I'LL DO EVERYTHING I CAN.

HOW REASSURING.

NOW, OFF YOU GO.

ORB OF FIRE HAS BEEN ACTIVATED.

ALL FIRE DAMAGE OVER TIME ORIGINATING FROM WITHIN A 15M RADIUS IS REDUCED BY 50%.

SO THIS REALLY IS MAGICAL FIRE?

EVEN WITH THIS MUCH TOLERANCE, THE HEAT IS MAKING MY THROAT ITCH.

WITHOUT ALL THAT SUPPORT, MY AIRWAY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN COOKED.

MAYBE RAVEN IS ALREADY...

NO WAY!

BARBARIAN FIREFIGHTER MODE, MOVING OUT.

KNOWING HER, SHE'LL BE LOOKING AFTER EVERYONE AROUND HER BY NOW!