Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

PK (1)

The one who opened the rift.

In other words, who's the mafia?

It's a question I've been pondering ever since we entered the 'Glacier Cave'.

To me, the mafia is a 'variable'.

I needed to figure out beforehand whether they would be a positive or negative variable. That's why I gathered clues, considering all possibilities without assuming the bear-like man was the mafia.

As a result...

'Right, it was her.'

I found the one who is suspected to be the mafia.

I don't know what this bastard wants.

'Phew, I can't just kill her.'

The more I don't know her intentions, the more uneasy I feel.

After all, if she's really the mafia, there's a high chance she'll become a negative variable in the future.

However...

'I'll have to keep observing for now.'

There's only one mafia.

And she hasn't done anything yet.

That means it would be a problem if I just killed her out of the blue.

Unless I also 'silence' the two innocent ones.

Whoosh-

___________________

"Michelle, are you feeling okay?"

"...Me? I'm fine?"

Misha answers innocently, but in reality, the fatigue from yesterday must be pervasive.

Unlike Jenson and the bear-like man, we only slept for three hours each because we had to keep watch.

"Don't worry, it's better than the Witch's Forest, right?"

"That's... true."

I chuckle and shake off my worries.

Well, someone who endured that much won't falter from something like this.

"Enough with the lovey-dovey stuff, let's get going."

As soon as the bear-like man says something, Misha hurries back to her position.

The very back of the formation.

It's a position where she can immediately notice if anyone tries anything funny. If it weren't for her, I would have been hesitant to take the lead as the tank.

Thud.

As soon as I take the first step, the party follows at my pace.

'So this is what it feels like in real life, not in 2D graphics.'

A dark, icy cave.

The frozen ground is slippery, and the overall terrain is more three-dimensional than the 1st-floor Crystal Cave.

There are even steep slopes and places where the path is cut off, requiring us to use ropes to cross.

However…

"It's a relief that there seems to be only one path."

We don't get lost even without a scout.

There are occasional side paths, but they soon lead to dead ends.

We just have to follow the main path and keep moving.

While smashing the monsters that appear from the ice walls.

Thwack-!

For reference, the monsters that appear here are Wormstones, Sabertooth Tigers, Frost Wolves, Ice Golems, and Owlbears.

Unlike the Crimson Fortress, where the 7th-grade monster 'Bone Knight' appeared, most of the monsters here are 8th-grade.

'But the actual difficulty level is higher here.'

The status effect [Hypothermia].

It's a debuff field effect that decreases Agility by up to -30 and doubles cold damage taken when you don't have cold resistance.

"Miss Nayfrin, be careful. Maybe it's because my body is stiff, but these guys' attacks seem to hurt more than before."

"Ah, that's... that's why!"

As the journey continues, 'Jenson', who is taking the second row on either side of me, starts groaning.

Of course, I don't slow down out of consideration for them. Their share of the loot is practically negligible anyway.

Thwack.

It's basically just Misha, the bear-like man, and me, the one protecting the bear-like man, clearing the path, and we're finally nearing the end of the chapter.

Did it take about four hours to get here?

As we're walking through the winding passage, going up and down...

...we reach a vast cavern.

"Whew, what a sight."

Three monsters are trapped in crystal-clear ice pillars.

"Judging by their white skin, they're Ice Orcs."

"...Ice Orcs?"

"Don't worry, they're only 7th-grade."

The weapons held by the Ice Orcs are all different.

One has an axe, one has a hammer, and one has a shaman's staff.

"...Do we really have to fight them?"

"They wouldn't be here for no reason."

The bear-like man answers cynically to Jensia's mumbling.

And at that moment...

Crackle-

The ice pillars that were trapping the Ice Orcs crack and start to shatter all at once.

"They're not even giving us time to admire the view?"

Anyway, regardless of the bear-like man's relaxed response...

"Don't panic and get into formation!"

I shout urgently towards Jenson, who are fidgeting.

Because it's easier for Misha to keep an eye on them if they're in formation.

"Ah, yes!"

As soon as Jenson takes their positions on either side of me and the bear-like man retreats to a sniping position...

Kwaaang, thud thud.

The ice fragments fall, and the three Ice Orcs awaken from their slumber.

They snort fiercely, as befits mid-bosses.

[Kriiik—!]

One shaman and two warriors.

It's a well-balanced composition, and with [Hypothermia] on top of that, they're quite formidable opponents.

If you don't know the strategy.

"Phew..."

I take a deep breath and raise my shield.

I'm quite nervous.

It's not because of the orcs, which can be easily defeated, but because of something else.

'If she's going to pull something, now would be the best time.'

There's a mafia in the team.

Of course, I don't know what her goal is.

Maybe she just wants to clear the rift and has no intention of harming anyone.

But I have to prepare for the possibility that that's not the case.

Therefore—

Kwaaang!

…I focus on defense rather than offense.

It's better to hide my strength just in case.

In that sense, I've also instructed Misha to just observe and not do anything unnecessary.

"Why aren't you running to your lover and still here?"

"Something might appear from behind. And he's not my lover."

"Well, not yet."

The bear-like man questions Misha's positioning, but he seems to accept it as a reasonable excuse.

And...

"Tsk, those guys are useless anyway, I guess I'll have to put in some effort this time."

He reveals an ability he hasn't shown before.

「Avman Urikfrit has summoned Iron Bear Iradun.」

A giant bear emerges through the portal that appeared in front of the bear-like man.

It's a Spirit Beast.

'...Iradun?'

Honestly, I'm a bit surprised.

I thought he might have already made a contract with a Spirit Beast since he's a 5th-grade explorer from the beastman race...

'I can't believe he's a summoner.'

Now I understand why he was able to solo even though he's an archer.

If you have a tank summon, there's no need to stick to a team.

[Gaaaaak!!]

The summoned bear runs on all fours and then roars next to me, rising to its hind legs. And it starts to focus on one of the warriors, as if it's used to it.

'I guess we'll have to go with Plan B.'

I act rationally.

Nothing has changed.

Since I hid my strength, the bear-like man also revealed his Spirit Beast, which he had been saving until now.

[Kriiik!]

Therefore, I allow the Ice Orc's hammer to hit me.

If I get hit in the body, it will be obvious that I'm faking it, so I just headbutt it like a head-on collision.

Kwaaang!

Since I'm wearing a helmet and have a decent Bone Density stat, my head doesn't explode.

I'm just a bit dizzy from the impact.

And even that is quickly recovering thanks to my natural regeneration.

However…

Thud.

…I collapse to the ground with a thud.

It's because I judged that if we take down the three orcs too easily, I won't be able to test the mafia's intentions.

"Ar, are you alri… ugh!"

Kalson rushes towards me in surprise and takes over the aggro.

And at that moment…

「Killed Ice Orc Warrior. EXP +3.」

…an arrow is shot and pierces the head of the hammer-wielding orc.

Although the shaman's aggro shifts to the bear-like man due to this…

…the 5th-grade explorer is experienced.

Tadat.

He nimbly dodges the spell with his 190-centimeter-tall body, nocks an arrow on his crossbow, and shoots accurately.

「Ice Orc Shaman has cast [Steel Ice Wall].」

Even the shaman's defensive skill is useless against that monstrous arrow.

How can a 7th-grade monster block something like that?

Kwaaang!

The arrow shatters the ice wall and explodes as it pierces the shaman's head.

「Killed Ice Orc Shaman. EXP +3.」

Now there's only one orc left.

‘Is he going to take them all down with just three arrows?’

A sense of emptiness washes over me.

The battle is so one-sided that my plan of making things difficult if they're too easy seems pointless.

‘Is this what a 5th-grade archer is like?’

Tsk, should I just get up and pretend to have come to my senses?

As I'm contemplating that…

Someone mutters,

"So that was his Spirit Beast."

It's a cold voice.

"Now I can do it as planned."

The bear-like man, who was loading another arrow, collapses, vomiting blood.

Thud.

The mafia has finally made their move.

___________________

There are a few prerequisites that must be met to be the mafia.

Having enough knowledge to know how to open rifts.

Having excellent pathfinding skills to travel to the 2nd floor and back in just 19 hours.

And having the ability to clear the rift alone.

With these alone, the picture becomes clearer.

A scout with the strength of a 5th-grade explorer.

That’s the identity of the mafia.

The problem is that all three of them had the potential to be the mafia.

1. Bear-like man.

5th-grade explorer.

His way of thinking is similar to a player's.

There’s no need to explain further.

2. Kalson.

He only gave his name during introductions.

He didn’t mention the essence he possesses either.

And his low-level equipment was also well-maintained.

As if it were brand new.

I thought it might be a disguise, so I observed him closely, but he didn’t absorb the Frost Wolf essence either, making excuses.

He was suspicious enough.

Well, not as suspicious as him, but…

3. Jensia Nayfrin.

She said she received training as a scout and is knowledgeable about traps and mechanical devices.

She also said that observation is her specialty.

I think it was all just insurance.

To make her subsequent lines sound natural.

[Do, do we really have to kill that and then go down?]

When we encountered the Yeti blocking the cave.

[Ah! It’s glowing after I touched it.]

In the second chapter.

[I feel like my body is moving slowly…···!]

When the mid-boss cast [Suppression].

[By the way… is it all over now?]

Before the last wave started, when everyone was letting their guard down.

She kept subtly hinting at key points as if pretending not to know.

As if she already knew the strategy.

Of course, this was nothing compared to the bear-like man or Kalson.

If it weren’t for the dirt on her shoes.

As soon as we entered the rift, the first thing I checked was their shoes. To open the ‘Glacier Cave’, you need to visit the 2nd-floor Beast’s Lair.

Jensia was the only one with dirt on her shoes.

Well, it’s understandable if she just didn’t wipe off the dirt from the city…

[Now that I think about it, there’s one strange thing. Jensia’s scent changed after we fell into the water.]

Misha’s tip made me certain.

Although she’s not as good as Rotmiller, she still has a good sense of smell as a beastman.

[She used to smell a bit more… fishy.]

[Like the Beast’s Lair?]

[Ah! Now that you mention it! That’s why it felt familiar!]

Jensia is the mafia.

And I judged that she’s a malicious variable with a high chance of becoming a negative factor.

And thanks to that…

…I was able to prepare beforehand.

Thump-!

The moment Jensia’s sword pierces the bear-like man’s abdomen…

…Misha, as if she’s been waiting, throws a vial and hits her target.

Crash!

The glass shatters, and the contents spill out.

“Thank you, it’s worth about 30 million sto— Kyaak!”

Jensia, who was about to say something smugly, is startled and steps back after being doused in the liquid.

“Wh, what! What did you do to me…?”

I quickly get up.

But did my fainting also play a part in her choosing this moment for a surprise attack?

“What, what is it…?”

Jensia looks even more confused.

I let out a battle cry instead of answering.

“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!”

What is it?

It means…

…it’s self-defense from now on.

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