Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

"Tomorrow? What do you mean?"

Amelia averted her gaze at my question.

"I had a hunch from the beginning."

"From the beginning...?"

I was momentarily stunned.

'Was that why she had that strange expression every time we talked about returning?'

I realized that the strange feeling I had during our previous conversations wasn't just my imagination, but I still didn't understand.

"If you had a hunch, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

I stared at her intently, and Amelia glanced at me before quickly looking away again.

"Do you... not want to go back?"

"That's..."

Amelia trailed off and shook her head.

"Absolutely not. I just thought it might be nice to stay here a little longer..."

"What? Why?"

I couldn't help but tilt my head in confusion, but after thinking about it from Amelia's perspective, I understood.

"That, that's—"

"Ah, I get it. Okay."

"You get it...?"

"You're worried about leaving your sister behind, aren't you?"

If we left, Laura would be alone in this world for the next 20 years.

It was natural for Amelia to want to help her live a better life, and she probably wanted to at least see how Laura would turn out before leaving.

"You could have just told me. I didn't know I was that untrustworthy."

"Ah..."

"We're companions, aren't we? Just tell me."

"...Okay, I'll tell you next time."

"Good."

I quickly cleared up the misunderstanding and moved on to the next topic.

The most important part of this conversation.

"So what was your hunch? Why are you so sure we can go back tomorrow?"

"Ah, about that."

Amelia finally focused and explained her reasoning, and I listened intently, asking a few questions along the way.

I nodded as she finished.

'Hmm, that makes sense.'

It was a plausible explanation.

No, to be honest, I had a feeling as soon as I heard it.

This was it.

The last role I had to fulfill.

______________________

The next morning,

We checked out of the inn early and went to a nearby restaurant.

Amelia said there was a place she wanted to go.

Well, I wanted to get this over with and go back as soon as possible, but...

"It's a restaurant that closes down in 20 years... Ah, of course, if it's too much trouble, we can just go straight to our destination."

How could I refuse after she said that?

'Besides, I'll be busy once we get back. She's been working hard all this time, running around every day.'

Amelia even seemed embarrassed to ask for such a simple favor. It was probably awkward for her to express such an ordinary desire.

It was a positive change.

It meant we had built a strong enough bond for her to feel comfortable asking for favors.

"If there's anything else you want to do, just tell me."

"Then... can we stop by the Arangje Art Museum in the 9th District?"

"...The art museum?"

"There's a painting I want to see. I wanted to see it again, but it wasn't there when I went back. It was sold to some rich noble."

We went to the museum after our meal. Amelia stood in front of the painting she wanted to see for over 30 minutes, lost in thought.

And then...

"...Can we look around a bit more?"

"Of course."

We walked around the museum, looking at the other paintings and sculptures.

I was a bit surprised.

'I didn't know she had this kind of hobby.'

I could tell from her eyes that she was genuinely enjoying herself.

Well, that's one thing, and this is another.

"Amelia, I know sightseeing is fun, but I'm hungry..."

It was already past noon, so we had lunch at a nearby restaurant.

And then...

"Yandel, can we stop by one more place?"

We got back in the carriage and headed towards Amelia's request.

It was the Leathlas Church orphanage.

The place where young Dwarkey had lived.

'This place is strangely connected to us.'

We didn't go inside, but sat on a bench across from the building and watched Laura through the window.

She had recovered from her injuries and was now working at a desk, sorting through documents.

It seemed like she had gotten a job at the orphanage through the priest's recommendation.

"I thought she would just be helping out with chores, but she's already reading and doing paperwork? It seems like she learned quickly."

I wondered if her memories hadn't been completely erased, so I asked Amelia, but she just shook her head with a bitter smile.

"That's impossible."

"How can you be so sure?"

"My sister... couldn't read."

"...What?"

Then she learned how to read and do paperwork in just a few weeks from the priest?

I was dumbfounded, but it wasn't completely unbelievable.

There are people like that in the world.

"...A genius, huh."

"I didn't expect her to be this talented. I knew she had a good memory, but..."

"What about the priest? Didn't she find it strange that Laura could learn so quickly?"

"She just thinks it's a sign that her memories are returning. My sister also thinks the same."

Maybe their true talent wasn't killing people.

Maybe they were just forced into that life by their circumstances.

If they had been born into a normal family, how would Amelia have turned out? She seemed to enjoy art, maybe she would have become a famous painter—

"What's with that look?"

Ah, was I staring too intently?

"...It's nothing. Anyway, how long are we going to stay here? It seems like your sister is getting off work."

"We should... go now."

We got up from the bench as Laura finished her work and put on her coat.

And then...

We entered the sewers through a hidden passage.

It was the only way to get to Noark.

"I didn't expect to be back here. I hope nothing happens."

"It will be fine. There's another way to get in, even if this passage is blocked."

We had to go through a broker to enter Noark legally last time because we needed Noark IDs, but this time, we could just sneak in through a secret passage Amelia knew.

It was connected to the Lord's Castle.

"By the way, what's going to happen to Noark?"

We talked about Noark as we walked.

I was curious about what had happened after the incident involving the royal family, Orculus, and us.

"Noark? They're probably busy picking a new Lord."

"Picking a new Lord?"

I knew they would eventually find a way to stabilize the city, but I was curious about the process.

"How can they even think about picking a new Lord after losing to Orculus?"

"Because Orculus needs the city too."

I thought they would just take over the city, but there was a reason why they couldn't.

"The portals to the labyrinth won't open in Noark unless someone from the Lord's bloodline is present."

So the new Lord immediately killed all his blood relatives after his father's death.

He was worried that Orculus would use his weak siblings as puppets to control the city.

'He's a ruthless one. To make that decision so quickly.'

The new Lord then negotiated a truce with Orculus, giving them some concessions, and gradually stabilized the city.

That was what would happen in Noark over the next 20 years.

"We're here."

We exited the sewers through a hidden passage in the Lord's Castle and then walked through the city, still smelling of smoke, until we reached a small mansion.

"Wait here for a moment. I'll be back soon."

"Okay."

It was Amelia's house.

______________________

Knock, knock.

There was no need to knock.

Amelia knew her past self didn't lock the door.

She had given up on everything.

Creak.

Amelia opened the door and entered the house. It was sparsely furnished with basic furniture, but it felt familiar.

The house the alchemist had given them was always like this.

Even when they left for good after becoming adults.

"..."

A girl, huddled in a corner, looked up as Amelia entered.

"Emily...?"

A glimmer of hope appeared in her dull eyes.

Amelia couldn't read minds, but she knew what her past self was thinking.

"Do, do you..."

A desperate hope.

That her sister was still alive.

"Your sister is dead."

"Ah..."

Amelia's blunt words made the girl lower her head.

The glimmer of hope in her eyes had vanished.

But Amelia pulled her to her feet.

And she spoke.

"You'll be going back to the labyrinth soon. And you'll live a life like before, meeting and killing people."

"...So what?"

Her harsh words seemed to have an effect, as the girl, who had been like a lifeless doll, looked up at her.

Amelia then held out her hand.

"Promise me. That you won't kill any barbarians."

"...Why should I?"

Amelia answered without hesitation.

"Because someday, you'll realize that keeping this promise was the luckiest thing you ever did."

The girl remained silent.

Amelia could tell what she was thinking.

She didn't understand why Amelia was saying this, but...

She didn't think Amelia was lying.

No, she even felt like Amelia was genuinely trying to help her.

Like her sister, who was no longer here...

Amelia intertwined her fingers with the girl's and squeezed her hand three times.

It was a gesture they used when making promises.

"How... how did you know that?"

Amelia didn't answer.

She just let go of the girl's hand and turned to leave.

Step, step.

As Amelia reached the door, the girl spoke in a tired voice.

"What if..."

"..."

"What if I have to kill a barbarian to protect myself? Even then, should I keep this promise?"

It was a question her past self would ask.

Her sister had always taught them to never make promises they couldn't keep.

But Amelia answered confidently.

"You can do whatever you want then."

Because it would never happen.

Amelia opened the door and stepped outside.

And...

"Ah, one last thing."

"..."

"Lock the door when you're alone."

Amelia closed the door quietly and turned around.

She saw the barbarian waiting for her in the distance.

"Are you done?"

"Yes."

The promise would be kept.

Even though her past self didn't understand why, and even though she couldn't save her sister.

She had received their help.

Her sister had always taught them to repay their debts.

"Amelia, there's a blonde kid staring at me from over there... Shouldn't we do something about him?"

Amelia followed the barbarian's gaze and saw a familiar boy.

"Ah, I recognize him. Is that the Guardweaver Drowus kid?"

"Yes, that's him. He has another name, but..."

Amelia felt a strange sense of detachment as she looked at the boy.

He would eventually tell her about the Fragment of Records. And then he would betray her and run away, leaving her with a scar on her ear.

That's why she had made a pact with the Lord to never kill anyone in Noark. Well, it didn't work in this time period because there was a time limit on the pact, but...

'I don't feel anything.'

She didn't feel any anger towards him.

It was as if all the resentment and hatred she had been carrying had vanished.

"Shouldn't we do something about him?"

The barbarian's worried question made her realize why she felt so calm.

"No, it's fine. Leave him alone."

"Leave him alone?"

It was all just a process.

The pain she had experienced because of him...

It was all just a stepping stone to meeting this man.

"...What? Why are you smiling?"

"I didn't smile."

"You did."

"..."

Amelia ignored the barbarian's persistent questions and walked ahead.

The barbarian quickly caught up.

"Hey, why isn't this thing working?"

"It will work soon."

"But what if it doesn't?"

"Then we'll just have to live here. I don't mind."

"Uh... that's a bit... No, I don't mean I don't like you..."

The barbarian trailed off awkwardly.

Amelia couldn't help but smile again.

It was a genuine smile, not the awkward one she had practiced in front of the mirror.

She stopped walking and turned around, and the barbarian bumped into her.

And at that moment...

Flash!

The world was engulfed in a white light.

______________________

'Iron Mask...?'

The blonde boy had found them by chance. He was wandering around the city, looking for someone to rob, when he saw them.

He wasn't wearing his signature iron helmet...

But there was no one else in the city with such a massive physique.

No one, except for a barbarian.

'And the red-haired woman next to him...'

It was the infamous Iron Mask and Emily.

The boy hid himself and watched them enter a house.

And a few minutes later, the woman came out and joined the barbarian.

Did they sense his gaze?

"...!"

The boy ducked, feeling like they had made eye contact.

And at that moment...

A brilliant light erupted, illuminating the dark underground city.

Flash!

It was a fleeting flash.

And then...

The street was filled with chaos. Drunkards stumbled to their feet, and people rushed to their windows.

"What, what was that?! That light!"

"...Magic?"

"Did something happen to us?"

Everyone was confused, trying to figure out what had happened.

But the blonde boy hiding in the alley was different.

'Iron Mask is gone...'

They had disappeared.

But he didn't question why.

The boy, who had lived his entire life in Noark, instinctively ran.

And...

'This stone! This stone was glowing!'

He picked up a stone that had fallen on his clothes and put it in his pocket, then quickly disappeared into the alley.

And a few minutes later...

"Over there! The light came from over there!"

"I saw it from my window! The light flashed, and then someone disappeared!"

The guards arrived, alerted by the commotion, and started asking questions. They soon realized who had been standing in the center of the light.

"A barbarian-looking man and a red-haired woman?"

"Iron Mask! It's Iron Mask! The one the Lord has been looking for! Search the area!"

"An ID card! There's an ID card in his clothes!"

"6th-grade explorer, Nibels Enche... Is this Iron Mask's real name? What about the woman?"

"We couldn't find hers!"

"Captain, a kid said he saw someone pick something up from the ground."

"What? Where did he go?!"

The guards rushed into the alley, but they couldn't find the boy.

He had already disappeared.

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