Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Kwaaang-!

The knights stormed in, smashing the front door while I was taking a nap on the sofa.

It felt like a bolt from the blue.

Even in my half-awake state, the knight's words registered in my mind.

"Lihen Schuitz, you are under arrest for colluding with Noark."

Colluding with Noark...

It was probably just an excuse to arrest me. They would investigate me properly once I was in custody.

There were too many suspicious things about me.

'But they came sooner than I expected.'

I had attracted attention by associating with Erwen and by getting involved with Raven on the battlefield.

It was only a matter of time.

Clank.

The knights quickly secured the living room and surrounded me, drawing their swords.

They weren't underestimating me.

They kept their distance, their gazes fixed on me.

"Lihen Schuitz, drop your weapon."

The knight who seemed to be the leader ordered me.

And in that situation...

'Okay...'

I looked around.

'What should I do?'

There were no mages.

It meant that they had only sent knights to arrest me.

Considering the knights' reputation in PvP, it was overkill... but it was also good news.

It meant I could break out and escape if I had to.

'But then I wouldn't be able to stay in this city...'

It was a last resort.

And it would conflict with my ultimate goal of reclaiming my identity as Bjorn Yandel.

'It's time to enter the tiger's den.'

I would have to contact the royal family eventually to clear my name.

Of course, it would have been better if I knew their intentions beforehand...

But I had learned something.

[...The royal family knows the GM's identity.]

The GM was practically a spiritual leader for the players.

According to SoulQueens' information from the Round Table, the royal family knew his identity.

And not only that...

They had even suppressed the information to protect him.

It meant they weren't indiscriminately killing all evil spirits.

Even if my identity as Bjorn Yandel was exposed, and my status as an evil spirit was revealed... there was still room for negotiation.

But...

'I should at least try to gauge their intentions.'

I made up my mind and spoke.

"I'll cooperate with the investigation, but can I at least tell my companion before I go?"

The reason for this request was simple.

They knew my companion was Erwen.

If they refused, it would be a positive sign.

It would mean they had deliberately waited until Erwen was away, and that they didn't know much about me.

"If you're talking about the Blood Spirit Marquis, there's no need. You can see her when we arrive."

The leader's words stunned me.

"..."

What? They arrested Erwen too?

Then what about Amelia?

No, I had to confirm this first.

"How can I be sure she's there?"

The leader answered without hesitation.

"I swear on the name of the Lafdonia royal family."

Damn it, that means he's not lying...

This is bad.

They even arrested Erwen, whom the fairies treasured?

It meant the royal family had prepared thoroughly. They had a reason to arrest me and Erwen.

'Shit...'

I wanted to resist and run away...

But I couldn't leave Erwen behind.

"This is your last chance. Lihen Schuitz, drop your weapon. Or you will be charged with treason against the royal family."

The leader issued an ultimatum, and a powerful wave of magic energy, easily detectable even with my barbarian senses, pulsed from outside the house.

So there was a mage.

They had just been hiding.

'These bastards are thorough.'

I reluctantly lowered my hammer.

Swoosh.

I had no choice.

I would have to be extra careful from now on.

__________________

Things moved quickly after I surrendered.

I put my weapon away as instructed, and the knights confiscated my subspace ring.

And...

"Your belongings will be returned to you once your charges are cleared."

The leader's voice had softened.

And it wasn't just his tone.

The treatment I received was far from that of a criminal.

"We have a carriage waiting for you."

A carriage awaited me outside.

It wasn't a prisoner transport wagon.

It was a luxurious carriage, fit for a high-ranking noble.

"Get in. We're going to Karnon, the Imperial City."

And there was only one escort, the leader.

The other knights were on horseback, escorting the carriage.

It was a level of treatment I had never received, even as Viscount Yandel.

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage started moving smoothly along the paved road, and I cautiously observed the leader.

"Is something bothering you?"

He asked, and I wanted to say, 'Of course!'

It was an absurd question.

But I couldn't be rude.

I asked cautiously,

"What are my charges?"

"As I said—"

"Don't say colluding with Noark. I wouldn't be treated like this if that was the case."

"..."

The leader fell silent and then frowned.

But he must have realized that I wouldn't stop asking.

"I can't tell you anything right now."

"But—"

"You'll find out when we arrive."

He drew a firm line, ending the conversation.

In the end, I only learned two things.

"What will happen to me?"

"That will be decided by 'him'."

Someone important was waiting for me.

And...

"Was anyone else arrested with Erwen?"

"I heard she was alone."

Amelia was safe.

We continued our journey in silence, and after about an hour, the carriage stopped.

We were at the 7th District military transfer station.

A facility with teleportation magic circles connected to each district.

It was originally built for rapid troop deployment in emergencies, but it was mostly used by nobles for transportation.

This was my first time here.

I had the right to use it after receiving the Viscount title, but the cost was exorbitant.

'I'm using it like this...'

We didn't even have to get out of the carriage.

We were teleported directly to the military transfer station in the Imperial City.

And...

'It's not the royal palace.'

The carriage entered a large mansion near the royal palace. Thanks to that, I could guess who had ordered my arrest.

The family crest was displayed prominently at the entrance.

A shield with a thorny rose.

It was the symbol of the Terserion family, a symbol almost everyone in the city knew.

For over a decade, the King had rarely appeared in public, and the Prime Minister of Lafdonia, Marquis Terserion, had been handling most of the official duties.

'The second most powerful person in the kingdom...'

I had thought it might be a member of the royal family since the knights were wearing the royal family's emblem...

'But this isn't bad either. I'm meeting the second most powerful person in the kingdom.'

I felt a surge of anxiety.

It felt like entering a tiger's den.

High risk, high return.

If I played my cards right, I might be able to solve all my problems with a few words...

But if I made a mistake, it could be disastrous.

"Get out."

The carriage stopped, and I was surrounded by knights. I was escorted inside, receiving their 'respectful' treatment.

Click.

A lavishly decorated reception room.

"...Where's Erwen?"

I quickly scanned the room and asked, and the leader frowned.

"That was a lie."

"...What?"

My head spun.

He swore on the name of the royal family!

I glared at him, and he averted his gaze.

"I had to bring you here quietly."

"You'll be in trouble if they find out you lied about the King."

"I'll be fine as long as they don't."

...This guy is flexible.

I couldn't help but admire him.

"You would have made a good explorer."

"You can mock me all you want. I was just following my lord's orders."

He had a way with words.

'Damn it...'

It was something I had often done.

Using the barbarian stereotype to make false oaths and deceive people.

It was an effective method.

No one would expect a knight, especially one from the Royal Knight Order, to lie about the King.

'But...'

Forget about being deceived.

If Erwen wasn't arrested, it was actually good news.

It meant she was safe.

'And it's something I'll have to face eventually.'

The important thing wasn't dwelling on my mistakes, but figuring out what to do next.

"So, what happens now? Do I just wait here? For that 'him' you mentioned?"

"There's no need."

The knight shook his head and placed a crystal ball on the table.

I didn't have to ask what it was.

It was obvious.

That's why there weren't any other escorts.

They were going to use this to communicate.

"I'll be leaving then."

He told me to activate the crystal ball after he left and then exited the room.

I was alone.

"..."

I quickly scanned the room for any hidden observers and then lifted the carpet.

'Holy shit.'

There was a magic circle underneath.

A complex, geometric pattern, filled with colorful magical circuits.

I felt a chill run down my spine.

'Are they going to blow me up if I try to escape?'

The second most powerful person in the kingdom...

The scale was different.

This entire mansion was practically a giant execution device.

'...Let's just activate the crystal ball.'

I was overwhelmed by their thoroughness, but I followed the knight's instructions and pressed the button on the crystal ball.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The crystal ball lit up and started projecting an image.

It was a familiar face.

The Prime Minister of Lafdonia, a high-ranking noble with the title of Marquis.

Ageny Rotten Terserion.

The man who had presided over the title bestowal ceremony in the King's stead.

[It's been a while.]

He greeted me in a deep voice, and I froze.

'...Been a while?'

I felt a pang of unease.

Thump!

Was it just a mind game?

How much did he know?

I swallowed my questions.

I had something more important to think about.

What should I say?

I quickly made my decision.

"Are you..."

I spoke cautiously and respectfully.

"Marquis Terserion?"

It was a natural reaction for an explorer who had been suddenly arrested and brought here.

But...

[You haven't forgotten my face already, have you...? You're quite cunning, unlike them.]

The Marquis chuckled and then called my name.

[Viscount Bjorn Yandel.]

It was my full name, a name I hadn't heard in a long time.

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