Surviving the Game as a Barbarian-Chapter 551: Secret Room (4)

To sum up what was obtained in this secret room:

“A mysterious golden book with the story of a brother and sister written inside.”

Well, I still couldn’t tell its immediate use.

But the rest of the loot(?) was a different story.

“Seven summoning books.”

Not just any summoning books, but each one was a book that couldn’t be found on any outside bookshelf.

Like one containing more than ten rare mimics.

Strangely, the monster illustrations weren’t black and white but painted over in colors like blue and red.

Or parts of the monster images were marked with ‘???’.

Seven books with such peculiarities.

“A suspicious fountain pen.”

On top of that, there was the fountain pen that had been on Hamshik’s desk.

“Hamshik, how do you use this fountain pen?”

[W-well...]

After hesitating for a long time, Hamshik finally started honestly, saying, “Well, since you’re a friend...”

[If you use this pen to paint over the drawings in the book... you can obtain the essence of that color.]

“What?!”

[Do-don’t shout! You startled me!]

No, then say it cautiously so I’m not surprised.

A fountain pen that guarantees you get the essence of the desired color...?

Is it even right for such an item to exist in this world?

It felt like an absurdly broken item, but unfortunately, the fountain pen had limits.

Grade 3 or below only.

And it could only be used twice.

“Well, there’s no way it would be unlimited use.”

Disappointment came over me, but since the opponent was [Dungeon and Stone], it felt a bit less bad.

It was just that I expected the item to be a bit foolish...

For this game, this kind of item was already insanely strong.

“Is this an unexplored region...?”

I could understand why explorers were so obsessed with the newly opened underground first floor.

The 5th floor, 6th floor, 7th floor too.

There must have been such broken hidden pieces when they were first opened.

“By the way, Hamshik, how did you know about the fountain pen? Did you try using it a few times before I arrived?”

[No way!]

“Hmm, but your explanation was surprisingly detailed.”

[I just knew! Since I was born!]

Hamshik said he never used it but knew what the fountain pen was for from the start. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

[Why would you say that!]

As I naturally tucked the pen in my pocket, Hamshik had another fit.

[Th-that fountain pen is something that must be handed to a qualified person...!]

Oh, really?

“But you said it can be used twice, right?”

[Yes, but...]

“Well, you can use it once, then give it to the qualified person later.”

[W-what nonsense—!]

“Or is there some rule that it must be given in a perfect condition?”

[U-uh... not exactly...]

“Then there’s no problem!”

Okay, so the fountain pen issue ends here.

I’ll go out, use it once, then after thinking more about where to use the remaining use, persuade the qualified person.

So, with that in mind, I turned my attention to the last loot.

“A map...”

It looked like a condensed map of the entire underground first floor.

Centered on the starting point, Rock Island, several islands were drawn...

Though the fountain pen was a great item, this map was also a huge gain.

Because the time needed to explore and light up the map was reduced.

“There are still two islands we haven’t visited.”

After consulting navigator Auyen, one was about a week’s distance from the library island.

The other was about a month away.

“A month... it’s a much larger floor than expected.”

“Yes. But there’s one concern... The location of this island is in the direction where that rainbow was seen.”

“So that means this island could be the one beyond the rainbow?”

“Well... I can’t say for sure yet, but I think it’s not just a coincidence.”

I thought so too.

For that reason, let’s call this island the Rainbow Island from now on...

“Hamshik, do you know what’s beyond this map?”

[I don’t know...!]

Hamshik answered sulkily while looking around the mess of the room.

He seemed a little upset but didn’t seem to be lying.

‘So he really doesn’t ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) know...’

It’s better to assume this map doesn’t show everything.

My curiosity only grew.

What happens if we go beyond this map? Or is it even possible to leave?

Back when people believed the world was flat, I guess that’s why they were so curious about the edge of the world.

‘Anyway, I’ll find out when I go myself someday...’

“Yandel, look at this part here.”

Versil pointed to a spot on the unfolded map.

It was the part with Giant Island, specifically the cave where we stayed on the island.

“Do you see the symbol marked here?”

“This looks like the portal stele.”

“Exactly, right?”

The stele symbol drawn on the cave part.

But below that symbol was a very intuitive mark.

“An arrow pointing downward...”

What could that mean?

‘Underground second floor.’

Everyone looking at the map seemed to think the same thing, but no one spoke it aloud.

Then, when silence stretched out...

“...Shall we look here too?”

Versil moved her finger to point to a new location on the map.

Auyen was the first to identify it.

“This is... the Chief’s Island...”

“That’s right. There are only two stele marks on this entire map, and one of them is here.”

The moment Versil confirmed the spot she pointed at, a suffocating feeling hit me.

I didn’t know whether to take it as good news or bad news.

“At least we found the exit.”

The arrow below the stele symbol clearly pointed upward.

We found the exit.

No, to be exact, we discovered a place presumed to be the exit.

Just that was excellent news for us, who had been wandering the vast sea without any clues.

But...

‘Of all places, it’s the Chief’s Island...’

This fact took my breath away.

Because to return to the city, whether I liked it or not, I’d have to face the Chief someday.

“So, can we go back to the city now?”

“It’s doneee! Waaaaaah!!”

Some members cheered with joy just from finding the exit, but unfortunately, there were still several problems left to escape this place.

“But... is escaping really possible? The stele on Giant Island didn’t work either...”

“That’s true. Like when we arrived, there must be some condition we need to meet.”

As some intellectuals said, finding the exit isn’t the end. We must first find a way to activate the portal stele.

Getting past the Chief will be the next problem.

But...

“Rainbow! The island in the direction of that rainbow! There must be a key there!”

There were a few things worth trying. We hadn’t just come here to twiddle our thumbs.

‘The most likely candidate is Rainbow Island, but even if it’s not, if we conquer all the islands, we’ll naturally find out.’

In that sense, I asked Hamshik one more thing.

“Hamshik, what monsters appear on the top shelf?”

How much do we need to level up to clear this library island?

Hamshik’s answer was simple.

He gave examples of the explorers’ standards without clearly saying the exact grades...

[Tol-Lafupa, Kashan, Leviathan, Prahel, Ridger...]

Sigh, so in the end, we have to catch even a grade 1.

Still, it’s a relief that it’s only one, not many.

“What happens if we catch them?”

Hamshik spoke to me in a suddenly serious tone.

[I don’t know.]

“Don’t you know if you gain the ‘qualification’ you mentioned?”

[Again, I don’t know. I have no memory of that.]

Yeah, so no freebies here; we have to find out ourselves.

“Hamshik, how do we get out? Should we go through that portal-looking place?”

After finishing the investigation, we thought there was nothing more to gain here.

Hamshik tilted his head.

[Huh? Once you come in, you can’t get out.]

“...What? Why are you telling me that now—.”

[Beep! Just kidding! You can get out that way!]

Ah, I really got startled.

I gave a dumb smile, and Hamshik laughed happily at me.

[Beep-beep! Isn’t it common sense for friends to joke around!]

Seeing how happy he was, I couldn’t even get mad.

I chuckled and led the team outside.

The stone gate was still wide open and glowing, but as soon as Hamshik came out last, the light disappeared and the door closed.

“But Hamshik, do you have to open the door like that every time you go in?”

[Why?]

“I thought that’s where you live. Wouldn’t it be inconvenient to open it every time?”

[I don’t know? It wasn’t inconvenient at all normally! I just couldn’t get in because you guys kept coming while I was organizing books!]

Ah, so that’s why he couldn’t even get home and was wandering around before we caught him.

He must have been going out only at night because we were asleep then.

“After a nap, I’ll hunt again. What will you do in the meantime?”

[Watch!]

“Organizing books?”

[When no one’s around... when you guys leave and no one is around.]

“Why? Oh, I’m not telling you to do it now, just curious. Since you’ve been seen by us anyway, you could do it anytime, right?”

[...I’ll do it when no one’s around. So don’t force me.]

Well, I have nothing to say then.

After finishing the secret room exploration, we returned to the library and resumed the paused camping.

And as soon as morning came, we started hunting immediately.

「Mimic defeated.」

「Mimic defeated.」

「Mimic defeated.」

「Mimic defeated.」

「Mimi—」

First, I summoned mimics using the mimic summoning book obtained in the secret room. Unfortunately, even though I killed more than ten, no essences dropped.

Essences need to drop to loot items from the [Treasure Vault].

‘Not as disappointing as I thought.’

Maybe because I knew the best mimic drop would be about thirty million stones.

I didn’t really feel too bad.

It wasn’t the only summoning book I got this time.

So I opened all the other summoning books too.

“...Drake?”

From the book marked with ‘???’, a grade 4 flying monster, Drake, was summoned.

What? I was secretly nervous about what would come out.

Was it really 100% random?

I don’t know, but all it dropped was a single magic stone.

“So now, only the painted books remain.”

Five summoning books with colored monsters inside.

After opening them all, there was a common feature.

The book with the monster painted red dropped that monster’s red essence, and the one painted blue dropped blue essence.

‘The problem was that except for one grade 3 essence, they were all grade 5 or below.’

Essences below grade 5 were discarded without a second thought, and the grade 3 essence was handed over to the Armin expedition team who wanted it.

And...

‘All opened already.’

Thus, all the summoning books brought from the secret room were completely used up without much gain.

Well, the main dish—the fountain pen—remained...

‘It’s right to wait and consider carefully until the end before using it.’

I want to use it now to extract the essence of Bellarios, but I made the most rational decision.

Since I’m not just hunting for one day.

There was a chance to get essence naturally, so using it already felt like a waste.

Therefore...

「Stonewinter defeated.」

「Mecarote defeated. EXP +7」

「Frost Guardian defeated.」

「Vol-Herchan defeated.」

「Machine Giant defeated...」

「...」

Morning hunt.

Lunch hunt.

Evening hunt until bedtime.

How many days did I continue like this?

The 99th day since entering the labyrinth.

‘Tomorrow the labyrinth will open again in the city.’

The time when newbies would start flowing in was approaching.

“Deputy Commander, did you hear the news?”

“Ah, that...”

Arua Raven, deputy commander of the Royal Third Mage Battalion, smiled bitterly.

Underground first floor, Records Archive.

No matter where you go in the city, that’s the only topic lately.

Because a shocking rumor had recently started circulating.

Bjorn Yandel was still alive and well there.

And he had two single numbers in his hands.

That rumor, originating from evil spirits and not confirmed as true or false.

“Deputy Commander... do you think that rumor is true?”

“Whether the rumor is true or not doesn’t matter. We just need to do our job well. I’ll get up first.”

Raven dismissed the subordinate’s question, finished her meal, and returned to her office.

Whether the rumor was true or not.

It was meaningless to worry about that.

She probably wished the same thing either way.

She hoped the rumor was true.

Then she wouldn’t have to worry anxiously every day.

“Sigh... If it’s true, it’s really annoying.”

Underground first floor.

An unexplored region with nothing revealed.

What kind of mystery and unknown things exist there? And what great expedition is Bjorn Yandel conducting with his companions?

“Phew...”

She sighed deeply and lowered her head.

The uniform she had become so familiar with.

And the mage battalion badge pinned to her chest.

Today, this outfit felt unusually stifling and annoying.

“Well, whatever. I’ll just do my job...”

Repeating the words she just told her subordinate, she started work again.

And that evening.

“Deputy Commander! There’s a direct royal dispatch from the palace!”

She received the royal dispatch.

Though filled with elaborate wording and difficult language, she could summarize it in three lines:

The palace intends to explore the underground first floor.

Therefore, experienced personnel are needed.

You are the perfect fit.

After reading the entire document, Raven jumped up from her chair like a fish out of water.

And hurriedly began packing.