Surviving the Game as a Barbarian-Chapter 555: Deja Vu (4)

Day 109 since entering the labyrinth.

Or, to put it another way, the early morning of the day after joining the royal expedition troops and arriving at the library.

Ba-ba-ba-bam! Ba-ba-ba-bam! Ba-ra-ra-ra-ba-ra-ra-ra-bam-!

The sound of the military bugle echoed throughout the library, signaling the arrival of morning.

Hah, why does the army always seem the same no matter where you go?

‘...If I say that, Baekho might get mad.’

It’s not like I’m exempt from training just because I’m a public servant.

Anyway, without wasting any time dawdling, the bugle quickly woke everyone up.

As soon as the bugle stopped, the day’s routine began.

“Rations!”

Right after breaking camp, we lined up in front of the cooks who had gotten up early to prepare breakfast and devoured the meal in a brief 30 minutes.

And then....

“There will be a morning meeting, all commanders attend.”

The leadership gathered to discuss the plan for the day and to brief the troops on the decided schedule.

I perked up my ears, wondering if there would be anything special, but there wasn’t anything particularly important.

‘Just like yesterday, we’ll be hunting today.’

Of course, there were some differences in the details.

Yesterday, we smashed the door to stop restoration and summoned monsters at a crazy pace, but since monster ranks have risen, this time we’ll proceed with a normal strategy.

Naturally, the mages will also participate in combat.

“Well then, let’s start today’s mission energetically!”

I wondered if it was really necessary to gather everyone and hold a meeting, but I suppose that’s the nature of the military.

Sometimes adhering to formality can be inefficient, but at times, that process can prevent unexpected accidents.

“To your positions!”

After that, each squad took their assigned places, and the library assault resumed.

“Today, the combat teams will each take turns watching one group.”

“That’s the most efficient way.”

With over 200 people, having everyone fight at once would be like killing chickens with a butcher’s knife.

Therefore, Jerome adopted a shift work system.

“Pause! Squads 1 and 2, relieve squads 3 and the temporary 4!”

When the time came, squads 1 and 2, who had been guarding the stone door, stepped aside, and squads 3 and 4, who had been fetching books, took their place.

Meanwhile, squads 1 and 2 recovered their stamina and resources by carrying books instead of fighting.

‘Looks like Kaislan and Parab will keep missing each other today too.’

For reference, both belong to squad 1.

So from then on, they even ate separately.

Well, Raven is in squad 3, so that’s a bit better...

Since he’s a mage, he stays far behind, so he never crosses paths with them during missions.

‘...Looks like the prophecy talk will only happen at night.’

As I became a cog moving with the group, working diligently, I saw comrades chatting comfortably with knights from the expedition.

“Hahaha! Don’t lie! How could mages ever beat warriors like us?”

“Exactly why it’s so humiliating! Who would’ve thought someone would lose a one-on-one duel to a mage?”

“When did that even happen?”

“A month ago! Though, since the Spear was here, you wouldn’t know. It’s a pretty famous story in social circles.”

When did they become this close?

The more I see, the more I’m amazed at their social skills. It actually helps me too.

“What are you guys laughing about so much?”

“Ah... Baron! Sorry. I was focusing on the mission—.”

“I didn’t ask for an apology.”

“Pardon...?”

“We’re all warriors here. I’m just curious. Who’s this idiot who lost to a mage?”

I subtly approached, showing I wanted in on the chat, and after a brief hesitation, the knight grinned widely and excitedly started talking.

Did it catch attention?

Other knights from squad 3 also gathered around us, listening in, occasionally chiming in or correcting mistakes, joining the chat. freewebnσvel.cѳm

‘Well, they can’t find factory-like raids fun.’

Since I’m a baron, some knights who were wary of me softened up after seeing my easygoing side, and some even asked questions first.

“Uh... Baron, can I ask something?”

“Go ahead.”

“I heard you challenged Baron Kipriot to a duel during the investiture ceremony. What exactly happened?”

“Oh, that? Some goblin-like guy was badmouthing me behind my back. I wanted to punch him, but since that wouldn’t do, I challenged him to a duel.”

“Haha... really? Baron Kipriot must’ve been pretty shocked.”

“Serves him right. There are too many unknown fools in noble houses. If a nobody acts up, they just get hit. It’s a basic truth.”

A refreshing joke only a titled noble like me in the same position could make. The knights nodded approvingly.

“Well... when would those guys have ever done anything tough?”

“Exactly. They don’t know that people like us protect them, keeping them safe...”

The knights, maybe keeping a line, joined the backtalk reluctantly. But the more I told stories and spoke frankly, the more they showed subtle vicarious satisfaction, their mouths twitching into smiles.

‘Okay, this should be enough for some goodwill.’

I kept chatting diligently during work and strengthened bonds with the knights from the expedition.

“Baron... you’re beyond the rumors. Oh! Not in a bad way! I just didn’t know you were this open and fun...”

“Haha! What’s with the excuses? Aren’t we already friends?”

“F-friends?! Oh no, please don’t! The commander would get really mad if he heard that!”

“Then let’s say comrades.”

“Comrades... yes, comrades...”

“Then I’ll ask you to watch my back when it’s dangerous.”

“Trust only us, Baron!”

Making friends is always helpful.

That night, after chatting with the knights, I asked my comrades to prepare camp and headed to squad 1’s camp where Sven Parab belonged.

After asking for the order members’ understanding, I called him out.

“I want to talk about what we couldn’t finish yesterday.”

“Ah... that, yes...”

“The prophecy you received. What was it about?”

At the word ‘prophecy,’ he flinched, glanced nervously around, and after confirming no one else could hear, exhaled deeply.

Then he lowered his voice, adding a disclaimer.

“First, I want to say this might all be my delusion...”

“You said you were sure yesterday.”

“Yes, if I answer simply yes or no, it leans that way... But what I believe myself and what others see can differ... it’s kind of like that...”

Ah, frustrating.

“Alright. I’ll decide for myself, so just tell me.”

“If you insist...”

Closing his eyes as if to steady himself, he slowly opened them and began.

“When I was in the city, I dreamed.”

“A dream?”

“It’s hard to explain, but I heard a very sacred voice. And I naturally knew the ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) owner of that voice... was her.”

“You mean Reatlas?”

“Yes...”

The goddess appeared in his dream.

Why he was so sure that counted as a ‘prophecy’ is questionable, but I decided to quietly listen to the rest.

“So what did she say?”

“She told me I have something to do in the future and showed me a scene from that future.”

A precognitive dream.

The most common form of prophecy received by saints who receive divine revelations.

Parab said he saw one scene.

“The archbishop told me to join the expedition.”

That precognitive dream was realized the next day.

Thanks to that, he was convinced this was no mere dream but a real prophecy.

“And?”

“That’s it.”

“What?”

“She said she would appear again when the time comes and told me to prepare.”

In other words, the main quest will be given after entering the labyrinth with the expedition...

Honestly, I didn’t understand.

“Then why did you pretend to have a stomachache and try to run away if you got a prophecy?”

“Well... that...”

After hesitating for a long time and trailing off, he answered with tightly closed eyes.

“A prophecy...! It must mean something dangerous!”

“...What?”

For a moment, I was stunned, but he went on, revealing his true feelings.

“Even if it’s not dangerous, it’s certainly troublesome. I had that kind of instinct too.”

Hah, what kind of guy is this?

No wonder he kept hiding that he had a prophecy.

The moment it got out, the order would’ve pushed him around to protect that prophecy.

‘A paladin acting like that for such a reason?’

It was absurd, but on the other hand, I was grateful. He was honest with me, unlike others.

‘Loyalty... passed.’

“Uh... can I go now? They’re watching me closely over there anyway.”

He looked toward the order members and said that.

They were watching us, but instead of sharp eyes, their looks were full of worry.

Like watching a kid left alone by the water’s edge.

‘The order treats him like that too...’

“Alright. If you dream again, tell me immediately.”

“I will.”

“Good night.”

“You too, Baron.”

After finishing the talk with Parab, I returned to camp and tried to sleep.

But again, sleep wouldn’t come easily.

‘A prophecy...’

What he told me today wasn’t much.

Just like him struggling not to enter the labyrinth.

Something big is coming.

That instinct was deeply ingrained.

So there was only one thing I could do.

Prepare so I wouldn’t be swept away whether it’s a tidal wave or a typhoon.

‘I wanted to save it for later, but...’

Now it can’t be helped.

I made a decision in the night blanket.

‘Essence of Bellarios.’

I should eat it as soon as possible.

Day 111 since entering the labyrinth.

The library assault had progressed to the point where grade 3 monsters were pouring out.

‘It only took five days to get here.’

Once again, I felt the power of the royal family.

Knights, mages, priests.

They picked the best of these precious professions and created an army, so the overall value was absurd.

‘At this rate, we might as well have rushed to Chief Island right away.’

At first, not knowing how capable they were, I opposed, but now I think I should’ve gone straight to Chief Island and taken out the chief.

Even if the chief holds the essence of his human self, he’d be powerless against this level of military force.

“Baron! A book with Bellarios drawn on it has been found!”

During lunch, as I was lost in thought, good news arrived.

The messenger was a knight from squad 3.

I had asked them to inform me immediately if they found Bellarios.

“Is it the book you’re holding?”

“Yes! As soon as we found it, we pulled it out separately!”

“Thanks.”

“No thanks needed. We’re comrades!”

Thanks to the goodwill I built, I gave the knight a bunch of jerky—the maximum courtesy a barbarian can show—and sent him off.

And then....

Swoosh.

As the ink on my fountain pen tip changed color to green by the minute, I quickly retraced over the Bellarios illustration in the book and found Commander Jerome Saintred.

“Hmm, you want only the 4th squad to hunt it?”

“It’s the essence we need. I’m sure we agreed to acknowledge ownership for what we obtained ourselves.”

“That’s true, but is it really necessary? Let the other squads hunt too; time’s too precious. Of course, we’ll share the essence if it drops.”

Jerome seemed to think the drop chance was low, but he not only agreed readily but also offered to help with the hunt.

Therefore....

“I’ll summon it!”

I butted in and summoned Bellarios.

“Kill it!”

Bellarios’s sleek scales that appeared between the stone doors were quickly shredded by knights and archers, and within less than a minute after battle started, it vanished into light.

Swoooooosh-!

A large magic stone.

And it left only its essence behind.

“The essence... actually dropped. Huh? Baron, where are you going? Ah, could it be... you need the essence...?”

“Yeah, that was me.”

Ignoring Jerome’s somewhat surprised look, I quickly ran to absorb the essence.

「[Essence of Bellarios] seeps into the character’s soul.」

Yeah, finally eating this too.

“Behel—raaaaaaa!!!”

The day of completing the shield barbarian is not far off.