Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Novel - Chapter 750
Chapter 750: Guide (7)
Swinging a greatsword. Blocking enemy attacks with a shield. Sometimes desperately rolling on the ground to dodge flying blades.
“Aaagh!”
When a blade filled with murderous intent pierces his skin, he couldn’t help but let out an undignified scream.
So, Sven Parav thought.
This story would never be passed down to future generations. Because all the protagonists in stories are always heroic, cool, and strong. They are not weak like him. Above all, because they—.
“Kahaha! Hey, paladin! Are you having a tough time?”
“Why did you stay behind alone if you were going to be like this?”
Because they are the ones who always win. They could return alive to tell their stories.
Yes, that’s why……
“Come on, just fall down and rest!”
My story will never be told to future generations. And because of that.
“…Aaagh!”
I can let myself be disgraceful.
Ptooey-!
He spits out blood-mixed phlegm into the enemy’s eye.
Crash!
With weakened legs, he staggered backward, throwing the objects he used as a barricade forward.
Also at the same time.
“Hey! Over there!”
“…Huh? Aaagh!!”
Using a childish fake-out, he plunged his sword into the enemy’s neck.
“You cowardly bastard!”
“What are you saying? You bastards ganged up on me first.”
Surprisingly, this trick worked well. Was it because it was so childish? Well, after doing it once or twice, they didn’t fall for it anymore.
Smirk.
Being alone had its advantages. But among those, the one he liked most was definitely this.
Thump-!
Even if it wasn’t courage, but fear surging.
“Ha, I really don’t want to die like this……”
He could voice his fear without worrying about anyone noticing. It wasn’t the kind of line a hero in a story would say, but so what? He isn’t that kind of hero.
“Die gracefully!”
Dying scared him more than anything.
“But what can I do? It’s unfair to die alone—.”
“What are you muttering—!”
“I’ll take you all with me.”
A petty person like me hates dying alone even more.
“Aaagh!!”
It’s kind of funny. Fighting with the mindset of protecting people didn’t give him as much strength as fighting because he didn’t want to die alone. He didn’t know why, and it didn’t matter.
“From now on, I will be your guide, you bastards!”
He simply swung his sword.
[Sven Parav has cast Compass of Twilight. Damage received from behind increases, but all damage dealt also increases]
He recklessly used any divine spells he had left without worrying about how much divine power remained.
[Sven Parav has cast Unquenchable Flame.]
He set the inside of the temple on fire without hesitation. The divine enchantments on the temple only protected against external flames, but it was still vulnerable to internal fires. Oh, of course, it wasn’t something a paladin should do.
But……
‘I’m no longer a paladin anyway.’
There was nothing holding him back anymore.
Therefore……
“Aaagh! This, this bastard……!”
He used even the forbidden techniques that weren’t allowed in any combat sport.
“…Ear bite!”
Suddenly, a thought came to him. When he first entered the labyrinth, a goblin had bitten his neck like this.
“Shit, that was disgusting.”
How could they do this without hesitation? Ah, they did it to survive. Just like he did.
Ptooey!
Lost in thought as he fought in this brutal manner, he wondered what the difference between him and the goblins was.
Goblins. A 9th-grade ‘humanoid monster’ that novice explorers encounter the most when they first enter the labyrinth, and the ones they kill the most.
Goblins walk on two legs. Goblins use tools. Goblins fight to survive. Goblins rely on their instincts.
And……
‘Ah, this is where we differ.’
Goblins abandon their comrades and flee when in danger.
Whoosh-!
The temple interior was now engulfed in pure white flames.
Thunk-!
Sven Parav was struck on the head with a blunt weapon and fell.
And then……
Crack-!
He was hit again as he lay defenseless.
“You… persistent bastard……!”
His head went numb from the impact.
“Make sure… that he’s dead……”
The voices sounded distant and faint.
‘…End.’
As soon as the thought that this was the end crossed his mind, through the legs of his enemies surrounding him and the roaring flames he noticed the half-destroyed statue of the goddess. Suddenly, he grew curious.
‘Where……’
Where will my soul go?
To Earth? To the afterlife spoken of in Rafdonia?
If by chance it’s Earth, will it be Hell? Or will it be reincarnation as Buddhism suggests?
What would guide my faithless soul?
Thump-!
His dying heart pounded.
[……I shall grant you power.]
What was that now?
“……”
“……”
He realized that everything around him had stopped. It wasn’t just that time seemed to slow down in a state of extreme focus.
The once-roaring flames were no longer flickering. The floating ashes hung suspended in the air, and the nameless enemy who had been relentlessly striking his head was completely still.
[……I shall grant you the power to kill all those who torment you, to survive and achieve anything.]
He felt it instinctively.
He didn’t know who was speaking, but if he accepted this offer, it would indeed happen.
But……
‘I would become a monster.’
The one speaking was an evil entity. A benevolent being would never tell him to abandon his comrades and survive alone. In fact, ‘that entity’ didn’t refute his suspicion. It simply asked.
[How amusing. What is a monster?]
Hmm……
[If killing people makes one a monster, then this world is already full of monsters.]
Well, he has a point.
[Listen. You are too weak to be called a monster, and too wicked to be called human.]
The voice carried a certain ‘power’ within it.
And because of that……
[Listen. You are someone who wants to move forward but wishes to be guided by someone.]
Sven Parav smirked upon hearing these words.
[Let me guide you.]
No matter how powerful the voice was, it was no longer enticing. It was for a very simple reason.
[I will show you the true path you must walk.]
Because he had realized who the owner of this voice was.
‘Karui.’
The ancient evil god did not deny it.
[……Take my hand.]
It simply resonated once more with a deep echo, and Sven Parav responded inwardly.
‘No.’
A word so short that it conveyed his refusal all the more clearly.
[……The only way for you to survive is to become my servant.]
Yes, realistically, that would be the highest probability.
[But why?]
Again, the reason was very simple.
‘I just have a feeling.’
A feeling that he wouldn’t die even if he rejected the offer.
Thump-!
A powerful intuition bloomed within his heart. But this time, it wasn’t an intuition given by ‘someone.’ Just as ordinary people base their intuition on accumulated experiences and memories, so did he.
They say if you listen carefully to what the enemy says and do the exact opposite, you’ll succeed at least half the time.
That was something the clan leader had once said during a drinking session.
And……
‘It’s obvious whose advice I should take between an ancient evil god, who has never brought anyone good fortune, and this city’s hero, who continues to perform legendary deeds and cares deeply for his comrades.’
That’s why……
‘Just get lost. Out of my life.’
Sven Parav spoke, and the ancient evil god remained silent. With everything frozen in time, it was impossible to tell how much time had passed, but the silence didn’t last long.
Crack-!
Across the frozen world, it was as if an overlaying glass window shattered, creating cracks everywhere.
Whoosh-!
Warm, silver light began to seep through those cracks.
[The dawn of twilight shines upon you.]
Starlight warmly enveloped his entire body.. Sven Parav instinctively felt it.
[The traces of the evil god imprinted on your soul are being cleansed.]
That presence was no longer there. As soon as he realized this, a benevolent voice, contrasting with Karui’s, echoed.
[May this aid you on the path you wish to tread, my knight.]
The very voice he had heard once in a dream now resonated in his mind, and with it, boundless vitality began to fill his previously immobile body.
[Your body is perfectly restored due to the effect Recovery (EX-grade).]
[You have acquired a new power.]
[You can now use the Rank 0 divine spell Agent of the Stars.]
[The Divine Power of a god has temporarily imbued your flesh.]
[Your Divine Power has permanently increased by +500.]
[You have permanently gained the ‘Divine Bone’ bonus.]
Uh……
He didn’t fully understand, but… he felt immensely stronger—.
‘Ah, I should dodge this first.’
Time suddenly began to flow again.
Whoosh-!
Sven Parav rolled to the side to avoid the blunt weapon aimed at his head.
And then……
“W-what the hell!”
“How……?”
“What was that light just now……!”
The enemies, who thought they had him cornered, seemed utterly bewildered as he stood up unscathed.
Sven Parav smiled leisurely.
‘…Indeed, living righteously pays off.’
Paladins and clerics receive ‘divine spells’ as rewards from the gods when they accumulate ‘merit’ points. As a result, this often leads to situations where some people can cast certain spells and others can’t, just like wizards…… but that’s not important right now.
‘A new divine spell……?’
When Paladins or clerics receive a divine spell, they naturally become aware of it. This applies to the name of the spell as well.
‘…[Agent of the Stars]’
What kind of spell could this be? It was a spell he had never heard of before. Considering that the goddess had gone as far as to deliver a ‘voice’ with it, it must be extraordinary. Thus, Sven Parav could laugh despite facing so many enemies.
“Pwhuhuhu……”
“……?”
Most of the enemies looked at him as if he had lost his mind, while a few perceptive ones grew wary of his sudden strange behavior.
‘They’re smarter than the others, but…’
Smirk.
“You all must pay for your sins.”
Sven Parav began casting the divine spell. Since it was his first time using it, he even recited the command aloud.
“May the blessing of the twilight star guide me……”
“……”
“[Agent of the Stars].”
With a firm will, he summoned his powers and a fierce silver radiance burst forth from his body.
Whoooooosh-!
The radiant light was so brilliant and divine that it caused the Noark troops to step back in fear.
And……
‘……Huh?’
That was it.
Whoosh—
The intense light quickly subsided, and the enemies remained as they were. His body didn’t feel particularly stronger either. What on earth had happened?
[Usage conditions not met. The casting of the Rank 0 divine spell Agent of the Stars is canceled.]
Sven Parav had no way of knowing this. He only knew one thing.
‘…I’m screwed.’
Ah, but the good news is that the enemies also seemed just as confused as he was……
“……?”
“……?”
Even though he was pouting and despite a few drops of sweat trickling down his back, Sven Parav steeled himself. He then awkwardly smiled, he raised his sword.
“Huhuhu… Listen, you evil ones.”
“……?”
“I will show mercy and spare you this time. So, uh, be gone quickly!”
He tried to speak with as much authority as possible, but the enemies were only confused, not afraid.
…Was it because he stuttered at the end? He belatedly regretted his mistake, but the enemies had already caught on to the truth.
“……Looks like something went wrong?”
“Hah… I was really scared for a moment, thinking something big was coming.”
“I don’t know how he recovered, but he’s just one guy, right?”
“Kill him now!!”
The enemies quickly made their decision and rushed at him.
‘…What do I do now?’
Could he manage to escape if he tried? Realistically speaking, it seemed unlikely. The entrance to the first floor was full of enemies, and reaching the windows on the second floor would require fighting through countless numbers of them.
‘No, damn it……’
He had been chosen by the goddess, and now he was going to die here like this? If that was the case, why hadn’t they just let him die heroically earlier?
Such complaints filled his mind when/
Boooooooom-!
An explosion shattered the goddess statue, revealing the underground passage.
And then……
[Graaaaaah-!!]
A massive creature roared as it emerged and landed next to him.
Thuuud-!
Uh……
What is this……?
At least it seemed like it was here to help him.
‘A bear(beastman) riding a giant bear……?’
As he was bewildered by the sight, the bear-riding bear (beastman) perked up his ears and spoke.
“My wife owed you a debt, didn’t she? I came to rescue you.”
“……Ah.”
“Ah, there’s no need to hesitate. Even if it wasn’t for my wife, a comrade of Yandel is my comrade too.”
He didn’t quite understand what that meant yet. But one thing was clear.
“Come on, let’s go. I’ll clear the way.”
……He was saved.
***
[Abman Urikfried has cast Super Enhancement. The effect of the next active skill used greatly increases in proportion to Soul Power.]
[Abman Urikfried has cast Penetration. The penetration power of the next strike increases by 10x.]
[Abman Urikfried has cast Giant Arrow. The size of the next long-range projectile will be greatly increased.]
[Iron Bear Iradun has cast Bear Stance. All attacks receive a knockback (advanced) bonus.]
[Abman Urikfried has cast Master of the Jungle. Iron Bear Iradun’s stats have greatly increased……]
[……]
***
He doesn’t talk to himself. Most self-talk tends to be about depressing thoughts, and saying such things wouldn’t change anything in reality. No, it would only make him feel even more depressed. So he doesn’t talk to himself. At least, he hasn’t until now.
“This is driving me crazy.”
For the first time in a long while, he muttered to himself. In front of him was a man coughing up blood, barely clinging to life.
“I wish you’d get up now, but… realistically, that’s not likely, is it?”
“Even knowing that, I can’t help but feel a little resentful.”
“I……”
“I thought I was allowed more time……”
“But it seems that wasn’t the case. Isn’t fate ironic?”
“Haa… Somehow, I always feel like a lesser man in front of you.”
He apologized to the man lying on the floor.
“I’m sorry. As expected, I’m different from you. I know you wouldn’t worry about things like this, but I’m still unable to make up my mind.”
“But……”
The man slowly closed and reopened his eyes.
And……
“I guess there’s no other choice.”
Even though he knew the man couldn’t hear him, he spoke anyway.
“Alright, let’s get going.”
That way, he wouldn’t back out halfway. It seemed like his resolve wouldn’t waver until the end. And, he would surely know for certain.
“It seems like it’s my first time creating a path… but what can I do.”
“……”
“I am your scout, after all.”
Knowing there’s a right path, he couldn’t go any other way.
“May the blessing of the twilight star guide me……”
And with that, Brown Rotmiller made his decision.
English