Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Novel - Chapter 752
Chapter 752: First Blood (2)
One of the Noark soldiers approached, intending to check the cart. However, it didn’t seem like he was diligently performing his duty. Regardless of his unsavory appearance, his voice carried a characteristic aura.
“What’s this? Why aren’t you talking? Got something valuable inside?”
Listening to those words, Rotmiller understood. This person’s goal was merely to satisfy his own greed.
“……It’s just food.”
Hoping to divert his attention and pass through, Rotmiller spoke, but the Noark soldier only smirked.
“Food? Come on, say something believable. Hey, brother? Why so unfriendly? Aren’t we all in this together?”
“What do you want?”
“Nothing much, just share a bit. We’re all struggling, right?”
Rotmiller sighed inwardly. How did he get noticed by such a person? Or should he consider himself lucky that it was just this guy?
‘If handled well, this might end with just a conversation.’
With this thought, Rotmiller took out a few high-value items from his [Treasure Vault].
“This is all I can offer. Please be content with these.”
The items he handed over were precious to him, but he didn’t feel particularly regretful. After all, if he could save Bjorn Yandel with just these, it would be a bargain.
However……
“Oh, such valuable things?”
There was one problem with Rotmiller’s solution. Having retired from exploring and living a leisurely life as a guide at the Barbarian holy land, he had momentarily forgotten.
Greed knows no bounds, and beasts that speak human language do exist. Therefore…
“But brother, I’ve been thinking…”
If you look weak, you get bitten.
“This isn’t enough.”
The Noark soldier’s voice now carried deeper greed and confidence. The reason was simple.
Having given up valuables just from a few words, Rotmiller appeared to be an easy target.
“What’s inside for you to give these up? Let me have a quick look inside.”
From the Noark’s perspective, Rotmiller must be hiding something even more valuable.
“…Didn’t you hear me? Let me look inside.”
The man who initially kept his distance as if testing the waters now approached threateningly, showing intent to use force if necessary.
“Do you really have to take a look inside……?”
“What if I say yes?”
The Noark soldier grinned arrogantly, and Rotmiller sighed deeply again.
‘Hoo……’
It seemed there was no other way. Rotmiller, after a brief contemplation, nodded.
“Very well, then. But as I said, there’s only food inside.”
“Bullshit. You think I’m a retard? I guess you must’ve hidden it well.”
The Noark sneered at Rotmiller and approached the cart. As his greedy hand reached for the cover…
Shunk-!
Rotmiller thrust a dagger, taken from his [Treasure Vault], deep into the man’s neck.
“…Huh?”
Even with the dagger embedded in his neck, the Noark fell to the ground with a confused look, not knowing what had happened. Rotmiller slowly looked around.
Thump-!
Every Noark soldier nearby was staring at them. After the commotion and now a murder, it was natural. But Rotmiller now understood. Until now, he had only heard of it and hadn’t realized how ‘Noark’ operated.
“……”
“……”
The surrounding Noark, who had been surveying the area, showed no suspicion. There was no surprise or fear at the sight of the dead man. Only deep greed lingered in their eyes. Seeing this, Rotmiller shouted back at them.
“Fuck, what are you looking at?”
“……”
“If you don’t want to die, mind your own business!”
A shout to avoid appearing weak. However, those greedy gazes did not waver.
Schk-!
Rotmiller pulled the dagger out of the man’s neck.
And……
‘Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck……!’
Cursing internally, he began sawing at the already dead man’s neck like cutting through wood.
Swick, swick-
After cutting through the flesh and the tough neck bones, the man’s head was fully severed from his body. Rotmiller skewered it onto a spike on the left side of the cart.
Then……
“What, anyone want to be on the right side?”
When he spoke to everyone staring at him, only then did the Noark soldiers around him lose interest and go back to their own business.
Rattle, rattle.
The cart, which had stopped, began moving again, now a bit faster than before.
Rattle, rattle.
As he moved along, Rotmiller began to understand why goblins and orcs adorned themselves with bones. To human eyes, it might seem unsettling. But in truth, it was a very convenient tool of savagery. Just like this.
“…What’s up with that guy?”
“Where is he taking that cart? Should we ask?”
“Leave him be. He looks crazy.”
Those he passed not only ignored him to avoid trouble but also never suspected that the cart, proudly adorned with a human head, contained the very ‘Bjorn Yandel’ they were desperately searching for.
Rattle, rattle.
The cart moved faster, stopping only when the city walls, which had seemed so far away, were now noticeably close.
“Who are you? I don’t think we have similar hobbies, but this looks interesting.”
A wizard wielding a staff blocked the cart’s path. He seemed uninterested in the head on the cart, and indeed, it did not bother him.
“So, what are you trying to protect by doing such a cute thing……”
With those words, a strong gust of wind began to blow head-on.
Whooosh-!
The cloth covering the cart flapped in the wind, revealing what had been hidden inside to the world. It was truly unfortunate.
“Bjorn Yandel……”
“It’s Bjorn Yandel……!!!”
In this city, there was no one who did not know his face.
***
Having safely escaped the Eastern Branch with the unexpected help of a bear(?), Sven Parav emerged onto the street.
And……
Booooom-!
By destroying the well connected to the secret passage, any concern about pursuers was eliminated. Familiar faces waiting for him by the well greeted him.
“Mr. Parav……!”
Starting with Lilith Marrone, who hugged him tearfully, he received thanks from the refugees and the bear lady……
And……
“Haha, nice to meet you. It’s our first time meeting, right? I’m Hikurod Murad. In a way, you could say I’m your senior.”
A dwarf extended his thick hand for a handshake, laughing heartily.
“Senior……?”
“Ah! Mr. Murad used to be a comrade of Mr. Yandel!”
At Marrone’s explanation, Sven Parav nodded. He remembered hearing about such a person before.
“Oh! The one who retired and became the owner of a forge……”
“That’s right! Although now I’m at risk of losing my entire fortune again! Hahaha!!”
“It’s really nice to meet you. But what brings you here?”
“It’s because of that guy over there. He wanted to go save his wife alone, but how could we let someone who can’t even find his way go by himself?”
The dwarf nodded towards the direction of the bear lady’s husband, and only then could Sven Parav exchange greetings with him.
“I’m Abman Urikfried.”
“Oh, I’ve heard of you! I’m Sven Parav.”
“Once again, thank you so much. I heard you saved my wife and child.”
“It was something I had to do.”
“Even so, I’m grateful. If you ever find yourself in trouble, don’t hesitate to call on me. I’ll drop everything and come to help.”
Despite hearing his heartfelt thanks, Sven felt a strange emotion. Fate indeed worked in mysterious ways. It was incredible that the woman he saved was the wife of Yandel’s former comrade, and in hindsight, saving her had indirectly saved him as well.
“By the way, Mr. Urikfried and Mr. Murad, have you ever worked together?”
Marrone asked, looking at the two of them, and the dwarf answered on their behalf.
“Ahaha, actually, no. I’m technically this guy’s senior.”
“Really? You two seem so close…”
“We became friends by chance. We both run shops, love drinking, and have Yandel as a common connection.”
“Oh, I see. I thought you might have been on the same team.”
So that’s their story…… Well, it wasn’t too hard to believe. Even today, their connections as ‘Yandel’s comrades’ had brought them together.
“So, who was on the same team as Mr. Murad? I’ve heard about Mr. Yandel, Ms. Karlstein, and the wizard, but I haven’t heard about the last person.”
“Ah, that would be Brown Rotmiller, the team’s scout. In a way, I guess you could say he’s a direct senior to this guy? I’ve heard he’s teaching young warriors as a scout instructor in the Holy Land now……”
“Oh, really?”
“Come to think of it, it’s been ages since we saw each other because we’ve both been so busy. Once this is all over, I’ll have to go see him and have a drink.”
The dwarf smiled with a nostalgic look in his eyes.
***
Whooosh-!
The strong gust of wind blew the cloth off the cart, simplifying the situation dramatically
“……”
“……”
There was a moment of silence, including the mischievous-looking wizard who had playfully uncovered the cloth.
“Bjorn Yandel……!”
“It’s Bjorn Yandel……!!!”
They shouted as if time had started flowing again. However, Rotmiller didn’t panic. Though his mind went blank for a moment, he quickly regained his composure and thought.
Currently, District 4 was occupied by Noark. However, the Noark army had not occupied the walls between District 4 and the Royal Capital. The walls were under the royal army’s control, with the Noark army maintaining their frontline at a distance from the walls. Even including the area with the city gates, the distance to the walls from their frontline wasn’t particularly far……
‘If I can just break through here……’
Then he could make it. The royal army would be watching from the walls. They would open the gates and send reinforcements to save Yandel.
Yes, so……
“…Sorry.”
With a brief apology.
Thunk-!
He jabbed an arrowhead into the horse’s rear.
“Neigh!!!”
With a sharp pain, the horse bolted forward. The wizard, frozen at the sight of Yandel, hurriedly rolled to the side, temporarily clearing a path. Of course, the odds of breaking through the enemy lines and reaching the walls were incredibly slim…
‘But it’s not zero.’
Rotmiller had learned from living with the barbarians. The most foolish thing was to give up without trying. After all, failure was better than surrender.
Thump-!
Especially when you have nothing to lose.
“Alright! Behell–adaaaahhh!!”
Rothmiller shouted the familiar battle cry for the first time, one he had heard so often his ears could grow calluses from it. And at that moment.
“Behell–aaaaaaaahhh!!”
As if responding to his shout, he heard a genuine battle cry from somewhere. Having heard the battle cries of many barbarians, Rotmiller immediately recognized the voice.
‘Huh, this voice is……’
Ainar……?
English