Surviving the Game as a Barbarian Chapter 779: Month 13 (6)
Previously on Surviving the Game as a Barbarian...
Elwen's little sister turned out to be far from what I'd pictured in my mind.
Since the oldest, Daria, and the second child, Elwen, both sported elongated and pointed traits, I'd figured the third one would match them...
‘...She's so petite.’
Standing at about 150 centimeters.
Almost as tall as Raven, or possibly a bit shorter—though her overall vibe differed greatly. Raven carried an icy aura, but this girl radiated... gentleness.
She didn't appear chubby, yet her cheeks—to be exact, the lingering childish plumpness—hadn't fully vanished.
‘...She looks cushy. She'd likely freak out if I prodded her?’
In the end, my initial view of Elwen's younger sister was this: a small lass who could never look like she was twenty-one.
“...Your stare feels off-putting.”
I jerked back on reflex.
‘...With that glare, she's the icy bossy sort?’
Rare to spot that mix in everyday life. Anyway, that wasn't the focus at the moment.
“...H-hey, you shouldn't say it outright like that. Uh, maybe we can begin with some introductions?”
Elwen's gentle urging got the tiny, sulking fairy to mutter her name unwillingly.
“...Mei Forwin di Tersia.”
“I'm Bjorn, son of Yandel. Pleased to meet you, Mei.”
“......”
I thought she might gripe about me using her first name, but luckily, she stayed quiet.
Perhaps she was being polite since I was her sister's partner?
I wasn't privy to all the backstory, but as the grown-up present—and an experienced explorer—I chose to kick off the talk.
“Mei, how often have you ventured into the dungeon?”
“...Four times. Then the dungeon got sealed, blocking my return.”
“That sounds aggravating.”
“Not particularly... Entering the dungeon isn't some grand thrill anyway.”
“...Huh?”
That caught me off guard.
I'd assumed a youngster like her would buzz with eagerness for dungeon runs, making it a solid icebreaker.
Yet she wasn't complaining—her voice and face showed utter seriousness.
“Did you... not aspire to become an explorer?”
“No.”
“Why is that?”
“Isn't it clear? You end up bedding down in chilly, filthy, uncomfortable spots daily. The meals suck, and you're forced to stick with others whether you want to or not...”
Yeah... fair point.
Unless you're desperate for cash or chasing a particular aim, there's little incentive to take up exploring.
That's likely why so few aristocrats choose this route—
“And the dungeon keeps claiming lives...”
“......”
“I wish it had never appeared.”
Aware of Elwen's family background, I couldn't respond to the small girl's hushed complaint.
“...Haha, even so, folks have to enter it, don't they? The mana stones we extract there let us eat, rest, dress, and survive...”
“I get that.”
“......”
Mei's sharp reply left Elwen looking uneasy. Observing them, it hit me—Elwen struggled with handling this version of Mei.
Likely due to her sense of guilt.
But chats improve with practice.
‘I've handled tons of stubborn kids before.’
Thus, I stuck to the reliable approach: ignite her curiosity.
Skip the broad subjects. Target what grabs her most.
“Elwen. Did you mention to Mei how we first crossed paths?”
“Huh? Oh, a little. That... er... you, um... came to my aid when I was in a bind...”
“...You referred to me as Mr. Yandel?”
“Haha... W-what's the issue? Mr. Yandel?”
Elwen flashed a sheepish grin.
It didn't take much to connect the dots.
‘She's shy around her kid sister.’
Fair enough; the title had morphed into something affectionate /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ over time.
Plus, this gathering aimed to prove I wasn't creepy—using “Ajusshi” might backfire.
“...Is there some secret I'm missing?”
Mei piped up next, her interest piqued by the hint of untold tales.
“Well, unsure what she's shared... Interested in hearing it?”
“......”
“I'll share it.”
And with that, events sped up.
I began with our initial encounter with Elwen and recounted our escapades in the most captivating sequence.
But eventually, she spotted the omissions.
“...What about the Goblin Forest?”
Mei queried a particular event.
Plenty of chaos happened in the Goblin Forest, but she meant the incident involving Daria's death.
“...It's fine. I know the basics already.”
I checked with Elwen for approval, and she gave a nod.
So I recounted that episode steadily as well.
It dragged on longer and with more details than the others, yet boiled down to a single line:
‘Daria shielded Elwen and perished instead.’
Sadly, that wrapped up Barbarian Storytime.
Once the story concluded, Mei stayed mute for quite a while, and Elwen along with me sat in silence beside her.
“If the dungeon hadn't come... my sister would still be alive...”
Those words emerged from her after a lengthy silence.
I nodded with full honesty.
“Possibly. That might hold true.”
Had Daria skipped the explorer life, she might've survived.
Of course, then she couldn't have saved Elwen.
“Why do people hold onto the dungeon so tightly...”
Mei's follow-up query carried an easy response.
“Because it's just like the city.”
“...?”
“We dive in to escape constant defeat. The city demands as much as the dungeon ever did.”
Daria and Elwen grasped that concept for sure.
That's what drove them to explore.
To halt the losses. To safeguard the important stuff.
“You claim to despise it, but isn't that the reason you took up exploring too?”
Mei offered no reply.
Her expression screamed comprehension... yet refusal to accept it.
‘At her age, figuring out your own emotions is tough.’
That idea flickered through my head—but truth be told, I couldn't judge.
I wasn't clear on my own feelings lately either.
With a quiet laugh, I offered Mei some guidance.
“Mei Forwin di Tersia.”
“......”
“The dungeon's reopening shortly. You ought to head back in. You'll discover it's not solely a taker.”
She responded only after a drawn-out quiet.
“You truly... believe that...?”
My answer flowed without any doubt.
“Absolutely certain.”
For me, it had proven that way.
***
As our talk flowed on various subjects while we hung out, I began grasping the dynamic between Elwen and Mei more clearly.
“Want me to fetch more treats? I picked up some from that renowned spot in town—”
“No need, I'm good, sis.”
Whenever Elwen clumsily offered kindness, Mei clumsily dodged it.
Far from a cozy sibling bond.
‘...Irritating.’
They obviously valued each other— so why behave like acquaintances?
Even I felt annoyed watching, but meddling wasn't my place.
I lacked the know-how for family advice.
‘Stay out of it. Just watch.’
Thus, I maintained that position, kept things light, and allowed time to drift.
Knock knock knock.
Someone knocked.
“Mei, you there?”
A polished male voice carrying familiarity.
“Ah, Uncle...!”
Mei sprang up right away and swung the door open, as Elwen observed with a forced smile.
She recognized it too.
That response starkly contrasted Mei's treatment of her.
“Mei, staying well?”
“Oh please, it's not been that long.”
“Haha... A short while suffices to fret.”
The fairy gentleman, who beamed paternally at Mei while ruffling her hair, turned to me and offered a courteous greeting.
“Long time, Bjorn Yandel.”
A known visage.
“Indeed, Beleg Shusia di Tersia.”
An explorer hailed as a legend among fairies—and Elwen's uncle on her mother's side.
We'd crossed paths briefly at a racial gathering.
“Word got to me you arrived with Elwen... Guessed you'd be around.”
“Seeking me out?”
“Partly. I'd visit regardless. My dear niece is back home, after all. Elwen, how's life treating you?”
“I've been... all right.”
“Glad to hear. Mind if I take a seat?”
“Go ahead. This isn't my home.”
I shrugged it off, and Beleg laughed softly as he settled opposite me.
Next—
“I caught wind of the town incident en route here.”
My shoulders stiffened without warning.
After all, he was Elwen's kin.
“I see your intent... but was such extremity necessary?”
“......No defense here.”
“Uncle, I told you it's okay—no, I'm thankful for it.”
I bowed my head in embarrassment, while Elwen jumped in to back me.
As a barbarian tank, moments of being shielded by another were scarce.
“...What went down?”
Mei stared in confusion, but we all avoided responding.
That might've irked her.
“I'll step out briefly. You guys chat.”
Saying so, Mei exited the residence, easing the tension temporarily.
“...She's a fine young one.”
“She is. And she looks up to her sister nicely.”
“I meant Elwen.”
“Ah...?”
“So treat her right. No amount of words reopens a sealed marriage path. Show some accountability—”
“U-uncle...! Stop saying that?!”
“Elwen, regardless of your views, I'm your and Mei's protector. I must voice what's required, yes?”
I held my tongue on that.
Just one notion surfaced.
“...You're correct.”
“Do you grasp my point?”
“Y-yes, fully.”
“Excellent. No offense meant. See it as worry from someone who values Elwen.”
I managed only a mute nod, but fortunately, Beleg dropped it there. Talk shifted to everyday topics.
“Beleg, since you're here, I've a question. Has the sentiment soured so much after Elwen quit the Pureblood Order?”
“...Can't pretend it's positive. The elders' remarks are...”
“You've aided plenty. My thanks.”
“Just handled the essentials.”
“I'd assist moving forward. Mind explaining the fairy politics?”
“Hmm... Certainly. You're hardly an outsider now.”
“......”
His phrasing held a few pointed hints, yet our exchange yielded results.
I now understood the basics for boosting Elwen's position.
Back home, I'd outline the steps—
“Elwen, could you wait outside briefly?”
...What?
“I've a private matter to discuss with the Baron. Only a minute.”
“All right...”
As the discussion neared its close, Beleg dismissed Elwen from the space.
Unsurprisingly, that put me on edge.
He'd been direct enough to raise the “responsibility” matter in her presence—what could he intend to reveal with her absent?
“...So? You wanted a word?”
I probed warily, and after a short pause, Beleg stated it plainly.
“Baron, rumors say... you hold the Resurrection Stone.”
...That wasn't the subject I'd anticipated.