Surviving the Game as a Barbarian Chapter 792: Red Ocean (4)
Previously on Surviving the Game as a Barbarian...
When folks get a topic thrown at them, their minds kick into gear with wild ideas.
Sure, the scope or style of those fantasies might vary, but nobody exists who doesn't dream up something.
By that logic, what I'm picturing right now makes perfect sense.
‘Overdue by five full days from when they were due...’
The speed of Team 1 and Team 2 doesn't differ so much that this kind of delay should happen.
Put another way, Team 2 must have run into some trouble out there in the field.
The real issue lies in having no clue what that trouble actually was...
Perhaps...
My mind, shaped by a life full of bad luck, always drags the darkest possibilities to the forefront first.
Did they cross paths with bandits?
Could some greedy adventurers have spotted the lone Team 2 and decided to strike, similar to the Meiruta Clan we met on the fifth level?
“.......”
What bugs me even more is how these thoughts aren't just crazy fantasies.
Isn't it the case?
The Meiruta Clan retreated only because they were spineless.
But is everyone out there the same?
Suppose Team 2 had the misfortune to bump into a more ruthless type, someone gutsier who wouldn't back off from my name.
Crack...
That's why I handled the Meiruta Clan's head with such severity.
Regardless of the circumstances, I aim to wipe out any risks that could harm me or the group.
Thus, I put him to death as a stark message.
It's also why I instructed the Meiruta vice-captain to broadcast the event far and wide once they exited the maze.
“B-Bjorn...?”
No, wrong.
At this point, my focus has tunneled tightly.
It might not even be bandits.
Among those who pose threats to me, Ibaekho and Aurell Gaviss stand out.
Or perhaps Noark learned of the maze's unlock and slipped in their own adventurers on the sly—
“Bjorn!!”
Right then, a solid whack hit my back, jolting me awake.
“...Misha?”
“You're just now hearing me out, nya!!”
Oh, right—she'd been chatting away all along.
“What's up?”
Eager to dive back into my musings, I queried her need, yet Misha fired back with an unexpected reply.
“Come on! Quit those gloomy ideas! It'll all turn out okay!”
“...How do you know that?”
“'Cause I have faith in them.”
“......?”
“Emily, Elwen, Ainard, and the others... Yeah, I fret a tad over that Mr. Rockrove guy, but still! They're all capable of handling their own affairs!”
“No, wait... it's not like I doubt their abilities—”
“Bjorn, anyway, I feel like you're getting the wrong idea here.”
“......?”
“We're not kids you need to watch over. We're your partners in this.”
“...I'll step out to clear my mind a little.”
“Sure, sure. Take your time.”
Heeding Misha's worried nudge, I yielded and moved away from the portal to sort my thoughts momentarily.
Naturally, though, simply wandering off didn't erase the worry.
That stood to reason.
I only followed Misha's suggestion because I craved a secluded spot to ponder, and showing this vulnerable side as the leader wouldn't help the team's morale—
“Bjorn!”
Time had blurred since I split from Team 1, but Misha's voice rang out from a distance.
“How far off did you wander to chill out! I've searched high and low—”
“Head back and tell everyone to prep for departure.”
“...Huh? Departure?”
Misha cocked her head in confusion.
After swift yet thorough deliberation, I stated my conclusion evenly.
“Once we're set, we'll descend to the fifth floor again. Instead of hanging around with zero assurance—”
“What do you mean! That's not needed at all!!”
“Need or not is my call. I can't pinpoint Team 2's exact predicament now, but if they're fleeing pursuers or tucked away to stay hidden, then we ought to act right away—”
“They popped up just a short time ago, you fool!!”
“...What?”
My thoughts blanked out briefly.
Gazing at my stunned face, Misha hurriedly filled me in on all I'd been desperate to learn.
“Everyone's okay! They explained the delay was from diving into a rift on the fourth floor!!”
“.......”
“Argh, see, I said it! Everything's fine!”
Relief washed over me upon hearing of their safety, but it faded quick—replaced by an odd sensation I couldn't name, driving me toward the portal...
Where Team 2 waited.
“...Hey? I was in the middle of explaining, where are you dashing to!”
Nearing the portal, I spotted Team 2's crew clustered nearby.
Amelia was steadily briefing the group on events, while Ainard stood beside her, chest puffed out like he'd scored a big win.
That's when it hit me what this strange feeling truly was.
A touch of annoyance.
Yet I couldn't pinpoint its source myself.
“...Ah, Yandel? You've arrived. Word is you were pretty anxious about our delay.”
As I rushed up and halted before them, Amelia remarked with a light, playful edge.
Elwen followed suit.
“Hehe, it's Mister! Were you that concerned?”
Despite those friendly welcomes, I kept silent.
Speaking felt like it might unleash this brewing sentiment.
Or perhaps it already had leaked.
“Emily... why the huge delay?”
“Oh... didn't Kalstein fill you in? A rift appeared smack in our path on the fourth floor, and after team talk, we chose to go inside.”
“.......”
“But didn't we agree on that already? ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) From the fourth floor on, we dive into whatever rifts appear.”
Correct. That's accurate.
Actually, while I'd fretted over their tardiness, the other members had pointed this out.
They'd acted as the leader ought to.
Yet the issue remains...
“Even so... wasn't five days excessive?”
That's likely my inner voice speaking.
“...What?”
“At your skill level, clearing a fourth-floor rift shouldn't have eaten up full five days...”
“We did stretch it out a little for caution. But are you faulting us for being careful now?”
Amelia picked up on the undercurrent in my tone and furrowed her brow.
That's when reality crashed back in.
The fault rested squarely on me.
Or more exactly...
“Yandel... what's got you so on edge?”
Something's off in my mind.
***
21st day in the labyrinth.
Following that small clash upon hitting the sixth floor, we sorted it out smoothly and at last shoved our vessel into the waves.
Oh, and just so you know, we bid farewell to the Meiruta Clan at this spot.
“We're finally underway......”
“Seems the royal forces are just kicking off their launch too?”
Gazing at the coastline, I watched the king's exploratory fleet start sliding their boats into the sea one after another, and it soured my mood.
‘This way, they'll wrap up departures by tomorrow.’
In pure timing terms, some dissatisfaction lingered.
Despite our rapid pace, we edged out the lumbering royal navy by merely a day in departure.
Truth be told, beyond a handful of vessels from minor groups, the waters near the isle held only crown war ships.
“We're a touch late on the plan, but try not to fret. We felled plenty of timber and tackled a rift besides.”
Sensing my unease, Amelia came over to soothe me.
Perhaps due to the earlier exchange, the air between us remained a bit strained.
Neither Amelia nor I touched on the prior mishap.
“Exactly! You gained more than just hunting those five days would have brought, right? No need to stress, Mister!”
Sigh... Even Elwen fussing over me like this.
What on earth am I up to?
Briefly, I sensed my own foolishness, and resolved to get a grip.
To achieve that, I first needed to address the glitch in my thoughts.
Swaaaaaaa—
Stationed on the deck, buffeted by the crisp sea breeze and observing the surf crash, I reflected on my behavior.
That prior self didn't resemble me whatsoever.
No—upon review, it began with the Meiruta Clan.
As if a gear in my psyche had jammed.
Feelings were overriding logic, rendering me overly touchy and hostile.
Normally, I held steady, but a single trigger flipped the switch.
‘Perhaps the pressure's piled up too high...’
Viewed plainly, that might hold, yet it wasn't trivial.
When a leader lets emotions hijack judgment, the entire unit pays the price.
Injuries could result from it.
So how does one mend such a flaw?
No therapist lurks here—should I try some self-imposed regimen?
That's when it struck.
“Yandel.”
“Ah, Emily......”
“It's alright. That's to be expected.”
Amelia appeared to grasp the root of my mental snag.
She's always possessed that keen insight.
“.......”
“.......”
Quiet stretched on after, but it lacked the prior discomfort.
I lost track of the moments that slipped by.
‘Oh yeah, I forgot to ask about this.’
Given the uneasy chat before, I hadn't raised it.
It popped into my head then, so I questioned Amelia.
“What exactly was that fourth-floor rift?”
“...The Forest of Doppelgangers.”
“...For real? Too bad it wasn't the Golden Ruins.”
“I think Raven was certain it was the Forest of Doppelgangers?”
Yeah, that makes sense since she didn't realize our group entered.
“.......”
Sigh, that's why they say keep positive assumptions.
***
29th day in the labyrinth.
Ninth day out from Lymia's launch isle.
Skipping every landfall, our craft at last anchored at one.
This marked the initial stop on our journey's map.
Truthfully, with our five-day lag, I'd toyed with bypassing it...
‘But skipping would squander opportunity. It's directly in our route anyway.’
Fine, we'll blitz through it fast and press on.
“Ugh... Tales didn't prepare me; it's far more eerie up close. The entire isle consists of bones...”
“Ooooooh!! It's Skull Island! Skull Island!”
“The official title is Catacoma, Mr. Prnelin.”
Skull Island, or Catacoma.
Though this was my debut visit to the isle, I shared an odd tie to it.
During my initial Ghostbusters stint, I'd traded details on this place for GP, and disseminated such intel at a discussion circle...
“Uh... Captain?”
As I prepared to step ashore, Sven Parab drew near.
“Heard this? They say beating the boss on Skull Island and hitting the tenth floor brings a unique event...”
Impressive—sounds just like a forum participant's chatter.
That's precisely the data I shared.
Pretending no prior knowledge, I responded.
“A unique event?”
“Yeah. Details escape me too... but a trustworthy tip claims it exists. N-not that we're aiming for the tenth this round, just figured you'd want the heads-up...”
“Got it? As you noted, tenth floor's off the table for us.”
With that exchange wrapped, as I touched the island's ground, Beleg—who'd gone ahead—came over with an update.
“Visitors are here.”
“Visitors, eh......”
I'd anticipated as much.
Right now, the maze brims with riches across all levels.
Such scenarios likely unfold everywhere in these waters.
Treasure draws competitors like flies.
“How many?”
“Hard to say... but one group definitely beat us here. See that? They've staked their banner at the gateway.”
“That speaks volumes.”
“Looks like a quiet heads-up to stay out, claiming first dibs... What's our move?”
What else—we bothered to pull in, so we'll peek at least.
Yet before charging ahead, I verified one thing.
“Adnus, that symbol—it's truly the Golden Tree Clan?”
“Affirmative. Their head is ‘Golden Ears,’ one of the Seven Rivals.”
The insignia had tipped me off, and confirmation followed.
I'd encountered mentions of the Golden Tree Clan before.
Notably, their chief ranks among the Seven Rivals, akin to Elwen and Ainard...
“Oh? Golden Tree? That's the group with...!”
Meeting Misha's curious look, I affirmed with a nod.
“Correct.”
The outfit tied to Bear-Old-Man.