Surviving The Game As A Barbarian Novel 2025 - Chapter 438
C438: Rivals (4)
At first, I felt utterly bewildered.
But once Lee Baek-ho left and I stood there blankly, reality slowly started to sink in.
He really left.
Right up to the end, that fucker was the same as ever.
‘What’s with the disappearing act, seriously…’
But, now I feel like I can finally breathe.
I hadn’t even felt tired because of the adrenaline rush earlier.
“…”
I literally feel the life draining out of me.
My head is throbbing worse than my college days when I stayed up three nights in a row drinking coffee.
‘Wait, was that why that bastard’s brain wasn’t functioning properly either?’
Ah, who cares.
Thud.
I flopped down onto the sofa, nearly collapsing into it.
I desperately needed a mental break.
But…
‘Rest can come later.’
With my brain barely functioning, I started muttering about what needed to be done.
“…First, before it’s too late, I should go over everything again.”
From the first time we met again to the moment he left, I mentally replayed our conversation in detail.
It’s my usual routine whenever something happens.
But maybe because my head feels like it’s going to burst out from the throbbing pain?
This time, I can’t clearly recall the subtle changes in his eyes and expressions during the conversation.
“Argh, my head hurts…”
The review process felt like pressing the gas pedal on a car running out of fuel.
There was a will to move forward, but my head grew duller.
So, I focused on the most critical parts.
[“Is it really true that you’re Bjorn Jandel?”]
The bait he threw at me.
[“It’s between you and me, right? I can put up with that.”]
As soon as he found out I was Bjorn Jandel, he readily agreed to give up Misha.
[“There’s a button here. If you press it, you’ll return to your original world immediately.”]
His open display of expectation toward me.
And then…
[You’re lying while looking me in the eyes.]
The disappointment that was as big as the expectation.
‘There was a lot…’
My slow, careful review started to grow fuzzy.
Maybe I was somewhat satisfied.
I hadn’t gained anything, but I hadn’t lost either.
At least for today.
‘…Revealing that I’m Bjorn Jandel was part of the plan, anyway.’
Originally, I intended to probe his intentions, then reveal my identity and based on our relationship, demand Misha back.
If that didn’t work, I planned to threaten him.
If I told him I was the one who lifted his ban, I could imply that I could place it on him again.
Well, I never got the chance to say that, but still.
[“Lift the ban quickly. Otherwise, I’ll kill you right here.”]
For someone like Lee Baek-ho, who caused a huge ruckus in the city hoping to return here, that threat should have had some effect.
‘…But why did Lee Baek-ho go to such lengths just to have his ban lifted?’
Such thoughts did cross my mind, but I didn’t dwell on them.
How could I know what he was thinking?
Maybe he just missed hanging out with the other Koreans.
“…”
With that, I closed my eyes and let my thoughts drift as they please.
‘From the start, what kind of expectations does he have of me anyway?’
It’s a bit puzzling.
Because…
[“In return, when I break through the 10th floor, help me.”]
He wants help on the 10th floor?
I’m glad he thinks highly of me, but is Bjorn Jandel really that big of a deal?
‘Well, my growth rate might justify some expectations…’
Still, there’s something off.
Lee Baek-ho had realized that Bjorn Jandel was an evil spirit back in the gnome tree.
[“By the way, next time we meet, we’re strangers, okay?”]
He played it cool at that time.
He drew a line and didn’t even try to make friends with me.
‘It’s still strange…’
If back then he decided Bjorn Jandel wasn’t valuable enough, what’s changed now?
[“I’ve been so good to you since the moment we met!”]
Suddenly, one of Baek-ho’s remarks came to mind.
‘From the beginning…?’
Right, from the start he treated me well.
Then why was that?
“Is it because I’m Lee Han-soo, not Bjorn Jandel?”
No, that’s not it.
[“Alright, I believe you. You really are Korean.”]
Is it because I’m Korean?
Hmm, that’s uncertain.
Maybe that was just one of the conditions.
After all, he had been waiting in an empty Korean channel for over three years.
Hoping for a Korean who might never come.
‘…Would he really waste all that time just because he was lonely?’
No, that doesn’t seem right.
Even Hyun Byeol was Korean. But he was tougher on her than on me.
So, what could it be?
What made Lee Baek-ho treat me well from the beginning?
“Damn it.”
I opened my eyes and suddenly sat up.
Then, unintentionally, I looked at the mirror on the wall and realized.
“The nickname.”
Yes, the nickname.
I had unknowingly become famous in the community, and I had casually added an extra letter to my usual nickname.
[Elfnunna]
There was nothing else but that nickname.
I hadn’t thought of it until now because Lee Baek-ho had never mentioned it.
‘No, the fact that he has never brought it up is even weirder…’
Just look at the “newbie Chat Room” I entered with this nickname.
[“Elfnuna?!”]
[“Holy crap, you’re the one who wrote the stat distribution guide?”]
[“Wait… wasn’t that someone from the game company?”]
[“So you were really Korean! I knew it!”]
Everyone freaked out as soon as they saw me.
[It seems like you are a fan of that person.]
The GM wasn’t as excited, but he was happy to hear the name.
[“But seriously, what’s with that nickname…?”]
Even Hyun Byeol, who knew nothing about Elfnuna, furrowed her brows at my odd nickname.
And yet, Lee Baek-ho said nothing about it at all.
That playful guy who probably liked fart jokes and dinosaurs more than anything, didn’t mention it even once.
It’s not certain yet, but maybe.
Maybe he had been waiting.
From that day until now.
With a smiling face, hiding his true intentions—
“Um…”
Just as my thoughts reached that point, I heard a noise from the side.
“Oppa, what are you doing looking at the mirror…?”
It was Hyun Byeol.
***
‘Let’s think about Baek-ho again when my head is clear…’
I didn’t get to rest much after all.
Should I just bail out of here?
“…You just had bad thoughts, didn’t you?” Hyun Byeol spoke.
“…No.”
Right, it’d be ridiculous to dump my trouble on others just because I’m tired.
“Hmm, your face says you were.”
“I said I wasn’t.Besides, you were so harsh on Baek-ho, so why use polite language with me?”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
She looked at me like I was pathetic and sat down on the sofa, one seat away from me on a three-seater.
“There are plenty of seats, why sit there ambiguously?”
“Ah, there’s a line between you and me, oppa. I can’t cross it.”
…Seems she’s still sulking about how I asked her to move away earlier.
If she was going to be mad, why didn’t she just say so at the time?
“…”
“…”
Neither of us spoke first, and the silence continued.
This was pretty much what it was like dating Hyun Byeol.
We were together, but it wasn’t noisy, and this kind of quiet silence was more comfortable than being alone.
Well, that’s how it was when we were dating.
‘…This is so damn uncomfortable now.’
Eventually, I couldn’t stand it and spoke up first.
“Hyun Byeol.”
“Yes.”
“…Why aren’t you saying anything?”
I glanced sideways. She was looking at the fireplace instead of me, her profile in view.
She answered without turning my way.
“Because you look tired.”
“…Huh?”
“You look like you do when you come back from the office all beat up from work.”
In fact, she said I looked even more exhausted now than I did back then, and gave me a sidelong glance.
“…What is it? Should I chatter on and annoy you?”
“No.”
“Okay, then I’ll hold back.”
“Hold back?”
“Actually, I have a ton of questions, but I’m holding them in. I don’t want to burden you.”
Oh…
So that’s how it is?
That’s… well…
“Thanks…?”
“…What’s with that?”
When I expressed gratitude, she quickly turned her head away, sounding cold.
…She’s embarrassed.
Dammit, now I feel embarrassed too.
“…Then I’ll rest a bit.”
“Sure.”
I was honestly exhausted enough to die, so I accepted her thoughtfulness.
I’m really worn out.
Not only because I’ve been freely emitting killing intent, but because this is the first time I’ve been exposed to such intense killing intent myself.
“…”
“…”
A peaceful silence filled the room.
For a moment, it felt as if I were back on Earth.
The only difference was hearing the crackling of the fireplace instead of the sound of pages turning in a book that she might’ve been reading.
How long did that time last?
Crack, crack, crackle—
As I listened to the sparks flying, I slowly opened my eyes.
“Did you wake up?”
“Ah, um…”
I was a bit surprised.
So I can sleep here in the spiritual world as well.
I also feel a bit refreshed…
“How long has it been?”
“About an hour and a half.”
Phew, so there’s still time before the Round Table meeting.
“You look better now.”
“Thanks to you.”
“Then I’ll start.”
“Huh?”
Start what?
I soon realized what she meant without needing to ask.
“Brother, who exactly was that guy earlier?”
As if she had been waiting, she spat out the question.
“That guy?”
“I mean Lee Baek-ho. That was really him, right?”
Her wording was a bit off, but I understood what she meant.
I was just a little surprised.
“Yeah.”
So Hyun Byeol knew about Lee Baek-ho too.
After receiving my affirmative response, Hyun Byeol nodded as if it all made sense now.
“I knew it. He had a crazy look in his eyes.”
“Wait a second, Hyun Byeol. You knew who he was and still acted like that?”
“So what? Is there a problem? No matter how strong he is outside, it doesn’t mean anything in here, right?”
“Well, that’s true in theory, but…”
It’s clear now that she still has a newbie’s aura. I need to educate her before she makes a real mistake somewhere.
“It’s not always that simple. There’s a technique you can use in here.”
I then explained “killing intent” to Hyun Byeol.
“So souls are linked, and that intangible energy gets amplified and affects the other person. I get the theory, but…”
As always, she grasped the theory quickly, but she still couldn’t fully picture it.
“Honestly, I still don’t quite get it. The fear of dying? That it could cause real-world complications?”
Well, she’s not exactly wrong. The Fox’s killing intent, back at the Round Table, only managed to put a little pressure on the opponent, but no permanent damage.
.“Ha, it’s hard to explain the feeling in words.”
“Maybe you’re just bad at describing things?”
What is she talking about? I’ve read tons of novels. Though admittedly, not as many as her.
“Ah, it’d be faster for you to experience it yourself.”
This is a suggestion I would never make to anyone other than her. My mental strength has barely recovered from being totally drained, but…
Then again, this is for her benefit. I can handle this much.
“Alright, let’s do it.”
“W-wait! Let me think for a moment—”
What’s there to think about? It’ll be faster and more accurate this way.
Wishing to prevent her from making mistakes outside, I unleashed my killing intent on her.
“…Ugh!”
The change was instantaneous.
“G-Gaa… sto—…”
Just like everyone except Lee Baek-ho, she made a pained expression.
‘So Baek-ho’s reaction was really extraordinary.’
At least I confirmed my killing intent isn’t broken.
“S-stop… it…!”
Ah…
I only intended to give her a tiny taste.
“….”
Oh, shit.
***
The shock of experiencing killing intent for the first time must have been quite severe.
‘I barely did anything…’
Even though I just gave her a hint, Hyun Byeol complained of extreme fatigue.
“I get it now… I understand why this could have aftereffects even once you return to reality.”
“Oh, that’s good—”
“But next time, I’ll get angry if you do something like this without asking me first.”
“Noted.”
“…Oppa, are you mad at me or something?”
“No? Not at all. Why?”
‘Sigh..’
Why was she being so weird now?
Murmuring to herself, Hyun Byeol complained of a severe headache and quickly asked a few questions before saying she needed to rest.
The first was this:
“Oppa, you know about Bjorn Jandel, right?”
My neck tingled the moment I heard the question.
What? Could she have noticed something and suspect my identity like Lee Baek-ho?
Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
“…I know him, yes.”
“Really? Then do you know if Bjorn Jandel is really an evil spirit or not?”
“Uh, well… I’m not sure. I’ve never met him…”
“Hmm, is that so?”
She smacked her lips in disappointment. I cautiously asked her in return:
“But why are you asking about Bjorn Jandel?”
“Because of work. I need to be sure if he’s really an evil spirit or not, so I can plan my next steps”.
Her “next steps”…
That makes me uneasy.
I knew she wasn’t an explorer; she seemed to be doing some kind of desk job.
[My next goal after gaining financial freedom was to gain power.]
To find a way back through power.
At the time, it seemed like a typical Hyun Byeol approach.
But…
[I’ve recently gotten close to someone pretty high up.]
I wonder who that “high-up” person is.
If it’s the Marquis…
“Hyunbyeol.”
“…Yes?”
“Who are you working under right now?”
At my suddenly serious question, Hyun Byeol furrowed her brow.
“Oppa, I remember us agreeing to draw a clear line about that—”
“That was then. Things have changed.”
“…Huh?”
“I might accidentally end up killing you.”
“….”
“So tell me. Who is it?”
When I lowered my voice and asked again, she stared straight at me. And then…
“Countess Phefroc.”
She let out a long sigh and answered.
It was a name I never expected.
It’s good that it’s not someone like the Marquis of Tercerion or the Duke’s family, but…
“…Countess Phefroc?”
I never thought I’d hear that name now.
“Yes. We became acquainted by chance, and I’ve been working under her.”
Ragna Litaniel Phefroc, that’s her full name. She’s a librarian, a mage, and part of the “friend group” I joined regularly in my newbie days to access the information from the 7th-level administrator Shabin Emure.
“So, are we done?”
“Yes.”
There were a lot of things I wanted to ask, but I didn’t want to pry further, so I just nodded.
At least I confirmed she’s not with the Marquis’.
For now, there was no reason for Hyun Byeol and me to be adversaries.
I was satisfied with that for the moment—
“By the way, oppa.”
Just then, she placed one hand on the middle seat of the sofa.
“This time as well…”
“…Huh?”
“In the end, you’re the one who crossed the line first, right?”
Before I could respond, Hyun Byeol stood up, leaning on her hand on the sofa.
“See you next month. I’m too tired today.”
With those words, she left the chat room. Since I had no reason to stay, I returned outside as well.
And then…
[03:07]
As I lay down on my bed and rested for a while, the time came.
“Phew…”
I’d like to just log out and go to sleep.
But…
Flash-!
No matter how tired I was, I couldn’t miss this.