Surviving the Game as a Barbarian-Chapter 598: Third record (1)

Chapter 11 of the Rift on Basement Level 1.

Or rather, by my count, it’s Chapter 3, but anyway.

The clear condition for this chapter is simple.

After rescuing Elwen and me, we just have to survive until night inside this city, and that’s it.

By the way, this information came from the navigation ability of the mage Gavhin Vesilarius...

“...You say you just ‘intuitively know,’ but can you explain it in more detail?”

“Heh heh, I would like to... but with my literary skills, I cannot express it any better.”

“Then don’t express it—just answer my questions. Yes or no only. You can do that, right?”

“Well, since we have to wait until night anyway, go ahead.”

“Do you hear a voice in your head or something?”

“Hmm, no.”

“Then do you have to see something for it to come to you?”

“No, it’s not that either. Each time the location changes, I just feel like I instantly know what to do... Oh, of course, sometimes when I gain clues or information, I get that feeling too.”

“I see.”

As I kept firing questions like twenty questions, I understood why this old man could only call it intuition.

‘It’s almost like his sixth sense stat is maximized for rift exploration.’

If I had to explain it, this is the limit even for me.

Of course, there’s no doubt it’s a convenient ability.

But my overall judgment was that relying only on this could lead to serious trouble.

“By the way... Baron Yandel, you have an incredible curiosity. I’m truly surprised. Heh heh heh...”

Gavhin Vesilarius smiled kindly and said that to me.

Literally, it could be shortened to:

‘Stop bothering me already.’

Why do nobles always like to talk in such roundabout ways?

“One last question.”

“...What is it?”

“Can you tell me what happens if we leave the city before night without waiting?”

“This doesn’t even need a yes or no answer. You can’t leave the city in the first place.”

“Can’t leave?”

“A highly advanced dimensional magic surrounds this city, invisible to ordinary barrier magic. Others might have passed normally, but we cannot.”

“I see... That’s all the questions I have, as promised. Thank you. Now rest.”

“Heh heh...”

As if it was the words he wanted to hear, Gavhin said nothing more and went to sit in a corner.

Watching him carefully crouch while holding his back was both amusing and puzzling.

‘Why does this old man look the same as ever?’

Because of that, I couldn’t fully immerse myself.

Elwen, who plays the younger sister, has become a child, but why is this old man just unchanged?

‘No, how did he even attend the academy like that?’

He was the only old man in school uniform among children, yet no one seemed to look strangely?

I got curious about what happened to Gavhin in Chapter 1, but decided to ask later when I had time.

If I asked now, he’d probably be annoyed...

And I’m not lacking conversation partners.

“Archbishop Hestaya.”

“...Yes, Baron. What brings you?”

“Just wanted to have a quick talk.”

I plopped down next to the archbishop, who moved aside as if uncomfortable and gave me some distance.

“There’s nothing more to say about my abilities beyond what I mentioned earlier...”

“That’s fine. I didn’t come to ask about that.”

“Then...?”

The archbishop glanced at me with a suspicious look.

Apparently, she expected me to be as bothersome as I was with Gavhin earlier...

But that’s not what I wanted to ask.

“There’s one thing I want to ask about the Reatlas Church’s internal affairs.”

“Internal affairs of the church... you say?”

When I hinted at it, her expression immediately stiffened.

If she had been a kindly neighbor just moments ago, now she gave off the pressure of a business partner at a negotiation table.

“Just... say it.”

Neither a clear acceptance nor refusal.

So I began by testing the waters.

“I’m curious about Sven Parab’s standing within the church.”

“Sven Parab’s standing...”

The archbishop faltered for a moment and stared at me.

Her gaze was too fierce for a religious person.

She didn’t seem willing to answer such a probing question.

So only one option remained.

“Archbishop, it seems you and the other members dislike and harass Sven Parab. So—”

“Did Sir Parab tell you that, Baron?”

“He didn’t say it. It just looks that way to me.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

She seemed thoughtful for a moment, then fixed her eyes on me and answered.

“That’s a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding...?”

“Yes.”

“But from what I see—”

“Even if it looks that way to you, it’s just a misunderstanding. So please, Baron, focus only on what you must do.”

“Uh...”

“It’s church business anyway, right?” frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Though her tone and expression were displeased, I didn’t show much and took a step back.

“...Understood.”

I was quite surprised by her strong reaction.

And secondly...

‘It’s suspicious that she reacts as if it’s a sacred taboo.’

That reaction alone was valuable.

If she was just a demon intended to be a disposable pawn, she wouldn’t have reacted like that.

‘So there must be another reason...’

Hmm, what could it be?

While I pondered, I saw Gavhin leaning against the wall, glancing at me.

Apparently, our conversation with the archbishop was bothering him.

“Ahem.”

Our eyes met; Gavhin turned his head awkwardly and closed his eyes.

‘...I should rest too.’

After that, I went to rest beside Elwen.

How much time passed?

“Sir Vesilarius, it’s well past nightfall. How much longer do we have to wait?”

As nothing happened by midnight, we decided after discussion to leave the basement and go up to the first floor.

Gavhin had a feeling we should go up...

“Here you were hiding! We’ve been looking everywhere!”

A knight wandering alone in the empty house spotted us—or rather, Gavhin—and approached with ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) arms open.

“Who might you be...?”

“Haha! Who else? Don’t you recognize a friend’s face even after such a long time?”

The knight greeted warmly and removed his helmet.

“...”

From his expression, Gavhin still didn’t know who this was.

But...

“Sir, I’ve met that person. The imperial knight who helped us escape from the village. That knight.”

“Haha, the little girl hasn’t grown much since then, has she?”

Elwen was familiar with the mysterious knight.

And...

“Yandel, your situation seems similar too.”

Coincidentally, I was familiar with him as well.

[Escort the girl. Ensure she reaches her destination.]

Though aged with time, this was the knight who commissioned me as a bodyguard in Chapter 1.

This wasn’t particularly surprising.

Hiding Elwen in the cave and commissioning me as her escort? That was reasonable.

That he was friends with Gavhin, who played the older brother role, was also plausible.

The real surprise came next.

“Oh, there are some people meeting us for the first time, so introductions first.”

The knight smiled cheerfully and announced his name.

“Ravigion Kemmelvi Lapdonia.”

To anyone from this world, that name didn’t sound like a person’s.

As soon as I heard it, groans like death rattles echoed everywhere.

“Ah...”

“Uh...”

“Hmm...”

...This man is the Immortal King?

Immortal King, Ravigion III.

The one who saved Lapdonia, once a mere territory, from destruction and made it the continent’s final stronghold.

The chief belittled his achievements by saying it was all just because he had ‘good friends,’ but the truth of his historicity remains.

However...

“Everyone just calls me Ravigion. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. And a friend of a friend is a friend, isn’t that so?”

Because of that, his sly attitude felt very strange.

In my mind, the Immortal King was a monster exuding overwhelming charisma and an intimidating aura.

“Well then—.”

“Wait! Wait, can we discuss this first? Or rather, should we?”

Gavhin, still playing the ‘friend’ role, cut him off with his confusion.

“Discuss... Please make way for a moment.”

“No need... Magic can do it.”

“Do as you wish. But it’s best to finish quickly. We don’t know when the imperial army will arrive.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll be over soon.”

Gavhin, with the knight’s permission, immediately activated voice control magic and began speaking.

“A-Are you all really real? The author’s, uh, that, that statement...!”

The archbishop was the first to answer.

“Perhaps it’s just a coincidence of the name. The third Ravigion means there were also the second and the first, right?”

“Ah, yes... that’s right. That’s right...”

Finally, his mind seemed to clear somewhat.

Gavhin muttered to himself, as if organizing his thoughts.

“I heard the first and seventeenth lords used the name Ravigion. Being an ancient lineage before the final stronghold was built, the middle name is unknown... Yes, it might be one of those two...”

Gavhin’s words strongly felt like he was trying to gather any evidence to deny reality.

Though the chief cut him off without mercy.

“Calm down, Sir Vesilarius. It’s already the era of the witch. It can’t be Ravigion I or II.”

“Ah...”

“If you’re curious, ask what his wife’s name is. Well, if the author is impersonating the Immortal King, it won’t matter.”

“T-Then I’ll deactivate voice control magic for now.”

Gavhin turned off the magic.

But trembling and unable to meet eyes, I spoke instead.

“Ravigion, what is your wife’s name?”

“Oh... I guess you suspected someone disguised as me?”

“Answer first.”

“Karnon. That’s my wife’s name. She’s currently away, managing the territory instead of me. The tasks you asked for are underway too.”

“Tasks I asked for...?”

Gavhin looked puzzled, and the chief cleared his throat and gave a warning glance.

‘Ah, I remember. In the previous chapter, behaving oddly sometimes caused things to go wrong...’

There was no need to cause discomfort to the Immortal King, who seemed like an NPC ally.

“Anyway, take this first.”

“What is this...?”

“Hmm... You’re acting strange today. Isn’t this what you asked me to bring, calling me out all this way?”

“Ah... Y-Yeah?”

Gavhin took the black gem with a dazed expression.

Then immediately—

Swoooosh—!

Black mist started seeping out of the gem.

Instinctively, I tried to step back, but my body wouldn’t move.

‘What, could this be betrayal?’

That possibility flashed through my mind, but thankfully the Immortal King’s face was full only of sincere concern.

“Honestly... I still don’t really understand.”

“...?”

“Even if this thing works properly and we reach the Great Magic View intact, and finally face the Evil God...”

The sudden story started.

Even without the mage’s navigation function, I understood immediately.

“There’s no guarantee that evil god will grant your wishes.”

So that’s the mission of the next chapter.

“I’ll leave now before the imperial army arrives. Good luck.”

With that voice, the world went completely dark.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by f(r)eew𝒆bn(o)vel.com