Chapter 3 - Tutorial (2)

Barbarian.

The first time I played this race, whose name literally means “savage,” I chose a greatsword.

Because it looked cool, obviously.

Every man has the urge to grip a sword in both hands and whirl like mad in the middle of enemy ranks, swinging away.

'The problem was how easily I died.'

Drawn to the barbarian, I began researching. How could I build one with some survivability, too?

I tried all sorts of things, but barbarians still died far too easily. No matter how much I invested in survivability, all I got was something like a berserker. Every fight was a precarious balancing act, making the build unreliable.

Then, at some point, I began questioning the premise.

'Do I have to use this guy as a damage dealer?'

Barbarians had the highest HP of any playable race, and their high expected Strength meant they could even wear adamantium equipment.

They had the basic qualifications to be tanks, even if they couldn't quite match dwarves with their overpowered special abilities.

Not that I particularly wanted to play a barbarian tank...

Still, it seemed a waste of all my research, so I decided to give it a try. And after some trial and error, I worked out a build.

'What the hell? This is busted.'

I ditched my old dwarf tank without a second thought.

Who cared if the combat wasn't as exhilarating?

Efficiency had always come first for me. If it helped me progress, I was perfectly willing to throw my gaming preferences out the window.

Just like the decision I'd made now.

THUD.

As I return after choosing my weapon, I feel the other barbarians staring at me.

What are you looking at? Never seen a shield barb before?

I take my place with all the confidence befitting a barbarian, not the least bit intimidated.

This time, I don't even need to act.

“Next!”

I have no regrets about my decision.

For three reasons.

One, shields have the highest resale value of all the starting weapons.

Two, even if I picked up a blade right now, chances are I wouldn't be able to use it properly.

Three, a shield barb is ultimately what I'm aiming for.

Today, I made the most rational decision available to me.

“You are now a warrior!”

With my weapon chosen and my place resumed, I finally have a little time.

While the other barbarians go through their coming-of-age ceremony, I decide to speculate about what caused my current predicament. Really, I should have addressed this much sooner...

But what could I do?

I would've gotten myself killed thinking about it.

「You have reached the Abyss.」

Let's sort it out now, at least.

I reached the final boss room.

That was probably the trigger.

'Wait, then what about the guy who died earlier? Did he reach the final boss room, too?'

... Maybe he did.

It's a big world, and there are other oddballs like me in it. Let's move on for now.

「Tutorial complete.」

This was how I interpreted that message:

I've taught you everything you need to know. Now use that knowledge to survive.

Whoever was behind this was one vicious bastard.

If you really wanted me to survive, you should've included the lore about these “evil spirits,” or whatever they are.

I nearly got killed the moment I arrived, you son of a bitch.

“Whew...”

Is it because I'm in a barbarian's body? Unlike usual, I can't control my emotions.

For that reason, I cut off that train of thought here.

Getting worked up could ruin everything, and brooding over the cause until I stress myself out isn't like me anyway.

What's happened has happened. There's no undoing it.

It would be more productive to spend this time thinking about how to move forward.

So...

Right. For now, let's focus on just one thing.

'Surviving.'

* * *

The coming-of-age ceremony is over.

Now I'm walking down a forest path, with the chieftain ahead and the young barbarians behind me.

Everyone looks happy, as if we're going on a picnic.

But I can't smile as genuinely as they do.

I know our final destination.

“Halt!”

After passing through thick undergrowth, we arrive before a city wall that looks a good thirty meters high.

“Open the gate!”

The gate opens with the clanking of crude machinery.

Slowly enough to make me yawn.

But the young barbarians watch as if they've forgotten to breathe. In that strange silence, a gray city finally reveals itself beyond the gate.

“Raphdonia...”

At this moment, my eyes probably look much like theirs.

Well-maintained roads and stone buildings. A spire soaring into the sky between them.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd see this place in person, after only ever seeing it in a loading-screen illustration.

Goddammit.

“Warriors!”

As the gate opens, the chieftain turns and shouts.

For a moment, I wonder if he's going to offer us some words of wisdom before sending us off...

“Go! Your destiny awaits you there!”

Barbarians don't need boring speeches.

“Waaaaaah!”

The newly adult barbarians charge into the city, roaring. Reluctantly, I shout and follow them.

There are probably people sleeping soundly in those dark buildings, but what do I care?

I'm a barbarian.

BOOM!

I hear the gate close behind us.

Naturally, not a single barbarian pays it any mind.

The excited barbarians run on for quite a while before finally calming down and slowing their pace. Only then can I calmly resume my thoughts.

Right now, two conflicting emotions coexist within me.

“...”

Fear of the situation I've found myself in.

And a certain anticipation at having become part of the world of my favorite game.

It's a little ridiculous.

I only just vowed to focus on surviving, and now I'm feeling this crap.

... I really don't think I'm normal.

Though I'm nothing compared to these barbarian bastards.

“Halt!”

The barbarian acting as our leader stops at the head of the group, turns, and boldly declares:

“I think we're lost!”

The barbarians stir at this shocking confession.

“Karaq, third son of Vanon, has led us astray!”

“He is unfit to lead!”

“He must take responsibility!”

What bullshit. They were happy enough to follow him.

Is this barbarian society? Ruthless.

“All right. Enough. I admit I am unfit and will step down as leader.”

Under the continuing barrage of complaints, Karaq, third son of Vanon, hangs his head and returns to the group.

A female barbarian is chosen as the next leader.

“Aynar, second daughter of Pheneline!”

“Wise Aynar can lead us down the right path!”

Buoyed by their hopeful words, the female barbarian happily takes the lead.

But it doesn't take long for her to follow in her predecessor's footsteps.

“... I think we're lost.”

Amazingly, even their words match exactly.

“Impossible! We must reach the Labyrinth before the appointed time!”

“Aynar is unfit to lead!”

“That's right!”

Thrown into confusion, the barbarians begin seriously debating whom to appoint as their third leader.

“I think Jin, second son of Tehtran, would be good.”

“No. I disagree. Rather...”

Do these bastards have no brains?

Do they seriously not realize that no matter who takes the lead, we'll never reach our destination?

At this rate, they might even get around to me.

“...”

I quietly drop back and approach our second leader.

With her massive frame standing just shy of two meters, she's lingering a little apart from the group, looking dejected.

“Bjorn, son of Jandel? Have you come to blame me, too?”

Of course not.

As far as I'm concerned, they're all the same.

When I shake my head, she tilts hers.

“Then why? I need no consolation.”

“No. I've come to tell you how to find the way.”

“... Really? How?”

I point in one direction.

“We just need to follow them.”

“Just follow them?”

She looks utterly disbelieving.

Mustering my patience, I explain it step by logical step.

It's the middle of the night in the city. Every building along the main road has its lights out. Yet quite a few people are walking the streets for such a late hour.

They're all armed, rather than dressed in everyday clothes.

Where else would people like that be going?

“Indeed. Now that you mention it, that seems right. I'll try it.”

She returns to the group and shouts, “I've found the way!” The barbarians abandon their selection of a third leader and cheer.

“That's our Aynar!”

“Wise warrior woman!”

In any case, the group starts moving again.

We seem to be heading the right way, as more and more armed people appear around us.

Before long, I can see a mass of light radiating in all directions in the distance.

At least we won't get lost now that we've made it this far.

“The Labyrinth! I can see the Labyrinth!”

“The sacred dimension of battle!”

I resume my interrupted train of thought.

My biggest concern right now is whether entering the Labyrinth is really the right decision.

“I feel it! The Labyrinth is calling to my soul!”

Caught up in their frenzy, the barbarians wouldn't notice if I quietly slipped away.

Then I wouldn't have to enter the Labyrinth.

I wouldn't have to shed blood fighting monsters.

But even though I know that better than anyone, I still can't settle the matter.

'Probably because I know running away won't solve anything.'

[Dungeon and Stone] has a tax system.

All city residents must pay taxes starting at age twenty. Failure to pay is punishable by death.

That alone makes it sound like a garbage game, but looking at the setting reveals a somewhat understandable reason.

Not that it's something I need to worry about yet.

“Aynar! Let's pick up the pace!”

“Woooooo!”

Anyway, I need to earn money.

Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean entering the Labyrinth and fighting monsters.

Even working at a tavern would cover food and lodging for now.

... If I weren't a barbarian, that is.

Barbarians are the only race given a weapon at the start of the game.

The reason is very simple.

[“A barbarian? Sorry. We just filled the position.”]

[“Get lost! I've got no work for a barbarian! What are you going to break this time?”]

Barbarians can't do ordinary jobs.

The game's setting shuts them out of every means of making a living except fighting monsters in the Labyrinth.

Well, who knows how it works in reality?

I might find a job more easily than I expect.

But there's one thing stopping me from leaving the group on that hope alone.

“Ten minutes until closing. Please enter now!”

The Labyrinth opened once a month in game time.

In other words, if I don't enter now, I have to hold out in this city for a month.

But what if I can't find a job?

What if no one hires me because I'm a barbarian?

Well, my future starts looking bleak.

Even if I last a week on the food the chieftain gave me, after that I'll have to survive by scavenging food scraps.

I might even starve to death before then.

One thing is certain: even if I make it through that month, my body won't be anything like it is now.

“I'll go in first!”

“No! Me first!”

Hunger, cold, sleeping in unsanitary conditions.

I know better than anyone just how devastating those things can be to the human body.

So if I'm going in anyway, it's only rational to do it now, while I'm in the best condition.

'The problem is, that might just shorten my life.'

As I sink deeper into indecision, someone grabs my shoulder.

“Bjorn, son of Jandel!”

I look over to find the female barbarian from earlier.

Her name was...

“Aynar, third daughter of Pheneline.”

“Second daughter.”

Anyway, what does she want with me?

“All the other warriors have entered the Labyrinth. Only you and I remain.”

“Oh.”

No wonder it was so quiet.

Looking around, I see that not only are the other barbarians gone, but there are hardly any people left in the square at all. As our second leader, Aynar apparently came to check on me because I wasn't moving.

“We must hurry. We arrived late, so there isn't much time.”

At her words, I raise my head and look ahead.

The portal that had been radiating such intense light even from far away has now shrunk noticeably.

“Five minutes until closing!”

Right on cue, the attendant announces the remaining time again.

Five minutes. That's tighter than I thought.

I really do need to make a decision soon...

“Go ahead. I'll follow right behind you.”

“All right.”

Aynar nods and heads toward the portal, leaving me to sink ever deeper into indecision.

Now, what am I supposed to do?

As an absolute efficiency freak, I've always preferred getting things done quickly, but this time, deciding isn't easy.

Unlike a game, my actual life is at stake.

“Bjorn, son of Jandel!”

Just as I'm about to unconsciously step backward, Aynar suddenly spins around midstride.

“Thank you for earlier.”

“... There's no need to thank me.”

“And there's something I'd like to ask.”

Anything but my mother's name.

I nod, and Aynar asks with complete sincerity:

“How can I become as wise as you? I've never met a barbarian as clever as you in my life. I want to be like you.”

That's a tough question. How can she become smarter? Honestly, being born again might be faster...

Wait, why am I even thinking about this?

I'll just give her some answer and send her on her way.

“Always think before you act.”

“Hmm, I see!”

I'd said it without much thought, but Aynar considers my words with a serious expression.

Then she says something a little unexpected.

“Thank you for the advice. If I return alive from the Labyrinth, I'll repay you.”

If she returns alive?

Those words sound so strange coming from a barbarian.

So, unlike me, I ask an unnecessary question.

“... Are you afraid of dying?”

“Isn't that obvious? Of course dying is frightening. The other warriors probably feel the same, even if they don't show it.”

Really?

Honestly, even hearing her say it, I can't quite grasp it.

The barbarians in the game were beings who knew no fear.

And they hadn't seemed much different in reality.

When I say nothing, Aynar elaborates.

“We were born warriors. If we cannot fight, we die.”

Her delivery is awkward and stiff, but somehow I understand exactly what she's trying to say.

“I see.”

Just like me, they'd simply had no choice.

Because they were born barbarians.

Because unless they killed monsters in the Labyrinth, they couldn't survive in this city.

That's why, from childhood, they learned how to overcome their fear and move forward.

Yes, that was all there was to it.

That was why they had looked like savages to me.

“Let's meet again alive, Bjorn, son of Jandel.”

Then Aynar steps into the portal.

“One minute until closing!”

Now there's nothing holding me here.

Only my own choice remains.

Like the prompt that appeared when I entered the final boss room, there are two options.

「Yes / No」

Somehow, my tangled thoughts clear.

Right. Let's just think of it as playing a game.

When gaming, I always prioritized efficiency in pursuit of my goal.

I weighed the possibilities before acting and always planned two steps ahead.

If I judged that an immediate gain would ultimately lead to a loss, I chose “No.”

If the opposite was true, I chose “Yes.”

And so, I'd never really had a choice.

“The gate is closing! Stand back!”

I run forward.

Just as when the chieftain called my name, fear is boiling over deep inside me.

And for good reason. Having been sickly my entire life, I've never even been in an ordinary fistfight.

And now I'm supposed to fight monsters?

My knees are already trembling.

“It's dangerous!”

But it would be different if I had no chance at all.

Right now, I have a ridiculously powerful barbarian body.

I have the knowledge I've gained from raising thousands of characters.

Above all, I have the lofty goal of surviving.

So I have no choice but to do this.

Even though I know better than anyone that this choice promises a horrific ordeal no sane person would willingly choose.

Because I've decided it's the most rational choice—

「You have entered the first floor: Crystal Cave.」

That's the conclusion I've reached.