Surviving the Game as a Barbarian-Chapter 516: Natives (4)

Diflun Groundel Gavrilius, the Last Sage.

The great explorer and savior who protected the city from the Witch’s curse with a barrier and opened the dimensional gate to the labyrinth, solving the resource shortage.

Almost all the feats recorded at the top of the Stone of Honor belonged to him.

He left an enormous footprint on the primitive labyrinth, and people named hidden pieces within the labyrinth ‘Gavrilius’s Arrangements’ after him.

[Diflun Groundel Gavrilius, the Last Sage, and his companions vanquished all the monsters in the Crystal Cave and opened a hidden area.]

As the most famous figure in history, his companions were also widely known.

“…He just spoke our language, right?”

“Yes? Y-Yes… he did…”

“No, wait… he knows about… Lafdonia?”

My teammates were confused, eavesdropping on my conversation with the village elder, Brugrid.

They all had the same expression as the monsters who had heard me speak ancient language: ‘How can a monster speak human language?’

If I looked in a mirror, my expression would probably be similar.

But…

[I am Brugrid, the Elder of this village.]

[You must be an explorer from Lafdonia.]

[How much time has passed outside?]

As a leader, I forced myself to calm down and organize my thoughts.

Who was this monster?

…Actually, there was one obvious possibility.

“Cornelius Brugrid, the Dragon Knight.”

The village elder nodded as I spoke the name.

“That’s correct.”

Holy shit, was he serious?

This monster-looking thing?

“D-Dragon Knight Brugrid…!”

“…I can’t believe it.”

“Is he lying? He’s from thousands of years ago… and he looks like that… and he’s still alive…?”

My teammates were in an uproar, but the Elder ignored them.

He just looked at me and asked,

“So, tell me. How much time has passed outside?”

Elder Brugrid’s gentle voice had a strange power, as if compelling me to answer.

But I had to confirm something first.

“Before I answer that, can I use this?”

I took out ‘Distorted Trust.’

We couldn’t trust each other without some kind of insurance.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen one of those…”

“So can I use it?”

“Go ahead. I would prefer it, actually.”

His ready agreement increased my trust in him, but I still activated the item.

Click.

And then something unexpected happened.

“Let’s test it first. Can you tell me your name?”

“Cornelius Brugrid.”

“…….”

The item didn’t activate.

Not because he had told the truth, but because the item deactivated whenever he spoke.

Just like when I spoke.

“…What’s going on?”

“I don’t know.”

As I was wondering, Bersil approached me and whispered,

“Maybe… it’s because he’s a monster?”

It was a plausible theory.

I had never used the item on a monster before. If it only worked on humans, this would make sense.

‘Or maybe he’s like me…’

I tried using the Verification spell with Bersil’s help, but it also failed.

“It seems like we’ll have to talk without any magical assistance.”

Damn it, I had wasted a charge…

“Now answer my question.”

“I have one more question first.”

“Go ahead.”

“If you’re really one of the Last Sage’s companions, why are you here? Looking like that?”

“That’s…”

The Elder continued,

“Something I don’t know myself.”

“…Huh?”

“It was an ordinary day. I was in the labyrinth, and then it closed. But when I opened my eyes, I was here. In this… monstrous form.”

“……What?”

“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. Why I’m here, why I look like this, where this place is, why I can’t die… but there’s only one answer.”

“…….”

“I don’t know.”

Elder Brugrid’s voice was devoid of emotion.

As if he had given up on finding the answer.

“I’m not sure if you’re satisfied with that answer, but… does that answer your question?”

“Sort of.”

I had received an answer, so it was only fair that I answered his question.

“…It’s the 157th year of the New Era.”

“New Era…?”

“It’s been 157 years since the Immortal King died and the new King ascended the throne. And it’s been over a thousand years since the Witch’s curse.”

“A thousand years… I see.”

The Elder’s reaction was surprisingly calm.

Like a deflated balloon.

There was no sense of panic or urgency.

‘So it’s my turn again.’

We hadn’t made any formal agreements, but no one had ever complained about this system.

‘Let’s try this.’

I chose my next question carefully. I wasn’t sure if there was a limit to the number of questions I could ask.

“Who are those monsters that look like you?”

It was the question that had been bothering me the most since hearing the Elder’s story.

If he had suddenly woken up here one day, looking like that… then what about the other monsters that looked just like him?

“They were already living on this island when I arrived. The natives, I suppose. I don’t know why, but they accepted me as one of their own.”

Bersil flinched and tried to say something, but I quickly stopped her.

“Yandel… is this… evil—”

“Bersil.”

“Ah…”

Right, there was no need to give him any more information.

I wasn’t sure if I could trust him yet.

I gave Bersil a look, and she closed her mouth.

‘Evil spirits.’

That must have been the word she was about to say.

Maybe Brugrid wasn’t just transformed, he was possessed by one of these monsters.

Why?

I didn’t know.

This world was full of secrets.

“And?”

“I assume they were in a similar situation as me. But unlike me, they didn’t retain their sanity. They were intelligent, but uncivilized. They were like wild beasts.”

“But they call themselves humans now.”

“Unlike them, I don’t age or die. That alone was enough to make me a god-like figure. I became their elder and taught them everything I knew. This island is a harsh environment. You’ll see soon enough.”

“Why did you teach them ancient language?”

“It’s easier for them to learn in this form. And it’s more suited to their vocal cords.”

Well, I couldn’t argue with that.

Calling themselves ‘humans’ was a strange choice, though.

“Can I ask a question now?”

“Go ahead.”

I let him take his turn, but I stayed focused.

I had a reason.

‘Don’t underestimate a barbarian.’

If he was lying, I would find out.

______________________

Cornelius Brugrid.

I wasn’t sure if he really was one of the ancient heroes.

[I don’t know. Why I’m here.]

He claimed he didn’t know why he was here.

It could be the truth, or a lie.

But one thing was certain.

[A thousand years… I see.]

He was lying about not knowing how much time had passed.

He had captured the explorers and brought them to the village. He could have easily asked them.

‘He speaks Lafdonian, so it’s not like he couldn’t communicate…’

And yet, he had left the village to meet with me.

Why?

He could have easily obtained that information without our help.

And the warriors’ reaction before he appeared had also been strange.

[How can you speak our language? You’re a monster?]

They had invited me to the village after I started speaking ancient language.

‘Is there a clue in the ancient language…?’

As I was thinking that, the Elder spoke.

“Do you know how to leave this place?”

“No.”

“Then how did you get here?”

“There was an inscription on the Stone of Honor about a hidden area being unlocked. We found the entrance and came down from the 1st floor.”

We exchanged questions rapidly.

“Why did you kill the explorers you captured?”

“It wasn’t my decision. The warriors found them. They were scared and confused, so they attacked.”

“I see. Your turn.”

“What’s beyond this island?”

“…Don’t you know?”

“The trees here don’t float.”

Really? I didn’t know that.

“Now answer my question. What’s beyond the sea?”

“We haven’t explored much yet. Just the rocky island where we started, and this island. They’re about five hours apart by ship.”

“I see… Thank you. My turn.”

It was my turn again.

I was worried about wasting a question, but I decided to take the risk.

“Why did you come all the way here to meet with me, instead of asking the explorers you captured?”

“Because the rainy season starts in three days.”

“…Rainy season?”

The little monster had mentioned it too.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“We’re busy preparing for the rainy season. We don’t have time for interrogations. We were planning to talk to them later.”

So he was too busy.

It sounded like an excuse.

“And yet, you took the time to meet with me. Instead of the explorers you already had.”

I made my suspicion clear, and the Elder looked at me intently.

“You’re… quite aggressive.”

“It’s a natural reaction for an explorer.”

“Maybe. But you should show more respect to someone who saved your life. I came here because I was worried about you. I didn’t even finish the preparations for the rainy season.”

“What? Saved my life?”

I was incredulous, and the Elder spoke, his voice calm and emotionless,

“You won’t believe me now, anyway. Let’s meet again in three days. Here.”

“Three days…?”

I asked, but he didn’t answer.

“You wouldn’t trust me if I asked you to come to the village now, anyway.”

That was true.

But I didn’t see how anything would change in three days…

“Try to stay on this island. Or at least nearby. If you take too long, we’ll have to close the entrance to the village. Ah, the entrance will be open, so you can come whenever you change your mind.”

“…?”

“You can keep Marupichi until then.”

The Elder then turned and left, leading his warriors through a hidden passage beneath the tree roots. I didn’t try to stop him. I didn’t understand his intentions.

“He’s gone…”

“Yandel, what are we going to do now?”

I didn’t know.

I wanted to complain, but I forced myself to calm down and focus on the task at hand.

And the task was obvious.

[Marupichi, what’s the rainy season?]

I started by asking the little monster about the rainy season and anything else it knew. And then we hunted monsters in the area, staying within the central part of the island.

Time passed…

One day, two days…

Click.

The promised three days had arrived.

[00:00]

It started raining on the island.

Kwaaang!

But it wasn’t like any rain I had ever seen before.

[Keureuk! Keureuk!]

[Grrrr…!]

[Kwaaaaaaaaa!]

It was raining monsters.