Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Noark doesn't reject evil spirits.

So unlike on the surface, there are quite a few people who live openly as evil spirits. In fact, judging by our previous conversations, even Amelia, who was born here, didn't seem to be hostile towards evil spirits.

However…

‘It would become a permanent weakness if I admitted it.’

Bjorn Yandel is an evil spirit.

That sentence was my Achilles' heel.

A bomb that could destroy my social life and even threaten my life.

And Amelia now had the button to that bomb.

Of course, we were on good terms now…

What if something happened and our relationship soured?

I wouldn’t be able to sleep properly, and even if there were no problems, it would still be a source of anxiety.

If she decided to use me, I would be treated like a slave.

Therefore…

“Amelia Rainwales, are you insulting me?”

I spoke in a low voice, like a growling beast.

Evil spirits don’t lose their memories?

It could be a made-up story to test me.

No, even if it was true that the pill had that characteristic, I had to make it seem like it was a defective product—

“What will you do if I am?”

“…Huh?”

I’ve never met someone this bold…

Amelia spoke before I could even recover from my shock.

“Are you going to attack me? Even though it will be more difficult to obtain the item the Lord is keeping without my help?”

“…Don’t test my patience.”

Amelia scoffed at my words.

“That just proves you’re not that angry. You would have already attacked me if you were. Like the other barbarians.”

“…….”

“Come to think of it, it was strange from the beginning. I told you to beg for your life on a warrior’s honor, and you didn’t even hesitate.”

“…….”

“And now you’re talking about insults? Don’t you think it’s a bit funny?”

Damn it, is this karma?

I was speechless.

So I had only one option left.

“You must be crazy to mock a barbarian.”

It was an ultimatum.

I knew I would be at a disadvantage if I hesitated any longer.

I was gathering my strength when…

“Why, are you really thinking of attacking me? Like you did to that Evil Spirit Hunter who came to see you?”

Huh?

She even knows about that?

“…You investigated me?”

“There were too many suspicious things about you. Not just me, but everyone must have done it. Well, they probably all dismissed their suspicions after you received a noble title.”

Amelia continued without giving me a chance to speak.

“But to think you’re really an evil spirit. You’re quite skilled. How did you even get a noble title? Even if the Secret Security Department cleared you, the royal family would have done their own investigation since it’s a title bestowal.”

Uh, there wasn’t an investigation.

But whatever, that’s good.

I could use this.

“Can’t you believe that I got it because I’m not an evil spirit?”

I said confidently, but Amelia immediately refuted me.

“Like I said, only evil spirits don’t lose their memories after taking that pill.”

“It was a defective—”

“That’s impossible.”

Is she being stubborn?

No matter how hard I tried to explain, she wouldn’t listen.

What should I do?

As I was contemplating, Amelia muttered something.

“…Hmm, now that I think about it, the royal family might have known and turned a blind eye. You were practically a hero in the city back then.”

Damn it, what is she talking about?

I wanted to know what she meant, but I held back, knowing that it would be the same as admitting it.

But did my expression betray me?

“You don’t seem to understand.”

“No, not at all. Why would I even be curious about that?”

Amelia chuckled at my denial.

“You’re still not going to admit it, are you?”

“Of course. I’m not an evil spirit.”

“Well, that’s like you. Whatever. It’s not like there’s no solution.”

Amelia then took out a disc the size of a compass from her subspace pocket.

It was an item I couldn’t not know.

‘Crazy, why is that here?’

No. 7234 Distorted Trust.

A consumable item that prevented anyone within a 10-meter radius from lying, and the one that caused all that chaos in the Doppelganger Forest.

“I didn’t see it when you were unpacking at the trading company.”

“I bought it separately when I was living in the city. I thought it might be useful in a city like this. I didn’t expect to use it on you first, though.”

Right, so she had already simulated how to use her cards against me.

“Judging by your expression, it seems like I don’t have to explain what this is. Well, an evil spirit would know, wouldn’t they?”

Click.

Amelia pressed the button on the top of ‘Distorted Trust’.

And she placed it on the nightstand between our beds.

Tick, tick, the second hand started moving.

“Bjorn Yandel, are you an evil spirit?”

Checkmate.

_______________________

A suffocating silence followed.

I desperately racked my brain.

‘…What should I do?’

It wasn’t about whether to reveal that I was an evil spirit or not.

That ship had already sailed when ‘Distorted Trust’ appeared.

‘It’s not a fake.’

Unfortunately, it was the real deal.

I had already tested it as soon as it was activated.

I couldn’t even say a lie like ‘I’m a woman’.

“Five minutes left.”

“…….”

“Are you just going to stay silent?”

The item that made silence itself an answer.

The fact that I was an evil spirit had already been proven.

Therefore, there was only one thing I was contemplating.

‘Should I kill her?’

It was my biggest secret, so even extreme measures seemed tempting.

But…

‘…Don’t be ridiculous.’

I dismissed the thought.

It was impossible to kill her in the first place.

Honestly, it wasn’t like I didn’t have a chance of winning in a 1v1…

…but it would be difficult to chase her if she decided to run away.

And if our relationship soured now, our future plans would be ruined.

‘And besides, she seems like the type who would be a pain in the ass as an enemy.’

Then there was only one option.

It wasn’t a barbarian-like solution, but…

She was a woman who saw things in black and white, so if I didn’t want her to become an enemy, I had to become her friend.

“It’s a waste to just stay silent, so I’ll say something. It’s true that ‘only evil spirits don’t lose their memories after taking that pill’. I didn’t make it up.”

I finally made a decision after a long contemplation.

“…Right, I’m an evil spirit.”

It was my second coming out, after Lee Baekho.

Amelia didn’t seem surprised.

She must have already been certain.

“You have a strange expression.”

“…You wouldn’t understand. How relieved and frustrated I feel right now.”

“I think—”

Amelia suddenly stopped talking.

I didn’t understand at first, but I soon realized what was going on.

‘Distorted Trust’ had blocked her from speaking because it recognized her words as a lie.

“Don’t tell me you were going to say you’re sorry.”

“…….”

Damn it, this is ridiculous.

I was furious, but I barely managed to control myself.

I couldn’t afford to make an enemy out of her.

Now that she knew I was an evil spirit, I had to become her best friend.

Right, so let’s confirm this first.

“But are you okay with it? That I’m an evil spirit?”

“If you’re asking if I have a grudge against evil spirits like the people in the city, the answer is no. I was even on a team with an evil spirit for over a year.”

“…Then why were you so persistent?”

“I was curious.”

This was the second hurdle.

She investigated me, trying to find out something I wanted to hide, just because she was curious?

I was getting angry when…

“…We keep getting involved. So I was curious. If you were hiding anything, if I could trust you.”

…Amelia said so, avoiding my gaze.

Judging by the fact that ‘Distorted Trust’ was activated, it didn’t seem like an empty compliment.

Damn it, this is making it hard for me to be angry—

“Ah, and of course, I also thought it would be useful to have leverage over you so you wouldn’t betray me.”

She shouldn’t have said that.

Well, what can I do? That’s just how she is.

“I have a question.”

“…Go ahead.”

“If you’re an evil spirit, why were you so angry about Yandel Jarku’s death? Was it guilt?”

“That’s…”

I don’t know.

I tried to answer, but I couldn’t speak.

So I just admitted it.

“Yes.”

“Hmm, you’re surprisingly soft-hearted.”

Amelia looked at me with interest.

“Is your goal also to return, like the other evil spirits?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Because of your companions?”

“…….”

“You must have always been sentimental.”

Seriously, why is she so interested in me?

I should change the subject…

Click.

The second hand on ‘Distorted Trust’ stopped moving.

The effect had ended.

‘I can finally breathe.’

I quickly changed the subject.

I had already revealed that I was an evil spirit, whether I liked it or not.

I had to confirm the things I couldn’t ask before.

“Amelia, why were you looking for Auril Gabis?”

“Ah, come to think of it, you must know about him since you’re an evil spirit.”

“Know about him? I even met him recently.”

“You met him?”

“We’ll talk about that later. Answer my question first.”

“…He was there when my sister died.”

“What?”

“I thought he must have been involved somehow. So I wanted to meet him and hear the truth. That’s all.”

Hmm, that’s surprisingly simple.

I thought there would be a bigger secret.

‘No, wait, the fact that the old man was there is valuable information. Maybe I can find out his goal during this trip.’

“So, tell me. Where did you meet him?”

“Do you know about Ghostbusters?”

“If you’re talking about the evil spirit gathering, then yes, to some extent.”

Okay, then there’s less to explain.

“I didn’t think I would be summoned since it’s twenty years ago, but I was summoned in my sleep. I met someone who claimed to be Auril Gabis there.”

I then briefly explained how I was discovered to be from the future.

“The important part is from now on, so listen carefully. That old man said that the past can’t be changed, no matter what we do here.”

“…He said that?”

“Yeah, I couldn’t believe it either, so I tested it. And the result is what I told you back then.”

Dwarkey and Raven.

I tried to change their futures, but it seemed like even those actions were part of causality.

“So I’ll ask again, Amelia.”

“…….”

“Are you still going to try?”

Amelia didn’t answer.

She didn’t even flinch when I mentioned it before.

It seemed like Auril Gabis’ words carried a different weight.

“I’ll try.”

Amelia finally spoke after composing herself.

“It’s too late to give up now.”

Too late…

She’s like someone who bought stocks at the top of a cliff.

“I see. Then I’ll help you.”

I expressed my willingness to help instead of advising her to cut her losses.

She’s surprisingly kind.

If I keep building up her favorability and putting her in debt, she won’t use my weakness against me—

“…I’m tired, so I’m going to sleep first.”

Amelia then ended the conversation and lay down on the bed.

I was a bit flustered.

‘Huh? She’s going to sleep? Isn’t this the time to say thank you?’

I didn’t even expect her to say she was grateful or relieved that I was here, but I didn’t expect her to just lie down without saying anything.

Damn it, this is ruining my plan…

How can I score points?

“Amelia, are you asleep?”

“……?”

“I, I was just wondering if you wanted a massage since you’re tired.”

“…….”

“Ah, right… I guess that would be weird. Sorry for bothering you.”

I lay down on the bed across from her, watching her reaction.

I closed my eyes, but sleep wouldn’t come.

That’s when, as the silence continued…

“What’s your real name?”

…a question suddenly came out of nowhere, and I just answered honestly.

I didn’t know why she was suddenly curious about my real name…

“It’s Lee Hansu. Ah, Lee is the last name.”

…but my real name didn’t really matter now that she knew I was an evil spirit. And refusing to answer could decrease her favorability.

Well, that’s right.

But…

“Hans? So your name is Hans? That’s an unusually common name—”

I couldn’t help but curse.

“What the fuck?”

That was crossing the line.

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