Surviving the Game as a Barbarian

Amelia was a strong woman.

It wasn’t because she could use Aura and had several high-grade essences. I had never seen her afraid of anything.

But now…

“…….”

…she was trembling.

She shouldn’t be afraid of anyone, no matter who her father in that kitchen was.

‘Is it trauma?’

It wasn’t something I couldn’t understand.

I had a similar experience.

I couldn’t ride a car for years, even though I knew it was safe, and I would wake up in the middle of the night and search the entire building if I smelled smoke.

It was engraved in my subconscious, regardless of my will.

Thwack!

That it was dangerous.

“…Are you okay?”

Amelia didn’t answer my question.

So I grabbed her trembling wrist.

“Emily.”

She finally came to her senses and answered.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you… What did you say?”

“I asked if you were okay.”

“…….”

Right, so you’re not okay.

Amelia spoke again after the noise from the kitchen subsided.

“…I showed you something unpleasant.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

I didn’t see anything.

Even if I did, I wouldn’t have thought it was unpleasant.

“Phew, those bitches make me so angry.”

The man then emerged from the kitchen.

He had a sturdy build, but he was only about 170 centimeters tall.

And contrary to my expectations, he had a very ordinary face.

“Owner, you were a bit too harsh today, weren’t you?”

“Harsh? They’re ungrateful bitches. Enough with the depressing talk, let’s drink.”

The man sat down at a regular’s table and started chatting and drinking, and Amelia watched him from the corner for a long time before speaking.

“That man was my foster father.”

“Foster father?”

“It’s a common story here. Children who lose their parents need a place to stay, and there are many people in the city who are willing to take them in.”

“Many people…”

I could already guess the reason.

It wouldn’t be out of some noble motive, like wanting to provide a home for orphaned children.

Amelia clearly said it was a ‘common story’.

And common stories are usually hyperrealistic.

“It’s a kind of symbiotic relationship. The children receive protection until they’re old enough to work, and the foster parents get cheap labor.”

All rights to adopted children belonged to the foster parents in this city, and those rights were absolute.

At least until the children grew up.

They couldn’t even kill their foster parents or run away. It would set a precedent. They would be labeled as ungrateful and face retaliation from others.

“…I see.”

“But my sister and I were better off. We were healthy and rarely got sick. So we were able to stay together.”

“How old were you back then?”

“Five. My sister was three years older than me.”

She said it wasn’t that bad at first.

Unlike when they were with their injured and weakened father in the labyrinth, they received proper meals and weren’t cold.

Well, they were still made to do chores, even at that young age…

“But it wasn’t that hard. Everyone lived like that. I even thought I was lucky to have my sister to rely on.”

Amelia thought back then…

…that their lives would begin when they grew up.

“But it didn’t go well.”

“…It was all because of me.”

It happened when Amelia was nine years old.

A drunkard tried to strangle her while she was helping out at the bar.

Because she spilled food on him.

“My sister stepped in.”

Amelia’s sister saw it and ran to the kitchen. She grabbed a kitchen knife and then slowly approached the drunkard from behind and slit his carotid artery.

“I found out later that no one in the bar, not even the explorers, sensed her approaching him.”

But the drunkard didn’t die that day.

He was treated with a potion in time. But the incident revealed a young girl’s talent to the world.

“Someone from the Lord’s faction came the next day. They said they would cover up the incident if we handed her over.”

Surprisingly, her foster father refused.

And he used all his money to pay the drunkard’s medical bills and apologize, resolving the situation himself.

He did that for one reason.

It was the rational choice.

“My sister became a ‘runner’ from that day onwards.”

He judged that…

…he could earn much more money if he raised her properly since she was talented.

“Indeed, she was talented. She started receiving a share of the loot after just a year in a looting team.”

Her foster father then thought…

…that Amelia might also be talented since they were sisters.

“I also became a ‘runner’ soon after and was practically sold to a looting team. And I was also acknowledged for my talent.”

Amelia briefly glossed over the rest of the story, and I didn’t pry further.

I could imagine what kind of life the Rainwales sisters had lived as ‘runners’.

They must have endured.

Relying on each other as the only family they had left.

“Anyway, that’s how my sister and I ended up in the Necromancer’s faction, and we’re still working at this bar while we’re in the city.”

Amelia finished her story, having explained her childhood and adolescence.

“So, are you satisfied now?”

“Yeah, it’s enough.”

I had already heard the rest when we were making plans.

The sisters’ hopes of being free when they became adults were crushed…

Clench.

…by a common tragedy.

_____________________

Time passed, and it was past noon, and the number of people entering the bar gradually increased.

“……Um.”

A young girl approached our table.

She was in her early teens, with red hair and long curls.

She had a bruise on her face, and her hair was messy, as if she was trying to hide it.

“Would you like more drinks…?”

It was something the staff usually said if you stayed at a bar for too long.

It meant to order more or leave.

“…….”

Amelia couldn’t even look her in the eye and avoided her gaze.

I could understand.

“What’s your name?”

“…Amelia Rainwales.”

Right, it must be awkward to face her younger self.

She knew what was going to happen, so she must be feeling guilty.

“Let’s go.”

Amelia tried to leave, but I stopped her.

“Wait a minute.”

I couldn’t miss this opportunity to see Baby Amelia.

“Kid, how old are you?”

“Thirteen…”

Oh, thirteen twenty years ago…

“So you’re thirty-four.”

Amelia glared at me as I muttered. It seemed like she was annoyed that her personal information was revealed.

“Thirty-four…?”

Baby Amelia looked confused, but she maintained a bright expression.

“That’s how you smiled.”

“Yes?”

“Ah, I was just saying you should smile more often. It looks good on you.”

“Ah, okay…”

Unlike Adult Amelia, who had a sullen expression, Baby Amelia looked flustered.

So I stopped teasing her.

“Alright, we’re leaving now, so bring us the bill.”

“Okay!”

I quickly paid and left the bar, worried that I might not be able to handle the consequences if I stayed any longer.

And as soon as we returned to the inn…

“…Maybe you were right.”

…Amelia muttered bitterly.

“What do you mean?”

“I remembered something. We had a similar conversation before.”

Ah, so that was why she was making that expression.

I thought she was mad at me.

“Amelia.”

“Emily.”

“Ahem, right, Emily. Want a drink?”

I said so and took out some alcohol from my subspace pocket.

It was all from the looters.

“No, thank you. It’s pointless for me to drink anyway.”

“Because of your essences?”

“Yes.”

In short, it meant that she couldn’t get drunk because of her high Poison Resistance and Mental Resistance.

“Then why did you drink at the bar?”

“Because… it would be suspicious if I didn’t drink at a bar.”

“You’re contradicting yourself.”

“What?”

“Don’t be so serious. What’s so hard about having a drink? I’m lonely drinking alone.”

Amelia asked as I poured myself a drink,

“…Why do you even want to drink?”

“We still have things to talk about.”

Geez, do you think I would really be doing this just to drink?

Although I had heard a lot about her childhood at the bar…

…I had something else I wanted to ask.

After all, we had already come out to each other.

“Things to talk about?”

“What are you pretending not to know? We don’t have any secrets anymore.”

“…Don’t act friendly. It’s disgusting.”

“Really? Then I won’t, so tell me. You didn’t tell me anything about ‘Nibels Enche’ when we were making plans. I also heard about Auril Gabis being there for the first time yesterday.”

Amelia had refused to communicate with me back then.

She cooperated, but she didn’t want to share everything and rely on each other.

But judging by how she even told me about her past today, it seemed like I had gained her trust to some extent.

“What would change even if I told you? You think we can’t change anything anyway.”

Uh, that’s true.

I still thought the same way.

But…

“You said yesterday that it was too late to give up.”

“…I didn’t cry.”

Geez, just let it slide.

“Did you? Anyway, I’m going to help you seriously since you’re not giving up.”

“So that I’ll help you?”

“Well, I’m not saying it’s not part of the reason.”

“So there’s another reason?”

I answered honestly.

“I want to put you in debt.”

Amelia looked confused.

“…Why?”

There were countless reasons.

First, Amelia knew my weakness.

I had to put her in debt to silence her.

And she was strong.

She also seemed to have a good heart and a lot of experience, so she was reliable in some ways.

So, in short…

“Honestly, our first meeting wasn’t great, but I like you.”

“…What?”

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. I don’t mean I like you romantically.”

“I didn’t misunderstand.”

“That’s good.”

Ahem, I cleared my throat and continued.

“Anyway, I know what kind of person you are now. You always try to repay your debts. So if possible, I also want to save your sister. You’ll do me a favor if I do that.”

“A, a favor? No, what kind of favor are you thinking of…?”

Amelia looked at me with wary eyes and stepped back.

Damn it, is she scared of me?

This is going to cause a misunderstanding.

“Amelia Rainwales.”

I took a step closer and spoke.

I wasn’t originally planning to reveal my greed this early…

But it wouldn’t hurt to mark my territory.

“If I succeed in saving your sister and resolve all the restrictions even after we return to our original time…”

“…Resolve the restrictions?”

“Then join my clan.”

Damn right, quests should have rewards.

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