Surviving the Game as a Barbarian Chapter 779: Month 13 (6)

Elwen’s younger sibling was nothing like I expected.

Given that the eldest, Daria, and second-born, Elwen, both had long and sharp features, I naturally assud the third would be similar...

‘...She’s small.’

About 150 centiters tall.

Roughly the sa height as Raven, maybe even shorter—but completely different in mood. Where Raven had a cold presence, this one felt... soft.

She didn’t seem overweight, but her face—more precisely, her baby fat—hadn’t completely faded.

‘...Looks bouncy. She’d probably get mad if I touched her?’

Anyway, that was my first impression of Elwen’s little sister: a tiny girl who could never pass for twenty-one.

“...Your gaze is unpleasant.”

I flinched instinctively.

‘...With that look, and she’s the cold dominatrix type?’

Hard to find that combo in real life. Still, that wasn’t the point right now.

“...H-hey, you can’t just say that. Um, why don’t we start with introductions?”

Elwen’s coaxing words led the small, pouty fairy to reluctantly speak her na.

“...i Forwin di Tersia.”

“I’m Bjorn, son of Yandel. Nice to et you, i.”

“......”

I wondered if she’d complain about calling her by na, but thankfully she didn’t say anything.

Maybe she was minding her manners because I was her sister’s companion?

I didn’t know the details, but as the adult here—and a senior explorer—I decided to get the conversation going.

“i, how many tis have you entered the dungeon?”

“...Four tis. After that, the dungeon was sealed, so I couldn’t go back.”

“That must’ve been frustrating.”

“Not really... It’s not like going into the dungeon is sothing amazing.”

“...Huh?”

Now that was unexpected.

I figured a kid her age would be full of curiosity about exploring, so I thought that’d be a good topic to start with.

But she wasn’t whining—her tone and expression were dead serious.

“Did you... not want to be an explorer?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Isn’t it obvious? You have to sleep in cold, dirty, hard places every day. The food tastes like crap, and like it or not, you’re stuck with other people...”

Well... that’s true.

If you don’t need a lot of money or have so specific goal, there’s really no reason to beco an explorer.

That’s probably why so few nobles pursue the path—

“And the dungeon always takes things away...”

“......”

“I wish it never existed.”

Knowing the history of Elwen’s family, I couldn’t say anything to that quiet grumble from the tiny girl.

“...Haha, still, soone’s got to go in, right? The mana stones we dig up in there are how we get to eat, sleep, wear clothes, and live...”

“I know that.”

“......”

i’s curt tone left Elwen visibly flustered. Watching them, it beca clear—Elwen didn’t know how to deal with this i girl.

Probably because she felt guilty.

But conversation cos with experience.

‘I’ve dealt with plenty of kids like this.’

So, I went with the tried-and-true thod: spark her interest.

You don’t start with distant topics. You pick what she’s most curious about.

“Elwen. Did you ever tell i how the two of us first t?”

“Huh? Oh, just briefly. That... um... you, uh... helped when I was in trouble...”

“...You called Mr. Yandel?”

“Haha... W-what’s wrong? Mr. Yandel?”

Elwen gave an awkward smile.

Didn’t take long to piece things together.

‘She’s embarrassed in front of her little sister.’

Well, I guess the nickna kind of beca a pet na /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ by now.

Besides, this whole eting was to show I wasn’t so weird guy—calling “Ajusshi” here probably wouldn’t help.

“...Is there sothing I don’t know about?”

i spoke up first, curiosity sparked by the idea that there might be stories she hadn’t heard.

“Well, I’m not sure how much she told you... Want to hear it?”

“......”

“I’ll tell you.”

And just like that, things moved quickly.

I started from the first ti I t Elwen and told the rest of our adventures in the most entertaining order.

But at so point, she must’ve noticed the missing gaps.

“...What about the Goblin Forest?”

i asked about a specific episode.

There were many incidents in the Goblin Forest, but she was probably referring to the one where Daria died.

“...It’s okay. I already know the gist of it.”

I glanced at Elwen for permission, and she nodded.

So I calmly shared that story, too.

Longer and more detailed than the rest, but it could all be sumd up in one sentence:

‘Daria saved Elwen and died in her place.’

Unfortunately, that was the end of Barbarian Storyti.

After the tale ended, i was silent for a long ti, and both Elwen and I waited quietly with her.

“If the dungeon didn’t exist... my sister would still be here...”

She finally spoke those words after a long pause.

I nodded sincerely.

“Maybe. That could be true.”

If Daria hadn’t beco an explorer, maybe she wouldn’t have died.

Though then, she wouldn’t have been there to protect Elwen either.

“Why does everyone cling to the dungeon so much...”

i’s next question had a simple answer.

“Because it’s no different than the city.”

“...?”

“We go in because we’re tired of losing. Because the city takes just as much as the dungeon does.”

That’s sothing Daria and Elwen definitely understood.

That’s why they beca explorers.

To stop losing things. To protect what mattered.

“You say you hate it, but isn’t that why you beca an explorer too?”

i didn’t answer.

She had a face that said she understood... but didn’t want to admit it.

‘Well, at that age, it’s hard to even know what you’re feeling.’

That thought crossed my mind—but honestly, I wasn’t in a position to talk.

Even I wasn’t sure what I was feeling these days.

I chuckled softly and gave i a bit of advice.

“i Forwin di Tersia.”

“......”

“The dungeon will reopen soon. You should go in again. You’ll learn that it’s not always a place that only takes.”

Her answer ca only after a long pause.

“Do you really... think so...?”

I replied without a shred of hesitation.

“I’m sure of it.”

Because that’s what it had been for .

***

As we kept chatting about this and that, spending ti together, I started to get a better sense of what kind of relationship Elwen and i had.

“Should I bring so more snacks? I actually have so from a famous shop in the city—”

“No thanks, I’m fine, sis.”

Every ti Elwen awkwardly tried to do sothing nice, i would awkwardly try to avoid receiving it.

Definitely not what you’d call a warm family dynamic.

‘...Frustrating.’

It was clear they cared about each other—so why did they act like strangers?

Even I was getting exasperated, but there wasn’t much I could do.

I didn’t have the experience to give advice on family matters.

‘No need to butt in. Just observe.’

So I stuck to that stance, kept the conversation pleasant, and let ti pass.

Knock knock knock.

A visitor arrived.

“i, are you inside?”

A refined male voice with a familiar tone.

“Ah, Uncle...!”

i imdiately jumped up and went to open the door, while Elwen watched with an awkward smile.

She knew it, too.

That reaction was completely different from how i treated her.

“i, have you been well?”

“Oh co on, it’s not like I’ve been gone long.”

“Haha... Even a few hours is enough to worry.”

The fairy man, who gave i a fatherly smile while patting her head, looked over at and greeted politely.

“It’s been a while, Bjorn Yandel.”

A familiar face.

“It has, Beleg Shusia di Tersia.”

An explorer considered a hero among the fairies—and Elwen’s maternal uncle.

We’d briefly t once during a racial summit.

“I heard you ca with Elwen... I figured you might be here.”

“Were you looking for ?”

“Among other reasons. I’d have co even if you weren’t here. My precious niece has returned ho, after all. Elwen, how have you been lately?”

“I’ve been... okay.”

“That’s good. May I sit?”

“Suit yourself. I’m not the one who lives here.”

I shrugged, and Beleg chuckled as he sat across from .

Then—

“I heard what happened in town on the way here.”

That made my shoulders twitch involuntarily.

After all, this man was Elwen’s uncle.

“I understand what you ant by it... but did you have to go that far?”

“......I’ve got no excuse.”

“Uncle, I said it was fine—no, I’m actually grateful.”

I hung my head in sha, and Elwen stepped in to defend .

As a barbarian tank, I rarely got to feel what it was like to be protected by soone else.

“...What happened?”

i blinked wide-eyed, but none of us dared answer.

Maybe that annoyed her.

“I’m going out for a bit. You two talk.”

With that, i left the house, and things settled down for now.

“...She’s a good kid.”

“She really is. And she follows her sister’s lead well.”

“I was talking about Elwen.”

“Ah...?”

“So please treat her well. Even if you explain it a thousand tis, a closed marriage prospect won’t open again. So have so responsibility—”

“U-uncle...! What are you saying?!”

“Elwen, no matter what you think, I’m still your and i’s guardian. I have to say what needs to be said, don’t I?”

I had nothing to say to that.

Only one thing ca to mind.

“...You’re right.”

“Can I assu you understood what I ant?”

“O-of course.”

“Good. Don’t take it the wrong way. Think of it as the concern of an adult who cares for Elwen.”

All I could do was nod silently, but thankfully, Beleg didn’t press the issue any further. The conversation turned casual again.

“Beleg, while I’ve got you here, I wanted to ask sothing. Has public opinion really turned that badly since Elwen left the Pureblood Order?”

“...I can’t even lie and say it’s good. So of the things coming out of the elders’ mouths...”

“You must’ve done a lot to help. I appreciate it.”

“I just did what needed to be done.”

“I’d like to help too, from now on. Could you tell more about the fairy political structure?”

“Hmm... Sure. You’re not exactly an outsider anymore.”

“......”

There were a few subtle digs sprinkled in his words, but still—our conversation was productive.

I now had a general idea of what to do to improve Elwen’s standing.

When I got back, I’d need to plan out the details—

“Elwen, would you step outside for a mont?”

...Huh?

“There’s sothing I want to discuss privately with the Baron. Just for a mont.”

“Okay...”

Just as things were wrapping up, Beleg sent Elwen out of the room.

Naturally, that made tense.

He’d been blunt enough to drop the “take responsibility” bomb in front of her—what on earth was he planning to say now that she was gone?

“...So? You said you wanted to talk?”

I asked cautiously, and after a brief hesitation, Beleg ca right out with it.

“Baron, I heard... that you possess the Resurrection Stone.”

...That was not the topic I’d expected.