Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Rules of Survival (4)

Rules of Survival (4)

7th day, afternoon.

In other words, it’s been over 80 hours since we were separated from the dwarf’s group and became stranded in this damn forest.

“…….”

I’m still here.

Silently wandering through the forest, staring blankly at the increasingly shitty auditory and visual hallucinations.

It’s a change that happened after the first day of being lost.

“…….”

I’ve stopped speaking except for when absolutely necessary.

It’s not because we’re on bad terms or anything.

It’s just that we don’t have the energy left to do so.

Ah, there’s one more change.

“…….”

I tied myself to Misha with a rope.

We look like dried fish strung together on a rope.

It’s a technique I learned naturally after spending a long time in the Witch’s Forest.

This way, even if one of us falls behind or gets separated, we can find each other by following the rope.

“Bjorn… please go a little slower, slower…”

“Alright.”

I slow down.

Misha’s condition deteriorated rapidly this morning.

It’s not that she’s sick or her injuries have worsened.

It’s just that her fatigue has reached its limit.

Thud, thud.

I’ve slowed down, but I keep feeling a pull from my waist.

Can’t she even keep up at this speed?

After a brief contemplation, I stop walking.

“Get on my back.”

“……?”

“You’ll feel a bit better if you get some sleep.”

“Bu, but…”

Misha looks at me and trails off.

Well, it must look ridiculous.

Honestly, I look several times worse than her.

‘I look like a beggar.’

The cloth clothes I’m wearing under the armor are torn and riddled with holes, and the metal equipment is also covered in corrosion marks.

It’s all a side effect of awakening Misha.

The passive skill of the ‘Corpse Golem’, which I had sealed away by removing the Frost Spirit Ring, has been activated.

And since minor injuries are commonplace during battles with monsters, my current appearance is the result of acidic blood splattering every time.

‘Just the repair costs will be astronomical.’

I smile bitterly.

The Laetium breastplate and shield, which are made of 2nd-tier materials, are still in relatively good condition, but they’ve long lost their original pristine white luster.

But did she misunderstand something while looking at my smile?

Misha speaks with concern.

“I, I’m fine. You should rest instead. I’ll carry you!”

I appreciate the sentiment, but…

Is that realistically possible?

“Enough, come here.”

I refuse to argue further and grab Misha’s waist, lifting her up.

I can feel her weakness from her light weight.

She doesn’t even have the strength to resist.

“If there’s a problem, I’ll wake you up, so get some rest until then.”

“But…”

“Tsk.”

“…Thank you.”

Misha, who is slung over my shoulder, finally accepts the situation without resistance.

But she must not be able to fall asleep right away…

She speaks to me in a small voice.

“Bjorn.”

“What is it?”

“…You know…”

“Speak.”

“Hmph, you smell nice…”

You smell nice, so what?

Finish your sentence.

I’m suddenly curious about what she was going to say, but…

Well, she must have been dreaming or something.

There’s no way a body that’s been covered in blood and sweat for days and hasn’t been washed would smell nice.

I can’t help but smile as I hear her rhythmic breathing soon after.

Smirk.

Right, I told you, you guys are all just full!

No matter how many hallucinations you see or hear, if you’re really tired, you’ll fall asleep anywhere.

That’s how the human body is designed.

You have to survive no matter the environment.

‘Then let’s keep going.’

I continue walking through the forest with Misha on my back.

I desperately want to put her down and rest together…

But I can’t.

「84 hours have passed since entering the Witch’s Forest.」

「Field effect - Witch’s Forest is strengthened.」

「Status effect [Witch’s Eye] is upgraded to level 5.」

The field debuff [Witch’s Eye].

It’s the real reason why the Witch’s Forest is considered a place to just pass through.

The effect is simple.

If you stay in one place for a certain amount of time, the 7th-grade monster ‘Cannibalo’ will definitely appear, and that ‘certain amount of time’ gradually decreases as the level increases.

On the first day, it was about an hour.

And now…

‘It’s about 10 minutes.’

It’s practically reached the point where we have to keep moving.

And the problem is that there are only two of us.

Even if a Cannibalo appears, there’s no one to block it, and if it shows up now, we’re half dead.

Even when we had stamina, it took over 15 minutes to kill one.

Theoretically, another one will appear before we can even finish off the first one.

Thud, thud.

That’s why I’m walking right now.

I feel like I’m going to die from exhaustion, but I have to keep walking.

Otherwise, I might actually die.

‘Still, since they haven’t shown up yet, can I stop worrying about those guys?’

Thinking about other things is the best when things are tough.

I finish one thought and bring up another topic.

It’s been four days since we got lost in the Witch’s Forest.

If Elisa and her group had any way of finding us, they would have done so by now.

I think it’s safe to let my guard down now.

‘That’s one less thing to worry about.’

I don’t know why they can’t find us.

But if I had to guess…

Something must have happened to them too.

Just like how Misha and I are stranded here alone.

Life is a bitch because you never know what’s going to happen.

Anyway, after avoiding mobs for a while, how long have we been wandering around?

Hmm, it feels like at least an hour.

[Oppa, why are you just letting her go?]

I raise my head at the familiar auditory hallucination.

[You fulfilled her lifelong wish, she’ll fall for you if you just seduce her a little?]

A woman appears next to a tree and stares at me intently.

A white blouse and a suit skirt.

And her characteristically arrogant and prickly tone.

…It’s my ex-girlfriend.

[Are you afraid of being abandoned again?]

Phew, damn it…

Most of the hallucinations until now were obviously fake, but this one is different.

I feel like I could even feel her body temperature if I reached out and touched her.

[Oh my, how lewd.]

What is she talking about?

Since it’s based on my memories, even her actions are the same as hers.

[That’s your problem, oppa. You always try to know everything.]

‘I admit that.’

The fear of ignorance is an instinct that all living beings have.

[But isn’t that too much? You don’t try to tell me anything.]

‘That was the same for you.’

[Yes? What is there that you don’t know about me? You know me better than I know myself, even the nooks and crannies of my body?]

My gaze involuntarily moves at her coquettish voice.

There’s one change in the visual aspect.

“…….”

The white blouse and short suit skirt are the same as before.

But she’s now wearing black stockings on her long legs.

They were flesh-colored earlier.

[Your tastes are consistent.]

Damn it, is this who I am?

[Leave that beast girl and come here. You should just stay with me, oppa. The others can’t even understand you, right?]

Uh, is that so?

My feet move forward involuntarily.

That’s when…

[I’ll make you feel good—]

The face of my ex-girlfriend, who was smiling and opening her arms as if to embrace everything, distorts grotesquely.

Not a metaphor, but literally.

Thwack-!

A fist connects, and her facial muscles are mashed like rice cake.

Misha, who should be on my shoulder, is punching my ex-girlfriend’s face.

Repeatedly, as befits an agility-based character.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

What is this? Is this also a hallucination?

I stare blankly at the scene as if I’m dreaming.

However…

[Kyaaaaaak!!!]

A sound like nails on a chalkboard brings me back to reality.

Misha, who has beaten my ex-girlfriend to a pulp, returns and grabs my waist, shaking me.

“Are you alright! Bjorn!”

“Uh, uh…”

“I took care of the Dryad, so come to your senses!”

What? Dryad?

That 8th-grade monster that rarely appears in the Witch’s Forest and uses the [Charm] skill?

No wonder the hallucination was so vivid.

「Killed Dryad. EXP +2」

「Status effect [Charm] is removed.」

I understand the situation in an instant.

It wasn’t a field effect, but I was under the effect of a skill.

“…Thank you. I would have been in big trouble if it weren’t for you.”

I readily express my gratitude.

But at that moment…

“Hmph, that’s only natural—”

Misha freezes and points to one spot.

“Uh? Bjo, Bjorn? It, it seems like the big trouble has already happened…”

I involuntarily nod as I confirm the spot she pointed to.

“…It seems so.”

It’s already been 10 minutes since I was under the effect of [Charm].

From the edge of the bushes over there, the 7th-grade monster Cannibalo is slowly walking towards us.

“I’ll, kill, you…”

Its eyes gleam with killing intent.

______________________________

Cannibalo.

It’s a 7th-grade monster that only appears in the Witch’s Forest.

It’s classified as a humanoid undead and possesses a fairly high level of intelligence.

The problem is that it uses its intelligence solely for killing people.

“Blo, od, and, fle, sh… Gi, ve, me.”

The Cannibalo aims its crossbow at us.

Its protruding fangs are glistening with saliva, as if it’s already salivating. Well, even if I’m not, I, as a barbarian, must look quite appetizing.

Although I might be a bit tough because of my low body fat percentage.

“Misha, get behind me.”

“A, alright!”

I first send Misha to the back and then block the space between us with my shield.

Once we’ve been encountered, running away is impossible.

Cannibalos have a habit of relentlessly pursuing their chosen prey.

In fact, their fighting style is also similar to that of hunters.

「Cannibalo has cast [Mana Mine].」

It sets traps around us.

They’re traps that are invisible to our eyes, and a powerful explosion occurs when you approach them.

Therefore, it’s difficult to close the distance recklessly.

And in the meantime…

「Cannibalo has cast [Tracking Arrow].」

Arrows fly towards us.

They’re arrows with power incomparable to those of goblin archers and have a high accuracy bonus.

Therefore, it’s more effective to block them than to dodge.

Like this.

Clang!

I receive the directly-aimed arrow at an angle and deflect it to the side.

Last time, while I was blocking arrows, Misha threw stones around to destroy the mines.

But…

‘We don’t have time for that now.’

We need to defeat it within 10 minutes.

Otherwise, another one will appear.

And that process will repeat itself.

Until we die.

Therefore, there’s only one option left.

“Misha, get on my back.”

“What are you talking about?”

Misha, who was picking up stones to throw, tilts her head.

But there’s no time to explain.

“It seems like I’ll have to push myself this time. So do as I say.”

When I speak firmly, Misha gets on my back.

Immediately, I cover my head and upper body with my shield and charge forward.

Kwakwakwang-!

The mines that were scattered nearby explode with every step I take, but…

I keep running.

“Wh, what are you doing?!”

Misha is shocked by my actions, but honestly, it’s nothing special from my perspective.

I’ve overcome most of the dangers since waking up in this barbarian’s body by tanking with my body.

This time is no different.

In the worst-case scenario, this is the only option I can choose.

Kwakwakwang-!

The pain pierces through my Pain Resistance.

I can feel my legs getting mangled with every explosion.

「Cannibalo has summoned [Hounds].」

In the meantime, summoned wild dogs charge at us.

And they bite into my arms, shoulders, thighs, legs, and so on, shaking their jaws.

Kwakwakwang-!

Even so, I don’t stop.

I deflect the incoming arrows.

I use [Flesh Explosion] to shake off the wild dogs clinging to me.

And I keep moving forward.

Then at some point…

Kwakwang-!

The tenth mine explodes, and my body suddenly loses strength.

I try to find my balance by taking another step, but I soon realize it’s futile.

‘This is fucking disgusting.’

The lower part of my legs can no longer be called feet.

Maybe mashed-up lumps of meat.

‘Well, since I’ve come this far, she’ll take care of it.’

The moment I realize that I can’t charge any further…

I throw Misha, who was on my back, far away.

“Go finish it.”

There’s no response.

But Misha’s movements as she leaps into the air speak for her.

Thump-!

Misha, while in mid-air, performs an agile somersault and thrusts her spear into the Cannibalo’s shoulder, not its head.

Thump-!

It’s a mistake due to her lack of spear proficiency.

However, Misha uses the spear shaft as a pivot and spins her body, pulling out the dagger she was carrying at her waist and plunging it into the creature’s forehead.

And the time it took for all of this…

‘It can’t be more than 5 minutes, even if we’re being generous.’

Anyway, we’ve overcome one crisis.

_______________________________________

Satisfied with that fact, I collapse to the ground.

_______________________________________

「Warning: A part of the character’s body has been damaged. If not treated soon, it may lead to permanent injury.」

After the battle ends…

Misha rushes over.

And she shouts at me,

“Bjorn!! What were you thinking doing something like that?!”

Her face is filled with anger and seems like she’s about to cry.

I answer briefly,

“It was the method with the highest chance of success.”

There was no other choice.

And what Misha needs to do now is not scold or worry about me.

“If that explanation is enough, could you give me a potion?”

Misha’s eyes widen as I, with my legs mangled, lying on the ground, give a nonchalant order.

But it seems like my request has registered in her head, as she pours a potion with trembling hands.

Sizzle.

It’s a high-grade potion that costs a whopping 200,000 stones per bottle.

It’s a must-have consumable that can even heal injuries like severed limbs, as befits its expensive price.

However, Misha still looks worried.

“Ev, even with a potion, it won’t fully heal…”

Well, I don’t think so.

「Character’s regeneration is greatly increased due to the [Immortal] effect.」

Undying Engraving.

The high natural regeneration stat of the vampire essence.

And the active skill [Immortal].

In game terms, my natural regeneration stat is already well over 150.

Even without a high-grade potion, I could recover from injuries like severed limbs if I had enough time.

In the first place, I wouldn’t have done such a crazy thing if I didn’t have this ability.

“Wh, what the…?! Th, there’s no way it would heal this quickly…”

Misha is shocked as she sees my wounds healing rapidly with the potion’s effect.

Well, it’s a natural reaction since she thinks I only have the Corpse Golem essence.

The mangled legs heal in less than a minute.

Unfortunately, I’m barefoot.

‘Should I have taken off my boots before running? I could have sold them for 150,000 stones.’

A high-grade potion and boots…

It’s a huge loss for just one 7th-grade monster.

But there’s nothing I can do about it now.

I open my backpack, put on the leather boots I was originally wearing, and slowly get up.

Alright, the feeling in my toes seems normal.

“Bjorn, what the hell are you?! It’s one thing that you don’t feel pain even after pouring a potion…!”

“It’s the barbarian’s mental strength.”

This is true.

Even Ainar didn’t make a sound when she drank a potion.

For me, it’s purely because of Pain Resistance, but…

Well, as long as the result is the same, that’s how the world works.