Bjorn Yandel the Barbarian

An old man slowly approaches the center and touches the monument as if sweeping it with his hand.

[In honor of the great first step of the last great sage Diplan Groundel Gabrielius]

A monument made to commemorate the achievements of a great hero a long time ago.

“…Now we’re almost there.”

The old man, who had muttered very quietly, soon withdrew his hand from the monument.

Then, he pulled out a book from his pocket.

Whoa-!

A book that defies gravity and floats in the air without the need for a stand.

[Governor’s Chong Hae-rok I]

The book with such a title went through the pages, and I reached the last chapter before I knew it.

[……The pilgrim, who broke his faith in the fear of his heart and ran away for his life, finally faced it. Where they fled from fear, a greater fear remained.]

[The fear that no one is around now.]

[The fear of solitude covered the pilgrim without realizing it. It was a fear that could not be escaped. Anger and hatred towards oneself ruined the pilgrim’s body and soul. Even Mother Earth’s care could not save the pilgrim.]

[As the pilgrim’s soul disappeared, new powers and powers were possessed within him. Such a mere human possessed the cursed power.]

[Those who spread fear and hate faith. It was the birth of Dreadfear, the Lord of Terror.]

Took.

The opened book was immediately closed.

It was an old story that no one remembers anymore, buried in time.

***

“Is it… just stabbing one person…?”

I was breathless at Versil’s question.

I wanted to scold him loudly, asking what kind of bullshit he was talking about, but there was nothing I could do as my whole body was stiff.

“Of course. One. If you kill just one, our empire will accept you again.”

A response from a guy who seemed happy somewhere.

Soon, Versil opened her mouth with a trembling voice.

I wondered if he was trying to lessen his guilt by saying he was sorry, but the words that came out were completely different from what I expected.

“Now… I think I know for sure. Mr. Yandel…… You doubted me earlier…?”

doubt?

no, what the hell is this?

“I have more abilities. Other than hiding and healing wounds…” ”

……. ”

I feel it more clearly than before.”

Nimiral.

I never thought there would be such a device.

“Tersia… was the same. He doubted me and thought about killing me first. He didn’t end up doing that, but it probably wasn’t because he trusted me.”

“…….”

“Of course, Mr. Freneline is the only one who never sent me any doubts.”

As Versil’s voice continues, my heart beats like crazy.

ruined.

this can’t be stopped

I wonder what I should say to make him change his mind, but he can’t even say anything because his mouth is blocked.

pounding-!

Despair that I didn’t have until Dreadfear used an aura and cast a wide-area stun filled me.

“Of course I understand. You’d have a hard time believing me. I’m not like you, I have an old ties.”

Soon, Versil’s hand holding the dagger stopped shaking.

“……So I decided to do it.”

“…….”

“If I don’t do it, someone else will do it first.”

Nimiral.

“…….”

I closed my eyes.

Even so, the thoughts were constantly repeated.

What should I do? What can I do now to prevent a disaster?

…there was no such thing as that.

I couldn’t stand it any longer.

Even when I sealed all the equipment and essence I had worked hard to collect and threw it out as a boss mob, I did not admit that there would be a way.

‘Fuck.’

Unreasonable.

This is so absurd.

It’s not like you’re killed by a monster because you lack strength, or you didn’t make a big mistake or didn’t complete your goal within the set time.

“Prick it, pilgrim. Prove your innocence by washing the dagger with dirty blood.”

That someone has to die like this?

Don’t you even have a chance to persuade with words?

Swoop.

Soon after, Bersil rose from her seat.

Then he came to me and bowed his head.

It was only then that I could see the expression he was doing properly.

“Mr. Yandel…….”

A look that made him cry at any moment.

“At this rate, the attack will fail, right?”

Yes, that’s what I decided.

I couldn’t see any way to break it, so I guess you decided to survive and get out by yourself.

Squeak.

The moment you close your eyes.

“So, don’t go all out.”

A soft hand caressed his cheek.

‘…huh?’

When I opened my eyes again, I saw Versil holding a dagger to my throat. An angle that would not be visible to the Dreadfear on its back.

“I’ve made the wrong choices many times.”

no wait.

“This is obvious, I’m smart that anyone else would have acted the same.”

I tried to open my mouth, but I couldn’t.

“I thought so, but it always turned out badly.”

Versil removed her hand from touching my cheek.

“This time I don’t want to make the same mistake again.”

No, then you just need to stay still.

Maybe that’s the strategy for this situation.

Why did you make this decision?

I didn’t understand it at all.

But…

“I told you. If I don’t do it, someone else will eventually.”

I came to terms with that one word.

“But this seems like a concept that no one should ever betray.”

Pooh-!

It was we who pushed her on the back.

***

「The first pilgrim has died.」

「All surviving pilgrims gain +400.」

***

Tuk.

A body that lost its strength and collapsed on the cold floor.

Seeing this, the guy briefly recited his impressions.

“……It was a stupid bitch.”

At that word, blood rushed to his head.

My head was blank.

The feeling that something in my head picks and makes a sound and goes off at the slightest touch.

‘Really……’

Dead…?

As if you had drunk alcohol to the limit, something jumped up inside you.

Beep-beep-

His voice was heard through the tinnitus.

“I’ll give you one more chance.”

Soon, black haze began to flow from his body.

「The centurion Dreadfear cast [Time of Execution]

.

」

In that it paralyzes reason and makes normal thinking impossible.

“…….”

“…….”

The vital signs of the body that sensed the crisis frantically sounded the alarm bell, and only the thought of wanting to run away from this place was occupied in my head.

[Run away.]

Someone kept whispering in my ear.

But even in the midst of that, this thought came to me first.

“Take it.”

What if Versil had made a different choice?

Still, could we trust each other and ignore that dagger until the end?

‘perhaps.’

She may have made that decision because she was concerned about the situation.

Always look at the creator’s intentions first.

Like a player of [Dungeon and Stone].

Squeak.

The blood staining the floor flows, forming a puddle.

And…

Geeing!

The moment the flowing blood touched the statue.

“An unknown being embraces the noble pilgrim’s soul.”

“The altar is activated.”

The entire cave vibrates as if a crack had opened.

Deed Deed Deed!

A group of lights began to emanate from the stone statue.

“The light of trust drives away the fear that dwells inside.”

At the same time, the aura that restrained the body was removed.

Tadat.

Immediately, he grabbed the dropped weapon and stood up.

He only made an annoyed expression when he saw us like that, but he didn’t look wary.

“Do you think that would change anything?”

well i don’t know yet

Because I’m sure I passed one pattern.

‘What kind of skills do you have?’

Thinking back on it, it was a truly disgusting skill.

To make them believe that they can return alive if they betray their comrades with just one word, ‘believe’?

It’s okay to tease people.

“It’s not too late now. There is only one way for you to get out of this cave alive. The only way is to prove your innocence.”

What are you saying now, who believes that?

“Your strength has returned to some extent.”

okay? Fortunately, it looks like I’m not the only one who received the buff.

“Take Einar Versil.”

“……i get it.”

The time when Einar collected the body of his colleague without saying anything.

He quickly closed the distance and swung his sword.

wheeik.

It was a swift blow that was incomparable to the imperial soldiers who had come this far.

But is it because the altar is activated and the physical ability has increased significantly? It was not too difficult to check the trajectory with the naked eye.

‘Legs…….’

Judging from the fact that he doesn’t aim for the neck or the heart, it seems that he still hasn’t given up on the idea of continuing the game of betrayal…

Ta dat!

Instead of blocking the aura with a shield, jump high up to avoid the sword.

And hit him in the temple with a mace.

This quick movement was unexpected, so he couldn’t avoid it.

Poo-!

But this kid is tough.

I think it will be difficult to win even in this state.

In fact, the reason why I hit him this time was because I was aiming for a gap where I was careless.

Yes, that’s why…….

‘Not now…….’

He shouted, enduring the desire that erupted like an active volcano.

“Something jump out!”

Judgment that now is not the time to confront head-on.

Thanks to the greatly increased stats, the Imperial soldiers who were besieging the common area were no longer a problem.

“Ughhhhhh!”

The soldiers who could not block Einar’s rush like a rhinoceros and collapsed like autumn leaves.

I hurriedly followed him out of the cavity.

“Get out of the way!”

The one who had been hit hard hurriedly came to his senses and began to pursue.

The movement speed is…

‘A little faster than us.’

In other words, if this state is maintained, it means that it is 100% caught.

Something has to be arranged.

So I thought and thought, running as hard as I could until he caught up right behind me.

Why did my stats suddenly go up?

Is it just a buff given thanks to the altar being activated?

No, maybe there are other conditions.

‘What are the clearing conditions in the first place?’

Is it hide-and-seek?

Well, maybe if you run away from him, your stats will rise and eventually you will become strong enough to catch that bastard.

I’m not sure about anything, but once I set a goal.

“…Where should I go?”

“Get out of the cave.”

Leaving this cave.

It was judged that maybe activating the altar and escaping might be the condition for clearing it…

but this wasn’t easy either.

“…Uncle, I can’t keep running away like this.”

If the status quo continues, it will catch up soon.

Einar and Erwen gave their opinions one by one.

“Let’s fight Bjorn. We must avenge the wizard!”

“No. Even the three of us can’t win. I’ll try luring them out.”

To fight and to use bait.

It’s certainly not bad, but…

“…Good. I’ll stay and lure it in instead.”

“No. I have to do it. I think it’s possible if I move alone… In fact, I have the ability I’ve had since I started.”

“ability?”

“I can feel where everyone is. I didn’t know what kind of ability it was until we met there, but…”

Is it like the power of a guide to detect portals?

First of all, with that ability, it would be easy to join even after luring them in…

“Believe me, I’m the right person.”

What should I do?

what would be the best choice?

As always, the time given was fleeting and I had to make a decision.

“……Don’t get hurt.”

After hearing my answer, Erwen did not respond.

I just smiled as if to say don’t worry and slowly slowed down.

***

“Heogheogheog…….”

Breathing as regularly as possible, I take a step forward. It was about two hours after I broke up with Erwen.

‘Suddenly it’s halfway through……’

From the entrance to the center of the cave, it took almost 8 hours to cover more than half of the distance in two hours.

‘At this level, it seems to be 1/3 of the normal level…’

Of course, this is just a story based on stats, and since he doesn’t have the skill itself, it’s still not enough to deal with him.

‘The problem… is that there’s no sign of his stats going up any more.’

Are stats only going up once?

I don’t know, but Einar and I continued towards the entrance of the cave.

And how long has it been like that?

‘When is Erwen going to come? Something isn’t wrong, right?’

It was a time when such anxiety was creeping up.

“The second pilgrim has died.”

“All surviving pilgrims’ values increase by +400.”

Stats increased once more.