Barbarian.
When I first played this race, which literally translates to "savage," I chose the greatsword.
Well, because it looked cool.
Every man has that urge—to grip a sword in both hands and spin wildly in the middle of enemy lines, slashing away like a madman.
'The problem was, I died way too easily.'
I was drawn to the Barbarian character and began researching.
How could I raise a Barbarian to also have survivability?
I tried many things, but the Barbarian still died too easily.
No matter how much I focused on survival, it only turned into something like a berserker.
Every battle was a tightrope walk, and it lacked stability.
Then one day, a thought crossed my mind.
'Do I really have to use this guy as a damage dealer?'
Among the selectable races, Barbarians have the highest health and high strength expectations, so they can even wear adamantium gear.
They may not be as overpowered as Dwarves with their special abilities, but they have the basic qualifications to be a tank.
Well, even so, I didn't really want to play a tank Barbarian...
But it felt like a waste to throw away all the research I'd done, so I decided to give it a try.
After a few trials and errors, I developed a training method.
'What the hell, this is broken.'
I ditched the Dwarf I had been using as a tank without a second thought.
So what if I couldn't fight flashy battles? I always prioritized efficiency, and if it helped with strategy, I was the kind of person who could throw away my preferences as a gamer.
Just like the decision I made now.
Step.
After choosing my weapon and returning to my spot, I could feel the other Barbarians looking at me.
What are you staring at? Never seen a shield Barbarian before?
I stood tall and confident, like a true Barbarian, and returned to my place.
This time, I didn't even need to act.
"Next!"
I had no regrets about my decision.
There were three reasons.
One, among the starting weapons, the shield sells for the highest price.
Two, even if I grabbed a blade right now, there's a high chance I wouldn't be able to use it properly.
Three, in the end, what I'm aiming for is the shield Barbarian.
Today, I made the most rational decision I could.
"With this, you have become a warrior!"
After choosing my weapon and returning to my place, I was finally given some time.
While the other Barbarians were going through their coming-of-age ceremony, I decided to think about the cause of the current situation.
Honestly, it was something I should've figured out earlier...
But what could I do?
Thinking about that stuff would've gotten me killed.
「You have reached the Abyss.」
Let's sort it out now.
I reached the final boss room.
That was probably the trigger.
'Wait a minute, then what about that guy who died earlier? Did he also reach the final boss room?'
…Maybe.
There are all kinds of people in the world, and some are as weird as me.
Let's just move on from that part.
「Tutorial complete.」
I took this message to mean:
We've told you everything you need to know, so now use that knowledge to survive.
Whoever it was, they couldn't have been anything but a bastard.
If they really wanted me to survive, they should've included some info about that "evil spirit" or whatever.
I almost died the moment I arrived, you son of a bitch.
"Hoo…"
Is it because I'm in a Barbarian's body? I can't control my emotions like usual.
So I decided to stop thinking here.
If I got worked up for no reason, I might mess things up.
Besides, stressing over the cause isn't like me.
What's done is done.
I can't turn back time.
It's more productive to think about how I'll get through this.
So…
Yeah, let's just focus on one thing for now.
'Surviving.'
***
The coming-of-age ceremony ended.
And now, I'm walking down a forest path.
The tribe chief leads the way, and behind me are the young Barbarians.
Everyone looks like they're on a fun field trip.
But I can't smile like them.
Because I know where we're headed.
"Stop!"
After passing through thick bushes, we arrived in front of a massive wall, at least 30 meters tall.
"Open the gate!"
With a rough mechanical sound, the castle gate began to open.
So slow it made me yawn.
But the young Barbarians watched it like they'd forgotten how to breathe.
In that strange silence, the gray city finally revealed itself beyond the gate.
"Rafdonia…"
At this moment, my eyes probably didn't look much different from theirs.
Paved roads and stone buildings.
And the towering spires reaching into the sky.
I never dreamed I'd see in real life what I'd only seen in loading screen illustrations.
Damn it.
"Warriors!"
As the gate opened, the tribe chief turned around and shouted.
I thought maybe he was going to say something inspiring before sending us off…
"Go! Your destiny lies there!"
Barbarians didn't need boring speeches.
"Waaaaaaaah!"
The newly adult Barbarians roared and charged into the city.
I didn't want to, but I shouted and followed them.
Sure, there might be people sleeping peacefully in those dark buildings, but who cares?
I'm a Barbarian.
Thud—!
The sound of the gate closing echoed behind us.
Of course, not a single Barbarian paid it any mind.
The excited Barbarians kept running for a while before finally calming down and slowing their pace.
Only then could I resume my thoughts.
Right now, I'm feeling two conflicting emotions.
"..."
Fear of the situation I'm in.
And a strange excitement at becoming part of the world from my favorite game.
It's kind of funny.
I just told myself to focus on surviving, and now I'm feeling this?
…Yeah, I guess I'm not normal.
Though I'm still not as crazy as these Barbarian bastards.
"Stop!"
The Barbarian who had been leading the group suddenly stopped and turned around, shouting confidently.
"I think we're lost!"
The shocking confession caused a stir among the Barbarians.
"Karack, third son of Panun, has led us astray!"
"He is unfit to lead!"
"He must take responsibility!"
What the hell.
They were all happily following him just a minute ago.
Is this how Barbarian society works? So ruthless.
"Fine. Enough. I admit I'm unfit and step down as leader."
Under the continued complaints, Karack, the third son of Panun, lowered his head and returned to the group.
The next leader chosen was a female Barbarian.
"Ainar, second daughter of Fenelin!"
"Wise Ainar will lead us on the right path!"
With hopeful words, the female Barbarian happily took the lead.
But it didn't take long for her to follow in the previous leader's footsteps.
"…I think we're lost."
Amazingly, she said the exact same words, not even a syllable different.
"No way! We must reach the Labyrinth within the allotted time!"
"Ainar is unfit to lead!"
"That's right!"
The confused Barbarians began seriously discussing who should be the third leader.
"I think Jin, second son of Tetron, would be good."
"No, I don't think so. Actually…"
Do these idiots have no brains?
Do they really not realize that no matter who leads, they won't reach the destination?
At this rate, it might even be my turn soon.
"..."
I quietly stepped back and approached the second leader.
She was a large woman, just under two meters tall, standing a bit apart from the group with a dejected expression.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel? Have you come to blame me too?"
Of course not.
To me, they were all the same.
I shook my head, and the female Barbarian tilted hers.
"Then why? If it's to comfort me, I don't need it."
"No. I came to tell you how to find the way."
"…Is that true? How?"
I pointed with my hand.
"Just follow them."
"Just follow them?"
She looked like she couldn't believe it.
I patiently explained step by step.
It's the middle of the night.
All the buildings along the main road are dark.
But there are still quite a few people walking the streets.
And they're all armed, not in everyday clothes.
Where would such people be going?
"Now that you mention it… I see. I'll give it a try."
The female Barbarian returned to the group and shouted, "I found the way!"
The Barbarians stopped choosing a third leader and cheered.
"As expected of Ainar!"
"Our wise warrior!"
Anyway, the group started moving again.
As time passed, more armed people appeared around us, confirming we were on the right path.
Eventually, we could even see the light spreading from afar.
At this point, we wouldn't get lost again.
"It's the Labyrinth! I see the Labyrinth!"
"The sacred dimension of battle!"
I resumed the thoughts I had paused.
My biggest concern now was whether entering the Labyrinth was the right decision.
"I can feel it! The Labyrinth is calling to my soul!"
The Barbarians were so excited, they wouldn't notice if I quietly slipped away.
Then I wouldn't have to enter the Labyrinth.
I wouldn't have to fight monsters and bleed.
But even though I know that better than anyone, I still haven't made up my mind.
'Because I know running away isn't a real solution.'
Dungeon & Stone has a tax system.
From age 20, all citizens must pay taxes.
Failure to do so results in execution.
Sounds like a trash game, but the lore makes it somewhat understandable.
It's not something I need to worry about just yet, though.
"Ainar! Let's pick up the pace!"
"Uoooooo!!"
Anyway, I need to make money.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean I have to enter the Labyrinth and fight monsters.
Even working at a tavern would be enough to eat and sleep.
…If I weren't a Barbarian.
Barbarians are the only race that starts with a weapon.
It's a simple reason.
[Barbarian? Sorry, someone just got hired.]
[Get lost! We don't have any jobs for Barbarians! What are you gonna break this time?!]
Barbarians can't do normal jobs.
In the game's setting, fighting monsters in the Labyrinth is the only way they can make a living.
Well, who knows how it'll be in reality?
Maybe I'll find a job easier than I think.
But there's one thing that bothers me too much to just leave the group.
"10 minutes until closure. Please enter quickly!"
The Labyrinth opens once a month in game time.
If I don't go in now, I'll have to survive in this city for a whole month.
And if I can't find a job?
If no one hires me just because I'm a Barbarian?
Well, the future looks bleak.
Even if I survive the first week with the food the tribe chief gave me, after that I'll be living off food scraps.
I might even starve to death before then.
One thing's for sure—if I do survive, my body won't be the same as it is now.
"I'll go in first!"
"No, I will!"
Hunger, cold, unsanitary sleeping conditions.
I know better than anyone how deadly those things are to the human body.
So if I'm going to go in anyway, it's more rational to do it now while I'm in top condition.
'The problem is, it might just shorten my lifespan.'
Just as my thoughts were getting deeper—
"Bjorn, son of Yandel!"
Someone grabbed my shoulder.
It was that female Barbarian from earlier.
Her name was…
"Ainar, third daughter of Fenelin."
"Second daughter."
Anyway, what does she want from me?
"All the other warriors have already entered the Labyrinth. Only you and I remain."
"Ah."
No wonder it was so quiet.
Looking around, there were barely any people left in the plaza, not just Barbarians.
As the second leader, Ainar must've come to check on me.
"We must hurry. We arrived late, so there's not much time left."
At her words, I looked straight ahead.
The portal that had been shining so brightly earlier was now noticeably smaller.
"5 minutes until closure!"
Right on cue, the guide announced the remaining time again.
Five minutes.
That's tighter than I thought.
I really need to decide soon…
"You go first. I'll follow right behind."
"Understood."
Ainar nodded and headed toward the portal, and my dilemma deepened.
So, what should I do now?
As someone obsessed with efficiency, I always preferred speed, but this time, making a decision wasn't easy.
Because unlike a game, my real life is on the line.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel!"
Just as I was about to step back without thinking—
Ainar suddenly turned around.
"Thanks for earlier."
"…No need to thank me."
"And I have one question."
As long as it's not about my mother's name, ask anything.
I nodded, and Ainar asked with complete sincerity.
"How can I become wise like you? I've never met a Barbarian as smart as you. I want to be like you."
That's a hard question.
How do you become smart? Honestly, being born again might be faster…
Wait, why am I even thinking about this?
Let's just give a quick answer and send her off.
"Always think before you act."
"Hmm, I see!"
It was something I said without much thought, but Ainar took it seriously and mulled it over.
Then she said something unexpected.
"Thanks for the advice. If I survive the Labyrinth, I'll repay you."
If I survive?
That sounded too strange to come from a Barbarian.
So, unlike me, I asked an unnecessary question.
"…Are you afraid of dying?"
"Isn't that obvious? Of course I'm afraid. I'm sure the other warriors are too. They just don't show it."
Really?
Honestly, it didn't feel real.
In the game, Barbarians were fearless.
And in real life, they didn't seem much different.
When I didn't respond, Ainar added more.
"We were born as warriors. If we can't fight, we die."
Her words were clumsy and stiff, but somehow, I understood exactly what she meant.
"I see."
Just like me, they had no choice.
They were born as Barbarians.
If they couldn't kill monsters in the Labyrinth, they couldn't survive in this city.
That's why they learned from a young age how to overcome fear and move forward.
Yeah, that's all it was.
The reason they seemed like savages—
"Let's meet again alive, Bjorn, son of Yandel."
With that, Ainar entered the portal.
"1 minute until closure!"
Now, nothing holds me back.
Only my choice remains.
Just like the message I saw when I entered the final boss room, there are two options.
「Yes / No」
My cluttered mind suddenly felt clear.
Yeah, let's just think of it as playing a game.
When I played games, I always focused on efficiency to reach my goals.
I weighed the possibilities before acting, always thinking two steps ahead.
If something seemed profitable now but would be a loss in the long run, I chose "No."
If the opposite, I chose "Yes."
So, I never really had a choice.
"The gate will close soon! Please step back!"
I ran forward.
Just like when the tribe chief called my name, fear boiled deep inside me.
And for good reason—I'd lived a sickly life and had never even been in a fistfight.
Let alone fighting monsters?
My knees were already shaking.
"It's dangerous!"
But unless the odds were zero—
Right now, I have the ridiculously strong body of a Barbarian.
I have the knowledge gained from raising characters thousands of times.
Most of all, I have a grand goal—to survive.
So, I have no choice but to do it.
Even though I know better than anyone that this is a hellish path no sane person would choose—
Because I've already decided it's the most rational choice—
「You have entered the Crystal Cave on the First Floor.」