Surviving The Game as a Barbarian (Novel) Chapter 97, 98, 99

 

C97, 98, 99

Chapter 97: Barbarian Trophy (4)

When you use [Wild Release], your threat level increases. However, in this case, the threat level doesn't provoke humans like it does with monsters.

As Dwarkey said the other day:

[Hmm... It was a very strange feeling. My head knew that there was no danger, but my body felt like I had to run away...]

Cowardly people cower in fear.

Courageous people are provoked into competitiveness.

So which one is this guy?

"Haat!"

The answer is the latter.

After flinching for a moment at the battle cry I spat in his face, the guy quickly regains his composure and continues swinging his sword.

If I had a shield in my left hand like usual, I could just deflect it...

'But it doesn't make much difference now.'

It's all the same in the end.

The body of a seasoned tank exists solely to block enemy attacks.

Swoosh.

I move the hand that was holding the axe towards the trajectory of the swinging sword.

And at the same time, a dull sound follows.

Clack-

A look of confusion appears in the guy's eyes, who thought he had gained the upper hand, at the sound.

Well, he must be curious.

When would he ever hear a sound like that when a sharp blade clashes with a bare arm?

“……?”

His gaze shifts, searching for an answer.

His eyes finally reach their destination.

"Don't you understand?"

The guy nods blankly at my question.

Why his sword cut through my skin but couldn't reach the bone.

There are many reasons for that.

Bone Density, Physical Resistance, a naturally large and sturdy skeleton, and physical stats increased by [Wild Release].

If he had cleanly cut off my wrist, that would have been even more absurd.

But…

‘There’s no need to explain everything in detail.’

I’m a barbarian.

“You are—”

One word is enough.

“Weak.”

After saying it, I realize it's a pretty cringe-worthy line, but the effect is significant.

Sil-whatever-his-name-is pulls out the sword embedded in his arm as if he's received the greatest insult.

It's not a good choice.

Splash-!

Blood splatters as the blade is pulled out.

Sizzle!

A corrosive sound follows.

And...

"Kyaaaaak!!!"

A pained groan.

"You used a dirty trick..."

What the hell is he talking about? I just stood there.

As expected, there's definitely something wrong with his head, so I reach out and grab his neck.

Because it would be a pain in the ass if he runs away, right?

"Keuheok!"

Sil-whatever-his-name-is struggles as the blood flow to his brain is cut off.

It's like a meal that's already been prepared.

I'm sure he would die with just a twist of his neck.

But...

「Unequipped equipment.」

「Total item level decreased by -495.」

...I put down the weapon I was holding.

The reason is simple.

Clang!

The double-edged battle axe that the butler bought at a high price for today.

If I smash his head with this, I won't even have the excuse of not intending to kill him...

‘And I made a promise.’

I promised the three knight assholes.

That I would definitely fix the problems with their heads when we meet again.

Therefore…

Clench.

I clench my fist, which is the size of a watermelon…

…and punch him in the temple with all my might.

Thwack—!!!

If there's a problem with his head…

"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!!"

…then I just have to get rid of his head.

Right, that's what a barbarian would think.

Or maybe not.
_______________________________

Silence.

The surroundings are quiet, with only faint sounds.

This state continues for a while.

“…….”

It’s a very unusual sight.

In a place with so many people gathered…

…and in the midst of a festival…

…hundreds of people fall silent without any unspoken agreement.

“Wh, where’s the priest!!”

A knight runs out, carrying Sil-whatever-his-name-is, whose head is half-crushed, and the silence ends.

Therefore, I also approach the referee.

“Do I not need to tell you who the winner is?”

The referee looks flustered at my question and then shouts to the crowd,

“Th, the winner is Bjorn Yandel of the Martoan Barony!”

At first, I thought he was discriminating against me because I’m a barbarian.

But judging by the crowd’s subsequent reaction, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

“Waaaaaaaa!”

“Barbarian! Barbarian is the best!”

“I’ve never seen such a refreshing duel! It’s so satisfying!”

“But, isn’t that knight dead?”

“Yo, you, touch him here. Can you feel his heart beating?”

“Uh, uh… I, I think so…”

“People dying during duels isn’t uncommon. And with that level of injury, the priest will surely heal him.”

The reaction is even more enthusiastic than during the first duel.

“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”

I get off the stage after letting out a shout as a service and head towards the tent.

Not the tent where the baron is waiting…

…but the tent where Sil-whatever-his-name-is was taken for treatment.

“Yo, you bastard! How dare you come here!”

As soon as I enter the tent, I’m met with a thunderous scolding.

It’s from the remaining two of the three knight assholes.

I ignore them and approach the priest who is in the middle of treatment.

“Is he dead?”

“…His life is not in danger.”

The priest answers while glaring at me with a hostile gaze.

“Couldn’t you have shown a bit more mercy?”

I feel a bit guilty when someone who follows God says that, but I have plenty of excuses.

“I didn’t know it would turn out like this.”

“……?”

“He’s a knight! I even put down my axe and just punched him! How could I have known he would faint from one hit?”

The three knights blush with shame at my confident answer, and the priest opens his mouth in disbelief.

“Faint… you say? It was a serious injury where his brain matter was exposed, but you call it fainting—”

“If he’s alive, isn’t it just fainting!”

It’s a choice of words that even Ainar, who taught me about the barbarian way of life, would back down from.

The priest then shuts his mouth.

He’s judged that it’s pointless to continue the conversation.

“…….”

An awkward silence fills the tent.

I’m about to leave, but just in time, Sil-whatever-his-name-is regains consciousness.

“Uh, uh… where am I…?”

Sil-whatever-his-name-is mutters with a dazed look.

The divine power emanating from the high-ranking priest has already completely healed his smashed head, but it’s not an all-powerful cheat code.

“I’m pretty sure I was on my way to the duel…”

The priest explains the situation at his mumbling.

That there was a duel, and he suffered a serious head injury.

But he was treated quickly, so his memory will return with time.

“I, I see. Thank you for helping—”

Just as he’s expressing his gratitude for the priest’s kind briefing, he spots me and freezes.

“Yo, you, why are you here…”

It’s closer to fear than surprise.

I’m a bit confused.

He lost his memory of the duel, but how can he react like this?

“Hmm, you really don’t remember anything?”

“I, I don’t. So please leave.”

Hmm, he doesn’t seem to be lying…

But I should at least confirm what I need to confirm while I’m here.

“I’ll leave immediately if you do one thing for me.”

“……?”

“It’s nothing special, just repeat after me.”

I recite the words he said to me before and ask him to repeat them.

“Ju, just that, and you’ll leave…?”

“Of course.”

Sil-whatever-his-name-is gulps as I nod.

And he repeats the words I recited.

But…

“In, in the first place, that’s why you got that na, name because it’s sm, small… Uh, ugh…”

He suddenly starts trembling like an aspen leaf and grabs his head.

“Aaah…! I, I remember…!”

It seems like his lost memories have returned as he recalls the past.

“That’s good. Keep going.”

At my urging, Sil-whatever-his-name-is freezes and then starts convulsing.

“St, stop… I, I was wrong. So please…”

He’s apologizing?

It’s an attitude that the old him could never have imagined.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

“It seems like the problem with your head has disappeared.”

“Yes. So please leave now. The patient needs rest.”

“Alright.”

I leave the tent without hesitation at the priest’s words.

“I, I’m going to leave this place. I, I need to run away…!”

I hear a faint commotion from beyond the tent.

Listening to it, I finally realize…

I’m not a doctor or a priest with divine power.

I’m just a barbarian living in this barbaric world.

But so what?

‘As expected, barbarians are OP.’

Just today…

I solved a problem that even a priest couldn’t fix.
___________________________
“You’ve worked hard. I didn’t expect you to finish it that quickly… but where did you go?”

The baron greets me as I return to the waiting tent.

I tell him I went to check on Sil-whatever-his-name-is’s condition out of curiosity, and he chuckles.

“You’re really something. To care about that while attacking so ruthlessly.”

Ruthlessly? That’s a bit harsh.

“If it were in the labyrinth, I would have used an axe.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“Honestly, I didn’t expect him to be that weak. I thought he would at least be sturdy since he’s slow.”

It’s an answer I prepared in case things went wrong.

For some reason, the baron bursts into laughter.

“Right, what fault could you possibly have? It’s their fault for not training properly.”

“But even though he’s an apprentice knight, he’s still a noble, isn’t he? Is this really okay?”

“Huh, are you worried about the aftermath? Then don’t worry at all. It happened during a duel, didn’t it?”

“But knights are a family’s asset. What if the titled noble they swore loyalty to harms me?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. In the first place, why would a formal knight, not an apprentice, participate in such entertainment? It’s because there’s no big problem even if they die.”

The baron then assures me that no one would dare to make enemies with him over such a trivial matter, and even if that were to happen, he would protect me.

It’s exactly what I wanted to hear.

“So just focus on winning. I saw that the crowd’s reaction was good, the more you rampage, the more pleased the Count who hosted the banquet will be.”

Hmm, if that’s the case…

I guess it’s okay to smash all their heads without worry.

The priest’s ability looked amazing too.

“The winner is Sir Tillyan of the Hensleben Viscountcy!”

Afterwards, I watch the duels with the baron and wait for my turn. It was quite entertaining at first, but I soon lose interest.

Their fighting styles are all too similar.

Now I understand why the crowd went wild during my turn.

‘Is it because they’re nobles even though they’re just branch families? They have no showmanship.’

I’m a bit tired, so I ask for the baron’s permission and take a nap in a corner.

How much time has passed?

The butler wakes me up very carefully.

“…He, hey, there’s someone lo, looking for you.”

“Someone looking for me?”

Although it’s a bit sudden, the butler finishes his sentence and disappears before I can ask any further.

Therefore, I go out to check.

But what is this again?

‘The three knight assholes?’

Two of the three are standing there.

And before I can even ask what they want, one of them reaches out to grab my collar.

I don’t know his name…

…but he’s the one who badmouthed me, calling me Little Clown or whatever.

“You bas—!”

I step back slightly and dodge his hand, and Little Clown freezes in embarrassment and then continues,

“Keu, ahem. You bastard! What did you do to Sir Silbenia?!”

“Silbenia?”

So that was his name.

I mean, his name was…

“Sil… Meria…”

“It’s Sir Silbenia!!”

“Right, did something happen to him?”

The two of them start trembling at my question.

“Don’t play dumb…! That bastard goes crazy whenever your name comes up!”

“How could you be so cruel? Even if you have a grudge, to put someone in that state… do you have no mercy or honor?”

Mercy and honor?

That’s not something a guy who said he would behead me within 10 seconds should be saying.

I make my final diagnosis.

“…I didn’t know his condition was this serious.”

We need to resolve this quickly.

“What are you doing here?”

The commotion ends as Baron Martoan peeks his head out from beyond the tent.

The two of them hurriedly leave as soon as they see his face, as if they have something to hide.

“…Who were those?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Anyway, come here. I just had a good idea, and I’m curious if it’s actually possible.”

Afterwards, we return to the tent and kill time with idle chatter with the baron, and soon the first round of the tournament ends.

And the quarterfinals begin.

But is this what the shaman meant by the ‘fate of a hero’?

“Sir Quartean of the Serphia Barony and Bjorn Yandel of the Martoan Barony, please take your positions!”

Surprisingly, I’m matched against one of the three knight assholes in the second round.

It’s the one with the braggart attribute.

“Don’t expect it to be like before.”

He starts spouting lines even as the duel begins.

“Although it’s embarrassing to say this myself, Sir Silbenia is the weakest among us—”

It’s actually easier than the first time.

I take advantage of the opening while he’s muttering and dash forward.

And…

“Uh, uh…?”

Whether he’s surprised and swings his sword or not…

…I reach out and grab his neck…

…and then deliver a sincere punch to his temple.

Thwack—!

The guy collapses to the ground limply as the flesh and bones of his head are crushed. It all happened within 3 seconds of the duel starting.

However…

“Waaaaaaaa!”

“Do that again next time!!”

“Knight Crusher! Knight Crusher!”

Despite the duel ending so quickly, the crowd erupts in cheers of excitement.

It’s truly ironic.

‘They’re enjoying the sight of a man’s head being smashed.’

Who’s the barbarian here?
_______________________________

「Character’s fame has increased by +10.」

「Character’s fame has increased by +10…….」

「…….」

----------------------------

Chapter 98: Barbarian Trophy (5)

Unfortunately, my opponent in the semi-finals is not the last remaining member of the three knight assholes.

Because the other one lost in the second round.

And it seemed like he purposely lost.

'So I couldn't give one of them physical therapy.'

Anyway, since there's no need to aim for the head anymore, I shatter his sword with my double-edged axe as soon as the duel starts.

But did he not want to lose to a barbarian?

"I, it's not over yet!"

He shows his will to continue the duel even without a sword. So I also discard my axe, run towards him, and break his spine.

"Th, the winner is Bjorn Yandel of the Martoan Barony!"

Although it was a bloodless victory, the crowd's reaction isn't bad.

"Waaaaaaaa!!"

"Knight Crusher, Little Balkan, Bjorn, son of Yandel!!"

It seems like the sight of a man being folded in half is quite stimulating for them too.

The baron's reaction isn't much different.

As soon as I return to the tent, he asks with wide eyes,

"Hey, do you know? It was chilling! To throw a man in the air and then catch him with your knee, where did you learn that technique?"

Hmm, if I had to answer, I saw it in a comic book.

This is the first time I've realized that it's physically possible.

There's truly nothing barbarians can't do.

"I'll rest for a bit until the next match."

"Huh? Ah, right."

I ask for the baron's understanding and close my eyes for a moment.

It's not that I'm sleepy, but...

'There's only one left, right?'

With victory in sight, my heart starts pounding.
______________________________

The long-awaited final match begins.

"Sir Albatross of the Perdehilt County and Bjorn Yandel of the Martoan Barony, please take your positions!"

My opponent is an apprentice knight under Count Perdehilt, the host of the banquet and the one who suggested I participate in the tournament...

...but leaving aside the aftermath...

The duel itself doesn't worry me much.

Because I've already analyzed my opponent while watching the previous matches.

"Greetings."

The huge knight greets me, holding a massive greatsword.

I smirk as I look at him.

'I think I understand the Count's personality now.'

Knights are different from explorers.

To them, essences are just a means to enhance their swordsmanship. Therefore, they mostly choose essences related to physical stats, and the combination of essences varies from family to family.

Several efficient combinations have become established as the standard through systematic research...

...but characters have their own 'concepts'.

'Orc Great Warrior, Giant Golem, and Cyclops...'

My opponent is a typical strength-based knight.

Perhaps with priests in mind, he focused on physical resistance rather than regeneration and equipped a full set of Laetium armor, a 2nd-tier material, using his high strength.

He's practically a walking tank.

'They really splurged on this apprentice knight.'

I'm once again surprised by the Count's wealth as I guess his preferences.

One 7th-grade and two 6th-grade essences.

He must have bought and absorbed essences stored in test tubes, but how much did it cost?

'With the equipment he's wearing, he's practically beyond the level of a 3rd-floor explorer.'

I suddenly have the thought that the Count might not have even considered the possibility of me winning.

This guy's level is that overwhelming.

Most of the participants were level 2 and only had 7th-grade essences.

"Why are you barehanded when you have equipment?"

Anyway, just before the duel starts, while we're crossing our weapons, my opponent asks a question.

He's curious why I came up on stage with just one axe, unlike the previous duels.

I answer briefly,

"Because it's uncomfortable."

It's not meant to be an insult, it's the truth.

The heavy plate boots, the overly designed helmet, belt, shoulder guards, etc. Even if I can't expect much in terms of defense, they shouldn't hinder my movement.

"I see. It would be difficult to fight like usual while wearing those."

Fortunately, my opponent takes my words at face value.

But that's all.

"I was worried it would end too quickly, but it seems like you're planning to take it seriously, so I'm relieved."

His relaxed expression and tone of voice are an expression of his confidence that he'll win no matter what I do.

I don't feel the need to continue the conversation.

"That's good to hear."

If he's letting his guard down, it's all the better.

Swoosh.

I pull back my weapon and create some distance.

My opponent does the same.

As the distance between us widens to about 15 meters, the referee raises his flag.

It's a sign that we can attack each other now.

"Come at me."

My opponent takes a knightly stance and gestures with his sword.

Seeing that, I can somehow imagine the scenario he's hoping for.

The barbarian who gained the nickname 'Knight Crusher' with his overwhelming power.

A true knight who gracefully and elegantly defeats that barbarian.

The cheers of the crowd and the recognition of his lord.

A bright future unfolding before him like a paved road.

Smirk.

I can tell how easy this guy's life has been.

Whether my prediction is correct or not...

If you have something you want, you should be more desperate.

It's not about how good things can get when they go well, but about always considering the opposite.

'Still, seeing him let his guard down like this, it's a good thing I hid it until the end.'

The tournament hosted by the Count.

"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!!"

I use that combo for the first time.
_______________________________

「Character has cast [Gigantification].」

「Character’s size increases, and threat level and physical stats increase proportionally.」

「Character has used [Wild Release].」

「Character’s threat level is temporarily tripled, and physical stats increase proportionally.」
_______________________________
[Gigantification] and [Wild Release].

Using these two skills together greatly increases threat level. And in proportion to that, physical stats also increase significantly.

Although [Wild Release] has the downside of only lasting for 30 seconds…

So what?

At least I can feel an insane power boost during that time.

'Well, I didn't expect it to end so anticlimactically.'

Is it a side effect of having an excessively high threat level?

Competitiveness or whatever, threat level works regardless of the target's personality.

"Uh, uh, uh..."

The knight is frozen stiff, unable to move, from the overwhelming sense of fear I'm radiating.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

I dash forward, making sounds like a large monster's footsteps.

However, just as I'm about to swing my axe down...

"Hi, eek!"

The knight rolls on the ground to dodge and then starts running away.

But there's no way he can keep running in this narrow arena.

I corner him like in a boxing game and reach out to grab him.

That's when...

"He's, he's out of bounds!"

The guy runs out of the arena, and the final match ends without a proper fight.

'Well, it's convenient for me, but...'

The crowd's reaction is cold.

Fortunately, there's no criticism directed at me, but sharp boos are showered upon the knight who showed dishonorable behavior.

"Ah, no, I did it unconsciously... Le, let's do it again... I can do it again!"

He comes back onto the stage, having come to his senses, but it's no different from clutching at straws.

"How much further are you going to humiliate me?"

He was demanding a rematch from the referee, but he hangs his head low at the Count's cold words.

"The winner is Bjorn Yandel of the Martoan Barony!"

Tsk, should I not have used [Gigantification]?

That thought comes to mind belatedly.

Although I won easily, it's so awkward that even I feel embarrassed.

'It seems like I even offended the Count...'

It's not good news for me, who was worried about the aftermath rather than winning the tournament.

My actions, which were meant to eliminate any variables by hiding my strength until the end, have created a new variable.

'Damn it, I didn't expect him to just run away like that.'

Phew, he's not going to harm me because of this, right?

I'm inwardly worried, but the Count just laughs heartily as he personally comes up on stage to award me the necklace and the trophy.

"Haha! Today was very impressive."

The Count pats me on the forearm since he can't reach my shoulder and offers words of encouragement. I can't tell if he's genuinely not holding a grudge or just acting.

As I'm feeling uncertain and observing his expression...

The Count whispers to me so that only I can hear,

"I'll call you separately when you're more prepared."

"...Call me?"

"You don't need to know the details. Just ignore any other nobles who call for you until then. Got it?"

I nod, even though I don't understand what he means.

Because I have that much sense.

'And he has such a scary look in his eyes...'

If I had said no, it seemed like he would have done something.

Anyway, the long banquet comes to an end with the award ceremony. Well, there are many who stay and enjoy the party until dawn...

...but Baron Martoan is not one of them.

"I'm tired. Let's go back."

I return to the mansion with the same people I came with and receive all my equipment back. And I also receive the promised service fee.

"You really worked hard today. Your name and my family's name will surely be the talk of the social circles for months to come. So if you have any problems, don't hesitate to come to me."

It seems like the baron really likes me.

Even if it's just empty words, judging by the way he's saying it...

'Well, he should be happy after I did all this for him.'

"Then go now. I'm also tired. I told them to prepare a carriage, so you can take that and go."

"Thank you!"

It's past 2:00 AM when I finally return to my accommodation in Ravigion after leaving the Imperial City of Karnon.

My body and mind are both exhausted after the long day, but...

'Then shall we begin?'

I sit at the table instead of going to bed.

And I start the final calculations.

The service fee of 1 million stones that was initially promised.

The tournament participation fee of 2 million stones.

The additional 1 million stones he promised if I won.

And the 300,000 stones I received as a reward for giving the trophy to the baron.

‘That's a total of 4.3 million stones in cash.’

Is it because my client is a rich noble?

I've earned an amount that's hard to believe is just a day's wage.

And that's not all.

Whether it's the new nickname 'Knight Crusher' or whatever...

‘I didn't expect to get this so early…’

No. 7777 Garpas's Necklace.

I've obtained an item that, if I'm unlucky, I might not even get in the later stages of the game, no matter how much I grind.

Although it will require a lot of resources to activate the hidden piece…

…it's undeniable that it's a stroke of incredible luck.

Therefore, I make a resolution once again.

‘Just how many luck stacks have I accumulated?’

From now on, I really need to be careful even when breathing.
____________________________

The morning after the banquet...

One question is answered.

At least partially.

‘What kind of letters are these…?’

As soon as I wake up, letters start arriving nonstop. They're all from nobles.

Letters asking if I can attend banquets they're hosting.

For reference, the letters also include a promise to provide 'a small token of appreciation' if I attend.

It's not really a small token, it's an amount that would allow me to live comfortably for the rest of my life just by doing this…

‘So this is what the Count meant.’

The words about calling me separately when I'm ready are still incomprehensible. But telling me to ignore other nobles' invitations must have referred to this.

‘Phew, how much of a financial loss is this?’

Therefore, I reply to all of them with a refusal.

Because if I just ignore them, those prideful nobles might retaliate.

But if I attend, it seems like I'll incur the Count's wrath.

‘What the hell is the Count thinking?’

Honestly, he's the one I'm most afraid of.

Although he has been treating me favorably, these kinds of people tend to lose their minds once they're offended.

And his intentions are unclear from the beginning.

What reason would a Count have to be interested in a barbarian explorer?

‘Let’s investigate the Count when the community opens next time.’

I engrave the new quest in my mind and quickly finish preparing to go out.

And I head to the Magic Tower.

‘This month is also the last time for the regular research.’

It’s almost been three months since I made the promise with Raven.

Well, that’s not the reason for my visit today, though.

“Oh, you’re here?”

When I arrive at Raven’s personal research lab, she greets me in a normal state for once, even though it’s early in the morning.

“So where’s the senior I’m supposed to help with research today?”

“I, that is…”

Raven trails off.

It’s just that, but I have a bad feeling.

That’s when…

“It’s been a while.”

As if he’s been waiting, a white-haired old man appears from behind the door.

The master of the Artemion school.

Also known as ‘old man’.

“Whew…”

There’s no explanation, but I understand the situation in an instant.

“I’m pretty sure you said ‘senior’.”

“I’m sorry, my master was being so stubborn…”

So she changed it, huh.

I glance at the old man, and he bursts into a benevolent laugh.

“Keke, don’t be too nervous. It’s not that grand of an experiment.”

That’s something I can only know after hearing about it.

As I look at him with an expression that says ‘continue explaining’, the old man speaks in a meaningful tone,

“It’s an experiment to see if we can distinguish the souls of evil spirits with a magic tool I created!”

No, damn it.

What the hell is this again?

------------------------------------

Chapter 99: Rumors (1)

A magic tool that can identify the souls of evil spirits?

Just a second ago, I never expected to be in this situation.

But…

‘Whatever it is, nothing changes.’

I dismiss the curiosity-driven questions.

Does he know something?

Or is it just a coincidence?

If I can’t be sure, it’s best to assume the worst and act accordingly.

The old man suspects me.

Then what should I do right now?

“…Magic tool?”

I frown and look at the old man.

As if the word ‘magic tool’ bothers me more than ‘evil spirit’. As if that’s the reason for the brief silence earlier.

“…It’s safe, right?”

I look at him with distrust.

I’m a barbarian who knows nothing about magic.

And I’ve seen countless suspicious-looking magic tools in Raven’s research lab.

‘This is the right reaction, right?’

I finish my split-second judgment and take action.

Therefore, it’s the old man’s turn to make a move.

“Hmm.”

The old man observes me with a meaningful look and then changes his expression and speaks.

“Huhu, you don’t trust me? Me, the master of the Artemion school?”

As I look at him as if to say, ‘do you really need to say that?’, the old man clicks his tongue.

“Tsk, what does this friend take me for? Don’t worry. Aru will prove that the magic tool is harmless to the human body.”

“…Yes? Me?”

“It’s not that difficult, is it?”

“Yes, well… if it’s just confirming what kind of spells are imbued in the magic tool…”

The master of the school and a barbarian she’s known for 3 months.

It’s obvious which side Raven will prioritize, so it’s hard to trust those words.

But…

‘No matter what excuse I make to refuse, I’ll just fall for their tricks in the end.’

As I listen to their conversation, I’m convinced.

The old man suspects me, although I don’t know where I left a clue.

Fortunately, he doesn’t seem to be certain yet.

Judging by the fact that he’s trying to test me with a non-existent magic tool.

‘There probably… is no such magic tool.’

I suppress my anxiety and rationally gather evidence.

A magic tool that identifies evil spirits?

It hasn’t existed for thousands of years.

As civilization develops, it wouldn’t be strange for such a thing to appear someday, but…

‘There’s no way this old man would be the first to create it.’

The Artemion school is a traditional mage school.

They mainly conduct research on creating new spells and such, rather than minor topics like dimensions or souls.

But for a mage like that to create an evil spirit detector?

‘In the first place, if such a thing really existed, he would have somehow tricked me into sitting in front of the magic tool. He wouldn’t be testing me like this.’

I finally reach my conclusion.

There’s no evil spirit detector.

The old man is just trying to observe my reaction.

Therefore…

“So what are you going to do? There’s no danger, and it won’t even take long.”

“…It won’t take long?”

“About 5 minutes should be enough.”

“Tsk, if that’s the case…”

I accept the old man’s offer.

Although it’s a bit unsettling, there’s nothing to lose if it ends quickly.

But was my decision unexpected?

“…Are you really okay with it?”

The old man asks me back, completely erasing any remaining anxiety I had.

I ask nonchalantly,

“What do you mean? Okay with what?”

“…Didn’t you say it could be dangerous earlier?”

“She said she would check it, didn’t she!”

“That’s true, but…”

“Let’s go. I woke up early this morning and I’m tired, so I want to go back and get some sleep!”

Damn it, this old man is up to something.
________________________

“He’s gone…”

Raven sighs deeply as she hears her master’s seemingly empty words in the lab where Bjorn left.

She doesn’t understand the situation at all.

A magic tool that identifies evil spirits?

She’s never heard of her master researching such a thing…

“What was that about earlier?”

“…….”

“Stop being like that. Are you really not going to tell me?”

She had to prove to Bjorn that the magic tool was safe under her master’s instructions.

It wasn’t a difficult task.

The magic tool that the master brought out as an evil spirit detector didn’t have any spells imbued in it.

It was just a strangely shaped chair.

[Don’t say anything and just play along.]

However, she remained silent as instructed by her master.

So now it's time to hear the truth.

Of course, she has a guess.

She's not that clueless.

"...Don't tell me you thought Mr. Yandel was an evil spirit? Is that why you kept asking about what happened in the labyrinth?"

The master neither denies nor confirms.

But sometimes, silence is the most definitive answer.

"Ha... so have you cleared your suspicion?"

"...Yes, I was wrong."

"It's understandable that you would think that, Master. He's a unique person. But I have one question. I really want you to answer this."

At her repeated question, the master replies weakly,

"...What is it?"

"Why did you do that? If you suspected him of being an evil spirit, you could have just given a hint to the Secret Security Department, and they would have taken care of it—"

"Then he would die."

A small murmur.

"Yes? What do you mean—."

"Enough, I'm tired. I'll be on my way, so please clean up."

The master then gets up, his small body seeming frail.

And he leaves with a gait that's uncharacteristically subdued.

The lab is now empty, with only her left.

She ponders the words her master left behind.

'Then he would die...'

In other words, it means he needs a live evil spirit.

'What the hell do you want, Master?'

She can't shake off the unsettling feeling.
__________________________
Thud!

I return to the inn and collapse onto the bed.

I feel like all my energy has been drained since morning.

I want to get some sleep, but...

'I was really surprised when he suddenly appeared without warning.'

I loosen up my tense muscles and reflect on what happened today.

It doesn't seem like I made any mistakes.

Thinking back, it was a good response.

I assumed the worst but prevented myself from jumping to conclusions based on the clues available, and as a result, I was able to deduce the best answer.

'Judging by his expression at the end, the old man seems to have completely cleared his suspicion.'

Although it was a sudden incident, it worked out well.

However, there's one thing that's slightly unsettling.

When the old man became certain that I wasn't an evil spirit, he seemed somewhat disappointed.

Why?

'...Well, it's none of my business.'

I briefly contemplate and then clear my thoughts.

It's a question with no answer, and whatever the reason, it has no direct connection to my safety.

'Still, I feel a bit relieved.'

I went through some shitty things this morning.

But paradoxically, this incident has given me a strange sense of relief. With this, the luck stacks that have been piling up recently should be somewhat offset—

"Bjorn! Wake up! It's already midday, how long are you going to sleep?!"

Did I fall asleep?

I open my eyes to see Misha shaking my body.

I didn't leave the door open, so she must have used the spare key I gave her a while ago.

'I gave it to her to use in case of an emergency...'

"Misha, why are you here? You said you were going to the Magic Tower today."

"You came home late yesterday. I was going to wake you up if you were asleep!"

Hmm, if that's the reason...

I'll think about taking back the spare key later.

"Ah, but how did you know I came home late? Don't tell me you were waiting?"

"Didn't you promise to tell me what happened there when you got back? And besides, I didn't wait that long, so don't worry about it."

Although she says that, she must have been waiting for me until late at night.

Is she that curious about what happened at the banquet?

"So tell me. What happened?"

At Misha's urging, I slowly tell her what happened yesterday.

How I wore the barbarian warrior outfit prepared by the butler, led the carriage procession to the banquet venue...

The food I ate there.

And how I ended up winning the tournament.

"Eek, you really won? You defeated all those knights?"

"Apprentice knights, not knights."

"They're still knights! That's amazing!"

Amazing my ass.

Except for the guy I met in the finals, Misha could have easily won against the rest even if she had been there.

Her physical skills are truly amazing.

"Anyway, just use this."

After briefly explaining what happened, I start writing letters with Misha.

Replies to the nobles.

I had written them all this morning, but somehow there were more after I woke up.

"...Bjorn, is it really okay to send them like this? They're nobles. Something might happen."

"It's fine."

"Hmm, if you say so, but..."

Misha writes the letters as I dictate, with an uneasy expression.

Geez, there's nothing to worry about.

What more could they expect from a letter written by a barbarian?

In the first place, it's a miracle that we even get replies...

[I'm busy, so I can't go.]

[So find another barbarian.]

[Sender: Bjorn, son of Yandel]

Yeah, this is more than enough to maintain my dignity.
______________________________

I'm at a noble's mansion.

It's a spacious, glittering place with delicious smells wafting from everywhere.

"I think I finally understand what the chieftain meant when he said the world is vast!"

It feels like I've come to another world.

People's clothes, their way of speaking, the sound of music...

All we had were drums...

"What are you doing? Come here."

"Ah, alright!"

A barbarian who became an adult a month ago.

Dkart, son of Kafen, follows the client towards the center of the banquet.

"Tsk, what's with that gait? Walk more confidently!"

He feels a bit wronged.

He doesn't even know what walking confidently means.

And the equipment he's wearing is unnecessarily large and uncomfortable.

He's more comfortable with his bare body...

He wants to complain, but Dkart keeps his mouth shut.

It's because he remembers what happened the other day.

[That guy walked just fine even while wearing something bigger?]

A few days ago, he was lured by the promise of a large sum of money and followed a noble, where he received various kinds of education. Most of it was about how to behave at banquets.

At first, he was angry.

Is he making these ridiculous demands because I'm a barbarian?

Is he looking down on me?

But...

[That guy? Who is that guy that you keep making demands based on something you heard?]

[I'm talking about Bjorn, son of Yandel, Little Balkan.]

...after learning who that guy was, he had no choice but to endure everything.

Bjorn, son of Yandel.

He's a warrior among warriors, who defeated all the knights at a noble's banquet and even earned the cool title of Knight Crusher.

'As expected, am I not good enough to become like him...'

Dkart, who heard about his story, resolved to show a cool side of himself at this banquet.

Because there's no way the actions of that warrior, whom even the chieftain praised so highly, could be wrong.

If there's anything wrong, it must be on my side.

He decided to act like a 'warrior'.

However, it wasn't as easy as he thought.

He feels involuntarily intimidated being among elegant and noble-looking aristocrats who are so different from him.

And...

"De, delicious…!"

"Louder! That guy wasn't embarrassed!"

"Be, Behel—la…!!!"

Honestly, it was embarrassing.

Even for a barbarian, isn't it ridiculous to shout in admiration of food in front of people?

Well, if he were alone, he would probably have shouted several times.

"Don't just eat the meat, chew on the bones too!"

Anyway, his teeth hurt too.

"Napkin? Why do you need that?"

His hands are sticky from eating.

"Why are you taking off the helmet again?"

His neck and shoulders are stiff.

And soon, he has to participate in a tournament exclusively for barbarian participants.

Will he even be able to fight properly?

He feels pathetic for even worrying about this.

It's not like his opponent is a knight, unlike that guy.

'They say you'll get your head smashed while chasing goblins and trolls...'

When he first entered the city after finishing his coming-of-age ceremony, his heart pounded with the ambition of becoming a famous warrior someday.

But is this the wall of reality?

In less than a month, he's faced with his own shortcomings.

"Why can't you even do that?"

Dkart finally says what he's been holding back.

"I'm... just an ordinary warrior."

To shout when you want to shout.

To smash things when you want to smash them.

To act as you please without shame, regardless of who's around.

"I can't do that..."

That's a right reserved only for true strong individuals, true warriors who have confidence in themselves.

"Please, stop comparing me to him. Bjorn, son of Yandel, he's an amazing warrior that I can't even compare to."

"Phew, so that guy was special after all..."

The noble sighs at Dkart's confession.

And he looks at the empty air with eyes filled with desire.

Or maybe it's not just him.

"I see. So it has to be him..."

"Well, there's no way a barbarian as barbaric as him would be common."

"I thought all barbarians were like him."

"They're unexpectedly normal..."

If you listen closely, similar words are being uttered throughout the banquet hall.
__________________________________

「Character’s fame has increased by +10.」

「Character’s fame has increased by +10…….」

「…….」

Trial

I like Korean novels (Murim, Dukes, Reincarnation, etc, etc, etc)

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