Episode 154 Barbarian Road (6)
The chieftain was holding an axe in his hand.
The very same axe that was used to decapitate the man next to me during my coming-of-age ceremony.
“I want to make money by killing people, not monsters. Do you think that is the right thing to do as a warrior?”
My head, which was burning hot, cools down.
An unexpected situation.
No, it was a situation I thought I would face someday, but I never thought it would be today.
I took a deep breath and made a quick decision.
and…….
1. Apologize for your mistake.
2. Cover it up with excuses.
I immediately erased the two options from my mind.
Well, I don’t know what kind of race the Barbarians are.
Although this may seem easier and more reasonable to the average person, you should never be mistaken.
There is only one breakthrough.
“Chief, this is something you should have done originally.”
Just taking it in like a Barbarian.
“… … That’s an interesting thing to say.”
The corner of the chief’s mouth twisted.
“Tell me, what does that mean?”
It felt like an axe was going to swing the moment I opened my mouth.
But I straightened my shoulders proudly.
A mistake becomes a mistake when you try to admit it.
What if you don’t admit it?
It becomes a belief. Whatever the essence, there is a possibility that it will be packaged that way.
That’s exactly what I need to do now.
“It’s true. What I did today is something you should have done a long time ago!”
For a cause, not for personal gain.
Raise your voice without hesitation in front of the chief.
“Chief! Do you know how many people die in the labyrinth every month?”
“You can’t be a warrior if you’re afraid of death.”
A clash of beliefs and convictions.
As a young warrior for his clan, he vents his anger and pleads for the future of his tribe.
Rather, I decided that this was a safer path.
Because the chieftain cherishes his warriors.
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“Bjorn, son of Yandel, you know that only the surviving warriors become strong warriors.”
The chief’s voice softened slightly, perhaps because he truly thought of the tribe as his own.
But if we end it here, we’ll end up with neither food nor death.
I asked back.
“Only the surviving warriors become stronger?”
“You are the proof!”
That’s certainly not wrong.
Half of them die on first entry.
The next time half of them died again.
So, after half a year from the end of the coming-of-age ceremony, 90% of them will be dead.
A deformed structure that can hardly be called survival of the fittest.
To survive there, you have to become strong, even if you don’t want to be strong.
but…….
“Chief, did you die this many times when you first became a warrior?”
“No.”
It was the expected answer.
I haven’t studied past records or anything, but if this structure had continued for another ten years, the Barbarians wouldn’t have been able to even hold a weapon during their coming of age ceremony.
“So is it because we are weaker than them that so many of us are dying? Chief, do you really think so?”
“This too… … is not so.”
Although it would have been reasonable to avoid making unfavorable statements, the chief answered the questions honestly.
Well, you probably know the map.
What is the decisive cause that brought the situation to this point?
“There are monsters in human form inside the labyrinth. They treat us like goblins. Why do you think that is?”
“The wizards took our hearts—”
The chief said.
I cut him off firmly and shouted.
“No! Because you didn’t do anything!”
If it were any other race, they would have asked the royal family to make a law to prevent the trading of hearts.
But our chief didn’t even make the slightest effort.
Using the tradition of survival of the fittest as a shield.
I just watched my race fall apart.
“You should have at least warned us of the danger! You should have told us what kind of monsters were lurking in the labyrinth and how to deal with them, and prepared us!”
“It’s a tradition that has been passed down from our distant ancestors. I can’t change that—”
“Our ancestors wanted us to become strong!!”
The chief’s decision cannot even be considered providential. Nowhere in the vastness of nature is there an animal that chooses death of its own accord.
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Everyone chooses evolution to adapt to new environments.
But the chief didn’t do the obvious thing.
“Chief! Look at us now! In the labyrinth, we have become as easy prey as goblins. We have been taught that only monsters are our enemies! But is this what our ancestors wanted?”
“… …Calm down.”
“If I were you, I would have sent you with a pair of leather boots. I would have given you a pouch to put the magic stone in. I would have even taught you how to use a compass—”
“Didn’t I tell you to calm down now!!!”
Oh, did I cross the line a little?
The cries of the chieftain, who had been beaten to a pulp by a warrior who had not even been in the army for a year, shook the forest.
“Speak frankly! So what do you want to say to me!”
It’s impossible to refute it logically, but it seems like it’s getting so hot that I can’t even listen to it.
“If you don’t do it right… … .”
I swallowed hard and continued my last line.
“I will do it, Chief.”
For me.
And for our Barbarians.
***
After I confidently stated my ambitions.
The chief was silent for a while.
He stared at me quietly as if he was organizing his thoughts.
and…….
‘I immediately swung the axe.’
First, I stepped back and avoided the axe.
[Giant] He reached out and grabbed the axe handle, and the struggle began.
It was a landslide victory for the tribal chief.
A giant figure, more than 3 meters tall, was suspended in the air, hanging from an axe.
So he put down his axe and ran towards the chieftain.
Well, then… … .
‘fist.’
Yeah, I slammed my fist into the chief’s face.
However, I didn’t feel the usual heavy grip, and when I came to my senses, I saw the chief’s large fist right before my eyes.
This was the last I remember.
‘… … Then this must be the chief’s tent.’
After calmly organizing the situation, I slowly opened my eyes.
As expected, it was a tent, and the chieftain was visible.
“You woke up early.”
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“… … Chief, your nose is blocked.”
“You too.”
Really? I feel like I can’t breathe properly.
It also tastes like blood when I swallow my saliva.
I opened my backpack next to the bed, took out a bottle of potion, took a few sips, and handed the rest to the chief.
“You eat some too.”
“… … Okay. Why waste the potion? If you leave it alone, it will get better by tomorrow.”
Well, then.
After roughly adjusting the nasal bone with my hand, I wiped away the blood that had accumulated as if blowing my nose and rubbed it on the bed.
And then we get to the main point.
First of all, this is the first thing to check.
“Are you all relieved?”
“… … I wasn’t angry from the beginning.”
“Then why?”
“I just felt like punching you because you were a little cocky.”
Anyway, I didn’t say anything because I felt like the anger had subsided.
Because there will be something important elsewhere.
‘Fortunately, it worked out well.’
He declared in front of the chief that he would become the chief.
It’s not like I was just excited and blurting out random things.
I just didn’t expect the chief to kill me or anything because of this.
“Are you so jealous of my position?”
“okay.”
Ambition and ambition are nothing to be ashamed of for a Barbarian.
This is especially true when beliefs and causes are intertwined.
“As expected, you are different from other warriors.”
“What does that mean?”
“Other warriors wanted the position of chieftain for the honor. But you only wanted to serve our tribe.”
Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to be a suspicion of an evil spirit.
It seems like the chief doesn’t dislike my appearance that much. If I had just used less force, I wouldn’t have been beaten up.
Anyway, did the chieftain have any excuses?
He brought up a somewhat random topic.
“If you really want to be specific, the previous chieftain was similar to you. When it came to our tribe’s affairs, he stepped forward without any consideration for the consequences. Do you know what happened then?”
“Are you talking about the Holy Relic War?”
“okay.”
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The Holy War.
It was the name given to the war with the fairies ten years ago.
A tragedy that began when a barbarian accidentally found a fairy relic in a labyrinth.
The Elves captured and interrogated the barbarian holding the holy relic, but the barbarian resisted fiercely.
And died.
“We fought the Elves for over a year before the royal family intervened. Our previous chieftain was killed in that battle.”
The Holy Relic War was the biggest reason for the weakening of the Barbarian power.
Countless warriors who should have led future generations died.
Meanwhile, the Magic Tower announced that the Barbarian’s heart was valuable as a magical material.
“I met with the tower masters, but they asked why we had to give up the magic ingredients for them.”
Well, it’s not like I really didn’t try hard.
“But I couldn’t go to war with the Magic Tower.”
“So, like I said—”
“Yes, it would have been better if we had warned and taught the young warriors of the dangers as you said.”
“what?”
The chief chuckled as I flinched as if I had heard something I shouldn’t have heard.
“You are still young, warrior. What you did this time was to instill hatred towards humans in the warriors.”
“They are not human, they are predators.”
“If you really believe that there’s a difference, then I’m mistaken.”
“… … But why can’t I hate humans?”
I asked out of pure curiosity, and the chief answered after a moment’s pause.
“If we hate them, there is no place for us to live.”
“The royal family of Lapdonia was afraid.”
It’s not that I don’t understand.
Because I know very well how much power the royal family has.
However, the chieftain muttered bitterly.
“Who in this world would not fear him? If the day comes when you meet him, you will be able to understand me.”
It’s not like they’re an army under the royal family.
The king, as if he were afraid of his very existence.
***
The conversation was then concluded briefly.
[I will turn a blind eye to you teaching the warriors about the raiders, but I will not stand by and watch if you go any further. Do not let the warriors harbor a great hatred towards humans.]
Although I was not chosen as the successor, it meant that they would acknowledge my ambitions and tolerate my growing influence within the tribe.
Well, I was warned to keep my distance, but… … .
A reward that you wouldn’t have gotten if you were too busy admitting your mistakes or making excuses.
[If you desire my position, become stronger, warrior. And prove that you are worthy. I will watch over you.] [Oh, and one more thing.] [Your fists are quite sharp.]
Hey, who would say that?
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I left the tent after hearing the chief’s compliments, which were not compliments at all.
The time when the sun sets beyond the castle walls.
The area around the tent was filled with barbarians.
Everyone was looking at me.
From baby barbarians to elders who were quite successful in their youth.
“You’re doing fine.”
“I heard the chief had a nosebleed… … .”
“Then really… … .”
They were looking at me with genuine curiosity as I returned from the tent alive and well. I roughly organized the location of my backpack and walked among them.
They just looked and didn’t come closer.
I guess he thought I was unpopular with the chief.
It was at that time that I took a few more steps.
“Bjorn!!”
Einar approached me.
“Are you okay? I heard you fought with the chieftain!”
“Oh, I’m fine.”
“So what happened? You declared that you would become the chief?”
The moment when Einar asks a direct question.
The ears of nearly a hundred Barbarians perked up simultaneously.
It would be a bad idea to just disappear from here.
I answered with a snicker.
“He told me to become stronger and prove my worth.”
Immediately I felt a commotion around me.
Some were surprised, and some said that it would be impossible even for a country like ours. Some even said that it would take several years, citing surprisingly realistic evidence.
The chieftain probably thought similarly.
but…….
“So? Bjorn, what did you say?”
At that time I answered.
“I don’t think it will take long.”
Yes, that’s what I answered.
***
On my way back to the city with Ainar, I met Charon.
And I made sure to hammer the nail in.
When teaching a baby barbarian, be sure not to hate humans too much.
“Ha, but! Didn’t you say that humans are the enemy?”
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“Not everyone is an enemy.”
Although it was a bit late to change the subject, Caron agreed when I told him about Dwalki.
“Yes, there is such a noble man among humans… … . Can I tell this story to the other warriors?”
“A story about Dwalki?”
“That would be a great example! We love warriors like that!”
“Didn’t you hear what I said? I’m a wizard, not a warrior.”
“Haha! That’s a strange thing to say. You fought with your life to protect your comrades, so how come you’re not a warrior?”
Oh, if you say it like that, I have nothing to say… … .
We just ended the argument and the conversation there.
“Then we will go now.”
“Yes! See you next time, Bjorn, son of Yandel! A great warrior who will lead us in the future!”
Somehow I feel like the modifiers have become longer again… … .
‘So it ended well, then?’
By the way, I just left the money copying bug alone.
The chieftain was only concerned that the hatred would deepen, but he said that it was within the acceptable range.
The money copying bug will probably be fixed in a few months.
The reason raiders targeted barbarians so much was because it was low risk, high return.
‘Once rumors start to spread that we’ve changed, there won’t be any more kids willing to risk their lives to attack us.’
But what if it’s a tier 3 monster?
Any kid in his right mind would have run away as soon as he saw that.
Drrrrrr!
As soon as I left the sanctuary, I led Ainar to my quarters. After a tearful meal on the first floor, I gave him the room next door that happened to be empty.
“Is it really okay for me to sleep in a place like this… … ?”
“Of course. You don’t have to pay me back later. This is nothing special now—”
“Biyo—reeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! I’ll follow you for the rest of my life!!”
“… … Be quiet. This is not a holy place.”
“Oh, really?!”
That was when I was giving Ainar that much attention.
My door, which should clearly be empty, opened from the inside.
“… … Bjorn? Who is that woman next to you?”
“Oh, you were here?”
Since we are teammates that will be working together in the future, I gave a brief introduction. Since we have talked about each other a few times before, there was no need for a long explanation.
“Nice to meet you! Misha Karlstein!! I’ve heard a lot about you! Bjorn’s comrades are my comrades!! I’ll be counting on you from now on!”
Perhaps nervous because it was his first time meeting his colleague, Einar almost shouted and held out his hand.
Misha was equally embarrassed.
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“Ah, uh… … . Nice to meet you… … .”
Misha, who had been shaking hands with Einar almost as if he was possessed, came to his senses and approached me.
And then he whispered in my ear.
“Hey, is this really the Ainar you were talking about? Didn’t you clearly say he was a barbarian back then!!”
“however?”
“Where does this guy look like a Barbarian!!”
Doesn’t anyone see that he’s a Barbarian?
At first I didn’t understand it, but when I thought about it, I understood why they were surprised. When you say Barbarian, most people imagine someone at least 2 meters tall.
The problem is that Ainar heard it.
“Misha Karlstein!! Are you insulting me because I’m short!!! I truly thought of you as a precious colleague… … !!”
“Ahh! No! I misheard!”
“I have good ears!!”
“S-sorry! That’s not what I meant. Okay? It’s just because you’re so pretty… … Yeah! That’s why I did it—”
“What the heck!! Misha Karlstein, how much longer are you going to insult me? Duel! I challenge you to a duel!!”
As soon as the trauma button was pressed, Einar started screaming and Misha tried to calm him down.
As I watched, I got a strong headache.
“Ugh… … My head… … .”
It was clear that the wound on his head from being hit by the chief had not yet fully healed.
Well, of course.
Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense.
Even before the five team members have gathered, the thorny path ahead of us must already be looming before our eyes.
