Click, click.
The sound of my footsteps echoed through the empty library.
"What's your name?"
"…Harin Suevi."
"Your name is as unique as your appearance."
Actually, my words could be considered racist.
Well, if a human had said them, that is.
'Being a barbarian is great.'
I'm a barbarian, immune to accusations of racism.
Harin didn't seem offended either, as she replied calmly,
"It's understandable that you find it unfamiliar. There aren't many families left in this city with such strong Eastern Continent bloodlines."
"Your ancestors were from the Eastern Continent?"
"Yes. My ancestor was a merchant who happened to be in this city when it was destroyed. Thankfully, he survived and escaped the disaster."
"…I see."
It was a concise explanation.
I was the one who was flustered.
Most evil spirits wouldn't know so much about their family history…
'Hyunbyul might be different.'
I couldn't shake off my suspicions as I moved on to the next question.
"What's your relationship with Viscountess Peprok?"
"I'm fortunate enough to be serving her."
So, it hasn't been long.
My suspicions grew.
But…
Click.
Unfortunately, we arrived at our destination before I could interrogate her further.
"I'll excuse myself."
"Thank you, Harin. You've been a great help."
She bowed politely and left the room, and I focused on the present.
"...."
Blue eyes and blue hair.
Her hair was styled in an updo, revealing her elegant neckline, and she exuded a noble aura.
But…
"It's been a while, Bjorn Yandel."
Her way of speaking hadn't changed.
I felt a momentary awkwardness at her unfamiliar appearance, but it was quickly replaced by a sense of familiarity.
"Yes, it's been a while, Ragna. Or should I call you Viscountess Peprok now?"
"You're still as playful as ever."
Playful? I was just confirming something.
I could guess what kind of relationship she wanted from the fact that she didn't object to me not using honorifics.
"You've changed."
"Have I…?"
She mumbled, touching her hair, but it wasn't just her hairstyle or attire.
She had matured.
Before, she had seemed fragile and insecure despite her sharp tongue. But now she seemed more composed and confident.
"I never imagined… that you would be alive, Yandel."
"Neither did I. I knew there was a story behind your name, but I didn't expect you to be the Marquis's daughter."
"...…What?"
"...…Huh?"
She froze and then frowned at my casual remark.
"…What are you talking about? Me, the Marquis's daughter?"
"…You're not?"
"No! No, I… Well, if it's true, it would explain a few things…"
What's going on?
______________________
"We need to clear this up first. Yandel, where did you hear that I'm the Marquis's daughter?"
"Uh…"
"If you can't tell me, at least tell me how reliable your source is. Please."
"I thought it was a reliable source. At least until I met you."
"So you trust your source…"
Hmm, is that right?
I don't even know Stag Antlers' name or face.
I was confused, but I tried to remain calm and asked,
"Can you… tell me your story? Maybe I can give you some advice."
Ragna hesitated for a moment and then spoke cautiously.
"…Alright. I can't hide it forever."
"...."
"And besides… it's not something I should be hiding."
Her words showed how much she had changed.
Before, she would have just refused to answer, her eyes filled with sadness.
She had matured, both inside and out.
I listened to her story.
"When I was young, my nanny always told me, 'Ragna, you have to live quietly and avoid attention. That's the only way to repay him.'"
"...."
"As you know, I'm not really from the Peprok family. My father just borrowed the name of a fallen family to create a new identity for me."
"I see…"
"I don't know who my father is, but my nanny told me he was a high-ranking noble. And that he would be in trouble if my existence was revealed. Ah, she also said that he loved me and was always watching over me, even though he couldn't meet me."
"...."
"I loved my nanny, but I didn't believe her when she said my father loved me. But I followed her advice. I lived a quiet life and even gave up magic, my only hobby. I just enjoyed learning magic, but for some reason, it always attracted attention."
That's why she was working as a librarian, despite being a talented mage.
"I loved her. I was willing to give up anything for her."
"Was… your nanny's name Ritanyel?"
"Yes."
That's why her full name wasn't listed in the roster.
It wasn't her real name.
"What about your mother? Do you know what happened to her?"
"I heard she died giving birth to me."
"I see…"
Her story answered most of my questions.
But the real question was…
"What happened next?"
What had happened to Ragna while I was gone?
Why had she become a Viscountess when she had wanted to live a quiet life?
"Not long after the royal family announced that you were an evil spirit, Marquis Terserion came to see me."
"…The Marquis?"
"Yes. He offered to revive the Peprok family if I worked for him."
It was an unexpected twist.
"Why? You didn't even know he was your father back then."
"Of course, I refused at first. My nanny was gone, but I was used to living in hiding. But… I changed my mind after hearing what he wanted."
"Can you tell me?"
"He wanted me to advocate for the integration of evil spirits into the city."
"...."
That's why she had brought up the integration proposal at the royal council meeting.
But there was still something I didn't understand.
The fundamental question.
Forget about why the Marquis made that offer.
"Why did you change your mind?"
Why did Ragna want to integrate evil spirits into the city?
"Because I know…"
Her answer was simple.
"There are good people among evil spirits."
"...."
"I didn't want… my friend to be remembered as a monster."
She looked away.
"Is that… a strange reason?"
I sighed and answered.
"Yes, it is."
To be honest, we weren't that close.
Or rather, that's how I had seen our relationship.
Somewhere between friends and acquaintances.
We would greet each other when we met, but we wouldn't stay in touch if we didn't.
But…
"Uh, uh… that's… that's—"
I quickly spoke before she could misunderstand.
"But."
"...?"
"Thank you, Ragna. I mean it."
There was nothing else I could say.
______________________
"...."
"...."
An awkward silence filled the library.
I broke the silence.
"Your letter didn't have a time on it."
"Ah… I forgot to write it down. I was in a hurry."
I had expected that.
I chuckled and asked,
"You were here early. How long have you been waiting?"
"…Not that long. Don't worry."
I see.
The conversation naturally shifted to the library being closed.
It was a bit surprising.
She could have just rented the entire library for the day, considering her status as a Viscountess…
"I didn't expect you to do that."
"I didn't want to attract attention."
"Hmm, then we could have met somewhere else."
"That's true, but… I thought it would be nice to meet here again."
I felt the same way.
But…
"So you decided to use your power?"
I teased her, and she replied with a straight face,
"Yes. Is there a problem with that? Can't I be selfish once in a while…?"
"Ah, uh, well…"
I couldn't argue with that.
I changed the subject, trying to lighten the mood.
We talked about Shabin Emure, a member of our former friend group.
It was a pleasant conversation.
But I soon got to the point.
"Ragna, I have something to tell you."
It wasn't what I had planned to say.
I had intended to subtly gather information about the Marquis and perhaps even recruit her as an ally.
But…
"Are you planning to give up your title?"
After hearing her story, I couldn't bring myself to do that. I just wanted her to be safe, away from this power struggle.
Of course, my hope was immediately crushed.
"I don't know why you're asking, but no. I'm not giving up my title."
"Why? Because the Marquis might be your father?"
"That's irrelevant. Whether he is or not, he'll always be a stranger to me."
"Then why are you clinging to your title? I'm back now, and the misunderstanding has been cleared. You don't need it anymore."
"Because it's the most valuable thing I can do. Of all the things I can do."
"…I don't understand."
"I've been researching and analyzing various cases to support this proposal. To prove that not all evil spirits are evil."
"…So you're saying you're serious about this, regardless of me?"
"Yes. In short, that's right."
She was serious.
"Haa…"
I changed my approach.
"Then how about leaving the Marquis's side? He doesn't seem to be interested in passing the proposal anyway."
"…What do you mean?"
"I heard that he was the one who opposed it the most when it was first brought up at the royal council meeting."
"That's… something I found strange as well. But he said he only did it because my proposal was poorly supported. He didn't want the other nobles to attack me."
"…What?"
"He said he would fully support me if I came back with a revised proposal that could convince the other nobles."
"You believe him?"
"Is there any reason why I shouldn't? That's why he summoned me in the first place."
"That's…"
Well, that was the official story.
I had tried to sow discord between them, but I still didn't know what the Marquis's true intentions were.
Why did he summon Ragna? And why did he suggest the integration proposal to her—
"Yandel, you seem to dislike the Marquis."
She asked, her tone slightly sharper than before.
'…She said he would always be a stranger… But I guess blood ties are hard to break.'
Things were getting complicated.
"I don't dislike him. I just… find his motives suspicious."
I quickly clarified before our relationship soured.
Thankfully, she seemed to believe me.
"I see. Yandel, I understand your concerns. But… don't worry too much. I can take care of myself now."
I envied her.
'Take care of herself…'
I was still struggling with that.
_______________________
I left the library after my conversation with Ragna. It was just past noon. She had been summoned by the Marquis.
"Harin, the Marquis wants to see me…?"
"Yes. He said he'll tell you everything in person."
"…Why are you looking at me like that? Don't worry, I was about to leave anyway. I'm hungry."
"I'll contact you again."
"Okay. And don't tell the Marquis about our meeting."
"Of course not. I don't want him to use our connection for his political gain. Ah, and Harin is trustworthy, so don't worry."
Ragna left with her secretary, Harin, and I watched them leave.
'Harin…'
I had learned a few things about 'Harin' while chatting with Ragna.
They had met about a year ago.
At the library.
Ragna had quit her job as a librarian, but she still frequented the library to research the integration policy. That's where she met Harin and became friends.
And…
'She liked Harin, and she was impressed by her skills, so she recently revealed her identity and hired her as her secretary and advisor.'
'Harin is… definitely Hyunbyul.'
There was no other possibility.
Ragna didn't have any other vassals.
But the problem was…
'Hyunbyul must have known. She could tell that Ragna was a noble just by looking at her clothes. She must have deliberately approached her and gained her trust.'
[I've recently found a powerful backer.]
I was worried.
[I'll use my influence to help you.]
Was Hyunbyul's 'powerful backer'…
Really Ragna?
Thump, thump.
If not…
'…No, she didn't seem to be lying when I asked her who she was working for.'
I shook my head.
I thought I knew Hyunbyul well.
She wouldn't lie to me.
'Ragna Ritanyel Peprok has a secret.'
A secret I didn't know about.
A big one.
-x-X-x-
When I returned home after meeting Ragna, I found two unexpected guests waiting for me.
"Oh! Mister, you're back! Your friends are here waiting for you."
"Friends…?"
I tilted my head and entered the living room. Two men, who had been enjoying refreshments on the sofa, stood up and greeted me.
"Is that… is that really Bjorn Yandel?! It really is Bjorn Yandel…!"
Hikurod Murad.
The dwarf.
And…
"…It's been a while. I heard you were alive, but it's still hard to believe."
Brown Lotmiller.
It was a reunion with familiar faces.
Well, I had seen the dwarf before, when I secretly visited his forge.
It was a rather shocking experience.
[Tsk, tsk… I explained everything so nicely because you looked rich, but to think you were just window shopping.]
I didn't expect to be scolded for just browsing.
"It's good to see you both. I was planning to visit you soon. Sorry for the delay."
"Haha! Don't apologize, my friend. I heard you've been busy lately."
"How did you know?"
"Well, news travels fast when you're a celebrity! I hear everything even when I'm stuck in the forge."
"…I see."
I felt a bit uneasy.
He knew about everything, from my visits to the families of the fallen explorers to the promotion ceremony, and even my recent meeting with the other survivors in Commelby. ℟ἈNọＢÊ𐌔
He had even read about our reunion in the newspaper.
"That's why we waited to visit you. I wanted to come sooner, but Lotmiller stopped me. He said we should wait until things calmed down."
"I see…"
I nodded at Lotmiller in gratitude and sat down on the sofa. Erwen, who had been watching our reunion, approached me.
"What can I get for you, Mister?"
"Just water, please. Cold."
"Okay!"
As Erwen went to the kitchen, the dwarf leaned closer and whispered,
"Did you know how surprised I was? I came here, and not only was the Blood Spirit Marquis here to greet us, she even served us tea with a smile!"
"…Ah, so this is your first time meeting Erwen?"
Lotmiller nodded, and the dwarf shook his head.
"I've met her once before. She came to see me after our team disbanded and asked about you, worried."
Ah, I think I heard about that.
"Back then, I never imagined that little fairy would become such a famous explorer… You never know what the future holds, do you?"
"That's true…"
Even I, who had seen her potential, hadn't expected her to grow so quickly. And I certainly hadn't expected her to earn the title of 'Blood Spirit Marquis'.
"By the way, Yandel."
Lotmiller spoke up.
"Have you met Miss Carlstain?"
Right, I was wondering when he would bring that up.
"Not yet."
"I see…"
"Have you seen her?"
"Once, after you were declared dead. I went to see her because I was worried, but she refused to meet me after that. And then she disappeared."
"Hikurod, what about you?"
"Same here. I thought she might have come to see you, considering how widespread the news is… I hope nothing bad happened…"
He was trying to be tactful, but I knew what he was worried about.
But Misha was safe.
Well, I didn't know if she was safe, but she was alive.
"I'm looking for her too. I'll bring her back, so don't worry."
"Well, if you say so… But… could it be because of the Blood Spirit Marquis?"
"…Why are you bringing up Erwen all of a sudden?"
"Well, there are rumors, you know… that you two are…"
He's still obsessed with gossip.
"It's not true."
I said firmly, and he sighed in relief.
"Really? That's good to hear…"
His words were strangely unsettling.
"…Good to hear?"
"Well, it's your choice, of course. But you've spent more time with Miss Carlstain, haven't you? And it's what Dwarkey wanted… I also thought you two were a good match—"
Clang!
The dwarf's teacup shattered.
And…
Thud.
Erwen emerged from the kitchen.
"Oh my, the teacup is broken."
With a smile on her face, she brought the cold water I had requested.
______________________
"Here's your water, Mister."
As soon as Erwen placed the glass on the table…
Whoosh!
…the shattered fragments floated into the air, defying gravity.
And so did the spilled tea.
"There, all clean now."
Erwen cleaned up the mess with her spirit magic and then left the room.
"...."
The dwarf, his teacup the only one missing from the table, didn't say a word as he watched Erwen leave.
He might have a loose tongue, but he wasn't oblivious.
"You should have been more careful. We're just guests here."
"…Haha, you're right. I-I made a big mistake…"
He chuckled awkwardly, as if he had just dodged a bullet.
Geez, he's so nosy.
The atmosphere was awkward, so I changed the subject.
"Anyway, how have you two been? Hikurod, you don't seem to be working at the forge these days."
"Huh? How did you know?"
"I visited your forge before. You didn't recognize me because I was smaller back then."
"What?! You came to my forge? And I didn't recognize you? Just because you were a bit shorter?"
He sounded incredulous, but it was the truth.
So I just said it bluntly.
"I was surprised."
"Ah, well, business has been good lately—"
"Not that. I was surprised that you kicked me out, saying I was scaring away your customers."
"...."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that business is good."
He blushed, as if I had just revealed his darkest secret, and then he chuckled awkwardly.
"Haha, it's embarrassing that you saw that…"
"I'm not blaming you. It's not a bad thing to earn money. I just thought you had changed."
"Well, I guess I have. It's a bit pathetic, isn't it? A former explorer who gave up on his dreams and became a merchant."
Uh, I didn't mean to be that harsh…
But I was curious, so I listened.
"But you see, Bjorn, I have a new dream. A bigger dream than wielding a hammer and forging metal."
"A dream of earning a lot of money?"
He chuckled.
"Something like that. It costs a lot of money to sponsor an orphanage."
"What?"
Wait a minute…
"…You're not saying…?"
"I can't do much yet, but I recently started sponsoring two orphanages."
Damn, now I feel bad.
I sighed inwardly, but…
"Bjorn, I'm going to earn a lot of money. No matter how ugly it gets. I don't have many options left, but those kids do."
"...."
"I want them to achieve the dreams I couldn't."
"...."
"That's my new dream."
He seemed… bigger today.
"...."
"...."
He chuckled awkwardly, seemingly embarrassed by his sudden outburst of passion, and I was speechless. I just drank my water.
Then Lotmiller spoke up.
"I'm just… taking a break."
It was an even more unexpected answer than the dwarf's.
This responsible man was unemployed?
"What about your academy? You were teaching explorers tracking skills, weren't you?"
"Unfortunately, I'm not cut out for business."
So it went bankrupt…
I was about to offer my condolences when the dwarf stood up abruptly.
"Hey, Lotmiller! It's your fault that the academy—"
"Stop."
"...?"
"Stop it, Murad. That's not why we're here."
"B-but…! He's a Baron! If we just ask him—"
"I said stop."
Lotmiller's voice was low and firm.
It was so cold and authoritative that even the dwarf gulped.
I felt a chill run down my spine.
'…What's with that voice?'
I had only seen Lotmiller angry once before.
During Team Misfits' last expedition.
He had been furious at himself for reaching his limit as an explorer.
And now he was using that tone on someone else?
This is why they say it's scary when kind people get angry.
'There must be a story behind this…'
I decided to ask the dwarf later, when we were alone.
"...."
"...."
The awkward silence returned.
I decided to get to the point.
"Hikurod."
"Huh? Ah, uh… What is it?"
"I have a business proposition for you."
"A business proposition…?"
"Yes."
It was an important matter, one that I would have brought up myself if they hadn't come to see me.
"You're making me nervous… Tell me about it."
"I'm going to expand my clan."
"And?"
"I want your forge to be our exclusive supplier."
"Oh! You're talking about the offer that only large guilds receive!"
As expected, he was delighted.
Okay, then it's time for the next step.
"Alright, let's sign the contract."
"Huh? A contract? But we're friends… do we really need that?"
"It's better to be formal when it comes to business."
"Hmm… that's true… But aren't you being a bit hasty? I need to review the contract…"
"Don't be so sensitive. What's there to think about? Just sign it. It's just a formality."
"Hmm… Alright…"
I quickly drafted the contract and had him sign it with his thumbprint.
In other words…
"It's done."
I had secured a reliable fence.
I wonder what his expression will be like when I bring him the Rose Knights' equipment.
______________________
The day after the dwarf and Lotmiller visited,
I put on my old equipment, the one I had received back from Bear and Ainar.
'It feels strange calling it my 'old' equipment…'
Anyway, it was my first time wearing a full set of armor since returning to this time period.
「Character has equipped Adamantium Large Battle Shield.」
「Total item level increased by +1,750.」
A 5th-grade metal shield.
And…
「Character has equipped Laithium Breastplate.」
「Total item level increased by +270.」
My trusty breastplate, the one I had repaired countless times and repurchased whenever it was beyond repair.
「Character has equipped Idium Greaves.」
「Total item level increased by +400.」
The greaves I had obtained in the Doppelganger Forest.
「Character has equipped No. 8,667 Outlaw of the Wasteland.」
「Total item level increased by +315.」
A belt.
「Character has equipped No. 8,820 Iron Wall.」
「Total item level increased by +310.」
Boots that doubled Physical Resistance and Magic Resistance for 3 seconds when activated.
And…
'Why did Bear have this? It's making me feel strange…'
My special magic underwear, enchanted with 'Auto-Repair', 'Shape Shifting', 'Acid Immunity', and later 'Cleanliness'.
Also known as the 'Egg Guard'.
'Well, I don't really need it anymore with [Unification]…'
But it was a sentimental item, so I had always kept it.
'I got the 'Soul of the Deceased' and the 'Orb of Fire' back from Raven, so I just need to get the necklace from Misha…'
It felt like I was collecting Dragon Balls.
Swoosh.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror and was glad I had refused their offer to repay me for the equipment.
They were in perfect condition.
I was already grateful that they had kept them safe, but they had even repaired the damage from the Stormgush incident.
The repair costs must have been significant.
'Misha only took the necklace…'
Damn it, that was the most valuable item I had.
'Alright, everything's in order…'
I left the house after checking my equipment.
It was my first time going out in full armor since returning to this time period.
There wasn't much combat in the city.
I usually just wore the breastplate.
But today was different.
Thud, thud.
I walked for a while and reached the outskirts of the 7th District.
The gate that connected to the other districts was closed, and a guard on the wall looked down at me, as if demanding a password.
Damn it, can't he tell just by looking at me?
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
I roared like a true barbarian, and the gate opened without any further identification.
And…
Thud, thud.
I walked through the forest path I had taken with my fellow barbarians after the coming-of-age ceremony.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel! Bjorn, son of Yandel!"
"The strongest warrior, inheritor of the Giant's name!"
The barbarians I encountered along the way stopped what they were doing and followed me. Their instincts told them…
That something interesting was about to happen.
"Waaaaaaaaaah!!"
"Bjorn, son of Yandel, has returned!!"
By the time I reached the barbarian residential area… a collection of haphazardly built huts… there were hundreds of warriors following me.
And…
"…So the rumors were true."
The barbarians who had been staying in the residential area had also heard the news and were waiting for me.
Thud, thud.
I walked forward, and they parted like the Red Sea, pounding their chests.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
If humans saw this, they would think it was some kind of festival.
Thump! Thump!
I reached the chieftain's hut.
Ainar was standing in front of it.
So she really was staying here, receiving training to become the next chieftain.
"…Is the chieftain inside?"
I greeted Ainar and asked, and she stepped aside, allowing me to enter.
He's letting me go in directly?
Alright.
Thud, thud.
I reached the entrance of the hut, and the curtain was pulled aside, revealing a giant barbarian.
The chieftain.
The one who had ruthlessly beheaded 'Olm, son of Kiduah' on the day I first woke up in this world.
"You're late, Bjorn, son of Yandel."
The chieftain himself.
He looked down at me, a massive axe resting on his shoulder.
"I thought you had forgotten about us after becoming a noble."
He's really big.
I had returned to my original size, and yet I still had to look up at him.
"Forget about you? Never."
He laughed heartily, seemingly satisfied with my answer.
And then…
"Welcome back, warrior of the tribe!"
He spread his arms and embraced me.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel!"
And then he asked me a question.
But it wasn't the usual kind of question you would ask someone you hadn't seen in a long time.
He didn't ask where I had been for the past two years and six months.
He didn't ask if the royal family's announcement was true.
He didn't ask if I was in any trouble.
Instead…
"So—"
He got straight to the point.
"Why are you here?"
And I answered.
It wasn't exactly appropriate, considering the circumstances…
But I was a barbarian too.
"I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
I looked at him and said,
"Let's fight."
"….."
"For the position of chieftain."
He didn't hesitate.
"Alright."
He accepted my challenge.
And at that moment…
"B-Behel—ladaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
"Behel—layaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!"
All the barbarians roared in unison.
_________________________
「Bjorn Yandel」
Level: 7
Physical: 1,390.55 / Mental: 521.3 / Ability: 2,197.65
Item Level: 7980 (New +1,695)
Total Combat Power: 6,104.5 (New +423.75)
Absorbed Essences: Orc Hero - Rank 5 / Ogre - Rank 3 / Bion - Rank 3 / Stormgush - Rank 3 / Vol-Herchan - Rank 3 / Deep Sea Giant - Rank 3
-x-X-x-
A noble is a king's subject.
Then, is it possible for a noble to simultaneously hold the position of leader of a tribe?
If someone were to ask that, the answer is very simple.
No one knows.
'Because there's no precedent.'
Of course, it was clear that there would be a huge uproar in the noble society if the first case ever arose.
Again, a noble is a king's subject.
A noble must act only for the king and the kingdom.
Not for a specific tribe.
Even if there is no law or system prohibiting it, there is still an unspoken rule.
But…
"Let's move."
The chieftain didn't mention anything about those political issues.
Whether it was because he didn't know about the unspoken rule, I couldn't tell.
However, I let go of my curiosity.
What did it matter if the chieftain knew or not? Even if he did, the outcome wouldn't have changed. The chieftain was also a barbarian.
The aftermath… well, it didn't matter.
Just like the thousands of warriors roaring around me.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!"
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!"
Leading a crowd so large that it could be said that all the warriors within the sanctuary had gathered, we moved to a place called the 'Grounds of Proof'.
It was the place where warriors, who would usually brawl anywhere when a small dispute arose or during training, would go to engage in a sacred 'duel'.
'Well, it's just a large pit dug in the middle of the forest.'
Indeed, the 'Grounds of Proof' was very crudely made.
The ground wasn't even, filled with pebbles, and sometimes rainwater would pool there, and duels would be held in that state.
But…
Thump!
My warrior's heart started to race as soon as I arrived.
Yes, what did it matter whether it was a grand marble floor or a place with a towering statue? The important thing was that the chieftain had brought me here.
Unlike the last time we fought, he didn't just swing his axe at me.
'I feel… acknowledged.'
It was a strange feeling.
I wasn't even a real barbarian warrior.
Thump!
Why was I so excited?
Boom!
The chieftain, who had been standing opposite me, jumped down into the pit, which was over 7 meters deep.
A cloud of dust arose with a booming sound.
I exchanged glances with Ainar before following him down.
But…
'What's that?'
She nodded at me, as if cheering me on, but she wasn't smiling like she usually did.
'…Maybe she thinks I stole it from her.'
It was understandable.
After all, Ainar was the one who had been studying and training to become the next chieftain while I was gone.
Maybe she wasn't happy about my challenge—
"Bjorn…"
Ainar approached me and shouted, her voice tense and serious,
"Win! You have to win! I believe in you!!"
I felt a sense of relief.
So she was just nervous for me?
'That actually calms me down.'
I chuckled and bumped fists with her.
"Alright. I won't let you down."
I then jumped down into the pit, into the Grounds of Proof.
Boom!
A tingling sensation shot up from my feet, and a cloud of dust surrounded me. I could hear Ainar's voice from above, piercing through the cheers of the crowd.
"The great warrior has promised victory—!!"
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!"
Damn, now I can't afford to lose.
'Not that I was planning to.'
I focused my gaze forward.
I could see the chieftain approaching through the dust cloud.
Thud, thud.
His footsteps echoed through the air, even amidst the deafening roar of the crowd.
Thud.
He stopped at a distance and drew the large axe from his back. I quickly grabbed my hammer and shield, assuming a fighting stance.
And…
Swoosh—
There were no introductions.
No oaths sworn before a priest.
Not even any trash talk like the brawls between explorers.
Just…
"...."
We exchanged glances, confirming that we were ready.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!"
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
And then we charged at each other.
_______________________
Axe and shield clashed.
Clang!
The chieftain, slightly taller than me, swung his massive axe down.
A clash of strength followed.
'Back then, he lifted me up with his axe, even though I was using [Gigantification].'
I remembered our previous encounter, but the outcome was different this time.
I didn't have Penny's 'Blessing of the Earth Dragon', Bion's essence, Stormgush's essence, Vol-Herchan's essence, or the Deep Sea Giant's essence back then.
I wouldn't lose in a strength contest now.
But…
「Character has cast [Gigantification].」
I activated [Gigantification] and pushed him back, axe and all.
I had been annoyed by…
Zzzzt—
…him looking down on me.
「Character has cast [Wild Release].」
「Threat level temporarily increased by 3 times, and physical stats increase proportionally.」
I roared and swung my hammer at the chieftain, who had been pushed back.
「Character has cast [Swing].」
「Blunt weapon damage is greatly increased proportionally to Strength.」
The chieftain blocked the attack with his axe.
Clang!
A deafening roar erupted as our weapons collided.
「Gudnulf Olga has cast [Frictional Heat].」
A wave of heat washed over me.
But that was all.
「Target's weapon absorbs a certain amount of impact.」
「Heat generated.」
It was a stacking skill.
"...!"
The more stacks it accumulated, the stronger it became, but in the early stages of the battle, it was just a minor damage reduction skill.
The chieftain's massive body bent forward.
'Okay, that's a good angle.'
I kicked him in the stomach with all my might, and his body flew into the air like a soccer ball.
He was airborne.
Whooosh!
I wouldn't miss this opportunity.
I swung my hammer like a baseball bat.
But at that moment…
Whoosh!
The chieftain stomped on the air and leaped even higher.
「Gudnulf Olga has cast [Flame Leap].」
It was an advanced movement skill, superior to [Leap].
Unlike the Manticore's skill, it could be used in midair, but the distance was shorter.
And most importantly, the additional effect was different.
「Fire damage of the next skill used is increased by 200%.」
A double damage bonus, a rare effect for a movement skill.
That's why it was considered the ultimate movement skill for fire-based builds…
「Gudnulf Olga has cast [Thunderflame].」
He landed behind me and swung his axe down.
Kwaaang!
An explosion erupted on my shield, and for the first time in a while, I felt the impact in my bones.
「Heat generated.」
It felt like I was fighting a boss monster.
I swung my hammer, determined to return the favor.
And…
Thud!
What? It landed?
The hammer struck his jaw, and he stumbled back three steps.
'Ah… he's a strength-based fighter too…'
I had been fighting mostly agility-based explorers lately, so I guess I forgot.
Clang!
I swung my hammer again before he could recover, but he blocked it with his axe.
「Heat generated.」
Three stacks now?
I didn't need to keep track.
He would let me know when he reached 10 stacks.
「Heat generated.」
「Heat generated.」
「Heat generated…」
「….」
「The next attack is enhanced by the accumulated heat.」
「Gudnulf Olga has cast [Flame Leap].」
「Fire damage of the next skill used is increased by 200%.」
He leaped into the air and swung his axe down.
I couldn't just stand there and take it.
Tadat.
I could have blocked it, but I decided to dodge to preserve my shield.
And…
Kwaaang!
His axe slammed into the ground, creating a crater large enough to bury three people.
'Okay, is that 10 stacks?'
His normal attacks were enhanced every 10 stacks, so I had to be careful.
If I got hit in the head, even I would be in trouble—
'Huh?'
He suddenly stomped on the ground.
It was the 3rd-grade monster, Hellsmith's, skill.
「Gudnulf Olga has cast [Hammering].」
「The flames within the earth awaken.」
I was surprised.
I didn't expect him to use his ultimate skill so early.
Kwaaang!
The ground cracked open, and flames engulfed his body. Or rather, covered his body.
[Hammering] was a buff skill.
「Damage of all fire skills is greatly increased.」
「Physical stats are greatly increased proportionally to Fire Affinity.」
「Continuously burns the surroundings.」
He charged at me, his body wreathed in flames.
Whoosh!
I blocked his axe with my shield, but the heat scorched my skin.
Well, it was better with the Orb of Fire activated.
「Orb of Fire activated.」
「All fire damage received within a 15-meter radius is reduced by 50%.」
I'm glad I brought it.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
"Bjorn, son of Yandel, is pushing back the Flame Warrior!!"
"Wooooooo—!!"
The exchange continued, and as the spectators roared, I gained the upper hand.
I had the advantage in terms of elemental affinity.
Clang!
I blocked all his attacks with my hammer, and he couldn't break my stance because he was weaker than me.
Whoosh!
The fire damage was negligible, easily healed by my natural regeneration…
「The next attack is enhanced by the accumulated heat.」
…and I dodged the more dangerous attacks.
He must be frustrated.
It's not like I'm a pure tank with impenetrable defenses.
Thud!
I was still landing blows, despite focusing on defense.
Kwaaang!
He was a tough opponent.
「The next attack is enhanced by the accumulated heat.」
He swung his axe without using the [Flame Leap] combo, denting my Adamantium shield.
「Gudnulf Olga has cast [Nature's Resonance].」
「Gudnulf Olga has cast [Fuse].」
He unleashed a barrage of powerful skills, befitting his title of Flame Warrior.
And that wasn't all.
「All stats are temporarily increased by the accumulated heat.」
He became even more ferocious when he reached 50 stacks.
「Gudnulf Olga gains regeneration proportional to the fire damage dealt due to the unique effect [Embers].」
「Gudnulf Olga's stats increase proportionally to the resources consumed due to the unique effect [Incandescence].」
The various effects of the Golden Sun Engraving were also surprisingly troublesome.
Judging by the activation of [Incandescence], he must have at least the 9th-grade engraving…
'Damn it, that's why he's so persistent.'
He was a textbook example of a high-level barbarian warrior.
Powerful attacks, a sturdy body, regeneration…
And most importantly…
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!"
…the more cornered he was, the more ferocious he became.
'His title is… the Flame Warrior…'
I finally understood the stories about his younger days.
He had been offered a leadership position in one of the largest clans back then.
It was because of the Frost Lord's Palace raid, an 8th-floor rift.
I hadn't thought much of it back then, but…
'He's definitely worthy of that offer.'
He might be considered one of the weaker chieftains, but he was still strong.
But he couldn't overcome the clear difference in level.
'It's time…'
…to end this.
'One, two, three…'
As I counted to three, the flames surrounding his body dissipated.
「[Hammering] deactivated.」
His ultimate buff had finally ended.
I immediately intensified my attacks.
Clang!
I used [Swing] on every attack, and I continuously chained [Transcendence] and [Eye of the Storm], not giving him a chance to breathe.
Of course, this would drain my MP quickly…
'But I haven't even used [Soul Dive] yet.'
As if sensing my determination to end the fight, the chieftain's resistance became even more fierce.
And…
Crack!
My shield, which had been dented by his axe countless times, finally shattered.
Damn, how much will it cost to repair this?
I felt a pang of regret, even in this tense situation, but it was still a good deal.
If it weren't for the shield, it would have been my arm that was shattered.
Thud!
I used my now-free hand to punch him in the jaw. He glared at me and swung his axe even as his jaw was dislocated.
Clang!
I blocked his axe with my hammer.
And at that moment…
「All heat has been fully charged.」
His axe started to glow red, as if it had just come out of a forge.
Damn it, he finally reached full stacks.
I had tried to finish him off before that.
「The stat increase from Heat is greatly amplified.」
He had reached full stacks, but his condition was far from perfect. Blood was dripping from his forehead, and his entire body was swollen and bruised.
I honestly didn't know how he was still standing…
'Ah.'
I finally realized.
This is what it felt like for the others…
"Bjorn, son of Yandel."
He spoke.
Damn it, can't he at least put down his glowing axe before talking?
But it was the first time he had spoken during the battle, so I listened while dodging his attacks.
"You've become stronger."
Is that what he wanted to say?
"I think I can entrust the tribe to you now."
His eyes didn't show any sign of defeat.
And his next words confirmed it.
"But…"
He roared, his voice filled with a fierce determination.
"I'm still not going to lose!!"
"...."
"I'm the one who wins…!!!"
He charged at me again, ignoring the pain from my hammer blows.
My response was the same.
Dodge, block, counter, and keep swinging until he falls.
And then…
"————!"
"——, ——— ——!"
The sounds around me faded away, as if I was wearing earplugs.
The warriors on the cliff were still roaring, but…
I could only hear the sounds I needed to hear.
It wasn't anything special.
"———, —————!!!"
Barbarians only hear what they want to hear.
And right now, it was his breathing, the sound of his feet hitting the ground…
Whooosh!
…and the wind.
Tadat.
I didn't dodge with my eyes.
My body moved on its own.
I jumped back, and his red-hot axe grazed my body.
"…!"
What the…
How did I dodge that? If I had been hit, I would have been in serious trouble.
And what did he do to make his axe swing upwards like that?
I felt a chill run down my spine as questions flooded my mind.
But my body was already moving.
Crack!
I swung my hammer, aiming for his hand.
His wrist bent at an unnatural angle, but he didn't let go of his axe.
So I swung again.
Crack!
His wrist shattered, and the axe fell to the ground.
But it wasn't over yet.
"...?"
He clenched his remaining hand into a fist and glared at me.
It was a silent challenge.
'Damn barbarians…'
I felt a mix of emotions.
He was being stubborn, but it was also admirable.
And I was a bit disappointed.
I had wanted a more spectacular knockout, considering the audience…
'Well, I guess it can't be helped…'
This was also a barbarian thing.
Thump!
I threw my hammer to the ground.
And I deactivated [Gigantification].
And…
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!"
I fought him until he was satisfied.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
It seemed like I wasn't the main character today.
"W-we have a winner…!!"
"Bjorn, son of Yandel! Bjorn, son of Yandel is the new chieftain…!!"
The succession ceremony finally ended long after lunchtime.
-x-X-x-
The moment I emerged from the pit after the duel with the chieftain, the warriors, who had been cheering excitedly, suddenly fell silent and stared at me.
They seemed to be waiting for me to say something.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
I let out a war cry, and the warriors roared in satisfaction.
Ugh, my ears.
Swoosh.
I glanced down at the pit as I basked in the cheers of the warriors.
The elders were carrying the defeated chieftain away.
It was a lonely sight, the end of a warrior.
But no one cared.
It was just the natural order of things.
The winner and the loser.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
A celebration erupted, even though there were no preparations. The warriors who could play instruments started drumming, while the others just pounded their chests.
Everyone danced and drank, their voices echoing through the sanctuary.
They built a bonfire, and meat, which seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, was roasted and shared.
And as the sun began to set…
"Great warrior! Where are you going?!"
"Peace."
I left the noisy celebration and headed towards the residential area. The warriors I encountered along the way tried to talk to me, but they seemed more interested in enjoying themselves than in celebrating my victory.
Step, step.
The further I walked from the center of the festivities, the darker and quieter it became.
Thump! Thump!
The distant sound of drums echoed through the forest path.
Ainar, who had disappeared during the celebration, was walking towards me from the opposite direction.
"Bjorn? What are you doing here?"
She seemed surprised that I was leaving the festivities.
"I'm going to see the chieftain. Where is he?"
"In his tent."
"Is he awake?"
"Well, he was sleeping until a while ago."
"So you were just there?"
"I was a bit worried."
"Really?"
I didn't ask her what she was worried about. She had been learning from the chieftain while I was gone.
She must have felt conflicted.
And she probably had a lot to say.
"But congratulations, Bjorn! I found out later that you're the first! No warrior has ever become chieftain at such a young age!"
"So I'm the youngest?"
"Y-yes! That's right! The youngest! Isn't that amazing?"
Hmm, it was new information, but it didn't feel real.
"Anyway, if you're going to see the chieftain, why don't we go together?"
"But weren't you just there?"
"Haha! What does it matter? I was heading this way anyway!"
"Alright."
We walked towards the chieftain's tent, chatting idly.
We talked about the duel and the chieftain's condition.
His injuries were almost healed.
"The elders are all stingy! They said he would heal without potions, so I had to force them to use them! Can you believe that?!"
"...."
"And the coming-of-age ceremony! I said we should at least give them proper shoes! But those stubborn elders kept talking about tradition! I told them I was being rational!" ᚱΑƝO͍BÊS̈
"Ainar."
"Huh?"
"You're supposed to say 'irrational' in that situation."
"Ah… really?"
She scratched her head, embarrassed.
And…
Step, step.
We walked in silence for a while.
Ainar spoke again as we approached the chieftain's tent.
"Bjorn."
She slowed down and walked behind me, then she patted my shoulder.
"You're better than me. You're smart, you're strong, and the warriors follow you naturally."
So she wasn't completely indifferent.
"Ainar—"
I turned around to say something, but she cut me off.
"So take care of them."
"…?"
"You'll do a much better job than me! The other warriors will think so too!"
I didn't know where she got the '150 times better' figure from, but I just nodded.
"I will."
"Really? Then that's enough. Go ahead. I'm going to join the other warriors and have some fun."
"Okay. See you later."
She turned around and walked away, and I entered the chieftain's tent.
"You're here."
The chieftain was awake.
And he looked surprisingly well.
Did Ainar use a potion on him? His body was still a bit swollen, but that was all.
Creak.
I pulled up a chair and sat down.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me."
"Really?"
Well, I was just being polite.
I got straight to the point.
"When will you hand over the position of chieftain?"
"Tomorrow morning."
It was an unexpected answer.
"I thought it would take longer. You have to inform the other warriors."
"The news has already spread throughout the city. They'll come if they want to."
Hmm… he's not wrong.
The number of warriors who had come to the sanctuary after hearing the news had increased exponentially as the celebration continued.
"But… you seem quite relaxed, considering how hard you fought."
His second question was out of personal curiosity.
"I never thought it was the right position for me. Of course, I'm still disappointed that I lost."
"I see."
"So why did you challenge me?"
He seemed to be sure that I had another reason for coming here. I chuckled and revealed my true intentions.
"I want to hear about the King."
"…The King?"
"Yes, what kind of person is he?"
I would be the chieftain tomorrow.
It was time for me to learn about the kingdom's secrets.
______________________
"The King…"
The chieftain leaned back against the wall and chuckled bitterly.
"Once."
"Huh?"
"I only met him once."
It was surprising.
I thought he knew a lot about the King, judging by his fear.
"It was during the Holy Artifact War… over thirteen years ago. I had just become chieftain. I attended the Tribal Council with the ambition of reviving our declining tribe. That's where I saw him for the first time."
His gaze was fixed on the empty space before him, his breathing ragged.
As if he was reliving that day.
"…What happened?"
"At first, it was just an ordinary council meeting. The dwarf and the beastman were talking about something I didn't understand, and I was busy arguing with the elf and the old mage from the Mage Tower, who was representing the humans."
"The Mage Tower? Shouldn't the King be the one representing the humans?"
"He should be, but that's how it's always been since I became chieftain. The humans were always represented by someone else."
"I see…"
It was new information to me.
As an ordinary warrior, I had no access to information about the Tribal Council.
"Anyway, that's what made that day special."
The King's appearance, a once-in-a-lifetime event.
But the chieftain still didn't know why the King had appeared during the meeting.
"I was arguing with the old mage, and then I looked up, and he was there. None of us recognized him at first. One of us even tried to kick him out, asking who he was. But…"
"…But?"
"He only said one word."
Kneel, my subjects.
The moment those words left his mouth, the chieftains forgot their words, their questions, and their doubts. They just knelt before him.
And…
"We spoke words we didn't even know we knew."
"What words?"
"Your Majesty."
It was a chilling experience, the chieftain said. He had felt a sense of helplessness, as if his will had been completely suppressed.
But I was more interested in something else.
'Mind control… Is he a mage?'
What was the source of the King's power?
There were no essences or magic that could control someone without physical contact.
The only possibility was magic.
But the chieftain shook his head firmly.
"It wasn't magic or an essence. It was like… his voice had power. It felt like it was engraved in my blood and soul from the moment I was born. That he was my King, my master."
His story only made me more confused, but I continued listening.
"So what happened next?"
"Nothing much. He just looked at us, as if searching for someone, and then he said, 'He's not here,' and left. And then we could finally breathe again."
That was the end of his story.
I checked a few things before starting my deduction.
"How strong were the chieftains back then? Well… most of them were around my level."
The King's 'mind control' was absolute.
He had controlled eight high-level explorers with a single word.
And the range of his control seemed to be unlimited.
"You're saying we couldn't resist because it was a simple order? That's ridiculous. We would have rather died than kneel before a stranger."
The chieftain was certain.
If the King had ordered him to die, he would have done it without hesitation.
'If it wasn't an essence or magic… what did he do?'
I didn't know.
But there was still a glimmer of hope.
"Ah, and the old mage from the Mage Tower only realized who he was after we knelt. He quickly followed suit."
Maybe it doesn't work on humans.
It was a possibility, but I couldn't be sure.
The King might have only used his power on the chieftains.
'…Anyway, it's certain that the King has that ability.'
It was a valuable piece of information.
I asked one last question.
"What did he look like? Did he seem sick?"
"…I don't remember. His age, his gender, even his voice… I can't remember anything."
Hmm… could it be that the King can manipulate memories?
Or maybe he used some kind of magic or item. Unlike mind control, there were many things that could achieve a similar effect.
"So, are you satisfied with my answers?"
"Sort of."
"Really? That's good to hear."
He waved his hand dismissively, telling me to leave.
And…
'This is strange…'
Something bothered me.
"Chieftain, can I ask you one last question?"
"Hurry up."
"Why do you seem so indifferent? You must know what I'm planning to do as the new chieftain."
He had told me before that we couldn't survive if we hated humans.
That we had to endure, even if it was unfair.
It was a frustrating statement, but it was understandable from his perspective.
But…
"Why should I care? I'm not the chieftain anymore."
He chuckled.
"I'm just a barbarian now."
A warrior, not a leader.
"And…"
He continued,
"We've always been the ones who charged headfirst into battle. Does that answer your question?"
"…It does."
"Good. Now leave. I'm hungry."
I left the tent and found an empty one to sleep in.
And the next morning…
"Waaaaaaaaaah!"
In front of over ten thousand warriors…
"Warriors, I, Bjorn, son of Yandel, swear on my honor as a warrior!"
There was no point in giving a complex speech.
They wouldn't understand anyway.
So I kept it short and simple.
"We will become stronger! We will reclaim everything we have lost! And we will march forward!"
I looked at the city walls in the distance and declared.
And…
「Character's position within the tribe has changed from 'Ordinary Warrior' to 'Chieftain'.」
「Special stat 'Approval Rating' created.」
I became the Barbarian Lord.
______________________
「Character's Approval Rating has increased by +1.」
「Character's Approval Rating has increased by +1.」
「Character's Approval Rating has increased by +1.」
「Character's Approval Rating has increased by +1.」
「Character's Approval Rating… 」
「….」
「….」
-x-X-x-
There are various special stats in [Dungeon and Stone], and among them are hidden stats that don't affect the Total Combat Power.
A prime example is the Fame stat.
'Well, calling it a 'stat' is a bit of a stretch…'
Higher Fame means more people recognize you, which increases the chances of triggering special events like hidden quests. It also gives you a base affinity bonus when talking to NPCs you meet for the first time.
Just by looking at this, it seems like a useful stat.
But…
'It's more like a numerical representation of your reputation.'
The cause and effect are reversed.
You don't gain those effects because your Fame is high.
It's because you're famous enough to trigger those effects that your Fame stat is high.
If you created a status window for a famous celebrity, their Fame stat would be incredibly high, and the effects would be similar.
Anyway, 'Approval Rating' was also that kind of stat.
Increased control within the tribe.
Reduced opposition.
Increased policy success rate and order completion rate.
It was a useless stat for ordinary explorers, but it became incredibly important once you entered the management aspect of the game.
Well, barbarians are an exception.
「Character's Approval Rating has increased by +1.」
「Character's Approval Rating has increased by +1.」
「Character's Approval Rating has increased by +1…」
「….」
「….」
Barbarians have an incredibly high Approval Rating from the start, as long as they become chieftain through the proper channels.
It's a legitimate right.
Warriors respect the chieftain's authority and obey their orders.
'The problem is that unlike other races, a high Approval Rating doesn't guarantee a permanent rule.'
The chieftain can be challenged at any time.
But that's not a big deal.
Or rather, it's a good thing.
It means I won't be removed from my position, no matter what I do.
As long as I don't lose.
'…But I should still try to increase it. The tribe will get depressed if it's too low.'
As I was thinking that, Ainar, who was cleaning the large tent I was going to move into, spoke to me.
"Bjorn…! Why are you just standing there?!"
It was a foolish question, coming from Ainar.
"Because I'm the chieftain."
"…B-but it's unfair that I have to do all the work—!"
"And Ainar, you're an elder now."
"...An elder? Me…?"
Ainar was dumbfounded.
She hadn't expected this sudden promotion.
"Of course! Who else can I trust more than you?"
"W-well…!"
"You're Ainar, the second daughter of the Storm Sword, one of the Seven Strengths! I can't understand why the previous elders and chieftain treated you like an ordinary warrior!"
"Uh… I'm not that great…"
She lacked confidence.
"These are the words of Bjorn, son of Yandel, Baron of Lafdonia and Chieftain of the Barbarians! So believe me!"
If you pressure them with your authority, they'll just assume you're right.
「Character's Approval Rating has increased by +1.」
It didn't take long for Ainar to be convinced.
"R-really?"
"Yes."
"I-I see! I'm an elder now!!"
"Can you finish the cleaning? I have chieftain duties to attend to, and it's your role as an elder to assist me."
"Of course! I'm good at assisting!"
She happily returned to her cleaning duties, and I closed my eyes.
Not because I was sleepy, but because I had a lot to think about.
'It's worse than I expected…'
I had received a brief report from the former chieftain, and the tribe's situation was dire.
From finances to population, welfare, and infrastructure…
Everything was a problem.
I was surprised that the tribe had even managed to survive this long, and I didn't know where to start.
But…
'I've been through worse.'
I categorized the tasks as 'Tribal Quests' and prioritized them based on difficulty.
The first quest was clear.
1. Restructure the Cabinet.
It was the first quest I had to complete as the chieftain.
But I wasn't sure if it could even be called 'restructuring'.
"Um… Bjorn?"
Ainar cautiously tapped my shoulder.
"Call me Chieftain in the sanctuary."
"Uh… C-chieftain…?"
"Good. What is it?"
"I've been thinking… It's unfair that I have to do all the chores!"
Tsk, educated people…
They know the meaning of 'unfair' because they read books.
"Find another warrior or do it yourself! Or… order another elder to do it! I hate cleaning!"
I chuckled at her bold declaration.
"Alright. You can stop cleaning."
"…Are you going to find another elder?"
"No. And besides, you're the only elder."
"…Huh? What do you mean?"
Ah, she doesn't know.
I explained the situation to the 1st Elder.
"The previous elders retired with the former chieftain."
"What?! Those old geezers?! Did they leave because they couldn't accept you?!"
"Calm down. That's not it."
At first, I thought they had staged a boycott because they didn't trust me, a noble…
But that wasn't the case.
[You're going to keep exploring the labyrinth, even though you're the chieftain? Haha! Good luck! And try not to die this time!]
They were indifferent to my declaration that I would continue exploring the labyrinth.
And they didn't question my legitimacy as a noble.
They were just happy to retire.
[Kkeuk, kkeuk, kkeuk… You're in for a rough ride. Young warriors these days always choose the hard path.]
[Good luck! And don't come to me for help! I'm done with calculations!]
I found out later that the previous elders were the former chieftain's friends, and they had only accepted their positions out of obligation.
They had been complaining about quitting every day, and the former chieftain had to 'persuade' them to stay.
"So don't be too upset about them trying to save money."
"…Huh?"
"The tribe's coffers are empty."
Ainar's eyes welled up as I told her about the elder who had lamented about not being able to afford new weapons for the coming-of-age ceremony.
"…T-they…"
She looked like a little girl who had just discovered her parents' secret.
"Anyway, if you know any warriors who would be suitable for the elder position, recommend them to me. You know them better than I do."
"Well… I'm sure I can find someone! You're—"
"Chieftain."
"…The chieftain is always busy taking care of the clan!"
Whew, I'm glad she understands.
I nodded, satisfied, and she recommended a few warriors.
But…
"Ainar, what's with that expression? You seem troubled."
I asked, and she sighed.
"I chose the strongest warriors among my friends… but I'm not sure if they'll meet your expectations…"
"What do you mean?"
"They can't read."
"Ah, that's not a problem."
"Really?"
"Of course."
I hadn't even considered it a problem.
The previous elders had also learned to read after becoming elders…
"And I'm not planning to burden the elders with administrative tasks anymore."
That's why the barbarians were in this state.
They were illiterate and couldn't count properly.
So…
"All I need from the elders is to teach the young warriors how to fight and how to be loyal to the tribe."
"Huh? Then who's going to take care of the rest? Even you can't handle everything alone."
I smiled and said,
"The city."
"…?"
"I'm going to hire humans."
In other words, I was going to outsource the administrative tasks.
______________________
A human clerk who was skilled in administrative tasks.
I knew the perfect candidate.
Shabin Emure, the 7th-grade clerk from the administrative office, who had been a member of our friend group.
'Ragna said he had been promoted to 6th-grade, but then he was recently fired?'
The chances of recruiting him were slim.
He had even rejected Ragna's offer to work for her.
He might reject my offer too.
But…
'Maybe he can at least recommend some competent people.'
Right, that's enough for now.
I needed to secure funding before I could hire anyone.
'Funding…'
It was another difficult problem.
The tribe's funds were barely enough to cover the cost of weapons for the coming-of-age ceremony and food for the young warriors.
'…I need to create a new source of income.'
Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.
To reform the barbarian tribe, I needed to change their way of earning money.
It was ridiculous that an entire tribe was relying on donations and inheritance from warriors.
'Money…'
I couldn't think of any good ideas.
There were no resources left in this small territory after thousands of years of settlement.
'And our metallurgy skills aren't that great.'
Our weapons were durable, thanks to our generous use of steel, but that was all.
The blacksmiths in the city could create better weapons.
And we couldn't compete with the dwarves in terms of technology.
'…We don't know how to do anything except fight… Damn it, what kind of tribe is this?'
I was frustrated, but I was also curious.
How could a tribe where every able-bodied member was a high-earning explorer be so poor?
And they were all devoutly religious, donating a portion of their earnings every month.
"Ainar."
I asked the True Barbarian for advice, and she gave me a surprising answer.
"Well… it's because we're poor."
"No, I mean, why are we poor? We all earn a decent amount of money, don't we?"
"That's because you're different! Everyone else spends all their money on new equipment and alcohol!"
It sounded plausible at first, but I interpreted it differently.
The problem wasn't income, but spending.
They spent all their money and then donated whatever was left, like putting spare change in a piggy bank.
"Ah… and… I'm not trying to criticize you…"
"Just tell me."
"…Don't tell the other warriors that I told you this."
"Alright, just tell me."
"Actually… most warriors don't sell their old equipment, even after buying new ones. They keep it."
"…What?"
"You know… they get attached to their old equipment… Some even say they'll pass it down to their children…!"
I was speechless.
"….."
…So that's why they were so poor.
It was absurd, but I couldn't do anything about it.
Collecting equipment was a barbarian instinct.
Like crows collecting shiny objects.
I couldn't change their nature, even with my authority as chieftain.
But…
"B-but it's not a bad thing! It's a form of saving!"
Ainar's desperate defense gave me an idea.
"…Saving?"
"Y-yes! If we become famous, our equipment will be worth even more! It's an investment!"
"…Investment?"
"Ah, w-well, I'm not like that! Really. I-I have a few pieces, but… they're all different! I need them for different purposes—"
"Ainar, are you a genius?"
Her words gave me a brilliant idea.
"…?"
She didn't seem to realize what she had done, but…
'This is a revolution.'
There was no other way to describe it.
______________________
I summoned all the barbarians before the visitors from the festival returned to the city.
There was no need for a lengthy introduction.
"I have something to tell you!"
I began my speech.
Or rather, it was an announcement of my first policy as chieftain.
"Warriors of the tribe! I'm different from the previous chieftains! I'm going to give you an opportunity!"
Their eyes sparkled as soon as I used the word 'give', even though they had been dozing off a moment ago.
"Opportunity…?"
"Sounds good…"
Okay, I had their attention.
I quickly continued before they lost interest.
The plan I had come up with thanks to Ainar.
A plan that would not only educate the barbarians about economics, but also fill the tribe's empty coffers.
"I'm going to give you the opportunity to buy land in the sanctuary!"
"…Land?"
"You're giving it to us? We have to buy it? With money?"
They looked confused.
Well, I hadn't expected them to understand right away.
I explained it to them in simple terms.
"Do you have a house in the city? No, you don't. Even if you do, the land doesn't belong to you! Commoners can't own land in this kingdom!"
I'm going to give you a privilege that only nobles have.
"But the land in the sanctuary is different! If I give you permission, you can buy it! And once you buy it, it's yours! Forever!!"
Of course, there would be property taxes…
"You can carve your name on it, build a statue, anything you want! It's your freedom!!"
"…Freedom?"
"Yes, freedom! Do you want to build a house? Build it! Not a flimsy tent that collapses when it rains, but a real house, like the ones in the city! A house that your descendants can live in forever!"
Build whatever you want.
I won't even tax the windows.
"That… sounds good."
Some of the barbarians, who were easily swayed, started to show interest.
But there were also those who were skeptical.
"But buying land…"
"It must be expensive!"
"Isn't land a bit… useless? Wouldn't it be better to buy weapons…?"
They instinctively sensed that something was off.
It was time for my trump card.
"Think about it, warriors!"
"…?"
"Weapons rust, but land doesn't. It's yours forever, and you can pass it down to your children!"
It was a concept that the barbarians, who lived for the present, couldn't grasp.
But…
"And if you buy land, you don't have to pay for lodging anymore! You, and your children, and your grandchildren! Forever!"
Their eyes widened as they realized the true value of land.
"…I see!"
"It's true…! If we have land, we can just sleep in the sanctuary!"
"But it's more convenient to live in the city… It's closer to the labyrinth…"
There were a few who still had doubts, but they were a minority.
I made a mental note of their faces.
If they were good fighters, I would promote them to elders.
Anyway, it was time for the final blow.
"And most importantly…!"
I trailed off, and the barbarians all fell silent, their ears perked up.
I didn't have to shout this time.
"The land in the sanctuary will become more expensive!"
Money.
The ultimate motivator, regardless of race.
"And the longer you wait, the more expensive it'll get! Until you can't even afford it anymore!"
"…?"
"It's obvious! Once someone buys a piece of land, it's theirs forever! And once all the land is sold, there won't be any left to buy!"
"…!"
"If you still want land after that, you'll have to beg! Beg the other warriors to sell it to you, even if it costs a fortune!"
The simple principle of supply and demand.
"Well, even then, it'll be difficult to buy. Who would sell such a valuable asset? Land that will allow their descendants to live in the city without having to pay for lodging?"
"…!!"
"Ah, of course, your great-grandchildren will be living in tents and cursing your name!"
"…?"
"'Why didn't you buy land back then?!' they'll say!"
"!!!!!!!!!!!"
Their eyes widened in horror as they realized the gravity of the situation.
There was no need for further explanation.
"Warriors! I'll say this one last time!"
I declared, like a true politician.
"A warrior never misses an opportunity!"
The answer is real estate.
-x-X-x-
The Sanctuary Redevelopment Plan.
I hadn't even sold the first plot of land yet, but I was already confident that this plan would be a success.
After all, I was already getting inquiries.
'There's no need for advertising. Word will spread throughout the tribe quickly…'
Okay, then all that's left is to sell it?
"Um… Bjorn?"
"It's Chieftain."
"Anyway, Chieftain! Why aren't you selling the land right away? So many warriors want to buy it!"
The reason was simple.
"Even if there are many, it's not enough compared to the amount of land available."
"So we should sell it quickly!"
I was glad that Ainar had gained a merchant's mindset, but unfortunately, she was missing the bigger picture.
How many would buy it now?
They didn't have any money saved up, so the actual sales would be low.
So…
"Tell the warriors who want to buy land to come back on the 5th of next month. That's when I'll start selling."
The launch date was set for the 5th of next month.
The day after the labyrinth closed, when the barbarians had the most money.
I would decide how much to sell based on the number of buyers.
If 100 people came, would selling to 30 be appropriate?
But Ainar just tilted her head in confusion.
"Huh? You're not going to sell it to everyone? Why?"
I patiently explained it to her, as if I was training the 1st Elder.
"First, we don't have enough manpower to handle that many sales."
"Oh…?"
"Second, it won't increase the price."
The concept of real estate hadn't been properly established in the warriors' minds yet.
So…
"…What do you mean by 'it won't increase the price'?"
"Think about it. If 30 warriors buy the land that 100 warriors want, what do you think the remaining 70 will do?"
"…Wait for the next sale?"
"Of course, some will. But others will offer to buy the land from the initial buyers at a higher price."
"Hmm! That's true! Some warriors will have more money later…"
Wow, she's getting the hang of this.
I continued, hiding my admiration.
This was the key to the redevelopment plan.
"Anyway, the resale value of the land will be higher than the initial price. Popular weapons are also more expensive and have longer waiting lists, right?"
"Oh! So the warriors who buy the land first will earn money without even doing anything?"
Ainar had finally reached enlightenment.
"That's right. And that's the important part. The news will spread throughout the tribe."
Passing down land to your descendants? The value of land? Saving on lodging costs?
Those were just excuses.
The important thing was to create a firm belief that buying land was profitable.
Ainar's voice trembled with excitement.
"The warriors… they'll go crazy. Even those who dismissed it as useless…"
"Yes, they'll come with all their money. Because they know they can make a profit just by buying it."
It was a money duplication glitch.
It was the same with the Backpack Revolution that started with Charon. Barbarians loved money, despite their claims of valuing honor and glory.
And…
'It's better to sell it through a lottery at first, instead of an auction.'
I had no intention of fixing this glitch.
Even if the bubble eventually burst, this was the most efficient way to boost the tribe's growth in the short term.
'…As long as I prevent them from taking out loans, it should be fine. We'll have other sources of income by then.'
I was actually more worried about the near future than the distant future.
After all, a 'barbarian' creating the concept of real estate was unprecedented.
It would definitely attract attention.
But I made my decision.
'It doesn't matter if I attract a bit more attention. I need to focus on growing the tribe first.'
And besides, we weren't the first ones to do this.
The dwarves and the beastmen had already sold most of their land to boost their economies. So people would just assume I was copying them.
'Phew… I should start looking for a clerk.'
I had a lot to do if I wanted to give the young warriors proper shoes.
______________________
The day I introduced real estate to the warriors,
I returned to the city after finishing my work.
And I immediately went to a meeting.
"It's been a while, Shabin Emure."
She was home, as expected.
"…Huh? B-Bjorn…?"
She was surprised to see me, but she welcomed me into her house.
"Sorry for the sudden visit. I've been busy lately."
"No, no! It's fine. I just… didn't expect you to come see me…"
"Of course I would. We're friends."
"Ah…"
"And I have a proposition for you. Or rather, a favor to ask."
Her eyes lit up at the word 'friend', but then she tensed up.
"A favor…?"
"I heard you lost your job. Can you help me out?"
"…?"
"Or if you know anyone who's looking for a job, recommend them to me. I need someone to handle administrative tasks. Someone trustworthy."
"…So you really did come here because you need a clerk."
"You were the first person I thought of. I don't know anyone else in this field. This is where friends come in handy."
She thought for a moment and then readily agreed.
"Okay. I'll do it, as long as you pay me the same as my previous job. And I'll bring a few of my colleagues with me."
"How much did you earn at the administrative office?"
She told me her salary, and it was lower than I expected. I negotiated a higher salary and finalized the deal.
"That's unexpected. I thought you would refuse."
"Well… I was already looking for a job."
"Really? That's good to hear. Ragna said you rejected her offer."
"You seem like you really need me. Unlike her, who just wanted to help."
"You didn't want to be indebted to her."
"…Hehe, you could say that. So you've already met her?"
"How else would I know where you live? Ah, of course, our meeting is a secret."
"A secret… This noble society is really something else…"
She seemed genuinely impressed, and then she offered me a drink. We chatted for about an hour over tea.
And…
"I should be going now. I have a lot to do before the expedition."
"Okay! I'll talk to my colleagues and then come to work by myself. Where should I go?"
"I'll pick you up in three days."
"Huh? Pick me up? That's not necessary…"
It was necessary.
Humans couldn't enter the sanctuary without permission. I was planning to take her there and issue her a pass.
"Anyway, I'll see you then."
"Okay, take care."
I left her house and headed straight to the dwarf's forge.
I hadn't made an appointment this time either, but thankfully, he was there.
"Bjorn! What brings you here?"
He was working, as expected.
"I need to get my equipment repaired, and I wanted to show you something."
"I see. Give me the equipment first. I need to finish all the repairs before the expedition."
"Right."
I handed him my damaged equipment and waited in the lobby. He then led me to the attic on the 2nd floor.
"I usually use this place for storing documents and doing paperwork… It might be a bit cramped for you."
"It's fine. I can just crawl around."
"It's not that bad…"
"Just let me lie down."
The ceiling was low, barely over 1.5 meters even in the center, so I just lay down on the floor. He sighed and sat down on a dwarf-sized sofa.
"So what's the item?"
"Ah, here it is."
I took out a chest from my subspace pocket, and he gulped, his eyes widening as he examined the contents.
"Where did you get this?"
"You're better off not knowing."
"…R-right. I shouldn't have asked."
He was trembling with anticipation as he examined the equipment of the Noark explorers.
It wasn't fear or anxiety, but excitement.
He was a blacksmith, after all.
The attic was filled with 3rd-grade equipment and Numbered Items.
And he was getting a 5% cut of the profits.
"Take your time selling it. I want you to be discreet."
"Ah, y-yes… I will. I have to…"
He was so excited that he couldn't even hear me properly.
I decided it was the perfect time to reveal the rest.
"Oh, there's more?!"
"I'm not selling this. I want you to reforge it into new equipment. Melt down the daggers and turn the leather into fabric."
"That's easy. But why?"
He opened the other chest, his eyes widening.
"…Ogre leather is one thing, but this is… Mithril? 90% of the Mithril in circulation is supplied to the royal family, where did you get this?"
Ah, that.
"Take a closer look."
"…Huh?"
I wiggled my finger, and he reexamined the Mithril daggers, his eyes widening in realization.
"Th-th-th-th-th-this is…!!!"
"Keep your voice down. Someone might hear us."
"...It's the Rose Knights' equipment!!"
He whispered, his voice trembling, and then he quickly closed the chest.
"B-Bjorn! This is insane! Where did you get this?! It's dangerous…!"
His concern was genuine.
But I just shrugged.
"You knew I might have stolen goods, didn't you?"
"Yes, but I didn't expect you to have something related to the royal family!"
"So you're refusing?"
He couldn't answer.
"Uh, uh…"
He just looked at the equipment with a conflicted expression.
He was clearly tempted.
"If you're refusing, forget everything you saw today. We'll burn the contract too."
I reached for the chest, and he slapped my arm.
"…I didn't say I wouldn't do it."
"Hmm? You said it was insane."
"I still think it's insane, but… as long as we don't get caught, it's fine!"
He was a good business partner.
______________________
July 28th, 157th year of the New Era.
Two days before the next labyrinth expedition. It had been a busy month.
But I still had one more thing to do.
"You're here!"
I went to pick up Shabin Emure early in the morning.
It was her first day at work.
I had expected her to be alone, but there were three other people at her house.
"Who are they?"
"They're my colleagues from the administrative office. You said you needed more people, right?"
"Uh, yes, but… this quickly?"
"Our faction lost the election for the Director position, so we were all fired."
Hmm, I didn't know about that.
"You managed to find three people in that short amount of time."
"It wasn't difficult. You're the Giant of the Labyrinth, Baron Yandel! They all see this as a great opportunity."
"…Clan?"
I felt a sense of dissonance, but I couldn't ask any further questions because they were greeting me.
"Ah, hello! Baron Yandel! I'm Rick Anderson, from the Civil Engineering Department of the administrative office."
"Mary Jayne… I worked in the Civilian Support Department with Emure."
"Shepherd Lambden. It's an honor to meet you."
Thankfully, there was no Hans among them.
"I'm Bjorn, son of Yandel. It's nice to meet you all."
I introduced myself briefly, and then we headed towards the military transfer station in a carriage.
"Wow… I've never been in the noble section before."
"I didn't even know there was a separate section for nobles."
"Well, commoners aren't allowed to use it."
"…It's so convenient. They're always waiting and take you to your destination immediately."
"Hehe, you can enjoy this too once you become nobles."
"Don't joke… How could we…"
The atmosphere was quite pleasant.
"Anderson, you said you worked in the Civil Engineering Department?"
"Yes, sir!"
"What kind of work did you do?"
I asked the new recruits about their work experience, and we chatted idly as we rode the carriage.
And after a while…
"The carriage is heading towards the outskirts…"
Shabin Emure looked out the window and spoke.
"Is the clan house near the walls?"
"Clan house? What are you talking about?"
"…Huh? You said you created a clan. And that you needed clerks…"
I finally realized where the misunderstanding had started.
'That's why she didn't ask about the job description…'
I quickly corrected her.
"Shabin Emure, you're not working for a clan."
"Huh? Then where…?"
"The barbarian sanctuary."
"...What?"
She tilted her head, as if she had misheard me, and the carriage came to a halt.
"Let's get out."
I opened the door and stepped out, and the clerks followed me, their expressions dumbfounded.
"...."
They stared at the towering wall in front of them, speechless.
Well, they've probably never been here before.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
I let out a war cry, and the gate opened.
I led the stunned clerks inside.
The warriors who saw me greeted me.
"Humans! Humans! The chieftain brought humans!"
"Ooooooh!!"
"Two men and two women!!"
The clerks clung to me, trembling with fear, as if they had just entered a cannibal's den.
"...."
"...."
They only regained their composure when we reached the chieftain's tent after a long walk through the forest. Shabin Emure, who had brought the clerks, asked me,
"S-so… what are we supposed to do now?"
His name was Rick Anderson.
A 6th-grade clerk from the Civil Engineering Department of the administrative office.
He might be the ace of our redevelopment plan.
I looked at him and answered,
"Everything that involves numbers."
Including selling land, of course.