Barbarian in a Failed Game

Chapter 053: Horde (3)

Since being possessed into the world of the Midland quest, some of the existing game systems had been deactivated and could no longer be used. Among them, the feature Khan missed most keenly was undoubtedly the inventory function. In games, one could simply cram items into the inventory according to available slots, and the character would manage them, hauling everything around without issue. In reality, such convenience was impossible.

“It’s cumbersome during battles, and there’s a limit to what I can carry….”

In such circumstances, Aecharis’s pouch was truly like rain in a drought. Currently, Ron was serving as both guide and porter, but Khan didn’t plan to travel with him indefinitely.

Woo-ung.

Focusing on the Vessel of Greed, Khan felt a space opening up in front of his right hand. Unlike before, where it was fixed in front of his chest, he had now mastered the ability to open the space at any body part he desired. It was the result of relentless effort. However, he had yet to overcome the delay that occurred when he concentrated his mind and the space opened, but Khan believed that would be resolved with time and familiarity.

“Using it solely as an inventory is enough, really. The desire to have the space open instantly is purely my own greed.”

Any gamer familiar with subculture would undoubtedly share his sentiment. An attack using weapons pouring out from a subspace was the epitome of romance, wasn’t it?

“Khan! I’ve brought everything you asked for!”

Upon hearing the cheerful voice from a distance, Khan, who had just closed Aecharis’s pouch, turned around. Bright, brownish-red hair bounced in sync with her trotting steps. It was Elena, who had been tasked by Khan to tour the city with the rest of their group.

“Why are you alone?”

“I arranged for the others to rest at the convent, considering the disaster that could strike at any time. We need to take care of our health.”

Her tone was considerably more relaxed than it had been a few days ago, a change wrought through days of tearful persuasion.

“Uh-huh.”

With both hands clenching large bundles, Elena approached Khan briskly. The package, almost half her size, seemed not to burden her steps, which were surprisingly light.

‘Well, there’s nothing surprising about that if you think about it….’

After all, she was the oddity who, despite being a priestess, could wield a flail with a head as big as a human’s to smash a dark mage’s skull, truly the Goddess’s Scale.

“The goods?”

“Prepared perfectly! You asked to buy weapons cheaply from the city’s forge, right? Ron handled all the selections.”

“…If it’s that guy, I guess it’s fine.”

“But, what do you plan to do with all of these? It seems a bit much to carry around….”

The bundle contained an assortment of weapons, organized by type. The variety was excessive for one person to wield, and even considering the size of the party, it seemed impossible to carry them all.

“The real romance is in having a variety of weapons.”

“Romance…?”

“That’s right.”

He didn’t expect her to understand. Instead of explaining, he began putting all the weapons Elena had brought into Aecharis’s pouch.

“What? How?”

Elena’s eyes widened in surprise. Over a dozen pieces of equipment vanished as if into thin air.

“Space transfer…?”

Unlike Jan, Elena seemed unable to detect the sensation of opening a subspace. According to Jan, a temporary mana void is created the moment space opens…

‘If only I could understand what that nonsense means.’

Considering that neither Ron, Maya, nor Elena could feel it, Jan’s ability to immediately notice must have been the anomaly.

“It’s a similar trick. So, have you decided to check if anything unusual has happened?”

“I tried to look into it as well. But there wasn’t any rumor that caught my attention. The only useful piece of information might be that the city’s merchants have been rummagusng through the ruins of Al-Rasdel. Most of the refugees seem to have come from there as well.”

“The place where the Lord turned into a living corpse, huh.”

It should be noted that the bandit leader who attacked the border town came from that city as well.

“Yes. Some of the kids who entered the convent are from Al-Rasdel. They seem reluctant to talk about it… According to Berta, the entire city fell into ruin due to a civil war.”

“Any other rumors? Like something about a strange mage getting involved.”

“No? I haven’t heard anything like that. Should I ask Berta?”

“No… It’s okay.”

Though he hadn’t mentioned it before, Khan hadn’t forgotten about the ‘magic sword’ the bandit leader used.

It wasn’t the kind of weapon a mere leader of bandits, raised in the midst of a city’s civil war, could acquire. Not to mention, it bore the emblem of Aelos’ phoenix…

‘It definitely used a curse that boosted abilities in exchange for absorbing blood. Similar to Draupnir.’

But the magic sword in question wasn’t Draupnir. It appeared to be an imitation with similar functions.

Obviously, the source had to be Followers of Truth.

Khan’s question was how far these followers were involved in the downfall of Al-Rasdel.

The city mayor became a living corpse, the betraying cavalry captain wielded a copy of the magic sword and became a bandit, and the purpose behind these two actions was still unclear.

“Ah! Speaking of which, there seems to be a peculiar rumor spreading among the refugees.”

“A peculiar rumor?”

“Yes. It’s about various kinds of monsters moving together.”

“…Elaborate.”

Khan’s face tensed slightly, and Elena, seemingly pleased by his interest, continued to explain with a smile.

“It’s not about Al-Rasdel. A refugee from a farther town mentioned it. It’s said that monsters, which are normally hostile to each other, were seen moving together. It sounded so absurd that it was dismissed as nonsense…. Does that concern you?”

Of course, it does. Khan muttered curses under his breath as he stood up.

“Has Ron said anything about this?”

“Yes. Uncle Ron also said it’s impossible.”

“Right. It’s impossible… under normal circumstances.”

Was this what the Goddess of Justice meant by calamity?

If his suspicion was correct, the entire city needed to be mobilized for the situation at hand.

After asking Elena to bring the refugee to him, Khan left the convent’s backyard and headed to Berta’s room.

“…It’s difficult. Even scavenging for supplies has its limits…”

“Even so, I am not someone who can be affiliated and active.”

“How frustrating…! Who asked you to leave the church. Just think of relocating the convent to a safer place!”

Seemingly, there was a visitor in Berta’s room, who should have been resting alone, as her tired voice intermingled with that of a stranger.

“I’m entering.”

Bursting in –

It was obvious the person Berta reluctantly agreed to meet was someone from the city’s leadership. Knowing it was impolite but choosing to proceed anyway, Khan entered the room.

Inside, Berta with a weary complexion and a middle-aged man wearing luxurious clothes and a brown cape were having a conversation across the table.

“What is this… Barbarian?”

The middle-aged man, taken aback by the sudden intrusion, intended to scold but, realizing the intruder was a huge barbarian, seemed to forget his original words and turned to Berta for an explanation.

“Lady Berta, what in the world is going on…?”

“Who is this gentleman?”

“A noble of the city… Lord Perran.”

“Lady Berta?!”

Lord Perran, the middle-aged man, stood up in shock. That someone like him, a barbarian, would be addressed before his own question?

The sight of a barbarian showing up at the convent dedicated to the Goddess of Justice was surprising enough, but that Berta, a former deputy commander of the paladins, would welcome a heathen barbarian so courteously was even harder to believe.

Yet, despite receiving such an unimagusnable welcome, the barbarian acted as if it was to be expected, boldly walking into the room and taking a seat.

As if the noble himself was invisible.Blinking as if he had just been slapped awake, Count Perran was utterly bewildered.

“Am I dreaming? I did ignore the physician’s advice to rest, but….”

If the consequence was such a bizarre dream, it could only mean that his time was indeed up. Of course, this situation was neither a dream nor a jest.

“…Would you explain the situation? Help me understand this breach of decorum.”

While an average noble might first respond with outrage and reprimand the rudeness, Count Perran did not.

Was it his superhuman patience? Or perhaps the authority of Berta was indeed that formidable…

Or maybe, it was the fear of the barbarian’s fierce appearance, known only to the Count himself.

“This man has been employed by the Pantheon to rectify the chaos in the north.”

“…An even more bewildering assertion. The Pantheon has employed a barbarian as a swordsman?”

“Yes, precisely a warrior of justice….”

“Does race matter when hiring a swordsman? Isn’t it enough that they kill well?”

Interrupting Berta, the barbarian’s attitude caused Count Perran’s eyes to narrow.

“Indeed, skill is crucial for a swordsman. But corresponding trustworthiness is equally important. Barbarian, in that regard, your kind is deemed unreliable. Devoted solely to seeking more ferocious battles and honorable deaths, a tribe crazed for combat.”

“…Hmm.”

Silently grumbling, Khan found himself at a loss for words in the face of the Count’s remarks. Perran then turned his gaze toward Berta.

“I won’t question what you’ve deemed acceptable. The Pantheon must have its circumstances. This is beyond my comprehension….”

“A devout follower, it seems.”

“Believing in gods doesn’t decrease one’s wealth or food. If anything, it increases. That alone is more than enough reason. Similarly, wasting my time is, in itself, a significant loss. Your business, barbarian, would best be postponed. ”

A firm dismissal. The Count’s weighting of profit and loss, treating the unscheduled discourse with the barbarian as a wasteful diversion, suggested not the demeanor of a city manager, but that of a trade guild master.

His final words, offered without as much as another glance, seemed not an act.

‘An interesting man.’

Khan deemed the Count in front of him as a rare trustable figure in this wretched medieval world; as long as Khan provided proper value, that is.

“It would be wise to hear our side of the story first, regardless of your business.”

“…?”

Intrigued by Khan’s ambiguous statement, Count Perran showed interest.

“Khan. I’m going in!”

Just then, Elena entered the room, accompanied by a disheveled middle-aged woman. Count Perran felt puzzled by the appearance of what seemed to be a nun and a refugee but chose to listen silently.

“Everything you told me, just relay it to them. Don’t worry, there won’t be any problems.”

Although the middle-aged woman felt intimidated under the scrutiny of these extraordinary individuals, encouraged by Elena, she slowly began to speak.

“I, I am from a town on the hills near Al-Rasdel….”

“I am aware. A place well-bathed in sunlight, where nobles of the city would often take their leisure walks before the north fell into such disarray….”

“Yes, exactly. And the view was much adored by the distinguished guests. But after Al-Rasdel fell, the town couldn’t hold out any longer. Everyone fled to cities where they had connections, and I, having none, went to Al-Ranzas….”

“Briefly, please. Just the main points?”

“Ah, yes…! Before I left the town, I saw something strange. Various monsters were lurking about. At first, I thought they were fighting for territory, but upon closer inspection, they weren’t fighting at all but moving together…. I don’t know much, being unlearned, but I saw with my own eyes monsters that would usually fight one another moving together…. Sires, I swear it’s true….”

After carefully listening to her lengthy explanation, Count Perran, rubbing the corners of his eyes, commented,

“Hard to believe.”

“Si-sire. It really is true. Really…!”

“I understand you’re speaking truthfully. The issue is the content. Predators acting as kin? Logically, one would assume you saw something false. Anyone would.”

The middle-aged woman, disheartened by his firm tone, bowed her head, and Count Perran sighed.

“There’s unclaimed property in Al-Rasdel, so we’ll send an investigation team. Will that suffice? And you, barbarian. Did you steal my time for this unbelievable testimony?”

“Unbelievable, you say… Well, you’d have no other choice but to think so. Hordes are rarely seen outside the Empire.”

“Hordes…?”

The sudden introduction of an unfamiliar term caused Count Perran to widen his eyes.

“Typically, hordes refer to inherently predatory creatures banding together. And there’s always a cause for a horde.”

Speaking of a being with absolute control over lesser monsters, recently, Khan had interesting encounters with a creature linked to that entity.

“It’s a dragonling. Seems like dragon remnants have appeared.”

With a bright smile, as if looking at enticing prey, Khan gleamed.