Chapter 95

#095

"Where did you hear that? Did someone call you that?"

"Well... you could say it's similar."

Ian answered matter-of-factly.

To be precise, it was the name of a quest that appeared the moment he passed by the statue of Kharha last night.

The Great Warrior of the North. The quest description was simply to show one's will before Kharha, a goal that, if this were a game, could be resolved with a single click.

The reward was the Blessing of Struggle.

It wasn't even a choice; it was a quest exclusive to the Barbarian Warrior, so there was no reason for a Barbarian Warrior to refuse it.

Ian had guessed that this was the quest to become Kharha's Apostle.

But now that he knew Kharha didn't have apostles, it was worth investigating further.

"Every warrior, when the time comes, undergoes a ritual to show their soul to Kharha. It's a kind of coming-of-age ceremony."

"Does he really look into their souls?"

"I can't say if he does for everyone, but sometimes he shows interest. Those warriors are usually appointed as the Great Warrior of the village. It means Kharha has acknowledged them."

Urd took a sip of water and continued.

"But for truly great-souled warriors, Kharha personally inspects and blesses them. Such warriors are the true Great Warriors."

"So, in the end, it means I have to serve Kharha?"

"Not exactly. Even if a Great Warrior's goal is to ascend to the heavens and strike an axe into Kharha's head, Kharha doesn't care."

"Was there really someone like that?"

"There was."

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Urd's mouth.

"A Great Warrior born in the age of war. He placed the heads of the demons he killed before the statue, laughing that the day he would strike an axe into Kharha's head was not far off. He didn't serve Kharha; he saw him as a rival to surpass. Yet, Kharha still blessed him from time to time."

"Hmm…"

"A Great Warrior is just a symbolic term. There's no need to be bound or responsible. Kharha, who defied fate and fought for freedom, wouldn't oppress or constrain anyone."

...Yeah, that's the setting.

Nodding his head, Ian thought to himself, and Urd added matter-of-factly.

"Kharha merely observes. He waits for another superhuman to reach the divine level like himself."

"Throwing in a blessing when he feels like it. He's quite arbitrary."

"You've seen it clearly."

Urd's answer made Ian finally chuckle.

Kharha not having priests or apostles might not just be because they weren't necessary.

It could be because he didn't want to be bound by the relationship of bestowing blessings and sanctity instead of preaching doctrines and acting on his will.

'Then, is that blessing in the game a probability-based effect? If so, there might really be no other risks or constraints.'

A probability-based option or skill that can't be used at will already serves as a constraint.

Like the equipment destruction probability on the ancient mithril dagger he obtained in the underground palace, which seemed to have no cost.

"So, did that Great Warrior ascend and become a god?"

Ian finally asked.

Urd suddenly looked down at his empty left hand.

A gaze that seemed to be digging through the past.

"I don't know. He died in a battle with a demon. Whether that was his destined fate or the end he met while defying fate and forging his own path, only he and Kharha would know."

Urd smiled lightly.

"At least he didn't strike an axe into Kharha's head. Kharha is still around, after all."

'...Becoming a Great Warrior doesn't mean your fate is set.'

It just means he saw potential.

Just that alone made Ian feel a strange sense of excitement.

It meant Kharha saw the potential to defy his own fate in him.

"I don't know where you heard it, but it doesn't seem like a completely baseless statement to me."

Looking back at Ian, Urd continued.

"Kharha has never shown the kind of interest in anyone in the village that he showed in you. Not even the little brat who is the village's Great Warrior, my dead son, or me. If you undergo the warrior's ritual, you might become a Great Warrior acknowledged by Kharha."

"Can someone like me, an outsider, even undergo the ritual? I'm not even from the North."

"The ritual is just a formality for other humans. Kharha wouldn't care about such things. Besides…"

Urd carefully examined Ian's face.

"Black eyes and black hair are not common. And one of them is in the North. It wouldn't be strange if you had some Northern blood in you. In fact, I've been thinking along similar lines."

It's just the result of choosing a basic appearance randomly.

Ian shrugged, muttering to himself.

"Well, thanks to you, I've satisfied my curiosity. Thank you, old man."

"You're welcome. I haven't had such a conversation in a long time. Youngsters these days don't even care about such things."

"Then, let's hear what you want to ask."

Ian asked casually.

The faint smile on Urd's face disappeared.

It was only for a moment. Returning to his usual matter-of-fact expression, he looked at Ian.

"Is it true that our village has truly overcome its hardships?"

"..."

Ian's eyes twitched.

Urd added.

"I just want an honest answer."

"For now, we've overcome them. But…"

Ian finally spoke, meeting Urd's single eye.

"It could start again at any time. Whether it will be worse or better than this, I can't say."

"I see…"

Urd nodded.

The old man, who had been staring at the air with a gloomy look as if he had never been happy, finally looked back at Ian.

"I have one more request for you."

"Go ahead."

"Can you take Askel with you when you leave the village?"

***

Ian spent hours searching the forest near the village and finally managed to catch two weasels.

Askel's words about the scarcity of prey were not a lie.

They probably fled in fear of the nightly waves of monsters.

"Why are you so late?"

Tessia greeted Ian.

Her eyes were already tinged with red.

"Where's Charlotte?"

"She came in for a moment and then left again."

"Left?"

"She seemed excited to meet someone similar. They even gave her a nickname involving an axe. It's a bit crude."

Well, Charlotte's treatment has also changed. Everyone treated her as a great warrior after seeing her decapitate dozens of undead alone, which all the village warriors witnessed.

In a more civilized city, they might have feared or avoided her even more.

But it seems the essence of the barbarian warriors hasn't changed even with civilization.

"You seem to be doing well."

"Better than during the day. Is this mine?"

"Yours."

Ian threw the weasel he was holding by the tail to Tessia.

She quickly caught it and bit into one, muttering.

"...Now I can tell what animal it is just by the taste of the blood."

"Is the taste that different?"

Ian asked as he sheathed his weapon.

Tessia nodded, tossing the emaciated weasel aside.

"Yes. They all taste bad. Actually, human blood is the only one that tastes good."

"..."

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"When was the last time you drank human blood?"

"It's been a long time. The last time was the blood of those empire soldiers you killed. I can barely remember the taste of human blood now."

You're doing well.

Ian nodded and said.

"Control your impulses. If you want to survive, you need to."

"Can't I drink the blood of bad people?"

After a moment of silence, Ian finally answered.

"If you can drink their blood and still control your impulses."

"I can. Don't worry. My patience is growing. I can even endure being hit by a cat these days."

"It won't work. Ask for permission first."

"...What was wrong with what I just said?"

"Everything."

"..."

Tessia pouted and bit into another weasel.

The door burst open at that moment.

Startled, Tessia threw the weasel and shouted.

"Knock! You stupid beast!"

Charlotte, who had blinked, blocked Askel, who was following behind, with her body.

"I forgot. I'll be more careful in the future."

"...What exactly are you going to be careful about? Why did you stop at the door?"

Confused, Askel asked. Tessia answered calmly.

"I was undressing. I'm putting on clothes, so don't peek."

"Ah... Yes."

Sighing, Askel closed his mouth.

Tessia laughed playfully and carefully wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.

Ian didn't laugh, though he usually would have.

"Alright. Come in."

"Prepare the bathwater first, Askel."

At Ian's words, Askel quickly grabbed a pot and said.

"You did it yesterday too. You really love baths."

"It's one of Ian's quirks."

Charlotte added matter-of-factly.

Ian frowned.

"Since I can't bathe well during the journey, I just bathe every day when I can."

"I respect your taste, Ian."

Since when did bathing become a taste?

While Ian shook his head, Askel, who was skillfully preparing the bathwater, said.

"I didn't know you and Tessia were in such a relationship."

A statement that was enough to mess with Ian's mind again.

"Such a relationship?"

"A romantic relationship."

"..."

While a crease formed on Ian's forehead, Tessia smiled leisurely.

"I'm surprised, Askel. I thought you'd see it at first glance."

...What are you saying?

Askel shook his head.

"I thought you and Charlotte also got along well."

"Eh...? What are you talking about? Is there something wrong with your eyes?"

Tessia asked, as if she had heard something strange. Charlotte lifted her chin slightly.

"It's a matter of good judgment. To begin with, you and I can't be compared, you beast. I'm bigger, stronger, and more beautiful."

"I know you're tall and strong. I can't agree with the rest. If you're not talking about height, that includes it too. Besides, you're an animal."

"Another ignorant comment. We beastmen-"

"Enough."

Ian cut her off, frowning as if he didn't want to hear it.

He added, looking at them coldly.

"Don't talk nonsense in front of a child."

"I'm not a child, Mr. Ian."

Askel answered politely but firmly.

Ian added sharply.

"If you're younger than me, you're a child. And these two are my comrades, not lovers. Don't let your imagination run wild. Just fill the bath."

"...Yes."

Askel immediately moved. Tessia lay down, pouting, and Charlotte nodded, leaning against the wall, seemingly not minding the term 'comrade'.

Soon, Ian immersed himself in the bathtub.

...Now I can relax.

His gaze followed Askel, who was fetching more water.

'He really doesn't seem to know anything.'

Askel's face showed no shadows or worries.

He only seemed to be full of life, happy that the village's problems were solved.

Urd's voice echoed in his mind.

He asked me to take the boy to Traverga.

Urd thought that if he took the boy to the nearby barbarian settlers, he could manage the rest on his own.

The reason Urd made such a request was obvious even without deep thought.

'He thinks the village will eventually fall.'

While Ian agreed with this, he refused the request.

Askel wouldn't leave unless he was with Urd, and Ian couldn't force him to go.

Urd assured him not to worry, saying the boy would eventually leave the village.

He even offered a sharp longsword as a reward.

A rare-grade longsword of the Northern Warrior.

Ian accepted the request on the condition that he wouldn't force Askel to go.

He understood the old warrior's heart, who wanted to save his grandson.

'Still, it's a bit worrying.'

It was still a mystery how Urd would persuade the boy, and there was no quest.

A quest was a kind of milestone.

It indicated that there was a certain predetermined flow.

The absence of a quest meant that there was no way to predict how things would turn out.

Just like with Tessia.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Askel suddenly asked.

Ian shook his head calmly.

"No, nothing."

"Today, Charlotte and I walked around the village a lot. Many people hoped that the three of you would stay in the village. They said you must have been sent by Kharha, coming down from the mountains."

"Kharha didn't send us, and we can't stay in the village. We'll leave after the feast."

"...That's a shame. If you stayed, you might have become a Great Warrior soon."

"..."

Ian didn't answer.

His gaze was fixed on the quest window.

Great Warrior of the North.

"Still, you can look forward to tomorrow's feast. The warriors have all gone hunting, so you can eat as much meat as you want."

"...That's a welcome piece of news."

Closing the quest window, Ian answered and closed his eyes leisurely.