Chapter 97

#097

“What…?”

The shock was brief. Soon, Valeri, frowning, spat out his words.

“I’ll forgive your insolence this once because I owe you a debt, stranger. But there won’t be a second time. Step back. You don’t have the right to interfere in a sacred duel.”

Without waiting for a response, he looked down at Urd again and raised his fist to strike. Ian still had a firm grip on his wrist, but it didn’t matter. No matter how skilled a monster hunter he was, the difference in innate strength was insurmountable.

He also intended to throw the man to the ground to avenge the recent humiliation.

“…?!”

But the fist, which seemed to be moving forward, was pushed back by a strong counterforce and returned to its original position.

To his amazement, he couldn’t shake off the stranger’s hand.

“This is how it is….”

Ian muttered softly.

Valeri’s face turned red with anger. The thought that he must kill this man followed.

Of course, he had no intention of fighting one-on-one. Even though he looked like he would crumble with a single punch, he was still the one who had killed the White Demon alone.

But this man was now ignoring not only him but also tradition.

A sufficient reason for all the warriors to charge in. Moreover, the warriors he knew would already be on their feet, gripping their weapons.

He intended to give the arrogant man a punch in the face first and then make him pay for the insult.

“You really need to die…. …?!”

Before he saw Ian’s face again.

Valeri’s expression, which had been growling as he turned his head, suddenly became blank.

Because Ian’s eyes were shimmering with a red light.

It wasn’t just his eyes.

Red mist was rising from his entire body like smoke.

Ian said,

“Your god says to do as you please?”

“…”

Valeri, who had been standing there with his mouth open, looked around. He finally saw the residents standing up reverently.

Some were looking at Ian, others at the statue, and they were sighing.

“Kharha has recognized… the true Grand Warrior….”

“The Grand Warrior’s participation is a cause for celebration….”

Their sighs finally reached his ears.

Valeri’s gaze turned blankly to the statue of Kharha.

Just as Ian’s body was now, red mist was rising from the statue. The greatsword seemed to be engulfed in flames, and its eyes glowed red as if it were alive.

It wasn’t hard to guess that the stranger had just performed a ritual.

And Kharha was proving his qualifications with a clear divine power and blessing, more so than ever before.

“The deeds of your descendants seem pitiful to him.”

Ian, who had spoken, let go of Valeri’s arm as if pushing it away.

Without even glancing at the residents who were staring at him, he squatted next to Urd.

“I will not accept your commission.”

“G-Great… Warrior… sir….”

Urd’s bloodied lips moved. Soon, his eyes closed.

Ian gestured to Charlotte.

“Move him home. Give him some basic first aid.”

“Understood.”

Charlotte picked up Urd.

Ian, who had casually glanced at the statue, eventually looked down at his own hand.

His lips curled up in a mocking smile as he clenched and unclenched his fist.

“A fitting blessing for a barbarian….”

Valeri just stared at him in disbelief.

It was hard to believe.

A monster hunter from the snowy mountains, who had never appeared in over a decade, was now the Grand Warrior of the North. Moreover, he wasn’t even from the North and didn’t seem to revere or respect Kharha.

Instead, he was mocking Kharha’s divinity. The power that all warriors so desperately sought.

Moreover, if this man was truly Kharha’s Grand Warrior, Valeri had lost all his authority.

A Grand Warrior chosen by the village’s warriors was nothing before a Grand Warrior recognized by the god.

“…There’s nothing I can do.”

He muttered softly.

Ian’s head turned toward him.

Valeri, still gripping his fist, stood up and glared at him.

“I can’t accept it. …If you’re really the Grand Warrior, prove it with your strength.”

He couldn’t lose everything like this.

He had to fight for it.

Just like Kharha.

As he raised his fist in front of his face, Ian said,

“I don’t need your recognition.”

Valeri didn’t respond to his words. He just charged at him with all his might, extending his fist.

Swoosh!

The air was torn by the punch. It was a punch that could knock out a person with one hit and possibly kill them if they were unlucky.

“…!”

But only if it hit.

Valeri’s eyes widened as he watched Ian dodge the punch by simply tilting his body.

Time seemed to slow down.

Ian’s image, raising his fist and stepping closer, was etched in Valeri’s pupils.

“…If you really want to be a guinea pig.”

His voice, despite the situation, was clear in Valeri’s ears.

Valeri finally realized that this man was experiencing the same slow time as he was.

Boom!

Ian extended his fist. Red divine power surged like a flame as the fist approached.

Valeri hastily pulled back his extended hand and covered his face.

An instinctive action.

Crack! Bang!

Valeri was thrown back by the tremendous impact that traveled up his arm.

It felt like being hit head-on by a charging wild boar.

Thud, thud, thud—

Valeri, rolling on the ground, finally came to a stop. He forced strength into his trembling arms and lifted his head.

Hiss!

Ian’s face was right in front of him.

“…!”

Valeri raised his arm with wide eyes. But Ian’s fist struck his cheek faster.

Crack!

He didn’t feel the pain.

His vision just went dark for a moment, and when he regained consciousness, he was rolling on the ground, spitting blood.

Ian charged again.

Valeri couldn’t resist.

His limbs wouldn’t obey him.

Crack!

Ian grabbed Valeri’s collar and slammed him to the ground.

Red light shimmered in the black eyes that filled Valeri’s blurred vision.

“You’re a smart one, Valeri. I already knew that.”

Ian’s low whisper reached his ears.

“I also know that you oppose the relocation because you don’t want to give up your meager power. It’s so obvious even to me….”

Ian pressed down on Valeri’s collar.

“Kharha wouldn’t be fooled.”

“…!”

Valeri tried to say something.

But the blood in his mouth blocked his voice. His broken teeth rolled around with the blood.

“Go back to your original position.”

Ian, who had spoken, struck with his fist.

***

“…Phew.”

Ian, who had dropped the unconscious Valeri, stood up.

His fist was numb. He inwardly marveled at the tenacity of the barbarian warrior, who could survive such a blow. Nevertheless, he would probably have trouble eating hard things for the rest of his life.

‘When will this blessing end…?’

Ian looked down at the divine power surrounding him again.

Buzz, the Sword of Judgment hummed unpleasantly.

Ignoring it, he closed his eyes and opened the status window.

He wanted to check the increased stats from the blessing, but first, a new category caught his eye.

Divine.

“Ha….”

Now, even a new skill category for a different class?

Ian chuckled and opened the window. In the empty center, only one skill caught his eye: Blessing of Struggle.

It wasn’t a skill he could use.

A passive skill that activates at a low probability during combat.

The exact probability was unknown, but its performance was clear.

It significantly increased his strength, agility, and health.

‘With this, I should be stronger than most barbarian warriors or knights….’

Ian’s chuckle deepened.

Kharha, who had bestowed this blessing, was indeed Kharha, but the first divine skill didn’t increase any of the stats a mage needed.

Well, a mage had nothing to do with divine power in the first place.

The divine skill would be suitable for barbarian warriors, knights, or acolytes.

‘…Well, it’s better than nothing.’

Ian shrugged.

After all, he was still in a position where he was short of even one stat or skill.

‘At least during the time this activates, there will be no match for me.’

Without any particular restrictions or penalties, there was no reason to complain.

“…”

On the other hand, it seemed a bit troublesome in a different way.

When Ian opened his eyes, he realized that all the villagers were still staring at him.

Some of the warriors seemed impressed, thinking he was savoring the afterglow of the duel while standing with his eyes closed.

The divine power that had enveloped his body had already disappeared.

The statue of Kharha, which had been burning so fiercely, was now silent.

‘You’ve seen enough, haven’t you?’

The irresponsible bastard.

Ian looked at the villagers, who were waiting for him to say something.

His eyes met Askel’s, and he eventually nodded.

“Let’s go inside and finish our meal.”

***

“Ugh….”

A groan spread from Urd’s mouth.

The old man’s single eye opened slightly.

After staring blankly at the ceiling for a moment, he groaned and sat up.

“You’ve finally woken up, sir.”

Askel’s voice followed.

He was sitting in a chair with a restless expression.

“You slept for a whole day. The Grand Warrior said not to leave until you woke up, so I was trapped here all day.”

“…So, it wasn’t a dream.”

Urd, looking at his grumbling grandson, eventually muttered.

Askel snorted.

“Of course not. The Grand Warrior even beat up Valeri. You should have seen it.”

“So, what is he doing now?”

“How would I know? I’ve been here all day.”

Askel, who had spoken, stood up and headed for the door.

“Let’s go together and check. Thanks to him, our wish has come true.”

“…!”

Urd’s eyes finally widened.

Forgetting the muscle pain all over his body, the old man jumped up.

“Are we really moving?”

“If you don’t want to become monster food here, you should prepare to leave.”

Askel said as they stepped out onto the street.

Urd took in the town’s scenery, which he thought he would never see again.

The busy residents. Young warriors who nodded and greeted him when their eyes met.

The atmosphere was clearly different from before.

Everyone was packing their belongings, and their eyes were full of vitality.

“A Grand Warrior from our village….”

“He’s not exactly from our village, is he? He’s from outside.”

“What does it matter? He was recognized by our village’s statue.”

“Well, yeah. Technically, we’re the only ones following the Grand Warrior of the North now.”

The voices of the warriors conversing reached the old man’s ears.

Beyond the square, warriors carrying cut logs were visible.

They were clearly making carts.

With so many people moving, they would need several carts.

“We’ll be short of horses….”

“Several warriors left for the wall this morning to borrow horses from the fort. It won’t be over in a few days anyway.”

Charlotte, talking to some residents, caught his eye.

The talking beast, once mistaken for a demon, was listening to them silently with a very annoyed expression.

“Is the Grand Warrior sleeping?”

Askel, standing at the door, asked.

Creak, the door opened with the sound of old hinges.

“Don’t call me that. Kharha just bestowed the blessing on a whim.”

Ian, who had spoken indifferently, eventually noticed Urd and smirked.

“You’re up.”

“To become the Grand Warrior of the North….”

Urd stammered.

Although he had suspected it, he felt a sense of reverence when he saw Ian, who had truly been chosen as the Grand Warrior of the North.

Ian’s brow furrowed.

“I don’t want to hear the rest. If you don’t want to be turned away, come in quietly.”

“…Yes.”

Urd entered the house.

“Nice to see you again, sir.”

The mysterious fairy, Tesia, flicked her fingers to greet them.

“I want to thank you first, Grand Warrior, no, Ian.”

Askel said respectfully.

Ian chuckled.

“Let’s keep the formalities short. More importantly….”

Ian looked back and forth between Askel and Urd.

“We’ll leave as soon as the carts are ready.”

“You’re leaving so soon?”

Askel’s eyes widened.

Urd felt the same way.

Ian snorted.

“Do you think I’ll wait until you’re all ready for the relocation?”

“Of course. I thought Ian would lead us.”

“I’ll pass on that. Now and in the future. So, if there’s anything I need to decide, you do it, sir.”

Urd frowned.

“Me…?”

“An agent, or a proxy, call it whatever you like. Take charge of the relocation preparations and the move itself.”

“…”

Urd closed his mouth.

Ian’s snort continued.

“You should be grateful I didn’t hit you in the face. Leaving a will as a commission. Remember, I refused the commission.”

“…Yes.”

Ian extended the longsword lying next to him.

“Take the payment back.”

“No, please accept it.”

Urd shook his head and said.

“Not as a commission, but as a token of gratitude for saving the village.”

“…Well, if you insist.”

Ian shrugged and stood up.

“That’s all I have to say. You have a lot to do from now on, so do as you please. And stop with the formalities. It’s uncomfortable.”

“Under…stood.”

At that moment, the door to the house burst open.

Charlotte, frowning, looked at Ian without even glancing at Askel or Urd.

“Some people keep saying we can’t leave the statue behind. I don’t know what to tell them. I just want to cut out their tongues.”

“Statue…?”

A look of difficulty appeared on Urd and Askel’s faces.

It was a problem they had always pondered, even those who wanted to relocate.

But Ian didn’t even think about it.

“Then tell them to move the statue. Load it onto a cart, or if that’s not possible, cut it into pieces and carry it.”