Barbarian in a Failed Game

013. The Guide (1)

The Western Great Mountains cover 20 percent of the kingdom’s territory, making them an immense range. Their reach extends beyond that, continuing into the lands of neighboring countries, so their size defied imagination. Moreover, even with the power of the human race, which has vanquished numerous other races and seized dominion over the continent, these mountains remain an uncharted territory they’ve yet to fully conquer. Given their location between the neighboring kingdoms of Argon and Morrow, it’s no wonder that these mountains are the reason neither kingdom has invaded the other.

“One could argue that even a fantasy version of Napoleon wouldn’t dare to conquer the Western Great Mountains.”

The diverse and long-established ecosystem of magical creatures, combined with the treacherous terrain and the sheer enormity, would be overwhelming to even a powerful minority, let alone an entire army.

And now, Khan and Aries have been staying in Nordic, a city adjacent to the Western Great Mountains, for a week. One might think they should hurry to storm Darkin’s lair and take him down, but…

“Taking down a necromancer holed up in his lair merits thorough preparation. There’s no harm in being overly prepared.” Based on experiences in the game, it’s highly likely that Darkin’s lair is located somewhere in the Necar Mountain, which border Nordic.

The problem is that the Necar Mountain themselves are a dangerous territory. “After losing his forces to the empire and players’ counterattack, Darkin retreats to his base to prepare for his last stand, and an elite task force of strong individuals is assembled to eliminate him…” That was the climax of Act 5, notorious for its brutal difficulty. Nearly every creature, comparable to boss-level named monsters, and endlessly emerging beasts from the mountains must be cut through to even reach Darkin for a boss fight, with most attempts ending at the entrance.

“Back then, the entire Necar Mountain were his domain. Things should be slightly better now.” However, the situation remains dire, and Khan considered three essential conditions for the expedition to the Necar Mountain.

Firstly, they would need a guide well-versed in the geography of the Necar Mountain. To minimize the energy wasted fighting monsters and to conserve strength for the showdown with Darkin. Luckily, Khan had thought of someone, an NPC who volunteered to guide them in the upcoming Darkin raid. His hometown was Nordic.

“He wanted revenge on the one who had ruined his hometown. It’s fortunate I remember him, considering he’s an extra with surprisingly a lot of lines.” Having frequented Necar Mountain even before the fall of the Argon Kingdom, he was without doubt the best choice for a guide.

Next, they had to create conditions where Darkin’s apprentices couldn’t interfere, isolating him for Aries and Khan to strike.

The last condition was…

“I’m hungry. Let’s eat.”

A voice cut through his thoughts, making Khan look up.

“Can’t you order that yourself?”

“……”

With a somewhat sullen look, Aries stared back. Khan sighed and pulled out a handful of silver coins from his purse, handing them over.

“Borrowing money from a barbarian, of all people. What is the world coming to.”

“Here. Get some meat.”

“Yes, sir!”

As Aries sourly went to order food, Khan leaned back in his chair as if lying down.

“Hmm. The alcohol tastes especially good today.”

“That’s for sure…”

“…Ahem.”

The men around them, who seemed to have been petrified in place, began to act awkwardly. It was clear they were watching Khan’s moves.

‘They never get tired of it, do they?’

In the past week since arriving in Nordic, given the treacherous reputation of the Necar Mountain and the fierce nature and provincialism of the mercenaries who made their living hunting there, confrontations were inevitable.

‘I must have knocked down about thirty or forty of them by now. Mercenaries sure don’t tire easily.’

There’s no way they didn’t know Khan was staying in this tavern, yet they still chose to occupy the place and make themselves known. It couldn’t be out of love for getting beaten.

‘Maybe they are starting to react to my presence.’

He was prepared for this daily occurrence until the awaited one arrives. After all, it would end once the person was dealt with, so he dismissed it from his mind.

Just then,

“Nordic! I have returned─! I, at last, have made my comeback. Ha, ha, ha!”

Thump──!

“Hey…! Stop messing around and sit here!”

“Why did that idiot have to come back now…?!”

“Huh? What are you saying? Speak up clearly, don’t whisper like a mouse.”

“Come here, you lunatic!”

Caught off guard by the sudden situation, the mercenaries glanced at Khan’s place, then, as if deciding to completely immobilize them to prevent further nonsense, they grabbed the lively man’s arms from both sides.

“Ugh, quite the enthusiastic welcome!”

“Shut up and just drink!”

“Somebody shove some side dishes in this guy’s mouth!”

Several burly mercenaries rushed over and stuffed the lively man’s mouth with chewing snacks and beer.

The scene almost resembled a form of food torture, and Khan turned his gaze away from the injustice unfolding before him.

‘To think they’re using the most terrible torture techniques produced by the 21st-century military already. These wicked fantasy creatures….’

Overwhelmed by the surge of old memories, Khan turned his head just in time to see Aries’s platinum hair shaking in rhythm with chewing meat. She sure eats heartily.

Then, feeling Khan’s gaze, Aries stopped chewing and looked up, their eyes meeting.

“…Why?”

“No, keep eating. You need to eat well to grow tall. Ugh.”

This cheeky one… Khan had offered a compliment on how well she was eating, only for her to throw sass?

Khan’s eyes widened in anger, but Aries simply turned her head away, refusing to make eye contact.

It almost felt like the time when he had told his pubescent niece that ‘it’s nice to see you didn’t grow tall like your mom,’ only to have her burst into tears.

Maybe they were both too young. Even kind words seemed to be taken the wrong way.

‘Back in my day, it was basic manners to listen and understand when an adult spoke.’

As Khan was feeling the transient nature of time, a chaotic noise suddenly erupted where the lively man was being force-fed, accompanied by a loud crash!

“Hahaha! The welcome ceremony is rather intense today! Good to see my friends after such a long time!”

Several adults, robust mercenaries at that, were being carried around like baggage, which even Khan found quite astonishing.

He had initially thought it was just one noisy fellow arriving but hadn’t thought much of it.

“Oh? Wait. Wait! There are some faces I don’t recognize?”

Just as Khan had shown interest in the lively man, the lively man, having shaken off the mercenaries clinging to him, also displayed interest upon spotting Khan and Aries.

“A girl in a robe and a barbarian? That’s quite the unique combination! Even I, a mercenary with twenty years of experience, have never seen such!”

What a mess! And Khan could see the surrounding reactions, though the lively man seemed utterly unconcerned.

‘This one’s truly clueless.’

“Hmm. So, is that barbarian friend your escort? Then it’s an excellent choice! Barbarians are very trustworthy friends unlike what these fools might say!”

“Enough of your crazy talk and come here! Are you looking to die?!”

“Hey, you guys! Fearing them just because of such prejudice is rude!”

“Skull crusher! A skull crusher!”

“You lot have some really bad habits! How can you give such a dreadful nickname and ostracize someone?”

Suddenly, the discussion turned into a heated debate about barbarian, making Khan scratch the back of his head. What in the world were they doing?

“Munch munch.”

Meanwhile, Aries continued to eat next to him, indifferent to the mercenaries’ discussion, which gradually grew more heated.

“Didn’t I tell you? Seven years ago, I was caught by a group of greenskins but managed to solve things through conversation and even got a meal out of it! You shouldn’t treat other races like monsters!”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. That barbarian… That person has cracked more than a few skulls…!”

‘Where’s the popcorn when you need it?’

Khan felt a bit uneasy hearing greenskins used as an example in a conversation about barbarian, but it was nonetheless interesting to watch.

Of course, he made sure to remember the face of the one spreading rumors about skull crushers.

“Seems like talking won’t convince you stiff-necked folks. Then let me show you. The rumors about barbarian are all false!”

Failing to make them understand through words, the lively man, thumping his chest, boldly approached where Khan and Aries were sitting.

“Pleased to meet you, friends. What brings you to Nordic?”

“We’re heading to Necar Mountain.”

“To Necar Mountain? Are you seeking to prove your valor to the barbarian? There are better places for that.”

Khan squinted his eyes.

‘This one knows more than I thought.’

The ‘proving of valor’ was an archaic tradition in the Frost Gorge that involved proving one’s bravery to the gods.

Meaning, it was knowledge not commonly known outside of the barbarian’ circle…

“Have you ever met another warrior from the Frost Gorge?”

“I fought back-to-back with one on the battlefield once. I learned about the proving of valor then. When I asked why he came to the battlefield, he said it was to prove himself to his god!”

“If that’s the case, this conversation should be quick. You’re aware that the Necar Mountain are dangerous enough, aren’t you?”

“Well, it might not be as dangerous as you think. Except for when the monsters overflow occasionally, it’s not much different from any other place. The neighboring city of Wagner would be a better mention. That place is in a constant state of war all day long! Don’t you folks have a penchant for dangerously—almost foolishly—dangerous battlefields?”

‘Who’s this medieval buffoon calling foolish?’

Khan’s brows furrowed, but he decided to extend the conversation.

“The depths of the Necar Mountain. Isn’t that place enough to prove one’s bravery?”

“…Are you serious?”

“Warriors of the Frost Gorge do not lie.”

This was also one of the traditions of Frost Gorge. Always act in a manner that would not embarrass oneself before the gods. And of course, shameful acts naturally included lying.

Of course, Khan himself didn’t care a whit about the traditions of Frost Gorge or the gods.

However, to those well-acquainted with barbarian, there could be no clearer declaration of intent.

“…You’re serious.”

“I always am.”

Steadfastly gazing into Khan’s unwavering eyes, the lively man let out a deep sigh.

“Then give up. That place… That place is not one you return from alive. Even the mighty empire struggles to subjugate it, calling it an untamed land compared to the demon realm.”

“I’m aware.”

“No. You don’t understand. If you knew what kind of beings roamed the depths, you wouldn’t say such things. Once, a creature from the depths made its way out of the Necar Mountain and pounded on the city walls. Do you know what happened?”

“I, of course, do not.”

“Nordic, Wagner, Cherno… Mercenaries from the three adjacent cities all gathered at the wall in hope of capturing it. Given how rare it was for such a monster to be caught, even a bit of its flesh would sell for a high price. In the end, three hundred gathered.”

In a world where even a knight with an estate calling soldiers to war couldn’t gather more than fifty.

The assembled force of three hundred mercenaries, all of them, could easily replace a minor noble’s power.

“Driven by the chance of striking it rich, regardless of whether they were rookies, intermediates, or veterans, the mercenaries who gathered at the wall charged at the monster when it appeared again….”

Over a hundred fell that day. With a subdued voice, the air within the tavern seemed to grow heavier.

Perhaps because.

The mercenaries present were still haunted by the terror of that day.

“Still planning to go?”

“Of course.”

“Ha…”

Having tried desperately to dissuade Khan, the lively man could only shake his head, realizing the futility against such stubbornness.

“No choice then. I shall pray that your bravery reaches the gods. No, let’s all have a toast instead. What is your name?”

“Son of Gordi, Khan.”

“Well then. If we do not wish good fortune on a warrior setting out to prove his courage towards death, we are no men!”

Attempting to change the mood, the lively man got up briskly with a bright smile, holding up a mug full of beer.

“Everyone, grab your mugs and stand up!”

“This lunatic really….”

“How many lives does he think one has? That guy is…”

“Ah!”

At the lively man’s stern look, the mercenaries reluctantly stood up. Once he saw everyone standing, the lively man smiled contentedly, lifting his mug high into the air.

“Though our meeting was brief, I admire the courage to knowingly face dangers! I have little expectation, but I hope to see your whole face again! To the brave, albeit foolish warrior Khan! Cheers—!”

“Cheers….”

HaHaHaHa! As the lively man laughed out loud, having downed his beer in one go, the barbarian who had become a foolish warrior.

Khan’s face twisted.

‘The nerve of this guy…’

*

*

*

After the commotion of the toast settled down, Khan, wearing a smile full of satisfaction, grabbed the lively man.

“Speaking of which. I haven’t caught your name.”

It definitely wasn’t with any petty thought like ‘I’ll pay you back once this is all over.’ Sincerely.

It was with a light-hearted feeling that if someone with such a mindset could survive this, they’d be formidable.

“Me? I‘m Ron Ironhammer, friend!”

And then… as the self-introduction continued, Khan’s face twisted strangely. Ron, is it?