Ch.18Chapter 18: Magic That Barbarians Can Learn

# Chapter 18: Magic That Barbarians Can Learn

“Sigh… It’s embarrassing to admit, but it’s impossible to completely eradicate criminal organizations in the Imperial City. You must know that too, Your Highness.”

Where people gather, crime inevitably follows.

Eradicate them all? In this vast Imperial City? That’s simply impossible.

“Indeed.”

The guard captain continued speaking to Valt, who nodded in agreement.

“In this Imperial City, there are five organizations that rule the underworld. One of them is Devrick Venom. From human trafficking to drugs and contract killings—there’s no dirty business they won’t touch.”

In other words, they’re the worst of the worst.

“Your Highness, I strongly advise you not to come here again if possible. Though there’s no one around at the moment, someone surely must have seen your enormous figure. Please be careful. It may sound ridiculous coming from me, but these people are not to be taken lightly.”

So I’ve gotten myself tangled in something troublesome.

But I have no regrets about my choice.

I gained a lot from it.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

After saying that, the guard captain turned to his subordinates who were struggling to keep one of the criminals alive.

“Just kill him. It’s easier that way.”

*Squelch*

Following the captain’s order, a guard’s sword pierced the criminal’s neck, and he immediately went limp.

They seemed quite accustomed to this, suggesting it happens often.

“Please take your leave now. We’re about to get very busy.”

As the guard captain turned to leave, Valt asked him:

“What’s your name?”

After a brief pause, the guard captain decided it wouldn’t hurt to share his name, since he had indeed provided assistance to the barbarian prince.

“Rick Segner, sir.”

“Thank you, Rick. I’ll remember today.”

Rick bowed his head slightly before departing.

Valt picked up the 20 silver coins he had thrown at the thug earlier and walked toward the woman who was still trembling while holding her baby. He placed the coins in her hand along with an additional gold coin from his pocket.

It wasn’t necessary, but Valt chose to do it anyway.

Perhaps it was because of that baby in its mother’s arms, who wasn’t crying but instead looked up at its mother with bright, round eyes, as if trying to comfort her.

“M-my lord?”

Seeing the woman’s surprised expression, Valt spoke softly:

“What happened today was a stroke of luck that might happen once in a lifetime. Such fortune won’t always be there to protect you and your child. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Is he saying mothers must be strong? The woman with the determined expression nodded with tightly pressed lips.

“This money should be enough for you to settle somewhere else.”

After saying this, Valt bent down and touched the baby’s cheek with his finger. The baby giggled and grabbed Valt’s massive finger with both hands.

Soft cheeks, a fragile little life that looked like it could collapse with a single breath.

Did his parents abandon such a life?

Even this skinny woman who barely had enough to eat was trying so hard to protect her child.

Feeling bitter, Valt withdrew his finger and stood up.

It would be foolish for this woman to remain in the Imperial City.

There are plenty of developed cities around the Imperial City; it would be better for her to flee to one of those.

“Th-thank you! Thank you so much! I will survive! I will live on! Because of the chance you’ve given me, I won’t give up—I’ll live and raise my child well!”

“Hmm, that’s a spirited baby. Raise it well.”

He had done what he could for the woman.

What was a momentary whim for Valt had become a life-changing event for someone else.

Valt turned to Lisa and Arias and said:

“Let’s go back.”

On the way back, Lisa had to endure a lecture from Valt.

“You need strength to uphold your convictions. Understand?”

“Yes… I understand…”

Lisa didn’t consider it nagging, since Valt wasn’t one for long speeches. Rather, Valt’s few words of admonishment cut deep into Lisa’s heart.

She had charged in boldly only to find herself in danger, and if Valt hadn’t been there, she would have put her roommate Arias at risk too.

‘I’m so frustrated! Starting tomorrow, I’m going to train intensively!’

Lisa made this resolution to herself.

As they walked together, Arias asked Valt a question:

“Valt… are you really a barbar—I mean, a barbarian?”

To Arias’s question, Valt replied matter-of-factly:

“Of course. Why do you ask?”

“That thing you did to blow away those criminals… that was magic, wasn’t it?”

Unlike others, Arias seemed quite perceptive.

Well, elves are known for their proficiency in spirit arts, archery, and magic.

“Hmm… you noticed. Yes, it could be considered magical energy.”

“That destructive power was at least a 3rd Circle Wind Fist… Are you a 3rd Circle mage, Valt? I can sense a circle, but it’s barely even at 1st Circle level…”

Naturally, Valt hadn’t yet properly inscribed even one mana circle in his heart.

Indu Fumnis was such a basic enchantment magic that even carpenters could use it, and not having achieved the 1st Circle didn’t mean one couldn’t use magic at all.

Valt smiled slightly and answered:

“It’s complicated to explain. Let’s just say I’m a mage-in-training.”

“M-mage-in-training? D-does that mean a barbarian is going to learn magic at the Academy?”

Valt nodded at the surprised Arias.

“Yes, what’s strange about that?”

Arias thought to herself:

‘It’s very strange! What kind of barbarian is this? Spirit affinity and magic? He’s just a barbarian in size—he’s practically an elf!’

Arias couldn’t understand how this rugged barbarian possessed attributes similar to elves.

Rather, she became curious about this barbarian who had similar attributes to herself.

“N-nothing. Good luck.”

“By the way, when will you teach me spirit summoning?”

He had made such a promise.

Today had been eventful, and Arias also wanted to go back and rest.

Summoning spirits wasn’t a simple matter, after all.

She might need to spend several hours with Valt.

“It’s not an easy thing… how about tomorrow at noon, after you’ve rested well today?”

Valt’s expression brightened at the schedule, which was sooner than expected.

“That sounds excellent. I’ll look forward to tomorrow.”

***

When Valt entered his dormitory room, only his belongings were unpacked. His roommate still hadn’t arrived.

Who his roommate would be was an important matter. He felt some anticipation.

Lying on the bed, Valt checked his current status.

‘Status Window’

【Name: Valt Lv. 14

Stats: Strength 140, Agility 70, Intelligence 5, Spirit 38, Will 70, Mana 67

Traits: Barbarian, Mixed Blood, Impressive Barbarian Attitude, Won’t Harm You, It’s Magic Anyway.

Skills: Smash, Battle Cry, Throw, Physical Magic

Remaining Stat Points: 45】

His base stats had increased after four level-ups.

As expected of a barbarian.

Strength increased by 10 points each time, Agility and Will by 5 each, Spirit by 2, while Intelligence and Mana didn’t increase at all.

‘This is a dilemma.’

Valt’s goal wasn’t just for himself but to enable barbarians to learn magic.

Honestly, it would be easier to pour all those remaining stat points into Intelligence and Mana, but that wouldn’t make it magic for barbarians.

Valt was an irregular.

After checking with Lisa and others, it was clear that only Valt had access to a status window.

Only Valt could allocate points to increase stats as he wished.

So what did that mean?

It meant that those unintelligent barbarians would continue to have intelligence at this level.

Learning magic by increasing intelligence would make it impossible to teach it to barbarians when he returned.

But Valt had secured a trick.

With physical-to-magical energy conversion items, even those unintelligent barbarians could use magic.

Besides, he had confirmed it again this time.

It was just a simple motion of swinging his arm.

Yet magical energy had manifested, creating a Wind Fist.

A spell without calculations or incantations.

‘Right, increasing mana is meaningless too. From now on, it’s all about strength!’

With the trait of Physical Magic, Valt thought it made sense to invest in strength.

However, feeling no need to hastily invest all points at once, Valt decided to put 20 points into Strength for now. He also added 2 to Spirit and 3 to Mana.

It was the gamer’s desire to make everything a multiple of 5.

Making numbers multiples of 5 was something Valt couldn’t resist.

*Flex!*

Valt’s muscles pulsed as he felt an overflow of power.

By numbers alone, it was 1.6 times his previous strength.

Of course, it wouldn’t calculate so simply, but both Stone Bullet and Wind Fist would certainly be stronger now.

He was itching to go outside and experiment right away, but he decided to hold back. There was nowhere to conduct such experiments anyway.

So Valt enjoyed a comfortable rest for the first time in a while.

‘This is much better than the southern tents.’

That night, Valt had a dream.

Tens of thousands of barbarians riding black horses, throwing boulders the size of their heads at castle walls.

The walls crumbled instantly, and the fortress fell as the tremendous roar of barbarians echoed:

“Praise the Grand Archmage Valt!!”

Valt’s facial muscles twitched into a smile as he slept.

***

Gerungtu, once just a word, had now become the name of a nation.

Valt, who had always started his days early in Gerungtu, set out as soon as the sun rose to explore the Academy.

He was looking for a place to train.

Meals were apparently provided by the Academy.

Since it was vacation time and early in the morning, not many people had come for breakfast.

In truth, Gerungtu’s land was barren, and food wasn’t abundant.

That was why they had raided the Central Continent so often.

But now with trade beginning and various specialties and minerals being exchanged that weren’t available in the Central Continent, the Southern Continent would also prosper.

Therefore, the current breakfast menu was like a feast to Valt.

As Valt was eating, piling food mountain-high to match his enormous physique, someone approached and spoke to him:

“Oh ho, so you’re the rumored Prince of Gerungtu. Quite the early riser!”