Chapter 11 : Strange Taste

I wasn’t flustered.

The reason had changed, but the situation was still the same—what a barbarian must endure at the city gates.

Therefore,

I neither panicked nor got angry.

After all, this was a problem that could be resolved by the person (with a sack over their head) simply speaking for themselves.

I just trusted that Neb wouldn’t be swayed by the soldier’s persuasion.

“Are you really saying this isn’t a kidnapping?”

“It is not.”

“…We can only provide the necessary help if you tell us the truth. That barbarian won’t be able to hear us anyway.”

“How many times must I say it? It is not.”

“…So you’re saying it wasn’t a forced abduction?”

“That is correct. Of course, even if Eden’s twisted sexual preferences have manifested externally as well as internally, this appearance was not forced upon me against my will.”

At that exchange, the soldier scratched his head and muttered to himself,

“…Seems like a slightly crazy person.”

I agreed.

Especially when you hear that weird way of speaking, it’s hard not to think so.

Anyway,

It seemed this soldier was simply a stickler for duty.

Though he continued to eye me suspiciously, he didn’t stop us any further.

“…Your identification has been confirmed.”

Thankfully, the situation didn’t escalate.

According to the game specs, a max-level barbarian is a powerful being who knows no fear and could take on an entire city alone,

But our goal wasn’t battle.

I stepped up to the stern-faced soldier.

He was tall, but still looked a full head shorter than me.

“We’re good to go now, right?”

“…Yes. There has been no order from the lord to bar barbarians from entering.”

“Hm.”

Neb quickly scurried over to my side.

Seeing that, the soldier seemed to finally drop his remaining suspicions.

The tension on his face also faded.

To think that the combination of a ‘sack over the head’ and a ‘barbarian’ could push even a normal person to hit the gas.

“…Judging by the soldier’s reaction, it seems you were 100% the cause of the problem.”

“Quiet.”

I let Neb’s comment about the medieval era go in one ear and out the other.

Even though she had a point—I’ve never once not been stopped at the city gates.

The soldier, watching us whisper to each other, gestured toward the inner side of the gate.

Apparently his rank was higher than I’d thought, as the other soldiers—who’d been pointing their spears at us with fearful faces—began lowering their weapons one by one.

Even the archers stationed atop the walls could be seen heading back inside.

…That almost turned into a siege.

Luckily, it seemed I wouldn’t need to swing my axe.

Now that I’d hit max level, there was no need to act violently anyway.

Finally, the soldier spoke as he looked at us.

“Welcome to the city. …You’re not going to cause any trouble, are you?”

“We won’t.”

That wasn’t the plan.

Probably.

After exchanging some formal greetings, we finally earned the right to enter the city.

“…Why on earth are you traveling with a barbarian like that? And what’s with the sack over their head?”

“It’s a matter of preference.”

“…Ah!”

Whatever they were whispering about back there.

Leaving behind the soldier, who looked like he’d had a sudden revelation, we passed through the gate and stepped into the city.

011. Strange Preferences

A well-structured city unfolded before us.

Buildings made of brick and plaster could be seen even on the outside, but the ones within were lavishly decorated with vibrant colors and intricate patterns—something you rarely see outside of a city.

It felt like visiting an old tourist spot.

“They’re smaller than modern buildings, so there’s not much of a wow factor.”

Setting aside Neb’s impressions…

She tapped me lightly on the back with her fingertip as she looked around.

With that sack still snug over her head, she probably couldn’t see well.

“By the way, what is this city’s name?”

“…You read my memory, didn’t you? You should know.”

At my words, Neb shook her head.

“The goddess said I haven’t seen all your memories, remember? Ah—now that we’re in the city, maybe we’ll get to experience that classic cliché, where a shabby-looking local comes up and offers to guide us… But why hasn’t anyone approached the goddess yet?”

She can’t even remember the city’s name, but she does know about those weird clichés.

Not knowing how much of my memory Neb had peeked at, I let out a small sigh.

“…Would you approach us?”

There were a few shabby vagrants loitering nearby.

Even with tight city security, you couldn’t keep all of them out.

But let’s be real—who’s brave enough to approach a giant barbarian and a (crazy-looking) woman wearing a sack on her head?

I didn’t answer Neb’s question.

Instead, I replied to a different one.

“Probably Edelan.”

“Hm?”

“The name of the city.”

Then I turned to Neb again to confirm something.

“…So, you’re sure this city is where that ‘sacred artifact’ is located?”

“Of course. I’d swear on the goddess’s na—”

“…”

“…On about half of it.”

As I stared intently at her, Neb looked away awkwardly.

Her movements turned jerky, like a broken toy.

“Th-the direction is probably… this way!”

“…”

“Wait, now that I look again—it might be that way…”

Well.

One thing was clear: we didn’t have a concrete lead on where this artifact might be.

Clink.

I checked the weight of the silver coin pouch in my coat.

Still plenty left.

Though it had thinned out a bit from some transactions, there were still enough coins to make any street urchin drool.

“Hmmm, maybe it’s this way, not that way…”

“First, let’s deal with that sack.”

I glanced over at Neb, who was scanning the area like a tourist.

Removing her “equipment” seemed like a top priority—

Just like how people stare when someone wears a knife in their helmet slot, others were staring at this woman with a sack on her head like she was a walking curiosity.

“Hey, kid.”

I called to a little boy who’d been circling around us sneakily.

“…Huh? M-me?”

“Yeah, you. Come here.”

I expected him to bolt, but he was braver than I thought.

The kid approached us hesitantly.

“…!”

I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and lifted him straight up.

He felt light—not just because of my barbarian strength, but because the kid was practically weightless.

He couldn’t even scream.

He just clamped his mouth shut.

Around us, people were murmuring, wondering if they should call the guards.

Without anyone noticing, I slipped a silver coin into the boy’s hand.

If I handed it over openly, he’d probably get robbed in less than an hour.

“…!!”

His eyes widened in surprise.

A whole, unbroken silver coin.

Way too much for a simple errand.

“Where’s a shop that sells travel gear?”

“…Ah!”

He nodded rapidly.

“Got it!”

Just like in the last town, asking around was still the simplest way to find what you needed.

Neb carefully moved up behind me and whispered,

“…Aren’t you being a bit too generous with those silver coins? I know it’s a narrative device, but still…”

At this point, I had no idea what she was talking about anymore.

I simply replied without concern.

“It’s not like it’s gold.”

Besides, silver coins were easy enough to gather if I really put my mind to it.

At my reply, Neb looked up at me with a strangely unreadable expression.

“…That sounded like something useless husbands in novels often say—ah!”

I gave Neb a light bop on the head to shut down the nonsense and followed the kid who was already leading the way.

A few minutes later,
the kid came to a stop in front of a shop.

“Uh, this one should be good.”

He muttered while rubbing the back of his neck where I’d grabbed him earlier.

“Hmm.”

I looked over the shop.

It didn’t look especially high-end, but it wasn’t a dump either.

The handle and threshold were worn smooth with use—
a sign the place had been in business for quite a while.

“Hunters in the city come here a lot. I heard the quality’s pretty good too.”

It seemed like a better shop than I’d expected.

Didn’t look like he was paid to advertise it either.

The kid hunched his neck, like he was afraid I’d take the coin back, and added nervously,

“Uh, there are a few other places, but the prices should be about the same…”

“This’ll do.”

I gave the kid’s bread cap a gentle pat with my palm.

“Don’t let anyone steal that coin I gave you.”

“…Th-this is really it? You’re not gonna ask me for anything else?”

What else was I supposed to ask?

A silver coin is not a small price for a favor—especially one born out of pity.

“Thanks!”

The kid beamed as he ran off somewhere, grinning from ear to ear.

Anyway.

I pushed open the shop door.

Eeeek—the hinges squeaked, aged and rusty.

The door was a bit smaller than usual, so I had to duck my head low to step inside.

Why is this door so small?

My question was quickly answered by the person behind the counter, who was puffing on a pipe and looking up at us.

Another “kid,” or so I thought—

But no, not a kid.

“Aha. First time seeing a dwarf, country bumpkin?”

“And you must be seeing a barbarian for the first time, kid.”

My clear response made the so-called “kid”—a bearded dwarf—look surprised.

His eyes behind the round glasses turned as wide as coins.

The dwarf slowly set his smoking pipe down on the counter.

Then he drew a circle in the air with his fingers—a sign of the faith.

In this world, the sign of the cross is circular, since most people worship the sun god, the only mainstream deity.

“O, great heavens. A barbarian who speaks fluent standard dialect? What is this world coming to…”

Should I just leave?

As I sighed, the dwarf’s expression grew even more amazed.

“…You didn’t even get mad when I insulted you. You’re not a barbarian—you’re a customer. My apologies, I was just… stunned.”

He bowed his head naturally.

He looked like he’d go flying like a soccer ball if I kicked him, but still, he looked up at us politely and asked,

“So, what brings you here?”

Offending someone and then apologizing immediately after—

A very on-brand move for a dwarf.

To be fair, dwarves were notorious for being short-tempered and weird.

Not in the same way as the pointy-eared elves, either.

Dwarves were uniquely difficult.

Then, suddenly—

I felt a strong sense of déjà vu.

More precisely, I sensed something odd behind me.

When I slowly turned around, I saw Neb still wearing the sack, emanating an unsettling aura.

“How rude,” she said.

“…Huh?”

“To inflate one’s worthless pride and speak down to lesser beings, you—mmph!!”

I quickly clamped a hand over her mouth before she could go off the rails.

After all, she was the one who needed something from this shop.

The dwarf behind the counter watched us like someone watching a street brawl with popcorn.

Then, suddenly clapping a fist into his palm as if he’d had a lightbulb moment, he spoke up:

“Ah! You’re here for handcuffs, gags, and blindfolds, right? You’ve come to the right place—this shop specializes in that kind of gear!”

“…?”

Seriously.

Dwarves were weird.