Chapter 17 : The Root Of The Problem (Part-1)

Eden found himself in a scenario that was completely unfamiliar to him and one that he had not encountered before in his life.

These kinds of experiences were outside the realm of what he typically faced on a daily basis.

He reflected deeply on his feelings and thoughts regarding this unexpected predicament.

“This is quite the predicament.”

The extraordinary and transcendental strength that characterized a max-level barbarian proved to be exceptionally advantageous when confronting formidable foes—such as formidable demons or colossal dragons, entities that posed a significant threat in battle.

However, this immense power was not particularly effective or necessary when it came to addressing the concerns presented by the ancestors of the village residents, who bore an unsettling appearance reminiscent of individuals who had just emerged from their graves.

To complicate matters even further, Eden found himself on the receiving end of unexpected acts of kindness and generosity from the villagers, a gesture that caught him completely off guard.

In certain situations, the presence of goodwill can indeed weigh heavier on an individual than open hostility, leading to feelings of discomfort and unease.

This was precisely the emotional turmoil that Eden was grappling with at this moment, leaving him in a state of extreme awkwardness.

He was acutely aware that managing these corpses would not pose a significant challenge—after all, he had, without being aware of it, dispersed the remains of a deceased relative of someone in the community just moments before.

However, if events unfolded in that manner, the way the villagers regarded him would undoubtedly deteriorate, leading to a significant shift in their perception of him.

He could very well find himself labeled with the dishonorable designation of “Ancestor Slayer.”

“Yeah, no thanks.”

Not a dragon slayer, not a troll slayer, not a demon hunter—but an ancestor slayer?

Absolutely not.

That had to be prevented at all costs.

Thus, Eden found himself in a position where he had no choice but to resolve this situation without resorting to violence.

Even as he was deeply contemplating the gravity of the circumstances surrounding him, the ancestors—the walking corpses, reanimated remnants of the past—continued to slowly approach him, their presence a chilling reminder of what he must avoid at all costs.

“Guuuuurgh…”

Every single one of the lifeless bodies was in a state of severe decomposition, exhibiting advanced signs of decay that were evident upon close inspection.

Did the organs within their chests, specifically their lungs, and the structures responsible for sound production, known as vocal cords, still possess any function or capability?

Eden found herself perplexed, unable to comprehend how these corpses were capable of generating sounds that echoed in the air despite their lifeless states.

Moreover, this peculiar phenomenon was not the only unsettling aspect that caught her attention.

Just then, one of the villagers pointed at a corpse approaching Eden and said, “That’s my father… He died three years ago.”

“Guuuuh…”

Three years is an ample duration, long enough for organic matter to decompose to the point where only the skeletal remains are left behind, reduced entirely to bones.

However, despite the passage of time and the expected decay, this particular corpse still retained some semblance of flesh covering its bones—enough so that it could still be identified and recognized as belonging to a once-living person.

“Does this even make sense?”

A barbarian with a fundamental understanding of scientific principles, Eden acknowledged the peculiar nature of the situation that was unfolding before him.

He shifted his attention to the expansive and dense forest, which loomed in the distance.

Although it was located at a considerable distance from his current position, the barbarian’s remarkable and heightened perceptive abilities allowed him to penetrate the veil of darkness that surrounded him and detect the presence of a concealed figure hidden within the shadows.

“There.”

“Huh?”

Neb, who was completely unaware of the situation unfolding around him, appeared to be in a state of confusion as he looked around, his features etched with a deep sense of puzzlement and uncertainty.

Eden bent down and carefully selected a small, unassuming rock from the ground—

And launched it into the vast, enveloping darkness ahead of him.

Although it would have been more effective and far preferable if he had a throwing axe in his hand at that moment,

He sadly remembered that he had left all of his throwing weapons, including his trusty axes, back at his house, away from where he now stood.

“…Eek!!”

The stone, propelled through the air with a force reminiscent of a missile, created a resonant tremor that reverberated throughout the entire forest, causing the leaves to rustle and the branches to sway.

In that moment, Eden heard a distant and faint scream echoing through the trees.

A miss.

What a pity.

Despite the fact that Eden possessed the [Throwing Expert] trait, which should have enhanced his ability to throw objects with precision, it paled in comparison to the remarkable accuracy he achieved when launching axes, a skill refined through his [Axe Mastery] trait.

Still, it was a close call.

He had no idea who was lurking in the dense, shadowy underbrush of the forest—

However, it became evidently clear that these hidden figures had a direct connection to the array of undead beings that were shambling about.

The instant he hurled the rock with a swift motion, it was as if a trigger had been pulled, causing all the nearby corpses to abruptly topple to the earth in an unsettling display.

Witnessing this peculiar and alarming scene, the villagers sprang into action, hastily moving forward to investigate the motionless forms of the fallen corpses.

“Father!!”

“Oh no, Grandpa… I must’ve misjudged this guy.”

“…Someone bring a shovel, quick.”

“But uh, whose elder is this headless one? Geez, that’s a rough state.”

Eden pretended not to hear that last comment and acted as if everything was normal.

“This was probably the work of a wizard.”

“A wizard? Why would someone like that come to our village?”

“No idea. But we’re about to find out.”

Eden returned to his dwelling to retrieve his axe, a tool of both labor and necessity.

The looming concerns weighed heavily on his mind; whether it was the act of desecrating the graves of the villagers’ ancestors, the troubling thought of raiding the village under the cover of darkness,

Or the unsettling image of a severed head from a corpse being hurled through the air—he felt a pressing need to confront this individual in person and pose his inquiries directly.

“So you’re the one who—”

“Shh.”

Eden hushed Neb and began walking toward the forest.

017. The Root of the Problem

The wicked wizard Fade, who had threatened the village, found himself in a very difficult situation.

“…Shit!”

Fade cursed repeatedly in his mind as he tried to comprehend how the situation had turned so unexpectedly, spiraling into chaos before his eyes.

It had all seemed so straightforward and uncomplicated, with a clear path ahead of him.

He believed the coin was already securely nestled in his pocket and reveled in the good fortune that had so unexpectedly graced him.

When he had initially conceptualized the plan to ambush the barbarian, employing his innovative yet perilous creation—walking corpses—everything had appeared to be impeccably orchestrated.

The corpses were essentially immortal, not easily taken down, far too numerous for one man to handle, and the ambush was set to happen under the cover of night, minimizing the risk of discovery.

And yet—

The entire plan had unraveled completely and was in disarray.

The barbarian had not been taken by surprise, nor had he shown any sign of difficulty while engaged with the corpses around him.

Fade recalled with striking clarity—

The instant when the barbarian, with an effortless motion, propelled a head from a corpse into the air with a well-placed punch.

In that moment of disbelief, he had been so astounded that he questioned whether his eyes were truly seeing what was unfolding before him.

Regardless, up until that moment, the situation had still been under control.

There were plenty more corpses, and above all, he was certain the barbarian wouldn’t detect him hiding deep in the woods.

Then Fade almost became the very first wizard in the entirety of history to meet his untimely demise at the hands of a rock.

Wait… could it possibly have been something other than a rock?

Perhaps the individual who threw it was actually a unique combination of a barbarian and a wizard—a hybrid of sorts.

The object that came hurtling toward him—more akin to a massive boulder than just an ordinary stone—was indeed that menacing.

It grazed the top of his head and, with an astonishing display of strength, sent crashing down a perfectly healthy tree that stood behind him as if it were nothing more than a collection of matchsticks that could be easily broken apart.

The moment their eyes met—whether the towering figure was a barbarian or a mage was irrelevant—the sheer terror overwhelming him propelled Fade to run, instinctively escaping without a single thought of looking back to assess his situation.

Though the corpses he had previously animated with his magic were likely all lying down now, he recognized that he did not possess the luxury of time or concern to dwell upon that fact.

Fortunately, the distance separating him from the monstrous barbarian was significant, providing him with a brief reprieve.

Fade sprinted back through the dense underbrush toward the secret laboratory he had meticulously concealed deep within the forest, nestled on the outskirts of the village, all the while fervently brainstorming potential escape routes to ensure his survival.

“Should I just run away?”