Chapter 17 : The Root Of The Problem (Part-2)

The thought briefly flitted through his mind, yet he decisively shook his head, forcing himself to redirect his attention and refocus on the task at hand.

For almost a decade, he had been confined in this isolated and unremarkable rural area, diligently conducting his research—he felt an overwhelming compulsion to ensure he did not depart without having accomplished something significant.

Moreover, there was insufficient time available to gather his research materials and properly organize them for transport.

The menacing presence of that savage barbarian was likely already en route, drawing ever closer with each passing moment.

Fade was resolute in his desire to not leave his future and its uncertainties to the whims of fate.

“…Ah, right.”

He remembered—there was indeed another corpse lying in the dark depths of the cave, a sight that lingered in his mind, haunting his thoughts and sending shivers down his spine.

He had meticulously removed its heart with careful precision for his experiments, seeking to uncover the mysteries of life and death that resided within this lifeless body.

However, despite the absence of the heart, he knew all too well that the heart wasn’t actually necessary for movement or the spectral energy that animated the remains.

“Yes… why was I even thinking of running away?”

Fade let out a low, dark chuckle that echoed ominously in the silence around him.

Eden and Neb stumbled upon a concealed cave that was cleverly camouflaged between two towering cliffs, its entrance partially obscured by the surrounding foliage and rocky terrain..

“A perfect hiding place for a cowardly spell-slinger trying to skulk away like a pathetic rat.”

“Spell-slinger?”

“It’s what we call arrogant mages.”

It was a common cliché: barbarians calling mages “spell-slingers.”

Fade let out a low, dark chuckle that echoed ominously in the dimly lit surroundings.

Eden and Neb stumbled upon a concealed cave nestled snugly between two towering cliffs, each rock face adorned with rough texture and creeping vines.

The location seemed almost otherworldly.

It was important to note that this discovery wasn’t simply the result of Eden’s unfortunate circumstances of having transported to a medieval realm and grappling with his disappointment over passing on the opportunity to choose a mage class.

At least, that’s what the situation seemed to imply.

Neb shot Eden a look that combined mild irritation with an undercurrent of understanding, clearly indicating his frustration with Eden’s antics.

“Honestly, I can see why people call you a barbarian.”

“Because I am one right now.”

“No, I mean…”

Neb shook her head in frustration and gave a firm thump to her chest as a way to express her exasperation.

Eden took his time to closely examine the surrounding area near the entrance of the cave, paying careful attention to every detail.

Utilizing the particularly sharp senses that were characteristic of the barbarian class, he thoroughly searched for any signs that might indicate the presence of traps hidden in the vicinity.

Even during the time when this realm existed merely as a game, it was well-known that the barbarian class possessed the second-best abilities in both trap detection and tracking, falling just behind the rogue class in skill level.

A vivid image of a mage making a hasty retreat into the cave surfaced in Eden’s mind, further fueled by his analysis of the situation.

It was evident that the mage must have been in an extraordinary hurry, as every footprint he left behind slanted forward, signaling a distinct sense of urgency in his movements.

Additionally, the condition of the worn-down soles of the mage’s footwear indicated that he had likely been wearing the same pair of shoes for an extended period of time, further emphasizing his need to escape quickly.

“This is the place.”

A poor mage hiding near a village for secret research was a common random encounter even in games.

Sometimes it led to a new quest, and occasionally even decent loot.

Eden had never skipped this event whenever it showed up.

Moments like this made him feel once again that this world was really a game.

But at the same time, it all felt too natural to be made from just ones and zeroes—so much so that it was starting to stress him out.

Eden stepped inside, the musty smell of the cave filling his nose.

“Ugh, what a stench.”

Neb pinched her nose in disgust.

The cave was larger than it looked from the outside—at least two or three times the size of the entrance.

Papers of unknown purpose were scattered around, along with mining tools like shovels and pickaxes.

“It’s clear now—the one who desecrated the villagers’ corpses was the spell-slinger.”

Eden muttered to himself, spotting a tombstone engraved with the symbol of the Sun Church.

This mage was clearly a nasty piece of work.

Like most spellcasters, really.

Eden sensed a presence deeper within the cave.

The flickering candlelight danced in the breeze.

“Puh… puhuhaha!! You actually came all the way here? Bold—or just plain stupid?”

The voice came from someone hiding behind the thick stone wall, seemingly too scared to face Eden directly.

“Well, I guess that’s typical for barbarians. Hmm. Can’t even recognize the place they’re going to die.”

“That’s funny. I was just about to say the same thing.”

“What the…?”

Eden started walking toward the source of the voice.

He’d planned to throw his axe the moment the face showed itself, but if the man insisted on hiding, it was faster to track him down personally.

Step.

Step.

The sound of the barbarian’s heavy, wordless approach made the mage panic and shout.

“Y-You idiot! You think I came out here unprepared?! I was being nice, about to explain everything, you know?!”

Eden wondered what gave this magician his confidence.

He didn’t seem like the type to bolt just because of a pebble—but earlier, that’s exactly what he did.

Then suddenly, something lunged at Eden.

Thud!

Eden instinctively raised his axe and frowned.

Standing in front of him was a man whose body was completely covered in strange tattoos.

No warmth at all—it was chilling. But the muscle strength was real.

Eden didn’t take a single step back, but he did feel a dull sting in his wrist from the impact.

It had been a while since he faced that kind of force.

“…Barbarian?”

He murmured softly, but the man didn’t respond.

He stared at Eden with lifeless, lightless eyes.

His skin was grayish, and a large scar ran across his chest.

Eden concluded—this guy’s already dead.

Apparently overhearing Eden’s mumble, the mage let out a loud laugh.

“Yeah! One of your kind! Dumb as bricks, too. Now he’s just a corpse being controlled by me.”

Eden felt something odd.

This barbarian’s corpse was different from the ones in the village earlier.

This man was a true warrior.

It didn’t make sense that such a seasoned fighter had been taken down by a second-rate spellcaster.

Hmm.

Eden realized this must be the barbarian the villagers said had gone missing.

They’d described him as a gentle, kind man—but to Eden, he looked like anything but.

In the game Ascending Hero, real barbarians tattoo their bodies after every battle.

Eden, being a fake barbarian, never did that—but this guy? Covered head to toe in markings.

“Kill him! Bring me that cocky bastard’s heart!”

The mage—Fade—shouted.

The pressure on Eden kept building.

Despite being cold and bloodless, the corpse’s muscles were solid.

Of course, it still didn’t compare to Eden.

“If you’re already dead, guess there’s nothing to be done.”

He wasn’t looking for a reply.

The man in front of him was nothing more than a walking corpse.

Still, Eden muttered,

“…I’ll make sure the villagers hear what happened to you.”

He redirected the force coming toward him, took a step back, and separated from the warrior.

No matter how strong he’d been in life, now he was just a puppet dancing to a mage’s command.

His movements were slow.

Predictable.

Eden swung his axe from left to right.

With that simple motion, the warrior’s head dropped to the ground.

Thud.

That was it.

“…Huh?”

Apparently, the mage hadn’t expected that.

Fade peeked out from between the cave walls.

But it didn’t change the outcome.

Eden crooked a finger toward him.

“Come here.”

“…Excuse me?”

“If you don’t want your face rearranged, come. Here.”

Of course, showing up wouldn’t save him from the beating.