episode_0243

There are 200 ways to deceive a person.

Among them, there are 100 ways to deceive a guy who struts around thinking he’s smart.

There are about 50 ways to deceive a guy who is strong and smart.

And.

There are so few ways to deceive and kill a guy who is strong, smart, and suspicious that you can count them on your fingers.

It means he’s not an easy opponent.

It is true that the guys I am about to meet are strong. Because they smashed cities and towns and killed the belonging of the Outer God who caused enormous damage to the Dwarf Kingdom.

But their strength is a secondary problem. Gaps must exist.

Didn’t someone say that?

The condition to defeat the enemy will be in the enemy.

However, there is one thing that worries me.

Can I deceive the Hero and his party?

It is not easy to act like a simple and ignorant barbarian.

‘Because I am too smart.’

A mind shining as brilliantly as the sun was not the kind of thing that could be easily hidden.

Even so.

‘I have to try.’

Stride wide.

Act big.

Speak simply and ignorantly.

“Herooooo!!!”

I shouted loudly once again and ran down the street.

* * *

Labyrinth City.

In front of the South Gate.

The Hero Sian swept her long hair behind her ears. The winter wind blew, shaking her deep blonde hair.

A prominent nose and flawless skin.

Beneath long eyelashes, calm eyes sparkled like starlight.

She had a mysterious and beautiful appearance, but.

Among the people gathered in front of the gate, no one approached Sian.

Because the purity seal praising Lux Aeterna was plastered all over the chest of her plate armor, which was full of bloodstains and scratches.

The Hero Sian opened her mouth.

“I am a little late.”

At her gentle yet firm voice, a male magician in his 20s adjusted his glasses.

“It couldn’t be helped, Sian. Didn’t you help the dwarves buried in the ground?”

When the belonging of the Outer God was subjugated, the underground city of the Dwarf Kingdom collapsed.

Because Sian strongly insisted, she spent quite a bit of time rescuing the dwarves. As a result, she arrived at the Labyrinth City later than planned.

A male priest in his 30s standing next to her stopped her.

“Sebastian, we may be a little late, but didn’t we arrive here safely? And the dwarves must have realized through this opportunity. That Lux Aeterna’s mercy is bestowed equally upon even half-baked beings like dwarves.”

A middle-aged man with a messy beard, an arrow slung across his back, scratched his disheveled hair.

“Priest Luther, let’s go quickly. Winter camping is not something a person should do. I’m getting old, so my joints ache. I want to quickly drink a warm glass of wine and relax.”

The priest called Luther sighed deeply.

“Gibson, you must not act drunk like you did when we stopped by the city last time. And you must not forget our purpose even more. Didn’t the Crown Prince ask you?”

“Hehe. Can’t people make mistakes while living?”

While they were chatting.

The long line leading to the Labyrinth City gate was gradually shortening.

After waiting patiently, it was Sian and her party’s turn.

When she reached the front of the gate, an elf with dark circles deeply etched under his eyes raised his head.

“Name.”

“Sian, the magician here is Sebastian, the priest is Luther, and lastly, the person holding the bow is Gibson.”

“Is that so? Could it be that you are the ‘people’ who came from the Empire?”

“That’s right.”

As the elf was silently looking up, Sebastian smiled.

“Elf, is there something you want to say?”

“No. But···.”

The moment the elf opened his mouth to speak.

“Heroooooo!!!”

A thunderous voice echoed from inside the street to the gate.

Sian raised her head.

A black-haired human wearing a wolf fur was running with an ax in his hand.

His thick, muscular body was blatantly exposed, and his hair, which he had grown haphazardly, made him look like a barbarian himself.

The elf blankly stared at the barbarian and muttered.

“A barbarian? Is he finally crazy?”

Sian’s party immediately took a combat stance.

The barbarian stopped running.

“Who is the Hero?”

“It is I.”

Sian said, taking a step forward.

Priest Luther quickly interjected.

“Are you the barbarian that His Highness the Crown Prince mentioned?”

“That’s right! Call me Scar.”

Magician Sebastian also interjected.

“The guide the Crown Prince appointed? Listen, we fought the belonging of the Outer God and are tired from a long journey. Guide us to the inn quickly.”

“What are you? This flimsy glasses guy, I’ll just…!”

Sebastian’s face turned red and blue at the sudden outburst of swearing.

“W-What?! You crazy barbarian!”

Sebastian’s majestic magical power rippled like a mirage.

People swallowed hard.

So that’s the Hero’s party; his magical power is enormous.

“The Crown Prince asked me to help you. But I don’t listen to those weaker than me!”

Sian calmly asked back.

“Scar, what if someone is stronger than you?”

“There is no one stronger than me.”

“…”

Sian and her party members wore dazed expressions.

They felt dizzy as if they had been hit on the head.

An audacity as outrageous as it could be.

Priest Luther repeated inwardly.

‘As expected.’

It was just as His Highness the Crown Prince said. A man who is not of sound mind. He was definitely an erratic person.

“Hero! Are you going to keep being frustrating? Draw your sword! Prove it!”

The barbarian shouted, holding a large single-edged ax in both hands.

Not only the guards guarding the gate. Even the people in line craned their necks to watch.

But Sian turned her head and looked at the elf.

“Is it okay to fight here?”

At the more polite question than expected, the elf briefly closed and opened his mouth.

“That barbarian must have finally gone crazy. Don’t kill him.”

“Understood.”

The elf rubbed his eyes and leaned back in his chair for a moment.

The captain of the guard approached and whispered.

“S-Secretary, is it okay to leave him like that?”

“I just want to sleep for a bit. Wake me up when the fight is over.”

“···Understood.”

The barbarian grinned and immediately ran at Sian, swinging his ax.

Whooooooosh!!!

The ax blade split the air as it struck down from above.

Shing.

Sian drew her sword and swung it.

From bottom to top.

The light of the sword flashed momentarily.

Flash!

Claaaaang!!!

The ax and sword collided, and sparks flew in all directions.

Immediately, the barbarian’s arms were lifted high due to the rebound force.

“What?!”

An exclamation of astonishment burst from the barbarian’s mouth.

He seemed embarrassed because he didn’t expect such strength to come from a woman’s body.

Sian thrust her sword straight out.

Whooooosh!!!

The dazzling blade aimed for the barbarian’s neck.

Sian had no intention of killing the barbarian. She had heard many stories about the Labyrinth City.

A city where all sorts of demons and corrupted beings gather.

She didn’t think the journey would be easy. This level of resistance was within her expectations, and it was a problem she could handle without bloodshed.

‘I have to stop at his neck.’

However.

Contrary to Sian’s expectations.

The barbarian tilted his neck to avoid the thrust and moved one step closer.

Splash!!!

As blood splattered from his neck.

Sian’s eyebrows briefly raised.

It wasn’t because she was surprised by the blood.

It was because the barbarian’s eyes were burning blue.

‘That’s an imprint…?’

As Sian stepped back and tried to swing her sword, the barbarian dropped his ax and swung his right hand.

A punch aiming for her face.

Whooooosh!!!

Sian immediately raised her hand and grabbed his fist.

Thwack!!!

It was a gauntlet made of steel blessed by Lux Aeterna.

Then, the barbarian completely dropped his ax and swung his left hand.

Sian had no choice but to drop her sword and spread her hand.

Thwack!!!

‘He is strong.’

A body mutated through mana adaptation. On top of that, the veins bulged from his solid, muscular forearm. It seemed like he had trained arduously.

But that was it.

It was not a strength comparable to her, who was blessed by Lux Aeterna.

Near the gate, a man and woman grabbed each other’s hands and entered a struggle.

The barbarian’s face trembled.

“···What is your name?”

“Sian.”

“You are really strong.”

“…”

“By any chance.”

“Hmm?”

“Can you bear my child?”

After a moment of silence, Sian opened her mouth with a calm face.

“···I refuse.”

Sian used her strength to push the barbarian away.

The barbarian staggered backward.

“Scar, are you going to try more?”

At Sian’s question, the barbarian shrugged and picked up his ax.

“You are qualified to be my comrade. Know it as an honor.”

Sian resisted the urge to let out a hollow laugh. He was outrageous, but not hateful.

Even if his sense of chastity was that of a barbarian, the gaze that briefly flashed past while wrestling was clear.

He didn’t seem to have any bad intentions.

‘I should watch him a little more.’

“Let’s stop there.”

The magician called Sebastian interjected with a stiff face.

The barbarian turned his back.

“The proof is over! Follow me. I’ll guide you to the central district.”

Sian picked up her sword and sheathed it.

“Let’s go.”

At Sian’s words, her party members moved their steps.

The figure of the disappearing party.

The captain of the guard approached the sleeping elf.

“The fight seems to be over.”

The elf opened his hollow eyes.

“Already?”

“Yes.”

“It ended more normally than I thought.”

“Scar had a scuffle with the Empire guys? In broad daylight? And didn’t he publicly propose to the Hero to bear his child at their first meeting?!”

“He spat in the face of the Labyrinth Committee. That’s just cute. I thought my friend was finally going to take out his thing and wave it around, but thankfully, he seems to be of sound mind today. Let’s do some work.”

The captain of the guard opened his mouth with an astonished face and nodded.

“···Yes.”

* * *

As they went down the street, Priest Luther’s eyes gradually turned cold.

There were so many half-baked beings.

Seeing those who were neither beasts nor humans walking happily down the street made him nauseous.

If it weren’t for the Crown Prince’s utmost order, they were impure beings he would hang from a tree and burn to death right away.

‘Let’s calm down.’

Luther pressed his eyes hard. He was certain that he was getting edgy because of the winter camping, just like that drunken ranger Gibson said.

Then, he bumped into someone.

Thump!

When he opened his eyes, a small raccoon beast-person quickly got up and bowed his head.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

The face of Luther, who had been wearing a kind expression, instantly twisted like a ferocious demon.

“Y-You lowly beast-person…!”

The moment Luther’s hand holding his staff twitched.

The middle-aged man carrying the bow chuckled and grabbed Luther’s arm.

“Oh my, priest, calm down. You must be getting edgy because the camping is long.”

Luther raised his head.

The black-haired barbarian was staring intently at his face.

“Ahem! That’s right. I almost lost my reason for a moment because the journey was arduous. My training is still lacking. Hooo.”

The barbarian nodded and laughed loudly.

“Hahaha!!! I understand! It’s hardest to sleep in the winter with only one blanket! What is our priest’s name?”

“It is Luther.”

“Luther!!! That name sticks to my mouth so well! Euhahahaha!!!”

The barbarian burst into loud laughter, as if he was so excited about something.

Luther breathed a sigh of relief.

‘He’s a thoughtless guy.’

He heard that he was the representative in charge of the Eastern Union, but he didn’t even change his face after hearing the insults about the beast-person.

Looking at him, he was definitely a bird-brained madman who only raised his muscles. So that’s why the Crown Prince appointed such an innocent person.

The barbarian continued to make a lot of noise and swung his fist around.

“Hey, barbarian! My ears are going to fall off. Can’t you lower your voice a bit? Didn’t you learn manners?!”

A magician wearing a robe shouted with a frustrated face.

The barbarian widened his eyes.

“Oh?! Do you know my race?!”

“I read about it in a book. It’s really just like it is in the book.”

“What does it say?”

“It says they make friends with nature, tear apart raw meat, and have fists closer than letters.”

“Euhahahaha!!! That’s right!!! You studied hard! Glasses!”

“My name is Sebastian. Lower your voice. And stay away a bit. The stench is too bad.”

“Euhahahaha!!! I’m sorry! I was so happy that strong comrades came!!!”

The barbarian burst into laughter even louder with a beaming smile.

A sneer appeared on the magician Sebastian’s face.

As expected, he’s a barbarian from the north.

‘A stupid and dirty bastard. Who is your comrade?’

Whether the barbarian knew what his party members were thinking or not, he chattered loudly and pointed here and there.

After a while.

They arrived at the inn street in the central district.

Compared to the south, the street was so well-organized and luxurious buildings were soaring high that it was embarrassing.

“Choose anything you want, hahahahaha!!!”

“I hope there are no beast-people.”

Priest Luther muttered quietly.

Sian replied.

“Understood, Priest.”

The barbarian suddenly stuck his face close to Sian.

“Hero, do you have money?”

“Don’t worry. I helped the dwarves and got some compensation.”

“Is that so? If you need money, tell me!!! I’ll lend you as much as you want!!!”

“No, not to that extent···.”

“Aren’t we ‘comrades’?! If there is anything uncomfortable, feel free to say it, chwahahahaha!!!”

Fatigue appeared on the faces of the party members.

It was to the point where their ears were bleeding because this crazy barbarian had been talking nonstop in a loud voice while walking from the south to the central street.

Sian looked at the expressions of her party members, smiled awkwardly, and gently pushed the barbarian away.

“You are too close. Thank you for guiding us this far. Let’s meet again after resting for a few days.”

“Understood!!! If you have anything to say, just leave a message at the Explorer’s Guild headquarters!!!”

“Understood.”

“Then see you later, friends!!!”

The barbarian shouted loudly and ran down the street and disappeared.

“He was like a storm.”

Sian watched the barbarian’s disappearing back with a faint smile.

“He’s just an uneducated barbarian, isn’t he?”

Sebastian muttered, pushing up his glasses.

“He seems to have good intentions, so please don’t demean him too much, Sebastian.”

“···Understood.”

At Sian’s words, Sebastian bowed his head with a frowned expression.

“Let’s unpack our luggage and find an inn to stay in.”

* * *

Evening after the sun has set.

Darmong’s Inn.

Jeong Yu-shin plopped down on a chair.

His throat was hoarse from shouting so much.

Hook-nose, who had been waiting in advance, approached and handed him water.

“Scar, how was the Hero party?”

Jeong Yu-shin looked around.

The barbarian Torgel, the Elder of the Magic Tower Matthias, Granny, and Luke were staring intently at Jeong Yu-shin’s face.

Jeong Yu-shin gulped down a glass of water and wiped his mouth.

“The Crown Prince.”

Not the boisterous voice laughing and making noise on the street, but an ice-cold voice leaked out.

Jeong Yu-shin tapped the table with his fingers and pondered for a moment.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

People swallowed hard and focused their gaze on Jeong Yu-shin’s lips.

Jeong Yu-shin, who had organized his thoughts, opened his mouth.

“The Crown Prince threw a big, generous piece of poop at me.”

“…!”