The head of the Karlstein family invited me to his home. From what I heard, he'd been doing this for about three months. If so, what could be the reason? My first thought was curiosity; he just wanted to meet his daughter's teammate. If Missha had been accepted as a member of the family, it was quite plausible. If he decided I wasn't trustworthy after meeting me, he might ask me to free his daughter. It seemed most scions of named families were comfortably involved in scouting activities within large, well-connected clans.
"II just need to be patient a little longer."
It turned out that Missha's situation ended unchanged. The man who called himself her father kept her awakening a secret and didn't even make an effort to improve his standing within the family. As soon as I realized this, I felt a dark malice emanating from this mansion. The malice was directed not only toward Missha, but also toward me.
They called me here, knowing that this was the case...
His objective and the method he chose were very clear to me.
He's a lot of bastard crazier than I thought.
The head of the Karlstein family wanted something from me, but instead of politically setting up a negotiating table, he created this kind of situation. This must have been part of his calculation. I was the Little Balkan, Bjorn, son of Yandel; a warrior who wouldn't abandon his comrades even against the Lord of the Ground; a barbarian who could have a romantic relationship with that comrade. I have probably judged that if I, known to the public as such, saw something like this, it would be easy to control. The only one who could reverse Missha's current situation was the head of the family.
However, based on this, I made my own judgment.
A greedy son of a bitch who even uses his daughter to get what he wants. Show one weakness and I'm finished.
Plan A wasn't enough. If I ended it here, I'd just look like an ordinary barbarian.
Passed.
I take a step forward and stared at Missha's brother. He wasn't scared at all when he saw me. He just laid as if I were nothing. "You're hard to please." He seemed to think I was after something else and was making a big deal about it. Well, he wasn't entirely wrong.
"B-Bjorn! Don't do it!" Missha hurriedly grabbed my wrist and I stopped.
Well, I had no real intention of hitting this guy. He wasn't a servant in the mansion, but one of my direct blood relatives. Hitting him carelessly would only make him my weakness.
"Behell-ahhhhhhhhh!" Therefore, I roared loudly enough to be heard through the mansion.
My older brother frowned at my actions. "What does this mean?"
"I just felt like doing it!"
"...Crazy bastard."
No matter what I said, my scream became a catalyst and drew people from the mansion to where we were. The servants left their jobs and began watching from the end of the hallway connecting the first floor. Looking towards the second floor, I saw young men and women wearing high-quality everyday clothes.
Could they be Missha's brothers?
I couldn't tell, but they looked down with curious eyes.
Anyway, there were enough witnesses.
The stage was set, so I turned off ignorant barbarian mode and said to the brother: «Talon Karlstein».
«It's not Talon, it's Taylon.»
«You pay attention to little things inappropriate for a man».
«...Shut up. What do you mean?» As if he didn't want to discuss manhood with me, he asked my point of view.
I asked bluntly: «Why is Missha treated like this in the family?».
«As I said before, it's a family thing...»
«Is it because Missha is kind of stupid? A direct blood relative who couldn't even contract a Spiritual Beast?»
His confusion was short-lived. Taylon smiled and looked at Missha. It was a look of contempt, wondering if she had entrusted all of that to someone like me. «If you know, there is nothing to hide. Yes, what you said is true. So stop paying attention to our family matters».
Telling me to mind my own business was reasonable. Except for us barbarians, the general culture valued lineage. It was only natural that they treated Missha like a stranger. If he had inherited his father's blood, he should have been able to contract a Spiritual Beast. In reality, they did not share a single drop of blood. It seemed that his mother, the fourth wife, also had no children other than Missha.
«What if that was your misunderstanding?»
The truth didn't matter. The important thing now was that Missha had already awakened and could use this fact as a useful card.
«If Missha makes a contract with a Spiritual Beast, will you apologize for what you have done and accept her as a member of your family?».
«She is already twenty-five years old, there is no way...»
«Answer me. If you answer, I won't cause any more commotion».
The brother sighed and grabbed his forehead before speaking in an annoyed voice. «Okay, we'll apologize».
«And accept it as family?»
«That too». He responded without hesitation, believing that could never happen.
I smiled and nodded. «That's it, then».
«What is it?», he asked with a voice worried about my attitude.
Instead of responding, I shifted my gaze to Missha. My role was over. «Missha, teach them».
«Eh...?» Suddenly becoming the center of attention, Missha glanced around in bewilderment. When our eyes met, Missha lowered her head and murmured: «But, my father...».
No wonder it hadn't come out yet. As expected, his father must have kept his mouth shut. But that's why Missha had to step forward. Revealing this fact in front of everyone would mean that one of his father's letters would disappear.
«Don't worry. Nothing will happen».
«... He won't forgive me.»
«So what? Just say you did it wrong. That's what families do.»
«Bjorn, you'll get the worst of it too.»
«So be it. I'm not afraid.» He was a noble father to her, but to me he was just the leader of the beast people, and someone who was divided into five. «What are you so afraid of? Family is not everything in life. I've done well without her».
When I said that while scratching my ear, Missha laughed like I was stupid. «That's because...! No it does not matter. It doesn't make sense».
«Yes, ignore the little things. That's good for your mental health».
«Oh, I don't even know what's right and what's wrong.»
At this point, I thought the persuasion was complete. «Missha Karlstein, do whatever you want for once. Isn't there a comrade to help you this time?»
I didn't say anything else after that. Time passed and soon Missha raised her head and slowly looked around. I guess this situation was pretty entertaining. Many people watched from afar.
Missha swallowed and opened her mouth decisively. «I-»
«Enough.» A cold voice filled the large mansion. In response, Missha hardened like a stone. When she came to her senses, a middle-aged man was standing in front of her. «Everyone go».
Hearing his words, everyone left in silence. The air sank heavily at this point. The man's gaze turned to me. Although there was no introductory word, I knew who he was.
Yeah, so this is that crazy bastard.
Albrenive Karlstein, the head of the Karlstein family who had served as chieftain of the Red Cat Tribe for generations.
«Thank you for accepting my invitation, Bjorn, son of Yandel.»
«Thanks for having me, Karlstein».
In the middle of the first floor lobby, where everyone had disappeared, we exchanged formal greetings.
«Haha, it seems like you're more polite than I thought». He laughed heartily and approached me. Instead of a handshake, he patted me on the shoulder as if he were dealing with someone below him. But what was this?
[You have been put in a state of Fear by the Lord of Nightmares].
As if encountering a natural enemy, my body hardened. Furthermore, the tingling sensation I felt every time I went back and forth from the boundary between life and death blossomed in my brain. I understood why Missha was so afraid of her father.
«But why have you done something like that? So rude». The head of the family erased all laughter and whispered.
It was a shitty feeling. I knew in my head that this was the power of skill, but my body did not follow my words. I felt like my sensory organs were broken. Of course, it didn't last long.
[Your Mana Resistance is above a certain level. Your Fighting Spirit is above a certain level. Your Willpower is above a certain level. Fear is cancelled.]
Ugh, damn, it's finally over.
«Look...» I immediately grabbed the arrogant man's arm from my shoulder. His brow furrowed as if he couldn't understand. Well, if I had foreseen this situation, I wouldn't have said those idiotic words just now. «Do not touch the body of a stranger». I pulled the arm I was holding on to and said: » Rude».
Respect goes both ways.
After a moment of silence, the head of the family spoke. «Funny». It gave me goosebumps that I could say that without smiling with my mouth or even my eyes.
But he couldn't lose when it came to spirit. «You have a unique taste. I'm not having fun at all», I responded calmly and grabbed Missha's hand, which was as hard as a stone statue.
As a result, the man's gaze also turned to Missha.
«P-Father...»
«I didn't think you would rebel against me».
«It's not that...»
«Enough. Anyway, you're not important». Albrenive cut off his words and looked at me. «I originally planned to have a chat after eating together».
Talk, shit. I was just thinking of showing me how Missha was treated around here.
When I stared at him without responding, Karlstein continued with his words. «But it seems that it is no longer necessary. Rest a little. I'll call you later».
«I refuse».
«To what?» Albrenive's face distorted as I responded without a second's hesitation.
I said it bluntly. «Why should I wait?» Giving him my time was foolish. Even if he had no choice but to step forward because of Missha, this situation would not have been in his plans. He must have been planning to organize his thoughts before calling me again. «If you have something to say, do it here».
«...Even for a barbarian, this is disrespectful.»
«You were the one who called that barbarian, beastman.»
Didn't he expect to be called «beastman» instead of his name, «boss», or the head of the family? Albrenive's face hardened and he emitted murderous energy, not metaphorical, but real.
Can this be done in real life?
I was a little surprised, but it was much weaker than the one in the fox mask. After all, that was in the spirit world. There would be a difference in the output.
When I watered my ear as if to say: «Stop the nonsense», Albrenive asked, almost with genuine curiosity: «Are you really not afraid of death?».
It was a useless question for me. Not fear death? Could such a person exist in this world? «Well, I don't know. But I'm not very afraid of it».
This was sincere. The fact that I used to be a scout on the eighth floor and if we really fought, it would crush me? And? If he killed me, my boss wouldn't sit still either.
«Do you think you can kill me?» I asked bluntly this time. It was absurd. Kill me? The most promising talent among the barbarians of recent times? In the middle of the sanctuary of the beastmen to which I had been invited? Immediately, the war with the fairies ten years ago would be repeated. That's how the barbarians were.
«That? Ahahaha!» Albrenive made an effort to feign coldness, but I could see the deep rage within him. It must have been frustrating. I hated to admit it, but my words were true. He let it go with a laugh. «It was natural for things to go wrong. I never thought you were so smart».
«Thanks for the compliment, but I'd like an answer before I get hungry. What do you want to tell me?».
Albrenive just looked at me for a moment to organize his thoughts and said: «I know you used that object».
Then all doubts were cleared up. The Frost Spirit Ring was what caused this shit.