The boss had an ax in his hand, the same one that cut off the head of the man next to me at the coming-of-age ceremony.
«Teaching them to kill humans instead of monsters to make money. Do you think this is the path of a warrior?».
My heated head went cold. This was an unexpected situation. I thought I would face her one day, but I didn't know it would be today. I caught my breath calmly and made a quick decision. I could 1) admit I was wrong and apologize, or 2) make excuses. I immediately erased both options from my mind. He knew what kind of race the barbarians were. Although an option seemed easier and more reasonable for ordinary people, I couldn't go wrong. There was only one way.
«Chieftain, this is what you should have done».
Just crash headlong like a barbarian.
«...That's funny.» The chief's mouth contorted. «Tell me, what do you mean?»
I felt that the moment I opened my mouth, that ax would swing. But I straightened my shoulders proudly. What was wrong only stopped being wrong when you admitted it. But what if you didn't? It became a belief. Whatever the essence was, there was a chance it would be packaged like this, which was exactly what I needed to do.
«It's like I said. What I have done today is something you should have done a long time ago». For a cause, rather than self-interest, I raised my voice in front of the chief instead of giving in. «boss! Do you know how many die in the Labyrinth each month?».
«You cannot become a warrior if you are afraid of death».
It was a clash of beliefs. I decided that the surest way was to burst into anger and plead for the future of the tribe like a young warrior worried about his people, because the chief cared about the warriors.
«Bjorn, son of Yandel, you should know that. Only warriors who survive become strong». Believing that my actions were really for the good of the tribe, the chieftain's voice softened a little, but ending up here would get us nowhere.
I asked: «Do only warriors who survive become stronger?».
«You are the proof!»
He wasn't wrong. Half of them died in the first inning, and another half in the next. Thus, when half a year passed since the coming-of-age ceremony, a total of 90% of the barbarians were dead. It was a deformed structure that was difficult to even call survival of the fittest. To survive there, you had to be strong, even if you didn't want to be.
«Chieftain, did so many die when you became a warrior?»
«No, they didn't die.»
It was an expected response. Not that he especially studied the records of the past, but if this tradition had lasted even ten years, the barbarians would not have been able to distribute weapons at the coming-of-age ceremony.
«So is it because we are weaker than them that so many are dying? Chieftain, do you really think that?»
«Nor is that true...». I could have avoided making an unfavorable statement, but the chief simply answered my questions honestly. He probably also knew what the deciding factor was that had caused this situation.
«In the maze, there are monsters in human bodies. They treat us like goblins. Why do you think that?»
«The magicians take our hearts...»
I cut off his words sternly. «No! Because they haven't done anything!»
If it had been another race, they would have asked the royal family to make a law to prevent the trade in hearts. Of course, this could have been because our race was weak. But our boss didn't even make the slightest effort, using the tradition of survival of the fittest as a shield. He watched the race go downhill.
«You should have at least warned them of the danger! You should have told them what types of monsters lurk in the maze and how to deal with them so they could prepare».
«This is a tradition transmitted since the time of our distant ancestors. I can not change...»
«The ancestors wanted us to be strong!»
The boss's decision could not be seen as providence. There was no animal anywhere in the vast expanse of nature that chose its own death. Everyone chose evolution to adapt to the new environment. However, the chief did not do the obvious.
«Cacique! Look at us now! In the maze, we become prey as easy as goblins by being taught that only monsters are our enemies! But you say the ancestors wanted this?»
«...Calm down.»
«If I were you, I would have at least sent them with a pair of leather boots. And I would have given them a bag to store mana stones. And I would have taught them how to use a compass beforehand...»
«Didn't I tell you to calm down?
Oh, did I go a little overboard? The cry of the chief of the tribe who had been beaten with deeds by a warrior less than a year old shook the forest.
«Spit it out! What do you mean?» Apparently his anger was through the roof since he couldn't refute me logically, but he didn't want to listen in silence either.
«Si no lo haces bien…» Tragué saliva y continué con mi last sentence. «Lo haré, Chief».
For me, and for the barbarian race.
After proudly expressing my aspirations, the chief did not speak for a long time. He just watched me, as if I were organizing his thoughts. Then he brandished the ax out of nowhere.
I backed away to dodge the ax for the moment. In a state of gigantization, I reached out and grabbed the axe, and a struggle for power began.
It was a crushing victory for the chief. My large body of more than 3 meters was suspended from the ax and hanging in the air. Then, I dropped the ax and charged at him. Next, I threw my fist at the chief's face. However, I did not feel the usual feeling of heaviness in my hand, and when I came to my senses, I saw the chief's large fist in front of me. That was the last thing I remembered.
...Then this must be the boss's store.
Once I finished calmly organizing the situation, I slowly opened my eyes. As expected, I was in a store and could see the boss.
«You have been awakened quickly».
«...Cacique, you have your nose inside your face.»
«Yours too.»
Oh really? No wonder he couldn't breathe well. I could also taste a little blood in my saliva. I opened my backpack next to the bed, took out a bottle of potion, took a few sips, and gave the rest to the chief. «Drink too».
«...Okay. Why waste a potion? If I leave her, tomorrow she will be better».
Well, if you say so.
After roughly adjusting my nose bone with my hand, I wiped away the accumulated blood as if my nose were blowing and rubbed it across the bed. Then I got straight to the point. First, what I had to check, first of all. «Are you done getting angry?»
«...I wasn't angry to begin with».
«Then why?»
«You were a little cocky so I felt like hitting you.»
Umm, the rest of the world would call that being angry. Anyway, I didn't have to say anything because I felt like his anger had already disappeared. There were other important issues.
Thank goodness they had been resolved well.
I declared that I would become the chief of the tribe before the chief of the tribe. It's not that he spit out those words out of excitement. I just hoped the chief wouldn't kill me for it.
«Do you covet my position so much?»
«Yeah.» Ambition and aspirations were nothing to be ashamed of for a barbarian, even more so if they mixed beliefs and a great cause.
«As expected, you are different from other warriors».
«What do you mean?»
«Other warriors wanted the position of tribal leader out of honor. But you are only for our tribe».
Fortunately, I didn't think he suspected me of being an evil spirit. It seemed like the boss didn't hate this side of me. I was sure that if I hadn't argued so much, they wouldn't have hit me.
Anyway, the chief also had some excuses. He brought up something a little out of place. «If I had to compare, the previous chief was similar to you. If it was because of the tribe, he always went out of his way. Do you know what happened next?»
«Are you talking about the War of the Holy Relics?»
«Sí.»
The War of the Holy Relics was the name given to the war with the fairies ten years ago, a tragedy that began when a barbarian accidentally collected a sacred relic belonging to the fairy tribe in the labyrinth. The fairies arrested and interrogated the barbarian who possessed the relic, and he stubbornly resisted and died.
«Before the royal family interceded, we fought the fairies for over a year. The former chief also died in that battle».
The War of the Holy Relics was the greatest cause of the weakening of barbarian authority. Countless warriors who were to lead the next generation died. As if that were not enough, the magic tower announced that the barbarian heart was valuable as magical material.
«We even met with the tower lord, but they only asked us why they should give up the magic ingredients for us».
Wow, so they didn't stay silent.
«But we couldn't wage war against the magic tower».
«So, like I said-»
«Yes, I'm sure it would have been better than it is now if I had taught the young warriors the dangers you spoke of».
"¿What?"
When I shuddered as if I had heard something I shouldn't have, the chief giggled. «You are still young, warrior. What you did this time was instill hatred towards humans in the warriors».
«They are looters, not human beings».
«If you really believe that distinction can be made, then I have misunderstood you».
«...But why can't we hate humans?». I asked out of pure curiosity.
The tribal chief responded after a slight pause: «Because if we hate them, we have nowhere to live».
«You are afraid of the Rafdonian monarchy». It's not that I didn't understand it. He knew very well how great the power of the royal family was.
However, the chief murmured bitterly: «There is no existence in this world that does not fear him. If there comes a day when you meet him, you will understand».
It was as if he feared not the army of the royal family, but the king himself.
After that, he cut off the conversation.
«I will forgive you for teaching the warriors about the plunderers. But if you go further, I won't sit idly by. Don't let warriors harbor great hatred towards humans».
He did not choose me as his successor, but he would recognize my ambition and tolerate it, even if it increased my influence within the tribe. I received a warning to stay in my lane, but it was a reward I wouldn't have received if I had dedicated myself to admitting my mistake or making excuses.
«If you want my position, become stronger, warrior. And show that you are worthy. I will watch over you. Oh, and one more thing. Your fist is quite strong».
Look who was talking. After the boss's compliment, I left the store. The sun was setting beyond the castle walls. The shopping area was full of barbarians. Everyone was staring at me, from the barbarian babies to the elderly, who must have been pretty good fighters in their youth.
«You're fine.»
«I heard the boss's nose is bleeding...»
«So that means...?»
Seeing me return safely from the store, they exuded a deep curiosity. I simply changed the position of my backpack and walked between them. They watched me, but did not approach. Apparently, they thought I had earned the chief's hatred.
After taking a few more steps, Ainar approached me. «Bjorn! You're OK? I heard you had a fight with the chief».
«Ah, I'm fine».
«And what happened? I heard you declared that you would become chief of the tribe?»
The moment Ainar asked the question, a hundred barbarians raised their ears at the same time. It would be impossible to disappear from here.
I smiled and responded: «He told me to get stronger and prove my worth».
Immediately, there was a murmur in the area. Some were surprised and others said it would be impossible even for me. There were also those who gave surprisingly realistic reasons and said it would take several years. The chief probably thought the same.
«AND? Bjorn, what did you answer?».
At that moment, I replied: «It won't take long».
***
On the way back to the city with Ainar, we met Kharon. I stuck it firmly in his head not to teach barbarian babies to hate humans too much.
«But! Didn't you say that humans are enemies?»
«Not everyone is an enemy». I was going pretty much against my own words, but when I told him about Dwalkie, Kharon agreed.
«A noble man even among humans... Can I tell the other warriors?»
«¿Sobre Dwalkie?»
«It will be a very good example! We love such warriors!»
«Haven't you heard me? He was a magician, not a warrior».
«Hahaha! You say strange things. He fought to the death to protect your companions. How is he not a warrior?»
Well, I had nothing to say to that. I just ended the discussion and conversation there. «Then I'm leaving».
«Okay! Until next time, Bjorn, son of Yandel! The great warrior who will guide us in the future!»
Somehow, I felt like my title had lengthened.
Still, I guess it ended well.
I decided not to bother with the looting. The boss was only worried that the hatred would increase; He told me that was within what was permissible. Anyway, killing and stealing looting would be over in a few months. The reason the looters paid so much attention to the barbarians was because it posed little risk and much benefit.
If rumors start to spread that we have changed, there will be no barbarians risking their lives.
If a goblin dropped millions of stones in materials, anyone would go crazy. But a rank 3 monster? Any bastard in his right mind would run away.
Drag!
After leaving the sacred land, I led Ainar to my accommodation, and after finishing a tearful meal on the first floor, I reserved a spare room for him next to me.
«Can I really sleep in a place like this...?».
«Of course. You don't have to pay me later. This is not-»
«Bjorrrrrrrrnnn!!! I will follow you the rest of my life!»
«...Shut up. This is not the holy land.»
«Oh, right?!»
While giving the notice to Ainar, my room, which should be empty, opened from the inside. «...Bjorrrn? Who is that woman next to you?»
«Oh, are you here?»
As he was a member of the team that would be joining us in the future, I gave him a brief introduction. Having mentioned us several times in the past, there was no need for long explanations.
«Nice to meet you. Missha Karlstein! I've heard a lot about you. Bjorn's teammate is my teammate! I hope we work well together!» Ainar seemed nervous about meeting Missha for the first time. He almost screamed every word and held out his hand.
Missha was equally bewildered. «Nice to meet you...» She shook Ainar's hand almost like a possessed woman and approached me as soon as she came to her senses. He whispered in my ear: «Is this the Ainar you told me about? You said she was a barrrbara».
«¿Y?»
«How can she be a barbarian?!»
Wasn't it clear that she was a barbarian? At first I didn't understand it, but when I thought about it, I understood the surprise. Most people imagined that the barbarians were at least two meters tall.
The problem was that Ainar had heard it too. «Miss Karlstein! Are you insulting me for being short?! I honestly thought of you as a beautiful teammate...!»
«Ahh! No. You heard it wrong!»
«I have good hearing!»
«P-Sorry! I-I didn't mean that. Um? It's just that you're so linnnnnd... yeah! That's why I...»
«What?! Missha Karlstein, how much more are you going to insult me? Duel! I ask for a duel!»
Ainar started screaming as soon as she pressed the trauma button and Missha tried to calm her down. Seeing this gave me a bad headache.
«Ugh... my head...»
It was clear that my head had not yet completely healed from being hit by the chieftain. It couldn't be explained any other way. The five team members hadn't even met yet. It was impossible for him to see a thorny path ahead.