After more than ten years of suffering, the barbarians had declared war.
Everyone - the magicians, the citizens who filled the square and the knights of Mozlan - were speechless at my statement, their jaws drooping to the ground. They all had the same shocked expression, as if they couldn't believe their ears.
The old wizard, who looked just as speechless, barely managed to regain his composure. «...That word is too heavy to say as a joke».
Jokingly... Well, denial is a natural reaction to shocking news.
I didn't even bother to answer him, but stood there in silence. Even the barbarians behind me needed some time to process it, namely about three seconds.
«...G-War!»
The moment a warrior near the rear shouted, a powerful roar spread across the rest of the barbarians.
«It's Guerraaaaa!»
«Everyone grab your weapons!»
«Behel-aaaaaah!»
As more than a thousand barbarian warriors let out war cries, the wizards guarding the tower began to visibly panic, and I didn't know why. It would be absurd to compare the physical strength of a barbarian with the combat power of a magician and his magic, but...
Visual marketing was a beast in itself.
«Raaah!»
«Wooh! Wooh! Wooh!»
It would be stranger if they weren't frightened at the sight of a bunch of huge, muscular barbarians causing commotion and threatening to charge at them at any moment.
«Old.» I took a big step forward, towards the group of a hundred magicians. «Do you still think I was joking?».
He just blinked, expressionlessly.
After all, he was only human.
Step.
When I took another big step forward, the Mozlan knights came running. «B-baron Yandel! You can't do this!»
So they finally remembered what their job was after getting caught up in the excited fervor radiated by the barbarian warriors.
«How could you declare a war?! For now, how about we try to talk about this? For the sake of the royal family...»
As nervous as I was, the words the captain chose served me well. If he had used the name of the royal family to directly threaten us so that we wouldn't cause trouble, he would have lost a lot of ground.
«Speak...»
«Yes! I'm sure we can reach an agreement if we talk about this! After all, both the Magic Tower and the barbarians are pillars that help protect this city, right...?»
At the knight's plea to delay any act of war, I pretended to consider his suggestion and then nodded my head. «Okay!»
«Really?!»
Yes, I think it was enough for a show of force.
To begin with, he had no intention of fighting the Magic Tower like that. Getting the attention of everyone in the city was enough. After all, if we fought them right now, we would look like the villains.
«Lewin Pastolm of the Egatil School!» So after agreeing to diplomatic negotiations, I started saying the names one by one. «Lurendel Lungonerde of the Hulbunt School! Odwick Berthev of the Ulters School! Elenel Dwaynaine of the Galatir School». Each name was of a magician associated with the Magic Tower. The citizens were attentive to each of my words, clearly wondering what was happening. «Toles Elin from Ebound School! Ukla Tragic of the Ornstalt School».
I continued until I pronounced the names of twenty-one people. Then, when I finished, I asked the old wizard: «Elder, do you know who these people are?».
«Of course. Most are great young wizards who will lead the next generation».
«No, you're wrong», I stated, shaking my head. «These people are magicians who made illegal commissions for the hearts of barbarians through the black market!».
In any war, what mattered most was the cause you fought for.
«I see! So that's why the barbarians raided the Magic Tower!»
«I heard he rescued some slaves from the black market. That must have been when he got that information!»
The passersby finally began to nod their heads, now understanding why we had come here. Most agreed that we were right and that they would have done the same in our situation.
But I wouldn't have gotten this far if I had stayed there.
An appetizer was just an appetizer, after all. It could never be the main course.
«Lurendel Garlinbarret, Master of the Tritten School», I announced one last name, without taking my eyes off those of the old magician. «Do you know who he is?»
He did not answer, like someone his lawyer has advised to remain silent. Well, that wouldn't stop the truth from coming to light.
«She is another traitor who took over a commission through the black market. But she is no different from the rest. She asked for my heart».
I dropped that bomb without a moment's hesitation. Making a request for the heart of a particular person was a completely different beast than simply trying to buy the heart of any old barbarian. It was equivalent to hiring a murderer.
«...Sir Gwollen, if this is true, not only will this woman be hanged, but the Magic Tower will also be responsible for her actions».
The gentlemen, who had been trying to stop me all this time, suddenly changed their tone and began to question the old man. They were gentlemen who worked for Mozlan, and Mozlan was a group that was made to protect the aristocracy, not the magicians.
«...We still don't know anything for sure. But I swear that the Magic Tower will investigate and that, if true, we will pursue those involved to the limit of our strict rules.»
The old wizard tried to sneak out of this mess by making a vague promise that recognized the seriousness of the matter while making it clear that Mozlan had no authority to get involved.
I, of course, didn't have to worry about any of that. «The Magic Tower is already under suspicion of working with these black market traitors. Even if you did your own research, we couldn't trust it».
«...But the opposite is true in that these accusations derive entirely from your testimony, Your Honor. That's not how we do things here. Not that there is any proof, right?»
«Tests...»
Yeah, I was hoping he would say something like that.
It was time to take the greatest asset he could play as a barbarian.
«I swear as chief of the barbarians, Baron of Rafdonia, and in my name of Bjorn, son of Yandel, that everything I have said here today is the truth!».
It was an empty oath, but it was more than enough to convince the crowd.
«You must be very sure of yourself to make such a statement in front of all these people».
«Just listen to all that. There is no way the baron is lying».
«Dirty wizards! How dare they try to hurt Baron Yandel!»
«Take out the criminals and punish them!»
My past heroic achievements gave more weight to my name, and this effect was only further reinforced by the favorable impression the city had of me. Most important of all, however, was that my actions today were backed by a just cause. That was more than enough to influence public opinion in my favor.
«Sir Gwollen, given the nature of the Baron's accusations, is going to have to answer to us too».
«Didn't I already tell you? We will carry out our own investigation».
«That's your choice, but are you sure that's how you want to do it? If you convene the relevant parties now, we can end this without further escalation».
The old wizard did not deign to respond.
«I suppose that by nightfall, the higher-ups will approve of us, Mozlan, investigating the wizards of the Magic Tower. As you know, plotting to assassinate a nobleman is a serious charge. Is that what you really want?»
Once Mozlan had the green light, the Magic Tower would be thoroughly investigated and unable to cover up any skeletons that might be found in the process. Surely there were more illicit activities lurking in the dark corners of that tower.
However, the old wizard flatly rejected the offer. «I appreciate your consideration, but you don't have to worry. We will take care of this matter on our own».
«You are stepping on a dangerous path. All you have to do is call them here so we can question them. Wouldn't that be much easier?»
Despite the knight's convincing argument, the old wizard exercised his right to remain silent. That alone was enough to seal the public's opinion. Sometimes silence was enough of an answer.
«Those dirty wizards! I knew it!»
«How dare they cover up those who tried to harm the baron?!»
Now, public opinion was firmly in our favor. The Magic Tower was inherently evil and the fury of the barbarians was justified. If that old man had simply ordered the wizards I mentioned before to step forward and undergo interrogation, things would never have gotten to this point.
Still, if nothing is done today, they will simply come out of this mess bribed or cover their tracks one way or another.
However, thanks to the old wizard's stubbornness, I was able to take things a step further.
«Listen to the honest citizens of this city who believe in equal opportunity and the pursuit of justice!». The crowd, who had been booing and cursing the wizards of the Magic Tower, suddenly fell silent when I spoke. It was time to use his discontent to my advantage. «The wizards of the Magic Tower, who have fallen from grace, have no intention of admitting their sins! They are desperate to protect their own! The wizards I named just need to be taken out of their labs and checked to see if they are really innocent! But since they refuse such an easy request, that is proof that they have done wrong! It is not true?!»
«That's it!»
I insisted again on the idea that we were on the side of justice. «They will probably destroy the evidence as soon as we leave or blatantly fabricate the results of their investigation. We've seen it countless times already, right?».
«So it is!»
I continued to stoke the anger that burned deep in the hearts of the citizens of this city. «However, I no longer intend to sit helplessly on the sidelines while these criminals walk free».
All I have to do is show them that I am going to take up the torch and carry the flames of pent-up anger that have kept burning within them for years with me.
«I am Bjorn, son of Yandel!»
Once again I swore by my name.
«I promise you this. The justice of this city, the justice established by the royal laws of mighty Rafdonia, will be righted again today!»
As soon as the oath left my lips, the citizens burst into a fervent roar.
«Woooooo!»
The stage is perfectly set. Since the civilians are now in our camp, the wizards will not be able to attack us. Alright, since everyone is in their places, it's time...
I let out a heavy exhale, took a deep breath, and then let out an all-powerful roar. «Prepare your weapons!»
Since the war with the elves, the barbarians had bowed their heads and endured whatever treatment the people saw fit to give them. It was time to once again remind this city exactly who the barbarian race was.
«Behel-aaaaaah!»
We were a race that didn't bother with trivial conversations.
***
Alex Halo, the deputy archivist of the Third Magic Corps, had just finished his usual report for the day and was about to leave the office. However, before leaving, he glanced at his boss. Although she was inundated with work, her uniform was perfectly ironed. His blue eyes, although full of fatigue, were still sharp as whips. In her delicate hand she held a pen.
«What are you doing? You are not leaving?»
At his boss's sudden question, he shuddered and quickly looked for an excuse. «It seems like you've been reading the newspaper a lot lately».
«Oh, these?» Several newspapers from various media were stacked on his desk. When he pointed it out, she avoided eye contact and spoke in a soft, almost embarrassed tone. «It's just... a hobby. It's frustrating to be stuck here all the time, right? It's important to know what's going on out there in the world».
«...I see.» The newspapers on his superior's table could come from different sources, but each of them covered exactly the same story with the same protagonist. «Everyone has been talking about it these days. The fact that Baron Yandel's name has been engraved on the Stone of Honor».
«That's what they say. When we met, it was nothing more than a joke. But now he has truly become a 'great warrior'».
Alex tilted his head in response to the hint of longing in his voice. «But aren't you happy? Was not Baron Yandel a former comrade of yours?».
«Former comrade...»
«Ah...»
Belatedly realizing his mistake, Alex quickly closed his mouth. Seeing her dejected looking at the newspaper gave her a strange feeling of discomfort. He was nothing more than Subordinate A, a guy who couldn't even do his job well. Someone who should never have been able to put that kind of expression on their face. His superior looked out the window with a distant, silent and still look. Alex looked at her blankly, not knowing what to say.
«Deputy Commander! We have received an emergency deployment order...!». Just then, the office door burst open and someone ran in. His superior immediately sat up and grabbed his coat, and he quickly followed suit and pulled himself together as well. The Third Magic Corps was not like the Public Agency for Peace or Mozlan. They were a military group that operated under the direct control of the royal family. That they received an emergency deployment order meant that more than just a riot was happening in the city.
«Update me». His superior listened to the report as they went outside and asked the messenger clarifying questions. After hearing the full story, Alex personally thought the situation could be summed up in one sentence:
Baron Yandel led the barbarians towards the Magic Tower.
«They haven't gotten there yet, but given their track record, it's clear they're heading in that direction.».
«Because? There must be a reason why you are doing this.»
«We are investigating it. However, more than a thousand barbarians are heading there now. It appears that the Public Peace Agency has also requested the support of the military.»
«I see...»
Less than a minute after the emergency orders were given, all the soldiers had already gathered at the compound and were heading to the carriages.
«Is the situation so serious, deputy commander?». Alex asked, looking at the sea of people. «It seems that our body was not the only one ordered to leave». Numerous military carriages entered the road leading to the military base.
However, his superior did not respond. He just bit his nails with an unusually anxious look. «That guy... What is he going to end up doing this time...?».
He tried to reassure her optimistically. Baron Yandel was an intelligent man, and since he was a public figure with a lot to lose, he was probably only heading to the Magic Tower as a show of force. There wasn't much to worry about.
They were not just words of comfort, but what he sincerely felt from the bottom of his heart. But his boss's nervous look did not disappear.
«...Alex. I think you misunderstood. It is not Baron Yandel that worries me now».
«What...? Q-But he goes against the Magic Tower». Alex couldn't follow his line of thinking at all. They were both from the Magic Tower, so they knew how powerful the wizards there were. Why was she so worried about them?
As he tried to understand it, his boss gave him an idea of his logic. «Do you remember what happened at the Adventurer's Guild because of him?».
«Do you mean the false accusations against him...?».
«Yeah. That day there was a massive prison break, and an entire branch of the guild was destroyed. The district chief faced backlash and lost the next election.»
«Still... the guild and the Magic Tower are two different things.» Compared to the Magic Tower, the guild was like a family store.
«I... was thinking the same thing... The guild and the Magic Tower are definitely different. The Magic Tower would never be influenced by a single barbarian...»
«But... do you think that is no longer the case?».
Raven nodded without hesitation. «Yeah. Now he's not just any barbarian. At that time, when he turned the guild upside down, he was a barbarian who had just come of age two months earlier. But what now?»
Alex couldn't answer. How many years had passed since that day? Now, Bjorn Yandel was a baron of the kingdom and the chief of the barbarians.
«More than anything, though... What worries me is the fact that I know him».
He tilted his head in the form of a question.
«Believe me, Alex. As reckless as it may seem, if he's doing this, I guarantee he's thought it through».
Alex still didn't understand what he meant, of course. However, he kept that thought to himself, as he didn't want to be rude and tell his boss that she was wrong.
Knock knock.
The carriage continued down the road at a dizzying pace before reaching the military teleportation platform.
Crack!
At that moment, new information came through a message stone.
«They have arrived. Baron Yandel and the barbarian warriors have arrived at the Magic Tower! Please hurry up and send support!»
Despite the urgency of the message and the slightly nauseating expression on his face, his superior simply took a deep breath, looking like someone who had already prepared for what was coming.