Chapter 13: Barbarian and Hunger
"However, to be safe, you still need to rest for a period of time. Don't go practicing as a lawyer, and don't handle anything related to the firm. During this time, you can use these..." Byrd Mastang pointed to the cluttered books on the desk, "...to relearn this knowledge. Then, find a place to study close-quarters combat and marksmanship."
"It might be difficult at first, but you can wait until you become a Barbarian before deepening your combat training."
After agreeing, Rolls asked, "Can you tell me about the abilities of a 'Barbarian'?"
The "Lawyer" pathway was not described in great detail in the original work; most appearances were of high-sequence powerhouses, with very few descriptions of the lower sequences. Now that Byrd Mastang, a Sequence 5 "Mentor of Confusion," was right in front of him, he naturally had a deeper understanding of the "Lawyer" pathway than "The Cuttlefish" did.
"As the name suggests, a 'Barbarian' grants you terrifying strength, makes your physique more robust, and gives you extraordinary resistance to injury and recovery speed. Your spirituality will also be enhanced. Of course, you can think of it as becoming a stronger, more 'barbaric' Feysacian. You can consider that direction when performing your 'acting'..."
The Feysac Empire was a powerful nation located to the north of the Northern Continent. They worshipped the God of Combat and had always claimed their citizens possessed Giant bloodlines. Over seven hundred years ago, the Loen Kingdom and the Feysac Empire fought the "Twenty-Year War," which eventually ended with Loen's defeat and the cession of Sonia Island. To this day, Sonia Island remained in Feysac hands. Combined with the fact that Feysacians were generally tall, crude, and violent, the conservative and reserved Loenese referred to them as "Barbarians."
But almost all Feysacians follow the 'Warrior' pathway! Even if I want to learn to 'act,' where am I supposed to find a Feysacian? This is Loen, specifically the capital Backlund. Feysac doesn't even have an embassy here!
The relationship between the Loen Kingdom and the Feysac Empire was quite poor; conflicts were frequent. While both sides showed restraint in bordering regions, constant clashes occurred in the Loen colonies and the East Balam coast of the Southern Continent. Ultimately, this rivalry would cost the lives of a true God and an Angelic King.
Unless he waited for the Tudor ruins beneath 8 Williams Street to appear—when people from Feysac and the Intis Republic would be lured in by the "Hotpot Spirit"-possessed Larrat Pond. But if he had to wait until then, Rolls might as well find an excuse to travel to the Feysac Empire or go on a maritime adventure!
The only Feysacian Rolls could remember was Bishop Utravsky at the Harvest Church, but he had already been "tamed" by the Mother Earth. He wouldn't even react if you cursed at him. Besides, Bishop Utravsky was a Blessed of God; before figuring things out, Rolls didn't dare dangle in front of him.
Byrd Mastang took a gold pocket watch engraved with exquisite patterns from his breast pocket and clicked it open:
"It's already eight o'clock. I should head out."
"Ah? You won't stay a bit longer?"
Byrd Mastang waved his hand. "No time. I originally only intended to take a secret look. If you were fine, I would have left. But seeing you enter the secret room, I decided to meet you."
He paused, then continued, "Regarding my previous instruction to scout information on the ironclad ships the Loen Kingdom is building: if you get intel, great; if not, don't go out of your way to dig for it."
Hearing the Viscount of Fear mention ironclad ships, Rolls's heart tightened, but he quickly relaxed and replied, "Understood."
"However, there is another matter you need to pay attention to. Keep an eye on things related to Emperor Roselle—specifically items involving him. If there are any unusual objects, you can contact me through Keene."
"No problem."
"Don't worry too much about it; this mission was assigned a long time ago."
Nast is likely looking for that 'Black Emperor' card, Rolls thought. Unfortunately, it'll be a while before the Kingdom Museum holds the 'Roselle Memorial Exhibition.' When that time comes, should I take it, or wait for Klein to take it?
While Rolls was lost in thought, he heard a creak. He looked up to find the "Viscount of Fear" had vanished. The door to the secret room was open, and the invisible force sealing the room had dissipated.
Rolls walked out of the secret room and up the steep stairs; the room was empty.
"He certainly moves fast!"
Rolls looked up at the night sky. A blood-red moon hung high, accompanied by a few sparsely arranged stars. Recalling the terror associated with the "Moon," Rolls shuddered and hurried toward his bedroom.
Judging by the moon's phase, it would be a full moon in the next day or two. Saint Samuel Cathedral of the Goddess should be holding a Moon Mass. He'd find someone to ask tomorrow; he had to make a trip there eventually.
The Church of the Evernight Goddess didn't have many festivals. The most important was the Winter Day, followed by the Great Mass during the full moon—also called the Moon Mass. After that were the regular Sunday masses and prayers. However, different parishes and cathedrals would have their own special feast days depending on their guardian saints or angels.
...
After changing into his nightgown, Rolls leaned lazily against the headboard. This bed had been ordered by his predecessor from Intis; including shipping, it had cost a staggering 130 pounds.
The main body was shaped like a ship, the frame rich with asymmetrical decorative details. Upright columns supported a heavy canopy decorated with pleats, fringes, and tassels, from which long curtains hung all the way to the floor. Combined with the thick padding and velvet quilt, it was enough for Rolls to enjoy emperor-like treatment.
Rolls guessed those asymmetrical decorations were likely due to Roselle's influence. After all, becoming a "Black Emperor" required a set of strict, complex rules that defied normalcy—even architectural styles were included. It was only natural for furniture styles to be affected.
However, this style was likely rare now, with only remnants of that influence remaining. Intis was now a Republic; they certainly wouldn't want the "Black Emperor" Roselle to be resurrected, so they surely tried to erase everything about him. But the influence of a "Transmigrator" isn't so easily erased.
But I'm a 'Lawyer' pathway Beyonder. What about future advancement? Switch pathways? But whether it's 'Arbiter' or 'Black Emperor,' they both involve establishing order. I'm not royalty or nobility—what should I do? I can only hope the Sequence 2 rituals for these two pathways aren't too difficult!
What were the Sequence 2s for these pathways again? I think they were 'Balancer' and 'Duke of Entropy.' Just hearing the names, the ritual difficulty must be sky-high!
Grumble, grumble...
A surge of hunger radiated from Rolls's stomach. Dammit, I haven't eaten yet!