Barbarian Quest

Since moving a large force inevitably brought commotion along, it was best to keep the number of men low for a mission that required stealth.

Urich chose a moonless night that was pitch-dark, even to the seasoned eyes of a barbarian hunter. The number of moving troops was just over three hundred as Urich decided that this was the optimal number to move without attracting the enemy's attention. Any more, and it would be difficult to avoid detection, even on such a dark night.

"I believe I have brought only the best warriors."

Urich motivated the warriors before setting out, though it was by no means an exaggeration; only the best warriors from the Alliance had been chosen to take part in this mission, even including some chiefs.

"Brothers, fight with me, and we will seize victory and freedom! Even our unborn children will remember our battle and we will become proud fathers and ancestors."

Urich had warned them in advance that this was a dangerous mission and battle with the risk of total annihilation.

"In simple terms, we're going into the sewers to open the gates for the rest of our army, aren't we?" An older warrior said gruffly. He seemed to have no attachment to life, having lived long enough. He was the kind of old warrior who would die anytime and anywhere if he could die for his brothers and tribe.

The rest of the Porcana-Alliance army would begin the attack on Hamel at dawn once Urich and the warriors sent the signal. However, even if they succeeded in opening the gates, the casualties would be enormous among Urich’s unit, and a complete wipeout was not out of the question.

"Did you really have to come with us, Great Chief? You are still young."

Urich chuckled as he strapped his weapons to his back and waist. The warriors, clad only in leather armor, left the camp.

Their discreet and quiet movement, aided by the absence of the moon, was invisible from the walls of Hamel.

Step, step.

Only the sound of footsteps on dirt was occasionally heard as Urich swallowed the night air and twisted his neck from side to side.

The warriors gazed at Urich's back. Despite his young age, the dignity of a Great Chief was evident on his shoulders.

Urich had even included Olga, who had challenged him to a duel, in this mission for his capability. Olga was a warrior with excellent judgment and could be entrusted with solo command if push came to shove. He trusted Olga.

"Are we going to continue the duel after the war, Olga?"

Urich whispered to Olga, who walked beside him.

"If you… accept, of course."

"Then you'd better hope I get crippled in this battle. That's the only way you’d even stand a chance against me."

Urich cackled, holding his stomach.

"Watch your… back… when fighting, Urich," Olga light-heartedly replied, lightly swinging his spear.

Urich and the warriors circled around the plains to climb the mountain that was located behind Hamel. Leading the way were the tribal warriors from the Sky Mountains area who were accustomed to climbing, who climbed the rugged mountain swiftly even at night.

"This is it," Georg said, panting. He was practically carried to the mountain by the other warriors.

‘These lunatics, crossing this distance in one go without a word of complaint…’

The fitness of the westerners was truly remarkable, and the mobility built on it was the sole reason why the Alliance was able to ravage the civilized world. The quick westerners moved freely without supply lines, leaving the civilized armies unable to keep up.

Georg walked along the murky river. Though it was split into several branches, he knew that the sewer was at the end of the murkiest stream

"Urich, do I have to go too?" Georg asked hesitantly as the stench grew stronger. It was clear the sewer entrance was close.

"Georg…" Urich smiled mischievously with a wink. "Of course, you have to go! It’s our job to risk our lives, isn’t it?"

"U-ugh."

"We need you, Georg. No matter how detailed the map, it can’t be more accurate than your eyes. Come on, aren’t you used to this whole thing by now? You’ve been by my side for how long now?"

Urich placed his hand on Georg's shoulder and shook him lightly as the helpless Georg trembled.

‘This is exactly why I didn't want to be the guide, dammit.’

With the incredibly low chance of survival, this task was nearly a suicide mission. Though it was technically a sneak attack, the reality was that they were jumping into the center of the imperial capital to wreak havoc.

"I only have one life," Georg said.

"No way, me too! Isn’t this a crazy coincidence?" Urich playfully replied.

Georg sighed deeply and gritted his teeth. He, too, had bet everything on Urich.

‘So… what I could lose is my life, and what I could gain is everything.’

He couldn't help but laugh bitterly. As Georg followed Urich into the dark sewer where darkness brushed past them, old memories surfaced one by one. Despite the stench that filled the air, the empty space made one feel as if they were wandering in a dream.

‘I’m not surprised that it stinks. After all, I did live a pretty stinky life.’

Georg closed his eyes, though it made little difference whether his eyes were open or closed.

‘I betrayed my master, who was like my father and teacher. I, his slave, coveted his wife.’

He couldn't stop his emotions from spiraling. Back then, he wanted to love, even if it meant dying.

‘Now I’ve got no master to resent or woman to love.’

Georg was not a moral man by any means. He was just a somewhat prideful ex-slave intellectual and one who lived as actively self-serving as others.

‘…I have no intention to risk my life for Urich but risking it for my own success is worth it.’

Georg opened his eyes when the warriors raised torches one by one, revealing the sewer that was almost like a cave.

“It seems they cleverly connected the cave to Hamel and modified it to use for sewage treatment. If you look closely, this was originally an iron mine,” Georg said, tapping the stone wall.

“It’s impressive that they extended the sewer from here all the way to Hamel.”

Urich said, covering his mouth with a hood.

“They’ve practically rammed through a whole mountain.”

Georg took a torch and moved forward. The path was straight enough to walk without watching the steps.

Step, step.

The stench grew stronger as several more branches appeared.

Fwoosh.

Urich took Georg's torch so that Georg could look at his map and choose a direction at the fork.

Step, step.

Urich looked around.

“Urich?” Georg called out with a puzzled expression.

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just thought I might know this place, but all sewers look the same, so I can't really tell.”

“Have you been here before?”

“I ran around down here for a bit a long time ago.”

Urich and the warriors advanced smoothly. If nothing unexpected happened, they could launch a surprise attack at a good time.

‘If three hundred warriors suddenly appear out of nowhere, they will be thrown into confusion.’

If the warriors caused havoc from within, even the empire would be greatly flustered, and if they could open the city gates using that moment, Hamel might fall more easily than expected.

Splash, splash.

The warriors didn't mind the filthy environment of the sewer. Some even dipped their weapons in the muck.

The sewer passage narrowed and became maze-like, signaling that they were beneath Hamel.

“Katagi, you and I will open the gates. Olga, you handle the wreaking havoc part.”

Urich issued his commands in advance. Katagi nodded and followed closely behind Urich. He was always a loyal deputy to Urich and was also the only one who showed such unwavering loyalty to Urich.

“Katagi, I'm sorry for always making you do the dirty work. There's just no one else I can trust to handle them.”

“Not at all. In fact, it’s actually an honor. Ever since you saved my life in Valdima, I've devoted everything to you, Great Chief.”

“That’s all great but keep your virginity for a woman.”

Katagi laughed heartily.

“I will always stand by your side, Great Chief, even if the time comes when you’re no longer called that.”

Urich flinched. Katagi looked at him briefly and nodded.

“I don't know what you mean,” Urich said.

“I know you sometimes get lost in your thoughts, Great Chief. Whenever I watch you from the side, it's clear you didn't become Great Chief because you wanted to. If you had truly desired the position, you wouldn't have let Samikan take it from you in the first place. You initially yielded the position to Samikan.”

“Samikan was more capable than me, and that's why he became the first Great Chief.”

“Samikan wanted to be Great Chief—he desired it. But you, on the other hand, never had such an ambition. Despite that, Samikan always kept you in check because he knew very well that if you wanted, you could become Great Chief anytime. And look what happened. Exactly that.”

Urich kept his mouth shut at Katagi's surprisingly sharp words. It seemed that he hadn’t just been a loyal dog by his side.

“I want to be part of a legendary warrior, even if I have to be known as a ‘squire,’ as these civilized people say. When people mention the great Urich, I want to be the one mentioned alongside him. Unlike Olga, I know I can’t become a great figure. There’s a point in your life where you wake up and realize your limits are like a ceiling, though I’m sure you’ve never felt that way, Great Chief. You see, acknowledging your own limits is incredibly painful.”

Katagi was rather talkative today. Perhaps the thought of the final battle made him sentimental.

Tick, tick.

There was an unexpected sound.

The warriors’ expressions hardened as they raised their torches and looked around.

“Enemies?”

Urich drew his bow. Katagi, who was beside him, threw a torch to illuminate the area.

“Imperial soldiers.”

The warriors murmured upon seeing about ten imperial soldiers standing at a fork in the passage. The warriors were about to attack when they noticed a strange weapon that looked like a wheeled cylinder.

Thwip!

Urich shot an arrow without a moment of hesitation. The soldier hit in the head collapsed limply, causing the others behind him to duck and hide behind the cylinder.

“Kill them!”

Some warriors rushed forward to attack the small group of imperial soldiers.

Sizzle.

Then, there was a sound and smell of something burning.

“This is the Fire of the Empire, you barbarians!”

An imperial soldier cried out as the flames revealed his burn-ridden face.

“Fire.”

Olga muttered, looking at the flames filling his vision. He remembered the words of Six-Fingered. Sometimes, the shaman's prophecies were eerily accurate.

“Duuuuuck!”

Urich shouted upon seeing the flames. Whatever this strange weapon was, the immediate concern was the fire pouring from the cylinder engulfing the narrow passage.

The warriors who had rushed forward with their weapons were the first to be caught in the flames. The fire, pouring out like a snake, turned Urich's eyes red.

“Great Chief.”

But what appeared before Urich was not the flames but Katagi, blocking Urich and pushing him back.

Everything seemed to move slowly for Urich. He saw every strand of the roaring flames as the expanding red streaks reached Katagi’s back.

Booooom!

The warriors were engulfed by the fire that was so intense that it burned away even the thick stench of the sewer.

It was hot, and breathing was difficult. The warriors opened their eyes wondering if they were dead, but it was still the same reality. They staggered and began to rise one by one as the walls of the sewer exhaled scorched smoke.

“Kaaaagh!”

A warrior screamed in agony as he was burned alive.

Urich opened his eyes in the midst of the chaos. A warrior with red, burnt skin lay on his chest as smoke rose from his body.

‘Katagi.’

Katagi had taken the flames head-on in Urich's place. His back was still on fire, covered in sticky flame oil.

Tick, tick-tick.

Urich leaned in, waiting for his last words. Katagi's teeth clattered in pain. Even his hair was burnt, leaving a grotesque appearance.

“…Victory.”

Katagi, with the last wheeze she could squeeze out, pointed his finger forward as his body slowly leaned back.

Schluck.

Urich plunged his sword into Katagi's heart to relieve him of the suffering.

He tightly shut his eyes, but there was no need to shed tears. The only thing a warrior should shed was the blood of his enemies.

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