Barbarian Quest

Basha was dead. The apprentice priest, Hume, confessed to the crime and turned himself in.

But who was going to punish Hume? Basha was an enemy of the Alliance and merely a guest of Gottval. As if those weren’t enough, she even had a record of trying to kill Urich.

The only person who felt sorrow over her death was Gottval.

Even the priests whom Hume had accompanied to Hamel did not anticipate his sudden actions and left his fate entirely to the Alliance. From the higher-ups of Solarism’s perspective, diplomatic relations were far more important than the life of a single apprentice priest.

“I had to take revenge,” Hume said, bowing his head. He sat in a chair, under arrest.

Gottval stood before the apprentice priest. After hearing Hume’s words, he responded, “I believe you. It is most likely true that Basha killed an innocent person. She was mentally unstable, after all.”

But Basha had been improving since being put under Gottval’s care.

‘If she were given a little more time, she might have been able to let go of her hatred and anger….’

Basha died without ever finding peace. Gottval was deeply saddened by the fact that she died full of red and black emotions.

But there was no answer from Lou.

Basha died hating Urich and the barbarians.

‘She was killed by the person who hated her, Hume.’

The beginning and the end were chains of hatred. Humans lived true to their emotions, and that made forgiving someone unconditionally almost impossible. Neither Urich nor Basha, nor even Hume who walked the path of a priest, could overcome their emotions.

“You should have forgiven Basha, Hume.”

“She is the woman who killed the man who was not only my teacher, but like a father to me. As if that wasn’t enough, she even accused him of being a rapist. How could I possibly forgive such a woman?”

“Lou wishes we do so, and it is the right thing to do.”

“Enough with the sermons. I will accept any punishment. If I faced the same situation again, I would take revenge once more.”

“Encouraging revenge is the way of the barbarian god.”

“Then it seems the barbarian god is closer to us humans.”

Hume's attitude was firm. His rough nature was evident in his speech.

‘He was never suited for the path of a priest. Aledor must have been a truly remarkable man to lead someone like him on the priestly path.’

Urich merely nodded upon hearing of Basha's death, so Hume's fate was put in Gottval's hands.

“Hume, you said you would accept any punishment.”

“I know better than anyone that what I did was wrong. Revenge is wrong, but if not me, then who would have punished her?”

“Lou is watching. In time, all our actions will receive rightful judgment….”

“I've had enough of such outdated talk. I wanted Basha to receive a punishment that I could see with my own eyes. If the price of revenge is my own death, I will accept that as well.”

Gottval sighed. He poured a glass of water and handed it to Hume.

“What will change if I kill you? Would that bring Basha back? Those who care for you will grieve your death and hate me for carrying out the judgment. The world will only become worse.”

Hume drank the water, unable to bring himself to look directly at Gottval.

“You are as remarkable as they say,” he said, still averting his gaze.

“I have only one proposal. Do you know Urich, the leader of the Alliance?”

“You ask if I know him? Is there anyone in the world who doesn’t know the name of the man who brought down the empire?”

“My decision is that you will serve Urich. If it’s my request, Urich will gladly accept it as well.”

Hume was greatly taken aback at an entirely unexpected sentence.

“Where did that come from…? It’s not that I refuse. I’m just curious about the reason.”

“I don’t have a clear reason myself,” Gottval said with a smile and patted Hume’s shoulder.

Hume's pupils dilated further. For a moment, he wondered if Gottval had gone mad.

“You really are serious? This isn’t some joke?”

Gottval nodded in response. Scratching his head, Hume accepted Gottval’s decision.

* * *

Urich often went out to the garden, which was the only open space in the large yet stifling palace.

“I see you’re in the garden again.”

Gottval came looking for Urich with Hume.

Urich alternated his gaze between Hume and Gottval, then shrugged. Gottval then told him about what he was planning to do with Hume.

“You’re making the man who killed Basha serve me?”

Urich laughed heartily at Gottval’s explanation. Hume, standing beside Gottval, felt somewhat ashamed.

“Don’t you think it would be amusing, Urich?” Gottval said.

“It definitely sounds fun!”

Urich did not reject Gottval’s suggestion and willingly took Hume as his servant.

“Ah, and Urich, I have one more request.”

“Hmm?”

“Forgive the emperor—at least enough to allow him to have a proper end.”

“Drop that subject. And besides, Yanchinus is no longer the emperor. He’s my slave.”

Urich responded coldly about the emperor.

“What do you gain by keeping Yanchinus in a state of neither living nor dead?”

“It serves as an offering for my dead brothers. Gottval, do not test the limits of my kindness. I’ve already said no to that.”

Gottval nodded and stepped back.

Urich watched Gottval walk away before turning his head to Hume.

“Your name is Hume, right?”

“Yes, it is.”

Hume’s body trembled slightly.

‘The very man who brought down the empire…’

There were all sorts of rumors.

‘Some even say he eats people.’

Hume waited quietly for Urich to speak.

“How did it feel when you killed Basha?”

“I felt like I did my job.”

“So this wasn’t your first time killing. If it was, then you wouldn’t have felt that way, no matter how much of an enemy she was to you.”

Hume nodded affirmatively. He was from the backstreets and indeed had experience in killing.

“…Why did you spare Basha? I heard she attacked you.”

“I spared her because she wasn’t a threat to me. She failed in her revenge, but you didn’t. It’s simple logic, really. Basha was weak, and you were stronger than her. And I am alive because I am strong enough not to die even when others resent and hate me.”

“Is that why you killed so many people?”

Despite his fear, Hume squeezed out the question. He was curious about Urich.

“I had no choice. I know it might sound like a cowardly excuse, but it’s the truth.”

Urich chuckled. He watched Gottval completely disappear in the distance and then whispered in Hume’s ear.

“Didn’t Gottval give you an earful about showing mercy and love, and whatnot?”

“Gottval is a great man. I was the one who did the wrong thing knowing fully well what was right.”

Hume expressed his respect for Gottval. Gottval would make the right choice even if it meant his own death. He was a priest to be a role model for all.

“Gottval is an excellent priest, but he’s quite old-fashioned,” Urich said as he walked briskly, leaning on his crutch. His upper body strength was so great that he moved faster than Hume, even on crutches.

‘Does he even need my help?’ Hume thought as he hustled to keep up with Urich.

Though they had just met, Hume could tell how extraordinary Urich was. He even thought that the rumors about Urich not being human might be true.

“I don’t think you did anything wrong. If someone I cared about was killed, I’d seek revenge with all my might too. If what Gottval says is true—that it’s right to forgive without seeking revenge… the order of our world wouldn’t hold. The reason why people don’t recklessly harm others is because they know there will be retaliation if they do.”

In tribal societies, order was maintained through revenge. If someone killed a father, his son would grow up and seek revenge. If the father had a living sibling, that sibling would avenge the death. Honorable revenge was both a right and a duty.

“But if we encourage revenge, the cycle of violence would never end. Though I’m not by any means in a position to say this,” Hume said.

Urich sneered, “Hah, that’s where you priests are wrong. The cycle ends if the target of revenge is stronger. Basha ultimately couldn’t avenge herself and died. What is right and wrong is simply a matter of perspective; the civilized perspective, the barbarian perspective, the religious perspective… we all have different ideas of what’s right and wrong.”

Hume found Urich fascinating. He was a barbarian with exceptional eloquence. During his time with Urich, he learned a few things.

‘Urich does not eat human flesh, and if you watch quietly, he’s simply an extraordinary human being.’

Urich was also human. In fact, if one shed their preconceptions, Urich was a more intelligent person who communicated better than most civilized people.

‘Above all, his perspective is broad. I understand why Gottval acts alongside Urich.’

Urich had crossed into the civilized world at an age that could be considered young. Spending several years in the civilized world during a period of significant value shifts, he gained the ability to see the world from various perspectives. Even as he reached an age where his thinking could have solidified, he remained flexible in his thoughts.

‘Is this man really the leader of the barbarian army that destroyed the civilized world…?’

If Hume had met Urich in ordinary circumstances, he would have just thought of him as an interesting barbarian.

But unlike Hume’s tranquil life, the situation within the Alliance was rapidly changing.

‘Urich has become crippled.’

‘Why doesn't he step down from being the Great Chief? Has he suddenly developed a thirst for power?’

There were talks among the warriors of the Alliance. It had been over two months since they had conquered Hamel, but Urich hadn’t given them any significant orders while keeping them in Hamel.

Georg visited Urich daily to report on the situation of the Alliance.

“The White Foot Tribe says they are returning to the west,” he reported.

Urich lay eating the fruit handed by some of the emperor's women who had surrendered to the Alliance. Most of them were forced to serve the emperor anyway.

“The peaches are well-ripened. No, I’m not talking about those peaches, I’m talking about the peaches on you,” Urich joked, slapping a woman’s butt.

The woman laughed, hitting Urich’s chest with her fist. They looked as affectionate as lovers as Urich was a remarkably gentle man compared to the twisted emperor.

Georg watched Urich for a moment and shook his head.

‘He’s completely relaxed after the war. He’s not like his old self.’

Georg sighed deeply and proceeded to advise Urich.

“Only more tribes are going to leave the army. You need to decide whether to return west or settle in the civilized world.”

“Let them go home if that’s what they want. If they want to settle, they can take their army and take any land they want. They have me and the Alliance supporting them, so what’s to worry? Isn’t that right, my pretty ladies?”

Urich laughed, fondling the large breasts of the women.

“I don’t know about the other stuff, but this achievement of Yanchinus definitely has to be acknowledged. Gathering and monopolizing women like this? It makes conquering Hamel worthwhile, doesn’t it?”

Georg’s brow furrowed deeply at Urich’s words.

“I have something to say, Urich. Please dismiss the women.”

“Uh-oh, you ladies go. My subordinate is angry.”

Urich exaggeratedly shooed the women away, slapping their butts as they dispersed.

It seemed that Georg had pondered on a decision for a long time and had finally made up his mind.

“Urich, I have many mercenaries who are willing to follow me.”

“Look at you, you’re quite some man now, leading others.”

“I wanted to tell you that I’m leaving and I’m taking those men with me.”

Urich, who had been joking around until now, leaned forward. Georg was a valuable talent.

“Where to? Porcana?”

“I’m heading north. The establishment of the northern kingdom is just getting started there, so they are going to need someone like me.”

“Even if you went there, would you really get better treatment there than in the Alliance?”

“I’m sure it won’t be as good as here right away… but Urich, you don’t seem to have any intention of founding a nation. My goal was to become the chancellor of the country you would establish—to rise from a slave to a chancellor. You know I’m a realist, don’t you?”

Urich looked at Georg with a complex expression.

“Then should I found a nation now?”

Urich laughed as he spoke. It was an obvious joke to anyone who heard it. Founding a nation wasn’t something to be done on a whim, and establishing one that was centered around the westerners would require Urich’s entire remaining lifetime.

Georg shook his head as if he was exhausted by Urich’s demeanor.

“The movement within the Alliance is unsettling. If something happens to you, I’ll lose all the influence that I’ve built here. Hell, I might even be killed by those who don’t like me, and that’s why I’m going to leave before that happens.”

Urich, having listened to all of Georg’s words, extended his hand for a handshake. Georg walked over and grasped his hand.

“If you’ve decided, then I won’t stop you. Thank you for everything, Georg.”

“I’m grateful to you as well. I will forever be proud of serving a great warrior and hero. Take care of yourself.”

Georg nodded and left the room.

Urich stared blankly at the door Georg had closed behind him.

Clap.

After a while, Urich clapped his hands cheerfully to bring out the women who had been hiding, who then rushed out and embraced him again.

“What a wicked subordinate he is. Leaving just like that.”

“Hah, that guy isn’t a subordinate; he’s a friend,” Urich replied with a laugh.

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