Barbarian's Adventure in a Fantasy World-Chapter 212: The Wandering Merchant’s Quest (1)

“It seems each of us has come here with our own wish concerning the dragon,” the mercenary observed, scanning the faces around him. “Whether we like it or not, we’re all in the same boat now, so it would be best to start by introducing ourselves.”

He took the initiative, as if volunteering to be the first. With an air of confidence, he declared, “I am Bloodedge, an S-Rank mercenary. I’m here for the dragon’s treasure hoard.”

Even among the vast numbers of mercenaries across the continent, S-Rank mercenaries were exceedingly rare. For most, reaching the level of A-Rank was the ultimate ceiling, as only a handful in history had ever surpassed that to become S-Rank. The very title meant wielding power far beyond the ordinary.

A middle-aged man with a neatly groomed beard, dressed in the distinctive robes of a mage, stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“Even I have heard your name,” he said to Bloodedge. “I never imagined I’d meet the famed Mercenary King here, of all places.”

“Oh?” Ketal let out a soft exclamation, eyes bright with genuine interest. The title Mercenary King was not one given lightly. It was an impressive reputation to carry.

A woman, who appeared to be a devout priestess, stepped forward next. She was middle-aged and wore the vestments of her order.

“I know you as well,” she added, her voice calm but firm. “The S-Rank Dungeon, the Monster’s Nest... You challenged it alone and returned alive. That’s what I’ve heard.”

Bloodedge replied with a wry smile, “I only survived by sheer luck, that’s all.”

“But nobody else has ever managed to do it. Even the mages who served under me have tried and failed, never to return,” the middle-aged man replied.

Bloodedge had reached the absolute pinnacle of human strength, possessing power that made him legendary even among legends. Stories about his feats were told across the continent, and his name was whispered with a mixture of awe and envy in every guild.

With Bloodedge’s introduction setting the tone, the next to step forward was the mage. He looked to be in his fifties, his eyes sharp and filled with keen intelligence. “I am Spellweaver, Master of the Void-Reflected Shadow School. I came here seeking the dragon’s magic.”

Bloodedge’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’re the head of a school?”

The School Master was a position reserved for only the greatest among mages, the leader of a sect affiliated with the Mage Tower. To reach that rank, one had to master every spell and every secret passed down through generations of their school. It meant not only knowledge but the ability to wield power on a scale that most could only dream of.

The mere fact that Spellweaver had reached this level signified he could command armies of mages, shape the direction of magical research, and make decisions that could affect the fate of entire regions. The gap between School Masters and ordinary mages was unfathomable.

Void-Reflected Shadow School[1] ... I’ve heard of that place before, Ketal thought, recognizing the name from a previous encounter. He remembered meeting an aspiring mage from that very school during a request to subdue a demon when he was in the Barcan Estate. The world, it seemed, was smaller than one might think.

Before Ketal could dwell on that memory, the woman in priestly garb stepped forward. Her composure radiated quiet confidence. Ketal recognized her vestments, which were emblazoned with the sigil of the Sun God’s Church.

She introduced herself in a clear, unwavering voice. “I am Seraphina, Chief Inquisitor of the Sun God. I have come by the will of my god, seeking the blood of the dragon.”

Bloodedge regarded her with a respectful nod. “The blade of the great god themselves, standing before us.”

The Sun God’s Church was the mightiest religious order on the continent, their reach extending into every corner of society. Seraphina, as Chief Inquisitor, was known as one of the three strongest warriors of the Church—a position that demanded immense power, leadership, and unyielding faith.

“Wow,” Ketal murmured, utterly impressed. The Chief Inquisitor herself!

He recalled Aquaz, who was the Inquisitor of the Sun God. There was something oddly comforting about meeting someone of similar status. For a brief moment, Ketal felt a flicker of kinship with this woman, even though they had just met. Seraphina, noticing his gaze, looked away, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment.

“This is turning into quite the gathering,” Bloodedge said, letting out a half-laugh, half-sigh. Indeed, all those assembled were at the very top of their respective fields. They were a congregation of legends, each with their own stories carved into the annals of history.

Now, all eyes turned to Ketal and the boy standing beside him. Bloodedge asked them with a touch of curiosity in his voice, “And you two... Who are you?”

At first glance, there was nothing particularly noteworthy about Ketal. The Myst he exuded was, at best, that of an Intermediate fighter. To most, he would appear to be just another wandering barbarian, perhaps strong but unremarkable. Yet, none of those present were foolish enough to trust appearances. After all, the Wandering Merchant had personally brought him along for a dragon hunt, a task that would have been unthinkable for anyone without exceptional abilities.

Ketal answered simply, “I am Ketal, a barbarian.”

Bloodedge squinted at him, as if trying to place the name. “Ketal... I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere before.”

“I’m not affiliated with any particular group,” Ketal added.

Seraphina spoke up, her voice calm and measured. “Then, what kind of powers do you wield?”

There was no hint of recognition in her eyes, and for a moment, Ketal wondered at that. As Chief Inquisitor, Seraphina would be Aquaz’s direct superior within the Sun God’s Church. Even if Aquaz had tried to keep Ketal’s secrets, surely some stories from their shared journey would have reached her ears by now. Yet, she appeared to know nothing about him.

With a shrug, Ketal decided to explain himself. “Well, for starters, I know a bit of alchemy.”

“What?” Spellweaver blurted out, staring at Ketal with wide eyes.

“Nothing advanced, just apprentice-level, really. I can also use holy power,” Ketal explained.

As if to prove his point, Ketal held out his hand. A soft golden light gathered in his palm, radiating an unmistakable aura of divinity.

“The light of Kalosia!” Seraphina gasped as her eyes went wide.

Ketal gave a little smile. “You recognize it instantly! It must be because you’re a priest. And, I am also a contractor with a Legendary spirit.”

With a short incantation, Ketal called forth his spirit. “Come forth, Fiego.”

There was a roar of fire, and suddenly, a great bull made entirely of flame materialized before them. The sheer force of nature pressed down on everyone present, and for a moment, all were struck silent, even the quiet boy who had seemed so shy before.

“That’s a Legendary fire spirit!” Bloodedge shouted.

“How can a human contract with a spirit of that level?” Spellweaver chimed in, almost as if he expected someone to explain it away as an illusion.

“Isn’t it supposed to be impossible?” Seraphina said.

In the midst of their confusion, the spirit Fiego gave a tired sigh. “Why did you call me out again?”

“I needed to demonstrate my abilities. You can go back now,” Ketal replied.

The flames flickered irritably, as if Fiego were grumbling under its breath, before vanishing once more.

“And I possess considerable physical strength as well. That’s probably my greatest talent,” Ketal said with a grin, the silence in the wake of his display stretching on.

At last, he finished his introduction with a gentle smile. “What I want from all this is the Dragon Heart. I look forward to working with you all.”

***

“Well... it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Spellweaver said at last, his tone a mixture of relief and respect.

None of them had known anything about Ketal’s abilities before, but even the fact that he could contract with a Legendary spirit was enough to place him in their league. The power of such a spirit was said to rival the highest-ranked Transcendents, and having one as an ally could make or break an expedition. Whatever suspicions or questions they might have had, they were quickly replaced by a grudging sense of trust.

Now, only the boy remained. All eyes turned to him expectantly.

“And who are you?” Bloodedge asked him gently.

The boy, who looked no older than fifteen or sixteen, shifted nervously under their scrutiny.

“Um... well, I’m from the Empire,” he managed, his voice trembling.

“The Empire?” Bloodedge echoed, eyebrows rising in surprise. People from the Empire were rare indeed. Even Bloodedge, with all his travels and adventures, had only met a handful in his lifetime.

The boy continued, his words tumbling out in a rush. “My name is Ian. And... I don’t actually have any powers. I’m just a normal person.”

“What was that?” Spellweaver asked him, incredulous.

“I-I really don’t have any powers... I’m just an ordinary human,” Ian stammered, his whole body shaking with anxiety.

For a moment, everyone was silent. The Wandering Merchant had personally arranged for Ian to join them, just as he had Ketal. They were wondering if the Merchant had made a mistake.

“Something isn’t right here. Wandering Merchant!” Bloodedge called out as he frowned, suspicion clouding his face.

A few moments passed before a disinterested voice rang out, echoing in the air.

“What is it?”

“What’s with this boy? Did you make a mistake?”

The idea that a completely ordinary, powerless boy could join their group was absurd. However, the Wandering Merchant answered in the same bored, unhurried tone.

“No mistake. Everything’s as it should be. Proceed.”

Before anyone could argue further, the voice vanished.

Bloodedge glared, clearly frustrated. “‘Everything’s as it should be?’ What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Maybe it means he really did receive the quest,” Spellweaver suggested, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

Bloodedge looked to Ian, his tone gentler. “Listen, kid. Are you sure you don’t want to go home? This is going to be extremely dangerous.”

Ian shook his head vigorously. “N-no, I don’t want to go back.”

Spellweaver gave a sympathetic sigh, glancing at the others. “Well, it’s not as though we can force him to leave. The Wandering Merchant wants the quest done with these exact members.”

Seraphina spoke up. “Then we’ll just have to keep him safe as best we can.”

And so, the party was complete, with five people brought together for the hunt of five dragons.

Ketal smiled, eyes crinkling. “Let’s look out for each other. It won’t be long, but let’s work well together.”

***

They set off, heading toward the place where the dragon’s lair was rumored to be.

“It’s in that direction, right?” Bloodedge asked, gesturing toward the distant hills.

“That’s what I heard,” Spellweaver replied. “We should get moving quickly if we want to make it before nightfall.”

Ian scurried to catch up, struggling to keep pace with the seasoned adventurers.

As they made their way through rolling fields and ancient forests, Spellweaver laughed suddenly. “I never thought I’d see the day when so many great figures would gather for a quest like this.”

“Nor did I,” Bloodedge replied, glancing at his companions with genuine respect.

Each of them stood at the peak of their professions—Mercenary King, School Master, Chief Inquisitor. They were legends, each one as famous as the next. Even if they’d never met in person before, their reputations preceded them, and every one of them knew about the others’ greatest exploits.

That familiarity bred a kind of mutual respect. Yet, as they walked, it was clear that the one who drew the most attention was Ketal.

For all their renown, none of the three had ever heard of him before today. That alone was a mystery.

Spellweaver found himself pondering silently. Just who is this Ketal, really?

To the inhabitants of the continent, a Legendary spirit was an awe-inspiring phenomenon, something closer to a force of nature than a mere magical entity. It was believed to be impossible for a human to contract with one, and if it ever happened, it would be the kind of event that would be written into the very fabric of history.

Yet here Ketal was, not only contracted with Fiego but also skilled in alchemy, able to wield holy power, and boasting physical strength that set him apart from ordinary men. There was no apparent link between these abilities. He didn’t fit any known mold.

Seraphina seemed equally unsettled, casting curious glances at Ketal from time to time. Bloodedge alone appeared unperturbed, his expression unreadable.

The truth was, Ketal’s name should have been known across the continent. In the past months, he had performed deeds that would shake the world, such as slaying demons, defending Kalosia’s holy land, resolving the crisis in the sea, and protecting the elven sacred ground. Each of these feats was a tale worthy of legend.

What made it stranger still was that Seraphina, as Aquaz’s superior in the Sun God’s Church, ought to have known at least something about him. The leadership of each major order prided itself on gathering information, especially about individuals of such power.

However, the reason for their ignorance was simple—the Tower Master of the Mage Tower himself had chosen to obscure all information about Ketal, deliberately hiding his identity from the public eye. He had decided that nothing good could come from Ketal’s fame spreading too far.

The plan had worked. Aside from those who had met Ketal in person, few even knew he existed. His achievements had been shrouded in secrecy.

Yet, fate had conspired to bring him into the very heart of the continent’s greatest powers—the Mage Tower, the Mercenary Guild, the Sun God’s Church. Here, surrounded by the most influential leaders of the age, Ketal’s anonymity was quickly unraveling.

Finally, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Seraphina turned to Ketal. “Excuse me... you said your name was Ketal, right?”

Her gaze dropped to the black bracelet circling Ketal’s wrist, the holy relic of Kalosia, unmistakable to anyone familiar with the sacred artifacts of the church.

1. This is the same school that Guraishan is in from Chapter 38. The raw was changed a bit, and this is the name that we’re going to go with. ☜