Barbarian's Adventure in a Fantasy World-Chapter 56: Human? (2)

There was nothing but silence, as no response came back from Lukento. After a moment, he broke the silence with a frustrated sigh.

“Is that important?” Lukento’s face reflected annoyance. “We came all this way for the princess. And yet, you keep nitpicking.”

“But that princess is rejecting your offer.” Ketal shrugged. “So, you have no intention of explaining. That only gives me more reason not to trust you.”

Ketal had wondered whether the knights had used teleportation, which could explain why Ketal could detect them, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. Even if Lukento managed to convince him, his attitude wouldn’t change since he had already accepted the escort request.

Lukento scowled. “You believe that delusion? As expected of a barbarian.”

“If a mercenary doesn’t believe their clients, who would?” Ketal asked.

“Are you willing to turn us into your enemies over some trivial contract?

“If I wasn’t prepared for that, I wouldn’t have taken the job in the first place.”

“The princess has deceived you...”

“Even so, I took the job.”

A request was both a contract and a promise. Ketal’s task was to escort Elene and Aron to the Denian Kingdom, no matter what obstacles arose along the way. “If I were to abandon my contract and run away just because the opponent is stronger or more numerous, how would I be any different from a common pickpocket skulking through alleyways?” Ketal said quietly. “I promised to protect her and escort her to the Denian Kingdom.”

A man’s word had to always be kept.

“I won’t turn from what I’ve said,” Ketal announced.

With those words, Ketal stepped in front of Elene and Aron.

“Ah,” Elene muttered in shock.

Until now, no one had ever believed her. Even when she confided in those she trusted deeply, they had taken her to a doctor instead of believing her words. Though Aron had followed her, it wasn’t because he trusted her, he too had sensed the changes in the kingdom.

She had made up her mind to tell Ketal, but deep down, she had already anticipated that he would not believe her either.

It made sense that no one believed her. Her story was too far-fetched, too implausible to be real. Even she couldn’t help but think it sounded like the delusion of a madwoman. Believing it would have been strange.

Yet, Ketal had said he believed her. Even after being deceived, Ketal’s attitude remained unchanged. He had declared that he would protect her against formidable enemies—like a prince in a fairytale.

Elene stared blankly at Ketal’s broad back, standing as her shield.

***

The Tower Master, who had been silently observing, narrowed his eyes. So, this is what they call loyalty.

Judging by Elene’s reaction, it seemed she had genuinely been unaware that there were people tracking her. However, that didn’t matter. In the end, a lie was still a lie. Even if Ketal were to swing his axe at Elene, the Tower Master thought it would be understandable.

And yet, Ketal chose to stand by her, vowing to protect her.

So, that’s the kind of man he is. Not at all what I expected, the Tower Master thought.

Lukento, seemingly arriving at the same conclusion, muttered as if in reluctant acknowledgment. “It’s a shame that someone like you is a barbarian.”

Even the knights behind him were looking at Ketal with expressions of shock. To them, he was the epitome of a knight’s honor.

Meanwhile, Ketal was thinking to himself, Yes, this is it. This is what I’ve been waiting for!

He realized he was like a knight who, despite certain defeat, didn’t retreat and gave their life for the glory of their homeland, or like a man who stood in the way of an army to help an elderly man cross a bridge. He was like a hero who persevered despite overwhelming odds, unwavering in their resolve—their name etched into history and their deeds celebrated for generations.

As a boy, Ketal had read their stories with a pounding heart, full of admiration.

If you think about it rationally, all those actions are foolish, Ketal thought.

Continuing a fight doomed to end in defeat was irrational. Survival, even if it meant enduring disgrace, was the logical choice for those who sought revenge. Blocking an entire army just to help an elderly man cross a bridge defied reason; simply carrying him across would have been the practical solution. However, practicality wasn’t the point. Romance, in all its grandeur, was the ultimate form of irrationality. And now, Ketal found himself living that romance.

The onlookers—Patrick, Lukento, the knights, even the princess and Aron—looked at him with expressions of awe and respect.

Another bucket list item checked off, he thought, savoring the moment. He wanted to let out a triumphant yell, to clench his fists in celebration, but he knew it would ruin the atmosphere.

Instead, he resolved to quietly bask in this victory later when no one was around.

“There’s no need for further words,” Lukento said, his voice cutting through the tension. The air around them grew heavy, suffused with killing intent.

“Patrick, step back. Elene and Aron, you too,” Ketal said.

“Understood,” Patrick replied immediately.

“Be careful!” Elene warned. “They are the Knights of the Blue-Green Order! They’re the strongest order in our kingdom!”

The three of them retreated, creating distance from the battle. The silence between Ketal and the knights was almost deafening as they stared each other down.

“Draw your swords,” Lukento finally ordered his knights.

The metallic sound of steel being unsheathed filled the air, followed by a wave of mystical energy that enveloped the knights.

The Tower Master watched them with a calm gaze. They can all wield Myst. Not bad. They’re at least Intermediate knights.

But their commander was different. It seemed like Lukento had the power to call himself an Advanced knight, even capable of fully manifesting Myst. To the Tower Master, such strength was trivial, but to most, this order of knights would appear formidable.

“Take care of the barbarian first. The princess comes next,” Lukento commanded.

“Yes, sir!”

Lukento’s piercing eyes locked onto Ketal. “Kill him if you have to!”

At his signal, the knights charged forward, their bodies enhanced by Mst as they moved with the force of a battering ram.

Ketal raised his fist, his expression lighthearted.

Boom!

The sound of impact echoed through the clearing as Ketal’s punch crushed the armor of one of the knights. The man was sent flying, blood spraying from his lips. Another knight took advantage of the opening and lunged with his sword.

Ketal twisted his body with ease, dodging the strike and grabbing the blade mid-air. Using its momentum, he flung the knight into the air like a ragdoll.

“Wow, you’re holding onto your sword even when being thrown. That’s the kind of discipline a knight should have,” Ketal remarked with a smirk.

“How dare a barbarian speak of knighthood!” another knight roared, charging forward.

Two knights attacked simultaneously, their swords slicing through the air in unison. Ketal moved with effortless precision, brushing the sides of their blades. The light touch was enough to deflect their strikes, causing the knights to lose their balance.

Crunch.

Their armor buckled as they hit the ground hard, groaning in pain.

H-he’s strong! one of the knights thought.

The remaining knights hesitated, their confidence wavering. Five of their comrades had already been taken down in mere moments.

“Do not falter! Hold your position!” Lukento’s voice rang out like a whip. “Surround him!”

“Yes, sir!”

The knights moved swiftly, forming a circle around Ketal. Swords came at him from all directions, each strike perfectly coordinated to leave no room for escape.

Yet, none of their blades touched him.

Ketal dodged each attack with movements so fluid they seemed almost lazy.

Individually, they’re no match for the knight I faced in the Barcan Estate, Ketal assessed, casually kicking one knight aside. The man crashed into the formation, leaving a gap that another quickly filled.

But their coordination is remarkable, Ketal thought. Fifty knights moved as one, their synergy seamless. It was the kind of teamwork Ketal had only dreamed of. Remarkable.

Ketal was genuinely impressed.

He had once considered the concept of coordination himself. In the White Snowfield, his trie had encountered monsters so powerful that even they had struggled to handle them. While it was possible to defeat stronger foes through collective effort, his tribe had ultimately abandoned the idea.

Those damned barbarians simply refused to rely on one another. Ketal had even tried forcing them to cooperate through sheer strength, but it had only been temporary. After seeing them bury their axes into each other’s backs one too many times, Ketal had given up.

To him, the sight of this perfectly coordinated group was astonishing. He had never seen such a well-disciplined collective before. They were individuals, yet they functioned as one.

So, this is the power of an order of knights, Ketal thought. He felt a touch of admiration, while the knights themselves were silently screaming in frustration.

Why can’t we hit him? the knights thought.

Their attacks were flawless, designed to leave no room for escape, something even a Transcendent wouldn’t be able to evade. Yet Ketal avoided every strike, leaving not a scratch on his body.

Their attacks, however, were merely the setup. Lukento, watching with narrowed eyes, barked an order. “Now!”

“Hah!” The knights launched their blades simultaneously. It was a coordinated attack with no room for dodging. This time, they were certain their swords would pierce the barbarian.

Clang, clang, clang!

“Oh, this kind of group attack is certainly troublesome. This is very educational,” Ketal murmured, seemingly unfazed.

A knight shouted in disbelief. “Don’t kid yourself!”

Ketal had stopped dozens of sword blades mid-air with just his fingers.

One of the knights, pale with shock, muttered, “What a monster...”

“Your speed isn’t that overwhelming,” Ketal remarked casually. “It saddens me that you call me a monster.”

Lukento himself hesitated momentarily at the sight. Before long, he quickly sprang into action, drawing his sword. Ketal could see the Aura engulfing Lukento’s blade.

Now is my chance! Lukento thought. As an Advanced knight, he had anticipated being outclassed. Yet he hadn’t expected such a wide gap. Still, he believed this attack would land. Ketal’s hands were occupied holding the knights' swords. He was full of openings.

Lukento accelerated, lunging forward. His blade, glowing with a concentrated Aura, aimed straight for Ketal’s face.

Elene’s scream pierced the air.

“Hm,” Ketal muttered.

Crunch.

Every person present froze. The Tower Master’s eyes widened in disbelief. Lukento’s sword had been caught between Ketal’s teeth.

“What...?” Lukento muttered, his voice trembling. What am I seeing?

The Aura-coated blade was clamped between the barbarian’s teeth. Before anyone could process what was going on, a massive shockwave erupted.

Boom!

The knights were sent flying. Trees snapped and collapsed under the force. The knights groaned, blood spilling as their armor crumpled. Even Lukento staggered, a pained gasp escaping his lips.

“All your previous attacks were simply groundwork for this final move. Impressive! What an excellent strategy! I bet only a few can counter it,” Ketal said with genuine admiration.

However, his praise only deepened Lukento’s despair. To Ketal, their ultimate gambit was merely praiseworthy.

“Do you wish to continue?” Ketal asked, his tone calm

“Everyone, retreat...,” Lukento ordered through gritted teeth. The knights rose unsteadily and began to withdraw.

As the battlefield fell silent, Elene rushed to Ketal’s side. “Ketal! Are you okay?”

“I’m uninjured. There’s no need to worry,” Ketal replied steadily.

“That’s a relief...”

“I will continue escorting you, but I’d like to hear the full story,” Ketal said, his gaze softened slightly.

“Yes,” Elene replied, her face filled with determination. “I will tell you everything, down to the last detail.”

***

They traveled as far as they could. Under the dark, impenetrable night sky, they set up camp. Though they wanted to keep moving, traversing the forest at night was nothing short of suicide.

They pitched their tents and lit a campfire.

Aron, seated by the fire, finally broke the silence. “First, I must thank you again. We deceived you. Even if it wasn’t intentional, that fact remains.”

However, even with all the lies, Ketal had promised to honor the escort request. Aron bowed deeply in gratitude.

“I swear, once all of this is over, I will give you everything I have,” Aron said.

“M-me too!” Elene chimed in.

Ketal turned to look at her, and she quickly averted her gaze, her face flushed red.

“Let’s save future discussions for later. For now, we should focus on the present,” Ketal said, chewing on a piece of jerky with interest. “So, what exactly happened?”

“It’s just like the princess said, “Aron began, his voice heavy. “Our kingdom has been taken by a force we cannot discern.”

Aron’s jaw clenched as he ground his teeth. He continued, “When we realized what was happening, fewer than one in ten people had escaped whatever had taken over them. The kingdom was already in ruins.”

“So, you fled,” Ketal said.

“If we had stayed, the princess and I would have been taken over too,” Aron admitted with a small sigh before continuing. “Let me start from the beginning. This distortion began about a year ago.”

“Huh?” Ketal reacted. “A year ago, you say?”

“I cannot be certain, but it probably started around then,” Aron admitted.

“I see.” Ketal’s gaze turned contemplative.

A year ago had been when he was completing his final Quest in the White Snowfield.