Barbarian Quest

Chapter 131

Yanchinus had been closely observing Urich, particularly after the Sword Demon Ferzen likened Urich to the reincarnation of Mijorn the Brave of the north. Initially, it was Ferzen's assessment that caught Yanchinus's attention, but now, Urich's actions intrigued him.

‘What do you wish to do?’

Yanchinus swallowed his question. He was an emperor. He could and should not cling to those who rejected him. He was the sun and center of the world. An emperor did not move toward anyone else. He selects only those who approach him.

Clunk.

The barbarian dragged in chains, vomited blood, causing the nobles to step back to avoid the blood.

‘He’s a mess.’

Urich realized the man's life was hanging by a thread, weakened by the journey and captivity. The body that has been weakened had the shadow of death hanging over it.

Grip.

Urich clenched his fist, feeling a sense of righteousness.

‘I cannot save that man. I’m only a warrior...’

He suppressed his rough impulse to cause a disturbance. He wanted to grab anything that could serve as a weapon and kill all the civilized people around him. For the first time, Urich recognized a warrior from another tribe as his kin.

"Kin."

The northern barbarians united as one people, calling themselves northerners, only after facing the common enemy of the empire.

Urich and this western man were not related by any means, but they shared the same land and culture, and that was enough to echo in Urich’s heart. This man from his homeland was being humiliated by civilization. One of his own was being brutalized and mocked by the civilized.

"Be careful, this is one of the most savage barbarians I've seen. A beastly creature," Regal Arten warned a noblewoman approaching the barbarian.

‘I want to rip that mouth to shreds.’

Urich’s fingers twitched. It wouldn't be hard to grab his neck and wring it. He closed his eyes and listened to the screams of terror in his imagination. He was chasing after the screaming nobles, crushing their heads, and shattering their spines with his feet.

‘But what comes after?’

Urich, dripping with cold sweat, envisioned his own end: after killing Regal and the nobles, he would be shot with arrows and spears, dying a meaningless death without glory. It would simply be a fit of rage.

The pressure on his back was immense. If it was just his life at stake, he wouldn't care. He could burn brightly for a moment and put his life on the line with no hesitation. In civilization, he was a free man. He roamed the world fearlessly and put his life on the line wherever he went.

But Urich from the west was not a free man; he was Urich of the Stone Axe tribe.

‘Be cunning, Urich.’

Now was the time for the wisdom of a fox, not the bravery of a lion.

* * *

The banquet was finished. The nobles whispered among themselves, and the priests left with anxious faces. Regardless of what the people wanted, a storm was sure to follow this brief calm.

"You haven't mentioned your reward yet, Urich. After all, I can't let you go empty-handed after your hard work," Yanchinus said, walking with Urich in the garden.

It was a rare privilege to walk with the emperor. Many waited months just for a few words with him, proving Yanchinus still held Urich in high regard.

"Steel armor... and the path over the mountains," Urich said as if he had already thought it through.

Yanchinus stopped walking, and the knights escorting him gripped their swords. If Urich had greatly upset the emperor, they would have to kill him instantly.

"...That is a bold request," Yanchinus said, lifting a finger and smiling. The knights then relaxed their shoulders.

"You were the one who said you'd give me anything," Urich reminded him.

"The path over the mountains will be known to you if you accept my offer anyway, whether you like it or not. The preparations will be completed in a year or three at the latest."

Crossing the Sky Mountains was no small feat. It was a roundtrip that took even the greatest explorers countless trial and error. It would take an inch-perfect preparation for an army to cross over the rough mountains.

"I just want to see the west with my own eyes."

This was a lie. Urich double-checked to make sure he hadn't stuttered.

"I know you have a wanderlust, but..."

Yanchinus glanced at Urich's face.

"I just want to see what I haven't seen before, whatever it may be."

A truth that dispelled any momentary doubt.

"Regal Arten will return to the Sky Mountains after sufficient rest to establish an outpost. The mountains will no longer be a barrier! The divided worlds will connect, and my name will be on that new path! If you wish, Urich, you may follow. You wouldn’t be a man if your heart doesn't race at the discovery of a new world.”

Yanchinus showed kindness to Urich, who had refused his offer. The generosity of a man trained in imperial ways was always going to be a calculated move.

‘Even if he manages to see the world beyond the mountains, it will be the land of strange barbarians. Even a strong warrior can't wander alone. If he wants to explore the new world, he’ll have to work with the Imperial Army. He'll see it's the best way.’

Yanchinus still believed Urich was a man thirsty for adventure and exploration, and that he had rejected his offer simply because of his nature to serve under someone.

‘Indeed, he's not a man who fears challenges and adventures. My and Noya's eyes couldn't have been wrong.’

Emperor Yanchinus was smart and arrogant, believing his empire was the best in the world. Because of that, there was one possibility that had slipped through his fingers.

'The possibility that someone else had already crossed the two worlds.'

Urich smirked bitterly. The empire was great. Without its expedition, Urich would never have crossed the mountains. He would have just grown old fantasizing while looking at the Sky Mountains.

‘Fordgal Arten.'

Urich muttered the name. The man who brought him from the other world, likely the brother, or at least a cousin, of Regal Arten.

'Fordgal was a great explorer.'

Urich finally realized how remarkable the unfamiliar knight was. He had directly connected the two worlds. Although he might not be remembered in human history, the gods would remember Fordgal Arten.

“And for that steel armor... I’ll order the smithy after you do one more favor for me.”

Yanchinus grinned cunningly.

Step, step.

Yanchinus and Urich headed toward the Palace of White Night, enveloped in sweet scents. Fresh flowers picked daily adorned the entrance.

Creaaak.

A servant opened the door as he kept his eyes low. The women of the palace prostrated themselves before Yanchinus, who nonchalantly stepped over them to enter the room.

"There's a woman here who despises you."

“I think I know who you’re talking about.”

Urich gazed at the barely clothed women. They were surrounded by women who only had their private parts covered with a few strands of clothes.

“She is a woman who I just can’t seem to break. I like those, but on the other hand, I really want to destroy them. Do you understand me?”

Urich glanced into Yanchinus’ room. Although he was an emperor, the word “tarnished” befitted him the best. It seemed like he was incapable of exchanging normal affection.

"Embrace Damia, Urich."

Yanchinus spoke commandingly, his eyes filled with passion and madness. He anticipated Damia's reaction to being embraced by Urich, knowing his excitement would only grow as their night deteriorated. The mere thought aroused him physically.

‘Any other day, I would have begged for this but...’

Damia was an incredible beauty. Many men threw their lives on the line just for a single night with her. Urich, much like any other man, felt lust toward her multiple times.

Creak.

The door opened without Urich's touch, revealing Damia, elegantly dressed, looking at Urich and Yanchinus.

"Aah," Damia sighed ambiguously. She looked up with teary eyes.

"Tonight, Damia, your companion is Urich. Treat him as you would me," Yanchinus said from outside the door, his lips twitching.

'The man who led me to ruin.'

Without Urich, Varca would never have ascended the throne.

Silently, she took Urich's hand, leading him to the bed. Urich remained silent as he couldn’t think of anything to say. His lower body responded to the soft touch of a woman despite his disturbed mind.

'I am now nothing more than a courtesan,' she thought with a hollow smile on her face.

"You're a wretched, wretched woman. You did this to yourself," Urich remarked.

"I know. You don’t have to tell me. Do you want me to undress, or will you rip it off?"

Damia asked, playing with her dress strap. Urich hesitated, then reached for her hands that were undoing the straps.

"I won't sleep with you. Whatever happened before, you're just a pitiable woman now," Urich said, standing up.

'Embracing Damia now might just break her.’

Pahell wouldn't want to see his sister's soul shattered.

"Don't... pity me, you filthy barbarian! Embrace me like the barbarian you are! You beast who only knows desires, you scum!" Damia yelled in anger. Urich pushed her away in annoyance.

"My name is Urich, and I’m not a beast.”

"Shut up, you're a beast! A beast who lusts after women at the sight of them!"

Damia lunged at him, trying to strangle him.

'It tickles.'

Urich thought. Her hands couldn't even fully grasp his neck, and his well-trained neck muscles didn’t help her case. Her well-kept nails couldn't pierce his skin even if she tried.

'You pity me? A barbarian like you? The one who drove me into this?'

Her long-suppressed anger and hatred were reignited by Urich’s small sympathy. Damia's almost cringey pride was the only thing keeping her sane.

"Aah, now I see! You loved my brother! A man who loves men, how disgusting! You're not just a beast but a cursed one! You helped my brother for that reason! How impressive, Varca, seducing men with your backside. I admit it as well, Varca's backside is indeed nice to look at!"

Damia rambled like a madwoman, with Yanchinus's laughter heard from outside.

"You'll regret this, Princess Damia," Urich gave his last warning.

"Regret? Do you think I would do such a thing?"

Slap!

Damia struck Urich's cheek hard.

'This bitch,' Urich thought, now fully alert, his last bit of sympathy gone.

"Better to be a regular beast than be misunderstood as a cursed one," Urich muttered, grabbing Damia's hands. He tore her dress apart and quickly removed his trousers.

"You really are a beast... in many ways," Damia realized, momentarily regretting seeing Urich's lower half that was hidden underneath his pants until now. It exceeded her expectations in all ways.

Come morning, Damia lay unconscious on the bed, and Urich stood up, sweeping up his sweat-drenched hair.

"See, I told you you'd regret it," Urich said, leaving the room, tightening his trousers in the hallway as he blinked his drowsy eyes.

"That was excellent, Urich!"

Yanchinus exclaimed from the next room, still filled with women's endless moans and screams. Urich had no desire to know what was happening there.

Creak.

As Urich passed by, the door to Yanchinus's room opened. A guard dragged out a woman, bloodied from being whipped ruthlessly.

To Emperor Yanchinus, all men were tools, and all women, toys. Good tools were inherited and used across generations, but toys, once worn and broken, were simply discarded.

The man from the west died after three days. Urich was the one and only person who mourned his death. Until the end, he never had the chance to meet the man alone or even learn his name.

Three months later, Urich left for the Sky Mountains with Regal Arten, who was tasked with establishing an outpost and pioneering the path through the mountains. The season was passing spring and heading into summer. It was the time of the year when even the majestic aura of the Sky Mountains seemed to soften with the warm, thawing air.

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