Barbarian Quest

“In the end, we couldn’t find the emperor. If he managed to make it out alive, he should have arrived in Hamel by now.”

Varca said and then glanced at Urich who was sitting in his chair with exhaustion evident on his face.

Despite the two being the same age, Urich looked at least ten years older not just because of the appearance; he had an atmosphere as bleak as autumn.

‘He looks like a campfire that burned all night.’

Watching Urich was like seeing the last embers of a fire flicker and die. He was a man who had lived each day more passionately than anyone else, and the density of his life was just as high.

“So after all that, we still have to attack Hamel?”

The other commanders fell silent at Urich’s words.

“How about we aim for peace? We’ve pushed the empire this far; we should be able to negotiate good terms for ourselves.”

Duke Lungell looked around to confirm that he had the support of other commanders, and then continued, “It seems best to surround Hamel and demand peace. Regardless of what happened to the emperor, the fact is that we won the battles, so the empire will have to accept.”

No one argued against his sensible plan. Wars were fought out of necessity, not because people enjoyed them.

Urich didn’t argue either and agreed with the plan. He was satisfied if they could secure the safety and freedom of the west through a treaty.

As the course of action was decided, the command of the Porcana-Alliance army left the meeting room one by one.

Georg hesitated before approaching Urich and whispering, “Urich, we need to secure as many advantages as possible in the peace treaty. I know you’re close to King Varca, but we can’t afford to give up our gains. Remember that the ones who fought the hardest and endured the most hardships were the warriors and mercenaries of the Alliance.”

Georg repeatedly emphasized the importance of claiming the benefits. He wanted to secure a high position for the future and to achieve that, the Alliance Army had to establish itself as a nation.

‘Tribal armies are likely to scatter if there is no war. We need to form a nation before that happens.’

Georg was already thinking about the post-war period. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity since out of many close aides of Urich, he was the only one with strategic insight. He was the one who handled all the civil affairs, and after the war, it was usually the civil officers who gained the best position.

‘Among Urich’s close aides, I will rise the highest,’ Georg thought to himself as he smirked.

“Georg, the war isn’t over yet.”

Urich pulled out the meteorite dagger and spun it around. The dagger, a gift from Belrua, was a great treasure that didn’t rust even without being greased while being light and strong.

‘A dagger made of metal from the heavens.’

Urich twirled the meteorite dagger before sheathing it again.

“The emperor will probably accept peace. They’re more desperate than we are,” Georg reassured Urich.

“I don’t know about that.”

Urich remained skeptical with a faint smile.

“Do you think the empire won’t make peace?”

“In terms of sheer size, we can’t beat the empire. We lack national power, population, and also everything else.”

“But we are the side in the winning position right now.”

“That’s because the empire can’t use all of its strength right now. Civilized nations have too much to lose to commit all their resources, so they always have to fight with their hands tied.”

The troops summoned by the emperor were only a fraction of the empire’s total strength as the local lords in the empire’s borders were preserving their own forces.

“We don’t have a supply unit, so we can’t besiege Hamel for long. Our army is a plundering force that has to be constantly on the move, and the supplies we get from Porcana won’t be enough to sustain a prolonged siege.”

“The empire will make a peace treaty with us. They want peace as much as we do.”

Georg tried to ease Urich’s worries.

“It’s not what the empire wants that’s important, it’s what the emperor wants.”

The Porcana-Alliance army marched rapidly as the faster they moved, the better it was for them. Many couldn’t endure the forced march and fell behind, and the stragglers were organized into a separate rear unit.

The Alliance Army even camped without setting up tents to save the time that would be spent putting up the encampments.

“Great Chief!”

Katagi hurriedly ran to the tree where Urich was. He had fallen asleep even though the sun hadn’t set yet.

“If you woke me up for something trivial…”

Urich yawned and showed his annoyance, habitually checking for his weapon by his side as he woke.

“Six-Fingered is performing a ritual.”

“So what? He’s a priest; it’s only natural for him to perform rituals.”

Despite his words, Urich still got up and strapped his weapon to his waist.

“He is divining the outcome of the next battle. Did you command him to do so, Great Chief?”

“You know I don’t like divination.”

Urich chuckled as he walked toward where the divination was happening. The warriors who were on stand-by nodded upon seeing him and followed him.

Urich led about twenty warriors to find Six-Fingered in an opening where over a hundred warriors had already gathered, along with many civilized people who were curious about the barbarian customs.

Six-Fingered had painted his face even darker than usual which made his eyes, rolled back to show only the whites, look rather inhuman. Bone ornaments clinked whenever he moved his arms.

“Oooooom, oom.”

Other shamans hummed long, deep tones to set the atmosphere as the rhythmic drumming seemed to pound the hearts of the spectators.

Warriors, their skin painted black and bare, dragged someone along.

“Mmmph, mmmph!”

It was a person with a gag in their mouth, seemingly aware of his fate.

“Six-Fingered…”

Human sacrifices were banned by Urich as a necessary measure to align with the civilized armies, despite the strong opposition from the Alliance warriors.

“Oooooooh!”

The warriors eagerly awaited the moment to cut open the sacrifice’s belly, as their faces lit up with excitement and exhilaration.

“Mmph! Mmmmph!”

The unfortunate captive struggled. Many of the civilized spectators couldn’t bear to watch and left, while those still watching grimaced and cursed.

“Katagi.”

Urich squinted and called Katagi, who cautiously awaited Urich’s orders.

“…Stop him.”

“Understood.”

Not only was human sacrifice a sensitive issue within the Alliance, but disrupting a priest’s ritual before a battle was extremely dangerous. Even Samikan himself wouldn’t dare interfere with a ritual once it had begun.

However, Katagi did not hesitate, as would be expected from a man who would jump into a fire if it was Urich's command.

“Stop, Priest Six-Fingered. It is the Great Chief’s order.”

Katagi and his warriors barged in. The surroundings became chaotic in an instant as the voices of those shouting complaints grew louder.

“We are in the midst of the flowing heavenly energy, Katagi. Do not disturb me.”

Six-Fingered’s voice was different than usual—it was a grating voice as if someone was running their nails across a chalkboard.

“I said it’s the Great Chief’s order. If you offer animals as sacrifices instead of a human, the Great Chief will have no objections.”

“It is only right we offer a precious sacrifice ahead of a battle of great importance.”

Katagi said no more and gestured to the warriors to drag over the captive who was about to be sacrificed.

“Booo!”

Jeers erupted from all sides as the warriors, who had been eagerly awaiting the spilling of the captive’s entrails, looked at Katagi and Urich with disappointment.

“We want organs and blood!”

“Have you forgotten our ways, Great Chief?!”

Warriors with strong influence within the Alliance raised their voices. Many warriors within the alliance were keen on preserving traditions, and since they were mere seconds away from witnessing the first human sacrifice in a long time, the backlash was even more intense.

‘So this is what Six-Fingered was going for.’

Urich just watched the backlash quietly as he understood the warriors' feelings.

Human sacrifice was a grand spectacle. Warriors got to observe a shaman dissect a person with nothing but a sharp dagger. Sometimes they would cut from the throat to lessen the pain, but often they would slit the belly open and pull out the entrails while the victim was still alive. The longer the sacrificial victim survived while their entrails were being pulled out, the better the omen.

As the argument continued, the atmosphere grew increasingly hostile to the point where the warriors unconsciously reached for their weapons.

“Urich, let Six-Fingered… continue…”

Olga, who had been watching the ritual, strode over to Urich. He was a model warrior in tribal society who enjoyed brutality and bloodshed.

“If we perform a human sacrifice, the civilized people will hate it. We can’t have that, Olga. The Alliance needs the strength of the civilized armies, especially with a siege battle ahead.”

“Why should we care… about what they… like…? They should respect our ways… We are stronger…”

Olga glared at Urich.

“Olga, we don’t have to offer people as sacrifices anymore. In fact, many things will change from now on, not just the way we make our sacrifices,” Urich replied calmly, but Olga’s expression only twisted further.

“We do not change… It is the civilized people who must change. We are stronger… So why should we respect and follow their ways?”

Olga’s shoulders heaved with agitation. Some warriors, despite usually being on Urich’s side, agreed with Olga’s words due to the grievances that had accumulated over time.

Urich was a progressive Great Chief who liked the ways of the civilized, but that also frustrated many warriors.

“I understand where you’re coming from, Olga. I know the civilized do not respect our ways while we often follow theirs. It’s certainly unfair.”

When Urich spoke softly, the warriors nodded repeatedly and awaited his next words.

“But I know something all of you don’t! In the end, we will not be able to preserve our old ways. Trying to maintain our old ways will only leave us behind and obsolete,” Urich declared.

The warriors erupted in protest, “We are strong, Great Chief! So what do you mean by obsolete?”

“The civilized record their history in writing and they do not forget the past. Unlike us, they distinguish between what should and should not be done from their past failures and learn from it. I know people who were like us. The northerners who couldn’t change quickly were defeated and ended up being forced to abandon their ways after becoming the slaves of civilization.”

Urich’s perspective differed from that of the other warriors. He knew the process of the north’s downfall and had seen the results with his own eyes.

“If we make the entire civilization our enemies, we will ultimately be the ones defeated. The reason we fight is to secure a position to coexist with the civilized.”

Urich clearly stated his thoughts. Warriors who felt betrayed shook their heads.

“Have our victories so far been ours alone? Were all the men of civilization who we met cowards? Sometimes they fought as well as we did, and we wouldn’t have come this far without some of their help. Without them, who would operate all those complex siege weapons?”

“But you must respect our ways, you are our Great Chief!”

Urich laughed heartily. He drew his sword and plunged it into the ground.

“Of course, you’re exactly right. So if anyone opposes my opinion, take up your weapons and stand before me. I am always ready to accept a challenge—is this not the most important part of our ways? Challenge me openly and take everything I have!”

The warriors glanced at each other in silence before slowly retreating. No one dared to challenge Great Chief Urich as there was no one who did not know that the legends built by Urich were not just tales, but realities witnessed by their own eyes.

Click.

Urich noticed that Olga continued to twitch his fingers in contemplation.

“Not now, Olga,” he said as their eyes met. Urich shook his head at Olga, who nodded and stepped back.

Both Urich and Olga knew that the two of them were one of the most excellent warriors who the Alliance could not afford to lose before the war ended.

‘The challenge is for another time…’

Olga respected Urich but couldn’t agree with his ways. He felt that being with Urich blurred their essence.

The commotion subsided, and the sacrifice was carried on with a four-legged animal. As the beast’s entrails spilled out, the stench and smell of blood filled the air.

Urich watched the ritual and then approached Six-Fingered, whispering, “This is the last time I will overlook your disobedience, Six-Fingered. I owe you nothing now.”

Six-Fingered’s six fingers trembled slightly.

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