Chapter 153 - Barbarian Lord (5)

There were three main advantages to becoming chieftain.

First, I would no longer have to hide the fact that I had received an oracle. I could also overhaul the irrational system under which the barbarians had declined for decades, shaping it to my liking...

'And when I eventually recover the barbarians’ treasure from the Six Treasures, I’ll be able to use it however I please.'

To be clear, being chieftain wouldn't automatically make that acceptable. I would simply need to change our people's policies beforehand.

The barbarians were a conservative race that valued tradition, but a few chieftains had brought about gradual progress. Speaking respectfully and observing etiquette toward the king alone, for instance. Or acknowledging the existence of evil spirits and sending their corpses to the great temple.

Against the backdrop of their long history, even the acceptance of warriors living in the city rather than the sanctuary was fairly recent. Had it been about six hundred years?

'They used to forbid people from having Essences removed at temples, too.'

It was honestly absurd that so little had changed over thousands of years... But rather than the chieftain lacking the authority, it was more accurate to say that no one suited to the task had appeared yet. The chieftain had overwhelming authority over matters great and small, and warriors tended to trust and follow most of what he said. They believed he was smarter than they were.

Of course, there would inevitably be resistance once reforms began. But I could deal with that by taking my time and gradually winning them over, one change at a time.

'Not bad.'

The shaman's suggestion had sounded absurd at first, but the more closely I considered it, the more reasonable it seemed. The problem was that becoming chieftain through normal means would take at least several years.

'The current chieftain used to explore the eighth floor, right?'

I didn't know exactly what rank he had been, but it was clear that matching him in strength would take a long time.

However...

'I don't necessarily have to reach the eighth floor.'

The sixth floor would probably be a reasonable cutoff. Not every past chieftain had been as strong as the current one. Some had been chosen for their leadership and judgment despite lacking strength.

'I should start building a support base now. Even if I don't become chieftain, having influence among our people is bound to help.'

Just as I was finishing sorting through my thoughts, the shaman spoke.

"Warrior, you seem to have a lot on your mind. I'm hungry, so leave now."

"Ah, uh... All right. Enjoy your meal."

The shaman was showing me the door. After being the one to kindle the fire in a man's heart, too.

GRRRRROWL!

Besides, I was hungry too...

* * *

Around nine in the morning.

I checked the time after leaving the shaman's tent and smiled ruefully.

'How do I manage to lose an entire day every time I come here?'

Still, perhaps because I'd been unconscious before waking, I felt more refreshed than when I woke up at night. Enough to simply get on with my day. With that in mind, I stopped a passing elder and asked a question.

"Do you happen to know where Aynar is?"

"I haven't seen her since yesterday in the Warriors' Forest."

Hmm, was she really still there? A little worried, I headed for the forest where yesterday's funeral had taken place. After walking for a while, I spotted Aynar lying in the undergrowth.

"Slurp! B-Bjorn?"

"Did you sleep here?"

"I-I didn't mean to... "

Seemingly embarrassed about having fallen asleep, Aynar scrubbed the drool away with the back of her hand and averted her eyes. Unfortunately, her gaze landed on Kiduva.

"Ah... "

She let out a short sigh, as though waking from a dream and confronting reality. After a brief silence, she cautiously spoke.

"Um, Bjorn... "

"Go ahead."

"Do you have anything to eat?"

Yes, now that was more like one of us barbarians. I chuckled and set down my backpack, then took out the preserved rations I'd been eating in the Labyrinth and shared a meal with her.

"Are you feeling a little better now?"

"I'm a little annoyed, but much better."

"Annoyed?"

"He deceived me, didn't he? If he'd been honest, I wouldn't have made such an embarrassing spectacle of myself. Kiduva practically made me look like a coward in front of everyone."

Aynar snorted indignantly, apparently meaning what she said about being annoyed. It was a little amazing that she could overcome her grief and reach this stage in just a day.

"Anyway, Bjorn, did something happen to you too?"

"What do you mean?"

"It was just a feeling. You look gloomier than the last time I saw you. If it was because of me, I wanted to tell you there's no need."

I looked gloomy, huh...

"... It's not because of you. Don't worry."

"If it's not me, who is it?"

"Well... "

I considered making an excuse, then decided against it.

"Probably because a companion died."

"... So that happened. May I ask what happened?"

I gave her a brief account of our latest expedition. Unlike her usual self, Aynar listened quietly without making a fuss at every turn. And when I finished...

"Leor Wuerv Dwalki... "

She quietly repeated the name as though committing it to memory, then voiced a brief regret.

"I wish I could have met him before... "

Aynar and Dwalki, huh... It wasn't easy to picture them together, but hadn't Dwalki become best friends with that dwarf? Perhaps the two of them would have gotten along surprisingly well. Not that there was any point in thinking about it now.

"Anyway, Bjorn, how about a fight?"

Suddenly, Aynar stood up and made an unexpected proposal.

"I want to know if I've become a warrior who won't hold you back."

"Are you saying you want to join the team I'm forming?"

"If you think I'm qualified."

Just like a barbarian, I supposed. Her refusal to lean on our friendship was rather reassuring. But personal feelings and business had to be kept separate.

"Aynar, aside from the mage's slot, there's only one place left. And I was planning to put another mage in that one too."

"Say it simply."

"It means give me everything you've got."

I rephrased it with a grin, and Aynar answered.

"VEHELLLAAAAAA!!!"

A greatsword had already appeared in her hands and was swinging toward my neck.

* * *

Tank, melee DPS, ranged DPS, mage. All the essential roles had already been decided. But thanks to Mister Bear being a Guide, the Scout's slot had opened up. A bonus slot of sorts.

The class I put there would define the team I was building. The burst damage of two mages, or the sustained damage of two ranged attackers? Or would I choose two melee attackers for greater stability and faster hunting?

After much deliberation, I'd settled on two mages. But...

"VEHELLLAAAAAA!!"

The moment my spar with Aynar began, my doubts grew.

'... She really has gotten a lot stronger.'

Six months of sword training. The stat increases from tempering. And on top of that, the rank-four Essence she'd inherited from an elder.

'I never imagined she'd inherit that Essence. She really is lucky.'

In terms of combat ability, she could already hold her own in a comparison with Misha. Considering she had only two Essences, her late-game potential was considerable too. There was only one sticking point.

'This would make us far too melee-heavy... '

Thanks to the Ogre Essence, I could deal damage too. In other words, adding Aynar would give us three melee damage dealers.

"Stop. Let's leave it there."

"... I can still keep going!"

"I know. But I don't think there's any point in continuing."

"... Am I not qualified?"

I firmly shook my head.

"That's not it."

Even if I wasn't wearing my equipment, she'd drawn blood from me while I was using [Gigantification]. She'd passed without question.

"Th-then I can come on the next expedition?"

"Can you give me some time to think?"

"Ah! Of course! Y-you should. Will a minute do?"

"... A minute is too short. Let's make it three."

"I can wait that long!! As you know, I'm very patient!"

I let her not-so-subtle sales pitch go in one ear and out the other, then closed my eyes. I had already made up my mind, so I didn't need much time. I only wanted to check things over once more.

Soon, I opened my eyes and looked at Aynar. I didn't have a necklace to hand her as proof she'd passed, but...

"I look forward to working with you."

"W-wait. Does that mean... "

"Exactly what you think."

Aynar, second daughter of Pheneline.

Passed.

* * *

My reason for accepting Aynar was simple. It wasn't because I'd remembered the good old days of beating the shit out of deathfiends... I'd made the decision with the longer term in mind.

'I'll need to run at least two teams from the sixth floor onward anyway.'

On the sixth floor, a small clan was preferable to a single team. Both the scale of the monster encounters and the methods of exploration were a bit much for five people to handle. I decided that, when the time came, it would make sense to assign either Misha or Aynar to the other team. Aynar's potential for growth, at least, was beyond question.

"Aynar, have you received any engravings?"

"Not yet. As you know, I don't have the money... "

"I see. Good."

I'd explain the engraving paths to her in detail later. For now, I wrapped up the conversation. Aynar went to the elder's tent to collect her belongings, while I waited outside and sorted through my thoughts.

'Just one mage left now... '

That was actually the biggest obstacle to forming a team. Mages were all so full of themselves. And if they weren't, chances were they weren't any good.

'Whew. Just thinking about all the legwork makes me sigh.'

Once again, I felt glad I'd decided against two mages. Raven and Lagna. I knew two mages personally, but it wouldn't be strange for both of them to turn me down.

As I looked around the sanctuary, refining my plans to persuade them, a barbarian spotted me and called out loudly.

"Bjorn, son of Jandel!!"

"Karon, son of Tarson?"

"Good to see you! What brings you here?"

When I explained that I'd had some business here, Karon said that was perfect and asked if I could say a few words to the young warriors. After a moment's thought, I agreed.

Hadn't I just decided to make a serious bid for the chieftain's position? I wasn't about to miss an opportunity to build support. Besides, Aynar would probably take a while.

"Really? The young warriors will be thrilled!"

I followed Karon to a clearing. Dozens of young warriors had already gathered, and the moment I introduced myself, they erupted into enthusiastic cheers.

"Bjorn, son of Jandel!"

"Great warrior!"

"Waaaaaah!!"

Even knowing it was thanks to Karon's brainwashing, I felt a peculiar rush. Was I just a man who couldn't help himself after all?

"VEHELLLAAAAAA!!"

For some reason, I felt like shouting, so I did.

The baby barbarians echoed my cry.

"VEHELLLAAAAAA!!"

It was a kind of exhilaration I hadn't felt since Aynar left the team. Ah, yes. This was it. Trying to hide my satisfied smile, I got down to work as their guest instructor.

It wasn't particularly difficult. First, in true barbarian fashion, I made them fight each other. Then I walked among them, offering an endless supply of handy tips for smashing enemies' skulls. I also filled in the gaps in Karon's teaching.

"Once you have some money, buy a video-recording orb first. It'll help if you're falsely accused of being plunderers."

I had no intention of patching the money-duplication exploit Karon had created. Even I thought it was going a bit far... But they were plundering bastards anyway, weren't they? The world would be better off with even a few more of them dead.

"Now, repeat after me. The only good plunderer?"

"Is a dead plunderer!!!"

"The Explorer Guild?"

"We don't trust it!!"

"When you meet a Hans in the Labyrinth?"

"No! Get away! Unless you want to fucking die!"

I was in the middle of drilling the essentials of being a barbarian explorer into their heads when a sudden chill prickled down my spine.

'... Killing intent?'

I stopped teaching and turned around. A familiar barbarian stood right behind me, as though he'd materialized like a ghost.

A large scar across his face. A long, braided beard. Even that distinctive sweaty smell, as though he hadn't washed in days.

"Bjorn, son of Jandel."

It was the chieftain.

"So that's why the guild has been contacting me so much lately. It was all your doing?"

I shifted my eyes to check on Karon. Despite having assured me that the chieftain never came during training, he was already backing away from me, his face deathly pale.

"Explain yourself. Before I get the wrong idea."

Ah, uh, um...

Motherfucker.