The Unbreakable Barbarian
The legendary, mythical Eden never broke, no matter the situation. It was literal.
Even when he woke up one day as a barbarian. Even after years as a blade cutting down lives on the battlefield. Even after hitting max level without finding a way home.
Eden might falter, but he never despaired. He was the type who never lowered the game difficulty from Very Hard anyway, but whether he was this resilient from the start was anyone's guess. Maybe the barbarian character class came with a mental buff.
But Eden didn't dwell on it. He was who he was, bad jokes and all.
'Barbarian.'
It wasn't the answer the demon expected. Anyone in this medieval world passing by knew Eden was a barbarian.
Still, it was the only answer he had. Wielding two axes—no, one now. Charging at a fairy-tale demon without flinching.
The simplest, most accurate way to describe him right now.
029.
The legendary, mythical demon's body slowly shrank.
Barbarian. Denied. Blessed knight. Also denied. Identity unknown. Groan. Pain. Agony.
The mountain-like bulk gradually returned to its original size. Maybe a few times Eden's height at most.
Eden gripped his axe tighter, eyeing it.
Like a deflated balloon.
As he advanced on the demon, he recalled the trait he'd just unlocked: [Battle Cry].
It wasn't new post-max level. He'd just skipped it before because the name was too flashy.
The effect was straightforward, like the name: shock and damage scaled to stats. Status effects like fear or stun. One of the few AoE skills available to barbarians.
If I'd picked mage, I could've just done Ground Ignite or Earth Shock.
Barbarian warrior really is trash tier.
Anyway, a max-level barbarian's cry produced results beyond common sense.
The space the demon created was filled with monster corpses, all burst like bugs.
Blood rose to Eden's ankles with every step.
Too bad I couldn't pick a new trait...
He didn't show much regret. Now that he knew max level wasn't the end, there was no point lamenting.
Eden kept walking toward the demon. Blood and ichor dripped from his axe. The squelch of crushed bodies echoed through the space.
The demon, seeing this, cried out.
[Stop! Enough. Halt. Request.]
The casual air was gone, replaced by a trembling voice.
Staring at Eden approaching, the demon's massive body toppled backward, losing balance. Like it was crawling away.
[Wait, ask for anything. Whatever. No price. Just stop. Halt.]
The demon tried its best to persuade him.
[Treasure, beauties, honor. Anything, anything.]
But Eden didn't stop. He pressed on calmly, ignoring the demon's pathetic wails. No different from the usual battlefield beggars.
From the demon's view, it was mind-breaking.
[Stop, halt. Please.]
An demon that had lived eons. Even the sun, once fearsome, had lost its sister and fallen into sloth. It thought nothing in the world could scare it anymore.
Yet...
What the hell is that monster?
God, hero, champion. Countless names flashed by.
Having faced no crisis in ages, the demon's response was clumsy.
[Halt!]
A tentacle shot toward Eden. Pure instinct.
Eden swung his axe with a short grunt.
"Hup."
The liquid-like tentacle split clean. Dark red blood cascaded like a waterfall.
Tough enough to deflect a knight's sword easily. But not a max-level barbarian's axe.
If it fought properly, it might've been a real battle. But the demon had no will left.
The bloodied tentacle recoiled—like someone facing a wasp barehanded. Except the barbarian was deadlier.
[...Enough. Enough.]
The demon repeated the same words like a broken metronome.
Eden stepped on the tentacle and climbed the body. The demon had toppled into an easy staircase shape.
Soon at the crown of its head, Eden leaned down to gaze at the massive form upside down.
[......]
The demon's bloodshot eyes couldn't meet Eden's, staring at the floor instead.
Gazing at the terrified demon, Eden asked,
"The Night Goddess."
[...?]
The fallen priest had mentioned it. Worshipping the Night Goddess named Neb.
Eden asked to clear a small curiosity.
"Why do demon worshippers serve the Night Goddess? You could've picked any name."
Even the person herself didn't know.
He recalled Neb shaking her head in denial, like a malfunctioning machine. She'd been sealed for ages, and he'd been the one to break it.
[That's...]
As the demon hesitated, Eden raised his axe without waiting.
Monster blood from the 'kimbap' splattered the demon's eye.
[...!!]
The startled demon twisted its body. But Eden held balance atop it, eyes fixed.
[J-Joke! It was a joke!]
The demon's explanation:
[Long ago. Goddess sacrificed for intelligent beings. Night Goddess. Sun grew lazy. Lost will. Small plan to steal name, make evil god. Not my idea. Just happened.]
Eden's brow furrowed at the answer.
A joke. Lamer than expected. And all the more demonic for it.
Sensing a chance to live, the demon hurriedly spilled more.
[Other demons joined. Some. At least centuries ago. Fairies. Dwarves. Humans. Corrupt them. Control. For negative emotions.]
The demon's eye spun wildly.
[Why curious? Question. Useless. Mistake. More questions? Ask. I'll answer. If you spare my life.]
Chances to hear worldly secrets from a demon weren't common, but Eden figured it was time to end this.
His senses caught the demon's tentacles creeping farther out. Subtle movements. He knew the direction without looking: toward Neb and Fran.
With a light sigh, Eden stared down and declared,
"I told you."
[What.]
Trembling in fear, the demon extended its tentacles farther. Just a bit more...
Eden didn't wait.
"I only want one thing."
Their first exchange. Eden had said he wanted the demon's life.
"And if you attack first, you should expect to die."
The demon, hearing the barbarian, had an oddly out-of-place thought.
I didn't attack first. This barbarian—
Eden's axe plunged into the demon's eye.
Once, twice, three times. Methodical and precise, like a lumberjack felling a tree.
[Scream. Groan. Scream. SCREAM!!]
The demon writhed in pain. But Eden clung tight.
[Pain. Hurt. Stop...!]
Then.
[Ah.]
The demon's eye and heart split in two.
[Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah—!!]
Blood sprayed everywhere. The massive body collapsed in a geyser.
Split the heart, and demons die. Basic knowledge for Eden.
No level up, huh.
A small pang of regret as he leaped down.
Countless monsters and one demon. He'd hoped for one more level at least.
"The sky..."
"Ended quicker than expected."
Fran and Neb's voices from behind.
With the space-creating demon dead, the world cracked. The black sky split, darkness rushing in.
Moments later, they were back in the church basement.
The difference: they were drenched in blood.
"You okay?"
"Of course."
Fran lifted her hammer to show she was fine. No visible wounds.
Eden eyed the basement center—where the demon had been.
A slightly smaller but unmistakably demonic, grotesque corpse remained.
"...Uh."
Eden heard the fallen priest's low groan. He hadn't grasped the situation.
People returned. Demon suddenly dead. What did it mean?
Eden's gaze turned to the priest. Savage, beastly eyes bored into him.
"I-Is anyone outside?!"
The priest yelled quickly, but it was the wrong move. Kneeling in prostration might've been smarter.
His scream brought in the people waiting outside.
"What happened?!"
"...Priest!"
Among them, naturally, the man who'd chased their group from the church.
Eden smiled seeing his face.
Perfect, no need to hunt you down.
They muttered, uncomprehending, staring at the demon corpse and bloodied group in panic.
"...W-What is this."
Eden casually clenched his fist.
Everyone here except his group had fallen to the demon's scheme. Demon worshippers, basically.
He said to Fran,
"How do we usually handle this?"
"......"
Fran stayed silent.
Demon worshippers were typically executed on the spot or handed to the order. But the order itself had fallen to demon worshippers.
Leave one or two for questioning, maybe.
Eden eyed the baffled man—the one who'd spammed the eviction order.
"I told you."
"...Pardon?"
Eden walked toward him.
"Come out and see."
With the rage of being woken five times.
Fortunately, another witness to the corrupt priest's misdeeds was locked separately in the church basement.
"...Thanks for saving me."
He introduced himself as the former priest.
"Name's Taim. Not much, but I served the Sun here."
An elderly man with white hair, seemingly retired from the front lines. He sighed, looking around.
"...My teachings must've been lacking. To fall for a mere demon's whisper...
Ah, but who's this?"
Taim pointed at the man whose face was swollen like a hoe cake.
Twice the size of normal.
"That guy..."
Eden didn't know his name. Just 'rude asshole' in his head.
Fran answered.
"He stayed at the church too."
"That hair... hmm. Geras? No, Gale? Can't recall. Anyway."
The group had moved to the church interior.
Sunlight through the stained glass illuminated everything. Far more holy than by night.
Taim clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"The first to say something weird was buried in the basement was Peyron."
"Peyron..."
"Ah, the priest you met. Well, demon follower who was a priest."
Taim continued at Fran's question.
"Even the most devout rarely hear the god's voice. He probably despaired at the Sun not answering his prayers. Demon slipped in through that crack."
Taim said it casually.
"In times like these, who hasn't a valley in their heart? Everyone buries it and lives on."
Eden listened, then glanced at the sun emblem at the church's end.
Prayer, huh...
He'd prayed plenty after isekai-ing to this medieval hell. Never visited a church, but he'd cursed gods all day.
Eden recalled the demon's words.
A slothful Sun. Enough to despair even a faithful priest.
Useless bastard. Wonder what it even looks like.
Not Neb—the Sun God.
And then.
One blink, and Eden was in an unfamiliar palace.
"...?"
What the hell.