Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: I Am the First Axe of Kel Bark! Karack!
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The highest point of Belvat Fortress.
The Hound Baron's lord's residence had now transformed into a massive scene of plunder.
The ornate chandelier lay shattered on the floor, and dark crimson blood splattered across the expensive carpet, forming grotesque patterns.
"Kuhahaha!! Sweep it all up!! Even a single gold coin covered in dirt will become the blood of our tribe!"
My shout shook the entire lord's residence.
"As expected of Kel Bark! So ruthless!"
Karack's cheers rang out.
Lunia trailed creepily behind me, muttering something under her breath.
"...Haa... Tonight at least... No... Right now...!"
Could you... hold it in a bit?
The castle, where the elite knights had gone to rescue the young lady, was little more than an empty shell.
The remaining soldiers were either drunk or lowly infantrymen too busy looking after themselves.
There was no way they could stand against the warriors of Grom Kel, who had completed their third-stage Imprints.
Ching—
Kwajik—!
"Kwaaaak! Please, spare...!"
"I'm not killing you, you fool. Tch, looking at you, you're not even a soldier."
It was a predictably obvious situation.
A bought position as a soldier through bribes, living luxuriously.
This baron was far more trash than I'd imagined.
No, he had to be at that level.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be satisfying to crush him.
Of course.
At that moment, Karack's axe haft smashed into the soldier's chest.
Since I'd told them not to kill, he wouldn't die right away.
But... wouldn't it be better if he just died?
Delker and Batu also swung their spears and daggers with cold eyes.
Their strikes precisely severed the tendons in the wrists and Achilles heels of the guards trying to flee, turning the lord's residence into a slaughterhouse filled with screams and groans in an instant.
Here are the guys who disable both arms and legs without killing, as ordered.
As long as they can breathe, they're alive, right?
Only Urkan was accurately knocking out soldiers with his shield.
That was when it happened.
"Oppa! Over here! The flow of mana is gathering this way!"
Lilian, stuck to my back, flashed her purple eyes and pointed with her finger.
Following the little one's directions, I entered the inner part of the baron's lavish office.
Pushing open the secret passage hidden behind a massive portrait revealed a hefty steel door at the end—a secret vault standing imposingly.
"Alright, Lilian. Time to show off the skills of the academy's top graduate."
At my words, Lilian confidently extended her hand.
But moments later, the mana pouring from her fingertips began to waver unstably.
"......Huh? What's this??"
"What's wrong?"
"Oh my god... Even if he's greedy, this much?"
"What's the matter?"
"This isn't a simple lock. It's a mana seal designed by at least a 5th-circle mage. Without the key, no one can open it."
"Is it that impressive?"
Lilian muttered dejectedly, her energy drained.
"I'm sorry... With my mana output, I can't dispel it right now. I-I didn't expect this. Even my family only uses this kind of security in the main house...."
Lilian fidgeted, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
No matter how much of a genius she was, there were limits to magical output.
But I didn't panic.
"Don't get down. If magic won't work, there are other ways."
"Huh?"
"There's a very fundamental and reliable method passed down from ancient times."
A short while later, we successfully took complete control of the lord's chambers.
Did this ragtag bunch really think they could protect him?
Even in the back alleys, the biggest expense is hiring capable bodyguards.
And yet, the lord of an entire territory was guarded by this sorry lot.
'Tch tch.'
Not all nobles are created equal.
You need at least an imperial barony or higher to call them real nobles.
Karack eventually dragged out the trembling Hound Baron from deep under the bed.
As expected, he spat out exactly what I'd predicted, not a word off.
"H-How dare you! Do you think your heads will stay attached after this?! The kingdom won't let you get away with it! By tomorrow, the south will be an ocean of barbarian blood!!"
Damn, what a load of crap.
I squatted down in front of the baron sprawled on the floor. I was in the perfect position to spit on him.
His greasy face was a mess of tears and snot, utterly pathetic.
"Hey."
"H-How dare you! Can't you use proper honorifics!?"
Hmm... He still hasn't come to his senses. I lightly grabbed one of his fingers.
"We haven't shaken hands yet. Nice to meet you. I'm Kel Bark."
And in that instant.
Crack—!
A chilling, bone-crunching sound echoed through the lord's chambers.
"Uwaaaaaah!! Kraaak!! W-What is this outrage?! Kill you! I'll kill you! I'll gut you, your tribe, your entire family...!"
And another bone-cracking sound followed.
Craaaack—!
"Kraaak!! T-Talk!! Tell me what you want!!"
I smirked and said,
"Don't need it."
Craaaack—!
His third finger shattered.
And then I started beating him.
"I know your type well. What can I do? I just came here to beat you."
Thud—
Thud—
Thud—
I expertly controlled my strength, targeting only the spots that would hurt the most without causing real damage, and laid into him.
I'm good at this sort of thing, after all.
"Agh!! Aaagh!! Aaaagh!!"
About ten seconds passed like that?
"W-Why are you doing this? There must be something you want, right? Money? There's as much gold as you want behind me. Take it all!"
I stopped talking altogether.
Thud—
Wham—
Slam—
It was a method favored by the most brutal slave traders in the back alleys.
Beat them silently for days without a word.
People break eventually.
They end up begging tearfully to do anything.
The key is the 'silence'.
The terror of motiveless violence and silence eats away at the mind.
It stops them from thinking.
It works even on seasoned back-alley survivors; for a fat, pampered noble shell like this, ten minutes was plenty.
About three minutes passed.
He shouted desperately.
See? Not even ten.
"W-Wait! Wait!! I'll give you everything! P-Please stop!! Hic... sob sob sob!!"
This is the crucial part.
When they say they'll give everything, just keep beating silently until they hand it all over themselves.
In the end, the baron spilled everything he had before I even asked.
I added just one final remark.
"Just keep living like this without doing anything. That's more beneficial to me."
The baron nodded frantically to survive.
Ssshhk—
The baron's magic lock disengaged, and the vault opened.
Inside were piles of dazzling gold coins, high-purity mana stones, various treasures, weapons, armor, and stacks of secret documents exchanged with the royals.
Lilian whispered in my ear from where she clung to my back.
"Wow... So efficient."
"What is?"
"The way you extract information."
I chuckled.
"That's your only takeaway?"
"No, if I were to properly analyze it, I'd say it's an advanced torture technique involving high-level psychological warfare. The victim can't think straight and ends up volunteering everything they have. Perfect design."
I was a bit impressed.
"Ho, even a noble young lady can see that?"
Lilian shrugged her shoulders.
"Of course! I'm the top graduate, remember?"
The plunder was perfect.
The warehouses were emptied, and we'd secured in one night what it would take a year of mining kobold mana stones to obtain.
The warriors' faces, laden with sacks full of treasure, were flushed with excitement.
But I couldn't be satisfied yet.
My gaze remained fixed beyond the walls, on the battlefield where two monsters were still clashing.
"Urkan, you take charge and return to camp. Take the refugees rescued with Aila safely to the oasis. Karack, Batu. You're coming with me."
Everyone knew what I intended.
Lunia approached me.
"Be careful, Kel Bark... If I lose you, I..."
I smirked.
"I'm not going to die. Don't worry. Lilian, you can come along too, right?"
"......If you get hurt, I won't forgive you."
"Don't worry."
The reason for bringing Lilian was to hand her over to Hart if things went south for me.
If I died and she stayed with the tribe, she couldn't avoid the fallout.
"Let's go."
A short while later.
We arrived at the battlefield where Arakhtu and Hart were locked in fierce combat.
Hart Helm and Arakhtu. Those two monsters were still unleashing destructive power beyond human limits, tearing into each other.
"Stubborn barbarian! Just die already!"
"You first! For a central dog, you're tough! But this is the end!!"
Kwaaaang—!
Are they insane?
They still have that much left in them?
Still, their power had clearly diminished since earlier.
At this level, I might be able to block it 'just once'...
We'd taken the wealth, but not yet the 'Fighting Imprint'.
That blood-red flow of fighting spirit Arakhtu had shown, weaving power like threads to amplify it—that bizarre, powerful movement.
If I didn't claim it now, who knows when another chance would come.
My instincts were telling me.
'Now.'
You can't ignore instincts. That's how I survived.
Aila had told me: the Fighting Imprint is a kind of tattoo engraving.
Like our wolf Scars, special tattoos granting unique powers.
They can be combined with other tattoos and boost strength on their own.
A structure that passes down technique-like knowledge within the tattoo.
Lilian asked worriedly,
"Y-You're jumping into that?"
I nodded.
"They're exhausted. Both squeezing out their last drops of life to fight. Karack, what's the Fighting Imprint?"
Karack examined Arakhtu closely and replied,
"From his left wrist to shoulder. Just take that."
"Kukukuk."
I couldn't help but laugh.
How fittingly barbaric—the way to gain power.
Just kill and take the tattoo on their body.
This absurd simplicity was starting to appeal to me.
"Let's plan the strategy."
Karack and Batu nodded.
"One chance only. Lilian supports with magic, and when two of us attack Arakhtu and Hart one-on-one, the remaining one cuts off Arakhtu's left arm. Simple, right?"
Simple in words, but I knew better than anyone it wouldn't be easy.
"Now, to assign roles..."
That was when Lilian interjected.
"Hart's side will be easier to time. I know Hart Helm's swordsmanship, after all. It'll be smoother to catch the openings."
Very useful info.
Picking her up might really have been a stroke of luck.
That meant Arakhtu's side was far more dangerous.
In fact, it looked like Arakhtu was slowly overpowering Hart even now.
For an elite warrior, that's impressive...
That was when it happened.
"...I'll take Arakhtu. Kel Bark, you cut off his arm."
It was Karack. He gripped his weapon with a resolute expression.
"You got some history with that guy?"
Grit—
Karack ground his teeth.
"Old story. From when I was very young."
I didn't pry further.
"I see."
Karack continued,
"And it's not because of that!"
Thud—!
Karack roughly slammed his axe into the ground.
Rumble rumble rumble—
Karack's fighting spirit began to rise in overwhelming waves.
"There won't be any more of that past stupidity. I am the warrior who will raise Kel Bark to be the king of the south!"
His burning passion seemed to ignite in me too.
"......You two could die. You'll still follow?"
Strange.
This was a plan with high odds of death.
My greed could get me, Karack, and Batu all killed here.
Yet their eyes burned undaunted.
"Warriors of Grom Kel do not fear death!!"
How can there be such fools... It was making my blood boil too.
"Batu, Lilian and Hart are yours."
"Un...der... stood..."
"Don't die."
He nodded sharply once.
I hoisted Lilian onto Batu's back and said,
"You too—if something happens to me, surrender to Hart immediately. Got it?"
"No way. I believe we'll all return safely."
"Stubborn."
I turned Dromas' head.
And gripped Kel Kar tightly.
"Let's go, you hot-headed idiots."
Dududududu—
The three Dromas charged down the hill toward them.
"Damn, lots of soldiers."
Arakhtu and Hart were problems, but we had to break through those to reach them.
That was when it happened.
Karack urged his Dromas forward, surging ahead.
Leading the charge, Karack unleashed his full fighting spirit and roared,
"Kraaaaaah!!! Any who want to die, stand before me!! I am—!"
Kukukung—!
Karack's massive axe cleaved the earth.
"Kel Bark's first axe, Karack!!!!!"
At that sight, I curled my lips into a grin.
Damn, Karack. You're cool as hell.