Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Faebarbarian
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"What do you mean? How should I know? I've never even seen my parents' faces."
Lilian circled around me, her eyes sparkling like an archaeologist who had just unearthed a relic for the first time in her life.
In her hands was a thick sheet of parchment and a quill pen, though I had no idea when she'd pulled them out.
"Oppa, this is serious... This isn't something we can just brush off. It's like something straight out of an ancient document sealed deep in the academy library basement happening right in front of our eyes!"
I leaned my weary body against the wall and looked at Lilian.
"Don't make such a fuss. It was just a bit of special power. At this level, it's within the acceptable range for a 'miracle'."
"A miracle? Oppa, fairies aren't mythical beings from legends. They really exist, but they're 'incarnations of nature' that follow a completely different path from humans!!"
Ah... my ears hurt...
Still, I owed Lilian a debt, so I had to listen.
"I see..."
Lilian was still passionately excited.
"Can mages use healing powers!? What about elves? Mermaids? Dwarves?"
"Don't barbarians have shamanism??"
"Strictly speaking, that's not true healing. It's more like amplifying the natural regenerative abilities you already have."
Oh, is that how it works?
Healing magic is typically the exclusive domain of 'priests' who wield divine power.
"Their mana is fused with the very life force of nature itself, unlike human mana. That's why it can replenish lost life, just like divine power!!"
"Hmm... Still sounds like a lesser version of divine power, doesn't it?"
Lilian snapped at my words.
"No! Divine power is limited to life and 'anti-magic'—it can't wield nature's power like fairies do! Magic that commands all natural elements versus magic restricted to light attributes! Which do you think is superior!? For a 'mage' like me, fairy mana is far more useful!"
Hmm... that makes sense when you put it that way.
She was saying it had way more versatility.
Lilian poked my arm with her quill as she continued.
"You're special, oppa! There are plenty of reported cases of half-elves, half-sirens, half-dwarves, but a half-fairy? Not a single one in academic history!"
That was news to me.
"Then why hasn't there ever been a reported fairy hybrid? Can't a barbarian and a fairy fall in love and have a kid?"
No sooner had I asked than Lilian's face flushed bright red, like it might explode.
She nearly dropped her parchment and waved her hands wildly in the air.
"Th-think about it logically! Biologically—no, physically—do you really think that's possible!?"
"Why not? Love knows no racial boundaries."
"It's not about race, it's the size difference! Fairies are no bigger than the palm of your hand at most! A tiny thing like that with a massive barbarian like you... b-b-breeding! How!? Physical contact isn't even feasible!! Our academy's magical biology professor said it's a physical barrier imposed by the Creator to keep fairy power in check!"
Lilian yelled with all her might, her face on the verge of bursting, then panted from exhaustion.
I too imagined Karack's hulking frame coupling with a palm-sized fairy after hearing her...
And quickly shook my head to banish the blasphemous thought.
It did seem impossible without a miracle forbidden even by the gods.
'So... how was I born?'
"Anyway... there's no doubt there's fairy mana inside you. Which means..."
Lilian's curiosity-filled eyes locked onto me.
"As a mage pursuing knowledge, I now have even more reason to stay with this tribe."
I chuckled and clicked my tongue.
"So that's what you were getting at? You just want to keep hanging out with us?"
Lilian shouted brightly.
"Yes! Of course! This is a discovery of the century—no, the dream of every mage! I won't leave the Grom Kel tribe until I uncover the secrets of Edel oppa! No, I could even die here with you all!"
I smirked.
"Just say you want to stick around. You've got a spot. Don't worry."
Lilian clenched her fist and thrust one arm high in the air.
"Yes!!"
What an oddball.
She muttered excitedly to herself.
"What do I report to the academy? Barba... nah, that's weird. Feba... yeah! Faebarbarian! Rolls right off the tongue!"
What the hell kind of name is that, like some race that beats people up...
Karack was a monster.
Maybe fairy mana really was a monstrous power.
The guy whose heart had stopped and who'd bled out everywhere opened his eyes wide after just half a day.
"...Kuhk!"
Karack gasped raggedly and tried to sit up.
I immediately pinned his shoulder down, slamming him back onto the bed.
"Stay still, you idiot. You just stared death in the face."
"D-death? What's that..."
"It exists."
Karack stared blankly at the ceiling, then slowly felt his chest.
The spot where Lilian had sutured and I'd infused with mana bore a massive scar, but the wound itself had healed miraculously.
He turned his head to look at me.
A spark lit in his eyes.
"...I should be dead. It wasn't a survivable wound. Did Kel Bark save me?"
I chuckled.
"I didn't do it alone. The doctor guy, Lilian, Aila, Lunia. And you didn't give up. That's why you're alive."
"..."
Karack silently gripped my hand tight.
A huge, rough, callused barbarian warrior's hand.
But the warmth radiating from it was hotter than ever.
"I... saw the tribe's ancestors. But I heard your voice. Telling me to come back, that you'd kill me if I died..."
"Heh, you heard that?"
A faint smile crept across Karack's lips.
"Kel Bark."
"What, man."
"I swear it once more. I'll fight for you until I die."
Crude words, but I understood Karack's sincerity better than anyone.
"Don't you dare die, or I'll chase you to hell and kill you again."
Karack chuckled.
"Is that so? Heh. Guess I can't even die on my terms then."
"Never die. Protect me without dying. I'll put the Grom Kel tribe at the top of the south."
"If it's Kel Bark, you can do it for sure. Fine. I swear it. I'll never die and protect Kel Bark. I'll become a heavier, bigger, stronger axe than any other and cleave down everyone who blocks Kel Bark's path."
Only then did I burst out laughing.
"Yeah, that's more like you."
At that moment, the infirmary door burst open, and Batu lumbered in carrying a huge basket of meat.
"Kel... Bark... food... uh...?"
Batu narrowed his eyes the moment he saw Karack's hand covering the back of mine.
Then he raised his massive hand and placed it over ours.
"Me... too... together..."
I chuckled and said,
"You know what this is about and still want in?"
"Don't... know... but... I'm... definitely... together..."
What crazy bastards.
How could I not like these guys?
Guess I'm a barbarian through and through to my bones.
Even if there's a bit of fairy mixed in.
"Yeah, we're together no matter what. In life or death."
Then Karack reached out to Batu.
"Hand over the food. I'm starving to death. Gotta eat before we head back to the tribe."
I tried to stop Karack with a dumbfounded look, but Batu's meat basket was already in his hands.
Crunch—
No, you madman. Who wakes up from the brink of death and starts chowing down on meat!?
But Karack gulped it down and said,
Munch munch—
Gulp—
"Not enough. Bring more."
"No... way... You go get it..."
"I'm the patient, idiot."
"Your head's... even dumber..."
"Wanna test me?"
"Right now... you'd... die..."
'Jeez. These guys are bickering too.'
Watching the two giants squabble finally let me breathe a sigh of relief.
Another half day passed.
But Hart Helm still hadn't returned.
It seemed to be taking quite a while to deal with the remnants of the Rokturan tribe and clean up the human sacrifice mess.
Good thing, too—I might've had a hassle sneaking out of the castle otherwise.
Since Karack had wolfed down the meat and truly regained his strength, we decided to leave before Hart Helm got back.
I looked at my tribesmen and shouted,
"Let's head home!"
I missed the oasis bathhouse.
Riding our dromas, we arrived at the Grom Kel village—and it was completely different from when I'd left.
"Whoa. What's all this? Why's it so packed!?"
Lilian gaped and muttered at my question.
"Whoa... there really are so many people!?"
Central continent folk and barbarians mingled in a bizarre scene.
Yet everyone's faces were filled with peace.
It was like a full-blown festival.
On top of the labor force we'd "plundered," refugees who'd fled from nearby Ayula Kingdom territories had heard the rumors and come flocking, creating total chaos.
Hammering echoed everywhere, and provisional tents stretched on endlessly.
It looked disorderly, yet somehow pulsed with strangely organized vitality.
At the center of the chaos was one woman moving the busiest.
A beauty with silver hair neatly swept back, rifling through stacks of documents with sharp eyes.
Dozens of tribesmen lined up around her, awaiting orders.
"Limit food distribution in sector 3 to family units! Tell the adult freeloaders to work for their meals! We're short on hands as it is! Grown asses expecting handouts—what handouts? Clinic? Tell 'em to get shaman treatment! Shamans have plenty of good healing arts. Sort the skilled ones separately and report! No! This should've been handled yesterday! Who's responsible? Bring 'em here now!"
A crisp, commanding voice full of authority.
As I approached, she snapped her head up.
"You, who are you?"
I narrowed my eyes and sized her up.
"Chief's back!!"
She greeted me warmly.
This unfamiliar yet familiar feeling.
"No way... Fox?"
She looked a bit disappointed that I'd guessed right away.
"Tch, too bad. Thought you'd be more surprised. That kid mage spilled it, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Still, let me introduce myself properly. Fox Silverdale, head of the Silver Fox Merchant Company."
Fox elegantly pinched the hem of her skirt and curtsied.
Her silver hair and intellectual air made her strikingly beautiful.
Batu, standing behind, tilted his head in confusion.
"Fox...? Wasn't... fat... guy...?"
"Magic, apparently. She's a real woman."
"Rea...lly...? Amazing..."
Fox seemed inwardly expectant of my thrilled reaction.
"Alright, keep up the good work. Looks like I can relax seeing how you're handling things."
Her eyes changed.
"...That's all?"
Fox's shoulders slumped.
"What, need more?"
She puffed her cheeks slightly.
"I nearly worked myself to death, you know! You dumped thousands of mouths to feed on me and vanished—I haven't slept a wink. Thought you'd praise me more!"
"Ah... right... Yeah, good job, Fox."
"More sincerely!"
Damn, nothing's easy.
But I'd be lost without Fox.
"Wow, you're an administrative genius. I'm impressed. And shocked you're a woman. You're pretty."
Praise makes even whales dance, they say.
Fox's expression softened subtly.
She casually sorted her documents as she spoke.
"Well, managing this many people is basics for an ex-merchant. I've housed the refugees and secured food for the tribe. No worries for a while."
Honestly, I was impressed.
Didn't expect it to be this organized.
I'd been racking my brain on the way back about what to do next, but Fox had solved it single-handedly.
"Thanks really, Fox. You've eased my mind. Since you worked hard, let's grab a drink when you're not busy. My treat."
She gritted her teeth but smiled faintly.
"You're probably tired, so I'll end the report here."
"Yeah... thanks."
As I walked away, Fox yelled at my back.
"And! Don't think a single drink cuts it. You're gonna pay big time."
Back at the tribe, we all collapsed like corpses.
Me, Karack, Batu—we slept for two straight days, only waking to eat.
On the morning of the third day,
I finally felt fully recovered.
My body felt light, my senses sharper than ever.
I immediately summoned Aila and Lunia.
In the shaman's tent deepest in the tribe.
On the cold stone table lay Araktu's left arm, preserved with a spell.
The blood had dried black, but the red tattoo's magic still pulsed within.
"Everything ready?"
Aila nodded at my question.
"Yeah, we can start anytime."
I grinned.
"Good..."
How much hell had I gone through to get this?
Time for a power-up.
"Call Karack and Batu."