New Power (1)
It looked like the bribe had worked wonders. The guards hadn't laid a finger on Balun for days now.
The guards knew exactly what Balun had done. They'd been swarming Viper territory for days, investigating nonstop, and quickly pinned it on him.
Not that it took much investigating. The truth came out fast enough on its own. Word had already spread like wildfire through the city.
—Some barbarian wiped out every last Viper thug!
That was the rumor buzzing around Milford. Balun hadn't even tried to cover it up, so it was only natural.
How could he? That fight had been a spectacle—explosions and all. No way it stayed quiet.
Maybe because of that, the stares aimed his way were downright blatant.
Inside the inn, Balun felt dozens of eyes boring into him as he shoved a hunk of bread soaked in stew into his mouth. Flour exploded across his tongue, but he barely tasted it. His nerves were elsewhere.
Should I buy a house for 100 gold?
After slipping Guard Captain Dane a whopping 10 gold bribe, Balun had poked around for a place of his own. Surprisingly, something fit his budget: a rundown shack on Milford's outskirts for exactly 100 gold.
The house was a dump. Cramped, shabby, barely any sunlight. Damp as hell, too. Rip up the floorboards, and it'd probably be crawling with bugs.
Disappointing as fuck, but beggars couldn't be choosers. Better than sleeping on the streets, right?
Plus, years with the barbarians had lowered his standards. He could tough it out in a shithole like that, no problem.
Was this it? His dream of homeownership, finally settling down in the city?
If so, he wouldn't be agonizing over it.
Is buying this place really smart? I'd be flat broke...
Balun might be clueless about the world, but he knew 100 gold was a fortune. Paying cash upfront for a pricey house like that? That was massive opportunity cost.
Hold off for now.
Decision made. No house. Or rather, deprioritize it. He had reasons.
Invest in myself instead. With that money, I could buy good gear, learn advanced combat skills...
After that last fight, Balun realized this world was way more dangerous than he'd thought. People here turned invisible, swung light blades, hurled magic. Magic especially—mind-blowingly bullshit. Fireballs, ice arrows, exploding corpses... What the hell?
Were these even humans? Superhumans, more like.
Strutting around dreaming of homeownership in a place like this? He'd end up screaming his last breath in no time.
He needed to get stronger. That cash had to go toward power.
But how?
All Balun knew was the axe training from the tribe. Grinding that harder wouldn't beat fireball-chucking freaks. Or invisible bastards.
He shook his head. No matter how he crunched it, the math didn't add up. Swinging axes all day couldn't touch snipers raining hell from afar. Or ghosts you couldn't see.
Impossible.
That was the modern Earthling take. Think about it: cold steel versus guns? No contest.
Screw it. I'll just learn magic myself.
That was Balun's conclusion. Learn magic.
Way better than a melee scrub. Rangers are OP—blast from range, stay safe.
Even in his past life, Balun always picked ranged DPS in games.
"Innkeep. Bill."
"Right away!"
Balun paid up and headed for the guard barracks.
As he approached, a guard on watch—legs propped up, yawning—spotted him and grinned.
"Hey, barbarian! Good to see ya!"
The same guy Balun had bribed with 1 gold before. Money talked, or maybe familiarity bred contempt. Either way, he was all smiles.
"What's up today?"
"Here for Dane."
"Go on in. He's around."
Inside, Dane lounged in a chair, waving him over.
"Well, if it isn't my pal Balun! How've you been? Missed you—got worried!"
He jumped up for a handshake. Balun gripped and shook, thinking:
Worried my ass.
Pure bullshit, plain as day. And it had only been two days—what worry?
"Dane. Got time?"
"Guards have time to burn. What can I do for you today?"
"Got questions. Can you answer?"
"For my dear friend? Anything. Sit!"
Balun sat. Dane poured water and handed it over. Balun chugged it.
"Even drinking water like a man. Warrior through and through."
"Flattery?"
"Nah, just impressed by my new buddy's manliness!"
Not me—my wallet looks manly.
Dude might as well ogle the pouch outright. No shame.
Dane's greed was blatant, but Balun didn't mind. Better a greedy pig in your face than a backstabber.
"Here about Viper? Relax—case closed. Reported to the lord. Bodies burned. No one's blaming you."
"Not that."
"Then something else I can help with. Spill it—anything in my power..."
"Know any mages?"
"What?"
"Introduce me to a mage. Strong one's good."
Dane shut his mouth, staring intently.
"No offense—just checking. You hunting mages for revenge?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"Gonna learn magic."
"...?"
Dane's eyes widened in confusion. He even stuttered.
"W-wait. Did I hear right? Learn magic? For real?"
"Yeah."
"You're serious?"
"Dead serious."
"You're nuts."
What the hell's that look?
Staring like he was some zoo monkey.
"You are a barbarian, right?"
"Yeah."
"Weird. Barbarians hate magic."
He muttered, then asked:
"One question. Answer honestly."
"Shoot."
"What do you think magic is?"
"Total bullshit. Hypocrite OP skill."
"Bull... what?"
"Balun melee. Swing axe. Whoosh. But mage? Magic pew-pew. Ranged DPS. Bullshit!"
Balun huffed, reliving the Viper fight. Fireballs, corpse bombs—he'd just dodged like a chump.
Furious just thinking about it. He should've had that OP shit!
Why didn't our tribe have bullshit like that?!
Balun cursed his origins. Born in a better place, he'd be pew-pewing magic. Stuck in barbarian hell, he was just an axe thug.
Dane, meanwhile, was baffled. What the fuck was this guy saying? Common tongue, but gibberish.
"Different angle: magic good or bad?"
"Good."
"Why?"
"'Cause it's good."
"Hmm."
Balun had no clue why the dumb questions. Shooting fireballs barehanded? Exploding shit? Obviously good.
"Don't think it's devil work?"
"Hell no."
What devil? Talk sense.
Not holding out on me, is he?
After 10 gold? He'd cleave the bastard's skull.
"Uh, bit thrown, but not impossible. World has weird barbarians like you."
Dane continued:
"Good you came to me. I'm the law here—know mages. Can hook you up. A big one."
"Great!"
Balun nodded, pleased.
"But conditions."
"What?"
"Young. Gotta be young."
"Young...?"
"Yeah. Older you start, harder it is. Average apprentice? Early teens. You... uh, look rough."
Dane eyed him up and down. Towering, jacked. Peak warrior bod.
"Gonna be tough..."
"Perfect! Balun young! Average age! Schoolkid!"
"What?"
Dane froze, replaying it. Eyes bulged.
"How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"...?"
Dane rubbed his ears. Sixteen? No way.
Then it hit: Balun's face was boyish. Muscles hid it, but yeah—teen features.
"Impossible."
Common sense shattered. How was that a teen body?
So a kid barely sixteen wiped out Viper, killed aura user Jackson, even a magic tower battle mage...?
Dane chuckled dryly. Too surreal. Human? Monster.
Why the hell learn magic? He could smash skulls without it. And he's just a kid—sixteen! Give him time...
One path to mastery beats splitting focus.
"Fine. Your call. I'll introduce you."
"Good!"
"But conditions."
"What now?"
"Mages are proud. Need serious sincerity to even glance your way. Get me?"
"Cut the crap."
Balun cut him off, voice ice-cold.
"You took big money. 10 gold. No more."
"You gotta earn it. Or my axe splits you."
He stroked the blade. Dane nodded hastily, feeling explosive killing intent from the kid.