Finally, the Civilized World
As soon as Balun stepped out of the carriage, he felt every eye in the area snap straight to him. Not just the two guards, but all the people trying to enter the castle and the passersby too.
From those stares, Balun instinctively knew his civilized life ahead wouldn't be smooth sailing. He could sense curiosity in their gazes.
But that curiosity didn't feel entirely positive. No matter how he thought about it, that was the case. Why else would they stare like that? Like they were gawking at a monkey in a zoo?
"Balun, sir. Why did you come out? I told you to wait inside without showing yourself..."
"That Ironclad warrior, I told him about you."
"W-well, yes, but..."
"Problem happened. Balun fixes it."
At those words, Barrel's face turned pale.
"No, there's no need for you to do that. We've already received so much help—how could we burden you with something this trivial? Please, go back inside for now. I'll handle everything. Okay?"
Barrel flashed an awkward smile and tried to push Balun back into the carriage. Since Barrel insisted so strongly, Balun was about to quietly comply. Whatever the situation, if the guy said he'd handle it himself, no need to butt in, right?
Balun wasn't the type to take unnecessary risks. He didn't need to deal with the hassle of whatever squabble this was, so he turned to climb back in.
If it weren't for the guard's words that followed right then.
"Using honorifics with a barbarian? What kind of fucking bullshit is this? Ha, unbelievable."
"He's a barbarian, sure, but a very skilled and polite one. He helped us a ton on this trade trip. He won't cause any trouble in the city, so..."
"Cut the nonsense and get lost."
Balun froze mid-step as he was about to lift his leg into the carriage. He naturally turned his head to look at the guard, who was glaring back and forth between him and Barrel.
Then their eyes met.
"What're you glaring at?"
"..."
"Hey, barbarian. I said, what're you glaring at? Got a problem or... Hmph!"
The guard flinched mid-sentence. Balun had stopped entering the carriage, pulled his body back out, and was striding right toward him.
"Balun, sir! Please, just listen to me and stay put, okay?"
"Problem happened. Balun fixes it."
Barrel tried to stop him, but Balun was adamant. It was obvious Barrel couldn't resolve this squabble. Even with that low posture, they weren't buying it.
No, a merchant lacking that kind of street smarts? Tsk tsk tsk.
Balun, proudly carrying the soul and spirit of a 21st-century Korean man. He wanted to show Barrel that passing inspections wasn't done like that.
As Balun approached, the guard's face hardened. The overwhelming pressure from that massive frame was intense. It didn't feel like facing a person at all—like coming across a bear or tiger.
Soon, Balun was right in his face. The guard, thoroughly cowed, aimed his spear with a trembling voice.
"Wh-what do you want? What're you gonna do, huh?"
"Follow me."
"What?"
"Secret talk."
"Huh?"
The guard's expression turned bewildered. Secret talk? What kind of nonsense was this?
"Too many people. Can't do secret talk."
"What bullshit is this? You crazy barbarian fuck..."
The guard's words cut off. Because of what Balun did next.
Suddenly, Balun fumbled at his pants and belt. Like he was searching for something. And handily enough, his hand brushed the hand axe hanging from his side belt.
There was a leather pouch next to it that looked just like a coin purse, but the guard didn't notice it. He didn't even register it.
A barbarian glaring with bulging eyes while fiddling with a hand axe. What else could that mean?
This cra, crazy bastard. If I don't follow, he'll kill me...
"Come. Secret talk."
Their eyes met. The moment he thought those eyes resembled a beast's, a chill ran down the guard's spine. Cold sweat poured down. His legs shook uncontrollably.
Balun's flawless muscular body filled his vision, those arms as thick as a slender woman's waist.
The guard's mind raced. Stab with the spear? Would it even penetrate? Would his skull shatter from that hand axe first, or would his spear pierce that thick torso first?
"Don't want?"
"Uh, th-that's..."
The guard's eyes darted. He considered every option, but the conclusion was one: rebellion, calling for backup, anything—the axe would smash his skull first.
"I-I'll go."
"Good. Follow."
Balun nodded in satisfaction and turned. The guard was late because he was whispering with his fellow guard. Something about "you sure?", "I'll be fine, you guard the gate", "blow the horn if it's dangerous". Balun caught bits of it.
Balun walked for about two minutes, confirmed no one was around, and stopped. Then he opened the leather pouch on his belt, rummaged, and pulled out a few silver coins.
"Take."
"Uh, huh?"
"Give you."
"Money...?"
Caught off guard, the guard blinked. Giving money? A barbarian?
"Y-you bastard. What're you scheming?"
"Balun good warrior. Give gift. Pass. No problem. Happy inspection!"
"Wh-what?"
The guard couldn't make sense of it. But one thing was clear: this barbarian was threatening him.
If I don't take this money, he'll kill me.
His vision spun. He didn't know where this bastard learned to threaten like this, but it was terrifying.
"Th-think I'll obey you just like that?"
"Don't want?"
"I-I won't bow to something like this!"
"Is that so."
Balun nodded easily and pulled out a few more silver coins from the pouch.
"Give more."
"Y-you bastard."
"Greed too much, belly explodes and die."
The guard couldn't bluff anymore. Refusing this would mean getting his belly burst open.
Time to quit and let them pass. With a sullen expression, he took the money. Maybe this barbarian was showing mercy. What barbarian acts like this?
"Good now? Let in?"
"Yeah. Of c-course."
"Good. Good guard!"
Balun smiled and headed back to the gate. The guard followed. He tried to act casual, but his shaking legs betrayed him.
"Balun, sir. How on earth did you convince the gate guard?"
"Gave gift."
"Pardon?"
"Money works. Very easy."
Barrel couldn't believe Balun's answer even after hearing it. So he bribed him? A barbarian?
Not a threat?
They were already inside the city, but the guard's terrified face was still fresh. Suspicious, but he decided not to pry. No need to upset Balun.
"Anyway, Balun, sir. Thank you. Truly. I don't know how to repay this kindness. I'm serious."
"We traded. I protect you, you give Balun money."
"Ah, true. But I'm still grateful. Without you, we would've been... ugh."
Barrel wiped tears from his eyes. Looking back, he owed his life multiple times. Money or not.
"We can't do much now, but someday I'll repay you. For real."
"Not done yet."
"Pardon?"
"Change spoils money."
"Oh, right."
Barrel scratched his head. Forgot they still had unfinished business.
"Sorry. Settlement pending."
"Take all money."
"Yes. Of course."
What an unusual barbarian. So precise with accounts. Other barbarians he'd seen weren't like this.
"Let's rest first. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Haha, good. I'll guide you to the inn. Follow me!"
Balun followed Barrel to the inn. It was a two-story building: first floor restaurant, second rooms.
"Welcome! Sunset Night In... Gah!"
The waitress startled mid-greeting upon seeing Balun. His huge build and primitive clothes were impossible to miss.
"Room?"
"Y-yes! We have!"
"Good. Give best. Note we traveled far, very tired."
"Yes!"
Barrel handled booking. Groups shared two or three to a room, but Balun got a solo double room. Barrel's consideration.
"Rest. I'll sell your spoils and convert to cash."
"Got it."
"Want to come?"
"No. Balun rests."
"Understood. Then I'll..."
"Cheat, die."
"Pardon?"
"Balun needs much money."
"Eek! Y-yes!"
Balun unpacked and surveyed the room. Crappy: two hard wooden beds stuffed with straw, crudely covered. But to Balun, paradise.
Compared to Red Fang Tribe's shack huts, this was luxury hotel.
Heart pounding, Balun dove onto the bed. Not as soft as imagined, but cushiony. That alone thrilled him.
"Kya! This is it!"
His chest swelled. Yes, this. Artificial comfort, not natural. Civilization.
Medieval fantasy world? Whatever. Better than Red Fang.
Balun's standards had plummeted over 16 years.
This inn doesn't feel medieval? Heard no room divisions back then.
Balun shrugged. Shallow history knowledge said so, but whatever. Not Earth—don't expect Earth vibes.
World with monsters, totally different.
Balun napped on the bed, then went downstairs for food. Barrel, back from errands, had ordered: steaming bread, cheese hunk, meat stew.
He devoured it ravenously. Delicious. Tear-jerkingly so. Modern tastes would find it lacking, but his palate had changed. 16 years with barbarians...
"Glad you're eating well."
"Ate good. Thanks to you."
"My doing? Sorry I can't offer more."
Balun patted his full belly, feeling stares from all sides. Guests stared silently, obviously aware.
Barrel noticed too, glanced around, then whispered.
"Heard rumors: some barbarians—no, barbarians—caused trouble nearby. Probably why they didn't want to let you in. Be careful. People already eyeing you."
"Know."
"Pardon?"
"Ironclads all stare Balun. Not good eyes."
Balun whipped his head side to side. People who'd been staring looked away. Some coughed awkwardly or focused on food/drink, but others kept eyeing him.
Not weird per se. Outsiders draw looks. Curious.
But they don't emit killing intent at outsiders.
Ha, fuck. Bad feeling.
Balun scratched his nape. Bad feeling meant bad shit coming. Attack, ambush, etc.
Not mere hunch. Body's warning.
Balun mobilized for hunts/wars since kid, fought death daily. Gained threat-sensing instinct. Especially killing intent—his specialty. Why he survived countless tribal wars.
That ability triggered now. Skin prickling. Pure hostility.
Planned two months here. Gotta go elsewhere?
Other barbarians would fight threats. Balun? Nah.
Why fight? Avoid.
Tribe forced fights; not now.
Balun decided to leave the city.
Quickly sell bandit boss head for bounty, tag along with Barrel to another city.
He stood.
"Where to?"
"Sell head."
"Pardon?"
"Sell bandit boss head, get money."
Head stank badly from sack. Had to offload quick for bounty.
"Ah, mercenary guild. Guide you?"
"No. Heard earlier. Big building north, mercenary guild."
"Got it. Safe travels."
Balun went upstairs, grabbed sack with head, left inn. Headed to mercenary guild.
Bit far from south gate inn; long walk.
Balun sightseeing en route.
Streets surprisingly well-paved. Sidewalks dirty though...
About 15 minutes in. Walking main road, turned into narrow alley.
Sudden unease hit Balun.
Hm?
This feeling—like blind arrow aimed at his nape...
Instinctively twisted.
Huge net whooshed past, grazing him.
Balun startled. Sudden net?
No, how's a net flying that fast?
Shot from gun?
But no guns here.
"Fuck, can't aim right?"
"D-didn't think he'd dodge like that."
"Dumbass. Coulda nabbed him first shot. Useless."
Voices followed; people approached from front/back. Armed. Mischievous grins.
Balun sighed seeing their faces.
Shit luck, really.
City arrival, immediately life threatened?