Chapter 127: Karlstein (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 127: Karlstein (1)
Although Missha Karlstein was from a pureblood family, she was an adventurer with five years of experience who was treated as a stranger by her relatives because she had failed to form a contract with a Soul Beast.
Her father wants to see me, huh?
I had been expecting this to a certain extent. Through Missha, I now had a good grasp of how the Red Cat Tribe operated. "Why aren't you saying anything? What time do we need to go?"
"Uh... I-I don't think tomorrrow will work. I also need to prepare myself... And I have to let my father know in advance."
"What? What do you mean by that? You were the one who asked me to go tomorrow," I asked incredulously.
Missha averted her eyes, fidgeting with her hands. "Well... honestly, I didn't think you would agrrree so easily..."
"Which is why you asked me to go tomorrow?"
"Yeah, you said that's how you negotiate, rrright?"
I didn't know if I'd said that, but Missha's plan was effective in its own way. If I claimed I didn't have time tomorrow, she would've smoothly pretended to postpone the meeting to another day.
"Ugh, you always say you're busy everrry time I ask you to hang out. What whim are you acting on this time?"
"Your father is asking. Of course I should go meet with him."
"Huh? I-Is that so?" Missha averted her eyes at my made-up excuse. "Y-You're so... how can you say something so embarrrassing?"
Aren't you the one who said barbarians and beastpeople are pretty much family?
"When you set up the visit, let me know. Now leave. I need to sleep more. Oh, and don't come tomorrow. I have to head out early."
"What? You slept all day and you'rrre going to sleep again?"
"Keep it up and I won't go—"
"No! I won't bother you, get some rrrest!"
After Missha rushed out the door, I resumed my interrupted sleep. It was only after sleeping for a whopping thirty-six hours that I finally felt a bit refreshed.
Whew, I feel much better now.
In the future, I should refrain from using murderous intent. Anyway, after quickly washing up, I headed to the holy land, where the elder greeted me.
"Long time no see, Bjorn, son of Yandel."
Where did the chieftain go? Curious, I asked the elder, and the answer that I got in return was unexpected.
"The chieftain went into the city for business. He will probably be back tomorrow."
"The chieftain left the holy land? What a surprise."
"It's certainly out of the ordinary. If you have business with him, why not talk to some of the young warriors while you wait? You will be a good influence on them."
I kindly rejected the elder's enthusiastic offer. It wasn't bad being recognized as one of the barbarians' greatest prospects, but I had other business today. "Could you call for the shaman?"
After a brief wait, the shaman's apprentice came over to guide me to the tent. The bald-headed, wrinkly shaman was blowing smoke from the large pipe in his mouth.
"Kekeke, warrior, you're back. What talent you have." His voice sounded more high-pitched than usual today, and his speech was a little slurred, making him seem like some kind of druggie.
"Can I get the Spirit Imprint today?"
"If you have the money, kekeke."
I was just asking if you could do it while high...
I was inwardly worried, but I opened my wallet anyway.
Clink, clink.
Every time I handed over a one-million mana stone, a corner of my heart ached.
With this, I'm broke again.
The cost of receiving the fifth-level imprint was eight million stones. After paying that, only about seven hundred thousand stones remained in my hand. There were still two million stones left in the account I shared with Missha, but those funds were not for personal use.
"Warrior, one is missing."
"...I'm about to put it in."
Soon, the payment came to an end with one more mana stone worth five hundred thousand stones. Dang, I hoped that was enough.
I guess I can stop worrying about there being any mistakes during the imprint.
I lay down on the bed, focusing on the bright side as much as possible.
"Uhhh..."
"Keke, warrior! Scream louder!"
"Aaaaaah!"
Before long, a familiar pain overtook me.
[You have activated Immortality Imprint: Stage 5. Your Energy has increased significantly. Your Physique stat has increased by +30. Your Spirit stat has increased by +30.]
***
In Dungeon and Stone, Energy was an important stat. It didn't have a big effect on your combat power, but running out of stamina in battle left you incapacitated. The Energy Regeneration Auxiliary Scroll was even considered an essential consumable during hours-long raids.
I didn't expect it to be a useful stat in real life.
In the past, I had ended up pushing the limits of fatigue in the Witch's Forest. Just yesterday, I exhausted my mind and fell into a state of half-hibernation. That was why I felt the change in my body and mind more keenly.
"Keke, you look better than usual today."
Normally, I would have been half-dead by now, but today, the accumulated strain on my body and mind seemed to be less. I'd have to test it later, but I got the sense that I would be fine staying up for two nights thanks to this. Of course, if you asked me if these results were worth eight million stones, I would say definitely not.
...As expected, the cost-effectiveness of an imprint sucks.
In the mid-to-late stages of the game, stats were worth more than gold, but in the first half, buying equipment or essences with money was much more efficient. The way to shorten the timeline for building up your character was to improve as quickly as possible and earn enough money to take the next stage of the Imprint, which was why I'd originally planned to engrave just the first stage and leave it at that for a while. I didn't know I'd end up with Giantization so quickly.
Whew, but having gone all-in on the Imprint, there's now only one more stage left.
The dejection I felt from my decrease in wealth was short-lived. A feeling of pride bloomed in me again. The moment I engraved the sixth stage, I would be compensated for all the money I had invested several times over.
"Warrior, why are you zoning out? I'm tired, so get out of here."
After I sat there for a while, immersed in thought, the shaman ordered me to leave, so I left the tent. The day was getting dark. I checked in between the bushes as I walked just in case Ainar was waiting for me like last time.
"Can I get the Spirit Imprint today?"
"If you have the money, kekeke."
I was just asking if you could do it while high...
I was inwardly worried, but I opened my wallet anyway.
Clink, clink.
Every time I handed over a one-million mana stone, a corner of my heart ached.
With this, I'm broke again.
The cost of receiving the fifth-level imprint was eight million stones. After paying that, only about seven hundred thousand stones remained in my hand. There were still two million stones left in the account I shared with Missha, but those funds were not for personal use.
"Warrior, one is missing."
"...I'm about to put it in."
Soon, the payment came to an end with one more mana stone worth five hundred thousand stones. Dang, I hoped that was enough.
I guess I can stop worrying about there being any mistakes during the imprint.
I lay down on the bed, focusing on the bright side as much as possible.
"Uhhh..."
"Keke, warrior! Scream louder!"
"Aaaaaah!"
Before long, a familiar pain overtook me.
[You have activated Immortality Imprint: Stage 5. Your Energy has increased significantly. Your Physique stat has increased by +30. Your Spirit stat has increased by +30.]
***
In Dungeon and Stone, Energy was an important stat. It didn't have a big effect on your combat power, but running out of stamina in battle left you incapacitated. The Energy Regeneration Auxiliary Scroll was even considered an essential consumable during hours-long raids.
I didn't expect it to be a useful stat in real life.
In the past, I had ended up pushing the limits of fatigue in the Witch's Forest. Just yesterday, I exhausted my mind and fell into a state of half-hibernation. That was why I felt the change in my body and mind more keenly.
"Keke, you look better than usual today."
Normally, I would have been half-dead by now, but today, the accumulated strain on my body and mind seemed to be less. I'd have to test it later, but I got the sense that I would be fine staying up for two nights thanks to this. Of course, if you asked me if these results were worth eight million stones, I would say definitely not.
...As expected, the cost-effectiveness of an imprint sucks.
In the mid-to-late stages of the game, stats were worth more than gold, but in the first half, buying equipment or essences with money was much more efficient. The way to shorten the timeline for building up your character was to improve as quickly as possible and earn enough money to take the next stage of the Imprint, which was why I'd originally planned to engrave just the first stage and leave it at that for a while. I didn't know I'd end up with Giantization so quickly.
Whew, but having gone all-in on the Imprint, there's now only one more stage left.
The dejection I felt from my decrease in wealth was short-lived. A feeling of pride bloomed in me again. The moment I engraved the sixth stage, I would be compensated for all the money I had invested several times over.
"Warrior, why are you zoning out? I'm tired, so get out of here."
After I sat there for a while, immersed in thought, the shaman ordered me to leave, so I left the tent. The day was getting dark. I checked in between the bushes as I walked just in case Ainar was waiting for me like last time.
She's not here.
Even after I reached the edge of the city, Ainar was nowhere to be seen. Well, since her training was nearing its end, she was probably busy.
Come to think of it, there's only one month left.
As I walked down a street that was more deserted than usual, I smiled. Time went so fast, yet so slow. It seemed like just yesterday I was stepping on traps because I didn't have leather boots.
***
[Bjorn Yandel
Level: 4
Physique: 330 (New +30)
Spirit: 154 (New +30)
Special Ability: 128
Item Level: 868
General Combat Power: 941 (New +60)
Acquired Essences: Corpse Golem - Rank 7 / Vampire (B) - Rank 5 / Orc Hero - Rank 5
***
Three days later, Missha and I got on a large wagon heading to District Thirteen. That was because the beastpeople's holy grounds didn't border District Seven, where we lived.
"A-Are you thirrrsty? Do you want some water?"
"I'm fine."
"Hungry? Are you hungry yet? I brrrought a bunch of things just in case, do you want some?"
I laughed incredulously at Missha's anxiety. "Stop it. I'm not going to change my mind halfway there or anything."
"I'm just worried. It's going to be an uncomforrrtable place for you. You're going there because of me, so I should at least—"
"Never mind that. Wake me up when we get there."
"O-Okay... It takes about three hours, so get some rest."
Before she could bother me any further, I closed my eyes for an indeterminate amount of time. Just as she said, the carriage only reached its destination at noon.
A six-hour round trip... no wonder she spends the night there every time she goes.
If it were a straight trip it wouldn't have taken that long, but it took longer than expected because we had to go around District Fourteen, which prohibited people from passing through.
Well, that must be why she settled down here. She wants to be as far from home as possible.
"Bjorn, why are you just standing there? Are you tired? Do you want me to give you a piggyback rrride?"
"Hush, just take the lead."
"Okay!"
I followed Missha, who was arguably a local, and took a look at the streets around me. It wasn't much different from District Seven. It was just that the roads were a little more complicated, and there were a lot more beastpeople and dwarves.
"Okay, we've arrived."
All in all, the beastpeople's holy land was very different from that of the barbarians.
I heard that was the case, but I didn't expect it to be this different...
The holy land was located outside the city, but that was all they had in common. Instead of shacks or tents in the brush, there were mostly stone buildings and even roads in between them.
"Dad, there's a barbarian. A barbarian!"
In addition, there were open shops and a number of families walking down the streets, implying they lived here instead of in the city.
She's not here.
Even after I reached the edge of the city, Ainar was nowhere to be seen. Well, since her training was nearing its end, she was probably busy.
Come to think of it, there's only one month left.
As I walked down a street that was more deserted than usual, I smiled. Time went so fast, yet so slow. It seemed like just yesterday I was stepping on traps because I didn't have leather boots.
***
[Bjorn Yandel
Level: 4
Physique: 330 (New +30)
Spirit: 154 (New +30)
Special Ability: 128
Item Level: 868
General Combat Power: 941 (New +60)
Acquired Essences: Corpse Golem - Rank 7 / Vampire (B) - Rank 5 / Orc Hero - Rank 5
***
Three days later, Missha and I got on a large wagon heading to District Thirteen. That was because the beastpeople's holy grounds didn't border District Seven, where we lived.
"A-Are you thirrrsty? Do you want some water?"
"I'm fine."
"Hungry? Are you hungry yet? I brrrought a bunch of things just in case, do you want some?"
I laughed incredulously at Missha's anxiety. "Stop it. I'm not going to change my mind halfway there or anything."
"I'm just worried. It's going to be an uncomforrrtable place for you. You're going there because of me, so I should at least—"
"Never mind that. Wake me up when we get there."
"O-Okay... It takes about three hours, so get some rest."
Before she could bother me any further, I closed my eyes for an indeterminate amount of time. Just as she said, the carriage only reached its destination at noon.
A six-hour round trip... no wonder she spends the night there every time she goes.
If it were a straight trip it wouldn't have taken that long, but it took longer than expected because we had to go around District Fourteen, which prohibited people from passing through.
Well, that must be why she settled down here. She wants to be as far from home as possible.
"Bjorn, why are you just standing there? Are you tired? Do you want me to give you a piggyback rrride?"
"Hush, just take the lead."
"Okay!"
I followed Missha, who was arguably a local, and took a look at the streets around me. It wasn't much different from District Seven. It was just that the roads were a little more complicated, and there were a lot more beastpeople and dwarves.
"Okay, we've arrived."
All in all, the beastpeople's holy land was very different from that of the barbarians.
I heard that was the case, but I didn't expect it to be this different...
The holy land was located outside the city, but that was all they had in common. Instead of shacks or tents in the brush, there were mostly stone buildings and even roads in between them.
"Dad, there's a barbarian. A barbarian!"
In addition, there were open shops and a number of families walking down the streets, implying they lived here instead of in the city.
We all got kicked out when we became adults...
The holy land of the beastpeople was literally like a village outside the city. I guess I must have looked strange just blankly taking it all in.
"What's wrong...? Is something wrrrong? Even if there is, you can't go back now!"
"...It's just fascinating."
"Huh? Fascinating?" Missha tilted her head in confusion.
There were many things I wanted to say, but I kept quiet. Venting about the barbarians' poor living conditions would just be rubbing salt in my own wound. So I just asked, "Are all holy lands like this?"
"Uh, I don't know what you mean..."
"Shouldn't beastpeople be raising livestock in the forest or something?"
In fact, that was how their holy land had looked in the game, so maybe that had been the case 150 years ago?
"Ah, uh, I think I hearrrd that people used to live that way to preserve our traditions... But that was so long ago, I don't know much about it."
"I see..." Huh, why were barbarians the only ones who had stayed the same? As I walked down the street, fighting back my displeasure, a huge mansion appeared in front of us.
"This is my house."
Goddamn it. Our chief still sleeps in a tent.
As soon as I let out a big sigh, Missha took another moment to study me. "Y-You don't have to be nervous. Nothing will happen. You'rrre Little Balkan, Bjorn, son of Yandel, rrright? My father likes famous adventurers. Hmm?" Missha made an attempt to reassure me, but it was clear that she was the one who was worried.
"You should calm yourself. We're at your house, why are you nervous?"
"Huh? I-I'm perfectly fine?"
"Then open the door. How long are we going to stand here?"
At my words, Missha steadied her breathing and rang the bell to call for a servant. "Um, I want to come inside. Can you open the doorrr?"
The servant didn't say anything in response to Missha's request. He spared her a single glance, then opened the door and left.
The heck?
It was a very strange sight. Missha was no longer in her half-wit era.
I'm pretty sure her father knows about her signing a contract with a Soul Beast, right?
I unwittingly glanced at Missha and our eyes met, as she was also observing me. The emotion in her eyes was familiar to me. My ex-girlfriend often gave me this look when I discovered something that she wanted to keep secret.
"Um... you know, Bjorrrn. There's something I haven't told you yet."
"Tell me quickly."
Missha gulped at my words and proceeded with caution. "My father is the only one who knows that I signed a contrrract with the Soul Beast. So no matter what happens inside, don't get angry. Got it?"
"That depends on what happens inside."
"It's really no big deal. That person just now was just a little harsh."
"Tell me more. Shouldn't I know more to respond accordingly?"
Missha hesitated for a moment but then, with a resigned look on her face, told me about her brothers' verbal abuse, the bullying under the guise of joking around, and the servants whispering behind her back when she could hear. None of it was horrible, but I figured it was because she'd picked out only the mildest incidents to tell me about. It must have been much worse in reality.
"Oh, of courrrse, no one will do that to you. So don't worry too much about—"
For some reason, my lips curled like they had a mind of their own.
"B-Bjorn? Why are you smiling? D-Don't smile. You look scarrry like that... This'll all stop once my father rrreveals the truth about my contract later. I-I just need to be patient for a little longer."
Missha uneasily mentioned her father, but I felt that he was the biggest problem. The man who was supposed to be her father was still neglecting her despite knowing the truth. Regardless of whether there was a valid reason behind that silence, he was letting his child suffer for his own selfishness. Yet he dared call me to his home?
He must really take me for shit.
Suddenly, I felt a shady malice from this huge mansion, like I was looking at a dungeon full of monsters. Was that why?
"Behelahhh!" The shout came to me out of nowhere.
At that exact moment, the servant who had disappeared without even a glance reappeared. "What are you doing, barbarian?! Mind your manners!"
"Manners, huh?" I approached him, mulling that over. "There must be something wrong with your head."
After all, where in the world was there a barbarian who was polite to his enemies?
We all got kicked out when we became adults...
The holy land of the beastpeople was literally like a village outside the city. I guess I must have looked strange just blankly taking it all in.
"What's wrong...? Is something wrrrong? Even if there is, you can't go back now!"
"...It's just fascinating."
"Huh? Fascinating?" Missha tilted her head in confusion.
There were many things I wanted to say, but I kept quiet. Venting about the barbarians' poor living conditions would just be rubbing salt in my own wound. So I just asked, "Are all holy lands like this?"
"Uh, I don't know what you mean..."
"Shouldn't beastpeople be raising livestock in the forest or something?"
In fact, that was how their holy land had looked in the game, so maybe that had been the case 150 years ago?
"Ah, uh, I think I hearrrd that people used to live that way to preserve our traditions... But that was so long ago, I don't know much about it."
"I see..." Huh, why were barbarians the only ones who had stayed the same? As I walked down the street, fighting back my displeasure, a huge mansion appeared in front of us.
"This is my house."
Goddamn it. Our chief still sleeps in a tent.
As soon as I let out a big sigh, Missha took another moment to study me. "Y-You don't have to be nervous. Nothing will happen. You'rrre Little Balkan, Bjorn, son of Yandel, rrright? My father likes famous adventurers. Hmm?" Missha made an attempt to reassure me, but it was clear that she was the one who was worried.
"You should calm yourself. We're at your house, why are you nervous?"
"Huh? I-I'm perfectly fine?"
"Then open the door. How long are we going to stand here?"
At my words, Missha steadied her breathing and rang the bell to call for a servant. "Um, I want to come inside. Can you open the doorrr?"
The servant didn't say anything in response to Missha's request. He spared her a single glance, then opened the door and left.
The heck?
It was a very strange sight. Missha was no longer in her half-wit era.
I'm pretty sure her father knows about her signing a contract with a Soul Beast, right?
I unwittingly glanced at Missha and our eyes met, as she was also observing me. The emotion in her eyes was familiar to me. My ex-girlfriend often gave me this look when I discovered something that she wanted to keep secret.
"Um... you know, Bjorrrn. There's something I haven't told you yet."
"Tell me quickly."
Missha gulped at my words and proceeded with caution. "My father is the only one who knows that I signed a contrrract with the Soul Beast. So no matter what happens inside, don't get angry. Got it?"
"That depends on what happens inside."
"It's really no big deal. That person just now was just a little harsh."
"Tell me more. Shouldn't I know more to respond accordingly?"
Missha hesitated for a moment but then, with a resigned look on her face, told me about her brothers' verbal abuse, the bullying under the guise of joking around, and the servants whispering behind her back when she could hear. None of it was horrible, but I figured it was because she'd picked out only the mildest incidents to tell me about. It must have been much worse in reality.
"Oh, of courrrse, no one will do that to you. So don't worry too much about—"
For some reason, my lips curled like they had a mind of their own.
"B-Bjorn? Why are you smiling? D-Don't smile. You look scarrry like that... This'll all stop once my father rrreveals the truth about my contract later. I-I just need to be patient for a little longer."
Missha uneasily mentioned her father, but I felt that he was the biggest problem. The man who was supposed to be her father was still neglecting her despite knowing the truth. Regardless of whether there was a valid reason behind that silence, he was letting his child suffer for his own selfishness. Yet he dared call me to his home?
He must really take me for shit.
Suddenly, I felt a shady malice from this huge mansion, like I was looking at a dungeon full of monsters. Was that why?
"Behelahhh!" The shout came to me out of nowhere.
At that exact moment, the servant who had disappeared without even a glance reappeared. "What are you doing, barbarian?! Mind your manners!"
"Manners, huh?" I approached him, mulling that over. "There must be something wrong with your head."
After all, where in the world was there a barbarian who was polite to his enemies?