Chapter 495: Declaration of War (6)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 495: Declaration of War (6)

After over ten years of suffering, the barbarians had declared war.

Everyone—the wizards, the citizens who filled the square, and the knights of Mozlan—went wide-eyed at my declaration, their jaws dropping to the floor. Each one of them wore identical, dumbfounded expressions like they couldn't believe their ears.

The old wizard, who looked equally as gobsmacked, barely managed to regain his composure. "...That word is far too heavy to throw around jokingly."

Jokingly... Well, denial is a natural reaction to shocking news.

I didn't even bother responding to him, instead standing there silently. Even the barbarians behind me needed some time to process as well—specifically about three seconds.

"...W-War!"

The moment a warrior near the back shouted, a powerful roar rippled through the rest of the barbarians.

"It's waaar!"

"Everyone grab your weapons!"

"Behel—aaaaaah!"

As more than a thousand barbarian warriors let out war cries, the wizards guarding the tower began to visibly panic, and I was not ignorant as to why. It'd be absurd to compare a barbarian's physical strength to the sheer combat power of a wizard and their magic, but...

Visual marketing was a beast of its own.

"Raaah!"

"Wooh! Wooh! Wooh!"

It would be stranger if they weren't scared of the sight of a bunch of massive, muscular barbarians causing a commotion and threatening to charge them at any given moment.

"Old man." I took a big step forward, toward the hundred-strong group of wizards. "Do you still think I was joking?"

He just blinked at me, his expression shuttered and blank.

He was only human, after all.

Step.

When I took one more large step forward, the knights of Mozlan came running. "B-Baron Yandel! You can't do this!"

So they finally remembered what their jobs were after getting caught up in the excited fervor radiating off of the barbarian warriors.

"H-How could you declare a war?! F-For now, how about we try to talk this through? For the sake of the royal family—!"

Despite how flustered he clearly was, the captain's choice of words worked out for me. If he had used the royal family's name to straight-up threaten us into not causing trouble, I would have lost a lot of ground.

"Talk..."

"Yes! I'm sure we can reach an agreement if we talk this through! After all, both the Magic Tower and barbarians are pillars that help protect this city, right...?"

At the knight's plea to delay any acts of warfare, I pretended to consider his suggestion and then nodded my head. "Okay!"

"R-Really?!"

Yeah, I think that was enough for a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠show of force.

I didn't have any intention of fighting the Magic Tower like this in the first place. Garnering the attention of everyone in the city was enough. After all, if we were to fight them right now, we'd look like the villains.

"Lewin Pastolm of the Egatil School!" So, after agreeing to diplomatic negotiations, I began calling out names one by one. "Lurendel Lungonerde of the Hulbunt School! Odwick Berthev of the Ulters School! Elenel Dwaynaine of the Galatir School!" Each name was of a wizard associated with the Magic Tower. The citizens hung on my every word, clearly wondering what was happening. "Toles Elin from the Ebound School! Ukla Tragic from the Ornstalt School!"

I continued until I'd rattled off the names of twenty-one people. Then, when I finished, I asked the old wizard, "Old man, do you know who these people are?"

"Of course. Most of them are great young wizards that will lead the next generation."

"No, you're wrong," I asserted, shaking my head. "These people are wizards who made illegal commissions for the hearts of barbarians through the black market!"

In any war, what mattered most was the cause you were fighting for.

"I see! So that's why the barbarians stormed the Magic Tower!"

"I heard he rescued some slaves from the black market. That must have been when he got that information!"

The bystanders finally began to nod their heads in agreement, now understanding why we had come all the way here. Most of them agreed that we were in the right and that they would have done the same in our position.

But I wouldn't have gone this far if I was just going to stop there.

An appetizer was only an appetizer, after all. It could never be the main course.

"Lurendel Garlinbarret, Master of the Tritten School," I announced one final name, my eyes never once leaving the old wizard's. "Do you know who that is?"

She didn't answer, much like someone whose lawyer had advised them to remain silent. Well, that wouldn't stop the truth from coming out.

"She is another traitor who made a commission through the black market. But she's no different from the rest. She asked for my heart."

I dropped that bombshell without a moment's hesitation. Putting in a request for the heart of a particular person was a completely different beast than simply trying to buy any old barbarian's heart. It was tantamount to hiring an assassin.

"...Sir Gwollen, if this is true, not only will this woman be hanged, but the Magic Tower will also be held responsible for her actions."

The Knights, who had been trying to stop me this entire time, suddenly changed their tune and began to question the old man. These were knights who worked for Mozlan, and Mozlan was a group that was made to protect the aristocracy, not wizards.

"...We do not know anything for sure yet. But I swear to you that the Magic Tower will investigate and that if this is true, we shall prosecute those involved to the fullest extent of our strict regulations."

The old wizard tried to weasel his way out of this mess by making a vague promise that acknowledged the seriousness of the matter while also making it clear that he felt Mozlan didn't have the authority to get involved.

I, of course, didn't have to worry about any of that. "The Magic Tower is already under suspicion of working with those black market traitors. Even if you did your own investigation, we wouldn't be able to trust it."

"...But the reverse is true in that these accusations are entirely derived from your testimony, Your Lordship. That is not how we run things here. It's not like there's any evidence, now, is there?"

"Evidence..."

Yeah, I expected him to say something like that.

It was time to whip out the biggest trump card I could play as a barbarian.

"I swear as the chieftain of the barbarians, a baron of Rafdonia, and on my name of Bjorn, son of Yandel, that everything I have said here today is the truth!"

It was an empty oath, but it was more than enough to convince the crowd.

"He must be quite confident to make a declaration like that in front of all these people."

I continued until I'd rattled off the names of twenty-one people. Then, when I finished, I asked the old wizard, "Old man, do you know who these people are?"

"Of course. Most of them are great young wizards that will lead the next generation."

"No, you're wrong," I asserted, shaking my head. "These ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠people are wizards who made illegal commissions for the hearts of barbarians through the black market!"

In any war, what mattered most was the cause you were fighting for.

"I see! So that's why the barbarians stormed the Magic Tower!"

"I heard he rescued some slaves from the black market. That must have been when he got that information!"

The bystanders finally began to nod their heads in agreement, now understanding why we had come all the way here. Most of them agreed that we were in the right and that they would have done the same in our position.

But I wouldn't have gone this far if I was just going to stop there.

An appetizer was only an appetizer, after all. It could never be the main course.

"Lurendel Garlinbarret, Master of the Tritten School," I announced one final name, my eyes never once leaving the old wizard's. "Do you know who that is?"

She didn't answer, much like someone whose lawyer had advised them to remain silent. Well, that wouldn't stop the truth from coming out.

"She is another traitor who made a commission through the black market. But she's no different from the rest. She asked for my heart."

I dropped that bombshell without a moment's hesitation. Putting in a request for the heart of a particular person was a completely different beast than simply trying to buy any old barbarian's heart. It was tantamount to hiring an assassin.

"...Sir Gwollen, if this is true, not only will this woman be hanged, but the Magic Tower will also be held responsible for her actions."

The Knights, who had been trying to stop me this entire time, suddenly changed their tune and began to question the old man. These were knights who worked for Mozlan, and Mozlan was a group that was made to protect the aristocracy, not wizards.

"...We do not know anything for sure yet. But I swear to you that the Magic Tower will investigate and that if this is true, we shall prosecute those involved to the fullest extent of our strict regulations."

The old wizard tried to weasel his way out of this mess by making a vague promise that acknowledged the seriousness of the matter while also making it clear that he felt Mozlan didn't have the authority to get involved.

I, of course, didn't have to worry about any of that. "The Magic Tower is already under suspicion of working with those black market traitors. Even if you did your own investigation, we wouldn't be able to trust it."

"...But the reverse is true in that these accusations are entirely derived from your testimony, Your Lordship. That is not how we run things here. It's not like there's any evidence, now, is there?"

"Evidence..."

Yeah, I expected him to say something like that.

It was time to whip out the biggest trump card I could play as a barbarian.

"I swear as the chieftain of the barbarians, a baron of Rafdonia, and on my name of Bjorn, son of Yandel, that everything I have said here today is the truth!"

It was an empty oath, but it was more than enough to convince the crowd.

"He must be quite confident to make a declaration like that in front of all these people."

"Just listen to all that. There's no way the baron could be lying."

"Dirty wizards! How dare they try to hurt Baron Yandel!"

"Bring out the criminals and punish them!"

My past heroic achievements gave more weight to my name, and this effect was only bolstered further by the favorable impression the city had of me. Most important of all, however, was that my actions today were backed by a just cause. That was more than enough to sway public opinion in my favor.

"Sir Gwollen, given the nature of the baron's accusations, you are going to have to answer to us as well."

"Didn't I already tell you? We will be conducting our own investigation."

"That is your choice to make, but are you sure that is how you want to go about this? If you just summon the relevant parties now, we can end this without further escalation."

The old wizard didn't dignify that with a response.

"My guess is that come evening, the higher-ups will approve an investigation by us, Mozlan, into the wizards of the Magic Tower. As you know, conspiracy to assassinate a noble is a serious charge. Is that what you really want?"

Once Mozlan had the green light, the Magic Tower would be thoroughly investigated and rendered unable to cover up whatever skeletons might be found in the process. There was surely more illicit activity lurking in the dark corners of that tower.

However, the old wizard flat-out rejected the offer. "I thank you for your consideration, but you needn't worry. We will take care of this issue on our own."

"You're treading a dangerous path. All you have to do is call them out here so we can question them. Wouldn't that be much easier?"

Despite the knight's convincing argument, the old wizard exercised his right to remain silent. That alone was enough to seal the opinion of the public. Sometimes, silence was answer enough.

"Those dirty wizards! I knew it!"

"How dare you try and cover for people who tried to harm the baron?!"

Now, public opinion was firmly in our favor. The Magic Tower was inherently evil and the barbarians' rage was justified. If that old man had simply ordered the wizards I mentioned earlier to step forward and submit to questioning, things would have never gotten to this point.

Still, if nothing's done today, then they'll simply bribe their way out of this mess or cover their tracks one way or another.

Thanks to the old wizard's pigheadedness, however, I was able to take things a step further.

"Listen to the upstanding citizens of this city who believe in equal opportunity and the pursuit of justice!" The crowd, who had been heckling and cursing the Magic Tower's wizards, suddenly went quiet as I spoke. It was time to use their discontent to my utmost advantage. "The wizards ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the Magic Tower, who have fallen from grace, have no intention of admitting their sins! They're desperate to protect their own! The wizards I named need only be called out from their labs and checked to see if they are truly innocent! But since they refuse such an easy request, that's proof that they have done wrong! Isn't that right?!"

"That's right!"

I pushed the idea that we were on the side of justice once more. "They will probably destroy the evidence as soon as we leave or brazenly fabricate the results of their investigation. We've seen it happen countless times before, haven't we?"

"That's right!"

I continued to stoke the anger that had been smoldering deep in the hearts of this city's citizens. "However, I no longer intend to sit helplessly on the sidelines as these criminals walk free."

"Just listen to all that. There's no way the baron could be lying."

"Dirty wizards! How dare they try to hurt Baron Yandel!"

"Bring out the criminals and punish them!"

My past heroic achievements gave more weight to my name, and this effect was only bolstered further by the favorable impression the city had of me. Most important of all, however, was that my actions today were backed by a just cause. That was more than enough to sway public opinion in my favor.

"Sir Gwollen, given the nature of the baron's accusations, you are going to have to answer to us as well."

"Didn't I already tell you? We will be conducting our own investigation."

"That is your choice to make, but are you sure that is how you want to go about this? If you just summon the relevant parties now, we can end this without further escalation."

The old wizard didn't dignify that with a response.

"My guess is that come evening, the higher-ups will approve an investigation by us, Mozlan, into the wizards of the Magic Tower. As you know, conspiracy to assassinate a noble is a serious charge. Is that what you really want?"

Once Mozlan had the green light, the Magic Tower would be thoroughly investigated and rendered unable to cover up whatever skeletons might be found in the process. There was surely more illicit activity lurking in the dark corners of that tower.

However, the old wizard flat-out rejected the offer. "I thank you for your consideration, but you needn't worry. We will take care of this issue on our own."

"You're treading a dangerous path. All you have to do is call them out here so we can question them. Wouldn't that be much easier?"

Despite the knight's convincing argument, the old wizard exercised his right to remain silent. That alone was enough to seal the opinion of the public. Sometimes, silence was answer enough.

"Those dirty wizards! I knew it!"

"How dare you try and cover for people who tried to harm the baron?!"

Now, public opinion was firmly in our favor. The Magic Tower was inherently evil and the barbarians' rage was justified. If that old man had simply ordered the wizards I mentioned earlier to step forward and submit to questioning, things would have never gotten to this point.

Still, if nothing's done today, then they'll simply bribe their way out of this mess or cover their tracks one way or another.

Thanks to the old wizard's pigheadedness, however, I was able to take things a step further.

"Listen to the upstanding citizens of this city who believe in equal opportunity and the pursuit of justice!" The crowd, who had been heckling and cursing the Magic Tower's wizards, suddenly went quiet as I spoke. It was time to use their discontent to my utmost advantage. "The wizards of the Magic Tower, who have fallen from grace, have no intention of admitting their sins! They're desperate to protect their own! The wizards I named need only be called out from their labs and checked to see if they are truly innocent! But since they refuse such an easy request, that's proof that they have done wrong! Isn't that right?!"

"That's right!"

I pushed the idea that we were on the side of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠justice once more. "They will probably destroy the evidence as soon as we leave or brazenly fabricate the results of their investigation. We've seen it happen countless times before, haven't we?"

"That's right!"

I continued to stoke the anger that had been smoldering deep in the hearts of this city's citizens. "However, I no longer intend to sit helplessly on the sidelines as these criminals walk free."

All I need to do is show them that I'll take up the torch and carry the flames of pent-up anger that they've kept burning inside them for years with me.

"I am Bjorn, son of Yandel!"

I once again swore on my name.

"I promise you this. This city's justice, the justice established by the royal laws of the mighty Rafdonia, will be set right again today!"

The second the oath left my lips, the citizens burst into a fervent roar.

"Woooooo!"

The stage is perfectly set. Since the civilians are in our camp now, the wizards won't be able to attack us. All right, since everyone's in their places, it's time...

I let out a heavy exhale, took a deep breath, and then released an all-mighty roar. "Ready your weapooons!"

Ever since the war with the elves, the barbarians had kept their heads down and endured whatever treatment people saw fit to give them. It was time to once again remind this city exactly who the barbarian race was.

"Behel—aaaaaah!"

We were a race that didn't bother with small talk.

***

Alex Halo, the deputy archivist of the Third Magic Corps, had just finished up his regular report for the day and was about to leave the office. However, before he left, he snuck a glance at his boss. Even though she was swamped with work, her uniform was neatly ironed. Her blue eyes, though full of fatigue, were still whip-sharp. In her delicate hand, she held a pen.

"What are you doing? Are you not leaving?"

At his boss's sudden question, he flinched, then quickly fumbled for an excuse. "I-It's just that, it seems like you've been reading the newspaper a lot lately."

"Oh, these?" Several newspapers from various outlets were piled up on her desk. When he pointed it out, she avoided eye contact and spoke in a soft, almost embarrassed tone. "It's just... a hobby. It's frustrating being trapped in here all the time, right? It's important to know what's going on out there in the world."

"...I see." The newspapers on his superior's desk may have come from different sources, but each one covered the exact same story featuring the same protagonist. "Everyone's been talking about it these days. The fact that Baron Yandel's name has been etched into the Stone of Honor."

"So they say. Back when we first met, he was nothing but a joke. But now he has really become a 'great warrior.'"

Alex tilted his head in response to the hint of longing in her voice. "Aren't you happy, though? Wasn't Baron Yandel a former comrade of yours?"

"Former comrade..."

"Ah—"

Belatedly realizing his mistake, Alex quickly shut his mouth. The sight of her dejectedly looking down at the newspaper left him with a strange feeling of discomfort. He was just Subordinate A, a guy who couldn't even do his job right. Someone who should never have been capable of putting that sort of expression on her face. His superior looked out the window with a faraway look in her eyes, silent and still. Alex stared at her blankly, unsure what to say.

"D-Deputy Commander! We've received an emergency deployment order...!" Just then, the office door swung open and someone ran inside. His superior immediately got a hold of herself and grabbed her coat, and he quickly followed her lead and pulled himself together as well. The Third Magic Corps wasn't like the Public Peace Agency or Mozlan. They were a military group that operated under the direct control of the royal family. For them to be receiving an emergency deployment order meant that something bigger than a riot was taking place in the city.

"Fill me in." His superior listened to the briefing as they made their way outside, asking the messenger clarifying questions. After hearing the full story, Alex personally felt the situation could be summed up in one sentence:

Baron Yandel was leading the barbarians toward the Magic Tower.

"They haven't gotten there yet, but given their trajectory, it's clear that they are heading in that direction."

"Why? There must be a reason he's doing this."

"We are looking into it. However, more than a thousand barbarians are heading over there now. It seems that the Public Peace Agency has also requested the support of the military."

"I see..."

Less than a minute after the emergency orders were given, all the soldiers had already gathered on the grounds and were making their way to the carriages.

"Is the situation really that dire, Deputy Commander?" Alex asked, staring out at the sea of people. "It looks like our corps wasn't the only one that was ordered to go." Numerous military carriages were pulling onto the road leading to the military base.

However, his superior didn't respond. She simply bit her nails with an unusually anxious look in her eyes. "That guy... What is he going to end up doing this time...?"

He optimistically tried to reassure her. Baron Yandel was a smart man, and since he was a public figure with a lot to lose, he was probably only headed to the Magic Tower as a show of force. There wasn't much to worry about.

These weren't just words of consolation, but what he truthfully felt from the bottom of his heart. But the nervous look on his boss's face didn't disappear.

"...Alex. I think you've misunderstood. It's not Baron Yandel that I'm worried about right now."

"What...? B-But he's going up against the Magic Tower." Alex couldn't follow her line of thought at all. The two of them were both from the Magic Tower, so they knew just how powerful the wizards there were. So why was she so concerned about them?

As he was trying to figure it out, his boss offered some insight into her logic. "Do you remember what happened at the Adventurers' Guild because of him?"

"Are you talking about the false accusations against him...?"

"Yes. There was a massive prison break that day, and an entire branch of the guild was destroyed. The district chief faced backlash and lost the next election."

"Still... the guild and the Magic Tower are two different things." Compared to the Magic Tower, the guild was like a mom-and-pop shop.

"I... I was thinking the same thing... The guild and the Magic Tower are definitely different. The Magic Tower would never be swayed by a single barbarian..."

"But... you think that's not the case anymore?"

Raven nodded without hesitation. "Yes. Now, he's not just any barbarian. Back then when he completely flipped the guild on its head, he was a barbarian that had only just come of age two months prior. But what about now?"

Alex couldn't say anything to that. How many years had passed since that day? Now, Bjorn Yandel was a baron of the kingdom and the chieftain of the barbarians.

"More than anything else, though... What worries me is the fact that I know him."

He tilted his head in question.

"Trust me, Alex. No matter how reckless he seems, if he's doing this, then I can guarantee he's thought it through."

Alex still didn't really get what she meant, of course. However, he kept that thought to himself, as he didn't want to be rude and tell his boss she was wrong.

Thunk, thunk.

The carriage continued down the road at a breakneck pace before arriving at the military teleportation platform.

Crackle!

At that moment, new information came in through a message stone.

"They've arrived. Baron Yandel and the barbarian warriors have reached the Magic Tower! Please hurry and send support!"

Despite the urgent message and the slightly nauseous look on her face, his superior simply took a deep breath, looking like someone who had already braced herself for what was to come.

All I need to do is show them that I'll take up the torch and carry the flames of pent-up anger that they've kept burning inside them for years with me.

"I am Bjorn, son of Yandel!"

I once again swore on my name.

"I promise you this. This city's justice, the justice established by the royal laws of the mighty Rafdonia, will be set right again today!"

The second the oath left my lips, the citizens burst into a fervent roar.

"Woooooo!"

The stage is perfectly set. Since the civilians are in our camp now, the wizards won't be able to attack us. All right, since everyone's in their places, it's time...

I let out a heavy exhale, took a deep breath, and then released an all-mighty roar. "Ready your weapooons!"

Ever since the war with the elves, the barbarians had kept their heads down and endured whatever treatment people saw fit to give them. It was time to once again remind this city exactly who the barbarian race was.

"Behel—aaaaaah!"

We were a race that didn't bother with small talk.

***

Alex Halo, the deputy archivist of the Third Magic Corps, had just finished up his regular report for the day and was about to leave the office. However, before he left, he snuck a glance at his boss. Even though she was swamped with work, her uniform was neatly ironed. Her blue eyes, though full of fatigue, were still whip-sharp. In her delicate hand, she held a pen.

"What are you doing? Are you not leaving?"

At his boss's sudden question, he flinched, then quickly fumbled for an excuse. "I-It's just that, it seems like you've been reading the newspaper a lot lately."

"Oh, these?" Several newspapers from various outlets were piled up on her desk. When he pointed it out, she avoided eye contact and spoke in a soft, almost embarrassed tone. "It's just... a hobby. It's frustrating being trapped in here all the time, right? It's important to know what's going on out there in the world."

"...I see." The newspapers on his superior's desk may have come from different sources, but each one covered the exact same story featuring the same protagonist. "Everyone's been talking about it these days. The fact that Baron Yandel's name has been etched into the Stone of Honor."

"So they say. Back when we first met, he was nothing but a joke. But now he has really become a 'great warrior.'"

Alex tilted his head in response to the hint of longing in her voice. "Aren't you happy, though? Wasn't Baron Yandel a former comrade of yours?"

"Former comrade..."

"Ah—"

Belatedly realizing his mistake, Alex quickly shut his mouth. The sight of her dejectedly looking down at the newspaper left him with a strange feeling of discomfort. He was just Subordinate A, a guy who couldn't even do his job right. Someone who should never have been capable of putting that sort of expression on her face. His superior looked out the window with a faraway look in her eyes, silent and still. Alex stared at her blankly, unsure what to say.

"D-Deputy Commander! We've received an emergency deployment order...!" Just then, the office door swung open and someone ran inside. His superior immediately got a hold of herself and grabbed her coat, and he quickly followed her lead and pulled himself together as well. The Third Magic Corps wasn't like the Public Peace Agency or Mozlan. They were a military group that operated under the direct control of the royal family. For them to be receiving an emergency deployment order meant that something bigger than a riot was taking place in the city.

"Fill me in." His superior listened to the briefing as they made their way outside, asking the messenger clarifying questions. After hearing the full story, Alex personally felt the situation could be summed up in one sentence:

Baron Yandel was leading the barbarians toward the Magic Tower.

"They haven't gotten there yet, but given their trajectory, it's clear that they are heading in that direction."

"Why? There must be a reason he's doing this."

"We are looking into it. However, more than a thousand barbarians are heading over there now. It seems that the Public Peace Agency has also requested the support of the military."

"I see..."

Less than a minute after the emergency orders were given, all the soldiers had already gathered on the grounds and were making their way to the carriages.

"Is the situation really that dire, Deputy Commander?" Alex asked, staring out at the sea of people. "It looks like our corps wasn't the only one that was ordered to go." Numerous military carriages were pulling onto the road leading to the military base.

However, his superior didn't respond. She simply bit her nails with an unusually anxious look in her eyes. "That guy... What is he going to end up doing this time...?"

He optimistically tried to reassure her. Baron Yandel was a smart man, and since he was a public figure with a lot to lose, he was probably only headed to the Magic Tower as a show of force. There wasn't much to worry about.

These weren't just words of consolation, but what he truthfully felt from the bottom of his heart. But the nervous look on his boss's face didn't disappear.

"...Alex. I think you've misunderstood. It's not Baron Yandel that I'm worried about right now."

"What...? B-But he's going up against the Magic Tower." Alex couldn't follow her line of thought at all. The two of them were both from the Magic Tower, so they knew just how powerful the wizards there were. So why was she so concerned about them?

As he was trying to figure it out, his boss offered some insight into her logic. "Do you remember what happened at the Adventurers' Guild because of him?"

"Are you talking about the false accusations against him...?"

"Yes. There was a massive prison break that day, and an entire branch of the guild was destroyed. The district chief faced backlash and lost the next election."

"Still... the guild and the Magic Tower are two different things." Compared to the Magic Tower, the guild was like a mom-and-pop shop.

"I... I was thinking the same thing... The guild and the Magic Tower are definitely different. The Magic Tower would never be swayed by a single barbarian..."

"But... you think that's not the case anymore?"

Raven nodded without hesitation. "Yes. Now, he's not just any barbarian. Back then when he completely flipped the guild on its head, he was a barbarian that had only just come of age two months prior. But what about now?"

Alex couldn't say anything to that. How many years had passed since that day? Now, Bjorn Yandel was a baron of the kingdom and the chieftain of the barbarians.

"More than anything else, though... What worries me is the fact that I know him."

He tilted his head in question.

"Trust me, Alex. No matter how reckless he seems, if he's doing this, then I can guarantee he's thought it through."

Alex still didn't really get what she meant, of course. However, he kept that thought to himself, as he didn't want to be rude and tell his boss she was wrong.

Thunk, thunk.

The carriage continued down the road at a breakneck pace before arriving at the military teleportation platform.

Crackle!

At that moment, new information came in through a message stone.

"They've arrived. Baron Yandel and the barbarian warriors have reached the Magic Tower! Please hurry and send support!"

Despite the urgent message and the slightly nauseous look on her face, his superior simply took a deep breath, looking like someone who had already braced herself for what was to come.