Lunaria: The Naked Barbarian's Challenge
I knew how capable and strong the assassins I'd hired were.
But understanding something intellectually and seeing it with your own eyes are two different things.
The most striking part? These people who were so affectionate toward me transformed into utter killing machines.
"Eww."
Snapping necks was just the basics. They ground faces into the dirt and sliced open bellies to show off entrails. Assassins who turned endlessly cruel toward their enemies. Watching the cultists' gruesome fates, even I felt a pang of pain.
"This is 19+ gore territory territory. Needs a rating sticker."
"Kyarrrk?"
Garum had been trained not to eat human flesh, so it stayed by my side instead of joining the fray. The black wolf, who had volunteered as my guard, quietly began licking the scratch on my cheek. It looked the most ferocious of them all, yet its behavior was so docile it made me chuckle.
"My subordinates look scary when they're pissed, huh?"
"Kruk!"
Garum bit into my clothes with the teeth on its body, gripping tight. It seemed like it was trying to stop me from jumping in. I stroked its head and shook my head.
"I've done everything I can. It's probably not my turn anyway. No plans to go out there myself."
My job was just to keep the kids far enough away so they wouldn't see the brutality. The children treated the assassins' massacre like some hero squad show and clamored to see more. Finding amusement in people dying—were they like that because they were the spawn of fanatics? Seeds that could grow into pleasure killers in the near future. It'd be simplest to crush them outright, but I couldn't bring myself to kill the kids I'd gone to such lengths to save.
"You kids might be too young to get it, but the truly thrilling fun in this world is right here."
I pulled a gold coin from my pocket and showed it off. Some of the children immediately perked up with interest.
"Money!"
"Whoa! Way shinier than what the other grown-ups have!"
"Yeah, figures. In a sleepy rural spot like this, the only coins they handle are coppers. But this? This is a gold coin."
Half the kids were hooked on the gold coin, but the rest looked indifferent. They seemed more interested in watching the assassins in action. Wet-behind-the-ears brats who didn't grasp the value of money. I grinned and tossed them a simple question.
"Tell me what you like."
"Beef stew loaded with meat!"
"One of these coins buys over a hundred bowls of beef stew."
"I like dolls."
"You could get dozens, all different kinds."
"Jewels!"
"Jewels are pricey, so one coin might not cut it—but that's what makes 'em valuable, right?"
I taught the kids that to enjoy what they loved without limits, they needed money. I sparked their interest in earning it.
"But the nuns said we should stay away from money..."
"Obviously. They said that so they could eat, buy, and enjoy whatever they wanted."
"Really? The nuns are bad!"
"That's what we call bad grown-ups. Me? I'm a good grown-up."
Most of the kids were sold. But the ones without strong likes or dislikes still weren't biting. A quick glance showed they were all boys.
"All you boys not interested in gold coins—attention! Front and center, now, move!"
These vigorous lads were tough to excite with ordinary stuff. Pure violence probably gave them a bigger rush than money. In other words, they craved primal pleasure. I gathered the boys together and started a secretive chat, drawing out memories lodged in their minds.
"Remember how it felt when a sweet-voiced big sis cooed in front of you?"
"Ugh...!"
"Th-that...!"
Every boy panicked and averted their eyes. No sex ed yet, so they didn't understand that ticklish excitement. No need to explain early. The key was getting them hooked on money.
"Listen up. When a guy has money, hot big sis types stick to him like glue!"
"F-for real?"
"Look at me. Don't look like much, right? So why do I have two pretty ladies with me? Money, obviously!"
I fanned out gold coins between my fingers. Their eyes lit up at the sight. Sure, Maribel and Rena warmed to me over strategy, not cash. But planting the world tree? Curing deadly poison? Those required money. Capitalism reigned supreme until the Empire fell.
"Even ugly guys can be popular with girls?"
"Money makes popularity appear out of nowhere."
"I wanna be like my big bro!"
"Me too!"
"Suddenly what?! I wanna earn money like big bro too!"
"Outta the way! I'm first!"
"Hey! No violence. Whoever starts a fight pays the victim—cash."
"Gasp!"
I neutered their violent tendencies and turned them into money slaves. Right at that age where they crave all sorts of things. The idea that money buys anything ignited their hearts. They'd drown in materialism from now on, but that beat bloodlust, didn't it?
"No rush—I'll teach you all how to make money."
"Ooo...!"
"You'll leave this village for a big city. Learn money-making there."
"Leave the village?"
"Other places scare me...!"
"Wanna stay a grubby country mouse fiddling with coppers? Or become a city mouse stroking gold in the glitz?"
I felt like a kidnapper luring innocent kids. I was planning to lure them away, but no harm intended. I'd send them to Frontier Trading Company with intro letters for Parson to raise. With enough training, they'd become future heirs running the company. Solve Parson's manpower shortage too—he'd been begging to borrow even a cat's paw.
"I'll follow big bro!"
"Scary, but I'll leave too!"
"Me too! Better than the nuns nagging—buy whatever I want with money!"
Courage spread like contagion, forming a group exodus vibe. Good sign. I handed a gold coin each to the resolute kids. Might seem too much for children, but wrong. True money joy comes from spending. Order them to work without a taste, and they'd just rebel. Let 'em splurge first, and the desire to earn more takes root.
"Alright, repeat after me! Money is god, wealth is supreme!"
"““““Money is god, wealth is supreme!””””"
"Kuhahaha!!"
That day, I founded a religion worshiping capitalism as god.
"You're teaching the kids some really valuable lessons, huh..."
After the assassins unilaterally slaughtered the Nidhog cultists invading Ludmilan Village, we boarded a carriage bound for Lunaria. The kids' safety was handed to a detachment of imperial knights who arrived late to the village. They'd deliver them to Parson as I'd instructed. No worries there—I had to worry about Rena's sharp tongue-lashing first.
"Better than turning into pleasure killers, right?"
"True, but...!"
"I even hooked 'em up with jobs. Isn't that responsible adulting?"
"Ugh! You make it so hard to argue back!"
"Arguing with Lord Hines was your first mistake."
"Master! Should I make money too?"
"Growing as you are helps the young master most."
The mood was electric—office work turned bloody slaughter had everyone a bit too hyped. The carriage was rowdy, and our imperial knight escorts were on edge. Probably from witnessing the massacre in Ludmilan.
"Right, anyone see a woman with lilac hair in the village?"
"Nope."
"Didn't spot anyone like that."
"Negative."
"Huh."
She must've smashed cultists' heads and bolted before we arrived. Typical free-spirited protagonist—wherever she went was fine. Heroines make their own paths right. Key point: Eugene now saw the Nidhog cult as enemies.
Feels like we'll meet again soon.
Couldn't explain why. Just a strong gut hunch we'd reunite. Shelving Eugene thoughts, I gazed out the window. The intensifying blizzard signaled we'd nearly reached the north. A faint ruin on the horizon. That was our destination, smack in enemy territory: Lunaria. The real showdown with the Nidhog cult started now.
"You can't pass here!"
A booming voice echoed across the frozen plain. Startled horses whinnied, and everyone halted.
"Hear me, outsiders! This sacred land is off-limits unless you defeat me, the great warrior Rakshar!"
"Guy's nuts."
"Lord have mercy..."
"Whoa!"
"Kak!"
"Wow! Elephant trunk!"
A hulking man stood in the middle of the icy path. Amid the blizzard, a completely naked guy bellowed at the top of his lungs. The wild barbarian had appeared.