Chapter 37
Barbarians valued tradition and superstition as much as their lives.
Maybe even more.
Among the traditions they considered sacred...
There was one called the Ash Ring.
A public challenge before a bonfire.
For barbarians, asking someone to fight within the Ash Ring was one of the highest forms of praise.
It meant acknowledging the opponent as an equal warrior...
Or even a superior one.
For barbarians who lived and died by pride and honor...
Such a challenge could never be taken lightly.
Karga stepped toward the fire.
“Before this bonfire, I, Karga, warrior of the Volcano Tribe, challenge Zakan, Chief of the Rock Tribe, to a spar!”
Burta immediately looked troubled.
“Karga... Even so, during this meaningful feast, challenging the savior of our Volcano Tribe...”
Karga cut him off with a sly smile.
“Burta.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Did you not say it yourself?”
He pointed toward Zakan.
“You said this young Chief defeated that vicious Varg.”
Then he placed a hand on his own chest.
“You said he was a great warrior who surpassed even me, Karga.”
Karga smiled.
“Then for the pride of the Volcano Tribe, what is wrong with asking that great warrior to teach me something?”
“...”
Burta closed his mouth.
Even from where I sat...
I could clearly see his anger and discomfort.
He had invited us as people to whom he owed his life.
Now Karga was demanding a fight.
But what would happen if Burta used his authority as Chief to forbid it?
It would mean the Chief of the Volcano Tribe publicly admitted that the Rock Tribe’s Chief was too weak and cowardly to face Karga.
It would insult us.
For barbarians who valued honor more than their lives...
There could hardly be a greater humiliation.
Karga turned toward the warriors.
“Is that not right, brothers?”
His voice grew louder.
“For a barbarian, a battle in the Ash Ring is something to be proud of!”
Burta remained silent.
The Volcano Tribe warriors took that silence as permission.
They began pounding spear shafts and axe handles against the ground.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
“KARGA! KARGA!”
“ZAKAN! ZAKAN!”
I rested my chin on one hand and watched Karga.
That snake-like bastard was trying to drag Zakan into a public arena.
He wants to humiliate him.
If Zakan refused...
He would be branded a coward and a fraud.
If he accepted...
Karga would personally crush him.
That would strip away the image of the Rock Tribe’s hero.
At the same time, it would undermine Burta’s judgment for praising us as saviors.
Burta was smart enough to understand that.
That was why his fists were clenched and his expression had become stiff.
But he probably couldn’t find a way out either.
Karga’s challenge perfectly exploited barbarian customs.
There was no loophole.
Karga raised the corner of his mouth.
Then looked directly at Zakan.
“What do you say, Zakan?”
His voice was polite...
But clearly mocking.
“Will you give Karga the opportunity to face that great sword of yours?”
Zakan silently stood.
Of course.
There was no way this stubborn teenage Chief would run from an official challenge issued by another tribe’s second-in-command.
Wait.
What exactly are Karga’s stats?
A sudden feeling of unease struck me.
I quickly looked at him.
“BARBARIAAAAN!”
“WAAAAAH!”
“BARBARIAAAAN!”
The excited Volcano Tribe warriors went wild when I shouted Warrior’s Roar.
They probably thought I was supporting the match.
No.
I’m just using a skill.
[Skill ‘Peeking’ activated.]
I ignored the idiots and focused on the blue window.
==========
【Target Information】
• Name: Karga
• Race: Barbarian (Second-in-Command of the Western Volcano Tribe)
【Basic Stats】
• Strength: 69 / Agility: 25
• Constitution: 42 / Intelligence: 9
【Potential】
• Overall Grade: B (Cunning Viper)
• Growth: 88%
==========
Holy shit.
I nearly choked.
I had already guessed he wasn’t ordinary.
This was a brutal Frontier where strength directly meant authority.
Anyone who survived long enough to become the second-in-command of a major tribe had to be powerful.
But Karga was B-Rank.
Strength 69.
Growth 88%.
He was already a nearly complete warrior.
Meanwhile...
Our Zakan had S-Rank potential.
He would eventually become a tyrant powerful enough to chew through the Empire.
But...
He’s still growing!
Right now, Zakan was only a young warrior slightly above D-Rank.
What if he fought Karga now?
I would bet my right wrist that Zakan’s spine would be folded in half within ten seconds.
Zakan opened his mouth.
“Very well, Karga. In the name of the Rock Tribe...”
“Wait!”
Why is he so damn quick?!
Before our fragile little future hero could charge headfirst into disaster...
I grabbed his shoulder and stepped forward.
We needed a way out of this ridiculous difference in strength.
Then...
A brilliant idea struck me.
I can naturally avoid a fight we’re guaranteed to lose...
And get what I want at the same time.
Two birds with one stone.
To overturn this situation...
I needed the Ancestor Spirit.
I began forcing my brain through the most complicated modern knowledge I could remember.
The Maillard reaction threshold at searing temperatures.
Molecular gastronomy pairing principles.
Potato starch gelatinization temperature curves...
I pushed my modern intelligence to the limit.
Now that my Mental Strength had reached 20...
I needed far more logical thinking to trigger the effect than before.
[The barbarian mind resists logical thought.]
The world spun.
My vision shook violently.
An intense wave of dizziness struck me.
My nose tingled.
Then...
Blood flowed.
It ran from my nose and down my chin.
“Gasp!”
Malko immediately screamed.
“The Ancestor Spirit has come to Izak again!”
Perfect timing.
The unbearable headache made my eyes roll upward.
The Volcano Tribe warriors stared in shock.
“H-He really is a Shaman who receives revelations from the Ancestor Spirits!”
“The Ancestor Spirit has descended upon the Rock Tribe’s Shaman!”
“BARBARIAN...!”
The feast that had been roaring with Warrior’s Roars suddenly fell silent.
Then...
The Volcano Tribe barbarians dropped to the ground.
One after another, they bowed.
Ugh.
My head hurts.
I walked into the center of the silent feast.
Blood covered my face.
My eyes rolled upward dramatically.
I raised one hand toward the sky.
“BARBARIAAAAN!”
Then I deepened my voice.
“You foolish children...”
Everyone froze.
“I, Barbarian, am disappointed in you.”
“G-Great trouble!”
Malko looked terrified.
“The Ancestor Spirit is disappointed!”
“Barbarian is angry!”
I pointed a blood-covered finger toward Karga.
“Karga.”
His face stiffened.
“Your desire to receive instruction from the great child of the Rock Tribe is admirable.”
I nodded.
“A spar before the bonfire is indeed a fine tradition.”
Karga seemed slightly relieved.
Then I continued.
