Chapter 127: Chapter 127 Kaltstein (1)

Kaltstein (1)

Kaltstein (1)

Misha Kaltstein.

A 5th-year explorer from a pureblood family who couldn't make a contract with a Spirit Beast and was treated as less than a child.

‘Her father wants to meet me…’

I understand to some extent.

I've learned enough about how the Red Cat tribe operates through Misha.

“But why are you so quiet? I asked you what time we should go.”

“Uh, that is… I, I don’t think tomorrow will work. I need to prepare myself mentally… I also have to tell my father beforehand.”

“What? What are you talking about? You were the one who said let’s go tomorrow?”

Misha avoids my gaze and fidgets with her hands as I ask incredulously.

“That’s… because I didn’t expect you to agree so easily…”

“So you said let’s go tomorrow?”

“Yeah, didn’t you say that’s how you negotiate?”

“…….”

I don’t remember saying that, but Misha’s plan isn’t bad.

If I said I didn’t have time, she was going to pretend to postpone it and naturally push it back to another day.

“Ugh, when I ask you to go out and have fun, you always say you’re busy, but what kind of whim is this?”

“It’s your father who called, isn’t it? Of course I have to go meet him.”

“Huh? I, is that so?”

Misha avoids my gaze at my excuse.

“You, you… how could you say something so embarrassing?”

Geez, didn’t she say barbarians and beastmen aren’t strangers?

____________________

“I’ll let you know when we make an appointment, so go now. I need to sleep more. Ah, and don’t come tomorrow. I have to leave early.”

“What? You’re going to sleep again after sleeping all day?”

“If you keep nagging, I won’t—”

“No! I won’t bother you, so rest well!!”

After Misha hurriedly opens the door and leaves, I go back to sleep.

And the next morning…

‘Phew, I finally feel alive again.’

Only after sleeping for a full 36 hours does my head feel clear.

I should refrain from using killing intent from now on.

Anyway, after washing up, I head to the sanctuary, and the elder greets me.

“It’s been a while, Bjorn, son of Yandel.”

Where’s the chieftain?

I ask cautiously, feeling curious, and I get a somewhat unexpected answer.

“The chieftain went to the city for business. He should be back tomorrow.”

“It’s strange for the chieftain to leave the sanctuary.”

“It’s not common. By the way, if you have business here, how about meeting the young warriors while you wait? You would be a good inspiration for them.”

I politely refuse the elder’s hopeful suggestion.

I don’t feel bad that I’m now recognized as one of the successful products of the barbarian tribe, but my business today is something else.

“Then can you call the shaman?”

After a short wait, the shaman’s disciple comes and guides me to the tent.

The bald shaman with wrinkles is smoking a large pipe, puffing out smoke.

“Kekeke, you’re here again, warrior. You’re quite resourceful.”

His voice is unusually high-pitched today.

His pronunciation is also a bit slurred, as if he’s on drugs.

“Can I receive a Spirit Engraving today?”

“As long as you have enough money, keke.”

No, that’s not what I meant. I was asking if it’s okay to do it in this state, as if you’re drunk.

I’m worried, but I open my wallet.

Clink, clink.

‘With this, I’m broke again.’

The cost for the 5th stage engraving is 8 million stones.

After paying this, I’ll only have about 700,000 stones left. Well, there are still 2 million stones in Misha’s and my shared account…

But I can’t use that for personal purposes.

“Warrior, you’re one short.”

“…I was about to put it in.”

I put in one more 500,000-stone magic stone, and the payment is complete.

Tsk, I thought it might work this time.

‘I guess I don’t have to worry about him making a mistake.’

I focus on the positive aspects and lie down on the bed.

And…

“Keuhhhh…”

“Kekeke, warrior! Scream louder!”

“Kyaaaaaaaak!!”

The familiar pain soon engulfs me.

_______________________

「5th stage of Undying Engraving activated. Stamina greatly increased.」

「Physical stat increased by +30.」

「Mental stat increased by +30.」

_______________________

In [Dungeon and Stone], Stamina is an important stat.

Although it doesn’t have a major impact on combat power, you become incapacitated when your stamina runs out.

Even when doing raids that last for hours, ‘Stamina Regeneration Enhancement Scrolls’ are considered essential consumables.

However…

‘I didn’t know it would be a useful stat in real life.’

The other day, I felt the limits of my stamina in the Witch’s Forest. And yesterday, I even fell into a state of semi-consciousness due to mental exhaustion.

That’s why I feel it even more vividly.

The changes in my body and mind.

“Kekeke, you look quite well today.”

Normally, I should be half-dead by now, but the accumulated physical and mental fatigue feels much lighter today.

I’ll have to check the details later, but with this level of effect, wouldn’t I be fine even after staying up for two nights?

Of course, if you asked if it’s worth 8 million stones, the answer would be definitely not.

‘…As expected, engravings are inefficient in terms of cost-effectiveness.’

It might be different in the mid-to-late game where stats are more valuable than money.

But in the early to mid stages, it’s more efficient to buy equipment or even buy essences with money…

…and it’s also the way to shorten the growth time to level up quickly and save money to upgrade engravings.

That’s why I also originally planned to only get the 1st stage engraving and then leave it alone for a while.

I didn’t expect to get [Gigantification] so early.

‘Phew, but I’m glad I only invested in engravings, now I only have one stage left.’

The emptiness of having less money is fleeting.

I feel a sense of accomplishment.

The moment I reach the 6th stage, all the investment I’ve made so far will be repaid several times over.

“Warrior, why are you just standing there? Leave now, I’m tired.”

Lost in thought, I leave the tent after hearing the shaman’s dismissal.

It’s already evening.

I walk cautiously, checking the bushes in case Ainar is waiting like last time…

‘She’s not here.’

Ainar is nowhere to be seen until I reach the city, walking along the dark forest path.

Well, she must be busy, as her training is almost over.

‘Come to think of it, there’s only a month left now.’

I chuckle as I walk through the unusually quiet streets.

Time…

…it’s both fast and slow.

It feels like just yesterday I was limping around because I didn’t have leather boots and stepped on a trap.

_________________________

「Bjorn Yandel」

Level: 4

Physical: 360 (New +30) / Mental: 184 (New +30) / Ability: 128

Total Combat Index: 941 (New +60)

Acquired Essences: Corpse Golem - Rank 7 / Vampire (Guardian) - Rank 5 / Orc Hero - Rank 5

_________________________

Three days later, Misha and I board a large carriage heading towards the 13th district.

It’s because the beastman sanctuary isn’t adjacent to the 7th district where we live.

“Ar, are you thirsty? Do you want some water?”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you hungry? I packed some things just in case, do you want to eat?”

I laugh in disbelief at Misha’s attentiveness.

“Stop it. I’m not going to turn back in the middle.”

“No, I’m just worried. It’s going to be an uncomfortable situation for you. I have to treat you well since you’re going because of me—”

“Enough, I’m going to sleep, so wake me up when we arrive.”

“Al, alright… It takes about three hours, so sleep well.”

I close my eyes and sleep before she can bother me any further.

And after some time…

…just as Misha said, the carriage arrives at its destination at noon.

‘Six hours round trip… no wonder she always sleeps over when she visits.’

Although it’s not that far in a straight line…

…since we have to take a detour around the restricted 14th district, the travel time is longer than expected.

‘Well, that’s probably why she settled here. She wanted to be as far away from home as possible.’

“Bjorn, why are you just standing there? Are you tired? Should I carry you?”

“Enough, just lead the way.”

“Got it!”

I follow Misha, the local, and look around the streets.

It’s not much different from the 7th district where I currently live.

The streets are a bit more complicated, and there are more beastmen and dwarves.

However…

“We’re here.”

…the beastman sanctuary that we arrive at is quite different from the barbarian sanctuary.

‘I heard about it, but I didn’t expect it to be this much…’

Both are located outside the city.

But that’s all they have in common.

Instead of makeshift huts or tents built in the forest, most of the structures are made of stone, and there are even proper roads.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

And…

“Daddy, look! It’s a barbarian, a barbarian!”

…there are shops open for business, and beastman families are walking around.

As if they live here, not in the city.

‘We’re all kicked out once we become adults…’

The beastman sanctuary is literally a village outside the city for beastmen.

But is it strange that I’m staring blankly at this sight?

“What’s wrong…? Is there a problem? No, we can’t turn back even if there is?”

“…I was just surprised.”

“Huh? Surprised?”

Misha tilts her head as if she doesn’t understand.

Although there are many things I want to say, I don’t.

It would be like spitting in my own face to complain about the poor environment of barbarians.

I just ask casually,

“Are all sanctuaries like this?”

“Um, I don’t know what you mean.”

“Shouldn’t beastmen be raising animals in the forest?”

Actually, even in the game, the beastman sanctuary was like that.

Well, that was 150 years ago, I guess?

“Ah, uh, I heard they used to live like that to maintain traditions… but it was so long ago, I don’t really know.”

“…I see.”

Phew, why are barbarians the only ones who haven’t changed?

I suppress my complaint and follow her as she walks, and soon a giant mansion appears before us.

“We’re here.”

Damn it.

Our chieftain still sleeps in a tent.

As I sigh deeply, Misha starts observing my expression again.

“Do, don’t be nervous. It will be fine. You’re Little Balkan, Bjorn, son of Yandel, right? My father likes famous explorers. Okay?”

Although Misha tries to reassure me, she’s the one who looks nervous.

“You’re the one who needs to calm down. We’re at your house, why are you acting like this?”

“Huh? I, I’m fine?”

“Then open the door. How long are you going to stand here?”

Misha takes a deep breath and then rings a bell to summon a servant.

“Um, can you open the door? We’d like to come in.”

The servant just glances at us once without answering, opens the door, and then leaves.

‘What was that?’

It’s a very strange sight.

Because Misha isn’t a half-breed anymore.

‘I heard that her father knows that she made a contract with a Spirit Beast.’

I glance at Misha, and she’s also looking at me, as if she had been observing me, and our eyes meet.

The emotion in her eyes is familiar to me.

My ex-girlfriend often had that look.

The look she had when she was caught doing something she didn’t want me to see.

“That… you know, Bjorn, there’s something I haven’t told you yet.”

“Just say it quickly.”

Misha gulps and then speaks cautiously,

“Only my father knows that I made a contract with a Spirit Beast. So, no matter what happens inside, please don’t get angry. Okay?”

“That depends on what happens.”

“It’s nothing special. Just a bit worse than that guy we saw earlier. That’s all.”

“Explain in more detail. So that I can respond accordingly.”

Misha hesitates for a moment and then tells me in a resigned voice.

Verbal abuse from her siblings, bullying disguised as pranks, and the servants whispering behind her back.

There aren't any particularly serious incidents.

She must have chosen to tell me the relatively milder stories.

It must have been much worse in reality.

“Of, of course, no one will act like that to you. So you don’t have to worry—”

My lips curl up into a smirk.

“Bjo, Bjorn? Why are you smiling? Do, don’t smile. It’s scary when you smile… It will all be over once my father reveals it. I, I just have to endure for a little longer.”

Misha tries to reassure me, but to me, that’s the biggest problem.

That bastard of a father knows everything and is just letting her suffer.

Whether he has a reason for accepting that silence or whatever…

…he neglected his child’s pain for his own sake.

But on top of that, he called me to this house.

‘He must think I’m a fool.’

Suddenly, I feel a dark malice emanating from this giant mansion.

It’s like looking at a dungeon filled with monsters.

Is that why?

“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”

A battle cry erupts from my throat.

And at the same time, the servant, who had disappeared without even a bow, reappears.

“What are you doing, barbarian! Show some manners!”

“Manners…”

I approach him, pondering his words.

“You must have a problem with your head.”

What kind of barbarian would show manners to an enemy?