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Chapter 160: The Inquisitor of the Sun God and Magician of the Tower (7)

This barbarian was special.

He was recognized by a god and could handle holy relics.

He was also an excellent cook and possessed knowledge that only a highly educated person could have.

‘Is he really a barbarian?’

If not for his appearance, one might mistake him for a scholar who had practiced self-discipline for a long time.

“Here, take this.”

When it was time to eat, Ketal handed Baker a bowl of stew filled with rich, dark brown meat.

Baker, driven by pride, wanted to refuse.

However, his hands accepted the bowl willingly.

Ketal’s cooking was too delicious to turn down.

Baker felt a pang of self-loathing.

‘…No!’

He tried to pull himself together.

He still had the upper hand over the barbarian.

‘I can use magic!’

He could wield the mystical power that the barbarian couldn’t.

Magicians used magic, and barbarians wielded weapons.

It was an obvious fact, but Baker needed to believe in his own superiority.

But that belief soon shattered.

They moved directly towards their destination, sometimes passing through forests.

Late at night, they prepared to sleep in the middle of the forest, surrounded by the sounds of insects. Aquaz frowned slightly.

“…There are quite a lot of insects.”

Given the warm weather, the forest was teeming with insects of all sizes, enough to obstruct their vision.

“I’ll take care of it.”

Aquaz was about to pray to the Sun God to create a barrier against the insects when Ketal stopped her.

“No, leave it to me.”

“Pardon?”

Ketal began to take out catalysts from his pouch.

As Aquaz and Baker watched, their eyes widened.

Ketal was meticulously using the catalysts to create a barrier.

Baker couldn’t believe it.

“…Alchemy?”

As he finished speaking, a breeze began to rise around them.

The gentle wind drove the insects away from their area.

Ketal smiled with satisfaction.

“It’s done. I used alchemy to create a wind barrier. Small insects won’t be able to fly through it. Plus, the cool breeze will help us sleep comfortably.”

“T-Thank you. But you can use alchemy too?”

Aquaz was genuinely surprised.

Ketal responded as if it were nothing.

“Just at an apprentice level. It’s not that great.”

“Even so… it’s impressive.”

Aquaz found it fascinating that a barbarian could use alchemy.

Baker, on the other hand, swallowed hard.

‘H-how.’

While Aquaz was simply amazed, Baker couldn’t let it go.

He was a magician.

He knew how challenging it was to reach even an apprentice level in magic, how much perseverance it required.

Many aspirants at the magic tower failed to become even apprentices.

Reaching an apprentice level in magic was impossible without serious dedication and long-term study.

Although the alchemy Ketal displayed wasn’t impressive to an extraordinary magician like him, the fact that a barbarian could handle mysticism at all was a huge shock.

Even if the barbarian possessed some mystical ability, he had thought it was negligible.

He couldn’t imagine the barbarian had studied magic seriously.

At most, he believed the barbarian might know a bit about physical enhancement.

“…”

Baker fell silent.

His final belief in his superiority, knowing the great art of magic, had been shattered.

‘…Am I really superior to this barbarian?’

He was a magician.

Objectively comparing himself to Ketal, he realized there was no clear advantage.

‘No, no!’

That couldn’t be.

He couldn’t accept being inferior to a barbarian.

Baker desperately tried to find a flaw in Ketal.

‘…Yes!’

After all, he was still a barbarian.

No matter how knowledgeable, magically skilled, divinely recognized, or good at cooking he was, his fundamental nature wouldn’t change.

Though he might be hiding his barbaric nature, he wouldn’t be able to conceal it completely.

Eventually, he would reveal his brutality.

Baker was convinced of this.

And soon, an opportunity arose.

***

“G-give us your money.”

“And your food too.”

Bandits appeared, blocking their way.

Naturally, they posed no threat.

Among them were three individuals with strength surpassing that of any superhuman in the nation.

A mere handful of bandits could be dispatched with a flick of a finger.

However, Aquaz groaned.

“Hmm…”

The bandits wore tattered clothes.

Their bodies were covered in grime, likely from not having bathed for a long time, and their limbs were so thin that they seemed to lack any flesh.

The weapons they brandished were crude spears made from roughly carved wood.

Their appearance clearly did not suggest they had become bandits by choice.

“What should we do?”

In response to Ketal’s question, Aquaz sighed.

“Let’s subdue them first.”

A golden light enveloped her body.

Realizing they had picked the wrong target, the bandits tried to flee in panic, but they were all captured.

The golden bindings restrained the bandits and forced them to kneel.

“They don’t look like typical bandits.”

“They’re probably refugees who couldn’t endure exploitation and fled.”

“Ah.”

Ketal nodded in understanding.

They seemed to be like the residents of the village he had stayed in while heading to the sacred grounds of Kalosia, which had been plundered by bandits.

“There are many like them?”

“Quite a few.”

Refugees driven from villages had little chance of leading normal lives.

The village Ketal had seen was among the top 1% of refugee settlements.

Most refugees, even if they formed villages, collapsed under various harsh conditions and became bandits like these.

“So what should we do with them?”

“Well…”

Aquaz pondered.

“Until now, whenever we encountered bandits or marauders, we executed them on the spot without question.”

“Oh? Really?”

“They dared to hide under the great sun, fleeing the law and committing evil. There was no reason to show mercy.”

Aquaz spoke calmly, as if it were a matter of course.

There was no guilt about killing.

Ketal smiled.

This world was a medieval fantasy.

Human rights were not of great importance here.

“But… these aren’t people who became bandits by choice.”

While Aquaz was lost in thought, Baker spoke up.

“In the end, they’re still bandits, right?”

Being weak didn’t make one righteous.

These people were still bandits who attacked others and stole their goods.

“Isn’t there no need to feel burdened about it?”

“Well… that’s true.”

“Aquaz, you’re too soft-hearted. We’re the victims here, aren’t we?”

“Hmm.”

Aquaz fell silent.

Baker’s gaze then shifted to Ketal.

‘Speak, barbarian!’

Say that you will take their heads!

Barbarians, who love battle and thirst for blood.

Those who cannot forgive anyone who raises a weapon against them and must kill them.

That’s what barbarians in this world were.

Baker was convinced Ketal would see this as a good opportunity and would want to kill the bandits himself.

When Ketal made his move, Baker planned to intervene, calling him barbaric.

The plan was complete.

Baker’s eyes said it all.

Go ahead, barbarian.

Say that you will kill them!

“Hmm. Ketal, what do you think?”

Unable to decide, Aquaz asked Ketal.

Ketal responded.

“Is there any need to kill them? Their lives are precious.”

“As expected of a barbarian, you’re so savage… huh?”

Baker, who had been ready to criticize, tilted his head.

‘Did I hear that wrong?’

“What did you say?”

Ketal kindly repeated himself.

“These are precious lives as well. Though we are victims, we didn’t suffer any significant harm, so there’s no need to kill them.”

“…What?”

Baker stuttered.

Of course, that was Baker’s own belief as well.

He had grown up in the magic tower, never lacking for anything.

Recognized for his exceptional talent, he had received much support from a young age, and so had the magicians around him.

As such, he didn’t understand the harshness of the world well.

When he first went out into the world with Aquaz, he was shocked by the cruel reality and helped many suffering and poor people.

Baker was fundamentally a kind-hearted person who could sympathize with others’ pain.

But that was something Baker should say, not Ketal.

“R-really? But isn’t there no need to keep them alive? Even if we spare them, won’t they just continue living as thieves?”

“On the contrary, there’s no need to kill them. We can just impose some restrictions on them, can’t we?”

“Is it our job to deal with such bothersome tasks?”

Baker tried to coax Ketal into saying he would kill them.

That way, Baker could accuse him of being barbaric.

But Ketal never said what Baker wanted to hear.

Baker was almost going crazy trying to get Ketal to reveal his true nature.

As Baker desperately tried to say something, he noticed a gaze and closed his mouth.

Aquaz was looking at him with a puzzled expression.

“Mr. Baker? Why are you so intent on killing them?”

“…What? No, it’s not that.”

Baker hastily looked at the thieves.

They were trembling and staring at him with pale faces.

“…Ah.”

Baker realized too late.

In his attempt to paint Ketal as a villain, he ended up looking like the one insisting on killing the thieves.

“No, that’s not what I meant….”

“Of course, I agree with your point. They might commit more crimes even if we spare them. Aquaz, can you impose restrictions on them to prevent them from committing any more thefts?”

“Yes, I can.”

“Then, please go ahead. I will provide them with enough money to settle elsewhere. Is that acceptable?”

“Uh, okay….”

Baker nodded weakly, knowing that if he said any more, he would just look like the one eager to kill the thieves.

Aquaz placed restrictions on the thieves, and Ketal handed them some money.

The thieves wept with gratitude.

“…You are quite merciful.”

Aquaz looked at Ketal with a surprised expression.

Ketal was not your typical barbarian.

He had a friendly relationship with the devotee of a god and approached her warmly.

He helped them without expecting anything in return.

But he did so because he considered them friends.

Some barbarians were very kind to their friends.

In contrast, these thieves had initially been hostile towards Ketal.

There was no reason for him to be kind to them.

Baker’s words were harsh but not incorrect.

Yet Ketal chose to spare them, which was quite unexpected.

“I am not a good person.”

“If this isn’t good, then I don’t know what is. You should give yourself more credit.”

Aquaz smiled warmly.

But Ketal muttered with a strange expression.

“I don’t think so.”

He knew he was not a good person.

He knew it better than anyone.

Ketal didn’t bother to correct Aquaz’s misunderstanding.

The thieves were tearfully preparing to leave, continuously expressing their gratitude.

Baker cautiously asked.

“Is there any magical help you need? I can help too.”

“Eek!”

“I’m sorry! We’re really sorry!”

The thieves, who had been crying with gratitude in front of Ketal and Aquaz, trembled and begged in front of Baker.

“….”

The situation had turned out completely opposite to what Baker had intended.

Baker felt like crying.