Surviving as a Barbarian in a Fantasy World

Chapter 123: The Knight of the High Elf (1)

Arkamis’s House.

In that place, it was always just Ketal and Arkamis.

Occasionally, Milena would visit to deliver catalysts or materials, but she was so busy that she would leave immediately.

It was rare for her to enter the house.

Now, there was one more person in that place.

Around the table sat Ketal, Arkamis, and a male elf.

Ketal spoke up.

“Then, let’s talk.”

Ketal smiled broadly as he looked at the male elf.

“To have a conversation, we need to know each other’s names. I am Ketal. What is your name?”

“I have no reason to tell a lowly human.”

The male elf spoke coldly, narrowing his eyes at Ketal.

“Filthy barbarian. If not for Arkamis’s mediation, I would have crushed you immediately. Know your place.”

His presence was overwhelming, hostile, and insulting.

Even an ordinary person, not a barbarian, would be taken aback and angered by his attitude.

But Ketal was pleased.

“It seems you have a sense of superiority over humans. Are all elves like that?”

“No.”

Arkamis shook her head.

“Not all elves are like that. But the elves from the sanctum tend to be. And he is somewhat special. He is almost like a noble among the elves.”

“Oh, so elves have social ranks too?”

“It’s a bit different from human classes, but yes, they do.”

“But he doesn’t seem to feel any particular pressure from me.”

Arkamis mistook Ketal for a dragon.

This meant that she felt a significant presence from him.

However, the male elf treated him as an ordinary barbarian.

“He might feel it, but not as much as from a high elf. It’s only a sense of pressure, after all. If he has confidence in his own power, he can ignore it.”

“I see.”

Ketal smiled as if he had learned something new.

At his nonchalant remark, the male elf’s eyebrow twitched.

There was a hint of surprise on his face.

Arkamis sighed.

“We said we’d have a conversation. So, I’m just staying quiet. Have a proper talk.”

“…Hmph.”

The man didn’t like it, but he obediently followed Arkamis’s words.

“I am Parco Venezia Celt, knight of the High Elves.”

“Parco. Got it.”

Ketal nodded.

Like the elf queen he had met before, it was a very long name.

“Arkamis, do you not have such a long name?”

“I am a High Elf. I don’t have a family name. I am just Arkamis.”

“Oh, I see.”

“…….”

Parco frowned.

Things were not going the way he wanted.

He felt like he was being led around.

“What does it mean to be a knight of the High Elves?”

“It means exactly what it says.”

Arkamis explained.

A High Elf is one born through the World Tree.

They are very special.

In some ways, they are nobler than the queens of the tribes.

Naturally, there were knights who served them.

They were strong.

Only the strongest among the elves could become knights of the High Elves.

Parco was one of those knights.

However, Arkamis seemed displeased.

“I thought I finally shook off your persistent nagging and control, but you’ve followed me here. How did you get here?”

“I received an oracle from the World Tree.”

“…What?”

Arkamis’s eyes widened.

“The World Tree gave you an oracle directly?”

“The world is in danger. I understand that evil targeted you, Arkamis.”

“…That did happen.”

“The world is shaking. Evil has appeared and is attacking.”

Parco spoke calmly.

“And one of their targets is the High Elf. You.”

Arkamis frowned.

She knew it.

Butler had said he would offer her as a sacrifice.

He had targeted her from the start.

But she had a question.

“Why are they targeting the High Elves?”

“I do not know that. But you are the only High Elf outside the sanctum. It is very dangerous for you to be out here.”

Parco looked at Arkamis quietly.

“Please return to our sanctum.”

“Ugh.”

Arkamis groaned.

She wanted to refuse.

But she couldn’t.

If it were just her own issue, it wouldn’t matter, but it was related to evil.

The fact that evil was targeting her meant they were plotting something.

She couldn’t stubbornly stay outside.

Arkamis sighed.

“Alright.”

Parco smiled.

“A wise choice.”

“Ah, damn. I didn’t want to go back now. Ketal, this is how it turned out.”

“It can’t be helped.”

“…Ketal.”

She looked at Ketal for a moment and then spoke.

“You’ll visit our sanctum someday, right?”

“My heart is always there. I might visit right after this matter is settled.”

“That’s enough. Fortunately, we’ll meet again, so I’ll have to be prepared until then.”

Arkamis clenched her fist energetically.

She turned her gaze.

“Parco, wait a bit. I have things to pack.”

“Things to pack?”

Parco’s face hardened in confusion.

Arkamis began to pack her alchemical materials and catalysts.

This house was her workshop.

It contained everything she had built while being outside.

She needed to take it all back to the sanctum to continue her research.

“…You’re still doing that kind of thing.”

And Parco was looking at her workshop with disgust.

He pondered for a moment, then with a resolute face, he raised his hand.

Wind gathered.

Arkamis’s expression changed rapidly.

BOOM!

The wind exploded.

Arkamis slid back.

“You! What are you doing!”

Arkamis glared at him.

If she hadn’t blocked it, her workshop would have been destroyed.

The wind had that intention.

“Arkamis.”

But Parco’s expression was very calm.

“You are a child of the World Tree, a great High Elf. Are you still obsessed with concepts that are mere material?”

It was the attitude of an adult admonishing a child.

“A High Elf like you should not lower your dignity by clinging to such outside technology. It’s unacceptable.”

“You! You!”

“Bringing such worldly things to the sanctum would greatly disappoint the other High Elves. It would be disrespectful to you.”

Parco gathered the wind with a genuinely regretful face.

“As your knight, I cannot allow such a thing. Please forgive my rudeness. It’s all out of my desire to awaken you.”

“Don’t make me laugh!”

Arkamis’s face twisted.

“I left that place because I hated your attitude!”

“Given the situation, please understand.”

“Shut up!”

She gathered mana.

But her body wasn’t in good condition.

She couldn’t even bring out half of her power.

Creak!

The wind slowly began to eat away at her workshop.

Despair filled her face.

“No, no.”

What she had longed for and wanted was now finally in sight.

But it was about to be shattered before her eyes.

Creak!

She desperately tried to block it, but it was not enough.

The wind was defiling her space.

Just as Arkamis was about to fall into complete despair.

“How about stopping there?”

Ketal grabbed Parco’s arm.

* * *

The first emotion Parco felt was surprise.

‘He grabbed my arm?’

Ketal was at some distance from him.

Not far, as it was inside the house, but not so close that he couldn’t sense him approaching.

Yet Parco didn’t notice Ketal approaching until he grabbed his arm.

And the next emotion was anger.

‘How dare a mere human grab my arm?’

A lowly barbarian dared to touch him.

Parco gathered the swirling wind in his hand and swung it at Ketal.

“Get lost.”

Ketal extended his other hand.

BOOM!

The wind exploded.

A fierce gust surged.

Parco sneered at Ketal.

‘You think you can block my wind with just one hand?’

Parco exerted more force.

The wind condensed further into a spherical shape and rushed forward.

Extremely condensed wind.

A storm formed into a small sphere.

Parco was certain Ketal would be sent flying, smashing into the wall.

‘You won’t die, but I’ll make sure you’re crippled.’

That was the emotion behind the wind.

“Ooh.”

And Ketal had a delighted look on his face.

He watched the wind forming into a sphere with a look of fascination.

“Impressive.”

Ketal clenched his fist towards the sphere.

Bang!

The wind exploded.

The impact pushed Parco’s body backward, his eyes filled with astonishment.

“What!”

The force was not insignificant.

Even an alchemist would not have easily withstood it.

But how!

Ketal leisurely dusted off his hands.

“Acting without considering others’ feelings is not very commendable, especially towards someone you serve. How self-righteous.”

“…Shut up, outsider.”

“I’m not an outsider.”

Ketal smiled faintly.

“She is my master.”

“What?”

Parco’s eyes widened.

“I also provided her with a catalyst. I can’t just stand by and watch you ruin it. What should I do?”

Pretending to ponder for a moment, Ketal nodded.

“Alright. She is my master. And I am her disciple. Therefore, as her disciple, I must protect her.”

“Ke, Ketal?”

Arkamis was flustered.

Something about Ketal’s words seemed odd.

“How about you and I have a duel?”

* * *

“Ke, Ketal? What are you talking about?”

Arkamis, who had been watching, opened her mouth with a bewildered expression.

“Suddenly talking about a duel?”

“It seems like this conversation isn’t going to end otherwise. Parco seems absolutely unwilling to allow you to learn alchemy.”

He intended to forcefully break her resolve, regardless of Arkamis’s wishes.

No matter how much Arkamis resisted, his mind would not change.

“But I am your disciple.”

Ketal had learned alchemy from Arkamis.

Even if he left now, that fact would not change.

If they met again later, he would continue to learn alchemy from her.

“In other words, he and I have a conflict of interest.”

“Is that so?”

Arkamis stammered.

Listening to him, it seemed that way.

And Ketal’s thinking was simple.

‘If he’s a knight of the High Elves, he must handle spirits.’

Which means.

‘I’ll be able to see other spirits!’

The fire spirit, Piego, he had seen before.

It was quite impressive.

He wanted to see such beings again.

“A verbal promise would be meaningless, so let’s stake our honor on a duel. I don’t think you have a reason to refuse.”

Ketal looked at Parco.

“You despise and dislike me, don’t you?”

Even while conversing with Arkamis, Parco had subtly revealed his feelings towards Ketal.

Strong hatred and contempt.

A deep repulsion that made it unbearable to be in the same place.

It had been a while since Ketal had seen such hostility, and he found it rather amusing.

“It wouldn’t be bad to release those feelings once.”

“…A worthless human.”

Parco twisted his lips.

“You seem to be hiding some trick, but you’re overstepping your bounds. Fine. I’ll break your limbs so you’ll never dare to challenge a noble elf again.”

Parco declared firmly.

Ketal smiled as if pleased.