Surviving as a Barbarian in a Fantasy World

Chapter 206: Duel (2)

After the sparring ended.

Ketal asked Karin what she had done.

Karin said that she had changed the very environment of the air around Ketal, creating an empty space where no force could affect him.

Ketal was astonished.

“Is something like that possible?”

“The spirit king I have a contract with is Minerva, the Spirit King of Wind. I can control and manipulate the very concept of wind.”

“Wow.”

Ketal was impressed.

Just a moment ago, Ketal felt like he was thrown into outer space.

No matter how much strength he used to move, he could only flail around.

He couldn’t move properly.

It was an immensely powerful and mysterious force.

“So, a hero can do things like that.”

A hero was capable of embodying mysticism.

They could make their will affect the very concept of the world.

He had been curious about how it worked, but it seemed they could change the very concept itself.

Ketal asked curiously.

“Can other heroes interfere in the same way as you?”

“No. I can interfere in this way because I am the contractor of the Spirit King of Wind. There are differences for each person.”

The scope and method of influence varied depending on how one reached the level of a hero.

“I’ve heard that a hero who reached that level with a sword can kill their opponent with just their will. The master of the tower can intervene and restructure the basic structure of the world.”

“Heart Sword. There’s something like that too.”

Ketal murmured cheerfully.

While enjoying the conversation, Ketal noticed something strange.

“But why was I able to escape your control?”

According to Karin, it should have been impossible.

She hadn’t controlled Ketal with power but had interfered with the very concept of the air.

No matter how strong he was, he wouldn’t be able to move in outer space with his own power.

Karin spoke cautiously.

“…Maybe it’s a matter of status?”

Ketal’s status allowed him to escape the environment she had altered.

At least, that’s what she thought.

“Is such a thing possible with status?”

“No. As far as I know, it should be impossible, but…”

Karin trailed off.

No matter how high one’s status, it should still be within the bounds of this world.

If the laws and concepts were changed, one shouldn’t be able to do anything.

However, Ketal forcibly broke free from her interference.

It was as if Ketal’s status was not of this world.

‘Is it because of the White Snowfield?’

Was it because he accumulated status in the alien forbidden land?

Even looking again, it felt alien.

As if he wasn’t of this world.

Ketal stroked his chin with interest.

“But I still couldn’t move immediately. It took some time to break free.”

“It seems that immediate escape is impossible for you.”

In other words, even a hero could be restricted in their actions.

There seemed to be a time limit, but it was a definite restriction.

“Is there any way to deal with this?”

“Wouldn’t it be through handling mysticism?”

Ketal’s body was certainly special.

Protected by status, it could escape the world’s interference.

But that was it.

He wasn’t in a state where he could materialize or handle that status.

Even though he could control his presence, that fact didn’t change.

Ketal was ultimately not handling mysticism.

The sacred relic of Kalosia and the highest-ranking fire spirit, Piego, were fundamentally someone else’s power.

The current Ketal was akin to an uncut gem.

Special and hard in itself, but still unpolished.

The power of this world.

Only by handling mysticism, controlling his own status, and managing his power could he be truly free from interference.

Only then would the gem called Ketal be sharpened to find its true value.

‘If that happens…’

What kind of power would Ketal possess?

Even Karin, called a hero, found it hard to guess.

Ketal narrowed his eyes.

“Mysticism, huh.”

The mysterious power of this world.

The source of aura, magic, and spirits.

In the end, it was that.

‘I want it.’

Ketal licked his lips.

He really wanted it now.

Until now, his journey through the world had come first, but his priority for mysticism was significantly moving forward.

“Anyway, thank you. My curiosity has been somewhat satisfied.”

“I’m glad you are satisfied.”

“It was really enjoyable.”

He met a powerful hero.

He toured the holy land of the elves and lived beside the towering World Tree.

He went to the Spirit Realm, met the Spirit God, and even obtained spirits.

He blocked a demon invasion and faced a burning humanoid monster.

And he even sparred with a powerful hero.

This journey was also immensely satisfying.

And now, it was time to leave.

* * *

Ketal told Arkamis and Karin that he was leaving.

Arkamis was shocked.

“Le-leaving?”

“I’ve had a thoroughly enjoyable time. I think it’s time to move on to another place.”

“Oh… really?”

Arkamis’s eyes darted around quickly.

She screamed internally.

‘I haven’t seduced him yet!’

She had been trying to make Ketal have a deep affection for her.

That’s why she even attempted clumsy seduction that she had only read about in books.

She thought she was getting the hang of it, but now he was suddenly leaving.

From her perspective, it was a bolt from the blue.

“Well… don’t you think about staying a bit longer? Or maybe even settling down here…”

“That doesn’t sound bad, but I still want to travel the world a bit more.”

Ketal laughed joyfully.

With a face full of innocent anticipation for the upcoming journey, Arkamis couldn’t bring herself to stop him.

Karin spoke calmly.

“It is foolish to try and hold back the steps of a free traveler. It’s unfortunate but inevitable.”

“Ke-Ketal. Can’t I come along…”

“Arkamis. You can’t.”

Karin firmly rejected Arkamis’s attempt to join the journey.

“Demons are still targeting high elves. You must not go outside recklessly. You can’t leave the sanctuary until the chaos subsides.”

“Ugh…”

Arkamis pouted but didn’t argue.

Karin’s words were not wrong.

The demons were revealing their ambitions on the surface, and among their targets were the high elves.

No matter how safe it would be by Ketal’s side, going outside was madness.

Karin spoke soothingly.

“There will no longer be the public opinion pressuring you as before. You can act freely.”

Until now, Arkamis’s position in the sanctuary wasn’t good.

She had the crime of going outside as she pleased and handled alchemy, an outside technology, despite being an elf.

If it weren’t for Karin’s protection, it wouldn’t have been strange for her to be imprisoned.

But that was no longer the case.

She used alchemy to prevent Quiklon’s self-destruction during the demonic invasion.

Considering that the other elves’ power didn’t help much, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she blocked it alone.

Without her, the contamination of the earth would have been much more severe.

Because of that, her treatment greatly improved.

She could now study alchemy as much as she wanted.

Training in alchemy freely in a sanctuary overflowing with noble materials.

For an alchemist, it was a dream come true.

“But…”

However, Arkamis hesitated and looked at Ketal.

Ketal spoke calmly.

“Arkamis. You have a great goal.”

“…I do.”

Her goal was to modify her body to be able to bear children.

“That is your goal.”

“…I have a sense of it. I think I’ll be certain within a year.”

“Then it would be good to focus on that for now.”

“But…”

“I’m not going anywhere, Arkamis.”

Ketal smiled.

Arkamis’s eyes widened.

“I will come back whenever you call for me. Losing sight of your goal because of present attachments is a sad story.”

“…Right.”

Arkamis nodded as if she had made up her mind.

“Got it, Ketal.”

“Are you leaving now?”

“You’re not leaving right this moment, are you? I’ll say goodbye later. I’ll go back to my research for now. See you next time!”

Arkamis quickly went down.

She seemed determined.

Watching her back, Karin murmured.

“She is a kind child. She has always struggled to adapt among her kind. As a child, she always cried to me, saying she couldn’t accept it. She said her kind looked like monsters who resembled her.”

“I see.”

“I wondered how to ease her suffering, but she found a solution outside. She has affection for you. Please… I hope she doesn’t get hurt.”

“I have no hobby of hurting those I have a connection with.”

Ketal spoke calmly.

Karin smiled faintly.

“If that’s the case, then I’m relieved.”

And the next day.

Ketal prepared to leave.

* * *

“You’re really going…”

“Arkamis.”

"I know. I understand. It's farewell, Ketal. When we meet again... you'll see me in a different form."

"I hope so. Truly,"

Ketal said with a smile.

Karin approached Ketal.

"Before you go, I have something to give you. The remains of Quiklon that you requested."

"Oh, thank you."

Ketal accepted the black rock fragments, the remains of the aerial fortress Quiklon.

Karin looked puzzled.

"Why did you ask for something like this?"

Ketal had specifically requested a piece of Quiklon.

He had asked Karin if it was possible to obtain a fragment.

Since it wasn't difficult, she had agreed, but she couldn't understand why he wanted it.

"I just wanted to have it."

Like people who collect soil from places they visit as souvenirs.

It was that kind of feeling.

Ketal cheerfully accepted the fragment of Quiklon.

Watching him with a bewildered expression, Karin pulled out another item from her belongings.

It was a green leaf.

"And… please take this as well."

"Hmm? I didn’t ask for this."

"This is a personal token of gratitude."

“…Oh? Your Majesty?”

Arkamis's eyes widened.

"Isn’t that a leaf from the World Tree? Is it okay to give that to someone else?"

"Are you in a position to say that, after secretly using the sanctuary's catalysts?"

"Well, what I used is on a completely different level from that."

The catalysts Arkamis used were very precious, but a leaf from the World Tree was incomparable.

The World Tree had grown to perfection and did not grow any further.

As such, each leaf was extremely valuable.

Even though she had stolen various catalysts, she had never dared to touch the World Tree itself.

After hearing the explanation, Ketal was surprised.

"Is it really okay to give this to me?"

"Considering that the demons already took away a whole branch, one leaf isn’t a problem."

Karin spoke lightly.

"Even though you made a deal with the Spirit God, I would feel guilty if I didn’t give you something."

Of course, that wasn't the only reason.

Ketal was strong.

Not only that, he was special.

It wouldn’t hurt to give such a powerful person a gift.

It would be great if their already friendly relationship became even more special.

There were practical reasons too.

"It will be of great help when you seek the Mysteries later. Please take it without hesitation."

"In that case..."

Ketal gladly accepted the leaf with a smile.

Now, it was truly time to leave.

Ketal headed towards the outskirts of the sanctuary.

Arkamis and Karin saw him off.

Karin bowed respectfully.

"Queen of the High Elves, leader of Elfo Sagrado, Karin Yggdrasil, bids farewell to her benefactor. As long as I am queen, all elves in this world will welcome and treat you well."

A gentle breeze enveloped Ketal's body.

It was the declaration of the Queen of the High Elves.

The only contractor of the Spirit King, and the elf closest to the World Tree, was sending a declaration to her kin.

"We elves will support you."

"Thank you for that."

"Ketal, as you said, I will focus on achieving my goal for now."

Arkamis stepped forward with serious eyes.

Her golden eyes looked at Ketal.

"And then... I have something serious to tell you. Will you listen?"

"Of course. I'll wait as long as it takes,"

Ketal replied with a smile.

Arkamis stepped back, satisfied.

"Then that's enough. We have plenty of time. Let’s focus on the future."

Arkamis patted her cheeks.

They said their final goodbyes.

"Then, until we meet again."

"See you later!"

Leaving their farewells behind, Ketal left the sanctuary.

He walked through the forest with joy.

'Where should I go now?'

His immediate goal was to obtain the Mysteries.

Should he go to the Magic Tower?

There he could meet the Tower Master and gain clues about the Mysteries.

Or he could head to the underground city.

In that place where all criminals gathered, he could find special artifacts.

He might even obtain information about dragons.

'But.'

There was one place he needed to visit first.

Ketal emerged from the forest.