Bjorn Yandel the Barbarian

“It’s fun.”

“Are you having fun? Is that what he said?”

“We claim that we are monsters and that we are human.”

“Oh… what a stupid monster you are?”

Unlike Einar, who smiled brightly and moved on, the reactions of those who heard the story were divided in various ways.

Reaction that is fun like me. curiosity.

Either that or a little annoying.

Unexpectedly, Bersil, the wizard, did not respond much.

Is it because you are a player? I think if Raven had been there, his eyes would have gone back. While asking why do you think that right now.

[What is everyone… saying?]

Then the little monster asked me.

Now that I see it, it doesn’t look like I’m blind at all.

[We were discussing about what you said about being human.]

[……Do you have any opinions to share?]

[That’s right.]

[Who are you?]

I pondered for a while before answering the question that asked the essence. . Humans, barbarians, fairies, and beastmen all had a word that could be used to refer to them collectively.

[We are explorers.]

[Explorers……?]

[Why? Is this a new word?]

The little monster raised his right hand and lowered his black butt. In this culture, that seems to be a gesture equivalent to a nod.

[Explorer… What is exploration?]

[A person who finds new things by roaming around the labyrinth and catches and kills monsters.] [

…As expected, you guys are from outside the island.]

[Yes.]

Saying that, he lowered his index finger, and the little monster also snapped his index finger twice.

what the heck this is kind of funny

“I think we’re going to have a longer conversation, but everyone be careful.”

“i get it.”

First of all, after changing the formation to a state of alert, I started working on the affinity for an amicable conversation.

[Do you want to eat it?]

[What is that?]

[It’s dried meat that’s called jerky.]

[I didn’t ask for that.]

[Huh?]

When I tilted my head, he asked as if he really didn’t understand.

[Eating… what is it?]

His head went blank for a moment, but he didn’t seem like a guy who would play pranks in this situation.

So, once explained.

[Eating means chewing food with teeth and putting it into the throat.]

Just like this.

As an example, the little monster hated the jerky as he chewed it up and swallowed it.

[…Ugh. Weird. Teeth are just organs for killing enemies…]

[So you mean you don’t eat anything?]

[Of course! How did you put something like that… into your body?!]

No, I feel weird when you say that with that look

… .. Not usually!]

This is a bit strange.

No, should I say that this part is the same as the monster?

[So you’re saying you can live without eating anything?]

[Of course. As long as we can drink enough of the water of life, we humans will not die.]

[The water of life…?]

When I questioned him, he took out a ceramic bottle from his bag.

And swallowed it in one gulp.

[This is the water of life.]

[Could you give me a little?]

[…………Yes.]

He didn’t want to give it to me, but he held out the bottle, perhaps realizing that he was being captured. .

Okay then we got the sample.

“Versil, do you know what this is?”

“Wait a minute… The magic density is very high…”

I handed it to him just in case, but unexpectedly Versil found out his true identity at once.

“This… I think it’s like grinding a magic stone and putting it in water?”

“…A magic stone?”

“Yes. Normally, the number of magical powers used in cities is made that way, and it is exactly the same as that.”

Mana water was an almost indispensable material when making various magic tools.

But they say they use this as their staple food…….

[Hey, by any chance, is the water of life made of magic stones obtained by killing monsters… or stones?]

[Yes… But what about that? And I’m not ‘hey’. My name is Marupichichi.]

[I got it. Marupichichi. I am Bjorn, the son of Yandel.]

[……Strange name.]

Marupichichi…….

So, in short, while Maru said that, he shyly(?) put his index finger forward, and I also noticed my index finger. pushed out and hit

“Now… what are you doing with that monster?”

“I don’t know. I think it’s a handshake.”

“How far did you get the information? Did you dig up the location of the town?”

Oh that…….

I should have started it sooner, but it was fun so I just talked about useless things for a while.

“I’m still asking questions.”

“Is that so… Well, even a child would not easily reveal such confidential information to the enemy. If you need my help, tell me.”

“…I get it.”

At this point, I put aside my personal curiosity and checked the important information first.

[Marupichichi, where is the entrance to your village?]

Contrary to Amelia’s concerns, Maru, who was kind enough to let the captured prisoner escape with his own hands, did not do anything cowardly like exercising the right to remain silent.

Although it wasn’t the answer I was looking for.

[no. Right now…….]

[Huh?]

[No one can enter the village until the adults open it……. including me…….]

Ha, somehow I’m alone He was hiding in the bush.

[Is it normal for the village entrance to be closed?]

[No…… Except for the rainy season, it’s rarely closed.]

If it’s the rainy season… Does it rain here?

Well… if it’s an underground village, there’ll be problems when it rains a lot.

[But why is the entrance closed now?]

[That’s probably because of me.]

[Because of you?]

[Yes. Adults will know that the demons they captured ran away……]

No, then we have to form a chase team. Why close the entrance to the village? That was the first thing that came to my mind, but after thinking about it, it was worth it.

The villagers(?) won’t know that the explorers escaped out of the village.

After judging that they were hiding in the village, they must have sealed it off and started searching.

‘It’s been about four hours since they escaped, so it seems like they’ll come out after realizing the whole story of the incident…’

Once they found out, they shared the facts with their colleagues.

And the voting started.

“The topic is ‘How to deal with monsters that can communicate and claim to be human’, and there are two options to choose from.”

“two?”

I responded to Amelia’s question by moving my index finger up and down.

“Be friends.”

otherwise

“Either kill them all.”

Either way would be an explorer-like choice.

***

“Friends…? With monsters?”

Some of them seemed to be nonsensical.

The rest seemed to wonder if it would be possible in reality.

“Why do you want to be friends anyway?”

“Because they must know a lot as they used to live here.”

“Can’t we just ask that monster?”

Well, how much would this kid know?

After all, conversations with adult monsters are essential to obtain high-quality information.

However, Amelia was still skeptical.

“For that reason, it’s enough to capture and interrogate an adult monster.”

“That might not be easy, though. This guy was young and was drinking alcohol, but they might not be.”

“You don’t believe me…?”

“That can’t be the case. It was just that there was no need to use extreme measures. We still don’t know how strong their forces are. But… didn’t they say something about not killing them recklessly a while ago?”

“That’s the story of a human being.”

“ah.”

“… and if we fail to be friends, what will we do then?”

Amelia asked without hesitation, and I answered without hesitation.

Aren’t there two options in the first place?

If A doesn’t work, of course you should go for B.

“Kill them all.”

“I see. In that case, I’d rather be friends.”

“Are you surprised?”

“Because I’m a little interested in them too.”

Anyway, starting with Amelia, the voting continued.

And…

“Three to be friends. Three to kill.”

For some reason, this time, the outcome was determined by my choice.

Swoop.

I turned and looked at Marupichichi.

And a car about to make a decision.

Whii-i-iik-!

The warrior’s body, ready to fight anytime, anywhere, caught the threatening noise.

who where why

My body moved first before I could judge such a thing with my head.

Pooh-!

A mysterious arrow stuck in the shield covering the upper body.

To be honest, I was a little surprised.

‘…This is stuck.’

An arrow that did not penetrate deeply, but pierced the plywood of the shield and became lodged.

Even looking at it, it seems that the physical deal was 100%.

“Prepare for battle!”

As usual, I shouted the word first and checked the direction the arrow flew.

Even so, monsters armed with various weapons were appearing in the bushes.

‘The goal… is to rescue this kid.’

Perhaps the reason he shot the bow was to fill the gap.

As soon as I realized their intentions, I threw away my shield. Then he reached out and grabbed Marupichichi’s back.

[Ugh!]

It was my new shield.

[Leave it, let it go…!]

Although it struggled and screamed at the shield.

One thing was certain, though.

Tadat.

The monsters who appeared in unison, like special forces agents, flinched at the sight of my new shield.

[A coward…….]

[Taking a child hostage…]

The praise pours out without even getting close or far.

[…Uncle Ma Mauratiti!]

[Don’t worry. I will definitely save you.]

Now that I see it, everyone seems to know this kid.

‘But why do you use honorifics? Do you have a high status?’

I don’t know, but if it’s true, it’s better.

I shouted while holding up the newly acquired monster shield.

[Abandon all weapons! Otherwise, this kid has no life!]

Amelia next to me muttered softly as she watched my actions.

“Unexpected. I thought you were going to be friends.”

“Huh? You’re just trying to be friends?”

When I answered naturally, Amelia briefly asked back.

“…something like this?”

“Kuhmm…!”

Anyway, ‘something like this’.

“……Originally, everyone gets close while fighting.”

Did we too?

***

There is silence.

[Spoken in human language.]

[The monster… How can we talk?]

[The village chief said…]

Dozens of monsters looked at me without even lowering their weapons or attacking.

I also waited while maintaining a combat posture.

And maybe a minute passed?

trudge trudge.

Before long, a monster about 3.5m in height emerged from the bushes.

He had a bow as big as his big body slung over his shoulder.

Yes, he is the archer.

[Are you the boss?]

When I spoke first, the bow monster asked in reverse.

[Monsters, how do we use our language?]

[Throw away your weapon. Then I’ll tell you.]

To my surprise, it was my shield that answered those words.

[……Ah father! No! Because I’m fine…!]

Hey… Was it Dad?

“Did you see it? Bjorn has a vicious smile! Now those monsters are all dead! Hahaha!”

…Did I laugh?

I don’t know, but I focused on the conversation while managing my facial expressions.

[Don’t step out. Chichi.]

[But…….]

[Be quiet!]

[…….]

The shield shuts its mouth at once from Dad’s scream.

Yeah, we’re talking grown-ups, but kids don’t have to be involved.

[Last words. If you want to save your son, throw away your weapon right away—.]

[I want to invite you to the village.]

[………What?]

I thought I heard it wrong for a moment, but my ears weren’t wrong.

[He said he wanted to invite you to the village. Do you not understand? It shouldn’t have been difficult vocabulary.]

Uh… isn’t this a problem with vocabulary?

[Do you think I’ll accept an invitation in this situation?]

Seeing the bow monster’s level, even this species can’t be caught off guard.

In numbers, we are clearly outnumbered.

If you get hit in the back of the head in an isolated place, there’s a very high chance you’ll be in trouble.

Until safety is secured or trust is built, it is a pointless proposal.

[Refusing the invitation… It’s barbaric.]

[Hanging a corpse on a tree is humane?]

[…All of your fellow countrymen who were taken to the village are safe. I will never hurt you, so throw away your vigilance.]

How can you believe that?

[You can keep my son with you if you want—.]

[Rejected.]

Once again, he firmly refused, and the other side didn’t make a fuss either.

It’s just an unusual request.

[Then can you wait a minute? It really only takes a little while.]

Isn’t that why you’re calling in reinforcements?

I was a bit apprehensive, but I decided to accept this offer.

It could be my misunderstanding, but it was because I didn’t feel much of the hostility there.

‘…For some reason, the atmosphere changed drastically after knowing that I could speak.’

It was when about 10 minutes passed with such a strange confrontation.

[It’s the village chief…….]

[Everyone clear the road.]

I heard a muffled sound from behind, and the warriors parted like the Red Sea and gave way.

And between them, a monster with white beard below the chin walked with a cane.

[Nice to meet you. What’s your name?]

A tone that sounds very soft somewhere.

[This is Yandel’s son, Bjorn.]

[That’s a good name. Nuacic! Lead your warriors and fall back! I have something to say with them!]

I don’t know what the culture of these monsters who call themselves humans is, but at the village chief’s order, the monsters distanced themselves from each other without any disagreement.

[I’m sorry. It’s not something they would want to know.]

[They…?]

I involuntarily tilted my head at that strange-sounding word, but the village chief only smiled with a snout with excessive fangs.

[Come to think of it, I didn’t introduce myself. I am Brungrid, the chief of this village.]

[Brungrid?]

I think I heard this somewhere.

“Do you know the name Emily Brungrid?”

“I remember that one of the great sage’s colleagues had that name.”

Oh, so I guess I’ve heard of it.

Soon, I returned to the original conversation and saw the village chief.

The village chief was stretching out his hand.

“Don’t be alarmed. It’s just a handshake.”

“Ah…”

I shook hands with a shy smile.

And only then did I realize it belatedly.

“Did you say Bjorn, the son of Yandel?”

The village chief was talking now.

In Lapdonia, not an archaic language.

“Nice to meet you. You must be an explorer from Lapdonia, right?”

what is this.

“So, how much time has passed outside?”

What is his true identity?