Chapter 107

Chapter 107

"Karha has recognized you as the Great Warrior...? Such ridiculous lies."

"Life means nothing to them. How dare these demons insult the warriors of the North..."

Murmurs and grumbles spread among the warriors.

...It looks like I can't just pass by. I had only intended to deliver a message.

Ian, having briefly licked his lips, looked at the old man. "It's true that Karha chose me on his own. I don't expect to be recognized as the Great Warrior by you guys."

"That crazy fool, until the very end...?"

"I should cut out his tongue. I'll do it myself."

The warriors could not hold back their anger. The mood had become dangerously tense, not just among them.

"What did they just say to Ian?"

"They're asking to be killed, the fools."

"Right?"

Charlotte and Thesaya exchanged cold words. Amidst the palpable murderous intent, Ian slightly raised his hand to stop them.

If they fought here, it was likely that not just the warriors but also the settlers would have to be killed. The fierce Northerners would not simply overlook the death of their warriors. Such a sight was best avoided until absolutely necessary.

Fortunately, it seemed the old man shared Ian's thoughts. After calming the warriors with a look, he turned to face Ian again. The anger in his voice was heavily suppressed.

"If you don't want to see blood, you'd better prove your words. If Karha has truly blessed you as the Great Warrior, there would be evidence engraved on you."

"...Ugh."

Really bothersome, seriously.

With a short sigh, Ian began to loosen the strap on his left shoulder guard. It was better than turning the settlement into a sea of blood, after all. He untied the bracer and one side of his chainmail, pulling out his left arm from the thick padded jacket he wore underneath.

Then, slightly lifting the hem of his shirt over his shoulder, his left arm and upper body were fully revealed. Ian's gaze scanned over his left shoulder.

A tattoo that started from the back of his shoulder and went up to halfway above his elbow was shown. The design was a simplistic depiction of blazing flames or a raging storm.

That fucking butcher scribbling on someone else's body...

The same thought he had when he first saw it continued.

The warmth he felt crawling up his forearm was because this tattoo was being etched at the moment he completed the Northern Great Warrior Quest.

There was no need to ponder why it happened. To bestow a blessing, a conduit to accept the sanctity was needed, hence it was left on the body instead of the soul.

"Is that sufficient?" Ian looked at the old man who had approached him, uttering these words. The old man stared at the tattoo on Ian's arm with a mix of shock and disbelief.

"It doesn't make sense... But this is clearly a battle tattoo...? Could it be the warriors of the Black Forest Hill... No, then this is...."

Muttering to himself like chanting a spell, the old man caught Ian's glance, who then began re-dressing in his clothes and armor. It seemed like he had seen enough, so there was no point in waiting any longer.

Just as the old man reached out his hand, he withdrew it under Ian's cold gaze. The confusion and conflict were apparent on his face as he alternated his gaze between Ian's forearm and face.

"Look here. Kvassar, why the silence?"

"You're not seriously believing this nonsense, are you? A man who walks with demons can't possibly be the Great Warrior of the North."

As patience seemed to run out among the warriors, someone stepped forward.

"Step aside, elder. There's a simpler way to verify this foreigner's claims." A tall figure with long, slightly curled hair, holding a long spear, emerged.

As Ian adjusted his shoulder guard back into place, he looked at him.

"The simplest way?"

The warrior said coldly.

"A duel. Foreigners. If you truly are the Great Warrior recognized by Karha, you wouldn't refuse or lose a duel."

Old man Kvassar frowned, and Ian's eyes narrowed, not from surprise but because a quest window had just popped up in front of him.

[The Authority of the Great Warrior.]

It was another barbarian-only quest. Seeing that the reward was yet another strength stat, a sardonic smile crossed Ian's lips.

Right, it's no longer surprising.

That's when Kvassar turned back to the warriors.

"Wait, everyone. Maybe this person really—"

"Shut your mouth, elder."

"...!"

It was Ian who cut him off. Glancing at the warriors and curling one corner of his mouth, Ian then added. "Bring it on. Take a number and line up."

"Phew...."

Ian shook off the blood on his gloves as the quest completion window appeared before him. Since getting involved with the Northern barbarians, his strength stat had increased by two. Although it was a good thing, he couldn't entirely smile about it. He felt it was enough strength for now.

"Ugh..."

The proof lay sprawled in front of the stakes. Ian quietly observed the warriors, either unconscious or just gasping for breath. The long-haired warrior who had given him the quest lay there, several front teeth missing, his face swollen.

Certainly, it's a great blessing when it activates. Ian smacked his lips indifferently.

His entire body was now practically a weapon of devastating power in itself. His strength and agility, with Blessing of Battle, were far superior to even the most valiant barbarian warriors. He didn't need any extraordinary skills to knock them all down. Most couldn't even properly block Ian's punches, and those who were skilled in combat or those who were tough could only withstand a few hits.

I should have been a barbarian warrior from the start. Damn...

Swallowing a sudden sigh, Ian turned his gaze toward the entrance of the village. The villagers, who had gathered, were now looking at him.

"...."

Initially hostile and furious, they no longer shouted or jeered at him. Instead, looks of awe, small and large sighs, and admiration had taken their place. They were from various villages beyond the barrier.

Among the warriors Ian fought, there were likely chieftains from each village. Recalling a divine warrior in Ian's figure, as he dispersed red sacred power and beat them all, was a natural progression.

"Anyone else who wants to try?" Ian spat out.

Of course, no one stepped forward. A few warriors who came late merely nodded lightly under his gaze. With that, a smirking Ian turned to look at Kvassar, who was standing beside Thesaya.

"As I said, I only came to deliver a message. Do you believe me now?"

"...." Kvassar just dumbly nodded. Ian gestured toward Charlotte and Thesaya and addressed the villagers.

"I trust that there will be no harm to the residents of the Black Forest Hill Village because of what happened today."

That should wrap things up neatly. Thinking this, Ian turned to leave.

As he walked, he fiddled with his fist, still flickering with sacred power.

Why doesn't the blessing disappear?

"Hey, Ian. You're just going to leave like this?" Thesaya, who had followed him in a rush, whispered.

Just as Ian was about to respond indifferently.

"Wait...! Please wait a moment...!"

A desperate voice followed. Kvassar was hurrying after him.

...I had intended to leave just to avoid this hassle.

Ian looked back at him with a click of his tongue.

"I'm done here."

"Forgive... forgive my rudeness, Great Warrior."

Stopping, Kvassar caught his breath and added, "We just found it hard to believe that the Great Warrior, who is not from the North, had emerged. Now, no one doubts you. Please, let go of your anger."

You've got it all wrong.

Ian snorted. "You didn't listen to a word I said. I'm not interested in being some Great Warrior. I came to deliver a message, and now that my business is finished, I'm leaving. I never planned to deal with you all from the start."

"That's exactly what the Great Warrior would say." Kvassar chuckled.

Ian's attitude clearly reflected someone indifferent to honors or power.

Of course, he wasn’t entirely wrong. Ian had no desire whatsoever to become a leader of the Northern barbarian warriors, nor did he want to take on the burdensome responsibilities and duties that would follow.

"What I meant to say was just to ask you to stay in the village for just one day." Kvassar quickly added.

Ian's brow furrowed slightly. "Is that all?"

"We are all people who have left our homelands. If the newly emerged Great Warrior of the North leaves our settlement without visiting, it would feel as if Karha has abandoned us."

"...."

Is that why the sacred power hasn't disappeared?

As he pondered, a new quest window popped up in front of him.

[The Footsteps of the Great Warrior.]

The quest, now a reality, seemed particularly bothersome as it simply asked Ian to tour the settlement. He snorted lightly through his nose.

But he couldn’t skip it. The reward was a skill point, after all.

Is this the last linked quest?

Still aware of the villagers at the entrance, Ian eventually spoke.

"One night. But, keep that damn Great Warrior talk out of my ears."