Monarch (4)
Monarch (4)
Raven, the mage of Team Apple Nark.
She was near the passage with her remaining companions.
The reason was simple.
She had also tried to move towards where the team leader was when the attacks on the knights stopped…
…but she couldn’t even think of passing through because of the thousands of people gathered there.
“Miss Ainar, can I ask you a favor? I can’t see well from here.”
She was a little over 150 centiters tall.
She was much shorter than the average height of a human woman, so she sat on Ainar’s shoulders and observed the events unfolding in the center.
Although it was too far to hear anything, it wasn’t a problem.
She could just use magic.
“What are they saying?”
“It’s almost over. It seems like they’re going to split into groups of 300 and each break through.”
Raven relayed the events in the center to her companions in real ti.
And it wasn’t just her, many other teams were doing the sa. After all, everyone had at least one person with an ability like magic or Enhanced Hearing.
“What about Bjorn? What’s he saying?”
“Uh, that is… it seems like he’s coming this way. Ah, and a mage talked to him, as expected, it seems like Mr. Yandel is trying to gather a team.”
“Hmm, I see…”
Misha nodded slowly, looking worried.
It was understandable.
“We’re going north!”
“Is there anyone who wants to leave with !”
Many clans and teams were already shouting, trying to recruit companions.
There were even famous explorers whose nas were widely known.
And leaders of clans with fa.
There was even a place where three such clans had already gathered and ford an alliance.
But Raven said brightly,
“What are you guys worried about? You know that Mr. Yandel is no slouch in terms of fa, right? He’ll be able to gather 300 people, even if it takes so ti.”
It was a clearly different behavior from usual.
She was usually the type to analyze the situation and just state the facts.
But…
‘Mr. Yandel would probably do this.’
She had learned sothing from following that barbarian.
That a leader can’t just act as they ple—
“Huh?”
Raven froze involuntarily.
“What’s wrong? Did sothing happen?”
“That mage said he would follow Mr. Yandel.”
“Wow, really? I heard he’s a really talented mage.”
“Yes, that’s true, but…”
Raven was bewildered.
Although it was good news, she was uneasy because she didn’t know the reason.
‘He could have gone to a much better place…’
Why would a mage like that join them?
She couldn’t understand it at all.
So she decided to be honest with her companions and ask for their opinions.
“Hmm, that mage said he felt like people would gather around Yandel? I think I understand what he ant.”
“You understand?”
“Because Yandel, that guy, is special. Even Raven, you know that, right?”
“I know?”
Just as Raven asked back as if she didn’t understand, Ainar shouted,
“Bjorn Yandel is a great warrior!!”
Great warrior.
She suddenly rembered what happened in the Crimson Fortress.
Throughout their long history, less than ten barbarians had officially received that title from the King.
But back then, she thought…
…as she looked at the 2-month-old barbarian who had passed out after doing everything he could…
…that he might really beco one soday.
“You joined this team because of that too, didn’t you?”
“…That’s right.”
Raven nodded readily.
Urikfrit wasn’t wrong.
If she hadn’t felt anything special about that barbarian, she wouldn’t have joined this team.
“He has a strange power that draws people in.”
Raven finished her conversation with her companions and looked up to check where Yandel was.
It hadn’t even been that long…
[If it’s okay with you, we’d like to join you.]
[I think you’ll be able to save the most people.]
[Haha, a loyal guy is the most trustworthy in tis like this. Take us with you too.]
…but countless explorers were already following him.
But maybe it was because of what Urikfrit said?
It didn’t seem strange anymore.
And she didn’t even doubt the mage’s intentions, who was the first to follow him.
“I’m… not the only one.”
There are people in the world whose backs you want to follow.
And…
[See, I told you. People would gather around you.]
[A mage’s intuition is usually accurate.]
…most of them leave great footprints.
__________________
One to two hours.
I expected it to take at least that long.
Even though all the valuable explorers had escaped through Dinsional Gate, there were still many explorers who were better than .
I thought I would have to work hard to build a force that could compete with them.
But…
‘It’s probably because of this man.’
The situation was reversed when Kyle, the military mage with knowledge, strength, and natural charisma, joined .
lter Pend, a 3rd-grade explorer, brought his entire clan under my command, and it triggered a herd ntality.
It’s like panic buying.
Even if you don’t think it’s necessary, you feel like you have to do it when everyone else is.
“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”
“The hope of barbarians!”
“Follow the great warrior!!”
I ignore the barbarians’ enthusiastic cheers and move forward.
It’s a feeling I’ve never experienced before.
“Take with you! I won’t hold you back!”
Is this what it feels like to be a superstar arriving at the airport?
With every step I take, a new team, clan, or individual approaches and appeals to their strengths.
So I raise the bar.
The reason is simple.
I’m the one in power now, according to the basic market principle of supply and demand.
“Tell your role and rank.”
“5th grade, I’m alone now, but I was the guardian in my previous team.”
Guardian refers to the warrior role that stands at the forefront.
His skills must be decent if he’s 5th grade.
“Na?”
“Pel Akaberd.”
Pass.
“Nice to et you, I’m Bjorn, son of Yandel. Get behind .”
I continue recruiting as I move, only choosing the people I need.
‘There are barely any priests left since they all escaped through Dinsional Gate.’
It’s a sha, but it can’t be helped.
I have no choice but to fill the team with warriors and mages as much as possible.
Ah, and knights would be even better.
“…Kars Erimore.”
“Is there a spot for and my companions? Three apprentice knights and one regular knight.”
Soone I know appears.
“I can’t believe you were abandoned too.”
“I guess an apprentice knight from an explorer background isn’t that important.”
It’s the knight from Baron Martoan’s family whom I t at the Count’s estate.
His personality isn’t bad, and he’s a forr explorer, so he’ll be able to pull his weight.
And we even have a knight who can use Aura.
“Follow .”
“Thank you.”
One step, two steps.
The number of people following increases with every step I take.
I’ve already exceeded the 300-person limit just from the barbarians who decided to follow , but I continue recruiting.
‘We’re just splitting into groups of 300 anyway.’
If we move along the sa route, we can help each other in an ergency.
Although I didn’t expect to be able to gather this many people…
‘Alright, things are going well.’
That’s when, as I continue moving forward…
…I see one person in this huge crowd.
“Takelan.”
He’s standing there alone.
He didn’t join anyone’s team, and he didn’t even try to form one.
Maybe he just gave up.
“…….”
He avoids my gaze as soon as our eyes et.
It’s clear that he wants to pretend I didn’t see him and just pass by. But I’m a barbarian who has to do what I want to do.
I approach him and say,
“Follow .”
I don’t know why I said that.
The words just ca out.
“If you want to live.”
“Do you… think I want to live?”
He mutters as if he heard sothing strange.
“Lena was my wife.”
Right, that’s how it is.
“But why should I live?”
I answer,
“Soone has to deliver the news.”
It wasn’t my true intention.
Even at the mont of taking their own lives, everyone deep down desires to live.
Takelan also followed us until the end, even though he lost all his companions.
Was there a reason back then?
Well, I don’t think so.
But…
“Right, there was that…”
…people can get back on their feet more easily if there’s a reason.
“If you’ve co to your senses, get behind .”
“…Why are you being so kind to ? You don’t even need now.”
I answered honestly, selfishly.
“Because I’ll feel a little better if you survive.”
Using soone else to alleviate my guilt.
It’s similar to what that knight commander bastard did.
The only difference is that I know how cowardly I am.
“…….”
I don’t know what he thought after hearing my words.
But Takelan joined the group behind after that conversation.
‘I spent a lot of ti unintentionally.’
I continue to lead the group.
And I soon see my companions in the passage.
“Bjorn!!”
Misha and Ainar run towards and greet enthusiastically as soon as we’re close enough.
I roughly push them aside and talk to Raven.
“Raven, anything happen?”
“No…”
“That’s good. And you heard the conversation inside?”
“Yes, I did…”
Okay, then I don’t have to explain again.
“But why are you avoiding my gaze?”
“No? I wasn’t. Look!”
Hmm, really?
She seems strangely awkward around .
Ah, is it because of the people behind ?
Well, even I think Army Commander Barbarian Mode is intimidating.
Raven regains her composure and speaks as I tease her,
“Anyway, with this many people… we can leave as soon as we finish counting them. It worked out well. We were running out of ti.”
We were running out of ti.
She’s not wrong.
But there’s one thing we have to do first.
Sothing that might be the most important thing in overcoming this crisis.
_________________
Kyle Pebrosk.
A 3rd-grade military mage with the title of ‘Iron Mage’.
He let out a hearty laugh.
‘I was wondering what he was going to do…’
He was a fascinating guy.
To gather all these people and the first thing he does is ask for their nas.
“What’s your na?”
He approaches each person and asks for their na.
And after hearing their na, he briefly shakes their hand.
“It’s nice to et you, I’m Bjorn, son of Yandel.”
Soone even asked the barbarian why he was doing that.
They asked why he was wasting ti on introductions when they didn’t have ti.
And his answer was truly unbelievable.
“There are still many people whose nas I don’t know.”
“So what? What does that have to—”
“It’s important to . So don’t interrupt.”
The barbarian continued with the introductions as if it were a sacred ritual.
Most people thought it was aningless.
Even lter Pend, the leader of the Nartel Clan, who had his own experience and insight, felt the sa way.
“…Is there a aning behind it?”
Kyle smiled at his question, approaching him subtly.
“lter Pend, why did you decide to follow him?”
“That’s…”
lter Pend hesitated and then spoke.
“Honestly, I thought there must be a reason why you chose him, Mr. Kyle.”
“Right, that’s also a reason. But it’s not all. You have people you’re responsible for.”
“…Do you know about my situation?”
“I happened to hear about it. You received an offer from that commander bastard, but you refused because you couldn’t abandon the rest of your clan mbers, right?”
“This is… a bit embarrassing.”
“What’s there to be embarrassed about? I think it was a loyal choice. But to just follow soone else’s decision after going to such lengths to protect your clan mbers…”
“It’s hard to understand, even from my perspective.”
lter Pend laughed awkwardly.
And he continued cautiously,
“This might sound strange, but I had a feeling. That it would be safest to stand behind him…”
“So you followed your intuition…”
“It’s quite common in this industry. After all, you die if you’re unlucky.”
“I’m not blaming you. Actually, everyone here is probably not much different from you.”
“Yes?”
Although lter Pend tilted his head, Kyle just said sothing cryptic.
“Just watch. We’ll soon know whether it was a aningless act or not.”
The two of them then observed the barbarian without saying anything. He was still asking for everyone’s na one by one.
“…Hans?”
“No, it’s Hanbus.”
“Ah, really? Nice to et you! I’ll be counting on you.”
“The pleasure is all mine!”
He just asked for their na and briefly greeted them.
But sothing was different from the beginning.
“Teterud. Nice to et you. That’s a nice axe.”
“Haha, that’s the highest complint for a dwarf.”
“I’ll be counting on you later.”
“Damn right, don’t worry.”
The atmosphere was gradually softening.
The corners of their mouths, which had been tense as if covered in thorns, relaxed as they faced a battle where their lives weren’t guaranteed.
“Wait, why are you just passing by?”
“I already asked you when we first t. Davers, was it?”
“Huh, you rember all that?”
“Because we’re companions who have to fight together.”
lter Pend finally understood the reason for the change.
That barbarian was naturally gaining trust from all these people.
Just by asking for their nas.
“Bjorn, son of Yandel. Are you really planning to hear all these people’s nas?”
“Is there a problem?”
“No, I just find you to be a truly persistent guy. I’m Humble Elbertin. Let’s have a drink if we get out of here.”
“Humble Elbertin, I’ll rember that.”
“I can’t miss that. too! too!”
And the trust wasn’t just limited to those who had exchanged nas.
The brief conversations they had while revealing their nas could also be heard by others.
“We’re… no longer strangers.”
lter Pend was truly shocked.
They were people who were forced into the sa group, but they were strangers until today.
But now they know each other’s nas and faces.
They even have a rough understanding of each other’s personalities from the conversations they overheard.
The personal relationship each individual had with that barbarian beca a common ground.
They intertwined like a spider web, forming a bond.
“Bjorn Yandel, he… could it be that he calculated all of this…?”
“Well, I don’t think so.”
“It doesn’t make sense if he didn’t.”
“What doesn’t?”
“…Because people don’t usually do sothing like that without a reason.”
Kyle chuckled.
Indeed, that’s usually the case.
The sa action usually leads to completely different results.
But…
“Don’t try to understand. You should know if you’ve studied history. There are always people like that in every era.”
Because their actions and results are incomprehensible to ordinary people…
…they are considered great.
________________
The long introduction session ended.
And the mont we finished dividing the thousand people into three groups, following Kyle’s advice…
“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”
…I couldn’t help but let out a battle cry with all my might, expressing my reverence for the ancestor god’s blessing.
“Haha… Hey, why are you shouting again? The other barbarians are also shouting because of you.”
Uh, sorry about that…
But it can’t be helped.
‘There’s no Hans among all these people.’
Isn’t this practically a revelation from the ancestor god?
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