A look of bewilderment flickered in the eyes of the barbarians. It was because things had strayed far from their original plan.

They gripped their weapons more tightly, tense. At that moment, a barbarian behind Artu spoke up.

[Artu. What if he's betrayed us?]

But Artu, instead of answering, simply studied the Watch members in front of him carefully and then lifted the corners of his mouth.

[No, that's not the case.]

The other barbarians, too, seemed to regain their morale, drawing confidence from Artu even amidst the tension.

Just as they said, the Watch members in front of them were neither numerous nor strong enough to subdue a barbarian easily.

Of course, Erich also knew this well.

"... Fuck, sending this many. Do they even know what assassination means?"

"If there are no witnesses, that's an assassination. Though this is beyond what I expected...."

About ten barbarians were visible. Realistically, there was a three-to-one difference in numbers with Erich's forces.

But Erich knew as well that a three-to-one advantage was not enough due to the difference in fighting power between barbarians and regular Watch members.

A single barbarian had the strength of five Watch members. And that only when those members worked together perfectly in direct combat.

So even though they were surrounded, the barbarians managed to regain their morale, for the number of Watch members was fewer than expected.

At that moment.

"Frederick. Can you pin down two of them?"

"... Two?"

A frown appeared on Frederick's face.

"Are you underestimating me? I'll see what I can do with three."

Was it bravado, or an expression of confidence in his abilities? Erich didn't bother wondering, but instead raised his hand.

― Wheeeik!

As Erich's hand shot up, the surrounding Watch members simultaneously hurled their spears at the barbarians.

― Kwajik! Kwajijik!

But of the thirty spears thrown, barely a few struck the bodies of the barbarians. With bodies that large, they moved with unbelievable agility, deflecting or dodging the spears.

Fear flickered in the eyes of the Watch members. The sight of the massive barbarians moving-nimbly before them evoked dread.

The morale of the Watch members plummeted. Meanwhile, the barbarians began to sneer. They poised, ready to charge at any moment.

But Erich had no intention of letting them.

― Wooong!

Suddenly, a crimson line cut between the barbarians and the Watch members, and Erich's figure appeared before the leading barbarian.

[...!?]

For only a moment did the barbarian seem surprised—he quickly raised his axe toward Erich.

― Kwadeudeuk!

But Erich's sword was already piercing through the barbarian's neck. Along with the bizarre crack of the breaking vertebra, the massive barbarian toppled forward.

― Chwaak.

With a swing of Erich's sword, droplets of blood sprayed out. At that, the barbarians momentarily hesitated.

[Kill them!]

With a roar, the barbarians charged all at once. But Erich, cutting along the flank of the foremost charging barbarian, was already surging past two others toward his real target before their attacks could connect.

A middle-aged barbarian with white hair braided to his shoulders—Artu.

― Kaang!

Erich's sword and Artu's greatsword clashed with sparks. At that instant, as Frederick shouted, the Watch and barbarians tangled in chaotic melee.

"Surround them!"

Thus began the brawl. Even though the Watch members did have the tactical advantage by location, the barbarians—thanks to their unique agility—even in the narrow corridor, managed to carve out fighting space for themselves.

― Kwaaang!

The force was unbelievable for a human swing. A Watch member was sent flying through the air by a blow from a barbarian's greatsword.

Having forced his way into the midst of the barbarians, Erich kept a close eye on the situation while exchanging light blows with Artu.

― Kkang! Kkakang!

With the metallic clang of steel repeatedly clashing, Erich slid on the snow, widening the distance between himself and Artu.

'He's not just any barbarian.'

It had only been a few exchanges, but Erich quickly drew some conclusions about the barbarian before him.

Despite their plan going awry, the barbarian who seemed to be their leader wore a strange smile, as though he'd found unexpected amusement.

"Aaargh!"

From all around, the cries of Watch members rang out. It meant that even groups found it difficult to handle just one barbarian warrior.

But the barbarian standing before Erich radiated even greater presence than the others. Unlike the rest, his face showed traces of age, his white hair stark.

'An elder.'

Erich, who'd fought barbarians for many years, knew their ecology well.

After all, until they started fighting the undead, the barbarian clans beyond the Great Wall had been the Watch's main enemies for centuries.

It was rare to find an old man among the barbarians.

With the harsh environment beyond the Great Wall, constant battles with the Watch, and even frequent infighting over things like honor, almost none made it to old age—unless they were truly strong.

If a truly powerful barbarian reached middle age, even if his raw strength and stamina diminished, his combat prowess was such that even the top Watch swordsmen had to risk death to fight him.

Their society referred to such individuals reverentially as 'elders'.

― Chyaaaak!

Widening the gap between himself and Artu, Erich slashed deep into the thigh of a barbarian whose back was turned.

Artu spun his greatsword as he spoke.

"Taking your eyes off me? How amusing."

Though quite distant, Artu suddenly closed in and swung his greatsword at Erich in a flash.

― Kwaaang!

In the flicker of the torchlight, their blades flashed as they tangled, faces brought close as Artu bared his fangs in a toothy grin.

'... Dangerous!'

Erich quickly kicked Artu away to open up space. Artu, snapping at empty air, licked his lips and let out a cackling laugh.

"A good warrior usually tastes good, too."

It sent chills down his spine. Erich scrutinized the tattoo on the nape of Artu's neck.

'... Just my luck—it's one of the cannibal ones.'

There were rumors of barbarians eating people, but not all practiced cannibalism.

The clans living relatively close to the Watch, especially those with bird motifs, were known for such habits.

Of course, it wasn't as if hunger drove them—the belief seemed to be that consuming strong foes made one stronger.

'And those clans in particular get along terribly with the Watch. Just how did Nicholas get tangled up with them?'

At the very least, it couldn't have been Nicholas himself who approached first to recruit them—he simply didn't have the guts.

So who was behind it? And for what purpose was this intrigue hatched?

Lost in thought, Erich once more engaged Artu.

― Chyaaaak!

Erich's sword grazed Artu's shoulder, and Artu's greatsword barely nicked Erich's chest.

A single misstep would mean instant death. That's what Erich thought.

This was his first time fighting a barbarian since returning.

They were at least a head taller than imperial citizens, and the weapons they wielded were nearly as large as a grown person.

Gigantic weapons swung by hulking monsters—no matter how skilled a swordsman, being struck by those blows would spell certain doom.

But Erich did not retreat. Little by little, the tip of his sword inched closer to Artu's body.

― Kaang! Kkaaang!

The closer he pressed in, the more accurately Artu's greatsword crashed down at him, but each time, Erich narrowly evaded.

Yet, oddly, with every spark from their clashing swords, an old nostalgia washed over Erich.

The barbarians' roars, the Watch members' screams, the iron tang of blood—the memories of past battlefields sharpened his senses further.

― Kagagagak!

At last, Erich's sword brushed past Artu's shoulder, blood spurting. The barbarian paid no heed, instead immediately aiming a strike at Erich's flank.

― Wheeeik!

But Artu's brow furrowed. What he thought would hit Erich's side instead sliced through mere air.

At the same time, his shoulder was pressed down, and flecks of his blood sprayed into the drifting snow.

― Chyaaaak!

Elder of the barbarians, Artu instinctively swept his greatsword back as he clutched his shoulder.

Erich, too, staggered as his body was grazed by Artu's retaliatory attack.

"Ugh!"

Although Artu's greatsword only grazed Erich's shoulder, searing pain shot through it—flesh torn away in a blow.

But it wasn't just Erich who was startled. The technique Erich had just shown—driving his sword into Artu's shoulder and flipping away with that force—was so incredible that Artu's face twisted in shock.

"I have never seen a warrior like you. I thought you were merely feeble insects."

[If you had met a Watch member like me before, you wouldn't still be alive.]

The barbarian tongue flowed from Erich's lips. Hearing it, Artu's eyes went even wider in surprise.

But the surprise lasted only a moment. Glancing quickly around, Artu smiled.

[What's your name, young warrior?][Erich.][A name I haven't heard. To think a warrior like you is unknown—what a shame.]

So saying, Artu hurriedly took something from his pocket and put it in his mouth.

'... What's that?'

He chewed and swallowed it, then continued.

[If your name were already known, defeating you would make for tremendous glory.][Don't worry. I don't plan to die here for you.][Is that so easy, do you think? Before you die, at least know my name—it's Artu. I am Artu, elder of the Swallow Clan.]

Then Artu's face grew flushed. Even through the outer layer of his fur garment, the dense corded muscles were clearly tightening.

'Some herb or drug that boosts his abilities?'

Tremors ran through Artu's body—a barely contained surge of strength. The veins in the hand clutching his greatsword bulged profoundly.

Erich could sense it—already formidable moments ago, Artu's power had grown even greater.

But Erich only smiled. At last, after returning, here was a foe whose killing intent he could feel on his skin.

He closed his eyes.

And from between his shut lids, a faint crimson aura began to rise.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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