Barbarian in a Failed Game

In the world of “Midland Quest”, elves are fundamentally arrogant. They don’t even consider other races as human. This attitude needs no more explanation.

Especially, their enterprise outside of their paradise, “Paradise Bank”, epitomizes the narrow-minded and conceited worldview of the elves.

Their business direction, which claims to “preserve the history and technology of the inferior short-lived races and protect them from events arising from their limited foresight”, is a prime example of their elf-centric mindset.

Take, for instance, the incident that caused the enmity between Paradise Bank and Khan’s party, specifically, the killing of an elf from the Eiwass family.

Back then, the elf Eiwass, who was the head of the External Business Department, picked a fight with Ludmilla because he sniffed out the strong mana emanating from the artifacts of the sorceress she carried, demanding she hand them over.

He claimed he wanted to preserve the superior technology of the short-lived races. This altercation entangled them with Leniyar.

“The Sword Master himself lifted your confinement order?”

“Do you think I’d be roaming freely otherwise?”

Khan had just returned to Hoarfrost Gorge immediately after learning that the entrance to the sanctuary had been sealed off, making re-entry impossible. He came back specifically to find Leniyar, who might serve as the key connection to the elves.

Moreover, there were many unresolved issues with her. Why was she, who was supposed to be confined at Sword Mountain, roaming freely? And how did she get involved with Paradise Bank, leading to her pursuit of him?

“Well, he didn’t exactly release me to roam around freely.”

“Did he give you another mission?”

“I was told to investigate major events happening on the continent. It seemed like a rather out-of-the-blue request, but I wasn’t going to refuse a chance to get some fresh air.”

“Valken Leichtahp should be preoccupied with the subjugation of the Great Demonic Realm. Does he really have the leisure to look into outside news? Moreover, that he suddenly assigned you this task seems odd.”

“Who knows what that old geezer thinks? Maybe he got tired of being cooped up inside.”

No, that’s not it. Khan silently refuted her words. In all the playthroughs Khan had experienced, Valken Leichtahp had never once lifted Leniyar’s confinement order.

Not when the “Undead King Darkin Perayas” invaded the Empire’s borders in Act 5, not when the Magic Tower collapsed and the Pantheon Church splintered from internal strife, and not even in Act 8 when Leniyar clipped the wings of the Demon Dragon. Those actions were her own, not Valken Leichtahp’s orders.

“Was that all the message from him? To investigate major events on the continent?”

“That was all.”

Seemingly bored by the sudden interrogation, Leniyar yawned widely.

“So, why ask about this all of a sudden…? Dragging someone out of a nice rest, no less?”

“It’s just something that needed confirmation, albeit a little later than planned.”

“Uh…?”

Leniyar narrowed her eyes.

“What are you trying to confirm?”

“Why you chased me all the way here.”

“That’s because… I was simply interested when the Paradise Bank’s manager talked about you. You made quite a name for yourself in the border territories, didn’t you? With such a reputation, anyone noteworthy in the Empire would recognize your prowess. Is it really so surprising that I took action? It aligned with my master’s orders and satisfied my curiosity. That’s all.”

Her logic was sound. But Khan saw a clear issue.

“It’s the Paradise Bank’s manager who’s the problem. Leniyar.”

“The pretty girl…?”

“Haven’t you ever found it odd? Didn’t you ever question your own actions, chasing me out of sheer curiosity and then fighting me all the way out here in Hoarfrost Gorge?”

Leniyar fell silent.

“I’ve heard many stories about you. The Sword Demon Leniyar, a volatile bomb even among the Empire’s nobles. You take on any challenge headfirst and speak too bluntly for the nobles’ taste….”

“So what?”

Khan looked down at her with a faintly narrowed gaze.

“You’re also very prideful about your skills. They say you once tracked down and beat a swordsman who doubted your prowess by searching the entire Empire.”

“What do you know…? Acting all high and mighty…”

“I also know that, despite your violent and ruthless nature, you’re not a mindless killer.”

“……!”

Leniyar’s eyes wavered.

‘Thinking back, it was strange from the beginning.’

The Sword Demon Leniyar was violent and ruthless, but she wasn’t inherently evil. In fact, for players, she was known as a reliable ally.

If the player’s character had a certain level of renown, wasn’t leaning too heavily towards evil actions, and hadn’t achieved high camaraderie with the Empire’s noble factions, she could be recruited fairly easily.

‘But the Leniyar I encountered was full of killing intent from the start.’

“I didn’t find it too strange at first. I had heard rumors about your simple and brute tactics. But to follow me deep into Hoarfrost Gorge? If luck hadn’t been on your side, you would’ve died wandering through Hoarfrost Gorge and the snowy mountains before even finding me. You must have realized that.”

“…….”

“I did take advantage of the environment at sea to mess with you, but was that enough to make you chase me so recklessly, risking your life? The fight was your choice from the start. I don’t think you’re so blockheaded you can’t distinguish between what’s worth pursuing and what isn’t. Blockhead.”

“You bastard… Stop calling me blockhead…!”

Leniyar clenched her fists in frustration, an unaccustomed nickname still grating on her nerves.

“Fine, I admit it. It wasn’t to that extent. But so what? People’s minds can waver now and then.”

“That’s true. If you hadn’t been keeping company with those Paradise elven bastards.”

“What about them?”

Khan skipped the detailed explanation and simply conveyed to Leniyar that Paradise’s elves possessed drugs capable of manipulating people’s minds. He also suggested that it was likely she had fallen under the influence of such substances.

Leniyar’s reaction was intense.

“Bullshit!”

To someone as confident in her strength as she was, the idea that she had been manipulated by mere drugs was a severe insult.

“Even a tower master-level dark mage’s direct curse wouldn’t affect me. And you’re saying I fell for some petty drug?”

Her confidence was justified, given her abilities. However, Khan was certain that Leniyar had been affected by the elves’ drugs.

Considering that the mighty Karyan had warned Khan, with his extraordinary physique, about elven potions, could Leniyar truly be immune to such things?

‘Moreover, she appeared almost possessed by bloodlust during our fight.’

Though Khan had only recently acquired Karyan’s Eye, he could clearly tell that was abnormal.

While it might be excusable if she were simply a swordmaster with heightened emotions, the current lack of any red intent signals from Leniyar was curiously unsettling. Even as she outwardly acted angry.

“Then, let’s verify it directly.”

Realizing that explaining verbally would never be enough to get through her pride, Khan proposed.

“Go to Paradise Bank?”

“Yes. Isn’t it much simpler than arguing complex theories? Besides, they’re probably expecting to hear from you anyway.”

“What, do you think those sly elves will honestly admit if they drugged me?”

“If they don’t, we’ll make them. Simple as that.”

Khan smiled mischievously.

“Plus, I have my own business to deal with there.”

The elves at Paradise Bank could never imagine. The sword sent to avenge their kin would end up aiding the intended target.

‘Preemptive cancerous growths need to be excised early.’

*

The return date to the Midland continent was set to be soon. Having acquired everything they needed, there was no reason to stay any longer. Besides, the portable magic stones used in their “heat packs” for maintaining body temperature were running low.

They could have left immediately, but decided to wait a bit longer to see off the party undergoing the “Warrior’s Trial”.

“So, what exactly does the Warrior’s Trial entail?”

Alejandro inquired. Watching Eson, Maya, and the other young tribesmen disappear into the distance, Alejandro approached Khan silently and asked. Khan just grinned and gave a brief reply.

“Hard labor.”

“Ugh. Why would anyone put themselves through that…”

Ignoring Alejandro’s look of shock, Khan turned and headed directly to his quarters. He needed to see Ludmilla, who was poring over some of the few records available in Hoarfrost Gorge.

While Khan had been holed up in the sanctuary for the “Proof of Valor”, Ludmilla had used her exceptional intellect to uncover the suspicious nature of the brief mentions of an “ancient imperial prince”.

She hadn’t realized, due to lack of information, that this prince was Warrior God Karyan himself—but she was close.

“These texts, they all seem to have been created around the same time, and written in what’s considered ancient common tongue. This suggests some connection between this ancient empire and Hoarfrost Gorge. Also, the ‘prince’ mentioned here stands out. The records the Sword Demon knows differ slightly from those in Hoarfrost Gorge….”

Hearing Ludmilla’s findings as he entered, Khan wondered if it was only a matter of time before she uncovered Karyan’s true identity.

‘Perhaps even more than that,’ he mused.

His expression grew serious. Ludmilla had endured many hardships to aid Khan, claiming it was due to her own curiosity. But it was clear to anyone that her motives went deeper.

“Oh, and about researching the limitations of Hoarfrost Gorge. What about my previous request? I mentioned wanting to explore deeper areas….”

“Ludmilla.”

Khan’s sudden interruption made Ludmilla blink in surprise.

‘Ludmilla’s goodwill is based on a misunderstanding.’

Ludmilla had been shunned, feared, and hated by her parents, siblings, and all the people in her domain since birth for her inexplicable talents, labeled as the “inherent nature of a witch”.

Even after maturing mentally, this ostracism continued, and the mages of the Magic Tower also envied her for her talents, dismissing them as impossibilities.

Only one person—a modern-day reincarnator who despised superstition and knew what a real witch was—saw her for who she truly was: a meaningless misunderstanding.

Khan moistened his dried lips, preparing to speak slowly.

“I need to tell you something.”

“Tell me something?”

“Yes.”

Ludmilla had no idea.

She didn’t know that her goodwill, born from a misperception, would lead to Khan’s erasure from this world. She didn’t realize her dedication would end in betrayal.

The worst part was that Ludmilla might figure out Khan’s true intentions on her own, even without him explicitly stating them. That’s why Khan believed now was the right time.

Just before stepping into the grand and perilous stage that was the Empire—now was the time.

“I am….”