Barbarian in a Failed Game

Chapter 31: Wagner (5)

Feneth, concealing his emotions within his visor helmet, continued in a blunt tone, “But why is the young lord here now?”

“The mercenaries’ guild sent a message. I was going to keep silent as usual, but given the nature of the news, I felt you needed to know.”

“Has there been some sort of commotion outside?”

“No, that’s not it.”

The young man referred to as the young lord handed over a neatly folded letter instead of explaining verbally.

“They are requesting entry…? I warned that this wouldn’t be possible until a request was made from our side. The new branch manager, that young lady, must be feeling bold.”

The content was simple: a letter that had been refused several times before, asking for the sharing of information in exchange for help.

Feneth crumbled the letter in his grip.

“Impossible. What do you think is the reason we closed off the mansion?”

“As if I wouldn’t know that. But there are exceptions.”

“Just like inviting that priest. You seem displeased,” the young man shot a glance that clearly conveyed his annoyance at the reprimanding knight, sharing the message sent along with the letter.

“You must be aware that mages from the tower were dispatched to the eastern part of the kingdom recently. A disciple of one of these mages is currently in the city, and they are willing to offer assistance if needed.”

“…It’s an issue not even the priest could solve. What help could an ordinary mage possibly be?”

“A disciple of a magu is hardly ordinary, having been recognized for their talent even by the imperial mage towers.”

There was hardly any room for argument.

Whatever secrecy, or the inability to trust the empire’s mages, those concerns lost their weight the moment Feneth invited the Nordic priest.

“And. We can’t neglect the city forever. You know that as well. We need to find a solution, even if it means rushing.”

‘He must be eager to cement his downfall. Greedy little thing.’

Feneth inwardly clicked his tongue.

He was well aware that this foolish young lord, with ambition far exceeding his capabilities, was exploiting the anomalies affecting the lord to expand his influence.

The workers and clerks confined in the mansion, oblivious to the full picture, might easily fall for the head’s merciful whispers.

But the knights bound by ‘oaths of loyalty’ were a different story.

“…I understand consulting with the mage. But all proceedings will take place under my supervision.”

“As it should.”

The blond noble young man smiled radiantly.

“After all, my father only trusts knights who have sworn their loyalty before God.”

Feigning ignorance of the overt mockery in that bright smile, Feneth respectfully bowed his head to the incompetent son of his lord, signaling it was time for him to leave.

“Then, I shall take responsibility for inviting the mage’s disciple to the mansion.”

“Do as you wish.”

Perhaps amused by Feneth’ curt response, the young man let out a short laugh and turned to leave.

‘Presumptuous fool.’

That the heir to the Count Hepheldt, ranked among the highest in the western kingdom, was such a man, clouded the future of the household with dark clouds.

There was a reason before the count lost his sanity, he entrusted his personal safety to Feneth, not his own blood.

The man who had always been overshadowed by his father, now reveling in the current situation, never ceasing to cause trouble within the family.

‘He doesn’t even grasp the situation…’

It was a situation where internal incompetence posed a greater threat than external enemies.

Though merely a possibility, the thought that this greedy fool could have involved himself in the count’s afflictions couldn’t be entirely dismissed.

‘If only… the magus’s disciple could indeed be of help.’

Before the problem escalated beyond control…

“Wow. The nobles of the Argon Kingdom decorate their mansions more modestly than I thought. I wonder if frugality is considered a virtue in the kingdom?”

The blonde youth’s lips twitched at the voice coming from beyond the door. It was impossible to tell if the comment was meant to be sarcastic or was a genuine expression of admiration. He had emerged upon hearing that a disciple of a magus had arrived at the door…

‘The owner of that foolish voice is really a disciple of the magus…? How can this lavish mansion be considered modest…?’

No, that’s not it. The young man suppressed his doubts for the moment and instead, adorned his face with a gentle smile. “Welcome. I’ve been expecting you. Are you the mage from the tower who wrote the letter?”

It was quite unusual for the young man, the eldest son and heir of a count, to personally greet someone. After all, he was known for his prideful nature. But the visitor was no ordinary person.

“Yes. My name is Jan, a disciple of magus Jerome.” The magus of the Mage Towers was held in high regard even among the empire’s nobility, making Jan his respected disciple. Perhaps the count himself might have been a different story, but the heir, with his relatively lesser status, could not afford to be arrogant in front of Jan. Maintaining some level of casual speech was the last line of defense for his pride.

“Good. First, come inside. There’s something I’d like you to see right away, rather than wasting time on idle chatter. But…”

The voice of the mansion’s master trailed off as his gaze shifted behind Jan.

“I don’t recall hearing about any companions.”

And that companion happened to be a barbarian. The reaction was clearly one of dismay. Warriors from the wasteland were not only rare to see but were also rumored to be extremely violent and uncivilized. Considering the notoriety spread by the great warrior of the Black Wing, the rumors could very well be true.

“He’s a warrior assigned to me as an escort by my master. His skills are assured. A bit rough around the edges, though…”

Jan spoke, glancing back at the barbarian as if checking his reaction. Although it was unlikely for someone who was a disciple of a magus to worry about the opinion of their escort, it appeared so to the young lord.

‘It must be a misunderstanding…’

“Ahem. If you’re worried about him being seen or heard, that’s not a concern. He doesn’t speak the kingdom’s language. You’ve heard the rumor, haven’t you? About barbarian being so dense that they can’t even speak properly, let alone read.”

“Ah, I’ve heard. Even the great warrior of the Black Wing is said to struggle with communication, wandering the battlefield alone.”

“Yes… Haha. Exactly. They are quite foolish. Ahem. Oh, excuse me. Got something in my throat…”

Jan made a strange noise, eliciting a peculiar look from the young lord, who inwardly shook his head. It seemed the saying that sane mages were rare might indeed be true.

“Hmm. I understand. Let’s have him come in as well.”

It really didn’t matter much to him. Turning away the barbarian escort and risking the mage leaving would be a bigger loss. After all, even if a barbarian were to cause trouble, the household’s standing forces, including dozens of soldiers and at least two knights, were more than capable of handling it. However,

“I’m not sure what Sir Feneth, who is currently overseeing the mansion’s security, will think… But let’s proceed together.”

Following the mansion’s master with Jan and his barbarian escort in tow, Jan seemed to forget that he was supposed to be acting like a proper disciple of a magus, bombarding the master with various questions. Fortunately, the master didn’t find this suspicious and answered all of them, even taking a liking to Jan.

‘Right. This is how it should be. Who are those arrogant fools to teach… Nobles, nonetheless.’

Unlike other mages from different kingdoms who would act haughtily in front of him, the demeanor of this mage with a timid face was quite commendable. Surely, being a disciple of a magus truly meant being humble, as those truly great often are.

“But the soldiers seem to ignore the young lord. Why is that?”

Even considering this question borderline impolite, the young lord wasn’t offended in the slightest. He took it as a sign of the mage’s keen intellectual curiosity.

“It’s an order from Sir Feneth, who I’ve entrusted with the mansion’s security. Except for a few individuals, private conversations are currently forbidden in this mansion.”

“Oh. That’s a bit… no, quite an unusual measure.”

“What. That must mean there is a need for it. After all, he’s a knight who has sworn a ‘Pledge of Loyalty’. A faithful one who absolutely cannot commit acts of betrayal…”

The young lord trailed off, but it wasn’t hard to guess what was left unsaid. Even a cursory listen filled the air with the nuance of ‘a dog guarding the house.’

Jan could tell from the gruff attitude that Sir Feneth and the noble young man in front of him did not have the best of relations.

The ‘exceptionally perceptive barbarian guardian’ likely realized it as well.

“Hmm. It might be best to end the questioning here. We’re approaching the lord’s chamber where Sir Feneth always is.”

It was only when the young lord mentioned reaching their destination that Jan realized they hadn’t encountered anyone else except for the armed private soldiers.

Ordinary servants and administrators must have been isolated somewhere in the mansion.

It was indeed an abnormal decision. Something secret was being guarded, with a blatant intention not to disclose it.

“Sir Feneth. The disciple of a magus Jerome, whom I mentioned yesterday, has arrived.”

“……”

Distracted by his surroundings, Jan suddenly lifted his head.

A knight, clad in full armor, was silently staring at their direction.

Jan, typically quick to shrink back in such threatening situations, remembered the presence of the barbarian behind him and regained his composure.

“I am Jan, a disciple of a magus Jerome. I thought I might be of some assistance regarding the anomaly that has occurred at the noble house…”

“There’s no need to force politeness, young mage. Aren’t you a talent from the Mage Towers of the Empire, not even bending your neck to imperial nobles?”

“Uh. Not really, no…?”

“And you brought a barbaric, violent folk as a guardian to a mansion sealed off due to an issue. If this is not rudeness, what is it then? Seems like he’s employed as a guardian…”

To Feneth, who spoke as if spitting the words out, a flicker of an emotion could be glimpsed.

“Inside, it will be just the mage and I. The two of us alone.”

At those words, Jan glanced at the barbarian guardian and then sent a pleading look towards the young nobleman with blond hair. However, the nobleman merely shrugged his shoulders, indicating agreement but not offering actual aid.

“Sir Feneth can be quite stubborn. Just cooperate with him. There’s no need to involve the barbarian, right?”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

Jan, speaking as if in support of Feneth, showed a retreating attitude from the conversation.

‘What? Weren’t they on bad terms?’

The attitude now was different from what seemed like disliking Feneth before, leaving Jan quite confused.

No, everything about this mansion felt suspicious.

The count’s knight issued an order as if the count’s son was non-existent, and the soldiers treated him as such, naturally accepted by the young lord himself. And the people who were nowhere to be seen. At the heart of this situation was Count Hefeldt…

Jan was certain he needed to follow this knight named Feneth into the room.

After all, the fearsome warrior behind him seemed to wish it.

“Then, I’ll open the door. Follow me in immediately.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Feneth turned his back, with a voice whose intentions were obscure, and partially opened the door to the chamber he was guarding.

To Jan, the scene felt ominously like being invited into a den of demons.

And it seemed like he could hear the sound of a beast howling from the inside…

“Grrrrrr──!”

“Uh…”

And the next moment.

“Wooooo─oo─oo─!”

A roar that seemed to shake the entire mansion resounded right in front of them.

Startled, Jan aimed to ask Feneth what was happening, but then, an anomaly occurred.

“What is this…. Your Excellency!”

With a flash of red light –

Flash! The next moment.

Boom!

With a heavy sound, Feneth’s body was thrown against the wall.

“Father……!”