Barbarian in a Failed Game

Chapter 033: Draupnir (2)

Khan was eager to engage in a deep conversation with Draupnir right away, but unfortunately, it was not possible. It was because Count Hefeldt had regained consciousness sooner than expected.

“Thank you. Ever since I took hold of that sword, it felt as if my head was surrounded by dark clouds… You said you were a disciple of a magus? I won’t forget this deed and will repay you, even if it means staking my family’s name.”

“Ah, I didn’t really do much….”

“I’ve heard about it. Your escort played a significant role. A barbarian, they said… It seems the Black Wing Duke has a good reason to favor you over a knight. I heard you easily subdued me when I was berserk under the sword’s curse.”

The count, still with a pale complexion, turned only his gaze towards Khan from his luxurious chair. Unlike his thoughtless son, the count exuded a noble dignity that was quick to draw blood, typical of Draupnir.

‘A ruler well-acquainted with war, that must be it.’

Indeed, from Khan’s perspective, Count Hefeldt possessed something extraordinary that could not be found in an average person. Perhaps it was the true dignity of a noble, capable of deciding the fates of dozens or hundreds with a single word.

‘Or perhaps, he’s a fox skilled in deception.’

“The magus appointed him as an escort, you said? For how much did he hire you? If possible, I’d like to hire you even if it costs more.”

“Ah, about that…”

“Don’t overthink it. Your name was Jan, right? If you’re willing, I can arrange through the mercenary guild to find a reliable mercenary escort for you. I think this is a fair offer.”

Jan was caught off guard by the count’s sudden proposal. In reality, far from being an escort, it was the opposite. He was more of a burden Khan had to bear.

Silently observing, Khan sighed inwardly. There’s no helping it.

“There’s no need for that. I’m not motivated by money. I’m accompanying him merely because of a promise I made to his mentor.”

“…!”

Was it the fluent kingdom language that flowed from Khan, who had been pretending to not know it, that surprised them?

Feneth’s shoulders flinched as if he was a lifeless statue. The count’s foolish son openly showed his astonishment.

“Knight, are you sure it’s okay to say that…?”

“What’s done is done, what does it matter now? Right?”

Encouraged by Khan’s inquiry, the count bravely smiled.

“That’s true… It’s not wrong. After all, I sealed the mansion primarily to prevent rumors about me being enchanted by the cursed sword. But still, you are very brazen. Aren’t you afraid of repercussions? My knights, deceived by you, seem quite furious.”

“I need not worry. Rather, you should be the one concerned. If things go wrong, you might lose your precious knight.”

“Y-You…!”

Feneth, enraged by the implication that ‘if you dare oppose me, your knight will suffer,’ let out a roar.

The murderous intent was enough to make one’s shoulders shrink. Khan simply shrugged.

‘If you’re so aggrieved, come at me.’

Armed with superior equipment and accompanied by dozens of soldiers and two knights, the force at Count Hefeldt’s command was indeed intimidating, especially the presence of the knights.

Yet, Khan was certain.

If a fight broke out, having the count right in front of him, the advantage would be theirs.

Moreover, yielding in negotiations with nobility wasn’t an option, as they were extremely adept at exploiting status differences for maximal gain.

“Well, either way, we’ve fulfilled our duty. Since this was an official request through the mercenary guild, you wouldn’t dare default on it, would you?”

“……Hmm.”

Despite Khan’s assertive, almost audacious statement, Count Hefeldt showed no significant reaction.With just a subtle smile playing at his lips, he watched Khan intently.

“Your Excellency! I will make that barbaric savage kneel before you! Please, allow me!”

Enraged, Feneth looked like he was about to attack Khan any moment, his aura brimming with murderous intent, while the useless clan leader could only shiver, overwhelmed by the situation.

And the count…

“Hahaha…! Truly a brave warrior! It’s regrettable that I cannot keep you by my side!”

“Your, Your Excellency?”

“It’s fine, let it be. They’ve solved a problem for our family, after all. A small lie… it’s something that can be covered by their merits.”

Isn’t that so? When the count looked at him with that questioning gaze, Khan let out a chuckle. A fellow quite sharp in understanding, unlike his son.

“So, what do you desire? A magus’s apprentice of his caliber and a warrior as renowned as yourself wouldn’t be lacking funds, I presume.”

“I’m considering purchasing equipment from the Broken Anvil workshop.”

“That shouldn’t be difficult. There’s still some stock in the city that hasn’t been distributed. I’ll give you however many pieces you want. Anything else?”

Khan was inwardly impressed by the generous offer. He casually struck Draupnir, which he had sneakily tied around his waist.

Woom! Woom!

‘Be quiet, you bastard.’

“I’d like to take this cursed sword as an extra.”

“Hmm. Why would you want such a monstrous item? It’s nothing but trouble. It bedark magees people, little by little… without them even realizing it, they fall under its spell.”

“As long as the weapon suits me well, that’s all that matters. Besides, it seems it cannot mess with my mind.”

Whether he accepted Khan’s confidence, all the count could do was snicker and wave his hand dismissively.

“I certainly don’t want to keep an item that brings misfortune in my house. There might be a chance to sell it, but giving it to a competent warrior isn’t a bad idea either. However.”

It seems a bit uneconomical.

Just when the count seemed willing to agree to anything, he relaxed his smile and said,

“A cursed sword it may be, but a legendary weapon remains legendary. Considering its power, you might have to give up on the items from the Broken Anvil workshop.”

“I can simply purchase items from the workshop with money; that’s not an issue.”

“Hmm… Before you hastily spend your money, how about you first consider my offer? Given your interest in that cursed sword, I’m sure you’d find it intriguing.”

As Khan gestured for him to continue, Count Hefeldt sent him a meaningfully amused glance and smiled.

“Kill Count Emil for me. That cursed sword originally belonged to him, you see.”

The count explained further:

In a recent battle, Count Hefeldt led his knights to the field personally. Likewise, as if in challenge, Count Emil also brought his renowned private soldiers to respond.

“Of course, it didn’t turn into an all-out war immediately. As with wars that spark from political causes. Representatives from each side were selected for a duel. Naturally, with more knights on our side, we emerged victorious. And then…”

The cursed sword was a item directly handed over by Count Emil to the knight who represented him in the duel. Count Hefeldt, while tremblingly looking at Draupnir with a distressed gaze, said,

“It inflicts wounds that not even potions can heal and remains undamaged even when clashing with aura. A rare trophy, isn’t it? Hence, Sir Feneth, the victor of the duel, presented it to me. Since then, I’ve been mentally unsettled. I found myself unconsciously harming my clerk to death, as if bedark mageed by the sword. Suddenly, I behaved as if possessed today.”

“Your Excellency…”

“And when I try to detach myself from the sword, I suffer fits, not knowing how to deal with it. Although I’m unsure why it happened today. That’s the gist of it… And I think, it seems Count Emil intentionally passed this item to me.”

It was a plausible speculation. A reasonable suspicion. Khan would have arrived at the same conclusion as Count Hefeldt.

“So, you want me to kill Count Emil as a form of revenge?”

“Not exactly revenge for me. But it might be different for you, right? From what I see, this item isn’t something Count Emil could have obtained with his abilities. It implies there’s another source. Do you understand what I mean?”

“If I can take down Count Emil and find out where it came from, there will likely be more objects similar to this magic sword. Take as much as you can, is what this means.”

“Right. A friend with an exceptional mind. They say barbarian are all fools…”

Letting the casual barbarian disdain slide… The proposal itself wasn’t bad. Above all, the origin of Draupnir was what Khan was most curious about.

Of course, that didn’t mean he could just blindly accept it.

‘I must take what I can properly.’

“Then make it a formal request. After all, you’re asking me to kill the lord of an entire city. You wouldn’t just offer this magic sword, which is best at bedark mageing people, as the only reward, right?”

Woosh! Wooo!

Draupnir vibrated in protest, but Khan silenced its complaints by gripping the blade with his fist.

Then he boldly proclaimed,

“I shall sever Count Emil’s head in your stead. If you wish, with this magic sword that had bedark mageed you. Now, Count Hefeldt. How much will you pay me?”

*

*

*

“My lord. From the beginning, they have been deceitful and infiltrated the mansion. They are utterly untrustworthy…”

“What are you talking about, Feneth? Whom do I trust, according to you?”

As if he heard a funny joke, Count Hefeldt burst into laughter.

It was after the barbarian, who had taken an excessively generous bounty and the grotesque magic sword as advance payment, had left.

“A true nobleman is one who trusts no one but himself. Ah, of course, you’re different since you have sworn loyalty in front of the pantheon of gods.”

At those words, the completely crumpled young lord flinched. Count Hefeldt clicked his tongue at the pathetic sight and continued.

“Although the start of this war has been beneficial for our house, it’s now like pouring water into a leaking dam. We should have ousted Count Emil’s family and merged Picard to become a marquis a long time ago. But now we’re stuck, unable to do anything out of fear of the royal family’s watchful eyes…”

“!”

The young lord, who lived without knowing the hidden circumstances of the war, gasped. The royal name was such a heavy and feared one, especially since the throne was steeped in noble blood.

“Not just the royal family. Other noble forces are clinging to Count Emil’s family, supporting them. They’re envious of the wealth our house has amassed through the war and try to plunder it. We must end it before our resources are depleted.”

“Do you mean…the barbarian from earlier could help end the war? Really, they could take care of Count Emil…?”

“Well. It would be difficult. If it were a task possible by merely adding one person, the war wouldn’t have dragged on this long. However.”

He could act as a fatal dagger, at least?

“Swiftly flying to inflict a wound and being spent after serving its purpose.”

It was the true nature of the jovial Count Hefeldt.

He had anticipated Khan’s failure from the beginning. No, he had readily handed over the magic sword to guide him toward that outcome.

“Count Emil’s soldiers are exceptional, grown with the support of various benefactors. The barbarian will eventually hit his limit and destroy himself with the power of the magic sword. And as a mighty warrior is enthralled by the magic sword and wreaks havoc. There will be a vulnerability in Count Emil’s defense…”

“If our family can exploit that opportunity to crush Count Emil, that’s what you mean.”

“Exactly. It would be best if that barbarian truly kills Count Emil.”

‘Anyway, if the barbarian dies after receiving the bounty, there’s no loss. And if by chance the barbarian survives… Then it’s our turn to cut off his breath.’

That would mean he wouldn’t lose anything at all.

And the result would be too great for him.

He would kill Count Emil, who had been recklessly overstepping his bounds with several nobles and the royal family behind him, and not just be a city lord but become a true ruler like those of the empire. Along with the new title of Count Hefeldt!

‘I hope that barbarian quickly. Overextends his bravery and burns out along with the magic sword…’

A cunning smile appeared on the lips of Count Hefeldt.