Barbarian in a Failed Game

034. Draupnir (3)

[The Single-Edged Axe from the Broken Anvil Workshop]

─A single-edged axe completed with moderate effort by a skilled craftsman. It is mixed with iron that has a heavy quality due to the magic of the great mountains, making it significantly heavier than it appears.

“Not bad at all.”

Khan, holding the shining black axe, smiled in satisfaction at the accommodations prepared separately by the Count.

The fact that item information popped up means that this object has performance classified as an ‘item’ under the game system’s standards.

‘The part about being hastily made… Well…’

Nonetheless, it’s indeed not bad for a temporary weapon. It’s considerably heavy, and it seems durable enough for throwing.

While it may not be suited for use with the A-grade skill ‘Surging Strength’, which crushes Darkin, that role seemed meant for the currently vibrating Draupnir. It even has the ‘Indestructible’ option.

[Dragon Slayer Sword, Draupnir]

─A magic sword steeped in the grudge of a dragon. Currently divided into several replicas, it cannot exhibit its full performance.

─Grudge Inception:: The grudge of Draupnir constantly tests its owner. If you cannot overcome the hallucinations shown by the grudge, your body will be overtaken.

─Wound Aggravation:: The malevolent energy (邪氣) harbored by Draupnir’s grudge impedes the healing of wounds. Potions and healing spells below a certain grade are invalidated.

─Blood Curse Magic:: Allows the use of various ‘Blood Curse Magic’ mediated by blood. As the item grows, more blood curse magic will become available.

─Indestructible

─???

A rather flashy description for just a replica.

The ‘Grudge Inception’ option doesn’t seem to affect Khan much, but the ‘Wound Aggravation’ and ‘Indestructible’ properties are top-notch options in their own right.

They are extremely effective not only against trolls, known for their regenerative capability but also against undead and demons.

Although not Khan’s preferred style, it could also facilitate a strategy of inducing bleeding to exhaust a human opponent.

With the ‘Indestructible’ attribute, it would withstand even the backlash of an A-grade skill.

‘It’s going to be tough going forward.’

[You madman! Release me this instant! How many times must I say that I remember nothing!]

Of course, there was the problem of Draupnir’s spirit being uncooperative.

‘Well. It’s only making things harder for itself.’

[Aaargh! Get these damned scales off me! You maniac!]

Khan listened to Draupnir’s screams while putting a piece of dragon scale, which had been attached to Draupnir’s sheath, into his pocket.

“So. Are you feeling a bit more cooperative now?”

[Urgh. How did I end up like this…!]

“Hardheadedness gets you nowhere. Life could have been much easier if you just listened. Now, just behave and start talking.”

‘The woman in the hallucinations you showed, where have I seen her?’

[You madman! I should be the one asking! What in the world is your relationship with that monster! That monster tore my soul apart and stuffed it into this confining shard!]

What is it talking about now? Khan frowned, unable to immediately decipher Draupnir’s words. Tore apart its soul and stuffed it into a shard?

‘You make it sound like you are the actual body of Draupnir.’

[Not like, it is the truth! You madman!]

The spirit shouted as though truly wronged, its body buzzing with agitation, which made Khan’s face turn grim. Tore the soul of the main body and trapped it in a replica? Could that actually be possible?

For Khan, who had no expertise in magic and was a possessor from another dimension in a world where gods and demons exist, debating the existence of souls seemed ridiculous. However, the idea of tearing a soul apart and transferring it into an object was hard to digest.

‘So, what now… If she, indeed, transferred your main body into a replica. Then where is your main body?’

[Stupid human…! How would I know if the connection to the main body is severed!]

Faced with a very valid point, Khan was at a loss for words. That does make sense…

‘Then. The one who sent you from the ruins in the north of the continent to a rural kingdom in the western part was her?’

[I don’t know! After my soul was torn, I was in a deep slumber until I sensed the dragon energy from the scales you have! That was the first time I awoke!]

Useless thing…. Khan looked down at Draupnir, which was vibrating thoroughly, with a bitter expression.

All he knew was that his soul was torn and trapped in a replica by her… Tilly. How it ended up in the Kingdom of Argon remained a mystery.It was nothing more than noise and a sword with a vibrating feature added to it.

[“Useless, you say? You madman. I am a great being who has torn through the loathsome scales of dragons and carved their hearts! Even if I’ve lost most of my memories due to the soul-shredding recoil, that fact remains unchanged! So show the proper respect!”]

“A smartphone can at least search for things. This one knows nothing…”

Khan, seriously considering incorporating dragon scales into the scabbard, shook his head in frustration.

He had no way to melt an object that remained unscratched even after taking hits from an A-grade skill. Moreover, absorbing the rest of its replicas might restore its memories.

Thanks to Draupnir, he had also come to a clear realization.

For the first time across all cycles, Darkin received dragon scale fragments from someone. Draupnir appeared here in Wagner. And perhaps even the odd signs starting to emerge throughout the north…

All these events were somehow connected to her, Tilly Ashanumos.

*

*

*

Khan concluded his shopping with the purchase of an iron hammer for Ron.

Thanks to Count Hefeldt practically giving away his goods for a pittance as a gesture of goodwill, Khan still had quite a bit of money left.

“I was thinking of buying a greatsword, but with Draupnir…”

Draupnir was longer and broader than a typical longsword, but for Khan, who was much larger than most, it was just the right size.

“It’s a bit lighter than I’d like… but once I combine it with the rest of the replicas, it should be just right.”

Just serving as a conduit to distribute the surging power, Draupnir was practically fulfilling its purpose.

“What’s left is dealing with Count Emil.”

In other words, assassination of a noble.

Though he had accepted the task, by Midland standards, the assassination of a noble was decidedly against common sense.

No law explicitly banned it, but that was the prevailing perception. Only a noble could kill another noble – that was considered common sense.

Of course, for Khan, who came from the 21st century Earth where no such class system existed, this was hardly a concern.

“Still, it feels risky.”

Wagner and Picard. Count Hefeldt and Count Emil.

The conflict between the two cities and between the nobles was anything but simple.

Count Hefeldt, having amassed abnormal wealth, could now pose a threat to higher noble positions. The noble factions and the royal family aimed to keep him in check.

It was a complex situation intertwined with the unique political issues of the nobility…

“I need to move in a way that maximizes my benefit without getting caught in the crossfire.”

Just as he was filled with these thoughts, noise from outside broke his concentration.

“Sir, something seems to have happened to Mr. Ron and Ms. Maya! We’ve lost contact with them at the guild…! Eek!”

Bang!

Khan, who opened the door suddenly, nearly collided with Jan, who let out a strange noise.

Khan clicked his tongue at Jan’s unreliable appearance, securing the broadaxe and the iron hammer he bought for Ron to his waist and back, respectively.

“Where did you lose contact?”

“It was just as they were entering the Shivering Woods. That was the last we heard, and now, even the messenger we sent has gone silent…”

“I hope it isn’t anything serious,” Jan said, looking to Khan for reassurance with uneasy eyes.

“It’ll be fine. For now.”

“Really?!”

“Yes. That guy has a lifeline like no other.”

Ron, believed to own an A-grade skill or higher related to guiding, had an eerily keen intuition. It was unlikely he’d die easily.

With Maya, a competent spearwoman in tow, even if they encountered a knight, escaping was possible.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay!”

Deciding it was better to hurry than to explain every detail, Khan quickened his steps.

The knights assigned by the count for escort duty were visibly startled by Khan’s sudden departure, but though they were surprised, they didn’t attempt to block his way.

“It seems like he’s taken it as a warning that recklessly making a move would mean death.”

Khan snorted in derision, thinking of the count’s sly face, and quickly left the lodging through the front entrance. Swish.

“Where do you think you’re going, barbarian?”

However, no sooner had he stepped outside than a fierce blade was thrust towards Khan’s throat, as if it could pierce him at any moment.

“Until His Grace’s orders are given. You are to wait here in this villa His Grace personally lent you.”

It was Feneth, openly showing his murderous intent ever since Khan had played dumb and provoked him.

“Or what? Have you decided to give up on the assignment now? Well, for a barbarian like you, that’s impossible. The private soldiers of Count Emil are renowned as strong forces in the kingdom, and the count himself is exceptionally talented…”

Suddenly, as Feneth thrust the sword and started praising Count Emil’s strength, Khan muttered under his breath. What on earth does this guy want?

“I’ve heard that barbarian are true warriors who know no fear, yet it seems that rumor was wrong. Boldly accepting the request only to sneak away…”

“I’m going to carry out that request, so shut it.”

“What…!”

Perhaps Feneth wasn’t used to harsh words. Well, how often would a noble knight be told to shut up? Pushing away Feneth’s sword, which had been steamed with anger so much that one could feel his face redden even through the visor, Khan brushed past him with a mocking tone. “If it bothers you that much, either follow or challenge me, suit yourself. I need to go to this Shakenwood Forest or whatever it’s called to get my exclusive navigator.” After leaving with those incomprehensible words and taking the disciple of a magus with him, Feneth stood frozen in place for a long time.

“M-m-my lord… Should we report to His Grace first…”

“No need.”

“Pardon?”

“Return to the mansion and bring all the private soldiers here. Right now.”

“Yes, sir!”

The count’s private soldier, who might have nearly caught the sparks of anger for speaking out of turn, hastily vacated the place, surmising that sticking around might result in seeing blood. Although Feneth’s eyes were obscured by his visor, his voice alone was sufficient to tell that he was extremely enraged.

‘Indeed. His Grace’s insight is remarkable.’

However, that was merely the soldier’s assumption. Feneth, often misunderstood due to his imperious speech and brusque demeanor, was among the count’s retainers the one who best understood the count’s intentions. He was not foolish enough to let emotions get the best of him.

“Barbarians are generally known for their aggressive nature, not knowing fear and not caring about differences in strength. That’s why he said to keep a close eye as they would readily jump into fights…’

Prepared for such a situation, Feneth had been the one to make an on-the-spot decision instead of staying by the count’s side, keeping watch over where the barbarian was staying.

‘Plus, he mentioned Shakenwood Forest.’

Feneth’s eyes gleamed coolly. It was the place where each of the four knights under the count, having received their own fiefs and become manor knights, had gone on separate missions. There must be some problem there.

‘Could it be that Count Emil has noticed his presence…?’

The worst-case scenario flashed through Feneth’s mind, but he immediately dismissed it. There are two knights. Even if a problem arose, they had the strength to resolve it on-site, and it wouldn’t matter even if the issue was beyond their capability. The strongest among the count’s knights, Feneth himself, would step in. ‘It would be better if Count Emil intervened.’ If that happened, it would be an opportunity to eliminate that insolent barbarian who had been a thorn in his side, as well as Count Emil.

* * *

“Damn it. What the hell are these guys so pissed about?” “They must think we’re people from Count Hefeldt’s side! We don’t have time to chat, run!”

“Miss Maya! Even so, for you to be so curt with me, Ron Ironhammer, a mercenary with twenty years of experience…”

“Shut up and run! You bald bastard! Unless you want your grave here in this cursed forest!”

“I’m not bald; I’m Ron Ironhammer!”