Medieval Fantasy Barbarian

“You want to live here?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Hm?”

‘Wait, what is she saying? You crazy person.’

Ivan covered his face with his palms. The sudden situation made his mind stop working.

Elena became a little dejected.

“…Do you dislike me that much?”

“No! Absolutely not!! But shouldn’t there be some sort of order to things? Starting with living together suddenly is a bit…”

“Ah, I don’t mean it that way, so it’s fine.”

“What? What does that…”

Ivan felt relieved and a bit disappointed at the same time. But could “let’s live together” have any other meaning?

“I should have started with this explanation. I am a sorceress.”

As soon as he heard that, the old man excitedly shouted.

“I knew it! There’s no way she would chase after a guy like that all the way here otherwise!”

Ivan glared fiercely at his master and thought.

‘But what does being a sorceress have to do with anything?’

“You look like you don’t understand. Though it varies depending on aptitude, contact with the mystical is one of the ways to grow a sorceress’s spiritual abilities. And the caliber of your soul is as massive as any mystery.”

“So you’re saying that just by being near me, you can become stronger…?”

“Something like that. So from now on, speak comfortably to me.”

It was a more business-like reason than he expected. Ivan felt a bit bitter.

‘Wait, thinking about it, that’s not so bad?’

Isn’t it natural that feelings can develop when people spend time together?

Ivan had already fallen into a sinister fantasy, leaning back in an armchair, even naming his third grandchild.

“Why are you smiling like that? It’s a bit unpleasant.”

“……”

Reality was cold. The corners of Ivan’s mouth drooped.

The old man, genuinely enjoying Ivan’s unhappiness, dusted himself off and stood up.

“Well, now that we’ve sorted that out, let’s go have a round of fighting. Ah, will the young lady join us as well?”

“Yes, thank you…”

Elena bowed her head, subtly uncomfortable with the old man’s gaze.

Ivan felt a small sense of dissonance but brushed it off without much thought. It wasn’t a particularly important issue.

Certainly, that man did look criminally suspicious.

“Well then, let’s go.”

Elena placed her small, white hand on Ivan’s rough hand. Ivan’s mind went completely blank.

“Uh, huh?! Why suddenly take my hand…!”

“Physical contact is better when possible. Didn’t you say you’d do anything?”

“I… did.”

Ivan, acting like a shy adolescent boy, was dragged along helplessly.

The old man cracked his fingers with a very displeased expression.

“Isn’t this too close?”

“Any further and the efficiency decreases. This distance is appropriate.”

Elena said that while leaning against a suitable tree nearby.

Watching this, the old man sneered.

“My, how devoted. Worry about yourself before others. Today, let’s get you properly beaten.”

“That nasty old temper. I’m coming, I’m coming.”

Watching the two slowly approach each other, Elena found it a bit strange.

Is it really necessary to be this far apart? Especially when he said it was “too close”?

The moment the two collided with smiling fists, her question was answered.

An enormous boom erupted as if two siege weapons had collided.

“……”

Even the wind pressure made her hair flutter lightly. Elena quietly took a few steps back.

“…Is it over?”

Elena peeked out from behind a rock and looked around.

Centuries-old giant trees were all broken or uprooted, and the ground was pockmarked with craters.

The forest that had been peaceful until just moments ago had instantly turned into a wasteland.

If anyone had seen it, they would have thought a typhoon had swept through the area. Or perhaps two giants had engaged in a deadly battle.

“Master, are you starting to run out of tricks?”

“Bullshit. I was just matching your level. If I went all out, would that even be a fight?”

Meanwhile, the two who had actually transformed the terrain were just spouting nonsense.

Elena closed her eyes briefly and contemplated her inner state. She felt a distinctly noticeable achievement.

Just from the byproducts generated when two massive souls collided—this was beyond expectations.

Perhaps her plan might be accelerated a bit. Elena smiled faintly.

‘Still, I shouldn’t follow them next time.’

Elena resolved inwardly. If she got caught up in it, she might not even have bones left to gather.

“Judging by the young lady’s expression, it seems you’ve made quite an achievement.”

“Yes, thanks to you. I’m truly grateful.”

When Elena bowed her head deeply, the corners of the old man’s eyes curved with satisfaction.

“You speak so nicely, completely different from that brat who treats his master as an inferior.”

“If you want respect, shouldn’t you first act in a way that deserves it? What about someone who resorts to his fists at the drop of a hat?”

“How dare you talk back when an elder is speaking…”

Just because one has heroic strength doesn’t mean their behavior is equally heroic.

But this is somewhat… Elena looked at the two with a slightly disillusioned expression.

As they engaged in light bickering, the sunset began.

By the time the sun had completely fallen beyond the horizon, the three had entered the house for a light meal, and night had already come.

Elena yawned, covering her mouth as if slightly tired, and Ivan read the situation.

“Ah, it seems like it’s time to sleep. I’m fine sleeping on the floor, so you can use the bed.”

“What are you saying? I told you before.”

“What do you…?”

“That more physical contact is better.”

Elena lay down on the bed as she was and tilted her head.

“What are you doing standing there? Let’s sleep together.”

“……!!”

The dizzying statement came before he could gather his thoughts. Ivan tightly closed his eyes.

“Why are you so surprised? I won’t do anything strange, so don’t worry.”

“Even if… you don’t do anything strange, I might become strange…”

“What does that mean?”

“…It’s nothing. Pretend you didn’t hear it.”

“Then come in quickly. I’m tired.”

It was a one-sided situation. Ivan desperately sought help from his respected master with pleading eyes.

‘Master, save me!!’

The old man glared at Ivan as if he wanted to beat him to death, then said indifferently.

“I know a good method. Close your eyes for a moment.”

“My eyes? Why suddenly…”

Ivan expressed his doubt but obediently closed his eyes.

Then, before he could react, the old man struck Ivan’s chin with full force. Ivan fell into a deep sleep.

The old man placed Ivan on the bed with a sour expression.

“He won’t wake up until tomorrow morning no matter what you do, so do as you please, young lady. This old man will sleep outside.”

“…Thank you?”

“No need for thanks. Getting old and tactlessly stepping between young people, what am I doing.”

Elena watched blankly as the old man closed the door and left, then belatedly came to her senses.

Ivan was slumped so comfortably it seemed as if he might be dead.

“You’re not pretending to be unconscious, are you?”

Elena extended her slender finger and poked his cheek repeatedly.

Ivan frowned slightly but showed no other movement.

“Then excuse me. There’s no personal feeling.”

He probably couldn’t hear anyway. Elena said this as a formality and placed her hand on Ivan’s chest.

The heart is the core component of life and has significant meaning in sorcery as well.

She could feel the massive vitality pulsing beneath the firm muscles.

“Ah…”

Admiration involuntarily escaped her lips. Was this really the same kind of human?

Simultaneously, a spiritual stimulation rapidly climbed up her body from her toes. A tingling excitement wrapped around her.

At some point, the sounds of the two hearts overlapped into one, becoming indistinguishable.

How much time had passed? Elena felt extreme fatigue.

“Again, there’s no personal… feeling.”

Even she herself didn’t know who she was saying this to.

Elena stretched out her arms and legs to embrace Ivan’s body. It was very warm.

Her eyelids grew heavy. Elena fell into a deep sleep.

The morning sunlight tapped on Ivan’s eyelids. Ivan frowned and woke up.

His chin ached. There seemed to have been something that happened yesterday…

“…Huh?”

Coming to his senses, such matters became relatively unimportant.

A sweet fragrance tickled his nose, and soft skin enveloped his body.

Ivan barely turned his head to stare at Elena’s face as she breathed heavily.

It wasn’t a dream.

“Mmm…”

Elena blinked her eyelids to focus, and then her eyes met Ivan’s directly.

“……?”

“……?”

An awkward silence followed for a moment.

Elena naturally released her embrace as if nothing had happened and quickly turned her head.

“I told you, contact is more… beneficial…”

Her tone was as indifferent as before, but she couldn’t hide her reddened ears.

‘This is life.’

Ivan was content to die right now.