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Chapter 86 – Raid Dungeon (3)

“What the? Why is a barbarian here?”

“Good question.”

The ones who were confused weren’t the only ones.

The mercenaries gathered in the field also stopped when they saw the barbarian.

In the strange silence, the barbarian slowly approached them.

“Is he coming over here?”

“Uh, seems like it?”

And Cartman’s eyes widened as he confirmed what he was seeing.

He stared at the barbarian, dumbfounded, as if he had seen a ghost.

“…Why are you here?”

His voice was filled with shock.

The barbarian then slowly walked towards Gainert.

“Are you my party members?”

“P-party?”

“Am I wrong? I was told to come to the place with the blue armbands.”

Only then did Gainert look at Ketal’s arm.

There was a blue armband similar to the ones they were wearing.

“…Huh?”

“Am I wrong?”

“No. You’re right. But… is this for the raid dungeon?”

“That’s right. I’m in the right place. So, you are my party members.”

Barbarian Ketal grinned.

“Nice to meet you.”

* * *

The mercenaries gathered in confusion.

Cartman opened his mouth.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Cartman, the raid leader for this dungeon.”

“Oh?”

Ketal’s eyes gleamed as he looked at Cartman.

With a reluctant expression, Cartman continued.

“…You should know the basics. For more details, ask your party leader. Now, move to the respective dungeon entrances.”

With that, the mercenaries started heading towards the dungeon.

After walking for a while, Gainert cautiously approached Cartman.

“Cartman, sir.”

“What is it?”

“Well, it seems my party member is a barbarian…”

“I’m aware. There shouldn’t be any issues.”

Probably.

Cartman muttered softly.

“I don’t know why he’s here… but it doesn’t matter. Anything else you’re curious about?”

“No, nothing else.”

As Cartman didn’t react further, Gainert stepped back.

Waiting nearby, Barak and Marcy quickly approached.

“What did he say?”

“Not much.”

“So, he’s a legitimate mercenary hired through proper channels?”

The raid leader could access basic information about participating mercenaries.

Since Cartman didn’t say anything special, it meant there was no problem.

“What? A barbarian in the capital?”

“Anyone C-rank or above can enter, right?”

“But a barbarian passing the months-long screening? I nearly died of boredom myself.”

“That doesn’t seem likely.”

They murmured among themselves but found no answers.

“No information.”

Gainert frowned.

And they arrived at the dungeon entrance.

Since there were multiple entrances, no other mercenaries were there.

The three mercenaries and one barbarian stood at the entrance.

After some thought, Gainert spoke up.

“Let’s start with introductions, shall we?”

Whatever the case, he was here as a mercenary.

He was their party member.

So, they decided to talk first.

Ketal nodded.

“That’s a good idea.”

“I’ll start. I’m Gainert, a warrior using a sword and shield. I’m a B-rank mercenary. I’m assigned as the party leader and can control mystical powers.”

Next, Barak shook the bow on his shoulder.

“I’m Barak, an archer. C-rank mercenary. I have very wide and focused detection abilities.”

“I-I’m Marcy, a mage. B-rank mercenary. I can use simple detection magic, body enhancement magic, and mana arrows.”

Marcy said, holding her staff.

Her face showed a slight hint of anxiety.

Barbarians didn’t like mages, though not as much as priests.

They despised mages for using strange powers with their weak bodies.

But Ketal actually looked pleased.

“A mage? Nice to meet you. I heard you’re managed by the Magic Tower. Are you affiliated with it?”

“Huh? Yes, yes. But I ran away…”

Not all mages left the tower successfully.

Many ran away due to the near-slavery conditions and the walls of talent.

Even if they ran, they were still considered affiliated with the tower, but they weren’t recognized as proper mages.

Most of them became mercenaries or exclusive mages for nobles, and Marcy was one of them.

“I see. It must have been tough. You’ve had a hard time.”

“Oh. Th-thank you?”

Marcy replied, flustered.

Ketal looked at his party members.

‘The combination is different.’

The party Ketal had in the Barkan territory consisted of a warrior, a thief, and a priest.

This party was quite different.

‘The warrior and mage are second-rate, and the archer is third-rate.’

Ketal smiled with satisfaction.

This raid seemed like it would be enjoyable.

And that smile made them tense up instinctively.

‘…What is this intimidation?’

Gainert thought to himself.

Ketal hadn’t done anything; he had just smiled.

But that alone almost made Gainert draw his weapon reflexively.

Gainert had seen barbarians a few times during his mercenary work, but none of them had exuded such intimidation.

He’s not an ordinary barbarian.

Gainert swallowed and asked.

“Who are you?”

“I am Ketal, a barbarian. My role is close to the front line.”

“How much have you mastered mystic arts?”

Ketal replied.

“I don’t know any mystic arts.”

“…What?”

Gainert was taken aback.

“You don’t know mystic arts?”

“Unfortunately, no. It seems my body has difficulty even sensing mystic arts.”

Ketal muttered with a sad expression.

Gainert was bewildered.

‘He doesn’t know mystic arts?’

“What’s your mercenary rank?”

“C-rank.”

A C-rank mercenary who didn’t know mystic arts?

Of course, not all C-rank mercenaries had mastered mystic arts.

One could reach C-rank simply by completing many requests or fulfilling their roles well.

But the aura and presence that Ketal exuded didn’t seem like that of someone who didn’t know mystic arts. So,

Gainert naturally assumed he knew them.

But to not know them?

Gainert began to doubt.

‘Is he just an ordinary barbarian?’

Maybe he was overthinking it.

After all, Ketal hadn’t done anything.

They were letting their imaginations run wild and misinterpreting things.

Realizing this, Gainert reluctantly relaxed.

He concluded that the barbarian in front of him was weaker than himself.

The reason was simple.

Those who hadn’t mastered mystic arts couldn’t defeat those who had.

Mystic arts were the starting point for gaining powers beyond comprehension.

Without that, no matter how strong one’s body was, there were clear limits.

Gainert could control mystic arts.

He had previously subdued three barbarians attacking him simultaneously.

He organized his thoughts.

Ketal was a barbarian who didn’t know mystic arts.

That made things simple.

He would treat him like any other ordinary barbarian.

“Then let’s proceed. Prepare for combat.”

“That sounds good.”

Ketal nodded with a smile, and they entered the dungeon.

* * *

Inside the dungeon, winding paths stretched like a natural cave.

But it seemed to lead in one set direction.

They advanced through the dungeon.

Ketal followed them leisurely, without any tension.

After a while, Barak raised his arm.

“Monsters. Four of them. Human-like.”

“Got it.”

“Understood.”

Gainert and Marcy’s expressions turned serious.

Ketal asked with a puzzled look.

“Did you not notice them?”

According to what he had heard, Barak was third-rate, while Gainert and Marcy were second-rate.

Their level was higher.

Barak replied bluntly.

“My detection range is much wider.”

Barak was an archer.

He needed to detect more and wider areas than others.

By focusing solely on that aspect, there were few even among second-rates who could surpass his detection.

Ketal was impressed.

“You can do that?”

Honing a limited ability to surpass one’s rank.

It was an admirable feat.

“That must have been tough. Impressive.”

“…Thanks.”

Barak responded with a slightly embarrassed expression.

‘Why is he acting so friendly?’

Barbarians only trusted their own strength.

They didn’t believe in others and had no concept of comrades.

However, Ketal was acting very friendly, as if they were truly part of a team.

This unexpected familiarity was quite disconcerting.

In their confusion, they quietly moved forward, and finally, they saw them: four orcs beyond the passageway.

“Orcs.”

Ketal’s eyes gleamed.

One of the classic monsters of fantasy.

He had encountered orcs several times while clearing dungeons in the Barkan territory.

But the orcs before him were larger and darker, indicating a clear difference in strength.

‘The strength of monsters varies with the dungeon’s grade.’

While Ketal observed with interest, Gainert was calmly preparing for battle.

“Marcy, get your magic ready. Barak, nock your arrows and prepare to shoot.”

Gainert was the vanguard and the party leader.

He had to direct the battle.

“And you…”

Gainert looked at Ketal.

After a moment of hesitation, he spoke.

“You stay back and be ready to respond to any unforeseen events.”

“Oh.”

Ketal spoke with a peculiar expression.

“You’re telling me to stay out of the fight.”

“I won’t deny it.”

Gainert said calmly.

He was a mercenary who had teamed up with barbarians a few times.

From those experiences, he realized something: barbarians had no concept of comrades.

They didn’t trust others and only saw them as obstacles.

They had no notion of working together or being considerate in battle.

Fighting alongside them only caused problems.

There were several instances where Gainert almost died because of barbarians.

Therefore, he naturally intended to keep Ketal out of the fight.

Ketal would likely object.

Barbarians, who looked down on others and loved combat, wouldn’t easily retreat after hearing such words.

But Gainert was prepared to suppress him by force if necessary.

Ketal might look strong, but he was still a barbarian who hadn’t mastered mystic arts.

He wasn’t a match for Gainert.

In the tense atmosphere, Ketal opened his mouth.

“Understood.”

The tension instantly dissipated.

Gainert, who had been preparing for a confrontation, hesitated.

“…Is that okay?”

“It’s a reasonable request. I’ve never teamed up with you before. In contrast, you seem experienced in working together. Am I wrong?”

“No, you’re right.”

“In such a situation, having an outsider participate in the fight would only be a hindrance. It’s a sound decision.”

Gainert’s words were indeed correct.

There was no reason to refuse.

However, Gainert didn’t expect Ketal to accept his words so easily, likely because Ketal was a barbarian.

‘What kind of barbarians are out there?’