Chapter 128 : Not Such a Joyful Homecoming

Not Such a Joyful Homecoming

Clatter, clatter.

The wagon we were riding began to move along a bumpy forest path.

With Barkal holding the reins, I was able to take in the scenery outside.

Endless dense trees stretched out beyond the window. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, and the shadows it carved swayed as if dancing.

"It's peaceful."

"Is that so?"

I answered Serena's comment indifferently.

Although I had traveled to many places by wagon until now, I didn't think I had ever felt particularly moved by the outside scenery.

But since Serena brought it up, I couldn't help but shift my gaze. Still, I didn't really get it.

"Yes, this must also be thanks to Lady Liberas's blessing, right?"

* 〈Liberas feels proud.〉

Surely, she wasn't just building up to say that?

Letting Serena's words slip into one ear and out the other, I reflected once more on the recent events.

Even if we pulled this off, would it be acknowledged as a merit by the Adventurer's Guild? If not, then it wouldn't help my promotion after all.

No, maybe if I told the prince, some of it would be resolved?

"Wow..."

While I was lost in thought, the scenery outside was gradually changing.

Unlike near Belhaim, where gray rubble was everywhere, an endless stretch of red earth now lay before us.

"So this is the Red Wastes. It's my first time seeing it in person."

Unlike the awestruck Serena, I felt somehow conflicted.

To think I'd be visiting the Red Wolf Tribe's territory again. When I left the tribe, I was sure I'd never come back.

Red soil.

Dry wind.

And the distant rocky mountains.

None of it felt unfamiliar—if anything, it made me sigh.

"How does it feel to be returning home?"

Serena asked me with a sly smile.

How did it feel to be returning home, she wanted to know.

"It's complicated."

"Complicated...?"

At my reply, Serena looked like she couldn't quite understand.

"I just have a lot on my mind."

Most of all, I was worried—would I go unnoticed among the barbarians once I returned?

Given everything I went through before leaving, all sorts of thoughts flitted through my mind.

"Serena."

"Yes?"

"Would you feel happy if you returned home?"

I asked out of simple curiosity. Serena closed her eyes for a moment as if pondering, then answered.

"I think so! I don't think I'd have complicated feelings!"

As expected.

"Big Bro."

While I was chatting with Serena, Barkal's voice called from up ahead.

"We're approaching the bridge to the Red Wastes."

At Barkal's words, my gaze shifted to a massive bridge in front of us.

A bridge made of stone.

It looked so rough you could easily believe barbarians built it, but perhaps that very roughness was why so many people trusted it.

At least, they don't bother trying to deceive when building anything.

"Once we cross that bridge, it's Red Wolf Tribe territory from there."

Serena was right.

We were finally arriving.

Once we crossed the bridge, the scenery changed rapidly.

There wasn't a hint of the lively green anymore; dry shades of red greeted us.

As Krunga's hooves and the wagon wheels crossed the desolate wastes, dust rose up.

"Cough, cough..."

Serena began to cough from the dust.

Anyone passing through these wastes for the first time would struggle. I did the first time, too.

Screech.

Just as I was about to give Serena some advice about her coughing, the wagon began to slow to a halt.

Barkal must have stopped it.

"You—you didn't have to stop the wagon just because of me..."

Serena tried to say it was fine. I looked through the window in the middle of the wagon to check Barkal's expression.

"Is it an enemy?"

No matter how I looked at it, I couldn't imagine Barkal would stop the wagon just because of Serena's coughing.

I asked Barkal, and he nodded.

"Looks too difficult to just pass by, big bro."

Hearing Barkal's words, I turned my gaze forward.

A desert where red dust swirled. And tall rocky mountains.

From the spot where their shadows lay thick, I could feel something shining blue, eyeing us.

"Wolves."

At Barkal's words, wolves began to reveal themselves from the shadows.

Wolves with red fur suited to the wasteland.

Huh.

They're... a bit big.

They're almost tiger-sized.

"It's been a while! Red wolves!"

Barkal shouted at the wolves. I glanced at the 'wolf necklace' hanging from his neck.

Large fangs. Come to think of it, they did say the Red Wastes' wolves were as big as tigers.

I didn't expect them to be that huge. Wouldn't getting bitten kill you?

― Grrrr..."

While one wolf was drawing our attention, others were circling to surround us.

They bared their teeth, drooling as they glared.

"It really could have been dangerous if we'd tried to move the wagon!"

Serena got out of the wagon and began to inscribe blessings upon herself.

As the gentle light covered her body, her muscles became pronounced.

Just as I was about to step out of the wagon too—

"Sage, there's no need for you to step out."

"We fight together. It's easier and saves stamina."

"Mmm, alright!"

I pulled out the Blood-Colored Awl from my cloak. Since I hadn't pre-applied tattoos to Barkal and Serena, I couldn't reinforce them with the skeleton exoskeleton, but it couldn't be helped.

Trying to inscribe tattoos now would be suicide, and I figured I could handle this without them anyway.

"It's been a while, wolves!"

With a shout, Barkal leaped from the wagon and charged at the wolves.

He was trying to take the initiative before the red wolves could close the distance.

― Kyaaah!"

The lead wolf sprang at Barkal. Barkal's massive axe met it head-on.

Thud!

The axe smashed into the wolf's side.

― Kiing!"

With a shriek, the wolf was sent flying. But another wolf immediately lunged at Barkal.

I raised the Blood-Colored Awl.

* [Hardened Blood is used.]

Thuk. Thuk!

'Blood bullets' shot from the Blood-Colored Awl and struck the wolf's body.

"Thanks, sage!"

Don't mention it.

As I waved my hand in such a mood, Barkal resumed focusing on the wolves.

Serena, too.

The problem was that I began to sense the wolves' numbers increasing.

Were there always this many wolves in the Red Wastes? When we set out, it didn't seem like there were nearly this many.

"Too many!"

Barkal seemed to notice it too. As the numbers grew, the smile had begun to fade from his face.

― Grrrrrk!"

As another wolf charged, Barkal lowered his body.

Crunch.

But before Barkal could respond, a spear flew in from afar and pierced the wolf's head.

"That spear!"

Barkal recognized the incoming spear with delight.

"Uwooooh!"

Before we could ask, a thunderous shout shook the wagon as someone charged toward us.

A mass of muscle.

A barbarian.

That face...

Familiar.

"Barkal! Sage!!!!"

A barbarian who recognized me and shouted out.

It was Barbarian B, "Kid Boulder," who had participated in the coming-of-age ceremony with us.

"Dmihtan! O, our sage! Have you completed the Journey of Proof?"

"Uh, uhm!"

Kid Boulder remembered my name exactly. That made my sense of guilt grow.

I promised myself I'd remember your name someday, yet I still don't. Sorry!

"Dmihtan? Has the Sage returned?!"

Behind Kid Boulder, who'd thrown the spear, another shadow appeared.

Also a familiar face.

Turtle kid.

"Sage!"

With his joy on full display, turtle kid waved his greatsword—his signature weapon.

With two barbarians joining us, my guilt only intensified.

But why were Turtle kid and Kid Boulder hanging out together?

Water affinity is stone... no, never mind.

"Now's not the time for greetings. Let's finish off the wolves and then say our hellos."

"That's right!"

"I was so happy I forgot!"

As I said that, the two barbarians got ready for battle again.

Maybe it was their overwhelming presence, but the wolves, who had been baring their teeth so aggressively just moments before, were now drawing back.

"You'll all die here!"

"What's stronger than a barbarian?"

"More barbarians!!!"

Uwooooh!

With battle cries, the two joined Barkal in charging at the wolves.

I thought it'd be a brutal battle, but with two more barbarians, it wrapped up quickly.

No doubt the wolves were frightened by the sheer vigor radiating off those guys.

― Kyain, kyain!"

As the remaining wolves started to flee, the battle ended.

"Kahahaha!"

After piling up the wolves' corpses, the barbarians began to laugh uproariously.

Of course, Barkal was included in that wild laughter.

"Leave one for Thrag!"

"We'll take the rest! They'll be resources for our tribe!"

Kahahah!

That all-too-familiar laughter spread over the Red Wastes.

Only now did it really sink in: I was back in the barbarians' village.

They eat food raw.

Hygiene is nonexistent.

A group of lunatics who believe in some strange god.

"Seriously..."

Apparently, Serena was also struck speechless by the realization.

"It's really moving...!"

No, she wasn't.

She was one of them too.