Chapter 130 : Turn on the Light, big bro Thrag

Turn on the Light, big bro Thrag

As the wagon kept moving forward, the familiar silhouette became visible over the horizon.

It was the outline of the village. Strange structures and totems decorated with wolf teeth and heads. As its shape became clearer, I finally felt like we were returning to the village.

"There it is! I see the Red Wolf Village!"

Kid Boulder shouted in an excited voice, a tone mixed with both joy and relief. We continued toward the village, but the closer we got, the more oddities began to stand out.

"... It's quieter than I expected, isn't it?"

Serena murmured uneasily. She was right. Normally, for the Red Wolf Village, you could hear their lively shouts from far away.

The sound of weapons clashing.

Barbarians shouting as they trained, children's laughter.

These things should've filled the place with life, but now—

"It feels like our home is ill."

Barkal muttered quietly. His words weren't an exaggeration.

The whole village felt subdued. If not dead, it felt like it was just about to enter its grave.

"We've arrived, brothers."

Gor slowed the speed of the wagon as he spoke. Normally, Barkal would've been roaring with laughter, declaring, "I'm back!" but the atmosphere made him restrain himself.

"Ugh, uuugh..."

Groans could be heard all around. Turning my head, I saw a barbarian slumped at the entrance to a tent. He was a huge man, but was now shaking like a twig.

"Kugh."

The man's face was flushed an unnatural red. Cold sweat poured down his body and sparkled in the sunlight.

Is that an early symptom of the plague?

I got off the wagon and glanced around the village.

Most of the people looked fine, but occasionally, I heard someone groaning.

Barkal came close and spoke in a low tone.

"Our home... so quiet, I can't believe it!"

Even for him, the sight must be quite a shock.

"It really does look like a disease is spreading."

Serena said this as she got off the wagon, recognizing the seriousness of the situation. After all, she was a cleric—even if labelled "physical," she could grasp the gravity better than any of us.

"Kyaaaaaa!"

Just then, a scream echoed from within the village.

Turning my head, I saw a barbarian swinging a spear through the air, his eyes unfocused, chasing after something invisible.

"Monster! I'll handle it!"

"Calm down! There's nothing there!"

"It's over there! The monster's right there!"

Other barbarians tried to restrain him, but it wasn't easy. Suffering from hallucinations, the barbarian threw them off with frightening strength.

This must be what Gor described as stage two.

Hallucinations and auditory delusions, huh? Still, it looked dangerous.

"Kraaaagh!"

I was right. One barbarian staggered as he was grazed by the rampaging man's spear.

It was a dangerous situation—someone was definitely going to get hurt at this rate.

"Taron! Get a hold of yourself!"

"Back away! Everyone stand back!"

The barbarian called Taron kept thrusting his spear at the empty air, wild-eyed.

"Please step aside!"

As everyone hesitated, feeling uncertain about how to stop him, a sharp voice rang out.

Cutting through the mass of barbarians, a woman ran forward.

She had her long hair tied back and held a bundle of herbs, fatigue written all over her face.

"Melissa!"

"It's dangerous, get back!"

The other barbarians shouted, but she didn't pause.

Approaching the spear-wielding barbarian as if she was used to it, the woman spoke:

"It's okay, taron! It's me, melissa!"

She approached in a friendly voice, but the frenzied barbarian swung his weapon to keep her at bay.

"Shouldn't we help!?"

Serena turned to look at me. The air about her made it clear that with her power, she could subdue the barbarian in an instant.

I nodded in agreement. Serena immediately dashed to the troublemaker.

"U-uuuah! Don't come near me, monster!"

The barbarian only grew more violent as Serena approached. But Serena slipped deftly into his guard and—

"Hyaaah!"

—flipped him over onto the ground.

"I've got him restrained! Please hurry and treat him!"

"Uugh, uaaaagh!"

After the throw, Serena wrapped herself tightly around the barbarian.

Judging by his immobility, she must have applied some joint technique.

"... Is that another new move!?"

Barkal and I couldn't help admiring Serena's display.

There seemed to be a new skill every time we watched. Serena's combat techniques were like a well—so deep the bottom couldn't be seen, as if one could keep descending forever.

"Hurry!"

While the others were still stunned, Serena's voice rang out again.

Startled, melissa the healer rushed over. Her robe-like garment fluttered in the wind, and embarrassment flashed across her face.

But soon, calm as if accustomed to it, she knelt by Serena's side.

"Hold him just like that!"

With those words, the healer Melissa pulled a bundle of herbs from her pocket and held it to the barbarian's breathing passage.

Then, a faint light began to shimmer in her hands.

Healing magic.

Not the cleric authority granted by faith in the benevolent gods, but still, it was undoubtedly healing magic, if a bit dim.

Perhaps because of that, the rampaging man gradually calmed down.

"Take Taron inside."

As if he'd fallen asleep, the now-quiet barbarian was carried into a tent by his comrades.

While we were watching, melissa the sorcerer turned her gaze to us.

"Thank you for your help, brothers."

"No, we just did what anyone would."

"Melissa, here are the herbs you asked for."

Gor produced the herbs he'd gathered earlier, making Melissa smile brightly.

"Thank you, Gor!"

She gripped his hand and thanked him, causing Gor's face to turn bright red.

"Khahaha! Such a rookie!"

Kid Boulder teased, but Gor only cleared his throat in response.

"By the way, who are these people?"

While we were talking, melissa looked at us with curiosity.

Come to think of it, we hadn't properly introduced ourselves. She probably hadn't seen us before, either.

"These are the barbarians who undertook the 'Journey of Proof'!"

"Oh, so that means you returned as the top barbarians!"

"That's right!"

Wahaha!

The barbarians laughed as they looked at Barkal and me.

But was it really something worthy of honor? I did achieve something, but I wasn't sure it matched expectations.

"Barkal! Dmihtan!"

As I pondered that, a familiar voice called out to us.

Looking to see who it was, I spotted a familiar skull helmet.

"Chieftain!"

Barkal's father—the chieftain of the Red Wolf Village.

"Back again, you rookie!"

"Chieftain, I've returned!"

Khahahah!

Their laughter rang out in harmony, finally piercing the quiet village.

"Good! Dmihtan!"

Suddenly turning serious, the chieftain looked at us.

"Your return means you've honored Thrag's name enough to finish the Journey of Proof! Is that correct!?"

Hmm.

Here, it seemed best to honestly say it wasn't.

I was about to shake my head when Barkal responded first.

"The Sage's name is known across the continent!"

"In that case, follow me! We'll ask Thrag himself!"

Wait a second.

I tried to explain, but the chieftain started dragging me away.

His strength was overwhelming. It was so forceful I couldn't even resist.

* * *

The place the chieftain dragged me to was the largest tent in the village.

With two barbarians standing guard at the entrance, it was clear this was a special area. As I entered, a strange smell hit my nose.

Incense and blood.

And something burning, all mingled together.

In the center sat a giant brazier.

Built from stone, the brazier held dark red flames that flickered lethargically, obviously different from ordinary fire.

Small, but—

It seemed alive, as if with a will of its own.

'That really is fire with consciousness.'

Wolf skulls were arranged in a ring around the brazier—a few dozen at least—all with mouths open toward the flame.

On the walls, symbols painted in blood.

Axes, spears, wolves, and warriors.

Even at a glance, they evoked the image of "Thrag".

The chieftain stood slowly, facing the brazier.

"When a warrior returns from the Journey of Proof, he is acknowledged by Thrag here."

He picked up a small leather pouch set by the brazier.

"Through this dust of honor."

I looked at the chieftain for a moment.

"That fire is Thrag's flame."

Perhaps sensing my curiosity, the chieftain gestured toward the brazier.

"When the dust of honor is sprinkled on that fire, if the barbarian has glorified Thrag's name, he will be acknowledged as a warrior."

And if you're acknowledged, what happens then? I looked at him, and he quickly answered.

"The dying flame will blaze anew."

Perhaps to prove his words, the chieftain began to scatter the "dust of honor" onto Thrag's fire.

Fwoooooosh──!

As the dust touched the brazier, the flames sprang back to life, burning fiercely for all to see.

"Just like that."

I swallowed hard.

So, unless I produce results worthy of Thrag's approval, the fire won't respond?

The thought made me dizzy.

Big Bro Ra, you know any complaints I've made to you were out of love, right?

In a normal situation, Thrag would be yelling at me for that.

But it was silent.

Big Bro Thrag?