The elves were the first race Ketal had encountered after leaving the White Snowfield. There were some miscommunications, but overall, it was not a bad encounter. Thanks to his conversation with the elf queen, he had learned quite a bit about their species.
Although he wanted to stay longer, he had no choice but to leave because the other elves feared him. He was still satisfied though.
“I even received this,” Ketal said to himself, holding a crimson jewel, radiating with a fiery glow.
The queen talked about the sacred ground of the elves, Elfo Sagrado. With this jewel, he was allowed to step inside the elves’ sacred ground, the place where their god resided. He wondered what sort of place it could be and how many elves would dwell there.
He also wondered if spirits of nature would roam freely there. Scenes from various fantasy tales he had read flashed through his mind. Just the thought of going to Elfo Sagrado made his heart race. He wanted to rush there immediately.
However, he restrained himself. This was a rare opportunity to experience a fantasy world. Nothing was stopping him anymore, and he could afford to take things slow and enjoy the journey at his leisure.
“First, I need to meet other people.”
The elf queen had mentioned a nearby estate. If he went west after leaving the forest, he would come across a fairly large estate.
Ketal’s heart pounded. He could hardly contain his excitement thinking about meeting new people in this fantasy world.
In the blink of an eye, he became a distant dot.
“Yaaaawn.” A guard at the outer gate let out a long yawn and looked ahead with sleepy eyes. Nothing but empty plains stretched to the horizon. “Hey, rookie.”
“Yes, sir!” The fresh-faced guard straightened up and answered briskly.
“Think it’d be alright if I snuck off for a nap?” the senior guard asked.
“N-no, sir! This is our shift.”
“Whatever… Nobody ever comes here anyways.”
“Look, just keep quiet, alright? I’m off to rest. You just need to not tell anyone about this. If you do, you’re dead to me,” the senior guard said.
“Uh, um,” the rookie stammered.
The senior guard stretched and was about to head off to his makeshift rest spot.
“You can rest if you don’t mind getting fired.” A voice from behind froze the guard in his tracks.
The senior guard turned his head with a forced grin. “C-commander, when did you get here?”
“Quit picking on the rookie and do your job.” The guard commander smacked him on the head.
Rubbing his sore scalp, the senior guard mumbled, “Nothing but snowfields to the east, sir. No one ever comes this way. Does standing guard on this post even matter?”
“Quit whining and focus. Word is that the lord might schedule special training if he hears you’ve been slacking.”
“Ugh.” The guard’s face fell instantly.
The commander continued in a flat tone, “Trouble doesn’t wait for us to be ready. You never know when a Dungeon or Monster Den might appear. Stay alert.”
“But how likely is that…?” the guard mumbled.
“Your job is to be ready for that unlikely event. Focus. There are enough unsettling rumors as it is.”
A long time ago, after the Demon King’s defeat by the Champion, demons and devils were barred from interfering with the Mortal Realm. However, now, after thousands of years, the demons were resurfacing.
“There’s talk of the Kingdom falling… but news is sparse here. For now, keep watch. The Demon King’s army could come over that horizon any moment,” the commander said.
“I doubt that’s true…,” the guard grumbled but straightened up. He had no desire to get hit again. His eyes scanned the horizon. Nothing appeared and nothing was heard.
All was peaceful. Though the world might be in turmoil, this was an estate at the edge of the White Snowfield—serene and quiet.
The guard yawned again and resumed his watch.
Minutes, then hours passed. The rookie guard frowned and said, “Sir… Do you hear something strange?”
“What do you mean? I don’t hear anything.”
“It’s faint, but… it seems to be getting closer.”
After concentrating, the senior guard heard it too. The sound was faint, but unmistakable—a deep, resounding vibration that seemed to shake the earth itself.
The noise grew louder, and the guards realized that something massive was charging toward their estate.
The sound was now audible to everyone. Even the commander, who had gone inside the castle to handle some affairs, rushed out, alarmed.
“What’s going on?” the commander asked.
“S-sir! Something’s approaching!”
The sound grew even louder. Whatever was approaching was close and dangerous. The commander shouted urgently, “Sound the bell! Gather all guards!”
“The knight is not in the estate, sir. He is away escorting the young lady to the capital!”
“Damn it!” The commander clenched his teeth.
Guards were mustered quickly, and they formed ranks, waiting tensely.
The sound echoed, shaking the entire estate. Civilians crouched in fear.
The vibration approached.
Dust rose from the fortress walls, coating the air.
The ground trembled, and the guards felt their feet briefly leave the ground every time the sound echoed.
The shockwave slammed into them, leaving faces pale and bodies trembling. Panic spread, as some guards tried to run away.
“Don’t you dare run!” the commander barked through gritted teeth. “We are the guards of the Barcan Estate! Protect your family and friends with your lives!”
“Y-yes, sir!” the guards shouted defiantly, determined to stand their ground.
The roaring sound drew impossibly close and then stopped. The periodic thuds ceased. Silence fell, and confusion gripped the guards.
“Commander?” one of the guards asked.
“Hold position.” The commander gulped as he ordered the guards.
Moments of silence passed. Then, a figure appeared beyond the horizon.
“Ah…” The guards gripped their spears tightly.
The figure approached steadily. The commander’s eyes widened, and a single thought crossed his mind, It’s small.
The figure wasn’t the massive threat they had feared. As it neared, its size seemed comparable to their own. Step by step, it drew closer. The guards held their breath. The commander forced himself to stay calm and stepped forward.
Footsteps echoed. Finally, the figure came into view.
The commander’s eyes widened. “A… barbarian?”
An ashen-haired barbarian stood before them, speaking in fluent common tongue.
“Greetings,” the barbarian said.