Barbarian’s Adventure in a Fantasy World
Chapter 86: Raid Dungeon (3)

Chapter 86: Raid Dungeon (3)

“What the hell? Why is there a barbarian here?” Geinalt asked, confused.

“Yeah, what’s going on?” Marcy added.

They were not the only ones confused. The mercenaries gathered in the field also hesitated upon seeing the barbarian. A strange silence settled over them as the barbarian slowly approached.

“Is... he coming this way?” Marcy remarked.

“He is!”

“Why is he here...?” Cartman’s voice trembled in shock. His eyes widened as he caught sight of the barbarian. He stared blankly at him, as if he had just seen a ghost.

Ketal continued walking toward Geinalt.

“Are you my party members?” he asked.

“P-party?” Geinalt repeated, shocked.

“Am I mistaken? I was told to go where the mercenaries with blue armbands were.”

It was only then that Geinalt noticed the blue armband on Ketal’s arm—it was identical to the ones they were wearing.

“Huh...?” Geinalt was too shocked to speak normally.

“So, am I in the right place or not?”

“Well... Yeah, I guess? Are you sure you’re here for the Raid Dungeon?”

“That’s right. Looks like I’m exactly where I need to be. So, you guys are my party members,” Ketal said as he grinned. “Pleased to meet you.”

***

The mercenaries quickly gathered, still processing their confusion.

Cartman spoke first. “Nice to meet you all. My name is Cartman, the commander leading this Raid Dungeon expedition.”

“Oh?” Ketal’s eyes flickered with interest as he looked at Cartman.

Cartman, however, didn’t seem too pleased. He continued, “I assume you already know the basics of the Raid Dungeon. If you need details, ask your party leaders. Now, everyone, move to your designated Dungeon entrances!”

With that, the mercenaries began moving toward the Dungeon. After some time, Geinalt cautiously approached Cartman. “Sir.”

“What is it?”

“Well... I think a barbarian ended up in my party.”

“I know. It won’t be a problem, probably.” Cartman muttered the last part under his breath. “I don't know why he is here, but it doesn’t really matter. Anything else you want to tell me?”

“No, sir...” Seeing that Cartman didn’t seem particularly concerned, Geinalt withdrew. As he stepped back, Barak and Marcy immediately rushed up to him.

“What did he say?” Marcy asked.

“He didn’t seem to care much,” Geinalt replied.

“So... that barbarian is a legitimate mercenary who took on this request?”

As the raid commander, Cartman had access to basic information about all participating mercenaries. If he wasn’t making a fuss about it, that meant there was nothing wrong.

“Wait, does that mean that barbarian was in the capital?” Geinalt asked.

“But I thought only C-Rank or higher mercenaries could enter the capital,” Marcy replied.

“You’re telling me a barbarian managed to pass that months-long evaluation process? That process nearly killed me out of boredom.”

“It does seem unlikely...”

Marcy and Geinalt exchanged murmurs, but no clear answer emerged.

“We don’t have much information.” Geinalt frowned.

Soon, they reached the Dungeon entrance. Since there were multiple entry points, no other mercenaries were in sight anymore. Now, it was just three mercenaries and one barbarian standing before the Dungeon.

After a moment of hesitation, Geinalt spoke. “Let’s start with introductions.”

Regardless of anything else, the barbarian had come here as a mercenary. He was their party member, which meant that the first step was communication.”

Ketal nodded. “That’s a good idea.”

‘I’ll go first. I’m Geinalt, a warrior skilled with both sword and shield. I am a B-Rank mercenary, assigned as the leader of this party. I can control Myst.”

Next, Barak tapped the bow slung over his shoulder. “I’m Barak, an archer. I am a C-Rank mercenary. I have highly refined and focused detection abilities.”

Then Marcy nervously held up her staff. “I-I’m Marcy, a mage and a B-Rank mercenary. I can use basic detection magic, body enhancement spells, and mana arrows.” There was a faint unease on Marcy’s face.

Barbarians, while not as extreme as priests, were not fond of mages. They looked down on them for using strange powers instead of honing their physical bodies.

However, instead of disdain, Ketal looked pleased. “A mage? Nice to meet you. I heard mages are regulated by the Mage Tower. Are you affiliated with them as well?”

“Huh? Oh, I am, but I ran away...”

Not every mage successfully left the Mage Tower. Many, unable to endure the near-slavery conditions or the limits of their own talent, chose to escape.

Even if they fled, they were still considered mages of the Tower—just ones unrecognized by their former peers. Most of them ended up working as mercenaries or serving noble families as private mages. Marcy was one of them.

“I see. That must’ve been tough. You’ve had a hard time,” Ketal consoled.

“Uh, thank you...!” Marcy answered hesitantly.

Ketal studied his party members. This is a different composition.

His previous party back in Barcan Estate had consisted of a warrior, a thief, and a priestess. This setup was drastically different.

A warrior and a mage are Intermediate, and the archer is Novice, Ketal thought as he smiled, satisfied. This raid was going to be fun.

That smile alone made his party members tense involuntarily.

What is this pressure? Geinalt thought.

Ketal hadn’t done anything but smile. Yet, just that alone had almost made Geinalt instinctively draw his weapon. He had seen barbarians before during his mercenary works, but none of them had ever exuded this level of presence.

This wasn’t an ordinary barbarian. Geinalt gulped hard before cautiously saying, “I think it’s time for your introduction.”

“I’m Ketal, a barbarian. My role is frontline combat.”

“How much do you know about Myst?” Geinalt asked.

Ketal answered plainly. “I cannot wield Myst.”

“What?” Geinalt froze. “You... can’t wield Myst?”

“Unfortunately, no. My body seems incapable of wielding it,” Ketal muttered with a sorrowful expression.

Geinalt was stunned. He doesn’t know Myst!

“Hold on, what’s your mercenary rank?” Geinalt asked.

“I’m C-Rank,” Ketal replied.

A C-Rank mercenary who can’t use Myst? Geinalt thought.

Not every C-Rank mercenary had to use Myst, but most did. Completing enough requests or fulfilling one’s role reliably could earn a promotion to C-Rank.

However, the sheer presence Ketal exuded didn’t match someone who had never touched Myst.

Geinart had assumed it was obvious that he had mastered it.

Yet... he didn’t? A thought naturally surfaced in Geinalt’s mind. Is he just an ordinary barbarian? Was I overthinking things?

Now that he reconsidered, Ketal had done nothing extraordinary. It was they who had let their imaginations run wild, creating unnecessary illusions.

Realizing that, Geinalt forced himself to relax. Someone without Myst could never defeat someone who had grasped it. Myst was the threshold that granted power beyond mere physicality. Without it, no matter how strong one’s body was, they would always have a limit.

Geinalt himself could control Myst. He had once taken down three charging barbarians simultaneously.

With that, he settled his thoughts. Ketal was just a barbarian who hadn’t awakened Myst, which made things simple.

Geinalt was going to treat him like any other barbarian.

“Alright, let’s head in. Get ready for battle,” Geinalt ordered.

“Sounds good.” Ketal nodded with a grin.

They stepped into the Dungeon.

***

The inside of the Dungeon resembled a natural cave, with winding paths that twisted and turned. However, despite the irregular layout, it felt as though there was a fixed direction leading forward.

The party advanced deeper into the Dungeon. Ketal followed along at a leisurely pace, showing no signs of tension.

At some point, Barak raised his arm. “Monster ahead. Four of them, and they’re humanoid.”

“Got it.”

“Understood.”

Geinalt and Marcy’s expressions turned serious.

Ketal, noticing this, tilted his head in curiosity. “Did you not notice them?”

Based on what he had gathered, Barak was a Novice combatant, while Geinalt and Marcy were Intermediate—meaning they were on a higher level than Barak.

Barak answered in a flat tone, “My detection range is much wider.”

As an archer, he needed to perceive a greater area than most. Through rigorous training, he had honed this ability to the point that even those at a higher level than him struggled to match his perception.

“I didn’t know that was possible.” Ketal was impressed. He admired the idea of refining a single skill to its peak, surpassing the limitations of one’s level. It was an inspiring feat. “You must’ve put in a lot of work. That’s incredible, Barak.”

“Thanks...” Barak looked slightly flustered as he replied.

Why is he acting so friendly? Barak thought.

Barbarians only trusted their own strength. They neither relied on nor acknowledged others as comrades. The very concept of teamwork didn’t exist for them. Yet, Ketal acted as though they were genuinely a party, maintaining a natural sense of camaraderie.

It was unsettling for Barak. Despite the strange atmosphere, they pressed on quietly until the monsters came into view.

Beyond the corridor stood four orcs.

“Orcs!” Ketal’s eyes gleamed. Orcs were one of the most classic fantasy monsters. He had encountered them before while clearing Dungeons in the Barcan Estate.

However, these orcs were larger than the ones he had fought before; their skin was darker and their muscles thicker. The difference in power was obvious.

So Dungeon rank determines monster strength as well, Ketal thought. While he observed them with interest, Geinalt remained composed, preparing for battle.

“Marcy, get your spells ready. Barak, load your arrows and be prepared to fire,” Geinalt ordered.

As the warrior and the party leader, Geinalt had to direct the battle.

“And you...” Geinalt turned to Ketal and hesitated briefly before speaking. “You will stay on standby to respond to any unexpected variables.”

“Oh?” Ketal’s expression shifted slightly. “You’re telling me to step back.”

“I won’t deny it.” Geinalt remained firm. He was a mercenary, and he had worked with barbarians before. Through those experiences, he had learned that barbarians had no concept of camaraderie.

They didn’t trust others. They viewed their so-called allies as nothing more than obstacles. The idea of coordinating or watching each other’s backs simply didn’t exist for them. Fighting alongside barbarians had only ever caused trouble. More than once, Geinalt had nearly died because of a barbarian’s recklessness.

Naturally, Geinalt had no intention of including Ketal in the battle. They looked down on others and lived for combat—there was no way Ketal would simply accept being sidelined.

However, Geinalt had already decided. If it came down to it, he was going to subdue Ketal by force. Physically, Ketal looked strong, but in the end, he was just a barbarian who hadn’t even grasped Myst. He wouldn’t be a real threat.

As the tension between them grew, Ketal spoke. “Okay.”

The heavy atmosphere dissipated in an instant.

Caught off guard, Geinalt hesitated. “You’re okay with that?”

“It’s a reasonable decision, isn’t it?” Ketal replied matter-of-factly. “I’ve never fought alongside you before. On the other hand, you three seem to have experience working as a team. Am I wrong?”

“No... you’re not wrong.”

“In that case, an outsider like me would only disrupt your coordination. It’s the right call.”

From Ketal’s perspective, Geinalt’s order was sound. There was no reason for him to refuse.

Yet, Geinalt looked baffled. He hadn’t expected Ketal to accept so easily, most likely because he was a barbarian.

What the hell is wrong with the barbarians from the outside world? Geinalt thought.

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