Barbarian’s Dark Fantasy Strategy Guide

Chapter 9: Rule （1）

A few days ago.

When Hojae entrusted Khalid with the request, his advisor, Dominic, felt a sense of unease for some reason.

Hojae Arik was a man who was more thorough than anyone else in the world when it came to money.

The fact that he invested one gold coin to subjugate the Commander-level ogre that threatened the village’s existence, and now he’s investing the same amount to recruit just one blacksmith……

Dominic couldn’t understand it at all.

“My Lord, is that barbarian really worth investing such a large sum in?”

“What are you talking about? I’m treating her with the respect she deserves as a descendant of a master craftsman. Think about it. What would have happened if I had offered her a few silver coins?”

“She would’ve carried out the request just the same.”

At Dominic’s indifferent answer, Hojae frowned and clicked his tongue.

“No, it’s not a matter of whether a mercenary accepts a request or not. It makes a clear difference in how seriously she takes me and how important she thinks I am. In that sense, my intention was successfully conveyed.”

“Is Miss Melissa really that talented? She’s only sixteen years old. Even if she’s the descendant of a master craftsman, there’s no guarantee that she inherited his skills.”

“Are you saying I’m a poor judge of character?”

“N-No. Of course not……”

As Hojae narrowed his eyes, Dominic flinched and lowered his head.

Dunhelm, the northern kingdom belonging to the Karma Empire, is also called the “Land of Opportunity”.

In this country that advocates meritocracy and liberalism, Hojae could be considered a role model for everyone.

There was no doubt about his ability and insight.

At the very least, running the trading company was an area where even his advisor couldn’t dare to interfere.

Realizing his slip of the tongue, Dominic immediately changed the subject.

“I apologize. There must be a good reason why you’ve had your eye on her for so long.”

“Hmm.”

“But I don’t understand why you entrusted the task to only that barbarian.”

“He’s the one who single-handedly defeated a monster that took the lives of dozens of people. Is there a more trustworthy mercenary in this town?”

“The barbarians of the north originally made a living by hunting demons. Their combat abilities may be outstanding, but I can’t help but have doubts about anything else.”

This time, Dominic was criticizing Khalid.

He didn’t want to see a mere barbarian mercenary suddenly snatching up a large chunk of the trading company’s precious money.

“Do you think he’ll fail this mission?”

“At the very least, I think it’s more disadvantageous than making multiple mercenaries compete. Since we’ve already called in many mercenaries to Windfall for the ogre incident, if we give them a chance, we’ll definitely be able to bring Miss Melissa here.”

His opinion was that when it came to finding or persuading someone, it was better to deal with a fellow Imperial citizen than a strange barbarian.

If it weren’t for the village rebellion, it was a task that could have been done without mercenaries.

“Even if we offer half, no, even a quarter of the reward, many more mercenaries will be eager to take on the task. Naturally, the success rate would be higher. If you have high expectations for Miss Melissa, wouldn’t it make more sense to invest the gold in her, not the mercenary?”

Dominic’s words made sense.

As a merchant, it was basic to save as much money as possible. It was also a good point that the investment target was a blacksmith, not a mercenary.

However, Hojae had a slightly troubled expression on his face.

“Hmm……”

Bringing Melissa to Windfall for sure.

Nothing could be more important to Hojae.

Dominic found Hojae’s troubled look puzzling.

‘He’s not changing his mind even after I’ve said this much? Could it be…… Is there another reason I don’t know about?’

After a moment of contemplation, Hojae didn’t give in.

“Your opinion is good, but let’s just proceed with this as it is. He’s already left for Stoneberry, so let’s wait for him to return.”

“Ah, yes…… If that’s what you wish, My Lord.”

Dominic sensed something fishy and started to reconsider the differences between the requests.

One was a private request entrusted to Khalid alone.

The one he suggested was a public request in the form of a competition.

‘Don’t tell me…… Is he uncomfortable with this matter becoming public? Why?’

Obsession with Melissa.

A private request that wasn’t disclosed.

A huge reward.

Dominic suspected that Hojae had a hidden secret and raised his eyebrows suspiciously.

◈◈◈◈◈◈ ◈◈◈◈◈◈ ◈◈◈◈◈◈

About a week later.

Upon hearing the news that Khalid had brought Melissa, Hojae rushed out barefoot. Dominic, who secretly hoped the mission would fail, clicked his tongue inwardly.

“M-Miss Melissa!”

“It’s been a while, My Lord.”

Melissa bowed her head politely.

Hojae was so overjoyed that his eyes were even tearing up.

Dominic glanced at Hojae’s expression with a meaningful look.

“Come, come! You must be tired from your long journey. Let’s both go inside.”

Hojae ordered the servants to quickly prepare a feast.

Khalid was about to leave after receiving his reward, but……

『Hey, hey! After you’ve finished the request, you have to properly report back to the client.』 Becky stopped him.

Khalid and Melissa were invited to the banquet hall.

Hojae’s wife, Mila, and Dominic also attended. Hojae’s wife, Mila Arik, remained silent and didn’t participate in the conversation.

『That woman…… is suspicious.』

‘What are you talking about?’

Becky suddenly expressed hostility towards the Baroness.

『Somehow, she gives off a dangerous vibe like a poisoned apple. Empty eyes, a fake smile…… You have to be especially careful with that kind of face.』

‘You sound like a fortune teller.’

『Believe it or not, I have a good eye for women. Even at the company, I could accurately pinpoint the ones who talked behind my back…… Yay! Food!』

Becky’s attention was completely shattered by the smell of food. Delicious dishes were being placed one after another on a round table large enough to seat at least ten people.

The table was filled with high-quality dishes that were incomparable to what they ate at the inn.

『Whoa~. What a feast! Wow, look at how tender this meat is…… It’s insane.』

Khalid wasn’t particularly hungry, but because Becky kept nagging him in his head, he tasted the food.

Becky felt that if she could eat this kind of food every day, settling down here wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Hojae personally filled Khalid’s glass with wine and said,

“You’ve worked hard. Both with the ogre and this time. I owe you a great debt. So, how was the situation in Stoneberry?”

“It was a little different from what you said. It wasn’t a rebellion, but a demon attack on the village.”

“A demon?! Dominic, didn’t the villagers say they saw people fighting amongst themselves?”

“Ah, yes. That’s what I heard.”

Khalid explained what kind of disaster had occurred in Stoneberry.

At the story that the villagers bitten by the Vampire Bat had turned into zombies and more than half of them had lost their lives, Hojae and Dominic’s eyes widened.

“How could this be…… How could such a thing happen……”

“Vampire Bat?! Are you saying that you single-handedly defeated a Vampire Bat that had become a demon?”

Dominic, in particular, seemed to not believe Khalid’s words.

Anyone who knew even a little about demons knew how dangerous Vampire Bats were.

“There are nearly a thousand residents in Stoneberry, and you’re saying that you dealt with half of them as zombies and even defeated the Vampire Bat by yourself? Ha! You’re spouting nonsense because there are no witnesses.”

“There’s a witness right here.”

Melissa put down her fork and said.

She had a look on her face that showed she didn’t like Dominic trying to belittle Khalid just because he was a barbarian.

“Everything Khalid said is true. If it weren’t for him, not only me but all the residents of Stoneberry would have lost their lives.”

When Melissa glared at Dominic, his face flushed red.

“Yes. Dominic, you were being too harsh. There’s no reason for him to brag like that after he’s already completed the mission.”

When Hojae also spoke up, Dominic bit his lower lip.

“Yes…… I apologize.”

At that moment, the Baroness, who had been eating quietly, spoke for the first time.

“Aren’t you going to apologize, young lady?”

“Y-Yes?”

Melissa blinked in surprise. Her body seemed to freeze at the ice-cold voice.

“It seems you’ve forgotten who you’re sitting at the table with.”

“Ah……!”

The Baroness’s gaze, fixed on Melissa, seemed to be clicking her tongue as if to say, “This is why commoners are……”.

It meant that a mere commoner couldn’t dare humiliate the advisor in front of the Lord and Baroness of a village.

“I-I’m sorry……”

Seeing Melissa completely intimidated by the Baroness, Hojae tried to lighten the mood with a cough.

“C-Ahem! Anyway, for even the Lord of Stoneberry to be attacked by a demon…… This is no ordinary matter.”

Actually, Melissa was planning to make a deal with Hojae around this point. Knowing his intention to appoint her to the Windfall blacksmith, she was going to ask him to accept the Stoneberry refugees as a condition.

However, her heart was pounding from the Baroness’s intimidating presence, and she couldn’t open her mouth.

『That woman is making Melissa too scared to speak!』

Becky glared at the Baroness and growled. Khalid also couldn’t just stand by and watch Melissa’s shoulders tremble.

“It seems the fenced-in people even bother dogs at the dinner table.”

When Khalid threw down his cutlery with a clang, the Baroness’s face contorted.

“What…… did you say?”

“Thanks to you, I’ve lost my appetite.”

“You! How can you be so barbaric……”

“That’s because I’m a barbarian, isn’t it? We don’t bother anyone when we’re eating.”

“You…… uncivilized!”

Mila clenched her fists as if frustrated.

The atmosphere of the banquet turned hostile in an instant.

Ironically, Hojae, the Lord, was the most flustered.

“Now, now! Let’s not get angry with each other on such a good day. My dear, these are my important guests, so please don’t scold them too much.”

“……”

Despite Hojae’s intervention, Mila gritted her teeth and glared at Khalid and Melissa for a while. Eventually, she stood up abruptly.

“I’ll be going back now. I’m not feeling well.”

“Alright. Go and get some rest, my dear.”

Apart from what had just happened, the Baroness’s complexion was very pale. Whether her health was truly poor or not, she left the banquet hall with the help of the servants.

“My Lord, I also have some business to attend to, so I’ll excuse myself.”

Mila and Dominic left at the same time.

With the uncomfortable individuals gone, the atmosphere became much lighter. Hojae apologized with a bitter face.

“I’m sorry. My wife’s nerves are on edge.”

“No, it’s my fault for acting out of line……”

“No, it’s not your fault, Miss Melissa. Actually, my wife has suffered greatly, both physically and mentally, because she’s had three miscarriages. She often gets angry over trivial matters.”

『Three miscarriages?』

Come to think of it, there were no children of Hojae’s at the banquet. It was unusual for a nobleman nearing fifty to not have any children.

Apparently, he didn’t even take a concubine because he believed the responsibility for the miscarriages lay with him.

『What’s this old man going to do without a successor?』

Becky, who was needlessly worried about the Lord’s family matters…… It was more important to get Melissa’s business done first.

“Melissa, if you have something to say, say it confidently. There’s no need to be intimidated.”

“Ah, yes……”

“Hmm? Miss Melissa, do you have something to say to me? Don’t hesitate and tell me anything.”

Melissa took a deep breath and mustered her courage once again. Having Khalid by her side gave her strength.

“Um…… My Lord. The reason you hired Khalid and called me here is to entrust me with the blacksmith in Windfall, right?”

Hojae nodded.

“That’s right. You know I’ve wanted to bring you here for a long time. What do you say? Are you willing to take it on now?”

“Yes. That’s why I followed Khalid here.”

“Oh!”

At Melissa’s straightforward answer, Hojae slapped his knee.

His face lit up.

“Although it’s not much of a trade-off, I have a request for you, My Lord.”

Hojae readily agreed to Melissa’s request to accept the Stoneberry residents who had become refugees due to the Vampire Bat attack.

“Actually, I was planning to do that even without you worrying about it.”

“R-Really?!”

Windfall had also suffered damage from the ogre and was in a situation where manpower was more needed than ever. Moreover, the Arik Trading Company’s financial resources were more than sufficient to accommodate them.

The integration of the Stoneberry residents was practically a set procedure.

“Thank you! My Lord.”

Thanks to Hojae’s generous actions, everything was smoothly concluded.

After the banquet, Hojae excused himself for a moment due to urgent business.

Khalid received his reward from the butler and prepared to leave, while Melissa stayed at the mansion to look around the blacksmith with Hojae.

“Khalid!”

Melissa called out to Khalid.

“Thank you so much for earlier. I almost couldn’t bring myself to say it.”

“It was going to happen anyway.”

“Still! You’ll be staying in this town for a while, right?”

“Yes.”

“As promised, I’ll make you a wonderful axe, so please wait until then.”

Khalid nodded slightly and left the Lord’s mansion.