The Invincible Young Master

'Someone from the mountain'

The moment those words left the Barbarian King's lips, the atmosphere changed instantly.

The followers, who had descended with him, went wide-eyed, their faces a mix of shock and awe.

Even Bronn, who had fought alongside Amelia, turned to her with a new sense of realization.

His easygoing demeanor cracked as surprise flickered in his eyes, trying to process what he had just learned.

The same thought ran through all their minds, No wonder she is so powerful.

Amelia, however, remained composed. Her expression did not change, unaffected by the recognition or the astonished stares of the barbarians.

Bronn, still reeling from the revelation, looked at her with a slight awe. "Big sister... you're really from the Mountain?"

Amelia gave a small nod, confirming it without a word.

The barbarian's posture stiffened as the weight of Amelia's origins sank in.

Suddenly, her immense strength and calm presence made perfect sense.

They stood in silent awe, their eyes filled with both respect and fear.

The Grimhold, where they now stood, was an isolated land from the rest.

To the east stretched a wild, untamed ocean.

To the west, the snow-capped mountains loomed high, ancient and imposing.

These mountains weren't just a natural barrier; they marked the border to something far greater.

They stood between the Grimhold and the human land, making travel nearly impossible.

But that wasn't the real reason the barbarians never ventured beyond those peaks.

Those mountains were home to the Holy Lands.

The Holy Lands, one of the most powerful forces in the world, lay hidden in those snowy peaks, an ancient power as old as the Grimhold itself.

From time to time, students from the Holy Lands would descend into the Grimhold to train, to test their strength against monster beasts, and occasionally, against the barbarian tribes themselves.

The tribes had long since learned to leave the Holy Lands undisturbed. Even the most battle-hungry barbarians knew better than to step foot in their territory.

And now, standing before them was someone from that very place.

"From the Mountain..." one of the barbarians muttered, his voice thick with awe.

"She's one of them," whispered another, staring at Amelia as if seeing her for the first time.

Sensing the mounting tension, Bronn scratched the back of his head awkwardly. Hoping to ease the silence, he blurted out, "Oh, and… she's Boss's mate."

"…"

Spark's eyes widened, his arms dropping to his sides. He slowly turned toward Bronn, his expression blank but his twitching eye betraying his disbelief. "This muscle head…"

"What?!" The Barbarian King's voice thundered through the area, snapping everyone's attention back to him.

His gaze bounced between Bronn and Spark, who suddenly found himself in the uncomfortable spotlight.

The barbarian king's piercing gaze swung toward Amelia.

"Is this true?" he asked, his deep voice full of curiosity.

Amelia was caught off guard, hesitated for a moment, and gave a small nod. "…Yes."

The Barbarian King's face lit up with joy.

"As expected from the golden boy!" he roared, slapping his knee and stepping closer to Spark, towering over him with booming laughter. "He's got himself a mate from the Mountain!"

With a hearty slap to Spark's back. "Let's call for a feast!"

Spark, straightening himself and rubbing his shoulder, sighed.

"I'd rather not," he muttered. "I'm not exactly eager to try whatever you plan on serving... and I doubt my stomach could handle it."

"Afraid of our food, eh?" the Barbarian King laughed. "What's there to fear? You even ate my ear once!"

Spark's face stayed straight-faced. "I did not eat your ear."

Amelia tilted her head slightly, her expression puzzled as she watched the two of them bicker. She couldn't quite understand what all the excitement was about.

The Barbarian King's laughter boomed across the sky once again.

"A feast it is!" he declared, clapping Spark on the back with a heavy hand.

"Even if you say so," Spark muttered, glancing toward Amelia, "she's far too busy to bother with something like a feast."

Amelia, who had been silent until now, thoughtfully placed a finger on her chin, her gaze drifting as if pondering something serious.

"I've rarely left the mountain," she said calmly. "Trying a delicacy from Grimhold might be an interesting change."

Her words, calm and slow, landed like a boulder on Spark's already failing attempt to avoid the feast.

His eye twitched, and his shoulders sagged in defeat.

"You were supposed to reject the offer," he muttered under his breath.

The Barbarian King roared with laughter, his voice ringing out even louder than before. "That settles it!"

Just as the mood seemed to shift into celebration, Amelia spoke up again, her tone still composed. "What about the deceased?" Continue your story on M-V-L

The Barbarian King turned, raising a brow. "Do you wish to bury them?"

Amelia nodded solemnly. "It's only right. Their families should have the chance to retrieve them."

For a moment, the Barbarian King's eyes softened at her words. With a wave of his hand, he motioned to his men. "My warriors will handle it."

"But," Amelia continued, her gaze sweeping over the bodies. "Give them a day or two. If no one comes for them, then you can lay them to rest."

The Barbarian King gave a firm nod, his respect for her evident.

"That's fair," he agreed. "Now, let's get moving."

With that, the four of them, Bronn, his father, Spark, and Amelia, left the ruins behind.

The journey was mostly quiet, aside from the occasional rumble of the Barbarian King's voice.

"Oh, lad," the Barbarian King suddenly said, breaking the silence, "I almost forgot, your old man was here recently, searching for you."

Spark's eyes widened slightly, a sharp glint flashing through his usually indifferent gaze. "Oh? Where?"

The Barbarian King shook his head. "He's already gone. Didn't stay long."

"He came here searching for me in person?" Spark's voice, usually calm and detached, held a note of curiosity. "If he came himself, then something serious must be happening back home."