Chapter 68

“First, allow me to introduce our Moonlight Wolf Association! Customer! Have you ever heard of the legend of wolves? Wolves are a symbol of realizing all noble and sublime revenge with sharp, icy fangs! Our association was formed under the house of King Langwang himself, the king of wolves!”

“Our association’s goal is simple! To help you achieve any revenge in this world! We can either assist you directly or carry out the revenge on your behalf! It’s entirely up to you! We’re just here to help!”

“Anything related to revenge, we provide it all! Completely free of charge! The form of revenge doesn’t matter, nor does the method! For example, becoming so great that the target doesn’t even feel the need for revenge is also a way! Though, judging by your face reading, I’d say you’re more into the <Destruction> type of revenge!”

“Ah~ What a business that rivals charity! Helping someone fulfill their life’s purpose of revenge without taking a single penny! But our association isn’t doing this for profit! It’s all for the success of your revenge! That’s why we’ve come running!”

“How did we come running? How did we know you were dreaming of revenge? Well, the famous Archangel Uriel is also part of our association! You know that Uriel has the divine千里eye power to oversee all things, right?”

“Anyway! Just give us the word, and we’ll assist you with your revenge anytime! We’ve gathered here for that very reason! With the belief and ideology to definitely realize all the world’s noble revenge!”

I shouted loudly to the barbarian who was staring at me with a blank gaze. The higher the voice, the more trust it conveys, after all.

Why am I doing this? Of course, to break the ice with the Langwang.

Langwang loved Saintess Irolwel. Saintess Irolwel was killed by a group of monsters under Dragon King Endros. While Langwang might not know this yet, there’s a high probability he harbors hostility toward the monster group or Dragon King Endros.

Later, Langwang hunted Dragon King Endros alongside Merlin Gregory. Probably due to this enmity.

By the way, Merlin Gregory was the magician who stained the later half of my previous life with convulsions. A once-in-history magical genius who reached the 9th Circle and earned the title of Great Sage—Merlin Gregory.

In my past life, I killed him, but as he died, he cast an unbreakable grand magic on me, forcing me to convulse for 24 hours.

This time around, I’m intercepting Langwang. Of course, I still have to ensure that Merlin Gregory and Langwang team up to hunt Dragon King Endros without affecting causality.

While thinking about this, I excitedly dangled tempting bait in front of Langwang.

“Huh….”

“Hmm? What did you say? Could you speak a little louder?”

“I don’t seek revenge….”

Eh?

“I don’t seek revenge… No trouble…”

The stammering voice went against my expectations.

What’s going on here?

“Revenge like that… is harmful….”

The barbarian’s gaze held no trace of interest or curiosity as he stared at me intently.

“Rather…”

Hmm, that’s not it.

The barbarian’s eyes showed interest in something else.

“Do you… speak? Do you know how to talk?”

“Speak? What do you mean?”

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen someone who can talk! Since ‘Her’!”

The barbarian’s voice brightened. He grabbed my gloved hand with an expectant face and shook it vigorously.

Whirrrr!

Gulp, there’s no resisting this overwhelming strength. The bulging veins and rippling muscles weren’t just for show. Is this the power of a native barbarian raised in the Demon Forest? My hand feels like it’s about to be crushed.

But I can’t shake off his grip. Because the barbarian is genuinely happy—just because I can ‘speak.’

“‘She’ said something about this… When a guest comes… invite them inside first… Ah! Come in! Let me entertain you!”

He awkwardly spoke while pulling me into his hut. His strength was such that I couldn’t resist and was dragged along helplessly.

“Even if there’s nothing prepared, eat heartily! Hmm… Is this wrong? Should I ask if you’re hungry first?”

Once inside the hut, the barbarian told me to sit on a creaky wooden chair. It wasn’t exactly refined craftsmanship. Honestly, sitting on a tree stump would probably be better.

Of course, I didn’t refuse his hospitality. Because he knew I could ‘speak,’ the barbarian was quite friendly towards me. His face, despite its initially gruff impression, now showed a warm smile.

As soon as I sat down, the chair creaked and wobbled. Ow, is this really how you treat guests? Guess I’m enduring it because it’s Langwang.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course! Please understand if my replies are clumsy… It’s been over a decade since I’ve talked to anyone!”

“Well, that’s something I can figure out myself… Why did you invite me in if you don’t seek revenge?”

Inside the tiny hut, filled with random odds and ends, the barbarian brought out a wooden table from somewhere and placed it in front of me. Then he put another chair opposite me and squatted onto it, his massive frame clearly uncomfortable.

He slid his hand under the table and gently caressed it with his fingertips. It was a considerably old and worn-out table, likely used for over a decade.

“Just wanted to chat!”

“Chat?”

“‘She’ said it… People must talk to others! If there’s no one to talk to, even talking to oneself is necessary! So we don’t forget language!”

“Hold on, hold on…”

The same word keeps repeating.

“Why keep mentioning ‘Her’?”

“‘She’ was my teacher!”

“…Could it be. This ‘She’ person…”

A certain person comes to mind.

Someone who ventured into the Demon Forest during this era and was perhaps the only human to make contact with Langwang.

“Are you talking about Saintess Irolwel?”

“You know Irolwel!”

The barbarian’s face lit up with a broad smile. It seemed like he recognized a familiar name.

“You know Irolwel too! Nice to meet you! Truly nice to meet you!”

BAM!

Once again, he grabbed and shook my hand. Ow, my arm’s gonna pop out.

“Ugh…! Y-you know Irolwel? Back then, I received some help from her… So, could you let go of my hand…?”

“Ah! It’s been too long since I’ve met anyone, I forgot! Irolwel always told me to control my strength when shaking hands!”

“Hah, you’re really pumped. Looks like you had some connection with Irolwel too?”

“There is! And you say you’ve been helped by Irolwel too? Truly, Irolwel is amazing!”

The barbarian’s speech is clumsy. He says “kind-hearted” when he means “beautiful.”

However, finding clues in his clumsy words is my job.

Just now, the barbarian definitely said “you too.”

The basics of understanding people involve creating common ground to build empathy.

Found it, common ground. Lucky break from a random comment.

“Long ago, when I passed through the mountain valleys of Corinth, I was just an ordinary merchant back then.”

“What kind of story is this…?”

“I’m telling a story about Irolwel since you seem interested in her. Don’t want to hear it? Fine, I’ll stop.”

“No, no! Not at all! Anything related to Irolwel, I want to hear it all!”

“That’s great! Alright then, let’s continue. When I was passing through the mountain valleys of Corinth, I was just a regular merchant.”

Using Corinth again, where I lured Beatrice a hundred years ago. I should sprinkle some money there next time I pass by. Keep owing favors to places I’ve never even met.

“On a gloomy summer day during the rainy season… Such weather makes the forest terrible. The ground is muddy, the rain drizzles endlessly, and there’s nowhere to take shelter. Yet, I was walking hard to reach my destination. About halfway up the mountain? Suddenly, bandits appeared!”

“Bandits? Ah, I’ve heard about them from Irolwel… They forcefully take things from people.”

“Yeah! Exactly those bandits appeared right in front of me when I was powerless! They took all my money and pinned me down. But maybe God hadn’t abandoned me. Just when I thought everything was over, a lady appeared climbing up the hill!”

“Could it be… that was Irolwel?”

“Yes! Everyone, including me and the bandits, instantly recognized her! She was none other than Saintess Irolwel! The most famous person on the continent, impossible not to recognize! Anyway, feeling incredibly lucky in such a dangerous situation, I immediately shouted to get her attention and hoped she would rescue me!”

“After all, as a saint, she surely possessed the strongest divine power in the continent. Handling a few bandits would be no problem for her. The bandits realized this too and trembled when they saw Irolwel.”

“But the bandits weren’t stupid. Sensing I was about to shout, they quickly pulled out a small, cold pocket knife and pressed it against the back of my neck. They naturally hid their tied-up hands behind my shoulders.”

“And they whispered to me. ‘Smile.’ Divine power may heal everything, but it can’t revive the dead. With the knife poised to kill me at any moment, the bandits smiled at Saintess Irolwel as if they were just casual friends.”

“Hmm…,” the barbarian sighed softly.

Good, now it’s Irolwel’s turn to shine.

“However! Saintess Irolwel was an incredible person! She briefly scanned us with a peculiar look from the mountain path and then approached, pretending to ask for directions. The moment she got close enough to touch with an outstretched arm—POOF! Something moved at lightning speed, and the bandits screamed as they flew far away!”

“Wow! Did Irolwel do that?”

“Who else could perform such divine prowess? Of course, it was Saintess Irolwel! Anyway, thanks to that brief encounter, I owe my life to Saintess Irolwel and live each day with gratitude! That’s my story!”

CLAP!

To express gratitude for listening to my tale, I clapped my hands together once. The barbarian seemed to enjoy my story immensely, wearing an excited expression.

“Right! That’s the Irolwel I know! Irolwel wouldn’t ignore someone in pain!”

Seeing this, I spread my clasped palms apart, facing upwards, and gently opened my mouth.

“So now.”

“Hmm?”

“Could you tell me how you were helped by Saintess Irolwel?”

It’s time to move to the main event.

“Hmm… Are you asking about me…? Me and Irolwel….”

The broad smile that had been on the barbarian’s lips disappeared. After briefly stroking his thick beard, he softly smiled and began to speak.

“When I first met Irolwel… I saw her as prey and pounced.”

…Prey?

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