A magical tool that can distinguish an evil spirit?

A second ago, I never expected to find myself in such a situation.

Whatever it is, it doesn't change anything.

I got rid of the suspicion that this was done purely out of curiosity.

Could it be that he really knew something? Or was it just a coincidence?

If I couldn't be sure, I'd have to assume the worst.

The old man suspected me. So what should I do now?

— ... A magical tool?

I frowned and looked at the old man, as if the words "magic tool" bothered me more than "evil spirit" and that was the reason for that short silence.

— ... Is it safe?

I looked at him in disbelief. I was a barbarian with no knowledge of magic, and I had seen countless strange-looking magic tools in Raven's lab.

This must be the right reaction.

Having finished my short reasoning, I began to act. Now it was the old man's turn.

"Hmm...

He looked at me with a strange look, then opened his mouth with a different expression.

"Hehe, don't you believe me?" Me, the Master of the Altemion School?

When I looked at him, as if to say, "Isn't that obvious?" the old man clicked his tongue.

"Tsok, who do you think I am, my friend?" Take it easy. Aru will prove that the magical tool is harmless to the human body.

— ... Forgive me? I?

"It's not that hard, is it?"

"Yes, well... If you just check what spells were put into the tool, then...

A master of her school who taught her for many years, or a barbarian with whom she has known for 3 months?

Since it was clear which side Raven would prefer, these words were hard to believe.

No matter what excuse I come up with, I'll still be part of his plan.

Listening to their conversation, I was convinced of this. I didn't know where he had seen the clue, but the old man suspected me. Thankfully, it didn't seem to have progressed to the stage of certainty, judging by the way he was trying to figure me out with a non-existent magical tool.

I'm sure... Such a magical tool does not exist.

With my anxiety out of my mind, I carefully rationalized the evidence.

A magical tool for identifying evil spirits?

Nothing like this has existed for thousands of years.

However, as civilization continues to evolve, it won't be strange if something like this emerges one day.

However, it is ridiculous that this old man became the first creator.

The Althemion School was an orthodox school of magicians.

Instead of minor subjects like dimensions and souls, they mostly did research on things like creating new spells. Why would such a magician create a guide to evil spirits?

If something like this really exists, he would make me sit down for it by deception.

Soon I made a final decision. There was no identifier for evil spirits. The old man just wanted to see my reaction.

"So what are you going to do?" he asked. "It's not dangerous, and it won't take long.

— ... What time is it?

– About 5 minutes.

"In that case, all right...

I accepted the old man's offer as if I was a little uncomfortable, but I didn't complain, as long as it ended quickly. But it seems that my decision was unexpected for him.

— ... Do you really mind? he asked. Such a reaction dispelled even the remnants of my anxiety.

I calmly asked:

"What do you mean?" What do you mind with?

— ... Aren't you worried that it might be dangerous?

"Didn't she say she'd check it out?!"

"That's true, but-...

"Let's go." I was already tired of waking up early. I want to go home and sleep!

Who the fuck did this old man think he was messing with?

***

"He's gone...

Bjorn walked out of the laboratory. Raven sighed heavily when she heard the master's muttering, which sounded somewhat disappointed. She did not understand the situation.

A magical tool for identifying evil spirits? She had never heard of her teacher researching something like this.

"What was it?" Raven asked. "Don't just sit there. Are you really not going to tell me?

Under the guidance of her master, she had to prove to Bjorn that this magical tool was safe. It wasn't difficult because the magic tool that her master had called the "Evil Spirit Guide" wasn't imbued with any spells. It was just a strange-looking chair.

"Don't say anything, just agree," he ordered.

She kept silent about these facts, following her master's words.

And now it's time to find out the truth.

Of course, she had her own assumptions. She wasn't that stupid.

— ... Did you really think Mr. Yandel was an evil spirit? Is that why you interrogated me about what happened in the labyrinth?

Her master did not confirm or deny this, but sometimes silence was the surest answer.

"Ha... So, now your suspicions have been dispelled?

— ... Yes, I was wrong.

"It's not that I don't understand what you're getting at, master. He's a strange man, after all. But I have a question. I would very much like you to answer it.

— ... What is this? The master asked her weakly.

"Why did you do that?" If you suspected an evil spirit in him, you could let the Ministry of Security take care of him-...

"If I do, he'll die," he muttered quietly.

"Excuse me?" What are you doing to them-...

"I'm tired. I'll leave you, so please clean everything up here.

Soon, its master lifted his aged body and, unlike usual, walked away with a decrepit gait.

Now Raven was alone in her lab. She pondered her master's words.

Will he die?

In other words, could this mean that he needs a living evil spirit?

What does the master want?

She couldn't shake the feeling of anxiety.

***

*Buch!*

When I got home, I immediately collapsed on the bed. For some reason, I felt like I had spent all my energy this morning. I wanted to rest, but I took time to relax and reflect on what had happened today.

It really popped out of nowhere.

I didn't think I had made any mistakes. Looking back, it wasn't a bad move on my part. Assuming the worst and using hints, I did not allow myself to jump to conclusions. Thanks to this, I was able to react in the best way I was capable of at that moment.

Looking at his face at the end, it seems that even the old man has completely dispelled his doubts.

It was an unexpected incident, but it was resolved safely.

However, there was one point that was a little unclear.

When he was convinced that I was not an evil spirit, the old man looked somewhat disappointed. Why?

... Well, that's none of my business.

After thinking for a while, I cleared my thoughts.

It was a question that could not be answered, and I decided that whatever the reason, it had nothing to do with my safety.

Still, I feel some relief.

What a shitty show in the morning. But, paradoxically, this incident gave me a strange sense of relief. Thanks to this, probably, the pile of failures that had been accumulating to the ceiling all these days was slightly reduced.

***

"Bjorn!" Wake up! It's already dawn, how much longer will you sleep?!

Did I fall asleep at some point?

When I opened my eyes, Misha was shaking my body. I didn't sleep with the door unlocked, so she must have come in with the spare key I gave her.

I gave it to you so that you could use it only as a last resort...

"Misha, why are you here?" I told you that I was going to the magic tower today.

"You came home late yesterday. I was going to wake you up if you overslept!

Well, in that case.

I'll have to think about picking up the spare key another time.

"Oh, but how did you know I came late yesterday?" Just don't tell me you've been waiting for me.

"You promised to tell me everything when you returned. Besides, I didn't wait long, so don't worry.

Perhaps she said so, but it was clear that she was waiting for me until late. Was she really so interested in what happened at the banquet?

"Well, then tell me." What happened?

At Misha's insistence, I slowly told her about what had happened the day before: how I had put on the barbaric gear prepared by the butler, how I had led the procession of wagons to the banquet, about the food I had eaten there, and even about my accidental victory in the tournament.

"Uh, did you really win?" Against all these knights?

"Not knights, but apprentice knights.

"Still, they are knights!" That's cool!

Not really. With the exception of the guy I met in the final, Misha would have easily beaten the others. Her melee skills are no joke.

"Don't think about it. Write this.

In general, after briefly explaining what had happened, I began to write letters together with Misha. These were the answers that had to be sent to the nobility. I wrote a lot of them in the morning, but when I woke up, the letters piled up again.

— ... Bjorn, is it really possible to send them like this? They are nobles. This can lead to problems later.

"It's all right.

"Well, since you say so...

Even with a worried look, Misha wrote down what I read.

I'm telling you, there's nothing to worry about. What else can be demanded of a barbarian's letter?

What I answered them was a miracle.

I can't come. I'm busy. So find another barbarian.

From: Björn, son of Yandel.

Yes, it was quite elegant.

***

The house of an aristocrat.

Spacious and sparkling, delicious smells were everywhere.

"At last I understand the leader's words!" The world is really big!

It was like a different world, from people's clothes to the way they spoke and the sound of the music.

We all just beat the drums...

"What are you doing?!" Come here.

"S-Good!"

Varvar, who had grown up a month ago, Dukat, Karpen's son, followed the client to the center of the banquet.

"Tsok, what is this gait?" Walk more confidently!

It was a little unfair. He didn't seem to know what it meant to walk confidently, and the equipment he wore was unreasonably large and uncomfortable.

I'm more comfortable naked...

Although he wanted to express his displeasure, Dukat remained silent because he was reminded of the past.

"That man wore even more without any problems.

A few days ago, while following a man who had promised to pay him a large sum of money, Dukat had received various lessons, mainly on how to behave at a banquet. At first, he was angry.

Do they make such unreasonable demands because I am a barbarian?

He wondered if they were looking down on him.

"Who is this man?!" Who is he that you keep telling me to do weird things!?

"I am talking about the Little Balkan, Bjorn, the son of Yandel.

Having learned his identity, Dukat had no choice but to endure all the demands.

Bjorn, son of Yandel: a warrior among warriors, who defeated all the knights at the feast of the nobility and even received the wonderful title of Knightbreaker.

Am I not good enough to be like him?

After listening to his stories, Dukat vowed to show his best side at this banquet. There could be nothing wrong with the actions of the warrior whom the chief praised so much.

If there's anything wrong, it's me.

He decided to act like a warrior, but it wasn't as easy as he thought. Being among the elegant and noble aristocrats who were so different from himself, he couldn't help but feel small.

"Uh... It's delicious...!

"Louder!" This person wasn't that shy!

'B-Behella

To be honest, it was embarrassing. Maybe he was a barbarian, but why would anyone shout in front of people just because the food was delicious? Of course, if he was alone, he would have shouted several times.

"Don't eat only meat, chew and bones!"

And now his teeth hurt, too.

"Do you need a napkin?" Why do you need it?

The hand holding the food was sticky.

"Ugh, why are you taking off your helmet again?"

His neck hurt and his shoulders were heavy. However, soon he was to go to a duel consisting only of barbarians. Will he be able to fight properly? The fact that he was worried made him feel pathetic. Unlike that man, his opponent wasn't even a knight.

They say that if you repeat after the Troll, you can crush your head...

After the coming-of-age ceremony, Dukat entered the city with a cherished dream of becoming a famous warrior one day. However, the walls of reality turned out to be different. Less than a month later, he was faced with his shortcomings.

"Why can't you do it?"

Dukat finally spoke the words he had been holding back for a long time.

"I... An ordinary warrior.

Shouting when you want, breaking what you want, behaving as you want, regardless of who is next to you - this was for the truly strong, this right was given only to real warriors, self-confident.

"I can't do that... Please don't compare him to me anymore. Bjorn, son of Yandel, is a great warrior who cannot be compared to the likes of me.

"Hmph, it seems like it was a special case...

At Dukat's confession, the nobles sighed and stared into space with eyes full of desire. No, perhaps it wasn't just about this man.

- I see. It must be him...

"Well, how can such a savage barbarian be ordinary?"

"I thought all barbarians were like him.

"They're more normal than I thought.

If you listened carefully, words like these reverberated throughout the banquet hall.

***

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