In the chief's hand was an axe, the same one he had used to decapitate the man next to me during the coming-of-age ceremony.

"Teach them to kill people, not monsters, to make money. Do you think this is the way of the warrior?

My hot head cooled down. It was an unexpected situation. No, I knew I would face it someday, but I didn't know it would happen today. I calmly caught my breath and quickly made a decision.

I could:

1) admit your wrongness and apologize,

2) come up with an excuse for yourself.

I immediately crossed out both options from my mind. I knew what kind of race they were - barbarians. Even if some option seemed simpler and more reasonable to the average person, I could not be mistaken.

There was only one way out.

"Chieftain, this is what you should have done.

Just collide head-on, like a barbarian.

— ... That's ridiculous.

The leader's lips twisted.

"Tell me, what do you mean?"

It seemed that as soon as I opened my mouth, an axe would fly to my head. But I squared my shoulders proudly. What was wrong only became wrong when you recognized it. But what if you don't? It became a conviction. Whatever the gist, there was a possibility that it could be packaged that way, and that was exactly what I needed to do.

"It's just as I said. What I did today, you should have done a long time ago!

For the sake of the cause, and not for the sake of self-interest, I raised my voice in front of the leader, instead of surrendering.

"Chief!" Do you know how many people die in the maze every month?

"You can't become a warrior if you're afraid of death.

It was a clash of beliefs. I decided that the safer way was to burst out in anger and plea for the future of the tribe, like a young warrior worried about his people because the chief cared about the warriors.

"Bjorn, son of Yandel, you must know. Only those warriors who survive become strong.

Believing that my actions were really for the good of the tribe, the chief softened his voice a little, but if I stopped now, it would lead to nothing.

I asked:

"Only the surviving warriors become stronger?"

"You're proof of that!"

Of course, he was not mistaken. Half of us died on the first approach, then another half on the next one. Thus, when half a year had passed since the coming-of-age ceremony, a total of 90% of the barbarians had perished. It was a deformed structure that could hardly even be called survival of the fittest. To survive there, you had to be strong, and to become strong, you had to survive.

"Chieftain, did so many people die when you first became a warrior?"

— No, it did not.

This was the expected response. Not that I have studied the past records much, but if this tradition had continued for at least another 10 years, the barbarians would not have been able to distribute weapons at the coming-of-age ceremony.

"Does this mean that we die in such numbers because we are weaker than them?" Do you really think so, chief?"

"That too... untruth.

He could have avoided the unpleasant statement, but the chief simply answered my questions honestly. Well, apparently, he also knew what was the decisive factor in the current situation.

"Monsters in human bodies live in the labyrinth. They treat us like goblins. Why do you think so?

"Sorcerers take our hearts-...

"No!" Because you didn't do anything! I interrupted his words sternly.

If it were a different race, they would ask the royal family to pass a law banning the trade in hearts. Of course, this could have happened because of the weakness of our race. But our leader did not make the slightest effort, using the tradition of survival of the fittest as a shield. He watched as the race went down.

"You should have at least warned them of the danger!" You had to tell them what monsters haunt the maze and how to fight them so they could prepare!

"This is a tradition passed down from the time of our distant ancestors. I can't change-...

"The ancestors wanted us to be strong!"

The decisions of the leader cannot be explained by principles.

In the vastness of nature, there was not a single animal that would choose its own death. All of them chose evolution to adapt to new conditions. However, the leader did not do the obvious.

"Chief!" Look at us! In the labyrinth, we have become as easy prey as the goblins, because we have been taught that only monsters are our enemies! And this is what our ancestors wanted?

— ... Calm down.

"If I were you, I'd send them with at least a pair of leather boots. And give them a bag to store the mana stones. And I would teach them how to use a compass beforehand.

"Didn't I tell you to calm down!"

Oh, did I cross the line?

The cry of the tribal chief, beaten by facts by a warrior less than a year old, shook the forest.

"Lay it out!" So what do you mean!

Apparently, his rage was off the charts, since he could not refute me with logic, but he did not want to listen calmly either.

"Chieftain, if you don't do it right—" I swallowed hard and uttered the last sentence: "I'll do it myself.

Both for themselves and for the barbarian race.

***

After I boldly expressed my ambitions, the leader was silent for a long time. He only watched me, as if collecting his thoughts. Then, out of the blue, he swung his axe.

I stepped back and dodged the axe. In the state of [Gigantization], I stretched out my hand, grabbed the axe, and a contest of strength began.

The leader won.

My huge body, more than 3 meters tall, was suspended from an axe and dangled in the air. Then I let go of the axe and rushed at him.

And then...

I hit the leader in the face with my fist.

However, I did not feel the usual heaviness in my hand, and when I came to my senses, I saw the leader's huge fist in front of me.

That was the last thing I remembered.

…

... So this must be the chieftain's tent.

Calmly understanding the situation, I slowly opened my eyes. As expected, I was in the tent and could see the chief.

"You woke up quickly.

— ... Chief, your nose is inside your face.

"Yours too."

Really? No wonder I couldn't breathe properly. There was a taste of blood in my saliva, too. I opened the backpack next to the bed, took out a bottle of potion, took a few sips, and handed the rest to the chief.

"You have a drink too."

— ... I am fine. Why waste a potion? If I leave it like this, it will be better by tomorrow.

Well, since that's what you say.

Roughly adjusting the bone of my nose with my hand, I wiped the clotted blood as if I had blown my nose and wiped it on the bed. Then I got straight to the point. First, what I needed to check first.

"Are you done getting angry?"

— ... I wasn't angry from the start.

"Then why?"

"You were a little overconfident, and I just wanted to hit you.

In the rest of the world, it's called "getting angry."

In any case, I didn't have to say anything, because I felt that his anger had already passed. There were other important things to talk about.

It's good that everything was resolved safely.

I stood in front of him and announced that I would become the chief of the tribe. Not that I said those words out of excitement. I just hoped that the chief would not kill me for this.

"Are you so hungry for my place?"

— Yes.

Ambition and aspiration cannot be shameful to a barbarian, especially if they are mixed with conviction and a great cause.

"As you might expect, you are different from the other warriors.

"What do you mean?"

"The other warriors wanted to take the place of the chief of the tribe for the sake of honor. But you're only for the sake of our tribe.

Fortunately, it did not seem to me that he suspected an evil spirit in me. It seemed that the chief did not hate this side of me. I was sure that if I hadn't argued so much, I wouldn't have been beaten.

Be that as it may, the leader also found excuses. He spoke of something unexpected.

"In comparison, the former leader was like you. When it came to the tribe, he always went forward. Do you know what this led to?

"Are you talking about the War of the Sacred Relics?"

— Yes.

The War of the Sacred Relics was the name of the war with the elves 10 years ago. The tragedy began when a barbarian accidentally picked up a Sacred Relic belonging to the Elven tribe in a labyrinth. The elves arrested and interrogated the barbarian who owned the relic, and he stubbornly resisted.

And he died.

"Before the royal family intervened, we were at war with the elves for more than a year. In this battle, the former leader also died.

The War of the Sacred Relics was the main reason for the weakening of the barbarian power. Countless warriors who were supposed to lead the next generation died. Added to this, the magic tower announced that the barbarian's heart was valuable as magical material.

"We even met with the Tower Lord, but they only asked why they should give up magical ingredients for us.

Well, it's not that they didn't try.

"But we couldn't wage war against the magic tower.

"So, as I said...

"Yes, I am sure that everything would be better than it is now if I taught the young warriors the dangers you spoke of.

"What?"

When I flinched, as if I had heard something I shouldn't have heard, the chief grinned.

"You're still young, warrior. What you did this time was to instill hatred for people in the warriors.

"They're looters, not people.

"If you really believe that such a distinction is possible, then I misunderstood you.

—... But why can't we hate people? I asked out of pure curiosity.

The chief of the tribe replied after a short pause:

"Because if we hate them, we will have nowhere to live.

"You're afraid of the Rafdon royal family.

It's not that I didn't understand. I knew very well how great the power of the royal family was.

However, the chief muttered bitterly:

"There is not a single creature in this world that would not be afraid of it. If the day comes when you meet him, you will understand.

It seemed that he was not afraid of the army of the royal family, but of the king himself.

***

After that, he interrupted the conversation.

"I'll turn a blind eye to the fact that you teach warriors about marauders. But if you go any further, I won't sit idly by. Do not allow the warriors to harbor a strong hatred for people.

I was not chosen as my successor, but he recognized my ambitions and tolerated them, even as I increased my influence in the tribe. True, I was warned to stay in my lane, but it was a reward that I would not have received if I had hastened to admit my wrongness or make excuses.

"If you want my place, become stronger, warrior. And prove that you are worthy. I'll keep an eye on you. And one more thing. Your fist is not bad.

Hey, who would have said. After the leader's compliment, I left the tent. The sun was setting behind the walls of the castle.

The tent was surrounded by barbarians. All eyes were on me, from the little barbarians to the elders, who must have been good fighters in their youth.

"You're fine.

"I heard that the chief has a nosebleed...

"Then that means...?"

When they saw that I had returned alive and unharmed from the tent, they showed deep curiosity. I just shifted my backpack and walked between them. They watched, but did not approach. Apparently, they decided that I deserved the hatred of the leader.

When I took a few more steps, Einar came up to me.

"Bjorn!" Are you okay?! I heard you fought the chieftain!"

"Ah, I'm fine.

"So what happened?" I heard you announced that you would become the chief of the tribe?

As soon as Einar asked this direct question, about a hundred barbarians pricked up their ears at the same time. It would be impossible to just disappear from here.

I smiled and answered:

"He told me to become stronger and prove my worth.

Immediately, there was a commotion around. Someone was surprised, someone said that it was impossible even for me. There were also those who gave surprisingly realistic reasons and said that it would take several years. The leader apparently thought the same way.

"And?" Bjorn, what did you say?

Then I answered:

"That it won't take long.

***

On the way back to the city with Einar, we met Charon. I told him not to teach young barbarians to hate people too much.

"But! Didn't you say that people are enemies?

— Not all people are enemies.

I went almost against my words, but when I told him about Dvalki, Charon agreed.

"A noble man even among men... Can I tell the other warriors about this?

"About Dvalki?"

— This will be a very good example! We love such warriors!

"Didn't you hear me?" He was a mage, not a warrior.

"Haha!" You say strange things. He fought to the death to protect his teammates. Why isn't he a warrior?

Well, I had nothing to say to that. I just ended the argument and conversation with that.

"Then I'll go."

"Good!" See you next time, Bjorn, son of Yandel! A warrior who will lead us into the future!

It seems that my title has become longer.

But at least it ended well.

I decided to leave the method of making money at the expense of looters as it is. The chief was only worried about the exacerbation of hatred, he said that this was within the limits of the permissible. Anyway, this technique will stop working in a few months.

The reason why the marauders were so targeting the barbarians was because it was low risk and high reward.

If there are rumors that we've changed, there won't be any bastards willing to risk their lives.

If a goblin dropped materials on millions of stones, anyone would go crazy. But, what if it was a rank 3 monster? Any sane bastard will run away.

*Top!*

After leaving the Holy Land, I brought Einar to my lodging and, after finishing a tearful meal on the 1st floor, booked her a spare room next to mine.

"Can I really sleep in such a place...?"

— Of course. You don't have to return my money later. This is not-...

"Bjorrrrnn!! I will follow you for the rest of my life!

— ... Hush. This is not the Holy Land.

"Oh, that's right!

As I warned Einar, my room, which was supposed to be empty, opened from the inside.

— ... Bjorn? Who is this woman next to you?

"Oh, are you here?"

Since she was a member of the team that would join us in the future, I briefly introduced her. Since we had mentioned each other several times in the past, there was no need for lengthy explanations.

"Nice to meet you!" Misha Karlstein! I've heard a lot about you! Bjorn's teammate is my teammate! I hope we work well together!

Einar seemed nervous when she met Misha for the first time. She almost shouted out every word and held out her hand.

Mike was no less excited.

"Oh, uh... Nice to meet you...

She shook Ainar's hand almost as if possessed and, coming to her senses, came up to me. She whispered in my ear:

"Is this the same Ainar you were talking about?" You said she was a barbarian!

"And?"

"How can she be a barbarian?!"

Is it not clear that she is a barbarian? At first I did not understand this, but on reflection I understood her surprise. Most people imagine barbarians who are at least two meters tall.

The problem was that Einar heard it too.

"Misha Karlstein!" Are you insulting me for being small?! And I sincerely considered you a valuable teammate...!

"Oh!" No. You misheard!

"I have good ears!"

"And-I'm sorry!" That's not what I meant. Hmm? You're just so beautiful... Yes! Therefore, I-...

"What?!" Misha Karlstein, how much longer will you insult me? Duel! I'm challenging you to a duel!

Ainar began to scream as soon as her injury was touched, and Misha tried to calm her down. This sight gave me a severe headache.

"Phew... My head...

It was obvious that my head had not yet fully healed after the blow of the leader. There was no other way to explain it. The team had not even gathered yet, and I already saw a thorny path ahead.