Magus Raven of the Apple Narak team, along with the rest of the team, stood at the nearest passage. The reason was simple. When the attack on the knights stopped, she tried to move to where the leader of her team was, but due to the thousands of people gathered so tightly, she couldn't even squeeze through them.

"Miss Einar, I hope you can help me. I can't see well from here.

Being much shorter than the average height even for women - a little more than 150 cm - Raven sat on Einhar's shoulder and watched the events unfold in the center. Although it was too far to hear, this problem could be solved with magic.

"What are they talking about?"

"It's almost the end. It seems that they propose to break into groups of three hundred people and disperse.

Raven informed her comrades about what was happening at the center in real time. Not only she did this, but also many teams. In each of them, there was at least one person with magic or enhanced hearing.

"And Bjorn?" What does Bjorn say?

"Oh, well... I think he's trying to come here. Oh, and the magician began to talk to him. I think Mr. Yandel is trying to form a team.

"Oh, I see...

Mike nodded anxiously in response to Raven's words. Not that she couldn't understand.

"We're going north!"

"Is there anyone who will come with me?"

Numerous clans and teams have already called for comrades. Among them were famous explorers, and even heads of clans with great reputations.

There was already an alliance of three such clans.

However, Raven tried to speak cheerfully.

"What are you all worried about?" You all know that Mr. Yandel is not inferior to anyone in fame. Even if it takes some time, we can find three hundred people.

Her behavior was clearly not like usual. Usually, she analyzed the situation and told only the truth.

Mr. Yandel would have done just that.

She had learned something from following this barbarian. A leader cannot always do as he pleases.

"Huh?"

Raven involuntarily froze.

"Has something happened again?"

"The mage said he'd follow Mr. Yandel."

"Really?" Didn't you say that he was really a great magician?

"Yes, but...

Raven was stunned. It was good news, but she felt uncomfortable because she couldn't figure out the reason.

Such a person could have found a better place...

Why did such a magician want to join them? She couldn't understand. This time, she honestly told her teammates about it and asked for their opinions.

"Hmph, did that mage say that people would gather for Yandel?" I think I understand what he means.

"Really?"

"Yandel, this guy is special. You should know that too, Raven.

"Should I know?"

As soon as Raven asked again, as if she did not understand, Einar shouted loudly:

"Bjorn Yandel is a great warrior!

Great Warrior: For some reason, hearing this, she remembered the events in the Blood Citadel. In ancient history, there were fewer than ten barbarians who officially received this title from the king. But then, watching the two-month-old barbarian explorer pass out, as if he had finished all his work, she thought that maybe someday it would really happen.

"Isn't that why you joined this team too?"

— ... Faithfully.

Raven nodded meekly. Urikfried was not mistaken. If she didn't feel anything special about this barbarian, she wouldn't have joined his team.

"He has a strange power that attracts people.

After finishing her conversation with her team, Raven turned to look at Yandel again. Very little time passed.

"If you don't mind, we'd like to go with you."

"I think you can save the most people.

"Haha, at such moments, a loyal person deserves the most trust. Take us too.

Before she knew it, numerous explorers followed. But was it because of what Urikfried said?

The sight no longer seemed strange, and she had no doubt about the intentions of the mage who had joined first.

"It wasn't... Just me.

There were people in this world who wanted to follow behind.

"Didn't I tell you?" People will gather for you.

— A magician's intuition usually does not fail.

Most of them did great things.

***

I expected it to take at least an hour or two. Even if all the best escaped through the portal, there would still be explorers more outstanding than me.

Perhaps it's because of this man.

The magician Kyle had the knowledge, strength, and charisma to naturally lead people. The situation changed when he joined me. Rank 3 researcher Melter Fend has brought his entire clan under my command, and this has stirred up the crowd. This looks like the beginning of speculation due to empty rumors. Even if they didn't think about it themselves, people began to think that this was the way it should be when others did.

'Behellaaa

"The hope of the barbarians!"

"Follow the great warrior!"

Ignoring the shouts of the barbarians, who were agitated by the situation, I moved forward. It was a feeling I had never experienced before.

"Please take us with you!" We will not slow you down!

Is this how superstars feel when they arrive at the airport? Every time I made a move, a new team, clan, or even individual would come up and ask for my approval. So I raised the bar. The reason was simple. According to the basic market principle of supply and demand, I am worth more.

— Name your role and rank.

— Rank 5. Now I am alone, but once I was the guardian of my team.

A Guardian is a warrior standing on the front lines. A rank 5 warrior must be skilled enough.

"What is your name?"

— Fel Akaberd.

Adopted.

"Nice to meet you. I am Bjorn, son of Yandel. Follow me.

As I moved, I strictly chose only those I needed.

Almost all the priests left through the portal, so I didn't see a single one.

It's a pity, of course, but there's nothing you can do. The only thing left to do was fill the places with as many warriors and mages as possible. Or better yet, knights.

From time to time I met acquaintances.

— … Carls Erimore.

"Maybe there will be a place for me and my colleagues?" Three apprentice knights and one official knight.

"I never thought you'd be abandoned either.

"I suppose apprentice knights are not that important.

The knight of Baron Martoan, whom I met in the Count's house, was of good character and had once been an explorer, so he would probably be able to contribute. In addition, the knight could use Aura.

"Follow me."

"Thank you.

One step, another. With each step, the number of those walking behind me grew. The barbarians alone who decided to follow me were enough to exceed the quota of three hundred men, but I continued to recruit more.

All that remained was to divide into groups of three hundred people and everything would be fine.

If we follow the same route, we can help each other in an emergency. True, I never expected that it would be possible to gather enough people for this.

Okay, everything is going well.

How far have I come?!

As I continued to move in this way, I saw a familiar face even in this crowd of people.

"Takelan."

This guy was standing on his own. He was not looking for a team, as he was last time, and did not show a desire to create one.

Perhaps he gave up on everything.

—…

When our eyes met, he looked away. It was obvious that he wanted me to pass him by, but I was a barbarian and had to do what I wanted.

I approached the guy and said:

"Follow me."

I didn't know why I did it. The words just came out of their own accord.

"Come with me if you want to live."

"Do you think... I want to live? He muttered, as if he had just heard something strange.

"Lena was my wife.

Yes, there was.

"Why should I live?"

I answered:

"Because someone has to bring the news.

That wasn't my real intention. Even at the last moment before ending one's life, every person deep down longs to live. Although Takelan lost all of his teammates, he continued to run after us until the very end. So was there a reason for that then? I don't think so.

"Yes, I forgot about it...

However, if there is a reason, people can climb more easily.

"If you come to your senses, follow me."

—... Why do you show me kindness? With so many people, you don't need me.

I replied with selfish honesty:

"If you survive, I'll feel a little better."

Use others to relieve oneself of guilt; In some ways, it was like a knight-commander. The only difference was that I knew how cowardly I was.

—…

I didn't know what he thought of my words, but after that, Takelan followed me and joined the group.

It took longer than I expected.

I continued to lead the group. Soon I saw my teammates at the aisle.

"Bjorn!"

As soon as I was within reach, Misha and Einar ran up to greet me. I pushed them roughly aside and turned to Raven.

"Raven, has anything happened here?"

"No...

"Good. Did you hear what we said inside?

— Yes, I heard...

Okay, so as not to repeat the same thing.

"But why do you keep looking away?"

"No!" I didn't do it! See!

Hmm, really?

Strangely, it seemed to me that she was uncomfortable. Or maybe it's because of the people gathered behind me? Well, even I had to admit that the Barbarian Commander Mode looks majestic.

It seems that my nagging has brought it back to normal.

"In any case, with such a size... We can probably just count the number of people and leave right away. Everything went very well. We don't have much time as it is.

Time is running out. She was not mistaken. But before that, there is still something that may prove to be the most important thing in overcoming this crisis.

***

Kyle Pevrosk, a rank 3 battlemage with the nickname Iron Mage, laughed heartily.

And I thought what he was going to do...

The more I looked at him, the more curious he became. Having gathered all these people, the first thing he did was to make them introduce themselves.

"What is your name?"

He approached each one and asked his name, then, hearing it, shook hands briefly.

"Nice to meet you. I am Bjorn, son of Yandel.

Someone even asked the barbarian:

"Why do you ask for names if you don't have time?"

The response was truly impressive.

"There are many more whose names I do not know.

"But what does it matter-...

— This is important to me. So don't interrupt.

The barbarian continued to ask for names, as if performing a sacred ritual. Most considered this action senseless. Such was the case with Melter Fend, the head of the Nartel clan, who had experience and insight.

— ... Maybe there is some sense in this?

Kyle laughed at the question.

"Melter Fend, why did you decide to follow him?"

"Uh...

Fend hesitated before speaking.

"To be honest, I thought there was a reason why you chose him, Sir Kyle.

— Yes, this can also be the reason. But that's not all. You have people for whom you should be responsible.

—... Do you know about my situation?

"I've heard about it in passing. You refused the commander's offer, saying that you couldn't keep your clan members, right?

"It's kind of embarrassing.

"There is nothing to be embarrassed about. I believe that this is the right choice. However, spurring clan members simply to follow someone else's decision...

"Even I can't accept such a reason.

Fend laughed and continued cautiously.

"It may sound strange, but I had a feeling that standing behind this man was probably the safest thing to do...

"You've followed your intuition, haven't you?"

— This is a fairly common phenomenon in this industry. In the end, you either get lucky or you die.

"I don't blame you. In fact, others here won't be that different from you.

"What?"

Fend tilted his head, but Kyle said something he couldn't understand.

"Just watch. Whether it was pointless or not, we will soon find out.

So they watched the barbarian without much talking. He still took turns asking for names.

— ... Hans?

"No, Hanvus.

"Oh, is that so?" Nice to meet you! It won't be long, but I hope we will work together.

"I hope we'll work together!"

It was a process of asking names and greeting briefly, that was all, but something was not right from the start.

— Black grouse. Nice to meet you. An excellent axe.

"Haha, that's the best compliment for a dwarf.

"Please cover our backs."

"Don't worry about anything.

The atmosphere was becoming more and more defused. On the eve of the battle, where survival was not guaranteed, the tension of the people slowly subsides.

"Wait, why are you letting me pass?"

"Didn't I ask you when we first met?" Your name is Davers, isn't it?

"Ha, do you remember all this?"

"We are comrades who must fight together.

Only then did Fend understand the reason for this change. This barbarian had all too easily gained the trust of all these people just by asking their names.

"Bjorn, son of Yandel." Do you really want to hear the names of all these people?

— Any problems?

"I just thought you were an unyielding person. I am a modest Elbertin. Let's have a drink if we get out of here.

"Modest Elbertin, I'll remember that.

"I can't stand aside. Let me join you too!

Not to mention the fact that trust arose not only between two interlocutors. The short conversations that took place during the exchange of names were heard by other people.

"We... no longer strangers.

Fend was genuinely surprised. Although they now had to work in a group, until today they had been strangers, but now they knew each other's names and faces. From those short conversations, they could understand to some extent what the others were. What they had in common was the relationship that connected them with this barbarian. Like a spider's web, they intertwined and intertwined, forming a bond.

"Bjorn Yandel, he... Did he really foresee all this...?

"No, I don't think so.

"That doesn't make sense.

"What?"

—... People usually don't do anything like this for no reason.

Kyle grinned. Of course, they usually don't.

Usually, the same action led to completely different results.

But...

"Don't try to understand. If you have studied history, you should know. There are always such people in every era.

It was precisely because they acted and achieved results that were inaccessible to an ordinary person that they were considered great.

***

The long performances are over. As soon as the group of a thousand people split into three parts on Kyle's advice, I let out a roar with all my might, expressing respect for the protection of the ancestor goddess.

'Behella

"Haha... My friend, why did you shout this time? Other barbarians will now repeat after you.

Oh, I'm sorry about that, but... I can't help myself.

To think that there is not a single Hans among so many people.

Was this not the revelation of an ancestor goddess?