Chapter 30: 30

Barbarian Quest

Chapter 30 – Baptism (6)

Urich looked into Gotval’s eyes. The surrounding soldiers were holding on to the clergyman’s limbs.

“What about a gag?”

As Urich asked, Gotval shook his head.

“It’s alright. I will be praying.”

The crackling bonfire was ablaze. Urich pulled out the axe he had been heating in there. An axe was better than a sword for cutting arms.

“Ru, please give me the courage to overcome this pain,” murmured Gotval.

“This will hurt, clergyman,” said Urich.

Urich volunteered himself to cut Gotval’s arm. He had no intention of pushing Gotval’s pain to someone else.

Gotval nodded, eyes directed at Urich.

‘He’s not a weak person.’

It was the first time Urich met someone like Gotval. A strong man was a strong warrior. That was the truth behind humans that Urich understood. Those who were weak physically were also weak humans.

‘No matter how much they talk with their mouths, if their bodies are weak, then their hearts are weak as well.’

But Gotval wasn’t included in that group of humans. He wasn’t a warrior, yet he was strong.

“You could die in the middle of this, Gotval. So before I do it, let me ask you one thing.”

Urich spoke while rolling up Gotval’s sleeves.

“Ask me.”

Gotval spoke while closing and opening his eyes. For someone who was about to face gruesome pain, his eyes were calm and collected. It looked like he had resolved himself.

“Why did you let yourself get bitten instead of me?”

“I didn’t mean to get bitten. I just thought that I had to save you. Just like when you blocked the arrow for me. You probably also moved without thinking too much about it.”

“That’s true,” muttered Urich.

He tried to swing his axe. Gotval paused for a second then opened his mouth again.

“If I had to give a reason… It’s because I have somewhere I will go. The path that I will take is clear. Even if I die, Ru will readily guide me. But there still isn’t a place to rest for you.”

Urich’s eyes opened wide. He saw in Gotval something that he was unable to see in others. There were no words to exactly explain what it was. Urich was an experienced warrior but not an experienced person. He was a young man with a lot more to learn than already had learned.

‘If I was able to look at souls, Gotval’s soul will surely be pristine and sparkling. Because clergymen are people like that.’

Gotval was a shining person. That was the only thought in Urich’s head.

“You aren’t a warrior, but you are still a person worthy of respect, Gotval.”

Urich swung his axe into Gotval’s arm.

Skin and muscles split apart, and even the bones were broken. It wasn’t a clean cut.

He swung again. Gotval screamed then prayed with his breaking voice. The only thing that could be heard clearly was ‘Ru’. Other than that, the words would jumble and mix together.

Urich swung the axe with all of his strength again. This time, the arm was completely cut off. Urich signaled the waiting soldier, and the soldier brought over a hot iron plate to cauterize the wound.

Fssssss.

Gotval sporadically prayed while swallowing his screams. He was continuously sweating and even soiled himself.

Urich sat by him, protecting him until he fainted and went to sleep.

“Fuuu.”

Urich let out a breath and lowered his axe.

It was up to the heavens now. If they were too late and the venom had already entered the rest of his body, he would die. If he was unable to deal with the aftereffects of having his arm cut off, he would also die.

‘As long as your god doesn’t decide to take you, you’ll live.’

Sun God Ru. Urich looked at the sky. It was still night. It was still long until the sun would rise again.

“Urich, where are you going?”

As Urich started walking into the forest, a mercenary asked.

“To take a piss. Why? Did you want to come look at my dick?”

Urich spoke while grabbing his pants. The mercenary raised his middle finger and cursed at him.

Step.

Urich staggered deeper into the forest. No one was there except for him.

Thud.

He dropped his weapons, went to his knees, and prayed like the civilized.

“If you decide to not take Gotval away…”

Urich let out a low sigh and slowly opened his lips.

“I’ll believe in you, Sun God.”

* * *

* * *

The subjugation force returned to the city. People applauded them and maidens threw flowers from the windows. The subjugation force raised their hands high to the grand welcome.

“Great work! Sir Seton! And Urich’s Brothers!”

Earl Havirond welcomed the subjugation force with open arms. He had already received news that they were returning and had finished preparing the banquet.

“Booo! Damned bandits!”

“They’re cultists! Cultists!”

The bound bandits trailed behind the subjugation force. People threw stones and rotten vegetables at them. Some even threw sewage water as they passed by.

“Serves you right!”

The bandits lumbered behind with dead eyes. The only thing awaiting them was death. The city’s people hurled all sorts of curses and insults at the bandits so that their afterlives wouldn’t be peaceful.

The subjugation force took a relaxing rest while the bandits went to prison.

“Ahhh, I love this treatment. It’s a guest room in the inner castle. How long has it been?! This softness!”

Bakman, who had just come out of his bath, spoke while laying down on the bed. A few of the mercenaries were invited into the castle.

Urich was seated on a bed on the opposite side of the room. Unlike Bakman, he didn’t look too good.

“Urich, are you still worried about the clergyman?”

“No, not really.”

“It looks like you’re worried about him, though?”

“I told you, I wasn’t. If you say that shit one more time, I’ll kill you.”

As Urich tried to intimidate him, Bakman covered his mouth while laughing.

‘Is this the right thing to do?’

He was restless. He kept thinking back to the vow he made that night in the forest.

‘I can’t take back the vow that I made now.’

Urich planned to be baptized by the Sol if Gotval were to live.

‘If I have faith in Ru, my soul will go to a different place than my ancestors and brothers. I won’t be able to meet them.’

He was terrified. He was terrified of wandering the world without a place to go. He was also terrified of going to a different place than his tribe brothers. It disturbed him.

His shoulders started trembling with anxiety. He asked himself again and again.

‘Is this really the right thing to do?’

He had no plans to go back on his vow. That was one thing he would never do.

‘If Gotval just dies like that…’

He thought that and then stopped himself by shaking his head.

‘If Gotval dies, I won’t have to worry at all. Because then, Sun God Ru would just be a petty god that doesn’t even listen to a single request. And believing in a god like that wouldn’t be worth it.’

“Damn it.”

Urich suddenly cursed without reason. Bakman was startled and asked, “U-Urich. Did I do something wrong?”

“I don’t know. Let’s just go drink. Where’s the banquet hall?”

Urich spoke while hitting Bakman’s shoulders.

As expected from an affluent city, the banquet was massive. It was the best one Urich had seen so far.

All of the influential figures of the city gathered at the banquet hall, praising Earl Havirond’s virtuous figure and accomplishments. They also praised Marshal Seton’s courage.

BAOOOOOO!

Urich and the other mercenaries entered the venue. One of the servants raised their horn high and blew on it to notify the guests of Urich’s entrance.

“‘Urich’s Brothers’ are entering.”

The nobles and wealthy individuals looked at the mercenaries.

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“The mercenaries are here.”

Urich waddled around here and there.

His eyes, nose, ears—none of them had a moment to rest. He didn’t want to let go of anything. The sound of the exotic instruments, food made with unfamiliar spices, the touch of the women with sweet smells, and the glittering jewels that caught every eye.

“Your Lordship, please praise the mercenaries for their accomplishments. They have done a lot,” Marshal Seton whispered into Earl Havirond’s ears.

“That’s surprising. Didn’t you dislike using barbarian mercenaries?”

“In the end, your words were right, Your Lordship. If it weren’t for the mercenaries, more soldiers would have died. They have surely set enough accomplishments for Your Lordship to reward them more.”

Seton honestly admitted it. Earl Havirond lightly laughed. He then heard the specifics from Seton.

“Welcome, mercenary leader! I have heard a lot about your accomplishments. I have heard that you have shown a lot of valor.”

Earl Havirond came up close to Urich.

“It’s a nice banquet. I’d never seen such a fancy one.”

Urich spoke with awe. Earl Havirond laughed at his sincere feelings of amazement. Because there was no one who disliked someone who said that their banquet was magnificent.

“You over there! What are you doing? You should be pouring alcohol for the valiant Urich!”

Earl Havirond spoke while pointing at a servant. The servant extended a bronze cup after doing a graceful move.

The influential figures of the city came up to the mercenary leader and each said something while passing by. Urich observed their movements and clothing while receiving their greetings.

‘Can I become like them too?’

The civilized. Those who enjoyed and relished civilization. They not only developed fighting and survival skills, but they also lived pursuing something greater.

Urich’s Brothers’ reputation got larger again. Many people remembered the mercenary group’s name.

“Fuuu.”

Urich felt himself getting drunk. He stared at the ceiling from his seat. Paintings that he had never seen before were scattered all over the place. They said that it was a mural that metaphorically expressed the myth of Sol.

“Ru…” Urich muttered to himself.

Creak.

The banquet hall doors opened. A new guest was entering.

“Ohhh.”

The nobles were surprised.

“Dear Ru…”

A few of them spoke tearfully.

Urich looked at the entrance with his eyes half-opened.

Flutter.

He saw an empty sleeve. The one-armed clergyman received assistance as he entered the banquet hall.

“Gotval.”

Urich, who had been lazily leaning into the chair, stood up straight.

“Ohhh, Monk Gotval. Are you alright?”

Earl Havirond welcomed him with exaggerated movements. The clergyman nodded.

“My fever dropped. The danger has passed.”

“This must be Ru’s protection. This must mean that there is still a lot for you to do in this world, Monk Gotval.”

“I also believe that it is a revelation from Ru.”

The nobles and wealthy individuals gave short prayers while looking at Gotval. The exciting music started again, and the nobles drank alcohol. They enjoyed the banquet while shouting the god’s name.

“So your god didn’t take you.”

Urich talked to Gotval while drinking wine.

“It must mean that there’s still something for me to do on this land.”

Gotval tried to gather his hands to pray but smiled bitterly after realizing his right hand was missing. There was nothing below the forearm on his right arm.

‘Did Ru answer my prayers?’

Urich quietly looked at Gotval. He was the first clergyman of Sol that he had ever met. It was hard for Urich to understand his ways of thinking.

“You’re probably leaving soon.”

“We’ll leave after our bodies have recovered.”

“I’ll teach you writing during that time. Even though I only have my left hand, there are books here, so I should be able to acquire textbooks for you.”

Urich nodded. Before Gotval left, Urich said something in a drunken voice.

“I want to be baptized.”

Gotval stiffly turned his neck and looked at Urich.

“Can you say that one more time, Urich?”

“I want you to baptize me.”

Gotval chuckled.

“I am certain now that Ru didn’t take me because I still had a mission to do.”

* * *

Half a month had passed, and Urich had learned a lot within that short time.

He had completely submerged himself in a bath at the Sol temple. Flower petals were floating on the water and gave it a scent. His senses were dulled in the marvelous water. The sound of the water was dull.

WOOOSH.

Urich finished his bath and walked nude into the marble hallway. Young monks came out carrying towels to wipe his body.

Murmur, whisper.

The witnesses to his baptism were standing on the left and right sides of the marble hallway, waiting for him.

“Quiet.”

It was silent. At the end of the hallway, a one-armed clergyman was standing in red clothing. It was Gotval.

‘Sun God Ru.’

Urich raised his head and looked at the statues of the sun. Ru was just the sun itself.

‘Why am I being baptized?’

He took a step closer.

‘Because of a vow? Why did I make a vow like that?’

Urich walked all the way to Gotval.

Clack.

Windows opened in all directions. Even the ceiling of the temple opened up. Perhaps it was because it was noon, but the sun’s light radiantly filled up the temple’s interior.

Urich stood at the center of that light. His wet hair shone like sparkling gems. His muscles squirmed as he kneeled. Each and every muscle on his body was clearly distinct from one another. It was as if his body were a perfectly sculpted statue.

Here, nobody thought that Urich was a barbarian. The man with a beautiful body looked divine.

‘I…’

Urich still felt lost. He closed and opened his eyes. Gotval was waiting for him.

“Ru, your child who had lost his way longs to return to your arms again. Please, with your loving heart, guide this man…” prayed Gotval.

“Guide this man.”

The witnesses to the baptism, who stood to the left and right of Gotval, repeated his words periodically. Amongst them were mercenaries like Bakman and Donovan. Sven, however, wasn’t found.

‘I want to be sure.’

It wasn’t until the end that you could see your inner self.

‘I pray that my soul doesn’t wander after my death.’

There were multiple instances in the last battle where Urich could have died. He wasn’t afraid of death. He was afraid that he didn’t know where he would go after.

Urich needed an afterlife.

“…Will be the guide to your soul.”

The long baptism was over. Gotval closed the thick book.

Urich stood up. He felt refreshed as his wet body was dried up by the sun. He even had the illusion that he was born again.

“And these are my personal words, Urich. You are a valiant warrior. Perhaps your name will go down in history. However, please just remember this. Love others and show mercy. Then, your soul will become much stronger,” Gotval whispered into the baptized Urich’s ears.

“That’s a difficult request, clergyman.”

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Urich bared his teeth and smiled.

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Webtoon Chapter: 23

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