Viphron is an abandoned city.

Originally it was District 14 of Lavigion, a residential area with a dimensional plaza, but long ago the protective magic circle that blocked the witch’s poison malfunctioned, and the entire district was sealed off.

And...

‘It became a detention center.’

The royal family, thinking it a waste to just abandon a city district, separated District 14 and gave it the new name “Viphron,” turning it into a city with a different purpose.

Dreamers who longed for revolution.

Thinkers with progressive ideas.

Or those dissatisfied with the city’s system itself.

The royal family locked up all those “reactionaries” in Viphron, and as a result, gained far more than simply hanging them.

But...

‘Right now, from the royal family’s point of view, it’s probably an uneasy situation.’

The Noark bastards going outside the walls proved it.

That the witch’s poison that melts the body isn’t anywhere out there at all.

Well, ordinary citizens lack access to information and only consider it an urban legend.

Anyway.

“Hoo...”

That’s all I know about Viphron for now.

So what made Viphron so important?

Is it politically significant for the royal family?

Is that why Noark is trying to use it?

At first, that was my immediate thought, but the longer I pondered, the less it seemed right.

Because it didn’t add up.

If that were true, the royal family would have sent troops to Viphron or done something to protect it.

They’re not stupid, and I don’t think they missed what I’m thinking.

‘...Something should come up during investigation.’

With that in mind, even after leaving the checkpoint, I continued investigating Viphron.

I formed search parties to examine the city everywhere and asked residents if there were any legends or stories passed down.

Also...

Swoooosh!

I climbed the city walls, which I hadn’t checked before because of the knights.

Somehow, I was with comrades.

“Wow...”

“This is different from what I imagined as a child. I thought it’d be filled with darkness and barren land...”

“Yeah. It somehow looks very peaceful...”

The view from the towering walls was beyond breathtaking.

The dense forests, mountains, and valleys hinted that beyond the unseen horizon lay vibrant, living nature.

“Uncle, shall we just jump down from here?”

“W-What...?”

“Just thinking. What difference does it make if we go out there? Noark or the royal family...”

It didn’t feel like nonsense.

I, too, felt a similar impulse the moment I looked below the walls.

What would really happen if we just went outside?

If we aren’t returning to the original world anyway.

Wouldn’t that also be a way?

Then there’d be no need to desperately push forward to reach the Abyssal Gate, no need to open your eyes wide and fear the royal family’s watchful gaze, no need to desperately grow stronger.

No need to lose something just to move forward.

All of it would disappear.

As that feeling bloomed, I slowly shook my head.

“It probably won’t work.”

“Huh?”

“The protective magic circle should still be working.”

“Huh? But I heard Viphron’s magic circle was broken...”

“How can you believe what the royal family says?”

I told Elwen to shoot an arrow outside.

She tensed, drew the bowstring.

Thwack!

The arrow flew with a dull sound, struck empty air, and fell.

“So it’s still intact.”

“...Yeah.”

Elwen, disappointed, asked with a straight face.

“But if you shoot harder, couldn’t a gap form?”

“You can try, but I doubt it. The protective magic circle is the legacy of the greatest sage, Gavrilius.”

Though I didn’t say it, there’s no guarantee that going outside will bring the life I want.

Isn’t that obvious?

Why did the Noark bastards who went outside the walls return to the city?

There must have ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) been a reason.

And not only that...

‘Running away doesn’t suit me.’

Living as a barbarian, my body and mind have completely adapted.

I don’t want to run and hide like medieval slash-and-burn farmers.

Or rather...

‘It’s better to overturn everything.’

It’s much better to have no reason to run.

Frankly, if I smashed everything and became king, I wouldn’t have to live in some empty wasteland.

Well, realistically, that might be impossible...

‘Hmm... maybe not entirely impossible?’

Thinking that, I might truly be a barbarian now.

On the second day after I blindly began investigating the city called “Viphron” in every direction, I unexpectedly met an old acquaintance.

“You’ve grown a lot.”

“Hello, Baron.”

The ten-year-old kid who boldly approached me the day I was exiled to Viphron, offering to guide me for 100 stones.

That kid had grown into a fresh-faced youth.

I wouldn’t have recognized him before he greeted me.

“You were eleven then, right?”

“You remember...”

“They said qualification certification can be done at fourteen.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But why are you still here?”

He smiled wryly and shrugged.

“I failed. To prove my worth.”

“...I see.”

“I think there just wasn’t enough time. I’m sure it wasn’t from lack of effort.”

“So you’re trying again?”

“You really don’t know, Baron? Qualification certification can only be done once, at fourteen. If you don’t get out then, the chance is gone forever.”

His matter-of-fact attitude made it hard for me to say anything.

I suppose it’s kind of sad.

Ah, maybe I should just say it honestly.

“That’s unfortunate.”

“No. I think it’s better this way now.”

“...?”

“Lately, I’ve been helping younger kids pass certification. So that at least they can get out.”

“Don’t you feel wronged?”

He just smiled gently at my question, said he only came to say hello, and left after thanking me for remembering.

He said it was time to teach the younger kids.

I asked if there were any rumors or mysterious places inside Viphron, but he said no.

‘There really is nothing here...’

The more I investigated, the more impatient I became.

Honestly, I thought something would show up if I searched thoroughly.

“Versil, how’s contact with outside? Still difficult?”

“Yes. It’s not easy. The protective magic circle acts almost like a dimensional disconnect.”

“I see.”

“The only way is physical communication. No matter how much we wave flags from the walls, no one pays attention. For some reason, houses near the walls are empty, and there’s no one on the streets. It’s like everyone evacuated.”

“Evacuated...”

The longer time passes, the more I wonder about the situation outside rather than inside.

Huff.

I got up from the bed, put on my coat, and went outside.

My body was stiff, and sleep wouldn’t come no matter how I closed my eyes, so I thought to take a walk.

Tap, tap.

Though Viphron was somewhat cleaner, the streets at night felt different from other districts.

First of all, it was too dark.

As a city overwhelmingly lacking resources, that was an inevitable characteristic of its nighttime streets.

‘Well, it’s quiet and quaint, so it’s nice.’

As I walked along the night streets, I arrived at the outer city walls.

I hadn’t intended to come here.

I considered turning back, but my curiosity about the view outside the walls at night made me climb up.

Swoosh!

The cool night air.

But the night view from the walls was completely unlike what I expected.

“Nothing to see.”

Just darkness stretched below.

Looking down, I felt as if something might leap out and pull me in.

‘...The sky’s just black too.’

Few stars were visible, maybe I picked a bad night.

I was about to just get some fresh air and head home.

Tap.

I sensed movement behind me.

Even my dull barbarian senses could tell it was unmistakable.

Whirl.

I turned and saw a hooded figure standing like a ghost on the walls.

“Baron Yandel, listen.”

There was no need to ask who it was.

The wind was howling fiercely.

Swoosh!

Through the gap in the hood: light armor.

A dagger hanging from the belt.

And a woman.

“What business does the Rose Knights have here?”

I asked bluntly, and she pulled out a rolled-up scroll from her bosom.

“It’s a royal order.”

Huh, what is this business at such a late hour?

The royal order delivered suddenly by the Rose Knight under the moonless night was very brief.

To summarize...

“We will temporarily open the checkpoint at District 4. Escape through that gap quickly.”

“My duty is only to deliver this.”

“So stiff.”

I joked, but she didn’t answer.

No idle talk with her, it seemed.

Well, not that I had no ways.

“Isn’t it your duty to deliver the king’s message? Then answer me. The scroll says to bring me and the explorers from the 7th district.”

“What do you want to ask?”

“Do we not have to bring the residents of Viphron?”

“Affirmative.”

“Why?”

“That’s a strange question. They don’t have permission to enter the residential area anyway.”

“What if we want to take them?”

“That assumption is meaningless. As I said, they don’t have permission.”

In other words, they mean to stop it by any means.

And the problem is, this opponent wasn’t the type to use brute force to get her way.

“Or do you intend to defy the royal order?”

“Not at all. Just curious.”

“Then it’s settled. Lead the explorers from the 7th district to the checkpoint at the appointed time.”

I asked other questions but got no proper answers.

“Why is the District 4 checkpoint still closed? You could attack the 7th and 13th districts via Viphron.”

“I don’t know.”

“When did you find out we were in Viphron?”

“I don’t know.”

“It seems Noark is up to something with Viphron. Does the royal family know?”

“I don’t know.”

“You know nothing, huh?”

I asked sarcastically, and she smiled slightly.

I didn’t give up and asked again.

“Then what’s your name? Surely you have one.”

“I don’t know.”

Huh... She’s really tough.

Sensing a formidable opponent, I spoke provocatively.

“What if you don’t come to the checkpoint at the appointed time? Not that you’re breaking the royal order, but what if something happens?”

She didn’t react much.

Just seemed to think a moment...

“Do you see that star?”

She pointed at the night sky with her finger.

“...So?”

“From up there, we would look as small as that. Even if that’s you, the giant baron.”

What is she trying to say?

I frowned pretending not to understand, but I roughly got it.

From the royal family’s view, I’m a tiny insignificant being.

“There’s only one thing the baron needs to know. To not break the royal order and bring the people to the checkpoint on time.”

Most people would have stayed silent at that line, but I tilted my head like a barbarian.

“...So what if we can’t go?”

You’re not easy to talk to, and neither am I.

Maybe annoyed or just curious about my persistence, she stared at me and said coldly:

“You must come. For your own sake.”

No explanations, just a high-handed command.

But from those last words, I felt instinctively...

“You...”

“...”

“You don’t intend to blow Viphron to pieces, do you?”

Usually, such hunches are right.