Wandering Mercenary in an Open World

A vague sentence that sounded plausible but had no substance.

That was what Ruon thought of the prophecy.

He had once had his future divined by the master of the magic tower, but that was only based on his past actions and showed the most likely possibility. It was not something worthy of being called a prophecy.

But what about the woman called the Great Mother?

As Ruon muttered to himself, Hengel opened his mouth. His face was pale from spitting blood several times.

“…The Great Mother added that the person in the prophecy would pass through our territory in a few days. Naturally, we strengthened our patrols and found you in the process.”

He did not say anything more, but the party could guess why Hengel had challenged them so abruptly.

He must have wanted to check if Ruon, who had detected them with his magic while they were hiding their bodies, was the person in the prophecy. There was no better way than to face him directly.

Hengel spoke to Ruon.

“I have no talent for reading the stars, so I don’t know if you are the one who has engraved your name in the sky or not. But I can clearly see that you are a warrior with an amazing skill.”

He gently pushed away the woman who was supporting his body under his armpit. Then he added.

“If you are serious about killing the Great Chief, come with us. There are others who share the same intention.”

His bold words that revealed his inner thoughts made the eyes of the warriors behind Hengel shake slightly.

They were not the only ones who were surprised.

The party was taken aback by the unexpected proposal and looked at each other with blank expressions.

Kyle whispered softly.

“Do you think he’s planning to start a rebellion?”

Colin scratched his backside and answered.

“…I don’t feel like helping the barbarians.”

Amela calmly intervened with a small grumble.

“I know how you feel. But not all the northerners agree with the Great Chief’s will. It might be good to look at them with a little more generosity.”

She moved her gaze to Ruon and said.

“Besides, we’re not the ones who got the offer.”

Under the naturally focused gaze, Ruon nodded slightly.

“Let’s do that.”

Hengel’s expression brightened with the positive answer.

“Then, can we move right away? There’s a village not far from here.”

The party who agreed to the proposal started to clean up their place. Ruon rubbed out the remaining embers with his heel and slung his backpack over his shoulder. He looked up at the sky.

He still found it hard to believe that his name was engraved among the brilliant stars. But even the nameless barbarian had noticed that fact, and he couldn’t ignore it forever.

He hoped to find a clue for his journey ahead and followed Hengel. The party followed him in step.

The barren land of the north. And the barbarians.

Were they captivated by the prejudice that the two words created without knowing it?

The party was amazed by the much cleaner view of the village than they expected.

The log houses that were stacked in the shape of a well pavilion looked sturdy, and the roads that broke the frozen ground were neat.

Hengel’s younger sister snapped at them, noticing the change in their expressions.

“What’s wrong? Did you think the barbarians lived in caves and ate meat while prolonging their lives? Are you disappointed that it’s not?”

Colin flinched at the aggressive words, but that was it. There was nothing good about causing unnecessary conflict when they came to the other’s village.

At that moment, Hengel, who was leading the party, stopped. In front of him was a small log house, and the faint pink light was leaking out of the window, indicating that the owner had not fallen asleep yet.

“This is the Great Mother’s house. She seems to be still awake, so we can talk to her. The rest of you can go back. Rest well.”

He dismissed the warriors who had moved with him with a word that he had worked hard. They all scattered without a word, but one person raised his voice.

“Why me? I’m the only shaman of the tribe! I have more than enough qualifications to listen. And even if this guy is the person the Great Mother talked about, he’s still an outsider. I won’t let him stupidly spill everything to him.”

Hengel’s face hardened at that.

“Hebart. I’m the chief. If you want to challenge my authority, come at me with your life. And then you can take it.”

“Don’t talk nonsense!”

What are you two doing, standing up people?

As Ruon was about to say something in the cold atmosphere, a sharp voice came from inside the house.

“It’s too late to argue, so come in. It’s cold outside.”

Hengel snorted and opened the wooden door, entering first. The woman and Hebart followed him, and the party naturally moved their steps.

The inside of the log house was quite cozy. The bear fur that was used as a carpet was soft, and the large fireplace had a generous amount of charcoal burning and emitting heat.

Next to the fireplace was a small rocking chair, and the old woman who was leaning on it scanned the faces of the people who entered the house without a word.

She looked very old, with dense wrinkles and sagging skin that was blackened by mushrooms. She looked at least eighty or ninety years old.

She opened her mouth only when Colin, who came in last, closed the door.

Tsk, tsk, the two pillars that should lead the tribe are constantly at odds. Can’t we just get along quietly? Is it so hard to grant an old man’s request in his final days?

The elder spoke reprovingly, and Hengel responded.

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry, Great Mother.”

After Hebart also apologized, the elder, the Great Mother, snorted disdainfully and turned away. The faces of the group reflected in her glass-like eyes.

“It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen the faces from beyond the mountains this close. Indeed.”

The Great Mother chuckled and clicked her tongue, her gaze settling on one person. She said,

“Do you know? Because of you, reading the heavens has become much more complicated.”

“What have I done?”

To Ruon’s dry retort, the Great Mother grinned and raised her index finger.

“Well, a being that should be floating above is now treading the earth.”

She added with an excited voice,

“I’ve spent my life gazing up at the night sky, admiring the stars, thinking that longing would remain unattainable forever… Yet here I am, facing a living, breathing star. I could die without regrets.”

Ruon said,

“That’s quite an exaggeration. I am human.”

“Is that so?”

The Great Mother did not argue but smiled broadly. Ruon, caught off guard by her warm smile, asked,

“Do I have no choice in the matter?”

The Great Mother shook her head.

“That’s an inappropriate question. Especially for someone who has never walked the path you have.”

I see, no help there.

Ruon was about to close the conversation with dissatisfaction when she continued,

“I know that beyond the mountains, there are many faiths unlike us who worship the World Tree as the only god. Surely, there must be someone among them who has walked the same path as you. Isn’t that so?”

Ruon couldn’t respond immediately, and Hebart interjected,

“Great Mother. Enough with the idle talk. I understand that this man is the one you spoke of. But what happens next? Are you saying that strangers will overthrow the chieftain and his army and stop the war? What becomes of us then?”

At her words, the Great Mother shrugged.

“I merely convey what I’ve seen. Hebart. The chieftain sold the World Tree to filth for his ambition. It has begun to show signs of a terrible being’s arrival, and as always, I sought advice from the stars for a way to repel it. They are the answer!”

The young shaman flinched back at the elder’s roar, which was hard to believe came from her. The Great Mother spoke more calmly,

“I’m not ignorant of your pride. I know better than anyone how much courage it takes to stand against the chieftain at the risk of your life. But even in such a situation, I cannot forgive you for worrying about sharing glory with outsiders. Now is the time to unite, even the smallest of strengths.”

Hebart bit her lip hard.

“…I believe there is no one better suited for the chieftain’s successor than my brother. That’s all.”

She didn’t wait for a response and stormed out, pushing the door as if to break it. A chill wind entered, and Colin quickly closed the door.

Then Hengel spoke,

“My sister wishes for me to take the chieftain’s seat at the cost of the blood we will shed. She’s been anxious for days that the prophesied one might take it from me. She’s just immature; don’t hold it against her.”

What chieftain.

Ruon replied with an incredulous expression,

“Killing the chieftain is just a step in the process. I have no intention of snatching that position, so there’s no need to worry.”

Hengel nodded as if he knew,

“Thank you for saying that.”

Amela, who had been silently listening, addressed Hengel,

“The chieftain has forcefully subdued many tribes and families. Are you truly prepared to face them?”

Her pointed question made the chieftain nod again,

“Of course. I didn’t just sit idly by, waiting, even though I believe in the Great Mother’s words.”

He looked out the window,

“Tribes that have promised to join us are gathering here. Some have already arrived. Everyone will be here in two days at the latest. That’s when the action starts.”

Kyle sniffled,

“If the chieftain isn’t a fool, he won’t be unaware of such movements.”

Hengel said,

“The moment we refused the chieftain’s summons to attack the kingdom’s army, it was a well-known fact that we would rebel. We’ve long crossed the point of no return.”

Colin swallowed dryly,

“So it’s another full-scale war.”

He turned to the Great Mother,

“Elder, did the brilliant stars really say that with Ruon joining, we would win?”

The Great Mother replied softly,

“He may be a catalyst for change, but whether that means victory is uncertain.”

“…So it’s a fifty-fifty chance, then.”

I used one of my internal tools to translate your text from Korean to English. Here is the result:

Meanwhile, Hengel said.

“It’s too late. At this rate, it wouldn’t be strange if the sun rises, so let’s stop talking here. I’ll order my men to vacate a house for you. Spend a day there. Elder, I’ll go ahead.”

He finished his words and opened the door first, as he did when he came in. Then his companions started to follow him one by one.

The moment Ruon turned his back. The elder spoke to his back.

“If I’m right, you don’t seem to like the idea of ascending to heaven.”

Ruon stopped walking and turned his head. The old man who had been looking at his calm eyes continued.

“Isn’t it a glorious path that a warrior would want to walk even in his dreams? Why are you making such a sour face? Can I ask you?”

Ruon smiled faintly.

“I don’t want to go to heaven.”

“Then?”

“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

Ruon thought it would be fun to see the elder who only picked up puzzling words pondering over his words, and he slipped out.

He moved to the house that Hengel had prepared with his companions who had been waiting for him. They didn’t say much while preparing for bed. They didn’t show it on the surface, but they all seemed to have complicated thoughts.

Colin, who volunteered to stand guard because he still couldn’t trust the barbarians, was the first to nod off. Soon after, Kyle and Amela also fell asleep.

Ruon, who had his clasped hands behind his head, looked up at the dark ceiling and wondered what would happen if he became a god and couldn’t find a way out of this world.

It was a question that had no answer, so he entrusted himself to his gradually drowsy eyelids.

In his dream that day, he had plenty of Pride Chicken and draft beer from a famous brand. The food that the 26-year-old job seeker liked the most never ran out.