Barbarian in a Failed Game

‘It’s almost laughable to think I’ve gone through dimensional shifts twice. What rotten luck.’

But rather than lamenting his unfortunate fate and wasting time, Khan discovered an unexpected truth through the revenge-driven spirits, which suggested a new path. Not just escaping Aecharis’s pursuers, but finding a more fundamental solution.

“Yoro, I want to know more about Esperus. Specifically, his actions after that war.”

“Lord Esperus? That’s not difficult, but shouldn’t we be focusing on escaping first…”

“Hey, Yoro! When Khan says to explain, you explain!”

Grr—

Yoro couldn’t hide his reluctance. As a lesser demonkin, perhaps he hesitated to speak freely about Esperus, who was almost like a king in the Blood Domain.

‘That’s not the reason.’

Considering he had spoken freely about Esperus before, it didn’t seem like it was because of hesitation to talk about him. Or maybe there was something uncomfortable about discussing Esperus after his defeat by Karyan. That wasn’t it either.

If that were the case, Tulkan wouldn’t be chipping in from the side.

“Is it difficult to talk about?”

“N-no, it’s just… the information might not be very useful.”

“It’s alright.”

“If you say so. Well, as mentioned before, Lord Esperus vanished after being defeated by an interdimensional ruler. The other demonkin lords couldn’t be certain of his death, so they left the Blood Domain unattended.”

Mm-hmm.

Ignoring the unnecessary interjections from Tulkan, Yoro continued his explanation.

“The truth is, when Lord Esperus returned to the Blood Domain with severe injuries, not all his subordinate demonkins were destroyed.”

“I thought you said they died in the war?”

“Well… it’s a bit different. I simplified it by saying they were destroyed, but the reality is a bit different. They weren’t destroyed. They were absorbed.”

“Absorbed?”

Absorbed.

A small difference, but the meaning was vastly different.

“Lord Esperus returned to the Blood Domain with his subordinate demonkins… and absorbed them on the spot. He reclaimed the powers he had scattered to himself.”

“To restore his strength.”

“Yes, exactly. More accurately, to maintain his deteriorating spirit and body. The wounds inflicted by the interdimensional ruler were so severe that even a scion of the Arc Demon felt threatened with annihilation. So, the demonkins in the Blood Domain were all absorbed… and Lord Esperus disappeared to recover his strength… That’s all that’s known.”

Just as Yoro initially said, it wasn’t particularly useful information.

“Mm-hmm…”

Tulkan, who was nodding his head while making irrelevant interjections, didn’t seem to know anything more either.

‘Do I really have to search the entire Blood Domain to find the dimensional rift?’

That wouldn’t do. While he was stuck in this wretched hell, Midland wouldn’t just stand still. Moreover, Khan was begrudgingly aware.

‘There’s no other way.’

Until now, he had tried not to forge deep bonds with anyone in Midland.

No, he had made himself think that way deliberately. For the sake of the inevitable return someday. But now, he had to admit it. Even if he denied it, his comrades wouldn’t see it that way.

‘If I disappear, who knows how they’ll act.’

Every one of them was a bit off-kilter. Yet he had no means to find a dimensional rift somewhere in this vast Blood Domain—

“Hey, Yoro. If Esperus retrieved his powers, what about the generals?”

“Excuse me? What do you mean, Tulkan…?”

“The demonkin legion generals. They boasted that they inherited the great one’s powers, didn’t they?”

“Tulkan, that’s just nonsense—”

“No.”

Khan raised his hand to stop Yoro from dismissing Tulkan’s words and motioned for him to continue.

“Go on.”

“Heh heh…! Of course.”

Tulkan was more than happy to share everything he knew, excited that Khan was taking an interest.

“Right now, there are no demonkins in the Blood Domain, right? But the demonkin legion ruling the Blood Domain still exists. I was supposed to join them soon, too….”

“Skip the irrelevant parts.”

“Ahem. The demonkin legion manages the dwellings in the Blood Domain and is the de facto ruling force here. And the ones managing the demonkin legion are the demonkin generals, one of whom appointed me as the manager of my dwelling.”

Tulkan continued by elaborating on how terrifying and powerful these demonkin generals were.

“Of course, don’t think of the generals as ordinary demonkins! They’re called demonkins, but I’ve heard they’re not much inferior even when compared to demons outside the Blood Domain.”

“From whom.”

“Well, from those generals, of course….”

Khan, noticing that even Tulkan knew his own statement lacked credibility, pondered momentarily.

‘Demonkin generals….’

If Tulkan’s words were true, these generals possessed Esperus’s powers and were formidable enough to be compared to demonkins despite being treated as a slave race.

“Yoro, is what Tulkan said true?”

“…It’s true that the demonkin generals are extremely powerful. While Tulkan is invincible within his dwelling, the generals could take on dozens of Tulkans without a scratch.”

“That’s not true… you idiot!”

So, it’s true. Khan could infer the strength of the demonkin generals from Tulkan’s reluctant denial.

‘Even if Tulkan is a braggart who relies only on his brute strength, his physical prowess is genuine.’

With strength exceeding 80, it took a serious effort to even reveal the moist flesh beneath his rock-hard exterior, meaning most demonkins couldn’t even scratch him. If Tulkan and a dozen more like him couldn’t pose a challenge, then—

“Alright, I’ve decided.”

“Hyungnim! This isn’t a good idea! This Tulkan is destined to become a demonkin general someday—!”

Ignoring Tulkan’s nonsense, Khan, who had chosen his next target, let his eyes sparkle with determination.

“I need to meet a demonkin general.”

***

Tulkan explained that the demonkin generals, who ruled the Blood Domain and protected them from the demonkins outside, numbered more than twenty.

“There are that many known, but in reality, there are likely more. Managing such a vast Blood Domain with only twenty generals doesn’t seem feasible. And the general in charge of Residence No. 17, where we are, is a very savage one named Kurtank.”

“Any unique traits? As a demonkin, does he have any notable characteristics?”

“Kurtank… Hmm, this might sound a bit odd, but he’s very dangerous. Not because of his physical prowess but because he possesses mental abilities.”

“Mental abilities?”

Khan furrowed his brows.

“Does he control demonkins like puppets or something?”

“It’s similar. Although his physical strength is also formidable, the most frightening aspect of Kurtank is that his mental abilities are not restricted to any specific race. He has a vile habit of charming demonkins or beasts he takes a liking to and making them his subordinates.”

‘He didn’t make you his subordinate, so I guess you weren’t to his liking’, Khan thought but refrained from saying out loud. Instead, he asked for more details about Kurtank’s abilities.

How exactly do they work, and how does he charm others?

“Well, I don’t know the specifics… Oh, but it seems he can’t charm those with no intelligence at all. Most of the demonkins he commands are intelligent, so that’s almost certain.”

“Intelligence…”

“Of course, since you, hyungnim, possess incredible intelligence that even amazes this Tulkan, it’d be wise to be cautious of Kurtank’s abilities!”

Tulkan’s bright eyes reflected pure sincerity as he warned Khan to be cautious. There wasn’t a trace of doubt in his eyes. Khan forced himself to ignore Tulkan’s gaze and asked how they could contact Kurtank.

Tulkan scratched the back of his stone head thoughtfully.

“Uh… I’m not sure. Maybe if something goes wrong in the residence, he’ll come to inspect? He might come by soon…”

***

In the desolate Blood Domain, roads could not exist, and naturally, there were no means of transport such as carriages.

Yet, there was one entity that defied such logic.

“Lord Kurtank, we will soon arrive at Residence No. 17.”

This entity was none other than Kurtank, one of the demonkin legion generals.

She particularly enjoyed commanding demonkins and beasts she had charmed with her abilities, to flaunt her power and superiority to other lesser demonkins.

As part of this, Kurtank used a carriage pulled by demonkins to transport herself.

-Thus, the sight of a carriage pulled by demonkins the size of trolls, accompanied by numerous other demonkins and beasts, was a sure sign of Kurtank’s arrival in the Blood Domain.

“I will bring the manager of the residence.”

Her closest confidant, who traveled nearest to Kurtank’s carriage, bowed and then disappeared, seemingly swallowed by the ground at an incredible speed. Not long after, three figures from Residence No. 17 trudged towards Kurtank’s carriage.

“What are you?”

A deeply seductive voice emanated from inside the carriage.

“You are the manager of this residence… And what about those frail-looking ones beside you? And where is Joden, whom I sent into the residence?”

Just hearing the voice, which carried an alluring and disturbing aura, felt unsettling. Moreover, Kurtank seemed unfazed by the absence of the confidant sent to the residence, speaking with languid indifference.

She did not order her subordinates to stop the two unfamiliar figures approaching her carriage until they were right beside it. Such absolute confidence. Only someone who never doubted their own safety would possess such a sense of ennui that emanated from Kurtank.

“H-hyungnim….”

The eyes of the demonkin with the rocky skin trembled with unease. Confronting Kurtank in person, it was clear that he was brimming with fear. Kurtank, still inside the carriage, seemed to sense this, letting out a faint chuckle.

“Alright then, I’ll just forcefully extract what you’re up to.”

Rustle—

With the sound of clothing brushing, Kurtank, the general ruling the Blood Domain, emerged from the carriage. First to appear was her smooth, white leg, followed by a black dress made from demonkin skin.

Finally, Kurtank fully revealed herself.

“A fox…?”

Unlike the southern continent’s beastfolk, whose human traits were slightly mixed in their facial features, Kurtank had a completely animal-like face akin to a true fox-man.

“I’ll make sure you spill everything by enchanting you.”

Just as Khan was about to mutter something in surprise at the suspicious-looking fox beastfolk, Kurtank, six tails emerged and swayed beneath her dress, casting her enchanting power over Khan, Yoro, and Tulkan.

“The outside has been quite noisy lately, you know? So, why don’t you tell me honestly if you’re the ones causing all the trouble in the residence recently?”

Kurtank smiled, confident that her ability had taken hold.

Unless they had intelligence so low it bordered on mindlessness, no being could resist her powers. Even fellow generals avoided her abilities, which was why this remote residence had been assigned to her.

Naturally, she was certain the three demonkins in front of her were now completely under her control. Kurtank was that assured.

However, unfortunately—

『Intelligence: 2』 -1

The system acknowledged that one of the beings before her possessed an intelligence stat lower than that of a goblin.

‘Damn, can’t even enjoy this….’