Make the Barbarians Great Again

Chapter 40: Each One’s Cliff (7)

The last night in Larka Village had passed.

Even though a deafening roar had erupted during the night, not a single person had noticed it.

It meant they had drunk and shouted quite a lot.

A Charun had to always be ready to fight, even after drinking.

Even though the Charun tribe was naturally resistant to alcohol, the fact that they had gotten that drunk meant they still lacked self-awareness.

‘It seems I’ll have to educate them one day.’

Still, it was good to see that everyone woke up fine and prepared themselves.

‘And then…….’

Hindir’s gaze turned toward the place where the fight had taken place the previous night.

He had spent the entire night keeping his senses heightened, watching for any sudden actions from her.

But she had spent the whole night motionless at that same spot, and she was still there now.

If she had truly wanted to die, the night would have been her end.

The fact that she was still alive to see the sun rise meant that, deep down, her desire to live was still greater.

Since there was no need to burn a body, Hindir left the prepared sled behind and started walking.

“Where are you going?”

Seff, who was just stepping out of the house, asked.

“I’m going to meet someone.”

“Someone? Who else is even here?”

“Exactly.”

Seff shrugged and turned her steps toward the plaza.

“Anyway, don’t be late, alright? Remember, you’re the only one who knows how to get us out of here.”

“Haha, of course.”

Hindir headed toward the mines behind the village and, with one leap, climbed up the cliff.

Crossing several peaks in quick succession, he soon reached his destination.

Lady of Parno had already sensed Hindir’s approach and turned her head to glare at him.

“Did you enjoy wallowing in self-pity all night?”

“You…”

The emotions that had calmed before surged once more like waves.

“What? Can’t feel sorrow, but anger still comes easy?”

“Insolent… What do you even know to spout such nonsense?”

“Just follow what you truly feel. There’s no need to fake or act out your emotions.”

As the Mistress of the Parno family, she should have lived with great power and honor.

But for decades, she had gained nothing—neither the privileges of her bloodline nor the rights of being the family head’s wife.

She couldn’t even bring herself to love her own child. Her life had been no different from hell.

Each day she endured only by lying to herself.

Now, seeing her today, Hindir could see the confusion within her more clearly than ever.

Her identity, her emotions, even her very existence... all were in disarray.

“Look at that man from yesterday. Even that slick bastard never truly saw you for who you were.”

Lady of Parno’s pride stung at Hindir’s words.

In truth… laughably enough, she had thought that man was her destined lover.

Even she didn’t know what had driven her to such blind faith.

But the moment she saw him flee with his tail between his legs, she felt something inside her snap.

When she looked around afterward, all she could see was darkness and the desolate peaks of the snowy mountains.

The perfect solitude was colder than any Ice‑Blood Qi she had ever cultivated.

She had thought she had lived a cold enough life already, but there was a chill beyond that—a deeper one.

Perhaps it was because she had felt warmth, if only for a fleeting moment.

So, she had decided to die.

She had wanted to forget everything and rest in peace—but suddenly, even that felt pitiful.

That no one would even watch over her death.

It would have been better if those Barbarians had just killed her.

But Hindir had left her alive, and in that empty space, her fury had returned.

Why!

Why must I live so alone, and die just as alone!

So, when Hindir came to find her, a part of her had felt… relieved.

But the moment he arrived, he began to mock her, and now—

“Leave.”

“Where do you expect me to go…?”

“Anywhere.”

Hindir pointed to his right.

“You can go that way.”

Then he lifted his left arm and pointed the other way.

“Or you can go that way.”

“You mock me to the end.”

“If all you can hear is mockery, that’s your limit. You are of Parno’s blood—you should know. The ones you called Barbarians—do you know how they lived?”

“Are you comparing me to them?”

“They’re leaving Larka Village today.”

“What?”

“For the first time in five hundred years, they’re finally escaping that narrow cliff. They don’t know where they’re going or what awaits them. They only step forward, clinging to one hope—freedom.”

Hindir looked down at her quietly as he finished.

“I’ve done my part by sparing your life and letting you decide for yourself. The rest is entirely your choice—and your future. I have no desire to kill someone who lacks the will to fight. So go.”

“You…”

That was all she could say before Hindir turned his back without hesitation.

And even as he leapt from the cliff’s edge once more, Lady of Parno remained frozen where she stood.

Larka Village was burning.

Seff, Kanar, Baltan, and a few elders walked from the inner part of the village, setting fire to the remaining buildings.

The wood that had endured for so long resisted death for just a moment, but soon, the flames devoured it completely.

Yet no matter how fiercely the fire burned, the surrounding ice walls remained unscathed.

The walls that had trapped them were that solid.

And yet, they had escaped.

Once they were out, they realized—the cliffs remained where they were, not chasing them anymore.

That was when they understood: they were finally free.

“Let’s move out.”

At the Great Warrior Hindir’s words, they turned their heads away from the past.

And they walked. And kept walking.

Even when dangerous paths appeared, their training carried them through unharmed.

The experience of camping was new to them.

They had always come home exhausted from labor, collapsing on the dull floors.

And yet now, this far rougher ground felt more comfortable than their old homes.

For the first time, they realized how wide the sky was.

The countless stars that sparkled as if about to pour down on them, the dark clouds rolling in from afar, the wonder of sunrise and sunset—each left its own feeling in their hearts.

Even just experiencing the vastness of the world was helping the Charun grow.

There was only one thing they found strange and couldn’t understand…

“You left food again today?”

Before setting off after their meal, Hindir gathered the leftover food and placed it on a rock.

There were various speculations about it, and when Seff had asked, Hindir had simply replied, “Someone will use this to stave off hunger.”

So the most likely explanation that came up was…

“It’s a gesture of gratitude for spending the night safely.”

“To the beasts?”

“Beasts, ghosts—what does it matter? What matters is the intention.”

“Well, that’s true.”

And so, a new tradition was born among the Charun: they solemnly bowed to the food Hindir placed, each expressing their gratitude in their own way.

Day by day, time passed, and it had been about a month since they left Larka Village.

The Charun emerged from the cliffs and arrived at a vast expanse of endless white.

“Th-this place is…”

“The Great Snowfields…!”

Moved to the point of clenching their jaws or wiping their eyes.

Baltan had waterfalls running down his face, but didn’t even wipe them—as if he thought that was cooler.

Seeing their reactions, Hindir too felt a surge of emotion.

They had finally escaped the prison that once trapped them.

And not a single person had fallen behind.

Of course, no one knew how long it would take to find the Choranchai.

It was uncertain whether the Snowlit Crimson still remained there, but with Bagman present, things would have been handled properly no matter what.

As long as they were safe.

“So, where do we go now?”

Seff approached and asked.

“We’ll head east, following the boundary of Snow Dragon Valley.”

“People you met live there?”

“Yes. There are quite a few good people—you’ll like them.”

“Hehehe, I’m looking forward to it.”

Suddenly, Hindir recalled something Seff had once said.

At the time, she had spoken of the Snowy King like he was a fearsome being…

Strictly speaking, though, he was no longer the Snowy King.

He had given up the title of king and decided to live under his original name, Bagman.

Hindir wondered how she would react once she found out his old name.

“You’ll be pleased.”

Hindir smiled faintly.

Perhaps the direction they took out of Snow Dragon Valley had been fortunate, because they reached the Choranchai in just two days.

However, the landscape was so different from what he remembered that for a moment, Hindir thought he might have lost his sense of direction.

“Wow… is that what they call a city?”

Seff’s comment hit the mark.

Of course, a real city would be even more splendid, but even so, the Choranchai had transformed into something that could easily be called a small city.

Many new buildings had been erected, and more were under construction.

It was baffling where they had found all that timber.

People from the Choranchai had already come out to greet Hindir upon sensing his approach.

After all, there was only one man who wore a bright red fur coat out on the snowy plains.

“Hindir!”

Former Snowy King Bagman greeted him with a broad smile.

“You’ve stirred up quite the commotion.”

“Haha, this? I figured you wouldn’t be returning alone, so I made a few preparations.”

He glanced at the hundred or so Charun lined up behind Hindir.

“Fewer than I expected.”

“It’s a sad thing.”

“Well, in any case, welcome back. I don’t know whether to say it took a long time or if you’ve returned quickly. Let’s drink and talk through the night.”

Bagman called his subordinates and ordered them to escort the Charun respectfully inside.

Though puzzled by the unfamiliar kindness, Seff and the others followed awkwardly.

“What about the others?”

Hindir asked when he didn’t see Ubol, Moritz, or Duar.

“Ah, those guys went off to train in Snow Dragon Valley. They should be back by evening.”

As they entered the Choranchai together, Bagman kept glancing back with a perplexed expression before carefully speaking.

“There’s no way you didn’t notice what I did, so I have to ask. We’re being followed—what should we do?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Really? The presence feels unusual… and yet, for someone like that, they’re awfully sloppy.”

“You’re right. I’ll keep an eye on them, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Hmph… if you say so.”

Since Hindir didn’t seem concerned, Bagman let it go as well.

A festive drinking party broke out across the entire Choranchai.

Singing, dancing, eating, and drinking—it was a whirlwind of revelry that left the Charun dumbfounded.

Though they had enjoyed themselves to some extent since returning with Hindir, this was something else entirely.

Still, Charun blood didn’t lie.

Just as the warrior’s instinct remained within them, adapting to a feast was almost instinctual too.

Hindir couldn’t help but laugh seeing how quickly they adapted.

But seeing genuine joy and happiness on everyone’s faces, the drink tasted better to him too.

“I gathered all the resources from the Snowlit Crimson’s main base and brought them here.”

Bagman, sitting beside Hindir and drinking with him, explained.

“Is that alright?”

“Well, the Snowlit Crimson might not like it. But I already told those who wanted to leave that they could go.”

It certainly felt a bit emptier than last time.

Some among them must have held resentment toward the changes in the Snowlit Crimson.

“There might be war soon. These guys may have lived rough lives, but when it comes to risking their lives for real, everyone wants to avoid it.”

“War…”

Even Parno alone posed enough threat—but confirming the Salnir family’s involvement had only made things worse.

In that case, it was better to send away anyone who might cause trouble from the start.

“If we’re thinking about war, this place is better than the main base. That place was all bluster. But here, we’ve got the natural fortress of Snow Dragon Valley, and ahead of us lie the Great Snowfields, so there’s less risk of surprise attacks. Especially along Snow Dragon Valley—just setting traps at each pass will be very effective.”

“You’re working hard.”

“I was given an order, so I have to fulfill it.”

Though he said it casually, Hindir felt genuinely grateful.

And as it happened, he had a way to show that gratitude.

“A gift.”

“Hm?”

Hindir pulled something from the small leather pouch he always carried and tossed it over. Bagman reflexively caught it.

“An apple? Looks weirdly—huh?”

Realizing what it was, his eyes went wide.

“Ch-cheongweol!”