Their fighting spirit, which heated up like a wild beast for a battle of dominance, scattered in vain. They stared at Demian with their weapons hanging down.
Their faces were telling him not to spout nonsense but their eyes were wide open. Then, they scoured Demian from head to toe.
"No matter how I look at him, nothing has changed about him. He's still the same."
"Just because he has a woman whom he loves, his eyes won't become three and his mouth won't become two."
"But he still looks totally the same."
They whispered and chattered amongst themselves.
When meeting a comrade who had been separated for a long time, they would confront them with weapons and check each other's skills as soon as they met. That was the Barbarian's greeting. If the aforementioned comrade's skill improved, they would rejoice. If the comrade's skill worsened, they would fight until their skills returned to the original. That was the Barbarian's camaraderie.
It was even more special for Demian who was called the undefeated warrior. Now it has become a habit for them to ask whether he lost or not whenever they met him. Since he became an adult, Demian had never lost. But now there was something more important than that.
"Is that true?"
He found a girl that he loved. This was something that could make the sky convulse and the land overturn. They looked at Demian with suspicion in their eyes.
The sword that Demian had pulled out was sheathed back around his waist again.
"Domino, Lampion, Oscar."
After Demian left for Hautean to do a favor for Acerus, the remaining Barbarians could not adapt to Tarragon's city life and entered the Western Gorgon Mountain Range. They had no choice, they were not welcomed anywhere except on the battlefield or the demonic beast hunting grounds. Fortunately, there was no problem in making a living by hunting the demonic beasts. It was also much more comfortable there than in complicated cities or battlefields.
Lampion, the strongest of the three Barbarians, said as he brushed away the grass on his pants.
"After we got the message that you were coming back, we made and won a bet on who could hunt the fastest. Five people would be too many and one seems insincere so only the three of us came to greet you here."
Lampion was someone who was weak to superstition. He didn't mention the possibility of two or four people coming because he considered even numbers to be ominous.
This time Domino said.
"Let's go back. I'm tired of fighting for Tarragon. You have to see how exciting the demonic beasts in the Gorgon Mountain Range are."
"I'm not going."
Demian flatly refused. He was the best Barbarian and considered them comrades but he had no intention of leaving Lara's side.
"Because of the woman you love?"
Domino asked. Even though they weren't the ones who asked, Oscar and Lampion glared at Damien more intensely. They looked as if they would rush to him if he did not answer quickly.
Demian answered without hesitation again this time.
"Yeah."
"Oh no!"
"Damn!"
"It seems he's serious!"
They were confused. If someone else had said that, they would have pounded their fists all over his body, telling him to stop joking. But Demian had a serious face. When he gave his answer, he neither hesitated nor was he shy about it. He did not even ask for their understanding because he had a woman to protect. He was just notifying them because it was only natural for him to be by her side.
"Okay."
Domino nodded first. Lampion and Oscar followed suit and put their weapons aside.
"It can't be helped if it is because of woman."
"Right."
"Love comes first."
Barbarians did not serve a king by nature. They were free fighters who never settled down and only wandered around. They did not believe in God and they did not make laws.
Although the Barbarians were exceptionally strong warriors, their numbers continued to decline. It was partially because of casualties while searching around for battlefields but it was also partially because of their extreme caution in creating families.
Barbarians would love only one woman in their lifetime. It was their belief. If the woman they love did not accept their feelings, they would live alone for the rest of their lives. There were not many women who would be willing to accept them, who always wandered around, searching for battlefields. The number of Barbarians was bound to decrease rapidly, so when a Barbarian confessed that he loved someone, they would work together to make his love come true.
After putting aside all of their weapons, Oscar puffed out his chest and said.
"Swear it."
"Yeah."
Demian nodded gladly.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
The number of Barbarians who migrated to the Western Gorgon Mountain Range reached the thousands. Domino, Lampion, and Oscar were the best warriors among them, and they came to meet Demian because they were tired of hunting demonic beasts.
Originally, their goal was to take Demian back to the Gorgon Mountain Range. But now they were running towards Dandelion. Whether they wanted to go back to that annoying city or not, it did not matter, for the woman that Demian loved was there.
"What kind of woman is she?"
Listening to Lampion's question, Demian recalled Lara's face. Then he replied with a smile.
"A scary woman."
Then, Oscar and Domino looked at Demian with a pitiful face.
It did not take long to get to Dandelion. Demian arrived at the 'Lara's Garden' hotel with his comrades three days after his departure.
Even in broad daylight, it was biting cold. The four horses exhaled white steams of breath and grunted. The snow did not melt and there was the sound of ice breaking everywhere.
Demian was guided inside by a staff member who recognized him. With their sloppy attire, their whole body covered in dust, and shaggy hair, they immediately attracted the people of the hotel's attention.
Lampion did not care and followed Demian inside confidently but Domino and Oscar were a little stiff. Especially among them, Oscar, who was flexible enough to be called a chameleon, urged Demian and said.
"That woman won't kick you out because of us, right?"
"No such thing will happen."
"Is she a noble or someone with high status? Why is she in such a luxurious place?"
"This hotel belongs to her mother."
"What?"
"That woman is the hotel owner's daughter."
Oscar looked at Demian with pity. He awkwardly patted his comrade, whom he had not seen in a long time, on the shoulder.
"I will do my best."
"Suit yourself."
Lara's room was on the top floor of the hotel. It consisted of a private office, a meeting room for the hotel owner, two drawing-rooms, a study, a dressing room, and several bedrooms. As soon as they entered, they busied themselves looking around the room with an awestruck look.
"Demian?"
Then, Lara appeared. She was wearing a light gray dress and a red coat. Her hair was tied with a ribbon and she had heavy eye makeup. The sound of her shoes echoed on the hard floor.
"You're early?"
Lara approached them with a smile and asked.
"Who are these people?"
"They are my comrades."
Demian said, pointing to Domino, Lampion, and Oscar in order.
"Domino, Lampion, Oscar."
"Hello."
Lara looked at them and gave a sincere smile. Her sharp cat-like eyes were subtly smiling. There was a joy that could not be hidden in her eyes. She had no fear or hesitation. As if she had been waiting only for this moment, Lara approached them closely and said.
"Nice meeting you. I'm Lara."
The three were flustered. They did not expect her to welcome them. They glanced at Demian, wondering if she did not know what a Barbarian was, but a smile similar to Lara's bloomed on his lips.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
The Barbarians must be made into demon slayers so that they could be treated as heroes of the Tarragon Empire. Lara informed Acerus of her decision. He was also pleased that there would be nothing more he could wish for if that was something that he could do.
It would be difficult, but it would not be impossible. Lara thought it was almost impossible for her to personally become a hero unless the God of Fate suddenly gave her a mighty ability one day.
'But I can make them heroes.'
So when Demian returned, she was going to persuade him so she could meet his comrades. Even if she had to reveal that she was a saintess and whine to the God of Fate, she would try to make them warriors who were chosen by God and heroes who fought for humanity.
But as soon as she greeted them with pleasure, she heard something strange.
"Demian said he loves you."
It was Lampion. After preparing to ask them to be the saintess' escort knight, or God's warrior, or demon slayer, Lara became quiet.
"Barbarians must love only one woman for the rest of their lives. Demian chose you and swears that his love will last forever."
'What is he talking about?'
Lara asked Demian with her eyes. Then, he looked at her and gave her a deep smile.
This time Domino and Oscar spoke in turn.
"We are here to help his love come to fruition."
"We will do anything for you. Please accept Demian's love."
Lara felt dizzy. The words she had prepared suddenly did not come to her mind. After hearing that they would do anything to help their comrade's love, now she understood why in her past lives they had allowed Demian to live as Lara's slaves for so long without taking him back to the lawless area.
Because Demian loved Lara.
"I…"
What am I supposed to say?
While Lara hesitated as she looked at them, Konny, who had gone to prepare refreshments for the guests, opened the door and entered the drawing-room.