Magician Raven, from Team Apple Narak, was with the rest of her companions in a nearby passage. The reason was simple. When the assault against the knights stopped, he tried to move to where the leader of his team was, but due to the great density of thousands of people gathered, it did not even occur to him to pass.
«Miss Ainar, I hope you can help me. I don't see well from here». As someone well below average height, even for women, at six feet tall, Raven sat on Ainar's shoulder and watched the scenes unfold in the center. Although it was too far away to hear, that was no problem. That could be solved with magic.
«What are they saying?»
«It's almost over. I think they suggest breaking up into groups of three hundred and leading the way». Raven broadcast what was happening at the center to her teammates in real time. Not just her, a lot of teams here were doing that. Each had at least one person with magic or enhanced hearing.
«And Bjorrrn? What is Bjorn saying?»
«Ah well... I think he's trying to come here first. Oh, and a magician started talking to him. I think Mr. Yandel is trying to form a team».
«Oh, I see...» Missha nodded worriedly at Raven's words. It wasn't that she couldn't understand.
«We're going north!»
«Is there anyone coming with me?»
Numerous clans and teams were already clamoring to find comrades. That included famous and well-known explorers, even clan leaders with great reputations. There was also already an alliance of three of those teams.
However, Raven tried to speak happily. «What worries you all? You all know that Mr. Yandel has nothing to envy anyone when it comes to fame. Even if it takes us some time, we can find three hundred people».
His behavior was definitely different from usual. Normally, she would analyze the situation and only tell the truth.
Mr. Yandel would have done this.
There was something he learned by following that barbarian. A leader cannot always act as he pleases.
«Hey?» Raven froze involuntarily.
«What's happening? Has something happened again?»
«The magician said he would follow Mr. Yandel».
«Wow, really? You said he's a really big wizard, right?».
«Yes, but...» Raven was shocked. It was good news, but she felt uncomfortable not knowing why.
Someone like that could go somewhere even better...
Why would such a magician want to join them? I couldn't understand it. This time, he honestly told his colleagues and asked their opinion.
«Hmm, that wizard said people will gather for Yandel? I think I know what you mean».
«You know?»
«Yandel, that guy is special. You should know that too, Raven».
«I know?»
The moment Raven asked again as if she didn't understand, Ainar shouted loudly: «Bjorn Yandel is a great warrior!».
A great warrior: For some reason, hearing that made her remember the events of the Bloody Citadel. Since ancient history, there were fewer than ten barbarians who had officially received that title from the king. But at that moment, he thought as he watched the two-month-old barbarian explorer sleep as if he had fainted after finishing all his work, that it really could be like this one day.
«Isn't that why you joined this team too?».
«...That's right». Raven nodded willingly. Urikfried's words were not wrong. If he hadn't felt anything special about that barbarian, he wouldn't have joined this team.
«It has a strange power that attracts people».
After the conversation with his team, Raven turned to look at Yandel again. It hadn't been long.
«If that's okay with you, I'd like to go under you».
«I think you can save most people».
«Haha, a loyal person is more trustworthy in times like this. Take us too».
Before he knew it, numerous explorers followed him. But was it because of what Urikfried said? The vision no longer seemed strange to him, and he did not doubt the intentions of the magician who was the first to follow it.
«It wasn't just me... just me».
There were some people in this world whose backs made you want to follow them.
«Didn't I tell you? I told you people will gather for you. A magician's intuition is usually correct».
Most of them left big marks.
***
I expected it to take at least an hour or two. Even if the cream had escaped through the portal, there were still explorers more outstanding than me. I thought I would have to do my best to compete with them and reach the troop level I wanted.
It's probably because of this man.
The wizard Kyle possessed both knowledge and power, and the charisma to lead people naturally. The situation changed when he joined me. Rank 3 scout Melter Fend put his entire clan under my command and this stirred up the crowd. That's how hoarding began through meaningless rumors. Even if it didn't occur to themselves, people started thinking they should do it when others started doing it.
«Behell-aaaaaaaaaa!»
«The hope of the barbarians!»
«Follow the great warrior!»
I ignored the screams of the barbarians excited by the situation and moved forward. It was a feeling I had never felt before.
«Please take us with you! We won't delay you!»
Was this how you felt like a superstar when you arrived at an airport? Every time I took a step, a new team or clan or even individual would come up and ask for my approval. So I raised the bar. The reason was simple. According to the basic market principle of supply and demand, I was now the one who had the power.
«Tell me your role type and rank».
«Rank 5. I'm alone now, but I was once the guardian of my team». A guardian was the warrior in front. Rank 5 must be skilled enough, too.
«Your name?»
«Pell Akabird.»
Step.
«Nice to meet you. I am Bjorn, son of Yandel. Come after me.» As I moved, I strictly chose only the ones I needed.
Almost all the priests left through the portal, so I didn't see any.
It was a shame, but it couldn't be helped. He just had to fill the places with as many warriors and wizards as possible. A gentleman would be better.
From time to time, I met acquaintances. «Carls Erimor.»
«Is there a seat for me and my colleagues, perhaps? Three apprentice knights and one officer knight.»
«And to think that you were also abandoned.»
«I guess knight apprentices aren't that important.»
Baron Martoin's knight that I met at the count's house had a good personality and had been an explorer, so I should pull his own. Furthermore, there was also a knight who could use an aura.
«Follow me.»
«Thank you.»
One step, and another. Every time I took a step forward, the number behind me grew. Only the barbarians who decided to follow me were enough to exceed the quota of three hundred, but I continued throwing out more people.
We only have to divide into groups of three hundred if necessary.
If we moved along the same route, we could help each other in an emergency. Although I didn't expect to reach a number where that was actually possible.
Well, it's going well.
After continuing to move forward like this, I saw a familiar face even in this crowd of people.
«Takelan.»
The man was standing on his own. He didn't look for a team like last time, nor did he show the will to create one. Maybe he had given up everything. When our eyes met, he avoided my gaze. It was clear that I wanted him to pass on him, but I was a barbarian who had to do whatever I wanted.
I approached the guy and said: «Follow me». I didn't know why he had done it. The words came out on their own. «Come on, if you want to live».
«Do you think I want to live?», he murmured as if he had just heard something strange. «Lena was my wife.» So it was. «Why should I live?»
I responded: «Because someone has to break the news».
That was not my true intention. Even in that last moment before ending their own life, everyone longs to survive in a deep corner of their heart. Although Takelan had lost all his companions, he followed us to the end. Was there really a reason for that, then? Well, I didn't believe it.
«Yes, I had forgotten about that...»
However, if there is a reason, people can get up more easily.
«If you've come to your senses, come after me.»
«...Why are you doing me that favor? You won't need me anymore».
I answered honestly to the point of being selfish. «If you survive, it will relieve me at least a little».
Using others to alleviate my guilt; In some ways, he was similar to the Knight Commander. The only difference was that I knew what a coward he was.
I didn't know what he thought of my words, but after that, Takelan moved behind me and joined the group.
That took longer than I intended.
I continued to lead the group. Soon, I saw a companion near the passage. «Bjorn!»
As soon as I was within reach, Missha and Ainar greeted me fiercely. I pushed them aside and talked to Raven. «Raven, did something happen here?»
«No...»
«Okay. Did you hear what we said inside?»
«Yes, I heard...»
Well, then I wouldn't have to repeat the same thing. «But why do you keep looking away?»
«No? Haven't I done that? Look look!»
Hmm, is that so?
Strangely she felt like she was uncomfortable. Oh, was it because of the people gathered behind me? Well, even I had to admit that Commander Barbarian Mode was sick.
My jokes brought her back to her normal state. «Anyway, with this size... we can probably crunch the numbers and leave right away. It turned out very well. We were running out of time to start».
We were running out of time. He wasn't wrong. But before that, there was one thing left to do, which could be more important to overcome this crisis.
***
Kyle Pevrosk, a rank 3 war correspondent mage with the nickname Iron Sorcerer, laughed out loud.
I was wondering what I was doing...
This man was stranger the more he saw him. Gathering all those people, the first thing he made them do was introduce themselves.
«Your name?» He approached each one and asked them their name, after hearing it, he briefly shook their hands. «Nice to meet you. I am Bjorn, son of Yandel».
Some even asked the barbarian: «Why do you ask names if there is no time?».
The response that came then was truly a spectacle. «There are still many whose names I don't know».
«But why that m-»
«It's important to me. So don't interrupt me».
The barbarian continued asking names as if performing a sacred ceremony. Most considered the action meaningless. So thought Melter Fend, the head of the Nartel Clan, who had his own experience and insight to prove it.
«...Could it have any meaning?».
Kyle laughed at that question. «Melter Fend, why did you decide to follow him?».
«That's right...» Fend hesitated before opening his mouth. «To be honest, I thought there was a reason you chose him, Sir Kyle».
«Yes, that may also be a reason. But it won't be everything. You have people to take responsibility for».
«...Are you aware of my situation?»
«I heard it in passing. You rejected that commander saying that you can't leave your clan members behind, right?»
«This is a bit embarrassing.»
«There is nothing to be ashamed of. I think it is a faithful choice. But spurring those members simply to follow someone else's decision... Even I can't accept that reason.»
Fend laughed timidly and continued carefully: «This may sound strange, but I had a feeling that somehow being behind that man might be the safest thing to do...»
«You followed your intuition, huh?»
«It is quite common in this industry. After all, it is a place where you die without luck».
«I'm not blaming you. In fact, others here won't be that different from you.»
«Excuse me?» Fend tilted his head, but Kyle said something he couldn't understand.
«Just look. Whether that didn't make sense or not, we'll find out soon».
Thus, the two observed the barbarian without much conversation. He kept taking turns asking the names one by one.
«...Hans?»
«No, Hanvus.»
«Oh yeah? Nice to meet you. It will be short, but let's work together».
«I should tell you that!»
It was the process of asking names and exchanging brief greetings, that was all, but something was very different from the beginning.
«Teterudra. Nice to meet you. That ax is pretty».
«Haha, that's the best compliment for a dwarf».
«Please take care of the back later.»
«Don't worry about anything.»
The atmosphere was relaxing more and more. Faced with a battle in which survival was not guaranteed, the thorns of these people loosened.
«Wait, why are you jumping on me?»
«Didn't I ask you when we met? Was it Davers?»
«Ha, do you remember all that?»
«We are comrades who must fight together».
Only then did Fend know the cause of that change. That barbarian was too easily gaining the trust of all those people just by asking them their names.
«Bjorn, son of Yandel. Are you really going to hear the names of all these people?»
«Is there a problem?»
«I just thought you're an inflexible man. I am the humble Albertine. Let's go have a drink if we get out of here».
«Humble Albertine, I will remember.»
«I can't pass up an opportunity like that». Me too! Let me join!»
Not to mention that trust was not only created between the two people who spoke. The brief conversations held when sharing the names were also heard by others.
«Now... we are not strangers».
Fend was really amazed. Although they now had to work in groups, until today they were unknown, but now the names and faces were known. Just by listening to the brief conversations, they could understand to a certain extent what kind of people the others were also, through the relationship that each one shared with that barbarian. Like a spider web, they were tangled and intertwined to form a bond.
«Bjorn Yandel, did he... really calculate all this...?»
«No, I don't think so.»
«But there is no point in saying otherwise.»
«What doesn't have it?»
«...People usually don't do something like that without a reason».
Kyle chuckled. Certainly, that was the normal case. Normally, the same act produced completely different results. «Don't try to understand. If you've studied history, you should know. In all times there are people like that».
Acting and obtaining results that could not be understood by ordinary eyes was the reason why they were considered great.
***
The long presentations were over. The moment the group of thousand divided into three under Kyle's advice, I let out a roar containing respect towards the protection of the ancient gods with all my might. «Behell-aaaaaaaaaa!»
«Haha... My friend, why did you scream this time? The other barbarians are following you now».
Oh, I'm sorry, but... I can't help it. To think that there is no Hans among so many people.
Was this not a revelation from the ancient gods?