25 Different Values

"Ugh. Why am I sent to go with you?"

Erin complained as we rode through this desolate plain.

We were given two mounts to use as transportation. Surprisingly, the mounts used in this world are domesticated Direwolves. Well, it's bigger than a direwolf depicted on Earth and they're calling it Desolate Wolf.

Apart from its fur that is the same color as the ground we're travelling in, chocolate brown, its feature is the same as the wolf on Earth. A bigger version of course.

It is supposed to be a wild beast comparable to a 2nd Stage Mortal Realm barbarian but since they can be domesticated, they became the main mount used in here. Horses do exist here but they're dying easily so they became livestock instead.

After I went back to my tent, I prepared for the journey to that small tribe.

I don't have any luggage on me so I only went back to check on the slave. When Erin arrived there I told her to ask the Old Man to keep the slave woman there and feed her. That was the best I could do for her.

I never met Raiden again but he sent me a message through the Old Man to do what I want. He's busy preparing for that war. He's probably trying to increase his realm. Every time he is summoned, he only has a limited time to power up through Physique Cultivation. It's already a wonder he became this strong in a short 3 years. That's why his underlings are mostly afraid of him.

Ah. Like Yuko, he also retains his connection even if he's back on Earth, right? Does that mean he can also cultivate while he's there?

I don't know. It's possible.

"Ask Old Man Reol. Honestly, I'm glad I have you as a companion."

I said to appease her, to let her feel I needed her.

"The war is coming and I am being sent to a small tribe. Now I can't collect more honor for myself."

Erin continued complaining.

Yeah, I know. She's complaining to me for dragging her here. She determined that I'm the reason why she was picked.

"What honor can you collect?"

"Of course the heads of the enemy tribe."

Ah. She's right. What else can a barbarian ask for honor?

They're living in this world fighting and killing since the start. If it's not wild beasts it will be fellow barbarians from another tribe.

"What's the fun in it? You know, if you let those foreign invaders grow stronger, this world will cease to exist."

"Only you say that, you monster. And please, don't talk to me. I'm upset with you."

She kept her way of calling me a monster. What will happen if she finds out I'm already halfway to breakthrough to the 4th Stage?

It's been half a day since we started our journey and during it, I was constantly nourishing my bones with Brute Energy.

However, concentrating while riding at the back of a big wolf is less efficient. I think I'm only getting half as much progress than last night.

After 12 hours, the percentage went up to 51%.

Progress is progress so I'm happy about it.

"Hey, Erin. How strong are you?"

"Why? Wanna fight? I'm at 4th Stage Augmented Realm"

This girl…

I thought she already warmed up to me yesterday when she even showed me her written manual but after discovering I progressed three stages in one night, she became this irritated at me.

Well, I know what she's thinking. She's feeling threatened by my progress.

But since she's the only one I know apart from Old Man Reol, I want to get along with her.

"If I fight you, you will easily slit my throat."

"Hmph. At least you're aware of your own weakness."

"I know. Right now, even if I went to that tribe, I don't even know if I can save them."

And I'm not really planning to. What I wanted is to see the state of the foreign invaders that possibly correspond to the forces of the Invading World. Saving them is just a plus and if I can lay foundation there before Raiden called me back, then much better.

"Why do you even want to save them? They're just a small tribe. There are countless like them."

"Huh? Erin. They're your subordinate tribe, are they not?"

"Well, yes."

"Then why will you not help them when they're asking for it?"

"Huh? I don't know. That's not my job, I'm a soldier, I only follow orders. Plus look, the Chieftain declared war to the neighboring large tribe, that's much more important than a small tribe."

I see. Their values are different than on Earth. Why do I even base my thinking about that? For them, a subordinate tribe is, after all, a subordinate. If it's during a peaceful time, they will protect them since they're giving tribute to the tribe.

Right now, with an impending war, a small tribe is the least of their worries. They can pick up more small tribes like them after the war.

"You're right. I was thinking about the values in our world."

"What? Do you have different values over there? The Chieftain is more barbaric than most barbarians here, why aren't you the same?"

She's right. Maybe for Raiden, this is something like a paradise. A world without the same morals as that on Earth. He can let loose his dark thoughts in here. So why aren't I the same?

Even if my dark thoughts resurface, no one will find it weird if I satisfy it in this world where strength rules above all.

What's holding me back?

Ah. Yuko.

The way she wanted to save the world somehow influenced me.

"It is different there. Slavery and Killing someone is prohibited."

"Huh? What kind of world is that? Then what do you people do?"

"It's entirely different than here. We were sheltered by our parents upon birth. Then we will be sent to school until we graduate. After that, we will find work and maybe marry someone and create our own family."

"That sounds boring Daisuke. No fighting? No killing? What even is that school? The only similarity is that someday I will also give birth to a child. But I will choose a strong man. Not you. If you want me to bear your child, grow even stronger than the Chieftain."

Eh? What the hell is this girl talking about? How did she arrive at the notion that I want her to bear my child?

But what she said makes sense. I should stop thinking about Earth values here. A small tribe is numerous, losing one won't affect the world. It is the large tribes that really matter.

Is that why he's focusing on unifying them? Satisfying his bloodlust is just a plus. But that still doesn't explain why he looks down on them.

He's a Hero, yes. But these people are the denizens of this world he was supposed to protect. If the day comes that the Invading World managed to reach Earth, will he also look down on the denizens of Earth?

I should re-evaluate my outlook here and my view of Raiden. I need to see that war closely. It won't end in just a day, will it?

But first. I really need to see the true enemy that was slowly encroaching here.

They had the misconception of their true strength. It will be too late if they corrupt a number of large tribes to help them destroy this world.

"You went silent. What are you thinking? Are you perhaps thinking about how you can be as strong as the Chieftain?"

"This girl. Do you like to bear his child?"

"Wha?! Of course! He's the strongest and not only that, he's so good looking! Everyone wants to bear his child. But he never chooses anyone. He's all about killing and unifying all the tribes."

"Well. Good luck with that."

Erin steered away from me after that. She was in a bad mood again. But at least, she stopped complaining.

Soon enough, we reached the vicinity of the small tribe that was asking for help.

Even from afar, we're hearing the sounds of battle happening.

And for the first time, I saw the foreign invaders they're talking about.

They're different from those Dark Soldiers and the way they fight is also different.

They're only a few in numbers but they brought a number of wild beasts with them.

"Is that?"

I looked at Erin to ask for confirmation.

"That's them all right. Dark Beastmasters."

Beastmasters? So they're taming the wild beasts of this world?

It's true that those beasts are the wild beasts these barbarians are fighting all their life. But there's something different from them.

There's something wrong with their eyes.

"What can they do?"

"Isn't that obvious? They have some kind of unexplainable method to let those beasts obey them. It's different from the beast tamers of our tribe. Through that method, they can put the beast under control and make them stronger than normal."

I see. It's some kind of magic from the Invading World.

But why are they only using the wild beasts here?

They're Beastmasters, their world couldn't be devoid of beasts, right? So where are those native beasts of their world?

And is it really only working on beasts?

Can they also influence the barbarians using that magic?

I need to know. Looking at the battle now, the small tribe is still holding out. The beasts the enemies brought are only those below Augmented Realm strength according to Erin.

After watching for a while, Erin urged her wolf to continue and I immediately followed behind her.

I don't know if this 3rd Stage Mortal Realm is enough but I guess I have to try for now.