Barbarian's Adventure in a Fantasy World-Chapter 135: Kalosia’s Holy Land (5)

While exploring the sacred city, Ketal came across something unexpected: a colossal statue of Kalosia had fallen and lay sprawled upon the ground. He paused in front of it, prompting nervous gasps from the observing believers.

Time had weakened the ground beneath the statue, causing its recent collapse. Normally, they would have promptly restored it, but the ongoing invasion of evil forces had forced them to delay such matters indefinitely.

“Oh dear, what should we do?”

“What a disaster...”

The followers of Kalosia whispered anxiously among themselves. A fallen statue of their deity within the sacred land certainly wasn’t a comforting sight. They were deeply worried that Ketal would form a negative impression, or even worse, disrespect the statue.

Under their apprehensive gazes, Ketal finally moved. He reached down and grabbed hold of the statue, prompting the spectators to doubt their eyes.

This was no ordinary sculpture—it was a massive work carved directly from solid stone, incredibly heavy due to its size. Its sheer weight was precisely why the followers hadn’t been able to restore it themselves.

Yet, Ketal effortlessly lifted it with just one hand, as though it weighed nothing at all. Calmly carrying it to solid ground, he stood it upright, brushing off dirt and debris as he muttered quietly to himself, “There. That looks better.”

Satisfied with his handiwork, Ketal nodded approvingly and began to walk away.

“Wha...?” The eyes of the onlookers widened in astonishment.

*** 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Ketal had not only raised the fallen statue back into place but had also carefully cleaned it off afterward.

“Does... that barbarian actually respect Kalosia?”

“Does a barbarian really bear goodwill toward us?”

The followers were baffled, yet cautiously optimistic. Although confused, they couldn’t deny the sincerity behind Ketal’s actions.

“Should... I go talk to him?”

“Give it a try.”

“Alright.” Summoning her courage, a young woman around Hayes’s age timidly approached Ketal and greeted him hesitantly, “Hello...?”

“Oh!” Ketal’s face brightened immediately. He had been uncertain how to approach them himself, so he welcomed her initiative warmly. Knowing first impressions mattered, Ketal showed his friendliest smile. “Ah, it’s good to meet you.”

“Eek!” Faced with his sudden smile, the young woman let out a small involuntary squeal, her legs trembling like a newborn deer.

Regret briefly flashed through her mind, but she pushed it aside and gathered the strength to continue.

“N-nice to meet you too!” she stammered, her voice betraying her fear.

Ketal chuckled softly, noticing her nervousness. “It seems I must look quite frightening. There’s no need to be afraid. I’ve come to help you.”

“Hahaha... Yes, of course.”

“I’m not here to eat you all,” Ketal joked lightly, attempting to ease the tension.

Instead, the woman’s face drained entirely of color. Still, somehow, their awkward conversation managed to carry on. Encouraged by her, the other followers slowly edged closer.

Eventually, one of them cautiously asked, “You’re Hayes’s companion, aren’t you?”

“News spreads quickly, doesn’t it?” Ketal remarked.

“Naflas told us earlier.”

While Ketal had been meeting the Saintess, Naflas had briefed the gathered followers about him.

Ketal nodded in confirmation. “You’re right. Hayes and I are good companions. We’ve explored Dungeons and even shared drinks together a few times.”

“Really...?”

They were people who had grown up alongside Hayes in the holy land and knew her extremely well. The notion of Hayes befriending someone like Ketal seemed extraordinary, and curiosity filled their eyes.

Quickly picking up on their interest, Ketal offered, “It seems you’re curious. If you’d like, I can tell you some stories from outside.”

The fastest way to befriend strangers was through common experiences. Their common thread was Hayes, so the followers immediately nodded eagerly.

Ketal began to recount his adventures with Hayes. Their first Dungeon exploration together, their terrifying experience trapped inside the unexplored Dungeon, and the dangerous mission when they had encountered the demon—every tale captivated his audience.

This world was akin to medieval fantasy; libraries did exist, but few people had the leisure or luxury to read extensively. Even self-proclaimed scholars rarely read more than a dozen books.

However, Ketal was a modern person from Earth. He had read countless stories and watched numerous narratives unfold. While he had never crafted his own tales, he instinctively understood how to make a story intriguing.

These listeners, primarily apprentice priests who rarely ventured beyond the holy land, found Ketal’s stories utterly enthralling. To them, each story was an exciting adventure in its own right.

Their affection and admiration for Ketal rose significantly as he smoothly concluded his storytelling.

“Hayes is a composed and admirable person. Truly an example for all believers.” Ketal finished his story warmly.

“Really?” one of the followers asked.

“That’s surprising—she is usually very lively and mischievous around here,” another one remarked.

“Oh? That’s news to me,” Ketal replied with a smile.

Just as he intended, the topic naturally returned to Hayes, easing the flow of conversation. The believers’ gazes toward Ketal now openly radiated warmth and curiosity.

“How can someone like this barbarian exist?” one whispered quietly to another.

He was eloquent, considerate, and gentle—qualities they’d never imagined in someone of his kind. He seemed as unreal as a mythical unicorn stepping straight out of legend.

Eventually, someone dared to carefully question him. “So... did you come here specifically for Hayes?”

“Hmm,” Ketal considered. He did indeed intend to help Hayes, though his primary motivation had been to visit the holy land of Kalosia. However, admitting the latter didn’t seem appropriate, so he simply nodded. “That’s correct.”

“You must be quite close to Hayes, then?” one of them asked him.

“Yes, quite close. She was among the first people I got to know when I stepped outside.”

Truthfully, he hadn’t made many connections after leaving the White Snowfield, with Hayes easily among the closest. Arkemis wasn’t human and thus didn’t count.

The followers’ eyes widened even further.

“What? She was the first person you met after leaving your homeland?” one of them repeated.

“Essentially, yes,” Ketal replied. Although technically the guards came first, Hayes and the other party members were the first he truly interacted with. “She taught me many things.”

This wasn’t a lie—knowledge about the outside world, gods, and more had indeed come from Hayes. And at that moment, everything clicked into place for the followers.

Ah! So it was Hayes who civilized the barbarian! they thought.

Such refined manners and deep understanding surely couldn’t have developed naturally. They believed Ketal must have learned it from someone; clearly, it had been Hayes’s influence.

He must have been touched by her kindness, which is why he’s coming to help us!

Their holy land was under siege, a dangerous situation indeed. Despite their pleas, help from outsiders was rare. Yet, Ketal had come voluntarily, asking nothing in return. It was obvious to them that Hayes and Ketal had a special bond.

A particular myth of Kalosia suddenly came to their minds.

While traveling, Kalosia had encountered a boy living wild among animals. Taking pity on him, Kalosia taught him language to communicate, writing to gain knowledge, and deceit and cunning to survive in society. Filled with gratitude, the boy grew to become Kalosia’s greatest holy knight.

Instantly, the followers began to see Ketal as the boy from their myth, and Hayes as Kalosia. Warmth filled their eyes.

Huh? Ketal thought, puzzled by the sudden, inexplicable friendliness. “Anyway, let me know if you need anything. I will gladly assist.”

“Yes, of course,” the followers responded warmly, smiling kindly at Ketal.

***

“Ugh...” Hayes woke up groggily, exhaustion still lingering heavily in her eyes. She’d slept an entire day to recover from the fatigue of their long journey. After stretching and tidying herself up, she stepped outside.

“I wonder what he’s doing,” she murmured uneasily.

Right now, Ketal was freely roaming the holy land of Kalosia, and she felt slightly nervous about what he might be doing out there.

Wait! This is good! Suddenly, her eyes lit up.

Naflas was utterly convinced that Ketal was an extraordinary, saint-like figure—but there was no guarantee everyone else felt the same way. By now, after a full day, surely someone had noticed Ketal’s unusual behavior and realized something wasn’t quite right.

For Hayes, Ketal wasn’t the problem anymore. She was now desperate to confirm that she wasn’t the odd one here. With that thought in mind, she quickened her pace, soon spotting a familiar face.

“Kasha!”

“Oh, Hayes!” a woman named Kasha greeted her warmly, a friend she had known since childhood. “I heard you returned safely! You look well; that’s great.”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

After exchanging pleasantries and catching up on small talk, Hayes hesitantly asked the question she was dying to ask, “Have you heard anything about the barbarian?”

“Oh, you mean Ketal?”

“Yes...” Hayes was about to ask how Kasha felt about him, but before she could, Kasha enthusiastically interrupted her.

“He’s incredible!”

“Huh...?”

“He’s a wonderful person! Seriously, Hayes, how in the world did you manage to teach someone like that?”

“Excuse me?” Hayes suddenly felt something very wrong with the direction of their conversation. “What do you mean, teach? What are you talking about?

“Oh, come on, don’t hide it! Everyone knows already. You found a barbarian, educated and civilized him, and brought him back here, right?”

“What...?” Hayes was utterly confused as her expression stiffened. “What on earth are you talking about?”

“Everyone already knows.”

Kasha eagerly explained: Ketal had originally been a savage barbarian unfamiliar with the outside world, but after meeting Hayes, he had been thoroughly taught and civilized by her. This was now the widely accepted story circulating within the holy land regarding Ketal and Hayes.

Hayes felt her face pale as she listened. “What kind of ridiculous nonsense is this?”

“Huh? Isn’t that true?”

“Of course not!”

The idea that she had somehow educated and civilized Ketal was utterly absurd. Panicked, she hurriedly dashed through the sacred city, desperately seeking him out. Soon enough, she found Ketal.

“Hey, Ketal,” Hayes said.

“Oh, Hayes! You’re finally awake.” Ketal smiled casually, five massive logs balanced effortlessly on his shoulder.

“What are you doing exactly...?” Hayes asked him.

“The church building is pretty old, so I thought I’d help out a little.”

“I see...,” she responded weakly.

“Oh, Hayes!” Before she could even catch her breath, a priest approached her with a bright smile and leaned in conspiratorially. “I heard everything. They say you’re the one who educated this barbarian. You’ve brought Kalosia’s light beyond these walls—truly, a living disciple!”

“No, that’s a misunderstanding!” she cried, shaking her head vehemently.

The idea of having educated Ketal terrified her, especially wondering how he might react if he found out. She couldn’t even fathom how this absurd rumor started, desperately trying to clarify the situation.

The priest merely laughed warmly in response. “You don’t have to be so modest. Everyone already knows.”

“No, please... stop saying that,” Hayes begged. Those words made her feel dizzy.

The priest patted her shoulder gently, smiling kindly. “You must be exhausted. Take a rest for now. Once he officially becomes a follower of Kalosia, you will have plenty of work to do. You’d better prepare yourself.”

“N-no...” At this point, Hayes wanted nothing more than to cry.