Survival Story of a Sword King - Chapter 26

Valtara Warrior (1)

Artis’s solution was to disguise Han-bin as a Valtara warrior.

Han-bin had to stop wearing his original clothes and switch them for a fur belt, shorts, and boots to execute it.

Ryu Han-bin shook his head as he looked over his own body.

“I’m not a tribal person… Do I really have to wear this?”

“What’s the problem? You won’t feel cold since it’s summer anyway.”

“No, it’s not about the temperature.”

Everyone was dressed well, but Artis wanted him to go out with his entire upper body and legs completely exposed.

“It looks weird no matter how I look at it…”

Unlike Han-bin, who was becoming more and more uncomfortable, Artis was calm.

“Don’t worry about it. Trust me.”

Han-bin did as he was told.

The solution’s results were too good for him to refuse.

It didn’t just solve their problem with the measuring stone.

“Han-bin, you can’t use other magic tools anyway.”

Due to his low level, Ryu Han-bin wasn’t capable of using Latna’s magic tools.

However, high-level hunters often carried one or two magic tools.

There would certainly be cases when people would naturally recommend using the items when they’re together.

“You can’t always tell the hunters that your level is low. They’ll find out who you are.”

Valtara warriors regarded the use of magic tools as soul corruption.

It was indeed the perfect excuse.

“I agree with your plan. I just feel uncomfortable.”

There was a reason why Ryu Han-bin felt that way.

He lived wearing a similar primitive outfit for 22 years in the past.

“Now that I could finally live like an actual human being, I can’t believe I’m forced to wear this again…”

“You just have to dress like that in front of others. Hang in there.”

Artis continued to soothe and compliment him.

“Your appearance resembles the image of a real Valtara warrior. No one will doubt you.”

He had a huge body, large muscles, and power that transcended humans.

All of those were the hallmark of Valtara warriors.

“When I first saw you, I thought you were a Valtara warrior for a moment. Of course, seeing you wearing armor, I realized you weren’t.”

“What about my race?”

“That won’t be a problem either.”

The Valtara Clan, living in the continent’s southern archipelago, were close to the Southeast Asian race on Earth.

They didn’t have the same features as Ryu Han-bin, but their appearances were still close.

Artis spoke while looking up and down at Han-bin.

“It will take a while to get copper skin.”

His skin needed to be tanned.

They had to be prepared in case they run into someone who knew ‘Eric Garoon.’

He had to change his looks as much as possible.

People would have a more difficult time identifying him if he changed the color of his skin.

Ryu Han-bin shrugged.

“I need to get a tan, then. Are there tanning drugs in this world?”

It existed.

It wasn’t for beauty like on Earth but rather was used by criminals to disguise themselves.

He drank his medicine and stayed on the roof for three days to roast himself in the sun.

There was some problem on the way.

“Ease up your strength, Han-bin. Your skin won’t burn because your defense is too high.

“I just can’t understand how my defense works. Why won’t my skin burn when I strain it?”

“How would I know? I’m not an alien.”

His skin soon became copper-colored reminiscent of a bronze statue.

After changing his appearance, the next step was to change his behavior.

“I have to act and talk like a barbarian.”

“What is barbarian-like behavior? Kaarrrh! Felard’s strong muscles will make you cry! Should I do that?”

“I don’t know where you got that nonsense from. Just follow the behavior of existing Valtara warriors.”

Despite not knowing a Valtara warrior personally, Artis knew quite a lot about the Valtara clan’s customs.

In fact, it seemed that everyone in the Latna Continent knew a lot about them.

Han-bin, who was oblivious to their existence, naturally had a lot of questions.

“Valtara warriors are extremely rare, and there are only a few of them in the entire continent. How does everyone know a lot about them?”

Artis grinned.

“Because there’s an extremely famous Valtara warrior. A legendary barbarian that made his name known throughout the continent.”

He was famous enough to have dozens of books dedicated to his life and his feats.

Artis also got most of his information from him.

“Han-bin, the name should be familiar to you.”

“I doubt it. I’ve never heard of any Valtara Warrior before.”

But he was someone he knew.

The warrior was one of the strongest four.

He was the strongest swordsman on the continent who fought against the Great Earth 33 years ago.

“Baotolt the Sword King, he is the strongest Valtara Warrior of that time.”

* * *

Artis taught Ryu Han-bin the custom and behavior of Valtara warriors as well as he could.

As soon as they entered the Guild, he asked him to destroy the measuring stone first.

“Didn’t you say those stones are expensive? Should I really do that?”

“Don’t worry about it. I still have enough money saved to afford one.”

Artis’s savings had already run out, but he still had the additional profit he gained from selling the Lich’s gold and gems.

“I don’t think we need to waste money, though.”

He wondered if he could just refuse to use the measurement stone.

Artis explained to Han-bin, who was in doubt.

“The first impression you make needs to be intense.”

The stronger the first impression of being a Valtara warrior he left, the less suspicion he would get.

Even if Ryu Han-bin exhibited strange behavior in the future, he could just attribute it to being a Valtara warrior.

“A Valtara member who’s pursuing the path of a true warrior doesn’t care much about common sense.”

“… You phrased it so well, but you simply want me to act ignorant and arrogant.”

Han-bin continued with his inquiries with a wry look.

“Should I smash every magic tool I see then?”

It seemed he didn’t need to.

“It’s just to make a strong first impression. After becoming accustomed to the customs of the continent, real Valtara warriors just look at magic tools as if they’re garbage.”

Another question suddenly came up.

“What if I meet a real Valtara warrior?”

He didn’t know where other Valtara warriors could be.

There was no law that he would never encounter other Valtara warriors.

After pondering for a moment, Artis answered.

“I think we can get over that somehow.”

The Valtara clan worked as a unit, but the southern families were scattered all over.

They didn’t all know each other.

Even if he happened to meet another Valtara warrior, it was unlikely that they would know each other.

“That’s why there’s a saying that Valtara fighters greet each other with swords, not words.”

Before anything else, though, they had to follow their plan first.

If the hunters agreed that he had the body of a Valtara warrior, then they would’ve already succeeded.

‘…What’s wrong with these ignorant humans?’

Han-bin was relieved even though it was absurd.

It was unlikely for them to get caught.

‘If things get messed up, we can just throw this identity away.’

It had been 15 days since he had learned the customs of Valtara’s way of speaking.

Felard Bean, a Valtara warrior, was born.

* * *

The scene unfolded on the first floor of the Hunter Guild.

Han-bin Ryu looked at the eyes of the hunters around him.

It was just like Artis said.

After he broke the measuring stone into pieces, no one doubted him.

They just looked at him as an object of fear.

“A Valtara warrior…”

“Why did the Sword King’s blood member come to such a country?”

“Don’t make eye contact. He might feel offended.”

In the midst of it all, there were still envious and longing eyes that stung him.

“His body is truly amazing.”

“The legend is true. Valtara warriors are born with perfect bodies.”

“Beautiful…”

They might’ve been whispering among themselves, but Han-bin’s ears could hear all of them.

‘Wait, who said my body’s beautiful?’

Stunned, he clicked his tongue.

Again, Artis was right.

Despite dressing like a barbarian, no one felt uncomfortable.

‘The people of this world are weird…”

It seemed like there was no longer any need to feel problematic regarding his level.

‘The only ones who’d be able to learn about my level would be those from Earth.’

Meanwhile, Artis was still talking to Newk.

“I want to take on a job right away. Do you have any advanced quests?”

“Of course. Please wait.”

Just as Newk was going through the Guild’s documents, someone called for their attention.

A man sitting at the corner of the Guild’s hall spoke cautiously. He seemed to be in his late 40s.

“Can you excuse me for a moment?”

Though not large as Han-bin, he was still quite big and had many scars all over his body.

He looked like a warrior that had a lot of combat experience.

“If you’re new to Highten, how about joining our team?”

Artis replied swiftly.

“You?”

“I’m Brad Fraser, a level 37 Spearman. Revealing my level in front of the Valtara Warrior feels embarrassing.” He chuckled.

Introducing himself, Brad pointed to the group at the table.

“Those are the members of my team.”

They also got up and introduced themselves.

A well-trained warrior who seemed to be in his mid-20s went first.

“Martin Lacus, Level 36 Fighter. I use Warhammers as my main weapon.”

Warriors who wielded blunt weapons rather than spears and swords were called Fighters.

A brunette woman who looked to be around the same age followed suit.

“Elsa Ruin, I’m a Level 33 Priest.”

A black-haired young man in his late twenties that gave off a weak impression went last.

“Poel Compton, level 34 priest.”

It was a high-level team that could attack any dungeon.

However, they had an unbalanced composition. There were no mages in their ranks and only had two melee warriors and two priests.

Brad began to explain their situation.

“Our team originally had a mage, but we lost him due to a mistake awhile back.”

It sounded like a monster killed their mage in a dungeon.

“That’s why we need a strong Mage.”

His words were the exact opposite of his eyes that never left Han-bin.

He looked as if he was wondering how amazing it would be if a Valtara warrior joined their team.

Artis shook his head.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t join your team.”

Brad’s face darkened.

“It’s okay. After all, a team that lost a member would seem weak.”

“It’s not that.”

With a bitter smile, Artis pointed to Ryu Han-bin.

“My escort doesn’t get along very well with other people.”

Brad was immediately convinced.

The Valtara warriors were as notorious as their amazing martial arts.

Still, regret remained, and he quietly asked.

“In that case, how about joining us only until we’ve closed a dungeon?”

Brad’s team was targeting a dungeon called Tackle at the south of Crete Valley.

They had reached the middle and lower floors, but that was where they lost their mage.

“If possible, I would like to get your help.”

“Let me ask my friend. What do you think, Felard?”

Ryu Han-bin responded with a harsh voice while inflating the muscles of his upper body.

“I’m fine with it, but my only companion is Artis! I will not let this instance happen twice!”

Looking back at Brad, Artis smiled bitterly.

“I see.”

“You really are a Valtara warrior!”

Brad burst into excitement.

Han-bin was puzzled.

He had been acting like a Valtara warrior, but…

‘I’m not board-minded, but aren’t I ignorant and stuffy??

But Brad and the rest of the party just looked at them with sincere admiration.

‘The people in this world are strange…’

Anyway, they made a deal to team up they’ve closed the Tackle Dungeon.

Brad asked for a handshake.

“I look forward to your kind cooperation.”

Artis smiled and shook his hand.

“We are the ones who look forward to your kind cooperation.”