Barbarian's Adventure in a Fantasy World-Chapter 75: The Alchemist (4)

“So, you want to wield Myst?” Arkemis asked.

“That’s right,” Ketal replied.

“Huh...?” Arkemis blurted out again, her eyes wide with confusion.

“But...,” she stammered, glancing at Ketal with disbelief. The aura radiating from him was far beyond the realm of ordinary humans. It didn’t seem possible for someone like him to lack the power to wield Myst.

“You want to wield Myst?” she repeated, still incredulous.

“Is there some difference in our understanding of the term?” Ketal tilted his head, wondering why she was so fixated on his words. “I am talking about the power of Aura and mana. I want to gain that power.”

“Wait a moment. Let me check something,” Arkemis said, closing her eyes.

Ketal watched her curiously. “Is that how you sense someone’s Myst?”

“Yes, I can sense Myst embedded in one’s body,” she replied.

At a certain level of expertise, one could discern whether another person possessed Myst. Briefly concentrating, she attempted to sense Ketal’s essence.

The result left her stunned. There was no trace of Myst within him.

“You’re... actually human?” she asked.

“What else would I be?”

“Maybe... a dragon?”

“A dragon?” Ketal’s expression twisted into one of confusion. “Seems like you’ve misunderstood something.”

The two began to converse. Arkemis explained her assumptions, and Ketal stroked his chin in thought.

“So you sense something from me that doesn’t feel human?” Ketal asked.

“Haven’t other humans reacted to you with fear?” Arkemis asked.

“They have, but I always thought it was because of my appearance.”

Arkemis shook her head. “It’s more than that. People likely feel a sense of intimidation and pressure from you. For most, it’s mild enough to ignore after a while, but not for me. I’m an elf.”

Elves were beings of nature, deeply connected to their surroundings, and far more sensitive than humans.

“The aura I sense from you... it isn’t one that belongs to a being in harmony with nature,” she explained.

No matter how strong a human was, they were still creatures of this world. They were part of nature’s cycle, bound by its laws. However, the sensation Ketal gave off was entirely different—a rejection of natural order.

“Your presence isn’t something a human should have. It’s more akin to that of a predator,” Arkemis said, her voice tinged with fear.

“So that’s why you thought I was a dragon?” Ketal asked.

“Dragons dominate nature rather than coexist with it. Your presence feels similar, so it didn’t seem strange to me,” she admitted.

“Hm,” Ketal mused, lost in thought. After a moment, he asked, “Are all barbarians like me?”

“If they were, they would have conquered the world by now,” Arkemis replied dryly.

Is it because I’m from the White Snowfield? Ketal wondered.

Barbarians from the White Snowfield rarely left their homeland. Whether this anomaly was unique to him or a trait of his people, there was no way to know.

“So, maybe that’s why the elves attacked me before,” Ketal muttered.

“Elves attacked you? What do you mean?” Arkemis exclaimed in shock.

Ketal casually explained his encounter with an elven village, where the residents had attacked him on sight.

Hearing this, Arkemis nodded. “To them, you’re an incomprehensible monster. Humans attack bears if they wander into their village, don’t they? It’s the same idea.”

“So that’s how it is,” Ketal murmured, his expression turning somber. If this was the natural reaction of elves, he wondered if every encounter with them would end in hostility.

That’s not a good thought to have, Ketal thought.

“Wait a moment,” Arkemis said, her face suddenly stiffening. “You didn’t harm them, did you?”

“No, we resolved the misunderstanding and even talked things out. As an apology, they gave me this.”

Ketal reached into his pocket and pulled out a crimson gem.

Arkemis’s eyes widened like saucers. “Is that... the Tear of the World Tree?”

“Tear of the World Tree? Is that its name?”

“How... how did you get your hands on that?” she stammered, visibly shaken.

“Well, after our encounter, I met with the elf queen, and she gave me the gem. She also invited me to visit their sacred ground,” Ketal explained.

“Their sacred ground?” Arkemis echoed, utterly flabbergasted.

“Why are you so surprised?” Ketal asked, puzzled by her reaction.

“That’s something they never give to outsiders...,” Arkemis said, her voice trailing off. She took a moment to collect herself. “Well, I guess it doesn’t matter to me. In any case, receiving that gem means you didn’t harm them.”

“Whatever the case, I’m human,” Ketal said as he placed the gem back in his pocket. “What I want from you is to learn alchemy and to possess the power of Myst.”

“Alright,” she replied with a nod, organizing her thoughts.

Though Ketal’s aura was unnerving, Arkemis reminded herself that he was, at the end of the day, a barbarian—a human. He had no reason to lie about that. If he himself didn’t understand the origins of his aura, it likely stemmed from his natural-born traits.

At that moment, a realization struck her. If he can’t wield Myst, then there’s nothing to fear.

Myst was the foundation of strength in this world. Without it, one couldn’t wield true power. free𝑤ebnovel.com

He’s just a barbarian who wants to grow stronger, she concluded.

Looking back, it had been that simple from the start. Ketal had only asked her to teach him alchemy and help him possess the power of Myst. She had been the one letting her imagination run wild, working herself into a frenzy over baseless fears.

I’ve been worrying over nothing, she thought. She could feel her composure return. A confident smile spread across her face.

“Alright, fine,” she said aloud.

From an unbiased perspective, Ketal wasn’t a bad person. He had even adhered to every one of her unreasonable demands. If he was so determined to learn alchemy and Myst, teaching him as a distraction might not be so bad after all.

“I am Arkemis, an alchemist who once traded with the Empire. I will teach you what you want to know, barbarian,” she declared.

Ketal noticed the shift in her demeanor.

It feels like she is looking down on me now, he thought, amused.

However, that didn’t matter to him. What mattered was achieving his goals. The misunderstanding had been resolved—though a new one had begun to take its place.

***

“So you want to wield the power of Myst. Have you ever tried to?” Arkemis asked.

“I have, but I felt nothing.”

“That’s normal. It’s difficult to achieve alone. Usually, someone needs to guide you through it.”

Those with talent could uncover Myst on their own, but for most, it was impossible without the guidance of someone already advanced in the path.

Ketal shook his head. “I’ve had help, but it still didn’t work.”

“You had help? From who?”

“A Swordmaster.”

“Excuse... me?” Arkemis froze mid-thought. “A Swordmaster guided you?”

“Is that a problem?” Ketal replied, tilting his head.

“No, it’s just...”

Swordmasters were rare, even in kingdoms. They were elite warriors of unmatched skill, their presence commanding respect and awe. Meeting one, let alone being guided by one, was a privilege few ever experienced.

The idea of a barbarian being treated by a Swordmaster was hard to believe. Arkemis furrowed her brow, drawing a conclusion. He must have been tricked by a fraud claiming to be a Swordmaster!

Ketal lacked knowledge of Myst, so it was possible he had mistaken an Advanced swordsman for a Swordmaster. While Advanced swordsmen were still considered strong, they were still far below the level of a true Swordmaster.

With a sympathetic look, Arkemis said, “Let me check for myself. Sit down here.”

“Are you sure? Not even the Swordmaster could help me,” Ketal remarked.

“Do you know who I am? I am an alchemist. In this field, I am far superior to a Swordmaster!”

Even if the Swordmaster had been genuine, Arkemis was confident in her abilities. Intrigued, Ketal sat down.

“Alright, I’ll leave it to you,” he said, closing his eyes.

Arkemis approached cautiously and placed her hand on his back.

“Oh, wow.” She let out an involuntary sound of surprise. His body is so sturdy.

It wasn’t just that he was muscular; his body felt unnaturally firm, as if it were made of stone. For a moment, she wondered if his flesh was even human. Shaking off her amazement, she focused and channeled her mana into his body, searching for the path of Myst.

Moments passed, and she realized something unsettling. She couldn’t sense a single path of Myst in his body.

What...? Arkemis thought as she concentrated harder. Her mana delved deeper, reaching further into him.

Yet, she found nothing. It was like searching for a specific fish in a bottomless ocean. No matter how deep she went, she couldn’t find the path.

Finally, she withdrew her hand, her expression filled with confusion and frustration. Ketal opened his eyes and looked at her expectantly.

“Well? How did it go?” he asked.

“I couldn’t find it,” Arkemis admitted, clearly rattled. Her failure wasn’t just surprising—it was unprecedented.

What is going on? she wondered, struggling to understand. She had never encountered someone whose path of Myst was entirely untraceable.

Seeing Ketal’s face fall with disappointment, she quickly added, “It’s not that you can’t possess Myst. It’s just that your paths are... inaccessible. Even mages wouldn’t be able to help because they can’t confirm what’s inside your body.”

“So, does that mean I will never be able to attain Myst?” Ketal asked, his tone laced with sorrow. He had ventured into this fantasy world, eager to learn and grow, only to find himself barred from Myst. It was disheartening.

“That’s not true,” Arkemis said confidently, shaking her head. “Who do you think I am? I am an alchemist—the kind of person who can make the impossible possible. I’ve helped people without Myst paths achieve extraordinary feats.”

Even in cases like Ketal’s, there was always a way.

“The paths exist within your body, even if I can’t sense them. We just need to activate them using a catalyst. I’ve done it before, and I can do it again.”

“Really?” That’s amazing!’ Ketal exclaimed, his eyes shining with hope.

“It’s possible, but it’s a hassle,” she muttered.

Normally, she would have refused. Such an undertaking would be tedious, with no clear benefit to her. However, this time was different.

She wasn’t just a practitioner; she was a researcher, and Ketal was unlike anything she had ever encountered. There was value in studying him.

Her expression shifted as curiosity filled her eyes. “Alright, I’ll help you.”

“Thank you!” Ketal beamed, grabbing her hand in gratitude. “I mean it—thank you so much! If you ever need my help, just let me know. I’ll gladly return the favor!”

“S-stop! Let go of my hand!” Arkemis yelped, pulling her hand free with a red face.

To an outsider, it might have looked like a shy woman flustered by a man’s touch. The reality was far from that.

I almost attacked him out of reflex! she thought.

Even if her perception of him had changed, the overwhelming sense of danger Ketal exuded hadn’t disappeared. For a brief moment, it had felt like a predator looming over her.

Calming her racing heart, she explained, “The process is simple. A catalyst will infuse your path with Myst, and I will guide it into circulation. But the materials for the catalyst are rare and expensive.”

“Can’t we just ask Milayna for them?” Ketal suggested.

“Do you think that’s easy?” Arkemis scoffed.

Milayna, her supplier, was strict about allocating resources. She would demand thorough explanations for any request, and if she deemed the purpose trivial, she would outright refuse.

Arkemis had experienced her cold rejection more than once. She shuddered, recalling Milayna’s icy gaze from a past encounter.

“Wait,” Arkemis said, a sly smile spreading across her face. “Ketal, you’re the one who needs those materials, right?”

“Of course,” Ketal replied.

“Then you should persuade Milayna yourself. Who knows? You seem to get along with her, so she might agree.”

Ketal nodded and agreed to her plan. Together, they approached Milayna, explaining the need for the rare and costly materials.

The items they requested were extraordinarily valuable—even for the Akasha family, they would be a significant burden. Arkemis fully expected Milayna to refuse and harshly interrogate Ketal about his motives.

She waited gleefully, ready to watch the scene unfold.

“Of course. Since it’s for you, Ketal, I’ll make sure you get everything you need,” Milayna said.

Arkemis stood frozen, her jaw slack. Milayna turned to her and smirked, “Arkemis, why do you look so upset? Surely you’re not feeling... jealous?”