#61 Episode: Mind's Eye
"First, take these axes."
Choi Yeong-ho, owner of the Yeong-ho Workshop, handed over two axes first.
"Oh."
The double-headed battle axe was twice as heavy as a standard lumber axe, with forward-pointing blades that gave it considerable heft.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Cheoldu swung one in each hand.
"Heh heh heh, perfect fit."
"But those are two-handed axes..."
"If you swing it one-handed, it's a one-handed axe."
"Hmm. The second one was made identical as a spare."
"Heh heh, good. Make two more like these."
"Grr. Anyway, the real prize is this."
Yeong-ho brought out the Orc Shaman's staff.
"Huh? I told you to use it as an axe handle. Why's it unchanged?"
"Just wait."
Yeong-ho took the axe head and slid it into the staff's narrower end.
"Seemed a shame to carve this down."
While the wood itself was excellent, the staff was a magic artifact.
Too precious to damage.
"Like this."
He pushed it in until only a handspan of the staff remained exposed, locking it firmly in place.
"Now, give it a swing."
Whoooosh!
Centrifugal force fully seated the axe head. The staff's gnarled grain perfectly matched the metal contours, leaving no gaps.
"Ho!"
Though admiring the craftsmanship, Cheoldu found the length awkward for single-handed use.
"Good. This'll work mounted."
The elegantly curved axe head resembled twin blades, suitable even for thrusting.
"Heh heh heh, all my worries about weight distribution were pointless."
Where the smith's body struggled with each swing, Cheoldu wielded it effortlessly.
The man had monstrous strength.
"Making horse armor too?"
"Horse armor?"
Poof
"Hee-hiinng!"
The summoned Sonadda reared, snorting aggressively—fully healed and as combative as ever.
"Whoa! A steed! How'd you tame—no, this is bigger than any horse!"
The iron-plated zebra was 1.5 times larger than bandit mounts.
Its sheer presence made Choi Yeong-ho retreat several steps.
"Can't leave it unprotected. Let me take measurements."
"Heh heh, just cover the vitals. This one revives even when killed."
"Hee-hiin."
As if understanding, Sonadda snorted irritably until Cheoldu cuffed it.
Whack!
"Stay still."
"Hee."
"Hmph."
Cheoldu's raised palm froze the beast.
"Very well, excuse me."
The nervous smith took rough measurements.
"Hmm. I'll need to consult other craftsmen."
Having never made saddles or barding before—
New Seoul simply had no horses.
"Make gear for Jintae's mount too."
"Hmm, understood. Payment in iron, as usual."
"Keh keh, agreed."
Before the Cyclops expedition, he planned to raid the Orc village dungeon anyway.
"Could use a lance too."
"Bring more iron."
"Heh heh, I'm off."
Leaving the workshop, Cheoldu headed straight for base.
The barren land around the wooden palisade caught his eye. He'd wanted to farm there when the elder arrived.
"Well, we're leaving soon anyway."
He dismissed the thought.
Barbarians don't dwell on regrets.
"Hmm?"
Empty watchtowers. Unguarded gates.
Cheoldu's face darkened.
"Pathetic."
A few days' absence, and discipline had collapsed.
He'd even appointed squad leaders.
Entering the training grounds, he found mercenaries kneeling en masse.
"Ch-Cheoldu!"
"Huh?"
Jintae, clutching his pant leg, looked up like a drowning man spotting land.
"Please talk some sense into them!"
"C-Captain!"
"Captain!"
The mercenaries prostrated toward him.
"Don't abandon us!"
"Take us back!"
"We'll work ourselves to death! Just don't cast us out!"
"Huh? What's wrong with them?"
Cheoldu scanned the grounds before focusing on the squad leaders.
"Squad leaders—step forward."
"Sir!"
Of the three, Shim Bong-du stepped up.
"Report."
"After you disappeared, official surveillance became unbearable. Supplies dwindled..."
"Hmm, again?"
"Then recently, supplies improved and inspectors withdrew. The sudden change made us suspect..."
Likely, authorities thought Cheoldu had allied with bandits.
Even with relaxed surveillance now, the mercenaries distrusted the officials' fickle stance.
"Heh heh. Don't worry."
Cheoldu mounted the training ground's platform.
"On your feet!"
"We won't rise without your promise!"
"Never!"
Cheoldu cut through their protests.
"Backtalk gets your legs chopped off. Up!"
"Gah!"
His thunderous command sent them scrambling upright.
Thwack!
He planted the banner.
"The Ironhead Mercenary Company is recruiting! Joining is voluntary!"
"W-What if we refuse?"
"You die."
"..."
Damn fools. Don't they know what "voluntary" means?
The questioner shrunk back.
None dared disobey—they'd seen the consequences.
Several deserters already decorated the gates.
"Good. All of you—enlist."
<Join the Ironhead Mercenary Company?>
Poof-poof-poof
Enrollment notifications flashed as numbers skyrocketed.
127/200
Cheoldu eyed the officials' overseers—Kim Jang-su's work detail.
"You may leave."
No more official supplies would come.
Their presence had been tolerated, but no longer.
"Understood."
As they departed, Cheoldu summoned two men.
"Oh Jun-hwan, Kim Jintae—forward."
Promoting them via faction interface, he granted lieutenant authority.
Poof
Faction mechanics flooded their minds.
"Your new lieutenants."
"Wooooh!"
The company roared approval.
Though meant for control, the structure bred belonging—and the banner's morale boost helped.
"Carry on. Jun-hwan."
"Sir?"
"No drills today?"
"Ah! What training regimen, Captain?"
"Heh heh, figure it out."
"...I'll start with reorganization."
"No need to report."
Too tedious.
"Jintae."
"Yes, Captain."
Even as a friend, Jintae stood rigidly formal.
"Do your usual."
"My usual being...?"
"Figure it out."
"...Housekeeping. No, I'll inventory the supplies."
"Good man! That's my friend."
"..."
"We march on the Orc dungeon in five days!"
"Wooooh!"
Amid cheers, the new lieutenants paled.
'Five days to whip this rabble into shape?'
'I've never managed supplies for so many...?'
Unconcerned, Cheoldu boomed with laughter.
"HAHAHA!"
With this many followers, he truly felt like a chieftain now.
"I'll keep your bellies full!"
"Wooooh!"
Leaving the cheering ranks, Cheoldu clapped Jun-hwan's shoulder.
"Don't disappoint."
"...I'll do my best."
"Heh heh heh."
Retreating to his quarters, Cheoldu surveyed his domain.
"Delegated everything."
Responsibilities distributed.
The company would run itself now.
Only training remained.
He absorbed more stat stones, having adapted to his current limits.
"Heh heh, time to train."
The young barbarian still had far to grow.
Once all stats reached fifty...
The arena awaited.
"Reorganization complete."
"No need for minor reports."
"Sir? This isn't minor."
"Heh heh, you handle operations now."
"..."
Was this trust... or just laziness?
"Heh heh, take the room beside Jintae's."
"Understood."
"..."
"What are you doing now, Captain?"
The giant sat cross-legged, resembling either a meditating monk or a yogi.
"Barbarian Meditation."
"..."
"Critical moment. Stand guard."
"Sir?"
"Let no one disturb me."
"But—"
Cheoldu's eyes closed.
External sight faded.
Internal vision awakened.
Senses receded.
Inward he gazed.
Thud-thud-thud
The barbarian heart's relentless drum.
Every cell, every fiber—controlled.
Head to toe—absolute dominion.
'Further.'
Beyond physical mastery.
Beyond rage's tide.
Where courage and recklessness entwined.
Time to behold the barbarian's Mind's Eye.
Inner sight dimmed.
The soul's gaze opened.
What landscape awaited?
Poof-poof-poof
Barren hills unfolded.
"..."
Rustle
One step from oblivion's edge.
Opposite—gentler slopes.
"Ah..."
Crisped grasses whispered.
Skeletal trees, long deceased.
No life.
Only tumbleweeds rolling in the wind.
"Ahh..."
Memory's indelible scar.
The hill where father fell.
Where mother perished.
Their resting place.
Barbarian Aiden's psyche.
Here, only one existence remained:
The young barbarian Aiden.
"UOOOOOH!"
Even battle cries couldn't fill the hollow grief.
The hill remained barren.
