Surviving as a Barbarian in a Fantasy World

Chapter 367: Authority (2)

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 367: Authority (2)

From ancient times, it was believed that beautiful jewels contained mysterious energy.

In this world, it was indeed true.

The higher the quality and purity of a gem, the more intense its mystery.

"But in my world, such things didn’t exist."

To someone who didn’t understand its value, a beautiful gem was merely a slightly pretty stone.

Without the value assigned by others, a jewel was nothing.

That wasn’t just the story of jewels.

An ancient lake, existing since the birth of this world, inherently held a deep mystery.

The Fairy Lake was a prime example of this.

"But in my world, that would just be an old lake. Even if it dried up and rotted away, it wouldn’t affect the world at all."

A massive tree like the World Tree would merely be an old giant tree.

While it might provoke awe and wonder, it wouldn’t contain any special power.

Nature was simply a phenomenon.

There were no spirits dwelling in it.

Tornadoes, tsunamis, and wildfires could all be explained physically.

Similarly, magic was nothing but trickery.

Relentless training would only ruin one’s body, and meditation was nothing more than a way to observe one’s mind.

Demon Kings, heroes, spirits, auras, magic—

All of it was mere illusions.

There were no miracles, and mysteries didn’t exist.

Things decayed, turned to dust, and became atoms, once again becoming part of the world.

Everything was meaningless, futile, and worthless.

And what was the authority he held?

It was very simple.

It was the ability to forcibly overlay the laws of his own world onto this one.

"You called my authority 'annihilation.' That’s not wrong."

In his world, things like magic, mystery, miracles, and what people called illusions didn’t exist, nor could they.

They had to disappear.

They couldn’t be allowed to exist.

That’s why the twisted one mistook his authority for the power of annihilation.

[...Is this...]

The twisted one groaned.

[Is this... the world you come from?]

What was this?

It was cold.

No, it wasn’t even a concept like that.

It was closer to everything being utterly meaningless.

Even the twisted one, who had existed since the creation of the universe, felt this way.

[I’ve never seen anything like this before...]

The twisted one had encountered Ketal’s authority several times before.

Despite being stronger than Ketal, the twisted one couldn’t kill him because of this authority.

Since Ketal erased everything in response, he couldn’t lose, but he also couldn’t win.

However, back then, Ketal’s power had only been localized.

It wasn’t this method of twisting the very world itself.

[...Did you ascend to a higher state after coming out here?]

"No."

Ketal shook his head.

"My authority hasn’t changed. Not in the slightest."

[What?]

He had possessed the power to render even the twisted one meaningless from the very beginning?

Then why—

[Why... haven’t you used it until now?]

"Because I didn’t want to."

Ketal spoke gloomily.

His authority, which overwrote this world with the laws of his own.

This authority felt as though it were speaking to him.

It told him that this world was nothing but a daydream.

That it was utterly meaningless.

That someday, when he woke from this dream, it would all vanish without a trace.

It forcibly reminded him of the reality he had abandoned—the hell he wanted to forget.

That’s why Ketal had never properly used his authority, even once, in the white snowfield.

Not even when he was on the brink of death.

"But this time is different. This place is the miracle I longed for."

And the twisted one was trying to destroy that miracle.

So Ketal had decided.

The twisted being desperately flailed, trying to escape, but nothing came of it.

It was over.

Realizing this, the twisted being let out an uncontrollable cry of rage.

[...Why!]

Despair and fury filled its voice.

[Why! Why has something like you descended upon this world? Why! If only you hadn’t existed, this world would’ve been mine! You intruder!]

The twisted being glared at Ketal with flickering eyes.

[No matter how I corrupt this universe, it has nothing to do with you! Why do you interfere? Why! For what purpose!]

“Your anger is justified.”

Ketal calmly accepted the twisted being’s fury.

The twisted being corrupted the universe, broke it, and made it its own.

Undoubtedly, this was detrimental to the living beings in the world.

But fundamentally, the twisted being was a creature born of this world.

Perhaps its fate, too, could be seen as the rightful outcome.

But Ketal was different.

He was an outsider.

It was strange for someone like him, an alien, to stop the twisted being, a native of this universe.

“I didn’t want to use this until the very end... but you’re far too strong for me to avoid it.”

From the moment Ketal had stepped into this world, he had never once used his authority.

Not even against the Demon King.

He had hesitated to use it, fearing the impact on the land’s destiny, even though his life alone was at stake.

He wouldn’t have used it, even if it meant his death.

But the twisted being was far too powerful.

Thus, Ketal decided to break his own rule and use his authority.

“I apologize to you. But I will create the world I desire.”

He would offer the fantasy he dreamed of to this world.

It wasn’t about the hopes of the people or the peace of the world—it was his own obsession and fixation.

“If you had remained quietly within that space... maybe I wouldn’t have acted. But if you’re going to destroy my world, I won’t just stand by.”

And so, Ketal resolved to erase the twisted being, a miracle born at the moment of creation, with his own hands.

Ketal arrived before the twisted being and raised his axe.

The twisted being tried to resist, but it could do nothing.

Holding onto its scattering consciousness was all it could manage.

In the end, the twisted being had no choice but to accept its fate.

It muttered weakly, as if in resignation.

[...So you intend to create the world you desire with your own obsession. Hahaha... Mortals will have to pray. Pray that your obsession benefits them.]

The twisted being spoke calmly.

[Enough of this prattle. A loser is a loser. You are the victor. Finish it.]

“Farewell.”

Crack.

The axe struck the twisted being.

And that was the end.

The twisted being met its death by a simple swing of an axe, something even an ordinary human could wield.

“Phew.”

Ketal collapsed onto the ground.

Slowly, he retrieved the authority that had engulfed the world.

The power that had consumed the world, obliterating miracles and erasing wonders, began to fade away.

At the same time, the corpse of the twisted being started to disintegrate.

Shhh.

It turned to dust and scattered.

A being that had existed since creation disappeared, leaving only the traces of destruction behind.

Watching this, Ketal murmured quietly.

“I’m sorry. But I will protect my world.”

As the imposed order vanished, Ketal’s body began to regain its strength.

His injuries started to heal at an incredible speed.

The monstrosity that had quietly lurked within him peeked out.

[Is it over?]

“It’s over.”

[No matter how many times I see it, that power is horrifying. It denies the very existence of all things. I never want to see it again.]

“Don’t worry. I won’t need to use it again.”

Ketal muttered with a peculiar sense of certainty.

And as if to affirm his conviction, a system window appeared.

[Quest #791 completed.]

The quest was finished.

Since the twisted being that had emerged from the outside was dealt with, the completion window was only natural.

But the next system window was entirely unexpected.

[Please select the reward you desire.]

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]