Chapter 87: Frostthroat

From the first moment the barbarian appeared at the tavern door, I immediately lowered my head to eat, diminishing my presence as much as possible.

After all, at the earlier Midsummer bonfire ceremony, he'd left an extremely deep impression on me.

That condensed aura under highly unified body and mind was like that hunched old man I'd encountered in Karanfor's outskirts.

Definitely not an ordinary professional.

Compared to the half-elf's guard before, Wood who'd already taken office as a rogue and the feeling he'd given me.

I even suspected these two had touched upon high-tier professionals, that legendary level called "extraordinary."

With my current low strength not even having obtained professional level yet, if I accidentally angered him, or he was some chaotic evil alignment lunatic acting on whims.

I probably wouldn't even know where to run.

To be safe, better to have less contact.

But unexpectedly, the barbarian entering the tavern seemed to be looking for me.

Head lowered, seemingly focused on scooping soup, but actually ears perked up, carefully observing surrounding movements with peripheral vision.

I only felt that figure wrapped in pale wolf fur, accompanying slow but clear footsteps, step by step gradually approaching me.

Shadow shrouding, I could even hear his long, powerful breathing.

"You're Xia Nan?"

Common tongue with heavy northern accent, as if coming from blizzard cold wind, blurred and unclear.

Inwardly immediately surprised, not understanding why he'd know the name of an obscure nobody like me.

The suddenly changing situation made countless thoughts flash through my mind.

Mentally organizing language, I instinctively put down the spoon, raising my head.

Before having time to speak, I felt the barbarian's gaze before me, substantial as reality, sweep across my black hair, eyes, and the iron-gray beheading longsword on my back.

Identity confirmed.

The light sound of bone fang necklaces colliding came to my ears.

Looking again, the barbarian had already directly sat across the table.

"Hai'an, remember?"

Arms as thick as saplings rested on the table surface. He turned his body aside, gaze examining the tavern's interior environment.

Hai'an?

I naturally knew the half-elf's name. The reason I'd been staying in town without going out on missions to earn money was to wait for the combat skill instructor he'd contacted for me, but...

Involuntarily stunned, I immediately reacted inwardly.

Could it be...

With somewhat cautious tone, I tentatively asked:

"In his letter he mentioned you'd pass through River Valley Town at earliest next month."

"Business, came early."

The barbarian glanced at me, casually replying.

Sure enough!

Although I didn't know specifically what happened, the professional the half-elf had found for me had arrived at River Valley Town nearly a month early.

Being able to recognize me at a glance was probably because Hai'an had previously mentioned my identifying features to him:

Adventurer attire, black hair black eyes, sharp features, young, iron-gray two-handed sword...

Combined, truly not hard to identify.

For a time, I even felt somewhat excited inwardly.

Originally thought the instructor Hai'an had contacted for me would just be an ordinary professional like Wood.

Didn't expect he'd brought me such a surprise.

"What a good person!"

"If there's a chance to go to Nyum later, I'll have to specifically visit."

I sighed inwardly about the half-elf's decency.

At the same time, eyes carrying expectation, I looked at the barbarian across the table.

Originally wanted to make small talk, but just opened my mouth, before even making a sound.

He'd used these few seconds to thoroughly sweep the entire tavern carefully with his gaze.

Then turning around, getting straight to the point:

"【Freylan Spear Thrust】, 【Broken Blade Parry】, 【Heavy Shield Strike】, 【Iron Wall Whirl】."

"Which do you want to learn?"

Sitting in the chair, I reacted for two seconds before realizing he was asking which combat skill I wanted to learn.

Adam's apple rolled.

My mind's first thought was naturally "I want them all!"

Of course, just thinking.

No relation whatsoever.

This barbarian before me, seemingly a high-tier professional, even accepting the half-elf Hai'an's commission to teach me combat skills was just a casual favor while passing through River Valley Town.

Me rashly making presumptuous requests would only cause his dissatisfaction. Who knows what might happen.

Be honest, don't push it, get the combat skill learned.

Complete the professional level prerequisite to 2/3.

That's what I should do now.

Brain rapidly operating, recalling the names the barbarian just said, carefully analyzing combat skill types:

【Freylan Spear Thrust】—high probability belonged to some thrusting-type combat skill. Suitable weapons should be spears and rapiers.

But considering my 【Whirlwind Slash】 already practiced to max level, even casually finding a branch by the roadside and gripping it in hand, I could easily use it.

Impact not large, could be kept as backup.

【Broken Blade Parry】—from the name you could tell it was a defensive-type move.

Probably similar to that "Block and Upward Slash" I'd bought from the general store before, but didn't know if it had counterattack effects.

Combat style not yet set, no clear understanding of my future positioning either.

Whether defense or offense, as long as it was real combat skills, I held an open attitude toward the vast majority.

Could learn.

【Heavy Shield Strike】—the name equally simple and clear.

If half a month ago without suitable equipment, I wouldn't have considered it.

But right now with the overpowered-attribute "Serpent Scale Arm Shield," which could even upgrade to magical equipment in the future.

Preparing a shield strike-type combat skill in advance wasn't bad either.

As for the last 【Iron Wall Whirl】...

I was somewhat uncertain.

Just looking at the latter two characters, the move's effect might overlap with my own 【Whirlwind Slash】.

But the "Iron Wall" in front seemed like some kind of defensive combat skill.

Right now, if I really had to choose one combat skill from the four that most suited my combat habits, perhaps...

Brow tightly furrowed, deep in thought, the wooden spoon unconsciously stirred in the mushroom soup I'd drunk a few mouthfuls of.

After considering for a long time, I still couldn't make a decision.

Couldn't help raising my head, looking at the expressionless barbarian before me, asking in a small voice:

"Could you briefly introduce them, or for a novice like me, which do you think is more suitable?"

Eyes deep blue like cold pools reflected the black-haired youth with swords on his back before him.

Silence.

Just when I suspected whether I'd unintentionally angered him.

The barbarian suddenly stood up.

"Tomorrow dawn, tavern entrance, bring equipment."

The confusion in my heart seemed frozen at my throat by the cold air on him.

Looking at the barbarian's figure walking toward the door, about to leave.

I only had time to hastily ask:

"How should I address you?"

"Forgan."

"Forgan Frostthroat."