Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Oracle - 1
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Just moments ago it had been daytime, but as soon as they entered the castle, darkness fell over them.
"It seems time has stopped, separating the inside from the outside like different worlds."
"So if we step out of this blue flame, we'll end up like that troll over there?"
"Yes."
At Helen's explanation, everyone grew tense.
And I cautiously extended my hand beyond the blue light. The sensation in my hand gradually dulled, until finally, the feeling vanished entirely.
"Hero, can you move out there?"
"I can, but fighting in this state would be tough."
Even with Oronak's blessing, it was like this.
If it had been anyone else, time would have frozen them solid, leaving them helpless to die.
The difficulty is insane.
Fortunately, the trolls inside the castle were equally affected by the time stop, so no threats had appeared to endanger us.
Hm?
As they ventured deeper into the castle, a fragrant scent tickled my nose.
"What's this smell?"
"Poet, what are you talking about?"
"Like cold fruit flesh? It makes my mouth water. Can't you all smell it?"
"No, I don't smell anything."
"Me neither."
Everyone tilted their heads at my question and answered.
"It must be due to Lord Oronak's blessing."
"You think so?"
Camilla's words made sense. It was the only plausible explanation.
"Helen, what do you think?"
"...I'll refrain from commenting."
I asked Helen just in case, but she suddenly clammed up. Was she trying to keep me from getting confused by unnecessary info?
Her sudden change threw me off, but for now, I headed toward the source of the scent.
There, on a throne fit for a king, sat a massive troll.
"That must be the troll in question."
"The divine power emanating from it is unnatural too."
With Helen's confirmation, we immediately prepared for battle. The troll, however, showed no movement. Was its time frozen? It was odd, but not the priority.
"To seal the legacy, we have to take it from him, right?"
"Yes, given the current situation."
"Then we have to kill him."
Rushing in recklessly was risky. Unlike usual, stepping outside the blue flame was dangerous in itself. And approaching en masse without knowing any traps was equally perilous.
"I'll take the first strike."
Reading my mind, Camilla began enveloping her sword tip in aura.
I'd thought the time-stop power would block the sword aura, but contrary to expectations, it extended effortlessly, slicing clean through the troll's head.
"???"
The severed head hit the floor with a thud. As we all reeled from the anticlimactic result, the head spoke to us.
"Who dares disturb the Troll King's deep slumber?"
Suddenly, a storm of icy winds raged through the inner castle.
...
Petra's blackwood shield blocked the blades of cold hurtling our way.
"Everyone okay?"
"We're fine."
Countless icy blades grazed past, but none pierced the blackwood shield.
Petra, this shield is solid.
"Kaka, what rude humans."
The massive troll, moving freely in the time-frozen darkness, reattached its severed head and addressed us.
"I am the Troll King, Grog. What are you lot?"
"Trolls can talk?"
I glanced at Helen, but even she was speechless with shock.
"Big human talks nonsense. Trolls are a wise race! Second only to the giants who once ruled the world, we are the greatest race on this land! Speech is basic."
"If you're so great, why'd you become monsters?"
"Kaka... That's due to the curse of the outer gods."
Grog answered my question weakly. Contrary to fears, conversation was possible, and Helen elaborated.
"He's right. In the mythic age, trolls were an intelligent race like humans. But their superior regeneration and unique sorcery made them targets for the outer gods, who cursed them into ruin."
"So the trolls we've fought until now?"
"Blinded in sight and wisdom by the outer gods' curse."
Helen’s explanation sent chills down my spine.
Perhaps humans' lives were still manipulated by the gods even now. Someday, my family could be threatened by those outer gods.
Before I could sink into deep thought, Helen called out to Grog first.
"Great Troll King of old. We have come from afar to seal the outer god's legacy. Please, hand it over to us."
"Kaka, if it's the outer god's legacy, I'd be willing to help you."
Oh?! Could this end peacefully after all?
"But I can't hand it over easily."
"Why not?"
Why make things so hard?
Grog kindly explained.
"I, the Troll King, still have an unfulfilled duty."
"Duty?"
"Indeed. Before the troll race was exterminated by the outer gods, we passed our five secret arts to human tribes."
Grog began recounting the grand history of the trolls.
I wanted to hit skip, but couldn't, so I had to listen patiently despite the tedium.
To summarize:
He wanted to check if those five secret arts had been preserved through generations by the humans, and if they had fulfilled the duty to protect Oronak, the northern god, in his stead.
"Lord Oronak met his end after a deathmatch with the 'One Who Walks the Lowest Depths.'"
"Kaka... He was a great warrior too."
Irina and Vivian, northerners, explained this part.
But one thing bothered me.
"Five secret arts? Does the Frostflower Tribe have any handed down techniques?"
"N-no, we don't. The Frostflower Tribe has served Lord Oronak since ancient times, but we have no special secret arts."
"They've likely been lost over the millennium."
Helen's explanation convinced me.
The mythic age was at least a thousand years ago.
"Kaka, it's fine. The northern blades were single-line transmissions anyway; I didn't expect them to survive."
"Really? So we're done?"
"One remains!"
Grog pointed at me.
"You shall inherit the northern blade!"
"Why me?"
"Kaka! Because you have the qualifications."
"Qualifications?"
"With the power of Lord Oronak within you, inheriting the northern blade is possible!"
"Sigh... So that's how it flows?"
"It's a fateful encounter. Don't complain; learn it."
Camilla urged me despite my reluctance.
"And just because the Troll King is helping us doesn't mean he'll hand over the god's legacy easily."
"What?"
"The strong human woman is right. I, the Troll King, revived by the god's legacy, am ultimately the god's plaything. Battle with you is inevitable."
Grog drew a long blade and offered it to me.
"So receive the transmission while I am in my right mind. It'll give you a better chance."
"If you put it that way, I have no choice."
I equipped Robera and the blackwood shield, then stepped out of the blue flame.
My body began to stiffen gradually, but it didn't matter.
"Sian, you okay?"
"I'm fine. This way, I can fight without holding back. Don't worry."
"Kaka, you truly are an amusing being!"
Grog bared his massive troll fangs in a hearty laugh.
As I started warming to his bold demeanor, a chill blade grazed my nape.
"Fitting for the most arrogant race."
"Most arrogant race?"
"Kakaka! You don't even know yourselves? How amusing!"
Grog's blade assailed like a frost storm.
"Wait! Don't just drop cryptic hints—explain properly!"
"Kaka! Fate is carved and discovered by one's own hand! If you're curious, find out yourself!"
Grog swung his blade in a crescent arc. Like Camilla's sword aura, razor-sharp frost blades cleaved through my blackwood shield like tofu.
"At least a third-circle level powerhouse."
"I can see that!"
Ignoring Camilla's analysis, I threatened Grog with my black spear.
Kwajik!
"Hey!"
"Kakaka! Meaningless!"
Grog dodged or tanked the black spear without issue.
And like before, he didn't die. As if immune to death itself.
"This deathmatch is not about you defeating me—it's about you learning the northern blade!"
"Can't you teach it more gently then?"
"Kakaka! As the arrogant race, you'll awaken to it instinctively!"
Grog attacked in earnest, clearly holding me in high regard.
"You damn troll!"
"???"
In the end, I had to get serious too.