Chapter 361: The Road of Hardship
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 361: The Road of Hardship
The journey was quite comfortable. Rather than hurrying toward the Land of Glory, it would be more accurate to say we traveled slowly, taking leisurely rests along the way. Since we were riding on Abar's back, Laveua and Lapura didn't struggle, but it was still a relief to give my two children time to rest.
Everyone was in high spirits on this march-that-wasn't-a-march as we passed through the eastern swamp, the central jungle and plains, and entered the southern desert. The trouble began when we entered the desert. As expected, the two children began to struggle a little. Lapura seemed to be doing relatively fine, but Laveua appeared to have a hard time adjusting to the new environment.
“Is this the path you walked during the Warrior's Exam, Father?”
Lapura asked me just as we entered the desert.
“Hmm… We have to go a little further, but I believe it was around here.”
Lapura nodded at my words, while Laveua slowly began to look around at the vast desert. I had taken Laveua outside occasionally, but this was the first time we had come so far. At most, she had only seen the eastern swamp. She must have heard many stories, but this would be the first time she’d seen such a desert with her own eyes.
“It’s big. Big and hot, Dad.”
“Yes, it’s hot. This is the path your dad walked with Uncle Goff. So much happened here. Many goblins fell, and it was truly agonizing. Back then, your dad wasn’t as strong as I am now.”
Now, the pouring sunlight doesn't bother me at all. But back then, it was excruciating. Laveua, looking a bit drained, drank from a leather waterskin, while Lapura quietly felt the sunlight pouring down.
“How did you manage to find food?”
“At first, we went hungry often. I had packed a lot of provisions from the place where I was first summoned, but it wasn't enough.”
“Ah…”
“If you look closely, it’s not like there’s nothing to eat. The plants you see, the magical beasts roaming beneath the ground, and the incredibly swift lizards… we learned how to adapt to the environment.”
“I see. I think I understand what you mean. If I imagine being dropped in a place like this all by myself… I probably would have died from lack of water. Assuming I couldn't find another way.”
“That’s why I also received help from the shamans. This is a place where you can only survive by working together. Lapura, you might not make it alone, but with Laveua, you might be able to live.”
“With my sister?”
Seeing her confused expression, I nodded and began to speak.
“Laveua can create water, and Lapura can create a space to serve as a shelter at night. Lapura could handle the large magical beasts, while Laveua could find the smaller ones or navigate the way.”
“I can find the way too, Father.”
“Yes. That’s right.”
I stroked Lapura’s head. Laveua, who seemed to like the idea of joining forces with her younger sister, sidled up to Lapura after hearing my words. Seeing this, Lapura began to mutter again.
“Sister, you’re too close.”
“Ah! S-Sorry.”
The fate of one who tries to stage a touching scene only to fail is quite miserable. I stroked the head of Laveua, who was now noticeably wary of Lapura, and spoke once more.
“I suspect the former Great Tribe Leader, Agar, might have designed this trial hoping we would learn to join forces and cooperate with one another.”
“Mhm…”
“The clan’s Orc warriors help the shamans who have weak stamina, and the shamans help the Orc warriors who struggle with the environment. The small, agile goblins scout ahead, and when they find a large magical beast, the clan hunts it together for food. Their hides become pouches to carry water and food, and their bones become the supports for tents that let us endure the cold desert nights. The shamans light the fires, the mother Green Skins of the clan begin to cook, and the Orc warriors keep watch in case other beasts attack. Everyone moves together.”
“…amazing…”
“Hm?”
“That’s amazing! Dad! That’s really amazing!”
Seeing Laveua’s excited expression as she sweated made me feel quite pleased. She looked up at me with her large eyes wide open. The expression ‘eyes shining’ was probably meant for moments like this. Lapura watched her sister and murmured.
“What about now?”
“Of course, now, I don’t think this environment could harm me. The hot sun, the vast desert, the magical beasts—none of them pose a threat.”
“I knew it.”
“The reason I can stand here like this now is because I forged myself in this place before. Steel grows stronger the more it’s hammered. This environment is what forged me. Uncle Goff, Uncle Hark, and Uncle Gark, too. All of us.”
Lapura looked as if she was about to say something but simply nodded. It might have been a difficult story for her to understand. She was born an obvious predator, so it was no surprise she couldn't understand the weak. She had chosen to suppress her power rather than grow it, so no matter how well I explained, she would ultimately return to her starting point.
She might have said it would be difficult for her, but in truth, Lapura could undoubtedly survive here. A Mythical species isn't called Mythical for nothing.
“I see.”
Lapura slowly began to look around.
She didn’t say it, but she was probably wondering if she, like me, could survive here alone. If Laveua focused on my past self, Lapura was focusing on my present self. The girl wants to be like me and tries all sorts of things to create common ground. Her current actions were likely part of her own efforts.
“So? What about those goblins from back then?”
“Is it completely impossible to find water in the desert, Father?”
“No, if you walk the path, you can find places called oases. Lapura could probably find one.”
I answered Lapura’s question with a slight smile. Seeing the stark difference in their questions made it obvious. Laveua is sentimental, while Lapura is practical. I smiled faintly and began to answer Laveua’s earlier question.
“The goblins are all working for the tribe. Some have become elite Orc swordsmen, while others have become archers or shamans who support them.”
“I see… So that’s why all the uncles were so strong. That’s why…”
Laveua, who had been nodding earnestly to herself, finally nodded her head with great resolve.
“I want to walk, too!”
It would still be hard for her. But letting her experience it didn't seem like a bad idea. I didn't try to stop Laveua. She immediately jumped down from Abar’s back and slowly began to walk.
“My feet sink right in, it’s tough. Hehe. The soles of my feet are hot, too.”
“Right?”
Lapura, who had been staring at Laveua, also spoke up slowly.
“Father, I will walk as well.”
“Go ahead.”
It was quite amusing to see both of them get down from Abar’s back. Hark and the Orc swordsmen nearby were, as expected, making a huge fuss seeing Laveua and Lapura walk the road of hardship.
“Lady Laveua and Lady Lapura are walking the Road of Hardship!”
“Uwoooooooooooh!”
“As expected of Blood Dagger’s heirs! They truly inherited his strong blood!”
I have no idea when they’ll ever stop saying that ‘strong blood’ line. The Blood Dagger Clan’s camp suddenly became so rowdy that even the Goff Clan and Black Spear Clan came over to see if something was wrong. That alone should tell you how much of a commotion they were making.
As expected, Laveua was struggling greatly. Although she had diligently trained her stamina for the past year, her fundamental base was that of a magician, so she seemed to be tiring. The same could be said for Lapura, who was also more of a magician; she was sweating, but she was protecting her body with mana. She knew instinctively how to make her body comfortable.
“This is harder than I thought.”
It was an absurd statement for someone who was just a little over a year old. Laveua was gulping down the water she created as she walked, and I saw her say a word to her younger sister, as if feeling sorry for her.
“La… Lapura, do you want some?”
“I’m fine, Sister. I’m not that thirsty.”
“O-Okay! If you want water, be sure to tell me!”
“Yes.”
Laveua was probably imagining the heartwarming scene I had just described, of the two of them working together. But Lapura was quite unsentimental. It was also cute how Laveua, despite being the one struggling more, was flapping her wings vigorously toward her sister behind her, trying to help her somehow. She was fanning her with her wings.
“Sister?”
“Mhm! Should I do it stronger?”
“The hot wind is making it harder. It’s kicking up sand, too. I appreciate the thought, but you can do it later.”
“O-Oh… I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
And so, she failed again.
As the march continued, the two children’s faces became colored with fatigue. Of course it was difficult. But the fact that they didn’t give up on what they had chosen halfway through was something I wanted to praise them for. Night came, and morning came again.
Laveua, who had been chattering noisily, and Lapura, who had stayed up late reading, both passed out the moment the temporary tents were set up. They then ate so much for breakfast that it made a mockery of their claims of having no appetite due to the heat.
“Another bowl!”
“Father, me too…”
Watching the two of them really brought back old memories. Laveua aside, Lapura’s reaction was quite refreshing. She was probably trying to gain the strength to continue the march. And so, what was a difficult journey for some and a joyful one for others began once more.
As I watched the two of them and let out a hearty laugh, two giant stone statues came into view—the tomb where Agar and Sand Glave were buried. Seeing that a temporary settlement had already been erected, as if other visitors had arrived before us, I smiled quietly.
“W-Wooooooooow!”
“Incredible.”
Laveua and Lapura also shouted loudly as they gazed at the statues they were seeing for the first time.
“Amazing! Amazing!!”
It is a great honor to be able to see Agar holding his hammer and Sand Glave holding his great glaive in a single glance. Just as I had made them before, the two were still facing each other in the same pose. As the statues came into view, the other Green Skins also quietly closed their eyes and placed a hand over one side of their chest.
“Strength, Wisdom, and Honor.”
“Strength, Wisdom, and Honor…”
It was a show of respect for the hero who made the Green Skins what they are today. The more we walked, the more I noticed the changes. At first, it was a desert with nothing but statues, but now, after some time has passed, it was completely different. Traces of Green Skins could be seen everywhere in this popular spot that so many visited. But one thing had not changed.
[Here lie two men who respected each other their entire lives.]
Stroking the heads of Laveua and Lapura, who were staring blankly up at the statues, I slowly opened my mouth.
“It’s been a while.”