Chapter 211
Chapter 211
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 211
Chapter Title: Souls, and the Souls (11)
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-Roooaaar!!!!!
Callisto couldn't believe the sight before his eyes.
-Kuuung!!!!
The ferocious black flame that erupted from Theodore's chest and pierced the orc's heart—it was far too noble and overwhelmingly powerful to be dismissed as mere magic.
'What in the world is that man...?'
What was his true nature? He always introduced himself as a 'normal' druid, but no matter how you looked at it, he was anything but 'normal.' Absolutely not.
The black flame didn't stop at the heart; it reduced the orc's torso, limbs, head, fingers, and toes to ashes without leaving a single trace behind. All that remained were the three arrowheads Theodore had embedded in its heart.
-Whish!
Theodore lightly leaped down from Karak's back, then casually picked up the arrowheads scattered on the ground. He collected the three arrowheads, retrieved his other arrows, wiped the blood and flesh from them, and stowed them away. Callisto stared blankly at Theodore's back.
'...As expected of one who bears the queen's mark.'
While Callisto quietly marveled, Lloyd began tidying up the surroundings with practiced ease, gathering anything useful. He pulled out the orcs' tusks, carved out their hearts to extract the magic stones...
-Clang!
-Crumble...
One of the magic stones Lloyd extracted from an orc's heart split cleanly in two, crumbling away like grains of glass. Hearing the sound, Theodore scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Ah... That's on me. Looks like the hydra's venom weakened the magic stone."
"It's fine."
"Still, the rest should be intact. Only a few got hit with the poison arrows..."
"Seems that way."
After their brief exchange, the two resumed gathering spoils. Callisto watched them dazedly for a moment before suddenly realizing something and joining in to collect the magic stones. The old Callisto wouldn't have glanced twice at such tasks. But this time was different. With utmost courtesy and enthusiasm, Callisto assisted Theodore by slicing open an orc hide at his side.
"Theodore, sir, allow me to handle this!"
"Huh? Oh, sure. Thanks."
"Please take a moment to rest."
"Nah, I'm good. I need to burn the remains."
"I'll do that too..."
"It's fine. Oh, and we'll split the magic stones fairly, so no worries."
What concerned Callisto wasn't the division of magic stones, but Theodore waved him off with a refreshingly—almost coldly—casual attitude before dragging an orc corpse away.
Black flames poured over the piled orc bodies, and soon after, the mound of corpses vanished as if it had never existed. Watching the ashes scatter like dust, Theodore headed toward the Karak herd.
He first gently stroked the neck scruff of the lead Karak that approached him. The Karak carefully lowered its head to avoid goring Theodore with its tusks, accepting the touch with comfort. Gurooruk. Guroorurook. Instead of harsh breaths, the Karaks now communed with Theodore through calm respiration.
"You've done well."
The Karak's short tail swayed slowly side to side. Some might see it as a mere speechless beast, but the Karaks' eyes gazing at Theodore held more than human words could convey. And the same went for Theodore's eyes as he looked upon the Karak.
* * *
"Whew, exhausting!"
After emptying my sub-space ring and Dimensional Garden—piling up corn, sweet potatoes, and even the butternuts the Karaks go crazy for—my back felt like it might give out. This felt harder than fighting the orcs!
-Munch munch!
-Crunch crunch!
But seeing the Karaks eagerly devouring the heaping piles of crops made all the fatigue melt away.
"Let's eat too."
"By eat, you mean..."
"Yeah, Cal. We should have a meal... Oh, right, you don't like eating, do you?"
"......"
Cal wore an expression of utter incomprehension. Well, I could easily guess what he was thinking.
'When we should be striking them down right now, he wants to leisurely eat?'
...Something like that, right? He's surprisingly straightforward, and his face is easy to read. He's had that look since I started feeding the Karaks. The 'this makes no sense' face.
Best to explain in times like these. Lloyd and El never question my actions, but others do.
"Don't worry."
"But..."
"We don't know their exact plan, but at least it won't happen right now."
"...How can you be sure?"
"......"
I silently pointed to the western sky, where the sun was setting and painting the horizon red. Callisto followed my finger, then looked back at me. Still the face of confusion.
"Nothing will happen until the sun sets and the moon rises."
"......"
"Trust me."
No ritual is complete without the 'moon'—it's no exaggeration to say that.
In this pseudo-medieval land, the 'moon' held profound significance. Each month's moon had its own name and meaning, and no ritual defied the moon's cycle.
January: Wolf Moon. When the pale yellow Wolf Moon rises, strengthening wolves, avoid hunting and mountain travel.
February: Snow Moon. This silver moon lets you divine snowfall by its size. Temples offer prayers for the harvest based on it.
March: Worm Moon. Marks like crawling worms appear; regions interpret them to predict rain patterns.
April: Pink Moon. Named for... well, when 'love' blooms.
May: Flower Moon. Blooms with flowers, especially moonflowers that glow intensely under its light.
June: Strawberry Moon. Time to preserve leftover berries as jam; festivals abound.
July: Buck Moon. Prime for hunting stags and game; some territories hold hunting tournaments. (Mercenaries sweep them sometimes.)
August: Sturgeon Moon. Seafood bountiful, fish swarm ashore; rarely, sirens sighted nightly.
September: Harvest Moon. Full moon signaling abundance.
October: Hunter's Moon. Like now. Unlike July's subtle golden Buck Moon, it rises blood-red. 'Hunting' here isn't just human-led—humans become prey too. The red Hunter's Moon blesses all hunters equally, empowering weapon-wielding monsters like orcs and goblins. Stay inside guarded walls this moon.
Tonight, October's blood-red full moon rises. When its crimson light bathes the earth, granting permission for the 'hunt'...
'...The time of slaughter begins.'
That's what they're waiting for.
I grinned at Callisto's lingering unease and patted his shoulder.
"Then, while you dine, I'll handle the escaped soldiers."
Callisto drew his twin swords. Ah, right before eating? I sighed lightly and shook my head.
"It's fine, Cal."
"But..."
"If someone fled into the forest, maybe, but... you saw the orcs. The soldiers all ran to the city. No horses, exhausted—they won't reach the castle till tomorrow."
"......"
"So don't worry about it."
"......"
"Sit. Let's eat."
Shaking my head, I plopped down under the tree by the campfire. Callisto reluctantly sat across from me, and Lloyd joined last, having tethered the horses nearby.
From my sub-space ring, I pulled out the boxed meals I'd asked the innkeeper to prepare. Three meals total; with El absent, Callisto could take her share perfectly.
"Argos is on patrol, so let's eat quick."
I handed out the still-warm boxed meals to Lloyd and Callisto.
"Whoa, looks tasty."
Divided into three compartments, the simple yet neat meal looked appetizing. Two soft white rolls, a pat of butter. Crispy whole fried chicken thighs, onion flakes fried like snacks and tossed in mayo-like sauce! Even some veggies: romaine leaves and honey-glazed boiled squash.
'This is a feast!'
Truthfully, I craved steaming spicy bone hangover soup, but that's insane in this world. Grateful for preserved boxed meals thanks to the sub-space ring.
-Crunch!
I bit into a chicken thigh. Savory, sweet onion-infused crispy skin burst with juices, tender meat yielding. Damn, the cook's skilled! The onion crisps with mayo pack umami punch. I forgot the soup and dug in.
"Theo. Me."
"Ah, yeah. Legion. You need to eat too."
Legion poked his head out at the food scent when something clattered beside me. Turning, I saw Callisto gaping, fork dropped to the ground. Huh?
"Th-Theodore, sir..."
"Cal, you don't eat meat, right?"
"No way, the master of that black flame is..."
"Here, feed some to Legion."