Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Usurper (2)
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The cursed plateau.
The fairy tale written by Benden was fairly well-researched in most respects, but there was one thing that needed correcting.
King Rahir of Kargai never sacrificed his people as offerings.
He was a monarch who acted for the living, not the dead ancestors.
He never even considered such an evil ritual of offering souls as a last resort of last resorts.
After years of war, realizing there was no path to victory, the king cast aside his pride and entered negotiations with the emperor.
The result was a resounding success.
Moved by the plateau's unyielding spirit, the emperor agreed to incorporate Kargai into imperial territory but promised it would remain a nominal vassal state with full autonomy intact.
Of course, under the premise that he wouldn't lay a finger on its people or lands.
Without outside interference, Kargai would surely have become a frontier march protecting the empire's northern borders by now.
What ruined it all was the king's closest confidant, the shaman.
The night before the treaty was to be signed, the shaman seized control of the king's mind and forced him to perform the wicked ritual.
A ritual to curse the plateau and turn the king and all Kargaians into the shaman's puppets.
Yes. In the end, it was the shaman, not the king, who had to be brought down.
It was the dying wish of Arajan, the king's last descendant, and the essential quest for recruiting her.
But the importance of this quest went beyond just recruiting Arajan.
Every event has a cause.
Just as the king went mad because of the shaman, there had to be a reason why the shaman, beloved by all the people, suddenly turned.
...Perhaps from staring at the night sky too long and hearing the stars' voices.
"Everyone, say hi. These are my friends."
Bran said.
It had been a chaotic ordeal in many ways, but somehow they'd wrapped it up well.
Having climbed up from the cliff, he introduced Arajan to the group.
"This one's the new hire. Kinda awkward without the mask, but it's the same girl who shot the arrows."
"I'm Arajan."
She nodded curtly and stroked the wolf beside her.
"This is Baihir."
"Wrrrr."
What a succinct introduction.
The wolf, who had been knocked out, had come to and was now lying at Arajan's side.
Its face was swollen from Ilrak's blows, but it didn't look seriously injured.
The friends, who had been standing in the world's most awkward atmosphere, began to speak up one by one.
"Uh... I'm Ilrak."
"I-I'm Kael."
"Benden here! Oho, can you believe this?!"
Benden was the only one excited.
He alternated between an ancient tome from his backpack and Arajan's face, marveling in awe.
Arajan tilted her head.
"Why are you staring like that?"
"Oh, my apologies! It's just... one of my dreams come true, and I can't believe it! I never even imagined a descendant of Kargai could still be alive! Seeing a white wolf with my own eyes, thought extinct—it's astonishing enough, but this kind of fortune?!"
Benden's voice brimmed with excitement.
He seemed genuinely thrilled, even standing before the person who'd nearly killed him.
Shrrrrk!
He unfurled the ancient tome and strode forward.
"And to think she's a descendant of the great king! What do you say—doesn't she look just like him?!"
The open page showed a mural of a man on horseback.
The large black eyes and grayish-white hair were identical to Arajan's.
Arajan gave a wry smile.
"...Yeah. She really does."
It was striking, just as he'd felt in the game.
She looked so much like him, you could believe she was his own daughter.
The wolf lying beside Arajan suddenly sprang up with a roar.
"Grrrrrowl!"
"Kyaaak!"
Benden leaped back.
He stumbled backward in a hurry and hid behind Ilrak.
"D-Did I do something wrong...?"
"He got startled when you came at us so suddenly. Delicate kid, despite appearances."
Benden froze at the word "delicate."
Arajan gently stroked the wolf's scruff.
"Calm down, Baihir. He's weird-looking, but not an enemy."
"Whiiiine."
Its raised hackles settled.
The wolf nuzzled Arajan's face before lying down again.
"W-Weird-looking...? In our tribe, that's considered quite handsome..."
Benden muttered.
Watching the scene, Bran sighed in relief.
Thank goodness Ilrak had held back.
If anything happened to that wolf, recruiting Arajan would've been impossible.
"Thanks for sparing Baihir. He's my only family."
"So you've just been hanging out with that wolf all this time?"
Ilrak asked.
Arajan shook her head.
"No. I lived with my father until I was seven."
"Uh... what does that mean?"
"My father died fighting Baihir's mother. His dagger pierced the wolf's heart, and her fangs tore through his throat. When the fight ended, all that was left was me... and fluffy little Baihir. We've been together ever since."
It was a tragedy that didn't match her calm tone.
Feeling guilty for prying, Ilrak scratched the back of her head.
"I-I see. Sorry about that..."
"Sorry for what?"
"I beat up your precious family."
"You didn't kill him, so it's fine. The strong beating the weak is only natural. His broken fangs will grow back soon enough."
Unlike his worries, her response was straightforward.
Arajan smiled at Ilrak, who met her gaze.
"Besides, you seem like a very strong warrior. I like that."
"S-Strong warrior?"
"Yes. You can tell just by looking at your body. Even the warriors of old Kargai wouldn't measure up to you."
"Ahem, ahem... You've got a good eye."
Ilrak cleared her throat.
Pretending nonchalance, but her wagging tail gave her away. These two would hit it off in no time.
Their personalities even seemed similar.
The only one showing displeasure was Kael.
"Uuuuuuum..."
He narrowed his eyes, staring at Arajan.
He'd assumed it was a guy from the outfit alone, but this had caught him completely off guard.
Kael scanned her up and down, muttering bitterly.
"......Pretty."
He had no choice but to admit it.
Even if they'd picked her for her looks instead of skill, it'd be believable.
Unlike his own stubby limbs, hers were long and slender.
Of course, he still had room to grow, but catching up seemed doubtful.
S-Still, aren't my eyelashes a bit longer?
As he desperately sought any edge he might have.
"You. Kael, was it?"
Arajan suddenly turned to him.
Kael flinched, hunching his shoulders.
"Eek! W-What's up?"
"You're truly beautiful. Hair like gold, eyes like a winter lake. Such vibrance is impossible to see in this cursed land."
"Th-Thank you..."
"Baihir would gladly let you ride him too. He loves beautiful things."
Arajan smiled.
Feeling oddly embarrassed, Kael averted his gaze.
Maybe not all women needed warying.
As long as she didn't get tangled up with Bran...?
"Alright. Time to head out."
Clap clap!
Bran clapped, judging the introductions sufficient.
With the temporary alliance formed, no need to dawdle.
Arajan tilted her head.
"Head out? To where?"
"Where else? To take down the shaman."
"Now?"
"Now."
Bran nodded.
Arajan blinked blankly before shaking her head.
"No. That's impossible."
"Why do you think that?"
"Rather, I'd like to ask you."
She jerked her chin toward the base of the mountain.
"After seeing that, how can you say 'now'?"
The cursed cavalry had the rocky mountain surrounded.
It felt like being isolated on a reef amid crashing white waves.
Thousands of bloodthirsty spectral warriors waited for them to descend.
'What a sight.'
Good thing they were all cavalry.
If it were cursed infantry, they'd have crawled up here ages ago.
Arajan continued.
"We wait until the moon changes phase. When the king's tent moves, the cavalry will follow."
"Too late by then. What if they get there first?"
Bran pointed at the tent.
A group shrouded in red light raced across the plains.
The Retunir expedition, which had left ahead.
Spectral warriors and cavalry occasionally attacked, but in small numbers, easily repelled as they advanced.
'No surprise. The cavalry's focused on them, and they've got relic power.'
By their pace, they'd reach the tent before dawn.
Getting in and surviving inside were different matters, of course.
Arajan's brow furrowed.
"That's..."
"I hate that. So let's hurry and take care of it."
Suddenly, Bran rummaged in his bag.
He'd prepared for this.
A vial of swirling blue liquid appeared in his hand.
Gulp.
No sooner had he downed a swig than messages appeared.
Consumed elixir made from Whirlwind Minari. Leg strength and movement speed greatly enhanced!
Heart of Harmeno activates! Beneficial effects from plants doubled!
He felt his body lighten instantly.
A premium elixir bought with gold earned in Valkeros.
True to its bold ingredient name, its effects perfectly outclassed Rabbit Grass.
Bran, half-finished, offered the vial to Arajan.
"Here, give some to the wolf."
"What's this?"
"Potion to make you run faster."
"...Suspicious. Legs get faster just from drinking?"
Sniff sniff.
Arajan sniffed it dubiously.
No wonder she didn't know about elixirs.
She'd spent most her life as a wild girl on this plateau.
Though it was funny coming from someone who sprouted venomous thorns.
"No poison or anything. I drank first, see?"
"Not enough. Let me try."
With that, Arajan chugged it.
Casually putting her lips to the rim.
Not minding the saliva on the bottleneck.
"Heeeek!"
Kael gasped at the sight of her blowing into the bottle heartily.
Bran tilted his head.
"Huh? What's wrong, Kael?"
"...N-Nothing."
"Nothing my ass. You sounded like a housewife spotting a cockroach."
"R-Really, it's nothing. Just... bad memory popped up. Ahaha."
Kael forced an awkward laugh.
He wanted to scream, but bit his lip and held it in.
This was wild?
A Kargai warrior?
Too scary to bear.
Don't let the pretty face fool you!
Arajan nodded after swallowing.
"...Hm. Seems fine. Body does feel lighter."
"Grrr?"
"It's safe. Drink up, Baihir."
She poured some into the wolf's mouth.
Whoosh!
As the liquid slid down its tongue, the wolf's pupils narrowed to slits.
Ilrak, watching, raised her hand.
"Me too. I want some."
"No, Ilrak."
"What? Why exclude me?"
"Your speed's already overkill. Wanna launch into the sky mid-run?"
Bran chuckled incredulously.
She didn't need it with her heat control at stage 2.
Thud.
Ilrak's tail smacked the ground.
"Tch, fine. We going now?"
"Yeah. Warm up."
Bran nodded.
Ilrak got ready immediately.
Fwoosh!
Heat bloomed in her chest, spreading along her spine.
Unlike before, stopping at the waist, red light now seeped to her thighs.
"Huuu."
The stage 2 realm achieved capturing Silien.
Master that, and no need to lament lacking wings.
"Incredible...!"
Arajan's eyes widened.
"I feel tremendous heat inside you. How is that possible?"
"Ilrak's a fire dragon half-breed."
"Fire dragon? What's that?"
"You know what a dragon is? Uh... never mind. I'll explain later."
Bran shut his mouth mid-explanation.
Judging by common sense, better to teach her properly after leaving the plateau.
She doesn't know dragons exist, yet overlooked that tail? Wild.
Bran turned to Arajan.
"Anyway, unlike her, we're still lacking."
"Hm?"
"Need your help for the finish. Give our legs the wind."
Bran said.
Arajan's already large eyes grew wider.
"...How did you know?"
"Saw it earlier. You used it crossing the rocky mountains."
Bran replied shamelessly.
Truth was, he hadn't seen it—game knowledge.
Arajan at first encounter could absorb up to three enemy abilities.
She'd shown poison and thorns; one left.
'That's the main one.'
Unlike replaceable poison and thorns, a high-performance skill carried to the game's end.
Arajan nodded after a pause.
"Alright. Got it."
Preparations complete.