Chapter 66
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Winds Blowing Across the Plateau (2)
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No more enemies remain on the plateau.
The land's recovery speed is greatly increasing.
Dawn was breaking over the plateau.
The Outer God's fragment, split in half, dissolved into particles smaller than dust and vanished.
Bran landed lightly and sheathed his sword.
First encounter with the unfathomable darkness.
The mortal overcame incomprehensible terror with superhuman will.
Conditions met. Acquiring new skill!
Rewards for defeating the Outer God's fragment were being tallied.
The golden alert window that appeared after pulling off something big always put him in a good mood, no matter how many times he saw it.
Messages popped up one after another.
Acquired new skill [Boundary Sword]!
Boundary Sword: All stats increase when battling otherworldly existences.
A new skill after quite some time.
Its description was as straightforward as Heavy Strike, but the effect was anything but.
A smile crept onto Bran's lips.
"Ah ha. Finally."
It was a skill on his wishlist.
Defeating the Shadow of the Stars followed by the Outer God's fragment must have met the conditions.
A passive skill granted for slaying a certain number of the Outer God's faction enemies.
It was an incredibly useful ability that shone brighter as the story progressed.
The Weed series activated from overcoming that ordeal.
Not just strength or mental power, but all stats boosted!
The fact that slaying just a mere fragment yielded such rewards spoke volumes about the Outer God's majesty.
Bran let out a sigh of relief.
"Hoo..."
Only now did the tension ease.
He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the crisp dawn air.
His comrades, freed from the otherworldly pressure, began stirring one by one.
"Haaah! Damn, I can finally move!"
"Urp! Blugh!"
They all reacted like they'd just woken from a nightmare.
Benden was outright vomiting on the ground.
Ilrak spotted Bran and rushed over in a heartbeat.
"You okay, Bran?! That thing earlier—you cut it down, right?!"
"Yeah."
"Ha... You're really something else. My legs wouldn't even budge. Feels embarrassing just thinking about it."
"No need for that. That was a genuine piece of the Outer God."
It reaffirmed that his build direction had been spot on.
If his mental power had been even a little lower, he'd have frozen up like the others.
Investing so heavily in mental power had paid off big time.
"What... in the world... happened..."
Arjan, clutching her head and groaning, finally spoke.
She looked just as rattled as Ilrak.
"...It felt like being a frog in front of a snake. I couldn't do a damn thing."
"Don't worry. That's perfectly normal."
"I can't accept that. What the hell is an Outer God?"
"Right, you wouldn't know yet. I'll explain soon."
It was too long a story for here.
For now, it was time to savor their victory.
Achieving all those tough happy ending conditions was encouraging even for Bran.
But first, he had to check on today's MVP.
Striding over, Bran sat beside Kael.
"Kael. You good?"
"Ugh, uuu... Bran?"
Kael, groaning, opened his eyes.
Dawn light filtered through his thick eyelashes.
Right after battling the Outer God, he looked a mess.
His clothes were in tatters like rags.
Dried blood crusted from his philtrum to his chin.
Kael looked around and asked him.
"...What about Lady Nahm?"
"She's safe. Thanks to you."
"Hehe, that's a relief..."
Kael smiled.
Bran chuckled along at the guy's pure, idiotic grin.
Worrying about others first even in this state.
Bran gently stroked his head.
"You really went through hell. You did something amazing. No one else could've pulled it off without you."
"Nah. Everyone worked hard, so..."
"Aaak!"
That was when it happened.
Kael, who had been grinning, let out a sharp scream.
"Kael? What's wrong all of a sudden?!"
"B-Bran... My hand hurts..."
"Hand?"
"M-My right hand feels like it's burning... Kyaaaah!"
"Damn it, hang on just a bit!"
Bran gritted his teeth.
This didn't feel right. Kael's face had gone pale as ice.
Why did something like this have to happen at the very end after everything went perfectly?
As he frantically rummaged for the best potion...
A pack member has met sufficient qualifications.
Fwaah!
A translucent window appeared amid dazzling light.
Victory in battle against an unfathomable divinity.
The feat of burning one's body to illuminate the darkness shines like a star in the heavens.
Kael has acquired the achievement skill [Star of Purification]!
It was a message he'd seen before.
Bran gasped at the words "achievement skill."
"This is..."
"Hic... haaah..."
Kael's screams stopped.
A small pattern etched itself onto the back of his right hand.
A white, flaming stigmata shaped like a star.
★ Star of Purification ★
▶ Range of holy power-based skills doubles.
▶ Holy power amplifies when opposing undead, spirits, or other divinities.
▶ Hidden ability unlocks upon meeting specific conditions.
It was one of those ultra-rare achievement skills.
The kind you could only get by accomplishing extraordinary feats, on par with Indomitable.
Bran clenched his fist.
"Jackpot..."
No issues with the acquisition.
Kael had racked up the highest contributions in this episode, no contest.
Unlike Boundary Sword, it was completely unexpected loot.
Plus, Star of Purification was an A-rank skill on Bran's personal tier list!
Kael started sniffling.
"Sob, waaah... Am I gonna die now? Did I get cursed by the Outer God after all?"
"The opposite, Kael. Now you'll be the one sending them to the afterlife."
"Uh, huh?"
"Don't freak out. Any random ghost will ascend from your cough now."
That said, it was a pretty aggressive skill for Kael's style.
Like a heavily armored hamster charging in.
It synergized perfectly with Radiant Holy Knight, but how it'd mesh with Kael was intriguing.
As he helped Kael to his feet...
"Oh, my lady!"
Rahir's exclamation rang out.
Apparently, Kael wasn't the only one coming to.
Turning, he saw Nahm propped up on her elbows, sitting.
A beauty who could pass for Arjan's mother.
"My lady. Do you recognize me?"
"...Your Majesty?"
Nahm's eyes went wide.
No curse or madness lingered in her anymore.
Rahir's head glowed beside her.
Nahm lifted it with both hands, tilting her head.
"Why... are you just a head? What kind of animal power is this?"
"Too long a story. Not as bad as it seems."
Nahm seemed to think Rahir's severed head was some devouring ability.
Rahir asked back.
"You remember nothing?"
"Hmm... No. A bit dizzy, but I'll be fine soon."
Nahm shook her head.
She must be jumbled from the shock of the fragment's extraction.
Perhaps the happiest moment.
As she groaned, hand to her forehead...
"Even now, bits and... Ah!"
"Ugh?!"
Nahm suddenly shot to her feet.
Like she'd recalled something crucial.
Looking around, she spoke in an excited voice.
"Narhael. Where's Narhael?"
"My lady."
"I saw it clearly. Narhael called me Mother. That child..."
Nahm froze mid-sentence.
Arjan stared back with a complicated expression.
The brief silence shattered.
Nahm rushed over and embraced Arjan.
"My daughter!"
"...Your Majesty."
"Thank goodness. I'm so glad you're alive. You have no idea how shocked I was when you grabbed a weapon and ran off."
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Arjan said nothing.
The truth waiting to engulf her was too cruel.
"Hurry and flee. The Empire's army will invade. Your father is strong, but even he can't guarantee victory this time."
Half of Nahm's memories were stuck centuries ago, during the Empire's invasion of Kargai.
But dreams can't last forever.
Rahir spoke up.
"My lady. Sorry, but this girl isn't Narhael."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Her name is Arjan. Not our daughter."
"...What?"
His voice grew heavy.
Nahm pulled back from the hug, scrutinizing Arjan's face.
She studied her features like appraising a treasure, then let out a hollow laugh.
"No way. She looks just like our daughter Narhael. So much like you and me."
"Because she's Narhael's descendant."
"D-Descendant? How could that child have descendants? She's not even old enough to..."
"My lady. Centuries have passed since that day."
"Th-That can't..."
"You must remember. Even if it hurts, don't look away."
Silence fell.
Nahm's eyes rippled like waves.
"......Ah."
She staggered back, clutching her head.
"Ah. Aaaah...!"
Her memories had returned.
Beast-like wails escaped her gaping lips.
Glancing between Nahm, Rahir, and the burned tent, she collapsed.
"What have... I done...!"
"Do you remember?"
"This can't be... How could I..."
"My lady. You must accept it."
Rahir was tender yet firm.
Whether by choice or coercion, the fact that she'd doomed Kargai remained unchanged.
Nahm's wails echoed across the plateau.
Unable to watch, Ilrak slammed his tail on the ground.
"Argh, damn it."
"Tragic."
Benden bowed his head too.
Rahir waited until her cries subsided.
In the ensuing quiet, Rahir spoke.
"My lady. Can you explain what happened?"
"......I was afraid of vanishing."
"Vanishing?"
"Your Majesty. I loved everything about Kargai."
Nahm slowly raised her head.
Mussed hair veiled her tear-streaked face.
"I loved its beautiful lands and skies. The hoofbeats echoing everywhere. The winds carrying our great ancestors' spirits."
"I know your heart well, my lady. You truly cherished this land."
"But above all, I loved the people who enjoyed it. I learned ominous sorcery to help them. They were so dear, I feared their disappearance."
Nahm continued.
"But the war with the Empire changed everything. As it dragged on, the things I loved vanished one by one. Plants soaked in blood, birds fattening on corpses."
"...War."
"There was a boy named Rebe at the village edge. I watched him grow from birth. I still see him running up, front tooth missing from fighting his sibling, begging me to fix it."
"I remember. One of the Three Champions, right? Amazing spearwork."
"Then you remember what happened to Rebe. He went to war against the Empire, came back crippled. The next day, his sibling's corpse arrived."
Nahm's fingers clawed the dirt.
"That was..."
"I know. An honorable end. But I couldn't accept such early deaths before fulfilling heaven's mandate. I couldn't forgive the death that would one day claim you and our children."
"...I understand your grief. That's why I sought peace with the Empire too."
"I know. It was the right choice. Losing our ancestors' lands grieved me, but protecting you and the people brought joy. That's when the voice came."
"Voice?"
"Yes. The starlight whispered..."
A chill ran down his spine.
Bran frowned.
The whisperer who upended everything was someone he knew well.
Rahir asked.
"The one you called master?"
"Shamefully, yes. He said there was a way to protect everything—people, land, sky—and urged me to do it, promising aid."
"...So that's how it happened."
Rahir nodded.
The ritual's secret was revealed.
It consisted of three stages.
1. Sever all subjects' souls from their bodies.
2. Summon the Shadow of the Stars to bind their ascending souls.
3. Curse the land to block invaders.
Then endure until the Outer God tore the sky and descended.
When the time came, Kargai's souls would revive gloriously and charge once more.
Nahm's role: hold the line, slaying intruders and fueling the Shadow with her life force.
For centuries, alone and desolate.
'Horrific.'
Obviously an insane plan.
But with clouded judgment and possessed by the fragment, she couldn't discern right from wrong.
Reason gone, only madness and boundless love remained.
Beloved Majesty. Until the day the skies fall.
Thus, Kargai fell.
"I'll pay for this sin... no matter what."
"Don't, my lady. The monster you called master bears the guilt, not you."
"No. It was my hands that did it. Corrupted starlight may have swayed me, but I shouldn't have yielded. I'll cast myself into hell first and find atonement."
With that, Nahm rose.
Her eyes burned; if there were cliffs nearby, she'd have leapt right then.
Turning to Bran's group, she bowed deeply.
"I've committed an unforgivable sin against you all. Little wealth remains, but take whatever you desire. If you need my aid, ask anything—I'll grant it."
"Then live."
Bran said flatly.
Nahm blinked in stunned silence.
"...Pardon?"
"Gotta live to do anything. Can't change the past. Find productive ways over self-torment."
He meant it.
If she didn't, Kael's near-death efforts to save her would've been wasted.
As Nahm opened her mouth to protest...
"Mm, I don't think the queen deserves hell either."
"What."
An unfamiliar voice cut in.
Gruff and tough, not matching any of the six.
The group whipped around and froze.
"For real. None of us resent the queen."
A helmeted man gripping a long spear stood behind them.
The plateau's scenery faintly showed through his translucent form.
Swaaaa...!
Dozens of spear-and-sword-wielding ghost soldiers encircled Bran's group.
"Kyaaaaaah! Ghosts!"
Kael shrieked shrilly.
Fwaaaaaah—!!!
Holy power erupted from his shoulder clutching the staff.
The ghosts' forms rippled in the light.
"GyaAaah!"
"Grooo! H-Holy power! We're ascending!"
"Damn it, block that pint-sized holy guy!"
The ghosts' screams echoed.
Empowered by Star of Purification, even more potent.
At this rate, they'd all ascend for real.
Snap!
Bran smacked Kael's crown.
"Kyak!"
"Calm down, idiot. They're on our side."
"O-Our side?"
Kael clutched his head.
The group couldn't hide their shock.
Unlike previous ghosts, this one moved vividly like a living person.
Rahir's eyes bulged.
"Y-You are...?"
"Captain of the Guard, Rebe. Hurt feelings, Your Majesty. How could you forget my face?"
The man removed his helmet.
A fierce, nationwide swordsman vibe.
He grinned, revealing a missing front tooth.
"You surely died...!"
"Rahaha, never expected this. Felt like hell when my soul separated, but it's good now. Sometimes, lingering regrets pay off."
The boy from Nahm's tale.
A Royal Guard whose soul clashed with Kael's barrier and dispersed.
"......How?"
"Thanks to the queen's wicked ritual. Didn't she bind our souls to the plateau?"
"Is it really you?"
"Queen. Why would I lie? And it's not just me."
Rebe guffawed.
True to his word, the encircling ghosts multiplied rapidly.
Dozens to hundreds.
Hundreds to thousands.
Thousands to tens of thousands.
Eventually blanketing the visible landscape.
Ilrak bristled his scales at the menacing sight.
"Hey! Don't come too close! I-Is this okay?!"
"O... Ooooh...!"
"It's fine, I said. Geez."
Bran chuckled.
Unlike the tense group, his face beamed.
More than fine—it was delightful.
Proof the cursed plateau had reached its best possible end.
Souls freed by vanquishing the Shadow of the Stars and Outer God fragment.
The captain turned to Bran with a grin.
"Brother. We owe you big time."
Bran just waved it off instead of replying.
Maddening hordes of vengeful spirits.
Goddamn cavalry.
Mad king and sorceress.
Shadow of the Stars and Outer God fragment lurking in the tent.
Navigating this mountain of crap, the scenery reserved for the savior.
"We were always here, just without egos. Kargai Cavalry, all present and reporting for duty!"
As the captain saluted the group...
Miraculous Feat!
📍 You returned the wind to warriors wandering the plateau.
⏰ Lost souls regained themselves thanks to you and your comrades.
The Cursed Kargai Cavalry joins as your eternal allies!