21
Chapter 21
This post was the one with the most information.
As expected, it was written by a member of George's Raid Party. Most of the useful info seemed to come from them.
It feels strange knowing that the writings of people who are no longer with us are providing such great help to those still living.
Just as a tiger leaves its pelt behind when it dies, I suppose George's Raid Party left their strategy guides.
Anyway, reading through the skills brings back memories of when I used to play the game.
I spent more time wandering around searching for Hidden Skills than following the standard build, but it's not like I never used those skills.
Hanna's skill tree consists of 'Protection of Light', 'Light Forge', 'Combat Master', and 'Light Burst'. Everything except one is light-based; she's practically the embodiment of light.
According to the one-line review by the author, Hell Brown, it seems she invested her skills quite well. Even a quick glance at the effects shows they're all highly efficient.
A thought suddenly crossed my mind. What if I had been possessed as a Holy Knight?
I probably would've died, surrounded by Worshippers and Low-tier Demons, while obsessing over some Hidden Piece.
I'm the type of person who can think calmly when given the time, not someone who can act on instinct in a crisis.
Even if I had survived, could I have become as strong as Hanna? I highly doubt it.
But what about now?
I have Rake, who can easily overpower a level 4 Holy Knight, and Kanto, who's probably around level 3 in terms of Holy Knight strength, as my subordinates.
Beyond them, over forty warriors follow my every command. There is no threat to my life.
I'm starting from a much more advantageous position than the other Possessors. Unlike the Holy Knights, who have a clear limit of level 10, I have no such restrictions.
My blessings could also have a greater impact than any Holy Knight skill. The first blessings I learned were group healing and Status Effect Neutralization.
To put it dramatically, I might be the only one capable of saving the Possessors and driving away the demons.
I must keep that in mind and see this through to the end.
I steeled my resolve and composed myself. It was my own way of achieving a self-awakening.
***
Three days, as promised to Hanna, had passed.
Having spent that time as a sparring partner for the Barbarians, Hanna was now preparing to leave.
"Ugh."
Hanna, wearing all her gear except for what had been 'looted' by Rake, picked up her bundle.
I watched her, having used Divine Descent on Muri's body.
"She was a civilized person, but a truly exceptional warrior."
"I feel as though I've broken through an invisible wall. I've grown so much."
"I'll give her credit for those breasts, at least."
The Barbarian warriors who had sparred with her for several days saw her off. Though seeing her off essentially meant just standing there blankly as Hanna left.
"That guy is like that until the very end."
Hanna frowned at Dodo's final comment, but she still waved back to the warriors. Maybe they'd grown fond of each other while fighting?
"I'm definitely killing you next time we meet."
Muttering those words to Rake, who had come out to supervise until the end, Hanna left the Tribe Alliance without hesitation. Talk about holding a grudge.
[Not a Netkama: It's over! Hanna is free!]
She sent a private message immediately. She's quite bold.
Does she think we're best friends because we exchanged messages so often? To me, they were all just business.
Well, there's no need to be prickly. She's just clueless and irritable, not a bad person.
[Be kind to the Barbarians if you run into them again]
[Not a Netkama: ?? Was I not a prisoner until now?]
[What were you doing to get captured?]
[Not a Netkama: Some Barbarian bastards were lounging around, so I tried to teach them a lesson and then...]
[Did you think before you spoke?]
[Not a Netkama: ok... ]
[Not a Netkama: I'm heading toward Matva]
[Not a Netkama: Want to come here? We could party up for a bit]
[Not a Netkama: It's on the coast, so there's a beach too]
[nope]
[I have things to do here]
[Not a Netkama: Where is here?]
[Duvenheim]
[Not a Netkama: That's so far... let me know if you ever come this way]
[Take care]
Well, we might cross paths someday. Even if we don't, I can always message her when I'm bored.
In a way, we're like online friends.
I closed the message window and spoke to Muri.
- I'd like to see the completed totem.
"I understand. It was made in a rush, so the quality might be lacking."
- That's fine. I know you did your best.
"I am deeply moved that you recognize my efforts."
Muri had spent her time shut away in the residential tent, barely sleeping while crafting the totem.
Though Paya had helped her from time to time, it must have been a difficult task.
- I'll be waiting there.
I lifted the Divine Descent and returned to the altar to wait for Muri.
A few minutes later, Muri arrived at the altar and placed something before me. It was a palm-sized totem made of wood.
It was egg-shaped and round, with an oriental dragon carved into it like a decorative pattern.
- I'll give it a try.
I applied the blessing 'Binding Totem' to the mini-totem. My field of vision changed instantly.
"How is it?"
I looked up at Muri, who was right in front of me.
- It works perfectly. This is all thanks to you, High Priest Muri.
"I am glad to hear that."
While in the state of being a mini-totem, I used the blessing 'Totem of Healing (High)'.
An area of about ten meters around me was dyed in a deep blue.
"Ah... I can feel the fatigue leaving my body."
Muri, having fallen to her knees, slowly closed her eyes.
Seeing an elderly woman kneeling before me and using such formal language made me feel guilty.
Grandma, your joints probably hurt, so please just stand up. I feel bad.
At any rate, I confirmed that it worked.
I sent Muri away and called for Paya.
"Was it a success?"
Paya asked, with feathers still clinging to her hair, likely from being in the House of Feathers. She was always busy, but with new members joining, she had become even more overwhelmed.
Rake had little interest in the tribe, Muri was preoccupied with the totem, and Kanto was useless except for combat, so Paya had no choice but to handle everything herself.
At this rate, it was practically solo governance.
Now that Muri's work was finished, Paya's workload should decrease a bit.
- Yes, it was.
I ordered her to use the monster pigeon, Tuntun-i, to send this totem and a letter to the Sky Tree Tribe living in Duvenheim.
"It's a distant region, so it will take about five days to arrive."
- That is plenty of time.
Squawk!
Tuntun-i flew off, letting out a powerful cry.
I thought I just had to wait... but as it turned out, there was a mountain of work to do.
First, I focused on expanding the territory to accommodate the new members and those yet to come.
I wanted to order them to settle in the village we'd conquered, but after mentioning it, everyone except Rake looked grim, so I dropped the subject.
They would have lived there if I'd pushed them, but I didn't feel the need to force it. Besides, my Main Totem was already here.
I could understand their perspective. To a Barbarian, tribal land holds a deeply significant meaning.
The Brown Rock Tribe, who abandoned their land so easily, were the exception. I later found out that Rake had simply forced the matter.
She really is a strongman—or rather, a strongwoman.
I also relocated the livestock from the village once ruled by the snail demon.
These animals hadn't been infected by demonic energy despite being so close to a demon, which was suspicious. I had Paya and Muri study them before bringing them all in.
Who knows? It could have been a trick by the demons or Worshippers—livestock that looked healthy but infected anyone who ate them.
As it turned out, the animals were fine because they naturally had high Demonic Energy Resistance.
I suspect that since demons and Worshippers still need to eat, they raised livestock, and only those resistant to demonic energy survived.
It was a classic case of survival of the fittest.
I set up many tent-like structures, but we ran out of bison leather, so I had to use whatever skins were available, eventually resorting to simple huts.
"Hah, to think that I, Dodo, would end up living in a place like this..."
The mutterings of the first "lucky" winner of a hut spoke volumes about the quality of the housing.
Time flew by as I worked through these tasks.
Five days passed in a flash.
'Can you hear me, Mallak? The Sky Tree Tribe awaits you.'
I heard a voice calling to me from far away.
It seemed Tuntun-i had finally reached the Sky Tree Tribe.
I activated the 'Binding Totem' blessing. Even from a distance, I could feel the mini-totem.
It felt as if it were a part of my own body.
"Ah, you've arrived! Loa Mallak!"
A brown-skinned woman draped in black panther skins appeared before my eyes. She looked to be in her mid-thirties.
With a piercing gaze that suggested a High Priest and toned arm muscles fitting for a Chief, she was an imposing figure.
"I am Nyx, daughter of Ama and Juri, Chief and High Priest of the Sky Tree Tribe."
A Dual Class, huh.