29
Chapter 29
Let me go back to the story before that Harry fellow.
Shall I start with what happened this morning?
The morning was ordinary.
[I Trusted the Monkey Uncle: Skynet, tell me about the Dark Cloud Demon.]
[Skynet: The Dark Cloud Demon is an imaginary being found in Korean folklore. It is believed to be a mythical entity that hides within dark clouds on rainy days to torment people.
According to legend, the Dark Cloud Demon manifests within the clouds on rainy days, playing pranks on villagers and is considered the primary cause of crop destruction and falling rain.
There are various interpretations of the Dark Cloud Demon's appearance, though it is mostly depicted as a ghost or a demon.
Traditionally, these folk myths were thought to serve as warnings for farmers in rural Korean regions to protect their crops and manage their farming carefully on rainy days, while also adding vitality to agricultural life by encouraging a positive welcome of the rain.
Of course, the Dark Cloud Demon is merely a folk myth and does not actually exist. These myths serve to reflect and preserve the culture, tradition, philosophy, and understanding of natural phenomena of a local community.
Therefore, such folk myths are preserved and passed down as interesting cultural legacies.]
└ [Shotgun Attack: How is not a single word of this correct?]
└ [If Use President's Power: Guys, is this thing actually ChatGPT?]
└ [Not a Netkama: Just an idiot. Don't even bother.]
As always, I started my day by browsing the community boards filled with nonsense.
"The totem is complete."
Muri, who had been spending her days in solitude, finished Totem No. 3 and handed it over to me.
She said that while this Mini-Totem was smaller than the previous one, it contained more spiritual power.
However, since it was still too cumbersome for the Warriors to carry while fighting, I decided to carry it myself this time.
- Not bad.
I used the Farmer Worshipper zombie I got from the last subjugation to hold Totem No. 3.
To be precise, I didn't just hold it; I wore it like a bag. By drilling a hole at the end of Totem No. 3 and inserting a strap, I was able to carry it like a crossbody bag.
Either way, it meant I could now participate directly in combat.
- There are three locations today. My blessing is also available, so everyone enter the battle without worry.
"Waaaaah! Lord Mallak is with us!"
The Barbarians' morale was through the roof. I can understand why.
The god who had only been with them remotely was now fighting right beside them. It was a truly stirring situation.
I walked as majestically as possible using the zombie.
- Hmm.
...It's a secret that I tripped about five times while walking. It wasn't easy moving a human body after so long.
It's a good thing Rake, who was walking beside me, supported me. I almost fell over five times.
And so, the long-awaited 'Three Villages Chain Subjugation' project began.
Collecting loot after each village took too much time, so for a quick chain of subjugations, I only brought the combatants on this expedition.
Kanto took the lead in hunting the demons this time. Though he struggled in the first village, he had grown quite strong by the time we reached the second and third.
In the third village, Kanto even managed to take down a low-tier demon all by himself.
"My life for Lord Mallak!"
"Hahaha! This is the power of a Berserker!"
"My blade is the will of Lord Mallak!"
"I thirst for battle!"
"Doom to those who threaten Lord Mallak!"
"Who dares defy the Tribe Alliance!"
"You lot! Can't keep up, can you? I can see right through you!"
He was so excited that he spent the whole day shouting while fighting, so I eventually had to shut him up.
Anyone watching would think he received a 'Chatterbox' blessing rather than the 'Berserker's Aura'.
It's like some nerd who finally got a power-up.
Still, thanks to Kanto's enthusiastic fighting, the subjugation of the three villages ended quickly.
Oh, just in case, I tried using the 'Zombie Control' blessing on a low-tier demon, but as expected, it didn't work.
Since we finished about three hours earlier than expected, I decided to slack off for a bit before heading back.
I was correcting the map Rake had obtained since it wasn't as accurate as I thought; I called it slacking, but it was actually work.
Then again, this place is only at a medieval level of civilization. There wouldn't be maps as precise as those on modern Earth.
So, I was traveling with Rake through areas with few people and where the Devil's Sight was scarce.
"Shall we try going this way?"
- Sounds good.
Suppose we run into a mid-tier demon. Rake is fast enough to survive on her own, and I only have to give up my zombie and Totem No. 3, but the other Barbarians would be doomed.
That's why I only brought two people.
"There is nothing ahead but that building. Shall we keep going?"
Rake stopped walking and looked at me. A tower stood before us.
A single tower standing alone in the middle of nowhere. It looked incredibly suspicious.
- What is that tower for?
"It is called a Magic Tower. Civilized people who use eerie magic live there."
It might be worth visiting since we could get useful equipment or skills. It didn't seem like there were any demons nearby, either.
- Wait a moment.
Let's see if there's any information about the Magic Tower in the community first.
[I Trusted the Monkey Uncle: Live update... I'm inside the Magic Tower.
I went in because there was a building that looked like a corn snack near the lake, and it's spooky as hell;;
When I entered the room, all I saw were frog and snake carcasses in jars full of liquid, for real;
There were bound human bones scattered around, like some human experimentation went on. Damn;;
It was basically just a mad scientist's lab.
I thought about making it my base since it seemed empty, but it was too ominous to stay;;
Unless I had someone to talk to, I felt like I'd lose my mind staying here alone, for real;;
Seong-boongi is out of here after writing this. Bye;])
[Rino Johnson: There's tons of great loot in the Magic Tower.
I went in to see if there was anything worth taking, and the harvest was surprising haha.
There were several things that looked like disposable magic scrolls.
If you're nearby, go check it out.
But you need a way to unlock the protection spells lol.
If you don't have an unlock skill, too bad~!]
Disposable magic scrolls. They must be items that allow a skill to be used only once.
These would be useful.
- I want to go.
"Understood."
Rake nodded and began moving again. Eventually, our party reached the front of the Magic Tower.
"You ignorant barbarians! Be gone this instant! This is the domain of the Archmage Harry Francis Winston!"
That's when we encountered this situation.
As we reached the entrance of the Magic Tower, a golem that had been hiding under the soil revealed itself.
It was about three meters tall and made of stone.
The old man's warning voice came from a speaker-like device attached above the door, and it sounded quiet, perhaps to avoid attracting demons.
How did he know we were barbarians?
Rake was white, and I was in the body of a civilized farmer. I'll put that question aside for now.
I wonder if there are other mages inside besides that old man.
It would be great if I could scout them as allies.
"What should we do?"
Rake drew her Curved Sword.
- He could also be a valuable asset. Let's try to negotiate.
"That guy is a civilized person."
- That doesn't matter. My goal is the protection of the land and your prosperity. His joining will not hinder those goals.
There is no need to fight. If casualties occurred on both sides, it would ruin everything, so I wanted to handle this as smoothly as possible.
Rake, staring at the golem, spoke.
"Mage. We are the Tribe Alliance. We have gathered under the name of the Loa, Lord Mallak, and are fighting to overcome this crisis. Will you join us?"
"You intend to lure me with such lies! Do you think you can deceive the Archmage Harry Francis Winston?"
"We are not enemies. We are closer to allies with a common foe. I know not how many people are with you, but eventually, you will not be able to hold out. Join our Tribe Alliance, and you shall survive."
"Ha! You attempt to compromise only because you fear my Combat Golem, yet you dare suggest I join you? Be gone, you cruel and barbaric creatures!"
"Lord Mallak, can't we just kill him?"
- Rake. Calm down. I'll step in.
He was the first living civilized person I had encountered. A high-value asset who could use magic.
I didn't want to miss this opportunity. I stepped forward.
- Archmage Harry.
"...A talking zombie. Are you a Necromancer? I thought they had all disappeared."
He was observing the outside from within the Magic Tower. Looking toward the window, I saw an old man crouching beside a girl in her mid-to-late teens.
Despite his bold words, they were hugging each other tightly as if terrified of us. Perhaps they were grandfather and granddaughter.
- I am the Loa they serve, Mallak.
"What? A Loa? The god of the Barbarians?"
So he's aware of me.
- That is correct.
"How am I to believe that?"
- If you cannot, come down and see for yourself.
"A god, is it? Ha. Wait right there!"
The old man at the window vanished for a moment and reappeared wearing a pair of strange Spinning Glasses.
He scrutinized me intently... then shifted his gaze to Totem No. 3.
"What... Are you truly the god of the Barbarians?"
Unlike before, his voice was trembling.
"...Why would such a renowned god descend to the surface?"
- To save the land from the clutches of the demons.
Though I didn't come here by choice, it was a complete truth.
"...Can you promise that you will not harm me or my granddaughter?"
- I give you my word of honor.
It's a fantasy world, so honor must carry weight here.
Though the honor of a convenience store worker isn't worth much.
After a brief silence, the door to the Magic Tower opened.