Chapter 559: Offer Your Heart
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 559: Offer Your Heart
The voices overlapped. My ears weren't deceiving me. The words 'Mouth' intended to say and the words she actually spoke—I could hear both distinctly.
In short, 'Mouth's' mouth was moving independently of her will, just like the puppets controlled by the black magician.
'O Sacrificial Vessel. Speak through my mouth.'
The only difference from a puppet was that 'Mouth' was still conscious. And that she was lending her mouth to a being that wasn't here.
Rasch hurriedly raised his right arm toward the shaman of the Sacrificial Vessel and bowed his head.
"O Sacrificial Vessel. I will listen to the will of 'Mouth' with this right arm I received from you."
"“O right arm. My strength, my art, my most exquisite limb. When last you sought to see the knowledge beyond the plains, I granted you my full permission.”"
Come to think of it, Rasch studied abroad in the Military State, didn't he? 'Right Arm' seems to be a more important position than I thought. He must have received permission to go.
"“Since the time of Muhu, people from beyond the plains have come to this land bearing arcane powers. The partner of my right arm is one you brought from beyond the plains. I grant my permission for the union of my right arm and his partner.”"
I'd skimmed through 'Mouth's' memories, but nothing had changed. Just as reading a puppet's memories doesn't grant you access to the puppeteer's, reading 'Mouth's' memories gave me no clue as to what the Sacrificial Vessel was.
However, one can indirectly guess the puppeteer's emotions by how the puppet moves. By reading 'Mouth's' memories, I could make a rough guess as to what the Sacrificial Vessel wanted.
"We have decided to hold the wedding soon."
"“This is my will. No limb shall oppose it.”"
The Sacrificial Vessel... seems to want Rasch and Callis to be joined.
Compared to how the Undying disliked Callis, they never seemed intent on stopping the marriage itself. This must be a reflection of the Sacrificial Vessel's will. Mmm. It makes sense.
…And now, I think I'm starting to get a clearer picture of what this Sacrificial Vessel truly is.
"O Sacrificial Vessel. My will is the same as yours. I swear on my right arm that it shall come to pass."
As Rasch thumped his chest, 'Mouth' smiled in satisfaction and continued.
"“Now, I shall speak of the matter proposed by the partner of my right arm—this plan to set fire to my forest.”"
"Hah."
The god's tone was sharp, as if it, too, was a little uncomfortable with this. I couldn't read its thoughts, but I could sense its subtle emotions.
"“My right arm shall point to the place to be burned. You must set fire only to that spot, without deviating an inch. Not a single speck of ash shall fall outside it.”"
"Oh! If that's the case...!"
"“I am not finished.”"
'Mouth' cut Rasch off coldly and spoke toward the space beyond the tent.
"“Offer ten sacrifices to me.”"
Even Rasch was greatly surprised by that statement. Hearing the completely unexpected demand, he stammered.
"T-Ten sacrifices, you say?"
"“For the limbs to multiply, I must breathe upon them. Ten. Choose ten and offer them to me.”"
'Mouth' said no more, snapping her mouth shut as if there was nothing left to say. Sensing the connection with the Sacrificial Vessel had been severed, she took out a veil and covered her mouth.
"This is the will of the Sacrificial Vessel. As the right arm, you must step forward and uphold it."
"I, the right arm of the Sacrificial Vessel, shall carry out its will."
Though confused, Rasch raised his right arm and bowed his head. 'Mouth' smiled in satisfaction and slowly backed away, as if her business was concluded.
Seeing Rasch still kneeling, I asked.
"Ten sacrifices? Do you mean we're supposed to offer the people we just rescued from the black magician? Just like he did?"
"No. An offering to the Sacrificial Vessel is different from a sacrifice. This is not about giving up life, but about being granted eternal life."
"Granted, you say?"
"That's right. If you offer your body to the Sacrificial Vessel, you gain immortality, just like us."
Hmm. As expected of a god, I suppose. It's different from the sacrifices offered by a common black magician. Perhaps one needs that level of power to be called a god.
Perhaps... the line between a god and a black magician isn't status or origin, but simply power?
"Immortality... you mean they'll get a body that doesn't die, like yours, Mr. Rasch?"
"Correct. It requires a process of offering one's own flesh to become one with the great soul, but if they can endure that process, they will become Undying like us."
"Gaining immortality by offering a small part of your body? That's an incredible deal, isn't it? The weakened refugees would probably welcome it."
After all, there were about ten people just waiting to die. The number was a perfect match.
"To be honest, as an outsider, I'm a bit suspicious of the Sacrificial Vessel's intentions."
"The Sacrificial Vessel is not an evil god. Quite the opposite. How could the great will that shared its power with our tribe and gifted us with potent life force be evil?"
"You're right. Whatever the intention, it's only human nature to be happy when good things happen."
It permitted the slash-and-burn, and it seemed willing to accept the refugees. All's well that ends well.
"Hm? My right arm is twitching...! It must be about to point out the place to burn!"
Rasch grabbed his twitching right hand and quickly got to his feet. Rasch's right arm was the Sacrificial Vessel. Normally it was his faithful limb, but sometimes it moved against its master's will. Right now, his right arm was moving Rasch to realize the Sacrificial Vessel's will.
"Rasch. I'll go with you. We need to accurately survey and mark the spot you point to."
"A good idea! Follow me!"
Callis followed after Rasch. Acting all married, Rasch naturally wrapped an arm around her waist as they left, which was an eyesore. They were going to survey the land, but they might end up surveying each other's bodies.
So, my job is... to choose the ten who will become Undying? I'm not exactly the refugees' representative, but I'm the only one here who can choose the ten. A job creates the position, as they say. Right now, I was the Sacrificial Vessel's envoy, selecting the new Undying.
"Excuse me, Teacher. We heard what you said a moment ago, about becoming Undying...."
The refugees who had been eavesdropping on 'Mouth's' words gathered around me. A desire to become Undying gleamed in their eyes.
How interesting, that those who nearly died as sacrifices were now volunteering to become offerings. Offering up the critically ill could save their lives, but the desire for immortality was painting over such calculations.
I read their desires with interest and asked.
"Alright. Who here doesn't want to die?"
*
"Hoo. I'm not staying here just to do chores...."
"Woof, woof."
After a series of tasks, both the Regressor and Azzy looked exhausted.
It wasn't physical exhaustion. Neither the Regressor nor Azzy would complain after just a few days of overwork. Their fatigue was not physical, but mental.
"Starting the fire is easy, but keeping it from spreading requires concentration. And we can't let anyone get hurt in the process. It's all just one hassle after another."
"Many mouths! Me, busy!"
The Regressor had created a barrier to prevent the forest fire from escaping. It wasn't a difficult task using Chun-aeng's power, but it was quite tiring. Even if the fire was started with magic, embers would still smolder silently within the ashes. It took a full day to stamp everything out completely to ensure no embers remained.
Meanwhile, Azzy, in an attempt to help, was hunting birds and boars like a hound. Even if she was the Dog King, a dog was still a dog. She brought them back one at a time, and the meat disappeared as quickly as melting snow. Azzy would then look at everyone as if they were gluttons before heading out to hunt again.
The efforts of the Regressor and Azzy were a great help to Piu Village's prosperity, even if they themselves were exhausted.
"There are hardly any healthy people in the village, so it feels like the work just keeps piling up. I wonder how long this will go on."
Azzy, who was sensitive to human emotions, and the Regressor, who was an ordinary person, were both affected by their surroundings. Being among the sick and injured naturally makes one more sensitive and tired.
'Mayel's blessing is supposed to guide me down a path that helps me... Is this right? For now, helping the village seems like the most natural course of action, so I'm doing it, but still.'
The Regressor wasn't the type to work to the point of exhaustion, but because she trusted the Saintess's blessing, she was obediently volunteering her time.
Perhaps the most amazing thing about the Sky God wasn't its revelations, but its ability to make the Regressor move.
"By the way, have we completed our mission? Have you heard anything from the Saintess?"
"I know. I'm wondering the same thing. It was resolved too easily for an 'ancient evil,' and the fact that there's been no revelation, which there should be, is also suspicious."
"Do they think we're their lackeys? If they tell us to wait, are we just supposed to keep waiting? Let's go confront them right now."
The Regressor stopped me as I shot to my feet.
"Let's stay a little longer for now. There's still something left to do."
"Something left? What is it?"
"That. The wedding for those two is still left."
"Ah, right."
You can't start slash-and-burn farming right after setting the fire. The ashen ground needs to be tilled and left to lie fallow for a time. And with the Sacrificial Vessel's permission granted, it was time for Rasch and Callis to hold their postponed wedding.
Callis, a Military State citizen to the bone, decided to proceed with both projects simultaneously for maximum efficiency.
"They're going to stay underground while the land lies fallow, right? Just what you'd expect from someone from the Military State."
"Military State or not, it is efficient. And I was asked to dig some tunnels so they can move around freely while they're buried. You know about that, right?"
"I do. It was my suggestion."
The calculation was that they could use their time efficiently by sneaking out to manage the fields while they were supposed to be fallow. It was my idea, but it's a pretty ruthless one.
"I knew it. It seemed strangely petty for an idea the two of them came up with."
"What?"
"Yaaawn. Well then, I'll stay a little longer... dig some tunnels... and then I need to get some sleep."
The Regressor let out a big yawn and left the tent. Azzy had already claimed the best spot and was dozing off.
Well, things seem to be wrapping up. I guess it's time for me to do what I need to do.
I stood up, stretched, glanced around the tent, and then quietly stepped outside. The smell of smoke, carried on the wind from afar, tickled my nose.
The people of Piu Village had gathered around the burnt forest, enjoying a festival. They roasted potatoes in the embers and used the lye water to wash themselves. They painted their faces with ash and played. Where the forest had burned, only humans remained.
But slash-and-burn is, after all, burning. When you burn the trees and grass and grow crops on their corpses, they grow well for the first few years, but the land quickly becomes barren once the nutrients are depleted. It doesn't matter to those who will soon leave, but for those who call this land home, it is an unpleasant affair.
Amidst this strange tension, I headed toward a group of savages gathered awkwardly in a corner. They belonged to neither side, waiting only for me. They had been nervously wiping their hands with leaves, but their faces lit up when they saw me, and they approached.
"Is it time?"
"Yes. Now is the perfect time, while everyone's attention is on the burning forest."
These were the ones who had volunteered to offer their bodies to become Undying. The sacrifices for the Sacrificial Vessel.
A few of the refugees who had overheard 'Mouth's' offer had kept it a secret from the others to monopolize the opportunity. Their reason was that telling more people would only cause confusion. It was a transparent excuse, but I respected their ambition and decided to take them to the Sacrificial Vessel. It didn't matter who it was, anyway.
I gave them the smile of a co-conspirator and said,
"Let's go. It's time to offer your bodies to the Sacrificial Vessel."