Chapter 448
Chapter 448
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 448
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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“I am Matu, who upholds the wisdom of Ontana! I know full well that you’ve made a pact with Jinryeo! I won’t kill you—come out!”
Kang Seol and Jian exchanged glances.
“Gonna kill us?”
“Probably.”
The man called Matu kept shouting.
“Resist, and you die! But if you don’t resist, nothing to worry about will happen. This is your last chance! You’ve trespassed into Keshii territory!”
Kang Seol frowned.
‘Fight? Or get captured….’
If they let themselves get subdued like this, it felt like they’d be dragged all the way to the Keshii’s main base.
“No other way?”
“Kill ’em all?”
“Nah, let’s just get captured nice and easy.”
“Good idea. Asking the Keshii trackers directly will be faster than us searching anyway.”
In the end, the group took on the appearance of being captured by the Keshii.
“…How the hell did this happen?”
Sindio said with a tearful face.
“Their offer was pretty tempting, so don’t make that face like the world’s ending.”
“Couldn’t even sleep… What is this….”
“I’ll smooth things over. They’ll let you sleep.”
As he casually rattled off reassurances, one of the Keshii binding the plump black dragon asked,
“…What’s with this lizard?”
“Liza—”
Thump!
Tansia was about to say something when Karen swiftly covered her mouth.
“We’ve got our reasons for bringing it along.”
“I see. As long as it’s not harmful, I don’t care.”
“Thanks, friend.”
“Hmph.”
The Keshii pulled out wooden parts and assembled something clack-clack-clack.
Soon enough, a cart hitched to their horse came together in an instant.
It was crude as could be, but considering the speed, there was no room for complaints.
“It’ll be uncomfortable, but get on. We’ll escort you to Yahatman.”
“Yahatman… Ha ha!”
Jian laughed.
Sindio cried.
“Isn’t Yahatman… the Keshii’s main base?!”
“That’s what they say? Wow… Look at this. The cart’s finish isn’t half bad….”
“Aaagh!”
Thwack!
Thwack!
“Ow ow… Stop hitting me. This guy’ll handle it himself. Right, friend?”
“More importantly… Those guys keep sneaking peeks at Tansia?”
“Hm? Yeah, they do. If they nitpick, the kid might end up as rations first.”
A gasp escaped Tansia as her face filled with fear.
“…At this rate, we’ll end up visiting all three great tribes of the ungoverned zone.”
“Not sure if it’s okay to tourist this long without paying.”
Matu shouted.
“We move!”
“Okay!”
Clatter…
Clatter…
The cart turned northwest and began to move. Sindio had worried about the discomfort of traveling with barbarians, but surprisingly, they accommodated Kang Seol’s group in the rickety cart.
On the second day of escort, Kang Seol had become close enough to chat with Matu.
“But… hasn’t the Keshii tribe gotten a bit rougher lately?”
“Why do you think that?”
“This isn’t the first raid we’ve suffered. There was one just recently.”
“I see. South of here, right?”
“…Yes. Does it matter?”
Matu said,
“Those guys are exiles, strictly speaking—or rather, ones who left the tribe on their own. Now they’re just a band of bandits.”
“I thought the Keshii were the type to stick together tight.”
“That was the past. Now everyone’s on edge.”
“On edge” didn’t sit right with Kang Seol.
“On edge… why is that?”
“You’ll understand faster seeing for yourself. Perfect timing, actually.”
Clatter…
Clatter…
The group entered a new village along the road. It was one that had stood in the area, like Gurujant in the past.
“Togan, huh. This one’s wrecked too. But unlike Gurujant, no monster attacks here, right?”
When Jian spoke, another Keshii replied.
“See for yourself. The darkness shrouding this land.”
Drip…
Drip…
Black substance falling from the ruined buildings.
“Touch it, and you’re poisoned. Madness hits in an instant.”
“Corruption.”
“Yeah, corruption’s seeping into all of the north. All we can do is slow it.”
“Who’s behind it? This much, you’ve gotta know who’s doing this.”
“No idea. The Black Dragon pulled stuff like this before, but not this strong. Besides, he was already beaten back by the Dragon Lord not long ago.”
Kang Seol knew Azanik was doing better than expected.
‘Feels like Azanik’s handiwork… but does he have the power for this?’
Corruption wasn’t limited to one or two spots. Even Horus’s spirit had been tainted.
‘Either it’s not Azanik… or he’s gotten way stronger.’
Either way, it was grim.
Like that, the group’s cart passed through several villages along the road. All corrupted.
“Isn’t the schedule getting delayed?”
“Jabatu said head to the abandoned mine. Without the Keshii, we’d still be sniffing around Gurujant.”
“Wish the Keshii would cooperate….”
The three great tribes of the ungoverned zone.
Keshii, Deki, Baldu.
Their bases all nestled against massive mountains.
“We’re almost there.”
Before reaching Supuno Mountain, the Keshii base, Kang Seol asked the question he’d posed several times.
“Now that we’re this close, tell us. What do you mean Jinryeo stole the Keshii’s ‘formation’?”
……
“Fair Kunna. That’s the name of the formation she stole.”
“Important?”
“Very! Extremely! The Sun Formation and first of formations, Rajin, placed several formations under him. Fair Kunna was one. Each name holds its value.”
“They lost their fairness.”
Every time Jinryeo used her power, she had to offer something to Kunna. It seemed essential to wield the power of the fair one.
“Exactly.”
“I know she was from the Keshii tribe too.”
“…Yeah. Poor kid.”
“Poor kid?”
“The war between the three tribes killed her parents. Jinryeo grew up an orphan but toughened up. Then she stole Kunna. Damn wench.”
……
It was a jumbled mess, but the conclusion was Jinryeo had harmed the Keshii.
“The Keshii… haven’t seen any other outsiders besides us?”
……
“Answer me. We can’t run now.”
“Sigh… We have. A very strong one leading a group.”
Kang Seol’s eyes changed.
‘The council.’
Their whereabouts would lead to the next destination.
“Where’d they go?”
“…Before we met you, those called by Rajin set foot on this land.”
“Rajin… the first formation?”
“Keshii’s god.”
Karen, who’d been listening quietly, whispered to Karuna.
“Hey, Karuna. This Rajin name… feels like only I’ve heard it?”
“Never heard of it.”
“Really? Then… you’re right. My memory’s off.”
“You’ve heard it?”
“Feels familiar. Probably nothing.”
Those called by Rajin.
‘No way… the council came here?’
Kang Seol asked urgently.
“No way… you guided that group to Rajin?”
“Rajin willed it.”
“Dangerous… how long ago?”
“Over a week.”
Jian furrowed his brow.
A week’s gap.
They might’ve finished their business and left Supuno Mountain already.
“We’re here first.”
As he spoke, they reached the finest spot on Supuno Mountain.
Whoooosh…
Mid-mountain slope with a gentle breeze.
Houses lined a gentle hill, catching the eye first.
Neigh…
Baaa…
Horses and sheep grazed in divided pens, in great numbers.
“Scale’s huge….”
“Bigger than I thought.”
“If all three tribes united, they could take on the federation—no exaggeration. Damn, called that guy a liar for nothing.”
Sindio nodded.
“Federation nobles have always been wary of the ungoverned zone tribes. They still keep eyes on it for that reason.”
A dozen or so people came into view.
“Ha!”
“Ugh… ha!”
Keshii circled up, wrestling.
“Built like monsters.”
“Yeah.”
Dismounting, Matu said,
“Rajin is the god who arranged for us to take root here. Father of all formations.”
“…You know he called in villains?”
“No clue. Our identities’ll be exposed before Rajin. Or maybe even that’s his intent. Do you call yourselves good?”
……
“No. Everyone misjudges like that. Rajin’s good is good. Personal good is worthless.”
True to form for formation worshippers, they dismissed individual will lightly.
‘Makes sense.’
If he’d prospered following Rajin’s words, he might think the same. Worlds apart in upbringing.
Jian whispered to Kang Seol.
“These lunatics seem to have embraced the council bastards? They’d eat shit if this Rajin said so.”
“Not easy…. How’d they earn Rajin’s favor?”
“No idea. Some trickery, maybe. Or Rajin’s wrong. Though the Keshii’d never admit that.”
“Could clash depending on the situation.”
“If it’s suicide, I won’t lose anywhere. Don’t worry.”
“You think it’s suicide?”
“What? It’s not?”
Right then.
Swoooosh…
The eyes of the Keshii who’d escorted them turned pure white. Their eyeballs turned glass-clear, and the tribe’s oracles froze like dolls.
Like they’d received divine descent.
Their mouths opened one by one.
“Rajin speaks.”
“Those who chase evil, follow the wind.”
“The wind shall guide you….”
Follow the wind.
A light breeze pushed at Kang Seol’s group’s backs.
“Follow the wind, knight of day and night.”
Knight of day and night.
Kang Seol flinched and looked at Karen and Karuna.
Their reactions differed.
Karuna tilted his head in confusion, while Karen smiled.
“…Karen?”
“Oh! Talking about me? Yeah, seems so.”
“You know Rajin?”
“…Maybe?”
“What?”
“Gotta check myself.”
Swoooosh…
Matu’s eyes returned to normal as he startled, then had Kang Seol’s group dismount.
“Rajin calls you directly. Cut the bindings.”
Snap…
Snap…
The Keshii severed the ropes.
Without time to greet tribe members, Kang Seol’s group was led somewhere.
“Where are we going?”
“Rajin’s temple.”
“Where’s that?”
“The crater.”
……
Supuno Mountain was a volcano.
Dormant, but rumors said smoke rose from the crater now and then.
“They gonna toss us in the crater?”
“Don’t rule it out.”
Whoooosh…
Cave entrance decorated like a temple.
“Grant us passage, Rajin!”
Just as Kang Seol wondered why Matu was yelling.
[Advanced Insight activates.]
[Sulfur stench fills the air.]
[Trap detected.]
Pssshhhh…
Heat surged from the door, then dispersed.
[Trap disarmed.]
“A trap.”
“Would’ve melted us going straight in.”
Step…
Step…
The group advanced toward the crater with the Keshii.
Sizzle…
Hot gusts hit intermittently.
[Sindio uses Coolness.]
[Blocks minor heat intrusion.]
“Rejecting Rajin’s blessing? Outsiders are peculiar.”
“Hot stuff’s a blessing?”
“Yes.”
“Ugh….”
Sindio asked.
“But… haven’t we gone pretty deep?”
“…Yeah?”
“Feels like the same scenery looping since earlier….”
“Huh? Where’d these guys go?”
Kang Seol’s face hardened.
‘The Keshii vanished.’
The scenery shifted.
Whirrrrooo…
Scorching winds swirled, revealing the temple interior.
Swooo…
Gigantic beings appeared.
Cows, horses, sheep, etc.
Shadows of human bodies with animal heads loomed. Each exuded overwhelming presence.
“…Formations.”
- Indeed. Shadow.
A voice echoed from the heart.
‘Rajin… this is Rajin.’
He could guess just from hearing. Power on another level from other formations.
- Before you, there’s one I wish to speak with first.
Whirrrrooo…
[Great Encounter! Discovered Sun Formation, Rajin.]
[All stats increase by 5.]
- Knight of day and night, you live.
Karuna still looked baffled, tilting his head.
“…Who?”
- You wouldn’t know me, but your sister remembers me.
Step…
Karen stepped forward.
- Isn’t that right?
She grinned at Rajin’s words.
“Kaha! Long time, Rajin! You’re alive too!”
Suddenly treating Rajin casually. For some reason, Rajin’s voice wavered.
- …You live, little ember.
Kang Seol asked Karen.
“You know Rajin?”
Karen grinned slyly.
“Rajin was one of Montara’s guardian stars.”
“…What?”
Sun Empire Montara.
Land of the emperor buried under sand.
Beings born in that era of woe. The guardian stars.
Rajin spoke to Karen in a moist voice unlike a god.
- The empire buried under sand, memories scattered by wind. Yet, how….
- Are you the only one still burning?