Chapter 468
Chapter 468
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 468
>Chapter Title: Sky Turtle Totombo
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Sky Turtle Totombo.
Its shell was vast enough to bear an entire mountain range on its back—a fantastical beast with the divine ability to fly through the heavens.
Kang Seol's group stood at the outskirts of the Highwing village, gazing at Totombo's flippers as they conversed.
"The Highwing's home base... is the shell of this massive turtle?"
"Amazing! At least it seems okay, right? Of course, I'll record it whether they allow it or not."
"It's incredible... It feels like we've stepped into a fantasy."
Even Kang Seol, who had visited the Small Heavenly Realm where fantastical beasts dwelled, couldn't help but be astonished that such a creature could drift peacefully through Pandea.
The troll spoke.
"That's why I didn't mention it beforehand. What do you think? Awe-inspiring, isn't it?"
"A world hidden above the clouds!"
"Hahaha! Not wrong at all."
Sindio murmured.
"It feels just like... a fairy tale."
The troll replied to her.
"It's not quite that fairy-tale-like."
"Huh? Just now..."
"Surprised it speaks human tongue?"
"Uh..."
"Not a big deal. I haven't lived my whole life on Totombo's back. I've wandered below the clouds for ages."
"Ah..."
The troll gazed at Totombo's flippers and continued.
"Totombo... is the history of flight."
"Pardon?"
"The Highwings' cowardly history of fleeing from the world."
At the words "cowardly history," Kang Seol thought of someone.
Coward Hekai.
The title of coward rarely stuck to a tribe's leader, but for the Highwings, every chieftain was called that.
"Ever heard of the Troll Tribe Federation?"
"Yes! It's famous. They're so fierce."
"And the Progenitors?"
"That too. The true rulers of the trolls... I guess that's the way to put it?"
The troll seemed displeased with Sindio's translation and added more.
"You don't know the details, so this might take a while. The Federation consisted of six Progenitors at the top, six great tribes under them, and smaller tribes beneath those great ones. The great tribes maintained balance but didn't meddle much in each other's affairs. They only followed the words of their own Progenitor."
It was an explanation of how the Troll Tribe Federation operated.
"At first glance, it seems the Progenitors rule the Federation... but that's not the reality. Above the Progenitors, there's someone else."
"...Pardon? Really?"
"Yes."
"Who is it?"
"No one knows."
"......"
"Or rather, very few do. Or maybe only the Highwings are in the dark?"
"What are you talking about?"
"In the past, the Highwings burned every record of it."
"...Why?"
The troll glanced at Sindio, and Conji grinned.
"I get it! To forget!"
"Right. To forget. The past... the defeats of old."
"Defeats..."
"The Progenitor of the clouds who ruled the Highwings, Horai... stood alone against the ruler."
"......"
Kang Seol recalled meeting the waterfall's Progenitor Madría with Jamad.
- There are odd ones among the Progenitors. Or... is it just Madría now? That cloud-ruler's impossible to read.
The "that guy" in his words was surely Horai. The one who fought before Jamad, for a people who had to struggle for liberation. What had become of his fate?
"And he died."
"...What?"
"Of course. There are six Progenitors, after all. Purgard, Ambika, even the vanished Madría—none aided Horai. It must have been a lonely fight... for one who had much to fight for one who had less..."
Jamad had called Horai inscrutable, and from the story, it wasn't hard to see why.
Jamad was within the shelter of his persecuted kin, but Horai stood outside it. Yet he waged war anyway.
A being worthy of worship.
Just as the Glacier Fangs revered their mother Madría.
"Horai fell and vanished. We entered an era without a father. Not only were we stripped of our great tribe status, but we had to fend off attacks from other tribes eyeing our forces for absorption."
The troll closed his eyes.
"Our Highwing ancestors fled atop the tribe's fantastical beast, Totombo. They built a life above the clouds to escape threats."
"So... they saved their lives up in the clouds..."
"Yes. The mountains on Totombo's back became the foundation for our tribe's survival. And at the same time... limited resources cut us off from the world below."
Lives saved, yet cursed never to prosper eternally.
"We are outcasts. Abandoned and isolated from the world. So, what do you think of our world above the clouds?"
Now, his question landed differently.
"Isn't it... truly lonely?"
As the others fell silent, only Kang Seol tried to grasp the situation clearly.
"But why did Hekai join hands with the Council? If you're living up in the clouds, what does the Council have to do with you?"
"Because we can't anymore. Life above the clouds is coming to an end."
"...No way."
"Totombo's end draws near. Soon, it won't be able to fly."
"......"
"It's because we clung to its back. Totombo must descend to rest now. It can fly no longer."
"I see... that's why..."
"The Highwings must find a new hiding place. That's the reason."
By taking the Council's hand to open a new era, they could survive on its power.
"You hate that."
"Fleeing forever isn't a skill. The Council sees us as hunting dogs. They could discard us anytime. Especially Azanik..."
"A sly one."
"I know. But Hekai had no other choice. The Council was the only one extending a hand. No one can stop them."
The troll said to Kang Seol's group.
"You must become Hekai's alternative. Not the best option, perhaps, but at least a viable one."
"Is that how to convince Hekai? What's the plan?"
"Every afternoon, regular tribal meetings are held at that peak over there. We'll crash the meeting spot."
"That's it?"
"What else?"
"Sigh... Is this disguise that strong?"
"No, it's amateur sorcery that'd get us caught at the first of the three gateways to the peak."
"You've got another way."
"Of course. But... um..."
"Spit it out. We're prepared."
The troll hesitated before revealing the plan.
"We'll steal Kakuis to ride."
"......"
Kakuis were the Highwings' mode of transport—pterosaur-like magical beasts.
"No way! I'm bad at riding mounts!"
"It's different from riding, might be easier. Just don't fall off."
"That's the problem!"
"Then we'll take the tame ones."
At Conji's words, Jian burst into laughter.
"Uahaha! Crazy plan."
"Right? I'm not the only one who thinks so?"
"That's why it's good! Dying from a fall this high would go down in history."
"You lunatics..."
The troll nodded and prepared the plan.
"Then tomorrow at this time..."
Kang Seol revised it.
"No, no time."
"...Then?"
"Today. We move now."
Hope for humanity vanished from Sindio's face.
* * *
In the dark chamber, only a few candles flickered. The room was filled with objects meant to illuminate something.
"O Progenitor Horai, I ask again today."
- Speak.
"Is Hekai's judgment wrong?"
A sound like wind echoed through.
- Without the Council's power, the tribe cannot be protected.
"As expected... Yes, this must be the only way."
- You are not wrong, Hekai.
Tears flowed from Hekai's eyes.
"Those words... are what I hoped for."
Kuuuung...
Hekai rose from the altar and left the dark room.
Kugugugung...
He passed through the corridor and arrived at the meeting hall at the peak's center.
"The great chieftain has arrived."
"It's an important day, so we've all gathered."
"......"
As Hekai sat in the ornate chair, the meeting began. The main agenda concerned the Council's plans.
"The execution date approaches... So the three giants really will revive."
"With new allies joining, things are speeding up."
Not all elders shared the same view.
"Allying with the Council is poison. We should cut ties now."
"What nonsense! After earning their trust, you want to incur Azanik's wrath?"
"Hmph, would that lizard even care about us? Once our usefulness ends, it'll open its jaws and swallow the tribe whole, Totombo and all."
"Then what's your alternative? Are you saying our only path is to plummet to ruin?"
Hekai rubbed his throbbing head. In truth, the elders didn't know everything he did.
He'd only shared what they needed to know, and the meeting proceeded on that basis.
Hekai, who knew all... couldn't defy the Council. Not because they were trustworthy.
Simply because there were no other options.
The sole path for the tribe's safe survival.
Then, strange noises came from somewhere.
"Kyaa, kyaack! They're not listening, they're not listening!"
"If you charge first, the rest will follow! Don't worry so much!"
"What if we fall first!"
"I'll remember that!"
"You bastard!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Hekai's gaze followed a flock of Kakuis.
"...They're going to crash."
Kwaaaaang-!
Seven Kakuis smashed through the window frame and burst into the hall.
"Wh-what is this!"
"Where did these Kakuis come from! Declare your affiliation!"
"Ahahaha! Ahahaha!"
"Stop laughing and clean this up!"
Kiiiii-!
The flock of Kakuis thrashed their heads and flew off. With no intent to catch them, Kang Seol's group let them go.
"...Humans. Who are you all?"
"Wait, that one... you..."
Hekai spotted the troll with Kang Seol and spoke.
"...Brother, what are you doing."
Kang Seol and Conji widened their eyes at the troll beside them.
They'd suspected he was no ordinary figure, but he was Chieftain Hekai's brother.
"Couldn't think of a proper way."
"...What way?"
"A way to stop you, brother."
Hekai closed his eyes.
"So the way you came up with is dragging outsiders in?"
"They're not outsiders! They're fighters against the Council!"
"I sensed lately you were searching for someone... but it was futile."
The elders shouted.
"Subdue them first! We'll hear them out after!"
"Guards!"
Burly trolls with spears rushed in.
"You said you'd listen!"
"Er... the order got switched a bit."
Conji asked.
"Can I kill them?"
"Don't kill!"
"Got it."
The guards charged all at once.
Pang-!
Paaaang-!
As Conji swung her fist, the guards flew back like S puno's geckos had before.
"Ugh..."
Puk...
"Cough..."
Because he'd insisted not to kill, only those skilled in hand-to-hand combat among Kang Seol's group acted.
"...What?"
"What are you doing!"
Puuuk...
Kuuuung-!
A guard crashed onto the table.
The long table split in half from the impact.
"Hekum. Is this what you wanted? To ruin everything?"
"It's ruined from the start! If licking that black dragon's feet is the tribe's future, I'll stop it now!"
"Well said! Hekum! You have true insight!"
"Nonsense! If we don't follow the Council..."
They devolved into noisy bickering again. Hekai clutched his head and said.
"You must have a point."
"Hear them out. Give them a chance."
"Do you think these ones can stop the dragon and giants?"
"That's..."
Hekai looked at Hekum with pity.
Hekum was his sore spot.
"Your words have merit. Since we've tested the Council and kept them close, they deserve a test too."
"Right!"
"Who will be tested?"
Kang Seol stepped forward.
"...Me."
"Fluent in our tongue. Here's the condition: fight one of our tribe with pure physical strength alone."
Conji yelled.
"What! That's unfair! How can a human beat a troll!"
"That woman of yours has spirit. But I'll ask."
Hekai's gaze made Conji flinch.
"So, how exactly do you plan to defeat the dragon and giants?"
"That's..."
Kang Seol spat curtly.
"We accept."
"The test will be here tomorrow. Choose your opponent."
Hekum whispered quietly.
"Kang Seol, pick me. We'll fake it just enough..."
"I've chosen."
"Speak."
Kang Seol stared at Hekai.
"Hekai, coward Hekai. You."
"What?"
"What did you say!"
"Insult!"
"Unacceptable! How dare..."
Hekai's first emotion was rage.
Toward his foolish brother Hekum, and the human challenging him. At Hekum's stupidity, and the human mocking him.
Yet deep down, he wanted to act like them. To shirk all responsibility.
And so another emotion surged.
In that moment, Hekai felt an unfamiliar feeling. One he'd waited for, for so long.
A thought forbidden in a seat of heavy responsibility.
The thirst to set down a burden.
Ah, whatever now.
My head hurts too much.
"Ahh. Yes, then..."
Fine, whatever happens.
"I accept. Gladly."
As Hekai grinned, his headache suddenly stopped.