Chapter 8
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Harvest Festival Trap
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Abandoned One tossed corpse finger mushrooms into the pot that had been simmering away and waited a moment.
Bubble... Bubble...
After a plume of black smoke billowed up, he ladled the liquid into two bowls.
"You have to drink it. You'll need this too, Benefactor."
Kang Seol followed the Abandoned One's suggestion and downed the contents of his bowl in one swift gulp.
Slurp...
[Overcoming the endemic disease 'Rotten Branch Disease.']
[Stamina permanently increased by 2.]
Kang Seol confirmed the pleasant message and turned his gaze to the Abandoned One.
Changes came over him as well.
Slither...
The torn scars etched into his skin healed in an instant. His hunched back straightened, and his stooped posture stood tall.
The one thing that didn't change was his eyes, shining like stars. They brimmed with sharp intellect.
[The Abandoned One overcomes 'Rotten Branch Disease.']
He let out a breath before asking Kang Seol,
"Benefactor, may I know your name?"
"Snowman."
"What does it mean?"
"Snowman."
"A splendid and clever name. I am Mael. It means Star Child."
"A fine name."
"I will never forget Snowman's aid in my lifetime."
[Mael's favor toward you increases.]
[Mael's favor toward you increases.]
[Mael respects you.]
"First, let me offer the aid you need. Is there anything you desire?"
[Mael seeks to fulfill his promised reward. He wishes to aid you. Choose your words wisely.]
1. I plan to crush the Rock Fangs head-on. Can you help?
2. No chance head-on. Is there a way to crumble them from within?
3. [Requires: Sorcerer] Can you teach me sorcery?
4. [Requires: Leadership 1] No thought to rallying the exiles to topple the Rock Fangs?
Option 1 was worthless now that his party was wiped out, and 3 and 4 didn't meet the conditions.
That left only option 2.
"I plan to crumble them from within. Can you help?"
"From within... Understood. Fortunately, I have just the method to try."
Mael transferred the pot's liquid into several vials, washed the pot out, and began brewing a new concoction.
He calmly added ingredients to the pot as he spoke to Kang Seol.
"As you said, Benefactor, today is the perfect time to strike the Rock Fangs."
"The reason...?"
"Today is the Rock Fangs' harvest festival. A tribute to the Earth Dragon Tankreed, whom they serve."
"What does the harvest festival have to do with it?"
"The harvest festival has one unbreakable rule."
Kang Seol already knew this fact.
The Friendly 5 Brothers adventure split into harvest festival times and non-festival times. During festivals, they hung green flags from the entrance.
Kang Seol had spotted the green flag during his initial scouting.
That's how he knew the festival was today—and he knew its rules.
"At midnight, the entire tribe drinks the beast blood boiled in that massive cauldron."
Mael stirred the pot as he spoke.
"That's the cauldron you'll target, Benefactor."
"...Are you sure you're okay with that?"
Using his own power to topple the tribe that birthed him.
It was bound to bring immense shock. Yet Mael replied dryly.
"Have you forgotten my mother's dying words?"
- My mother cursed the tribe even on her deathbed. All of it... everything must vanish. The tribe, the disease, and even me...
"......"
"Though my own end will come much later, I intend to honor at least part of her will."
"Understood."
Adventure 2-3. 'Suppressed Revenge'
Troll Mael, exiled from the tribe in his mother's womb, never forgot the tribe for a moment—but what lingered in his memory was not faint longing, but burning vengeance.
With his aid, you've obtained poison to slip into the sacrificial cauldron during the Rock Fangs' harvest festival.
Before midnight, dilute the poison in the cauldron to weaken the tribe members.
📍 Goal: Pour poison into the harvest festival cauldron before midnight.
⏰ Time Remaining: 「2:46」
[Allies may appear in any adventure.]
[They provide aid based on favor.]
Mael provided his aid and departed.
Carrying medicine for the endemic disease patients scattered across the mountains.
He burned all the books piled in the hut, taking only one with blank pages.
"What's that?"
- My dream is archaeology. The world is vast, and secrets endlessly unearthed.
I plan to wander it, recording them.
An unusual dream for a troll.
Perhaps why he's a Hero-grade ally.
- May you punish barbarism with the star of intellect you bear, Benefactor.
Kang Seol stood at the base of Pointed Rock Mountain's tallest peak, eyeing the two vials Mael had given him.
A red vial and a blue one.
The red vial's description read:
[Disguise Potion]
Grade: Unique
Level: None
Weight: 0.1kg
Special: Transforms into a clumsy troll for one day. Includes perception interference sorcery. Cancels if detected.
- Drink this, and no one will find Snowman suspicious. So long as you don't act too conspicuously.
The blue vial's description:
[Madness Potion]
Grade: Unique
Level: 1-10
Weight: 0.1kg
Special: After a set time, unleashes inner ferocity. Resistance possible based on user's mental strength.
- Pour this into the cauldron. No toxic herbs were used—not even a fingernail's worth—so even skilled sorcerers won't easily detect it.
Pop!
Kang Seol uncorked the red vial and gulped down its contents.
"Urk..."
With an uncontrollable belch, his body began to change.
Crack... Crunch...
Grinding his teeth through the brief pain, a fairly large troll now stood in Kang Seol's place.
[Disguise Potion consumed]
[Transformed into clumsy troll for one day]
[Troll Language 1 usable for one day]
[Voodoo 1 usable for one day]
Voodoo was useless for now, but Troll Language was essential.
Remembering time was short, Kang Seol hurried up the mountain.
Whether the troll form aided his stamina was unclear, but he climbed steadily, soon reaching the outpost at the green-flagged village boundary.
Troll guards stood there.
"Hm...?"
"Hey!"
Thanks to Troll Language, he understood the guards fully.
Squeeze...
Kang Seol clenched his fist in tension as he approached.
"No leaving the outpost before the festival ends! Get back quick!"
"Idiot!"
"Sorry. Joining right away."
"Hmph!"
Kang Seol passed them with a subtle smile. The plan was sailing smoothly from the start.
The village divided into 6 layers.
Not as neatly as a building, but roughly so.
The layers were based on factions.
The Rock Fang Tribe consisted of 5 factions that cooperated in critical moments but mostly clashed and feuded.
Kang Seol planned to exploit that in this adventure.
'The cauldron's on the middle layer...'
- The Rock Fangs have been ruled by 5 leaders for generations. But this generation is a bit special.
Kang Seol mulled Mael's words as he ascended.
- Even human kings choose one heir carefully, but trolls picked five. How could that not cause issues?
In the square Kang Seol entered, a massive cauldron blazed, with a bone-and-stone altar beside it near the pot.
- This generation's problems are especially severe. Incompetents playing leaders—small wonder the fierce Rock Fangs falter. But...
Kang Seol's eyes went to a massive troll seated on a bone chair, surveying the area.
Whether from better feeding or innate difference, he dwarfed his guards.
- Beware Chieftain Jamad above all. He... was born with the mountain's spirit. The one who single-handedly swept away the previous generation's sorcerers. Please... avoid clashing with him. He is the wisest and strongest Rock Fang in history.
Kang Seol pushed through the crowded trolls toward the altar.
Too sudden, and his disguise might fail—so slowly, cautiously.
'When to approach...'
No rush.
Two hours until the festival's finale.
The key was securely dumping the potion in the cauldron.
[Chilling... Feels like a dagger to the heart... Ouch!]
It's fine... Hands faster than eyes... Fail!
Weird, he was human earlier—where'd that guy go? Is that troll him now?
yes
Yes That's right.
This guy's playing creatively lol
But how's he gonna dump that potion in the cauldron?
Just keep watching from here.
Kang Seol spent 30 minutes near the altar, eyes sharp for an opening. If none appeared, he'd force one—growing impatient.
'I have a backup plan... but will it work?'
Then, the change he awaited arrived.
One troll approached the cauldron guards.
"Here... over here!"
"What is it?"
"I have blood I really want added to the cauldron. Freshly obtained..."
"Hmph, we have plenty for the offerings already."
"But..."
"Scram."
The troll slunk away disappointed. Kang Seol gripped the vial tighter without thinking.
'Settings still hold. Now?'
Kang Seol glanced around and approached the guard who'd shooed the troll.
"Um..."
"What?"
"I have blood for the harvest festival."
"Didn't you hear? The blood's already full..."
"White Horn Argo blood. It'll definitely help..."
Oh? Pretend it's White Horn Argo blood? That's... ah! Smart move. But how...
Kang Seol recalled the setting document.
- Overview: Rock Fang Harvest Festival
「The Rock Fang trolls serve not a primal god, but the Earth Dragon Tankreed. Thus, the festival honors Tankreed. They believe offering blood from their plundering and hunts is the surest way to earn his clearest blessings.」
'...And White Horn Argo blood is rare even on Pointed Rock Mountain—the most prized for sacrifices.'
No way it'd be refused.
If all went to plan.
The guard snatched the blue vial, uncorked it, and sniffed.
"This White Horn Argo blood?"
"Yes, please add it."
"Hrm... I'll pass it along."
"Thank you."
Kang Seol stepped back smartly.
The guard carried the "blood" to one of the five leaders overseeing the rite.
Snatches of conversation drifted from the high seats.
"Lord Makgata, someone wants to offer White Horn Argo blood."
Sniff sniff... "Real deal. Dump it in."
"Yes."
Thinking it White Horn Argo blood, the guard climbed the stairs to the cauldron.
And muttered something.
Probably a petty claim like 'Lord Tankreed, this is actually mine.'
Splash...
The potion poured into the cauldron.
Thus, phase one of Kang Seol's plan completed.
[Madness Potion mixed into harvest festival cauldron.]
[Those who drink this blood will be consumed by madness.]
Time passed, and the festival's climax—the Blood Drinking Rite—began.
The cauldron's blood filled crude cups, distributed everywhere.
Including to the leaders—and Kang Seol.
The festival's high priest today was Makgata, the youngest of the five leaders.
"Midnight approaches. All, raise your cups."
Swish—
Slooow—
Swish—
Every troll gripped their large cups, awaiting the order.
Makgata grinned slyly.
"All is the earth's grace. Flesh, blood, plunder."
"......"
"Drink. Devour every drop, then drench the earth in more blood. That... is the path to Tankreed. And that is the Rock Fangs!"
"Ooh!"
"Tankreed!"
"Lord Tankreed!"
"We are the Rock Fangs!"
Gulp...
Gulp gulp...
Splash!
The lone troll pouring his blood onto the ground.
Kang Seol.
He scanned the leaders and troll horde once, then quietly slipped away.
Inferno was coming soon.
[Rock Fang tribe members consume Madness Potion.]
[After a set time, Rock Fang tribe members will be consumed by madness.]
```