Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Sons of the Wilderness (3)
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The silence refused to break easily. Kadim kept his lips firmly sealed. Tundal let out a ragged sigh and asked.
"Have you ever heard of the previous 'Great Warrior of Atala'?"
"……."
"Looks like you haven't. Allow me to explain briefly."
Tundal cleared his throat with a cough and continued.
"It was a very long time ago. Before the empire and alliance even began to take shape on this land, there was an era of endless wars between kingdoms, when thick darkness blanketed the wilderness and demon realms. The people of the continent writhed in agony, yearning desperately for an end to the chaos and salvation. It was then that a great martial god, unable to bear the sight, sent down an agent to carry out his will on earth. That man was the previous 'Great Warrior of Atala'."
"……."
"Sadly, little is known about his life and deeds. The shrine maidens of the wilderness, who should have honored him, vanished without a trace, severing the oral tradition. Still, a few facts have been passed down. He saved the continent from an unprecedented crisis after great hardship, vanished suddenly afterward to parts unknown, and... he could bestow blessings on weapons by giving them names."
"……."
"Distinguishing a weapon he blessed isn't difficult. Like a holy knight's blessed armament or an ancient relic, it gains special powers, and its name is engraved in ancient script."
"……."
"...Exactly like the weapons you're carrying."
Tundal stared fixedly at Mosquito and Salmon.
Kadim gazed vacantly at the warrior before him.
It was obvious who this previous 'Great Warrior of Atala' referred to. He no longer knew what expression to make. So Kadim simply wiped all emotion from his face.
Tundal mistook it for a scowl. He leaned forward slightly and asked sternly.
"I'll ask once more. Where on earth did you obtain those sacred weapons? And not just one, but two of them."
The question didn't register in Kadim's ears. All he felt was suspicion about how much this man knew. The shrine maidens of the wilderness had vanished, so it couldn't have come from them...
"...Who did you hear those stories from?"
"About the 'Great Warrior of Atala'? From the one who leads us. He said it was a tale handed down from his father, and his father's father before that."
"...Then what's the name of the one who leads you?"
"I'll tell you that after you answer. Now it's your turn. Last chance: where and how did you get those weapons?"
Answering that he'd made them himself wouldn't have been hard.
But that would only invite doubt about his words, forcing him to reveal he was the 'Great Warrior of Atala'. And proving it would make these people pester him far worse than now.
So Kadim told the truth but omitted the crucial parts.
"I took the sword from an enemy's corpse, and found the axe in the underground dungeon of some fortress in imperial territory."
"……."
"My turn. What's the name of the one who leads you? Some council chairman?"
No answer came this time.
Instead, Tundal sighed deeply in lament and shot him a disappointed look.
"...Every item has its rightful owner. Especially something like weapons left by the great 'Great Warrior of Atala'. But to obtain them that way... In my opinion, you're an outstanding warrior, but not a fitting owner for those sacred arms."
"……."
"Don't take it too badly, brother. The reason I say this is because I know someone far more worthy of them. It might bruise your pride now, but once you meet him, you'll surely agree with me."
"……."
"As you might have guessed, it's the one who leads us. If you could spare some time after the demon subjugation, would you come with us? He's a busy man of great renown and ability, but I'll personally ask if he'll meet you."
A strange excitement crept into Tundal's voice. What was absurd was that his expression and tone held no mockery or malice. He seemed to genuinely believe he was offering sound, good advice.
Whether there was malice in his words didn't matter. Kadim sent him a gaze as heavy as thick storm clouds.
"...So what, you want me to go hand the weapons over to him myself?"
"Of course. Even if you don't feel like it now, once you meet him, you'll naturally..."
The clouds in his pupils collided, and lightning struck.
Crack! Thwack!
The axe blade buried between his legs sliced off the horse's tail.
Tundal's eyes bulged as if they might pop out. Kadim calmly reached out and retrieved Salmon.
Whoosh, whish, thud!
"I refuse. If you want these weapons that badly, there's only one way."
"……."
"By the laws of the wilderness: challenge me to a duel and take them from my corpse."
As clear a provocation as pressing a blade to his throat.
Tundal gripped his spear shaft, steadying his breath. He'd seen enough of Kadim's prowess, even sparred with him briefly. His chances of victory were slim to none. Atalain duels usually ended in death. Fear and conflict twisted his face, his lips quivering.
But Kadim could read it.
Tundal's eyes gleamed with thrill.
'...Crazy barbarian bastards.'
What he'd meant as a threat had only stoked their battle lust. If he fought their leader, the rest would pile on like it was righteous...
Kadim felt a throbbing headache.
Fortunately, Tundal didn't charge. He quelled his fighting spirit with a wry smile and shook his head.
"No. He ordered no infighting, and I can't disobey. During the subjugation, our blades must point at those vile demons, not each other."
"……."
"My apologies. I spoke out of turn without considering your position. Weapons are as vital to a warrior as limbs, yet I demanded you hand them over like that—it's too much, even for me. I'd have been just as angry in your shoes."
"……."
"Forget all my requests. You worked hard today. We'll post sentries for watch, so rest easy. At dawn, we head to Borden."
But the sudden shift felt too abrupt, more like words spat out to fulfill his duty as subjugation leader than from the heart.
Kadim scowled darkly. Tundal forced a stiff smile and stood. The scars etched on his face twisted in the darkness. He brushed the dirt from his clothes and finally left.
After leaving these parting words.
"Still, if you ever want to find a proper owner for those weapons, or grow curious about our leader, feel free to come find me anytime."
"……."
Silence settled in the thicket, now empty save for him.
Kadim gripped his axe handle lightly. After some thought, meeting the man once might not be so bad.
The Great Warrior of Atala resolved himself. If the fool spouted that nonsense one more time, he'd take his head and go find their leader himself.
There were no major gains in Borden.
Flies and insects buzzed like sunspots amid the shattering sunlight, soldiers with rotting flesh spilling from cracked armor, villagers with dark entrails spilling from split bellies.
And ratmen with rat heads buried snout-deep, tearing at the guts.
- Squeak, squee...
Splat! Smash!
- Squeak!
The subjugation force swept through the beasts mercilessly. Kadim and the warriors' blades added crimson strokes to the gruesome still life.
The sweep and search didn't take long. Everywhere lay only rotten corpses and pathetic monsters—no survivors, no demons. The only sign was footprints suggesting the village had been hastily abandoned.
Tundal furrowed his brow and stroked his chin.
"Our paths diverged. While we followed the highway, the demons led their monsters another way. Probably aiming for the ninth gate defense line or Galentana."
"Then... what should we do, Tundal?"
"……."
There was no choice. Turning back to aid the defense line wouldn't solve the root problem. They had to stick to their mission: slaying the 'core demon'.
"...We press on to the next target, 'Rodem'."
The road to Rodem held no real difficulties either. Fewer demons and monsters than the trek to Borden. They encountered only a couple all day marching.
Convenient for now, but the council soldiers grew uneasy. An empty land like this meant the demons and monsters had swarmed toward the defense line where their comrades held.
Kadim frowned too. He'd left his useful guides and all his coin at the defense camp.
'...Have to hope Duncan survives on his own.'
Anxiety quickened everyone's steps. No enemy interference sped their advance. Thus, the subjugation force reached Rodem's outskirts before sunset.
But at the village edge, Kadim and Tundal simultaneously hardened their faces.
"Hold—stop."
Tundal raised his palm, and all halted in perfect unison. The center and rear ranks, stopping late, tilted their heads. As sunset stretched at heaven's rim and reddish shadows fell, Tundal cautiously eyed Kadim.
"...Did you feel it too?"
"……."
Kadim jerked his chin toward the village instead of answering—meaning he'd scout ahead. Tundal pondered, then shook his head vigorously.
"I'll come too. Never know what threat lies in wait."
"……."
Do as you like. Kadim nodded curtly.
The rest waited as Tundal and Kadim alone advanced on the village for recon. Muffling breaths, silencing steps, gripping spear and axe, chewing the thickening stench of demonic qi.
As instinct warned, Rodem held an unreal scene.
"Atala preserve us... What in the world is this...?"
"……."
The sun slipped slyly beyond the horizon, casting fractured shadows. Bizarre trees sculpted in human shapes littered the place.
But that wasn't why Tundal gaped.
No dirt, no stones, no water, no grass—nothing of any other texture. Pebbles, dense weeds, ground, wells, house walls, puddles, shattered crockery: all unified in one texture.
Hard, dry, peeling bark.
Kadim's eyes sharpened as he brushed the woody surface. It was familiar. He'd met one before that coated its surroundings in its own unique texture.
The Wood Demon.
No doubt that accursed demon had rampaged here too.
"……."
If the Wood Demon appeared, their true nature was obvious. Kadim promptly hurled Salmon at the eerie trees.
Crackcraaaack, crunch!
The trunk split, woody shards flying. Tundal flinched, shooting a puzzled glance.
"What? Why the tree out of nowhere...?"
"No time for talk—smash the trees like me, quick. Or it'll get annoying fast."
No need for more explanation. The anomaly began at once.
Creaaak, creeeak...
Stiff friction sounds. The humanoid trees shook thorny branches languidly, roots stepping forward. Two knotholes in their 'heads' glowed dimly. The red light spilling out burned with savage hostility toward living flesh.
Creaaak, creeeak, creaaak, creak...
Hundreds surged toward the pair. Strip away branches and roots, and they were no different from rebelling peasants. One knew for sure, the other sensed it.
These weren't mere human-like monsters.
The villagers, corrupted by the demon, transformed like this.
"...Damn it all."
Tundal hesitated, shrinking back on his spear.
Craaaackcraaaack, crunch!!
But as always, Kadim simply hurled his axe without hesitation.