Chapter 122

Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 122

Chapter Title: The Outsider and the Great Wolf Tribe (3)

The woman who called me the incarnation of Akobar.

She introduced herself as Sismais and spoke the imperial tongue fluently, showing immense interest in me.

But for now, I calmed Sismais down.

I needed to get the people out of the cave.

To lead them without issue, I required the help of her, the shaman of the Great Wolf Tribe.

"Everyone, come out slowly!"

At my words, Sismais translated them ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠into the barbarians' language and shouted them to the crowd.

Fortunately, they obeyed without complaint.

The combat team had already dealt with all the monsters and abominations, so no further tragedies occurred.

Murmur murmur.

The tribesfolk who emerged began buzzing as they took in the battlefield, scarred with clear signs of battle.

But I couldn't understand them.

I didn't know the barbarians' language.

"Sir Connel! Pergal!"

I called for Connel and Pergal first.

They were the only ones in our group who knew the barbarian tongue.

I planned to have them assist Sismais.

That way, she could manage the dozens of survivors without trouble.

"You called for me?"

"Why the back-and-forth orders?"

Connel and Pergal soon arrived before me.

As always, Connel treated me with courtesy, while Pergal grumbled but still listened intently.

"Sir Connel, help this woman Sismais here. You too, Pergal. Follow her instructions closely."

After asking that of Connel and Pergal,

I turned to Sismais.

"And you, control the survivors to clean up the battlefield. Search the collapsed tents for intact supplies and gather the fallen warriors' bodies in one place. Do the same with the monsters' and abominations' corpses."

"I..."

Sismais opened her mouth, as if she had something to say.

But I cut her off swiftly.

From my earlier experience, I knew she was the talkative type.

Starting a conversation now would trap me here for ages.

"We'll talk after the cleanup."

At my firm words, Sismais nodded reluctantly, her disappointment plain on her face.

'Devouring Earth.'

I cast Devouring Earth, and the piled-up bodies of the monsters and abominations began sinking into the ground.

Soon, they'd vanish completely beneath the soil.

The battlefield cleanup was finally done.

'We'll have to stay here overnight.'

Looking up, I saw the sunset painting the sky.

Night was falling fast, so camping here tonight seemed inevitable.

The place reeked of spilled blood from countless people, making it an uneasy spot to rest, but there was no choice.

Marching at night would be too risky.

'I should share some rations with the survivors.'

I thought as I watched the tribesfolk prepare the camp.

They'd salvaged a bit of food from the ruined tents, but it wasn't enough for dozens.

So we'd dip into our own supplies.

'Gilbert and the undead knights' shares should cover it.'

Our group had plenty.

Gilbert and the six undead knights.

Count Dustin had provided for them too.

Since they didn't eat, I could spare some for the barbarians.

But only a little.

I couldn't starve my own men to feed others.

"Heros!"

As I pondered this, Sismais approached and called out to me.

This time, I didn't dodge the conversation.

I had questions of my own.

"How are the people holding up?"

"They're steeped in grief. So many of the tribe's men died. They were all someone's family."

"I see..."

Eremus's warlocks.

This was yet another reminder of how vile and despicable they were.

Without them, none of this would have happened.

"Still, it's not the worst. They believe Akobar sent you to save them. That hope is carrying them through."

Sismais gazed at me, her eyes shining.

I quickly shattered her illusion.

"Just to avoid any misunderstanding, let me say it again: I'm not Akobar's incarnation. I'm just a regular human. Born and raised in the Empire, with zero connection to Akobar."

From the moment I met her until now,

I'd insisted I wasn't Akobar's incarnation.

She'd acknowledged it verbally.

But deep down, she still seemed convinced.

Honestly, it was a bit unsettling.

"Doesn't today change that?"

"Pardon?"

What was this about all of a sudden?

I stared at Sismais, puzzled.

She continued.

"Heros. Do you really think it's mere coincidence that you came here and saved us? Do you truly believe that?"

"I sensed the grimoires' mana and came to claim them. Pure chance, obviously."

"No. This is Akobar's design."

Her resolute answer made me sigh deeply.

No matter what I said, she'd tie it to her god.

Given that, I grew curious why she saw my actions as Akobar's will.

So I asked directly.

"Why do you think that?"

"You said you came for the grimoires. Recently, I found two. I thought it was luck then, but no. They must contain the magic you need. Akobar's design, surely."

Sismais pulled two books from the leather satchel slung across her chest.

Both were grimoires.

One had a gray cover with an ear in the center; the other, gray with a mouth.

The illustrations were so lifelike, they seemed almost three-dimensional, like real ear and mouth attached.

'Listener Grimoire and Talker Grimoire.'

The ear one was the Listener Grimoire.

The mouth one, the Talker Grimoire.

Both dealt with spirit arts.

"Here, take them."

As I examined the two grimoires, Sismais handed them over.

"Can I really have these?"

"They were yours from the start. Akobar's design, as I said."

I'd saved her for these grimoires, but getting them so easily felt off.

Still, I couldn't pass them up.

I accepted them from Sismais.

And listened to their voices.

The Listener Grimoire demanded I comprehend the meaning after hearing a foreign language.

The Talker Grimoire demanded I speak in a foreign language.

'Simple enough.'

I could fulfill these demands right away.

Conveniently, the perfect helper stood before me.

With her aid, it would be easy.

"Sismais. Will you help me?"

"Of course."

"Then say something—anything—in your language."

The moment I finished,

"Go, rev, ma, agot."

Sismais looked at me and spoke.

In the barbarians' tongue, so I couldn't understand a word.

Yet somehow, I could guess.

Call it intuition.

"You said 'thank you,' right?"

"Yes! How did you know?"

Sismais's eyes widened at my words.

But I had no time to react.

More to do.

Having met the Listener Grimoire's demand, I repeated her exact words back at her.

"Go, re, ma, agot."

Pronunciation was tricky; I couldn't mimic perfectly.

But I tried my best to match the sounds.

Speak in a foreign tongue.

That was the Talker Grimoire's demand.

Mission accomplished.

Now, check their responses.

The voices of the Listener and Talker Grimoires rang out in succession.

Then their covers flipped open on their own.

I held one in each hand to keep them from falling, watching quietly.

Meanwhile, Sismais stared at me in rapture, gasping in awe.

"See? Akobar's design, truly!"

Seeing how easily I'd satisfied them, she believed what she wanted.

But I couldn't correct her now.

New spells to check.

Shrrk.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The Listener and Talker Grimoires vanished soon after.

Each held just one spell.

But both were incredibly useful—no regrets.

'Intent Comprehension.'

The spell from the Listener Grimoire: Intent Comprehension.

No matter the language, it let ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me grasp the speaker's meaning.

MP cost: 20.

Lasted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about thirty minutes per cast.

And from the Talker Grimoire...

'Intent Transmission.'

It let me convey my meaning, regardless of the language I used.

MP cost: 20.

Thirty minutes per cast, same as the other.

Which meant...

'Use both together, and I can converse with foreigners without knowing their language.'

I cast Intent Comprehension and Intent Transmission right away.

Then spoke to Sismais.

"Can you say something again—in your language, like before?"

"Huh?"

Sismais startled.

She soon obliged.

"The Great Wolf is solitary."

In the barbarian tongue.

Hearing her, I experienced something wondrous.

I understood her words.

I still knew nothing of their language, but the meaning came through clear.

'Is that why she was surprised?'

Sismais had jumped earlier at my words.

Now I got it.

Just as I'd comprehended her via Intent Comprehension, she'd grasped my intent through Intent Transmission.

"Well? Still doubt me?"

Sismais asked, reading my expression.

"Doubt what?"

"I told you: those grimoires held the magic you needed."

"Oh."

Communicating with barbarians had frustrated me.

I'd briefly wished for translation magic.

And it came as this reward?

Completely unexpected.

"Honestly, it wasn't something I desperately wanted."

"But you needed it, right?"

"Well... yeah. I did think it'd be nice to talk with you all."

"See? Akobar's design."

Sismais smiled as she replied.

Her words stirred a memory.

'Master said it once: fate seems to be guiding me somewhere.'

He'd also mentioned I might be the prophecy's protagonist.

The prophecy: a navel-less child topples Eremus.

If I was that child, Eremus my foe, and some divine force steering me to that end?

Knowing gods existed made "fate" feel heavier now.

'But nothing changes. Even if the end is set, the path there is mine to choose.'

I steeled myself with that thought.

Then,

Sismais met my eyes and declared,

"Akobar is surely watching you."

That instant.

Rumble!

Lightning flashed, thunder crashing in its wake.