Chapter 58

Chapter 58

Usurper (2)

#58

Cursed Plateau.

The fairy tale book Benden wrote had quite excellent historical accuracy but there was just one part that had to be corrected.

Kargai’s king Rahir never offered the people as sacrifices.

He was a monarch who acts for the living people not the dead ancestors.

Evil rituals of offering the people’s souls or anything were never even devised as the last of last means.

At the end of several years of war realizing there is no chance of winning the king abandoned pride and proceeded to negotiate with the emperor.

The result was a great success.

The emperor moved by the plateau’s fighting spirit incorporates Kargai into the imperial territory, but promised that it is only a nominal vassal state and autonomy will be recognized as is.

Of course on the premise of not touching the people and territory even a fingertip.

If there was no external intervention Kargai would have become a border count territory guarding the northern part of the empire by now.

What ruined all of that was the shaman who was the king’s closest aide.

The night before the treaty was concluded, the shaman dominated the king’s mind and made him hold an evil ritual.

A ritual that casts a curse on the plateau, and makes all Kargai people including the king into his puppets.

Yes. In the end what has to be defeated is not the king but the shaman.

Arazan’s long-cherished desire who is the king’s last descendant, and also an essential quest to recruit her.

But the reason this quest is important was not only because of recruiting Arazan.

All events that occur have a cause.

Just as the king going crazy is because of the shaman, the shaman who received all the people’s love suddenly changing would also have a cause.

···Looking up at the night sky too long and hearing the stars’ voice or something.

****

“Everyone greet. This side is my friends.”

Bran said.

In many ways he was out of his mind but somehow it finished well.

He who came up from the cliff introduced Arazan to the group.

“This side is a friend who newly came to work this time. The appearance of taking off the mask would be awkward but it is that one who was shooting arrows.”

“Arazan.”

Nodding she stroked the wolf next to her.

“This side is Baihir.”

“Ureung.”

Truly a concise self-introduction.

The wolf that fainted had come to its senses at some point and was prostrating next to Arazan.

Although the face hit by Ilark was swollen there seemed no place greatly hurt.

The friends who were standing in the world’s most awkward atmosphere began to open their mouths one by one.

“Eh··· I am Ilark.”

“K-Kale.”

“Benden! Oo, world that this kind of thing can happen!”

Excited was only Benden.

He was admiring while alternately looking at the ancient document taken out from his backpack and Arazan’s face.

Arazan tilted her head.

“Why looking like that?”

“Hut, this was rude. Because one of my wishes being fulfilled is unbelievable! To think a descendant of Kargai would remain I couldn’t even imagine! Seeing the white wolf thought extinct with both eyes is also an astonishing matter, to think there is this kind of luck!”

Benden’s voice was full of excitement.

Judging from acting like that in front of a person who almost killed him it seemed really glad.

Rustle!

Unfolding the ancient document he approached with a stride.

“Furthermore to think it is a descendant of the great king! How, even in your eyes really resembles right?!”

In the unfolded part a mural of a man riding a horse was drawn.

Large black pupils and gray-white hair exactly resembling Arazan.

Arazan held a bitter smile.

“···Yes. Resembles.”

Although he felt it in the game too really resembles.

To the point of believing even if not a distant ancestor but a real daughter.

The wolf prostrating next to Arazan abruptly stood and roared.

“Keheung!”

“Kyaaak!”

Benden jumped.

Hurriedly backing away he hid behind Ilark’s back.

“Wh-what did I do wrong···?”

“Approaching suddenly so surprised. Even like this it is a delicate child.”

Hearing the word delicate Benden was dumbfounded as is.

Arazan gently swept the wolf’s nape.

“Calm down Baihir. Although strangely formed it is not an enemy.”

“Kiiing.”

The mane that stood up lay down.

The wolf that was rubbing its face on Arazan prostrated again.

“S-strangely formed··· in our race it is quite eaten though···.”

Benden muttered.

Watching that appearance Bran swept his chest.

Fortunate that Ilark succeeded in strength control.

If that wolf goes wrong he cannot even recruit Arazan.

“Thank you for sparing Baihir. It is my only family.”

“Then you continued staying only with that wolf?”

Ilark asked.

Arazan shook her head.

“No. Until seven years old I lived with father.”

“Eh··· that means?”

“My father died fighting Baihir’s mother. Father’s dagger stabbed the wolf’s heart, and the wolf’s fangs pierced father’s nape. In the place the fight ended only me and Baihir with fluffy fur remained. After that we were together all along.”

It was a tragedy that does not match the calm voice.

At the guilt of asking a unnecessary question Ilark scratched the back of her head.

“Th-that’s so. Somehow sorry···.”

“What is sorry?”

“I beat that precious family.”

“Since not killed it does not matter. The strong defeating the weak is natural. The broken teeth will grow soon too.”

Unlike the concern the reaction was refreshing.

Facing Ilark Arazan held a smile.

“And you seem a very strong warrior. I like it.”

“S-strong warrior?”

“Yes. Just looking at the body it can be known. Even the old Kargai warriors would not reach you.”

“Kheumheum, kheum··· you have eyes to see.”

Ilark cleared her throat.

Judging from fluttering the tail while pretending not glad it seemed these two would quickly get close.

There are also somehow similar sides in personality.

The only one revealing an unpleasant sign was Kale.

“Uuuuum···.”

He was staring at Arazan while thinly narrowing his eyes.

Just looking at the attire he thought it was unconditionally a man but properly stabbed in the hollow.

Scanning Arazan up and down Kale muttered in a voice mixed with frustration.

“······Pretty.”

He had no choice but to admit.

An appearance that would be believed even if picked looking at the face not the skill.

Unlike short himself the arms and legs are also long and slender.

Of course this side had room to grow more but whether he could catch up was doubtful.

Th-still the eyelashes are a bit longer right?

Just as he was struggling to find a corner where he is even a little better.

“You. You said Kale.”

Suddenly Arazan turned to him.

Startled Kale shrugged his shoulders.

“Hiiik. Why?”

“You are truly beautiful. The hair is gold, the eyes are a winter lake. A splendor that can never be seen on this cursed land.”

“Th-thank you···.”

“If you then Baihir would willingly permit the back. Because it likes beautiful things.”

Arazan smiled.

Kale who became unnecessarily embarrassed avoided his gaze.

Perhaps there is no need to unconditionally guard all just because women.

If only not getting entangled with Bran it would be okay...?

“Good. Then gradually let’s depart.”

Clapclap!

Judging that they exchanged names appropriately Bran clapped.

Since a temporary alliance was also formed there was no need to drag time unnecessarily.

Arazan tilted her head.

“Depart. Where?”

“Where. Have to go catch the shaman.”

“Now?”

“Now.”

Bran nodded.

Briefly dumbfounded Arazan shook her head.

“No. That is impossible.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Rather I want to ask.”

She gestured with her chin toward below the mountain.

“Looking at that. How does the word of going now come out?”

The cursed cavalry was surrounding the rock mountain.

It is the feeling of being isolated on a reef in a sea where white waves surge.

Thousands of bloodthirsty ghost warriors were waiting only for them to come down.

‘Spectacular.’

Fortunate that all are cavalry.

If it was a cursed infantry unit they would have crawled up here long ago.

Arazan continued.

“Have to wait until the moon’s shape changes. If the king’s tent moves the cavalry will also follow.”

“Then it becomes too late. Is it okay if they enter first?”

Bran pointed toward the tent.

A group wrapped in red light was diligently running the field.

It was the Letunir expedition team that departed first.

Although ghosts and cavalry occasionally covered them the number was small so they were advancing while defeating without difficulty.

‘Not unreasonable. The cavalry’s gaze is also drawn and there is the power of the relic.’

Judging from the momentum it seemed they would arrive at the tent before the sun rises.

Of course entering the tent and preserving life after entering were separate problems.

Arazan’s brows contorted.

“That is···.”

“I don’t like it. So let’s quickly quickly finish it.”

Suddenly Bran rummaged in his backpack.

There was an item he brought in preparation for this kind of situation.

One bottle sloshing with blue liquid was picked up in his hand.

Gulp.

As soon as drinking one sip a message rose.

『You ingested an elixir made from gale parsley. Leg strength and movement speed greatly improve!』

『Heart of Harmeno activates! Beneficial effects from plants are amplified double!』

It was felt that the body suddenly becomes light.

A high-grade elixir purchased with gold coins earned in Valkeros.

The effect befitting the vigorous name of the raw material was a perfect upper compatibility of rabbit grass.

Emptying half Bran extended the bottle to Arazan.

“Come, feed it to the wolf.”

“What is this?”

“A potion that lets you run faster.”

“···Suspicious. Just by drinking the feet become fast?”

Sniff sniff.

Arazan smelled the potion as if suspicious.

Not knowing the existence of elixirs is also not unreasonable.

Because she was a wild girl who lived most of her life on this plateau.

Although funny that she says this kind of words on the subject of thorns coated with poison sprouting from the body.

“No poison or anything so don’t worry. Originally I drank first and gave it.”

“With that it is insufficient. I’ll also have to drink.”

Saying that Arazan drank the potion.

As if natural while putting her mouth.

Not even caring about the saliva stuck on the bottle mouth.

“Hueeuk!”

Seeing the appearance of vigorously blowing the bottle Kale gasped.

Bran tilted his head.

“Yes? Why Kale?”

“···A-nothing.”

“Nothing what guy. You made a sound like a housewife who saw a cockroach.”

“R-really nothing. Just suddenly a bad memory rose··· ahaha.”

Kale let out an awkward laugh.

Although the feeling of wanting to scream completely he bit his lower lip and endured.

Is this the wild?

Is this Kargai’s warrior?

Too scary he cannot endure.

He shouldn’t have let his guard down with the appearance praise!

Swallowing the potion Arazan nodded.

“······Hmm. There seems no particular problem. Definitely the body seems to have become light.”

“Kreung?”

“Okay to drink. Baihir.”

She poured the elixir into the wolf’s mouth.

Hwaak!

The moment the liquid went over inside the tongue the wolf’s pupils narrowed thinly.

Watching that appearance Ilark raised her hand.

“Me too. I also want to drink.”

“You can’t. Ilark.”

“What. Why only me excluded?”

“Because your speed is already overflowing. Do you want to take off into the sky while running?”

Bran let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.

For her who entered the 2nd stage of heat control an elixir was sincerely not needed.

Thud.

Ilark’s tail hit the floor.

“Chet, understood. Going right away?”

“Yes. Warm up.”

Bran nodded.

Ilark immediately entered preparation.

Flare!

The heat that bloomed from her chest spread along the spine.

However, unlike before where it stopped around the waist red light was seeping even to the thighs.

“Huu.”

The realm of the 2nd stage achieved while catching Silien.

If only handling that well there would be no need to regret the fact that there are no wings.

“Amazing···!”

Arazan’s eyes widened round.

“Tremendous heat is felt inside the body. How is this kind of thing possible?”

“Because Ilark is a hybrid of the Fire Dragon.”

“Fire Dragon? What is that?”

“Don’t know what a dragon is? So··· no. I’ll tell you later.”

Bran who was about to explain something closed his mouth.

Judging from the level of common sense it seemed good to inject common sense carefully after leaving the plateau.

Strange that she just passed over that tail without even knowing the existence of dragons.

Bran turned to Arazan.

“By the way unlike that one we are still insufficient.”

“Mm?”

“For the finish your help is needed. Let the wind also dwell on our legs.”

Bran said.

Arazan’s originally large eyes became even larger.

“···How did you know?”

“I saw earlier. You used it when going over the rock mountain.”

Bran answered shamelessly.

Actually he did not see and knew from experience in the game.

Arazan at the time of first encounter could absorb up to three abilities of preyed enemies.

Since she showed poison and thorns the remaining is one.

‘That is the main.’

Unlike poison and thorns that can be swapped anytime it was a high-performance skill that can be carried until the end of the game.

The silent Arazan nodded.

“Yes. Understood.”

Preparation was finished.