Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Star Shadow (3)

#62

Once upon a time, a very long time ago.

In one corner of the world, in a place where wind and starlight stay there was a plateau called Kargai.

It was a country ruled by the great king Rahir.

Under excellent rule people lived without knowing hunger and war.

But that was not only Rahir’s merit.

By his side there was always a shaman named Namoon.

She was a beautiful and wise woman.

Namoon used her powerful shamanism only for the people.

Calling rain clouds to wet the grass and trees, or taming violent beasts with mysterious spells.

If Rahir was the wind protecting the plateau Namoon was like the sunlight that warmly embraces the people.

It was natural that Rahir’s heart was drawn to such Namoon.

Rahir proposed to her, and Namoon came to rule the country together as queen.

Kargai prospered even more.

Since the best king got the best queen, who could stop them?

Namoon loved the plateau, and the plateau also loved her.

Of course what she loved the most was Rahir.

So Rahir did not notice until the end.

That Namoon was preparing a ritual that extracts the souls of all the people from their bodies.

- Beloved Majesty.

The moment the ritual was finished, Namoon’s whisper was heard in the ear of the fallen Rahir.

- On the day the sky sinks, we will meet again.

It was a night when the stars were particularly bright.

This is an unrecorded story.

****

“Rahir.”

A meeting that leaped over time was established.

Namoon was dumbfounded like a person hit on the head with a hammer.

“······No, Majesty.”

“Just call me by name. Glad to see the face after a long time. Even in the flow of hundreds of years of time the beauty is still the same.”

Rahir smiled.

Even if half the face was covered the characteristic beauty did not fade.

Namoon was maintaining the appearance exactly as when he loved her.

Unlike himself with only the head remaining alone.

“How···?”

“I can only say I was lucky. It became so.”

“Does Majesty··· know what you are doing now?”

Looking around the room Namoon clenched her fist.

How Rahir came this far was the second most important matter.

In the smashed room not a single intact item could be found.

“The past dozens of years··· perhaps hundreds of years may have become in vain!”

Namoon shouted.

“The value of the remnants strewn here were incomparably precious things! On earth what kind of thought did you do this kind of thing?!”

“That is what I want to ask though.”

“What?”

“To madam was the value of Kargai worse than this room?”

It was a voice that carried sadness.

“That is.”

“Now please tell me madam. On earth why was it so?”

The wolf had just finished peeing and lowered its leg.

Rahir faced Namoon.

“Did you envy the brilliance of the empire? Was enjoying wealth and honor surrounded by gold not riding a horse together and galloping the plateau your true dream?”

“It is not such a thing.”

“Then why did you do so? Why did all the people have to be offered as sacrifices to the devil? What is the reason you burned even the soul of a just born child and cast a curse on this land?”

“It is not such a thing···.”

Namoon clenched her fist stronger.

As the nails dug into the flesh blood flowed down.

“No matter how much I think I do not know. With my dull head it is absolutely not understood. I would have listened to whatever madam wanted. Whatever it was.”

“······.”

“Madam also knows that.”

Rahir finished his words.

Slowly raising her hand Namoon pressed the deer’s skull deeper.

“······My dream is.”

A voice as if squeezing out flowed between the red lips.

“A dream Majesty can never fulfill.”

“What?”

“Even if I say it you will not understand. So I will not explain.”

Flare!

Suddenly black energy surged over her shoulders.

The same component as the curse that eroded the plateau the wolf Baihir stood its mane.

“Kreureureu···!”

“The place Majesty should be now is not here but the throne. I will escort so please stay quietly.”

“···Became incomparably stronger than before. As expected you are the best shaman.”

Rahir admired.

Although the appearance was the same the skill was not comparable to the past.

To the point of not being able to recall a method to defeat at all.

“Glad to see after a long time Majesty.”

Raising her arm Namoon aimed at Rahir with her index finger.

Just before an evil spell was recited.

Puk!

One arrow that flew while splitting the wind pierced Namoon’s chest.

“What.”

Namoon’s eyes widened.

The arrow was piercing exactly the place where the heart is.

Two strands of gray-white hair were tied to the arrow.

Just as she was about to show some reaction.

Perberberberbeok!

Dozens of thorns surged over the arrow.

Thorns as large and sharp as daggers tore Namoon’s body and face and popped out.

The chanting of the spell stopped.

Although already a fatal wound it did not end there.

Puhwaaaaak-!

The red cloud that burst from the second hair swallowed Namoon.

“Hit.”

Rahir made a bitter smile.

It was a gas of extreme poison that makes humans or the like die with one breath.

Arazan who put on the deer mask revealed herself from behind the fallen bookshelf.

“Rahir. Are you okay?”

Arazan had been hiding from the beginning while concealing her presence.

Rahir nodded.

“Yes. But Namoon also looks okay.”

“What?”

Arazan’s eyes narrowed.

Suddenly, a woman’s voice rang out from inside the poison cloud.

“It is the ability of the Thorn Bear and the Plateau Viper. Did you tie Majesty’s hair?”

“······!”

The red cloud scattered.

Arazan shrugged her shoulders.

Namoon intact without a single scratch revealed herself.

“I also did not think Majesty did this kind of thing alone. I was going to look anyway but you revealed yourself on your own feet.”

“How···!”

“There are many things to ask. Do not even dream of returning.”

Namoon’s tone changed.

The arrows and thorns that tore her skin were melting like liquid and flowing down.

It was the moment the flustered Arazan nocked the next arrow on the string.

Puhwaaaaak-!

Two red snakes surged from Arazan’s feet.

Blood drops scattered.

The bodies of the snakes as thick as a decent roadside tree were made of blood and curse.

Rustle!

The snakes that rushed like a gust each coiled around Arazan and the wolf.

“Keuk···!”

There was no time to respond.

Although Arazan quickly escaped the wolf Baihir could not.

Blood burst from the mouth of the wolf that was restrained in an instant.

“Keuheong!”

“Euhek!”

It was tremendous pressure.

Rahir’s head fell from the back of the rocking wolf.

At the appearance of the head that rolled and stopped Namoon lowered her head.

“Sorry Majesty. Please wait a little.”

“Shaman! Release immediately!”

Arazan was furious.

Although she was doing her best to cut the snake the dagger was not properly entering.

A strength reminiscent of a steel rope, hard to believe it was a spell formed in a short period.

“If you did not want to lose. You should not have done this kind of thing.”

A cold smile rose at the corner of Namoon’s mouth.

Eudeuk.

When she clenched her fist the wolf vomited blood again.

“Keuheung!”

“Shaman!”

Arazan was furious.

Although she shot three arrows at the same time it was in vain.

Because the remaining one snake was coiling around Namoon’s body and acting as armor.

Pushiiik···!

The arrows stuck in the snake melted and perished.

“Dance. Strand of blood.”

When Namoon waved her finger one more snake surged.

Booom!

The snake that opened its mouth wide as if roaring began chasing Arazan.

“Madam, stop!”

“No.”

Although Rahir shouted Namoon did not budge.

Just as she was leisurely preparing the next spell then.

“Wait.”

Suddenly the chanting stopped.

Fixing her gaze on Arazan she lowered her voice.

“You. Where did you get that clothes?”

“Clothes?”

“The clothes you are wearing. Do you know what that means?”

“Huu, this is clothes inherited from father.”

Arazan spat the blood that gathered in her mouth.

Because of the curse the three snakes spread breathing was gradually becoming harder.

If it was not the Soul Harmony Rahir emits it would not have been strange to faint immediately.

Namoon said.

“Take it off. It is not clothes the likes of you wear.”

“What?”

“It seems the father was a lowly thief. That is the hunting clothes of the Kargai royal family. It means only Majesty and I wore those clothes.”

Looking closely the clothes she was wearing were also very similar to Arazan’s.

Even the deer mask she put on.

Controlling the snakes she continued in a somewhat softened voice.

“So take it off. If you obediently offer the clothes I will at least bestow a comfortable death. It is a reward for the act of bringing the item I was looking for.”

“No.”

“What?”

“And··· huff, our father is not a thief or anything! Cancel those words!”

Arazan leaped and shot an arrow at the same time as those words.

Puk!

The arrow that flew drawing a strange trajectory pierced the gap of the snake and stuck in Namoon’s neck.

“······Good.”

However nothing changed.

Pulling out the half-melted arrow Namoon growled.

“If you have no intention of taking it off, I will peel it off with the skin.”

Hwaaaaak!

Killing intent that soared like a wildfire covered the room.

The deer’s skull Namoon put on her head began to dye red.

A pattern announcing the start of a full-scale battle.

Just as she raised both arms and was about to recite the Great Spell.

“Bran! Now!”

Suddenly Arazan spat out an incomprehensible shout.

Namoon who interpreted that as a struggle to draw attention did not mind.

Of course even if she minded nothing would have changed.

Seogeok!

Along with a refreshing flesh cutting sound Namoon’s both arms flew.

“···Eh?”

Namoon’s eyes widened.

The Great Spell stopped.

The two arms that were rotating while spraying blood were sprawled on the floor.

In the vision of her who hurriedly turned back a boy holding a longsword and a short spear entered.

“Good, well done!”

Bran shouted.

He had been concealing his presence in the opposite remnant pile like Arazan.

While waiting only for this moment.

Although Namoon is no different from invincible now just before using the Great Spell her regeneration weakens.

“You guys again when···!”

Frowning Namoon retreated back.

The blood snake that was protecting her shot toward Bran.

“Shaaaak!”

“Kyaaaaaaak!”

Kale who was running from behind him let out a scream.

The snake had swollen three times in size in the meantime.

The wide open mouth was large enough to swallow the two in one bite.

“I wasn’t hiding to be blocked by a snake or something!”

However Bran did not retreat.

He held the short spear in his mouth and gripped the hilt of the longsword with both hands.

Over the blade that became heavy by blowing mana the energy of Smash filled.

It was the moment Bran who lowered his posture swung the slash upward.

Boooom-!

Along with a sound as if a cannon exploding the snake’s head exploded.

The collapsed torso began to writhe madly.

Rahir was astonished.

“M-my god!”

Although unusual he did not know it was to that degree.

Namoon’s face hardened. Now nothing was protecting her.

Bran transferred the short spear he was holding to his left hand again.

Puk!

Running while parting the blood spray he stabbed the short spear into Namoon’s chest.

“Keuhek!”

Dark red fresh blood burst between Namoon’s lips.

Running while piercing her Bran drove the short spear into the wall.

Boooom-!

Along with a roar that shook the entire room Namoon was fixed to the wall.

“Keuhek, keuek···! How dare···”

“Kale! It’s your turn!”

Even before the coughing blood Namoon could say something.

Kale who was hiding behind Bran rushed forward.

“Uaaa! Sorry!”

“Ah···?”

And tightly hugged Namoon who became unable to move an inch.

It was the moment he buried his face in Namoon’s arms.

Hwaaaaak-!

The flash that burst from Kale’s body wrapped the two.

『Kale’s light is driving out the darkness cast over Namoon’s head.』

『Divinities confront! If winning in the relevant dispute Kale’s Divine Power greatly increases!』

Notifications rose in succession.

Namoon’s eyes flipped.

The remaining two snakes all melted and perished.

Namoon’s body wrapped in light began to convulse.

“Gak. Keugeogeok. Kkeueuk.”

“Uaaaa!”

Although Kale screamed he hugged her stronger.

If letting go everything ends.

Golden hair was slowly floating.

It was the largest scale among the Divine Power Kale had released so far.

“Please. Peanut.”

Bran swept his bangs wet with blood.

Handing over the battle with Namoon was successful.

Smashing the room, the conversation with Rahir, Arazan’s clothes.

All of that shook her mental and quickly drew out the Great Spell pattern.

‘Record-breaking speed.’

But to be glad the final act still remained.

Just making Namoon come to her senses could not see a perfect happy ending.

Although she was not without sin the true enemy was separate.

The monster that exploited the queen’s endless love and plunged this land into hell.

【Namoon. What is this···!】

And the final boss of this journey was the vanguard of that monster.

Kugugugugugu···!

Along with a thunderous voice the entire king’s tent began to shake.

“Kieek!”

“Kyaaaaak!”

“O-ooo···!”

At the same time hundreds of translucent ghosts poured out while passing through the walls.

Like a swarm of rats fleeing an earthquake.

The destination is the opposite direction from where the voice is heard.

Rahir who was placed on the wolf’s back again asked Bran.

“···Fierce. Seems you can win?”

“I came to draw it.”

“Heu. A pleasing answer.”

Rahir smiled.

Following he muttered that as expected my insight is not wrong but Bran did not hear.

The pressure that was spreading while undulating was gradually thickening.

『Warning! The presence of the otherworld presses you!』

『The hidden boss of the cursed king’s tent, Star Shadow casts [Voice of the Wilderness]!』

Soon, it was the moment a red warning rose.

Tukwaaaaaaaang-!!!

One side of Namoon’s room exploded and a giant beast’s hand popped out.