Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Wind Blowing on the Plateau (2)

#66

『There are no longer enemies remaining on the plateau.』

『The speed the land recovers becomes very fast.』

The dawn of the plateau was brightening.

The fragment of the Outer God split in half turned into particles smaller than dust and perished.

Lightly landing Bran put the sword in.

『You encountered incomprehensible darkness for the first time.』

『A mortal overcame fear that cannot be understood with superhuman will.』

『Meeting the conditions, you acquire a new skill!』

The reward for defeating the fragment of the Outer God was being settled.

The golden notification window that appears when achieving something feels good whenever he saw it.

Messages rose in succession.

『You acquired the new skill [Sword of the Boundary]!』

『Sword of the Boundary: All stats increase when fighting otherworld existences.』

A new skill after a long time.

Although a simple description comparable to Smash the effect was not at all so.

A smile rose at the corner of Bran’s mouth.

“Aha. Finally.”

It was a skill that was on the wishlist.

It seemed the merit of defeating the fragment of the Outer God following Star Shadow met the conditions.

A passive skill given if eliminating a certain number or more of enemies of the Outer God faction.

A very useful ability that shines the more the story progresses.

『Weed’s Tenacity activates!』

『Weed’s Pack activates!』

『The growth speed of all basic stats greatly increases.』

『The growth speed of all stats of the pack members increases slightly.』

Due to overcoming hardship the weed series also activated.

Not Strength or Mental Power, but an increase in all stats!

From the point that this kind of reward is given just by defeating a fragment the majesty of the Outer God could be felt.

Bran let out a sigh of relief.

“Huuu···.”

Now the tension was loosening.

Deeply inhaling breath the cold dawn air filled the lungs.

The companions liberated from the external pressure began to move one by one.

“Hueeeuk! Damn, finally moves!”

“Uup! Guweeeek!”

All were reactions as if waking from a nightmare.

Benden was even propping on the floor and vomiting the insides.

Discovering Bran Ilark approached in one go.

“Are you okay Bran?! You cut that just now right?!”

“Yes.”

“Ha··· you are really an amazing guy. I couldn’t even lift my legs. So embarrassed I can’t even raise my head.”

“No need for that. That just now was really a part of the Outer God.”

He thought anew that his nurturing direction was not wrong.

If the Mental Power value was even a little lower he himself would have been frozen blankly like the other companions.

There is reward for investing in Mental Power to the point of excess.

“On earth··· what matter···.”

Arazan who was moaning while holding her head opened her mouth.

She was also experiencing considerable confusion like Ilark.

“···It seemed I became a frog in front of a snake. There was nothing I could do.”

“Don’t worry. Because it is extremely normal.”

“I cannot be convinced. What on earth is the Outer God?”

“Come to think of it you still don’t know. I’ll explain soon.”

It was a long story to do here.

Now was the time to fully enjoy the joy of what was achieved.

Because achieving all the conditions of the hard happy ending was also encouraging for Bran.

But before that he had to take care of today’s top contributor.

Walking with strides Bran sat next to Kale.

“Kale. Are you okay?”

“Ueuk, uuuu··· Bran?”

The moaning Kale opened his eyes.

Dawn was scattering through the gap of the thick eyelashes.

Right after the fierce battle with the Outer God the appearance was not right.

Clothes that turned into rags.

The mark of dried nosebleed was stuck from the philtrum to the chin.

Looking around Kale asked him.

“······Namoon-nim is?”

“Safe. Thanks to you.”

“Hehe, fortunate aa···.”

Kale smiled.

At the pure smile like an idiot Bran let out a hollow laugh along.

Even becoming this appearance worrying about others first.

Bran slowly stroked his head.

“Really worked hard. You did an amazing thing. If it wasn’t you no one could have done it.”

“No. Thanks to everyone working hard··· aak!”

It was then.

The smiling Kale let out a short scream.

“Kale? Why suddenly?!”

“B-Bran··· my hand hurts···.”

“Hand?”

“Th-the right hand is exactly like putting it in fire··· kyaaaaak!”

“Damn, endure a little!”

Bran clenched his teeth.

Unusual. Kale’s complexion was turned pale like ice.

He could not understand why this kind of thing happens at the end after doing everything well.

Just as he was hurriedly rummaging in the pocket looking for the best potion.

『A member of the pack has acquired sufficient qualifications.』

Paat!

Along with dazzling radiance a translucent window appeared.

『You won in the fight with an incomprehensible divinity.』

『The great feat of burning your own body to illuminate the darkness is brilliant like the stars in the sky.』

『Kale acquired the achievement skill, [Star of Purification]!』

It was a message he had seen before.

Seeing the word achievement skill Bran gasped.

“This is.”

“Huff··· hueeuk···.”

Kale’s scream stopped.

A small pattern was engraved over the back of the guy’s right hand.

A stigma burning white, as if embodying a star.

『Star of Purification』

▶ The range of skills utilizing Divine Power doubles.

▶ Divine Power is amplified in situations confronting the dead, soul bodies, other divinities.

▶ If meeting specific conditions, hidden abilities are unlocked.

It was that hard-to-obtain achievement skill.

A skill of the same grade as Indomitable, that can only be acquired by achieving a special great feat.

Bran clenched his fist.

“Killing···!”

There was no problem in the acquisition itself.

Because the one who established the highest merit while progressing this episode was Kale no matter who said what.

Unlike Sword of the Boundary it was just surprised because it was an income completely unexpected.

Furthermore Star of Purification was a skill located in A rank on the tier table Bran self-produced!

Kale began to sob.

“Uheuk, heueuk··· am I dying now? As expected did I receive the curse of the Outer God?”

“It is the opposite Kale. You became able to kill them all.”

“Eu, euung?”

“It means don’t be unnecessarily scared. Now even mediocre miscellaneous ghosts will achieve nirvana if you just cough.”

By the way it was a quite aggressive skill unlike Kale.

A feeling like a heavily armed hamster.

Although it boasted outstanding synergy with the holy knight of brilliance, he was curious what the compatibility with Kale would be.

Just as supporting Kale and raising him then.

“Oo, madam!”

Rahir’s exclamation rang out.

It seemed not only Kale came to his senses.

Turning his gaze, Namoon who had already raised her upper body and was sitting was seen.

A beauty exactly resembling her, enough to be believed even if Arazan’s mother.

“Madam. Do you recognize me?”

“······Majesty?”

Namoon’s eyes widened round.

Now neither curse nor madness was felt from her.

Rahir’s head was emitting light next to Namoon.

Raising the head with both hands Namoon tilted her head.

“Why··· only the head remains? What animal’s ability is this?”

“If saying it is too long. It is not as bad as thought.”

Namoon was understanding that Rahir remaining with only the head was an ability preyed.

Rahir asked back.

“Do you not remember anything?”

“Uum··· no. Although a bit dizzy it seems it will be okay soon.”

Namoon shook her head.

It seemed she was experiencing confusion in memory from the shock of the fragment of the Outer God being pulled out.

Perhaps the happiest moment.

It was while she was moaning while pressing her forehead.

“Even now little by little··· ah!”

“Euhek?!”

Suddenly Namoon stood up abruptly.

It seemed she recalled some important memory.

Looking around she said in an excited voice.

“Narhael. Where did Narhael go?”

“Madam.”

“I definitely saw. Narhael called me mother. That child···”

Namoon who was about to say something froze.

Arazan was looking at her with a complex expression.

The short silence broke.

Namoon who ran in one go hugged Arazan.

“My daughter!”

“···Queen.”

“Fortunate. Really fortunate that you are alive. I don’t know how surprised I was that you rushed out holding a weapon.”

Tears were flowing down the cheeks.

Arazan could not say anything.

Because the truth that would soon cover her was too cruel.

“Hurry and take refuge. The empire’s army will invade. Your father is strong but this time victory cannot be guaranteed.”

Half of Namoon’s memory was staying hundreds of years ago when the empire was invading Kargai.

But one cannot dream forever.

Rahir opened his mouth.

“Madam. Sorry but this girl is not Narhael.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“That child’s name is Arazan. Not our daughter.”

“···Yee?”

The voice was heavy.

Removing the hug Namoon examined Arazan’s face.

Slowly examining the features as if appreciating a treasure she burst out a hollow laugh.

“There is no way. No matter who sees it is our daughter Narhael. Resembles Majesty and me like this.”

“That is because that child is a descendant of Narhael.”

“De-descendant? How can a descendant be on that young child? Not even an age to meet a man yet···”

“Madam. Hundreds of years have passed since that day.”

“Th-that what···.”

“You have to recall. Even if it hurts do not turn your gaze.”

Silence descended.

Namoon’s pupils shook like waves.

“······Ah.”

Backing away she clutched her head.

“Aaa. Aaaaa···!”

It seemed the memory returned.

A beast-like lament flowed between the parted lips.

Alternately looking at Namoon and Rahir, the burned tent she lost balance and sat down.

“I··· what kind of thing···!”

“Do you remember?”

“There is no way it is like this··· I, how I this.”

“Madam. You have to accept.”

Rahir was affectionate yet cold.

Whether by will or not the fact that the person who destroyed Kargai is her did not change.

Namoon’s scream rang out on the plateau.

Unable to see Ilark struck the floor with her tail.

“Eit, damn.”

“Tragedy.”

Benden also lowered his head.

Rahir waited until madam stopped the scream.

Soon in the silence that descended Rahir opened his mouth.

“Madam. Can you tell how it happened?”

“······I was afraid of disappearing.”

“Disappearing?”

“Majesty. I loved everything of Kargai.”

Namoon slowly raised her head.

Disheveled hair was covering the face stained with tears.

“I loved the beautiful land and sky. I loved the sound of hoofbeats ringing everywhere. I loved the wind containing the spirits of the great ancestors.”

“I also know that heart of madam well. You really liked this land.”

“But what I loved more than anything was the people who enjoy this land. Learning the shamanism considered ominous was also to help them. So, because too lovely, I was afraid of them disappearing.”

Namoon said.

“But the war with the empire changed everything. The longer the war the things I loved disappeared one by one. The grass and trees were dyed with blood, only the birds that eat corpses and grow became plump day by day.”

“···War.”

“At the entrance of the village a child named Lebe lived. I watched the process of that child being born and growing. The appearance of crying while holding the teeth saying the front teeth fell out while fighting the younger sibling and asking to attach them again is still vivid in my eyes.”

“I remember. Originally a member of the three juniors four dogs. A child whose skill of handling a spear was amazing.”

“Then you would also remember how Lebe became. He went to the war with the empire and returned disabled. The next day the corpse of the younger sibling returned.”

Namoon’s fingers scratched the soil.

“That is.”

“I also know. It was an honorable end. But I could not accept that early death that falls before fulfilling the mandate of heaven. I could not forgive that death that would someday cover even Majesty and my children.”

“···I understand madam’s sorrow. So I also tried to make peace with the empire.”

“I know. I thought it was a truly right choice. Although sad that the ancestors’ land is taken, I was glad that I could protect Majesty and the people. Right at that time a voice was heard.”

“Voice?”

“Yes. The starlight whispered···”

[Lovely child. Even though you have such ability why do you not try to have everything?]

Goosebumps.

Bran frowned.

The speaker of the whisper that overturned everything was a person he knew well.

Rahir asked back.

“Was it the voice of the one you call teacher?”

“Shamefully, yes. He told me there is a method to protect everything. That there is a method to protect not only the people but even the land and sky, and instigated me to do so saying he will help me.”

“······So it became that.”

Rahir nodded.

It was the moment the secret of the ritual is revealed.

Her ritual was made of all three stages.

1. Separate the souls and flesh of all the people.

2. Summon Star Shadow and hold their souls trying to ascend.

3. Cast a curse on the land to block the approach of intruders.

After that just endure.

Until the day the Outer God tears the sky and descends.

When the time comes, the spirits of the Kargai people sleeping on the plateau would revive brilliantly and start galloping again.

Namoon’s role was to guard the place until then.

While eliminating intruders and offering her own life force to raise Star Shadow.

For hundreds of years, lonely and solitary.

‘Terrible.’

Of course it was an impossible plan.

However she whose judgment was clouded, possessed by the fragment of the Outer God had no ability to distinguish right and wrong.

In the place reason disappeared only madness and endless love remained.

Beloved Majesty. On the day the sky sinks we will meet again.

Like that Kargai was destroyed.

“This price of sin··· I will definitely pay.”

“Do not do so madam. What committed the sin is not you but that monster called teacher.”

“No. It is a sin committed with my hands. Even if the wicked starlight shook the heart I should not have been bewitched. First I will drop myself into hell, and find a way to atone.”

Saying that Namoon raised her body.

The eyes were bright enough that if there was a cliff around she seemed she would jump down immediately.

Turning to Bran’s group she deeply lowered her head.

“I also committed an unwashable sin to everyone. Although almost no treasure remains I will give everything desired. If there is a matter needing my help I will listen to everything so please say anything.”

“Then live.”

Bran said.

At the dry tone Namoon was dumbfounded.

“...Yes?”

“You have to live to do something. What can be done about past matters. Look for a more productive method than giving yourself pain.”

It was sincere.

Originally if not so there is no reward for Kale saving her while shitting dying poop.

Just as Namoon who could not overcome the guilt was about to answer how she could do so.

“Uum, I also think there is no reason for the queen to fall into hell.”

“What.”

An unfamiliar voice intervened in the conversation.

The rough and tough tone was none of the six.

Almost at the same time turning their heads the group froze in place.

“Really. There is no one among us who resents the queen.”

A man wearing a helmet and holding a long spear was standing behind them.

Through the translucent body the scenery of the brightening plateau was shining.

Saaaaaa···!

Dozens of ghost soldiers armed with spears were surrounding Bran’s group roundly.

“Kyaaaaaaak!! Ghost!”

Kale let out a sharp scream.

Paaaaaaaak-!!!

Over his shoulders gripping the staff waves of Divine Power burst out.

The forms of the ghosts wrapped in light undulated like waves.

“Gyaaaaaak!”

“Keuooot! A-achieved nirvana!”

“Damn, block that tiny friend a bit!”

The ghosts’ screams rang out.

It was in a state the power became stronger because acquiring Star of Purification.

If like this they would really all achieve nirvana.

Tak!

Bran struck Kale’s crown.

“Kyaak!”

“It’s okay so calm down guy. Because our side.”

“O-our side?”

Kale clutched the place he was hit.

All the group could not hide their fluster.

The ghost man was showing a lively reaction like a living person unlike the individuals seen until now.

Rahir’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

“Y-you are?”

“Royal guard captain Lebe. Disappointing Majesty. How do you not remember my face?”

The man took off the helmet.

A fierce face like a nationwide swordsman revealed itself.

When smiling the teeth with the front teeth missing were revealed.

“You clearly died though...!”

“Lahaha, I also didn’t know this kind of thing would happen. Although the moment the soul was separated from the body was dog-like now it is rather good. Sometimes having lingering attachment seems to help.”

It was that boy mentioned in the conversation with Namoon.

A member of the royal guard that was decomposed colliding with Kale’s barrier.

“...How?”

“Thanks to the queen’s evil ritual. Didn’t you bind our souls to the plateau?”

“Really, really you?”

“Queen. Why would I tell a lie. And it is not only me.”

The man who introduced himself as Lebe laughed heartily.

Sure enough as his words the number of ghosts surrounding was rapidly increasing.

From dozens to hundreds.

From hundreds to thousands.

From thousands to tens of thousands.

In the end enough to cover all the scenery visible to the eyes.

At the threatening scene Ilark stood her scales.

“Hey. Don’t come too close! I-is this okay?”

“O···ooo···!”

“I said it’s okay. Really.”

Bran giggled.

Unlike the group tense to the point the face was full of smiles.

It was a situation not just okay but worthy of enjoying.

Because it was like evidence that the cursed plateau met the best conclusion.

The souls liberated as Star Shadow and even the fragment of the Outer God perished.

Turning to Bran the royal guard captain smiled gently.

“Brother. I received a great favor.”

Bran only slightly waved his hand instead of answering.

Damn ghost group.

Damn cavalry.

Crazy king and shaman.

Star Shadow and the fragment of the Outer God lurking in the tent.

The scenery permitted only to the one who overcame this numerous pile of shit, and saved everyone.

“We were only without ego but continued to be here. All of the Kargai cavalry, have returned to this place now!”

It was the moment the royal guard captain who turned to the entire group took a salute.

『You returned the wind to the warriors who were wandering the plateau aimlessly.』

『The souls that lost their spirits and wandered recovered themselves thanks to you and the companions.』

『Marvelous achievement!』

『The cursed Kargai cavalry joins as your eternal allies!』