39 – Episode 39. Ninja of Salvation (2)
“S-Stop the execution!”
The witch commanded frantically, waving her arms and legs.
The worshippers of the witch were at a loss, only shaking their legs.
It was clear to them that the witch was an important existence.
“You bastard. You know Korean but pretended not to?”
Wasn’t it the language of the Kingdom of Irgal, not Korean?
It wasn’t that important.
“Be split in half and die!”
It was just an additional punishment for trying to confuse me with a strange foreign language.
“Yatdae! Kids! Don’t let him escape!”
When I exerted force on the witch’s hand, crocodile tears welled up in her eyes.
“Children! No! Not true!”
There seems to be something desperate about her denial.
Just to hear the story, I eased up a bit.
“What are the totem that looks like a child and the blood of a cauldron? Explain.”
As if she didn’t understand the meaning, she blinked her eyes and then pointed to the totem with the hand that had been holding my leg.
No matter how you lie, it shows.
Since I’m holding her throat, I can break it if she does anything unnecessary.
“Karito! Karito!”
The witch nodded her head vigorously as if she finally understood.
“The ritual of serving! For the deceased!”
“What grade are you in Korean?”
She speaks our language, but it sounds unsatisfying.
It seems like those kids who studied haphazardly always end up like this.
I asked again.
“After killing the children, are you serving them? Since they died for our sake and became nutrients, you bless us. Is that it?”
“I didn’t kill them! I won’t eat them! The children of the tribe, they died… attacked by Detra for Takana.”
The witch’s expression as she said that looked very mournful.
“What is Detra for Takana?”
Just from the name, it sounds like a damn strong mid-boss character.
“Detra Po Takana. The degenerate. In your words, a monster.”
The totem was erected to console the souls of the children of the tribe who died at the hands of the yokai.
It makes sense to think this way.
“Hmm.”
Could this guy not be a witch?
Even during the time of the Crimson Flame Dragon Knights, there have been many instances lately where it’s been difficult to determine whether he should be killed or not.
Under no circumstances should innocent people be harmed due to a misunderstanding.
“Translate for them. Tell them that if they take even a single step, I’ll break their necks. Also, let them know that I have very good hearing.”
“Ah, understood.”
The witch (temporary name) shouted something to the worshippers (tentative name).
The guys nodded incessantly, sweat dripping down their faces.
After giving them a stern look, she entered the tent and pointed to a cauldron filled with blood.
“What is this? Did you extract the blood after killing the children?”
“How dreadful!”
The witch shook her head.
“It’s the blood of animals. It’s good for your health. We often cook it with vegetables.”
“It was beef broth?”
The color drained from his face.
Upon closer inspection, the pot next to the cauldron was filled with vegetables.
“Hey, why are you using such a suspicious cauldron? I thought you were a witch.”
This is entirely his fault.
He created a situation that anyone would misunderstand.
If it had been someone other than me, who is cool-headed and cautious, they would have looked at me like the Kongkistar who saw the Aztec cannibals and would have annihilated the savage tribes.
“I am the high priestess. Not a witch. The high priestess!”
The high priestess vehemently defends herself, as if to say it’s unfair.
“What is a high priestess anyway?”
“I lead the tribe and perform rituals. That’s my role.”
Is she a hybrid profession mixing the tribal chief and the shaman?
It’s an idea that can only come from barbarians who don’t understand the ‘division of labor’ in civilization.
“High priestess. Why did you try to attack the Evergreen Village? Answer me honestly.”
This is the most important thing.
Will they be exterminated or survive?
The future of the savages will be determined by the answer.
“…”
The high priestess grimaces as if it’s disgraceful.
“Answer!”
I tightened my grip on his throat once again.
“Ugh, gasp!”
The high priestess stubbornly endures.
When he tried to resist by raising his hand, I grabbed both of her hands with my remaining hand.
“If you don’t answer within 10 seconds, I’ll consider you a spy and break your neck.”
Though his posture was subtle, the villain here is the priest.
“Heh… Tetra Fo Takana attacked. Our haven of tribal life. We escaped. We requested help from the village.”
In the end, the priest, who had succumbed to power, spoke up.
The sentence structure is sh*tty, but I like how he keeps it short.
“You guys have branches, don’t you? You use them to light mosquito repellent. So why are you being attacked?”
“Shimato? That can’t be eradicated. Even excited or intelligent monsters.”
It seems mosquito repellent has its limits.
Using it to drive away a bastard like Delamion doesn’t make sense.
“Hold on a moment.”
To organize the situation, I took out my notebook.
Orpheus brought me the notebook that the innkeeper used, and it’s really useful.
With my left hand gripping the priest’s neck and my right hand holding the pen, I was ready.
“Now, continue.”
“I tried to talk. Get close. But those guys shot arrows first. We got hurt. Three of our tribe members.”
“How did you get close?”
“The distance was far. I was in a hurry. So I ran.”
“You dumbass. If guys like you charge in, of course they’ll shoot arrows.”
Even the strongest fighters would be taken aback if a group of tattooed tanning thugs charged at them. How surprised must the soldiers of a small village with a shortage of combatants have been?
“…I wanted to clear up the misunderstanding. But I couldn’t. Men in armor came.”
“Why are they settling here?”
“Our homeland. We have our shrine here. We can’t just abandon it and leave.”
“This is such a headache.”
The note was finished.
1. The monsters attacked and occupied the place where the wild tribes lived.
2. We need to retrieve the shrine that is there.
3. The expelled wild tribes tried to seek help from the Evergreen Village to drive out the monsters.
4. They rushed out, but got hit by arrows and bounced back.
5. Even the Hongyeom Dragon Knights came, but they’re just whining and doing nothing here.
“Alright.”
It’s better after organizing it.
But in this world where there are no smartphones or computers to save it.
Since there’s no guarantee that Treebona Orphe will always be by my side, I need to make a habit of taking notes.
“Follow me.”
I took the priest and went outside again.
“Dellamorta…!”
“Dudonta…”
“Donopolado…”
The wild tribes were standing still in the same position as before.
Even though their leader was held hostage, there should be at least one or two who couldn’t control their anger and tried to attack, but they all stood quietly like obedient roosters.
It seems like I’ve heard that he’s violent, but maybe it was just a rumor.
He looks big and imposing.
“How many people here are capable of fighting?” I asked the priest first.
The guy was rolling his eyes, wondering why I was so anxious.
“Don’t even think about lying. I’ll know right away. You know about my interest law, right? I’ve mastered it. The moment you get caught, not only you, but everyone here will be killed. Think carefully.”
Of course, it’s a bluff.
“A lot of warriors… have died. Less than twenty.”
“Hmm.”
A familiar situation.
Golldon, it’s you again? At this point, it’s just fate.
I slowly examined the faces of the barbarians.
When I first saw them, I thought they were big, burly barbarians, but upon closer inspection, most of them had the innocent eyes of gentle rural men and women.
“They look like they can take good care of their crops and livestock.”
“Hmm… What are we going to do with the village?”
Seeing him sigh, it seemed like he had half given up.
If what the priest said is true, then these rascals are also the people they have to protect.
In that case, there’s only one choice.
“How long does it take to get to Shindan?”
“Why?”
“How long will it take?”
“…It won’t even take a day.”
“Tell these bastards that we’re going to the altar tomorrow morning. I’ll help.”
Whooosh~
The priest’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.
“Put the eyeballs in and deliver it quickly.”
The priest conveyed his message to me, carefully observing my reaction.
“Mira? Mira Dae?”
“Dominu, go ahead.”
Now the wild tribe members started talking among themselves.
“I’ll sleep in the tent tonight. Since you’re the hostage, you have to follow. Tell the others not to make any trouble.”
The tent was so well covered with cloth and leather that it was incredibly warm inside.
If you stayed there long enough, you would get used to the peculiar smell of the tent.
After delivering the message, the priest locked eyes with me again.
“Why are you helping, you damn deserter?”
“Because I’m a runaway ninja.”
“What do you want, something in return? Huh!”
I covered his mouth because I didn’t feel like talking to him anymore.
I don’t want anything in return.
Of course, if they offer me good food, fabric, weapons, and such, I’m willing to accept.
I should be sleeping on the priest’s bed, but where did he put him?
“Huh?!”
He just decided to hold him.
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By doing this, he could insert a ninja body double play as soon as he showed an attempt to escape.
“I’m very sensitive. If you move even a little, I’ll wake up. Take care of yourself.”
The priest nodded quickly.
I can’t see his expression because I’m holding his back.
“Sleep well.”
A few minutes later.
Kokonenne.
He fell asleep right away.
***
How many minutes had passed since he started hearing the secrets of his birth?
Unprecedented shocking truths, not found in any book, were swirling in Orpheus’ mind.
[-So you have a duty to help me too.]
Treebo, who conveyed all of this, was as composed as always.
Orpheus pictured his face.
Thick eyebrows, sharp eyes, a mouth that wouldn’t open unless he was interested.
[Robin trusts you the most. If you speak, he’ll listen to some extent. To resist the Observer, we need to make him more perfect.]
When Sagal chose the first victim from his tail, what would have happened if Robin hadn’t stepped forward without hesitation?
If Lamina had left the Maple Leaf Village and arrived at the guild, informing the people of the village about the monsters, what would have happened?
If Delvanas had not immediately appeared and destroyed the castle walls and gate with a projectile, what would have happened?
“Robin doesn’t need to change.”
Having finished her thoughts, Orphe made a decision.
[I don’t understand.]
“There is no perfect person. There are only people who are suitable for certain times and places. If he seems to be going astray occasionally, I will talk to him. But in the end, the decision is Robin’s.”
[That’s not enough.]
“Do you think you can control people?”
Treebo fell silent at the difficult question that was not easy to answer.
If he answered this question incorrectly, it would be denying the records of resistance written by the hero and his comrades.
“I believe in Robin. So, I will end this story here. Please leave now.”
A firm refusal.
[…I hope you think about it slowly once again.]
Treebo stood up with his massive body and left the room.