40 – Blue Moon
I walked through the forest with the guidance of Evi, who had excellent hearing.
There were always monsters in the direction that Evi pointed out, and I continued to slaughter them mercilessly, roaring with nature and wildness.
Of course, it was not an easy task for me either.
When I faced a giant monster, my mana breathing would get faster, and I had to suffer small and large injuries when I faced a dangerous situation.
If it weren’t for the spirit armor, I would have almost died several times.
Bii kept casting healing magic on me endlessly, but there was nothing I could do about the fatigue that accumulated in my body and mind.
“Master Gaul. I don’t hear any more sounds, sir.”
“Huff. Huff. I think I’m going to die.”
The break came after I hunted four monsters.
The sun moved to the west, and the flying monsters returned to their nests.
There were many nocturnal monsters, so I couldn’t relax, but I was sure it would be safe for a while since I hunted all the monsters around me.
Monsters were animals that acted on their own territories, so it would take time for new monsters to settle here.
“Let’s go in then.”
“Yes. I will guide you to Cheongcheongyeongwol.”
[You all did a great job!]
We led Rudolf to Cheongcheongyeongwol.
Rudolf, who had been running around all day, followed us with foam in his mouth.
He looked pitiful and proud at the same time.
I stroked Rudolf’s shoulder and said bitterly.
“Let’s all rest well tomorrow.”
Everyone nodded weakly at my suggestion.
Cheongcheongyeongwol (靑淸映月), meaning a clear and blue moon shining.
As the name implies, a blue moon was rising in the night sky.
* * *
[This is Cheongcheongyeongwol of the Geomak Lake.]
“It really resembles Joseon.”
[Maybe it’s a trace left by the previous transmigrator.]
Cheongcheongyeongwol, which I visited for the first time, was familiar and impressive.
Looking at the tile-roofed houses built around the Geomak Lake and the residents wearing hanbok, I remembered the Korean Folk Village that I had visited once.
A blue moon reflected its face on the calm lake like a mirror, and the cool autumn wind blew softly through the roof tiles.
It was a beautiful and neat city that I really liked.
“Gather the wounded in one place! The warrior leader who will be back soon will heal you!”
“There is no more room here! Only let the seriously injured in!”
But the atmosphere was far from beautiful.
The faces of the residents were filled with urgency, and the surroundings were full of groans of pain.
It seemed like I had entered the wrong entrance to the field hospital, but even considering that, the situation of the Blue Moon was dire.
It made me bitter to see the war wounds.
As I frowned, some beastmen came up and greeted me politely.
“Excuse me, druid? If you hand me the reins, I’ll take the deer to the stable.”
“Would you follow me? I’ll offer you some water to wash and some warm food.”
Fortunately or unfortunately, the beastmen did not hostilely approach me just because I was human.
They listened to the purpose of my visit with courtesy, and they were grateful and hospitable.
It was a kindness that was different from the roots of the elves who tried to kill me from the beginning.
Pii seemed to feel the same way as me, sitting on my shoulder and shaking his feet.
[The beastmen are really kind. They don’t seem to care that Gaul is human.]
I agreed with Pii’s words as I handed over Rudolf’s reins.
The one who answered Pii’s words was Ivy, who was adjusting his clothes behind me.
“Our Blue Moon often interacts with humans. Thanks to that, we know well that there are good and evil people among humans. There are no beastmen who discriminate people by their race in the Blue Moon.”
[You interact with humans? Really? What kind of humans do you interact with?]
“The kingdom of ‘Armet’ located in the east of the Great Forest is connected with us. It is a kingdom that belongs to the domain of the wild god, sea dragon (海龍) Diana.”
[You are really different from the elves… The elves would have been furious if they couldn’t kill you.]
“Armet kingdom is friendly to beastmen and elves. It is a kingdom that opposes the Histanias empire, which causes trouble with slave hunting. You could say that they are our allies in the Great Forest.”
A small sigh of admiration escaped me at the unexpected information.
There was a human country that was friendly to the mixed races on the east side of the Great Forest.
The Kingdom of Armet… It seemed like I needed to visit it someday.
As I nodded my head in thought, Ivy pointed to my waist and continued.
“However, the reason why we recognized you as a druid was not because of that.”
Ivy’s finger pointed to the chainsaw hanging from my shoulder strap.
As I tapped the chainsaw and showed my curiosity, Ivy smiled softly and nodded.
“Yes. Your weapon is full of the blue mana of the wild god, Mahesar. And your armor is full of the green mana of the nature goddess, Trias. You have received the blessings of both gods, how can we doubt that you are a druid?”
“Ah. That makes sense.”
Indeed, I looked like a druid to anyone now.
I had received the blessings of the gods of nature and wildness, and thanks to the sap of Pii, I had purified the contaminated mana to some extent.
Come to think of it, the high elves were also in the mood to acknowledge me as a druid a while ago.
Trias, who had a tsundere personality, was still ticking, but it seemed like a matter of time before I was officially recognized as a druid.
“Please go into the room and wait for a moment. I will bring you water and food to wash up soon.”
As I walked and talked with Ivy, the beastwoman who was guiding us bowed her head and said.
The place we were guided to was a huge traditional Korean house with impressive tiles.
It was a beautiful building with a refined atmosphere, where the garden with shrubs and the moonlit house harmonized.
“It looks like a noble’s house.”
I naturally took off my boots and entered the main room of the house.
Then Ivy, who followed me, gasped and exclaimed.
“`
“You seem to be familiar with the culture of our Blue Moon clan, Lord Ghaul. It is a unique culture that is hard to access, how did you become so proficient in it?”
It seemed that he was amazed by the fact that I took off my shoes and entered the room.
I took off my spirit armor and piled it up neatly, and answered him truthfully.
It was not a secret that I came from another world.
“Me and Pii are from another world. We came from a country that values etiquette so much that it is called the Eastern Land of Courtesy.”
[hehehe. That’s all old talk. Look at Ghaul now! He has no manners to talk back to a goddess!]
“Yeah, like Pii said, that’s old talk. It’s because I grew up and didn’t fit in. If corporal punishment was still alive, everyone would have been polite.”
[Ouch! Why are you hitting me!!]
From Noble mtl dot com
We exchanged some silly jokes and enjoyed a rare break.
Soon after, the washing water was warm, and the meal was prepared without delay.
I hoped that I could eat rice since the lifestyle was similar to that of Joseon, but since the beastmen did not farm, the food provided was only monster meat and simple vegetable dishes.
It was a bit lacking in quantity, but it was a blessing in disguise in the poor Blue Moon clan.
I decided to repay the generous hospitality by getting ready to leave after the meal.
My body was sore, so I couldn’t hunt at night, but I could carry Pii around and cast healing magic on the injured.
“Pii, let’s go for a walk. We’re full.”
[What kind of walk are you going on in the moonlight?]
“I saw a lot of injured people earlier. I think your healing magic will help them.”
[Are you telling me to work even at night?]
“Why? Are you tired? If you can’t do it, just rest.”
[No? I’m totally relaxed! Lead me right away!]
“`
I chuckled and picked up Pii, heading to the field hospital I had seen earlier.
Ivy, who had changed clothes and looked neat, followed us with a trot.
It was late at night, but the fire of the Blue Moon Clan did not seem to go out.
The pain-filled moans from the field hospital were still the same.
The only difference was that sometimes thank-you notes came from between the patients’ moans.
“Chief! Thank you so much!”
“Kaya! Thanks to you, I survived!”
The patients’ thank-you notes were directed at the silver-haired wolf girl.
The chief of the Blue Moon Clan, Kaya Rigai Ulje.
It was as if the patients had been healed thanks to her.
The beast kin, who were the descendants of the wild, surely couldn’t use healing magic?
When I raised such a question, Ivy, who followed me, hid behind my back and whispered.
“Chief Kaya has received grace from two gods.”
“Two?”
“Yes. She has received the grace of the wild god, Mahesar, and the healing goddess, Hreas.”
I nodded as I looked at Kaya.
From her hand that looked after the patients, a pale blue mana was faintly leaking out.
It was definitely different from the normal mana, starting from the color that appeared.
It was a special mana that was mixed with two colors, like Siz’s.
“So, Kaya can use healing magic.”
A beastman who can use healing magic.
I muttered blankly as I looked at Kaia’s pale blue mana.
“Pii, you’re not needed, are you?”
[What? Why?!]
“He’s totally your superior, isn’t he?”
[Hey, you!!]
Pii’s fist hit my jaw.
This attack was quite painful.