Episode 126. Rodim Researcher and Black Fang (5)
A shining bud that only grows on the Pinas Islands.
The Rodaim procession with hundreds of luminous flowers was solemn.
The Rodims killed even the sound of their breath without any fuss.
They spin round and round around the knife in the middle.
It was a ceremony to honor Carl as the great warrior of the clan.
“Congratulations, you have obtained the title of the first great rodim warrior.”
Seamus, standing next to him, said with a proud face.
Soon after, the procession stopped.
“The chief will give you the precious treasure of the Rodaim tribe.”
“A treasure?”
“Yes, it is a treasure that symbolizes that you are the best among the warriors of the Rodaim tribe.”
Cut it, cut it.
The sound of the chief’s cane gets closer.
The white-haired Rodaim took off what was hanging around his neck and held it out to Carl.
Seamus said.
“Take it, the conch horn horn that the tribal leaders have kept for generations.”
A conch shell so large that you have to hold it with both hands.
Elaborate decorations and shamanic symbols carved here and there seemed precious even at first glance.
Carl accepted it.
“Now you are a member of the Rodim tribe. He is also a great warrior. When you blow the mysterious conch horn, the nearby rodims will consider you a friend and help you. The same goes for warriors.”
“You mean you’re lending me some warriors.”
Carl took the conch shell and put it around his neck.
Between the bushes and on top of the trees, the Rodaim warriors snorted wildly.
“It looks like it’s trying to challenge you, but it’s actually a ceremony to pledge allegiance. Now they will run to help wherever you blow the trumpet.”
“Would you like to fight against the Harpy Pirates?”
“of course. Rodaim warriors regard the one with the conch shell as their leader. They will fight with their lives risking their lives as they are more special than other monsters in their love for their fellow countrymen. Just like how you fought Blackfang to get the young Rodims’ herbs.”
Dung, Dung, Dung-.
Rodaim, who had big forearms, sounded a large drum.
A reminder to start the festival.
The tropical forest, where a quiet ceremony was held, quickly turned into a festival ground.
A variety of food is provided.
Carl sat down with the chief and seamus.
“Have some.”
“… … it’s okay.”
Carl refused the bowl of grilled caterpillars that Seamus offered with a smile.
The chief spoke in sign language.
The interpreter was also Seamus.
“Thanks to its black fangs, other pumas don’t even come close to it. Thank you for letting all the warriors relax and enjoy the festivities.”
A pair of Blackfang’s fangs placed behind Carl’s back.
Animals quickly run away when they smell the body odor or excrement of an animal stronger than themselves.
The same goes for monsters.
If there are powerful monsters such as ogres or elder trolls in the surrounding forest, other monsters will roll their tails and run away.
The Black Fang Carl killed must have been the most powerful monster on the island.
“You’re asking where I’m going to use that.”
“I’m thinking of sharpening a sword.”
“That is a very good idea. Even at first glance, it looks harder than steel, so I think it would be good to use as a weapon. Even the chief has one.”
“… … ?”
The chief pulled out the dagger from his waistband.
It was a dark, sharp dagger like obsidian.
“They say that the great warrior of the Rodim Tribe 100 years ago hunted Blackfang and got it. That Black Fang has killed close to a hundred of the Rhodaim tribe.”
“… … .”
“But it’s funny, the great warrior of the Rhodaim tribe at the time said he saw a baby in Blackfang’s cave. I couldn’t bear to kill the calf and turned around, but the blackfang you hunted thinks it may have grown up. The chief says.”
“Monsters with such a long lifespan are rare.”
“Of course you will. But didn’t you say you saw it too?”
Seamus’s gaze went to the medicine warehouse far away.
There were piles of herbs that hadn’t been sorted out yet.
“That herb is the only herb that can cure the disease of Rodims. It only bloomed near Blackfang’s cave. I think that herb is what has kept Blackfang alive for so long. It’s useless to people, but it seems to have some effect on monsters. Of course, this part needs more in-depth research.”
“hmm… … .”
Carl nodded at the possibility.
“Anyway, you won the fang of Blackfang, the boss monster who lived for over 100 years, didn’t you? He was strong, so his fangs must be strong. If you make a weapon, a great masterpiece might come out. But it seems like it’s enough to sharpen just one sword?”
“A skilled blacksmith would. But I don’t know if anyone can handle it, and even if there is, it’s likely to ruin the work because of the rarity of the material.”
“I guess so. Blacksmiths will feel both excitement and fear at the same time when they see such precious materials. If you fail, your reputation will go down as well. I heard that there is a good blacksmith on the island where Chief Mediel lives.”
A man appeared in Carl’s memory.
A rambunctious man who persuaded the village chief Mediel to fight the harpy pirates.
He was the one who tipped off that he was a blacksmith and that Henry Morgan’s ax was made of a special material.
“I have met you. I’m from Chief Mediel’s island.”
“Oh, I see. Are you thinking of going back there?”
“of course. Your colleagues are waiting for you.”
“Then take some yellow flower herbs with you when you go. There must be Rodaim on that island as well, but the disease might be spreading like here.”
“I will.”
The grand festival continued late into the night.
the next morning.
Carl packed only what he needed and packed a simple bag.
Even Blackfang’s fangs are huge.
The tribe gave him many gifts, but it was unreasonable to take them.
“Ummm… … .”
Carl glanced at the sleeping Seamus and the nearby Rodaim.
As I was about to set out on the road, a small rodaim appeared rustling between the bushes.
It was the same guy who saved him from falling from a tree and almost being eaten.
Keeing-.
The guy who came closer and climbed up on his legs and sat on his shoulder.
When Carl scratched his chin with his finger, he smiled, as if he was in a good mood.
“Go down now. I have to go.”
Baby Rodim is cute, but Carl has a lot of work to do.
Even when I tried to pull them apart, they hardly came off.
“Since you saved me, I’m trying to pay off the debt.”
Seamus, who had woken up before he knew it, smiled at him.
Next to him was the baby Rodaim’s father.
Rodaim wiggled his hands and conveyed something.
“It is said that Rodaim’s mother was one of the clan’s warriors. He was killed when he visited Blackfang’s abode with other warriors to cure the baby’s illness. So you avenged this whole family. I want you to repay the favor.”
“What do you mean?”
“Take the baby Rodim. I will take care of you for the rest of my life.”
“… … it’s okay.”
“Does he seem to have made up his mind?”
A baby rhodaim hanging upside down with its long tail wrapped around Carl’s arm.
Blinking big eyes, he looked at the knife.
I could feel the will to never fall off the tail that was coiled round and round.
‘… … Tyra will like it.’
Carl nodded and turned around.
“Oops, the chief asked me to tell you this yesterday, but I forgot. Do you have any plans to stay on this island? Staying with the Rodim tribe. He wants you to guide the warriors.”
“Sorry, but I have work to do.”
“I see, I didn’t expect you to do this request either. Good luck then.”
“See you again someday. May the grace of the sun god be with you.”
“May the grace of the sun god be with you.”
A sword that moves through the tropical forest.
Rodaim clinging to his shoulder waved at Seamus.
Seeing a cute monster hanging on the shoulders of an incredibly powerful and blunt priest, Seamus was very happy.
He murmured as he watched the knife recede.
“You will do great things, Carl. It definitely will.”
***
thump, thump.
The emerald sea crashing on the shore.
Cool water bubbles gushed out.
Tira was sitting on the beach eating a grilled chicken leg.
“Um… … .”
“… … Eat slowly.”
“Why don’t you drink and get sick?”
“… … .”
Hanson handed me a wooden cup of water.
Tira smiled and gulped down the chicken along with the water.
“A chicken dish grilled with all sorts of seafood?! This is an innovative taste! Right, Hanson?”
“… … okay.”
“The chicken legs are full of the aroma of charcoal-grilled seafood! It’s such a rare dish that you can never taste in a city quite far from the coast like ours, Meirium. Ahh?! Cal has brought the Golden Apple Tree back to life, so maybe it’s possible! By the way, when will the knife arrive?”
Hanson stared out to sea.
On the sea, quite far away.
The little dot was getting bigger and bigger.
It was a small boat with a knife on it.
However, it was already two hours ago that he found Carl rowing this way in the open sea, how far away was Rodim Island from which he had departed.
“one… … It should arrive in about five hours.”
“Then we should have dinner.”
“Did you just eat and eat again?”
“No, not now. in five hours.”
“… … .”
jerk, jerk.
A man approaching from the village slammed his ass next to the two of them.
He was Smith, the blacksmith of the village where Mediel served as the village chief.
“It’s a long way, for that priest to arrive.”
“Hanson says it will take about five hours.”
“I think it fits. By the way, did I see you carrying something heavy?”
“to?”
Smith pointed to the boat with the knife in the open sea.
“The ship is half sunk. It’s hard to do that unless you’re carrying something heavy. That priest was a slim body, but since the boat was half submerged, there must be something heavy inside.”
“Ohhh!”
An admiring Tira and Hanson with an expression of apprehension.
The three of them sat quietly and waited for the knife to slowly approach.
The knife on the boat that happened to be looking this way.
He saw the three of them squatting on the shore and began to speed up the oars.
Chuck, Chuck, Chuck-!
The boat started approaching with tremendous momentum as if the sails had been spread in the fair wind!
Carl, who had broken through in 30 minutes instead of the 5 hours Hansson expected, jumped off the boat.
“knife!”
Tira jumped up and ran.
“If I had known you were waiting, I would have come a little earlier. Judging from the fact that you’re here, it looks like you’ve completed your mission?”
“hehehehe! of course! Hanson and I have discovered an ancient demonic seal! Of course I’m safe now!”
“… … ?!”
Carl tilted his head.
“Oh my God, I heard rumors at the inn and went to Treasure Island. Well, there are ruins of an ancient temple where evil spirits roam! So me and Hanson… … uh? who is this kid? Be cute!”
Tira sprints and holds out her hand.
The baby Rhodaim, riding on Carl’s shoulder, moved into her hand.
“Ahh!”
Tira is at a loss for what to do with the cute little Rodim.
Rodaim also liked it, rubbing his cheek against Tira’s cheek.
It’s like falling in love at first sight.
Carl seemed a little offended.
Of course, I thought there was no need to talk, so I stayed silent.
It was from the boat side that I heard the startled breathing.
“Huh… … ! This, this thing… … ?!”
Blacksmith Smith.
He opened his mouth at the sight of Blackfang’s fangs on the bottom of the boat.
“I was trying to find you anyway. Do you know what that material is?”
“Nothing!!”
Smith puts his hand in the neck of his shirt.
In his hand, which escaped, he could see a jet-black arrowhead attached to the string of a necklace.
They were the same color and texture as Blackfang’s fangs.
“It’s a fang arrowhead that my great-great-grandfather left behind along with the smelting method!”