70 – Why are you out here
War chief Vadim headed east.
Heading back to his homeland, Eryndale.
But he didn’t feel especially good.
Because their homeland was a cursed land. A place where not a single crop could grow properly, and livestock withered away and died.
Some said that it’s the land of death, Eryndale.
Vadim remembers the old days.
A time when they barely survived by eating tree bark in that land.
And Mazar, who saved them from their miserable state.
“Warriors, we can do it. Who would have imagined that we could punish the land of the monster Elber.”
“Vadim! Vadim!”
“We will conquer Eryndale the same way. We will tame that cursed land and plough it to make it fertile! Everything for Mazar!”
“ROOOAR!”
After his speech, Vadim led the procession again.
But.
To be honest, I’m scared.
It’s more terrifying to return to my barren homeland and face those hardships again than to confront a monster that devours people.
But it has to be done.
Mazar will surely be waiting for us there.
A hundred warriors sprint towards Erindale.
(The earth is surely a cursed wasteland.)
The first warrior says it’s frightening.
The second warrior says the same.
The third warrior, too, admits his fear.
The hundredth warrior…
“We’re almost there, brave ones. Look at that signpost.”
＜- Elber – Erindale -＞
“This is the way to Elber, the land of the monsters. Turn back if you value your life.”
“Almost home…”
Vadim steeled his heart.
It’s a dreadful land, even when touched by the hands of men.
It wouldn’t be strange if something had occurred while they vacated the place.
“Captain, something’s not right.”
“I see. Did we take a wrong turn? It doesn’t seem like it.”
This is odd.
We’ve been seeing grass and trees since a while ago.
There’s even a roaming cow.
And the cow, after ripping out a mouthful of grass, simply laid down and began to sleep.
It had a distended belly.
“We must be under an illusion spell! Blow the horn!”
“That must be it! It’s unrealistic for a cow to be that fat. Prepare the horn!”
Boooooooo…
They blew the horn.
A horn passed down through generations of the lion tribe, used to drive away evil spirits.
“The illusion is not disappearing!”
“Blow with more force!”
Whooooooooosh-
They exhaled with all their might until their lungs emptied of air.
Yet, the hallucination remained undispelled.
“Impossible. How potent is this hallucination.”
“Commander! An enraged buffalo is charging!”
“Stay calm. It’s just a hallucination.”
An irate buffalo charged at the startled Lion tribe, who had just woken up from a nap.
Badeem didn’t fall for the illusion.
He stood firm, maintaining his mental balance.
“Indeed, he’s our Commander.”
“Watch. It’s just an illusion… arghh!”
Thrown by the buffalo, Badeem flew off into the distance.
One of the Lion tribe warriors, upon noticing his Commander’s flight, tore off some grass and began to chew it.
The warrior admired it.
“Such deep flavor with abundant nutrients. Being a herbivore for ten years, I, Lebo, dare say this grass is of the highest quality.”
“Does that mean this isn’t a hallucination?”
The warriors began scorching the land.
It was acceptable food.
“What the hell happened in Erindale all this time?”
They hurriedly moved.
And they witnessed a sight they could hardly believe.
The sun warmly blessed the earth, and the grassy, expansive fields had turned a golden hue. The wheat fields swayed in the wind, reminiscent of ocean waves.
Fish darted in the clear, transparent stream water. Next to it, long-beaked birds watched the fish
Tears welled in the warriors’ eyes.
“I never thought I’d see such a sight in my lifetime.”
“Let’s quickly return to our home.”
Upon rushing back home, the warriors were greeted by an unexpected situation.
“Who are you?”
“You’re asking, ‘who are you’?”
As he opened the door to his house, a stranger stood before him.
“This is my house, isn’t it?”
“What are you talking about? This is my house.”
Lebo scratched his head.
Could he have gone to the wrong place?
No, he recognised the large stone wall next to his house.
But what was happening here?
It felt as if he had returned from the military only to find that his family had moved out without a word, a stranger now living in his home.
The homeowner, eyeing Lebo’s attire, spoke.
“Are you from the Lion Tribe, perchance?”
“Indeed, I am Lebo, a warrior of the Lion Tribe.”
“Hmm. There were rumours this day would come. Look at this.”
＜The Erin Dale Estate lends land for free to settlers who have cultivated it. This is a matter approved by His Majesty the Emperor, guaranteed by the Count of Erin Dale.＞
“I don’t read.”
“Regardless, while you folks left this land, we settlers have cultivated it. This, of course, is a matter permitted by His Majesty the Emperor and the Count of Erin Dale.”
“I… I don’t understand. Lebo isn’t good with complicated stories.”
“In simple terms, this house is now ours.”
Lebo collapsed in dismay.
There was chaos everywhere.
Similar incidents occurred elsewhere.
“Where is Mazar?”
“Mazar? I have never heard of the name.”
A hundred warriors were thus reduced to refugees.
Thump, thump, thump, thump――
Warriors echoed their drums.
Warriors who lost their homes had temporarily pitched tents in the corner of the land and were living there.
Their drumming sound was melancholy.
“I cannot possibly sleep due to that pesky sound of drums, High Priestess. Could you please advise them that creating noise after sunset is a valid reason for a duel?”
“Would you like to challenge them?”
“Oh no. I would lose for sure.”
The pioneer awkwardly scratched his head.
The blonde woman, called a saint, Ileen, wore a faint smile.
“I’m not a saint, but if you’re uncomfortable, I’ll go and speak to them.”
“Thank you. If you weren’t here, I don’t know how we would’ve survived… I can only imagine a deserted wildland.”
At his words, Ileen reminisced of the past.
A wildland without a single blade of grass.
The miracle that occurred there.
She strived earnestly to wash away a past tainted with a moment of greed.
Nomads with nowhere to go, expelled nomads gathered on this cursed land, endured hardships together, and shared their joys and sorrows.
That’s how Erendale was formed.
Now, it was no longer a cursed land, but a proud land of hope.
But still…
‘Kal.’
That name, still stuck in her heart like a thorn.
She had trampled on his pure heart. That’s why she was atoning.
If he saw her now, would he forgive her?
She was a little scared.
‘Let’s help the troubled person in front of us first.’
With that, Ileen headed to the tent where the warriors were.
From Noble mtl dot com
“How about we just knock it over? It was our land to begin with. Warrior Chief.”
“Stop!!!!!!!!”
Badim snapped at the warrior who was harboring pointless thoughts.
His scolding was harsh enough to make one cover their ears.
“It’s true that we left this land for a while, and it’s also true that they cultivated this barren land. And, above all, if we take their land, what makes us different from Elber’s monster? You’re planning to disappoint Mazar?”
The warrior sobbed, getting down on his knees.
“Warrior Chief, I think I was wrong. I apologize.”
“Then it’s okay.”
Badim wore a satisfied smile.
“We will wait until Mazar finds us.”
Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump――
The sound of the drum echoed again.
A sorrowful sound seeking Mazar.
“Excuse me.”
The figure that appeared at the site of the tent was the saint of the wilderness, Aileen.
“I’m sorry, but could you attenuate the drum sound a bit? People are voicing their sufferings.”
In an instant, the warriors’ eyes focused on Aileen.
Those robust warriors whose upper bodies were laid bare.
Aileen said what she had to say with confidence and without faltering.
“Please.”
And it’s the custom of the Lion Tribe to respect the brave.
The warrior chief, Vadim, watched Aileen with interest in his eyes.
“So, you’re the rumored saint of the wilderness.”
“It’s nothing but an exaggerated pseudonym.”
“Then tell me, this drum sounds to seek Mazar. What if Mazar can’t find us if we don’t strike the drum?”
Aileen thought for a moment, and then answered.
“But have you not been drumming for a long time? If this Mazar of yours hasn’t shown up till now, couldn’t he perhaps not hear us?”
“Can’t hear, you say? Could it be… are we abandoned?”
In Vadim’s voice, who seemed to fear not even monsters, fear was evident.
“No. Might he, now, be in a predicament? Unable to hear the call.”
“Mazar is in danger?”
Whether it was due to her voice or her divine power,
Aileen’s words had a strange persuasiveness.
The worst-case scenario fleetingly crossed Vadim’s mind.
“We must save Mazar immediately!”
“Mazar! Mazar!”
“There’s credibility in your words! Your guidance will lead us!”
“I didn’t mean it that way…”
“Aha! You must be our leader! The one mentioned in the prophecy!”
A warrior held up the book of prophecy.
-The golden leader shall guide you.
Vadim shouted.
“Warriors! Let’s go! To save Mazar! The golden leader has come to guide us!”
“Hold, wait a moment.”
The Lion Tribe utilized their specialty, leveraging the atmosphere to throw a weighty recommendation.
And so, Aileen led the warriors of the Lion Tribe into a rapid adventure.
It was as if the road they traveled on was a pilgrimage.
They traveled in search of Mazar, assisting those in need along the way and defeating evil monsters.
As they traveled eastward, their fame grew each day, and they came to be known as the ‘Golden Saintess and the Warriors of the Lion’.
And people began to whisper,
Who was this ‘Mazar’ they were seeking?
Meanwhile, in Ascal,
“Dragons attacking the Empire? You expect me to believe such nonsense.”
It was a lie. He believed it, in reality.
Ascal had known about the dragon’s attack.
But how did Suh Sia know this fact? That was his question.
“It’s true! You have to trust me.”
Suh Sia stomped her feet.
“If you knew the future, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“Well… I knew at first, but somehow my memory faded… It didn’t resurface until I went to the Holy Land.”
“Unbelievable.”
Another lie, he did trust her.
Looking back, it was Suh Sia who persuaded Ascal to apply for the evaluation department. He originally intended to follow his father, Arthur, to become a warrior, but a word from her led him to become a civil servant.
“If you join the Evaluation Department, even if you just nap all day, you still get a salary!”
He later hit his head on the tree and remembered.
It was already too late.
Yes. The root of all evil was, in fact, Suh Sia.
“eeek! Then let’s go see Lady Elenia. She can provide proof that I’m telling the truth!”
“If it will make you feel better.”
Suh Sia turned her head sharply in a slight annoyance.
Dusk had soon deepened into night.
The two arrived at a fortune-telling house located in the appraisal district.
“I’ve been waiting.”
Elenia lit a candle, setting the atmosphere.
There were two glowing pumpkins floating in the dark room.
“Don’t play tricks, Yonseuks. It’s not appreciated.”
“You found us!”
“How did you know!”
They were a pair of twins wearing pumpkin masks.
“Boo hoo… I’ve been wronged, Ms. Elenia. This person doesn’t believe me.”
“Oh, you must have felt so wronged.”
Elenia comforted Sushia, patting her back.
“I know the future! I’ve realized it now!”
“If she claims so, what do you think?”
“I don’t figure her to be lying.”
Elenia, who’d taken out a crystal ball, said,
“Would you like to give it a try?”
Then, Sushia hesitated for a moment before exchanging glances with Elenia.
“Would you mind turning around for a moment? She seems a little shy to show others.”
Unable to do otherwise, Askal turned around.
Sushia put her hand on the crystal ball.
Elenia was silent for a while and then calmly spoke.
Her tone seemed a bit shocked.
“Her words are true.”
“……Even though I hear this, how could I believe it?”
“We have prepared something. Would you lie down on this chair for a moment?”
Elenia pointed at the massage table.
It was borrowed from the Myomo tribe, of course.
“Please lie down comfortably.”
Askal lay down as instructed.
After all, he had to properly verify what Sushia claimed.
“Closing your eyes, you slowly recall the memories etched in your soul.”
Wait, does this era still have past life experiences?
“hehehe. Thanks to the sacred tree, my powers have indeed grown stronger. It was impossible in the past, but thanks to you, Askal, I’m now able to use this method. I’m grateful.”
As he heard Eleniya’s words, Askal’s eyes gradually closed.
Then he opened his eyes.
“You must catch that guy!”
“He’s the one we’ve been chasing for a month. We can’t lose him!”
Looking down, there were some patched-up clothes scattered about. And there were people in similarly patched-up clothes chasing something that looked like a giant chicken.
“It’s going that way! Askal!”
Thump, thump.
The giant chicken was coming this way.
It was very close.
Askal, surprised, took a few steps back and then accidentally tripped.
Askal instinctively closed his eyes.
“Wow! Askal caught it!”
“He’s the next leader!”
Startled by the noise, Askal opened his eyes.
In the tumble, the spear in his hand had accidentally pierced the vital spot on the giant chicken’s lower body.
The chicken lay there, lifeless.
“Praise be to Askal!”
“Askal! Askal!”
Suddenly, what on earth was happening?
Askal looked up at the sky.
…There were two suns.
-Darn it. I went too far back. This isn’t the place.
Askal closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes again, he was in a place that seemed familiar.
A dazzling room. Piles of documents like mountains.
And the woman in front of him.
“…Lia?”
“Huh?”
Something was different.
She looked like Lia, but there was a seasoned maturity to her. As if she were two or three years older than Lia.
And above all,
She was casually stroking the crown with her fingers, as if it were a plaything.
“What, a role reversal play? I’m pleased to go along with this.”
She, Yulia Barba, snickered.
“Could you please discipline me a bit, Lord Debr?”
ALV