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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
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Chapter 35: The God of the Blue Mane Tribe (1)
The old man, who had been momentarily stunned, regained his composure and removed his robe.
His hidden face was revealed.
Blue patterns were intricately drawn across his face, and his head was adorned with a feathered ornament.
Placing a hand on his chest, the old man greeted them formally.
"My name is Arandel. I am a descendant of the Blue Mane Tribe."
"I've heard of you."
Hamel nodded, slightly surprised.
They were a tribe of druids.
One of the minority groups that made significant contributions during the transition from the mythical age to the age of humans.
The first emperor was renowned for acknowledging their contributions and granting them autonomy.
"It is an honor to meet such an esteemed tribe."
"The honor is mine. Though I was surprised by the sudden visit of the lord."
Arandel gave a hearty laugh and gestured towards Hamel and his companions.
"Come with me. I have lost in a contest of strength, so I have no choice but to yield."
"Thank you."
Hamel expressed his gratitude politely.
Judging from the powerful aura emanating from Arandel, he was not someone to be underestimated.
He wouldn't have known before, but after using the power of dragon blood last time, he had become more sensitive to the flow of mana.
'He's quite strong.'
Perhaps if Arandel had fought seriously, Hamel wouldn't have won easily.
Things had simply worked out smoothly because Arandel had decided to talk to Hamel.
Meanwhile, Benjamin, unaware of this fact, adjusted his monocle and expressed his admiration.
"The more I see, the more surprised I am. I heard you were an exorcist, but to subdue those who even the elites of our company couldn't handle so easily..."
"I was lucky."
Hamel shook his head and replied.
But even this seemed to impress Benjamin, who nodded vigorously.
"To possess swordsmanship skills surpassing even a knight and yet conceal them... It's something to learn from as a businessman."
Hamel tried to add something, sensing a misunderstanding, but then gave up.
He felt like anything he said would only deepen the misunderstanding.
As they followed Arandel while conversing, a small village with a wooden fence came into view as they entered the forest.
"This is our tribe's village. Come in."
As they followed him inside, hundreds of gazes fell upon them.
"Outsiders?"
"Why are those people here...?"
"What is the chieftain thinking...?"
Their gazes were piercing.
Gazes filled with distrust, wariness, and fear.
But neither Hamel nor Benjamin blinked an eye.
Both were quite accustomed to such gazes.
"We'll talk here."
An elder led them to a large tent in the center of the village.
Inside, seats were arranged in a circle around a fireplace.
Arandel, instead of sitting in the chieftain's seat, sat facing Hamel and spoke,
"So, what brings you here?"
"It's due to a deal with the lord of Sorn."
"...I see."
Arandel's face hardened at the mention of the lord.
This confirmed Hamel's suspicion of a conflict between the two groups.
"He wants the Blue Mane Tribe to open the occupied road and withdraw."
"I know."
Arandel tapped his fingers impatiently.
"But this is our land. Where are we supposed to withdraw to? We have made concessions so far, but all we received in return was contempt and disregard. Didn't you see it on your way here?"
"..."
Hamel nodded.
It was not hard to see.
The forest, deforested, cleared, and desolate.
For druids, the forest and nature were their home and akin to the gods they served.
'This place, the Rosel Forest, was their home.'
If so, their conflict was inevitable.
"Negotiations with the lord..."
"We've tried countless times. He would say he understood, and the next day, hundreds of trees would be cut down."
Hamel thought of Viscount Ramsey.
That sly and greedy man was certainly capable of such behavior.
'Perhaps what the viscount is aiming for is...'
Hamel put aside the hypothesis that came to mind for a moment and said to Arandel,
"But if this continues, a direct confrontation with the lord will be unavoidable."
"...We're prepared for that. We have our reasons for not being able to retreat any further."
Hamel tilted his head.
Judging from Arandel's attitude, it didn't seem to be just a territorial dispute.
"What are those reasons?"
"..."
Arandel looked at Hamel with a complicated expression for a moment.
Then, he spoke,
"You also said you were a priest. Which god do you serve?"
It was an unexpected question, but Hamel simply answered calmly,
"I serve all the good gods. And I follow the path of Ehurshica, the god of order and death."
"I see."
Arandel nodded.
Then he asked Hamel again,
"Then what would you do if that god was dying?"
"..."
Hamel was taken aback.
Of course, the scriptures said that even gods would face death when the end times approached, but that was just a metaphorical expression.
Gods were eternal and immortal beings.
However, Hamel put those facts aside and imagined it.
The answer was simple.
"I would strive to save them."
It was a natural response.
They were the ones he served, the direction he followed.
For Hamel, the will and words of Ehurshica were his justice and belief.
Hamel wasn't the only one.
No priest would stand idly by while their god was dying.
At Hamel's answer, Arandel smiled bitterly.
"Indeed. That's how we feel as well. We can no longer watch our god die."
"...?"
As Hamel looked puzzled, Arandel rose from his seat.
"Follow me. Seeing is believing."
And a little while later,
After a short walk into the forest behind the village, a clearing appeared before them.
A clearing bathed in sunlight.
In the middle of it was something huge with blue fur.
That something was breathing in and out with difficulty, then...
Whoosh!
It opened its eyes, revealing an overwhelming presence.
Slightly parted lips revealed sharp, white fangs.
An aura comparable to the special-grade demons of the mythical age.
"What is that?"
Hamel unconsciously placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and asked.
Arandel replied with a sorrowful expression,
"Stop that. That is our god."
Hamel paused and examined the being.
The being blinked and closed its eyes again, as if it had no intention of attacking.
Looking closely, its eyes were watery and had rheum in the corners.
Its parted lips revealed ragged breaths, and its gums were stained with bloody saliva.
Only then did Hamel relax his guard and lower his hand.
Seeing this, Arandel stepped forward in front of the god, knelt down, and said,
"Tarkasi, the lord of the Heidern has come."
Perhaps it heard Arandel's words.
Its ears twitched, and then it slowly raised its head.
A giant wolf, large enough to swallow a lamb in one bite, looked down at Hamel with weary eyes.
As Hamel stared at the wolf in wonder, Arandel said,
"Greetings. This is Tarkasi, the Blue Wolf, the god served by the Blue Mane Tribe and the master of this Rosel Forest."
***
"Greetings, Master of the Forest."
Hamel bowed to the wolf.
Unlike demons, these beings sided with humans despite possessing supernatural powers.
According to the church's doctrine, they were not gods.
However, because they helped the good gods, benefited the world, and followed and served their will, they were called Bodhisattvas, seekers of enlightenment, and revered as representatives of the gods.
[...Growl.]
A rumbling sound came from the wolf called Tarkasi.
As it slowly raised its massive body, the fallen leaves scattered with a rustling sound.
The giant wolf, stretching its body, let out a long howl.
Awoooooooo!
Hamel's body trembled, and his hair stood on end.
The predator's roar paralyzed every nerve in his body.
'The power I feel is weak, but its presence is not inferior to even the Man-faced Lion, Riteil.'
If it weren't in this state, he couldn't even imagine how strong it would have been.
While Hamel was secretly assessing its power and clicking his tongue in wonder, Tarkasi slightly raised its head, sniffed the air as if it was dry, and then stared intently at Hamel.
[...Lord of the Heidern and priest serving Ehurshica.]
"Yes."
Momentarily surprised that Tarkasi could speak, Hamel reflexively replied and tilted his head.
Arandel should have introduced him as the lord.
How did it know that he served Ehurshica?
But before his question could fade, unbelievable words flowed from Tarkasi's mouth.
[You are a mixture. A greedy one, serving a god while taking its power.]
"...!"
Hamel knew what that power was without needing to be told.
Dragon blood.
Tarkasi had recognized it at a glance.
"You know about this power?"
[I saw it often in the old days. The so-called heroes of the mythical age were all a bunch of loose screws.]
Hamel was excited to hear about his condition from such an unexpected source.
He was hurriedly organizing the questions he wanted to ask when
Tarkasi spoke as if seeing through Hamel.
[You must be curious about how to control and handle that power.]
"...Indeed."
The life of a dragonkin was a terminally ill one, accompanied by excruciating pain proportional to their immense power.
It was said that one could become a complete being if they could obtain the heart of a dragon, but that was just a legend.
No one had ever obtained a dragon's heart.
Those with exceptional skills extended their lifespans through dragon byproducts, but in the end, they only became monsters, driven mad and losing their sense of self.
'I'm suppressing the power by absorbing demons, but...'
It was uncertain how long this temporary measure would remain effective.
He had to find another way if there was one.
Despite Hamel's expectant gaze, Tarkasi replied coldly,
[I know nothing about that.]
"...I see."
Hamel slowly nodded.
It was disappointing, but it was an unexpected piece of luck, so he shouldn't be discouraged.
At that moment, Tarkasi's eyes flashed.
[However.]
"...?"
Tarkasi pushed its head towards Hamel and said,
Exhaling a foul smell of rotting flesh, Tarkasi opened its mouth.
[I might be able to tell you how to handle that power.]
Hamel's eyes widened in surprise, a rare sight.
If he could handle the dragon's power, it would be of great help on his journey.
"I want to learn."
[Is that so?]
As Hamel nodded, Tarkasi gurgled with a phlegm-filled sound.
It was probably laughter.
[But I can't tell you for nothing. As you can see, I'm in this state, so I'd like to receive some help.]
"Tell me what you need."
At Hamel's immediate answer, Tarkasi let out another satisfied chuckle and opened its mouth.
[Something is harming the spirit of the forest and eating away at me. I had the Blue Mane Tribe stop logging the forest, but that's only a temporary solution.]
"So that's why."
Hamel looked at Arandel.
Arandel simply nodded with a gloomy expression.
"We have our suspicions, but it's impossible for us to solve with our own power."
Tarkasi looked at Arandel for a moment, then said to Hamel,
[If you help Arandel solve the problem, I'll teach you how to handle the power, as promised.]
Hamel's deliberation was brief.
If he solved the problem that was devastating the forest, Tarkasi would regain its strength, and the tribe would lift the occupation of the road.
Then, not only would he be able to learn about the dragon's power, but he would also be able to fulfill the lord's request.
The issues of logging and the Blue Mane Tribe's livelihood would remain, but unfortunately, those were not things Hamel could easily intervene in.
"Alright."
Hamel accepted Tarkasi's request.
Hearing the answer, Tarkasi growled lowly and then lay down on the ground, seemingly exhausted.
[...I need to rest for a bit now.]
"It won't take that long."
[Chuckle. You're a confident priest. I don't dislike your spirit.]
Tarkasi chuckled and slowly closed its eyes.
[Go. I hope your confidence isn't just recklessness...]
With those last words, Tarkasi took a breath and fell asleep.
Hamel turned his gaze to Arandel.
"It seems we don't have much time."
"...Actually, it might be surprisingly easy if you, a priest and lord, help us."
Arandel said with a bitter smile.
As Hamel stared at him instead of replying, Arandel shrugged and answered,
"We druids use the spirit of the forest to perform our magic, but we cannot use divine power. However, the strange traces found in the forest seem to be of that power."
"You mean..."
Hamel asked, feeling a sense of foreboding.
"That's right. It's faint, but I can sense divinity. A priest who knows how to handle divine power might have a way to solve it."
"..."
Hamel swallowed dryly instead of answering.
Who was he?
He had barely scratched the surface of understanding mana.
Originally, a half-baked priest who couldn't handle mana or divine power.
That was Hamel.
'...Should I have brought Antonio?'
Antonio's absence was keenly felt.
But what could he do?
If he didn't have teeth, he had to use his gums.
Hamel swallowed a sigh and replied,
"Lead the way."
"That's reassuring."
As Arandel smiled brightly and nodded, a drop of cold sweat trickled down Hamel's back.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
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