NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26
Chapter 26 – Trial (6)
“Oh no, this can’t be happening. There’s no way this is real!”
A brief but intense battle. With neither side having many forces, a single clash decided the outcome.
The shaman, Garon, muttered in disbelief as his allies fell in an instant, as if he was dreaming.
‘Who the hell is that girl?!’
His gaze shifted from the horses to Riena, who was single-handedly facing off against the warriors.
Despite being an experienced and strong elite warrior, it was unbelievable that her commander, who had left skill out of his consideration, fell victim to Riena’s sword. Yet, the greatest shock was that his own magic was instantly purified by the power she wielded.
To Garon, who had thought his learned magic was the greatest defense in this grassland, Riena’s existence and her strength were beyond comprehension.
“Damn it!”
Grimacing, he activated his magic against the opponent charging at him. Flames erupted in a fan shape against the approaching foes, but at the forefront stood Chieftain Balun, who was beginning to grasp the essence of magic.
Balun summoned a pillar of earth to block the flames, and at the same time, an arrow struck Garon in the shoulder.
“AAAH!”
Screaming, Garon clutched the arrow embedded in his shoulder and knelt, while the rushing opponents aimed their weapons at him.
The nearby prisoners, restrained, could only watch helplessly as the powerful predator that sought to devour them was defeated by a stronger predator.
“Who the hell are you?”
“Cough, that’s what we should be asking. You’re not from beyond the wall, are you? Just pathetic betrayers!”
As Garon trembled, Balun inquired about his identity, but Garon sneered and gritted his teeth. To Garon, Balun and his group appeared as henchmen siding with the residents.
“We’re not their henchmen. But such rules have long vanished from this area, haven’t they? You’re currently raiding your own kind to drag them into slavery.”
Balun clicked his tongue and shook his head at Garon’s words. It was plain survival of the fittest. To stay alive, one must resort to any means necessary.
The concept of unity among kin has long dissipated among the grassland tribes.
“Foolish talk…”
‘There’s still a chance.’
Grinding his teeth, Garon began to sweat profusely as he spotted Riena approaching with her steed.
He believed he still had one move left. The dark magic he had been secretly preparing could momentarily shatter his opponent’s mind and turn her into a puppet.
If he could make this strong warrior his marionette, he would surely escape this crisis.
Though she had shown the ability to purify evil spirits, this remained his last resort. His only glimmer of hope lay in the fact that the battle-hardened warriors of the grassland had no resistance against mental attacks.
“Don’t underestimate me! It’s not over yet!”
As soon as Riena entered the range, Garon reached out to her, casting his magic.
“What’s this?”
At the same moment, a brilliant light erupted. According to the power of Celestial Blessing, which granted immunity to all mental debuffs, his spell disintegrated upon casting, causing Riena to furrow her brow without any effect.
“Oh dear, I had so many questions. Where on earth did this unimpressive guy learn such magic?”
“What on earth was he trying to do?”
Balun sighed. Before the surrounding soldiers could execute Garon, he convulsed and died foaming at the mouth.
It was one of the side effects of the strong dark magic he wielded, but in that moment, no one knew it.
“Well, the battle seems roughly settled, so all that’s left is to clean up.”
Having quickly put aside his thoughts about Garon, Balun surveyed the area. The battle that had echoed with shouts and chaos had soon quieted, and numerous trembling gazes were fixed upon them.
‘This is problematic.’
From the perspective of the prisoners, they were merely a source of terror. Balun, who had hoped to pacify them and integrate them into the tribe, smiled helplessly at the fearful expressions of the captives.
“You needn’t worry too much. We have no intention of treating you harshly. It might be hard to believe, but we’re also refugees who fled from marauders.”
Even so, he spoke to reassure the captives. Even if his words didn’t lessen their suspicions, when Balun personally loosened their bindings, the cold, tense atmosphere began to change rapidly.
*
“We have settled deep in the east. There’s plenty of food there. Let’s go live together.”
Balun persuaded them. Even if he were to forcibly make them slaves, they had no grounds to complain, so this offer alone was enough to earn their goodwill.
There were no other options. Their hometown had long been ravaged. Returning to their burnt-down village would only lead them to be preyed upon by other marauders.
They were weak, bound to be devoured wherever they went. Therefore, it would be a wise choice to merge with those who would treat them with respect.
‘How magnificent…’
As the public sentiment shifted positively, fear quickly transformed into awe. Simple-minded children especially reacted this way.
Even Shuri, the young girl who had been furious at the marauders who stole everything she had, felt the same. Her eyes particularly focused on Riena.
The strength of Riena, who had repelled the evil spirits summoned by the shaman with brilliant light, undoubtedly held power to sway the hearts of people.
When Riena met Shuri’s gaze and smiled faintly, it flustered the girl for no reason.
“Chieftain, look at this.”
“Oh, um, those are the goods the marauders pillaged from our village.”
At that moment, someone shifted their attention from the people to the loot, calling out to Balun.
The representative of the prisoners, glancing cautiously, pointed out that the stacked goods were indeed the spoils of their village.
“How curious these items are.”
“Please take them, Chieftain. You’re our chief now.”
“No, I didn’t mean it in that way. Ahem.”
The representative, bandaged on the arm, was the first to suggest that Balun take all the spoils. It was an offering in return for Balun’s kindness in accepting them not as slaves but as members of the tribe.
“No reason to leave them behind.”
Balun muttered absentmindedly, then picked up a small gold ring from the variety of loot that included fabrics and ironware. Truly an ordinary gold ring. This precious metal, having flowed in from a civilization beyond the wall, had surely made its way here after changing hands among various tribes.
Yet they understood the value of precious metal. While it was nearly useless in the grassland, the settled people were mad for it.
“Were you interested in gold?”
“No, that’s not it, Riena.”
Riena approached, grinning at the sight of Balun contemplating the gold, reminiscent of her father’s image she had never seen.
But Balun shook his head. He wasn’t examining the gold ring for his own desire.
“I haven’t mentioned to the new residents yet, but you know it too, right? The reason we could win the battle this time was all thanks to that person’s blessing.”
“Th-that’s…”
She flinched at Balun’s mention of the individual.
It had been something she hadn’t realized until now, even though she had been feeling uplifted after defeating the hardened veteran warriors.
“Up to now, we’ve only received from that one. I wanted to repay, but there’s been no opportunity. But how long will that be the case? We mustn’t take everything for granted.”
Balun advised her in a serious tone. Riena opened and closed her mouth, trying to formulate an excuse, yet unable to find any words.
The more she relied on him for help, the more unconsciously, she began to take that help for granted.
“So how can we possibly repay that person’s kindness?”
“I don’t know either. I doubt any superficial offerings would mean anything. But if that person is watching us, I’d like to show at least a gesture of sincerity.”
Balun resolved to hold a ritual. After all, in their traditions, there were certainly practices of offering thanks to divine beings for victories in war or successes in hunts.
Without confidence on whether it would work, he considered dedicating the gold ring, one of the spoils obtained from this battle.
It wouldn’t matter if that individual didn’t accept the ring. As long as they recognized their sincerity and intent, that would be sufficient. If they desired something different, surely, they would hint at it, and Balun would be determined to fulfill that request.
“Everyone, let’s move. Returning will take some time.”
Soon, Balun led everyone in the opposite direction from where they had originally intended to go. To their new settlement.
“Let’s chat a bit on the way. Although our scouts stumbled upon you and helped, in reality, we don’t know much about what’s happening around here.”
“Of course, Chieftain.”
On the road, Balun gathered information from the captives. He probed what had happened in their village and who the marauders they had just fought against were.
“It’s Karun’s tribe.”
“They continue to attempt raids toward the east, in this direction, increasing their size. Some who lived around here voluntarily joined them. As I’ve heard, they’re in the thousands, with many warriors and hundreds of sturdy soldiers.”
“So they, strong as they are, are also being pushed eastward from the central area?”
Balun fell silent upon hearing the detailed information about the marauders. If what they said was true, the marauders were also expanding their power through raids to avoid being preyed upon by other marauders.
If their operating area kept expanding, conflict was inevitable.
‘We also need to grow strong before that. Is it possible?’
Having decided not to run away any longer, a battle was necessary when the time came. He ventured into war and activity today for that very purpose.
However, Balun still felt inadequate. He had gained special powers through miraculous connections, but the existing strong were too far ahead.
Their foes were not only other tribes but also inexplicable monsters like Glitches and Bugs.
‘It doesn’t seem impossible.’
Yet Balun was confident he had glimpsed hope to surpass that reality, clenching the gold ring in his hand tightly.