"Should I call it the return of the prodigal?"
The chieftain welcomed Rem warmly because he knew of his abilities. Having a warrior of his caliber return in a situation like this was a great relief.
But that didn't mean the situation was completely secure.
No, even with Rem here, hope was something that could hardly be discussed. That was the truth.
'Even for Rem, facing those two monsters at the same time would be tough.'
The chieftain recalled the two Giants threatening his tribe. His previously bright expression darkened in an instant, only to brighten up again.
Either way, good news was good news.
Even if the pressure made him feel like pissing blood, what's the point of living if you can't enjoy the present?
"Welcome back."
The space was wide enough to accommodate a campfire in the middle of a tent with a round ceiling made of stiff fabric.
The fire wasn't particularly large, but the fact that the firewood was regularly replenished indicated it was a luxury only the chieftain could enjoy.
A slab of meat was skewered and roasting over the flames.
It was wild rat, drained of blood, skinned, and gutted before being flattened and grilled.
The innards were poisonous and inedible, so this was the best option.
It had been a long time since he'd seen Western-style grilled rat.
The chieftain, seated on a fur chair, welcomed Rem with a shifting expression, turning pale before brightening again, and then glanced at Ayul nervously, coughing awkwardly.
He hadn't become a chieftain because of his exceptional skill.
He was a popular chieftain, not one known for fighting prowess.
That's why the current crisis felt even more daunting.
Even so, the fact that they were still holding on could be considered encouraging.
In any case, the West was in a complicated situation right now.
"I came for my sorcery rite."
Rem cut to the chase.
The chieftain blinked a few times, pondering.
He'd known for a long time that this guy only ever thought about himself.
A man like him had deserted his tribe and run away.
"Now's not a good time."
The chieftain shook his head.
"Why's that?"
"The sanctuary's been taken by another tribe."
"...Taken? What do you mean?"
The sanctuary was sacred ground protected by all the tribes gathered here.
On a smaller scale, it was where they received sorcery blessings and guardian spirits.
On a larger scale, it was a place steeped in tradition and the souls of their ancestors.
The Western people were often buried in the sanctuary after death.
In short, it was land they would risk their lives to protect.
And that land had been taken?
Now that he thought about it, it did seem strange.
From the Giants taking over one village to the current situation.
Originally, the Western people were nomads, wandering in search of pastures.
So why were they all gathered together? Large gatherings like this rarely happened.
At most, they'd gather twice a year, and that was only in autumn or spring.
In autumn, there was plenty to eat, so it was a time for sharing.
In spring, on the other hand, food was scarce, so they'd gather to survive.
Once when food was plentiful, and once when it was scarce. That meant they weren't supposed to be gathering now.
At the moment, they should be able to survive, which meant there was a problem forcing them to gather.
"Since you left, nothing's gone right."
Ayul, who had followed, seized the moment to throw a dagger of criticism.
Rem knew nothing he said would be heard right now, so Ayul's feelings would have to be dealt with later. Even if it meant facing her axe, it was something he had to deal with.
'It's my fault.'
It was true that everything was his fault.
Encrid and Luagarne weren't wrong in what they said.
Dunbachel might not have known, but...
"That's how things are."
The chieftain's face darkened again.
Too many difficult problems had erupted at once for him to do anything on his own. It wasn't just the pressure making him piss blood and lose sleep. His eyes, hidden by markings, had grown dark and sunken, as though one day the pressure itself might kill him.
Where should he start explaining?
The chieftain thought for a moment before speaking.
"Well, you know about the cannibals, right?"
How could he not know about the scourge of the West?
No matter how many cannibals they beat down and killed, somewhere they would always reemerge.
They were a warrior tribe, after all, and good at fighting.
Before Rem left, he had split the head of the strongest of these cannibals.
He thought the group would collapse after losing their leader, but apparently, they hadn't.
The chieftain skipped the details and said bluntly:
"One day, a Giant cannibal appeared."
The Westerners prioritized practicality over etiquette.
Thanks to that, they had words that clearly defined ambiguous situations.
Terms like 'Utkeiora' or 'Dusk Horizon' were representative of this.
Dusk horizon, when explained, referred to the dawn before sunrise. It implied that while dawn was coming, it hadn't arrived yet.
That trait was showing itself again.
How does a Giant cannibal suddenly come into the picture?
"What do they have to do with each other?"
"I suspected they were sent by the continent."
As Rem let Ayul's words go in one ear and out the other, the chieftain continued.
"The cannibal tribe vanished from where they were, and then the Giants appeared."
So there wasn't a big connection? Or was something happening on their side too?
For now, it was unclear.
"Those bastards attacked and wiped out two tribes."
The chieftain picked up a thin piece of firewood, slapping it against his palm as he spoke.
"And you don't know where they came from?"
"I don't."
So all they had to do was kill the Giant cannibals?
As Rem pondered, the chieftain spoke again.
"And the Fortune-teller tribe went mad, for some reason."
The Fortune-teller tribe was a group entirely composed of sorcerers.
Individually, they weren't much of a threat, but when they worked together, they were a significant headache.
They were adept at group rituals, after all.
"Wait, seriously?"
Rem tilted his head and asked.
"I thought maybe they went mad because you passed through and stirred things up."
Ayul's nonsense was ignored.
"Yes."
The chieftain nodded, ignoring Ayul for a moment. It was true that a collective ritual had been performed.
"Was it a petition? Or a ceremony?"
Both were forms of group rituals, but slightly different.
A petition was a smaller-scale sorcery ritual, while a ceremony involved a large-scale group ritual.
If they performed a ceremony and attacked this side, it would have been quite difficult to handle. Not just difficult—if they managed to stop it, it would be a miracle.
"Over a hundred people died from a blood-altering curse, and there are more lying in a coma."
Oh? It was a complete disaster.
Rem blinked. So what was the situation exactly?
Did the Giants and the Fortune-teller tribe team up?
Why?
Do they even mix well?
As for the Giants, Rem had seen them on the way here.
He noticed some groups had abandoned their usual posts.
The Nares tribe's spot had been left with only a large cauldron and broken palisades.
"Did the Mura tribe get hit?"
"They did. Some survivors sought refuge with our tribe."
Well, that was fortunate.
"There are also rumors of outsiders. Some say they've seen Fairies or strange wizards."
"And they think you brought them here?"
Rem continued to let Ayul's words pass through one ear and out the other.
The chieftain had closed his ears entirely.
Rem wondered if they had discovered a gold mine while he was gone.
What was it about this place that drew everyone in?
Even though the sanctuary was important to these tribes, it wasn't like it held significance for outsiders.
For Rem, the sanctuary was where the ritual, his weapon, and the sorcery catalyst were sealed, but for others? Not so much.
So what was the deal? Why was everyone making a mess of things here?
Coming back after so long, he found the house filled with three different packs of dogs tearing it apart.
"If you didn't send them, shouldn't you mind your own business?"
Ayul, bitter as ever, hurled more daggers of reproach.
Who was he to ask questions and demand answers when he showed up late?
"Enough, Ayul."
The chieftain scolded her, but she didn't listen.
Juol interjected with some additional details.
He mentioned that a few smaller tribes from the Nares and Maru, as well as the Garam tribe, had all been hit.
"Those two Giants are too strong."
There were two absurdly powerful monsters.
"The eldest sorcerer collapsed while trying to block the curse. He might die from it."
On top of that, the eldest sorcerer, the most skilled sorcerer, had collapsed.
Was this really happening?
For a moment, Rem wondered if, instead of bringing purification, he had brought misfortune with him.
"The two Giants will be fine."
Those bastards would be no problem once they were killed. Rem was confident he had the skill to deal with them.
".....Even you might struggle. If you're relying on that Frog, I'd suggest you reconsider."
Juol spoke up.
The chieftain tossed the firewood into the campfire.
The firewood resisted the flames for a moment before catching fire. The campfire flared up, casting long shadows on the ceiling.
"It'll be fine. They're just two Giants."
Rem repeated.
"Those two are a problem, but their numbers are also overwhelming."
"How many battles have there been?"
"Two."
And they'd lost both, which was why they'd lost the path to the sanctuary as well.
"Even with the guardian spirit on your side?"
Rem asked Juol more questions about the two terrifying Giants.
He couldn't judge based on what he'd heard alone, but they didn't seem like warriors who fought like Knights.
Before the curse took him down, several capable warriors had tried to stop them.
"What about the continent's settlers in the frontier?"
Rem asked, knowing that some people had been trying to build a settlement there.
"They've been no help. They didn't seem interested in getting involved."
The West was divided between the frontier and the native lands.
Although it was called the frontier, there was no farmland. The empire had only established a few outposts, remnants of which still stood.
But even those outposts had been deserted recently.
'What's going on?'
As Rem listened, something kept nagging at him.
Whether it was the outsiders or the Giants, there had to be something they wanted to gain.
Nobody labors all day for free without expecting something in return.
That meant there was something these groups were after.
A hazy picture was beginning to form in his mind. He felt like he was onto something, yet it remained unclear.
Well, for now, the task at hand was obvious.
The Giants had to be dealt with.
"Oh look, the greatest warrior of the West has arrived."
Ayul's voice was still nagging at him.
'Maybe I need to calm Ayul down first.'
At this rate, he'd get an axe to the back of the head.
In any case, it was clear they'd have to fight hard to bring this land back to normal.
'Looks like I did bring a bit of purification with me.'
If not, everyone would have died, Ayul included, before they'd even reached this point.
Hearing the chieftain's story, it became clear this was more than just a crisis—it was on the verge of collapse.
And yet, they seemed to be taking it too lightly.
At least the chieftain, Ayul, Juol, and Hira were willing to take action.
On the way, Rem had entrusted Encrid to the fortune-teller Hira.
'Even the Captain came with me.'
They wouldn't lose the battle.
There was no way they'd get wiped out by a few monstrous creatures.
"Two Giants? I can handle that."
Rem repeated again.
"Once again, if you're counting on that Frog, you should reconsider. Honestly, I'd rather you didn't get involved. This is no mere dusk horizon situation."
Juol tried to dissuade Rem again.
This was coming from the man who knew Rem's abilities better than anyone.
Why didn't he want Rem involved?
Curious, Rem asked.
"Because if we lose you, there's no hope left."
A bleak sentiment. Juol had once been an optimistic man.
For him to say something like that showed how desperate the situation was.
"It'll be fine. Did you think I've just been slacking off all this time?"
"Many people have already fallen to those two Giants. Even Below's father fell."
Rem's eyebrow twitched.
Below from the Maru tribe had been his friend, and his father had taught him how to wield an axe.
Before Rem left, Below's father had been the only one capable of fighting him as an equal.
In a life-or-death duel, it was hard to say who would win.
"He didn't last long."
Juol's words made Rem's gaze shift toward the chieftain.
Is it true? His eyes seemed to ask. The chieftain nodded.
"Right now, we don't have enough warriors. We can't scatter, either. If we do, we'll all be picked off. But if we stay put, we'll starve from lack of food."
The chieftain explained the harsh reality.
He wasn't an idiot, just out of options.
"Understood, for now."
Rem began to speak but then paused, lifting his head to look at the shadows dancing on the ceiling, cast by the flickering campfire.
Then, he continued.
"Let's take a look at this curse situation."
"Not that you can perform any sorcereric rituals."
Though Ayul's words were barbed, she moved quickly.
Even though her words were sharp, Ayul was someone who would do anything for her tribe.
She knew it was a stroke of luck that Rem had shown up at this moment.
If not, she might have kept swinging her axe until the bitter end.
'Is a crisis also an opportunity?'
Rem wondered.
If Ayul was holding back her temper thanks to the current situation, maybe.
At the very least, he'd bought some time to explain himself.
Rem took a step forward, wanting to see those afflicted by the curse. Assessing the situation was the first priority.
As he headed for the tent's exit, the chieftain called out from behind.
"Yes, go check it out. And truly, welcome back, my new son."
'New son' was the term used to address a daughter's husband.
He was Ayul's father, and thus the father of the tribe. That's why he had become chieftain.
"I'm a bit late."
Rem replied, and Ayul chimed in beside him.
"Very late, actually."
He knew. He knew all too well.
That's why he had nothing more to say.
Rem moved in silence, with Ayul leading the way and Juol following.
'It seems like things are incredibly bad right now.'
Rem, who had been outside the tribe's boundaries, felt a greater sense of danger than those who had been trapped inside.
As he walked, he organized his thoughts, concluding that stopping the Giant horde would be impossible.
Without him, that is.
'As time goes on, the curse will weaken the tribe.'
Once the Giants attacked with the curse in play, crushing the tribe would be as easy as twisting a child's wrist.
All it would take was a little cruelty.
And for man-eating Giants, cruelty came naturally.
'But why?'
If the goal was to unite these nomadic people, who didn't have a permanent home, what was the purpose of it all? Was that the goal itself?
Was there anything in the West worth taking?
As Rem pondered, he thought he had an idea of what the enemy might be after.
'People?'
Outsiders, Giants, curses.
Somehow, those three elements formed a picture, though it was still unclear.
But for now, there wasn't enough information.
'This is a headache.'
Meanwhile, Ayul kept shooting him side glances, which only added to his stress.
They arrived at a tent that was billowing with thick, smoky fumes.
"It's not a fainting spell, it's a miracle!"
A voice called out in astonishment, so startled that it stammered.
* * *
Encrid was a little surprised.
'What did I just do? Nothing. All I did was hold his hand.'
Yet the boy had opened his eyes wide.
"Huh?"
The boy opened his mouth and let out a startled sound.
His eyes sparkled like starlight.
"Who are you?"
The boy asked.
Encrid responded.
"Encrid. Call me Enki. My name's a bit long, people say it's hard to pronounce."
"Oh, you're an outsider."
The boy said.
Nearby, a woman with a menacing aura who had been burning some herbs looked on. She was the woman Encrid had passed earlier while entering the village, the one who had been with the three girls.
Her eyes widened.
The traces of the curse that had spread throughout the boy's body had halted, and now he was awake, so it was no wonder she was shocked.
The woman lifted the blanket covering the boy to inspect his body, her gaze darting back to Encrid.
"...What's going on?"
She muttered, clearly in shock. She didn't seem to realize what she was saying.
After a brief silence, her previously hazy eyes became sharp and focused.
Her gaze didn't leave the boy.
"He's healing."
Hira said.
The twins, who had been massaging their calves while resting, approached.
"It's real."
They said simultaneously.
Hira, in complete disbelief, exclaimed.
"It's not a fainting spell, it's a miracle!"
Encrid had trouble keeping up with their conversation.
[T/L: Please support me AND read further chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans.]
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