<h4>Chapter 68: Missed (1)</h4>
Terms used in this chapter:
The person near the ink will be ck – a Korean idiom which means that if you are close/get along with bad friends, you will likely be bad like them. In short, a good person will be bad if they hang around with bad people. It is slightly simr to ‘one rotten apple spoils the barrel,’ but in this idiom’s case, the subject is the already bad person who turns good people into doing bad too.
“I’ll exin what the dragon vein is first.”
Having heard about the story of the Guardians of the Holy Cross and the witch’s soul, Violent Avnche had a face like that of a seasoned veteran.
Violent Avnche had been worried on what to do given its very desperate situation, but unexpectedly, a helping hand came and relieved its worries.
“First of all, you two should sit down. It’s going to be a long story.”
Violent Avnche tapped on the spot next to it, before it slightly wriggled its butt to move into a morefortable sitting position.
Cordelia sat next to Violent Avnche who was like a teddy bear, while Jude sat opposite them.
“The dragon vein is a stream of divine power that flows throughout the entire wildnd.”
“Does the dragon vein exist only in the wildnds?”
Violent Avnche nodded at Cordelia’s question.
“Yes. The truth is…the dragon vein was originally called the ley line, and these ley lines were spread out all over the entire continent…or rather, throughout the entire. However, the wild gods used their powers on a portion of these ley lines for quite some time to create what we call the dragon vein now.”
In short, they removed some of the original infrastructure and upgraded it.
Cordelia asked again.
“Is the dragon vein something like the wild gods’ source of power?”
“Not entirely. However…it is true that us wild gods have our strength increased when we are near the dragon vein. Thend where the dragon veins flow is what we call our sanctuary, and when we leave our sanctuary, we lose our connection with the dragon vein, and our strength also weakens.”
“Uh…does that mean that it’s difficult for the wild gods if they lose the dragon vein?”
“It’s notpletely difficult. It’spletely difficult…but there are also some strong wild gods who do notpletely rely on the dragon vein…”
But from the way Violent Avnche spoke, it seemed like Violent Avnche belonged to the group of wild gods who found it difficult if they lost their connection with the dragon vein.
“The dragon vein is extremely important then.”
“Yes. I’m not trying to brag, but the reason why everyone can live in the wildnds is because of the sanctuary’s existence that us wild gods look after. But if the dragon vein is destroyed, the sanctuary is also destroyed, and the wildnds will eventually be and of death.”
Jude nodded his head.
In fact, the wildnds that appeared in the game was a barrennd that was uninhabitable for any living beings.
“But I think they’re trying to do something worse.”
“They’re not turning it into and of death?”
“Yes, they tried to contaminate the dragon vein. Rather than destroying it…it seemed like they were trying to use the dragon vein for something bad.”
“You’re right,e to think of it, you’ve said it before, right? If the dragon vein is contaminated and corrupted, you’ll also be corrupted.”
At Cordelia’s words, Violent Avnche nodded with a gloomy face.
And in the midst of this serious talk, Jude looked at Cordelia, as if he found her talking to be something unexpected.
Cordelia would usually be silent when Jude was talking to someone else because she didn’t know much about their discussion, but now, she was listening to the conversation and even responding well to it.
Her skill to naturally lead the conversation was also good.
‘It doesn’t seem like she’s thinking about it.’
She was just doing it naturally.
‘In fact, I’ve been talking more ever since I met her too.’
Remembering when he first began ying Legend of Heroes 2, Jude was almost preupied with his past memories for a while, but he soon shook his head and dismissed his thoughts.
Their conversation with Violent Avnche was more important than his current thoughts now.
“As they polluted the dragon vein, I also began feeling strange. I desperately resisted…and if you two hadn’te, I would’ve definitely lost my reason and be a crazy monster.”
Violent Avnche shook its head as if just imagining it was horrible.
Cordelia stroked Violent Avnche’s back as she looked at Jude.
‘You have a rough idea about it, right?’
‘Yes, I think I know what happened.’
After he roughly matched the story in Legend of Heroes 2 and in their current situation, he arrived at a conclusion.
What Zarakul poured into the dragon vein was Belial’s blood.
Of course, it wasn’t literally Belial’s blood, but the sacrifices’ blood that was infused with Belial’s power through a special ceremony.
“Violent Avnche, it seems that they’re intending to corrupt the entire wildnds by corrupting the dragon vein and the wild gods.”
At Jude’s words, Violent Avnche shuddered.
“Indeed, it’s a horrible situation. They must be stopped.”
“Yes, they must be stopped. And in order to that, Violent Avnche’s help is absolutely necessary.”
“My help?”
“Yes, that’s right. We really need your help!”
Violent Avnche was embarrassed for a moment when Cordelia pleaded in an earnest tone, but it soon sprang up from its seat and said.
“Okay! I will do what I can!”
“Thank you very much!”
Cordelia responded again and then turned to Jude.
‘But what kind of help are you going to ask?’
‘Um…the person near the ink will be ck.’
She had impulsively scammed Violent Avnche.
Jude felt guilty for a while because he felt like he had led the innocent Cordelia astray, but he soon focused on Violent Avnche and said.
“The demon followers have already corrupted the Angry Bull tribe and made them their subordinates. Therefore, we need to iste the Angry Bull tribe.”
“The Angry Bull tribe? They are one of thergest and strongest tribes in the wildnd.”
“Yes, so we have to stop them now. You could say that this current situation alone has revealed the plot of these guys.”
“Plot?”
“Yes, they’re not only plotting to corrupt the dragon vein. They’re also trying to corrupt the sanctuaries and the wild gods, and even the tribes that live in the wildnd.”
“What?!”
“The dragon veins are contaminated, and the sanctuaries are destroyed. Because of that, the tribes will find it difficult to live here. However, even the wild gods whom they have believed and depended on until now are also in a strange situation. The minds of the tribes’ people, who will have no ce to lean on, will be weakened, and the enemies will prate through those weakened gaps. They will incorporate the tribes into the Angry Bull tribe that is already under the control of the demon followers and turn the entire wildnd into a den of demons!”
“Oh-oh my gosh! That’s evil. Those bastards are truly evil!”
Violent Avnche trembled as it found that situation scary.
Jude then said as he grabbed the small and round shoulders of such Violent Avnche.
“Yes, so they must be stopped. We must tell the truth to each tribe in the wildnd and then iste the Angry Bull tribe.”
The reason why the Angry Bull tribe invaded the northern part of the S?len Kingdom was because they unified the wildnd.
Therefore, the two had to prevent them frompletely unifying the wildnd.
Or rather, the two had to iste them.
“How should I do it? What should I do?”
“You must go the Great Storm tribe first and tell them the truth. Everyone will listen because it’s a wild god’s words and not anyone else.”
“Uhh…so I have to leave my sanctuary then?”
Although it had copsed, more than half of the rocky mountain was still left.
Despite that, it was still Violent Avnche’s sanctuary.
“Violent Avnche, this is a very serious situation. You’re the only whom we can trust and rely on right now.”
Cordelia spoke in a serious tone with tears in her eyes, and Violent Avnche groaned as it found that to be difficult to do.
It was a slightly better situation for the wild god to leave and abandon their sanctuary, which is the source of their power, than to ignore the situation and die.
“What if someone else upies this mountain while I’m gone?”
At Violent Avnche’s hesitation, Cordelia sped its hands and said.
“It’s okay, we’ll help you if a thief takes over yournd. We’ll drive the thief away and get your mountain back together.”
“Yes, Great Storm will also help you.”
If Great Storm was here, he would have said ‘Why should I?’, but he wasn’t here, so he wouldn’t have the chance to say that.
“Uhhhhh…I see. I’ll do it. I will go to the Great Storm tribe and inform them of the Angry Bull tribe’s evil plot!”
“You’re so cool. Violent Avnche is the best!”
Cordelia tightly hug Violent Avnche, and Violent Avnche bashfully smiled.
“Hmm…hmmm….”
No, Violent Avnche didn’t openly smile, but it was obvious that it liked Cordelia’s actions.
‘Because a beautiful woman is a treasure of the world.’
Jude giggled, before he immediately brought out the next topic.
“Violent Avnche, do you know where the Great Storm tribe lives?”
“I know it roughly. But not where that Great Storm brat lives.”
“That’s a relief. I wish you a quick and safe journey.”
“Yes, thank you…wait. You wish me? Aren’t we going together?”
When Violent Avnche widely opened its eyes and asked, Cordelia also looked at Jude.
Jude said as he nodded his head.
“Yes, I’m sorry to say this, but I think it’s better if you go alone to the Great Storm tribe.”
“Then, what about you two?”
“We intend to stop their plot. Violent Avnche, do you know other wild gods’ sanctuaries that are connected to the dragon vein here? Excluding Great Storm.”
“That…Gentle Snow Breeze’s sanctuary can be found northeast of the basin here.”
“We’re thinking of going there. If they’re really trying to corrupt the entire dragon vein, the other sanctuaries are also in danger.”
What he said made sense.
Moreover, Jude and Cordelia had one more reason to move.
‘Lena.’
They had to reach the ce where Lena’s death event took ce. Although they still had time to spare, it wasn’t wasteful to have too much time.
‘It takes about two days to return to the Great Storm tribe.’
A round trip would take about four days.
Cordelia roughly guessed Jude’s thoughts and asked with a nce.
‘Will it be okay?’
‘It will be okay. We didn’t encounter any danger while on our way here.’
Furthermore, Violent Avnche was a wild god despite being weakened. Violent Avnche would surely be able to find the sanctuary of another wild god.
“Violent Avnche, please.”
“Ummm….I understand. I will go to the Great Storm tribe alone.”
Violent Avnche nodded as it made up its mind, and Jude bowed again before he asked.
“Can you tell me more about the location of Gentle Snow Breeze’s sanctuary?”
“No problem. I have a map that I kept in the past.”
Violent Avnche sat on the ground again and dug the ground, and suddenly, a map appeared from the ground.
Like the Freezing Stone earlier, it seemed to be Violent Avnche’s magic skill.
“Here, take it.”
“Thank you.”
Their conversation was over.
They had no time to waste because they had to save the wildnd.
“I’ll be going then.”
“Yes, I look forward to seeing you againter.”
“I’ll see youter.”
Violent Avnche waved its hand to the polite Jude and Cordelia who waved her hand too, before it quickly began to descend the rocky mountain.
Cordelia spoke after looking at the back of such Violent Avnche for quite some time.
“Will Violent Avnche be okay?”
“Violent Avnche will be okay…wait, you don’t have a good feeling?”
Jude trusted Cordelia’s intuition.
Jude asked in a panic as he thought that it was more serious than he had thought, but Cordelia pondered for a moment before she shrugged her shoulders.
“No, it’s not to the point where I have a bad feeling. I’m just worried.”
“Violent Avnche will be fine then. Even if Violent Avnche looks like that, it is an old wild god who has lived for hundreds of years.”
The relieved Jude asked Cordelia again.
“Well then, let’s just rest here for today and leave in the early morning tomorrow.”
“Yes, but I really want to wash myself a little. Is there anything like a hot spring here?”
“Uh…how about gathering the snow together and melting it with a fireball? If it feels like the water is cooling down, then add another fireball in.”
At Jude’s words, Cordelia widely opened her eyes and soon clenched her fists as she snorted.
“It is…possible!”
It was not something that couldn’t be done.
Cordelia would do more than that just for a bath.
“Yes, anyway, let’s find a ce where we will sleep first. We also have to eat something.”
“Okay, I’m hungry.”
“I’ll cook the meal right away as soon as we find the right ce.”
“Is it beef jerky boiled in hot water again?”
“My princess, didn’t I say that you shouldn’t be picky?”
“No, f*ck. I’m a picky eater, so try increasing the number of side dishes, okay?”
“I’ll try.”
“Eh, really?”
Cordelia asked as she blinked her eyes, and Jude nodded once before he began taking the lead.
Both of them had a hard time today, so he thought that having something special from the little food they saved would be fine.
‘Hmm, good. We can go like this.’
Jude looked back towards Violent Avnche’s direction before he hurriedly moved forward again.