Chapter 68

Chapter 68 - Prophecy (7)

"I apologize for being late."

"Except for the patrolling guards, you guys are the first to arrive, so do not apologize."

Eugene comforted the warriors and mercenaries who repeatedly bowed their heads and checked Marbas's condition.

The hellfire was extinguished, but the aftereffects he had suffered from until now wouldn't be light.

"Is your body okay? I wonder if anywhere will get worse."

"No problem. I was born with a sturdy body and have never skipped training for a single day."

Marbas swung his arm and showed his clenched fist. The strength dwelling in that movement looks tough like a warrior's.

"If I cannot stop the inner fire snake from gnawing at my flesh, there is only one method. Attaching more muscles."

"Indeed. Since your foundation is solid, you must have endured for 30 years."

No matter how outstanding one's mental strength is, if it was only that, only bones would have remained and he would have gone crazy.

Marbas was strong in both body and mind, so he could hold out until destiny connected him with Eugene.

He is no longer wearing bandages anywhere on his body. He stretches his hand in the direction the wind blows from and takes it in abundantly inside his monk robe.

"What fills the world is not heat and pain, but coolness and freshness. I had forgotten this for too long. For this grace, thanking you a few times would be insufficient."

"You can repay that slowly by my side from now on."

"You learn fast."

There were no unpleasant emotions in Marbas's smile.

"Your squire is quick-witted too."

His gaze headed to Homi behind him.

She is in the middle of detaching the ruby embedded in the Golem's eye. She pushed the tip of a dagger into the gap, changed angles this way and that, and tapped it with a war hammer.

"May I have it?"

"If it's this kind of situation, it would be fine. The providence set by God is for the warrior who defeated the monster to take the spoils from the corpse."

It is a right universally guaranteed regardless of region in this era, but it tends to be particularly strongly respected in Dark Elf society.

"Looking at the size of the ruby, it seems it will be immensely expensive."

For Eugene, who fought risking his life out of nowhere, he had to secure that level of compensation for it to be profitable.

"The original owner will not be able to complain. If they do, they will be criticized by all the families participating in the festival. Moreover, don't you have a reliable backer now?"

"Are you talking about the Blackhand family?"

Marbas nodded his head.

"The good impression built with martial might and tongue, the spiritual connection tied by the prophecy. You have practically become their closest friend. They will become a more reliable connection than the Morad family."

Spectators surge in like waves from all directions. Because they wanted to directly see the end of the terrifying flame monster.

From over there, a heavily armed elite unit ran over escorting the tribe shaman.

"Let us also leave now. Even if we stay, it will only get bothersome with various questions. The spectators and guard unit warriors will take care of explaining the situation."

As Eugene took the lead, the mercenaries under his command, Rex, and the rangers followed behind him.

Rather than returning in the same direction, it was an appearance like a single mass of an army following their liege lord.

* * *

The festival continued as is.

"Even though that commotion happened, aren't they anxious?"

"If the Golem is destroyed, what would be the problem? The shamans say they confirmed it is safe over and over."

Rex said with a smile.

Nomadic peoples are accustomed to situations of being attacked by all sorts of enemies. Furthermore, even up to finishing off that opponent and resting or eating on top of the corpse.

"More importantly, is your body okay?"

"Since I wasn't hit even once, there's no need to worry."

"No, what I'm talking about is not that kind of..."

A tribe young lady approached holding a liquor bottle.

She had bells attached to her ankles, so every time she took a step, a clear sound rang out.

"It is grain wine I brewed myself, Sir Knight. Would you please accept a glass?"

As Eugene held out an empty glass, cloudy-colored alcohol was filled to the brim. It took less than 1 second for it to disappear.

Applauds poured down at that magnanimous appearance, and the young lady jumped up and down. The cheerful sound of bells resounded.

"I meant are you okay after drinking like that. Because that is quite strong alcohol."

"Ah, was it? To me it was just sweetish."

"It is the sweetest kind among our family's traditional liquors, though."

Bow.

The young lady with a flushed face scurried away.

"Just how much is your alcohol tolerance?"

"Well, I've never been drunk, so I don't know."

Having returned to the family's sector, Eugene had to receive and drink the alcohol offered from all directions.

Even when he sat at the banquet hall on the first day, there were not a few wary gazes, and sometimes even glaring gazes.

However, it got much better when he achieved an overwhelming victory in the spars with the warriors, and changed completely after destroying the Golem.

"It seems it turned out better instead. Because an atmosphere far better for announcing the prophecy will be created."

"It is exactly as the Magician of the Forest said. There will be no one who doubts that the Knight is the owner in the prophecy."

Announcing the massive crisis looming over the family is a burdensome task even for the tribal chief's family.

However, if such a powerful warrior is tied to them by destiny, it will become a tremendous comfort.

"Thump! Thump! With the sound of a beating drum, the Bugbear turned completely blue, I tell you! Everyone should have heard that sound!"

"Two bandit bastards got skewered by a throwing spear and rolled over and over, so the fight stopped."

The drunk mercenaries chattered about the heroic tales of their journey while drinking the alcohol poured by the tribe members.

In that joyful atmosphere, envoys from other families continuously came looking for him.

"It is a pearl specialized in the small kingdom of the East. Thanks to you, Sir Knight, our warriors who were in the guard unit were safe."

"It is our family's traditional liquor brewed directly by the Tribal Chief. Please accept it."

To express respect for a powerful warrior. And to express gratitude for protecting the festival.

"Truly thank you, Knight! If it wasn't for you, our prestige would have been a mess."

Especially from the family that exhibited the Golem, the Family Head directly came and tightly held both of Eugene's hands.

"If it is alright, would you visit our family? There are many who wish to treat an outstanding warrior."

"I will gratefully accept only the thought. Because the only place I will stay during this festival is here."

Unlike the sorrowful Family Head, the surrounding Blackhand Tribe members made faces that couldn't be more satisfied than this.

Among the visiting guests, there was also a painter carrying a large painting.

He displayed his professional spirit even amidst the chaos and quickly transferred the battle scene into a painting.

The appearance of the knight standing firmly in front of the monster in the shape of a horse blazing fiery red, that is.

"Hehe, how is it?"

The painter asked while rubbing his hands.

The painting had parts different from the actual battle appearance in various ways.

Eugene was holding a sword instead of a flail, and the warriors shooting check-shots from the surroundings were deleted. For some reason, the weather also changed to be full of dark clouds, and the Golem's flames seemed to have doubled in size.

"Did you complete this in merely a day?"

"Street painters are originally fast at drawing. Because they sometimes draw within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. It expresses the Knight's majesty very well."

Rex also had an admiring face.

The person who liked it the most was Homi. She took out a cute-looking purse and is already paying the price.

"Thank you!"

The painter bowed repeatedly and withdrew.

"Do you like it that much?"

Nod nod.

Homi smiled while hugging the painting to her chest. She seems satisfied with this instead of the Golem's head that was smashed and couldn't be retrieved.

Since Eugene acquired a territory, she showed a strong obsession with spoils that would prove his achievements.

Clink.

Eugene took out a silver coin and filled her coin pouch.

"Eu."

"Do not spend money on things like this from now on. Spend it for yourself."

Eugene stroked the head of Homi, who declined saying she couldn't dare to accept.

* * *

The Blackhand Tribal Chief Alessa and the elders were watching all those scenes from the seats of honor.

"He is certainly an amazing person. I understand why Rex was completely mesmerized."

Where her gaze reached, there are tribe warriors taking turns swinging Eugene's flail.

Since everyone is muscular and tough, lifting it was not a problem.

"Eueot!"

"Idiot! Where are you swinging it?!"

However, the moment they swung it, all initiative was taken away by the flail.

As they flailed about from the heavy yet undulating center of gravity, it made those around them scatter in terror.

Even though there was no one who swung it properly, challengers appeared endlessly. Because everyone had seen the Golem that was smashed and collapsed at the festival grounds.

To think it's a weapon that knocked down a monster they wouldn't even dare think of facing alone. As warriors, a challenging spirit can't help but arise.

- Try swinging it as much as you like.

Eugene was also generously permitting them to touch his weapon right now.

"Eeeek!"

Only someone of the large female warrior Helga's level could properly control it. Though using it unpredictably with one hand like Eugene in actual combat would be absolutely impossible.

At that harmonious appearance, even the elders nodded their heads.

"Look at the position that knight consolidated in merely a few days. It's not like he grew up together here since he was young, goodness."

"When I was young, I also traveled all over the continent, but it's the first time I've seen a man with that kind of feeling."

"Honestly, I felt uneasy that our clan could only board the Cradle as guests. But if it's a place where that person is the owner, it should be fine."

Dark Elves are the race with the strongest pride and highest honor on earth.

What if the prophesied owner of the Cradle was arrogant and someone who couldn't receive their acknowledgement?

From the lowest members of the family, they would gloriously choose to fight against destiny. Even if destruction is at the end of it.

However, looking at the appearance Eugene showed during the festival, it seemed there was no need to worry about that.

The festival continued for 2 weeks. For Eugene, who thought it would last at least about 1 month, it was unexpected.

"Isn't it short for a great harmony of the race that happens once every few years?"

"If it continued for 1 month, gang fights would break out between tribes. 2 weeks is also a precarious period."

"... I underestimated your race too much."

"Originally it was much longer, but because bloodbaths occurred every time, it kept getting shorter and became fixed at 2 weeks."

The members of the family acted affectionately in front of Eugene, but Dark Elves are fundamentally a race far from harmony.

"It is said that in the distant past, they all gathered together and formed a single kingdom. It is only an old tale, though."

After the festival ended, Eugene prepared to return to Northfork.

Marbas, wearing a black monk robe, joined the party.

"His joining is a tremendous achievement. An equivalent Summoner is difficult for even a King of a nation to keep by his side."

"However, to me, Lady Valda is always the first priority."

Valda leaked a chuckle at Eugene's flattery.

"I sufficiently undestand the heart you care for me with, so there is no need to say such words."

Unlike her words, whether her mood is good, Valda's long ears twitched twice.

'It's certainly not a military power that a lord governing a mere single village should possess.'

Counting the lord, there are as many as 3 magicians. And those are incredibly outstanding individuals in their respective fields.

Moreover, behind Eugene, tribe warriors including Rex were lined up. These were not hired with silver coins.

"Is it okay for the minor tribal chief to empty his seat like this?"

"As I mentioned, we are a matrilineal society. Even without me, the tribe's large and small affairs roll on their own well. Rather than that, being together with the owner of the prophecy is important. It is the unanimous opinion of the Tribal Chief and the Council of Elders."

Only being able to board the Cradle as guests also means that Eugene has gone beyond a friend and become an object of protection.

After the festival ended, Eugene and the Blackhand Tribe concluded a mutual defense treaty.

1. Eugene permits the tribe to build a base in Northfork and utilize it as a garrison.

2. The tribe sequentially follows the laws enacted by Eugene in Northfork, and upon violation, is punished according to Eugene's trial.

3. The tribe is granted the right to free armament and religious rituals in Northfork, and tax exemption.

4. In the event of an external enemy invading Northfork, the tribe participates in the battle automatically even without separate negotiations.

5. In the case Eugene hires tribe warriors, the cost is limited to the negotiated special price.

6. All the above clauses equally apply to territories Eugene newly governs hereafter.

They exchanged benefits with each other, and some clauses also had parts infringing on the lord's authority.

Eugene did not think of it as a loss at all. He holds the most important right to trial and punishment, and it also includes the powerful benefit of an automatic participation in war option during wartime.

"This is a covenant closer to you marrying the Blackhand family itself."

Valda was also surprised by the much stronger union than expected, but viewed it positively.

Eugene had sufficient capability as a lord, and the territory would also be able to grow as much as he wanted according to his efforts.

However, a competent and reliable army is not something that can be created overnight.

"If even a fairly high-ranking noble family could make this kind of relationship with the Blackhand Tribe, they would willingly offer their eldest son or eldest daughter."

It was a captivating covenant to the point Valda nodded her head over and over.