Episode 3/Chapter 5: The dragon knight (5)
TL: Tsubak
ED: Raigeh
"Oh, you came only now?"
About five minutes later after finishing his business with Heda.
Tae Ho stood in place. It was because a warrior he had seen for the first time talked to him.
He was a handsome man whose nicely grown black beard suited him well.
The man, that was seated on a rock, stood up slowly and said.
"Don't be that on guard. We are on the same side. But first, did the Valkyrie go to another place?"
The eyes of the man moved beyond Tae Ho's back. At the eyes that were filled with curiousness, Tae Ho asked while being even more cautious.
"Who are you?"
Maybe it was because his voice was slightly sharp that the man raised his two hands to calm him and said a bit quickly.
"My name is Rolph. I belong to Ullr's legion, and I'm a warrior of Siri's troop that will be joining with Ragnal's troop.
'It's true.'
Tae Ho was inwardly impressed. It wasn't because of Rolph's dignified appearance or the name of a God he had heard for the first time.
[Wolf hunter]
[Ullr's legion: Rolph]
He could see green words above Rolph's head that were shining. It was the result of activating [Saga: the eyes of a dragon can see through all things].
'Is the thing that's showing the nickname and his current state?'
Because he saw different things when he looked at Heda.
Tae Ho decided to reveal more power of his saga. And then, many words were added in several places of Rolph's body.
[Man]
[Skilled at using a bow and dagger]
After he concentrated a bit more, he could see a red aura that was like smoke. He thought that it was the runes he had accumulated until now.
'I can certainly see more than when I tried with Heda.'
Back then he could only see her name and her state.
'The logical reason is that my level is still low…. So is it obvious that I can see a lot more with Rolph than with Heda?'
Because the differences of a lowest ranked warrior and a Valkyrie was huge.
'And is it his weakness?'
Light shone on Rolph's shoulders, chin, heart, and abdomen.
The 'eye of a dragon' was a skill all dragon knights had in Dark Age. It didn't only show the state of the enemy and their weaknesses, but also served as a scanning tool. So its uses were quite big.
It was possible to make a skill into a saga.
It was a really important point. It seemed like he could only make skills that had an anecdote to it into a saga, but even if he limited it like this, there were still a lot of useful skills.
'I'm done with the scanning mode.'
In the first place, this ability was meant to check the condition of the enemy's equipment, so it was impossible to see everything he wanted.
'And even if that was possible, there's no reason to use it right now.'
"Hey, can you listen to me? Have you hurt anywhere?"
He got a hold of himself when Rolph called him and then saw at he was looking at himself with an awkward face. Tae Ho nodded and answered.
"Ah, I'm fine. I'm Lee Tae Ho. And….Ralph, what happened?"
Rolph was waiting for Tae Ho at the entrance of the camp. It didn't seem like he was doing this for nothing.
"I have been waiting for you because I have something to transmit. All of the warriors of Ragnal's troop moved to our camp. It's not that they completely moved the camps but it's because of things like transmitting the merits awards and such things."
"Then I should also go there."
"That's right. But aren't you hungry? We don't have any food right now….It seems like our side and yours too devoured everything."
Rolph said with a troubled face. It seemed like the warriors that had a huge appetite had gotten rid of everything.
He had fought all day and he also had to keep fighting tomorrow, so not eating a meal was a devastating thing. Because he wouldn't be able to fight properly if he was hungry.
"I'm fine. I have this."
Tae Ho raised the basket he had in his hands with a calm face. There were sandwiches made with several vegetables and meat placed prettily.
"Huk did the Valkyrie?!"
Rolph asked with wide eyes and Tae Ho answered slyly.
"Well, yeah."
As if this much was a common thing.
At Tae Ho's answer, Rolph looked at Tae Ho with jealous and envious eyes mixed with admiration.
Actually, it was obvious, because realistically speaking it was like an idol singer had come to meet you and gave you a packed lunch.
'Heda really is the strong point of Idun's legion.'
Tae Ho, that got satisfied, nodded once again. And then, Rolph that was looking at the basket more than Tae Ho, let out a sigh and said.
"I heard that the Valkyrie would come at sunset, so there's still time. You should eat for now. After that, I will lead you."
Rolph pointed at the sky with his eyes. It was nearly night, but not yet.
"Thank you."
"There's no need to thank me."
Rolph smirked and then extended his hand. It was a big and hard hand.
"We will be fighting together starting from tomorrow. Let's get along well."
"Same here."
After shaking hands, Tae Ho chose a nearby rock and sat on it.
If they were going to move anyways, there was no need to enter the camp.
Tae Ho decided himself and then took out a sandwich from the basket. It seemed like Heda's cooking skills were quite good that it was nice to see.
"Thanks for the meal."
Tae said a short sentence and then took a big bite. It really was a cool flavor.
'Is the sauce special? It's really delicious.'
He felt thankful towards Heda once again and took one more bite.
"Hey."
He turned his head at Rolph's the sudden call and then said with his handsome face completely flushed.
"Can you give me a bite?"
Tae Ho glanced slightly upwards before answering. The green words above Rolph's head had changed.
[Got anxious because he wanted to eat]
[Ullr's legion: Rolph]
Tae Ho laughed inwardly and nodded.
&
"It's over there."
The camp of Siri's troop wasn't that far. Rolph laughed while pointing at the tents that were lined up and then Tae Ho nodded.
'Is this the strength of a bribe?'
Even if he called it bribe, it was merely half a sandwich, but the effects were great.
'Should I ask Heda to make me more?'
Although it may be an excessive request, he thought that Heda may listen to him. How should you put it? That she was going to play hard but would listen to you in the end?
"What are you thinking about?"
"No, nothing. There's something I'm curious about."
Tae Ho walked towards Siri's troop and turned to look at Rolph. Rolph tilted his head as if asking what was wrong.
"Speak."
"What's the blessing of Ullr's legion?"
Tae Ho's eyes moved to the broach that was on Rolph's chest. It had the shape of a bow and an arrow, it seemed like it was the symbol of Ullr's legion.
'This much should be fine, right?'
They were on the same side, and looking at Bjorn's attitude, it seemed like the blessing of a legion wasn't particularly a secret.
Tae Ho knew really few about Valhalla. He didn't know about the areas each God was in charge of, and even less their names.
'I need information.'
Knowing was strength. Even if it was a trivial thing, everything would have their uses when gathered.
In addition, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that information about the people he would be fighting it was essential.
Tae Ho forced a calm face and looked at Rolph. He tilted his head once but then smiled as if it wasn't much.
"You should also know, but Ullr is the God of hunting. And because of that, his blessing is all related to that. The warriors of our legion can choose a blessing between tracking and stealth. But of course, you are able to obtain the both of them later on."
When the rank of the warrior increased, the blessing they could receive increased or got strengthened. Tae Ho thought of the words that were above of Rolph's head 'wolf hunter' and nodded.
'Is Rolph's specialty hunting?'
After thinking like that, he saw a different side compared to the other warriors. He had small daggers in his waist compared to the other warriors that had a big swords or axe and was carrying a big crossbow on his back.
"So what is your blessing?"
As Tae Ho asked, Rolph, answered this time too.
"It's stealth. I'm still lacking now, but when I heard that when I become a superior-ranked warrior, you are able to disappear in front of other's eyes."
"Oh…Cloaking."
If it was as he had said, it was a really impressive blessing.
"What about now?"
"Uh….If I put all of my efforts on hiding, you won't be able to find me that easily. Probably."
Because his blessing was merely at the lowest rank.
"It's still impressive."
If the warriors of Ullr's legion made an ambush, they would have the highest chances of succeeding.
As Tae Ho got amazed contrary to his expectations, Rolph added as if he got more spirited.
"The blessing of tracking is tracking just like its name implies. All of the hunters learn to track, but if you get the blessing you become even more impressive. You become able to track someone even if there are no footprints."
"Maybe."
Tae Ho nodded and admired once again. Actually, there was no need to be that amazed, but this was also a conversation technique. Wasn't Rolph happy right now?
After speaking of this and that with Rolph, they had soon arrived at the camp. As one troop had about 100 warriors, when two troops gathered in one camp, it seemed like all the place was filled with warriors of Valhalla.
"It seems like this is the only hot place."
"Yeah."
After they smiled bitterly, the sound of a horn trumpet was heard in the center of the camp.
"We entered right on time. It's the signal to gather."
It wasn't only Rolph, but the other warriors also started to move.
'Don't they particularly distinguish the troops?'
They had joined anyways, so maybe that was the reason it didn't give him the feeling that they had separated the two troops.
'Well, it's good for me.'
It meant that he should just follow Rolph like this.
After following Rolph's back, he could see a big place that was at the center of the camp. The warriors that came first were already in place in front of a wooden platform.
As he stood near the center, Rolph gestured above the platform with his eyes.
"Can you see that? That person is our commander, Siri."
He could immediately recognize him as he was the only person above the platform. But Tae Ho's eyes unconsciously widened.
'A woman?'
[Human hunter]
[Ullr's legion: Siri]
It was the first time he saw a woman in Valhalla aside of the Valkyries.
'But of course, it's still the second day for me.'
Siri had her long blonde hair tied up and was covering her body with a grey cloak and had her eyes closed. It was a really strong and cold impression.
'She's an inferior ranked warrior.'
Perhaps, she may have been the most veteran warriors among the ones that went out to battle today.
"It's the Valkyrie!"
"Ohh! Valkyrie!"
The warriors raised their voices. The reason they raised their voice even when they could see a Valkyrie frequently was simple. It was because she came down from the sky.
She had the sunset at her back and was stepping down as if there were stairs. That scene was really like a movie.
[Ice princess]
[Odin's legion: Rasgrid]
Tae Ho shut his mouth to try to not to burst out of laughter. Ice Princess. It did suit her, but he was curious as to who gave her that nickname. Was it a nickname the warriors of her legion gave her?
He didn't have long to guess. It was because the Valkyrie had stepped on the platform and had started talking.
"I'm the Valkyrie Rasgrid, that belongs to Odin's legion. I'm in charge of this battlefield."
It was a low and calm voice, but the voice spread on the entire field mystically. It was as if she was whispering right next to you.
"You should already know but Ragnal's troop, that has lost its commander, will be joining with Siri's troop. The commander of the two troops is the inferior ranked warrior Siri."
The warriors all concentrated on Rasgrid's words. What she was saying was important, but it was also because of her voice. It was just as if you wanted to keep listening to it as if it had magic behind it.
"Inferior ranked warrior Siri, I will entrust it to you."
"I will follow your order."
As Rasgrid turned to look at Siri, Siri hit her left chest with her right hand.
"I will believe in you."
Rasgrid also hit her chest as if it was a manner, and then spread a piece of paper towards the warriors.
"I have seen your performances. So I will proceed with the merits awards for the ones that had the biggest merits. The ones I call should come to the front."
Rasgrid's eyes moved to the paper, and the warriors raised their ears while shutting their mouths. It was small, but nervousness flowed on the area.
"Warrior Lee Tae Ho."
"Yes?"
Tae Ho realized his mistake when the other warriors turned to look at him. As he approached the platform hurriedly, Rasgrid turned to look at the warriors and said.
"He beat the giant gnoll that had killed the commander of his troop alone. He had outstandingly finished his revenge, he's a good example for a warrior of Valhalla. I will give you a pocket of gold coins and runes each as a reward and will also give 10 points to your legion."
"Oh. Glorious avenger."
"He's more amazing than what he looks."
The warriors admired with low voices. In Tae Ho's place, it wasn't particularly a revenge, but he could somewhat understand this situation.
'When the source of the saga becomes an anecdote.'
Rather than just having slain the giant gnoll, having taken revenge for his commander was more glorious and valiant of a story.
'Well, is this how it works?'
Tae nodded and then received the two leather pockets. They were the size of a fist but were heavier than he thought.
"He has a normal body, are his skills the real deal?"
Meanwhile, the warriors were still speaking among themselves. But then, someone broke the flow.
"There's something more amazing than that. A Valkyrie came to exempt him."
"What? Really?"
The voices of the warriors became loud. The eyes looking at Tae Ho started to get filled with admiration.
"Ohh, he really was amazing."
"He's no joke."
"I'm jealous, so jealous."
They were really heated reactions. It wouldn't be strange if a saga like 'the warrior that had a Valkyrie exempt him' was made.
However, Tae Ho could only make an awkward expression. It was because the cold eyes of Rasgrid were looking right at Tae Ho.
"That's all. Everyone return to your places."
Tae Ho hurriedly returned back. And then, the warrior next to him laughed and said.
"Tell me your secrets later."
'The secret is to play roulette.'
Tae Ho answered inwardly and then looked at Rasgrid.
A few more warriors got awarded and after the merits awards finished, Rasgrid took a deep breath and looked at the warriors.
"Starting from tomorrow, we will be doing a siege warfare to take back our fortress. We will be especially using the 'rain of steel' in this battle. And think of it as an honor that you have been chosen to ride in that rain."
"Ohh!"
"Valhalla!"
"Rain of steel!"
The warriors started to cheer. However, Tae Ho couldn't know what that was. Just what was the rain of steel. In addition, how did she use the expression 'ride'?
"What's the rain of steel?"
As he grabbed the arm of the warrior right next to him that was especially cheering more than others, he turned to look at Tae Ho and laughed loudly.
"I also don't know! But doesn't it sound amazing!"
At that moment, Tae Ho became dumbfounded, but then remembered that this place was Valhalla. This place was originally like this.
"You don't know either Rolph?"
As he got a bit of hope and asked Rolph, he smiled bitterly and then raised his thumb towards Tae Ho.
"It's a killer."
With what meaning was it a killer?
And the next afternoon.
Tae Ho got to know.
< Episode 3 - The dragon knight (5) > End
TL note: Thanks for reading~