Chapter 14: Investigation of the Skalan Forest Guardian!

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

In the end, Sous realized that he had underestimated the fame of killing the Engraved Beast.

Or rather, how exaggerated was his killing of the Engraved Beasts in these Orc Tribes?

When many people found out that the Engraved Beast was killed by Sous, they were astonished. They looked at Sous in disbelief. However, Mercy and the children were all witnesses. They could not possibly speak up for Sous for no reason, right?

There was a flurry of discussion.

“Have you heard? The human who came to our tribe yesterday killed the Engraved Beast!”

“Engraved Beast? The one with the bloodline of a vicious beast, the one that holds grudges?”

“It’s true. Mercy carried the carcass to the kitchen. We’re eating the meat of the Engraved Beast tonight.”

“It really is true. I saw it. It was huge. It was four meters tall when it stood up. It was so terrifying even when it died. If I had seen it, I would have run away long ago. How would I dare to kill it?”

“It must be fake. I see that the human isn’t injured badly, only a superficial wound. His clothes are stained with blood. He doesn’t look like he just experienced a tough battle.”

“Are you stupid? This human is very strong. I heard that the previous royalty of the Skalan Empire was a Sword Sage. Perhaps this human named Sous is the disciple of the previous emperor. If the master is so powerful, his disciple will definitely not be weak.”

“You’re right.”

“But I still don’t really believe it. Don’t the Engraved Beasts live in the depths of the forest? Why would they appear in the Hunting Range? That place is only full of wild beasts, yet an Engraved Beast actually turned up there?”

“How is that impossible? Have you forgotten? The Ritual of Sacrifice is arriving. Isn’t it always like that every year? In the days coming up to the Ritual, the Demon Beasts in the depths of the forest will come out for some unknown reason. It’s very dangerous at this time. It’s best that everyone doesn’t go out to hunt. Just eat some plants. We can also take out the food we have stored. We can go hunting again when it’s safe.”

Sous had just arrived yesterday evening. Now, it was only noon the next day. Sous was now famous across the Skalan Tribe. He had made a name for himself.

In fact, many Orcs did not know that this human, Sous, existed in the Tribe, up until now. Such results and achievements were enough to make the Orcs take him seriously.

However Sous did not care for any of that. He was a man who wanted to die. How could he possibly bother about reputation?

It was because of this incident that he suddenly understood something.

In a few days, the beastmen tribe would hold the annual Ritual of Sacrifice.

In fact, the Skalan Empire also had such a ceremony. The guardian of the Skalan Empire was the Divine Dragon. It had conquered the land with the former emperor. Every year, the Skalan Empire would offer sacrifices to the dragon on the same day, hoping that it would wake up.

As for the Skalan Tribe, they too had a guardian. Sous found it a little strange. If the Skalan Tribe also had a guardian, why was there a need for sacrifice? The Skalan Empire paid tribute to the Divine Dragon because it had been asleep for 50 years and there was no sign of him waking up.

If not for the sleeping dragon, the Skalan Empire could have won the war without compromising. Who could compete with the Divine Dragon?

…

At the Skalan Tribe, commander’s tent.

“Your name is Keribud. Are you from the Orc Kingdom?” Benevolence pondered for a moment. He did not know this person. He had been to the Orc Kingdom before. What did the sudden appearance of someone from the Orc Kingdom mean?

Or was it a sign of something about to happen?

“Yes, I am from the Orc Kingdom, Lord Commander. I told this gentleman before. I was unlucky to have encountered an Engraved Beast and sustained all these injuries. Damn it, encountering an Engraved Beast in the outskirts of the Skalan Forest, can you believe it.” The battered and weak Keribud said.

He was still brooding over this matter. He felt too unlucky.

In fact, he did not know if he could be counted as lucky, or unlucky.

Logically speaking, if he was so lucky to have survived, he should draw the lottery back in the Orc Kingdom. The winnings would all be his.

Keribud was currently in the commander’s tent, with Mercy beside him. Mercy had been worried about this foreign beastman, so he had brought him here to show the commander.

In fact, such a small matter should not have been brought up to the commander. However, they were in an extremely critical period. If he did not inform the commander of this incident, he would not be able to feel at ease. If this somehow involved the Ceremony of Sacrifice, he would not be able to bear the consequences.

The commander was also very cautious. “Tell me honestly, why did you come to Skalan Forest? What is your purpose?”

“Commander, I’m really just passing by. I came to the Skalan Forest to look for some materials. I have been commissioned to do so. I’m just an ordinary adventurer from the Orc Kingdom, sent on a simple mission, so here I am.”

As he spoke, Keribud presented a token, stating his mission. It was impossible to fake such a thing. Such adventurers did indeed exist in both the human world and amongst the Orcs.

“Lotus fruit?” The commander took a look at the mission stated on the token, then back at Keribud.

“That’s right. The lotus fruit. I’m here to collect some and then return to the Kingdom to earn some money. It’s that simple. I’m not the only adventurer here in the Skalan Tribe. Adventurers from the nearby Skalan Empire will come by too.”

He was right. The Skalan Forest was not the private property of any faction, and no one had the ability to own the entire place either. As Keribud said, the Skalan Forest was indeed the bread and butter of many adventurers, both orcs and humans.

The Adventurer’s Association accepted missions from their clients, and announced them. Adventurers would then sign up for these missions. The Adventurer’s Association only accepted a portion of the commission. At first glance, it did not seem problematic. The mission was also authentic. There was the logo of the Adventurer’s Association on it. This token could not be a fake.

“Head southwest. You’ll see a pool of stagnant water there, and the lotus fruits you need can be found there.” Benevolence returned the token. The commission stated was only so little, he didn’t think much of it.

“Thank you, Commander, but I’m seriously injured and will need to rest in your tribe for a few days before I can leave. Can you let me stay for a few days?” Keribud tried his best to please the commander in every way. He had no choice but to lower his head. If he left the Skalan Tribe now, he would die. He might be eaten by wild beasts on the way.

Moreover, if he went back to meet with his troops now, it would arouse the suspicion of the Skalan Tribe.

The current situation was good. He could stay in the Skalan Tribe until the Ritual started. Perhaps he could discover something.

After all, the Guardian of the Skalan Forest had also been asleep since fifty years ago, and had yet to wake up. Why had the Guardians everywhere suddenly fallen into a deep sleep?

It could not be that the Guardians of all the major regions agreed to fall into a deep slumber together, could it?