Chapter 131

“Retreat!”

“Move the injured to the village first!”

We left the lair of the Heavenly Dragon and returned to Meat Village.

Despite using Divine Power to the fullest against the Heavenly Dragon and running around all day, the doctors diligently treated the injured.

The Knights couldn’t camp here, so we had to pass the mountains before sunset.

I had finished all my business. There was no room for leisurely activities.

“You, your shoulders are sturdy! Come here!”

“No, I refuse. I have a family!”

In the village, the Thunder Tribe villagers were literally hunting the knights. All the knights except Bruno were too busy running away.

“Teacher, the Knights are somewhat ready. Once the doctors finish their work, we can move.”

Tanya reported. I acknowledged her and stepped outside the village’s fence for a moment.

“Phew.”

I took a deep breath, supplying my brain with cool oxygen.

Even after such a fierce combat, the ice plains remained as calm as if nothing had happened.
Even after the end of human affairs, the scenery would remain the same. Nature is great.

This would be the last of that scenery.

I took the amulet hanging around my neck and pulled out the Storm Stone from my pocket.
I placed it into the groove and gently applied pressure; it fit in without resistance with a clack.

The outer part of the amulet made a click as it deformed into a more geometric shape.

A boom, a subtle wave rippled. I felt a surge of power from within.

―――――――――――

· Amulet of the Storming Dark Avatar

– Mythical Grade Artifact

– Effect: Generates or manipulates curses of the highest grade or below.

―――――――――――

“It’s completed.”

I drew out all the abilities sealed within the amulet.

With this, I could manipulate and lift Acella’s curse as well.

Finally, I can perform surgery on Acella.

I tightened my grip on the amulet in my hand.

As I was putting it back around my neck and preparing to return to the village, someone approached me.

“From your expression, it seems you have good news!”

It was Gishta. She stood proudly with her arms crossed in front of me.

“Thanks to the Storm Stone, it seems the problem will be solved. I’ll use it well.”

“Yeah. Since I don’t need it anymore, you don’t need to return it!”

Gishta said cheerfully.

“How’s your body?”

“I’m all good thanks to you.”

She proudly rotated her bandaged shoulder.

But she seemed hesitant, as if she still had something to say.

“What’s up?”

“I want to talk about something.”

“Is it more important than dinner? Spill it.”

We sat down on a nearby pile of stones and continued the conversation.

“About our tribe, Lars.”

Gishta began slowly.

“The reason they live in this land isn’t much different from the Rock Tribe or Glacier Tribe. They were drawn to my mother’s Mana.”

“It makes sense that they would, considering they have the blood of dragons flowing in them.”

Even though they are savages, if you trace back their lineage, there’s bound to be a monster somewhere.

That’s what separates them from us, although the Snowmen are relatively close to being monsters themselves.

The Thunder Tribe, under Gishta’s control, is so intelligent that there’s practically no distinction.

“Now that my mother has left, the villagers will soon start to have questions. They’ll want to leave this land.”

“Indeed.”

In the future, Great Demons will also materialize using the Heavenly Dragon as their source, thus plummeting down to the Marquisate. There must have been directives from the Great Demon as well.

“Truthfully, it’s not a good land. It’s nothing but ice everywhere. To find food, you have to run all day looking for beasts or monsters and dive into freezing water.”

Despite the gloomy context, Gishta was happily smiling.

“But it’s still enjoyable! I’ve never got tired of running with the villagers even once.”

“Riding bears is refreshing, true. I found it fun too.”

“Isn’t it?”

Gishta laughed heartily.

“But this ends here. From now on, there’s no reason to live in this harsh land.”

I could fully understand the problem Gishta was facing.

And a good solution soon came to mind.

“Gishta, about your five hundred villagers.”

“Hmm.”

“How about employing them as regular troops in Gothberg Marquisate?”

“Military. You mean to work for the Empire like the Knights you brought?”

“No, my personal soldiers, not for the nation. They would work solely for me and my family, regardless of the Empire. If they attack me, whether they are from the Empire or the Demon Race, they must fight for their lives.”

Gishta showed interest in my proposal.

“Can they even fight demons?!”

“In exchange, they will receive warm beds, meals, and land to play in. What do you think?”

As the Thunder Tribe is at that level, giving them a monster forest as a playground should keep them entertained.

“Really?! To offer such a good deal, you’re the best friend, Lars!”

“Haha, what’s this talk of friendship?”

It was a beneficial arrangement for me as well.

It’s a great opportunity since I received independent military power from the Emperor.
I need troops to operate, but finding existing knights would be costly and of poor quality.

Training new ones takes too much time.

This would be like having a professional combat army suddenly appear before me; it was perfect.

Even their wages would be the lowest wage possible. I would want to bow down and ask for this, honestly.

“Awesome, awesome.”

Gishta muttered while looking at the ground.

She seemed to have more to say.

“Uh… Lars.”

“Huh?”

“It’s about the villagers, but it’s about me.”

“Why’re you involved?”

“Hmm.”

Gishta bit her lip for a long time.

Then, with a determined stomp, she turned to face me.

“I want more.”

“As the chieftain. Naturally, I’ll grant you preferential terms in the contract. What do you want?”

Gishta spoke without taking a breath.

“I want you, Lars.”

*

When the Heavenly Dragon broke through the ground and evaporated the army of the Snowmen, Gishta felt a hole in her heart.

The chains that had bound her since birth were finally unraveled.

As the Mana vortex disappeared, so did her sense of responsibility lightly fade.

Now, the villagers will also leave this land.

Only a land of ice, with nothing left for her, remains.

Will she live alone in this land?
Will she go out to explore the world she has never seen?

No, she knows well that no matter what she does, this emptiness cannot be filled alone.

…I need Lars.

In that moment, Gishta craved him even more.

She was a woman, and he was a man.

From an alliance based on mutual interests, they became comrades and friends sharing loyalty.

While such a relationship could be defined, it wouldn’t be accurate to say she had no ambitions from the start.

Now, the cracks had widened, and her thirst was reaching her throat.

The thirst would never be satisfied.

She couldn’t even waste time walking down the stairs and immediately jumped through the hole to meet him.

Surely, Lars would be leaving this place soon.

Wanting to be with him a little longer, she grabbed his arm and hugged his waist.

During this, Gishta realized something.

Even if she knew he had a predetermined lover, even if she knew he couldn’t fulfill her request,
if she didn’t express it, she would have to live with regret for the rest of her life.

Then it would be better to express it and regret it.

The treatment for her villagers had also been decided.

After completing her duties as a chieftain, leaving only her existence as a woman behind,
Gishta faced Lars and conveyed her feelings.

Like the other villagers from the start, she wanted to say what she had in mind lightly.

“I want you.”

Gishta leaned towards Lars.

“Lars, you might think this land is nothing but boring ice, but there’s still so much you haven’t seen! East and west stretch wide! If you run, new landscapes await!”

Gishta’s voice rose higher.

“I’ll show you my world. You’ll show me yours. Let’s just ask the villagers and knights to wait a moment. The land doesn’t move. It won’t be lost. We can always return to our hometown.”

Gishta gripped Lars’ hand tightly.

“Let’s explore the world together, just the two of us. I can go anywhere with you.”

Thus, Gishta conveyed her heart.

It felt like her heart was about to burst out of her chest.

But it was refreshing.

Relieved, cooled, and without regret.

“Gishta.”

Lars called her name.

*

Gishta thought he was a good friend.

Even though their relationship was short, well, they had seen each other for a long time in the future.

He had always been reliable back then.
She probably thought of him that way too.

And even more than that.

―――――――――――

Warning

· You are at a crossroads.

· This choice cannot be undone.

Good Ending List

· ■■■ ■, again ■■ from 21%

· Melt down, ■■and, carry on 85% → 92%

· ■■■ ■■ 0%

· There’s only one ending.

―――――――――――

A status window appeared.

‘The probability of the second good ending has occurred.’

It’s an achievement, but looking at the changing dynamics based on Gishta’s actions,
this good ending means Gishta will trigger it.

That means she could become an important person in my life.

We fit well together after all.

Now I understand.

The likelihood of the second good ending is therefore akin to Gishta’s feelings for me.

The more she likes me, the higher the likelihood will be.

And given the percentage of 92%, she must have quite a lot of trust in me.

‘Is it possible?’

Gishta invited me on an adventure.

Now that I’m considering putting aside my Inner Palace and family for a bit to accrue achievements as an adventurer to achieve the second good ending,

Moreover, even if I change routes, it would just confirm the second good ending in the end.

Unless I avoid all the bad endings, the good ending does not come.

Naturally, if I die, it’s game over.

‘If I say yes here…’

The numbers would fluctuate.

―――――――――――

· ■■■ ■, again ■■ from 21% → 0% [deleted]

· Melt down, ■■and, carry on 92%

· ■■■ ■■ 0%

―――――――――――

The possibilities themselves vanish.

There’s only one ending to be welcomed.

Not just the good ending; the chance of bad endings also swings crazily due to route changes.

Immediately, [Magic Explosion] could rise to 97%.

No, let’s not focus on the numbers now.

The essence lies elsewhere.

‘Do I want to be with Gishta more than anyone else?’

More than anything else, that is most crucial.

Gishta was looking straight into my eyes.

Her cheeks slightly flushed from the cold air. Her big, round eyes awaited my answer.

Then it happened.

―――――――――――

· The probability has changed.

· ■■■ ■, again ■■ from 21% → 23%

―――――――――――

“Ha ha.”

I laughed unintentionally.

Even with this distance, even without doing anything,
as I randomly thought of the Royal Princess’s face,

I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of thoughts were crossing her mind.
What ominous feelings might she be harboring.

Curiosity was hard to resist.

“Gishta.”

I answered her.

---

My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.

The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.

Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.