Ch.18Chapter 18. The Female Knight Captured by Barbarians (1)

Chapter 18. A Female Knight Captured by Barbarians (1)

Two days have passed since defeating the snail demon.

[Name: Malak]

– Available Blessings: Healing Totem (Advanced), Divine Descent, Binding Totem

– Available Points: 20

– Followers: Paya, Lakye, Muri

– Community Entry

I upgraded the Healing Totem to advanced level using my remaining points. Thanks to that, I’m now broke on points.

[Healing Totem (Advanced): Sufficiently heals followers within a 100-meter radius. Greatly increases natural recovery ability. Neutralizes curses and mental skills.]

It wasn’t bad to begin with, but after upgrading it to a higher level, it’s become quite useful even compared to the Binding Totem.

If I gather enough points and no new blessings appear, I think it’s worth investing all the way to the highest level. The lesson learned here is that growth-type blessings shouldn’t be judged by first impressions alone.

The “neutralization of curses and mental skills” written here is particularly important.

The Necromancer’s Tomb is characterized by various hallucinations and curse states. This means that if you can prepare for those, you can clear the dungeon without much difficulty.

I remember that the level requirement was high relative to the difficulty simply because you naturally acquire mental attack defense or curse removal skills at higher levels.

And now I have a means to counter hallucinations and curses.

A skill obtained by clearing a hidden dungeon rather than through the standard blessing route. No reason to refuse it, right?

If there’s anything that concerns me, it’s how the “Zombie Control” skill I’ll get there will be displayed for me.

The techniques I use are classified as “blessings,” while the techniques used by paladins are classified as “skills.” I’m not exactly sure what the difference is, but since they have different names, I assume they operate under different mechanisms.

Will it be incompatible with me because it’s a different technique from blessings?

Or will the skill be converted into a blessing to suit me?

Whether I can learn it or not is the biggest mystery in the current situation.

Anyway, I have to make a first attempt.

Ah, there’s one piece of good news. I finally have a map.

When I asked Lakye, he said he got one from the village we raided before. He also handed over several books obtained from there.

Everything becomes easier with Lakye joining. I almost want to give him a kiss.

Of course, that’s just a figure of speech since I couldn’t even if I wanted to.

The mountain where our tribal federation is located is in a region called Symphonia.

Oh, tribal federation is a temporary name I came up with for my clan, or rather, my group. Since the Brown Rock tribe has also joined, we can’t keep calling ourselves the Blue Moss tribe forever.

Symphonia. According to the books I read, it was originally a region famous for having a city of musicians.

Not very meaningful information now that civilization has collapsed because of demons.

If my memory serves me right, the Necromancer’s Tomb was in a region called Dubenheim, which unfortunately was very far from here.

It would take months to get there with the tribal federation, if we could make it at all.

But I’m not one to back down.

It’s time to use my newly acquired blessing, “Binding Totem.”

I summoned Paya and Muri. They’re the only two intelligent characters in our tribal federation. Capable of using magic too.

Soon, an old woman and a young girl came before me.

– Priestess Paya, Muri. Are there any tribes in Dubenheim?

Muri spoke first.

“The Sky Tree tribe is in Dubenheim. I’m not sure if they’re still in the same place.”

The answer came from Paya.

“We exchanged messages through Toughie last year. They should still be there unless something major happened.”

– I see. Priestess Paya, Muri. Can you make a palm-sized totem? It must be a portable totem that symbolizes me.

I briefly explained to them about the new blessing I had acquired.

“It requires precise magic and technique, so it will take some time, but it’s possible.”

“Ah…”

Muri was confident, while Paya hesitated.

Perhaps because she’s still young, she seems to lack experience compared to Muri.

Paya pouted, seemingly displeased by this.

– Priestess Paya, please send a messenger to the Dubenheim tribe once Priestess Muri completes the totem.

Toughie, the monster pigeon modified by Paya, should easily be able to carry a palm-sized totem.

If I can’t go to Dubenheim, my plan is to mobilize a barbarian tribe living in Dubenheim to tackle the Necromancer’s Tomb.

I’ll send a portable totem to the chief of the Sky Tree tribe in Dubenheim and use the Binding Totem blessing to guide them safely. Then, clearing the Necromancer’s Tomb should be easy.

“How wise.”

“As expected of Lord Malak!”

– It’s not that great of an idea.

Ah, receiving praise from these two women makes me feel a bit proud. It’s just something anyone would think of.

They’re just revering me because I’m their Loa.

Stay calm. Thinking “Am I a genius?” could ruin everything.

And so the “Necromancer’s Tomb Raid” project began.

Now it’s time to resolve a project I’ve been putting off.

[NotACatfish: I didn’t say anything because it seemed like whining, but things worked out, right? I’m just getting a bit bored sitting here…]

Yes, it’s time to complete the “Liberation of NotACatfish” project.

I sent Divine Descent to Lakye.

– Chief Lakye, are you busy?

“No. I’m free. What is it?”

Lakye wiped sweat from his forehead.

Judging by the shattered rocks around, it seems he was training hard.

Well, I guess it wasn’t anything urgent.

– That’s good. I want to release the paladin you offered to me before. She is also someone dispatched to fight against demons. From a broader perspective, she’s a necessary talent. Of course, I’m not just letting her go. There’s a price.

Lakye smiled gently.

“Thoughtful one, you don’t need my permission. That civilized person belongs to you, Lord Malak.”

– I need you to receive payment from her and release her.

“Do you need Divine Descent for this?”

– Yes. Of course, Priestess Paya or Muri could also do it, but…

Lakye shook his head.

“Since I captured her, it makes sense for me to release her. I’ll do it.”

Good, things are progressing quickly.

I made a few requests to this woman who breaks rocks with her bare hands.

“…I understand.”

***

Creak-!

Lakye opened the stone door of the stone building. This is where NotACatfish is imprisoned.

In a dark corner of the warehouse, there was a figure with a sack over their head, bound in restraints.

With all equipment removed, the body’s curves were visible, revealing a woman with quite a beautiful body…

Wait, curves? NotACatfish, you’re a woman?

– I don’t think you mentioned being female.

Lakye whispered softly.

“I didn’t think it was important. She’s just a civilized woman after all. …Does it change the payment Lord Malak will receive if the gender is female?”

Well, not really. It’s fine.

– No. I was just curious since it’s my first time seeing a paladin.

“Ah, so that’s what it was.”

Lakye approached NotACatfish, who wasn’t actually a catfish, and removed the sack covering her face.

A woman with blue eyes, sharp gaze, and short red hair glared at me, or rather, at Lakye.

It was quite a fierce look, but Lakye didn’t flinch at all. Instead, she just snorted as if finding it ridiculous.

“Mmph…!”

She seemed to be trying to say something, but the gag prevented her from speaking.

Lakye, who had been quietly observing, removed the gag.

– Just say what I told you.

Lakye nodded.

“Civilized one. Do you understand my words?”

NotACatfish acknowledged with silence.

Now that phrase is coming. I recall Lakye’s reaction when she first heard it.

‘What meaning is contained in those bizarre words?’

Lakye… you absolutely must never know what it means. Seriously.

“UltraSansMadWithMoonlightMassacreMode.”

Ah, finally “that nickname” came out of Lakye’s mouth. I really want to hide in a mouse hole.

If Lakye ever learns what this means, she might look at me with contempt.

“…!”

NotACatfish’s pupils dilated as she stared at Lakye.

Lakye, who felt no embarrassment due to not knowing the meaning, continued.

“Sans, the benefactor of our tribe, has asked for your release.”

“Ah…!”

NotACatfish’s expression immediately brightened.

“However, there is a condition.”

It’s not over yet.

“In exchange for releasing you safely, you must spar with the tribe’s warriors for three days. Nod if you accept.”

Yes. This is the payment I had in mind.

Keeping NotACatfish in the tribe for a few days to serve as a training partner for the tribal warriors.

Lakye is too high-level to be a training partner. But what about NotACatfish?

Safely sparring with a paladin who has learned various skills would greatly benefit the warriors’ experience.

It would also be good for when they might need to subdue “paladins hostile to barbarians” they might encounter someday.

Of course, I plan to take appropriate measures to keep NotACatfish away from the altar. I’ll just need to limit the radius within which she can operate.

Lakye has agreed to monitor her.

NotACatfish rolls her eyes. Is she still thinking?

If she refuses, well, I’m sorry, but she’ll have to remain imprisoned until I come up with a better plan.

No matter how I look at it, I can’t waste such a good opportunity.

I can’t resist free instructor hiring.

“Tsk…”

After contemplating, NotACatfish nodded.

“Then we’ll start tomorrow.”

Lakye struck down with her curved blade, destroying NotACatfish’s restraints.

But Lakye. Isn’t this Blue Moss tribe property? I heard you dragged her here tied with ropes when you brought her.

You’re such a reckless woman.

Whatever. Kanto will handle it.