Ch.69Radaniya+

# 69. Radaniya+

I need to correct myself.

Radaniya wasn’t senile.

She just wasn’t good with words….

“So, instead of burying the object that serves as the center of the oath in the ground, make my heart the center. Then as long as I stay near you, I can survive like now, and if I go outside Ayord, you can also go outside Ayord?”

“Yes! That’s what I was trying to say!”

“That doesn’t sound like a simple procedure, though?”

“I-I promise it won’t harm you!”

Ah, yes. I’m sure that’s what you’d say.

But I smell something. Something fishy.

“While it’s regrettable that the legendary Ayor’s fate turned out this way, I’m not someone who blindly chases romance. I’d appreciate a more detailed explanation.”

Specifically, what actions are required.

What situations could arise for me.

What benefits I would receive in return.

No matter how good the reward, if it interferes with my or the guild’s future, I would reject this pitiful Ayor without hesitation.

Perhaps sensing my attitude,

Radaniya grabbed my hand and looked up at me with teary eyes.

‘Even if I’m part of the cat faction! Even if she’s cute!’

—But she was too cute for that.

No, according to the game lore, Ayord was established at least 240 years ago.

‘This old cat lady isn’t even Puss in Boots, how can she be this adorable?’

I hastily shook my head to regain my senses. I heard a small “tsk” from in front of me. It wasn’t… insignificant.

“I’m not going to be swayed so easily. I have people I’m responsible for, and if something happens to me, it would be a disaster. As someone who led a clan and built the city of Ayord, I believe you understand what I mean.”

“Yes… I suppose so. I shouldn’t harm others because of my selfish desires. Right.”

That stung.

Didn’t I forcibly bring my guild members here because of my own desires?

Still, it was a double standard.

Besides, I roughly understood Radaniya’s circumstances, but the reverse wasn’t true. I had the absolute advantage in terms of information.

“This is an opportunity I’ve waited for I don’t know how long, so even if I’m not good with words, please hear me out completely.”

“Alright.”

And so Radaniya began to explain what I wanted to know, one by one.

It took quite a while, with her lamenting her situation and mixing in stories from the past, but to summarize:

Even after building Ayord, everything remained unstable for a while, so her plan to stay for only 3 years fell apart, and she had to remain.

3 years became 5, 5 became 10, 10 became 15, and the Ayors naturally came to regard Radaniya as their matriarch. Though she disliked authoritarianism and wanted to run away immediately, she knew that would lead to chaos. Only after establishing a council-like system of chieftains could she finally retire.

Shortly after her retirement, a “major” conflict arose with the Albs who had always disapproved of Ayord’s establishment, and it developed into an almost war-level confrontation. The council of chieftains desperately sought out Radaniya, their spiritual pillar and eternal matriarch.

Radaniya suffered various injuries. Even after repelling the Albs’ invasion, she had to protect Ayord from an unofficial position for some time. She strongly felt that at this rate, she would die without ever doing what she wanted.

She summoned the Grand Shaman and performed the Eternal Oath on her mother’s necklace, buried in a small plot of land she had long wished to rest in. She asked to maintain her physical prime in exchange for protecting Ayord. This bound Radaniya’s body and soul to Ayord.

For over 200 years, Radaniya grew weary. Ayord had not only stabilized but developed to its fullest, and those who had been with her had long since returned to nature. She wanted to find peace, but the subject of the oath couldn’t break it themselves. The Grand Shamans who had inherited the position over generations were less capable than the first—or perhaps they simply refused to use their full capabilities. Either way, they couldn’t release her, so she waited endlessly for someone with the right “feeling” who could free her from the Eternal Oath.

Upon finding that person, she would transfer the center of the oath from her mother’s keepsake to that person’s heart. This required numerous rare materials, but Radaniya had gathered most of them over the centuries, so I needn’t worry about that. She had also taught herself shamanism over the past century, so the procedure wasn’t a concern either.

However, it would indeed burden my heart and soul. There might be physical pain as well. As I grew stronger, this burden would decrease. And I could never be separated from her beyond a certain distance, though this distance would increase as I grew. She couldn’t clearly explain the extent of the burden and pain, but assured me it wouldn’t kill me or leave me disabled.

What I would gain was Radaniya herself. In return for giving her freedom and adventure, she promised teaching and protection.

She swore on her name and honor as the founder of Ayord that this explanation contained no lies or distortions.

“I’ve told you everything. It’s up to you now.”

“I’ve listened carefully. You seem to have been honest. But I’m curious about something.”

“Again?”

“It’s nothing major. I just wondered if there were others who gave you this ‘feeling’ before me.”

“There was. About 70 years ago, I think.”

Radaniya sighed, her shoulders drooping slightly as if tired from talking so much after a long time.

“They kept getting irritated, saying to stop the nonsense about Radaniya and let them out quickly. They said they were just visiting and didn’t have time to listen to nonsense about Ayors they didn’t know. Even if it were true, they had no intention of carrying someone like a burden for their entire life. I was sad and angry… but when I considered their perspective, it made sense, and I couldn’t argue.”

“Seventy years, you say.”

“Surprised?”

“…Give me a moment, please.”

“Sure! I’ve waited 70, no, 200 years—I can certainly wait a moment!”

Even after hearing everything, I still couldn’t understand what this “feeling” was. But that wasn’t the important part.

The real question was whether Radaniya was worth the risk of the unclear soul burden and physical pain.

‘Based on the description, her combat power must be top-tier.’

But then again, isn’t it a cliché that if I make this contract, my weakness would make my summon weak too?

That seemed likely. She hadn’t mentioned the burden and pain decreasing as I grew stronger for nothing.

Just to be sure, I asked once more.

“Aren’t there any among my companions who give you this feeling? Some of them are stronger than me.”

“No. If there were, I would have approached them instead.”

Unlike the game, this place was an isolated tower. Even if it were possible, whether she could accompany us was another question.

[Quest ‘Radaniya’s Liberation’ has been updated.]

[Quest details – Release Radaniya from the Eternal Oath (Ayord) and become the new subject of the Eternal Oath]

[Success reward – ‘Legendary Ayor’ Radaniya]

[Rejection consequence – You will never see ‘Legendary Ayor’ Radaniya again]

The quest message immediately cut off my doubts. If I had seen this quest message in the game, I would have been excited for 24 hours straight without sleep, but….

“Can I discuss this with my companions?”

“I’m sorry, but that’s not possible. This space can only exist one-on-one. Once you leave, it can’t be used for the same person for a while. And the ritual to transfer the Eternal Oath can’t involve outsiders.”

“So that means…”

“Yes. You have to decide by yourself, here. If you agree, we’ll proceed with the ritual immediately.”

Is this a trial or a blessing?

An investment or a gamble?

I’m an ordinary coward.

Someone who gets irritated and pained by a splinter in their finger.

Could someone like me live with part of my soul and body essentially mortgaged? I reflected on myself.

‘…It’s trivial.’

And soon I reached a conclusion.

Compared to taking my guild members to the top floor, this too was trivial.

She said I wouldn’t die. And I wouldn’t be disabled either.

Then, if I alone endured the pain…

If I alone endured the pain and continued to grow, wouldn’t Radaniya, a powerful Ayor warrior and shaman, become a great asset?

Radaniya, an ordinary Ayor who dreamed of being an ordinary adventurer, became the eternal matriarch and legend who built Ayord. She had a past that made her seem like a character inspired by Joan of Arc. The difference was that Radaniya didn’t die, but lived a long and arduous life to the point of wishing for death.

Now she seemed more concerned about dying without ever doing what she wanted, but if I refused here…

‘She’ll probably find a way to die alone. Somehow.’

I met Radaniya’s obsidian eyes again. Though she said nothing, as if not wanting to disturb my contemplation, I too could “feel” her mood.

‘I’ll take the risk.’

Although it bothered me to make such a significant decision without consulting my guild members…

“I’ll do it.”

“I see… I thought you would refuse too?!”

Meow-!

“Whoa! Why are you suddenly—let go! Let’s talk without grabbing me!!”

“I heard you clearly say you’ll do it, nya! No taking it back, nya! No time for this, nya. Quickly. Take off your clothes and sit up straight here, nya.”

“Why do I need to take off my—ah. Alright, just calm down!”

“*heavy breathing*”

She’s not senile… right?

**

“Oppa.”

What?

“Oppa??”

My brother.

“OPPA!!!”

Where did you go.