​Chapter 70: Why Are You Here?

General Vadim set off towards the east.

It was the road back to his homeland, Erindale.

Yet, he was not in good spirits.

Their homeland was a cursed land, where no crops grew properly and livestock died emaciated.

Some say it’s the Land of Death, Erindale.

Vadim remembered the old days.

Those desperate times when they barely survived on tree bark, merely clinging to life.

And Mazar, who had saved them from their misery.

“Warriors! We will succeed. Who would have imagined? We will conquer the land of monsters, Elver.”

“Vadim! Vadim!”

“We will conquer Erindale just the same. We will tame and cultivate this cursed land into a land of abundance! All for Mazar!”

“Hooray!”

Having finished his speech, Vadim led the procession onward.

But honestly,

It was frightening.

Facing monsters that devoured humans was one thing, but returning to the barren homeland to endure the same hardships again was another.

Yet, they had to succeed.

Mazar must be waiting there, surely.

A hundred warriors sprinted towards Erendale.

(The land is certainly a cursed wasteland.)

The first warrior says he is scared.

The second warrior says he is scared.

The third warrior says he is scared.

The hundredth warrior as well…

“We’re almost there. Warriors, look at that sign.”

<- Elver | Erindale->

“This way leads to the land of monsters, Elver. Turn back if you value your life.”

“Home is near now...”

Vadim steeled his heart.

It was a dreadful land, even when touched by humans.

It wouldn’t be surprising if something unusual had happened during their absence.

“General, something is off.”

“Indeed. Could we have taken the wrong path? That seems unlikely.”

Strange.

There has been foliage since a while back.

Even a cow wandering around.

The cow took a mouthful of grass, then promptly lay down and started to sleep.

It was obviously overweight.

“It must be an illusion! Blow the horn!”

“Exactly! It’s impossible for the cow to be that fat. Prepare the horn!”

Bwoooooo――

They blew it.

The anti-demon horn, passed down through generations among the Lion Tribe.

“The illusion isn’t fading!”

“Blow harder!”

Bwoooooooooooooooooo―――

They blew with all their might until their lungs were empty.

Yet, the illusion did not vanish.

“How can this be? How strong is this illusion?”

“General! An enraged cow is charging at us!”

“Stay calm. It’s just an illusion, after all.”

The cow, angered by the Lion Tribe who had disturbed its slumber, started pawing the ground and then charged.

Vadim was not deceived by the illusion.

He maintained a clear and undisturbed mind, standing firm.

“Typical of the General.”

“Look, it’s just an illusio... Arrgh!”

Vadim was sent flying by the cow, far into the distance.

Seeing their leader flung away, one of the Lion Tribe warriors picked and chewed on the grass.

The warrior was impressed.

“Such deep flavor and rich nutrients. I, Lev, who has not tasted grass in ten years, dare say this grass is of the highest quality.”

“Does this mean it’s not an illusion?”

The warriors started eating the grass.

It was indeed edible.

“What on earth has happened to Erindale in our absence?”

They hurried on and beheld an unbelievable sight.

The sun warmed the land, turning the vast, green fields to a golden hue. The wheat swayed in the wind, rippling like ocean waves.

Clear, transparent stream water cut through, with fish darting about, watched by long-beaked birds.

The warriors shed tears.

“To witness such a sight in my lifetime.”

“Let’s hurry home.”

As the warriors hastened back, they encountered an unexpected situation.

“Who are you?”

“And who might you be?”

As they opened the door of a house, a stranger emerged.

“This is my house?”

“What are you talking about? It’s my house.”

Lev scratched his head.

Could they have mistaken the house?

No. The large stone wall beside the house confirmed it was his.

But what was happening?

It felt like returning from the army only to find that your family had moved without notice, leaving a stranger in your home.

The homeowner, observing Lev’s attire, said,

“Are you perhaps from the Lion Tribe?”

“Yes, I am Lev of the Lion Tribe.”

“Hmm. I heard such a day would come. Look at this.”

<The Erindale Estates hereby grant free land tenure to the pioneers who cultivate the land. This is authorized by His Imperial Majesty and guaranteed by the Count of Erindale.>

“I can’t read.”

“In short, while you all were away, we pioneers have been cultivating this land. This has been authorized not only by His Imperial Majesty but also by the Count of Erindale.”

“That... That’s too complicated for Lev to understand.”

“Simply put, this house is now our home.”

​

Lev collapsed with a thud.

Chaos erupted everywhere.

Similar incidents were happening elsewhere.

“Where is Mazar-nim?”

“Mazar? I’ve never heard that name before.”

Thus, the hundred warriors became refugees.

***

The sound of drums echoed—thump, thump, thump, thump.

The warriors who had lost their homes were now living in tents pitched in corners of the land.

The sound of the drums was melancholic.

“I simply cannot sleep with that incessant drumming. Saintess, could you please tell them that making noise after dark is a valid reason for a duel?”

“You want to duel?”

“No, I’d surely lose.”

The pioneer scratched his head awkwardly.

The blonde woman, called a Saintess, Eileen, smiled gently.

“I’m not actually a Saintess, but if it’s causing discomfort, I’ll speak to them.”

“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know how we would have survived... It makes me think of the barren wilderness we once had.”

At that, Eileen recalled the past.

A barren wilderness with not a single blade of grass.

The miracle that occurred there.

She had tried hard to cleanse herself of a past momentarily tainted by greed.

This cursed land had gathered homeless wanderers and exiles who shared their struggles, joys, and sorrows together.

This Erindale was what they had built.

It could now proudly be called a land of hope, not a cursed land anymore.

Yet still.

‘Carl.’

That name was still a thorn in her heart.

She had trampled on his pure heart. And for that, she was atoning.

‘Would he forgive me if he saw me now?’

She felt a twinge of fear.

‘Let’s help the troubled souls before me for now.’

With that, Eileen headed towards the tents where the warriors were.

​

​***

​

“Why not just overturn it all? It was our land originally, General.”

“Silence!!!!!”

Vadim rebuked the warrior who harbored such futile thoughts. It was a scolding loud enough to cover one’s ears.

“We did leave this land for a while, it’s true, and it’s also true that these people have cultivated this barren land. And most importantly, if we were to seize the land, how would we be any different from the monsters of Elver? Do you intend to disappoint Mazar-nim?”

The warrior wept, kneeling down.

“General, I think I was wrong. I reflect on this.”

“That’s better.”

Vadim smiled contentedly.

“We will wait until Mazar-nim comes to find us.”

Thump, thump, thump, thump—

The drums sounded again.

It was a sorrowful sound, searching for Mazar.

“Excuse me.”

At that moment, Eileen, known as the saintess of the wilderness, appeared by the tents.

“I’m sorry, but could you perhaps reduce the drumming a bit? It’s causing people distress.”

The warriors, robust and bare-chested, focused their attention on Eileen.

Eileen spoke firmly and without falter.

“Please.”

And respecting the courageous is a custom of the Lion Tribe.

General Vadim looked at Eileen with a sparkle in his eye.

“So, you are the famous saintess of the wilderness.”

“That’s just an exaggerated title.”

“Then tell me. This drumming is to find Mazar-nim. What if we stop and Mazar-nim cannot find us?”

Eileen pondered before replying.

“But you have been drumming for a long time. If Mazar-nim has not come by now, perhaps he cannot hear it?”

“Cannot hear? Could it be... are we abandoned?”

Fear crept into Vadim’s voice, which had never feared even monsters.

“No. Perhaps he is in trouble? Unable to hear your call.”

“Mazar-nim is in danger?”

Was it her convincing voice or some divine power?

Eileen’s words carried an unusual persuasiveness.

The worst scenarios filled Vadim’s head.

“We must save Mazar-nim immediately!”

“Mazar-nim! Mazar-nim!”

“Your words are credible! Your guidance shall lead us!”

“That’s not what I meant—”

“Oh! You are our leader! The one prophesied!”

A warrior raised a scroll.

-The golden leader will guide you.

Vadim shouted.

“Warriors! Let us depart! To save Mazar-nim! The golden leader has come to lead us!”

“Wait a minute.”

The Lion Tribe, known for catching the mood and hastily promoting leaders, had done it again.

And just like that, Eileen found herself unexpectedly leading the Lion Tribe warriors.

​And it seemed like a pilgrimage.

Along the way to find Mazar, they helped those in distress and defeated evil monsters.

As they headed east, their fame grew day by day, and they eventually came to be known as “The Golden Saintess and the Lion Warriors.”

And people began to whisper.

Who exactly was this ‘Mazar’ they were seeking?

***

Meanwhile, in Ascal.

“Dragons attacking the empire? You expect me to believe such nonsense?”

It was a lie. He actually believed it. Ascal knew about the dragon attacks.

But how did Sushia know this fact? That was the question.

“It’s true! You have to believe me.”

Sushia stamped her feet in frustration.

“If you knew the future, why didn’t you tell me all this time?”

“Well... I knew once, but then it got blurry... After I went to the Holy Nation, I remembered again.”

“I can’t believe this.”

It was a lie. He actually believed her.

Thinking about it, it was Sushia who convinced Ascal to apply to the Evaluation Department instead of following his father Arthur into a military career, with her saying:

- “If you join the Evaluation Department, you can nap all day and still get paid!”

Afterwards, he banged his head against a tree and remembered.

It was too late.

Yes, the root of all evil was indeed Sushia.

“Yikes! Then let’s go to Lady Elenia. She can provide proof that I’m right!”

“If that would settle your mind.”

Sushia turned her head as if slightly offended.

Night had deepened.

The two arrived at the fortune-telling shop in the Evaluation Department.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

Elenia lit a candle and set the mood.

In the dimly lit room, two glowing pumpkins floated.

“You guys. Don’t play tricks.”

“You found us!”

“How did you know?”

It was twins wearing pumpkin masks.

“Boo-hoo. I’m wronged, Lady Elenia. This person won’t believe what I say.”

“Oh, you must feel terribly wronged.”

Elenia patted Sushia’s back.

“I know the future! I just remembered!”

“With such insistence, what do you think?”

“It doesn’t feel like she’s lying.”

Elenia pulled out a crystal ball.

“Would you like to touch it?”

Then Sushia hesitated for a moment before exchanging glances with Elenia.

“Could you please turn around for a moment? She seems a bit shy about showing this to others.”

Ascal had no choice but to turn around.

Sushia placed her hand on the crystal ball.

Elenia was silent for a while before she spoke calmly, albeit with a tone that suggested she was slightly shocked.

“Her words are true.”

“…How can I believe that, though?”

“I have something prepared. Would you lie down on this chair for a moment?”

Elenia pointed to a massage bed, clearly borrowed from the Cat tribe.

“Please lie down comfortably.”

Ascal laid down. He needed to verify Sushia’s claims properly.

“Close your eyes, and slowly recall the memories etched in your soul.”

Wait, are past life experiences still a thing in this era?

“Hehe. Thanks to the Divine Tree, my powers have grown significantly. This was impossible in the past, but thanks to you, Ascal, I can now use this method. Thank you.”

Hearing Elenia’s words, Ascal’s eyes slowly closed.

And then he opened them.

“Capture that bastard!”

“We’ve been chasing him for a month. We can’t let him get away!”

Looking down, he saw some ragged cloth. People wearing similar  ragged cloth were chasing something that looked like a giant chicken.

“He went that way! Scal!”

Thump, thump.

The giant chicken was coming this way.

It was almost upon him.

Startled, Ascal stumbled backward and fell.

Ascal reflexively closed his eyes.

“Ooh! Scal caught it!”

“He’s the next leader!”

Awakened by the commotion, Ascal was startled.

As he fell, the spear in his hand had accidentally stabbed the giant chicken in a vital spot on its underbelly.

The chicken collapsed, dead.

“Praise Scal!”

“Scal! Scal!”

What on earth was happening?

Ascal looked up at the sky.

…There were two suns.

​

​***

​“Oh no, went too far back in time. This isn’t the right place.”

Ascal closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, he found himself in a familiar setting.

A dazzling room. Mountains of documents piled up.

And the woman before him.

“...Lia?”

“Hmm?”

Something was different.

She looked like Lia, but appeared a few years older, with a maturity that Lia didn’t have.

And most notably.

She was toying with a crown on her finger as if it were a plaything.

“Is this some kind of role reversal play? I’ll gladly play along.”

She, Yulia Barba, smiled slyly.

“Would you kindly scold me, Prime Minister Debrue?”

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