Iron Blooded Hound

Chapter 67: "Balak's Legend"

Vikir became a legend among the Balak that day.

He discovered that the plague afflicting Balak's champions was actually a simple opiate subtly distributed by unfamiliar vendors, giving them a significant advantage in trade, which they had been losing.

Additionally, he extended the range of his blazing bolts and developed an oil barrel bolt system, instantly earning him legendary status.

His popularity was bolstered by his previous efforts to address the clan's food shortage by hunting down an oxbear that only the bravest warriors could hunt.

"I will allow you to bathe in the Wellspring of Courage," Chief Aquila gladly granted Vikir's request.

However, she wondered how she could deny her daughter's request when she was so determined.

With such a noble cause, how could anyone refuse?

Even the initially skeptical elders were now looking at Vikir with approving faces.

However, one of them, the shaman Ahheman, stroked his beard in dissatisfaction.

The shaman had a history of misdiagnosing drug-afflicted heroes as "cursed".

While Vikir's actions had made the Balak clan brighter and more vibrant, it had also made things very difficult for Ahheman.

His position was much diminished, and his voice much weaker than before.

For this reason, he couldn't oppose Vikir's decision to enter the Wellspring of Courage.

Aiyen leaned in with a wide smile and whispered in Vikir's ear.

And then she fell silent.

Vikir frowned and turned his head.

"Do you have something to say?"

"Nothing."

"Why did you put your mouth in someone else's ear?"

"Just... I wanted to."

Aiyen still grinned inadvertently.

She opened her mouth again.

"Well, in the meantime, why don't you say a few words?"

"Why?"

"I have a feeling that guy over there seems like a fraud."

"Why?"

"...I just suspect."

Vikir agreed with Aiyen.

The only difference was that he was able to use his rationale, along with his instincts, to sense something off-putting about Ahheman.

He had described the drugs the vendors distributed as a plague, a curse that could only be cured by shamanic rituals.

In this way, he asserted his authority as a shaman and bolstered his position.

This was despite the fact that his granddaughter, Ahul, was suffering from complications from drugs.

Additionally, Vikir still remembered what the vendors had said so casually the last time.

"You don't know what you're doing! This is a sacred trade!"

"This is a sacred trade, sworn to by the Lord of the Wilderness!"

'Even the Shaman of Balak favors us for the Lord of the Wilderness...!"

The last one cut off mid-sentence, but the sharp-eyed Vikir had already sensed what was going on.

Vikir translated the vendors' words into the local language, and Aiyen's eyebrows shot up in unison.

"We can't let this charlatan get away with this! I treated him like a blessing, and now he's stuck with an alien power...!"

"Calm down. You're still angry. You have no hard evidence."

"Then you're just going to sit back and watch!"

Aiyen's heart raced, and Vikir shouted after a moment of silence.

Vikir spoke in a soft tone, and Aiyen's eyes narrowed as she listened.

"...Do you think I should do that?"

"Yes. If we wait a little longer, it will reveal its own tail."

"Hmm. That doesn't sound like a bad plan."

Aiyen thought for a moment.

But, she wasn't in the mood to think for too long.

"I see. I guess nothing is lost by doing as you say. Let's just focus on what's important right now."

Vikir nodded at Aiyen's words.

As she said, getting his body back in shape was the most important thing right now.

A short while later.

Night fell, and a beautiful full moon rose.

The wilderness seemed to have forgotten the previous carnage in just a single day.

As the bright, round moon rose, Depht opened his mouth as if to swallow it.

Sssssss...

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves.

Then, with a strange shifting of the world's crust, the rock cracked and hot water began to rise from beneath it.

The Wellspring of Courage.

Blessed by Adonai, the archer king of Balak's distant past.

It was a sacred place that few of Balak's warriors were allowed to enter.

Vikir stood alone before it.

In the depths of the hot, steaming waters, some sulfurous gas seemed to be boiling.

In the shallows, some small creatures were eager to appear and take a dip.

They didn't move as Vikir approached.

There seemed to be an unwritten rule that creatures entering the hot springs here, regardless of their longstanding hierarchy, didn't disturb each other.

Vikir removed all his clothes.

He closed his eyes, pushed aside the rabbits, hares, and hedgehogs that were crowding his body, and sat down.

"...!"

The effect was truly enlightening.

As he entered the hot spring water, his inner body quickly settled.

"That old shaman wasn't complaining in vain, I guess he wanted to come in."

His mana became purer, and the bones and muscles in his body fell into place.

Perhaps Baskerville had a similar effect to the River Styx flowing within it.

The Wellspring of Courage was only slightly less potent than the River Styx, but the best part was that there was no age limit on its use.

The only drawback was that it was only available a few times a year, on full moon nights.

As Vikir soaked in the hot springs, he pondered various things.

It had been a while since he'd been here.

I wonder how Baskerville is doing without him, how the Dark Horse City is doing.

...Well, probably very well.

'But Mr. Chihuahua is probably throwing a fit."

Vikir sneered and dismissed the thought.

Then, something completely unexpected happened.

Something so surprising that even the mighty Vikir was stunned.

"Surprised?"

In what seemed like no time at all, Aiyen was soaking in the hot springs next to Vikir.

She leaned forward toward Vikir, grinning widely, not wearing a single thread of clothing.

Seeing this, Vikir thought to himself.

'Even I, who have survived the Time of Annihilation, didn't sense her approach. I must learn this stealthy move.'

It would serve him well in the future.

While Vikir pondered his strategy.

"..."

Aiyen muttered, disappointed at Vikir's lack of response.

"Have you become such a man that seeing a woman's nakedness has no effect on you?"

"Don't you go around naked all the time?"

"Not quite. There's a difference between naked and barely covered."

What's the difference?

Vikir didn't know what to say to that, so he just turned his head back in the direction he had come from.

Meanwhile, while Vikir was lost in thought, Aiyen was thinking something completely different.

In fact, she intended to see this through to the end tonight.

It's a bit of an ego thing to ask someone to choose you as a mate, so I wanted to naturally follow through with something (?) in a flashy

(?) place and in a natural atmosphere (?), and just go with the flow.

'He's cleaned up, his reputation in the village is good, he's not bad for a husband, and he'll stay here today and heal his body so that he's good enough for his family, and then the rest will take care of itself.'

Her mother, Aquila, had given her similar advice.

So Aiyen had gone all in and brought her favorite drink to bathe near Vikir.

But.

"But, doesn't your presence diminish the magical effects of the hot springs? Why did you come in? Surely the chief said only I should come in?"

Vikir is now standing there arguing over this.

Aiyen exclaimed in dismay.

" ... Does it matter now? A true Balak doesn't argue over such trivial matters."

"It doesn't matter, but I'm just asking, not arguing, but surely. If you don't want to answer, you don't have to."

Vikir replied with a casual expression, and when he turned away again, Aiyen's forehead furrowed.

" ... Show me what it is then?"

A moment.

...Boom!

There was a splash.

Aiyen jumped to her feet and stormed at Vikir.

Vikir's demeanor was still casual, but his pupils were widened with a hint of surprise.

Seeing that, Aiyen smiled mischievously and jumped on top of Vikir's body.

"You will stay still, slave."

"..."

"This master will take care of ..."

At that exact moment.

A snap, a crackle, a pop!

A group of splashes erupted from beyond the spring.

A few shadows began to creep through the steam.

"Wow-it's the Master!"

"Brother Vikir!"

A group of children started to rush in from nowhere.

"????"

Aiyen looked up, bewildered.

Vikir, pinned underneath her, turned his head as well.

Balak's children had been gathering into the hot springs for some reason.

Each of them was sick from the side effects of the drugs the vendors were selling.

Naked, the children ran towards Aiyen and Vikir.

"Master, let's play!"

Aiyen cried out.

"Hey, you two, you're splitting the magical effects of the hot springs! Who told you to come in here!"

"th...the chief-oh!"

When the children replied in a stuttering voice, Aiyen slapped her forehead with the palm of her hand.

She had been played by her mother.

Even by her mother.

"You're talking differently. You said earlier that a true Balak doesn't argue over such trivial matters... "

Vikir pointed out with a serious face.

Aiyen sighed deeply.

The children were already playing with the rabbits, hedgehogs, and squirrels that had come in earlier.

Vikir was soaking in the hot springs, just trying to heal.

Aiyen, having given up on everything, opened her arms to Vikir.

"Welcome to officially join the Balak."

She didn't know what else to say.

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