Valhalla Saga

TL: Tsubak

ED: Julsmul

“Hedaaaaa!”

Tae Ho screamed and rose up. He looked just like someone that was having a nightmare, as his body was completely sweaty.

“That’s a peculiar scream.”

“Pant….Pant….Cuchulainn?”

Tae Ho’s breathing was ragged as he turned his head. He could see Cuchulainn snickering.

“Are you alright? Do you remember something?”

Cuchulainn sat next to Tae Ho and threw a question. Tae Ho faced Cuchulainn with an absent-minded face but then looked at himself in a surprised way.

“No way! I passed out even though I have Idun’s blessing?”

Idun’s blessing hadn’t let go of Tae Ho’s consciousness even when Tae Ho was at the verge of death.

But now, he had passed out so cleanly even though he had Idun’s blessing.

Cuchulainn faced Tea Ho’s shock and then placed his hand on his shoulder as if it was fun.

“Isn’t it fortunate? If you hadn’t passed out, it would have been more painful.”

“Well, that’s true but…”

Those were truthful words, but he didn’t want to agree to it.

Cuchulainn patted Tae Ho’s shoulders again.

“But hey, you still endured it for quite a long time. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone faint after enduring it for a long time like you.”

The majority lost their consciousness as soon as they started.

Tae Ho opened his eyes sharply at the compliment that wasn’t a compliment and threw a question with a sigh.

“But still, it does have an effect right?”

“Of course there’s an effect. Being able to speak with face to face is proof of that.”

“Huh? Now that I see…!”

Tae Ho looked at his surroundings. It wasn’t the residence of Scathach, but Cuchulainn had a profoundly clearer shape.

“Right, this isn’t the real world. It’s the imaginary world of master.”

Cuchulainn stood up and looked at his surroundings. The world was dyed in ash gray and was covered by a big shadow.

“You can say that it’s another Land of Darkness. Even though Erin was destroyed, the Land of Darkness…that world still remains.”

An incomplete world that was between the boundary of life and death.

Erin was destroyed, but the Land of Darkness still remained. Scathach had lost her people and country, but she was still the queen of that land.

The reason Scathach was one of the best magicians in Erin wasn’t because she had mastered several destructive or offensive magics.

Even though she was a Milesian, she was versed in the mystical powers of the Tuatha De Danann. She could naturally use the several wonders only the strong Gods of the Tuatha De Danann could use as if she were breathing.

In Erin, a magician wasn’t someone that fought.

They were the protectors and transmitters of knowledge and wonders.

But of course, if great magicians like Merlin or Scathach fought in a magical region after taking enough preparations, the story changed. Cuchulainn usually thought of Scathach as someone he had to protect, but he didn’t even think of that inside of the magical region of Scathach.

Cuchulainn looked down on Tae Ho and said,

“Listen well, Tae Ho. All the theories of the weapon techniques have been injected into your mind and body, but you aren’t able to use them freely as they’ve just been engraved. If you want to use them properly, you will have to learn with your body.”

What Scathach did to Tae Ho was simple.

It took a long time to teach him the techniques one by one, so she forcefully engraved them in his body and mind.

It obviously wasn’t an easy process and couldn’t be repeated easily.

Tae Ho felt pain like his bones and flesh were torn apart. Tae Ho had been pushed to the brink of death several times in battles against the giants, but this time was the worst. He couldn’t recall much that was more painful than this.

It was a process all the disciples of Scathach had to go through.

Because of that, Cuchulainn felt a sense of sympathy and pointed to a distant place with his chin.

“The tower you see over there is the Tower of Shadows. It has several floors in it, and there are floor masters protecting each floor. Defeat them and climb the tower. Every time you pass through a floor, you will be able to master one technique of Scathach’s.”

When Tae Ho turned his head, he saw a big tower. It was a common, pillar-type tower, but it was so high one wasn’t able to see its peak.

“As master connected her imaginary world with your mind, you won’t be able to completely use your saga. You won’t be able to use the sagas that borrow external power like ‘Idun’s Warrior’, and if possible, its good if you don’t use the other sagas either as the objective of this tower is to increase your skills. The best thing is to pierce through with just weapon techniques as if head butting into the ground.

“What if I die when battling against a floor master?”

He didn’t think that Scathach would give him a soft and easy going training by this point.

Cuchulainn shrugged his shoulders at Tae Ho’s question and said,

“Well, like you would have imagined, you won’t really die in this place. You just have to determine yourself once again and repeatedly challenge it. There’s no need to eat and sleep as its an imaginary world. You will continue fighting.”

Perhaps, it was worse than the myths of Valhalla that repeated endless wars. At least there was time to enjoy oneself after fighting in the myths of Valhalla.

Tae Ho thought of what he should do and how he should interpret Cuchulainn’s words and then stood up abruptly.

“Wait, until when?”

“Until you give up. You already know what kind of person our master is.”

He could give up on the first floor and on the tenth floor.

Only, the things one could gain lessened the earlier they gave up.

“In addition, she has already said that she enjoys polishing gemstones into jewels.”

“Um. Was that polishing in a materialistic way?”

Cuchulainn just showed a white smile instead of nodded to his question. He patted Tae Ho’s shoulder with a detached face.

“Cheer up.”

Tae Ho turned his eyes and then saw that the door of the Tower of Shadows was opening.

—

Adenmaha bit her lips upon seeing Tae Ho on top of the altar. His condition wasn’t good at all. He was sweating while frowning and even screamed at times.

“You witch! What the hell did you do to mast…..kyak!”

Adenmaha ended up cursing to Scathach as she was nervous but then got her arm twisted and fell to the ground. Scathach rode on top of Adenmaha and twisted her arm even more.

“Your manners are bad.”

“Ah! It hurts! Hurts! I was wrong!”

Adenmaha begged while crying, but Scathach didn’t let her go easily. She gave her plenty of time so that Adenmaha could engrave the lesson of today in both her body and mind.

And a few minutes later-

Scathach let go of Adenmaha’s arm and said while standing up,

“He has just started with the training.”

Adenmaha didn’t have the strength to reply at her answer that came with a slow tempo. She sobbed unfairly and then turned to look at Tae Ho and said,

“His frowning looks painful.”

“The price you pay is as big as what you gain.”

Scathach’s philosophy stated that there was no easy thing in the world.

“The timeframes of the imaginary world and the real world are different. You can say that it’s a place of time dilation. A month in that place is like a day here.”

“Uh, I think I have heard of something similar from master.”

It was certainly something that came out in manhwas (mangas).

While Adenmaha shut her lips and tried to remember, Scathach smirked.

“You now call him as master really well. It seems like you like him?”

“It’s a- hmph.”

Adenmaha pouted while turning her gaze away. Scathach smiled with her eyes as if Adenmaha was really cute.

“Hedaaa!”

Tae Ho screamed again. Adenmaha turned to look at Tae Ho hurriedly, and Scathach frowned and said,

“It seems like it has started for real.”

It was something Scathach was quite accustomed to. As a result, she spoke towards Adenmaha, who was uneasy while wiping off Tae Ho’s sweat, in a calm voice.

“Tell Heda that he will be like this for a few days.”

“You don’t know when he will wake up?”

“That depends on his disposition.”

If he gave up immediately, he would be able to wake up right now, but in the first place, Scathach wouldn’t have used the magic that connected to her imaginary world if Tae Ho was that kind of person.

“I’m quite looking forward…..to what floor he can reach and when he will wake up.”

She would polish a gemstone and turn it into a jewel.

Joy appeared in Scathach’s eyes and Adenmaha shrunk down with a scared face.

—

“Heda.”

Heda turned around hurriedly at the low call.

“Freya-nim.”

“So you’ve requested to recruit a Valkyrie.”

Freya spoke towards Heda who was expressing etiquette gently.

The place the two people were at was at the dock of Freya’s legion.

The biggest legion among the several legions in Valhalla didn’t belong to Odin’s nor Thor’s.

The legion of Freya was located in the center of Valhalla and boasted its great size comparable to several other legions together. Naturally, it had several docks.

Among them, the one Heda arrived at was the one that was connected with the Valkyrie Training Center.

Heda put on a nervous face and stiffened because Freya spoke about the reclutation without even greeting her.

“Don’t be too nervous. It’s also a happy thing for me that Idun’s legion has started to rise up again. I didn’t bring it out to find a fault in it.”

“Thank……you.”

“How stiff.”

Freya laughed at Heda placing her hand on her chest and then closed the distance with her. She looked at the nervous face of Heda up close and then nodded.

“You have certainly become prettier than before. It seems like your face is shining. I don’t like that Idun’s warrior acted so calmly after seeing me……but I can only admit this.”

Heda didn’t know up to what point Freya was joking.

Regardless, there was no evil in Freya’s eyes. In addition, Heda could only show an embarrassed smile because of the contents of the conversation.

Freya giggled. She pinched Heda’s cheek as if the embarrassed Heda was cute and then said,

“The Valkyries in the Valkyrie Training Center are quite interested in Idun’s legion. They are also really interested in Idun’s warrior. You will be able to get someone that wants to join without much problem.”

“Thank you.”

“Well, I didn’t really do anything. It’s thanks to you and the warrior of Idun for having worked so hard.”

As it were, Idun’s legion was a legion that was quite popular within the Valkyrie Training Center.

First, the number of Valkyries was low. That meant that a Valkyrie who has just graduated didn’t have that many predecessors.

Of course, it would be a complete failure if no successors entered, but Idun’s legion had started to rise up completely. The warriors and the Valkyries would increase in an instant.

There were few predecessors but a lot of successors.

As there were few Valkyries, if someone entered now, even a greenhorn Valkyrie that had just graduated would be able to take a spot.

It would be even weirder if it wasn’t popular.

“I will have to go slowly.”

Freya mumbled in a low voice and looked at Heda. She held her hand still and then looked at Heda’s golden eyes.

“Say hello to Idun.”

It wasn’t her usual, cute voice.

It was a voice and expression that had the affection of the Goddess of Beauty and Magic.

“Yes, I will.”

Heda answered while putting on a complicated face, and Freya nodded slowly. She put on a playful smile again and let go of Heda’s hand.

“For Asgard and the Nine Realms.”

“For Asgard and the Nine Realms.”

Freya hit her abundant chest twice and then turned around. Heda looked at her back for a moment and then let out a long sigh.

“I should return.”

There were many things to do in the residence.

Heda hopped on the wooden boat and then steered it towards Idun’s residence.

< Episode 32 – The land of darkness (4) > End

======

Episode 32/Chapter 5: The land of darkness (5)

TL: Tsubak

ED: Julsmul

Time flowed.

One day- two days- fifteen days.

It was a long and a short time, but there were quite big changes in the residence of Idun.

The biggest change was the transformation of the population.

New warriors entered Idun’s legion just like Freya had told them. They numbered twelve in total.

Adding them to the original five, there were now seventeen lowest-ranked warriors.

Of course, it was a really embarrassing thing to call just seventeen people a legion, but in the first place, Idun’s legion only had Tae Ho. Compared to before, one could say that it had become exponentially more legion-like.

Idun followed Tae Ho’s advice and built a big lodging for the warriors. If the original lodging was a hut, then the new one that was built was a huge mansion. It even had three floors so it would be able to accomodate more than a hundred warriors.

It was a mansion built from thinking of the future.

Aside from the lodging of the warriors, a training center, smithy, restaurant, and other buildings were also installed.

“We also built a lodging for the Valkyries.”

Adenmaha mumbled in a low voice in front of the altar where Tae Ho was lying and then smiled shakily.

“I also have more juniors now.”

Heda had obtained Adenmaha as her junior after a hundred years, but Adenmaha obtained two of her own in less than a month.

Sigrun and Gudrun.

The two of them were Valkyries that had just graduated from the Valkyrie Training Center.

Sigrun was a sharp-eyed woman that had a long braid woven with her sea-blue hair. As she was also tall, she gave the impression of a sharp blade when she stood still.

On the other hand, Gudrun gave a soft impression. Her long, brown hair, slightly droopy eyes, and drowsy voice resembled her well. In addition, her body and character were also filled with an aspect of motherly love.

Adenmaha thought about Gudrun for a moment and then pouted. It wasn’t always good if you were tall.

“I’m talking about stature. Height.”

Adenmaha said as if she was making an excuse. Actually, it wasn’t that great of an excuse as the two new Valkyries were taller than her.

Even Gudrun, the shorter one between the two, was taller than Heda. She was around the lower 170cm range, but as she had good proportions, it made her seem taller.

Sigrun was taller than Gudrun and had reached 180cm. As she also had good proportions, she seemed to be even taller than some warriors if seen from afar.

“But the two of them are good people.”

Because they certainly treated Adenmaha as their senior even though there wasn’t a big difference between them.

Right now, only Gudrun was in the residence. It was because Sigrun went out to lead warriors in an expedition.

Originally, it was normal to be led by a Valkyrie of one’s own legion when warriors went out on an expedition. Tae Ho didn’t need a leading Valkyrie as he was had been the only warrior, but it wasn’t the case for the new warriors.

“Ragnar said that it has now become a proper legion.”

Adenmaha still chirped about the changes like a baby bird.

“Rolo is almost completely healed. He can’t fly yet, but should I say in a short while? McLaren can also dig into the ground again and is healthy.”

Adenmaha spoke up to that point and then laughed. It was because she thought of the warriors that were discussing among themselves as to who would become a gryphon rider by looking at Rolo’s kids.

There was a big cave in Scathach’s lodging.

But it wasn’t a bit dark because of the light wards that were emanating light in the ceiling.

Adenmaha spoke again what she had already said yesterday and the day before and then wiped off the sweat from Tae Ho’s forehead.

As if on cue, Tae Ho convulsed again.

“Hedaa!”

Tae Ho screamed and began pouring sweat, but it didn’t end there.

“Iduun!”

Tae Ho let a groan after screaming and then gasped with a pained expression.

Adenmaha breathed in to calm down her surprised heart and then wiped off Tae Ho’s sweat once again. It has already been fifteen days since she first saw this scene, but it didn’t feel like she would get accustomed to it anytime soon.

“Idun! Heda!”

Tae Ho yelled once again, and Adenmaha put on a sulky expression instead of regret.

‘It would be good if he also calls out my name at times.’

If he screamed ten times, eight or nine of them were Heda’s name and the remaining ones were Idun.

‘Is it because my name is too long?’

Rather than shouting out “Adenmaha!”, it would be more comfortable to shout Heda or Idun.

But of course, Adenmaha also knew that it was nonsense.

“You play well alone.”

Adenmaha frowned at the voice that was heard behind her, but she then calmed her breathing and turned around with a business-like expression.

“We already finished with today’s classes.”

“Can’t I roam inside my house like a please?”

As Scathach stated her argument, Adenmaha could only cower and step back. But she didn’t just step back.

“He has only been screaming for fifteen days. Is this working properly?”

Scathach stood next to the altar and then nodded slowly as Adenmaha grumbled.

“Right, it’s going well. He grew accustomed to it better than I thought.”

Fifteen days having passed in this world meant that it has already been a year and three months in Tae Ho’s mind.

Looking at it externally, a difference of thirty times existed in the Land of Darkness.

Because of that, Scathach didn’t really mind Tae Ho’s shouts or pained expression. It was because it was a reaction that showed his overall state and not the actual reaction.

Screaming, groaning, and panting were basic options for those who trained in the Tower of Shadows. As even the Prince of Light, Cuchulainn, had done so, there were no exceptions.

Opposingly, Adenmaha put on a bright expression when Scathach said that he was getting accustomed to it well.

“Is he doing well? Like, is he breaking the record or something?”

If one looked at Adenmaha still, she looked more like a puppy than a serpent. Scathach looked at Adenmaha’s rear trying to find her waving tail and answered.

“No, how can that be? He’s struggling on the lowest floor with the worst speed.”

Those weren’t words to tease Adenmaha. There was no one that was as slow among the ones she had put in the tower.

Adenmaha put on a disappointed face at Scathach’s words. Scathach looked at her face that showed all of her emotions and then opened her eyes sharply and said,

“But it’s really, really interesting.”

Tae Ho was certainly roaming in the lower floors and the speed he conquered the tower was also the slowest.

However, it was certainly interesting. Not because he was too slow but because of his methods.

As Scathach’s eyes shone with a conspicuous color, Adenmaha opened her eyes widely as if she was moved with curiously and then looked up at her.

Scathach just nodded instead of explaining, and Adenmaha pouted once again.

“You should tell me or something so I can be interested too.”

“Your words are short nowadays.”

Scathach said while opening her eyes sharply and Adenmaha flinched, but she just played dumb instead of making an excuse or saying that she was sorry. Adenmaha wasn’t someone to forgive that arrogant attitude.

“Kyaak!”

Adenmaha, who’d been sitting down, screamed and rolled over. It was because Scathach had performed a cross lock on her.

Adenmaha screamed once again, but she didn’t beg her to release her or said that she was sorry and instead gritted her teeth.

As she couldn’t just suffer always.

A cross lock was something done by a human to another human. Because of that, Adenmaha was thinking of transforming into a sea serpent. She had been enduring it as the place was too narrow and it was burdensome if Scathach got crushed by her, but everything had its limit.

‘She’s a witch, so she will do something about it!’

Will she die because of that?

Adenmaha closed her eyes and tried to transform.

Tried being the operative word.

“Uh- huh? It, it doesn’t work- kyak!”

The last scream came out instinctively.

Scathach fixed her lock even tighter and then clicked her tongue and said with a pitiful voice,

“This is my residence. Did you think that I would allow you to do what you wanted in the territory of a magician?”

Strong magicians had the power of a God in their magical territories. Scathach put more strength and Adenmaha couldn’t endure it anymore.

“I- I’m sorry! Ah, hurts! It hurts!”

“What did you do wrong?”

“Po- polite words! I will! Use them! Ugh!”

“Fine. Let’s see how you do.”

Scathach undid the lock and stood up. Even though she had rolled on the ground, she didn’t look at all messy.

Contrary to her, Adenmaha was in full disarray. She barely stood up again and sat down, but her hair and clothes were a complete mess.

“Sob sob. Uahh.”

Scathach inspected Tae Ho once again while Adenmaha was sobbing pitifully, and then interest spread over Scathach’s face once again.

“So, what is so interesting?”

It seemed like her arm still hurt, for she still had a teary face. Scathach frowned while looking at Adenmaha but didn’t use recovery magic on her. It was to let the pain turn into a lesson.

Nevertheless, Scathach wasn’t planning on just leaving her alone. Scathach drew a rune in the air and said,

“You will know if you see it directly.”

What she had been interested in.

The rune emitted a bright light and then a big window of light spread over Tae Ho’s chest.

“It’s Cuchulainn’s point of view.”

As soon as Scathach finished speaking, a scene appeared from outside the window of light. It was showing Tae Ho and the floor master.

—

Cuchulainn was checking the battle between Tae Ho and the floor master with crossed arms.

They were currently in the eleventh floor.

He was merely at the eleventh floor after a year and three months, so it was a really slow speed, but Cuchulainn didn’t feel bored but interest just like Scathach.

The floor master Tae Ho was fighting against currently was one of Scathach’s disciples, Ferdia mac Daman.

It was a clone instead of the real Ferdia, and his looks and abilities weren’t those of when he was at his peak.

When he was in his youth- precisely speaking, when Cuchulainn first saw Ferdia mac Daman, his skills matched those of the clone’s.

Tae Ho was using a big spear meant to do a lance charge to face the sword-and-shield-bearing Ferdia mac Daman.

There was obviously no way to fight against him properly. Tae Ho was barely managing to block Ferdia mac Daman’s attacks.

Cuchulainn had already seen their fight more than forty times.

Ferdia mac Daman’s weapons were always the sword and shield.

But it was different for Tae Ho. Even though he was most proficient with a sword, the types of weapons he used were much more widespread than a mere spear or axe.

Tae Ho was clearing the same floor several times.

After he defeated the floor master with a one-handed sword, he tried again with a two-handed sword. If he won again, he tried once more with a dagger and kept changing his weapons.

It was a method Cuchulainn had never thought of; perhaps, it was a stupid way. Because he was struggling to learn several weapons when it was hard to even learn one of them properly.

Actually, Tae Ho had defeated the floor masters quite easily with a sword, but he hadn’t been able to do so with the other weapons.

‘Lil’ bastard.’

Tae Ho had died more than a thousand times the past year and three months. Even though it wasn’t a real death, the pain wasn’t illusory.

Because the pain one felt when they died was real.

But Tae Ho didn’t change his strategy. He proceeded with the ignorant method even though he died and kept dying.

‘Well, Idun’s warrior indeed.’

Cuchulainn had wondered seriously if the ones that received Idun’s blessing started to enjoy pain and became masochists.

But Cuchulainn didn’t deny Tae Ho’s method.

He would have stopped him if what Tae Ho was learning was martial arts, but what he was training in right now were Scathach’s techniques.

The reason Cuchulainn had said Scathach’s spear techniques was because Gae Bolg was the best weapon Tae Ho had, but it wasn’t that he was planning on forcing him to learn spear techniques.

In addition, Scathach’s techniques weren’t limited to just the spear techniques.

In normal martial arts, one learned how to use a particular weapon. How to use a sword, how to use a spear, or others.

But it was different for Scathach’s techniques. It taught the essence more than anything.

The eyes looking at the fight.

The moment one clashed their weapon against their opponent’s, they’d experience a normal way to fight, how they should fight, and how their opponent would move.

Thinking and analyzing was the normal thing.

But Scathach’s techniques hoped for something beyond that.

Being able to understand everything just by watching.

Analyzing more things in a systematized way than thinking and analyzing.

Eyes that had surpassed any reason.

And gaining insight through those eyes was the essence of Scathach’s techniques.

It wasn’t important what weapon one was holding. Just like a warrior of the Temple had said, all streams connected into one. Someone that had realized the essence of Scathach’s techniques could be said to be able of expressing their strength completely through any weapon.

The Tower of Shadows was a place that made the nature of Scathach’s techniques awaken forcefully.

And in that meaning, Tae Ho’s way of training suited well with the Tower of Shadows. Battling with various weapons created various aspects.

In addition, it was also effective on training in the sentence of the Milesians.

Tae Ho was now able to communicate with the weapons registered in the ‘Warrior’s Equipment’ and also with the weapons of the Knights of the Round Table.

Because of that, Cuchulainn and Scathach felt interest in Tae Ho. They didn’t expect that Tae Ho would be able to awaken the essence in an instant, but he would at least be able to approach it.

And the expectations of the two people weren’t wrong.

At some point, Tae Ho’s movements had changed.

It was a change that occurred when one didn’t realize it.

Tae Ho raised his huge spear, but he hadn’t done so while thinking about it. It was a natural movement which saved his life. The attack that should have originally pierced Tae Ho’s abdomen was parried.

Tae Ho created some distance with Ferdia mac Daman and then Tae Ho realized a gap in the latter’s defence. He moved his huge spear following him.

The attack of Ferdia mac Daman missed, and it wasn’t able to even touch Tae Ho.

A smile appeared in Cuchulainn’s face and Scathach, who was observing with a time difference, put on a similar expression. Adenmaha didn’t know well how the situation was turning but smiled brightly as Tae Ho was fighting well.

Tae Ho looked at Ferdia mac Daman and understood in that moment.

The Knights of the Round Table once fought like this. They could see things like this.

The battle tilted to Tae Ho’s favor and he had started to take the lead. Ferdia mac Daman was in a hurry to block Tae Ho’s attacks.

Adenmaha clenched her fist and cheered for Tae Ho, but it was different for Cuchulainn and Scathach. The smile in their faces disappeared.

It was because they could know different from Adenmaha.

Tae Ho started to stab with his huge spear. It was a stab he had learned on the seventh floor, but it wasn’t completely the same. There were other things mixed in it.

[Synchro rate: 61%]

Tae Ho got pushed in swordsmanship against the traitor Mordred and not in strength or speed either. He couldn’t overcome Mordred’s mysterious sword techniques.

Tae Ho blamed himself for that. He thought that he was at fault for not being able to recreate the sword techniques of Kalsted perfectly, who was the strongest swordsman in the Dark Age.

[Synchro rate: 62%]

He became able to execute Kalsted’s sword techniques better than during the battle against Bress the Tyrant. Because of that, he was able to face Bress, who had overwhelmed him in speed, strength, and all the other areas.

And now he could understand.

There was a defect in Kasted’s sword techniques.

A saga was a recreation of a legend.

Kalsted was the strongest swordsman in Dark Age, but there was no substance to back it up.

Only the image of the strongest sword technique still remained.

Shell.

Sword techniques that only had the external appearance.

But in this moment, Scathach’s techniques were added to Kalsted’s sword techniques.

[Synchro rate: 65%]

The synchro rate increased quickly, but Tae Ho didn’t think of what was happening to him. He just understood it and received it naturally.

A combination of Kalsted’s sword techniques and Scathach’s techniques.

What was born from that-

What was made-

Cuchulainn opened his eyes widely, and Scathach let out a soft exclamation.

[Synchro rate: 69%]

Tae Ho stabbed with his huge spear.

Ferdia mac Daman couldn’t block Tae Ho’s attacks anymore.

< Episode 32 – The land of darkness (5) > End

======

Episode 32/Chapter 6: The land of darkness (6)

TL: Tsubak

ED: Julsmul

One attack.

It wasn’t a flashy attack and there was no light or sound effect. It also wasn’t fast or strong.

Just stabbing.

But it was a bit different. The stab Tae Ho had executed couldn’t be compared to the ones he had executed until now.

Ferdia mac Daman couldn’t parry nor dodge Tae Ho’s attack. He just looked at the huge spear that had pierced his heart with an absent-minded expression and then turned into light and disappeared.

The fortieth victory.

If he counted this, then Tae Ho had already won for the fortieth time against Ferdia mac Daman.

Tae Ho dropped the huge spear and stood still. He closed his eyes naturally and took a deep breath.

He felt like he could understand.

He could understand it with the recent battle, albeit not completely.

Cuchulainn and Scathach didn’t explain about Scathach style techniques to Tae Ho in detail. They had told him that he would be able to realize them by himself as the important things were engraved in his body and mind.

He naturally cursed out as he was the one that would be suffering, but he couldn’t refute it anymore.

The words of the two people were true.

He felt like he was learning a type of technique when he had first started to climb the tower.

Slash like this when you slash.

Control your strength and speed like this.

There were quite flashy techniques among them. It wasn’t excessive to say that the consecutive stabs he had learnt in the tenth floor was a kind of an ultimate attack.

But the essence of Scathach’s style techniques weren’t only that.

Insight.

Eyes that let you grasp how you had to move just with looking, how the enemy would move and how will the surroundings change.

Tae Ho hadn’t completed it yet and had merely entered the early stages, but even with just that, the world Tae Ho saw had completely changed.

And it didn’t end there.

Tae Ho opened his eyes slowly. he looked at the huge spear and then imagined the stab he had just executed.

It wasn’t a technique of Scathach’s style.

It was Kalsted’s stab.

The sword techniques Tae Ho used until now all belonged to the ‘Immortal Warrior’.

The strongest swordsman in the Dark Age, Kalsted.

It didn’t have a specific shape. He did know some techniques recreated with his skills, but it wasn’t enough with just that.

Swordsmanship wasn’t merely a combination of skills.

With this as fact, Tae Ho didn’t possess the strongest swordsmanship. He had merely displayed somewhat good movements with the image of the strongest swordsman through his saga.

This wasn’t the case anymore.

Scathach’s style techniques were added onto Kalsted’s swordsmanship which previously only retained a faint image.

When it obtained the base of Scathach’s style techniques, Kalsted’s swordsmanship wasn’t a virtual image anymore.

Scathach’s insights had made that possible.

The sword techniques of Kalsted who’d lived in the Dark Age which weren’t materialized were different from Tae Ho’s newly made sword techniques.

The two of them shared the same image of the strongest swordsman, Kalsted. Two versions from the same source.

A saga was a recreation of reality.

Tae Ho laughed unconsciously. It was a laughter that was mixed with joy and a bit of absurdness.

It was the result of several things combining.

The saga, Scathach’s techniques, the sentence of the Milesians, and the Tower of Shadows.

‘Is it a combination of Asgard and Erin?’

If even one of those things were lacking, he wouldn’t have been able to produce the current result.

Tae Ho slowly raised his head and looked at the front.

[Synchro rate: 69%]

10% had increased in an instant. The reason that the synchro rate, which had only increased 1% the past year and three months, had surged up explosively was simple.

Tae Ho was now able to use the sword techniques of Kalsted.

He had become that much closer to him.

‘I feel like I can know.’

His thoughts about the synchro rate changed once again, and now, he felt like he realized it.

Tae Ho had two theories about the synchro rate until now.

The first one was established when he first entered Valhalla.

1% of the synchro rate meant that Tae Ho was able to execute 1% of Kalsted’s strength.

It was the most intuitive theory, but he realized that that wasn’t the case when he became an inferior-ranked warrior.

Because if that was the case, then he would have to be ten times stronger when he reached 10% from when he was at 1%.

But that wasn’t the case. There were times that the increase in strength wasn’t relative to the numbers.

Because of that, Tae Ho came up with the second theory.

Kalsted’s strength was the result of his several skills, items, and Tae Ho’s influence. Because of that, he wouldn’t be able to recreate Kalsted’s strength just with catching up in stats.

He had thought that it was a quite convincing theory, but he realized that it wasn’t the case now.

‘It’s much simpler.’

The more the synchro rate increased, the closer Tae Ho moved to becoming Kalsted.

Precisely speaking, he grew closer to the ‘strongest’ image the Dragon Knight, Kalsted, had.

The synchro rate was a kind of scale, and that scale wasn’t clear mathematically.

People normally felt a big difference between 19% and 20%. It was different depending with each person, but that difference was always bigger than that mathematic 1%.

The synchro rate was closer to a psychological resemblance.

Because of that, a big gap could obviously exist between 99% and 100%.

However close 99% seemed to be at completion, in the end, the 100% was the real completion. There was a great psychological difference in that 1% one couldn’t describe with words.

It seemed like a messed up description, but it was somewhat convincing.

Because the saga was something like that.

It was the story of a hero that was transmitted from mouth to mouth and was shared by people.

‘Whatever the case, what’s certain is that I grow stronger the higher it gets.’

Tae Ho organized his thoughts simply and turned his head. Cuchulainn was smiling.

“Did you finish with the appreciation?”

“Somewhat.”

“Arrogant bastard.”

Cuchulainn was still smiling and his expression was closer to a friendly one rather than a curse.

Seeing this, Tae Ho also flashed a smile towards Cuchulainn. Cuchulainn looked at him for a moment and then looked at the huge spear.

“Scathach’s style techniques have been added onto your sloppy sword techniques. If we have to put a name, should it be ‘Scathach’s style, Tae Ho’s law’?”

The name was a bit weird but it wasn’t bad. Tae Ho nodded suitably and asked another thing.

“But Cuchulainn, you knew that my swordsmanship was a sham?”

“Of course I did. Ragnar should also know it.”

There was nothing to say about Cuchulainn, but Ragnar was also a master of the sword. They could realize that Tae Ho’s swordsmanship was a sham just by seeing a bit of it.

“Wait. Then the two of you just left me be?”

Even though they knew it was a mess?

Tae Ho was absentminded for a moment, as Cuchulainn had spoken too obviously, and then threw a question. Tae Ho was feeling betrayed even if but a little.

Cuchulainn merely shook his head instead of apologizing and then said with a sigh,

“It was beyond our capabilities to intervene. You now have a lot of actual combat experience, but it wasn’t the case before. If we intervened for nothing and you started to use a sloppy swordsmanship instead of the strength of your saga, there was a high probability for you to grow weakened. We were just waiting for the right time.”

In addition, saying that Tae Ho’s swordsmanship was sloppy was only from the perspectives of the masters like Ragnar and Cuchulainn.

Even though his swordsmanship was sloppy, it was still a strength that belonged to his saga. It was more than enough to reach the intermediate-ranked warrior.

“But I honestly got surprised. I was just planning on replacing your sword techniques with Scathach’s style techniques, but the two became one. How marvelous.”

Cuchulainn finished speaking and then swung the spear he was holding. It was an attack that was executed so naturally that one could only perish by it even if they attentive.

However, Tae Ho blocked Cuchulainn’s attack. It was to the point that it was so natural it didn’t give the feeling that they had exchanged blows.

Cuchulainn smiled. He then swung his spear a few more times and Tae Ho blocked it all very lightly.

‘It feels like we are playing catch ball.’

Cuchulainn stopped his attacks the moment Tae Ho thought that.

“It’s good. The completion rate is high. Scathach’s style techniques indeed. Master is certainly amazing.”

“I do agree, but is that the only thing you have to say?”

In the end, he was just praising Scathach. Shouldn’t he praise Tae Ho- no, Kalsted’s sword techniques in situations like this?

Cuchulainn shook his head at Tae Ho’s question as if it was nonsense.

“It is my philosophy that the strongest martial art doesn’t exist. A warrior of the Temple I met in the Great War told me this, and I agreed to it completely.”

“What did he say?”

Cuchulainn’s answer was a bit off the mark, but Tae Ho asked as he was curious as to what he would say.

Cuchulainn smirked and answered,

“A strongest army doesn’t exist, but a strongest person does. There’s no need for me to interpret it further, right?”

Tae Ho nodded slowly. In the end, it was more important who the person was rather than the techniques they displayed.

“Of course, ranks also exist in martial arts. Because of that, someone that has the same skills can become strong or weak depending on what martial arts he’s learned. But contrary to that, even though you do learn some martial arts, you will also grow weak or strong depending on who you are.”

Cuchulainn saw Scathach’s style techniques as training an ability of a person rather than a technique to handle weapons.

As the essence of Scathach’s techniques was one of gaining insight, it was a correct description if one interpreted it as such.

‘In the end, he’s saying that Scathach is the best.’

Because Scathach’s techniques could train people, and the handling of weapons was also outstanding.

“Looking at it with that meaning, your newly made…..”

“Kalsted’s techniques.”

“Right, you can say that it’s a martial art that is closer to the concept of the strongest.”

Cuchulainn nodded as if he agreed to his own words and said,

“Whatever the case, the conclusion is that our master is great and so you are too, but you shouldn’t get too conceited. You still haven’t been able to reach the essence of it.”

Cuchulainn finished speaking and then swung his spear once again. Tae Ho also blocked it reflexively this time, but it was different from before.

He wasn’t able to see it properly. He could see the next move Cuchulainn had planned clearly, but now it was faint.

“You can’t see it well right? It’s because there’s a clear difference between you and me.”

The both of them had learned Scathach’s style techniques, but the completion was different.

Tae Ho’s insight couldn’t be compared to the strongest warrior of Erin, the Prince of Light, Cuchulainn.

“But if you are able to reach the absolute peak and you get the transcendent eyes……. You will be able to stand victorious no matter who your opponent is.”

Scathach’s techniques had the peak as their objective.

The eyes of a transcendent that saw through the essence of everything.

“Well, this is merely a possibility, but I and master still haven’t reached that ideal peak.”

But Cuchulainn still sent him a proud smile as if he was looking forward to it.

Actually, he had been a bit surprised that Tae Ho was able to block his attack. He had swung his spear to hit him, but for him to block it….

‘Is this Kalsted’s style techniques?’

The strongest swordsman in the Dark Age whose image was added to Scathach’s techniques.

Cuchulainn could feel his blood boil. He couldn’t not look forward to it when he imagined how strong Tae Ho would eventually become.

Tae Ho evaded Cuchulainn’s burdensome but thankful eyes and changed the subject.

“But Cuchulainn, I have something I want to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“The place called the Temple….do the warriors there use cultivation techniques and have schools and sects?”

For there to not be a strongest army but a strongest warrior.

Wasn’t that a line that was used in novels.

Cuchulainn opened his eyes widely at Tae Ho’s question and answered.

“Uh, yes. They did use a peculiar strength called energy. They also had a secret art to gain eternal life.”

Cuchulainn looked at a distant place as if he was remembering the past and continued speaking.

“When I fought in the Great War, there was someone called the Sword King of the Vast Sky that battled alongside me. The temple is a place that is closer to Asgard rather than Erin…..a world where Gods and warriors exist, and he said that the warriors used energy and the Gods used supernatural arts. He also said that there was an organization comparable to our knights.”

Tae Ho felt like he was now completely certain of it. He then decided to put a wedge in it.

“I’m saying just in case, but isn’t the strongest warrior a pegasus?”

“Oh, how did you know? Did Ragnar tell you?”

“Indeed.”

So the Temple was eastern mythology.

Asgard was a myth of Scandinavia, Erin from Britain and Ireland, and Olympus from Greece and Rome. So it was kind of right.

‘There should be many people with similar names to mine in the Temple.’

He felt like he could understand why Bjorn had talked about the Temple when Tae Ho had first entered Valhalla.

Tae Ho cleared his curiousness to a certain extent and then sat on the ground. After some more time, he wanted to lie down, and Tae Ho didn’t hold back the urge.

“Why, did you get exhausted?”

Cuchulainn looked down on the lying Tae Ho and said.

It was quite understandable for him to have grown exhausted, as the battle against Ferdia mac Daman had lasted for several hours this time.

Tae Ho looked back at him as if there really was a need to ask and then placed his hand on his stomach.

The Tower of Shadows was a mental place. As such, there was no need to eat, and one didn’t get exhausted no matter how hard they exercised.

Still, Tae Ho wanted to eat food. Precisely speaking, he wanted Heda’s food.

“I want to see Heda.”

Cuchulainn smirked as Tae Ho mumbled unconsciously.

Tae Ho had been climbing the tower for a year and three months already. Compared to Cuchulainn, who could go out of the tower to meet Scathach, Tae Ho could only remain in the tower. So the time he spent in the tower was the time he hadn’t been able to see heda.

“Shall we go out now?”

As Cuchulainn sat on the ground and asked, Tae Ho shook his head immediately.

“Ey, we still have to go a bit more. We are merely at the eleventh floor.”

“Venomous bastard.”

This time, his tone was closer to a curse compared to before.

“But it is really marvelous. It doesn’t seem a lie that you want to meet Heda, so how are you able to endure this well? Normally, you go crazy because you want to go out. It was the same for me.”

Of course, compared to the others, Tae Ho had Cuchulainn to converse with.

But even if that were the case, Tae Ho was enduring too well.

Tae Ho had died more than a thousand times the past year and three months. It was easy to say, but he had died a thousand times. This meant that Tae Ho experienced death at least twice a day on average.

It wasn’t easy to endure this even if one knew it wasn’t real death. Tae Ho would have already gone crazy if he was a normal person as even the pain was real.

Tae Ho scratched his chin as if Cuchulainn’s question was hard to answer and then said,

“Well, what can I say…..should I call it an instinct to conquer? Like I have to beat it? And even more when I’m given floors like this.”

Beat the first floor to go to the second. Beat the second and go to the third.

A famous mountain climber had said this.

That he climbed mountains because they were there.

It was the same. He would climb the tower because it was there. He would conquer it as he had something to conquer.

Tae Ho hadn’t been the best professional gamer in the world for nothing.

Cuchulainn listened to Tae Ho’s excuse and then shook his head as if it was hard to understand. He then spoke again.

“Anyways, for how long are you going to stay here? Are you saying that you will stay for a hundred, no, a thousand years more? I can’t wait for you that long. Don’t blame me if I go out first.”

“Ey, i’m not planning on conquering it until the end, only.”

“Only?”

“I’m also not planning on staying too long either.”

Because he really wanted to see Heda.

Time was still flowing outside, albeit slower than in the Tower of Shadows.

It took a year and three months to climb to the eleventh floor.

And he wasn’t planning on changing his conquering method now.

He was planning on clearing it repeatedly.

But wasn’t planning on staying for too long either.

Tae Ho rose up.

He looked at the ceiling and said,

“I’m planning on climbing it a bit faster from now on.”

A contradictory statement, but Tae Ho spoke like that.

And that happened for real.

—

[Idun’s Valkyrie]

[Scathach]

< Episode 32 – The land of darkness (6) > End

=====

Episode 32/Chapter 7: The land of darkness (7)

TL: Tsubak

ED: Julsmul

The sun set and rose up again.

They were still small and cute, but Rolo’s offspring had started to look more like gryphons, Adenmaha, who was playing with them, raised their heads to check the location of the sun. It was now time to enter the cave of Scathach.

It had already been a few months since she had started to learn the mystical powers of the Tuatha De Danann instead of Tae Ho.

Adenmaha had become more knowledgeable in the several magics thanks to Scathach’s classes, but her steps towards Scathach’s cave were always heavy.

But it was different now.

Adenmaha hummed and left Rolo’s nest, and Rolo’s wives Ferrari and Benz looked at Rolo as if to inquire on what was happening.

‘It seems like noonim has reached the boundary where she can enjoy things.’

Didn’t they say that if one couldn’t dodge it, they should just enjoy it?

Ferrari and Benz praised Rolo as being outstanding because of his guess, and the chirping chicks also chirped even harder.

‘Hoho, this is the way you should be living.’

His master was training or something and wasn’t even calling him.

Rolo looked at his fox-like wives and his rabbit-like children and put on a proud face.

But the happy times of Rolo were also coming to an end.

In addition to that, his guess about Adenmaha was also wrong.

The reason Adenmaha hummed and headed towards Scathach’s cave wasn’t because she had developed into a masochist as expected of a Valkyrie of Idun’s legion(?) and started to enjoy her lessons.

It was the twentieth day since Tae Ho entered the Tower of Shadows.

Cuchulainn had told her when he got out of tower for a moment.

That Tae Ho would be getting out of the tower today.

“Hehehe.”

The reason she was happy wasn’t only because Tae Ho was going to get out.

It was because Tae Ho had successfully cleared the assignment that evil witch Scathach had given him, and a really good thing happened.

[Idun’s Valkyrie]

[Scathach]

Of course, Adenmaha didn’t have the ‘Eyes of the Dragon’ and she couldn’t see the green words.

But she felt like she could sense the letters above Scathach’s head, who was sitting with a casual expression.

“You came?”

“Yes, I did.”

Adenmaha raised her chin and answered briefly.

Scathach, that was reading a book in her chair, opened her eyes sharply and Adenmaha gulped dry saliva.

‘It’s a battle of spirit! You can’t lose!’

Adenmaha determined herself and maintained a calm expression while hiding that her heart beat had increased.

Scathach smirked.

“Your words have shortened once again.”

“Hmph, that’s because I’m now your senio…….Uak!”

Adenmaha fell to the ground. She collapsed while not being able to finish her words and screamed and Scathach, who’d pinned down Adenmaha in an instant, twisted her arm roughly and asked,

“Senior what?”

“Senior Valkyrie! Senior!”

Adenmaha yelled hurriedly with a red face.

Just like how the ocean had an upper and lower region, there were also seniors and juniors between Valkyries of a legion. Although you didn’t have the right to order others just because you were seniors, juniors still had to respect them.

However, Scathach pretended not to have heard Adenmaha’s cry and tilted her head.

“Sen…..what?”

It was a lie. There was no way she didn’t hear that.

Adenmaha tried to use a more effective attack instead of transforming recklessly like the last time.

“I- I will tell master!”

As Tae Ho was the commander of the legion, it could be said that he had a higher position than the Valkyries. However, Scathach didn’t mind that.

“He’s still my disciple.”

“Akk!”

Adenmaha let out a cry once again, but Scathach still didn’t budge. She rather twisted Adenmaha’s arm more harshly and said with a low voice.

“Once a master?”

“A- Always a master!”

“It’s enough if you know that.”

Scathach put down Adenmaha’s wrist and then sat on the chair once again. She didn’t shed even a drop of sweat even though she’d moved so rashly.

On the other hand, Adenmaha had become a mess. She sobbed sorrowfully like a damsel in distress while being on the floor and mumbled in a low voice,

“Sob sob, the legion is flowing backwards.”

Scathach turned to look at Adenmaha once again and she flinched. She had said it for her to hear it, but was it too loud? Did she have to say it a bit lower?

Scathach looked at the flinching Adenmaha and then clicked her tongue and pointed the side next to hers with her chin.

“Wipe off your tears and sit over here. It’s almost time for him to wake up. You wouldn’t want to face him while looking like that, right?”

Today was a good day.

One of the reasons for that had gone out the window, but there was still the other reason.

Adenmaha determined herself and then wiped off her tears to sit next to Scathach. There was a big platform next to the two people where Tae Ho was lying.

There was a time difference of thirty times between the world Tae Ho was at and the world Adenmaha was at. Because of that, not even Scathach could determine exactly when Tae Ho would wake up.

Scathach started to read the book again and waited patiently, and Adenmaha rolled her feet while sitting down and waited for Tae Ho to wake up.

And about ten minutes later-

Tae Ho opened his eyes.

“Heda.”

The first thing he called out when he woke up was the name of Heda.

Scathach smiled as if it was absurd and then said,

“You really have your priorities set straight.”

It really was the case. Adenmaha pouted her lips once and then stood up and approached Tae Ho. It was an elegant walking that wasn’t in a rush.

“Adenmaha?”

“Did you return?”

As Adenmaha spoke with a well-mannered expression, Tae Ho rose his upper body and blinked. He then stood up and embraced Adenmaha.

“Adenmaha!”

“Kyak?”

Whether the surprised Adenmaha screamed or not, Tae Ho still put more strength in his two arms.

It had only been twenty two days in Adenmaha’s point of view but it had been two years for Tae Ho.

It would be a lie if he didn’t want to see her.

“I- It’s- hmph.”

Adenmaha mumbled from Tae Ho’s embrace. Tae Ho laughed as if this kind of reaction was also good and then looked in front of him.

“Are you back?”

“I am.”

“There was some progress indeed.”

Scathach put on a satisfied face and looked at Tae Ho from head to toe. His looks hadn’t changed, but Scathach could know.

Tae Ho’s spirit had also changed. The sentence of the Milesians was also emanating a strength so strong it couldn’t even be compared to before.

“So you climbed up to the thirty seventh floor right?”

“Yes. I learned all the basic techniques of Scathach’s style.”

Seven months to reach the eleventh floor.

Tae Ho had climbed up to the thirty seventh, and there were really few people that had climbed up to that floor in only two years.

In addition, Tae Ho hadn’t just ascended once. He had cleared the floors several times with the various types of weapons he possessed.

‘He may have set up a new record if he had climbed normally.’

Cuchulainn manifested next to Tae Ho and sent a message magic so only Scathach could hear it, and Scathach answered with a smile from her eyes.

In the other hand, Tae Ho activated the ‘Eyes of the Dragon’ out of habit as he hadn’t returned to reality for a long while.

“Uh, Scathach-nim?”

“Right. I became a Valkyrie of Idun’s legion just like I promised.”

Tae Ho had successfully cleared the assignment Scathach had given him.

Idun requested Scathach to train the warriors in her legion, and Scathach gladly agreed to it.

Training talented warriors and turning them into heroes was one of her joys.

Having entered Valhalla was already proving the greatness of a warrior, so for Scathach, it was like having entered a theme park with various kinds of rides.

“She’s my junior, my junior. I am the senior here.”

Adenmaha whispered in a really low voice from Tae Ho’s embrace. Tae Ho laughed like Bracky and then released Adenmaha.

“Warrior Tae Ho, it’s a meeting.”

Scathach said suddenly.

And then, that became a formality.

Scathach approached Tae Ho and he lowered his posture like he did with Idun. Scathach’s lips reached Tae Ho’s forehead.

“May Idun’s blessing accompany you.”

A blessing from a Valkyrie.

Tae Ho could sense a change in his saga.

The name of a new Valkyrie was recorded in the ‘Warrior that had a Valkyrie Meet Him’.

[Scathach]

The Queen of the Land of Darkness. The teacher of the great heroes.

‘I should organize it a bit’

Because he could only register up to nine names in the saga.

If he didn’t clear a spot, Scathach’s name would disappear. Because of that, Tae Ho quickly reviewed the list of Valkyries.

[Idun‘s Valkyrie] : [Heda] / [Adenmaha] / [Scathach]

[Odin‘s Valkyrie] : [Rasgrid]

[Tir‘s Valkyrie] : [Reginleif]

[Tir‘s Valkyrie] : [Gandur]

[Ullr‘s Valkyrie] : [Ingrid]

[Njord‘s Valkyrie] : [Kaldea]

[Valkyrie Lord] : [Freya]

First, he erased the name of Hildegarde to make a spot for Scathach, as the completion rate was low and he thought he wouldn’t see her much.

‘Should it be better to swap Kaldea for Sigrun or Gudrun?’

Tae Ho hadn’t met them yet, but had heard their names and knew their existences through the things he had heard from Cuchulainn.

Just looking at the performances of the Valkyries, he had to choose Kaldea without even thinking about it as it wasn’t proper to compare a veteran Valkyrie to the two that had just become so.

But the story changed if he took the completion rate into account.

The number of blessings and the type of relationship influenced the completion rate, so it would be better to complete it with a Valkyrie that lived in the same residence as him instead of a Valkyrie of another legion he wouldn’t be seeing much.

‘Who should I take out?’

Even if he did take out Kaldea from the list, there was one spot lacking.

‘Do I have to take out Rasgrid or Reginleif……..’

The two of them were outstanding Valkyries, but their completion rate was lower than the other Valkyries and he even met her few times.

‘Ingrid has a high completion rate, and I think that I will be seeing Gandur a lot because of Siri.’

Ingrid was the one that had the highest completion rate after to Heda because of the time they had been together in Midgard. It seemed like it would change soon as Adenmaha was increasing at a frightening pace, but even if that were the case, she had the third highest completion rate.

‘Actually, just looking at the completion rates, I should take out Freya.’

Because he could meet the other Valkyries in the battlefield, but he almost certainly couldn’t meet a Goddess.

From a different perspective, he may be able to tell her to help him on strengthening his saga just like he did so for the other Valkyries, but he was talking to none other than Freya. It was doubtful whether she would agree to it or not and may even order him to remove her from the list as it was impertinent.

‘But it’s still regretful.’

The Goddess of Magic and Beauty and the second most beautiful- no, besides that, a strong Goddess that had light emanating from her.

He may be seeing her more than he thought as he had become a commander now. If he accumulated the blessings slowly, she would surely become a reliable force.

‘Good, let’s think of the other things at a later time.’

Tae Ho finished reviewing the list in a short time and then looked downwards. Adenmaha was struggling on her toes to give him a blessing.

“May Idun’s blessing accompany you.”

“May Idun’s blessing accompany you.”

Adenmaha barely managed to bless him and then smiled brightly and said something. However Tae Ho turned his head reflexively. It was because a familiar sound of foot step was heard.

“Pant, pa……”

Her breath was rough maybe because she came running to this place. When Heda reached the residence of Scathach, she took a breath and collected herself with a bright smile.

“Hello once aga……Tae Ho?!”

She couldn’t finish her words. It was because Tae Ho closed the distance in an instant and then grabbed her waist and kissed her.

Heda tried to push Tae Ho because there were many eyes looking them, but he didn’t even budge.

It had only been twenty two days for Heda, but two long and gruelling years had gone by for Tae Ho. He couldn’t let go of her.

And in the end, Heda also received him. Adenmaha pouted, Cuchulainn sent a lukewarm gaze, and Scathach smiled.

“May Idun’s blessing accompany you.”

“May Idun’s blessing accompany you.”

The completion percentage of Heda’s clone increased yet again.

—

“It was a really busy day.”

Heda said when she exited out of the cave.

Tae Ho wasn’t the only one to have returned. The lowest-ranked warriors of Idun’s legion that had gone out on their first expedition with Sigrun were returning as well.

“Fortunately, there don’t seem to be any deaths.”

“They would have grown a bit more if they had accumulated runes.”

Adenmaha and Scathach, that were following from behind, offered their respective opinions.

Heda laughed and spoke.

“I was preparing food with Gudrun. We have to open a party that doesn’t fall behind to the night banquet.”

There were now more than twenty people in Idun’s residence. It wasn’t an easy thing for two people to prepare all the food alone, but it seemed like Heda enjoyed even that.

Because it had been a really long time since Idun’s legion was this lively.

“A ship is coming.”

Scathach looked at a distant place as soon as they reached the dock and said. Adenmaha frowned as if she couldn’t see well, but Tae Ho could see the green words that were approaching.

“Let’s go greet Idun-nim after the party ends.”

Heda said in a low voice while looking beyond the dock with a proud face. Tae Ho has been staying in the residence until now, but looking at it in another way, he had gone to a far away place and just returned. So receiving an audience with her was only proper.

Tae Ho nodded immediately as he wanted to see Idun almost as much as Heda. He then looked at the green words approaching and said,

“Um, Heda.”

“Yes?”

“Um…..”

“Um?”

“Did you go to meet them?”

Because the new warriors also belonged to Idun’s legion.

Heda opened her eyes widely at Tae Ho’s question and then laughed merrily. She opened her eyes sharply and said playfully,

“I wonder? What do you think?”

‘Tch tch, you have already lost since you asked.’

Cuchulainn clicked his tongue as if Tae Ho still had a long way to go. Meanwhile, people approached Tae Ho. Their faces were a welcome sight.

“My king.”

“It has been a while. You’ve changed a lot in three weeks.”

“Merlin. Master Ragnar. It’s great to see both of you.”

It seemed like Merlin had gotten quite accustomed to the residence while Tae Ho wasn’t around. He seemed as relaxed as a person in his hometown.

“Siri said that she would be coming later.”

Adenmaha added. It really was a gathering of the family of Idun’s legion. The first after a really long while.

The big warship reached the dock. Rolo and his wives brought his babies, and McLaren also showed his face with a healthy visage.

“For Idun!”

“For Idun!”

As the warriors that had remained in the residence yelled, the warriors that jumped down from the ship also yelled.

“Valkyrie Sigrun greets the commander.”

“Valkyrie Gudrun greets the commander.”

Sigrun and Gudrun hit their chests twice and expressed etiquette towards Tae Ho.

Tae Ho also expressed his manners and the banquet Heda had prepared started.

An indeterminate amount of time soon passed.

Not long after everyone got settled, Siri joined the banquet just like Adenmaha had said.

There was then one more person that reached the dock of Idun’s legion.

It wasn’t a wooden boat but a swan. As soon as she landed on the ground, the swan that had transformed into a black-haired Valkyrie passed the warriors confidently and stood in front of Tae Ho.

“Hildegarde.”

“Valkyrie Hildegarde greets the commander of Idun.”

Hildegarde expressed etiquette and gave a blessing on Tae Ho’s forehead. Heda looked at that and then frowned and asked,

“Hildegarde, why have you come here?”

Because she hadn’t heard that Hildegarde would be visiting. In addition, it was in the middle of the night.

As Heda asked with a wary expression, Hildegarde looked at Tae Ho once again and said,

“Freya-nim is calling the commander of Idun.”

The Goddess of Magic and Beauty, Freya, who commands all the Valkyries in Valhalla. Why was that Goddess summoning Tae Ho?

Tae Ho and Heda turned to look at each other as neither could come up with an answer.

< Episode 32 – The land of darkness (7) > End

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