novelraw Chapter 169 : Chapter 169
Chapter 169 : Chapter 169
Chapter 169. The Power of the Wolf God
The next day, the group, who had drunk themselves into a stupor, barely managed to open their eyes only when the sun was high in the sky.
“The chieftain is calling for you. Let’s go.”
Once they had come to their senses, they headed once more to the cave where the wolf god Fenrir resided.
This time, they met him deep inside the cave, in a space where a mystical blue light rippled.
“It seems you enjoyed yourselves to the fullest last night.”
Fenrir sat, exuding a divine aura, and looked down at the humans who were much smaller than him.
“The reason I have called you again is to give you a small gift before your revenge.”
Evan asked cautiously.
“A gift, you say…?”
“It’s nothing grand, so don’t get your hopes up. In fact, this is the first time I’ve given this to a human.”
As Fenrir finished speaking, a dazzling radiance spread from his golden eyes.
As his gaze shone brightly, the entire dark cave slowly brightened from blue to gold in response.
On the walls and ceiling, mysterious patterns resembling delicately engraved ancient magic circles began to glow, and a powerful yet comforting energy started to gently envelop the entire space.
Towards the party, who were astonished by this sight, Fenrir spoke as if to reassure them.
“Do not be tense, humans. This is a blessing I bestow upon you.”
The light that filled the cave soon transformed into a single, pure energy that slowly wrapped around their bodies.
The sensation was like embracing the warm spring sunlight with one’s entire body, and there was no sense of rejection.
‘It’s similar to the buffs cast by mages, but the quality is completely different.’
In his previous life, Evan had received a mage’s buff only once.
At that time, while he overflowed with power, he felt a sense of foreignness in his body, and after that, he never accepted such power again.
‘A buff is something that forcibly draws out power that isn't naturally in the body, so it was to be expected. But this… it feels as if a wall that was blocked within me is gently crumbling away.’
The energy of awakening one feels when transcending a stage.
That same pure power was seeping deep into Evan’s body through Fenrir’s blessing.
“Ohh……!”
“This feeling… it’s a first for me too.”
The rest of the party also let out the same exclamations of awe.
In particular, Jack and Jaina, who were still at a lower stage, were feeling an even more distinct change.
Evan too felt his mind become clear and his body significantly lighter.
That was all, but it was enough to understand the value of the gift Fenrir had given.
Through the power received in this way, Evan gained a much clearer head and formidable strength.
That was the extent of it, but that alone was sufficient to realize the meaning of the gift the wolf god spoke of.
“This blessing is not eternal. But it will be more than enough to last until the day you complete your revenge.”
“That alone is sufficient.”
“Will it truly be sufficient?”
At Fenrir's question, Evan was once again lost in deep thought.
The meaning behind the wolf god's question, and recalling the great power of those he would have to face from now on.
“To be perfectly honest, it probably won’t be sufficient. But in the goal I wish to achieve, there is no such thing as ‘sufficiency’.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, perfect preparation never exists, and by trying only to fill what is lacking, one may fail to achieve the true goal.”
At Evan’s words, the rest of the party also nodded in agreement.
And it was the same for Fenrir.
“Yes, you speak the truth. Perfection is something that does not exist in the first place.”
“Therefore, I am satisfied with what I have been given now, and I will walk that path with only my conviction and will. And I am confident I will walk it to the end.”
Fenrir looked at Evan with a pleased gaze.
“The more I see of you, the more I like you, human. If you were not human but a werewolf, or a true wolf, I would want to make you my successor.”
At that, Evan replied with a calm smile.
“Someone more excellent than me will surely appear.”
At his words, Fenrir tilted his massive head and raised one corner of his mouth.
“You speak as if you have lived longer than I.”
The wolf god let out a laugh, then slowly waved his forepaw.
“Go. I have now given you all I can. What remains depends solely on your will.”
As he settled down on the spot, the golden patterns that filled the cave walls and ceiling slowly faded, seeping into the darkness.
“Then, we will be on our way.”
Evan bowed his head and led the party towards the cave’s exit.
Just then, Fenrir's voice echoed from behind them once more.
“Oh, and before you leave the settlement, take a guide with you.”
Evan stopped and turned his head.
“A guide?”
“Yes. I will send the strongest of the Zakarin warriors. He will not only guide your way but will also serve to monitor whether you carry out the revenge properly.”
This meant that he would not entrust the revenge based on Evan’s word alone.
The wolf god Fenrir acknowledged Evan’s resolve, but at the same time, he wanted to confirm whether that resolve would be kept until the very end.
“If a Zakarin warrior joins us, it would be an immense help. But it will be dangerous, will that be alright?”
“That child is our tribe’s finest warrior. There is no need for concern.”
There was not a hint of hesitation in his voice.
The wolf god had already personally confirmed the skills of Evan and his party, yet Fenrir’s eyes, as he boasted, did not waver in the slightest.
“I see. I look forward to it.”
“Now, be on your way. Sharing my power with you has made me a little tired.”
Fenrir slowly curled up his massive body and closed his eyes.
His form, like a mountain protecting the land, exuded a quiet yet overwhelming dignity.
Evan and his party bowed their heads to express their gratitude and left the cave.
As they stepped outside, a werewolf who had been waiting approached and spoke gently.
“Let’s go. The tribe members are waiting for you. To say their final farewells.”
“You are very kind to outsiders. Perhaps more so than humans.”
“That’s because our chieftain has acknowledged you.”
Evan also felt at ease with their simple way of thinking.
What if everyone in the world acted this way?
Perhaps because he had lived amidst all sorts of slander and intrigue in his past life, he entertained such an absurd thought.
“Oh! I want to express my gratitude in advance for taking revenge on the Empire on our behalf.”
Evan shook his head.
“I have not yet accomplished anything. I will accept your thanks later.”
“No, I believe you will surely succeed. Because you are the human chosen by none other than our chieftain himself.”
In that gaze was not just simple expectation, but a firm trust that Evan and his party would truly complete the revenge.
“I do not know if the wounds our tribe suffered in the past will all be healed by this revenge. But the revenge itself, I will surely accomplish.”
At Evan's resolute declaration, the werewolf nodded with a moved expression.
“Thank you. The most outstanding warrior of our tribe will also surely be a great help to you and our revenge.”
The werewolf spoke in a voice full of confidence, but Evan did not hold high expectations inwardly.
‘Werewolves are a race that originally fights in packs, not alone. It usually takes five werewolves to stand against a single vampire. He might be able to put up a good fight against a weakened Gaiard, but…….’
In other words, he thought the werewolf warrior joining them this time would not be an absolute game-changer that could overturn the board.
Nevertheless, having even one more person as part of their fighting strength was a welcome development.
However, he soon realized that his assumption was gravely mistaken.
“Now! I introduce our tribe’s proud warrior, Rorn!”
A young warrior who stepped forward from among the werewolves.
He was not particularly large in stature, nor did he exude the skillfulness of an older age.
But the aura felt just by standing next to him was so overwhelming that even Evan instinctively felt it was no ordinary matter.
‘……He’s strong! Perhaps even stronger than our party members.’
It was not for nothing that Fenrir had assigned Rorn as a monitor and as part of their force.
“Our Rorn stands out even among the warriors. Even if five warriors were to attack him at once, they could not handle this one child. I guarantee it, if Rorn had been there yesterday, one of your party members would have been seriously injured.”
Considering the confrontational relationship between werewolves and vampires, he was a being from whom one could expect power at least on par with Gaiard’s prime, perhaps even greater.
‘I’ve gained an unexpectedly powerful asset. I don’t know how cooperative he’ll be with my plans, but… he’ll be a reliable source of strength in any situation.’
However, apart from his strong aura, Rorn looked at Evan with a sharp gaze, as if scrutinizing him.
“I am Rorn.”
“Evan Lafard. Let’s speak informally. We already are, though.”
Evan extended his hand first, and Rorn looked at him for a moment before nodding.
“Fine.”
Judging from the considerable strength felt in Rorn’s handshake, Evan discerned what the other thought of him.
‘He suspects me. Perhaps it’s a suspicion of humans themselves.’
However, he wasn’t particularly worried.
After all, he was definitely an enemy of the Empire, and he had no ulterior motives other than killing the Emperor.
‘If we just get along naturally, that suspicion will fade.’
Just as he was observing the addition of this unexpected force, a commotion suddenly erupted from a corner of the settlement, and a familiar werewolf appeared.
“Seize them!”
The one causing the commotion was Batian, the werewolf he had first met in the Black Forest.
The effects of the sleeping incense had worn off, and he had finally regained consciousness.
“Those bastards are in league with the mosquito bastards! Why is everyone just standing there?”
The werewolf Batian, who had woken up late, pointed a finger at Evan and his party, but he had woken up far too late.
“Batian……”
The other werewolves tried to calm him down and take him back inside the tent.
But Batian, not knowing the situation, continued to growl at Evan.
“Why are you grabbing me! I’m telling you to grab them?!”
“Go back to sleep. I think you need to sleep a little more.”
“What are you doing? Why?”
The others surrounded Batian, separating him from Evan.
At this sight, Evan and his party wore awkward smiles.
‘Come to think of it, what happens when we join up with Gaiard? Werewolves and vampires are natural enemies…….’
Rorn and the other werewolves already knew that he and Gaiard were on the same side.
But knowing and moving together were two completely different matters.
‘Even if there’s no reaction now, I don’t know what problems might arise if they are right next to each other.’
However, he couldn’t send Rorn back now, nor could he pretend not to know Gaiard, so Evan decided not to worry too much about the situations to come.
Instead, the thought of whether Gaiard was waiting for them safely without any trouble or had joined the emissary delegation grew larger in his mind.
* * *
At the same time.
On the border between the Becken Empire and the Solaid Kingdom, far from the northern edge of the Black Forest.
Gaiard, who had flown that far, was heading back towards the Black Forest again after experiencing something unexpected.
‘What in the world is happening on this continent?’
He was flying at full speed with the thought that he absolutely had to tell Evan what he had seen.
And what he had seen were his own kind moving under the flag of the Empire, vampires.