Chapter 142

Episode 41/Chapter 3: The highest branch (3)

TL: Tsubak

ED: Julsmul

Adenmaha widely opened her eyes while revealing a dumbfounded face.

“Wh-What is this? Why is it so big?”

Her bewildered voice came out unavoidably.

The body of the black dragon, Nidhogg.

The body presented an overwhelming force to the ones looking at it even though it was only lying down.

Adenmaha had faced quite a lot of hardships as a Goddess of the Tuatha De Danann, but it was her first time seeing a dragon this big.

Beside her, Nidhogg felt happy as Adenmaha exclaimed sincerely. She laughed stupidly and then spread her arms.

“The real deal is bigger than that. Muuuuuch more bigger.”

Because Nidhogg’s real body stretched 2 kilometers. From a simple glance, it was twenty times bigger than the dragon before them, so it was easily ten times bigger.

Nidhogg spread her arms trying to express how huge it was, but she didn’t stop there and also stood on her toes. Of course, there was no way she’d be able to accurately transmit the size, but Adenmaha still admired the fact that it was much bigger.

“Bigger than that? And by a lot?”

“Yes, yes. Much, much bigger.”

Nidhogg answered hurriedly and thought of other methods to express hugeness, but she couldn’t think of anything.

And that was the same for Adenmaha.

She just looked up at the body of Nidhogg with her dumbfounded face and let out sounds of admiration.

“Haa. How amazing. Really incredible.”

She had just accepted the fact that Tae Ho had defeated an army of the giants while riding upon Nidhogg, but now she could understand it certainly.

With a body that big, it would be able to create catastrophe and turmoil just by rolling on the ground.

Adenmaha thought of when she had to roll in the Winter Tree Forest of Kataron.

The day she had to roll to take care of the moving trees in an instant.

Didn’t Nidhogg also roll on the battlefield?

‘Hey, no way.’

She shook her head reflexively at the mental image of a dragon that was a hundred meters long rolling over a battlefield. She convinced herself that not even Tae Ho would make Nidhogg do something like that.

“Anyways, you really are amazing.”

Nidhogg scratched her head as Adenmaha exclaimed once again and didn’t know what to do. She laughed like a fool and then slightly pulled on Adenmaha’s clothes.

“Adenmaha.”

“Yes?”

“Can’t you do it a bit more?”

Nidhogg said hesitantly while flushing. Adenmaha tilted her head because she couldn’t understand what she was saying, but she soon understood.

What Nidhogg wanted.

The words Ratatoskr didn’t tell her.

Adenmaha smiled brightly. She spread her arms widely and said energetically,

“Incredible. Our Nidhogg is amazing, big and beautiful!”

Ratatoskr had only told her that she was big and a fool.

It had only told her that she was uselessly big.

Nidhogg also thought like that. She could only do so.

But that wasn’t the case now.

Adenmaha had told her that she was amazing. Instead of cursing her that she was big and a fool, she had praised that her body was big and beautiful.

“Ehehehe.”

Laughter kept coming out. Her face felt hot, but she couldn’t stop laughing.

And what came out wasn’t only laughter. Her eyes started to redden, and tears fell down unconsciously as well.

Adenmaha aimed a silent smile at Nidhogg. She smirked instead of wiping off Nidhogg’s tears and then expressed her admiration more energetically.

“How are you this amazing? Really, really amazing. You are so amazing, I can’t stop admiring.”

She spoke gently as if complimenting a kid.

Nidhogg couldn’t endure it anymore and embraced Adenmaha.

“I like Adenmaha a lot!”

“Me too. Me too, Nidhogg.” (ED Note: Narcissism much, Adenmaha?)

Adenmaha patted Nidhogg’s back. Although Nidhogg was 10cm taller than her, no matter who saw them, the one that got hugged this time was Nidhogg.

Not a dislike but a I like you.

Nidhogg bit her lips and then burst into tears.

She was crying so sorrowfully that she began soaking Adenmaha’s clothes, but she didn’t push her back. She rather hugged her more warmly.

And Cuchulainn, that was looking that from a distant place, said as his eyes became red,

‘How nice and warm. It’s so nice and warm that I don’t need a stove at all.’

Nidhogg was one case, but Cuchulainn had grown amazed of Adenmaha.

He had only seen her assuming a prim air in front of Tae Ho, but for her to be a woman overflowing with motherly love….

‘A Goddess is still a Goddess in the end.’

Cuchulainn smirked once again. It was because he remembered Adenmaha’s past when she had chosen to become the slave of Bress the Tyrant by her own decision to save the citizens of Erin.

Hela, who didn’t know much about Nidhogg compared to the other two, looked at Nidhogg with surprise written over her face.

“I could have never imagined that the black dragon was like this.”

It was even more so as she had seen her fight valiantly in the battlefield.

Odin smiled bitterly.

“Right, that was also the case for me. I only guessed that it would be an evil and wicked existence.”

He hadn’t been able to realize it even though he had heard Nidhogg’s cry filled with sorrow.

Odin took a deep breath and turned to look at Hela.

“Are the preparations going well?”

“We have finished everything. I will lead the Naglfar whenever you give the order and head to Asgard.”

There were already dozens of Naglfars prepared, ships made with the claws and nails of the dead.

“That’s a relief to hear.”

The individual strength of the dead was certainly weak. They were beings that couldn’t even fight properly against the giants, but the story changed when their numbers reached the hundred thousands. Even though it would still be impossible to face the giants, it wasn’t impossible to face the evil spirits.

“Odin, are you going to the highest branch right now?”

“I’m planning to do so. There’s no reason to delay any further.”

They had to rather hurry. He had gathered a bit of information from Niflheim and Midgard, but he still didn’t have any detailed information regarding Asgard.

Odin answered immediately Hela’s question and then turned to look at Tae Ho who was standing next to Merlin.

“Idun’s warrior.”

“Yes, Odin?”

“Hraesvelg is the protector and the king of the highest branch. He will probably show himself when he sees us approach.”

And Nidhogg was especially in the group. He’d never met Nidhogg even once since he’d been born, but he should know of her characteristics, like her four pair of wings and four horns, through Ratatoskr.

It was obvious he would come charging when he heard that a black dragon had appeared.

“I will proceed with the negotiations just like I said before, but the thing after that is entirely up to you.”

Everything pertaining to defeating Hraesvelg rested on Tae Ho’s shoulders. It wasn’t that Odin had irresponsibly handed the task to him. Odin really trusted Tae Ho that much.

“Leave it to me,”

Tae Ho hit his chest and answered. Odin remembered the time Tae Ho had appeared to save him and smiled bitterly. He thought of Idun, who’d tried hard to hide Tae Ho from his eyes, and made a hand gesture.

“Come closer. I will give you a blessing.”

‘Oh nice. You like blessings. Get a lot of them. Two at least.’

Cuchulainn butted in as if this was the right moment.

Tae Ho smiled bitterly inwardly and approached Odin and then blessed him on his forehead.

“For Asgard and the Nine Realms.”

“For Asgard and the Nine Realms.”

They didn’t have time to waste anymore, just like Odin had said. The group then headed toward the highest branch with Ratatoskr as their guide.

—

The World Tree, Yggdrasil, could be said to be a kind of system that was a composition of the world itself.

Because of that, the World Tree wasn’t only what one could see. The World Tree passing through Niflheim, Midgard, and Asgard was merely the corporeal part of the entire tree.

Hraesvelg knew this fact instinctively. He couldn’t explain it in detail, but he could feel it.

‘There isn’t only one path that leads to the highest branch.’

There were several other paths that led to the highest branch aside from climbing the materialized tree.

And the path Ratatoskr used was certainly a path they couldn’t see.

Because of that, Hraesvelg left watchmen in several parts of the highest branch. It was to drive away anyone approaching the highest branch quickly, be it a God or a giant.

Hraesvelg, who had the appearance of a sturdy, old man, stood on the wide and solitary training center and slowly took a stance.

He would swing his spear and cut the air horizontally and then vertically, take a turn, and produce a strong slash.

Hraesvelg moved slowly. He used several seconds in only one stance.

It was a training method human martial artists used when they wanted to increase the preciseness of a movement.

Actually, it was a meaningless training for Hraesvelg.

He was a kind of a God, just like the ancient dragon Nidhogg.

Because of that, although he now had the appearance of an old man, that wasn’t the same for his real body.

A white eagle that had huge wings that could cover the sky.

That was Hraesvelg’s real appearance. It was a body that couldn’t use the spear and didn’t even need to use it.

But Hraesvelg still trained in his spearmanship. It was to become similar to the great hero that remained in his thoughts.

A clean stab.

Hraesvelg pulled back his spear and let out a long sigh. He should have moved on to the next movement here, but he frowned and turned around. Young sparrows were flying towards him in a hurry.

“Hraesvelg-nim! Hraesvelg-nim!”

“It appeared! Appeared!”

“An infiltrator! Infiltrator!”

The sparrows flew around Hraesvelg’s head and chirped noisily.

Hraesvelg extended his spear to make a spot for the sparrows to perch upon and then he smiled like a man and asked,

“Is it the giants?”

“Not a giant nor a God! It’s a dragon!”

“A black dragon! A black dragon!”

“A black dragon?”

Hraesvelg opened his eyes abruptly and asked back in an absurd tone. The sparrows held their breaths at the strong aura that was suddenly released.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

Hraesvelg received a sparrow that’d fallen down as it’d been paralyzed and then calmed down his aura.

The sparrows were able to barely breathe once again and fluttered their wings.

“It’s really big!”

“It has poison in its body! And has four pair of wings! It also has four horns!”

Hraesvelg gulped dry saliva. He barely suppressed the aura that was about to come out reflexively and held his breath.

Four pair of wings and four horns.

A black dragon.

There was only one thing that appeared in his head. And right then, a black and huge bird came flying from far away.

“Hraesvelg-nim!”

It was Hraesvelg’s aide, Vedrfolnir.

She usually transformed into a woman of long black hair first to express etiquette, but she didn’t have the leisure to do so this time. She yelled towards Hraesvelg while being in the shape of a bird.

“It-It has appeared!”

If the usually calm Vedrfolnir had gotten this excited, there was only one possible scenario.

“The black dragon, Nidhogg.”

The ancient dragon.

Hraesvelg’s own old enemy that was connected to him by fate.

His breathing became rough by its own accord. He felt that the beats of his heart had started to shake, and he clenched a fist in anticipation.

He remembered the fight against the great hero he could still remember clearly when he closed his eyes.

The excitement from that time surged up naturally, and an equally natural smile was slowly drawn upon his face.

A final and decisive battle.

A duel that put the fate of the world in the line.

The day he had waited for a thousand years!

He could die in this battle. His opponent was the ancient dragon that resented the world. Perhaps, this may become the last day for Hraesvelg.

But he had no regrets nor fear.

If he could pour all he was capable of.

“Let’s go. Lead the way, Vedrfolnir.”

His voice was strangely calm compared to his hot chest. His eyes were also calm.

The sparrows’ hearts were moved by the current, hero-esque image of Hraesvelg. Vedrfolnir was about to burst in tears, but she held them back. It was the moment her master had waited his entire life for. She couldn’t scatter her feelings with mere tears.

“I will lead the way, my loved master. King of the highest branch.”

Hraesvelg looked at the sky and took a deep breath. He calmed down his hot ambition that burned like the sun and jumped to the sky.

< Episode 41 – The highest branch (3) > End

TL note: Thanks for reading~

Episode 41/Chapter 4: The highest branch (4)

TL: Tsubak

ED:

The highest branch wasn’t a branch like its name implied.

It was a small world that was stuck to the world tree just like Midgard and Asgard.

Hraesvelg flew in the sky in a majestuous manner. Vedrfolnir flew a bit ahead than him to lead the way and the sparrows that were riding on her back chirped and yelled.

“The king is going!”

“The king is going to fight against the black dragon!”

The birds that had a good hearing heard them. The birds that were uneasy because of the sudden appearance of the black dragon got happy and flew up. They then followed the track of their king.

Hraesvelg didn’t stop his citizens. It was because it would be better to have more witnesses in the great duel that would take place in a moment.

But of  course, Hraesvelg wasn’t planning on putting his citizens in danger in vain as he was a king. He was planning to not let them approach to a certain range as they could get swept in the battle against Nidhogg.

“My king! My king!”

“Our king!”

“King of birds!”

“The protector of the highest branch!”

The birds started to gather one by one and yelled together. Hraesvelg was a king that was loved by everyone as he protected the highest branch for a thousand years since he climbed to the throne.

They knew well about the black dragon Nidhogg thanks to the squirrel beast Ratatoskr.

The manifestation of all the evil in the world.

But they weren’t afraid as the white eagle king was with them. They were sure he would defeat a mere black dragon!

Hraesvelg first headed to the core of the highest branch instead of going to the outer regions where the black dragon had appeared at. It wasn’t to make more citizens follow him. It was because his real body was asleep in that place.

“Wake up my body. The time has come.”

When Hraesvelg stood in the air and mumbled something, the entire highest branch started to shake. The birds that were gathered were afraid but happy at the same time. They closed their beaks tightly and concentrated.

A huge flutter of a wing shook the world.

The two wings that got spread while breaking the silence hit the air once again and Hraesvelg’s original body appeared.

The eyes of the sparrows that were riding on Vedrfolnir widened and that was the same for the ones that had already seen the real appearance of the king and for the ones that were looking at it for the first time.

If you connected the extremes of the wings, you could imagine that it was a big and wide plains. It was a huge existence that could create whirlwinds with a stroke of its wind.

Hraesvelg’s original body was a kind of a magic armor just like Nidhogg’s body.

A pure white eagle that had no stains.

Hraesvelg looked at his own body with a satisfied expression and then took a step. He stepped on the air and then moved to the head of his original body.

Vedrfolnir transformed into a beautiful woman and stood next to the king and the sparrows sat in her shoulder and praised his greatness.

Hraesvelg fluttered his wings once again. The ground shook once more and the white eagle crossed an incredible distance in a moment.

“It’s the king!”

“It’s the white eagle king!”

“The king is going to fight against the black dragon!”

The citizens of the highest branch yelled with all their strength. They were also really excited right now.

This was also Ratatoskr’s merit. The citizens imagined their king defeating the black dragon and fluttered their wings even more strongly.

And Hraesvelg finally reached the outside perimeter along his people. He opened his eyes sharply and looked at the black dragon.

A black dragon that had four pair of wings and four horns, just like the sparrows had said, was standing still. It looked just like a black and huge mountain.

‘It’s smaller than I thought.’

An eagle was an animal which wings was bigger than its body so just by looking at their size, it didn’t seem like there would be much difference between Hraesvelg and Nidhogg.

But perhaps, it was an obvious thing. Because Nidhogg was the fated enemy of Hraesvelg. The story would fit if they were of a similar size.

The dragon that had a poisonous fog around it didn’t move, as if it had really become a mountain. Hraesvelg made his citizens stop and flew ahead alone.

About 200 meters with Nidhogg.

It was a really long distance that people wouldn’t be able to speak to each other but it was plentily close for huge existences like Nidhogg and Hraesvelg.

Based on Ratatoskr’s words, the normal thing would be for the dragon to launch a surprise attack first but it rather waited calmly for him.

It was a strange thing but Hraesvelg could find out the reason for it.

‘It was also waiting for the destined duel.’

A smile spread in his mouth by its own.

RIght, it was a battle against its old enemy connected by fate. No matter how much of an evil creature it was, it would at least want to duel properly.

Hraesvelg stood on the head of his original body and looked at Nidhogg’s head. It was a distance that made people seem like dots but this didn’t impede the eyes of the eagle king at all. He could see the scene of 200 meters ahead as if it was right in front of him.

There was a black haired warrior standing on the head of Nidhogg.

A tall stature and trained body. Clear features and a strong resolution in his face.

‘Is that Nidhogg’s essence?’

And it was at that moment. The one that was estimated to be Nidhogg’s essence opened his mouth and shouted in a loud voice. It seemed like he had used some mystical power that his voice was heard clearly regardless of the distance.

“King of birds Hraesvelg! I’m called Lee Tae Ho, the commander of Idun’s legion!”

“Idun’s commander? Are you a warrior of Valhalla?”

“That’s right!”

Hraesvelg’s eyebrows twitched. It wasn’t only because his guess that the man was Nidhogg’s essence was wrong.

Displeasement showed in the voice of Hraesvelg, that looked at honor with importance.

“Bastard! Asgard fell in danger but it seemed that a traitor has appeared! For a warrior of Valhalla to join hands with Nidhogg!”

Hraesvelg had no relationship with Valhalla but it didn’t matter. How could a warrior of a God join hands with the evil dragon?

Treason was especially one of the things Hraesvelg disliked a lot.

As he looked at the warrior with eyes filled with contempt, Tae Ho answered with his head high as if he didn’t care at all.

“That’s not the case! I’m a warrior of Valhalla that fights for Asgard and the nine realms, and the king of Gods Odin will prove this!”

“It’s true. Idun’s warrior is an outstanding warrior even in Valhalla.”

Odin, that was seated a bit farther from Tae Ho, said in a low voice. Hraesvelg couldn’t see Odin as he was concentrated on the man estimated to be Nidhogg’s essence and asked in a surprised voice.

“Odin? You were alive?”

“I could survive thanks to Idun’s warrior.”

Odin smiled bitterly and said. His voice and looks didn’t seem to be forced at all.

Hraesvelg got perplexed. He didn’t know about Idun’s warrior but it was hard to imagine the king of Gods to join hands with Nidhogg.

But this was reality occurring in front of them. Hraesvelg yelled bluntly.

“It’s fine whatever it is. I don’t care if it’s the king of Gods Odin or a warrior of Valhalla. The important thing is that the black warrior Nidhogg came to the highest branch!”

The white eagle Hraesvelg didn’t miss the main point of the problem.

Only the truth that Nidhogg had infiltrated the highest branch was important.

Tae Ho nodded. He yelled in a pleasant voice as it was flowing as he wanted to.

“You are right Hraesvelg. The important thing is Nidhogg. Come greet her.”

Tae Ho stood to a side and then, one of the rocks in Nidhogg’s head split up and two people showed up.

‘Women?’

They were both women. One was a tall and slender woman that had long black hair and the other one was a white haired woman that was dressed with the uniform of Valkyries.

You could know who was Nidhogg’s essence at a glance.

The white haired Valkyrie- Adenmaha, stopped at the entrance and the black haired woman- Nidhogg walked ahead.

But it was at that moment.

“Kyak!”

Nidhogg, that took a step with a stiff expression, was about to fall down. Adenmaha asked hurriedly as she got surprised.

“Are you fine?”

“Ye,yes. I’m fine. I didn’t fall down.”

For her to almost fall down as she tripped with a rock.

Nidhogg cleared her throat several times as it was embarrassing and then stood next to Tae Ho with still stiff movements. She then looked at Hraesvelg and waved her hand shyly.

“Ah, hello? I’m Nidhogg. I wanted to meet you for a while. I also heard many things from Ratatoskr……Although they weren’t good things, it’s fine as it’s all a misunderstanding. Uh, um…….ah…hi anyways!”

She hesitated for a moment and then increased her voice at the last part.

She even smiled brightly.

But the reply that Nidhogg wanted didn’t return. Odin turned his head and held his laughter and Tae Ho gritted his teeth to maintain his expression.

When Nidhogg became dispirited and shrugged her shoulders, a reply came from the side of Hraesvelg.

It was Vedrfolnir.

“Bastards! You dare to insult the king of the highest branch! You dare bring a fake to this place!”

There was nothing more evil. How could they bring a childish girl like that and say that she was Nidhogg’s essence!

Vedrfolnir glared at Tae Ho’s group with eyes filled with displeasement. But something completely unexpected came out from the mouth of Hraesvelg.

“She’s real?”

“What?”

“She is really Nidhogg.”

Vedrfolnir blinked as she didn’t understand what Hraesvelg was saying but he didn’t say anything else. Actually, Hraesvelg also wanted to yell like Vedrfolnir to bring the real deal.

But he could know.

Because he was connected to her by fate.

The one in front of him was Nidhogg indeed. She was the black dragon Nidhogg.

That’s why Hraesvelg decided to think in another perspective. He spoke with the voice he managed to squeeze out.

“Nidhogg, stop acting. I heard that you were an evil existence but you have crossed the line. Your actions right now….aren’t right manners when facing your destined enemy.”

He had expected the fated duel while thinking that the dragon was an evil existence but wasn’t it too much that it was acting like that?

But reality always surpassed your imaginations.

“Ni, Nidhogg didn’t act. I’m……not evil. Tae Ho master and Adenmaha said that Nidhogg was good.”

Nidhogg spoke back while being aware of her surroundings. Adenmaha clenched her fist towards Nidhogg telling her to cheer up but that wasn’t the case for the others. Odin couldn’t endure his laughter and turned around and Tae Ho pinched his thigh.

“Th, that damned…..”

Vedrfolnir trembled. She couldn’t endure looking how her loved king got despised anymore.

“Nidhogg! I know too well that you have tried to make the world tree fall by eating the roots! How do you dare act as an innocent kid!”

“Ah, I didn’t. I don’t eat the roots. It’s bitter and not tasty. The food Heda or Adenmaha makes are much more delicious.”

It was true. Nidhogg really disliked eating the roots of the world tree.

Vedrfolnir staggered. Strength was taken away from her body as Nidhogg’s words were heard sincerely.

“Yo, you bitch! I remember the curses you had told to Hraesvelg-nim!”

“Ah, uh….I’m sorry! Ratatoskr forced me to do it. I’m sorry. It said that it would leave if I didn’t…..”

Nidhogg started to sob as she was really sorry. Her crying look looked really sad and poor.

“Hey, why are you making a kid cry! What did she do wrong!”

Adenmaha yelled. Vedrfolnir, that was already in a groggy state, put an even dumber face.

“Wh, what?”

Make a kid cry?

She wanted to deny it but she couldn’t. Looking at them from a distance, it just looked like Vedrfolnir was a bad girl that made a poor girl cry.

“My, my king.”

Vedrfolnir couldn’t take in the sudden situation and said with a trembling voice. But Hraesvelg also felt the same as her. No, he received a bigger shock than Vedrfolnir.

“H, how……..”

How is it that she isn’t her old fated enemy?

Wasn’t this the duel he had waited for a thousand years?

Hraesvelg felt dizzy. They hadn’t even started to exchange blows but the strength completely left his body. It felt like the sky turned yellow.

The sparrows that were sitting in the shoulder of Vedrfolnir got excited at the perplexity of their king. They, that were simple, thought that Nidhogg was acting. They crossed a distance of 200 meters in an instant suitable of being messengers and started to attack Nidhogg.

“Bad girl!”

“Bad girl!”

But they were still sparrows. The only thing sparrows the size of a fist could do was to fly around Nidhogg’s head and peak it.

Originally, he had to stop the sparrows. They were weak creatures that could die by one attack of an enraged enemy.

But there was no need to do so and that fact made Hraesvelg feel more tired.

“Kyak! Don’t! Don’t do it! It hurts! I don’t like things that hurt!”

Nidhogg couldn’t even think about hitting the sparrows and just covered her head.

Adenmaha and Tae Ho chased away the sparrows in her stead.

“A, an act…..”

Vedrfolnir couldn’t finish speaking. Hraesvelg closed his eyes tightly.

He didn’t want to see anymore. Didn’t want to hear anymore.

The fated enemy that was connected to him.

A destined duel against the devil that threatened the world.

It wasn’t something like this.

The duel he had dreamed for a long time wasn’t something like this.

Hraesvelg showed tears in a really long while. They were tears of remorse that flowed down from a deep part of his heart.

“My king…..”

Vedrfolnir also started to cry. She felt like her heart got torn when she looked at her king being sad. She felt so absent minded that she couldn’t even think about Ratatoskr.

But it was at that moment.

“Hraesvelg!”

Tae Ho yelled once again. He glared at Hraesvelg that turned to look at him reflexively and said.

“We need your help to take back Asgard. That’s why I have a proposal to make to you!”

Hraesvelg, that didn’t even want to think anything by now, didn’t show any reaction.

Tae Ho yelled once again.

“I request a duel with you as the commander of Idun. If I win, help us on taking back Asgard. As I am Nidhogg’s master, she will also participate in the duel.”

“Yes, yes. I can fight well if it’s with Tae Ho master!”

Nidhogg said. At that moment, Tae Ho activated the ‘one that controls dragons’ and at that time, the attribute of the aura covering Nidhogg’s body changed.

The black dragon Nidhogg.

A strong aura that suited an ancient dragon.

It was the same to when she stood on the battlefield of Niflheim. Hraesvelg got a hold of himself at the sharp aura and vitality also entered Vedrfolnir’s eyes.

“My king.”

Vedrfolnir spoke with a wet voice. It was only a bit but there was joy mixed in her voice.

There was a long distance to what they had imagined but the current Nidhogg was a good opponent.

Hraesvelg nodded. He clenched his fist and yelled.

“Good, good! Let’s have a duel!”

Hraesvelg calmed down himself and released the aura from inside his body. A strong aura surged up like fire just like what happened with Nidhogg.

The king of the highest branch indeed.

He wasn’t an easy opponent at all. He was a really strong foe.

But Cuchulainn shook his head and put an evil smile.

‘He didn’t put a condition for when he won.’

After Tae Ho listened to the situation about Ratatoskr, he requested Odin to entrust the negotiations to him.

The reason was simple.

‘I will be able to shake Hraesvelg just by making him duel with Nidhogg.’

And it turned out like he had thought. Hraesvelg, whose mind and body was a mess, ended up biting the bait Tae Ho had thrown.

But Tae Ho’s fishing hadn’t ended yet. There was the most important ending left.

“Hraesvelg! I have one more thing to tell you before the duel. I am a summoner at the same time i’m Idun’s warrior. Will I be able to fight with my summons?”

“Do as you wish! It doesn’t matter how many opponents there are!”

All the conditions had been set. Odin stood up and yelled.

“I, king of Gods Odin, will be a witness for this duel.”

“I, Vedrfolnir, will also become a witness for my king.”

Vedrfolnir spoke confidently and then took the sparrows and flew up high.

It was to not interfere with the duel.

Hraesvelg’s original body flew to the sky. Hraesvelg, that was still standing on the head of his original body, looked down at Nidhogg and claimed as the king of the highest branch.

“Come how many you want! I am Hraesvelg, the king of the highest branch!”

“Uooooo!”

“My king!”

“Our king!”

The citizens, that didn’t know of the conversation they had with Nidhogg, cheered. Tae Ho faced at that Hraesvelg with a satisfied face and then turned to look at Nidhogg and Adenmaha.

“Let’s start.”

Odin also left Nidhogg’s head, just like Vedrfolnir did, and then went to Merlin that was waiting in a distant place.

Tae Ho went to the heart room with Nidhogg.

Adenmaha and Rolo stood at the sides of Nidhogg.

‘It will be a short warfare. You won’t be able to endure long even if it’s you we are talking about.’

He wasn’t talking about the battle against Hraesvelg. It was about what Tae Ho was to do now.

Tae Ho nodded and sat at the chair in the heart room. He then took out a golden apple he received from Odin and cleared it in one go. The divine power of Idun, that was filling the apple, covered Tae Ho’s body.

[Saga: Idun’s warrior]

The amplified power of a God got amplified once again. He embraced Nidhogg, that was hugging him naturally, and then placed his hands on the keyboard and the mouse.

[Saga: Owner of flames]

[Saga: Owner of frost]

Rolo and Adenmaha transformed into Shootingstar and Javier. They were smaller than Nidhogg but they were still huge dragons.

Three dragons.

Hraesvelg twitched and Vedrfolnir gulped dry saliva.

But this wasn’t the end. Tae Ho still had one more card.

[Saga: The warrior that had a Valkyrie meet him]

The fake Nidhogg appeared. The citizens of the highest branch screamed at the appearance of the dragon that was identical to Nidhogg.

And one more thing to this.

The fake Adenmaha that appeared with the ‘Warrior that had a Valkyrie meet him’.

[Saga: Owner of frost]

The fake Adenmaha turned into a fake Javier. It then let out a loud roar.

Five dragons.

It was just like Cuchulainn had warned. An overwhelming amount of divine power got spent just by maintaining it. He probably won’t be able to maintain it for too long.

In addition, it was doubtful if the fake Nidhogg and Adenmaha would be able to move properly. If he couldn’t control them properly, it would only be a waste of divine power.

‘There’s no way you would do something that stupid.’

Cuchulainn smirked and said. Tae Ho finished the last preparations instead of nodding.

[Saga: Legendary pro gamer]

The screen of the monitor changed. The first person point of view, that was Nidhogg’s point of view, changed into a third person like RTS games.

Tae Ho would control Nidhogg and give simple orders to Adenmaha and Rolo. He would control the fake Adenmaha and Nidhogg as when you controlled several units from an RTS game.

‘Bad guy. You really are a bastard. Really.’

Tae Ho nodded. He thanked Cuchulainn’s compliment and moved the mouse and the keyboard.

“Let’s go.”

[Saga: The one that controls dragons]

Nidhogg flinched and let out an exclamation. It was the same for Rolo and Adenmaha. They received orders from Tae Ho through the ‘one that controls dragons’ and ‘the legendary gamer’.

The duel started.

The five dragons flew up towards Hraesvelg.

< Episode 41 – The highest branch (4) > End

TL note: Thanks for reading~

Episode 41/Chapter 5: The highest branch (5)

TL: Tsubak

ED:

The reason Tae Ho unleashed all the strength he possessed was simple.

“Hraesvelg is strong.”

Those were Odin’s words. And thanks to Ratatoskr’s testimony being added here, there was no doubt about Hraesvelg’s strength.

It was too different with Nidhogg.

The ancient dragon was one of the strongest existences that could bring destruction to the world but it didn’t know how to fight at all. In addition, Nidhogg was submissive and naive so her battle power declined even more. She was at a situation where she should be glad if she knew how to use a tenth of her strength.

But that wasn’t the same for Hraesvelg.

He was a protector that had guarded the highest branch for a thousand years. He had plenty of real battle experience and wasn’t the type to dodge battles like Nidhogg.

The one connected by fate to the black dragon Nidhogg.

The king of birds Hraesvelg.

He was strong. He wasn’t saying that he was Nidhogg’s destined enemy for nothing so Tae Ho could only use all of his strength from the start to defeat him.

‘First hit first win. The best thing is to defeat someone before they unleash their real strength.’

It was Ragnar’s teaching and the experience from when Tae Ho was a pro gamer was telling him the same thing.

If Hraesvelg got strong when he transformed, then defeat him before he can transform.

If it’s an opponent that can manifest strong magic, defeat them before they can complete their magic.

Waiting until the opponent unleashed all of their strength or helping them so they were able to was only a thing that protagonists from fairy tales did.

‘That’s how adults fight.’

Cuchulainn said like a joke but his eyes were sharp and cold.

Tae Ho didn’t let himself get swept by his spirit. He maintained himself calm while five dragons flew towards the sky.

Just looking at the numbers, it was 5 vs 1 but reality wasn’t that simple.

First, the difference in size was different.

Hraesvelg was also a really huge creature, although not as big as the 2km long Nidhogg.

His wings when spread seemed like it passed the hundred meters. Even if eagles were animals which wings were bigger than their bodies, being that big meant that their bodies also reached tens of meters.

Just looking at the size, the only one that could face Hraesvelg on equal ground was Nidhogg.

Rolo and Adenmaha also reached tens of meters after they transformed into Shootingstar and Javier but they were still much smaller than Hraesvelg.

If the length was twice as big, then your body became a few more times that. Rolo and Adenmaha would be seen as children in Hraesvelg’s eyes.

And actually, Nidhogg was only comparable to Hraesvelg in size when looking at their bodies. She wasn’t as big as him when you also took the length of the spread wings into account.

‘The more you delay the more disadvantageous it is for you. You have to crush him fast.’

Tae Ho also agreed to that. He glared at Hraesvelg through Nidhogg’s eyes and then looked at the 3rd person screen that showed in the screen. He quickly moved his hands and ordered.

Hraesvelg spread his wings. He fluttered once and the ground shook. The moment he surged up, a strong wind became a wall and covered the heads of the five dragons.

It was an overwhelmingly strong wind. Tae Ho placed Nidhogg, that was the strongest, at the front and pierced through the wall of wind. Adenmaha and the fake Adenmaha stuck close to her and elevated and Rolo placed the fake Nidhogg in front of it and headed to Hraesvelg’s rear.

Looking at humanity’s long war record, the strategy in a war served to accomplish one objective.

Surround and defeat.

Big numbers would surround a minority and destroy them.

Even if the total number of the enemy was higher than the allies, they took into account that they were in their local territory where they were bigger in number.

Tae Ho was loyal to the basics. Nidhogg charged towards Hraesvelg and opened her mouth and Adenmaha and the fake Adenmaha, that easily passed through the wall of wind by sticking close to Nidhogg’s tail, flew sideways and attacked Hraesvelg’s sides.

The citizens of the highest branch gulped dry saliva and a part of them let out a gasp.

Right at that moment, a strong poison got fired from Nidhogg’s mouth. It was a strong poison that seemed like it could melt everything it touched and even if the opponent dodges it, they can only get infected.

But Hraesvelg flew up once again instead of fearing it. A strong wind than the first time got generated to form a whirlwind and scattered the poison Nidhogg spat and a part of them even flew towards Adenmaha and the fake one.

Adenmaha and the fake Adenmaha hurriedly let out a breath and froze the poison and the wind altogether. Hraesvelg laughed and attacked Nidhogg. There was still the remnant of the poison but he just ignored it. He had no need to fear the remnants, now that it wasn’t even the original attack.

Hraesvelg had prepared a long time for this battle. ALthough the shape was a bit different to what he was expecting, it wasn’t that everything he had prepared had become useless.

The first time he realized Nidhogg and him were old enemies, he didn’t save time on increasing his resistance towards poison. It was an obvious thing as he would be fighting the black poisonous dragon.

Hraesvelg pierced through the wind mixed with poison and attacked Nidhogg. It was a sharp and fast movement like a mother bird snatching her prey. But Tae Ho moved Nidhogg’s body as if it was his own and dodged Hraesvelg’s attack. He had barely managed to dodge it by twisting Nidhogg’s body so he couldn’t even think about counterattacking. But she wasn’t the only one that was at this place.

Adenmaha and the fake Adenmaha, that flew on top of Hraesvelg’s head fired an ice breath at the same time.

Hraesvelg snorted and showed a movement normal birds couldn’t even imagine. He started to drop down from the sky and then turned his body at a 180 degree to surge up and hovered on top of the head of Adenmaha and the fake Adenmaha. This attack is what you call a barrel roll.

The both of them let out a gasp and got bewildered. Nidhogg also expressed perplexion with a really surprised face.

Hraesvelg fluttered his wings strongly. He tried to make Adenmaha and the fake Adenmaha crash by creating a strong wind.

The two dragons flied desperately and let out screams and Hraesvelg gattered all attention on him.

“My king!”

Vedrfolnir screamed.

Hraesvelg, that was about to attack Nidhogg after sweeping down the two dragons, knew instinctively what Vedrfolnir’s scream meant.

He turned his head and rolled his eyes. He released his spirit and checked his surroundings.

Adenmaha, that had pretended to act as if she was crashing, smirked. But it was already too late.

The fake Nidhogg rushed at Hraesvelg from his rear however Hraesvelg twisted his body and easily dodged the attack. But the fake Nidhogg was also merely a bait. The real attack was something else.

Rolo fell down from the sky. He was executing a body slam similar to a meteorite, befitting of his name of Shootingstar.

This attack was hard to dodge even in normal situations. In addition, it was even more so as he had turned to dodge the fake Nidhogg hurriedly.

But Hraesvelg wasn’t that easy either. He dodged in that situation and evaded a direct hit.

Rolo hit Hraesvelg’s wing. He barely managed to drop his speed before he crashed in the ground.

A trajectory of fire got drawn in the sky. Hraesvelg tried to flutter his wings and regain balance but this time, Nidhogg charged towards that Hraesvelg. She opened her mouth widely as if she was trying to bite him instead of firing poison.

“Bastard!”

Hraesvelg roared and also opened his beak widely. It was to fire an overwhelming amount of magic power.

But Nidhogg didn’t stop and Hraesvelg didn’t hesitate and fired out his magic power. He fired away an incredible power that could seal even the movements of Hraesvelg himself!

[Saga: The warrior that had a Valkyrie meet him]

Right at that moment, Tae Ho activated his saga. He changed the locations of Nidhogg and the fake one.

Hraesvelg’s magic power hit the head of the fake Nidhogg and broke it down. And right after that Nidhogg, that had moved to the location of the fake Nidhogg, that was at the rear of Hraesvelg attacked him. This time, Hraesvelg had no means to dodge this attack even if it was him.

Nidhogg bit Hraesvelg’s wing. Half of what she had bit were feathers but there were some fangs that had penetrated Hraesvelg’s skin.

Nidhogg inserted poison in Hraesvelg’s wings as if she had become a snake. Adenmaha and the fake one didn’t stay still either. They sat on Hraesvelg’s back, now that his movements were sealed, and pushed him to the ground.

Kwagang!

Hraesvelg crashed on the ground and a great shockwave swept the surroundings. An explosion shaking the ground got set off and a dust cloud arose to the sky.

The process became different but the results was as planned. Adenmaha fired an ice breath along with the fake Adenmaha and glued Hraesvelg to the ground. Nidhogg just focused on pressing down Hraesvelg instead of attacking him.

But even so, Hraesvelg was in good shape. As he put strength in his wings, a crack got formed in the ice made by Adenmaha. Nidhogg’s body moved up and down.

Rolo fluttered his wings in the air and glared at Hraesvelg. It was to transform into a meteorite once again and attack him.

Adenmaha and the fake one fired out an ice breath once again. Their task was to restrict Hraesvelg’s movements however they could.

Nidhogg moved from Hraesvelg’s wings to his body. She spread her arms and legs widely and focused on pressing him down.

Hraesvelg tried to fly once again. The ice broke down and the three dragons shook.

But he couldn’t fly this time either. Tae Ho gulped dry saliva and handed over the mouse and the keyboard to Nidhogg.

“I will leave it to you.”

“Yes yes!”

Nidhogg nodded with an expression full of joy. She embraced the keyboard and the mouse and then closed her eyes and concentrated. Nidhogg’s body pressed down Hraesvelg once again. It was funny to see as her movements seemed like she was swimming in the ground but the effects were enough. Hraesvelg couldn’t even move.

The objective of this battle was to make Hraesvelg into their ally. Not to kill him.

Nidhogg didn’t cover poison in her body just like when she fought against Hrumbak. It was to evade damaging Adenmaha, that was also inflicting damage to Hraesvelg, but there was also another objective.

The fake Adenmaha disappeared and Rolo descended from the sky to fill that empty spot and stepped on Hraesvelg. The moment he let out a groan filled with rage, the chest of Nidhogg’s body opened with a clicking sound.

It was Tae Ho. He started to jump in the air the moment he got out of the heart room. He calculated the remaining power of a God he had and headed to Hraesvelg’s head.

Hraesvelg’s essence.

He didn’t enter somewhere like Nidhogg’s heart room. He was standing on the head of his original body perhaps to attack the dragon that was stepping on his back himself. It was just like Tae Ho had expected.

Hraesvelg, that was about to attack Adenmaha, noticed Tae Ho approaching him. He grabbed a spear of air he made with magic power and glared at Tae Ho.

Suppress the essence and end the fight.

It was the same as with Nidhogg. But Hraesvelg wasn’t Nidhogg. His essence, that had polished his martial arts for a hundred years wasn’t weak at all.

“You!”

Hraesvelg roared towards Tae Ho but there was joy in his eyes.

It was because he was displeased that Tae Ho used many dragons in a duel but he liked Tae Ho’s spirit that got out of Nidhogg and faced him head on.

“Come! Owner of the black dragon!”

And perhaps, this was the image of the long waited duel Hraesvelg was waiting for a long time. Hraesvelg remembered his battle against the Great hero a hundred years ago.

In the other hand Tae Ho felt a sense of incongruity as he charged towards Hraesvelg. And he then realized the reason for it and got perplexed.

‘Scathach’s style techniques?!’

The stance Hraesvelg was taking was similar to Scathach’s techniques.

Cuchulainn said quickly.

‘It’s a subspecies of it. It seems like he only saw it with his eyes and developed it to his own style.’

Originally, Cuchulainn was usually like the dumb brother of the town, but he was different only in battles. It was a surprisingly fast and precise analysis.

‘I don’t know how this happened but it rather turned out well. A subspecies won’t be able to beat the real Scathach’s style techniques at all!’

Tae Ho also agreed. He looked at Hraesvelg with the insight in Scathach’s style techniques, that couldn’t be contained in a subspecies. He also took out his spear to completely suppress Hraesvelg, that was also holding a spear.

Gae Bolg.

The spear of death that was like the incarnation of the prince of light Cuchulainn!

And it was at that moment. Hraesvelg opened his eyes widely and let out a shocked voice.

“Th, that spear is!”

He knew it. The shape had gotten a bit different but he had certainly seen it before.

Hraesvelg couldn’t speak as he was really surprised. It was to the point that he couldn’t even breathe properly, although for a brief moment.

And Tae Ho didn’t let that opening go to waste. He got loyal to Ragnar’s and Cuchulainn’s teachings.

Strike first, win first.

He had plenty of time to hear why Hraesvelg got surprised at a later time.

The attack that was like thunder that started from Tae Ho’s hands extended to Hraesvelg’s chest.

< Episode 41 – The highest branch (5) > End

TL note: Thanks for reading~

Episode 41/Chapter 6: The highest branch (6)

TL: Tsubak

ED:

The higher your comprehension you had in the sentence of the Milesians, you could unleash a higher skill compared to that.

Tae Ho had increased the comprehension he had towards almost all weapons significantly in the two years he spent in the tower of shadows.

Gae Bolg was especially a weapon that needed a high comprehension rate but the reason Tae Ho was able to use it was because he used it frequently but also because he had Cuchulainn’s help.

Cuchulainn transmitted his strength through the sentence of the Milesians. He made Tae Ho’s spearmanship much stronger and quicker.

Wind walk.

One of the three stages Scathach’s style techniques had.

The moment Tae Ho charged forward, he became the wind. No, he became an existence quicker than gale and crossed the air.

The wind walk wasn’t simply a technique that granted you fast movements.

It gave you a natural movement like the wind.

That was why it was hard to catch. Even if you were someone that could catch up to that speed, your reactions became dull by one step in front of the wind walk.

In addition, Hraesvelg was currently taken aback with something else.

The moment he realized Tae Ho’s stab, Gae Bolg was already stabbing his chest. The straight attack that was like thunder entered Hraesvelg’s chest regardless of the strength behind it.

“Kuhok!”

Hraesvelg got pushed back helplessly and vomited blood. It was only this much as he only received the tip of the spear and not the complete blade. If he had been stabbed completely it wouldn’t have ended with this much.

Hraesvelg didn’t groan even at the pain that seemed like his chest turned to dust. He rather opened his eyes widely and glared at Tae Ho.

Water flow.

Tae Ho used Scathach’s style techniques instead of attacking Hraesvelg immediately. It seemed like he was just standing in place but Hraesvelg didn’t look at it that way. Tae Ho looked like the water of a flowing river that couldn’t be grabbed by your hands.

‘No way.’

Hraesvelg felt his consciousness dim once again. It was unavoidable. He had seen those stances in the past.

The duel against the great hero he would never forget.

‘So that is the case.’

Hraesvelg got sure of it. Idun’s commander was certainly a predecessor of the great hero. His spear and the techniques he used were proof of it.

Hraesvelg laughed. The pain in his chest still remained but his smile didn’t fade away and even let out a strange sound.

It was a duel he didn’t like.

It was because the duel he had dreamed for a long time had dissipated pitifully and just accepted the duel half heartedly.

But it was now different.

He wanted to fight. He wanted to execute the skills he had polished for a hundred years to the predecessor of the great hero.

“Ahh, ahhhhhh!”

Hraesvelg took a stance naturally. It was a stance that was similar to Water flow.

Cuchulainn opened his eyes sharply and said.

‘Energy is returning to his body. It seems like he has just turned on his engine. So he was a pervert that enjoyed getting hit…..’

To smile like that after he got hit that much.

But of course, half of it was a joke. He had cracked that joke to ease Tae Ho’s tension.

‘Just by looking at his aura, he has enough to easily overcome a superior ranked warrior.’

Hraesvelg’s essence was strong. His level was different to Nidhogg, that trampled alone while walking.

‘Perhaps, I gave him more time for nothing.’

The reason Tae Ho didn’t attack right after the attack was because this duel wasn’t meant to take his life.

‘But it doesn’t matter.’

Cuchulainn smirked and Tae Ho nodded.

Hraesvelg’s aura was certainly strong. Just looking at his stance, he looked like a martial artist that has trained for a long time.

It was a case that one became strong by polishing himself through countless trainings. He was a skilled warrior that ordinary superior ranked warriors wouldn’t be able to beat.

But it was like Cuchulainn had said. Tae Ho didn’t feel even a slightest bit of fear.

A subspecies of Scathach’s style techniques.

It was Hraesvegl’s martial arts. He was a superior warrior that had developed himself by his own and reached a considerable level.

But Tae Ho didn’t look at him that way. He could obviously see the secrets behind the technique and know its weaknesses just by looking at it.

And the reason for that was because Hraesvegl’s martial arts was a subspecies of Scathach’s style techniques.

Hraesvelg’s spear was fast. It was sharp and also strong. But it couldn’t hit Tae Ho. Tae Ho perfectly dodged Hraesvelg’s attack as if he already knew where his spear was going to hit. He rather aimed for the moment Hraesvelg wouldn’t be able to dodge and unleashed a perfect counter attack.

It was a one sided fight. If you saw it at a glance, it looked like Hraesvelg was pouring down attacks and pushing back Tae Ho but that wasn’t actually the case.

Hraesvelg only hit the air and wasted strength. Each one of his attacks had strength that shook the ground with its after shock but it didn’t matter as they didn’t hit. There were times that his spear clashed against Tae Ho’s but there was no sound that tore the air. It was because Tae Ho swiftly pushed away Hraesvelg’s spear as if water pushed you away.

Hraesvelg increased the speed behind his attacks to increase the number of attacks but it was pointless. The faster and fiercer his attacks became, the more strength and stamina he spent.

Tak! Tak! Tak!

The shaft of Gae Bolg hit Hraesvelg’s shoulders, thighs and back of his hand. The attacks perfectly cut off the flow of Hraesvelg’s attacks so his techniques broke consecutively.

There was joy and despair mixed in Hraesvelg’s face. The duel against the great hero was giving him endless happiness but the fact that he couldn’t even touch the great hero after a hundred years of training made him feel despair.

Tae Ho calmed his breathing. He dispelled Rolo’s and Adenmaha’s transformation and sent back the fake Adenmaha but he had used too much power of a God. The situation could be turned around if he didn’t end it now.

Lightning strike.

Tae Ho, that was on the defensive, turned to the offensive and Hraesvelg’s posture broke with just that.

Tae Ho pushed back Hraesvelg mercilessly. The blade of Gae Bolg, that was said to contain the power of a curse, was really sharp. Hraesvelg got covered in wounds in an instant and ended up dropping his spear.

Rock smash.

Tae Ho unleashed the last attack on Hraesvelg’s thigh. Hraesvelg couldn’t endure it anymore and collapsed.

Hraesvelg looked up at Tae Ho. Gae Bolg was already at his neck.

“Kill me.”

Hraesvelg closed his eyes and said but Tae Ho put away his spear and shook his head. He contained the words that would work the best to the current Hraesvelg.

“You are the king of the highest branch. Your life isn’t yours alone so treasure it.”

The effects of Bragi’s rune was tremendous. Even he thought that it was a cheesy line but he said it really naturally and in a really cool way at that.

Cuchulainn let out a groan as if it was painful but it was different for Hraesvelg. He put a really surprised face and then got moved. He smiled as he didn’t only lose in skills but also in heart and said.

“I have lost. It’s your victory.”

It was a fresh smile towards the clean duel, rather than despair about defeat.

‘You are putting that arrogant posture until the end.’

Tae Ho listened to Cuchulainn’s snort and put away Gae Bolg. He extended his hand towards Hraesvelg and said.

“It was a nice duel. I have also learned a lot.”

Hraesvelg would be fighting with them so it was a good thing in the end. In addition, Tae Ho wouldn’t have been able to use that easily if Hraesvelg hadn’t used a subspecies of Scathach’s techniques.

Hraesvelg looked at Tae Ho’s hand with a dumbfounded face for a moment and then smirked again. He put a smile and grabbed his hand.

“You really do look like a hero. Suitable of being the predecessor of the great hero.”

“The predecessor……of the great hero?”

Actually, Tae Ho was also curious. How was it that Hraesvelg could use a subspecies of Scathach’s techniques? And when did he see Gae Bolg?

Hraesvelg nodded at Tae Ho’s question. He stood up while staggering a bit because of his thigh and then asked back.

“That’s right. Aren’t you the predecessor of the great hero? You are using his spear and even his martial arts.”

Gae Bolg and Scathach’s style techniques.

By now, he couldn’t not now who Hraesvelg was referring to. But Tae Ho rather asked with a careful tone.

“Uh…Are you talking about the prince of light Cuchulainn?”

“Prince of light…That’s right. That person was also called that way.”

Hraesvelg spoke with a voice filled with emotions and looked at a far away place.

“It’s something that has already passed a hundred years. I have gone down to Asgard in the Great War to test my skills. I met the great hero back then and received a teaching from him.”

The memory of that time was still clear.

“My essence couldn’t defeat the great hero. It ended up in a messy defeat like right now and I couldn’t endure that situation as I faced my first defeat since I was born. I forced him to make him kill me as I have lost. But do you know what he said?”

There was no way Tae Ho could know. Hraesvelg smirked as he put an expression that he didn’t know well.

“He said the same thing as you. To treasure my life as a king. That my body doesn’t only belong to me.”

‘Indeed, those are cool words suitable to me.’

Cuchulainn, that had criticized Tae Ho when he had said it, now spoke with a satisfied face.

But Tae Ho didn’t care that much. It was because there was something more important than that.

‘Cuchulainn?’

If he had met with Hraesvelg before, shouldn’t he have told them?

In addition, it seemed like Hraesvelg deeply respected him. Perhaps, it may have become possible to turn him into an ally without making this much of a fuss.

Cuchulainn snorted at Tae Ho’s urging.

‘I don’t know, I can’t remember. Do you know how many guys challenged me? I don’t know if it would have been a beauty like Nidhogg. How can I remember an old man?’

In addition, Cuchulainn was crazy about taking revenge for Scathach and Erin. Actually, Cuchulainn couldn’t even remember the Great War properly by now.

Tae Ho sighed inwardly and activated Bragi’s rune. He contained words, that had become much cooler than before, to move Hraesvelg’s heart.

“Hraesvelg, king of birds and owner of the highest branch. The name of this spear is the spear of death Gae Bolg. This is the strongest spear of Erin that has been created by the queen of the land of darkness Scathach and gave it to Cuchulainn, that was her disciple and the the strongest warrior of Erin; the prince of light.

“Ohh..that story…..”

Hraesvelg got sincerely moved. It was partly because of Bragi’s rune but it was possible because Hraesvelg really admired Cuchulainn.

Tae Ho paused for a moment to put an expression filled with sorrow and spoke with a tone that was enough to shake Hraesvelg’s heart.

“The prince of light Cuchulainn…..The great hero has sacrificed himself in the Great War to save countless people. You could say that his end was a really heroical one. If he hadn’t been there, the Great War would have ended with the victory of the giants.”

It was a voice that seemed like he would shed tears as soon as he closed his eyes.

Hraesvelg put a really moved face but Cuchulainn’s reaction was completely different.

‘Hey, what’s wrong with you? Are you hurt somewhere?’

It was a voice that had bewilderment and embarrassment mixed in it.

Tae Ho ignored Cuchulainn’s words like he usually did and continued to speak.

“The Great hero has died like that but he chose to struggle for eternity. Can you see this spear? The great hero has left his soul inside of Gae Bolg in his last moment. It was for the sake of the next generation.”

“Ohh. Then in this moment, he’s also……?”

“That’s right. The soul of the great hero resides in this spear.”

Tae Ho raised Gae Bolg high. There was eagerness in Hraesvelg’s eyes.

“The great hero has said. That he clearly remembers you. He says that he’s happy that you look the same although a hundred years have passed. He also says that your skills have increased by leaps and bounds.”

‘Hey, when did I say that huh? You are really scamming here. Is a cheat like saga not enough for you?’

But Cuchulainn’s yell didn’t reach Tae Ho this time either. Hraesvelg took a breath and trembled because he got moved.

“The great hero……!”

“That’s right. He is also admiring that you really look like a king.”

“Hoho, hohoho.”

Hraesvelg laughed with an embarrassed face. It seemed like he was trying to contain it but you could clearly see that he didn’t know how to act because of how happy he was.

‘He really likes it. Hey, tell him clearly. Scathach’s style technique is the strongest martial art but that isn’t the case for a mere subspecies. But rather, it’s clear that the subspecies has a limit as it doesn’t contain an essence. It will rather be better for you to learn another martial arts.’

“The great hero says that your talent is really regretful. The teacher of the great hero is currently in Idun’s legion. He wants to introduce you to her.”

“Ohh! The teacher of the great hero!”

Hraesvelg’s eyes shone and at the same time, Cuchulainn raised his voice.

‘Hey! When did I! Do you think I will leave an old man stick to our master?!’

It seemed like he would decline but for the reason to be that.

Tae Ho, that got bewildered, couldn’t ignore Cuchulainn’s words this time. He asked back unconsciously.

‘What about me then?’

‘You already have an owner! And one that is grabbing you tightly at that!’

He couldn’t decline. Because of that, Tae Ho decided to concentrate on Hraesvelg once again instead of discussing with Cuchulainn.

“But it’s impossible right now. Valhalla, where the teacher of the great hero resides, is currently being under attack from the giants.”

A voice filled with sorrow came out once again. It seemed like he had no talent in acting but he was acting perfectly right now maybe because of Bragi’s rune.

Hraesvelg fell completely for Tae Ho’s act and put a serious expression.

And Tae Ho saw that Hraesvelg was a fish he had almost caught.

“Hraesvelg, owner of the highest branch and king of birds. The great hero needs your strength. Can you accompany us?”

Hraesvelg nodded slowly at the question that was filled with sincerity. He put a smile suitable of a hero and said.

“In the first place, the conditions of the duel was that and I have lost. I have to keep my promise.”

It had already been decided since he said that he had lost.

But regardless of that, the reason Tae Ho put effort was to make Hraesvelg sincerely help Asgard.

And Tae Ho’s plan had worked really well. Hraesvelg claimed in a loud voice to be heard throughout the entire highest branch.

“The king of birds Hraesvelg tells you. From now on, the highest branch will lend its strength to Asgard!”

It was the decision of their king and the citizens of the highest branch had already seen the battle.

In their eyes, the battle between Tae Ho and Hraesvelg, was a cool duel that had ended by a tiny margin. They could only read the auras as they were really far and Tae Ho had induced it to make it look that way.

It wasn’t a completely messy defeat.

Their king had faced many enemies confidently and in the end showed a hero cleanly accepting his defeat.

Because of that, the citizens of the highest branch didn’t oppose to the decision of their king.

They claimed that they would follow their king.

It was possible as Hraesvelg was a king that got loved by everyone.

“Thank you.”

Tae Ho requested to shake hands like he could relax a bit. Hraesvelg turned to look at his people after lightly shaking their hands and said with a low voice.

“A, also……”

“Please, tell.”

Hraesvelg cleared his throat as Tae Ho also spoke with a low voice. He checked his surroundings and spoke quickly as he saw that Vedrfolnir was flying towards them.

“Uh…..Will I be able to speak with the great hero at a later time? Not through you but directly.”

Hraesvelg flushed. His eyes were shining like a kid that couldn’t hide his shyness.

Tae Ho held back his laughter and spoke seriously.

“I will try to make a place for the two of you soon.”

‘I don’t want to, no. I don’t. A shy grandpa. Isn’t it too much? Why is it Nidhogg for you and Hraesvelg for me?’

‘Doesn’t this mean that justice exists in this world?’

Cuchulainn cursed out at Tae Ho’s answer but fortunately, it was only heard by him.

Tae Ho turned his head. Adenmaha was flying towards them while riding on Rolo and beyond them, Nidhogg was looking at their direction with a nervous face after opening the chest of her body. She was holding a keyboard and a mouse in her embrace.

“It ended up well.”

Adenmaha said and Tae Ho agreed to it. He made a hand gesture towards Nidhogg, that wanted to come to him.

Nidhogg smiled brightly at that gesture and Cuchulainn despaired once again at that beautiful and bright smile.

‘This isn’t fair!’

But it was only heard for him this time too.

Odin and Vedrfolnir approached them.

It was the moment Asgard and the highest branch made an alliance.

< Episode 41 – The highest branch (6) > End

TL note: Thanks for reading~

Episode 41/Chapter 7: The highest branch (7)

TL: Tsubak

ED:

“I really like Tae Ho master!”

The first thing Nidhogg did after putting down the keyboard and the mouse was run towards Tae Ho. But there was a swift hand that looked as if someone was snatching the prey. It was Adenmaha.

“I told you to differentiate the time and place, didn’t I?”

Adenmaha stopped Nidhogg from hugging Tae Ho by grabbing her clothes and said with sharp eyes. The battle had just ended and there was a high probability for them to start speaking about Asgard after Odin and Vedrfolnir arrived.

And most of all, there was a need to fix her habit that tried to hug Tae Ho wherever she wanted.

But Nidhogg just blinked at few times at Adenmaha’s scolding and then smiled brightly.

“Then at least Adenmaha!”

“At least? You really!”

“I like your whines. Hey, where did you learn….Kyak! Where are you touching?!”

Nidhogg embraced Adenmaha so she raised her voice and struggled.

And there was someone that looked that scene with warm eyes.

‘Why is it. Usually, I would be looking at them with a satisfied look but why is it that only tears come out?’

Fortunately, the only one that could hear Cuchulainn’s dispirited voice was Tae Ho. Hraesvelg, that had no way to know about Cuchulainn’s loss of strength, looked at Nidhogg with a complicated look and then turned to look at Tae Ho.

“Idun’s commander, predecessor of the great hero. Before going into details, may I speak with Nidhogg?”

Odin and Vedrfolnir were yet to arrive. Tae Ho turned to look at Odin’s side for a moment and nodded.

“It’s fine if she says so.”

“It’s fine. I wanted to speak with Hraesvelg for a long time!”

Nidhogg agreed immediately. Adenmaha gave up struggling in her embrace and dropped her shoulders. It was obvious as Nidhogg’s essence was also strong, compared to Adenmaha when she was in her Goddess appearance.

Hraesvelg let out a sigh and fixed his expression. It was an expression suitable of the king of the highest branch.

“Vedrfolnir.”

Hraesvelg said in a low voice as soon as Odin and Vedrfolnir arrived. Vedrfolnir understood his meaning just with the look in his eyes and tone and bowed.

“Yes, my king. I will prepare it.”

Vedrfolnir started to recite a chant in a low voice. Hraesvelg then spoke to Odin.

“Odin, I will first take care of this side.”

“Do it. I will wait.”

The God of magic Odin realized what magic Vedrfolnir was preparing with a glance. Because of that, he agreed to Hraesvelg’s request without even thinking about it. It was because what she was going to do now would be of help and not obstruct them the slightest.

Hraesvelg spoke to Nidhogg once again.

“Nidhogg, Vedrfolnir has the ability to read the memories of the one she touches. May we look at your memories?”

Nidhogg blinked at the polite question and then turned to look at Tae Ho and Adenmaha as if trying to get an answer.

Tae Ho nodded and Adenmaha whispered in a low voice.

“Do it if you want to, and don’t if you don’t want it.”

The right to choice was on Nidhogg.

She thought for a moment and then let Adenmaha go from her embrace. She then faced Hraesvelg with a slightly nervous expression.

“It’s fine if you read my memories. What do I have to do?”

“The only things we will be able to read will be the things that appear on the surface of your consciousness. That’s why you just have to think about Ratatoskr.”

“I understand, I will try.”

Nidhogg closed her eyes tight and started to think about Ratatoskr. Then, her eyebrows twitched and put on a depressed expression like she would cry at any moment.

This side of Nidhogg was still too unfamiliar for Vedrfolnir. She showed bewilderment for a moment and then grabbed Nidhogg’s hand.

Hraesvelg approached Vedrfolnir and grabbed her arm. It was to see Nidhogg’s memories with Vedrfolnir as the medium.

It didn’t last that long. After about twenty minutes passed, Vedrfolnir opened her eyes with an exhausted look. There was sympathy and pity in her eyes rather than bewilderment.

And that was also the same for Hraesvelg. He stroke Nidhogg’s head swiftly and said gently.

“It must have been hard on you, Nidhogg.”

“I’m fine now. I have Tae Ho master, Cuchulainn oppa, Adenmaha and Odin-nim.”

Nidhogg smiled like a fool. She leaned her head a bit towards Hraesvelg’s big hand as if she didn’t dislike it.

“Right, how good.”

Hraesvelg stroke her head a few more times and then turned towards Odin. His eyes now had bluntness instead of pity.

“Odin, I want to take care of Ratatoskr before speaking about the alliance. Can you wait for me?”

“Of course.”

Odin also agreed this time. There was an order to all things, and Odin also thought that they had to take care of Ratatoskr before talking about the alliance.

Hraesvelg’s original body flew up.

The place he headed to was the outskirts of the highest branch, the place where Ratatoskr was resting.

&

Hraesvelg’s movements weren’t stealthy at all. The gale generated by the stroke of his wings swept the sky and the ground and was so strong that you could realize that the king of birds was approaching even from far away.

Ratatoskr curled down and trembled. The groans and screams from Ratatoskr became louder along the sound of the wings that also increased.

Ratatoskr wanted to flee right now, but its feet didn’t move. It was because Odin had placed several seals before he departed.

It couldn’t flee even though death was approaching.

Ratatoskr started to sweat like rain and finally, the king of birds arrived.

“H, hiiik!”

Ratatoskr started to breathe roughly and curled down at the huge shadow that covered everything. It couldn’t face the white eagle that was looking down at it.

But it was impossible to ignore him forever.

“Ratatoskr.”

Hraesvelg called it out. Ratatoskr grinded its teeth and then raised its head. It yelled as if cursing.

“I was wrong! I was wrong! No, it’s not my fault! It’s rather yours!”

There was fear and rage in Ratatoskr’s face. It glared at Hraesvelg and cried.

“You wanted it! You wanted Nidhogg to be an overwhelmingly evil existence! For your long enemy to be a strong existence! That’s why I did it! I just said words you wanted to hear!”

“This bastard…..!”

Vedrfolnir got enraged but it was different for Hraesvelg. He didn’t lose his composure until the end. THere wasn’t even a slightest bit of trembling in his eyes when he extended his big hand to restrain Vedrfolnir.

“Ratatoskr. There’s something you are misunderstanding.”

The calm voice that was heard from the sky made Ratatoskr shut its mouth. Ratatoskr felt a terrible fear at the voice even though it didn’t contain killing intent or rage.

Hraesvelg continued speaking.

“It’s true that I hoped for that. It’s true that I wanted my destined enemy to be a strong one and had the rights for me to defeat it. But even so, there’s something that hasn’t changed.”

The essence of its sin.

The biggest mistake Ratatoskr made.

“It’s that you have toyed with the king of the highest branch for a really long time.”

He didn’t force him to say that it was a lie.

What Ratatoskr wanted was real information about Nidhogg, not fake stories that would satisfy his vanity.

Ratatoskr had gained many things by telling stories about Nidhogg. He enjoyed the wealth and prosperity in the highest branch for a really long time.

“And one more thing.”

Displeasement appeared in Hraesvelg’s voice for the first time. And that was something obvious.

Hraesvelg also had a bit of fault as he got tricked by Ratatoskr. He couldn’t completely blame it.

But what it was different to the thing he would say now.

Hraesvelg, that wanted to resemble the warriors of the temple and the great hero, hated injustice and favored justice. You could say that it was a quality he was born with.

That’s why Hraesvelg got furious. He expressed a greater displeasure than when he got toyed with.

“Why did you harass Nidhogg?”

His voice was cold. It was like a cold fire.

Ratatoskr couldn’t even breathe properly and this time, it couldn’t even make an excuse.

“You had no proper reason to harass her. What did you gain by doing that? Aside from filling up your desire.”

He had just read a fragment of Nidhogg’s memory but it was terrible and cruel. One could thing that it was merely a childish prank but Hraesvelg didn’t think like that. It was a harass that had continued for a thousand years.

ABusing and toying the one that only looked at it earnestly.

He couldn’t forgive it. Hraesvelg released his aura and the entire highest branch shook as if reacting to the rage of its king.

Ratatoskr let out suffocating sounds. That was the only thing it could do.

He would die.

He would really die now.

Ratatoskr was filled with anger. Just what had he done wrong? Why did it have to die like this!

“You can’t kill it!”

A voice was heard at that time. It was Nidhogg. She hurriedly grabbed Hraesvelg’s arm and pledged while bowing.

“Y, you can’t kill it. No. Save Ratatoskr. I’m begging you.”

Nidhogg was crying. It was hard to explain but Ratatoskr was a precious existence for her. It was because Ratatoskr was the only one that had visited her regardless of the situation.

Hraesvelg looked at Nidhogg with regretful eyes and Odin also said.

“I’m also opposed to killing Ratatoskr. It still has its uses.”

There was also something they had to investigate.

Hraesvelg nodded. He had already known that Nidhogg and Odin would stop him.

“I want to tear you to shreds for having toyed with me for a long time but I will leave your execution for now. I will trap you in a prison for now.”

“No! No! I don’t want to! Nidhogg! Save me! Help!”

Ratatoskr’s despair got farther. Nidhogg breathed roughly and Hraesvelg’s big hand got placed in her head.

“Nidhogg.”

Nidhogg raised her head and looked at Hraesvelg. He spoke to the one connected by fate with him in a low voice.

“That doesn’t change. Rather than thanking you for having saved its life, it would be blaming you instead. Saying that all of this happened because you got out of the roots.”

There were people that won’t change in the world. It’s nature, that harassed Nidhogg for a thousand years, was like a rotten sewer. It was impossible to make it change.

“I……know.”

Nidhogg mumbled with a depressed face. She also knew this fact. That’s why she couldn’t help but cry.

“Right, that’s enough then.”

Hraesvelg stroke her head a few more times and let out a long sigh. He faced Odin and Tae Ho once again as a king.

“The conversation became long. Let’s return now and talk about the alliance.”

He would keep the promise.

Hraesvelg’s original body flew up once again.

&

The talk about the alliance didn’t last that long compared to what they thought. It was because Hraesvelg requested to rest for a moment.

Taking back Asgard wasn’t an easy thing. Odin gladly accepted that proposal as Niflheim and Midgard also had to cooperate. He used his crows to transmit the news to the two places.

Because of that, Tae Ho relaxed at the lodging Hraesvelg decided for him. The room that had a high ceiling and had a big terrace was a really fantastic scenery but he couldn’t enjoy it properly.

‘Right, it’s time to rest by now.’

He had kept running since he left the roots.

And he finally reached the rest point. He had entered the turning point that was Asgard’s recapture.

He had spent an overwhelming amount of power of a God against the battle against Hraesvelg and the mental fatigue he had accumulated and had been ignored flowed down all at once so he felt like he would collapse at any moment.

Tae Ho lied down in the bed that was placed alone in the middle of the room. He took out Heda’s letter instead of falling asleep immediately.

Idun’s and Heda’s story.

The letter of the two people that was filled with worry towards him.

Heda believed that Tae Ho would be alive. She was earnestly craving for it and that was the same for Idun.

But now, he got able to go to rescue the two of them. There was no need to bury his worry towards them.

‘Hello once again?’

He felt like he could hear Heda’s voice and the gentle smile of Idun popped up in his head.

Nidhogg glanced at that Tae Ho from a distance. She sat at the entrance of Tae Ho’s room and mumbled with a depressed face.

“Heda is too strong. I don’t think I will be able to beat her…..”

She didn’t know if beating was the correct expression but she felt like that. A voice was heard next to her the moment she dropped her shoulders with a teary face.

“What about Adenmaha?”

“Adenmaha…..mm, I think I will be able to beat her.”

“Because she is easy to deal with?”

“Yes, she is eas…..no, no. She’s not. Not at all. I will say that she’s not!”

Nidhogg, that had been mumbling unconsciously at herself, stood up and hurriedly denied it. However it was too late. Adenmaha, that sat next to Nidhogg and spoke with a voice to induce an answer from her, spoke with a fierce voice.

“You will? Ugh, you really!”

“It hurts! Hurts! Hurts!”

The war between dragons that has resumed once again.

Usually, Cuchulainn would have already cracked a joke by now but he was silent today. It was because he was thinking about his only master.

Tae Ho closed his eyes slowly. He then hit his chest twice and said in a low voice.

“For Asgard and the nine realms.”

And for Idun and Heda.

The morning after four days.

The black dragon Nidhogg and the king of birds Hraesvelg left the highest branch and headed to Midgard.

< Episode 41 – The highest branch (7) > End

TL note: Thanks for reading~