Episode 67: Unjust Transaction (4)
Bikir became Balak’s hero by wealth that day.
It was revealed that the identity of the plague that was weakening Balak’s warriors was in fact due to cheap drugs secretly circulated by foreign merchants, and it allowed them to make huge profits from trade that had been secretly losing money.
Moreover, he has risen as a hero by taking a step further from fire arrows and developing an oil barrel arrow strategy.
The hospitality was added because he was originally in the process of buying a favor for catching an oxbear that only brave warriors could hunt and solving the tribe’s food shortage.
Is that why?
“I will allow you to enter the fountain of heroes.”
Chief Aquila cheerfully agreed to Bikir’s request.
Even if it wasn’t so, she was worried about how to grant this request, as her daughter kept harassing her uncharacteristically.
With such a good cause, no one dared to oppose it.
Even the grumpy old elders who were against it at first were now looking at Bikir with a happy expression.
“… … grunt.”
Only the sorcerer Ahheman, the only one, swept his beard with an expression of disapproval.
This is because Ahheman has a history of misdiagnosing that warriors who became disabled due to drugs were ‘cursed’.
Due to Bikir’s performance, the Balak tribe became brighter and more lively, but the situation was quite unfavorable for one Ahheman.
Their position has become much narrower than before, and their right to speak has also weakened.
That’s why even when Bikir is said to enter the fountain of heroes, he can’t resist as before.
Iyen approached with a smile on his face and put his mouth to Bikir’s ear.
“… … .”
And there are no words.
Bikir frowned and turned his head.
“What do you have to say?”
“No?”
“But why put your mouth in someone else’s ear?”
“just. I wanted to touch it.”
Iyan is still smiling brightly with an unknown smile.
She opened her mouth again.
“Then, now that I’ve brought it to you, how about a few words?”
“What.”
“I think ah heh, he’s like a snitch.”
“why?”
“… … It just feels right.”
Iyen’s hunting instincts were so keen that he would sometimes predict the outcome without any evidence or foreshadowing.
Bikir also sympathized with Ayen’s words.
However, if there is a difference from her, it is that Ahheman’s suspicious points can be caught with reason, not instinct.
Ahhemman explained that the drugs distributed by the merchants were like an epidemic, and that they were caused by a curse and could only be cured by shamanic rituals.
In doing so, he established his authority as a shaman and expanded his position.
Even though her granddaughter Ahyul was suffering from drug-related complications.
Also, Bikir still remembered what the merchants had casually said the other day.
‘Why are you stepping out and making a mess! This is a holy trade!’
‘This is a sacred deal that the god of the forest will protect!’
‘Balak’s shaman also blesses us instead of the forest god… … !’
The last guy was talking about it, but he cut it off in the middle, but the quick-witted Vikir already got a sense of what was going on.
When Bikir translates the words the merchants have been talking about in the imperial language to Iyen, Iyen’s eyebrows go up at once.
“As expected, you can’t leave this bastard alone! They treated me as if I was old enough for free, but now I’m sticking with outside forces… … !”
“Calm down. still only heartache There is no clear evidence.”
“Then are you just watching!?”
As Iyen jumped up and down, Vikir was silent for a while before opening his mouth.
Bikir spoke in a low voice, and Iyen’s eyes narrowed when he heard those words.
“… … You want to do that?”
“okay. If you wait a little longer, it will reveal its tail on its own.”
“Hmm. It doesn’t sound like a bad ploy, though.”
Iyen pondered for a moment.
However, given her personality, the trouble did not last long.
“okay. I don’t think I’ve lost anything by doing what you said. For now, let’s focus on the important things right now.”
At Iyen’s words, Vikir nodded.
Just like she said, restoring her body was an urgent priority.
* * *
yet.
At night, a beautiful full moon appeared.
The jungle gave off a secluded atmosphere, as if yesterday’s bloody affair had been forgotten in one day.
As the bright, round moon rose, Suhae opened her mouth as if to swallow it.
ssssss… …
The sound of the wind rustling through the leaves.
Eventually, with a strange tectonic shift, the rock cracked and hot water began to bubble up from underneath.
Dragon’s Fountain.
A hot spring with the blessing of Adonai, the courtier who led Balak’s distant heyday.
It is a sacred place that no one among Balak’s warriors can enter.
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Bikir stood alone in front of this hot spring.
In the depths of the steaming hot spring, some sulfur gas seems to be boiling.
In the shallows of the hot spring, several small beasts came first and were soaking.
The guys didn’t move much when Bikir got close.
Apparently, there seems to be an unwritten rule that animals entering the hot spring here do not show their teeth to each other, regardless of the food chain.
Bikir took off all his clothes.
Then the rabbit and concave eyes, who were supporting themselves with their eyes closed, pushed the hedgehogs aside and sat down.
“… … !”
It was truly an eye-opening effect.
Upon entering the hot spring water, the inside of the body was rapidly stabilizing.
“That old shaman wasn’t upset for nothing. He must have wanted to come in.”
Mana became more pure and the bones and muscles of the body returned to their proper places.
It probably had a similar effect to the River Styx that flows inside the Baskervilles.
The Hero’s Fountain was slightly less effective than the River Styx, but it was better that there was no age limit for its use.
The only drawback is that it can only be used once or twice a year, on the night of the full moon.
Bikir soaked in the hot spring and thought about this and that.
It’s been quite some time since I came here.
The Baskervilles without him, the city of the Underdog is going well.
… … Well, it’s probably running pretty well.
‘Even though the Chihuahua office manager may be crying.’
Bikir smiled and turned his head.
At that moment, something completely unexpected came into view.
Even the world’s Bikir was startled.
“Are you surprised?”
Suddenly, Ayen was soaking in the hot spring next to Bikir without a trace.
She leaned in front of Vikir, smiling brightly, not wearing any twine.
Seeing that, Bikir thought to himself.
‘Even I, who lived through the era of destruction, did not feel any signs of approaching. I must learn this secret movement.’
If so, it will be of great help to you in the future.
While Bikir was making strategic decisions in his mind.
“… … .”
Ayen sat down as if disappointed with Vikir’s unresponsive attitude.
“Have you become a man and have no inspiration from seeing women’s naked bodies?”
“Aren’t you walking around naked?”
“Not different. There is a difference between being completely naked and being barely covered.”
What is the difference between us?
Bikir didn’t have anything to say, so he just turned his head back the way it was.
Soon after, Iyen, who crept up next to Vikir and leaned on her back, opened her mouth while holding a bottle of alcohol.
“Be grateful to Adonai. Because he discovered this hot spring.”
“Adonai. He is someone I know.”
“okay? Just do it. Because you are a great person He was the only one who was able to compete with Madam of Suhae. Since you are now a full-fledged Balak, have respect for him. And he’s proud of being his descendant.”
When Bikir heard that, he was surprised on two fronts.
The first is that the Balaks are looking for the concept of descendants not in blood, but in the spirit.
The second was that the courtier Adonai was able to fight against Madame Eight Legs.
‘An archer who can fight that monster alone.’
How high would the level be to be able to do that? It is still a long way for Bikir now.
at that time.
Iyen turned his head.
The tip of her pointed nose was barely touching Bikir’s shoulder.
Iyan said with her face flushed red from the alcohol.
“Those merchants.”
“hmm?”
“I knew you were taking a profit.”
Iyen’s face turned even redder, perhaps because of the memories of bargaining for two diamonds and corn.
“I was vaguely guessing, but it was nice to be able to properly feed it this time. I’m not used to being hurt Even if you hadn’t told me, I would have overturned it once.”
“I see.”
Bikir laughed a little.
Then Iyen frowned.
“Don’t laugh. I really knew. That the merchants are profiteering. It is common knowledge that diamonds cost more than corn in the Empire.”
“How much more do you think it will cost?”
Bikir asked, and Iyen rolled her eyes for a moment.
Then, she spoke in a slightly uncertain voice.
“One diamond… … Aren’t they at least ten corn?”
“… … .”
“Two or twenty?”
“… … .”
“… … thirty?
Bikir laughed.
Iyen was horrified when I told him how much a diamond was worth in the Empire, how much corn it was worth.
“crazy! A stone like that is useful for nothing! You can even eat corn!”
“Isn’t it pretty when it sparkles?”
“In terms of glitter, the morning dew sparkles even more.”
“It’s hard, so it’s eternal.”
“If you scratch it, it hurts, if you hit it, it splits, and if you expose it to fire, it burns away, doesn’t it? Forever, what is forever?”
When Ayen said this, even as Vikir, he had nothing to say.
What is the criterion that distinguishes civilization from barbarism?
Bikir pondered for a moment about such a trivial matter, which he did not normally do.
Meanwhile.
“… … .”
While Vikir was lost in thought, Ayen was thinking about something completely different.
In fact, she intended to see the end (?) here tonight.
Somehow his pride was hurt to ask him to choose him as his partner, so he wanted to make progress in a natural (?) place and natural atmosphere (?).
‘I must have made cotton, the reputation in the village is good, it’s not bad for a husband. Today, if I heal my body there and restore it so that I can only fulfill my duties as a man, the rest will go by itself.’
Incidentally, her mother, Aquila, had similar advice.
That’s why Ayen was taking a hot spring bath next to Bikir with a big heart and even brought out his favorite drink.
but.
“But if you come in, doesn’t the mystical effect of the hot spring halve? why did you come in Surely the chief told me to come in?”
Bikir is sitting there arguing about this.
Iyen was stunned and asked back.
“… … Is that important now? A true Balakin doesn’t care about such petty things.”
“It’s not important, but I just asked once. It’s not a question, isn’t it better to make it clear? Well, if you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to.”
Bikir, who answered with a nonchalant expression, turned his head away again, and veins appeared on Iyen’s forehead.
“… … Show me what to make sure?”
Moment.
… with a splash!
There was a spray of water.
Ayen jumped up from his seat and pressed Bikir down.
Bikir still looked unconcerned, but his pupils widened as if he was a little surprised.
Iyen, who found it, climbed on top of Vikir with a mischievous smile.
“Be still, slave.”
“… … .”
“This master will take care of it… … .”
right at that moment.
Splash jumble jumble!
On the other side of the spring, countless sprays of water splashed out.
A few shadows began to cast over the haze of steam.
“Wow- it’s the captain!”
“Brother Bikir!”
A group of children started pouring in out of nowhere.
“???”
Ayen raised his head with a dazed expression.
Bikir, who was lying under him, also turned his head.
Balak’s children had flocked to the hot springs for some reason.
When I looked closely, all of them were children who were sick because of the side effects of drugs distributed by merchants.
The children, who entered the hot spring naked, approached Ayen and Bikir.
“Daejang-nim! Let’s play together!”
Then Iyen cried out.
“Hey guys! If you come in, the mysterious effect of the hot spring is halved! Someone told you to come in here!”
“Chief—Oh!
As the children answered in unison, Ayen touched his forehead with the palm of his hand.
He was abused by his mother.
even.
“It is different. Earlier, if you were a true Balakin, you wouldn’t argue about such trivial issues… … ”
Bikir pointed out with a serious face.
Ayen let out a deep sigh.
The children who entered the hot spring were already playing well with the rabbits, hedgehogs, and squirrels that had entered earlier.
Bikir is just absorbed in restoring his body while soaking in the hot spring.
Ayen gave up on everything (?) and opened his arms toward Vikir.
“Welcome to being officially part of Balak.”
I’m saying this because I don’t have anything to say at the end.
