Shepherd Wizard (Novel) - Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Discord
“Where have they gone off to now?”
“I heard they went to rest in their tent.”
After the long, tedious meeting finally ended, the chieftain of the Golden Fleece tribe listened to his subordinate’s report as he walked.
The face of this man, who led the largest group in the grasslands, showed more barbarity and exhaustion than dignity or majesty.
“Damn it, they just up and left, making me lose face! I clearly told them to stay put. Why didn’t you stop them?”
“I apologize.”
“Tsk.”
Of course, considering that Moroz’s power was nearly equal to the chieftain’s, it would have been impossible for a subordinate to stop him alone.
Naturally, both knew this was merely venting frustration.
“Tsk, I shouldn’t have accepted that bastard in the first place.”
When Moroz had first sought refuge with them, the chieftain had been delighted.
It was well-known that the more powerful a shaman—or mage, as outsiders called them—the less effective ordinary healing abilities became on them.
It was essentially like gaining an extra life, wasn’t it?
Moreover, his other power, the Purifier’s ability, was incredibly valuable in these grasslands.
If a single epidemic spread incorrectly and hundreds of livestock died at once, the loss would be immeasurable.
But the price of accepting Moroz turned out to be heavier than expected.
Other grassland tribes coveting his abilities constantly approached the Golden Fleece tribe’s territory, creating trouble with all sorts of excuses.
Your people stole our sheep, they killed someone, they killed the divine bird our tribe worships…
Among these accusations were both legitimate grievances and false claims, making the situation even more complicated.
‘How would I know where or how that ill-tempered bird died?’
Recalling the Black Eagle tribe chieftain’s complaint he had just heard, the chieftain finally arrived at the tent where Moroz was staying.
No doubt by now he would be happily rolling around with his pretty woman.
Interrupting that time would make him angry, but the one who should be angry was actually the chieftain himself.
It was time to tighten the leash a bit.
“Hey, Moroz! I clearly told you to stay put—”
As he swept aside the tent’s curtain while shouting, the chieftain’s eyes widened in shock at what he saw inside.
On the unnecessarily large bed that had been made at the user’s request, two naked bodies lay dead.
There was a single hole in both their chests, as if they had been pierced simultaneously.
Moreover, as if harboring some deep grudge, Moroz’s head had been completely severed.
“W-what should we do…?”
The subordinate who had followed asked with a stupid expression.
“I don’t know either, idiot.”
* * *
“Let’s rest here for a while.”
On a rather desolate grassland.
Having left the tents of the Golden Fleece tribe behind, Turan instructed Bije to descend to the ground.
In his hand hung a relatively simple necklace.
The cord was made of thin gold chain, with a small rod horizontally and a long rod vertically intertwined in the center.
This item, which the Ravitas family had struggled quite a long time to recover, Turan had obtained as easily as pulling something from a pocket.
Of course, the foundation for this ease was the effort of the Ravitas mages who had tracked the traces beforehand.
After landing, Turan absorbed Bije into his body and slowly put the necklace around his neck.
Immediately, he felt vitality flowing throughout his body.
‘So this is how it feels.’
The function of this Holy Relic, “Modest Wish,” was to continuously bestow healing and purification magic upon its wearer.
Perhaps due to its effect activating, the blood taste that had lingered in his mouth from coughing up blood earlier disappeared.
But as he had heard before, its healing power wasn’t extraordinary enough to instantly cure his lung disease.
What was needed here was a second solution.
Click, as he turned the Mimic Holy Relic, he felt the power of the Ravitas bloodline he had just obtained.
Along with this, a vitality similar to the Holy Relic’s power earlier surged from within.
‘One of the abilities of the Healer bloodline was indeed exceptional vitality.’
He had been reminded of this fact when he ambushed Moroz and his lover earlier.
His lover, who was merely a knight, died instantly from the strike that pierced her heart, but Moroz had tenaciously endured.
Of course, since he was unable to regain his senses due to the terrible pain, fear, and confusion, Turan simply severed his head to finish him off.
In any case, now Turan too could share that remarkable vitality by activating the Ravitas bloodline.
Likely, as long as he didn’t switch the Holy Relic’s function to another bloodline, even physical aging would stop.
‘It’s regrettable that I had to give up the Earth Guardian bloodline for this, though…’
Turan’s Mimic Holy Relic had contained a total of five powers.
Three of them originated from the great families Baraha, Carmine, and Nagin.
The power of Baraha that was helpful in combat in any situation.
The power of Carmine that became even more terrifying when there was abundant water nearby.
And finally, the power of Nagin that was deeply related to soul magic.
Since none of the three great family powers could be discarded, the next consideration was between the relatively ordinary Warrior and Earth Guardian bloodlines.
After a long deliberation about which of the two to abandon, Turan finally decided to give up the Earth Guardian bloodline.
While it had been useful in tasks like land reclamation in the past, unlike the Warrior bloodline that helped with hand-to-hand combat abilities in emergencies, he felt the Earth Guardian abilities could be compensated for with his own skills.
‘Well, let’s see if it lives up to expectations.’
Having activated the Ravitas bloodline’s ability, Turan immediately used healing magic on his own body.
If the wound had been severe, he would have needed to open up the surface and directly treat the affected area, but it wasn’t that serious.
Before long, he felt the chest pain that had constantly stabbed him beginning to subside.
The symptom of shortness of breath when moving somewhat hastily also disappeared.
He soon realized that the lung disease that had been plaguing him since the recent battle had been completely cured in an instant.
It was so simplistic that it was almost absurdly ridiculous.
‘To think it was this easy…’
He almost wondered why he had suffered so much.
After spending a bit more time thoroughly curing his illness, Turan brought out Bije and took off, looking back.
Would the grasslands become more chaotic because of his intervention in killing Moroz, or would they return to their original quiet state?
Though uncertain which it would be, he at least hoped it would become a place where Mago could live safely with his tribe members.
Though he was too busy to intervene right now, perhaps someday in the distant future, he might return to properly set things right.
* * *
While returning the way he had come, Turan created yet another task for himself to focus on.
This was to refine his soul to be immortal, just as his body now was ageless.
‘This probably won’t be easy. It might take a lifetime.’
Originally, Rida and the Ravitas nobles had described dying despite having non-aging bodies as the aging of the soul.
That the soul ages and dies, causing the body to become unsustainable as well.
Her words were half right and half wrong.
Strictly speaking, what deteriorated with the passage of time wasn’t the soul but what could be called the connection between body and soul.
The chain that binds body and soul—in soul magic, this was called the soul chain.
This was also related to how the Freya gods could enjoy a full lifespan in new bodies.
The soul chain was a mysterious organ that was half material and half spiritual, so even if the soul side had rusted, if the physical side was intact, the connection could be maintained somewhat loosely.
Surprisingly, among the studies of soul magic, there were also methods to train this soul chain.
Of course, these techniques weren’t about reversing or stopping the aging of the soul chain, but rather skills like freely loosening and tightening the connection.
Still, if he researched well from this starting point, perhaps some answer might emerge.
He decided to temporarily set aside the thought that this was something even gods living for thousands of years hadn’t achieved.
While focusing on soul magic, Bije faithfully flew west across the southern sea.
It took about two days to return the way they had come.
This was thanks to the east wind that happened to be blowing.
After crossing the Siraf wetlands for another day, Turan arrived in Merem, the capital of Ravitas, and immediately headed for the family head’s residence instead of visiting Rida’s mansion where she wouldn’t be.
The gatekeeper who guarded the entrance, as if already informed, immediately summoned Rida upon Turan’s arrival.
Looking more fatigued than before, she gazed at Turan’s face with an expression mixing disappointment and suspicion.
“You, returning so quickly means perhaps…?”
“It’s right here.”
Had she thought he was giving up because he came back so quickly?
When Turan presented the Holy Relic, her eyes widened.
As if to verify its authenticity, Rida put it on and then removed it, before responding with a voice moist with emotion, saying, “Thank you.”
It was clear that just as Osel, the Ravitas family head, cherished Rida, she too cherished her powerful younger cousin.
“Though I’ve said it many times, I didn’t really expect you to actually bring it… You are truly a benefactor to me and our family. From now on, if there’s anything you want, just say it.”
Unlike her usual composed and dignified manner, her tone now resembled that of a shy young lady making a confession.
After such a sincere expression of gratitude, Rida turned to deliver the necklace to the family head, but Turan stopped her with a question:
“May I ask just one thing?”
“What is it? If it’s not urgent, perhaps later…”
“Excuse me, but I tried it on briefly out of curiosity, and it seems the Holy Relic’s recovery power won’t be enough to help the family head. Is there perhaps another way to use it?”
At Turan’s question, Rida gave him a puzzled look, as if wondering why he would ask such a thing, then shook her head.
“Right now, with Osel’s condition, we’re merely slowing the deterioration bit by bit. If continuous healing effects are applied in that state, it could gradually alleviate the curse itself. Though it will take quite some time.”
He had wondered if there might be some special method, but it seemed that even Ravitas had no particular approach to using the Holy Relic.
According to Rida’s words, it would take considerable time for Osel to fully recover and rise again.
And now, Turan had an ability that could provide significant help in such a situation.
“Then perhaps I could offer one more small assistance.”
“Help? What method…”
As she was about to ask, Rida fell silent upon seeing Turan draw a long knife from his pocket.
If he hadn’t just brought back the family’s Holy Relic, she would have immediately called for other nobles or knights.
Of course, having no intention to harm Rida, Turan didn’t swing the knife at her but lightly cut his own right hand instead.
Dark red blood dripped onto the luxurious carpet.
“No, why suddenly?”
Crying out in surprise, Rida’s eyes widened at what followed.
As Turan caressed the wound on his right hand with his left, the area began to heal naturally.
To heal such a powerful noble with healing magic would normally require at least a Holy Relic-level item.
No, being a healer herself, Rida knew full well that this wasn’t the effect of a magical device or Holy Relic.
“How on earth did you get the Healer bloodline…?”
“It’s just one of my simple talents. I wonder if this talent might help in aiding Osel.”
Seeing Rida nodding frantically, there seemed no need to hear her answer.
* * *
With Rida’s permission, Turan was finally able to enter the deepest chamber of the family head’s residence.
This solemn space was filled with the power of various defensive magical devices and even what appeared to be Holy Relics.
In the center, Osel lay on an operating table, the same one where Meisa had once been operated on.
The pale appearance of the beautiful youth with a whitish flame burning in his chest looked almost pitiful.
Around him, high-ranking Ravitas nobles with exhausted expressions were pouring healing magic, and with each application, the white flame could be seen wavering.
They sighed in relief upon seeing Rida, but then were horrified to see Turan following her in.
“No… how did an outsider get in here?”
“What are you doing, Lady Rida?!”
These were perfectly natural reactions, considering an outsider had suddenly barged in while they were treating their severely injured family head.
In response, Rida held up the Ravitas Holy Relic “Modest Wish” that Turan had recovered and said:
“Here, our friend Turan has brought the Holy Relic that will save the family head. Lower your voices.”
“Ahem, I just…”
The high-ranking Ravitas nobles, momentarily embarrassed by this unexpected fact, quickly raised objections again.
“While we’re grateful for the return of our treasure, that’s a separate matter. The family head’s condition is critical, and it’s inappropriate to bring an outsider to such a place.”
“Exactly, especially after what happened, this is not proper conduct.”
It seemed there were many rigid individuals among the high-ranking Ravitas nobles, unlike Rida or Osel, as they opposed without even asking why she had brought him.
In truth, this was similar in any great family.
People tend to become more stubborn and obstinate as they age, and even powerful mages are no exception.
Even the Ravitas nobles, whose outward aging had stopped.
To them, Rida quietly declared:
“This time, Turan has brought a secret method to help the family head recover, so I ask everyone to withdraw for a moment.”
“What sort of secret method?”
“It’s something I cannot disclose, which is why I’m asking you to leave.”
Rida commanded them to leave with the same authoritative and firm tone she had used when dealing with Solif’s father Godis in the past.
Naturally, the high-ranking nobles, for whom the family head’s condition was the highest priority, resisted this order, but eventually they had to comply.
After all, she was among the oldest of the elders, and most importantly, she was the cousin who had directly nursed and raised the current family head Osel with her own milk.
“If anything happens to the family head, you will be held responsible, Lady Rida.”
“Of course.”
After the last protester had left, Turan sat next to Rida and looked down at Osel.
The white flame that had been suppressed with healing and purification magic until just now could be seen gradually proliferating.
“Oh dear, we need to resolve this quickly. First, this.”
After a moment, as Rida carefully placed the Holy Relic around Osel’s neck, its intensity visibly slowed.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she turned to Turan and said:
“Now, try to operate the magic as I guide you. This will be unfamiliar to you yet…”
Like a mother teaching a baby to walk, Rida gently took Turan’s hand and guided him.
Following her instructions to use healing and purification magic, before long, the flames surrounding Osel’s body began to subside.
This was due not only to the Holy Relic stopping the deterioration but also to the power of a healer nearly as skilled as Osel himself.
About an hour later.
Finally, the Ravitas family head opened his eyes.