TL: Tsubak
ED: Julsmul
Nidhogg flinched at the name of Hraesvelg and then blinked with eyes filled with expectation and fear.
Cuchulainn opened his mouth carefully.
'Odin, Hraesvelg will certainly become a great strength against the giants if we do obtain its strength; however...I know that it's rude to ask this, but do you have any methods to convince or make it submit? Tae Ho's saga does work on any monster he can ride, but it's at its strongest only against dragons.'
"I know that. It's proven that Nidhogg was a special case."
Actually, regardless of the saga being the 'One that Controls Dragons', it was impossible to make an ancient dragon submit.
However, the reason Tae Ho was able to achieve that was thanks to Nidhogg.
Nidhogg didn't resist to Tae Ho at all. She rather assisted earnestly so that Tae Ho could take control over her more easily.
It wasn't guaranteed that Hraesvelg would act like Nidhogg. No, it was much more probable that it wouldn't act like Nidhogg at all.
In addition, the 'One that Controls Dragons' was specialized on controlling dragons, just like the name implied.
In the case of Nidhogg, he would have been able to control her to some extent even without her consent, but it was different for Hraesvelg .
It was unknown how much Tae Ho's saga would work on Hraesvelg, that wasn't a dragon.
Because of that, it wasn't enough with only Tae Ho's saga. They needed a new method to suppress it.
"I do have a method to gain its cooperation."
Odin spoke directly and then pointed at the sky.
"Compared to Nidhogg, Hraesvelg isn't alone, and the highest branch isn't a restricted area like the roots. It's just hard to get there."
The highest branch was located at the highest part of the World Tree. Just like it was hard to approach the fog zone near the roots, it was as hard to get to the highest branch.
But just like Odin had said, it was merely difficult and not impossible.
"I did meet Hraesvelg a few times before. Compared to Nidhogg that was hidden in a veil, I know quite a lot of things about it compared to her."
Nidhogg blushed as she was embarrassed at the word 'hidden in a veil'.
Odin let out a laughter when he saw that and said with a soft face,
"I'm planning on proposing a victory to it."
'Are you speaking about...a duel?'
"That's right. It likes making bets as much as it likes eating food. In addition, it's prideful and arrogant. I have something it desired since a long time ago, so if I put that at stake and bet its cooperation, I'm sure it will agree."
'Indeed. I understand what you are saying.'
Cuchulainn nodded slowly.
If it had the temperament Odin had described, there was a high probability it would agree to cooperate to keep its word.
Odin turned to look at Tae Ho.
"Idun's warrior, you are the one that has the biggest chances among the ones that can battle against it. I will request this as the King of Gods and the owner of Valhalla - will you be able to attain victory for me?"
There were some superior-ranked warriors among the ones that'd gotten dispatched to Midgard, but just by looking at how strong they were, Tae Ho was the best. As he now had the runes he'd obtained from defeating Hrumbak, Tae Ho was a powerful person whose strength exceeded the average of most superior-ranked warriors.
Adenmaha and Nidhogg put uneasy expressions when they heard that Tae Ho had to win against Hraesvelg, but Tae Ho nodded calmly. It was because he knew that he had the best chances just like Odin had said.
"I will work hard to achieve victory."
Odin put on a smile of both guilt and satisfaction.
"Thank you. I keep saying this, but if we do recapture Valhalla, I will grant you a big reward befitting your merits."
"I will be looking forward to it."
Odin felt leisure as Tae Ho's answer was really easy going. He turned to look at everyone and said,
"The reason we passed by Midgard is to check the situation of the warriors and to see if there's someone that can gather me in my stead. And it should be enough with Reginleif and Rasgrid. I think that we will be able to go to the highest branch after we see their faces."
Odin paused for a moment and rolled his fingers. Then, one of the spots that was drawn in the map started to emanate a particularly strong light.
"Rasgrid isn't that far away from Kataron right now. I will also send a crow to her and tell her to come here, so at most, we will be able to regroup with her tomorrow.....or in two days."
The main point of the plan was to go to Niflheim after regrouping with Rasgrid to do some maintenance on their forces and then go to the highest branch by having Ratatoskr lead the way.
As the conversation conclude to an extent and they got ready to depart to Kataron, Adenmaha grew aware of her surroundings and pulled on Tae Ho's arm and said in a low voice,
"Um, master. I have something to tell you before we depart."
"What is it?"
"Try summoning Rolo."
"Rolo?"
Adenmaha spoke with a serious expression as Tae Ho tilted his head and asked back.
"There's something I decided with Heda when you were training in the Tower of Shadows. That if something happens to the residence or to Valhalla and the connection with Idun-nim gets cut off, you should summon Rolo outside and make him send the last message."
It was a kind of an emergency call.
Tae Ho stayed silent instead of answering Adenmaha. There was a high chance Idun thought that Tae Ho was dead as he had 'Idun's Warrior' activated during the fight against the World Wolf, but he'd felt nothing.
"I will try."
Tae Ho took out a summoning rock and inserted magic power into it.
"Rolo."
The moment he spoke in a low voice, space opened up. Rolo showed up while biting the meat of a monster with its beak.
"Rolo!"
Tae Ho yelled in joy, but Rolo wasn't as glad as he was with Adenmaha. He looked at Tae Ho with eyes as if asking how he'd possibly been able to call him and then gulped down the meat he was grasping.
And it was then–
"Rolo!"
Rolo hurriedly turned his head when Adenmaha yelled. He opened his eyes widely and ran towards her.
"Kyak! It tickles!"
Adenmaha started to giggle when she got pushed down by Rolo. Rolo moved his tongue and licked Adenmaha's cheek on top of her. His actions really resembled a dog greeting its owner.
'Hey, why does it seem that he's more affectionate towards Adenmaha?'
Cuchulainn pointed out the fact that didn't need to be said out loud and laughed.
Tae Ho looked at Rolo and Adenmaha with an absurd face, and Adenmaha said while pushing back Rolo's face,
"It's because he got called when he was eating. He's wondering why you only ever call him when he's eating."
"Tell him that the time he eats is weird."
This wasn't particularly the time to eat anyways.
But of course, it was doubtful if wild monsters had a determined meal time like humans had, but whatever the case, he still wanted to say something towards him.
Adenmaha giggled as if Tae Ho was cute and then started to inspect the place near Rolo's neck. Rolo lowered his head to help Adenmaha and then growled something in a low tone.
"Master, Rolo says that he has a letter from Heda."
Not long after, they could discover a letter that was sealed with wax that was hanging in the necklace in Rolo's neck.
Tae Ho put on a complicated expression when he saw the symbol of a golden apple engraved in the letter, but it only lasted a moment. He soon fixed his expression and opened the letter.
On the other hand, Adenmaha, who stood beside Tae Ho, looked over him. A presence seemed to have changed. It was that Nidhogg was looking at Tae Ho with a stiff expression.
"What's wrong?"
It had only been an hour since she'd met Nidhogg, but she could know that the expression she was putting right now didn't suit to her usual self.
Nidhogg frowned as if it was hard to explain and then stuttered,
"Tae Ho master likes Heda a lot. I also like her because master likes her but.... I feel stifled because master likes her too much. I can't...beat her. Yes, I don't know if the expression is correct, but I don't think I will be able to beat her. That's why I feel like this."
Nidhogg put on a teary face and Adenmaha let out a long sigh as she knew how she was feeling really well. Again, it only lasted for a moment. She pinched Nidhogg's cheek with strength and said,
"So you can beat me? Can you? Huh? Am I that easy to deal with?"
Because she didn't show the same expression when she first saw her.
"Hurts! It hurts! You are not. Adenmaha is not easy to deal with. I will just say that you aren't."
"What? You really.."
Nidhogg had said hurriedly with a teary face, but her choice of words had been wrong.
But of course, Adenmaha also wasn't being serious. But it was true that the remark Nidhogg had made had put more strength in her hands.
Tae Ho read the first sentence of the letter while Cuchulainn looked at the war between the two dragons occurring in a corner of Midgard. A greeting that made him smile by its own was written there.
'Hello once again?'
Tae Ho continued to read down the letter. The contents elaborated that Valhalla had been sealed urgently due to the attack of the Magician King but were written briefly.
'Idun-nim and I believe in you. I will be waiting for the day we meet again. Certainly.'
'PD: Check the envelope. There's something Idun-nim entrusted you.'
After that were traces that something was written and erased several times over. Tae Ho read up to 'I lo' and then put back the letter while smiling bitterly.
There was a small medal the size of a finger inside the envelope, just like Heda had said. It was covered with gold, and he could feel the strong divine power of Idun.
"It's a medal delegating absolute authority over a legion."
Odin, who had been silent until now, spoke.
"A commander that has this certificate can exert the same authority as the God of the legion. You will be able to take care of all the matters such as appointing new Valkyries. Not only that, you will receive the same treatment as a God of your legion and not as a commander, when joining forces with other legions."
Actually, it was a certificate that served like changing owners.
Tae Ho could understand why Idun had entrusted something like this to him.
He could know just by reading Heda's letter.
Idun didn't have proof that Tae Ho was alive, but she believed that he was alive until the end.
If Tae Ho was alive.
What did she have to do to be of help to him? What could be the best thing she could do now that Valhalla was sealed?
This was the answer she had come with after thinking for a long time. The gold medal that hoped for Tae Ho's survival was filled with Idun's earnest feelings.
Tae Ho gripped the medal strongly and thought of Idun's face.
He called for her name, that was gentle and affectionate, and prayed.
And after some more time passed–
When they were about to depart to Kataron, Cuchulainn turned to look at Odin with a really serious face. He paused for a moment and then asked with a low voice,
'Odin, I have one last important question.'
A really important question that may determine defeat or victory in this strategy.
'So is Hraesvelg a male or a female?'
Odin smiled bitterly at Cuchulainn's question, and Adenmaha listened attentively.
-
Strong wind always blew in the highest branch of the World Tree.
But the core of the branches was rather calm, just like the eye of a storm. It wasn't excessive to say that it was a place with no wind.
A black bird crossed the vast sky. The bird that fluttered its wings slowly and landed down wasn't small at all. It was the size of a human.
Vedrfolnir.
It, that was one of the several beasts living in the World Tree, possessed strong magic power. It transformed into a human the same time it landed and then covered its naked, white body with its feathers that had transformed into hair.
Vedrfolnir's human shape was a beautiful and intellectual woman that had sharp eyes like those of an eagle.
She expressed etiquette as soon as she landed down and bowed.
"My king, I have returned."
It was a bright and elegant voice that seemed like a marble rolling on a plate.
But the one Vedrfolnir expressed etiquette to didn't even turn to look at her. He looked down while sitting under the highest branch and said,
"Ratatoskr still hasn't come."
"There has been no notices from it for a few days already. The change that occurred in the World Tree too...I think it's time to pay attention to the things happening in the underworld."
Vedrfolnir spoke carefully, but it was to no avail. Her owner and the ruler of the highest branch, Hraesvelg snorted and said,
"Nonsense. I won't leave the highest branch. We will just repel the ones entering our territory, be it a giant or a God."
Hraesvelg was wearing a white, Korean attire. It was something he had received from the warriors of the Temple that had gone on to assist Asgard in the Great War.
A big and strong old man.
Hraesvelg had the same appearance as the warriors of the Temple. He was 2 meters tall and his broad shoulders were like the walls of a fortress.
His two sharp eyes started to glitter.
And the thing those eyes of his were looking at were the several worlds below the branch.
"Nidhogg."
Hraesvelg's old enemy, that lived in the lowest and deepest parts of the World Tree. The ancient dragon that was connected by fate with the King of Birds.
How much of an evil existence was it?
And how strong would it be?
The reason Hraesvelg moved was because Nidhogg had also started to move. Before that, he didn't even have the thought to leave the highest branch.
"It's not the time to leave yet."
Hraesvelg spoke in a low voice and then looked away from the underworld.
He drew the battle he would face with his long enemy and put on a satisfied smile.
< Episode 40 – Idun's Valkyrie (3) > End