I Am the Only Totem in This World

Episode 196. IF – Malak Did Not Respond (1)

Episode 196. IF – If Malak did not respond (1)

# This story is based on the assumption, ‘What if it were like this?’ It is not a political affair.

‘Why? Why… !’

An altar piled with all sorts of things. Paya looked at the dragon-shaped totem placed in the center and shouted inwardly.

‘Why aren’t you responding? ‘Why?’

Several hours have already passed since the Advent ritual began. High-quality offerings, magical tools, and perfectly crafted (at least Paya did his best to carve) totems. The basic preparations were perfect, and the ceremony proceeded in order and without a hitch.

Nevertheless, the loa she served, Malak, did not respond. The ritual is not even performed only today.

Paya performed the ritual every time the preparations for the ritual were completed, and today was the fourth ritual. Now there are no sacrifices or tools.

‘Please… ! Malak… !’

Paya closed her eyes tightly.

I thought it would be possible. According to a story that has been passed down for a long time, it is said that he regarded us favorably.

It was clear that he would be heartbroken when he saw us suffering in a world that had turned into a nightmare.

It’s just that he can’t come down due to issues with his deity, but I thought he would come right away if he was fully prepared.

She was also convinced that since she was a priest who had mastered the magic of animals capable of flight, she had some spiritual affinity with Malak, who was said to roam the skies.

Her faith was not repaid until the end.

“Please… !”

Finally, a sound escaped Paya’s swollen lips

It was after her magical power had been exhausted to its limit. Mari will soon lose consciousness.

“Ah… !”

Paya, feeling her consciousness her fading, fell down with her face filled with pain.

She tried every possible way to perform the ritual, thinking it would be her last, but it ultimately ended in failure.

“Dig!”

Paya’s consciousness her her she was cut off as she saw her her older brother her her her, Kanto, running towards her with a worried look on his face her her her her.

That’s how her heart broke.

***

Paya regained her consciousness after a few days.

“…”

Paya woke up in silence and immediately locked herself in the priest’s tent, and she did not come out. She was a woman who did not show even a hint of her nose despite the worries of Kanto and her tribe.

Kanto brought food to the door. Her little hand popped out and took it.

“Hmm.”

Kanto let out a small sigh. She was worried about her sister, but she did not interfere.

‘I guess I need some alone time.’

Contrary to his appearance, which seemed to be full of muscles, even his brain, he was a person who was considerate and understanding of people. Kanto turned away without saying a word.

“…”

Paya, who had been watching Kanto leave through a small gap in the tent, picked up the book again. Unlike modern paper books, these books were made of tree bark or animal skin.

The tent exclusively for priests was filled with books collected or written by previous priests of the Blue Moss Tribe.

“Method… There must be a way… “

Paya directly managed the tribe on behalf of her her older brother her her, who was weak at using his brain her her her her. He knew that the end of the tribe was slowly approaching.

If they had conserved their resources, they might have been able to endure a little longer, but the tribe made too many sacrifices for the Advent ritual.

A different method was needed to protect the tribe.

Paya read books nonstop. Until my bright eyes turn bright red.

After a few more days, Paya came out of the tent. She said that as soon as she came out, she ran to her brother.

“We must go to the necromancer’s tomb with her warriors.”

It was a shocking statement. Before Kanto, who was embarrassed, could react, Paya continued to explain.

“The end of the tribe is coming. Because the worshipers found out that we live on the mountain, we can no longer hunt under the mountain, and since our food reserves are low, we will eventually starve to death.”

“But even so, it’s the tomb of a necromancer… “Isn’t Charon the tomb of the apostate?”

“We need new strength to survive this winter. Anymore… I will no longer rely on Malak. I will learn necromancy. By learning it, I will gain the strength to defeat demons.”

“Everything that is forbidden has a reason. That hex may eat away at your body and mind.”

Canto tried to stop her, saying that it was too dangerous, not to mention profane, but he could not break Paya’s strong will her her her her.

“It’s a disaster I brought about.” If I hadn’t done the advent ritual, this wouldn’t have happened. I am a priest of the Blue Moss Tribe. You have to take responsibility for the results.

And, a little while ago, I sent Tuntun to Chief Nyx of the Sky Tree Tribe. “I can’t give it up now.”

“…If that is what Priest Paya means. Instead, I will go too. “It is the duty of the chief to directly respond to the tribe’s crisis.”

In this way, the chief, priests, Tenzo, Una, and other elite warriors left the tribe. Some people were sad that they were making sacrifices to keep their mouths shut.

Symphonia and Dubenheim, where the Blue Moss tribe is located, are at the southern and northern ends of the empire. It was a very long way, but after moving without stopping, Paya and her group were able to reach Dubenheim.

The problem was the lack of sky trees. Nyx, the tribe’s chief and priest, refused guidance, saying he could not help with unclean affairs.

“Even if this is what Loa wants, a single priest is greedy for forbidden power. Even if he is killed by the devils, he will not become an apostate.”

“…I understand.”

Kanto and Paya nodded. In the end, only Taeun-yi, who had been sent to Jeonseo-gu, was returned and left.

Hours of walking relying on inaccurate maps.

“Oh, this is right. We’re almost to the grave. Just a little more strength…”

Paya’s words did not continue until the end. This is because he encountered a man wearing paladin armor.

The paladin’s name is Reno Johnson. He was also looking for the necromancer’s tomb.

“Why are there so many barbarians… “

Reno Johnson’s sword was engulfed in light.

Unfortunately, he had many encounters with barbarians while searching for hidden pieces. When he was at a low level, he had a lot of hostility because he almost died many times.

“I have to kill them all. Bug-like NPCs!”

The battle began without conversation. Reno Johnson used his skills to pressure the barbarian warriors and kill them one by one.

Even the most elite warriors could not deal with a Paladin who had reached level 4. Even more so if they are warriors who are exhausted after a long journey.

The shining sword was deeply embedded in the chest of Tenzo, Kanto’s right-hand man.

“Big!”

Tenzo widened his eyes and grabbed the sword embedded in his body. It was to create an opportunity for Kanto to attack.

“Yay!”

Soon after, Canto’s ax cut off Reno Johnson’s head. It was a victory without a winner.

“Denzo. My right arm. You were a great warrior and a teacher to all warriors. “Rest in peace.”

Kanto looked at Denzo who had stopped breathing with sad eyes.

Paya and her party buried the dead warriors and arrived at the necromancer’s tomb.

“I will wait here.”

After saying that, Kanto collapsed on the floor. Blood was leaking from his side

“I’ll be resting for a while, so come back.”

It was Kanto who was seriously injured in an attack by Reno Johnson. He received first aid, but since there were no conditions for treatment, he would eventually die.

“Chief… !”

Una, who had a crush on Kanto, shed tears.

“…All right. Please wait.”

However, even he himself cannot show tears. This was after Paya, who had swallowed her tears, turned her back.

“Paya.”

It was Canto’s voice.

“Don’t look back.”

“…”

“But I was a good oppa, right?”

Was it the last regret of her brother, who took care of her younger sister in place of her parents who passed away at an early age?

“Yes.”

Paya, with wide eyes, nodded his head. There was no answer, but my brother was probably smiling.

Paya shook off her hesitation and entered the necromancer’s tomb. The tomb was full of evil energy, so warriors without spiritual ability could not enter.

Kwiik!

But I wasn’t alone. The spirit pigeon, Taeuni, was guarding her side.

“Let’s go. Strong.”

Paya and Taeun-i used their spiritual power to overcome the evil energy that filled the tomb and arrived at the center.

She passed the mural painted by Charon the Apostate, reached the bookshelf, and obtained the ‘Book of the Dead’ containing necromancy.

“Huh?”

She tried to get out right away, but something caught her eye. An unfamiliar energy was felt on the wall near the booklet.

‘Who is this hidden treasure? … It might be a clue to the strength I wanted.’

There were magical measures taken on the wall, but it was no big deal to Paya, who was an excellent shaman.

She lifted the protective spell and dug out the wall. There was a small jar there.

“Huh?”

As Paya approached, the jar shook her and the lid opened. Something inside the jar reacted to Paya’s outstanding spiritual ability

The red spirit inside the jar flies towards Paya. It was Charon who became an evil spirit.

I was in danger of having my body taken away.

Kwiik!

“Strong!”

At that time, Tunteun intervened. The eyes of Taeun-i, who wears a red spirit body on behalf of Paya, turn red.

-Unfortunately… There is nothing we can do.

Charon, who takes over Tundeungi’s body and reads its memories of her, looks down at Paya.

– Priest Paya.

Paya was sitting on the floor, breathing heavily.

– To me, to us. The opportunity has come again.