Raising Paladins

Episode 124. Rodim Researcher and Black Fang (3)

“Everything, you are… … ?!”

Seamus looks at Carl with blank eyes.

Carl swung the steel sword and wiped the blood from the blade.

Clap-!

A sword that cut a colossal canine puma in half with a single blow!

An unknown aura seemed to rise from his back.

Seamus wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

The Rodims hanging from the surrounding trees were also staring at the knife.

“Didn’t you say you were curing the Rhodaims?”

Carl glared at Seamus.

Then Seamus, who came to his senses, quickly ran to the baby Rodaim.

“Oops!”

Rodaim was held in his father’s arms.

When Seamus approaches, he quickly holds out his cub as if asking to be taken care of.

“Fortunately, the baby is not injured. I fell from the tree, but it happens so often, and they are naturally flexible… … Good luck.”

Seamus sighs in relief.

However, the problem was not the baby, but the male Rhodaim.

The back of the boy’s right shoulder blade was torn by something sharp.

“It looks like the canine puma that pounced on you scratched!”

It was injured while trying to prevent the baby from being eaten.

His face was contorted in pain.

Seamus, examining the wound, had a bad face.

“It is difficult to heal a wound this big here… … . I think we should take her to the village soon.”

“What kind of sharp points do you have when you go there?”

“I’ve got a bunch of medicines and tools. Emergency treatment will be available there. Could you help me?”

ok

Seamus tries to support Rodaim with all his strength.

But he didn’t even budge.

‘… … It’s not because Rodim is too heavy, but Seamus is too weak.’

Since it was a male rodigim, it was quite large, but it wasn’t a great weight.

However, Seamus’ limbs were very skinny.

It was only natural that I lived on dried fish and fruits.

Carl approached and grabbed the male Rodim.

Then the baby Rodaim climbed up on Carl’s leg and clung to his shoulder.

“Thank you!”

“… … Please give me directions.”

“Come this way!”

Seamus led the way, moving along the Spore Path.

Carl followed.

Before long, an area distinct from the surrounding bush appeared.

“This is the village of Rodaim!”

It’s the same with tropical trees growing tall to the sky.

The curious thing was that there were large, ball-shaped houses hanging from the branches of large trees.

Rodims were sitting huddled together in a hollowed-out ball.

The hollow tree ball was suspended from a trunk made of thick vines twisted together several times.

“Come this way!”

under the tallest tree.

Various first-aid tools were visible on the clumsily-made table.

Carl approached and carefully laid the wounded male Rhodaim down.

Keeing-.

A baby rodigim crying anxiously at the sight of an injured male rodigim.

The guy was holding the hem of Carl’s clothes tightly from his shoulder.

“You go down too.”

Carl shakes his shoulder a few times.

However, the baby Rodaim stuck to the sword and did not fall.

At that time, Seamus was starting to give first aid to the injured male Rodim.

“Here, bring that. Royal flower petals and red moth grass.”

Seamus skillfully gives instructions to the Rodims who have already gathered in the turmoil.

What was surprising was that the Rodims understood Seamus’ words and brought herbs and ingredients.

Seamus pounded the herb into a small mortar, applied it to the wound, and bandaged it.

I pounded the red herb again and applied it over the bandage.

“The king petal grass helps heal wounds quickly, and the red moth grass stops the blood. These are special herbs that only grow on this island. Except for the fact that it is difficult to collect because it grows wildly here and there on the island, they are quite valuable.”

After a while.

Seamus wiped the sweat from his forehead and pointed at the large ball with his finger.

“I am an old pumpkin on this island. Strangely enough, it grows big enough for a person to sleep in. After digging out the inside, weave vines and hang them from tree branches, and the Rhodaim live in them. To avoid predatory beasts that roam the ground like fanged pumas. The only monster on this island that can climb a place that high is Rodim.”

thump, thump, thump!

I heard the sound of the ground shaking somewhere.

Rodaim, who had gathered around and looked at the knife, quickly stepped back.

Between the split rodims, I could see the rodims walking away.

They wore red and white paint on their faces and carried long wooden spears and oval shields.

The echo of the ground was the sound of their wooden spears hitting the floor all at once.

“Warriors of the Rhodaim tribe! The chief himself came out!”

“You mean the chief is a warrior?”

“No, it’s Rodaim’s law that warriors always lead the way when the chief leaves his residence. Get down on your knees!”

Seamus gets down on one knee and bows his head.

Looking around, other Rodigims have the same attitude.

Carl let out a small sigh and knelt down as well.

A sword that has never bowed its knees to anyone except for saints and emperors.

I’ve never even lowered my head, let alone my knees.

But Carl came here to ask for volunteers.

There was no need to worry about violating the courtesy of the Rodaim tribe.

“Hey, the last Rodaim is the chief!”

Dozens of Rodim warriors split on both sides.

Old Rhodaim, all white, came forward.

He was holding a staff with several dried pumpkins hanging from it.

“The pumpkin on the chief’s cane represents the age of the chief. Since a pumpkin is 20 years, that chief lived 80 years.”

“It’s a great lifespan for a monster.”

“Although Rodim lives longer than other monsters, 80 years is still a lot.”

Seamus is talking excitedly.

Suddenly, the chief came right in front of the sword.

The chief said something to Seamus with a gesture.

“I ask what your name is.”

“This is Carlos.”

Seamus spoke a few words in Rhodeim sign language again.

“I told you that you defeated the canine puma and saved the male rodigim over there and the little rodigim hanging from your shoulder. Then he said he wanted to thank you.”

“Is that so.”

“Let’s follow him.”

***

Beneath the largest and grandest pumpkin ball in the village.

The chief was sitting in an elegant seat with a lot of peacock feathers.

He sat cross-legged, still clutching a staff with a pumpkin hanging from it.

thud!

The chief strikes the ground with his cane.

Then all the warriors around sat down.

“Sit down.”

At Seamus’ invitation, Carl and Seamus also sat across from the chief.

“It’s great that the chief greets outsiders and sits them right in front of them. The chief is very grateful to you for saving the baby rodim and bringing the big rodim on your back. The same goes for this hospitable hospitality.”

wiggle, wiggle!

The wooden bowl in front of the knife was full of live, plump caterpillars.

Same goes for Seamus.

Surprisingly, Seamus picked up one of the chubby-looking ones and popped it into his mouth.

Wood deok!

The sound of caterpillars exploding in your mouth.

Seamus said with a bright smile as if he was satisfied.

“Listen up, Carl. Rodims will feel bad if you refuse the prepared food. They feel insulted.”

“… … .”

gulp!

The knife holding the bowl swallows saliva.

It wasn’t because the caterpillars looked delicious.

It’s a knife that wouldn’t be intimidated even if told to fight against tens of thousands of skeleton soldiers alone, but I somehow felt fear in front of a bowl of chubby caterpillars.

“It’s okay, I come often and eat food.”

“… … yes.”

Carl carefully picked up one caterpillar.

He is so healthy that his sap flows around him.

Carl quickly tossed it into his mouth and gulped it down.

It was a measure taken because it seemed that if I chewed it with my teeth, I would not be able to eat it.

“Good job!”

I clap my hands and like Seamus.

Looking ahead, Chief Rodaim also had a happy face.

It was the same with other rodigs around.

Soon after, a rodaim brought a necklace made of flowers and put it around Carl’s neck.

“It’s a bigger flower necklace than when I first came! This makes me a little jealous. ha ha ha!”

“… … .”

A brief meal and welcome ceremony followed.

The chief spoke in sign language.

“Carl, you ask why are you here?”

“I came to borrow a warrior to fight the Harpy Pirates. In fact, I am a battle fuse.”

“That’s right, the battle to fight the Harpy Pirates… … Yes?!”

Seamus was startled and dropped the caterpillar bowl he was holding.

The larvae, which had escaped from the overturned bowl, ran away wriggling in all directions.

“but… … It must be difficult for a research priest to cut down a canine puma with a single knife. I thought you were a great person, but… … .”

Seamus conveyed Carl’s words through sign language.

The chief nodded.

“I guess he knew because you smelled like a warrior. I’m asking what grudge do you have with the Harpy Pirates?”

“There is no such thing as a grudge. However, on the way back from Derdrang, I saw a group of harpy pirates raiding a fishing village. They were taking children and women to sell as slaves. After helping them, I heard what was happening in the Pinas Islands.”

“Ahh… … .”

A look of pity crossed Seamus’ face.

He relayed Carl’s words to the chief.

“The Rhodaim tribe also hates the Harpy Pirates. That’s a fact I know very well. But they say they can’t give up their tribe’s warriors.”

“what’s the reason?”

Carl looked at the chief, and the chief did not avoid Carl’s gaze.

The chief spoke in sign language, keeping his eyes on Carl.

“The Rodim Tribe is fighting an enemy other than the pirates.”

“Any other enemies?”

“It is. It is a disease.”

The baby Rhodaim that had been hanging on Carl’s shoulder all this time.

The boy stuck out his face.

Seamus pointed to the small red spots on his face.

“It’s a disease contagious to young Rodims. Rhodaim, who has this disease, dies before completing 100 days. As the young ones keep dying, the future of the Rodaim tribe is getting darker and darker.”

“Is there any way to cure it?”

“Originally, I got herbs from other islands that are good for this disease. The people of the Pinas Islands listened to my request. I provided fruit and some medicinal herbs that are only found on this island. But the Harpy Pirates stopped it… … .”

“Why?”

“I don’t know if you know, but this island is right next to Harpy Island, the base of the Harpy Pirates. There is a thick vine that connects the two islands, right on the cliff side. Rodaim sometimes cross the island on the vine and gather fruits from Harpy Island. The pirates didn’t seem to like that. Even if you try to cut off all the vines, it grows so high that only Rodim can use it.”

“You heard that an epidemic was spreading to the Rodaim tribe through the people of the Pinas Islands. They blocked the delivery of herbs to prevent fruit gathering.”

“Exactly. He threatened the inhabitants of the archipelago, knowing that if he stopped taking the medicine, Rodim would go extinct. Don’t bring me herbs… … . So the chief has no time to worry about other fights. We have to send all our warriors to get the herbs.”

“Where are you talking? Didn’t sick herbs grow on this island?”

“In fact, there is only one place where the herb grows. the problem is… … .”

Seamus said with a sorrowful face.

“The canine cougar we saw earlier, herbs grow around the cave where the leader lives. I haven’t seen it myself, but they say it’s great. They are different sizes and different colors from the common canine puma. Truly a monster among monsters. Countless Rodaim warriors have been killed by its fangs.”

Carl could understand why the chief said he couldn’t lend a warrior.

And the solution to this situation also came to mind clearly.

“I will hunt that puma.”