Ax in hand, Malin felled the ogre—so hideous he didn’t want to give it a second glance. He drew his revolver from his waist and shot several fleeing minions to the ground. Noting that there were no more Chaos grunts around, he sowhat reluctantly gestured to his troops to drag the ogre’s head back.
No need to bother with the ax, it could walk back on its own.
As Malin turned to see if anyone needed his aid, Fio had already returned to his side, brandishing Blood Roar and began to ask for recognition of his valor. Pointing toward the retreating remnants of Chaos soldiers that had not yet escaped from view, Fio, along with Blood Roar, imdiately chased after them.
You see, the joy of this ax and the World Tree Sapling is that simple and pure.
Link Svenson watched as their troops dragged back the ogre’s enormous head with a bit of amazent—this creature’s trouble was well known; the last ti an ogre had appeared, three legendary knights of the Winter Wolf Church nearly lost their lives subduing it.
Lord Malin ca and cleaved it with a single ax strike. Had Link not witnessed it himself, he would never have believed such a fabricated battle report, and might have even wanted to break the nose of the person who wrote it.
But the current problem was that the content of the battle report was true, and he had to write it. The very thought made him feel a phantom pain in his nose.
"This head is yours," Malin said, not keen on the ogre’s stench, which was foul enough to suggest it had no concept of bathing.
"Eh, this is far too precious," Link expressed his surprise—the head was a real prize, more valuable than all the offerings the Church sacrificed in an entire year put together.
"No matter, I still have the head of a Chosen Champion. The head of a minor minion like this is nothing," Malin said as he inconspicuously moved a little further away from the stench.
"I can’t accept it, it’s too valuable for us brothers to take without feeling ashad," Link responded, rather rigidly. Malin thought for a mont, "Alright then, consider it sold to you. Just give so money, or if you’re not keen on that, collect so serfs and send them to Carterburg."
Malin was short on people; countless new factories were being established, but the workforce was still unsecured. Were it not for Malin’s status as a double Chosen Champion, he would probably have long since set out to "liberate" the serfs of the Eastern Kingdom.
Yes, liberate the serfs. Anyone who said Malin was stealing n would find themselves at odds with him.
"Alright then, my brother and I will gather about ten thousand for you and send them down south after the spring thaw."
"Fine," Malin agreed and looked at the Winter Wolf Church’s rapid response knight squadron that had finally shown up, grinning, "You’re late this ti, friends of the Winter Wolf."
The relationships between Churches were typically closer than those of the secular world, and the circle was smaller. The news of Malin’s recent days in the Northern Kingdom was now well-known throughout the northern ecclesiastical circles. The Winter Wolf knights had been well-inford about the thrice-aspected figure Malin was, bearing the Holy Emblem of the Goddess of Harvest Church. As a result, the leading Winter Wolf Knight imdiately dismounted and paid respects to Malin, "Thank you for your assistance, My Lord."
"Don’t ntion it, I was rely taking a stroll out here at the invitation of my two new friends. As you can see, I’m quite enjoying myself," Malin said with a smile, gesturing with a flick of his hand. Fio, along with the heads of two magicians, made their way into his hands, which he then tossed to the knights, "Here, take these and get yourself so drink money."
As a segnt of the northern Church, there was nothing in their doctrines against drinking, so the grateful Winter Wolf knights accepted the heads and mounted their horses. After thanking Malin one more ti, they led their troops away from the scene.
"Lord Malin, you are truly generous," Link comnted once more on the current rate for heads, "Right now, the head of a magician is worth one-and-a-half tis more on the market than before. After all, with spring approaching, there’s a need for large-scale sacrifices. You see, with the Tide of the Dead on its way, everyone wants to collect offerings for the children in their families, to prepare them for achieving transcendence."
"...Yes, there’s not much ti left for us, so tell your brother to strengthen himself. In my view, you are capable of becoming legendary. If you think Northern ideology is worth the effort, then you must work hard," Malin spoke thus far, retracting Blood Roar into space, and then he caught Ophie that doubled as a staff.
"Your Excellency, do you really believe that Northern ideology can be successful?" the younger brother of the Svenson family asked in a low voice, trailing behind Malin.
Without stopping, Malin glanced at the sky where snowflakes were falling: "Sir Link, what do you think I am like as a person?"
"...Very contradictory, very complex," ca the sowhat hesitant reply from behind him.
With a smile, Malin looked down at the ground: "Yes, in fact, I am more radical and more violent than your Northern ideology. I organized the factory guard teams, I gathered so many serfs and freen to form a group, with the desire to awaken them... If not for the Tide of the Dead, I would likely have been the harbinger knight destined to destroy all the nobles and royalty, ultimately destroying everything you nobles possess."
"...So you really are as I thought," the young man’s voice grew bitter, "But my brother says you are not like that, that you are just a kind noble, and they don’t believe my view of you."
"I bet even if you told others what I said to you today, they wouldn’t believe it," Malin finished, then turned to look at the young man: "What do you think?"
"Of course, that’s what I think too, but hearing you say it to proves you don’t see as an enemy... Thank you, Your Excellency."
"Link, since you and your brother have chosen this path, then don’t forget what I told you today. Since you have established Northern ideology and wish to beco Saviors, don’t think about quitting halfway." Standing in place, Malin smiled at the young man: "Alright, things here are finished. I thought we might have more ti to play, but it seems we should head ho for dinner. Comrade Link, would you and your brother like to join where I am staying for dinner?"
"Of course, Comrade Malin." The young man was initially startled, then nodded vigorously with a smile.
.........
"Lord Malin hosted a dinner tonight for Svenson’s Jon and Link; young people do like to co together," reported the King’s spy to the elder patriarch of the Hagelberrys, who turned to look at King Manheim: "What do you think, Your Majesty?"
"Indeed, it makes sense. After all, Lord Malin is about the sa age as those two boys, and they’re also considered prodigies, so it’s not strange they would get together. I hope those young n will take good care of their sister’s children in the future."
"They certainly will; the Svenson family has always been loyal to you," the old man said, as he seed to rember sothing: "Right, speaking of which, it’s truly a sha about the third Svenson boy. If he hadn’t lost his life to drink, he would likely be taking my place by now."
"Please endure a little longer," said the King with a smile.
"Not at all, serving your family has always been the duty of the Hagelberrys. If there’s nothing else, I should also retire to rest."
"Go ahead, I’ll have the children see you off." After saying this, he turned to his son who then approached the Hagelberry patriarch, thanking him as they departed together.
King Manheim sat upon his throne, sighing softly as his son and the old man left.
"Go, ask our Helen what exactly Lord Malin and those two rascals talked about."
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