Chapter 174: The Tradition of Yamaok Village

Chapter 174: The Tradition of Yamaok Village The Tradition of Yamaok Village

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“............Uh, ah......?”

As Gonpeter regained consciousness and opened his squinting eyes, the first thing that came into view was the deep blue sky and beautiful white clouds drifting across it.

(Is this heaven? Did I......die......)

With his mind still hazy, he vaguely thought that as he tried to rise from his supine position, but a sharp pain shot through his chest.

“Ugh......!?”

“You’re awake, Gonpeter. Don’t move recklessly......you probably have some broken bones.”

Turning just his face toward the voice, he saw Sabrown sitting on a small boulder, gazing at Gonpeter with a drained expression.

Struggling to look around, this was not some lofty place like heaven, but Okachan’s rocky area.

Jagged, thorn-like boulders jutted toward the sky here and there.N/nêw n0vel chap/ers are published o/n n0v/e/(lb)i(n.)co/m

It seemed he had simply lost consciousness.

“......!! What happened to that girl Emi!? And Okachan!? Ugh......!”

“Don’t panic, don’t panic......here, I’ll help you get up slowly.....”

Gonpeter’s sleepy mind fully awakened, immediately concerned about his benefactor’s safety.

Sabrown gently assisted the hunter, supporting his back as he helped him sit up.

As the now upright Gonpeter’s vision expanded beyond what his lying position allowed, the devastation he witnessed made his heart sink.

Especially the area around the stage-like rock exhibited an appearance so gruesome it was difficult to put into words.

Blood was everywhere.

Beneath the beautiful blue sky stretched a hellish, ghastly scene.

“......She died, huh?”

“Yeah, she died.”

Seeing that scene, Gonpeter’s shoulders slumped.

“......Eaten, was she?”

“Yeah, eaten.”

It was a feeling of his chest being constricted.

In the end, he had been one of the people who resigned themselves to offering Emi as a sacrificial victim.

And yet, what was the point of regretting it now?

Still, his thoughts went numb.

“From now on, we have no draconic protection. No matter what attacks us, we must fend it off ourselves.”

“............”

“Hunger, cold, monsters. Dealing with it all falls to us.”

“......I see, that.....will be harsh.”

“It will be harsh. But Gonpeter......precisely because the future ahead is so harsh, some were granted the chance to live......Oyukipa doesn’t have to die!!”

Sabrown’s words gradually grew stronger and louder.

Gonpeter saw a light in Sabrown’s eyes.

It was the brilliant light of resolve shining within those eyes rimmed by dark circles.

The strength to live.

Hope for the future!

“The one who guided us to a future where Oyukipa lives couldn’t possibly be some monster! She was a guide to the future. A symbol of liberation from old traditions and freedom!!”

Watching Sabrown passionately speak, Gonpeter gave a wry smile.

It seemed his close friend had fully regained his usual spirit.

“Sabrown, what you’re saying is a bit too profound. The other villagers, and I too, likely won’t be able to understand.”

“Then for now, we can just say she was a messenger from the gods or something.”

Sabrown laughed.

Then suddenly tearing up, he turned west and bowed his head.

“Thank you, thank you......thank you, Emi!! Ugh, sniff......I know! I know how over-the-top I’m being! But......but!!”

And shouting loudly while sobbing, he cried out!

“Thank you!! For giving Oyukipa a future, thank youuuu!!!”

“............”

Even as his chest ached, Gonpeter managed to bow his head toward the westward direction where no one was present.

The two remained like that for a long while.

Goh! An especially strong wind blew up along the slope, scattering the pale pinkish dragon scales embedded in the rocks.

The dragon scales fluttered through the air like a shower of cherry blossoms celebrating a new journey before being absorbed into the deep blue sky and vanishing.

And thus a new tradition was born in Yamaok Village.

It was the tale of the battle between the mother dragon and the free young girl.

A tale of gratitude for the past and resolve for the future.