Episode 41/Chapter 6: The highest branch (6)

TL: Tsubak

ED:

The higher your comprehension you had in the sentence of the Milesians, you could unleash a higher skill compared to that.

Tae Ho had increased the comprehension he had towards almost all weapons significantly in the two years he spent in the tower of shadows.

Gae Bolg was especially a weapon that needed a high comprehension rate but the reason Tae Ho was able to use it was because he used it frequently but also because he had Cuchulainn's help.

Cuchulainn transmitted his strength through the sentence of the Milesians. He made Tae Ho's spearmanship much stronger and quicker.

Wind walk.

One of the three stages Scathach's style techniques had.

The moment Tae Ho charged forward, he became the wind. No, he became an existence quicker than gale and crossed the air.

The wind walk wasn't simply a technique that granted you fast movements.

It gave you a natural movement like the wind.

That was why it was hard to catch. Even if you were someone that could catch up to that speed, your reactions became dull by one step in front of the wind walk.

In addition, Hraesvelg was currently taken aback with something else.

The moment he realized Tae Ho's stab, Gae Bolg was already stabbing his chest. The straight attack that was like thunder entered Hraesvelg's chest regardless of the strength behind it.

"Kuhok!"

Hraesvelg got pushed back helplessly and vomited blood. It was only this much as he only received the tip of the spear and not the complete blade. If he had been stabbed completely it wouldn't have ended with this much.

Hraesvelg didn't groan even at the pain that seemed like his chest turned to dust. He rather opened his eyes widely and glared at Tae Ho.

Water flow.

Tae Ho used Scathach's style techniques instead of attacking Hraesvelg immediately. It seemed like he was just standing in place but Hraesvelg didn't look at it that way. Tae Ho looked like the water of a flowing river that couldn't be grabbed by your hands.

'No way.'

Hraesvelg felt his consciousness dim once again. It was unavoidable. He had seen those stances in the past.

The duel against the great hero he would never forget.

'So that is the case.'

Hraesvelg got sure of it. Idun's commander was certainly a predecessor of the great hero. His spear and the techniques he used were proof of it.

Hraesvelg laughed. The pain in his chest still remained but his smile didn't fade away and even let out a strange sound.

It was a duel he didn't like.

It was because the duel he had dreamed for a long time had dissipated pitifully and just accepted the duel half heartedly.

But it was now different.

He wanted to fight. He wanted to execute the skills he had polished for a hundred years to the predecessor of the great hero.

"Ahh, ahhhhhh!"

Hraesvelg took a stance naturally. It was a stance that was similar to Water flow.

Cuchulainn opened his eyes sharply and said.

'Energy is returning to his body. It seems like he has just turned on his engine. So he was a pervert that enjoyed getting hit.....'

To smile like that after he got hit that much.

But of course, half of it was a joke. He had cracked that joke to ease Tae Ho's tension.

'Just by looking at his aura, he has enough to easily overcome a superior ranked warrior.'

Hraesvelg's essence was strong. His level was different to Nidhogg, that trampled alone while walking.

'Perhaps, I gave him more time for nothing.'

The reason Tae Ho didn't attack right after the attack was because this duel wasn't meant to take his life.

'But it doesn't matter.'

Cuchulainn smirked and Tae Ho nodded.

Hraesvelg's aura was certainly strong. Just looking at his stance, he looked like a martial artist that has trained for a long time.

It was a case that one became strong by polishing himself through countless trainings. He was a skilled warrior that ordinary superior ranked warriors wouldn't be able to beat.

But it was like Cuchulainn had said. Tae Ho didn't feel even a slightest bit of fear.

A subspecies of Scathach's style techniques.

It was Hraesvegl's martial arts. He was a superior warrior that had developed himself by his own and reached a considerable level.

But Tae Ho didn't look at him that way. He could obviously see the secrets behind the technique and know its weaknesses just by looking at it.

And the reason for that was because Hraesvegl's martial arts was a subspecies of Scathach's style techniques.

Hraesvelg's spear was fast. It was sharp and also strong. But it couldn't hit Tae Ho. Tae Ho perfectly dodged Hraesvelg's attack as if he already knew where his spear was going to hit. He rather aimed for the moment Hraesvelg wouldn't be able to dodge and unleashed a perfect counter attack.

It was a one sided fight. If you saw it at a glance, it looked like Hraesvelg was pouring down attacks and pushing back Tae Ho but that wasn't actually the case.

Hraesvelg only hit the air and wasted strength. Each one of his attacks had strength that shook the ground with its after shock but it didn't matter as they didn't hit. There were times that his spear clashed against Tae Ho's but there was no sound that tore the air. It was because Tae Ho swiftly pushed away Hraesvelg's spear as if water pushed you away.

Hraesvelg increased the speed behind his attacks to increase the number of attacks but it was pointless. The faster and fiercer his attacks became, the more strength and stamina he spent.

Tak! Tak! Tak!

The shaft of Gae Bolg hit Hraesvelg's shoulders, thighs and back of his hand. The attacks perfectly cut off the flow of Hraesvelg's attacks so his techniques broke consecutively.

There was joy and despair mixed in Hraesvelg's face. The duel against the great hero was giving him endless happiness but the fact that he couldn't even touch the great hero after a hundred years of training made him feel despair.

Tae Ho calmed his breathing. He dispelled Rolo's and Adenmaha's transformation and sent back the fake Adenmaha but he had used too much power of a God. The situation could be turned around if he didn't end it now.

Lightning strike.

Tae Ho, that was on the defensive, turned to the offensive and Hraesvelg's posture broke with just that.

Tae Ho pushed back Hraesvelg mercilessly. The blade of Gae Bolg, that was said to contain the power of a curse, was really sharp. Hraesvelg got covered in wounds in an instant and ended up dropping his spear.

Rock smash.

Tae Ho unleashed the last attack on Hraesvelg's thigh. Hraesvelg couldn't endure it anymore and collapsed.

Hraesvelg looked up at Tae Ho. Gae Bolg was already at his neck.

"Kill me."

Hraesvelg closed his eyes and said but Tae Ho put away his spear and shook his head. He contained the words that would work the best to the current Hraesvelg.

"You are the king of the highest branch. Your life isn't yours alone so treasure it."

The effects of Bragi's rune was tremendous. Even he thought that it was a cheesy line but he said it really naturally and in a really cool way at that.

Cuchulainn let out a groan as if it was painful but it was different for Hraesvelg. He put a really surprised face and then got moved. He smiled as he didn't only lose in skills but also in heart and said.

"I have lost. It's your victory."

It was a fresh smile towards the clean duel, rather than despair about defeat.

'You are putting that arrogant posture until the end.'

Tae Ho listened to Cuchulainn's snort and put away Gae Bolg. He extended his hand towards Hraesvelg and said.

"It was a nice duel. I have also learned a lot."

Hraesvelg would be fighting with them so it was a good thing in the end. In addition, Tae Ho wouldn't have been able to use that easily if Hraesvelg hadn't used a subspecies of Scathach's techniques.

Hraesvelg looked at Tae Ho's hand with a dumbfounded face for a moment and then smirked again. He put a smile and grabbed his hand.

"You really do look like a hero. Suitable of being the predecessor of the great hero."

"The predecessor...of the great hero?"

Actually, Tae Ho was also curious. How was it that Hraesvelg could use a subspecies of Scathach's techniques? And when did he see Gae Bolg?

Hraesvelg nodded at Tae Ho's question. He stood up while staggering a bit because of his thigh and then asked back.

"That's right. Aren't you the predecessor of the great hero? You are using his spear and even his martial arts."

Gae Bolg and Scathach's style techniques.

By now, he couldn't not now who Hraesvelg was referring to. But Tae Ho rather asked with a careful tone.

"Uh...Are you talking about the prince of light Cuchulainn?"

"Prince of light...That's right. That person was also called that way."

Hraesvelg spoke with a voice filled with emotions and looked at a far away place.

"It's something that has already passed a hundred years. I have gone down to Asgard in the Great War to test my skills. I met the great hero back then and received a teaching from him."

The memory of that time was still clear.

"My essence couldn't defeat the great hero. It ended up in a messy defeat like right now and I couldn't endure that situation as I faced my first defeat since I was born. I forced him to make him kill me as I have lost. But do you know what he said?"

There was no way Tae Ho could know. Hraesvelg smirked as he put an expression that he didn't know well.

"He said the same thing as you. To treasure my life as a king. That my body doesn't only belong to me."

'Indeed, those are cool words suitable to me.'

Cuchulainn, that had criticized Tae Ho when he had said it, now spoke with a satisfied face.

But Tae Ho didn't care that much. It was because there was something more important than that.

'Cuchulainn?'

If he had met with Hraesvelg before, shouldn't he have told them?

In addition, it seemed like Hraesvelg deeply respected him. Perhaps, it may have become possible to turn him into an ally without making this much of a fuss.

Cuchulainn snorted at Tae Ho's urging.

'I don't know, I can't remember. Do you know how many guys challenged me? I don't know if it would have been a beauty like Nidhogg. How can I remember an old man?'

In addition, Cuchulainn was crazy about taking revenge for Scathach and Erin. Actually, Cuchulainn couldn't even remember the Great War properly by now.

Tae Ho sighed inwardly and activated Bragi's rune. He contained words, that had become much cooler than before, to move Hraesvelg's heart.

"Hraesvelg, king of birds and owner of the highest branch. The name of this spear is the spear of death Gae Bolg. This is the strongest spear of Erin that has been created by the queen of the land of darkness Scathach and gave it to Cuchulainn, that was her disciple and the the strongest warrior of Erin; the prince of light.

"Ohh..that story....."

Hraesvelg got sincerely moved. It was partly because of Bragi's rune but it was possible because Hraesvelg really admired Cuchulainn.

Tae Ho paused for a moment to put an expression filled with sorrow and spoke with a tone that was enough to shake Hraesvelg's heart.

"The prince of light Cuchulainn.....The great hero has sacrificed himself in the Great War to save countless people. You could say that his end was a really heroical one. If he hadn't been there, the Great War would have ended with the victory of the giants."

It was a voice that seemed like he would shed tears as soon as he closed his eyes.

Hraesvelg put a really moved face but Cuchulainn's reaction was completely different.

'Hey, what's wrong with you? Are you hurt somewhere?'

It was a voice that had bewilderment and embarrassment mixed in it.

Tae Ho ignored Cuchulainn's words like he usually did and continued to speak.

"The Great hero has died like that but he chose to struggle for eternity. Can you see this spear? The great hero has left his soul inside of Gae Bolg in his last moment. It was for the sake of the next generation."

"Ohh. Then in this moment, he's also...?"

"That's right. The soul of the great hero resides in this spear."

Tae Ho raised Gae Bolg high. There was eagerness in Hraesvelg's eyes.

"The great hero has said. That he clearly remembers you. He says that he's happy that you look the same although a hundred years have passed. He also says that your skills have increased by leaps and bounds."

'Hey, when did I say that huh? You are really scamming here. Is a cheat like saga not enough for you?'

But Cuchulainn's yell didn't reach Tae Ho this time either. Hraesvelg took a breath and trembled because he got moved.

"The great hero...!"

"That's right. He is also admiring that you really look like a king."

"Hoho, hohoho."

Hraesvelg laughed with an embarrassed face. It seemed like he was trying to contain it but you could clearly see that he didn't know how to act because of how happy he was.

'He really likes it. Hey, tell him clearly. Scathach's style technique is the strongest martial art but that isn't the case for a mere subspecies. But rather, it's clear that the subspecies has a limit as it doesn't contain an essence. It will rather be better for you to learn another martial arts.'

"The great hero says that your talent is really regretful. The teacher of the great hero is currently in Idun's legion. He wants to introduce you to her."

"Ohh! The teacher of the great hero!"

Hraesvelg's eyes shone and at the same time, Cuchulainn raised his voice.

'Hey! When did I! Do you think I will leave an old man stick to our master?!'

It seemed like he would decline but for the reason to be that.

Tae Ho, that got bewildered, couldn't ignore Cuchulainn's words this time. He asked back unconsciously.

'What about me then?'

'You already have an owner! And one that is grabbing you tightly at that!'

He couldn't decline. Because of that, Tae Ho decided to concentrate on Hraesvelg once again instead of discussing with Cuchulainn.

"But it's impossible right now. Valhalla, where the teacher of the great hero resides, is currently being under attack from the giants."

A voice filled with sorrow came out once again. It seemed like he had no talent in acting but he was acting perfectly right now maybe because of Bragi's rune.

Hraesvelg fell completely for Tae Ho's act and put a serious expression.

And Tae Ho saw that Hraesvelg was a fish he had almost caught.

"Hraesvelg, owner of the highest branch and king of birds. The great hero needs your strength. Can you accompany us?"

Hraesvelg nodded slowly at the question that was filled with sincerity. He put a smile suitable of a hero and said.

"In the first place, the conditions of the duel was that and I have lost. I have to keep my promise."

It had already been decided since he said that he had lost.

But regardless of that, the reason Tae Ho put effort was to make Hraesvelg sincerely help Asgard.

And Tae Ho's plan had worked really well. Hraesvelg claimed in a loud voice to be heard throughout the entire highest branch.

"The king of birds Hraesvelg tells you. From now on, the highest branch will lend its strength to Asgard!"

It was the decision of their king and the citizens of the highest branch had already seen the battle.

In their eyes, the battle between Tae Ho and Hraesvelg, was a cool duel that had ended by a tiny margin. They could only read the auras as they were really far and Tae Ho had induced it to make it look that way.

It wasn't a completely messy defeat.

Their king had faced many enemies confidently and in the end showed a hero cleanly accepting his defeat.

Because of that, the citizens of the highest branch didn't oppose to the decision of their king.

They claimed that they would follow their king.

It was possible as Hraesvelg was a king that got loved by everyone.

"Thank you."

Tae Ho requested to shake hands like he could relax a bit. Hraesvelg turned to look at his people after lightly shaking their hands and said with a low voice.

"A, also..."

"Please, tell."

Hraesvelg cleared his throat as Tae Ho also spoke with a low voice. He checked his surroundings and spoke quickly as he saw that Vedrfolnir was flying towards them.

"Uh.....Will I be able to speak with the great hero at a later time? Not through you but directly."

Hraesvelg flushed. His eyes were shining like a kid that couldn't hide his shyness.

Tae Ho held back his laughter and spoke seriously.

"I will try to make a place for the two of you soon."

'I don't want to, no. I don't. A shy grandpa. Isn't it too much? Why is it Nidhogg for you and Hraesvelg for me?'

'Doesn't this mean that justice exists in this world?'

Cuchulainn cursed out at Tae Ho's answer but fortunately, it was only heard by him.

Tae Ho turned his head. Adenmaha was flying towards them while riding on Rolo and beyond them, Nidhogg was looking at their direction with a nervous face after opening the chest of her body. She was holding a keyboard and a mouse in her embrace.

"It ended up well."

Adenmaha said and Tae Ho agreed to it. He made a hand gesture towards Nidhogg, that wanted to come to him.

Nidhogg smiled brightly at that gesture and Cuchulainn despaired once again at that beautiful and bright smile.

'This isn't fair!'

But it was only heard for him this time too.

Odin and Vedrfolnir approached them.

It was the moment Asgard and the highest branch made an alliance.

< Episode 41 - The highest branch (6) > End

TL note: Thanks for reading~