I’m the Only Totem in Another World

Chapter 18: The Female Knight Captured by Barbarians (1)

Two days have passed since the Snail Demon was defeated.

[Name: Malak]

━ Blessings Available: Healing Totem (Advanced), Divine Possession, Bound Totem

━ Points Available: 20

━ Followers: Paya, Rake, Muri

━ Entering Community

I used the remaining points to upgrade Healing Totem to Advanced. Now I’m a point beggar.

[Healing Totem (Advanced): Fully heals followers within a 100-meter radius. Significantly increases natural healing rate. Neutralizes curses and mental attacks.]

It wasn’t bad before, but after upgrading it to a higher level, it’s become quite useful, even compared to Bound Totem.

If I gather enough points and no new blessings appear, I think it’s worth investing in it until it reaches the highest level. The lesson learned here is that you shouldn’t judge a growth-type blessing based on its first impression.

‘Neutralizes curses and mental attacks’ written here. This is especially important.

The Necromancer’s Tomb is characterized by inflicting various hallucinations and curse statuses. This means that if you can prepare for those, it’s a dungeon that can be cleared relatively easily.

If I remember correctly, the level required to enter was high compared to its difficulty because you naturally acquire mental defense and curse removal skills as your level increases.

And now I have a means to prepare for hallucinations and curses.

A skill obtained by clearing a hidden dungeon, not a blessing obtained through the standard route. There’s no reason to refuse it, right?

If there’s one thing I’m slightly concerned about, it’s how the ‘Zombie Control’ skill obtained here will be displayed for me.

The techniques I use are classified as ‘Blessings’, while the techniques Paladins use are classified as ‘Skills’. I don’t know exactly what the difference is, but since the names are different, I’m assuming they operate under different mechanisms.

Because it’s a technique different from blessings, will it be incompatible with me?

Or will the skill be converted into a blessing and adapted to me?

Whether I can learn it or not. It’s currently the biggest mystery.

Anyway, I have to try it out first.

Oh, there’s one piece of good news. I finally have a map.

When I asked Rake, she said there was one we obtained from the village we raided before. She also handed over a few books we got from there.

Things have become so much easier since Rake joined. I feel like giving her a kiss or something.

Of course, I’m saying that because I can’t even if I want to.

The area where the mountain our Tribal Federation is located is called Symphony.

Oh, Tribal Federation is the name I temporarily gave to my clan, no, our group. We can’t keep calling it the Blue Moss Tribe now that the Brown Rock Tribe has joined.

Symphony. After reading some books, I found out that it was originally a region famous for having a city of musicians.

Though it’s meaningless information now that civilization has collapsed due to demons.

If my memory serves me right, the Necromancer’s Tomb was located in a region called Dubenheim, and unfortunately, it was very far from here.

It would take months to lead the Tribal Federation there.

But I’m not the type to back down like this.

It’s time to use my newly acquired blessing, ‘Bound Totem’.

I summoned Paya and Muri. The only two intelligent characters in our Tribal Federation. They can also use magic.

Soon, the old woman and the girl came before me.

━ Priestess Paya, Muri. Is there a tribe in Dubenheim?

Muri was the first to speak.

“The Sky Tree Tribe is in Dubenheim. I don’t know if they’re still in the same place.”

The answer came from Paya.

“We exchanged messages with them last year through Tteunteuni. If nothing major happened, they should still be there.”

━ I see. Priestess Paya, Muri. Can you make a palm-sized totem? It has to be a totem that symbolizes me, one that can be carried around.

I briefly explained my newly acquired blessing to them.

“It’s a task that requires precise magic and skill, so it will take some time, but it’s possible.”

“Ah…”

Muri was certain, while Paya hesitated.

Perhaps she lacks experience compared to Muri because she’s still young.

Paya pouted, seemingly displeased by that.

━ Priestess Paya, once Priestess Muri finishes making the totem, send a carrier pigeon to the Dubenheim tribe.

Tteunteuni, the monster pigeon modified by Paya, should be able to carry a palm-sized totem easily.

If I can’t go to Dubenheim, I’ll mobilize the barbarian tribe living in Dubenheim to conquer the Necromancer’s Tomb.

This is my plan.

If I send a portable totem to the chieftain of the Sky Tree Tribe in Dubenheim and use the Bound Totem blessing to safely guide them, they should be able to clear the Necromancer’s Tomb easily.

“You are wise.”

“As expected of Malak-nim!”

━ It’s not a great plan.

Ah, their compliments make me feel proud for no reason. It’s just a method anyone could think of, I just happened to think of it too.

They’re just praising me because I’m a Loa.

Let’s stay calm. I might mess things up if I start thinking ‘I’m a genius’.

Anyway, the ‘Necromancer’s Tomb Conquest’ project has begun.

Now it’s time to tackle the project I’ve been putting off.

[Not a Netkama: I didn’t say anything because it seemed like whining, but things are going well, right? I’m just getting a bit bored…]

Yes, it’s time to finish the ‘Not a Netkama’s Liberation’ project.

I bestowed Divine Possession upon Rake.

━ Chieftain Rake, are you busy?

“No, I’m free. What’s the matter?”

Rake wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Judging by the shattered rocks scattered around, it seems she was training hard.

Well, it must not have been anything too urgent.

━ That’s good. I’m going to release the Paladin you offered to me before. He is also a being dispatched to fight against demons. From a broader perspective, he’s a necessary talent. Of course, I’m not just releasing him for free. There’s a price.

Rake smiled softly.

“Thoughtful one, you don’t need my permission. That civilized man belongs to Malak-nim.”

━ I need you to release him after receiving the price.

“Is it something that requires Divine Possession?”

━ Yes. Of course, Priestess Paya or Muri could also do it, but…

Rake shook her head.

“Since I captured him, it would be natural for me to release him. I’ll do it.”

Good, it’s progressing quickly.

I made a few requests to the woman who crushes rocks with her bare hands.

“…Indeed, I understand.”

* * * * * *

Creak━!

Rake opened the stone door of the stone building. It’s where Not a Netkama is imprisoned.

In the corner of the dark storage room, I saw a person with a sack over their head, chained with restraints.

Perhaps because their equipment was removed, the curves of their body were revealed, and it was a woman with a quite beautiful body…

Wait, curves? Not a Netkama, were you a woman?

━ I don’t think I mentioned that they were female.

Rake whispered softly.

“I didn’t think it was important. It’s just a civilized woman. …By any chance, does the price Malak-nim will receive from this thing change if the gender is female?”

That’s not the case, but never mind.

━ No. I was just curious because it was my first time seeing a Paladin.

“Ah, so that’s what it was.”

Rake approached Not a Netkama, who wasn’t actually a Netkama, and removed the sack covering her face.

A woman with short red hair, blue eyes, and sharp eyes glared at me, or rather, at Rake.

It was quite a scary glare, but Rake didn’t flinch. Instead, she just scoffed as if it was ridiculous.

“Mmm…!”

It seemed like she was trying to say something, but she couldn’t because of the gag.

Rake, who was watching quietly, removed the gag.

━ Just say what I told you to say.

Rake nodded.

“Civilized one. You understand me, right?”

Not a Netkama nodded silently.

Now that line will come out. I remember Rake’s reaction when she first heard ‘that’.

‘What meaning is contained in those strange words?’

Rake… those are words you must never understand. Really.

“Ultra Sanz Crazed for Nighttime Massacre Mode.”

Ah, ‘that nickname’ came out of Rake’s mouth after all. I really want to hide in a mouse hole.

If Rake learns the meaning of this, she might look at me with contempt.

“…!”

Not a Netkama’s pupils widened as she stared at Rake.

Rake, who didn’t feel any shame because she didn’t know the meaning, continued.

“Sanz, the benefactor of our tribe, asked us to release you.”

“Ah…!”

Not a Netkama’s expression brightened instantly.

“However, there’s a condition.”

It’s not over yet.

“In exchange for your safe release, you must spar with the tribe’s warriors for three days. Nod if you accept.”

Yes, this is the price I thought of.

To have Not a Netkama stay with the tribe for a few days and become a training partner for the tribe’s warriors.

Rake is too high-level to be a training partner. But what about Not a Netkama?

If they can safely spar with a Paladin who has learned various skills, it would be a great help to the warriors’ experience.

It would also be good for subduing ‘Paladins hostile to barbarians’ that we might encounter someday.

Of course, I’m planning to take appropriate measures to prevent Not a Netkama from approaching the altar. We can just limit the radius where she can move.

Rake decided to keep an eye on her.

Not a Netkama rolled her eyes. Is she still thinking?

If you don’t like it, well, I’m sorry, but you’ll have to stay locked up until I come up with a better solution.

No matter how I think about it, she can’t just waste such a good opportunity.

I can’t resist hiring a free instructor.

“Tsk…”

Not a Netkama, who was contemplating, nodded.

“Then let’s start tomorrow.”

Rake swung her curved sword and destroyed Not a Netkama’s restraints.

Wait, Rake. Isn’t this the Blue Moss Tribe’s property? I heard you brought her here by dragging her with a rope.

You’re a real no-holds-barred woman.

Oh, whatever. Kanto will take care of it.