I’m the Only Totem in Another World

Chapter 27: Consumables (2)

I ordered an attack on the village next to the one we had previously subjugated, and the Barbarians followed without a word.

Unlike last time, we didn’t proceed with Rake’s forceful, haphazard approach. Instead, we employed a systematic deployment of troops.

While Kanto and the warriors attacked the Cultists to create chaos, Rake would behead the enemy leader.

Simple, but effective…wait. Saying it like this, it’s no different from last time?

But there was no more efficient strategy at the moment.

━ Don’t kill it.

I was currently in a state of Divine Possession. I spoke to Rake, who was fighting a Demon that resembled a beaver.

It wasn’t just any beaver, but a mutated one with fur as sharp as thorns and a tongue that stretched out three meters.

Rake, who was about to plunge her curved sword into the beast’s neck, nodded and stepped back.

“Should we capture it?”

━ I intend to leave the disposal of this Demon to Chieftain Kanto and the warriors.

It’s about time the other warriors got stronger too.

We can’t have Rake dealing with lower-level Demons forever.

They can’t gain experience and level up like Paladins, but wouldn’t they get a little stronger if they had various combat experiences?

“It’ll just be a waste of time.”

Rake sheathed her curved sword and clenched her fists. Was she planning to engage in hand-to-hand combat?

Bang!

Rake’s punch, powerful enough to shatter rocks, struck the Beaver Demon in the stomach.

Ugh…!

The creature retched, seemingly in great pain.

Rake blocked the Beaver Demon’s escape route and continued to pressure it, ensuring it couldn’t flee.

Rake herself was just so physically strong that she could easily handle it without weapons.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

She dodged the Beaver’s attacks left and right, steadily pounding its body.

It wasn’t a Beaver Demon, it was a Sandbag Demon.

━ Can you handle Mid-ranking Demons as well?

“I haven’t fought one before, but I think I’d at least be able to inflict some wounds. Assuming it’s a one-on-one fight, of course.”

Rake spoke clearly, even in the midst of battle. She seemed very relaxed.

She didn’t say she would lose. She was confident of winning.

Considering she said that after seeing the Cobra Demon fight Abraham last time, it probably wasn’t unfounded confidence.

What level would Rake be if she were a Paladin?

She’d be between 5 and 6. And that’s just with her raw physical abilities, no skills.

Even if I combined all the Blessings I have…it would still be difficult to reach level 7.

The image of a level 7 Paladin dying a futile death comes to mind.

━ …

I, and Rake, needed to become stronger.

“Malak-nim, we’ve eliminated all the Demon Cultists!”

Kanto and the warriors entered the Beaver Demon’s dwelling.

“These are Malak-nim’s orders. You will be the ones to end this creature’s life.”

“Malak-nim’s?! Understood.”

Rake, who had been examining the Beaver’s flesh, slowly stepped back, and Kanto and the warriors made their move.

Gasp, gasp.

The Demon gasped for breath, its eyes darting around in fear.

“Uooooh!”

The first to strike was Denjo, Kanto’s right-hand man. He charged at the Beaver Demon, iron club in hand.

The Demon’s long tongue shot out towards Denjo’s heart, but the veteran warrior twisted his body at the last moment, narrowly avoiding it.

“I don’t like that tongue!”

Milk Jug Youth Dodo’s shortsword flashed, severing the tongue. But their coordinated attack wasn’t over yet.

“Hiya!”

While the Demon’s attention was focused on Denjo, Kanto’s lover(?) Una had stealthily moved in, her wooden spear piercing the Beaver’s left foot.

When did she get there?

Uwaaargh!

The Beaver Demon screamed in pain and tried to pull back, but the spear was lodged deep in its foot, trapping it.

“Iyaaaap!”

Kanto seized the opportunity, bringing his double-edged axe down on the creature’s head. The axe sank deep, green blood splattering.

Crack, crack…!

Perhaps because it was still a Demon, even a low-ranking one, its life didn’t fade immediately.

It was still moving, even with its skull split open by the axe.

Still, they had the upper hand. I thought it would only be a matter of time before they won…

“Everyone, stab it!”

“Uwaaaaaaaa!”

At Kanto’s command, the Barbarian warriors surrounded the Beaver Demon and began to stab it with their blades!

It was a merciless, collective assault!

Cough…

The Beaver Demon, which had seemed like it might hold on a little longer, was literally hacked to pieces and turned to ash.

Is this the power of a group?

Well, even the strongest and toughest villains are bound to die if surrounded and beaten by righteous heroes.

Isn’t that what countless Sentai shows have taught us?

“Warriors! We’ve captured the Demon without a single scratch!”

“Uoooooh!”

Leaving behind the triumphant Kanto and the warriors, Rake exited the dwelling.

Outside, Paya and the other non-combatants were leading livestock out from the pens.

“These are the blessings bestowed by Malak-nim. Carry them carefully, without injury.”

Paya. I haven’t bestowed any Blessings in this battle.

I would be able to participate in battles myself once Muri finished making the second Mini Totem, Totem No. 3, but not yet.

That aside, there’s no new Blessing even though we defeated the Demon.

The goal today was to get one more new Blessing.

In that case, we’d have to catch one more.

━ Can we subjugate one more place?

“I don’t mind.”

Rake replied confidently.

Kanto and the warriors…well, they’d be fine, right?

* * * * * *

While Rake pinned down the Demon, Kanto and the warriors took care of the Cultists.

After killing all the Cultists, Kanto and the warriors entered the Demon’s dwelling and finished off the Demon Rake had captured. Then, Paya and the rest of the tribe looted(?) the now-safe village.

We attacked the village in the same way as before.

This time, the Demon was a monster resembling an ostrich. It moved much faster than the beaver, giving Kanto and the warriors a hard time killing it.

Still, no one was seriously injured.

“We won! Warriors! We’ve defeated another Demon! Two in a row! This is all thanks to Malak-nim’s protection!”

“Malak! Malak! Malak!”

“Long live Malak!”

Seeing the warriors so fired up and chanting my name filled me with satisfaction.

Even though I didn’t actually do anything.

[A Blessing is available to be learned!]

Ah, I’ve been waiting for this.

[Berserker’s Aura: Gradually increases strength, speed, and stamina as the battle progresses. This Blessing can be bestowed upon one follower and can only be used once.]

What? Berserker’s Aura? There really were Berserkers?

━ Huh.

A chuckle escaped me, a mix of amusement and disbelief. Of course there were.

Barbarians without Berserkers? Now that would be truly cliché-breaking.

No matter how idiotic this game was, there was no way it wouldn’t have included a skill like this.

The effect was similar to skills in other games, but it was unusual for a Blessing.

Single use only. It was a consumable.

All the Blessings I’d received so far had been semi-permanent.

Who should I give it to?

“Is something the matter?”

Rake, who had heard my chuckle, tilted her head.

━ It’s nothing.

If it were any other Blessing, I would have given it to Rake without a second thought.

It was common sense to prioritize the strongest unit. But this wasn’t a Blessing that suited Rake.

Rake’s physical abilities were already exceptional. How much better could they get?

It’s not like she was going to become strong enough to demolish buildings single-handedly just from obtaining this.

If it made her that strong, the description would have used the word “greatly” instead of “gradually.”

━ Hmm.

“…?”

Ignoring Rake, who was now intently listening, I fell into thought again.

Hmm. What if I gave this to Kanto?

He was the one who first made me think of the concept of Berserkers here, and as the second-in-command of my Tribal Federation, I felt he should have something like this.

Wouldn’t the tenacious Kanto make good use of it?

Alright. It’s decided.

━ Tell Chieftain Kanto this. When the Tribal Federation returns, I will bestow a Blessing specifically for him.

Might as well make a big deal out of it.

“A Blessing…specifically for Kanto? Hmm. I’m a little curious.”

Rake seemed disheartened.

She was always particularly devoted to me, so it was understandable that she might feel a little left out.

━ It is not something worthy of you.

“…Is that so?”

━ Rake, you are my strongest sword. When the time is right, I will bestow upon you a Blessing befitting your strength.

“I see. I apologize for my misunderstanding. I shall eagerly await that day.”

Her mood improved. What a good kid.

Being able to sense emotions in this state of Divine Possession was quite useful.

“M, Malak-nim is bestowing a Blessing upon me? As expected! You were watching over me! I, Kanto, will live up to your expectations!”

He seemed ecstatic. Rake relayed my words to Kanto and went outside.

“Ah, Paya.”

Rake approached Paya, who was directing the Barbarians moving the livestock.

“Chieftain Rake, what is it?”

“That Demon that was ruling this village, it looked like a bird.”

“…Why do you mention that?”

“Maybe I should have told them not to kill it?”

“Excuse me?”

“You like birds, don’t you? I thought you might have wanted to keep it in the House of Feathers.”

“W, what nonsense are you talking about?!”

“I heard from Muri. You specialize in bird-related magic, right? She said that bird, Tteunteuni, is your masterpiece. You’re always playing with it.”

“Chieftain Rake! Please don’t bother me and go back to what you were doing!”

“Commanding here, feeding the birds there. You’re a busy person, aren’t you?”

“And you’re always lazing around Malak-nim!”

She’s at it again, teasing Paya.

I take back what I said about her being a good kid.