The 31st Piece Turns the Tables

The exiled put the Corpse Finger Mushroom into a boiling caldron and waited.

Bubble… Bubble…

After the black smoke cleared up the exiled poured the liquid into two bowls.

"You must drink this. You need this as well, my savior."

Seol quickly drank the liquid as the exiled suggested.

Slurp…

It had a practically instantaneous effect.

[You recover from the endemic 'Rotten Branch Disease'.]

[Your Constitution permanently increases by 2.]

Seol, after reading that welcome message, looked at the exiled.

He had also changed.

Slide…

The scars on the exiled's face had completely healed and his hunched back also straightened up.

The only thing that hadn't changed was his eyes. It was brilliant like the stars and still filled with light.

[The exiled recovers from 'Rotten Branch Disease'.]

The exiled let out a long breath and looked at Seol.

"Oh my savior, may I know your name?" asked the exiled.

"It's Snowman."

"What is the meaning behind your name?"

"It's a man made of snow."

"What a fantastic, magnificent name. My name is Mael, the star child."

"That's a good name."

"I will never forget the way you helped me for the rest of my life, Snowman."

[Mael's favorability toward you increases.]

[Mael's favorability toward you increases.]

[Mael respects you.]

"For now, I will give you the help that you need from me. Is there anything that you need?"

[[Mael is attempting to keep his promise to help you. Think carefully before you make your request.]

1. I Want to Crush Them Head On. Will You Help Me?

2. Facing Them Head on Would Be Pointless. Do You Know of a Way to Bring Them Down From the Inside?

3. [Required: Shaman] Could You Teach Me Some Shamanic Magic?

4. [Required: Leadership 1] Do You Have Any Thoughts About Rallying the Exiled to Bring Down the Rock Molar Tribe?]

Option 1 wasn't even worth considering with his entire party dead. Seol also didn't meet the required criteria for Options 3 and 4.

The only choice he had left was Option 2.

"We have to take them down from the inside. Can you help me?"

"From the inside… I understand. I just so happen to have a method that might be worth attempting."

Mael moved the liquid in his cauldron into various bottles and cleaned it. He then started to create new medicine in the newly washed cauldron.

As he patiently brewed the new mixture, he started to talk to Seol.

"As you said, my savior, today is the right time to hit the Rock Molar Tribe."

"And that's because…"

"Today is the Rock Molar Tribe's harvest festival. They do ceremonies for Tancreed, the Earth Dragon that they serve.

"And why is it important that it's the harvest festival?"

"Because there is a law during the harvest festival that no one can go against."

Seol, in truth, already knew about all of this.

'The 5 Good Brothers' Adventure changes based on whether it's the harvest season or not and when it was the harvest festival-version, the trolls put out a green flag at the entrance.

The first thing that Seol did when he entered the Adventure was check for the green flag.

He knew that today was the harvest festival and that the harvest festival had a certain law that all of the trolls must follow.

"At midnight, the members of the tribe boil a beast's blood in a massive cauldron and all drink from it," said Mael while stirring his cauldron.

"What you will be aiming for, my savior, is that cauldron."

"...Are you okay with this?"

Mael would be destroying the tribe he was born into, himself.

It was obvious that something like that would be appalling to do.

"Did you forget my mother's last words?" said Mael, dryly.

- My mother resented the tribe. She thought… She thought that everything had to disappear. The tribe, the disease, even me…

"......"

"Although it will be a long time before I disappear… I think fulfilling a portion of her will is something that I can do."

"I understand."

[Hidden Adventure 'Pent-Up Revenge' is now active.]

[[Adventure 2-3. 'Pent-Up Revenge']

Mael was exiled from his tribe before he was even born. He had never once forgotten his tribe. His feelings weren't a longing to return, but a raging desire for revenge.

He has brewed up a concoction for you to mix into a cauldron that the Rock Molar Tribe uses for the harvest festival.

You must weaken the Rock Molar Tribe before midnight by diluting the concoction into the cauldron.

Objective: Pour the concoction into the cauldron used for the harvest festival before midnight.

Remaining time ⌜2:46⌟]

[You have acquired 'Mael, the star child' as a helper.]

['Mael, the star child' is a Heroic rank.]

[Helpers have a chance of appearing in all Adventures.]

[They will help you differently based on their favorability toward you.]

[You have earned the achievement 'It's Lonely Alone'.]

[You have earned the title 'A Charming Individual'.]

Mael left after helping Seol.

Mael, after taking only a mostly blank book, burned all of the other books in his mud hut, and left carrying medicine to treat other patients infected by the endemic in the mountains.

"What is that?"

- My dream is to become an archaeologist. I wish to uncover the many hidden mysteries of the world. I plan to travel the world and record them for now though.

It was quite an unusual idea for a troll.

Maybe that was why he was Heroic rank.

- I pray that you will punish those barbarians with your intellect, my savior.

Seol checked his new title.

[[Title: A Charming Individual]

Related Achievement: It's Lonely Alone (Adventure: The Exiled)

Bonus Effect: Increase Favorability earned from helpers by 10%.]

It wasn't a bad effect when you considered the long term.

Seol arrived at the tallest peak of the Pointy Mountains and looked at the two potions he got from Mael.

There was a red potion and a blue potion.

First, the red potion.

[[Potion of Camouflage]

Quality: Special

Recommended Level: N/A

Weight: 0.1kg

Bonus Effect: Turn into a stupid troll for a day. There is already a shamanic spell cast that disrupts others from recognizing you. The effect will be canceled if someone notices.]

- No one will consider you strange if you drink this potion, Snowman. Just don't do anything too eye-catching.

Next, was the blue potion.

[[Potion of Madness]

Quality: Special

Recommended Level: N/A

Weight: 0.1kg

Bonus Effect: Bring out your inner savagery after a certain period of time. There is a chance of resisting the effects based on Wisdom.]

- Pour this potion into the cauldron. There isn't even a pinch of poisonous grass inside it so even skilled shamans will have a hard time noticing this.

Pop!

Seol opened the red potion and poured it down his throat.

"Burp…"

Seol couldn't help himself and let out a burp. And as he did, his body started to transform.

Crack Crackle…

Crack…

He clenched his teeth as he endured the pain and before he knew it, he turned into quite a large troll.

[You have drunk the .]

[You have transformed into a stupid troll for a day.]

[You are able to use Troll Language 1 for a day.]

[You are able to use Voodoo Magic 1 for a day.]

Voodoo Magic wasn't that useful but Troll Language was a necessity.

Seol remembered that he didn't have much time and quickly climbed the mountain.

Seol wasn't sure, but transforming into a troll might have given him a bonus to his constitution since he was able to climb the mountain with ease. He reached the village's guardpost which was decorated with a green flag.

Troll guards stood alert at the guardpost.

"Hm…?"

"Oi!"

Seol was able to understand them thanks to Troll Tongue.

Grab…

Seol was tense. He clenched his fist and approached the guard.

"You weren't allowed to leave the guardpost until the harvest festival was over! Hurry up and come inside!"

"Idiot!"

"I'm sorry, I'll go in immediately."

"Hmph!"

Seol passed them while giving a slight smile. His plan was already off to a good start.

The village was separated into 6 floors.

The floors weren't perfectly separated like how a building is but the general structure was there.

The floors were separated into different factions.

The Rock Molar Tribe was separated into 5 different factions and even though they worked together for important things, they mostly just clashed and antagonized each other.

Seol planned on using that to his advantage this Adventure.

'He said the cauldron was on the middle floor, right…?'

- The Rock Molar Tribe has 5 leaders. But there's a special point to note for this generation.

Seol climbed higher up the mountain while brooding over Mael's words.

- Humans are careful even though they're deciding only on a single successor to their king. But trolls have five successors. Why would you think there wouldn't be any problems?

Seol entered the square and noticed the massive, bubbling cauldron. There was an altar made of stone and bones that was beside it as well.

- This generation's especially awful. It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that the powerful Rock Molar Tribe is weakening because of these incompetent leaders, but…

Seol sat on a chair made of bones that was a bit away. He looked around his surroundings and his eyes caught on a massive troll.

He wasn't sure whether that troll was big because it ate more than others or if he was different from birth but that massive troll was even bigger than the trolls guarding him.

- You must be careful of Chief Jamad. He… was born with the mountain's energy. He even killed all of the previous generation's shamans all on his own. Please… do not face him. He is the wisest, strongest troll in the history of the Rock Molar Tribe.

Seol walked past the trolls that surrounded him and approached the altar.

He would be easily caught if he approached it too suddenly so he bided his time. He approached slowly, patiently…

'I wonder how close I'll have to get…'

He didn't need to rush.

There were still two hours before the last ceremony of the harvest festival happened.

The important thing is being able to pour the potion into the cauldron.

['Swan' has donated 200 Madness!]

[A dagger slices the air… It stabs at my heart… OUCH!]

T/N: Reference to a line from Tazza: The High Rollers.

- It's fine… my hands are faster than the ey— FAIL!

- That's strange. When I watched this morning it was a human… Where did he go? Is he the troll?

- Ye

- Ye that's it.

- This guy's brilliant keke

- But how is he going to pour that potion into the cauldron?

- You just have to watch and see now.

Seol stood alert next to the altar for about 30 minutes. He was tense because if he was unable to find an opening, he would have to force one.

'I thought of a way beforehand, but… will it work?'

But just then, the opening that Seol was waiting for showed itself.

A troll was approaching the guard that was protecting the cauldron.

"E-Excuse me!"

"What is it?"

"I had some blood I really wish could be included in the cauldron. I got it freshly this time fro—"

"Hmph. We already have more than enough blood for the festival."

"But…"

"Go away."

The troll then went away with a sad look on his face. Seol was unwittingly clenching the hand he was holding the potion with.

'It's just like the backstory said. Is this the right timing?'

Seol first checked his surroundings, then approached the guard that chased away the other troll.

"Excuse me…"

"What is it?"

"I wanted to offer up blood for the harvest festival."

"Did you not just listen to what I said? I already said that we have more than enough bloo—"

"It's blood from a White Horned Arago. It will definitely help…"

- Huh? You want me to disguise it as White Horned Arago blood? That's… Ah! That's a great idea, but…

Seol thought of the information he read in the guidebook.

- Outline: Rock Molar Harvest Festival

⌜The Rock Molar Trolls worship Tancreed, the Earth Dragon, who is not one of the primal gods. And as such, the harvest festival's main subject is not a primal god but Tancreed. These trolls offer blood they harvested from pillaging and hunting in belief that this is the clearest way Tancreed will give her blessing.⌟

'...And furthermore, the White Horned Arago is the rarest species in the Pointy Mountains. It was rated highly for blood used in rituals.'

That's why Seol was sure that his potion wouldn't be rejected.

As long as it all went to plan…

The guard took the blue potion, opened it, and smelled it.

"This is White Horned Arago blood?"

"Yes. Please, I beg you."

"Hmm… I will tell them."

"Thank you."

Seol went back into the crowd.

The guard approached the person in charge of the ritual who was also one of the five leaders.

Seol could somewhat hear their conversation through the loud noises.

"Magata, someone is trying to offer White Horned Arago blood."

"

Sniff sniff…

It is White Horned Arago blood. Put it in."

"Yes."

- I made the potion practically identical to White Horned Arago blood so they won't be able to notice it.

The guard, who still believed the potion to be White Horned Arago blood, climbed up the stairs and approached the cauldron.

He then muttered something.

It was probably something pointless like, 'Tancreed, I am the one offering this to you.'

Pour…

The potion was poured into the cauldron.

And with that, step 1 of Seol's plan was complete.

[The Potion of Madness is mixed into the harvest festival's cauldron.]

[Those that drink the blood will be overcome by madness.]

* * *

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

Time passed and it became time for the harvest festival's finale, the blood drinking ceremony.

The blood that was in the cauldron was passed out in shoddy cups.

This included not only the leaders but also Seol.

The person that was in charge of the harvest festival today was the youngest of the 5 leaders, Magata.

"It's almost midnight soon. Everyone, raise your cups."

Raise.

Raise.

Raise.

All of the orcs were raising their cups with their massive hands. They were waiting for their orders.

Magata gave a wicked laugh.

"Everything is a blessing from the earth. Even flesh, even blood, even pillaging," said Magata.

"…"

"Drink. Drink every last drop of this blood and let us cover the earth in even more blood! Because that is how we will reach Tancreed and because that is Rock Molar!"

"Uwooo!"

"Tancreed!"

"Tancreed!"

"We are Rock Molar!"

Gulp…

Gulp Gulp…

Splash!

One person didn't drink the blood but instead threw it on the ground.

That one person was Seol.

Seol glanced over at the leaders and the large group of trolls before silently making his leave.

He knew that hell was coming.

[Members of the Rock Molar Tribe have drunk the Potion of Madness.]

[After a certain period of time, the Rock Molar Tribe will be engulfed in madness.]