Weapons Are Not Wielded for the Dead

Delin had also taken her own life, lying in a pool of blood, her eyes filled with struggle and agony.

Unlike her sister, she had not faced the divine decree with a heart set on death, nor had she rushed toward that eternal river of torment with conviction.

But was this truly the weakness that Rishiman culture despised as suicide?

As Camus once said—the only serious philosophical problem in the world is suicide.

The moment a person chooses to click "the end" in a game they were forced to play requires far more courage than those who merely pay lip service to persistence.

They had accepted a fate they never needed to accept.

All because of the foolishness of Xipel Blackheart, because Morse Ironbone could not tolerate his provocation against the Zagwell Clan, and because of his own indifference...

Kulan seemed to perceive the inner turmoil of the Zagwell heir; he patted Kas on the shoulder and said in a cold tone:

"We will handle this matter. Tina and Delin were merely two ignorant girls. The Shaman will forgive their crime of honor killing and pray for the Lady of Death to lead them into the Underworld.

Do not let this interfere with your mood in the Black Ember Tribe. The War Chief is busy negotiating with surrounding tribes and has no time to entertain you; if you need anything, contact me."

The house of the Blackheart was soon sealed. The death of the Tina sisters brought a shock to Kas no less than the past of Little Red Riding Hood, Nosa.

But last time, he could still blame the Shaman's ambiguous prophecies, the witch's malicious manipulation, or the hunter's obsession with delusions. This time, he could not even find a culprit.

Who exactly was at fault?

Xipel Blackheart? But he had already received his due punishment, suffering eternally at Iron Peak Mountain.

Morse Ironbone? Could the Ancestor defending the clan's honor be considered wrong?

The indifferent crowd of the Black Ember Tribe? Honor killing was a measure that brought immense glory to the clan and family; people would praise its courage and conviction, often choosing silence even when they knew the truth.

Or perhaps the stubborn Tina? Taking a baseless hallucination as a divine decree and committing the foolish act of rushing to the yellow springs.

Was it himself? Because for the past few days, he had stayed in the White House, studying Sacred Number Theory and learning the language and culture of the southern world from Isidore, remaining completely ignorant of the outside world.

No, this was not normal... There was a will tacitly permitting the honor killing to take place.

This time, Kas did not want to search for reasons anymore; he felt he had to re-examine the traditions of the Rishiman.

He could no longer use stereotypes or the detached gaze of the civilized world to mock these barbaric, cold, yet stubbornly fanatical kin with sarcasm.

He needed to leave the Black Ember Tribe as soon as possible. If someone used the name of a witch's curse to incite the werewolves into the tribe, spreading rumors that the curse would propagate, Seneya would be in danger...

He turned his steps, moving away from the White House where he was staying, and headed toward the Shaman's longhouse.

Everyone he met along the way wore a faint, ambiguous smile.

What could be more exhilarating than witnessing a sacred ritual with one's own eyes?

Kas quickened his pace. He could accept Tina committing assassination for revenge, profit, or because she was bewitched.

But to voluntarily rush toward death because of a divine decree, because of baseless honor, or perhaps just because of a dream?

As someone who grew up in modern society, he could not understand this ethereal, underlying mindset.

This godforsaken honor killing could not even promise her an afterlife symbolizing light, unlike those fanatics who launched holy wars in the name of gods—at least they could firmly believe they would go to heaven after death.

Yet Tina, knowing the result was to suffer torment atop Iron Peak Mountain alongside her father, had still chosen suicide.

With his thoughts in chaos, Kas arrived at the Shaman's longhouse, greeted the Black Guard, and walked inside, entering Baize's underground forge.

The battle-axe, with Radel as its core, had been forged and placed on an antler rack, awaiting further finishing touches.

The axe resembled the Leviathan Axe wielded by Kratos in Kas's memories; the blade was broad and thick, with sharp, fierce lines.

The edge was shaped like a half-moon, razor-sharp, bearing fine cracks that looked like shattering glaciers.

Both sides were covered in Adamantine, with the front engraved in vivid detail with the Golden-Branch Giant Antlered Deer totem of the Zagwell Clan, while the back bore the symbol of the Her Tribe—the oak tree.

The back of the axe was forged into a triangular crane-bill shape, and the blade surface was carved with fine, rose-like streamlined patterns, gracefully converging to weave into a sun symbolizing power and a moon symbolizing wisdom.

The handle was dark oak with clear wood grain; bronze rivets were embedded at the curves, and the counterweight at the end was a circle thicker than the handle, with no specific shape carved into it.

This magnificent battle-axe, not yet imbued with magic, looked more like a ceremonial ritual object, its style carrying both the ruggedness of the Rishiman and the exquisite craftsmanship of the Shaman.

The Shaman, who was grinding enchanting materials, laughed heartily when he saw it was Kas:

"You have come at the right time. If I were to choose one work of my life that I am proud of, it would be this battle-axe, forged with Radel as the spine and complemented by Adamantine and meteorite iron.

Its inspiration comes from your great-great-grandfather—Grant Skull-Cleaver, and that legendary battle-axe, the Skull-Cleaver, which severed the head of the southern king.

The Golden-Branch Giant Antlered Deer on the front is the totem of your clan; the sun protects you, and this is a symbol of bravery and fearlessness.

On the oak tree on the back is the spirit bird Miraji resting in the moonlight; just like it, your wisdom is enough to be engraved in the legends of the clan."

"The counterweight has not been carved into a shape yet. What do you want?"

Every carefully crafted weapon must have a clear purpose for its creation; the patterns on both ends of the axe head symbolize Kas being protected by the totems of the clan and the tribe.

The counterweight ball is the most important symbolic component of a weapon; it signifies who the person wielding this weapon fights for.

"I suggest Ironbone. He was the personal attendant to King Busuo; anyone who dares to challenge this battle-axe will witness the power of the Titan-slayer. You will defend the honor of the Rishiman and become our war envoy."

"No." Kas shook his head firmly; he did not want to fight for a dead man.

This battle-axe was absolutely not crafted for a dead old thing, nor did he wish to become a war envoy of the Sorrow Mountains.

A scene flashed through his mind of a foolish dog offering him boiled meat in the dead of night; his arrival at the Black Ember Tribe had all started with meeting Seneya in the Forgotten Grassland.

He had walked the Long Road Home to bring her to the Great Shaman before the witch's curse could be undone.

"Wolf."

Baize whipped his head around, his eyes filled with astonishment:

"A wolf? You truly consider that werewolf your wife?"

It was not uncommon to engrave family members onto a counterweight, but that prerequisite necessitated a deep, profound love, a willingness to fight in their name.

"Yes... a wolf. I swore I would break Seneya's curse."

"Damn it..." Baize cursed under his breath, then proposed a condition: "This battle-axe is perfection itself; I will not allow it to be wielded for the sake of a werewolf...

Since you call her Seneya, I can only agree to inlay the counterweight with moonstone and engrave the Ode to Mani upon the fixed bronze body."

Seneya, in the Reshman language, meant daughter of the moon Mani; it was a rare name, heavy with religious significance.

To wield it for Seneya, and not for a werewolf...

Kas nodded, agreeing to this modified plan: "That is acceptable, but I hope it is done quickly. I wish to leave the Black Ember Tribe at once."